Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Tokens of Passage
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He spat out a savage threat to turn the very ground they stood upon into their graves, but there was no reaction he'd been waiting for. Far from charging in, they formed a circular formation and adopted an even more vigilant stance. Only now did they truly grasp the gap in their realms.
Instead, Yuk Jin-yang took the first step forward. The thickening raindrops began pelting his nose bridge.
Thud.
The sound of his foot slamming into the muddy earth must have felt like a death sentence to them. Their flinching retreat was pathetic.
Rather than opening his mouth again, Yuk Jin-yang kicked off the ground. The foes bristled like hedgehogs, raising their swords. It was a defensive posture refusing any approach.
His Silver Dew Sword tore through their knife-mountain sword-forest formation, scattering them entirely. Countless among them lost grip of their weapons due to the exquisite use of strong sword techniques. They couldn't withstand the sword force.
"I-I'm done! I surrender!"
"You idiot! You think you can run and survive?"
"If you knew we'd face a monster like that, you should've warned us! I don't wanna die yet!"
"Damn it, I should've just stayed home taking care of my parents."
Amid the chaotic screams, the lethal whistles of blades mixed in. Sounds of flesh tearing and bones splintering. Blood mingled with rain, splashing down and scattering in the wind.
At the center stood Yuk Jin-yang. Cloaked in ferocious intent, he rampaged through the group like a wild beast.
Finally, their formation completely collapsed.
"Impressive skill for one so young."
The eight-foot giant at the center, who had been directing the sword array, gripped the hilt of the three-foot longsword slung across his back. A massive scar crossed one eye, his defining feature.
"And so, you've forced my hand!"
The boastful warrior drew his blade, only to pale in shock as Yuk Jin-yang closed in right before him. The approach speed had exceeded his expectations.
His opponent desperately swung down. It felt like the heavy sword was his favorite technique, radiating a majestic aura. Blocking it revealed considerable raw power.
Yuk Jin-yang deflected the follow-up slash. Spinning his body, he flowed into a thrust. A sharp piercing strike shot forward, slicing every raindrop in its path.
Slash.
The man's head severed from his neck and tumbled to the ground. His staggering body soon crashed into the mud, forming a pool of blood.
The man's futile death triggered the group's total rout. Yuk Jin-yang gave no quarter—but he deliberately spared one. For interrogation.
"S-Spare me!"
"Answer properly, and you live. Where are you from?"
"Fr-From the Azure Sword Sect of Yeongseong County. A local faction in Shandong."
"Sent by the Hwangbo Clan?"
"Y-Yes. They sent word to our sect leader to inspect everyone traveling the official roads without passes."
"Passes?"
The man pulled a small wooden plaque from his sleeve and showed it. Then he launched into an unasked-for explanation. He must have figured full cooperation was his best shot at survival.
"They're distributing them in Jenam, Jenyeong, and Cheongdo. Without one, you can't even enter the cities."
Yuk Jin-yang let out a scoffing laugh. Random inspections blocking civilian travel. They were outright impersonating officials.
Or more like bandits and river pirates tolling remote paths and waterways. Deplorable conduct unworthy of an upright sect.
Did they even have official sanction? Or had the Hwangbo Clan's guts spilled out?
"Then why come at us with swords instead of just checking passes?"
"Our sect leader recognized you."
The man subtly eyed Yuk Ryul.
"Said he had a grudge with that great hero over there."
"Your sect leader?"
"H-He's lying over there."
Yuk Jin-yang turned to where the man gestured. An eight-foot corpse sprawled in the mud. Yuk Ryul, who had circled back, spoke.
"Live. Return where you came from."
"Th-Thank you!"
The warrior scrambled up and bolted through the pouring rain into the mist. In the opposite direction from their group's path.
"Why spare him?"
A woman's voice came.
"He might fetch reinforcements. Better to wipe them all out, no?"
"Third-rate at best. Smarter ones will value their lives and retreat. Don't try to mislead me with nonsense, Embroidered Guard."
Yuk Ryul prodded the other corpses with his scabbard. Rifling through one's robes revealed one of those wooden plaques.
"Pass tokens, huh. Useful find. Might avoid more pointless trouble."
"A grudge, though. Have you been to Shandong before?"
"Old story. Came on a mission once. Plenty of tangled ties."
Yuk Ryul trailed off. Clear he didn't want to say more.
The rain soon stopped. The group pressed on into the swirling white mist.
"Ghosts of the old dynasty! Accomplices of the tyrant! Don't think your power eternal. Heaven will curse you!"
A blood-soaked man cried out. He'd been preaching the White Lotus Cult's cause since their first clash. Even gravely wounded, his fighting spirit burned undimmed.
"Nonsense."
Yuk Jin-yang snorted and swung his Silver Dew Sword. The last cultist's head finally flew. No survivors remained.
A chill autumn wind cooled the blood and sweat. Yuk Jin-yang tilted his head back. Deep fatigue set in.
His uncle's admiration sounded.
"Your realm has risen further."
"Still a long way to go."
He demurred verbally, but inwardly, Yuk Jin-yang felt his breakthrough too.
Finally, great accomplishment.
The Moon Maiden Divine Art, long stuck at small achievement, now unleashed greater power. His true energy's density had visibly thickened. The fruit of back-to-back real combats honing his mastery.
"Uncle, shall we change route? Best avoid the official roads altogether. Even paved as they are, we'll miss our deadline at this rate."
"Agreed. Any more delays, and we're truly late."
The pass tokens proved useless; ambushes kept coming.
Along the roads, more groups confronted them—behaving much like the first. No mere inspections; swords drawn after a few words.
Yuk Ryul's mercy wasn't wasted. Captives revealed some sects had quietly withdrawn. Just more reckless moths drawn to the flame.
The attackers varied wildly.
Beyond White Lotus Cultists and minor sect warriors, wandering ronin and assassins joined in. Lowly skilled, but their intent to wear them down through attrition was blatant.
Shandong had always been called land of heroes, but this many martial artists?
No natural encounters. Undoubtedly the Hwangbo Clan's machinations.
One farmhouse incident turned suspicion to certainty. They paid silver for lodging—only for a night assault.
Now, nowhere was safe. Poison in inn beds or food? Possible.
The Hwangbo net might blanket all Shandong.
"Wish we had mounted foes."
Yuk Jin-yang muttered, wiping blood from his face with his sleeve. His sharp-eared uncle replied.
"I'd not waste fine horses on trash like this either. Too precious."
"True enough."
The group ditched the roads for mountain paths.
Two days passed. They bypassed Jenyeong with a wide berth.
Hwangbo branch territory. Not the main house, but teeming with experts. Beyond two men's power.
Near Gokbu County, the silent Embroidered Guard woman finally spoke.
"So, how long must I endure this?"
Her state was comical. A borrowed robe draped over her head, upper body bound tight with rope. She looked every bit the prisoner in transit.
Harsh, but justified. She'd tried slipping away amid the chaos.
"Too much for a prank? You've sealed my Quchi acupoint, blocking my qi."
"Be grateful I skipped the mute point. At least you can still talk."
Yuk Jin-yang added coldly.
"And it's not all bad for you."
"What nonsense? Parading like this is humiliating enough to die."
"Hides your face, though. They didn't send just you. Awkward running into colleagues looking fine?"
"Not really?"
"Or sparking suspicion. Like you're cooperating with us."
The woman clamped her mouth shut. Honest in its way.
Yuk Jin-yang pressed on.
"Of course, if you want to make the misunderstanding real, welcome. Had time to think?"
"Cut the crap."
She glared. He shrugged nonchalantly.
"You seemed pretty conflicted these past two days. No real thoughts of switching sides?"
"Wishful thinking. Curious how you'll react when you learn the truth."
"What do you mean?"
No answer. Yuk Jin-yang shrugged and dropped it. They'd reached their destination.
A dense cypress grove blocked their path.
Gokbu County's famed scenic spot. Local legend said it sprang from trees Zigong, Confucius's disciple, planted for his master.
Unlike the tale, the woods felt eerie. Eerie winds wailed like ghostly cries, no animal traces. The forest seemed utterly barren, desolate.
The ever-silent Yuk Ryul suddenly spoke.
"Jin-yang, seal her mouth."
He eyed the Embroidered Guard. Yuk Jin-yang swiftly sealed her mute acupoint.
Then, two men slowly emerged from the dim woods. Arrogant bearing, immense auras—true masters.