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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Thunder's Fury
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The fear of Dan Hyeong-u had burrowed so deeply into their minds that it could never be uprooted. Remarkably, Hyeong Pyo—who was in much the same boat as them—had managed to cast it off with such ease.
"Something that's always puzzled me... why do you sleep standing up?"
Hyeong Pyo's tone had grown far more relaxed, his expression softening along with it. Dan Hyeong-u sensed the shift and let a faint smile flicker across his face—so subtle that no one could possibly notice.
"It's comfortable."
The same answer as before. To most people, it would be incomprehensible. How could standing be comfortable? Naturally, lying down was far easier for a human being. But Hyeong Pyo grasped the real meaning hidden beneath those words.
"I see. So that's what feels comfortable to you. Makes sense—in a situation like this, it really might be the better option."
Dan Hyeong-u glanced back at Hyeong Pyo.
After that, Hyeong Pyo drew Dan Hyeong-u into all sorts of small talk before launching into tales of life on the road. They were mostly repeats of the stories he'd shared before the escort mission began, but they would surely prove helpful to Dan Hyeong-u all the same.
And so the night deepened.
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Prestigious clans like the Tang Family naturally maintained branches in the provincial capitals of every region to facilitate smooth information gathering. And all that intelligence naturally flowed back to the main household. Shaanxi's capital, Xi'an, was no exception—it housed a Tang Family branch.
The group arriving in Xi'an received some shocking news.
"The Jo Family Manor... vanished?"
Hyeong Pyo was stunned. Tang Ho-gwan nodded pityingly at him.
"I'm just as shocked. Word is, they were attacked and wiped out."
"W-who the hell would do such a thing...!"
"No leads on the culprits. And as you can imagine, the Henan Escort Bureau..."
Tang Ho-gwan trailed off. But Hyeong Pyo understood perfectly. If the Jo Family Manor was gone, it would be stranger if the Henan Escort Bureau had survived intact. After all, the bureau was half of the manor.
"N-no way... the survivors?"
Tang Ho-gwan shook his head quietly at Hyeong Pyo's question. Hyeong Pyo's legs buckled, but he clenched his teeth and forced strength into them, refusing to collapse.
"What can we do? Still, I'd like you to see this through to the end."
Hyeong Pyo snapped back to his senses at Tang Ho-gwan's words and nodded gravely.
"I'll finish it, no matter what. Thank you for your understanding."
Hyeong Pyo bowed deeply to Tang Ho-gwan, who nodded back.
"No need for thanks. It's only natural."
Hyeong Pyo bowed again to Tang Ho-gwan's gracious reply. He truly was grateful. This escort mission might well be the Henan Escort Bureau's last. No—it would be. He wanted to complete it perfectly, gloriously.
"If there are no issues, I'd like to depart immediately."
Tang Ho-gwan readily agreed. It was what he'd hoped for anyway. They'd rested enough in Xi'an, and Tang Cheol-gi had calmed down considerably, shaking off his inner demons. There was no reason to delay. The sooner they delivered this dangerous cargo deep into Tang territory, the better.
The news of the bureau's fall spread to the porters as well. Tang Ho-gwan had wanted to keep it quiet for now, but Hyeong Pyo insisted on telling them. Every porter grieved, vowing alongside Hyeong Pyo to make this final mission a splendid success.
And so the group left Xi'an.
The somber mood quickened their pace. The porters were desperate to wrap up this escort run. Hyeong Pyo felt the same. Of course, once it was over, he'd have to worry about how to make a living from then on.
As Hyeong Pyo walked lost in such thoughts, Tang Ho-gwan's voice transmission reached his ears.
『Killing intent.』
Hyeong Pyo whipped his head toward Tang Ho-gwan in alarm. The Tang warriors were already slowing their steps. Hyeong Pyo urgently signaled the porters to halt. The caravan ground to a stop, porters clustering around the cart.
The porters gazed at Dan Hyeong-u with eyes full of fear and hope. No matter what happened, they believed he would protect them.
Hyeong Pyo scanned the surroundings cautiously. But with his skills, he detected nothing—saw nothing.
The Tang warriors gathered together. Tang Ho-gwan and Tang Cheol-gi tensely surveyed all directions.
After a long moment, a figure slowly emerged from the underbrush.
"Didn't expect to get spotted. Guess the old man's got some real skill after all?"
The man from the bushes wore a mask. His voice was a deep, gravelly bass—definitely male—but his age was hard to guess. The subtle aura emanating from him made Tang Ho-gwan's chest tighten.
'An expert.'
Tang Ho-gwan instinctively knew the man outclassed him. He tried to probe the intruder's presence, but it was no easy task.
"Who are you to unleash killing intent? Do you even know who we are?"
Tang Cheol-gi bellowed boldly. He hadn't sensed the man's aura at all, so he felt confident stepping forward. But the intruder's eyes held only contempt for him.
"Asking a masked man's identity? What an idiot. They say the Tang Family's got one bastard dog—guess that's you. Heh heh heh heh."
Tang Cheol-gi's face flushed crimson at the provocation.
"How dare you!"
Tang Cheol-gi launched himself at the man. His movements were lightning-fast, a blue-glowing dagger already in hand.
Shrieeeek!
The dagger sliced through the air. Then Tang Cheol-gi's eyes widened in shock.
He twisted midair, aborting his dive and landing on the ground. He glared at the man, whose hand toyed idly with the very dagger Tang Cheol-gi had thrown.
"Saying 'how dare you' with such pitiful skill? A bastard dog's still just a dog."
Tang Cheol-gi's face twitched at the words, but he held back this time. That single move had been enough to freeze him in place. A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
"I'll give you a chance to live. Leave the cart and cargo behind and scram. I won't chase you."
Tang Ho-gwan's expression hardened gravely. As expected, they were after the shipment. His senses picked up numerous presences—far outnumbering the combined Tang warriors and porters. They'd come prepared.
"Steel yourselves, everyone. Prepare to fight."
Tang Ho-gwan spoke heavily. The Tang warriors regulated their qi, readying for battle. The masked man's eyes gleamed coldly at the sight.
"Throwing your lives away like that. Such a pity."
The man's hand rose. In that instant, dozens leaped from the underbrush. All masked, clad in blood-red robes closer to black, their savage auras sending chills through onlookers.
The porters froze stiff as the blood-robed masked assailants charged, sharp swords flashing. Most targeted the Tang warriors, but a mere three headed for the porters—enough to slaughter them all, or so they thought.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heavenly Thunder
Three bolts strike down the assailants.
Flash!
Three lightning bolts crashed down. Three corpses hit the dirt. Relief and terror mingled in the porters' eyes. Even having seen it once before, watching men split by thunderbolts right in front of them was horrifying.
Dan Hyeong-u swept his gaze over the porters, then turned to the Tang warriors. They fought fiercely, but the black-robed foes were no pushovers. The Tang men were soon in peril. Dan Hyeong-u's eyes shifted to Hyeong Pyo.
The moment their gazes met, Hyeong Pyo nodded unconsciously. In that instant, Dan Hyeong-u vanished.
Tang Cheol-gi barely dodged a sword arcing toward his throat. But at the exact same moment, he couldn't evade the blade thrusting at his chest.
'This is the end.'
A flicker of despair crossed Tang Cheol-gi's face. Death held no terror for a martial artist—but failing his mission and shaming his clan was a deep regret.
He felt the sword pierce his chest. Then his vision blazed white.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Heavenly Thunder
Salvation strikes, turning peril to survival.
Flash!
Tang Cheol-gi lost track of time.
'Is this death? Not as bad as I thought.'
With that thought, he slowly let go of consciousness.
Tang Ho-gwan scooped up the fallen Tang Cheol-gi. He turned heavy eyes toward Dan Hyeong-u, who stood boldly before two dozen Tang warriors.
The Tang warriors stared at Dan Hyeong-u in shock. Now they knew for sure—it wasn't Tang Ho-gwan's Heavenly Thunder that had saved them, but Dan Hyeong-u calling down lightning.
Dan Hyeong-u turned his back on their stares, surveying the black-robed masked men. His eyes remained utterly indifferent.
His appearance brought the fight to a temporary lull. The two sides—Tang warriors and black-robed foes—glared daggers, auras clashing.
"So you've got something to rely on."
The first black-robed man who'd appeared muttered at Dan Hyeong-u. Unlike the others, his mask bore a stitched "snake" character on the forehead.
He felt a twinge of tension, but no fear. He'd seen comrades die to lightning, but that was it. He was confident he wouldn't fall to it.
'Did the Thunderclap Blade show up?'
He pondered inwardly, then shook his head. The Thunderclap Blade was a Paeng Family technique—and even there, it was already legend. Impossible to manifest with a sword. Yet the foe clearly wielded thunder qi. Not quite the Thunderclap Blade, but some sword art on par.
"Still, you can't beat me."
The man casually raised his sword.
Dan Hyeong-u stared blankly at him, then abruptly turned to gaze elsewhere. Everyone's eyes followed. But there was nothing—just bushes and trees.
"Gotta hurry."
Dan Hyeong-u muttered. He turned back to the man.
"Gasp!"
The man jolted. Meeting Dan Hyeong-u's eyes unleashed an indescribable dread that engulfed him. Something bound his body. Sword half-raised, he couldn't move.
Dan Hyeong-u took a step. And vanished like smoke.
⚙ HEAVENLY THUNDER ⚙ Dozens of bolts crash down simultaneously. Faint thunder rumbles in their wake.
Craaaack!
Rumbbble.
The Tang warriors gaped dumbly at the spectacle. What unfolded before them was unmistakably Heavenly Thunder—not from Tang Ho-gwan's hand, but forged by Dan Hyeong-u's sword.
Thud thud thud!
The black-robed masked men crumpled like rotting logs split in two. None survived. Their bodies bore marks as if fierce lightning had pierced their crowns, cleaving them apart.
Dan Hyeong-u stood aloof amid the carnage.
As the Tang warriors began snapping out of their daze, Dan Hyeong-u's gaze flicked back to that empty spot. With one step, he vanished again.
Tang Ho-gwan stared piercingly at the ground where Dan Hyeong-u had stood, then bellowed.
"What are you waiting for? Clean this up!"
At his shout, Tang warriors and porters sprang into action. They hurriedly cleared the scattered corpses. This time, shallow graves would have to do. The sun hadn't even reached midday. They had to dispose of the bodies and move out fast.
Tang Ho-gwan watched them dig and bury, his face grim.
'Where'd he disappear to this time?'
They couldn't leave without Dan Hyeong-u's return. Now they knew exactly who was ambushing them.
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"Urk!"
"Uncle!"
Sama Cheol waved Jo Seol-yeon off at her frantic cry.
"Don't stop!"
But Jo Seol-yeon couldn't obey. He'd saved her from peril countless times. Even facing death, she couldn't abandon him and flee alone.
"That's far enough!"
A shout laced with inner power echoed. A man plummeted from the sky, sword slashing down.
Clang!
"Cough!"
Sama Cheol barely blocked the strike, vomiting blood. His internal injuries were too severe to move further. His sword clattered limply to the ground.
Ching!
Yet Sama Cheol didn't fall. He glared at the man with venomous eyes. A small dagger was embedded in his back. Jo Seol-yeon covered her mouth at the sight.
"Impressive. That girl so important you'd take a sword for her?"
Jo Seol-yeon's eyes widened in horror at the man's words. Tears welled up soon after.
"U-Uncle..."
"In the end, like this..."
Sama Cheol couldn't continue. He'd done everything to save Jo Seol-yeon and Jo In. But now, that too seemed finished. All he could do was hope the Martial Alliance would avenge them.
Dozens more arrived behind the man watching impassively.