Chapter 92: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual (43)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 92: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual (43)
We remained vigilant throughout the night, but nothing happened. When morning came, we gathered in the guest hall and began our meal.
Baek Myeong and the warriors of the Cheongpung Sect were with us, and just like yesterday, a lavish meal was laid out.
As the meal was ending, Baek Myeong approached us.
"Sword Empress, I have a favor to ask. Would you be willing to accompany us to Cheonbong Fortress, where our Cheongpung Sect is located? We have injured members, and if we're attacked again, I fear our strength alone won't be enough."
Seo Ryeo-hwa lowered her head slightly, as if lost in thought. Just then, Jin Myeong-woo spoke up.
"Master, Baek Myeong is right."
Hearing Jin Myeong-woo, Seo Ryeo-hwa slowly nodded.
"Very well. We were heading in that direction anyway, so let's travel together."
A look of relief washed over Baek Myeong's face.
"Thank you. It will take about half a day to reach Cheonbong Fortress."
He bowed his head in gratitude and left. After finishing our meal, we each packed our belongings and departed from the mountain lodge.
Baek Myeong and the Cheongpung Sect warriors took the lead, and we set out on the road behind them.
After walking for some time, Seo Ryeo-hwa suddenly stopped.
Her sky-blue hair swayed gently in the wind. Placing a hand on her scabbard, she spoke in a low voice.
"Everyone, halt. Someone with a powerful aura is approaching, leading a large group."
The group stopped, their expressions tense, and turned their attention to Seo Ryeo-hwa.
"A powerful aura?" Baek Myeong asked, his face flustered.
"A master comparable to the Transformation Realm is approaching at high speed. And I can sense the presence of at least twenty others following him."
Seo Ryeo-hwa's eyes glinted sharply. Her voice was laced with a tension that showed she was already preparing for a fight.
Seo Ryeo-hwa scanned her surroundings and said to the group in a low voice, "Stay on guard. They are approaching with hostile intent."
Jin Myeong-woo drew his sword, his face tense as he stared ahead. Jang Seo-young, Jin So-hee, and Seol-hee also gathered their energy and took their positions.
"They will show themselves soon," Seo Ryeo-hwa said calmly. She focused her gaze in the direction of the approaching presence, sensing the flow of its energy.
A moment later, a powerful aura stirred the wind beyond the forest. A man emerged from between the trees.
He was dressed in flamboyant red robes, a smile full of confidence and arrogance on his face. In his hand, he held a red fan.
Following behind him, several warriors walked out in an orderly fashion. Dressed in red martial arts uniforms, they all radiated intense killing intent.
Seeing him, I muttered to myself.
Who is that?
I turned my gaze to Seo Ryeo-hwa. A cold sweat had beaded on her forehead. It seemed she already knew his identity.
Her voice was lower and firmer than usual.
"Everyone… run. As fast as you can."
Jin Myeong-woo asked with a shocked expression, "Master, run? If we fight together…"
"No!"
Her voice was so cold and decisive it was hard to believe it was the same Seo Ryeo-hwa.
At that moment, the man leisurely strode forward, his red fan fluttering in the wind.
"Hehehe, Sword Empress. It's been a while."
His voice was smooth, but an eerie chill was woven into it.
Seo Ryeo-hwa spat out his name.
"Tamhwaranggun… Wi Gwang…"
The moment the name left her lips, I remembered who he was.
He was one of the villains from the Sword Empress's storyline.
Tamhwaranggun Wi Gwang. A master of the Unorthodox Faction who had reached the Transformation Realm, and a man with a strong obsession for the Sword Empress.
Seo Ryeo-hwa gripped her sword tightly, glaring at Wi Gwang. Her eyes were brimming with rage.
"State your reason for appearing here."
He took a step toward the Sword Empress with a sinister smile.
"Sword Empress, no… Ryeo-hwa, how about it? If you become my woman now, I'll spare the lives of everyone behind you."
Hearing his words, Seo Ryeo-hwa didn't even crack a smile as she replied coldly, "Shut up… I have not the slightest intention of becoming the woman of someone like you."
Seo Ryeo-hwa's voice echoed coldly.
"Hoho, same as ever. But I believe I've told you every time we've met. If you won't be my woman… I will kill everyone by your side."
His grim voice filled the forest. Wi Gwang slowly folded his fan and gave a light wave of his hand.
Simultaneously, his subordinates began to step forward, radiating intense killing intent.
"Young Master…" Seol-hee whispered to me, her face tense. Jin Myeong-woo also drew his sword and surveyed the area. Jang Seo-young and Jin So-hee took up defensive stances as well.
"To think you must use your noble swordsmanship on such insignificant beings. What a pity," Wi Gwang said with a leisurely sneer.
Seo Ryeo-hwa readjusted her grip on her sword and glared fiercely at Wi Gwang.
This is the worst.
Wi Gwang's appearance alone made the situation bad enough, but now his men were closing in, tightening the encirclement.
Wi Gwang's men aren't that skilled. We have a chance... but the problem is the Sword Empress. It looks like she's lost her composure...
I glanced at Seo Ryeo-hwa's profile, assessing the situation. The sword in her hand was trembling slightly. This was different from her usual calm self.
Before I had time to think, Wi Gwang's men began to slowly surround us.
It was already too late to escape. I quickly moved toward my women, gripping my sword tightly.
"Everyone, stay close to me."
As I spoke in a low voice, Jang Seo-young, Jin So-hee, and Seol-hee quickly gathered around me.
I gave Seol-hee's shoulder a light squeeze to reassure her, then turned my head to look at Jin Myeong-woo.
"Myeong-woo, form a defensive line around Mother."
Hearing my words, Jin Myeong-woo immediately moved to Jang Seo-young's side.
"Understood, Brother."
As he took a defensive stance centered on Jang Seo-young, I turned my head back toward Seo Ryeo-hwa. She was still glaring at Wi Gwang, her sword held high.
The two warriors, both having reached the Transformation Realm, quietly took their stances, facing each other.
Seo Ryeo-hwa had reached the Transformation Realm, but she was a step below Wi Gwang.
Even in the original story, Wi Gwang wasn't a simple villain. His level and combat experience were among the best in all of Murim.
Besides, in this situation, Seo Ryeo-hwa has to worry about us, so it'll be difficult for her to use her full strength.
Just as I was lost in thought, Seo Ryeo-hwa was the first to move, swinging her sword at Wi Gwang.
The moment the battle between the Transformation Realm masters began, Wi Gwang's men charged in all at once.
In an instant, Jang Seo-young and Jin So-hee blocked the front, deflecting the enemies' swords. Seol-hee also dodged an attack with swift movements and surveyed her surroundings.
-Clang! Crash!
Intense sparks flew as the warriors' swords clashed. Without a moment's delay, I stepped in front of my women. I swung my sword, blocking the approaching enemies' attacks and establishing a defensive line.
Meanwhile, the battle between Seo Ryeo-hwa and Wi Gwang was on a completely different level. A sharp sound rang out each time their auras collided, as if the very air was being torn apart.
Seo Ryeo-hwa unleashed a powerful aura to block Wi Gwang's attacks, while he, with a relaxed smile, deflected her blows.
The fight between the two was still evenly matched.
At that moment, one of Wi Gwang's men approached from my side, saw an opening, and swung his sword.
"How arrogant, to look away!"
I quickly swung my sword at him, easily parrying his attack. Then, as a counter, I reversed my blade and slit his throat.
-Swish!
Blood spurted from his neck like a fountain as his body fell limply to the ground.
A warrior of this caliber is no great threat to me.
I thought to myself as I watched the enemies' movements. Wi Gwang's men were not as skilled as I'd expected.
At this level, even Seol-hee should be able to handle them.
Seol-hee was already fighting a nearby enemy, moving with fluid grace. Her movements showed a lack of combat experience, but her fundamentals were solid.
I scanned the area once more, keeping an eye on the enemies' movements.
Their individual skills were nothing special, but Wi Gwang's men were overwhelming in number. The way they maintained a tight formation and moved in perfect unison showed they had considerable combat experience.
Is the strongest one among them a single warrior at the Peak Level...?
I gripped my sword tightly and scanned the area again. The enemy's dense formation was solid, but my eyes fell on the Peak Level warrior commanding them from the center.
Found him!
I said to Jang Seo-young in a whisper.
"Mother, I'm going to break formation and target him directly."
Jang Seo-young looked at me for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. I'll cover your spot, so don't worry."
Reassured by her words, I gripped my sword and began moving toward the center of the formation. Jang Seo-young immediately guided Jin Myeong-woo, Jin So-hee, and Seol-hee to her position, reorganizing the defensive line.
Using my lightness skill, I vaulted over the enemies' heads and reached the center of the formation in a single breath. The man who appeared to be the Peak Level warrior glared at me with sharp eyes and drew his sword.
"How arrogant of you to dare come inside the formation!"
He swung his sword, attacking me immediately. The power and speed in his movements were certainly fitting for the Peak Level. But I let out a sneer and raised my sword to block his attack.
-CRASH!
A powerful shockwave spread out as our swords collided. His eyes filled with killing intent as he launched another series of attacks.
After exchanging a few blows with him, I gauged his skill. He was a step below me.
I'll end this quickly.
I watched his movements closely and raised my sword. Parrying his swing at an angle, I stepped in and rapidly closed the distance.
-CLANG!
Startled by my unexpected speed, the man momentarily lost his balance.
"You bastard…!"
Before he could finish his sentence, I took advantage of the opening and slashed deep into his thigh.
-Swish!
"Kugh!"
He staggered back in pain, but I had no intention of letting him go. Gripping my sword tightly, I charged forward once more.