“A shaman… … .”
A heavy voice, as if in pain, came out of Hyeonjong’s mouth.
Of course I should have thought about it, but I missed it. But this is not because he is stupid. This may be because the shaman sect was so far removed from the turbulent political situation.
“But in this situation?”
Hyeonjong asked as if he couldn’t understand. Zhuge Zain answered with a stern face.
“Circumstances are not that important. “What’s important is the trend.”
“Trend?”
“yes. Looking back, Jang Il-so’s movements were always the same. Because he has always targeted places where strength is not concentrated. “He is like a wolf that persistently preys on a sheep that has strayed from the flock.”
Everyone nodded at this.
Jang Il-so and Sapaeryeon were certainly like that. When the rivers were divided into South and North around the Yangtze River, they first targeted Haenam, which was isolated on a remote island, and when the power of the Central Plains was concentrated on the Yangtze River, they targeted Sacheon, which was isolated on the outskirts.
In the process, there were a lot of schemes to drain people’s souls, but in fact, from a broad perspective, Jang Il-so’s behavior could be seen as rather simple and clear.
“So what the governor said makes sense. The most isolated people now are shamans. After defeating that shaman, we will be able to completely isolate the remaining Shaolin. “When considered from the SPA’s perspective, it is the most correct move from a strategic perspective.”
“… … .”
“We must support the shaman, Master! We have already lost Gong and Paengga. “We can’t lose them too.”
Xuanzong lightly frowned at Zhuge Zain’s words.
“shaman… … . “Are you saying they’re really going to target shamans?”
Despite Zhuge Ja-in’s strong claims, King Hyeonjong seemed to be unhappy about something.
‘A shaman?’
This is not to say that there is no truth to what Zhuge Zain said. But something felt oddly uncomfortable and I couldn’t understand it.
If Jang Il-so were to target Tian Yu-meng now, Tian Yu-meng would have to take a very big risk. This is because the newly created organization is not yet working to its full potential.
But Jang Il-so throws away this opportunity and targets a shaman?
Not anyone else, but Jang Il-so?
“well.”
And at that moment, Lim So-byeong opened his mouth. As if he understood Hyeonjong’s feelings.
“I don’t think we can just look at it that way.”
“What do you mean?”
Zhuge Zain’s expression hardened as he looked back and asked. However, what was contained in that gaze was closer to puzzlement than discomfort.
“Certainly Master Zhuge’s reasoning makes sense. “It cannot be denied that the number of Jangilso has generally shown such a ‘trend’.”
“But why… … .”
“If it was Jang Il-so before dealing with Shaolin in Hubei, that is.”
Zhuge Zain was shocked at those words.
“that… … .”
“When dealing with Shaolin, the Sapaeryeon’s movements were significantly different from before. In the past, the Sapaeryun, or Jang Il-so, tried to lure the opponent into the most advantageous place and force him to make a one-sided sacrifice. But how was it this time?”
Zhuge Zain, who was silent for a moment while biting his lip, then nodded. I realized something from Lim So-byeong’s words.
“It was different… … It was. For sure… … .”
“yes. Jang Il-so no longer avoids danger. When dealing with Shaolin, he did not just cause damage to the enemy in the most advantageous place. “Rather, I took a lot of damage and jumped into the most dangerous place.”
Those who knew how the war unfolded nodded their heads.
“Just because he has saved his life so far, there is no guarantee that he will save his life until the end. Jang Il-so is someone who should not be predicted carelessly.”
“Then the military… … Do you think Jang Il-so has other tricks?”
In response to Zhuge Ja-in’s question, Lim So-byeong nodded his head sharply. And I widened the fan in my hand.
“I think so.”
“Then what on earth is he after?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
Lim So-byeong answered immediately as if there was nothing to think about further.
“It’s us.”
“Uh, us?”
Zhuge Zain was dazed, like someone who had been hit. However, for a moment, like the head of the Zhuge family, he quickly grasped the situation and his face hardened.
Lim So-byeong covered half of his face with a fan.
“It’s easy to deal with an unprepared enemy. But wouldn’t it be easier than that to deal with those who aren’t ready and drag them to where you want them to be?”
“… … .”
“If I were Jang Il-so, I would use the shaman as bait to bring out Cheon Woo-maeng. So they will try to devour it. “It would be much easier to trample on those who rushed to help rather than those who were prepared and waiting.”
It was a statement that could not be denied.
It is not that important whether Jang Il-so is really targeting Cheon Woo-maeng. The important thing is that the moment Cheon Woo-maeng moves, Jang Il-so will definitely take advantage of that opportunity.
Just thinking about what would have happened if I had rushed to apply for help sent a chill down my spine.
But at that moment, Zhuge Zain realized something again.
“if… … . So what do you mean, what should I do?”
I understood the enemy’s target, that is, the situation in which Cheonwoomaeng could be the most dangerous. But the problem was that there was no way to deal with it.
Can’t we just leave the shaman alone?
If you go to save the shaman, Cheonwoo-maeng will be in danger, and if you try to ensure Cheonwoo-maeng’s safety, the shaman will be trampled. What should you choose in this situation?
“You don’t have to worry too much about that.”
“hmm? “What does that mean?”
Zhuge Ja-in couldn’t believe his ears and narrowed his eyes at Lin So-byeong’s unexpected words. He told me all the things I couldn’t help but worry about, and that I didn’t have to worry anymore.
“Aren’t shamans also fools? No, shamans are inherently a very intelligent sect. “You won’t know what’s going on.”
“ah… … .”
“If you hear that the Sapae-ryeon is advancing, you will naturally want to step back and plan for later. “We just need to join them without any haste.”
“Hmm. Do you think the shaman will go to Shaolin?”
“Well, I’m not sure about that. I have no way of knowing how close they are to Shaolin. No, even if they are closer to Shaolin than I expected, considering the current situation in Shaolin, there is definitely a possibility that they will head somewhere other than Seongsan.”
Lim So-byeong raised the fan covering his mouth a little more.
“Anyway, the most important thing now is that the shaman will buy us time. We just need to keep pace with the shaman’s actions.”
“indeed… … .”
Along with Zhuge Zain, Tang Junyu and Mo Yongwei Jing also nodded.
“If it’s definitely a shaman… … “If he had the cool-headedness of Heo Do-jin, he wouldn’t try to act rashly.”
“I think so.”
A sigh escaped from Tanggunak’s mouth.
I wondered if we were pushed to the worst, but fortunately the situation didn’t seem that hopeless. If this happens, they will be able to find a way to enter Hanam through a safe detour that would be difficult for the SPA.
If so, it could actually be a blessing in disguise. It is possible that the shaman who opened the seal and Cheon Woo-maeng may form an alliance.
‘Thank God… … .’
Tanggunak, who was about to breathe a sigh of relief, was momentarily startled.
‘for a moment. ‘Where did this story begin in the first place?’
Tanggunak’s head turned. His eyes were following the expression of one person. The expression on Cheongmyeong’s face as he most calmly observed this urgent situation.
Tanggunak opened his mouth.
“Musketeer.”
“yes.”
“What do you think?”
Cheongmyeong slowly turned his gaze to Tang Junak.
At that moment, I saw Tanggunak.
The two eyes of Cheongmyeong, the Hwasan Sword Association, had a cool aura that was enough to give goosebumps for an instant.
The moment he saw that expressionless face, Tang Gunak sensed something was very wrong. Cheongmyeong opened his mouth slowly.
“The shaman retreats… … .”
“Musketeer?”
“Will that happen?”
“Well, of course you won’t step down? Heo Do-jin is not that foolish. “If I were to be honest, he is considered the best among all the scholars of the Nine Sects.”
“… … .”
“Of course, Heo Do-jin has stepped down from his position as Jang Mun-in, but that doesn’t mean his influence has disappeared. No, even if that were the case, Heo Sanja, who was in charge of the current shaman’s temporary position, was also intelligent. “You probably know that too.”
“No one in this world is completely rational.”
“… … .”
“And there is no faction that is completely rational.”
“… … “What do you mean?”
“People forget things sometimes, right? “Even though I say it all the time, I don’t actually think that way.”
“What is that… … .”
“The sect does not operate solely based on the will of the scholar. Especially in situations like this.”
“… … what?”
Tang Gunak’s eyes shook. I thought I knew what that meant.
“Heo Do-jin was not the only one who lost his honor and fell into the abyss in the Yangtze River Disaster. No, Heo Do-jin could have made a choice. Rather, those who lost more are the shaman swordsmen who had to bear the stigma of being cowards, regardless of their will.”
“… … .”
“I wonder if Heo Dojin will understand the meaning… … .”
Cheongmyeong trailed off and glanced towards the east. To Wuhan, the place where Heo Do-jin and the shaman will be.
* * *
“Ji, what did you say just now?”
Heo Sanja looked at the people in front of him in bewilderment. His face was a mix of embarrassment, anger, and fear that he couldn’t hide.
“They said everyone here would stay.”
“You, you… … . “Hey, these guys!”
Heo Sanja’s hands were shaking.
Swordsmen who could easily exceed two hundred were lined up in front of him, each emitting a bright blue chill. Those who would give up their lives for the honor of a shaman gathered together at the word, “come forward.”
There is no way that he and Heo Do-jin’s message that a few people’s lives are necessary to save face was misrepresented.
That means that all those gathered here disobeyed Jang Mun-in’s order to flee from the enemy.
“Huh, empty space, you bastard! “What are you thinking?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Jang Moon-in.”
“W-what?”
“Didn’t you say that those who would give up their lives for the honor of a shaman should come forward?”
“Space!”
“I dare say, Jang Mun-in.”
There was a deep blue chill in the two eyes of Heo Gong, who was holding the Songmun Ancient Sword.
“In this Wudang Mountain… … “There is not a single person who would not give up his life for a shaman.”
“… … .”
“There is no one who will run away in fear of the approaching enemy, and above all… … .”
Wow.
The teeth in the air dug into my lower lip.
“There is no one who would have to endure the humiliation of surviving by bowing down to the enemy twice. Jang Mun-in, please do not insult your disciples.”
A gloomy look appeared on Heosanja’s face.
“Space… … .”
“Whether the enemy is Jang Il-so, Man-in-bang, or Sapae-ryeon! “Whether it’s a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand!”
The cool energy that leaked out of thin air spread around.
“I will fight. Until the moment your life ends! “It will prove that the prayer was not in vain, and that the shaman is by no means a coward.”
Cheok!
As soon as he finished speaking, the shaman’s disciples lined up all at once raised their swords and held them to their chests.
The meaning of this ordinance was clear.
“iced coffee… … .”
Heo Sanja groaned without realizing it. His face turned pale.
‘Jang Moon-in. No, death penalty… … .’
Things were twisted tightly and hopelessly.
