Chapter 292
Chapter 292
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 292
Chapter Title: Pursuit Battle
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The clash between the Baek Woo-kyeong brothers and the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons was a true dragon-tiger brawl.
No one dared fight near them due to the shockwaves generated every time their swords collided. Getting caught in the aftermath could cost one's life.
'As expected, your reputation precedes you, Baek Woo-kyeong.'
'To think they were this strong...'
The Heaven-Earth Twin Demons' eyes grew endlessly grave. The brothers' prowess was one thing, but Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok were driving their subordinates like a slaughter, making them anxious.
Flash!
Boom!
Baek Woo-kyeong and Geonma tangled before separating.
Dust erupted, and torn robes shredded in the shockwave fluttered like snowflakes. Right beside them, Baek Yeon and Gonma produced a similar result as they parted.
The Baek brothers were just as shocked as the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons. They never imagined such masters would be among those they dismissed as fanatic followers.
Clang!
Kwang-kwang!
"Argh!"
"Uwaaak!"
People dying right next to them. Thanks to Yi Hwan and the others' exploits, the tide had overwhelmingly turned in favor of the Qin Kingdom.
Geonma's eyes twisted for a moment. He sent a transmission to Gonma.
[There's no need for us to risk our lives. We'll create an opening and escape this place!]
[Got it!]
It was a decision born from the crisis that they would be trapped if they didn't flee before their subordinates dwindled further.
[Now!]
Whoosh!
Fierce demonic energy erupted from the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons' bodies like blazing flames.
* * *
Thud!
A head severed by Yi Hwan's sword fell to the ground.
Even as he fought, he kept watching the Baek brothers. The four-way duel was so evenly matched that victory was uncertain.
He wanted to charge in, but he couldn't disregard the Baek brothers' pride.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh!
Kwang-kwang!
Suddenly, powerful demonic energy surged, exploding violently in front of the Baek brothers.
Yi Hwan glimpsed the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons flying backward through the rising dust.
'Damn...'
Boom!
Yi Hwan immediately kicked off the ground and leaped.
Those lunging at his legs were turned into bloody pulps by Cheol Mu-ok and Kim Mu-gwan.
Thump!
"Argh!"
"Kwaaak!"
"Follow the lord!"
Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and Kim Mu-gwan simultaneously pursued Yi Hwan. The Baek brothers were already chasing the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons.
The battlefield was left to the rest.
But with so many already dead, the Qin warriors dominated.
"The elders and key masters are fleeing!"
"Damn it!"
The Dark Heaven Cult followers, realizing the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons had escaped, were dazed. Yet they resisted until the last one fell.
It was the terrifying effect of the aphrodisiac.
* * *
Geonma looked back.
Fifty-odd paces behind, Yi Hwan, Baek Woo-kyeong, and the others pursued fiercely. His eyes widened suddenly upon seeing Yi Hwan overtaking Baek Woo-kyeong.
'How can that bastard be faster?'
He couldn't believe it.
Of course, lightness skill alone didn't determine martial prowess, and extreme mastery in one area could surpass a superior opponent in that domain.
But that was only possible when the difference in skill wasn't vast.
The White-Clothed Sword God Baek Woo-kyeong was among the top masters not just in Qin, but across the Central Plains. For Yi Hwan's lightness skill to surpass such a master?
He knew Yi Hwan possessed extraordinary skill, but he never dreamed it was to this extent.
Gonma, who had just looked back, also widened his eyes.
"Uh!"
Geonma shouted urgently.
"Don't look back from now on! Just run forward no matter what!"
Swish-swish!
* * *
Yi Hwan overtook Baek Woo-kyeong.
The distance to the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons was about forty paces. He had closed ten, but a still formidable gap remained.
The pursuit lasted nearly two hours. In that time, Yi Hwan narrowed it to within thirty paces.
In contrast, Baek Woo-kyeong and the others, having battled numerous Dark Heaven Cultists, seemed exhausted, their distance gradually widening instead.
After another hour, everyone except Yi Hwan was too far to continue the chase. Even Cheol Mu-ok and the rest were the same.
How much further did they run?
The mountainous terrain ended, giving way to open plains. The Heaven-Earth Twin Demons plunged straight into them.
But beyond the plains, troops entering them appeared: Yang I-cheon and the Imperial Guards.
Their mobility surpassed Won Gae-se's forces, so they had entered the capital first.
"To the left!"
The Heaven-Earth Twin Demons veered slightly. This allowed Yi Hwan, pursuing directly, to close the gap a bit more.
Geonma stared at Yi Hwan's rear and sneered coldly. Baek Woo-kyeong and the others were already tiny specks.
[It's just that one guy! If he follows us to those mountains, we'll end him then!]
[Got it!]
Yi Hwan alone was no threat. They even hoped he would follow to the mountains ahead.
Swish-swish!
Dust rose where the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons passed, carried by headwinds to envelop Yi Hwan entirely.
Yi Hwan looked back. The distance to Baek Woo-kyeong and the others was about a hundred paces.
'This is troublesome...'
It wasn't because both were Absolute Realm masters. Even if they were, Yi Hwan feared them little alone.
The problem was potential ambushes or traps by more Dark Heaven Cultists ahead.
No matter how strong Yi Hwan was, facing two Absolute Realm masters plus hordes of cultists at once could be dire. There was no need to take the risk.
In the end, Yi Hwan slowed. As he did, the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons shrank to specks.
Thud-thud!
Moments later, Yi Hwan stopped completely, gazing at Yang I-cheon and the Imperial Guards crossing the plains.
Yang I-cheon rode at the front, quite imposingly.
Swish!
Baek Woo-kyeong and the others landed beside him one by one. Despite depleted stamina, their all-out sprint had heated their bodies, steam rising thickly from them.
"Huff huff huff! Ugh, I'm dying!"
Ju Tae collapsed backward, gasping roughly. Having fought the most enthusiastically, his stamina was depleted the most.
Baek Woo-kyeong couldn't hide his dismay.
"My apologies. We exhausted too much stamina in the battle..."
"It's fine. The distance was too great from the start; pursuit was never easy."
"...Yes."
Baek Woo-kyeong was inwardly shocked. Even fatigued, to be overtaken by Yi Hwan?
What astonished him more was Yi Hwan's steady breathing now.
'Is such inner power truly possible at his young age?'
That was when it happened.
"Lord Baek!"
Yang I-cheon's shout rang out. He approached with the Imperial Guard commander.
Baek Woo-kyeong and Baek Yeon cupped fists and bowed to him.
"Welcome, Your Highness."
"How fares the capital?"
"Nearly suppressed."
Baek Woo-kyeong asked immediately.
"And the Grand General?"
"His condition is grave; we've housed him in the camp near Mount Shipman. But why are you here, my lord?"
"Regrettably, we pursued the leaders of the fanatics but lost them."
"Were those who just fled that way the leaders?"
"Yes."
Yang I-cheon glanced in the direction the Heaven-Earth Twin Demons vanished, then clicked his tongue.
"Tch. We'll head to the capital first; follow at your pace. Imperial Guards, full speed ahead!"
"Full speed!"
Thud-thud!
Yi Hwan and the others stepped aside, watching the Imperial Guards charge like a gale.
Cheol Mu-ok's transmission flowed in.
[Look at them racing like mad. Seems they want to claim credit at the last minute.]
Yi Hwan thought the same.
"Let's head back."
"Yes."
* * *
A rock at the mountain base.
The Heaven-Earth Twin Demons stood atop it, watching Yi Hwan and the others return to the capital. They finally exhaled in relief.
"Whew..."
"Who knew Yeon's Great Prince was such a monster. We nearly got caught."
"If he'd followed to the end, we could've finished him..."
Geonma expressed regret.
Gonma patted his shoulder.
"No one knows what would've happened if Baek Woo-kyeong hadn't expended energy in battle. Put aside the regrets."
"Whew..."
Geonma sighed deeply and slumped onto the rock. Gonma sat beside him, reaching for the wine flask at his waist.
But it was gone, lost during the flight.
"Damn it."
Gonma lay flat.
Geonma stared at Yi Hwan shrinking to a speck and muttered.
"Truly, the world is vast, and there are as many experts as grains of sand on the beach. Confirming that bastard's true power as clearly as we did might be as great an achievement as our rebellion's success."
* * *
"Persistent bastards."
Hwa Ryeong stuck out her tongue.
The Dark Heaven Cultists charged like moths to flame, no matter how many she killed. Even with arms severed or legs gone, they lunged until their last breath.
"Focus!"
Go Mi's shout rang out.
Hwa Ryeong turned to her and grinned. Then she resumed her sword dance. Park Seon-ha, Tae-seon, and Kim Suk fought valiantly too.
Beside them were Park Ji-mun and Yang Chan, prioritizing Go Mi and the others' protection over killing cultists.
Yang Chan, whom everyone worried about without poison, wielded swordsmanship of astonishing power.
Go Mi approached Hwa Ryeong. Blood dripped from her body.
"You're not hurt?"
"Not my blood, so don't worry. Anyway, we're nearly done."
Tae-seon and Park Seon-ha approached.
"Shall we call it here? We've more than earned our keep from the palace rice."
"Agreed."
They all withdrew to the outskirts.
From there, the battlefield was clearer. Yeo Mun-chu's Golden Army savagely pressed the remaining Dark Heaven Cultists.
Go Mi turned to Yang Chan.
"You alright?"
"Fine."
"Not asking me?"
"You look fine."
"..."
Go Mi gazed northwest where Yi Hwan and the others had vanished. He hadn't returned yet.
"He'll be okay?"
"With everyone together, he should be."
She said that, but Go Mi was anxious. She couldn't relax until she saw him safe.
"You've all worked hard!"
Yeo Mun-chu approached. With the battle nearly over, he'd left the field early.
"No injuries?"
"We're all fine, no worries."
"Thanks. Your culling of the fanatics' masters minimized our losses."
"Just doing what we should; think nothing of it. Got any water?"
"Ah, follow me!"
They headed rearward with Yeo Mun-chu.
Then, from the northwest, Yang I-cheon and the Imperial Guards charged with cheers.
Waaah!
Hwa Ryeong snorted.
"It's all over, and they come charging so bravely. Tch!"