Chapter 195
Chapter 195
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 195
Chapter Title: The Canyon Trap
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“Hah, haah…”
The sound of ragged breaths.
Seeing the exhausted members of the Waning Moon Squad, who had run in every direction to evade their pursuers, Hyang-i ground her teeth and muttered.
“Damn beggars.”
If she had her way, she would kill them all. She wanted to cut off their heads indiscriminately and drench the mountains and fields in their blood.
But there was no time to leisurely chop off their necks.
She had to get to Three Gates Gorge, the place she had promised to meet Neung Un-bi.
The opening in the inescapable net had likely been created by Neung Un-bi while they were hiding to recover their stamina.
Thanks to him, a path had opened, and they were able to escape the encirclement.
It was strange that the south had cleared before the north, but she didn't dwell on it. They were warriors, not strategists who sat at desks racking their brains.
They made a promise, and they would keep it, no matter the adversity.
That was their duty.
Besides, she was worried about Neung Un-bi, who must be struggling to create this escape route for them.
Hadn't Hyang-i already seen it?
The people he was trying to save were not skilled enough to be of any help in the current battle...
And yet, as soon as they broke through the encirclement, a damn tail had latched onto them.
The Beggars' Sect.
Those damn bastards had somehow found their trail and started chasing them relentlessly.
They didn't attack. They just closed the distance, pressuring them.
Hyang-i and the Waning Moon Squad sprinted toward Three Gates Gorge, avoiding the beggars' positions.
“Wait, stop.”
Hyang-i frowned, looking at the distant valley.
A single path cut through the center of a long line of cliffs.
Something felt wrong.
Why, of all places, had they ended up here while fleeing the beggars?
Moreover, what if the enemy had set a trap there?
If they went in, they'd be caught in a dilemma. The pursuing swarm of beggars would block their retreat.
But there was only one visible path.
It was the fastest route to Three Gates Gorge. Looking at the long cliffs, going around would take at least three or four times longer.
“It seems we've been herded by those beggars.”
“What?”
“I thought we were just avoiding them because we didn't have time to fight… but now it looks like they were driving us this way.”
At Hyang-i's words, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung's expressions hardened noticeably.
“What should we do? There are two options. We can either break through, even if they've set a trap, or we can go around.”
“...”
Hyang-i asked for their opinions.
The problem was too difficult for her to decide on her own. A wrong move could cost not only her life but the lives of everyone with her.
After a moment of thought, Wang Cheon let out a small laugh and said.
“Our Lord… is alone on the other side.”
“...”
“I don't know why the inescapable net was lifted or why these beggars started chasing us… but our Lord must be in danger. We don't have time to go around.”
At Wang Cheon's resolute words, Ju Seung nodded beside him.
“Are you sure? We could all die if we go in there.”
“My Lady. Have you ever seen the Demonic Cult take a detour?”
“...”
“Even if it's a trap, we must go.”
Hyang-i shook her head at Wang Cheon's words.
*Thoughtless, idiotic Demonic Cult bastards…*
*How is it that you only know how to go straight ahead?*
“Guard Captain Wang is right. We are guards.”
“...”
“Our duty is to protect our Lord, and our greatest honor is to die for him. To save our own skins by taking a detour and leaving our Lord in danger would be an indelible disgrace, an act of disloyalty.”
When even Ju Seung agreed with Wang Cheon, Hyang-i heaved a deep sigh.
The warriors of the Waning Moon Squad?
What was there to say? They already had the same expressions as the other two.
“You stupid bastards... But fine. I didn't like running away, either.”
At Hyang-i's words, Ju Seung and Wang Cheon looked at each other and smiled.
If it was the path they had to take, breaking through even with death at their doorstep was the true way of a Demonic Cult member.
With their Lord on the other side, what reason was there to hesitate?
Seeing the determined expressions on her companions' faces, Hyang-i took a breath and spoke resolutely.
“From now on, we break through the valley with all our might. I don't care if anyone falls behind.”
“Yes!”
“Good. I'll take the lead.”
Hyang-i stared at the valley and gripped the daggers in both hands tightly.
“Let's go! You idiots!”
“Yes!”
There was no strategy.
The moment her words ended, Hyang-i shot toward the valley, and behind her, Wang Cheon, Ju Seung, and the Waning Moon Squad followed like a long tail.
And in the distance, a beggar from the Beggars' Sect watched the Demonic Cult members disappear into the valley and grinned widely.
“Heh heh, like moths to a flame. That's the problem with those Demonic Cult bastards. Not a shred of strategic sense in them.”
“I know. It's so obviously a trap...”
“Thanks to them, all we have to do is block the rear. Send the signal. The prey has entered the trap.”
At the leader's command, another beggar took a signal flare from his robes.
*Fwoosh, bang!*
The cord was pulled, and a flare shot high into the air, bursting brilliantly in the sky.
“Let's go! Block their escape route!”
“Yes!”
As the order was given, whistles echoed, and beggars appeared from all directions, then rushed into the valley after the Demonic Cult members.
***
The single path connecting Three Gates Gorge and Roha Estuary was set between massive cliffs. The entrance and exit were wide, but the middle was so narrow that only a single ox-cart could barely pass.
Namgung Hak, the elder leading the warriors of the Orthodox Murim Alliance, had set up his formation near the exit leading to Three Gates Gorge, just where the path began to widen.
In the front, he had arranged warriors in overlapping fan-shaped formations, and behind them, he had placed a large number of archers.
He was confident that if the Demonic Cult members entered here, they would be trapped and killed.
“Will they really come this way?”
“The Beggars' Sect said they herded them here, so they'll come.”
“But it's so obviously a trap...”
“That's because you don't know the Demonic Cult.”
“Sir?”
“Those guys... they're complete lunatics.”
“...”
“Should I say they value honor more than their lives? They're the kind of bastards who would rather fight and die than run away or turn back.”
Just as Namgung Hak was smirking.
*Bang!*
A flare exploded brilliantly in the sky above the gorge.
“Heh heh, just as I thought... I told you so.”
It was the signal from the Beggars' Sect that the Demonic Cult members had entered the gorge.
“Archers, prepare to draw your bows! The moment they appear, skewer every last one of them!”
“Yes!”
“Warriors, draw your swords and prepare! As soon as the archers' attack is over, we will annihilate them!”
With the signal from the Beggars' Sect and Namgung Hak's command, the entire area was instantly filled with tension.
The warriors in the fan formation strained their eyes, staring at the narrow gap.
Cold sweat trickled down in the chilling tension.
Then, the faint sound of many footsteps could be heard. It was the Demonic Cultists.
As the sound of running feet grew louder, the hearts of the Orthodox Murim Alliance warriors also began to pound fiercely.
*Creeeeak!*
The archers drew their bowstrings in unison.
The footsteps grew closer and closer.
Soon, they would appear...
Just as Namgung Hak's eyes widened in anticipation.
*Swiiish!*
The sound of something slicing through the air was heard.
But... from behind?
Feeling puzzled, Namgung Hak quickly turned his head.
*Slice!*
“Kuaargh!”
The sound of something being sliced apart, and screams.
Namgung Hak's face was stained with shock.
One side of the archer formation, which had been standing at the very back with bows drawn, had completely collapsed.
Startled by the sound, the other warriors also turned their heads to look behind them.
“Hoo... Thankfully, it seems I'm not late.”
Where the archers' formation had crumbled, a strange, earth-colored figure stood holding a thin sword.
“Y-You, why are you...?”
Though his appearance was a mess with dirt stuck to his sweat, Namgung Hak recognized him at once.
The Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult, Neung Un-bi.
He had suddenly appeared here.
Spotting Namgung Hak, Neung Un-bi answered with a cold smile.
“Why? I'm here to save my people!”
With a cruel laugh, the arc of his swung sword descended upon the archers.
“Kuaaaargh!”
Caught by the unexpected attack, the archers began to fall into disarray.
It was a fight they could never win in the first place. Not only are bows ineffective in close combat, but the difference in skill between them and Neung Un-bi was too vast.
Like a tiger leaping into a pack of wolves that had been growling at their surrounded prey, Neung Un-bi began to trample the archers.
Namgung Hak couldn't collect his thoughts.
He was so flustered by the sudden situation that he couldn't immediately think of a countermeasure.
What in the world was happening?
Weren't the black dogs of the Beggars' Sect tracking his trail?
They had definitely said they were searching the outskirts of Three Gates Gorge, so why was he here...?
“Elder Namgung! Your orders!”
Unable to watch him hesitate any longer, one of his subordinates urged him on. To help the archers, they would have no choice but to break formation.
“The archer line is collapsing completely!”
“Damn it! The first and second lines at the front will hold their positions! The third line will move to rescue the archers from that demonic fiend!”
“Yes!”
The order was given, and the warriors moved to stop Neung Un-bi.
“With rabble like this... you think you can stop me!?”
Seeing the warriors rushing toward him, Neung Un-bi frowned and amplified his demonic energy.
Lunar Eclipse, Accumulating Moon!
*Fwoooom! Kwaaaang!*
An attack filled with demonic power slammed into the ground and exploded, and the warriors within its range collapsed with screams.
But was it just to take down a few warriors?
What he needed was the dust cloud from the explosion to obscure their vision.
“Find him! Don't panic!”
Someone shouted.
But it was already too late.
Neung Un-bi, who had already moved to the left, kicked off the cliff face and leaped high into the air.
It was a one-versus-many battle. Where was the time to take them down one by one?
*Wooooong!*
The Flying Swallow Sword trembled finely as demonic energy surged through it. Then, black demonic energy began to rise from the blade's surface and spread in all directions.
“Overwhelming Might!”
It was the ultimate technique wielded by warriors on the cusp of mastering their aura.
It was all the power Neung Un-bi possessed.
Since his revival, Neung Un-bi had restrained himself from indiscriminate killing, but this was not the time for such considerations.
Furthermore, the Demonic Spirit Divine Pill in his body had begun to run rampant, awakening his deeply ingrained violent nature.
“I'll kill every last one of you.”
As a murderous glint flashed in Neung Un-bi's eyes, which had turned completely black with no whites visible, the demonic energy gathered on his Flying Swallow Sword erupted in all directions.
Lunar Eclipse, Moonlight Over the World!
*Crash! Bang! Kaboom!*
As countless warriors fell, struck by the demonic energy that ravaged the inside of the gorge, Namgung Hak's face twisted in a scowl.
It was just one man...
How could someone so young be so strong?
At this rate, he had no choice but to change his strategy.
Wasn't the original goal to capture Neung Un-bi anyway?
Since the Beggars' Sect was chasing them from the rear of the gorge anyway... he would capture Neung Un-bi first.
“Everyone except the first line at the front, attack Neung Un-bi! Capture him!”
Along with the command, everyone except the first row of the formation began to move toward Neung Un-bi.
And at that moment.
*Swiiish!*
The moment she appeared, Hyang-i's dagger flew like a streak of light, grazing the back of Namgung Hak's neck.
“You damn commander... your chirping is annoying as hell.”
A movement that everyone had missed, even with their eyes wide open.
Namgung Hak's head dropped with a thud and rolled across the ground.
At his empty death, the warriors in the first row of the encirclement, who had been waiting for the Demonic Cult members to exit the gorge, stared blankly at Hyang-i.
And in that brief moment.
“Kill them all!”
Wang Cheon, Ju Seung, and the Waning Moon Squad descended upon the encirclement.