Chapter 74: Miscalculation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 74: Miscalculation (3)
“They’re down there.”
A warehouse sat at the bottom of the slope.
The footprints ended abruptly at the building, making it obvious that was where they were hiding.
“Shall we move immediately?” Beoncheonjang asked in a calm tone.
Around him, ten handpicked squad leaders stood with glinting eyes, awaiting their orders.
“Hmm.”
Facing his enemies, Dan Ri-geon hesitated.
It wasn't out of fear. Although the energy he sensed was surprisingly strong, he believed he was more than capable of winning.
The Qingcheng Sect, huh…
However, the name of the Qingcheng Sect weighed heavily on him. He was concerned that if the situation escalated unnecessarily, it might bring unwanted trouble to the Samu Alliance.
“We strike.”
Ultimately, he made his decision.
The humiliation of being bested by the man before him, combined with the cold judgment that there would be no major issues as long as they thoroughly destroyed the evidence, solidified his resolve.
The moment he spoke, the ten men behind him moved, radiating a murderous aura. Judging by the grim expressions on their faces, they had steeled themselves for the slaughter.
They had only taken a single step when the bushes began to rustle, and a young man revealed himself.
Upon spotting the youth, the Life Killing Team faltered and stepped back.
“You!”
Dan Ri-geon’s face contorted at the sight of Seok Myeong. He hadn't expected him to appear here so suddenly. He glared at Seok Myeong before turning back to his subordinates.
“The rest of you, go on ahead.”
At his command, Beoncheonjang bowed and led his men down the slope.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
As they tried to bypass him, Seok Myeong swung his sword at the man in the lead.
Sshhhk!
However, the attack failed to connect.
Dan Ri-geon’s iron whip tore through the air, lunging toward his face. Somehow, the iron whip that had clearly been shattered in their previous encounter was whole once again.
Snap!
Seok Myeong dodged the fierce chain and retreated to his original position.
“I am your opponent. You’re going no further.”
Seok Myeong slowly raised his head. He stood his ground, his sword leveled as he scanned the group. He had intended to stop them all, but Dan Ri-geon’s interference was formidable. Now, he could only hope that Hyeok-jin would hold his own.
*
“They’re coming. Everyone, hold your breath.”
Hyeok-jin spoke in a low whisper as the sound of multiple footsteps approached the warehouse. Perhaps his intent was conveyed, for the breathing of the children hidden among the straw grew even quieter than before.
“So, you were here.”
As the thudding footsteps slowed, Beoncheonjang came to a halt in front of the warehouse entrance. Behind him, several men in black stood with weapons drawn.
“What, are you surprised?”
“Of course. I admire the guts it took for you to choose your own burial plot.”
“Could be your burial plot instead, couldn't it?”
“Hardly. Not against the likes of you.”
Beoncheonjang spoke with a hint of displeasure, but he didn't let his emotions show. Seeing this, Hyeok-jin felt as if a heavy stone had been placed on his chest. He realized his enemy was the type who didn't easily lose his cool—the most difficult kind of man to deal with.
“You did well to slip away and deceive our eyes,” Beoncheonjang continued, glaring at Hyeok-jin.
“It wasn't that hard. It was actually quite easy.”
“For something so easy, you didn't get very far, did you?”
“If I were alone, I could have escaped as far as I wanted. I only stayed because I have a large family to look after.”
“Are you not afraid of death?”
“I am.”
“Then why did you do this?”
“Because I wanted to see just how good I really am.”
“…?”
“You wouldn't understand why I’m doing something this crazy.”
Screeech.
Hyeok-jin drew his sword. Then, he took the saber he had been carrying on his back and thrust it forward.
“A futile gesture. Do you really think someone like you can defeat me?”
“As long as you don't swarm me all at once, I can kill a man like you.”
“Madman.”
Beoncheonjang’s irritation finally broke through. He reached for his waist, gripped his hilt, and drew his sword from its scabbard.
“Squad leaders, listen up.”
The subordinates following him bowed simultaneously.
“Yes, sir!”
“Head out immediately. Half of you split to the left, the rest to the right, and find the people.”
“Understood!”
“I’ll say it once more: kill everyone you see.”
“Yes, sir!”
At his word, the men in black split into two groups and vanished in an instant.
I have to win.
Now that only the two of them remained, only one thought occupied Hyeok-jin’s mind. Winning was the only way for everyone to survive.
“Aaaaah!”
Hyeok-jin let out a roar and lunged toward the approaching Beoncheonjang.
*
“This way.”
The elderly and the women moved in a frantic rush. To lose the Unorthodox bastards who might follow at any moment, they had to run until their legs felt like they would break.
“We can’t stay together. We have to scatter.”
The woman known as Aunt Yeon encouraged the others from the center of the group. She thought that if they spread out as far as possible, the pursuers might lose track of the children. But as their breathing grew more labored and the darkness deepened, the terror creeping up their spines became impossible to hide.
Even though they had risked their lives for the children, fear was not something easily controlled.
Rustle, rustle!
“Run!”
Aunt Yeon shouted as trees shook and birds took flight. She realized the enemies had drawn close. However, women consumed by terror are not easily managed. One woman, overcome by fear, bolted in the direction the enemies were coming from.
“Don’t go back! No!”
“Kyaaaaah!”
Aunt Yeon screamed, but it was in vain. Contrary to her hopes, a sickening scream soon rang out. The woman had likely lost her life.
Further, I have to run further.
Aunt Yeon grew anxious. She wasn't afraid of losing her own life, but she couldn't die yet. To save the children, she had to buy even a little more time.
“Into the trees! Climb the trees!” Old Man Hwang told the gathered group.
It was a desperate attempt to distract the enemy's attention. The younger women, understanding immediately, began to grab onto branches and scramble up. When some struggled to climb, those who had made it up first reached down to pull them, while those below used all their strength to push them up as far as they could reach.
“Huff, huff.”
Aunt Yeon ran blindly, never looking back. Since she was confident in her stamina, she intended to run further than the others. Not just her, but everyone was desperately trying to stall for time in any way they could.
“Ah!”
It happened while Aunt Yeon was in the middle of her sprint. The sound of dry leaves crunching underfoot came from right in front of her. She quickly hid behind a thick tree trunk.
It’s over.
She curled her body and gripped a stone from the ground. The moment she thought death was upon her, she became strangely serene. She didn't want to be pathetic before the enemy in her final moments. She knew she could do nothing, but she wanted to show her resolve.
Everyone from Gujangwon was like that. Their martial skills might not have been exceptional, but their will and stubbornness were immense. Among them, Song Yeo-guk, the Estate Owner of Gujangwon, was so bull-headed that no one could break him. The hidden reason he had been sent to the great Qingcheng Sect was to break that very stubbornness.
I miss him.
As the sound of snapping twigs drew closer, she prayed fervently. Song Yeo-guk, the Estate Owner of Gujangwon, had grown up proud. Wasn't the heroic tale of how he stormed the Black Snake Union alone when the sect was in trouble told all over the Central Plains?
She wanted to be proud like him. And now, even if she died, she could be proud. Her only regret was that she wouldn't be able to see the face of the daughter she had just found.
Just as she felt the presence right upon her, she bit her lip hard and raised the stone high. Then, she threw it forward with all her might.
Whiz!
“Ack!”
In an instant, Aunt Yeon’s body jolted, and she collapsed to the ground. The man in black had struck first.
“Where did this lowly creature come from…!”
A man with a repulsive face raised his sword. Aunt Yeon groaned, clutching her shoulder. Her shoulder had been dislocated by the impact and wouldn't move. Yet she didn't give up, trying to pick up another stone with her other hand. Though her vision was blurred by pain, she gritted her teeth and moved, driven by the thought that she had to take him down.
Thud!
However, the man slammed his sword into the ground. Aunt Yeon looked at him in confusion.
“Ho? Looking closely, even if you’re older, you’re quite a pretty thing.”
“You… you beast…!”
Aunt Yeon’s face twisted. She realized what he intended to do as she saw him loosening his belt.
“Go! Just go!”
Her cries were ignored. The man, having partially stripped, immediately lunged at her. Aunt Yeon thrashed and resisted, but with only one arm, she couldn't withstand the man’s strength.
“Ah…!”
Just as her face turned pale with the man pinning her down, Aunt Yeon felt something strange. The man on top of her wasn't moving at all. She fumbled at the man’s body and barely managed to push him aside. As she did, a warm, sticky liquid coated her hand.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Who…?”
The woman raised her head. Standing there was the image of the young boy who used to shout that he would rebuild the fallen estate. Then the boy grew, and his face became a welcome sight.
The greatest genius of Gujangwon. The man who had once blown away the Black Snake Union single-handedly was standing before her.
“You’ve come… Estate Owner…”
Tears began to well in the woman’s eyes. Now that he was here, she was no longer afraid. At the woman’s call, Song Yeo-guk merely showed a look of pity. Then he turned his head and spoke to someone.
“There is a place I must go first, so please eliminate the enemies nearby.”
“I shall do so.”
Song Yeo-guk looked back at Aunt Yeon and said, “Close your eyes for a moment. Everyone will be at peace soon.”
Aunt Yeon nodded and slumped down. And then, she finally let go of the consciousness she had been clinging to until the very end.