Episode 84: The Road Home (3)
Light Novel: Volume 4 Chapter 3
Manhwa: Chapter 67
Chapter 3. The Road Home (3)
The Silver Sword Squad’s reaction was truly dazzling.
The moment they heard Naeng Ha-gyeom’s shout, they immediately picked up their weapons and took up defensive positions. However, despite their efforts, there were casualties.
Thwack!
“Urgh!”
With a loud, sharp sound, a scream rang out.
“So-myeong!”
“Damn it!”
The casualty was Jin So-myeong, the youngest member of the Silver Sword Squad.
An arrow, longer than a grown man’s arm, had pierced through Jin So-myeong’s neck. He coughed up blood and died on the spot—a tragic end for a promising young talent who had carried the hopes of the Silver Sword Squad.
“Who goes there?!”
Naeng Ha-gyeom roared as he glared in the direction the arrow had come from. However, no answer came from the darkness.
Instead, more arrows came flying toward them.
Piinng! Ping!
The sharp sound of arrows splitting the air echoed continuously.
Naeng Ha-gyeom and the Silver Sword Squad raised their swords to form a tight front-line defense. However, the arrows passed them by and flew further back.
‘Damn it!’
‘Lim Sobo!’
Only then did Naeng Ha-gyeom and the Silver Sword Squad realize their mistake.
The true target of the ambushers hiding in the darkness wasn’t them. It was Lim Sobo.
Naeng Ha-gyeom felt his mind go blank. If Lim Sobo were to lose her life in this assassination attempt, the blame would fall entirely on him.
Believing she had already been struck down, Naeng Ha-gyeom turned around in dread. It didn’t even cross his mind that Squad 13 could have blocked the very same arrow that had claimed Jin So-myeong’s life. That’s why his expression was darkened in despair.
However, Lim Sobo’s corpse, which he had expected to see, was nowhere to be found. It wasn’t just her. The other members of Squad 13 who had been around Lim Sobo were also gone.
A flicker of confusion crossed Naeng Ha-gyeom’s face.
Just then, Lim Sobo called out from behind a rock that had been blocking his view.
“Be careful, Squad Leader Naeng!”
Fortunately, Lim Sobo was unharmed.
This was because at the exact moment the arrow had flown, Lee Gwak had grabbed her and pulled her behind the rock. At the same time, Lee Gwak sent a telepathic voice transmission to warn the other squad members. Thanks to that, all members of Squad 13 had avoided danger.
‘Thank goodness.’
Once he confirmed Lim Sobo’s safety, Naeng Ha-gyeom was finally able to regain his composure.
He gave a command to the Silver Sword Squad.
“Woo-gwang, Nam-il. You two stay here and protect Lady Lim. The rest, come with me—we hunt down those who dared to ambush us.”
“Yes!”
With a strong reply, the two men who had been called out quickly rushed to Lim Sobo’s side and took up positions to guard her.
Once Lim Sobo’s safety was ensured, Naeng Ha-gyeom dashed off in the direction the arrows had come from, taking his subordinates with him.
‘I will never forgive them.’
Rage blazed in Naeng Ha-gyeom’s eyes.
He vowed to capture the ones who dared to ambush them and tear them limb from limb.
He and the Silver Sword Squad quickly vanished into the darkness. Only then did Cheon-wol carefully approach Lim Sobo.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes! Thanks to you, brother…”
Lim Sobo looked at Lee Gwak. A hint of doubt appeared in her eyes.
‘He definitely reacted faster than the Silver Sword Squad leader.’
Lee Gwak had moved before even the sound of arrows cutting through the air had been heard. That was why she had been so startled when he suddenly pulled her into his arms.
Immediately after hiding behind the rock, the arrow struck where she had been. Had his reaction been even slightly slower, she would have been gravely wounded.
‘Just who is he really…?’
Confusion clouded Lim Sobo’s expression.
She had thought she had a general grasp of who Lee Gwak was, but now everything felt like it had been thrown into disarray again.
Aware of Lim Sobo’s gaze, Lee Gwak looked at her and spoke.
“It’s alright now. The ambushers have retreated.”
“Brother?”
“Still, just in case, stay hidden behind the rock with Cheon-wol.”
There was an undeniable authority in Lee Gwak’s voice. Lim Sobo had many things she wanted to say, but she could no longer utter a word.
At that moment, Lee Gwak was experiencing something strange.
His hearing had opened up completely, allowing him to capture every single sound in the vicinity. It was a phenomenon that began after his battle with Mo Yong-shin.
And that wasn’t all. His eyes were piercing through the pitch-black darkness, seeing the surroundings as if it were broad daylight.
That was how he knew. That the attackers had already retreated.
‘At least eight. Three archers, and five swordsmen who seem to be protecting them.’
Lee Gwak’s eyes gleamed coldly in the dark.
They were not mere bandits.
The way they had retreated in perfect coordination immediately after gauging this side’s reaction and strength—it was more like that of trained soldiers.
‘Who are they? Could it be the Celestial Demon Union?’
It was a suspicion worth considering.
If Lim Sobo were to be killed or abducted, it would surely shake Yeo Jung-wol, the brain of the Jade Heaven Alliance. The only group that could benefit from such chaos was the Celestial Demon Union.
Lee Gwak’s expression darkened.
If the attackers really were from the Celestial Demon Union, then the Silver Sword Squad alone would not be enough to fully protect Lim Sobo.
The question was—were there only eight attackers?
Lee Gwak didn’t think so.
The way they withdrew without hesitation after confirming their side’s reaction made them look more like an advanced scouting unit. If that was the case, then the main force that had sent them was still somewhere nearby.
After organizing his thoughts, Lee Gwak turned to Cheon-wol and said,
“Cheon-wol! From now on, no matter what happens, don’t stray more than two steps away from Sobo.”
“Yes, brother!”
Cheon-wol answered with firm resolve.
From the moment he realized that Lim Sobo had become the target of the assailants, his eyes had turned cold.
Just then, the Silver Sword Squad that had gone in pursuit returned.
The fury on their faces made it clear that they had returned empty-handed.
They cursed and gathered around the corpse of Jin So-myeong.
“Damn it!”
“So-myeong, we’ll definitely avenge you.”
They vowed revenge and collected Jin So-myeong’s body. Only after all that was done did Naeng Ha-gyeom approach Lim Sobo to check on her safety.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Then that’s good.”
Naeng Ha-gyeom said coldly and turned away.
He was angry that he had lost a subordinates while escorting Lim Sobo, and even more furious that his squad had been unable to identify the attackers despite pursuing them.
Had they not been tasked with escorting Lim Sobo, this wouldn’t have happened. But he couldn’t vent his anger at her either, so he forced himself to suppress his rage.
The Silver Sword Squad decided to leave with Jin So-myeong’s body.
They couldn’t bring themselves to leave behind the corpse of a comrade who had died so suddenly.
“Tsk! This will slow us down.”
Ki Jinhwi clicked his tongue.
He thought it would be better to bury Jin So-myeong’s body here and retrieve it after the situation was resolved.
However, the Silver Sword Squad’s intimidating presence kept him from voicing that thought.
The Silver Sword Squad exuded a deadly aura. Their presence, like unsheathed blades standing upright, was so intense that the Outer Hall warriors dared not approach and simply swallowed hard.
Naeng Ha-gyeom gave an order to the Silver Sword Squad.
“We move out at first light. Until then, we’ll take turns standing night watch in teams of two.”
In truth, he wanted to leave this place immediately, where a comrade had just lost his life. But if they were to travel along a pitch-dark mountain path and were attacked again, they might be wiped out without even having a chance to fight back.
Naeng Ha-gyeom’s gaze turned to Lee Gwak.
“Our only mission is to protect Lady Lim Sobo. We don’t have the capacity to look after you all as well. So protect your own lives.”
Naeng Ha-gyeom’s tone was ruthlessly cold.
He didn’t see Lee Gwak and Squad 13 as equals or comrades. The only person of importance to the Silver Sword Squad was Lim Sobo. That’s why he was willing to sacrifice Squad 13 if necessary.
That resolve was fully conveyed to Lee Gwak.
Lee Gwak nodded.
“Understood.”
“I said it clearly. Protect your own lives.”
“I heard you loud and clear.”
“You—”
Naeng Ha-gyeom furrowed his brow.
Lee Gwak’s calm response bothered him for some reason.
‘Those eyes…’
His unwavering gaze, even in the face of a crisis, was strange.
It was far too deep for the eyes of a mere Outer Hall squad leader—more like those of a seasoned veteran who had endured countless battles in Jianghu.
‘It must be my imagination.’
Naeng Ha-gyeom thought, forcing himself to dismiss the feeling as he turned away.
Lee Gwak quietly watched Naeng Ha-gyeom’s retreating back before returning to the members of Squad 13.
He relayed Naeng Ha-gyeom’s words exactly as they were to his squad members.
“So he’s basically saying that they’ll use us as shields if it comes to that.”
Seok Yi-cheon was the first to catch on to their intent.
“Isn’t that a big problem?”
“Damn it! We’re all dead meat.”
Woo Il-yeong and Go Cheon-gwang’s expressions darkened.
Unlike Ki Jinhwi or Cheon-wol, they were ordinary people. They were not particularly skilled in martial arts, nor did they have the conviction to overcome life-and-death situations.
The incident that had just unfolded before their eyes was far too overwhelming for ordinary martial artists like them to handle. Naturally, they couldn’t help but be terrified.
Aside from them, the others reacted reasonably well.
The experienced Seok Yi-cheon calmed himself down, Ki Jinhwi looked at the Silver Sword Squad with a gaze full of interest, and Cheon-wol was burning with fighting spirit.
At that moment, Lee Gwak opened his mouth.
“We… can survive.”
“Squad Leader?”
“We will all return safely.”
His voice was quiet, barely above a whisper, but strangely enough, it rang clearly in their ears.
The moment they heard him speak, the squad members felt an odd sense of relief, and their hearts began to settle.
Lee Gwak’s words carried weight.
His voice was neither loud nor forceful, but it had the power to draw people’s focus and make them believe.
Lee Gwak turned to Ki Jinhwi.
“Brother, watch the rear and stay alert for enemies.”
“Understood.”
“Cheon-wol, do not leave Sobo’s side under any circumstances. You are her shield. Protect her with your body.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Brother Yi-cheon, make sure Cheon-gwang and Il-yeong don’t let their fear drive them into panic.”
“Got it.”
No one objected to Lee Gwak’s commands.
Lee Gwak was usually a presence that went almost unnoticed, as if he weren’t there at all but once he started giving orders, none of them dared oppose him.
Then Lee Gwak gave his final command.
“Since the Silver Sword Squad is standing watch, we’ll rest and conserve our strength until departure. It won’t be easy, but get as much sleep as you can. We might not get another chance to rest going forward.”
* * *
Far from the campsite where the Silver Sword Squad and Squad 13 were staying, he stood at the peak of a dark hill.
From head to toe, he was completely clad in black.
A black bamboo hat rested on his head, and his body was wrapped tightly in black robes. Even his face beneath the hat was covered in a black cloth.
A chilling gleam shone through the gaps in the bamboo hat.
Behind him stood over a dozen warriors dressed in the same black garments. Like statues, they stood motionless behind him.
Suddenly, his gaze turned even colder.
This was because a group of people emerged from the darkness.
They were dressed exactly like the martial artists standing behind him. As soon as they appeared, they knelt on one knee in front of him.
The man with a bow slung over his back spoke on behalf of the group.
“We’ve returned, Captain!”
“How strong are they?”
Finally, he spoke.
For a moment, it felt as though the air across the entire area had turned cold. A chilling gleam flickered like a torch from beneath his bamboo hat.
“There are fifteen people from the Silver Sword Squad, accompanied by half a dozen misfits.”
“Misfits?”
“Yes! I fired an arrow at them as a test, but unlike the Silver Sword Squad, their reactions were completely uncoordinated.”
“Hm! So we only have to worry about the Silver Sword Squad? That’s easier than I thought.”
He muttered to himself as he stroked his chin with his hand.
His mission was to kidnap Lim Sobo. Since it was a mission involving the kidnap of the disciple of the genius military strategist Yeo Jung-wol, he mobilized forces far more force than usual. That made the current situation feel underwhelming.
His subordinates stared at him, holding their breath.
Just then, a subtle movement flickered across the black cloth covering his face. His mouth, hidden under the cloth, had curled into a faint smile.
Wearing a cold smile, he gave the order to his men.
“Heh… It’s time to see just how powerful a force bought with money truly is. Black Deathly Ghost Mist Squad.”
“Yes!”
His subordinates responded in unison.
The ones known as the Black Deathly Ghost Mist Squad stared back at him, their eyes darkened by the shadows.
“Start the hunt.”
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