Chapter 419

Chapter 419

“Given the remarkable prowess of Clan Leader Hwangbo and Lady Jin, navigating the treacherous lower ridges shouldn’t present much of a challenge. Furthermore, by utilizing your superior lightness skills, you ought to arrive at Mount Wudang within roughly two days, correct?”

Jin Ha-yeon maintained a detached countenance, appearing as though she had fully intended to carry out Il-mok’s directives regardless of the circumstances. Hwangbo Ak seemed deeply immersed in reflection, seemingly running calculations through his mind, whereas Provincial Commander Dongji was the sole individual whose expression betrayed intense apprehension.

“Be that as it may, if the two of you abandon your current positions and the Central Army Command decides to launch an all-out siege on the fortress during your absence, this defensive line could easily collapse.”

Though they were merely two individuals, their independent martial capabilities were equivalent to a force of thousands. The strategy of safeguarding a stronghold relied heavily upon a select few elite masters holding off massive hordes within constricted choke points, making their presence on the field overwhelmingly significant.

“The likelihood of such a scenario unfolding appears minimal. Judging by the recent maneuvers of the opposing forces, whether they remain here or depart will scarcely alter the tide of battle.”

Consider the Central Army Command’s recent probing actions utilizing only a few thousand troops; there had been absolutely no requirement for either of them to intervene. By that same token, even if they were to slip away, their departure would hardly be noticeable to the enemy.

“Naturally, the moment Clan Leader Hwangbo and Lady Jin show their faces on that battlefield, intelligence will inevitably make its way back to the Central Army Command. However, consider the time required for a messenger from Mount Wudang to reach the Central Army Command versus the time it will take for two peak masters to sprint back to this location… which scenario do you believe will conclude first?”

It was only at that precise juncture that the assembled group truly comprehended the underlying strategy Il-mok had devised.

“Are you suggesting we participate in a single engagement there and immediately trace our steps back?”

Il-mok offered a firm nod in response to Hwangbo Ak’s inquiry.

“If we successfully capitalize on the element of unexpected timing, we stand to secure immense advantages. Taking that elderly monk captive would be”

“And who can say for certain? The moment the Central Army catches wind of the fact that Clan Leader Hwangbo and Lady Jin have reinforced Mount Wudang, they might very well throw caution to the wind and assault these ramparts of their own volition.”

Provincial Commander Dongji, catching the subtle drift of Il-mok’s words, let out a highly satisfied, booming chuckle at this realization.

“Hahaha. We won’t even be forced to take the offensive against them—they will march straight into a death trap on their own two feet.”

Should intelligence circulate that two pivotal masters capable of altering the entire balance of power had departed to offer aid elsewhere, the adversaries who had been cautiously testing the defenses would likely lose all composure and launch a reckless charge. Yet, what if those selfsame experts were actually lying in wait right here when the onslaught began? It would create a flawless opening to deal a devastating blow to the enemy forces, vastly eclipsing the minor skirmishes they had engaged in thus far. Whichever way the situation played out, the defending side maintained a clear upper hand over the attackers.

Seeing that the three individuals gathered inside the war room finally grasped the nuances of his design, Il-mok regarded them with a calm demeanor and spoke.

“Granted, this course of action carries undeniable hazards. However, if we simply remain idle, the conflict will progress precisely along the path envisioned by the imperial court. More critically, should the Vice Leader perish in the fighting at Mount Wudang, our entire campaign reaches a definitive end right then and there.”

Il-mok’s countenance turned profoundly earnest as he delivered this warning.

“For that very reason, the assignments given to you are of paramount importance. From this moment onward, the two of you must confine yourselves within this chamber under the public guise of closed-door cultivation. We shall restrict this information to the absolute minimum number of individuals to prevent any leaks. Then, when dawn breaks this morning, slip out of An-gang and make haste for Mount Wudang.”

“As you command.”

“We shall do so.”

Jin Ha-yeon and Hwangbo Ak offered their assent with deeply serious expressions.

…

Several hours subsequent to that meeting.

In the deepest depths of the night, when a heavy blanket of darkness had completely swallowed the landscape.

Jin Ha-yeon and Hwangbo Ak quietly departed from the chamber where they had supposedly been secluded for their meditative training. Clad in pitch-black garments designed for stealthy nocturnal travel that seamlessly merged with the dark heavens, the pair activated their lightness skills and darted along the predetermined escape path out of An-gang. Owing to the adjustments Provincial Commander Dongji had made to the sentry rotations and schedules, not a single one of their own comrades guarding the ramparts detected their exit. Gliding through the dense obscurity where even the moon’s rays struggled to reach, the two navigated the steep and treacherous ridges of High Dong Mountain. The unlit, rugged pathways forced them to constantly channel their internal energy to sharpen their sight just to identify the terrain ahead. They frequently

‘It is a blessing that we managed to secure even a brief window of rest.’

In anticipation of this grueling night journey, they had taken a short slumber within the chamber immediately following the conclusion of Il-mok’s briefing.

How much time had trickled away since they conquered that mountain range and several adjacent peaks? By the time they successfully cleared the final elevations situated to the east of An-gang, the dark horizon was beginning to show streaks of deep red. With their surroundings illuminated and no further need to meticulously pick through mountain trails, they significantly accelerated their pace. It wasn’t until the sun reached its zenith at noon that they finally paused to rest. Their reserves of internal energy were hovering near depletion, and profound physical lethargy was rapidly creeping in.

“Whew. It has been an incredibly long time since I pushed my body to run like such a savage beast.”

Halting his advance, Hwangbo Ak drew in several deep breaths to stabilize his erratic respiration. Despite possessing a physical form that had attained the exalted Profound Realm and undergone the rigorous process of marrow cleansing, he was completely drenched in perspiration. The two undid the fabric bundles they carried, silently masticating on the survival rations they had brought along, consisting of rice balls and dried meat strips.

Hwangbo Ak found himself grappling with a strange sense of discomfort for a particular reason. Speaking as a father who had been unable to secure a marriage alliance for his youngest female child, being left entirely alone with the intended spouse of his potential son-in-law was a highly unusual dynamic in several regards. To be sure, even after the occurrence of ‘that incident,’ the bond linking the Left Attendant and this particular young woman did not appear to have shifted in a meaningful way. It was precisely due to this observation that he had previously questioned the Left Attendant regarding the upcoming nuptials, driven by a sliver of optimism. Yet, judging by the Left Attendant’s past behavior, it appeared an unvoiced complication remained unresolved beneath the surface.

‘It is hardly my place to pry into what transpired between them.’

As he weighed these thoughts while stealing a glance toward Jin Ha-yeon, her eyes suddenly shifted to lock onto his. Overcome with sudden awkwardness, Hwangbo Ak uttered the very first query that crossed his mind.

“Ahem. The Left Attendant has thrust you into the heart of this incredibly hazardous mission… do you harbor no bitterness toward him?”

Jin Ha-yeon knitted her finely sculpted eyebrows a fraction and offered her reply.

“This is a direct decree from the master I am bound to follow. Operating as a mere maidservant, what right or reason do I have to feel resentment?”

Hwangbo Ak opened his mouth to voice a response but caught himself, ultimately releasing a quiet, weary breath instead.

‘Their connection is far from a conventional master-and-servant dynamic.’

However, giving voice to that observation would merely stir up an endless array of complications.

Whether she had discerned the hidden musings of his mind or remained oblivious, Jin Ha-yeon fixed her gaze upon him with an emotionless expression, speaking in a measured tone.

“We must resume our journey with the utmost urgency, so I shall begin circulating my internal energy and correcting my breathing pattern at this moment.”

Following those words, Jin Ha-yeon assumed a cross-legged meditative posture entirely devoid of hesitation or skepticism, immediately immersing herself in the cultivation of her qi.

Meanwhile, roughly synchronous with those events.

Upon a isolated summit of Mount Wudang situated within Hubei Province.

A violently tempestuous, savage pressure was churning without interruption across that peak. Observing the scene from a short distance away, the Silver Wing Hall Leader bore a highly conflicted and troubled look upon his face.

“Vice Leader…”

At that location, Wi Jin-hak stood entirely solitary, attempting to nurse his severe internal trauma while simultaneously fighting off the chaotic backlashes triggered by the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. To eliminate the hazard of him unexpectedly losing his sanity and launching a lethal assault on anyone in the vicinity, all personnel were strictly forbidden from drawing near. At that exact moment, the billowing, predatory energy finally began to recede. The Silver Wing Hall Leader took a tense breath, then immediately utilized his lightness skill to bound up toward the summit.

“Are you holding together?”

As he voiced the question to Wi Jin-hak, who remained seated in a cross-legged position, Wi Jin-hak’s eyelids flew open. A dark, turbulent shadow flared momentarily within Wi Jin-hak’s gaze.

“…I have temporarily stabilized the structural internal damage. I intend to remain positioned here, so take all necessary measures to ensure no one wanders near this place.”

He had successfully averted a catastrophic loss of control, yet he had by no means entirely mastered the volatile side effects of his technique.

“Should the adversarial forces recommence their ascent of Mount Wudang, deploy the flare signal immediately.”

“…Understood, Vice Leader.”

The Silver Wing Hall Leader masked the profound anxiety weighting his spirit and made his descent from the mountain peak.

“The current trajectory is exceedingly precarious.”

Every single confrontation he engaged in against Divine Victory served only to aggravate his internal ruptures while simultaneously intensifying the violent surges of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. They had crossed blades a mere two times thus far, yet the entire endeavor already mirrored the sensation of traversing paper-thin ice.

‘If this pattern persists, the Vice Leader risks falling into a state of total madness before we can manage the situation.’

He had gone so far as to recommend relocating the leader to the rear lines until the erratic energy spikes could be completely brought under regulation.

Yet how could the individual occupying the station of Vice Leader of the grand Heavenly Demon Divine Cult abandon his devoted subordinates to face a slaughter while seeking personal refuge within a secure rear encampment?!

His sense of duty was magnificent enough to command absolute devotion as a sovereign, yet the reality of their circumstances was remarkably grim.

‘Even when factoring in the Vice Leader’s extraordinary psychological resilience, surviving two more direct confrontations will be the absolute ceiling.’

Naturally, should a lethal crisis envelop Wi Jin-hak, the Silver Wing Hall Leader stood fully prepared to lay down his own life to guarantee his master’s survival. However, he was acutely aware that preserving the Vice Leader a single time at the cost of his own demise would ultimately alter nothing. If events maintained this specific course, absolute obliteration loomed over the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the factions allied with it.

‘An intervention is required. A disruption grand enough to completely flip the dynamics of this entire war zone.’

For a reason he couldn’t quite name, the moment the concept of a vital transformation entered his thoughts, Il-mok’s countenance instantly materialized within the Silver Wing Hall Leader’s mind. Il-mok’s face appeared vividly, despite the young man’s physical absence from this place.

By the time the shadows of twilight lengthened, Jin Ha-yeon and Hwangbo Ak succeeded in reaching a modest settlement positioned roughly three hundred li distant from Mount Wudang. This marked approximately one-third of the total distance separating An-gang from Mount Wudang. They secured lodging for the night at a local tavern, subsequently resuming their trek at the first light of dawn. After pushing forward for another two hours, they partook in simple rations collected from their overnight lodging, executed a brief cycle of qi cultivation, and then executed a relentless half-hour sprint to arrive in the immediate periphery of Mount Wudang.

The overpowering aroma of fresh blood drifting down from the heights of Mount Wudang, interspersed with discordant shrieks of agony, prompted Jin Ha-yeon and Hwangbo Ak to increase their velocity toward the slopes without exchanging a syllable. The resounding clanging of weapons, frantic yells, and death rattles vibrated through every corner of Mount Wudang. The pair experienced a profound sense of inner turmoil on multiple fronts. Having sprinted non-stop from An-gang, segregating allies from adversaries proved an immense challenge. The best they could manage was to identify those donning the recognizable attire of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, the Beggars’ Clan, Mount Wudang, or the Zhuge Clan, and swiftly launch assaults against whatever enemies were actively engaging them.

They continued their ascent through the slaughterhouse that Mount Wudang had become for a considerable duration.

Paht!

Jin Ha-yeon abruptly altered her trajectory, surging at extreme speed toward a specific location. A cluster of combatants outfitted in the garb of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult were being pressed hard. An aging Daoist master was carving through the air with his blade, creating a lethal perimeter.

Bellowing in absolute rage as he butchered the Cult combatants, Yang Mu-ja pivoted sharply upon sensing a menacing pressure rapidly approaching his blind spot, swinging his weapon defensively.

Kwang!!

The blazing, intense energy coursing through his weapon collided violently with Jin Ha-yeon’s formidable Bare Hand Demon Art, triggering an explosion of sound that resembled a clap of thunder.

“!?”

Yang Mu-ja’s countenance instantly twisted into an expression of sheer disbelief.

“You brat!?”

This was a face he had previously encountered during the events in Qinghai. It was beyond any doubt the personal female servant of that arrogant youth Il-mok belonging to the Cult. Given her strikingly uncommon aesthetics, there simply could not exist another female warrior possessing those exact features. Sensing an impending trap, Yang Mu-ja frantically scanned his immediate surroundings.

“Is that wretched boy not present here?”

While Yang Mu-ja desperately swept his gaze around to locate Il-mok just in case, Jin Ha-yeon capitalized on his distraction, surging forward to execute a devastating, unexpected twin palm strike.

“Kuhk.”

Managing to redirect the brunt of the assault by the narrowest of margins, Yang Mu-ja grimaced fiercely and spat toward the ground.

“You have grown remarkably insolent simply because your combat prowess has developed a fraction since our last meeting.”

The capabilities she was displaying now stood in stark contrast to the level of martial arts he had witnessed when the Blood Cult launched their incursion back in Qinghai.

…

Simultaneously.

Precisely as Jin Ha-yeon initiated her assault against Yang Mu-ja, Hwangbo Ak was driving forward to intercept an entirely different adversary.

“Leg King Elder! I have arrived to assist you in this engagement!”

The individual Hwangbo Ak had set his sights upon was none other than Paeng Mu-yeol.

“Krk.”

Reeling from the impact of Hwangbo Ak’s fist striking his back unexpectedly, Paeng Mu-yeol let out a muffled grunt and was sent hurtling through the air. Paeng Mu-yeol was widely regarded as being a tier below the master he faced.

He had managed to maintain an even footing against the Leg King solely by relying on crude, singular strikes that signaled a desperate willingness to trade life for life.

Regardless of the mechanics.

Kwang!!

“You pack of rabid hounds!!”

In spite of his bloodthirsty, roaring defiance, Paeng Mu-yeol found himself steadily driven backward under the relentless, synchronized pressure exerted by Hwangbo Ak and the Leg King.

“Perish!!!”

As the entirely unhinged Paeng Mu-yeol drove the techniques of the Five Tiger Gate Sword to their absolute apex in a reckless, self-destructive gambit, Hwangbo Ak chose to drive straight through the assault rather than retreat. Harnessing his internal reserves with absolute disregard for safety to manifest a defensive shroud at maximum density, Hwangbo Ak thrust both of his hands directly toward the incoming edge of Paeng Mu-yeol’s weapon.

Kwang!!

A deafening detonation rippled through the immediate airspace, and Hwangbo Ak’s upper extremities trembled violently as they clamped tightly onto the active blade. His flesh split open under the immense force, a light stream of crimson beginning to well up. Locking his gaze directly with Paeng Mu-yeol’s insanity-driven eyes, Hwangbo Ak spoke softly.

“Rest in peace.”

Kwajik!

Concurrently with those parting words, the Leg King closed the distance from a flanking angle and delivered a devastating strike to Paeng Mu-yeol’s ribcage, employing the pinnacle execution of the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms.

“Kuhleuk…”

Paeng Mu-yeol coughed up a thick torrent of blood as his entire flank collapsed inward from the impact. Even in this shattered state, his eyes remained saturated with unadulterated malice and homicidal frenzy.

“Eeeek!!”

Lashing out blindly into the open air with his blade one final time, a mask of pure fury painted across his features, Paeng Mu-yeol toppled heavily to the earth. And from that position, he never stirred again. For a prominent family patriarch who had once held sway over the martial landscape as the leader of one of the Seven Great Clans, it represented an incredibly hollow and pathetic demise.

As Hwangbo Ak cast his gaze downward at Paeng Mu-yeol’s lifeless form with a somber expression, the Leg King turned to address him.

“Clan Leader Hwangbo! What urgent matter has driven you all the way here from Shaanxi…”

Abruptly realizing that the chaotic battlefield offered no luxury for idle inquiries, the old master cut himself off.

Bellowing that final directive, the Leg King activated his lightness skill, hurtling toward the location where Wi Jin-hak and the primary experts of the Cult were currently locked in a desperate struggle against Divine Victory.