Chapter 158: I Can't Possibly Tolerate Such Lowly Stealth Techniques
The hall froze in an instant, silence gripping the air like ice.
Beneath the castle walls stood twenty cavalrymen, the middle-aged man among them—with a sword tip pressed to his forehead—glaring at Yeop Hyeon with murderous intent.
There was no fear in the middle-aged man's eyes.
"I'll say it once more. If you don't surrender, the Great Yun Empire's vast army will sever the heads from every body in this castle."
Yeop Hyeon responded by raising his thumb toward the man.
"To speak such words before my sword... your courage is impressive."
The middle-aged man sneered mockingly.
"Of course. You could never kill me!"
Yeop Hyeon tilted his head, curiosity plain on his face.
"Why not?"
The man pointed to himself.
"I represent the mighty Great Yun Empire here. If you kill me, our Great Yun Empire will..."
Pfuk!
The Spirit Water Sword pierced straight through the space between the middle-aged man's eyes.
Unable to finish his sentence, the man widened his eyes in utter disbelief.
The Spirit Water Sword flew back up to Yeop Hyeon's hand, crimson blood trailing from its blade to drip onto the ground.
Yeop Hyeon shook his head slowly.
"To threaten me so openly... you should have considered my face at least..."
"......"
At that moment, the middle-aged man toppled from his horse. Even in death, his eyes remained open.
Witnessing his death, the remaining Great Yun Empire soldiers erupted in fury. One bellowed at Yeop Hyeon in rage.
"How dare you insult our Great Yun Empire..."
Seok!
In the blink of an eye, the Spirit Water Sword carved a massive hole in the soldier's throat. He tumbled beneath his horse, clutching futilely at his neck as blood gushed endlessly from the wound.
Yeop Hyeon turned to the remaining cavalrymen.
"Learned anything from those two's deaths?"
Terror spread across the Great Yun soldiers' faces at his words. Only now did they realize the man before them feared their Great Yun Empire not one bit.
Retreat!
Without a moment's hesitation, the Great Yun soldiers wheeled their horses and fled.
Gang Gu, watching Yeop Hyeon let them go, asked,
"Why let them live?"
Yeop Hyeon flashed a faint smile and turned to the Kang Kingdom soldiers standing atop the walls.
"Did you all see? The Great Yun Empire is far from invincible. They die to the blade just like us, and they fear death the same. As proud sons of the great Kang Kingdom, do we need to fear the likes of the Great Yun Empire? Fight! Even in death, we take at least one with us!"
The soldiers stirred with fervor, soon roaring in unison.
"Even in death, we take one with us!"
"Even in death, we take one with us!"
Tens of thousands of voices chanting as one shook the heavens like thunder from a clear sky.
Yeop Hyeon smiled at the sight.
Morale!
To the small nations of Qingzhou, the Great Yun Empire was an object of terror. Especially after their hundred elite cavalry had annihilated one such nation, the Kang Kingdom soldiers' spirits had plummeted even before the battle began.
If they fought in that state, the Kang Kingdom army wouldn't land a single proper swing before defeat.
Gang Gu's lips curved in a subtle smile as she gazed at Yeop Hyeon.
Sensing her look, Yeop Hyeon met her eyes and said,
"I need to head to Canglan Academy for a bit."
"Take long?"
"Nah, I'll be right back!"
"Then I'll wait."
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"With An Ranxiu's appearance, the enemy won't attack for a while. Still, don't let your guard down—hold the castle tight. I'll be back in two days at most!"
Gang Gu stared piercingly at Yeop Hyeon's retreating back until he vanished from sight, then finally turned away.
'Ranxiu...'
This time, Yeop Hyeon mounted the Black Wolf left by Yuk Ban Jang instead of Unseon. The Black Wolf was far swifter. At its speed, he could reach Canglan Academy from Gaeyang Fortress in half a day.
While the enemy hesitated, he had to visit Canglan Academy. The Kang Kingdom's soldiers alone couldn't hold off the allied forces of Cho Kingdom and the Great Yun Empire.
Reinforcements were desperately needed now.
Meanwhile, he decided against absorbing the newly acquired Jil Yeong Sword. With just two swords, he still couldn't reach the Divine Fusion Realm. He chose to keep Jil Yeong to boost his current combat power instead.
At the Cho Kingdom army's camp, a hundred li from Gaeyang Fortress.
"Insolent fool!"
A voice thick with rage filled the command tent.
Inside stood a middle-aged man in iron armor, his fierce gaze fixed on a soldier kneeling on the ground.
"A pathetic Kang Kingdom dares mock the Great Yun Empire? Absurd!"
The soldier bowed his head urgently.
"General, every word I spoke is true."
The middle-aged man trembled with fury.
"Go assemble the Great Yun Cavalry."
At that moment, an elder in white robes and a shadowy figure entered the tent.
The white-robed elder glanced at the kneeling soldier and said,
"Leave us."
The soldier scrambled out in haste.
The elder turned to the middle-aged man.
"General Li Feng, have you already forgotten King Gosan’s order to follow my commands here?"
Li Feng's face darkened.
"Elder Li, Yeop Hyeon fears not even Cangmu Academy—do you think he'll cower before the Great Yun Empire? His personal strength is formidable, and behind him stand a Sword Immortal and An Ranxiu. Until we grasp why An Ranxiu appeared so suddenly, we cannot act rashly. Defy orders, and you'll face military law!"
Li Feng nodded stiffly.
The elder's face was no picture of calm either. An Ranxiu's unexpected arrival had thrown all plans into disarray. One An Ranxiu was no threat, but provoking the forces behind her was another matter.
That was why neither they nor the Great Yun Empire could act hastily.
Yet giving Yeop Hyeon time was equally unwise. He had already grasped the basics of Borrowed Power.
In other words, Sword Lord status was not far off.
Once that happened, things would grow dire.
If Yeop Hyeon became a Sword Lord, neither Cangmu Academy nor Dark Realm warriors alone could take him. They'd need to call in Yo Yeolbang experts—top ten at least—to match a Sword Lord.
The problem? Top Yo Yeolbang ranks moved not for money. They were beyond such concerns.
Thus, once Yeop Hyeon reached Sword Lord, few besides Cangmu Academy and Dark Realm's Myriad Laws Realm experts could oppose him. The elder found the situation suffocating.
The silver lining: Yeop Hyeon wasn't a Sword Lord yet.
Not there, the cost to kill him dropped sharply.
But another variable had emerged: An Ranxiu.
Thinking of her darkened the elder's face further.
'How did Yeop Hyeon and An Ranxiu even connect?'
The Dark Lord at his side spoke up.
"Brother Li Mu, shouldn't we summon the Protector?"
'The Protector?'
Li Mu, protector of Central Divine Continent's Cangmu Academy, was beyond Myriad Laws Realm. He replied gravely,
"Summoning the Protector comes at a steep price."
"But to handle the woman behind Yeop Hyeon, don't we need that level?"
Li Mu fell silent.
Just then, an elder in black robes appeared in the tent. Li Mu's eyes narrowed—he recognized the man from An Ranxiu's side.
The black-robed elder spotted the Dark Lord hiding in the shadows.
"I can't possibly tolerate such lowly stealth techniques!"
Thud!
With a light flick of his toe, a dull impact rang out, forcing the Dark Lord into view.
Fear flickered in the Dark Lord's eyes as he stared at the black-robed elder.
The elder spoke again.
"Worry not. I know your concerns. We won't interfere in Yeop Hyeon's matter again—do as you will."
Li Mu's brow twitched.
"Why?"
The black-robed elder smirked thinly.
"Because we want him dead too. An Ranxiu alone stayed our hand. But she won't aid him again."
"Who are you?"
To Li Mu's question, the elder replied calmly,
"No need to know. Just conveying our stance. Yeop Hyeon is a Sword Master, but Cangmu Academy and the Dark Realm can handle him easily.
One bit of advice: when striking, concentrate all your forces at once. Sending them piecemeal might benefit others."
Li Mu eyed him.
"He's not as simple as you think!"
"Hmph, without An Ranxiu, I'd crush him with a finger! You've been too lax thus far. But with full force? He's done."
As the black-robed elder turned to leave, he paused.
"Soon, someone from Central Divine Continent arrives—great aid to you. When that happens, play all your cards and finish him for good!"
With that, his figure blurred into afterimages and vanished.
Li Feng and the Dark Lord exchanged silent glances.
Li Mu turned to them.
"Dark Lord, summon the Dark Realm Dao Soldiers at once. General Li, ready the Great Yun Cavalry for immediate deployment. Once Yeop Hyeon falls, we'll raze the castle and hurl his corpse at the Kang Kingdom's imperial family!"
Li Mu closed his eyes slowly, expression grave.
"Fail this time, and there'll be no next."
Meanwhile, arriving before Canglan Academy, Yeop Hyeon couldn't hide his bewilderment at the scene.
A massive crowd had gathered like clouds at the mountain's base, all eyes fixed on the academy with eager anticipation.
Yeop Hyeon approached a nearby man.
"Hey, brother. What's all this?"
The man turned.
"You really don't know?"
Yeop Hyeon shook his head.
"Tell me."
"Man, you're out of the loop. National Scholar Yeop is coming back!"
"......"