Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: First Victory
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Arrogance had led to a brutal outcome, plunging Zhao Kingdom's vanguard into chaos.
Caught in a pincer attack from Yeon Kingdom forces that struck at their flanks, the Zhao vanguard couldn't even muster their full strength.
The troops who had passed first hastily turned back, only to be blocked by another Yeon unit.
“Not a single one lives!”
“Charge!”
Waaaaah!
Kwachijik!
“Kraaak!”
“Uwaaak!”
The Zhao forces, unable to form proper ranks, began crumbling in an instant, overwhelmed.
“Damn it all!”
The face of the Zhao general leading the vanguard twisted in fury. His aides shouted in panic.
“Our front and rear are completely cut off! At this rate, we might face total annihilation!”
“Our retreat is blocked too, General!”
Eudduk!
A chilling grind of teeth echoed through the air.
“If we can't even retreat...”
A furious command followed.
“Charge straight into the enemy's main camp! Advance!”
“Advance!”
It was a desperate last resort, born of a situation with no way back.
The general bellowed at the martial artists on either side.
“Once we breach their camp, kill everything in sight!”
“Yes, General!”
“With this many troops on a raid, their camp must be practically empty! You bastards, we'll turn it all to ash!”
Eudduk!
Fury boiling over, the general's face flushed red as he stared ahead and charged like a gale. The forces following him numbered around ten thousand.
Nearly twenty thousand had been delayed when the advance route was blocked.
“We're almost there!”
Two massive boulders appeared ahead.
Known as Twin Rock Pass for their identical shapes, crossing that point would bring them to the Yeon army's camp.
Chiruruk.
The general's sword unleashed a blade aura.
Sword energies flared simultaneously from the martial artists moving at his sides.
That was when it happened.
Rumble!
A deafening roar erupted from the ridge above without warning.
The general's eyes, snapping back reflexively, widened to the point of tearing.
“...!”
Massive boulders and logs came tumbling down. The steep slopes on both flanks made their descent unimaginably fast.
“Dodge!”
Kwakwakwak!
Kwajijik!
“Kwaaak!”
“Kraaak!”
Zhao warriors who failed to evade the rocks and logs died gruesome deaths. One martial artist leaped lightly into the air but was struck by a bouncing log, losing his life.
Under normal circumstances, such an attack wouldn't threaten martial artists much, but now it was different.
With panicked allies tangled in a chaotic mass, even the martial artists' movements and judgment were impaired.
“Goddamn it...”
Kwarurung!
Staring at the piling rocks and logs amid swirling dust, the Zhao general trembled violently. Now even the path to the enemy camp was sealed.
A martial artist approached, shouting.
“General! It's impossible now! You must retreat while you can!”
“With our retreat cut off, how the hell are we supposed to do that!”
“Climb the mountain! We'll hold off their pursuit!”
Kkultul!
“You're telling me to retreat alone?!”
“You're the one who must aid His Highness the Crown Prince! For the greater cause, withdraw quickly!”
“...!”
Parur.
The general's eyes shook violently.
That was when it happened.
“Who said you could run?”
A chilling voice cut through, followed by a figure dropping into the midst.
It was Ju Tae.
Hebei Paeng Family warriors began appearing behind him one after another.
Ju Tae looked at the general and sneered coldly.
“Just die here.”
* * *
Flash!
A sinister burst of energy flew straight at Yi Hwan. Paeng Mun, fighting behind him, shouted urgently.
“Great Prince! Watch your back!”
Before his cry finished, a severed head soared into the air. As if he'd known all along, Yi Hwan had struck down the ambusher and was already charging at another foe.
[Focus on the enemy, not me.]
Paeng Mun's eyes trembled as Yi Hwan's voice flowed into his ear.
‘Incredible.’
“Patriarch!”
Paeng Mu-wi's urgent shout rang out.
At the same time, Paeng Mun's body spun like a top, his massive blade cleaving the air.
Thud!
“Kraaak!”
One enemy martial artist met a horrific end, his upper and lower body split apart.
Paeng Mu-wi approached, yelling.
“Where's your focus wandering to!”
“Forget about me and concentrate on the enemy.”
“Then make it so I don't have to worry!”
“Got it.”
Paeng Mu-wi took a deep breath, gripping his greatblade with both hands and letting it hang low.
His eyes flickered like a tiger's.
“I'm Paeng Mu-wi of the Hebei Paeng Family, you bastards.”
Hwaaaak!
* * *
Jo Gwang moved leisurely from the rear guard.
Atop a palanquin borne by ten warriors, he even had the leisure to sip from his cup.
“By now, the vanguard should have driven deep into enemy lines.”
“Indeed, Your Highness. With their numerical disadvantage, the enemy would've concentrated all forces at camp, so the path ahead must've been smooth as you predicted.”
“Pa Pa.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Send some capable ones to aid the vanguard.”
“The warriors here fight solely for Your Highness. No need to send reinforcements...”
“With Pa Pa here, what worry is there? Just select a few and send them.”
“Understood.”
The ones Pa Pa's gaze fell upon stepped forward.
Each exuded a razor-sharp aura.
Jo Gwang addressed them.
“Your task is to kill the enemy generals. Two hundred silver taels per head—give it your all!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Pa pa pat!
Jo Gwang watched their retreating figures with satisfaction as they sped away like the wind.
“Trained personally by Pa Pa, their lightness skills are on another level. When this battle ends, I'll reward Pa Pa handsomely too.”
“You honor me too much, Your Highness.”
As Pa Pa raised her bowed head, it happened.
“Hm?”
One of those who had raced off like the wind was swiftly returning. Both Pa Pa and Jo Gwang furrowed their brows.
“Why are they coming back?”
Pa Pa's eyes darkened heavily, sensing something ominous.
Hwiririk!
The figure landed like the wind and shouted toward Jo Gwang.
“Part of the vanguard is retreating!”
“What?”
Jo Gwang's eyes turned forward. Then his widened eyes clearly captured the sight of warriors fleeing in panic.
Unmistakably vanguard troops.
Brrr...
“The vanguard's been defeated?!”
* * *
Yeon Kingdom's Northern Legion.
Bordering Zhao to the west and barbarians to the north, it was militarily as vital as the Southern Legion.
The face of its Commander, Gwak Chung-mu, was rigidly set.
“No reinforcements? What the hell is the court thinking?”
A messenger from the Imperial Palace had just left. He had conveyed the Empress's order: with some forces absent, the barbarians might stir, so do not aid the Southern Legion.
Gwak Chung-mu couldn't comprehend it.
The Deputy General spoke.
“It's strange. The Southern Legion's Commander is Left General Paeng Mu-wi, one of Yi Hwan's men—why would Her Majesty the Empress order no aid?”
“Who he sides with doesn't matter! When the enemy invades and our allies are in peril, aiding them is the right course.”
Another general said gravely.
“Reports say Zhao's forces outnumber the Southern Legion overwhelmingly. Without reinforcements, it could be dangerous, Commander.”
“With Zhao's Crown Prince Jo Gwang joining and their martial artists outnumbering ours, are we really fine sending no aid?”
“Quiet!”
At Gwak Chung-mu's word, the generals fell silent. He pondered briefly. All held their breath, awaiting his decision.
Moments later, Gwak Chung-mu commanded.
“Mid Army General, take twenty thousand elites south immediately to aid the Southern Legion.”
“Yes, Commander!”
One general swiftly exited the tent. Gwak Chung-mu sank deep into his chair, narrowing his eyes.
“The Left General ought to have the skill to hold off Zhao's army, but it's worrisome all the same.”
“Word is he's in that post through political ties between Yi Hwan and the Paeng Family. Doubts whether such a man can lead an army.”
The mood among the generals grew heavy.
Gwak Chung-mu muttered with a hint of anger in his eyes.
“Daring to drag the military into politics.”
“It's worsened since His Majesty secluded himself. Rumors say Yi Hwan's side is pulling in even more martial artists. Who knows when another like Paeng Mu-wi might rise to a key military post.”
“Hmm.”
As Gwak Chung-mu's eyes burned with deeper fury, a general spoke up.
“Isn't the Great Prince with the Southern Legion? If something ill befalls him in this battle, won't it lead to full-scale war?”
“It won't escalate that far. The Great Prince there is a bastard son the imperial family practically cast out. And Her Majesty the Empress values legitimacy above all—no tears shed if a bastard gets hurt.”
All nodded in agreement with Gwak Chung-mu.
With no rumors yet about Yi Hwan, Gwak Chung-mu and the generals saw him merely as the man from the tales.
Then.
“Commander, a messenger from the Crown Prince's Palace has arrived.”
“Bring him in.”
Soon the messenger entered.
Gwak Chung-mu rose and received the letter with both hands.
The messenger said.
“His Highness requests a reply.”
Gwak Chung-mu read it. The generals watched curiously.
Moments later, he told the messenger.
“Report that twenty thousand elites have been dispatched.”
“Understood.”
The messenger departed promptly.
Gwak Chung-mu sank back into his chair, his gaze steadying.
‘Unexpected. The Crown Prince's Palace has rarely involved itself in such matters. And the Southern Legion sides with the Empress and Yi Hwan.’
* * *
Around the same time, Yeon Kingdom Central Army command.
A messenger from the Empress had visited the Commander responsible for frontline support in emergencies.
The message was the same, but the decision differed. Some generals urged sending aid, but the Commander flatly refused.
“Her Majesty the Empress ordered no reinforcements. Speak of it no more!”
* * *
Shwaaa!
Sudden torrential rain poured down.
Warriors let it wash the blood soaking their bodies.
“Overwhelming victory, Great Prince! Haha!”
Paeng Mu-wi's laughter boomed across the battlefield.
The generals, greatly emboldened, roared in cheers. All eyes turned to Yi Hwan. Then Jeong Cheon approached.
Yi Hwan checked his condition first.
“No injuries?”
“Thanks to these fellows, I'm fine.”
Behind Jeong Cheon stood warriors of the Sword King lineage. They had earned the greatest merits in battle, yet their expressions remained impassive.
Yi Hwan turned to the generals.
“This is just the beginning—don't get too excited. Let's return to camp.”
“The enemy's rear guard is still out there, Great Prince.”
“Geographically, this spot favors fighting larger enemy numbers more than camp. Why withdraw the troops so soon?”
All voiced disagreement with Yi Hwan's decision. Only Paeng Mu-wi and Jeong Cheon remained composed.
Yi Hwan said calmly.
“With the downpour, the ground will turn muddy and slick—any advantage from high ground attacking those below is gone. It's shifted to terrain favoring their superior numbers, so facing them from camp is best.”
With that, Yi Hwan turned as if refusing further debate.
Paeng Mu-wi shouted.
“What are you waiting for! Withdraw the troops now!”
Jeong Cheon added.
“Everyone, hurry.”
The generals finally returned to their units.
Meanwhile, Go Mi followed Yi Hwan, asking.
“Did you factor in the rain too?”
“As if.”
“...”
“Don't think of me as some genius.”