Chapter 272: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (102)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 272: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (102)
We darted through the buildings, weaving between them. The Imperial Guard were still in pursuit, but we were gradually putting distance between us.
Just as we finally reached the forest on the outskirts of the city.
-Thud!
A spear landed in front of me, creating a powerful shockwave. The impact cracked the ground, sending vibrations through the earth.
“Did you really think you could escape so easily?”
Dae Yeong-ban.
He landed before us. He strode forward leisurely, his gaze slowly turning to Ju Yeon-hwa.
His eyes were filled with unmistakable greed and obsession.
“There's nowhere left to run, Princess. It's time to return to the Imperial Palace. And to marry me.”
Hong Seo-rin immediately stepped in front of Ju Yeon-hwa.
“Who gave you the right to marry Her Highness!”
“His Majesty the Emperor has approved this marriage. It's not something you can prevent.”
Ju Yeon-hwa quietly took a step forward.
“I refuse. I would rather die than marry you.”
He spun the long spear in one hand and said.
“...Do you truly believe you can bear the consequences of that choice, Your Highness?”
“I have no intention of associating with the cunning traitors who throw the Imperial Palace into chaos.”
“Tsk, how troublesome. A tool should know its place and be quiet.”
I quietly drew my sword.
“Trying to drag away a woman who refuses you... How pathetic.”
Dae Yeong-ban's eyes narrowed.
“I don't know who you are, but to draw your sword against the Imperial Guard... you must not value your life.”
Hong Seo-rin stepped up beside me and said cautiously.
“Be careful. Dae Yeong-ban is a master at the peak of the Transformation Realm.”
I nodded, ready to attack at any moment.
Members of the Imperial Guard appeared around the forest. There looked to be at least twenty of them, all with their weapons drawn.
Dae Yeong-ban smiled leisurely.
“Ju Yeon-hwa, if you come with me right now, I will spare the lives of these two.”
“I cannot do that.”
His expression twisted at Ju Yeon-hwa's firm refusal.
“Then I suppose I'll have to take you by force.”
He moved in an instant. His spear flew at me like a bolt of lightning.
-Boom!
I barely managed to block it with my sword, but the impact sent me stumbling back several steps.
“Young Master Jin!”
“I'm fine.”
I replied, steadying myself. Hong Seo-rin immediately took an attack stance.
“Dae Yeong-ban, how dare you threaten Her Highness!”
She raised her sword above her head, unleashing a sharp wave of sword force. It shot toward Dae Yeong-ban, but he deflected it easily with his spear.
“Your skills have improved. But you're still a long way off.”
Dae Yeong-ban swung his long spear and charged at Hong Seo-rin. She met his attack with her own sword.
“My skills are not for the likes of you to judge!”
-Clang!
“Guardian Commander, the leader of the Moonlight Cult ordered me to bring him your corpse. You should be honored.”
Hong Seo-rin's eyes narrowed.
“The Moonlight Cult... So you were in league with them after all.”
Dae Yeong-ban swung his long spear and charged at Hong Seo-rin. She met his attack with her own sword.
-Clang!
Sparks flew as their weapons collided. The shockwave shook the surrounding trees.
I swung my sword at an Imperial Guard member rushing toward Ju Yeon-hwa. These guys were nothing special.
“Young Master Jin… can you help Seo-rin defeat Dae Yeong-ban?”
I shook my head at Ju Yeon-hwa's question.
“The best the two of us can do is hold him off.”
Hong Seo-rin was in the middle stage of the Transformation Realm, while I had just barely entered it.
In terms of sheer internal energy, I was at the middle stage or higher, but a battle in the Transformation Realm wasn't decided by internal energy alone.
“Hyaaap!”
I quickly dispatched the charging Imperial Guard and considered my options.
Fighting Dae Yeong-ban like this was suicide.
-Crash!
“Hahaha! Guardian Commander, it's not too late. If you pledge your loyalty to the Moonlight Cult, you too can receive a blessing like mine.”
“Shut up!”
Hong Seo-rin shouted in a furious voice, swinging her sword again. As her blade clashed with Dae Yeong-ban's spear, a powerful wave of energy shook the area.
Their battle grew more and more intense. Hong Seo-rin's swordsmanship was sharp and deadly, but Dae Yeong-ban's spear techniques were just as powerful. The clash between the two masters felled trees and split the earth around them.
I protected Ju Yeon-hwa while calmly assessing the situation. I could see that the longer the fight dragged on, the more disadvantaged Hong Seo-rin would become.
“Your Highness.”
I said quietly to Ju Yeon-hwa.
“You need to get out of here. Now.”
“Young Master Jin... what do you mean—”
“There's no time to explain. If you stay here... everyone will be in danger.”
I took the Haomun token from my robes and pressed it into her hand.
“Take this and follow the open land to the north. You'll find a marker there.”
“……I understand.”
Ju Yeon-hwa squeezed her eyes shut and turned. After one last check for any other presence, I gripped my sword again and joined Hong Seo-rin's fight. My attack, coming from the side, forced Dae Yeong-ban to retreat and counter.
“Tsk, you annoying little fly!”
His spear flashed past my face like lightning. I barely managed to twist away, but the force of the wind grazed my cheek.
“Why is someone with no ties to the Imperial family getting involved in this?”
I answered calmly.
“My identity is not something I need to share with the likes of you.”
At my words, Dae Yeong-ban's eyes sharpened viciously.
“Insolent bastard….”
The moment Dae Yeong-ban lunged at me with his spear, he created a tiny opening.
Hong Seo-rin didn't miss it.
Her sword struck at his flank. The cold glint of her sword force flashed, aiming for his side.
“A useless gesture.”
Dae Yeong-ban swung his long spear lightly, deflecting the entire attack with a single motion. It was as smooth and simple as cutting through the wind.
I immediately followed up with an attack of my own.
“I'll take the lead on the attack.”
I nodded at Hong Seo-rin's serious tone.
“Understood.”
Seeing this, Dae Yeong-ban snorted.
“So you two work well together. Not that it matters. You're just two ants.”
His long spear slowly rose again.
Heavy, yet angled to strike down like thunder at any moment.
*
For over an hour, we exchanged countless blows.
Our energy was frayed, our breathing ragged. Our bodies were covered in bruises, our clothes torn and soaked with blood and sweat.
“Grk…!”
Dae Yeong-ban gritted his teeth, his grip on his spear tightening. For the first time, a hint of impatience showed on his face.
This should be enough.
I quietly sent a telepathic message.
[Elder Sister, I think this is enough.]
Hong Seo-rin, breathing heavily, nodded. She was covered in wounds, but her eyes were still sharp.
All that was left was to shake off this bastard, who would be furious at losing the princess.
The man was glaring at us, grinding his teeth.
'His stamina must be pretty drained by now, too...'
Just then.
“Guardian Commander!”
Dae Yeong-ban shouted, spear in hand. His voice was laced with anger, his breath coming in ragged bursts.
“I'll kill you and take your body back, at least!”
-BOOM!
He slammed his long spear into the ground. A massive shockwave split the earth, rippling outwards. The grass and trees swayed, and dust filled the air.
Hong Seo-rin turned her head slightly and gave me a look.
[Now.]
We moved at the same time. Hong Seo-rin went right, I went left, splitting in two directions in an instant.
The tip of Dae Yeong-ban's spear cut through empty air; we had already vanished into the shadows between the trees.
“Where do you think you're running!”
His furious shout echoed through the forest, but his voice was soon swallowed by the rustling leaves and the wind.
After running for some time, Hong Seo-rin whispered quietly.
“Seo-yun… one of us has to be the decoy.”
I stopped for a moment and looked at her.
“I'll do it. I'm confident in my lightness skill. In the meantime, you can—”
“No.”
Hong Seo-rin cut me off. Catching her breath, she said firmly.
“I'll be the decoy.”
I shook my head.
“You can't. You have a duty to protect the princess.”
“But I can't let you put yourself in danger…!”
“Elder Sister.”
My voice was firm.
“You're the only one who can escort the princess.”
Hong Seo-rin's gaze wavered.
“But….”
“I'm just an ordinary martial artist. I have no connection to the Imperial family. But you're different. To the princess, you're the most trustworthy guardian she has.”
Her expression grew complicated.
“On your own….”
“Don't worry. I have a way to lose him easily.”
“Still….”
I gripped her shoulders firmly.
“There's no time. Circle around and head to the place I told you about. And if… if I don't come back, leave immediately.”
Indecision flickered in Hong Seo-rin's eyes, but she finally let out a sigh and nodded.
“Alright… But promise me. You have to come back alive.”
“Of course. There are still so many things I haven't done with you yet.”
A faint blush crept onto Hong Seo-rin's cheeks.
“Joking at a time like this….”
She hesitated for a moment, then pressed her lips to mine. It was a short but intense kiss.
“I'll be waiting.”
“Now, go.”
Hong Seo-rin squeezed my hand one last time.
“You must live. That's an order.”
The moment she turned, I slowly moved through the forest. I made my footwork for the lightness skill deliberately louder, more conspicuous.
“Dae Yeong-ban!”
I shouted at the top of my lungs.
“I heard your dick is shorter than a mackerel pike! Is that true?! They say that's why everyone calls you General Mackerel!”
The forest fell silent for a moment. It was followed by an explosive wave of fury.
“You—You son of a bitch!”
His voice roared through the forest like a beast's cry. A powerful aura surged through the trees, and Dae Yeong-ban's voice echoed from the distance.
“I'll cut off your head and feed it to the dogs!”
His face was contorted with rage, his eyes filled with killing intent.
“Seeing you get so angry, I must have hit a nerve.”
“When I catch you, I'll flay the flesh from your bones and chew on it!”
“Heh heh, why don't you catch me first? Though I doubt you can with skills as short as that little dick of yours.”
“Shut up!”
His rage reached its peak.
'Good, he's completely hooked.'
I drew him deeper into the forest. I had to keep luring him like this, to get him as far away from Hong Seo-rin and Ju Yeon-hwa as possible.
“For someone of your realm, your lightness skill is pathetic. Is that all you've got?”
Dae Yeong-ban no longer responded with words. His attacks grew more ferocious, but his rage made them less precise. I continued to provoke him while barely dodging.
“Come to think of it, I heard another rumor. That your mother is the most famous public toilet in the Imperial Palace.”
“Uwaaaaaaah!!!”
Driven mad with fury, Dae Yeong-ban lost all reason and charged.