Chapter 1663 - Wherever That Place May Be (3)

"..."

The contrast was striking.

A massive mountain was ablaze, spewing black smoke and an intense heat that seemed capable of melting the world. Yet, the two eyes observing this scene were as cold as if they were gazing at the snowy fields of the North Sea. In fact, the more fiercely the vast mountain range burned, the colder those eyes became.

"We're short on oil in the center!"

"Replenish it immediately! Why are the men who went to requisition oil from the village taking so long?"

"T-There is a large village nearby..."

"Move instead of making excuses! Now!"

The noise and urgent shouting behind him continued relentlessly, but the man standing like a statue did not budge.

"The West is suffering heavy losses!"

"Push Su Lo Chae's remnants into that area!"

"They are heading towards the center!"

"Then redirect them! Raise the signal flag and send a messenger! Hurry!"

"Yes!"

Simply setting fires and deploying troops wouldn't achieve anything. The key was to maintain the line of those blazing flames and systematically push the enemies upwards, leaving them no space to escape. But anyone could see that this was far from easy.

The terrain of the mountain was highly irregular, and flames, driven by even the slightest change in wind direction, were unpredictable entities. How many people in the world could control a raging fire while considering all these variables?

One of those few, Ho Gakmyung, opened his mouth dispassionately.

"The southeast is lagging."

"Yes, Commander!"

"Go..."

"Yes."

A low, steady voice flowed from his lips.

"Cut off a few limbs as an example and throw them into the flames alive. Tell them that if there is any more delay, everyone there will face the same fate."

"..."

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, Commander!"

"Go."

"Yes!"

Those who had been waiting around sprang into action like lightning. Their movements were not just hurried but bordered on panic, clearly driven by the fear that they themselves might be thrown into the fire if they hesitated for even a moment. Yet, Ho Gakmyung paid no attention to the reaction to his orders, keeping his gaze fixed on the burning mountain.

The sensation reached him.

He knew that the heat couldn't possibly extend all the way to where he stood, but just watching the roaring flames made his face flush and his heart race.

That's why Ho Gakmyung stifled himself with even greater calm.

Courage and passion are needed to start something. But to complete it, cold rationality is essential.

Ho Gakmyung adhered to this principle, striving not to miss a single movement in the unfolding situation.

"Fire attack..."

A voice reached Ho Gakmyung's ears. Unlike his own heavy, subdued tone, this voice was twisted and brimming with barely concealed emotion.

"An old tactic."

"Old tactics are classics."

"Hm?"

Ho Gakmyung responded without turning around.

"And classics are validated through countless trials."

It might be considered rude behavior, but he couldn't take his eyes off the action in the mountain. Fortunately, the person speaking to him didn't care about such trivial rudeness.

"Even strategists sometimes forget that fact."

"Hmm..."

Upon hearing Ho Gakmyung's words, Jang Ilso let out a faint hum.

"You mean it's effective, right?"

"When it comes to burning, there's no difference between warriors and civilians. There may be a few in Wudang capable of enduring the flames, but they will be very few."

"Indeed."

Ho Gakmyung's eyes grew even more steely.

"The reason warriors don't particularly fear fire is simple. They can move faster than the flames spread."

"Hmm."

"But what if they can't?"

"..."

Ho Gakmyung spoke with confidence in his voice.

"They will be like ordinary soldiers surrounded by flames. From then on, it will be easy."

Jang Ilso chuckled.

"Isn't it difficult to hold them by the ankle?"

"If you don't choose a method that minimizes sacrifices, you have no choice but to accept the sacrifices."

At that moment, Ho Gakmyung turned to Jang Ilso.

"Or... do you want to reduce the sacrifices?"

"Tsk tsk. What a bad temper."

"I'm sorry."

Jang Ilso couldn't help but smile as he watched Ho Gakmyung bow his head.

Rules are frightening. Jang Ilso tended to agree with that.

He preferred to create variables that go beyond people's expectations rather than using obvious tactics. But because of that, he knew very well how frightening straightforward methods could be.

The swordsmen of the Wudang Sect must be realizing that painfully right now.

Of course, those like that rabble would also burn to death in the process, but that doesn't matter.

Exchanging those guys for the Wudang swordsmen is a profitable deal.

"But if they pull out, wouldn't it be meaningless to just set the fire? That would be no fun."

"They can never pull out. Especially now."

"Hmm?"

Jang Ilso let out a short, amused sound.

"Why?"

"Because they are shackled."

"Shackled?"

"Yes."

Ho Gakmyung's eyes turned towards the top of Mount Wudang.

The towering Cheonjubong is where Wudang's halls are located.

"They may think that those attacking them without regard for their lives are what binds their feet, but in reality, what shackles them is their'resolve,' which they are so proud of."

"Resolve..."

"The reason they can't retreat is that they already decided to fight for their lives. Words, once spoken, cannot be taken back. It is difficult for them to sneak away now that the situation has become tough."

It was laughable.

What would Ho Gakmyung or Jang Ilso do if they were in that situation?

'We would withdraw without a moment's hesitation.'

There is no need to do as the enemy wishes. There's even less need for unnecessary sacrifices. They would almost simultaneously confirm the blazing flames with their own eyes and turn their bodies away.

But they can't do that.

This difference—yes, this difference—divides righteousness and wickedness. For the Evil Sect, notions like honor and face, which mean less than manure, become heavy shackles for those on the righteous path.

If he had realized this difference and crafted his strategy accordingly, the Evil Tyrant Alliance would have been even more prosperous than now. Until now, he had only faced other evil sects, so he hadn't properly understood this difference.

"Hahaha."

At that moment, Jang Ilso laughed lowly.

"Oh my, oh my. If things go this way, I have to thank someone I don't really like."

"..."

It was a painful truth.

Both Ho Gakmyung and Jang Ilso knew. Ho Gakmyung was able to predict their response.

All thanks to one person.

The obsession with principles and rules. Ho Gakmyung painfully learned how severe the consequences are when you don't understand 'righteousness' disguised as practicality, all thanks to one person.

Trying to understand someone who entered the realm of the unfathomable allowed him to roughly predict their choices.

"The price paid for the lesson was worth it."

"I think so too."

Recalling the person briefly made Ho Gakmyung's eyes flare up, but then they calmed down again.

"Good."

Jang Ilso's jewelry on his wrist jingled with a clear sound.

"But, Gamyeong, they won't just take it lying down, will they?"

"Of course not."

Ho Gakmyung's gaze turned to one place.

The middle of the path leading to Cheonjubong. The long, white cliff.

Flames burn everything in their path, but when there is nothing left to burn, they cannot advance any further. Anyone with even a bit of sense would occupy that cliff and try to resist the advancing flames.

"But that's what we wanted."

"That's what you wanted?"

At that moment, Ho Gakmyung's lips twisted slightly, resembling Jang Ilso's smile.

"Why wouldn't we be glad that those we need to kill are gathering in one place?"

Ho Gakmyung lightly clenched and unclenched his fist. The opponent is from Wudang. In the past, Wudang would have been formidable, but to the current Ho Gakmyung, they are merely Wudang. It's not just them who have tempered themselves through the fierce battles that shook the world. Jang Ilso and I are different from the past. What was difficult for him before the Yangtze River conflict is now very easy for him.

They have made a loud fire, but the main force of the Evil Tyrant Alliance that they have brought along has not yet been deployed to the battlefield. If a suitable stage is set and they are put into action, trampling Wudang would be easier than twisting a child's wrist. The only variable might be...

"But..."

"I know."

Before Ho Gakmyung could finish speaking, Jang Ilso nodded.

"They are coming, aren't they?"

"Yes."

"What do you think? Where do you think they are now?"

Ho Gakmyung swallowed dryly. Even though he is mocking Wudang, discussing them still makes him nervous. Especially discussing them when 'he' is included.

If this were Jiangnan, he would know their movements as if they were in his hands, but this is Jiangbei. Their information network does not operate here. Fighting in an enemy territory is dangerous because of this.

Without information, all that remains is prediction and principle.

"They have not yet come close enough."

"Is that so?"

Jang Ilso smiled with a knowing smile. In the past, Ho Gakmyung would not have understood, but now he knows the meaning of that smile. And he already has a response ready.

"Yes. If they are thinking, they will consider this situation a trap."

"Wudang might be the bait?"

"So naturally, they would proceed cautiously, fearing an ambush. If they rush and are ambushed, it would be worse than not having come to aid at all."

"Hmm. Right, they should do that."

It was an extremely reasonable prediction. No one could argue against it.

"So they are likely..."

At that moment, Ho Gakmyung's gaze turned westward. His eyes sharpened more than ever before.

"They are already almost upon us."

"...Hmm?"

Ho Gakmyung's eyes gleamed with a chilling light.

"If it's the Plum Blossom Sword Demon, I know he will never move as I predict."

Resentment and admiration. Envy and fear.

All these emotions swirled in his eyes as he looked westward, toward the invisible blade that was now flying toward their necks.