Chapter 107
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Charge!
Three Spirit Lord's goal was singular.
Eliminate Gong Mu-hyeok and Gong So-yu.
That was why they charged straight toward one place.
By the time they reached Wu-chang, it was already deep into the night.
Without the slightest hesitation, they scaled the walls of Wu-chang Castle and slipped inside.
They had already thoroughly memorized the location of the inn where Gong Mu-hyeok was staying.
From all directions, they headed straight there.
The Dragon Training Pavilion lay nowhere along that path.
They had excluded all routes that passed through the Dragon Training Pavilion.
It was a faint hope that Ha Mu-baek might not get involved, so they avoided any path that could provoke him.
In that way, over a hundred men surrounded the annex of the inn.
The Alliance Leader's escort squad was caught off guard.
Around a hundred masked figures had suddenly appeared and rushed toward the annex.
They noticed too late, leaving no time to respond before being encircled.
Even if they had known in advance, the sheer numbers would have made it impossible anyway.
Dressed in black night clothes, they stared coldly at the annex.
The escort squad leader gritted his teeth.
What in the world was happening?
"Just as you said..."
Gong Son Mu-oe spoke, sensing the presences of the numerous enemies surrounding the annex.
Ha Mu-baek had found them about two hours ago.
He'd apologized for being late due to preparations.
The unbelievable news he brought then.
The remnants of the Demonic Cult were targeting Gong Mu-hyeok and Gong So-yu and heading here—it was too hard to believe.
At that time, Ha Mu-baek had presented two options.
Either move to another location or wait here and face them.
He added that whichever they chose, he would definitely protect them.
Since night had already fallen, they opted to stay and defend rather than relocate, and waited.
Gong Mu-hyeok had informed the escort squad.
Intelligence indicated someone was targeting them and approaching.
The escort squad leader had half-listened, half-ignored.
There was no way around it—the Alliance Leader vetted everyone he met.
No one would leak such intelligence.
"What is this..."
The escort squad leader's face was etched with dismay.
Where had these people come from to surround them?
They had spotted the approaching group only when they were about thirty zhang away.
Their presence was one thing, but with so many, their movement was visible to the naked eye.
Even on a deep night, clad in night clothes.
"Squad Leader. What do we do?"
The escort squad here numbered only fifteen.
Fifteen against what looked like over two hundred—it was hopeless.
A terrifying aura emanated from those encircling the annex.
And across the distance, their desperate resolve was palpable.
They seemed even more tense than the defenders.
Inexplicable.
Still, duty was duty.
No matter their purpose, they were the Alliance Leader's escort squad.
"Hold position. Block any who approach with everything you've got."
"Wouldn't it be better to find an escape route..."
The squad leader shook his head at his subordinate's words.
"Can't you feel their resolve? No escaping that. Better we meet them with our own desperation and hold the line."
His subordinate's expression flickered.
"Understood."
As he turned to relay the order, his face twisted.
This wasn't why he'd come all this way.
Dying pointlessly here blocking them would turn the Vice Alliance Leader's promises to dust.
The Third Spirit Lord gazed at the annex with complicated eyes.
Even at this distance, he could clearly sense it.
He'd hoped otherwise, but there he was.
His overwhelming presence felt like it was tearing flesh from bone.
The Myriad Alliance fools guarding the annex seemed oblivious to who lurked behind them.
'They were meant for surveillance from the start...'
He knew they were Vice Alliance Leader Gong Do-hyeok's men.
He'd steeled himself to come here.
Made preparations.
Yet facing that monster now, doubts crept in.
Should he abandon it all and retreat even now? The thought surfaced in the Third Spirit Lord's mind.
That was why, even after arriving, he watched silently for a full incense stick's time.
A silent standoff, no one moving first.
But they couldn't stay like this forever.
"Charge."
With the Third Spirit Lord's low command, the Demonic Cult warriors leaped toward the annex.
Eerie sword gleams rose from all sides.
"Hold with everything! Don't let a single one through!"
The escort squad leader bellowed the order, drawing his sword with gritted teeth.
How many could they stop?
Then, one of the escort squad moved first.
In the direction away from the annex.
The one who'd suggested finding a retreat earlier.
'Idiot...'
Surrounded on all sides. Running alone like that...
"Argh!!"
A scream as an oncoming enemy's sword pierced his chest.
That was the end for him.
'Well, dying here today—all of us—it's all the same anyway.'
As that thought crossed the squad leader's mind.
Boom!
A massive crash—the annex roof shattered as a figure soared high into the air.
The moment he appeared, the enemies' momentum shifted.
Their gazes, charging toward the annex, snapped to him in unison.
"Get inside and protect the Alliance Leader's family."
The voice rang clearly in the escort squad's ears.
Not broadcast far, but transmitted via inner energy solely to them—like a command.
Yet it carried irresistible force.
The squad leader unwittingly echoed it to his men.
"Inside! Protect the Alliance Leader!"
At the squad leader's order, the escort squad swiftly moved into the annex.
"Half to the annex! Half on the enemy!"
At the Third Spirit Lord's command, half the men heading to the annex veered toward Ha Mu-baek.
"Pathetic."
Ha Mu-baek, high in the air, swung both arms.
Silver streaks pierced the deep night's darkness, shooting in all directions.
Daggers Ha Mu-baek had prepared.
For him, nothing beat daggers against multiple foes alone.
Over a hundred daggers infused with his full inner energy flew in an instant.
"Ugh."
"Argh."
"Aaaah."
Screams erupted from all sides.
Especially from those trying to enter the annex—more screams burst there.
The hundred daggers felled a hundred enemies.
Ninety-odd of them were those heading to the annex.
'That should hold them for a bit.'
With fourteen escorts, plus Gong Son Mu-oe and Gong Son Hwa-kyeong inside, it shouldn't be dire.
He'd gauged the surviving ten foes' skill levels and those inside before concluding.
Descending slowly via skywalk, Ha Mu-baek eyed the eighty-odd charging at him.
Eleven still hung back, observing.
"Ridiculous."
Ha Mu-baek drew his sword.
And kicked off the air.
His form shot forward in an instant.
Each flash of Ha Mu-baek's sword.
"Argh."
"Ugh."
"Ack!"
Screams followed.
Demonic Cultists fell like autumn leaves.
They gritted teeth, slashing and thrusting at Ha Mu-baek, but he evaded and parried effortlessly.
Even targeting head and legs simultaneously—he vanished in a blink.
Swords stabbing from all eight directions—he batted them away in a heartbeat.
His counters felled the cultists mercilessly.
His blade was fierce, cruel.
No mercy—severing their lives in one stroke.
"Hmph..."
The Third Spirit Lord groaned, watching.
Monsters remained monsters.
His subordinates, whom he'd raised with all his might over the years, crumbling like this.
"Hm?"
That instant.
Ha Mu-baek's form halted abruptly.
Then vanished from the spot.
Ha Mu-baek raced toward the annex at breakneck speed.
Sensing the change, the Third Spirit Lord saw his chance.
"Follow and strike!"
At his command, he and his ten subordinates leaped toward Ha Mu-baek.
The reason Ha Mu-baek turned was simple.
The situation inside the annex had shifted.
The escort squad suddenly collapsed.
They'd been holding well, but a gap opened in one spot, and they fell like dominoes.
Even battling cultists, he'd kept his senses on the annex—spotting it immediately.
Crash!
Bursting through the wall, Ha Mu-baek entered and swung his sword.
The blade flying at Gong Mu-hyeok shattered.
Ha Mu-baek swiftly positioned himself in front of Gong Mu-hyeok's group.
All escorts but one lay fallen.
One escort warrior encircled Gong Mu-hyeok's group alongside the cultists.
He was the problem.
The escort squad leader clutched his chest, kneeling, gasping.
"Un-yeol... y-you, why..."
Disbelief filled his eyes.
They'd been holding, but he'd suddenly turned, striking their backs.
The cultists, like manna from heaven, aided him in slaughtering the escorts.
This was the result.
It happened in a flash.
If Ha Mu-baek hadn't arrived, Gong Mu-hyeok would be dead.
Gong So-yu fumbled in her bosom, biting her lip.
Gong Mu-hyeok gripped her hand tightly.
Gong Son Mu-oe and Gong Son Hwa-kyeong's swords dripped unknown blood.
"You. Not a Demonic Cult vermin, are you?"
Ha Mu-baek eyed the one called Un-yeol.
"Hm? Demonic Cult? Ah, so these guys are Demonic Cult? Thought they vanished after the last war. Heh."
He seemed unaware his companions were Demonic Cult from the start.
"Then why...?"
The squad leader asked, eyes full of doubt.
The life in his eyes was fading.
"Simple. Got a commission. Kill the Alliance Leader and his daughter. Just two days ago? Heh heh."
"Y-you, an escort..."
"Escort? Ha. I was just here for the pay. Now I kill those two, collect my promised gold, done."
Un-yeol grinned amusedly.
"Who commissioned you?"
Ha Mu-baek asked coldly.
"Dunno if I can say."
Un-yeol's face brimmed with mischief.
The squad leader burned with rage.
A subordinate and comrade he'd trusted for over a year—a bastard like this.
And a fool who couldn't gauge the enemy's strength.
How did trash like him join the Myriad Alliance escort squad?
As that thought trailed.
The squad leader's eyes trembled finely.
He recalled how Un-yeol had joined.
But the squad leader had little life left.
He gazed desperately at Ha Mu-baek.
When Ha Mu-baek had soared into the air earlier, he'd glimpsed his strength.
He could deal with the traitor.
Reading the desperation, Ha Mu-baek nodded lightly.
The squad leader's gaze turned to Gong Mu-hyeok.
Gathering his last strength, he sent a transmission.
[Un-yeol joined the escort squad on the Vice Alliance Leader's recommendation...]
That was it.
The squad leader's life ended.
He collapsed to the floor.
"Tch tch. Pathetic fool."
As Un-yeol smirked and muttered.
Stab.
A sword plunged into his chest.