Chapter 150 : Bastards. -02
Chapter 150: Bastards. -02
Seo Jo-woon, who had been silent until now, wore a thoroughly displeased expression.
Oh Jung-geon had come out to receive them, but that was due to his personal friendship with Ban Ho-jin.
Moreover, since they had come seeking Sang Il-gi, who had fought Namgung Ho to a draw, it was difficult to say that Mount Hua had come out to welcome them.
That fact irritated Seo Jo-woon.
“I’m not at the level where I’d be treated with special courtesy wherever I go. Publicly, I’m just the Divine Dragon.”
“It’s gradually becoming known that you killed the Monster King. If he’s the Sect Leader of Mount Hua, he should know.”
“He probably heard about it. But just because he heard it, would he readily believe it?”
“Hmm!”
At Ban Ho-jin’s counterquestion, Seo Jo-woon let out a low groan.
Now that he thought about it, it did make sense.
Even just looking around, many elders of some age were quite conservative.
Considering their tendency not to believe something unless they saw it with their own eyes, Ban Ho-jin was likely right.
“Rather than me, Sect Leader, you should be the one offended. This is how they treat us.”
“Hahaha. I am fine. I did not come to Mount Hua seeking hospitality.”
The spark shifted to Sang Il-gi.
At that, everyone’s faces stiffened.
They had been mindful only of Ban Ho-jin and had failed to think about Sang Il-gi at all.
“This makes me even angrier.”
“We must also take into account that this is a time of war.”
“Even so, I don’t like it. How can they treat my elder brother and the Sect Leader with such disregard?”
Seo Jo-woon fumed, unable to contain his anger.
No matter how he thought about it, he could not understand.
Though young, Ban Ho-jin was the disciple of the Abbot of Shaolin Temple, and Sang Il-gi was a martial artist who had matched the Flame King—one of the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven—blow for blow.
Yet neither the Sect Leader nor even the First Disciple had shown their face. It made no sense.
“They might just be busy. It’s only the first day. It could be consideration—telling us to rest well today in case we’re weary from travel.”
“Then at the very least, the First Disciple should have come.”
At Jung Yi-ryung’s words, Seo Jo-woon shook his head.
If that were the case, there should have been some explanation, yet there had been none at all.
“Compared to the Flame King or the Blade King, it’s true that we lack weight.”
“Even so, it feels like too much disregard.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. They say if you feel wronged, succeed. Recognition from others isn’t the only measure of success. Let’s not dwell on such things and focus on what we have to do.”
Unlike Seo Jo-woon, who vented his indignation, Ban Ho-jin did not care in the slightest.
Unlike the others here, he knew the Fighting King well.
That was precisely why he had come all the way here himself.
If he had trusted the Fighting King, the Flame King, and the Blade King, there would have been no need for him to come.
‘If the worst-case scenario doesn’t happen, that in itself is a good thing.’
As he had said countless times, Ban Ho-jin wished to spend this life comfortably and leisurely.
He had lived intensely enough in his previous life and did not want excessive attention, so he had defined only what needed to be done now.
“Understood. I’ll move the men right away.”
“So will I.”
Although the main force of the Iron Blood Fortress was advancing slowly, they did not have the luxury of time.
No matter how much one prepared, it was never enough, so Sunwoo Bang and Moyong Cheok moved immediately.
At the place where Shaanxi Province met the Great Desert.
In the ambiguous boundary where grassland and desert intertwined, tens of thousands of martial artists had gathered.
They were the forces of the Orthodox Murim that had departed from Mount Hua.
And from the Great Desert side, an enormous army was also marching south.
Gulp!
Though far away, the massive sandstorm raised by the advancing numbers made it clear how immense their force was, and Sima Ui-seong swallowed dryly.
It was his first war, and its sheer scale left him tense to the extreme.
“Hearing about it and seeing it yourself are completely different, aren’t they?”
“Yes. It’s enough to make the hair all over my body stand on end.”
“That’s why experience is important. There are things you only feel when you see them yourself.”
Ban Ho-jin smirked at the sight of Sima Ui-seong, stiff with tension.
He was far too different from the Military Strategist of the Demonic Army that remained in his memory.
Meanwhile, Sima Ui-seong was astonished not only by the scale of both forces but also by Ban Ho-jin’s remarkably calm attitude.
It was as though this was not his first battle.
“Are you all right, Brother? The others are tense too.”
Sima Ui-seong looked at Ban Ho-jin with questioning eyes.
Even Sang Il-gi, a master on the level of the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven, seemed tense at the might of the Iron Blood Fortress, yet Ban Ho-jin appeared unaffected.
“Of course I’m tense too. I’m just not someone who shows it much.”
“……”
Sima Ui-seong blinked.
No matter how he looked at it, it did not seem like he simply hid it—he looked not tense at all.
Even Sunwoo Cheong and Moyong Gung, gathered nearby, had rigid expressions, but not Ban Ho-jin.
“It’s hard to tell whether they’re martial artists or cavalry. I didn’t expect them to be riding that many horses and camels.”
“They’re both transportation and provisions. Their customs differ greatly from ours. So does their way of fighting.”
“What do you think will happen?”
At Seo Jo-woon’s question, Sunwoo Cheong and Moyong Gung, who had been quietly establishing the formation, also turned toward Ban Ho-jin.
All were curious how he would assess the situation.
“When you underestimate your opponent, you’re bound to pay dearly for it.”
“Perhaps we should have forced ourselves to stay.”
“They didn’t want us there.”
At Sunwoo Cheong’s mutter, Moyong Gung spoke up.
The two of them were not here without reason.
Those who had confidently declared victory before the battle had subtly discriminated against minor sects and mid-sized clans in order to monopolize merit.
Among those sidelined were the Sunwoo Clan and the Moyong Clan.
“Well, it might not turn out that way. The Iron Blood Fortress might be weaker than expected.”
“The way you say it makes it sound unlikely.”
“Sometimes a shock is necessary. But whether it ends as mere shock therapy or becomes a shocking defeat depends on how the commander handles it.”
Though spoken calmly, the words pierced the chest in a peculiar way.
It felt as though events would unfold in an unfavorable direction.
Sima Ui-seong, in particular, found the remark about the commander’s decision echoing loudly in his ears.
Dududududu!
At that moment, part of the Iron Blood Fortress’s forces, which had been advancing leisurely, surged forward.
About a thousand riders mounted on horses—faster than camels—began charging toward the camp of the Orthodox Murim.
With momentum that seemed less like a scouting unit and more like an assault force, the Orthodox Murim did not remain idle.
Paaaat!
As if determined to seize the initiative from the very beginning, the Orthodox Murim also sent out a number of martial artists comparable to the enemy cavalry.
They were the martial artists of Shaanxi Murim, centered around the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect.
However, unlike their confident charge, the result was disastrous.
The martial artists who had advanced with proud strides were split in two in an instant along with several streaks of light.
“Gasp!”
“Ugh!”
Those watching from beside Ban Ho-jin were horrified at the sight.
They could hardly believe what they had seen with their own eyes.
But the shock was far greater for the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect, who had sent out their disciples.
Never in their wildest dreams had they imagined being so helplessly crushed by the Iron Blood Fortress, whom they had looked down upon. All were aghast.
Papapapat!
Yet the shock was brief.
Soon, consumed by fury, the martial artists of Shaanxi Murim charged forward all at once.
As if to avenge their fallen comrades, disciples, and family members, they rushed toward the main force of the Iron Blood Fortress in a frenzy.
Kkwaaaang! Kkwa-gwagwang!
But the scene was exceedingly simple.
There was not even a trace of strategy or tactics—only a crude clash of pure strength against strength.
They simply hurled themselves straight into the enemy ranks.
“Hmm?”
“Huh? It feels like our side is being pushed back.”
Like moths flying into flames, both sides continued to charge relentlessly.
As a result, casualties increased exponentially.
Since it was a direct collision of brute force, the number of those dying soared.
Yet the tide of battle began to flow strangely.
“It looks that way to me too.”
“Don’t we have slightly greater numbers?”
Perhaps the initial blow that seized the momentum had taken effect, because as time passed, the superiority of one side began to emerge.
Astonishingly, the Orthodox Murim forces were gradually being pushed back.
Everyone was stunned by the sight.
The outcome was completely different from what they had expected.
“It’s the price of underestimating them. But it’s still too early to say we’re losing.”
Unlike the flustered group, Ban Ho-jin remained calm.
Of anyone present here, he knew the strength of the Iron Blood Fortress best.
Of course, the scale differed from his previous life, but the core power of the Iron Blood Fortress would not be much different.
Its key forces would not have changed.
Yet Ban Ho-jin did not take a hard stance because he could not reveal the source of his information.
Nor did he have any evidence.
Moreover, few would heed the words of a mere late-stage junior.
‘It would be fortunate if they even half-believed me.’
Ban Ho-jin shrugged.
There was a reason he had not spoken recklessly.
Dam Hyeon would have believed him, but the problem was evidence.
With none to present, Ban Ho-jin had ultimately been forced to come all the way to the border of the Great Desert.
“Shouldn’t we step in soon?”
After glancing at the children who stood stunned with their mouths agape, Sunwoo Cheong asked casually.
Though they were being pushed back, the front line had not yet completely collapsed.
If they entered the battle now, it might be possible to restore the balance.
Swish.
Everyone understood what he meant and turned to look at Ban Ho-jin.
But Ban Ho-jin shook his head.
“The battle has only just begun. And the elites have not even moved yet.”
“The three of them have not made a move, that’s true. But the vanguard commander’s momentum is no ordinary matter.”
At Sunwoo Cheong’s words, Moyong Gung nodded.
He too had been watching the vanguard commander.
His martial prowess was so extraordinary that it naturally drew attention.
“It could not be otherwise. He is one of the Ten Great Warriors.”
“Ah!”
“That man is a Great Warrior?”
At the mention of Great Warrior, Sunwoo Cheong and Moyong Gung’s eyes widened.
If the Central Plains had the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven, the Great Desert had the Great Warriors.
That was the level of authority and prestige the Great Warriors of the Desert possessed.
“Yes. Judging by his use of the spear, he appears to be the Spear Sovereign. I hear he also excels at commanding troops.”
“Hmm!”
Sunwoo Cheong and Moyong Gung’s expressions grew grave.
On their way to Shaanxi Province, both had separately investigated the Iron Blood Fortress.
Among the information they gathered, what stood out most were the Lord of the Iron Blood Fortress and the Great Warriors.
Excluding the Lord, the true core lay with the Great Warriors, so the two fixed heavy gazes on the Spear Sovereign, who was cutting down martial artists at the very front like autumn leaves in the wind.
“They said he could be compared to the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven. It seems that claim was not entirely wrong.”
“I-Is he truly at that level?”
At Sang Il-gi’s murmur, Moyong Gung was startled.
Though there had been many rumors, he had inwardly believed they were no match for the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven.
It was not out of contempt for barbarians, but because the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven were the pride and glory of the Central Plains.
The two characters meaning “Under Heaven” were not attached lightly.
Yet when Sang Il-gi stated that the Spear Sovereign’s skill did not fall short even compared to the Martial Ten Kings, disbelief showed on his face.
Sunwoo Cheong beside him was no different.
“In my opinion, as Young Master Ban said, we may indeed suffer a shocking defeat.”
Gulp.
At those words from none other than Sang Il-gi, Sunwoo Cheong and Moyong Gung swallowed dryly.
They could feel once more the gravity of the situation.
At the same time, both men studied the Spear Sovereign intently,
measuring whether they themselves could face him—or not.