Chapter 49
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Raid on the Sasa Heavenly Gate
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“Advisor Hong.”
At the call of the Blood Yin Death Lord, Hong Yeo-mong bowed her head.
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
“No results yet?”
Her pupils trembled.
“You clearly said you’d show me the results.”
“I-I’m sorry. It didn’t go according to plan...”
“Does that mean it failed?”
“N-No way! It didn’t go exactly as intended, but I received a report that relations between the Huangbo Clan and the North Sea Ice Palace have soured. If they fought, that would be ideal, but even this much ensures the North Sea Ice Palace won’t aid the Huangbo Clan.”
The Blood Yin Death Lord’s eyebrows twitched. His expression showed his displeasure.
“...!”
Hong Yeo-mong’s face filled with fear as she quickly dropped to her knees.
“Th-That’s why I’ve advanced the schedule slightly ahead of plan! Just moments ago, I dispatched the Blood Evil Brigade and the Evil Yin Brigade to strike the Huangbo Clan branches.”
The Blood Evil Brigade and Evil Yin Brigade were elite combat units belonging to the Sasa Heavenly Gate’s five premier forces.
“I sent them to Xiangtan and Xiangyin respectively.”
Only after hearing that did the Blood Yin Death Lord’s expression soften slightly.
“Key branches of the Huangbo Clan.”
“That’s right! Those two brigades are more than enough to wipe them out. The hunkered-down Huangbo Clan won’t be able to respond.”
“And after that?”
“We’ll press the remaining branches and isolate the Huangbo Clan. In a fortnight—no, ten days—they’ll be completely shut inside their main estate. Then...”
At that moment, a subordinate burst into the grand hall.
“D-Disaster!”
Hong Yeo-mong, in the midst of her fervent explanation, asked irritably,
“What is it?”
“Reports say Huangbo Clan forces have been spotted in Ningxiang!”
“What?!”
Ningxiang was a small city on the route from Changsha to Yiyang, where the Sasa Heavenly Gate was located.
“They say the speed of their advance is incredible! They might reach the main gate soon...”
Hong Yeo-mong’s eyes widened as if they might split open.
“What nonsense is this? What were the surveillance teams on the Huangbo Clan doing?!”
“Th-That’s just it—they’ve had no contact for the last few hours! We dispatched an investigation team, but...”
The Blood Yin Death Lord’s face hardened coldly.
“You foolish wench.”
As he rose and approached, Hong Yeo-mong pleaded desperately.
“S-Sect Leader! P-Please, just a moment...”
The Blood Yin Death Lord casually swung his hand.
Thud!
Hong Yeo-mong’s head exploded like a watermelon, and she collapsed to the floor like a bundle of straw.
Thump.
“...!”
The terrified subordinate flinched back, and the Blood Yin Death Lord commanded,
“Summon every executive in the main sect to the grand hall immediately!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
* * *
Seol Hwa-un’s group deployed their lightness skills at terrifying speed. Among them were Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won from the North Wind Brigade, along with Dang Cheong.
Seol Hwa-un said to him,
“Thank you for joining us, Vice Sect Leader.”
“Haha, no need to mention it. Truth be told, I’m closer to the Huangbo Clan than even you, Little Palace Lord. We’re both among the Eight Great Families, aren’t we?”
“...”
“I’ve long been displeased with the Sasa Heavenly Gate’s antics. I’m glad to lend a hand in dealing with them this time.”
“As I’ve said before, Vice Sect Leader, don’t overexert yourself. If anything happens to you, it would be more than we could handle.”
Seol Hwa-un had some pretext for getting involved, but Dang Cheong had no connection whatsoever.
If harm came to him, the Tang Clan of Sichuan would never let it slide, and in the worst case, it could spark a righteous-demonic great war.
“Hahaha, of course.”
Setting aside such worries, Seol Hwa-un was inwardly pleased by Dang Cheong’s participation. With him covering the rear, North Wind Brigade casualties would be minimized.
As they flew side by side with lightness skills, the North Wind Brigade Leader asked,
“Little Palace Lord, even if the Sasa Heavenly Gate targeted our palace, isn’t this a bit excessive?”
“You could see it that way. But this is a fine example and an opportunity.”
“Pardon?”
“Excluding the Cheonmok Mountain Stronghold incident, this is the first overt act of hostility against us since entering the Central Plains. They had the pretext of revenge for Cheonmok, at least.”
“Hmm.”
“But the Sasa Heavenly Gate is different. They dared to sow discord and pit our palace against the Huangbo Clan—showing malice toward our palace, which had no involvement.”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes gleamed coldly.
“This affair with the Sasa Heavenly Gate will serve as a perfect example of what happens to those who carelessly touch our palace. It’s also a chance to demonstrate our might.”
The North Wind Brigade Leader’s eyes changed.
“...I see. You’re looking much further ahead, Little Palace Lord.”
Seol Hwa-un smiled.
“You’ve caught on.”
“Haha, what started as a trip to the Central Plains just for the grand assembly has turned ambitious.”
“I’ve always been the greedy type.”
Before long, a massive compound came into view. It was the Sasa Heavenly Gate.
The group quietly lay in ambush behind the Sasa Heavenly Gate.
Seol Hwa-un turned to the others and said,
“Let me confirm once more. The Huangbo Clan elites will soon attack the Sasa Heavenly Gate. We strike during the moment their attention turns that way.”
The group nodded silently.
“We’ll etch into their minds exactly what the North Sea Ice Palace is.”
“...”
“Keep this one thing in mind: I won’t tolerate even a single sacrifice. Don’t die. Understood?”
“Yes, Little Palace Lord.”
The ambush had been made possible largely thanks to the Hao Gate’s aid.
After analyzing the tendencies of military advisor Hong Yeo-mong and the Blood Yin Death Lord alongside Jo Il-pyeong, they’d predicted a high likelihood of movement right after the discord ploy failed.
Their anticipation that the enemy would overreach to make up for the failure had proven spot on.
Upon learning through the Hao Gate that two of the five combat brigades had departed, Seol Hwa-un had immediately moved to raid the Sasa Heavenly Gate.
‘A golden opportunity. From here on, it’s a race against time.’
With the goal obvious, orders had been given to fully evacuate the two branches and retreat. They had to settle the fight before the returning forces arrived empty-handed.
For swift assault, the Huangbo Clan had mobilized only the Heavenly Kings Brigade and Tiger Roar Brigade. Even so, they comprised over sixty percent of the clan’s current forces.
At that moment, a massive impact rang out.
Boom!!
It was the sound of the Sasa Heavenly Gate’s main gate shattering.
A mighty lion’s roar, presumably Huangbo Tae-seong’s, followed.
“Strike down the vile Sasa Heavenly Gate scum!”
Waaah!
“E-Enemies!!”
“Block them!”
Panicked voices rose, followed by screams.
“Argh!”
“Uwaaak!”
The Sasa Heavenly Gate warriors merely standing guard at the main gate couldn’t withstand the Huangbo elites.
Soon, the alarm bells clanged across the grounds.
Dong-dong-dong-dong!!
Seol Hwa-un said softly,
“Let’s go.”
Seol Hwa-un’s group silently scaled the Sasa Heavenly Gate walls.
“Gahk!”
“Keok!”
As they advanced, they swiftly felled the Sasa Heavenly Gate disciples popping out one by one.
Though few in number, their overwhelming prowess meant the disciples died almost without exception.
“W-What?”
“Enemies here...? Argh!”
Never imagining foes from the rear, the Sasa Heavenly Gate was utterly defenseless.
After cutting down dozens of disciples, Seol Hwa-un’s group reached the front gate, where fierce combat raged.
Clang-clang-clang!!
“Argh!”
“Keok!”
There, swarms of Sasa Heavenly Gate disciples clashed with Huangbo Clan masters in brutal melee.
Despite the vast gap in skill, the severe numerical disadvantage prevented a swift push.
“Attack!”
At that moment, Seol Hwa-un’s group emerged in the grounds and launched an assault from the rear.
The pincer attack from front and back began.
“What? What the?!”
“Enemies from the rear?!”
“S-Some of you, turn and attack!”
The ambushed Sasa Heavenly Gate disciples floundered helplessly and fell. It was a one-sided slaughter.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!!
Seol Hwa-un led from the front, unleashing fist winds. Each strike was a guaranteed kill.
“W-What?!”
“A monster! Fall back!”
The Sasa Heavenly Gate formation crumbled naturally, casualties mounting rapidly.
But the window was short. Sasa Heavenly Gate executives began appearing one after another.
“You bastards, do you even know where you are?!”
“Black Thorn Brigade! Hold the front!”
“What are you doing? Snake Shadow Brigade, take the rear!”
Snake Shadow Brigade, Black Thorn Brigade, Sasa Brigade. As the Sasa Heavenly Gate’s elite brigades revealed themselves, the tide turned.
The brigade leaders’ commands were superb, and their personal prowess astounding. Their direct intervention shifted the momentum to a deadlock.
Moreover, as time passed, the number of Sasa Heavenly Gate disciples kept growing. They poured out endlessly from who-knows-where.
Despite countless slain by Huangbo Clan and North Sea Ice Palace warriors, their numbers showed no sign of thinning.
‘More disciples than expected!’
‘These repulsive bastards!’
Huangbo Un-gyeong quickly assessed.
‘At this rate, the battle will turn. We need to take out the brigade leaders.’
At his signal, Huangbo Tae-seong charged forth.
“Sasa Brigade Leader, you bastard!”
“So you’re Huangbo Tae-seong!”
Kwa-kwa-kwang!!
Huangbo Tae-seong clashed with the Sasa Heavenly Gate’s Sasa Brigade Leader, the strongest among their main combat forces.
He matched Huangbo Tae-seong blow for blow without yielding.
“Out of my way, you scum!”
The Tiger Roar Brigade Leader tried to join, but countless Sasa Heavenly Gate disciples made it impossible.
In the rear, Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won held their own against the Snake Shadow Brigade Leader.
The Black Thorn Brigade Leader faced the North Wind Brigade Leader but couldn’t escape disadvantage.
Clang-clang!!
Unable to withstand the power in the North Wind Brigade Leader’s blade, the Black Thorn Brigade Leader was steadily pushed back.
‘Ugh! Such heavy saber arts!’
For him, whose specialty was flashy illusion sword, it was the perfect counter.
Swish! Slash!
“Urk!”
Huangbo Un-gyeong slashed a blocking Sasa Heavenly Gate disciple and scanned the surroundings.
The key masters’ duels generally favored the Huangbo Clan and North Sea Ice Palace side, but not enough to overcome the numbers.
The silver lining was that the brigade leaders’ focus on one-on-one fights had weakened their command.
Huangbo Un-gyeong frowned.
‘The Blood Yin Death Lord and the hidden Three Protectors are nowhere in sight.’
Sure enough.
“...!”
Sensing an eerie aura, Huangbo Un-gyeong turned to see three figures radiating heavy presence had appeared.
He recognized them immediately.
‘The Three Protectors!’
They were the Sasa Heavenly Gate elders, all monstrous old freaks over seventy.
“The Huangbo Clan has gone mad. Daring to attack our sect.”
“Let’s clean them up.”
“Amitabha.”
Though dressed differently, their chilling auras were alike.
With the Three Protectors joining, the fragile balance would shatter. Huangbo Un-gyeong moved to intercept.
But then.
“Thunder Soul Sword Huangbo Un-gyeong.”
“...!”
An eerily chilling voice rang out. Huangbo Un-gyeong froze.
“You’ve lost your mind. To think of attacking our sect.”
Turning, he saw the Sasa Heavenly Gate Sect Leader, the Blood Yin Death Lord, standing tall.