Book 5: Chapter 22 |
“Even if Emei Sect isn’t actually from Sichuan, they would naturally want to avoid clashing with big brother or me after coming all the way to Luoyang.”
The 4th Young Master Yeon-bi said.
“However….”
Everyone’s gaze focused on Yeon-bi.
“We had reliable information that the Emei Sect has been trying to acquire Daseollang’s shares by any means.”
The source of that reliable information was likely his maternal family.
“The Emei Sect accompanying Daseollang’s visit to Luoyang to an unseemly degree is most likely because of that.”
Yeon So-hyeon nodded.
“They probably want to prevent the mishap of Daseollang slipping out of their hands at all costs.”
The group shared a bitter sentiment.
Yeom Baek-ha even snorted.
In the first place, there was little correlation between the success of the Daseollang trading company and the Emei Sect martial arts clan.
The only thing was that the representatives of Daseollang were young ladies attending the academy run by the Emei Sect.
But wasn’t the Emei Sect treating Daseollang as if it had always been in their pocket?
“The more the Emei Sect covets Daseollang, the more inevitable it is that they will clash with us.”
Yeom Baek-ha frowned.
“So until the Emei Sect takes the initiative to confront us, we won’t know the extent of their clash with us?”
Responding to the situation reactively went against the young master’s intentions.
The answer came from Elder Yoo of the Sagong Faction, who had been quietly observing the meeting.
“We will soon find out how seriously they are taking this matter.”
The 4th Young Master continued.
“If we know who the highest-ranking person the Emei Sect has accompanying the investment group is, everything will become clear.”
***
“Now that you’ve done enough, isn’t it time to pay attention to the uninvited guest as well?”
An authoritative yet stubborn voice, intimidating yet somehow sinister and eerie.
If a venomous snake could speak, it would probably sound like this.
“Demanding to be treated well without an invitation, it seems you’re a guest who would have a hard time receiving good treatment anywhere.”
Elder Yeom turned to face the direction the voice came from.
White hair neatly styled with a wig to make it look voluminous, decorated with all sorts of ornaments.
Despite her advanced age and high level of cultivation, her face was full of distinct, protruding wrinkles.
“In fact, someone in the position of a grand preceptor would usually receive good treatment regardless of whether the host is secretly delighted or not.”
Every time the old woman spoke, the writhing wrinkles on her face resembled the movement of a cold-blooded creature with rough scales.
“Well, the host has their own circumstances.”
Despite the stark difference in treatment, Elder Yeom’s expression remained unchanged as he retorted without hesitation.
Seeing him stand up to her so confidently, the nun’s eyes narrowed like blades.
“To think that immature lad who couldn’t even tell left from right has grown up to face this old woman so boldly….”
The Head Priestess of the Emei Sect.
The core figure among core figures who managed all the funds of the Emei Sect.
The closest confidant of the Emei Sect’s Sect Leader and the very person responsible for the Emei Sect’s success story after the decline of the Martial Alliance.
She had the moniker “Purple Sound Divine Nun,” but those familiar with martial arts history had another name for her behind her back.
The White-Haired Fiend of the Emei Sect,
The Gu Poison Old Demon.
She gave a chilling smile.
“…It feels quite novel.”
Elder Yeom looked at the Head Priestess with a blunt gaze.
It seemed the Emei Sect had no intention of letting go of Daseollang from their grasp.
As a chilling tension flowed between the two masters who had crossed the threshold into the realm of great perfection, the surrounding air grew heavy.
Occasionally, the horses would snort, but no one dared to make a sound of swallowing dry saliva.
At that moment.
“Ahhh!”
Everyone’s attention turned to the direction of the scream.
There, Yeon Ha-eung stood with his hair caught in a horse’s mouth.
The horse he had been riding was calmly chewing on his hair with an indifferent expression.
“Ah, ahhh! This crazy horse is trying to eat me! Save me!”
The tension dissipated in an instant.
Seeing Yeon Ha-eung freed from the horse with the help of the warriors, the Head Priestess unconsciously sent a sneer and spoke.
“Anyhow.”
Although the group was in an uproar thanks to Yeon Ha-eung, Elder Yeom could hear her voice clearly.
“Daseollang is ultimately affiliated with our academy and under our protection. So if you want to have a conversation with them, go through us.”
Elder Yeom replied with the same expressionless face as before.
“I am merely standing here at the request of the outer court of the main clan. If you wish to have such a conversation, find someone else.”
His demeanor was like a massive rock that had remained in the same spot for ten thousand years.
“In that case….”
The Head Priestess’s gaze shifted to Yeon Ha-eung.
“You. Didn’t you say you were an advisor from the outer court?”
Yeon Ha-eung, who had been grumbling and checking his hair, saw her and grinned widely.
“Ah, yes! I am Yeon Ha-eung!”
He approached the Head Priestess with friendly strides.
“Wow. It’s an honor and a privilege to meet the Purple Sound Divine Nun, whose profound Buddhist faith is like a living Buddha, renowned throughout the Central Plains. I never imagined I would have the opportunity to meet the Divine Nun. Could this be what they call a karmic connection in Buddhism?”
“Yes, well….”
But Yeon Ha-eung’s mouth wouldn’t stop.
“Suddenly, I’m reminded of the time when I was in Gaebong. It was around this time….”
It was a barrage of words that was enough to fluster even the battle-hardened Head Priestess.
Meanwhile, the commander of the Xi’an forces, who had approached Elder Yeom while observing the situation, opened his mouth.
“…By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask since earlier.”
“What is it?”
As Elder Yeom’s gaze turned to him, the commander asked in a low voice.
“What is the reason for preparing such a grand military force? My mother also told me to prepare thoroughly….”
That’s why he had his hawk flying in the sky to keep watch over the surroundings even now.
“That’s….”
Just as Elder Yeom was about to answer, something shot up towards the sky from far to the south.
Making a loud noise as if tearing through the sky, it shot higher and higher, a sight all too familiar to those who had experienced battlefields.
“Signal arrow!”
And almost simultaneously, the commander’s hawk, flying in the sky, let out a long warning cry.
“Enemy to the west! Near the reeds!”
An enemy on the road controlled by the Luoyang Sword House.
It was beyond common sense, but the commander wasn’t flustered in the slightest.
“All troops to defensive positions!”
His resounding shout echoed.
***
“A signal arrow?”
The leader of the notorious assassination group Qingye from Henan Province unconsciously opened his mouth.
“What nonsense…?”
It had been five shichen since the entire assassination team had lain in wait, covering themselves with camouflage in the reeds.
When the target finally appeared, he had hesitated upon seeing the reinforced escort troops of unknown identity.
However, his hesitation was pointless as he witnessed the arrival of the Luoyang Sword House’s forces and completely made up his mind to abandon the mission.
But out of nowhere, an unidentified signal arrow had unexpectedly exposed their presence.
Moreover, it had been fired from behind them, even pinpointing their location.
“Leader! Your orders…!”
At the shout of the deputy leader, who was wearing camouflage, the leader gritted his teeth.
“They have cavalry. If we retreat, we’ll be hunted down one-sidedly.”
“Then…?!”
The leader roughly pulled off the camouflage and abruptly stood up.
“Everyone, prepare to attack!”
The leader grinned fiercely, baring his yellowish teeth.
“We’ll take as many of them to hell with us as we can!”
Figures suddenly rose from various spots in the reeds.
Their number easily exceeded three hundred.
They simultaneously cut the ropes tying the waterproof cloth.
What emerged from beneath the waterproof cloth were well-maintained bows.
***
In the midst of the investment group’s camp, thrown into chaos by the sudden situation, stood an old man on a massive warhorse.
None other than the veteran military officer from Elder Yeom’s side.
His thoughts were accelerating to the point where the movements around him seemed to have stopped.
‘Reeds. The enemy has the sun at their backs. A formation considering the wind direction. No war cries even after the situation has begun. The enemy is not charging. Then…!’
From the old man’s mouth came a voice that was hard to believe belonged to a hunched old man.
“Enemy archers!”
Hearing that voice, Elder Yeom shouted.
“Combat Transport Unit! Immediately form an anti-archery formation!”
The armored transport carriages of the Combat Transport Unit, which had already completed all combat preparations, began to move.
“Cavalry, move out of the enemy’s range!”
Twenty heavily armored cavalry warriors immediately galloped out of the investment group’s camp.
“All personnel, beware of enemy archery!”
Before his shout had even echoed, black arrows began pouring down like rain from the direction of the sun.
The formidable greatsword drawn from Elder Yeom’s back was no different from a metal shield in itself.
‘A volley? Indeed, they’re no ordinary bandits.’
With the continuous clang of metal, sparks relentlessly flew off the wide blade of the greatsword.
He protected his massive body with minimal wrist movements and surveyed his surroundings.
The Emei Sect’s combat personnel were scattered around the Head Priestess, wildly swinging their swords.
Whenever the nuns swung their swords, the arrows seemed to be sucked in, curling and snapping.
The escort troops hired by the investment group had pushed their employers under the carriages and were hiding behind shields.
They seemed to be elites in their own right and were judged to at least not neglect their duties to that extent.
Screams could be heard from various places, piercing through the noise created by the pouring arrows, but no one was foolish enough to leave the camp alone.
At that moment, Elder Yeom’s eyes met those of the veteran military officer.
Seeing the veteran officer holding up two fingers from behind a carriage, Elder Yeom shouted.
“The second volley is coming!”
***
“Damn it, those f*cking bastards!”
The leader of Qingye threw away the bow he was holding.
They had been detected, but they still had the advantage of surprise and position.
Pre-calculated shooting angles.
Even targets pre-assigned to each team.
It was a seemingly perfect condition for an effective shot, but the results were disastrous.
The massive armored transport carriages of the Luoyang Sword House’s Combat Transport Unit, blocking the front of the investment group’s camp, had already intercepted more than half of the arrows with their mere presence.
The arrows aimed at the horses pulling the armored transport carriages were blocked by the coachmen of the Combat Transport Unit wielding iron-clad shields, resulting in not a single casualty.
The cavalry troops had already galloped far away from the camp.
The second volley, carried out with obstructed vision, was of little significance.
‘As expected of the Luoyang Sword House.’
The enemy’s all-too-skillful response sent a chill down his spine.
Spitting on the ground, he shouted.
“All members, arm yourselves!”
It was a nightmare for the assassination team to have to charge head-on.
It was already a desperate situation.
***
“Elder Yeom! The responsibility and authority for escorting this investment group lie with our Emei Sect!”
Seeing the Head Priestess still vying for control even in this situation, Elder Yeom replied.
“Do as you please.”
“What?!”
Elder Yeom spoke with the same blunt expression as before.
“We will not be escorting but attacking.”