We’ve Already Come Too Far (2)
“Good.”
Chung Myung’s eyes gleamed with an ominous light.
Once a decision had been made, the important thing was to move fast.
By now, word had probably already reached the Ice Palace that they had found Ice Crystal.
The Demonic Sect will get that information soon enough, too.
In a situation like this, you always had to assume the worst.
After running through the calculations, Chung Myung nodded. For now, securing Seol So-baek was the top priority.
“Go, Baek Cheon! Find Seol So-baek!”
“Baek Ah’s name is not Baek Cheon, you bastard!”
“No, you idiot, I said get going, Sasuk. Not Baek Ah.”
“What the hell is wrong with you?!”
Just as Baek Cheon flipped his eyes and was about to charge, Yoon Jong and Jo Gul hurriedly grabbed his arms.
“Calm down, Sasuk.”
“This is not the time for that!”
“Why the hell are you only doing this to me? From the start, that bastard—!”
“He’s Chung Myung.”
“…….”
Baek Cheon fell silent. Somehow, just one word had been enough to convince him, and that realization made him feel profoundly miserable.
“Ahem!”
Clearing his throat loudly, Baek Cheon turned to the disciples of Mount Hua and said, “You’ve all heard it. The situation is far from simple.”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
“We’ll move fast.”
“Understood!”
The others were no less tangled up in their own thoughts.
Could this even be done? Wouldn’t it be better to simply grab the Ice Crystal and run back to Central Plains? And on top of that, could they really find Seol So-baek in this vast North Sea?
But no one voiced those thoughts aloud.
There was no way Chung Myung hadn’t already considered them. He was the sort of bastard whose mind worked fastest whenever danger came knocking.
He might hesitate while deciding, but once he’d made up his mind, he simply believed in it and backed it. That was Mount Hua’s way.
“We leaving?”
“Hmm.”
At Baek Cheon’s question, Chung Myung stared stiffly up at the cliff above the ravine.
“I suppose we should. But before that…….”
His gaze drifted down slowly until it settled on Yeo Sa-hon.
A grin curled at the corner of his mouth.
“Want me to let you blow off some steam?”
“……Huh?”
Bang Pyo’s eyes had not once left the ravine where the icy wind howled.
“Still no news from the palace?”
“No. Not yet…….”
“They’re late.”
After roughly estimating the time, Bang Pyo clenched and unclenched his fist with faint agitation.
By now, the messenger should have arrived and returned. The fact that he’s delayed means they’re not just sending a messenger back. The Palace Lord must be preparing some sort of response.
And whatever that response was, it definitely wouldn’t be good news for the arrogant Central Plains bastards below.
“Sometimes talent hastens one’s fate.”
A thin smile touched his lips.
“Still, are you sure this is fine?”
“Fine? What are you talking about?”
“……Aren’t those guys down below the remnants of the former palace faction? If they start spouting nonsense…….”
“And what would change if they did?”
“……Pardon?”
Bang Pyo waved a hand dismissively, as if it were no concern at all.
“The world doesn’t stay silent because people don’t know things. Even if they have something they want to achieve, if they lack the strength to carry it through, it’s no different from not knowing in the first place.”
His subordinate nodded slightly, as though he understood. Bang Pyo snorted.
“What can a bunch of brats from Central Plains and defeated remnants do together? They can hardly even protect their own lives.”
All disasters begin with carelessness, they said, but it was hardly wise to be overly wary of them either.
“In the end, they’re nothing more than rats trapped in a jar. Still, don’t slack off on the watch!”
“Yes, sir!”
Even after that, he stood there staring at the ravine for a while longer before turning sharply on his heel.
But unfortunately for him, his steps would not carry him very far.
“Doesn’t it sound like something’s going on below?”
The murmuring of the men stationed at the front, watching the ravine, reached his ears.
“With the wind this loud, how could you hear anything else?”
“Still, you never know. I’ll check.”
“Be careful not to fall.”
“Yes, sir.”
One of the men who had been whispering pressed close to the edge of the ravine and craned his neck.
“Well?”
“Seems like nothing’s…….”
That was when it happened.
Snatch!
From below the ravine, a hand suddenly shot upward and seized the Ice Palace disciple by the collar just as he leaned out.
“W-What the—?!”
Before he could even grasp what was happening, the disciple was hurled cleanly into the air and tossed straight down into the ravine.
“Aaaaaghhhhhhhhh!”
The scream, mixed with shock and terror, thundered through the ravine before fading away below.
“What the hell!”
“What’s going on?!”
Those stationed around the area rushed over, aghast at the impossible sight.
And then.
Thud!
The hand that had flung the Ice Palace disciple away grabbed the ground. A moment later, a man wearing a bear pelt crawled up the cliff face.
“Hngh— there!”
With a light hop, Chung Myung landed atop the ravine and grinned at the people surrounding him.
“Long time no see?”
“……Y-You bastard!”
“Your reaction’s so obvious.”
Bang Pyo, who had been about to leave, saw the scene and strode quickly toward Chung Myung, his face hardening.
“Move.”
He pushed the encircling men aside and fixed Chung Myung with a cold stare before speaking as if spitting the words out.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
At that icy voice, Chung Myung merely shrugged with complete ease.
“What it looks like.”
“……I don’t understand.”
Bang Pyo frowned deeply.
“I thought you weren’t an idiot. Or have you gone mad because of that pathetic sense of righteous brotherhood?”
“Ah. That’s definitely a misunderstanding.”
Chung Myung waved a hand and pointed behind him with a finger.
“I don’t really care about that righteousness nonsense, even if the others do.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than the disciples of Mount Hua appeared behind him. They surged upward like birds of prey, and the moment they landed behind Chung Myung, every one of them drew their swords.
Ching! Chaaang!
As he saw the sharp blades levelled at him, Bang Pyo’s mouth twisted.
“So it’s not righteousness…… Then why are you doing something this foolish?”
“The foolish one here is you.”
“……What did you say?”
Chung Myung snorted.
“You’re working with the Demonic Sect after knowing they’re plotting things in the North Sea, and you’re asking us who’s foolish? You’ve got a death wish.”
“Y-You damn bastard!”
Bang Pyo’s face flushed with rage. But just as he was about to shout something, Chung Myung waved a hand lazily and cut him off.
“Ah, enough with that boring, predictable reaction. We’re kind of busy here, so make your choice already. Open the road and get out of the way, or get beaten senseless and buried obediently in the snow. Easy, right?”
Bang Pyo’s jaw actually dropped at the filthy words he had never once heard in his life.
Has this bastard completely lost his mind?
If he still had any sanity left, there was no way he’d dare threaten him like that in this situation.
“So that’s why they say all Central Plains bastards are unbearably arrogant. I see now that isn’t wrong at all. Just how ridiculous does the North Sea Ice Palace look for you to be spewing such nonsense?”
“Well, it is pretty ridiculous, isn’t it?”
“……What?”
A crooked smile tugged at the corner of Chung Myung’s mouth. It was unmistakable mockery.
“What’s so funny about a bunch of cowards who are so scared of the Demonic Sect that they dig up their own treasure and offer it up? If that isn’t laughable, then what is?”
“Y-You son of a bitch!”
Apparently, that had struck a nerve. Bang Pyo’s face turned crimson and then blue in an instant.
“No matter what punishment the Palace Lord gives me, I’ll tear your mouth apart piece by piece! What are you standing around for? Subdue him at once and bring him before me!”
“Yes, sir!”
The men surrounding the disciples of Mount Hua all drew their swords at once.
At the familiar, chilling ring of steel, Baek Cheon let out a long sigh.
“Still, that tactic of his— the provocation one…… I really don’t understand how he makes people that angry.”
“Provoking someone like that takes intent. I think he just blurts out whatever he feels like saying.”
“That’s even scarier.”
“……Yeah, that’s true.”
Baek Cheon’s gaze swept quickly over the surroundings. There were about forty martial artists. Not a small number to deal with.
“He’s been swinging his sword around in Central Plains until he’s gone completely off his rocker, hasn’t he? Trying to take us on with that many men?”
“This number is a bit much just to handle us. I’m almost offended.”
“……You really won’t stop?”
Bang Pyo’s whiskers twitched as Chung Myung needled him with that slick response.
“Still, well.”
Then Chung Myung chuckled and tapped the scabbard at his waist.
“If you’re unhappy with the numbers, I can fill them out a bit more.”
Bang Pyo narrowed his eyes, not understanding the meaning behind those words.
“You know what your mistake was?”
Before Bang Pyo could answer, Chung Myung spoke again, quickly.
“You stupidly forgot to cut the rope.”
“……What?”
That was when it happened.
Fwaaaaaaat!
Dozens of martial artists surged up all at once from the cliff behind Chung Myung.
And when Bang Pyo recognized the very first man to climb up, his eyes nearly split open.
“Y-Yeo Sa-hon! H-How did—!”
They had clearly been sealed from using their inner force, so who had undone it? Bang Pyo himself couldn’t have lifted those restraints.
“Baaang Pyoooooooo!”
Yeo Sa-hon, now standing on the cliff top, poured out a terrifying killing intent.
“You filthy bastard! Today I’ll tear you to pieces and avenge the hatred of all those who died at your hands!”
Bang Pyo found himself taking a step backward without even realizing it.
Yeo Sa-hon’s murderous aura was that terrifying. Not only that, but everyone who climbed onto the cliff exuded such ferocious hostility that it made the heart tremble.
And why wouldn’t they?
They were warriors who had fallen from the proud ranks of the North Sea Ice Palace into prisoners and been brutally mistreated ever since.
What’s more, more than half of the ones originally captured here had already died. Their hatred could not possibly be small.
“E-Elder.”
As the prisoners continued pouring up the cliff one after another, Bang Pyo’s face turned deathly pale.
“Heheh.”
And watching all this, Chung Myung made a pleased little nasal sound.
“You’ve been playing prison guard up in the North Sea and seem to have lost your minds. You really thought you could take us on with those numbers?”
“…….”
Hearing his own words thrown back at him, Bang Pyo was left speechless.
How in the world could this bastard still be like this in a situation like this…….
“Grrrgh!”
“I…….”
The prisoners who had made it onto the cliff glared at Bang Pyo with bloodshot eyes and began to close in on him. What was there to fear now, after finally feeling inner force flow through their bodies again for the first time in years?
Under that pressure, the Ice Palace warriors all started to retreat.
“E-Elder!”
“What do we do, Elder?”
But Bang Pyo gave no answer.
“What are you waiting for?”
At Chung Myung’s words, every prisoner turned their gaze to him.
“Sweep them away.”
Chung Myung pointed forward with a finger. As if that had been the signal, the prisoners all at once erupted with ferocious momentum and charged.
“I’ll kill you!”
“Traitors of the Ice Palace!”
“Kill the rebels!”
Watching the prisoners surge like an angry tide and overwhelm the guards, Chung Myung laughed maniacally.
“Good! The opening act of rebellion!”
“Isn’t it the opening act of a counterattack?”
“No. Rebellion. We’re bringing down the Palace Lord!”
Cling.
Chung Myung’s sword slid free.
If things had not started yet, there might have been room to wonder, but from this point on there was only one path forward. Everything depended on how fast they moved.
“Get ready!”
“You want us to help?”
“No. They’re already coming for us.”
At Chung Myung’s words, Baek Cheon snapped his head toward the place his gaze had fallen. Sure enough, through the blurred curtain of snow, shapes were beginning to emerge, surging toward them.
“……So that’s real.”
Baek Cheon’s face hardened. The martial prowess of the guards here was by no means weak, but it could not begin to compare to the momentum of the ones charging toward them now.
“What? Scared?”
At Chung Myung’s question, Baek Cheon snorted.
“Oh? You laughing?”
“Chung Myung.”
“Yeah?”
“……To still have the luxury of being afraid…….”
Baek Cheon’s eyes flashed with blue brilliance.
“We’ve already come too far.”
“…….”
As Baek Cheon took a broad step forward, the disciples of Mount Hua naturally moved to his side.
“Let’s go! I’ll show you exactly what Mount Hua’s sword is made of!”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
“We’re ready!”
“Crack their skulls open!”
“Ooooooh!”
With Baek Cheon charging at the front, the disciples of Mount Hua, and even Hye Yeon, let out feral cries and dashed forward.
“…….”
Left behind, watching the scene unfold, Chung Myung muttered under his breath, very, very quietly.
“……Those crazy bastards.”
Saseong.
Great Sasuk.
I think I’m the one who messed up.
Sorry.