Chapter 36: Unexpected (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: Unexpected (2)
Unless my ears were playing tricks on me, that voice undoubtedly belonged to Baek Hye-hyang.
The situation was baffling beyond belief.
-What? That thousand-year-old fox? What is she doing here?
That was exactly what I wanted to ask.
In a way, she was one of the candidates to become the Leader of the Blood Cult. This wasn't just bold; it bordered on pure arrogance.
‘Is she not afraid?’
This was the holy land of the Orthodox Martial World.
The Martial Alliance was always under heavy guard, but with the Grand Martial Assembly underway, security was at its peak, and the greatest masters of the Orthodox factions were currently gathered here.
To infiltrate such a place required nerves of steel.
“As expected, you recognize me.”
“I heard your voice. Is there any reason I wouldn't recognize you, Lady Baek Hye-hyang?”
“You even know my name now. How commendable.”
Baek Hye-hyang smirked. Even through the Human Skin Mask, her smile remained as ominous as ever.
“I heard you fell into a ravine, but you managed to survive? You?”
“I almost died, thanks to you.”
A surge of resentment rose within me at her words. I didn't know what I had done to offend her so much that she would send someone to drag me down with them in a double suicide.
Of course, I had a guess.
It was likely a move to manipulate Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon rather than a personal vendetta against me.
“You seem quite bitter. But you’re alive, aren't you? That’s what matters.”
“You certainly make it sound simple.”
She was incredibly shameless—the polar opposite of Baek Ryeonha.
“Do you intend to keep holding me like this?”
She still had me pinned. To be honest, it was impossible to shake off her internal power using only my Lower Dantian.
-Are you going to open your Middle Dantian?
‘No.’
There was no need for that yet. If this were a deserted area, it might be different, but Blacksmith Street was only a few steps away.
With people bustling about, would she really try to kill me? No matter how bold she was, she wouldn't act so recklessly.
“If you don't intend to kill me, let me go.”
“Your confidence has grown since I last saw you. Is it because your skills have improved?”
Naturally, my martial arts had progressed by leaps and bounds since our first meeting. However, my current confidence stemmed from the situation.
“I doubt you want your identity revealed.”
I spoke indirectly. What would happen if I openly exposed her identity right here?
Understanding my implication, she wore a peculiar expression before letting out a short laugh.
“You really are interesting.”
‘Huh?’
It was practically a threat, yet instead of getting angry, she reacted with bold amusement. Her personality was even harder to read than Haeakcheon’s.
Then, words I never expected flowed from her lips.
“A fellow like you doesn't suit that girl.”
‘That girl?’
Was she talking about Baek Ryeonha?
Baek Hye-hyang released her grip on me. Then she spoke.
“I’ll give you a chance.”
“...What do you mean?”
“Come under me.”
“What?”
The sudden recruitment offer made me blurt out a question in surprise. She must have heard that my master, Bizarre Hae Ak-cheon, had joined Baek Ryeonha’s side, so what was this nonsense?
“I’ll let you display your abilities to the fullest. Staying under that girl will only lead to a blood-soaked future.”
Was she trying to employ me? If the incident at Six Blood Valley hadn't happened, it might have been an offer worth considering. Siding with the advantageous party wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
However, there was no guarantee that someone who had already targeted my life once wouldn't do it again.
“I appreciate the offer, but my master wouldn't want—”
“I’m the one who wants you.”
‘!?’
What was she talking about now? She wanted me, not even one of the Four Venerable Ones like Haeakcheon?
It made no sense. Countless calculations tangled in my head. There were several variables. For instance, she could be trying to pull me in first to reach out to Master Haeakcheon, or she could be trying to sow internal discord.
I spoke to her politely.
“I have many shortcomings and would be of no help to you, My Lady. Furthermore, how can a disciple walk a different path from his master? Please, take back your words...”
It was at that moment.
An immense killing intent, enough to make my spine tingle, erupted from her.
Flash!
In an instant, I jerked my head back.
Simultaneously, her right hand stopped right in front of my face. If I had been even a moment slower, my face might have been pierced through.
“See? You dodged it.”
“Pardon?”
“The sense of incongruity I felt from you. I’ve been thinking it was strange.”
“What are you...”
“A fellow who just barely broke through the wall of the Supreme Peak Realm senses my strike and dodges it?”
‘!?’
I couldn't open my mouth at Baek Hye-hyang’s words. She had been testing me.
“Why does my intuition tell me that you are stronger than this?”
“.......”
She was a terrifying woman. Even though I hadn't opened my Middle Dantian, she realized I was hiding my true strength. She shouldn't have been able to detect my Innate True Qi through Qi Sense, so I had no idea how she figured it out.
“To reach this level after only a year of training? Aside from myself, I’ve never seen someone grow this fast.”
“I think there’s a misunderstanding...”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
Baek Hye-hyang suddenly licked her lips with a strange expression. It was the look of someone standing before a delicious meal.
“If I receive your essence, I feel like the greatest Blood Demon in the history of our Cult will be born.”
‘!!!’
What is this woman talking about? Receive my essence?
As I stood there bewildered, she smiled at me.
“I thought about making you a Strategist or a Dharma Protector if I raised you well, but no. A man of your caliber would be perfect as my husband.”
Husband?
The words coming out of Baek Hye-hyang’s mouth left me utterly flabbergasted.
-Woon-hwi. She really is a thousand-year-old fox. You’re going to be eaten alive at this rate.
‘Shut up!’
I recoiled at the Lesser Conversation Sword’s comment. Any other woman might be fine, but absolutely not Baek Hye-hyang.
Baek Hye-hyang placed her hand on my cheek. Then she spoke.
“How about it? It’s not a bad deal. If you become my husband, you’ll be the second-in-command, above all but one.”
Under her thumb, she meant.
Baek Hye-hyang was stroking my cheek. However, there was one fact she was overlooking.
Right now, she was wearing the face of a man via the Human Skin Mask, so her attempt at seduction felt completely wrong.
“I will act as if I never heard that.”
At my words, her eyes turned fierce.
“Why? Do you like Baek Ryeonha more?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“You’ll find a night with me much more to your liking than one with her.”
Goosebumps broke out all over my body. Please, don't say such suggestive things with a man's face.
Then, she smirked and grabbed the skin near her ear, peeling it away.
The Human Skin Mask came off, revealing her true face. Seeing Baek Hye-hyang’s face for the first time in a year, she certainly resembled Baek Ryeonha. Her black hair and black eyes made the resemblance even stronger.
They looked almost like twins. But while Baek Ryeonha had a more pure and elegant aura, this woman was sharp and strangely overflowing with sensuality.
“Is it alright for you to take off your mask?”
“I have plenty of spare masks.”
I was stunned by her bold behavior. Was she acting this daringly because her face wasn't known to the Orthodox factions?
“There aren't many chances to become the husband of a woman as charming as me, So Woon-hwi.”
This was the first time someone had pushed themselves on me so relentlessly. And since it was a candidate for the Blood Cult Leader doing it, it was incredibly burdensome. I would rather be recruited as a subordinate.
I had to change the subject.
“Why did you come here?”
At my question, the corners of her mouth curled up.
“I imagine it’s for the same reason as you.”
“But do you really have the leisure to pay this much attention to me?”
She burst into laughter at that.
“The sword is destined to fall into my hands anyway. You don't need to worry about that. You should focus on this opportunity to be by my side.”
“Do you think you can still say that if I expose your identity?”
I took a firmer stance. This was actually something our side had been concerned about—that Baek Hye-hyang’s side might reveal our identities during the Successor's Martial Discussion.
However, Baek Ryeonha had spoken with certainty that they would never do such a thing. She believed they would rather wait for the moment we obtained the sword and tried to leave, rather than doing something like that during the discussion.
“You won't.”
“...And why is that?”
At my question, she smirked, held her hand horizontally, and said,
“Looking at it this way, she and I are destined to be rivals. However...”
She turned her hand vertically, like a pillar.
“If you look at it this way, we are on the same side. Do you think a clever fellow like you or that girl would reveal that there’s internal strife within our Cult in front of the Orthodox people?”
‘Ha!’
To think she would say the exact same thing as Baek Ryeonha.
In front of their enemies, the Orthodox factions, they were fellow members of the Blood Cult. There was an unspoken agreement not to expose weaknesses that could be used against them.
She was right. Exposing each other's identities here would only serve to unite the Orthodox factions further.
‘This isn't working.’
She already knew I had joined Baek Ryeonha’s side. In that case, it was better to make a clean break.
I spoke in a polite voice.
“Thank you for the offer. The position of Lady Baek Hye-hyang’s husband is an attractive proposal, but it is a position far beyond my current capacity.”
I humbled myself as much as possible. At my words, the corners of Baek Hye-hyang’s mouth rose.
“Saying it’s beyond your 'current' capacity means you don't know what might happen later?”
This woman was surprisingly good at finding hidden meanings. I had no intention of being under anyone’s thumb.
“You see, I never let go of anything I’ve decided I want.”
Greed.
Yes, this was how she differed from Baek Ryeonha. She was honest about her desires.
“I hope you can make an exception this time.”
“No. I’ll have to take you by force if necessary. I’ve taken quite a liking to you.”
Baek Hye-hyang tightened her grip on my wrist and quickly reached out with her other hand to strike my pressure points.
I moved swiftly to block her hand. In that instant, she used a Changing Tide, grabbing my hand like lightning and attempting to break it.
‘Phew.’
In that split second, I opened my Middle Dantian.
As my Innate True Qi surged, her hand that was gripping mine was repelled.
A glint of interest appeared in Baek Hye-hyang’s eyes.
“My guess was right.”
Yes, it was. And I don't intend to hide my strength any longer. If I don't, I’ll end up being suppressed and dragged away by you right here.
Snap!
I quickly drew the Lesser Conversation Sword and aimed for the wrist of the hand holding my arm.
I expected her to let go and dodge, but Baek Hye-hyang caught the blade of the sword using only her index and middle fingers.
“You won't escape with just this—”
Thud!
Before she could finish, a kick struck her shoulder. In that brief moment, Baek Hye-hyang let go of the sword to block the kick.
However, the force of the blow pushed her back about three steps.
This was my aim. Thanks to that, I was finally free from her grasp.
Step, step, step!
I used my footwork to put distance between us. Baek Hye-hyang’s lips twitched. Rather than being upset, she looked like she was having the time of her life.
“Not bad. I guess I can't hold back.”
Shiver!
At that moment, a red haze rose from her body. An intense killing intent began to consume the surroundings. Did she really not care that there were so many people just outside the alley?
‘Damn it.’
This was truly troublesome. To think this would happen right when I had left the Namcheon Iron Sword behind. Could I face her with only the Sea Origin Bright Wheel Fist or Dagger Arts?
Whoosh!
Baek Hye-hyang’s form blurred as she closed in on me like a stretching shadow.
It was then.
Slash!
A silver flash streaked before my eyes, and Baek Hye-hyang, who had been reaching for me, stepped back.
Baek Hye-hyang glared at the person standing in front of me with sharp eyes.
‘Young Lady Sama?’
It was Sama-yeong.
“Who are you?”
Sama-yeong asked, pointing her sword at Baek Hye-hyang. There was no room for relaxation on her face. Was she tense because of the intense killing intent radiating from Baek Hye-hyang?
“Move.”
Baek Hye-hyang commanded in a cold voice. At this, Sama-yeong took a proper Qi Control Stance and gathered her energy.
Then, gesturing with her other hand, she said,
“Try and make me.”
“How arrogant.”
With those words, Baek Hye-hyang lunged toward Sama-yeong.
The moment the two women were about to clash, I stomped hard on the ground.
Boom! Crackle!
Debris flew up, obscuring Baek Hye-hyang’s vision.
“Stay still.”
“Huh?”
I quickly wrapped my arm around Sama-yeong’s waist and extended my left hand behind me.
The Silver Smoke Thread flew out in a straight line and tied itself to a pillar of a blacksmith shop outside the alley.
As I injected Innate True Qi into it—
Whirrrr! Zip!
‘!?’
Sama-yeong and I were pulled out of the alley at incredible speed, almost as if we were flying.
The passing crowds were startled and scrambled to get out of our way.
“D-Deputy Unit Leader.”
Sama-yeong blushed as she held onto my arm wrapped around her waist. She seemed embarrassed.
However, my gaze remained fixed on the shadowed alley. There, Baek Hye-hyang stood with an expression of utter disbelief.
She probably never imagined I would escape in such a way.