Chapter 30
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Ambush at Heavenly Eye Mountain
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A dark room.
In front of a disheveled-haired man seated on a luxurious chair, a subordinate who appeared to be his underling knelt on one knee.
The man's presence was truly overwhelming, his aura completely dominating the chamber.
The subordinate, finding it hard to endure, trembled violently.
‘Ugh!’
But he held out without saying a word until the end.
At that moment, the man's intimidating aura vanished as if by magic, and a low voice echoed through the room.
“Report.”
Letting out a faint sigh, the subordinate immediately spoke up.
“Yes,寨 Leader. It seems they headed south instead of north.”
“South?”
“Yes. Judging by the route, Hangzhou is likely their destination.”
The man addressed as the寨 Leader opened his mouth wide, revealing yellowed teeth.
“Kekeke, heaven is giving me a chance for revenge!”
“Indeed.”
His eyes gleamed sharply as a terrifying killing intent poured out.
“Finally, I can avenge my junior brother.”
The man was Neung Pa-jeok, the寨 Leader of Heavenly Eye Mountain寨, one of the top three strongholds among the Green Forest Eighteen Bandits.
Neung Pa-jeok was counted among the five great experts of the Green Forest, a possessor of formidable martial arts, and the senior brother of Ghost King寨 Leader Yo Rip.
In his younger days, the Ghost King寨 Leader had frequently clashed and quarreled with Neung Pa-jeok. But in Neung Pa-jeok's eyes, he was nothing more than an endearing junior brother.
‘I knew he was always greedy, but to go and do something like that.’
If he had been nearby, he would have beaten some sense into him to stop it.
But the Ghost King寨 Leader carried out his plan and nearly succeeded. If not for Seol Hwa-un's interference.
Naturally, Neung Pa-jeok was enraged by the death of his junior brother and insisted to the Chief Bandit that they attack the North Sea Ice Palace.
However, his opinion was not accepted. There were several reasons for this.
First, the power they displayed against Red River寨 and Ghost King寨 was extraordinary, requiring caution. Sending poorly prepared forces for revenge could lead to greater losses.
Second, the group included no less than the young lord of the North Sea Ice Palace. Even if they annihilated Seol Hwa-un's party, it could force a direct confrontation with the North Sea Ice Palace.
The Outer Realm forces couldn't casually enter, but if the young palace lord sought revenge, the righteous factions would likely open the way.
Third, they were guests of the Eight Great Families at worst. Provoking them unnecessarily could invite attacks from the Eight Great Families.
But Neung Pa-jeok, blinded by vengeance, publicly declared that Heavenly Eye Mountain寨 would strike Seol Hwa-un's group alone.
The Chief Bandit sent someone to dissuade him, but it was no use.
‘I will have my revenge no matter what!’
However, by the time he finished preparing for revenge, Seol Hwa-un's group had already entered Hefei.
No matter how vengeance-blinded Neung Pa-jeok was, he couldn't dream of charging into the front yard of the Namgung Family.
And so, while he kept his senses sharp, he received word that Seol Hwa-un's group had left the Namgung Family.
“The complacent northern bastards will pass through Heavenly Eye Mountain's choke point. We strike then. Prepare!”
“Yes!”
* * *
Huang Bo-young held a letter that seemed hastily written by Huang Bo Tae-ryeong. Its contents were as follows.
[Young Palace Lord. We made a promise, but what business would you have in Shandong? Thus, this family head is sending Young Bo-young to make that promise a reality. Please take him with you and escort him to Shandong. Whether it takes months or even years, it doesn't matter. Just keep him by your side and send him when the time comes. If you can change that boy's temperament along the way, I could ask for nothing more. ― Huang Bo Tae-ryeong]
Seol Hwa-un was dumbfounded.
‘The Huangbo Family Head really has no other options. What makes him trust me with the young master who's destined to be the next family head?’
Though Huang Bo-young was still only a young master and not yet the young lord, as the sole legitimate heir, his chances of becoming family head were extremely high. Entrusting such an important person to an outsider without even a proper escort!
No doubt, the other members of the Huangbo Family had strongly opposed it.
Yet sending Huang Bo-young was proof of how highly Huang Bo Tae-ryeong evaluated and trusted Seol Hwa-un.
‘Looks like my words at the grand assembly earned quite a bit of trust. Good thing I attended that meeting.’
Upon reflection, it wasn't a bad deal. Forming a deep connection with the Huangbo Family, one of the Eight Great Families, would benefit the North Sea Ice Palace in the long term.
‘No helping it.’
“Understood, Young Master Huangbo. I'll escort you back to the Huangbo Family on the way. But first, we're heading to Hangzhou... Is that alright?”
Huang Bo-young nodded vigorously.
“Anywhere the Young Palace Lord goes is fine with me.”
“......”
And so, Seol Hwa-un's group, now joined by Huang Bo-young of the Huangbo Family, set off for Hangzhou.
The journey itself was smooth. As all were martial artists, they moved swiftly with lightness skills. When they encountered scenic spots, they slowed to walk and enjoy the views.
The group was fully immersed in sightseeing, but not Seol Hwa-un.
“......”
Huang Bo-young stuck to his left side, Dang So-gyo to his right, chattering endlessly.
Dang So-gyo was one thing, but Huang Bo-young was truly unexpected. Despite his supposedly timid nature, his mouth wouldn't stop in front of Seol Hwa-un.
They even competed to monopolize Seol Hwa-un's attention.
“Young Palace Lord, there's a restaurant called Jinbo Pavilion not far from our family...”
“Huang Bo-young! Aren't you sticking too close to Seol brother? It could cause misunderstandings!”
“Don't call me by name, little girl. I'm three years older, so use honorifics!”
Huang Bo-young spoke coldly in a way unlike him, but Dang So-gyo didn't back down.
“Hmph! Want to hear me call you brother? Dream on!”
“You watch yourself! The Young Palace Lord might get misunderstood as having strange tastes!”
“W-what?!”
As their verbal sparring heated up, Dang Cheong intervened.
“So-gyo, you'd be better off walking with me.”
He dragged her away forcefully, and she struggled.
“No! I want to stay by Seol brother's side!”
But she couldn't resist Dang Cheong.
[Keep this up, and I'll have no choice but to send you back. Is that what you want?]
“Tch!”
Subdued by his transmission, she had no choice but to quiet down.
“Sorry about that, Young Palace Lord.”
Dong Ho-won, who had watched it all, remarked.
“As expected of the Young Palace Lord. You're incredibly popular even in the Central Plains.”
Eom Mu-hwi agreed.
“I'll give you that.”
It wasn't unfounded. Even at the grand assembly, young women had glanced at Seol Hwa-un many times.
Though the distance of being Outer Realm kept them from approaching, more than a few blushed while looking at him.
“It's all about looks for a man, huh?”
At Dong Ho-won's mutter, Eom Mu-hwi nodded.
“Yep. Unlucky for you.”
“What? What do you mean! I'm not comparable to the Young Palace Lord, but you and I are about the same.”
“Too bad. Make sure to check the bronze mirror after washing your face in the morning.”
Dong Ho-won bristled.
“What?”
“At least your martial arts are decent, or else...”
“Or else what! Mu-hwi, you've gotten bold. Want to spar? Feel like getting humbled?”
Eom Mu-hwi replied indifferently.
“I've won more.”
“Fine, let's settle it at the inn later!”
“If you want to rack up more losses.”
Meanwhile, Dang Cheong, walking at a distance from Seol Hwa-un, asked Dang So-gyo.
“So-gyo, just what do you like so much about the Young Palace Lord?”
Dang So-gyo replied as if it were obvious.
“He's handsome.”
“Sheesh. Judging by looks already...”
“Already? I'm not a kid!”
“So-gyo, you know that handsome men are all playboys, right?”
He teased her on purpose to see her flustered, but her response was spectacular.
“That's fine. Seol brother listens well to women. I'll just keep a tight leash on him.”
“......!”
Dang Cheong shook his head.
‘......Leash? Just how far has your imagination gone?’
And so, Seol Hwa-un's group continued smoothly, arriving at Lin'an County at the entrance of Zhejang Province just two days later.
A massive mountain loomed before the group. Seol Hwa-un, who had seen it in his previous life, knew its name.
“Heavenly Eye Mountain.”
Its rugged peaks ended in sharp points, resembling eyes in the sky, hence the name Heavenly Eye.
It was divided into East Heavenly Eye Mountain and West Heavenly Eye Mountain. Between them lay a narrow gorge, a kind of shortcut.
Eom Mu-hwi, who had scouted ahead, reported upon discovering the gorge.
“This seems to be the path the inn's errand boy mentioned. What shall we do?”
“What's your take, North Wind Brigade Leader?”
At Seol Hwa-un's question, the North Wind Brigade Leader replied nonchalantly.
“Do as the Young Palace Lord prefers. It makes no difference to us.”
During their southward journey, the North Wind Brigade had spotted several people lurking and watching them.
They naturally suspected ulterior motives, and upon entering Lin'an County, the number of such watchers surged dramatically.
And now, the gorge of Heavenly Eye Mountain right before them. It wasn't strange to sense that something would happen if they passed through.
Seol Hwa-un, having received the North Wind Brigade's report, was well aware.
“You're saying it doesn't matter if we walk into the enemy's trap?”
“Even if we take the main road, I doubt they'll give up. No need to waste time, right? Give our brigade a chance to show our mettle this time.”
Though only thirty strong, they were the elite of the elites, handpicked from the famed high-combat North Wind Brigade.
With such forces, they could sweep away minor sects in one go and handle mid-sized ones adequately.
That was why the North Wind Brigade Leader exuded confidence despite the unknown enemy strength.
“Very well, let's do it.”
The long gorge was wider than expected. The ground was uneven, but it posed little inconvenience for passage.
Looking around, Dang Cheong muttered.
“Perfect terrain for an ambush.”
Rolling arrows or boulders from above would be hard to block, even for experts.
‘Entering a place like this without precautions?’
If it were him, he wouldn't enter without at least sending scouts to confirm safety.
‘The Young Palace Lord might lack experience, but the North Wind Brigade can't be ignorant of such basics...’
He shrugged.
‘Means they're that confident? Might get to see the North Wind Brigade's prowess.’
Among the North Sea Ice Palace's combat units, the North Wind Brigade was the most known, having occasionally appeared in the Central Plains.
But it was only whispered among northerners; other sects were unaware of them.
Dang Cheong knew only because he had investigated the North Sea Ice Palace after being impressed by Seol Hwa-un.
Even if an unexpected situation arose, he trusted his own skills and wasn't too worried.
But soon after, it actually happened. Over a hundred bandits suddenly appeared before the group.
“......!”
The Heavenly Eye Mountain寨 Leader, Neung Pa-jeok, standing at the forefront, shouted with infused inner energy.
“Welcome, you northern bastards! We greet you for walking into your own graves!”
A sinister smile curled on his lips.