The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 106

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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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Spear Heaven Martial Emperor Episode 106

The group’s travel speed was fast.

All three were masters capable of dominating the Murim, and they weren’t carrying much baggage either.

What they brought just in case were silver coins and promissory notes for travel expenses, along with simple drinking water and provisions.

Therefore, they could increase their speed by switching horses whenever they got tired. But even doing so, it took quite a while to reach their destination.

Yunnan was so far from Jiangsu that it could be called the complete opposite direction.

So even if they rode through the night, they couldn’t arrive immediately.

“Wouldn’t it have been better to use the waterway instead?”

Lee Cheolgun grumbled while riding his horse.

The Seonghwa Sect was located downstream of the Yangtze River.

So if they took a boat upstream, they could travel much faster than now.

But Namgung Hyeok shook his head.

“It hasn’t even been half a year since we fought the Water Route Bandits. In this situation, if we set sail, there’s no telling what might happen.”

Perhaps they might encounter dozens of enemies in the middle of the Yangtze River.

No matter how powerful Namgung Hyeok and the Seonghwa Sect were, it was uncertain whether that power would apply in naval combat rather than land combat.

There were rumors that the more formidable Yangtze Waterway bandits didn’t just engage in close combat but also operated cannons.

“If we get hit by cannons, even we would be helpless. Especially in the middle of a river with nowhere to escape, rather than on land.”

“Hmm. That sounds reasonable.”

Lee Cheolgun nodded as if he understood.

He could certainly feel why Namgung Hyeok hadn’t taken a boat.

“How much farther to Kunming?”

“Since we’re currently in the Hunan region… we’ve come about halfway now.”

“We’ve still come quite far. At this pace, we should be able to arrive soon.”

Namgung Hyeok nodded at Lee Cheolgun’s words.

“As long as nothing unnecessary happens. Like getting ambushed by someone, for instance.”

“Haha! You worry too much, Leader. Who exactly would be targeting us?”

“I can’t let my guard down. This place is close to the Black Dragon Society’s territory. They might come seeking revenge for last time.”

“That would only work if they knew you were here. Since we left secretly, that won’t happen.”

Lee Cheolgun spoke coolly.

Namgung Hyeok thought for a moment, then asked.

“What’s the probability that the Sado Region knows my whereabouts and leaks information to the Black Dragon Society?”

“None. If it were when I was in control, maybe, but the current Sado Region doesn’t possess such intelligence capabilities. If there’s a variable, it would be having a spy within the Seonghwa Sect…”

“I’m confident there’s nothing like that. I trust my disciples.”

“Hoho. Is that so? Then the only people who know we left are them. In that case, we can rest easy.”

Lee Cheolgun said this while leisurely eating a rabbit he had caught nearby.

Namgung Hyeok shrugged and drank a bottle of alcohol.

Meanwhile, Ho Young seemed to be deep in thought about something.

“Leader. Do you really think Hwajeong’s faction is in Yunnan?”

“I don’t know yet. They might be there, or they might not. But if they are, I have no intention of missing them.”

“At times like this, it’s regrettable that our intelligence network doesn’t reach the southwest of the Central Plains. We should buy information from the Beggar’s Sect and Hao Sect if they’re in the next city.”

“We should. We brought enough funds, so we can obtain any information we want.”

“Good. Then since we seem to have rested enough, let’s get going.”

Ho Young rode his horse again quite enthusiastically.

Lee Cheolgun seemed to want to rest more, but since the other two took the initiative first, he soon sighed and followed them.

They decided to ride without rest until they could see the next city.

However.

“Uhahahaha! Don’t let a single one escape!”

“Kyaaaah!”

“Damn it. Block them!”

Clang! Clang! Claaang!

Loud metallic sounds could be heard from afar.

The three exchanged glances simultaneously, being wary in case it was an enemy ambush.

But.

“No matter how I look at it, it just seems like some unlucky people are being attacked by bandits?”

“It probably is.”

Namgung Hyeok nodded at Lee Cheolgun’s words.

Indeed, they had heard rumors that clashes between bandits and merchant groups were frequent in this area.

So this time would likely be a similar case.

“What shall we do? I’d prefer to just ignore it and pass by if possible.”

Namgung Hyeok shook his head at Lee Cheolgun’s words.

“Let’s help them first.”

“Why? They’re people we don’t even know.”

“Do we need a reason to help people being robbed?”

Namgung Hyeok spoke calmly.

“And you never know. We might receive great help in the future from connections made this way.”

Namgung Hyeok said this and rode toward where the sounds were coming from.

“Leader! Don’t move alone, let’s go together!”

Ho Young followed closely and shouted.

Lee Cheolgun sighed but followed behind them.

After crossing one hill, they could immediately understand what was happening.

A group of about twenty people was being attacked by roughly over a hundred bandits.

The individual skills were on average higher on the side being attacked, but…

‘It’s not enough to overcome the numerical difference.’

They were only forming a defensive formation around one carriage, unable to launch an aggressive offensive.

That’s when it happened.

“What are those guys!”

Someone among the bandits spotted Namgung Hyeok’s group and shouted.

“Kill them! We can’t let our actions be discovered!”

They approached the group with fierce eyes.

Then, Lee Cheolgun stepped forward.

“This is bothersome, so I should clear them out quickly. You’re not going to tell me not to kill them, are you?”

“Right. Do as you please.”

With Namgung Hyeok’s permission, Lee Cheolgun smiled faintly.

Soon.

Swoosh!

Blood spurted as his sword flashed.

“What!?”

The bandits looked at Lee Cheolgun in shock.

But Lee Cheolgun didn’t even properly respond to them and charged forward.

His sword continuously severed the bandits’ necks.

Lee Cheolgun cut down more than twenty troops in an instant.

“We can’t fall behind either.”

“Hahaha! That’s right!”

Namgung Hyeok and Ho Young joined in.

The three pushed back the bandits on the battlefield in the blink of an eye.

The bandit leader, realizing something was wrong, declared a retreat, but by then the bandits’ numbers had already been reduced to one-third.

“Kugh!”

The leader took a fierce punch to the abdomen and fainted.

Only then did the bandits begin to flee in terror, abandoning even their weapons.

“What pathetic fools.”

Lee Cheolgun said this as he sheathed his sword.

Namgung Hyeok looked at him and spoke with admiration.

“Truly living up to your reputation.”

“What use is victory against such weak bandits?”

He said this and closed his mouth.

Meaning that Namgung Hyeok should handle the rest.

Namgung Hyeok nodded and looked at the people who had been under attack, still dazed from the ordeal.

He smiled warmly and asked.

“Are you alright?”

The people nodded blankly.

* * *

A moment later.

“Th-thank you so much, Young Hero. How can we ever repay this debt…”

The person who appeared to be the leader of the group offered a cupped fist salute in greeting.

Namgung Hyeok shook his head and replied.

“I merely helped since we were traveling the same path. It’s nothing special.”

“But you saved our lives in the end, didn’t you? May I know Young Hero’s name? I’d like to repay this debt someday…”

“Ah, I’m late with introductions. I’m called Namgung Hyeok.”

“Gasp!”

He made a strange sound, apparently knowing about Namgung Hyeok.

His eyes sparkled as he asked.

“Could you be the recently famous Flame Dragon Young Hero… no, the Sect Master of Seonghwa Sect?”

“That’s right. And who might you be?”

“We are escorts from a place called Baekhwa Escort Agency. Please call me Nam Pyodu.”

“I see.”

Namgung Hyeok nodded.

It wasn’t particularly strange. There were plenty of trading companies and escort agencies that got attacked by bandits while carrying goods on the road.

However.

‘Usually they pay money to pass through.’

Bandits weren’t fools either, so there weren’t many who engaged in banditry targeting only cargo.

From their perspective, it was often more profitable to collect tolls from people passing through.

But to engage in combat while accepting such losses…

Was there some reason for it?

Perhaps noticing Namgung Hyeok’s expression, Nam Pyodu spoke as if troubled.

“They probably coveted what we were carrying. It contains all sorts of medicinal materials and raw materials for spiritual medicines.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. These fellows acted like they’d let us pass at first, but when they learned we were transporting medicinal materials, they tried to steal them…”

Instead of listening to more explanations, Namgung Hyeok stepped on the fallen bandit leader’s arm.

“Aaaahhhhh!”

The bandit leader must have been in considerable pain as he immediately screamed and got up.

He released killing intent to prevent any lies and asked.

“Why did you attack these people?”

“Th-that’s…!”

The bandit leader couldn’t even breathe properly under the crushing pressure that made his heart pound.

Namgung Hyeok released a bit more aura toward the leader and said.

“Speak.”

“W-we coveted the medicinal materials. If we could sell what they had, we could get a high price. Besides…”

“Besides?”

“We were going to use their materials to make spiritual medicines. Now I’ve told the truth, so spare me…”

Thwack!

Namgung Hyeok struck him hard, knocking him unconscious.

At the same time, he clicked his tongue.

“How foolish.”

Spiritual medicines weren’t something outsiders could make just by having the materials.

Spiritual medicines were created by alchemists with advanced knowledge spending long periods of time.

But mere bandits trying to make spiritual medicines and causing such trouble…

It was honestly absurd.

“I’ve already subdued them all, so your group should be able to handle this number. Well then, we’ll be on our way.”

Namgung Hyeok spoke to the escorts of Baekhwa Escort Agency.

Having done all he could, he intended to leave quickly and continue on his way.

“Please wait a moment!”

But then Nam Pyodu stopped Namgung Hyeok.

Lee Cheolgun’s expression turned unpleasant. He asked with a low but threatening look.

“You’re not asking us to escort you to your destination, are you? Since you were lucky enough to meet us with our strong martial power.”

“How could that be? I just wanted to properly give you compensation for this incident, so I rudely stopped you.”

“Compensation.”

“Yes. Please accept this.”

Nam Pyodu took out a red elixir reminiscent of flames and offered it to Namgung Hyeok.

Namgung Hyeok looked interested and asked.

“It looks like a spiritual medicine. Why are you giving me such a treasure? It can’t be worth just a few coins.”

“It’s not precious at all when given to our life’s benefactor. Besides… it would be good if you could remember the name of our Baekhwa Escort Agency in the future. And objectively speaking, it’s not a very expensive spiritual medicine.”

“Oh. It must increase one’s martial power by about one to three years. What’s its name?”

“It’s called Fire Essence.”

“…!”

Namgung Hyeok’s eyes immediately changed.

“Did you just say Fire Essence?”

“Yes. It’s a spiritual medicine distributed by a trading company we deal with. But why do you…”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Namgung Hyeok spoke to Nam Pyodu in a calm voice.

“Let’s go together to that trading company.”

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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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