Chapter 298
Chapter 298
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 301
Chapter Title: Desperate Retreat and Reinforcements
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Nangong Jangcheon blocked the pitch-black swarm of enemies and shouted.
"Not much longer! Five hundred paces! The main house is five hundred paces ahead! Hold on just a bit more!"
Boom boom boom! Slash! Slice slice!
The sounds of flesh exploding echoed from all directions.
"Argh!"
"H-Help us! Reinforcements to this side... Gahk!"
"The flank's been breached, Family Head...!"
"Hold the line! The main house isn't far! Just a little longer!"
The screams and splattering blood ringing out from every side shook Nangong Jangcheon's mind.
Descending a mountain is always more dangerous than ascending.
Likewise, retreating was several times more difficult and perilous than advancing.
Retreating while accepting casualties was a desperate measure to avoid total annihilation.
The enemies' momentum had surpassed ferocity and become outright terrifying.
The Nangong Clan's warriors fled with all their might.
But the sheer number of encroaching foes made it a hopeless mismatch, especially since the mysterious thugs who had joined later possessed skills rivaling the Nangong Clan's elites.
No, their tenacity and viciousness exceeded even that.
Their aura was as savage as a pack of wild beasts lunging in.
Nangong Jangcheon swung his sword without respite.
"We need to buy time! Hold them off until we secure the retreat route!"
Swoooosh!
Slash!
Screams rang out every time his sword flashed.
Muffled groans burst forth, followed by the heavy thud of bodies collapsing.
Regret and anguish flickered in Nangong Jangcheon's eyes.
Those falling were all his retainers, people who lived under the Nangong Clan's shadow.
There was nothing more heartbreaking than witnessing their downfall right before his eyes—and being powerless to stop it.
"Family Head! We need to pull back now too!"
"There are too many of them, Family Head!"
"You must retreat! We can't hold out any longer!"
The Emperor Sword Squad leader and the executives shouted.
Urgency etched across their blood-smeared faces.
They were blocking the enemies to secure a retreat path, but even that was reaching its limit.
The Emperor Sword Squad was utterly exhausted, while the enemies still rampaged with undiminished vigor.
New arrivals had swelled their ranks to the point of overwhelming everything.
Some were already pursuing the trailing Soaring Bow Sword Squad, so any more delay would mean their lines would break and their rear would be cut off.
Nangong Jangcheon parried an enemy attack and yelled.
"Retreat!"
"Understood!"
The Emperor Sword Squad prepared to withdraw while fending off the onslaught.
Mukyung charged straight toward Nangong Jangcheon and the Emperor Sword Squad alongside the Ghost Valley Swordsmen.
"Nangong Jangcheon! Running away, are you? Tucking tail back to your doghouse!"
The words were insulting, but Nangong Jangcheon endured.
Asserting his pride now would be no different from gambling with the lives of those in dire peril.
To him, the safety of his retainers mattered more than his pride.
"Ignore him and fall back!"
He shouted again, blocking the Ghost Valley Swordsmen's blades.
Mukyung aimed his Soul-Severing Sword at Nangong Jangcheon's opening.
Slash!
Nangong Jangcheon yielded his shoulder and drove his Heavenly Thunder Palm into Mukyung's chest with fierce eyes.
Rumble!
"Gahk!"
Caught off guard, Mukyung was hurled back three paces by the sudden palm strike, staggering.
Seizing the gap, Nangong Jangcheon shook off the Ghost Valley Swordsmen and withdrew.
Mukyung bellowed.
"You won't escape! That's the head of the Nangong Clan! Chase him down!"
The Ghost Valley Swordsmen and unorthodox experts lunged after Nangong Jangcheon like mad dogs.
The Emperor Sword Squad and Nangong Clan warriors protected his rear, engaging in fierce combat.
Capturing Nangong Jangcheon would spell the end of the war.
No matter what, even at the cost of their lives, they had to protect him.
But counterattacking in unstable postures during the retreat led to mounting casualties on the Nangong side.
The Emperor Sword Squad leader roared.
"Keep moving! Revenge for the retainers comes later! Returning to the main house comes first!"
The distance to the Nangong Clan headquarters was five hundred paces ahead.
The vast streets of Hefei felt like an endless Great Wall.
Just a little more.
Even under attack, unleashing their movement techniques would get them there in ten breaths.
Ten breaths.
Just ten breaths...
That was when it happened.
"Charge!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Kill them!"
Blood-soaked figures burst from the alleys on both sides.
They pounced on the leading Soaring Bow Sword Squad and Hefei Alliance warriors like demons.
"Enemies!"
"Haaah!"
"Th-this!"
"We're surrounded! The retreat path...!"
"Break through!"
Nangong Jangcheon's face twisted in despair.
In the brief moment their retreat was blocked, the main unorthodox force led by Ghost Valley Manor surged forward.
The enemies had closed in so near he could feel their breaths.
He and the Nangong Clan's elites might escape this situation.
But the others could not.
It was a scenario where all might perish.
The tide turned ever more nightmarish.
Nangong Jangcheon felt the meaning of being surrounded on all sides down to his bones.
He gripped his sword tighter.
Squeeze!
He might have to make a choice.
No, he had to.
Boom!
His sword fell toward the unorthodox mob assailing the leading Soaring Bow Sword Squad and Hefei Alliance warriors.
Boom!
Like an eagle snatching prey, Nangong Jangcheon struck them down and turned on his heel.
"Family Head!"
The Emperor Sword Squad leader called out in shock.
Nangong Weigyeong, Nangong Sik, and the elders' expressions shifted dramatically as he returned.
Nangong Jangcheon steeled his voice with fierce eyes.
"How could the Family Head sacrifice his retainers! I will fight at the forefront and retreat from the rear."
"Family Head! Then..."
"The rear..."
Nangong Jangcheon swallowed his words.
He had never given much thought to heirs before, but nothing felt more reassuring now.
Nangong Jangcheon charged toward Mukyung.
"Emperor Sword Squad, secure the retreat route!"
With his thunderous command, the elders followed.
They too ignited their auras, resolve hardened.
Unorthodox warriors poured from the alleys like ants swarming a disturbed nest, and those led by Ghost Valley Manor radiated killing intent.
Fierce battles erupted along the retreat path, blood spraying and screams echoing in that moment.
Amid the despair and cries filling the battlefield, a single change arose.
Slaaash! Slash!
"Gaaahk!"
"Gahk!"
"Wh-what?!"
"The rear! Ambush in the... Gahk!"
The change spread through the battlefield like a sudden torrent.
A group in blue uniforms emerged, backs to the rising sun.
Joy lit the faces of Nangong Jangcheon and the executives.
"Is that the special forces?!"
"Family Head, when did you set up this ambush?"
"Warriors from the main house... No, wait! It's the branch warriors!"
"Really?!"
The executives' eyes widened at the warriors sweeping in like a tidal wave.
Nangong Jangcheon was puzzled.
Most branch warriors who could come already had. With the unorthodox sweeping through the branches, the rest had no choice but to hide or act cautiously.
A glint entered Nangong Jangcheon's eyes.
"No way?"
His gaze passed the pursuing unorthodox warriors to the rear.
"Sweep them away!"
"Vermin of the vile unorthodox paths! Kill them all!"
"Protect the main house!"
"Waaaaah!"
Cheers accompanied over two hundred experts charging forth.
Waves surged in Nangong Jangcheon's eyes with each familiar face.
Those who had plotted rebellion with Nangong Baek or supported him and been demoted were now sweeping through the unorthodox ranks.
'...They really came!'
He had decided to trust them, but hadn't been certain they'd stake their lives on this war.
Yet here they were, braving danger for the main house, tearing through the battlefield.
Though their paths had diverged, they rallied once more under the Nangong name.
Forgetting the days they'd pointed swords at each other, they threw themselves into the fray solely to defend the main house, defying death.
His eyes caught Nangong So charging from the front.
'Nangong So!'
Countless emotions flashed in Nangong Jangcheon's gaze.
Nangong So and Nangong Jangcheon's eyes met in midair.
Flinch.
Nangong So's eyes wavered briefly as he led the bold charge, but he soon bit his lip hard.
"Deputy Commander!"
Ichilseong lunged forward, severing an enemy's neck.
Slash!
"We're supporting the retreat path! Shift direction!"
Nangong So unleashed his Lone Soul Sword.
Scattering chilling sword light, he took an enemy's head, suppressing his trembling hand as he ran.
'This is the natural order.'
Born of Nangong blood, he must die on the soil of the main house.
His sword should point not at the Nangong Clan, but at those threatening it.
He feared spilling blood.
He knew he wasn't great enough to turn the tide.
And he knew this too.
He couldn't live his whole life with eyes shut.
Nangong So's Lone Soul Sword assaulted the enemies with frenzied fury.
Crude, but heavy.
And relentless.
As if vomiting the contempt and injustice suffered in the north, his sword stabbed into the foes.
Stab, and stab again.
Though his body became drenched in blood and wounds multiplied with each swing, he didn't stop.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Roaring his battle cry, he ran and ran, pouring every ounce of strength into opening the retreat path.
Even the experts branded traitors strained to carve open the path.
Lost in a trance, Nangong So charged forward with his Lone Soul Sword.
That was when unorthodox warriors pouring from the alleys surrounded and lunged at him.
"Get lost!"
Kwaaaaaang!
A deafening roar shattered eardrums as the alley wall exploded.
Boom boom boom!
Consecutive blasts tore through buildings and walls, sweeping up the unorthodox warriors in the explosions.
"Arrrgh!"
"Gaaahk!"
"Wh-what the hell?!"
"Stop that bastard!"
Kwaaaang!
The Thunder Dragon Squad burst forth like a gale, smashing the unorthodox flank.
"It's the Thunder Dragon Squad!"
"The special forces!"
"The young masters!"
Joy lit the faces.
Nangong Hyeok charged like lightning, ferocious light blazing from his eyes.
Red and blue lightning evoking flames rose from his demon sword, turning the front into scorched earth.
Kwaaaang!
As he swept away enemies with savage glares, he froze.
His eyes met Nangong So's, who was lost in a trance, butchering foes from the opposite side.
Nangong Hyeok's head tilted sideways.
"You little shit! Come to betray us at the perfect moment?!"
"N-No, that's not..."
Nangong So stammered in panic.
Geon Cheon-hwi, running alongside, barked.
"It's reinforcements! They're on our side!"
"Huh? Reinforcements? Him?"
"Yes! He's with us! Hey, point that sword somewhere else!"
"With us?"
With us?
A strange emotion flickered in Nangong Hyeok's eyes.
- Someday, you'll live for someone else too. Just as I fight for the clan, as my retainers risk death.
The Sword King's voice tickled his ear.
'...He's doing it too.'
Was this what the Sword King meant?
Or had everyone fallen atop the Demonic Blood Tribulation done the same?
Nangong Hyeok's gaze softened.
His sword light pierced the brow of an enemy lunging at Nangong So's back.
Thud!
Blood spurted as the foe tumbled to the ground.
Seeing Nangong So's trembling fingertips, Nangong Hyeok slapped his back.
Even this coward was fighting to save the clan.
"Get it together, you punk!"
"...!"
"Zone out and you're dead. Don't wanna die? Stick close!"
Nangong Hyeok's booming shout snapped Nangong So alert.
The Soaring Heaven Bright King Qi seeping in from the slap awakened his mind.
Nangong Hyeok cleaved through oncoming enemies indiscriminately, eyes gleaming.
"Thunder Dragon Squad!"
"Yes!"
"Secure the retreat! We're all getting back to the main house alive!"
Nangong Hyeok's cry echoed thunderously across the battlefield.
The Thunder Dragon Squad rampaged everywhere, slaughtering foes, while Paeng Jung-hyeok and So Hye-yeon covered the rear.
Tang siblings scattered hidden weapons in all directions to buy time, creating an opening as the blocked retreat path cleared.
Nangong Hyeok blasted lightning to repel the surging enemies. Nangong Ryong drove back those from the opposite side.
"Run!"
The Nangong Clan forces desperately dashed for the main house.
"We made it! We're here!"
"Everyone inside!"
"Huuuuaaaah!"
The Nangong Clan forces poured into the headquarters desperately, and the massive gates slammed shut.
Mukyung ground his teeth, snarling.
"Damn it all!"
He glared at the Nangong Clan's massive compound, solid as a fortress wall.