Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: Thousand Li Plain (1)
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"What do you mean by that? Troops slipped away without us knowing?"
As soon as the morning meeting began, Sanggwan Cheon cried out in shock at the bombshell dropped.
Gong Jeong, who had just received word from the Beggars' Sect disciples locked in a fierce intelligence war with the Heavenly Demon Cult, spoke with a rigidly hardened face.
"The Wind Demon Brigade that Blood Light Martial Emperor brought with him, along with some other troops, are nowhere to be seen. We haven't pinpointed exactly where they've gone, but it's clear they're moving separately."
"Could they be planning a preemptive strike before our main force arrives?"
Sanggwan Je, who had already discussed it with Gong Jeong, shook his head at Sanggwan Cheon's question.
"It's impossible to launch a surprise attack piercing the eyes and ears we've set up around Bi Cheon Castle. The same goes for us."
"Then where the hell did they go?"
"Maybe they're moving to sweep away the minor sects around here? There are still quite a few sects that haven't come to this place."
Sanggwan Baek shook his head at Zaha Sect Leader Yu Jin-gyo's words.
"It might sound cold, but it'd be better if that were the case. The sacrifices would be regrettable, but their movements and intentions would be clear. The problem is that there's no possibility of that."
"Then what do you think, Senior Sanggwan?"
Yu Jin-gyo asked again, sensing something from Sanggwan Baek's grim expression.
"In my view, I'm worried they might be targeting the Ha Hu Clan's reinforcements."
Sanggwan Baek turned to Sanggwan Je.
"I hope this old man's worry is unfounded, but what do you think?"
Sanggwan Je met Gong Jeong's gaze and let out a sigh before answering.
"I think the same. That's the most likely scenario."
Gong Jeong backed Sanggwan Je's words.
"The Beggars' Sect assesses it that way too."
"There wasn't any such intelligence until now, was there? If they were targeting the Ha Hu Clan, they should've moved at least a few days ago."
Gong Jeong shook his head gravely at Sanggwan Cheon's incredulous words.
"That's why we've lost contact with quite a few disciples in the last few days. Not just our sect's disciples, but a good number from the Nangong Clan seem to have gone missing too."
"The Dark Shadows' doing?"
"Yes. Just them."
Gong Jeong ground his teeth thinking of the disciples sacrificed in the bloodcurdling intelligence war with the Dark Shadows.
"Have you informed the Ha Hu Clan?"
"We sent someone right away. But the issue is we only noticed some troops missing this morning. Even if we sent word as fast as possible, it's hard to say if it'll reach them before the attack begins."
"Just send a messenger pigeon."
Sanggwan Je snapped irritably at Sanggwan Cheon's frustrated remark.
"Send it to who? Messenger pigeons don't just fly off and arrive on command; you have to train them with constant back-and-forth..."
Sanggwan Je trailed off and shut his mouth. He didn't want to undermine the sect leader's dignity by explaining pigeon handling in this setting.
"You're saying it's already too late."
Sanggwan Je nodded weakly at Sanggwan Baek's words.
"Yes. The fight might have already started."
Sanggwan Baek turned to Gong Jeong.
"Those missing troops you mentioned. The Wind Demon Brigade?"
"Yes. The Wind Demon Brigade."
"How large is their force?"
"Around a hundred men, as far as we know."
"Do you have an assessment of their skill level? I'd like the Beggars' Sect's honest judgment."
All eyes in the meeting room turned to Gong Jeong.
After a moment's thought, Gong Jeong spoke heavily.
"We judge them to be at least on par with the elites of the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Clans."
"At least."
Sanggwan Baek murmured with a sigh.
The atmosphere in the meeting room darkened rapidly.
That single word, "at least," weighed heavily on everyone.
At dawn, led by the Wind Demon Brigade, Heavenly Demon Cult warriors moved to intercept the Ha Hu Clan's reinforcements. They arrived at Thousand Li Plain around the hour of the snake (9-11 a.m.), and all marveled at the endless fields of silver grass swaying in the wind.
"What a pity. Such a beautiful place has to be stained with blood."
Sword Demon Dragon sighed, plucking a stalk of silver grass, prompting Ghost Soul Fist to burst into eerie laughter.
"Kehahaha! Doesn't the intense red add its own fierce charm? It has its own flavor."
"I hope it's only dyed with our enemies' blood."
Ju Seung-geon voiced his modest wish.
"Of course it will be. Just trust this old man and don't worry. I'll make it so."
Ghost Soul Fist bellowed, waving his unusually large fist.
"The Ha Hu Clan rivals the Five Great Clans. We must account for potentially heavy casualties."
Unlike Ghost Soul Fist, who bordered on arrogance, Sword Demon Dragon was exceedingly cautious.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Ju Seung-geon bowed politely. But inwardly, he brimmed with confidence just like Ghost Soul Fist.
"When are the Ha Hu Clan bastards due to arrive?"
Protector Blood Armor Hand Pyeong An asked. Though less prominent than Sword Demon Dragon or Ghost Soul Fist, his martial prowess was second to none. The same went for the three elders standing shoulder to shoulder with him.
"They should arrive in about one hour."
Sword Demon Dragon was surprised at the mention of one hour.
"They hurried quite a bit too. If we hadn't set out early as you said, we might've missed them."
"Yes. They moved faster than expected, but we still have a little leeway. We'll rest briefly and then set up the ambush right away."
"Do we really need an ambush? We can just surround and annihilate them the moment they arrive."
Ju Seung-geon smiled at Ghost Soul Fist's words.
"That's a good method too. But I'm concerned about heavy losses..."
Ju Seung-geon glanced at Ghost Dao Clan, resting to one side. Just then, Ghost Dao Clan Leader Gok Seon approached with two elders in tow.
Gok Seon lightly greeted Sword Demon Dragon and the others before asking Ju Seung-geon,
"I heard we have about an hour before they arrive. How can we assist?"
"We'll ambush them, then surround and annihilate."
"Excellent idea. The silver grass is so dense, perfect for hiding. But from your expression, it doesn't seem you'll leave the ambush to us."
Gok Seon eyed Ju Seung-geon slyly.
"Will the Ghost Dao Clan handle the ambush?"
Ju Seung-geon asked, lifting one corner of his mouth.
"No need. We'd love to, but sadly, we lack the skill. We'll block their retreat once the attack begins."
"Yes. I leave it to you. Just one thing— the encirclement must not be breached."
"Don't worry. The Ghost Dao Clan's forces may be modest, but we're not that incompetent."
Gok Seon turned away as if there was nothing more to discuss with Ju Seung-geon. He paid respects to Sword Demon Dragon and the others again before returning to his unit.
Sword Demon Dragon watched the two elders following Gok Seon for a long while, then spoke with a strange expression.
"We've been underestimating the Ghost Dao Clan. Should've looked into them more."
"Pardon? What do you...?"
Before Ju Seung-geon could finish, Ghost Soul Fist reacted faster.
"You felt it too, huh. I was wondering if I misjudged."
"If they've survived this long, they must have their reasons."
Ghost Soul Fist chuckled at Ju Seung-geon, who still didn't grasp their conversation.
"Meaning the Ghost Dao Clan isn't as worthless as you think. So don't underestimate them from now on."
Ju Seung-geon couldn't help but be surprised that even Ghost Soul Fist, the epitome of arrogance, held the Ghost Dao Clan in high regard.
'That's fortunate if true, but I wonder.'
Ju Seung-geon looked anew at Gok Seon and the trailing elders.
"They'll arrive in half an hour."
"They're at this distance."
Reports from the Dark Shadows, doggedly tracking the Ha Hu Clan reinforcements via sound-transmitting insects, kept coming in.
"One-quarter hour away."
Finally, word came that the targets were right in front of them.
Despite over two hundred hiding, not a single breath stirred the silver grass fields.
A gentle breeze blew.
Only the rustling of silver grass swaying in the wind filled the plain—until an unexpected beast's howl shattered the silence.
Wooooooo!
A wolf's howl, like one from deep mountains.
Everyone wondered at the sudden wolf, but didn't react much. Wolves sometimes descended to villages, and deep mountains abounded near Thousand Li Plain.
The prolonged howl ended.
As brief silence returned and peace seemed restored, a wretched scream erupted from somewhere.
"Argh!"
"Kaaak!"
Once started, screams burst out simultaneously.
Ju Seung-geon bolted like lightning at the first scream.
In a situation where over two hundred held their breath, screams meant only one thing: the ambush was exposed.
The screams weren't from the Wind Demon Brigade at the center but concentrated on the outskirts, especially the north. That was the Ghost Dao Clan's position.
"You idiots!"
Ju Seung-geon's face twisted like a demon's.
Ghost Soul Fist's earlier advice not to underestimate the Ghost Dao Clan's skill vanished from his mind.
Ju Seung-geon immediately whistled to summon his scattered subordinates.
In the meantime, Sword Demon Dragon and the others rushed over from the southern wait position.
"What happened?"
"Did the Ha Hu Clan bastards arrive already?"
Sword Demon Dragon and Ghost Soul Fist asked simultaneously.
"It seems they've noticed us waiting. Screams from the north, not east— they must've quietly flanked and counterattacked."
"What kind of moronic situation is this? What were the Dark Shadows doing while they flanked us?"
Ghost Soul Fist exploded in rage.
Right then, as if hearing him, a Dark Shadow agent burst through the grass on Kang Hwang.
He too looked flustered by the unexpected turn.
"What the hell happened? You said we'd wait a quarter hour for them!"
Ju Seung-geon demanded, looking ready to grab him by the collar.
"Th-that's what I want to ask! What the hell is going on?"
"Have you ever seen such a dimwit? Can't you tell from the screams? The Ha Hu Clan's attack has begun."
Ghost Soul Fist glared murderously at Kang Hwang.
Though his feral gaze choked him, Kang Hwang forced out words.
"H-Ha Hu... Clan? N-no. They need half an hour more to arrive."
"Then who the hell are they?"
"I... don't know."
"Enough."
Sword Demon Dragon rescued Kang Hwang, half-collapsed under Ghost Soul Fist's pressure.
"You're certain it's not the Ha Hu Clan?"
"Ab-absolutely. The Dark Shadows are shadowing them like ghosts. Definitely not the Ha Hu Clan."
"Then who the hell are they?"
As if answering Sword Demon Dragon's question, an eerie wolf's howl echoed through the silver grass once more.