Chapter 227: Patience Runs Out-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 227: Patience Runs Out-2
"Endure three times, and you shall avert a murder."
Sun-woo had always kept this proverb deep in his heart.
Life was full of unpredictable, shitty events, so he always prioritized the virtue of patience above all else. He knew that reacting emotionally to everything would inevitably lead to disaster.
But right now, he found himself in a situation where that character for "patience" was being carved into his mind for the third and final time.
All because of the woman standing right in front of him.
"Why are you silent? Are you ignoring me right now?"
Hearing Bulheo Satae’s words, Sun-woo fell back into a deep, heavy contemplation.
He was wondering exactly how he should handle this fucking bitch.
In his heart, he wanted to bash her head in and stomp on her face until she learned her place, but the circumstances weren't ideal. He was currently representing the Tang Clan. If he reacted emotionally here, it would cause a massive diplomatic incident.
In the worst-case scenario, the Emei Sect might pull their members out of the search party.
And so, Sun-woo agonized.
Finally, he made a decision.
He would endure just one more time.
He told himself that if he acted on his emotions now, everything would fall apart. Besides, hadn't he just filled up the final tally of his patience? If he could just get past this moment, it would be fine.
Or so he thought.
"When someone speaks to you, shouldn't you give a proper answer? Are you looking down on Emei? This is truly absurd. I cannot fathom why the Tang Clan sent someone like you to the search party. I didn't like you from the very beginning. Despite the urgency of the situation, not only were you late, but you even have the gall to try and seduce an innocent young woman who knows nothing of the world, despite having a fiancée... I can see the true level of the Tang Clan for choosing you as a son-in-law, not to mention the quality of Dok Seo-si herself."
...Until he heard those words.
Snap.
The veins on Sun-woo’s forehead began to bulge.
This was crossing the line.
He didn't care if she insulted him. Even though the situation was entirely different from what she imagined, he could admit that, from an outsider's perspective, her assessment of him wasn't entirely baseless.
But using that as an excuse to insult the Tang Clan and his fiancée, Tang Seo-yoon, was going way too far.
What kind of family was the Tang Clan?
They were the primary reason the Qingcheng and Emei Sects were currently enjoying a golden age. Furthermore, they were the ones sponsoring all the expenses and supplies for this expedition to the North Sea.
And yet, she dared to act like this?
Sun-woo realized it then.
This woman was openly picking a fight.
Sun-woo’s face contorted into a deep scowl as he glared at Bulheo Satae.
"Bulheo Satae."
Sun-woo called her name, his expression frozen like stone. His tone was thick with palpable displeasure.
"What is it?"
"I don't care if you insult me. Though your assumptions are wrong, I can understand why you might hold a negative view of me given the circumstances. However, I find it difficult to tolerate insults directed at the Tang Clan and my fiancée."
Sun-woo continued, his eyes piercing through her.
"If you don't want to bring shame to the Tang Clan and your fiancée, shouldn't you start by fixing your own behavior? It's because your conduct is so poor that your family and fiancée are being mocked. And am I wrong? I don't think the Tang Clan or Dok Seo-si have very good judgment, considering they accepted a rude lecher like you as a member of their family."
"......Those words... can you take responsibility for them?"
Sun-woo glared at Bulheo Satae, a murderous aura radiating from his body.
Bulheo Satae inwardly cheered at the sight. Her plan to provoke him had worked perfectly.
Before coming out to the clearing, she had been asked by Bulsok to intimidate Sun-woo—to completely cut off his attempts to approach Seol-hyang.
Bulheo had accepted the request.
And since things had already come to this, she figured she might as well beat him to a pulp and seize leadership of the search party. She believed that if Sun-woo submissively handed over operational control, Qingcheng would have no choice but to follow Emei's lead.
So, she had begun to provoke him. She wanted him to attack her first.
In the Orthodox Faction, a fight required a justification. If he couldn't control his temper and lunged at her, Bulheo would have the justification to fight him and, simultaneously, the opportunity to take control of the search party.
Her plan was unfolding exactly as intended.
Unable to withstand the provocation, Sun-woo had begun to pressure her with a dark, ominous aura.
Heh.
Bulheo Satae scoffed internally. She dismissed him as a mere brat who, despite being a peerless genius, lacked mental discipline.
"Hmph, and what if I can?"
She sneered in response to Sun-woo’s question.
"Then I'll have to hold you accountable."
Sun-woo met her gaze with a flat, expressionless face.
"And how do you plan to do that?"
"I intend to extract an apology."
Sun-woo spoke in a dry, hollow voice. It was a complete departure from the heated anger he had shown moments ago.
"Pfft, how childish. Do you really think I'll apologize?"
Bulheo simply let out a mocking laugh, finding Sun-woo’s behavior ridiculous.
"If you won't apologize willingly, I'll have to take it by force."
Sun-woo continued, his gaze chillingly cold.
"A young master like you... against me?"
"Yes."
"Ohohoho!"
Bulheo Satae burst into laughter. She thought he was merely putting on a show of bravado.
Who was she? She was a master on the verge of the Transcendent Realm, the strongest warrior in the Emei Sect.
The idea of him forcing an apology from her was nothing more than adorable arrogance.
Even within the Super-Peak Realm, the difference between levels was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth. The thought of someone who was likely only at the Middle Stage of the Super-Peak Realm—no matter how much of a genius he was—challenging her made her want to laugh.
"Can you take responsibility for those words, Young Master?"
"I never say anything I cannot take responsibility for."
Sun-woo stared at her with predatory eyes.
"Fine, then. It is a senior's duty to offer guidance to a junior."
She reached behind her and gripped the spear strapped to her back.
Whoosh!
With a swift motion, she swung it forward, revealing the long weapon.
"Draw your sword, Young Master Jang. I shall show you the difference in our levels."
She spoke with a face full of confidence.
Shring.
Sun-woo drew the sword hanging at his hip. He slowly leveled it toward her.
"Are you not going to use the Dragon Tail Soft Sword?"
Bulheo Satae looked surprised when Sun-woo drew an ordinary iron sword. The rumor that he had taken the Dragon Tail Soft Sword from Lee Ye-seol was already a hot topic among the Nine Sects. She found it strange that he would choose a common blade over such a treasure.
"You aren't worth it."
Sun-woo replied calmly.
"What did you say!?"
His words instantly ignited Bulheo Satae’s competitive spirit.
Not worth it?!
That was as good as saying he could handle her without relying on the power of a divine artifact. Bulheo Satae’s face turned bright red with rage.
"Arrogant brat!"
"Usually, people call it confidence."
Sun-woo maintained a relaxed, nonchalant attitude, which only served to infuriate her further.
"You bastard!!! I'll make you regret not drawing the Dragon Tail Soft Sword!"
Zip!
The moment she finished speaking, Bulheo Satae lunged at Sun-woo. She unleashed Emei’s ultimate movement technique, the Immovable Wisdom King Steps.
Swish!
Her spear tore through the air, thrusting straight toward Sun-woo.
Sun-woo extended his sword. He lightly touched the flat of his blade to the shaft of the spear and slowly pushed it aside.
The spear, which had been aimed at Sun-woo’s throat, was diverted into empty space. Sun-woo’s sword then slid along the spear’s shaft like a snake, closing the distance to her.
Thwack!
Sun-woo turned his blade sideways. He slapped her across the face with the flat of the sword.
"Ugh!"
Struck suddenly in the face, Bulheo Satae let out an involuntary scream.
Crash!
She was sent flying, slamming face-first into the dirt.
"Kh... aaaargh!"
Bulheo Satae groaned in pain. Her face, struck by the cold steel, felt like it was on fire.
"Do you feel like apologizing now?"
A sharp voice pierced her ears.
Grit.
Bulheo Satae ground her teeth. Her rage had reached its boiling point.
Spring!
She scrambled to her feet and glared at Sun-woo with murderous eyes.
She had been careless. She hadn't expected his sword techniques to be this refined.
"You actually have some skill, don't you!"
She spat the words out, her eyes bloodshot.
She told herself that the only reason he had landed that hit was because she had let her guard down. She had been negligent. They said a tiger gives its all even when hunting a rabbit, yet she had been so careless that she allowed him a strike. The shame was unbearable.
"Isn't it a bit pathetic to dismiss that as just 'some skill'?"
Sun-woo mocked her.
"You...!"
Bulheo Satae clenched her jaw. He was right; the display she had just put on was nothing short of pathetic.
"Don't get cocky just because you got lucky once!"
She shouted, her face flushed red.
"Do you really think that was luck?"
Sun-woo let out a short, mocking laugh. To call it luck after being hit by a sword speed she couldn't even perceive—this woman was stubborn to the point of delusion.
"Are you implying that you're actually stronger than me?"
Bulheo Satae shrieked in fury.
"If I weren't, you wouldn't be rolling around on the ground so pathetically, Satae."
"You bastard!"
Driven to madness by his words, Bulheo Satae raised her spear again. She intended to show this man—who dared to talk about skill after one lucky hit—exactly what she was capable of.
Stomp, stomp, stomp!
She began to execute the Immovable Wisdom King Steps once more.
The Immovable Wisdom King Steps was a footwork technique that moved in a single, straight line. While its lack of variation made it somewhat predictable, it possessed a strength that outweighed its flaws: speed.
It was a technique that boasted the ability to move faster than any other, despite its lack of complex movement. It was the perfect complement to the Seven Killing Spear, which focused on piercing the opponent's throat with blinding speed.
Whoosh!
Her body blurred as she flew toward Sun-woo. Her speed was incomparable to her previous attempt.
As she closed the distance, Bulheo Satae thrust her arm forward. This time, she aimed for his left shoulder.
Sun-woo focused his eyesight. The trajectory of the incoming spear became clear to him.
Sun-woo pulled his left foot back. Using that foot as an axis, he spun half a turn.
Boom!
A split second later, Bulheo Satae’s spear whistled through the air where his shoulder had been. Had he not dodged, his shoulder would have been impaled.
Completing his half-turn, Sun-woo drove his right elbow upward.
Crack!
Bulheo Satae, who had been lunging forward to pierce his shoulder, slammed her face directly into his rising elbow. She tried to avoid it, but because she couldn't control the sheer momentum of the Immovable Wisdom King Steps, her face collided with his elbow with full force.
"Aaaagh!"
She screamed in agony. The impact was magnified by the incredible speed of her own movement.
She instinctively curled inward, clutching her face. As she touched the area where his elbow had struck, she felt a warm, viscous liquid.
Startled, she looked at her hand. It was blood. A staggering amount of it.
Grit.
Bulheo Satae ground her teeth at the sight of the blood. Since reaching the Super-Peak Realm, she had never suffered a significant wound. And yet, here she was, bleeding.
She couldn't help but be consumed by rage.
You son of a bitch!
Cursing him in her mind, she began to lift her head. She was going to counterattack immediately.
Unfortunately for her, things didn't go as planned.
Sun-woo’s foot suddenly appeared before her eyes.
Thwack!
Struck in the face again, her body was lifted slightly into the air.
Whoosh!
Sun-woo didn't miss the opening. He retracted his foot instantly and kicked her again, this time aiming for her dantian.
Bam!
The force of the kick sent her hurtling backward.
Cras-crash!
Bulheo Satae’s body smashed through a wall and slammed right into the outer wall, becoming embedded in it.
Sun-woo simply looked at her with a cold, indifferent gaze.