Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 262
Chapter Title: Suppressing the Rebellion
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“Yi Hwan……!”
Boom!
Hwang Po-in, who had blocked Yi Hwan’s attack.
But he couldn’t withstand the impact and flew backward like a falling leaf.
Yi Hwan paused for a moment as well. He hadn’t expected his opponent to block the strike.
However, the pause was brief. Soon, Yi Hwan charged at Hwang Po-in again.
But it was then. Hwang Po-in, staggering as if he would collapse, leaped into the crowd of onlookers. Following that, Dark Heaven Cultists spread out a curtain of benevolence, blocking Yi Hwan’s path.
“Protect the Apostle of the Divine!”
“Block that evil spirit!”
Shouts erupted from all directions.
Uwaaaah!
The Dark Heaven Cultists began charging toward Yi Hwan.
At the same time, Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and the others landed to his left and right. Their entire bodies were already soaked in blood.
“Just kill them all?”
“Whatever it takes.”
“Yes, sir!”
* * *
Hwang Po-in, who had exchanged a single clash with Yi Hwan.
Blood poured from his right wrist. In that one strike, the bone had pierced through his flesh.
‘I can’t believe it. What in the world is this…….’
His eyes shook violently with shock, laced with a faint fear.
There was no bewilderment at falling into Yi Hwan’s trap. It was purely astonishment and fear at Yi Hwan’s martial prowess.
But Hwang Po-in was no pushover either. He infused his voice with inner energy and shouted to the cultists.
“Scatter and destroy everything in sight, then set it ablaze! Hurry!”
“Scatter!”
Waaaaah!
Only after retreating far back did Hwang Po-in look toward where Yi Hwan was. But with allies and enemies so thoroughly mixed in the chaotic melee, Yi Hwan was nowhere to be seen.
However, brutal slaughter continued from where he had been.
Crunch!
Grind!
“I’ll make you regret this.”
Whoosh!
Boom!
Flames and blasts of fire shot up everywhere. The Dark Heaven Cultists began rushing into houses, setting fires, and committing massacres.
Smirk.
“Try handling this if you can. Yi Hwan, this brutal stage is one you brought upon yourself, so the dead and the dying will curse you, not us. Heh heh heh.”
“Who will you curse, then?”
“……!”
At the sudden voice, Hwang Po-in whipped around like lightning. A streak of light flew toward him.
Flash!
“……!”
Hwang Po-in twisted his waist in a flash. But the incoming light was already slicing through his neck.
Slash!
The severed head soared high into the air before plummeting to the ground. The headless body remained rigidly upright like a log.
Thud!
Pushing aside Hwang Po-in’s body and revealing himself was Gwan Ji-baek. Behind him, warriors under Yi So leaped down.
Whirl!
Gwan Ji-baek burned with rage at the carnage unfolding before his eyes. This was no war—it was a site of madness and frenzy, an abnormal slaughterhouse.
Whoosh!
“Slaughter them all!”
Whoosh whoosh!
Warriors under Yi So flew out in all directions. Murderous intent gleamed in Gwan Ji-baek’s eyes.
“I’ll wipe out every last seed of you.”
* * *
Flames surged, pushing back the darkness.
Emperor Yi So clenched his fists tightly as he gazed down at the burning imperial capital.
Tremble……
The impulse to charge out immediately made his entire body shudder.
There had never been such a thing in history.
Though he had fought countless wars, he had never allowed enemies to breach the imperial capital. The shock and fury soon turned to sighs.
“Haa…….”
The ministers of the six ministries, who had delayed withdrawing to the palace alongside Yi So, trembled with shock and anger.
Someone cried out as if in lament.
“It was an overzealous strategy from the start! If we had considered the harm to innocent civilians, we should have responded differently!”
“Shut your mouth! If we had let those ferocious bastards run rampant longer, not even the Golden Army—all the forces of this land—could have stopped them!”
“Exactly! Now’s not the time to argue right and wrong; we must unite in support of the Great Army and Golden Army!”
Shouts flew between the ministers.
Fury gathered in Yi So’s eyes.
“If you want to blame your brother, charge out there first and fight alongside him before speaking! If you can’t, then hold your tongue!”
At the roar filled with anger, the ministers bowed their heads. Yi So’s warning continued.
“Anyone who speaks recklessly will not be forgiven—mark my words!”
Whoooosh!
Even the blowing wind seemed to veer away from Yi So’s sternness.
He gazed once more at the burning imperial capital. The pitch-black darkness was being pushed back by the flames, dyeing the sky red.
‘I’ll ensure no one can blame you, so please eliminate those ruthless fanatic bastards.’
* * *
The entire imperial capital had become a battlefield. Having judged that a frontal confrontation offered no chance of victory, the Dark Heaven Cultists had scattered throughout the city.
Time passed like that, and as dawn slowly broke, the hellish slaughter site began to reveal its true form.
Blood overflowed the streets, and the horrific sight of mangled limbs and corpses tangled together was now incomparable to any battlefield.
The citizens, spared by heaven’s fortune, fled en masse to the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Yi So personally stepped forward to reassure them, and the high and low officials, palace maids, and palace warriors all joined in aiding him.
Snow began to fall.
Snowflakes drifted down like flower petals, melting into the blood-soaked streets that stained them red.
White vapor escaped through Yi Hwan’s lips. Except for his eyes and slightly bared teeth, he was no different from a blood-soaked demon, his black figure never resting for a moment.
Thud!
A severed head hit the ground.
Immediately after, his sword flew after the fleeing ones.
Swoosh!
Pitter-patter thud!
“Kraaak!”
“Kuaak!”
The swords of the dead—dozens of them—shot up into the air. They soon gathered and flew toward the fiercely resisting Dark Heaven Cultists.
Pitter-patter thud!
“Die!”
Someone charged at Yi Hwan.
But Cheol Mu-ok’s great blade sliced their waist, sending them flying.
At his side, Tae Seon heaved ragged breaths, while the others struck down resisting Dark Heaven Cultists nearby.
“You devilish bastards…… haak haak haak!”
Reaching her limit, Tae Seon bent at the waist, propping herself on the ground with one hand.
Splat!
Blood mixed with snow had turned into a muddy slush, rising up to her wrist.
“Fall back.”
“What nonsense! Haak haak haak!”
Tae Seon straightened her waist again and stood.
Smirk.
She smiled.
“After fighting like madmen, how can I retreat first? It’d be too unfair. I’m fine, so don’t worry.”
Tae Seon immediately approached Yi Hwan.
The Dark Heaven Cultists’ resistance was rushing toward its end. Cultists dropping their weapons and surrendering appeared everywhere.
“You’re really okay?”
Hoo.
Hot breath escaped through Yi Hwan’s lips. Fallen snowflakes mixed with blood and trickled down his face.
“It seems almost over.”
Yi Hwan silently nodded, scanning the surroundings. This must be what they meant by a mountain of corpses and sea of blood.
The blood, unable to withstand the heat, bubbled and boiled, and those not yet dead were engulfed by flames leaping over walls, burning alive.
The Golden Army left the dying Dark Heaven Cultists in their agony.
Whirl!
Kim Mu-gwan, Ju Tae, Park Ji-mun, and the warriors of Haedong returned one by one. Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk were also drenched in blood like demons.
Finally, Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong approached.
Yi Hwan slowly closed his eyes.
His close aides were all safe. He had suppressed the Dark Heaven Cultists’ rampage.
But his heart still boiled with rage.
Though he had anticipated some casualties, the damage was greater than expected because more Dark Heaven Cultists than anticipated had infiltrated the imperial capital.
“Spare us!”
“Euuuhuuung!”
Surrendered Dark Heaven Cultists wailed from one side. Even a rough count showed over a thousand.
A Golden Army general approached.
“What shall we do with the surrendered ones?”
Yi Hwan opened his closed eyes and stared toward the mountainous region north of the imperial capital.
“Take them to the mountains.”
“Understood!”
* * *
Imperial Palace.
Emperor Yi So stared at Yi Hwan approaching from afar.
The stench of blood rode the headwind toward him.
Yi So felt relief at Yi Hwan’s safety. The ministers watched him with mixed expressions.
But no one dared speak to him. An extreme tension hung in the air, as if a single word would cost them their heads.
Yi Hwan stopped before Yi So.
“The suppression is complete.”
“You’ve done well.”
Yi So embraced the blood-soaked Yi Hwan. He didn’t care that his dragon robe was getting stained.
Yi So also praised Cheol Mu-ok and the others standing behind Yi Hwan.
Thus, the Dark Heaven Cult rebellion—what would later be recorded in Yeon Kingdom history as the most brutal battle—came to an end.
But no one knew.
That even more ruthless executions would follow.
* * *
Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
Cult Leader Jang Cheon-hwa’s face flushed red. Military Strategist Ma Jung-hyo couldn’t lift his bowed head before him.
He had just delivered the worst news to Jang Cheon-hwa.
The grand hall was filled with suffocating silence. All those present held their breath, watching Jang Cheon-hwa.
Gulp.
Someone’s swallow echoed like thunder.
“You say they’ve beheaded all the surrendered cultists and hung them in the forest?”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
“Those fools will see it and scramble to flee Yeon Kingdom.”
“That must be their aim. Cultists operating at the border with Qin Kingdom are already crossing over.”
Twitch.
Jang Cheon-hwa’s eyebrow curved like a blade.
“We revealed ourselves to the world and even sacrificed greatly…….”
They had succeeded in causing considerable chaos in Yeon Kingdom, but they had inflicted no significant damage on its military strength.
Considering that they had exposed the cult, which had hidden for ages under the name of bandits, and sacrificed countless cultists, it was a complete failure.
Ma Jung-hyo bowed his head. The others bowed in unison.
Jang Cheon-hwa closed his eyes again. But not for long.
“Qin’s emperor, emboldened by Yeon’s outcome, is likely to send more troops. Thus, we must quickly assemble the cultists who escaped from Yeon and strengthen our defensive lines.”
“Understood.”
“Make haste.”
“Your command!”
Ma Jung-hyo and all in the grand hall hurried out. But Jang Cheon-hwa’s disciple, Gu Ja-cheon, remained at his side.
“If you permit, I will send an assassination squad to Yeon Kingdom.”
“No. They will be on highest alert now more than ever; it won’t work. Our priority is reassuring the cultists and preparing for a potential Qin attack.”
“……Yes.”
“Cheon-ah.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Yi Hwan is around your age. After this master ascends to heaven, you will have to face him. From today, intensify your training and commit to it with resolve to die.”
“Understood.”
For the first time, bewilderment flickered in Jang Cheon-hwa’s eyes. An emotion he had never shown before his cultists.
“Yi Hwan……”