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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Ambush at Pyungjeong Mountain
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The night deepened.
The two escort guards on night watch bulged their eyes, vigilantly scanning every direction. In an escort caravan, nothing was more crucial than the night watch. Nighttime ambushes and thefts happened all too often.
Around the cargo, the only people still awake were those on watch—not just the escort guards, but two Tang Family warriors as well. Of course, they exchanged not a single word with the guards and stood watch in an entirely different manner.
And one man remained standing still. Dan Hyeong-u.
"Heh, really. Looks like he truly has no intention of sleeping."
"Yeah. No idea how he's planning to keep up tomorrow. We're fine, but for these untrained porters, it'll be pure hell."
"If they can't keep pace, Escort Leader Ma's temper will just kick them out without mercy. Kinda feel bad for them."
"Tsk tsk. Still, no clue what he's so anxious about, standing there like that."
"Who knows. Maybe something happened among the porters."
The guards' conversation reached the ears of the Tang Family warriors intact. But they didn't utter a single word in response, merely sweeping their sharp gazes across the surroundings. This escort mission was so vital that it could decide the Tang Family's fate.
One of the Tang warriors' eyes lingered on Dan Hyeong-u for a moment. But only briefly—then he resumed scanning the area meticulously.
Thus, the first night passed without incident.
Ma Yuk glanced at Dan Hyeong-u, a glint in his eye. He'd clearly pulled an all-nighter. According to the guards on watch, Dan Hyeong-u had remained standing until they themselves turned in. Since every watchman said the same, the conclusion was clear: he'd stayed up all night.
Yet Dan Hyeong-u's movements showed no difference from the other porters. Despite the grueling forced march, he kept pace without complaint or falling behind.
"Hmm. Quite the resilient fellow."
Ma Yuk muttered to himself and promptly shifted his attention away from Dan Hyeong-u. The escort had only just begun. He had mountains of other concerns ahead.
Though they'd taken it slow the first day, the second day's forced march got them to the outskirts of Pyungjeong Mountain before the sun even began to set. Mountain paths were vastly different from flat terrain.
Pulling wagons loaded with heavy cargo required solid preparation. They weren't venturing deep into the mountains—just skirting the foothills—but a thorough check was still essential.
Ma Yuk ordered his men to quickly inspect the wagons, then set off immediately. Their pace was far better than usual today, speeding up the journey. They needed to cover as much ground as possible on days like this to avoid delays later.
From Heyang's Huchang, where the Henan Escort Bureau was based, to their destination in Sichuan's Chengdu, ordinary escort services budgeted forty days. But the Henan Escort Bureau could make it in a month. That feat had proudly earned them a spot among the Five Great Escort Bureaus of the World.
"Hurry up! We're crossing Pyungjeong Mountain today!"
Ma Yuk's shout twisted the porters' faces. It felt like excessive pushing, but he occasionally drove them like this, so they had no choice but to endure.
The caravan entered the mountain path. About half a shichen later, Tang Cheol-gi raised one hand and called out softly.
"Halt!"
At Tang Cheol-gi's command, Ma Yuk hurriedly relayed orders to the porters and guards, bringing the caravan to a full stop.
"Wh-what's going on?"
Tang Cheol-gi ignored Ma Yuk's question and turned to the elder beside him.
"Uncle, what should we do?"
"Looks like Greenwoods bandits. Let's observe the situation a bit longer."
Tang Cheol-gi nodded slightly at the elder's words.
"Understood."
With that, he signaled the surrounding Tang warriors with his eyes. They nodded in acknowledgment.
Moments later, a raucous laugh echoed thunderously through the foothills.
"Uahaha! Looks like some real VIPs showed up! Uahaha!"
The laughter brimmed with inner energy. It didn't faze the Tang warriors, but the escort guards paled slightly and hurriedly circulated their qi.
"Come on now, you know you can't just pass through Greenwoods territory for free. Be good and unload everything, then scram. We'll spare your lives."
The man who stepped out, blocking the path as he spoke, was the epitome of a bandit. His wild beard covered everything below his nose, and he casually slung a massive cleaver over his shoulder with one hand. His bear-like bulk radiated overwhelming presence.
"Didn't I make myself clear? Get moving!"
As the man bellowed again, Ma Yuk stepped forward hastily.
"We're from the Henan Escort Bureau. I hope this appeases the Greenwoods hero's anger."
Ma Yuk tossed a pouch from his bosom. It flew straight into the man's hand. Without checking it, he pocketed it.
"Anger's appeased. Now drop the goods and scram."
Ma Yuk's face darkened at the man's words. Normally, bandits blocking an escort would take a reasonable toll and withdraw. But this one clearly had no intention of following custom. Fury colored Ma Yuk's features. Before he could unleash his rage-filled shout, however, the man's hand swept out dramatically.
Whoosh!
His cleaver slashed horizontally, unleashing a ferocious blade qi.
Scree!
Ma Yuk hurriedly raised his sword to block the incoming blade qi.
Boom!
The blade qi dispersed, but Ma Yuk staggered back wildly. Its power had been immense.
"Urk!"
As Ma Yuk groaned, the escort guards leaped into action, forming a formation around the cargo. No matter what, they had to protect the goods.
"Kuhahaha! What can a mere Henan Escort Bureau do?!"
At the man's manic shout, figures sprang up from rocks and bushes around them. They all wore typical bandit garb, but the sharp glint in their eyes betrayed them.
"These aren't ordinary folk."
Tang Cheol-gi muttered, and the first man laughed loudly.
"Kuhahaha! You think we're ordinary bandits?! We're proud heroes listed in the Greenwoods roster! Kuhaha!"
"Greenwoods? Is that really all?"
The elder beside Tang Cheol-gi eyed the man with profound suspicion. The bandit flinched under that gaze but soon scowled and roared.
"Of course! Old man! You're first on my kill list!"
The man charged, swinging his massive cleaver. But he was woefully outmatched against the elder.
Pfft!
Something shot from the elder's hand straight into the charging man's forehead.
"Hidden weapon!"
The bandit panicked, raising his cleaver to deflect it—but the projectile was far too fast.
Thud!
A small hole pierced the bandit's forehead. He toppled forward.
Thump!
The elder swept his killing intent over the encircling men.
"Anyone else want a hole in their head?"
The bandits' eyes burned fierce, but none dared step forward.
"Impressive. The Tang Family indeed."
Someone muttered from amid the bandits as they walked out. All eyes turned. A black-clad man in his forties, with a cold demeanor, stood there.
"Greenwoods alone won't cut it."
The man smirked chillingly—enough to send chills down Tang Cheol-gi's spine. But the elder was one of the Tang Family's top figures.
"And what if you step up? Think you can handle the Tang Family? No—me, Tang Ho-gwan?"
"Ho, didn't expect a Tang elder on this job. That cargo must be something special."
Tang Ho-gwan glared icily at the man's mocking tone.
Pfft!
His hand twitched faintly, and a hidden weapon streaked toward the man's forehead like lightning. But the man swept his hand through the air, drawing it right to him.
"Hand arrow? Drilling a hole with something so small—truly a Tang elder."
Bloodlust flickered in the man's eyes.
"Guess we should return the courtesy."
No sooner had he spoken than black-clad figures burst from the bandits' ranks. Thirty in all, they swung their swords in unison, lunging at the Tang warriors.
Clang clang clang!
The fight erupted amid shrill clashes of metal.
Tang Ho-gwan's eyes widened in shock. He'd handpicked elites—ones he'd stake his name on anywhere in the martial world. Yet they were being pushed back. No, overwhelmed. The black-clad foes were horrifyingly skilled.
"What the hell are you?!"
Tang Ho-gwan bellowed with full qi. The infused shout crashed toward the black-clad man before him, but he dispersed it with a casual wave. Then he lunged.
That signaled the encircling bandits. They charged with their assorted weapons, targeting the escort guards.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
Weapons clashed everywhere. The guards were skilled, but the bandits were no slouches—and there were simply too many.
The other guards held on grimly, but Hyeong Pyo, the weakest, soon fell into peril.
"Urk!"
A sharp sword grazed Hyeong Pyo's shoulder. He gritted his teeth and swung to parry.
Clang!
A rat-eyed bandit sneered murderously at the sight. Sensing weakness, his killing intent thickened.
Slash slash!
His sword snaked toward Hyeong Pyo like a viper.
Clang! Clang!
Hyeong Pyo blocked twice, but the third thrust at his heart was unavoidable. Desperation and despair filled his eyes.
And then lightning struck.
Flash!
Hyeong Pyo stared in astonishment at the rat-eyed bandit, bisected sword and all. Slowly, he turned to Dan Hyeong-u beside him, exuding a mountain-like aura.
Dan Hyeong-u stood silently by Hyeong Pyo, surveying the surroundings. Guards were dying one by one. Their skills were unquestionable, but the bandits' numbers overwhelmed them. The bandits trampled their own dead, swinging weapons relentlessly.
"Argh!"
"Urk!"
Screams rang out in succession. Most guards fell. Escort Leader Ma Yuk still fought on, but even he wouldn't last with five bandits around him.
Hyeong Pyo steadied his breathing and glanced at Dan Hyeong-u. Even as guards died, he showed no sign of moving—save for saving Hyeong Pyo from death.
"What? Hiding behind a porter?"
A raspy-voiced bandit approached Hyeong Pyo. Startled, Hyeong Pyo looked up. The bandit sneered and lunged, cleaver raised.
Flash!
Before the cleaver reached Hyeong Pyo, lightning fell. Like the first victim, the bandit split in two with his weapon.
Only then did the bandits' attention turn to Dan Hyeong-u.
"What's this? A porter?"
They'd nearly wiped the guards, yet nearly fifty bandits remained. Some battled Ma Yuk, others encircled to prevent escapes, and five approached Dan Hyeong-u and Hyeong Pyo.
"A porter with a sword..."
One bandit smirked, twirling his cleaver. Wary of their dead comrade, he didn't charge alone—planning to strike together.
The five surrounded Dan Hyeong-u and Hyeong Pyo. Two more bandits, eyes bloodshot, advanced on the porters.
"You plan to kill the porters too?"
Hyeong Pyo shouted. One bandit chuckled.
"Think we'll let them live? We've killed all the guards—what reason to spare porters?"
The bandit lunged at the porters, cleaver arcing down. The trapped porter was none other than Jong Chil.
Jong Chil paled. He couldn't even dream of dodging. His martial arts training was barely at crawling stage. How could he evade a bandit slaughtering elite guards?
Flash!
The cleaver about to sever Jong Chil's neck shattered like lightning. Its wielder slowly bisected.
Dan Hyeong-u eyed Jong Chil impassively, then turned to his encircled foes. Killing intent mingled with fear from their bodies.
Feeling it, Dan Hyeong-u's lips twitched into the faintest smile—barely noticeable, yet chilling to onlookers.
That single stroke put the bandits on high alert. No one had seen Dan Hyeong-u move. Well, they had seen movement.
Turning his head to Jong Chil and raising his sword was clear. But after? Lightning fell, his sword back in place, a corpse appeared.
The bandits hesitated to charge the porters. Dan Hyeong-u was priority.
"What are you waiting for? He's alone! Rush him together—he can't handle us all! Half take the porters, half him!"
Someone shouted. At the signal, fifty-odd bandits surged forward. Porters or Hyeong Pyo might slip the net, but it was their only shot.
As the bandits lunged with billowing killing intent, light flashed in Dan Hyeong-u's eyes.
Crackle crackle!
Lightning rained down relentlessly, like a downpour. Without a millimeter's error, it struck each bandit's crown.