Only that name should be engraved. (1)

“Here they come!”

“Damn it! Fire! Shoot them dead!”

The gunner, his face pale with dread as he aimed the cannon, shouted.

Of course, even as he yelled, he knew his words made no sense. After all, a cannon was not meant for individual combatants. While it could be effective against densely packed groups, it was impossible to accurately target a single person with a cannon.

Moreover, when facing not ordinary assailants but an expert from Hwasan who had effortlessly cut down those who had been protecting them, the cannon was even more ineffective.

“Fire, damn it, quickly!”

Boom!

The cannon belched flames towards Jo Geol, who was charging forward with determination. The cannonball shot out at a terrifying speed.

However, Jo Geol didn’t even blink and continued his charge unabated. The cannonball narrowly missed his head, crashing into a large, sturdy tree behind him.

Kuuuuuuuuung!

The tree, thicker than a human torso, snapped and splintered under the force of the impact, showcasing the true power of the cannon.

However, no matter how powerful the attack, it’s meaningless if it doesn’t hit the target.

“Reload! Quickly!”

Hands swiftly reloaded the cannon.

But before they could fire again, in the blink of an eye, Jo Geol had already reached them.

“This…!”

Boom!

Stepping into the ground, Jo Geol swung his sword with immense strength.

“You bastards!”

Boom!

With a tearing sound that split the air, a vivid red line was drawn in the sky. Those who were near the cannon were cleaved in half and crumbled in an instant.

“Sa… save us…”

Whoosh!

Without hesitation, Jo Geol plunged his sword into the heart of one of the enemies, swiftly pulling it out before the heartbeat could even be felt at the tip of the sword.

Screams erupted as blood sprayed and splattered onto the cannon.

Whack! Whack! Whack!

Jo Geol breathed heavily, scanning his surroundings. There was no one left alive in sight, only corpses drenched in blood, slowly cooling.

Suddenly, he bit down on his lip firmly, then stomped on the still-smoldering cannon, the muzzle flashing towards the sky.

Boom!

Soon, a cannonball soared high into the sky.

Boom!

Seeing the cannon shoot upwards, Baek Cheon immediately understood the situation and shouted loudly.

“Let’s go, everyone! Now!”

The situation was dire. More than half of the elders were either poisoned or injured, and disciples of Haenam also suffered numerous wounds.

Only those who were barely able to hold onto their swords remained, while the injured struggled to run, and others were completely exhausted.

Despite the grim circumstances, everyone responded to Baek Cheon’s command, the voice they had heard relentlessly from the coast of Hainan to this moment.

Now, that voice wielded absolute power over Haenam’s disciples.

“This way!”

Baek Cheon shouted, leading the charge.

For the exhausted ones, it was easier to comprehend and follow actions rather than understanding words.

“Follow Vice Sect Leader!”

“Move! Do you want to die here?”

As Namgung Dowi and Hye Yeon fiercely shouted, Geum Yangbaek roared loudly.

“What are you doing! Follow Vice Sect Leader immediately! Elders, gather up the injured disciples! Hurry!”

Despite the astonishing sight of Haenam’s elders standing, they did not forget their duties. The elders, with difficulty, gathered the injured disciples and followed behind Geum Yangbaek, leading the way behind Baek Cheon.

The able-bodied disciples of Haenam instinctively followed, exerting all their strength to keep up.

“What the hell are you doing!”

Im Sobyeong exploded with anger as he dragged Tang Soso from behind. She was clinging to one dying Haenam’s disciple.

“Let go! If I finish treating this one!”

“They’re already dead! They are!!”

“They’re not… they’re not dead yet!”

“Snap out of it! If you die, the others will die too!”

At those words, Tang Soso’s eyes flickered. Just by looking at her eyes, one could tell how she was pushed to her limit by these emotions.

However, Im Sobyeong paid no attention to her feelings and forcefully grabbed her, kicking her to the ground.

Amidst everyone rushing forward, Gwak Hwanso approached those who didn’t move their feet.

“What are you doing? Follow us immediately!”

“Dae-Daesahyeong!”

Those who didn’t know what to do looked at Gwak Hwanso with despair in their eyes.

“T-The wounds of Sahyeongs… They’re…”

Gwak Hwanso’s gaze fell downward. Saje was moaning, blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his chest.

Understanding the situation, Gwak Hwanso involuntarily clenched his fist.

Other injured people could be moved somehow. Even if they died, they could die together.

But not them. They couldn’t be carried. Their wounds were too severe. Moving them carelessly would only reopen their wounds, hastening their demise.

Tang Soso managed to provide first aid somehow, but those who had no strength left to continue the forced march were left behind.

Gwak Hwanso gritted his teeth. The muscles in his jaw tightened.

“Go!”

“Yes?”

“I said go!”

“B-But where? Sahyeong!”

Realizing the meaning behind Gwak Hwanso’s words, someone shouted desperately.

“They’re still alive, still! What nonsense is this! Are you suggesting we leave them here like this? That’s…”

“Shut up and move!”

“Daesahyeong!”

As Saje cried out, Gwak Hwanso grabbed his collar and pulled him forcefully. His bloodshot eyes glared fiercely at his tearful Saje.

“Well? Will you die here with them?”

There was no immediate response. Gwak Hwanso shoved him aside. There was no time to argue.

If Chung Myung, who is blocking the attack from the rear, is pushed back and the gorge is opened again, the hordes of Maninbang’s warriors will pour out like a torrent from there.

These exhausted people couldn’t even muster any resistance. They would all perish without even swinging a sword once.

Having barely escaped from these hellish ordeal, they couldn’t afford to die such futile deaths!

“Go, right now! If you don’t want to die by my hands!”

Whether it was because they were intimidated by Gwak Hwanso’s momentum or because they realized there was no other choice, the fallen disciple of Haenam soon cried out in despair and ran forward.

Those who had hesitated until the very end eventually followed.

Gwak Hwanso, who had been tilting his head back as if trying to hold back his tears, lowered his gaze again.

Even in that brief moment, Gwak Hwanso was terrified.

Though injured, they hadn’t lost consciousness, so they must have heard everything he said. He was so scared to see resentment in their eyes and to hear their sharp, dagger-like words.

But what Gwak Hwanso saw was far from what he expected.

“S…ahyeo…ng…”

Some disciples who had collapsed with pallid faces pointed to themselves with trembling hands.

Gwak Hwanso was speechless. As he grasped the meaning behind their words, the weight on his shoulders finally crushed him.

“S…a…hyeong…”

“Ugh…”

He wanted to cover his ears. He would rather fall on a blade in hand. He wanted to run away.

“S…ahyeong…”

“Aaaaahhh!”

With a scream, Gwak Hwanso swung his sword like lightning. Blood gushed from split lips.

His cherished sword, adorned with the wave pattern symbolizing Haenam, swiftly cleaved through the necks of Haenam’s disciples.

Swish!

Blood spurted from severed necks, and a faint smile appeared on the lips of the fading Haenam’s disciples.

“T…thank…you…”

“s…s…survive…”

Without waiting to hear those words, Gwak Hwanso rushed forward.

No, it would be more accurate to say he fled without listening.

Farther and farther.

There were no more tears.

He knew there was no other choice. They couldn’t fight anymore, yet they couldn’t simply die either.

But leaving them like this would only lead to them being captured by vile Maninbang, enduring all sorts of humiliating torments before dying in agony.

In that case, it would be better for him to personally end their lives with his own hands.

So, this was the path to help them. Gwak Hwanso understood that much.

“Aaaaahhh!”

Yet, understanding didn’t make the piercing pain in his chest disappear. Understanding didn’t change the fact that he had severed the necks of his Sahyeongs he had lived with for a lifetime.

‘Survive.’

The concept of honorable death seemed to have vanished from his mind entirely.

He had to survive.

Surviving meant he must exact revenge, and shed as many blood as Hawnam had shed here… No, he must shed the blood of their enemies a hundredfold, a thousandfold.

‘I will survive by any means necessary! I swear!’

A horrifying determination gleamed in his eyes as he exerted all his strength.

“Sasuk! Ahead!”

“We haven’t identified all the archers’ positions! There might be more ambushes ahead!”

Yoon Jong replied urgently, joining Baek Cheon swiftly.

Moments later, Jo Geol also sprinted forward with all his might.

“All cannons have been dealt with!”

“Take the lead! We don’t know how many more ambushes there might be!”

“Sago! Sago is heading to the rear! She is injured!”

Baek Cheon instinctively turned to the direction Jo Geol mentioned.

They had already entered a forest path, and in the distance, through the bushes, a deep gorge was seen spliting the earth as if cleaved by a celestial sword.

Even without further explanation, Baek Cheon could guess what had happened.

“Chung Myung must be at his limit! Sago is injured, she can’t handle it alone! We need to help!”

For a moment, conflict flickered across Baek Cheon’s face.

He had to go.

Just hearing Jo Geol’s words made the situation clear. And right now, Baek Cheon was the only one who could afford to go back.

But if he pulled himself out and left the others behind to face the ambush ahead, would they be able to break through on their own?

“…Jo Geol.”

“Yes, Sasuk!”

“You take the lead.”

“A-Are you going, Sasuk?”

“…”

“Sasuk?”

Baek Cheon remained silent. For a moment, Jo Geol’s eyes flickered.

“Sasuk! Sago is severely wounded! It’s not a usual injury!”

“I said take the lead!”

As Baek Cheon shouted in rage, Jo Geol flinched.

For a moment, Jo Geol stared at Baek Cheon with bloodshot eyes. His expression seemed to show he was ready to charge forward and throw a punch.

“So, you’re leaving them behind?”

“They’re not the kind who can’t take care of themselves! They’ll definitely catch up!”

“You said you’d run away even if it meant leaving others behind!”

Baek Cheon fell silent as if his words had been cut off. His determined gaze trembled slightly.

“You told us! You said it to me, didn’t you, Sasuk!”

“…”

“Chung Myung is going to die! Sago is going to die! Do you not understand the situation? Have you lost your mind!”

“Shut your mouth!”

The shout erupted not from Baek Cheon, but from Yoon Jong. Yoon Jong glared at Jo Geol with a contorted face reminiscent of a demon.

“Sahyeong. But…”

“Just shut up!”

As Yoon Jong shouted again, Jo Geol’s hand, holding the sword, trembled faintly.

Jo Geol’s gaze shifted desperately to Haenam sect, who were following closely behind. But the eyes watching them were no longer the same as before.

“What do these…?”

“Jo Geol!”

“Damn it, why do we have to do this! You’re all insane! You’re out of your minds, you bastards!”

“You damn bastard!”

As Yoon Jong moved to grab Jo Geol’s collar, Jo Geol couldn’t bear it and struck his hand away. Then, leaving bewildered Yoon Jong behind, he ran towards the gorge.

“Geol! Jo Geol, you bastard!”

“Let him go.”

At Baek Cheon’s words, Yoon Jong turned. Baek Cheon’s eyes were shining with terrifying light.

“…You lead the way from the front. Make it to Gangbuk alive. No matter what.”

“…Yes, Sasuk.”

It felt like somewhere, something was breaking.

Perhaps it was an omen of a catastrophe.

Baek Cheon’s hands, hidden within his sleeves so others couldn’t see, were trembling pitifully.