Seopryeong Plain, Yongcheon Plain, and even Maeyang Plain.
By the time they had passed through three plains, Yeo Chungbin realized that something was going wrong.
Attack, and then flee.
The Tang Family's tactics were strange.
As it had been repeated three times over half a day, a change began to be seen.
The number of deaths, which was around ten at first, had increased to dozens by the time they had fought the third battle.
The damage that had increased due to the broken battle line as the attacks were repeated.
And the occurrence of far more injuries than deaths, and the exhausted stamina from the relentless pursuit, made everyone look clearly tired.
Yeo Chungbin frowned at the sight of his subordinate warriors.
"Corps Leader, something is strange. It seems they are luring us."
"That's right. Above all, their hidden weapons are not decreasing. No matter how many hidden weapons they have, they should have been depleted by now with the amount they have thrown."
"Also, it seems Tang Cheonyeong is deliberately slowing down our pursuit. Every time we enter a mountain path, he attacks as if he had been waiting, and then flees, buying time, doesn't he?"
At the squad leaders' words, Yeo Chungbin's worries deepened.
What should he do?
If this was their lure, he had to stop the pursuit now.
Because he couldn't be dragged around by their scheme.
But Yeo Chungbin looked at the hand holding the great sword.
There was… a feeling.
The battle with Tang Cheonyeong, who had attacked to slow down the pursuit just a while ago.
Perhaps because he was wearing armor, his sword didn't cut him and blood didn't splatter, but the hand holding the sword that had hit him had throbbed.
The man must have been shocked.
Come to think of it, the one who had shown the most activity in this fight was none other than him.
As long as he was a person, there was no way he wouldn't be tired.
If only one chance was given.
If only he could hold him down firmly so that he couldn't escape.
"Corps Leader. You must make a decision."
"Corps Leader!"
At the squad leaders' words, Yeo Chungbin squeezed his eyes shut.
He had to come to a conclusion.
It was soon the end of the plain.
Geumdang County was right in front of them.
"Just once."
"Pardon?"
"We will pursue just one last time. If it's the same this time, we will change our tactics."
"Corps Leader!"
"Squad leaders, place the injured in the back and have them follow as a support unit, and reorganize the pursuit unit centered on the healthy ones. This is the last time! Concentrate all our forces! Do you understand!"
At Yeo Chungbin's command, the squad leaders no longer questioned him.
They were men who had been tied together as the Iron Blood Corps for a long time.
When a decision was made, they had to follow.
The moment they harbored dissatisfaction and went astray, the organizational power would collapse and the forces would weaken.
And hadn't Yeo Chungbin been the one who had overcome hardships and trials together and had obtained victory in numerous battles so far?
"Understood!"
The squad leaders moved.
They rearranged the battle line and encouraged their subordinates.
A chilling venom appeared in the eyes of Yeo Chungbin, who was watching them.
Hoping that he had made the right choice.
* * *
"Distribute the hidden weapons quickly! Make sure to retrieve the sacks so that they don't notice! Hurry!"
At the One-Horned Demon Corps leader's shout, the warriors took out hidden weapons from the sacks that had been taken out of the ground and divided them.
They had been buried in advance.
When the hidden weapons, which had been made day and night at the Tang Family's forge, had arrived, Cheonyeong had divided them and buried them in advance in the four plains except for Seopryeong Plain.
Hidden weapons were tools that could not be retrieved once used.
So, it was a plan set up to compensate for that disadvantage.
In every battle, the warriors of the Tang Family had poured out all the hidden weapons they had.
Accuracy was not important.
Because their purpose was to inflict as many wounds as possible on the opponent.
And at the next plain, they took out the sacks that had been buried in the ground in advance and replenished their hidden weapons.
The disadvantage of the weapon called the hidden weapon had been compensated.
But.
"Lord, the pursuit has slowed down."
"Hmm."
No Gwanyeong said with concern, looking back.
When he had roughly estimated the speed at which the enemies were chasing in the previous fight, the sound of them running should have been heard by now.
But it was quiet.
No vibration was felt from the ground.
Cheonyeong, who frowned, sighed and said.
"It seems our strategy has been exposed."
"Well, it's impossible for the Golden Lion Sword to not realize after being hit by the same tactic three times."
"But he will still come."
"Pardon?"
"Because I made him think he could catch me."
Cheonyeong muttered in a low voice, recalling the fight in the mountain just a while ago.
Everyone had greed.
Merchants acted for a little more profit, and warriors who went to war acted for victory.
Cheonyeong had deliberately planted a seed of greed in the Golden Lion Sword.
Thanks to that, the shock was quite large.
To the point where the Tang Cheon Treasure Garment made of silk thread had been torn.
Even if he had noticed the scheme, he would be pondering.
Just one last time, just one more time…
He would feel a thirst at the thought that he could catch him.
"Lord! It's the Iron Blood Corps! The Iron Blood Corps has arrived."
The warrior who had been sent out as a scout to observe the battlefield shouted as soon as he grasped the situation and returned to the battle line.
As expected.
But there would be no fifth time.
He had harbored suspicion, and if he was hit one more time, he would no longer try to chase.
"Elder."
"Yes, Lord."
"It seems we have to change our strategy here."
"Give your command."
"When the retreat signal sounds, if their pursuit stops, we will immediately enter a full-scale battle."
"Understood."
"Tell them to prepare their swords. Their numbers are still considerable, so it seems it will be a fierce battle."
"I will tell them so."
"Many people may lose their lives."
"A warrior originally dies on the battlefield. Even if they die, they will be grateful for the grace they have received from you, Lord."
"Grace is not necessary. However, please tell them to keep in mind."
"Pardon?"
"That after winning this war, the families of the dead will be taken care of by the Tang Family, and that I will surely repay their deaths as a grudge."
At the sight of Cheonyeong speaking with blazing eyes, as if it were a vow to himself, No Gwanyeong let out a chilling smile.
"It seems I'll have to run wild for the first time in a while."
"Relay the message! They're coming!"
"Yes!"
The moment Cheonyeong's words ended, the Iron Blood Corps came over the mountain foothills.
Fiercer than before.
Their speed was also fast, and their shouts had become huge.
They were also approaching this plain's battle, thinking of it as the last.
But that was the last.
"Because a flame originally burns brightest at its final moment."
Cheonyeong, who smiled coldly, shouted vigorously at the One-Horned Demon Corps.
"Everyone, annihilate the enemies!"
"Yes!"
The whipped horses screamed and turned their heads, and with a hoofbeat that shook the earth's axis, they ran towards the Iron Blood Corps.
"Shoot!"
Starting with Cheonyeong's attack, the same tactic began again.
The One-Horned Demon Corps, which had approached to a distance where the hidden weapons could hit, threw hidden weapons like crazy and quickly changed direction to flee.
"Don't be intimidated by the hidden weapons! We must not lose them!"
The Iron Blood Corps no longer feared the hidden weapons.
Unlike before, they stepped on the ones who had fallen from injuries and jumped towards the battle line of the One-Horned Demon Corps.
Thwack!
The horses at the rear were hit by swords and fell, and the warriors who were riding on them were pinned down by the fallen horses and became defenseless.
"Die!"
The warriors of the Iron Blood Corps, who did not miss the opportunity, swung their swords to cut their lifelines.
The moment the warriors, who could not dodge because they were pinned by the horses, were in a desperate situation.
The palm of Gwi-su, who had been leading the fleeing One-Horned Demon Corps and had returned, saved the warrior.
"You bastard! Run away quickly! Quickly!"
"E-elder."
"There's no time to hesitate!"
"Yes!"
Thanks to No Gwanyeong, the warrior who had been pinned by the horse barely pulled himself out and joined the fleeing formation.
But there were not just one or two who had fallen.
"Damn it."
No Gwanyeong, who couldn't save them all, felt sorry for their deaths, but he couldn't break the tactic.
The moment he turned around, squeezing his eyes shut.
Clang!
"Keuaak!"
The scream of a warrior from the Iron Blood Corps at the front echoed, and a severed arm and blood soared up.
"We'll guard the rear! Run away quickly! Quickly!"
It was the One-Horned Demon Corps leader, Blood Killing Sword Seo Gupyeong.
"You…"
At the sight of Seo Gupyeong, who grinned at him, No Gwanyeong's brow contorted.
He wasn't the only one who had returned.
Clang!
The squad leaders of the One-Horned Demon Corps had returned at some point and were saving their subordinates from the swords of the Iron Blood Corps.
But if they returned and fought and met a misfortune, who would command the battle behind?
"Y-you bastards! What are you doing! Are you going to disobey the lord's command! Go quickly!"
"You go, Elder!"
Seo Gupyeong shouted, raising his sword towards the Iron Blood Corps.
"How long are you going to take care of the rear? You take command of the rest, Elder!"
"What did you say?"
"This time, we will stop the pursuit! Help the lord and lead the war to victory!"
"Corps Leader Seo!"
"It is enough that you said you would not forget my death and would repay it! Go!"
With those words, Seo Gupyeong jumped towards the Iron Blood Corps.
And the squad leaders of the One-Horned Demon Corps followed behind him.
"You foolish bastards…"
No Gwanyeong couldn't bring himself to chase after them.
The number of enemies was still considerable.
Since the lord was the one with the highest martial arts, it was better for him to move alone.
Someone had to remain and lead the One-Horned Demon Corps.
And it seemed that he had been chosen.
"Damn it… damn it!"
No Gwanyeong ran in the direction of the escape with a curse.
He didn't even look back.
Because if he saw the One-Horned Demon Corps leader and the squad leaders die, he felt he would not be able to hold back his anger and would jump at the enemies.
It couldn't be helped.
Because even if they died, it was more important to win this war.
But the moment he was running with all his might, a black shadow quickly brushed past No Gwanyeong's side.
No Gwanyeong, who had stopped running at the familiar presence, whipped his head around.
"L-lord?"
It was Tang Cheonyeong.
He, who had run ahead towards the mountain foothills to guard the rear of the retreat, had returned.
And he soared high and fell in front of the One-Horned Demon Corps leader and the squad leaders.
The earth he had stomped on with all his might shook and burst.
Along with the dust, a pile of dirt scattered in all directions.
"L-lord? How…"
Seo Gupyeong looked at Tang Cheonyeong, who had created a huge shockwave and had sent the warriors of the Iron Blood Corps flying, with a surprised expression.
And Cheonyeong, who turned his head, said coldly.
"Didn't I command you to flee unconditionally even if there were casualties?"
"I-I'm sorry. I just…"
"One-Horned Demon Corps Leader!"
At Cheonyeong's roaring shout and fierce gaze, Seo Gupyeong stared with wide-open eyes.
"Join the fleeing formation with the squad leaders immediately! Hurry!"
"Yes!"
Seo Gupyeong, who flinched at Cheonyeong's shout, answered without realizing it and turned his body to run.
He had no choice.
Because his body had moved on its own at that stern command.
But he soon glanced back.
Tang Cheonyeong, who was blocking the Iron Blood Corps alone.
"Huh?"
And an unbelievable thing began to happen.
Whoosh.
The thick dust that had risen was pressed down by the aura that Cheonyeong was emitting and settled down all at once.
And following Cheonyeong's two hands, which were full of internal energy, all the flying needles that the One-Horned Demon Corps had used began to rise.
At that wondrous sight, he had no choice but to stop walking, and his eyes went wide.
Seo Gupyeong, and the squad leaders of the One-Horned Demon Corps too.
"Wh-what is that?"
Because he had arrived late, he had only heard of the divine feat in words, but now he was seeing it for himself.
The single move that was said to have destroyed the Geumdang branch.
"I am the lord of the Tang Family. It is only right that I should guard the rear."
Killing Formation, Torrential Rain!
A huge number of hidden weapons poured down on the heads of the Iron Blood Corps who were near Cheonyeong.
And in the stopped time of the battlefield, only Tang Cheonyeong stood tall with a noble appearance.
(End of Chapter)