Chapter 136 - Winds of Blood on the Plains (1)
The Goat's face flushed beet red as he emerged from the canyon. The sheer humiliation of pulling this many troops out of the canyon over a single man was an insult beyond measure.
He agonized over whether to retreat or press the attack. Backing off now would doom his future to darkness. But pushing forward meant turning the entire Northern Murim against him. If the opponent were just some nobody from the North, it would be no contest—but Yeon-hoo was the North's lord. The backlash from slaying him was something even the Goat couldn't fathom.
'The North is on a path to ruin. The world has turned its back on them. In that case...'
The deliberation didn't last long. In the end, the Goat resolved to complete his mission, no matter how Yeon-hoo responded.
He glared at the canyon mouth. Yeon-hoo was stepping out, followed by the Demon Corps that had inflicted such devastating losses in mere moments.
The Goat bellowed, channeling his internal energy. "Don't blow this out of proportion over the Mudan Sect—they have nothing to do with you! I said it before: give us those bastards, and we'll leave peacefully!"
The only reply was the whisper of the wind.
"Something feels off. He wouldn't face us alone without some ace up his sleeve..."
At his lieutenant's words, the Goat furrowed his brow. The man continued, "Delay too long, and Northern forces could swarm us. Give the order, my lord."
"We complete the mission and withdraw."
"Shall we attack, then?"
The Goat hesitated briefly before nodding. "Surround that man and the rear guard with your detachment, then lead some troops into the canyon and wipe out the Mudan Sect scum. But bring that one from earlier back alive."
"Understood."
As the lieutenant vanished into the ranks, the Goat took a deep breath and issued the command. "Battle formation!"
"Battle formation! Battle formation!"
Clack-clack-clack! The Golden Merchant Group's experts swiftly reorganized. About a hundred peeled off from the main body, poised to charge the canyon at any moment.
Nearly two thousand troops baring their fangs made the mountains and grasses fall eerily silent.
Yeon-hoo halted twenty zhang from the canyon entrance. As the Demon Corps fanned out in a long horizontal line behind him, the Goat's eyebrows twisted into an inverted eight.
He took it as a silent warning: no one enters the canyon.
"You fools will only weep when you see the coffin. If you're set on this, I have no choice."
The Goat drew a massive breath, steeling his abdomen to roar the assault order.
That was when it happened.
"Northern troops! Northern army incoming!"
"Northern cavalry charging!"
"...!"
A sudden uproar erupted from the rear. The Goat's head snapped around reflexively.
At the edge of the slightly elevated plain where they stood—where sky met earth—a thick dust cloud billowed.
Thud-thud-thud!
The Goat's face twisted in fury. "So you did have backup. But mere cavalry won't handle us."
"That dust cloud means a massive force! Order now, my lord!"
"You take two hundred elites and deal with him! The rest face the cavalry!"
"Yes, sir!"
With resolve hardened, the Goat wasted no time. He watched the lieutenant and his elites charge briefly, then turned back to the horizon.
Chaos exploded from the rear again.
"B-Blood King Army!"
"Argh!"
The Goat's eyes bulged. "What?! The Blood King Army?!"
Only then did he realize his oversight: Jang So's defection with the Jecheon Army had brought Blood King Sinhwi and his invincible host under Northern Murim's banner.
Those who opposed the Blood King would meet only blood and death.
'Something's wrong. This... can't be!'
* * *
Thud-thud-thud!
Yeon-hoo eyed the Blood King Army thundering in, kicking up clouds of dust. Faster than expected. Their mobility was, as ever, well-deserved legend.
Seo-wi-ryang approached. "My lord, they're closing in."
Yeon-hoo glanced where he pointed. About two hundred were bearing down on them.
"Wi-ryang."
"Yes, my lord."
"Bu Cha."
"Yes! My lord!"
"Let none through. And don't step up to 'help' me."
"..."
"That's an order."
Yeon-hoo launched toward the approaching Golden Merchant Group. At a glance, it looked like a sprint, but his feet hovered a chi off the ground.
The vanished Blood Demon Chain reemerged.
Weeeeng!
Pfbt-pfbt-pfft!
"Krak!"
"Gaaak!"
The Demon Corps' banner, the Blood Demon Chain, was the grim reaper's scythe, birthing blood and death. Most hadn't witnessed its terror inside the canyon, so seeing five comrades pulped in one strike sent shockwaves through them.
"He's alone! Don't fear—attack!"
The Goat's lieutenant rallied his men.
Weeeeng!
The Blood Demon Chain plummeted vertically from overhead.
"...!"
Boom!
By a hair's breadth, it gouged a thin, deep furrow in the earth before surging skyward. All heads instinctively followed its rise.
A fatal mistake before Yeon-hoo.
"Gasp!"
The lieutenant gulped dry air, sensing the shift. Yeon-hoo was already upon him.
His sword flashed instinctively.
Clang!
Kang!
It shattered against Moon Fang and spun away. The rest needed no seeing.
Splat!
"Guh!"
Moon Fang's twin blades punched through his back. Left side—heart pierced—instant death followed.
"The young lord's down!"
"R-Retreat!"
"What bullshit! Charge!"
Janghan bellowed in rage. Yeon-hoo's gaze shifted to him.
Their eyes met, and Janghan froze. No human could withstand that stare fully.
Weeeeng!
Splat!
The Blood Demon Chain cleaved him vertically. His bisected corpse splayed open, spilling blood and guts in a sight too horrific for words.
"E-Even the squad leader!"
"Damn it! Retreat!"
A few strikes, and the Golden Merchant elites fled in panic. But some were brave.
Two dozen dodged Yeon-hoo toward the canyon mouth. He knew of them but ignored, hurtling toward the Goat.
"Come on, you bastards?"
"Hand over your skulls!"
Kwajik!
Kwakwakwak!
"Krak!"
"Gaaak!"
Screams of agony tore from behind. The Demon Corps guarding the canyon had revealed their savagery.
But Seo-wi-ryang's hands were crueler. His blade hacked, stabbed, and rent flesh indiscriminately. Yuksoon, like a brother to him, fueled his fury.
"W-We surrender!"
The remnants tossed swords and knelt. Seo-wi-ryang refused even that.
Pfbt!
"Krak!"
"Guk!"
Before a moment passed, the two dozen Golden Merchant elites lay cold on the earth.
Seo-wi-ryang wiped blood from his face and looked to Yeon-hoo. His eyes still gleamed with killing intent.
* * *
Seobaek's new weapons went first to the Blood King Army. Yeon-hoo's decree: arm the strongest, most immediate heavy hitters first.
The original Blood King Army were already the world's fiercest war ghosts, superior to even Gwan Baek's Red Wolf Corps in group combat. Arming these ghosts with far deadlier weapons went without saying.
Not just men— their warhorses donned lighter armor twice as tough.
Two thousand such Blood King troops.
Thud-thud-thud!
At the fore, Sin U rode like the wind, long spear in right hand instead of sword.
Could spears channel qi too?
Chirrrk.
Its blade glowed white.
"Switch to charge formation!"
"Charge formation!"
"Blood King Army charge wedge!"
The two thousand shifted mid-gallop into a sharp triangular spearhead, plunging the Golden Merchant elites into dread.
Gulp!
Someone swallowed hard. "Damn it. Not just cavalry—the world's Blood King Army. Shouldn't we just retreat?"
"Fuck! We're all dead!"
Fear and terror spread like plague, incurable until survival or death.
Screee!
Dong-dong-dong!
Piercing horns and thunderous drums signaled attack.
"Damn it! Whatever—charge!"
"Go!"
Frontline Golden experts rushed the Blood King Army. Hesitant ones steeled themselves, heralding the clash.
Sin U raised his spear. "Plow straight through."
Kwajik!
Kwakwakwak!
"Kraaaak!"
"Gaaak!"