Chapter 332 Turbulent World (3)

Chapter 332: Turbulent World (3)

Jian Yangzi, disciple of the Huashan Sword Sect and current sect master, found himself staring at the sight before him. Unable to bear the sight, he instinctively squeezed his eyes shut.

“W-What on earth is this…?”

Not a single intact building remained in the burned village, and countless corpses lay scattered indiscriminately, young and old, male and female.

The disheveled clothing of what appeared to be female corpses scattered throughout made it abundantly clear what had transpired.

“Primordial Heavenly Lord.”

As the prayer of his master, Sword Master Yang, faltered greatly, his disciple and the posthumous son of the late Lord of Justice, Jin Gong of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, called out to him with a tone of concern.

“Master.”

“It’s fine. My heart has merely grown too heavy for a moment. I shall recite the prayer for a while. Go and see if there are any living ones left.”

“Yes.”

Receiving his master’s command, Jin-gong summoned his own disciples, the second generation of his school.

And a moment later.

“I found no survivors.”

“Same here.”

“……Seeing that not a single item remains, it seems they came with the intent to plunder from the start.”

Hwasan’s disciples approached to report the search results.

Listening to the report, Jin-gung gritted his teeth inwardly.

Grr .

‘I won’t let this go.’

His prayer, considered the finest in the Jeongdo Myeong sect, spread out like a sharp blade.

Beyond merely stealing grain and wealth, they took pleasure in taking lives.

How could anyone do such a thing?

“Let’s go. Let’s make them pay for this crime.”

“Yes, Elder Brother.”

Five hundred of Hwasan’s disciples ran after him in anger.

* * *

The Dragon Hall was bustling with preparations for departure.

The Black Dragon Corps, a sight to inspire confidence, moved relentlessly and swiftly under North Palace Chang’s command.

Moreover, the Five Hundred Dragon Army had also entered the city.

Under Garip’s command, they had been tempered relentlessly for over a year, each radiating a sharp aura.

Click.

“It’s been a month.”

Twenty-two Black Coral soldiers flew onto the rooftops.

They would be tasked with reconnaissance, espionage, and assassination missions in this war.

“Exactly.”

“It’s not good for us to meet too often…”

“These are troubled times. I’d like to rest too, but things just keep happening.”

, who was conversing with him, approached.

“Merchant.”

“Madam.”

“I ordered the granary just below Hanjung to be filled with grain. Should you need anything later, you can get supplies from there.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s my job. But…”

She glanced over my shoulder and rolled her eyes.

“Soso says she’s coming too.”

“Huh?”

“She said something about a doctor needing to be where the patient is…”

“……”

Turning around, I saw the sweeper standing there, his back fully laden with bundles, his eyes gleaming.

“This is my chance. The perfect opportunity to prove my medical skills to the world… Gah!”

Thud. Thump.

I blew a gust of wind and grabbed the arm of the strange-muttering sweeper.

“How dare you follow me without a shred of fear…”

I really need to get rid of him ASAP…

Honestly, I wanted to rocket-ship him straight to the Qing Palace.

“Ahem, sorry, but could you take him away and lock him up? Tie his hands and feet so he can’t move an .”

“I was thinking that might be best too. But he made such a fuss, so I brought him along for now.”

“Thanks.”

“If you’re grateful, come back without getting hurt.”

“Of course.”

“And… I’ll give you permission.”

“Permission? What’s this all of a sudden….”

Just as he was about to ask her back, a smile playing on her lips, North Palace Chang’s voice reached them.

“Master, everything is ready!”

“I must go. Let’s talk when I return.”

“Please return safely.”

“I won’t let a hair on my head get hurt, so don’t worry.”

He was quite curious what permission she was granting, but that wasn’t important now.

“We’re setting out!”

The battlefield was waiting for me.

* * *

The walls of Hanjung that had repelled the Ten Armies were tall and thick, and the gates were unmatched in their sturdiness.

But that was not all.

Not only were the formidable forces of the Iron Blood Army and the Hanzhong Garrison holding the line, but the storehouses were also stockpiled with immense war supplies.

If we focus solely on defense, we can easily buy time until the main force arrives.

If they could just hold out until the main force joined them, it would be well worth the effort.

The enemy’s numbers? Ah Even if they’re overwhelmingly large, the combined forces of Guryong Fortress and Jeong Do-maeng would never be outmatched.

Therefore, the immediate crisis wasn’t with Han Jung.

The problem was Xi’an.

This metropolis of arrogant self-importance, the capital of Shaanxi Province, was clearly going to be hit harder than Hanzhong.

The Huashan Sect would never abandon its people here.

‘They’re clearly trying to buy time until the people can evacuate.’

But that didn’t mean the Zhengdemao could send reinforcements immediately either.

Unlike the reformed Kuryongseong, the Zhengdemaeng lacked the concept of a central army. Therefore, it would take at least half a month for the Zhengdemaeng’s forces to arrive here.

Ultimately, that meant the Huashan Sect alone had to hold off the barbarians for now…

‘Impossible.’

Even the most elite group would be no match for a cavalry force exceeding three , destined to be swept away like autumn leaves.

And that would hold true even if the absolute masters of Hwasan stepped forward.

‘What to do…’

Should they hole up safely in Hanzhong, or head to Xi’an to buy time until the people could escape?

Truthfully, the answer is already decided.

The latter.

The martial artists of Huashan risked their lives defending Hanzhong against the demons of the Ten Demon Alliance.

Especially Huashan Jianxian, the leader at the time, who lost his life clashing with the Ten Demon Clan leader to buy that time.

But how could I just stand by and watch?

Therefore, just before departure, I sent a secret message to North Palace Chang.

[Send a dispatch to Han Zhong. Prepare to deploy the Iron Blood Army.]

[……You mean dispatch?]

[Yes.]

[……Are you perhaps planning to intercept them?]

[Hardly. Do you think an ambush could stop over thirty thousand cavalry?]

[Then… ?]

[We intend to head for Xian.]

[Master, if you intend to defend Xi’an, I must dissuade you. It would be better to stall in Hanzhong and…]

[I’m not saying we should defend it. We’re helping the Huashan Sect buy time for the civilians to escape. As you know, we owe them a debt from the last war, don’t we?]

[……Understood. I will instruct them to send the dispatch immediately.]

Watching Bukgung Chang issue the order , he thought.

‘Damn it, why can’t I get a moment of peace?’

* * *

The goal and agenda of the last reform was undoubtedly speed.

To achieve that, I drastically reduced the decision-making stages within the Nine Dragons City and restructured its framework by assigning tasks to each faction, enabling them to act first and report later.

Furthermore, I recruited franchisees for the Nine Dragons franchise from the branches and factions of each party, assigning them a role akin to local governments, thereby solidifying the Nine Dragons’ administrative power.

As soon as administrative power strengthened, Mun Sang pursued several long-cherished projects, one of which was the road.

The character for “unjust” (非) and the character for “path” (道).

Not a road.

It meant a road not meant for commoners to travel on; think of it as a dedicated road for the city’s guards only.

Connecting the main city directly to each key region, this Bido served two purposes.

First, since it wasn’t a commonly used road, it offered some degree of evasion from enemy intelligence networks.

Second, rest stops with food and water were set up at regular intervals, enabling rapid movement.

Thanks to this, over a thousand allied soldiers could run straight ahead when the sun rose and then head to the rest stops to sleep when the sun set.

Three days passed in this manner.

We could see Hanjung right before our eyes.

“Huff! Huff!”

“Ugh…”

“I… I can’t run anymore.”

Having covered a thousand-li journey—one that involved climbing mountains along the way—in just three days, everyone except a few collapsed onto the ground.

Even the black corals, which were at the very peak of their vitality, looked exhausted—that says it all.

Am I okay?

I’m fine.

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

I rode the white one here.

Maybe because it was so exciting to run like that after so long, Whitey got excited and lifted its front legs.

“Teeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

The Black Tiger Clan Leader, who had asked to ride in the back seat the day before and got thoroughly rejected, voiced his dissatisfaction, but what could he do?

Only a woman could sit in the passenger seat of this era’s finest steed, Whitey.

“Good job. I’ll give you some tasty grass later.”

Pluurr. Pluur.

Anyway, that wasn’t the important thing right now.

We must depart for Xi’an immediately.

Just then, as if the Iron Blood Road had come to greet me, it rushed out from Hanzhong.

“I’ll head to Xi’an. If anything happens, please look after our kids.”

“I’ll handle that myself. Just come back safely.”

“Of course. Do I look like the sort to fall to the barbarians’ blades?”

“Tee-ing, if you can’t even speak properly…”

Leaving him chuckling, I summoned Garip, the commander of the Yongjun First Army.

For reference, the Dragon Army was planned to consist of three divisions, but recruitment was not yet complete.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

“ , who was once my subordinate, can tell me what to do and what not to do. Even if it’s a bit irritating…”

“You worry too much. I’m not that petty.”

“Hmph, I’ll take your word for it.”

Finally, I summoned North Palace Chang.

“Lord Bukgung.”

“Yes, Lord.”

“If refugees start pouring in from the west, let them into the city. Leaving them outside could get them killed by the barbarians.”

“I will remember.”

“Then, I entrust this to you.”

“Please take care of yourself.”

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

‘Please hold out just three more days.’

* * *

The black wind from the volcano was fierce.

Whenever they spotted the barbarians, they charged like lightning and unleashed the Plum Blossom Sword Technique. The barbarians, lacking profound martial arts skills, fell instantly to the swords of the Huashan disciples.

Though they faced only a reconnaissance force of one or two hundred, the victory was enough to plant a seed of doubt in the minds of the Huashan disciples: ‘Could these guys be nothing special?’

But Jin Gong, with his vast experience in the martial world, knew.

If a proper group battle broke out, there was no way they could win.

That was precisely why they had to reach Xi’an.

Only by gathering as many righteous factions as possible there could they stand against the barbarians.

Moreover.

‘If it’s the Plum Blossom Sword Gate, that should be sufficient firepower.’

In the western region lay Mount Hua’s foremost sect, the Plum Blossom Sword Gate.

If we could join forces with over six hundred sword masters, we might buy the people time to flee.

But Jin-gung’s calculations went awry from the start.

“Wh-what is this…”

Among the fleeing citizens of Xian, there was no one left to control them.

Even worse.

“Aaah! My… my money!”

“Hmph! In times like these, what’s yours or mine?! It all belongs to the strong!”

Some who appeared to be bandits even resorted to outright looting.

The elders of Hwasan, including Geom Yangja, were greatly alarmed and sought out the Plum Blossom Sword Gate, but their ominous premonition proved correct.

“The Hwasan clan’s inner family abandoned the people and fled…!”

They had fled so hastily that a banner bearing the plum blossom emblem of Mount Hwasan remained hanging in the hall. It was a scene of utter desolation.

However, they could not simply stand by.

Regaining his composure, the Sword Master ordered his disciples.

“The three senior disciples, escort the people to Hanzhong.”

Though called evacuation, it was effectively an order to retreat.

The reason for sending only the three senior disciples was simple.

“The Second Disciples shall remain here with me to punish the barbarians.”

Jade shatters.

It signifies a willingness to stake one’s life here in Xi’an.

Jin Gong then threw the scabbard of the Plum Blossom Sword to the ground and prostrated himself.

“I obey the Grand Master’s command!”

The other disciples did likewise.

We obey the Grandmaster’s command—!

Their united vow, uttered with the resolve to die, seemed to embody the upright spirit of Huashan.