Chapter 53: Escape is in the Order of Intelligence (4)
Chapter 52 – Escape is in the Order of Intelligence (4)
“Now, this means we have to enter that place…”
Paeng Su-hyeok muttered, looking up at the stronghold.
It was a stronghold temporarily constructed for the Third Trial. As it was an exam simulating real combat, it looked quite plausible as a mountain stronghold.
There were three entry paths marked on the map. No matter which one they took, traps were bound to be set up.
Namgung Cheon glanced around the surroundings.
The other groups were not yet in sight. Some groups might have fallen slightly behind, and others might have chosen a different entry path.
What was clear was that everyone besides his companions was a cadet of the Righteous Chivalry Academy. Of course, there was a group that included Song Won-gyo and Baekli Hyang, but expecting any sense of camaraderie from them was impossible to begin with.
“Let’s go in.”
Namgung Cheon spoke without hesitation and strode forward, and Paeng Su-hyeok quickly stepped forward.
“Hold on.”
“Why?”
“Just as Yun Jong-seung said, the reactions of the other guys are unusual. It’s also strange that they aren’t even showing their faces.”
“So?”
“What do you mean, ‘so’? If those bastards have decided to bury us for good…”
Jin So-hong finished the sentence.
“They wouldn’t need to force their way through the traps. They could just wait until we rescue the hostage and then ambush us.”
“Yeah, and the Alliance probably wants that to happen too.”
Paeng Su-hyeok nodded.
The mission itself was to rescue the hostage, but it would not be strange at all even if a battle to snatch the hostage broke out.
Since they would face numerous crises when safely bringing a hostage back in a real mission, this was also a form of training for that.
The problem was that there were only three group members here right now.
Yun Jong-seung had consumed Gongjin Powder yesterday, leaving him unable to use his internal energy, so he had decided to wait at the Grand Martial Arena.
Of course, Song Won-gyo was missing from their side as well, but regardless, if the other groups had banded together, it would be a situation where they had to fight fifteen against three.
Could just three people protect the hostage while fending off their attacks?
Even a normal fight would be difficult, but to have to protect the hostage as well…
“As expected, it’s too much. How about we also don’t go in and just wait here instead? Then one of the groups will go in.”
At Paeng Su-hyeok’s words, Jin So-hong also nodded.
“That sounds good. Since there are three entry paths in total, let’s scatter and lie in ambush. Let’s agree to send a signal when we see a group bringing the hostage out.”
“Alright, then I’ll take the east and you… Hm? Hey! Namgung Cheon! Where are you going? Are you not listening to us?”
However, Namgung Cheon walked toward the stronghold without hesitation, waving his hand.
“You guys do whatever you want. I hate waiting, so I’m going in first.”
“That, that…! Ugh! He always does whatever he wants!”
As Paeng Su-hyeok fumed, Jin So-hong chuckled.
“A real straightforward guy.”
“Is this something to laugh about?”
“Let’s follow him for now. He probably has a plan.”
Jin So-hong followed behind Namgung Cheon.
She seemed to trust Namgung Cheon quite a bit.
After all, even during the Second Trial, Namgung Cheon had seemed to act without any thought, but hadn’t he ended up catching the special-grade spiritual beast in the end?
“Tch!”
Paeng Su-hyeok clicked his tongue and followed behind.
“Namgung Cheon. Remember this. I am not following you because you are the leader. I am going because I also hate waiting. Still, the reason I suggested that earlier was out of concern that our group members might get hurt. Got it? For someone of my level, traps aren’t scary at all.”
“Is that so? That works out well. I find traps to be quite troublesome. You lead the way.”
“I-I decline! I don’t follow your orders!”
“It’s a request, not an order, though?”
“It sounds like an order disguised as a request.”
“It can’t be helped then.”
Namgung Cheon shook his head and strode forward again.
‘Sometimes, he seems smarter than I think.’
Or was he just less foolish than expected?
Anyway.
The three cautiously entered through the back gate of the stronghold.
As they were carefully crossing the backyard, the ground where Jin So-hong stepped suddenly sank by about a span.
*Click!*
“Ah! Dodge!”
Jin So-hong shouted, but that was the wrong instruction.
*Clang, clang, clang…!*
Heavy sounds rang out from the roof, walls, and floor, and arrows flew in all at once.
It was a situation where there was nowhere to hide even if they tried to dodge.
“Not a chance!”
*Boom!*
Paeng Su-hyeok stamped his foot and swung his great saber fiercely.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang!*
The arrows flying from all directions were deflected wildly.
Jin So-hong also deflected the arrows, swinging her meteor hammer with dazzling movements.
However, a meteor hammer was not a suitable weapon for blocking pouring arrows to begin with.
*Swish! Swish!*
Two arrows grazed her shoulder and thigh.
“Ugh!”
Fortunately, it was not a serious injury, but the next moment was the problem.
She extended her leg to regain her balance, but it seemed she had triggered another trap in that spot.
*Rumble…!*
Suddenly, the ground shook as if an earthquake had hit, and as dust puffed up, it began to collapse.
“Run!”
When Namgung Cheon shouted after striking down a flying arrow, Paeng Su-hyeok and Jin So-hong quickly threw themselves forward.
‘He is definitely fast.’
Even as he performed the Qi-Controlling Divine Wind, Paeng Su-hyeok felt his increased speed once more.
He had felt his speed rise by a level after accepting Namgung Cheon’s advice in the past, but he had grown even faster through his training over the last ten days.
This was truly a marvelous change.
To think that slightly twisting the flow of qi circulation could produce such an effect.
However, in this case, even if he swung his saber, it would not carry the same weight as before. In short, the flow of internal energy had to be different when running versus when fighting.
Now was the time to run.
*Swoosh, shhhk!*
As Paeng Su-hyeok slid to a halt in the main hall, he saw Namgung Cheon and Jin So-hong, who had already arrived.
Namgung Cheon was annoyingly fast after consuming the inner core of the Golden Blood Rat, and Jin So-hong had just crossed by hooking her meteor hammer onto a pillar of the main hall and pulling the chain.
*Ruuuuuumble!*
As the floor completely collapsed, only a few spots that would not sink when stepped on could be seen here and there.
About three Zhang below, wooden stakes were densely planted; falling straight down might not have cost them their lives, but they would have been severely injured.
Paeng Su-hyeok looked down at the floor and then glanced around.
“It’s way too quiet. Doesn’t it feel like we are the only ones who broke in?”
Jin So-hong also nodded.
“Now that you mention it, it does. If they were entering from somewhere right now, we should at least hear the sound of traps activating.”
“Damn it, I hope we aren’t doing all the hard work just for someone else to reap the rewards. Frankly speaking, won’t the bastards coming through the back gate now easily walk through the path we’ve cleared?”
“They wouldn’t even need to come in. As I said earlier, they could just wait outside and aim for an ambush.”
Despite Jin So-hong’s words, Namgung Cheon strode forward without paying them any mind.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of scheme they are plotting. We just have to walk the path we decided on.”
Because I am a straight-ahead man.
I never doubt a path once I’ve chosen it.
Moreover, I do not worry about others’ conspiracies in advance.
This was like a runaway’s instinct.
What was the pursuer thinking at this very moment? Why had it suddenly become quiet? When and where would they ambush him? And so on.
A fugitive was in a state where they could not move a single step if they kept harboring such worries.
Whatever the case, a fugitive had to keep moving. If they were caught in the Net of Heaven and Earth, they had to break through.
In fact, he had broken through a few times before.
However, the moment one started overthinking the enemy’s intentions, they would end up playing right into their hands.
“Instead of being dragged around by them, I just need to lead them.”
“So, by what means?”
“By the means of ‘since I cannot make it out alive, let’s all die together’.”
“What on earth is that?”
“Venom is stronger than stubbornness. Madness is stronger than venom.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
As Paeng Su-hyeok grumbled, Namgung Cheon chuckled.
“One day, you will understand too.”
“Obnoxious bastard.”
Paeng Su-hyeok growled, but Namgung Cheon strode forward without replying.
After that, all kinds of obstacles appeared as traps were triggered, such as fireballs flying or countless fine needles being fired.
However, Namgung Cheon’s group crossed the corridor without any major injuries and finally reached the room where the hostage was confined.
It was a fairly spacious room, looking like a place used as a training chamber in the stronghold.
Naturally, the door was structured so that it could only be opened and closed from the outside.
Seeing that it was still firmly shut, it seemed no one had arrived before them.
“Let’s go in.”
At Namgung Cheon’s words, Paeng Su-hyeok and Jin So-hong nodded and unlocked the latch.
And the moment the door opened,
*Swoooosh!*
An arrow from a powerful bow flew straight toward Namgung Cheon.
“Danger!”
Paeng Su-hyeok and Jin So-hong shouted at the same time, and Namgung Cheon quickly stepped back while thrusting his sword.
*Clang!*
The tip of his sword and the arrowhead clashed precisely, emitting a sound that felt as if it would tear their eardrums.
*Whoosh, crash!*
The arrow split into two pieces, flying toward the walls on both sides and exploding.
It contained such fierce power that part of the wall crumbled down.
Paeng Su-hyeok yelled out.
“You crazy bastards! Are they really determined to kill someone?”
And for good reason, because the arrows shot in the backyard, the stakes planted in the floor, and the fine needles might cause injuries, but they were not threatening enough to endanger their lives.
However, wasn’t the arrow shot from the strong bow just now at a level where they could have really died if they were careless?
A chill ran down his spine.
At the same time, a thought occurred to him.
‘If it were me… could I have blocked it?’
Paeng Su-hyeok quietly stared at Namgung Cheon, who held his sword forward.
An astonishingly fast reaction speed and a heavy sword. Those were what had saved Namgung Cheon.
But what if it had been himself?
“Tch! Be careful, Namgung Cheon!”
“I am always careful.”
“Be even more careful! You almost died!”
“True. I survived because it was me.”
“Shut up! I would have survived too!”
“By the way, were you just worrying about me? How cute.”
“Y-You crazy bastard! Who’s worrying? I’m only doing this because we might get disqualified if you die!”
As Paeng Su-hyeok shouted with a flushed face, Jin So-hong pointed toward the inner part of the training chamber and spoke.
“There’s the hostage.”
When the four went inside, there was no reaction, as if there were no more traps.
The role of the hostage was being played by one of the cadets who had failed the Second Trial. That cadet also seemed startled by the arrow shot from the strong bow toward Namgung Cheon a moment ago, only blinking with wide eyes.
“Now, let’s take him out.”
“No, wait.”
Paeng Su-hyeok flinched and looked back at Namgung Cheon.
“What do you mean? Wait for what? I thought you said you hated waiting?”
“It depends on the situation. When we hold the cards, we should wait. There’s no need to rush, is there?”
Namgung Cheon smiled coldly, turning back toward the door of the training chamber.
“You two, take the hostage and get ready.”
“Tch, don’t order me around. So, what do we need to prepare?”
* * *
“They definitely entered through here.”
Dokgo Jin wore a fishy smile as he looked at the back gate.
Eon Ho-ryang of the Jinzhou Eon Clan, who came with him, smirked and replied.
“They might be rejoicing right about now, thinking they claimed the hostage first.”
“Simple-minded fools. They will be scared out of their wits when we wait outside and ambush them all at once.”
As Jin Tae-gon of the Guangdong Jin Clan sneered, Dokgo Jin warned him.
“Still, do not let your guard down. He is by no means an easy opponent.”
“I will keep that in mind, Brother Dokgo.”
Hearing Jin Tae-gon’s response, Dokgo Jin recalled Namgung Cheon, with whom he had briefly exchanged blows yesterday.
‘He was definitely not an easy opponent.’
His skills were indeed enough for Murong Gang to be wary of.
But if they ambushed him all together with these people…
Dokgo Jin scanned the Righteous Chivalry Academy cadets gathered at the back gate entrance.
Fourteen, and fifteen if they added Baekli Hyang.
On the other hand, their opponents were only three. On top of that, they had the hassle of having to protect the hostage.
‘As long as we don’t let our guard down, it won’t be a very difficult fight.’
As Dokgo Jin gripped his sword hilt tightly, Eon Ho-ryang cracked his neck and spoke.
“The moment they come out, we will ambush them, so Lady Baek, seize the hostage and head to the Alliance.”
If that happened, the group to which Dokgo Jin and Eon Ho-ryang belonged would survive.
“Yes, I understand.”
Baekli Hyang replied.
However…
“……”
“……”
……
….
.
“No, it’s been ages since they went inside, so why aren’t they coming out?”
Eon Ho-ryang shouted angrily.
Dokgo Jin frowned.
Could it be that they failed to rescue the hostage? If so, it would rather be a relief, but…
The sun was slanting toward the west.
Time passed.
For some reason, an ominous premonition crept up on him.