Chapter 343
Chapter 343
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 343
Chapter Title: Crisis (3)
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It was a moment of absolute peril for Do Geom, one he could neither dodge nor block.
It was right then.
Screeech!
A chilling energy surged from behind Park Ji-mun.
Having poured all his power into attacking Do Geom, Park Ji-mun did not resist his forward momentum and instead kicked off the ground, leaping upward.
Whoosh!
Do Geom stared not at Park Ji-mun flying overhead, but at the black-robed figure who had saved him.
“Are you all right?!”
Clap!
“Urk!”
The black-robed figure let out a short scream and tumbled backward.
“Interfere once more, and next time I’ll take your head.”
“……!”
“Help your comrades.”
“……Yes.”
Do Geom turned toward the forest where Park Ji-mun had fallen. Just then, Park Ji-mun emerged, pushing through the trees.
Do Geom’s face flushed slightly as he gazed at him. It was shame from having received aid.
“Sorry about that.”
“Quit acting cool. It’s pathetic to watch.”
Park Ji-mun scanned the battlefield.
Fortunately, both sides were still locked in a fierce stalemate. The Qin Kingdom warriors’ defensive formation had proven more solid than expected.
But the safety of the Qin warriors wasn’t a pressing concern for him. He was here solely for Yi Hwan, and only Yi Hwan’s well-being mattered.
‘I need to help the Great Prince…….’
Moments ago, Yi Hwan had been overwhelming Dong Ja-ryang. But Yi Tae-ji’s interference had turned their duel into an unpredictable contest.
To aid Yi Hwan, he first needed to deal with Do Geom, but that wasn’t easy. Just when he thought he had an opening, a black-robed figure charged in and ruined it.
Then at least Kim Mu-gwan should help Yi Hwan, but he too was surrounded by formidable foes and couldn’t break free.
Kim Mu-gwan’s opponent was Ak Gun-hwa.
He had stayed out of the fray until now. But the moment his comrade, the blue-robed figure, lost his life to Kim Mu-gwan, he finally stepped in.
His intent was clear: wait for Kim Mu-gwan to tire from fighting the blue-robed figure. That was it.
Kim Mu-gwan remembered Ak Gun-hwa.
“Cunning bastard, waiting for me to wear myself out. Do you think your dead comrade can even close his eyes in peace?”
Without a word, Ak Gun-hwa drew a second sword from his shoulder strap, gripping one in each hand.
Shing!
Crossing the swords sparked flames that scattered in all directions.
“You’ll die in place of your master.”
“I wonder if you have the skill for that.”
Boom! Boom!
Kim Mu-gwan swung his fists lightly, and the space rippled like a heat haze.
Hummm!
His martial robes swelled taut with resonance. Ak Gun-hwa’s twin swords also ignited with bloody crimson light.
Ak Gun-hwa struck first.
Flash!
Two streaks of light dazzled Kim Mu-gwan’s vision. At the same instant, he unleashed fist energy, forming a circular barrier.
Kaboom!
Ak Gun-hwa unleashed a barrage, while Kim Mu-gwan retreated step by step, focusing solely on defense without counterattacking.
Believing he had the upper hand, Ak Gun-hwa pressed his assault even fiercer.
‘He’s tiring. Won’t give him a moment to breathe—finish him!’
His plan to exploit his comrade’s death as an opportunity seemed perfectly successful. At least, that’s what Ak Gun-hwa believed.
Kaboom!
Kim Mu-gwan was pushed back repeatedly.
Two deep furrows gouged the earth where he passed, his heels digging deeper into the soil with each step.
Was it the strain of facing two experts in succession? The fist energy blocking Ak Gun-hwa’s swords visibly weakened.
That was when it happened.
Click!
Ak Gun-hwa’s two swords merged into one.
“Off to hell with you.”
Flash!
The long sword, now unified, blazed with bloody light.
In that fleeting instant, Ak Gun-hwa saw it: Kim Mu-gwan smirking faintly.
“……!”
Thud!
Ak Gun-hwa’s head exploded like a watermelon. A gruesome end without even a scream.
Blood and brains sprayed, staining the air red. His masterless body stood rigid like a pole for a moment before toppling forward.
Thump!
“Pah!”
Kim Mu-gwan withdrew his extended fist, spat blood from his lips, and took a deep breath.
“That’s why you should’ve guarded your head better.”
Catching his breath, Kim Mu-gwan surveyed the battlefield. Then he kicked off the ground and leaped.
Boom!
* * *
Yi Tae-ji, forced to retreat.
Dong Ja-ryang’s threat, invoking even Empress Hong-seon, had worked perfectly.
Heh.
“What a pathetic sight.”
Yi Tae-ji watched Yi Hwan and Dong Ja-ryang’s duel from afar.
‘Don’t die to trash like him, Yi Hwan. I’m the one who has to kill you.’
Yi Hwan had held the advantage before Yi Tae-ji intervened. Yi Tae-ji expected Dong Ja-ryang to fall and planned to rejoin the moment he did.
It was right then.
“Pah!”
Kim Mu-gwan spat roughly, cracked his neck side to side, and approached.
Crack!
“Long time no see, Second Prince.”
“Who are you?”
“The Crown Prince’s Palace guard.”
“Why’s the Crown Prince’s guard hanging around with that guy?”
“Now I guard the Great Prince.”
Hummm!
Kim Mu-gwan’s fists glowed white. Yi Tae-ji knew exactly what that meant.
Only then did Yi Tae-ji recognize him.
“You. The martial artist from Haedong.”
Yi Tae-ji had sent assassins after Yi So multiple times.
Each failed miserably, unable to even approach, and the survivors unanimously warned to beware one man: Kim Mu-gwan.
Sizzle.
Yi Tae-ji unleashed Hellfire Blade, fierce flames coiling around the sword.
“A backwater Haedong bumpkin daring to roam the imperial palace freely—never sat well with me.”
Whoosh!
Yi Tae-ji struck first, and their clash began.
* * *
Yi Hwan, having missed the chance to finish Dong Ja-ryang due to Yi Tae-ji’s interference, grew increasingly anxious.
He needed to end Dong Ja-ryang quickly and aid the Qin Kingdom warriors and soldiers. They had held well until now but were starting to falter.
With Kim Mu-gwan and Park Ji-mun tied down by enemy elites, they lacked high-level fighters.
“I thought the rumors exaggerated, but they fell short. To think you’re this strong.”
Dong Ja-ryang sneered coldly as he advanced. His eyes brimmed with bloody light, demonic energy swirling fiercely around him like a shield.
Yi Hwan silently gazed behind Dong Ja-ryang.
Faint auras drifting from beyond the forest. He had sensed them from the start.
That’s why he struck first, but Yi Tae-ji’s intervention at the critical moment ruined it.
“Shall we fight for real now?”
Yi Hwan regarded Dong Ja-ryang indifferently. Meanwhile, his mind raced.
‘With those in the forest ready to jump in at any moment, killing him will take time. In that case…….’
[Mu-gwan, the moment I move, head straight to the Qin warriors.]
[……Pardon?]
[I have a plan. Just follow orders.]
[Understood.]
Yi Hwan channeled energy into his sword.
Hummm!
The blade trembled faintly, then sword aura erupted like flames, enveloping it. Dong Ja-ryang’s face flashed pale in the reflected glow.
“Planning to end it in one strike?”
Guessing Yi Hwan’s intent, Dong Ja-ryang powered up.
Roooar!
The demonic energy around him surged wildly, kicking up dust clouds.
Yi Hwan stared through the dust at the subtly shaking underbrush.
‘It wasn’t pride that made him send Yi Tae-ji back. He’s obsessed with killing me himself for the glory.’
The scenario unfolded clearly in his mind.
If he charged, those lurking in the brush would pounce. Joined by Dong Ja-ryang, even he couldn’t handle it.
Flash!
Yi Hwan’s sword unleashed a burst of light.
In that instant, Dong Ja-ryang closed his eyes. Yi Hwan lunged at him.
Sure enough.
Figures leaped from the underbrush.
Yi Hwan’s strike veered—not at Dong Ja-ryang, but at a black-robed figure.
Boom!
“Argh!”
Despite the unexpected shift, the black-robed figure parried with his sword.
But he couldn’t withstand the impact and flew like a leaf beyond the brush.
At the same time, Yi Hwan kicked off and soared—not toward Dong Ja-ryang, but toward the Zhao Kingdom warriors and soldiers.
Dong Ja-ryang smirked, seeing through the ploy.
“Think ganging up changes anything? Dream on, Yi Hwan.”
Boom!
Dong Ja-ryang immediately pursued.
A streak of sword aura flew at him. Fist energy hurled by Kim Mu-gwan, who was chasing Yi Hwan.
“Pathetic…….”
Boom!
How could Kim Mu-gwan’s fist energy be pathetic?
Dong Ja-ryang, dismissing it and swatting it aside with his blade, staggered wildly in midair before barely landing.
“Damn it all…….”
Yi Tae-ji approached.
“That one wields fist energy. Best be cautious.”
Dong Ja-ryang sneered at Yi Tae-ji’s back as he chased Yi Hwan and Kim Mu-gwan.
“What a mess I’m in.”
But soon his eyes blazed crimson again.
Fwoosh!
“I’ll show you exactly what I am from now on.”
* * *
“Watch your backs!”
“The rear!”
Yi Hwan and Kim Mu-gwan’s assault from behind threw the Zhao Kingdom warriors into momentary chaos.
Whiiiing!
Sword aura detached from Yi Hwan’s blade stretched wide and long, sweeping over them.
As the eerie, air-splitting sound heralded lightning-fast sword aura, the Zhao warriors swung their swords in unison.
Clang!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
Swords and men alike cleaved in two in a horrifying spectacle.
The brutal result of the energy gap. No one short of Dong Ja-ryang’s caliber could block Yi Hwan’s sword aura.
With Kim Mu-gwan’s fist energy added, over ten Zhao warriors crumpled, spraying blood, in an instant.
Thud!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
The Qin soldiers, pushed to the brink, regrouped and unleashed a fierce barrage on the flailing foes.
Crack!
“Argh!”
“Urk!”
Judging that the Zhao soldiers—outnumbered even with hidden reinforcements—couldn’t cope, Yi Hwan had aimed to thin their ranks first. His move flipped the battlefield in a heartbeat.
Yi Hwan shouted to the Qin warriors.
“Fall back as close to the forest as possible!”
“Retreat to the rear at once!”
Rustle!
“Who said you could?!”
With a roar, Dong Ja-ryang descended.
Yi Hwan wouldn’t let that happen. He swung at the incoming bloody sword aura.
Kabloom!
A massive explosion birthed flames that engulfed Dong Ja-ryang’s robe.
Twisting in midair to land, Dong Ja-ryang glared at Yi Hwan, ignoring his burning robe.
“Thinning the herd first? Clever, but will it work?”
“Put out the fire first.”
Whoosh!
Flames extinguished, smoke rose from Dong Ja-ryang like mist.
Smirk.
Dong Ja-ryang bared his teeth in a grin.
“Fine. I admit I’ve been toying with you until now.”
Snap!
He flicked his fingers, and a yellow-robed figure pulled a long tube from his bosom. A signal flare.
“I’ll say it again: no one leaves here alive. Out of respect for the one who tipped us off about you coming, we must ensure it. Heh heh heh.”
Fwoosh! Boom!
The flare burst into a massive fireball in the sky.
Yi Hwan’s face hardened in the reflected blaze.
‘Get out of here as fast as possible.’