Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Seven Hundred Against One! (1)
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Jang Ung added.
“You should know that the Northern Underworld Bureau is coming with their assassins as well.”
“Is the Northern Underworld Bureau's target me?”
“Yes. The Northern Underworld Bureau previously accepted a contract from the Sword Demon Union to kill you, my lord, but they failed.”
“How many are there?”
“The Northern Underworld Bureau has a hundred mercenaries, but the number of assassins is unknown. We estimate around thirty.”
“Are the assassins from the Northern Underworld Bureau more skilled?”
“Yes, they are.”
Sang Gang-jo, Jang Ung, and the three subordinates looked extremely tense, but I remained composed.
No, inwardly, I was anything but composed. The fact that a large number of enemies was flocking here made my heart pound with excitement.
It seems I'm truly becoming a fighter. Over a thousand enemies are on their way, yet I feel no fear—only a burning fighting spirit.
Jang Ung reported.
“This is a summary of the carrier pigeon messages we've received so far.”
Even as he spoke, a subordinate brought another message from a carrier pigeon.
“Two hundred Demon Slaying Masters from the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union are currently searching Bunsu County.”
“Are they looking for Uncle Jo?”
“Yes. The Demonic Emperor's Grand Union's target is Uncle Jo.”
Since I usually called Sang Gang-jo ‘Uncle Jo’, Jang Ung had also started calling him that at some point.
“Where is Bunsu County?”
“It is twenty-five li north of Dong-ro County.”
Jang Ung added.
“About three hundred Sword Demon Masters from the Sword Demon Union of Zhejiang are currently searching another area.”
Since Sang Gang-jo's location hadn't been revealed, the search was still ongoing.
Jang Ung read the letter he had just received from his subordinate and then spoke.
“The two hundred Demon Slaying Masters left Bunsu County a short while ago and are heading for Dong-ro County.”
I reflexively looked at Sang Gang-jo.
“What are you going to do?”
“Continue to receive reports.”
“The Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang and the Northern Underworld Bureau are targeting you, my lord.”
Jang Ung glanced back and forth between me and Sang Gang-jo.
“Do you two have a plan?”
Sang Gang-jo said gravely.
“I will remain secluded in the Dong-ro Branch.”
“Is that what you'll do?”
Sang Gang-jo and Jang Ung looked at me.
“My lord, it would be best for you to lie low for a while.”
“You should avoid the downpour.”
I let their words go in one ear and out the other.
“How far has the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang come?”
“They have passed Sindeung County, so they will likely reach Dong-ro County within four hours at the latest.”
“Describe the terrain from Sindeung County to Dong-ro County.”
“South of Dong-ro County is the Jeondang River, and to the east flows the Cheonmok Stream. Across the Cheonmok Stream, there is a vast plain about five li wide. At the end of the plain is a wild mountain, about thirty li in circumference and fifty feet high. Sindeung County is just over that mountain.”
“Then the forces of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang must be crossing the mountain right about now.”
“That's right.”
“In that case, I shall wait for them on the plain.”
“My lord!”
“What are you saying?”
Sang Gang-jo flinched, while Jang Ung and his subordinates were greatly shocked.
I smiled faintly.
“If I, who aim to be the strongest under the heavens, were to be defeated by a mere seven hundred members of an unorthodox faction, I would rather die on the spot.”
“My lord.”
Sang Gang-jo's expression turned solemn, while Jang Ung and his subordinates wore complicated looks.
“Besides, the Northern Underworld Bureau won't attack me openly. They'll likely wait for my fight with the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang to end, looking for an opportunity.”
I walked toward the door.
“Chief Steward.”
“Your orders, my lord.”
“Lead the way.”
“Third Hall Master!”
Sang Gang-jo's deep, heavy voice stopped me.
“What is it?”
“I will accompany you.”
“I thought you were going to stay secluded in the Dong-ro Branch.”
“Even so, I feel I must attend to you, my lord.”
“I understand your sentiment, Uncle Jo. But you have your own duties.”
“Third Hall Master.”
Sang Gang-jo's face was filled with concern.
But I ignored him and walked on.
***
As I stood on the bank of the Cheonmok Stream, Jang Ung brought over a ferry boat.
*Creak! Creak!*
“My lord!”
As I boarded the boat, Jang Ung spoke.
“We have information that the Martial Alliance is also on its way.”
“Is that so?”
“A message says that about one hundred and fifty masters from the Martial Alliance are in pursuit of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang from behind, at full speed.”
“They must be the masters from the Martial Alliance's Hangzhou branch, right?”
“Yes. It's said that as soon as the Hangzhou branch of the Martial Alliance obtained information that the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang was leading a large force of masters to Dong-ro County, they set out immediately with all their experts.”
One hundred and fifty masters from the Martial Alliance's Hangzhou branch could never stand against the seven hundred from the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang. They would be annihilated, nine times out of ten.
Whoever gave this order, be it the Hangzhou Regional Master or someone else, must be either a complete fool or a person who values loyalty above all else.
A fool for rushing in knowing they'll be wiped out, yet a person of integrity for trying to aid the Martial Alliance's Dong-ro Branch.
Surely they weren't coming just to help me.
Jang Ung said as he rowed the boat toward the other side of the Cheonmok Stream.
“However, the masters from the Hangzhou branch are still passing through Fuyang County, which is over seventy li from here, so they won't be of any help to you, my lord.”
“It's fine.”
This was my fight alone anyway. No, my war.
*Fwoosh!*
A strong gust of wind blew, wildly whipping my hair and the hem of my clothes as I stood tall.
On the other side of the river was a low bank, and beyond it, a plain would likely unfold.
By now, the seven hundred masters of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang who had crossed the mountain would have entered the plain.
And yet, as always, I felt no fear. On the contrary, my mind was incredibly calm.
Back at the Peerless Sect, my fighting spirit had flared up and I'd been excited, but now, I had settled into a state of calm.
*Thump!*
The boat arrived at the gravelly shore on the other side.
As I disembarked, Jang Ung followed and tied the boat's rope to a large nearby rock.
*Crunch, crunch!*
I walked across the gravel and up the riverbank.
A moment later, we stood side by side atop the bank.
A vast plain stretched out before us, and beyond it, a low, sprawling mountain was faintly visible in the distance.
My mind was calm, but a strange feeling welled up from deep within my chest.
I could say with certainty that, right now, I was confident I could use my martial arts without needing to be driven by anguish.
Without even raising my internal energy, I activated the Skynet's Divine Eye of Skynet's Ultimate Reach.
*Swoooosh!*
In that instant, my vision suddenly cleared and expanded, and distant objects appeared closer, as if being pulled toward me.
*'Here they come!'*
There they were, coming. The distance was just over three li. They were rushing forward, a hazy mass parting the waist-high grass of the plain.
The seven hundred masters of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang.
I stared at them and said.
“Chief Steward Jang.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“You will wait here.”
“As you command.”
I began to walk slowly toward the plain.
I didn't use any movement techniques, just a slow, deliberate pace.
A gentle breeze tickled my cheek.
Strolling slowly across the plain as if on a walk, my mood lifted, and I felt like singing a tune, but damn it! I didn't know any songs.
*'To kill seven hundred men, how many times will I have to swing the Fire Dragon Sword?'*
Surely I won't have to execute a sword form seven hundred times?
Even if I kill two people with one form, that's still three hundred and fifty times. That's too many.
I couldn't think of a sword form right now that would let me fell five or six men with a single swing of the Fire Dragon Sword.
After walking for about half a quarter-hour, I finally encountered the vanguard of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang.
They had no idea I was the person they were looking for and shouted as they rushed toward me.
“Who the hell are you? Get out of the way!”
“Move or I'll kill you!”
As I continued walking as if I hadn't heard, one of the men in the lead drew his saber and slashed at me.
“I said I'd kill you!”
*Chaaang!*
I reflexively gripped the Fire Dragon Sword on my shoulder, and in that moment, the most efficient sword form for this situation came to mind.
*'That's it! The Heaven-Reliant Great Sword Style!'*
The Fire Dragon Sword was a divine object from Mount Gwalchang, struck by tens of thousands of lightning bolts, capable of snapping the world's most renowned treasured and famous swords like twigs.
There were about twenty unorthodox masters using their movement techniques to rush me at the forefront, with a swarm of others following behind them.
In this situation, if I used the Heaven-Reliant Great Sword Style, six men would fall within the Fire Dragon Sword's range.
The moment I infused my right arm with internal energy, the Fire Dragon Sword flashed.
*Spaaat!*
As if drawn horizontally or split vertically, sword energies as black as ink shot out, glinting in multiple directions.
*Chwoooosh!*
This was the Heaven-Reliant Great Sword Style, executed with fifty percent of my power.
The next moment, six streaks of gleaming black light precisely pierced, slashed, and split the bodies of the first six men.
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*
“Heuk!”
“Kaaack!”
Who would believe that sword energy could erupt from a wooden sword!
I pushed through the staggering men, delving deeper and executing the Heaven-Reliant Great Sword Style again.
*Spa-cha-cha-chat!*
Even though I used the same fifty percent of my power as the first time, the second execution was faster. It was the so-called learning effect, improving with each use.
“Kuaargh!”
“Waaagh!”
Of the seven hundred members of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang, only the twenty or so men in the lead had seen me, and they died without even getting a chance to attack.
With the second and third uses of the Heaven-Reliant Great Sword Style, another fourteen men died without knowing what hit them.
The enemies running across the plain were startled by the sudden screams, and chaos erupted.
“What's happening at the front?”
“Aargh! It's an enemy!”
“Who's the enemy? Where are they?”
As I pierced through the heart of the enemy formation in a straight line and executed the Heaven-Reliant Great Sword Style for the fourth time, a chaotic clamor broke out from behind me.
*Schpaaat!*
While executing the fifth Heaven-Reliant Great Sword Style, I realized something.
*'It's more effective to move around and kill them here and there than to stay in one place!'*
This was my first time fighting so many enemies alone, so I was learning and discovering better methods as I fought.
The unorthodox masters I was killing now were third-rate at a glance. They weren't the elites of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang, but rather from the factions under its command.
However, the true masters of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang would be first-rate.
I hadn't faced them yet, but I would be in trouble if I were to be hit by a concentrated attack from first-rate masters.
Therefore, breaking through them individually was the answer.
***
I seemed to have killed about fifty men by executing the Heaven-Reliant Great Sword Style ten times.
I wasn't tired yet. No, far from tired, I was brimming with energy.
The initial attack, which took advantage of the enemy's carelessness, was effective. From the sixth execution onward, the startled enemies scattered in all directions, so I could only kill six at most with a single use, and only three with the tenth and final one.
*'Look at this?'*
The unorthodox masters were scattering and retreating quickly. This changed things a bit.
I started to shoot toward a side where there were many enemies, then stopped.
*'No! I shouldn't bother chasing them. I'll wait.'*
If I waited, the enemies would launch a concentrated attack. Being attacked was unpleasant, but it saved me the trouble of chasing them down one by one. Besides, I would be able to kill many of them at once.
It would be a little difficult if the elite masters of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang—the first-rate masters—attacked me in concert first, but I would give it a try.
Just then, someone's thunderous shout erupted.
“First! Second! Third line! Surround the enemy!”
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
The enemies moved and shifted their positions quickly.
The sight of them bustling about, from back to front and front to back, was not exactly orderly.
This meant that the elite masters of the Unorthodox Alliance of Zhejiang and the masters from the unorthodox factions had never trained together.