Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Translator: Penny
Episode 30
Just as the Honyeon Faction maintained their distance and observed the Zhuge Clan, the Zhuge Clan reciprocated, scrutinizing their movements.
"Jang Hongsik, Jeong Byeongil, and Wang-i have emerged. The Four Protectors are nowhere to be seen; they likely remain at the Manor," Jeokun reported.
Zhuge Cheong nodded grimly at Jeokun's words.
Despite meticulously planning their strategy, reviewing it countless times, and reinforcing every weakness, their numerical disadvantage remained unchanged. They were outnumbered two to one.
Most concerning of all:
"What about Sayo?"
"No word yet."
"Jang Hongsik has come out himself, so why hasn't she..."
"Could she have betrayed us?"
"Hmm..."
Her continued absence troubled him, fearing she might become a critical variable that could drastically alter the course of the battle.
"Honestly, people these days have so little faith."
"Huh?"
Amidst everyone's anxiety, Zhuge Munhyeon's grumbling voice suddenly cut through the tension.
"Seriously, whether she escaped or not, can you really put spilled milk back in the bottle?"
"..."
"What? Are you thinking of turning back just because Sayo didn't make it out?"
"Ah, no, that's not what I meant. It's just that when variables come into play..."
"What about variables?"
"Huh?"
"Honestly, do you think war is some kind of child's game? No matter how well you plan, variables can always arise."
"That's true, but..."
"We're already struggling to muster every ounce of strength we have. How can we possibly win if the Senior Commanders are fretting about variables and panicking?"
Feeling like they were being scolded, the High Command wore awkward expressions and fell silent.
"Stand tall! Straighten your backs! Everyone's just staring at the backs of the people in front, and you're all slouching like that..."
At those words, the High Command unconsciously straightened their shoulders and backs.
"See? That bastard's stopped over there, waiting for us. That means Scholar Mun's strategy is working."
"But Jang Hongsik himself is out there too..."
"More worrying! Scholar Mun told us Jang Hongsik is too arrogant to participate in the Initial Clash. He said if Jang Hongsik joins the battle, we should flee without looking back."
"That's true, but..."
"I'll get there before him. I'll handle Jang Hongsik myself. Absolutely! So steel yourselves. Even if we fight tooth and nail, victory is far from guaranteed."
Despite Zhuge Munhyeon's confident assurances, no one could truly relax.
Their opponent was Jang Hongsik, a Peak Stage master.
Even if they were at the same cultivation level, Zhuge Munhyeon was likely only at the initial stage. How could he so boldly claim he could stop Jang Hongsik?
"Ugh, it's not like I'm a child who needs to be taught everything from one to ten. Why are you all already losing your nerve before we've even started?"
Everyone chuckled awkwardly at his grumbling.
It felt like the roles had been reversed.
The elders, who should have been encouraging the family's heir, were instead being scolded by him.
"But are you really going to be alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"The ambush."
Oh, that's all? Who is worrying about whom here?
"Of course. First, we need to rescue the Beggar's Sect Branch Head. Sayo might be captured too."
"That's true, but still..."
They couldn't help but worry.
Zhuge Munhyeon, Zhuge Munho, and... Gwan Hwipyeong.
They each had their own names, but Zhuge Munhyeon called them by these nicknames so often that they had become second nature.
Besides, they were easier to say.
But there were only five of them.
How could they possibly launch a surprise attack and strike from behind when they didn't even know how many more Four Protectors were lurking in the shadows, let alone the full extent of the enemy's forces?
"Munhyeon-ah, shouldn't we reconsider? If we lure the enemies out according to the plan and whittle down their numbers, then even if Jang Hongsik joins the fray later..."
"Why? Are you lacking confidence?"
"Huh?"
"If you think you'll lose to those Faction Leader's Sworn Brothers, I'll stay behind."
"That's not it!"
Zhuge Cheong and Jeokun retorted simultaneously, their lips curling in disdain at his dismissive tone.
"Why are you both so worried? I know what I'm doing. Just focus on your own tasks."
"..."
"They say as you get older, your worries only grow. Tsk, tsk."
In truth, Zhuge Munhyeon was the oldest among them, by far. He was several times older than the others.
Yet his rebuke left Zhuge Cheong and Jeokun speechless.
It was strange. He spoke with formal respect, yet his tone carried an air of superiority, as if addressing subordinates. And since he wasn't wrong, they found it difficult to argue.
How did the Head of the Byeongju Hall raise such an odd child? He seems polite, yet lacks all manners...
Watching Zhuge Munhyeon, they were filled with conflicting thoughts.
Just then, a voice announced:
"It seems preparations are complete."
Mun Ilhwa's words, prompted by a signal from behind, brought a palpable tension to the air.
The reason for their sudden halt was to give the Scholars time to establish a Formation.
While a large-scale Deadly Formation would require extensive preparation—digging trenches, erecting pillars, and meticulously coordinating connections—a brief window of opportunity was sufficient to create a Formation designed to sow momentary chaos.
As the sun began to set, the world was bathed in crimson hues.
By deliberately creating a commotion and kicking up dust as if shifting their formation, they had effectively concealed their true purpose: establishing the Formation.
Telescope? Look through it all day long. Can you see anything? It's called a "thousand-mile telescope," but it can barely see five miles, let alone ten. I wonder what bastard came up with such an exaggerated name.
"Let's start moving soon. The sun will be down shortly."
"Agreed."
Even the timing was perfect.
Mun Ilhwa had deliberately arranged it that way.
The twilight just after sunset would obscure everyone's vision, making it even more disorienting when they were trapped within the Formation.
And it would be harder for them to detect the ambushers moving into position.
Strategy is more interesting than I thought.
He hadn't needed it before.
When fighting for the Demonic Cult, they never bothered with strategies.
It was always a straight-up clash.
Strength against strength, the stronger side prevailed.
That's how martial artists should fight.
Strategy? What a joke.
They simply marched into enemy territory and mercilessly slaughtered everything in their path.
Only the weak relied on such tactics.
The weak...
"Ahem! Let's begin."
"Understood. Please..."
"Seriously? Worrying again!"
"..."
"Worry about yourselves. Remember, absolutely no deep incursions. Fight half-heartedly, then feign terror and lure them into the formation. Understand? Don't let some misplaced martial pride get you killed. Once you're dead, it's over. Got it?"
Such a long lecture. And from the very person who told me not to worry...
"Understood. Understood."
Zhuge Cheong nodded, took a deep breath to steel his resolve, and shouted to the warriors, "Advance!"
The charge began.
Divided into two groups, the warriors raced across the plain, kicking up thick clouds of dust.
Haa... I hope they don't push themselves too hard...
Watching their retreating figures, Zhuge Munhyeon sighed involuntarily, then startled.
Damn it, my bloodlust is rising again. Who would have thought I'd ever worry about the Zhuge Clan? There was a time when I wanted to slaughter them all for trapping me with their schemes and formations... Life truly is full of surprises.
"Munho, Gwan Hwipyeong! Let's move too."
"Right."
"They're moving."
"Heh heh heh, excellent, excellent. These fools are walking right into their own graves."
Jang Hongsik grinned so wide his face nearly split as he watched the Zhuge Clan charge toward him, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.
How delightful that the self-proclaimed smartest men in the world are so eager to become fertilizer for Pyeong and the Honyeon Faction!
"Three hundred jang!"
"Two hundred... one hundred..."
The martial artists were now close enough to distinguish their figures clearly.
"Heh heh heh, it's too late to run now! Kill them all!"
At Jang Hongsik's command, the martial artists who had been divided into two groups surged forward like spreading wings.
A massive dust storm erupted as the two forces collided with earth-shattering force.
KWA-A-A...!
The edge of the plain reverberated with a deafening roar.
The formation shattered into fragments, scattering in all directions, and blood splattered across the battlefield.
Screams echoed from every corner as warriors were cut down, trampled underfoot, and left to die.
Though the Zhuge Clan had initially seemed evenly matched, their smaller numbers and the inferior skill of their martial artists quickly forced them into a defensive position.
"Hahahaha! You fools don't know your place! How dare you even dream of challenging the Honyeon Faction?"
The victor's laughter and arrogant taunts rang out, and the Zhuge Clan, intimidated by the Honyeon Faction's surging momentum, lost their precarious balance and began to crumble.
"Zhuge Cheong! Today, I'll finally claim your head!"
The Ultimate Swordsman Jeong Byeongil, his spirits soaring, unleashed a furious sword strike that blurred Zhuge Cheong's vision.
On the verge of reaching their peak, Zhuge Cheong and his opponent were evenly matched in skill. However, Zhuge Cheong, burdened with assessing the surrounding situation, couldn't fully unleash his true abilities.
Though the initial clash had been intended as a feigned retreat, the speed with which they were forced onto the defensive was alarming. They needed to hold out longer, but casualties were mounting rapidly.
At this rate...
"Retreat! Withdraw from the battlefield immediately!"
He had no choice but to make the call.
No matter how brilliant a strategy might be, it becomes useless if the losses are too great. They needed to preserve their remaining forces to continue the fight later.
"Support the wounded! Squad leaders, delay the enemy's pursuit!"
In the end, the Zhuge Clan fled without advancing a single step from their initial clash point.
It was only natural that jeers and mockery erupted.
"These bastards are running with their tails between their legs! Don't let a single one escape! Hunt them down! Stain the plains red with their blood!"
"We can't let them reach the mountains! We must annihilate them all on the plains!"
The Honyeon Faction warriors immediately gave chase, while the Zhuge Clan warriors ran until their lungs burned.
Their momentum had already reached a fever pitch.
Like wild horses freed from their reins, like the shadow of a lion stalking a fleeing spirit, the Honyeon Faction warriors closed in relentlessly.
"Tch, I expected at least a decent fight..." Jang Hongsik, watching from afar, clicked his tongue and sneered.
There was no point in watching this one-sided slaughter any longer.
What more could one expect from the Zhuge Clan, driven away like a beaten dog?
"Should we hold a memorial service for Sangcheol now?" he mused. After all, it was thanks to him that Zhuge Munho had been brought to the brink of death.
Justice and righteousness.
The unbreakable bonds of blood.
In the end, that was the problem.
Thanks to it, the Yanghyeon Branch had been annihilated with astonishing ease.
Without suffering significant losses...
"I should bring Sayo here and show her the battlefield. Seeing the corpses strewn across the fields will surely break her stubbornness."
Jang Hongsik couldn't suppress a smug grin as he recalled Sayo's graceful figure.
Just as he turned to leave, a strange sight caught his eye.
The pursuit had suddenly stalled.
What's going on? This war is already won...
"Telescope! Bring me the telescope!"
Jang Hongsik snatched the telescope from his subordinate and scanned the battlefield. But the thick dust and encroaching darkness made it impossible to see clearly.
Are these bastards fighting to the death because they're already doomed?
As he strained his eyes through the dust, a bloodcurdling scream erupted:
"Kuaaaak!"
The Honyeon Faction warriors began to scream.
The moment the Zhuge Clan warriors, who had halted their retreat, turned to face their pursuers, the Honyeon Faction warriors—who had scattered like grains of rice in their pursuit—vanished as if sucked into thin air.
Jeong Byeongil couldn't hide his surprise as the Zhuge Clan warriors suddenly counterattacked.
A trap?
No. There hadn't been time to set one.
Then a formation?
Could this be why the martial arts-weak Byeongju Hall Scholars had joined the battle?
In the moment of Jeong Byeongil's confusion, a fierce sword strike hurtled toward his neck.
Clang!
He barely parried, rolling to the ground, but the sword's tip grazed his cheek, leaving a burning sensation.
"Ugh."
Warm blood soaked his face.
"Zhuge Cheong?"
The young man stood panting, his blue Sword Qi blazing. Unlike before, his expression was resolute, the fear that had driven him to flee now vanished.
That wasn't all.
In the distance, Jeokun was relentlessly pressing his sworn brother, Wang-i, while other Zhuge Family warriors suddenly began unleashing ferocious attacks as if possessed.
Worse still, numerous warriors had been trapped in formations activated across the battlefield, rendering their numerical advantage meaningless.
In fact, their numbers now seemed far fewer.
"These treacherous bastards lured us in?" Jeong Byeongil snarled, biting his lip hard enough to make a cracking sound.
Zhuge Cheong responded with a chillingly calm voice, "How laughable. Did you truly underestimate the Zhuge Family's mastery of formations and strategy?"
"..."
"The real battle begins now. Ultimate Swordsman."
📝 Translator’s Note:
You may notice that certain lines or phrases in this novel appear both in their original Korean (or Hanja) form and in English translation.
This is intentional — these phrases are classical idioms, divine titles, or poetic expressions that carry layered meanings.
To preserve their original tone and authenticity, the raw text has been kept for reference, while the English interpretation is provided right before or after it. This helps convey both the literal and cultural nuance of the original work.
but if you guys dont want tha raw for future chapters or my future other novels u can just text me on discord and say so discord name Mr.Penny