Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 253

253. Iron-Blooded Death King, Yeom Jung-bu

The Moryong Clan chose to head towards the area where the Black Spear Cavalry was already forming a siege.

However, the Moryong Clan boldly charged right into the encirclement.

The Black Spear Cavalry tried to stop them, but they were no match for the Moryong Clan, which included the family head, Moryong Dancheon, the chief disciple, Moryong Jin, and even Dokgo-rang.

The Moryong Clan broke through the siege without much difficulty.

But the real problem started after that.

The Black Spear Cavalry, the Short Bow Unit, and even the Green Forest joined the pursuit, relentlessly chasing after them.

The Moryong Clan, riding their horses at full speed, soon encountered an obstacle.

“The road is blocked!” a disciple of the Moryong Clan shouted.

In the distance, on the main road, large tree trunks and rubble formed a barricade.

And that wasn’t all.

A group wearing yellow uniforms stood guard around it.

Each of them had yellowish-brown bands fluttering from their wrists.

They were the Hwangcheon Squad [Yellow River Squad, a specialized unit].

‘The Hwangcheon Squad!’

The head of the family, Moryong Dancheon, gritted his teeth.

The rumors that the Surochae Alliance [Water Wheel Alliance, likely a bandit group] and the Green Forest were attacking the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] were true.

The Hwangcheon Squad of the Surochae Alliance, who had been out of sight for a while, the same ones who had blockaded the Namgung Clan’s gates, had now appeared before them.

‘Hmm.’

The Hwangcheon Squad blocked the road ahead, and the Black Spear Cavalry pursued from behind.

At this point, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Dark Sky Demon Emperor himself showed up.

The powerful figure who had defeated Namgung Jincheon, the former head of the Namgung Clan.

The head of the family, Moryong Dancheon, made a swift decision.

“Break out to the side!”

“Haa!”

Clatter, clatter.

Following Moryong Dancheon’s order, the chief disciple Moryong Jin and the other members changed direction.

It wasn’t difficult to leave the road since the surroundings were fields.

However, the Hangzhou Plain had many waterways.

Once they left the main road, they risked running into a river or lake at any moment.

Clatter, clatter.

As dusk settled, the members of the Moryong Clan rode through the dark and unfamiliar fields.

How long had they been riding?

“Whoa!”

Moryong Dancheon stopped his horse and clicked his tongue.

Just as he had feared, a waterway blocked their path.

At first glance, it was wide with a strong current, making it impossible to cross on horseback.

“There’s a forest on the right.”

At the disciple’s voice, Moryong Dancheon surveyed the surrounding terrain.

In the darkness, he could make out a fairly dense forest to the right.

And the torches of the pursuing party flickered here and there in the dark plain.

Moryong Dancheon said quietly.

“Enter the forest. Abandon the horses.”

The dense forest would offer them some concealment from their pursuers, however slight.

The Moryong Clan members immediately dismounted.

‘Did I underestimate them?’

Moryong Dancheon smiled bitterly.

He hadn’t expected them to pursue so relentlessly.

Seeing them block the main road with the hidden Hwangcheon Squad and organize such a persistent pursuit, he realized their opponent was more meticulous and tenacious than he had initially thought.

It was as if they were trying to uproot the entire Murim Alliance, not just secure a single victory.

‘Moon Lord……’

Moryong Dancheon recalled the enemy’s name that Woon-hyun had mentioned.

His worries about the disciples who had escaped separately with the injured weighed heavily on his mind.

Thud, neigh.

Moryong Dancheon lightly patted his horse’s hindquarters.

After ensuring the horses scattered, the Moryong Clan members used their lightness skills [a martial art technique to move swiftly and lightly] to move into the forest.

Of course, they couldn’t use torches or lamps.

Swish, swish.

The darkness of the forest gently enveloped the Moryong Clan members, Dokgo-rang, and Woon-hyun.

Rustle.

Fallen leaves crunched under their feet.

How long had it been since they entered the forest?

In the dark thicket, the chief disciple Moryong Jin led the way.

‘Hmm?’

Suddenly, Moryong Jin sensed an unfamiliar presence.

Moryong Jin immediately stopped walking and gestured to the rear.

Swish.

The entire group halted at once.

After signaling to two other disciples, Moryong Jin drew his sword and slowly moved forward.

Thud.

The two disciples drew their swords and carefully followed Moryong Jin.

Moryong Jin, advancing cautiously, soon identified the source of the presence he had felt.

‘Hoo.’

Moryong Jin was relieved.

The figures gathered in the small clearing in the forest were the disciples of the Hyeokryun Clan [Crimson Wheel Clan].

Hyeokryun Pil, the representative of the Murim Alliance, was also among them.

Moryong Jin said in a low whisper.

“Hyeokryun Pil Daehyeop [Great Hero].”

“Huh!”

It was a very quiet sound, but the reaction was significant.

Hyeokryun Pil, along with the Hyeokryun Clan disciples who had been sitting, jumped up in surprise and drew their swords.

“Who, who is it!”

Moryong Jin frowned.

He didn’t want to make a loud noise, but his plan was foiled.

Moryong Jin quickly revealed himself.

Rustle.

“I am Moryong Jin of the Moryong Clan. Lower your voices.”

When Moryong Jin identified himself, the Hyeokryun Clan disciples finally relaxed.

“Ah, it was the Moryong Clan.”

Meanwhile, the two disciples who had followed Moryong Jin and the rest of the group slowly emerged into the clearing.

As the Moryong Clan group revealed themselves, Hyeokryun Pil, the representative of the Hyeokryun Clan, looked at them intently.

“Perhaps Moryong Dancheon Daehyeop is…….”

“I am here.”

Thud.

The head of the family, Moryong Dancheon, answered in a heavy voice and stepped forward.

Hyeokryun Pil’s face lit up.

“You are safe. That is truly fortunate!”

He didn’t hide his joy.

Moryong Jin, as well as Moryong Dancheon, exchanged puzzled glances.

Because Hyeokryun Pil’s reaction was unusually friendly.

Rustle.

Finally, Woon-hyun and Dokgo-rang appeared.

Hyeokryun Pil frowned, and the chief disciple Moryong Jin asked.

“What on earth is going on?”

His question was understandable.

There were fewer than ten Hyeokryun Clan disciples present.

The numerous wounds, both large and small, clearly indicated they had been in a fierce battle.

“What do you mean, what’s going on…….”

Hyeokryun Pil asked back with a frown.

“Then did the Moryong Clan encounter no problems at all?”

Moryong Jin replied with a puzzled expression.

“There was the Hwangcheon Squad blocking the main road and the pursuit of the Black Spear Cavalry and the Green Forest…….”

“The Iron-Blooded Death King!”

Everyone’s expression changed instantly.

“Yeom Jung-bu, the Iron-Blooded Death King, appeared! While we were held back by the Hwangcheon Squad, he attacked the head of the family!”

Moryong Jin and Moryong Mi, as well as the head of the family, Moryong Dancheon, couldn’t hide their surprise.

“Then where is Paegeom [Overlord Sword]?”

At Moryong Dancheon’s words, Hyeokryun Pil bit his lip.

And slowly turned his head to look back.

Moryong Dancheon could clearly see the figure of a person lying down, visible beyond the Hyeokryun Clan disciples.

“The Yeom family cowardly launched a surprise attack. If that hadn’t happened, the head of the family wouldn’t have been defeated so easily.”

“Wait a minute.”

Moryong Mi approached.

The Hyeokryun Clan disciples were wary of her, but retreated at Hyeokryun Pil’s signal.

Swish.

The person lying down was indeed Hyeokryun Cheol-hoo, the head of the Hyeokryun Clan, Paegeom.

There were no major external injuries, but he was clearly in critical condition, as he wasn’t regaining consciousness.

Moryong Mi, after checking his pulse, shook her head.

“There’s nothing I can do. He needs to see a doctor quickly.”

Hyeokryun Pil bit his lip.

“Huh.”

The head of the family, Moryong Dancheon, sighed.

Hyeokryun Cheol-hoo, the overlord of Guangdong Province, Paegeom.

He was always arrogant and unyielding, but to see him seriously injured and lying in such a place was unimaginable.

“I didn’t see the Iron-Blooded Death King, so I assumed he was chasing after the retreating sects.”

It had been the right decision to avoid fighting and flee.

If they had delayed to fight, trusting in their martial arts prowess, they would have encountered the Iron-Blooded Death King.

‘Perhaps.’

Moryong Dancheon suddenly had a thought.

Could this escape even be part of the enemy’s plan?

Blocking the main road and sending a pursuit team to force them to escape in this direction.

“What happened to the other disciples?”

Moryong Dancheon asked.

Originally, there had been about eighty Hyeokryun Clan disciples.

But now there were only about ten of them.

Hyeokryun Pil bit his lip.

“Most of them were scattered with serious injuries.”

Hyeokryun Pil, still biting his lip, said in a trembling voice.

“And some died in the battle……, quite a few.”

How must he feel, having lost his brothers?

“Um, I’m sorry.”

The head of the family, Moryong Dancheon’s apology was sincere.

“No. More than that…….”

Hyeokryun Pil said with a serious look.

“I’m sorry, but could we travel together? As you can see, the situation is like this…….”

‘Ah.’

The chief disciple Moryong Jin understood why Hyeokryun Pil had been so happy and why he had answered the uncomfortable questions so readily.

He was asking for the Moryong Clan’s help.

‘Well, if it were me…….’

He would have done the same in this situation.

“I understand.”

The head of the family, Moryong Dancheon, said.

“Let’s move together to a safe place.”

“Thank you.”

Hyeokryun Pil bowed deeply to Moryong Dancheon.

“I will not forget this grace, Daehyeop.”

“It’s alright. It’s only natural to help each other in difficult times. More than that, do you know where we are?”

Hyeokryun Pil shook his head.

“I don’t know. I only recently managed to shake off the Iron-Blooded Death King’s pursuit.”

‘Shook off the pursuit?’

Moryong Dancheon’s brow furrowed slightly.

‘The Iron-Blooded Death King, of all people?’

He couldn’t hide his doubts.

“Be careful!”

Dokgo-rang’s sharp voice rang out from behind.

At the same time, a heavy voice descended from above.

“Hehe, I’m very lucky tonight.”

People’s faces hardened instantly.

Hyeokryun Pil’s expression turned pale.

“No, surely…….”

Fluttering.

With the sound of clothes fluttering, a figure descended from the darkness.

Thud.

Under the moonlight, he revealed himself to be a middle-aged man wearing red silk clothes.

With his hands behind his back, he looked like a dignified high-ranking official, but everyone knew who he was at once.

Gritting.

Hyeokryun Pil gritted his teeth.

“Iron-Blooded Death King!”

He was none other than Yeom Jung-bu, the Iron-Blooded Death King.

The iron-blooded man with the heart of a snake, who had seriously injured Paegeom Hyeokryun Cheol-hoo with a surprise attack, had revealed himself.

“Don’t call me carelessly.”

Yeom Jung-bu, the Iron-Blooded Death King, frowned.

“It’s not a name someone like you is worthy to utter.”

Swish.

At the same time as the eerie sound of air being displaced, Moryong Jin drew his sword.

Clang.

A sharp impact echoed.

Moryong Jin was already standing in front of Hyeokryun Pil, and faint blue sword energy bloomed from his blade.

Moryong Jin had sensed and blocked the attack that Yeom Jung-bu had unleashed.

Woo-oong.

“Hoo.”

Yeom Jung-bu’s eyes flashed.

His gaze was fixed on the energy rippling from Moryong Jin’s sword.

“There was a useful talent in the Moryong Clan as well.”

It was a voice that sounded almost complimentary, but no one could miss the hostility in his eyes.

“That’s interesting, but we’ll put that aside for now.”

Swish.

Yeom Jung-bu turned his head.

“It’s been a while, child.”

He said with a kind smile.

The person his snake-like gaze was directed at was Woon-hyun.

“Or should I call you the Azure Dragon Sword Master now?”

Yeom Jung-bu continued with a triumphant smile.

“There are many people who want to see you. A lot of people. Hehehe.”

Like a snake that had found its prey, Yeom Jung-bu’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent as he looked at Woon-hyun.