Chapter 177
Chapter 177
Fate
Whoosh!
The blazing flames soared into the sky like a dragon ascending.
“Aaaah!”
“R-run away! Hurry!”
“Don’t run away! Stop them… Ugh!”
Splat!
The chilling sound of flesh being torn, the rough screams, and the splattering of blood soaking the earth echoed all around.
Horrific noises of all kinds, big and small, could be heard from every direction. These hellish sounds all announced the downfall of one caravan.
Boom!
Astonishingly, hundreds of attackers advanced, demolishing even the massive stone walls.
There was no mystical martial arts or grand strategy. Huge men wielding iron maces, as big as a person’s head, smashed the walls indiscriminately, and swift bandits infiltrated through the collapsed walls.
It was simple yet synchronized perfectly. Those who broke the defenses, those who infiltrated, and those proficient in long-range attacks, all knew precisely when to act.
Even if bandit raids were commonplace, they were exceptionally systematic. They were seasoned warriors maximizing efficiency with basic tactics.
That was Heilangdan.
Thud!
“Aaah!”
“Screeeam!”
They seemed determined to sweep everything away.
They killed everyone in sight, regardless of age or role, including the sentries.
Haeryong Caravan was situated far from the marketplace. While this made their presence more unique, it also had the drawback of making it difficult to call for help during such overwhelming attacks.
Of course, caravans rarely fall to external invasions. A caravan isn’t a martial arts sect.
“Who are these bastards?”
Yeong Cheonhyang was extremely furious.
“How dare a group of dark path scum attack us without fear…!”
At that moment,
Flap!
From afar, several large flags fluttered in the wind.
On the gray flags, the characters for ‘wolf’ (狼) and ‘bandit’ (賊) were boldly inscribed.
“Bandits? Are they really bandits?”
It was unbelievable. What kind of bandit group in the world was this strong? Moreover, there were over five hundred of them.
In an instant, Yeong Cheonhyang’s eyes widened.
“Could it be… Heilangdan?!”
The characters ‘wolf’ and ‘bandit’ on the gray flags.
Only Heilangdan, the top bandit group beyond the borders, would carry such flags. It was surprising that bandits would carry such elegant flags.
Boom!
Not only the western wall but now the northern wall had collapsed.
They seemed unable to contain their overwhelming strength. With their large numbers and ruthless killing, even the renowned Haeryong Caravan of Shandong could not resist.
There was no other option. Over three hundred bandits had already entered the outer perimeter, engaging in a slaughter, and dozens had breached the inner perimeter.
At this rate, everyone would die. It was time to make a decision.
“Guhyo! Secure the escape route and evacuate the people!”
“B-but, leader! What about the warehouse treasures…?”
“What’s the use of treasures when we’re all about to die? Evacuate the people immediately!”
“Understood!”
Despite his words, Yeong Cheonhyang had already stored a considerable amount of treasure outside. Otherwise, he would have cleared the warehouse first.
As the surviving caravan members used the secret passage to escape,
Thud!
Three bloodied men flew through the air.
“Gasp!”
“B-bandits!”
Astonishingly, over three hundred bandits were stationed at the end of the escape route, known only to the caravan’s leadership.
Hang Chun shouted coldly,
“What are you waiting for? Rip them all apart!”
“Aaaah!”
The bandits let out strange battle cries and swung their weapons.
Those who had been hopeful for survival died in despair. It was truly a hopeless situation.
Yeong Cheonhyang was just as terrified. Although he had learned martial arts, it wasn’t enough to boast about.
At that moment,
Yeong Cheonhyang saw a man standing at the rear of the charging bandits.
“You!”
The reason he could recognize someone from such a distance,
was because that person was his blood brother.
“Go-wi! Why are you there?”
Yeong Go-wi turned his head with effort.
Yeong Cheonhyang’s eyes turned bloodshot. Just that gesture made it clear what was happening.
“You wretched bastard! You’re trying to kill your own family by siding with the bandits?!”
At that moment,
“Stop your noisy chatter.”
Boom!
It was as if a giant rock had struck.
The one who crushed over a dozen warriors into bloody pulp with his massive body was Pasaruk.
Yeong Cheonhyang’s face turned as pale as a sheet.
Pasaruk’s snake-like eyes, despite his huge size, made Yeong Cheonhyang feel like a mouse before a giant viper.
“Are you the caravan leader?”
“You, you bastard!”
“Bastard?”
Pasaruk swung his enormous fist like a hammer.
Crack!
His fist, which split the skull and cleaved down to the collarbone, was unbelievably powerful.
The survivors’ faces turned white. They had never imagined that a person could die so horribly.
Pasaruk snorted.
“Even if you’re just a caravan, aren’t you supposed to be one of the top in Shandong? Why are you so pathetically weak?”
After seizing control with shocking violence, Pasaruk shouted,
“Kill everyone, regardless of age or gender! Leave only ten useful women!”
“Uraaaah!”
Blood sprayed, and torn flesh and bones scattered everywhere.
It was a scene from hell.
“Leader!”
“…”
“Please give us an order immediately!”
Kyu Byeok, the leader of the Tangma Army’s second squad, shouted.
Moyong Woo did not answer. He merely watched the burning Haeryong Caravan with deep eyes.
Kyu Byeok was anxious.
“Leader!”
At that moment, the leader of the first squad, Jinpae, spoke.
“Calm down, Kyu Byeok.”
“Damn it! How can I calm down, brother!”
“We are on duty. Refrain from using personal titles.”
Kyu Byeok, trembling, took a deep breath and shouted,
“Leader! At least send my squad! We will attack them immediately!”
At that moment, Moyong Woo spoke,
“Attacking with just one squad is meaningless.”
“Leader?!”
Jinpae shouted.
“Squad Leader Kyu! Can’t you see the prowess of those bandits? Charging without any strategy will only result in severe losses on both sides!”
“……!”
“Calm yourself. You are a commander of a hundred soldiers. Remember that your hasty decision could lead your subordinates to a meaningless death.”
Kyu Byeok bit his lip.
Of course, he knew that. But those bandits were mercilessly killing not only the warriors but also the common folk who hadn’t learned any martial arts.
It was an unbearable situation for anyone, especially for someone who knew the way of justice.
Jinpae looked at Moyong Woo.
‘Leader.’
Moyong Woo, with his expressionless face and deep, clear eyes, gazed at the invaded caravan.
But Jinpae could see his jaw was clenched. Moyong Woo was also forcibly suppressing his rising anger.
When the leader wavered, the soldiers under his command would be in danger. Moyong Woo knew this instinctively.
After a moment, Moyong Woo spoke.
“We must first stop the fighting.”
“Pardon?”
Moyong Woo addressed the fifth squad leader, Gye Eok.
“When the Myeolsagun finishes dealing with Hwaun-ri, they will come up through the southern valley. Lead your soldiers and go to Myeolsagun.”
“To Myeolsagun?”
“Inform Leader Yeon that we need the Myeolsagun for a first strike. Tell them we plan to settle it with a single surprise attack.”
“…!”
“Just relay that message, they will understand.”
“Understood!”
Gye Eok led the soldiers of the fifth squad down the slope.
Moyong Woo looked towards the northwest rear.
‘Mok Vice Commander.’
Mok Bi was the only one from Myeolsagun left, due to Yeon Hojeong’s orders.
Moyong Woo raised his left hand forcefully and clenched his fist.
That was all. Mok Bi must have seen it and understood its meaning.
Moyong Woo opened his mouth.
“All troops.”
Clang!
He drew his heavy greatsword.
“Advance.”
Whooaa!
The four hundred soldiers of the Tangma Army descended the steep mountain path at a terrifying speed and reached the breached barrier of the Haeryong Caravan within moments.
At that moment,
Whoosh!
An arrow flew rapidly towards Moyong Woo’s head.
Thwack!
Moyong Woo nonchalantly caught the arrow with his left hand and snapped the shaft.
Whooom!
When Moyong Gun had seated Moyong Woo as the leader of the Tangma Army, he had personally ordered the finest craftsman in Hanan to forge a special sword for him.
The Heaven and Earth Eight Extremes True Energy poured into the Tangma Greatsword.
For a moment, Moyong Woo’s eyes emitted a fierce murderous aura.
Boom!
With a single swing of his sword from horseback, the roaring flames scattered, and the bodies of three nearby bandits were cleaved apart.
“…!”
The bandits in the outer perimeter stared at Moyong Woo in shock.
Moyong Woo spoke calmly.
“Bring me your leader.”
“Aaaargh!”
“You maniacs! Who are you?!”
Thud!
Dong Ho, who had smashed a bandit’s head with a Bamboo Leaf Hand strike, spoke coldly.
“We are the Myeolsagun.”
Clang! Thud! Swoosh!
The sound of weapons clashing was followed by the sound of bodies being destroyed.
Myeolsagun was strong.
Having learned the true martial arts of the nine great sects, the pillars of Baekdo Murim, they unleashed more than ten times the power of their martial arts, refined through numerous battles and near-death experiences.
The difference from when they first fought was like night and day.
Although their martial arts hadn’t significantly advanced since then, the difference was immense. The noisy, erratic movements had completely vanished, replaced by efficient, minimal actions that cleanly annihilated the enemy. Their Killing Sword techniques massacred the one hundred and fifty bandits of Heilangdan.
Boom!
The most striking figure among them was Peng Manho.
He too had grown incomparably stronger through his experiences in battle, but unlike the others, his movements weren’t clean.
It wasn’t because Peng Manho was weak. It was because his natural strength and martial arts were entirely focused on powerful attacks.
Because of this, whenever a battle began, Peng Manho always stood at the forefront. He was skilled at breaking the enemy’s morale with his initial strike.
After a brief period of fighting,
While Myeolsagun remained unscathed, Heilangdan’s one hundred and fifty bandits had been reduced to five survivors.
“Damn it!”
Cheon Gwi ground his teeth. His body was covered with countless sword wounds.
“Who are you? Are you from the Murim Alliance?”
The Myeolsagun soldiers silently looked down at the five bandits.
Cheon Gwi felt his throat tighten.
There were quite a few women in Myeolsagun. Normally, Cheon Gwi would have taunted them with all sorts of curses and lewd comments, but now he couldn’t.
‘Damn it…!’
Myeolsagun, with their expressionless faces and eyes showing no emotion, looked down at them.
It was an eerie scene. The strange sense of oppression shut even the foul-mouthed Cheon Gwi up.
At that moment,
“The leader is coming.”
Clink!
The soldiers sheathed their weapons in unison and quickly lined up.
Through the ranks of Myeolsagun soldiers, Yeon Hojeong appeared. Although his clothes were stained in several places, not a single drop of blood was on the blade of his Guanglong Axe.
‘…!’
Cheon Gwi’s body trembled.
Meeting the eyes of Yeon Hojeong, who looked down at him holding a massive axe, made Cheon Gwi’s vision go dark.
Yeon Hojeong asked,
“Why did you leave these men alive?”
Yeoguk replied,
“They offered to provide information about Heilangdan. We kept them alive just in case.”
Yeon Hojeong smirked. He knew it was a transparent trick.
At that moment, a faint vibration transmitted through the ground.
Click!
The soldiers simultaneously placed their hands on their weapons.
Shortly after, Tangma Army’s fifth squad leader Gye Eok appeared.
“I bring a message from the Tangma Army leader!”
Upon hearing Gye Eok’s words, Yeon Hojeong’s eyes lit up.
“A surprise attack…”
He nodded.
“We will move immediately.”
“Understood.”
Flap!
Yeon Hojeong mounted his warhorse.
“Leader. What about these men?”
“Their offer of information was just a ruse.”
Yeon Hojeong added coldly.
“Kill them all.”
“Understood.”
Cheon Gwi shouted desperately.
“W-wait…!”
Thud!
The five bandits’ heads flew through the air.
