Chapter 273
Chapter 273
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 273
Chapter Title: Frontal Assault
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Six days had swiftly passed since their departure. The Annihilation Squad entered Xilin, on the border between Hubei and Sichuan.
Had they unleashed their movement techniques like they did when raiding the Red Tiger Stronghold, they could have arrived much faster. But this time, Cheonhwi stuck to riding horseback.
Unleashing movement techniques also meant expending internal energy, so it was a deliberate choice to conserve strength for the battle ahead.
It was then, as they rode steadily onward—
Hiiing—
Cheonhwi yanked the reins while ascending a narrow, unnamed mountain path.
As the leader came to a halt, the Annihilation Squad behind him followed suit, pulling their own reins.
The clamor of hooves abruptly ceased, and silence spread like ripples across a pond.
In that hush, Cheonhwi fixed his gaze straight ahead.
Snow had been falling since two days prior, blanketing the world in white.
Amid that monochrome landscape, Cheonhwi shifted his eyes toward a splash of vivid color.
Magnificent buildings emitting plumes of smoke came into view under the faint sunlight filtering through.
Antique halls and grand compounds blended seamlessly with the surrounding snow, exuding an air of refined solitude.
Traces of a long history lingered everywhere on the halls and estates.
This was the Blood Rain Sword Clan, the target of their mission.
'Just like the illustrations in the books.'
Cheonhwi recalled the volumes he had pored over multiple times before arriving.
A wealth of information on the Blood Rain Sword Clan.
Memorizing it in advance was highly efficient for the coming fight.
After eyeing the clan for a long moment, Cheonhwi released the reins and dismounted with a light leap.
His pitch-black leather boots crunched into the snow.
As he turned to look back, standing atop the pristine snowdrifts, he saw the squad.
Perhaps from the nonstop gallop, they looked a bit worn despite not using movement arts.
Cheonhwi addressed them.
"Let's rest a bit before starting the mission."
"Understood."
As if awaiting those very words, the Annihilation Squad dismounted in unison and swiftly prepared to rest.
Mu Hong and several squad members quickly leveled the ground, clearing a space.
Then, Ho Gwanggae and Danri Gwancheon, with their superior internal energy, ignited a Samadhi True Fire to dry the damp firewood. Meanwhile, others unpacked compressed rice cakes and jerky from the saddlebags.
Their movements were swift.
Having camped several times, their well-honed actions wasted no motion.
Moments later, smoke rose.
Crackle—
The Annihilation Squad huddled around the campfire sparked by a fire starter, thawing the chill.
A strange hush fell over them.
It was only natural.
What they faced from here was no ordinary sect—it was the Blood Rain Sword Clan.
A family that had dominated Xilin for two hundred years.
Its prestige and power were incomparable to the Red Tiger Stronghold, their previous target.
"Hoo."
Im Ha-yul, tense as he chewed his jerky, unwittingly sighed, exhaling frosty breath into the cold air.
"Alright, we've rested enough. Now, about this mission."
Cheonhwi spoke softly.
"As you all know, the goal is to bring down the Blood Rain Sword Clan."
The squad members held their breath.
They had heard the mission already.
But hearing it straight from their commander, Cheonhwi, lent it a heavier weight.
"To that end, we'll split the forces in two."
Cheonhwi narrowed his eyes as he continued.
"One to assault the Blood Rain Sword Clan, the other to block their escape routes."
The Annihilation Squad nodded in agreement.
Not a single one could be allowed to flee.
Blocking escapes was essential.
Danri Gwancheon, who had been listening quietly, spoke up softly.
"Then how do you plan to divide the forces?"
It was a crucial question.
All eyes turned to Cheonhwi.
Wondering how he would split them.
Soon, Cheonhwi's lips parted.
"I was just about to appoint two sub-commanders."
"Sub-commanders?"
The squad stirred at once.
It was the position of sub-commander.
With the war ongoing, the Annihilation Squad would see plenty of action, and that role could bring great renown in the martial world.
As Cheonhwi's gaze swept over the squad—some revealing their ambitions—he pointed one by one.
Finally, his finger settled on Danri Gwancheon, who seemed utterly disinterested.
"......Me?"
Danri Gwancheon's voice was stiff.
Displeasure crossed his face.
He preferred fighting foes solo as missions demanded, not leading others.
"Commander. I can't lead people. Pick someone else..."
As he tried to refuse—
"It's already decided."
Cheonhwi cut him off sharply.
"But—"
"When the commander says jump, a mere squad member jumps. Right?"
"......"
Danri Gwancheon fell silent.
Cheonhwi shifted his gaze from the now-quiet man and pointed to another.
"And the second is you."
Ho Gwanggae, the one indicated, scratched his greasy head.
"Hahaha. Sub-commander, huh..."
For a brief moment, he then thumped his chest with his fist.
"Good, very good. I'll give it my all."
Ho Gwanggae accepted heartily.
There was no reason to refuse.
On the contrary, it was welcome.
'Sub-commander... Never saw it coming, but it's great. A chance to build fame.'
As he grinned, thinking of the position—
"Now, the two sub-commanders, divide up the personnel. First..."
Cheonhwi split the Annihilation Squad.
'Considering martial art affinities, Danri Gwancheon gets these ones...'
Recalling their skills from sparring sessions, Cheonhwi assigned them one by one.
And shortly after.
"All set?"
Cheonhwi surveyed the two divided units with a satisfied expression.
"Memorize your comrades' faces."
As the squad eyed each other—
"Oh, and for the assault this time."
Cheonhwi looked at Danri Gwancheon.
"You'll lead it."
Danri Gwancheon's eyes gleamed.
He disliked leading, but an assault was different.
"Understood."
Unlike his burning resolve, the squad behind him swallowed hard.
Leading the assault meant taking the vanguard.
Clashing head-on with the Blood Rain Sword Clan.
Then Ho Gwanggae spoke.
"So we're on blockade duty."
Even he, who had accepted the role boldly, couldn't hide his tension—his voice trembled faintly.
"That's right."
Cheonhwi smiled faintly.
"You know which routes to block?"
Ho Gwanggae grinned back.
"Haha, Commander. I may look dashing, but I'm a Beggar's Sect man at heart. I've got it all mapped out already."
A few chuckled.
His words aside, Ho Gwanggae looked every bit the ragged beggar.
Cheonhwi smirked at the sight.
The tense atmosphere eased in an instant.
Thanks to Ho Gwanggae's quip.
'Just as expected.'
Cheonhwi eyed Ho Gwanggae steadily.
He was one of the first he had in mind for sub-commander.
Personality, martial prowess,包容力—all matched perfectly.
And in this brief moment, he had proven why.
'He'll shine once the mission kicks off...'
Cheonhwi glanced at Danri Gwancheon, then addressed the squad.
"Alright, let's move."
No sooner had Cheonhwi's quiet order ended than everyone sprang into action.
Sizzle—
The squad smothered the campfire with snow, then steadied their breaths with tense expressions.
White vapor rose from their lips.
As they all stood rigid—
Clap! Clap!
Ho Gwanggae clapped vigorously.
"Come on, everyone! Loosen up! If you tense up and underperform, the commander won't let it slide."
Grinning, he glanced at Cheonhwi and winked.
Then asked him directly.
"But Commander, how do we attack? It's broad daylight—not ideal for a raid."
Leaning close, he whispered cautiously.
"Waiting till dark might be better..."
Cheonhwi waved it off.
"Pfft, why wait for nightfall?"
"Then how—"
"How? Obviously..."
Cheonhwi's lips curved upward.
"We go straight through the front."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Blood Rain Sword Clan was in an uproar.
"The Murim Alliance has declared war on the Evil-Black Alliance..."
Elder So Unbo of the Blood Rain Sword Clan furrowed his white brows at the circulating rumors.
"It's not false, is it?"
He glared at the old man beside him.
The Blood Pavilion Lord, in charge of intelligence, nodded gravely with a heavy expression.
"Confirmed by the Haomun. Not only that—we've also learned the Alliance is forming a special unit to dismantle all the unorthodox sects in the northern heartlands."
Groans rippled through the room.
If Haomun verified it, there was no doubt.
Then—
"So our clan is included."
A weighty voice descended.
All eyes turned upward.
It came from the white-haired, white-robed middle-aged man on the jade throne at the head of the stairs.
Onlookers swallowed dryly.
He was the current clan head of the Blood Rain Sword Clan, the absolute ruler of Xilin: Tyrant Blood Sword So Gwangpae.
"Is that correct?"
As So Gwangpae asked, lowering his eyes, his icy blue gaze flashed in the sunlight filtering through the paper screens.
The Blood Pavilion Lord flinched under that stare.
"......Likely so."
The gathered members of the clan assembly stirred.
"The Murim Alliance targeting us?"
"Insane!"
Curses and outraged cries erupted.
No matter their dominance in Xilin, the opponent was the Murim Alliance.
The gap in power was vast.
As the commotion grew—
Boom!
A heavy thud silenced it instantly—So Gwangpae's fist slamming the armrest.
He asked again.
"Contacted the Evil-Black Alliance?"
The Blood Pavilion Lord nodded.
"Yes, we've reached out. However, time may be..."
He trailed off.
But that alone conveyed the rest.
So Gwangpae turned his head slightly.
His gaze fell on the middle-aged man who had stood by the throne since earlier.
"Any way out?"
The man, Chief Steward Myo Ryeon-gwang of the Blood Rain Sword Clan, replied with a faintly stiff expression.
"The best option is to abandon the clan and head to the southern martial world."
Immediate backlash.
"Ridiculous."
"We can't abandon our home."
The elders opposed vehemently.
This was the turf founded by their progenitor, Blood Rain Sword Immortal—one of the Ten Great Swordsmen two centuries ago—and guarded ever since.
They had endured threats from the Qingcheng Sect to the west in Sichuan and the Wudang Sect to the east in Hubei.
Abandon it now? Unacceptable.
Clan Head So Gwangpae shared the elders' view.
"No other way?"
"Then we wait for Evil-Black reinforcements."
So Gwangpae's brow twitched.
No way for the Blood Rain Sword Clan to turn the tide alone.
The Blood Pavilion Lord added hastily.
"Th-that said, they've dispatched Black Night Chariot and the Protectors."
"Black Night Chariot!"
Several shot to their feet.
Black Night Chariot—the youngest disciple of the current Evil-Black Leader, a late-stage expert formidable even in the wider jianghu.
"And the Protectors..."
Relief washed over them.
Protectors escorting Black Night Chariot wouldn't be mediocre.
So Gwangpae licked his lips.
"When do they arrive?"
The key question.
The Blood Pavilion Lord swallowed hard, throat bobbing.
He answered cautiously.
"No falcon yet, but at most five days."
"Five days."
So Gwangpae murmured lowly.
A short time normally.
But in this dire crisis, it felt eternal.
"Will the Alliance move before then?"
"Uncertain."
The vague reply was unavoidable.
This concerned the clan's survival.
Spewing baseless certainty risked peril.
So Gwangpae furrowed his brow.
"......So we hold out five days, no matter what."
Silence followed—until—
Kaboom!
An explosion rocked from outside.
"Already?!"
"The Alliance?!"
The assembly leaped up in shock.
They rushed out, flinging open the doors.
"The main gate?"
"What bastard...!"
They roared in fury.
The gate guarding the clan for two centuries lay in ruins.
And atop the wreckage stood a youth gazing down arrogantly.
The youth, Cheonhwi, scanned the scrambling Blood Rain Sword Clan warriors one by one, slowly curling his lips.
"Now everyone's out?"