Chapter 275: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (105)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 275: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual[R-18] (105)
I slowly lowered my hand, breathing raggedly.
I had squeezed out every last bit of internal energy from my dantian for that one strike, and my entire body was stiff and aching.
‘Still… I saved my dick.’
That fact alone was enough. The crisis of nearly being violated by that filthy, insane lecher.
Just getting through that was a massive relief. But it wasn't over yet.
Baek Ha-rim was still breathing.
I forced my body to move, drawing the Flying Heaven Sword and slowly placing the blade over her chest.
“An executive of the Celestial Sphere… Of course a blow like that wouldn't be enough to kill her.”
Then, without hesitation, I stabbed.
-KRRUNCH!!
Before I heard the splatter of blood, the resistance of the blade hitting something hard traveled up my arm.
‘Just as I thought.’
I frowned and twisted the sword a little deeper.
The jewel embedded in the body of a Celestial Sphere executive. They called it a Soul Stone.
Usually, it was embedded directly in the heart or dantian, but sometimes it was implanted in the head, neck, or even near the genitals.
‘As long as the Soul Stone is intact, these bastards can resurrect indefinitely.’
That was why a kill confirmation was essential when dealing with their executives.
I put more force into the Flying Heaven Sword, slowly channeling what little internal energy I had left into it.
-Zzzzzzzzt…
The moment the blade touched the Soul Stone, a purple flash erupted, and a small vibration spread out.
Baek Ha-rim’s body twitched and convulsed.
“Ugh… Gkk…!”
She was still faintly conscious.
“N-no…”
A thin moan escaped Baek Ha-rim’s lips.
“Save me… Please…”
My eyes narrowed as I poured all my remaining strength into the sword. The blade, embedded in the Soul Stone, pushed through the resistance and dug deeper.
“Be reborn with a clean pussy next time.”
-Kreeeak!
A crack formed in the Soul Stone, and a purple light seeped out. Baek Ha-rim’s body convulsed violently, thrashing up and down.
“No…! This can’t be…!”
The moment my sword completely pierced the Soul Stone, it shattered with an intense vibration.
“A hundred years… My life, which has lasted a hundred years… to end like this…”
Baek Ha-rim’s hands trembled as she reached for the empty air. But soon, her strength failed her, and her arms fell limp.
“Fucking… bastard…”
The light in her eyes faded until they were completely lifeless. Baek Ha-rim’s body slowly began to turn black.
I gasped for breath. Having exhausted all my energy, my body felt as heavy as lead.
I retrieved the Flying Heaven Sword and got to my feet.
‘With this… I’ve killed one of the Celestial Sphere’s executives.’
I pulled the fragments of the Soul Stone from Baek Ha-rim's heart and collected the Celestial Sphere's insignia and her belongings. Then, wringing out what little energy I had left, I started walking toward the rendezvous point where Ju Yeon-hwa and Hong Seo-rin would be waiting.
I walked, looking only forward. A burning thirst and a crushing fatigue enveloped my entire body, but I couldn't stop.
‘The meeting place… It can’t be far now.’
I managed to take one step, then another.
‘I can’t collapse. There might be other enemies.’
I dragged my body forward on willpower alone. I could feel the stones and dirt beneath my feet, and the sound of the wind tickled my ears.
Suddenly, I sensed a presence ahead. I instinctively tried to draw my sword, but my arm wouldn't obey.
‘Dammit… If I run into an enemy in this state…’
Holding my breath, I hid behind a tree. The presence drew closer.
“Seo-yun!”
A familiar voice. It was Hong Seo-rin. I let out a sigh of relief and stepped out from behind the tree.
“Sister…”
Hong Seo-rin’s eyes widened in shock. She immediately ran over and supported me.
“What happened to you?!”
“Don’t worry. I’m just a little tired.”
Hong Seo-rin examined my face closely, then asked cautiously.
“What about Dae Yeong-ban?”
“I led them into a trap. They won’t be able to follow for a while.”
“That’s a relief.”
Ju Yeon-hwa then approached with a worried expression and helped support me from the other side.
“Young Master Jin, are you alright?”
“I’m fine. I just used up a lot of my energy.”
A look of relief washed over Ju Yeon-hwa’s face.
“Thank goodness. I was so worried.”
Supported by them, I moved on. Before long, a small mountain lodge came into view. It was one of the Haomun’s hideouts. The people from Haomun had guided them here after seeing the token I had given Ju Yeon-hwa.
They helped me inside the lodge. It was furnished with a simple bed, food, and medicinal herbs needed for recovery.
“Lie down here.”
Ju Yeon-hwa helped me onto the bed. Her hand brushed against my forehead.
“You have a fever. I’ll prepare some medicine.”
Hong Seo-rin also sat beside me, watching me with worried eyes.
“Seo-yun, are you really okay?”
“Yes, my internal energy is just depleted. I’ll be better after some rest.”
Ju Yeon-hwa brought the medicine. A bitter taste slid down my throat.
“Get some rest now. We’ll stand guard.”
I nodded at her words and closed my eyes. Fatigue wrapped around my entire body, and my consciousness began to fade.
*
The mountains were dark, and the wind was still. High on a cliff, an unnamed peak untouched by human feet.
Beneath a sharply cut blue-black sky, it was a strangely silent night, as if even the sun held its breath.
The sound of footsteps broke the silence.
-Tap. Tap. Tap…
The sound was neither light nor heavy. But with every step, the very air seemed to vibrate.
And then, he appeared. His robes were long and white as snow.
His face was half-hidden in shadow.
Below where he stopped, a trembling Celestial Sphere executive bowed his head to the ground.
“……Cult Leader, the soul of Eumwol Danju, Baek Ha-rim, has just been shattered.”
The man called the Cult Leader raised his head and gazed at the distant sky. His face was still obscured by shadows, but his eyes, reflecting the faint moonlight, shone with a sharp clarity.
“Are you saying the Master of the Eumwol Danju is dead?”
His voice was deep and low, like an echo reverberating from an abyss.
“Yes, Cult Leader. It appears that not only her Soul Stone but her entire body and spirit have been destroyed.”
A sharp glint flashed in the Cult Leader’s eyes.
“Who killed the Eumwol Danju?”
“We are still confirming, but according to a recent report from No Sa-un, the Thousand-Mile Ghost, she had taken an interest in the Sword Empress's disciple and pursued him alone.”
The Cult Leader’s hand moved slightly. At that moment, the executive’s voice abruptly stopped.
“The Sword Empress’s disciple… What is his name?”
“Jin Seo-yun.”
“Jin Seo-yun… A name I’ve heard in recent reports…”
“In many ways… he is a man who has been obstructing our work.”
A smile touched the Cult Leader's visible lips. Even under the moonlight, it was chilling and eerie enough to raise goosebumps.
“How amusing. It’s been a long time… since someone interesting has appeared.”
He slowly rose to his feet. With that single movement, the surrounding air and space seemed to sink under a heavy weight.
He spoke quietly.
“……Geum-nyeong.”
“Yes.”
As the name was called, a man emerged from the shadows behind him and silently knelt.
He wore black silk robes, his face was expressionless, and his eyes were vacant. Geum-nyeong, a man whose true identity was said to be unknown even within the Celestial Sphere.
The Cult Leader looked down at him and continued in a low voice.
“I will be absent for a while. In my stead, you will take full authority over all matters in the Central Plains.”
Geum-nyeong bowed his head deeply and uttered a single word.
“As you command.”
His voice was devoid of emotion.
The Cult Leader looked up at the sky again. The moon, beginning to turn red, glowed like a prophecy, as if it would soon be stained with their blood.
*
Cold, dark eyes were glaring at Jin Myeong-woo.
“…I’m sorry.”
“You have no sense of direction…”
“Ugh…”
Jin Myeong-woo wanted to argue that she was just as bad, but after traveling with her for over a month, he knew her personality was anything but ordinary, so he kept the thought to himself.
“What should we do now…?”
The woman’s voice was cold and sharp. She swept her hair back with one hand and looked around. They were deep in the mountains, surrounded by unfamiliar scenery.
“W-wait a moment. I’m sure the map said Kunlun Mountain was in that direction…”
Jin Myeong-woo said cautiously. He took out the map again, but he couldn't figure out exactly where they were.
“No matter how I look at it, this doesn’t seem to be the right way,” the woman replied with irritation.
“Miss Dan… I think we’ll have to find a guide nearby.”
“…I understand.”
Jin Myeong-woo sighed at her short reply. Over the past month, he had tried to deduce her identity on his own, but all he had learned was a single name.
However, she loved food an incredible amount and was far more of an airhead than she let on.
“And, uh… how about we rest here for a bit before we go on?”
Wi Danwol frowned and said.
“Here…?”
Wi Danwol’s brow furrowed. Her expression was cold, as if to say, You want to rest in a place like this?
“Ah, no… It’s just time to eat.”
A moment of silence.
Danwol swept her long hair back with one hand, then slowly looked around.
Even though they were in the mountains, their current location showed no signs of large animals, and the wind was calm.
“…Fine. Hurry up and make the food.”
“Yes!”
Jin Myeong-woo quickly surveyed the area, swept away the fallen leaves, and prepared a spot.
Meanwhile, Danwol plopped down without a word, wrapped her arms around herself, and stared at the sky.
“…It’s cold.”
“Oh? Just a moment!”
Jin Myeong-woo quickly took out some clothes from his belongings and offered them to her.
“You can cover yourself with this.”
Danwol turned her head to look at Jin Myeong-woo once, then casually snatched the clothes from him.
“……”
Then she muttered softly.
“……It’s warm.”
Jin Myeong-woo heard her clearly but pretended he hadn't.
A short while later, as he carefully heated some water, Jin Myeong-woo spoke up.
“Miss Dan, our destination was Kunlun Mountain, right? Are you… perhaps looking for something there?”
“……”
Danwol didn’t answer for a while. But after a brief silence, her voice came out, low and clear.
“I am here to find and punish the one who dares to impersonate the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
At those words, Jin Myeong-woo’s hand, which had been tending the boiling water, froze.
His eyes went wide, and his face slowly turned pale.
“The… The Demonic Cult?”
The words slipped out reflexively. But in the next moment, Danwol’s cold gaze pierced through him.
“Not the Demonic Cult. It is the Hea-ven-ly. De-mon. Di-vine. Cult.”
She enunciated each syllable clearly. Jin Myeong-woo broke out in a cold sweat and lowered his head.
“I-I’m sorry… I didn’t know…”
A quiet moment passed. Only the crackling of the campfire tickled their ears.
Eventually, unable to hold back any longer, Jin Myeong-woo carefully opened his mouth.
“Um… may I ask why someone from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult… is traveling alone…?”
At his words, Danwol’s shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
“…You don’t need to know.”
A short, sharp reply. Jin Myeong-woo flinched and ducked his head.
“S-sorry…!”
But at that moment, an explosive shout erupted in Wi Danwol’s mind.
‘There’s no way… I can ever tell him that I’m actually a runaway who got lost…!!’
Wi Danwol, her expression unchanged, was inwardly sweating bullets and trying to justify her situation to herself.
Meanwhile, beside her, Jin Myeong-woo kept his head down and muttered to himself.
‘What do I do? Isn’t the Demonic Cult a den of fiends who eat people alive?’
And so, the night passed quietly for the two of them—one cold on the outside, the other anxious on the inside—their feelings strangely misaligned.
Service
