The Supreme Who Rules the Boundless Sky - Chapter 162
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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 162
“What do you need me to do?”
Bing Yohwi muttered quietly.
His gaze met with Namgung Hyeok’s eyes.
A look of interest.
But that was only momentary, as Bing Yohwi calmly opened his mouth again.
“Let me say this first. I have no intention of placing a great burden on you and your subordinates. In fact, calling you here wasn’t my idea.”
“Are you saying it was Young Lady Bing’s independent decision?”
“That’s right. Ah, of course, that doesn’t mean we don’t welcome you.”
Bing Yohwi smiled gently as he continued.
“So I plan not to assign you any life-threatening missions if possible. This is, after all, Northern Sea Ice Palace’s affair.”
“I appreciate your consideration, but you don’t need to do that.”
“Hmm?”
“Palace Master, you said this civil war is Northern Sea Ice Palace’s affair. You’re right. This is certainly the Ice Palace’s matter. However, Northern Sea Ice Palace is officially a member of the alliance that joined hands with Seonghwa Sect.”
Namgung Hyeok looked straight at him.
“And the alliance’s affairs are the same as our affairs. At least Seonghwa Sect, and I as the Seonghwa Gate Master, think so. Therefore, we hope for Northern Sea Ice Palace’s political situation to stabilize quickly.”
“Even if it means you might face danger?”
“Standing by idly while Northern Sea Ice Palace crumbles or falls into the Heavenly Demon Sect’s grasp would be a greater danger. At least, that’s what I think.”
“How resolute. It seems you wouldn’t easily retreat even if I issued an order to expel guests.”
“I received a request for help from Young Lady Bing. Since I’ve accepted a request, I have no intention of doing things half-heartedly.”
“Hmm…”
For a moment, silence fell between the two men.
But soon Bing Yohwi spoke with a bitter smile.
“If that’s your intention, then I have no choice. I’ll explain the current situation.”
“Please do.”
“You know that members of the Four Great Families, excluding our Bing Family, have started a rebellion, right?”
“Yes. And that the Heavenly Demon Sect might be behind it.”
It seems the Heavenly Demon Sect has had their eyes on this place for quite some time. Three family heads among the Four Great Families, excluding the Han Family head, have gone over to their side.”
“…!”
“Even the remaining Han Family has had some members defect and join the enemy. Currently, they plan to make the Seol Family head the new Bukhaebinggung Master.”
“Where are the enemies positioned?”
“There’s a place called Hanrim, a bit away from the Ice Palace. It’s where the Seol Family was originally located. They’re gathering forces there. Local skirmishes keep breaking out in the process.”
“Won’t you strike first?”
“If it becomes an all-out war, both sides’ forces will suffer devastating damage. If that happens, regardless of who wins, the Northern Sea’s future will be over. So both they and we are avoiding full-scale war.”
“But such a standoff won’t last long.”
“I know. Eventually we’ll have to clash. Or the Heavenly Demon Sect behind them won’t stay idle.”
Bing Yohwi’s eyes sharpened.
“We just want to minimize the damage. That’s why we made a proposal to them.”
“What kind of proposal?”
“If you surrender quietly now, I’ll treat you properly. If you don’t like that, then let’s settle this with a duel between commanders.”
“Hoo.”
It wasn’t a bad proposal.
If the executives were to duel each other to determine victory and defeat, it would reduce unnecessary deaths among those caught between them.
“However, they won’t accept it.”
“Right. They’ve already rejected that proposal twice. The reason is obviously…”
“Because they can’t handle the Palace Master.”
The Bukhaebinggung Master was an expert who would be treated as equivalent to the Ten Great Masters if he came down to the Central Plains.
I don’t know how strong the head of the Seol Family is, but… he probably isn’t at the level to defeat the Ice Palace Master in a one-on-one fight, right?
If he were, he would have accepted the match long ago and settled things.
“The leadership of the Ice Palace and I are considering this proposal as our final offer. If they reject it again, we’ll have to go to war.”
“When do you think the answer will come?”
“It should be about time.”
As soon as those words ended, someone’s footsteps could be heard from afar.
Soon, one Ice Palace warrior entered the Great Hall and knelt on one knee.
“I greet the Palace Master.”
“What is it?”
“I have something urgent to report.”
He said this while glancing at Namgung Hyeok.
Meaning, is it okay to discuss this here?
Bing Yohwi understood the meaning and nodded.
“Speak.”
“A village to the south was attacked. All the warriors guarding it were killed, and some villagers were taken as prisoners.”
“What was the identity of the attackers?”
“It’s not certain. But many of the survivors said they saw a command flag with ‘Hungry Ghost Gang’ written on it.”
“The Hungry Ghost Gang…”
It was Namgung Hyeok who answered.
“They’re originally a bandit group that operated in northern Hebei. On my way here, I passed through villages they had plundered and heard about them. Seeing that they’ve come all the way to the Northern Sea, they’re most likely enemy reinforcements.”
“I see.”
Bing Yohwi closed his eyes for a moment.
“Then this must be their answer.”
When he opened his eyes again, a chilling cold energy was swirling in his gaze.
“Have you made up your mind?”
“Yes.”
Bing Yohwi nodded and said.
“If they want war, then we’ll have to give it to them.”
* * *
Of course, that didn’t mean the Ice Palace forces immediately set out for battle.
There were several preparations needed before engaging in full-scale war.
It was Namgung Hyeok who moved in his stead.
He volunteered to personally visit the village that the Hungry Ghost Gang had swept through.
“Perhaps those bastards are still somewhere nearby. If so, the surrounding villages would be in danger too.”
“Are you really sure about this?”
“This is Alliance business. Besides, I can’t stand to watch bandits ravage innocent common people any longer.”
Of course, there were also calculating reasons beyond that.
The deeper he involved himself in the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s civil war, the more he would gain in the future.
Namgung Hyeok was thinking of obtaining not just the cold iron they had been trading until now, but true treasures like Ten Thousand Year Cold Iron and ice crystals.
And for that, he needed to create a debt so significant that everyone would acknowledge it.
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Bing Yohwi did not refuse.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace side also lacked the strength to counter all of their enemies’ moves.
So a martial force called the Ice Wheel Group and the Sacred Fire Gate’s reinforcements headed to the front lines.
“How terrible.”
Ice Wheel Group leader Baek Doryang frowned upon seeing the village’s condition.
It wasn’t without reason.
The village, which was half in ruins, was indeed not pleasant to look at.
“Ugh…”
Everywhere they looked, there were dead or injured people, and buildings with traces of fire damage.
They had probably been severely plundered.
Namgung Hyeok immediately gave orders to his subordinates.
“Distribute the provisions we brought and tend to the wounded.”
“Yes!”
Following his command, about two hundred Sacred Fire Sect disciples scattered all at once.
They cooked rice using the relief rice they had prepared in advance and distributed it to the people.
The villagers were almost in tears as they expressed gratitude for their help.
Namgung Hyeok looked at them and said.
“Group Leader Baek.”
“Yes, Sect Master.”
“Do you know where the nearest village from here is?”
“If you go a bit further north, there are three more villages smaller than this one. Are you concerned that those places might be attacked?”
“That’s right. With our current manpower, we won’t be able to protect all the surrounding villages.”
“Then what should we do…?”
“We need to pursue those bastards.”
Baek Doryang’s eyes widened.
“Pardon?”
“According to the reports, they definitely took some of the villagers as prisoners. Considering that the village was plundered and they took that many prisoners, their numbers must be at least several dozen or more.”
“That’s certainly true.”
“And when that many people move, there’s no way they wouldn’t leave traces. Especially if they’re forcibly dragging along untrained common people. What would that mean?”
Namgung Hyeok’s eyes turned sharp.
“You’re saying we’re the hunters, not them.”
“…!”
* * *
Namgung Hyeok immediately divided his forces.
Into those who would guard the village just in case, and those who would participate in the pursuit.
“So Yeon. I’m counting on you. Please take charge of defending the surrounding villages.”
“Leave it to me.”
Out of the two hundred or so men, he entrusted about ninety to So Yeon.
Combined with her and the Ice Wheel Group’s forces, they could reduce damage even if they dispersed troops to each village.
The remaining twenty were selected as elite troops, especially from among those who had accompanied him to the Northern Sea.
It was to chase and hunt down the enemies.
“Are you really sure that number of men will be enough?”
Baek Doryang asked with a worried expression.
Their forces numbered only twenty-three, including Namgung Hyeok, Jeon Wook, and Lee Cheolgun.
Charging in with this many men when they hadn’t even grasped the enemy’s scale seemed close to suicide.
“It’s fine. If I judge it’s too much, we’ll retreat immediately.”
But Namgung Hyeok himself was calm.
Wasn’t it dangerous?
On the northern battlefields, he had done countless things more dangerous than this.
Moreover, the current enemies weren’t those fearsome Nomadic Tribes, but ordinary bandit groups.
There was no reason to be afraid. As he said, if it really proved too much, they could just find out their location and then retreat.
“Then I’ll be going.”
“I wish you good fortune in battle.”
Namgung Hyeok’s party received Baek Doryang’s send-off and began their pursuit.
As he had said, finding the direction the bastards had gone wasn’t difficult.
These guys were so brazen they hadn’t even bothered to erase their tracks.
If only it had snowed during that time…
The weather for several days after the attack had been calm. This meant nature hadn’t helped hide the bastards’ traces.
How long had they been traveling like this?
“Lord. A village is visible ahead.”
A village in rebel territory appeared.
And in the distance, the Hungry Ghost Gang’s command flag fluttering.
“We’ve found the right place.”
“What shall we do?”
Everyone looked at Namgung Hyeok.
Instead of answering immediately, he spread his energy sensing to check the situation inside as much as possible.
The number of people he could sense.
And the village’s relatively small scale.
Considering the level of cooking smoke and other factors…
“It seems that place isn’t the Hungry Ghost Gang’s main camp.”
Probably because their numbers were too large to accommodate in one place, they had divided and established bases in several locations.
If that was the case, this number of personnel would be sufficient to handle it.
“We wait until nightfall for now.”
Namgung Hyeok and his party chewed on dried rations and jerky while waiting until sunset.
Eventually, night arrived.
The time when the enemy’s vigilance would be at its most relaxed.
They carefully descended from the hill and killed the two bandits who were guarding the village entrance.
Swoosh!
“…!”
The bandits collapsed without even being able to scream from the sudden surprise attack.
At the same time, the special unit members who came with them cleared away the wooden palisade that was set up at the village entrance.
Namgung Hyeok looked at the interior of the village where lights still flickered here and there and gave his command.
“We’re going in.”
“Yes, sir!”
Clatter!
The special unit members who entered together charged at the bandits with terrifying aura.
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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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