Chapter 372
Chapter 372
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 372
Chapter Title: Cheol Mu-ok's Crisis
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Northern Yeon's army camp.
"Hoo!"
Cheol Mu-ok, who had been training for nearly an hour, let out a hot breath and thrust his greatsword into the ground.
Thud!
Gulp, gulp!
They say water tastes best after sweating it out. Cheol Mu-ok emptied the large waterskin in one go and sprawled out flat on his back.
Thump!
The sky was thick with dark clouds today.
Yet the ground was parched, and the blowing wind felt too cold for summer.
'I thought I wouldn't feel lonely here...'
Lately, he missed Yi Hwan and the others more than ever. It was a completely different feeling from having his beloved woman by his side.
Whooo!
The wind stole the heat from Cheol Mu-ok's sun-baked body.
As he lay there for a while, a rustle came from his left. Turning only his head to look, he saw Tae-seon approaching with a basket.
"Are you done training?"
"I was thinking of calling it quits for today."
"Then get up and eat."
Tae-seon spread out a mat beside him and set down the basket. Inside were appetizing meats and a bottle of liquor.
"Aren't you lonely?"
"How could I be, with you here?"
"Really?"
"Of course."
Cheol Mu-ok took a swig of liquor first. He quite liked Northern Yeon's traditional brew, far stronger than the liquors of the Central Plains.
"Once things settle down here, shall we go visit the Great Prince together?"
"Are you saying that for my sake?"
"I want to go too. It's been too long since I've seen him."
"Then let's do it."
"Eat up."
Tae-seon was called Northern Yeon's strongest woman warrior. But by Cheol Mu-ok's side, she was gentler and warmer than any other woman.
"I'm glad. You've adapted to our culture so quickly."
"I'm trying, so I'm glad it shows."
"How are things with General Gwirang?"
"We're getting along fine. Doesn't seem like he dislikes me."
Gulp, gulp!
"Eat slower."
Tae-seon gazed at Cheol Mu-ok downing the liquor like water, her brows furrowing delicately.
It was then.
Rustle!
The bushes shook, and a warrior emerged.
"Your Highness! Zhao Kingdom forces are approaching from the south!"
"Have you confirmed their numbers?"
"Reports say around fifty thousand."
Tae-seon turned to Cheol Mu-ok.
"Are they planning to attack?"
"They wouldn't attack with just fifty thousand. If it's an assault, we need to check other directions too."
The warrior replied.
"No signs detected in any other direction!"
"You're certain?"
"Yes! This is the latest report—it's reliable!"
Cheol Mu-ok subtly narrowed his brows.
"Are they testing our reaction?"
"Let's head back to camp first."
"Wait."
Cheol Mu-ok grabbed Tae-seon's wrist as she moved to stand hurriedly.
"What's wrong?"
"Go back to camp and have the martial artists guard the key facilities thoroughly. Especially the grain depot—assign the experts there. I'll scout the surroundings and join you."
"Do you have some hunch?"
"Just a gut feeling. Hurry."
"Got it."
Tae-seon and the warrior rushed back to camp.
Cheol Mu-ok finished the remaining liquor, popped a piece of meat into his mouth, grabbed his greatsword, and stood.
Boom!
Kicking off the ground, Cheol Mu-ok leaped into the air. He headed toward an area he suspected even a Zhao assault wouldn't target.
* * *
How far had he run?
The landscape shifted dramatically. The south was a dense forest mingled with cliffs, while the north stretched into vast open plains.
Cheol Mu-ok climbed to the summit of a lone rocky mountain rising in the middle of the plains.
He settled there and began sharply scanning the south.
After about half an hour.
The forest started to rustle. A faint tremor, but it didn't escape Cheol Mu-ok's eyes.
Cheol Mu-ok channeled his qi to its maximum. Beyond the foliage, he spotted moving figures clad in Northern Yeon martial robes.
'Ambush using martial artists...'
Their movements alone marked them as experts.
Cheol Mu-ok slowly rose.
At that moment, figures burst from the forest onto the plains. His eyes flashed when he spotted a man in unusually white robes.
'Yi Tae-ji?'
No doubt about it.
Yi Tae-ji and the others turned their gazes toward the rocky mountain where he stood. Two men then shot forward like the wind.
'No reason to fight you here.'
Boom!
* * *
"That guy's spotted us!"
"Go take him out now!"
"Yes!"
Two men charged toward the rocky mountain.
But Yi Tae-ji stayed put.
'That guy...'
He recognized Cheol Mu-ok too.
'So it's him. The guard of that Prince Consort from Northern Yeon.'
Bang Hyo asked.
"Someone you know?"
"Why would anyone I know be here?"
Yi Tae-ji replied flatly, eyes fixed on the back of a yellow-robed man leading the group.
'If we're spotted before we even start...'
He wanted to suggest aborting the mission.
But Yi Tae-ji remained silent. They wouldn't listen anyway, and he himself didn't want to turn back now.
Then Cheol Mu-ok bolted like the wind.
Bang Hyo's eyes widened slightly.
"Incredible lightness skill. Isn't it odd for someone with that level of power to be guarding such a remote spot?"
Yi Tae-ji nodded silently.
Three more yellow-robed men dashed out.
"The fastest ones are going in."
"Think they'll catch him?"
"They're not just fast—they have top-tier endurance. They can catch up before he reaches the camp."
Yi Tae-ji watched the three yellow-robed men already covering immense distance.
'Catching up is just the beginning.'
It was then.
"Full speed to the target!"
The martial artists began to run.
Yi Tae-ji ran at the rear alongside Bang Hyo. He viewed this mission skeptically.
'How many will make it back alive? Of course, I'll survive no matter what...'
* * *
Cheol Mu-ok glanced back.
'As expected, no ordinary foes.'
Their pursuit speed astonished even him. Especially the three late-joining yellow-robed men, who had already overtaken the first two.
'Followers of the Blood Demon?'
Anyone strong from Zhao was suspect first as Blood Demon adherents.
Whoosh!
Dust rose where Cheol Mu-ok passed.
He had no fear of being caught. But if they did, fighting as far out as possible was best.
How much farther did he run?
Figures approached from the flank—others moving in from another direction. Running straight to evade the pursuers would mean clashing with them.
Cheol Mu-ok had no choice but to veer slightly.
Whoosh!
He glanced back again.
The three yellow-robed men had closed to within thirty paces. Astonishing, considering Cheol Mu-ok's prowess.
'If they're lightness skill specialists, no issue...'
But if they wielded great power too, victory was uncertain.
It was then.
Whirrr!
A eerie sound rang out.
Cheol Mu-ok spotted the flying object slicing through the air and swung his greatsword to swat it.
In that instant.
Boom!
Thud, thud, thud!
Pain surged through his body. Dozens of red dots appeared on his skin.
Shrapnel embedded.
'Hidden weapons like these...'
Cheol Mu-ok's eyes grew heavy for the first time. But he kept his speed.
Whirrr!
Another eerie projectile flew.
Instead of swatting, Cheol Mu-ok spun in midair to dodge.
Whirrr!
It grazed past his feet and embedded far ahead in the ground.
Meanwhile, the flank approachers closed in dramatically.
Grip.
Cheol Mu-ok gripped his greatsword tight and turned direction.
"Whoa!"
One of the flank pursuers bursting through the forest yelped in surprise as Cheol Mu-ok suddenly charged them.
In that split second, his greatsword cleaved the air.
Boom!
"Argh!"
The one who blocked staggered with a scream. A second strike sent another flying back.
Shaking off the flankers, Cheol Mu-ok resumed running. Now, only the three yellow-robed men were within striking distance.
"We must capture him!"
"Chase!"
Whoosh, whoosh!
One against three in hot pursuit.
The yellow-robed men's faces were grim, shocked by Cheol Mu-ok's skill.
'Not slowing at all despite the shrapnel...'
The shared thought of all three.
* * *
While running, Cheol Mu-ok circulated the mind technique Yi Hwan had taught him. His depleting qi began to recover, if faintly.
He looked ahead.
Zigzagging had delayed him more than expected, but the camp was close.
Still, they might catch him before arrival. Their lightness skills were that formidable.
Scree!
A tearing sound.
Cheol Mu-ok zigzagged without looking back.
Thud!
The grazing projectile hit the ground ahead—then exploded.
Boom, boom, boom!
"......!"
Cheol Mu-ok urgently unleashed protective qi and hurled himself left.
Fwoosh!
Scorching heat and force raked his body.
Sizzle!
His robes tore in places, blood dripping from shrapnel wounds on bare skin. His speed naturally dropped.
Then, a chilling aura rose behind.
Cheol Mu-ok twisted in midair, facing the yellow-robed men head-on, swinging his greatsword with full might.
Boom!
Blade clashed with sword in a thunderous boom. Cheol Mu-ok flew back like a leaf.
"Got him!"
"Finish it!"
But then.
"......What!?"
The yellow-robed men's eyes widened. Cheol Mu-ok, whom they'd thought flung away by impact, was charging ahead at tremendous speed.
The distance yawned back to twenty paces.
"Using the recoil..."
Then Cheol Mu-ok's deep voice pierced their ears.
"See you soon."