shaman. A Taoist sacred place called Hyeonak (玄嶽).
The sacred mountain was engulfed in flames. But the true tragedy was not the burning mountain, but the people who stood on it.
“Kwaaaaaak!”
The Songmun ancient sword with a pine tree engraved on it, like the symbol of a shaman, pierced the Safain’s neck in one go. A swift sword strike without any mercy. However, the tip of the sword was visibly shaking, not commensurate with its speed.
The same was true for the sword owner’s eyes. Jinrip, the shaman’s great disciple, was in confusion like never before.
Of course, the people who are attacking us now are not worthy of being called enemies. The sword that I have been honing for decades as a shaman’s second disciple has become even stronger through the long bonmun pattern. I was confident that I would be able to deal with not just two or three, but ten, if not all, of the safar bastards who were like idiots.
So the real problem is not people.
“Priests! Boo, the fire is coming!”
“I know, death penalty!”
The problem is that even in the short period of time that these idiots are holding us back, the fire continues to engulf the entire mountain by the minute.
No matter how much you are a master of martial arts, how can it be easy to survive in a raging fire?
You must get out as quickly as possible before the fire spreads further.
“Priest, you must leave immediately!”
“Oh, I know!”
But easier said than done, his enemies did not let him go easily.
Kaang!
Jinrip, who was desperately trying to take his foot out, flinched and quickly raised his sword. Suddenly, a sword flew out of nowhere as if it were going to split the top of his head.
“Hey, profit!”
Jinrip’s insides were as black as Mt. Wudang engulfed in flames.
Meanwhile, the fire is growing bigger and more Sapa bastards are coming.
‘These damn bastards…!’
The sight of the Sapas, whose clothes were all on fire as they were trying to get out of the fire, rolling on the floor and attacking the shaman swordsmen in front of them with vicious attacks without even thinking about putting out the fire, was truly disgusting.
The smell of cooking flesh and burning wood mixed together, making my nose feel numb.
My back was damp with sweat. The world laughs at the Sapa guys, calling them a ragtag bunch. However, can we simply say that these people who attack with their bare bodies, wading through such fiercely burning fire, are simply a ragtag bunch?
“⋯⋯Je! Priests!”
“Ah, I heard you know…”
“Aaaahhh!”
At that moment, Jinrip’s gaze suddenly turned at the scream he heard.
The image of a person screaming with a sword stuck in his side came into my sight. A loud roar burst from his mouth.
“Sa, sahyuuuuuuuuu!”
If you think about it, the situation of everyone here was no different from Jinrip. In the meantime, it seemed that the death penalty was unable to dodge the sword that flew at him from his blind spot, as he was so concerned about Jinrip’s refusal to back down.
“Get out of the way! “Aaaah!”
Jinrip, who brought up as much strength as he could muster, drew his sword horizontally and instantly cut the person blocking his path in two and flew away. And he barely managed to block the sword flying towards the executioner’s neck.
Kaang!
Jinrip felt a moment of intuition at the heavy power he felt in his hand. If he had been just a moment late, the executioner’s head would have been lifted into the air.
Jinrip, who stumbled, pushed his brother to the side as if hitting him with his whole body, and Jinrip, who fell, rolled on the floor and swung his sword at the enemies at random.
I lost my composure a long time ago. The smoke smell becomes thick enough to make it difficult to breathe, and you feel the fear that your head may fall off at any moment. The sound of his pounding heart filled my ears.
As I rolled over and straightened my upper body again, I saw flames rising above my head and a curtain of smoke rising as if it would reach the sky at any moment.
And Jinrip remembered.
‘Heukryongchae⋯⋯.’
The despair known as the cliff, which was so steep that it seemed to reach the sky. I was completely helpless in front of that cliff.
overlapped. That hot fire and the cold Janggang River back then.
Although these things could never be the same, they seemed no different to him now.
“Yes, priest… Rip.”
At that time, the death penalty’s voice was heard. Jinrip shouted in a rough voice.
“execution! Come to your senses! “We’ll take you to a safe place right away!”
“Not yet… I can still fight…”
“Stay still!”
Jinrip shouted and gritted his teeth.
Maybe it really isn’t any different from the past. The retreat route was narrowing, and dealing with the enemy was different than expected. Enemies force them to fight unfamiliar battles.
okay. Actually, if you look at the situation, it is no different.
But this time must be different. Because Jinrip is different from the past.
‘I am not what I used to be.’
Jinrip, who was just shaking in fear at the Yangtze River, is no longer here. If he is still no different from the past, then what was the purpose of that time of self-destruction?
“Don’t be ridiculous! “You Sapa bastards!”
Jinrip swore and swung his sword.
At the same time, fierce battles similar to Jinlip’s were taking place in various parts of the shaman. Although the flames have not yet reached the center of the shaman, the war has already begun.
Wood clatter!
The veins bulged on the back of the hand holding the sword.
“This… despicable…”
Know. It is meaningless to talk about cowardice in a fight that kills and kills. No, even if it exists, fire and attack will never fall into that category.
Nevertheless, the reason Heo Gong had to spit out these words in the end was because this attack was so fatal to the shaman.
He tightened his grip as if he would break the sword at any moment. Even at this moment, the executioners were shaking noisily.
“A painter! Huh, why didn’t I think of this?”
“Uh, what do you think? There is no way something like this would be possible in the first place! Don’t you know how wide the shaman is? Burning this entire mountain is ridiculous!”
“But it’s happening!”
“Because it is a business association… it is possible because it is a business association. “How could it be if it weren’t for them?”
It’s not wrong. It is definitely something that anyone other than the Sapaeryeon would not dare to do.
Of course, in order to set fire to this large mountain, a large number of manpower is needed, and even mobility is required. Furthermore, you must have the ability to lead them as if they were one body.
And above all…
“We are not the only shamans! Even if there is no village, are there just one or two people who build and live in houses on Mt. Wudang? “You can’t do this unless you have the animal-like determination to burn them all to death!”
“⋯⋯.”
“The primordial heavenly being… Primitive Heaven! It’s not something a person would do. No human being could do this…”
“What are you doing by saying such useless things now? “Isn’t it time to take action, not to criticize their mistakes?”
Heodam said as if shouting.
But even such nonsense could not keep the conversation going.
To put it bluntly, how can one quickly come up with a solution in the face of a sea of fire consuming everything in front of one’s eyes and a huge wall of smoke rising above it?
This disaster, which was only growing bigger, was beyond the power of mere mortals.
“Well, you have to step back!”
“what?”
“The fire has not yet spread to the back of the mountain. We need to lead everyone and get out of the way right now. Otherwise, we will all die!”
“What kind of nonsense is that? “Didn’t we decide to fight them here?”
“Isn’t this a different situation! “I said I would fight the enemy, but I never said I would burn to death in a forest fire!”
“Well, it’s just a fire! “We may not be able to stop the mountain from burning, but do we really have to burn to death?”
“What kind of complacency are you talking about? So are they just watching? “The problem isn’t the fire, it’s that they’re targeting us with that fire!”
Heopyeong also shouted without giving up.
“Once all the forests covering the mountains are burned down, there will be no place to shelter! In the meantime, how can we fight against those swarms of ants? “This is dog death!”
“so? Are you trying to run away?”
“Isn’t it obvious? “For now, just get out of the way…”
“Like on the Yangtze River?”
Heopyeong flinched.
“⋯⋯Well, that’s⋯⋯.”
“So, aren’t you saying we should retreat by saying the same thing we said at Yangtze River? “You said there was nothing you could do back then because you couldn’t predict the rocks and oil pouring in, and now you’re saying there’s nothing you can do because you didn’t know they were going to start a fire?”
Sparks flew from Heo Dam’s eyes.
“And then you want the powerful people to understand what you said? “Are you saying that a shaman does not run away from an enemy?”
Heo Pyeong could not say anything and closed his mouth.
You might be able to say that. Actually, it is not a false claim. However, I can assure you that no one in the world will consider the shaman’s position.
No, on the contrary, they will be busy ridiculing and despising them. In the end, shamans are people who will do anything to survive. They are cowards who are busy turning a blind eye whenever they see an enemy.
It was a gate of shame. However, once that happens, even the time spent suppressing anger and sadness and sharpening the blade will become meaningless.
No, you will think that it would have been better not to ask for the blessing. Even if you say goodbye, you will hear that nothing has changed.
“B-but…”
Heo Pyeong’s shoulders began to tremble.
“But that doesn’t mean you can die like this, right?”
“⋯⋯.”
“Can’t we just close our eyes and accept the obvious outcome? yes? execution!”
Even Heo Dam could not confidently answer this question.
Will you die and protect your honor, or will you survive and suffer shame?
Choosing between these two may not be that difficult. Because they are the shaman’s disciples.
But this is not that choice.
Will I be killed and forgotten?
Or will I throw my honor into the dustbin to die later?
No matter how firm their resolve was, choosing between these two could not have been easy.
Naturally, everyone’s eyes turned to one place.
Because Heo Sanja, who has to make a decision, is not here right now. No, perhaps even if Heo Sanja had been temporarily in charge of the main gate, the direction the gaze was directed would not have changed.
Under everyone’s gaze, the empty space bit its lip.
“Even if it means death, the same is true.”
“Yes, priest…”
In the air. The youngest person on the ship. Therefore, this person should become the center of shamanism for decades to come.
He loosened his pursed lips and spoke firmly.
“We are here to avoid making the same mistakes. It’s not that I want to die with honor, but that I won’t live and be dishonored, even if it means dying like a dog. “Isn’t that right?”
The sky glared at the elders.
Some faces showed dejection, others showed determination.
“But as it is…”
“Pull back your defenses. “If it was like this anyway, the ambush would be meaningless.”
“backwards? How far?”
The gaze in the air turned to one side. To the most rugged place among the shaman’s mountains that curve like waves.
“We camp at Baekan-am (白顏巖).”
“Ah…!”
Baekanam is a name given by the disciples of a shaman because the high, long cliffs resemble a pure white face.
“Priest, what do you mean?”
“yes.”
The sky nodded.
“It’s been like this for a while, so it would be good to change our stance.”
It is completely opposite to the past on the Yangtze River. This time it’s time for them to climb the cliff. A cliff named Shaman.
“Let’s go, brothers!”
“I understand!”
The air immediately hit the ground. Several elders also strengthened their resolve and threw themselves into action. But…
“⋯⋯Baekanam.”
“Please go, death.”
The eyes of the few who followed clearly showed fear that should not have existed.
‘Isn’t it just… just a dog’s death?’
One person who was still hesitant and couldn’t move his feet turned his gaze to the left. I saw a big rock. There was also a long crack that cut through the center like a sword mark.
