Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 127
Chapter Title: The Real Reason He Can't Give Up Martial Arts
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Killing intent vanished even faster than it had appeared. But the ripples spread all the way to the lake's edge.
“I learned medicine when I was young. It looks like he was stabbed with something sharp like an awl. Is that right?”
“Yeah.”
Ak Muyoo nodded. Then he continued.
“It's also the reason I can't give up martial arts with this beggar-wrapped body of mine.”
“Did it pierce through your back?”
“Yeah.”
“How did you survive?”
“That's a secret.”
“Is it on the right side?”
“……He asked me to tell the Northern Divine House that he was so happy in his final years, he'll never forget it even in death. And he left behind his sword. He said it's payment for the errand. If you want to keep it, it's yours.”
Ak Muyoo changed the subject.
“That was a birthday gift I gave to Yu. You can have it.”
“The general said it contains the Radiant World Divine Art hidden inside. You sure it's okay to just hand it over?”
“Take it. But Yu's body……”
“It's properly buried, so no beasts will get to it.”
“That's a relief.”
“Yeah.”
Ak Muyoo fished out his sun-bleached robes from the sand and rinsed them off. He then dipped the clothes by the lake's edge and washed away the sand and sweat.
He wrung them out by hand to squeeze out the water before stepping out.
“I'll dry them for you.”
Mokma followed behind and dried Ak Muyoo's clothes with Samadhi True Fire. Ak Muyoo dressed and headed to where the squad was preparing the meal.
“Scouts?”
He asked So Pung as he sat down.
After years of war, the Wind Squad members couldn't rest easy without scouting every two hours. For them, scouting was like a ritual that calmed their minds.
“They're already out.”
So Pung answered.
“Let's get the food ready.”
“It's boiling now.”
“What's on the menu?”
“Dried meat and grain porridge.”
Ak Muyoo turned to Yo Pung.
“She said she wanted something hot, so I taught her.”
“Good job.”
Soon, a bowl of porridge was brought to Ak Muyoo. He ate it with the spoon a squad member had made for him.
That's when the scouting party returned.
The scout leader was Nam Pung.
—Enemy, Captain.
Ak Muyoo looked up at Nam Pung.
—About four hundred strong. Bandits.
‘Bandits? Why?’
Ak Muyoo mouthed the question silently. One of the skills the Wind Squad members had mastered was lip-reading. Those who couldn't use transmission arts, like Ak Muyoo, conversed this way.
—No idea.
‘Targeting us?’
—They're approaching stealthily, so yeah.
‘Tell everyone to eat fast.’
—Got it.
Nam Pung gave the order to the squad.
Their movements quickened. But their expressions didn't change.
“Ow, my stomach suddenly hurts.”
One put down his bowl and stood.
“Come with me.”
“Me too.”
“It's urgent, man.”
“You must've stuffed yourself, you pig.”
“Why are you coming then?”
“I'm just going to take a little one.”
“Bullshit.”
The squad members left one or two at a time.
“Huh?”
Mokma's eyes widened. He slowly looked around. The Wind Squad members who had been eating were almost all gone, fewer than twenty left. They'd all said they were going to relieve themselves, but none came back.
Mokma looked at Ak Muyoo.
Ak Muyoo was still eating. He slowly finished everything and set down his bowl. Not a drop of broth remained.
“You always eat like that?”
Mokma asked.
“It might be my last meal.”
Ak Muyoo grinned, put on his hat slung from the back of his neck, and pulled a sand-proof mask from his pocket to cover his mouth and nose.
“Guess I'll try the real arrows today.”
He stood, went to the camels, and grabbed three quivers. Arrows from the vanguard unit—fifty in each quiver.
He slung one over his shoulder and one on each side.
“Where you going?”
Mokma asked.
“Operation. Watch the camels.”
Flash!
Ak Muyoo shot up the mountain. His movement was as swift as a leopard's.
“Where's he off to?”
Naeng Ok asked.
“On operation.”
“Operation?”
“Yeah.”
“What operation here…… Enemies!”
Naeng Ok jumped up.
Whoosh! Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Whoosh whoosh!
Arrows flew from the darkness.
“Arrows!”
Naeng Ok pushed her arms up as if catching them. She wasn't alone. The others raised their arms too, forming a barrier in the air.
Thud! Thud thud thud! Thud thud!
The falling arrows bounced off the qi barrier.
Boom! Thunk! Thunk thunk! Thunk!
“Gah!”
“Urk!”
“Eugh!”
Screams rang out as black-clad figures plummeted into the valley.
Thunk! Thunk thunk! Thunk!
“Sak!”
“Swik!”
“Kraaak!”
“Aaak!”
“Eeeak!”
More agonized screams followed, bodies piling up.
“It's a trap…… Kraaak!”
“Aaak!”
The screams kept pouring out nonstop.
“What the……”
Il Baekgwangma couldn't hide his bewilderment.
Those below had no idea what was happening up top. More shocked than Il Baekgwangma was Seo Ha Meng's leader, Palbi Eo Jeok. His nickname came from his eight-armed monster speed. He'd operated in the Central Plains, raping women after drinking and killing to cover tracks. But he was quickly found out—there was a witness.
A thirty-thousand-nyang bounty on his head, bounty hunters on his trail.
He fled here. Unlike the Central Plains, he thrived, becoming leader of the largest force, Western Xia Alliance.
As leader, he commanded four hundred men. He'd led them out.
Yet now, unknown assailants were slaughtering them without mercy.
“What the hell are they? What……”
“Kraaak!”
“Aaaak!”
“Eeeak!”
Screams from Western Xia Alliance members burst out endlessly.
“Retreat! Fall back!”
Eo Jeok ordered withdrawal. The survivors bolted back the way they came.
Thunk! Thunk thunk thunk! Thunk thunk thunk!
But escape wasn't easy.
Arrows from somewhere pierced the backs of the fleeing men.
“They might've come freely, but leaving requires permission.”
Ak Muyoo pursued, nocking and loosing arrows. His shots were incredibly fast, almost invisible.
Some even pierced straight through.
The Wind Squad unleashed Chaos Mist to wipe out the enemy.
“Hold.”
Ak Muyoo shouted at the pursuing squad members. They stopped in unison.
“Identify them and finish off any survivors.”
He yelled to the group.
“Yes, sir!”
The squad scattered, eliminating anyone still breathing. Half an hour later, they regrouped at the meal site.
“Damage report.”
“Chupung's hurt.”
“How bad?”
“Twisted his ankle tripping while running.”
“……Toss him in the water.”
“Yes, sir. Toss him!”
“Hey! I'm fine. It's not twisted!”
Splash!
“Ow, come on!”
“Who were they?”
Ak Muyoo asked.
“Western Xia Alliance.”
“Anyone know about Western Xia Alliance?”
“I know a bit.”
Seo Pung raised her hand slightly.
“What kind of group?”
“Bandit gang.”
“Bandit gang?”
“Beyond the Haran Mountains, the plateau surrounded by the Yellow River is Ordos Plateau. After the Western Xia Kingdom fell, it became bandit heaven. Probably over a hundred gangs there.”
“They all live off plundering?”
“Yeah. Their saying is, ‘The world is wide, and there's much to plunder.’”
“Makes sense. So Western Xia Alliance?”
“Strongest bandit gang on Ordos Plateau.”
“Why attack us?”
“Someone put a bounty on us?”
“Otherwise, no reason for strangers to hit us.”
Ak Muyoo nodded.
“What now?”
“Straight ahead.”
“Good call.”
Seo Pung smirked.
“Everyone, rest up.”
“Got it.”
The squad settled in. The rising heat meant no need to dig. They lay where they wanted, covered with wind robes, and slept.
Next day.
They ate an early breakfast and climbed the mountain.
Tracking was easy—following the raiders' trail. An hour up, they reached the peak. Far off, grasslands stretched out.
“Beautiful.”
Ak Muyoo murmured softly.
Not the usual sand color—green grasslands felt utterly novel.
“Isn't it a desert?”
He asked, turning to Yo Pung.
“South is the Mooso Desert.”
“The officials can't touch the bandits partly because they can't chase into the desert, right?”
“Pretty much.”
“Let's go.”
The group moved out.
Down the mountain, across the river, straight on.
At first, just wasteland. Then grass and trees thickened, houses appeared. Then a massive city rivaling Central Plains hubs—inns, taverns, restaurants, markets, all there.
As the group entered, hawkers approached to lure them home. Mostly kids around ten.
“Looking for a place to stay?”
A girl approached and asked.
“Yeah.”
Ak Muyoo nodded.
“Come to our inn. Breakfast's free, cheapest rooms.”
A girl came up to Ak Muyoo's group.
“What's the inn called?”
“Daeha Inn.”
“Cool name. Let's go there.”
“Customer, don't fall for it. Breakfast might be free, but your life could be the room price.”
A nearby boy said.
“What's that mean, life as room price?”
“It's a warzone. Get caught in it, and that's it.”
The boy sliced his hand across his throat.
“So go to your inn?”
“Doesn't have to be ours. Just not there.”
“Which inn are you from?”
“Podu Inn. Fair price, best food. No regrets.”
“How old are you?”
“Eleven.”
“Little punk's a total shark.”
“……”
“Mind guiding us?”
Ak Muyoo said to the girl.
“Thank you!”
The teary-faced girl beamed.
“Broke-ass beggar brats. We don't take trash like you, you bastards.”
Curses came from the side. The boy's voice.
“Kids these days……”
Dong Pung shook his head.
Whoosh!
Then Ak Muyoo dashed at the boy.
“Where you going?”
Nam Pung called, puzzled.
Ak Muyoo ignored him, grabbed the boy's collar, and hoisted him up.
“Wha-what the fuck, man!”
“Bark again.”
“Fuck! You are beggars. Am I wrong?”
“Even if we are, hearing it sucks.”
Ak Muyoo clenched his fist and raised it.
“Adult hitting a kid?”
“My firm belief: smartass punks aren't kids.”
Ak Muyoo swung mercilessly.
Boom!
“Aaaak!”