Volume 5 Chapter 22 – Outbreak of War

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Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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“For the Emei Sect as well, coming all the way to Luoyang, which is not even Sichuan, and clashing with my eldest brother or me is naturally something they would want to avoid.”

The Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi said.

“However…”

The gazes of those gathered focused on Yeon Bi.

“There was reliable information that the Emei Sect has been trying to purchase the shares of the Tea Fan Maiden by any means.”

The source of that reliable information was probably his maternal family.

“The Emei Sect’s excessive and unsightly accompaniment of the Tea Fan Maiden’s visit to Luoyang this time is, in all likelihood, because of that.”

Yeon So-hyeon nodded.

“They probably want to prevent the mishap of the Tea Fan Maiden slipping out of their hands at all costs.”

“That is correct…”

The gathering shared a bitter feeling.

Yeom Baek-ha even scoffed.

In the first place, there was little correlation between the success of the merchant group called the Tea Fan Maiden and the sect known as the Emei Sect.

Except for the fact that the representatives of the Tea Fan Maiden were young ladies attending the academy run by the Emei Sect.

Yet, the Emei Sect was treating the Tea Fan Maiden as if it had originally been in their own pocket.

“The more the Emei Sect covets the Tea Fan Maiden, the more conflicts they will inevitably have with us in the end.”

Yeom Baek-ha frowned.

“Then we will not know how majorly the Emei Sect will clash with us until they ram into us first?”

Responding to the situation with passive, defensive moves was contrary to the Eldest Young Master’s intent.

The answer came from Elder Yu, on the Fourth Young Master’s side, who had been quietly watching the meeting.

“We will soon know how seriously they are approaching this matter.”

The Fourth Young Master picked up the conversation.

“If we know who the highest-ranking figure the Emei Sect has accompanying the investment delegation is, everything will become crystal clear.”

* * *

“Now that you have done about that much, is it not about time to pay attention to the uninvited guests as well?”

A voice that was authoritative yet stubborn, overbearing yet somehow insidious and bleak.

If a venomous snake could speak, it would make such a voice.

“Demanding hospitality like a bully, she seems like a guest who would find it hard to receive good treatment anywhere.”

Elder Yeom turned toward the direction from which the voice had come.

Her hair, which was graying and sparse, was puffed up with hairpieces and decorated with all kinds of jewelry.

Despite her Youth-Preserving Art and high cultivation, her face was covered in fine wrinkles that showed a distinct presence.

“Indeed, a person of this poor nun’s status is bound to receive good treatment, whether the host welcomes her in their heart or not.”

The wrinkles that twisted and writhed every time the old nun spoke looked like the movements of a cold-blooded animal with rough scales.

“That depends on the host as well.”

Despite the vast difference in their seniority, Elder Yeom did not back down and retorted, causing the nun’s eyes to narrow like blades.

“To think that the greenhorn who could not even tell left from right has grown up like this, standing so confidently before this old woman…”

The Abbess of Administration of the Emei Sect.

The key figure among key figures who managed all of the Emei Sect’s funds.

She was the closest confidante of Emei’s Sect Leader Abbess, and the very person who had built the current success story of the Emei Sect after the collapse of the Martial Alliance.

Although she had the moniker Purple Voice Divine Nun, those familiar with the history of the martial world called her by another name behind her back.

Emei’s Starry White Hair,

The Old Poison Fiend.

She wore a chilling smile.

“…It brings back quite a wave of emotions.”

Elder Yeom stared at the Abbess of Administration with a blunt gaze.

It seemed the Emei Sect would by no means let the Tea Fan Maiden slip from their grasp.

As tension flowed coldly between the two masters who had surpassed the wall and reached their high realms, the surrounding air settled heavily.

Except for the occasional snort from the horses, not a single person made a sound, not even of swallowing dry saliva.

Kept in line.

“Oh dear!”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the direction from which the scream had come.

There stood Yeon Ha-eung, whose hair was caught in a horse’s mouth.

The horse he had been riding was chewing on his hair with a nonchalant expression, chewing away.

“Aaah! A mad horse is eating a person! Save me!”

The tension dissolved in an instant just like that.

Sneering involuntarily at the sight of Yeon Ha-eung escaping from the horse with the help of the warriors, the Abbess of Administration spoke.

“Anyway.”

Although the crowd was noisy because of Yeon Ha-eung, Elder Yeom could hear her voice clearly.

“The Tea Fan Maiden belongs to our academy after all and is under our protection. So if you wish to speak with them, please go through us.”

Elder Yeom replied with an expressionless face, just as he had at the beginning.

“I merely stood in this place at the request of the Outer Courtyard of the Main Family. If you wish to hold such a conversation, please find someone else.”

That appearance was like a giant rock that had stood in one place for ten thousand years.

“If that is the case…”

The Abbess of Administration’s gaze turned toward Yeon Ha-eung.

“You. Did you say you are an advisor of the Outer Courtyard?”

Yeon Ha-eung, who was grumbling while checking his hair, smiled brightly upon seeing her.

“Ah, yes! I am Yeon Ha-eung!”

He strode sociably toward the Abbess of Administration.

“Wow. It is an honor and truly an honor to meet the Purple Voice Divine Nun, whose deep Buddhist devotion is like that of a living Buddha, making her name renowned throughout the entire Central Plains. I never imagined I would meet the Divine Nun like this; could this be the karmic bond spoken of in Buddhism?”

“Right, but…”

However, Yeon Ha-eung’s mouth showed no sign of stopping.

“Suddenly, I am reminded of the time when I was in Kaifeng. The time was precisely back then…”

It was a torrent of words pouring out, enough to fluster the Abbess of Administration, who had been through all kinds of trials and was battle-hardened.

Meanwhile, the commander of the Xi’an troops, who had approached Elder Yeom while watching the situation, spoke.

“…By the way, I have been meaning to ask you since earlier.”

“What is it?”

As Elder Yeom’s gaze turned toward him, the commander asked in a low voice.

“What is the reason you came prepared with such a grand force? My mother also told me to prepare thoroughly…”

Hence, he was currently keeping watch on the surroundings by flying his hawk in the sky even now.

“That is…”

Just as Elder Yeom was about to answer, something soared toward the sky far to the south.

Soaring higher and higher while making a loud noise as if tearing the sky, it was an object all too familiar to those who had experienced the battlefield.

“A signal arrow!”

And almost simultaneously, the commander’s hawk flying in the sky let out a long cry to warn them.

“The enemy is to the west! In the direction of the reed field!”

An enemy on a road controlled by the Luoyang Sword Family.

Although it defied common sense, the commander was not flustered in the least.

“All troops, to defensive positions!”

His booming cry resounded.

* * *

“A signal arrow?”

The leader of Clear Field, a contract assassination group notorious in Henan Province, opened his mouth involuntarily.

“What nonsense is this…?”

It had been five shichen since he and the entire assassination group had lain flat under camouflage nets in the reed forest.

Although the target had finally appeared, he had been hesitating upon seeing that the unidentified escort forces had been reinforced.

However, to no avail, he had just decided to completely abandon the request after confirming that even the Luoyang Sword Family’s troops had appeared soon after.

Yet, an unidentified signal arrow suddenly exposed their presence out of nowhere.

Moreover, because it was launched from behind them, even their location was specified.

“Leader! Your orders…!”

At the shout of the vice leader, who was wearing a camouflage net, the leader grit his teeth.

“They have cavalry. If we retreat, we will only be hunted down one-sidedly.”

“Then…?!”

The leader roughly pulled off the camouflage net and stood up abruptly.

“Everyone, prepare to attack!”

The leader smiled fiercely, exposing his yellow teeth.

“We will drag at least one more of them to hell!”

Figures popped up from here and there in the reed forest.

Their number was easily over three hundred.

They simultaneously cut the cords binding the waterproof tarps.

What appeared from inside the waterproof tarps were well-maintained bows.

* * *

Amidst the investment delegation’s camp, where confusion had begun due to the sudden situation, was an old man riding a massive warhorse.

It was none other than the old strategist on Elder Yeom’s side.

The old man’s thoughts were accelerating to the point where the surrounding movements seemed to have stopped.

‘The reed forest. The enemy has their backs to the sun. Arrangement taking the wind direction into account. No war cries even though the situation has begun. The enemy is not charging. If so…!’

From the old strategist’s mouth, a voice burst out that could hardly be believed to belong to a hunchbacked old man.

“It is enemy fire!”

Hearing that voice, Elder Yeom shouted.

“Combat Transportation Hall! Immediately into arrow-defense formation!”

The armored transport carriages of the Combat Transportation Hall, which had already completed all battle preparations, began to move.

“Cavalry unit, retreat out of the enemy’s range!”

Twenty heavy-armored cavalry warriors immediately galloped away from the investment delegation’s camp.

“All personnel, watch out for the enemy’s fire!”

Even before his shout could fully resound, dark arrows began to rain down like rain with the sun at their backs.

Elder Yeom’s vicious great sword drawn from his back was practically a metal shield in itself.

‘A volley? As expected, they are no ordinary bandits.’

Along with continuous metallic clangs, sparks flew mercilessly on the broad blade of the great sword.

He, protecting his massive body with only minimal wrist movements, looked around.

The combat personnel of the Emei Sect dispersed around the Abbess of Administration and swung their swords frantically.

Every time the nuns swung their swords, the arrows were swept in and broken as if drawn into the swords.

The escort forces hired by the investment delegation pushed their employers under the carriages and hid behind shields.

They seemed like elites in their own right, and it was judged that they would at least do enough not to abandon their duties.

Although screams were heard from various places through the noise of the raining arrows, no one was foolish enough to leave the camp alone.

Just then, Elder Yeom and the old strategist made eye contact.

At the sight of the old strategist hiding behind a carriage and showing two fingers, Elder Yeom shouted.

“The second volley is coming!”

* * *

“Damn it! Motherfuckers!”

The leader of Clear Field threw down the bow he was holding.

Though they were discovered, they still held the advantage of surprise and position.

The firing angle calculated in advance.

Even down to the targets pre-assigned to each squad.

It was a condition for a perfect fire for effect, but the result was disastrous.

The heavy armored transport carriages of the Luoyang Sword Family’s Combat Transportation Hall blocking the front of the investment delegation’s camp already blocked more than half of the fire by their presence alone.

The arrows aimed at the horses pulling the armored transport carriages were blocked by the drivers of the Combat Transportation Hall holding iron shields, so not a single horse was harmed.

The cavalry forces had already galloped far away from the camp.

The second volley, carried out while their line of sight was blocked, had little meaning.

‘Is this indeed the Luoyang Sword Family?’

The enemy’s exceedingly skillful response sent a chill down his spine for a moment.

Spitting on the ground, he shouted.

“All members, draw your weapons!”

A situation where an assassination group had to charge head-on was nothing short of a nightmare.

It was do-or-die anyway.

* * *

“Elder Yeom! The responsibility and authority for the escort of this investment delegation lies with our Emei Sect!”

At the sight of the Abbess of Administration still fighting for initiative even in this situation, Elder Yeom replied.

“Do as you please.”

“What?!”

Elder Yeom spoke with the same blunt expression as at the beginning.

“For we are going to attack, not escort.”