novelraw Chapter 206 : The Sichuan Turmoil (2)
Chapter 206 : The Sichuan Turmoil (2)
Chapter 206: The Turmoil of Sichuan(2)
Kwaarrrr—!
Blazing flames raged as a poisonous cloud flowed down across the battlefield.
It was not only the commanders, Tang Muyeol and Jin Mubek, who were enduring the war.
“Southern valley access route sealed!”
“We will tighten the encirclement!”
“Next, move toward the bypass!”
“Guide them to the third ridge point!!”
Another main force of this battlefield were the martial artists of the Tang Clan—those who had endured relentless training until now to crush enemies who dared covet the Tang Clan, and who had strived to understand Tang Sewoon’s will and fight alongside it.
[All members of the Dark Flower Unit, hidden weapons launched!]
[Mind the backlash of the airflow—on signal, fire everything at once!]
As they herded the enemies into a trap, transmissions continued between the warriors of the Dark Flower Unit.
With everyone holding their breath, the martial artists of the Lee Trading Company cautiously surveyed their surroundings and advanced toward the target point, completely unaware.
“Damn it……!”
“Where the hell are these rat bastards hiding?!”
“As expected of unorthodox scum. Such cowardly tactics!”
One step. Two steps.
The moment they walked straight into the place of their own deaths.
“Now!”
“All units, attack!!”
“……!!”
“W-What is this?!”
Sssshhhaeek!
Chwaaaah!
A deafening shockwave roar erupted from all directions.
Like a meteor shower falling from the night sky, countless throwing hidden weapons—too many to even count—poured down like a torrential rain (暴雨).
The combat unit of the Lee Trading Company was a force lavishly prepared with the financial might of the Four Great Trading Companies of the Central Plains—they had inherited all manner of expensive spiritual medicines and martial arts, and had recruited outstanding martial artists to train them. It was, without exaggeration, the most splendidly equipped military force in the Central Plains.
But……
“Kheughh!”
“B-Blood… kuhuk!”
Child-Mother Pellets, iron arrows, life-severing awls, sleeve-hidden swords…….
All kinds of chilling hidden weapons pierced straight through the enemies’ soft flesh and embedded themselves into the ground.
Pyushh!!
Though the Lee Trading Company’s martial artists all wore protective qi, the outer layers of their bodies—hardened as if clad in iron armor—were torn apart with utter helplessness.
Blood spilled from their entire bodies, flooding the ground.
“Dark Flower Unit, annihilate the enemy to the last man!!”
“These vermin dare covet the Sichuan Tang Clan!”
“I’ll make you regret it even in death!!”
In contrast, the martial might of the Tang Clan’s elite unit—the Dark Flower Unit—had risen to a level incomparable to the past.
Perfect instruction designed by Yeo Seon, tailored to each individual’s traits.
And on top of that, Sewoon personally observed their martial arts and directly dismantled and reconstructed their core techniques so they could advance in a better direction.
This fraudulent synergy inevitably caused the foundational martial prowess of all Tang Clan warriors—including the Dark Flower Unit—to surge dramatically.
Moreover, their strength was not limited to their raw martial power alone.
“Gguhk, keuk!”
“Khulugh, ggueeeek!!”
Without exception, the enemies’ complexions turned deathly blue as they dropped their weapons and clutched their own throats with both hands.
When a hidden weapon struck, it did not merely leave a wound.
Countless extreme poisons derived from the research of Sewoon and Serin spread throughout the body via the bloodstream.
“Kkeuaaaak!!”
“Keoghk!!”
Even the hidden weapons that were not imbued with poison carried all manner of horrific ‘curses’ and ‘sorcery’.
Through exchanges with the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden, the leader of the Shrine Maiden Sect, Sewoon’s skills in crafting sorcery tools had also improved at a rapid pace.
The strategy of not only coating hidden weapons supplied to the Sichuan Tang Clan with poison, but also embedding them with curse-laden spell tools, was achieving tremendous success in this war.
It was no exaggeration to say that the martial artists of the Sichuan Tang Clan were now the most powerful practical military force on this land.
And yet, amid the exploits of countless Tang Clan members who risked their lives to defend their clan—
‘……No, it’s not advantageous at all. This is still not enough.’
One man’s expression was exceedingly dark.
Slash!
With a single sword strike, an enemy’s waist was split cleanly in two, their body flung skyward.
In Tang Muyeol’s eyes, which surveyed the entire flow of the battlefield, there was no trace of satisfaction at securing victory.
The only emotions that surfaced were unmistakably ‘worry’ and ‘concern’.
Just as it was difficult to grasp the reason—
Puuoong!
Suddenly, a thunderous explosion rang out from the southwestern ridge, and red smoke rose into the air.
“R-Retreat!”
“It’s the retreat order! All forces, retreat immediately!!”
Upon hearing the signal, the Lee Trading Company’s troops lit up with joy and began fleeing in panic, not even looking back.
Watching their utterly pathetic 모습—
Waaaah!!
The Tang Clan’s martial artists raised their weapons high and erupted in cheers.
Their morale soared sky-high, yet Tang Muyeol’s gaze remained fixed beyond the retreating enemy lines.
‘Lee Jamyeong and the Kongtong Sect are not the real problem.’
Neither Lee Jamyeong, the master of the Lee Trading Company, nor Myeongwolja, the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, inspired fear.
The one existence that kept Tang Muyeol’s nerves stretched taut was only a single man.
The Golden Wave Dignitary, Roh Gyeongmyeong.
It was because of the absolute powerhouse of the enemy camp who had displayed terrifying might in the first battle—only to suddenly vanish thereafter.
The martial prowess shown by Roh Gyeongmyeong, one of the Ten Great Experts Under Heaven, was utterly overwhelming.
If Jin Mubek and Tang Muyeol had not barely bought a sliver of time through their all-out combined assault and ordered a full retreat of their forces, the damage would have been catastrophic.
And yet, despite such overwhelming strength—
Why had he not shown himself since?
The reason was unclear.
The fact that an opponent capable of single-handedly overturning the battlefield had abruptly disappeared felt deeply ominous to Tang Muyeol.
‘……Why is he not moving?’
‘Is he conserving his strength? Or could it be that he has bypassed this battlefield and gone elsewhere?’
Tang Muyeol felt his mouth go dry as he let out a low murmur.
‘……Just how long can we endure?’
A question that no one could easily answer—
Was slowly eating away at his inner self.
Kwaaang!
Inside the Lee Trading Company’s encampment, a massive cracking explosion echoed within the commander’s tent.
“Why on earth were you not deploying!!”
The Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, Myeongwolja, the Demon-Suppressing Charcoal Sword, shouted in a sharp voice.
It seemed he had slammed his fist down onto the table, which had shattered into pieces.
“This is different from the contract! Do you have any idea what kind of damage the Kongtong Sect’s disciples suffered in your place because of your sudden behavior!!”
Those words were directed straight at the Golden Wave Dignitary, Roh Gyeongmyeong, who was clad in a dazzling golden martial robe.
However, despite the other’s agitation, Roh Gyeongmyeong replied in a voice devoid of even the slightest remorse.
“Keuk keuk, haven’t I told you several times already? The situation has changed, so the conditions of the contract must change as well.”
“What kind of nonsense is that?!”
“Hoo, to think it was Flame King Jin Mubek. If I were to recklessly jump in again……”
Roh Gyeongmyeong continued, theatrically trembling as if merely imagining it terrified him.
“I might end up seriously injured myself. It’s just too frightening, you see.”
“Hah! Jin Mubek has yet to reach your realm! Are you saying you intend to break the contract for such a trivial reason?!”
“Oh my, breaking it? Didn’t I say it was a change in the contract’s conditions?”
“Y-You!!”
Leaving behind Myeongwolja, who was grinding his teeth—
The last man, who had been quietly observing this absurd situation, calmly joined the conversation.
“What exactly are you trying to pull?”
It was Lee Jamyeong, the master of the Lee Trading Company.
He continued in a voice heavy with gloom.
“Are you raising your price at this point?”
“Keuk keuk, as expected, a merchant’s instincts are sharp. I like that.”
“Listen here!!”
Lee Jamyeong instantly grasped Roh Gyeongmyeong’s intention.
The word ‘golden’ attached to his alias carried the Jianghu’s mockery within it.
Roh Gyeongmyeong acted strictly based on his own interests.
Obsessively fixated on wealth, he was infamous in the Jianghu for nitpicking and raising his commission fee multiple times even in the midst of a request.
Even while innocent people lost their lives and bled because he failed to uphold his promises—
The Golden Wave Dignitary only desired greater compensation.
‘That damned bastard……!’
Because Kongtong Sect disciples had died, killing intent overflowed from Myeongwolja.
‘If only my martial realm had crossed the threshold of the Manifestation Realm……!’
However, reality was clear.
Roh Gyeongmyeong’s realm was none other than complete mastery of the Manifestation Realm.
Before that vast gap, Myeongwolja swallowed his resentment.
“How much will it take?”
At Lee Jamyeong’s words, Roh Gyeongmyeong gave an unpleasant smile and held up three fingers.
“Triple.”
“……!!”
“T-Three times? Have you truly gone mad?!”
Lee Jamyeong’s pupils trembled for the first time, and Myeongwolja’s neck veins bulged the moment he heard the commission.
The original payment offered to Roh Gyeongmyeong was already beyond imagination.
It was enough money to buy an entire city outright.
Yet three times that amount—this crossed the line by far.
Still, Roh Gyeongmyeong merely shrugged, as if he were not the one growing anxious.
“Hm, if this drags on any longer, the Tang Clan Head will return. Then the damage and losses will increase beyond comparison. Are you fine with that?”
“-!!”
Rumors had already spread throughout the Central Plains that Sewoon, who had taken control of Guizhou, was sweeping through Heaven-Piercing Gang.
Of course, the complete destruction of Heaven-Piercing Gang would be unrealistic.
But if Heaven-Piercing Gang, alarmed by unexpected losses, were to propose peace and the fight ended emptily under acceptable terms—
‘……That would truly be the worst possible outcome.’
If the Golden Wave Dignitary, who accounted for over half of the Lee Trading Company’s combat power, withdrew, and the Blood-Thread Tyrant arrived, an utterly disastrous situation could unfold.
Because Roh Gyeongmyeong knew this, he was acting so brazenly.
Roh Gyeongmyeong’s eyes gleamed like those of a beast filled with greed.
And then—
“Fine. I’ll give you what you want.”
“M-Master!”
“Kuhahaha! As expected of the owner of one of the Four Great Trading Companies. Very decisive.”
Astonishingly, Lee Jamyeong accepted the proposal.
Roh Gyeongmyeong let out a satisfied laugh.
Having secured all his conditions, he slowly rose and draped his blood-colored robe over himself.
“Now then, I should go prepare for the next deployment. You made a good choice, Master. In the next battle, I will return with the heads of both Tang Muyeol and Jin Mubek.”
“…….”
After leaving those final words behind, Roh Gyeongmyeong disappeared.
Left alone inside the tent, Lee Jamyeong and Myeongwolja were unable to speak for quite some time.
Eventually, Myeongwolja slowly asked first.
“……Do you truly intend to pay all that enormous sum?”
In this war without justification, the Lee Trading Company had already burned through vast funds from the very beginning.
If they were to pay such a commission on top of that—
‘……It wouldn’t be a simple loss. The very foundation of the Lee Trading Company could be shaken.’
And then—
Sseuk.
Lee Jamyeong spoke with a chilling smile.
“Do you really think so?”
“Pardon?”
Confusion surfaced on Myeongwolja’s face.
“If you’ve changed your mind, you should cancel the request immediately—”
“No. I will use him. Without his strength, killing Jin Mubek is impossible.”
“T-Then the commission……?”
“We simply create a situation where payment is unnecessary.”
“……What?”
Lee Jamyeong followed up with a shocking statement.
“I will use the Thunderburst Bomb.”
“!!”
At those words, Myeongwolja’s eyes went wide.
And understandably so.
A Thunderburst Bomb!
A horrific calamity whose creator, time, and method were all unknown—a bomb containing terrifying power formed from an unidentifiable fusion of dreadful sorcery and explosives.
It possessed destructive power capable of killing even Manifestation Realm martial artists, but its unimaginable might meant that the moment it was used, the wielder would be declared a Murim Public Enemy.
“N-No, Master! Do you not know that using a Thunderburst Bomb will result in being declared a Murim Public Enemy?!”
“Murim Public Enemy?”
Myeongwolja urgently tried to stop him, but Lee Jamyeong’s gaze had already gone cold.
Lee Jamyeong sneered as he spoke.
“The world has been torn into dozens of fragments and fallen into chaos. Now, everyone is already everyone else’s Murim Public Enemy.”
His voice was calm, yet it resonated with icy force.
“In a world drowned in ink-black darkness, there is no longer any distinction between black and white.”
“……!!”
He’s insane. Lee Jamyeong has truly gone mad.
Myeongwolja could not suppress his fear as he looked at him.
“I will prepare the place where the Thunderburst Bomb will be planted in advance.”
“…….”
“I’ll detonate it when all the fighting is about to end, killing every last Tang Clan bastard—along with the Golden Wave Dignitary.”
“!!”
Madness burned in Lee Jamyeong’s eyes.
“And I will wait for Tang Sewoon, who will return after entering the Tang Clan without shedding blood, standing atop his father’s corpse.”