Chapter 176: Fate (1)

The Demon-Sweeping & Evil-Smiting Combined Army entered Shandong in ten days.

They could have arrived faster if they’d unfolded movement arts, but if a fight broke out, they’d be forced to fight with drained stamina—so they needed to conserve. They moved thoroughly on warhorses.

Surprisingly, for ten days, there was no real friction between the two Field Forces.

Even with different affiliations, the fact that there were no clashes meant control was being maintained well. Of course, since each individual was a carefully selected martial artist, they likely had discipline of their own.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes gleamed.

A cool wind swept across the broad Shandong plains.

“The air’s different.”

Different region meant different terrain, and different terrain meant different climate.

Shandong’s wind was cool, yet it carried a strange dampness. They were far from the coast, and yet somehow, it felt like there was salt in the air.

Yeon Hojeong looked at Mookbi.

Mookbi’s face was oddly stiff.

“Thinking about the old days?”

“...Pardon?”

“You said Gwanil Valley was on Mount Tai. I’m asking if it’s making you think of Gwanil Valley.”

Mookbi gave a bitter smile.

“If I said it doesn’t, I’d be lying. It feels... strange.”

Yeon Hojeong snorted softly.

“That tie is already severed. We can’t help it right now, but going forward, you should get used to forgetting.”

“I will.”

Yeon Hojeong smacked her on the back.

SMACK!

“Ack! That hurts!”

“Keep your core tight and move.”

“Like I’m not already tense! Ugh, it hurts. You’ve got such stupid strength.”

Yeon Hojeong’s face turned a little more serious.

“We’ll be fine—we’ve matched hands and feet for months. But if we’re not careful, the Demon-Sweeping Corps could take casualties.”

Mookbi’s face sobered along with his.

“The enemy’s strength isn’t something to dismiss. It’s only natural. Even if they hadn’t learned martial arts, a thousand trained blades is a threat by itself.”

“Right. And unlike us, they’re not split into different affiliations.”

“That’s exactly it. I heard the Gray Wolf Band’s history goes back more than ten years. A bandit crew that grew that much in ten years is rare even if you comb through history. If those bastards fight as one body, they’ll be stronger than you’d expect.”

Yeon Hojeong swept his gaze over the Demon-Sweeping Corps.

“In this fight, your job isn’t killing the enemy. It’s protecting allies.”

Mookbi nodded.

“Got it.”

“Who’s good at close combat and defense on our side?”

“Okcheong is excellent defensively, and Cheok Gang is excellent in close quarters.”

“I’ll pair those two with you. Before we reach the battlefield, you take the highest ground no matter what. If you gain breathing room, then you focus on annihilating the enemy. Understood?”

“Suppressing fire, then annihilation. I understand.”

“Good. I’m counting on you.”

Mookbi looked at Yeon Hojeong like she hadn’t expected that.

“That’s surprising.”

“What is?”

‘“I’m counting on you”... it doesn’t feel like something you’d say.”

Yeon Hojeong snorted.

“Even with lots of real combat experience, if you’ve never moved with a large force, you’re a rookie. And those rookies are our allies now. It’s their lives on the line, so of course.”

“......Allies.”

Mookbi looked around at the ranks ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ of the Demon-Sweeping Corps.

Most of the soldiers who made up the Demon-Sweeping Corps were already famous masters across the martial world.

They were masters who’d operated all over under heaven—so their ages and personalities varied wildly. And yet under Mo Yong-woo’s strict control, they were giving off a formidable military aura.

Incredible.

Mookbi looked at Mo Yong-woo.

From a distance, the sight of Mo Yong-woo surveying Shandong’s land looked like a painting.

It’s not just that he’s strong—he’s also incredible at controlling the soldiers under him.

Mookbi understood now. Controlling people was difficult.

The Evil-Smiting Corps had fewer than fifty soldiers. To control even that sub-fifty number, Yeon Hojeong had made them face real combat from the start.

Even so, during training there were moments when control slipped. Yeon Hojeong had patiently engaged with them through those moments, and naturally shaped them into an elite.

Does that mean his ability to lead a group is actually better than Young Master Yeon’s?

Mookbi shook her head internally.

She didn’t know that yet. Still, she couldn’t deny this: the ability to seize and command five hundred strong-willed soldiers in just a few days—at the age of thirty—was impressive.

Stop thinking useless thoughts. We came to annihilate the enemy. Just focus on completing the mission.

As Mookbi steadied herself, Yeon Hojeong walked toward Mo Yong-woo.

“Are we moving immediately?”

“We have to.”

“From here on out, it’s a speed battle. Since this is their first real combat, you’ll need to pay attention to controlling the soldiers.”

Mo Yong-woo glanced at him.

“Was it the same for you, Brother Yeon?”

“What was?”

“The shaking.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“I shook. I kept thinking, what if even one of them dies in the first battle?”

“Fortunately, there were no deaths in the Evil-Smiting Corps.”

“They were skilled to begin with. And we had luck.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

“But casualties can happen anytime. Brace yourself.”

“I am. And that’s the problem—I’m still shaking.”

Mo Yong-woo drew a deep breath.

“Alright. Shall we go?”

“Let’s.”

NEEIIIGH!

The two warhorses let out fierce cries and pawed the ground. The Demon-Sweeping & Evil-Smiting soldiers lifted their reins one after another.

RUMBLE.

The Demon-Sweeping & Evil-Smiting Combined Army surged down the slope at frightening speed.

Across Shandong, there were plenty of Orthodox Path sects. Thanks to the official notice sent out by the Alliance of the Martial World, no matter which sect they stopped at, they were provided quality feed and meals.

Five days passed like that.

The Demon-Sweeping & Evil-Smiting Combined Army halted after reaching the heart of Shandong—at the Beggars’ Union’s Jinan Branch.

“The position has changed.”

“Changed?”

“Until a few days ago, the Gray Wolf Band was hiding around the Janggu area. They disappeared. And then they reappeared near Dongyeong.”

Dongyeong was one of the easternmost counties in Shandong Province, bordering the East Sea.

“Why did they move all of a sudden? The upper levels were certain they’d stay put for about a month.”

“We don’t know the exact reason yet. But since they’re bandits, there’s a risk villages near Dongyeong could be attacked.”

“Damn.”

“We sent Beggars’ Union scouts across the area just in case, but we still haven’t heard back.”

Mo Yong-woo looked at Yeon Hojeong.

Yeon Hojeong spoke with a hard face.

“It never hurts to be careful, but this feels... off.”

That was when—

“Commander.”

The two of them turned.

Je Gal Ahyeon stood there. Since the seat was vacant, she spoke to Yeon Hojeong politely.

Je Gal Ahyeon said,

“You said the Gray Wolf Band’s strength is far beyond what we expected.”

“That’s right.”

“Near Dongyeong in Shandong... there’s a fairly famous power seated there.”

Mo Yong-woo tilted his head.

“There’s a famous sect in Dongyeong?”

“Not a sect. A merchant group. The Sea Dragon Merchant Group’s main branch is in Dongyeong.”

“...!”

“Just in case, I think it’d be good to contact the Sea Dragon Merchant Group. They’ll definitely help.”

“Or.”

Everyone looked at Yeon Hojeong.

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes sank deep.

“The Gray Wolf Band’s target might be the Sea Dragon Merchant Group.”

Je Gal Ahyeon looked like she couldn’t quite believe it.

“The Sea Dragon Merchant Group is one of the biggest merchant groups in Shandong. If they touch that, the scale of the incident could explode. Would the Gray Wolf Band really do something like that?”

“I don’t think it’s impossible.”

“Why?”

“You can tell by the Demon-Sweeping Commander’s reaction.”

Mo Yong-woo blinked.

“My reaction?”

“You knew about the Sea Dragon Merchant Group?”

“Ah—of course.”

“Then why didn’t you think of the Sea Dragon Merchant Group the moment you heard the Gray Wolf Band was heading to Dongyeong?”

“Well, that’s...”

Mo Yong-woo faltered, flustered.

“They’re not really a force of the martial world so much as a merchant group...”

He couldn’t finish the sentence.

Surprise rose on Je Gal Ahyeon’s face.

“See? Most reactions are like this. If it’s not a martial sect, then no matter how famous a merchant group or battlefield it is, people don’t pay that much attention.”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.

“In other words, it wouldn’t be that strange for the Gray Wolf Band to go after the Sea Dragon Merchant Group.”

“B-but the Gray Wolf Band is a bandit crew. There’s no way those bastards have your level of eye—”

“Whether they have an eye or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that it’s possible.”

Mo Yong-woo shouted,

“All Demon-Sweeping & Evil-Smiting units—prepare to advance!”

NEEIIIGH!

Tension settled into the eyes of the soldiers as they vaulted onto their horses.

They were tense even though they were only going to annihilate a mere bandit crew—something any prideful martial artist would sneer at.

That was how thoroughly Yeon Hojeong and Mo Yong-woo had impressed the Gray Wolf Band’s strength into them. Just the fact that they’d steadily grown for ten years already made them a dangerous organization.

“Move!”

KURURURUNG!

Five hundred and fifty soldiers charged at a speed more terrifying than ever.

Je Gal Ahyeon rode beside Yeon Hojeong.

“If they really lay a hand on the Sea Dragon Merchant Group, it won’t just be ‘bad’—it’ll be catastrophic!”

Yeon Hojeong looked at her.

With an anxious face, Je Gal Ahyeon shouted again,

“The Sea Dragon Merchant Group is one of the pillars of Shandong’s commerce! If the Sea Dragon Merchant Group collapses, Shandong’s commerce shakes. And if Shandong’s commerce shakes, Shandong’s martial world shakes with it!”

A whole region could convulse with the rise or fall of a single power.

That was the world. The same principle as a small wind in the south becoming a storm in the north.

The world changed that way. And the martial world couldn’t escape that principle.

“So we have to stop it, no matter what.”

“No matter what!”

How long did they ride?

“Evil-Smiting Commander!”

Mo Yong-woo shouted.

“Urgent report! A group of one hundred fifty—suspected Gray Wolf Band—are heading for Hawun-ri southeast of Dongyeong!”

“Where is the Gray Wolf Band’s main force!”

“Five li before the Sea Dragon Merchant Group!”

Yeon Hojeong ground his teeth.

Those bastards are making this a headache.

Was this a bandit crew’s strategy, too?

A wicked tactic meant to split any pursuing forces. The Black Gate wouldn’t attack, but the Orthodox Path revered chivalry—there was no way they’d allow civilians to be harmed.

“We’ll go to Hawun-ri!”

Yeon Hojeong and Mo Yong-woo’s eyes met in midair.

The gaze of two leaders bound by an inexplicable trust.

“Deal with it and rejoin immediately!”

Yeon Hojeong dipped his head.

“I receive the Grand Commander’s order!”

A short command, and a certain answer.

Watching the two speak and act from behind, Mookbi felt her chest thump for no reason.

As if they’d worked together for a long time.

As if they’d always promised to do it this way.

As if they’d been lord and vassal from the beginning.

The way Mo Yong-woo issued orders without hesitation, and the way Yeon Hojeong answered like it was only natural—there was a strange magic to it that made the viewer feel steady.

WOOOOOONG!

A pure white True Qi surged from Yeon Hojeong’s body.

WHOOSH!

Ferocious, powerful True Qi stretched in all directions. It was a Qi wave that carried a terrifying presence.

Yeon Hojeong shouted,

“All Evil-Smiting Corps—prepare for battle!”

SHING!

At a roar like a tiger’s, every Evil-Smiting soldier drew their weapon.

The Demon-Sweeping Corps under Mo Yong-woo flinched. The loose, free aura they’d shown all the way here flipped in an instant into blood-soaked ferocity.

The overwhelming presence pouring out of fifty elites—

An oppressive military aura forged by countless real battles and slaughter, something the Demon-Sweeping Corps didn’t have.

“Move!”

The Evil-Smiting Corps broke formation and thundered toward Hawun-ri at terrifying speed.