Chapter 347
Chapter 347
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 347
Chapter Title: No Time for That (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A smile crept across my face as Song Gil-jun's visage surfaced in my mind while poring over the map.
That was when my master spoke up.
"...Try not to smile like that. Strangers might think you're some wicked fiend."
'It's all people who know me, though... Master, that's a bit harsh, isn't it? Calling your one and only disciple wicked.'
As I started to retort,
Namgung Yun posed a question.
"When do we launch the attack? Right now?"
In response to his query, Yin Xia Lian narrowed her brows and said,
"Hmm. We've confirmed the location, so rather than charging in immediately, wouldn't it be better to wait for word that the Blood Cult has started tearing into the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? Strike when chaos erupts among the Demonic Cultists."
At her words, Yin Ha-seong and the other Eon brothers chimed in one by one.
"Sounds like a solid plan from big sis. Keeps their forces from slipping away, right? But... what's with So-reung bro? Why the long face again?"
"No, it's a great idea. I just thought Silver Bro might've had a breakthrough thanks to that Earth Dragon inner core unclogging his meridians."
"......"
I pondered their exchange in silence for a moment.
Then Dang Ok-gi turned to me.
"What do you think, Eon Yong-un?"
"Safer to strike after hearing that the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and Blood Cult have started ripping into each other..."
"But it sounds like there's more to it?"
"Thing is, that gives them time to destroy evidence like ledgers."
Yin Xia Lian nodded at my words.
"True enough. The Blood Demon won't be unaware of a base this size. Song Gil-jun knows it too, so if word comes that their bases across the land are under attack... he'd sooner destroy it than hand it over."
"Exactly. And though Ha-seong mentioned forces pulling out, they might converge here instead."
At that, Jeong Hyeon murmured a Taoist invocation before speaking.
"Primeval Lord of Heaven. Listening to Young Master Eon, it does seem so. Then, as Young Master Namgung suggests, do we charge in now?"
"Tough call. Charging straight in is too risky."
The risk was one thing, but I also wanted to milk the heavenly fortune a bit longer.
"Truth is, slipping in at the razor-thin perfect moment would be ideal."
"The razor-thin moment?"
"Right when word of the Blood Cult's assault trickles into their lair? If we hit the heart of this base exactly then, it'd be perfect."
My master voiced his doubt.
Can we time it that precisely?
He had a point.
In this era with limited communication and intel networks, nailing the timing was no easy feat.
'Tricky, sure. But we have to prepare as best we can.'
Having replied to my master, I turned to the Beggar Clan branch leader, staring at the Guizhou sub-branch chief, and spoke.
"Anything from the sub-branch chief?"
"...Hmph. Where'd you snag that detailed map? I'll give the Murim Alliance credit for a job well done. But we haven't been idle either."
"Not criticizing. Just asking straight. With the attack timing on the line, we need to be cautious."
"...Hm. We've been on high alert, maintaining utmost secrecy while awaiting earth-shaking news from the jianghu. No fresh incoming reports from outside."
"What about inside? Latest map marks Jiaxiu Teahouse—any word from the beggars you've got posted there? Even small stuff."
"Tsk. Let me think..."
At my question, the sub-branch chief turned to the hunchback beside him.
"Jong-pal. Wasn't the Jiaxiu Teahouse owner's son missing lately?"
The hunchback named Jong-pal nodded.
I followed up.
"Son?"
"We focused on external intel, but figuring this was a Demonic base, we tailed regulars coming and going—merchants sourcing goods to Guizhou and out from here."
"And?"
"Nothing major overall. If something stuck out, their base would've blown wide open ages ago. But zeroing in on Jiaxiu Teahouse, the son did head out of Guizhou to scout trade routes."
Judging from the sub-branch chief's account, I figured we had about a day's leeway before Blood Cult and Heavenly Demon Divine Cult matters blew up.
"Beggar Clan, concentrate manpower at the city gates for now."
"Got it."
"Murim Alliance, track that Jiaxiu Teahouse son discreetly."
"Will do."
"We wait till tomorrow night."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day arrived.
We waited all day, but no word on the Jiaxiu Teahouse son returning.
"Can't drag it out longer."
No more waiting. I gathered the Eon brothers and checked their pre-battle readiness.
"Gil-jun's a tunnel rat, so other comms methods aren't off the table."
Clad uniformly in pitch-black night gear, they nodded solemnly at my words.
"Some risk unavoidable. Time to strike. Objections?"
No one stirred, eyes gleaming with resolve.
"None. As the saying goes, 'do your utmost and leave the rest to heaven.' We've done our best, embraced the risk. Heaven decides the rest."
I turned to Dang Ok-gi.
"What I told you to prep?"
He pulled a slender pipe from his bosom.
"Got it."
"Good."
Confirming, I addressed Cheon Jang-ho.
"Jang-ho, as instructed: hold key routes to the base with the beggars. Adapt based on Alliance and our movements."
"Don't worry."
"Right. Loosen up good. Breakfast together before we go."
As we set off toward Jiaxiu Teahouse,
The Beggar Clan sub-branch chief came dashing up with news.
"He's back!"
"Saw you coming... You mean the Jiaxiu son?"
"Yes. A beggar spotted him passing the gates, debated tailing or signaling—poof, gone in that instant."
The awaited news.
"...Can't confirm if he brings what we're waiting for, but feels like heaven's on our side."
Muttering unwittingly, I instructed the sub-branch chief.
"Understood. You and Jang-ho hold those routes tight."
"Will do."
"Let's move."
Leading the Eon brothers save Cheon Jang-ho, we raced through the night toward Jiaxiu Teahouse.
Tat. Tat. Tat. Tat. Tat.
Scaling the wall in those strides,
I exchanged parting glances with Yin Xia Lian and Dang Ok-gi.
'Count on you.'
'Don't worry.'
'No sweat!'
Leaving them behind, I leaped inside with the rest.
Landing in the garden artfully landscaped like a wish-granting realm,
We beheld grotesquely placed rocks of varying sizes, walls of different heights, and trees—a bizarre vista.
'As expected, a maze layout.'
Objects arranged per formation principles to disorient intruders.
Instinct screamed confusion on which way to go.
But we'd prepared.
'That's why I left Yin Xia Lian and Dang Ok-gi as rear guard.'
As I thought that,
Pick!
A luminous needle coated in night-shine saliva whistled and embedded.
The faintly glowing needle pointed our path.
'Time to end hide-and-seek.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Sam-ho. That true?!"
Jang Uk, posing as Jiaxiu Teahouse's son externally, was a Thunderclap Division operative under Ma-noe-bu. Song Gil-jun called him 'Sam-ho'.
"...Yes, Young Master."
Sam-ho's latest mission: with spy Ha-gwang, corner Prince Chu's Mansion and Eon Yong-un.
"Not Prince Chu hunting the Blood Demon—but the Blood Demon moving?!"
En route back from reporting that failure in person, shocking news hit.
Heavenly Demon Divine Cult bases assaulted by Heaven-Shaking Blood Demon followers.
"Yes. Heard it three hundred li out—raced back like mad. Blood Demon's on the move."
Delivering that, Mad Horse Army's Song Gil-jun went slack-jawed.
"...Impossible? Blood Prince Mansion lacks clout to act separate yet? Blood Demon no gambler? The guy who built point-by-point suddenly why?!"
"Th-that's not for this subordinate to..."
"Not asking you! Just thinking aloud—shut it and don't rile me!"
"......"
As Song Gil-jun bellowed,
A minion guarding the inner base route burst in.
"Young Master! Big trouble!"
"Sam-ho's reporting! Already heard Blood Demon's attacking—don't rile me!"
"No, intruders!"
"What? Here?!"
"Yes!"
"Not outer minor bases—Jiaxiu itself?!"
"Yes!"
Even Heaven-Shaking Blood Demon attacking was neck-stiffening.
"Who? How far in?"
"Apologies. Came to alert fast—don't know who yet. Breached this line. Incoming soon."
This base under attack? Utterly baffling.
"...Blood Demon knows rough spot, not layout?"
As Song Gil-jun muttered,
Sam-ho urgently spoke.
"Young Master's orders!"
"B-block Blood Demon. Pull outer base forces outside Gui—wait, no, here first?"
Thoughts raced and churned in Song Gil-jun's head.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Pick!
Thanks to Yin Xia Lian and Dang Ok-gi scouting from on high and signaling paths,
We burrowed deep into the base swiftly.
But as a hub in all directions,
Guards at key points were above average.
Passing the inner keep threshold,
Foes pierced the Dark Shadow Merge, sensing our presence.
Shwaak!
Shwaaaak!
Our personal prowess outmatched, so small groups fell easy.
But blood spilled meant alert racing inward in seconds.
Time race from here.
Having weathered countless battles with me, Namgung Yun and Yin Ha-seong read the field.
"You lot push in. We'll hold this choke."
"Yes, brothers. Go."
"Right."
No "can you handle?"—I'd brought them knowing they could hold.
"Don't die."
Leaving them, we plunged deeper.
After several walls,
Cha-cha-chang!
A horde of peak-expert-plus elites surged, blocking us.
Drawing blades,
Cha-cha-chang!
The ranks parted, revealing gaunt-faced Song Gil-jun.
He addressed me.
"...Eon Yong-un?"
No point hiding now.
Better to flaunt, grate his nerves.
"Yeah. Me."
I tossed my mask.
"Quick on the uptake? Or too slow?"
At that, Song Gil-jun laughed maniacally.
"Kuk. Kukukukukuk."
"Lost your marbles? Why the cackling?"
"...Caught me off guard for a sec. But first coming here, I did think—one-in-ten-thousand, you might track me. You were sleepless, starved for my capture too."
"...Nah, not that bad for me."
"......"
"Just recently dealt with dogshit trouble, saw your handiwork. Thought 'might as well nab him if around'?"
Grinding teeth, Song Gil-jun stomped a nearby pedal.
"...Anyway, I prepped for you. Necromancy-jamming traps and formations everywhere. Not like before."
Eerie bell chimes rang from all sides.
Ting—
Ting-ting—
As necromancer, instinct told me:
Disrupts corpse puppetry spells.
But my shadow's assassin wasn't foiled by parlor tricks.
Grinning, I gripped Regret firm.
"That so? I've changed plenty too. Let's see how much my Gil-jun's grown."