Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Long Time No See (2)
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"Military Advisor."
Jong Yo, who had been racking his brains over the issue of attacking the Ami Sect and had lain down for a brief rest, opened his eyes at the voice calling him.
"Come in."
As Jong Yo slowly rose, Hyeol Sal Pa Pa entered the room and gestured with his hand.
"No need to get up."
"It's fine."
Hyeol Sal Pa Pa watched Jong Yo drag his uncomfortable body to a chair, his face filled with pity.
"You look exhausted."
"I've been dealing with all sorts of nonsense that goes nowhere all day long, so that's how it is."
"Tsk tsk. I told you to take it easy. Your face has gotten half as plump these past few days."
"I can't afford that. We need to conserve our strength in preparation for the Valley Lord's return."
"Among those in Hwe Cheon, how many would bow their heads to the Valley Lord? Ever since he left, control has completely shifted to their side. That's why I'm a bit regretful. And worried. If he had solidified our foundation a little more before leaving, we wouldn't have these concerns."
Hyeol Sal Pa Pa deeply resented how Hwe Cheon's leadership, sparked by Eom Jeok So, had fully fallen into the hands of a few factions led by Gwan Hwi. That was the very reason he had completely withdrawn, even though the executives were treating him with due respect.
"Still, when he returns, we need people he can use as limbs, don't we? I'm just trying to keep them alive."
"You're right. If we left it entirely to those idiots, they'd meet a dog's death for sure."
Hyeol Sal Pa Pa clearly remembered how much damage Hwe Cheon's executives had suffered because they decided to clash head-on with the North Heaven Sword Demon, despite Jong Yo's opposition.
Jong Yo stretched out his stiff arm to grab the teacup.
Seeing his fingertips trembling, Hyeol Sal Pa Pa picked up the cup and handed it to him.
"Thank you."
Jong Yo took a laborious sip of the tea and glanced at the door before opening his mouth.
"I was just about to bring it up anyway."
"What is it?"
"The battle will start soon."
"Even this old man knows that much, no matter how much they try to ignore it. Support troops are arriving from all directions to aid the Ami Sect, aren't they?"
"Yes. Far more personnel than expected, and the executives seemed quite surprised."
"Idiots, I tell you. If they'd looked into Sacheon even a little, they would've anticipated it."
Unable to contain his frustration, Hyeol Sal Pa Pa gulped down the tea.
"At this point, the most crucial thing is the reinforcements from the Cheongseong Sect and the Sacheon Tang Clan."
"I heard the Noeum Temple and the Ma Bul Temple mobilized to attack them."
"That's right. But do you really think they'll attack the Cheongseong Sect and Sacheon Tang Clan's reinforcements?"
A sneer curled at Jong Yo's lips, making his disfigured face from burns look even more grotesque.
"You don't think so, huh, Military Advisor?"
"If my prediction is correct, they won't attack."
"So you're saying they dodged the attack and fled? Because they saw no chance of victory?"
Hyeol Sal Pa Pa asked with a puzzled expression.
"The Noeum Temple supported Hwe Cheon for a reason. They wanted to use it to advance into the Central Plains martial world."
"You mentioned that before."
"Yes. But the Heavenly Demon Cult's overwhelming power made it go awry. They've even been pushed back to Sacheon. Still, they won't abandon their ambitions. They'll try to turn the current situation to their advantage."
"Turn it to their advantage..."
Hyeol Sal Pa Pa's eyes widened suddenly after a moment of thought.
"N-No way, you think they want mutual destruction?"
"Exactly. Even if it doesn't lead to mutual destruction, they'll hold back from attacking the Cheongseong Sect and Tang Clan reinforcements, expecting significant damage in return. For the power balance to hold, the Ami Sect needs their support. Meanwhile, the Noeum Temple and Ma Bul Temple will target the weakened Tang Clan. That's what I'd do."
Jong Yo's breathing grew labored from the long explanation.
"Here."
Jong Yo drained the teacup Hyeol Sal Pa Pa handed him in one go and let out a faint smile.
"Of course, this is all just my assumption."
Hyeol Sal Pa Pa smiled back.
"An assumption with very high odds."
It was too outstanding a track record to dismiss as mere conjecture.
"If the Noeum Temple and Ma Bul Temple do attack the reinforcements, then my prediction is wrong, and you can ignore it. But if the reinforcements arrive safely, I need you to do something."
Jong Yo's eyes grew heavy, and Hyeol Sal Pa Pa's demeanor turned solemn as well.
"What is it?"
"Take those loyal to the Valley Lord and escape just like that. I'll position myself at the rear as much as possible. I'll make up some excuse too, so it won't raise much suspicion. Ah, and of course, take me with you."
Jong Yo ended with what he meant as a joke, but Hyeol Sal Pa Pa's face, stiff since hearing "escape," didn't soften.
The group led by Sima Geon, who had nearly run into trouble at the Tang Clan outpost, hurried toward the Tang Clan proper under Dang Eun-byeong's guidance.
They raced like the wind, fearing they might miss the spar between the Sword Empress and Dang Cheonhwa.
"That's the Tang Clan."
Dang Eun-byeong, leading the group, pointed to a large estate. Compared to the Sacheon Tang Clan's fame in the martial world, the estate seemed surprisingly modest in scale.
"Waaaaah!"
The cheers shaking the estate spurred the group to even greater speed.
They reached the main gate in the blink of an eye, but the throng of people had completely blocked the way.
"So this is where all the folks from the outpost gathered."
Cheol Woo chuckled and grabbed Dang Eun-byeong's shoulder as he tried to clear a path. Then, leaving the puzzled Dang Eun-byeong behind, he took the lead.
There was no need to strain himself.
As Cheol Woo subtly raised his aura and stepped forward, the terrified crowd shoved each other aside to make way.
No one needed to know who he was.
His massive build, fierce visage, and bloodstained clothes made Cheol Woo's presence overwhelming.
The path parted left and right like the sea before Moses.
"Haha!"
Dang Eun-byeong stared at Cheol Woo's back in bewilderment, then glanced around cautiously before hurrying to catch up.
The cheers grew louder as they approached the training ground.
Suddenly, the earth-shaking roar vanished. At that exact moment, Sima Geon's group arrived at the training ground.
"Ah!"
Exclamations burst simultaneously from Manchu and Gwayu.
In the center of the training ground stood the Sword Empress with a single sword. A short distance away was Dang Cheonhwa. And between them, countless hidden weapons filled the space.
At that instant, the scene from Cheonri Plain flashed in Sima Geon's group's minds—Dang Cheonhwa annihilating the Wind Demon Squad with one attack. At a glance, there were far more projectiles than back then.
"Heavenly... Flower Rain."
Dang Eun-byeong murmured dazedly.
The pinnacle of the Sacheon Tang Clan's hidden weapon arts: Mancheon Hwaru (Full Heaven Flower Rain).
Sima Geon's group might not know, but Dang Eun-byeong immediately recognized Dang Cheonhwa unleashing Mancheon Hwaru.
He had seen the clan's elders perform it a few times. But compared to the Mancheon Hwaru unfolding before his eyes now, those were mere drops in the ocean.
It was truly a shower of petals.
Against the backdrop of the blood-red sunset, the flower rain filling the world was so beautiful it stung the eyes.
With eyes brimming with awe, Dang Eun-byeong clenched his fists without realizing it.
Before this first true Mancheon Hwaru he'd ever witnessed, defeat was unthinkable.
Not just Dang Eun-byeong—everyone watching the spar felt the same. Even the Tang Clan elders, observing most coldly, were convinced of victory.
Of course, some didn't think so.
Dang Cheonhwa's all-out Mancheon Hwaru was indeed terrifyingly powerful.
However, Sima Geon and Cheol Woo, who had witnessed the bizarre spar with Ha Hu-gok—the final enlightenment before her passing that could be called the Sword Empress's first true duel—didn't see it that way.
Neung So-hwa's body began to move.
Butterfly Dance.
Her fluid movements, as if yielding to the air's flow, resembled a butterfly freely flitting among blooming flowers on a bright spring day.
Weaving through the myriad hidden weapons targeting her, Neung So-hwa's sword began a slow rotation as she danced alone.
No haste in her gentle motions, even as projectiles assailed from all sides.
A ring emitting a faint glow formed around her.
The first ring expanded slightly as the second formed.
With each swing of Neung So-hwa's sword, countless rings generated, overlapping and broadening the domain.
The hidden weapons Dang Cheonhwa had unleashed challenged the rings, but none penetrated the inner domain.
The sword emerged from beyond the rings, twisting oddly to create variations.
The myriad changes from the sword were so dazzling they were hard to follow with the eye.
One change birthed two, two became four, eight, and ultimately countless variations.
The rings encircling Neung So-hwa followed the sword's changes, scattering into dozens, hundreds of strands.
Those energies intertwined as if drawn to each other, blanketing the world in her aura.
The hidden weapons filling the training ground vanished powerlessly into Neung So-hwa's energy or even followed its flow.
"Unbelievable."
Cheol Woo gaped as Dang Cheonhwa's projectiles were drawn by Neung So-hwa's power to target their original master.
"Stronger than back then?"
"Yeah. Definitely stronger."
Sima Geon nodded, eyes fixed on Neung So-hwa neutralizing Mancheon Hwaru and relentlessly pressing Dang Cheonhwa.
"Isn't this fight pointless now?"
As if hearing Cheol Woo, Dang Cheonhwa—who was on the defensive but still composed—suddenly halted. Neung So-hwa, attacking him, panicked and hastily sheathed her sword.
"Let's call it here."
Dang Cheonhwa said with gentle eyes.
There was a hint of regret, but no real remorse or lingering attachment.
Neung So-hwa lowered her sword and bowed politely.
"Thank you for the lesson."
"This old man learned well too. There's a saying I hate hearing and hate saying most, but you're the exception. 'The waves behind drive the waves ahead on the long river!' The martial world has gained another great Sword Empress."
At Dang Cheonhwa's declaration, the Tang Clan retainers, unsure how to react, erupted in cheers, showering praise on the newly minted Sword Empress.
Overwhelmed by the fervent response, Neung So-hwa blushed slightly and bowed her head.
"You overpraise me."
"It's the proper, rightful evaluation. But I wonder what those lads thought."
Dang Cheonhwa whipped his head toward Sima Geon's group.
"What did you make of the spar?"
Countless gazes, including Neung So-hwa's, turned to Sima Geon's group.
"You seemed to be getting thrashed pretty one-sidedly. How'd you know we arrived?"
Cheol Woo's words doused the excited training ground like cold water.
"Watch your mouth, boy. Explain after looking at yourself. What did you do to reek of blood like this? And that menacing aura."
"Hmph! If you knew the reason, you'd all prostrate..."
Sima Geon clamped Cheol Woo's mouth shut and forced an awkward smile.
"Long time no see, Elder. Long time no see, Lady Neung."
"Yes. Long time no see."
Neung So-hwa bowed with a faintly flushed face.
"Skip the greetings and tell us what you thought."
Dang Cheonhwa barked in his clear, ringing voice.
Neung So-hwa's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she stared at Sima Geon, evidently eager for his evaluation too.