Chapter 171: Silent Rage (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 171: Silent Rage (3)
A mountain stronghold with wooden walls, taller and thicker than those of most sects, stretched along the mountain ridge.
From a distance, it resembled a small wooden fortress, earning it the name Mokseong Stronghold.
Ruuuumble!
With a series of deafening explosions, the wooden walls of Mokseong Stronghold began to tilt. Before they could even collapse, they shattered into dozens of splintered fragments.
The group that burst through the obliterated corner of the wall all held axes in both hands.
They were the Crushing Hall, the vanguard announcing the start of the Azure Heaven Association's war.
The Crushing Hall charged forward in a wedge, their signature joint attack formation: the Majestic Shattering Explosive-Force Formation.
Following Kang Gok, who stood at the formation’s very tip, the members of the Crushing Hall swung their twin axes with wild abandon. The concentrated barrage of axe strikes and the axe wind they generated unleashed continuous, violent waves of qi.
"Those crazy bastards!"
"Run!"
The bandits of Mokseong Stronghold didn't dare stand against the Majestic Shattering Explosive-Force Formation. The ground was brutally gouged by the Qi Waves it spewed, leaving behind deep trenches, as if a giant imugi had just swept through. No one could muster the courage to charge into that.
"Pathetic fools!"
The Mokseong Stronghold Leader, finally making his appearance, stared as the Crushing Hall tore his stronghold apart. Their straight-line charge, executed as if they had no intention of ever stopping, was undeniably overwhelming.
Pavilions blocking their path and even the defensive barricades set up inside—mechanical traps for just such a breach—were utterly destroyed. An ordinary attacking force would maneuver around obstacles, but their relentless advance of simply smashing through everything in their path had a terrifying quality that wore down the bandits' resolve.
The Crushing Hall was rendering the stronghold's greatest strength—its specialization in siege defense—utterly useless.
There is only one way to stop them. I must crush them with sheer force.
The Mokseong Stronghold Leader roared, "Rally to me!"
Snapped back to their senses by his shout, the bandits began to gather. Just as the Crushing Hall had done, the bandits coalesced around their leader. Soon, he was leading his subordinates in a head-on charge toward the intruders.
"You Azure Heaven pigs! I'll show you what true axe techniques look like!"
A massive axe came crashing down directly toward Kang Gok.
Yet, even seeing this, Kang Gok did not stop. He merely crossed the twin axes in his hands.
Claaaaang!
As the three axes clashed, Kang Gok’s advance seemed to falter for a brief moment, but then—
"Hraaaaaah!"
With a furious roar, the muscles in Kang Gok's jaw bulged.
Screeech!
With a grating screech of metal on metal, the Mokseong Stronghold Leader's axe was pushed back.
What kind of ignorant brute is this?!
The moment the Mokseong Stronghold Leader, overwhelmed by sheer strength, took a terrified step back—
Kang Gok immediately closed the distance until he was nose-to-nose with the man and unleashed the Majestic Shattering Assault Axe.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Kang Gok's twin axes relentlessly hacked at the Mokseong Stronghold Leader's great axe. The bandit leader raised his weapon like a shield to block the rapid strikes, but Kang Gok paid it no mind. Like a madman possessed, he swung his axes without a single pause.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
Under the weight of the twin axes, which seemed to grow heavier with every strike, the Mokseong Stronghold Leader could find no opening to counterattack and was forced backward. Naturally, the surrounding bandits had no choice but to retreat along with him.
"Crushing Hall!" Kang Gok roared as he brought his crossed axes down.
Just like their leader, the Crushing Hall showed no signs of stopping, relentlessly driving back the surrounding bandits.
There was only one scenario in which the Crushing Hall would stop: when all enemies were annihilated, or when there was nothing left to break through.
The Crushing Hall began to sweep through and swallow the bandits of Mokseong Stronghold. Axes flew wildly in all directions, but the vast majority of those swung with savage, qi-infused force belonged to the Crushing Hall.
Crack!
Unable to withstand the consecutive strikes of the Majestic Shattering Assault Axe, the Mokseong Stronghold Leader's axe began to crack. Having barely held on without finding a single opening to counter, he gasped in disbelief.
"How can this be...?"
"If you wanted to stop me," Kang Gok growled.
Shatter!
As he brought both axes down simultaneously, the Mokseong Stronghold Leader's axe shattered completely.
"You should have poured the strength you used for retreating into your axe!"
The bandit leader frantically reached for a small hand axe at his waist, but Kang Gok's twin axes were faster.
Thwack!
A strike from the Majestic Shattering Assault Axe brutally split the Mokseong Stronghold Leader's shoulders as if chopping firewood. After tearing off the man's arms and finally severing his head, Kang Gok turned his gaze.
The largest pavilion in the stronghold, presumably the leader's quarters, was collapsing. Not only that, but every single building in Mokseong Stronghold was being smashed to pieces by the axes of the Crushing Hall.
Even so, Kang Gok's heated breath showed no signs of cooling.
The real battle had not even begun.
"Next!"
At Kang Gok's command, the Crushing Hall charged northward without a moment's rest.
* * *
"Wonderful! We've caught a big fish today!"
A grand feast was underway at the Poison Tiger Stronghold. This was thanks to them completely plundering an escort agency that had passed by their stronghold early that morning.
Normally, they would have let them pass after taking a reasonable toll, but not this time. They had received information that the cargo the escort agency was transporting consisted of rare and precious goods.
The Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader always threw a massive feast whenever they pulled off such a major score. Feeding his men well and distributing small amounts of wealth was his way of keeping them from noticing that he was taking the lion's share of the loot.
"Eat your fill! There's plenty of meat and wine left!"
"Yes, Leader!"
"Ah, we're really greasing our stomachs today!"
The bandits greedily devoured the food and chugged wine straight from the jars. The Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader smirked at the sight and tilted his own cup. Unlike the cheap, cloudy rice wine his subordinates were drinking, his was clear.
It was Tiger Bone Wine, made with the bones of a tiger he had hunted himself a year ago.
Sipping his Tiger Bone Wine, the Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader chuckled as he watched his subordinates drunkenly fool around like performing monkeys.
"Ugh..."
A bandit who had been dancing comically with wine cups in both hands suddenly collapsed face-first.
The other bandits paused for a moment, then burst into laughter again.
"What's this? Did he pass out drunk?"
"Look at this pathetic bastard! Beat him awake!"
But as they laughed, the light in their eyes began to fade. One by one, their heads drooped. In an instant, over twenty men lost consciousness simultaneously.
The Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader spat out the pork he was chewing. He had been starting to feel a buzz, but the sight of his subordinates instantly snapped him sober. There was no way everyone would fall asleep at the exact same time as if on cue.
"Damn it!"
The Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader quickly circulated his internal energy while looking around for his weapon.
"Ugh!"
Sensing a sudden, chilling presence creeping up behind him, the Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader threw himself to the ground and rolled. After rolling three times to keep his body low, he let out a sigh of relief. It seemed he had narrowly avoided a sneak attack.
But as he tried to stand, his legs buckled, and he slumped back down.
I didn't avoid it... My senses were just dulled by poison.
The Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader looked down at his legs. Both pant legs were rapidly soaking through with crimson. He couldn't put any strength into them, could barely even stand; he had clearly been slashed deep.
"What kind of bullshit is this..."
The Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader glared at the shadow behind him.
A man emerged, looking as if he were being torn straight from the darkness. It was Hyeokri Yu, his face concealed by a black bamboo hat and a black mask. Only his bloodshot eyes gleamed, scattering a red, ghostly light.
"The Nether-Fathoming Hall. You assassin scum playing at being chivalrous heroes!"
Hyeokri Yu did not deign to reply.
As the surrounding torches flickered wildly, members of the Nether-Fathoming Hall began to emerge one by one from the shadows. Before he knew it, ten of them had surrounded the Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader, pointing their twin swords at him.
Gritting his teeth, the Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader half-stood and clenched his fists. "Cowardly bastards. First poison, and now a group attack?"
"Tear him apart."
It was the command of the Nether-Fathoming Hall Master.
At that moment, the twin swords of the Nether-Fathoming Hall members flipped in a bizarre motion.
"I'm taking at least one of you to hell with me!"
Just as the roaring Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader was about to make his final, desperate struggle—
Thud! Thud!
Twin swords thrown by Hyeokri Yu pierced the man's right forearm and left palm. With his legs already rendered useless by the initial ambush, not a single one of his limbs was now intact. The Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader felt as if invisible shackles were binding his entire body.
"You...!"
The Poison Tiger Stronghold Leader tried to resist, but weakened by poison, his injuries, and the coordinated assault of the Nether-Fathoming Hall that systematically wore him down, the sword wounds covering his body only multiplied.
Splurt!
"Aaaargh!"
Just before he could lose consciousness from blood loss, the simultaneous sword strikes of the Nether-Fathoming Hall members tore his body to shreds.
The murderous intent in Hyeokri Yu's eyes remained undiminished as he watched. Turning his head to look at the sleeping bandits, he gave a silent nod.
A rapid succession of wet sounds—blades piercing flesh—echoed through the stronghold.
The final feast of the Poison Tiger Stronghold came to a quiet end.
* * *
"Jeonggun Fortress, Mokseong Stronghold, and Poison Tiger Stronghold. All of them have fallen?"
"Yes, Grand Stronghold Leader."
"And here I thought I had finally whipped them into shape. I guess not."
Even at the news that three of his strongholds had fallen, Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor, the Grand Stronghold Leader of the Great-Axe Green Forest, merely stroked his bushy beard and frowned, showing no other significant reaction.
"So those Azure Heaven bastards are heading this way now?"
"Yes. Shall we issue a general mobilization order?"
If the Grand Stronghold Leader gave his permission, every Green Forest bandit in Shanxi Province would immediately gather at Taewol Fortress. If that happened, it would be impossible for the Azure Heaven Association to capture the fortress, no matter what tricks they pulled.
"There's no need for that. Those guys have already agreed to lend a hand. We must save our strength to swallow the North Hengshan Sect and Hebei Province."
Lying on a bed covered in tiger skin, Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor leisurely popped a piece of fruit into his mouth.
"They're probably marching here thinking they're getting their revenge, but how could those fools know they've already walked right into a net? I can't wait to see the despair on their foolish faces."
Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor called out to his retreating subordinate.
"Ah. You did hang up the corpse of that slippery bastard properly, didn't you?"
"Of course. Once they see it, the Azure Heaven bastards won't be able to contain their rage and will charge right in."
"Good. Very good."
Left alone, Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor savored the sweet juice bursting in his mouth as he thought of the three Hall Masters.
Iron-Axe Fierce Boar, Kang Gok.
Blood-Drenched Killing Ambush, Hyeokri Yu.
"And finally, Azure Star Sword, Namgung Jun."
Kang Gok and Hyeokri Yu were supreme experts of the Azure Heaven Association who had long made their names known. Their martial arts surely ranked among the very best of the Hall Masters.
Furthermore, judging by the rumors, even Namgung Jun, who was treated as a rising star, seemed to possess extraordinary talent. If the rumors weren't exaggerated, he might turn out to be an even sweeter, fresher fruit than Kang Gok or Hyeokri Yu.
Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor smirked as he looked at the fruit on his plate.
"This should make for a decent plaything. I hope they're satisfying to chop up."
If the three supreme experts had turned out to be empty husks, it would have been quite annoying. But looking at this lineup, it seemed he would have plenty of fun.
"It's been a while since I've drenched myself in blood."
Heaven-Treading Axe Emperor smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the ash-gray axe hanging beside his bed.