Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Holy Fire Palace's Left Envoy 2
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Baek Moo-jin informed So-ah that he had some business to attend to and would return shortly, then made his way back to the main hall, where he said to Yi Gon,
"Let's go."
Yi Gon stared at Baek Moo-jin, still simmering with anger. Reading that gaze, Baek Moo-jin could roughly guess what was about to unfold.
'He's not here just to relay a message. Feels more like an advance scout.'
Baek Moo-jin's hunch was spot on.
Yi Gon's visit to the North Heaven Alliance wasn't solely to pass on the Little Palace Lord's words—his main purpose was to gauge Baek Moo-jin's martial prowess.
This was a grave matter for both the Holy Fire Palace and Yi Gon himself.
Yet no matter how hard Yi Gon probed Baek Moo-jin's energy or tested him with killing intent, he couldn't pin down the man's true depth.
'I thought a closer look would reveal something... but the situation looks grim. Maybe I need to test him properly after all.'
The Little Palace Lord under Yi Gon's care was the future of the Holy Fire Palace.
Yi Gon had passed down every martial art the palace possessed and used its accumulated wealth to procure all manner of elixirs for the young lord's support. All this effort was because the Little Palace Lord was the one meant to inherit the Holy Fire Palace's aspirations.
Yi Gon fell deep into thought.
'If, by some slim chance, this guy is stronger than the Little Palace Lord... I have to push the sparring match back somehow.'
Yi Gon had already arranged a setup to verify Baek Moo-jin's skills before escorting him to the Little Palace Lord.
Though Baek Moo-jin saw right through Yi Gon's intentions, he feigned ignorance and followed along. Even so, he had no idea exactly how Yi Gon planned to test him. The man might charge outright or resort to some scheme.
The two, each lost in their own calculations, exited the North Heaven Alliance grounds.
Yi Gon led the way silently beyond the alliance territory, with Baek Moo-jin close behind, equally wordless. Nothing but their footsteps disturbed the quiet. Yet the air thrummed with tension, fueled by their mutual suspicions.
But Baek Moo-jin welcomed the tension.
This was a faction he'd planned to approach anyway.
Having them come to him and arrange a match with the Little Palace Lord was a stroke of luck.
Once they'd strayed a short distance from the North Heaven Alliance, Yi Gon made a suggestion.
"Let's pick up the pace from here. It's quite a ways off. You won't mind using lightness skill, will you?"
Baek Moo-jin nodded.
"Of course not."
"I'll give you time to rest once we arrive. Don't take it the wrong way."
"Do as you please."
"Heh. That confidence of yours... impressive. Speak up if it gets tough. I'll slow down."
The moment Baek Moo-jin agreed, Yi Gon shot forward.
By the time Baek Moo-jin blinked, the man was already far ahead. Baek Moo-jin watched him impassively for a couple of slow steps, then surged ahead like a gale.
Yi Gon was the Left Envoy of the Holy Fire Palace and a man strong enough to become the Little Palace Lord's master.
His lightness skill in particular was unmatched even within the palace—save perhaps for the Palace Lord himself. Now, he accelerated, knowing Baek Moo-jin's pride ran deep, turning this into what amounted to a provocative lightness skill duel.
Suddenly, Yi Gon reached a fork in the road. Assuming Baek Moo-jin was lagging far behind, he paused and glanced back.
"Where's this guy...?"
He seemed about to add, '...at?'
But Baek Moo-jin's figure filled Yi Gon's vision. Not only that—the man halted right before him, kicking up wind and dust in a burst that rivaled Yi Gon's own arrival.
A strange whooshing filled the air as dust rained down on the stationary Yi Gon. Scowling in irritation, he waved away the cloud and eyed Baek Moo-jin.
Baek Moo-jin's expression seemed to ask why he'd stopped.
Blinking at Yi Gon, it was as if to say,
'What? Why?'
Yi Gon coughed awkwardly to mask his fluster.
"Ahem... It's a fork. Stopped to make sure we don't take the wrong path."
Baek Moo-jin nodded carelessly.
"I see. Which way?"
Yi Gon blinked back at him.
"Your footsteps weren't that loud, though."
"My steps are pretty light. Shall we?"
"Ah, right. Then... this way."
Baek Moo-jin gestured impatiently down the path.
'Left Envoy, run faster.'
2.
Yi Gon eyed the road ahead a beat too long before nodding.
'His lightness skill alone puts him at a master level... Should I look into the Snow Mountain Baek Family?'
Yi Gon drew a deep breath and dashed off again.
There was another reason he'd paused at that fork moments ago.
'Time to settle this here.'
Yi Gon had agreed with his subordinates to meet at this point via lightness skill.
But the next arrangement was even more crucial.
As he raced down this path, he'd ordered his men—hidden on both sides—to loose hidden weapons the moment he passed at full speed.
Of course, those projectiles would target Baek Moo-jin and Yi Gon alike.
Yi Gon knew they were coming and could easily deflect even full-force throws from his own men.
And that was precisely how he'd avoid arousing Baek Moo-jin's suspicions...
This was all predicated on Baek Moo-jin's skills being as formidable as assumed.
If Baek Moo-jin took a hit mid-lightness skill, it wouldn't be a bad outcome.
It would prove his prowess fell short of Yi Gon's own. Treat the wound, then pit him against the Little Palace Lord, and Yi Gon's plan would conclude flawlessly.
Yi Gon's face hardened as he pressed on.
A little farther, and the Jin Family Merchant Group—where the Little Palace Lord was staying—would come into view.
3.
Baek Moo-jin kept pace with Yi Gon's impressive lightness skill without much strain, though the endless dark path put him slightly on edge. He tracked the moonlight and drifting clouds while pursuing.
'Quite the distance.'
It had to be. The Little Palace Lord's entourage was sizable, and they couldn't all lodge near the North Heaven Alliance. Still, their lightness skills were among the best in the martial world, covering vast ground in moments.
Even at this blistering speed, Baek Moo-jin closely observed Yi Gon's technique.
The man's inner energy was profound and steady, his form impeccable. Baek Moo-jin couldn't help but inwardly admire the Holy Fire Palace's arts and this Left Envoy.
Yet he sensed Yi Gon's pace dipping ever so slightly.
'No way he's tiring already.'
Then, unrelated wind hissed from both sides of the road.
Shuu shuu shuu!
"...!"
Baek Moo-jin pinpointed the source and leaped skyward. His momentum sent him soaring to dizzying heights.
Meanwhile, Left Envoy Yi Gon below effortlessly swatted away the incoming projectiles.
'Hm?'
Even Baek Moo-jin, ever composed, was startled by the ambush—yet Yi Gon's response was eerily calm.
Baek Moo-jin overtook him mid-flight and landed ahead. Another volley rained down on him.
From his stance, Baek Moo-jin drew and sheathed his sword in rapid succession. The hidden weapons clashed with white sword light, veering wildly off course.
His form then blurred toward the attackers.
A spar with the Little Palace Lord was one thing; an outright ambush was another. Holy Fire Palace warriors scattered in panic at Baek Moo-jin's sudden charge. Getting caught would expose the Left Envoy's orders and tarnish the palace's honor—especially since even the Little Palace Lord was unaware of this unilateral command. They fled like their soles were aflame.
But who could outrun him?
Baek Moo-jin matched the Left Envoy's lightness skill without faltering.
Yi Gon pursued hot on his heels.
Baek Moo-jin bounded twice more, thumb and index extended in Cold Moon Finger Technique to strike the fleeing intruder.
But Yi Gon, hurtling after him, grabbed Baek Moo-jin's wrist just in time to save his subordinate. Baek Moo-jin countered by seizing Yi Gon's wrist in turn, their arms crossing in a mutual lock.
Baek Moo-jin glared at him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
What could Yi Gon possibly say? In the meantime, his men bolted for their lives.
Still gripping Baek Moo-jin's wrist, Yi Gon racked his brain. But no excuse would fool the man now.
'Knock him out first, deal with it later.'
Judging the palace's honor paramount, Yi Gon surged his energy and muttered,
"Forgive me."
Even as Yi Gon channeled power, Baek Moo-jin twisted his captured wrist, wrenching Yi Gon's arm viciously.
Yi Gon's body spun fully with the twist, then righted itself as he unleashed palm strikes.
Baek Moo-jin sneered and struck back without hesitation.
'Pulling out all the stops, eh?'
Their feet hit the ground as palms flew in a frenzy, culminating in right palms clashing with a thunderous boom.
Kwaaaaang!
The shockwave made nearby trees shudder as if struck by lightning.
Pouring energy into the strike, Baek Moo-jin addressed Yi Gon.
"Is this your plan, Left Envoy? Why not just challenge me outright?"
Yi Gon ground his teeth, unable to reply. His palm flushed crimson in an instant.
The technique the Little Palace Lord had used before... Heaven-Exterminating Flame Flower erupted from Yi Gon's right hand.
As Yi Gon's palm brimmed with fiery aura, Baek Moo-jin felt an inexplicable shiver course through him, though he couldn't say why.
Then, somewhere within, a faint snap...
For the first time since descending the mountain, Baek Moo-jin elevated White Flower Divine Art to the fourth realm and infused White Flower Palm into his counter against Yi Gon's right hand.
The fourth realm wasn't his limit, so he could still speak freely amid the energy surge.
Gazing at the grimacing Yi Gon, Baek Moo-jin spoke slowly.
"The flames of the Holy Fire..."
Yi Gon's face darkened at Baek Moo-jin's leisure. The words continued.
"...shall turn to white flowers."
Cold energy from Baek Moo-jin's hand began encroaching on Yi Gon's crimson palm.
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