Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Red Flower on a White Background
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Over forty warriors from Phoenix Heaven Manor.
All of them spear wielders.
They charged at me in unison, thrusting their spears.
No, wait!
Danger!
Not me—the carriage!
Out of the forty, more than thirty suddenly veered toward the carriage.
Aiming for the Fish Gold Family's daughter.
Sa Daegi, Mak Daechil, and Ju Okga couldn't hold them all off.
These bastards.
They were underestimating me.
Sneers filled the faces of the eleven rushing straight at me.
To help the carriage, I had to deal with these guys first.
The carriage was in dire straits, but just hold on a moment!
Just a little longer!
I placed my hand on my sword hilt and lowered my stance fully.
I didn't draw the blade.
I held perfectly still in that position.
Then they came at me right away.
Thinking I'd chickened out, they grew even bolder and thrust their spears in unison.
Idiots.
Getting careless on the battlefield.
That's why they die.
Shiiiik!
The moment their spears stabbed toward me in unison.
I surged forward.
I plunged into their center.
And at the same time, I drew my sword and swung.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Slaaaash!
In battle, whether you're a master or a novice, momentum is key.
My meager inner energy wasn't much, but I poured everything into breaking their spirit.
It was also to draw the eyes of those heading for the carriage.
And it worked.
In my wake.
All eleven spewed blood and collapsed.
"Wh-what the hell?! We all got taken out by that bastard!"
"Damn it! Handle the carriage yourselves! We kill this guy first!"
Those heading for the carriage turned back toward me.
But not all of them.
Out of the thirty, only twenty-five came.
Five were still going for the carriage... Ju Okga, Sa Daegi, Mak Daechil!
Please hold on!
I'm coming right now!
Clang!
Clang-clang!
Clang-clang!
Slash!
Slash!
I took out the two who attacked first among the twenty-five.
Then the rest hesitated as a group.
And then.
"Don't get careless! This guy's no pushover! Phoenix Heaven Penetration Formation!"
Ah!
They started attacking me with their formation.
At least something was going right.
Something I hadn't dared hope for even a little.
Ju Okga, Mak Daechil, Sa Daegi.
These three were holding off the five from Phoenix Heaven Manor like absolute champs.
Tears-worthy, really.
Of course, they wouldn't last long.
I had to finish these guys quick and get over there.
Clang!
Clang-clang!
Clang-clang-clang!
Clang-clang-clang!
I needed to hurry to the carriage.
But I couldn't.
No, getting there wasn't the issue.
This Phoenix Heaven Penetration Formation.
I couldn't break through it at all.
At this rate, I'd die before Sa Daegi, Ju Okga, and Mak Daechil.
"His movements are getting sloppy! Press him harder—just a bit more and we can finish him!"
He was right.
My limbs were tangled, and now my head was spinning too.
My shallow inner energy had nearly depleted against the first eleven.
Against the formation, it hit rock bottom completely.
Was a penetration formation really this terrifying?
I'd faced one before, but Phoenix Heaven Manor's was on another level.
No way.
Really, no way to break it came to mind.
No, under the overwhelming power of the Phoenix Heaven Penetration Formation, my own will was starting to crumble.
For a split second.
Should I run?
I even had that ridiculous thought.
That's how cornered I was... Whew.
No choice.
I had to take a gamble.
Even at just the first stage proficiency, I'd use a latter technique from the 32 Rogue Arts.
At this rate, I'd die anyway.
Better to go out swinging with a gamble.
My inner energy depleted.
I squeezed together every last bit from my acupoints, muscles, and scattered energy throughout my body.
And then.
32 Rogue Arts latter half, first form: Heaven-Mixing Strike.
I swung my sword.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
Booooom!
Eh?
What... is this?
Just first stage proficiency.
Not even a later form in the latter half, just the first.
And my inner energy was barely a dribble I'd wrung out.
Out of twenty-five, fourteen dropped dead on the spot.
The remaining eleven were writhing in pain from wounds big and small.
Hold up!
This thing I learned.
Is it really the 32 Rogue Arts?
The title says latter half of 32 Rogue Arts, but the content's something else, right?
This isn't just top-tier martial arts—it's practically divine skill level!
Am I just inexperienced with top-tier arts, so it seems that way?
But even then...
Over there.
The fight between Wi Yeon and Yi Boreong, plus White Hair Silver Spear, Wind Thunder Silver Spear, and Night Moon White Spear halted for a moment.
Mid-frenzy, they all glanced this way with shocked eyes, if only for an instant.
Sa Daegi, Ju Okga, and Mak Daechil's side didn't just pause—they stopped completely.
Sa Daegi and the others.
Even the ones attacking them.
All staring dumbfounded at me and the dead Phoenix Heaven Manor guys.
No!
This isn't the time to gawk!
Shiiiik!
Slash!
Slash! Slash! Slash!
"Gaaah!"
"Spare me... Argh!"
I quickly finished off the remaining eleven.
Already wounded and scared out of their minds.
Their morale shattered; they put up pointless resistance, and a few even bolted outright.
If they'd fought to the death, it wouldn't have been easy for me.
But cutting down broken-willed foes was like harvesting ripe barley.
After dealing with the last eleven.
I bolted straight for the carriage.
As I charged menacingly, their opponents froze in terror, faces ashen.
And they didn't miss the opening.
Sa Daegi, Mak Daechil, Ju Okga—these three.
Guess they didn't eat rogue rice for nothing.
"Where you gawking?!"
Shwick!
Slash!
Slash! Slash!
In an instant, they took out three.
The last two had their throats slit the moment I landed by the carriage.
But then!
"Kahahaha! What'd I tell ya! This bitch is poisoned with Scattering Bone Toxin, just like I said!"
Wi Yeon was facing Wind Thunder Silver Spear and Night Moon White Spear alone.
His body riddled with stabs and cuts, bleeding profusely.
But Yi Boreong was in even graver peril.
Facing White Hair Silver Spear Du Chuwon solo, every exchange was touch-and-go.
I had to help now.
The problem? Ah!
My inner energy was truly down to zero.
But what could I do?
If Yi Boreong died, Wi Yeon would follow soon after.
And then me and these guys—we'd all be dead.
"You three, guard the carriage with your lives!"
I shouted that to Sa Daegi, Ju Okga, and Mak Daechil, then leaped toward Yi Boreong... Huh?
"Yes, bro!"
These guys.
They kept calling me bro.
Now they're bowing ninety degrees and calling me Big Bro.
What a bunch of clowns.
Shwick!
Tat-tat-tat!
Clowns or not.
I dashed straight to Yi Boreong.
But then!
What?
He looks way more urgent.
Beyond urgent—his life was hanging by a thread.
But Yi Boreong's transmission was firm as iron.
It was just a split-second moment, but I decided quickly.
And jumped straight into Wi Yeon versus Wind Thunder Silver Spear and Night Moon White Spear.
No inner energy left.
But having tasted it once, I drew on the 32 Rogue Arts latter half's deep breathing and swung my sword.
Clang!
Clang-clang!
Boom!
"This bastard... what the hell are you?"
Wind Thunder Silver Spear Jang Gak immediately broke off from Wi Yeon to face me.
Furious to the extreme, but visibly rattled too.
Honestly, I was shocked too.
Not a scrap of inner energy left, let alone a handful.
Normally, clashing with a spear loaded with his inner energy should've sent me flying helplessly.
But boom! An explosion.
I staggered back five steps, but Jang Gak retreated two as well.
Don't tell me...?
The 32 Rogue Arts latter half.
Recovers inner energy near real-time?
What kind of insane, unheard-of cheat skill is this?
Of course, it didn't fully replenish what I used.
After ten breaths, just one drop recovered.
But that's plenty, right?
The latter half is so overwhelming that even one drop unleashes massive power.
Ah!
Is this really the 32 Rogue Arts latter half I learned?
How is any martial art this strong?
Then what kind of monstrous divine arts do the so-called Five Supremes have?
Or is this latter half I learned not the 32 Rogue Arts at all?
"You rat! Stop dodging and fight fair!"
Are you nuts?
Let me fight straight-up?
I dodged and weaved, running circles.
All while cycling the latter half's breathing technique.
I could feel a single drop filling my dantian so desperately clear.
"You cowardly bastard!"
When he flew into a total rage.
Finally, the drop filled.
So I unleashed.
32 Rogue Arts latter half, second form: Heaven-Cutting Flash.
Shiiiik!
Flash!
Sploooosh!
Not the Wind Thunder Silver Spear chasing me.
Night Moon White Spear Jin Ya, locked in fierce combat with Wi Yeon—his left shoulder and part of his head were sliced clean off and burst.
I'd dodged and pretended to flee, waiting only for that one drop to gather, then bolted that way.
The drop filled, and the moment I was in range, Heaven-Cutting Flash.
"You... you bastard..."
As Night Moon White Spear died in gruesome fashion, the chasing Wind Thunder Silver Spear panicked.
And at that instant.
Slash!
Wi Yeon mercilessly severed the panicked fool's throat from behind.
But then!
"Die, you rogue bitch!"
White Hair Silver Spear's furious roar exploded.
By the time Wi Yeon and I whipped our heads around, it was already... Ah!
Shwick!
Pok-pok-pok!
Pok-pok-pok!
Blood Flower Yi Boreong, collapsing with her throat half-severed.
Seven silver needles poured from her extended left sleeve.
All striking White Hair Silver Spear's lethal acupoints.
White Hair Silver Spear Du Chuwon looked down at the needles in his body in disbelief.
From head to weapon, even his clothes all pure white—hence the name.
On his snow-white form, exactly seven blood flowers bloomed.
She'd hidden her final move to the end.
Waiting until the enemy was convinced of victory and let their guard down.
Staking her life on it dozens of times over.
I shook my head at the sight of her.
Couldn't deny she was one hell of a woman.
"The Fish Gold miss!"
Wi Yeon.
Yi Boreong hurriedly checked the carriage too.
To confirm the Fish Gold daughter was safe.
But.
More than safe—she'd already stepped out of the carriage.
Even walking this way, escorted by Sa Daegi, Ju Okga, and Mak Daechil.
Eh... but this girl...
Why's she coming to me?
Huh?
Wh-what's this?
Why is she...?
The Fish Gold miss took both my hands.
Holding them, gazing into my eyes, face flushed, she said.
"The engagement with Phoenix Heaven Manor is off. And I... I'm going to marry Great Hero Jin."
I gave her a warm smile.
And thought to myself.
'Look at this girl's face. You like pretty girls.'
She smiled shyly, oblivious to my inner thoughts.
And I had to swallow tears while smiling back.