Chapter 341: But You'll Have to Stake Your Life.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 341: But You'll Have to Stake Your Life.
"Tell me, why should I seek permission from someone weaker than myself?"
"............"
Neung So-hwa stared at Sword Man, her expression blank with shock.
She was utterly flabbergasted. What kind of primitive logic was this?
"Sword Man, you may not be aware, but I am the granddaughter of the current Emperor, the daughter of Prince Yeon, and a member of the Imperial Family holding the rank of General Geumo."
Neung So-hwa composed herself and continued in a calm, measured tone.
"Therefore, I have the rightful authority to take custody of Lee Yeon—a traitor to the Imperial Court who not only manipulated the Northern Army for his own ends but also raised a hand against the Imperial Family."
Neung So-hwa explained the situation with great kindness and detail, making it clear exactly why Lee Yeon had to be handed over to her.
"Ho, I thought you looked refined, but it turns out you really are royalty."
"Indeed. You may speak freely, of course. I have no desire to force etiquette upon a free-spirited martial artist."
"Well, that’s quite an honor."
Sword Man smirked and continued.
"Unfortunately, I cannot hand Lee Yeon over to you."
".......Did you not hear a word I said?"
"No, I heard you perfectly. This is the decision I’ve made after listening."
"I told you! Lee Yeon is a traitor to the Empire!"
"I don't see why that's a problem," Sword Man replied, looking genuinely puzzled. "Whether this man is a traitor or not has nothing to do with me. I simply act as I see fit."
A smile played on Sword Man's lips as he spoke.
"Are you not also a subject under the rule of the Imperial Court?"
"Wrong. Haven't I told you repeatedly? I am merely a single sword. I am not some subject to be ruled by an Empire."
Sword Man’s eyes sparkled as he went on.
"Only one thing can give me orders: the master who holds my hilt. And unfortunately for you, the Imperial Court is not that master."
"..........Are you truly intent on taking Lee Yeon?"
"You could say that."
Sword Man nodded slowly.
"Do you realize that by harboring a traitor to the Empire, you yourself are committing high treason?"
"Hahahaha! It doesn't matter. Why would a being who exists outside the natural order fear a mere human who conforms to it?"
Sword Man burst into a pleasant laugh.
"Or perhaps you intend to stop me yourself?"
He looked at Neung So-hwa with a calm, steady gaze.
".............."
Neung So-hwa bit her lip, remaining silent.
The gap in their strength was already painfully clear. Sword Man had easily cut down Lee Yeon—a man whom she and Bukgung Yeon couldn't defeat even when fighting together. Trying to block his path would be nothing short of suicide.
"I won't stop you from trying, but don't expect me to go easy on you."
Sword Man gave a sly smile.
"I’m generally a generous person, but when I’m carrying out an order, I become more ruthless than anyone."
"..........Who are you, exactly?" Neung So-hwa asked, her voice slow and heavy.
"What do you mean?"
"The identity of the one who wields a man like you as if you were a mere sword."
"Incomprehensible."
"What!?"
"Well, let's just leave it at that."
Sword Man chuckled softly at her question.
"Give my regards to Sun-woo. Tell him it was fun, and that I hope he establishes his Sword of the Mind the next time we meet. Also, tell him he made a good choice."
Step, step, step.
Having said his piece, Sword Man turned around and began to walk away without a hint of lingering attachment.
Neung So-hwa could only watch his retreating back in a daze. She had neither the justification nor the martial power to hold him back.
Grit.
Neung So-hwa clenched her teeth. She felt pathetically small.
She was a woman once called the shield that protected the Imperial Palace alongside Lee Yeon. Yet now, she felt more wretched than anyone. She had been defeated by Lee Yeon so thoroughly that 'miserable' didn't even begin to cover it, and now Sword Man didn't even consider her an opponent, claiming she lacked the qualification.
How could she not feel pathetic?
Step, step, step.
As Sword Man continued to walk...
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Thousands of cavalrymen who had been waiting in the rear galloped forward, blocking his path.
"What is this?" Sword Man asked, his expression turning annoyed.
"You cannot take the General!" one of the cavalrymen at the front shouted in a gruff voice.
"And who are you?"
"I am Dan Il-bang, Vice-Commander of the Northern Army!"
"Do you intend to stop me?"
"I do!"
"Such tear-jerking loyalty."
Whish!
Sword Man spat out the words and gave his sword a casual flick.
Slice.
Thud.
Roll.
The Vice-Commander’s head tumbled onto the ground.
"Go on and wait for me in hell," Sword Man said in a flat tone.
"............."
"..........."
The cavalrymen who witnessed the scene fell into a deathly silence.
It had been a casual swing. It looked so light and clumsy, as if a child were swinging a sword for the first time.
Yet the Vice-Commander was dead. Killed by such a clumsy-looking strike.
What could they possibly say in the face of such a reality?
"Well, if you want to stop me, I won't stop you. But you'll have to stake your life."
Sword Man looked at the terrified soldiers.
"Listen well. Anyone who enters my air space will be cut down."
With that, Sword Man began to walk again. He approached the North Sea Blood-Sweating Horse that the decapitated Vice-Commander had been riding.
"I happened to need a horse. This worked out well."
Grab.
Thud!
Sword Man shoved the Vice-Commander’s corpse off the saddle, sending it crashing to the ground. He then loaded the acupoint-stricken Lee Yeon onto the horse and mounted it himself.
"I’ll be passing through especially slowly, so think carefully. Will you attack, or will you tuck your tails and run?"
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.
Sword Man urged the horse forward, slowly passing through the ranks of the Northern Army.
Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop.
He moved with incredible leisure, as if he were merely taking a stroll. And the Northern Army simply watched him go, not a single man stepping forward. They stood by and watched as their great general, Lee Yeon, was carried away like a sack of luggage.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
After some time, Sword Man finally cleared the thousands of Northern Army soldiers. Not a single person had attacked him during the entire passage.
"Wise. Yes, the living must go on living."
Sword Man seemed pleased with the outcome, a smile touching his lips.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
He then spurred the horse into a gallop, riding away as if he had no further business there. The thousands of Northern Army soldiers could only stare blankly at his retreating figure.
*
Neung So-hwa and Bukgung Yeon watched Sword Man depart.
He was a man like the wind. He had blown in of his own accord, stirred up a storm, and then vanished as if nothing had happened.
The two women stood still until Sword Man’s silhouette disappeared over the horizon.
Once he was completely out of sight, Bukgung Yeon spoke.
"Where did you get that confidence?"
"What do you mean?"
"Where did you get the confidence to argue with a man like that?"
Bukgung Yeon spoke as if she truly couldn't understand. She herself had felt the gap in their power down to her bones. How could Neung So-hwa act so haughty and stubborn toward him? Did she have a death wish?
".....I thought he would listen if I revealed my status."
"Are you an idiot? A martial artist of that caliber isn't going to be suppressed by mere authority."
Bukgung Yeon snorted.
"......I wasn't trying to suppress him with authority. I was explaining the situation and asking as a comrade who had fought alongside him."
"He didn't seem to think of you as a comrade at all, though."
"............."
Neung So-hwa couldn't deny it. Sword Man had rejected her with cold indifference, even threatening to cut her down if she interfered.
"Well, whatever. I'm satisfied."
Bukgung Yeon gave a small smirk.
"Even though both my shoulders got pierced, I survived, and Lee Yeon ended up in a miserable state."
She sounded genuinely relieved.
"I am not satisfied. I failed to bring the traitor Lee Yeon to proper justice," Neung So-hwa said, her face clouded with discontent.
"If you're that unhappy, go after him and argue some more. I'll even get a Blood-Sweating Horse ready for you."
"............."
Neung So-hwa fell silent. She was full of complaints, but she lacked the courage to confront him again.
Bukgung Yeon chuckled, finding Neung So-hwa's reaction amusing. At first, she had found the woman irritating just to talk to, but after a few exchanges, she was surprisingly entertaining. It was likely because her reactions to being teased were so fun to watch.
"Anyway, shouldn't we deal with those bastards?"
Bukgung Yeon pointed toward the Northern Army, who were still standing there with lost expressions.
"Do not worry about that. I will handle it."
Neung So-hwa’s expression hardened.
"What are you going to do? Kill them? Want some help?" Bukgung Yeon asked with a cold smile.
"Is your head filled with nothing but such violent thoughts?"
Neung So-hwa frowned at the cold remark.
"These are the people who joined Lee Yeon in attacking the Ice Palace. You're just going to leave them be?"
"The military operates on the principle of obedience to superiors. Most of them likely followed Lee Yeon's orders because they had no choice. Therefore, I intend to give them a chance."
"What kind of chance?"
"A chance to repent for their sins."
Neung So-hwa spoke with a calm, steady face.
"You're way too soft."
Bukgung Yeon pouted in dissatisfaction. She couldn't understand it. How could someone be this soft-hearted? Even if they hadn't pointed their spears at Neung So-hwa directly, they had stood by and watched as their general tried to kill a member of the Imperial Family. How could she give such people a chance?
"A ruler must know how to show mercy."
"Oh, look at the benevolent monarch over here," Bukgung Yeon mocked.
"Just watch."
Neung So-hwa scowled and began to walk forward.
After walking a short distance, she stopped about thirty yards away from the Northern Army.
"Soldiers of the Northern Army, listen!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.
"I will not make this long. Throw down your weapons and surrender this instant! If you do, I shall overlook your failure to fulfill your duty of defense, as well as your crime of standing by while Lee Yeon rebelled against me, a member of the Imperial Family!"
She poured her internal energy into her voice, making it thunder across the field.
"However, if you do not surrender your spears, I shall execute you all on the spot! Choose! Will you remain traitors? Or will you once again become the proud Northern Army?"
"............."
"............"
The soldiers remained silent, glancing at one another. They were unsure of what choice to make.
Clang.
Then, one cavalryman threw his spear to the ground. He dismounted and pressed his forehead into the dirt.
Thud.
"Your grace is immeasurable!" he cried out, his voice thick with emotion.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
Starting with that one soldier, countless others began to hurl their spears to the ground.
Thud, thud, thud.
They all pressed their heads into the earth and raised their voices.
"""Your grace is immeasurable!"""
Soon, every single soldier was prostrate on the ground facing Neung So-hwa, signaling their absolute submission.
*
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
The Blood-Sweating Horse carrying Sword Man tore through the snowy landscape at an incredible speed.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
Clouds of dust rose and the ground vibrated every time its hooves struck the earth. Sword Man pushed the horse harder and harder, as if testing its absolute limits.
After some time, a group of people gathered in the distance came into view.
Sword Man’s eyes sharpened. He whipped the horse even more fiercely, accelerating further.
Soon, the horse reached the group. Sword Man vaulted off the saddle, carrying Lee Yeon with one hand.
Thud.
At the same time, the horse collapsed to the ground.
Haa... haa... haa... haa...
The fallen horse gasped for breath, its stamina completely depleted from the excessive strain.
"You've arrived?"
A man standing at the head of the group addressed Sword Man.
"Yeah."
Sword Man replied flatly.
"Take this."
Whoosh.
He tossed Lee Yeon toward the man.
Catch.
The man easily caught Lee Yeon’s flying body.
"Who is this?" he asked, looking at Sword Man.
"They called him Lee Yeon."
"Lee Yeon!? Do you mean the man known as the First Sword of the Imperial Palace?"
The man’s eyes widened in disbelief.
"That's what they said."
"Why would you bring him..."
The man trailed off. Lee Yeon was the shield of the Imperial Court and a man who held the Emperor's absolute trust. Why on earth would Sword Man bring such a person here?
"He was the best of the bunch," Sword Man said with a smirk.
"This is a challenge to the Imperial Court!"
"Kahahaha! How amusing. Since when have we ever been on friendly terms with the Imperial Court?"
"..........."
"Don't worry about it. He won't care anyway."
Sword Man spoke as if it were a trivial matter.
"Anyway, where is the carriage?"
"It is waiting just behind us."
"Good."
Sword Man began to walk toward the rear.
'What on earth are you thinking, Sword Demon?'
The man could only watch Sword Man’s back with a face full of questions.