Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 497

497. The Burning Capital

Yunhyun’s party’s carriage sped towards the capital.

The experienced coachmen skillfully drove the carriage even on rough roads, frequently changing horses to prevent them from tiring.

Clatter, clatter.

Inside the swaying carriage, Yeonghojun spoke to Yunhyun.

“The military governor’s response is extraordinary.”

Examining Seolyeongdae’s letter, Yeonghojun continued.

“Upon learning that the north gate had been breached, he immediately abandoned the capital’s defenses and gathered all government troops in a small southern city. It’s not easy to abandon a large city like the capital, so it seems he has quite a bit of practical experience.”

“Indeed.”

Yunhyun nodded.

However, Gaeong was different.

“Does that mean abandoning the capital was the right thing to do?”

Gaeong frowned as he asked.

Yeonghojun quietly replied.

“Unfortunately, yes. When faced with an unexpected attack, the top priority is to immediately retreat and reorganize the ranks. The capital can be retaken, but if the command system collapses, the entire army could be annihilated.”

However, Gaeong’s expression did not improve.

“Shouldn’t a capable person have prevented the gate from being breached in the first place?”

“That’s correct.”

Yeonghojun calmly continued.

“But in an organization, there are many things that don’t go as planned. According to this letter, the person who commanded the government soldiers who went out of the city was not the military governor but a high-ranking military official belonging to the Finance Commissioner’s office. He probably saw the enemy as mere peasants and foolishly sought glory.”

His reasoning was accurate.

The person who led the five thousand government soldiers organized through illicit means was a high-ranking military official from the Finance Commissioner’s office.

Because the military governor could not directly step forward.

The high-ranking military official from the Finance Commissioner’s office saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

In the end, despite the military governor’s advice, he recklessly engaged in battle and suffered a crushing defeat, even committing the fatal mistake of allowing the Demonic Sect’s forces to enter the capital due to a disorderly rout.

“So, the capital has already fallen into the hands of the Demonic Sect?”

“Not necessarily.”

Yeonghojun replied in a serious voice.

“The capital is a very large city. Even if the Demonic Sect’s forces number three thousand, it’s not enough to control the capital. They probably don’t intend to occupy the capital either, and I believe they’re likely focused on destructive activities.”

Gaeong’s expression hardened.

It was impossible to occupy the large city of the capital with only three thousand troops against the government army.

In the end, they would burn the capital and cause chaos throughout Sichuan [a province in southwestern China].

This was not good news for Gaeong.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage raced dangerously along the main road.

However, a heavy silence hung over the carriage carrying Yunhyun, Gaeong, and Yeonghojun.

***

The great city of Sichuan, the capital, had become a scene of devastation in just a few days.

The Demonic Sect’s forces, pouring in through the north gate, immediately headed for the government offices of the local dignitaries.

The Finance Commissioner’s office, the Surveillance Commissioner’s office, and the Military Governor’s office were their targets.

The government offices that oversaw Sichuan’s local administration, justice, and military affairs were burned, and countless documents disappeared.

A significant number of government officials also lost their lives.

However, thanks to Military Governor Deng Chufan’s quick command, the loss of life was not further expanded.

He boldly abandoned the capital and ordered a regrouping in a small southern city.

Officials, government soldiers, and troops immediately fled the capital.

The Finance Commissioner and the Surveillance Commissioner also safely escaped the capital.

However, the suffering of the people began from that point on.

The scattered Demonic Sect’s forces attacked and burned the bustling streets and merchant guilds.

The capital quickly descended into chaos.

Although there were only three thousand demonic soldiers, there were no government troops left to stop them.

The demonic soldiers indiscriminately carried out massacres and destruction.

The people had to bear the brunt of the damage, and many didn’t even know why this was happening.

People belatedly began to flee, but the demonic soldiers were merciless.

It seemed only a matter of time before the great city of the capital was completely reduced to ruins.

If it weren’t for the disciples of the Tang Clan, Emei Sect, and Mount Kongtong Sect.

Crash.

The three-story pavilion that had been burning collapsed powerlessly.

It was a pavilion that had brightly illuminated the capital’s bustling street, but now not even its shape remained.

“Ahhh!”

Amidst the screams of fleeing people, the demonic soldiers indiscriminately slashed at people.

Swoosh.

“Cough!”

A man who was frantically running away collapsed, spitting blood.

Blood flowed profusely on the ground, and the demonic soldier who had cut him down burst into wild laughter.

“Kahaha.”

The eyes, dyed black, gleamed in the light.

The demonic soldier had completely lost his reason and was consumed by destructive instincts.

He could not even speak or think properly.

Only the urge to destroy everything was fiercely engulfing him.

“Kuaaaaaaa!”

The demonic soldier howled like a beast, filled with joy.

It was then.

Swoosh.

A sharp Cheonggang Sword [a type of sword] lunged towards the demonic soldier.

The demonic soldier immediately raised his Dao [a single-edged Chinese sword or saber].

But the Cheonggang Sword did not stop.

Slice.

The Cheonggang Sword cut through the demonic soldier’s Dao and neck in one swift motion.

The faint energy contained in that sword was clearly Sword Qi [internal energy manifested through a sword].

“Be careful, Young Master!”

A Taoist priest shouted from behind.

Because the headless demonic soldier was reaching out and lunging at him.

However, the owner of the Cheonggang Sword did not panic.

“Haa!”

With a clear shout, the Cheonggang Sword slashed through the air.

At the same time, the headless demonic soldier’s torso was diagonally split in two.

Thud.

The split body of the demonic soldier fell to the ground.

The corpse would soon turn black and crumble.

Just as it had always done.

“Young Master Tang, are you alright?”

Three or four Taoist priests and a female officer approached and asked.

They were the Taoists from Mount Kongtong Sect.

The young man who had just cut down the demonic soldier nodded.

“I’m fine. How about the others…?”

They were not alone.

Three or four Taoist priests in formation, along with disciples from the Tang Clan and Emei Sect, were blocking the demonic soldiers here and there.

“Your martial prowess is always amazing to see, Young Master. To cut down a demonic soldier all by yourself.”

A female officer said in admiration.

The Songmun Ancient Sword of Mount Kongtong Sect was shining in her hand.

“I’m just lacking.”

The young man called Young Master said humbly.

He was Tang Hyeok, the younger brother of Tang Seol-ryeon and the son of Tang Cheon-byeok, the Clan Lord.

He had won the Taepyeong Alliance Martial Arts Tournament in the past, and after applying for a martial arts contest to Yunhyun, who was attending as an acting representative at the time, he tasted humiliation with a single silver chopstick.

Later, following Tang Seol-ryeon’s order, he set out to conquer the Emei Sect of the Taepyeong Alliance, and after being shocked by Yunhyun’s martial prowess, who blocked the Taepyeong Alliance alone, he went into secluded training.

That Tang Hyeok was now using Sword Qi to cut down demonic soldiers.

“Now, let’s help the other people quickly.”

Tang Hyeok said.

His eyes were shining brightly, befitting a rising master of the Tang Clan.

The Mount Kongtong Sect Taoist priests nodded.

They grabbed their swords and charged together towards the demonic soldiers.

The once splendid and bustling street of the capital was now filled with the sounds of flames and fighting.

***

Sichuan Province, the capital, Tang Clan.

The Tang Clan was as bright as day even in the middle of the night.

Tang Seol-ryeon, the chief strategist, had set up a temporary office in the main hall and was commanding the disciples of the Tang Clan, Emei Sect, and Mount Kongtong Sect.

“Chief Strategist. Young Master Tang has defeated the demonic soldiers.”

A subordinate said with a bow.

His expression was quite excited.

Tang Seol-ryeon nodded.

“Tell him not to overdo it and retreat immediately.”

The subordinate bowed again and retreated.

Tang Seol-ryeon muttered, looking at the map spread out on the desk.

“Good. Then this place is done.”

A map detailing the entire capital was placed in front of her.

It was a detailed map that even the government would have difficulty obtaining, but it was blackened in places.

It was an area completely taken over by the Demonic Sect’s forces.

Tang Seol-ryeon frowned and glared at the map.

‘…It will be difficult to hold out for long like this.’

The government army had already abandoned the capital and left, but the Tang Clan, or rather Tang Seol-ryeon, did not.

The reason was simple.

‘Still, I can never let the Tang Clan burn down.’

Vain honor or chivalry didn’t matter.

Rescuing innocent people and helping refugees were only secondary matters.

The Tang Clan must never collapse.

Becoming the epitome of absolute fear and terror.

That was the only way the Tang Clan had survived in the Jianghu [the martial arts world] martial world.

Clench.

Tang Seol-ryeon gritted her teeth.

There were already those who ridiculed the Tang Clan, calling them heretics or poison users.

If the Tang Clan were to be burned down by a group that had broken away from the Demonic Sect, it was obvious how they would react.

Swish.

Tang Seol-ryeon looked down at the map showing the capital.

There were many markings around the Tang Clan’s location.

It was the area that the disciples of the Tang Clan, Emei Sect, and Mount Kongtong Sect had defended for the past five days.

Following the advice of the Mount Kongtong Sect Taoist priests, they formed a formation of three or four people to face the demonic soldiers, and they also learned that the sword techniques of the Emei Sect and Mount Kongtong Sect had the energy of subduing demons and dispelling evil.

They never overdid it when fighting the demonic soldiers, and they never tried to reclaim the areas seized by the Demonic Sect.

Fortunately, the demonic soldiers who had stormed into the capital were scattered and continued to carry out destructive acts sporadically.

Thanks to this, the four hundred and fifty disciples of the Tang Clan, Emei Sect, and Mount Kongtong Sect had been protecting this area until now.

While helping the endless stream of refugees.

‘The problem is time…’

Tang Seol-ryeon bit her lip.

They were somehow holding out, but even that was now at its limit.

Above all, the disciples’ fatigue was accumulating to a dangerous level.

Moreover, if the Demonic Sect’s forces were to systematically target the Tang Clan, the current forces would be insufficient.

‘When will the government army come?’

The local dignitaries could not possibly abandon the great city of the capital.

Tang Seol-ryeon was confident that the government army would soon retake the capital.

But could they really hold out until then?

“Hoo.”

Tang Seol-ryeon unknowingly sighed and realized her mistake.

She had been refraining from even a single word, fearing that it would affect morale.

It was then.

‘Huh?’

Tang Seol-ryeon suddenly raised her head.

She heard something noisy coming from the south, where the main gate was located.

‘Could it be!’

Tang Seol-ryeon frowned with unease.

“Chief Strategist!”

A subordinate rushed in and said.

“It’s the enemy! The demonic soldiers are now at the main gate… Keoeok!”

His words were not finished.

A chilling spear blade pierced through his chest and emerged.

“Khehehehe.”

With a bitter laugh, a demonic soldier appeared.

The black energy surrounding his entire body showed that he was no ordinary demonic soldier.

Thud.

Pulling the spear blade from the fallen subordinate’s body, the high-ranking demonic soldier said.

“Are you the leader of those who killed my subordinates?”

A chilling voice, like scraping metal, flowed out.

Tang Seol-ryeon did not answer.

Clang.

The guards on her left and right drew their swords.

“Taha!”

Swoosh.

With a shout, five swords lunged towards the high-ranking demonic soldier.

However, the high-ranking demonic soldier chuckled.

Whoosh.

His black spear lightly drew a circle.

And the next moment, the black spear fell towards the guards with tremendous force.

Clang, clang.

“Keoeok.”

“Kueuk.”

The guards could not withstand even a few exchanges.

After the high-ranking demonic soldier’s spear repeatedly slashed through the air, there were no more guards standing on two feet.

Thud.

Planting the spear on the ground, the high-ranking demonic soldier looked at Tang Seol-ryeon.

“Is this all you’ve got?”

He was clearly mocking her.

Other demonic soldiers appeared one after another behind him.

Moreover, judging from the sounds of fighting coming from here and there, it was clear that they had deliberately targeted the Tang Clan.

Starting with the fact that they had invaded through the south main gate, which was considered the safest.

“Kekeke.”

The high-ranking demonic soldier sneered at Tang Seol-ryeon’s hardened expression.

“Since you killed my demonic soldiers, I will have to wet my throat with your blood.”

Tang Seol-ryeon smiled.

The red lips, shimmering in the light, were even seductive.

“Is that so? But my blood is extremely poisonous, you know? Especially for monsters like you.”

Tang Seol-ryeon said, emitting a sharp killing intent.

Her white hand was already reaching for her sword.

However, the high-ranking demonic soldier instead licked his lips with a greedy look.

“Yes. That’s the look. The way the eyes of things like you are stained with despair is…”

It was then.

Pee-peebik.

A low sound cut through the air.

The high-ranking demonic soldier immediately swung his spear.

Clang.

Something was deflected away with a shock.

But the other demonic soldiers could not do so.

Thud, thud.

The demonic soldiers fell with holes in their foreheads.

They, who had been rushing even after their heads were cut off, collapsed powerlessly.

“Who is it!”

The high-ranking demonic soldier said, grinding his teeth.

But Tang Seol-ryeon’s expression brightened.

“Grandfa…”

“Sorry to break the mood, but.”

A clear voice flowed out from the darkness.

It was not the voice of Gaeong that Tang Seol-ryeon had been hoping for.

Step, step.

A handsome man, like a romantic nobleman, appeared.

Holding a sword in one hand, he gave a gentle smile and said to the high-ranking demonic soldier.

“She is my woman.”

The handsome man with a picture-perfect smile was none other than the Plum Blossom Sword of Mount Hua, the romantic nobleman of Hangzhou, and the Chief Strategist of the Azure Dragon Alliance, Yeonghojun.