#107. Abyssal Wailing Great Journey (6)
"They're heading for Taesil Peak."
"Not Sosil Peak?"
Taesil Peak of Mount Song was infamous for its treacherous terrain. Unless one was visiting Shaolin Temple, no one would deliberately venture into it.
"They don't always take the obvious path, do they?"
Whether by chance or design, they kept dodging Cheol Sunjik's predictions.
"Not a good matchup for me. And foolish to boot."
Unexpected choices could refresh one's spirits, but overdoing it was unwise. Those who relied too heavily on improvisation would eventually fall into their own trap.
"Split the unit in two. Link up with Guigungmun and Bipamun on the Sosil Peak route and block the exit from Taesil Peak."
The Sosil Peak path was faster than Taesil's. If they spurred their horses, they could seal off both the front and rear before those who entered Taesil Peak could traverse it.
"The rest of you, hand over your horses and follow me."
"Brother Cheol, I'll take the lead."
Nam Hwaseong rubbed his fists as he spoke, and Cheol Sunjik nodded.
"They say Taesil Peak has always been so perilous that countless people have plummeted to their deaths."
"Aye, with all twenty-four peaks, finding the bodies would be no small task."
The five hundred troops proceeded as planned along the main road toward Sosil Peak, while Cheol Sunjik's detachment began moving toward Taesil Peak.
"They must have been in quite a hurry."
What they encountered after some time was the strange iron carriage they'd been hauling. Did they really think such a ragged, iron-plated cart could navigate this rugged path where even horses couldn't pass?
Nam Hwaseong, thrilled at the prospect of soon turning Jin Sowoon's face into pulp, picked up the pace. The treacherous path made it precarious, but Cheol Sunjik didn't stop him.
Such encirclement tactics worked best when the enemy grew anxious.
Yet.
"Why haven't they shown up yet?"
They were moving at a speed unbelievable for traversing Taesil Peak. And yet, long after passing the iron carriage, there was no sign of Jin Sowoon's group.
"Maybe they've hidden themselves?"
"No place for that, and if they had, one of us would have noticed."
Though reduced in number, they still had eighty men. Not professional assassins, they couldn't have erased all traces in such a short time.
Bang.
At that moment, a red signal flare shot up from the west.
"B-Brother Cheol!"
"What?"
The flare came from the Sosil Peak direction. Red meant they were under attack.
"Heading for Sosil Peak?"
More shocking than the enemy's erratic maneuver was the sheer impossibility of it. Between Taesil in the east and Sosil in the west lay sheer cliffs like knife edges. Unless one was a super peak expert, crossing from Taesil to Sosil meant detouring over all twenty-four peaks of Taesil.
"How the hell did they pull that off?"
Cheol Sunjik was too lost in thought about the method to issue further orders.
Our group, originally supposed to number one hundred thirty, had dwindled to seventy-eight. Considering they hailed from Namgung family, Moyong family, and Iron Sword Sect elites, this showed just how grueling the journey had been.
Conversely, it meant these remaining seventy-eight were the true cream of the crop. Those who endured that hell without injury or falling behind.
That's why I could execute maneuvers unimaginable back in my Small Justice Squad days without hesitation.
"But we almost died!"
Seong Moran shrieked as she climbed the Sosil Peak cliff.
"That's why I saved you, isn't it?"
True, it had been a bit reckless. When I suggested descending a hundred jang of sheer cliff, Gang Chaeseok had muttered, "......Right after handing over command?"
But once I took the lead, scaling the wall with Flying Dragon Claw and carving handholds midway, they managed to follow. I caught those who slipped along the way.
Fortunately, no one died crossing the cliff.
"That's not the point! The problem is how many brushes with death we had!"
"......Warriors often gain enlightenment facing death. See it that way, and I've handed you a golden opportunity."
"......"
I'd meant it as a joke, but fire blazed in Seong Moran's eyes.
"Why do you think we're in this mess? If the Twelve Bongseong hadn't placed Guigungmun and Bipamun to trap us, would we be suffering like this?"
Crunch.
Crack.
The stone in Seong Moran's grip shattered, nearly toppling her, but she quickly regained balance and resumed climbing.
"The Twelve Bongseong are closing in because they see us as easy prey."
Having never faced such treatment in life, her rage burned fiercer. I deliberately raised my voice.
"Show them the true might of Namgung, Moyong, and Iron Sword Sect. Make them never dare target us again."
Their climbing speed doubled. Those who reached the top tossed down vines to haul up comrades, and soon all eighty were atop the cliff.
Though exhausted from the ascent and descent, they swiftly descended the mountain.
Gang Chaeseok, Cho Mubin, and Baek Won-gak bellowed in unison.
"Charge!!"
"Let's go!!!"
"Go go go!!!"
One by one, they drew swords upon spotting Guigungmun troops patrolling the main road opposite.
"Attack!"
The prowess of the Five Great Families shone here. Without hesitation, they scaled trees and cut down the archers.
"Argh!"
"They're behind us!"
"Bipamun! Where's Bipamun?!"
Like fruit tumbling from branches, the ambushed Guigungmun archers rained down.
Without extra guards to fill their hundred-man quota, they couldn't match Moyong, Namgung, and Iron Sword warriors once they lost terrain advantage.
Twang.
Instinctively, I jerked my head, dodging an arrow grazing my cheek. Wiping the trickling blood, I scanned around.
Guigungmun had regrouped for counterattack.
Twang.
Strings snapped in unison from all directions, arrows blotting the sky in numbers unimaginable for a mere hundred men.
"Illusion!"
Even the charging warriors ducked behind trees. Only dozens of arrows hit the ground. Everyone knew most of the arrow storm was fake, yet none advanced rashly.
Unlike sword illusions, arrow illusions were hard to discern mid-flight. Guigungmun filling ranks solely with archers, trusting the other Twelve Bongseong, made their mass volley a deadly threat to swordsmen.
Twang.
Strings rang again, this time from three directions. They'd shifted positions for attack.
"Gah!"
"Don't just watch the front! They've moved!"
"Damn it."
The illusion storm felled eight with real arrows embedded. More screams erupted from our counterattacking men.
"Urk!"
"It's Bipamun!"
"Fall back!"
After the illusion storm, Bipamun charged. Closer than archers but distant from us, they hurled flying swords wildly. Rush one, and an arrow pierced limb from afar.
The Twelve Bongseong's reputation was well-earned.
"Jaehwa."
I called Moyong Jaehwa amid dodging flying swords.
"Yes, brother!"
"Where do you think Guigungmun's examinee is hiding?"
"Huh?"
His face blanked amid the chaos.
"If you were shooting, where'd you hide?"
"I-I'd......"
Peeking out, Jaehwa scanned trees, pointing to the second-tallest with denser foliage.
"There, that tree's thicker with leaves."
"Got it."
"Huh? What are you—"
"I'm staking my life on you."
"Pardon?"
I surged inner energy to full. Pouring all my post-thirty energy into Heavenly Lone Walker God Step.
Bang.
Startled Bipamun warriors flung flying swords from all sides.
Whoosh.
Dodging by a hair's breadth, I kicked off a tree toward Jaehwa's spot.
And sure enough, as I closed in, the tree shook violently.
'Bingo!'
His presence was faint, but hidden well—form invisible. I unleashed Cartoon Invincible Fist at the tree.
Crackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrackcrack!
Snapping branches and leaves flew, the massive tree shuddering. Amid it, a figure in cyan uniform leaped down bow in hand.
"Gotcha!"
His face paled turning to me.
Bang. Jin Sowoon rocketed off the ground like a cannonball, dirt spraying like waves.
"......"
Though the moment he'd longed for, Moyong Jaehwa felt only emptiness.
'I'm useless after all.'
He'd come to aid Sowoon brother, but contributed nothing. Sowoon seemed to sense it, bolstering him with needless questions.
'You don't have to.'
He thought he'd adapted to chronic helplessness, but failing one he admired crushed him deeper.
-Hopeless case.
- Moyong heir's like that?
- Better if born as Miss Seol with swapped gender.
Sect folk's worried whispers weighed heavy. Father's warmth—risking life for Fire Phoenix inner core to compensate his lack—burdened him. Masters insisting he'd match Moyong Seol, destined to lead despite naysayers—burdens too.
So he'd fled. Learned despised grappling, skipped training, even skipped academy exam. Grandpa scared him, but he could endure; expectations would fade in years.
Childish thoughts. But facing father offering the hard-won core, he couldn't say he'd skip the exam.
Energy grew gladly, but burdens lightened not.
Hence Sowoon brother appealed. Bearing heavier loads, worse odds, unbreakable will piercing through.
Thus the admiration.
"Young master!"
Crackcrack.
Baek Won-gak shielded him, taking an arrow to the arm.
"Captain!"
"I'm fine. Hold a bit longer. Ladies and spear corps are picking off Guigung one by one."
"......"
Geum Pyo and Eunho clasped hands; Dongryong dashed, stepping into them. They launched him skyward with full force.
Crackcrackcrack!
Branches scraped, but reaching the archer, Dongryong severed bow and hurled man down.
Baek Won-gak, watching, said:
"Everyone's fighting their battles. Stepping in now would just hinder."
"Hinder......"
Realizing his slip, Baek couldn't retract. Meanwhile, Jin Sowoon's voice boomed through the woods.
"Guigungmun! Bipamun! Your young masters are in my hands. Want to save them? Cease fighting."
His words ignored, battle raged.
"Aaaagh!"
"Kaaaagh!"
Two distinct screams later, it halted.
"Hwanggeommun's Jong Seogak died refusing retreat, soul scattered. You too?"
A archer dropped from a tree. Nearby warriors flinched, unaware of his perch.
"How trust you'll spare?"
"This is a test. Think I'm some blood-mad killer?"
"You did at Bokyang Plains."
"Wasn't me!"
"......Fine, we withdraw. Release young master."
"No!"
The youth in Jin Sowoon's grip yelled; archer shook head.
"Young master, exam matters, but you matter most."
He eyed Jin Sowoon.
"Even if we release, other Twelve Bongseong will grab them."
"That's my problem. So move quicker?"
"Kaaagh."
"What then?"
"Disarm and withdraw."
Guigung archers and Bipamun swordsmen dropped weapons, piling like a small mound—bows and flying swords.
Taeulmun folk eyed it queasily.
"I'll take this."
"You know what that is?!"
The youth raged at the bow in Jin Sowoon's hand, but he barely reacted.
"If you had an entry plaque, I'd take that, but zilch. So this instead, thief."
"......"
Handing over hostage, the archer added retreating down Sosil:
"We're leaving, but Twelve Bongseong won't give up."
Surveying: many wounded allies, some immobile needing treatment. Especially Baek Won-gak, pale with arrow in gut.
"Captain Baek!"
Gang Chaeseok sighed inspecting.
"Lucky, missed organs. Still, needs emergency care or it's bad."
Baek shook head.
"You go first."
"What nonsense! You'll die!"
"Great Moyong came to aid, can't drag here. I'll handle wounded and follow."
"Captain Baek!"
Gang Chaeseok, Cho Mubin, Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran—all eyed Jin Sowoon. Moyong Jaehwa pleaded with gaze.
"Good, they're not coming our path."
Seong Moran muttered, "Who'd be crazy enough......"
"But split troops heading Sosil."
Time short same.
"Start emergency treatment."
"I-I'm fine. This scratch...... nothing. Go."
Jin Sowoon ignored, eyeing kneeling Moyong Jaehwa before Baek.
"Moyong Jaehwa."
"......"
"Stand. Time to protect your man."
"......Me?"
"Yes. Don't move now, you harm Baek captain, Namgung, Iron Sword, and me."
"......But how?"
Jin Sowoon extended the captured bow.
"Time to reclaim true self."