Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: They All Die!
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They all die!
The ranch was vast, with several hills, making it impossible to see the entire place from one spot. That was why they had built the watchtower. In the evenings, they climbed it to search for any sick livestock or those that had fallen behind while grazing. Today's herdsman was a man named Yahuiik.
"Huh?"
Yahuiik's eyes widened. Hundreds of people were charging toward the ranch.
"What the...?"
He hurried down and ran to the quarters.
"Elder!"
He burst through the door, calling for Mok Woo.
"What's wrong?"
"Hundreds of martial artists are heading this way."
"Martial artists?"
Mok Woo looked puzzled and turned to Luha.
"They're coming to kill us."
Luha grabbed her Great Heaven Demon Bow.
"How many?"
Ak Muyoo asked.
"They're swarming like a black cloud. At least four or five hundred."
"Muk Buseong, go check it out."
"You brought me along because you figured something like this might happen, didn't you?"
"Absolutely not."
"Really?"
"Yeah! Hurry up and scout."
"Got it."
Muk Buseong stepped outside and leaped straight to the watchtower. Once atop it, he scanned the front.
"Not Chacha Kingdom martial artists."
After eyeing the approaching group, he flew back toward the quarters.
"They don't look like Chacha Kingdom martial artists."
"Then who?"
"No idea. But they're too strong to be from the Chacha Kingdom."
"We'll find out when we meet them."
Ak Muyoo gathered his weapons. He slung the Heavenly God Solar Bow on his back and hooked the Demon Fear chain to the sides of his Mad Demon Armor. He took two Jeon Tong Swords, and slung Dark Current Arrows over both shoulders, one on each side.
"We'll take out at least a hundred with the bow and Dark Current Arrows first."
"You think the enemy will just stand there while you pick them off?"
Seo Haran said.
"Do you know the best way to hit a moving target?"
Ak Muyoo asked.
"What's that?"
"Shoot so fast they can't dodge."
"Is that even possible?"
"This one can."
Ak Muyoo tapped the Heavenly God Solar Bow.
"That's a treasure too."
"Name one thing I have that's not a treasure."
"True enough."
"Now tell us the plan."
Muk Buseong said.
"What plan?"
"There are hundreds of enemies. We're only fifteen."
"Kill them. Every last one."
"...That's the plan?"
"If you've got a better one, speak up. I'll follow it."
"That's not a plan, you bastard!"
Muk Buseong bellowed.
"A Noh and Seo Haran, you take the left. Elder Mok, take the herdsmen to the right. The rest of us and General A will go down the center."
"Then what?"
"If they're not from a Chacha Kingdom family, it's obvious."
"What's obvious?"
"In this situation, the only ones who'd attack us are Hell Thousand Evils assassins or Wind Sand Clan martial artists. And they're coming out in the open, so..."
"Wind Sand Clan martial artists?"
Muk Buseong asked.
"Exactly."
"Getting tangled with them is bad news..."
"We're killing them all, so no worries there. Anyway, here's my plan. Me, Luha, and General Ara will punch through the center. They're after us, so they'll chase. We'll head to the Needle Pass north of the ranch. Once we reach the Needle Pass, you just do one thing."
"What's that?"
"Block their escape."
"..."
Muk Buseong stared at Ak Muyoo in disbelief.
"Alright, let's move."
Ak Muyoo clapped his hands.
"Got it."
Muk Buseong nodded.
"Don't die."
"...Hilarious."
Muk Buseong smirked and leaped away. Mok Woo's group followed to the left.
"Shall we go too?"
Ak Muyoo said to Luha.
"Yes."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The three shot forward in unison.
Racing along the foothills, they climbed a hill.
Ak Muyoo looked around. The thick darkness that had begun in the mountains was now enveloping the surroundings. Far off, black silhouettes were charging toward them.
He thrust both arms high.
"Raaah!"
Whoosh!
Geo Bu Chi raised his hand.
The charging men halted instantly. Geo Bu Chi fixed his gaze ahead. On the distant hill stood three figures. The tall one was clearly a man, the other two women.
"They said six... Doesn't matter."
Geo Bu Chi stood tall and shouted.
"Charge at full speed!"
Roaring, he unleashed his movement technique.
"I'll go ahead."
Ak Muyoo leaped forward too. As he ran, he drew the Heavenly God Solar Bow. Ara and Luha followed right behind.
"Nice night for it."
Ak Muyoo glanced around. Darkness fell quickly in the mountains. It would be even darker when they clashed with the enemy.
"You know how to use a soft sword?"
He asked Ara.
"Yeah."
"Here, use this."
Ak Muyoo drew and offered the Sun Heaven Sword.
"What's this sword called?"
Ara examined it as she asked.
"Sun Heaven Sword."
"Sun Heaven Sword?"
"Yeah."
"Wait, this..."
"This one's the Heavenly God Solar Bow."
"..."
Ara stared blankly at Ak Muyoo.
Sun Heaven Sword, Heavenly God Solar Bow. Both had "sun" in the name, and word was the Sun God Temple had just opened. Rumors said there were no Sun Heaven treasures inside.
"You're giving it back, right?"
"Pfft!"
Ara chuckled.
"Let's go."
Ak Muyoo shot forward.
Luha and Ara followed.
'He's gotten even stronger.'
Luha thought, watching Ak Muyoo. Whether he knew it or not, an indescribable energy swirled around him.
Now that energy would lend him strength.
Racing through the foothills, enemies appeared ahead.
Snap!
Ak Muyoo nocked a Dark Current Arrow and drew. The distance closed rapidly. He released when they were fifty paces away.
Twang!
Thud!
Twang! Twang twang! Twang twang!
Even at full sprint, his draw speed didn't slow.
Thump! Thump thump! Thump!
"Argh!"
"Aaah!"
"Uwaaah!"
The charging foes bounced back like hitting a wall.
"Ar-arr-ows!"
Someone bellowed.
Thump! Thump thump! Thump!
"Urk!"
"Gah!"
"Ugh!"
Long arrows pierced Wind Sand Clan martial artists, sending them tumbling.
"Kill them! Charge!"
Geo Bu Chi roared.
"Uwaaaah!"
"Waaaah!"
The Wind Sand Clan martial artists roared and charged.
Thump! Thump thump! Thump thump!
Arrows flew wildly, foes tumbling back. The arrows were fast, but the darkness made it worse. They were sitting ducks.
In moments, over twenty lay dead.
"Ara, advance!"
As the distance shortened, Ak Muyoo shouted.
"Got it."
Ara surged forward with her movement technique.
"Cha-ha!"
Her shout unleashed sword energy from the Sun Heaven Sword, shredding ahead.
Slash! Slash! Slaaash!
"Argh!"
"Aaah!"
"Uwaaah!"
Screams rang out.
Swish! Swish swish swish! Swish swish!
Over ten arrows flew past Ara.
Thud! Thump! Thud!
"Guh!"
"Ugh!"
"Ek!"
Those charging at Ara face-planted. In that instant, Ara swung the Sun Heaven Sword ahead. More screams, five turned to minced meat. The Sun Heaven Sword was incredible, slicing enemy weapons like tofu. The Wind Sand Clan had spread left and right, but the encirclement shattered instantly.
"Run!"
Ak Muyoo bellowed, charging. The three veered north.
"Chase them!"
Geo Bu Chi roared.
"Chase!"
"They're running!"
The Wind Sand Clan martial artists shouted, pursuing Ak Muyoo's group.
"Signal the other units!"
Geo Bu Chi yelled as he ran.
With Luha confirmed here, no reason to split.
Tweet! Tweet! Treeeeet!
Sharp whistles pierced the Wind Sand Clan ranks. A signal calling the flanks. Those who had gone right and left turned north.
Ak Muyoo drew and released while running. He targeted the highest leapers. After his shot, Luha fired next. Her arrows differed from his.
Where he relied on pure speed, she shot with skill. Sometimes one arrow, sometimes two. Occasionally sideways. Many curved in flight.
Thump! Thump thump! Thump thump!
Arrows kept slamming into Wind Sand Clan bodies.
"Ara, carry me upside down!"
Ak Muyoo shouted, leaping and spreading his legs. Ara swiftly gripped his waist between them. He clamped her waist tight with his legs, scorpion-like, torso upright.
From there, he drew on the enemies.
This time, no rush. He aimed carefully, picking those unable to dodge incoming arrows.
One shot, one kill. Arrows and Dark Current Arrows never missed. No doubles in one body. Each took one life.
"Needle Pass."
Ara said.
"Keep going."
Ak Muyoo shouted, firing.
The quiver emptied fast. After the last arrow, he discarded it. Twenty Dark Current Arrows left.
Ak Muyoo checked the sides.
He had scouted Needle Pass before entering the ranch. Long army habits: always check terrain first. No different here. Seen spots personally, unseen by word. Needle Pass was one he'd seen. Named for its narrow, pipe-like shape.
The gorge was under three paces wide. Sheer cliffs ten paces high on both sides.
Few Wind Sand Clan men could climb those. In such terrain, one could hold thousands. If you didn't tire.
Soon, the three reached the end of Needle Pass. Ak Muyoo set down bow and arrows, turning.
Whoosh!
He flung his arms wide.
The Demon Fear chain detached from the Mad Demon Armor, twisted midair, and stabbed into the ground. Ak Muyoo looked up.
Far off, Wind Sand Clan martial artists swarmed like locusts.
"They all die!"