Go ahead. Try and kill me. (4)

Jo Geol’s expression twisted horribly.

‘Damn it, what the hell is this!’

The surging killing intent made it difficult to even breathe. If Jo Geol, who wasn’t directly facing Jang Ilso, felt this much pressure, how immense must the burden be for Chung Myung?

‘Even for him, this might not be easy.’

Out of worry, his gaze kept trying to turn in that direction.

Unfortunately, Jo Geol couldn’t afford such luxury. Right now before him, a monstrous figure radiating black energy was charging fiercely.

“Uwaaaah!”

Jo Geol swung his sword with all his might at the pitch-black hand rushing towards him.

Claaaaaang!

As sword and hand collided, an ear-splitting metallic sound erupted, accompanied by a surge of foul energy.

Suddenly gripped by a sense of familiarity, Jo Geol widened his eyes and clenched his teeth.

‘This is like in Hangzhou…!’

There was no mistake.

Though not exactly identical, it closely resembled the aura of the demonic cultists he had faced back in Hangzhou. The discomfort and nausea crawling up from within him testified clearly to that fact.

“Are you bastards from the Demonic Cult?”

Swooooosh!

Jo Geol’s sword split into numerous afterimages, aiming for every vital spot on the monstrous figure’s body. Fierce crimson lights burst from the creature’s blood-red eyes. Ignoring Jo Geol’s attack entirely, it thrust its hand straight forward.

If Jo Geol kept extending his sword, he might have pierced his enemy, but he would also had to sacrifice his own neck in exchange.

“Keugh!”

There was no way he could choose to give up his neck in their very first encounter. Swiftly retracting his extended sword, Jo Geol twisted his body aside.

Crunch!

However, the enemy’s speed surpassed Jo Geol’s expectations. The creature’s claws, shrouded in sinister black energy, dug mercilessly into Jo Geol’s shoulder.

“Aaaaaaargh!”

Overwhelmed by the sudden, excruciating pain, Jo Geol couldn’t hold back a scream.

Would Jo Geol, renowned across the world, scream merely from a wound from someone’s claws? The problem was, the moment the claws pierced him, a sinister energy rushed into his body.  Wherever that vile energy surged, it inflicted agonizing pain as if red-hot iron was gouging through his flesh.

“Jo Geol!”

“Damn it!”

No sooner had someone shouted his name than Jo Geol swung his sword horizontally with every ounce of his strength. Even the monster, who had attacked so relentlessly as if he didn’t care about his own life, had no choice but to leap back to avoid this strike.

“Ugh…”

“Are you alright?”

As his worried Sahyeongs tried rushing towards him, Jo Geol lifted his left arm, signaling them to stop. Struggling to steady his ragged breathing, he shouted.

“Be careful!”

“You…”

“Remember Hangzhou! These bastards don’t care about their own lives! Fight them like you would ordinary martial artists, and you’ll suffer greatly!”

“Understood!”

Jo Geol clutched his injured left shoulder tightly.

‘Damn it, such a careless mistake!’

He had been complacent, even though he’d already sensed these foes weren’t ordinary.

He clenched his teeth so hard they made a grinding sound, and tightened his grip on the sword. Frankly speaking, these enemies were formidable foes for Hwasan’s disciples. If Jo Geol and Yoon Jong couldn’t lead from the front, he didn’t even want to imagine the casualties they would suffer.

At that moment, the monster who had been staring at Jo Geol with an utterly expressionless face slowly opened its mouth.

“Heh…”

It was such an eerie sight that calling it a smile felt inaccurate. It was closer to a mechanical movement, as dry and hollow as a crack forming on a stone wall. That unnatural laugh grated harshly on Jo Geol’s nerves.

‘This bastard…?’

For a moment, heat rushed to his head. He squeezed his eyes shut briefly.

“…Hoo.”

After taking a short, calming breath, he raised his sword and slowly moved it through the air.

‘Hm?’

This deliberate movement captured the attention not just of the enemy, but also of Hwasan’s disciples. A peculiar look flickered in their eyes.

‘The Six Harmonies Sword [육합검(六合劍)]?’

‘The opening stance [기수식(起手式)]?’

It was the foundational form of the Six Harmonies Sword, a clear declaration that he intended to unleash the full technique.

The Six Harmonies were Hwasan’s fundamental art. Thus, the opening stance of the Six Harmonies Sword was akin to the very foundation upon which every sword technique of Hwasan rested.

Everyone clearly saw Jo Geol’s previously agitated expression gradually calming down.

‘That guy.’

Jo Geol’s greatest weakness was his tendency to lose his composure easily.

It was innate, not something that could be controlled merely by wishing it away. Precisely because it couldn’t be managed at will, it was a weakness. Perhaps this opening stance, after much deliberation, was Jo Geol’s method to regain control.

Soon enough, Jo Geol’s gaze turned remarkably calm.

Everyone here was fighting with their lives on the line. At the very least, he didn’t want anyone to say he failed to demonstrate his true ability. That was the proper courtesy towards Sahyeongs risking everything alongside him.

“Grrr…”

Perhaps sensing the shift in momentum, the monster hesitated slightly, glaring at Jo Geol.

On the other hand, Jo Geol calmly observed the monsters with even more composed eyes.

“Pair up and attack! These guys have no coordination at all. If you face them calmly, they’re not opponents we can’t handle!”

“Understood!”

Responding to Jo Geol’s command, the disciples immediately moved into formation.

Watching Jo Geol from afar, Yoon Jong suppressed his unease and finally nodded approvingly.

‘This brat is growing even in a situation like this.’

No, thinking about it, growth was inevitable. Because everyone was that desperate.

And this wasn’t limited just to Hwasan. Everyone fighting their enemies on this land was desperate every moment, and growing stronger with each passing second.

‘Right, Sasuk?’

Thinking of Baek Cheon, who must be fighting his own fierce battles somewhere else, Yoon Jong tightened his grip on the sword.

If he were here, he would surely say something like this:

“Don’t let anyone get near that damned brat!”

“Oooooh!”

Along with the shouts that echoed in response, Yoon Jong’s sword traced a vivid crimson arc through the air.

❀ ❀ ❀

“Sa……”

Baek Sang’s eyes widened beyond description.

He opened his mouth as if to speak, but there was no time for words. Like a madman, Baek Sang rushed forward and swung his sword.

The assailant who had struck Baek Cheon swiftly retreated, easily evading Baek Sang’s blade.

“Sahyeong! Aaaah! Sahyeooong!”

With a frantic cry, Baek Sang grabbed Baek Cheon’s shoulder. But Baek Cheon’s body hung limply, completely unresponsive.

Crimson blood seeped continuously into the earth. The meaning was all too clear. Just as blood drained from Baek Cheon’s body, Baek Sang felt his own soul slipping away.

“Daeeehyeeeeop*!”

“W-What do we do?!”

The youths of Diancang, finally grasping the situation, screamed in panic. But their cries never reached Baek Sang’s ears.

“No… No…”

Baek Sang’s hands began to tremble.

This wasn’t right. It couldn’t end this way.

Even if Baek Cheon could no longer perform martial arts, even if he couldn’t continue as Hwasan’s Head Disciple**, even if the one most anguished by losing Baek Cheon’s worth would be Baek Cheon himself…

At least, Baek Cheon was not someone who deserved such an end.

Yet the warmth was cruelly draining away from Baek Cheon’s body in his arms.

“Sa… Sahyeong…”

“What’s all this fuss about?”

With stiff movement, Baek Sang turned towards the voice.

The assailant who had slashed Baek Cheon’s chest stared down at them, a sickening smile lingering on his lips.

“Countless have died in this war. Did you really think you’d remain unscathed until the end?”

“…”

“If you wanted that, you shouldn’t have crawled all the way here without a shred of fear.”

The assailant sneered lightly and raised his hand. Then, ash-gray human silhouettes [인영(人影)] began to reveal themselves from all directions.

“If you’ve got time to worry about others, you’d better start worrying about yourself. Ah, but don’t misunderstand. I’m not telling you to worry about your own life. We can’t leave this area, you see, so things get awfully boring around here.”

The assailant chuckled.

“How long did the last guy hold out, again? I hope you manage at least half a day. Being a disciple of the famous Hwasan Sect, you can at least manage that much, right?”

Baek Sang, who had been silently listening to the mockery, carefully laid Baek Cheon down and stood up.

“You guys.”

“Yes.”

“Protect him.”

It was pointless. Baek Sang knew it, and so did the young disciples who answered him.

Yet none of them – not even Ok Danghyang or any of Diancang’s children – lowered their heads. Instead, they gathered closely around Baek Cheon, determination etched clearly on their faces.

Leaving Baek Cheon entirely in their care, Baek Sang focused solely on his enemies. As he pointed his sword, a single phrase echoed in his mind.

The few cannot defeat the many [중과부적(眾寡不敵)***].

He couldn’t win. Perhaps Yu Iseol or Jo Geol might have managed to reverse this dire situation, but the extremely ordinary Baek Sang lacked the skill to overcome so many opponents.

The only thing he could gain here was certain death. That was all.

If he chose to flee, there might still be a slim chance of survival. If what the assailant said earlier about being unable to leave this area was true, breaking through their encirclement meant no pursuit would follow.

Yes, fleeing would undeniably be the right choice. Guarding Baek Cheon’s already lifeless body, throwing away his own life to protect children he’d just met – no sane person would argue that was the right choice.

‘But so what?’

Baek Sang gritted his teeth hard.

“If I’d planned to choose only the right and easy paths, I wouldn’t have followed that man in the first place.”

What else could he do? That was all he’d ever known, all he’d ever seen.

One might deceive their own mind, but one could never deceive their heart. Rather than living a lifetime with guilt, he’d rather die with a clear conscience.

Baek Sang aimed his sword at the assailant who looked like their leader. Then he muttered quietly, just loud enough for the children to hear.

“I’ll create an opening somehow. Use that chance to take Sahyeong and escape.”

“But…”

“No buts! Just do as I say!”

Baek Sang bit down hard on his lip.

‘Here I go again, doing something that doesn’t suit me at all.’

Pretending to be a hero like this was completely unlike him. His proper place was always behind those exceptional heroes, quietly supporting them from afar.

“Trembling like a leaf and still putting on a brave front, huh.”

The assailant sneered mockingly, signaling with a jerk of his chin.

“Cut off his limbs first.”

“Yes.”

As soon as the order was given, the gray-clad figures surged towards Baek Sang.

“Aaaaah!”

Refusing to back down, Baek Sang roared fiercely, swinging his sword.

But shouting didn’t make his sword any sharper. In fact, his boiling blood made the tip of his sword tremble uncontrollably.

Clang!

He swung desperately, parrying an incoming blade.

Clang! Clang!

Several sharp clashes rang out in quick succession. Yet with every collision, Baek Sang’s sword lost more strength, repeatedly knocked backward.

‘Damn it!’

Flames flickered in Baek Sang’s eyes.

These men weren’t even particularly skilled. No matter how plentiful Sapaeryeon’s manpower was, they wouldn’t waste their elites on a place like this.

It was simply that Baek Sang was already too exhausted to handle even these opponents. Or perhaps he was just weak.

Without the reputation of Hwasan, without those guiding him and fighting alongside him, he would forever remain just ordinary. That was Baek Sang’s honest self-assessment.

For someone so mediocre, this moment felt like a heavy punishment.

‘Even so!’

Clenching his teeth, Baek Sang swung his sword once more.

But perhaps that zeal had become his own poison. The blade that needed to remain cool and precise wavered, allowing an incoming sword to slip past his defense, aiming straight for his neck.

‘Huh?’

Baek Sang’s eyes widened in shock.

“You worthless idiots!”

Thunk!

A sword came crashing down from above, stabbing straight through the enemy’s head. Startled, Baek Sang turned to look.

“You…?”

“I told you to hurry the hell up, you dumb bastards!”

Yu Gong landed beside Baek Sang, his face twisted like a demon’s as he shouted in fury.