Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Retaking the Mountain Fortress
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As support warriors dispatched from the Murim Alliance, we were practically part of the Celestial Dragon Society.
Even so, we'd arrived late after spending about a month elsewhere, so I figured we'd get an earful of reprimands...
But the man in charge of the front lines overseeing Guangdong, Earth Dragon Hall Master Pae San, greeted me with a beaming smile instead.
"Was the journey too rough on you?"
"...I'm sorry for being late, Hall Master."
"Nonsense! Calling your return after accomplishing greater deeds 'late'? What kind of talk is that!"
Earth Dragon Hall Master shut all the flaps of the tent. He faced me with only a single lantern lit.
"I've heard about what you did on the way here. Or rather, putting it that way sounds off. Is there anyone in the Celestial Dragon Society who doesn't know what Great Hero Jeok accomplished? Everyone knows."
"......."
"You personally rooted out the parasites infesting our territory, so your efforts are beyond words! The Society Leader was overjoyed! That a capable hero like Great Hero Jeok had come as the leader of our support warriors!"
Earth Dragon Hall Master grinned from ear to ear.
"And on top of that, you returned all the loot you'd acquired to its rightful owners... How could your merits not be immeasurable? Tardiness? What tardiness? You handled what the Celestial Dragon Society should have done yourselves and then came here-that's not tardiness; that's a favor! The Society Leader mentioned it personally, so you needn't worry in the slightest. In fact, there's a separate reward bounty prepared for Great Hero Jeok."
A heavy pouch of money was placed on the table.
Stunned by the better-than-expected treatment, I asked haltingly,
"Even so... doesn't that mean I broke military law? Regardless, receiving a reward..."
"The Society Leader has one principle he upholds even when pressured by the branch leaders to execute people. Do you know what that is?"
"I don't."
"Fair work deserves fair pay. This is the just compensation for what Great Hero Jeok has done, so take it."
Earth Dragon Hall Master Pae San unrolled a map fully.
"I'd love to praise your achievements more... but inevitably, we must discuss business. It'll benefit both you and me. First, let's confirm identities. Does the roster match the headcount we received?"
"It matches. No one's missing."
"Excellent. Take a look. Our current position is here. We're handling the Evil Alliance forces around Guangdong out of their Guangdong and Guangxi territories. This is the current front line, shifting several times a month."
I gaze at the map. I recognize the words "Evil Alliance" written on it.
A behemoth so massive it couldn't even compare to the Celestial Dragon Society. The disparity in power was almost baffling.
"The Evil Alliance is this huge, yet we're not being pushed back... It's almost miraculous."
"The wealth from fertile granary regions plays a part, but the Evil Alliance's own disarray is holding them back too."
"...What's happening inside the Evil Alliance?"
"What do you mean 'what'? To be precise, it's not that 'something' is happening. For them, 'something happening' is just daily life."
Pae San stroked his beard.
"A collective of unorthodox sects-that's the Evil Alliance. Various large and small unorthodox factions intertwined. But you see, unorthodox and orthodox are fundamentally different, aren't they? For the unorthodox, personal gain and survival come first. There's no such thing as honor or righteousness there. Immediate cash matters more."
"......"
"Without their Alliance Leader, their fragile discipline would have collapsed ages ago. They constantly check each other internally. They join under Evil Alliance orders out of necessity, but to guard against backstabbing, they famously keep key personnel off the rosters. Losing them in war means their turf gets snatched by rivals."
"...They check each other that much?"
"Didn't you see it on your way here, Great Hero Jeok? Parasites like them. Uncontrollable rabble. They grovel before the strong but bite the weaker ones the moment they're in front. I, for one, personally respect their Alliance Leader despite the endless war with us. To leash that mob and make them uphold a minimum of righteousness... As an individual, the Evil Alliance Leader deserves respect."
"High praise."
"The war's raged over a decade. We've been fighting nonstop. If we didn't know each other inside out, that'd be stranger. We know them well, and they know us just as well. In a way... it's a complicated relationship."
Pae San cleared his throat awkwardly to change the mood.
"Now, Great Hero Jeok. Look at the front lines. And our current target. Did you see the soldiers' condition on your way?"
"...They all looked exhausted and starved."
"Spot on. But it's not just the war. Supplies are delayed. And the reason is that mountain fortress right here."
His finger moved. It tapped the elevated central point on the road.
"The hub of traffic to the front lines. The unorthodox snatched it from us. It's a strategic chokepoint too-high ground for easy surveillance of surroundings. And smack in the middle of the supply route. Without it, convoys must detour... but those paths are treacherous and long, twice as inefficient as the main road."
"......."
"It started exactly ten days ago when three hundred warriors assaulted the fortress. We panicked at the numbers but resisted fiercely. Yet the warrior at their vanguard slaughtered our defenders."
Pae San sighed.
"Heavenly Ghost Dongbang Hyang! He took the fortress. Heard of him?"
"No."
"An unorthodox master. Known as peak transcendent realm. Ferocious as a ghost, famed for swinging a greatsword as big as himself. Peak transcendents are rare even among the unorthodox... but he's one."
"No countermeasures?"
"...Frankly, manpower shortage. The front is vast, and our peak transcendents are few too. They're stationed at far more critical spots. Can't pull them lightly- the Evil Alliance would pounce on any gap like wolves. That's why I can't move either. My presence keeps the enemy in check too. We all have counters, and they know it."
"...Hmm."
"Here's my request to you, Great Hero Jeok. Muksung! That name's famous across the Celestial Dragon Society now! The one who crushed hundreds of vermin unorthodox with supreme martial arts, right? Here-I'll assign soldiers. Retake the fortress and reopen the supply route."
I stared at the map. Three hundred. I reaffirmed the number before asking.
"What's the enemy's exact count?"
"...Well, probably Heavenly Ghost Dongbang Hyang and his close aides. Safe to assume about ten peak experts. His faction's notorious... the rest won't be pushovers either. First-rate to second-rate level."
"Chance of reinforcements?"
"None! That's certain. Since losing the fortress, we've strained to monitor Evil Alliance movements-over thirty scouts. No word from them, so Heavenly Ghost's move was likely solo, unknown even to the Alliance. Any belated reinforcements would trail our action."
Earth Dragon Hall Master slammed the map.
"We plan to execute in two days. I'll provide ample soldiers, so retake the fortress. With over four hundred Celestial Dragon Society warriors and you, Great Hero Jeok, it should be-"
"No need for soldiers."
"Pardon?"
Three hundred at first- to second-rate.
Ten peak experts...
One transcendent.
Not much of a threat.
"We'll move tonight."
"What...?"
"Retaking the fortress..."
I told the stunned man calmly,
"...we can handle it alone."
...
The original plan.
Rack up merits noticeable even to the Evil Alliance Leader.
That opportunity had fallen right into my lap. To spread my name far, better without escorting soldiers.
The less support, the more it'd stand out and gain fame.
I briefed the group on the plan. They took it in stride.
"Three hundred? Looks like a lot, but..."
"Honestly, with this crew, we'll steamroll them?"
"Lingling, Su-a's listening."
"Oopsie!"
Six transcendent masters.
Ten hidden Killer Gate transcendents... plus Su-a...
Three peak experts already.
Victory was firmly ours. A force that could crush beyond mere recapture.
I looked down at Su-a. Our eyes met, and she shook her head before I could speak.
"Daddy. Nope. No way."
"...Can't I?"
"No way. I'm coming. I've fought real battles with those no-good uncles already! Blood doesn't faze me. I know what I can do. So... if you leave me behind, I'll get mad."
"......."
Was a daughter too clever also a problem?
Her logical rebellion drew a sigh from me. After approving her participation, I split into teams.
For mutual backup in emergencies.
"Seol-ran senior and Baek Mae, team up."
"Baek Mae? Sure, fine."
"Me too. With Seol-ran unnie, it's solid. Even as an enemy."
"Oh ho."
"Dan-hwa and Lingling, stick together as usual-much appreciated."
"Leave it to us."
"I'll do my best!"
I paired the rest.
"Hwa-rin and Baek-hyeon one team, Na-rin and Gwang-yang another. Su-a and I together."
"Got it."
"Count on me, junior sister."
"What a jingling bond..."
"Don't pretend you hate it, sis. You love it."
I instructed the unnamed Killer Gate members separately.
"I want to give them proper combat experience. But I don't want casualties, so Killer Gate, please watch our backs against any mishaps."
"Killer Gate commission, eh? Pay?"
"What do you want?"
"A hug."
"Eek?!"
Su-a's eyes blazed. Amused yet exasperated by Suryeon's charm, I gave her a light hug.
Suryeon placed a hand on her waist, satisfied.
"Nothing for you to worry about. This girl will keep watch over everything."
"Thanks, Suryeon."
"No biggie. I got something priceless."
"Eek!! Eeeeek!!!"
"Little sis. Too close."
I didn't forget to explain the operation. Honestly, it wasn't much of one.
Two teams block the fortress's two gates while we sweep and exterminate inside.
I assigned the gates to the cult members. For good reason.
Fighting unorthodox rabble counted as combat. But not full real battle.
This was a battlefield.
Kill or be killed.
"We'll subdue whom we can, but only if they don't resist."
Those armed were prepared to kill each other.
Naturally, I wouldn't...
Handle it half-heartedly.
"Anyone who charges..."
It'd be proper combat. Blood spraying, flesh bursting...
A brutal stage unfamiliar to the inexperienced.
Yet I had to show them.
To the unbloodied.
If living by the sword, they'd face it eventually. Better acclimate sooner.
Meeting it unprepared later could cost their lives.
"Kill them all."
Only blood-hardened can protect their own lives.
Isn't that the way of the martial world?