Fate (2)
Whoosh!
Blazing flames shot skyward like a soaring dragon.
“Aaaargh!”
“R-run! Hurry!”
“Don’t run! Block them... Gaaah!”
Splat!
Grotesque sounds of flesh tearing, agonized screams, and spurting blood soaking the earth echoed from every direction. A cacophony of horrific noises filled the air, each one heralding the downfall of the merchant group.
Boom!
Incredibly, hundreds of attackers advanced by smashing through an enormous stone wall in one go. No mystical martial arts or brilliant tactics—just burly giants wielding iron hammers the size of a man's head, pulverizing the barrier haphazardly, while swift bandits like arrows infiltrated the breaches.
Simple, yet perfectly coordinated. Breachers shattered defenses, infiltrators poured in, long-range specialists covered from afar—each knew instinctively when to act.
Even for bandits accustomed to raids, this was unnaturally systematic. Seasoned warriors extracting maximum efficiency from basic tactics.
That was the Hwarang Group.
Thwack!
“Kyaaah!”
“Aaaah!”
They swept through like a storm, intent on annihilation. Guards, adults, anyone in sight—slaughtered without mercy.
The Hae Ryong Merchant Group was positioned far from the main road, a spot that lent them an air of exclusivity but proved a fatal drawback now, making it hard to alert outsiders.
Merchant groups rarely fell to invasions—they weren't martial sects, after all.
“What the hell are these bastards?!”
Yeong Cheon Hyang seethed with rage.
“How dare a bunch of black path scum attack us without fear...!”
Then it happened.
Flutter!
In the distance, massive flags billowed in the wind. Gray banners emblazoned with bold characters: (wolf) and (bandit).
Bandits? No way those are just bandits!
Yeong Cheon Hyang couldn't believe it. What bandit group in the world was this powerful? And their numbers exceeded five hundred.
His eyes bulged.
“N-no way... the Hwarang Group?!”
Gray flags with wolf and bandit. Who else but the supreme bandits of the outer realms would flaunt such archaic banners? A bandit group parading elegant flags was shocking in itself.
Boom!
Not content with crumbling the western wall, now the northern one collapsed too. Their overflowing power was uncontainable. Outnumbered and killers by trade, even a top Shandong merchant like Hae Ryong was helpless.
No choice now. Over three hundred bandits had breached the outer compound for a massacre, dozens more into the inner. At this rate, all would die.
Time for a decision.
“Gu Hyo! Secure an escape route and evacuate everyone!”
“L-Leader! What about the warehouse treasures...?”
“We're all about to die—what good are riches? Lead them out now!”
“Understood!”
He'd already stashed a fortune externally; otherwise, he'd have prioritized the warehouse. As survivors fled via secret passages to back roads—
Thud!
Three bloodied men flew through the air.
“Gasp!”
“B-bandits!”
At the escape route's end—known only to leadership—over three hundred bandits lay in wait.
Hang Chun barked coldly.
“What are you waiting for? Tear them apart!”
“Raaargh!”
Bandits howled weirdly, swinging weapons. Those buoyed by survival hopes died in despair.
True deadlock.
Terror gripped Yeong Cheon Hyang too. He knew martial arts, but nothing brag-worthy.
Then, his eyes caught a man at the charging bandits' rear.
“You!”
Recognizable from afar—blood brother.
“Go Wi! Why the hell are you there?!”
Yeong Go Wi turned away deliberately. Yeong Cheon Hyang's eyes bloodshot.
That gesture said it all.
“You goddamn traitor! Teaming with bandits to kill your own family?!”
Then—
“Shut your yapping.”
Boom!
Like a massive boulder charging. The hulking figure crushed over a dozen warriors into pulp—Pa Sa Leok himself.
Yeong Cheon Hyang paled like paper. Pa Sa Leok's snake-slit eyes, mismatched to his bulk, pinned him. He froze like a mouse before a giant viper.
“You the merchant leader?”
“Y-you bastard!”
“Bastard?”
Pa Sa Leok swung his enormous fist like a hammer.
Crack!
Shattering the crown, cleaving vertically to the collarbone—unbelievably savage.
Survivors blanched. First time seeing such gruesome death.
Pa Sa Leok snorted.
“Even a top Shandong merchant's this weak?”
Having seized control with shocking murder, he bellowed.
“Kill 'em all, men, women, old, young—spare ten usable women!”
“Waaargh!”
Blood fog rose; flesh and bone fragments scattered. Hell unbound.
“Army Leader!”
“...”
“Give the order now!”
Tang Ma Army Squad Leader Gyu Byeok shouted.
Mo Yong Woo didn't respond. He just gazed endlessly deep at the burning Hae Ryong compound.
Gyu Byeok grew frantic.
“Army Leader!”
Then, Squad Leader Jin Pae spoke.
“Calm down, Gyu.”
“Fuck this! You think I can stay calm, brother?!”
“On duty. No private titles.”
Gyu Byeok shuddered, took a deep breath, and yelled.
“Army Leader! Send at least our squad! We'll hit them now!”
Mo Yong Woo finally spoke.
“One squad's pointless.”
“Army Leader?!”
Jin Pae shouted.
“Gyu! Can't you see that bandit group's prowess? Charging without a plan just means heavy losses on both sides!”
“...!”
“Cool your head. You're a hundred-man captain responsible for a hundred lives. Remember rash judgment means your men's dog death.”
Gyu Byeok bit his lip. He knew. But those bandits slaughtered not just warriors, even untrained folk. Unbearable for any righteous soul.
Jin Pae eyed Mo Yong Woo.
Army Leader.
Expressionless, clear deep eyes overlooking the invasion. But Jin Pae saw his clenched jaw. Mo Yong Woo suppressed boiling rage.
A shaky leader endangers troops. Mo Yong Woo knew instinctively.
Moments later, he said.
“First, halt the fight.”
“Pardon?”
To Fifth Squad Leader Gye Ok:
“When Myeol Sa Army finishes Hwa Un Ri, they'll climb the southern valley. Take your squad to them.”
“To Myeol Sa Army?”
“Tell Army Leader Yeon: primary ambush needs Myeol Sa Army. One strike decides it.”
“...!”
“He'll understand.”
“Yes, sir!”
Gye Ok led his squad down the slope.
Mo Yong Woo eyed northwest rear.
Muk Bi.
Sole remaining Myeol Sa Army member under Yeon Hojeong's orders.
He raised his left fist high.
That was the signal. She'd see and comprehend.
“Full army.”
Shing!
He drew his massive greatsword.
“Advance.”
“Waaah!”
Four hundred Tang Ma troops descended the steep path terrifyingly fast, reaching ten paces from the crumbled wall in moments.
Then—
Pheew!
A swift arrow flew at Mo Yong Woo's head.
Thwap!
Casually snatching it left-handed, he snapped the shaft.
Hummm!
The famed sword crafted by Henan’s top smith for him as Tang Ma Army Leader—Tang Ma Greatsword—surged with Geon Gon Pal Gyeok Jin Gi.
His eyes flashed murderous intent.
Boom!
One mounted swing dispersed flames, shredding three nearby bandits.
“...!”
Outer bandits gaped at him.
Mo Yong Woo said calmly.
“Bring your boss.”
* * *
“Gaaah!”
“Y-you lunatics! What are you?!”
Thwack!
Dong Ho, having blown off a bandit's head with Dead Leaf Hand Strike, said coldly.
“We're Myeol Sa Army.”
Clang! Thud! Slash!
After weapon clashes came bodies shattering.
Myeol Sa Army was strong. Disciples of the Nine Great Sects—pillars of white path Murim—unleashed over full power from their inherited arts, honed through endless battles and near-death ordeals.
Worlds apart from their first fights. No major growth, yet vast improvement. Frantic moves gone; minimal, efficient motions with clean killing swords massacred a hundred fifty Hwarang bandits.
Boom!
Most standout: Paeng Manho.
Battle-hardened, far stronger than before—but unlike others, not refined. Not weakness; his innate strength and rigid strong-attack arts demanded raw power.
Thus, in battle, Paeng Manho always led. Crushing enemy morale with opening blows.
One hour in: zero Myeol Sa casualties; Hwarang down to five of hundred fifty, the rest crossed death's river.
“Tch!”
Cheon Gwi gnashed teeth, body etched with countless cuts.
“What are you? From the Martial Alliance?!”
Myeol Sa troops silently stared down the five.
Cheon Gwi choked. Women among them. Normally, he'd taunt with filth—but now, impossible.
Damn...!
Expressionless faces, emotionless eyes gazing down. Eerily chilling.
That pressure silenced even Hwarang's foulest mouth.
Then—
“Army Leader's here.”
Clink!
Weapons sheathed in unison; they swiftly formed ranks.
Yeon Hojeong emerged through troops. Clothes blood-spattered, but Gwang Yong Bu's blade spotless.
...!
Cheon Gwi shuddered. Meeting eyes with the man wielding that monstrous axe—vision darkened.
Yeon Hojeong asked.
“Why spare them?”
Yeoguk replied.
“They offered intel on Hwarang Group. Held them just in case.”
Yeon Hojeong smirked. Obvious ploy.
Then, faint ground tremor.
Click!
Troops hands on weapons.
Moments later, Tang Ma Fifth Squad Leader Gye Ok appeared.
“Message from Tang Ma Army Leader!”
Yeon Hojeong's eyes gleamed at the words.
“Ambush, huh...”
He nodded.
“We'll move now.”
“Understood.”
Flutter!
Yeon Hojeong mounted.
“Army Leader. These?”
“'Intel' is bullshit.”
Coldly:
“Kill them all.”
“Yes, sir.”
Cheon Gwi cried desperately.
“W-wait...!”
Thwack!
Five heads soared skyward.