Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: The Tower Piercing the Heavens
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Suzhou.
In the city more famously known to Koreans as Pengcheng, construction was in full swing.
Countless corpses hauled all sorts of materials, piling them up without rest. These soulless bodies, neither eating nor sleeping, worked through night and day.
Even if a corpse was crushed flat under a heavy load due to a mishap, it made no difference. The corpses showed no panic or fear, simply continuing their labor.
The structure they were building centered on a massive tower flanked by four statues positioned at set intervals. They had erected triple-layered walls, each with five gates.
Atop the tower that seemed to pierce the heavens lay a flat plaza the size of a baseball field.
And on that plaza, a complex magic circle was being drawn in a red liquid blending mercury and mirrored ink. Hundreds of dead wizards poured every ounce of their lifetime knowledge into perfecting it.
At twelve key points in the magic circle, unholy statues crafted from twelve varieties of gems were slated to be placed.
This wasn't a project thrown together in a day or two. It was a grand undertaking spanning years of meticulous planning and labor. Yet it still needed a bit more time before completion.
"It's almost done."
"Thanks to our lord's boundless grace."
A man sat atop a carriage adorned with gold and jade. His black dragon robe couldn't fully convey his nobility. Even the carriage's splendor was overshadowed by his sheer presence.
The master of the Gonsalok, to whom a million undead legion swore eternal loyalty even after death. Naryun.
All who pledged loyalty to him knew their sovereign's name, yet none dared utter it in irreverence.
"It's not because of my grace, but because you all toiled without rest, day or night, to fulfill my unreasonable demands. How could I have accomplished this great task alone?"
The master of the Gonsalok possessed a body far too vital to call a corpse. No one would doubt it if claimed alive.
"I am truly blessed. Standing firm on this earth with these two legs, backed by loyal retainers who have conquered even death. No foe can make me falter."
"As always, it is our honor to serve you now."
It had been eight years of grand construction. When Naryun first planned it, he hadn't anticipated such a lengthy endeavor.
"The sliver of hope those fleeting mortals cling to will soon meet its end."
"Indeed, it shall."
As Naryun quietly admired the soaring tower, a soldier rushed up and knelt before him.
"I behold the heavens of Gonsalok. For failing decorum in this urgent report, I beg punishment later."
"Speak no such words. How could I punish neglecting formality in dire times? Report at once."
The soldier spoke.
"Impertinent intruders who breached Zaoyun Valley and Sambyeoldong have reached Nanjing. Shanghai seems occupied as well."
"Ah, those ones. Such a pity to waste their talents."
Naryun stroked his chin immediately upon hearing. He already knew the foes and Korea's ploy to send masses of hunters south to form a front line.
Yet their advance outpaced his estimates. Capable enemies were troublesome, but they stirred a desire to claim them.
"Substantial enemy forces have also been spotted near Hefei and Wuhan."
That was no concern. They moved at his predicted pace.
"I thought reaching Nanjing would take longer. I still have much to learn."
"We cannot deny their prowess. But they cannot withstand Gonsalok's legions."
Naryun shook his head slightly.
"Gonsalok's forces are mighty, but I worry they might discern our intent. Nanjing, after all."
At Naryun's words, the one who had just boasted of Gonsalok's strength fell silent, then spoke cautiously.
"My lord seems convinced that man will notice traces left in Nanjing."
"Yes."
Nanjing was crucial. About a century ago, a massive massacre occurred there. Strong grudges empowered all undead.
The deep-seated malice permeating the city had been vital in forming the core of the structure rising in Suzhou.
The problem: the harvested grudge was so vast its remnants lingered.
"But it's fine. Even if they rush, completion will outpace them."
"I see it the same."
Even if those near Nanjing hurried upon sensing something amiss, preparations would be ready by arrival. They couldn't halt Gonsalok's great work.
Upon arriving in Nanjing and scouting, my expression hardened slightly.
"What the hell is this?"
Jung Oh-hoon glanced at me after hearing my mutter.
"What's up? Some kind of trap?"
I shook my head. Not a trap.
"I need to focus. Give me a sec."
Jung Oh-hoon fell silent, and I carefully scanned the surroundings. Massive energy flows leave traces. Of course, they can be concealed if desired.
But anyone with skill or sensitivity to such flows could detect them even if hidden.
"..."
Checking the map, I addressed Jung Oh-hoon and Han Sang-ah.
"Someone forcibly harvested grudges from Nanjing and sent them here."
Suzhou, called Shuzhou in Korean. Not the Three Kingdoms' one, of course. It was Pengcheng back then, site of the famous Pengcheng Battle in Records of the Grand Historian.
"No satellite or aerial photos available?"
Harvesting this much grudge and shipping it to Suzhou meant something big. The Korean government wouldn't slack on monitoring Gonsalok turf... so why hadn't anyone noticed Suzhou's oddity yet?
"I'll request data from command."
I nodded at Han Sang-ah's words.
"Yeah, please. It's urgent."
The harvested grudge volume was ominously massive. Nanjing had a far more infamous event than its days as Jianye, Wu's capital. The Nanjing Massacre. Over a century old, but...
Grudges from the dead don't fully fade in a mere hundred years. They'd scooped up every ounce from that horrific history page. For what?
"Got the satellite photos. Five shots from the last six months."
Satellites had limits, but better than nothing.
I scanned them slowly, then spoke.
"What the fuck have they been doing?"
Speechless. Rubbing my temples as I stared.
"These five photos are identical."
Taken simultaneously? How had these idiots missed this? Was this even possible?
"...You're right."
Jung Oh-hoon looked at me, equally baffled.
"Gonsalok's hiding something in Suzhou?"
"Probably."
Using illusion magic to cloak their Suzhou activities. With the undead wizards' caliber from before, blanketing a city in illusion was feasible.
"Shanghai's secured, Nanjing stabilized."
Plan was to secure here, clash head-on with the undead, then take Langya. But circumstances had shifted drastically.
"Suzhou first."
Now, how to approach. The route to Suzhou allowed joining Hefei's lord's forces. Plus, Suzhou was a gateway to Xuchang and Langya.
I radioed command immediately.
— You're certain something's in Suzhou?
I replied to Woo Il-seop's question.
"Yes. Not just something—something enormous."
Hauling this grudge from Nanjing to Shuzhou? No way nothing was there.
"We need to hit Suzhou first, coordinating with the Hefei lord."
Smash Suzhou, then resume advances. No issue. Soon, a response.
— Hunters under Hefei's lord aren't keen on cooperating.
"...What?"
What nonsense. No cooperation? How much clearer could I make the threat?
— Hefei sent scouts; threats are nil from Fuyang through Bozhou to Shangqiu.
"So?"
Woo Il-seop answered.
— Suzhou's suspicious, sure, but they calculate the lord can reach Heze in five days with rapid advance.
So what? Does arriving end the war?
— Hefei plans to achieve their objective first, then assist Suzhou.
I nearly hurled the radio. Clever bastards.
They figured I'd spot anomalies upon Nanjing arrival. So they cleared the lord's path to lure.
'Ignore that guy, just push straight ahead? Path's empty. Blitz through! Come on over!'
Such temptation.
"Cooperating after their goal might be too late."
— I'll push for cooperation... but I think Hefei's right this time.
I pinched my nose bridge at Woo Il-seop's words. I got it. If played right, the lord's forces could punch straight through enemy lines.
Strategic gains from breaching the front were huge. Couldn't fault Woo Il-seop or Hefei prioritizing objectives.
— Hefei's goal wraps in five days minimum, ten max, considering the situation. Command notes Suzhou's oddity thanks to Hunter Yoo Chan-seok. But ten days' buffer, right?
Plus, Hefei wasn't refusing outright—just achieve goal, then divert some units to help.
— Post-breach, Hefei aiding Suzhou takeover actually eases it.
Hefei breaks through, wheels back to Suzhou. Pincer move. Strategic boon if breach succeeds.
Command and Hefei weren't dumb, ignoring me. They had reasons, figuring ten days' delay on Suzhou was fine.
"...Understood. But from now, we prioritize Suzhou over our objective."
No choice. I'd leverage every asset to assault Suzhou, uncover what brewed there.
If scouting showed ten days' delay was safe, I'd concede command's judgment.