Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Victory Dragon Unit Withdraws
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The warriors of the Victory Dragon Unit leaving the Henan Escort Bureau all wore furious expressions. Paeng Cheol-yeong and Namgung Jin, leading them, looked no different.
"Vice Unit Leader. Why on earth are we leaving the Henan Escort Bureau?"
"It's an order."
"Whose order?"
"Who else? The Alliance Leader's."
The Victory Dragon Unit warriors shook their heads in disbelief. Dugun Un, the Alliance Leader, was not the type to issue such a command.
"The Unit Leader relayed the Alliance Leader's order. To be precise, his messenger pigeon brought this."
Paeng Cheol-yeong roughly shook a letter. It soon tore to shreds and scattered on the ground.
Seeing Paeng Cheol-yeong's expression as he answered, the Victory Dragon Unit warriors could only swallow their anger inwardly.
Paeng Cheol-yeong's face was twisted in rage. A fierce aura emanated from his entire body, making those around him uncomfortable.
Namgung Jin tapped his shoulder.
"Enough. Or just ignore the order and stay here."
Paeng Cheol-yeong's face twisted even more menacingly at Namgung Jin's words. He couldn't do that. And that only fueled his anger further.
"Damn it! Arrrgh!"
Paeng Cheol-yeong's shout echoed loudly in all directions. With no one nearby, there was no one to stare or startle.
These days, the area around the Henan Escort Bureau was devoid of people. With brutal fights breaking out almost daily, who would dare approach? Of course, plenty of martial artists lurked hidden nearby, watching the Victory Dragon Unit's movements with covert glances.
Anyway, after letting out a good yell, his chest felt a bit lighter. Paeng Cheol-yeong focused on his steps. He wanted to hurry to Cheonjung Mountain and throw himself into busy work.
After the Victory Dragon Unit warriors had all exited the Henan Escort Bureau and walked about ten zhang, a group of warriors appeared. They all had dissatisfied looks and approached with palpable tension.
"What do you want?"
Paeng Cheol-yeong spoke first, and the eldest-looking among them stepped forward.
"Are you just running away like this?"
Paeng Cheol-yeong smirked at the warrior's words.
"Running? Who's running? And why should we have to hear that from you?"
"You still won't admit what you did!"
Paeng Cheol-yeong spat out his words, face rigid, glaring at each one.
"I'll say it again: that has nothing to do with us. Not everyone wearing Victory Dragon Unit uniforms is one of us. Could it be you lot framing the Martial Alliance?"
Contempt laced Paeng Cheol-yeong's tone. No need to keep respecting them if they acted like this.
"Hmph, ridiculous? The Henan Escort Bureau using that excuse? Even a stray dog would laugh."
Paeng Cheol-yeong brushed past the warrior as he spoke. The Victory Dragon Unit warriors followed behind.
The warriors who had stepped forward watched the Victory Dragon Unit pass with flushed faces of anger and humiliation. They lacked the power to stop them.
If even those hiding nearby joined in, it might be different, but they too seemed unwilling to tangle further with the Martial Alliance.
The Victory Dragon Unit at the Henan Escort Bureau numbered fifty strong. Recently, their ranks had swelled to a hundred total—fifty at Cheonjung Mountain, fifty here.
The combined aura of fifty skilled martial artists was formidable indeed.
As the Victory Dragon Unit warriors advanced, radiating their presence in unison, no one dared approach.
Just as the Victory Dragon Unit passed them all, the gates of the Henan Escort Bureau suddenly burst open.
All eyes turned in surprise to the main entrance. Dozens of mounted figures charged out.
"Get out of the way!"
Leading them on horseback was Jo Seol-yeon. At her shout, Paeng Cheol-yeong and the Victory Dragon Unit warriors instinctively parted to the sides.
Through the human corridor formed by the Victory Dragon Unit, Jo Seol-yeon and the Henan Escort Bureau members surged out. All were on horseback, of course.
In that lightning-fast move, not only the Victory Dragon Unit but also the martial artists camped nearby watching stared blankly at their retreating backs for a moment, faces slack with astonishment.
"What are you all doing? Chase them!"
Someone snapped out of it and yelled, and only then did people start scrambling into action. But by then, it was too late. Catching them wouldn't be easy.
Paeng Cheol-yeong stood dazed like the others before breaking into a smile.
"What a spirited young lady. Isn't she?"
Namgung Jin nodded.
"Indeed. A fine one."
The rest of the Victory Dragon Unit warriors couldn't deny it. Who could have imagined exploiting such a gap to escape—taking everyone left at the bureau with her?
"Come on, we should hurry too. Let's go."
Paeng Cheol-yeong said energetically. With a slight weight lifted from his mind, his steps brimmed with vigor. The fifty Victory Dragon Unit warriors unleashed their lightness skills.
And they vanished from Heochang like the wind.
After the Victory Dragon Unit departed, the martial artists remaining in Heochang stormed into the Henan Escort Bureau. Just in case someone was left. But they found not a soul.
Unable to contain their frustration, they smashed the bureau's buildings indiscriminately. Thus, the Henan Escort Bureau crumbled once more.
"At least it's fortunate they're all here..."
Hyeong Pyo smiled faintly at Jo Seol-yeon's words, sensing her compassion. But he soon turned back with a heavy expression. The people riding behind were all Henan Escort Bureau porters.
Though they could hardly be called proper porters yet. They were the porters who had journeyed with them to Sacheon Province.
They had learned martial arts from Dan Hyeong-u and grown stronger than before, but their training period was still short. They were far from true martial artists or escorts.
Hyeong Pyo's face grew heavier. They were allies, but they could also become burdens.
"Will we really survive?"
Hyeong Pyo snapped to attention at Jo Seol-yeon's question and nodded.
"Of course. We might even encounter some fateful opportunity at Cheonjung Mountain. Haha."
"Right? We can do it, can't we?"
Jo Seol-yeon asked again, as if seeking reassurance. Hyeong Pyo nodded with a warm smile.
"Of course, miss."
Jo Seol-yeon relaxed a bit at his reply. But Hyeong Pyo couldn't. Their immediate task was survival for all. The desperate fight to stay alive had truly begun.
The Henan Escort Bureau was all but destroyed. Yet some people remained inside. A portion of the martial artists who had razed it now camped there, waiting in case the Escort Bureau folks returned.
Soon after, a man appeared before the main gate of the Henan Escort Bureau. Dressed in the gray robes of its porters, sword at his waist—Dan Hyeong-u.
Dan Hyeong-u quietly surveyed the ruins of the Henan Escort Bureau.
Standing at the main gate, he was easy to spot. And everyone nearby bore ill will toward the Escort Bureau.
"It's an Escort Bureau bastard!"
Someone shouted, and instantly, crowds rushed toward Dan Hyeong-u. All martial artists, naturally.
"Perfect timing. Judging by your clothes, you're a Henan Escort Bureau porter. Don't blame us—blame your Escort Bureau."
One sneered as he approached Dan Hyeong-u. The porter showed no signs of martial training, so dismissing him was natural. He didn't even bother drawing his weapon.
"So, what to do? Can't kill you yet. Let's start by ripping off an arm and a leg."
The man's words were chilling, but they posed no threat to Dan Hyeong-u. He stared silently before stepping forward.
Swoosh.
Dan Hyeong-u was suddenly in front of the man. The man startled at his abrupt appearance. Though close, it was a full zhang away. No untrained person could cover that in an instant. Panic flickered in the man's eyes, but it was too late.
Crack!
"Gaaahhh!"
A twisting sound accompanied the man's agonized scream echoing to the heavens. So loud and raw that those nearby felt their pores tingle.
And they saw it: the man's arm and leg grotesquely wrenched.
Just as he had said—ripped clean off. Bones pulled without tearing skin, so no blood, but the pain etched vividly on his face.
"Huuuugh..."
The man whimpered like a child. The agony was unbearable, yet he couldn't faint. Tears streaming, he gazed piteously at Dan Hyeong-u. Too much pain and fear for revenge or resentment to form.
His anguished eyes pleaded. Dan Hyeong-u knew exactly what for—he'd seen it plenty.
Flash!
Dan Hyeong-u's sword birthed lightning. And the man split in two.
Dan Hyeong-u glanced around. People recoiled from his icy gaze. Their hearts drowned in thick terror. Any will to oppose him vanished.
"I did as you wanted."
With that, Dan Hyeong-u walked into the bureau. People stood frozen, pondering his words until he vanished from sight.
Inside, as people emerged one by one, Dan Hyeong-u kept walking. They let him pass without interference.
He headed to the chief's office where Jo Seol-yeon had worked. As expected, it lay in ruins.
Dan Hyeong-u scanned his surroundings. Those meeting his eyes stepped back involuntarily.
Despite the porter's garb, his aura was unnervingly extraordinary.
More people gathered. Plenty were inside the bureau, including quite a few experts.
Han Ho-hyeok was one leading those experts. The people here hailed from various sects, united in pressuring the Henan Escort Bureau.
Han Ho-hyeok subtly led them. His moniker "Lightning Blade" befitting a master of swift saber work. Among those present, he was top-tier, with the charisma to command.
"Sorry, but we can't just let you go."
Han Ho-hyeok couldn't treat Dan Hyeong-u lightly. No visible martial arts training. He'd watched his gait closely—no lightness skill, just the heavy steps of a true novice.
Yet he couldn't underestimate him. That aura nagged too much.
Dan Hyeong-u eyed Han Ho-hyeok. A gleam flashed in his chilling eyes.
Han Ho-hyeok recoiled in shock. Cold sweat trickled down his spine. It felt like his crown was splitting open.
Gulp.
He swallowed unconsciously. An inexplicable sense of crisis gripped him.
"Where did they go?"
Dan Hyeong-u's question was simple. No one present misunderstood. Han Ho-hyeok understood too.
"We'll tell you after you come with us."
Another gleam from Dan Hyeong-u's eyes.
Dan Hyeong-u regretted now. Before leaving on the escort mission, he should have infused qi into Jo Seol-yeon.
Qi from their union—unique, instantly traceable.
Dan Hyeong-u stood motionless. Impatient, one man stepped forward.
"Brother Han, why complicate this? Just grab him. We're desperate too. Our sect's about to be wiped out—why bother with courtesy? Especially to a mere porter."
Some nodded. They'd deferred to Han Ho-hyeok's subtle leadership, but this hesitation bred discontent.
Han Ho-hyeok faltered slightly and glanced at Dan Hyeong-u.
As Han Ho-hyeok didn't move, the man muttered and approached Dan Hyeong-u.
"If Brother Han won't, I will. Maybe he knows the antidote."
The man finally drew his weapon. To him, Dan Hyeong-u was untrained.
He hadn't seen the gate incident or heard reports—too pressed for time.
"Torture will make him spill everything anyway."
Scowling, the man charged at Dan Hyeong-u, aiming to end it quick. But things didn't go his way.
Flash!
Lightning struck, and the man cleaved in two. Faces paled as they realized this was no simple matter.
"Where did they go."
Dan Hyeong-u repeated lowly, voice menacing.
Silence fell like death. Dan Hyeong-u slightly raised his sword.
Flash!
Lightning again. Another life snuffed. Terror deepened. A sinister energy seeped from Dan Hyeong-u's body.