Pursuit Battle (2)
“There’s no escape for you, Bukgung Pae.”
Ga Hoe sneered coldly, fixing his gaze on Bukgung Pae as he cut across the open field. He shifted his eyes to the warships gliding down the river.
“Just in case, I repositioned them here—and lo and behold, you arrive right on schedule. Heh heh heh.”
“Strategist, it looks like they’re about to attempt a river crossing. At this rate, they’ll be faster than our warships.”
“No need for concern. They’ll never make it across that river.”
Snap! Ga Hoe flicked his fingers, and the man standing beside him pulled a long tube from his bosom, lighting the fuse.
Sizzle. Fwoosh! Boom! Another firework burst into the sky.
“The secret weapon we’ve prepared in utmost secrecy—unknown to the world—will halt their crossing.”
No sooner had Ga Hoe spoken than figures leaped from the warships into the water. About twenty of them, all clad in bizarre, glossy outfits that shimmered like fish scales.
It was then.
Screeech! An eagle swooped down from above Ga Hoe’s head with a piercing cry, landing lightly on his shoulder.
“This one’s another of our secret weapons the world knows nothing about, isn’t it? Heh heh heh.”
“It played a major role. Otherwise, we’d have lost their trail completely. No group can surpass our tracking arts now.”
“Take it and feed it well.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ga Hoe handed the eagle to his subordinate and turned his gaze back to Bukgung Pae. In that short time, they had drawn very close to the river.
Ga Hoe bared his teeth in a grin.
“The moment they dive into the water, they’ll taste hell. Heh heh heh.”
Yeon-hoo glanced back at Hwangha Suryeon’s warships.
This should be enough.
The warships were slower than expected. They’d likely cross without much resistance.
It was then.
Boom! Another firework exploded in the sky.
Figures in eerie garb appeared at the prow of the lead warship, then plunged into the water. Strangest of all, none resurfaced.
If they’re aquatic specialists…
Twang! Yeon-hoo surged ahead.
“Everyone, follow me!”
Yeon-hoo veered toward the downstream.
It was the complete opposite of their intended path, so Bukgung Pae shouted, “The river’s right there—why change course?”
“There are strange bastards in the water.”
“……!”
Bukgung Pae, who hadn’t seen the divers from the warships, couldn’t fathom it. Peering into the river from here was impossible.
Yeon-hoo pressed further downstream.
No matter how fast they are in the water, they can’t outpace land-based lightness skill.
He planned to widen the gap with the divers, then cross. The downstream wasn’t guaranteed safe, but it beat fighting invisible foes.
Whistle! As they closed in on their pursuers while turning, hidden weapons flew.
But no one here was weak enough to fall to them.
Clang clang clang! The projectiles bounced off their body-protecting auras.
The misses vanished into the underbrush.
Twang! Seobaek’s bowstring sang crisply. The arrow pierced a pursuer’s skull.
“Argh!”
The river was now about twenty zhang away. Hwangha Suryeon’s chasers were roughly thirty zhang behind.
Whistle! As another black cloud of hidden weapons darkened the sky, the Blood Demon Chain whipped from Yeon-hoo’s hand.
Whirrr! Skimming low over the brush, it engulfed the lead Hwangha Suryeon experts.
Splat splat thud!
“Arghhh!”
“Gah!”
Those leaping to evade had their waists severed; those diving into the brush lost their heads. Ten men crumpled in pieces from a single strike.
“What in the world…”
Someone’s voice dripped with disbelief.
Twang! Seobaek unleashed a rapid volley.
Whistle! Thud!
“Argh!”
“Gurk!”
His archery was flawless, but their numbers blunted the impact. Still, it slowed the vanguard enough.
By then, the river loomed.
Starting with Yeon-hoo, they plunged in one after another.
Splash splash splash! Hundreds, thousands of small sprays erupted over the water where hidden weapons fell.
No one was hit, but raising auras slowed them. The rear risked being caught.
It was then.
Yeon-hoo’s hands turned ghostly white. He unleashed palm force at the river, sending sprays skyward that froze in an instant.
Crack! Dozens, hundreds of ice chunks formed in the air, then shot like arrows at the pursuers. The Blood Demon Chain amplified them to blinding speed.
Faster speed meant greater force. Unimaginable carnage followed.
Whistle! Whirrr! Splat splat splat!
“Arghhh!”
“Gah!”
The ferocious Hwangha Suryeon charge faltered. Seizing the gap, Bukgung Pae and the rest crossed safely.
Yeon-hoo stood atop a rock, scanning the field. He spotted Ga Hoe.
The man who’d exuded fiercer intensity than Hwangha Suryeon’s lord Umunjeok back at Baekya-beol—Yeon-hoo remembered him well.
For Geomga to survive with the strategist personally involved is the real anomaly…
Yeon-hoo hesitated. Save just Geomga and withdraw? Or slay Ga Hoe for a massive blow to Hwangha Suryeon?
His instincts urged the latter. Their next target was Hwangha Suryeon anyway. Cutting down their absolute pillar now would crush their momentum perfectly.
But he couldn’t move. Their forces were too vast, and he couldn’t guarantee the others’ safety without him.
“Hurry!”
Dongbang Ri’s desperate cry snapped Yeon-hoo from his turmoil. He turned away.
I’ll let you slide today.
“……!”
Ga Hoe couldn’t believe his eyes. He’d never seen or even heard of such a technique—with that power.
Did Geomga have someone wielding arts like that? No. There’s an outsider we don’t know about!
Grind! Ga Hoe clenched his teeth.
Even if a Martial God lurked there, he had to claim some victory now that he’d stepped up. Otherwise, it’d tarnish his pride—and invite backlash within Hwangha Suryeon.
Ga Hoe whirled to his aides.
“Concentrate all forces there! Deploy every soldier from the warships into the pursuit!”
“Yes, sir!”
Fwoosh! Boom boom! Fireworks burst in succession.
The downstream warships halted abruptly, disgorging hundreds onto the riverbank.
Ga Hoe shed his wind cape and charged into the field. As he did, his hidden guards materialized like ghosts, forming an ironclad escort around his flanks and rear.
Yeon-hoo took point again. After two shichen of flight, he abruptly veered northwest—their original path, now fully blockaded by Hwangha Suryeon.
“Why head that way?!”
Bukgung Pae bellowed.
“Trust me and follow.”
“……”
Only Bukgung Pae and Geomga’s experts harbored doubts. Cheol-u and the rest trailed Yeon-hoo as if it had been the plan all along.
It was absolute faith.
How much farther did they run? The forest ended at a swamp. Beyond the riverbank woods, Hwangha Suryeon’s halted warships faintly appeared.
No, why here…
Bukgung Pae’s eyes widened. They’d looped back to the deadly gauntlet they’d barely escaped.
What’s he thinking?
Bukgung Pae stared at Yeon-hoo’s back in bewilderment. Stranger still, he felt no real worry. Just follow—that’s all.
[Senior brother, is this truly fine?]
One expert transmitted. Bukgung Pae shook his head.
[This is the time to trust him. No hesitation—just follow.]
Yeon-hoo skirted the swamp, hugging the riverine forest. After a hundred zhang, where river met woods, a massive erosion-carved pit emerged—hidden by overhanging branches behind sheer cliffs.
Yeon-hoo led them straight in without pause. Invisible unless sought, with a clear view of the river for spotting foes. Perfect for concealment, if cramped—most would stay in the water.
“Wait here.”
“Yes.”
“Climb up.”
“I’m fine.”
“With the family head down there, others will be uncomfortable.”
“……”
“He’s right. Come up, family head.”
Dongbang Ri relented, taking the narrow ledge. Yeon-hoo and Bukgung Pae flanked her.
Cheol-u asked, “Plan to hole up until they withdraw?”
“Hadn’t thought that far. We’ll find a way now.”
“……”
With a moment to breathe, Bukgung Pae voiced his curiosity.
“Did you know of this place?”
“Any river with curving currents has spots like this.”
Yeon-hoo pointed upstream as he spoke. All eyes followed.
The gentle flow frothed fiercely at the edges there, a side current linking to their pit before merging with the main.
Bukgung Pae marveled.
Finding this amid the chaos…
Finding it was astonishing enough. Choosing it mid-flight, without hesitation? That demanded unshakeable self-belief and resolve.
The North didn’t conquer the Northwest by luck alone.
Many dismissed the merger as Wi Yeon Gwang’s incompetence plus Northern fortune. Bukgung Pae started to ask more, then stopped. Yeon-hoo’s eyes were closed.
Bukgung Pae waited eagerly. What stratagem would those eyes unveil next to stun him?
Why does this feel so reassuring?
Beneath the anticipation lay an unfamiliar peace.