Chapter 141
Chapter 141
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Return of the Wind Yang Divine Bow
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Heavenly Mountain was vast.
Thus, it featured a corresponding variety of terrains.
There were perfectly flat ridges without equal, rugged mountain valleys, places where blizzards raged, and on the same day, other spots where warm sunlight poured down.
And myriad animals suited to those environments made their homes there.
Mountain goats and rabbits grazed on grass and leaves, while meat-craving tigers, bears, wolves, and other savage beasts prowled as well.
Those beasts would occasionally descend to villages beyond the outer walls, wreaking havoc. To guard against them, bands of hunters patrolled the nearby ranges.
Crunch. Crunch.
On a wooded ridge of Heavenly Mountain.
A group moved through it with practiced ease.
Clad in gray hunting garb emblazoned with a mountain goat's horn across the chest, they were the Heavenly Mountain Enchanting Antelopes—a hunter band operating in the southern outskirts of Heavenly Mountain.
They advanced in clusters of three or four, maintaining distances between groups.
Then, Song Joa—the leader of the Heavenly Mountain Enchanting Antelopes at the fore—signaled with his hand, and they halted in place.
After holding their breath for a moment, they quietly nocked arrows to their bows.
Pew pew pew!
Led by Song Joa's signal, the whistle of arrows cleaving air rang out.
Soon, faint shadows in the distance flopped to the ground.
Confirming this, the hunters pressed forward behind Song Joa and found a pack of fallen wolves.
Wolves sprawled with three or four arrows buried in each body.
Song Joa scanned the surroundings, then nodded with satisfaction.
'Almost no misses.'
Even from that range, the accuracy was exceptional.
They all lived up to the name of hunter.
But one among them stood head and shoulders above the rest.
Song Joa's gaze shifted to the wolf pack's leader.
Larger than the others by a meaningful margin, it had been blisteringly fast—dodging arrows time and again.
Yet now, a single arrow pierced its heart dead-center.
Its owner: a recruit who'd joined the Heavenly Mountain Enchanting Antelopes mere months prior.
"Impressive. Felling that beast with one shot."
His eyes turned to the sturdy man standing stoically beside him.
Solidly built, greatbow slung across his back, he impassively reclaimed the arrow from the wolf's heart.
Song Joa had seldom seen emotion crack that face—enough to wonder if the man had ever been surprised.
"Yi Bija, this is your first hunt, just months ago?"
"Yes."
Song Joa marveled anew at the curt nod.
He was the man Song Joa had stumbled upon roaming Heavenly Mountain months back and recruited. Even then, his solo hunts had seemed unnatural.
Now, in short order, his prowess outshone the entire band.
Song Joa regarded him fondly with trusty eyes, then shifted gaze and spoke with concern.
"That said, no new traces yet."
They'd climbed deep into Heavenly Mountain by any measure.
The reason: a child gone missing from Heavenly Mountain's outer walls.
Days prior, villagers mobilized over the disappearance. The sole clue? Massive bear tracks.
Heavenly Mountain's hunters united to pursue them; the Enchanting Antelopes joined the search for child and bear alike.
Yet no further signs emerged—clueless drift persisted.
"......"
Yi Bija rested a hand on his chin, lost in thought.
Then, scanning methodically, he moved off somewhere.
Song Joa and the hunters cocked heads but followed.
Fifty paces on, he stopped before a tree. Followers looked up—and eyes bulged.
"No way!"
"That's...!"
On the trunk: claw marks from the very bear they'd hunted desperately.
The elusive trace hid not on earth, but bark.
Hunters clucked tongues in awe.
"Hides its steps, does it."
"Clever brute."
"First bear like this I've seen."
"How'd you spot it?"
Questions converged on Yi Bija.
He eyed the tree blankly.
"Inferred from traces so far."
What traces? Hunters found it absurd.
Still, trail secured, they traced the bear's path.
"Clue in hand—let's move."
Tracking tree scars, they soon found a cave.
Paw prints ended there. Led by Song Joa, they crept in, breaths held.
Shallower than thought—sunlight filtered through. The end came quick.
And there: mission accomplished.
The missing child huddled right there.
"......!"
Song Joa eyed his hunters, approached the boy, offered water and rations, spoke softly.
"You alright?"
But the child only trembled, curled tight.
Eyes vacant with terror.
Song Joa gripped a shoulder gently.
"Easy now. What happened?"
The boy contorted his face, met Song Joa's gaze, lips quivered open.
"R-run... away..."
Run? With hunters aplenty?
Song Joa tilted head—
Then, rear sunlight dimmed slow.
"......?"
Hunters whipped toward entrance as light died.
The sight silenced them all.
No eclipse.
A colossal black bear filled the mouth, blocking light—staring them down.
Upright, head brushed ceiling. A spirit beast worthy of legend.
"Ah......"
"That...?"
Seasoned hunters gaped, will shattered by mere sight.
Moments later—
Roooaaarrr!
The bear bellowed, charged.
Hunters split: some dropped arms or slumped in surrender; others bolted to walls in panic.
Instinct over logic—no retreat possible.
Song Joa alone loosed an arrow head-on amid the rout.
It struck true—chest—but ricocheted off thick hide.
"Damn!"
Face twisting, he retreated, mind racing.
Hide impenetrable.
Best bet: blind it via eyes, flee...
'......Hm?'
Retreating, eyes caught one figure.
The man, still guarding the child calmly.
"Yi Bija! Move!"
But he stood like stone.
Soon, greatbow drawn taut on bear—arrow ready.
Song Joa blanched, desperate.
"No! Master or not, that hide's—!"
Boom!
Arrow flew—thunder cracked the cave.
Hunters tracked it: eyes saucered, jaws dropped, hearts hammered, shivers wracked.
Impenetrable behemoth.
Upper torso: gaping hole.
Sunlight streamed through the bore.
'Archery's pinnacle...?'
Unbelievable—even seen; hunters petrified.
Song Joa gawked at remains too—but leader's duty snapped him back. He ordered cleanup.
Done, he gulped, neared Yi Bija—voice shook.
"What are you...?"
"Ordinary archer."
"......"
Speechless at the flat tone.
Later, hunters bore fainted child from cave, straight to village.
"Thank you! Thank you!"
Enchanting Antelopes hailed as heroes, gratitude poured.
Hunters scratched heads sheepish—they'd been saved by one.
Thus, to their savior:
"Thanks. You extended our lives."
"Thought we were goners."
"Yi Bija saved the day."
"Hah! Rock-solid rear guard!"
Praise flowed endless; he let it slide past, blank-faced.
Song Joa smirked.
"Alright, day's done. Rest up, regroup later."
"Aye!"
"Four days from now, rally at—"
Footsteps.
Someone approached.
Origin obvious at once.
Familiar black cult garb: a demon soldier of the faith.
Song Joa paused, cautious.
"What brings you?"
Cold scan of hunters, then low voice.
"No business with you."
Gaze to rear: Yi Bija.
"Cult Leader's command for you."
"C-Cult Leader?!"
Hunters' shocked stares swarmed him.
Yi Bija met messenger's eyes evenly, soon knelt one knee slow.
Wind Yang Divine Bow. Main palace. Return.
Unthinkable words; hunters' eyes bulged.
Yi Bija nodded blankly amid it all.
"I obey the Cult Leader's will."