Chapter 281
Chapter 281
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 281
Chapter Title: The War Curtain Rises
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Three days later.
The Qin Kingdom army began to move.
Yi Hwan and his group headed for the Dark Heaven Cult headquarters ahead of the main force.
‘How many troops will they draw out from the headquarters?’
That was the key question.
They had been closely monitoring the Qin army camp all this time, but even they couldn’t know that.
A short while later, as the Dark Heaven Cult headquarters drew near, Yi Hwan first checked the weather. Fortunately, the conditions were ideal for executing his plan.
Yi Hwan glanced toward the south.
The vast Qin army was pushing through the forest. With roughly a hundred thousand troops, its end stretched beyond sight.
Yi Hwan turned his gaze to the Dark Heaven Cult headquarters. But the thick sea of clouds made it impossible to see anything.
Cheol Mu-ok approached Yi Hwan’s side.
“With weather like this, the kite infiltration should work perfectly. In the end, it’ll come down to the matchup between the elites on both sides.”
“The key is how many troops we can lure out from the Dark Heaven Cult. If we charge in recklessly, it’ll be like sticking our heads into a tiger’s jaws.”
“Surely they’ve considered that much.”
“Even if their aides suggest it, if Won Gae-se trusts his numerical superiority and ignores them, it’s all for nothing.”
“Given that man’s temperament, it’s possible.”
Yi Hwan turned to his companions and continued.
“Only Mu-ok and Ju Tae come with me. The rest of you wait here.”
“I’ll go too.”
Yang Chan stepped forward.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Yang Chan comes along too.”
Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong, who would normally insist on joining, stayed quiet today. They knew the gravity of the situation and didn’t want to burden Yi Hwan.
“Be careful, Great Prince.”
“Take care.”
* * *
Dark Heaven Cult headquarters.
Cult Leader Jang Cheon-hwa and Strategist Ma Jung-hyo walked side by side toward the ramparts. They had just received word that the Qin army was advancing and left the grand hall.
“What do you think is the reason for their delay?”
“They’re probably preparing some scheme. But no scheme can breach this treacherous terrain, our traps, and formations. Even if they break through, they won’t reach the headquarters proper.”
“Complacency is forbidden. Give it your all.”
“Yes, Cult Leader.”
Moments later, the two climbed the ramparts. But the thick clouds made it impossible to gauge how far the Qin army had come.
It was then.
Boom! Boom!
Two flares flickered dimly through the clouds. Signal shots marking the Qin army’s position.
“They’ll soon enter the area with our formations and traps. It’ll be hell for them. Heh heh heh.”
Jang Cheon-hwa brimmed with confidence.
But Ma Jung-hyo felt an unsettling premonition.
‘If the Qin army is moving from that direction too... was the force moving through the gorge a feint? Which one is the real main army...?’
Yesterday, they’d received intel on a large Qin force moving through the gorge and dispatched a significant portion of their troops there in response.
Now, another Qin force had been spotted coming from the opposite direction.
With no way to tell which was the true main army, Ma Jung-hyo couldn’t shake the unease.
“Come here.”
“Yes!”
Two green-robed disciples hurried over.
“Go down at once and scout the enemy’s movements. Find Won Gae-se’s location first.”
“Yes!”
The two green-robed disciples swiftly descended the ramparts.
Ma Jung-hyo turned to Jang Cheon-hwa.
“I’ll hold the position. You should head back inside.”
“I can’t leave with the enemy at our gates. We’ll watch together. Strategist, inspect the defense lines along the switchback path again.”
“Understood.”
Ma Jung-hyo descended the ramparts toward the switchback path leading to the headquarters.
The path was so high and steep that breaching it was no easy feat.
But that same terrain limited the number of defenders they could station, so if the enemy sent elites, it could spell disaster.
Of course, Ma Jung-hyo had anticipated as much and ordered the Cult’s elites to guard the switchback.
He soon reached the midpoint of the path, where the space was relatively wider than elsewhere, allowing the largest contingent of troops to be stationed.
“Welcome, Strategist.”
The defenders’ expressions were confident. They placed absolute faith in their formations, traps, and the switchback defenses.
“We don’t know when elites capable of ignoring the formations and traps might strike, so stay sharp. Understood?”
“Yes!”
Ma Jung-hyo looked south. But even here, the clouds obscured the Qin army.
‘The real threat isn’t Won Gae-se. It’s unknowns like those from a few days ago—elites off our radar. They’re the biggest wildcard.’
During the surprise attack from the mountaintop, those sudden assailants. If there were many like them, no defense line, however strong, could be taken for granted.
Whoosh!
A fierce updraft from below whipped Ma Jung-hyo’s robes. The clouds, scattered by the wind, reformed, and visibility went dark once more.
Ma Jung-hyo heightened his senses to the max. Yet no unusual noises reached him.
‘Why is it so quiet? If the formations and traps are triggering, we should hear something...’
Ma Jung-hyo was gripped by unease again.
It was then.
“Huh? What’s that?”
One cultist muttered, pointing at the sky.
Ma Jung-hyo looked up. Through the dense clouds, something black floated hazily. No—more precisely, it seemed to be rising into the sky.
“Too big for a bird.”
“Agreed.”
As everyone stared skyward in puzzlement, Ma Jung-hyo’s eyes flashed.
‘No way...’
What had he realized?
His face paled instantly, body stiffening. Then he kicked off the ground and shot upward along the switchback.
Boom!
“Why’s he doing that?”
“Who knows.”
* * *
Won Gae-se, leading the main army upward, smirked toward the clouds.
“They’re flying like birds.”
“Thanks to the powerful updrafts the Yeon Kingdom army mentioned.”
“That damn army, army talk! Can’t you shut up about it!”
“...My apologies.”
Won Gae-se’s aide retreated, and Commander Yeom Po approached.
“In about an hour, those on the kites should infiltrate the fanatics’ headquarters.”
“You confirmed they pulled troops north?”
“Yes. Nearly twenty thousand fanatics have set up camp before the gorge. With that many drawn out, few remain at headquarters. Plus, since they moved the northern garrison, they won’t suspect a feint.”
“Of course not.”
“Then shall we begin the assault?”
“Prepare the catapults.”
“Yes!”
Yeom Po hurried to the rear. There, massive catapults stood in rows. Due to the rough terrain, they’d been disassembled for transport and reassembled here—not all were ready yet.
“Move to the pre-measured positions!”
“Moving!”
Creak... creak...
Yeom Po had pre-marked distances to ensure catapult stones would strike the Dark Heaven Cult headquarters dead-on.
In truth, the Qin army’s greatest asset was these catapults. The perfect weapon to smash the enemy directly, bypassing unknown formations and traps.
Yeom Po eyed Won Gae-se.
‘If we win the war, the Grand Commander can claim all the glory. Even using the Yeon Kingdom army’s scheme—only the generals know, so keep it secret. The issue is...’
Yeom Po looked up at the sky.
‘That no unaccounted elites in the fanatics’ headquarters overwhelm them.’
The elites, now hidden by clouds.
Judging this operation decided victory or defeat, Won Gae-se had sent nearly all Qin elites skyward on kites, save the bare minimum.
Their number: three thousand.
Crafting three thousand kites had consumed vast amounts of bamboo and cloth—even tearing down tents to make up the shortfall.
‘Still, it’d be nice if he were here too.’
Yeom Po thought of Yi Hwan and let out a quiet breath.
* * *
Not far from the Dark Heaven Cult headquarters.
Yi Hwan, Cheol Mu-ok, and the others climbed a massive tree free from formations and traps.
From there, while not the headquarters itself, they could faintly make out the cliff supporting it.
Whoosh!
The wind howled fiercely.
The forest swayed violently against it, shaking Yi Hwan’s body too.
How much time passed?
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Kites began rising through the clouds. Thanks to the strong updrafts, their speed exceeded Yi Hwan’s expectations.
“Still quiet—they clearly didn’t see this coming.”
“Man, this is gonna work perfectly.”
Ju Tae exclaimed in admiration.
It was then.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Swoosh!
Dull thuds were followed by shrill whistles.
“What’s that sound?”
“No idea.”
As everyone puzzled over the sudden noises.
Boom! Kwaboom! Boom!
Explosions rocked the Dark Heaven Cult headquarters area. Sounds no human could produce—everyone exchanged glances.
“Catapults?”
“Ah! Could be!”
“Catapults ignore formations and traps for long-range strikes with no defense—perfect assault weapon.”
‘They couldn’t lug them whole here. Must’ve disassembled, transported, reassembled. They came prepared after all.’
Catapults hadn’t even crossed Yi Hwan’s mind. He’d excluded them from planning due to transport impossibility.
‘Commander Yeom didn’t mention them to me. So it’s Won Gae-se’s scheme?’
Here, Yi Hwan gained a small insight: Never underestimate anyone who’s reached a certain level, in any field.
Swoosh!
Kwakwakwakwa-boom!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
Agonized screams now mingled in. The catapults were proving their worth.
How much time passed?
Boom! Boom!
Flares suddenly burst faintly in the sky. The raging catapult barrage halted instantly.
“Those on kites have begun infiltrating.”
“Indeed.”
The flares were likely from Qin warriors. Any timing mismatch, and they’d take the full barrage.
“The clouds are clearing.”
Visibility improved rapidly as clouds parted. Faster than Yi Hwan’s estimate—half a shichen at least—but the fierce winds ensured no hindrance to infiltration.
Yi Hwan eyed the Dark Heaven Cult headquarters slowly coming into view.
High ramparts encircled it, hiding the interior chaos. But the sounds of battle rang clear.
“The Qin martial artists are moving.”
Warriors skimmed the treetops from the Qin army’s direction, riding the wind.
“We head along the treetops to the cliff too.”
“To the headquarters?”
“They’re our enemy. Of course we lend a blade.”
“Understood.”
Flash!
Yi Hwan leaped first.
The dense forest canopy let them bypass formations and traps, reaching the cliff easily. Fierce combat already raged along the switchback to the headquarters.
Shing.
Yi Hwan drew his sword.
Yang Chan drew his too. The shifting gales rendered poison techniques useless.
Yi Hwan turned to Yang Chan.
“You good?”
“My swordsmanship’s decent.”
“We go up.”
“Yes.”