Chapter 179: Fallen Immortal (3)
Shing!
Han Bin's Wolah sliced through the air, plunging down from above.
At that moment, Baek Seon of Ami lifted her head.
Seeing the flashing Wolah, she didn't panic.
Instead, a pleased expression crossed her face as she drew the nine-section whip tied to her waist.
The nine-section whip was made by linking nine rods together.
The silvery gleam of Baek Seon's nine-section whip came from the chill emanating from the millennial cold iron.
For that reason, her weapon was sometimes called the Myeongyeon Nine-Section Whip.
Baek Seon didn't even unfurl the coiled whip.
She simply thrust out her right hand, gripping it as is.
Chaeng!
Wolah and Baek Seon's nine-section whip clashed with a crisp ring, like old acquaintances greeting each other.
Han Bin's body, which had been diving straight for the top of her head, abruptly veered from vertical to horizontal.
He looked as if he were flying limply through the air, but Han Bin twisted his body mid-flight.
As if he'd prepared for this in advance, he kicked off a tree trunk to slow his momentum.
Having reduced his speed, Han Bin landed lightly in the air.
The distance between Han Bin and Baek Seon was now just five steps.
They were within striking range of each other.
The two sized each other up for a moment.
A furrow formed between Baek Seon's brows as she leisurely scanned Han Bin.
No matter how she looked at him, he was a complete stranger.
She had thoroughly investigated the martial world north of the river, yet here was an unfamiliar face?
The most terrifying thing during a mission was an unknown variable.
And now, that variable had appeared.
But it wasn't just any variable—it was no pushover.
Of course, that was Baek Seon's misconception.
She had thoroughly investigated Hebei Paeng Family's fourth young master, Han Bin.
The problem was Han Bin's current state.
He had smeared mud all over his face to obscure his features.
On top of that, he always wore a red martial robe, so his current night clothes threw her even more off balance.
In stark contrast to the deeply frowning Baek Seon, Han Bin kept smiling the whole time.
This was Han Bin's way of closing the gap in skill.
Baek Seon's realm was above his.
To achieve his goal, he first needed to rattle her mind.
Han Bin grinned widely.
"Been well?"
"Do I know you?"
"If we weren't acquainted, how would I recognize you, auntie?"
"Auntie?"
"Sorry, I misspoke. Calling a granny 'auntie'..."
Before Han Bin could finish, Baek Seon shouted in outrage.
"You foul-mouthed wretch!"
"You're the one trying to kill innocent people. Don't lecture me, right?"
"..."
Baek Seon stared at Han Bin with interest, saying nothing.
After a long gaze, she spoke.
"A pearl buried in mud. How did I not see it?"
"See what?"
"Wipe off that caked-on mud from your face, and you'd be quite the catch."
Han Bin narrowed his eyes.
It seemed his ploy to rile her emotions wasn't working.
The way she quickly composed herself showed she was a battle-hardened veteran of the martial world.
Han Bin shot back without backing down.
"Thanks, granny."
He'd aimed at her age sensitivity on purpose.
As expected, it worked.
Baek Seon's eyelids twitched as she stroked her Myeongyeon Nine-Section Whip.
"Looks like I need to sever an arm or two to start things off."
"I'm curious. What's next on your hit list?"
"Next? Your filthy tongue!"
With that, Baek Seon charged at Han Bin.
Han Bin stood with arms crossed, waiting leisurely.
One.
Two.
Three.
Counting silently in his head.
As Baek Seon uncoiled her nine-section whip, Han Bin stamped his foot in place.
In an instant, his body sank downward.
Pook.
It was a pit he'd dug in advance.
Not a trap for her, but for himself to dodge.
As Han Bin vanished, dust rose like smoke from the spot.
With Han Bin suddenly gone, Baek Seon's swung whip sliced through empty air.
Pang.
As she passed over the pit Han Bin had made, he sprang back up.
Han Bin lunged toward Baek Seon.
His Wolah dug into her side.
Pook!
But it didn't penetrate deeply.
It merely grazed her skin before Wolah bounced off.
Tadak.
Han Bin quickly retreated, murmuring low.
"Protective aura!"
A faint smile played on Baek Seon's lips.
"Not bad at all? That spot was itching anyway—thanks."
She tapped her side and chuckled.
A red stain slowly spread on her white martial robe.
Of course, Han Bin wasn't unscathed either.
The moment Wolah touched her side, Baek Seon had retracted her whip and slashed a deep gash across his right arm.
It was an even exchange, one blow each.
What was odd was Baek Seon's expression despite her wound.
As the superior martial artist, she should be furious at trading blows like this.
Yet she looked genuinely delighted, her lips curled up.
Han Bin's lips were curled too.
He glanced casually at the wound on his arm, then at the sky.
What he'd gained from this strike was:
Formula confirmed via Dragon Eye.
Human-grade formula Hwa (flower) acquired.
Human-grade: Geum (gold), Geum (geum), Hwa (flower)
Having gained a new formula, Han Bin grinned broadly.
His goal in clashing with Baek Seon wasn't her life.
The top priority was the formulas.
After laughing heartily, Han Bin narrowed his eyes.
He couldn't quite understand why Baek Seon was waiting for his attacks with such a broad smile.
'Could it be?'
Han Bin eyed her and formed a hypothesis.
The reason for her behavior was her tastes.
No time for deep thought—Han Bin aimed Wolah at her.
Gujeol Ship-pal-bo, Lightning Flash.
And a sword art combining swift sword and elusive horse.
Though it blended three techniques, Han Bin's sword path was straightforward.
A pure straight line.
Seeing Wolah fly straight at her, Baek Seon turned her nine-section whip forward.
It spun like a whirlwind, forming the shape of a tiger.
A tiger wrought from red aura.
Inside the aura's vortex was unmistakably a tiger's maw.
Han Bin quickly raised Wolah and stabbed it into the ground, halting his attack.
Due to the intense demonic energy emanating from within the aura vortex.
He couldn't shove his head into a tiger's jaws.
Well, his first strike had felt like dipping a hand in and pulling it out, but when the tiger tried to clamp down, it was only natural to withdraw.
As Han Bin used Wolah as a springboard to leap back, Baek Seon commented.
"Sharp eyes too."
"I'll take the compliment. Now come at me, granny!"
Han Bin taunted her, pointing between his legs.
At his shout, Baek Seon glared and charged.
"You brat, I think I'll cut out that tongue first."
As she rushed in, Han Bin casually hurled a nearby rock.
'Hundred Shots, Hundred Hits.'
The rock struck a fixed wooden block.
As the block dislodged, a rope from the side loosened, dropping a massive log.
It was a chain reaction in the blink of an eye.
Shwoong!
Baek Seon drew a circle with her nine-section whip toward the falling log.
Basak.
The huge log crumbled like scattered leaves, powdering and scattering around.
As the log turned to sawdust, Baek Seon charged back toward Han Bin.
But Han Bin was already in front of her.
'Feint East, Strike West.'
It consumed internal energy, but it was the perfect technique for now.
Feint East, Strike West fused with Lightning Flash curved like a snake, stabbing at her shoulder.
The distance between them was a single step.
The range where a long-reach weapon like the nine-section whip struggled most.
But Baek Seon retracted her whip and coiled it again.
She didn't dodge—instead, she flung it straight at Han Bin.
Puk!
Pook!
Han Bin's Wolah and Baek Seon's Myeongyeon Nine-Section Whip struck their opponent's bodies simultaneously.
Both retreated at once.
Papapak.
Han Bin glanced indifferently at the blood flowing from his shoulder.
Seeing his expression, Baek Seon smiled.
"I like it."
"No problem."
Han Bin waved it off with a laugh.
He thought he understood her intent now.
Baek Seon enjoyed inflicting pain on others—and receiving it herself.
She licked her lips as she eyed Han Bin.
Her gaze subtly wished for wounds anywhere but vital points.
Anyway, what mattered to Han Bin was snagging another formula.
Human-grade: Geum (gold), Geum (geum), Hwa (flower), Cheom (cheom)
One more added to the list.
Han Bin narrowed his eyes, scanning Baek Seon's body.
Only one formula remained.
At that moment, Baek Seon spoke upon seeing him.
"You've got tastes like mine. I'll make your end more painful than the fires of hell, so come on."
"Whew... Sis, let's take it easy now."
Grinning, Han Bin stepped forward.
At the same time, Han Bin's Wolah and Baek Seon's Myeongyeon Nine-Section Whip clashed again, sparking.
Chaeng! Chaeng!
The relentless clash of their weapons halted the mountain beasts in their tracks.
Birds perched on branches fell to the ground, overwhelmed by their auras.
Thud. Thud.
The weapon clashes sounded like percussion, the falling birds like interludes.
Han Bin's black night clothes were torn in places, exposing bloodied flesh, while Baek Seon's white robe was dotted with red spots like a patchwork quilt.
Amid the ongoing exchange, Han Bin narrowed his eyes.
As he'd guessed, Baek Seon was deliberately exposing her body.
The issue was she wasn't yielding the last remaining formula.
It hovered oddly three inches above her dantian.
Right in the center of her abdomen.
She was rigorously blocking any strikes toward vital points there.
To Baek Seon, Han Bin's attacks seemed mere entertainment.
Suddenly, she leaped back like lightning and shouted.
"Now it's my turn—get ready, kid!"
Baek Seon warned with a radiant smile.
Han Bin fired back.
"I'm ready."
Grinning, he racked his brains furiously.
Compared to her blood-soaked robe, Baek Seon's eyes were far too clear.
And now she said "from now on"?
If she showed her true power, Han Bin might lose chances to snag formulas.
Once he got the last one, he'd have to choose between two plans.
One was the Thirty-Six Stratagems.
If he deemed her unbeatable, he'd flee without looking back.
But it was too soon to judge.
Han Bin slowly advanced toward Baek Seon.
Then he switched techniques.
'Reverse Blade Formation.'
'Lightning Flash.'
He even sheathed Wolah, showing no hostility.
Then he grinned broadly at her.
Thud, thud.
Seeing Han Bin approach casually, Baek Seon dropped her nine-section whip to the ground.
She swung it threateningly toward him.
Snap!
Leaves parted to both sides, forming a path.
A stone mixed in with the leaves grazed Han Bin's cheek.
But he didn't stop walking.
It was like thrusting his head into a tiger's maw.
Baek Seon smirked.
"Given up already?"
Then Han Bin halted right in front of her nose.
Approaching without a hint of killing intent, he said expressionlessly.
"Your master, the Yi Ryeong Elder, asked me to pass on her regards, Jeong So-gun."
"Wh-what do you mean?"
Baek Seon faltered for the first time.
Hearing her name and master's from Han Bin's mouth shocked her.
Han Bin swiftly reached out.
'Shadowless Hand.'
Blending Shadowless Hand into Reverse Blade Formation produced a peculiar technique.