Chapter 180 - The Man with the Eerie Eyes
'Geomga, Hyeolga, and even Hwangha Suryeon...'
The situation was exceedingly complex. But the scene unfolding before him was exactly as Yeon-hoo had anticipated. Geomga, retreating from their clash with Hwangha Suryeon, had collided with Hyeolga, sparking utter chaos. Hwangha Suryeon was still in hot pursuit of Geomga, but Hyeolga had vanished without a trace.
Wooong.
Yeon-hoo drew the Blood Demon Chain. There was no reason to hold back against foes from Hwangha Suryeon. He waited for Bukgung Pae and Geomga's experts to draw as close as possible to the sheer cliffs on the right. In the meantime, Seobaek struck first.
Twaaaang!
Three arrows left the bowstring at once, piercing straight through Hwangha Suryeon's experts.
Thud thud thud!
"Argh!"
"Gaaah!"
"Gurk!"
"Enemies! Ambush ahead!"
Twaaaang! Thunk!
Another arrow speared through a comrade's skull, throwing Hwangha Suryeon's pursuers into disarray. None of them here were weak enough to fall to mere arrows. Yet in the blink of an eye, four men had crumpled, gushing blood.
"Use your body protecting aura!"
"Take cover in the woods!"
Hwangha Suryeon's experts scattered into the forest as one. But far more stood their ground. Even against an expert archer's ambush, they trusted themselves to deflect mere arrows.
Flash!
A streak of light sliced through the air. One Hwangha Suryeon expert, eyeing the incoming arrow, snorted and swung his sword.
Thunk!
"Gaaah!"
The swordsman screamed, clutching his face as he staggered. Blood poured between his fingers. The arrowhead had shattered on impact, spraying shards across his face.
Seobaek grinned at the sight.
"Naive bastard."
"Seobaek! Lure them into the rear gorge."
"Yes, sir!"
Seobaek leaped from his perch atop the tree, hurtling toward Bukgung Pae and Geomga's experts. Spotting him, Bukgung Pae assumed a battle stance.
"We're from the North. Here to help you—follow me."
"...!"
"No time for details. Just come on."
Seobaek plunged into the woods first. Bukgung Pae hesitated a moment, then signaled his men with a glance before chasing after him.
Meanwhile, Yeon-hoo gauged the distance between Bukgung Pae and their Hwangha Suryeon pursuers, channeling energy into the Blood Demon Chain.
Wooong.
The chain unfurled taut, transforming into a massive blade. Yeon-hoo tilted it sideways to maximize lethality.
Just then, Bukgung Pae and Geomga's experts followed Seobaek into the woods leading to the gorge. At the same moment, the Blood Demon Chain flew from Yeon-hoo's grasp.
Weeeeng! Shwaaak!
"Gasp! What the hell is that?!"
"Dodge!"
Crack crack crack!
Severed foliage erupted where the chain passed. Overawed by its ferocity, Hwangha Suryeon's experts scrambled aside. But the chain moved far faster than the eye could track.
Thud thud thud thud!
"Argh!"
"Gaaah!"
Those too slow to evade exploded into bloody mist, hurled through the air. Before returning to Yeon-hoo, the chain veered once more.
Weeeeng!
"Dodge!"
"Fall back—all of you!"
The survivors retreated swiftly. Some dove into the woods on either flank, only to clash with Hyeolga's experts fleeing westward through the trees.
Thud!
"Argh!"
"Gaaah!"
Screams erupted from the side woods. Hwangha Suryeon's experts abandoned the chase entirely, convinced ambushes lurked in the forest too.
Watching it all, Yeon-hoo eyed Hyeolga's experts vanishing swiftly into the woods.
'They won't dare follow anymore.'
He yearned to pursue and slaughter them all, but rescuing Geomga's experts came first. Yeon-hoo leaped down, extending a hand toward the stunned Hwangha Suryeon foes gaping at him in awkward stances.
Shwaaak!
The Blood Demon Chain whipped overhead into his grip.
Snap!
Yeon-hoo flung a cold remark at the frog-throated survivors.
"Get lost. If you charge again..."
Wooong!
The chain hummed with fresh energy, making them flinch back.
"We'll meet again soon."
Bam!
Yeon-hoo vanished into the woods. Someone wailed after his fading form.
"Damn it! A master like that in this world..."
No one dared pursue. As they hesitated, Ga Hoe leaped into the clearing. He scanned the carnage, approaching his huddled men.
"Why halt the chase?!"
"A master beyond us appeared."
"What?!"
Ga Hoe's brows twisted in fury.
"...In just two strikes, ten comrades were torn apart without a fight."
"So you defied my orders out of fear of death."
"That's not—" Crack! "Argh!"
Ga Hoe's palm burst from the back of the reporting blackcloak's head.
Thud!
Blood and brains dripping from his hand, Ga Hoe pointed coldly at his men.
"Where'd they go?"
"T-that way!"
"Pursue—all of you."
"Yes, sir!"
Crack crack crack!
The chase resumed. Ga Hoe stared into the woods his men had entered, surveying the hellish scene.
'Ten dead in two attacks?'
Unbelievable. These weren't Hwangha Suryeon's absolute elite, but they ranked among the top. Losing ten to two blows meant a Heavenly Expert.
'Who the hell is aiding Geomga?'
Whoosh!
A fierce gust clawed his face.
'They're in danger.'
Recalling the blackcloaks he'd sent to capture Bukgung Pae, Ga Hoe turned toward the woods. Behind him thundered hundreds more Hwangha Suryeon experts, charging like a herd of wild oxen.
* * *
A wooded path veering from the battlefield. Hwangtae, heading north along it, heard screams and clashes ahead. He vaulted swiftly to the treetops for a look—and his brow furrowed deeply.
Unknown forces were locked in a chaotic pursuit amid the fray. And right in the thick of it: his own subordinates. About ten of them.
They weren't fighting—they were fleeing the battle westward through the woods.
'Idiots.'
Hwangtae grasped it instantly. His men, pursuing Yeon-hoo northward, had stumbled into this clash. Half must be dead, judging by the ten still visible.
"You split forces for the pursuit?"
"Yes. The other half headed northwest toward Wall Thunder Manor."
Hwangtae's eyes twitched.
'Ten dead... Garak, that sly fox, has all the pretext he needs to strike me now.'
Hwangtae commanded no personal troops. Those trailing Yeon-hoo with him were all Elder Council forces under Garak. Their deaths stirred no regret or rage—just irritation at handing Garak ammunition.
"Lord! Someone's approaching!"
Hwangtae glanced where his man pointed. Someone barreled through the woods—directly below his perch.
'I can learn what happened from him.'
Swish!
Hwangtae dropped to the ground, barking coldly at the emerging conical-hatted figure.
"Halt."
Flash!
"...!"
The reply was a blinding streak, swift as light. Hwangtae twisted his waist with all his might, unleashing twin palms—no time to draw his sword.
Boom!
Dirt exploded amid the roar. Shock jarred Hwangtae's arms near to breaking; he surged energy to shield himself while drawing with his left. But before the blade cleared its sheath, the conical-hat was twenty paces away, plunging into the woods.
Tremble...
Hwangtae's eyes quivered. Since emerging from seclusion for his brother's vengeance, no blow had shaken him like this.
'Even a surprise attack shouldn't push me back this far...'
Creak.
Delayed shock rippled through him. No organ damage, but a metallic tang rose in his throat.
"Lord! Are you all right?!"
Hwangtae ignored him, staring ahead. Dozens charged fiercely—hundreds more behind.
"Lord! We must flee now!"
He bit his lip. His heart screamed to chase the one who'd repelled him, but his mind demanded safety first.
'I don't know who, but next time, it'll be different.'
Thud!
Kicking off, Hwangtae veered toward his pursuing subordinates' path.
* * *
'Not human eyes.'
Yeon-hoo recalled the man who'd suddenly blocked him. Sensing the intent to stop him, he'd struck with force enough to fell a Peak Expert. Yet the foe seemed merely jolted, unscathed.
He wanted to double back and finish him, but escorting Bukgung Pae to safety took precedence.
That fleeting glimpse of the man's eyes—indescribably bizarre, chilling.
'I've seen that look before...'
Moving onward, Yeon-hoo dredged his memories. It hit him soon enough: the gateway guardians of the Millennium Gate, Blood Prison.
They'd had eyes just like that.
'How can someone with their aura exist in this world?'
Impossible. Why? He'd killed every guardian.
All but one.
But it couldn't be her. The sole survivor was a woman.
"You're a demon."
'Should I turn back and interrogate him?'
Yeon-hoo glanced behind. They'd come too far already.