Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: If I Don't Follow the Plan, I Can't Sleep
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Martial God (136)
A sigh escaped him.
Flash!
With a low shout, a burst of white light exploded from Ha Mi's waist.
"Gah!"
A faint cry leaked out, and Jin Chu-nam's movements came to an abrupt halt.
Clang!
The sound of Ha Mi's sword sliding back into its sheath rang out.
Thud!
Splurt!
Jin Chu-nam collapsed, his severed head rolling away as blood sprayed forth.
"You're incredibly fast."
"No matter how fast I am, I can't beat Mu Hyang."
"I handed this spot to you."
Ak Muyoo pointed to his shoulder.
"Right. But is it okay to swing your arm around like that?"
Ha Mi asked, her face full of surprise.
"Yeah, it's all healed."
Ak Muyoo said as he rotated his left arm.
"Really?"
Ha Mi's eyes widened.
It hadn't even been a full day since he was wounded. A piercing injury like that, fully healed? It was unbelievable.
"I don't know how either, so don't ask."
As the blood flowing from Jin Chu-nam's neck began to slow, Ak Muyoo picked up his head.
"Then you're a monster..."
Ha Mi muttered softly.
"Let's go."
Ak Muyoo stepped outside.
"Argh!"
"Aaah!"
"Uwaaaah!"
Just as the two descended to the first floor, screams began erupting from all directions.
"Captain!"
The Wind Squad members who had entered the inner first floor came rushing out.
"Set fire to this place with some men, and the rest go out and help."
"Got it."
Moments later, flames shot up from the building.
"What is this?"
Hearing the screams, Mookshin Squad members poured out from each building.
"I-It's the enemy! The enemy!"
They drew their weapons and charged toward the Mookshin Pavilion. The rising flames from the pavilion grew larger, illuminating the surroundings.
The Mookshin Squad members surrounded the Wind Squad troops.
"Who's your leader?"
Ak Muyoo stepped forward and shouted.
The Mookshin Squad members only glanced at each other; no one came forward.
"I'm asking who the next in rank is after this bastard."
Ak Muyoo tossed Jin Chu-nam's head in front of the Mookshin Squad members.
"Gasp! I-It's the Squad Leader."
"The Squad Leader is dead!"
Cries like screams leaked out here and there.
"Jin Chu-nam's death isn't the important part. Right now, what matters to you is whether you live or die."
"What do you want from us?"
A man who appeared to be in his mid-forties stepped forward and asked.
"What's your name?"
Ak Muyoo asked in return.
"Mok Jawoong."
"Jeok Tong's successor?"
"......"
"Good. Then I'll tell you my terms. Get out of the Jeok Society. That's the only thing you need to do right now."
"If we leave the Jeok Society, we'll be branded traitors and attacked."
"Then you want to die here?"
"We have five hundred men..."
"No. Three hundred fifty. The other hundred fifty went to the afterlife with that guy just moments ago."
Ak Muyoo pointed at Jin Chu-nam's head.
"Urgh!"
Mok Jawoong let out a groan.
Ak Muyoo wasn't wrong. Not a single one of Jin Chu-nam's close aides was visible.
"I need to hear from the squad members first."
"You decide."
"......"
"It's the leader's job to decide the organization's advance or retreat, life or death. Pushing it off to your subordinates is incompetence. If you're incompetent, I have no reason to talk to you."
"......We'll withdraw."
After a moment's thought, Mok Jawoong spoke.
"Good. Smart choice. All commanders, step forward and line up beside Mok Jawoong."
As soon as Ak Muyoo spoke, nine men stepped forward and formed lines to Mok Jawoong's left and right.
"Now send all the squad members to Horim. Once they arrive, go to the Great Guest Inn and say Heuk Pung sent you. It's not a permanent departure, so no need to pack luggage. Just grab a little food."
"Understood."
Mok Jawoong issued orders to his squad members.
Soon, the Mookshin Squad members moved quietly. They went to their quarters, grabbed some food, and headed for Horim.
"Dong Pung!"
Ak Muyoo called for Jung Gwang.
"Yes."
Jung Gwang ran up to Ak Muyoo.
"Move out."
"Yes. Move out!"
Jung Gwang turned and ordered the Wind Squad members.
"Move out!"
The Wind Squad members ebbed away like the tide.
"We'll talk on the way."
Ak Muyoo immediately leaped into motion. As Ak Muyoo's group began running, Mok Jawoong and nine others followed.
"I'm Heuk Pung."
Ak Muyoo introduced himself as they ran.
"We know."
"You know us?"
"The only force attacking us in the Demon Realm right now is the Wind Squad, which fought the Blood Sand Squad yesterday."
"Still, you didn't expect it at all?"
"Yes."
"I hope the Non-Moon Unit is the same."
"You're heading to the Non-Moon Unit now?"
"Yeah."
"When will you attack the Blood Sand Squad?"
"You even know I'm going to attack the Blood Sand Squad?"
"Isn't it to strike the body by cutting off the branches?"
"Right. Tomorrow."
"You're saying if you don't finish it swiftly, you might suffer losses."
"No."
"No?"
"It'll just take more time and cost more of our men, but the result won't change. Cheol Mok Ha Ram's head will roll."
"......I see."
"Want to pick up the pace?"
"Yes."
The group's running speed increased.
Running at full speed, the group covered three hundred li in an hour and a half and arrived at the Non-Moon Unit. It was similar to the Mookshin Squad. Wooden walls, watchtowers at the four cardinal directions. But there were no guards on the watchtowers or inside.
"That's weird."
Im Chung-i tilted his head.
"Why?"
"From what I know, the Non-Moon Unit is famous for its strict vigilance."
"You mean it could be a trap?"
"Well......"
"We're already here. Trap or not, no choice now."
Ak Muyoo drew his Heaven Sun Bow.
"The Non-Moon Unit leader is Moon Shadow Guest Song Won-do, right?"
He asked Im Chung-i.
"Yes."
"What kind of guy is he?"
"He was once part of Demon Horse Heaven. A pretty high-ranking one there too, but I don't know why he left."
"How's his martial arts skill?"
"In my view, he's a cut above the Blood Sand Squad leader, Cheol Mok Ha Ram."
"I see."
Ak Muyoo nodded and moved forward. Moments later, they arrived in front of the Non-Moon Unit leader's office.
Flash!
Suddenly, the surroundings lit up brightly.
"It's a trap."
Dong Pung shouted as he scanned the area. Hundreds of Non-Moon Unit members had surrounded the group.
"Not yet."
Ak Muyoo kept his gaze fixed ahead and said. The person he was looking at was an old man—one of the Hundred Mad Demons, Moon Demon Song Am.
"Why are you here, old timer?"
Ak Muyoo asked.
"This is my son."
Moon Demon pointed to the middle-aged man beside him. Ak Muyoo looked at the man Moon Demon indicated. Moon Demon was plump-faced and-bodied, but his son was skinny and looked sharp-tempered.
"Moon Shadow Guest Song Won-do."
Im Chung-i said quietly.
"I've come to wipe out the Non-Moon Unit."
Ak Muyoo turned his gaze to Moon Demon and said.
"That's why I came first."
"What did you decide?"
"We'll surrender."
"Without even fighting?"
"I told you the Hundred Mad Demons follow the Young Master."
Ak Muyoo stared silently at Moon Demon.
The Hundred Mad Demons might listen to him, but that didn't mean they'd decided to follow Ak Muyoo. They had probably realized that once war started, they'd kill their leader first and were making excuses.
"I want to hear it from Moon Demon's son, not Moon Demon himself."
Ak Muyoo looked at Song Won-do.
"I'll follow Heuk Pung Young Master."
Song Won-do bowed his head.
"Can I trust you?"
"Yes."
"The other commanders think the same as the leader?"
"We've already discussed it."
"Then you can come with us when we hit the Blood Sand Squad?"
"You're attacking the Blood Sand Squad now?"
Song Won-do asked in surprise.
"Our plan for tonight is two battles."
"That's......"
"Put yourself in our shoes, Leader. We've fought wars for ten years. Other things change, but the number of battles never does. We planned for two—if we only do one, it bugs me and I can't sleep. Ever been in the army?"
"No."
"Organizations are similar, but in the army, they do bedtime roll call before sleep. Check if anyone went AWOL, cultivate military spirit by enforcing discipline. And that discipline is mostly violence. Beat every day without fail. Then one day, the senior loses his mind and skips 'military spirit cultivation.' What happens? 'No beating today—lucky day!' Fall asleep soundly or nap? For the record, that senior bastard wakes sleepers to beat them later."
"Won't get proper sleep."
"Right. Even a tiny noise jolts you awake. Same with our battles. If we don't follow the plan, we can't sleep properly. So we'll do the second one as planned and rest easy."
"......"
Song Won-do had nothing to say.
"If you weren't Moon Demon's people, you'd have fought us too. Right?"
"Yes."
"So follow your plan. Just swap us for the Blood Sand Squad."
"......"
"We'll charge straight in. Dong Pung."
"Yes! Captain."
"Move out now."
"Understood."
Dong Pung turned. He bellowed at the squad members.
"Move out!"
"Cha-ha!"
"Ta-ha!"
"Haa!"
The Wind Squad members shouted and leaped forward.
"Good thinking."
Ak Muyoo stared at Song Won-do a moment, then dashed after the Wind Squad.
Song Won-do looked at his father.
"He's trustworthy. And once this is done, we'll head to Peking."
"You're saying the Demon Realm will be reorganized."
"It feels like a turning point in your life."
"What do you think, Father?"
"Isn't your thinking more important than mine?"
"......Vice Leader."
Song Won-do said quietly.
"Yes."
A sturdy-built man stepped up to Song Won-do.
"Will you follow whatever decision I make?"
"Not just me—all the squad members trust you, Leader."
"Good. Go get the horses."
"Are we mobilizing?"
"Yes."
"You made the right call. Truth is, the squad members including me never liked that Cheol Mok Ha Ram bastard."
The vice leader grinned broadly.
"Get the horses!"
"Bring the horses!"
The commanders nearby, who had overheard, shouted to the squad members.
"Let's go."
"Hurry! Can't be later than those guys from before."
Thud thud thud thud! Thud thud thud thud! Thud thud thud thud!
Over five hundred horses kicked up clouds of dust as they charged through the darkness. At their lead rode Moon Shadow Guest Song Won-do and his father, Moon Demon. They arrived before the Blood Sand Squad an hour later. The eastern sky was beginning to lighten.
Whoosh!
Ak Muyoo signaled the attack order with a hand gesture.
The Wind Squad members silently charged toward the Blood Sand Squad headquarters.