Chapter 242
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Ambush of the Wood Spirits
I turned toward the wooden doll, pathetically shattered and utterly motionless, then pressed forward once more.
The situation was too dire to let even a single breath's worth of time slip away on account of some nagging unease.
As I hurried my steps, a sudden rustle from behind—the dolls were moving.
“What…?”
Whipping my head around in shock, I beheld a horrifying sight.
The dolls we'd burned, smashed, and sliced apart were somehow back to pristine condition, as if it had all been a dream.
And that was hardly the worst of it.
A vividly familiar crimson orb bulged from each of their chests, spewing blood-red energy that cloaked their entire forms.
My eyes widened at the all-too-recognizable scene.
No way—that couldn't be…?
Facial muscles locked rigid at a spectacle eerily akin to—no, identical to—the one from the Zhuge Clan not long ago.
Ye So-ha's murmur drove the nail in, as if to confirm it.
“Blood Essence…?”
…Ah, damn it all.
I'd prayed it wasn't, but those wooden dolls' chests clearly held the same Blood Essence we'd encountered at the Zhuge Clan.
The one So-so had schemed to implant in Zhuge Cheon-sang's body, relentlessly pumping out blood energy to hound us.
That infernal stuff—and three of them, at that.
My gut feeling had been spot-on, though a voice in my head screamed that this was just too damn much.
Right then, the blood energy shrouding the wooden dolls detonated outward.
-Kwaaang-!
“Urgh…!”
A ferocious blast rippled in every direction.
Barely braced against the onslaught, a groan tore from my throat unbidden.
I drove my feet into the ground with the Absorption Technique and shielded my face with my arms to weather the wave.
As the turbulence finally ebbed, I lowered my guard.
“…Ha. Talk about déjà vu.”
Blood energy unfurled across the world like it aimed to swallow it whole.
A dead ringer for Zhuge Cheon-sang's rampage.
Only difference? Three Blood Essences meant three times the menace.
“Heh heh….”
A hollow chuckle escaped me all on its own.
Three Blood Essences that wouldn't shatter without Sword Aura.
No different from tangling with three berserk Zhuge Cheon-sangs at once.
“…Actually, maybe worse?”
Zhuge Cheon-sang had thrashed like a wild beast, qi lashing out in blind fury.
These dolls' energy, by contrast, thrummed with eerie stability—forcing me to stay on even higher alert.
After all, uncontrolled power versus perfect mastery—which posed the greater threat was plain as day.
A quick glance back revealed the others wearing equally troubled expressions.
Amid it all, only Ye So-ha—who'd never crossed blades with Zhuge Cheon-sang—eyed the dolls with keen scrutiny.
“Hmm…. Looks like they're sorcery-inscribed puppets powered by Blood Essence energy. Unmanned weapons like these? Impressive stuff.”
“Appreciate the breakdown. But how the hell do we—”
“Guh!?”
While muttering under my breath to Ye So-ha, the dolls struck without warning.
All three zeroed in on me at once.
Arms stretched like whips lashed from three angles in near unison, blood energy hot on their heels.
Shadows and crimson chaos filled my vision.
No dodging this.
If you can't dodge, you block.
Sword back in hand, I unleashed Sword Screen in a sweeping arc.
What looked like a languid swing warped their arms' paths and blood energy trails, smashing them into each other.
-Kwajik! Peureong!
The dolls faltered for a beat, as if baffled by the reversal.
Party members pounced on the opening.
No need for words—Hwa-ryeon, my master, and Seol each pinned down one doll, keeping them in check.
“Ja-seong, use this chance to ready up!”
At Hwa-ryeon's call, I funneled more qi into my blade without hesitation.
Sword Screens bloomed into dozens, then hundreds in a flash.
Intermittent qi control drills had skyrocketed my speed.
All I needed now was to cloak the blade in Sword Aura….
“Kyaaak!”
Concentration shattered as I geared up for Sword Aura, a scream pierced the air.
Looking up, there went Seol tumbling backward.
And right behind her, the pursuing doll bent on murder.
“Seol-ah!”
Master's cry dripped urgency.
She ached to rush over, but locked in with Hwa-ryeon against the others, escape wasn't an option.
Leave it be, though, and Seol might get hurt—or worse.
No helping it—I had to step in.
Abandoning Sword Aura, I intercepted the doll lunging for Seol.
It switched targets to me on sight, flailing limbs and blood energy.
My whirling Sword Screens twisted the assault; I plunged into its guard.
One heartbeat's gap from attacks flung skyward—I unleashed Hyuncheon Gale Wind to mince the doll limb from limb.
Regeneration or not, it'd buy time piecing that mess back together.
Doll diced and its stray Blood Essence booted far off, I turned to assess Seol.
“You alright?”
“Uh, ugh…!”
Right hand clamped over her left shoulder amid pained grunts.
Blood oozing between fingers looked bad—real bad.
“Let me see.”
Easing her hand aside, I inspected the gash.
Deep as feared—any deeper and the arm would've parted company.
Quick acupoint seal stanched the flow for now.
“Ah…!”
Seol's eyes bugged out at the sight.
Short gasp as she stared at the now-dry shoulder, marveling at the firsthand magic.
“Bleeding's stopped, but that cut's nasty. Pull back for—”
“Ah, I can still fight!”
Seol cut in before I finished, desperate.
I scowled at the baseless bravado, then really took in her tiny face.
Anxiety and impatience warred across it.
Trembling gaze kept flicking past me.
I followed it—and froze at the scene.
“Hap!”
“Heup!”
With Seol safe, master and Hwa-ryeon turned full focus on their foes.
Kiai sharp as blades, their swords parried doll strikes without yielding a hairsbreadth.
-Kwajik!
-Kwaang!
Not just holding—even pressing the advantage.
Blood energy still sheathed the dolls protectively, Zhuge Cheon-sang style.
Unlike back then, when strikes bounced off harmless—their blades now carved through relentlessly.
One reason for it.
The heat haze shimmering off Hwa-ryeon and master's swords.
Slicing blood energy like butter to dice the puppets beneath.
Sword Qi, no question.
“Before I knew it….”
Awed by their unannounced breakthrough, my eyes drifted to Seol.
“…….”
Complex gaze fixed on master and Hwa-ryeon; she bit her lip in silence.
This girl—could it be…?
“Hold still a sec.”
Pinpointing Seol's fretful root just as Ye So-ha arrived to tend the wound.
Seol winced as hands worked the injury.
“Ugh…!”
“Pretty deep gash. Treatment'll take a minute.”
“No time for—”
“You'll fall back regardless.”
Swift verdict, then Ye So-ha shut down Seol's protests.
I smirked and chimed in.
“You heard her. Quit the stubborn act and sit tight for treatment.”
“But…!”
I jabbed a finger into the unyielding kid's brow.
“Pipsqueak like you—why the rush?”
“…!”
Turning from the struck-dumb child, I faced forward.
Blood Essence I'd punted full-tilt had flown back; the doll regenerated around it at speed.
No defeating it without smashing the core Blood Essence.
Over my shoulder to Ye So-ha patching Seol:
“Miss Ye. Holy Light on those Blood Essences—think you could destroy them?”
She flicked her eyes my way at the question, gave a small nod.
“Yes. Pouring every scrap of holy power I've banked? Doll Blood Essences wouldn't stand a chance. Only…”
“Leaves nothing for later.”
Pondering her words, options narrowed.
My Sword Aura lingered incomplete, manifestation still too slow.
With Seol sidelined, I'd shoulder an extra doll—Sword Aura out of reach.
Nor did heedlessly draining Ye So-ha's reserves sit right.
…No choice. Time to try it.
Regeneration done, fresh blood energy cloaking it, the doll wheeled on me and charged no parley.
…Well, not much for talk without a mouth anyway?
“Fuu….”
Silly thoughts aside, I exhaled deep.
Sword raised against the onrushing puppet, cave-engraved Taiji Wisdom Sword traces flooded my mind.
Taiji Wisdom Sword study had yielded three traits.
Seeming chaos betrayed formless martial essence.
Endless loops countered any assault.
Traces blended softness and ferocity in harmony.
Profound swordplay weaving those threads.
Taiji Wisdom Sword entire.
One night? No replicating it.
No leisure for full measure—I'd first rebuilt Taiji Swordsmanship around circle mysteries, folding in two traits.
Later passed to Wudang Taoists, chasing that final harmony in the blade.
Now, time to test the fruit.