Episode 357

The group led by Chung Sang was able to meet Sword Wisdom not long after.

They had to go deep into the forest, far from Second Grotto-heaven, before they could finally catch their breath.

Un Am, who had been vigilantly watching the surroundings with sharp eyes, exhaled a sigh of relief and informed everyone of their safety.

“It seems the pursuit hasn’t caught up with us yet.”

“That’s a relief. It seems they didn’t chase us immediately.”

“Yes. The Hidden Troops erased most of the traces as they came, so it won’t be easy for them to find us.”

“But we must not delay. We should rest only briefly and then leave immediately.”

“Yes. I will inform everyone of this.”

Dae Gung lowered his head with a face full of guilt.

“I’m sorry. Because of me…”

“……”

Chung Sang approached him with a gentle smile at his feeble voice.

“You have fulfilled your role sufficiently, Captain Dae Gung. Didn’t you blow the whistle to save everyone amidst that danger?”

“…That.”

No.

The whistle? There was no need to blow it if he hadn’t been discovered in the first place.

It’s all because of him.

It was his mistake not to notice that such a monster was lurking within the main quarters, putting everyone in danger. But Dae Gung couldn’t bring himself to say that out loud.

“That’s right, Captain. Just forget about it.”

“Of course. Hidden Troops without the Captain? If you went back like that, the Sect Leader wouldn’t have let it slide.”

“Is that all? When you meet Hwang Shin later, you might have to endure a scolding until your ears bleed.”

The warriors of Hidden Troops comforted Dae Gung, each making light-hearted remarks.

Everyone then respectfully clasped their hands in salute towards Chung Sang and bowed their heads.

“The Hidden Troops will never forget the grace of Wudang, or rather, Taoist Chung Sang and Taoist Chung Woo, for saving our leader.”

“……”

However, Chung Sang slowly shook his head.

“Aren’t we all one family now? Moreover, Captain Dae Gung is a subordinate of Jinmu Sasuk, so he is naturally a precious person to our Wudang as well.”

“……”

“So, everyone, please hold back your gratitude. For now…”

Chung Sang knelt in front of Dae Gung and grasped his arm, which was bent backward, raising his qi.

Dae Gung felt a refreshing qi that calmed his mind considerably.

“This will hurt.”

“……”

Knowing what Chung Sang intended to do, Dae Gung slowly nodded.

“Chung Woo.”

“Yes.”

Despite not needing an explanation, Chung Woo wrapped the cloth and placed it in Dae Gung’s mouth.

“Please endure it.”

Crack!

The arm, which had been bent the opposite way by Chung Sang’s force, quickly returned to its place.

However, the pain was indescribable.

“Gaahk…! Ha, ha…”

Even with the cloth in his mouth, Dae Gung couldn’t suppress his painful groans and heavy breathing.

It looked painful enough to make even the onlookers wince, but he endured it well.

After finishing the treatment, Chung Sang gently wrapped and caressed his arm with his Spiritual qi.

The pain gradually subsided under the Spiritual qi of nature, starting from the source imbued with life.

Spiritual qi sometimes healed illnesses and sometimes dispelled evil auras.

The aura of death, lingering in places scoured by the monster Han Seung, was slightly blurred by Chung Sang’s Spiritual qi.

“We administered first aid, but we are unsure how he will recover. Perhaps you should try to get some rest…”

“No. How can I leisurely seek sleep at a time like this?”

At Dae Gung’s refusal, Chung Sang did not insist further and simply smiled warmly at him.

A gentle smile appeared on Sword Wisdom’s lips as she watched the scene.

The union of Justice and Evil.

There were occasions in the past when they came together for a specific purpose.

However, there had never been a time when they relied on and were grateful to each other like this.

Jinmu… He is truly remarkable.

Isn’t he just like a lotus?

In this muddy land of Central Plains, where enmity has lingered for so long, he is slowly making the flower of harmony bloom.

Perhaps, as time passes, the seeds he has sown will grow and grow, until this vast rotten swamp is filled with lotuses, just like the ones we see now.

“Elder, what should we do now?”

“Hmm…”

At Un Am’s words, the pleased expression on Sword Wisdom’s face was overshadowed once more.

Due to being discovered a little early, they couldn’t fully investigate the inside to find the children’s whereabouts.

However, returning to that hornet’s nest is not an option.

For now, they have no choice but to take an alternative plan.

“Let’s head south.”

“Then to Taoist Jinmu?”

“Yes. Is there any other way?”

Her words are correct.

They have already crossed the boundary of Second Grotto-heaven and entered the territory of Third Grotto-heaven.

They can’t recklessly call for help from Cheon Woo-myung or Tang Wi, who are waiting outside the territory of the Demonic Cult for rescue purposes.

Although they can’t yet see the enemy’s pursuit, they must first evade and save the lives of the pursuit team.

Once again, they had no choice but to seek help from Jinmu, who had formed a massive alliance within the Demonic Cult. Future matters could only be discussed with him.

“Come, let’s hurry. The road is long, and we must move quickly.”

“Yes.”

As soon as Un Am conveyed Sword Wisdom’s command, the pursuit team ended their brief rest and hastily prepared to move.

“First, the Hidden Troops will take the lead and guide the way, the annihilation unit will flank, and the main force will follow, keeping the rear in check.”

As Sword Wisdom finished speaking, the formation was organized, and the Hidden Tropps calculated the fastest route to Fourth Grotto-heaven, where Jinmu was likely to be.

“We will depart.”

With the order to move, the warriors of Hidden Troops took the lead in place of the injured Dae Gung, clearing the path.

“…!”

At that moment, as Sword Wisdom took the first step, she widened her eyes as if they would tear.

“Watch out, danger!”

Boom!

The lead warriors who had turned their heads at Sword Wisdom’s warning exploded along with the forest.

Trees were uprooted, and the ground was grotesquely torn and pushed away.

“This, this is…”

It wasn’t just the forest that was wounded.

The figures of the Hidden Troops warriors who guarded the lead were nowhere to be seen.

They disappeared as if they had evaporated into the air.

And then, the one responsible for destroying the forest appeared before them.

“You managed to flee this far. It was quite a task chasing you.”

“……”

With a small frame and a hunched back, he resembled an old villager you might see anywhere.

But Sword Wisdom had another title, Thousand Eyes and Thousand Hands.

Her keen senses, which never missed even the slightest change, warned of danger.

His breath, eyes that seemed wrinkled and drooping yet radiated divine light, and the overwhelming pressure emanating from his entire body standing naturally on the earth.

A man strong enough to instinctively grip the sword’s hilt due to the sudden tension that surged.

The warriors of the lead, who stood at the front, had clearly vanished without a trace before that immense power.

If she attacked rashly, even she could not guarantee victory.

However, even without sensing it, the fact that he was the one who blew away the entire forest was clear, so all the warriors drew their swords and adopted a defensive stance.

But Dae Gung was different.

“…What is this.”

A face that seemed to be smiling in futility, or crying like someone who had lost everything.

Kneeling, he stared vacantly at the grotesquely transformed forest.

“Jong Cheon… Mu-gae… Baek-so…”

Names that slipped from his lips like a groan.

They were the names of the Hidden Troops members who came with him.

They were the ones who, just moments ago, comforted Dae Gung with jokes as he blamed himself.

Before their vanished forms, leaving not even corpses behind, Dae Gung let out a low laugh as if he had lost his mind.

“We should have returned together… You said if I died, the Sect Leader would scold you. Then what about me? What am I supposed to do…”

Dae Gung’s voice, even tinged with desolation, trembled finely.

The shift from sorrow to anger was instantaneous.

His fingers, unable to move properly as he had not fully healed, dug ten furrows in the earth.

As if forgetting his injured arm couldn’t function, he bent the metal rod on his back to nock an arrow.

“You bastard! I’ll kill you!”

“Chung Sang!”

Just as the bowstring was about to be released, Sword Wisdom urgently shouted.

However, Chung Sang was already moving ahead.

Thud!

A precise strike to the back of Dae Gung’s neck.

The unreleased bowstring sagged, losing its strength, and the iron arrow barely went any distance before embedding itself in the ground.

Chung Sang, holding the unconscious Dae Gung, glared fiercely at the old man as he cautiously retreated, and Un Am quickly took his place.

“Oh dear… Why didn’t you let him shoot?”

The tone was playful, but no one dared to laugh.

Sword Wisdom, fixing a cold gaze on the old man, quickly spread her senses to scan the surroundings for any presence.

Nothing.

There was only the old man.

It was clear he had pursued them here, and with his remarkable martial skills, he had even overtaken them, meaning the rear guard had yet to catch up.

Thus, there was only one answer.

They must escape before the rear guard arrives.

And someone had to hold back those who might pursue the old man.

“Chung Sang! Un Am!”

“…?”

Chung Sang and Un Am, filled with vigilance, turned their heads at Sword Wisdom’s shout.

“Run without stopping.”

“…!”

Her consistently gentle tone had changed. Along with it, her once serene expression had turned as chilling as a northern wind’s blade.

“Elder!”

“Are you worried about me?”

“……”

“I am Sword Wisdom.”

As Sword Wisdom Byeok Un-young straightened her posture with an open chest, a prayer resembling a fierce storm emanated.

“I am not someone you need to worry about, and if he is strong enough to surpass me, how would it help for you to stay behind?”

“……”

“I cannot protect you if the rear guard is attached. So go. You are the pillars who will lead the future of Central Plains. Value your lives and plan for the future.”

“Elder!”

With a desperate tone, Chung Sang grabbed Un Am’s arm and shook his head heavily.

The fingertips of Sword Wisdom, standing boldly, were trembling slightly. She was tense.

The old man was that strong.

It was different from when they rescued Dae Gung. If she didn’t sacrifice herself, everyone might die.

Resisting and trying to help her could instead put her in danger and was akin to insulting her name, Central Murim Seven Stars.

Now was the time to retreat.

Resolute, Chung Sang politely clasped his hands toward Sword Wisdom.

“…I will go ahead and wait.”

Although he uttered those words, the indelible anxiety made him clench his molars to the point of breaking, and his interlocked fingers dug into the back of his hand.

Sword Wisdom drew her sword.

As the white blade revealed itself, it seemed as though the world brightened for a moment.

She bared her teeth in a smile.

“Go.”

Just a single word.

No more words followed.

Already, around her, a cold chill and a massive aura distorted the surrounding scenery.

Chung Sang immediately slung Dae Gung over his shoulder and ran.

Chewing his lip in repeated deliberation, Un Am followed, launching himself forward, followed by Chung Woo and the warriors of the Courageous Valor Troops.

Only one person. Jegal Sansan could not take a step.

Powerless.

Jegal Sansan, who had wholeheartedly considered her a teacher.

Knowing that she bravely accepted death, she realizes she can do nothing.

At this moment, what else could she be but a burden?

As if understanding her sorrow, Sword Wisdom smiled gently and nodded toward Jegal Sansan.

Her eyes said to stop.

She tells her to live without worrying.

Jegal Sansan couldn’t hold back her ragged breath.

But she can’t cry as a foolish disciple leaving her Master behind.

In the end, unlike the others, she bid farewell with a respectful bow.

Perhaps never to see her Master again.

“Take care of yourself.”

“…It was enjoyable.”

“……”

“My last disciple.”

With those heartfelt words, Jegal Sansan’s tears welled up, dampening her collar and soaking the ground.

For a long time like that.

Then, with her head bowed, she ran. She felt that if she looked back, her feet would not move.

Please.

Wishing to see her mentor again.