Chapter 1776. Then, Let's Check It Out. (1)

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"Sect Leader!" 

Jin Songwon gritted his blood-stained teeth so hard it seemed they might shatter. 

"Those bastards! They're breaking through the inner gate! Sect Leader!" 

Blood dripped down from the sword that pierced his shoulder and jutted out from his back. 

"Huff... Huff!" 

Jin Songwon grasped his sword with all his might.

'Those evil sect bastards....' 

Jin Songwon slowly turned his head to take in his surroundings.

The red flames burning here and there, the terrified disciples gripping their swords. 

Beyond the inner wall surrounding the Sect Leader's residence, hell must be unfolding. The strength of Diancang was far too insufficient to stop them. 

Diancang's signboard that had been around for hundreds of years will turn to ashes today. And Jin Songwon's name will be passed down from generation to generation as a symbol of shame.

No.... perhaps even that is too much to hope for. It is likely that even the name Diancang will vanish from the world, forgotten by all.

"Huh..."

A sorrowful sigh escaped Jin Songwon's lips.

It wasn't quite a sob, nor a scream. It was a sad, defeated sound that slipped from the lips of a man crushed under a weight too great to bear.

"Sect Leader... What should we do now?" 

One of his disciples, pale as ash, looked at Jin Songwon, pleading, almost crying. But instead of comforting words, Jin Songwon struck his disciple's cheek.

Slap!

The sharp sound echoed all around. The startled disciples of Diancang widened their eyes, staring at Jin Songwon.

"Don't... don't make that face!" 

"Sect Leader..." 

"Do you think we can survive by making a move now?" 

"....." 

Jin Songwon bit his lip. His chapped lips cracked, and bright red blood trickled down his chin.

"We're all going to die anyway!"

"….." 

"There's no way to survive. Haven't you heard of the news from Qingcheng and Emei?" 

Jin Songwon's eyes captured the sight of his disciples' trembling hands. 

It's overwhelming. 

Everything was too much for him—who had only recently become a Sect Leader of Diancang. 

Facing those enemies, and encouraging his disciples, who ultimately had no choice but to die. 

"So, raise your heads!" 

Jin Songwon shouted until his voice was hoarse. 

"Begging won't save you. The enemy won't show mercy even if you grovel. So, if you're going to die anyway, don't let them see your scared faces! If there's no chance of survival, drag at least one of them with you into hell! That's the last shred of dignity we have as Diancang disciples!"

It was a shout that boiled the blood. The disciples of Diancang clenched their lips and strengthened their resolve.

Not because Jin Songwon's words had shaken them, but because they had accepted that all that awaited them was death.

The only choice left was how to die. 

As a disciple of the great Diancang, there would not be a single person who would want to die with a frightened face to the likes of evil sect. It would be fine if death could be avoided, but once death was decided, there was no room for hesitation.

"Are you ready!" 

"Yes!" 

With a twisted expression, Jin Songwon looked ahead. 

His heart was heavy with sorrow, but he couldn't show that to his disciples. This would be their last memory of him.

"Diancang doesn't bow to the likes of evil sect!" 

If they had no pride, they wouldn't have picked up swords, and if there were no fire in their hearts, they wouldn't have become righteous sect warrior. 

"Sahyeong..." 

A voice came from the side, and Jin Songwon whispered. 

"I'm sorry, saje. I was foolish..."

"Please don't say that. How could any of this be your fault?" 

His saje, Hyeon Yeonbaek, shook his head slowly. 

"There's no one to blame. All that's left is to die without bringing shame to Diancang's name." 

"….." 

"They're coming." 

Boom!

Before Jin Songwon could reply, the front door exploded into pieces, scattering fragments everywhere. Among the flying debris were the mangled corpses of Diancang disciples. 

Thud. Thud!

"Lee Myeong-ah!" 

"Saje!" 

Cries of anguish erupted all around. Those who rushed to the fallen disciples grabbed their broken bodies. 

"Ugh!" 

"This...." 

Frustrated groans and stifled voices filled the air. 

The corpses were brutally mutilated. 

Anyone wielding a sword could tell. 

These wounds were not inflicted in the heat of battle. They were deliberate, calculated acts of torture. The enemy had tortured these disciples until their very last breath. 

"How could they...." 

This can't be happening. Human can't do this.

Even though the evil sects are known for disregarding human life, no one should be capable of butchering another human this mercilessly. 

"You wretches are worse than beasts!" 

Those who realized this shouted in rage, almost spitting out blood. 

Yet at the same time, the disciples of Diancang could not help but feel something else—an emotion they could not hide beneath their righteous anger. 

The sight of such brutal deaths. Knowing now what they had only imagined. And with it, the fear that slowly crept up, threatening to consume them. 

Step. Step.

At that moment, dozens of Sapa warriors began walking through the broken doors. 

"….." 

Their appearance wasn't what the Diancang disciples expected. 

They weren't wild beasts driven mad by bloodlust. 

Every step, every movement, exuded disciplined precision. 

Their breath grew heavier. 

They could only imagine how these emotionless killers had tortured and mutilated their comrades, and now they could only picture their own unavoidable deaths.

Boom!

Suddenly, Jin Songwon stamped his foot fiercely, the force enough to shatter the hard stone beneath him. For a brief moment, it broke the tension. 

"….. I have no business with small fry." 

Swish!

Jin Songwon drew his sword, pointing it at the enemies before him.

"Where is your Leader, Paegun Jang Ilso?"

"….."

Cold eyes stared at Jin Songwon, showing no sign of disturbance.

"Jang Ilso! Where is he? Don't tell me he's hiding in fear! If you call yourself a man, step forward! Do you have the guts to face my sword?"

Jin Songwon bellowed with all his might, his voice booming like thunder.

The reply came soon enough.

"Oh dear… Can't you speak more gently?" 

The enemies in front of him stepped aside, and a man slowly walked out. 

Wearing a red robe, a pale face, and a crown on his head.

Just from his appearance alone, anyone in the martial world would recognize him. The master of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, Paegun Jang Ilso.

"When you shout like that, it makes my heart tremble, you see." 

Crack.

Blood vessels burst in Jin Songwon's eyes. 

It was him. 

This man was the one who had turned Diancang into a sea of fire and slaughtered his disciples like cattle.

"Step forward! I'll personally sever your head!" 

Hearing this, Jang Ilso slowly raised his second finger and brought it to his temple, tilting his head as if annoyed.

"Gamyeong-ah." 

"Yes, Ryeonju-nim." 

"Why do these so-called righteous sects always assume I'll do what they want?" 

"Perhaps that's the best their dull minds can come up with."

"Ugh. It's so frustrating."

Jang Ilso let out a deep sigh. 

"I'm sorry, but as I said, I'm a bit faint-hearted. I don't particularly want to cross swords with you." 

"Can you even call yourself the leader of evil sects with that attitude?"

"How foolish. That's why I'm the leader of evil sects! If I could live so honorably, why would I choose to live as an evil?"

"You…!"

"Come on."

Jang Ilso waved his hand widely, his sleeve fluttering with the motion.

"Even if you manage to behead me, there's no chance of survival for any of you. You know this. All of you will end up like those corpses lying in front of you. Yes…. every last one of you."

"….."

The disciples of Diancang couldn't help but glance at the bodies sprawled before them. Even though they knew they shouldn't, an unavoidable fear crept into their eyes.

"You understand?"

At that moment, many members of the evil sects appeared, standing on the inner walls that surrounded them.

"….."

Diancang's disciples, feeling the oppressive stares of the enemy, couldn't help but feel like trapped rats inside a jar.

"I assure you, there is no chance for survival. The only factor left is... my whim."

"Whim?"

"Ugh. Climbing this cursed mountain has left my legs aching. Let me sit for a moment."

At Jang Ilso's gesture, someone from behind brought a chair. He casually sat down, crossing his legs.

"Ah, that's better."

Jin Songwon and the disciples of Diancang looked on in disbelief.

A chair?

Even though they had gained the upper hand in this battle, who brings a chair to a battlefield and sits down like that? How little do they regard us to do such a thing?

"Jang Ilso!"

"Yeah. Whim, just a whim."

But Jang Ilso continued speaking as if he were having a casual conversation.

"I never let an enemy live. That would be utterly foolish. And I don't keep pigs alive either. Just sharing the same space with them makes me feel like I can smell the stench."

Jang Ilso wrinkled his nose as if he could smell it even now.

"So the only thing I spare is one thing."

A grotesque smile curled at the edge of Jang Ilso bright red lips.

"Only dogs."

The moment the words left his mouth, Jin Songwon's face twisted in utter humiliation.

"Did you just…?"

"Ah."

Jang Ilso chuckled, his eyes gleaming wickedly as he looked at Jin Songwon.

"There's no need to be so excited. I get that it's a rare opportunity, and you seem eager to embrace it."

"….."

"We've suffered quite a few losses ourselves, you see."

Jang Ilso sighed deeply.

"Normally, I wouldn't bother with a filthy dog, but since I'm feeling lonely today, I wouldn't mind letting one crawl over and lick my shoes."

Jin Songwon's eyes widened, trembling in disbelief.

"So, decide. Will you die there, or...?"

Jang Ilso slowly extended one foot forward.

"Will you come here, lick my shoe, and bark like a dog?"

"….."

"If you're desperate enough, I'll accept it."

Jin Songwon's vision went white.

What is he even saying?

No insult could be worse. He was telling him to lick the foot of leader of evil sect and bark like a dog?

"Stop spewing such vile nonsense! Do you think I'd ever accept such humiliation, even if it meant death?"

Jin Songwon gripped his sword tightly as if to steady himself.

"A true warrior would rather die than endure such disgrace! We will die, but we will protect the name of Diancang!"

"Hmm, is that so…?"

Jang Ilso smiled as if pleased.

"Then, let's check it out. Let's check if your resolve is real."

".... What?"

"Bring them here."

Jin Songwon's eyes filled with confusion.

"What kind of trickery are you….."

His voice trailed off as the sight before him left him speechless.

"You..."

Those who appeared behind Jang Ilso.

Jin Songwon recognized their faces well since they were known to him.

"Sect… leader…."

"Ma, Master!"

The children.

The people stepping out from behind Jang Ilso were none other than the young disciples of Diancang. The ones Jin Songwon had hastily sent away when the enemy's attack became inevitable.

Their faces, still flushed with youth, were now pale with terror, tears streaming down their faces as they stood trembling.

"You… Jang Ilso…"

"Surely, the resolve to die isn't just yours, but also these disciples of Diancang, right?"

"....."

"How about it?"

Jang Ilso reached out and grabbed one of the children by the chest. The emblem of Diancang on the child's small robe burned itself into Jin Songwon's eyes.

"Tell me. You are a disciple of Diancang, aren't you?"

No.

Jin Songwon's thoughts couldn't escape his lips. The child, despite the tears streaming down their face, clenched their jaw and slowly nodded.

That nod.

The very gesture he had hoped for, yet feared to see. A gesture that shattered his heart.

 Jang Ilso smiled at that small gesture.

"Indeed…."

A smile that is incomparably gentle.

"You're a good child."

Crack!

The child's chest is literally crushed.

"AAAAHHHH! JANG ILSOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Jin Songwon let out a scream that could only have come from the deepest pits of despair as he watched the child collapse, blood pouring from their mouth.