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🕑 Added 2024-10-31 02:54:26 +0000 UTCThe Black Moon Assassin
Chapter 117: The Encounter
Jun went to see his strategists at noon and returned late at night.
Whether he succeeds or not will depend on how skilled the assassins from these hills are as fighters.
“Luck doesn’t exist." Jun murmured quietly while climbing a slope.
Everything was already arranged. Shen had agreed to help build an army from scratch, structuring them to at least know the basics that any organized army would understand.
Shen’s skills, along with the twin brothers’ abilities to suppress enemies, should be enough to threaten Zhao’s army stationed near the hills. Afterward, Jun requested special weaponry from the cities of Wei to secure the necessary keys for this silent war.
This was all he could do for the moment.
Now that his age and overall power had reached a level threatening to any warring state, there were many things Jun could accomplish. One of them was to start a war or mediate without being under any state in China.
The army following him was growing steadily, and it was only a matter of time before everyone regarded him as a true leader who would determine the future of all of China.
Regardless of where they were from, people admired Jun for his kindness toward those needing safety.
To an ordinary person, Jun was indeed someone to be praised for his character and the aid he offered to declining villages.
…
Time flew by, and about ten days passed in the blink of an eye. While Jun prepared his weaponry in the hills of assassins and sent assassins to wreak havoc on Zhao’s army, he waited calmly for the opportunity he needed.
He didn’t want unnecessary bloodshed. By common sense, the soldiers, mostly peasants forcibly recruited to serve in the war, would retreat when they saw the firepower of Jun’s soldiers, who had trained since childhood.
While they waited, Jun didn’t stay idle. He extended an internal network across Zhao’s capital, enveloping its territory and obtaining every piece of information the place moved.
From the King’s daily routines to the secrets of that loathsome leader of Zhao—whom Jun planned to have killed once the war with Qin began.
“The wind is warmer.”
Carrying an enormous sword on his back, taller than a man, Trevor and his twin brother rode horses day and night toward the western regions.
After loading up the armament, which was gunpowder, Jun planned to use it on the battlefield in a way that would leave everyone clueless about what was happening.
Yes, gunpowder—Jun had access to it long before the alchemists created it in their search for immortality. Odd, but true—who would have thought that the quest for immortality would bring about annihilation?
In this situation, Jun would much prefer a confrontation with Hou Ken, but Ri Boku, with the advantage of numbers, would obviously not accept this deal.
That’s why Jun planned to attack at night, when the surprise factor would give them an advantage.
…
“Haah!”
A strong gust of wind kicked up sand and dust across a flat terrain, shrouding the sky and the land. The entire area around a hill became covered in a gray mist.
However, the soldiers guarding the hill remained unfazed, as this dust curtain had become commonplace over the past few days.
For ordinary people, this type of sandstorm was extremely dangerous and hard to bear. But the soldiers stationed here had grown accustomed to it.
All the mounted soldiers wore cloth over their mouths and noses as they patrolled through the sandstorm. It was a basic skill they’d learned by living here.
The hill seemed relaxed on the outside, but tension simmered within. More soldiers occupied critical areas, appearing highly alert.
Last time, a few hundred soldiers had been killed in a raid to seize supplies. These soldiers were no weaklings. There was even a martial arts expert who was personally slain by the raid’s captain.
After so many years, the raid captain rarely acted against an enemy. After the incident, it was clear that Zhao would not allow any mistakes in exterminating them.
Because of this, all the assassins around the hill were deeply enraged.
And as Jun had planned to attack at night, Ri Boku anticipated this and prepared for a nighttime attack, which could happen at any moment.
In the border area, they’d experienced too many blockades and pressures from Zhao’s army. But no matter how many times or ways they attacked, Jun always emerged victorious.
Crack!
A strong gust of wind swept up the sand. The area around the hill suddenly trembled, and then a strange sensation came from the distant wind.
“They’re finally here!”
Almost at the same moment, deep within a cave, a towering figure slowly opened his eyes. Even in the darkness, his eyes emitted a dazzling light that no one dared to meet.
The God of Martial Arts sat atop a massive rock. To his left and right were some soldiers tending to his needs, all of whom looked toward the direction of the approaching tremors.
An hour earlier, he had sensed an unknown aura suddenly appearing within his perception. And it was coming directly toward him with unerring precision.
Within a twenty-kilometer radius of the hill where the assassins were concentrated, not a single blade of grass grew. Only the assassins and soldiers existed here.
“Hmph, they are truly fools. Only about twenty days have passed, and now they rush to seek a lost battle.” Hou Ken’s eyes were filled with disdain, his hair fluttering in the wind. He naturally exuded the aura of a ruthless and ambitious person.
It would take at least a month and a half to wait for the weather to settle a bit, which, of course, was in both sides' best interest.
But Zhao had underestimated Jun in every way.
Hadn't they just given him plenty of days to plan?
"Lord Hou Ken, they're here!"
Suddenly, a voice was heard beside him. In an instant, nearly half of the soldiers on the peak turned to look in the same direction.
At some point, a black silhouette had appeared in the midst of the massive sandstorm. Step by step, it was slowly approaching the group of soldiers who were setting up their battle formations.
His steps were slow, yet unusually firm and heavy. Neither the sandstorm nor the sea of blades, nor the stares of thousands, nor even the fear of death could stop his approach!
This man possessed a terrifyingly powerful will that could never be defeated!
"A true warrior!"
Hou Ken looked toward the dusty veil and felt that presence that rivaled his own; the disdain in his eyes gradually shifted to a hint of respect.
Few people could evoke that feeling in him. A single figure was enough to change his mind. But there was no doubt this man had done it.
Boom!
Amid the sandstorm, Jun slowly advanced toward the group of soldiers. After a while, Jun finally approached, drawing the sword from its sheath and pointing it at the soldiers.
At that moment, the earth trembled, and the air seemed to stir.
Crack!
Jun struck the ground with his sword; the sound was dull, yet it made the ground shake powerfully.
"At last, I've arrived!"
Jun placed his hands on the sword at his waist and took a deep breath. After more than twenty days, he was finally about to take a step forward against this threat.
Standing at the base of this mountain, he could finally see Ri Buko clearly—dressed in blue, gazing down from the summit, his heroic aura devouring the heavens, along with the thousands of soldiers before him.
"God of Martial Arts?"
Jun’s voice overflowed with energy and thundered like a storm across the battlefield. As he spoke, his voice drowned out the sounds of the sandstorm. Almost all the horses started and retreated.
"No one needs to die; we don't actually want to kill you. We'll decide the outcome of this war in a single duel."
"You lack the aura of an ambitious man..." Hou Ken stepped forward, fixing his gaze on Jun, who displayed something beyond mere ambition.
Hou Ken's massive physique and powerful frame were almost a full size larger than the strongest men of this era. Standing on the battlefield, even if he did nothing, he resembled a true god, giving others an overwhelming sense of oppression.
If he could evoke such awe before fighting, one could only imagine his true power.
Jun, of course, was thrilled—the famous man who had slain Aoki, Zhao's madman who sought to end wars and was perhaps one of the last of his clan.
It was an achievement to fight such a man, and Jun was undoubtedly excited, for he could die.
"How should I address you?" Hou Ken spoke for the first time on the battlefield since killing Aoki.
Jun, standing before the curtain of dust, gave a faint smile and replied, "Jun Asura of the Haiyue clan, known as the Black Moon and future Crescent Moon. I've come here to kill you."
"Mmm."
In front of Zhao’s army, Hou Ken sincerely nodded, seemingly unable to ignore the man standing before him, whose eyes alone were visible.
"Are you serious?"
"Of course!" Jun nodded sincerely once more.
"Hmph, if that's the case, then come and prove it!"
Hou Ken's expression turned icy. As he spoke, his long hair danced in the wind, and his arms slowly opened wide.
Boom!
As he spread his arms, tens of thousands of soldiers stepped forward.
At the same time, even the cavalry prepared itself to charge.
"Haha! I knew you'd be like this!"
On the dust-laden ground, Jun gripped his sword with both hands. Facing this vast sea of Dragon Bandits, there was no fear in his eyes—only pure exhilaration at the impending battle.
His life was destined to be born for battle!
"You’re not my enemy; you're merely in my way of becoming a man who can wage wars!"
With a roar, Jun placed his hands on his sword and then drew it.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
And in that instant, tens of thousands of figures began to rise from the sand-covered ground, each wielding a short knife, all prepared to attack alongside Jun against Zhao’s soldiers.
Comments
Nato J
He would be making one of the greatest military maneuvers in history which will put him as a legend. Great work author.
