The preparations are now complete. (3)

“Shoot, shoot!”

“Arrrggh!”

Arrows flew through the air. Jo Geol’s face contorted in frustration.

“These damn arrows! I’m so sick of them!”

Thud!

As he struck the ground, his sword sliced through the air like a beam of light. In the space where the sword’s image was drawn, the raining arrows bounced off like raindrops hitting a roof.

“Ugh!”

After dealing with the arrows and landing, Jo Geol grabbed his side and groaned. Then, he let out a roar.

“Are those Sapa bastards too cowardly to come at us with swords and instead shoot arrows? Have they no shame?”

Baek Cheon muttered in a puzzled voice.

“Are they not Sapa because they’re cowardly?”

What exactly does that guy think Sapa looks like?

While Baek Cheon was bemused, Yoon Jong was worried about Jo Geol.

“Don’t boast and just step back! You’re not even fit to fight!”

“Hey, where’s someone healthy here? We’re all the same.”

“That crazy bastard…”

Jo Geol charged forward again. A nonsensical wind erupted from Yoon Jong’s mouth.

Of course, he wasn’t entirely wrong. Right now, there are fewer healthy people here than those who aren’t.

The problem is that even among the unhealthy, there are different levels.

“You’re nothing but a half-cooked idiot!”

Yoon Jong’s eyes flared as he struck the ground. Instead of preaching to Jo Geol not to boast, it would be better to preach to a three-month-old puppy not to bark and to stay quiet.

“Taaaaap!”

With one blow, Yoon Jong surged forward, piercing the throat of the opponent facing Jo Geol.

Jo Geol’s eyes widened.

“S-Sahyeong! That was mine!”

“Shut your mouth, you idiot!”

Yoon Jong, who had just spat out harsh words unbecoming of a Taoist, immediately lowered his stance and countered the attack from the approaching enemy. Just as he was about to continue his retaliation, suddenly someone’s back appeared, surpassing him and driving the sword downward.

Thunk!

“Kwerrrrk!”

The expression of disbelief on Sapa’s face crumbled as his chest was pierced through cleanly. Without hesitation, the swordsman who swiftly drew his sword pushed aside the falling Sapa and shouted forcefully.

“S-Sasuk… Huh?”

Yoon Jong, who had assumed it was Baek Cheon, flinched for a moment. It wasn’t Hwasan’s uniform.

“Crush them! It’s nothing!”

To Yoon Jong’s left and right, warriors dressed in blue robes swiftly passed by. Yoon Jong couldn’t help but laugh for a moment.

‘I’ve seen this scene somewhere before…’

Gwak Hwanso, who had defeated the enemy, didn’t even look back. Behind him, the disciples of Haenam followed closely like shadows.

Yoon Jong instinctively twirled his sword to flick away the blood and straightened his posture.

‘Is this what they mean by ‘remarkable’?’

Of course, they still had a long way to go. If he were to imitate Chung Myung’s tone, he might say, ‘You’re still far off, you brats.’

This wasn’t just Yoon Jong being arrogant.

Objectively speaking, they still looked like young children wielding famous swords. This was especially true in the way they found it difficult to even properly use the martial arts skills they had acquired.

However, despite that, they were still wielding their famous swords. It was a stark contrast to the trembling and fearful demeanor they had shown when they first held those swords, not even knowing what they held in their hands.

“…Experience really does make a difference.”

“Oh, damn it! Watch your mouth!”

“Huh?”

Yoon Jong, who had been muttering to himself, turned around in surprise at the sudden interruption. Jo Geol, his face contorted, shouted loudly.

“I understand what you’re thinking about, Sahyeong, but if you say it like that, it justifies all the hell that bastard put us through!”

Of course, he was referring to Chung Myung.

“…That’s not right.”

This is one thing, and that’s another. Ahh…

“So just keep your mouth shut!”

“…Understood.”

Yoon Jong humbly replied. But soon after, he chuckled.

The enemies blocking their path weren’t particularly strong, but if Haenam hadn’t intervened and provided support, there wouldn’t have been a chance for Jo Geol to chat comfortably like this.

‘As long as we fight calmly, we can’t be underestimated.’

Although it is called the cornerstone of Gupailbang, it is still one of the Great Sects. There is bound to be a huge difference between sects that are called ‘Gupailbang’ and sects that are not.

If they continue to fight like this, they will surely become a formidable force. And when the moment comes when they no longer hesitate to fight, they might even become one of the sects representing Cheonumaeng.

Especially…

“The tip of your sword is wavering! Don’t get excited!”

“Yes!”

Yoon Jong narrowed his eyes.

‘That person is truly remarkable.’

His gaze was fixed on Gwak Hwanso, who fought fiercely yet never forgot to give precise instructions.

‘Because of him, I sometimes forget that a Sect Leader of Haenam is here.’

It’s something that wouldn’t have been possible under normal circumstances.

Even as a future Sect Leader, one cannot dare to compare oneself to current Sect Leader. Although he may become a Sect Leader in the future, comparing what has already been achieved to ambiguous possibilities seems inappropriate, doesn’t it?

But what’s remarkable about Gwak Hwanso is that he occasionally makes even Yoon Jong, who knows this fact well, forget it.

The image of Gwak Hwanso from the past Martial Arts Competition is already fading from the memory. His current appearance is so intense that the past is completely forgotten.

A bitter smile formed on Yoon Jong’s lips.

Now, he understood why those who knew Hwasan were always surprised when they saw the current Five Swords. Of course, it would be surprising to see that Gwak Hwanso has changed even half as much.

“Sahyeong, up ahead!”

“I know!”

“I’ll take the lead.”

“Step aside! This is my place!”

And the disciples of Haenam, who receive such instructions from Gwak Hwanso, also show unwavering trust in him.

When people overcome crises together, they often become even closer than before. The bonds they have built during this short period may even surpass the long time they spent together within the sect.

‘They’re getting stronger.’

Of course, the losses suffered by Haenam are not easily recoverable. They have lost a lot. They had to leave Hainan, which had been their stronghold, and in the process, many disciples left. Even among the remaining disciples, nearly half were sacrificed while breaking through Gangnam.

From a sober evaluation, it’s possible that Haenam has already lost its qualification to be called a sect within Gupailbang. Even if there are no further losses, it will undoubtedly take a long time to regain the lost strength.

However, Yoon Jong still believed that Haenam would become even stronger.

He had already experienced that strengthening a sect wasn’t about conditions. It wasn’t about land, wealth, or even legitimacy. What truly strengthened a sect was the determination and will of those who stood against its enemies.

And Haenam had that now, something it didn’t have when they left.

“Yeah. Let’s get stronger…”

“Don’t daydream on the battlefield, you pathetic bastard!”

With a fierce shout, Baek Cheon rushed forward like a gust of wind. Yoon Jong’s eyebrows arched slightly.

‘Should I suggest swapping Sect Leaders with Haenam?’

Would Haenam even accept it?

Yoon Jong chuckled at the thought, quickly gripping his sword and following behind Baek Cheon.

“The number of the enemies are increasing, Sasuk.”

“It will increase even more.”

Baek Cheon calmly assessed the enemies charging towards them.

‘They’re still manageable.’

Honestly, they weren’t much of a threat. There was no need for him to face minor sects that had gathered for a mere skirmish. Moreover, they couldn’t even be considered worthy opponents for Haenam now.

What mattered was not how easy the enemies were to deal with. It was the fact that the enemies had started to identify Cheonumaeng’s and Haenam’s location.

Now they would have to cross the treacherous path once again.

‘But that also means, in other words, we’re almost reaching the Yangtze River.’

Once they overcome this crisis, there will be Gangbuk. It’s a peaceful land where no one attacks, even if you lie down with your legs stretched out.

There might be a hellish ordeal waiting ahead, worse than anything they’ve faced so far, but there’s no way to reach Gangbuk without breaking through it.

“Nokrim King!”

“Yes, Vice Sect Leader.”

“How much farther to Nanjing?”

“If we travel at full speed…”

Im Sobyeong glanced briefly at the dark sky. After a moment’s consideration, he replied in a calm voice.

“At best, it will take a day.”

“A day…”

Baek Cheon’s expression darkened slightly.

‘It seems our fate will be decided within a day.’

With the Yangtze River ahead, there’s no opportunity to scout the crossing before making any decision. The decision must be made upon reaching the river: whether to cross it or to fight and potentially die.

‘And the latter is not an option.’

That must be ensured.

“Deal with those over there first, then change direction!”

“Do we really need to? We only have about a day’s journey left.”

“It’s not what’s ahead that’s the problem, it’s what’s behind! Aren’t there pursuers?”

“Oh…”

Jo Geol quickly nodded. The real threat they need to be wary of right now isn’t the pathetic Sapa bastards blocking their path, but the pursuing troops of Maninbang and Ho Gamyeong with only murder in their eyes.

“They know we’re heading towards the Yangtze River, but they don’t know we’re going to Nanjing. There’s no need to give them our exact direction.”

“Understood!”

“Lee Sohyeop!”

“Yes, Vice Sect Leader!”

“Make sure to relay this to Sect Leader! And ensure that clear markings are left to prevent any confusion in direction!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll personally see to it.”

Baek Cheon nodded.

Thanks to the separate group led by Geum Yangbaek, there was room to take a breather. Defense is always easier when the places to block are narrower. Just by dividing the group into two, tremendous advantages followed.

‘He’s an impressive person.’

Geum Yangbaek doesn’t possess the same strong leadership as other Sect Leaders, but he has unwavering trust that others don’t. Entrusting the command of disciples on the enemy’s territory to others and organizing a separate unit to move is not an easy choice.

But Geum Yangbaek volunteered for that role. It’s to save as many disciples as possible and send them to Gangbuk.

“I can’t afford to lose either.”

“Yes?”

Baek Cheon, without answering, grasped his sword and looked straight ahead.

“Let’s go! Follow me prepared to die!”

“Yes!”

Leading the elites of Cheonumaeng, he dashed forward.

There was determination to survive, hope for what could be achieved, and even fervor to overcome. All of it mixed together and surged forward.

Yet, amidst this fervent atmosphere, one person’s gaze remained calm and collected.

‘A day.’

It was a time frame that felt both fleeting and endless, particularly when facing it on enemy grounds.

Turning his head slightly, Chung Myung, who had been observing everything from behind, looked back.

Chung Myung, who knew this harsh reality better than anyone, had eerily dark eyes.