That’s enough for me. (2)

“D-Damn it, those bastards!”  

“They really made it up that cliff…!”  

“Stop them! No, surround them and kill them!”  

Sapaeryeon’s members began to panic like startled wild boars.  

Seeing them, usually so composed, now in chaos, Mu Jin felt unexpectedly bewildered by the situation.  

‘What is this?’ 

This was a completely different reaction than before. These were the same people who had mocked Wudang, the world’s most renowned sect, as if it were just an injured deer. 

But now, their faces clearly showed tension and deep-seated fear. 

In terms of numbers, they were only about a hundred.

In a place where thousands of warriors had gathered, a hundred could easily be dismissed as insignificant. Yet now, the mighty Sapaeryeon trembled at the sight of these hundred adversaries. 

“This way! Finish them off first!” 

“Kill them before they reach here!” 

Then, suddenly. 

Those who seemed ready to charge at Hwasan immediately turned and started rushing towards Wudang instead. 

Clang! 

Mu Jin hastily blocked a flying sword. Even at a glance, the attackers now seemed desperate. 

Clang! Clang! 

As Mu Jin swung his sword to parry yet another attack filled with murderous intent, his eyes briefly wavered.

‘These guys…?’

Sapaeryeon’s members had become uncharacteristically frantic.  

They seemed terrified that Wudang, which they surrounded, might join forces with Hwasan, which had just climbed the cliff.

It was a stark contrast to how they had leisurely pressured and confronted Wudang before. They were no longer the demons who sneered at the sight of dying Wudang swordsmen. 

Now, in Mu Jin’s eyes, they appeared to be nothing more than small fry, frozen in fear before a formidable enemy. It was an absurd situation that made him wonder if they could even use half of their true strength – these petty warriors of Sapaeryeon. 

“Whatever it is!”  

Whoosh! 

Jin Hyeon deflected an incoming spear with his sword and swiftly took the enemy’s life. As he cut down the attackers who had lost their precision in their haste, he smirked bitterly. 

“While we were honing our skills here, Hwasan was building its intimidation against the enemies.” 

Mu Jin didn’t respond. An indescribable emotion had welled up within him. 

‘No, now is not the time to be lost in sentiment.’ 

Mu Jin bit his lip firmly. 

Any feelings he had would only be worthwhile if he survived. 

Even though salvation had arrived, they had not yet escaped this swamp. If anything, the enemy’s attacks had become more urgent and ferocious. 

“Hold the line!”

A searing pain emanated from his lost eye. His body felt as heavy as a mountain, and his dantian seemed on the brink of tearing apart from exhaustion. But the vividness of this pain was the ultimate proof that he was still alive.  

Whoosh!

Mu Jin deflected a sword attack imbued with a fierce aura. Though he blocked the assault, his wrist throbbed, and his legs buckled. There was hardly any internal energy left in him to fend off the attacks of nameless Sapa bastards. 

Bang! 

Yet, as long as he relied on the essence of Taiji, which uses the opponent’s strength against them, he could still fight. Striking an enemy’s chin with his elbow and then launching three sword strikes at once over the falling enemy, Mu Jin gritted his teeth. 

‘I can do this!’ 

Though only a hundred had joined them, the impact was anything but trivial. Those hundred were completely changing the dynamics on this cliff. 

“Survive until we fully join forces with Hwasan, no matter what!” 

Mu Jin shouted at the top of his lungs.

❀ ❀ ❀

A cold gaze swept over the cliff.  

‘Is it working?’

A short sigh escaped from Im Sobyeong’s lips. Fortunately, it seemed that Hwasan, which had climbed the cliff, was performing well.  

‘Even without Chung Myung Dojang, Hwasan is still Hwasan!’

How many battlefields have they traversed, and how many Evil Sects have they faced?  

Throughout the world, none know or are as accustomed to fighting Evil Sects as they are. Especially against Sapaeryeon, there is no sect that can compare to Hwasan. 

‘Thankfully, it seems Wudang hasn’t been entirely wiped out either.’

Im Sobyeong’s gaze turned contemplative. 

They must save Wudang, no matter the cost. 

Even if only a few remain, it doesn’t matter. If they can achieve that one goal, they could break the momentum of Sapaeryeon, which rose to the heavens by toppling Shaolin. 

“Then the next question is how to get out of here…” 

Confident that Hwasan would succeed, Im Sobyeong was about to shift his focus when he suddenly stopped murmuring and froze.

‘What is this?’

A chill ran down his spine. His eyes quickly searched for the source of the unease.  

The towering cliff rising towards the sky from where he stood.

Made of white rock, it was known as the White-Faced Cliff, but now it had transformed into something more fittingly called the Red-Faced Cliff.

On a slope touching a steep rock face, a group of unidentified warriors appeared.

“What… is that?”

They, who newly appeared on the cliff where the members of Sapaeryeon were still densely clinging, started to run horizontally, pushing off the steep rock.

An ominous premonition struck his mind like a lightning bolt. Soon, Im Sobyeong’s eyes widened as if they would tear apart.

“No, don’t…”

A horrifyingly loud scream burst from his mouth.

“Stop theeeeem!”

In his eyes, an unstoppable despair was wildly swirling.

Yoon Jong flinched and looked back. Then, Jo Geol shouted suddenly.

“What are you doing, Sahyeong!”

“No, right now…”

“Instead of looking back, run!”

“…Okay.”

Yoon Jong bit his lip slightly with an inexplicable feeling and turned his gaze away. Something felt chilly at the back of his neck. But as Jo Geol said, this was not the time to look back.

Even in the brief moment he hesitated, the disciples of Wudang were falling, spilling blood.

‘They can’t hold on any longer!’

It was obvious at a glance. They had already exhausted all their strength.

The fear of countless enemies advancing without even daring to confront them, and the overwhelming pressure to protect the sect, must have already brought Wudang to their limits.

They need to create an opening as soon as possible so that they can catch their breath. If they truly do not wish to see the name of Wudang end here.

“Run!”

Yoon Jong shouted roughly, unlike his usual self, as he thrust his sword.

The retreating enemies were mercilessly pierced by the tip of his sword. Enduring the cold sensation of cutting down a life, which never becomes familiar no matter how many times he repeats it, Yoon Jong pushed forward.

‘What about Sasuk?’

Even so, he kept worrying about Baek Cheon. He simply couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Just a little behind him, not too far away, he sensed Baek Cheon’s presence. It was at the front, if not the vanguard. A position where he had to bear the brunt of the enemy’s assault.

Yoon Jong unknowingly gritted his teeth.

He knew. He was well aware.

Baek Cheon was someone who had to be at the front. With Chung Myung absent, all of Hwasan’s disciples would be following Baek Cheon’s back.

Even though Jo Geol and Yoon Jong were breaking through the path, whether Baek Cheon stood at the front or not had an absolute impact on morale. But…

“Damn it!”

Yoon Jong’s sword aura grew rougher.

‘I should have been stronger!’

If he could have shouldered the role that Baek Cheon was now taking on, then Baek Cheon wouldn’t have had to push himself so hard.

However, Yoon Jong couldn’t do that now. He could support someone, but he couldn’t lead them. That was how Hwasan viewed Yoon Jong at this moment, and it was also the limit he recognized in himself.

“Chaaaarge!”

Yoon Jong’s sword emitted hundreds of plum blossom sword energies. It wasn’t his usual composed swordsmanship. The somewhat roughly scattered plum blossoms pierced through the enemies.

“Sahyeong?”

Jo Geol looked back at Yoon Jong in surprise. The murderous intent was too intense for a sword swung simply out of urgency to save Wudang.

At that moment, Yoon Jong shouted.

“What are you doing? Weren’t you the one urging me on?”

“What? Oh, yes!”

Jo Geol quickly nodded and dashed forward.

Yes, he could think later. It was only the beginning. Soon, they would be able to save Wudang.

‘Something so simple!’

Jo Geol gritted his teeth. Why did he worry so much about something he could accomplish so easily if he just stepped up?

‘…Wait. Easily?’

Crack!

The tip of Jo Geol’s sword, which had pierced the enemy’s heart, hesitated.

‘Easily?’

His eyes, which had been solely focused on advancing, wavered faintly.

Jo Geol stared blankly at the twisted face of the enemy who clutched at the sword embedded in his heart. But that was all. The enemy collapsed without further resistance.

Jo Geol watched the scene as if entranced.

“What are you doing! Snap out of it!”

“Yes!”

Jo Geol quickly regained his composure and stepped forward.

Sapaeryeon’s members, who were pale and trying to retreat, seemed to realize they could no longer back away. They screamed frantically and charged at Jo Geol.

Swoosh!

Jo Geol’s three strikes instantly cut down the charging enemies without resistance. Despite having repelled the enemies effortlessly, Jo Geol’s expression remained tense.

He was even more confused.

‘Was Sapaeryeon always this easy to deal with?’

That couldn’t be. Who in the world knew better than Jo Geol how formidable they were?

Of course, he could find reasons if he tried. They probably didn’t expect Hwasan’s intrusion, and perhaps their elite forces weren’t present when Hwasan arrived.

Since encountering Jang Ilso, they hadn’t seen a trace of those pesky Red Dogs. But still…

Unable to contain himself, Jo Geol finally asked.

“Sahyeong! Aren’t these guys… much weaker than we thought?”

“What are you talking about?”

“No, I mean, these guys…”

“They’ve been fighting Wudang all this time! They must be exhausted!”

Jo Geol closed his mouth at Yoon Jong’s reply.

The exhaustion on the faces of the enemies was apparent. It couldn’t have been easy for them to fight through the blazing flames and advance through this rugged terrain.

Yes, it wasn’t strange if you thought about it.

It was just anxiety causing paranoia.

There was still a sense of unease, but until a moment ago, these were the ones driving Wudang to the brink. It wouldn’t be right to simply call them weak.

“Aaaaah!”

At that moment, a desperate scream interrupted Jo Geol’s thoughts.

A red sword was embedded in the chest of Wudang swordsman who had been fighting with every ounce of strength he had.

‘That…’

“Uaaaaaah!”

Soon, the sword twisted, tearing through his chest.

Even though it was already a situation where death was unavoidable, the sword didn’t grant Wudang swordsman a clean death.

Every movement of the sword twisting in his body was filled with malice, intended to inflict even more pain on the enemy.

Wudang swordsman’s face, pale with fear, was suddenly dyed red with the blood that surged out.

Jo Geol’s mouth opened in shock.

“You bastaaaaaaaards!”

His bursting rage erupted as a shout.

He didn’t particularly have great favor for Wudang. In fact, Jo Geol’s feelings towards Wudang were closer to discomfort than favor.

From the distant past to the Yangtze River Disaster, Wudang had continuously clashed with Hwasan.

But now, he couldn’t help but be angry in the face of Wudang’s suffering.

No matter their relationship, those standing there should not be mocked and brutally killed. As Baek Cheon said, there is no such thing as a worthless will in this world.

The boiling rage turned into a fierce sword energy that swept through the enemies.

A formation is like a dam.

When tightly constructed, it can block the enemy from leaking even a single drop, but once breached, it collapses and crumbles in an instant.

To Jo Geol, Wudang’s formation seemed extremely precarious. If breached in one place, they would all be swept away.

‘Faster!’

Jo Geol gritted his teeth and prepared to swing his sword when he heard a voice.

“Stop.”

“Huh?”

Jo Geol stopped his sword mid-swing and turned around. Yu Iseol was standing next to him. Her expression was as unreadable as ever, but her slightly furrowed eyebrows suggested she sensed something ominous.

“…Something wrong?”

“There’s no command.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re disorganized. It wasn’t like this.”

“Well…”

Jo Geol, who was about to say something, clamped his mouth shut.

He was going to say that with so many people in such a narrow space, it was natural for the formation to be disorganized.

But… could it be that Yu Iseol didn’t understand such an obvious thing and raised a question?

“Sago, what do you mean?”

Yu Iseol looked around without answering. Her expression still didn’t change much, but to Jo Geol, it seemed particularly serious.

His mind was starting to heat up with urgency.

This isn’t the time to worry about such things. Even at this moment, Wudang’s lives were hanging by a thread.

Jo Geol finally turned his body.

“I’m going again.”

“Wait.”

“Sago! Every second counts!”

Despite Jo Geol’s urgent shout, Yu Iseol’s eyes grew more composed as she quickly scanned her surroundings again.

“A trap… No, here…”

“A trap?”

Jo Geol couldn’t understand at all.

“What do you mean? How could this be a trap?”

A trap is something laid in wait for the enemy. Therefore, the concept of a trap shouldn’t apply here. The ones who initially chose this place as a battlefield were not Sapaeryeon, but Wudang.

Moreover, this place was chosen to hold the line. A position good for annihilating the enemy is different from one suitable for holding out in battle.

That was why Jo Geol ultimately ignored the sense of unease that suddenly struck him earlier.

“We’ve already broken fire they set, and since the Tang clan is with us, poison won’t work either. All that’s left is manpower, and we’re pushing through them right now.”

It meant there was nothing more they could do. But Yu Iseol remained silent, lost in thought.

“Sago!”

Just as Jo Geol was about to urge her again, she spoke.

“Bait…”

“What?”

Yu Iseol’s gaze swiftly turned behind them, beyond Hwasan’s disciples following them, to the cliff’s edge that seemed to meet the sky.

As she looked at the cliff, ruined by the sword energy, her eyes suddenly widened.

“It’s not people… Bait.”

“What?”

“Bait? Wudang?”

“No, the ones here. Sapaeryeon!”

Jo Geol, unable to understand immediately, could only stare blankly at Yu Iseol, who looked stunned. What on earth…

“Ah!”

At that moment, a voice made Jo Geol snap his head around.

And then he saw it. Yoon Jong’s face was almost ashen. Unlike Jo Geol, Yoon Jong seemed to understand what Yu Iseol meant.

“Sahyeong?”

“…”

“Sahyeong!”

The hand gripping Yoon Jong’s sword was faintly trembling.

“Sahyeong, what are you talking about…”

“Sasuuuuuuuk!”

Yoon Jong, as if he had no time to answer, screamed toward Baek Cheon.

“It’s a trap! We have to get out! Sasuk, immediately…!”

At that moment. 

Boom!

A massive explosion, as if to destroy the world, erupted from outside the cliff. Everyone fighting froze in place.

Rumble!

Soon, the ground beneath them began to shake violently. Left to right, up and down. As if it would flip and shatter at any moment.

“What, what is this!”

“Get down!”

The swordsmen of Hwasan and the members of Sapaeryeon all lowered themselves in terror. As Jo Geol felt the immense tremor through his hands on the ground, his face turned pale.

“What is this…”

He instinctively glanced at the enemies.

Sapaeryeon’s members also crouched down awkwardly, just like Hwasan’s disciples. They clearly had no idea what was happening. Those looks and expressions could not be faked. There was no reason for them to do so in the first place.

They, too, had not anticipated this situation at all.

At that moment, a word that Jo Geol hadn’t understood earlier suddenly flashed through his mind.

Bait.

And finally, the mystery began to unravel.

“No way…”

Jo Geol, as if entranced, looked towards the edge of the cliff.

The cliff that no one climbed anymore, its sharp edge unable to withstand the tremors, was slowly crumbling.

“No.”

Deep fear filled his eyes.

It wasn’t just fear of the situation. It was the premonition that flashed through his mind. The terror of that dreadful malice, so horrifying that even imagining it made him nauseous.

“No, no! That can’t be…”

At this moment, everyone’s thoughts on the cliff converged into one. And this terrible prediction became a reality without any deviation, coming for them.

Boom!

Once again, a massive explosion erupted from below the cliff, shaking the entire mountain.

The mountain, where all the animals and birds had already died or fled due to the fire, was momentarily enveloped in silence after the explosion subsided.

Soon, the ground beneath them began to crack with a horrifying sound.