◈Episode 679.
Where does blood flow? (4)
“Over there.”
Yonggukjinin, the great leader of Hwasan, pointed to Jongnamsan Mountain.
“Not much time left! Everyone, cheer up!”
From Hwasan to Jongnam.
When looking at Shaanxi as a whole, it was not that far away, but the provinces in the central plains, including Shaanxi, are large enough to establish a small country.
Experts who reached the extreme level could recover by running day and night, but for those who had not yet reached that level, it was impossible.
All of the volcano warriors withstood this race with their mental strength and came this far. The bodies of the plum swordsmen and spearmen were soaked with sweat, but their eyes were as sharp as when they first came down the mountain.
Because the neighboring clan is dangerous? Is it because of the pressure that if Jongnam disappears, they may have to deal with attacks from foreign powers alone?
Not like that.
“Whoop! “You too, just be patient!”
At Hyuk-eun’s shout, white vapor rose from the bodies of prosecutors Jong-nam.
The true energy was almost depleted. Among them, most of them suffered minor internal injuries due to excessive use of internal energy.
However, their concern, anger, and strong will were growing as time passed.
Phew!
The excitement of the Jongnam prosecutors was impressive even to Hwasan’s reinforcements.
In the midst of difficult times, Yonghojinin also couldn’t help but be impressed.
“Isn’t it amazing? Death penalty?”
“Yeah, I see.”
“They are righteous people who knew that our volcano would collapse and came to help without any hesitation. The fullness of the consultation was amazing, and my spirit did not break even after traveling that long distance. “It’s a matter of will rather than physical strength.”
Yonggukjinin glanced at the warriors in the volcano.
The power of those Jongnam prosecutors was similar to theirs.
But their burning will was much more impressive than the cold plum prayers.
Although their inclinations were different, it was clear that the Maehwa Swordsmen and Changsoos were also greatly stimulated.
‘There are a lot of talented people in Jongnam.’
I was grateful and also felt sorry.
However, human work was not something that could be done with mental strength alone.
Yong Guk Jin-in said to Hwageomja.
“Four Baekjo-nim, it looks like the battle hasn’t started yet, but at least a little bit… Four Hundredjos?”
The Hwageomja’s eyes were looking towards the northwest in the distance.
Yonggukjinin called him once more.
“Four hundred birds.”
“…the air has changed.”
“yes?”
Hwageomja’s face hardened.
“The air has changed. “It’s definitely different from just a moment ago.”
“What do you mean…?”
Hwageomja was also difficult to explain.
Although he did not reach the ultimate stage, he was a person who achieved enlightenment. At the same time, he was an ‘enlightened’ person who knew the limitations of not being able to become a hermit on his own and chose to live a human life as a part of Mother Nature.
That’s why you know. The air has changed.
We intuitively know that two people who have transcended the human realm and taken the path of martial gods have met.
It was not an area of martial arts that could not be understood by martial arts common sense, but an urgent moment reflected in the sane eyes.
When one person’s power breaks the limits imposed by heaven and begins to play with the laws, from then on he should be called a monster, not a person.
Even if the distance was far away, even a fire swordsman could feel the collision of such beings near a battlefield.
This abnormal air that made the sky take its breath away just by meeting him gave him an ominous feeling.
“Some say it might be too much. Let’s just rest for half an hour. “It would be best to take a breath and head straight to Jongnam.”
Yonggukjinin was the one who especially respected Hwageomja among the elders of Hwasan at the time. He was also a great elder, and Yong Guk Jin-in’s personality was very respectful to his elders.
“We will do it.”
Hwageomja said to Hwang Seok-tae.
“If you have any stamina left, it would be better to go to Jongnam first. “Your strategic insight will be of great help to them.”
Hwang Seok-tae nodded.
“I will go first.”
“Sure.”
Wow!
He was the one who left his horse at the volcano and ran with it. His martial arts skills could be said to be at the level of the leader of a sect, and his prayers as he kicked the ground and advanced were filled with silence.
Hwageomja sighed.
“If only I had… just a little more time.”
* * *
“That’s interesting.”
Peace returned to Myeonggeuk’s cold, sunken face.
“Do you mean to say that you are going to defeat me right now and then go to the troops I led and launch an offensive?”
“Do you think it’s not that good?”
“It’s not only bad, it’s the worst.”
The corners of Myeonggeuk’s mouth rose.
“Do you think I will stay still if you move? “I can run to Jongnam right now and destroy everything in sight.”
“I guess so.”
“Are we going to eliminate each other’s cards one by one? “Isn’t this too irresponsible to be called a strategy?”
“I’m not here to discuss strategy and tactics. As you said, I came here to somehow kill time.”
“If we do as you say, Jongnam will be destroyed.”
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“It won’t happen. “There will be tremendous damage, but there will be no destruction.”
“This is nonsense to the point of insult. You probably know that, right? “Once in this realm, if there is no expert of the same level, it is not that difficult for an individual to deal with one of the Old Masters.”
“But it’s still one.”
“what?”
“You are the only one. “In evaporating a faction, a group’s strategy is more powerful than an individual’s force.”
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes deepened.
“You can kill a lot of people. But I can’t destroy it until I return. “When I return after disintegrating your forces, from then on you will have to deal with me and the remaining forces of Jongnam at the same time.”
“It’s a hopeful dream. Would that be easy? “You also cannot easily deal with the troops I brought.”
“In my front yard, I can fight arrows with a club. “If you could do everything by yourself, wouldn’t there have been a need to bring troops?”
“….”
“Don’t forget. This is our home. “It was an invasion. You are free, but even the flow of the fight is not going as you intended.”
Myeong-geuk glared at Yeon Ho-jeong without saying a word.
It was frustrating, but it was true. The reason they wanted to launch a surprise attack while the sun was setting was not because they thought they would not be able to push back Jongnam, but because they wanted to firmly root him out.
If you leave some roots behind, they will regenerate in some way. In addition, it can minimize damage to allies, so it can be said to kill two birds with one stone.
Yeon Ho-jeong stabbed sharply at that very point.
Myeonggeuk shook his head.
“You are right. But even so, it is a very reckless strategy. “We are going to end this by exhausting each other’s forces. Can we handle the aftermath?”
For a moment, Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes flashed.
It was right here. This was the game.
“That’s nothing for you to worry about. “If you only think about the future, you should worry about yourself rather than me.”
“What does that mean?”
“It is I who have come to this place by destroying your plans one by one. It may seem like a boast, but there are a lot of Moorim officials who give for me, which is extremely rough. “It means you can’t oppress me because of one mistake.”
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
“how about you?”
“….”
“Was your Saeumgyo an organization generous enough to gently forgive even one of its biggest mistakes? “It doesn’t seem like it to me, does it?”
Myeonggeuk’s cheeks twitched slightly.
“You look at our school too harshly. “It may be inevitable from your perspective as we are being invaded, but our school is also a benevolent organization.”
“So that loser who got beaten up by me and ran away can live in your organization like before?”
For a moment, Myeonggeuk was speechless.
Hoyeon species.
It was he who gave the order to kill him if he encountered him running away.
That is Saeumgyo. It’s not because he’s vicious, but because of the atmosphere of Saeumgyo.
Even if you do your best, if your merit is great, you will be treated accordingly. However, if there are no balls, they are simply destroyed.
It’s not letting go, it’s getting rid of it. In particular, if you fail a big mission, you are almost guaranteed to be demoted or killed. That was Saeumgyo.
So what about yourself?
‘That can’t be possible.’
Myeonggeuk denied it.
‘I am one of the successors raised directly by the sect leader. ‘He’s not the kind of person who would kick me out with just one mistake.’
It won’t be speculation. In fact, one of the successors who failed his mission was still in charge of school affairs.
but.
‘It’s out of sight.’
The Saeum sect leader is not foolish enough to reject the successor he personally raised for making a mistake.
But it flies beyond my eyes. This was because I thought that one mistake would lead to two mistakes.
Also, God must be a being without mistakes. If past mistakes are brought to light, there is a strong possibility that one will not be able to win the succession battle, which is strongly influenced by the religious leader.
“As expected.”
Myeonggeuk looked at Yeonhojeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“Unless Jongnam is completely eradicated, no one will be happy to welcome you back after suffering a major blow to the troops you brought with you.”
“…so.”
Myeonggeuk smiled wryly.
“Let’s just blow this golden opportunity? Do I look like such an idiot?”
“You choose whether to fly or not.”
“What a funny guy. You only know one, but you don’t know the other. Everyone worries about mission failure. But before that, my loyalty to the church remains the same.”
“okay?”
“Even if it means I die, I will strictly carry out the orders I receive. Even if I die, I am confident that I will make you and Jongnam incapable of recovery for at least ten years.”
“What a tear-jerking loyalty. So…”
Yeon Ho-jeong crossed his arms.
“Do you want to buy me some time, or do you want to call in the troops now and attack Jongnam?”
“….”
“Choose for yourself.”
It’s a choice…
Myeonggeuk said.
“Let me ask you one thing too.”
“whenever.”
Yeon Ho-jeong, whose purpose was to buy time, was very tolerant of the other person’s questions.
“Are you serious? “That ridiculous strategy of destroying each other’s forces and going to ask for help at the end.”
“It’s not an operation. “It’s just a counterattack.”
“Is that what the rare troublemaker who destroyed all our plans would say?”
“You spoke well. The reason I was able to destroy all your plans wasn’t because I was smart. “It was possible because he was half crazy.”
“….”
“And I can go crazy at any moment when it comes to things related to you.”
It’s true.
Although she was smiling leisurely, Myeonggeuk was able to catch a glimpse of true madness in Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes and voice.
“Now choose.”
From now on, it’s pressure.
“Are you going to wait or come now?”
Myeonggeuk was secretly impressed by Yeonhojeong’s ability to control the mood.
At the same time, I felt a little angry.
‘It scratches the other person’s pride, but forces them to choose their own option…’
My impression of the other person has changed.
‘It’s not martial arts. This guy’s real weapon is not his genius martial arts skills, but his tyrannical diplomatic ability that allows him to force his opponent to make a choice with just a few words.’
Myeonggeuk turned his head to the north and asked.
“How long can I wait?”
“Until dawn tomorrow.”
“What an amazing guy.”
“If you don’t like it, take a risk.”
Myeonggeuk, who was quietly looking toward the north, launched himself into the air. It fell down from the cliff of the peak.
But the words he left rang like an echo.
“The moment the sun rises, you are dead.”
