Chapter 90
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Negligence
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Lightning carried two profound meanings.
One was the terrifying thunder energy packed into that strike from the heavens, akin to divine punishment itself.
The other was that the term "single bolt of lightning" was no exaggeration—it was a strike of divine speed surpassing even utmost swiftness.
The attack itself was a plunging kick from high above, accelerated by gravity.
To call it a crash landing onto the target was more fitting, boasting overwhelming power from the compounded acceleration.
"Oh, dear—"
Even So-hyang, holding Zhu Yeonhwa in her arms, had no room to dodge, so she urgently drew her Spirit Sword from her Upper Dantian to block.
-KWAANG!
What collided was sword against military boot, yet the erupting sound was a deep, majestic toll like a giant temple bell being rung.
"Sssip, that was close."
The sheer volume meant the impact was immense, and its timbre like a bell toll signified she had fully absorbed and dispersed the force.
In conclusion, she had blocked it cleanly, but...
"Even if you can revive us, are you really swinging like you intend to smash us both into pulp?"
It was an excessively ruthless strike that crushed perpetrator and rescuee alike, without any premise of saving her alive.
Even in a crowded market teeming with civilians, it demonstrated exquisite control, striking a pinpoint without scattering shockwaves.
Yet the clear intent was to turn So-hyang and the Imperial Princess she held into mush.
There were limits to ruthlessness. So-hyang stared incredulously at the warrior standing tall atop her pristine white blade.
Beijing was the empire's capital and the Central Plains' heart.
A vast city befitting its fame, its districts inevitably divided for policing and administration.
Excluding the central Imperial Palace, the Forbidden Army divided into four quadrants: east, west, south, north.
The general overseeing the south, responsible for the commercial district's security, had arrived here.
His title was Southern General, known in the jianghu as the Thunderbreaker Fist, a transcendent master.
"Hah, fine words from you, who kidnapped Her Highness and fled. But not your place to say."
From the start, he held no hope for the Third Imperial Princess's survival.
While handling the demonic qi explosion at the train station, he received a reinforcement request from his subordinates and spotted So-hyang en route.
Cackling madly, tearing through the air at speeds that rent it, weaving bizarrely through the complex cityscape.
Though she bore the dragon's bloodline and was sturdier than the culprit, an Imperial Scion without a tempered body couldn't endure such a subordinate.
She was like an egg in a violently shaken box—surely her organs pulped, bones powdered, dead already.
"Hm? No, Her Highness lives. Not a single bone or organ harmed."
Of course, So-hyang protested innocently, face full of grievance.
"Hah, what lie is that? Her Highness couldn't possibly endure such motion... Wait, what...?"
The general's expression, speaking as if obvious, gradually filled with doubt.
He had eyes and ears, after all.
The golden-haired princess showed no injury, merely sleeping soundly with even breaths.
"What, impossible..."
"Just control the force and weight distribution properly."
No matter how wild So-hyang got, would she harm her friend's body for fun?
She moved slightly slower than top speed, minimizing g-forces and loads on Zhu Yeonhwa.
"...Mm, well, there's been some misunderstanding, you see?"
She wanted to keep sparring, but sensing the situation spiraling, So-hyang attempted mediation first.
Slim build and tall stature, neatly cropped hair, uniform tailored perfectly with sharp creases.
Firmly set lips and upright gaze hinted at his temperament—a look suited to a soldier.
But what caught So-hyang's eye was his apparent youth relative to his prowess, looking almost like a young man.
Not Rejuvenation. That literally meant an aged body undergoing Bone Transformation to revert to "childhood."
This man was young, yet not boyish.
In other words...
A genius warrior who reached transcendent realm in his youth, not middle or old age—one of the jianghu's top talents.
"Mm, impressive..."
Talent comparable to the Five Elements Sword Immortal Qinghe Zhenren, hailed as the martial world's greatest. Recalling her spark, So-hyang brimmed with anticipation.
Her pale eyes, narrowed, scrutinized him sharply, as if dissecting with a scalpel.
Among Bone Transformation masters, dense bones and muscles, tough skin, superbly developed cardiovascular system and organs.
By So-hyang's standards, an excellently forged body.
Most striking: no weapon in hand or at waist.
Despite Bone Transformation healing scars and defects, calluses remained on his knuckles.
A Fist Master who tempered flesh into a weapon through endless hardship, attaining transcendent realm.
Skin tougher than steel, rivaling Gang Qi; pure strength to uproot mountains—top among transcendent masters.
"Uh, uuuuh..."
She wanted to fight him.
Whose skin tougher? Could it deflect her Spirit Sword? How sublime his unified brute and inner force?
Her self-proclaimed perfected body, beyond limits—could she find clues to improve it further?
But not now.
"—Your Highness, time to wake."
Suppressing the urge to charge, So-hyang turned away, released Zhu Yeonhwa's acupoints, and handed her over.
"...I can't fathom your intentions."
Perplexed, the general accepted her.
Though the Imperial Army's policy was unyielding, no negotiation with villains, it meant no yielding to hostage threats—not forgoing rescue when possible.
No matter how suspicious, securing the princess took precedence over annihilating the foe.
"Your Highness, are you compos mentis?"
"—Mm, where..."
"This is your servant, Southern General Ouyang Ji. Can you grasp the situation, Your Highness?"
More query than concern for the just-rescued scion, almost an interrogation.
Odd from So-hyang's past life or foreign view, but standard in the empire.
The emperor transcended norms, maintaining rightful rule like Emperor Xuanyuan. Closest were his heirs, including Third Imperial Princess Zhu Yeonhwa.
The general's gaze held loyalty over worry—firm trust in her imperial qualities, beyond her prowess.
Thus, he hoped: give the right command.
"...Sssip, haaa."
And Zhu Yeonhwa met expectations.
Deep breaths cleared her mind; she swiftly assessed surroundings and grasped the situation.
"That woman in white is the rising White Lotus Sword of the jianghu, my friend. A coincidental tangle led to misunderstanding."
"Pardon, but have you checked for mental erosion by illusions or aphrodisiacs?"
"I understand your concern, but truly, no issue. It is fact..."
"Then, I obey."
A true imperial servant trusted lord over own judgment. Southern General Ouyang Ji quelled doubts and battle fervor.
The immediate crisis resolved.
Personal grudges remained.
"Haaa... You, So-hyang...?"
Zhu Yeonhwa eyed her with weary, incredulous, faintly angry, complicated gaze, chuckling dryly.
"Ah, ahaha..."
Aware of her fault, So-hyang feigned cold sweat and averted eyes awkwardly.
Judging fault from the start, the Forbidden Army soldiers bore initial negligence.
So-hyang had protected the princess from Salmun assassins before and shielded her from this explosion.
Benefactor to her personally and somewhat to the Imperial Family—a friendly figure.
The soldiers' preemptive strike on such a benefactor was their fault.
Yet carrying a fainted princess amid a train explosion screamed "culprit"—hard not to misjudge, some mitigation.
Preemptive attack on obvious suspect: natural response.
Up to here, no clear villain—mutual misunderstanding from tangled circumstances.
The problem came next.
So-hyang blocked the attacks while attempting to clarify—three times in succession.
But during explanations, the princess lay unconscious, undermining credibility.
Soldiers dismissed her words, pressing attacks. The moment the princess awoke...
So-hyang's patience snapped from one-sided assault.
Resolved no more endurance, she silenced the mediating princess and counterattacked, leading to this mess.
"—No casualties or major injuries, so we gloss over it. Understood?"
So-hyang's damages: a few fainted soldiers sans aftereffects, building walls scarred by hooks, one wrecked emergency device—all minor.
Main destruction stemmed from hundreds of soldiers hurling Thunderstrike Spears.
"Ahem, yes. Truly grateful."
Yet rampaging through Beijing was crime itself.
In lesser cities, no real damage might slide for transcendent masters—but this was Beijing.
So-hyang defied imperial authority.
"Without my defense, you'd face severe punishment."
Without the scion's plea for leniency, it'd mean decades serving under the Imperial Family.
Refuse? Unleash multiple transcendent masters to enforce authority.
She might welcome fights, but it'd complicate Central Plains life immensely—unwelcome.
"...I've shown this much goodwill; you repay accordingly."
Forgiven imperial blame, become my piece.
Not much asked.
"Obey my word thrice."
Not mere friendly request from before.
Three command rights.
Obey without quibble, even if unpalatable.
"Of course, that much I can do."
"...Good, that's enough."
Verbalizing vague debt into promise—impressive yet valueless.
How to use, what gains: Zhu Yeonhwa's task. So-hyang felt slight anticipation.
Even as pawn of power, wielded like a sword, had its thrill.
Absurd orders like slavery? She'd balk, but trusted her friend had sense.
Anyway, resolved without disaster—good enough. So-hyang smiled faintly—
"Ah, resolved mildly, but you're still wanted. No spars or duels for now; behave."
"...Pardon?"
—Smile froze; despair like sky falling.
"—Th-then introducing imperial transcendent masters..."
"Wait weeks at least. No more madness like this, or friendship sours regardless..."
"Ugh... Understood..."
Self-inflicted, unavoidable... but hollow all the same.