Return of the Mount Hua

Sapaeryeon is invading! (4)

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He had to muster his resolve. No, at the very least, he had to steel his determination. Because that was the stance of the Just Sects opposing those who plunge the world into chaos.

“Oh, they’re coooming!”

But as he heard his own voice escape his lips, he realized everything – that, in truth, he was afraid.

Those surging like a tide appeared disorderly, without unity or a sense of belonging. Yet, ironically, that only fueled his fear even more. It felt as if he stood bare before a muddy torrent that swallowed everything.

In front of such a fierce torrent, could his comrades beside him truly be of support? Would they be of any help?

He felt isolated, as if those beside him, those who had his back, had all vanished. Only the vision of a violent torrent surging as if to collapse towering cliffs captured his gaze.

At the enormity that seemed impossible to overcome with human strength, the tip of his sword, which he had barely managed to raise, began to lose strength, and his resolve gradually drained away.

“Hahahahahahahahah!”

Amidst all this, Jang Ilso’s laughter, imbued with internal energy, mixed into the chaos.

Where is this place? For what purpose did he stand here?

‘I, I…’

His thoughts, lost in confusion, were crushed before they could even bloom.

“Hyahaaaaaah!”

With a monstrous scream, a member of Sapaeryeon rushed right before his eyes in an instant. Before he could even fully feel the sudden heat surging at him, fierce blade strikes poured down over his head.

He quickly thrust his sword, heavily infused with internal energy, to block the blade.

Kaang!

“Urgh!”

At that moment, a cough involuntarily burst out. The force aimed at his sword was greater than expected. He tried to hold his ground, but in the end, he was pushed back a couple of steps.

Of course, it was only about two steps.

It was merely a trivial outcome and a fleeting moment, too insignificant to discuss in the course of this war.

But what if those being pushed back were not just one, but ten? A hundred? No, hundreds?

The retreating steps become waves, and those waves soon turn into a massive tide that drives Cheonumaneg back.

A single clash created a clear fracture in this war where there was no turning back.

“Haaargh!”

“D-Don’t get pushed back!”

“If we retreat, it’s over! Hold the line!”

Those who sensed the situation turning for the worse shouted on the verge of screaming.

❀ ❀ ❀

“What-what’s happening! Why are we being pushed back?”

Jo Geol’s eyes widened in shock.

The vanguard was clearly collapsing. It might be a bit hasty, but there was no denying that Cheonumaeng had shown weakness in the initial clash.

“This can’t be happening!”

Of course, Sapaeryeon’s numbers are overwhelming Cheonumaeng. That much is obvious.

But if sheer numbers decided the outcome, there would have been no reason for this war to start. The individual martial prowess of each member should have allowed Cheonumaeng to overpower Sapaeryeon.

Yet now, an absurd situation was unfolding where those at the very front, facing equal numbers, were being pushed back.

With a sense of foreboding, Jo Geol grabbed Yoon Jong’s shoulder and shouted.

“Sahyeong!”

“Calm down!”

Yoon Jong gritted teeth and shouted back.

“That damned bastard…”

Momentum and morale alone can’t explain this situation.

Martial prowess is like a fortress built solidly with blood and sweat. While there can be slight fluctuations depending on morale, it’s impossible for the situation to be completely overturned.

“They deliberately placed their elites at the front.”

At that moment, Im Sobyeong’s indifferent voice was heard. Hearing this, Jo Geol quickly surveyed Sapaeryeon’s vanguard.

“What…?”

They didn’t appear particularly special. They seemed no different from the usual warriors of Sapaeryeon. But after gauging the momentum of the weapons they wielded, Jo Geol’s face hardened grimly.

They’re strong.

In terms of experience dealing with the Evil Sects, Jo Geol was second to none. Therefore, he could immediately tell that these were among the top ranks within Sapaeryeon.

“But why!”

In full-scale battle, it’s fundamental to conserve your elite forces. Deploying those who should be used at decisive moments into the front lines, where they are bound to be consumed, doesn’t make sense.

That’s why even Hwasan is anxiously waiting at the rear right now.

“That’s a foolish move.”

“So…”

“To those who understand that.”

“…Yes?”

Im Sobyeong let out a hollow laugh. Yes, it’s an absurd act – in terms of military strategy, that is.

However…

“But how many here can understand this situation?”

“…What do you mean?”

“Most people, upon seeing their comrades being pushed back, would think like this: ‘They are…”

“…Stronger than we thought.”

Im Sobyeong nodded as he looked at Yoon Jong, who had finished his sentence for him.

Those gathered here are not soldiers.

Retreating won’t land them in prison, and disobeying orders won’t cost them their heads.

In a regular army, even if the situation is unfavorable, just enduring silently can open up a chance for the tides to turn. But does such a turnaround exist on this battlefield?

“Th-Then isn’t this a big problem? We have to do something right now, Sahyeong!”

Jo Geol urged Yoon Jong with an anxious expression.

“That’s right, Sahyeong! If this continues, we won’t even have a chance to do anything!”

Tang Soso also chimed in, agreeing with Jo Geol. Yu Iseol and Hye Yeon also pressed Yoon Jong with their expectant gazes.

But Yoon Jong kept his mouth firmly shut, remaining silent. Unable to bear it, Jo Gul shouted again.

“Sahyeong!”

Only then did Yoon Jong furrow his brow and speak.

“We hold our position.”

“What?”

Jo Geol momentarily doubted his ears. His eyes trembled violently.

“What are you saying, Sahyeong? Right now, we have to do something…!”

“Don’t spout nonsense! We’re neither that great nor exceptional!”

“But…”

“There’s no way Lord Tang doesn’t know what we know. If necessary, he will give the orders. If everyone acts on their own thoughts on a battlefield like this, everything will turn into chaos. That might be what Jang Ilso is truly after. Do you understand me?”

“…”

“So grit your teeth and endure. Orders will surely come!”

Jo Geol stared blankly at his Sahyeong, then turned his gaze to Im Sobyeong, as if to ask whether Yoon Jong’s judgment was truly correct.

Im Sobyeong shrugged leisurely, which was unfitting for such a critical situation.

“It seems like a correct judgment. Indeed, if everyone acts on their own, the problem will only grow worse.”

“Then…”

With even Im Sobyeong agreeing, there was no room left for argument.

Jo Geol’s shoulders slumped. Im Sobyeong unfolded his fan, covering half his face, and muttered.

“Logically, that’s certainly true, but…”

Then he cast his gaze far into the distance, towards where Tang Gunak was.

‘That’s only if those in command have the capability to handle this situation.’

The playful gleam in his eyes sank heavily.

❀ ❀ ❀

Slash!

The roughly swung blade tore through flesh and severed bone. Dark crimson blood splattered everywhere as if exploding.

“Khahahah!”

Wild laughter, intoxicated by the heat of battle, mixed with screams erupting from all sides. The heat emanating from people choked their breath, and the waves of energy surging from the front pounded against their very hearts*.

“Aaaaaaah!”

It was impossible to endure any longer.

The enemies who had rushed right up to them were stronger than expected. When forcibly trying to resist, the flanks collapsed, and they had to fend off the attacks flying in from three directions. This couldn’t be handled alone.

Just when one bitterly realized how dangerous it was to lose momentum even once, a suddenly flying spear would pierced into their side.

“Ugh!”

Falling. Collapsing.

Like a painstakingly built sandcastle being eroded by successive waves, Cheonumaeng’s formation was gradually and unmistakably crumbling with each surge.

Realizing this, the command unit was desperate to rebuild the collapsing sandcastle.

Zhuge Jain shouted with all his might.

“Calm down! I said calm down! It’s not that they’re strong, thats’s not it!”

Even though his voice, infused with internal energy, burst forth, no one seemed to respond. Even his earnest voice was scattered futilely, swept away by the heat of the battlefield.

“Just a little more…”

“Ah, no! It’s impossible!”

At that moment, someone turning his back on the enemy and retreating came clearly into Zhuge Jain’s view.

“What are you doing! Don’t run away!”

Zhuge Jain bit his lip until it bled.

‘Damn it!’

There are cowards with weak resolve everywhere. It was just one person who ran away, and Cheonumaeng hadn’t yet made a major misstep.

However, Zhuge Jain knew better than anyone that even a massive fortress that has withstood a thousand years begins to collapse from a small crack.

“Stand your ground! All you have to do is hold your positions and fight! We’re in an advantageous situation, damn it!”

Even though Zhuge Jain shouted until his voice was hoarse, he couldn’t penetrate the screams pouring in from all directions. Finally, throwing away all dignity, he grabbed and tore at his own hair.

There’s a gap between knowing and doing, and no matter how many world-shaking strategies you have in your head, if you can’t actually use them, they’re just delusions. Zhuge Jain knew this.

But this was just too much.

‘Why…?’

They weren’t even listening to Zhuge Jain’s words.

Even though the enemy had suppressed their momentum by placing elites at the front, was Cheonnumaeng such a fragile place that it could collapse so easily?

— Hahahahahahahaha!

The resounding mad laughter of Jang Ilso pierced his ears.

He wanted to shut that mouth. No, at least he wanted to cover his own ears. But right now, Zhuge Jain couldn’t do either.

“We have to do something!”

In the end, Zhuge Jain turned to Tang Gunak and Jongli Gok beside him.

“If we leave it like this, our lines will collapse in an instant. Then we’ll have to engage in a disorganized skirmish**, and you know what that means when fighting against them, right?”

His urgency showed, uncharacteristically for him. But Jongli Gok just let out a bitter laugh.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Command…”

“After scattering my sect’s disciples all over, and now?”

At those words, Zhuge Jain’s gaze wavered.

“…If Jongnam Sect were gathered here, perhaps we could do something. But that’s not the case, is it? Wasn’t it the General who created the divisions, claiming it was a better way?”

That was Chung Myung’s choice, not Zhuge Jain’s. But now was not the time to argue over such trivial matters.

“Are you saying you’re just going to stand by and do nothing?”

“I’m not saying I’m doing nothing: I’m saying I can’t do anything. Do you think the members of Zhuge family would stake their lives on my words?”

For a moment, Zhuge Jain was at a loss for words.

“Our strength only holds meaning within our own sect. Right now, we don’t have the power to command these people.”

“Ah…”

Zhuge Jain realized what his misunderstanding had been.

Power comes from structure, and what maintains that structure is authority. At least, that’s what Zhuge Jain believed.

But that was during times of peace.

No one entrusts their lives to such hollow ‘authority.’ Cheonumaeng, hastily assembled from people who have lived vastly different lives, didn’t have the luxury for that authority to take effect. There wasn’t enough time.

“Then…”

Zhuge Jain’s gaze wavered. He finally seemed to understand the strong sense of discord he had been feeling.

‘So that’s why… they don’t look back.’

Everyone knew that the command center was here, yet no one turned their heads. None of the alliance members were waiting for orders.

How could he not understand what this meant? A shadow fell over Zhuge Jain’s face.

And at that moment.

There was someone facing as much despair as Zhuge Jain… No, perhaps someone encountering a sense of desperation even greater.

Opposite Zhuge Jain, someone who could not stand where he rightfully should be, surrounded by those he should call his enemies.

Baek Cheon’s eyes were filled with despair he could not fully conceal.

Next chapter >>>

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*심창 – a literary term to describe a person’s heart.

**난전(亂戰) – according to naver ‘free fight.’ In a broader context it is a battle situation where formations have broken down: soldiers are fighting in small, scattered groups; allies and enemies are mixed together; commanders can no longer control their troops. This is 난전: a chaotic, unstructured fight where victory depends on individual skill and survival instincts rather than coordinated strategy.

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Won’t be active much on 29th and 30th of November (as in answering comments and on discord) since I have activities planned due to my birthday on the 30th. Have a nice weekend, guys.

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