Chapter 54: We'll Eat This Even If We Die!
What in the world is this!?
Yeop Hyeon's face was filled with bewilderment.
At that moment, the gazes of the warriors in the hall turned toward a corner of the grand hall. There, a woman with long, disheveled hair crouched, meticulously carving a wooden figure with a knife. Her long skirt was torn beyond recognition. Her hair, cascading to the ground, was snow-white like frost. She didn't lift her head. She simply focused intently on the wood before her eyes.
Everyone watched her with extreme caution, not letting their guard down for a second.
Then, the woman spoke.
"If you've come searching for treasure, head to the small bamboo hut behind the grand hall. There might be some things he gathered there."
At her words, the people exchanged glances before rushing out toward the back of the hall. The former princess, Gu Gongju, who had been about to follow, noticed Yeop Hyeon wasn't moving and asked,
"Not going?"
"You go first. I have some questions."
Gu Gongju left Yeop Hyeon behind and departed.
"Earth-Rank Martial Technique!"
After Gu Gongju left, a shocked cry echoed from behind the grand hall, followed soon by the clashing of weapons.
Yeop Hyeon ignored the commotion outside entirely and approached the long-haired woman. She paused her work, looked up at him, then shook her head.
"You're not him."
With that, she resumed carving the wood intently.
Yeop Hyeon extended his hand, and the Spirit Water Sword materialized above his palm.
The woman froze.
A moment later, she resumed her work and said,
"The spirit in that sword is so faint. Is he... dead?"
Yeop Hyeon remained silent. He was certain the face she was carving was that of the Sword Lord he had seen on the first floor of the Gyeok Ok Tower.
At that instant, the Spirit Water Sword vibrated and flew toward the woman's face.
She stopped her hands again. After a long time passed, she set down her tool, grasped the Spirit Water Sword, and held it close.
Staring at the sword, she kept smiling. Finally, tears welled in her eyes and fell onto the blade.
Yeop Hyeon watched her silently, unsure what to say.
A moment later, she spoke in a soft voice.
"This sword... I made it for him."
She caressed the Spirit Water Sword and continued.
"Back then, he told me to wait here. He promised he'd return. So I waited. Until my hair turned white. But he never came back. Now, even the lingering longing is gone..."
She looked up at Yeop Hyeon.
"Are you his disciple?"
Yeop Hyeon thought for a moment before replying.
"Something like that."
The woman slowly rose, straightened her clothes, and gazed at him.
"I was never truly his wife... but could you call me Madam?"
Yeop Hyeon bowed deeply to her.
"Madam!"
A faint smile bloomed on her tear-streaked face. She gently touched his cheek.
"You resemble him in many ways. He was a handsome young man like you, a sword cultivator... If you ever find someone you love, never leave her alone."
Yeop Hyeon hesitated before asking,
"Madam, you've waited here alone for so long. Do you have no regrets?"
She shook her head with a light laugh.
"When you truly love someone, you won't regret losing everything for them."
Yeop Hyeon fell silent.
She turned to gaze at the wooden figures. Her eyes sparkled as if recalling distant memories.
A moment later, she stroked the head of the wooden figure before her and said,
"In truth, I knew he had forgotten me. With his skill, he could reach this place from anywhere in the Qingcang Realm in two hours... But it didn't matter. As long as I remembered him, that was enough."
As she spoke, she opened her right palm. The black sword hovering above the palace transformed into a streak of black light and descended into the hall. In an instant, it floated above her palm.
She turned back to Yeop Hyeon.
"Lingyou. That's the name of this sword. Because I neglected it, it fell to spirit sword grade. Your Spirit Water Sword and Lingyou can merge into one or split into two. If they unite, the sword's grade could rise a level—or even to heavenly sword. Remember, a sword needs constant care to maintain intimacy with its master. Only then can you draw out its full power later."
She extended Lingyou and the Spirit Water Sword to Yeop Hyeon.
He hesitated briefly before accepting them. Holding both swords, he felt a connection form between them.
She gave him a faint smile.
"Now go."
"Madam, won't you come with me?"
She shook her head.
"Our story began here. It should end here too."
She stroked his head.
"If you ever find someone you love, understand her no matter the circumstances. And never break your promises..."
Yeop Hyeon said nothing more. He simply bowed to her once and left the grand hall.
Alone in the hall, the woman embraced the wooden figure before her, resting her head on its shoulder. She slowly closed her eyes—and never opened them again.
Stepping outside, Yeop Hyeon bowed toward the hall once more, his heart heavy.
Waiting.
He couldn't know exactly how long she had waited. It must have been an unimaginably long time.
Had the Sword Lord truly forgotten her? Or had some unavoidable circumstance arisen?
Yeop Hyeon didn't dwell on it further.
Just then, the sounds of fighting from behind the hall grew louder. Gripping his two swords, Yeop Hyeon rushed toward the noise. Numerous warriors had already gathered behind the hall, tangled in combat. The clashing weapons had drawn even more from elsewhere.
As Yeop Hyeon surveyed the scene, a figure appeared before him—Gu Gongju.
Without giving him a chance to speak, she grabbed his arm and bolted outward.
"Catch her! The Earth-Rank Superior martial technique is in that woman's hands!"
A furious shout followed. Yeop Hyeon sensed several warriors chasing them. At that moment, a man and a woman blocked their path ahead.
The man glared coldly at Gu Gongju and bellowed,
"Hand over the item!"
Gu Gongju smirked.
"Come take it."
The man shot toward her in an instant.
Gu Gongju swung her blade at him.
Boom!
An explosion rang out, sending both the man and Gu Gongju staggering back.
Right then, warriors who had arrived encircled Yeop Hyeon and Gu Gongju.
Gu Gongju's expression darkened.
Earth-Rank Superior martial technique!
Its value was beyond imagination. Across the entire Jiang Kingdom, there were fewer than ten Earth-grade techniques. Even a Superior Earth-grade was something only ancient powers like Chwiseonru or Changmok Academy might possess!
Gu Gongju had no intention of giving up such a treasure.
At that moment, the man before them spoke with murderous eyes.
"Hand over the technique, and we'll let you go!"
The warriors hesitated to charge, wary of Gu Gongju's strength. They simply glared fiercely.
Gu Gongju glanced sideways at Yeop Hyeon beside her.
"What now?"
"How much would that technique sell for?"
Gu Gongju calculated briefly.
"At least fifty million gold coins. It's priceless."
Fifty. Million. Gold!
Yeop Hyeon's eyelids twitched. He shouted at her,
"What do you mean 'what now'? We're keeping it. We'll eat this even if we die!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yeop Hyeon clenched his fist and charged the man before him. Terrifying battle intent blazed from his fists.
Once he unleashed his battle intent, the aura and pressure radiating from Yeop Hyeon was pure terror.
Battle Intent!
In all of Qingzhou, those who could awaken battle intent were rare geniuses, countable on one hand.
Reaching within a few paces of his foe, Yeop Hyeon slammed his fist down.
Fist Collapse!
A single strike fusing momentum and intent!
A massive shockwave exploded through the hall.
The man gritted his teeth and punched the ground.
Boom!
Countless stone shards erupted from the earth like arrows, hurtling toward Yeop Hyeon.
But the shards shattered into dust before touching him. His fist pressed relentlessly onward.
The ground around the man crumbled under the fist momentum.
Daring not to block head-on, the man stepped back several paces with footwork, creating distance.
Yeop Hyeon didn't pursue. He returned to Gu Gongju's side and bellowed coldly at the surroundings,
"Who's next?"
Feeling the rippling battle intent from Yeop Hyeon, the warriors' faces darkened sharply.
Especially the man who had faced his strike up close—his expression was one of utter despair. That single fist's power had surpassed his wildest imagination!
Then, Gu Gongju shouted at Yeop Hyeon,
"Kill them all!"
As she drew her golden blade to charge, Yeop Hyeon urgently grabbed her arm and sprinted outward. Their escape was blindingly fast, covering dozens of paces in the blink of an eye.
The warriors in the hall were stunned.
'R-Running away?'
'Wasn't this a fight?'
Snapping out of their daze, they shouted,
"Catch them!"
With a roar of fury, they gave chase.
Among them, the man and woman who had clashed with Yeop Hyeon surged ahead at top speed.
Yeop Hyeon, gripping Gu Gongju's hand, fled at full tilt. His foundations were no joke either.
"Weren't we fighting!?"
Gasping as they ran, Gu Gongju demanded. Yeop Hyeon rolled his eyes.
"How the hell are we supposed to handle that many!?"
"So that was all bluff!"
Yeop Hyeon replied sternly,
"It's a strategic retreat."
"Fine, whatever—strategy or not! Can you let go of my hand...?"
Yeop Hyeon's face flushed as he abruptly released her hand.
They soon reached the entrance they had come through.
The moment they burst out! A shadow appeared to Gu Gongju's left. Simultaneously, a chill pierced toward her chest.
"No!!!"