Chapter 1291: Now, This Is Just The Beginning (Part 1)

Kim Yang Baek's eyes widened.

Another disciple was ruthlessly pierced by the enemy's sword. He tried to stand up immediately, but at that moment, a heavy weight fell on Kim Yang Baek's fingertips. Looking down, he involuntarily let out a groan.

"Ugh..."

The warmth lingering in the body of the deceased Jin Gwan had not yet cooled. No, it had only been a few breaths since his last breath was cut short.

"Ugh... Uwaaaah!"

Nevertheless, Kim Yang Baek had no choice but to push aside Jin Gwan's lifeless body and rush towards his disciples. While the dead were important, they could not compare to the living.

"These filthy Evil Sect scoundrels!"

Kim Yang Baek's fierce sword energy swept through the two enemies in an instant.

"Kwaaaah!"

The body of the enemy, whose body was torn, collapsed with a scream. For the Sect Leader of the prestigious Southern Island Sect, it was an excessive swordplay, yet no one blamed Kim Yang Baek.

Despite the instantaneous ending of two lives, what overwhelmed Kim Yang Baek's heart was not panic or discomfort but a tremendous, inexpressible grief.

'Is this what it feels like?'

Death was inevitable. Crossing the threshold of Gangnam, he had to be prepared not only for his own death but also for the deaths of his disciples. Thus, there was no room for thoughts of sorrow now. More deaths lay ahead to be endured.

Yet, the reason he was unable to resist the surging grief was the heartlessness of the battlefield, where even the time given to mourn deaths was denied.

Infinitely light and insignificant.

Death here lacked the weight it should naturally carry. From the moment he had set foot on the battlefield, this fact made it unbearable for Kim Yang Baek.

"Akho (岳浩), are you okay?"

Akho, whose shoulder was pierced, nodded with difficulty. Kim Yang Baek noticed the disciple's lips turning pale. His own face grew paler.

"Damn it, it's poison! We can't allow the enemy's attacks! Don't get injured!"

Even as he shouted, it made no sense. Indeed, who willingly faces a sword just to get hit? The instructions were meaningless, but it was all Kim Yang Baek could do now. No matter how hard he and the elders tried, it was impossible to block all the enemy's poisoned blades flying toward the disciples.

"Kill them!"

"Aim for their backs! Aim for the weak points!"

Like a relentless predator biting into wounded beasts, the Evil Sect did not miss the swaying of their opponents. Thinking they had the upper hand, they intensified their assault toward the weak points.

"Stop them!"

"We can't allow their attacks."

The momentum of the Southern Island elders against the enemy had changed drastically.

Poison didn't make swords sharper, nor did increase the wielder's internal strength. Therefore, facing these meager attacks was not supposed to be more challenging than usual.

However, upon hearing that the black liquid emanating from the enemy's sword was poison, his body instinctively recoiled. His hand did not extend as expected.

"Kwaaaah!"

"Elder Jo!"

As an elder collapsed, pouring blood from his chest, Kim Yang Baek let out a desperate scream. This should not have happened. The opponents attacking now were at best third-rate in their skills. And the one who had just shed blood was none other than an elder from the renowned Ten Great Sects, Southern Island.

Under normal circumstances, even if more than ten rushed in, they would never have faced defeat. However, the warning shouted by Kim Yang Baek, the chaotic situation on the battlefield, and the malice closing in from all directions created results unrelated to skill.

'What have I done...'

If only he hadn't known, such a tragedy might not have occurred!

Kim Yang Baek belatedly realized his mistake, but it was already too late to rectify. 

"Aaaargh!"

Another scream echoed. Southern Island Sect's disciples consecutively fell, pierced by the enemy's relentless attacks. It was helpless. It was at that moment when Kim Yang Baek almost lost consciousness in the overwhelming chaos and frustration engulfing his entire body.

"Ha-a-a-a-a-a-ah!"

As if a fierce roar erupted from above, a storm of red petals swept over him, instantly covering his field of vision.

"Kwaaaaah!"

"Aaaah!"

Even the enemies, rushing forward with momentum, were swept away by the storm of petals, screaming in agony. Those riddled with dozens of holes convulsed in pain and collapsed.

Kim Yang Baek stared blankly at the back of the fallen ones in front of him.

"D-Deputy Sect..."

"Sect Leader!"

Baek Cheon turned his rigid face towards Kim Yang Baek and shouted. He had rushed here from the frontlines.

"We need to go!"

"Deputy Sect Leader?"

"The distance between us and the vanguard is getting wider. If we fall behind like this, everyone here will die!"

His agitated voice made Kim Yang Baek realize the harsh reality.

Looking around, he saw that the distance between the rear and the main force had already widened. If it continued like this, the Evil Sect would fill that gap, and the fate awaiting them was practically sealed.

'No, this can't be.'

Even though he was experiencing a proper battlefield for the first time, Kim Yang Baek was not so foolish as to be unaware of what he should do.

"Everyone, charge! We must catch up with those ahead of us!"

Kim Yang Baek urgently raised his voice, giving orders. Regretting the mistakes and mourning for the dead had to come later. First and foremost, they had to survive.

The disciples of the Southern Island Sect, who were struggling, responded.

"Yes! Sect Leader!"

"Elders, use all your strength to protect the disciples!"

"Yes!"

At that moment, some disciples were seen trying to gather around the fallen bodies of the Southern Island Sect disciples. Kim Yang Baek bit his lip until it bled. Then, he shouted sternly.

"Stop it!"

"Sect Leader."

He glared at the disciples who turned to look at him with bloodshot eyes.

He understood the disciples' feelings. Who would want to leave the body of someone who had been like family in this distant land of Gangnam? Moreover, they didn't know what the surviving bodies might suffer at the hands of the Evil Sect.

In fact, Kim Yang Baek was the one who wanted to take care of the bodies the most. Although he couldn't bring them back to Southern Island, their hometown, he at least wanted to bury them in a decent place.

But that was greed. It was a greed that should never be indulged.

"Pay no attention to the dead! Those who are living must survive!"

"Sect Leader! How can you say such a thing...!"

"Can't you shut up!"

When Kim Yang Baek roared angrily, the disciples bit their lips in silence. It wasn't a look of complete submission, but they didn't dare to rebel openly.

"Save your words for later! Go! Now!"

"Yes."

Even though they looked back several times with lingering regrets, they eventually ran forward, leaving the bodies behind. Among the abandoned corpses were also the remains of Jin Gwan, who had died in Kim Yang Baek's arms.

"Damn it!"

One of the disciples cursed angrily. Whether that anger was directed at the situation or at Kim Yang Baek, it was unclear. No, perhaps both.

Kim Yang Baek, who had sent the disciples away, just stared at the corpses of the fallen Southern Island Sect disciples, now cooling on the ground.

'Forgive me.'

With that farewell, he, too, ran forward, tears quietly streaming down his face.

Whatever actions he took here, it would only be for his own solace. There was no meaning to solace for those who were already dead.

The only way to release the overwhelming grief that felt like his chest would explode was just one.

"Aghhhhhhhhhhh!"

With a surge of energy boiling within, Kim Yang Baek's body shot forward like a beam of light. He thrust his sword directly into the body of an Evil Sect member rushing to block his way.

Kwahng!

The pierced Evil Sect member's body shattered into pieces as if hit by a cannonball, scattering around like debris. Covered in warm and pungent blood, Kim Yang Baek roared like a wounded beast.

It was because of him. It was his mistake.

If he had been a bit stronger, a bit more composed, they could have avoided this loss. Why did he have to close their eyes in such a miserable state here?

'This wasn't supposed to be like this!'

Tears of blood poured from his eyes.

The deaths he had envisioned for them should have been more solemn, more sacred than this. It shouldn't have been so miserable like a deer running away, getting its ankles bitten by a wolf, gasping for breath, and eventually dying.

He had created this.

His incompetence had brought meaningless deaths to them. Because of the incompetence of Southern Island's Sect Leader!

How could this be so heavy, burdensome, and difficult? Who would have imagined that carrying someone's death on their shoulders would be such a painful thing?

"Ahh!"

Kim Yang Baek raised his inner strength as if he had lost his mind. He swung his sword towards the Evil Sect bastards coming at him with toxic blades (毒刀), pouring out waves of sharp energy like a rough sea.

"I'll kill them all! These damn bastards!"

They had taken away his disciples. They had caused his life-long comrades and sworn brothers to die in agony.

"Dieeee!"

"Sect Leader."

"I'll kill these bastards..."

"Sect Leader!"

At that moment, a powerful shout filled with inner strength penetrated Kim Yang Baek's ears. He turned his gaze fiercely towards Baek Cheon, who shouted with bloodshot eyes.

What did he know?

Did Mount Hua's Deputy Sect Leader understand the loss of the disciples he cherished like children, the feeling of losing a sworn brother? How could he know the feelings of someone who had nothing left to lose? If he thought he could console with that foul mouth of his...

"Do you plan to make the same mistake again?"

At that moment, Baek Cheon's cold voice cut through Kim Yang Baek's anger like a sharp dagger.

"Sect Leader, if you lose your reason, more people will die!"

Gradually, reason returned. As Kim Yang Baek looked at Baek Cheon with eyes now filled with blood, an indescribable expression crossed his face. In this tense battlefield, he looked at Baek Cheon blankly and soon let out a bitter smile.

Baek Cheon was right. His words were painfully true. Therefore, he had to acknowledge them.

'I don't even have the right to be angry.'

No, it wasn't that Kim Yang Baek didn't have the right to be angry. It was just that the 'Sect Leader' didn't have the right to be angry.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Baek Cheon spoke first.

"I'm sorry. I realized the situation late, and the support arrived late."

"Deputy Sect Leader."

"But, Sect Leader! Please don't forget what you should do now."

Kim Yang Baek nodded weakly. Baek Cheon spoke with a heavy voice.

"Steel yourself firmly."

And added,

"Now...This is just the beginning."

At those words, everyone realized afresh.

They were already in hell.