This is the fight you started. (5)

Finally, Tang clan landed on Maehwado as well. Beop Jong’s fingertips trembled, watching with his eyes wide open.

‘What… What is this?’

This was madness. Using planks as stepping stones to cross the river?

‘It’s not as easy as it sounds!’

It was a path that could be cut off at any moment. If Surochae had reacted just a bit faster and destroyed all the planks when they reached the center of the river, Hwasan and Tang clan would have been isolated on wooden planks barely worthy of being called “boats.”

What kind of tragedy would have unfolded afterward?

Such a plan couldn’t be called a strategy. A strategy that couldn’t be discussed afterward wasn’t even worth being called a strategy.

Bae Soojin’s [a strategist] strategy, at the very least, aimed to inflict proper damage on the enemy and annihilate them. But what they were doing now was nothing more than a reckless venture that would lead them straight to hell the moment anything went awry.

However…

“Why does it seem to be working?”

Beop Jong’s voice, a mix of confusion, anger, and injustice, burst out.

This is beyond absurd. Why is this reckless method not exacting its toll?

It’s as if we’re watching those who’ve doused themselves in oil and jumped into the pits of hell, only to walk through unscathed.

Logically, those who would scoff at such a sight as they watched it should be correct. But once things have come to this point, shouldn’t those who were clearly observing the spectacle have all become pitiful fools?

Right now, Shaolin was exactly that.

No matter how many times he thought about it, Beop Jong’s judgment was correct. Jumping into the Yangtze River, guarded by Surochae and Maninbang, was tantamount to suicide.

But what meaning did it hold now?

Even if the chances of safely reaching Maehwado using that method were as slim as a camel passing through the eye of a needle, now that Cheonumaeng had succeeded in making it work, Shaolin, who had hesitated here all along, was nothing more than a spectator.

“This…!”

Beop Jong clenched his fist, unable to contain his anger, and stared across the river.

To those on the surface, it might seem like Hwasan and Sichuan Tang had pierced the Surochae’s defense and succeeded through sheer audacity. But if you looked beneath the surface, that wasn’t it.

There was only one reason for all of this.

“Jang… Ilso….”

The Abbot snapped.

There was no way that someone as cunning as Jang Ilso had overlooked something related to strategy. Under normal circumstances, he would have waited patiently for Hwasan and Tangga to come halfway across the river and then destroyed the planks both ahead and behind them to bind their movements.

But Jang Ilso hadn’t moved at all.

No, it wasn’t just that he hadn’t moved. He was completely disengaged from everything happening on the Yangtze River right now. It seemed like he was merely observing, detached from all the events taking place.

It was as if he hoped for Cheonumaeng to rescue Namgung clan and return safely!

“Jang Ilso! You damn coward!”

A desperate scream escaped Abbot’s mouth.

He was trembling with such intense malice that it was almost painful. What was even more agonizing was that no one in the world would believe what he was seeing.

‘Who would believe it?’

Even if he shouted at the top of his lungs that all of this was Jang Ilso’s scheme, and that it was his doing, no one would listen to Beop Jong’s words.

They might dismiss Shaolin’s outcry as nothing more than a tantrum born of desperation.

“Abbot…”

Beop Jong turned his stern face to look at him. Jonglihyeong, who had been watching the situation with him, asked in a subdued voice.

“…Shouldn’t we do something, anything?”

“…”

“…Rather than not coming at all, if we just stand here and watch, the world will blame us. Shouldn’t we do something now?”

But what? What should they do, exactly?

Should they follow the path that Hwasan and Sichuan Tang had cleared? Are you saying that the world’s famous Gupailbang are going to follow Cheonumaeng and chase after them at all costs?

Jonglihyeong, who was observing Beop Jong’s complexion, added with an anxious face,

“I understand that it’s a difficult decision. But rather than just watching, wouldn’t it be better to do something…?”

“Wait.”

“Abbot!”

“Did I not say to wait?”

In an instant, Jonglihyeong’s face froze with surprise. His eyes clearly held unhidden disappointment in Beop Jong.

However, Beop Jong only bit his lip.

‘It can’t be done.’

They couldn’t go.

It was difficult to explain. No, even if he tried to explain, someone like Jonglihyeong wouldn’t understand.

What would happen if they jumped into that river right now?

That ruthless devil Jang Ilso, who had ignored Hwasan and Tangga, would focus on them with his intense malice while leaving Hwasan and Tangga alone.

Hwasan and Tangga would easily succeed, but Shaolin would be publicized just by chasing after them and suffer significant losses.

The Abbot understood.

The vicious and malicious trap that Jang Ilso had spread across the Jang River.

“Cursed…”

If at least Jao Gae was here, they would have understood why he couldn’t move and defended him!

But it just had to be that the Jao Gae was helping Hwasan. He was probably observing everything that was happening among the people advancing towards the island.

“Ugh…”

His heart felt like it was burning.

It was as if everything happening on Yangtze river had been orchestrated solely to trap Shaolin.

“Then why don’t we go back?”

A voice laced with sarcasm suddenly cut through the air.

It was a voice so cold that Beop Jong couldn’t believe it came from a member of his own sect.

Beop Jong instinctively turned his head and found Hye Bang gazing at him, his voice dripping with mockery.

“Hye Bang.”

“Is there any reason to stay here if you’re just going to stand by and watch without taking action? Or perhaps you want to stay here and learn? Witness the heroic deeds of Hwasan? Or the sight of Hye Yeon in black uniform saving Namgung? Or maybe you’re suggesting that I should wear the black robe with a plum blossom instead of Shaolin’s yellow robe to act as I think is right?”

“Mind your tongue, you!”

Beop Gye shouted, but his voice seemed to lack strength. He seemed to know that no matter how sternly he shouted, his words would not be heeded.

Hye Bang continued to stare at Beop Jong and Beop Gye before finally speaking.

“Once, the Elders told me something.”

His eyes were colder than ever.

“The pursuit of one’s own enlightenment is not the only path. A true Buddhist should be willing to guide suffering sentient beings to enlightenment, even if it means sacrificing oneself. Merely watching their suffering from afar is hypocrisy and a sin.”

For a moment, Beop Gye fell silent.

“Who is committing the sin now?”

“This… guy…”

“Yes.”

Hye Bang spoke expressionlessly.

“The sin of undermining the Shaolin’s leader is undoubtedly a grave one. I will enter the repentance cave and reflect upon my actions.”

With those words, he turned away, as if unable to bear witnessing this scene any longer.

“Can’t you stop him right now?”

But Hye Bang didn’t halt his steps. In fact, he seemed to look at Beop Gye with disdain and left without looking back. Many of Shaolin disciples, who had been observing Hye Bang, followed suit, casting scornful glances at Beop Gye and turning away.

Beop Gye, utterly embarrassed, bit his lips hard while watching them depart.

No matter how much he disagreed with the Abbot, how could such a thing happen? Shaolin’s head monk going against the Abbot’s orders and acting on his own was an unjustifiable act.

However…

Thunk.

Even as he clenched his fist, Beop Gye ultimately couldn’t stop those who were leaving. He just closed his eyes tightly.

What could he possibly say? These fierce warriors were too pure and untainted for him to teach them the ways of self-preservation in this harsh world. He couldn’t tell them to learn how to roll in the mud.

Beop Gye understood both Beop Jong and the departing monks. That’s why he could do nothing more than keep his mouth shut.

“Abbot.”

At that moment, Jonglihyeong spoke with a chilling voice.

“Are you really just going to watch like this?”

“Well!”

At that moment, Beop Jong’s voice burst out like a seizure. It was an incredibly nervous voice, almost unbelievable.

“If you think that way, why don’t we intervene as an alliance? Kongtong can’t even make decisions on their own without using Shaolin as a shield?”

Jonglihyeong clenched his lips, his face a mix of shame and anger as he glared at Beop Jong. Slowly, he nodded.

“I understand the Abbot’s intentions.”

Then, he turned and distanced himself from Beop Jong.

Abbots shoulders trembled as he clenched his fists, almost bleeding.

“Jang Ilso, and… Hwasan Geomhyeop!”

He stared at the boat floating gracefully above Maehwado and the river beyond as if he wanted to destroy everything.

“I will never forget this disgrace.”

“Hmm.”

Jang Ilso, on the grand boat, looked quietly across the river.

“It seems like the Abbot is quite angry, isn’t he?”

With a blatant sneer, Ho Gamyeong replied.

“Well, he probably can’t do anything about it now. Once you stop, people tend to find reasons to justify it. They don’t even realize they’re fighting against themselves.”

“Your words are correct. However…”

Jang Ilso brushed his chin with a subtle expression.

“Too bad. With things stirred up to this extent, you’d expect him to jump in, even if it means relying on evil. That cautious old raccoon lacks courage.”

“Are you suggesting more provocation?”

“Leave it be. There’s no need to let that overly cautious person know the reality, especially if he’s too foolish to admit he’s wrong. People who think highly of their own intelligence don’t know how to acknowledge their mistakes. Instead, they believe the whole world is wrong. Dealing with those kinds of people is much easier than dealing with the truly foolish.”

Jang Ilso looked across the river, his eyes filled with contempt.

“The failure to take a step from that place will continue to hinder Shaolin for a long time. Just by that, the purpose of what happened on this river has been excessively achieved.”

“Now, all that’s left is…”

Jang Ilso’s gaze slowly shifted toward Maehwado.

And then, it happened.

Paaaaaah!

From the ship that had broken free from Surochae’s control and was advancing toward Maehwado, a black streak shot up like a meteor, soaring toward Maehwado and landing as if stuck on its surface.

Jang Ilso couldn’t help but burst into laughter for a moment. To leap over a distance of more than twenty zhang in a single leap…

“It seems predictions are meaningless.”

He stared at the figure that had reached Maehwado with a broad smile, holding a sword in a reverse grip and charging straight toward the front lines of the battlefield.

“Now, it’s the climax.”

Jang Ilso, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, licked his red lips with his tongue.

His appearance was akin to a venomous snake eyeing its prey, ready to strike.