Chapter 1331: I'll Carve That Name Into Memory (Part 1)

"Oh, they're coming!"

"This, this is... damn it! Shoot! Shoot to kill!"

The artilleryman, who had been aiming in the direction of the explosives, shouted with a pale face.

Of course, even as he yelled, he knew that what he was saying made no sense. After all, the cannon was not a weapon for individuals. While it could have a significant impact when fired at a dense crowd, it was useless against a single person, especially when that person was a master of Mount Hua, cutting through those who were protecting them like evil spirits.

"Fire, quickly!"

The cannon spewed fire towards Jo Gol, who was rushing towards them. The cannonballs shot out at an incredible speed.

However, Jo Gol didn't blink an eye and continued charging forward. The cannonball narrowly passed over his head and crashed into a large beautiful tree behind him.

Kuuuuung!

The tree, thicker than a person's torso, snapped and broke into pieces. It was a spectacle that clearly demonstrated the power contained in the cannon.

However, no matter how powerful the attack, it was meaningless if it didn't hit.

"Again, quickly!"

Hands hurriedly reloaded the cannon in the face of the rekindled flames. However, by that time, Jo Gol had already reached them.

"This...!"

Kwaaang!

Jo Gol, with a powerful swing, deflected the sword.

"You bastards!"

Paaaang!

With a sound like tearing the air, a red line sharply appeared in the sky. The bodies of those near the cannon, attached to it, were split in half and crumbled.

"S-Save us..."

Phwoosh!

Without hesitation, Jo Gol thrust the sword into the heart of someone the sword hadn't touched before, pulling it out vigorously before the heartbeat could be felt.

Chwaaaak!

Blood sprayed out and splattered on the cannon.

"Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!"

Jo Gol breathed heavily, looking around. There was no one alive in his field of vision. All that remained were corpses, soaked in blood and cooling.

Suddenly.

Biting his lips, Jo Gol stepped on the still burning cannon. The cannon's muzzle flashed towards the sky.

Kwaaang!

Soon, a cannonball soared high into the sky.

Kwaaang!

Seeing the cannonball rising above, Baek Cheon immediately realized the situation and shouted loudly.

"Everyone, let's go! Right now!"

The situation was dire. More than half of the elders had fallen due to poison and injuries, and disciples of the Southern Island Sect were also heavily wounded. Only those who were seriously injured and had completely exhausted their stamina were barely holding onto their swords.

But even in this dire situation, everyone responded to Baek Cheon's words. The voice that had been continuously heard from the coast to now had finally exerted absolute power over the disciples of Southern Island.

"This way!"

Baek Cheon shouted, leading the way and running ahead.

In such a dire situation, it was much easier for the exhausted ones to understand and follow actions than to comprehend words.

"Follow Deputy Sect Leader!"

"Are you not going to move! Do you want to die here?"

As Namgung Dowi and Hye Yeon fiercely attacked, Kim Yang Baek roared loudly.

"What are you doing! Follow Deputy Sect Leader immediately! Elders, gather the injured disciples! Hurry!"

Even though it was a strange situation for the elders of Southern Island to be standing, they hadn't forgotten their duty. The elders, gathering the injured disciples, followed behind Kim Yang Baek, who led the way after Baek Cheon.

The disciples of Southern Island who could still move reflexively followed with all their strength.

"What the hell are you doing!"

Meanwhile, Im Sobyeong vented his frustration and dragged Tang Soso from behind. She was hanging on to one dying disciple of Southern Island.

"Let go! I'll wrap this one off!"

"He's already dead! Already!"

"Not yet... Not yet!"

"Snap out of it! If you die, everyone else will die too!"

At those words, Tang Soso's eyes shook. Just by looking at her eyes, one could sense how emotionally strained she was.

However, Im Sobyeong paid no attention to her feelings, forcibly holding her and pounding the ground.

While everyone was running forward, Guo Hansuo rushed to those who couldn't lift their feet.

"What are you doing! Follow immediately!"

"G-Great Sahyung!"

Those who didn't know what to do looked at Guo Hansuo with despair in their eyes.

"The injuries of the Sahyungs... "

Guo Hansuo's eyes lowered. One priest was making groaning sounds, his bandages stained with blood on his chest.

Understanding the situation, Guo Hansuo unconsciously clenched his fist.

"Go!"

"Yes?"

"I said go!"

"G-Go, Sahyung?"

Those who understood the meaning of Guo Hansuo's words shouted urgently.

"He's still alive, he's still! What nonsense is this! Are you telling us to leave the Sahyungs here to die? That's...!"

"Shut up and go!"

"Great Sahyung!"

As a disciple screamed, Guo Hansuo grabbed him by the collar and pulled him sharply. The eyes of the disciple, soaked in tears, were fiercely stared at by Guo Hansuo.

"What then? Will you die here together?"

There was no returning answer. He pushed the disciple he was holding away as if discarding him. There was no time for explanations.

If Chung Myung, who was guarding the rear, was pushed back through and the canyon was pierced again, the crowd from Myriad Man Manor would pour out like a torrent.

With such exhausted people, they couldn't even resist. They would all die without even swinging their swords properly.

They had just barely escaped from hell. They couldn't afford to face such a gruesome death!

"Go, right now! If you don't want to die in my hands!"

Perhaps overwhelmed by Guo Hansuo's momentum, or maybe realizing that this was the only way, the fallen disciple ran forward with a desperate cry.

Those who hesitated until the end, unable to lift their feet, eventually ran after him.

Suppressing his tears, Guo Hansuo wiped his wet eyes and lowered his gaze once again.

In that brief moment, even in his injured state, Guo Hansuo was terrified.

Although wounded, the disciples he was looking at hadn't lost consciousness, so they must have heard everything he said. He was scared of their sharp gazes, saturated with venom, more threatening than sharp daggers.

However, what Guo Hansuo saw was vastly different from what he expected.

"Sah... hyung..."

Some disciples who had fallen with pale faces pointed at themselves with trembling hands.

Guo Hansuo's words choked in his throat. The moment he understood the meaning, his heavy shoulders finally collapsed miserably.

"Pl... Please..."

"Uh..."

He wanted to block his ears. He would rather hold a knife to his throat and fall down. He wanted to escape anywhere.

"Sah... hyung..."

"Uwaaaaah!"

Guo Hansuo screamed, swinging his sword like lightning. Blood spurted from his cracked lips.

His beloved sword, with the wave pattern symbolizing Southern Island vividly engraved, swiftly cleaved through the necks of the disciples as it passed by.

Puuuuuut!

Blood sprayed from severed necks, and a faint smile appeared on the lips of the Southern Island disciples, whose eyes were dimming.

"Tha... nk..."

"Sur...survive..."

Without hearing the end of those words, Guo Hansuo rushed forward. No, it would be more accurate to say he ran away without even hearing them.

Farther away. Even tears didn't flow anymore.

There was no other choice. They couldn't fight anymore, but dying so easily wasn't an option either.

But leaving them like this would mean enduring all sorts of humiliations at the hands of the enraged Myriad Man Manor. They would die in agony.

It was the only way to help them. Guo Hansuo knew that.

"Uwaaaaah!"

But knowing it didn't make the excruciating pain in his chest disappear. Knowing it didn't change the fact that he had cut the throats of the disciples he had spent his whole life with.

'Survive.'

There was nothing left of an honorable death in his mind.

He had to live.

Survive and, at all costs, seek revenge for those who died here. As much blood as those who perished here... No, a hundred times, a thousand times the blood must be shed to avenge them.

'I will survive no matter what! Absolutely!'

With all his strength, he pounded the ground, and a cruel venom rose in his eyes.

"Sasuk!"

"Up front!"

"We haven't identified the positions of the archers! There may be more ambushes ahead!"

Yoon Jong quickly joined Baek Cheon, responding with a shout.

A moment later, Jo Gol also rushed forward with all his might.

"I've dealt with all the artillery!"

"Stand at the front! There might be more ambushes!"

"Sago! Sago is at the rear! She's injured!"

Without even realizing it, Baek Cheon turned to look in the direction Jo Gol mentioned.

They had unknowingly entered a forest path, and in the distance, between the thick bushes, a deep canyon cut through like a sharp blade.

Even without hearing more explanations, they could guess what had happened.

"Chung Myung must be reaching his limit too! Sago's injured, and she can't handle this alone! We need to help!"

At that moment, conflict crossed Baek Cheon's face.

He must go.

Just hearing Jo Gol's words made the situation vivid. Right now, the only one with the capacity to go back was Baek Cheon. But if he withdrew, he would leave those behind to face the ambush ahead. COuld they break through with just them?

"Jo Gol."

"Yes, Sasuk!"

"Take charge of the front. I'll divert them like this."

"Then, are you leaving them, Sasuk?"

"..."

"Sasuk?"

Baekcheon remained silent. Jojeol's eyes flickered for a moment.

"Sasuk! The injuries of the Sago are severe! It's not an ordinary situation!"

"Take charge of the front!"

As Baek Cheon shouted with a furious voice, Jo Gol flinched. But for a moment, Jo Gol looked at Baek Cheon with bloodshot eyes, as if he could rush forward and throw a punch.

"Are you abandoning them?"

"They're not people who can't protect themselves! They will definitely come!"

"You said that if they were in danger, you would run away, even if it meant abandoning everyone else!"

"...!"

"You said it! You clearly said that to me, Sasuk!"

"..."

"Chung Myung is going to die! Sago is going to die! Do you not understand the situation? Have you lost your mind?"

"Shut your mouth!"

The shout came not from Baek Cheon but from Yoon Jong. Yoon Jong glared at Jo Gol with a distorted face like a demon.

"Sasuk. But..."

"Shut up!"

As Yoon Jong shouted again, Jo Gol's hand, holding the sword, trembled faintly.

Jo Gol's gaze turned desperately to the disciples of Southern Island who were following them. But the eyes looking at them were no longer the same as before.

"What are these guys..."

"Jo Gol!"

"Why the hell are we doing to this extent because of Southern Island! Are you all crazy? You're not in your right mind, you bastards!"

"This bastard!"

When Yoon Jong tried to twist Jo Gol's neck, Jo Gol couldn't bear it and struck his hand away. Then, leaving a confused Yoon Jong behind, he ran towards the canyon.

"Hey! Jo Gol, you bastard!"

"Let him go."

At Baek Cheon's words, Yoon Jong looked back. Baek Cheon was biting his lips until blood came out, and his eyes were emitting a fierce and terrifying light.

"Your lead the way from the front. Survive and reach Gangbuk, no matter what happens."

"Yes, Sasuk."

It seemed like the sound of something breaking could be heard somewhere. Perhaps it was not a sign of doom.

Baek Cheon's hand, hidden inside his sleeve to avoid being seen by others, was trembling so pitifully.