Chapter 481 ·East Wind (東風) (1)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Islamic lords stood in silence for a moment, watching the Hong Dynasty's Grand Preceptor march off with his forty thousand troops.

Once ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they were out of earshot, a few of the lords cautiously opened their mouths.

"Ugh. ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Even if we miraculously win this war, dealing with them afterward is going to be a nightmare."

"Demanding ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to permanently station foreign troops on our soil... Their arrogance is unbelievable."

Hearing ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the lords loudly complaining as though they wanted him to overhear, Ma’mun replied with a fake smile on his face.

"Hah. ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I fail to see why we are revisiting a matter already decided at the last conference. Did we not agree to let it pass for now, given that we need their help? Besides, if they suffer heavy losses during the war, how could they possibly have enough soldiers to station within our territory?"

This was precisely why they had suddenly reversed course and accepted Il-mok's proposal.

Alliances and treaties were in the end determined by strength.

If those people sustained severe losses during the war, the lords could just conveniently ignore the contract when the time came to pay up.

"And who knows? Since those people were unfamiliar with the terrain here, they might blunder into an enemy trap and suffer devastating losses."

This was their territory after all.

They didn't even need to go so far as leaking information to the enemy.

All they had to do was feed the Hong Dynasty’s army with misinformation and send them into the areas where the enemy was most densely concentrated.

But despite Ma’mun's answer, one of the more anxious lords still looked pale.

"That may be so, but I am still somewhat worried. The Grand Preceptor of the Hong Dynasty was troublesome enough, but the soldiers that follow him aren’t easy opponents either. Do you really think they're going to go down that easily? I'm starting to worry we didn't just invite a pack of wolves into our home, but an unkillable dragon."

The Lord of Herat snorted at that statement.

"Hmph. Calling those infidels a dragon is an insult to the creature. They are nothing more than vermin gnawing at this land."

With the humiliation from Il-mok still fresh in mind, the Lord of Herat was burning with hatred toward the Hong Dynasty.

He definitely would make sure that the moment the coalition gained the upper hand in the war, he would send those Hong bastards into their graves.

"Hahaha. The opportunity to exterminate the venomous insects will come in due time. So long as those insects sink their stingers into the western lion first, there is no need for us to fear those pests.”

As Ma’mun smiled at the Lord of Herat, the other lords likewise relaxed somewhat and allowed smiles to cross their faces.

Amid that atmosphere, only Ahmed and a handful of other lords kept quiet and offered silent prayers within their hearts.

‘May it all go according to Allah's will...’

They actually harbored a measure of goodwill toward the Hong Dynasty, but they could not bring themselves to take its side.

And it wasn't just because of the peer pressure from the other lords.

No matter how much they liked the other side, guy, letting an army of foreign heathens set up a permanent military base in their homeland was a line they refused to cross.

***

Meanwhile, as they departed Bukhara and moved southward with the forty-thousand-strong army, Jong-ri Chu posed a question to Il-mok.

"Do you trust those people's pledges, Grand Preceptor?"

"Does their sudden change in attitude concern you?"

When Il-mok asked in return, Jong-ri Chu nodded.

"Not all Muslims are alike, but those men are leaders of their respective regions. They are men of cunning and experience, and thus likely well-practiced in the art of deception."

"I couldn't agree more."

Hearing Il-mok's reply, Jong-ri Chu and the others nearby turned their gazes toward him.

Their expressions seemed to ask, If you already know that, why bother signing the deal even after knowing it’s a trap?

"The negotiations were merely a means of securing justification. At the end of the day, international politics is just a matter of who possesses the bigger fist. As long as we're still overwhelmingly stronger than them when this war ends, we can just point to the signed contract as our justification and forcefully station our troops wherever we want."

Il-mok then added with a smile.

"At the end of the day, our number one objective in this war is minimizing our own casualties. Which is just common sense, really. Why on earth would we bleed our Hong Dynasty soldiers on someone else's war?"

Only then could those accompanying him fully grasp Il-mok's intent.

"Now that you mention it, slaughtering enemies on a foreign battlefield won't earn us any rewards from them. There seems to be no reason for us to fight to the bitter end."

"Exactly. We’ll play it smart and only step in once we have to. Otherwise, there is no reason to charge headlong into the vanguard."

Jin Hayeon then voiced her concern. "But if we move cautiously, I fear the coalition lords may attempt some manner of trickery."

“It will happen for sure, and that’s why I already sent a request for reinforcements in the dispatch I sent back to our home."

From the moment Il-mok had decided to enter the war, he had been sending dispatches conveying the intent to intervene in the Islamic civil war while simultaneously conducting negotiations.

And at the bottom of that letter, he had requested heavy reinforcements.

This was a colossal war in which hundreds of thousands of troops were set to collide. 

Forty thousand men weren't quite enough to completely flip the board on their own, and if they wanted to survive whatever dirty tricks the Alliance threw at them, a larger force would be necessary.

Especially since they were bound to take some losses eventually.

Hearing that, Hyeokryeon Seon-ah and Jeong Hyeon both looked worried.

"Do we even have the forces to spare?"

"O-Our Divine Cult is already short-handed just g-governing the Central Plains."

Il-mok smiled at their concern. “I had thought the same at first. But once I thought it through, I happened to recall we have some people we can put to use. I'm talking about the ones stationed at the main headquarters. Those who have been doing nothing but training in Demonic Arts at the headquarters for several years now."

There had been individuals he could not send to the front lines during the last civil war for various reasons. But now that the war back home had ended and two years had passed by, he felt they should be quite capable of pulling their weight.

Especially given that this was a war in a foreign land.

Taking the hints in Il-mok's words, they soon realized who he was referring to.

Over the next few days, they continued their march southward while sharing various conversations.

Eventually, they arrived near the banks of a tremendously long river.

The Amu Darya.

Darya here means river, so it was the Amu River.

It was the lifeblood of the region, a river that ran in a long diagonal from the north to the southwest.

The coalition's defensive line was currently stretched along the far side of this Amu River.

The moment the front line collapsed, the enemy would be a single step away from the river itself, and losing the Amu River meant surrendering at least 70% of the coalition's territory. More than anything, it was a location that had to be defended at all costs due to its importance for logistics such as drinking water and crop supply.

In other words, should the empire seize this location, it would gain a critical supply point for water and crops along the extended front.

Maybe because it was such a high-stakes location, there was a heavy garrison guarding the bridge even though the actual fighting was still a two- or three-day march away.

Upon seeing a large army suddenly descend from the north, the coalition soldiers stationed beyond the bridge formed ranks and assumed a combat posture.

When Il-mok glanced at Jong-ri Chu, the latter channeled his internal energy and bellowed.

"We are reinforcements from the Hong Dynasty! We're marching to the front lines to help! We have an official letter stamped with your lords' seals!"

When Jong-ri Chu shouted in Arabic, a reply came from the other side.

"Let the one carrying the dispatches cross the bridge alone!"

Jong-ri Chu readily spurred his horse forward, and Il-mok sent a voice transmission toward him.

—If you detect even the slightest hint of anything suspicious, withdraw immediately. I will take care of them at once.

Jong-ri Chu just shot a smile over his shoulder to reassure his brother.

Once he crossed the bridge and reached the coalition camp, Jong-ri Chu presented the dispatches and exchanged words for a time before a shout rang out from the other side.

"You may cross the bridge!"

Ohalak and James quickly translated the words for the rest of the group.

With a flick of Il-mok's hand, the forty thousand troops began marching toward the bridge. 

As they crossed the bridge, it was apparent that the coalition’s soldiers were not at ease with them as they continued to level their weapons at them.

Just as the forty thousand were beginning to cross the bridge, a commotion suddenly erupted in the encampment beyond the bridge, followed by another shout.

"Halt!! Stop!!"

In an instant, almost every single coalition soldier aimed their weapons away from Hong’s soldiers and toward the opposite direction.

While everyone looked on in bewilderment, Jong-ri Chu hollered from across the river.

"The empire's cavalry is approaching! It appears they have sent a detachment to strike this position directly."

As soon as he heard that, Il-mok channeled his internal energy and leaped into the air.

The sight of cavalry charging forward amid swirling sandstorms filled Il-mok's eyes.

Given the strategic importance of this supply point, it was the most obvious tactical decision.

If the bridge were destroyed, it would cause problems for any future eastward advance, but since the coalition would be the first to destroy the bridge in the event the front collapsed anyway, it would be more advantageous for the enemy to demolish it and disrupt supply lines.

‘Hmm. Rather than leaving everything to the coalition, it would be better for us to build our own bridge and establish a garrison here in the near future.’

The empire's detachment was a concern, but the coalition was also a concern, making it increasingly essential to secure a bridge of their own.

But that was a problem for tomorrow.

‘For now, I need this bridge immediately, so I cannot let it be destroyed.’

As the imperial cavalry steadily closed the distance, Il-mok used the Sky Walk to meet them at the front lines.

"Since it's our grand debut, I might as well make it flashy."

As Il-mok strode across the sky, the Hong Dynasty’s soldiers below completely lost their minds.

"The Grand Preceptor takes the field!"

For some reason, the madness gleaming in their eyes was growing even more intense.

"The Light! IT’S THE LIGHT!!"

"The Grand Preceptor is bringing down the LIGHT!"

“GLORY FOR THE DIVINE CULT!”

Before long, all forty thousand soldiers had begun bellowing a hymn in unison.

Watching Il-mok dramatically strut through the air to deliver a flashy one-shot kill while the entire army chanted his name, a random thought popped into Jeong Hyeon's head.

‘Why do I feel like I'm looking at Young Master Baek Cheon right now?’

It was an assessment that would likely have made Il-mok die of pure embarrassment had he heard it.

Meanwhile, the coalition soldiers aiming their weapons at the thundering cavalry were cursing their luck.

"W-What the hell is wrong with those psychos?!"

"The enemy is right on our doorstep, you knobs!!!”

Right at that moment, Il-mok descended from the sky and landed at the very front of the coalition’s frontline defense.

Thud.

The coalition soldiers stared in wide-eyed shock at the man who had just dropped out of the clouds.

Before anyone realized it, spheres of different colors had formed in each of the man’s hands.

"It has been a while since I used this in actual combat."

Il-mok pressed his palms together and the two spheres swirled into one another before merging into a single massive orb.

The symbol of Taiji manifested.

It was something the Islamic soldiers had never seen in their lives. 

And yet, for reasons they could not explain, the Islamic soldiers found themselves unable to tear their gazes away from that sphere of Qi.

"Aim for the bridge!"

"Blow it to pieces before they can cross!!"

The furious screams of the incoming cavalry reached Il-mok's ears, but Il-mok had no interest in hearing their words and lazily pushed his palms forward.

The orb floated into the air from his palms and drifted toward the cavalry like a bubble from a noble’s bath.

And the moment it reached the vanguard of the charging cavalry—

Bzzzzt! Crack!

An unpleasant noise rippled through the air.

BOOM!!!

And Light descended into the mortal world.

The coalition soldiers who had been staring vacantly at the sphere of Qi were momentarily blinded by the searing radiance.

When they at last regained their sight, they stared at the devastation as if they’d lost their very souls.

A colossal crater decorated with splashes of blood and bits of flesh had manifested before their eyes.

From their perspective, the divine light of the heavens and the hellish carnage of Neraka had unfolded before their eyes in rapid succession.

"W-what…"

Just as the coalition soldiers stood dazed at the devastation—

"RAAGGHHHH!!"

"The Heavenly Demon Descends!!"

"Ten Thousand Demons Obey!!!"

From the other side of the bridge, the deafening zeal of the Hong Dynasty’s soldiers erupted in unison.