Kill me, you say? (4)
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Mangeum Daebu watched as his subordinates close in on the encirclement. His cold gaze slowly passed over them, then beyond to Red Dogs and the disciples of Hwasan standing tall.
His gaze finally landed on Jang Ilso once again.
‘Jang Ilso, you wouldn’t dare to call me a coward, would you?’
Probing for an opponent’s weakness is a common practice among the Sapa. Whether it’s an enemy or an ally, it makes no difference. It’s not the one who stabs in the back that’s bad, but the one who leaves an opening. That’s the Sapa way.
Jang Ilso also knew this fact better than anyone and had used it to come this far. Even if he died and became a ghost here, he had no right to blame Mangeum Daebu.
Mangeum Daebu’s gaze briefly turned downward. When he saw the empty fluttering sleeve, his eyes sunk deeply.
If he hadn’t lost this arm, he might have made a different choice in this moment. Licking Jang Ilso’s feet under his rule might not be a pleasant thing to do, but if there was something to gain, there was no reason to refuse.
To him, pride was not that important. He didn’t want to sell himself cheap, but if the right price was offered, he wouldn’t refuse it.
But… losing this arm changed everything. For someone who wielded the Superior Sword, losing it meant he could no longer live like he used to.
If he was in Jang Ilso’s position, how would he have handled the weakened Mangeum Daebu? Stripped of his power and unable to protect the title of Black Ghost’s leader, what would he have done?
‘No need to think about it.’
He would have approached like an old snake, whispering that if only he followed him, he could protect everything he had at that moment. From the moment Mangeum Daebu, with no other choice, pledged loyalty, he would gradually and leisurely take away everything he possessed.
And in the future, when he became obsolete, it would be appropriate to deal with him.
The moment Jang Ilso left this place, there was no other option for Mangeum Daebu. He had to choose between dying immediately or surrendering to Jang Ilso, waiting for the day when everything would be taken from him, and dying miserably.
Mangeum Daebu had no intention of hesitating between two losing options. What he chose was the third path: removing Jang Ilso from his position and overturning everything.
Jang Ilso’s death would throw the situation in Gangnam, which had barely stabilized, into chaos. Likewise, it would push the slowly uniting factions in Gangbuk, which had Jang Ilso as their enemy, into confusion.
The only way for someone with relative weaknesses to survive is to create chaos in the world.
‘This is a chance that won’t come again.’
It was a chance bordering on divine luck.
If demonic cultists they were dealing with had not stopped fighting and retreated when Danjakang entered the scene, Mangeum Daebu and Black Ghosts would not have had the power to stand against Red Dogs and Hwasan right now.
And, of course, Mangeum Daebu had no intention of missing that opportunity.
“You made a mistake.”
His chilling gaze turned towards Hwasan and Red Dogs, who were sharpening their blades at sight of approaching Black Ghosts.
“You’ve seen me too easily, Jang Ilso.”
And his misjudgment would determine the fate of the Wind Cloud Child*, Jang Ilso.
The encirclement was closing in.
‘Not good.’
Baek Cheon’s gaze darkened.
It would be better if all those troops rushed at them at once. During the chaos, there would surely be an opening.
But the ones at the forefront, except for the ten who stood there, didn’t seem to have any intention of clashing with them.
It was clear. This encirclement wasn’t meant to kill but to capture.
Even if they had to accept increasing casualties by not showing their full force, they wouldn’t let a single mouse escape.
The excessive measures against the almost-fallen Jang Ilso and Chung Myung, however, were in line with the fact that Mangeum Daebu, from the beginning, was a man who didn’t tolerate even the slightest variable when it came to commanding his own forces.
‘Or maybe their mere existence has made Mangeum Daebu so cautious.’
Whatever the cause may be, the result remains the same.
Baek Cheon lowered one shoulder slightly and bent his knee, as if he was about to spring to one side at any moment. But the elite guards behind him, who had been filling the rear menacingly, subtly closed in on the side facing his shoulder.
‘They seem like soldiers.’
It’s not the work of amateurs, not by a long shot. They’ve undoubtedly been professionally trained in setting up this kind of encirclement, almost like practicing for a hunt.
Baek Cheon instinctively licked his lips. There was no denying that this was a crisis. If you look at it in a strictly rational way, everyone here has one foot over the threshold of death.
Strangely, there was no fear.
“Sasuk, should I go first?”
And it seemed that the others felt the same way. Baek Cheon asked calmly, glancing at Jo Geol, who was fidgeting as if he could charge forward any moment.
“Aren’t you afraid?”
“Afraid?”
Jo Geol smirked.
“Do you think these bastards are stronger than those Bishop bastards I saw before? I’ve seen people who would charge headfirst into those crazy Bishops who didn’t even look like human beings. If I’m scared of these guys, I’d be too pathetic, don’t you think?”
Baek Cheon chuckled.
“Right, I agree.”
The other disciples of Hwasan also raised their swords in agreement with those words. It was then that Baek Cheon spoke sharply with a calm voice.
“But going crazy is enough for those two. Don’t lose your reason. What we need to do is not fight them but to clear a path.”
“Yes.”
Everyone hardened their expressions.
‘Individually, they may not be a problem, but…’
The problem lay in their numbers and the way they had formed a siege. Superficially, it might seem like they had haphazardly surrounded them, but with their strange and slow movements, it was clear that it was a certain formation. Dealing with them recklessly could lead to big trouble.
But…
‘I can’t stand here doing nothing!’
Baek Cheon made up his mind and gripped his sword tightly.
‘All right! I’ll charge in and clear the way!’
Baek Cheon was about to inject his inner strength into his legs and leap forward.
“Oh?”
“Whoa!”
Suddenly, a voice from behind startled Baek Cheon, and he turned around.
“Hey, this is fun.”
“What?”
Im Sobyeong was holding a fan, swaying it lightly. Baek Cheon, with a bewildered look, didn’t seem to care one bit.
“Just wait, just wait… just a little while…”
He muttered to himself, carefully examining those who had set up the encirclement. His two eyes were like those of a falcon [he will be talking about military strategies and formations].
“Palgwa [팔괘(八卦) – Eight Trigrams], Yeokli [The Reverse Principle – 역리(逆理)]. There’s also Gihwan [Strange Fantasy – 기환(奇幻)]… No, is Samjae [Three Elements – 삼재(三才)도] mixed in too…”
Baek Cheon blinked in confusion.
At that moment, Im Sobyeong swiftly folded the fan he had opened and brought it down over his hand.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Such an incongruously sophisticated formation. These Sapas must be quite proud.”
“What?”
“Well, well, look here, Dojang.”
Im Sobyeong nodded toward the Black Ghosts.
“The key isn’t the ones at the front, but the ones lurking behind. If you charge in a straight line, the ones in front will fortify their defenses and fall back, while the ones in the rear will surround the attackers from both sides. The attack will come from at least five directions. What will happen then?”
“Uh… yes?”
Baek Cheon asked in a daze, and Im Sobyeong furrowed his brow as if to say, “Can’t this Hwasan guy even understand something this simple?”
Baek Cheon lowered his head under a disdainful glance.
‘Who would teach a Hwasan guy like me?’
All he learned from Hwasan is ‘Hit them from the head if a fight breaks out’ and ‘People don’t go down that easily, so just charge in.’ What else could he do?
“…You’ll get surrounded and beaten to death if you charge in.”
“Ah, I see.”
He should have said that right from the start. Baek Cheon nodded his head with a brightened face.
“It seems that Mangeum Daebu has done quite a bit of research on Hwasan and Maninbang. Whether it’s Hwasan or Maninbang, they’re both influential sects but charge like wild boars. When a fight breaks out, we aren’t supposed to charge in without thinking, right?”
“Well, your words…”
Of course, it’s not wrong, but… from the perspective of someone hearing it from a bandit leader, you should consider the context…
“Although it seems like they urgently surrounded us, they’ve actually made preparations to respond appropriately. If we can’t resist our impatience and charge in from here, they’ll surround us one by one, cut off our heads, and stab our bellies with their knives. Hehehe. Of course, there won’t be anyone stupid enough to see that and charge in recklessly…”
The shoulders of a man who happened to stop just before running into the formation shrank. It felt like his throat was dry and his stomach was sore.
“Indeed, Mangeum Daebu. He’s different from the Black Dragon King. He clearly understands the art of war. He might be the worst enemy for Hwasan or Maninbang. Hehehe.”
Im Sobyeong’s eyes twinkled. Somehow… it was as if he had finally met his true calling and was very excited. In a situation like this.
“But!”
Thump!
At that moment, Im Sobyeong struck his palm again with the fan.
“That’s a story for when I’m not around.”
He chuckled meaningfully and then pushed Baek Cheon forward.
“If they come at you from all directions, hold your ground. Don’t ever try to run out even if you find a gap. The moment anyone sticks out and tries to escape, they’ll surround that person even if their backs are exposed. If you rush in to rescue them one by one, you’ll all be wiped out.”
Hearing this, Baek Cheon urgently shouted,
“Yoon Jong-ah!”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
“Put a leash on Jo Geol!”
“Yes!”
“Why me…”
“Shut up and stay by my side!”
“…Fine.”
Baek Cheon glanced at Im Sobyeong and asked,
“But does holding our ground improve the situation? We’re at a disadvantage the longer we delay, aren’t we?”
“Of course. But…”
Im Sobyeong glanced somewhere and then smiled.
“I’ll explain that later.”
“…”
“Alright, they’re coming. We can talk later! For now, just hold your ground as best as you can. It’s Hwasan, after all.”
At that moment, the Black Ghosts’ elite warriors at the front started lowering their stances and charged towards Hwasan.
“Well, I mean…”
Baek Cheon burst into a big grin.
“That goes without saying!”
Pa-a-a-ang!
As Baek Cheon swung his sword, the disciples of Hwasan, who had been protecting Chung Myung, simultaneously unsheathed their swords. The vibrant, fiery plum blossoms they conjured rushed splendidly towards the Black Ghosts’ elite warriors.
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*I have no idea how to adequately translate it into English. In Korean 풍운아 (風雲兒 – as I have found) it is a phrase representing a child or character associated with the elements of wind and clouds, implying a free-spirited or adventurous nature.
Return of the Mount Hua 
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