Chapter 178
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: 50. Crouching Tiger (1)
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Thud thud thud thud—
Flying Tiger's group set off once more, spotting the carriage and its escorting band of warriors just as the Shen hour (3-5 p.m.) was drawing to a close.
They were resting. Having strayed from the main road, they'd set up camp by a stream at the foot of the mountains. The carriage and horses were clustered to one side, while the warriors lounged around them in small groups, chewing on dry rations or murmuring in low voices.
From a distance, Flying Tiger's group could see they were making do with preserved food. It was too early for dinner, but it made sense. This was where the Ye Liang Mountains tapered off, giving way to open plains ahead. They were likely planning a full rest here before riding on without pause.
"Their last meal... smart choice. From here on, no breaks until the gates of the underworld."
Flying Tiger muttered those chilling words as he pulled back from their hiding spot. Hyeong Woo-saeng and So Myeong-rang followed suit, one after the other.
It was time to discuss their cooking method.
"What do you think? They've got a solid formation, and more numbers than expected."
"Yeah. We'll need to rethink this."
Flying Tiger clicked his tongue in response to Hyeong Woo-saeng's question.
Originally, the plan had been a swift, decisive strike.
Hit them hard with the element of surprise, cut their numbers by more than half in one go, then ride the momentum to finish the rest.
With So Myeong-rang's breakthrough power, Hyeong Woo-saeng's ranged support, and Flying Tiger himself joining in, it was more than feasible.
The only wildcard was the one man, "Crouching Tiger" Shim Heum. But if they could wipe out everyone else first, surely they could handle him somehow?
Then came the unexpected twist.
Word had it there were nine in total, including Shim Heum, who'd gone to Victory Gate to fetch Im Wan-baek—a fact confirmed by the dying Shim Ik-seon. Yet now, they counted fifteen, well beyond nine.
Where had the math gone wrong?
Flying Tiger wasn't the only one wondering; the other two pondered it too. If pressed to guess, the extra six had probably split off near Mianyang County, tending to gear or other errands while the rest retrieved Im Wan-baek.
But what did it matter now?
Rivers and lakes affairs always came with variables. Plans going off without a hitch were the real rarity. No surprise here.
Just a headache.
"How about we charge in and just take out Im Wan-baek and Shim Heum? Before the others can react. If you're game, I'll handle Shim Heum."
So Myeong-rang suggested lopping off the head first. Flying Tiger paused, visualizing it.
If he and So Myeong-rang burst in with a surprise assault, they could reach Im Wan-baek and Shim Heum in a flash.
And then?
Im Wan-baek, with his severe wounds, should be easy pickings. The problem was...
"Brother So, how long to take down Shim Heum?"
Flying Tiger stared straight at him. So Myeong-rang's eyes flickered with momentary doubt, then hardened.
"One exchange."
"For real?"
"I'd stake everything on it. If I fail, leave me. I won't be breathing anyway."
Flying Tiger felt the sincerity. He lived on the blade's edge, died beneath it—like any rivers and lakes dweller. Idly, he thought So Myeong-rang and the Shandong elder would get along.
'No, one might already be a corpse by now. Anyway...'
"Tricky. I'll pass on your proposal, Brother So."
"Don't trust me?"
"No, I think it's viable. But I've changed my mind. Time to get greedy."
"What do you mean?"
"Curious what Im Wan-baek and Shim Heum have to say. So, let's capture them both alive. Following your plan might kill them, but taking prisoners? Tough."
"Hrm. Got another idea, little brother Flying Tiger?"
Hyeong Woo-saeng chimed in. Flying Tiger said he had a rough outline, no details yet. He shared it, and the three huddled to refine the sketch—drawing lines, filling colors.
Thus, the battle began with Flying Tiger drawing the bowstring he'd prepared in Saping Fragrance.
Ping—
The first shot struck a Hanzhong Escort warrior mid-rest in the shoulder. He jolted in shock, spitting out his half-chewed jerky, then his vision went white with surging agony.
Thud.
"Enemy?!"
His comrade leaped up, scanning around—just as a dozen arrows rained from the sky.
Flying Tiger's ploy.
He'd picked his spot, sniped one first, then nocked two arrows per volley, firing them skyward. Five rapid volleys, ten arrows total in a blink.
Impressive enough, but he added flair.
Each shot arced lower, with less power, so the arrows crested and plummeted almost simultaneously.
Precision suffered; they scattered around the stream, losing lethality—mere harassment.
But the visual impact? Perfect. It lured the Hanzhong Escort warriors into a flawed initial response.
"Everyone scatter! Take cover and prepare. Enemies incoming!"
The shout came from Shim Heum's deputy.
He judged the wild arrows sloppy, from at least ten archers.
An amateur mob.
Bandits or petty thieves, no doubt. Next, they'd waste arrows then charge yelling, swords drawn.
So the Hanzhong Escort warriors dodged the arrow shower, diving behind terrain features. Even startled, their movements were sharp.
(*Truth be told, "shower" was generous for ten arrows—but that's how it seemed to them then. Arrow shower!)
Right on cue, Hyeong Woo-saeng and So Myeong-rang, poised in position, sprang into action.
A Hanzhong Escort warrior who'd ducked behind a boulder drew his sword and glanced skyward.
......?
The sky was clear, no clouds, no arrows. But his ear caught a swift whoosh approaching.
Crack.
A heavy stone smashed his temple; he crumpled.
Behind the freshly brained warrior, another Hanzhong Escort man hiding in dense trees witnessed it all. Too fast to identify the attacker. As he instinctively crouched and turned toward the source—
Crack.
The stone crushed his forehead this time. He toppled backward, a random thought flashing unrelated to his prior question.
'The sky's so... clear, yet everything's spinning?'
Amateur cover was a feast for Hyeong Woo-saeng. His stone-throwing lacked an archer's speed or range, but each hit packed punch.
The enemy weren't fools—Hanzhong Escort elites, no less. A mere stumble at the start; they should've adapted swiftly.
Under normal circumstances.
But now, their eyes locked not on Hyeong Woo-saeng's stones, but on So Myeong-rang charging into their midst with thunderous kiai, swallowing their formation's center in chaos.
Flash.
So Myeong-rang barreled like a fierce tiger, cleaving one in two.
His paired comrade panicked, whirled, and splashed into the stream, bellowing for attention—major threat sighted.
Splash~
Meanwhile, Hyeong Woo-saeng shifted to his second throw spot. Flying Tiger, arrows spent, darted to flank their side.
His approach? Stealthy and sinister. Dagger in mouth, he crept cat-like, stalking targets.
Flying Tiger's outline went like this.
"We've got two edges: surprise and hidden strength. Let's maximize them."
"Surprise is obvious. But hidden strength? Once the fight starts, it'll show—especially if we're going all out."
"Eventually, yeah. But delaying that reveal changes everything. We'll carve away their power in the meantime."
"......!"
In short: Strip their advantages before showing ours.
"Shim Heum! Heard your tiger pelt fetches a fine price. Got the guts? Come face me now!"
So Myeong-rang bellowed, surrounded by four Hanzhong Escort warriors, undaunted.
By then, he'd claimed another. Hyeong Woo-saeng had vanished; Flying Tiger had silently slit one throat from the opposite side and melted back into shadows for the next.
Aside from So Myeong-rang, the attackers' whereabouts were murky. Yet why ignore the possibility of more snipers lurking?
"That damn dog, I'll—"
"Elder Shim, hold. Something's off. We haven't accounted for their full numbers. This reeks of a diversion. They're after Young Master Im."
"Hrm."
"Go with him first. I'll hold here, whatever it takes."
Crouching Tiger Shim Heum ground his teeth but couldn't instantly rebut his deputy.
He was caught off-guard by the sudden blitz. And delusions led to doom, as they say? Maybe they were dragging time to call reinforcements.
At any rate, their target was Im Wan-baek.
So...
Shim Heum hated it, spat a curse, but took his deputy's plea, grabbing two guards and fleeing with Im Wan-baek.
That left six Hanzhong Escort warriors. Their fractured force melted fast as the carriage and two horses departed.
Flying Tiger and Hyeong Woo-saeng charged openly now, rampaging.