Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Reason - 1
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Ju Yuri's condition couldn't even be called good by the politest stretch. I was using the Five Elements Circulation Art's circulation to halt the poison's spread, but every so often, she muttered nonsense as if seeing hallucinations. That alone wasn't much of a problem, but...
"Damn bastard... Get lost... Get the hell out..."
That delirium didn't suit the Ju Yuri I'd known at all—it was laced with profanity and crude speech. She's gonna kick off the covers when she wakes up.
"Miss..."
"Shut your mouth... Get out...!!"
Ju Yuri's body shuddered violently as she forced out the words.
I kept her hands gripped tight, circulating the Five Elements Circulation Art, and turned to the two maids beside me.
"I figured as much to some degree, but has she been putting on an act this whole time?"
"It's... not quite putting on an act."
If this isn't putting on an act, then what is? Still, they denied it, so I didn't see the point in pushing back openly.
I simply tightened my grip on her hands a fraction more.
"I heard from the Four Black Alliances Leader before. Impressive stuff."
"You did?"
"Said his daughter had a mouth as foul and actions as bold as his own. I figured he was exaggerating since I never saw that side of her... Turns out you can't judge a book by its cover."
I gave a wry smile at the Fist Emperor's weary tone.
And kept up the circulation for her benefit, though she was still out cold.
"Ugh... Nngh...!"
She gritted her teeth with a low groan. Her eyes fluttered open bit by bit—she was coming around.
"Where...?"
"Carriage."
Ju Yuri blankly scanned her surroundings, her body going limp. The two maids propped her up properly before she could slump over entirely, their eyes brimming with tears.
"Trouble. Bandits."
The Fist Emperor's voice rang out from the driver's seat.
Peering through the front window, I spotted bandits blocking the road.
Same breed as the dead ones? Their gear looked roughly the same.
Bows, spears, shields. A few even wore heavy plate armor.
"What now?"
Time was of the essence.
I was suppressing the poison ravaging Ju Yuri's body with the Five Elements Circulation Art, but even that had its limits.
"No point leaving enemies in our dust."
"Got it."
Su Ryeong, the short-haired maid, climbed up to the driver's seat. The bandits erupted in cheers at the sight of her. Like seeing a woman is all it takes.
"Uwaaaah!!"
It didn't take long for the cheers to twist into screams.
The Fist Emperor, wreathed in golden energy, had gone into full rampage mode.
Armor or shield, every swing of his fist took out a dozen or more.
He didn't stop at the bandits—he obliterated the wooden barricade on the road too, then hopped back onto the carriage and told me,
"We're gonna be late."
"Why's that?"
He flashed a flag. One marked with a bold "Three."
Meaning there were likely at least a "One" and a "Two" out there. It'd be nice if they stayed oblivious to their Third squad getting pulverized, but these guys seemed too organized for that. Word was bound to spread.
"Beacon fire or whatever—they'll know their boys went down. Might even have to tangle with the main force."
A grin tugged at his lips.
Sounded like a complaint, but he was clearly thrilled.
Made sense. For the Fist Emperor, loyal servant of the throne, smashing bandits who harassed the common folk—and might tie into outright rebels—was probably a delight.
But our situation wasn't ideal.
"How about dropping Yuri at the Emei Sect first, then hunting them down?"
"Hmm..."
Tough call for the Fist Emperor.
Chasing potential rebels, or racking up a debt to the Four Black Alliances Leader. He groaned, weighing his options.
"Don't... worry about me..."
That just made it worse. He pondered a moment, then nodded.
"People first."
"Thank you!"
"Save it. If enemies show, I'm jumping in."
He brushed off Yun Ryeong's thanks with gruffness and vaulted onto the carriage roof. As she relaxed at his battle-ready stance, Ju Yuri's condition tanked again.
"Aaaah!! It hurts!! Hurts so bad!! Damn it!! I'm dying from the pain...!!"
"You're not dying."
Not yet, anyway.
She squeezed my hand hard in her agony. Poisoned as she was, though, it was barely a twitch.
Unable to hold out, she crumpled, tears streaming as she begged,
"Just... kill me..."
"All these people fighting to save you, and you're the one tapping out?"
I glanced at Yun Ryeong. At a loss, she soothed Ju Yuri—tying back her hair, wiping her sweat, kneading her sore spots.
Devotion didn't get more devoted.
"Jin Hyun! More ahead!"
Damn. Up front, a full encampment. Couple hundred strong, all kitted in armor with spears and shields. Bandits? More like an army.
"Rebels after all...?!"
Seemed he was thinking the same. He glared at their "Two" flag, then charged straight in.
Horrific screams exploded in his wake.
"Don't stop—keep going!! I'll catch up!"
Solid plan. Faster on foot than with the carriage.
We blew past the battlefield while he went to town on the bandits. A few broke off to chase us, but his golden fist energy, shockwaves, and protective aura kept most at bay.
A lucky few slipped through, sure—but me and Yun Ryeong handled cleanup easy enough.
We'd just cleared the zone when Ju Yuri shuddered hard again.
"Huuu... Huuu..."
"Better?"
"Yeah... Hurts so much... Feels like my mind's gonna snap..."
"No honorifics?"
"I'm dying here... Haa... Haa... Who has time for that... Fucking hell..."
Her rough talk flowed so naturally. I smirked, still circulating the Five Elements Circulation Art, and peered outside.
"Keep this up, we'll hit Emei Mountain soon. It'll ease up then—just hold on."
"Can't... These goddamn bastards...!!"
Another string of vulgarity leaked from her weak mutter. I checked her line of sight—yeah, worth cursing.
"One" flag.
Fewer heads than before, but better gear. Lying in wait.
"Why the hell are those pricks right there...?"
Good question. Parked like they owned the place. Toll booth?
No Fist Emperor—what now?
"...Just a bit longer."
No teeth? Gums it is.
I settled Ju Yuri in the carriage and hopped out. Their leader hurled a spear at our approach.
-Claaang!!
I leaped from the halted carriage, sword flashing. The spear's momentum was brutal.
No backing down. Teeth gritted, I poured power in, batting it aside, then dropped to charge him.
"You bastard...!!"
"You lot. Bandits for real? Don't look the part."
"Ha! None of your damn business!! Boys!! Kill him!!"
Tch. Numbers game, huh? I yelled back to Su Ryeong at the reins.
"No dodging needed—they're coming to us! Here we go!"
Her conflicted face lit up. The horde charging made turning dicey, but now... golden energy incoming.
As expected, Fist Emperor! Knew I could count on you!
"Haaap!!"
-Kwaaaang!!
The golden fist strike shattered their ranks. Leader too pissed at his men dropping? He gripped his two-handed greatsword tighter against my blade, grinding his teeth to shove me back.
Not happening.
-Thud!!
I planted my foot, expanding my domain. A zhang-wide zone bloomed around me, zeroing in on the ghost-rushing bastard.
-Clang! Chang!! Chaaang!!
Sword met greatsword.
His skill tracked mine—maybe a hair better. Fight's rhythm would decide it.
—No need to match power with power. Key is flowing with it.
Yu Ye-ryeon's words from Sword Heaven training echoed.
Right. No direct clash.
I didn't evade the diagonal overhead chop. Raised my sword to meet it, twisted just so on impact, and redirected downward.
"Wha—?!"
Water principle from the Five Elements Circulation Art guided the greatsword aside. I stepped onto it mid-flow, launched up, and stabbed for the armor's gap.
Water seeks the cracks, fills softly.
My blade slipped the armor's seam at his collarbone. Blood sprayed; the leader crumpled fast.
"Got the boss?!"
"Yeah!"
"Nice!"
"But no rebel ties confirmed..."
"Don't sweat it! Nabbed what we needed back there!"
What was needed?
Fist Emperor said it, so must be fine.
Priority: Keep Ju Yuri's poison contained.
Back aboard with him, I clasped her groaning hand.
Circulating the art to hold the poison at bay, she—barely lucid—sweated buckets and rasped,
"For me... why... go this far...? Sob... You're... Righteous Faction... so just leave me..."
Why this far?
"Righteous, Evil—who cares? You're my comrade from the battlefield. Saving you needs no reason. And."
I paused, then met her eyes.
"I don't want you dying. So hold on a little longer."
I stared her down. It sank in—she stopped begging for death.