Chapter 240
Chapter 240
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 240
Chapter Title: The Path (3)
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After confirming the warriors of the Each Bow Fortress who were being pursued, I issued my command.
The Eon brothers drew their weapons in unison.
Ching! Ching! Ching!
Peng So-jin swiftly drew her sword as well, quick on the uptake.
Uncle Jae-hyeok, who had his saber slung on his back, drew it and nodded in permission.
I nodded back and spoke to Dam Yong-ju.
"The Ice Palace folks, please look after the carriages."
"Understood."
I charged straight toward the ones attacking the Each Bow Fortress warriors.
"Let's go."
As I did, I gave detailed orders to form our formation.
"Professor and I take the center with So-jin. The five from Azure Bamboo Pavilion on the left!"
At my words, the Eon brothers moved with perfect discipline.
Jeong-hyeon, Yin Ha-yeon, Yin Ha-seong, Wu So-neung, and Dang Ok-ki lined up flawlessly on the left.
"We'll take the right."
"Right. Namgung Yun."
On the right were Namgung Yun, Jeon Gal-seolji, Peng So-cheon, Eon Yong-myeong, and Cheon Jang-ho.
Swaaaa!
Forming a wedge, we reached the battlefield in an instant and tore into the flank of those chasing the Each Bow Fortress warriors.
"Horses' legs first!"
Shwaaa!
Hiiing! Hiiing!
With our arrival, the tide of battle began to turn.
The black cavalry's momentum crumbled sharply.
The Each Bow Fortress warriors, who had been fleeing outnumbered, spotted us and quickly wheeled their horses around.
Shuk! Shuk!
Shuk! Shuk! Shuk!
Their boasts of skill on horseback proved no bluff.
The Each Bow Fortress warriors unleashed a barrage of arrows toward us.
I could see arrows fired from galloping horses striking the black cavalry right between the eyes.
Puk! Puk!
Of course, the black cavalry responded.
"Heavy cavalry, advance! Archers, return fire!"
But the Each Bow Fortress warriors dodged the arrows as if one with their horses.
Dudududu!
They rode past our engagement zone.
Seeing that, Uncle Jae-hyeok, swinging his black saber, spoke up.
"Those guys just passed us by?"
Peng So-jin replied to Uncle.
"It's the hammer and anvil tactic."
"Hammer?"
"If we hold these guys like an anvil, the Each Bow Fortress people loop back like now and..."
Shuk! Shuk!
Shuk! Shuk! Shuk!
"...strike the enemy's rear like a hammer. Grandpa still hasn't cracked open a military manual, huh?"
Ching! Ching!
"Ahem. Why use fancy terms when 'hit 'em from behind' works fine? You know how busy academy professors are? The academy nearly collapsed..."
...Uncle Jae-hyeok is definitely from the Peng family.
As I admired Peng So-jin, the only one from that clan to enter Yun Nation Hall, she asked me.
"Yong-un, I thought your aura had changed again... Your skills really advanced in the time we haven't seen each other? You beat a Shaolin first-generation disciple?"
"I trained hard, sparred a lot, and it just happened."
Ching!
Shwaaa!
"...Eon Yong-un as the world's top later-generation talent. Even Uncle didn't predict that, right?"
"I..."
"Uncle Jae-hyeok? You didn't just fail to predict it—you tried chasing me out at the entrance exam, asking what I was doing here."
"Ahem. Why bring that up?"
"Yong-un won't forget it."
Peng So-jin herself felt more refined than when I'd seen her at the Pearl Eon Family.
"You've advanced since vacation too, Sis?"
"I'm always learning. Got thrown into missions with the strike team seniors a few times, started pondering things... Master said such doubts are natural and good."
"That's what makes you a genius."
"When you say it, it sounds like teasing!"
In the midst of this, an enemy silhouette popped up behind Peng So-jin.
I wrapped my sword Regret in sword energy.
"Got it, duck."
Peng So-jin dropped low without hesitation.
Regret cleaved through several black-clad foes in one stroke.
Shwaaak!
With us blocking the black cavalry's front and the Each Bow Fortress warriors unleashing volleys from the rear.
Soon, not a single black cavalryman was left standing on the plain.
'...Looks like it's over.'
As I caught my breath.
Yaul Wei approached and spoke.
"Brother Yong-un! You saved our lives!"
"Whew. You looked desperate, so we helped... What's going on?"
"Let's head to the fortress first. I'll explain on the way."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Meanwhile, in Hebei, the gathering of the Hebei Three Heroes was just beginning.
But today's meeting differed from past ones in several ways.
First, the location wasn't the Hebei Peng Family in Bo Province, the Eon Family in Jinju, or the Seok Manor—it was Tianjin, the outer port of Beijing.
Second, someone else had summoned the Hebei Three Heroes to Tianjin, known as the emperor's ferry landing.
Today's host: Southern Jiang Merchant King Eun Se-pyeong.
"Welcome. I didn't call you for any great crisis. I came to Tianjin to supply salt to the capital and wanted to share a drink with you three... Thank you for coming despite your busy schedules."
Against the backdrop of a splendid pavilion overlooking Tianjin's seaside vista, Eun Se-pyeong cupped his fists in greeting.
Eon Jeong-ung spoke toward him.
"No need. You've generously supported the Martial Alliance's Yangtze River naval base, and personally, your children and our Yong-un share rice bowls. I've long wanted such a gathering myself."
Peng Mu-hyeok crossed his arms and stepped forward at Eon Jeong-ung's words.
"Hey now, Jeong-ung. Mentioning shared rice bowls makes us parents of Yun Nation Hall kids feel left out, doesn't it, Brother Seok?"
"Hahaha. The kids eat at the academy cafeteria, don't they? Truth is, we're all in the same pot with Mae-nan gu-juk."
"No, no. Make it awkward quick."
"Pardon?"
"Then I can break the ice with the joke I prepared."
As Peng Mu-hyeok spoke, Eon Jeong-ung and Seok Geum-pil furrowed their brows in unison.
Eun Se-pyeong laughed and replied.
"This Eun is shy by nature. I'm feeling the awkwardness inside, so go ahead. I'm quite curious since you prepared it."
Peng Mu-hyeok cleared his throat and spoke.
"Ahem. Where in our bodies is the most metal?"
Eun Se-pyeong stroked his chin.
"...Let me think. I once heard from a physician that blood contains some iron. But it's a joke, so not that. ...Ribs? Is it the ribs?"
"Oh! Correct!"
"Hahaha. Clan Head Peng's wit could fill Tianjin's seas and more."
"Kuhahaha!"
Eon Jeong-ung and Seok Geum-pil shook their heads and exchanged transmissions.
[...To play along with Eldest Brother's joke like that.]
[Haven't seen anyone like that besides Plum Blossom Madam in ages. No wonder he's a mega-merchant.]
"By the way, you three. Keeping up with the gazettes? Jiangnan uses our merchant group's falcon network; north of the Yellow River uses Taiyuan's. Just curious."
The four men's gathering naturally shifted to talk of the Righteous Advancement Tournament.
"Of course. This Jeong-ung even clips and collects them... Heh."
"Eldest Brother, why mention that?"
"What's wrong?"
"...Ahem. Anyway. Your two children shone in polo, archery, and martial arts. Quite admirable."
"How could they compare to Goryong? When I first met him, I saw his potential, but to claim world's top later-generation talent in under a year at the academy... Impressive."
"I was about to bring that up. Yong-un owed the Southern Jiang Merchant King during his time away from the family. How to repay that grace."
"That was an investment on my part. No debt or favor."
"Still..."
"Haha. Still, he stayed at my home, so I contributed a bit to Goryong's fame? Pour me a drink in that spirit."
As cups circled warmly.
Peng Mu-hyeok pulled a letter from his bosom.
"Jae-hyeok's letters lost popularity thanks to the gazettes, but they still have exclusive tidbits. Fresh one—empty your cup if curious."
Eon Jeong-ung, Seok Geum-pil, and Eun Se-pyeong drained theirs.
Peng Mu-hyeok unfolded the letter.
But his expression soured as he read.
"Hm? Peng family code. ...Sent with delay for security?"
Peng Jae-hyeok's letter ended with the kids heading to the North Sea Ice Palace.
As those present pondered.
Seok Geum-pil offered an optimistic view.
"...What trouble could there be? The world was quiet during the tournament. North Sea Ice Palace sent envoys and later-generation talents; with Brother Jae-hyeok along, no need for worry."
Eon Jeong-ung nodded but gazed north.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ On the way back, Yaul Wei explained the Each Bow Fortress's situation.
"That weird rumor I mentioned got a strange addendum."
"What addendum made them try to kill the fortress lord's son?"
"Rumors we're behind steppe disappearances, selling brothers to Central Plains folk."
A sudden thought struck me mid-conversation.
"So, the fortress was attacked while the lord and Yaul were at the tournament?"
Yaul Wei shook his head, pointing to the distant fortress.
"No. See for yourself."
The Each Bow Fortress was indeed intact.
Stone walls showed no breaches.
Yurt tents of nomads and tiled homes of settlers.
A unique vibe of pastures and farmlands, far from war.
"Not Central Plains city-scale, but one of the steppe's richest. Many covet it."
Yaul Wei, satisfied with the sight, entered laughing casually.
"That's why challengers come occasionally. First time with such a nasty smear, though."
"Hm. I see."
"I'll report to Father and raise alert. Sorry to leave hosting you."
"No issue. I'll tour the grounds."
"Good?"
"Yes."
His apologetic look faded briefly.
As Yaul Wei hurried off, I mulled the situation.
"Strange."
Jeon Gal-seolji nodded.
"You think so too, Young Master Yong-un?"
Master and Yin Ha-seong asked simultaneously.
- What's strange?
"What's odd?"
Yin Ha-yeon answered.
"If targeting the fortress, better when lord and sub-lord absent. Attacking now is weird, right?"
I nodded.
"Plus, openly trying to kill Yaul is suspicious."
Shortly after.
Horns blared from Yaul's direction; warriors shut the gates.
Thinking alert raised.
"Fire!!"
Black smoke rose from one side inside.
I spoke to Dam Yong-ju.
"Thinking of checking that. You?"
"Ice Palace and Each Bow relations aren't flawless, so we'll guard goods here."
I nodded and told the Eon brothers.
"Let's go!"
We rushed to the market; a grain shop ablaze.
Warriors nearby starting extinguish efforts. Lucky.
"We'll help."
"Ah, Righteous Martial Academy brothers? Demolish adjacent buildings then."
This era's firefighting: douse flames or destroy neighbors to contain.
Kwang! Kwang!
Kwajik!
We aided the latter.
After extinguishing.
Inspecting, oddity at burned grain shop.
"Hm?"
Charred corpse by door—not fleeing pose, but blocking it.
'Door was shut when we arrived.'
With warriors' okay, brothers and I searched thoroughly.
"Brother Eon. Look at this."
Wu So-neung handed half-burned parchment.
『...until we seize control』
Not grain shop text, though market control fit; I added assumption.
'Demonic Cult surely reaches steppe and North Sea.'
...Issue: which head where.
Scanning, burned corpse caught eye.
"Hm."
Burning pain immense.
Enduring to block door? Needs fanatic faith, pain tolerance.
Not typical ghost speech.
Approaching corpse.
I channeled inner energy via Tongue of Heaven, uttering incantation.
"O departed soul, heed my call."
Blue flames—will-o'-wisp—rose from corpse.
As expected, not ordinary ghost words.
- ...The steppe must be in chaos!
Then.
Parchment and wisp's mutter clicked.
'Keep steppe chaotic until Ice Palace seized.'
Chaos here draws no eyes to Ice Palace.
Even Central Plains folk like us.
Focus on nearby turmoil over distant intact Ice Palace.
'Feint east, strike west.'
'Here, south stirs north?'
Demonic Cult bastards.
What are you plotting at North Sea Ice Palace?