Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Hexagram Sword Queen
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High-level martial artists from across the world had flocked to Gold Stream, all gunning for Se Yeong's head.
The bounty on Se Yeong's neck was a staggering two hundred thousand nyang of silver.
That amount of silver could buy a modest estate along with a decent plot of land.
If there were no heirs to pass it on to, one could spend a full decade living it up in the pleasure quarters with the most beautiful courtesans by their side.
Their first stop, naturally, was the Yi family manor in Gold Stream.
"We heard that Han Se Yeong stole your estate and land. Where is that bastard now?"
Yi Dae-in subtly displayed his severed fingers and toes to them.
"Keep heading east from the village, and you'll see a manor atop a high hill. That estate was originally my family's property, but it was taken by Hwang Mu Yeong... no, Han Se Yeong."
"Thanks."
The martial artists immediately turned and departed the Yi manor.
Yi Dae-in, inwardly thrilled beyond measure, watched their retreating figures with a hint of suspicion.
Their appearances were as ferocious as one might expect from the world's top experts.
The weapons they carried were savage ones like crescent blades, massive axes, and iron maces.
Yet somehow, they reeked of third-rate martial artists.
'Who cares? Whether it's a chicken-killing knife or a cow-butchering one, as long as they kill that guy, it's fine.'
This was just the beginning.
It didn't matter if these men lost their lives.
More experts from the martial world would keep coming, and in the end, Han Se Yeong would die.
The martial artists moved swiftly eastward.
It was already deep into the night, so there was no need to wait in the village for a surprise attack.
Sure enough, just as the Yi family head had described, the manor came into view atop the moonlit hill.
The estate was shrouded in hazy mist.
"Better to scale the walls than smash through the front gate."
"I was thinking the same. They say Han Se Yeong's martial arts are formidable, so we need to ambush him."
There were eight of them, but they weren't longtime acquaintances.
They had only met by chance three days ago and teamed up.
"No one seems to be guarding the front gate."
"Lucky us."
The martial artists cautiously climbed the uphill path, then veered left toward the gate.
After passing a massive boulder embedded with tall and short trees, a fairly wide expanse of land appeared.
It was a narrow path stretching between the wall and a sheer cliff.
They finalized their plan.
"I'll sneak into the manor first and lure the bastard out beyond the wall. You all hide below the wall, and the moment he shows, unleash your throwing knives all at once."
Throwing knives were what they truly relied on.
The tips were coated with poison— even a graze would be fatal.
"What if Elusive Squadron members charge out first?"
"Fall back. Killing Han Se Yeong won't bring trouble, but harming Elusive Squadron members means being hunted for life."
With the discussion over, the martial artists pressed deeper in.
Gasp...
But the lead martial artist let out a short scream and suddenly vanished before their eyes.
"Hey! Where'd you go all of a sudden?"
The ones following searched for the missing man, darting about.
Gasp...
Yet he too vanished with a dying gasp right before their eyes.
Only then did they realize something ominous was happening here.
"Let's get out of here first."
The martial artists turned to flee the area.
Ugh...
But the one who turned first let out a brief cry and disappeared.
"Don't move."
Now they were trapped, unable to advance or retreat.
The squad members perched on the roof of the front hall, watching the martial artists below.
They weren't near the wall—they were at the edge of a cliff.
"Om mani padme hum."
Yeong Gak pitied the martial artists losing their lives so pointlessly.
If they were true experts, a fall into the ravine wouldn't hurt much.
But these didn't seem that skilled.
They'd likely shatter their skulls and bodies, dying on the spot—or if lucky to survive, end up crippled.
"Hero Han, show them some mercy."
He knew Se Yeong would coldly refuse his plea.
Still, he wanted to save these pitiful fools somehow.
"Why should I?"
As expected, a chill emanated from Se Yeong's lips.
"They're just greedy for the bounty."
"To claim it, they'd have to kill me. That's why they're here."
"True. But can't you show the magnanimity of a true master? They've never encountered an illusory formation before."
Among the countless martial artists in the world, few had experience with such arrays.
That's why their floundering meant they hadn't realized they were trapped in one.
"If I let them live, they'll come for my head again soon enough."
"Not at all, Hero Han. After a harsh lesson like this, they won't dare return."
Ha ha...
Se Yeong sneered.
Yeong Gak was wrong.
Spare them, and word of the illusory formation at this estate would spread far and wide. They'd return with more martial artists.
It wasn't a guess—it was certain.
"Want to make a bet?"
"Speak, Hero Han."
"If they come back, you kill them yourself."
Yeong Gak hesitated to answer.
A Buddhist taking life?
It went against the Dharma.
Ugh...
But as another martial artist plummeted, he nodded reluctantly.
"Understood, Hero Han. I'll do it."
Se Yeong regarded Yeong Gak with newfound eyes.
'He really does resemble him. Just like Father.'
If his father were here, he'd scold him harshly and set them free.
"Twist the boulder sideways."
"Thank you, Hero Han."
Yeong Gak spread his arms and embraced the boulder.
'This feels wrong...'
He'd agreed to the bet to save them, but anxiety gnawed at him.
No turning back now.
Grunt...!
Rumble...
With a heave, the massive boulder shifted sideways.
Whew...
Dusting his hands, Yeong Gak entered and came face-to-face with the martial artists bound in place.
"Om mani padme hum. Come out of there now."
Only upon seeing him did they realize they'd been standing at the cliff's edge.
"What... happened?"
"Could this be... that legendary illusory formation?"
Yeong Gak urged the flustered men.
"Hurry out. Linger here, and you'll lose your lives."
Still dazed, the martial artists bowed to him.
"Thank you, monk."
"You saved our lives."
Yeong Gak's face twisted.
"Get out already!"
At his urging, they scrambled away.
"Thank you, monk."
"We've received a great debt. We'll never forget this grace, even in death."
They bowed deeply in thanks again.
But even their gratitude grated on Yeong Gak's ears.
"Never set foot here again. And bury your fallen comrades at the ravine's base properly."
"Yes, monk."
The martial artists descended the cliff to retrieve their dead companions' bodies.
'Please, never come back... Om mani padme hum.'
Yeong Gak clasped his hands, bowing toward the departing men as they carried the corpses.
Her dearly beloved junior sister, like family, was dead.
The junior sister had a prickly personality but was always affectionate toward her, like a blood sibling.
Her deep affections were so well-known that no one in the Emei Sect or the martial world was unaware.
Her killer wasn't one of the Five Absolutes of the Martial World, but a young member of the Murim Alliance's Elusive Squadron.
At first, she couldn't accept it.
'Who would dare kill the Sword Queen's junior sister?'
The Sword Queen was immensely proud.
Even strangers backed off with bowed heads upon learning her identity.
Taking it for granted, now someone had shattered that pride.
The Sword Queen entered Gold Stream with her Emei disciples.
She itched to rush straight to Han Se Yeong and sever his head.
But she and her disciples had taken a slower route to demonstrate her prowess.
Entering Gold Stream, the Sword Queen headed to the first inn she spotted.
"Welcome."
A bright-eyed young errand boy bowed to greet her and her disciples.
"This way—good seats over here."
The boy led them to a spot with a clear view outside.
She nodded and sat where directed.
Her disciples took seats around her.
"What can I get for you?"
"Mild tofu dish and rice."
"Right away."
The boy dashed to the kitchen and soon returned with the tofu and rice.
He was as sharp and capable as he looked.
"They say Han Se Yeong is in this village. Where is he?"
The Sword Queen asked the boy.
He was just a child, but as an inn errand boy, he'd hear plenty of rumors and seemed clever.
Yet the boy hemmed and hawed, unable to answer.
"You don't know?"
Her face hardened instantly.
"...Yes."
The boy hung his head low.
In truth, he'd recently run to Se Yeong's estate to deliver news.
The villagers now knew Han Se Yeong owned it.
A quick-witted kid like him couldn't be ignorant.
"Go away."
Dismissing the boy, the Sword Queen began eating.
Then, martial artists eating in the corner approached hesitantly.
"By any chance... are you ladies from the Emei Sect?"
A young disciple answered proudly.
"Yes. The one seated ahead is the Sword Queen."
Her voice brimmed with pride too.
Shocked, the martial artists prostrated themselves.
They'd never dreamed of encountering one of the martial world's Five Absolutes here.
"We pay respects to the Hexagram Sword Queen."
"It's our family's honor to meet the Sword Queen."
To them, the Five Absolutes were like gods.
Their voices trembled with awe.
"What business do you have with me?"
The Sword Queen asked indifferently.
"W-we know Han Se Yeong's estate well. A few days ago... we went there and... lost our comrades."
They were the survivors of the illusory formation at the estate.
Still lingering in the village, they'd stumbled upon her by chance.
The Sword Queen's tone softened slightly.
"Guide me after I finish eating."
"Yes... it's an honor."
The young errand boy ran for dear life.
The martial artists called Han Se Yeong vicious and brutal, but to the boy, he wasn't.
Far from it—he was generous, even tipping handsomely.
As the estate came into distant view, the boy started shouting.
"Big trouble...!"
His cries reached Se Yeong's ears.
Kids' cries of "big trouble" were usually nothing serious.
But sometimes, real disasters mixed in.
"What's wrong?"
Se Yeong stepped out to meet the boy.
Huff... pant...
"At the inn... some old lady... huff... pant... and martial artists, pretty... sister martial artists came..."
Se Yeong instantly knew who the "old lady" and "sisters" were.
'Finally, they've arrived.'