"Taaah!"
Jo Gul's thrust cut through the air like a hawk hunting its prey. His sword, marked by speed and simplicity, shone brighter than anyone from Mount Hua in this situation.
Yoon Jong, standing beside the wildly rampaging Jo Gul like a fish in water, shouted from time to time.
"Don't go out, bastard!"
"Ah! I know!"
Every time Jo Gul's feet twitched, Yoon Jong sensed it like a ghost and pulled the leash.
Jo Gul bit his lip tightly. He knew he had to hold his position. He also knew this was not the time to step forward and cut off the enemy's lifeline.
But no matter where he looked, enemies surrounded him on all sides.
'I can't breathe.'
The numerical difference was too great. No matter how many he knocked down, it felt endless. Even though he was minimizing his energy consumption, they were human too and couldn't help but tire from fighting like this.
If this war of attrition continued, wouldn't they be the ones to fall first?
'So just a little more…'
"Hold on!"
"Damn it!"
A curse finally burst from Jo Gul's mouth.
He clearly saw the wounded rejoining the ranks. If only he could decisively cut off their lifelines, the situation would be better, but just parrying in place couldn't stop the injured from rejoining.
"What are you going to do if even the swordsman can't hold on!"
"I know, damn it! Enough nagging!"
Jo Gul gritted his teeth and swung his sword. Unable to step forward, he had no choice but to use each strike more precisely.
Seeing Jo Gul's sword qi sharpen, Yoon Jong sighed quietly with a stern face.
'I have to hold on.'
Yoon Jong was not unaware of why Jo Gul was acting that way. He too wanted to rush forward immediately, but Jo Gul, being hot-tempered, was even more so.
'I feel like we're sinking deeper into a swamp.'
Breaking through a cloud-like mass of enemies was no easy task. But holding against such foes was difficult in another way. Above all, having no way to end the fight on their own made them anxious.
Had he ever felt so painfully how energy drained with every sword swing? If not for Mount Hua disciples with unusually high energy for their age, they might have already succumbed to anxiety and self-destructed.
Thud!
At that moment, a powerful sword qi sound was heard.
Paaaah!
A crimson sword qi instantly embroidered the air. Dozens of sword forms swept away not only those charging from the front but also those rushing in from the sides.
"Kraaah!"
The sword qi release was merely a rapid thrust, so inflicting fatal wounds was impossible. But it was enough to dampen the momentum of the fearless attackers.
Yoon Jong looked at the one who released the sword qi.
Baek Cheon gritted his teeth and emitted sword qi again. Having assessed the weary state of the Five Swords, he was forcing himself to lift the mood.
And then, consecutively.
"Ooooooh!"
Golden flames pushed into the space Baek Cheon opened. Hae Yeon supported Baek Cheon, piercing the slightest gaps with his fist qi.
"Heuk! Heuk! Heuk!"
Hae Yeon, who always maintained steady breathing, was now panting heavily.
Others were the same.
Yu Yiseol, who was like the wind, and Tang Soso's sword, always cheerful, were growing heavier and duller. Protecting those behind while enduring the endless enemy onslaught consumed more stamina than expected.
"Taoist Baek Cheon! Let's change the vanguard position!"
Namgung Do-Wei, anxious from behind, shouted. But Baek Cheon did not look back.
'That guy is a dying man!'
His spirit was admirable, but this was not a fight Namgung Do-Wei could hold. Maybe normally, but having exhausted all his qi breaking through in here, he was even more sure.
As Baek Cheon glanced back, his eyes met Im So-Byeong's. That was all, but he shouted forward again.
"Endure!"
Swinging his sword like shaking it off, he gritted his teeth.
'I believe!'
He wasn't just trusting Im So-Byeong.
He trusted Chung Myung's judgment in bringing Im So-Byeong here along with them. There was no way Chung Myung brought him without thought. If Chung Myung trusted him, they had no reason not to.
It was then.
"Kahaaat!"
Red Dogs charged into the area shaken by Mount Hua disciples.
"Red Dogs?"
Startled, Baek Cheon widened his eyes. Looking hurriedly towards Jang Ilso, who was fighting but also watching this side, he saw a strange smile. Though more than half the Red Dogs were attached here, making his life precarious, his face still brimmed with confidence.
'Thanks for the gift, damn bastard!'
Baek Cheon spat the words silently and refocused on the battlefield.
"Clench your teeth and protect that Chung Myung guy!"
His sword sliced the air like a phantom.
"This…"
Desolate Gold Elder's face twisted completely.
The Red Dogs slipped into the side of the Black Ghost Fortress, which had leaned forward in impatience. The formation he had crafted was collapsing completely.
'Damn it.'
This situation should never have happened. Dan Ja-Kang would have been in the center and would never have let things collapse so helplessly.
But now, even Dan Ja-Kang had no way to intervene. He was so excited that blood rushed to his head, making him deaf to the shouting behind.
Thanks to relentless training, the formation still held shape, but its collapse was only a matter of time.
Moreover, he clearly saw.
"Jang Ilso!"
Jang Ilso was stepping forward as if tempting fate. How that looked to the excited Black Ghost Fortress's people's eyes needed no explanation.
The great Jang Ilso, in a weakened state, was offering his neck before them. Who wouldn't lose reason? This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to cut the life of the Ten Thousand People Clan's leader and the Four Sect Alliance Lord, the Hegemony Lord Jang Ilso, with their own hands.
The carefully prepared formation was now unraveling and shaking wildly beyond his control.
'These stupid bastards!'
If they just calmly did their part as ordered, failure was impossible. So why were they rampaging so foolishly?
'No.'
Jang Ilso was clearly endangering his own life. But in return, he was creating a definite crack in Desolate Gold Elder's encirclement. They might not have the strength to break through now, but…
Desolate Gold Elder's gaze suddenly turned toward Mount Hua.
'If that guy finishes gathering his qi from cultivation?'
Isn't it obvious what would happen then?
If they let those guys escape here, Desolate Gold Elder's fate would be sealed. He would fall into such a miserable state that suicide would be preferable.
"Deploy all remaining forces."
"But the plan…"
"Hurry!"
"Yes!"
The reserves standing ahead all rushed forward to join the fight. Being the secret trump card, they could block the crack forming there…
'No, it's not enough…'
Crack.
Desolate Gold Elder bit his lip unconsciously. They alone couldn't solve the problem completely. That spot was originally where Desolate Gold Elder should be.
'What should I do?'
No matter how much he calculated in his mind, no conclusion came easily to solve this.
'Would it be better if I jumped in now?'
If Desolate Gold Elder jumped in, stabilizing the encirclement wouldn't be a big problem. Though more than half his power was lost, his strategy was intact.
'For now, even if it's a bit risky…'
Just as Desolate Gold Elder, unable to resist temptation, was about to step forward.
'Wait.'
His foot stopped in midair.
'Why is Jang Ilso doing this?'
Jang Ilso was shaking the encirclement, even using his own life as bait.
Why? To rely on that Mount Hua guy awakening and break through the encirclement? Was Jang Ilso really someone who would entrust his life to others in such a desperate situation?
"Ha… haha."
Dan Ja-Kang laughed as if incredulous.
He seemed to understand why Jang Ilso was doing such a thing.
He looked coldly at Jang Ilso, walking the tightrope of death.
"The target… was me from the start, Jang Ilso."
Desolate Gold Elder hated most when plans didn't go his way. Jang Ilso probably expected that if things went awry, Desolate Gold Elder would intervene personally.
The clear crack Jang Ilso created was not a means to escape the encirclement. The crack itself was bait to lure Desolate Gold Elder closer to them.
It's a funny thing.
If Desolate Gold Elder hadn't lost an arm, he would have thrown himself into that crack without hesitation right away. But having lost confidence in his power, he had to think twice.
Paradoxically, it was Dan Ja-Kang himself who saved his life. The arm Desolate Gold Elder lost saved his life.
"…That was a good move, Jang Ilso."
Desolate Gold Elder's eyes rapidly regained composure.
Being able to set such a trap even in that situation was one of Jang Ilso's great qualities, but it also meant he had no other choice but to use his life as bait.
'I won, Jang Ilso.'
A cold smile spread across Desolate Gold Elder's lips.
"Wei Chung."
"Yes."
"Deploy all remaining guards as well."
"Fortress Lord?"
"It's fine. At worst, it's just a desperate struggle."
Desolate Gold Elder grasped the sword at his waist. The hesitation from moments ago was gone.
"Even if that guy finishes gathering qi, it's the same outcome. As long as we don't give him an opening, we can kill them all. Deploy!"
"…Yes!"
Following Wei Chung's orders, even the guards protecting Desolate Gold Elder joined the front lines.
And the effect was immediate.
Paaaah!
The elite Black Ghost Fortress at the front pushed back the struggling Mount Hua disciples at once and attacked the rampaging Red Dogs as if to devour them.
It was the moment the shaken formation regained its composure.
"Terrible bastards."
Desolate Gold Elder shook his head.
He didn't know who to blame at first, but it was clear they targeted either Im So-Byeong or Jang Ilso. Those who couldn't have predicted this happening had, as if prearranged, responded to each other and executed strategy as soon as the situation unfolded.
If Desolate Gold Elder's courage had been a little less, Jang Ilso's final move would have pierced his neck.
But Desolate Gold Elder no longer cared what that move was. Whatever the secret move was, it was best it remained an eternal mystery with Jang Ilso's death.
"He makes me unable to let my guard down until the very end."
Anyway, Desolate Gold Elder had won this fight. Even if it was thanks to a gift from Dan Ja-Kang rather than his full ability, luck is also skill in the world of martial arts, isn't it?
"Ugh!"
"You, bastards!"
The struggling Mount Hua disciples began to be pushed back.
The Black Ghost Fortress, having regained composure, slowly tightened and pressed them without haste.
The rampaging Red Dogs began spraying blood everywhere.
Seeing the formation stabilizing perfectly, Desolate Gold Elder's smile deepened. Now all that remained was to watch those dying in disgrace.
"In the end, the one who laughs last wins. Isn't that right, Jang Ilso?"
At this moment, what Desolate Gold Elder was most curious about was Jang Ilso's expression. His last gamble risking his life had failed; what expression would he wear?
But…
At that moment, Desolate Gold Elder saw it.
Surrounded by the tightening Black Ghost Fortress ready to behead him, Jang Ilso's gaze was fixed solely on Desolate Gold Elder, the chilling smile he bore.
"What…?"
A chill ran through Desolate Gold Elder's body, and he instinctively looked around. But no matter how he looked, there was no threat to him.
'Has he gone mad?'
Desolate Gold Elder, suspiciously and doubtfully looking at Jang Ilso, gritted his teeth.
"Wei Chung!"
"Yes!"
"Go and cut off Jang Ilso's head!"
"…Jang Ilso, lord?"
"Yes! End him with your own hands!"
"But, Fortress Lord."
"Hmm?"
"Is that really necessary?"
Desolate Gold Elder, watching the front, frowned momentarily at those words.
What a careless remark in this situation…
Flinch.
At that moment, Desolate Gold Elder flinched so hard his shoulders shook.
"You?"
Feeling something strange, he instinctively turned his head. No, he tried to.
Kwadudududuk!
Before that, a tremendous pain surged into his side. A cold dagger pierced his flesh, tearing his lung.
"Ugh…"
Choked and with his mind going blank from the pain, Desolate Gold Elder began trembling like a leaf.
What was happening? What…
Struggling to turn his trembling head, he finally saw Wei Chung, coldly smiling with his hand plunged into Desolate Gold Elder's side.
"You…"
The first thought was 'betrayal.' But that thought vanished faster than it came. If Wei Chung were a traitor, would Desolate Gold Elder have kept him close?
"You… are not Wei Chung…"
Someone who was not Wei Chung but could perfectly transform into his appearance so that Desolate Gold Elder didn't even suspect.
There was only one such person in the world.
"Thousand…"
Black blood gurgled up from Desolate Gold Elder's mouth.
"Thousand Faced… Scholar…"
Wei Chung. No, the Lower District sect leader, Thousand Face Scholar, answered.
"Long time no see, Desolate Gold Elder."
His voice was full of laughter.