Chapter 148
Chapter 148
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Clash at Dongting Lake
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Come to think of it, Jegal Rin was much the same. But not quite to the extent of Umun Hye. That much, he had to admit. He could never think of Dan Hyeong-u to the degree that she did. Jegal Rin's mind was stuffed full of formations and the Blood Shadow Sword. The fact that Dan Hyeong-u occasionally crossed her thoughts amid all that was impressive enough.
"By the way, if that doesn't work out, there's that guy, you know. The one we met at the Paeng family."
"Ah, Choi Wol, you mean?"
"Right. Choi Wol. Why not ask him? Who knows? It might resolve unexpectedly easily."
Jegal Rin had no reply to Umun Hye's words. It wasn't that she didn't want to do it at all, but for some reason, she just didn't feel like it.
'Why exactly do I dislike it so much?'
The answer came easily. Pride. And rivalry. If Choi Wol solved something she couldn't, she truly wouldn't be able to bear it. She knew full well that Choi Wol was exceptional, but she was no less.
'I absolutely can't lose.'
Jegal Rin burned with even greater resolve.
"Hmm, looks like you don't want to go. Well, do as you like. Then I'll go see our young master."
As Umun Hye rose from her seat, Jegal Rin stood as well. She meant to bid her farewell, but suddenly felt a longing to see Dan Hyeong-u.
"I'll come too."
Umun Hye turned to Jegal Rin with a slightly cheeky expression at her words.
"Hmm, planning to stay in the rival seat a bit longer, are we?"
Umun Hye said it with a sly smile. Then she started walking toward where Dan Hyeong-u was. Jegal Rin watched her back and smiled warmly.
Dan Hyeong-u was where the Sword Demon and Sword King were training Jong Chil. Jong Chil was tenaciously surviving between the two, achieving remarkable growth.
Jong Chil's growth had accelerated dramatically ever since breaking through a wall with Dan Hyeong-u's help not long ago. Breaking that wall had clearly borne great fruit. Once more, respect for Dan Hyeong-u welled up in Jong Chil's heart.
Dan Hyeong-u looked around at the people training in the drill hall, nodding to himself. It seemed he no longer needed to come here. Everything he could provide simply by existing had been given. From now on, it wouldn't matter if he was here or not.
Dan Hyeong-u turned away without regret. He was a bit curious that Jong Chil still wasn't using that footwork, but it wasn't enough to hold his steps.
Having turned, Dan Hyeong-u stood still, thinking of where to go. The first place that came to mind was Dongting Lake. As the first body of water he'd seen after emerging from hell, it had left a strong impression.
Dan Hyeong-u paused just as he was about to walk. Someone was approaching. They were people he quite liked.
Moments later, Umun Hye and Jegal Rin entered the drill hall. Spotting Dan Hyeong-u, they approached with bright smiles.
Dan Hyeong-u went to them and took their hands. He chose a direction and took a step.
Jegal Rin and Umun Hye were greatly startled. But they soon burst into laughter. After all, they were with Dan Hyeong-u. The endless expanse of water before their eyes opened their hearts wide.
"Haa. This is nice."
Jegal Rin took a deep breath, calming her surprised heart. She knew Dan Hyeong-u's abilities well enough, but she couldn't help being startled each time he did something like this. Still, the vast Dongting Lake was truly wonderful.
Umun Hye glanced at Dan Hyeong-u with a faint smile.
"The scenery is superb. A bit disappointing without any courtesans, though."
There was nothing to regret, but she said it anyway. After all, Dan Hyeong-u had brought just the two of them. It would have been better alone with him, but she was content for now.
Dan Hyeong-u nodded at Umun Hye's words.
"I should bring Seol-yeon too."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than his figure vanished. Umun Hye and Jegal Rin didn't even have time to stop him.
"He's really too much. Don't you think so, little sister?"
Jegal Rin gave a wry smile at Umun Hye's words. Still, gazing at the vast lake somehow lightened her heart a little. And cleared her mind.
"Oh, right. I need to return the Blood Shadow Sword to the Sword Demon senior, but we just came here."
Umun Hye chuckled softly at Jegal Rin's remark.
"If he needs it, he'll take it himself, so no worries."
"True enough."
The two women stood by Dongting Lake, gazing at the water. It wasn't early morning, nor a deserted spot, so the stares from those around them stung.
Two peerless beauties standing side by side—it was only natural. Moreover, Umun Hye wasn't even wearing her veil.
Staying like this seemed likely to invite trouble. But with no idea when Dan Hyeong-u would return, they couldn't leave. Even if they did, trouble would probably follow. Already, some suspicious movements were visible here and there.
Umun Hye turned at the sensation of someone approaching from behind. A burly man who looked like a bandit was sneaking up cat-like, then met her eyes.
"Well, damn. I tried to handle this quietly, but you caught me. Uhahaha!"
The man wore an awkward expression briefly before bursting into loud laughter. Meeting Umun Hye's eyes had swept him away, body and soul, with her bewitching allure.
"Be good and come with me. I won't treat you poorly."
Umun Hye smirked at the man's words.
"And what exactly will you do?"
"What else? The obvious thing a man and woman do together. Uhahaha!"
At the man's brazen words, not just Umun Hye but Jegal Rin too let out a hollow laugh. Yet Jegal Rin dared not let her guard down. The man's internal energy was hard to gauge. Clearly, he was no ordinary expert.
The fact that no one else nearby stepped forward confirmed it. There were martial artists among them, but all stood rooted, unmoving. For them to hold back despite seeing Umun Hye meant they all knew well about this bandit-like man approaching.
"We have companions. So please leave."
The man laughed even louder at Jegal Rin's words.
"Uhahahaha! If your companions are women, I'll wait! Uhahaha!"
Umun Hye wouldn't stay quiet after that. Her body moved like lightning.
Shiiik!
Thud!
Before she knew it, Umun Hye's wrist was caught by the man. She couldn't hide her shock. Her martial arts were far from weak. Yet he'd grabbed her attack like a child's wrist—what else could she do but be astonished?
"Heh heh heh. This bitch has such supple wrists."
"Who the hell are you?"
The man leered with a sloppy grin at Umun Hye's sharp retort.
"Me? They call me Jade Dragon."
A name that didn't suit his face at all. And one she'd never heard. But the lewdness and lasciviousness in his voice transmitted directly to the two women.
"Well, now I really must be going. Oh, right—you mentioned companions? Make sure to escort them politely."
At Jade Dragon's words, the scattered martial artists around bowed their heads in unison. They were all his underlings.
Only then did Jegal Rin realize why no one had intervened despite his antics. Every martial artist here was his subordinate. They'd been subtly blocking the civilians, so of course.
Jade Dragon's other hand moved with blinding speed. It seized Jegal Rin's wrist silently, without a sound or presence.
Surprise flickered in Jegal Rin's eyes. Jade Dragon was truly a formidable expert.
'Young master Dan, hurry!'
Jegal Rin silently called for Dan Hyeong-u. His steps should have brought him here by now—why hadn't he come?
"Alright, let's get moving."
Jade Dragon said as he slowly stepped forward. His strength was immense; neither Jegal Rin nor Umun Hye could resist.
"Let go! Our young master Dan will be here soon! You think he'll let trash like you off? You'll be split in two by lightning!"
Umun Hye shouted. But Jade Dragon replied with utter nonchalance.
"Your companion's a man?"
He glanced at his underlings.
"Kill him."
The casual kill order made his subordinates bow in acknowledgment. Only then did Umun Hye realize this man was no ordinary foe. Regaining her composure, she saw his underlings all possessed formidable auras. Jade Dragon was strong, but so were they.
"So you're not a nobody. Who are you really?"
Jade Dragon answered indifferently.
"Me? I'm the chief of the water stronghold here."
If there was a water stronghold here, it had to be the Dongting Lake Stronghold. But that wasn't particularly famous. Among lake bandits, the notorious one had been nearly crushed by Dan Hyeong-u recently—the Salt King Stronghold.
There were bandits on Dongting Lake, but no famous strongholds. And if it had experts like Jade Dragon aplenty, it would have been well-known—yet she'd never heard of such a place.
"What stronghold? Surely not a nameless one?"
"Of course not. I'm the chief of the Salt King Stronghold."
"Nonsense!"
Umun Hye cried out. It was absurd. Who knew better than her that the Salt King Stronghold had fallen?
"What's nonsense? We just moved our base from Hongtaek Lake to Dongting Lake. We've got the power for it. At least Dongting Lake is worth our time."
"I know the Salt King Stronghold collapsed."
Jade Dragon smirked at Umun Hye's words.
"Trying to stall? Fine, so that young master is that impressive? If he shows up, he'll slaughter us all and save you?"
"Hmph, obviously."
Umun Hye didn't yield an inch. She might face something dire right now, but nothing could break her spirit.
"Good, that's the spirit. Makes it worth having."
Jade Dragon's eyes reddened, his face instantly filling with greed. His gaze raked over Umun Hye and Jegal Rin's bodies.
The two women shuddered as if bugs crawled over their skin—the gaze was that sticky and repulsive.
"No need to go far. Right here. I can't hold back anymore. Heh heh heh heh."
Jade Dragon's hand moved at dazzling speed. In an instant, Umun Hye's top was shredded to rags.
Umun Hye's eyes widened in shock as she clutched her chest and tried to retreat. But with one hand still gripped by him, she couldn't.
Jegal Rin, her acupoints paralyzed, could only watch helplessly.
"Kekeke. Watch closely. You'll be next soon enough."
Umun Hye and Jegal Rin's bodies trembled at Jade Dragon's words. His underlings had closed in, surrounding them to block any approach or view—a human barrier.
"G-Get away! Young master! Young master Dan!"
Umun Hye desperately called for Dan Hyeong-u. He was the only one she could rely on now. She prayed he'd come soon.
And in that moment, lightning struck.
Craaaack!
Dozens of bolts slammed into the ground, cleaving Jade Dragon's underlings who formed the barrier in two. Amid the falling bodies, Dan Hyeong-u and Jo Seol-yeon appeared.
Umun Hye finally relaxed, tears spilling out.
"Hic... Why'd you take so long?"
Dan Hyeong-u walked slowly toward the scene. Jade Dragon was so flustered by the sudden turn he couldn't react. With all his underlings split by lightning, how could he not be shocked?
"Hmph, I told you. You'd be split by lightning."
As Umun Hye wiped her tears and spoke, Jade Dragon snapped to his senses and reached for her—his fastest move yet.
But his opponent was Dan Hyeong-u.
Kwachik!
Jade Dragon's wrist was caught in Dan Hyeong-u's hand and crushed futilely.
"Kaaaaak!"
Jade Dragon screamed in agony as his wrist turned to powder.
Dan Hyeong-u ignored the scream, slowly raising his hand. Jade Dragon's body lifted gradually. Dan Hyeong-u was rising slightly while gripping his wrist.
"Uwaaaaaak!"
Jade Dragon's screams grew more wretched. The pain was so intense he couldn't speak or move. Not that he could have anyway.
Dan Hyeong-u turned his head slightly to look at Umun Hye. Her torn top entered his view. Anger welled up. His grip tightened.
"Urghhh! S-Sir hero! P-Please! Mercy!"
Jade Dragon wanted to beg for a quick death. But he couldn't bring himself to say it. Even in this torment, he wanted to live.
"P-Please spare me! I beg you!"
Dan Hyeong-u released his wrist.
Thud!
Jade Dragon writhed on the ground from the pain, then tried to flee. But Dan Hyeong-u was already standing before him.