novelraw Chapter 32 : Chapter 32
Chapter 32 : Chapter 32
Chapter 32 - The Tang Family’s Last Dagger (3)
“The Illusion Formation has been broken. Only the mechanisms remain, but time is too short.”
Tang Il-bi, looking around, shouted loudly.
“Evacuate to the secret passage! Leave all belongings behind. The Tang Family members must provide swift support so the villagers can escape first.”
“Understood!”
At Tang Il-bi’s words, the people dressed in green clothes, who were lined up nearby, quickly disappeared.
“You all should evacuate to the passage as well. You don’t wish for the Tang Family to become your grave, do you?”
At the words thrown by Tang Il-bi, Yeon Seung-il looked at the closed gate of the Tang Family.
“……It is a life that should have ended when Hainan fell anyway. I don’t see any hope in the Murim Alliance anymore either. Rather than living in darkness like this, I think it wouldn’t be bad to die beating up Cult bastards alongside a close friend.”
Tang Il-bi slapped Yeon Seung-il’s back with a smack.
“Don’t talk nonsense! There is surely a place other than here where you can fulfill your role properly before you lay down to rest. Do you not see your squad members? This is where I will lay down. Stop talking weak nonsense and get out quickly!”
Yeon Seung-il turned his head toward Baek-myo.
“Baek-myo. Take Hyeon-dam and Jaun and move to the passage immediately. I will stay here to help Il-bi and buy a little more time. Escape as far away as possible.”
At Yeon Seung-il’s words, Baek-myo looked back at Hyeon-dam and Jaun, then sighed.
“These are the two guys who tried to put me to sleep when the Squad Leader wasn’t around so they could run out beyond the stone wall to die.
Do you think they will run away just because you tell me to take them now? Well, I will run away faster than anyone when the time comes, so don’t be upset then.”
Yeon Seung-il, looking at Baek-myo, clicked his tongue. Tsk.
“Anyway, I have never seen you listen properly. I am grateful that you have performed reckless missions without refusal until now. But right now is a situation where one misstep could mean immediate death. If push comes to shove, don’t look back and run away, absolutely.”
Yeon Seung-il turned his body toward Hyeon-dam, who had regained consciousness and was sitting up with difficulty.
“Hyeon-dam. This is not the time for that. Snap out of it, take the rookie, and fall back to the rear quickly.”
Hyeon-dam, who was sitting and looking up at the sky, looked back at Yeon Seung-il and smiled despondently.
“……Squad Leader.”
Hyeon-dam looked at Yeon Seung-il with blank eyes.
“The guys outside. They are the Red Blood Squad, the direct subordinates of the Blood Demon.
Those dog-like bastards…… dared to speak my master’s name. Bastards whom I wouldn’t be satisfied with even if I dipped them in hellfire are everywhere outside, so where would I go? I have to take at least one more of them to hell.”
Yeon Seung-il, watching Hyeon-dam stagger up from his seat, muttered with a hardened expression.
“That guy earlier. Was he the Red Blood Squad Leader?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Seung-il, thinking deeply at Hyeon-dam’s answer, hurriedly turned his body toward Tang Il-bi.
“Il-bi. If the guys outside are the Red Blood Squad, the Outer Court is practically already lost.
Let’s go into the Inner Court quickly. It might be frustrating, but for our sake, please take a step back.
Let’s go into the Inner Court first and think.”
Tang Il-bi, looking around with a complicated expression, nodded.
“……Fine. Let’s go to the Inner Court.”
─ Cheolkeok
Tang Il-bi, having nodded, moved around ceaselessly, activating mechanism devices here and there.
Some mechanisms made uncomfortable noises, but fortunately, most began to operate with heavy sounds.
─ Kwaang!
“Aaaagh!”
Screams began to be heard from in front of the Outer Court gate where the group had been gathered just a moment ago.
“The mechanisms have activated. Go straight inside.”
Tang Il-bi, having activated all the mechanisms, led the group and ran quickly into the Inner Court.
***
“Careful! Be careful. Enter quickly, one by one.”
In the eyes of the group who entered the Inner Court, the villagers filling the training ground came into view.
A woman comforting a child with a frightened face.
An old couple trembling while holding each other's hands tightly.
A burly man shouting to let his wife into the passage first, and merchants looking around holding large bundles they had packed at some point.
“One by one, you must enter one by one!”
Fortunately, the Tang Family’s command was still working, but the faces of the people gathered in the training ground were full of fear.
Tang Il-bi, looking back at the situation for a moment, shouted to the Tang Family members who were hesitating nearby.
“There is no time! Destroy the entrance to widen the path!”
“Martial Uncle. If we do that, the chasing Cult members will also be able to enter the passage easily.”
At the words of Tang Hun, who approached trembling, Tang Il-bi replied once again with sharp eyes.
“Open the entrance. I will block the Cult members here.”
Tang Il-bi threw his robe wide open.
The hidden weapons densely filling the inside of the robe flashed light in all directions.
“All mechanisms in the Outer Court have been activated, and I have the essence of all hidden weapons the Tang Family has built up. I will block this place somehow, so widen the entrance immediately and evacuate the people. That is the way to minimize casualties.”
Tang Hun, confirming Tang Il-bi’s resolute expression, struck his trembling legs a few times, bit his lip tightly, and shouted toward the back.
“Widen the entrance immediately!”
When the green-clad men heard Tang Hun’s words and deactivated the mechanisms around the secret passage entrance to widen it, the speed at which people escaped became noticeably faster.
Tang Il-bi, carefully checking the screams coming from the Outer Court, urged Yeon Seung-il again.
“The Cult bastards have passed half of the Outer Court. Now there is no more time to delay. You all must leave quickly too.”
“We can’t do that.”
“I know the Tang Family’s terrain and features much better than those guys. The mechanisms of the Inner Court still remain too. Now is the time I can inflict the greatest damage on the Demonic Cult. Give this opportunity to me, and you all leave quickly.”
“Ah, come on! Stop it. We will leave on our own.”
Baek-myo picked her ear as if they were being noisy.
“These stubborn people have no answer even if we talk. And how are you going to stop that many people alone, Great Hero? Do you even have a way to activate the mechanisms while avoiding the rushing Cult members?”
At Baek-myo’s words, Tang Il-bi bit his lip.
“You said the Tang Family’s mechanisms are so great. Shouldn't we at least try to detonate them properly? Don’t waste time and tell us quickly what we need to do.”
At Baek-myo’s bold words, Tang Il-bi looked at her with a flustered expression.
“Baek-myo is right, Great Hero. Our squad was originally in such a shape that only three people survived. Although we became four with the rookie joining this time.”
Hyeon-dam glanced at Jaun and continued.
“Since we are guys like this, even if we run, we only feel at ease if we land a proper blow on the Cult bastards, you know? So hurry up and tell us what we need to do.”
When even Hyeon-dam joined in, Tang Il-bi, who had been staring blankly at the group, bowed his head deeply.
“……I express my gratitude on behalf of the Tang Family. I will never forget your high spirits.”
Tang Il-bi, straightening his back, quickly looked around.
“However, mechanisms are not something that can be activated immediately just by explaining with words……”
Beside Tang Il-bi, who was looking around again with a troubled expression, Tang Hun stepped forward one step.
“Martial Uncle. If you permit, I will help. I have been managing the Tang Family’s mechanisms all this time. I am the only person here who can operate the mechanisms perfectly.”
Baek-myo nodded while looking at Tang Hun, who stepped forward clenching his trembling fists.
“Good. Then I will run while carrying this person and activate the mechanisms. Just tell me the right timing. While we move the mechanisms, you all, who are anxious to die, can block the front on your own.”
Baek-myo approached Tang Hun without a word, lifted him up, and tucked him under her arm.
“Mi, Miss!”
Tang Hun, who was suddenly dangling from Baek-myo’s waist, shouted in a flustered voice.
“Be quiet. Where is the first mechanism?”
“The, the side. It’s in the bushes on the side.”
─ Paang!
“Aaaagh!”
As Baek-myo stomped her foot heavily, the scream of Tang Hun dangling from her side grew distant in an instant.
Tang Il-bi, watching that scene with a bewildered expression, let out a hollow laugh.
“Ha……. Well then.”
Tang Il-bi, looking at Baek-myo who had flown off with Tang Hun tucked under her arm, shook his head from side to side.
“The Tang Family repays tenfold, whether it be a debt or a grudge. I do not know if I will have the chance to repay the debt, but if I do get such a chance, I will not forget your help for the rest of my life.”
Tang Il-bi took out a small pouch from his bosom. And from inside, he took out small pills and distributed them to the group.
“Eat one of these each. It is called the Ten Thousand Poison Pill. It is a secret medicine of the Tang Family that renders one unaffected by any poison for two hours . There are not even ten pills left in the Tang Family now, and since it has efficacy not lacking compared to most spiritual medicines, it will be quite helpful in battle too.”
The group, looking at each other’s faces once, swallowed the Ten Thousand Poison Pill given by Tang Il-bi simultaneously.
“If you are ready, let us go to die too.”
Tang Il-bi turned his body toward the gate of the Inner Court with a resolute face.
***
─ Kwaang!
The group exhaled heavily and calmed their trembling bodies as they listened to the approaching explosions.
“Twenty-four mechanisms have been destroyed so far. Now only the last mechanism of the Outer Court remains, so prepare yourselves.”
At Tang Il-bi’s words, the group slowly moved their hands to their weapons.
─ Kwaaaaang!
Not long after, the gate of the Inner Court exploded with a huge boom.
Through the thickly rising dust, the figures of two people came into view.
Seeing that their clothes were torn here and there and traces of burns remained, it seemed they had struggled quite a bit to break through the Outer Court’s mechanisms.
The giant who entered first raised his head with an exhausted expression.
“These f*cking rats of the Sichuan Tang Family. I will use your bones as side dishes for my drink today.”
The giant, whose one arm was soaked in blood and dangling, ground his teeth.
“Man Chu-pyeong.”
Hyeon-dam grinned upon seeing Man Chu-pyeong’s wretched appearance.
“Hoh. Is that guy the Red Blood Squad Leader?”
Tang Il-bi, hearing Hyeon-dam’s words, spoke to Man Chu-pyeong in a calm voice.
“Welcome to hell. There isn’t much prepared, but I hope you enjoy it.”
Tang Il-bi, finishing his words, raised his hand high.
“First Gateway. Activate.”
Before Tang Il-bi’s voice could even finish, a huge explosion burst out from the floor in front of the Inner Court’s gate.
─ Peoeoeoeong!
The roughly exploding flames covered the figures of the two people in an instant and grew the fire high into the sky.
Tang Il-bi looked at the two people engulfed in flames with an expressionless face.
Then Tang Il-bi raised his hand.
“Second Gateway. Activate.”
─ Pisyusyusuk
Following Tang Il-bi’s hand gesture, slender hidden weapons flew from the left and right of the Inner Court’s gate and dug into the flames.
“If you touched the Tang Family, you should pay the corresponding price.”
A chilling smile spread across Tang Il-bi’s face.
And following Tang Il-bi’s continued hand gestures, three additional mechanisms activated.
The area around the Inner Court’s gate, having received a baptism of five mechanisms, was burning fiercely with holes pierced here and there like a beehive.
“Ah, f*ck……. Seriously annoying.”
Man Chu-pyeong’s voice came from inside the fire.
At the voice that was more intact than expected, Tang Il-bi’s expression hardened slightly.
In an instant, black mist spread out beneath the soaring flames and swallowed the fire as it was.
─ Chiiiiiik
The flames, which lost their momentum in vain, disappeared in an instant, and thick steam rose in their place.
From the place full of steam instead of flames, Man Chu-pyeong walked out with a thud, thud, his whole body wrapped in black Demonic Energy.
“Rat-like Tang Family bastards.”
Man Chu-pyeong, having spat on the ground, looked at Tang Il-bi with his head tilted crookedly.
“You worked hard running away with your tails between your legs all this time. You f*cking bastards.”
Man Chu-pyeong grabbed his dangling left arm with his right hand.
─ Ttuduk
Man Chu-pyeong, having snapped his shaking arm back into place, bit his lip tightly.
“Now you have nowhere to run, right?”
Huge Demonic Energy rose around Man Chu-pyeong’s body.
“Prepare yourselves. Worms.”
Simultaneously with finishing his words, Man Chu-pyeong’s arm extended forward.