Chapter 174: Finishing Preparations-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 174: Finishing Preparations-2
In front of the training cave.
Four women stood there, staring blankly at the entrance.
"Do you think he can absorb all those elixirs?"
Geum Jeok-hwa asked Ok-ryeong, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Sun-woo had taken every single elixir the Tang Clan possessed and disappeared into the training cave, claiming he would absorb them all.
However, four shijin had already passed, and there was still no sign of him emerging. Naturally, worry began to set in.
"Absorbing all of them will be impossible. The more elixirs you consume, the more your body develops a resistance to them."
Ok-ryeong shook her head as she answered.
She was right. By their very nature, elixirs lose their effectiveness the more one consumes them—especially if they are of the same variety.
While the elixirs stored by the Tang Clan were all of exceptional quality, many were duplicates. A drop in efficiency was inevitable.
"He won't get hurt, will he?"
Madam Un Ga-ryeo chimed in, looking toward Ok-ryeong.
She was deeply concerned for Sun-woo. Having reached the Peak Realm herself, she knew all too well that excessive consumption of elixirs could place an immense burden on the body.
The elixirs Sun-woo had taken were worth hundreds of thousands of nyang at the very least. Hearing that he intended to absorb that much energy at once naturally made her anxious.
"He’ll be fine."
Ok-ryeong reached out and firmly took Madam Un Ga-ryeo’s hand.
"I don't believe he is the type of man to do something he cannot handle."
Ok-ryeong offered a gentle smile. Her reassurance seemed to soothe Madam Un Ga-ryeo’s agitated heart.
"Yaaaaawn."
It was then that Yorang let out a wide, gaping yawn.
Drowsiness was finally catching up to her. They had been waiting for Sun-woo in front of the cave for four shijin now. It was well past midnight, nearing the break of dawn, yet Sun-woo hadn't shown so much as a hair of his head. She couldn't help the yawn.
"Lady Yorang, if you're sleepy, you may go and rest," Geum Jeok-hwa suggested.
"No, I can hold it," Yorang replied, shaking her head.
In truth, she wanted nothing more than to throw herself onto a soft bed and fall fast asleep. However, her worry for Sun-woo outweighed her exhaustion, so she chose to stay.
She was a spiritual being who had reached a high stage of power. She was well aware of the side effects that occurred when one suddenly absorbed more nature qi than they could handle.
Yorang was worried about everything. She was worried about Tang Seo-yoon, who had been kidnapped, and she was worried about Sun-woo, who had gone to absorb elixirs to save her. She had thought that returning to the Tang Clan would mean the start of a happy daily life, but that hope had been ruthlessly shattered.
Suddenly, Yorang felt a wave of gloom wash over her. It felt like things never went smoothly, and it made her sad.
"Sniff."
Tears began to well in her eyes.
"Lady Yorang? Is something wrong?"
Madam Un Ga-ryeo asked in surprise. Seeing Yorang suddenly tear up made her heart sink.
"I don't know. I'm worried about Seo-yoon, and I'm worried about Sun-woo... The worry just keeps piling up inside me until the tears start coming..."
Yorang confessed her feelings through her tears.
Hug.
Madam Un Ga-ryeo pulled the weeping Yorang into a tight embrace.
"It's okay. Everything will be fine. So please, don't cry."
She patted Yorang’s back as she held her. Yorang let out quiet sobs against her chest.
Ok-ryeong watched Yorang with a pained expression. While she was glad that Yorang, a spiritual being, was learning human emotions, it hurt her heart to see that the emotion she was experiencing was sorrow.
Soon, a different feeling began to rise within Ok-ryeong: rage.
It was a burning anger directed at Joo So-yang, the woman who had kidnapped Tang Seo-yoon. If she could, she would have stormed into the Heavenly Moon Palace this instant and slit the woman's throat. However, even for someone like her who had reached the Transcendent Realm, it was impossible to break through the Thousand-Transforming Illusionary Mist Formation that shrouded the palace.
Grit.
Ok-ryeong gnashed her teeth. She felt pathetic for being unable to help Sun-woo.
‘Joo So-yang.’
She chewed over the name of the Heavenly Sword Empress.
If, by some horrible chance, Sun-woo were to lose his life because of her, Ok-ryeong’s blade would once again be drenched in the scent of blood.
Rumble!
At that moment, the boulders blocking the training cave began to grind open.
Step. Step.
Before long, the sound of footsteps echoed from within.
Ok-ryeong’s eyes lit up. Soon, a figure emerged from the entrance of the cave.
It was a man wearing a black dragon robe embroidered with golden dragons.
It was Sun-woo.
"Sun-woo!"
"My Lord!"
"Sun-woo-ya!"
"Clan Head!"
The women outside called out to him using their respective titles. Though the names were different, the emotion behind them was the same: pure relief.
Yorang was the first to sprint toward him.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
"What took you so long! You jerk! I was so worried waiting for you!"
She shouted, pounding her fists against his chest.
"Ow, that hurts, you brat."
Sun-woo reached out and stroked Yorang’s head a few times. Normally, he might have given her a playful flick on the forehead, but sensing her genuine concern, he simply patted her hair.
"Did you succeed?"
Ok-ryeong asked as she approached.
"Yeah. It’s enough."
Sun-woo gently moved Yorang aside and nodded in response to Ok-ryeong’s question.
Though he had taken a massive amount of elixirs, he hadn't been able to absorb all of their medicinal power due to the many duplicates. However, he had made up for the lack of efficiency with sheer volume. In his current state, he wouldn't face a life-threatening crisis from running out of internal energy like before.
"My Lord, take this."
Madam Un Ga-ryeo handed Sun-woo a small bundle.
"What’s this?"
"It will take some time to reach the Heavenly Moon Palace. I’ve packed some food and a bit of money."
Grasp.
"Thank you, Ga-ryeo."
Sun-woo took the bundle. The Heavenly Moon Palace was located in Gansu. Although it was just north of Sichuan, it would still take three or four days of running at full speed to get there. She had prepared some simple provisions for the journey.
Sun-woo tucked the bundle into his robes, feeling its reassuring weight against his chest.
"I think it’s time for me to go."
Sun-woo looked back at the women. He had already spent too much time absorbing the medicinal power. He intended to set off at full speed immediately.
"Are you truly going to be alright on your own?"
Ok-ryeong asked, her eyes full of lingering worry.
"I can't even enter the Heavenly Moon Palace if I'm not alone."
Sun-woo shook his head with firm determination. The Thousand-Transforming Illusionary Mist Formation was a formidable array capable of deluding even the most absolute masters. Even for Ok-ryeong, who had reached the heights of the Transcendent Realm, breaking through it was impossible.
"Don't worry, Ok-ryeong. I have no intention of dying and leaving you behind."
As Sun-woo spoke, Ok-ryeong’s expression turned somber. His words didn't seem to ease her anxiety.
"If... if something... happens to you... I... I..."
Her voice trembled as she spoke. She had tried to act bold in front of the others, but she was more worried about Sun-woo than anyone else. Now that he was actually about to depart on this dangerous journey, the emotions she had been suppressing began to overflow.
Hug.
Sun-woo pulled her into a tight embrace to calm her. She was trembling like a sparrow caught in the rain.
"I promise you. I will return alive and well. And I’ll bring Tang Seo-yoon back with me."
Sun-woo held her even more tenderly as she shook. After a long moment of holding her, he felt her trembling subside.
He slowly let her go. Though the shaking had stopped, her eyes were still brimming with tears. Sun-woo reached up and wiped them away with his thumb.
Having done so, he took a step forward. The time to leave had truly come.
He looked at each of the women gathered around him. Every face was etched with concern. Sun-woo felt a surge of gratitude. Since falling into the Murim, he had always been starved for affection. To a man who had lost his family and friends, their presence was a source of immense strength.
Ok-ryeong and Madam Un Ga-ryeo looked after him sometimes like mothers, sometimes like lovers. Geum Jeok-hwa cared for him like an older sister. And the childlike Yorang brought him joy like a friend or a younger sibling.
‘Thank you, everyone.’
Sun-woo offered his silent thanks. Without them, his life here would have been bleak.
Sun-woo slowly turned away, his eyes flashing with resolve. It was time to take back Tang Seo-yoon.
He kicked off the ground and began to move, his silhouette blurring as he activated the Wind-Dust Step.
*
Inside a grand hall.
A woman sat upon a large jade throne. If the word 'elegance' were to take human form, would it look like her? Her appearance was the pinnacle of nobility and grace.
It was then.
"Mother!"
Someone burst into the hall and called out to her. The newcomer was a woman—and an exceptionally beautiful one at that.
"What on earth have you done!"
The beautiful woman, Lee Ye-seol, shouted at the woman on the throne.
"Ah, my daughter is here."
The elegant woman, Joo So-yang, spoke as she looked at her beloved daughter.
"What do you mean, 'what have I done'?"
Joo So-yang asked back, feigning ignorance.
"I'm talking about Lady Tang Seo-yoon!"
Lee Ye-seol raised her voice, clearly angered by her mother's attitude.
"No matter how angry you are, how could you kidnap a direct-line descendant of the Tang Clan!"
"Kidnap? Lady Tang came to the Heavenly Moon Palace of her own accord."
Joo So-yang replied with a faint, serene smile.
"Do you really expect me to believe that? What are you planning to do? If this gets out, everyone will condemn you, Mother!"
Lee Ye-seol became even more agitated. Kidnapping a direct descendant from within the Tang Clan itself was nothing short of an act of war. It was a blatant deception.
"Do not worry. That will not happen."
"How can you be so sure!"
"Because no one will believe her word."
Joo So-yang’s smile turned cold.
"It seems you underestimate your mother's influence in the Murim. With a single word from me, burying someone like Dok Seo-si is child's play."
She continued with a face full of confidence.
"Jang Sun-woo, the man who brought you such unforgivable humiliation, will be rumored as a lecher who used aphrodisiacs in an attempt to ravage me. And Dok Seo-si, as his fiancée, will be seen as a woman merely trying to defend him for the sake of the Tang Clan's honor."
She began to explain her plan to her daughter step by step.
"That... that's...!"
Lee Ye-seol looked at her mother in shock. How could she commit such an atrocious act?
"Mother, it is true that I was humiliated, but that is a matter between me and Jang Sun-woo. Lady Tang has nothing to do with this."
Lee Ye-seol tried to argue. While her desire to repay the humiliation she suffered from Jang Sun-woo remained unchanged, she did not want Tang Seo-yoon to suffer because of that grudge. Despite everything, she was still a member of the Orthodox Faction who pursued chivalry. She could not overlook such a dishonorable scheme.
"No. The fact that she is his fiancée makes her plenty involved."
Joo So-yang shook her head.
"A woman who takes such a wicked man as her fiancé deserves to be punished as well."
"The Poison King will not stay silent."
"Hmph. What can that old man do? Sects and clans do not move without a righteous cause. He has no justification to act against me."
Joo So-yang spoke dismissively. In the end, conflicts between the Orthodox Faction were battles of justification. If she manipulated public opinion to create her own 'righteous cause,' the Poison King would be the one forced to apologize to her.
"And what if the Poison King comes here himself?"
If the Poison King came instead of Jang Sun-woo, her plan would crumble. How could she be so relaxed?
"My dear daughter, the Thousand-Transforming Illusionary Mist Formation is not something that can be breached even by an absolute master who has reached the peak of their realm. Do you really think someone like the Poison King can break through a formation painstakingly created by the first Palace Master, who was said to have reached the Profound Realm?"
Joo So-yang spoke with absolute certainty. No matter how high his cultivation, breaching the formation was impossible. In the end, Jang Sun-woo would have no choice but to come.
"Mother, we are the Orthodox Faction!"
Lee Ye-seol screamed at her mother. It was true that she had suffered an indelible humiliation at Sun-woo's hands and that her treasure, the Dragon Tail Soft Sword, had been taken, but that was a personal grudge.
How could she settle a personal grudge in such a way? She couldn't understand it. Her mother, who had always been elegant and dignified, was starting to feel like a stranger.
"Because we are the Orthodox Faction, I am going through all this trouble. If they weren't, I would have simply exterminated everyone in the Tang Clan the moment I visited them."
Joo So-yang’s voice was chillingly cold.
Shiver.
Lee Ye-seol felt goosebumps erupt at the coldness in her mother's tone. She realized then that her mother wasn't lying.
"Watch and learn, my daughter. In the end, a 'righteous cause' is whatever you make it to be."
Joo So-yang gave her daughter a bright, clear smile, satisfied that she had given her a good lesson.