Chapter 338
Chapter 338
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 338
Chapter Title: It's Counterattack Time From Now On (1)
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As Jeong-hyeon descended, Master had this to say.
- Your realm is impressive enough, but being from Wudang, your form is far more refined than Gong Yun's crude style?
It was just as Master said.
Jeong-hyeon was drifting down gracefully, employing Wudang's signature lightness skill, the Cloud-Stepping Stride.
'Indeed. But you never know what might happen, so I should lend a hand.'
I rushed to his landing spot and wrapped my hand in internal energy, stirring up a gust of air.
"Thank you."
Thanks to that, Jeong-hyeon landed lightly and expressed his gratitude.
He was about to say something.
"Right now, up above..."
At that moment, my junior brothers from the infiltration team surrounded Jeong-hyeon.
U So-ryeong was the first to speak.
"Jeong-hyeon Dao-brother! This place is a total maze. We nearly missed each other— that would've been disastrous!"
"Yes. I was panicking on the way down about how to find you all, but fortunately, you were right below."
Dang Ok-gi and Namgung Yun chimed in next.
"Sheesh. Eon Yong-un said it'd take about ten days, but you couldn't wait and came down? Ha-yeon put you up to it, didn't she? That girl worries about the silliest things."
"Yeah. As if he couldn't find his own way back."
U So-ryeong and Namgung Yun had absorbed the inner core of the Inkscale Earth Dragon.
Dang Ok-gi had gathered a bunch of materials useful for his research.
In short, the guys were buzzing with excitement.
So they hadn't grasped the gravity of Jeong-hyeon coming to find us.
I immediately cut in to shut them up.
"You idiots are so hyped you can't read the room. Quiet down. If that stickler came all the way down here, something must've gone wrong up top!"
As the three of them froze in shock,
Jeong-hyeon nodded and spoke.
"Yes. But nothing happened at the place we were guarding."
"Then?"
"Beacon smokes are rising across the entire Crown Prince's Residence right now."
"Smoke from the beacon towers? Where from? If it's from the coast or borders, it's an invasion. If it's spreading from Hwan-an, the royal capital is in danger?"
"It started from the Hwan-an side."
Namgung Yun furrowed his brow at Jeong-hyeon's words and spoke.
"...Is it a rebellion?"
"I don't know the details that far. As soon as we spotted the beacon smokes, Lady Eun sent Brother Cheon to the relay station with the Crown Prince's Residence forces. I came down."
Various thoughts flashed through my mind.
"So it just happened. Beacon from the capital..."
Still, the conclusion was clear: we needed to head up quickly.
"We should hurry."
As I reiterated that, Dang Ok-gi asked.
"But how do we get back up?"
"Primeval Heavenly Venerable. Even with all those ropes, compared to the length of the Bottomless Gorges' sheer cliffs, it's woefully short."
Jeong-hyeon nodded in agreement, and Namgung Yun offered an idea.
"What if we embed hands wrapped in qi into the wall, creating handholds as we go?"
Dang Ok-gi scowled and retorted.
"What are you talking about? Forgot how the wall crumbled when you came down? It's slippery too."
"...Not me. I meant if Eon Yong-un takes the lead carefully, it could work."
"Hm. He could manage, but we'd still be climbing on his back?"
"Shouldn't we at least send him up first? If there's no other way?"
While they bantered,
I began drawing a ritual array on the ground.
Master, recognizing it, asked.
- Qian, Dui, Kan, Kun. And those squiggly runes even I can't make out... It's the ritual arts you studied at Mosan under Principal Mok and the academy. Planning to use sorcery to get out?
'Yes. My internal energy is brimming thanks to the Inkscale Earth Dragon's inner core. But with beacons lit, I can't afford to waste it recklessly. I'll borrow the efficiency of a formation array.'
After a brief exchange with Master,
The ritual array was complete.
I had my silently watching junior brothers step aside to the flanks.
"Everyone, make way."
I channeled internal energy from my upper dantian into the array.
Wuuuung-
The formation on the ground glowed azure and began to resonate.
I stepped into its center,
Pressed my palm to the earth, and commanded.
"Rise."
My verbal command rippled outward in a circular wave across the entire Bottomless Gorge.
Soon, the ground trembled.
Dududududu-
Skeletons buried deep clawed their way out, rising en masse. At the same time, the ones I'd sent to fetch the Yongdae Merchant Group's carriage returned.
I pointed at the cliff and ordered them.
"Make. A path."
Countless skeletons charged the cliff, stacking atop one another.
Screeech! Screeeech!
Screeeeech!!
When they had piled into a mountain of bones,
"Let's go."
I leaped up with my junior brothers, grabbed the dangling ropes,
And scaled the cliff at a run.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Arriving at the stake points,
Our junior brothers rushed out to greet us.
"Brother Yong-un!"
"Young Master Eon! Ok-gi!"
I nodded in acknowledgment, then reduced the bone pile at the gorge's base to nothing.
"Situation seems urgent. Save the chit-chat for later."
Gazing at the distant beacon smokes, I said.
"Lady Eun. I heard beacons are up at the Crown Prince's Residence. But it seems Captain Cheon, whom you sent to scout, hasn't returned?"
"Yes."
"Where's the nearest relay station from here?"
"Mong Mountain County."
"...Just has a Beggar Clan hut. The real info hub is Ryeo Wave County, right?"
"Yes. It's in Ryeo Wave County."
"Info from relay stations is limited. The Crown Prince's Residence folks will tag along with Captain Jang at most..."
"Yes. Probably."
"The Crown Prince's Residence isn't pushover, and with loyal retainers, they're holding. But we can't just wait for Captain Jang in this time-sensitive mess. Let's push straight through."
"Yes!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ At the same time,
Yang Jin-mu's Crown Prince Guard Ten-Man Squad, led by him, arrived at Mong Mountain County's relay station.
"Prove your identity and state your affiliation."
Yang Jin-mu flashed his Crown Prince's Residence command plaque at the spearmen.
"I'm the Guard Captain. On His Highness's errand, I spotted beacons en route. Any news here?"
At the mention of the Guards, the station master rushed out.
"Yes! Assassins infiltrated the royal capital!"
Yang Jin-mu narrowed his eyes at the station master's words.
"Assassins? Which ragtag guild dares invade the Crown Prince's royal capital? Who are they?"
"I don't know that much... Except for coastal guards and essential personnel at each post, the Governor-General ordered all to rush to the capital's aid."
Yang Jin-mu bit his lip.
Cheon Jang-ho spoke up.
"Brother Jin-mu. Instead of this, let's head to Ryeo Wave County."
"Ryeo Wave County?"
"Yes. It's on the way to Hwan-an anyway? They have a Beggar Clan info branch. Better details than some offhand remark from a passing courier."
As they galloped toward the Beggar Clan branch,
Cheon Jang-ho and Yang Jin-mu continued talking.
"This feels like Qi Yeom Valley's doing."
"Qi Yeom Valley?"
"One of the Central Plains' infamous assassin groups... Heavenly Net Veil vanished a while back. I suspect them."
"...Qi Yeom Valley."
"Ahem. Not certain. Ah, Brother Yong-un nails these things like a ghost. Wonder if he's back by now?"
Yang Jin-mu mulled over the conversation.
Then addressed one of his comrades.
"After getting Beggar Clan info in Ryeo Wave County, Eun Inner Official, lead the squad to the capital."
"...Sounds like you're not coming, Captain Yang?"
"Yes. Rushed here in panic, but all of us going defies His Highness's order to escort the Black Dragon... and doesn't fit the situation. I'll escort the Black Dragon."
"I get the first part, but what about the situation?"
"We need reliable allies more than ever. The Black Dragon will be a huge help..."
Rustle-
Eon Yong-un burst from the roadside bushes right then.
"Escort me where?"
"!!?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Having linked up with the advance group first, I got intel from the Beggar Clan branch.
The confirmed info: Qi Yeom Valley was moving.
And no royals killed or captured yet.
"...Qi Yeom Valley."
As we raced back toward Hwan-an's royal capital, reviewing the info,
U So-ryeong asked.
"Earlier, Brother Namgung asked if it was rebellion. Is it really?"
"Doubt it. His Highness the Crown Prince is hailed as a sage ruler, fair in rewards. He even overlooks the corruption inevitable in stipend systems. Who here would rebel against him?"
Yin Ha-yeon nodded in agreement.
"Right. Rebellion needs backers. So who sent Qi Yeom Valley? They assassinate for the right price, but..."
"Targeting someone like His Highness would cost a fortune."
"Yes. Money means motive. Whoever's willing to pay that to harm him..."
"Plenty might hate him. But acting directly? Maybe Prince Yeon?"
The mood grew grave naturally.
Some tension was needed, but at max speed already, no need for more.
I changed the subject.
"Anyway. Why'd you decide to turn back with me, Captain Yang?"
"...Saw the beacons and panicked, legs moved on their own. Snapped out of it at the relay. Figured you were needed to get the Black Dragon to the capital without hassle."
True enough.
We'd passed checkpoints smoothly thanks to Crown Prince's Residence folk.
'In crisis, without them, we'd face restrictions or detention.'
Might've even clashed with friendly Guangxi troops.
As I thought that, Yang Jin-mu continued.
"And right now, we need every reliable ally."
"...How well do you even know me, Captain?"
"True. Not well. I was rude at our first meeting, and even now, I can't claim to know the Black Dragon."
"Yet?"
"But my peers, all exceptional, trust you. His Highness and the princes do too— there must be reason."
"Sheesh."
We chatted as we pressed north.
After a long ride,
We reached the Crown Prince's royal palace in Hwan-an County.
Fires blazed everywhere, clash of blades ringing out.
Whoosh-
Roarrr-
Master sighed at the flames engulfing the palace surroundings.
- Tsk tsk. Reduced the pinnacle of mountains and rivers to this.
'Drawing out inner palace troops by firing the outskirts first. Top assassin group lives up to the name. Systematic.'
- Mercenaries were never honorable. Don't call those scum the best. Pathetic.
As I replied,
Yang Jin-mu sent a transmission.
[This way to the Guards' secret passage.]
Following his lead into the palace,
Acrid smoke and metallic blood assaulted the nose.
Clang! Clang!
Clangclangclang!!!!!!
A group of inner officials in formation battled pitch-black assassins head to toe.
Shing-
No orders needed.
I drew Regret.
Shing- Shing-
Shing-
My juniors drew theirs too.
We seamlessly formed the Bird-Net Formation and plunged into their midst.
Unleashing a barrage on the black-clad foes.
Clang! Claaang!
The black assassins, sandwiched between the officials' circle and our joint assault, held only briefly.
Stab! Stab!
Stabstabstab!
'Not even death cries. True assassins.'
Impressed inwardly by Qi Yeom Valley's killers,
Yang Jin-mu and the officials spoke in unison.
"His Highness? What of Her Highness the Crown Princess and the princes?"
"East Palace! East Palace is in danger! After the chaos, per defense protocols, we escorted His Highness and Her Highness to the safehouse. But the East Palace is surrounded—no word from the inner officials there that they've secured the princes."
We headed straight for the East Palace.
No clash of steel— just an eerie quiet.
The East Palace reeked of death.
"......"
"......"
None of us spoke rashly.
We combed the corpse-strewn halls.
After a bit,
"Captain Yang. Unclear if fortunate or tragic, but no prince's body in sight."
"...Seems so."
"I can summon spirits to gather clues. Lowly souls just wail to live, but maybe..."
As I prepared to call spirits,
"Hm?"
In the prince's bedchamber corner, crudely carved letters: "Go to Mountain, West Direction Victory"
"Fresh carving. His Highness?"
"S-seems so. Go to mountain west? Secret passages from East Palace too. Must've fled west via one."
"Hold on."
"Black Dragon! Time's critical!"
"I know. But His Highness is sharp— would he leave a destination assassins could read?"
"!"
"Hidden meaning? East Palace code?"
"...None."
No code, so I pondered.
Then recalled him in shortened Qingzhu Hall uniform.
'...His Highness likes me.'
Muttering the phrase,
"Go Mountain Direction West Victory. Backwards? Victory West Direction Mountain Go?"
It clicked.
"Mountain West Victory Direction Go! The Pavilion that Won in the West!"
"Pardon?"
"Didn't you say His Highness loves my tales? My maternal clan is in Shanxi— the Pavilion that won there raided the ancestral hall. Where's the hall enshrining past Crown Princes?"
Jongmyo – Royal Ancestral Shrine.