Chapter 147: The Moon Hidden by Clouds (3)
Leaving the soldiers behind, the strongest generals of both countries clashed. It was truly a battle of those who had transcended.
Friends and foes alike stopped what they were doing to watch the thick fog. Inside, dazzling flashes of light sparked continuously, as if a thunderstorm were raging.
The shockwaves blasting out of the fog made the surrounding soldiers take steps back to keep their distance.
Everyone was dying to know what kind of battle was unfolding inside. No matter the outcome, it would be a duel that would go down in history.
“Sigh…”
Letting out a sigh, Il-gwang clenched his fists.
No matter how he thought about it, this was an unfair fight. The enemy side had Wanyan Hui and the Five Dragon Generals, totaling six. In contrast, the allies only had So-mu and Han Shizhong.
Above all, his entire body was itching to join, and he could not bear it.
He covertly scanned the surroundings.
To his left and right, Yue Fei and Sama Cheol were completely focused on the fog, holding their breath as if they were the ones fighting inside.
The same went for the Hui commanders and soldiers blocking their path.
If they wanted to break through, now was the chance. Having made up his mind, he took a deep breath.
‘Wait for me, Captain. Il-gwang is coming to help.’
In the next instant, Il-gwang kicked off the ground and attempted to break through.
Ta!
Despite his massive build, his lightning-fast speed was marvelous.
Startled by the sudden movement, the obstructing enemies panicked.
“Block him!”
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Two swords slashed toward Il-gwang, but they were already a step too late.
Slipping through them, Il-gwang was already running toward the fog.
The Hui commanders who tried to pursue him quickly gave up, as Yue Fei and Sama Cheol were preparing to attack from the front. And there was another reason.
Just as Il-gwang arrived right in front of his destination…
He suddenly saw a massive paw lunging at him. Without time to think, he crossed his arms to block it.
Boom!
Something struck him with terrifying brute force.
Thrown to the ground, Il-gwang rolled twice before he managed to stand up.
In front of him, a massive tiger glared at him with slit eyes.
The spirit beast rumored to be Wanyan Hui’s pet—the Mountain Lord who once ruled Mount Tai.
Il-gwang was furious. To think the vice-captain of the Wolf Fang Squad had been ambushed by a mere beast. He could not accept it.
“You absolute bastard. You’re dead now.”
His desire to help So-mu was temporarily forgotten. The thought of beating the Mountain Lord to death dominated his mind.
Whoosh!
A reddish strong energy enveloped his fists.
Seeing this, the Mountain Lord bared its teeth and lowered its upper body.
“I will pull out all your teeth today.”
In the next instant, both of them kicked off the ground simultaneously.
Il-gwang’s fists and the Mountain Lord’s paws clashed in a flurry of fierce attacks.
Boom! Crash!
It looked like two wild beasts fighting for their lives.
As their battle began in earnest, those who were watching finally snapped out of it and quickly turned their gaze back to the fog.
Though they were curious about the fight between Il-gwang and the Mountain Lord, that was not the priority.
The most crucial battle, the clash that would decide everyone’s fate, seemed to have already ended.
The thick fog, which had been flashing violently, was now completely still.
The side that won this battle would seize the momentum in the coming war.
Everyone held their breath and waited for the result—except for Il-gwang and the Mountain Lord.
Swish!
Finally, the fog began to clear. And the scene that gradually emerged was shocking.
Everyone was struck speechless.
“Urgh…”
The first to appear was one of the Five Dragon Generals. Stumbling and groaning, his left arm had been cleanly severed.
“H-How could this be…”
“To think…”
Two of the Five Dragon Generals lay cold and lifeless on the ground, while the remaining two were clutching their wounds, panting heavily.
Next, another figure emerged.
The warrior of a ten thousand men, Han Shizhong. The moment they saw him, a wave of despair swept through the soldiers on the walls.
“G-General!”
“No…”
The blade of a sword, which had lost its master, was thrust through his left abdomen, glinting in the sunlight.
The blade was lodged in his abdomen, yet he stood tall without a single groan or tremor.
After a moment, the remaining two figures appeared.
So-mu, his face pale as death. A trickle of blood ran from the corner of his mouth, indicating internal injuries.
And Wanyan Hui, who stood facing him, did not look much better. His armor was torn, exposing a deep sword wound that revealed his ribs.
It was a double defeat.
It was a battle where no one could be declared the victor. It was an outcome no one had anticipated.
Just then, Wanyan Hui stared at So-mu.
“How about we call it a day? If we continue, that man will die.”
“…And you will die as well.”
Wanyan Hui sighed and gripped his sword.
“Is there a need to finish it here today?”
So-mu had also suffered significant internal injuries. His shifted qi made it difficult to even execute stances. However, he was still in the best condition among the survivors.
Although it was a golden opportunity to kill Wanyan Hui, doing so would guarantee Han Shizhong’s death.
Even though Han Shizhong’s breathing seemed stable, his injuries were critical.
Eventually, So-mu nodded, having made up his mind.
“I look forward to our next meeting.”
As So-mu turned his back, Wanyan Hui called out to him.
“Wait.”
So-mu stopped and looked back.
“In the past, there were several battles where our armies suffered absurd defeats. Now I think I know the reason. Since I am now aware of your existence, it will not be easy for you in the future.”
“You have it wrong. Not a single victory was achieved by my strength alone. Unless you realize the essence, you will suffer humiliating defeats again and again.”
“Perhaps. In any case, you are a truly covetable talent. Would you consider joining us? I can promise you whatever you desire.”
So-mu snorted as if there was nothing to think about.
“I have no desire to join beasts. You will surely pay for the atrocities you committed on this land. You can look forward to it.”
He did not need to hear an answer. With those words, So-mu turned away.
So-mu approached Han Shizhong to support him, but the general shook his head. It seemed his pride would not allow it.
“…I envy General Jang-yang’s fortune with people. I will thank you properly later.”
Forcing out those words, he limped forward.
Walking with a sword lodged in his abdomen, his figure looked solemn.
He stopped where the corpse of his adjutant, Yeom Chung, lay.
Han Shizhong gently lifted him with both hands.
They had spent a long time together. Before being his adjutant, he was a man who had always stood by his side. Seeing his mutilated body, his heart ached.
“My friend. You talked so big, and now look at you. Wake up. Did you not swear to stand with me until the end?”
Limping toward the fortress gate, tears welled in his eyes.
Was he not a man with shoulders stronger than anyone else? Today, his shoulders looked incredibly frail.
Following behind him, the vice-commanders also hung their heads with dark expressions.
Meanwhile, So-mu also walked toward the allied camp.
At this moment, no one blocked his path. The Hui soldiers parted to let him pass.
Yue Fei and Sama Cheol approached, guarding his sides.
“Thank you for your hard work. I knew you could do it.”
“Let’s head back quickly. You must tend to your internal injuries.”
So-mu nodded and called out, “Il-gwang!”
Having been busy fighting the Mountain Lord, Il-gwang did not know how the situation had unfolded. He could not believe he was struggling against a mere beast.
Looking around, he saw all his comrades returning to the camp. He could not stay in the enemy camp alone.
“Get off me!”
Il-gwang’s fist struck the Mountain Lord’s head.
Boom!
The spirit beast did not budge, showing no signs of damage from a normal attack.
While the beast was temporarily dazed, Il-gwang retreated, promising a rematch.
“Wait for me!”
He sprinted toward the mountain where the camp was located. And just as he was about to reach it, something unbelievable happened.
“W-What?”
The Mountain Lord was pursuing him alone, all the way to the allied camp.
But its gaze was strange. It looked as if it was begging to be killed. Its eyes were filled with a sorrow that no normal animal should possess.
But Il-gwang did not care.
“Ha. What a crazy beast.”
Inside the forest, Il-gwang and the Mountain Lord began another fierce clash.
His armor had long since been reduced to rags, and his arms were covered in countless claw marks.
Sama Cheol stepped forward to help, but Il-gwang rejected it.
“No one interfere! I will finish this fellow today!”
Sama Cheol shook his head in disbelief.
Just then, So-mu sat in a lotus position on one side and said, “Leave him be. When beasts fight, it is best to stay out of it until the hierarchy is established.”
The Mountain Lord of Mount Tai. Tales of this beast were popular among the people, though they were treated as mere legends.
It was a spirit beast forced to fight for the Hui Dynasty because its cub had been captured.
The sorrow in its eyes looked pitiful. Its roar carried an undeniable agony.
It likely wanted to vent its frustration through Il-gwang.
Seeing it charge in alone, it seemed the Hui Dynasty did not have complete control over it either.
‘How could a parent’s heart for their child be any different, even for a beast?’
Sighing, So-mu began to circulate his qi to heal his internal injuries.
For now, the Mountain Lord was not his priority. He entered a state of meditation.
While resolving his shifted qi, he reflected on the recent battle.
He had never fought such a grueling battle, even in the martial world. The Five Dragon Generals were formidable, but Wanyan Hui’s martial arts were beyond imagination.
‘If I had been a step later, General Han Shizhong would not have survived.’
The battle of eight transcendent masters. It had set the heart of the sleeping warrior beating once more.
‘Wanyan Hui… if we fought one-on-one, could I win?’
He was not certain. If Wanyan Hui was this strong, how powerful must the Emperor who founded the Hui Dynasty be? It was his first time encountering a worthy rival since leaving the martial world.
But this only made his blood boil.
‘So-mu, you have left your sword aside for too long.’
Returning to his sword meant training and refinement.
He had to pick up his sword again to transcend his limits whenever the opportunity arose.
As time passed, his color slowly returned. It would take a few days to completely heal his internal injuries.
Just as he finished his emergency treatment…
Thud!
Something massive collapsed.
So-mu opened his eyes to see the expected result. A bloodied Il-gwang was dragging the unconscious Mountain Lord toward the camp.
The soldiers murmured in awe as they saw the house-sized tiger up close.
The commanders also gathered with interested expressions.
“How dare a mere beast defy me, Il-gwang.”
So-mu stood up with a faint smile.
“You look like you barely survived yourself.”
“You’ll understand if you fight it, Captain. What happens when you cross a crazy beast.”
The limp Mountain Lord merely blinked.
Yue Fei approached and examined the beast.
“It is in agony, so please end its life.”
Il-gwang nodded and stood over the Mountain Lord’s head.
His fist began to gather a fierce qi. It was the Exploding Swift Strike, one of the stances of the Mountain-Breaking Fist.
Just as he was about to strike, So-mu raised his left hand.
“Wait.”
“…Why?”
After a moment, So-mu looked at Yue Fei.
“If you don’t mind, I would like to take this fellow to our camp.”
Yue Fei looked puzzled.
“All the way to Chang’an? A spirit beast of this level is not a beast that can be tamed by humans.”
“Still, it would be a waste to kill it like this.”
“Hmm. Since your commander captured it, do as you wish.”
“Thank you.”
So-mu called the Wolf Fang Squad and gave them instructions.
After a moment, the squad members began to bind the Mountain Lord’s body with ropes.