Chapter 122: Don't You Want to Make a Big Haul?
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
With each dull impact echoing through the hall, Yeop Hyeon staggered back a step. In an instant, he had been pushed twenty zhang away.
The opponent who had halted their assault reappeared behind the woman without a sound. The man exuded a sinister aura, his body gaunt to the point of being little more than skin and bones. Yet his eyes gleamed with razor-sharp intensity.
Steadying himself, Yeop Hyeon wiped the blood from his lips and carefully scrutinized the warriors before him.
They were all exceptional talents, every one of them.
If only Canglan Academy could take them in...
The thought crossed his mind, and Yeop Hyeon opened his palm. The Spirit Water Sword vanished, replaced by a massive black sword!
In that moment, the ground around him trembled violently as tremendous earth power surged into his entire body.
The woman's group watched, their expressions growing grave in an instant.
If I could bring them along...
Yeop Hyeon inwardly marveled at their skills once more.
But first, he needed to establish who held the upper hand. Humans never bowed to those weaker than themselves.
The strong ruled supreme!
Yeop Hyeon resolved to unleash the earth power.
Feeling the endless influx of earth power, he gripped the black sword with both hands, slowly tightening his hold. Instantly, a mighty sword momentum erupted from his body, enveloping the woman's group.
Sword momentum!
Right now, Yeop Hyeon was exploding his sword momentum to its absolute limit.
Crack—!
The ground split open in all directions. The onlookers' faces hardened as they watched.
At that very moment, Yeop Hyeon's figure shot upward like lightning.
One Sword Determines Life and Death!
These people were no novices. To face them, Yeop Hyeon had to go all out with his strongest technique.
The woman narrowed her eyes as he charged, planting her right foot half a step forward to steady her stance. The instant her toes touched the ground, she crossed her hands, forming a mudra. In a flash, vast energy gathered from all sides, blurring her form.
Just as Yeop Hyeon's heavy sword was about to strike, she slapped the flat of the blade with her right palm.
Boom—!
The great sword halted, but two streams of immense energy whipped up a massive storm, devouring everything. The force hurled the bystanders thirty-odd zhang away like leaves. The earth within a fifty-zhang radius tore apart, collapsing the buildings caught in between.
Yet Yeop Hyeon and the woman remained rooted in place, unmoving.
A moment later, she withdrew her hand and stepped back. The spot where she had stood boomed like a boulder had dropped, sending tremors through the ground.
Yeop Hyeon sheathed his sword with a heavy expression.
"You nullified the sword's power."
As he said, during their clash, she had dispelled most of the momentum radiating from his blade.
"You're strong. But we're no pushovers. Will you continue the commission?"
Yeop Hyeon pondered briefly before nodding.
"I'll entrust it to you. But half the payment comes after the job's done."
The woman shook her head.
"Upfront."
Yeop Hyeon shook his head too.
"No can do."
"Then we decline."
As she refused, Yeop Hyeon chuckled lightly.
"Be honest—can you really make a fortune doing mercenary gigs like this?"
The warriors in the hall turned to face him.
Yeop Hyeon pointed at himself.
"Ever heard of me?"
"No."
Her admission darkened his face for a split second.
Daring to play dumb in front of me? Hah!
"You've heard the rumors that Changmok Academy of Jiang Kingdom fell, right?"
The woman asked flatly, her face impassive.
"What are you getting at?"
Yeop Hyeon grew serious.
"At these prices, commissions won't come often. And even inviting a Myriad Laws Realm expert would drain your savings."
He paused, then continued.
"Don't you want to make a big haul?"
The woman plopped down on the floor and shoved a massive pancake into her mouth. She followed it with a huge green onion.
Yeop Hyeon stared at her in dismay.
Whether it's that foodie or this woman, how can they love eating so much?
After devouring her meal, the woman spoke.
"Let's hear it."
Yeop Hyeon sat cross-legged before her and sketched a large map on the floor.
"This is our Jiang Kingdom. We're surrounded by armies from multiple nations right now. It seems like a crisis, but we see it as a golden opportunity. If you're in, you can get a cut too."
The woman bit deeply into the onion.
"What's the plan?"
"Rob them! Strip them of every last bit of wealth!"
The warriors jolted in shock, exchanging glances.
Rob an entire nation?
It was beyond imagination.
The woman stared silently at Yeop Hyeon's mouth as he pressed on.
"First, their military supplies and provisions. Then, the national treasury. Can you do it?"
"Too dangerous!"
The spear-wielding man beside her shouted.
"Don't assassins like you have to see blood to earn anyway? If you're in, you'll get a huge share. If not, that's fine too. You're hired by me, so if I say go, you go. But then, none of the loot comes to you."
Debate erupted in the hall. Some agreed, others opposed, and a few even accused Yeop Hyeon of scamming.
The clamor quieted at a single gesture from the woman.
She turned to Yeop Hyeon.
"How do we trust you?"
He rose to his feet, hand on knee.
"If you trust me, you'd believe without a word. If not, no words will convince you. Am I wrong?"
She stared piercingly before standing.
"How will we split the loot?"
"Fifty-fifty!"
The spearman barked.
"Hmph! Keeping half for yourself?"
Yeop Hyeon stepped closer to him.
"If we meet the enemy, I'll take the strongest one."
The spearman pouted but fell silent. He hated to admit it, but Yeop Hyeon was far stronger.
The woman spoke again.
"Fifty-fifty it is. But if you don't pull your weight, we walk."
Yeop Hyeon extended his right hand.
"Naturally!"
She reached out, clapping palms with him.
"How many of you are there?"
Instead of answering, she let out a long whistle. Black shadows flooded the hall one by one.
Twelve in total. All Penetrating Nether Realm experts. Notably, most were young warriors around twenty.
Penetrating Nether Realm at that age... They're no ordinary folk!
"Now give the orders," she said.
Yeop Hyeon nodded and shouted.
"To the capital!"
She whistled again, and the ground shook as over a dozen black wolves appeared. Larger than calves, their long, sharp black fur bristled, eyes glowing ferociously.
Spirit beasts!
Beasts comparable to Soaring Realm experts.
Yeop Hyeon raised an eyebrow. Spirit beasts were rare in Jiang Kingdom— what was the identity of these people who commanded so many black wolves?
The red-clad woman mounted a wolf and looked at him.
"You?"
Yeop Hyeon thought for a moment.
"Can't spare one for me?"
Another whistle, and a black wolf bounded forth. He mounted without hesitation.
Raising his hand, Yeop Hyeon shouted.
"To the capital—charge!"
His wolf kicked off, leaping forward. The pack followed into the deep mountains.
Yeop Hyeon was astonished by their speed. At this pace, they'd reach the capital in half a day.
* * *
Yanggye Fortress.
The gates were sealed tight, walls bristling with soldiers. The camp inside stood ready to sortie at any moment.
A thousand zhang outside, pitch-black cavalry faced the fortress.
The capital's elite force: one hundred thousand black-armored horsemen.
On the walls, eyes watched them—Gang Gu's. Clad in silver armor, she stood imposingly, though exhaustion lined her face.
A middle-aged man in heavy plate beside her spoke.
"Marshal, they're waiting for Wol Kingdom and Cho Kingdom's forces. Once they arrive, they'll attack without doubt."
Gang Gu nodded.
"Tell the brothers: Yanggye Fortress must not fall. If it does, nothing stops the capital's cavalry. Local warfare would claim countless lives! We cannot yield this place!"
"Yes, Marshal!"
As the man left, Gang Gu murmured, still gazing ahead.
"Changmok Academy... Dark schemes... Can you handle it?"
Meanwhile, after crossing countless mountains, Yeop Hyeon arrived at an ancient walled city.
Cheonseong!
The closest stronghold to Yanggye Fortress in the capital's territory, heavily guarded as the rear supply base.
"Inside: two thousand elites, six Penetrating Nether Realm experts, over thirty Soaring Realm warriors."
Yeop Hyeon asked in surprise.
"How do you know all that?"
The red-clad woman ignored him, continuing.
"...Surrounding area swarms with soldiers—stealth's impossible. Even if we breach, twelve of us can't handle two thousand elites. If the capital's army returns, we're trapped rats!"
She eyed Yeop Hyeon.
"What's your plan?"
"Hm... Do you know where they store provisions and supplies?"
She looked skyward. A black hawk circled the city.
Moments later, she whispered.
"Northern camp. Heavily guarded."
Yeop Hyeon smiled, satisfied.
"Knowing the location is enough!"
"Now what?"
"No choice. Frontal assault!"