Chapter 107 - The Hellish Great Journey (6)

"The bastards are heading for Taesil Peak."

"Not Sosil Peak?"

Mount Song's Taesil Peak is famous for being rugged; unless one is stopping by to visit the Shaolin Sect, no one goes out of their way to enter Taesil Peak.

"So he doesn't make the obvious choice every time, is that it?"

Whether it was a coincidence or not, they were continuously evading Cheol Sunjik's expected intentions.

"He's someone with bad compatibility with me. Moreover, he's foolish."

Unexpected choices can refresh the mood, but overusing them is not good.

Because those who overuse makeshift improvisations are bound to fall for their own tricks in the end.

"Divide the unit in two. On the way to Sosil Peak, regroup with the Gwigung Sect and the Bipung Sect to block the exit of Taesil Peak."

The path through Sosil Peak is faster than the path through Taesil Peak. If they spurred their horses and rode, they would be able to block the front and rear of those who entered Taesil Peak before they could pass through it.

"And the rest will leave the horses behind and follow me."

"Brother Cheol, I will take the lead."

As Nam Hwaseong spoke while rubbing his fists together, Cheol Sunjik nodded.

"They say Taesil Peak has been incredibly rugged since ancient times, so many people fall to their deaths, right?"

"You can say that again. It would be quite a hassle to find a corpse among as many as twenty-four peaks, wouldn't it?"

The five hundred personnel moved along the official road heading toward Sosil Peak as planned, and Cheol Sunjik's unit began moving toward Taesil Peak.

"They must have been in quite a hurry."

What they encountered after going a long while was the strange iron carriage they had been dragging around.

Did they really think a carriage patched with iron plates like rags could enter this rugged path where even horses couldn't step in the first place?

Excited by the thought that he could soon beat Jin Sowoon's face to a pulp, Nam Hwaseong began to increase his speed.

It was precarious because it was a rugged path, but Cheol Sunjik did not stop him much.

Because a siege operation like this achieved a greater effect the more it made the opponent anxious.

However.

"Why aren't they showing up yet?"

They were moving at an unbelievably fast speed right now, hard to believe they were walking through Taesil Peak.

Even so, it had been a long while since they passed the iron carriage, but the figures of Jin Sowoon's group were nowhere to be seen.

"Could the bastards have hidden?"

"There's nowhere to do so, and if they had, someone among us would have noticed."

Though greatly reduced, it was still a group of eighty people. They weren't professional assassins either, so there was no way they could perfectly erase their tracks in this short amount of time.

BANG!

At that moment, a red signal flare was fired from the west.

"B-Brother Cheol!"

"What?"

The direction the signal flare was fired from was toward Sosil Peak. A red signal flare meant they were under attack.

"They headed for Sosil Peak?"

More surprising than the opponent's irregular tactic was the thought, 'Is that even possible?'

Between Taesil in the east and Sosil in the west lay a dizzying, sheer cliff.

Unless one was a supreme peak expert, the only way to cross from Taesil to Sosil was to take the long way around by crossing all twenty-four peaks of Taesil.

"Just what the hell did they do?"

Cheol Sunjik did not even think to issue the next command, entirely preoccupied with pondering the method.

* * *

Our group, which originally should have totaled two hundred and thirty, was currently reduced to seventy-eight people. Considering that the numbers had dwindled this much even though they were elites of the Namgung Clan, Moyong Noble Clan, and Iron Sword Sect, one could tell just how harsh the journey had been so far.

However, put another way, this meant the remaining seventy-eight were the elite among elites. They were personnel who could continue the journey together without getting injured or falling behind, even while enduring that harsh journey.

Because of that, I could unhesitatingly execute operations that I couldn't even imagine pulling off during my Minor Orthodox Unit days.

"But we almost died!"

Seong Moran yelled shrilly as she climbed the cliff of Sosil Peak.

"And so didn't I save you?"

Of course, it was true that it was a bit unreasonable.

When I suggested climbing down a sheer cliff that was as tall as one hundred zhang, it was to the point that Kang Seopyo said, '... Are you doing this as soon as we gave you command?'

But after I threw myself down first and scaled the wall with the Flying Dragon Claw while carving out grooves midway down the cliff, they managed to start climbing down somehow.

Whenever someone misstepped and fell midway, I even saved them.

Fortunately, everyone crossed the cliff without anyone dying.

"That's not the issue; don't you think the fact that we faced the crisis of death several times is what's important?"

"... Warriors often gain enlightenment in the face of death, so if you think about it that way, didn't I give you the opportunity for a fortuitous encounter?"

"..."

I said it as a joke, but Seong Moran's eyes flashed with fire.

"What do you think is the reason it came to this? If the Twelve Peak Stars hadn't deployed the Gwigung Sect and the Bipung Sect to trap us, would we be suffering like this?"

"*Grind. *"

CRUMBLE.

The stone Seong Moran was grabbing shattered, causing her figure to stagger. But she soon regained her balance and climbed the cliff once more.

"The Twelve Peak Stars approaching us and targeting us is all because they think we are easy prey."

Since they had never received this kind of treatment in their entire lives, their anger grew even greater. I purposely raised my voice louder.

"We must show them the true latent power of the Namgung Clan, Moyong Noble Clan, and Iron Sword Sect so they will never dare to think of looking down on us again."

The speed at which the people climbed the cliff doubled.

Those who had reached the top of Sosil Peak's cliff before anyone knew it threw down the surrounding vines to pull up their comrades, and in an instant, all eighty personnel had ascended the cliff.

One would think they'd be exhausted from climbing up and down the cliff, but they quickly began descending the mountain.

Kang Seopyo, Cho Mubin, and Baek Wongak roared simultaneously.

"Let's go!!"

"Let's go!!!"

"Let's goooo!!!"

One by one, they drew their swords.

They had discovered the personnel of the Gwigung Sect, who were drawing their bowstrings toward the official road in the opposite direction.

"Strike!"

The latent power of the Five Great Noble Clans was displayed in places like this.

Without a single one of them showing any sign of difficulty, they scaled the trees and began cutting down the archers of the Gwigung Sect.

"Gaaagh!"

"They appeared from behind!"

"Bipung Sect! Where is the Bipung Sect!"

Like fruits falling from a tree, the ambushed archers of the Gwigung Sect fell with consecutive thuds.

These people, who hadn't brought separate escorts in order to fill their quota of one hundred personnel, were no match for the warriors of the Moyong Noble Clan, Namgung Clan, and Iron Sword Sect the moment they lost the advantage of the terrain.

SWISH.

I instinctively turned my head and dodged the arrow passing by my cheek.

Without even having the time to wipe the blood trickling down my cheek, I scanned the surroundings.

The Gwigung Sect had regained their senses and begun their counterattack.

TWANG.

Along with the sounds of bowstrings snapping simultaneously echoing from all directions, the arrows flying in and filling the sky were of an amount that one could hardly imagine were fired by just a hundred people.

"Phantom arrows!"

The warriors who had been executing the ambush quickly hid their bodies behind the trees.

The arrows that fell to the ground numbered no more than a few dozen. Everyone knew that the majority of the rain of arrows falling like a Rain of Flowers Covering the Sky were fake, but they couldn't step out easily.

Unlike phantom swords, it was difficult to verify the authenticity of phantom arrows the moment they flew in. Furthermore, the reason the Gwigung Sect had filled all one hundred of their personnel with archers, trusting the other Twelve Peak Stars, was because their strategy of firing bows simultaneously acted as a fatal weakness against swordsmen.

TWANG.

Once again, the sounds of snapping bowstrings echoed simultaneously. This time, the arrows flew in not from one direction, but from three directions.

In that short time, the archers had changed their positions and attacked.

"Keugh."

"Don't just focus on what's coming from the front! The bastards changed positions."

"Damn it."

With just one storm of phantom arrows, eight personnel had arrows embedded in their bodies.

Screams erupted once more among our personnel who had been looking for a chance to counterattack while avoiding the rain of arrows.

"Kuhuk."

"It's the Bipung Sect!"

"Evade for now!"

After the storm of phantom arrows disappeared, the Bipung Sect stormed in.

They were wildly throwing flying daggers from a distance that was closer than the archers but still kept them away from our personnel.

And if someone rushed in to attack the ones throwing the flying daggers, an arrow shot from somewhere would pierce their arms and legs.

It was a latent power that certainly lived up to the name of the Twelve Peak Stars.

"Jaehwa."

I called out to Moyong Jaehwa, who was frantic while dodging the flying daggers.

"Yes, Hyung-nim."

"Where do you think the Gwigung Sect examinee is?"

"Pardon?"

He had a dumbfounded expression, as if asking what I was talking about in the midst of this urgency.

"I'm asking where you would hide to shoot arrows if it were you."

"I-If it were me..."

Poking his head out, Jaehwa looked around at the surrounding trees. Then, he pointed to the second tallest tree.

"The foliage on that tree over there is denser."

"Got it."

"Pardon? What are you going to do?"

"I'm trusting you and betting my life."

"Pardon?"

I circulated my internal energy with all my might.

Pouring out all of my internal energy that exceeded 120 years' worth, I executed the World-Traversing Lone Footwork.

BANG!

At the same time, the warriors of the Bipung Sect, startled by my movement, threw flying daggers from all directions.

SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!

Dodging the flying daggers by a paper's breadth, I kicked off a tree and advanced toward the place Moyong Jaehwa had pointed to.

And sure enough.

As I gradually approached closer, the tree began to shake violently.

'Just as I thought!'

No matter how well he had concealed and covered himself, I could feel the bastard's presence, though I couldn't see his figure.

I indiscriminately scattered the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist toward the tree.

BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!

Broken branches and leaves were sent flying in all directions as that massive tree shook violently.

And through the gaps, a person wearing turquoise martial robes jumped down below the tree holding a bow.

"Gotcha!"

The bastard's face as he looked back at me was pale with terror.

* * *

BANG!

Jin Sowoon kicked the ground and shot forward like a cannonball. He had kicked off so forcefully that the surface of the ground scattered in all directions like splashing water.

"Hah..."

Even though it was a moment he had hoped for so much, Moyong Jaehwa couldn't help but feel a sense of despondency.

'As expected, I'm of no help.'

He had come to help Brother Sowoon, but he wasn't being of any help at all.

As if Brother Sowoon even knew of those feelings, he tried to boost his spirits by asking a question he didn't even need to ask.

'He doesn't have to do that.'

He thought he was used to this helplessness since it was chronic, but thinking that he couldn't be of help by the side of the one he admired brought over an even greater sense of frustration.

["He's beyond saving."]

["To think the eldest son of the Moyong Noble Clan is like that."]

["If only he had been born with his gender swapped with Young Lady Seol."]

The words of the clan members, mixed with concern and worry, made his shoulders heavy.

To make up for his lack of talent, his father's warm heart in risking his life to bring him the Fire Monkey's spiritual pill also became a burden.

The words of his martial arts masters—who told him that he definitely had as much talent as Moyong Seol and that, no matter what anyone said, he was the one to succeed the clan—also became a burden.

That was why he tried to run away. He learned the miscellaneous skills that the clan members despised, skipped his training, and intended not to take the academy exam at all.

His grandfather was scary, but he could just pay for it with his body, and after a few years passed like that, wouldn't people's expectations fade away? Such childish thoughts.

However, in front of his father, who held out the Fire Monkey's core that he had risked his life to obtain, he couldn't bring himself to say that he wouldn't take the Murim standard exam.

His internal energy had increased by thirty years' worth, but the burden on his shoulders never felt any lighter.

That must be why he liked Brother Sowoon.

Because he was someone who bore a much heavier burden than himself, in a much worse situation than himself, and could break through the situation with a much greater will than himself. That must be why he harbored such feelings of admiration.

"Young Master!"

THWACK-THWACK-THWACK!

Baek Wongak took an arrow to the arm while trying to protect him.

"Captain!"

"I am fine. We just need to hold out a little longer. Right now, the young ladies and the Cangqiong Squad members are taking out the Gwigung Squad one by one."

"..."

The Geum-eun-dong Brothers struggling desperately a short distance away caught his eye.

As Geumpyo and Eunho cupped their hands together, Dongryong ran over and stepped on those hands. And at that moment, Geumpyo and Eunho launched Dongryong into the sky with all their might.

CRASH-CRASH-CRASH!

Since he wasn't ascending with his own strength, he crashed recklessly into the tree branches, but upon reaching the archer, Dongryong instantly cut the bow and knocked the archer down to the ground.

Watching that scene together, Baek Wongak spoke.

"Everyone has their own fight. If you step up now, you will only be a hindrance."

"A hindrance..."

Baek Wongak realized his slip of the tongue, but the words had already popped out; he could no longer salvage it.

In the meantime, Jin Sowoon's voice rang out boomingly through the forest.

"Gwigung Sect! Bipung Sect! Your young masters are in my hands. If you want to protect your young masters, stop the battle."

No matter what Jin Sowoon said, the battle did not stop.

"Aaaagh-!"

"Gaaaagh-!"

However, the battle ceased after two distinct screams were heard.

"The Yellow Sword Sect's Jong Seogang became a wandering spirit because he didn't know when to retreat. Will you bastards only back down after suffering the same fate?"

At that, an archer descended to the ground from a tree.

The warriors in that vicinity flinched in surprise at his appearance, as if they hadn't even guessed he was in that tree.

"How can we believe that you'll spare them?"

"This is an exam. Do you think I'm some blood-crazed murdering demon?"

"That's what you did on the Puyang Plains."

"That wasn't me!"

"... Fine, we'll back down. Release the young masters."

"No!"

As the young man caught in Jin Sowoon's hands yelled fiercely, the archer shook his head.

"Young Master, the exam is important, but what's most important is you, Young Master."

He then looked at Jin Sowoon.

"And even if we let them go, they will be caught again by the other Twelve Peak Stars."

"Yeah, that's my problem. So I'd appreciate it if you moved a little faster?"

"Gaaagh."

"What should we do?"

"Disarm and step back."

At Jin Sowoon's words, the archers of the Gwigung Sect and the warriors of the Bipung Sect began to lay down their weapons.

Since they were all archers and users of flying daggers, so many weapons piled up that a small mound was formed in an instant.

The Taiyi Sect group looked slightly sickened upon seeing those weapons.

"I'll take this."

"Do you even know what kind of item that is!"

The young man spoke fiercely, glaring at the bow in Jin Sowoon's hand, but Jin Sowoon didn't react much.

"If you bastards had an Admission Token, I would have taken that instead, but since you have absolutely nothing, I'm taking this in its place. Robbers."

"..."

After receiving the hostages, the archer didn't forget to add one last word as they descended Sosil Peak.

"We are stepping down, but the personnel of the Twelve Peak Stars will not give up."

Looking around the area, there were many casualties on our side as well. There were many who were immediately incapable of moving and required treatment.

Baek Wongak's face, in particular, had turned pale; an arrow was lodged in his stomach.

"Captain Baek!"

Kang Seopyo, who had been examining the wound, sighed.

"Fortunately, it missed his organs. Even so, he'll be in big trouble if we don't perform first aid."

Baek Wongak shook his head.

"You should all head out first."

"What are you saying! You're going to die!"

"The great Moyong Noble Clan came together to help, so would it be right for me to hold you back in a place like this? I will tend to the wounded and make my own way back, so please head out first."

"Captain Baek!"

Kang Seopyo, Cho Mubin, Namgung Seonhwa, and Seong Moran all looked at Jin Sowoon.

Moyong Jaehwa also looked at Jin Sowoon with earnest feelings.

"Fortunately, they aren't coming by the path we took."

Seong Moran muttered quietly, 'What kind of crazy bastard would come by that path...'

"But the personnel split into two are heading toward Sosil Peak."

It was still the same that there was no time.

"Please begin the first aid for now."

"I am... fine. A wound like this... is nothing. Please hurry and head out."

Jin Sowoon didn't answer despite Baek Wongak's words. Instead, he looked at Moyong Jaehwa, who was kneeling in front of Baek Wongak.

"Moyong Jaehwa."

"..."