Chapter 58 - Canyon Battle (1)
"The lord approaches."
As Yeon-hoo entered the canyon, everyone bowed their heads. He turned to Ma Ui Tae.
"Red Wolf Corps will lend a hand. I've informed you in advance, so take care to ensure nothing goes wrong."
"Understood."
Yeon-hoo then addressed the group.
"Is everyone prepared?"
"Yes!"
"Then I'll explain the operation now."
Yeon-hoo outlined the plan he had already devised. Throughout his explanation, a strange energy rippled through the air around them. It was the warriors' battle intent and fighting spirit—the grim resolve to throw themselves into combat.
"No prisoners. Not a single one escapes this place. Are you all confident?"
"Yes!"
It burned hot. Ma Ui Tae's eyes trembled once more at the intense fighting spirit emanating from his warriors. These were the elites he had trained himself. Yet he had never felt an aura like this before.
"Sama family head."
"Yes, my lord."
"You take the rear of the canyon. I repeat, not one gets out."
"Understood."
Yeon-hoo turned to Dongbang Ri.
"You go with him."
"Yes."
"Cheol-u, gauge the situation in the fight. If it looks like too many enemies are breaking for the rear, support the two family heads."
"Understood."
Sama Song and Dongbang Ri moved to the canyon's rear. Cheol-u vanished into the shadows as always, while Ma Ui Tae and the warriors headed to the left of the entrance. A dense forest stood there, and Yeon-hoo had already given them their orders.
Left alone in the canyon's center, Yeon-hoo slowly drew his sword and plunged it into the ground.
Shing.
Thud!
A sudden wind from the entrance clawed at his body, making his blood-red cloak billow. The sight set the warriors' hearts ablaze.
Gwak Hong felt it too.
'Standing at the vanguard himself... This is the lord we've dreamed of!'
Gwak Hong's grip tightened on his sword hilt.
Then Ma Ui Tae's command rang out.
"Draw your swords in advance."
Shing!
All drew their blades in unison. The intangible energy rustled the underbrush, but it soon settled into silence.
Time passed. About two hours later, figures dashed into the canyon—Gwan-ryang and the Red Wolf Corps.
Yeon-hoo gazed beyond them. Northwest Murim's forces pursued fiercely.
Gwan-ryang asked, "Do we start?"
Yeon-hoo nodded silently and pulled his sword from the ground. Astonishingly, frost had formed white around where it had been planted. But no one saw it.
Clang!
Gwan-ryang drew his sword and turned toward the entrance. At his signal, the Red Wolf Corps warriors all unsheathed their weapons.
Ching ching clang!
Baring his fangs, Gwan-ryang grinned savagely at the charging foes and glanced back at Yeon-hoo.
"A drink after we're done?"
"As many as you want."
Gwan-ryang smirked.
"I'll buy the... "
His words cut off as his eyes widened. His hair whipped wildly in the wind Yeon-hoo stirred as he charged forward.
Whiiing!
A horizontal blade of sword energy flew forth. A middle-aged man slashed at it with all his might using his sword.
Boom!
"Urk!"
A groan escaped him as blood sprayed from his arm. Unable to withstand the impact, a broken bone pierced through his flesh.
Shhwick.
Dozens of hidden weapons targeted Yeon-hoo. But he ignored them, charging straight at the enemy.
Ting ting ting clang!
Sparks erupted around Yeon-hoo. The projectiles, failing to breach his body protecting aura, ricocheted back into the Northwest Murim warriors.
Thud thud!
"Argh!"
"Gah!"
Two men collapsed, bleeding from their own weapons. Then the middle-aged man's head who had blocked Yeon-hoo's strike soared into the air.
The explanation was long, but it all happened in an instant.
Shwick!
Fierce energy surged from Yeon-hoo's left. Without even glancing, he moved right. A scream erupted from the left.
"Argh!"
Gwan-ryang landed, hair flying, before a gruesome death where the man's upper and lower body split apart.
"If you chased me knowing who I am, you should've been prepared for this. Heh heh heh."
Yeon-hoo leaped into the enemy's midst, dancing his blade. The spot he entered became a death zone no one could escape.
Flash!
"Argh!"
"Grah!"
Light flashed, and screams followed without fail. No one could dodge or block Yeon-hoo's sword. Even if they did, it was futile.
Thud!
"Argh!"
Sword and man cleaved in two together.
"Uh...."
An enemy ambushing from behind recoiled in terror, only for Gwan-ryang's blade to sever his neck.
Cheol-u slew the stronger foes from the shadows. Ma Ui Tae and his elites blocked the entrance amid the chaos and struck the enemy's rear.
Kwa kwa kwak!
"Argh!"
"Gah!"
"How dare Northwest mongrels!"
Ma Ui Tae's sword was heavy, brimming with destructive power, and utterly merciless. The warrior's soul he had long suppressed exploded, transforming him into a raging lion.
Gwak Hong, fighting at his side, reddened his eyes.
'You've finally awakened? This is the commander's true form.'
Tears spilled from Gwak Hong's eyes. Seeing it, Ma Ui Tae roared.
"Pull yourself together!"
"Don't worry about me. I won't fall before you, Commander."
The numerical disadvantage—one-third their numbers—meant nothing in the clash. Yeon-hoo, Cheol-u, and Gwan-ryang's overwhelming might threw the enemy into chaos from the start. Once the momentum shifted, they lost thirty percent of their forces before they could even fight properly.
Wi Dong-hoe's face twitched violently. He was a distant relative of their lord Wi Yeon Gwang. That connection alone had propelled his swift rise, landing him the battle leader position today.
But his streak ended. The grueling war with Red Wolf Corps drew their lord's fury. Rumors swirled that Wi Yeon Gwang would demote the entire command staff and install new blood.
At that moment, Gwan-ryang appeared before him—a top-priority target after Red Wolf leader Gwan Baek.
'Must capture him no matter what.'
Wi Dong-hoe charged beyond Northern Murim's borders, heedless of backlash. To him, fretting over his future, Gwan-ryang was the ultimate card to turn it all around.
Everything seemed optimistic until the pursuit here. He trusted their near threefold superiority implicitly.
Then an unforeseen ambush: Northern Murim.
He spotted Ma Ui Tae dancing his blade amid his men at a glance. A master, felling his subordinates like autumn leaves.
But what chilled Wi Dong-hoe's heart was Yeon-hoo. He was the reaper incarnate—unblockable, unavoidable.
"Damn it! Where did that monster come from...."
He, the strongest, should step up—but he couldn't muster the nerve.
"Argh!"
"Grah!"
His men's agonized screams rattled his ears. The blood-soaked ground was hell itself.
"Battle Leader! These are masters we can't handle! We must escape now!"
At his aide's urgent cry, Wi Dong-hoe finally looked to the canyon entrance.
Tremble....
His eyes shook violently. The entrance was perfectly sealed. Few enemies held it, but enough for the narrow gap. With Yeon-hoo, Ma Ui Tae, and Gwan-ryang in the center path, breakthrough was unthinkable.
"How did this...."
Wi Dong-hoe wanted to deny the reality. But only one path remained.
'Must survive and escape. Can't end here.'
Regaining his cool, he racked his brain and decided.
"Break through the canyon! Throw everything north!"
He had spotted the north side lightly defended.
Wi Dong-hoe led the charge. But fewer than thirty could follow. Yeon-hoo and Gwan-ryang had split their forces, screams still echoing.
Grip!
Gnashing his teeth, Wi Dong-hoe poured energy into his sword. Then he hurled himself north with all his might.
Whoosh!
But he didn't know. Yeon-hoo had already read his intent. And Cheol-u, slaughtering from the shadows, was on the move.
'Lucky. Their leader's a fool....'
Yeon-hoo watched Wi Dong-hoe head north and sneered coldly. To the Northwest warriors watching, his smile was as chilling as a demon's.
Yet one brave soul acted.
Flash!
A sinister gleam flew from behind Yeon-hoo. He didn't even turn. The attacker met a grisly end, waist bisected by Gwan-ryang's sword.
Thud!
"Grah!"
"Focus!" Gwan-ryang shouted at Yeon-hoo.
Without looking, Yeon-hoo replied indifferently.
"I'll leave this to you."
"...!"
Whoosh!
Gwan-ryang stared at Yeon-hoo's back as he flew north, face blank with disbelief.
'What? Assumes I'll handle it without a second thought?'
A strange thrill gripped him. He saw a familiar figure in Yeon-hoo—one greater than life itself to him: Gwan Baek.
'Kinda reminds me of him....'