Chapter 667
Infiltration and assault—completed.
The entire process, which could only be described as lightning-fast, unfolded in an instant. The warriors guarding the dungeon fell helplessly before the unexpected ambush.
“An intru—”
Swish, thud!
Before the urgent voice could even form a shout, it was silenced.
Moving at the speed of light, Yal Mok struck the opponent’s mute point and fainting point in quick succession, catching the collapsing Baek Tribe warrior and laying him quietly on the ground.
A hair’s breadth. Had he been any slower, things could have gone terribly wrong.
“Rear guard.”
Releasing the breath he had been holding, Yal Mok quickly scanned the surroundings.
Around twenty masked figures in black were hiding the paralyzed guards’ bodies among the bushes while keeping watch in every direction.
– Report the situation.
– All enemies subdued.
The man in the monkey mask replied to Yal Mok’s voice transmission.
Only the Beast Miao King and a few trusted subordinates knew that seven among them—the ones wearing those masks—were the -Seven Miao Tigers-, the strongest warriors of the Miao Tribe.
– I wondered why one was missing, but the last one must’ve been the one the Young Palace Lord took down earlier. Probably sneaked off for a piss.
– Any casualties on our side?
– None.
– Good. We almost ruined everything from the start.
– Things would’ve gotten very messy.
Considering what they were doing, ‘messy’ was an understatement.
On the surface, Jin Taekyung was an unpardonable criminal imprisoned in the dungeon. If word got out that Yal Mok, the Young Palace Lord of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace, had attempted to break him out, even he wouldn’t escape punishment.
‘But it must be done.’
Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Yal Mok muttered inwardly.
He was still young, but he understood well enough how daring—and dangerous—this was.
Yet he believed it was right.
‘Jin Taekyung is an ally. He came to help us and even saved our warriors on Mount Aeno.’
Like most of the Southern Barbarians, Yal Mok had grown up disliking the Han. At least, until he met Jin Taekyung and the Fire Dragon Pavilion members.
That didn’t mean he trusted the Han as a whole. An individual was an individual, a group was a group. Still, in this moment, he knew what was right.
Just like the man he deeply respected—his father, the Beast Miao King.
– Did you secure the keys to the dungeon?
– Of course.
The monkey-masked man nodded and handed over a bundle of keys.
To open the dungeon, five keys had to be inserted in precise order to trigger the mechanism, and they already knew how.
Clank. Thud, rumble.
With a heavy noise, the massive iron gate began to move.
When the staircase leading underground was finally revealed, Yal Mok and the Seven Miao Tigers swiftly turned their cloaks inside out.
Rustle. Flutter—
The flickering torchlight reflected off white uniforms. In an instant, they had transformed into Baek Tribe warriors, standing guard as though nothing had happened.
For at least one ‘sikgyeong’ of time, until the next rotation, they would hold this position.
‘Let’s just hope nothing goes wrong before then.’
Even though every route and shift had been mapped out beforehand, no one could predict how things would unfold.
Yal Mok whispered inwardly as he descended the stairs in the unfamiliar white uniform, the Seven Miao Tigers following close behind.
‘Jin Taekyung is on the fourth floor.’
He already knew the location, as well as the presence of guards and soldiers stationed within.
They moved with silent, deliberate steps through the dim passageway. Then, faint voices drifted from ahead.
“Damn it, you sure you’re not cheating?”
“Stop spouting nonsense and accept your loss.”
“Hell, losing five times in a row? That’s insane. I’ve already lost two nyang!”
It wasn’t uncommon for the guards to gamble out of boredom—and their carelessness was a blessing to the intruders.
“Show me your palms!”
“Tch. Pathetic. Keep your voice down. If the higher-ups find out we’re slacking off while that Han bastard’s locked up, we’ll be—”
Swish, thud!
Their voices were cut off mid-sentence.
The Seven Miao Tigers, top-class warriors recognized even by the martial world of Central Plains, had struck. The guards never noticed the approach; their pressure points were sealed, their keys taken, and their bodies thrown into empty cells.
– Gisan, Dogok. Stay here.
– Understood.
– Don’t let a single ant slip past.
Leaving guards behind would avoid suspicion.
Yal Mok quickened his pace—faster than usual, but not enough to draw attention.
Step, step.
Six figures moved through the dungeon’s maze-like corridors.
But things rarely went as planned.
“Hmm? Who are they?”
The fourth floor, where Jin Taekyung was held, was guarded more tightly than ever. In addition to the prison guards, numerous warriors patrolled the area.
“You there. Stop right there.”
Yal Mok calmly halted his steps and took a breath, counting the enemies.
‘Twenty total. Five of them are top experts.’
Recognizing that these were elite Baek Tribe warriors, Yal Mok answered smoothly.
The masks were already off, and the dim torchlight of the dungeon helped conceal his face.
“We came on the Grand Chief’s orders.”
“The Grand Chief?”
The leader among them frowned.
“He just left not long ago. What’s this about?”
“Nothing serious. He merely said to make the prisoner take another [Sealing Pill].”
“Oh?”
“He’s worried about an escape attempt. I’ve only heard rumors, but that one’s supposed to be a monster.”
The Baek Tribe leader chuckled.
“Yeah, I’ve heard that too. Still, he’s just waiting to die now.”
“I think the same, but who knows what could happen, right?”
“Well, fair enough. You sound young—if you’re not staying for a chat, hurry and get it done. I’ll give you half a ‘gak’.”
“Understood.”
Yal Mok shrugged casually and walked closer, lowering his head slightly to keep his face hidden.
And then, he noticed it—the hand of one warrior tightening around his sword.
‘They’ve realized—!’
Swish! Slash!
A flash grazed his shoulder. Blood splattered as Yal Mok twisted his body to evade two blades. A thunderous shout followed.
“Intruders! Intruders!”
Fweeeet!
The piercing whistle shattered the silence. The hurried footsteps of warriors echoed from all directions.
Sensing the growing presence, Yal Mok bit his lip.
“Attack!”
At his command—
Swish, swish, swish!
Blinding swordlight burst from behind him as the Seven Miao Tigers drew their blades. In the dim light, weapons clashed violently.
Clang! Clash! Slash!
“Argh!”
In moments, a storm of blades filled the corridor. Blood sprayed, screams rang out. The two disguised guards quickly joined the fray, and within seconds, half of the twenty Baek Tribe warriors lay wounded or unconscious.
But—
Fweeeet! Fweeeet!
“Stop them at all costs! Their target is Jin Taekyung!”
“They’re few in number! Capture them alive if possible!”
The defense was far tighter than their intel had suggested.
For every one they felled, five more came. For every five, ten replaced them.
And bound by oath not to kill their fellow Southern Barbarians, Yal Mok’s group was forced into an impossible battle.
Swish, swish, swish!
“Keep pressing!”
Baek Tribe warriors closed in from all sides, their weapons gleaming.
Surrounded by over fifty enemies, Yal Mok and the Seven Miao Tigers gritted their teeth and fought on.
Clang! Slash!
But the difference between will and reality was clear.
The endless waves of enemies brought to mind one phrase—“few cannot defeat many.” Each strike from the top experts among them was lethal.
Swish, thud!
“Ugh!”
Small wounds piled up, bleeding nonstop. Though they had taken down many, the enemy’s numbers kept growing as reinforcements from other levels joined in.
‘Damn it…’
Yal Mok’s back was drenched in cold sweat.
He had known it wouldn’t be easy, but the discovery had come far too early. The dungeon’s defenses were far tighter than expected.
‘If we’re captured here…’
That would be the end.
As the Young Palace Lord, he might be spared death, but his father, the Beast Miao King, would lose his standing—and Jin Taekyung along with the Fire Dragon Pavilion members would be executed.
‘And then war will begin.’
Not another righteous crusade against the Demon Cult, but an all-out war with Central Plains.
If Jin Taekyung died, there would be no turning back.
That was why both father and son had risked everything on this rescue.
‘There’s no other choice.’
Biting his lip until it bled, Yal Mok moved his lips.
– Yuanhu. I’m counting on you.
A short transmission—but it was enough.
The eldest of the Seven Miao Tigers, the middle-aged man in the monkey mask, scattered his swordlight and roared,
“Open the path!”
At this point, there was only one answer left.
A suicidal breakthrough—and Jin Taekyung’s rescue.
That was why they had come, risking their lives. It was Yal Mok’s only plan left.
‘If Jin Taekyung escapes, everything can still be saved.’
Yal Mok reached for the hard wooden case hidden in his robe.
What he’d told them earlier wasn’t a complete lie. He had indeed come to make Jin Taekyung take a pill—but not the [Sealing Pill].
It was the [Antidote]—a drug that lifted the seal suppressing one’s inner power.
Clang! Slash! Thud!
“Argh!”
Though the situation was dire, the narrow corridors of the dungeon worked to their advantage.
Ignoring the attacks pouring from every side, Yal Mok and the Seven Miao Tigers forced their way through until the dark hallway finally opened up before them.
‘Go! Now!’
Ignoring the desperate shout of one of his men, Yal Mok gathered all his strength and leaped forward.
Or tried to.
Swish—grab!
A hand shot out from the darkness, gripping his shoulder.
“Where do you think you’re going? Got somewhere to be?”
For a moment, Yal Mok stood silent amid the chaos, then spoke in disbelief.
“…Why are you here?”