Chapter 326
Chapter 326
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 326
Chapter Title: Isolation
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The Zhao Kingdom army assembled at the entrance to the gorge numbered roughly ten thousand.
However, due to the gorge's extremely narrow and treacherous terrain, it was impossible for all of them to enter at once.
Go Mi, standing shoulder to shoulder with Yi Hwan and watching them, had a thick veil of anxiety on her face.
"More have gathered than we anticipated."
"You seem worried."
"......"
"Even at maximum, only about two hundred can engage us simultaneously. Until the Southern Legion arrives, we'll be isolated, but we won't be defeated. No need to worry."
"We have no more signal flares or messenger pigeons for relocation. I'm concerned whether the Southern Legion can even find this place."
"With that many troops gathered, how could they not?"
Yi Hwan turned to Go Mi with a faint smile.
"No one will die, so prepare to block the arrows first."
"......Understood."
The gorge they were in now had dense trees serving as natural barriers, providing ideal conditions for a small force to face a larger one.
However, no matter how thick the trees, they couldn't block a rain of arrows entirely.
Thus, everyone set to work breaking nearby trees to build a dense wooden barricade. They also didn't neglect constructing roofs to counter indirect fire.
Yi Hwan gazed at the general at the forefront of the distant Zhao Kingdom army. That must be the fierce general Gwak Chi.
Their eyes locked across the considerable distance. Yi Hwan was wearing the human skin mask again, so no one could identify him.
"Where is Jo Seok!"
Strength emanated from Gwak Chi's voice. It was the kind of shout only a master of Internal Energy Projection could produce.
"If you're curious, come check yourself."
"Who the hell are you!"
"Just a passerby."
"What?"
A black-robed man spoke to Gwak Chi.
"He's a considerable master. Getting too close is dangerous, General."
Despite the warning, Gwak Chi advanced further inward and shouted.
"You lot, fall back and fetch Jo Seok at once!"
"That won't be possible."
A twitch.
"Hah! How long do you think you can hold out trapped in there! If you don't want to die like a porcupine, come out and surrender now!"
"Fire away as much as you like."
"......!"
Gwak Chi's hot-tempered face flushed red instantly. His fame as a fierce general was renowned, but his lack of cool-headedness and composure was now plainly evident.
The black-robed man asked.
"Shall we attack?"
"Pour everything we've got!"
"Yes."
The two hundred or so warriors lined up behind Gwak Chi simultaneously drew their bowstrings.
Swaeeek!
Arrows sliced through the air, flying past Yi Hwan's head.
But they failed to pierce the makeshift barricade of felled trees.
Thud thud thud thud!
A few slipped through gaps, but no one was hit. Jo Seok's wife had been a concern, but with Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong guarding her, there were no issues.
Swaeeek!
Arrows kept flying relentlessly.
After about an incense stick's time, Gwak Chi raised his hand to halt the attack. Throughout, Yi Hwan hadn't moved a muscle from his spot.
A twitch.
Gwak Chi's eyebrows furrowed fiercely.
The black-robed man said.
"What if we turn it into a sea of flames with fire arrows?"
"Even traitors are imperial princes! Killing a prince could lead to repercussions later. We must capture Jo Seok alive somehow!"
"......My apologies. I didn't consider that."
"Send in a detachment first."
"Understood."
The black-robed man gestured backward. Dozens stepped forward at once.
They were martial artists affiliated with Gwak Chi's unit.
Yi Hwan slowly drew his sword as he watched them. Ju Tae, Park Ji-mun, Kim Mu-gwan, and the warriors under Jo Seok advanced.
"To demoralize the troops watching from behind, we need to demonstrate overwhelming force from the start."
"Understood."
* * *
The Zhao Kingdom martial artists charged forward without hesitation.
Ju Tae sneered coldly.
"These fools, like moths to a flame."
Chirrrk.
Ju Tae's sword brimmed with qi energy. Behind him, Park Ji-mun lowered his greatsword, and Kim Mu-gwan rolled his fists, preparing for battle.
The warriors under Jo Seok watched the approaching enemies with tense expressions. They were prepared to stake their lives to protect Jo Seok, the sole surviving direct descendant of their clan.
But Ju Tae dismissed their resolve firmly.
"It's too cramped here with all of you. You'll only restrict our movement, so fall back."
"We can't do that. This is our fight. Let us join."
"Didn't you say you'd defect to Yeon Kingdom?"
"......!"
"Then it's our fight too. Fall back. Of course, if it's too much, we'll call for your help then."
"......Understood."
As the middle-aged man retreated, the others grudgingly followed.
At that moment, a light appeared above Yi Hwan's head.
The light shot upward like a living creature, then plummeted like lightning toward the foremost approaching foe.
Even a master couldn't avoid it if unprepared.
The result was inevitable.
Thud thud thud!
"Argh!"
The leader's body was pierced, and he plummeted with a short scream. The light didn't stop, engulfing those around him.
Thud!
"Argh!"
"Watch out!"
As the light darted about chaotically, the Zhao Kingdom martial artists' formation collapsed instantly.
Then Ju Tae leaped into their midst.
Flash!
The Zhao Kingdom martial artists were skilled in their own right, but blocking an Absolute Realm master's attack was impossible.
"Arrrgh!"
A gruesome death, sword and head flying off together.
Ju Tae, airborne, struck at another.
Boom!
But the second attack was blocked.
Ju Tae used the recoil to return to his position.
Whirr!
The warriors under Jo Seok watching from behind widened their eyes. The Zhao Kingdom martial artists and Gwak Chi did the same.
In that fleeting moment airborne, Ju Tae unleashed consecutive techniques, overwhelming the Zhao masters—it clearly showed his level of attainment.
"Damn it!"
Gwak Chi's face twisted.
An angry shout followed.
"Fall back!"
At his command, the Zhao Kingdom martial artists retreated en masse. Unable to even swing once, three had died—a disastrous outcome. Gwak Chi ground his teeth.
Grit.
The black-robed man said.
"In this narrow terrain, facing such a master will just waste our fighters. What if we send troops up the gorge sides and attack with boulders? No matter how skilled, they can't handle rocks falling from above."
Gwak Chi's eyes changed at the suggestion.
Sending troops to the gorge top required a major detour or scaling sheer cliffs.
It would inevitably take time.
Yet it was the safest and most certain method.
"Good! Hurry!"
"Understood. Shall I pull all the masters for it? They can scale the cliffs quickly and move large boulders easily."
"Approved."
"Yes, General!"
As the black-robed man withdrew, Gwak Chi hardened his expression again. He was recalling Ju Tae's formidable prowess.
'Among Jo Seok's followers, such a master... Where the hell did these guys come from all of a sudden?'
Though Jo Gwang showed no interest in the throne, no one in the Zhao court believed Jo Seok could surpass him and claim it.
Thus, no ministers or generals aligned with him, and Gwak Chi was among them.
Serving under Jo Seok, rotten as a frayed rope, meant abandoning advancement and plunging into ruin—that was the consensus.
Yet a master who killed peak experts like twisting a child's arm followed Jo Seok.
'Jo Seok, what sorcery has this bastard pulled...'
* * *
Yi Hwan looked toward the gorge entrance.
Troop movements were visible there. Hidden by dense forest, but undoubtedly a significant force was shifting.
And one more thing.
The Zhao Kingdom masters around Gwak Chi had vanished.
'If they've found another way, what could it be?'
Yi Hwan called Go Mi.
"Come here a moment."
"Yes."
Go Mi approached.
"What do you think is the enemy's most effective way to attack us?"
"I can think of two methods."
Go Mi spoke as if she'd been waiting.
"One is to completely seal this place and stall for time until we tire. It minimizes their losses most reliably. But with the Southern Legion nearby, they won't choose it easily."
It didn't matter if they knew Yi Hwan's identity or not.
With thousands of Zhao troops moving near the border, it was natural to worry the Southern Legion would detect and mobilize.
"The other?"
"Attack from above the gorge. From up top, they can use not just arrows but boulders, making defense difficult. It wastes time sending troops up, but if I were the enemy commander..."
"You'd definitely choose the second."
"Yes. It's more certain, even if time-consuming."
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
He'd thought the same. He'd only asked Go Mi in case there was something better.
"They may already be moving, so we must hurry to the top and prepare defenses. No need for everyone; sending those three first would be best."
Go Mi said, eyeing Ju Tae and the others.
"Even they can't block hundreds of arrows while scaling the cliff. And we can't cover them."
"......Yes."
Go Mi's face grew grim.
The most regrettable thing now was the lack of even one signal flare or messenger pigeon. With that, they could summon the Southern Legion, already alerted by Yi Hwan's letter and on the move.
"I'll go up."
"......!"
Yi Hwan headed toward Ju Tae and the others.
Go Mi followed, saying.
"It's too dangerous! For His Majesty's sake alone, Your Greatness must not be harmed!"
Yi Hwan stopped and stared straight at Go Mi. Her eyes shook fiercely with anxiety.
A faint smile played on Yi Hwan's lips.
"What you've seen so far isn't all. So don't worry, Moon Lord."
"......!"
"For His Majesty, and for all of you, I have not the slightest intent to die. Relax your face."
Ju Tae and the others approached.
Yi Hwan explained the subsequent plan. Once done, Ju Tae said.
"I'll go with you."
Yi Hwan shook his head firmly.
"Blocking a hail of arrows while ascending safely is no easy feat. I'm not underestimating you, Ju Tae."
"I know. But..."
Yi Hwan placed a hand on Ju Tae's shoulder.
"Have you forgotten who I am?"
"......"
Yi Hwan turned to Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun.
"The Third Prince staked his life on our Yeon Kingdom. So we must protect him. You can be trusted, right?"
"No worries. Not a single one will get close."
"Buy me a drink when it's over."
"Deal."
Yi Hwan turned to Jo Seok.
Jo Seok bit his lip with trembling eyes.
"These men will protect the Third Prince."