Set Up a Last Stand Without Any Means of Retreat
When the sixty warriors of the 4th and 5th squads all wore perplexed expressions, Cheon Ryu-yeong cleared his throat with an awkward and apologetic look.
"Hmm. Hem-hem. Well, you can call me a coward if you like. If I could be of help here, I'd try something… but I think I'd only get in the way."
Cheon Ryu-yeong's face flushed red.
Though he was not a martial artist trained in martial arts, he was still a man. To speak of leaving when everyone else was resolved to risk their lives to defend this place was by no means an easy thing to say.
Dok Go-seol smacked her forehead lightly with her palm and spoke.
"No, that's not it. Actually, we should apologize. We got nervous after learning things about the Black Wolf Warlord we hadn't known before… and forgot about you for a moment."
Jo Jeon-hu chimed in.
"My apologies. When they appeared, I should have made sure to secure you first."
Cheon Ryu-yeong shrugged, still looking apologetic.
"Thank you for understanding."
Dok Go-seol pointed to one of the 5th squad subordinates.
"Please escort him safely back to the main residence."
At her words, Cheon Ryu-yeong quickly waved his hand.
"No, it's fine. I can make it alone. If the Black Wolf Warlord is that strong, and there are more enemies coming than we expected… then even one more person here…"
He trailed off, frowning deeply. A grim possibility flashed through his mind. Straightening his face, he turned to Jo Jeon-hu.
"I have just one question."
Jo Jeon-hu looked at him in puzzlement. Cheon Ryu-yeong, who should have been eager to retreat at once, was now looking at him with sharp, gleaming eyes—an extraordinary light that didn't fit his otherwise ordinary face.
"What is it?"
"If the Black Wolf Warlord is truly that strong… how long can you hold out?"
Everyone's expressions darkened at the question. Jo Jeon-hu furrowed his brows.
"How could I know without fighting? We'll simply do our best in the situation we're given. But… we will hold out with our lives until our comrades arrive."
Everyone nodded firmly, but Cheon Ryu-yeong shook his head.
"I'm the one who anticipated the Demonic Cult sending reinforcements and organized you as a reserve force. But I now realize I misjudged two things—first, there are far more reinforcements than I guessed, and second, the Black Wolf Warlord is stronger than I expected."
As he spoke, Cheon Ryu-yeong couldn't help but think again of the Heavenly Demon Sword. Baek Un-hoe had realized the gravity of the situation too late, but he had not simply given up.
Two hundred Black Wolf Troops led by the Black Wolf Warlord.
This was proof that the Heavenly Demon Sword would not be satisfied with merely taking half the victory by securing the Sichuan branch. And if further reinforcements came after this? What if those reinforcements were led by the Heavenly Demon Sword himself?
The thought alone made Cheon Ryu-yeong shiver.
It wasn't the most likely scenario, but the Heavenly Demon Sword, being both meticulous and bold in decision-making, could well make such a choice. That would spell the worst possible outcome for their side.
Though he wanted to believe in the prowess of Invincible Sword Han Chu-gwang and the martial arts of the Dok Go Clan Leader, the conclusion he reached was that such hope was a low-odds gamble. Han Chu-gwang was a talent who would lead the orthodox martial world in the future, but the Heavenly Demon Sword was already a grandmaster-level absolute being.
And beyond the quality of commanders, there was the matter of their subordinates.
Even if their side had numerical superiority, most had already exhausted much of their strength. If the enemy broke through, their collapse could happen in an instant.
Dok Go-seol cut in.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"The situation is developing differently than we anticipated. To carry on with the same tactics as before would be foolish."
The sixty reserve warriors glanced uneasily at the charging Black Wolf Troops while focusing intently on Cheon Ryu-yeong's lips, expecting him to come up with a clever plan—he had never once disappointed them before.
Dok Go-seol's eyes also sparkled as she urged him to continue.
"So, what do you want to do?"
"We run."
"…What?"
"Let's flee. Now."
Jo Jeon-hu's rugged face turned even fiercer as he shouted.
"You mean to say we should turn our backs to the enemy right now?"
His fierce intimidation was enough to dampen the morale of nearby allies. But Cheon Ryu-yeong straightened his back and clenched his teeth.
"Of course we'll fight. Just not here."
"What kind of twisted logic is that?"
"If you fail to hold out here, what happens? If they break through this mountain pass, our comrades inside will be struck before they have a chance to reorganize their formation. And if remnants of the enemy are still standing by then, they'll fight all the harder, wringing out strength they didn't have before. It will turn into utter chaos."
"…!"
"And if there's another wave of reinforcements beyond these, our losses will be beyond imagination. We'd be hit with a second and even a third shockwave."
With growing urgency, Cheon Ryu-yeong looked at the approaching Black Wolf Troops.
"I ask you—can you guarantee you'll hold them for one ke, or even two? And answer not with a warrior's pride, but with the lives of the comrades still fighting inside at stake. If you can swear that… then I'll withdraw alone."
None of the sixty reserve warriors, Jo Jeon-hu included, could answer, each biting their lips.
Cheon Ryu-yeong's cold voice followed immediately.
"You just heard from Yacha Sword how powerful the Black Wolf Warlord is and how deeply he cares for his men. Right now, he must be blood-eyed with rage, desperate to save his comrades who are falling inside. We might not even last half a ke, let alone a full one. Can you swear to heaven that isn't possible?"
Jo Jeon-hu wanted to say yes, but the question involved staking the lives of those still fighting inside, so he couldn't answer lightly.
He bit back a groan and spoke.
"So you say we must retreat? Without even trying to fight, you want us to just run?"
"They'll likely give chase. At that point, I'll gladly let you take the lead in fighting. But not now. First, we must move our comrades inside to a better place to fight and give them time to prepare. That's the priority."
Jo Jeon-hu's sword hand trembled. Then, the 4th squad leader, who had remained silent until now, spoke.
"This is not the time to cling to pride—let's do as he says."
Though the thirty-five-year-old 4th squad leader was small but solidly built, he addressed Dok Go-seol, the 5th squad leader, but his real words were for Jo Jeon-hu, out of respect for the highest master present—the Yacha Sword.
Dok Go-seol and Jo Jeon-hu nodded at the same time. They weren't fleeing out of fear, but for the sake of their comrades inside.
The sixty reserve warriors moved quickly. Now, there was less than a ke of time before the Black Wolf Troops led by Cho Ji-myeong reached them.
Black Ghost Blade Ma Shin-rang, upon hearing the cry that Blood Joint had been slain by the Invincible Sword, sensed immediately that everything was over. In the end, failing to follow the counsel of the Heavenly Demon Sword Baek Un-hoe had led to this wretched outcome.
If only they had combined forces with the Cold-blooded Twin Elders to quickly eliminate Bohyeon Divine Nun…
Regret would not leave his mind.
Now there was nowhere left to escape to.
The narrow path between the two small mountains was packed tightly with orthodox sect warriors. Somehow, he had to find a chance to break through.
Swae-ae-aek! Jjeo-eong!
Dok Go Mu-yeong swung the Wind Heaven Sabre without pause. In his battle with the Black Ghost Blade, he had weathered numerous close calls, suffering many small wounds but no mortal injuries.
He had already realized that, for some reason, the Black Ghost Blade was not using his full internal strength.
Unaware that this was due to the aftereffects of Bohyeon Divine Nun's Tathagata Palm, Dok Go Mu-yeong mistakenly assumed the Black Ghost Blade was conserving energy for his light-footed escape technique.
Thus, Dok Go Mu-yeong pressed his assault even harder, determined not to give the man any chance to slip away.
He might well suffer a fatal counterattack, but he didn't care—his desire to avenge Bohyeon Divine Nun came first.
Clang! Clang, clang, clang!
Before anyone realized it, the duel between the two had already stretched past hundreds of exchanges.
Dok Go Mu-yeong unleashed the Pa Cheon Swe Ryoo Sabre Technique—the strongest offensive technique of his sect—without holding back his internal energy. As a result, his reserves were beginning to run low. But the Black Ghost Blade was just as exhausted.
It was then that Han Chu-gwang closed in from behind the Black Ghost Blade, radiating fierce momentum.
The Black Ghost Blade ground his teeth and shouted,
"So this is the so-called honor of orthodox masters? You would stoop to a cowardly two-on-one? I am in the middle of a one-on-one duel with the Dok Go Clan Leader!"
Han Chu-gwang frowned and stopped in his tracks at the accusation. That was when a nun from the Mount Emei Sect shouted,
"Shut! Your mouth! You fought alongside the Cold-blooded Twin Elders to kill our Sect Leader, didn't you?"
A vein bulged on Han Chu-gwang's forehead at her words. The nun's voice was filled with bitter resentment.
"What mercy is owed to such a vile demon?"
The nun's outburst made the Black Ghost Blade uneasy. If the Invincible Sword joined in, even the faintest sliver of hope would vanish.
In the end, despite feeling his chest pounding violently, he drew up every last ounce of internal energy he had.
"Grrrk…"
A heavy tightness gripped his chest, the pain gnawing at his mind, but thinking this his final chance, he bore it and swung his sabre, pouring all his energy into the strike.
Claaang!
The sudden surge of force—nearly twice the usual—made Dok Go Mu-yeong stagger. His clenched lips split open, and blood welled up from his grip on the Wind Heaven Sabre, his palm torn.
Yet instead of retreating, he stepped forward.
"…!"
The Black Ghost Blade's eyes wavered. He had been certain Dok Go Mu-yeong would be driven back—yet this stubborn old man instead lunged forward, sabre extended.
The pain in his chest was too severe for him to meet the sabre head-on, so the Black Ghost Blade decided to pull back… only to freeze.
From behind him came a killing intent as sharp as a blade's edge.
The Invincible Sword, Han Chu-gwang.
He stood with his sword raised high, ready to strike the moment the Black Ghost Blade took even a single step back.
That instant of hesitation—
Puk!
The Wind Heaven Sabre drove into the Black Ghost Blade's lower abdomen.
"Urghk!"
His body bent forward like a shrimp. Despite the blood streaming from his hands, Dok Go Mu-yeong swung the sabre upward with all his strength.
Shugak!
The blade split the Black Ghost Blade from belly to chest, shattering his jaw.
His back arched as a spray of blood burst from his mouth.
Whoosh! Slash!
The Wind Heaven Sabre spun in the air and came down, severing his neck.
"Waaahhhh!"
"The Black Ghost Blade is dead!"
"The Clan Leader has slain the enemy commander!"
The warriors of the Dok Go Clan erupted in cheers. Orthodox fighters all around roared with joy. All that remained now were the few surviving Celestial Wolf Troops and Black Wolf Troops.
Those near the fallen Black Ghost Blade formed a small circular formation, holding off the onslaught of orthodox warriors.
Han Chu-gwang's eyes trembled slightly. Even upon hearing that their final commander had died, they showed no change in expression.
"They've already abandoned the will to live."
Even as enemies, it was admirable—how could mere subordinates possess such resolve and composure?
Looking at the Celestial Wolf and Black Wolf Troops, Han Chu-gwang could not help but reevaluate the commanders who had led them.
Dok Go Mu-yeong, breathing heavily, approached Han Chu-gwang.
"Thank you."
"I didn't do anything…"
At Han Chu-gwang's modesty, Dok Go Mu-yeong gave a bitter smile.
"If not for you, my final strike would have been a reckless gamble."
Han Chu-gwang shook his head.
"I merely stood there with my sword."
"Haha… you make a man feel embarrassed."
"Your hand injury looks serious."
It was—though his remaining internal energy was also dangerously low.
"The Black Ghost Blade's inner strength was far deeper than I anticipated. What I can't understand is why he held back…"
He had assumed it was to save energy for an escape, but thinking calmly, that would have been foolish. A demon of the Black Ghost Blade's caliber would surely have known better.
But with the man dead, the question would remain unanswered.
Han Chu-gwang glanced briefly at the severed head before saying,
"I'll handle the remaining enemies. Please rest for now, Clan Leader."
"I'm shamelessly leaving it to you, then."
Han Chu-gwang grinned and began striding toward the remaining Demonic Cultists. At that moment, the 4th and 5th squads of the Black Tortoise Unit—the reserve forces—came running and shouted,
"Everyone! Cross back over the mountain we came from!"
"We're out of time—move quickly!"
The orthodox warriors froze in confusion.
The battle was already won—why retreat now?
Even the fewer than fifty surviving Demonic Cultists looked baffled.
Han Chu-gwang barked in irritation,
"What are you talking about? Why?"
And then he saw Cheon Ryu-yeong. Gasping for breath, wiping sweat with his sleeve, Cheon Ryu-yeong said,
"Demonic Cult reinforcements."
The surviving cultists brightened at the news, while a glacial light flared in Han Chu-gwang's eyes.
"Good. I've been waiting for this. Since there are so few left here, I'll finish them and face the reinforcements."
Cheon Ryu-yeong replied evenly,
"That battle you've been waiting for—let's shift the battlefield a bit."
"…?"
Glancing at the fifty surviving cultists, he continued,
"And those who've survived this long… will actually help us. So leave them and go. Now!"
"What nonsense is this?"
The blood-splattered battlefield fell silent at their exchange.
The orthodox warriors looked puzzled, while the remaining cultists kept quiet, not wanting to lose their slim chance at survival. Still, they prepared themselves in case the fighting resumed at any moment.
Their expressions were grim. They had survived this long; with reinforcements on the way, they had no wish to die here.
Clicking his tongue at the cultists' rekindled determination, Dok Go Mu-yeong turned to Dok Go-seol.
"What in the world is going on?"
As Dok Go-seol hesitated awkwardly, Cheon Ryu-yeong shouted,
"For heaven's sake! We don't have time! Must you lose so many subordinates over meaningless pride? Fighting on favorable ground is one of the most basic principles of warfare!"
At his outburst, the three leaders—Dok Go Mu-yeong, Han Chu-gwang, and Neung Un-bi—narrowed their eyes. In that moment, in the ordinary figure of Cheon Ryu-yeong, they glimpsed the imposing air of a great general chastising his troops.