Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: One Scar for One Life
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Darkness fell like silently falling snow. The surroundings quickly grew dim, and a wind carrying a chill blew in. The seven arrived near the Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven encampment deep into the night.
The Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven warriors seemed to be resting for the night to recover their stamina depleted from the journey here. It could also be preparation for battle.
There was only one ger pitched in the center, as if they had brought just one.
Ak Muyoo dismounted his camel and scouted the surroundings.
Most of the enemies were buried in the sand with only their faces exposed. Even those faces were covered with cloth. To block the sand carried by the wind.
The sentries were posted at the four cardinal directions: east, west, south, and north.
“Gather around.”
At Ak Muyoo’s words, the group assembled.
Ak Muyoo took out a luminous pearl and placed it on the ground, drawing a map. It depicted the Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven encampment and the surrounding terrain.
Around the Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven were about twenty sand dunes.
“Anyone with battle experience?”
He asked, looking at the five.
“None, sir.”
Mok Woo shook his head.
“Then from now on, I’ll give the orders. First, we need to stash the spare camels behind this dune.”
Ak Muyoo pointed to the third dune east of the Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven.
“You handle that, Dao Absolute Elder. And get rid of the water and food on their camels.”
“Leave the camels intact?”
Gwangja asked.
“That way they’ll chase us. At first, they’ll be too frantic to notice their supplies are gone. By the time they realize after half a day, it’ll be too late.”
“Understood.”
Gwangja nodded.
“Hide them where they can’t be seen from behind the dune. Unload all their baggage. Go now. Wait here even if we’re not back.”
“Yes. But…….”
“Ask if you have questions.”
“It’s not about the plan. Can we win?”
“I’m a war expert. They’re amateurs. We’ll win this battle for sure. Just follow my orders, Elders.”
“Got it.”
Gwangja stood and led the camels away.
“The attack goes like this. Ara and I will punch straight from here to here.”
Ak Muyoo drew a straight line from west to east.
“Demon Absolute and Pure Absolute, you break from northwest to southeast. Buddha Absolute, Dao Absolute, and Evil Absolute, from southwest to northeast. Don’t stop or you die. Punch through to the end no matter what. If your camel drops, use lightness skill to keep going.”
“Understood.”
“Now let’s release the poison creatures. Make sure to do it with the wind at your back.”
“Yes.”
The group each took a sack and moved out.
The wind blew from west to east. To release the scorpions, snakes, and centipedes, they needed to get as close as possible.
“We need to take out the sentries.”
Ak Muyoo said.
“What if we get spotted?”
“We won’t if we’re careful.”
Ak Muyoo donned his sand-proof cloak and moved slowly. His movements were so stealthy they blended with the sand. It looked like the sand itself was shifting. Fortunately, the sentry was dozing.
He rose silently behind the sentry, clamped a hand over his mouth, and thrust a dagger into his neck. He propped the body up with the sentry’s own weapon to prevent it from falling, then returned to position.
“Let’s go.”
The two crawled forward. Soon they reached the edge of the enemy camp. From their position to the camp’s perimeter was just ten feet.
“Use your internal energy to drive them in. Got it?”
Ak Muyoo whispered.
“Yeah.”
Ara nodded.
The two opened a sack. Scorpions surged out rapidly. Confined so long in the narrow sack, they were frenzied with venom, their tails glowing bluish. Ara channeled her internal energy to guide the scorpions inward. Once confirmed entering, the two shifted ten feet left and released another sack.
They released all the scorpions and returned to the start. Then they dug into the sand.
“Are we sleeping together?”
Ara asked.
“If you don’t like it, dig another.”
“No. I’ll gladly share.”
Ara spread two sheets of sand-proof cloth wide. Ak Muyoo covered them with sand. Once covered, he slipped between the sheets.
Their body heat quickly warmed the space inside the cloth.
“Sleeping together is the best.”
Ara smiled brightly.
“I’ll wake you. Sleep.”
“Sleep?”
“Even in perfect condition, battle survival odds are slim. Fighting half-asleep? You die every time. So force yourself to rest.”
“Weren’t you scared?”
“Of what?”
“When you first joined the windbreakers, you weren’t fighting like this.”
“I’m still scared now. Charges terrify me.”
“How do you endure?”
“Think of the dead. Throats slit, stabbed, limbs severed. Swear you won’t end like that. Then charge the enemy line on my order.”
“Toward the weakest at the front?”
“Yeah.”
“Never strong ones up front?”
“Sometimes.”
“What then?”
“I’ve got my body.”
“Your body? Oh…….”
Suddenly, the countless scars on Ak Muyoo’s body came to mind. Once, he’d casually said each scar cost a life.
Then Mok Woo’s group approached.
“Dig a bit, layer two sheets of cloth, cover with sand, then slip in between. Two or three per spot.”
“Got it.”
Mok Woo’s group dug, laid the cloth, and covered with sand.
“You sleep now.”
“Alright.”
Ara closed her eyes.
She awoke four hours later. Dawn was breaking dimly.
“Prepare.”
Ak Muyoo rose and readied food. Just jerky and dried fruit, but they ate heartily.
After eating, they mounted camels.
“Good luck.”
“Good luck.”
The group headed to their assigned positions.
“Want a spear?”
He asked Ara. Two spears hung from his camel.
“No, sword’s better.”
Ara shook her head.
“Do what’s comfortable.”
Ak Muyoo rode to the front of the enemy camp. As the sun rose in the east, Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven warriors began stirring one by one.
“Gasp!”
“Ugh!”
They panicked. Scorpions and snakes crawled everywhere. Some even fought each other.
“S-Scorpions!”
“Snakes!”
Shocked cries erupted everywhere. Despite the chaos, many hadn’t risen. Victims of scorpion and snake bites. Those sleeping still fared well, but the restless ones were mostly stung. Bitten by viper or scorpion in sleep, they died without waking.
“Kraaaaa!”
A bloodcurdling roar exploded from the camp’s east.
“Gasp!”
“E-Enemy!”
“Enemies!”
Chaos peaked in the Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven camp.
Backlit by the rising sun, the enemies’ numbers were unclear.
“Kraaaaa!”
Ak Muyoo roared again, whipping the reins.
Ker-ugh!
“Hah!”
Ara whipped hers next.
Thud thud thud thud! Thud thud thud thud!
The two camels charged. Ak Muyoo drew the Black Dragon Demon Spear and Ink Dragon. Ara positioned behind him. Upon reaching the camp, he swung both weapons.
Slash! Slash!
The two spears cleaved through enemy torsos like parting waves.
“Kraaak!”
“Aaak!”
“Uwaaak!”
Agonized screams filled the Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven camp.
“What’s happening?”
Tarl shot up, shouting.
“E-Enemies, ma’am.”
“What enemies?”
“We haven’t identified them yet.”
“What the…….”
Tarl hastily dressed and rushed out.
“This is…….”
Her face twisted.
Screams echoed from all sides, yet many subordinates lay unmoving.
“What are you doing!”
She bellowed with internal energy.
But the fallen remained still.
“Th-They’re dead.”
A man who’d gone to wake a squad leader shouted pallidly.
“Dead?”
Tarl was baffled. They hadn’t even been attacked yet.
“Scorpions and snakes everywhere!”
“Kraaaaa!”
Then, a camel charge entered view with a roar. The rider swung twin spears, cutting down Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven warriors.
“Th-The Black Dragon Demon Spear!”
Tarl cried in horror.
Whoosh!
Something flew toward her. Tarl deflected it with palm force while dodging.
Thud!
The object hit the ground from her strike.
“It’s the Lord!”
Someone shouted upon recognizing it.
“The Lord!”
Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven warriors’ faces filled with terror. They scanned fearfully.
“Charge!”
Tarl bellowed with energy. The warriors snapped to.
“Kraaak!”
“Aaak!”
“Uwaaak!”
Screams continued.
“They killed the Lord! Kill them!”
Tarl pointed at Ak Muyoo, roaring.
“Kill them!”
“Kill!”
Squad leaders bellowed.
“Waaaa!”
“Uwaaaa!”
Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven warriors cheered, chasing Ak Muyoo’s group. Despite night’s scorpion and viper toll, their numbers remained vast.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Ak Muyoo swung his twin spears. His spear arts were all army-taught. No qi blasts, just raw speed.
Black Dragon Demon Spear and Ink Dragon swept left and right at terrifying speed, severing Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven warriors.
“Kill their camels!”
A squad leader shouted.
Ak Muyoo thrust his spear and drew Heaven God Sun Bow.
Twang! Twang twang twang! Twang twang! Twang!
Dark Current Arrows sliced the air fiercely.
“Guhk!”
“Keuk!”
“Euk!”
Those charging the camels—and the one who’d ordered it—were hit. The sun blinded them; Ak Muyoo attacked from behind it, rendering arrows invisible. He loosed until they fell. The camp’s end neared.
He stowed the bow, redrew spears, and swung left-right while riding.
Soon, Ak Muyoo and Ara broke through.
After fifty feet nonstop, Ak Muyoo rode his camel atop a dune.
He glanced left and right.
Mok Woo’s group emerged unscathed. The plan worked. Only half the Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven warriors pursued this way.
Ak Muyoo raised his spear.
“Kraaaaa!”
“Just seven guys…….”
Tarl was incredulous. Dozens? Hundreds? No, merely seven. Humiliated, rage boiled.
“There’s seven of them! Kill!”
Tarl roared.
“Chase!”
“Chase them!”
Orders rained down.
Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven warriors rushed to their camels. No water or food aboard, but none checked.
They hurriedly charged after Ak Muyoo’s group.