Chapter 1391: He Will Be Waiting For Us (Part 1)

"Hurry up!"

Baek Cheon tirelessly swept the surroundings.

Even though the situation wasn't one where simply advancing quickly would suffice, Baek Cheon shouted as if the enemy was constantly lurking behind them, ready to strike.

"More!"

However, the group's speed did not increase significantly.

"Strike them in one breath!"

Encountering enemies intermittently? Of course, they would have some impact too.

"Sasuk! Enemies are tailing us from behind!"

"Damn it, I'll handle it myself!"

The Myriad Man Manor that kept catching up whenever they thought they had shaken them off? Naturally, it would have a significant impact, as the speed couldn't help but slow down during the confrontation. Especially for those who were running with the determination not to allow even a single person to fall behind.

But those who knew were aware that the reason for the group's slow pace was not solely because of that.

"That's enough! Let's go!"

Baek Cheon, who had swiftly annihilated the enemies with Namgung Dowi, shouted in a booming voice. However, instead of running forward when hearing his voice, Tang Pae not only halted but also turned around.

Nothing was behind them. It was the place they had already passed.

"What are you doing, Sogaju-nim!"

"...Sorry."

The Tang Pae ground his teeth and turned his head forward again. He could feel a gurgling sound coming from his throat. As if forcibly breaking away from something that couldn't return.

His eyes kept turning back.

Like someone who had left behind something that should not have been left behind.

'Why hasn't he joined us yet?'

As the Yangtze River approached, as they distanced themselves from the enemies, it became more apparent. The extreme increase in distance between them and Chung Myung.

And he sensed it.

He wasn't stupid either, so he understood the significance of not seeing the enemy's main force or Chung Myung's figure until now.

They were becoming safe.

The hellish journey to Gangnam was finally coming to an end. Now, the Yangtze River was just a stone's throw away. If they didn't fall prey to the enemy's tactics in the meantime, they should be able to reach the Yangtze River without major issues.

But that fact made Tang Pae even more uncomfortable.

"Nokrim King."

The Tang Pae, who had pounded the ground, turned to look at Im Sobyeong, who had an expressionless face as if wearing armor.

"Is there really no one blocking our way ahead?"

"..."

"Isn't it strange? If they've led us here, they should be trying to surround us. Aren't there still more than half of Myriad Man Manor's forces at the Yangtze River? What are they doing now..."

"Your temper is quite nasty."

A grumpy voice came from Im Sobyeong's mouth. A serious expression at odds with his voice. Because of that, his voice sounded even sharper.

"Do you ask questions you already know the answers to? Do you want to confirm through my mouth because you're not sure, or do you want to make an excuse that you didn't know?"

Spitting out anger, the insulting words didn't leave much room for Tang Pae. However, Tang Pae remained silent. He felt that the chilly wind that passed through those words wasn't necessarily directed at him.

Seeing Tang Pae's reaction, Im Sobyeong smirked slightly.

"Where did he go?"

"..."

"Let's not ask the obvious. There's nothing we can do."

What Tang Pae felt right now was an indescribable heaviness.

But perhaps Im Sobyeong was feeling more than just heaviness; he might be feeling despair beyond that.

The role of a strategist is to find the best solution in a limited situation. When a strategist fails to find that best solution, their existence becomes utterly worthless.

In the words "There's nothing we can do," there was the despair that Im Sobyeong was feeling, its weight beyond description.

"...They went to the Dojang, didn't they?"

"..."

Annoyance appeared on Im Sobyeong's face. What difference did it make to bring up that fact?

Having confirmed Im Sobyeong's expression, Tang Pae turned his head to look ahead.

In his eyes, the disciples of Mount Hua, fiercely piercing through the enemies, were visible.

'They must also be aware, right?'

Why were they heading towards the Yangtze River so effortlessly now, and where were the enemies converging.

But how could they fight without constantly looking back?

Even though he, who hadn't shared meals with Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword, felt as if someone was constantly grabbing at him from behind. Despite trying not to, he kept looking back.

What emotions were they holding their swords with?

He couldn't even dare to guess.

"Tang Sogaju-nim."

At that moment, someone called Tang Pae. Turning his head, he saw Guo Hansuo, who had somehow approached him, staring at him with stern eyes.

"Is it true that Mount Hua's Chivalrous Sword is currently luring the enemies?"

"...I'm not certain."

Tang Pae couldn't bring himself to give a definite answer. Any response would be a painful one from the perspective of Southern Island. They were not shameless individuals, nor were they foolish. They were people who keenly felt the fact that Chung Myung was taking excessive risks.

How could one thrust a sword into them in the face of such individuals?

"Soon... Probably he will join us soon. Chung Myung Dojang has always been like that. It's difficult to judge him from the eyes of a small person."

Tang Pae stopped there and averted his gaze because continuing the conversation felt too awkward.

"..."

Guo Hansuo also seemed to sense that Tang Pae was lying. With lips that seemed to want to say something, Guo Hansuo eventually closed his mouth.

"Hurry up!"

Just then, Baek Cheon's strong voice erased the contemplations they had been having.

"Let's go."

"Yes."

Now was not the time to delay the group's footsteps with such thoughts. Despite concerns and hesitations, now they had to put everything aside and simply follow Baek Cheon's orders. That was the will of Chung Myung, who remained alone in a dangerous place to save them.

'But...'

Tang Pae shifted his gaze and slowly scanned the surroundings. Even the faces of the Mount Hua disciples, visible only from behind, Namgung Dowi, Hye Yeon, and even the faces of the Southern Island disciples were all stiff.

'Dojang. Is this what you really wanted?'

Perhaps everyone here could survive without sacrifices. But even if they survived, could they accept their lives with pride? Could anyone among them accept the survival of their own lives, obtained at the price of Chung Myung's sacrifice?

'But why...'

Tang Pae bit his lip.

He was asking, but he knew. Ultimately, there was no choice.

The path where he himself was in danger and the path where others were in danger. There were only those two paths left. If so, Chung Myung would have naturally chosen the path that put himself in danger. He had always made such choices.

That's why everyone followed him. That's why everyone liked him.

But the way they had followed Chung Myung was now coming back as the worst result. As the price they all had to pay when the time inevitably came.

So he couldn't help but resent it.

At least no one wanted this worst outcome.

And then.

"Ah..."

A scene that seemed like a hallucination entered Tang Pae's eyes. The end of the seemingly endless road. The end of the vast forest that seemed like it would go on forever.

The land spread beyond a low ridge. The end of that land was dyed in a dark black, even darker than the sky.

Those who understood the identity of that black line stopped one by one. As if their bodies couldn't overcome the turbulence within them.

A voice uttered as if possessed by something silently flowed through them.

"Yangtze...River."

The Yangtze River.

The massive river that divided the south and north of the Central Plains. And the place they had so desperately wanted to see.

The sight of that Yangtze River was now unfolding before their eyes.

Their strength drained from their legs. Even Tang Pae, who didn't expect this to happen, had to momentarily steady his swaying body.

How could one express this emotion?

Relief? Liberation? Or simply joy?

Defining the whirlwind of these complex and indescribable emotions with a single word would be impossible.

In the midst of that intense emotion, Tang Pae, and those around him, were just shivering.

"Woah."

At that moment, in front of Tang Pae, Lee Ziyang lowered his head.

Guo Hansuo placed his hand on Lee Ziyang's shoulder. In response, Lee Ziyang, with a trembling voice, began to speak.

"Honestly..."

From deep within, something boiling was forcibly swallowed by Lee Ziyang. A suppressed voice emerged from his lips.

"I never... honestly thought I would live to see this scene."

His words represented the feelings of all the Southern Island disciples.

Only ten people.

The number of those who came to rescue them was merely ten.

Who could dare to think they would break through Gangnam, trusting and believing? It was the land they tread upon with the mindset that, even if they died, they wouldn't die pathetically.

After enduring countless sacrifices and a road akin to hell, they finally arrived here.

Of course, it wasn't over yet. Crossing that river was no easy task. Perhaps all those remaining might perish in the process. But knowing that, the emotions stirred by the sight of that river couldn't be helped.

"...Now, it's truly a step away."

"Yes, Sahyung."

At Guo Hansuo's words, Lee Ziyang nodded.

"It's really soon now."

Without explicitly mentioning the remaining dangers of the river, Guo Hansuo and Lee Ziyang reassured each other. Hearing this, the Southern Island disciples firmly fixed their expressions.

At the same time, Baek Cheon, who had only been looking forward, turned his head.

An incomprehensible expression. Baek Cheon, with a face as if clad in armor, looked at Guo Hansuo.

"Guo Sohyeop."

"Yes, Deputy Sect Leader."

Guo Hansuo faced Baek Cheon head-on.

Now, if Baek Cheon asked him to jump into a pit of fire, he would do so; if he asked him to sacrifice his life, he would do so. Because Baek Cheon had the right to ask that.

"There's the Yangtze River. Once you cross there, there is Gangbuk. When you reach Gangbuk, whether it's the Heavenly Comrade Alliance or Ten Great Sects, they will come to welcome the Southern Island Sect."

Guo Hansuo's eyebrows twitched slightly. Not because he felt uncomfortable. He was just curious about Baek Cheon's intention in saying such things. The Baek Cheon he knew was not someone who would unnecessarily state the obvious.

"In gratitude to the Mount Hua..."

"Sohyeop."

Baek Cheon folded both hands and deeply bowed. Guo Hansuo, startled by the unexpected gesture, looked at Baek Cheon.

"The help we can offer you ends here."

"...What?"

Guo Hansuo asked, his face puzzled. What was this sudden statement?

"Cross the Yangtze River before daybreak. With that, Southern Island should be safe."

"Wait a moment. Deputy Sect Leader. What are you talking about? Cross the Yangtze River? What about Mount Hua?"

Baek Cheon raised his head to face Guo Hansuo.

That gaze.

At the moment Guo Hansuo saw that gaze, he could understand what Baek Cheon was going to say.

"You are asking the obvious."

The disciples of Mount Hua walked up beside Baek Cheon. Their eyes were no different from Baek Cheon's.

"We're going to fetch that stupid bastard who got himself into trouble."

"Now, Deputy Sect Leader..."

"Certainly, that guy too."

Baek Cheon's voice flowed firmly.

"He will be waiting for us."