Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Nature's Will (2)
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"Haaah!!"
Seol Ryua's sword moved like a serpent, piercing the neck of the Blood Ghost Assassin.
She swung her blade to shake off the blood clinging to it, then scanned her surroundings.
Hwan Gyu had also defeated his formidable foe.
And together with the soldiers of Ogang Jihyeon, they were driving back the bandits.
'This should be safe enough... Lord Third Young Master should be fine, right?'
Glancing back, she saw Gu Hwan-gae standing beside him.
'The elder is at the peak realm, but...'
His lightness skill was not inferior even to the transcendent experts.
So she could trust him with it.
Besides, Yi Kyung and Yi Yul were young, but their skills were not to be underestimated.
'But where did Young Master Dang go?'
"What are you doing here?!"
Her face brightened at the thunderous shout.
"Elder!"
It was Hwang No.
She had gone to deal with a Flower Realm expert and returned unharmed.
That alone greatly eased her mind.
"I took down one transcendent expert."
"Then why aren't you escorting the noble guest?! You fool!"
"Yes!"
With Hwang No here, the battle would end soon.
The power of a Flower Realm master was no joke.
"But Young Master Dang...?"
"That kid will be here soon. Ah, there he comes."
Dang Yu-wol was approaching from the direction of the castle wall that Hwang No pointed to.
No, it wasn't just walking.
He was hurling hidden weapons with flicks of his wrist or tossing poison pouches, toppling enemies as he came.
'As expected...'
Poison and hidden weapons.
Things that made the righteous warriors uneasy.
But in war, nothing was more helpful.
They were proving their worth right here in this large-scale battle.
"Little brother!"
"Catch."
Hwan Gyu shouted after cleaving open a bandit's chest.
To him, Dang Yu-wol tossed a poison pouch from his sleeve.
He naturally caught it on his sword and launched it outward.
"Gaaah!"
"Cough! Cough!!"
"Y-You bastards!! Poison?! You cowardly shits!"
"When lives are on the line, where's the cowardice?"
Dang Yu-wol snorted derisively at the bandits raving below.
-Do they think they came here for a sparring match?
'Whenever they get hit, it's always 'cowardly' to them.'
"Young Master Dang! The poison's almost gone!"
The cart full of poison was starting to run low.
"You wenches!!"
As the incoming poison dwindled, a real powerhouse among the bandits stepped forward.
It was a giant wielding a wolf's fang staff.
The hulking figure, who looked over seven feet tall, made Hwan Gyu's expression harden.
"Giant Spirit Tyrant Ring Jin Ga-gyu...!!"
"You know him?"
"An unorthodox expert. Word is he's on the verge of Flower Realm..."
"So not quite Flower Realm then. Elder Hwang!!"
"You punk!! Do I have to step in at my age?!"
"Show us what you've got."
Hwang No scowled at Dang Yu-wol's cheeky words.
But Bi-seon, standing beside her, nodded as if it sounded fun.
"Go on."
"Understood. You protect the noble guest here!!"
Hwang No sent Seol Ryua to Bi-seon's side and climbed atop the castle wall.
"Watch closely. This is what you need to learn."
She grumbled at first, but Hwang No had a plan.
She would demonstrate the Ghostly Shadow Divine Art properly.
Then Dang Yu-wol wouldn't refuse anymore.
'He's a martial artist, after all. He'll be tempted by such a precious technique.'
Grinning, she took a step forward.
Treading the air.
Walking slowly through the sky toward Jin Ga-gyu, she moved her hand.
-Rumble!!
The gray energy stirred the earth.
Nature responded to her every gesture.
Trees sprouted, grass entangled legs.
Fierce winds carried dirt into eyes.
"A g-god...!"
"Uwaaaah...!! What sorcery is this?!"
To the ignorant, it was indistinguishable from a deity's miracle.
But Dang Yu-wol could see it.
'Interesting.'
-She's using qi properly.
The gray energy moved, touching the qi inherent in nature.
Combining with it to create harmony.
The epitome of defying heaven.
-Can you do it?
'Who knows.'
Dang Yu-wol turned his gaze to a weed sprouting on the castle wall.
Sending qi toward it, the weed grew slightly.
'It consumes more inner energy than expected.'
Not efficient.
He hadn't even begun learning the Ghostly Shadow Divine Art, so it was natural.
But time and effort would solve that too.
-It resembles the Blood Flame Heaven Dominion you used before.
'Yeah.'
A technique usable at the pinnacle of blood arts.
A powerful blood technique dominating everything around with blood qi.
-Hwang No's seems like creating a domain of sorts too.
'Hm. Within Blood Flame Heaven Dominion's domain, one wields godlike power...'
-But it's different.
'Right. That's assimilation. Unlike Blood Flame Heaven Dominion's domination.'
-So you're giving up?
'No way.'
Dang Yu-wol knew his goal.
To make the Tang Clan the world's greatest, he needed power.
This would be a great help.
"Waaaaah!!"
A roar of cheers erupted.
Before he knew it, Hwang No had severed Jin Ga-gyu's head.
"Jin Gong!! Where'd your body go, leaving only your head?!"
"How can you aim for Ogang Jihyeon like this?!"
The soldiers on the wall jeered loudly.
The bandits' morale plummeted endlessly.
Toward them, Ogang Jihyeon's magistrate shouted.
"Drop your weapons and surrender!! Otherwise, your lives are forfeit!!"
A cheer signaling the battle's end.
"We are truly grateful!!"
Ogang Jihyeon's magistrate couldn't lift his head.
"I know how hard you've worked. Why say such things?"
"Protecting the county is the magistrate's duty."
"Heh."
"We succeeded with the noble guest's aid... I have no face left."
"Enough. We just helped the people."
"It's an immense honor."
The magistrate bowed once more.
Bi-seon waved him off casually and looked around.
"Regrettable, but our outing ends here."
"A wise decision."
As Bi-seon spoke lightly, Hwang No sighed in relief.
'The Blood Cult is targeting the noble guest's life.'
Reckless movement wasn't wise.
They needed to return quickly.
"I'll summon the nearby Black Armor Unit for escort."
"Do that."
The Black Armor Unit would suffice as additional guards.
As Hwang No bowed and left, he turned to Dang Yu-wol.
"You. Still no thoughts of coming with me?"
"I appreciate the offer, but I have matters to attend to now."
"'Now' means there'll be a later, then."
Bi-seon decided to be satisfied with that for now.
Forcing him would make Dang Yu-wol comply, but what use would that be?
"I'll visit Sacheon sometime."
"I'll welcome you sincerely."
"Heh heh. Good. When my poison runs out, I'll come, so prepare something fun."
He must have really liked Dang Yu-wol's poisons.
Bi-seon chuckled.
"And what will you do?"
His gaze fell on Seol Ryua.
Songjuk may have ordered it, but the other was imperial kin.
If told to follow, she must.
"I..."
"I'll give one order. Stay with that friend for a while."
"Understood."
"Dang Yu-wol seems reliable... but there's something unsettling."
'Young Master Dang?'
Loyal as she was, she didn't voice it.
But Yi Kyung and Yi Yul were different.
"Where's the unsettling part about Brother Yu-wol?"
"Brother Yu-wol seems great."
"Yes, great. But unsettling. Do you know why?"
The siblings shook their heads.
Bi-seon patted their heads fondly and spoke calmly.
"That friend lacks confidence in himself."
"...Pardon?"
"What does that...?"
"Dang Yu-wol. What is your goal?"
"To make the Tang Clan the world's greatest house."
"And?"
"...Well, to crush the Blood Cult and stabilize the Great Empire."
"That's all?"
"Yes."
"Your goals leave no room for Dang Yu-wol himself."
"......"
Spot on.
Reborn, he learned his family's pain and sought to repay them.
Regressed, he aimed to make the Tang Clan supreme.
That was all Dang Yu-wol wanted.
-Not ordinary.
'No wonder the Blood Cult wants him.'
No one had noticed until now.
Bi-seon, who saw through it instantly, smiled faintly.
"Don't push yourself so hard. You're no sinner."
"...I'll keep it in mind."
"Next time, I hope you're more at ease."
Bi-seon laughed heartily and headed out.
Hwang No was already waiting outside.
"Farewell then!!"
As he boarded the carriage, Hwang No cracked the whip.
They departed.
Gu Hwan-gae nudged Dang Yu-wol as he watched them go.
"Let's head out too."
"Yes. We should."
Ogang Jihyeon's magistrate seemed to want them to stay longer.
But could they?
"Young Master Yang. Until next time."
"Yes! Safe travels!!"
He exchanged brief farewells with Yang Ui-seok, who cupped his fists politely.
Once outside the gate, Gu Hwan-gae grinned.
"Next destination?"
"Wudang Sect."
Wudang.
There, he would find traces of the Blood Cult and obtain the item.
"Want to detour and have some fun on the way? There's a good spot."
"Where?"
"Uichang. Plenty of entertainment there."
Gu Hwan-gae poked Dang Yu-wol playfully.
He too had realized after Bi-seon's words.
"You've been working non-stop without a break."
Even in Sacheon, Dang Yu-wol had been addicted to work.
Knowing that, Gu Hwan-gae suggested.
"How about resting there before going?"
-Not a bad idea.
Ye-ui, Yi Kyung, and Yi Yul's eyes sparkled too.
A break.
Bi-seon's words—"You're no sinner"—echoed.
Dang Yu-wol gazed at the sky.
"That doesn't sound bad."