Chapter 29 - Deployment (2)
Wang-jeok was a renowned expert even in the Northwest Murim. With his ruthless temperament and cold efficiency in handling tasks, he had never failed a single mission entrusted to him, earning the utmost trust from Wi Yeon Gwang. Spotting Yeon-hoo entering the hall, he was inwardly shocked.
To approach this close without me sensing a thing...
He hadn't been careless. His focus hadn't wavered. Naturally, he should have detected anyone entering this range with his senses. Yeon-hoo merely glanced at Wang-jeok before fixing his gaze on Jin Mu and striding into the hall. It was as if Wang-jeok meant nothing to him.
Meanwhile, Jin Mu and the Bi-ryong Unit members were baffled by Yeon-hoo's sudden appearance. It was only natural—they had never seen him before.
Who the hell is that?
That was when it happened.
"Graaah!"
"Argh!"
Screams erupted. Every gaze whipped toward the rear. The enemies charging relentlessly along the ridgeline—that was where the cries originated.
"Enemy ambush!"
"Captain! It's our allies!"
One of Wang-jeok's subordinates and a Bi-ryong Unit member shouted simultaneously. Jin Mu's eyes bulged wide, but Wang-jeok showed no reaction. No, he had no room for one. His eyes were locked on Yeon-hoo. The chilling sensation that his throat could fly off with the slightest slip forced all his senses onto the man.
Was there someone like this in Northern Murim?
Wang-jeok, who knew the major experts of Northern Murim like the back of his hand, ransacked his memory. But Yeon-hoo matched no one.
In the midst of it, agonized death rattles chained together.
Clang!
"Kaaak!"
"Argh!"
"Give the order, Division Leader!"
Even amid his subordinate's urgent cry, Wang-jeok couldn't respond, his eyes fixed on Yeon-hoo without the slightest twitch.
Yeon-hoo strode straight to Jin Mu. The man's eyes brimmed with questions as he stared.
"Why didn't you retreat?"
"...Who are you?"
"Answer first. Why didn't you fall back?"
"I may not know who you are, but the warriors of Northern Murim never retreat before the enemy."
"A foolish judgment."
"...!"
"In war, victory for your allies comes before petty pride as a warrior. If you'd understood that, you would have pulled back, joined forces, and planned the next move instead of choosing meaningless death."
Shing.
Yeon-hoo slowly drew his sword. Before turning toward Wang-jeok, he added one more word to Jin Mu.
"Still, it was pretty impressive."
This bastard... does he not even consider me a threat?
Wang-jeok still couldn't tear his eyes away. But seeing Yeon-hoo casually converse with Jin Mu right in front of him eased the tension that had bound him just a fraction. His long-forgotten pride began to rear its head.
Their gazes locked in midair.
Tremble...
Wang-jeok's eyes quivered. The tremor spread to the tip of his lowered sword. Yeon-hoo's utterly indifferent pupils felt like a swamp from which there was no escape once ensnared. Tension crushed him anew.
"Graaah!"
"Ugh!"
The agonized screams from behind faded from his ears. Yeon-hoo spoke indifferently to such a Wang-jeok.
"Now it's your time to choose."
"Cut the games and reveal yourself."
"The man who will bring down your Northwest Murim."
"...What?"
Hummm!
Wang-jeok raised his sword, aiming at Yeon-hoo's brow.
"Now I see you're a proper madman."
"So you choose punishment after all..."
Flash!
Snow powder erupted like a storm around Yeon-hoo. Simultaneously, his figure left an afterimage as it surged toward Wang-jeok. No, in the instant it seemed to move, his qi-infused sword was already plummeting toward Wang-jeok's throat.
"...!"
Wang-jeok twisted his body with all his might. He whipped up his own sword to smack away the incoming blade.
Boom!
"Kuh!"
A groan burst amid the shockwave-spawned snowstorm. At the same time, Wang-jeok's subordinates began collapsing with death rattles.
"Kaaak!"
"Ugh!"
Cheol-u had moved. One sword, one kill. Each motion felled one man. Only after five bled out and crumpled did Wang-jeok's men retreat a dozen paces, forming ranks.
Cheol-u showed no sign of stopping. But the formed-up subordinates were no longer easy prey. Clang! Their defense was solid, counters vicious. Cheol-u fell back, catching his breath.
Wang-jeok landed before them.
Drip drip!
Blood pattered onto the snow, painting a wretched crimson flower. It flowed from Wang-jeok's body. Not just blood—what veiled his face, the human-skin mask, fluttered down.
"That guy's..."
"It's Wang-jeok of Northwest Murim, Captain."
The Bi-ryong Unit members were aghast. A single exchange. In one clash, the fearsome Wang-jeok bled and retreated.
Wang-jeok eyed the approaching Yeon-hoo with disbelief. Though just one exchange, he already knew. Yeon-hoo was beyond him.
"One more chance. Remember, their lives hinge on your choice."
"Shut up!"
Roaring coarsely, Wang-jeok wiped blood from his lips and raised his sword anew. But his momentum was broken, eyes clouded with conflict's shadow.
I can't die like this.
Drip drip!
Fresh blood from his body dyed the snow red. Then his sword plunged into it.
Thud!
"...I surrender."
Wang-jeok dropped to his knees on the snow, and his men behind him discarded swords and knelt as one. Jin Mu couldn't believe the scene unfolding before him.
Wang-jeok surrendering...?
The Wang-jeok he knew would die first. Yet he surrendered. Despite having fight left, he broke his sword and knelt.
The world has room for this too.
Jin Mu stared at Yeon-hoo anew. His back turned, he loomed like a colossal mountain.
That was when Jin Mu recalled the departed young lord. He saw him in that silhouette.
"How long will you kneel there?"
"...!"
Yeon-hoo pointed his sword at the ridgeline. Jin Mu snapped back to reality.
"Everyone, to the ridgeline!"
Jin Mu leaped first. The Bi-ryong Unit followed.
The first figure in Jin Mu's sight was Northern Army Commander Yun Hoe. Each flash of his longsword spilled an enemy's blood as they toppled.
"Bastard, you got here quick."
A gruff voice from the left. Turning, he saw comrades who had returned to headquarters for weapons, leading their units in fierce combat against the foes.
"What're you doing? Stop gawking and fight, you punk!"
Grip!
Jin Mu clutched his sword and charged the enemies. The Bi-ryong Unit, morale soaring from escaping death, surrounded him and unleashed a barrage.
"You dog bastards! I'll smash your skulls!"
"Send 'em all to hell!"
Kaboom!
"Kaaak!"
"Argh!"
The tide rapidly turned toward Northern Murim. Having come for just the Bi-ryong Unit, caught by surprise ambush, the enemies' morale shattered from the opening blow.
But the foes were no pushovers. Still numerically superior, a middle-aged man's cool judgment and leadership began slowly recovering from the initial setback.
Wi Ji-cheol. Cousin to Northwest Murim's lord Wi Yeon Gwang and Wall Thunder Manor's protector, he displayed exceptional skill, gradually reversing the battle.
Shrieeek!
Boom!
A sword beam aimed at him sparked and rebounded. Flash! But unable to withstand the impact, Wi Ji-cheol staggered back five steps.
A figure dropped before him. Yun Hoe.
Yun Hoe...
Wi Ji-cheol recognized him instantly. He'd seen him on battlefields before, and even without that, Yun Hoe was one dreaded by all Northwest Murim.
Yun Hoe didn't recognize Wi Ji-cheol. The human-skin mask hid his face.
Yun Hoe approached, slowly raising his sword tip.
"You don't look like some nameless grunt. Nor a mere bandit. If you don't want the shame of dying as one, reveal your identity."
"Curious? Make me talk with your skill."
"That's the plan."
Kaboom!
Snow powder stormed around Yun Hoe. The same erupted around Wi Ji-cheol.
Swirl...
Wi Ji-cheol angled his sword downward, stepping his left foot forward a pace. A blatant stance signaling defense followed by counterattack.
We took heavy losses in the opening. And with Yun Hoe here, I can't handle it alone. Without Division Leader Wang's aid, we all might bury our bones here.
Crisis gnawing, Wi Ji-cheol clenched his molars. Revealing his counter intent was to delay Yun Hoe's assault, buying time. In that instant, he swiftly scanned the ridgeline opposite where Wang-jeok had moved, to the north.
"...Guh!"
A strangled gasp tore from Wi Ji-cheol's lips. His eyes widened to tearing.
Ridgeline opposite, north. A man stood arrogantly gazing this way. What shocked Wi Ji-cheol was Wang-jeok kneeling beside him.
What the hell...?
Wi Ji-cheol's eyes shook violently with disbelief and horror. It was surrender, plain as day.
Yun Hoe's sword aimed at him lowered.
"No point fighting a man whose will is broken. You've seen—drop your sword."
"Shut up!"
Wi Ji-cheol bellowed at Wang-jeok.
"Surrendering! You call yourself a warrior after that, Wang-jeok?!"
His roar pierced the wind to Wang-jeok's ears. But Wang-jeok kept his head bowed, unmoving. Instead, the man standing arrogantly beside him moved—Yeon-hoo.
Wi Ji-cheol stared at Yeon-hoo descending air-step by air-step, his eyes quivering. The moment their gazes crossed the void, his body froze like stone.