Chapter 257 Rescuing My Brother-in-Law (8)

Chapter 257: Rescuing My Brother-in-Law (8)

“Let’s go for now.”

Squeak.

Inside the ice chamber, as he grabbed and tore at the iron bars of the makeshift prison, Myaosan stared at him with feigned surprise.

“How… did you get here?”

“What do you mean, ‘how’? I came to rescue you.”

“All that distance?”

“It wasn’t as far as I thought? The boat made it feel quick.”

Though it was Hao Mun Pyo’s ultra-high-speed express ferry.

As I helped the swaying Miao Shan to her feet, I felt her body was as cold as ice.

Even if they were a band of rebels, locking them in a refrigerator?

Truly befitting the martial world, where criminals’ rights are disregarded.

Rumble.

As I helped him out, I saw Woo Je-jun, Yoo Ryong, and his men moving around the ice palace, rescuing the other scholars.

Myo-san’s expression brightened instantly as he expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“If you’re grateful, repay me later.”

“……”

Squish.

He kicked the bars of the adjacent cell, shattering them, and an old man with a long, snow-white beard emerged.

Even at a glance, his imposing presence suggested he was likely the leader of the Hanlin Academy.

“Who are you? Who do you think you are, breaking into Geumyeongdae?”

His question was dripping with suspicion. He seemed to be wondering if this was some kind of trap.

“Even if I save you, you’re still a pain in the ass. If you don’t want to come out, just live there for the rest of your life.”

“This is the Grand Scholar. Show some respect, Mujeon.”

Myosan trembled at the curt reply.

“The Grand Scholar is a plague. Where’s scholarship in a country on its last legs? What are you doing? Not coming out?”

“Silence!”

When Myosan shouted, the scholar’s suspicions finally subsided.

“So you must be Sani’s close friend.”

“My apologies. Being but a lowly soldier, my learning is shallow.”

“Nonsense. What use is learning to a man who risks his life to save a friend? His heart is already filled with righteousness.”

“Stop your nonsense and hurry up. If we delay, the imperial guards will swarm in.”

“……”

Just then, Yuryong, who had rescued all the scholars, came running.

“What should we do now?”

“I’ve prepared a hideout near the South Gate. Once we reach there, even the Left General won’t be able to touch us.”

“All the way to the South Gate?”

Considering the size of Nanjing, it’s a distance you couldn’t even jokingly call close.

“There weren’t many suitable places, so I had no choice.”

“Hmm…”

Taking those scholars from the Hanlin Academy, frail beyond belief, and even those whose bodies had stiffened from being confined in the cold, was an endeavor carrying immense risk.

Moreover, my sole purpose was Mount Miao.

My cooperation with Yuryong was only until I rescued the scholars anyway.

‘Just leave them behind?’

For a moment, I considered leaving them all behind.

“…If you don’t feel like it, you can go on ahead.”

“You’re going to strike first like this?”

“Huh?”

The punch landed, and the conscience buried deep within him stirred.

“I’ll secure the retreat. Follow me. No matter what happens, you must protect this guy here.”

“Of course.”

Yuryong answered with a bright expression.

“Jejun, let’s go!”

“Yes!”

And so the escape began.

They dashed straight out and opened the ice chamber door.

“You succeeded.”

Sama Heun greeted them with a bright smile.

Unfolding the map to survey the surroundings, thankfully no imperial guards were in sight.

“Phew.”

A sigh of relief escaped him.

With all this luggage, running into the army would have been quite a predicament.

“We’re heading to the south gate. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

I led Woo Je-jun and Sima Xin behind me and walked at a pace neither fast nor slow.

‘Why is it so bright tonight?’

Of all nights, it was a full moon. Nanjing’s night streets were clearly visible.

“Who’s there?!”

A shout rang out at that moment.

Thud, thud.

Woo Je-jun dashed out like lightning and subdued them.

Seeing there were only two of them, they likely appeared to be patrol officers.

Meanwhile, alerted by the commotion, I glanced behind me.

Yulong was following behind the scholars.

The problem was.

‘It was slower than expected.’

It was slower than the pace of an average adult male.

It seemed the aftereffects of being trapped in the ice were far greater than anticipated.

‘Damn it, you should exercise more…’

Just in case a time like this came.

Anyway, at that pace, it’ll take over an hour just to reach the South Gate.

It would be more surprising if I didn’t get caught by the guards.

‘No choice.’

We have no choice but to take drastic measures.

“You two keep going. I’ll try to draw their attention.”

“No. This is the heart of enemy territory. I’ll draw their attention instead.”

“How?”

“Well, that’s…”

“Enough. Listen. I’ll come back safely, so don’t worry. And—”

“……”

“There’s no one here faster than me, right?”

“…Yes. Understood.”

As he dashed backward, he sent this message telepathically to Yulong, who immediately replied.

[Come to the Harvest Inn next to the South Gate as soon as you’re done. I’ll be waiting there.]

Kwoong.

As he deployed his Flying Wind Technique, he thought.

It seemed like tonight would be a long one.

* * *

Bang bang bang!

“We’re in big trouble, Admiral!”

Left General Yi Mu-cheong, who had been in a deep sleep, suddenly opened his eyes wide at the abrupt sound.

Being summoned at this hour meant it was no ordinary matter.

He hurriedly regained his composure and opened the door to find the duty officer in charge of the dawn sentry post standing there.

“What’s all this commotion?!”

“We… we’ve been ambushed!”

“What?!”

His eyes widened at the unexpected news.

“What were the guests doing?!”

The military officer hurriedly answered Imu Cheong’s question.

When the officials arrived, everyone was already dead, their bodies so horribly mutilated they were unrecognizable. The entire escort force was either dead or missing.

He had spent a fortune recruiting martial artists.

Naturally, every single one of them was a master.

That such men were wiped out meant, nine times out of ten, a master beyond imagination was involved.

“How could this be possible…”

Unable to contain his anguish, Lee Mu-cheong quickly pulled himself together.

The damage was already done.

Resolving it was the priority.

“Let’s go to Bingdong. I’ll lead the Golden Wing Guard defending that place.”

It was an order to secure one’s own safety first.

“Understood.”

At that moment, Lee Mu-cheong realized something.

Wasn’t this strange?

All the manor’s troops, retainers, and guards had been subdued.

They could have easily taken his life.

Yet the fact that he was still alive meant the enemy had been after something else.

Realizing the full truth, Lee Mu-cheong’s eyes widened in shock.

“That bastard, Jo Myeong-san!”

It was Admiral Jo Myeong-san who had made his move.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

After all, it was only yesterday he had confronted the Emperor at court, arguing that the Hanlin Academy scholars’ rebellion had been fabricated.

Considering Jo Myeong-san’s nature of not stepping forward unless he’s certain, it’s safe to assume Byeongdong has already been taken over.

Heading there would be tantamount to suicide.

Having made up his mind, Lee Mu-cheong ordered the officer.

“Let’s head to the Imperial Palace!”

“Yes.”

Now that Zhao Mingshan had drawn his sword, he must gather all his Golden Army and Golden Guard troops under his command to reorganize his battle lines.

If they were to suffer a preemptive strike, there would be no way to survive.

Having made up his mind, Lee Mu-cheong quickly moved forward.

“……!”

Whoosh.

He could see the imperial palace engulfed in flames.

* * *

Fire!

Put out the fire-!

Water, find water!

Ensure the Emperor’s safety!

There’s an old saying:

Watching fires and fights is the absolute best fun.

If such talk circulated even in modern times, full of entertainment, then in the martial world, where there’s nothing to do, that thrill must resonate even more.

I resolved to give the people of Nanjing, stuck in their dull daily lives, a taste of that thrilling spectacle.

Only then could Nanjing’s military system be paralyzed, allowing scholars like Miao Shan to escape safely.

Obtaining the firebrand itself wasn’t difficult.

Hundreds of large lanterns illuminated the dawn throughout the imperial palace.

Kwoong.

“Who’s there!”

Stepping on the wind, he fell like a butterfly, startling the soldier who had been running with a bucket.

“Pairida. You little brat.”

“Pa, Pa…?”

He extended a neck slice, instantly knocking the soldier unconscious, then grabbed the lantern hanging right beside him.

Kwoong.

He thrust out the Zhenwangbao again.

He entered any nearby pavilion and threw the torch onto books that looked like they’d burn well.

True to the lamp used in the imperial palace, it must have used high-grade oil, for the flames spread in an instant.

Kwoong!

He immediately climbed to a high place and surveyed the surroundings.

Crackle.

The palace buildings clustered at the entrance were ablaze.

Sharpening my eyesight to look closer, I saw the imperial guards inside the palace grounds all converging.

It was the very scene I had desired.

Above all else.

‘Damn, this is fun…!’

It was incredibly fun.

It reminded me of childhood memories of setting fire to the tail of a paper airplane and throwing it to play.

But now, time was of the essence. I couldn’t just stand there chuckling, so I quickly moved toward my next target.

Whoosh.

As I flew toward the inner part like that.

Whoosh!

Dozens of bullets welcomed me.

“Hmph!”

He mobilized the city of Jeonju and drove out all the bandits.

Judging by the counterforce, it must have required considerable skill.

Within the imperial palace where the Emperor resides, only one group could display such power.

“Geumyeongdae.”

“You know them well.”

Led by two supreme masters, thirty members of the Geumyeongdae stood before me.

“Before you misunderstand, let me clarify: I did not come to kill the Emperor. I only came to set fire to the palace.”

“……You’re insane.”

“You won’t let me pass, even if I ask nicely, right?”

“Cut the nonsense and hand over your neck.”

I did kill a peerless master in Bingdong, but that was only possible because Yu Long was there.

Even I, an unparalleled hero born of the Nine Dragons Fortress, have no way to defeat such overwhelming power head-on.

Ultimately, I’d have to fight while retreating…

First, I tried to strike a deal.

“Remember Brother Yukhak? I heard he was your previous leader, and we were quite close, you know?”

The so-called “What’s ours is yours” strategy.

If I could get through to them even a little and make them show mercy, that would be a win in itself.

But their reaction was completely different from what I expected.

“Mentioning that bastard proves you’re definitely a traitor’s accomplice!”

“No.”

Wasn’t he framed and driven out?

‘How on earth did that guy navigate society?’

If he was half a disciple, shouldn’t he show at least a little longing? That’s only human nature.

Anyway, since negotiating with words failed, the only option left is to run and set fires.

“Gasp! H-His Imperial Majesty?!”

Crack! Crack! Crunch.

After stunning them with a high-level fake, I unleashed the Thirteen-Step Strike of the Former King and smashed one of them to pieces.

“Yes! Kill him!”

The bastards gnashed their teeth and charged at me.

Enemies in the rear fired relentlessly.

But do not worry.

Kwoong.

I have the invincible Zhen Wangbao…

“Huh!”

Thud.

In an instant, an iron net flew in and covered my entire body.

It came from the hands of one of the squad leaders.

There’s nothing worse than having your feet bound when facing superior numbers.

“Hmph!”

Kwaaah!

He immediately tried to unfold the Dragon’s Breath to tear the iron net apart.

“Huh.”

For some reason, the iron net only puffed up slightly and remained perfectly intact.

“This is completely useless…”

It must be the Imperial Palace’s protective barrier.

“Die!”

Outside the net, dozens of weapons shrouded in blue light flew in.

Damn it, I told you so.