Chapter 1257: Will Take Care Of It (Part 2)

The military force of the Evil Tyrant Alliance began to move towards the inner part of the island. Watching this, Lee Ziyang's face stiffened.

"Sahyung."

"..."

"This is a disaster, isn't it?"

Cold sweat formed on Lee Ziyang's forehead. Initially, their plan was not so complicated. After the Evil Tyrant Alliance landed on the coast, they would observe the situation, hijack a ship, and then head inland.

It was a simple yet foolproof plan. Why?

Because from the perspective of the Evil Tyrant Alliance, the disciples of the Southern Island Sect, who lived on Southern Island, would never think of abandoning their stronghold and advancing south.

Even the disciples of the Southern Island Sect wouldn't have considered such a crazy plan even once, so how would the Evil Tyrant Alliance even consider such a possibility?

It was a plan difficult to decide upon and even more challenging to fail if they were prepared. However...

"Aren't they... guarding their ship? Did we become exposed?"

Guo Hansuo responded with a firm voice.

"It's unlikely that the plan was leaked. If it had, they wouldn't have left only those troops. Instead, they would have used all their forces to guard the coast."

Lee Ziyang nodded. Certainly, there was logic in Guo Hansuo's words. However...

'Nevertheless, isn't the plan going awry?'

Watching the Spirit Unit guarding the ship made his heart feel as heavy as lead. Judging from their uniforms, they were part of the Myriad Man Manor. If the Myriad Man Manor's members were as strong as the guards of the Southern Island Sect, it would undoubtedly be challenging for their plan to seize the ship to succeed.

'What should we do?'

Sweat dripped down Lee Ziyang's nose as he pondered. Despite being known as a kind of wisdom pouch among Southern Island Sect's disciples, in this situation, he couldn't find a viable solution.

Of course, if they mobilized the full power of the Southern Island Sect, it wouldn't be difficult to defeat them. Regardless of what anyone said, the Southern Island Sect was one of the most powerful sects among the Ten Great Sects.

However, that didn't mean they could end the battle in a moment. After all, their opponents were the Myriad Man Manor, leader of the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

If they delayed for a little while, the main forces of the Myriad Man Manor, which had left the coast, might realize the situation and come back. If that happened...

'We'd be in trouble.'

Even if they fought with the advantage of the terrain, it would be difficult to hope for victory. It would be too obvious what would happen when they suffered a joint attack from the coast.

"For now, we have no choice but to wait as much as possible, Sahyung."

"Wait?"

"Yes. We have to wait until the main forces of the Myriad Man Manor go deep into the island. Then, even if they realize that we are attacking the remaining forces, it will take time for reinforcements to arrive."

They had no choice but to take advantage of that gap and quickly deal with them.

"...The damage will likely increase."

"There's no other way."

A sigh escaped from Guo Hansuo's mouth.

The reason they wanted to seize the ship quickly was because it was not pleasant for the main forces of the Evil Tyrant Alliance to go deep into the island.

However, in the current situation, that was not a favorable option.

The current goal of the Evil Tyrant Alliance was Mount Oji, where the main base of the Southern Island Sect was located. However, even on the path they were taking to Mount Oji, people were living.

From Guo Hansuo's perspective, who had clearly heard what the Evil Sect bastards did in the Shaanxi while Mount Hua was inactive, he wanted to prevent the Evil Tyrant Alliance from approaching the civilians at all costs.

'Is there no other way?'

However, Lee Ziyang's words also made sense. If they rushed the job haphazardly and ended up trapped on this island or suffered a joint attack, the damage would only increase.

'What about Sect Leader?'

Guo Hansuo turned his head to look at the opposite peak. There was no noticeable reaction from Kim Yang Baek, who was dividing forces and ambushing. He was probably in a state of confusion as well.

"…And anyway, that's how it's going to be."

"Huh?"

"The signal for the attack is supposed to come from the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. Unlike us, there's no reason for the Heavenly Comrade Alliance to risk danger worrying about the civilians in Southern Island."

"…"

For some reason, Lee Ziyang gritted his teeth in anger, his face contorted.

"After those damned Myriad Man Manor bastards do what they want, only then will they come forward to fight. Because that's what makes sense."

Guo Hansuo sighed. Lee Ziyang's words seemed inconsistent. Lee Ziyang clearly understood that, in this situation, waiting as much as possible was the best course of action. Yet, his dissatisfaction stemmed from one thing.

'Was it around here?'

Lee Ziyang's village, where he lived before joining the Southern Island Sect, was on the path from the coast to Mount Hua. If Myriad Man Manor advanced straight towards Mount Hua, Lee Ziyang's village would unavoidably be passed through.

And, that's where Lee Ziyang's family lived.

Although he reasoned with his mind and discussed the sacrifice of cattle for the sake of the greater good, his heart wasn't in agreement.

After all, who could remain calm when their family might be in danger because of their silence?

"Ziyang…"

"Don't worry about it."

Lee Ziyang coldly cut off with a voice that was slightly tinged with irritation.

"It's not like I don't know what's more important. I know that my family shouldn't be treated differently from other civilians in Southern Island."

"…"

"So, don't worry. I won't do anything foolish like rushing out without enduring it, unable to bear it like a spineless fool."

After finishing his words, Lee Ziyang bit his lip tightly.

Guo Hansuo couldn't say anything to Lee Ziyang. Holding the trembling shoulders of the young martial artist was all he could do.

"Endure it."

"…I know."

Why wouldn't he want to rush out right away?

But he had to endure. If he couldn't endure, more lives might be lost.

"It's fortunate that the command was taken by the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. If Sect Leader had the command, we might have already rushed to Sect Leader by now."

Lee Ziyang forced a smile while saying that. However, instead, that smile felt even more pitiful. Guo Hansuo nodded slightly.

And then, it happened.

"No. Wait, Sahyung. Is it really okay?"

"Huh? Why do you ask?"

Another disciple, who was with them, opened his mouth with a bewildered expression.

"Isn't delaying the time the problem? We've punctured all the ships. Although they're floating now, they'll soon sink!"

Hearing those words, both Lee Ziyang and Guo Hansuo's faces turned pale in an instant.

Due to excessive tension, they had completely forgotten about that fact.

"We deliberately pierced all the ships, thinking it would be better to do that than to leave them afloat... But if we delay the time, it will be exposed because of that. Then..."

Lee Ziyang and Guo Hansuo looked at each other with a sense of impending doom on their faces.

"Curses."

If they had known, they should have just destroyed the ships as ordered by them! Why did they insist on being stubborn?

"What about Mount Hua? Does Mount Hua know about this?"

"...I don't know. Even if they do, they won't know exactly when the ships will sink after being punctured. We prepared and made the holes ourselves."

"Ah, shouldn't we inform them?"

"How can we inform them? We can't reveal our current situation! They are right in front of us, aren't they?"

"This is..."

"I might have caused unnecessary trouble..."

Lee Ziyang, who sensed that things had gone completely wrong, stared desperately ahead with trembling eyes.

And then, in that moment.

"...Huh?"

Lee Ziyang's mouth slowly opened.

"That... What is that...? That crazy...?"

"Crazy?"

If there's a crazy person here... No way?

Guo Hansuo turned his gaze towards where Lee Ziyang was looking.

"...There."

And at that moment, Guo Hansuo's eyes widened twice as much as usual.

Descending the slope towards the coast, a man with a sword casually slung over his shoulder was walking down.

"Mount, Mount Hua's... Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword?"

"W-What's that crazy...?"

Both of them were dumbfounded. Chung Myung's expression, meanwhile, remained indifferent even in this situation.

* * *

"Tsk."

Heo Maeng (許孟), the leader of the Myriad Man Manor's Spirit Unit, clicked his tongue with a twisted face.

"Curses."

He was filled with frustration.

After running all the way from the distant Yangtze River to here in a month, now that he had arrived in Southern Island, he had to guard ships? If he felt good about it, it would be even more strange.

"Why us, of all people?"

"If have complaints, shouldn't you have voiced them to the Commander?"

"Curses. What can I say to a man who won't even bleed if you prick them with a needle?"

Heo Maeng grumbled with an irritated look and glanced behind at the ship.

"Anyway, the Commander seems to think this is a problem. Who would target these ships? If he's so anxious, just leave a few behind. Does it make sense to take out an entire unit and ask them to guard the ship?"

"Shh. Your voice is too loud."

"If Ryeonju-nim were here, he wouldn't even care about such trivial matters. I hate moving with the Commander like this."

This time, the others around didn't say anything either.

"But there's nothing good about losing a ship, right?"

"That's easier said than done. What is Southern Island? An island! Ships are spread all over the island, and if we lose one, we can find another again when we need it."

"Maybe the Commander has a plan."

"Curses."

Heo Maeng spat out curses, grumbling with annoyance.

"We came all the way to Southern Island, thinking we might finally taste blood, but it looks like we'll just have to go back after just touring the island."

"Since we've come with the Commander, we can't really have a proper time even if we go up together, can we?"

Heo Maeng sighed deeply with an irritated look.

'Huh?'

At that moment, he suddenly narrowed his eyes.

At the edge of the vast grassland bordering the coast, a man was trudging through the thick bushes.

"Who's that?"

"...Probably someone from Southern Island. Looks like they came to take a boat ride or something."

"This idiot's asking for it. I have nothing better to do, so I have to play with him..."

Heo Maeng, who had been licking his lips as if he had found a good prey, suddenly closed his mouth.

'Hmm?'

The approaching figure's attire seemed strangely familiar.

'Is that... a uniform?'

Different from the ordinary villagers' attire, it was a uniform emphasizing mobility. Moreover, it was a black uniform.

So far, there was nothing particularly unusual. Black uniforms were one of the most preferred outfits among the martial artists in the Central Plains. Besides, Southern Island is a relatively large island, so it wasn't surprising to find someone who didn't belong to Southern Island.

The problem was what came next.

"...That."

"Yes?"

"That, is that a plum blossom?"

Everyone's heads turned sharply at Heo Maeng's question. Their gaze focused on the chest of the approaching figure.

"...It seems so."

"W-Well, yes. It's a plum blossom."

"A plum blossom?"

Although there were numerous martial arts sects in the world, there was only one sect that used a black uniform with a plum blossom pattern as its symbol.

"M-Mount, Mount Hua?"

But why would a uniform from the Mount Hua Sect appear in a place like this?

"U-Unit Leader!"

"Hmm?"

"That, that person... that! That guy!"

"That guy?"

"Mount, Mount Hua..."

"Hmm?"

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword!"

The four characters "Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword" pierced through the hearts of those who were focused on the coast.

Just hearing those four characters caused the previously relaxed muscles of those who were not particularly tense to tighten as if entering a battle.

"Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword?"

"Yes! Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword! I remember him clearly!"

"Why is that guy here...?"

But the speed at which the man approached was faster than they could make sense of the situation. Chung Myung arrived right in front of them before they could prepare and stopped. Then, towards the wary, tense members of the Spirit Unit, he opened his mouth.

"Hey, you guys. You know how to scream?"

"...What?"

Someone unknowingly blurted out in response to his unexpected question. Chung Myung spoke indifferently.

"Scream well."

His sword, which had been hanging on his shoulder, slowly descended.

"Loud enough for those who went ahead to hear clearly."

Chung Myung's sword, warmed by the hot sunlight, emitted an eerie light.