Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: The Prisoner and the Four Swords
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The supreme unorthodox expert captured at the mountain fortress, Dongbang Hyang, shifted his neck inside the prison cell.
I could endure anything else. But this? This is too much.
Being in danger as a transcendent expert is one thing. But poisoning me on top of that and binding my limbs like this?
"I can't even circulate my internal energy, and you still have to go this far?!"
"Shut your mouth, prisoner."
"You bastard. Once I'm out, I'll cut your head off first."
"Shut your trap!"
A stick thrust through the bars pressed hard against his body. It didn't hurt, but it sure soured his mood.
Dongbang Hyang spat out a thick stream of curses before turning his head. His subordinate in the same cell had it slightly better, but neither could move their hands or feet.
...This is pissing me off for no reason.
"Damn it... How are you so calm?"
"I'm not as much of an expert as you, boss."
"You're still a peak expert at least!"
"I got poisoned too."
"......."
Sigh.
He, who had made quite a name for himself even in the Sa Do Legion, was being treated like this.
Dongbang Hyang flipped over and crawled toward the bars. He glanced at the commotion outside.
"Something must've happened... What do you think?"
"No idea, boss. Why would I know any more than you?"
"...Why the hell are you talking like such a smartass? You wanna die?"
"We're both birds in the same cage, aren't we?"
"Prisoner exchange, you idiot! The Sa Do Legion might come get us! When that happens, you're dead meat!"
"The Sa Do Legion going out of their way to rescue us...? Honestly, I don't buy it. We'll probably just rot here or get sent to labor camps."
"Don't talk shit! Do you know how valuable I am?!"
"Value my ass. We're screwed anyway, bro."
That tone. That cheeky fucking tone.
He wanted to rip out the guy's tongue and sew his mouth shut. But all he could do was wriggle around.
Damn it. Damn it. First, I need to figure out how to untie this knot...!
"If we hadn't run into that mad bastard...!"
"Boss."
"What, you fucker."
"But... was that guy really that strong? Honestly, I thought the only ones who could take you down easily with martial arts were Heavenly Dragon Society's commanders or the like..."
"......."
Commander level... huh.
Not wrong. No, fuck, honestly, even against a commander, I figured I could hold out for a while.
His soldiers thought the same, and so did I. With the terrain advantage, I believed we could grab anyone's ankle and drag it out.
But fuck.
Something was off about it.
"Were you all hype, boss?"
"Fuck you. You're definitely dying by my hand."
"Just lay it out for me since we're here. You're a transcendent expert, right?"
"I'LL FUCKING KIIILLL YOUUU!!! I'll smash your head with my qi!"
"Like you could."
"GUAAAARD!!! You fucking guard!!! Untie this for a sec!!! Just a second, I swear!!!"
Dongbang Hyang slumped, panting heavily.
"Fuck. Fine. I haven't fought a commander before. But I have crossed hands with a Wall-Surpassing Realm expert."
"How'd it go?"
"He held me back hard. But I learned something. If I can block the first move, I can cling on like a dog. Even Wall-Surpassing Realm folks are human. Fuck. If I go all out, I can't win, but I can endure. As long as that weird Shaped Qi or whatever doesn't come out."
"Shaped Qi... I've heard of it... But that guy's didn't seem like Shaped Qi."
Dongbang Hyang fell silent.
He muttered after a moment.
"It was just qi."
"Pardon?"
"Just qi, I said! Fuck! Not Shaped Qi bullshit! I lost to plain qi like that! And the crazy part? Know what the problem is? It's the realm difference, you say? Fine. Fuck. But it wasn't that. The sword itself was weird."
"Was he wielding some divine weapon or something?"
Dongbang Hyang recalled the past.
His limbs trembled involuntarily.
"...That bastard is a sword."
"Pardon?"
"He's a sword, fuck! Try facing him and you'll know! That guy is just... a sword! A sword!"
"...Boss, you okay in the head?"
"You little shit. One thing I can say for sure: I've seen Wall-Surpassing Realm experts. I've clashed swords with them too. The scar on my back? From that time. That damn old geezer was fucking strong. For real. But... fuck..."
Dongbang Hyang dropped his head weakly.
"Not as much as that bastard. Definitely. That was... some off-spec blade..."
.
.
.
The Sa Do Legion's gathered forces numbered over three thousand five hundred.
Far more than needed to take a single mountain fortress. Sa Do Legion's Chief Steward Song Namcheon swept his gaze over the vast plain of tents from the watchtower.
The sun was up-it was time to advance. But first, there was something to do.
Ideally, getting a surrender would be best. Avoiding bloodshed would be great, wouldn't it?
Of course, the captives would still be used as prisoners.
"Any response to the letter we sent?"
"Nothing."
"Send another person. Tell them if no reply by noon, we advance immediately."
"You know they'll refuse anyway, right? Those idiots value honor over life. If word spreads they bowed to the Sa Do Legion, they'll die by their own allies' hands before ours."
"Still, anyone with a brain would get it. Resisting here just means certain death."
"Their opponent's the Earth Dragon Commander. He knows abandoning the strategic high ground means more casualties... He won't budge."
"...He's a stubborn one."
The war had dragged on for over ten years. Endless pointless attrition, territories swapping hands repeatedly.
In that time, Chief Steward Song Namcheon had come to deeply understand his foe. Probably vice versa.
Even clashing swords creates odd bonds over time.
Wondering why they're doing this. If they'd met differently, maybe friends?
"...Tch."
Honestly, the Earth Dragon Commander was a likable guy on a personal level.
No hidden bribes. No beauty traps or backroom deals working on him.
p>He was a rare righteous man even among the orthodox. He truly cared for his men, sometimes leading from the front.
And he'd been the one exchanging blows with him each time. Swords reveal character the more they clash.
...Honestly, it's a waste.
To think such a man dies here.
Still, personal feelings must be killed. He had people following him. The Chief Steward waited. But no surrender reply came.
Instead, their defenses only grew firmer, showing their resolve.
Guess we have to fight.
This might be... our last battle. Never moved without considering the rear like this before.
With resolve hardened, Song Namcheon surveyed the enemy.
Visually, their numbers barely topped a thousand. They likely had fewer elites and siege weapons too.
The only annoyance was the terrain. Enemy on high ground, flanked by canyons. Steep slopes below offered clear visibility, no side paths.
Too sheer to climb the canyon ridges-like cliffs. Had to go through the open path...
But the narrow entrance limited entry to dozens at most.
"Great spot. No wonder it's called a natural fortress. High flanks with sheer passes blocking the sides..."
"...What'll we do?"
"What else? Same old strategy. Human wave. We have plenty of peak experts. Lead with them to break the front. Armed with sword qi, no normals can stop them. Once the gate opens, we pour in."
Trumpets blared. At the signal, Sa Do Legion soldiers moved.
Chief Steward Song Namcheon took the center. Good for commanding, and ready to jump in if needed.
Peak warriors drew swords. No strict formation, but their presence alone was a human slaughterhouse.
"Advance."
One word, and three thousand five hundred moved. Song Namcheon ordered his adjutant.
"Tell the men to raise shields higher. Peak warriors too. Warn them not to get hit by stray arrows."
But no arrow volley came as expected. Just silence.
"......?"
The fortress guards atop did nothing. Just stared.
Song Namcheon blinked. What... some ploy?
Earth Dragon Commander pulling a trick?
"...Something's off."
He felt it too. But Song Namcheon shook his head curtly.
"Whatever they're plotting, we'll crush them with force."
"Collapse the canyons...?"
"That'd sweep their own too. Earth Dragon Commander's not that stupid."
Song Namcheon stared piercingly ahead. Walls came into clearer view. Now close enough to see scratches on the gate.
...But.
Something's there.
Someone stood before the wall.
"...What the hell is that?"
The words slipped out; Sa Do Legion warriors fell silent. They couldn't believe the sight either.
One man stood before the gate. A straight line drawn precisely on the ground before him.
Song Namcheon focused his energy in his eyes for ambushes.
None. No ambushes visible-just one warrior.
A scarred man in a bamboo hat. Wind-piercing robe fluttering. Four swords sheathed at his sides visible through it.
"...Four Swords?"
"Chief Steward."
"What."
"There's... some intel I picked up separately. Wasn't confirmed, so I didn't mention it, but..."
His adjutant swallowed dryly. Voice trembling from the ominous air.
"Remember when they raided the fortress recently but lost it back? Heavenly Specter Dongbang Hyang's solo stunt."
"...And?"
"He got captured in the counterattack... Heard the enemy had fewer than ten fighting him."
The adjutant stammered on.
"And... among them... the one who subdued Dongbang Hyang in one strike... was said to have four swords at his waist..."
Subdued Dongbang Hyang in one strike?
What nonsense is that?
"You think a transcendent expert is some house pup anyone can name? Not even the Earth Dragon Commander... subdued in one strike by some unheard-of nobody?"
...Something.
Feels weird.
"...What the hell is that guy doing?"