Chapter 1352: It's Just The Way Things Turned Out (Part 2)

"Uh..."

The sensation of the stomach turning. The body spinning and falling endlessly to an unknown ground. With the familiar yet strangely unfamiliar sensation, Jo Gol struggled to open his eyes.

Through his blurred vision, objects swiftly passed by in succession. Closing his eyes tightly once again, he looked around and spoke with a hoarse voice.

"...What is this?"

"Did you wake up?"

Jo Gol finally looked down.

"Sahyung?"

"Yes."

It was the back of a familiar person. It was then that Jo Gol realized he was being carried on Yoon Jong's back.

"...Where are we?"

"We're heading north, leaving the Hundred Thousand Mountains."

"Already... Cough! Cough! Ah..."

Due to not using his throat for a long time, a dry cough continued to burst out.

"Take it easy."

"I'm fine now. Put me dow..."

"Rest a bit more."

Jo Gol closed his mouth at Yoon Jong's firm voice. In fact, he may have bluffed a bit, but his physical condition was indeed at its worst. Just being carried on someone's back was not an easy task at the moment.

"Soso-ya."

"Yes. I'm already checking."

"...What a surprise."

Jo Gol, with a stiff neck, turned to look back. Tang Soso, carrying Yoo Iseol, was sticking closely behind him, placing her hand on his back.

"The pulse seems normal... Internal injuries should be fine at this point. The issue is the external injuries; the wounds won't heal easily, so you should be cautious for a while."

Jo Gol blinked and looked at Yoo Iseol, who was lifted on Tang Soso's back. Yoo Iseol still hadn't regained consciousness.

'Seriously...'

The wounds he received and the wounds Yoo Iseol received were incomparable. While he only exerted himself for a short time, Yoo Iseol fought to the last drop of blood. So, it would take more time for her to regain consciousness.

'Wait...'

Realizing this fact, Jo Gol lifted his head abruptly. Guo Hansuo and Im Sobyeong, running ahead, as well as Southern Island's disciples following from behind—having scrutinized them all, he opened his eyes wide.

"Sahyung! What about Chung Myung?"

"Why? Do you think he died?"

"No, what happened to that guy? He was a mess."

"He woke up quickly and is cutting down the guys from Myriad Man Manor."

"With that body of his?"

"I heard he's fine."

"...Ah."

At this point, it wasn't a joke anymore; it was a question of whether this was a human made of flesh and blood. Even with injuries, Chung Myung suffered the most, and even exhausted, Chung Myung was the most tired. So, with his body still not recovered, he woke up and started fighting?

"...Is that bastard out of his mind?"

"I have my doubts too."

Jo Gol shook his head as if to say it was beyond comprehension.

"Could it be dangerous?"

"It's not that bad. Of course, we can't say it's not dangerous, but compared to the situation in the canyon, it's nothing."

Indeed, it seemed that way to Jo Gol as well. The ones leading the way were obvious, and the condition of those behind, including Southern Island's disciples, looked significantly better than before.

Yoon Jong, who thought Jo Gol had regained enough consciousness, quickly explained the current situation.

"Are the others following from behind?"

"Yes."

"...No, what if the paths diverge? What will you do?"

"Southern Island says that won't happen. And just in case, they're controlling the speed reasonably."

"Hmm."

Jo Gol nodded his head.

There were quite a few puzzling aspects, but everyone had thoughtfully devised the plan. It wasn't worth scrutinizing every detail when he had been comfortably lying down inside.

Moreover, he thought that Baek Cheon and Im Sobyeong's plan was probably better than anything he could come up with.

At that moment, Yoon Jong spoke with frustration, as if addressing someone difficult.

"And you, crazy bastard."

"...Yes?"

"Do you have to worry about others the moment you open your eyes? Focus on yourself! Your body is like a ragged cloth, all patched up."

In response to his words, Jo Gol silently glanced down at his body. The marks, sewn like stitches on his forearm, were visible through the wide sleeves.

"Hey, sew it up properly. What kind of doctor is this...?"

"What? Do you want me to sew your mouth shut?"

"...No."

In response to the sharp voice of Tang Soso coming from behind, Jo Gol lowered his tail subtly. Right now, he couldn't argue with her. Well, in fact, even under normal circumstances, he couldn't argue with her, but anyways...

Then, from the side, Lee Ziyang, who was running, raised his voice.

"Do we keep going straight?"

"To the northeast!"

"Yes!"

Im Sobyeong, who finished speaking, immediately changed the direction. Lee Ziyang, confirming the direction, also leaped forward, unfolding his sword.

Clang!

The sword energy he emitted engraved a faint mark on the top of a tree that stood straight ahead. It was a subtle trace that would be hard to notice without a close look.

Jo Gol involuntarily furrowed his brow.

"Can you see that while running?"

"That's the point."

"...No..."

Lee Ziyang, who had quickly returned to his original position, answered the question.

"Don't worry. Even if other sect members don't know, Southern Island disciples can't help but know. Those from Southern Island have been going out to sea on boats since they were young. To catch fish in the vast ocean, you mustn't miss even a small bubble rising to the surface."

"Uh..."

"Not everyone, but most of them have good eyes. Don't worry, as there's no need to fear missing any traces."

Jo Gol nodded. It was difficult to understand exactly, but he could roughly grasp the meaning. It seemed to be a saying that went hand in hand with people living on the plains having good eyes.

"Sahyung."

"Yes?"

"...Can we even see that even if we try?"

"Who knows?"

"That's right..."

"Each sect supposedly has one such marking. But seeing it for real, it's truly remarkable."

"Each sect? Do we have something like that too?"

"We did."

"Yes?"

"It's gone now."

"...Ah."

It burned down. Right, there was nothing in Mount Hua from the beginning. It just burned brilliantly.

"Anyway, if we can't recognize it, there's no way the Evil Sect guys can recognize it."

"That's right. Right now, they're changing directions based on that one mark alone. Even if they happen to discover our traces, they won't be able to guess our route."

"Ah, I see."

No wonder they were carving marks on trees while abruptly changing directions...

Perhaps this was Jo Gol's true power. [?]

"But where are we headed right now?"

"I don't know. That's something decided by Sasuk and the Nokrim King. Well, maybe Chung Myung already decided it."

"Hmm."

Jo Gol nodded as if he understood.

At that moment, Baek Cheon's voice came from the front as if he had been waiting.

"For now, it's important to create distance between us and them, whether it's the direction or the pace. Thanks to them concentrating on the defensive line to block us, this side is almost like a no-man's-land."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

It had been hell up to the Hundred Thousand Mountains, but once they broke through the Hundred Thousand Mountains, they wouldn't see anyone blocking their way. It might be a hasty judgment, but at least so far, that was the case.

"If we can keep this distance, we might be able to reach the Yangtze River without any problems."

"...As long as no one suddenly appears in front of us, right? Well, like a bishop of the Demonic Cult or something..."

"Ah, shut up!"

"Enough of your jokes!"

"Someone, put this guy to sleep again!"

Amidst the sporadic voices coming from various places, Jo Gol chuckled.

They had already lost many people. But that didn't mean they were contemplating death. Mourning and grieving for the dead would be sufficient once everyone safely escaped.

'Somehow, until we reach the Yangtze River...'

At that moment, Jo Gol's head turned slightly askew.

"Uh, wait a minute. But..."

"What, is it this bastard again?"

"Sahyung, shut up! Before I really sew you up!"

"No, no, that's not it... This mark, it's said that only people from Southern Island can recognize it?"

"How many times do we have to hear the same story? Did you hit your head somewhere?"

"No. What I mean is... then how does Chung Myung know about it and chase after us?"

"Huh?"

For a moment, everyone's vacant eyes focused on Jo Gol. Jo Gol, with a puzzled face, added awkwardly.

"I may not have understood it because I'm stupid, but Chung Myung doesn't know this mark. But he's currently at the very back."

"...Is that so?"

"Then how does that guy know where we are?"

Jo Gol asked with an awkward expression. After a brief moment of silence following the sarcastic comments, someone was supposed to give him an answer.

However, contrary to his expectations, no sarcastic comments came. Instead, everyone was exchanging awkward glances, avoiding eye contact with each other.

'Huh?'

Huh... This isn't right...

With a glimmer of hope, Jo Gol looked ahead. Even if these fools didn't know, at least those two...

"Uh..."

But at that moment, Jo Gol saw it.

Im Sobyeong and Baek Cheon, the two most reliable figures responsible for everything in the group, were looking at Jo Gol with faces that seemed to have received a blow.

"That... what?"

"..."

"How is he coming?"

"..."

You have to trust those you can trust... Trust those...