Chapter 205
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Checkmate (2)
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“What did you say?”
“Heaven Above and Earth Below, Golden Return Fragrance Oil Infant Sole Venerable... that's me.”
She was utterly dumbfounded.
He'd mangled the words so badly she'd forgotten what he'd even said, and now he claimed that ridiculous string was his name. As if a name like that could exist anywhere in the world! Unless he was deliberately trying to mock her.
Fuming, she opened her mouth to call him out.
“Should I say it's an unusual name for a woman? You won't even reveal yours, so why does mine matter?”
“...That's!”
“What good is knowing a name you don't even care about? Just do what you want and part ways. Why keep dragging this out? It's annoying.”
“That's harsh.”
Her voice trailed off. Every word she said only stoked his anger, but damn it, he was picking the most accurate hits. She knew her name was fake and had brushed it off vaguely, so getting called out for not being honest was like spitting in her own face.
Wow, every word lands like a hail of arrows.
Yukchil was inwardly impressed.
By now, anyone would be pissed, but Mujin stuck to the script. In this exchange, if anyone was at fault, it was her mistakes—over eighty percent of them. The only minor flaw was how sharply he wielded conversation.
No need to call it annoying, though!
This was the coldest treatment she'd ever faced. Even the Elm Heaven Gang luring her into an alley to rob her felt kinder. This man cornered her with every word.
Damn jerk! Fine, I won't ask anymore.
Before she knew it, she'd been clinging to the conversation. She vowed not to pry further. As he said, they were just temporary allies until their business was done.
But the world rarely goes as planned.
A sly grin tugged at Mujin's lips.
“Makho, get inside the yurt.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
“Don't ask. Come out when I say.”
“...Understood.”
Makho obediently ducked into the yurt and pulled the flap shut. Iron Tiger and Yukchil immediately circled the yurt, going on alert.
Mujin nodded in satisfaction at how Yukchil and Iron Tiger moved without question, pure reflex.
What's this?
She eyed Mujin's sudden shift warily. Was he finally revealing his intentions? If so, she'd picked the wrong mark.
“Whatever your game is in approaching me, you'd better quit while you can.”
“Don't talk nonsense.”
“What?”
“Isn't it about time you noticed?”
“As if I'd fall for that cheap tri—huh?”
Only then did her senses pick up the rhythmic thud of hooves. Dozens of chilling auras, carrying a biting wind, raced toward them.
Camels were fine for desert treks, but horses won for short bursts.
Mujin spread his cloak by the fire, laid his head on the bundled luggage, and closed his eyes.
Sand shifted softly.
Something burrowed into the dunes.
Gritting her teeth in disbelief.
He was napping at a time like this? She itched to confront him, but it was too soon for certainty.
Before she could dwell, a suspicious group shot in like the wind. They gathered around, and the man at their center glared down at her.
To her dismay, she knew him.
“Lady Seol, you've been turned too?”
“I'm merely following palace protocol.”
Her tone sharpened, formalities gone.
“How could you do this? Not you of all people!”
“What did you expect? That petty sentiments rule the world? You're still just a greenhorn.”
Bukgung Hye, who had fled to the desert to escape the palace's watch, trembled at the traitor's brazenness.
He wasn't just anyone—her father had personally appointed him captain of the North Wind Squad, the palace's elite force. Repaying grace with enmity was bad enough, but this shook her to the core.
“You won't take me alive!”
“Who said anything about taking you?”
North Blood Blade Seol Jung-yang's eyes gleamed coldly, lips curling in a faint sneer. She might have slipped their eyes, but stepping outside was her mistake.
She might have lived if she'd stayed in the palace.
“I won't yield to scum like you!”
“Hye, you're no match for me. I taught you your arts myself. Kneel quietly—I'd rather not kill you marred.”
“Spare me your tricks!”
“Tricks? Good idea. Fine, then—if you resist, they all die.”
“These people have nothing to do with me.”
“Then don't drag innocents in. It doesn't suit your righteous nature.”
She realized Seol Jung-yang's past loyalty—charging into hell at her father's command—was all a lie.
And he knew her too well, striking her weak spot so cowardly.
Bukgung Hye glanced around. The North Wind Squad numbered only fifty, but they were the palace's backbone. Few in number but rivaling entire units in strength. Escape was impossible encircled by them.
Sorry.
She apologized silently to her companions from their petty squabble. They never intended mercy anyway. She shouldn't have joined them—should have gone alone to spare the innocent.
She raised her head and strode toward Seol Jung-yang.
“Spare them if I come quietly?”
“Yes.”
Bukgung Hye walked slowly, measuring distance. At her desired range, she unleashed palm force without hesitation.
Boom!
Mighty energy erupted, pillars of sand shooting up. A frigid chill swept outward.
Her eyes twitched faintly.
She'd struck with Ice White Divine Palm to turn the tide, but Seol Jung-yang was no pushover.
“Didn't I say I taught you your arts? Think that cute trick would work?”
“You're not the only one who knows them!”
“Their lives mean nothing to you?”
“Hmph, you never planned to spare them anyway.”
“Indeed, no wonder the palace lord dotes on you. But reality is cruel.”
Seol Jung-yang hadn't expected an easy end. He'd just watched his niece's response.
Now, as uncle, it was his duty to end her.
Whiiiing!
His signature North Heaven Blood Blade hummed, radiating fierce energy beyond blade aura—forming sword ki. Proof his power transcended peak mastery.
Clang! Boom!
Sword and blade clashed, the shockwave shaking night sky and sands. Extraordinary energies flared. Frosty chill plummeted the desert's heat.
The sword in Bukgung Hye's hand was the palace treasure, North Heaven Divine Sword—palace lord's blade, said lost recently. Now in her grasp.
“That's no sword for you.”
“Nor for that bastard!”
Beautiful sword ki like woven stars—North Sea Seven Star Sword—unfolded from her blade. Imperfect, yet formidable. Especially the Divine Sword's dread chill could freeze innards on graze.
But Seol Jung-yang's North Heaven Demonic Blade Style matched it. Lifelong blade mastery blanketed the field, pressuring her. Thread-like blade ki sliced all directions.
Clang clang clang!
Sword ki and blade steel collided, but no quick victor. Their skill gap was vast, but the Divine Sword made sense of it.
Swish, slice!
Her sword vanished. Ice White Asura Divine Art infused the North Heaven Divine Sword and ki, turning glass-transparent. Then it tore space.
North Sea Seven Star Sword's first form, targeting openings: Lurking Wolf.
Swoosh, burst!
Seol Jung-yang blocked with North Heaven Tyrant Blade, but his eyes twisted savagely. Blade ki had grazed his face, blood trickling.
“You dare!”
Seol Jung-yang dropped all pretense. He'd capture, ravage, then kill her anyway. He'd make her regret resisting.
“I'll make you writhe in despair!”
“Bring it!”
Bukgung Hye steeled for death. Better here than dragged by traitors.
“How long can you last? Without Ice White Asura Divine Art at mastery, wielding the Divine Sword is reckless—you know it. Block all you want; you'll falter first. Before then, those you're protecting die. Blame your impotence.”
“You're no warrior.”
“Taunt all you like; it's useless.”
“It won't go your way!”
Her bold cry rang hollow; she felt her limits acutely. Without mastering Ice White Asura Divine Art, the sword's secrets stayed locked—and worse, its demonic nature could ensnare her. Called divine, it bordered cursed.
Still, I won't give up!
She couldn't hand the palace to scum like them. Even in death, as vengeful ghost.
“Futile. Because of you...”
Puke!
Something pierced his back, emerging from his chest. A blackened weapon tip, then gone.
Blood gushed wildly.
“...What?”
Seol Jung-yang, chest impaled, and Bukgung Hye alike couldn't comprehend the sudden turn.
“Who the hell...”
-No need for vermin to know.
Slash!
The ambusher from behind severed his head without pause. Seol Jung-yang's rolled across sand, face frozen in disbelief. He hadn't grasped his death.
Slash, thrust!
Others pierced, beheaded. Black shadows erupted from sand, turning the space a slaughterhouse.
Like a hedgehog bristling quills.
Spurt, spurt!
North Wind Squad fell without resistance to the sudden sharp blades.
“This can't... urk!”
The one pierced through dantian then beheaded was vice-captain Hwangpung. He hadn't even noticed his captain's death. By the time he realized his men dropping, shadows devoured him.
Ah!
North Wind Squad annihilated in moments. Unbelievable, even for ambush.
Bukgung Hye stood slack-jawed, like Seol Jung-yang's head at her feet.
“Who did this?”
Unknown foes hiding nearby? Impossible. She'd felt nothing amid their bloodlust.
“Whoa, that's why they hype newbies, newbies... guk!”
“I said speak properly, with spaces.”
Warning once only.
Yukchil, mid-exclamation, saw stars and rolled on sand.
“Back in line.”
Thud thud thud!
Bleeding nose from the smack, he bounced back casually, planting feet.
“We're pretty close now, right?”
“I overstepped, sir.”
“It's fine. Happens when comfy. But don't ignore me.”
“I'll correct it!”
Yukchil learned jokes had limits the hard way.
Anyway, Mujin's display stunned. Their auras were elite—even top in North Sea Ice Palace.
But to humans, yes. Before heavenly calamity, mere moths.
Good work.
-Sniff sniff! The stench won't fade! Toss this thing!
Noseless, yet complaining.
The Demon King, who'd used Mythical Demon Spirit Armor, couldn't shake the grime. He yearned for his abyss realm. Still, he'd wielded it well despite gripes.
“Who're these nobodies to kill or spare?”
He'd feigned ignorance, but if they insisted on dying, who was he to stop?
Mujin hadn't waited.
Before they arrived, he'd slipped Mythical Demon Spirit Armor into the sand. They'd walked into their own trap.
So Seol Jung-yang hadn't been ambushed—he'd fallen to the pit. Knowing wouldn't save him; just delay.
Hummm!
Mujin's energy projected into space.
Chill ran down her spine.
Bukgung Hye sensed an unfathomable wall. Frozen in place, terror gripped her—one twitch meant death.
Gasp!
Corpses floated skyward. The sight made her tongue cleave in awe.
Roar!
Flames blanketed heaven, reducing all to ash in blink. No trace of North Wind Squad. Only the stunned woman rooted in place.
“Still curious about me?”
She shook her head frantically. Curiosity? Goosebumps threatened to make her wet herself.
“Name?”
“Bukgung Hye.”
“Hot.”
“Pardon?”
“Cool me off.”
Encountering an ice arts girl en route? Time to reap benefits. Savior's due, naturally.
Process her together?
-Damn fate.