Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Southern Sea Cloud Sword
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Seo Gye-won widened his eyes and asked in return.
"Bae Ji-hak? Southern Sea Cloud Sword Bae Ji-hak?"
"Yes, it's the very same Bae Ji-hak who once served as the Azure Swallow Division Leader of the Haenam Sect."
"Isn't he the wretched scoundrel who betrayed two groups he belonged to in a row? I hear he even wrote a denunciation letter."
Even Seo Gye-won spat out his misdeeds with disgust.
Lately, Bae Ji-hak's notoriety had pierced the heavens. Beyond his evil deeds, much of it stemmed from his卑劣 act of reporting the Guangdong Jin Clan's crimes to the authorities.
Since the founding of the Great Ming, relations between the government and the martial world had grown closer, but certain lines still had to be respected. Inducing official intervention for personal reasons was strictly taboo.
"He's not the type to heel obediently even with a leash. More wolf than stray dog. And you want me to take him in?"
"Even a wolf has its uses. Just don't let it into the yard. If it gets too dangerous, we can always unleash the hunters then."
"You think it'll be that easy to dispose of him?"
"Just tip off the Haenam Sect about his whereabouts, and they'll come charging with bloodshot eyes."
After a moment's thought, Seo Gye-won nodded.
"Fine. Send someone to check it out."
It had been a few days since the meeting ended.
"Y-Young Master! Disaster! Absolute disaster!"
Yi Pil-do rushed into the annex, shouting urgently. Before Yuk Jin-yang could even ask his purpose, he blurted it out.
"That Seo Gye-won has decided to wipe us all out!"
"What do you mean by that?"
Yuk Jin-yang gestured for him to sit as he asked. He happened to be having breakfast at the time.
Yi Pil-do ignored the invitation and kept standing, yelling as if there was no time to lose.
"I have a spy planted secretly by Seo Gye-won's side. That bastard shelled out a fortune in gold to hire a ronin!"
It was an exorbitant sum for mere black path thugs. It seemed he had sought out a considerable expert. Yuk Jin-yang frowned and asked.
"Do you know who he hired?"
"It turns out it's no ordinary assassin. They say Southern Sea Cloud Sword Bae Ji-hak has been bought off by him!"
"Bae Ji-hak, you say?"
The sudden mention of the name drew an involuntary response. To hear that name again so soon. He had thought they might cross paths someday, but not this early.
Yuk Jin-yang set down his utensils and infused his voice with strength.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes, no doubt about it!"
Yi Pil-do nodded vigorously several times, his frustration evident. Yuk Jin-yang first calmed him down, then summoned So Yun-un and gave the order.
"Gather all the merchants from Minyang here."
"Should I bring their families too?"
"As they wish."
It was a situation that could undermine his leadership. Before fear spread and the merchants' loyalties wavered, decisive action was needed.
So Yun-un nodded and left the annex. He returned shortly after with the Minyang merchants in tow. They all wore baffled expressions at the sudden summons.
"What is this about?"
"Why bring all our families...?"
"Has something happened?"
Fortunately, none of them seemed to have suffered any recent abductions.
"Merchant Yi, please explain on my behalf."
"Ah, yes."
Yuk Jin-yang left the situation briefing to Yi Pil-do and headed to his office, accompanied only by Flying Stream Pavilion warriors. It was to discuss countermeasures.
"What should we do?"
"Strike first."
So Yun-un asserted firmly.
"We don't have much time. We can't stay in Fujian forever. They'll just bide their time until then."
The merchants had escorts, but they wouldn't be enough against Bae Ji-hak. Moreover, some of his subordinates might still be lurking.
Yuk Jin-yang pondered briefly.
There was justification. The Haenam Sect had placed a bounty on Bae Ji-hak's head. The authorities wouldn't want to make enemies of both a major faction and an ancient clan.
"Everyone, arm yourselves. We move now."
It was a sunset evening, the sky dyed in twilight hues.
Yuk Jin-yang led the Flying Stream Pavilion warriors toward Seo Gye-won's estate.
The main gate stood unguarded. Not even gatekeepers to welcome or bar visitors— an ominous sign in itself.
The estate grounds were eerily silent, unfit for its grandiose scale.
Yuk Jin-yang frowned and drew his Silver Dew Sword. He sensed the insidious spread of inner energy, like creeping mist. Human presences overlapped with it.
It was blatant provocation, daring him to enter if he was confident.
'They've been waiting?'
Yuk Jin-yang took a step forward and swung his sword. The upward slash cleaved the gate diagonally. The sight beyond was shocking.
The estate interior was awash in crimson. Scarlet stains spread everywhere, like fallen autumn leaves. Scars of a bloody storm that had swept through.
He slowly stepped onto the stone path. No slickness of fresh blood. It had flowed long ago and congealed cold.
"What a strange twist of fate. I never imagined we'd meet this soon."
A familiar low voice reached his ears.
A man lounged on the threshold. Twilight shadows from the eaves obscured his face. At last, he rose.
It was Bae Ji-hak. His appearance had changed utterly since their last encounter. A massive scar crossing his face told the tale, likely from fierce battles evading pursuit.
Murderous intent emanated from him, like facing a wounded wolf.
As Yuk Jin-yang slowly scanned him, his gaze halted at one spot. One sleeve of his worn martial robes hung empty and frayed.
He asked outright.
"Where'd you leave that arm? I heard you wrote a denunciation against the Jin Clan—did you abandon it there too?"
"Insolent pup."
Shadows flickered beyond the papered doors of the hall behind Bae Ji-hak. Likely Azure Swallow Division members who had tracked him here.
Yuk Jin-yang named the absent one.
"Where's Seo Gye-won."
"Dead. He overreached, trying to tame me, so I taught him his place."
"Fully committed to playing the fiend now, are you? It suits you."
"Don't strut around with your flimsy reputation!"
Bae Ji-hak snarled in fury.
"Word of you reached me. The Yuk Clan's rising star who saved the Haenam Sect? Ha, I nearly laughed. Killing the Jin Clan head must've been Sa Jong-seop's doing—you just claimed it for your fame."
"Flimsy reputation."
Yuk Jin-yang nodded readily and drew his Silver Dew Sword. At the same moment, the Flying Stream Pavilion warriors hidden in the shadows raised their auras.
Killing intent scattered in all directions, silencing the cicadas' cries. An chilling silence descended in an instant.
"Then come take it, if you can."
Yuk Jin-yang unfolded Moon Stream Subtle Steps and charged. With a single step's advance and a draw-cut, he struck. Bae Ji-hak parried adeptly with the Hainan five-foot straight sword in one hand.
Chaeng!
Neither lingered blade-to-blade. They repelled each other and unleashed strikes immediately.
Several exchanges flashed in a blink. Winds from their swordplay clashed fiercely. The metallic clashes were nearly drowned out.
Around them, Flying Stream Pavilion warriors tangled with Azure Swallow Division members, blades flying.
"Not bad, whelp!"
"You're worse than before."
Yuk Jin-yang countered the empty praise with provocation. Against a senior expert, he couldn't afford to lose momentum.
He knew the hallmarks of Hainan martial arts well.
Left-hand sword and swift sword.
The left-handed swing was unfamiliar in itself. Most swordsmen worldwide favored the right. It induced confusion, then severed the throat before adaptation.
Unlike Central Plains scholars who derived myriad principles from the sword, Hainan's pursuit was starkly different. Not subtle, but efficient.
Yet it differed from a mere assassin's hasty slashes. In seeking depth through efficiency, it resembled the Moon Maiden Sword Art.
'All rivers return to the sea.'
Idle thoughts ended there. Yuk Jin-yang deflected the fierce thrust. Even as it rebounded, a follow-up slash came.
The moment he thought he'd read the trajectory, it shifted. A change-form.
Chaeng!
He barely blocked by reversing his grip. No sooner had he judged than a diagonal horizontal cut whipped in.
Speed birthed variations. Though the forms weren't flashy, near-seamless chained slashes held terrifying power.
Especially for Bae Ji-hak, with his freakishly developed left arm. Ideal for Hainan arts, channeling far greater sword force than a normal build.
"Starting to lag behind?"
Sudden taunt. Bae Ji-hak declared.
"I'll go even faster. Try to keep up."
No bluff.
Kung!
With a stomping advance kicking up dirt, the sword thrust. Just as he thought he'd blocked, a chain attack followed.
Chaeng! Chaeng! Chaeng!
A barrage filling the space like a line assaulting a plane. Hainan's signature: Cresting Waves Reverse-Hand Sword.
The energy on the blade was thin and light. But swift with density. The relentless single strikes evoked a summer downpour.
Splitting wind strands lashed his cheeks fiercely. The aftermath alone thinly sliced skin, beading blood.
'He's superior in speed.'
But orthodox methods weren't everything. Yuk Jin-yang unfolded Moon Stream Subtle Steps to widen the gap. Bae Ji-hak pursued without pause. Refusing to yield distance.
"Where do you think you're running?"
The urgently extended sword closed in relentlessly.
'Got you.'
Yuk Jin-yang's stance shifted markedly. His empty left hand supported below the hilt.
Bae Ji-hak had made a fatal mistake.
A swift sword's speed came from precise spacing. Too far, and power waned for shallow cuts; too close, and it couldn't accelerate.
He had ignored the basics every swift swordsman must heed.
In a warrior's life-or-death clash, carelessness demanded harsh payment.
Kung!
He stomped so hard the ground cratered.
Like ancient tree roots driven deep, he unleashed explosive acceleration via waist twist. Power flowed naturally to both arms. He heaved the sword upward with full might.
A whole-body heavy sword. The one fixated on swift strikes had instantly changed the blade's nature. Bewildering.
And in a split second. Bae Ji-hak had no time to withdraw and met it head-on.
Chaeng!
The opponent's rhythm shattered instantly. Yuk Jin-yang swung again.
The Silver Dew Sword raced like wind, tracing a vicious horizontal arc.
Jjeeeong—!
Tremendous clash birthed spreading metal resonance. Shockwaves burst outward.
Unable to withstand the monstrous sword force, Bae Ji-hak was hurled back far.
Deep furrows gouged the dirt. Even after barely halting, aftershocks left him staggering.
Beyond the thick dust cloud from the backlash, his face faintly visible brimmed with shock.