Chapter 1417: Even If It Seemed Meaningless (Part 2)

Beopjeong turned and walked away, tightly bit his lips.

The vast expanse of the Yangtze River came into his eyes, but the tightly blocked passage in his heart would be opened just like that.

"Beopgye!"

"Yes, Bangjang!"

"Spread the news to Sichuan as soon as possible! By any means necessary!"

"But, Bangjang... However, it's already..."

"I know!"

Beopgye closed his mouth with a face that seemed to be stifled by Beopjeong's explosive shout. Beopjeong, who was staring at him, took a deep breath and spoke again.

"Qingcheng and Emei may already be late, but if we quickly spread the news, Diancang might be able to escape. Now is the time to grasp at even straws!"

"Ah, understood! Bangjang!"

Beopgye nodded vigorously.

While he quickly prepared to send the message, Jonglihyung approached Beopjeong quietly.

"Bangjang..."

Beopjeong turned his cold eyes towards Jonglihyung. Jonglihyung flinched, then gathered courage and spoke again.

"Do you really have no intention of going to Sichuan?"

"..."

"No, Bangjang. Even though it may be too late to go now, as Bangjang said..."

"I guess you're saying that if we run quickly, there might be a way to save them."

"That's what I mean. No matter the opponents being Paegun and the Evil Tyrant Alliance, aren't they Qingcheng and Emei? It's not easy for them to fall so easily."

A sigh escaped from Beopjeong's lips. Even after suffering so much, Jonglihyun still couldn't let go of his habit of belittling the Evil Sect.

Even after being humiliated so much.

Certainly, Qincheng and Emei had a prestigious name. But the abilities of the Paegun they had to face now were no longer comparable to that. At best, only a few survivors might remain. Even if they rescued them, what would really change?

"Sect Leader."

"Yes, Bangjang."

"It's not that I don't want to go, but I can't go."

"What? What do you mean?"

Jonglihyung asked with a bewildered expression.

"Where do you think the retreating forces of the Evil Tyrant Alliance are heading from here?"

"Well, of course, to Sichuan, right?"

"What if they don't?"

"Yes?"

"If they don't head to Sichuan, what will you do?"

Doubt flickered in Jonglihyung's eyes. Beopjeong explained what he meant with a nod.

"They withdrew from Nanjing, but they haven't headed to Sichuan yet. The Su Lo Chae's forces are the same. They withdrew from here but still occupy the Yangtze River."

"Then?"

"Yes."

Beopjeong nodded heavily.

"If we rashly head to Sichuan, they will undoubtedly push up towards Hanam."

"That, that's..."

Jonglihyung's gaze turned to the remnants of the Evil Tyrant Alliance maintaining a distance in the distance.

Certainly, the speed of their retreat had significantly decreased, just as Beopjeong said. At any moment, they could change direction.

"Even if Paegun isn't here, aren't there remnants of Myriad Man Manor that headed to Southern Island, the Black Ghost Castle, and even the smaller Evil Sects?"

"..."

"And with just that level of power, it wouldn't be difficult to sweep through Hanam, which has become a defenseless no-man's land."

Jonglihyung looked at Peng Yeop with a vacant expression, as if his mind had gone blank.

"W-well..."

It seemed that he finally understood the situation.

"Are we unable to withdraw from here even though we clearly know that they are trampling over Sichuan?"

"..."

"What, what kind of situation is this? What on earth..."

It felt like sinking into an endless abyss. Jang Ilso's traps didn't easily release them. The cost of stepping into the trap he set was too great. Once a foot fell into the pit, no matter how hard they tried, it only dug deeper.

"Amitabha."

Beopjeong uttered a low chant. Uncontrollable anger welled up on his face.

All of this was the result of the hasty movements of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. However, in the end, it was the Ten Great Sects that suffered the consequences. The disgrace of Qingcheng and Emei was certain, and even Diancang was now in danger.

However, wasn't the damage suffered by the Heavenly Comrade Alliance only the Tang Family being trampled without their main force?

Certainly, considering the nature of the Tang Family, where poison and hidden weapons occupied more than seventy percent of their strength, the damage to the family was not a small matter. However, it was a far cry from the destruction of three major sects.

What tortured Beopjeong the most was the fact that he could only watch the destruction of those three major sects.

'In the end.'

A bitter laughter flowed from Beopjeong's mouth.

'We have to suffer even though we haven't committed any mistakes, and they succeed even though they do things they shouldn't.'

How should he accept this absurd situation? Since they had benefited, where they right?

"Well..."

Jonglihyung asked with a pale face.

"B-Bangjang, are you saying there's nothing we can do?"

Upon hearing that, Beopjeong turned his head to look at the remnants of the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

For a while, Beopjeong's gaze remained on them, then slowly shifted towards the Heavenly Comrade Alliance.

What they could do.

What they could do...

"There is something."

Beopjeong's eyes narrowed.

For a moment, everyone fell silent. The atmosphere emanating from Beopjeong made them involuntarily hold their breath. After a while, Beopjeong's mouth, which had been indifferent, finally opened slowly.

"What we can... do."

Hyun Jong, who had been silently watching the departing Great Sects, turned his head weakly.

'Painful.'

It was like a sharp blade. A word forged to hurt people. However, what made Hyun Jong even more depressed was that there was nothing wrong with any of those words.

Perhaps it was their arrogance that ultimately caused all this.

That's why he couldn't blame them for not helping. He could only hold onto his bitter feelings.

"Don't make such a face, Maengju-nim."

Hyun Jong turned his head towards the direction where the voice came from. Southern Island's Sect Leader, Kim Yang Baek, was looking at him with a profound gaze.

"Sect Leader..."

"If it weren't for the Heavenly Comrade Alliance, not a single disciple of Southern Island here would have survived."

Kim Yang Baek looked at his disciples and lowered his head.

"Even so, if Maengju-nim blames yourself, won't we, who have survived for nothing, become like those who have died?"

"That wasn't my intention. I'm sorry, Sect Leader."

"No, it's just..."

Kim Yang Baek spoke again with force.

"Even if the results didn't turn out as desired, there won't be a single person in the world who can say that the Heavenly Comrade Alliance's intentions were wrong."

"..."

"Now is not the time to blame yourself. Shouldn't we help Sichuan?"

Hyun Jong looked at Kim Yang Baek with a reluctant gaze.

His life was already fading away. Even those who hadn't learned martial arts would be able to tell. Yet, Kim Yang Baek was not talking about his own situation but discussing Sichuan.

"Sect Leader. First, your body..."

"No."

Kim Yang Baek shook his head.

"I have already lived enough. What's important now is not me but Sichuan."

"No. Even if that's the case..."

"I know."

Kim Yang Baek looked at Hyun Jong with determined eyes.

"I know how those who are in a desperate situation where no one helps feel. We received a helping hand from the Heavenly Comrade Alliance. But now, isn't Sichuan in a situation where no one is helping them?"

"..."

"Please understand, Maengju-nim. We will help. Even if it's just meaningless struggling, shouldn't there be someone to struggle for someone's death?"

Hyun Jong eventually nodded.

He knew. Regardless of the situation, they had a duty to fulfill. Even if it seemed meaningless, they had no choice but to rush to Sichuan.

Hyun Jong gathered himself and turned his head to look at the leaders of the other sects.

"Now that the Ten Great Sects have withdrawn, we need to find a way to go to Sichuan, even if it's just us. How..."

"Impossible."

At that moment, Im Sobyeong firmly interrupted Hyun Jong's words.

"Nokrim King."

"I understand your sentiments, but there's no way. Unless the Ten Great Sects fight alongside us, breaking through that defense line on our own is an extremely challenging task. Even if we manage to break through, we'll face continuous attacks on our way to Sichuan. Once we arrive in Sichuan, we'll be surrounded and annihilated from all sides."

A cold statement. But it was profoundly realistic, especially for those who had already endured similar circumstances to reach this point. To them, these words sounded even more dreadful.

"Then, can't we just cross the river?"

In response to Namgung Dowi's question, Im Sobyeong's eyes turned cold.

"Do you see any sign of them completely withdrawing?"

"..."

Namgung Dowi turned his head to look at the Evil Tyrant Alliance. The ones who had retreated had suddenly stopped, maintaining a distance that allowed them to rush in again at any moment.

"Ho Gakmyung must have already joined them over there. He'll try to delay us as much as possible. If we attempt a reckless crossing, he will surely charge at us again. Then, we'll be attacked from behind."

Those who saw the tips of the Su Lo Chae's fleet on the river gritted their teeth.

"Then..."

"We can't move until they withdraw completely."

"Is there no other option? Are we just going to stand by and watch?"

Although Namgung Dowi shouted in frustration, Im Sobyeong remained impassive, gazing at everyone.

"Reality is the reality..."

"Not everyone needs to go."

Im Sobyeong turned his head at the voice that cut through his words. The figure of Baek Cheon, with a pale face, entered his vision.

"Not everyone has to go. Some can't go."

"Dojang."

"Please block the rear. We will cross the river. We will lead those who are fast on their feet to Sichuan."

Im Sobyeong looked at Baek Cheon with a face expressing amazement.

Was he saying something ridiculous right before entering the coffin? What kind of absurd talk was this?

"Can that be possible?"

Im Sobyeong stared at Baek Cheon with an expression of disbelief. To what extent did this person have to go for his conscience to be appeased?

"Just say whether it's possible or not, Nokrim King."

"..."

Baek Cheon looked at Im Sobyeong with a resolute face.

"Just say that. Nokrim King."

"..."

When Baek Cheon's words were cut off, some people approached behind him. Even if they tried to dissuade him, there was no use. Those who stood behind him were the ones who had suffered the most severe injuries here.

"...Not possible."

"Nokrim King!"

"Sichuan is not Southern Island. A few of us alone cannot do anything. Even if we go, we will only suffer death!"

"Let's try it..."

"Whether we try or not, it won't work!"

"..."

Baek Cheon bit his lips until they bled at that moment.

"Amitabhul."

The distant sound of a chant reached them. Everyone turned their heads in surprise as they recognized that it was not Hye Yeon's voice.

Beopgye.

While they were engrossed in their intense conversation, Beopgye had approached them without anyone noticing. Probably, amid the heated discussion, they hadn't realized he was there.

"Oh, no?"

"Amitabhul. I'm here to convey Bangjang's message."

"A message?"

Everyone looked at the Beopgye with bewildered eyes. What else could Beopjeong have to say to them at this point?

"If you truly want to go to Sichuan..."

"...Huh?"

Beopgye spoke with scathingly deep eyes.

"The remnants of the Evil Tyrant Alliance here will be blocked by the Ten Great Sects using all our strength. You select elites and cross the river."

All eyes widened.

Everyone's eyes widened.

"W-What are you saying..."

"We will definitely secure the rear. Instead..."

From the open lips of Beopgye, a resolute voice flowed.

"Qingcheng and Emei are already too late. However, you must ensure the safety of Diancang."

"..."

"Can you do that?"

Hyun Jong's face hardened.