Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 252

252. Fire Arrows

“Shaolin will pave the way first.”

Grandmaster Taeheo quietly chanted a Buddhist invocation and addressed the family heads and sect leaders.

“Everyone, take care.”

Shaolin had volunteered for the most dangerous task, drawing the enemy’s attention.

“Mount Hua will take the next turn.”

“Wudang will not lag behind either.”

The Mount Hua Sect Leader and the Wudang Sect Leader declared.

“I am truly grateful.”

The Gentleman Sword, Je Gal-myung, bowed to each of the three sect leaders, expressing his gratitude.

“Even if the Murim Alliance is trampled by the rebels today, as long as you are here, the spirit of the Kangho [martial arts world] Murim will never be broken.”

The Gentleman Sword, Je Gal-myung, continued in a rather solemn voice.

“Then, everyone, take care.”

As if that were the signal, the sect leaders and family heads exchanged farewells.

Thud, thud.

Their departure was quite solemn.

However, to Mo Yong-dancheon, it all seemed like a charade.

‘Huh.’

From the decisive retreat order to the retreat plan that proceeded so smoothly.

The way it progressed as if they had planned it together was beyond absurd; it was almost admirable.

Swish.

Mo Yong-dancheon looked at the head of the Danmok Family.

He was descending the pavilion with his teeth clenched.

The sense of betrayal he felt was understandable.

He had sacrificed his disciples’ lives for the Murim Alliance, only to find out that the other sects had already finished preparing to withdraw.

‘But there’s nothing I can do. This is the Kangho Murim, after all.’

Being powerless is a fault, and lacking cunning is a sin.

Besides, when you think about it, the Danmok Family was also acting for their own benefit, not for the greater good.

“The Murim Alliance……”

Mo Yong-dancheon looked down at the scene of the Murim Alliance spread out below the pavilion.

The large and small buildings still boasted their grandeur, but people were already abandoning this place.

“It was a short dream.”

Mo Yong-dancheon muttered quietly and turned his body.

Thud, thud.

Amidst the groans and shouts of people coming from all directions, Mo Yong-dancheon slowly descended the pavilion.

***

The preparations for the escape were made quickly.

Most of the sects began preparing to escape at the same time as the retreat, and the Mo Yong Family had already finished their preparations.

Yun-hyun and Dokgo-rang decided to move with the Mo Yong Family.

“You sent three Ivory Passes [tokens for safe passage] to the guest quarters?”

When Yun-hyun asked, the chief disciple Mo Yong-jin nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. Is there anything that concerns you……”

“It’s because sending six would be the right number considering the number of people.”

Mo Yong-mi said quietly.

“Three Ivory Passes means that nearly twice as many people as other sects will be included. In the end, the possibility of attracting the enemy’s attention will increase.”

Mo Yong-jin looked like he hadn’t thought of that.

“But there’s nothing we can do now. They will know the geography of Hangzhou well, so we may have to worry about them instead.”

Mo Yong-mi’s words made sense.

Yun-hyun knew that she meant to ease his worries.

“Thank you, Miss Mo Yong.”

“It’s nothing. More than that, are you two alright?”

It was natural for Mo Yong-mi to ask that.

Yun-hyun’s sleeves and Dokgo-rang’s martial uniform were stained with blood.

“Ah, this is……”

“When do we depart?”

Yun-hyun was trying to gloss over it, but Dokgo-rang asked Mo Yong-mi.

“Right now.”

As Mo Yong-mi said that, another disciple brought several horses.

Clatter, clatter.

Mo Yong-mi and Mo Yong-jin lightly mounted their horses.

Whoosh.

Dokgo-rang got on the horse behind Yun-hyun and grabbed the reins.

Because it was an emergency situation, it was much safer for Dokgo-rang, who was skilled in horsemanship, to drive the horse.

“Great Master.”

Dokgo-rang said in a low voice.

“Do not forget Dokseon’s words. The Samtaesang [Three Grand Masters] will definitely try to find the Great Master, so no matter what happens, you must not reveal yourself.”

“I know.”

“You must, no matter what happens, do so.”

It was very rare for Dokgo-rang to say something to Yun-hyun twice.

Yun-hyun glanced back at Dokgo-rang.

Dokgo-rang’s eyes, which were right in front of him, were more serious than ever.

“I understand. I will keep that in mind.”

Dokgo-rang’s eyes softened a little at Yun-hyun’s words.

Just then, Family Head Mo Yong-dancheon, who was at the head, said.

“Let’s go!”

“Giddy up!”

“Giddy up! Let’s go!”

The disciples of the Mo Yong Family rode their horses all at once.

“Giddy up!”

With Dokgo-rang’s shout, the horse carrying the two powerfully kicked off the ground.

The retreat had begun.

***

Moon Wang looked down at the Murim Alliance and leaned back leisurely in his chair.

The Black Cloud Cavalry had already formed a rough encirclement, and the Short Bow Unit and Green Forest [bandits/mercenaries] were filling in the gaps.

It was then.

Suddenly, the Murim Alliance became noisy, and all the gates suddenly opened wide.

“Hmm?”

Moon Wang frowned.

And soon, dozens, hundreds of cavalrymen came out of the gates all at once and began to run.

Thud thud thud.

Moon Wang was surprised.

But that soon turned into a smile.

“Woo-ha-ha-ha!”

“They are escaping!”

A subordinate said in a hurried voice.

But Moon Wang’s laughter did not stop.

“Keu-ha-ha, wa-ha-ha-ha.”

Moon Wang laughed, shaking his whole body as if it was really funny.

“What a masterpiece! This is a masterpiece! The Murim Alliance, scattering like marbles in all directions! Eu-ha-ha-ha.”

Thump.

Moon Wang jumped up from his seat. And he shouted loudly towards the Murim Alliance.

“Sword Lord of Azure Dragon! Is this all you have to show me! Eu-ha-ha-ha.”

Moon Wang kept laughing.

Then he suddenly said to his subordinate.

“Shoot.”

The subordinate was momentarily flustered by the sudden order, but Moon Wang’s voice rang out loudly.

“What are you doing! Order the Short Bow Unit to immediately fire fire arrows!”

“Ye, yes, sir!”

The subordinate immediately carried out the order.

The Short Bow Unit’s fire arrows were not yet ready, but since the order had been given, they had to shoot.

“Iron Blood Death King!”

“Did you call me?”

Shriek.

A middle-aged man with neatly combed black hair and wearing red silk clothes appeared before Moon Wang.

As if it were a high-ranking official’s outing, Iron Blood Death King Yeom Jung-bu stood leisurely with his hands behind his back.

“The Murim Alliance.”

Moon Wang said with a bitter smile.

“Go and stir it up to your heart’s content.”

“That is truly welcome news.”

Yeom Jung-bu bowed with a rather exaggerated attitude.

And the next moment, his figure had already disappeared.

“Old Man In, Old Man Ji!”

“Heol heol, did you call us? Young Master.”

Two old men appeared in a place where no one had been until just now.

In Tae-sang, a short old man with bulging cheeks and a protruding belly, and Ji Tae-sang, a giant with a large build and a long beard.

“Capture the Sword Lord of Azure Dragon.”

Moon Wang said, biting his lip.

“You must bring him back alive. Got it?”

It was a very rude tone, but In Tae-sang wore a bright smile.

“Of course. This old man will definitely bring him. Young Master.”

Shwii.

Before those words were even finished, the figures of In Tae-sang and Ji Tae-sang disappeared.

Moon Wang bit his lip.

“Sword Lord of Azure Dragon. No, the owner of the document.”

Moon Wang muttered, grinding his teeth.

“He will soon be in my hands. Very soon!”

Crack.

The peacock fan in Moon Wang’s hand was broken.

But Moon Wang didn’t care.

Pik, pee-bee-bik.

The Short Bow Unit’s fire arrows were flying one by one towards the evening sky.

The evening sun had already lost its momentum, and the fire arrows soared into the sky, dragging long, beautiful trails of light.

But the results that those fire arrows would bring would never be beautiful.

***

The Hangzhou Simgeom Sect’s leader, Jang Cheon-ho, was preparing to escape from the guest quarters.

The reason he hadn’t left yet was not only because the time was too short, but also because he had other plans.

“Move at the same time as the other sects escape, huh.”

Jang Cheon-ho gritted his teeth as he looked at the three Ivory Passes [tokens for safe passage] in his palm.

The Je Gal Family’s disciple who had brought the Ivory Passes spoke as if he were doing them a favor, but Jang Cheon-ho, who had experienced all kinds of hardships, immediately grasped his intention.

“They’re really looking down on us. They want us to be arrow fodder until the end, huh?”

The moment the Murim Alliance’s main force retreated, Jang Cheon-ho realized that things had gone wrong.

“……I didn’t risk my life to receive something like this.”

Clatter.

The Ivory Pass made a sound in his clenched hand.

It was a fight he had jumped into because he was sure the Murim Alliance would win.

He had shed a lot of blood, but in the end, all he got back was three Ivory Passes and the Murim Alliance’s defeat. As Jang Cheon-ho, who was about to be cheated out of the money he was supposed to receive for his work, couldn’t say nice things.

“Damn it, if I had known this would happen, I would have listened to Great Warrior Dokgo…….”

“But we couldn’t help it back then, could we?”

Another sect leader said as if making an excuse.

“That’s right. Besides, they can just go back to their own sects, but we have no choice but to stay in Hangzhou whether we live or die.”

Another sect leader said.

Jang Cheon-ho gritted his teeth.

“Anyway, we don’t have to follow their orders. No, rather, let’s use them.”

Another sect leader’s eyes lit up.

“What do you mean by using……?”

“Let them escape first.”

Jang Cheon-ho lowered his voice.

“Naturally, the enemies will chase after them and leave, and then we will quietly slip away. If we hide in the city of Hangzhou under the cover of darkness, who will recognize us? Isn’t that right?”

“Oh! That’s a really great plan!”

The sect leaders exclaimed in admiration.

But there was also a sect leader who was uneasy.

“Is it really going to be okay?”

He said with a worried expression.

“The servants and scholars who worked in the Alliance are all fleeing to the city of Hangzhou. It seems better for us to mix in and leave at this opportunity…….”

The Murim Alliance’s main gate faced the city of Hangzhou, and there were many private houses and shops around it, making it difficult for the enemies to form an encirclement.

The servants and scholars were hurriedly taking refuge in the city of Hangzhou through that main gate.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Jang Cheon-ho continued proudly.

“Heo Heo Sil Sil [deceptive appearance of weakness], in fact, this is the safest place. After the large sects leave, why would the enemies attack this place? It will be theirs anyway.”

The other sect leaders couldn’t help but be amazed.

They had never thought that Jang Cheon-ho’s schemes would be so outstanding.

“So we’ll just wait like this and then when it gets dark……”

But Jang Cheon-ho’s words could not continue.

Pee-eee-ing, thwack!

“Ugh!”

A fire arrow that flew in from somewhere was embedded in the pillar of the guest quarters.

Jang Cheon-ho was startled, and the other sect leaders’ eyes widened.

But the fire arrows that were flying in were not just one.

Thwack, thwack.

Fire arrows were flying in from all directions.

“Wh, what’s going on?”

“Leader Jang, how on earth could this……”

“These crazy bastards.”

In the end, Jang Cheon-ho had no choice but to swear.

“Why are these crazy bastards shooting fire arrows!”

No one answered.

And Jang Cheon-ho didn’t have time to listen to the answer either.

Thwack, thwack.

“We, we have to get out of here quickly! It looks like they’re going to burn everything down!”

The sect leaders’ faces turned white.

“Quickly gather the disciples and the injured. Hurry!”

Jang Cheon-ho shouted urgently, but the situation was hopeless.

They hadn’t even properly prepared to escape, and the terrifying Black Cloud Cavalry would be holding out outside.

It was then.

“L, Leader! Leader Jang!”

One of the Simgeom Sect’s disciples ran up urgently.

“The enemy, the enemy is retreating!”

“What?”

Jang Cheon-ho was bewildered.

Fire arrows were flying in, but the enemy was retreating. He couldn’t understand.

“Let’s go see!”

Jang Cheon-ho hurriedly went up to the highest pavilion nearby with the other sect leaders.

And he saw an amazing sight.

Clearly, fire arrows were flying in, but the Black Cloud Cavalry and Green Forest were all chasing after the large sects.

“That’s right!”

Jang Cheon-ho cheered.

“Look! Isn’t it as I said? They’re……”

“Let’s go quickly!”

Another sect leader shouted urgently.

“We have to get out of the Murim Alliance before it becomes a sea of fire! Hurry, hurry!”

“I know. Ah, right!”

Jang Cheon-ho said as if he had suddenly remembered something.

“Throw away all your weapons! It’s better to mix in with the servants and scholars and leave! Otherwise, we’ll be chased too!”

The sect leaders nodded.

The sect leader who had said to mix in and leave earlier had a dissatisfied expression, but no one cared.

“Now, let’s go quickly! Quickly!”

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Before the Murim Alliance became a sea of fire, and before the Black Cloud Cavalry that had set out in pursuit returned, they had to get out of here quickly.

“Load the injured onto carts or freight wagons! Let’s get out of here quickly!”

Jang Cheon-ho and the sect leaders, who had run to the guest quarters in one breath, hurriedly urged the people.

“Hurry! Hurry!”

Without even realizing that his face was turning red, Jang Cheon-ho shouted at the top of his lungs.