Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Die, You Crazy Bitch! (2)
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Kang Yun was in the midst of descending the mountain while the Sword Saint was climbing up in the opposite direction.
In a remote valley nook of Ami Mountain, a tearful mother-daughter reunion was unfolding.
"Hye-ya!"
Eon So-young called out to her daughter in a voice soaked with tears.
"Mother..."
Namgung Hye smiled weakly as she called back to her mother.
Eon So-young examined her daughter from head to toe, but though she looked somewhat worn out, there were no visible injuries.
If only one unnecessary person hadn't been there, Eon So-young could have truly rejoiced in the reunion purely.
"What a heartwarming sight. Family belongs together, after all."
That unnecessary person even tossed in a snide remark, making her brows furrow sharply.
"Then you could have let us meet sooner."
Lee Ja-seong was inwardly exasperated by the bold retort but simply laughed. He knew she was doing it on purpose.
Eon So-young had conceived his disciple's child. By her own choice, no less.
He hadn't learned of her voluntary acceptance from the disciple himself. Eon So-young wouldn't have spoken of it anyway.
It was a fact known only to a tiny few, including the Sword Saint, but the Color Blood Demon Lee Ja-seong was also a master of soul subjugation techniques.
Soul subjugation was the art of dominating another's spirit, manipulating emotions, and rewriting memories.
It wasn't perfect enough to rewrite everything exactly as desired, but it could achieve a certain degree.
For instance, he had rewritten the memories of the Namgung Family retainers so they believed not that "the family's peak experts were slaughtered by an overwhelmingly superior foe," but rather that "the family's peak experts lured the enemy away in a clash with a top-tier master."
As a bonus, he made them mistakenly think, "We must inform the family immediately."
Otherwise, there'd be no reason for the Namgung retainers not to seek aid from the Sichuan Tang Family right away.
Since the disciple's existence had to remain a secret, Lee Ja-seong planned to use soul subjugation to rewrite Eon So-young and Namgung Hye's memories as well.
Something like "Kang Yun never existed in the first place" or "It was Lee Ja-seong who violated Eon So-young."
He'd violated over a hundred women already anyway. One more wouldn't make much difference.
But that plan soon hit a wall.
Namgung Hye's memories of Kang Yun could be erased easily enough, but Eon So-young's? Impossible.
There were limits to erasing memories with soul subjugation.
First, the more the target didn't want to forget, the harder it was.
Second, the purer and stronger the target's inner energy, the harder it was.
Incredibly, Eon So-young had no desire to erase her memories of sharing love with her disciple.
Even more incredibly, she had achieved remarkable growth in her inner energy over the past month.
'That mad bastard... Turning her nearly to peak upper realm in under a month...'
Lee Ja-seong recalled his disciple's assessment of Namgung Hye's looks.
<Namgung's little lady? She's pretty. Pretty, but... how to put it? Like a pretty flower? A pretty painting? A pretty view? Something like that.>
He'd inwardly worried the boy might be impotent. The Ascending Immortal Art required emission for progress, so he'd fretted over dashed hopes...
'How much did he pour into her for her martial prowess to rise despite neglecting all other training...'
Her inner energy, which had been low mid-upper realm, now rivaled upper-upper realm.
His disciple's confirmed virility was welcome news, but the consequence made her memories impossible to erase.
"You must have had a reason to summon us. Did the family offer a ransom?"
It was a way of saying she'd put up with his crude speech because she didn't want her daughter suspicious.
All the more since he'd discovered her affection for the disciple within.
"Someone will come to fetch you both. Oh, and no ransom involved, so rest easy."
There seemed real emotion toward Lee Ja-seong in her tone, but he could overlook that much with magnanimity.
With a light snap of his fingers, Finger Wind shot out and sealed their acupoints.
Then the Phantom Heaven Energy suppressing their inner arts dispersed, and the seals released.
"The seal...!"
"Can't keep you sealed forever."
Their joy at regaining their inner energy was short-lived; their faces soon hardened.
"Now, now, relax those faces. The world's greatest sword hero has come to rescue you. No good frowning at him."
Realizing the oppressive aura crushing the surroundings belonged to the Sword Saint, their faces lit up.
"Tsk tsk... That mad dog has built himself a fine reputation. If they actually met the man properly, they'd surely..."
Lee Ja-seong's hand flashed up above his head, gripping a sword blade as if it had been there all along.
"Not buy all the rumors wholesale, eh, Brother Huangbo?"
The sturdy-looking elder who appeared gripping that sword replied.
"No idea what you're on about. Long time no see, Brother Lee."
****
"Halt."
I turned cautiously to the beauty who seemed to brush past me. She was staring straight at me as she spoke.
"Me, you say?"
Her gaze carried an odd pressure, making my words come out servile.
"Is there anyone else here but you?"
"...Figured a fine lady like you wouldn't have business with a lowly wretch like me."
"Could be."
She nodded slightly, looking oddly dim-witted somehow. What?
"But no masked man lurking in these mountains is likely some innocent commoner. Reveal your identity!"
The sword on her back, her subtle arrogance—something felt off.
I subtly circulated my inner energy in preparation for combat while babbling away.
"Mercy, miss! It's a misunderstanding! My throat's parched, no water, mouth all chapped, so I covered it with cloth—nothing nefarious!"
"I'll be the judge of that. Now, remove the mask."
As I raised a hand to pull it down, this woman suddenly drew her sword?
"Eek! Spare me!"
"Not killing you. I'll remove it myself, so stay put."
She brought the sword tip near my mask. Back and forth she went. And if she nicks me, whose fault is that?
I wanted to leap back... but a cliff dropped behind me.
"I'll do it! I'll do it! Just spare my life... If I die here, what of my widowed mother living for me alone?!"
"A widowed mother...?"
"My brother fled with our late father's legacy, leaving Mother ailing in body and spirit!"
I felt her soften at my improvised pitiful act. The sword pressing close pulled back a bit.
"I'm a worthless son, but I risked my life on this escort job to finally care for her properly. If I die here..."
"A filial son, then."
Tears glistened at the corner of her eyes; she was touched.
'This woman...'
Is she an idiot?
Falls for some sob story about lost baggage?
Unaware of my thoughts, she wiped her eyes and said.
"The mask is fine. Just let me check your baggage. All right?"
"Of course..."
I froze mid-agreeable reply, remembering what was inside.
A letter from Master to the Underground Network's Sichuan branch chief, in case I needed their help. With "Lee Ja-seong" beautifully inscribed on the envelope.
'Show her that, and it's instant fight. What now?'
After a second of frantic thinking, I spoke again.
"No issue showing it, but I fear it might offend a noble lady like you. Filthy stuff inside..."
"No matter. I know how grimy men get on long hauls. Go on, open it."
She smiled softly, but I couldn't bring myself to unpack easily.
Meanwhile, as I hesitated, I saw her sword hand tense.
"Come to think of it, they say some demon hides in these mountains."
"...First I've heard."
"Called the Flame Ghost King or something. Word is his skills rank top among peak masters."
"Dunno how impressive that is."
"Is that so...?"
She was gearing up to act. First real fight with anyone but Master—my palms were slick with sweat.
"Your baggage is just the size for a single sword to fit snugly."
"...Is it?"
"Imagine—a massive blade... swung like this, swift as can be."
My reaction lagged to the whistling slash. Crazy...?
Ssshk
A chilling rip, and the side of my pack burst, contents scattering into the air...
The rest, needless to say, plunged into the river below.
"My sweeeord!!!!!!"
Besides the letter, there was travel money and spare clothes—all gone to the river.
"N-not a sword? You're not with the Flame Ghost King...?"
"Fuck, what bullshit! Never heard of any Flame Ghost King! My money—oh, my money..."
I'd planned to hole up in some tavern, feast at local spots!
Master said that silver would last a year of lavish spending!
"What grudge do you have against me?!"
"Well, I... truly sorry."
As she bowed her head guiltily, a brilliant idea struck me.
"Oh, Mother... oh, your unfilial fool of a son got fleeced clean! Oh... poor Mother..."
I wailed with full method acting.
She looks loaded—squeeze out enough to tide me over!
Glancing sidelong at her shrinking shoulders, I slammed my fist on the plank and sobbed.
"Oh, Mother! This worthless son aches to slice a finger and offer you my blood!!"
Snap
Deep in my performance, a sinister sound came from behind—like a rope snapping.
Before I could turn, the woman scooped me up by the waist and bolted.
"Eek!"
"Bear with it a moment."
This after A-hyeon? Why this again, even knowing martial arts?
Looking back at my original spot, the sturdy support rope had been severed.
That position...? Right where my pack...
'This fucking bitch accidentally cut the damn rope too!'
Her half-decent looks were forgotten.
False accusation, lost money, now collapsing the bridge?
The planks tumbled in an instant as the rope gave way, the chain reaction snapping the opposite rope too.
Crashing footboards chased us...
"Ah."
Three steps from the far cliff, the ground vanished beneath my feet.