Chapter 264
Chapter 264
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 264
Chapter Title: Journey Toward the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains (2)
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Namgung Jang-cheon thought to himself.
‘Could I really do something like that?’
The uprising of the Dark Heaven Cult in Yeon Kingdom. Yi Hwan’s brutal suppression of it had set even the Qin Kingdom’s court ablaze.
Most held negative views, but a few hardliners acknowledged it as the most reliable method—the best way to swiftly crush the rebellion.
Yet Namgung Jang-cheon found himself unable to easily determine what the best course truly was.
If pressed, he leaned toward the latter. But the Emperor’s disposition made it impossible, leaving him all the more troubled.
‘If those bastards rose up in our Qin’s imperial capital like they did in Yeon…’
The mere thought made his chest tighten.
Even with tens of thousands of security forces, including martial experts, staunchly guarding the capital, Namgung Jang-cheon believed the damage would far exceed that in Yeon.
Whoooosh!
The wind gently brushed over Namgung Jang-cheon’s entire body. Snapping out of his reverie, he stared ahead and let out a long breath.
“Hoo…”
“What’s got you thinking so deeply?”
His uncle, Namgung Gi, asked.
Namgung Jang-cheon countered.
“If the Dark Heaven Cult rose up in our Qin’s imperial capital, could we suppress it as quickly as in Yeon?”
“Who knows. If His Majesty took as hard a line as the Great Army did in Yeon, maybe. Otherwise, it’d be a dire situation. But as you said before, His Majesty wouldn’t tolerate a bloodbath in the capital.”
Namgung Gi continued with a bitter expression.
“If the capital’s security were entrusted to you, could you handle it like the Great Army in Yeon?”
“…”
Namgung Jang-cheon couldn’t answer immediately. He too lacked certainty about what the optimal path was.
“Let’s hope it never comes to that. And even if it does, trust the court to prepare well.”
“…Yes.”
The entrance to the southern mountainous region soon came into view. Unlike the north, where even the autumn leaves had fallen, this area still brimmed with dense greenery.
Namgung Jang-cheon and Namgung Gi rode side by side at the lead toward the entrance. The warriors following behind spaced themselves out, preparing for any contingencies.
The mountains ahead had been, until quite recently, a hotbed of banditry—of Dark Heaven Cultists—rampaging freely.
Click.
In preparation for any surprises, Namgung Jang-cheon and Namgung Gi unfastened their sword sheaths ahead of time.
* * *
Yi Hwan’s group, having taken a different path from the Namgung Family, moved far faster than expected thanks to the unexpectedly wide road.
After traveling some distance, they entered the mountainous region’s entrance—well separated from where the Namgung Family was.
Go Mi pulled a map from her bosom and examined it.
“That mountain range ahead was a hotspot of Dark Heaven Cult activity until very recently. The terrain is deep and treacherous, and it’s said even Qin Kingdom failed to suppress it.”
“Even though it’s quite a ways from the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains?”
“Yes. You could consider all the southern mountain ranges as the Dark Heaven Cult’s sphere of activity.”
Yi Hwan couldn’t fathom it. Why hadn’t Qin launched a full-scale campaign even in this state?
Go Mi continued.
“We could detour around. But that would add about five days.”
“We go straight through.”
They resumed moving.
Everyone spaced themselves appropriately, ready for trouble.
Yet no one showed any tension. Every person here was an elite expert. Even Kim Suk.
Tae-seon asked.
“Can we ride through on horseback?”
Go Mi answered instead.
“There’s a military route, so it should be fine.”
“Strange. They built a military route and still left the bandits alone?”
It was a question on everyone’s mind.
Ssshhh…
As they passed the entrance and delved into the mountains, even the wind fell silent. The forest was that dense.
How far had they gone like that?
Yi Hwan subtly furrowed his brow.
‘Sounds of fighting?’
A faint noise reached him. But it was still too vague to confirm. The direction, though, was toward the Namgung Family.
“Everyone, hold.”
Yi Hwan immediately scaled a towering tree. The noise sharpened into clarity.
Clang!
Definitely sounds of combat.
‘Should I go check?’
Yi Hwan hesitated briefly. But he soon descended the tree, decision made.
“What is it?”
“Nothing.”
They resumed moving.
As they went, Yi Hwan thought of Namgung Jang-cheon.
‘If you die here, that’s your fate. Survive, and I’ll see you at the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.’
* * *
It was an ambush. A thoroughly lethal one.
But the Namgung Family warriors responded with cool precision.
Clang!
“Argh!”
“Ugh!”
Two green-robed men sprayed blood as they collapsed.
One Namgung warrior clutched his shoulder, staggering. The green-robe lunging at him had his head neatly severed by Namgung Gi’s sword, flying off with a thud.
Thud!
“Argh!”
Namgung Jang-cheon’s sword pierced his foe’s chest. Yet the man, even in death throes, gripped the blade with both hands.
At the same instant, another green-robe charged at Namgung Jang-cheon.
Unable to yank his sword free quickly, Namgung Jang-cheon spun, thrusting out his left hand.
Thud!
“Gah!”
His left hand punched straight through the green-robe’s heart. Namgung Jang-cheon shook off the grip on his sword and shifted left.
Namgung Gi shouted.
“Don’t move alone!”
Namgung Jang-cheon paused for a split second.
Namgung Gi and the warriors swiftly closed in around him. Everyone’s uniforms were already soaked in blood.
“They’re targeting you—stick with us!”
That was when it happened.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Figures surged from beyond the forest. Twice as many as before.
Leading them was a blood-robed man. Distinctively six-fingered—the Six-Fingered Sword Demon.
He locked eyes on Namgung Jang-cheon immediately.
“You Namgung Jang-cheon?”
Namgung Jang-cheon didn’t reply, just regulated his breathing low and deep. Then he gripped his sword with both hands, angling it downward diagonally.
A stance acknowledging the foe as a true master.
The Six-Fingered Sword Demon’s lips twitched.
Twitch.
“Nice form.”
Then Namgung Gi stepped forward.
“Who’d have thought the world-renowned Six-Fingered Sword Demon had become a fanatic.”
The Six-Fingered Sword Demon’s eyes slowly turned to Namgung Gi.
“And who are you?”
“Is that important right now?”
“No. It isn’t.”
His eyes swung back to Namgung Jang-cheon.
“I mulled it over carefully. Why the Strategist would use me to catch a punk like you. At first, I couldn’t understand it. But just now, I figured it out.”
Twitch.
“Seems you killed the Strategist’s nephew.”
“Not the first fanatic to die by my hand.”
“Back at the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, when you fled like a dog, there was a pursuer. That was the Strategist’s cherished nephew. Found his corpse in the mountains—right along your escape route.”
Namgung Jang-cheon recalled meeting Park Seon-ha at the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. The masked pursuer who’d chased him then.
‘So that’s how it was.’
Screeech.
The Six-Fingered Sword Demon’s sword brimmed with qi. Soon, his eyes too glowed with a faint bloodlight.
“No personal grudge against you. You just die for belittling me, kid.”
* * *
The Qin army’s route was exceedingly narrow and steep, reminiscent of ancient Shu’s plank roads. Slow progress was inevitable.
At this rate, walking might’ve been faster. But Yi Hwan wasn’t rushing.
After half a day at that sluggish pace, they finally reached a downhill. The horses were exhausted, so everyone rested at the peak.
“That’s where the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains begin.”
Park Seon-ha pointed at the hazy, colossal range ahead.
“How much farther from there?”
“Horses can’t go beyond, so figure at least a day or two on foot.”
“We can use the river for speed.”
At Kim Suk’s words, Park Seon-ha clapped.
“Right! That’ll work. There’s a river winding through the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains—pretty fast current, so half a day tops.”
“Boats?”
“We’ll procure some.”
“…”
Yi Hwan gazed at the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
Fittingly once called the heart of the demonic path, its mere sight conveyed a heavy, majestic oppressiveness—vast and awe-inspiring.
‘If they dig in determinedly, even Qin couldn’t dislodge them.’
Somewhere in those depths lay the Dark Heaven Cult’s headquarters, heirs to the Mad Demon. Yi Hwan intended to dismantle it, come what may.
Rumble!
Thunder crashed.
Looking up, the clear sky had darkened before he knew it.
“We’re descending.”
“Yes!”
* * *
Reaching what seemed a short distance to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains’ entrance took a full half-day.
Yi Hwan and his group had sold their horses in the previous city and rested adequately.
Upon arrival at the entrance, the downpour finally hit. They’d heard the weather here was fickle, but he hadn’t expected rain this fierce and heavy.
Pour!
Undeterred, everyone plunged into the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
Park Seon-ha warned.
“Fanatics could be anywhere from here on—stay sharp, everyone!”
Park Seon-ha and Kim Suk took point.
Kim Mu-gwan walked beside, asking.
“How’d you end up here?”
“It’s deep and quiet. Perfect for shaking off pursuit.”
“…”
“Stings, huh?”
Kim Mu-gwan scratched his head sheepishly.
“So don’t ever vanish from my sight again. Got it?”
“Got it.”
They delved ever deeper. Meanwhile, the rain came and went in fits.
After about an hour?
A river appeared ahead. Barely a sprinkle, yet it raged fiercely.
Park Seon-ha wetted her finger with saliva and murmured low.
“This is their turf—focus up, everyone.”
Yi Hwan glanced at Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok.
“Scout the riverbanks.”
“Understood.”
The two leaped ahead first.
Everyone halted. Soon, Cheol Mu-ok returned.
“Dozens of what look like Dark Heaven Cultists clustered along the river.”
“How many exactly?”
“Fifty visible. Ju Tae’s checking the rear—wait a bit more.”
Yi Hwan strode forward.
“We eliminate them as we pass.”
“Yes.”
A few steps in, the rain stopped as if by magic, the sun emerging.
Everyone silently drew weapons.
Park Ji-mun turned to Kim Mu-gwan with a faint smile.
[The Dark Heaven Cult made a hell of an enemy. They’re out to smash every one in sight.]
[Forgot the capital incident? Even the kingdom’s going full Great Army mode.]
[True enough.]
Kim Mu-gwan looked at Park Seon-ha.
She showed no tension whatsoever. That worried him.
[Be careful.]
[Don’t worry about me. I’m stronger than before.]