Chapter 339: Losing an Arm
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 339: Losing an Arm
Chwaaaaang!
As Lee Yeon sliced through the frigid air, the distinct sound of a sharp blade cutting through space vibrated in all directions.
'I cut it!' Lee Yeon thought.
He was certain he had made a perfect strike.
Immediately, a sneer directed at Bukgung Yeon rose within him. She had performed an attack no different from her previous ones, yet she’d had the audacity to claim this time would be different.
Cr-cr-crack!
Suddenly, a dissonant sound began to ring in his ears.
'The sound of freezing?'
Indeed. It was the sound of something turning to ice. Lee Yeon quickly shifted his gaze toward the source of the noise.
There, he saw it—his own sword was freezing over.
"What!?"
Lee Yeon’s expression twisted into one of shock. His sword was not only infused with the souls of soldiers but was also brimming with his internal energy. How could it possibly freeze just from a moment’s contact?
Woooooom!
Lee Yeon hurriedly poured more internal energy into the blade.
Rattle, rattle!
The sword began to vibrate violently, shaking off the encroaching frost.
Swish!
With a sharp swing, the clumps of ice clinging to the metal were flung away all at once.
Lee Yeon felt a surge of doubt. Soul Link was a technique that transcended the laws of this world. How could it be frozen by a mere Ice Arts technique?
With a grim expression, Lee Yeon looked up to face the one responsible for freezing his blade.
"How did you do it?" Lee Yeon asked in a calm, measured tone.
"Haah... haah... haah... It seems... it worked?"
Bukgung Yeon replied, gasping for breath as if she were on the verge of death.
"I believe I asked you a question."
"Haah... haah... haah... You aren't the only one... who exists outside of logic... haah... haah."
"......Impressive. I thought you were a mere novice who hadn't yet established a proper realization of the Profound Realm."
"Haah... haah... haah... haah... Did you think... I was just a Profound Realm master in name only?"
"I stand corrected. I underestimated you."
Lee Yeon lowered his head slightly as he spoke. He meant it. He had looked down on Bukgung Yeon, dismissing her as a dullard who had reached the Profound Realm without being able to imbue her heart into her martial arts.
But now, it seemed he was wrong. She had unleashed a cold energy powerful enough to freeze even his Soul Link.
"However, that does not change the outcome."
Lee Yeon’s eyes glittered.
"It appears that using that technique just once takes a massive toll on your body."
"Haah... haah... I'm just... not used to it yet."
Bukgung Yeon nodded, acknowledging his observation.
"Do you really think you can face me in that state?"
"Phew... phew... phew... It's fine... I'm not alone."
Bukgung Yeon glanced at Neung So-hwa, who stood beside her.
"Phew... phew... Fireball..."
"What is it?"
"Phew... As you can see, I have a technique that can land a blow on that monster."
Bukgung Yeon calmed her ragged breathing and continued.
"Will you help me?"
"Of course."
Neung So-hwa nodded firmly.
"If you had such a technique, you should have used it from the start," Neung So-hwa added with a hint of a reproachful tone.
"Didn't you see me gasping for air? It might look easy, but it consumes an enormous amount of mental and internal energy. If it weren't for a monster like him, I wouldn't want to use it at all."
Bukgung Yeon spoke in a flat tone.
"Just give me one opening. I'll freeze him right down to his marrow."
"......Do you trust me?" Neung So-hwa asked, her voice wavering slightly with a lack of confidence.
"I do. So don't mess up."
Bukgung Yeon looked at Neung So-hwa with eyes full of trust. Her words were sincere. In all her life, she had never seen a woman as strong as the one standing before her. Neung So-hwa was powerful—powerful enough for even the prideful Bukgung Yeon to acknowledge her.
"Do not worry! I will create as many openings as you need!"
Perhaps heartened by that trust, Neung So-hwa nodded confidently.
"Once is enough. I'll pour every bit of my energy into that single strike."
Bukgung Yeon turned her cold gaze back to Lee Yeon.
"Understood."
With those words, the two women raised their sword and saber respectively. They intended to keep Lee Yeon’s blade in check while looking for the perfect moment to deliver the finishing blow.
Seeing this, Lee Yeon let his sword hang low. A tension he hadn't felt before began to cloud his eyes. He realized that Bukgung Yeon’s claim of freezing him to the bone was no empty boast.
The two women and the man stood in a tense standoff, glaring at one another, waiting for the slightest opening.
After a moment that felt like an eternity...
Thud!
Lee Yeon kicked off the ground and lunged straight for Bukgung Yeon.
Swoosh!
His figure blurred like a bolt of lightning as he thrust his blade toward her throat.
Clang!
Bukgung Yeon quickly raised her Ice Sword, blocking Lee Yeon’s blade with the flat of her own.
Skreeee!
However, she was immediately pushed back, unable to withstand the immense physical force behind Lee Yeon’s strike.
Lee Yeon concentrated his internal energy, pouring even more souls into the attack.
Cr-cr-crack!
The Ice Sword where it met Lee Yeon’s blade began to fracture.
'This is bad!'
Bukgung Yeon knew it instantly. At this rate, Lee Yeon’s sword would pierce straight through her weapon and into her throat.
Clang!
Just then, Lee Yeon’s sword was knocked upward. Neung So-hwa had closed the distance and swung her saber, parrying his blade toward the sky.
The moment his sword was deflected, Lee Yeon twisted his body to the right and threw a punch at Neung So-hwa.
Boom!
"Urgh!"
Struck squarely on the forehead, Neung So-hwa’s head snapped back. Though she had bolstered her defenses with internal energy, it wasn't enough to fully offset the sheer impact of Lee Yeon’s fist.
Swoosh!
At that moment, Bukgung Yeon thrust out a palm that had turned pure white. Lee Yeon quickly stepped back with his right foot, using it as an axis to spin his body.
Bukgung Yeon’s ice palm struck only empty air.
Whoosh!
Thwack!
As her palm missed, Lee Yeon brought his elbow up, smashing it into Bukgung Yeon’s face.
"Agh!"
Struck directly on the side of her head, Bukgung Yeon let out a cry of pain.
Bam!
Thud!
Crack!
A relentless exchange of blows followed. Bukgung Yeon and Neung So-hwa fought desperately as a team, but they were only accumulating more injuries. Though they managed to avoid being cut by parrying his sword, they were being battered by Lee Yeon’s fists and kicks.
Yet, they did not falter. They continued to charge in, searching for that one fleeting opening, their bodies fully shrouded in internal energy.
Lee Yeon, for his part, was fighting with extreme caution. Bukgung Yeon was currently the greatest threat. He tried repeatedly to kill her, but to no avail. Every time he moved for a killing blow, Neung So-hwa intervened to parry his sword.
Of course, he "rewarded" her interventions with punches and kicks, but she kept coming back, undeterred.
Lee Yeon felt a surge of irritation. She was a nuisance. An unbearable nuisance.
He hated Neung So-hwa.
He hated how she had gained the Emperor’s trust while he was away during Prince Jin’s rebellion.
He hated how she had turned him from the sole protector of the Imperial Family into one of two.
He hated how she, a member of the Imperial Family, had reached the Half-Immortal stage in her late twenties through innate talent.
He hated that she might one day surpass him.
He hated how she was stealing the reputation he had built over decades of war in just three short years.
And he hated how she was now interfering with his attempt to kill Bukgung Yeon.
Lee Yeon’s eyes became bloodshot. Rage, inferiority, and a sense of defeat washed over him. He wanted to kill her. He wanted to kill that woman more than anything. He felt that if he could just kill her, the rest of the world didn't matter.
Lee Yeon pushed his internal energy to its absolute limit.
Woooooooooom!
His sword began to resonate with a high-pitched hum. He started summoning the souls—the spirits of thousands of soldiers who had already perished in war.
Aaaah... aaagh... eeeeek...
Ooooh... hhh... hhh...
Sob... sob... sob...
Haah... aaah... aaah...
A Ghostly Wail began to emanate from his sword. It was clearer and more agonizing than anything he had produced before. Soon, his blade was dyed in a foul, sickening shade of grey.
Lee Yeon knew. This was the worst and greatest sword he could possibly create. If one were cut by this blade, they would be consumed by thousands of vengeful spirits, meeting a horrific end in unimaginable agony.
He broke into a bright smile—a smile so radiant it was impossible to imagine it on his usually stoic face. He was happy. Happy at the thought of cutting Neung So-hwa with this blade. Happy at the thought of her meeting an end filled with despair and pain.
Thud!
Lee Yeon kicked Bukgung Yeon away, sending her flying a short distance.
Whoosh!
Then, he swung his blade toward Neung So-hwa—the Soul-Bound Sword carrying thousands of vengeful souls.
Slice!
Neung So-hwa quickly raised her saber to defend, but it was useless. Her saber made of ice was sliced through effortlessly by the Soul-Bound Sword. The blade continued its trajectory, cutting into Neung So-hwa.
'It's over!'
The smile on Lee Yeon’s lips deepened.
Cr-cr-cr-crack!
"What!?"
Lee Yeon’s expression froze in shock. The Soul-Bound Sword, filled with thousands of souls, had come to a dead stop.
"Hmph!"
Lee Yeon tried to move the sword, but it was futile. Not just the sword, but his wrist and forearm were completely frozen solid.
"Bukgung Yeon!!!"
Lee Yeon glared at Bukgung Yeon with murderous eyes. Just as he was about to kill Neung So-hwa, Bukgung Yeon had interfered again. His rage reached its boiling point.
Thump.
Bukgung Yeon collapsed to the ground, seemingly lacking even the strength to respond.
"Haah... haah... haah... haah..."
She began to pant heavily, likely having exhausted both her mental and internal energy.
"You bitch!"
Lee Yeon spat out a curse. An uncontrollable fury surged within him. His greatest technique had been stopped by a lowly girl from the North. How could he not be enraged?
He was right there. He was a hair's breadth away from plunging Neung So-hwa into a pit of pain and despair. Thousands of souls were still shrieking from his blade. Just a little more—if he could just cut a little deeper—but she wouldn't allow it.
Cr-cr-cr-crack!
"Aaaaaagh!"
The ice that had frozen his forearm began to spread. It moved past his forearm and up toward his upper arm.
Lee Yeon realized that if he didn't act, his entire body would be encased in ice. He surged his internal energy. He formed his other hand into a hand-blade.
Slice!
Then, he cut. Without a moment's hesitation.
Thud.
Lee Yeon’s right arm, still gripping the Soul-Bound Sword, fell to the ground. Completely severed.
"AAAAAAAAGH!"
Lee Yeon screamed in agony as his arm was lost. It was the arm he had lived with his entire life. And now, it was gone, just like that. Even though it was his own choice, the sense of loss and despair was indescribable. It was gone. Forever.
"AAAAAAAAGH!"
He screamed and screamed, as if offering a funeral dirge for the limb he had just sacrificed.
After a long while of screaming, his despair turned into pure, unadulterated rage. With bloodshot eyes, he looked at Neung So-hwa before him and Bukgung Yeon a short distance away, making a vow.
He would not let them die easily. He would make them suffer every indignity the world had to offer, and only after they were broken by despair would he allow them to die.
Lee Yeon swung his hand-blade at Neung So-hwa. She quickly raised her Protective Qi to block the attack.
Boom!
"Urgh!"
However, she was sent flying backward, unable to withstand the force of an attack imbued with Soul Link.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you all! I will kill you both in the most miserable way possible. I'll cut off your arms and legs, tear out your tongues, and make you the common prostitutes for my soldiers for the rest of your lives!"
Tap, tap, tap.
After spitting out those horrific words, Lee Yeon pressed his acupoints to roughly staunch the bleeding from his right shoulder.
Crunch.
He then stepped on his own frozen right arm.
Shatter!
The ice shattered into pieces, leaving only his sword behind. Lee Yeon picked up the blade. He began to stride toward Bukgung Yeon and Neung So-hwa, his eyes burning with madness.
Seeing him approach, Bukgung Yeon and Neung So-hwa looked on in utter dismay. They realized they no longer had any way to stop him. Despair began to cloud their eyes.
"Well, look at this."
Just then, a playful voice from somewhere tickled Lee Yeon’s ears. He tried to ignore it and keep walking, but then...
"You've wrapped your body in souls, haven't you?"
The voice said something he couldn't possibly ignore.
"Who's there!?"
Lee Yeon spun around toward the direction of the voice.