Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: Crisis (4)
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Yi Hwan slowly raised his hand as he looked down at the advancing enemy.
At his signal, three thousand archers nocked their arrows in unison. These arrows were specially crafted, possessing enough power to kill even low-level martial artists.
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on the enemy general, Han Seom.
A man who led the vanguard must be exceptionally skilled and deeply trusted by the Southwest King.
'You will be the first sacrifice of this war.'
Boom boom boom!
The Zhao Kingdom army advanced to the beat of drums. They moved at a steady pace, neither too fast nor too slow, trying to get as close as possible.
Yi Hwan waited until they entered the range of his bows.
But then—
Whoosh!
The Zhao Kingdom soldiers suddenly pulled out shields from their backs. These shields, made by twisting layers of bamboo bark, were highly elastic and could withstand most arrows. Moreover, their light weight made them easy to handle even when large.
But that didn't mean he could hold back his attack.
"First volley direct fire, then switch to arcing shots."
"First volley direct fire, then switch to arcing shots!"
Creak creak creak...
The archers drew their bowstrings in unison.
As Yi Hwan lowered his hand, three thousand arrows darkened the sky as they flew forth.
Screeeeech!
The Zhao Kingdom army raised their shields in unison.
Thud thud thud thud!
"Argh!"
"Ugh!"
The bamboo shields proved remarkably durable. Still, enemies fell pierced by arrows amid the barrage. A second volley followed.
This one inflicted even greater casualties.
The ferocity of the first volley had caught them off guard, unable to predict the steeper angle.
Thud thud thud!
"Argh!"
"Kraaagh!"
Screeeeech!
The Zhao Kingdom army loosed their arrows in return.
The Yeon Kingdom forces quickly ducked behind the wooden barricades.
Thud thud thud thud!
Thousands of arrows embedded themselves, shaking the barricades. Archers rising to fire again were struck by the delayed second volley from the Zhao Kingdom, collapsing in sprays of blood.
Thud thud!
"Ugh!"
"Urk!"
Clang clang clang!
Arrows failing to pierce Yi Hwan's protective aura bounced away in all directions.
The exchange of arrow fire continued between both sides. But the barricades and shields prevented any devastating blows.
Bwoooo!
A horn suddenly blared.
The Zhao Kingdom army charged.
"Waaaaah!"
The generals shouted.
"Roll rocks and logs when they start climbing the hill!"
"Hold until they reach the hill!"
Yi Hwan slowly drew his sword.
Shing.
Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and the others drew their weapons and flanked him to left and right.
"If it turns into close-quarters melee, target the enemy generals. But don't push too deep."
"Understood."
"Yes."
Waaaaah!
The hillside leading to the defensive line turned black with the surging Zhao Kingdom army.
"Attack!"
"Roll the rocks!"
Rumble!
Boom boom boom!
Rocks and logs tumbled down with thunderous roars.
Crunch!
"Arrrgh!"
"Uwaaagh!"
It was the most classical and primitive method, yet devastatingly effective. Hundreds who had first crested the hill failed to evade and were crushed beneath.
"Don't fall back! Advance!"
"Advance!"
Zhao Kingdom generals urged their soldiers on.
Dozens of warriors in different attire surrounded each general—martial artists tasked with their protection.
Ju Tae said with a troubled expression.
"There are too many around the generals. It'll be tough."
"Wait until it devolves into melee."
Yi Hwan kept his eyes on Han Seom.
A brutal melee of blood and death would soon begin, so Go Mi gripped her sword with both hands and drew a deep breath.
"Huuu."
Hwa Ryeong offered a word.
"Be careful."
Go Mi replied with a nod and steadied her breathing once more. This was her first large-scale battle, and she was more tense than ever in her life.
In contrast, Hwa Ryeong watched the ant-like horde ascending with her signature thin smile.
"We've come all this way to get married—might as well see it through to death, right?"
Go Mi didn't respond.
Sizzle.
Hwa Ryeong's sword gleamed with energy.
The first to reach the top sprayed blood and fell to Yi Hwan's sword.
"Ugh!"
"Grk!"
It was the death that heralded the prelude to a battle for the ages.
* * *
Southwest King Jo Yun leisurely sipped his cup.
But his eyes never left the battlefield.
"Impressive resolve."
"The Northern Legion is renowned even in Yeon Kingdom as an elite force. I expect heavy losses for the vanguard."
"Isn't it the vanguard's fate to open the gate with their deaths? But Han Seom is a man who can overcome even that—let's trust him."
Meanwhile, a figure stood ghost-like behind Jo Yun. Cloaked head to toe in deep green robes, he exuded an aura strikingly similar to the one who guarded Jo Yun's son, Jo Jeong-mu.
The eerie green-robed man's eyes, like those of the dead, flickered with sharp glints now and then, tracking Yi Hwan's movements with restless shakes.
How much time passed?
When seven lights rose from Yi Hwan's body, the green-robed man's eyes shook violently.
As if he knew exactly what they were.
At that moment—
A low exclamation escaped the Southwest King's lips.
"Daye Fortress martial arts!"
The green-robed man looked down at the Southwest King's crown and spoke.
"Indeed. Undoubtedly Daye Fortress martial arts."
The Southwest King shot to his feet.
"The Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince is a descendant of Daye Fortress?"
"Judging by the level, not the Lord's direct heir, but definitely a descendant of Daye Fortress."
How could they know?
That Yi Hwan was not merely a descendant of the Lord of Daye Fortress, but the Lord himself.
Their assessment of the level stemmed partly from Yi Hwan not yet regaining his full power, but also because he hadn't unleashed his full strength.
Stunned into silence for a time, Jo Yun issued a heavy command in a sunken voice.
"Check if any of the Three Kings' descendants are nearby."
"We've already found the Sword King and Blade King descendants. They're fighting at the Yeon Kingdom Great Prince's flanks."
Twitch.
A thin spasm crossed Jo Yun's eye.
"Sound the retreat horn immediately! Hurry!"
"Pardon?"
The generals' faces filled with confusion.
The Southwest King bellowed.
"What are you dawdling for? Sound the retreat horn now!"
"Sound the retreat horn!"
Bwoooong! Bwoooong!
The retreat horn echoed long across the battlefield.
One general asked.
"Why order a sudden retreat?"
"You don't need to know."
"......"
Dismissing the question, Jo Yun scanned the Yeon Kingdom defensive line with a hardened expression.
'If the Sword King and Blade King descendants are gathered, the Poison King descendant must be somewhere there too. That was close—we nearly met our end.'
Indeed.
Jo Yun had ordered the retreat because of the Poison King descendant.
Among the Three Kings, the Poison King was the most lethal. Especially in a large-scale battle like this, his poison was nothing short of a calamity.
'To encounter Daye Fortress and the Three Kings' descendants here...'
* * *
"Argh!"
"Uwaaagh!"
Yi Hwan slew foes indiscriminately while watching for Han Seom. At one point, he noticed the martial artists around Han Seom had dwindled. They had left to support the vanguard struggling in front.
'Come a little closer.'
Yi Hwan waited for Han Seom to draw near.
Oblivious that Yi Hwan was targeting him, Han Seom urged his soldiers onward toward the barricades.
"Now!"
"Yes!"
Yi Hwan pushed through the throng toward Han Seom, with Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok at his side.
But the densely packed enemies made progress difficult.
In the end, Yi Hwan leaped into the air, stepping on heads as he closed in on Han Seom.
Thud thud thud!
The heads he trod burst like watermelons.
Only then did Han Seom spot Yi Hwan, turning to aim his sword. Fewer than ten martial artists remained around him.
Han Seom's lips curled up.
"Coming right to me? This makes it all too easy to take the Yeon Kingdom prince's head. Heh heh heh."
Sizzle.
Han Seom's sword wrapped in energy.
At that moment—
Bwoooong! Bwoooong!
The sudden horn blast twisted Han Seom's face as he glanced back.
"Retreat?!"
"General! Retreat order— we must fall back now!"
"Retreat order! Fall back!"
"Retreat!"
Shouts erupted from generals everywhere.
Han Seom couldn't comprehend it. They'd taken losses in the initial clash, but nothing to sway the tide.
Yet retreat?
Then—
"General!"
"Danger!"
Martial artists on either side cried out. Han Seom finally remembered Yi Hwan approaching and twisted away in haste.
Flash!
A streak of white light descended into Han Seom's pupil. It pierced straight through his throat.
Thud!
"Guh!"
As the sword withdrew from his throat, blood fountained.
"Th-this..."
Han Seom reached toward Yi Hwan and toppled forward. Thus died Zhao Kingdom's fierce general Han Seom.
A pathetic end born of carelessness.
"General!"
Crunch!
"Argh!"
"Kraaagh!"
Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and the Yi Wang lineage warriors swept aside those charging at Yi Hwan.
These were no pushovers, so a few Yi Wang warriors bled.
But with Han Seom dead and retreat ordered, the enemy martial artists soon fled.
"Fall back!"
Yi Hwan and the others returned to the barricades.
"Why are they retreating?"
"Did someone hit their rear?"
Yi Hwan shook his head, watching the retreating foe.
'The battle was evenly matched—why order retreat?'
It made no sense.
Even if disadvantaged, standard tactic was to commit reserves.
Yi Hwan had planned for that too. Yet the enemy withdrew without a proper fight.
Waaaaah!
Yeon Kingdom warriors cheered.
Yi Hwan stared at Jo Yun.
Who was staring back.
"What happened?! Why are they retreating?!"
Jeong Cheon approached.
He had been preparing a surprise attack from hiding per Yi Hwan's plan when he saw the retreat and rushed over.
"Seems trouble in their ranks."
"Hope it's big."
"First, tend the wounded."
"Yes, Great Prince."
Yi Hwan sought Song Cheon-mu and Cha Jung-kyeong. They approached, both covered in blood and panting heavily.
"Any injuries?"
"I'm fine!"
"Me too."
Next were Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong. Blood-soaked but unharmed, fortunately.
Clack!
Yi Hwan finally sheathed his sword and turned.
"They might charge again anytime—rest as much as you can."
"Yes!"
Yi Hwan climbed to the highest point of the defensive line. A small outpost there offered shelter from rain. From before it, he gazed at Jo Yun again. But Jo Yun had vanished from his spot.
Go Mi approached.
"Here."
"Thanks."
Yi Hwan quenched his thirst with the liquor she offered.
Go Mi asked.
"Other defensive lines are still fighting. Shouldn't we help?"
"This is the Southwest King's elite core. Can't spare troops—not knowing when they'll return."
"......Yes."
Yi Hwan drained the rest in one gulp and stepped to the outpost's edge, eyeing the enemy camp. The foes blanketing the next ridge were so vast they could crush a man's spirit just to behold.
If that host surged all at once?
The mere thought sent shivers through him.
'What are you after, Jo Yun?'