#160: Antlion Pit (4) — The Patriarch of Sichuan

Unfortunately, the Divine Palm Squad warriors that were sent as scouts did not return.

Ha Gye-gun was furious, but at the same time, he had expected this result to some degree. It meant five more had been sacrificed, but they were lives worth enough to confirm his certainty.

Ha Gye-gun immediately sent word to the Cheongyang Association and called in even the Blue Fist Unit and the Green Palm Unit.

Excluding the forty missing men, the Blue Fist Unit numbered two hundred sixty, the Green Palm Unit two hundred, the Divine Palm Squad ninety-five, and the Divine Fist Squad ninety.

Including Ha Gye-gun and the unit leaders, nearly six hundred fifty men had mobilized in full. It was a tremendous force, enough to turn most sects to ash in less than half a day.

It meant every combatant had gathered except for the Cheongyang Association main base’s gate guards and Guard Unit, and the leadership that had disappeared due to some matter.

They had scraped together so many troops that one might wonder if there was any need for this, but looked at another way, it was only natural.

It was none other than the Third Elder, one of the Cheongyang Association’s pillars, who had gone missing. Even if he alone had disappeared, every warrior of the Cheongyang Association should have rushed out to search, but excluding the Second-Class Ghost Gate, the number of missing warriors alone had passed fifty.

If they had not been public wanted criminals belonging to the Ghost Gate, they would not even have cared about the Sichuan Branch’s reaction.

And now, they could no longer endure it.

It was nearly midnight.

The marketplace of Ziyang County had also lost its liveliness before they knew it. Songs and laughter still burst out from a few large courtesan houses, but compared to two hours ago, it had become extremely quiet.

Ha Gye-gun’s eyes as he looked down over Ziyang County were as cold as the current weather.

“Elder.”

Ju Byeong approached and lowered his head.

“At present, the Blue Fist Unit has occupied the forest area to the right of Ziyang County, and the Green Palm Unit is waiting in the forest below this place. The Divine Fist Squad is hiding in front of the entrance to Manguwi Street.”

“Manguwi Street?”

“Ah, they say the entire Ziyang County marketplace is called Manguwi Street.”

Ha Gye-gun snorted.

“What a truly trashy name.”

Ziyang County was quite close to Sichuan’s provincial capital, Chengdu, but even when he was young, he had only come here a few times. Even if he had visited often, with his distinctive sense of authority, he would hardly have spoken with commoners, so there was no way he would know the marketplace name used among the people.

“However, the terrain here is rather strange.”

“…”

“The northern entrance leading to Manguwi Street is fairly large and wide, but not enough for hundreds of men to rush in all at once. On the other hand, between the roads leading south, that hill where Gyeong Hang is presumed to be suddenly rises up.”

And then there were the forests spreading to the left and right of the marketplace.

“I don’t know if it is coincidence, but the hill’s position is too good. One can see the entire marketplace from afar, and even if something happens by any chance, there are several roads to the south that can serve as retreat routes.”

Ju Byeong’s eyes deepened.

“If a villa was built on that hill, there is a high possibility it was built under a thorough plan. Though it is not large, terrain like this is not easy to find.”

Unless one was a Martial God who could use the legendary Void-Stepping Art, no one would be free from the hill’s field of view.

“It is unusual after all. For now, perhaps we should order the Divine Fist Squad to cautiously apply pressure…”

“Squad Leader Ju.”

“Yes?”

Anger and irritation rose on Ha Gye-gun’s face.

“Who doesn’t know that right now?”

“Ah, my apologies.”

“What matters right now is not reciting at length how remarkable this terrain is.”

Ju Byeong asked cautiously.

“Shall we strike immediately?”

“Fool! There are still civilians in the taverns, though only a few. If the number of people drops further, that may be different, but right now it would draw too much attention.”

Ha Gye-gun was not afraid of people’s gossip right now.

He was suspicious of this entire marketplace. If someone in the marketplace discovered them, there was a high chance word would flow to the unidentified enemy.

He agreed with sweeping in all at once. But not now.

“We wait another hour. If the people still don’t leave, we will charge carefully then.”

“I obey.”

Time passed again like that.

Of the four courtesan houses with lights still on, three went dark. The remaining one was still bright, as if it was still doing business, and men’s laughter also came from it occasionally.

“Elder, what should we do?”

Ha Gye-gun glared at the lit courtesan house.

Ju Byeong continued.

“It is in the Third Street section of Manguwi Street.”

Of all places, it was one of the largest and fastest roads leading to the hill where Gyeong Hang was presumed to be.

Ha Gye-gun looked up at the sky.

Snow was not falling, but there were quite a lot of clouds. The moonlight was good, but it could be called a fairly dark night, even for night.

“I will lead the Divine Fist Squad toward Third Street. What is that place over there?”

“That is Second Street.”

“So there are up to four streets in total. Then I will take the Divine Fist Squad through Third Street, Squad Leader Ju will lead the Divine Palm Squad across Second Street, and the Blue Fist Unit will slowly press in from the forest. The Green Palm Unit will stop hiding and occupy the final Fourth Street.”

“What about scouts?”

“Sacrificing five was enough.”

Ha Gye-gun lifted his chin.

“We will sweep them away with overwhelming force.”

Ju Byeong felt a faint unease. Even though four Cheongyang Association units had mobilized in full, something did not sit right.

That was because he was quite skilled at unit operations and actual combat. His experience of voluntarily handling countless missions so as not to fall behind the Divine Fist Squad was warning him of ill fortune.

In terms of martial arts, Ha Gye-gun was several levels above him, but he did not have much real experience. To begin with, no one in Sichuan dared mess with the Cheongyang Association, much less someone of the Ha bloodline.

It was probably a miracle that Ha Gye-gun had turned out even this decent.

“Then, how about placing only three scouts about thirty meters ahead after we enter?”

Ha Gye-gun glared at Ju Byeong.

Ju Byeong quickly lowered his head.

Ha Gye-gun looked at him quietly, then nodded.

“Fine, do that.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“And deliver this too. Whether there are many enemies or few, or whatever vile tricks they use, if they sense danger of the unit being wiped out, they are to retreat immediately.”

Ju Byeong’s expression brightened.

He was arrogant to the extreme, but his caliber was clearly different from Jo Yang’s. Seeing how he could still consider the worst-case scenario even while worked up, he was worthy of the post of elder.

“Yes!”

A moment later.

“All orders have been delivered.”

“Good.”

Ha Gye-gun’s eyes flashed.

“Let’s go.”

Pabababak!

Ha Gye-gun descended the hill at terrifying speed and headed straight for the northern entrance leading to Manguwi Street.

Divine Fist Squad Vice Leader Lee Hoe silently lowered his head.

Ha Gye-gun ignored him and headed toward Third Street with his hands behind his back.

Srrrk.

The Divine Fist Squad moved behind him.

‘Shabby.’

Ha Gye-gun’s face naturally twisted as he looked around at the surrounding buildings.

A street that looked neat and elegant to one person could look shabby to another.

He was someone who sometimes thought even the splendid streets of Chengdu were disorderly. To him, Ziyang County was no different from the countryside.

Ha Gye-gun spoke to Lee Hoe.

“Send one scout team. Have them maintain a distance of about thirty meters from the main unit.”

Lee Hoe flicked his finger.

Pababak.

Ten pugilists of Team Three leaped over Ha Gye-gun and reached about thirty meters ahead.

Normally, he would have cursed them for daring to pass over a superior’s head, but right now, Ha Gye-gun had no mind for that.

‘Just who are they?’

They had turned their intelligence network outward, but the information coming in from their various businesses and the like was still fairly fast and detailed. Furthermore, when it came to the power layout of forces such as the Eight Martial Houses, they investigated once every quarter, so there was no group he did not know.

‘There was no force remarkable enough to keep under watch. If that old man Gyeong Hang had commanded such great masters, we would have detected that much.’

Ha Gye-gun’s eyes flashed.

‘Could it be an assassination organization?’

That was the most likely possibility. Assassination organizations had to hide themselves thoroughly in the shadows. Even if one gathered the intelligence networks of the Cheongyang Association and all the Eight Martial Houses, it would not be strange if there were one or two assassination organizations they did not know of.

What mattered was their skill.

‘No matter how great an assassination organization is, they cannot do this. Not unless the old Salmak Master appeared personally.’

Crack.

A vicious sound rang out from Ha Gye-gun’s fist.

‘Whatever it is, wait. I will properly show you what the Cheongyang name is worth in Sichuan.’

Once those who had entered seclusion with his eldest brother mobilized in full, even the Sichuan Branch Head would not be able to stop them.

Still, just in case, he had left a letter at the place of seclusion. It would not happen, but there was always the slightest chance.

How long did they walk like that?

Wahahahaha!!

About thirty meters away, a hearty laugh flowed out from that courtesan house.

From the look of it, someone seemed to be holding a drinking party with courtesans on the top floor. Every floor below had its lanterns extinguished. Either someone was so drunk they were not leaving even though it was time to close, or some wealthy tycoon had rented the whole place.

Killing intent once again flowed down Ha Gye-gun’s already troubled and irritated face.

‘Whoever that son of a bitch is, I will take his head after this matter is over.’

That was when it happened.

Sasak.

The Team Three pugilists of the Divine Fist Squad, who were passing beside the courtesan house, lowered their postures and pressed close to the left and right.

Ha Gye-gun’s eyes flashed.

‘What is it?’

At the same time.

Dududududuk.

Without anyone going first, the ten pugilists collapsed in a heap.

Light blazed from Ha Gye-gun’s eyes.

‘The courtesan house?!’

Though faintly, he caught sight of something minute flying from each floor of the courtesan house where the lanterns were out. That was what had felled the scouts.

“You bastard!”

Paaang!

The furious Ha Gye-gun charged and swung both palms.

Whoooong!

It was the Rock-Crushing Five Palms, pushing forward heavily. It had enough power to smash several pillars of the courtesan house in one blow.

At that moment.

Flash! Booooom!

From beyond the alley, a strand of enormous sword qi burst out of the shadows and shattered Ha Gye-gun’s palm force completely.

“!!”

Ha Gye-gun felt a chill run through his guts.

‘What tremendous sword qi art!’

The sword qi was formless, yet it smashed the palm force as it advanced, then vanished before striking the wall.

Its power was tremendous, but the control of internal energy was even more chilling. It should have disappeared only after splitting the building’s outer wall, yet it cleaved only the palm force and evaporated.

It was a martial art whose ability to emit and control qi had reached the peak. Just by seeing that one move, Ha Gye-gun realized the opponent was a master stronger than himself.

‘As expected! A master has intervened!’

The opponent was stronger than him, but seeing the sword qi instead put his mind at ease. The formless enemy had finally revealed itself.

Moreover, the tiny needles shot from the courtesan house were hidden weapons specialized for assassins.

A combination of a master and assassins. Ha Gye-gun grinned.

And that smile gradually lost its strength.

Step, step.

The one who walked out from the especially dark shadows was a young man.

His white hair, stretched out like a lion’s mane, writhed as it pleased as if it had entered water.

The greatsword resting casually on his shoulder, and his steps, so relaxed they were almost languid, were thick with annoyance.

“!!”

Ha Gye-gun swallowed without meaning to.

Around the body of the young man with darkness at his back, a faint blue energy spread like a haze.