Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Clash (1)
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“Think it'll be okay if we just leave her like that?”
Cheol Woo asked with a worried look on his face after returning from toying with the Blood Cult warriors who had attacked the Sword Pavilion.
“What do you mean?”
“I admit Lady Neung's skills are outstanding. But she's not on that monster's level. One wrong move, and even the Captain nearly headed to the afterlife against him.”
Though he hadn't clashed with her directly, Cheol Woo knew Neung Sohwa was a superior martial artist. Still, considering Yagul Jae's prowess when he fought Sima Geon earlier, it was clear she couldn't beat him.
“If it were just Lady Neung alone, I'd have stopped her. But this whole thing started because they targeted the Sword Pavilion in the first place. Right now, she's facing the Blood Cult's leader as the Sword Queen and head of the Sword Pavilion. No point in me trying to stop her.”
“What nonsense is that? Does pride put food on the table? She could die out there.”
Cheol Woo spoke in as low a voice as he could manage, his face twisted in frustration.
“I agree with Cheol Woo. Lady Neung can't handle this.”
Even So Surin voiced her grave concern.
“I get your worries, but for now, I'm going to respect her choice. Besides, she won't go down that easily, so don't fret too much.”
“You're driving me crazy. Fine, do whatever. Neither of them listens to me anyway.”
Cheol Woo waved his hand dismissively, his face flushed with anger.
“You sure it'll be okay?”
So Surin asked quietly, having picked up on Sima Geon's feelings for Neung Sohwa.
“You think I don't want to stop her? I've wanted to a dozen times. But I couldn't.”
“Damn it! Couldn't? Just tell her to stop, that's all.”
A curse erupted from Cheol Woo, who had turned his back.
“I feel the same.”
“You haven't seen the look in her eyes.”
Sima Geon gave a wry smile as he gazed at Neung Sohwa's retreating figure with complex emotions. By now, she stood face-to-face with Yagul Jae.
“What am I supposed to make of this?”
Yagul Jae stared not at Neung Sohwa before him, but at Sima Geon beyond her shoulder. His icy tone and eyes blazing with fury made him look utterly enraged.
“Your opponent is me.”
Yagul Jae's face twisted in disbelief.
“A novice who couldn't even finish off the Sword Queen?”
“......”
Seeing Neung Sohwa's serious expression, Yagul Jae let out a hollow laugh.
“Ha! You're serious. But you're no match for this old man.”
“You have to test it to know if it's long or short.”
“True skill means knowing without testing. Fine, if you want to die that badly, I'll grant your wish.”
Despite his mocking sneer, Yagul Jae's heart was heavy.
He was confident he could subdue Neung Sohwa, and it wouldn't take long. The problem was there'd be no one to hold off Sima Geon during that time.
The next best after himself was Wu Gong, but even he couldn't handle Sima Geon, whom not even Diamond Yaksha could defeat. The best plan was to dispatch the Sword Queen as quickly as possible and then take on Sima Geon personally.
[You'll have to block Sima Geon. Hold out as long as you can.]
Yagul Jae sent a transmission to Yi Geuk.
[I'll stake my life on it. Don't worry, I won't go down easily.]
After Yi Geuk's reply, Yagul Jae sent another to Gu Yang Gyeong.
[Your target is Diamond Yaksha. Take him down.]
[Leave it to us.]
Gu Yang Gyeong responded confidently.
The Protectors who had served Yagul Jae before had all perished at Sima Geon's hands. But this time's group were on a whole different level. Though fewer than twenty, they were comrades and friends who had joined the Protectors young, like him, and honed their skills together for nearly thirty years. With them, he was confident they could handle not just Diamond Yaksha, but even Sima Geon.
Yagul Jae exchanged cold, trusting glances with Gu Yang Gyeong and the Protectors.
“Hon.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
“It'll be a tough fight. We have to win, no matter what.”
“We will.”
“I believe you.”
Yagul Jae patted Yagul Hon's shoulder gently, then turned toward the Sword Queen.
“Kept you waiting.”
Neung Sohwa answered by aiming her sword at him.
Yagul Jae chuckled softly and raised his own sword.
The distance was about seven zhang. With their swords pointed at each other, Neung Sohwa and Yagul Jae slowly began channeling their energy.
A gale whipped up.
The terrifying auras pouring from them began shredding the surroundings.
Yagul Jae flicked the tip of his sword in provocation.
Neung Sohwa didn't refuse Yagul Jae's courtesy of yielding the first move.
Kicking off the ground, her body soared like a water swallow, and the sword tracing a soft arc was fantastical, like sunlight piercing through ink-black clouds.
Sensing dozens of sword qi pouring down in an instant, Yagul Jae moved his sword.
Fwaaash!
Flames erupted, slicing the air—the ultimate technique of Thunderbolt Blood Sword, Blazing Flower, engulfed heaven and earth.
Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!
A deafening clash and shockwave swept everywhere.
From the start, it was an intense exchange with no quarter given.
As the two collided, the Sword Pavilion and Blood Cult erupted into full-scale battle.
Yi Geuk moved to block Sima Geon as Yagul Jae had ordered, while Gu Yang Gyeong and the Protectors charged at Diamond Yaksha. But things didn't go as they planned.
“Hey, old timer. Your opponent's me.”
Cheol Woo blocked Yi Geuk's path to Sima Geon with a grin.
Yi Geuk's eyes quickly scanned for Sima Geon.
Sima Geon was already facing Gu Yang Gyeong and the Protectors.
“Get lost. You're no match for this old man.”
Ignoring Cheol Woo, Yi Geuk tried to move toward Sima Geon, but Cheol Woo had no intention of letting him.
“Can't do that. I even begged the Captain to let me fight the old timer.”
Cheol Woo instinctively sensed how formidable the man before him was. That's why Sima Geon had wanted to face Yi Geuk himself. But after facing countless powerhouses lately and pushing past his limits, Cheol Woo saw this as a prime chance to gauge his growth.
“You'll regret this.”
Yi Geuk raised his sword.
“We'll see who regrets it.”
Cheol Woo grinned and clenched his fist.
While Yi Geuk panicked at being unable to carry out Yagul Jae's order due to Cheol Woo, Gu Yang Gyeong, now facing Sima Geon, calmed himself instead.
Having witnessed Yagul Jae and Sima Geon's fight up close, Gu Yang Gyeong knew beating Sima Geon wouldn't be easy. But in this situation, victory wasn't necessary. As long as they tied him down until Yagul Jae defeated the Sword Queen and Yi Geuk crushed Diamond Yaksha, it would be a resounding success.
Gu Yang Gyeong was confident he and his comrades could manage it together.
That confidence wavered after blocking Sima Geon's first attack.
“Kuhk!”
“Gah!”
Those who took the attack head-on flew back like snapped kite strings and crashed.
One lay motionless; the other barely rose but was clearly critically wounded.
“Soul-Exterminating Sword Formation!”
At Gu Yang Gyeong's urgent shout, three sword formations formed in an instant.
Four on the perimeter, one at the center.
Totaling five per formation, they created a triangular setup around Sima Geon.
“Advance!”
At Gu Yang Gyeong's command, the formation thrust their swords as one.
It was the Black Ink Radiant Heaven Sword's technique, Black Flame Burst, taught with utmost care by Gu Yang Sun.
Sima Geon couldn't help but admire the flawless synchronization—no errors in motion, interweaving like a spiderweb yet eliminating interference, compensating weaknesses as they surged forward.
Activating Ink Gang Asura Qi to shield himself, he whirled the Heavenly Demon Sword—now transformed into a blade—unleashing the ultimate of Single Heaven Nine Forms, Heaven's Net Starlight.
The net-like gang qi layered over Ink Gang Asura Qi, doubling its power.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Simultaneous clashes rang out.
Three formations, fifteen men united, attacked Sima Geon—but not a thread of his robes was touched. Instead, some Protectors reeled, vomiting blood from unimaginable rebound force.
“Mm.”
A low groan escaped Gu Yang Gyeong.
He glanced sharply at Yagul Jae pressing Neung Sohwa hard, then at Yi Geuk locked in an earth-shaking battle with Cheol Woo.
Unlike his initial confidence, anxiety sprouted: could they hold until their fights ended?
“Is this really right?”
Jegal Geom asked with a troubled expression.
“It is. Stop worrying and find a spot already.”
Jegal Su replied irritably; it was the fifth time for the same question.
While the Sword Queen clashed with the Blood Cult leader and elites from both sides collided head-on, the War Dragon Squad had fallen back to the rear.
A recent report confirmed that some forces from the Justice Heaven Alliance had broken off and were heading toward the Sword Pavilion.
Just before the battle erupted, Jegal Su received word from an intelligence agent: the defected faction was approaching rapidly.
About fifty strong, it was unclear if they were truly Blood Cult lackeys or allies aiding the Sword Pavilion. But in a fierce battle, their numbers could sway the tide. If allies, no issue—but if enemies, they had to be stopped.
To intercept—or confirm—their identity, the Jegal clan's War Dragon Squad mobilized.
Jegal Su judged it better to meet them in a more advantageous spot, so he moved his forces immediately. Fearing the squad alone might struggle if foes, he requested aid from Sima Geon's group.
“Chuya, got it straight?”
Jegal Su asked Man Chu.
“Of course.”
“Don't push it. If anything feels off, bail immediately.”
Man Chu smiled reassuringly at Jegal Su's worried gaze.
“I told you not to worry. Bail too late, and it's a corpse.”
Then it happened. Spotting birds scattering in the distance, Jegal Su gripped Man Chu's shoulder tight.
“They're coming. Nail this, and I'll let you taste the Jegal clan's secret brew.”
Man Chu's eyes widened at "Jegal clan's secret."
“R-Really?”
“Yeah.”
“It's a promise.”
Flames ignited in Man Chu's eyes.
“Do it right.”
Jegal Su shoved Man Chu's back and quickly hid. Alone now, Man Chu mussed his already unkempt hair further and splashed water on his face to fake sweat.
Moments later, as a group rushed frantically, Man Chu charged toward them.
“Halt!”
A menacing voice rang from the group's lead upon spotting him.
“Who are you?”
“Ah! I'm Man Chu, a Beggar Clan disciple. Are you... from the Justice Heaven Alliance, by chance?”
Man Chu shouted excitedly.
Some faces paled at "Beggar Clan."
“A Beggar Clan disciple, eh? Yes, we're from the Justice Heaven Alliance. But where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?”
The middle-aged leader asked.
“I was on my way to fetch Justice Heaven Alliance heroes at the Sword Pavilion's request.”
“The Sword Pavilion's request?”
“You know the Blood Cult is targeting the Sword Queen and Sword Pavilion.”
“We've heard. That's why the Sword Queen and Pavilion went to strike them, no?”
“Yes, but reinforcements arrived—beyond the originals.”
“Never heard of that.”
“Even headquarters couldn't track their moves. Most shocking: their leader is the Blood Cult's master himself.”
“I-Is that true?”
Man Chu's eyes narrowed slightly at the middle-aged man's exaggerated shock.
No sincerity; his gestures felt forced and overdone.
'Just as Brother Su predicted.'
Man Chu judged them Blood Cult for sure.
“Situation's dire, so I was requesting backup. Time's short, but meeting you heroes feels like heaven's grace. Here, let me guide you. The Sword Pavilion desperately awaits your aid. Hurry!”
“Fine. Lead on.”
Before Man Chu, who had turned, could take a few steps, the middle-aged man's attack began. Fully prepared, Man Chu deftly evaded with Pursuing Line Step.
The middle-aged man gaped, never imagining Man Chu dodging.
“What the hell?”
Man Chu shouted coldly.
“You still think we're Justice Heaven Alliance?”
The man sneered mockingly.
“No.”
Man Chu scornfully surveyed those encircling him.
“You look like Blood Cult bastards.”