Chapter 757: Appearance of a Hero (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 757: Appearance of a Hero (5)
“We must find a way out immediately.”
While the battle raged outside, a tense discussion unfolded within the pavilion.
The barrier still hemmed them in, leaving them as anxious as ever, unable to find a way through. Still, they couldn't just stand by and do nothing. They had to put their heads together and devise a plan to overcome the situation.
“…Drunken Beggar Woo Bong… Have you discovered anything?”
Muoh Geom, the leader of the Great White Sect, called out to Drunken Beggar Woo Bong.
The old man had been examining the barrier from every possible angle for some time. Muoh Geom asked the question with a sliver of hope that a weakness had been found.
“…I found something.”
“What?”
“Really!?”
Their expressions brightened instantly at Drunken Beggar Woo Bong’s reply. To think he had actually found a way.
Just as a glimmer of hope appeared…
“I found it, but…” Drunken Beggar Woo Bong added, his expression troubled. “Unfortunately, as I said before, I’m not an expert in this field… It seems it will take quite a lot of time.”
“Still, the fact that it can be undone is what matters. It’s a relief that there’s a way…”
“How long is ‘a lot’?”
Since he said it would take a while, perhaps half a day? That was what everyone was thinking.
“…Two days.”
“Pardon?”
“…Wh-what… did you say?”
The timeframe that left Drunken Beggar Woo Bong’s mouth was far longer than they had anticipated. Two days? What kind of nonsense was this? They all stared at Drunken Beggar Woo Bong with bewildered expressions.
“Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t confident? Are your eyes just for show? Your glares are sharp enough to kill a man, damn it,” the old man shouted, his face contorting. “The rules connecting this barrier are too intricate. It seems to be a type of formation, but one wrong move and it’ll all be for nothing.”
The Beggar’s Sect prioritized information over martial might. As a man who had risen to its highest position, he knew a fair amount about formations. Fortunately, the barrier before them was at a level where its deactivation method could be understood with a bit of knowledge.
However...
“This is ridiculously difficult…”
He could see the solution, but he couldn't execute it easily. It was like a tangled, knotted ball of yarn. It was so complex and tightly bound that trying to unravel it felt like it would take an eternity.
“Hmph.”
A true formation expert might have been able to handle it, but for Drunken Beggar Woo Bong and his shallow knowledge, this was his limit.
“Two days… Two days is too long.”
“We should look for another way.”
The situation was urgent. They didn't know what was happening outside, and it wasn't safe inside either. They had to find a way to escape, no matter what.
“Even if the barrier absorbs our internal energy… surely it has a limit, right? How about we just keep striking it for now?”
“That’s too dangerous. What if the barrier shifts and the absorbed energy explodes?”
“Lord of the Cheol Clan, what kind of baseless speculation is that? Where in the world does such a technique exist…!”
“Is the barrier you’re looking at right now a technique you’ve ever seen before? You must be quite ignorant to suggest we just try to break things. If you’re going to speak, at least say something that makes sense…”
“What? Ignorant? You bastard—!”
The atmosphere grew heated. A rift had formed from their differing opinions. Given their sensitive state, it was the perfect environment for tempers to flare. The martial artists’ fighting spirit began to fill the space inside the barrier, as if they might draw their swords at any moment.
Just then.
“Hah—!”
“…!”
A harsh roar swept through the area.
Everyone’s eyes widened. The one who had shouted was, surprisingly, the Sword Emperor, who had been silent until that moment. After his fierce internal energy subdued the surroundings, the Sword Emperor closed his eyes again as if nothing had happened. In the now-quiet atmosphere, another person spoke as if he had been waiting.
It was the Sword Immortal.
“Sect Leader… for now, please begin the attempt.”
“…You mean deactivating the formation?”
Murmurs spread at the Sword Immortal’s request.
“But Alliance Leader… the Sect Leader said it would take two days to deactivate…”
“We have no other method at present, do we?”
“...”
The person who had spoken flinched. It wasn't just that the Sword Immortal had a point; his gaze was chillingly cold.
“Even as we search for another way, we must at least try something now. Whether it takes two days or three… let’s just start.”
“…Y-yes, you’re right.”
Let’s at least do something while we think.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“…I’m counting on you.”
“...”
Watching their reactions, the Alliance Leader spoke to Drunken Beggar Woo Bong, who also nodded.
“I’ll say it again, I’m not responsible for what happens.”
The pressure was immense. He lamented the fact that he was the one who had to do something, but he had no choice. Drunken Beggar Woo Bong suppressed a sigh and reached his hand toward the barrier.
But then.
Thump.
Suddenly, his hand stopped just before the barrier. He was close enough to touch it, yet Drunken Beggar Woo Bong couldn't move.
The same was true for the others. Everyone froze and turned their heads. Their gazes converged on a location some distance away, in the heart of Henan. They couldn't see anything yet, but everyone present felt it.
“…Something… is…”
“…This is…!”
Something was coming.
Thump-thump! Thump-thump!
Their hearts began to race of their own accord; their instincts were screaming at them. An intense sense of alarm rose within them. Just as the tension reached its peak…
Dooong—!
Fwoooooooosh—!!!
A fierce gust of wind erupted as a massive pillar of light poured down from far away. Light burst forth from a crest that had formed in the sky, striking the ground with brilliant intensity. Though it seemed quite far, the spectacle was so violent that it was visible even from here.
“…What, what in the world is that—!”
“What on earth is happening…!?”
They didn't know. They couldn't know, but one thing was certain.
“…We have to get out of here now.”
They had to escape this place immediately. They either had to break out and head toward that light… or break out and run as far away as possible. They couldn't remain here. The same thought flashed through everyone’s mind simultaneously.
“…Dammit…!”
“We have to do something…! But how…!”
As everyone panicked…
“Wait!”
Someone spotted something and pointed beyond the barrier. Since most were captivated by the pillar of light, only a few looked where he was pointing.
“Huh?”
“That… person is…”
The reaction was unusual. It was only natural. Someone was walking toward the barrier, and their condition was horrific. They staggered and crawled, approaching with great difficulty. Blood dripped behind their slow movements. Despite the obvious pain, the figure silently approached.
The problem was…
“…How is she here?”
Most of the people here recognized the approaching person. An old woman with a frail body and white hair. A being who, it was no exaggeration to say, managed all the formations of the Alliance.
Bimapa, the Captain of the Wind Dragon Army.
The master of formations was, for some reason, approaching the barrier in a completely broken state.
* * *
Kuuuuuuuuuuu—!!!
The descending pillar was a magnificent sight to behold. I had never seen such a vast amount of light. Even if I tried to push through with sheer firepower, it was a display of power I couldn't replicate with my own Qi capacity. That was how outstanding—and chilling—the spectacle was.
“Th-that’s…”
“Run…! Run!”
Something unbelievable was happening. Realizing this, a few people began to flee in haste. Most were civilians, but there were martial artists mixed in among them. Then again, seeing that sight, what difference did it make if you were a martial artist or a civilian?
In the past, I might have been scared enough to run away, too.
‘Their escape route is fine, so I don't need to go and catch them.’
The direction they were fleeing was acceptable, so I didn't pay them any mind.
Kuuuuung—!!
Right now, I needed to focus on what was in front of me. I narrowed my eyes and observed only the pillar.
‘…This is unusual.’
It was certainly unusual. Not just the fact that so much light was pouring from the crest.
‘For that much light to hit the ground with almost no damage.’
Even though it was blasting the ground, there were no cracks or flying debris. How was that possible? Was it unable to penetrate the surface? I didn't think so.
‘It’s too much of a straight line for that.’
I could tell without looking that it was falling to the ground with immense pressure. So, was it cleanly piercing the ground and going inside? That didn't seem right either.
‘…Hmm.’
I didn't know. I had no idea how that vast energy was flowing. I couldn't tell even using my Mind’s Eye. The only thing I knew for sure was…
‘It’s dangerous.’
That light was dangerous. Just looking at it stimulated my sense of alarm. Just as I had empathized with those who fled earlier, I felt the same way.
Run now. Or else you’ll be in danger.
Every instinct in my body was screaming that at me, but…
‘…Run? Where the hell would I run to now?’
Running away at this point was out of the question. I'd already stirred up a shitstorm the size of an elephant. I had to see it through to the end.
And…
‘If I can't get what I need here, there's nothing I can do going forward.’
This was the core of the plan. Other things could be fixed, tweaked, or modified. But not this. This was something that had to be done, no matter what.
“…Young Master…”
A voice came from my side, and I turned my gaze. It was one of the martial artists from the Hwangbo Clan.
“A message just arrived. It’s a report that Young Lady Nahi has finished her preparations.”
I nodded.
‘Good.’
Fortunately, it seemed there were no problems on their end. As I was confirming the matter, the man added another piece of information.
”And… they’ve confirmed the Wind Dragon Army Captain’s movements near the pavilion… this is…”
“Leave it be. Tell them not to interfere, as it doesn’t matter.”
“Understood.”
So the Wind Dragon Army Captain had started to move. I took a deep breath as I assessed the situation piece by piece. The situation itself hadn't deviated much from the plan. In fact, it was flowing in a favorable direction.
However.
‘When the hell is that bastard, the Deer King, going to show up?’
Where the hell was he and what was he doing? He should have appeared by now, but Tang Duk was nowhere to be seen.
‘Tsk.’
Was it because I hadn't given him more detailed orders? This was a bit of a problem.
‘It’ll be… fine, right?’
If it was anything else, maybe not, but this much should be fine. For now, I decided to believe that.
Fwoosh—!
I expanded my Qi sense to determine if there were any others nearby. My Qi sense spread out in an instant, and a few people were caught within it.
‘Not civilians. A large number of what appear to be martial artists.’
I couldn't get an exact count because I was in a hurry, but a considerable number were approaching. They were likely drawn by the pillar of light. As I checked them, I looked to see if the person I was searching for was among them, but…
‘…Not yet.’
Unfortunately, it seemed the person I was waiting for wasn't there.
‘Tsk.’
Why was this wench late, too? Honestly, nothing was going my way.
‘I should just get rid of them all.’
I had no need for chess pieces that didn't follow orders. I had to keep making my moves.
“Hoo.”
I let out a breath and swept my hair back. I could feel the tension. When emotions waver, the body stiffens, and an uncomfortable sensation seeps into the muscles.
I swung my hand.
Smack—!!
“Y-Young Master!?”
The person next to me jumped in surprise. It was because I had slapped my own cheek with all my might.
Drip—!
My lip split, and blood trickled down. My cheek began to swell slightly. It was just right.
Ptui.
I spat out the blood and loosened up my body.
“There.”
This method was the best for when I was tense. The only mistake was that I hit myself a bit too hard, and now a tooth was loose. After using the shock to relax my body, I took out a lucky pouch from my robes. I picked out an elixir from it and swallowed.
The elixir was none other than a Heavenly Poison Orb.
Swoooosh—!!!
Internal energy immediately flowed out of the elixir and seeped into my heart. The energy I had lost from unleashing a barrage of flames began to be replenished. To think I was using a Heavenly Poison Orb, one of the most prized elixirs in the Central Plains, just to recharge my internal energy. Even I thought it was absurd, but I had no choice. This was the fastest way.
“Mm.”
I clenched and unclenched my fist a few times to check, and the effect was certainly good. Thanks to it, I was able to recover a good portion of my lost energy. What an extravagance.
As I was controlling and regulating my energy…
“Cult—! Young Master!”
A powerful voice called out from a distance. It seemed they had finally arrived. I turned around, my brow deeply furrowed.
“You damn wench. I told you to come straight here…!”
I was about to speak, my voice filled with irritation. The person I had been waiting for, with short black hair, appeared. Bongsun arrived, holding her staff.
“Sorry—!! But this unni insisted on coming with me… so I was a little late!” Bongsun said with a bright smile.
She was the one I had been waiting for, but my gaze went past her to the person behind her.
“You…”
“…Hi…”
Her bluish-white hair swayed as she waved her hand. A woman who, for some reason, was wearing my uniform. It might have been different in the past, but now, she was a woman who had become one of my lives. My eyes widened at the unexpected situation. She wasn't supposed to be here. I was pretty sure I had told that woman not to come out under any circumstances.
“Why are you here—!”
The moment I was about to shout in anger…
Thump—!
“…!”
Dammit, I couldn't even do that. My head snapped back around. I stared at the spot where the pillar had been striking.
“Well, now.”
Seeing it, my brow furrowed instantly. The intensely pouring energy was nowhere to be seen. And where I had expected to find a deep crater, there was, surprisingly, only pristine ground.
So, where did all that light go? If it didn't dig into the ground, then where did that much light disappear to? The question arose, but it was resolved soon after. There was something on the smooth ground. As I narrowed my eyes to focus, it became clearer.
“That’s…”
A white mass. An unidentifiable white mass was there. It was, at most, the size of an adult man, and its shape resembled an egg.
What in the world was that? Was that the dragon that the Unyielding Demon said was sealed in Henan? If so, wasn't it too small?
As these thoughts were running through my head…
Sss… Sssss….
The mass slowly began to change.
‘Threads…?’
They were thin, fine threads. Threads were slowly being emitted from the object, and they began to form a shape. The outline taking form was much larger than the mass itself.
What would happen if I let it be? That was the question on the minds of everyone watching the scene, but…
Shiiiik—!!!
Thwump! Kuwaaaaaaaah—!!!
Before the thought could even finish, a strike flew through the air and hit the mass. Flames erupted, causing a massive explosion. That wasn't the end of it.
Shik! Shiiik—!!!
As if one strike wasn't enough, flashes of light burst out repeatedly.
Fwoosh! Kuwaaaaaah—!!
The successive explosions were so intense they changed the surrounding temperature. Everyone looked at me in surprise.
“…What?”
Why were they giving me those looks? Seeing them, I immediately shouted.
“It’s obviously transforming, and you’re just going to stand there and watch? Are you insane?”
Some might call it romantic. Romance? Romance, my ass. Stick to ideals like that, and you'll get your head chopped off.