Chapter 17
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 7.2
Chapter Title: Subjugation
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In this situation, with Jeong Chil the military officer stubbornly enforcing the rules and tormenting them without any flexibility, the merchants had no choice but to be thrilled.
With those preparations in place, the transport of supplies began.
It was a grand sight: five wagons loaded with goods, accompanied by over fifty escorts and a dozen or so merchant representatives.
An Hoe rode at the center of the procession, guiding his horse forward.
In a group transporting supplies with spears and swords held at the ready, the sight of a young boy on horseback naturally drew eyes.
Whispers broke out here and there, gossiping about him.
"Why on earth did they send that boy as the leader?"
"We've had so many complaints about that officer, but now I see he's a fairy in disguise."
It wasn't just because he was a young boy.
His drowsy expression—whether from sleepiness or sheer lethargy—made it impossible not to talk.
"Who told you to chatter?!"
"S-Sorry, sir."
"Hmph."
Jeong Chil had instantly restored discipline among them, but inside, he felt differently.
'I hope the young master didn't hear that. Ha... Do these fools even know who he is and still act like this?'
Jeong Chil had only heard that An Hoe was a scion of the Jang Family, but shortly after joining the group here, the way people looked at him changed.
He'd learned that An Hoe was one of the famed Jang Family's Five Tigers.
Even if he wasn't selected as heir, who could say what the future held?
Even if he didn't become the successor, as one called a Tiger of the Jang Family, there was always a chance he'd align with some faction.
'And if the faction he joins ends up producing the heir, his own status would naturally rise.'
This wasn't an overreach. The Jang Family placed unusual value on bloodlines this time around, but they always had.
You could tell just from how even a great clan like theirs had no proper collateral branches.
So, the odds of things unfolding as he imagined were high.
Was it because of his own lowly origins?
Strangely, Jeong Chil always showed weakness when it came to matters of status.
An Hoe, having observed Jeong Chil for a long time, barely suppressed a chuckle.
He knew the man was lost in some wild speculation again.
"Hm?"
An Hoe tilted his head, scanning the surroundings before approaching Jeong Chil.
The officer startled when the young master, who had been riding aimlessly alone, suddenly drew near—but his expression shifted at An Hoe's words.
"Is the mountain usually this quiet?"
"Pardon? Oh... ah!"
Only then did he realize what An Hoe meant.
Mountains were typically alive with layered sounds beneath the silence.
Birdsong was the prime example, and it had stopped at some point.
"Young master. Looks like we're in for an ambush."
"Oh dear. What should we do?"
An Hoe had anticipated this, so his tone stayed even.
Jeong Chil, pondering countermeasures, missed the oddity.
Soon, he spoke cautiously, as if having sorted his thoughts.
"They probably don't know we've spotted it yet, so for now, we keep going as is."
"So, prepare for the ambush gradually, without tipping them off."
"..."
One sentence nailed the core, leaving him speechless.
'What was I doing at thirteen?'
Recalling his own past of playing childish gang leader around the neighborhood, he inwardly shook his head at how different this young master was.
No wonder he'd been named one of the Jang Family's Five Tigers—with talents like these.
"I'll inform the merchants. Officer Jeong, you tell the soldiers and mercenaries."
"Understood."
Jeong Chil fell back, pretending to nitpick casually, while An Hoe spurred his horse to the front of the line.
The merchants looked puzzled as the young master approached.
He usually ignored them unless absolutely necessary.
"Officer Jeong says an ambush is likely. Probably bandits from a mountain stronghold—prepare accordingly."
"Pardon?"
Delivered so calmly, the chilling news made them wonder if they'd misheard.
Oblivious to their shock, An Hoe continued.
"But he also said they don't know we've noticed, so we proceed as normal for now. Don't make your preparations too obvious—stay calm and ready yourselves."
"Gulp. I-Is that true?"
One merchant asked, desperately hoping it was a joke, but An Hoe eyed him with exasperation.
"S-Sorry, young master."
"I said no commotion. Act calmly."
"Got it."
"Seriously. Even if they told us to be careful..."
An Hoe shook his head and rode off as a few merchants raised their voices in surprise.
Meanwhile, Jeong Chil had warned the soldiers.
They then spread the word to the mercenaries, and soon the entire convoy was preparing.
Once preparations were underway, a mercenary approached Jeong Chil.
"A bit farther ahead, there's terrain perfect for defense. How about picking up the pace?"
"How far exactly?"
The mercenary explained the distance and terrain. After a moment's thought, Jeong Chil accepted.
-Clatter clatter.-
The wagons soon sped up.
Not long after, the bushes far ahead rustled.
The enemies had realized too late that their ambush was spotted.
"Hmph! Finally caught on, eh? Charge!"
Jeong Chil bellowed encouragement, and the convoy hit top speed.
"You dog bastards!"
"Weak-ass punks!"
The ambushers spewed curses as they rushed forward.
But they couldn't catch the already-accelerated convoy easily.
"There it is!"
Jeong Chil soon spotted the spot the mercenary mentioned, and the entire group braced.
Calming the charging horses wasn't easy, but the merchants deftly blindfolded their eyes and ears with prepared cloth, settling them quickly.
Thanks to that, they formed a defensive perimeter with the wagons in good time. Jeong Chil then arrayed his forces around the terrain.
But the situation wasn't good.
The enemies' forces were stronger than expected.
"...About 150 of them."
Nearly three times their number, and qualitatively not far behind.
A good ten first-rate warriors, and over a dozen second-raters.
Even their gear was decent for bandits.
"What kind of bandits are these?!"
"Fuck! No wonder it felt off."
Some veteran mercenaries recognized the disparity and cursed.
But they held position—no one fled.
They knew to stick together and hold firm in situations like this.
"You idiot! Where do you think you're going?! Think you'll survive running back?!"
"Dumbass! Drop the fleeing bullshit and grab your sword!"
Instead, they steadied the wavering mercenaries, maintaining formation against the enemies' momentum.
Jeong Chil nodded and signaled the soldiers.
They loosed arrows already nocked.
-Swoosh swoosh swoosh!-
-Thunk thunk thunk!-
Only ten archers, but enough to shake the enemies' momentum.
Fired indiscriminately, dozens of arrows rained down in seconds.
"Kugh! Fuck!"
"Urk! Don't push! I said don't push!"
As the onrushing bandits skewered like demons on spits, their charge slowed.
But they weren't brainless—they raised wooden shields to block.
Jeong Chil signaled again. Eight soldiers—leaving two behind—advanced with shields.
The four-foot wooden shields were sturdy.
Edged in iron, backs wrapped in cotton, fronts in tanned leather—no sword could pierce them easily.
-Clang!-
Enemies dodging arrows sporadically swung wildly, but the shields blocked effortlessly.
Even first-raters among them.
"Damn it!"
The wagons blocked their attack paths.
With the situation like this, the mercenaries saw an opening.
At least their commander, Officer Jeong, was competent.
"Squad 1, block the right! Squad 2, left! Squads 3 and 4, support the shieldbearers from behind! Squad 5, maintain alert until I say otherwise."
Jeong Chil's orders were clear enough for the mercenaries to grasp instantly.
Credit to his prior training, drilling them like dogs.
At minimum, they'd follow commands—otherwise, they'd be milling in panic.
With terrain and Jeong Chil's calm bolstering them, the bandits felt like they faced a wall.
-Clang clang clang!-
-Kagang! Kagang!-
-Kaaak!-
Their blades yielded nothing.
Instead, hidden spear tips pierced them.
"You morons!"
Despite nearly three-to-one odds, inflicting no damage while taking losses—the ambush leader emerged.
A middle-aged man with a beard to his chest, looking more scholar than bandit.
-Tremble tremble.-
But at his appearance, terror spread among the bandits.
They knew how brutal he truly was, despite looks.
"Tch! Forced to handle this myself? Out of the way!"
-Tatatak!-
His shout parted the bandits. He advanced, shaking his head.
The sudden lull puzzled Jeong Chil, who scanned around.
He'd anticipated a pause, but not this soon.
He quickly surveyed and spotted the reason.
"!!"
The hidden enemy commander was moving.
Jeong Chil's face darkened.
The man's skill wasn't peak, but his ferocious aura was unmistakable.
"Peak realm..."
Not a novice either.
Unless nearing the pinnacle of peak, he couldn't exude that pressure.
Jeong Chil couldn't believe such a figure wasted on an ambush.
But denial changed nothing.
The priority: how to counter him.
He pulled back a few shieldbearers for bows.
On one flank, they readied nets and hooks.
-Swoosh swoosh!-
Five archers fired at him.
"Hmph!"
-Boom! Pop pop pop!-
The enemy snorted at the arrows, then stomped hard.
His body shot forward; arrows pierced empty air.
But Jeong Chil wasn't surprised.
Unless elite archers—which they weren't—no gain against such a master.
"Now!"
It was bait for this.
As if anticipating the lunge, he ordered hooks thrown.
Five or six flew at limbs perfectly timed—he couldn't dodge.
"You bastards!"
But undodgeable didn't mean unblockable.
He drew his sword, sweeping savagely.
-Kagagang!-
The hooks scattered harmlessly.
"I'll kill you all!"
Insulted by their ploy, his rage poured malice.
Suddenly, the sky darkened over him.
"??"
He looked up, face twisting.
A net.
Arrows and hooks mere distractions.
The real trap: the net.
Any other peak master would struggle.
A textbook counter, flawlessly executed.
Unfortunately, he was different.
-Tzzzzzt!-
Shockingly, his blade tip shimmered violently, blooming a foot of crimson light.
"Sword aura!"
Someone yelled in shock.
Rudimentary form, but unmistakable sword aura.
For a peak master to manifest what even superlates struggled with—everyone doubted their eyes.
-Slash!-
Sword aura arcing halved the tough net.
As all gaped at the overwhelming prowess, he caught his breath, baring teeth.
"Hoo... you...?"
-Stab!-
Then, an unbelievable turn.
A small shadow—unseen approaching—drove a blade through the enemy leader's heart.