Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Patience - 2
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I had no idea who she was.
She didn't even appear in the novel to begin with. But from what Joo Yuri had told me, she didn't seem like someone who'd be much help even if she were alive.
"...How arrogant. You dare stand in my way?!"
"She didn't even show her face while Fist Sovereign was around, but now that he's gone, she pops out. Looks like I can block her after all."
The Seductive Yin Witch scowled at my words. But it was only for a moment. Licking her lips with a smile, she slowly raised her hand.
"I don't like your tone. Fine. I've decided. I'm going to suck you dry down to your bones."
"Didn't you say you'd spare me?"
"You think I'd let a bastard who talks like that live?!"
With a mad scream, the Seductive Yin Witch charged.
Her movements were swift and sharp. Even if the inner energy she'd built with Joyful Yang Technique wasn't pure, its sheer volume couldn't be ignored.
Joo Yuri ground her teeth at the explosive motion that seemed powered purely by inner energy and swung her whip.
-Shaaaack!Shack!!Shaaaack!!
The whip's tip, dancing flamboyantly, targeted the oncoming Seductive Yin Witch.
But was it thanks to the protective barrier formed by her immense inner energy?
Even after being struck by the whip, the Seductive Yin Witch showed no sign of impact and barreled straight through.
And then she unleashed her fist. Wrapped in a faint red glow, it seemed she was using fist energy.
"Hup!!"
That's why I drew my sword energy to block her attack.
She seemed quite shocked that I could use sword energy. The Seductive Yin Witch's eyes widened as she looked at me, then she flashed a cruel grin.
"Peak realm, huh? Oh ho ho hot!! I'm liking you more and more!!"
"I can't say the same about you."
I moved my sword using the domain of the Taiji Sword.
She dodged the diagonal downward slash and attacked me with flashy movements.
Fist energy fragments shot toward me from a distance. Joo Yuri's whip blocked them.
"Haaap!!"
With a spirited shout, a black light shot from the swung whip. Was it called blade energy? The intense impact sound came with a burst of energy that neutralized the Seductive Yin Witch's fist energy, protecting me.
"Be careful! That woman uses yin poison too!"
Yin poison. Also known as aphrodisiac poison, it paralyzed the mind and strongly aroused sexual instincts.
What kind of yin witch uses such a lowly poison?
Anyway, so she feints with a fist at close range and slips in the yin poison?
Couldn't let my guard down against her.
I straightened my stance and glared at the Seductive Yin Witch.
"What's wrong with a yin witch using yin poison? Huh? Winning is all that matters, right?"
"Not wrong, but I don't want to hear it from the one fighting you."
Her movements sped up even more with a sinister smile.
Now it wasn't just her punches I had to watch. With no telling when she'd administer poison, I had to guard every part of me.
"Fall back and fight."
"Got it!"
Considering reach, Joo Yuri with her whip was better at mid-range combat. Sending her back, I slashed down at the Seductive Yin Witch who'd closed in on me.
I hadn't planned on using the Three Ultimates Sword Art for a while, but against this opponent, I had to be cautious.
Hiding strength has its time and place.
"Ugh?!"
The Seductive Yin Witch's face twisted. She'd tried to lightly block the power infused in Mount Tai Pressing Down without sensing it.
As she gritted her teeth to fend off the crushing energy, the whip tip shot toward her like an arrow, striking her side cleanly.
She let out a groan of pain but endured the Mount Tai Pressing Down. She swung a fist at me, but I dodged and spun, whipping my sword around.
Sweeping Away Heavenly Armies. A powerful slash that could fell a thousand foes in one stroke.
But it didn't land this time. She'd started guarding after eating the Mount Tai Pressing Down once.
As she leaped back greatly to block the whip, I advanced.
One slash. One slash. One slash.
The Seductive Yin Witch flailed wildly as she retreated. My movements against her were utterly simple.
I kept her within my domain using Mount Tai Pressing Down, Sweeping Away Heavenly Armies, and Taiji Sword, repeating the same techniques endlessly.
"Damn it! With that Three Ultimates Sword Art crap!!"
"Can't even block that one properly and you're talking big."
She ground her teeth furiously, but the look of defeat grew thicker on the Seductive Yin Witch's face.
It wouldn't be an issue if it were just me, but with Joo Yuri providing timely checks from behind, she was being pushed back.
Finally, grinding her teeth, she stomped hard, deciding to target Joo Yuri first instead of me.
-Kwaaaang!!
Her inner energy exploded upward again. The moment I retreated to block it, the Seductive Yin Witch leaped to Joo Yuri's side.
"I'll kill you, bitch!!"
"Hmph!! You think I'll die to the likes of you?!"
Whip versus fist. In terms of range, the Seductive Yin Witch had the advantage. Time to help.
I immediately stepped forward, moving toward her. Seeing me come, she gnashed her teeth and pulled something from her bosom.
"Hap!!"
It was a small bead. She crushed it hard and leaped back, firing fist energy at me and Joo Yuri.
-Chaeng!!Chaeng!!Chaeng!
-Shaaack!Shack!Shack!
Joo Yuri and I easily blocked the storm of fist energy blasts. Such a brute-force attack relying only on inner energy. The woman was nearing her end...
"Ah... ahhh...!"
Joo Yuri's condition suddenly worsened. She dropped to her knees, gasping for breath. Remembering what she'd said earlier, I realized.
Did she administer poison while firing fist energy?
"Ahahaha!!"
"Using actual yin poison. How utterly vile."
"Yin poison? No! What I used wasn't that pathetic stuff... But why are you fine? This poison has no antidote?!"
Because I had the top-grade poison ward, the Tang Family Silver Token.
But more than that, why did a yin witch use regular poison instead of yin poison?
Anyway, I charged at her, who looked flustered. The Seductive Yin Witch, who'd expended a lot of inner energy on that big attack earlier, couldn't block my assault.
-Chaeng!!Srraack!!
Her raised arm's fist energy clashed with my sword energy.
She blocked once, but not the follow-up. One arm flew off, and before she could scream in pain, I targeted the gap of her now inside my domain.
-Shaaack!!
"Gah! Kughhh...!"
The Seductive Yin Witch clutched her throat, staggering. She tried to stem the wound somehow, but couldn't block the gushing blood with one hand.
I stared at her paling face and swung my sword again. With that, the Seductive Yin Witch breathed her last.
"Whew."
She was a strong opponent.
To think someone not even named in the novel was this powerful. I need to train harder.
Letting out a sigh, I rummaged through the Seductive Yin Witch's bosom.
She'd said there was no antidote, but you can't always trust the enemy.
And those who use poisons like this usually carry antidotes with them.
They might accidentally poison themselves otherwise.
Searching her, I bit my lip slightly.
"...What is this?"
A small pouch and a few beads. No way to tell which was the antidote.
Couldn't just use any of them...
"You okay? Can you tell which of these is the antidote?"
I brought everything I'd gotten from the Seductive Yin Witch to Joo Yuri, figuring she had more experience.
Even as she panted, weakened by the poison, she'd barely regained her senses. She checked the contents and shook her head weakly.
What? A poison with really no antidote?
"I wondered why you were taking so long..."
"Lord Fist Sovereign!"
"Looks like you're poisoned. Antidote?"
"She said it's a poison with no antidote."
"Hm... I see."
"Is there no way?"
"Well, I don't know much about poisons... How about this instead."
"What do you mean?"
"There's an Emei Sect not far from here. They might have a way. Let's ask them."
"Will Joo Yuri hold out until then?"
"You practice the Five Elements Circulation Art, right? Use its circulation to stop the poison from spreading."
"Understood."
"I'll arrange the carriage."
After that, things went smoothly.
Whether because we'd caught two yin witches or thanks to Fist Sovereign's name, the county office was quite cooperative.
We boarded the carriage they'd prepared and, with an official travel permit written by the county magistrate himself, headed straight for Emei Sect.
"Miss... Miss..."
"Please come to your senses... Sob... Miss..."
The two maids were completely tear-streaked. Watching her barely sitting cross-legged, deathly pale and gasping faintly, I clasped her hands together.
Then I circulated the Five Elements Circulation Art. Inner energy from my dantian moved at my will, starting its cycle.
If I channeled it through Joo Yuri's body in the process, that should do it?
Recalling what Fist Sovereign had said, I closed my eyes.
Circulation.
Suppress the poison's movement with the pure energy created by the five elements cycling.
It wasn't easy. First time trying it, after all. But no time to whine now.
"Uh... ughhh..."
Was the circulation working properly?
Joo Yuri's face, twisted white in pain, was gradually improving.
As if finally coming to, she slowly opened her eyes, looked at me with effort, and moved her dry lips.
"Damn it... Fucking... hurts..."
Swears and grumbling.
The Joo Yuri who found formal speech comfortable wasn't here. Seeing her spit out words in a rough tone, I replied flatly.
"You told me to be careful, but what if you get hit?"
"Ughhh... Shit... Ugh... It hurts..."
A wry smile crossed my face at her pouting, grumbling expression. Probably no spare energy to mind her image with the poison. Still, I preferred this side of her.