Chapter 448
Chapter 448
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 115
>Chapter Title: Evil Heart Granny (6)
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Haah…… Haah……
The spirit body of Cheongryeong, trapped inside the jade window of silver wood, was faint beyond measure.
Already weakened by the talismans' true energy and the silver wood, she had now pushed herself to the brink by using Empty Suppression—the most energy-draining form among the Breaking Thought Eight Forms.
She tried to hold on with a scream, but even her mind grew increasingly muddled.
‘Joongseng…… Is Joongseng alright?’
She was on the verge of dissipation to save him, yet she felt no regret.
Even if she couldn't achieve revenge, saving Joongseng in this moment was enough satisfaction for her.
That was her honest sentiment.
Just one thing left her wistful.
‘……Seeing…… you…… one last time…… that’s what I regret…… not doing.’
Death beyond death—complete annihilation.
For a being with no afterlife, that extinction felt all too poignant.
As she faded, even keeping her eyes open grew too difficult, her eyelids slowly drooping.
It was then.
-Bang!
The door shattered, and someone burst into the thatched hut.
With half-closed eyes, she strained to look that way.
“Cheongryeong!”
The voice she had longed to hear rang in her ears.
Her eyes, on the verge of vanishing after expending all her spirit energy, snapped wide open.
Mok Kyung-un rushed to her side, ripping away the talismans on the floor without hesitation, then the silver wood itself.
-Crack!
He smashed it barehanded.
The instant the talismans and silver wood shattered, her connection to the outer energies restored fully, and her shrunken body returned to its original size in a flash.
-Ssssh!
Yet even restored in size, the damage to her spirit energy was severe, leaving Cheongryeong’s spirit body faint beyond measure.
Seeing Mok Kyung-un, her eyes reddened, tears welling up, barely held back.
“You…… How in the world……”
She had tried to sever him from her karma somehow.
No matter the method, she hadn’t wanted him hurt or tormented by her tragic fate of inevitable dissipation.
That was why she tried to shoulder everything alone.
Yet why did he keep coming to her side until the very end?
-Pat!
Then Mok Kyung-un grabbed her shoulders, his face filled with relief.
Seeing him gaze at her so tenderly, Cheongryeong finally burst into tears.
-Hic.
Mok Kyung-un pulled her into a tight embrace.
Overwhelmed even more, she sobbed as she spoke to him.
“I’m sorry…… I’m sorry…… I should keep my distance, but…… the moment I see you…… I’m happy and relieved…… I hate myself for it.”
“It’s alright. Everything’s alright.”
Mok Kyung-un stroked her hair soothingly while holding her.
Clutched in his arms, she couldn’t stop her tears, sobbing endlessly in bitter sorrow.
She had steeled herself to bear it all, yet controlling the emotions surging from within the moment she saw Mok Kyung-un proved impossible.
To her like this, Mok Kyung-un said,
“I told you to trust someone else, Cheongryeong. Now trust me.”
“I…… I……”
“I’ll protect you, Cheongryeong. So never leave my side.”
-Swish!
At his words, Cheongryeong, tears streaming, soon wrapped her arms around his body.
She could no longer deny it.
The part of her he occupied had grown far too vast.
* * *
“Lady Iron Hands!”
“Haah…… Haah…… I showed an unsightly side to his blood kin.”
Evil Heart Granny shook her head at her bloodied, torn palms.
Had Mok Kyung-un not diverted his power midway and halted, her body might truly have been cleaved in two.
Rather than anger, she felt a thrill.
She had always considered that lord the greatest martial prodigy she had ever seen.
But this defied description.
He was a monster, plain and simple.
Plenty grew stronger in battle, but that happened at more basic levels—this was a realm where he sought an even higher dimension of swordsmanship.
‘A sword transcending the sword extreme…… What do I even call this?’
It was a sword approaching the very essence of the blade.
He had stopped midway, but had he completed that strike brimming with murderous intent, it would truly surpass the sword extreme.
Likely, nothing could withstand it then.
To her, who kept marveling, Jin Yerin asked,
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m fine. Wounds like these heal quickly.”
As she said, the blood from her torn palms gradually stopped flowing.
Evil Heart Granny Iron Hands showed it, then soon asked,
“But who exactly is that man?”
“He received guidance from Elder Moon Demon Sword.”
“Moon Demon Sword? Ha?”
Her face twisted in disbelief.
Each of his sword forms had carried a familiar scent—that explained it.
Evil Heart Granny Iron Hands clicked her tongue.
“That old bastard…… No, Moon Demon Sword, still alive? When his lord urged him to join, he spoke of living by the natural order and such.”
“Ah……”
“Oh. My apologies.”
Realizing Jin Yerin, as his blood kin, was no stranger to Moon Demon Sword—his lord’s father-in-law—Iron Hands belatedly apologized for her slip.
“No, no. It’s fine.”
Jin Yerin shook her head.
She had heard from her father that Evil Heart Granny had lived even longer than the elder.
But that wasn’t the point now.
“More importantly, Lady Iron Hands, I regret committing a discourtesy right after our meeting.”
-Pat!
Jin Yerin clasped her hands in a formal salute.
Evil Heart Granny Iron Hands waved it off, trying to dispel her salute.
“No need for that. I’m merely his lord’s loyal servant. You, his blood kin, needn’t show such deference.”
“No. Even if you served him, what I’m about to say would be disrespectful to you, Lady Iron Hands.”
“Disrespectful how?”
-Pat!
Jin Yerin went beyond the salute, dropping to her knees on the floor.
“No, what is this? Stand up at once.”
“No. I cannot.”
Flustered, Iron Hands tried to raise her, but Jin Yerin remained firm.
“Why do this? If you act this way, I’ll have no face before his lord. Please, rise.”
“Not until Lady Iron Hands agrees to help.”
“Pardon?”
At her plea for aid, Iron Hands furrowed her brow.
She had guessed there was reason for seeking this hidden place, but not such desperate earnestness.
“Miss……”
“My father, the last Small Castle Lord, along with Invincible Castle, Blood Cult…… Even countless martial sects perished and were sacrificed on the Day of Great Catastrophe.”
“……”
Jin Yerin’s words froze Iron Hands’ expression.
She had heard invaders speak of the Day of Great Catastrophe and such.
That the martial world had regressed greatly since.
Yet she never imagined it encompassed Invincible Castle and Blood Cult.
Even if not as in his lord’s era, she believed their lineages endured, keeping them solid.
‘Aaaah.’
Iron Hands soon gazed at the sky, cracked from damaged true energy.
‘……Has his lord’s worry become reality?’
He had said it.
All things existing would decay, Invincible Castle and Blood Cult no exceptions.
Had it truly come to pass?
Even long after his lord’s departure, it was hard to believe.
To her bitter regret, Jin Yerin continued earnestly.
“On the Day of Great Catastrophe, countless demons and spirit beasts rampaged to destroy the human world. Then, my grandfather and many Central Plains heroes stepped forth, sacrificing themselves to stop it.”
“……”
“But this wasn’t natural. My father, the last Small Castle Lord, discovered it was caused by certain individuals. That group remains active even now, and once again……”
-Swish!
Before she finished, Iron Hands raised a hand.
Puzzled by the inscrutable attitude, Jin Yerin looked at her.
Then Iron Hands,
-Thud!
Knelt likewise, clasping her hands in salute before speaking.
“My deepest apologies. I understand your request, miss, but I cannot leave this place.”
“Pardon?”
Jin Yerin hadn’t even made her plea yet, but couldn’t hide her shock.
She had thought this figure—infamous in the ancient martial world, possessing power beyond the Seven Heavens, the pinnacle of the current era—would make short work of the hidden foes if she aided them.
Yet refused before even asking—her momentum deflated.
And was she not his lord’s devoted subordinate?
How could she reject so curtly without hearing it all?
“Lady Iron Hands.”
“I already received punishment from his lord: to guard this place and atone for my karma.”
“Atone?”
“All martial artists accrue karma, but to save my distant eyes and this womb, I slew countless innocent women and children.”
“……”
Jin Yerin fell speechless at Evil Heart Granny Iron Hands’ calm confession.
She had heard old tales from her father, but not the specifics of why she was dubbed a great villain.
Yet her karma proved incomparably heavier than ordinary folk.
To her astonishment, Iron Hands spoke bitterly.
“Here, I’ve been accumulating merit to cleanse it, swearing on my life to his lord. No matter what, I would never leave this place.”
“Ah……”
A sigh escaped Jin Yerin.
She had seen it as gaining not just alchemy, but the ultimate ally.
Now that hope crumbled so hollowly.
Then Evil Heart Granny Iron Hands said to the deeply disappointed girl,
“However, his lord left me here not solely for atonement.”
“What do you mean?”
“Follow me.”
Evil Heart Granny Iron Hands rose and led her into the thatched hut.
Inside was,
‘!?’
Mok Kyung-un alone.
Iron Hands eyed the shattered silver wood bars warily.
Had that怨魂 ultimately failed to endure and dissipated?
If so, she might have to fight this man again.
But,
“Do you know alchemy?”
Mok Kyung-un showed no anger.
Quite the opposite—utter calm.
Puzzled, Iron Hands asked tentatively,
“……Where did that怨魂 go?”
“That’s no concern of yours, old monster.”
“You!”
Her voice nearly rose in fury, but Iron Hands quelled it.
Fighting him again meant loss for her.
From the moment of her no-kill vow, anyone equal or superior in power was an enemy she couldn’t face.
-Did you really defeat this old monster?
Cheongryeong’s voice whispered in Mok Kyung-un’s ear.
Her spirit body, damaged near dissipation in the silver wood, had voluntarily entered the wooden doll to recover energy.
Cheongryeong couldn’t hide her surprise at Evil Heart Granny, outwardly cowed in presence.
Even an ancient martial world archvillain reduced thus—what were this Joongseng’s limits?
Then Jin Yerin, behind, sighed.
“Young Master Mok. I don’t know what happened, but if the misunderstanding’s cleared, let’s end it.”
At her words, Mok Kyung-un shrugged lightly.
Iron Hands glared at him displeased, then fetched a wooden box from the hut’s inner corner, placing it on the table.
Jin Yerin asked curiously,
“What’s this?”
“His lord’s arrangement.”
“His lord’s?”
“Yes. Open it yourself.”
Urged by her outstretched hand, Jin Yerin hesitated before nervously lifting the lid with tense features.
-Click!
Inside lay a weathered wooden tablet and a book.
Seeing the script on the book’s cover, Jin Yerin’s pupils trembled.
Heavenly Escape Starbright Sword Method
< 115화 악심파파(惡心婆婆) (6) > End