Chapter 30: Sword Emperor Yang Tae-san-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 30: Sword Emperor Yang Tae-san-2
Boom!
The collision of Yang Tae-san’s sword and Ok-ryeong’s blade unleashed a massive shockwave.
Caught in the brunt of the impact, both masters were sent hurtling backward.
Crash!
Yang Tae-san slammed into a stone wall, while Ok-ryeong performed the Sky-Walking Technique, stepping through the air to regain her balance before landing gracefully.
Brush, brush.
Yang Tae-san stood up, nonchalantly dusting off his clothes.
"Sky-Walking Technique... Impressive."
Internally, Yang Tae-san was astonished.
Was the Sky-Walking Technique not the ultimate pinnacle of lightness skills, achievable only by those who had reached the highest possible realm? Yet, the woman before him had executed such a high-level martial art with ease.
He couldn't help but be amazed.
Deep within his heart, Yang Tae-san felt his competitive spirit surge. As if responding to that drive, the aura radiating from his body grew even more formidable.
Seeing that momentum, Ok-ryeong broke into a cold sweat.
Having exchanged just one blow, she could feel it. This man’s strength was beyond anything she had imagined. She had barely managed to parry his strike, but it seemed that was only the beginning.
Ok-ryeong adjusted her grip on her sword, bracing for the man’s next assault.
Yang Tae-san was the first to charge.
A single thrust, carrying a murderous aura, lunged toward her.
Whoosh!
The momentum was so immense that the sound of the blade piercing the air was deafening.
Clang!
She barely managed to raise her blade to block, but she couldn't withstand the raw power behind Yang Tae-san’s strike.
Stagger, stagger, stagger.
She began to be pushed back rapidly, her feet skidding across the ground. She concentrated her internal energy into her sword hand and her lower body, trying to hold her ground, but it was futile.
"Ugh!"
Yang Tae-san put more strength into his push, and Ok-ryeong was sent flying.
Crash!
She slammed into the wall of the residence, the force of the impact collapsing the masonry as she was thrown deep into the building.
"Cough, cough!"
Inhaling the rising dust, Ok-ryeong slowly pushed herself up.
Thud.
However, her legs buckled; standing was no easy task. This man possessed such nonsensical strength that a single exchange had left her in this state.
She had never encountered a martial artist this powerful. Throughout her journey of vengeance, she had spilled the blood of countless demons. She could say with certainty: this man was stronger than all of them combined.
She bit her lip hard.
Precisely because he was so strong, she couldn't afford to lose. If she fell here, Sun-woo would undoubtedly be harmed by this man. The thought of Sun-woo being hurt was worse than the thought of losing her own life.
Using her sword as a crutch, she began to rise unsteadily. Once on her feet, she began to circulate her internal energy. To even touch this man, she had to give everything she had.
Her internal energy, which had become even more pure through her union with Sun-woo, completed a full circulation through her acupoints. Soon, a white mist began to envelop her entire body.
Sensing the sudden change in her atmosphere, Yang Tae-san tightened his grip on his sword, his expression turning tense. Whatever attack came his way, he intended to crush it.
It was then.
Her figure, standing right in front of him, vanished.
Startled by losing sight of her, Yang Tae-san began to look around frantically to find her.
Slash!
Suddenly, a sharp pain flared in his chest.
"!!??!"
Baffled by the sudden pain, Yang Tae-san looked down at his chest. A gash had been carved across it, and blood was seeping out.
"Hah."
Fortunately, having achieved the Indestructible Body, he had avoided a fatal wound, but he had still suffered a degree of internal injury. Looking at the wound, he let out a hollow, incredulous laugh.
To think she possessed speed he couldn't even react to. He hadn't expected this.
"Huff... huff..."
He heard Ok-ryeong’s labored breathing from behind him. Turning around, he saw her gasping for air.
"Ho, speed I couldn't even react to... I’ve truly had my eyes opened today."
Yang Tae-san offered praise to his adversary. For an arrogant man who believed his only rival in life was the Cheonmu Alliance Leader, Ok-ryeong’s single strike had come as a profound shock. Had he not perfected the Indestructible Body, his head might have rolled.
Whether she heard his reaction or not, she activated her movement technique once more. Her movement, having reached the absolute peak, seemed to transcend space as she reached him.
Rip!
This time, it was his left arm that was slashed. Perhaps because she had poured a significant amount of her power into the strike, the wound was quite deep.
Yet, Yang Tae-san continued to watch her with an intrigued gaze.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Her breathing grew even more ragged; it felt as though she might collapse at any moment. Her legs trembled from the excessive use of her movement technique, and her body, which had to endure such extreme speeds, was screaming in agony.
But she couldn't stop. Without this technique, she couldn't hope to reach Yang Tae-san.
"Hmm, I see. Though your speed has reached the limit, the burden on your body must be immense. You’re panting as if you’re about to die."
Despite the blood pouring from his chest and left arm, Yang Tae-san was calmly analyzing Ok-ryeong’s martial arts.
Ok-ryeong felt a chill run down her spine. Did this man not feel the emotion of fear?
"Since you’ve shown me something interesting, I shall show you something equivalent."
Whoosh!
After speaking, the man placed the pommel of his sword against his palm and thrust it forward. With a sharp sound of rending air, the sword flew straight toward her.
Clang!
However, since it was a simple, linear attack, Ok-ryeong raised her blade and slightly deflected its trajectory. The sword, parried by Ok-ryeong, flew behind her.
"Is this the 'interesting thing' you mentioned?"
"Haha, young lady, why don't you look behind you?"
At that moment, a terrifying aura erupted from behind her, where the sword had flown.
Stab!
She spun around hurriedly, but it was no use. Yang Tae-san’s sword grazed her side as it flew past.
"Urgh."
She groaned at the sudden pain. Fortunately, because she had turned quickly, the wound wasn't deep. After pressing a few acupoints, she managed to stop the bleeding.
The sword, having returned to Yang Tae-san, was now floating steadily above his hand.
"Sword Kinesis!?!?"
Ok-ryeong cried out in shock at the sight.
Sword Kinesis was a realm that existed only in legends among martial artists. Because one could wield the sword freely according to their will, a master of Sword Kinesis could transcend the physical limitations of swordsmanship bound to the body.
Countless masters in the Absolute Realm had coveted this power, but it was so notoriously difficult to master that almost no one had ever reached it. To learn Sword Kinesis, one needed an ultimate understanding of swordsmanship, a vast amount of internal energy, and the ability to control that energy with extreme precision. Thus, people collectively agreed it was merely a theoretical realm.
Yet now, that legendary technique was manifesting in Yang Tae-san’s hand.
Ok-ryeong stared at the floating sword with wide eyes. For a swordsman, reaching the level of Sword Kinesis meant they had surpassed the limits of swordsmanship and were ready to reach a new realm.
In other words, this man was standing right at the threshold of the Profound Realm.
Ok-ryeong bit her lip. Even so, she couldn't give up. She couldn't let a monster like this harm Sun-woo. Even if it cost her her life.
White mist began to rise from her body once more. She intended to pierce his throat with this next move. She had to bet everything on this single strike. Her internal energy and her realm were both inferior to the man before her. Therefore, she planned to pour all her energy into one final blow to decide the outcome.
Yang Tae-san watched her determined figure with indifferent eyes. He was having a wonderful time. An attack he couldn't even react to—this was a thrill he hadn't felt since his fight with Lee Jae-won.
Twitch.
He felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He knew he shouldn't laugh, but he couldn't help it.
"Go."
As soon as Yang Tae-san spoke, the flying sword lunged toward her. Ok-ryeong also activated her peak movement technique.
Zip!
Ok-ryeong’s figure vanished, reappearing behind Yang Tae-san.
And then—
Splurt!
Blood erupted from her side, slashed by the Sword Kinesis.
Thud.
She collapsed onto the ground. It wasn't just a graze; she had taken a direct hit from the blade.
"Tsk, tsk. That was dangerous."
Yang Tae-san’s voice reached her. Looking at him, she saw him touching a wound on his neck.
"If you had cut just half an inch deeper, I would have been the one falling."
As if his words were no lie, blood was flowing incessantly from his neck, suggesting a significant amount of bleeding.
Ok-ryeong felt a wave of despair wash over her. Her strike, delivered with every ounce of her strength, had ultimately failed.
Step, step.
Yang Tae-san walked slowly toward her.
"It was enjoyable. I suppose it’s time to end this. Any last words?"
"Please... let him live..."
"Regrettably, I cannot do that. Farewell."
Yang Tae-san raised his sword high.
It was then.
Whoosh!
A stone flew in from somewhere.
Slice.
Yang Tae-san easily cut the flying stone in half.
"Who’s there!"
There was no answer, but a barrage of stones began to fly toward him. Moreover, they were imbued with a considerable amount of internal energy.
Yang Tae-san had no choice but to step back, parrying the stones with his sword. He had already consumed a great deal of internal energy using Sword Kinesis. He chose to avoid a pointless confrontation rather than face it head-on.
Once a sufficient distance was created between him and Ok-ryeong, a person emerged from behind the wall.
"Get away from her!"
The person who appeared was none other than Sun-woo. Sun-woo rushed quickly to Ok-ryeong’s side.
"Ok-ryeong..."
She was in a wretched state. She was covered in dust, a large sword wound gaped at her side, and blood was pouring out.
"...Sun-woo... run..."
Ok-ryeong managed to force the words out. Internally, she had been praying. Praying that Sun-woo wouldn't return. Praying that everything would end with her death alone.
But despite her wishes, Sun-woo had returned and was now confronting Yang Tae-san.
"You... can't... win against that man... You have to... run."
Perhaps because she had lost too much blood, her throat felt tight, and every word was agony, but Ok-ryeong pushed on.
"I can't leave you. No, I won't."
"Go... you idiot... You'll... really die..."
"If I die, I'll die by your side. I'm not going anywhere without you."
"You really are... a fool... a total... fool..."
Tears began to stream from Ok-ryeong’s eyes. Even if Sun-woo had abandoned her to save himself, she could have sent him off with a smile as long as he wasn't hurt. Because she hated the thought of him being hurt more than she hated death itself.
But Sun-woo did not abandon her. Instead, he even said he would die with her.
Actually, when she heard Yang Tae-san talk about Sun-woo, a seed of doubt had been planted. She wondered if Sun-woo, like Lee Jae-won, had only whispered lies of love to use her. A crushing despair had enveloped her.
Even so, she didn't want him to be hurt. Because she already loved him to her very core. It was fine if she was betrayed. It was fine if she was discarded. She just wanted him to be safe.
It seemed this man felt the same way. She wasn't the only one in love; this man truly loved her back.
She, who had craved love her entire life, felt as though she were being saved. She felt that she could die happy right now.
"Sun-woo... I love you... more than anyone... in the world..."
She spoke to Sun-woo with a radiant smile.
"I love you too. More than anyone in the world."
Seeing her, Sun-woo also smiled as he spoke.
"Now, get some rest. Everything will be resolved by the time you wake up."
"No... I..."
Before she could finish her answer, Sun-woo pressed her sleep-inducing pressure point, forcing her into unconsciousness.
Rip.
After pressing a few more acupoints to stabilize her, he tore his upper garment into long strips like bandages and began to wrap them tightly around her side.
After gently placing her in a corner, Sun-woo turned to face Yang Tae-san.
"The melodrama seems to be over. I was getting quite bored waiting."
"Don't you know that these days, you can't do business without a little melodrama, you son of a bitch?"
"A foul-mouthed child, I see. Shall we see if your sword is as sharp as your tongue?"
"You're going to regret this."
"Hahahaha! Do you really think you can face me with that measly martial art of yours?"
"I'd rather go down swinging than do nothing and despair. You're a human being too; if I stab you with a blade, you'll die just the same!"
"A reckless brat who can't tell the difference between bravado and courage. Fine. Today, I shall make you feel in your very bones that there is always a sky above the sky. Draw your sword."
Sun-woo picked up Ok-ryeong’s sword from the ground.
Seeing that Sun-woo had armed himself, Yang Tae-san adjusted his grip and charged at him.
Clang!
The sound of clashing blades echoed across the entirety of White Flower Peak.