Chapter 42 - The Appearance of Baek Mu Yeong
“Tch……”
As Song Yeong opened his mouth to speak, flashes erupted from the forests on both sides.
Dozens of hidden weapons hurtled toward them.
Song Gyeom and his escort captain's swords whipped up a sword barrier.
Clang-clang-clang!
The projectiles failed to pierce the barrier, scattering in bursts of sparks.
A few grazed past Song Yeong.
“Tch……”
As Song Yeong tried to shout again, several black beads flew in.
At the same moment, Song Gyeom swung both arms like windmills.
A fierce gust arose, hurling the beads beyond the forest.
Whiiing!
Boom!
Explosions roared, pillars of flame shooting skyward. The ground beneath their feet trembled faintly from the sheer force.
“Follow me!”
Bam!
Song Gyeom kicked off the earth and leaped, the escort captain close behind.
They landed atop a massive boulder thrusting up through the underbrush—a spot chosen for its tactical high ground.
But Song Yeong didn't follow them. Instead, he launched himself toward the man in the tall hat.
“Dangerous!”
Urgency exploded from Song Gyeom's lips.
In his eyes, two masked assailants from the forests on either side charged at Song Yeong like daggers.
Their movements were swift and nimble as swallows, their blades already gleaming toward Song Yeong's neck and waist.
Despair filled Song Gyeom's gaze.
No one could dodge that assault. And he was too far to help.
“Ah……”
That was when it happened.
The man in the tall hat, strolling along so leisurely, moved.
Or rather, in the instant Song Gyeom thought he moved, one masked man's head exploded like a watermelon.
Splat!
A gruesome death without even a scream.
Simultaneously, the other masked man's head soared into the air.
* * *
“Brother!”
The man in the tall hat retracted his short staff from his sleeve and casually lifted the hat.
Revealing a rugged face of indomitable strength. Early thirties, perhaps?
Beneath sword-like arched brows, eyes eerily reminiscent of Yeon-hoo's impassive gaze narrowed slightly toward Song Yeong.
“What brings you here?”
“What brings you here, brother?”
“What else? On my way at the Lord's summons.”
“The Lord…… summoned you?”
“Yes. But what's all this about?”
“Ah!”
Smack!
Song Yeong smacked his own forehead with his fist and continued.
“Perfect timing. Help me out here. As you can see, we're in a scrap with some assassins, but I can't tell how many there are—it's all fuzzy.”
The man in the tall hat glanced at Song Gyeom and the escort captain, furrowing his brow.
“Your companions?”
“Yeah. I'll explain later…… Huh? They're gone.”
Song Yeong trailed off, eyes widening round.
The faint presences he'd sensed in the forests on both sides had vanished completely.
Creak.
“Guess the bastards saw you and got scared shitless, brother.”
“You've been slacking on your training.”
“……Pardon?”
“They just fell back a bit. They're still in those woods.”
“……”
“Let's go.”
The man in the tall hat started walking as if nothing had happened.
Song Yeong fell in beside him, sharpening his senses to the max.
But no presences stirred.
'This monster's gotten even stronger.'
* * *
Song Gyeom stared at the man in the tall hat and Song Yeong in astonishment.
Even in that split second, he'd seen it clearly.
As the man in the tall hat decapitated one masked assailant, Song Yeong's hand moved at invisible speed to slit another's throat.
'Hiding his strength……'
Song Gyeom glanced at the forests on both sides.
For some reason, the assassins had ceased all movement.
He turned back to Song Yeong and the tall-hatted man.
They were approaching the base of the boulder.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, perfectly fine.”
“And who might this be?”
“A close brother of mine. Brother, this is the Elder Council Chairman of the Iron Blood Clan.”
At Song Yeong's introduction, the man in the tall hat gave a slight bow and cupped his fists.
“Baek Mu Yeong.”
“Song Gyeom. You've rendered us great aid.”
“No need for thanks.”
Song Yeong scratched his head at Baek Mu Yeong's curt demeanor.
“We should head back before things get uglier, right?”
“That won't be easy.”
“……Pardon?”
Song Gyeom pointed grimly behind them with a stiff face.
Figures in colorful masks emerged from the forests on both sides.
Not only that—masked foes appeared at the northern path leading to the Iron Blood Clan.
For the first time, the ever-playful glint in Song Yeong's eyes turned ice-cold.
“The bastards brought a whole army. Sorry, brother. I dragged you into this……”
“Enough.”
Even amid the tension, Baek Mu Yeong's expression remained unchanged as he let the short staff slide from his sleeve.
With a click from both ends, one-chi blades sprang forth.
Click! Click!
Song Gyeom and the escort captain descended from the boulder.
Hummm.
A white glow began emanating from Song Gyeom's sword.
“We must break through somehow and return to the main house. I'll take the lead—follow carefully.”
Baek Mu Yeong stepped forward.
“They'll anticipate that. We should head another way.”
“……”
Baek Mu Yeong swept his gaze around and continued.
“West looks good.”
“Brother, won't that take us further from the Iron Blood Clan?”
“That's what they're counting on. They've posted the fewest troops at the western path. Better to take longer if it means we all escape safely.”
Baek Mu Yeong fixed his gaze on Song Gyeom.
A silent request for agreement.
Song Gyeom nodded.
“Wise counsel. So be it.”
“I'll take the rear.”
“The west has fewer foes, making the rear even more perilous. You seem summoned by the Lord himself—it's only right I take the danger.”
“This isn't about protecting the Chairman.”
“……”
Baek Mu Yeong lifted his chin toward Song Yeong.
“If this fool messes up, I'll be the one the Lord kills. So don't worry about me—lead the way.”
“Hey, brother, I'm not some kid……”
“Grow up, and I'll treat you like an adult.”
Song Gyeom watched with a peculiar glint in his eyes.
'Not a hint of tension in this situation……'
Meanwhile, hearing Yeon-hoo mentioned felt strangely profound. What sort of existence was Yeon-hoo to these men? The question lingered.
'First, let's survive this crisis.'
Song Gyeom nodded.
“Very well. But if harm comes to you two, I'll have no face left before the Lord—take care.”
“We will.”
Bam!
Song Gyeom kicked off first toward the west.
The escort captain and Song Yeong swiftly followed, with Baek Mu Yeong trailing five zhang behind.
“Whoa! They're heading west!”
“Block them!”
Caught off-guard, dismay rippled through the masked ranks.
They'd been completely flanked.
Anyone would assume they'd bolt north toward the Iron Blood Clan.
“How dare you treat this place so lightly!”
Song Gyeom's roar thundered.
A streak of sword energy shot like lightning at the blockers ahead.
Boom!
“Gah!”
One masked man's right arm shredded apart.
He'd blocked Song Gyeom's sword but couldn't withstand the impact.
Whish!
Hidden weapons flew from all directions.
But they'd anticipated this—the group simultaneously raised sword barriers and protective auras.
Clang-clang-clang!
The projectiles sparked off harmlessly, scattering everywhere.
Thud!
“Argh!”
Song Yeong's hand cleaved the air, sending a masked man's head flying clean off.
Song Gyeom and the escort captain each felled one as well.
Whish!
Another barrage whistled in.
Reflexively, they formed sword barriers and auras.
Clang-clang-clang!
The attack seemed futile again.
But a heavy groan escaped the escort captain.
“Urk!”
“……!”
Song Gyeom, ahead, whipped around, eyes wide.
Two hidden weapons were embedded in the escort captain's chest.
Tremble……
Song Gyeom's gaze shook.
The escort captain wasn't one to fall to mere projectiles—unless the thrower was a Heavenly Expert.
The escort captain bellowed desperately.
“Some pierce protective auras! Be careful!”
“Can you hold?!”
“Yes! Don't worry about me—keep running!”
Despite two hits, his eyes burned fierce.
Song Gyeom exhaled in relief and pressed on to clear the path.
Meanwhile, Song Yeong, right behind him, wrinkled his nose at a foul stench assaulting his senses.
'This……'
In an instant, his eyes bulged.
The stink came from the escort captain.
And it wasn't mere odor.
'Poison!'
That was when the escort captain turned to Song Yeong.
Their gazes locked across the air.
[Take care of the Chairman.]
Transmitting those words, the escort captain veered left before Song Yeong could respond.
A horde of masked foes pursued fiercely there too.
Song Yeong's eyes trembled.
“Damn it……”
“Stay sharp. Don't look back—run straight.”
Baek Mu Yeong shoved Song Yeong's back.
Song Gyeom, still blasting ahead, knew nothing of the rear.
Boom-boom!
“Arghhh!”
“Urk!”
Screams of agony erupted where the escort captain dove in.
But it was brief.
The momentarily stalled masked foes resumed the chase.
Watching, Song Yeong ground his teeth.
The escort captain's final gaze haunted him.
As he begged to protect Song Gyeom, tears welled in his eyes.
Recalling those droplets, uncontrollable rage surged.
“You fucking bastards…… I'll chew you all up.”
Fwoosh!