Winds and Waves at Shu Dao Pass (2)
Jeong Su Sa Tae exchanged glances with each of the three in Seo Baek's group before speaking.
"With our current forces, we can't defend Shu Dao Pass against the revenant horde."
Hundreds of soldiers against tens of thousands of revenants.
A battle where one had to stand against a hundred.
And the enemy were corpses that wouldn't die even when struck by swords or spears...
Even without her saying it, anyone could see they had no chance against the horde filling the plains.
"Come this way. I'll explain the countermeasures Binni has prepared."
Jeong Su Sa Tae turned and descended from the main hall.
Seo Baek's group exchanged looks and shrugged.
"What do we do?"
"Let's hear her out first."
The group followed behind Jeong Su Sa Tae.
She led them to a large tent on one side of the courtyard. It was as spacious as those used by the nomadic tribes beyond the northern borders, big enough to comfortably hold a dozen people or more.
Two Ami Sect disciples stood guard at the tent entrance.
The moment they stepped inside after Jeong Su Sa Tae, Seo Baek quickly scanned the interior.
Gathered around a central table, six martial artists stood on the left, while three swordsmen in green robes were on the right.
The six martial artists were the ones from the Sichuan Tang Clan who had set out first. The three in green robes, however, were unfamiliar faces.
A jade key—the pass's insignia—hung on the wall.
The jade key, carved from jade, was a symbol bestowed by the emperor to the commander of every Central Plains pass.
It was akin to the Murim Alliance's sacred token, the Murim Badge.
At that moment, the eldest-looking middle-aged man among the green-robed group spotted Seo Baek's party and snorted derisively.
"Begging scraps from mere third-rate martial artists? What a disgrace to Sichuan."
He muttered it as if to himself, but his voice carried clearly enough for everyone in the tent to hear.
From the man's words, Seo Baek realized the identity of the three in green.
'Qingcheng Sect.'
Sichuan boasted three renowned orthodox sects.
The Sichuan Tang Clan, the Ami Sect, and the Qingcheng Sect.
The Ami Sect, being a Buddhist sect, didn't look down on martial artists from other schools. But the Sichuan Tang Clan and Qingcheng Sect were arrogant and haughty, as was typical of so-called prestigious orthodox sects.
A disgrace to Sichuan.
Something the Tang Clan or Qingcheng Sect would say.
The Tang Clan, who had hired martial artists to escort their wagons, had no reason to come all the way to Shu Dao Pass themselves. That left only the Qingcheng Sect.
And sure enough, Jeong Su Sa Tae confirmed it.
"These three are elders and disciples of the Qingcheng Sect, Mu Heo Ja and his men. And these are the martial artists who escorted the Sichuan Tang Clan's wagons to Shu Dao Pass."
As Jeong Su Sa Tae introduced both sides, the martial artists offered formal fist salutes, but Mu Heo Ja merely snorted "Hmph!" and openly ignored them.
Jeong Su Sa Tae overlooked Mu Heo Ja's rudeness without comment.
"If the revenant horde breaks through Shu Dao Pass, Sichuan will be overrun. The Ami Sect has devised a plan to exterminate them."
She walked to the table and unrolled a map.
"This is the Ami Sect's strategy."
The martial artists gathered around the table, focusing on the map. Even the bored-looking Mu Heo Ja cleared his throat and stepped closer.
The map depicted the terrain around Shu Dao Pass.
"As you know, Shu Dao Pass is a natural fortress accessible only via the single path straight ahead."
Jeong Su Sa Tae pointed to the vertical road cutting through the center of the map.
"Block this path, and we can hold off the horde for the time being."
Mu Heo Ja interjected skeptically.
"How do you expect a few dozen Ami Sect members and a few hundred soldiers to stop tens of thousands of revenants?"
"Not with martial arts, but with strategy."
"Strategy?"
"The Sichuan Tang Clan has provided explosives for this operation."
"...!"
Mu Heo Ja and several martial artists looked shocked.
Seo Baek's group swallowed hard, exchanging glances. They had known, but hearing it confirmed still startled them.
"There are seven wagons loaded with explosives. We'll position them at three locations."
Jeong Su Sa Tae raised her index finger and pointed to three spots on the map in turn.
"Here. Here. And here."
From the perspective overlooking the fortress: the cliffs on either side and the central narrow path.
"First, we'll lure the revenants in as far as possible with the scent of blood, then collapse the cliffs on both sides to block their retreat. Then detonate the wagons in the center to wipe them out."
"I've heard revenants don't die easily. Will that work?"
Mu Heo Ja cut in again, though he was now fully engrossed in Jeong Su Sa Tae's explanation.
"Once the cliffs collapse and trap them, we'll douse them in oil and unleash a fire attack. That should do it."
"...!"
The martial artists nodded unconsciously at her words.
With Shu Dao Pass's terrain—long cliffs stretching left and right—blocking the rear with an explosion would leave them nowhere to go.
And then rain down fire arrows?
The perfect way to annihilate the horde!
"Your task is to transport the wagons to the detonation sites."
The excited mood plummeted like a bucket of cold water.
With tens of thousands of revenants swarming the plains outside Shu Dao Pass, how were they supposed to drag wagons out there?
Mu Heo Ja jabbed at the map.
"You want us to leave Shu Dao Pass, park the wagons there, and come back? That's like asking a rat to hang a bell on a cat's neck!"
His words mocked the Ami Sect's reckless plan while likening the nameless martial artists to rats.
But Jeong Su Sa Tae's next words left Mu Heo Ja speechless.
"There's a way to avoid detection by the revenants."
"What? That's impossible..."
"Shu Dao Pass has a secret underground passage leading outside."
"...!"
It was common knowledge that every fortress and pass had emergency escape tunnels.
The Ami Sect had participated in constructing Shu Dao Pass on behalf of the Central Plains' martial world. Ever since, the sect leader had passed down knowledge of the secret passage orally to their successor.
Jeong Su Sa Tae was breaking that taboo by revealing it.
A sign of how dire the situation was!
"The passage leads out here. There's an old roadside shrine there."
Jeong Su Sa Tae pointed to a spot on the map.
"We'll lure the horde with blood scent, so you'll emerge behind them."
"..."
"You won't encounter the horde at all. Just drop off the wagons and return."
By revealing the Ami Sect's secret, Jeong Su Sa Tae had secured legitimacy.
And by ensuring they could avoid the horde, she'd covered the practical side too. The martial artists had no grounds left to object.
"The Qingcheng Sect leader, Mu Saeng-ja, personally selected your sect's top three experts for this. Please take three wagons to the central path."
Jeong Su Sa Tae pressed her palms together.
Mu Heo Ja clamped his mouth shut and grumbled.
The Qingcheng Sect leader had personally recommended them.
As an elder, Mu Heo Ja had no pretext to refuse now, no matter how much he hated it.
"The rest of you, split into two teams and move the remaining wagons. The operation begins at midnight tonight. An Ami Sect disciple will guide you to your quarters."
Jeong Su Sa Tae ended the meeting decisively, leaving no room for argument.
Mu Heo Ja offered a reluctant fist salute and turned away. The other martial artists filed out one by one.
But Jeong Su Sa Tae called out to Seo Baek's group.
"You three, stay a moment."
Once the martial artists had left, she instructed her disciple.
"Bring it."
The disciple returned with a red silk pouch.
Jeong Su Sa Tae tilted the pouch over the table, spilling out eight silver ingots.
"The compensation promised by the Sichuan Tang Clan. I've already paid those who arrived earlier."
"Thank you."
Seo Baek's group bowed to Jeong Su Sa Tae.
But as Wang Yi Sam pocketed the silver ingots in his sash pouch, Seo Baek said something unexpected.
"One thing, though. We three haven't agreed to take the Ami Sect's job yet."
"...!"
Wang Yi Sam was more shocked than Jeong Su Sa Tae. He jolted in surprise, nearly dropping the ingots.
"What can the Ami Sect do for you?"
"It's not about the pay. We can't take this job."
"...Why?"
Jeong Su Sa Tae's gentle gaze sharpened into a piercing stare.
A presence that made even a seasoned veteran like Wang Yi Sam flinch!
But Seo Baek remained unflinching and replied calmly.
"We plan to cross Shu Dao Pass into the Central Plains. Same for these two. Isn't that right?"
"W-Well, yeah..."
Seo Baek turned, and Wang Yi Sam swallowed hard before grudgingly agreeing.
"Blowing the cliffs will block the exit from Shu Dao Pass. Luring the horde with blood means no chance of slipping past them. I need to leave before the path closes."
Seo Baek's stance was clear.
Jeong Su Sa Tae tried persuading him once more.
"We have hundreds of soldiers, but their commander fled, so they could turn into a rabble anytime—we can't spare Ami Sect members. This concerns the safety of the Central Plains' martial world."
"I'm going to the Central Plains for the martial world's safety too."
Her eyes flashed like daggers at his cheeky retort.
But her gaze softened at his following explanation.
"I must deliver my master's book to Shaolin Temple. It's for exterminating the revenants too."
"Shaolin Temple..."
Jeong Su Sa Tae nodded and said,
"Very well. I have a proposal."
"What is it?"
"Circle behind Shu Dao Pass to the north, and you'll reach the upper reaches of the Long River Three Gorges. The Ami Sect has a boat prepared for emergencies. I'll give it to you."
"...!"
The Long River Three Gorges was the only waterway from Sichuan to the Central Plains.
But few ventured through it. The upper gorges were narrow and treacherous, capsizing or wrecking all but the sturdiest vessels.
Jeong Su Sa Tae added, aware of this,
"It's sturdy. No problem navigating down the Three Gorges."
Seo Baek weighed her offer.
'If it's an Ami Sect boat, I can trust it.'
The plains outside Shu Dao Pass were already overrun. Even on horseback, breaking through would be tough.
'But take the boat through the Three Gorges, and we'll hit Central Plains soil right away.'
Different from their planned route, but faster to the Central Plains.
"Agreed. What about you two?"
"Me? Hell yeah. I mean, yes, I'm in!"
"I agree too."
Wang Yi Sam and Yu So Un sided with Seo Baek.
"Amitabha. Thank you, benefactors. The operation starts at midnight, so return here then."
Jeong Su Sa Tae pressed her palms together.
As Seo Baek's group exited the tent, an Ami Sect disciple led them to their quarters.
"Rest well."
As the disciple turned to leave, Seo Baek asked,
"No one else besides the first six martial artists?"
"No."
As expected. The three who turned back toward the crater after the rope bridge exploded had likely fled without coming to Shu Dao Pass.
Once the disciple left, Wang Yi Sam grumbled at Seo Baek.
"Warn me before you haggle next time! My heart shrank to a pea when you defied the Ami Sect leader!"
"Got it."
Seo Baek smiled faintly.
"The day the Sichuan Tang Clan and Ami Sect join hands has come."
At Yu So Un's words, Seo Baek and Wang Yi Sam nodded.
Everyone in the Central Plains martial world knew the Tang Clan and Ami Sect were like dogs and cats.
Wang Yi Sam grumbled again.
"Everything's fine, but why midnight? Always scheduling during bedtime."
"Midnight's the darkest hour—perfect for an operation."
"Don't these martial folks sleep? Sigh."
The three unpacked in their quarters and rested.
The dinner brought by the Ami Sect disciple was simple: steaming fresh rice and radish braised in soy sauce.
But hunger was the best sauce. They devoured every grain.
Half a shichen before midnight.
The Ami Sect disciple fetched them, and Seo Baek's group headed to Jeong Su Sa Tae's tent. Soon, the six martial artists from the Tang Clan job and the Qingcheng Sect arrived too.
"Everyone's here, so I'll explain the plan."
Jeong Su Sa Tae pointed to mysterious objects piled in one corner of the tent.
"You'll load one onto each wagon you're transporting."
Her eyes turned icy cold.
"This operation has a time limit. Be late, and you might lose your lives."