It is the regret you will come to have. (5)

The world trembled. No, it surged in upheaval.

“Run!”

One realized anew that to make one’s blood boil, neither long speeches nor passionate encouragements were needed.

Just charging towards the enemy was enough to make the morale of Sapaeyeon rise like never before. More than eighty percent of this strangely rising fervor was likely stirred up by that man in the lead, wearing a red long robe.

War requires justification. Supplies are also important. Flawless tactics and execution are indispensable.

But witnessing this scene, one would come to a new realization.

For those who call themselves the Evil Sects, more important than all those things is only one: the certainty of victory.

“To think it’s to this extent….”

Cheon Myeon Susa Dam Yeohae let out a faint groan. His bewildered gaze was fixed on the red long robe fluttering at the forefront.

‘He must be that confident.’

In battles where Jang Ilso personally steps forward, he does not lose.

He always wins.

To those who bear the name of ‘Evil [사(邪) – sa]’ this proposition is closer to faith than firm belief. Cheon Myeon Susa glanced sideways to the rear.

‘Even these guys are the same.’

Even Haomun’s disciples, who should be following his command, not Sapaeryeon’s Ryeonju, had a strange fervor in their eyes.

‘So this is Jang Ilso.’

An eerie level of control.

They seemed to believe that the previous defeat was because Jang Ilso was absent. Because Sapaeryeon always won where Jang Ilso was present.

But that wasn’t all.

‘What if he had given a long explanation and prepared them in advance?’

It might have been easier to grasp the situation and the tactics. They might have been able to prepare for battle more thoroughly.

But the kind of fervent atmosphere like now would have been absolutely impossible.

Because if they had time during the war, they would inevitably think about defeat. Defeat in the war means death, and death is frightening to everyone.

Jang Ilso did not allow them the leisure to be consumed by worries. He only gave them time to be excited and filled with anticipation. Yes, just like now.

At the tip of his tongue a bitter taste lingered.

Cheon Myeon Susa glanced to the side at a group visible far off in the distance. The expression of the man leading at the front was quite a sight.

‘Lord of the Sun Palace.’

He must find it absurd. He probably can’t readily understand this heated atmosphere. Or perhaps, even as royalty, is he feeling an inferiority complex towards Jang Ilso, who has so effortlessly achieved what even he cannot?

However, Cheon Myeon Susa could not mock the Lord of the Sun Palace. For his own expression was probably not much different.

‘Maninbang, Haomun, Southern Sea Sun Palace, the Blood Palace that’s not here. And… even the remnants of Surochae and Black Ghost.”

Their forces are more than sufficient. They are not lacking to contend with those Just Sects’ scoundrels. If they add overflowing morale on top of that?

‘No, there’s even one more, isn’t there?’

Haomunju’s gaze moved one last time.

Over there, a group of people dressed in black, their faces covered with black masks, were running silently.

❀ ❀ ❀

He felt as if his soul kept escaping from his body.

Although the mask that Jin Songwon had put on him clung tenaciously to his skin, Baek Cheon didn’t even think it was suffocating.

Because he was already greatly shocked by something else.

‘They’re launching a full-scale attack this abruptly?’

This isn’t like Jang Ilso. Or is it exactly like him?

It’s a full-scale attack with no tactics or strategy in sight. It’s an absurd move that the Jang Ilso Baek Cheon had known so far would never undertake. But precisely because of that, isn’t it quintessentially like Jang Ilso? Because no one would expect Sapaeryeon to charge in headlong at this point.

‘Just what on earth…!’

However, Baek Cheon wasn’t even given the time to organize his thoughts.

“Move quickly!”

“Hurry up, you sluggish idiots!”

“Anyone who falls behind will be cut down! If you want to die by my hand, do as you please!”

Behind him, the members of Sapaeryeon were repeatedly shouting at the top of their lungs. It felt more like they were venting than trying to threaten.

When you think about it, it’s only natural.

Since Jang Ilso himself is leading them. If those who fall behind cause a setback in the plan, their lives won’t be safe either.

“Run even faster!”

Short, ragged breaths began to burst from Baek Cheon’s mouth.

‘Maintain this speed continuously?’

It’s an abnormal speed. Considering the size of the force, even more so. Just as the speed of one person moving is different from that of ten, the difference between a hundred moving and a thousand is worlds apart.

But they were accomplishing what seemed impossible. An abnormal surge of fervor made it possible. It was as if everything they had done until now was solely for this one moment.

“Huff! Huff!”

Baek Cheon’s mouth hung open, and his chest heaved.

‘Damn it!’

Having lost most of his martial arts, even keeping pace was arduous.

If they continued advancing at this speed, Saparyeon would arrive before the Alliance even grasped the situation. Then, what would happen afterward was all too obvious without much thought.

‘What should I do?’

His heart burned with anxiety.

But for now, he didn’t even have the leisure to think of a plan.

The mask covering his face quickly became soaked with the running sweat.

In the end, Baek Cheon began to fall slightly behind.

The masked men glanced briefly at Baek Cheon, who wore the same mask, and passed him indifferently.

‘Damn it!’

Gritting his teeth, Baek Cheon tried to draw up his internal energy, but his cracked dantian only caused the flowing energy to break off strand by strand.

“You worthless bastard!”

Seeing Baek Cheon lagging behind the formation, one of Sapaeryeon’s warriors rolled his eyes.

“So you won’t listen unless we tell you harshly? Fine!”

Grinding his teeth, the member of Sapaeryeon drew his blade like lightning and swung it towards Baek Cheon’s back.

“I’ll sever your useless spine!”

It was an attack without a moment’s hesitation. Feeling the strong killing intent flying at him from behind, Baek Cheon was terrified.

‘I have to block it…’

But even in such a moment, his hands were being troublesome. They wouldn’t move as he intended. Just as Baek Cheon was about to involuntarily squeeze his eyes shut.

Clang!

The sword that was flying towards him bounced off right in front of Baek Cheon’s back.

“Who the hell are you!”

“Don’t interfere with our people.”

The robust man, who had been filled with rage, flinched when he saw Jin Songwon blocking his path. Jin Songwon glared at the man with cold eyes.

“That was supposed to be the rule, wasn’t it? Or is your mind so terribly dull that you’ve forgotten?”

Overpowered by Jin Songwon’s aura, the man’s face flushed red as he shouted sharply.

“It’s an order from Ryeonju! You…”

“Then tell Ryeonju to come here personally.”

“What? How dare you!”

“I’m curious.”

Jin Songwon spat out as he glared at Saparyeon’s swordsman.

“I wonder if your so-called great Ryeonju would even care if one small fry’s head rolls off.”

“…”

“Shall we find out?”

As Jin Songwon gripped his sword tightly, the robust man turned pale and stepped back.

Of course, following orders is important, but there are things more important than commands. As Jin Songwon said, those above wouldn’t care about the loss of his one life.

In the end, the man bowed his head.

Jin Songwon glanced at the defeated man with contempt and turned away indifferently. Then he immediately grabbed Baek Cheon’s shoulder and pulled him swiftly towards himself.

“You’re causing trouble.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Jin Songwon ran forward without answering, still holding onto Baek Cheon’s shoulder.

He wasn’t simply pulling him along by the shoulder.

From Jin Songwon’s hand touching his shoulder, a profound internal energy surged into him. Thanks to that, Baek Cheon could use his lightness technique much more easily.

Having caught his breath, Baek Cheon was greatly astonished.

Unless it’s a healing technique [요상결(療傷結) – yosang-gyeol*], the internal energy of another sect can instead become poison. But Jin Songwon’s energy was aiding Baek Cheon’s circulation without any conflict.

“This is…”

“It’s nothing special.”

After hesitating for a moment, he continued.

“From my sect.”

Not Diancang, but ‘my sect’.

The meaning contained within those words was so profoundly heavy that Baek Cheon was momentarily speechless. He hesitated and then spoke cautiously.

“To say it’s nothing special…”

It was an extraordinary skill. Enough to naturally invoke the name ‘Diancang’.

But Jin Songwon’s reply was indifferent. No, he was feigning indifference.

“It’s meaningless. It’s just a trivial skill that will soon disappear.”

Baek Cheon’s gaze trembled faintly.

If Diancang disappears, then the martial arts of Diancang will vanish as well. No, not just the martial arts, but everything of Diancang – everything that countless people have protected and passed down for hundreds of years.

What kind of feeling would that be?

But what came from Jin Songwon’s mouth was a fleeting sneer.

“Are you planning to pity me?”

“That’s not it.”

“It shouldn’t be. The one you should be worrying about now is not me but yourself.”

Jin Songwon’s words brought Baek Cheon back to reality.

“If Cheonumaeng gets trampled by Sapaeryeon like this, there wouldn’t be much to feel unjust about. Sooner or later, everyone will face the same ending.”

Baek Cheon’s gaze wavered greatly.

The end. And the severance of all.

Yes, this was no time to worry about Jin Songwon. Perhaps that end might approach Hwasan even faster than Diancang.

“Sect Leader, do you wholeheartedly intend to fight Cheonumaeng?”

“…”

“Even now…”

“It’s not hard for me to twist your neck. And I’m not a particularly patient person.”

A chilling murderous intent poured towards Baek Cheon.

“I am a dog. If I am told to bark, I bark; if I am told to crawl, I crawl. If ordered to roll in a field of manure, I roll without hesitation. That’s all.”

But Baek Cheon met Jin Songwon’s gaze without the slightest hint of intimidation.

“This is not the right thing to do.”

“It’s been that way for a long time. Since Hubei. No, perhaps since Yunnan.”

“It’s not too late yet.”

At Baek Cheon’s words, Jin Songwon let out a bitter laugh.

“What isn’t too late?”

“Sect Leader, if you…”

“Are you going to persuade everyone? So that they accept us back among the Just Sects? Do you have that kind of power?”

“…”

Baek Cheon couldn’t answer.

“Probably not.”

Jin Songwon’s low laughter stabbed into Baek Cheon’s heart.

Baek Cheon knew it too. Not just Baek Cheon, but everyone knew it was impossible.

Now, the sect called Diancang could no longer continue to exist.

If Sapaeryeon won, naturally the name of Diancang would disappear.

But even if Cheonumaeng won, the result wouldn’t change. Paeng family and Kongtong Sect had been annihilated, and Shaolin had lost half its strength. No, considering those who had died, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they had lost more than seventy percent of their power.

Diancang had aided in that affair. Would the world forgive Diancang for that?

Yes, perhaps Baek Cheon might forgive them. But would the relatives of those who died allow a sect called Diancang to raise its name in the world again?

Baek Cheon already knew the answer to this question. He bit his lips in anguish.

Jin Songwon looked at him indifferently. Baek Cheon’s eyes simmered quietly.

‘Even in the midst of this.’

Truly, what an absurd fellow.

He was in a situation where his own sect might be annihilated. Yet even in such a situation, this guy was worrying about Diancang. Even if that was connected to the safety of his own sect, is it easy to consider the circumstances of other sects in this situation?

Jin Songwon glanced back.

Countless masked men were running behind him. The eyes revealed through the holes in their black masks had all lost their light. Ashen eyes, devoid of any vitality.

Jin Songwon clenched his teeth tightly.

‘There was no other choice.’

And there would be none in the future either.

All that remained for him was to find a place to die. To find a way to stop breathing and sink into rest.

Then his heart would no longer ache like this.