Chapter 33: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual (29)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 33: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual (29)
The axe blade slicing through the air was halted by a soft moonlight. A majestic yet mystical sword light blocked Man Chu-sam's ferocious attack, tracing an arc of light through the air.
The moonlight-like sword light danced through the air, deftly scattering Man Chu-sam's violent axe swings.
"Grrrrr!"
A beastly cry erupted from Man Chu-sam's throat. His axe repeatedly sliced through the air, trying to strike down the sword light, but the moonlight blade slipped away as if it had no substance.
Leaning against the wall, I managed to push myself up and looked at the woman before me.
She wielded a blue sword that seemed to hold the very essence of the moon. Her elegant form was as dazzling as a painting.
"Young man, are you alright?"
Her clear, serene voice echoed through the air.
"Ah… Thank you for saving me. Who might you be, lady warrior?"
"I believe my disciple, who is following behind, can explain."
After her short reply, she elegantly readjusted her grip on her sword. A soft, moonlight-like aura began to emanate from her fingertips.
- Ggrrrind!
Despite being covered in blood, Man Chu-sam got back on his feet.
Roaring like a beast and radiating a fierce aura, he charged toward her.
"Hah… hah… M-Master!"
Along with the sound of panting from the distance, a familiar face came into view.
It was Jin Myeong-woo.
"Master…?"
I turned my gaze back to her. At first, I had been captivated by her overwhelming swordsmanship, but now I could finally see her clearly.
Clear, sky-blue hair, a perfect figure with a voluptuous chest that rivaled Jang Seo-young's and a slender waist.
The protagonist in the original story didn't have a master. But there was definitely a heroine who looked like that.
"The Sword Empress?"
Flying Moon Sword, Seo Ryeo-hwa. She was one of the heroines who appeared in the mid-to-late part of the original story.
I watched Seo Ryeo-hwa fight, wondering with confusion why she had appeared with Jin Myeong-woo.
- Clang! Crash!
Man Chu-sam's axe and Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword clashed. The moonlight aura and the ferocious red energy collided, engulfing the battlefield in a massive storm.
Watching her fight, I thought to myself.
'A protagonist is a protagonist, I guess. It wasn't enough for him to survive; he had to show up with a woman that hot.'
I hadn't expected this kind of twist.
"Grrrrr!"
Man Chu-sam's roar cut off my thoughts. Still engulfed in madness, he swung his axe toward Seo Ryeo-hwa.
Seo Ryeo-hwa's body moved like flowing moonlight. Her full chest and slender waist bent flexibly as she dodged the attack. The arc her sword drew was as beautiful as flowing moonlight, but its result was anything but.
After blocking the axe, her sword flew toward his chest. Man Chu-sam's movements faltered for a moment against her elegant yet deadly swordplay.
Befitting her title as the Sword Empress, she was toying with Man Chu-sam.
'But why is Seo Ryeo-hwa here?'
The original story never described Seo Ryeo-hwa's activities before she appeared in the latter half, so I had no idea.
Once again, the situation had diverged from the original story.
'From now on, I should only use the original story as a reference.'
- Clang! Thud!
A sharp clash rang out as her sword met his axe. Seo Ryeo-hwa's swordplay was breathtakingly beautiful to watch.
Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword cut through the air. Her movements were like flowing moonlight, and a soft aura spread with every swing.
Even Man Chu-sam's crazed attacks seemed powerless before her. Each time his axe sliced through the air, Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword met it gently. Her movements were as beautiful as a dance.
- Shhhk!
A silver sword light danced through the air. Her beautiful sword strikes spread toward Man Chu-sam, like a lotus flower blooming.
"Phantom Moon Lotus."
Seo Ryeo-hwa's clear voice rang out. The moonlight-like sword light bloomed like a lotus, overwhelming Man Chu-sam.
"Kuaaaargh!"
Man Chu-sam's scream erupted. His body, engulfed in madness, was torn apart by the sword. His rampaging energy, fueled by the elixir, was shattered before Seo Ryeo-hwa's swordsmanship.
The fight was over in an instant. Man Chu-sam's huge body collapsed, bleeding.
The Sword Empress's skill was far more powerful than what I had read in the original story.
Flicking the blood from her blade, Seo Ryeo-hwa slowly sheathed her sword. The sun illuminated her sky-blue hair, creating an even more mystical aura around her.
The smoke on the battlefield slowly cleared. Around the fallen Man Chu-sam, the remaining members of the Black Dragon Gate could be seen fleeing.
Just then, Jin Myeong-woo approached me. His steps were cautious. His eyes, as he looked at me, were filled with complex emotions.
Considering how I toyed with him last time, he couldn't be entirely happy to see me.
"…Hyung-nim, are you alright?"
Jin Myeong-woo's voice was cautious.
"Yeah. You're safe too."
I answered calmly. A complex emotion flickered across his face for a moment.
"…Are Father and Nunim alright?"
"Father has passed away. And So-hee is safe."
"Ah, Father…."
I said as I slowly got to my feet. Jin Myeong-woo's eyes wavered. His face turned pale at the news that his father had died while he was away.
Just as I was about to speak to Jin Myeong-woo, Seo Ryeo-hwa approached. Up close, her beauty was so striking it made me covet her.
"Young man, are you hurt?"
The description of her appearance I read in the original story was no exaggeration.
Like her moonlight-like sword energy, she herself seemed to hold the essence of the moon.
"Thanks to you, I'm fine. Thank you for your help."
I was momentarily dazed before I came to my senses and answered.
"I heard news of the Black Dragon Gate's attack and hurried over, but… it's a pity that Family Head Jin has passed away."
Seo Ryeo-hwa's voice was filled with sincere consolation. Her clear eyes were filled with sorrow.
I bowed my head in gratitude at her sincere words.
"Thank you for helping us. I will never forget this debt."
"You fought well enough too, young man. However…"
Seo Ryeo-hwa's gaze swept over the battlefield as she continued.
"There are many injured. We must quickly clean up and begin treatment."
Her words finally reminded me of Jang Seo-young and Jin So-hee. I turned my head to look for them. They weren't here.
"Excuse me. I'm in a hurry…!"
I said urgently and hurried away. I had to find Jang Seo-young and Jin So-hee quickly. I was especially worried about Jang Seo-young's injury.
After searching every corner of the Jin estate, I finally found them. The three of them were together in a small building behind the inner quarters.
Jang Seo-young was lying on a bed, and Seol-hee was tending to her wounds. Jin So-hee stayed by her mother's side, watching with a worried expression.
"Mother, are you alright?"
She turned her head at the sound of my voice. Tears were welling up in her eyes.
"Gaga..."
Jang Seo-young called my name in a weak voice. Her side was wrapped in bandages, and fresh blood was seeping through the white cloth.
"Seol-hee, how is Mother?"
"Fortunately, the wound isn't deep."
That was a relief. I slowly approached Jang Seo-young's side. I caressed her face and checked her condition. Her complexion was pale, but her breathing was steady.
"Gaga… I'm sorry. I couldn't be of any help…."
Jang Seo-young's voice trembled. She gripped my hand tightly as tears welled in her eyes.
"You did well to dodge. If you had taken Man Chu-sam's attack head-on, you would have been hurt much worse."
Jin So-hee was holding her mother's other hand. Seol-hee was quietly tending to the wound beside them.
"What happened to Man Chu-sam?"
"He's been defeated."
As I answered, Jin Myeong-woo rushed into the room. Seo Ryeo-hwa followed slowly behind him.
"Mother!"
Jin Myeong-woo ran to Jang Seo-young. But he stopped in his tracks. He had seen Jang Seo-young holding my hand.
A moment of silence fell. A complex emotion flickered across Jin Myeong-woo's face.
"...Mother, are you alright?"
In the end, he was the first to speak. Jang Seo-young hesitated for a moment before letting go of my hand.
"Myeong-woo… you were alive…."
Jang Seo-young's voice trembled. She was the one who had completely forgotten about Jin Myeong-woo while having sex with me all this time. Perhaps because of that, a tiny hint of guilt was visible.
Seo Ryeo-hwa watched the situation and slowly approached. Her gaze rested on Jang Seo-young's wound.
"I have a healing elixir. Using it should help with a swift recovery."
Seo Ryeo-hwa took a small bottle from her robes.
"Ah, thank you."
Seol-hee took the elixir and began applying it to Jang Seo-young's wound.
Jin So-hee was staring blankly at Jin Myeong-woo. She seemed unsure of what to say to her brother, whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
"Nunim…!"
"Myeong-woo…"
As I quietly watched Jin Myeong-woo reunite with his family, I decided to give them some space and slipped away from the bedside.
"Young Master, please sit here. I'll treat your wounds."
Seol-hee looked at me with a worried expression. My whole body ached from the aftermath of the battle.
"Please do."
As I sat down, Seol-hee carefully examined my wounds. Her hands gently touched my shoulder. The medicine she applied to the wound stung, but her delicate touch seemed to ease the pain.
"Young Master, you pushed yourself too hard."
Seol-hee said in a small voice as she wrapped the bandages. Her eyes were full of worry.
"Well, the situation called for it."
"Still, I'm glad it ended with just this."
Seol-hee tied the final knot and stood up.
"I'll go to Mother now. I think she'll need someone to look after her."
"Alright, please take care of Mother."
Seol-hee went back. Perhaps because of the battle's aftermath, my body gradually felt heavy.
'Shall I return to reality now?'
I decided to stop the Daoist Yin-Yang Manual here.
Service
