Desolate Gold Elder watched coldly as his subordinates tightened the encirclement. His gaze slowly swept over them before settling on the Red Dogs and the disciples of Mount Hua, who were sharpening their blades. The last place his eyes landed was, as expected, on Jang Ilso.
'Jang Ilso, surely you won't call me a coward.'
Exploiting an opponent's weakness was the nature of the Evil Sect. It made no difference whether the target was enemy or ally. It wasn't the one who stabbed in the back who was bad, but the one who left an opening who was foolish. That was the Evil Sect's way.
Jang Ilso knew this better than anyone and had used it to come this far. Even if he died here and became a restless spirit, he would have no right to blame Desolate Gold Elder.
Desolate Gold Elder's gaze shifted slightly downward. Seeing the empty, fluttering sleeve, his eyes darkened with gloom.
If he had not lost this arm, he might have made a different choice at this moment. Though it was unpleasant to grovel under Jang Ilso, if there was something to gain, there was no reason to refuse.
Pride was not very important to him. He did not intend to sell himself cheaply, but if given a proper price, he would not hesitate to sell.
However, the moment he lost this arm, everything changed. For him, who wielded an excellent sword, losing his arm meant he could no longer live as he had in the past.
If he were in Jang Ilso's position, how would he have treated the weakened Desolate Gold Elder? Having lost most of his power and holding only the title of guardian of the Black Ghost Fortress, which he could not even protect, how would he have handled him?
'There is no need to think twice.'
He would have approached like an old snake, whispering that if Desolate Gold Elder followed him alone, he could protect everything he had now. From the moment Desolate Gold Elder, having no other choice, pledged loyalty, he would have slowly and leisurely taken everything he had.
And later, when Desolate Gold Elder was no longer useful, he would simply dispose of him.
The moment Jang Ilso left here, there was no other option for Desolate Gold Elder. He had to choose either to die immediately or surrender to Jang Ilso, lose everything, and wait for a miserable death.
Desolate Gold Elder had no intention of agonizing over these choices. Worrying over two losing options was not his way.
He chose a third path: to eliminate Jang Ilso here and overturn the entire situation in his favor.
Jang Ilso's death would plunge the barely unified Southern situation into chaos, and the Northern alliance slowly forming against him would also be thrown into confusion.
Is there any other way for the weaker party to survive than to plunge the world into turmoil?
'This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.'
It was a chance close to divine luck.
If the cultists they faced had not stopped fighting and retreated upon Dan Ja-Kang's appearance, Desolate Gold Elder would not have had the strength left to face Red Dogs and Mount Hua head on.
Naturally, Desolate Gold Elder had no intention of missing such a god-given opportunity.
"You have one misjudgment."
His cold gaze turned toward Mount Hua and Red Dogs, who were sharpening their blades against the approaching Black Ghost Fortress.
"You have underestimated me too easily, Jang Ilso."
And his misjudgment would determine the fate of the tempestuous Jang Ilso.
The encirclement tightened more and more.
'This is not good.'
Baek Cheon's eyes darkened.
It would be better if all those troops charged at once. Because in the chaos of battle, there would definitely be openings.
But except for the ten at the front, the others did not seem to intend to clash blades with them at all.
It was clearly felt. That was not a formation to kill. It was a formation to prevent escape.
There was a will to not let even a single rat escape from here, even if it meant suffering more losses by not committing all forces to the ten at the front.
It was excessive treatment for the nearly fallen Jang Ilso and Chung Myung, but Desolate Gold Elder was a man who did not tolerate even the slightest variable in his command.
'Or perhaps their presence made Desolate Gold Elder so cautious.'
Whatever the cause, the result was the same.
Baek Cheon slightly lowered one shoulder and bent his knees, as if ready to dart off to one side at any moment. But as soon as he lowered his shoulder, the elite Black Ghost Fortress troops filling the rear tightened toward the direction of his shoulder.
'…Like soldiers.'
It was clearly not a skill honed by just one or two encounters. They must have been trained professionally in such encirclements, like hunting practice.
Baek Cheon instinctively licked his lips slightly. There was no way to deny that this situation was a crisis for them. If viewed very coldly, everyone here was halfway at death's door.
But strangely, there was no fear.
"Sasuk, shall I go first?"
And it seemed the disciples felt the same. Glancing at Jo Gul, who was revving up as if ready to charge forward, Baek Cheon calmly asked.
"Aren't you scared?"
"Scared?"
Jo Gul snorted as if he was hearing nonsense.
"Those bastards are only strong, but not like the high priest from earlier."
"…"
"I've seen with my own eyes people who glare and charge at even those so-called high priests, so if I get scared of those guys, I'd be pathetic."
Baek Cheon grinned.
"Yeah. I agree with that."
Other Mount Hua disciples also raised their swords slightly, as if agreeing. Then Baek Cheon spoke sharply in a cold voice.
"But those two raging are enough. Don't lose your reason. Our job is not to fight those guys but to break through the path."
"Yes."
Everyone's expression hardened.
'Individually, there's no particular problem…'
The problem was their numbers and formation. Though it looked like a rough encirclement, their strange and slow movements clearly indicated a kind of formation. If they fought thoughtlessly, they might suffer great harm.
But…
'We can't afford to hesitate in this situation!'
Baek Cheon steeled his resolve, gripping his sword tightly and twisting it to charge.
'Alright! I'll charge first and open the way!'
Just as Baek Cheon infused qi into his legs and prepared to dash forward.
"Oh?"
"Gasp!"
Startled by the sudden excited voice behind him, Baek Cheon turned around.
"Wow, this is interesting."
"Yes?"
Im So-Byeong was holding a fully opened fan, fluttering it gently. He seemed completely unconcerned whether Baek Cheon looked at him in disbelief or not.
"Wait, wait… just a moment…"
Muttering to himself, he began to scrutinize those who had formed the encirclement. His eyes were like those of a bird of prey.
"The Eight Trigrams, contradictions. Essence and… no, is the three talents (refers to heaven, earth and man) mixed in as well…?"
Baek Cheon blinked blankly.
At that moment, Im So-Byeong suddenly folded his fan and struck it down onto his hand.
"Tsk tsk tsk. Such an elegant formation, yet it's from an Evil sect scum."
"Yes?"
"Now, now. Look, the seal."
Im So-Byeong nodded toward the Black Ghost Fortress.
"The key is not the ones at the front, but those lurking behind. If you break through in a straight line, the front will tighten defense and retreat positions, while those behind will surround the intruder from both sides. At least, attacks will come from five directions. Then what happens?"
"…Yes?"
Baek Cheon asked blankly, and Im So-Byeong frowned. With a look that said, "How can a Mount Hua disciple not understand something this simple?" Baek Cheon hung his head deeply in embarrassment.
'Well, someone has to teach me for me to…'
All he learned at Mount Hua was "Cut off the head first in battle" and "People don't die so easily, so just charge in," so what else could he do?
"If you charge, you'll be caught in a pincer attack and die."
"Ah."
He should have said it that clearly from the start. Baek Cheon nodded with a clean expression.
"It seems Desolate Gold Elder has studied Mount Hua and Ten Thousand People Clan quite a bit. Both Mount Hua and Ten Thousand People Clan are like wild boar sects representing the Justice and Evil factions, so when a fight breaks out, they would just charge without thinking, right?"
"…Well, that's a bit…"
It's not entirely wrong, but hearing that from a bandit leader's mouth, they should consider their position too…
"It looks like a hasty encirclement, but in reality, they are prepared to respond appropriately to both of you. If we rush in impatiently, they will surround and swiftly cut our necks and stab our bellies repeatedly. Heh heh heh heh. Of course, there might be some fool who charges blindly even after seeing this…"
Just before charging, a man's shoulder tensed as he stopped by chance. He felt a sudden chill in his neck and a stabbing pain in his stomach.
"Indeed, Desolate Gold Elder is different from some Black Dragon King. He truly understands the art of war. He might be the worst enemy to Mount Hua and the Ten Thousand People Clan. Heh heh heh heh."
Im So-Byeong's eyes sparkled as he said those words. Somehow, he looked like someone excited to finally meet his specialty in a situation like this.
'This guy really isn't sane either.'
Why do only these kinds of people gather around Mount Hua?
"But!"
Smack!
At that moment, Im So-Byeong struck his palm again with his fan.
"That's a story for when I'm not here."
He smiled meaningfully and gently pushed Baek Cheon forward.
"If they attack from all sides, hold your ground. Even if they show an opening, never rush out. The moment anyone sticks out, they will surround the exposed one even if it means showing their backs. If others rush out to save them one by one, they will all be annihilated."
Hearing this, Baek Cheon shouted urgently.
"Yoon Jong!"
"Yes, Sasuk!"
"Put a leash on that Jo Gul bastard!"
"Yes!"
"No, why me…?"
"Shut up and stick by my side!"
"…Yes."
Baek Cheon glanced back at Im So-Byeong and said.
"…But will holding out improve the situation? The longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it is for our smaller numbers."
"Of course. But…"
Im So-Byeong glanced somewhere and smiled.
"I'll tell you then, when it happens."
"…"
"Here they come. More talk later! For now, hold your ground as much as possible. You can do that, right? You're from Mount Hua?"
At that moment, the elite Black Ghost Fortress troops tightening the front lowered their stances and began charging toward Mount Hua.
"What the…"
A big grin spread across Baek Cheon's face.
"Of course!"
Whoosh!
As Baek Cheon swung his sword, the Mount Hua disciples guarding him simultaneously shook their swords. The crimson plum blossoms they ignited bloomed brilliantly before the charging Black Ghost Fortress elites.