Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 232

232. Clash

At Mook Hyul-yeop, upon the Black Moon Society’s representative’s declaration, Jinmyeong of Shaolin closed his eyes, and Je Gal-yeon let out a soft sigh.

‘So, they intend to take the lead after all.’

But the sigh was brief.

‘Still, if it’s the Black Moon Society…’

The core strength of the Black Moon Society lies in its cavalry.

The wedge-shaped assault formation boasts absolute power on flat ground.

It is perfectly suited for reconnaissance that doesn’t shy away from armed conflict.

Of course, the Black Moon Society is only thinking of fighting them.

‘…Not bad.’

Je Gal-yeon judged so.

If the Black Moon Society declares them public enemies of the martial world and breaks their momentum, the absurd rumors will subside at once.

The representatives’ eyes also showed that they were thinking similarly.

“You have heard the proposals from Shaolin and the Black Moon Society. Are there any other opinions?”

There were no objections.

That day, the Martial Alliance Representatives’ Meeting passed two resolutions.

The first was to declare the Green Forest and Waterfront Alliance as public enemies of the martial world, and the second was to approve the Black Moon Society’s solo expedition.

The next day, the Black Moon Society left the Martial Alliance, leading about two hundred and fifty martial artists.

Among them, about seventy were from the Black Moon Society, and one hundred and thirty were martial artists belonging to the Hangzhou Martial Alliance. About fifty others from other sects also wanted to join the Black Moon Society on their expedition.

Thus, the Black Moon Society headed towards Jingjiang, where the bandits and Green Forest were, in high spirits.

***

The Black Moon Society moved along the Grand Canal.

Using the waterway instead of land was intended to prevent fatigue for the horses and martial artists, and also to announce the Black Moon Society’s expedition throughout Hangzhou.

The ship carrying people and horses sailed smoothly north. As a result, they were able to reach the Jingjiang area the next day.

Jingjiang and the Hangzhou Martial Alliance were literally within reach.

However, what the Black Moon Society encountered there was not the Waterfront Alliance, but only the Green Forest.

“Green Forest?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang, the leader of the Black Moon Society, sitting under a makeshift tent, frowned at his subordinate’s report.

“Not a single ship is visible. Moreover, Hwangcheon of the Waterfront Alliance is also nowhere to be seen.”

Mook Hyul-yeop, who was next to the leader, asked.

“What about the one called the Dark Sky Demon Emperor? Was he there by any chance?”

“I couldn’t find him.”

“Hmm.”

The leader, Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang, openly expressed his disappointment.

This was because he had been secretly looking forward to a confrontation with the Dark Sky Demon Emperor, the one who killed the head of the Namgung family.

But there was neither the Dark Sky Demon Emperor nor Hwangcheon.

“What is their size?”
Mook Hyul-yeop asked again.

“From what we can see, it doesn’t exceed twelve hundred.”

The brows of the leader, Jin Mu-ryang, and Mook Hyul-yeop furrowed simultaneously.

“Huh, they said there were tens of thousands, but only twelve hundred?”

Even twelve hundred is five times the two hundred and fifty of the Black Moon Society.

However, the Black Moon Society originally did not care about numerical inferiority.

Besides, the opponents are just a bunch of mountain bandits without the Dark Sky Demon Emperor or Hwangcheon, aren’t they?

“Were there any who looked like Black Spear Cavalry?”
Mook Hyul-yeop asked.

The Green Forest claimed that it was their Black Spear Cavalry that burned down the Gongson family.

However, the subordinate shook his head.

“I couldn’t find them. There were cavalry, but only Green Forest bandits.”

“Tsk.”

The leader, Jin Mu-ryang, clicked his tongue as he listened.

‘Bad luck.’

It seemed that there would be no chance for the Black Moon Society’s reputation to rise in this battle.

Even if the opponent is twelve hundred, what pride is there in killing Green Forest bandits?

“Where are they now?”

“They are gathered on the left side of the canal, reorganizing their formation. It seems they have also discovered us.”

“Is that so?”

Swish.

The leader, Jin Mu-ryang, stood up.

Jin Mu-ryang had never avoided an enemy in his life.

There was no way that a bunch of Green Forest bandits could be a match for him.

“Let’s go.”

Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang said.

The subordinate immediately bowed his head to receive the order, and Yeolhyuldo Mook Hyul-yeop followed the leader and stood up.

It was time for battle.

***

“They are no match for us!”

Jin Mu-ryang, the leader of the Black Moon Society, shouted loudly on his horse.

The cavalry of the Black Moon Society and the Martial Alliance totaled two hundred and fifty, while the number of Green Forest in front of them exceeded twelve hundred.

However, none of the Black Moon Society or Martial Alliance martial artists were intimidated.

The same was true for Yeolhyuldo Mook Hyul-yeop, who was facing a bloody battle, and the leader, Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang.

“Now we will crush them! Break them! Trample them!”

Flutter.

The horse Jin Mu-ryang was riding neighed.

The horse pawed the ground as if it would jump out at any moment.

Clang.

A completely black greatsword soared into the sky.

It was his beloved sword, Heukwol.

The leader Jin Mu-ryang’s sturdy arm lightly lifted the large sword.

Clatter.

The Black Moon Society disciples on horseback drew their swords all at once.

The martial artists belonging to the Martial Alliance and the volunteers behind them also drew their swords from horseback.

Shalalalal.

Two hundred and fifty swords gleamed in the sunlight.

“Brothers!”

The voice of the leader, Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang, echoed loudly.

“Our swords will tear the enemy’s flesh and break their bones!”

That loud voice was enough to make the hearts of the two hundred and fifty martial artists beat faster.

“Let’s go! We are the Black Moon Society!”

“Uwaaaaa!”

A tremendous shout erupted.

The Black Moon Society and the martial artists who were not from the Black Moon Society roared in unison at this moment.

And the horses kicked the ground all at once.

Clatter, clatter.

The seventy or so cavalry of the Black Moon Society led the way, followed by the one hundred and eighty or so martial artists from the Martial Alliance and other sects.

Thud, thud, thud.

The sound of hooves began to echo across the plain.

The cavalry, which had been advancing slowly, soon took on a clear form.

A seamless wedge-shaped dense formation led by the leader, Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang.

It was the assault formation that the Black Moon Society was proud of.

Thud, thud.

The huge black wedge created by the cavalry and people seemed to be able to break anything.

That assault formation, along with the sound of hooves shaking the ground, was rushing towards the twelve hundred or so Green Forest every moment.

However, the Green Forest did not move at all.

The Green Forest, which had seemed ready to rush in with their weapons, did not move at all, as if they were stuck to the ground.

‘Hmm?’

Mook Hyul-yeop, who was riding next to the leader, felt something ominous.

The Green Forest was just gathered without any formation or organization.

He thought that they would collapse like a sandcastle when the Black Moon Society started charging.

But they were not moving at all.

Swish.

Mook Hyul-yeop looked at the leader, Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang, who was running ahead.

He seemed to have the same strange feeling, and their eyes met.

But it was already an arrow that had left the bowstring [a situation that cannot be reversed].

“Haa!”

Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang shouted loudly.

“Let’s go! Brothers!”

Thud, thud, thud.

With that shout, the cavalry increased its speed even more.

The only way to shake off the anxiety was to break through the enemy lines as quickly as possible.

The Black Moon Society and the Martial Alliance cavalry drove their horses madly.

But the other side had also predicted that and fired their arrows.

Swish, swish, swish.

Mook Hyul-yeop could clearly see the rain of black arrows rising above the Green Forest formation.

“Haa! Charge! Charge!”

There was only one way to avoid the arrows.

That was to enter the firing range as quickly as possible.

The Black Moon Society and the Martial Alliance cavalry drove their horses madly.

But the other side had also predicted that and fired their arrows.

Pow, pow, pow.

The rain of black arrows indiscriminately flew and struck the horses and people of the Black Moon Society and the Martial Alliance cavalry.

The black arrows were very hard, very short, and the inner strength contained within them was not to be ignored.

Neigh.

Horses tumbled and people screamed and fell.

The plain was instantly filled with the groans of horses and people.

“T, these bastards…”

Seeing the collapsing cavalry, the leader Jin Mu-ryang could not hide his anger.

It was a trick to make it seem like they didn’t have a proper formation.

They were hiding the poison fangs called black arrows.

Thud, thud, thud.

However, even in the midst of that, the distance to the Green Forest was steadily decreasing.

Arrows could no longer be used when the distance became close.

“Haa! Haa!”

Jin Mu-ryang swung his greatsword and drove his horse even faster.

The time to ravage the enemy was finally approaching.

The time to tear flesh and break bones with hooves and greatswords filled with anger.

Thud, thud, thud.

As expected?

The rain of black arrows began to subside as the distance became closer.

It was just when Jin Mu-ryang and Mook Hyul-yeop were about to smile triumphantly.

Swish, swish.

The enemy’s front line moved once again.

This time, they were quickly moving aside to both sides.

And something slowly rose from behind them.

Flutter.

It was the horses and cavalry that had been lowering their bodies.

The cavalry threw off the yellowish-brown cloaks that had been covering their entire bodies.

Flutter.

“That’s!”

Jin Mu-ryang and Mook Hyul-yeop could not help but be surprised.

Horses clad in completely black uniforms and black armor, and all holding black spears.

They were the fully armed three hundred Black Spear Cavalry.

Grit.

Jin Mu-ryang gritted his teeth.

They induced carelessness with a disorganized appearance, and a rain of black arrows poured down.

And the Black Spear Cavalry, which had been hiding, appeared.

From the beginning, this was a trap.

Thud, thud, thud.

The three hundred Black Spear Cavalry began to move slowly.

The formation formed by the Black Spear Cavalry, which advanced from the center like water flowing down, was the assault formation that the Black Moon Society was proud of.

“How dare you!”
The angry voice of the leader, Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang, echoed.

But his anger was already too late.

Their two hundred and fifty cavalry had already lost more than half.

The Black Moon Society, which had been running at the forefront, suffered particularly heavy damage.

Towards them, the three hundred Black Spear Cavalry, fully armed with armor, were charging.

The victory or defeat was obvious to anyone.

“Do not retreat!”

Yeolhyuldo Mook Hyul-yeop shouted.

“We have the leader!”

That voice was clearly heard in the ears of the Black Moon Society and the Martial Alliance cavalry.

The leader, Jin Mu-ryang, also immediately realized the meaning of those words.

Jin Mu-ryang raised his beloved sword, Heukwol, high.

Whoosh.

The aura surrounding the black greatsword, Heukwol, became even thicker.

It formed the shape of a huge sword and was emitting streaks of eerie aura.

“Oooooo!”

The Black Moon Society and the Martial Alliance cavalry shouted.

There was no defeat as long as Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang was there.

That firm belief was uniting the surviving Black Moon Society and Martial Alliance martial artists at this moment.

Thud, thud, thud.

The sound of hooves on both sides was now echoing loudly, as if shaking the ground.

‘…Those bastards.’

Mook Hyul-yeop gritted his teeth.

Who would call them mere bandits?

Their orderly actions, coordination, and organized tactics were already comparable to the military.

At that moment, a strand of anxiety sprouted in Mook Hyul-yeop’s heart.

‘Could it be…’

Would those who are so organized really not have prepared a countermeasure against the leader, Heukwoldo Jin Mu-ryang?

Thud, thud, thud.

But there was no more time to think.

Mook Hyul-yeop gripped his sword as he watched the Black Spear Cavalry rushing towards him.

The only person who could protect the leader’s back was himself.

Grit.

Mook Hyul-yeop gritted his teeth and prepared for the impact.