Chapter 221
Chapter 221
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 221
Chapter Title: Taiji Yin-Yang Body (24)
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A foul stench of blood and unwelcome screams... What impeccable timing this was. The moment I returned after seeing off Wi Ji-eun, I stumbled upon a gruesome scene. An utterly revolting incident where unorthodox faction thugs had stormed in and were wreaking havoc.
-Chaaeng
-Chaeng!
I pulled myself together and rushed through the unorthodox mob to question the clan head about what had happened. Getting a grasp on the situation was the top priority.
"...What in the world happened?"
"The Fluttering Swallow Corps got hit..."
"Kihihihihi! Those pests from the Fluttering Swallow whatever were buzzing around like flies, so I came to see their master's face. And I hear there's a human spiritual elixir here! Kihihihihi! Hand her over, and I'll forgive you all for her sake alone!"
The Fluttering Swallow Corps was the Wi Ji clan's armed force, tasked with monitoring the movements of unorthodox groups around northern Hebei Province to ensure Wi Ji-hye's safety. For things to turn out like this... it meant they'd been caught off guard. It seemed rumors of Hye-mae's return had spread across the entire martial world, tangling up the corps' operations.
"...About thirty of them, roughly. I'll help, Father-in-law."
"No, you go to Hye-a right now. We need the elder guarding her side. The two of us aren't enough. Hurry and switch places with the elder."
"Can't the two of us handle it?"
"That one's the Shaven Twin Ghosts—one of the unorthodox faction's masters who has transcended the Wall of Pinnacle. Charge in thinking it's just him alone, and his hidden brother will spring out for a sneak attack. That's why you need at least two to face him, but your skills aren't quite there yet."
"Kihihihihi! To think Lord Moonlit Sword knows of me! What an honor! But that doesn't mean I'll let you off easy. Come on, hand over your daughter!"
Shaven Twin Ghosts? Never heard that moniker before. Damn it, so he's not from around northern Hebei. We'd had a few peaceful weeks, but looks like the good times are over. This kind of thing will keep happening from now on. It pissed me off, but for Hye-mae's sake, I'd have to endure it.
Still, having a transcendent pinnacle expert show up right at the start felt like cheating.
Becoming a Heavenly Martial Body must've botched the balance patch. At this rate, I'll game over before I can even level up. Haah... This wasn't going to be easy.
"Shut your mouth! How dare a filthy unorthodox cur wag your tongue like that! Son-in-law Baek! We don't have time to stand around. Go fetch the elder now!"
"Understood!"
"Kihihihihi, you think I'll let you go that easily? Block them, you lot!"
-Shuuuk
-Paak!
"""Kuaaak!"""
"Hoo... Not bad with a sword."
But as Father-in-law said, I didn't need to handle him myself. With a Fire Transformation Realm expert in the clan, why would I risk my neck? I lightly sliced through the unorthodox thugs blocking my path and dashed toward Hye-mae's room.
And thinking about it, this was a dire crisis, but I was the one who had to guard Hye-mae. Sure, Elder Han was strong, but as her future husband, I couldn't leave something like this to him.
-Tadak tadak
-Tadadak
"Hye-mae!"
"Baek Rang! You're safe!"
This was a precious event that could max out her favorability—how could I leave it to someone else? To ease her worries, I embraced her trembling body.
"Tsk tsk tsk. You got here quick, boy."
"Master! We have to help the clan head!"
"I know without you telling me, so don't worry. Alright... I'll head out. You keep Hye-a safe."
-Shiiik
Whoa... So this is how someone who's stepped into the Fire Transformation Realm moves? Even with my Heavenly Martial Body, I couldn't track Elder Han properly. At that level, no need to worry. Letting out a sigh of relief, I checked on Wi Ji-hye's condition.
"Hye-mae, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but Baek Rang... That blood, don't tell me..."
"It's not mine, so don't worry."
"Haa... You scared me. I'm so glad..."
"Hye-mae..."
Hmm, could this be it? They say people instinctively feel breeding urges in moments of crisis. Was that why? Her trembling face looked more beautiful than ever—like I wanted to pounce on her right then and there.
"Baek Rang... Haa, Baek Rang..."
And it wasn't just me—Wi Ji-hye let out a sultry breath as she rubbed her breasts against my chest, gazing at me intensely with eyes full of expectation.
"Hah, haa..."
This... was it the mood?
With the Fire Transformation expert stepping in, the clan was safe now. Calming Hye-mae's heart was part of it too. If we made love like this for a bit...
"Kihihihihi, so the bitch has an owner. But hey, a hole's a hole. Oi, you worm—if you don't wanna die, hand her over."
Ah, what the hell. The mood was perfect...
No, seriously, what is this? It's that guy from earlier. What the hell were Father-in-law and Elder Han doing? How do you let a transcendent pinnacle expert slip through? Cold sweat broke out in this unexpected crisis. This could be the end of my 'Heroine NTR' run.
"Hmph, if you don't want to die, you'd better scram right now."
Panicking, I stepped in front of Hye-mae, drew my sword, and glared at him.
"Kihihihihi, a lover boy, eh? Wanna die for a woman? Fine. I'll grant your wish. Kihihihihi!"
And then I noticed something off.
This bastard... it's not 'kihihihihi,' it's 'kihhihihi.' And looking closely, his curved sword is different too... Wait, is this not the same guy from before? Could he be the brother Father-in-law mentioned?
That plausible deduction gave me grounded confidence. At least no sneak attack from a hidden brother. Transcending the Wall of Pinnacle was intimidating, but one-on-one, I was sure I could win.
"Hmph, I'll grant your wish. Hye-mae! Step back for a moment. I'll deal with him quick."
"B-Baek Rang... I believe in you!"
"Kihihihi! I'll fuck her right in front of you!"
"You're... not dying easy."
"Kihihihi!"
"Die!"
To cut to the chase,
"Kihihi... kihi..."
-Thud
It was my victory.
A straight martial artist duel would've been my sure loss, but I had the skills from 'Heroine NTR'—cheat abilities like Observation and Telekinesis.
"Kihi... Freak... Using such weird internal energy..."
So unless it was something extreme, I was confident I wouldn't lose one-on-one.
...What? That's it?
-Tadadak
"Son-in-law Baek! Are you alright?!"
"Tsk tsk tsk. As expected of my disciple!"
The fight wrapped up in a very brief summary, and just then, Father-in-law and Elder Han returned to Hye-mae's room. After quite some time, we could finally relax.
"Baek Rang, that was amazing... I'm falling for you all over again!"
"I got lucky..."
But something felt off, like I'd forgotten something important—it was really bothering me. Even though everything ended well, I couldn't smile. Was it that pointless last line about 'My brother will avenge me'? Left a bad aftertaste.
"Baek Rang? Are you hurt somewhere? You look pale."
"No, I'm fine... Wait, ah!"
"...Baek Rang?"
"Hye-mae! Everyone! Eun-a's missing!"
And then I realized the source of that unease.
Wi Ji-eun, who should've been back home by now, was nowhere to be seen. Realizing the gravity, I left Hye-mae with Father-in-law and headed out of the clan grounds with Elder Han to search.
"Disciple, I'll check the left side—you take the right!"
"Got it!"
We'd subdued or killed all the invading unorthodox thugs, so the odds of something happening to Eun-a were low. But that bastard's dying words, 'My brother will avenge me...,' kept nagging at me.
He was the brother himself... but he said it like there was another sibling hidden away. Couldn't help but worry. It meant there was one more unorthodox bastard we hadn't caught. I was going mad with concern.
-Pusuk
-Chwaaak...
"Kihohoho, chicken instead of pheasant—gotta kill you to honor my brothers. Farewell. Kihohoho!"
And they say bad premonitions are never wrong.
"...Guek?! You bastard..."
"S-Sis, snap out of it! Sis!"
I found Wi Ji-eun in a dark alley, already a corpse.
By the slimmest of margins.
Haah... Thank goodness I had a save.