Chapter 94: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual (45)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: Daoist Yin-Yang Manual (45)
Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword grazed Wi Gwang's shoulder, leaving a shallow cut. Blood dripped from the tip of her sword, but Wi Gwang calmly readjusted his grip on his fan.
"Did you think a scratch like this would be enough to defeat me?"
Wi Gwang's voice was relaxed, and a mocking smile spread across his lips. Instead of answering, Seo Ryeo-hwa swung her sword with even greater intensity. The air distorted as their energies clashed, and the surrounding leaves were whipped into a frenzy.
I watched their fight from a distance, biting my lip.
'Wi Gwang is wounded, but it's not fatal.'
A battle between masters of the Transformation Realm was not something I could dare to interfere in. Each time Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword flew like a flash of light, Wi Gwang deflected it with his fan by the narrowest of margins. He moved with an air of ease, but the wound from Seo Ryeo-hwa's attack didn't seem entirely ineffective.
'If I jump in, I'll only get in the way. It's better to just watch for now.'
The sword in my hand felt heavy. Just the aftershocks of the fight seemed to make it hard to breathe. The overwhelming energy radiating from their clashes pressed down on my body.
'I knew Wi Gwang was strong, but I never imagined he was this powerful.'
I wondered what I could possibly do in this situation. I was too weak to jump in recklessly, but I couldn't just stand by and watch either.
Wi Gwang blocked Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword and sneered in a low voice.
"This isn't enough to defeat me. Acknowledge your limits."
Seo Ryeo-hwa's eyes glinted coldly. She took a short breath and charged at Wi Gwang again. I watched her movements closely, trying to find an opening, however small.
Watching their continuous exchange, I felt the insurmountable gap between us to my very bones.
She swung her sword once more. A powerful sword force struck down at Wi Gwang, but his fan blocked it every time with precise movements. Their fight was growing more intense.
At that moment, Jin Myeong-woo, having finished off all of Wi Gwang's subordinates, swung his sword and charged toward Wi Gwang.
"Hyaaaah!!!!"
'That fucking idiot...!'
A sneer crossed Wi Gwang's face as he looked at Jin Myeong-woo. Even while fighting Seo Ryeo-hwa, he casually glanced at Jin Myeong-woo and opened his fan.
"Myeong-woo! Stop!"
Jang Seo-young screamed in horror at the sight. Her voice was filled with desperation, but Jin Myeong-woo ignored her cry and swung his sword directly at Wi Gwang.
Wi Gwang smirked and flicked his fingertips. A sharp burst of energy shot from them, shattering Jin Myeong-woo's sword and slashing a deep gash across his chest.
"Gaaack...!"
The powerful impact sent Jin Myeong-woo flying backward, and he tumbled to the ground. Blood poured from his chest, and a faint groan escaped his lips. He collapsed limply and didn't move.
"Myeong-woo!"
Seo Ryeo-hwa's desperate cry cut through the air.
Wi Gwang waved his fan and said, "How foolish. To not know your own place and dare to challenge me."
He glanced mockingly at the fallen Jin Myeong-woo before turning back to Seo Ryeo-hwa.
"How dare you do this in front of me again!"
Enraged, Seo Ryeo-hwa readjusted her grip on her sword and charged at Wi Gwang in a single breath, swinging her blade.
-Klang!!!
Her sword force glowed with a deeper blue light as she pressed Wi Gwang.
"Keuk..." Wi Gwang's relaxed expression contorted.
As she drove Wi Gwang back, Seo Ryeo-hwa shouted, "Everyone, take Myeong-woo and get out of here!"
The moment she heard that, Jang Seo-young ran to support the fallen Jin Myeong-woo.
"Myeong-woo, wake up!"
Jang Seo-young's urgent voice echoed. Jin So-hee and Seol-hee also moved quickly, taking positions to help Jang Seo-young while keeping watch on their surroundings.
Jin Myeong-woo was unconscious and limp. Blood was flowing from his chest, but thankfully, he was still breathing.
"Mother, take Myeong-woo and leave now," I said firmly to Jang Seo-young. Her eyes widened in shock, and she cried out in a trembling voice, "Seo-yun, what are you planning to do...!"
"I'm staying to help the Sword Empress."
At my words, she shook her head even more vehemently.
"No! What will I do if you get hurt too...!"
"Mother. We'll only be a hindrance if we stay. If I'm in danger, I'll follow you right away."
I took a deep breath and looked her straight in the eye.
Jang Seo-young stared at me without a word. Her eyes were filled with worry and fear.
"Seo-yun...."
"Please, Mother."
She finally clenched her jaw and nodded.
"So-hee, Seol-hee. We're taking Myeong-woo and retreating."
"Yes, Mother."
Jin So-hee and Seol-hee moved swiftly to support Jin Myeong-woo.
Jang Seo-young bit her lip and looked me straight in the eye. Worry and fear warred in her eyes.
"Seo-yun... you have to survive."
Leaving her trembling words behind, I turned and walked toward the center of the battle between the Sword Empress and Wi Gwang.
I used Sound Transmission to speak to her.
[Sword Empress, can you hear me?]
Seo Ryeo-hwa dodged one of Wi Gwang's powerful attacks and gave a slight nod.
[Can you defeat Wi Gwang as you are now?]
[It will be difficult. In my current state, I can only last for about one gak (approx. 15 minutes).]
[In that case... Sword Empress, please trust me and lure him north. I have a plan.]
[North? What kind of plan do you have?]
[There's no time to explain. Please, you must lead him there. I'll take responsibility.]
[Very well. I will trust you, Young Master Jin.]
Seo Ryeo-hwa swung her sword even more fiercely at Wi Gwang.
'I don't know the exact location of the Infinite Ring Bewildering Array, but I can narrow it down...'
I watched Wi Gwang's movements and began to move slowly. Seo Ryeo-hwa started to move gradually toward the north.
"I don't know what scheme you're plotting, but do you really think I'll fall for it so easily?"
Wi Gwang glared at us with cold eyes and swung his fan. Seo Ryeo-hwa barely blocked his attack, retreating step by step.
"Hmph, it seems the great Tamhwangung Wi Gwang is getting scared, is he?"
Along with Seo Ryeo-hwa's cold reply, a blue sword light erupted. Wi Gwang met her attack, advancing step by step.
I kept my eyes on Seo Ryeo-hwa as I moved north.
'First, we need to get over that ridge.'
Seo Ryeo-hwa dodged his attacks, retreating little by little. With each step, she was slowly but surely putting distance between them, heading north.
-Kang! Kwang!
Energy burst from Wi Gwang's fan, tearing through the air. Seo Ryeo-hwa blocked his attack and retreated further.
"How far do you plan to run?"
The corner of Wi Gwang's mouth curled into a sneer. His attacks grew stronger, and Seo Ryeo-hwa's breathing became ragged.
I watched their battle while scanning the surroundings.
'Just a little more... Just to that spot...'
We were heading deeper and deeper into the forest. The surrounding trees grew denser, and the air began to feel strangely different.
'This is it... It has to be around here.'
Suddenly, Wi Gwang stopped in his tracks. His gaze sharpened.
"Strange...."
Wi Gwang scanned his surroundings warily. Even with his mastery of the Transformation Realm, he seemed unable to pinpoint what was wrong. It was as if he had instinctively sensed danger.
Seo Ryeo-hwa continued her assault.
'Good... Just a little more.'
Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword flew at Wi Gwang once again. We had almost reached our target location.
'Almost there...'
I examined the surrounding terrain. I could faintly see rocks forming a pentagon. I had found the entrance to the Infinite Ring Bewildering Array.
"It's useless."
Wi Gwang casually swatted Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword aside. Her swordsmanship, faltering after the long battle, no longer posed a threat to him.
"I don't know what you're plotting, but I think I'm done playing along."
Wi Gwang took a red orb from his robes.
'That's...!'
It was the Red Elixir made by the Celestial Sphere Assembly.
"That is...."
Tension filled Seo Ryeo-hwa's voice.
Seeing the Red Elixir, I immediately sent a message to Seo Ryeo-hwa.
[Sword Empress, run to me now!]
Trusting my words, Seo Ryeo-hwa quickly turned and ran toward me.
"Running away...? But it's too late!"
Wi Gwang popped the red orb into his mouth and swallowed it in one gulp. Instantly, a red energy exploded from around him.
"Sword Empress, this way!"
I grabbed Seo Ryeo-hwa's arm and leaped between the pentagonal rocks. Wi Gwang's red energy pursued us.
"Do you think running will change anything!"
Wi Gwang's furious shout echoed as the red energy flew at us.
We entered the Infinite Ring Bewildering Array just before the energy could reach us.
"This place is...?" Seo Ryeo-hwa murmured, looking around. A strange energy enveloped us.
"The Infinite Ring Bewildering Array," I said, looking at Seo Ryeo-hwa.
"The Infinite Ring Bewildering Array...? I've never heard of such a formation..."
A look of confusion crossed Seo Ryeo-hwa's face. Just then, Wi Gwang's red energy flew into the formation.
-Kwoong!
But the energy simply dissipated like mist. The formation's energy had neutralized Wi Gwang's attack.
"Let's move, for now."
I took Seo Ryeo-hwa's arm and led her deeper into the formation.
*
Wi Gwang stared coldly at the spot where the Sword Empress had vanished. His eyes were stained blood-red from the effects of the Red Elixir.
"A formation...?"
-Swaaak!
Red energy shot toward the pentagonal rocks. It flew with enough force to split the sky, but the formation didn't even tremble under his powerful strike.
"Tsk, I have no choice."
Wi Gwang slowly walked toward the entrance of the formation. There was no hesitation in his steps. Neither the strange energy he felt from within the formation nor his ominous premonition could stop him.
"Do you think you can escape from me?"
His voice, laced with cold killing intent, echoed. Wi Gwang's body vanished between the pentagonal rocks as if seeping into them.
Stepping inside the formation, Wi Gwang looked around a space that resembled a large cave. His red energy illuminated the surroundings, revealing the walls, but there was no trace of the Sword Empress anywhere.
He took a step forward to find her. The cave floor seemed to react to his energy, vibrating faintly. But at that moment, a strange mist began to rise from beneath his feet.
"What is this?"
Wi Gwang frowned, gathering his internal energy to push the mist away. But the mist was no ordinary energy. It coiled around his internal energy as if absorbing it, growing even thicker.
"With a pathetic formation like this, you think you can stop me...?"
Before he could finish his sentence, the mist completely obscured his vision.