Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 119

119. Hwangcheon Squad

Facing Namgung-gwan, Jang Sam-chae retreated repeatedly, shouting for a retreat.

Naturally, Namgung-gwan had no intention of letting him escape.

“You bastard! Where do you think you’re going…?”

Fipiping.

An arrow flew. Namgung-gwan immediately swung his sword and stepped back.

He wasn’t hurt, but Jang Sam-chae used the opportunity to escape.

Tak.

Jang Sam-chae and the bandits mounted the horses they had hidden in the bushes and fled.

Dudududu.

The hundred and twenty or so members of the subjugation force, who had been lagging behind, finally entered the path.

“Don’t stop! Catch those bastards!”

Following Namgung-gwan’s order, the subjugation force began to chase the bandits.

However, some of his subordinates stopped their horses and approached Namgung-gwan.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Jeobeok.

Namgung-gwan approached the fallen Namgung Sang-min.

A warrior from the subjugation force who knew medicine was tending to his wounds, but his condition was serious. The amount of blood he had lost was significant.

“Saje [martial brother].”

At Namgung-gwan’s words, Namgung Sang-min forced a smile.

“I’ve shown you… an unsightly sight.”

Namgung-gwan gritted his teeth.

No matter how strict a Sajung [martial uncle] he was, who wouldn’t be angry at his Saje’s injury?

“There is no danger to his life, but the wound is deep and must be treated immediately,” said the warrior tending to Namgung Sang-min.

“Move the injured to the nearest village,” Namgung-gwan said, standing up with a firm expression.

Eudeudeuk.

Gritting his teeth, Namgung-gwan said, “I will catch and kill those trash who dared to oppose the Namgung Clan.”

Only twenty-five of the Namgung Clan’s elite were in this subjugation force.

Most of the hundred and twenty or so members were warriors from cooperative clans that had a cooperative, virtually superior-inferior relationship with the Namgung Clan.

They had witnessed a disciple of the Namgung Clan being injured by a bandit’s blade, so they could never let this pass.

Now, this subjugation had become a battle they had to win decisively.

“Hyah!”

Namgung-gwan, mounted on his horse, immediately spurred it on.

The disciples of the Namgung Clan, enraged by their Saje’s injury, also followed Namgung-gwan, grinding their teeth.

Ttagadak, ttagadak.

The enraged Namgung Clan’s subjugation force began to chase the bandits.

However, an ambush awaited them: two hundred or so bandits pouring out from the left and right sides of the narrow valley path.

It was a surprise attack by the Murim Faction [martial arts alliance].

Kaang, kaang.

“Kuaaaak!”

Along with the piercing screams, the sound of swords and spears clashing filled the valley.

The narrow valley was already stained with blood, but the warriors, who had become like demons, did not back down.

Swiik.

“Keok!”

As Namgung-gwan’s sword scattered white light, another bandit fell, bleeding.

“How dare you, bastards!”

Namgung-gwan raised his blood-soaked sword with an enraged face.

At first, the bandits’ ambush seemed successful.

However, the Namgung Clan’s elite were not opponents that bandits could handle.

The warriors of the cooperative clans were also far superior to the bandits, and the bandits, who seemed to have gained the upper hand in the beginning, were now being pushed back.

The bandit superiority, which had been almost double, had almost disappeared.

“Push them harder!”

Namgung-gwan shouted loudly.

The bandits’ ambush was a good tactic, but it was meaningless if they couldn’t win.

This battle, away from the river, was more favorable to the Namgung Clan and could effectively end the subjugation.

Judging by the numbers, these must be all of the Murim Faction’s forces.

Ping, pipiping.

The bandits occasionally fired arrows at the subjugation force.

However, in the chaotic state, the arrows were no longer a significant threat.

“I will wipe out your seed today,” Namgung-gwan muttered, grinding his teeth.

It was then.

Ssaeaeaek.

An arrow containing an unusual force flew towards Namgung-gwan.

“How dare you!”

Namgung-gwan swung his sword to deflect the arrow.

Kaang.

Namgung-gwan frowned at the unexpected impact.

Unlike before, the arrow contained considerable internal energy [qi or chi].

Seuk.

Namgung-gwan raised his head and looked in the direction the arrow had come from.

‘……Not good.’

It was not unreasonable for Namgung-gwan to think so.

A new group of warriors stood among the retreating bandits.

Jeobeok.

Their number was only about thirty.

However, their appearance, dressed in dark yellow uniforms and wearing long yellow bands on their wrists, was clearly unusual.

Peolleok.

One of the warriors, fluttering a yellow band on his wrist, slowly lowered his bow.

He had shot the arrow at Namgung-gwan a moment ago.

Even in front of the Namgung Clan’s hundred and twenty or so members, they were not at all intimidated.

“It’s the Hwangcheon Squad!”

“The Hwangcheon Squad is here!”

The bandits who were being pushed back also discovered the warriors in yellow uniforms.

The bandits, who had been losing, cheered and rejoiced, calling them the ‘Hwangcheon Squad.’

However, voices mixed with disappointment soon leaked out.

“What? That’s all there is?”

Their number, only about thirty, was certainly below expectations.

However, Namgung-gwan was already convinced that they were a threat.

Seuk.

At Namgung-gwan’s signal, the Namgung Clan’s subjugation force retreated and reorganized their ranks.

The bandits, who had been saved, also retreated, keeping a distance.

Thanks to this, the Namgung Clan’s hundred and twenty or so members and the Hwangcheon Squad’s thirty warriors faced each other, with the bandits watching.

Namgung-gwan shouted at the warriors called the ‘Hwangcheon Squad.’

“Who are you!”

Namgung-gwan’s voice, filled with internal energy, echoed through the valley.

“Why are you interfering in the affairs of the Namgung Clan!”

However, the warriors in yellow uniforms called the Hwangcheon Squad did not answer or even move.

“How dare you the Namgung Clan…”

It was then.

“It seems you’re talking too much,” said the warrior in yellow uniform at the head of the Hwangcheon Squad.

His voice, which was not very loud, was clearly heard by everyone.

“It seems you’re scared.”

Namgung-gwan’s face hardened.

Laughter leaked out from among the silent bandits.

Seuk.

Namgung-gwan drew his sword and pointed it at the man in the yellow uniform.

“This impudence.”

The laughter quickly subsided, and Namgung-gwan said, grinding his teeth in anger, “You will pay with your lives.”

His voice was so threatening that even the watching bandits swallowed hard.

But not the ‘Hwangcheon Squad’ in yellow uniforms.

“If you can,” said the warrior at the head, sneering.

“Try it.”

Eudeuk.

Namgung-gwan gritted his teeth.

The other party’s vulgar answer was intended to provoke Namgung-gwan’s anger.

But there was no need.

Namgung-gwan was already angrier than ever.

Seuk.

Namgung-gwan’s sharp sword soared into the sky.

Namgung-gwan shouted loudly.

“Charge!”

“Waaaaaaa!”

The hundred and twenty or so members charged towards the thirty or so Hwangcheon Squad members.

The sturdy horses galloped, and the warriors’ blades gleamed in the sunlight.

“Haa!”

Namgung-gwan also spurred his horse towards the Hwangcheon Squad.

His target was the warrior standing at the very front.

However, the man looking at Namgung-gwan had a bitter smile on his lips.

***

“A report has come in about the Jang River incident.”

At Binghon’s quiet voice, the young palace lord opened her eyes.

She, who had been leaning back in her chair, lost in thought, raised her head and looked at Binghon.

“How did it go?”

“The Namgung Clan’s subjugation force has been annihilated.”

The young palace lord’s beautiful eyebrows twitched.

“Namgung-gwan, who led the subjugation force, is dead, and most of the hundred and twenty members are either dead or seriously injured,” Binghon said, pausing for a moment.

“The Namgung Clan’s subjugation has failed.”

The young palace lord’s words were correct.

“The Hwangcheon Squad annihilated the Namgung Clan’s subjugation force.”

The young palace lord’s white fingers, reaching for the teacup, paused.

But it was only for a moment.

Dalgeurak.

Raising the teacup, the young palace lord said quietly, “The Hwangcheon Squad… What is their size?”

“Thirty members of the Hwangcheon Squad helped the Murim Faction in this battle.”

“Amazing. I didn’t think the Hwangcheon Squad would show themselves so soon.”

The young palace lord, who had been savoring the tea’s aroma for a moment, continued quietly.

“It doesn’t seem to be the Emperor’s will, so is it perhaps the work of King Moon?”

After thinking for a moment, the young palace lord ordered Binghon.

“Check it out.”

“Understood.”

Binghon bowed her head and accepted her order.

“How is the Murim Alliance?”

At the young palace lord’s question, Binghon immediately answered, “They seem to be focusing on expanding their branches. There were no special events other than the visit of the Iron-Blooded Death King, Yeom Jung-bu.”

“What about him?”

The young palace lord asked casually.

However, Binghon’s eyes could not help but tremble slightly.

The eyes of Bingsul, who was silently preparing tea next to her, were also the same.

“He is the same as well. There are no special movements at all.”

The young palace lord, Binghon, and Bingsul already knew very well who ‘he’ was.

“…Is that so?”

The young palace lord’s red lips touched the teacup.

After a moment of silence, Binghon carefully asked, “Should we not monitor the Namgung Clan?”

“There’s no need,” the young palace lord said without hesitation.

“What we need to know is ‘his’ intentions.”

Dalkak.

The young palace lord, who put down the teacup, smiled faintly.

“Depending on how the new owner of Nagil moves, many things will change.”

The young palace lord’s charming eyes were staring at the empty air.

However, the image of ‘him’ was drawn so clearly in her eyes.

***

The Namgung Clan was located in Hefei, a large city in Anhui Province.

The Namgung Clan, one of the Murim Alliance’s Eighteen Great Clans and one of the Five Great Families, had influence that extended beyond Anhui Province to the entire Jang River region.

Although they were at odds with the Gongsun Clan in neighboring Jiangxi Province, the Namgung Clan was a name that could never be left out of the Jang River trade.

As if to reflect its reputation and wealth, countless people and goods were flocking to the Namgung Clan.

However, the tragic news that arrived from the Jang River today was enough to shock the Namgung Clan.

“What did you say?”

The Namgung Clan’s head, Thunder Sword Namgung Jincheon’s angry voice echoed through the council hall.

Kwang.

The antique table made a sound under his hand, but the dozen or so people sitting in the council hall lowered their heads without saying a word.

“The subjugation force has been annihilated! What is this story!”

Namgung Jincheon couldn’t believe it.

The Namgung Clan’s outer affairs chief closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

He couldn’t believe it either.

However, no matter how many times he checked, the result did not change.

“Tell me in detail!”

At the head’s angry voice, the outer affairs chief continued to speak.

“Of the twenty-five disciples of the clan, eight are dead, fourteen are seriously injured, and three have minor injuries. As for the entire subjugation force, thirty-four are dead, seventy-four are seriously injured, and thirteen have safely returned. And Namgung-gwan, who led the subjugation force…”

The outer affairs chief couldn’t bring himself to continue. But he had to report.

“Died on the spot.”