Almighty God of War - Chapter 143
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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143
The atmosphere of Do Namjong, the branch manager of the Sahaesangdan’s Iljo branch who reappeared at Dongryeong Salt Field, was very different from when they had met before.
Instead of his usual gentle smile, his face was filled with seriousness.
“Instructor Jang.”
What he took out from his bosom was a letter sealed with a red seal.
“This is a personal letter sent directly by the Sahaesangdan Sect Leader.”
Guyang Cheongang received the letter.
The faces of Jupyo and Jin Muryang, who were beside him, hardened with tension.
A personal letter from the Sahaesangdan Sect Leader—it was something they had never imagined.
A satisfied smile appeared on Guyang Cheongang’s lips as he unfolded the letter.
“He accepts all conditions.”
“That’s not all.”
Do Namjong smiled meaningfully.
“The Sect Leader has taken special interest in this matter. He has decided to send elite forces that would normally never move. They will arrive soon.”
That evening, at the waters off Dongryeong Salt Field.
“Those things…”
Everyone gathered at the coastline opened their mouths wide.
What appeared beyond the horizon were ten massive warships.
Hulls surrounded by thick oak, bow figureheads modeled after dragon heads, and the flags of Sahaesangdan fluttering from every mast.
“They’re Sahaesangdan’s warships!”
People murmured among themselves.
As the first ship docked at the pier, warriors disembarked from the deck.
The aura flowing from their bodies and every step they took was extraordinary.
The Jagang Corps warriors and escorts watched them with gleaming eyes.
Jupyo muttered with an expression that couldn’t hide his amazement.
“So many… first-rate masters?”
The number of warriors who disembarked from the ten ships was a total of one thousand. All were first-rate masters.
Even Guyang Cheongang was considerably surprised inwardly.
‘Sahaesangdan’s foundation is not to be underestimated. If they, who are merely one of the five families of the Merchant Alliance, are this strong, then just how powerful are the Four Supremes of All Under Heaven…’
One thousand first-rate masters.
This was a military force that even the Nine Great Sects would find difficult to ignore.
Above all, these were not all the forces that Sahaesangdan possessed, but only a portion.
The warrior who disembarked first approached Guyang Cheongang and cupped his fists.
“I am Hwa Seungryong, leader of Sahaesangdan’s Shark Corps. I have received orders from the Sect Leader to support Instructor Jang in this operation.”
Saeo is an old word for shark.
Guyang Cheongang observed him carefully.
A sturdy build in his mid-forties, and sharpness felt in his gaze.
‘Quite a master indeed.’
Hwa Seungryong continued speaking.
“The remaining members of Baekgyeongbang currently on Dongban Island are estimated to be roughly three to four thousand. Among them, first-rate masters number two to three hundred, with the rest being second-rate warriors.”
Looking at numbers alone, Dongryeong Salt Field and Sahaesangdan were overwhelmingly disadvantaged. But no one was worried.
One first-rate master was worth ten second-rate warriors.
Moreover, three hundred Jagang Corps warriors would join them, and above all…
All eyes focused on Guyang Cheongang.
They had Jang Woomyeong, the Sea Heaven Death God, who had single-handedly annihilated Baekgyeongbang’s pirate fleet.
“When shall we depart?”
To Hwa Seungryong’s question, Guyang Cheongang looked at the sea and answered.
“What is there to delay? We’ll depart at dawn tomorrow.”
The next morning, as the eastern sky brightened brilliantly.
Dongryeong Salt Field’s dock became bustling.
People were boarding fifteen ships floating on the calm waves.
Five captured Baekgyeongbang sailing ships and ten Sahaesangdan warships.
“Instructor Jang, I’ll be waiting for the day you return safely.”
Jupyo said to Guyang Cheongang.
Guyang Cheongang smiled brightly and nodded before boarding the captured command ship.
Behind him, three hundred Jagang Corps warriors, forged like steel through hellish training, silently divided themselves among their respective ships.
Hundreds of people had gathered at the dock.
Workers, escorts, merchants… everyone was witnessing this historic moment.
“That’s the fleet that will destroy Baekgyeongbang’s pirates…”
Someone muttered with a voice full of anticipation.
Baekgyeongbang’s infamy for plundering the coastline was more notorious among civilians than in Murim.
Whoooosh—
Massive sails were raised all at once.
As the morning wind filled the sails, the fleet of fifteen ships began to move.
Guyang Cheongang stood at the bow, gazing at the southern sea.
Far beyond the horizon, Dongban Island, Baekgyeongbang’s stronghold, was waiting.
As the fleet gradually moved away, the people at the dock dispersed.
A meaningful smile appeared on the lips of a worker mixed among the crowd.
‘They really left…’
He quietly disappeared into the crowd.
One hour later.
Over two hundred elite escorts dispatched urgently from Geonam Escort Agency arrived at Dongryeong Salt Field, raising clouds of dust.
They were sent to fill the void left by the Jagang Corps.
With their addition, the total forces defending the salt field became four hundred men.
Two days later, in the middle of the night.
It was a pitch-black night with clouds completely covering the moon.
A quiet night without a breath of wind, where even insect sounds couldn’t be heard.
On a hill five li away from Dongryeong Salt Field, two men were quietly conversing.
Bi Wol Yang-chu and Am Pyo Song-mun.
They were two of the three vice-leaders of Nanginbang, supreme masters recognized in the Evil Path Martial World.
“Vice-Leader, five hundred men are ready to attack.”
A subordinate who approached silently bowed his head and reported.
Yang Chu narrowed his already thin eyes further as he looked down the hill.
Over five hundred black-robed masked men stood among the thick grass.
Their aura was as fierce as a pack of wolves crouching while targeting their prey.
“Brother, what do the scouts report?”
Song Moon answered with a chilling smile.
“Jang Woomyeong and the Jagang Corps have all left. Our internal informant said the same. Only about four hundred men from Geonam Escort Agency remain at the salt field now.”
Yang Chu nodded with a satisfied expression.
Song Moon continued.
“Securing information wasn’t difficult. There are hundreds of workers who commute to Dongryeong Salt Field from nearby villages.”
Nanginbang was ostensibly a sect composed of about one thousand mercenary wandering warriors who took contracts and were deployed in proxy wars.
However, few people in Gangho knew that they were under the Heavenly Death Department, one of the Five Supremes of All Under Heaven.
This was because the internal affairs of the Heavenly Death Department were kept thoroughly secret.
Yang Chu asked.
“Did you also assess Geonam Escort Agency’s specific strength?”
“Yes, Elder Brother. Geonam Escort Agency’s Chief Escort Leader and ten Escort Leaders are first-rate masters, while the remaining three hundred and ninety are warriors between first-rate and second-rate.”
A sneer appeared on Yang Chu’s lips.
“To think that would be enough—what a carelessly naive judgment.”
Song Moon also spoke with a cold smile.
“Foolish bastards. We have fifty first-rate masters and four hundred fifty men, totaling five hundred. This is a force equivalent to two-thirds of our sect’s full strength.”
“That should be more than enough.”
Yang Chu continued.
“Ten thousand nyang upfront and an additional ten thousand upon success… I’ve never seen such easy money.”
“I don’t know who the client is, but they’re quite generous.”
Song Moon shrugged his shoulders.
Only the Wandering Warriors Sect Leader knew the client’s identity. But the two men had not the slightest desire to know.
What mattered was the money.
“We get the remaining ten thousand nyang if we completely destroy Dongryeong Salt Field, right?”
“Yes. Not just destroying the buildings, but also everyone…”
Song Moon made a throat-slitting gesture.
Yang Chu raised his hand and spoke.
“Well then, shall we begin?”
The five hundred Black-Robed Masked Men gathered below the hill began moving in unison.
“Attack!”
With his command, a black wave began surging toward Dongryeong Salt Field.
In the darkness without even moonlight, shadows of death were silently charging forward.
* * *
In front of Dongryeong Salt Field’s main gate.
Over five hundred Black-Robed Masked Men reached the massive gate that was three jang wide in the pitch-black darkness.
Their eyes were filled with bloodthirsty killing intent.
Shadows of death moving in complete silence.
The one at the front raised his hand to signal.
“Break down the door!”
That was the moment.
Creeeeak—
“Is there really a need to break it down?”
Along with a man’s indifferent voice, the gate opened by itself as if it had been waiting for their arrival.
“…?!”
At this unimaginable situation, all five hundred Black-Robed Masked Men froze simultaneously.
Behind the open door stood two people.
A tall, well-built man in his thirties and a boy holding a sword in his arms.
It was Guyang Cheongang and Baek Muok.
He, who was known to have left, stood there leisurely as if welcoming guests who had come to visit his home.
Guyang Cheongang smiled slightly and slowly opened his mouth.
“I didn’t know there were so many who enjoyed the night dew.”
His voice was calm, but the overwhelming presence within it pressed down heavily on the air.
“But you know…”
Guyang Cheongang took a step forward.
At that single step, the Masked Men in the front row unconsciously stepped backward.
Though they were first-rate masters, they couldn’t withstand Guyang Cheongang’s aura.
“Coming to someone else’s house uninvited, even bringing swords…”
Cold killing intent flashed in his eyes.
“That’s crossing the line.”
On the hill.
Yang Chu and Song Moon, who had been watching this entire scene, had faces that hardened like stone.
“Wh-what is this…”
Yang Chu’s voice trembled.
The two men immediately recognized that the man blocking the door was Jang Woomyeong, the Sea Heaven Death God.
They had already gathered information about his appearance and characteristics before coming.
But facing him directly was an entirely different matter.
“Elder Brother, it’s a trap…”
Song Moon muttered through gritted teeth.
The two men had survived as mercenary wandering warriors, rolling through countless battlefields.
They had experienced numerous crisis situations and survived at the crossroads of life and death.
But at this moment, they were completely flustered.
A peerless master who had made his name known throughout All Under Heaven with a single battle was waiting with a trap set.
On the hill.
Yang Chu gritted his teeth.
All five hundred subordinates were gathered in front of the gate and wall.
Of course, they could retreat.
Though Guyang Cheongang was blocking the main gate, there were plenty of escape routes to the rear, left, and right.
But Yang Chu’s mind was complicated.
‘They say he single-handedly annihilated twenty-five hundred from Baekgyeong Bang…’
He had already heard that rumor. But rumors were just rumors after all.
They tended to be exaggerated and could differ from reality.
‘No matter how peerless a master he is, one against five hundred is…’
Yang Chu looked down at the city gate again.
Guyang Cheongang was definitely alone.
The boy beside him looked young, and no other reinforcements were visible.
Five hundred against one.
Numerically, it was an overwhelming advantage.
In front of the gate.
Guyang Cheongang, who had been slowly looking around at the Masked Men, spoke to Baek Muok.
“Muok, step back and watch.”
“Yes, Master.”
Baek Muok hugged the Supreme Sword and retreated two or three jang back.
Guyang Cheongang spoke to the Masked Men.
“Tonight, this place will become your grave.”
The Masked Men’s eyes shook greatly.
They too knew who the man before them was.
On the hill.
Song Moon looked at Yang Chu while breaking out in cold sweat.
“Elder Brother, are we retreating?”
Calculations spun rapidly in Yang Chu’s mind.
‘If we retreat… the commission fails, we return the advance payment, the Wandering Warriors’ reputation falls to the ground. It’s questionable whether the Sect Leader would spare my life…’
Song Moon was waiting for an answer.
Yang Chu’s eyes became desolate.
‘But if the rumors are true, everyone dies. However… is it really impossible to kill him with one against five hundred?’
Yang Chu spoke through gritted teeth.
“Brother, in my life as a mercenary wandering warrior, I’ve never once fled without fighting an enemy. And those rumors about him are likely exaggerated. If five hundred men charge simultaneously, no matter how peerless a master…”
He pulled out a horn from his waist.
Piiiiiik—
The sharp sound of the horn echoed through the pitch-black night sky.
In front of the gate.
With the sound of a horn, five hundred masked men moved in unison.
“Dieeeee!”
“Uuuuuu!”
Along with battle cries, a black wave poured down toward Guyang Cheongang.
Guyang Cheongang’s eyes turned cold.
“A frontal confrontation… You won’t retreat quietly, I see. I’ll engrave into your bones just how foolish this choice was.”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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