WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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Episode 23: Escape (4)

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“How did you find that out?”

Evil Heaven was surprised only briefly before asking with a brightened expression.

“I interrogated that person.”

“You seemed reluctant because you couldn't kill them.”

“I thought they might have reinforcements nearby, so I interrogated them through sound telepathy.”

More precisely, I had heard it from that sword, not the dead swordsman. The blade was still cursing me.

It resented me, but there was nothing to be done.

There were many people here I needed to save.

“Our side has several hundred fighters, so I told him to talk if he wanted his comrades to live. He spilled everything.”

- At this point, you're practically a master liar.

What, was I supposed to say I heard it from a sword?

“You handled it wisely, young master.”

Gu SangWoong, the Tyrannical Blood Brigade Leader, praised me.

He had treated me quite favorably ever since I caught the Spy.

“Hehe, that clever little head of yours does work well. So, what did you learn?”

I told them everything I had learned from the sword.

The dead second-rate swordsman was a warrior from Haeyeon Sect. They were near the bottom of the hierarchy, so they did not know much.

Still, I learned that seven martial clans had mobilized at someone's request, and small groups of scouts were lying in ambush throughout this area alongside them.

“More importantly, the Haeyeon Sect leader is searching the route ahead with over a hundred masters.”

“This is...”

Everyone's expressions darkened.

We would have escaped this place if we traveled a little farther, but now the path was blocked.

Yet we could not turn back, either.

“Hmph! Then we have no choice but to force our way through.”

Evil Heaven's fighting spirit flared.

Though our force included low-rank warriors and mid- to high-rank candidates, all the Blood-Nurturing Valley warriors together brought our numbers to around one hundred and thirty. It was possible.

However, casualties would certainly arise in the process. If things escalated, there was also a high chance that more enemies would converge on us.

“Sir, I believe that would be dangerous. The young lady's movements could be exposed.”

Gu SangWoong opposed the plan, apparently having the same thought as me.

“Then what are you suggesting? That we turn back?”

“Excuse me, sir. Brigade Leader. What about this?”

At that moment, a Squad leader named Yang GangIl cautiously spoke up.

Gu SangWoong asked, sensing that Yang GangIl had an idea.

“Squad Leader Yang, do you have a good solution?”

“What if we descend through the cliff valley path beside us?”

Evil Heaven asked in confusion.

“There was another mountain path nearby?”

“No.”

Gu SangWoong, the Tyrannical Blood Brigade Leader, suddenly opposed the suggestion with a stern expression.

“Why not?”

“That place is bordered by steep cliffs and ravines on both sides. You can only move forward or backward, so it is dangerous.”

A place where we could only advance or retreat.

If Gu SangWoong was right, it was unsuitable as an escape route.

Especially with so many people, even retreating would not be easy.

“If it comes to it, can't we just jump into the ravine and let the current carry us?”

“It is too high for that. No matter how high one's Martial Arts may be, it would be dangerous. Moreover, the ravine has swift currents. If you are swept away, your life cannot be guaranteed.”

“Ahem.”

Even Martial Arts were merely human strength.

Before the power of nature, even martial artists were helpless.

Since Gu SangWoong opposed it so strongly, Evil Heaven did not raise any further objections.

No one knew the paths of Blood-Nurturing Valley better than Gu SangWoong.

However, Squad Leader Yang GangIl seemed to think differently.

“But because it is such a dangerous path, wouldn't it catch the enemy off guard?”

“What?”

“They may also believe that we would never take that path...”

“Squad Leader Yang! Are you suggesting we gamble with the young lady's safety and the lives of so many people?”

Gu SangWoong merely rebuked Yang GangIl.

I also thought Yang GangIl's method was dangerous.

Even military strategy advised avoiding paths with only one route of retreat.

Still, our choices were limited.

We had descended too far to turn back.

In the end, we had to choose between forcing our way through the front or taking the somewhat dangerous ravine path.

“Hmm.”

I had only just fallen into thought.

Then I heard something moving nearby.

Whoosh!

At the same time, Evil Heaven moved so fast his body blurred.

Screee!

Everyone, including me, looked over.

Evil Heaven was twisting the neck of someone with a small horn whistle in their mouth.

There had been someone still alive.

Someone's mistake had made the situation urgent.

Evil Heaven dealt with them quickly, but the whistle had already sounded, even if only briefly.

“Damn it!”

Once the horn whistle had sounded, we had no choice.

The enemies on our escape route would come rushing here.

“Sir?”

“Let's go toward the ravine. Damn it.”

Evil Heaven snapped irritably and gestured for us to follow.

Then he used his movement skill toward the halted procession.

“Whew.”

Gu SangWoong, the Tyrannical Blood Brigade Leader, let out a long sigh before following him.

The Squad leaders and I followed them as well.

After joining the procession, we turned around and descended the mountain path behind us under Gu SangWoong and Squad Leader Yang GangIl's command.

Before long, a ravine truly came into view.

Seeing it, I understood why Gu SangWoong had said this path was dangerous.

- Wow, that is seriously deep.

It truly was a sheer drop.

Far below, a swift current looked as small as an earthworm, yet even from here, the water looked fierce.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that falling would mean almost certain death.

But then a problem arose.

- ...

Countless voices rang in my head.

They were approaching this place at high speed.

They were the voices of swords.

There were far more of them than before.

- There are many enemies.

- What do we do, Un Hwi?

I looked at Evil Heaven.

There was no way Evil Heaven had failed to notice what I had.

As expected, his expression had turned grave.

After considering it for a moment, Evil Heaven spoke to Baek Ryeon Ha and the rest of us.

“Young Lady, it seems we must split up here.”

“What do you mean, Uncle Hae?”

“A large number of enemies are pursuing us. I believe I must lead half our forces and hold them back.”

If he was saying this much, there must have been a powerful enemy among them.

Most likely, it was the Haeyeon Sect leader.

Recognizing that the situation was dire from Evil Heaven's grave voice, she nodded without argument.

“You must survive.”

“Don't worry. We will deal with them and follow after you.”

“Master!”

Song JwaBaek called to him in a worried voice.

Evil Heaven spoke as though giving an instruction.

“No matter what happens, protect the young lady. And do not forget where the rendezvous point is.”

The rendezvous point.

Evil Heaven had told us of it in advance in case something happened.

It was a base that Escort Brigade Leader Jang MunWoong had secured.

He had instructed us to go there if a chaotic battle scattered us apart.

“...Understood.”

When Song JwaBaek answered, Evil Heaven sent me sound telepathy.

[You are the cleverest among them, so I trust you will handle matters well and assist Brigade Leader Jang.]

Perhaps because of my several accomplishments, he trusted me.

Human relationships truly were unpredictable.

Who would have thought I would build trust as master and disciple with this mad old man?

“I wish you good fortune in battle.”

I gave a fist-and-palm salute, my voice firm.

I was praying for his safety.

“Hmph! Worry about yourself.”

Evil Heaven snorted and smiled with his eyes. Then he led half our forces toward the enemies rushing in.

With half our forces gone, our strength had weakened considerably.

Now, the strongest among us were only Escort Brigade Leader Jang MunWoong, Baek Ryeon Ha, and me.

There were also Squad Leader Yang GangIl, the twin brothers, and high-rank warriors, but with Evil Heaven, our strongest fighter, gone, our forces were clearly unstable.

“Let's do this.”

[There are enemies ahead.]

[Enemies? I cannot sense any presence.]

Of course not.

As a Squad leader, Yang GangIl's martial prowess was at the peak of an Advanced mastery.

I could hear sword voices from almost as far away as Evil Heaven could, but there was no way Yang GangIl could sense a presence at that distance.

[I am certain. We should call Escort Brigade Leader Jang to the front.]

Protecting Baek Ryeon Ha was important, but if enemies were ahead, it was safer to have the strongest among us lead from the front.

However, Yang GangIl shook his head.

[Escort Brigade Leader Jang must protect the young lady. I do not know whether the young master's words are correct, but if they are, we must break through them from the front.]

[...]

Hmm. I had not expected Yang GangIl to refuse like this.

Even if Baek Ryeon Ha came first, if we encountered enemies on this narrow ravine path, would it not be better for the strongest fighter to break through from the front?

[Then at least prepare yourselves.]

[You are quite cautious. The young master's words have merit.]

Yang GangIl nodded as though he had no choice.

[I have no weapon, so young master, please draw your sword and signal the procession.]

Yang GangIl was a fist practitioner, so Yang GangIl had no weapon.

I turned around, drew the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword, and raised it where everyone in the rear ranks could see.

As I raised my sword, the warriors understood and drew their Weapons.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

It was better to be prepared.

- Un Hwi.

Then the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword called to me.

‘Why?’

I thought it had spotted something while I held it up.

The Southern Heavenly Steel Sword told me what it had seen.

‘What?’

I frowned at the unexpected revelation.

Yang GangIl spoke to me.

[Hurry, young master. It may become dangerous if we delay any longer.]

[Understood.]

After I answered, Yang GangIl moved forward again.

At that moment, I opened my Central Dantian, concealed my presence as much as possible, and moved ahead.

But I must have been too close, because Yang GangIl seemed to hear it.

Yang GangIl began to turn their head back.

At that instant, I stabbed Yang GangIl in the back with the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword like lightning.

Stab!

“Urgh!”

I hurriedly aimed my sword at his neck and spoke.

[Stay quiet if you do not want to die. Who are you?]

“What is this...”

[Speak through sound telepathy.]

Then I pushed the sword slightly into his neck.

Stab!

If it went in another inch, Yang GangIl's throat would be pierced and they would die.

Yang GangIl looked at me with startled eyes.

The high-rank warriors following behind me were no different.

[Young master, why are you doing this?]

One of the high-rank warriors sent me sound telepathy.

I answered.

[Is there white powder on the sheath on my back?]

The high-rank warrior frowned, then sent sound telepathy in surprise.

[There is.]

Just as the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword had said.

Because I had raised it overhead, it saw what Yang GangIl had done from behind and told me.

With one hand, I carefully touched the sword sheath on my back.

Then I brought it to my nose.

As expected, it was Thousand-Li Scent Chaser.

- Are they with that one?

‘I don't know.’

- Why?

Not all Thousand-Li Scent Chaser was the same.

The scent Yang GangIl had put on my sheath was subtly different from Go EunJae's.

Of course, even if they were allies, they could use different Thousand-Li Scent Chaser.

I pushed the sword tip slightly forward and sent Yang GangIl sound telepathy.

[Why did you put Thousand-Li Scent Chaser on me?]

Yang GangIl's eyes widened.

He seemed flustered that I had caught him secretly scattering Thousand-Li Scent Chaser powder, as if I had eyes in the back of my head.

But I was extremely irritated.

[Answer me!]

Yang GangIl fumbled before replying.

[That was so the Tyrannical Blood Brigade Leader and the Venerable One could follow us...]

Press!

[Gasp!]

[Don't talk nonsense. Then why would you need to secretly put it on me?]

He was spouting ridiculous words as an excuse.

Come to think of it, this bastard had kept insisting that we take the ravine path.

Ha! I finally understood.

[...That person who was not dead earlier. Was that your doing?]

‘!!!’

Yang GangIl's eyes darted around at those words, and he tried to shout urgently.

“Here...”

Stab!

“Ghk!”

I drove my sword into his neck.

With his throat pierced, he gurgled before collapsing to the ground.

I had not learned his identity, but if his intention was to reveal our position, I could not let him live.

‘...This isn't easy.’

Escaping truly was one obstacle after another.

I gestured for the procession to turn back.

A trap was waiting ahead.

Press!

[Gasp!]

[Don't talk nonsense. Then why would you need to secretly put it on me?]

He was spouting ridiculous words as an excuse.

Come to think of it, this bastard had kept insisting that we take the ravine path.

Ha! I finally understood.

[...That person who was not dead earlier. Was that your doing?]

‘!!!’

Yang GangIl's eyes darted around at those words, and he tried to shout urgently.

“Here...”

Stab!

“Ghk!”

I drove my sword into his neck.

With his throat pierced, he gurgled before collapsing to the ground.

I had not learned his identity, but if his intention was to reveal our position, I could not let him live.

‘...This isn't easy.’

Escaping truly was one obstacle after another.

I gestured for the procession to turn back.

A trap was waiting ahead.

Unintentionally, I had ended up in a position where I had to lead everyone.

< Episode 23: Escape (4) End >

© Han JungWolYa

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