Just before setting off from Chengdu, Guang Yeom-ra asked Tang Mu-jin a question.
”…Master Tang, I heard that the Tang family once hosted Hwa Yeon-shin. Are you two acquainted?” “We’ve known each other for a long time.” “Then why not ask Hwa Yeon-shin for help?” “That’s not possible.” “Why not?”
Tang Mu-jin briefly explained the situation to Guang Yeom-ra. Hwa Yeon-shin and Sam An-bul had been close. When Sam An-bul chose to participate in the Great Demon War alone, Hwa Yeon-shin, furious, secluded herself in Zhongjing.
After hearing the story, Guang Yeom-ra spoke.
“Is that all?” ”…As far as I know. Why?” “Then it’s worth asking Hwa Yeon-shin for help.” “She’s not one to let things go easily. Her temper is notorious.” “No, it’ll work. If you explain the situation well, she’ll help.”
But Tang Mu-jin thought otherwise.
‘There’s no way.’
He knew Hwa Yeon-shin better than Guang Yeom-ra did, and he was more experienced in matters of the heart. Tang Mu-jin was confident in his prediction. A woman’s anger doesn’t fade easily. He knew this well, which is why he left without a word when Dan Seol-young told him to go.
Still, Tang Mu-jin decided to keep an open mind. It was Guang Yeom-ra’s first suggestion, after all.
’…As long as I don’t go myself, I won’t get caught in the crossfire.’
Without much expectation, Tang Mu-jin sent Nam Yong to Zhongjing.
Unexpectedly, Hwa Yeon-shin accepted Tang Mu-jin’s request. According to Nam Yong, she didn’t even hesitate.
On their way to Mount Wudang, Tang Mu-jin’s group coincidentally met Hwa Yeon-shin, and they finally arrived near the mountain.
The first emotion Tang Mu-jin felt at the foot of Mount Wudang was unease.
’…Are we too late?’
Battlefields have a distinct atmosphere. Even without seeing anyone, you can sense it. Initially, chaos fills the air, but as victory or defeat becomes clear, a peculiar heaviness sets in. To Tang Mu-jin, the current atmosphere at Mount Wudang was unmistakably the latter.
‘If we’re late, how late are we? Should we have hurried more… No, there was no faster way.’
Tang Mu-jin’s group had moved with a speed that made “diligent” seem inadequate. They ate on the move and snatched sleep wherever they could.
Others felt the ominous atmosphere too, especially Hwa Yeon-shin, who couldn’t hide her anxiety.
“I’ll go ahead. Catch up quickly.”
With that, Hwa Yeon-shin used her lightness skill, disappearing over Mount Wudang like a bird taking flight. Tang Mu-jin and the others hurriedly followed her up the mountain.
‘At least the terrain of Mount Wudang isn’t too treacherous.’
On their way up, they saw wounded orthodox martial artists retreating, bloodied.
’…So they lost.’
Even their retreat was fraught with danger, as demonic martial artists circled like wolves, ready to pounce.
In the distance, they saw Man Lyeok-seung fighting desperately to protect the retreating orthodox martial artists. But it was clear he was outnumbered. How could one man protect so many?
Tang Mu-jin hesitated. Should he help those retreating, or follow Hwa Yeon-shin to the Wudang Sect?
At that moment, Hong Gyeol-gae made the decision for him. He ran towards Man Lyeok-seung, shouting to Tang Mu-jin.
“I’ll stay with Nam Gung-gyeong and help Man Lyeok. You go on ahead!” “Got it!”
Hong Gyeol-gae’s skills were somewhat overshadowed among the top masters. He could hold his own against certain opponents, but against the demonic sect’s elite, he was outmatched.
‘Hong Gyeol-gae is strong against weaker opponents… He’ll manage.’
Tang Mu-jin, along with Gwang Ryeo-geum and Hyeol Woo-gyeok, continued up Mount Wudang. Soon, they reached a wide clearing, a significant spot on the mountain.
The first thing they saw was a field of bodies and wounded fighters. Half-covered in blood, Nam Gung-myeong was leaning against a tree, catching his breath.
“Nam Gung-myeong!”
He didn’t respond, just waved weakly at Tang Mu-jin, a stark contrast to his usual self.
Tang Mu-jin quickly rushed to him, checking his injuries. Blood was flowing from his waist, explaining his silence.
“You’re bleeding heavily, but it’s not life-threatening.”
All Tang Mu-jin could do was apply some medicine. He generously applied it to Nam Gung-myeong’s wound and wrapped it with cloth.
“Hang in there.”
He handed Nam Gung-myeong a staff and turned his attention back to the scene. Hwa Yeon-shin was facing off against the cult leader, with Sam An-bul standing precariously behind her.
‘The cult leader…!’
A little further away, Nam Gung-jincheon and a woman were locked in a standoff. Tang Mu-jin wondered who was missing.
‘We saw Man Lyeok-seung on the way up… Where are Hyeon Gong and Yeong Bo-jin?’
He couldn’t see them anywhere, but at least their bodies weren’t among the fallen.
It wasn’t the time to search for them, so Tang Mu-jin decided to focus on the present.
Just then, Hwa Yeon-shin said something, drawing the cult leader and Sam An-bul’s attention to Tang Mu-jin’s group. Their gaze lingered a bit longer on Gwang Yeom-ra.
Sam An-bul seemed surprised to see Gwang Yeom-ra but quickly turned his attention to Tang Mu-jin, nodding slightly. Whatever he thought, he seemed to accept the situation.
The cult leader shouted at Gwang Yeom-ra.
“Guangming! Betrayed us, did you?”
Zuo Hu-bing, standing nearby, was startled.
Zuo Hu-bing waved his hands, denying it was him who informed the cult leader of Gwang Yeom-ra’s betrayal. It seemed it was Da Hu-bing who had done so.
Gwang Yeom-ra replied.
“What betrayal? I never received anything from you. It’s more accurate to say I quit.” “True, you did ask for something once. Shall I offer you a chance to return now?” “How can I trust you when I don’t know when you’ll stab me in the back?”
While the cult leader and Gwang Yeom-ra exchanged words, Tang Mu-jin discreetly sent a message to Hwa Yeon-shin.
Hwa Yeon-shin’s voice lacked confidence. Was the cult leader that formidable?
His leg doesn’t seem to be in good shape.
It’s only because of that we’re even managing. Now’s the time to retreat.
Are you serious? Retreat with the cult leader right in front of us?
Sam An-bul, Nam Gung-jincheon, and Nam Gung-myeong can’t fight. It seems they intended to draw out the cult leader’s energy, and Nam Gung-myeong is severely injured. If we continue fighting, they’ll surely die.
To Tang Mu-jin, the cult leader and his followers didn’t seem in great shape either. There was a chance to end the demonic war here and now.
But was it right to risk Sam An-bul, Nam Gung-jincheon, and Nam Gung-myeong’s lives for that chance?
In battle, sacrifices are sometimes necessary, but letting them die felt wrong. He might be able to sacrifice Nam Gung-jincheon for the greater good, but not Sam An-bul or Nam Gung-myeong.
It wasn’t just an emotional issue. The bigger problem was Hwa Yeon-shin might not cooperate.
Hwa Yeon-shin had come to Mount Wudang not to support the cult leader or stop the demonic sect, but to save Sam An-bul. If Tang Mu-jin insisted on fighting, Hwa Yeon-shin might just rescue Sam An-bul and flee. In fact, she probably would.
’…There’s no choice. We’ll retreat when the time is right.’
At that moment, the cult leader pointed at Tang Mu-jin. Not knowing what it meant, Tang Mu-jin and Hyeol Woo-gyeok didn’t react.
But Sam An-bul and Gwang Yeom-ra did.
“Watch out!”
Sam An-bul immediately extended his arm, pointing at the cult leader’s finger aimed at Tang Mu-jin. Blood spurted as a hole appeared in Sam An-bul’s palm.
“Ugh!”
Simultaneously, Gwang Yeom-ra’s sword swung in a blur.
Nothing was visible, but Tang Mu-jin realized instantly. The cult leader had shot something from his finger, and Sam An-bul and Gwang Yeom-ra had blocked it. Faced with this mysterious martial art, Tang Mu-jin felt a faint fear, his body stiffening.
But he quickly regained his composure.
‘No, fear will only make things worse.’
Fortunately, Tang Mu-jin had a countermeasure. He immediately drew his explosive needles and fired them at the cult leader.
Thwack, thwack—
A small, feeble sound echoed, yet the scene before them was anything but weak. Dozens of poison-tipped needles rained down upon the cult leader, spreading wide like a deadly storm. Though the leader would likely perish under this barrage, even a single needle missing its mark could prove advantageous.
However, the cult leader did not directly confront the onslaught. Instead, a woman who had been battling Namgung Jin-gwan stepped in between the leader and Dang Mujin. She wielded her dao with the grace of a renowned painter, sweeping it through the air as if painting a masterpiece.
The storm of needles, though numerous, lacked the speed of arrows. Their poisoned tips, unable to maintain a straight trajectory, were easily deflected by the gusts created by her sweeping dao, falling harmlessly to the ground.
The cult leader observed this with a curious glint in his eye. “You’ve got an intriguing toy there. I’d love to see how it works…”
Before Dang Mujin could respond, Hyulwook stepped forward, his gaze fixed not on the cult leader, but on the unfamiliar woman.
Rumors among the martial artists of the Cheongseong and Apa factions spoke of a woman who wielded a dao, known as the Great Protector. While there might be more than one woman in the world skilled with a dao, it was unlikely there were two of such caliber.
Hyulwook spoke in a chilling voice. “Are you the Great Protector?”
“Why? Do you have business with me?” she replied.
Instead of answering, Hyulwook launched himself at her, propelling off the ground with fierce determination.