Is There A Place To Rest On This Land? (5)

‘Rookie brats.’

The blood-clad in the center, the Black-Hearted Judge, Sang Gwan-Ung, instinctively narrowed his eyes.

Momentum is half the battle. Once momentum breaks, it’s hardly ever recovered.

But the rare was happening now. The momentum of those he’d perfectly crushed was instantly reviving.

All from just a few strikes and a few words.

Southern Island Sect could be trampled any time whether their spirit lived or died, but…

‘How annoying.’

His gaze moved to those who stood blocking in front of Southern Island Sect as if guarding them.

Namgung Family’s Namgung Do-Wei, Sichuan Tang Family’s Tang Pae, and Green Forest King Im So-Byeong.

None of them could be taken lightly. All the more so when you consider Shaolin’s Hae Yeon watching the situation from the rear.

‘Namgung’s sword and Sichuan Tang Family’s hidden assassination techniques…’

Generally, members of one sect, however different their styles, tend to share similar tendencies overall. They learn the same martial ways and live the same life. So the way to deal with them ends up being largely the same.

Mount Hua’s disciples differ individually, but the ways to bind their feet were similar for that reason.

But not those before him. From temperament to martial arts, there isn’t a single similar point. By common sense, they should be impossible to move as one group like this.

For whatever reason, having such people gather in one place is a headache for their opponent. Even if you strip away the thick armor called Mount Hua, if you can’t topple these others, you can’t tear at the tender flesh that is Southern Island Sect.

Namgung Do-Wei exhaled deeply.

“Hoo.”

With Tang Pae and Im So-Byeong guarding left and right, Namgung Do-Wei’s burden seemed lighter. Alone it would be difficult, but with Tang Pae and Im So-Byeong covering his flanks, he could unleash his full skill.

He steadied himself with a deep breath, raised his sword, and aimed at the blood-clad.

They were like a pack of jackals. Once they smelled blood, they wouldn’t back down easily. The only path left was to fight until one side was annihilated.

Whoooom!

As he pushed his internal qi, his sword emitted immense sword qi. It was the instant he was about to strike it off.

“Stop.”

The blood-clad who were about to rush in at Namgung Do-Wei’s movement halted in unison at their superior’s command.

“Hm?”

At that moment, Namgung Do-Wei let out an involuntary weak breath.

‘Here?’

He looked toward the one who gave the order, but their face was mostly covered by a mask, so he couldn’t read their expression.

“There’s no need to force it. Fall back.”

No sooner had the words fallen than the blood-clad all stepped back. Their movement was even more coordinated than when they had rushed forward.

‘What…’

It was an incomprehensible situation. Namgung Do-Wei watched the blood-clad recede like a tide and fell into thought.

No matter how much they’d built momentum, to be frank, the situation was still far more advantageous for them. So why would they give up the hard-won advantage and withdraw?

But to the superior it was perfectly natural.

His goal was never Mount Hua to begin with. Though they’d momentarily struck at their flank to bind their feet, these were none other than the Mount Hua’s Five Swords. They were beyond handling with current forces. They may be bound now but they’d soon start rampaging.

So their objective from the start had been the Southern Island Sect faction. If possible, injure and poison as many as possible to slow them, so the main force following behind could easily overrun them.

But if things had flowed this way, the initial objective had already failed.

Now they had to choose: abandon the mission or carry out the order at the cost of sacrifices.

‘Sacrifices.’

Was there any need to do that?

Sang Gwan-Ung snorted a laugh under his mask.

“We withdraw.”

The blood-clad withdrew in unison behind Sang Gwan-Ung and formed ranks.

The Mount Hua disciples who had been surrounded by the enemy, looking bewildered, stared blankly at those who had retreated.

Everyone was stunned. It was something they’d never encountered even after sweeping across countless battlefields.

“Hmm.”

As if to voice everyone’s feelings, Im So-Byeong spoke up.

“Now you want to tuck tail and run? But I don’t see any reason to let you leave in peace.”

At his barbed words, Sang Gwan-Ung sneered and asked.

“So? Will you stop us?”

“Hmm.”

It was a clear provocation. As Im So-Byeong narrowed his eyes and stared, Sang Gwan-Ung calmly asked again.

“Do you have that luxury?”

Sang Gwan-Ung gestured toward the wounded lying about. Starting from the places pierced by the slim blades, the poison was spreading rapidly. They needed treatment immediately.

Im So-Byeong couldn’t not know that. Moreover, the longer they stalled, the closer the enemy main force would come.

Im So-Byeong spoke in displeasure.

“Well… it’s true, we don’t have the capacity to chase those who turn their backs and flee.”

“That’ll do.”

“However.”

Im So-Byeong ground his teeth slightly and said coldly.

“I won’t stand idly by and let the ones who will tail us and pester people go free, though. That doesn’t sit well with me.”

“I’ll give you one day.”

“……”

“Seems like a generous offer?”

Im So-Byeong’s face hardened.

His gut twisted at how the situation seemed to follow that fellow’s intent. Yet he had no power to refuse that remark now. The wounded’s groans were faintly audible.

When Im So-Byeong fell silent, Sang Gwan-Ung quietly nodded as if satisfied.

Though they hadn’t dealt even a quarter of the planned blow, there was no need to risk further sacrifices.

“We take it you’ve accepted—withdraw.”

“Unexpected.”

Im So-Byeong said with sarcasm. His dislike for Sang Gwan-Ung was plain.

“I never thought there’d be a man with such sentiment to willingly throw his neck out for Lower District Sect’s men.”

Sang Gwan-Ung snorted and laughed at those words.

“Me, of all people?”

For a moment Im So-Byeong’s eyes narrowed.

‘Interesting.’

The Four Sects Alliance is a system of absolute command. Refusing an order given by the Alliance Lord cannot happen. This is an absolute law not just for the alliance but for all Evil Sects.

Because they are hard to control, they must be bound by simple, strong rules. For the Evil Sect, strict obedience is precisely that.

But the one speaking now said there’s no need to follow the order. In other words, the one who gave that command was not Jang Ilso.

‘…So the one who moved the Lower District Sect was Ho Ga-Myung, not Jang Ilso—could it be that Jang Ilso doesn’t even know this?’

But why? Ho Ga-Myung?

Im So-Byeong, who was rapidly calculating, set the question aside for now. There’s no point in thinking deeply now, but perhaps someday it might become a clue.

“Thanks for the useful information.”

“I didn’t give any information.”

“Ah, right. Right. I was mistaken.”

Im So-Byeong smiled meaningfully. Sang Gwan-Ung glared coldly at him and said.

“For now we withdraw. But… I doubt it’ll mean much. We’ll target you again. No, not only us. More will target you. More thorough, more brutal.”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as we can rest for a while, that’s enough.”

“Rest… huh.”

Sang Gwan-Ung openly sneered.

“Is there a place to rest on this land?”

“……”

“There’s no place to rest in hell, is there? Isn’t that so?”

At Sang Gwan-Ung’s slight signal, those guarding their rear melted into the forest.

“We shall meet again.”

“Anytime.”

Sang Gwan-Ung watched Im So-Byeong quietly, then backed into the underbrush and vanished.

Subordinates approached Sang Gwan-Ung as he entered the thicket.

“Captain.”

“Move!”

Sang Gwan-Ung ignored them and rushed away at full speed. Question marks flashed in the eyes of the subordinates who had approached. Sang Gwan-Ung pushing rapidly through the woods felt almost as if he were being chased by someone because of it.

But that couldn’t be—weren’t they the hunters, not the hunted?

Anyway, they suppressed their doubts and all followed after Sang Gwan-Ung. After moving for a long while, Sang Gwan-Ung finally stopped.

“…What’s the situation?”

“Damage is minimal. A few were hit, but it’s within expected bounds.”

“Within expected bounds…”

That expectation was based on achieving the goal of poisoning about half of Southern Island Sect’s men.

“But, captain, didn’t you withdraw too easily?”

“There’s no reason to risk my life in someone else’s fight.”

“They’re still just rookies. Even if they gather momentum for a moment…”

At that moment Sang Gwan-Ung turned to the one who had been speaking.

“So?”

Startled by the icy gaze, the speaker flinched and hurriedly lowered his head.

“I was presumptuous.”

“…Good. Now you know.”

Sang Gwan-Ung turned away in displeasure.

“What about the tracking incense?”

“…Of course it was buried.”

“Resume pursuit in one day. Rest until then.”

“Yes.”

After distancing himself from his subordinates, Sang Gwan-Ung’s face contorted.

‘Damage?’

Of course it could be borne.

Pursuit is not as easy as one might think. A hunter who chases a beast must always be prepared to lose his life to the beast’s claws. Given the nature of the tracking corps that chase venomous foes, sacrifices always occur. But…

‘It all depends on what those sacrifices are.’

Sang Gwan-Ung rubbed his throat. If the battle had escalated further?

‘My head would have been taken.’

All who had begun missions in the tracking corps with him were now dead. Only Sang Gwan-Ung had survived so far.

His survival so far wasn’t solely due to skill. It was a survival instinct that somehow avoided places where death awaited.

A moment ago, he had felt it—the faint killing intent that tightened around him. Subtle, yet dangerously wicked.

‘Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.’

If there had been even a slightly larger opening, if his entourages had been even a little fewer, that sword would have sunk into Sang Gwan-Ung’s neck. In that battlefield where everyone ran rampant like lead-struck boars, only Mount Hua’s Sword Saint lay hidden like a venomous snake, hunting him.

‘One day…’

Sang Gwan-Ung shuddered.

‘They didn’t need to demand a whole day.’

If he’d been given just two breaths’ worth of time, Im So-Byeong would have accepted his offer. The fact they insisted on a whole day proved how much psychological pressure he felt in that moment.

If not that… perhaps he was afraid of facing that beast again.

Sang Gwan-Ung stared back toward the thicket they’d just left.

‘It’s the first time I’ve been this reluctant to pursue someone.’

But he soon shook his head. It wouldn’t change anything. Other pursuit squads of the Lower District Sect were already converging here.

‘It wouldn’t matter even if the Plum Blossom Sword Saint from a hundred years ago returned instead of Mount Hua’s Sword Saint.’

This place would ultimately become their tomb.

A grave without a single tombstone.