Chapter 57
Chapter 57
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Tangled Threads of Fate
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Yi Hwan eyed the figures pushing through the forest.
Around fifty of them, give or take?
*Since they’re coming out so boldly, they must be pretty damn confident.*
He issued his orders calmly.
“Everyone fall back and form up.”
The escorts swiftly took formation. They all gripped their swords tightly, but most were visibly tense.
Wang Ji-kyeong asked with a strained face.
“Are these from the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group?”
“Probably.”
“Can you hold them off?”
“Just watch.”
“I’m counting on you. Block them no matter what!”
Wang Ji-kyeong’s voice trembled badly.
Cheol Mu-ok turned to Yi Hwan.
“Hold position for now.”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan sharply scanned the approaching foes. He quickly spotted Mount Sang Blood Blade. The man wore a mask, but Yi Hwan clearly remembered that greatsword from their first encounter at the manor.
“Found him?”
“Yes. He’s hanging back. Leave him to me.”
Yi Hwan understood Cheol Mu-ok’s intent. Warriors who wielded the same weapons always had that itch to test who was superior.
“Don’t get cocky, Mu-ok.”
“Yes.”
Shring.
Yi Hwan slowly drew his sword.
Then he dismounted and stepped forward.
“You lot, stay by the lord’s side.”
“Yes!”
The escorts encircled Wang Ji-kyeong in a tight ring.
Wang Ji-kyeong shouted at Yi Hwan.
“Shouldn’t you stay by my side?”
“There’s too many of them. We need to thin the herd fast. You’ll be fine—don’t worry.”
“……!”
Yi Hwan advanced, with the three from the Blade King’s lineage spreading out to his flanks. He glanced back at them and flashed a faint smile.
“Time to see what you’re made of.”
* * *
A forest swaying in the wind.
Go Mi watched from there as the scene hurtled toward an explosive standoff.
*Can they hold?*
She felt uneasy.
There were just too many enemies. And leading them was the infamous powerhouse, Mount Sang Blood Blade.
On Yi Hwan’s side, most of the escort warriors were tied up protecting Wang Ji-kyeong, leaving them short-handed by comparison. Go Mi stared at Yi Hwan stepping forward.
His face was utterly serene, without a trace of agitation—as if he hadn’t a care in the world.
Go Mi blinked in slight surprise.
*What the hell is he relying on to stay so composed?*
Preparing for the worst, she crept as close as she dared. She eased her sword halfway from its sheath, ready to leap in if needed.
Click.
That was when it happened.
Go Mi whipped her head around at the odd sensation from behind. Atop a towering tree uphill stood a single figure.
*Who’s that? One of the Yellow Dragon’s?*
A dispassionate voice drifted into her ear.
“Ignore them. I’ve got no business with your lot.”
* * *
The ronin shifted his gaze from Go Mi to the battlefield on the verge of erupting.
His deep-set eyes soon locked onto Yi Hwan.
*Completely at ease.*
The ronin studied Cheol Mu-ok beside him.
He showed not even the slightest hint of tension.
*With experts like that on their side, even masters would have no choice but to unleash their ultimate arts. That’ll reveal who they are.*
The ronin crossed his arms and leaned against a branch.
Whoosh!
As a fierce gust shook the trees, the fight broke out.
* * *
Five glowing orbs rose high into the sky.
The lead masked attackers flinched to a halt. Mount Sang Blood Blade’s icy shout followed.
“Charge!”
Swish swish swish!
The masked foes surged forward in unison.
At the same instant, the orbs plummeted at tremendous speed.
Boom boom boom boom!
“Argh!”
“Gah!”
Four crumpled, and one staggered with blood pouring from his shoulder.
Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
*Not bad. They’ve improved.*
Hummm.
His sword resonated. But no qi manifested along the blade.
Flash!
On the other side, Cheol Mu-ok’s sword spat lightning. He wasn’t switching it back to sword form.
Boom!
“Gurk!”
The man who’d blocked his strike flew back like a puppet with cut strings, screaming. That was the signal—the other three from the Blade King’s lineage launched into their blade dances.
Clang!
Crunch!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
Yi Hwan held his ground instead of pressing, wary of those falling back. A few charged him, but none broke through.
“Raaagh!”
“Urk!”
The opening clash confirmed an overwhelming gap in prowess. Wang Ji-kyeong, who’d watched tensely as Yi Hwan, Cheol Mu-ok, and the other three unleashed their might, let out a bizarre chuckle.
“Eheheh.”
Even the escorts couldn’t hide their shock.
“Whoa! They’re that strong…….”
“Stronger than back then, even?”
Cheol Mu-ok still drew the most awe. His attacks were so destructively flashy, the visual impact was unavoidable.
That was when it happened.
Someone charged Cheol Mu-ok from the rear. He smashed aside the incoming greatsword with blistering speed.
Boom!
A deafening roar erupted, followed by a geyser of mud like a waterfall. Nearby masked foes scattered in panic, but one failed to evade the shockwave and collapsed, vomiting blood.
Cheol Mu-ok eyed his foe impassively.
The eyes peering from the mask trembled faintly. Shock at not being pushed back an inch, no doubt.
Cheol Mu-ok grinned.
“You look shocked.”
“What the hell are you?”
“Curious? Rip my mouth open and find out.”
Swish!
This time, Cheol Mu-ok struck first.
Boom boom boom boom!
Four exchanges in a blink. Cheol Mu-ok attacked relentlessly; Mount Sang Blood Blade scrambled to defend.
Boom boom boom boom!
No one could approach where they clashed. Amid the surging mud, shockwaves flashed like lightning.
Slash!
Mount Sang Blood Blade was driven back.
*Impossible!*
His bulging eyes shook violently.
Cheol Mu-ok closed in. En route, two masked foes lost their heads to his blade.
“Argh!”
“Raaagh!”
Cheol Mu-ok raised his lowered sword and muttered coldly.
“They called you Mount Sang’s unparalleled master. What a letdown.”
Crunch!
Mount Sang Blood Blade ground his teeth and tore off his mask. No point hiding now that his identity was known—it only hindered his breathing.
Crunch!
“Argh!”
“Gaaah!”
Mount Sang Blood Blade’s eyes swept the field.
His men were dropping like flies. At the center were those from the Song family inn. But what chilled him to the bone were the orbs zipping through the air.
Whenever one dropped, a subordinate’s head burst like a melon without fail.
*A martial art like that exists?*
“No time to sightsee.”
Mount Sang Blood Blade locked eyes with Cheol Mu-ok again.
His gaze turned bloodshot.
“I’ll kill you.”
“Try it. If you’re so sure.”
* * *
The ronin watching the blood-and-flesh-splattered battlefield felt disappointment flicker in his eyes.
Yi Hwan and Cheol Mu-ok hadn’t used the techniques he’d hoped for. Beneath that disappointment lurked a faint killing intent.
*Even if they’re not ours, recognizing the Soul Separation Technique means……*
They were enemies.
So the ronin concluded.
*I’ll make one final check myself. If they’re not who I’m after, I’ll have to kill them.*
Click.
The ronin unfastened his sword sheath.
Then his eyes met Go Mi’s as she glanced over. She stared at the raised sword and snapped coldly.
“Didn’t you say you had no business with them?”
“Looks like I’ll have to take that back.”
Shring.
Go Mi drew her sword.
“Are you with the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group?”
“No business with them. Just unfinished matters.”
“Stay right there!”
“Get in my way, and you die.”
Swish!
The ronin descended lightly to the ground.
Go Mi blocked his path.
“Step aside.”
“This is the Great Prince of the realm! Any who threaten him will be branded traitors and punished!”
Sizzle!
Qi flared along Go Mi’s sword.
A glint of admiration briefly lit the ronin’s eyes before fading. Then he drew his own blade.
Shring.
A shabby thing, rusted like scrap.
But the moment the blade emerged, Go Mi felt a chilling aura as if her body were being shredded.
*This guy’s way stronger than he looks!*
Tension flooded her.
Yet she stepped forward, raising her sword higher.
“I said back off!”
“Curious thing—if you’re with the Great Prince, why just watch instead of joining the fight?”
“None of your business!”
“Something came up I need to check. Last warning: interfere, and I’ll kill you. I don’t go easy on women.”
“Then don’t.”
Sizzle!
The qi cloaking Go Mi’s sword thickened.
The ronin’s brow furrowed faintly. Her eyes showed no sign of yielding.
“You with the court or something?”
“And if I am?”
The ronin hesitated.
He wanted to jump in and confirm Yi Hwan’s identity himself. He couldn’t trail forever. But first, he’d have to kill Go Mi.
It didn’t sit right.
He was the descendant of a righteous wanderer who upheld justice and chivalry.
*Tricky.*
The ronin stared at the battlefield.
That was when it happened.
“……!”
His impassive eyes twisted slightly. Figures were emerging from behind Yi Hwan’s group.
* * *
“Hey!”
“Look behind!”
At the escorts’ shouts, Yi Hwan turned.
Around thirty masked attackers were charging fiercely. Their arrival threw the escorts around Wang Ji-kyeong into disarray.
Yi Hwan called lowly to Cheol Mu-ok.
“Mu-ok, make it quick.”
Cheol Mu-ok glanced toward the voice. Spotting the incoming masked foes, he schooled his gaze.
Mount Sang Blood Blade sneered coldly.
“Pretended to fall back a bit, and look at you swinging away like mad. Mark my words—this’ll be your graveyard today. Heh heh heh.”
Tch.
“Pretended, huh? Guess I’ll have to rethink things.”
Clack clack!
Cheol Mu-ok’s sword transformed into a greatsword.
The other three did the same.
*What the hell?*
Mount Sang Blood Blade flinched inwardly. The moment the swords became greatswords, the aura swirling around them shifted dramatically.
“Want to test if I was really holding back?”
Sizzle.
Three streaks of light rose from Cheol Mu-ok’s greatsword.
The telltale sign of the Soul Separation Technique.