The Invincible Commander – Chapter 10

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HwasanSect

[Translator: Chyluck]

[Proofreader: Chyluck]

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Chapter 10

Cheon Sinwoo burst outside, his eyes catching several arrows slicing through the sky.

Flaming arrows, their tips wrapped in oil-soaked cloth, struck the roof.

“Damn it!”

His face twisted as he leaped onto the roof.

Smack!

He deflected an incoming arrow, protecting the roof.

There weren’t many.

The problem was their direction.

Flaming arrows came from all sides.

He could only shield the pavilion where Chang slept.

It was the Huangdu Gang’s doing.

Realizing they couldn’t face him head-on, they aimed to burn the manor down.

To burn them alive.

He hadn’t anticipated this.

Thugs didn’t usually use arrows.

“Damn.”

He had to move fast.

He’d be fine, but the others were in danger.

“My lady! Outside! Wake the young master and get out of the building!”

“…Yes!”

At his urgent shout, Sohyang rushed into the room.

“Woosaeng!”

His booming call roused Woosaeng, who was sleeping with Jeongyang’s wife in a nearby pavilion, rubbing his eyes as he stumbled out.

“Get your mother out! Rip off a door to block the arrows! Protect the young master and my lady!”

“Y-Yes? Yes, big brother!”

After barking orders at Woosaeng, Cheon Sinwoo’s gaze fixed on the blazing fires outside the manor.

They’d lit them to ignite the arrows, scattered in several spots.

Crunch, boom!

His bent knees straightened, shattering the old roof tiles beneath his feet.

A hole tore through the roof.

Those bastards, they’ll pay for the roof too!

In a flash, Cheon Sinwoo vaulted over the wall, his figure darting toward one of the archers.

Darkness.

It was hard to see.

Especially with fires nearby, the surrounding shadows grew deeper.

The thug only noticed Cheon Sinwoo when he was nearly upon him.

“Damn! It’s the servant! Ru—”

Crack!

The thug’s head exploded under Cheon Sinwoo’s fist.

He didn’t check if he was dead or alive.

Cheon Sinwoo raced toward the next target.

Cloth wrapped around the arrows.

The smoke from the flames carried the stench of oil.

They’d burn long.

Hard to extinguish.

Old, dry buildings caught fire easily. They’d blaze in no time.

He couldn’t give them that chance.

Thankfully, Woosaeng was there.

He’d shield the family from the arrows.

Grind.

Cheon Sinwoo’s eyes gleamed blue in the dark.

You dare threaten what’s mine?

The ones I’d give my life for, even if just for a moment of happiness?

I tried to change.

I spared lives, thinking they were human too.

Is this how my mercy is repaid?

…Then I’ll kill you.

I’ll make you true thugs.

Your souls will wander the nine hells, never resting.

Like when I was called a villain, treating my accusers as such.

With murderous intent blazing in his eyes, Cheon Sinwoo chased the fleeing thugs.

But he didn’t know.

Beyond the wall he’d leaped to attack the archers, in the deep shadows of the night, masked figures lurked.

It was Huangdu.

“Now! Over the wall!”

Confirming Cheon Sinwoo was outside attacking his men, Huangdu ordered his waiting crew.

“Grab Seoga’s daughter, Sohyang, first!”

“Yes!”

The men scaled the wall, charging toward the manor’s main pavilion.

This was Huangdu’s plan, inspired by Myunghwan’s words.

His other men had broken limbs or bodies, but Myunghwan was different.

His eyes were gouged for leering with lust, his mouth torn for vile words.

That servant wasn’t like others; he had an odd obsession with Sohyang.

Love for his master?

A servant daring to dream above his station.

But that gave Huangdu an idea.

Take Sohyang hostage, and victory was assured.

“Heh, foolish servant. Your obsession with a tree you can’t climb is your mistake.”

“Phew, thank god.”

Woosaeng, holding two torn-off doors to block arrows, finally breathed.

The flaming arrows stopped.

The doors were scorched, but he’d fulfilled Cheon Sinwoo’s orders.

Behind him.

His mother, Lady Sohyang, and Chang huddled.

He’d protected them.

Woosaeng smiled.

He’d always been called “idiot.”

People looked at him with scorn and contempt.

Being slow didn’t mean he lacked feelings.

He just endured.

Accepted it.

He was less sharp than others, after all.

He’d tried learning to read to be smarter.

It was hard.

Learning the character for “heaven” (天) took forever… and he still didn’t get it.

He’d remember it while studying, then forget it later—what could he do?

The teacher said to think of the character as a person (大) carrying heaven (一).

If he understood that, would he be called Woosaeng (fool)?

The teacher said he’d never seen anyone like him.

Told him to forget learning.

But he didn’t need to read to live.

Just do what he was told.

His mother said so, and Huangdu, who took him in, said so.

Do the job, get praise.

That earned medicine money when his mother was sick, food money when she was hungry.

His new big brother, Cheon Sinwoo, told him to tear off doors and protect people.

So he did.

“Thank you, Woosaeng.”

“…”

“Wow, you’re born with divine strength. I’ve never seen anyone use doors like shields. Thank you, sir.”

It was a first.

Sohyang and Chang spared no praise.

They thanked him.

He’d never heard that before.

Their gazes were unlike any he’d seen.

“You fool! Well done. You protected the lady and young master.”

His mother praised him too.

This feeling was new.

“Well done.”

Huangdu had said that once.

When his innate strength intimidated people, when he swung a torn pillar to beat Huangdu’s enemies.

But Huangdu’s praise was different.

He gave money and meat, but these people gave warmth.

He felt proud.

He’d finally found his purpose.

Coming to the Seoga manor was the right choice.

He was so grateful to Cheon Sinwoo for bringing him and his mother.

His mother said he did well too.

Woosaeng wore a happier expression than ever before.

Then Chang flinched, staring at the wall.

“W-Woosaeng hyung.”

“Yes?”

“Over there…”

He trembled, like stepping from a warm room into winter’s chill.

Over there?

What was there?

At that moment, a black shadow vaulted over the wall.

Woosaeng followed Chang’s wide-eyed gaze.

“Well, who’s this?”

“Huh?”

The man who crossed the wall recognized Woosaeng and removed his mask.

It was Huangdu.

Holding a crude cleaver, grinning.

“You bastard, I thought you didn’t come back because you fled in fear, but you latched onto this house?”

“B-Boss?”

“What’s this? You brought the old hag too? You moved your whole damn life here. Well, even a rundown manor’s better than your collapsing shack.”

“…”

“But what now, you idiot? Thanks to you, you and your mom die tonight.”

Huangdu’s confident smirk dripped with killing intent.

This fight was won.

Grab Sohyang, and it’s over.

The archers outside wouldn’t last long.

From Myunghwan and the others’ state, that servant’s martial arts were formidable and his nature cruel.

The archers would all die.

No matter.

Why care for men who’d die in a brawl anyway?

Their deaths would solidify his rule over the alleys.

The men hidden at the wall were his best.

He planned it that way.

When they’re all dead, he’d rebuild his crew.

Recruiting was easy.

Like flies to a feast, they’d swarm to a place with food.

Damn merchants.

Just wait tonight.

They’d regret begging the Seoga manor for help.

“What are you doing? Forget the rest. Kill them all, grab that woman. She’s bait to kill the servant.”

“Yes!”

Huangdu pointed at Sohyang, and his unmasked men approached with murderous intent.

Woosaeng couldn’t move.

Huangdu’s cold sneer made him tremble like a leaf.

People are like that.

Shrinking from ingrained habits.

Huangdu was his boss, and Woosaeng had never defied him, leaving him frozen.

But then a small hand gripped his.

It was trembling.

That small hand…

“Move, punk!”

The first thug shoved Woosaeng.

Woosaeng grabbed his shoulder.

He didn’t know why he did it.

The moment that small hand trembled, he just felt he had to.

He was a Seoga man now.

He had to protect.

His mother, Lady Sohyang, and the young master.

“You bastard…”

Boom!

Woosaeng’s fist swung like a hammer.

It was clumsy.

But backed by innate strength, his punch held terrifying power.

The struck thug staggered, collapsing to his knees.

“Waaaaah!”

A primal roar.

As if shaking off fear and hesitation, his bellow echoed through the manor.

Woosaeng’s eyes now held a protector’s resolve.

Startled by their comrade’s fall and the sudden roar, the thugs hesitated.

“Damn, has he lost it?!”

It was brief, but the thugs, looking down on Woosaeng, soon resumed their fists and kicks.

Thud!

A blow to his stomach hit Woosaeng, but his sturdy frame and resilience held firm.

He swung back as he was struck.

Then Chang, stunned by Woosaeng’s change, scanned the manor.

No more flaming arrows.

No burning to death.

They needed a hiding spot.

His eyes landed on the kitchen.

One door in and out.

A single-sided door.

If someone guarded it, it could be a safe haven.

Perhaps it was an innate talent, awakened in crisis, from his bloodline.

Chang was the son of a man who once shook the martial world.

“The kitchen! The kitchen!”

Shouting, Chang grabbed his mother and Jeongyang’s wife’s hands.

The sudden action startled them, but they followed instinctively.

“Woosaeng hyung! Please!”

Chang’s eyes held guilty reliance, but Woosaeng’s mind was fixed on protecting them.

“Waaah!”

Roaring, he shoved the thugs back and stood before the kitchen.

“You can’t pass. No one touches them! Not my mother! Not my lady, nor the young master!”

Vowing as if to himself, Woosaeng snorted, blocking the door like a wall.

“You damn fool!”

A beating poured down.

Woosaeng didn’t fight back.

He feared moving from the door might endanger them.

He didn’t know how to fight anyway.

Just that he was strong.

But enduring hits, he was seasoned.

Gripping the doorframe with both hands, he withstood fists and kicks.

His lips split, blood flowed from his nose, but he didn’t budge an inch.

“Woosaeng! My boy!”

Jeongyang’s wife’s heart tore seeing her son beaten.

His blood felt like her own.

His stubborn, foolish stand pained her, Sohyang, and Chang too.

“Useless idiots! Are your knives for show?!”

Huangdu shouted, exasperated.

Blades were drawn.

Woosaeng’s body was stabbed.

He flinched but gritted his teeth, holding fast.

“You monster freak! Let’s see you stand with a hole in your gut!”

An enraged thug raised his knife to stab Woosaeng’s stomach.

Then—

A chilling, eerie presence descended from the sky, crashing onto the thug.

Crunch!

It was Cheon Sinwoo.

His foot dropped vertically, crushing the thug’s head like a turtle’s.

“Huff, huff…”

Covered in blood and sweat, panting heavily.

Cheon Sinwoo frowned at Woosaeng.

A knife was lodged in his stomach.

Deeply…

Then Woosaeng smiled, saying, “I protected them. Didn’t step back once.”

“I know. I heard your yell and rushed back. Well done.”

At Cheon Sinwoo’s praise, Woosaeng grinned, then slumped backward.

“Woosaeng!”

“Brother!”

Jeongyang’s wife, Sohyang, and Chang caught him.

Grind.

Cheon Sinwoo’s face reverted to the one that once severed hundreds of heads.

He closed the kitchen door.

“…Please wait just a moment.”