Chapter 400
Chapter 400
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 400
Chapter Title: Ghost-Faced Elder (7)
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I led the Blood Wind Brigade, revived as jiangshi, and my Eon brothers out onto the road.
Our westward march along the foothills of Man-geop Mountain proceeded in a manner where Wu So-ryeong, in charge of scouting ahead, would survey the path and leave markers.
"Turn right here."
We followed those markers and dashed onward.
"Halt."
Seeing the signal to stop, I paused with the other Eon brothers and the jiangshi for a moment.
Rustle-
Wu So-ryeong emerged from the brush, pointing back the way he'd come as he spoke.
"Looks like we've arrived. I can see Bu-nyeong Fortress off in the distance."
"Given our pace, it's about time. So, what's the atmosphere like over there? Any patrols in the vicinity?"
"Yes. The walls are lined with watchtowers densely placed, but nothing around here."
"Makes sense. Being in the mountains, deploying manpower here wouldn't be efficient. The terrain funnels everything through Bu-nyeong Fortress, blocking any large army... which is exactly why we have to take it."
Leaving it alone would leave a dagger at our backs, but securing it would ensure a safe retreat.
On top of that, it would shock the Blood Heaven Asura Palace, giving momentum to the White and Red Armies advancing along other routes.
'No wonder the detachment's first target was set as Bu-nyeong.'
Such thoughts flitted through my mind briefly.
Then Eun Ha-seong spoke up.
"Brother, why don't we go to the spot So-ryeong scouted and assess the situation before deciding whether to advance or withdraw?"
"Good idea."
I nodded and issued a command to the jiangshi.
"Set down the coffins you're carrying and stand by here."
As the jiangshi halted, Wu So-ryeong took the lead.
My Eon brothers in the detachment followed him, pushing through the underbrush.
After about fifty paces, a pass between sheer cliffs came into view.
Bu-nyeong's branch was called a branch, but in truth, it was no different from a fortress. The saying fit perfectly.
Seeing it, my master spoke.
- The walls are high, multiple watchtowers. A fair number of demonic cultivators deployed too. Forcing the gate open would be quite exhausting.
'Considering that someone attached to that gate could slip out the back as a messenger... yeah, a frontal assault won't be easy.'
As I rubbed my chin in response, Wu So-ryeong spoke.
"...Getting this close is making me nervous. I get why Sister Yin said we couldn't do this alone. But it'll work out, right?"
Eun Ha-seong, overhearing, snorted derisively.
"I told you it wasn't a pushover. You were giggling when Brother told me to hole up in the stronghold."
"...I wasn't giggling."
"What do you mean? I remember exactly how many teeth you showed."
"How many?"
"Your lip curled up just a bit, showing seven upper teeth and six lower ones."
"Gasp."
"So-ryeong's getting cheekier by the day. Starting to take after someone."
Hearing that, a question arose, so I asked.
"Who's this someone he's taking after?"
"...Pardon?"
Eun Ha-seong feigned ignorance.
"Who's this brazen figure So-ryeong's supposedly resembling?"
"No idea."
I raised my index finger and lightly tapped his head.
Then, pointing with that hand toward where I'd stationed the Blood Wind Brigade, I spoke.
"It'll go fine. To the Blood Cultists, the Blood Wind Brigade is another name for death, the cult leader's decree, and invincible. So while they'd find it odd that their reports have stopped, they wouldn't easily believe they'd been wiped out."
With that opener, I shifted my gaze back to the fortress.
"Hit them where it hurts, and we can open that gate. You've all done well playing the roles of Ghost-Faced Elder's subordinates. Just keep silently playing your Blood Wind Brigade parts the same way."
It was then that Jang Seon asked.
"So what do we do?"
"First, we'll jump off this cliff with the jiangshi."
With that, I began explaining the plan.
"If a group of us in these distinctive blood-red robes jumps from a cliff like this? To the sentry in that visible watchtower, it'll look exactly like the long-silent Blood Wind Brigade showing up."
"Oh. Yeah, it would."
"Right. Then the sentries will call the branch's overseeing bishop... Seon and Ok-gi, you two stand by at the jump site with the jiangshi. I'll exploit the cult's blind spot to open the gate. Oh, So-ryeong and Ha-seong come with me."
As those words ended.
Dang Ok-gi furrowed her brows and spoke.
"You're doing it this way because you have a plan, but you three will be okay? What if something happens?"
"Actually, rushing in as a group is worse. We'll open the gate somehow, so stand by here. If anything goes wrong, charge in."
"How do I judge if something's wrong?"
"The jiangshi will move."
With the plan briefed, my brothers nodded.
I summoned the jiangshi.
The brush we'd passed through flattened into a wedge shape.
Grrr!
As the jiangshi, each draped in blood-red robes, reached the cliff top.
We leaped down with them.
Whoosh-
Landing on Bu-nyeong soil with my fluttering scarlet robe, I charged toward the gate.
As expected, frantic movements appeared atop the watchtowers and walls.
Among them, a man with a distinct aura called out to us below the gate.
"...Are you the Blood Wind Brigade Leader?!"
Recalling Jin Dong-cheol's speech and demeanor, plus intel from the Blood Oath Squad, I replied.
"Branch overseer Bishop Seong Rim! What are you doing? Open the gate at once!"
"My apologies. Orders came from Blood Heaven Asura Palace to heighten vigilance..."
"Isn't that because of those traitorous heretics gathered at the stronghold?! We're on our way back from executing a plan to wait for them to assemble and wipe them out in one fell swoop."
"I-is that so. That explains the regular reports..."
"Seong Rim! This isn't the time for chit-chat! Our cult's plan to eliminate the Bandit King fell through, and now Do Jung-gwang has joined the heretics' ranks. Their numbers are substantial!"
I pressed Seong Rim like that.
"I left the main force behind because they're heading this way! Time is of the essence. We must inform headquarters and prepare to crush them and defend Bu-nyeong Branch!"
"......"
"I'm moving on the cult leader's decree, and this is a crisis. This isn't a request—it's an order. Open the gate. Or I'll deem you in league with the heretics!"
I drew Regret and wrapped it in blood arts aura.
This was to pressure them by mimicking Blood Wind Brigade ways while building trust as allies.
Creeeak-
Sure enough.
Bu-nyeong's gate opened.
It was a moment to cheer, but I suppressed the urge.
To subdue the demonic cultivators with minimal effort, there was no time for celebration.
Stepping inside the gate, I calmly spoke.
"Seong Rim."
"Yes!"
"Since headquarters ordered vigilance, I won't hold you accountable for the delay. Dispatch a messenger immediately to relay what I told you to the other branches."
"Understood!"
Seong Rim saluted me crisply, then pointed to one of his subordinates.
"Relay everything you heard to Man-ak Branch!"
"Yes!"
Confirming the demonic cultivator dashing toward the fortress's rear gate on messenger duty, I spoke again.
"Now we prepare to meet the enemy! Gather the cultists, Fortress Lord!"
At that moment.
Seong Rim asked me a question.
"Just in case, it might be wise to move the origin blood for the cult leader to Man-ak Branch. Sieges can drag on, and it reduces mouths to feed."
At those words, I unwittingly blurted out.
"...Origin blood?"
It was inevitable.
Origin blood was a method of slowly extracting blood from young boys and girls to infuse it with vitality.
Judging by "reducing mouths to feed," they were talking about keeping live children for it.
So I blurted out unwittingly.
Seong Rim tilted his head and spoke.
"...Orders came in the Blood Wind Brigade's name to gather orphans for origin blood, and you're saying you didn't know?"
In that instant, a heavy silence and an eon-like moment passed.
"......"
"......"
Then Seong Rim bellowed urgently.
"Stop the messenger! Trumpeter! Trumpeter, sound the halt! Close the gate again!!"
But we didn't stand idle.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Wu So-ryeong, who had been trembling during planning, moved faster than anyone when the moment came.
He whipped out his daggers like lightning and hurled them at the trumpeters.
Eun Ha-seong quickly stuck to my back.
[Brother!]
[Assess the situation and find where these 'origin blood' kids are. I'll handle the gate.]
[...Yes!]
Having sent that to Eun Ha-seong, I raised my voice to draw the demonic cultivators' attention, summoning Blood Fury.
"Blood Fury!"
Splash-
A colossal figure made of blood burst forth.
Groooar!!
The demonic cultivators involuntarily stepped back several paces.
'Block them from closing the gate!'
Rawr!!
Blood Fury used its strength to jam the closing gate, and urgent cries from the demonic cultivators rang out.
"Y-you monster! It's blocking the gate!"
Hearing that, I gave a dry laugh as I stared down Seong Rim.
"That's why I hate sharp ones."
Then I hurled the incantation seal skyward to summon the jiangshi legion stationed outside.
"If you'd fallen for it cleanly, I'd have just subdued you and handed you to the follow-up forces... but you lot won't do."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Bu-nyeong Branch couldn't withstand us.
In the fortress we captured, I rescued the children who had nearly become origin blood fodder and had Eun Ha-seong keep the follow-up forces at a distance before summoning them.
Composed of Beggars' Sect disciples, they arrived at Bu-nyeong swiftly.
"Hold this place firm. Deliver this letter to the strike team waiting at Prince Chu's residence. And those kids..."
"Don't worry. We'll look after them, find their parents, or take them as disciples."
"Good. Any word from Elder No Sam?"
"Nothing from them. They're fine, following the ridgeline, so different from crossing the valley with that monster dragon."
"Understood."
Having handed over Bu-nyeong Branch, we resumed heading south along Man-geop Mountain's foothills.
In the process, my detachment had to keep breaching Blood Cult branch passes serving as checkpoints.
Though we won, taking Bu-nyeong's exposure as a lesson, we mimicked the Blood Wind Brigade Leader even more convincingly.
Thanks to that, the next two passes fell even more easily.
"Everyone, good work."
Thus, we reached No-ga—our rendezvous with the Red Army—without a single injury.
Gazing at the river coiling around the distant fortress, Dang Ok-gi spoke.
"...Ha-yeon and the Red Army were supposed to come along that river. No sign of them. Were we too fast?"
As Wu So-ryeong beamed proudly.
"We passed everything smoothly except Bu-nyeong."
I drew their attention and spoke.
"Things get closer to Blood Heaven Asura Palace from here. No slacking like with the previous passes."
"...Yes."
"No-ga Branch requires hitting the wharf by Yuan River and that fortress a bit away simultaneously. Dang Ok-gi, status on the Paralysis Powder and Mara Fire Bombs? No spoilage?"
"They're fine. I've been managing them. Still in that jiangshi's coffin."
"According to Sword Elder, this place has nearly three times the manpower of others. Once the Red Army's ships appear on the horizon, I'll lure the fortress's occupants into this valley."
"Ha-seong and I wait in the valley with these and set them off?"
"Exactly."
Having sent Dang Ok-gi and Jang Seon ahead first, when the Red Army's fleet appeared on the river connected to Yun-nam.
I dashed to the fortress and lured the demonic cultivators into the valley.
Then, above the lured foes' heads.
Boom! Boom!
Boom boom boom!!!!
Dang Ok-gi's thrown poison bombs began detonating.
"P-poison arts! Low-rank cultists, cover nose and mouth!"
I turned with the two in the lure team.
And summoned the assassins and Blood Fury.
Even calling more jiangshi, wielding Regret amid the acrid poison smoke as support.
"Attack!"
Slash!
Slaaash!!
"B-Blood Wind Leader?! Why are you suddenly attacking us... Gack. Cough. Kegh."
After dispatching demonic cultivators crawling and flailing on the ground for a bit.
Suddenly, a downpour began from the sky that had been clear moments ago.
Drip! Drip!
Patter patter patter!!!!
- Rain from a clear sky...?
'I've heard Southern Frontier gets sudden showers from blue skies, but why now?'
I swung Regret relentlessly even in the rain.
But the downpour washed away the poison smoke from our prepared bombs helplessly.
"Enemy ploy! Rear guard, retreat!"
Thus, some demonic cultivators regrouped and fled the valley.
Those facing me gnashed their teeth.
"...You're not the Blood Wind Leader. No wonder, with reports cut from other passes, why you'd show up here. Such despicable tricks!"
None were my match individually.
But their numbers were great, and they could burst their blood veins for suicide attacks if cornered.
I warned Wu So-ryeong and Eun Ha-seong behind me.
"You know their habits well enough now, right?"
"Yes."
"Yep."
"Watch yourselves. Who knows who those escaping the valley will bring, so conserve internal energy too. It'll be hard fighting while minding you two."
But then.
From the direction the enemies fled, the clash of blades rang out deafeningly.
Clang! Clang!
Clang clang clang!!!!
A masked legion in ghost faces appeared.
'Sa-gyeom?'
And the man at the front, wielding a massive saber, bellowed.
"Charge!!!"