Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: The Dark Heaven Cult's Strategist
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The peak of a mountain overlooking the entire battlefield.
Ma Junghyo, the Dark Heaven Cult's strategist, stood there with one close aide, gazing down at the battlefield where the bloody fight raged on, a triumphant smile on his lips.
"They never even considered a surprise attack. Look at them scrambling about. Heh heh heh."
"The strategist's plan worked perfectly. With their lines severed, the enemy's rear guard that hasn't caught up yet is nothing more than sitting ducks."
"Numbers are still not to be ignored. But this should be enough to throw them into disarray."
Ma Junghyo turned to look north.
From the relatively less treacherous terrain there, the Qin Kingdom army led by Won Gaese was descending rapidly.
"For a self-important fool like Won Gaese to come here is nothing but good fortune for us. Even if the force he leads numbers a hundred thousand or two hundred thousand, what is there to fear? Heh heh heh."
"Still, shouldn't we pull our forces back for now? If we delay, we risk getting caught between two fronts."
"Indeed. The war truly begins now, so there's no need to expend our strength in this first clash. Send the retreat signal."
"Yes!"
Soon, two signal flares burst into the sky.
Boom! Boom!
Right after the flares exploded, the Dark Heaven Cult followers who had been attacking the Qin Kingdom army began withdrawing in unison.
A faint crease formed between the brows of Ma Junghyo, who had been watching leisurely.
"Hmm..."
"Is something wrong?"
"The Earth Sword Demon... it seems that bastard can't bear to end it just like this."
"With the Young Cult Leader there, how could he act as he pleases? Don't worry too much."
Where Ma Junghyo's gaze fell, the Earth Sword Demon was there. While the other cultists were withdrawing swiftly, he and the unit he led continued to pour ferocious attacks on the Qin Kingdom army.
Watching this, Ma Junghyo clicked his tongue.
"Does he want to make up for his previous failure like this? Tsk tsk tsk."
It was then.
"Whoa! Look over there!"
His aide raised his voice and pointed north. Ma Junghyo turned his gaze northward. Light flashed in his eyes.
There were figures entering the battlefield ahead of Won Gaese's unit. Though few in number, their speed as they traversed the steep, rugged ridgeline astonished even Ma Junghyo.
"It seems the Qin Kingdom camp's experts have arrived."
"The Young Cult Leader hasn't withdrawn yet!"
"No need to worry. There's plenty of distance and time to spare."
Ma Junghyo scanned for where Gu Ja-cheon might be. Spotting him withdrawing from the battlefield alongside those wearing demon-faced masks, he let a faint smile play on his lips.
"Knowing when to retreat even in a favorable situation—that's a virtue like no other. If only that fellow took after the Young Cult Leader in that regard... Fire another signal flare."
"Yes!"
Pew!
Boom! Boom!
Two more signal flares lit up the sky.
Ma Junghyo's eyes, reflected red by the flares, were fixed on the Earth Sword Demon.
* * *
"Right Guardian! The strategist's order has come down! We must retreat immediately!"
"Right Guardian!"
Despite his subordinates' urgings, the Earth Sword Demon's sword showed no sign of stopping. The Qin Kingdom soldiers in his vicinity had already lost all will to fight and were fleeing desperately.
"Has the Young Cult Leader withdrawn?"
"Yes!"
Ptoo!
Spitting roughly, the Earth Sword Demon wiped the blood from his face and looked up at the mountain peak.
Ma Junghyo was looking down at him.
'Has it been a while since we met, and now you're telling me to withdraw? Damn it...'
"Right Guardian! The enemy's reinforcements are coming down! It looks like Won Gaese's vanguard!"
"Won Gaese is coming?"
"Yes!"
A fierce glint filled the Earth Sword Demon's eyes. Then the corner of his mouth twitched.
"Everyone, move to the left ridgeline!"
"Yes?"
"We should at least give a proper welcome to the enemy's leader before we go. Hurry!"
"......Yes!"
The thousand Dark Heaven Cult followers swiftly moved toward the left ridgeline. The Earth Sword Demon brought up the rear, staring at Ma Junghyo.
'Just wait. I'll give you more than you bargained for.'
* * *
Twitch.
Ma Junghyo's eyebrow curved like a blade. He had discerned the Earth Sword Demon's intent from watching his unit rapidly shift to the left ridgeline.
'Is this defiance against me?'
Anger flared for a moment, but Ma Junghyo quickly regained his characteristic cool composure. Not being easily swayed by emotions was one of his strengths.
"The Right Guardian's unit is heading the wrong way!"
"He probably wants to deliver a big gift to me. Let him be."
"But if something goes wrong, they could get isolated!"
"What can we do if he brings it on himself? You go down quickly and escort the Young Cult Leader."
"......Yes."
After watching the Earth Sword Demon's unit for a moment, Ma Junghyo's eyes flashed as he searched for those who had leaped into the battlefield earlier.
But they had already vanished somewhere.
'They didn't charge into the battlefield?'
It was strange.
If they were the Qin Kingdom army's martial artists, they should have naturally plunged into the battlefield. Yet nowhere on the field could their figures be seen.
'Did they have some other objective?'
It was then, as doubt settled in Ma Junghyo's eyes.
Crunch!
"Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
Suddenly, screams erupted just below the peak.
"Enemies!"
"Block them!"
Ma Junghyo's eyes widened fully.
'Enemies? Here?'
* * *
Yi Hwan, who had outpaced even Won Gaese's vanguard, was about to leap into the battlefield when he spotted figures on the mountain peak and changed direction.
'If they're commanding the battle...'
He was certain they were a high-ranking figure in the Dark Heaven Cult.
Yi Hwan increased his speed. As he neared the peak, sharp energies came rushing from all directions.
Whoooong!
Yi Hwan's sword generated a sword barrier.
Blocking the incoming energies with the sword barrier, Yi Hwan plunged straight into the forest.
"You all take the left side!"
"Yes!"
The others leaped to the left. Crossing the forest, a group of green-robed figures came into view.
Yi Hwan unleashed attacks without mercy.
Flash!
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
"Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
The green-robed ones tumbled, spraying blood.
Yi Hwan ignored the others and tried to head straight for the peak.
But the green-robed ones were no pushovers. They swiftly blocked his path and unleashed fierce assaults.
At the same time, Cheol Mu-ok leaped in from behind Yi Hwan. Those trying to block Yi Hwan's front were scattered like fallen leaves by Cheol Mu-ok.
Kwa-gwang!
Crunch!
"Argh!"
"Block them! We must not let them reach the peak!"
"Hold your positions!"
The green-robed ones fought desperately.
Yi Hwan felt renewed certainty. There was someone extremely important up there.
"Mu-ok, fall back."
A brilliant light exploded from Yi Hwan's entire body as he murmured softly.
"......!"
"Stop that guy!"
Whoosh!
The elongated sword aura suddenly swept horizontally toward the green-robed ones.
Puk-puk-puk!
"Kraaak!"
"Keuak!"
Torsos and legs were severed mercilessly, crashing down like logs.
But even as their comrades spilled blood and entrails while collapsing, the green-robed ones did not retreat. Instead, they charged at Yi Hwan in suicidal attacks.
Puk!
His sword pierced one green-robe's throat, his left fist another’s chest.
Then, driving his shoulder deep into yet another to fell him, Yi Hwan exploited the momentary gap to kick off the ground and leap upward.
Boom!
By a hair's breadth, a green-robe's sword cleaved empty air, and the green-robe was bisected by Cheol Mu-ok's greatsword.
Puk!
"Kraaak!"
* * *
Yi Hwan reached the peak.
But the targets he aimed for had already vanished. He quickly scanned the surroundings, but all he saw was the forest swaying in the wind.
'The guards around here are too weak. Does that mean the one in such a high position isn't that important?'
Ka-gang!
Crunch!
"Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
Screams still burst from below.
Cheol Mu-ok and the others were overwhelming their opponents.
If the one standing here was a major figure in the Dark Heaven Cult, would he bring such weaklings as escorts? The doubt arose naturally.
Yi Hwan caught his breath softly. Then he leaped back into the forest.
Shortly after, all the green-robed ones were dead, leaving only a single survivor. Even that one was gravely wounded, on the verge of death.
Yi Hwan asked him.
"Who was up there?"
Sssk.
The green-robe looked up at him and smiled.
"He is our cult's strategist. He will lead you all straight to hell. Keh heh heh."
The green-robe breathed his last.
'The Dark Heaven Cult's strategist...'
Then Cheol Mu-ok and the others approached. Covered in blood, but none were injured.
Yi Hwan looked down at the battlefield. As the Dark Heaven Cult retreated, the bloody battle was nearly drawing to a close.
Except for one spot. There were forces striking the flank of Won Gaese's vanguard.
Go Mi asked.
"What shall we do?"
"It's not a bad idea to gauge the skill of the experts under the Qin Kingdom's Grand General ahead of time."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan had no intention of helping Won Gaese. He hoped instead that he would take a hard hit here. He believed it would aid their alliance.
Cheol Mu-ok came to his side and said.
"By the way, they've all retreated, so what are those attacking Won Gaese? Their numbers are negligible compared to the Qin Kingdom army."
"In this terrain, numerical superiority means little. A small force wielding mobility for hit-and-run guerrilla tactics is far more effective."
"Then Won Gaese might suffer quite a bit."
"Too heavy a loss would be problematic. Just enough to bruise his pride should suffice. We'll watch for now."
"Yes."
It was then. The battle between the Dark Heaven Cult flanking force and the Qin Kingdom army was fully underway.
From above, the Qin Kingdom army's confusion from failing to respond properly was vividly apparent.
Yi Hwan narrowed his eyes slightly at how the Dark Heaven Cult's attacks concentrated on the vanguard.
"Do they know it's Won Gaese and are targeting him deliberately?"
"That would mean the Dark Heaven Cult has some considerable experts on their side."
"This will let us properly assess the skills of Won Gaese's escorts."
Yi Hwan nodded silently, sharply observing the point where he presumed Won Gaese was. The distance was too great to confirm clearly, but a prideful man like Won Gaese would surely be at the front.
Ka-gang.
"Uwaaak!"
"Kraaak!"
The desperate death cries drifted faintly on the wind. With the Dark Heaven Cult's onslaught focused on the vanguard, the following troops could barely advance.
Watching this, Yi Hwan recalled the green-robe who had cursed him while dying moments ago.
'The Dark Heaven Cult's strategist chose this battlefield perfectly. If they'd strayed even a little north or south, such an attack would have been impossible.'
Indeed. Stray even slightly north or south from the battlefield, and the side with more troops held absolute advantage.
The Dark Heaven Cult knew this, while the Qin Kingdom army did not—that had decided the battle's outcome.
'All we can do is hope Won Gaese learns something from this fight.'