Now it’s just the beginning. (4)

Gwak Hwanso, having finished a brief energy circulation session, opened his eyes. As he checked his condition, a sense of gloom lingered on his face.

‘This much…’

Normally, Sojucheon* would have mostly relieved the accumulated fatigue in his body. However, it was not the case now. Although his inner strength had somewhat recovered, his body still felt heavy, like soaked cotton.

What was even worse was that the foggy sensation in his head didn’t seem to dissipate.

Nevertheless, Gwak Hwanso decided not to push himself further and rose from his place. The enemies continued to pursue them relentlessly. If they were caught up to, it would be disastrous.

‘But… Can we really escape?’

Their actions until now didn’t seem wrong.

They were piercing through the enemy’s lines at a surprising speed. Without the help of Hwasan, they wouldn’t have dared to attempt it.

However, this only increased their anxiety.

‘Even at this speed… We can’t outrun the enemy.’

Could they really reach Yangtze River safely? Would they be able to maintain this speed the whole breakthrough through Gangnam?

Gwak Hwanso brushed aside the anxious thoughts plaguing his mind. It was not only due to his mental fortitude but also because Lee Jayang, who had been practicing alongside him, rose from his place at that moment.

“Are you alright?”

“My body isn’t cooperating.”

“Yeah. Same here.”

Lee Jayang sighed deeply and looked around. Many other disciples were still in meditation. After a brief moment of hesitation, Lee Jayang spoke again.

“Sahyeong.”

“Don’t dwell on it.”

Gwak Hwanso nodded.

“Let’s just focus on escaping their clutches for now.”

“Yes, Sahyeong.”

Haenam’s disciples who had finished their meditation, were rising one by one from their seats. Their faces were marked with the same heavy weariness.

“Are you alright, Saje?”

“…Yes, Sahyeong. I’m fine.”

“There’s no place worse than this hell…”

Those who had risen first had to wait for those still in meditation. During this time, all they could do was discuss their current situation.

And neither Geum Yangbaek nor Gwak Hwanso could prevent whatever conversation transpired between them.

“How far have we come?”

“It’s only Guangdong. We’ve just managed to barely pass the Dam River.”

“…Barely?”

The one who had posed the question paled and fell silent.

Of course, it wasn’t a short distance.

From the coast where they landed to the Dam River, the distance wasn’t much different from traversing Hainan. It was a journey that would take an ordinary person at least five days.

To cover such a distance in just half a day was indeed remarkable progress. However…

“Barely…”

Even the disciples of Haenam knew.

Gangnam is vast. And the distance they had traveled so far was only a fraction of what they had yet to break through.

Yeah. A fraction.

Barely a tenth of the distance they needed to cover.

Yet, having barely ran that much distance, their stamina had already plummeted to the bottom, and they had lost six disciples. Including those lost in Hainan, there had been sacrifices numbering in the tens just to get here.

So, even with simple calculations, there would be over a hundred casualties by the time they reached the Yangtze.

No. Even that calculation isn’t accurate. As they move forward, the enemies will only grow stronger, more persistent, and more relentless. Considering that…

Having the mental capacity to think wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Those who had been exerting all their efforts just to move their weary legs found themselves contemplating the situation now that they had a chance to catch their breath.

Realizing how reckless their actions had been and how dire the situation they had walked into was.

Amidst the collective dismay, someone spoke up with a voice trembling with fear.

“Isn’t it… true that the main force of Maninbang hasn’t even arrived yet?”

It was undoubtedly the worst thing that could have been said in this situation.

“We’re being chased from behind… and if similar reinforcements come from the front, won’t we just be surrounded and killed?”

“Why are you suddenly saying that now! You weren’t oblivious when you came!”

“Oh, no, I knew… but…”

Thinking vaguely about something and experiencing it firsthand were two entirely different things. But those words couldn’t be uttered. It would only admit to one’s own negligence.

They didn’t know. They didn’t know how easily a person could die.

And how casually a person’s death could be treated.

While they had imagined heroic deaths in battle since childhood, who would have imagined running until the sky roared, escaping only to be stabbed in the side and left to die on the roadside? Even worse, being left lying there, discarded like trash after death.

“If this was going to happen, we should’ve stayed in Hainan…”

“Enough.”

Gwak Hwanso interrupted their conversation with timely intervention.

“There will be plenty of time for pointless talk once we’re out of the enemy’s clutches. Save your strength for now.”

“Sahyeong… but…”

“Didn’t you hear, Sahyeong?”

Lee Jayang narrowed his eyes fiercely. In response, the disciples bowed their heads deeply.

Gwak Hwanso let out a heavy sigh.

‘This isn’t something I should be saying.’

He had been thinking the same thing just a moment ago. Well, to be honest, there wasn’t much difference even now.

Then, Yang Po, who had been cultivating his energy until the last moment, stood up.

“Yang Po, are you okay?”

“…Yes, Sahyeong.”

Yang Po rubbed his thigh, soaked in blood. The thigh that had been pierced was still far from healing.

“The wound looks severe…”

“Can you walk?”

Other disciples gathered around him with worried expressions. Even at a glance, Yang Po’s wound looked serious.

“I’m… fine.”

“Fine?!”

“No, the wound is not…”

“Damn it! Can’t you just go?!”

Everyone was startled when Yang Po suddenly screamed out. All eyes were on him.

“Why are you acting like this when you said you’re fine?!”

“No, I just…”

“I can run! I said I’m fine!”

The others fell silent, realizing what was going on. They knew what Yang Po was thinking.

If he couldn’t run properly, if his injury was too severe to keep up with the pace of the group, what would happen? Would someone carry him and run instead?

Others were exhausted as well. It wasn’t easy to drag their own bodies along. In such a situation, there was no room to care for the injured.

If they were conducting an orderly and systematic retreat, they could bring the injured along. But when fleeing from the enemy, the injured were usually the first to be abandoned. No matter how strong their sense of duty, how many would sacrifice their lives to save others?

“What are you thinking! You madman!”

The fierce glare in his eyes said it all. Right now, Yang Po was afraid of being abandoned. He was terrified at the thought of his lifelong companions, his Sahyeongs, considering him a burden and leaving him behind.

“Surely we wouldn’t…”

Those who had been about to scold him for his doubts and fears suddenly found themselves at a loss for words.

They were taken aback.

They had always boasted that they would never abandon each other, that they would die together if need be.

In normal circumstances, they could have confidently declared this without hesitation. But now they knew. The word “normal” held no meaning here. Everything they had upheld until now was worthless here.

That’s why they were afraid. Afraid of facing a situation where their words contradicted their actions.

“What do you mean? What are you trying to say?”

Yang Po spat violently and shouted. Then, a calm and firm voice interjected.

“Please step aside.”

Suddenly, Tang Soso approached, holding several tools in her arms.

“Aren’t you stepping aside?”

“Ar-are you a physician?”

“Yes. I’m originally from the Tang clan.”

“Oh…”

The people surrounding Yang Po quickly moved aside. Tang Soso approached Yang Po swiftly and examined his injured area.

“Hmm. It’s gotten worse.”

In reality, if he hadn’t continued to move after being injured, the penetrating wound would have started to heal by now. However, because he had kept running despite the injury, the wound had worsened even more. It was fortunate that it hadn’t become infected yet, but immediate treatment was necessary.

“Someone bring clean water.”

“Y- yes, right here.”

Tang Soso took the water that someone had offered her and looked at Yang Po.

“Hold on.”

“Yes…? What’s… ah!”

At that moment, a scream erupted from Yang Po’s mouth.

Tang Soso had grabbed Yang Po’s wound with her fingers and poured water into it. Then, she grimaced and shook her head.

“…This won’t do.”

Those damn Sapa bastards don’t even properly maintain their weapons. Members of the Just Sects are taught to treat their weapons as their own lives, so even during battle, their weapons are often clean. That’s why wounds don’t easily fester.

But the weapons of Sapa bastards are often rusted or covered in filth. That’s why wounds tend to fester easily. If not properly cleaned, the blood will rot, and it becomes irreversible.

“Sahyeong! Chung Myung Sahyeong!”

At Tang Soso’s shout, Chung Myung, who was standing far away, furrowed his brow.

“Why?”

“Do you have alcohol?”

“Tsk.”

Chung Myung tossed the flask that was hanging from his waist to Tang Soso. Catching it, she immediately opened the cap and sniffed.

“Ugh, it’s poisoned.”

The smell of alcohol pricked her nose so sharply that her brow furrowed even more.

“Anyway, if that guy drinks it, he’ll only have the strongest staff.”

But that’s just what’s needed at times like this. Tang Soso looked at Yang Po and spoke firmly once again.

“Hold on.”

“What?! What, what’s happening… Aaah!”

This time, Yang Po’s eyes rolled back, and he fell backwards.

It’s a poisoned drink that feels like it’s burning your throat even when consumed with a healthy mouth. Since it entered the gaping wound, the pain would have been unbearable, making it difficult to endure in a sober state.

“Done.”

Tang Soso, after putting down the flask, applied ointment to the wound and swiftly began stitching it with a needle and thread.

“Ugh… uuh…”

Even to an outsider, her swift and precise movements were remarkable. The wide-open wound closed in an instant, leaving no trace.

“You endured well.”

Tang Soso nodded as she wrapped the stitched area with a bandage. With this, there shouldn’t be any problems. The alcohol carried by Chung Myung is so potent that simply pouring it on can serve as disinfectant.

“However… it seems you shouldn’t use your leg for a while.”

At her words, everyone turned to each other with pale faces.

How could they not use their legs in this situation? This was even more despairing than the news that the wound couldn’t be treated immediately.

“Who should carry him?”

The disciples of Haenam exchanged glances.

It’s only natural to want to carry an injured comrade. But hesitating is natural when that choice could potentially endanger ine’s life.

“Then, I’ll…”

Gwak Hwanso, who had been observing the situation, was about to step forward, but Tang Soso called out to someone.

“Monk Hye Yeon.”

“Yes, Siju.”

“You need to carry him for about an hour. Can you do it?”

“Amitabha. Of course.”

“Please try not to shake him too much. We don’t want the wound to worsen.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Hye Yeon’s face remained calm. The disciples of Haenam looked at him in bewilderment.

‘How can he… How can he take this so casually?’

How could someone unrelated to Haenam…

“And also.”

At that moment, Tang Soso’s voice once again captured their attention.

“Whether it’s a minor injury or anything else, if you’ve sustained any wounds, don’t waste time and come quickly. If the wound worsens later, it will be truly bad.”

“…”

“What are you waiting for, hurry!”

“T-then, I-I have an injury on my arm…”

“I’ve injured my leg too.”

Those who were wounded began to gather around Tang Soso.