The Uprising in Gi Province (2)

Wu Jigen swung his massive axe with all his might, using even the momentum of his galloping horse to cleave Seo Jun in a single strike. Seo Jun stared directly at the incoming axe, subtly tilting his horse’s body while leaning his own frame slightly to let the weapon sweep harmlessly past him. Then, with a light flick of his spear, he tapped the shaft of the axe as it flew by.

“Ugh!”

The axe, already swung with tremendous force, was pushed even harder in the same direction by Seo Jun’s spear. The weapon nearly flew out of Wu Jigen’s grasp. Only by pouring every ounce of strength into his grip did he barely manage to hold on.

“Not bad on strength~”

Seo Jun’s voice carried a hint of languid boredom, yet his eyes gleamed with razor-sharp intensity.

“Huk!”

Wu Jigen barely blocked the lightning-fast thrust aimed at his face, using the flat of his axe in a desperate parry. But hiding his vision behind the weapon in front of Seo Jun was a fatal mistake.

Shuk! Shuk!

“Aaaaaargh!!”

The spearhead, which had dipped low in an instant, stabbed viciously into Wu Jigen’s thigh and side. The bandit leader screamed in unimaginable agony.

Slice!

Roll… Roll…

Splaaash~

While Wu Jigen howled in pain and his axe momentarily dropped, Seo Jun’s spear swept across in a clean arc. The bandit leader’s head flew off in a fountain of blood. For someone who had looked so powerful and imposing, it was an absurdly hollow death.

Clop, clop, clop!

Seo Jun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rode back and forth before the five-thousand-strong horde, staring them down without the slightest trace of fear. The Black Mountain bandits buzzed with confusion. Their absolute ruler, the man who had seemed like a king to them, had been slain far too easily. They had no idea how to react and began to waver in panic.

‘Hmm~ Should I start collecting some Karma?’

“Yah!”

With his left hand drawing his saber, Seo Jun spurred his horse straight toward the five-thousand-strong bandit army.

“T-that bastard!! There’s only one enemy! Kill him!!!”

“Avenge our chief!”

A few of the bolder ones shouted and charged at him. But everything caught on the spearhead was sliced apart, and everything that struck the shaft was sent flying. Seo Jun swung his spear and saber without pause, stabbing and slashing every visible foe, trampling the Black Mountain bandits one by one in methodical brutality.

The few hundred who had initially rushed him with courage born from facing a lone opponent were quickly reduced to corpses or scattered fugitives. The rest began to break.

“Seo Jun of Sakbang is right here!!! Come at me if you dare!!!”

“He’s a monster!!!”

“Run!!!!”

“If we stay, we’ll all die! Run!!”

“Aaaaaah!! Run for your lives!!!”

The thousands-strong horde now abandoned even their weapons, turning in chaotic panic and fleeing back the way they had come.

Achan and Aon, who had secretly climbed the walls when Seo Jun left the fortress, stood with their mouths agape at the scene unfolding before them. Who could have imagined a single man routing five thousand bandits?

“Brother… it seems we’ve formed a connection with someone truly beyond our imagination.”

“I will give my life for my lord!!”

While County Magistrate An Huihyeon, his soldiers, Achan, and Aon stood frozen in shock, Seo Jun confirmed that the Black Mountain bandits had almost completely withdrawn from An Huihyeon. He turned his horse toward Wuji County and galloped off.

As he rode toward Wuji County, he noticed his Karma had surpassed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠two thousand and decided to roll for Martial stats.

“Status Window.”

‘I’ll stop raising Martial here for now. Next time I’ll try raising Charm.’

Although his Martial had increased and Swordsmanship had risen by one rank, the main skills he relied on—Spearmanship and Horsemanship—remained unchanged.

While Seo Jun raced toward Wuji County, a fierce battle was raging at the county seat as the Black Mountain bandits assaulted the walls.

“Hold them back!! If the line breaks, your families will all die!”

County Magistrate Jeon Sang of Wuji County stood at the north gate where the enemy’s main force was concentrated, desperately encouraging his soldiers while swinging his sword at the bandits climbing the walls. However, with barely five hundred men in the entire county, no one knew how long they could hold out against five thousand attackers.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

“We cannot let the gate fall! Hurry and drop rocks on the battering ram!!”

“Battalion Commander Jeon! We’ve run out of rocks!!”

A young soldier ran up to Tian Yu, who was pushing ladders away from the battlements, and shouted.

“The gate is breaking!!!”

While the defenders were distracted by falling rocks and unable to properly counter the battering ram, the gate’s crossbar snapped. The massive doors began to splinter apart.

Tian Yu quickly ran to his uncle, County Magistrate Jeon Sang.

“Uncle! We must abandon the north gate and retreat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠immediately. We need to establish a defensive line on the hill where the Zhen family resides. Only by linking up with their private troops can we have any hope of holding. If we stay here any longer, we will be completely annihilated.”

“You truly believe so?!!”

“Yes, I do!”

“Very well. Issue the retreat order and lead the troops to establish a defensive line on the Zhen family hill.”

Jeon Sang accepted his nephew’s advice and gave the order to withdraw. He had known since Tian Yu was a child that the boy was intelligent, quick-witted, and possessed strong character. That was why he had brought the youth to Wuji County as a junior officer to gain experience. He never imagined it would lead to a situation where his young nephew’s life might be forfeit.

I must at least save you, no matter what. I cannot commit such a grave sin against your mother.

Steelng his heart, Jeon Sang took command of the troops and quickly moved toward the hill where the Zhen family estate stood.

The Zhen family hill was located inside the county walls and was not particularly tall. However, it offered a commanding view of the entire settlement, and because the slope stretched all the way to the family compound, it was an excellent position that could blunt the momentum of any enemy assault.

From the rooftop of the Zhen family mansion, the third son of the Zhen clan, Gyeon Yo, watched the county’s defending forces rapidly retreat from the walls and establish a new defensive line centered on the slope leading up to the family estate.

‘The gate has been breached. It looks like they want to link up with us and hold out as long as possible.’

The Zhen family’s private troops numbered around two hundred. Of those, roughly fifty were archers capable of long-range support. The county soldiers were positioning themselves as close as possible to the Zhen estate, within range for the archers to provide covering fire.

“All archers, gather as many arrows as you can!! The rest of you, move outside and fight alongside the county soldiers!!! Hurry! The enemy will be upon us soon!!”

“Once the county troops establish their defensive line and begin holding, we must support them with everything we have!!”

Although Gyeon Yo had not formally studied military strategy, he understood the basic principles. In a situation like this, increasing the number of allies and fighting together was the most fundamental way to improve their chances of survival.

Meanwhile, among the county soldiers—

“Uncle! If we hold this alley and that main road firmly, we can delay the enemy’s offensive long enough to look for a chance to turn the tide.”

Jeon Sang felt both proud and heartbroken watching his young nephew grow even stronger in the face of mortal danger.

No. I cannot afford to grow soft-hearted.

Steeling himself once more, Jeon Sang placed even greater trust in his nephew and arranged the troops exactly as Tian Yu suggested.

“Haha! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Those fools have conveniently gathered in one spot like they’re digging their own graves. Everyone, charge!!!”

A nimble-looking man with a sharp face and a prominent knife scar shouted from behind the bandits who had broken through the gate.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Stab!

“Aaaargh!”

The two forces collided violently where the main road met the narrow alleys. Soldiers began falling to the ground one by one.