The man standing like a stone statue stared at the mountain in front of him in silence.
Gyunhyeon, Hubei Province.
Originally, it was a small village on the road to Wuhan that would not have been famous in the world. However, the reason why everyone in Gangho knew that name, no matter what anyone said, was because of the towering mountain behind it.
Wudang Mountain.
It is a famous mountain with numerous peaks and valleys layered like a curtain, and its deep valleys have allowed many strange people to live under the name of shaman since long ago.
Those who want to avoid the eyes of the world, those who try to find their own lives without being restricted by human affairs, those who try to open another path through asceticism that does not exist in the world… … .
The lives and paths of these people were intertwined, giving rise to the name Shaman (Mudang), and the world called Wudangsan Mountain “Hyeonak (玄嶽)” as it was a sacred place for Taoism.
The Wudang Mountain was now visible at a glance, as if it could be captured by the man.
An indescribable feeling flashed through Hu Jiaming’s eyes.
I always wanted to place this world at Ryeonju’s feet. The plan has gone without a hitch so far… … . No, it has been extremely successful.
The current momentum of the SPA League is so grand that it covers the world, and what it has accomplished is so great that it can rewrite history.
However, it was difficult to explain my feelings other than to say that Hu Jiaming, who had done this cool-headedly, was also impressed by the current scene.
Did you really imagine it? Did you really dream it?
This blade cuts not only Gyeonhyeon, but also Mt. Wudang… … . The day will come when we will point straight at those shamans.
On the way here, I trampled on many sects. Many people were brought to their knees. Among them, there is a parallel between the shaman and the… … . No, there was also Shaolin, which boasted a higher reputation than the shamans.
But now things are a little different.
How can we compare crushing the invading Shaolin with attacking directly into the shaman’s stronghold and pointing the blade at him?
The former could have happened at any time if Shaolin’s Kwon targeted Sapaeryun, but the latter was inherently difficult to imagine.
When I first met Jang Il-so in the dirty back alleys of Gwiju, when I decided to bet my future on a daydream that could hardly be called a dream… … .
No, even when Maninbang was created and Sapaeryeon was formed, did you ever really believe that this day would come?
Hu Jiaming let out a heavy breath.
No matter how many times I closed my eyes, the image of that mountain was still clear.
Finally, we came to this place.
Beyond simply fighting against the old group that had ruled the world for hundreds of years, the blue blade of Sapaeryeon touched their hearts.
at las… … .
“Hmm. Because he’s a shaman… … .”
At that very moment, a lightly flowing nasal sound brought Hu Ga-myeong, who had been soaked in inspiration, back to reality. He reflexively turned his gaze to Jang Il-so. Is Jang Il-so thinking the same way now? or not… … .
“It took a long time.”
Although he didn’t say anything, Hu Jiaming’s fingertips trembled slightly.
Jang Il-so’s tone of voice was cool, as if there was nothing particularly new.
This is neither bravado nor guts. Jang Il-so’s voice, which seemed to be languidly subdued, his eyes shining strangely, and even the corners of his mouth with a subtle confidence were no different from usual.
“A pseudonym.”
“… … .”
“A pseudonym.”
“Yes, Lord Ryeon.”
Hu Jiaming bowed his head deeply. This is because it occurred to me once again that my feelings are not important right now.
“What are you going to do?”
In response to Jang Ilsho’s question, Hu Jiaming slowly raised his head. Jang Il-so was looking this way with a face he was familiar with. It was a familiar expression, a mixture of playfulness and curiosity.
Before a fight, especially when the enemy was big, Jang Il-so would often ask Hu Ji-myeong this question. As if I was wondering how I would deal with them if it were a pseudonym. Or, as if checking to see if Hu Ga-myeong’s thoughts are the same as his own.
“huh? “What do you think would be best?”
Jangilso is Jangilso. It may be out of the blue, but at this moment, I felt like I had confirmed that Hu Jiamyeong was the only fact that would not change.
Hu Jiaming cleared his throat.
“The opponent… … .”
He lowered his voice and answered with the greatest politeness he could muster.
“The opponent is a shaman. And this is their home base. “If we attack hastily, even if we win, we will have to endure great damage.”
Jang Il-so looked at Hu Ji-myeong without much reaction. Still smiling as if it was fun.
“As per the rule, it is right to attack as leisurely as possible.”
Hu Jiaming’s eyes turned to the shaman’s mountainside.
The fact that so many strange people went to visit that mountain means that there are deep valleys and spaces that are not easily seen by people throughout the mountain.
From the attacking side, there is no terrain so terrible.
Moreover, the other person has made this Mt. Wudang his home. It is clear that they will attack in a way that takes advantage of the terrain, a method that is difficult to guess.
So, you should attack it as leisurely as possible. With the feeling of knocking on a stone bridge. but… … .
“What if you can’t do that?”
I also expected this question. In the first place, Jang Il-so’s eyes were far from expecting such an obvious answer.
Hu Jiaming answered calmly.
“Then there is one more way.”
“what?”
“It’s a detour.”
“bypass?”
“yes.”
Hu Jiaming nodded resolutely.
“If the enemy has a trap waiting for you, there is no reason to jump in. Just leave it alone and that’s it.”
Jang Il-so’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Let’s leave it behind?”
“yes.”
“Hmm… … . Should we leave the shaman behind? “Do you really think that’s a good way to do it?”
Jang Il-so asked back with a look in his eyes as if he was asking what that meant, and Ho Ga-myeong elaborated in a voice that was not pitched.
“They probably already heard we were coming. However, it still doesn’t run away and stays there. “Even though I clearly know that it is difficult to handle on my own,”
“… … so?”
“That means they have a reason to fight us. There is no difference whether it is honor or revenge. “The important thing is that they will never let us go.”
“… … .”
“If we take a detour like this, they will have no choice but to chase after us. “You won’t hear of me just sitting on my mountain and looking around.”
The voice was as persuasive as it was cool and calm.
“So what we have to do is simple. Don’t necessarily go to the place where they are camped. And drag them where we want… … .”
Hu Jiaming’s cold gaze turned towards Wudang Mountain.
“It means trampling and crushing.”
“under… … . Hahaha!”
Jang Il-so burst out laughing as if he was intrigued. The ornaments wrapped around his body swayed cheerfully, as if in response.
“indeed… … “That’s a good method.”
Ho Jiamyeong slightly lowered his head in response to Jang Ilso’s praise.
He is the one giving his opinion. But it is Jang Il-so who makes the decision. This was an unchanging law among them.
Jang Il-so’s red lips opened.
“But it’s a little lacking.”
Hu Jiaming’s brows furrowed slightly.
“… … “Is there something I didn’t see?”
“no. “It’s not like that.”
Jang Il-so turned his gaze toward the shaman. When he looked at Hu Jiaming, his face, which had a subtle smile on his face, began to become more and more charming, and the corners of his mouth widened to both sides.
“I’m sure it will happen. If we leave them behind. “There is absolutely no mistake in what you say.”
“if… … .”
“But that alone is not enough. There are two types of fighting. Killing the enemy and eliminating the enemy. “Now is the time to fight to eliminate, not kill.”
Jang Il-so’s gaze turned towards the summit of Wudang Mountain. It was visible even though it was quite far away. The shape of an old-fashioned pavilion that exists beyond those lush pine trees.
“Do you understand? The shaman does not disappear simply by trampling and killing those who come after him. It just takes some damage. But it’s not enough. Now I have to show it. “What happens to those who block our path?”
“… … .”
“That’s how those who stand before me fill their heads with fear instead of their own interests. Do you understand what I mean, pseudonym?”
Hu Jiaming nodded.
“Then Lord Ryeon wants to trample on that mountain.”
“That’s right. “Then what should I do?”
Hu Jiaming took his gaze away from Jang Ilso and stared at the shaman for a while. This mountain is full of green pine trees and looks as if it is wearing green clothes.
At that moment, as if reading his inner thoughts, the dry, dry air passes through Hu Ga-myeong like a knife.
“Then there may be only one way left.”
“what?”
The corner of Hu Jiaming’s mouth twitched slightly.
“Making a trap no longer a trap.”
Jang Il-so’s eyes, understanding what he meant, gently curved like the old moon.
* * *
Mu-gyeong gently pulled on her sleeves to hide her slightly trembling fingertips.
‘Damn it.’
The trembling hasn’t stopped for a while.
When I was with the executioners, I knew no fear. Because the heat and anger consumed his fear.
However, when he saw the enemy approaching with his own eyes, the fear he had forgotten began to creep in and eventually begin to consume him.
‘can win. I am a disciple of a shaman.’
I repeated this to myself over and over again. He then briefly recited a passage from the Taoist Classic. For a prosecutor, there is nothing more important than steadfastness. Especially in a situation like now where you are in charge of ambushing the enemy and holding them back.
“Sa, Sa-suk… … .”
at that time. Sajil and Jinhae, who had ambushed him together, looked for him with a trembling voice.
“Gwae, is it okay?”
Mu-gyeong glanced back at Sajil and tried to look as calm as possible.
“Nothing to worry about.”
“B-but… … .”
“It may be anywhere else, but in this shaman mountain, no one in the world can become a shaman. “We can fight as much as we want even if the entire old faction, not just the private faction, gathers.”
This is not just something I say to reassure you.
Dense forests, deep canyons that look as if they were clawed by giants, dozens of naturally created caves, and even artificial shelters created by practitioners who have been gathering as shamans for hundreds of years to practice.
With all of this combined, Mt. Wudang was a place that was not lacking in the description of being a fortress blessed by nature. And the shaman’s disciples know Mt. Shaman as well as the front yard of their house.
‘okay. We can fight against anyone. ‘Because we are shaman swordsmen.’
There must have been this calculation behind Heo Gong Sa-suk’s words of resistance.
If done well, not only will it be enough to hold out until reinforcements arrive, but it may even be able to deal a huge blow to them.
No, of course it should be. There is no better place than here to regain the honor lost on the Yangtze River.
“Sasuk.”
“No need to worry. “We can do it.”
“that is… … .”
“In a terrain like this, numbers don’t matter. “The only thing that matters is firm resolve and the will to risk your life.”
Moo-kyung said as if she was trying to control herself. But Jinhae’s voice became even more anxious.
“Well, that’s not it, Sasuk… … .”
“huh?”
“Ah, didn’t you smell something strange from earlier?”
“smell? Smell, what is that… … .”
In an instant, Mu-gyeong’s face changed completely.
He was also in charge. A foreign smell that stings my nose. It was a smell he had never smelled before in this mountain of Wudang, where he had been wandering his whole life.
‘This, this!’
A strange but familiar smell. The moment she realized what it was, Mu-gyeong jumped upright, forgetting that she was in an ambush.
“Oh, no! This is oil… … .”
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!
As if to echo those words, the bottom of the mountain in front of me turned red as if it were a lie.
Green pine trees that never lose their leaves. The trees, which have grown for hundreds of years and have become lush and curved, are wrapped in a color that has never been colored for a long time.
“wealth… … fire… … .”
Mu-gyeong, who had been lost for a moment, shouted at the top of his lungs without realizing it.
“Fire! It’s a painter! “They started a fire!”
The voice he shouted with all his might was shot out like a harbinger of the beginning of the war, accompanied by acrid smoke.
