Book 9: Chapter 13: Trap

An area away from the Third Young Master's encampment.

The main road leading to downtown Luoyang.

Rather than a main road, it felt like walking through a stream.

Heavy rain and darkness.

The departing members of the Diancang Sect could not see even an inch ahead properly.

The only reason they could even hold their direction was thanks to the brilliant lights of downtown Luoyang visible far off through the rain.

“Sect Leader! Another pack horse has broken its ankle!”

“The wagon has also sunk in the mud, and its axle is broken!”

Those words felt like blaming him, who had ordered the departure in the middle of this night's downpour.

“Divide and carry only the essential baggage, and do not slow your steps!”

At the shout of the former Diancang Sect Leader, the warrior in charge of supplies replied.

“Even so, there is too much baggage! The laborers who have to walk through this mud will not be able to hold out—” through the rain, the sharp scolding of the old man containing inner force resonated sharply.

“Then the warriors can carry it together, can't they?!”

“Do you not have hands?! Or do you not have arms?!”

At the momentum that was just a step away from showing murderous intent, everyone shut their mouths, and without exception, began to divide and carry the baggage.

“……”

Even after confirming that the faces of the warriors were clearly filled with dissatisfaction, the former Diancang Sect Leader turned his head, pretending not to see.

'Damn it…'

As if he, in this pouring rain, in this late night, wanted to do this kind of thing.

'No one knows properly. Just what kind of person that devilish Yeon So-hyeon fellow is, and what kind of things he is capable of doing…'

Surely, that day was also a night when the heavy rain was pouring like this.

If there was a difference, the Patriarch of the Luoyang Sword Family.

'…It was summer back then.'

The one called the master of the sword had secretly summoned him.

“Diancang is finishing establishing its place in the Sword Family. But they say you still haven't been properly recognized?”

“Well… isn't that usually the way it is for a stone that rolled in from the outside?”

“So I summoned you to give you and Diancang an opportunity.”

The Jiangnan expedition was successful, but that place was originally a location where incidents and accidents never ceased.

“To settle what broke out this time, it seems I must personally lead the expedition again. If Diancang joins me and achieves merit, how would that be?”

If they achieved merit together with the Patriarch, it would surely be of no small help in getting the existing forces of the Sword Family to recognize and accept Diancang.

“…We are sorry, but it seems the warriors of Diancang are still lacking to stand on the battlefield.”

“Is that so? Then it cannot be helped.”

The Patriarch repeatedly urged him.

“Absolutely no one must know that I am leaving my post again.”

“Of course.”

However, he refused.

Because…

One summer night when the heavy rain was pouring.

A certain mansion inside the Luoyang Sword Family.

“Since the Patriarch, who holds all that power in one hand, leaves his post whenever he is bored, how can this giant family run properly?!”

The Sect Leader of the Zhongnan Sect, which had become a subordinate sect of the Sword Family much earlier than the Diancang Sect, raised his voice.

“The future of this family is a smooth road, but decision-making is slow! At such an important time when we should receive momentum for growth, the problem is that the Patriarch, who holds all decision-making authority, leaves his post so frequently!”

The Sect Leader of Zhongnan babbled on as if he had accomplished all of this himself.

“Uh… Sect Leader. You are right, but your voice is too loud.”

Although he broke out in a cold sweat and advised him to lower his voice, even after shouting like that, the Sect Leader of Zhongnan, perhaps feeling afraid for no reason, lowered his voice and asked him.

“Who in this family without the Patriarch can shut the mouth of this Great Zhongnan Sect Leader?!”

“Yes. You should also decide soon, shouldn't you?”

“Decide what?”

He played dumb for no reason.

“Ahem, the 'Grand Plan.' The Grand Plan. The great plan to pull this Luoyang Sword Family to a higher place.”

The Grand Plan.

Though they put it in nice terms, it was an act no different from rebellion.

“…Even so, taking advantage of the Patriarch's absence to plot behind his back is…”

“Ahem. In doing great work, what is the front and what is the back?”

“Well, that is true, but…”

He had already decided to join them.

He was just dragging his feet a bit more to raise his value.

'If it weren't for that, I would have joined the Patriarch's secret expedition long ago.'

Informing the Patriarch of what they were plotting was out of the question.

Even though the Patriarch's absence was a big secret, seeing how the highest echelon already knew all about it he fully felt that there was no such thing as complete secrecy in the movement of this giant family.

'…If you get branded as an informant, that is truly the end.'

“Haha. I can guess your heart.”

“…Yes?”

The Sect Leader of Zhongnan showed him a meaningful smile.

“You want to be assured of a proper position after the Grand Plan. That is why I will persuade the comrades…”

'Good…!'

Now he had pulled out everything he could pull out.

If he refused any further when they did this much for him, he might get eliminated.

“Since you think of me to that extent, it cannot be helped.”

“Are you joining?”

He applied saliva to his parched lips and was about to utter words of acceptance.

At that moment.

“Arrest all the rebels!”

The Patriarch's personal guard and escort force.

The Institution stormed in.

“Anyone who resists is to be executed on the spot!”

“Sect Leader! It is downtown Luoyang soon!”

At his subordinate's shout, the former Diancang Sect Leader snapped out of it.

“Good! Keep advancing!”

He encouraged his exhausted subordinates.

However still, the memory of being dragged away bound in chains on the mud in the pouring rain that day was far too vivid.

The Great Purge.

He was there, where the midsummer's bloody history had begun.

“It is a report from the scout team!”

A subordinate ran up and shouted.

“We have discovered a large-scale troop approaching from the direction of downtown Luoyang ahead!”

His neck turned cold.

“As a result of identification, it is the troop of the Main Family, the Luoyang Sword Family!”

The scar from that day still remaining on his back throbbed exceptionally.

* * *

Inside the siege.

The fortified poor laborers' area.

There were warriors lying flat on the rooftops in the pouring rain as if they were dead.

It was the scout team of the Decapitation Unit.

[Current point verification complete.]

[No movement of the enemy detected.] those who pulled over their non-reflective raincoats crawled and retreated carefully.

[No one is there…?] the main culprit who created the temporary Decapitation Unit, the Sect Leader of the Hengshan North Stream, wore a lukewarm expression.

[Yes. We have completed verification several times.]

[…Are we mistaken about our location?] the black camouflage painted on the Hengshan North Stream Sect Leader's face looked exceptionally awkward.

[No.] the temporary scout captain took out a waterproofed map and pointed to a spot.

[This is where we are currently located.] although there was no proper light, even a night-luminescent pearl the size of a millet was enough for those with extraordinary inner force to read the map.

[…If so, we have already entered completely inside the enemy camp as planned.] but until now there was not a single clash, nor had they been discovered.

[Furthermore, we have confirmed that the main defensive strongholds nearby that we previously identified are also empty.]

[Aren't those defensive strongholds the buildings where the enemies installed explosives for self-destruction?]

[Yes, they are fortified buildings. However, as a result of verification, it is understood that all the explosives have also disappeared.]

[No explosives?]

[Yes. There are none.] the contemplation was short.

“……”

[We move while contemplating. Sitting still until everything is understood in the enemy camp is a bad move.]

[Those are correct words, but…] to tighten their vigilance, there was plenty of possibility that they had temporarily abandoned the outer areas.

[Is there a possibility that after our surprise operation a while ago, the enemies abandoned the outskirts and gathered further inside?] although his actual combat sense was not a little rusty, the experience he had accumulated did not disappear.

[…That possibility seems the most realistic.] they were enemies who had almost allowed a surprise attack in this downpour.

[So, leaving the sabotage teams behind, we continue to advance deeper.] at the telepathic message of the Hengshan North Stream Sect Leader, the warrior responsible for the sabotage team stepped forward.

[The mission of the sabotage teams is…?]

[Didn't you say there are no explosives installed by the enemies?] the Sect Leader's mouth twisted, making something like a smile.

[Then we will install explosives and blow them up to secure a justification. Blow up about four or five buildings.] because he had painted his face black, only his white teeth reflecting the light of the small night-luminescent pearl in the darkness were revealed.

[With that, we will have a justification to slaughter all the enemies we see, without exception.]

* * *

A moment later.

In a defensive stronghold where no enemy could be seen, a sabotage team was setting up.

[…To think we would blow up with our own hands the buildings we tried so hard to protect.] at the words of the one setting up the explosives, the warrior acting as his assistant shrugged.

[You get to use the skills you learned in actual combat. So I find it fun, rather.] the warrior who was standing guard grinned and joined the telepathic conversation.

[To think we can kill those fellows to our hearts' content with just this. It is a big welcome.] on his face, which was messy with unshaven stubble, only a dark shadow was cast.

[The days of being ignored for being from small and medium sects are over now, that's what it means.] the dead youngest government soldier fellow and the appearance of the young enemy looking up at him on the field bed.

[It would have been good if we had operated with us at the center long ago, instead of just those government troops…] the story that there were not only enemies and allies.

[If we cut about ten of their heads and carry them at our waist, they will give us at least one medal.] the young warrior of the Hengshan North Stream looked down the building, only faithful to his assigned mission.

[I will take fifteen.] however, there was also someone who did not join such a conversation.

[Then, I will take twenty.] they were already in high spirits as if they had finished all the work.

“……”

[What is that guy so serious about? He isn't acting heavy just because he is a temporary squad leader, is he?] behind him, the warriors whispered in telepathic messages.

[Who knows. They said he is a warrior of Hengshan, so I guess he thinks he is already successful.] if it were the past, he would have beaten all those who did not know their place into a pulp.

[He won't even mix telepathic messages with the likes of us from small and medium sects. Is that it?] the young warrior of Hengshan could overhear all the telepathic messages of those whose levels were lower than his.

“……”

'Is this fight a right fight…?'

'…Is this really fine.'

[So can we blow it up right away?] normally it might be so, but during an actual operation in the middle of enemy lines, playing a prank on their direct superior?

[Idiot. Didn't you hear to blow it up later when the main force finishes the operation and retreats?!] to the question of the one who did not understand the operation properly, everyone gave scoldings.

[Think a little. If we blow it up now, won't the enemies swarm like a flock of bees?] sensing something strange, the young warrior of the Hengshan North Stream pulled his scabbard and gripped the hilt.

[No, then isn't there no justification…?] feeling sorry for no reason, the warrior sent a telepathic message.

[Sigh…!] the warrior guarding the outside beat his chest as if frustrated.

[What does it matter if we blow it up later? Whether it is now or later! The report will be submitted by putting it all together anyway!] did he scold his peer too harshly in the telepathic chat where everyone else was present?

[Whew. If your brain is lacking, at least don't doze off during the instructions. Don't go anywhere and say you are my peer.] a brief silence descended.

“……”

[Hey. Are you pouting?] there was no returning answer.

[Hey. My words were a bit harsh. I will give you a few heads I cut later.] still, there was no answer.

[Hey! I said I'm sorry—] the telepathic message was cut off.

“……?”

[The squad leader is communicating to the squad members. Everyone report your current status.] he waited for a moment, but there was no returning report.

'Are they playing a prank because they badmouthed me as Hengshan's temporary squad leader…?'

It was an act worthy of immediate execution on the spot.

No matter how ruined they were, they were warriors of the Sword Family.

They would not be people so lacking in sanity.

'Something is happening…!'

Leaving the rooftop observation point he was responsible for, he headed down the stairs.

Creak—.

The sound made by the wooden steps he trod on was buried by the sound of rain.

Furthermore, utilizing his lightness art, the footsteps he trod could not help but be even quieter.

Creak—.

But why did that small vibration and noise transmitted through the tips of his toes bother him so much?

Arriving in front of the door of the space where they were installing the explosives, he carefully let his qi flow inside.

'There is no sign of presence inside…!'

Should he retreat immediately and report to another squad or the main force?

'…Where on earth would the main force be by now for me to go and report.'

There was no option.

Tucking the sword he had already drawn under his armpit, he carefully opened the door.

Drip, drip, drip.

Through the slightly opened gap, the sound of something like water repeatedly falling from the inside was heard.

Was it leaking rain because it was not completed?

“……”

The water flowing from his own fully drenched hands would have more sweat than rainwater.

The door he was opening as carefully as possible hit something with a small thud.

“……!”

He hurriedly tried to stop his hand opening the door, but something that hit the door rolled away, and the door opened naturally.

“Gasp…!”

His gaze met eyes that showed only whites, and he gasped.

What hit the door as it opened was definitely the severed head of the squad member who was installing the explosives.

The blood that flowed from that severed head was thickly soaking the floor.

He had met eyes with that head.

“Now the last defendant of this building has arrived.”

Goosebumps rose all over his body.

Shivering all over from a chill he could not believe belonged to April, he directed his gaze straight ahead.

“I ask you.”

It was a voice like boiling metal, and a voice like tens of thousands of resentful souls shouting at the same time.

“Are you guilty, or are you innocent?”

A dark figure sitting on the pile of explosives was wearing a twisted smile beneath his white mask.

“For your information, they were all guilty.”

The direction pointed by his long nails showed the corpses of the squad members whose necks had been cut, hanging and swaying from the ceiling.

Drip, drip.

Thud. Thud.

The sound he had thought was leaking rain was the sound of blood drops falling from those corpses hitting the floor.

“U-uwaahhh—!”