Chapter 555
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 555
Chapter Title: Won't Take Even Half a Shichen
The battle naturally split into three separate fronts.
Pung Geon and Kwon Ha-kyung, who had been back-to-back protecting each other, were now separated, each facing their own foes.
It couldn't be helped—Ban Yun's overwhelming assault blanketed the area from all sides, making it impossible to hold their ground while glued together.
On one side, Kwon Po was fiercely swinging his blade against Ban Gorok.
Though Kwon Po was utterly exhausted, Ban Gorok gritted his teeth and struggled to hold him off.
'This damned bastard...'
He hadn't expected an easy win, but for the man to be this strong even in such a fatigued state?
Ban Gorok himself brimmed with confidence in his skills after reaching the peak realm.
How could this be?
Ban Yun, too, eyed his opponent with unexpected surprise.
After the three-on-three clash, their foes had switched.
He had been facing Pung Geon moments ago, but now Kwon Ha-kyung stood with her blade raised, glaring at him.
In the chaos of battle, as Ban Yun pressed Pung Geon, their backs parted, and they seamlessly swapped opponents.
And he was shocked.
Kwon Ha-kyung, his new adversary, proved superior to Pung Geon.
As a disciple of the Dorim Sect, perhaps it was only natural.
But considering their ages, he had assumed Pung Geon's attainment would be higher.
On top of that, wary of harming a Dorim disciple, he had held back his strikes.
Yet the three-on-three dragged on longer than anticipated.
The Heavenly Fragrance Corps Leader and Earthly Fragrance Corps Leader seemed a touch more at ease against Kwon Ha-kyung than before, but they still couldn't dominate their foe.
It was an even match.
Even with two against one.
'That damned shield.'
Ban Yun's gaze drifted to the shields in Pung Geon and Kwon Ha-kyung's left hands.
He had dismissed them as soldier's tools unfit for a true warrior.
But they were no laughing matter.
Pung Geon holding his own against the Heavenly and Earthly Fragrance leaders.
Kwon Ha-kyung enduring against Ban Yun himself.
It was all thanks to those shields' immense utility.
But they couldn't drag this out forever.
For Ban Yun to step in personally and still face this—it was a matter of face for the Plum Fragrance Sect, but more so for himself.
Regulating his breathing, Ban Yun fixed Kwon Ha-kyung with a steady gaze and spoke.
"This truly has nothing to do with the Dorim Sect, right?"
He sought confirmation once more.
Kwon Ha-kyung nodded.
"Then brace yourself for this next strike. I'll show you my full power."
Ban Yun's sword moved again.
Preparing the final form of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Method.
A faint plum blossom scent wafted from the blade's tip, spreading everywhere.
Kwon Ha-kyung distinctly caught the subtle fragrance.
'Sword fragrance?'
She had heard of it.
That the Huashan Sect's Plum Blossom Sword reached a realm where a gentle plum scent emerged.
Ban Yun's was not quite that subtle.
A faint, delicate floral aroma.
Yet it unmistakably heralded the sword fragrance realm.
Kwon Ha-kyung circulated her inner energy.
As he had warned, this strike's momentum was no trifling matter.
Plum Blossom Fragrance Spans Ten Thousand Li.
The plum's scent travels ten thousand li.
The final ultimate technique of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Method bloomed from Ban Yun's hand.
A brilliantly shining violet sword aura engulfed everything, surging toward Kwon Ha-kyung.
The sheer force halted the other two fights in an instant.
All eyes were involuntarily drawn to Ban Yun's single strike.
Crunch.
Kwon Ha-kyung ground her teeth.
And unleashed her strongest blade art.
The final form of the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.
Heaven-Splitting Demon Annihilation.
Though her mastery was far from complete, it was the mightiest counter she could muster against his sword strike.
She poured out her blue blade aura to the limit and swung.
Kwaaaaaang!!!
A massive explosion roared.
Whoooosh!
A gale-force wind whipped through.
Pung Geon, Heavenly Fragrance Corps Leader Ji Mun-gi, Earthly Fragrance Corps Leader Ko Won-do, Kwon Po, and Human Fragrance Corps Leader Ban Gorok.
They all staggered back, shielding their faces from the clash's aftermath.
And then the scene revealed itself.
Before Ban Yun stood three distinct footprints.
He had been pushed back that far.
Kwon Ha-kyung, meanwhile, slid backward in a rush.
Her shield lay shattered on the ground, her clothes torn in places.
"Urk."
She spat up a gush of blood, as if from internal injuries.
"Shall we continue?"
At Ban Yun's question, Kwon Ha-kyung gripped her blade with both hands.
And began another form of the Heaven-Severing Demon-Slaying Blade.
"Hoo."
Ban Yun let out a deep sigh.
If they kept this up, the girl might truly come to harm.
But the momentum was against stopping.
Having come this far, he couldn't halt for the sake of his own face or the Plum Fragrance Sect's.
His sword began to move once more.
Violet energy surged forth.
The instant he stepped into the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Method's path—
"Hold it!!!!"
A thunderous shout rang out as a figure shot into the training ground's center like a streak of light.
An abrupt intrusion.
Naturally, all eyes turned there.
An elder glared at Ban Yun with eyes blazing in fury.
And soon, a woman veiled in thick cloth descended lightly behind him.
"What is the meaning of this?"
The voice thick with rage directed itself at Ban Yun.
Ban Yun had already lowered his sword upon recognizing the sudden elder.
"Hoo. Weren't you in seclusion, senior brother?"
"Don't call me senior brother with that filthy mouth!"
Plum Blossom Sword Sage.
His voice overflowed with anger.
"Then what should I call you? You are undeniably my senior from the same school."
At Ban Yun's retort, the Plum Blossom Sword Sage clenched his fist tighter.
Back then, he had strongly advocated expelling the wretch, but failed.
Ban Yun's master—his own junior—had blocked it.
"Tch. What quarrel is this between senior and junior brothers?"
At that moment.
As if waiting for his cue, another elder descended into the arena.
Huashan Sword Fragrance Un Se-hyeok.
It was he.
The Plum Blossom Sword Sage's gaze shifted to him.
"Has Martial Uncle emerged from closed-door training?"
He hadn't expected him here in Sangnam.
He must have perfectly concealed his presence.
"Disciple Ban Yun greets Master."
Ban Yun bowed deeply to the newly arrived Un Se-hyeok.
"Wretched fool. Tch."
He had been watching the fight from the start.
Hence the immediate reprimand.
"That's why you came seeking your master, eh?"
"My apologies."
Ban Yun offered no excuses.
"Ban Yun. Explain clearly why a Huashan branch is causing such outrage in a martial hall founded by a Huashan disciple!"
The Plum Blossom Sword Sage Gyeo Hwi's bellow targeted Ban Yun after their greetings concluded.
In truth, Gyeo Hwi was bewildered himself.
He had rushed here at full speed upon hearing a black path faction was bullying the Flowing Cloud Martial Hall.
But the presences he sensed nearby were Huashan techniques.
And the scene in the yard?
Only warriors from the Huashan branch Plum Fragrance Sect and those using orthodox techniques.
No sign of any black path scum.
Nor anyone from the Flowing Cloud Martial Hall, it seemed.
What in the world was going on?
"It's merely the outcome of private interests between our sect and this martial hall."
Ban Yun replied calmly.
Though inwardly shocked.
The Flowing Cloud Martial Hall, founded by a Huashan disciple?
He had no idea.
There should be records in Huashan if so, but there weren't.
"Gyeo Hwi, mind your words. How could this Flowing Cloud Martial Hall be founded by a Huashan disciple? How could an expelled disciple be one of us?"
Then.
Un Se-hyeok interjected.
"Martial Uncle knows all the circumstances, yet you speak like that?"
Considering the allocation Yu Ji-woong had heard from Mo Yeong-un, Un Se-hyeok was undoubtedly of the same generation.
A veteran over 120 years old.
He was Un Se-hyeok.
"Expulsion is expulsion, regardless of circumstances. Thus, this Flowing Cloud Martial Hall has no ties to Huashan."
Gyeo Hwi could not refute Un Se-hyeok's claim further.
On principle, he was in the right.
"Explain the full story."
Un Se-hyeok's gaze fell on Ban Yun.
Though he had already informed his master via letter, Ban Yun recounted the incident once more at his command.
As Ban Yun spoke, Gyeo Hwi's face flushed and paled by turns.
Wi Su-yeon furrowed her fine brows as well.
"Th-that petty, lowborn...!"
Gyeo Hwi muttered in fury.
Ban Yun let Gyeo Hwi's words flow past one ear.
If it were just the two of them, he couldn't ignore it, but his stalwart master was here now.
Un Se-hyeok's gaze turned to Pung Geon and Kwon Ha-kyung.
"So, lads. Will you keep holding out here?"
A heavy pressure emanated from the questioning Un Se-hyeok.
A terrifying aura that squeezed and bore down on their bodies.
Pung Geon and Kwon Ha-kyung nearly reflexively cried they would leave.
But they gritted their teeth and endured.
The final battle in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
That experience allowed them to withstand it.
They had felt an even more terrifying aura from afar back then.
"We merely follow the path of justice."
Pung Geon answered.
He had planned to hold out a bit then withdraw.
But momentum had shifted against them.
Having missed the right moment, all that remained was to endure, win or die.
"Girl, do you think the same?"
Un Se-hyeok's question turned to Kwon Ha-kyung once more.
"Of course."
Kwon Ha-kyung replied without hesitation.
"If you're relying on Dorim, you're mistaken. I don't fear Dorim like my disciple does."
Killing intent exploded from his eyes.
"Eek."
Kwon Ha-kyung staggered back.
Un Se-hyeok truly seemed ready to behead her with one stroke.
"As I said earlier, my sect has no involvement in this."
"Hmm."
As Un Se-hyeok's killing intent thickened further—
"Martial Uncle. What are you doing?"
Gyeo Hwi stepped in front of Kwon Ha-kyung.
The killing intent toward her vanished like mist.
"What are you doing, Martial Nephew?"
Gyeo Hwi and Un Se-hyeok's gazes clashed in midair, sparks flying.
No one dared speak amid that fearsome energy.
"I seek to uphold Huashan's will."
"Huashan's will?"
"The Plum Fragrance Sect is a Huashan branch, so I must back their intent."
"I intend to follow the righteous path."
"The righteous path?"
"The Plum Fragrance Sect's actions are clearly unjust and unrighteous. Thus, I must support the path of justice."
As their exchange continued, the pressure they exuded grew fiercer.
Pung Geon and Kwon Ha-kyung exchanged subtle glances.
'How did it come to this?'
'No idea.'
'This is way off plan?'
'No idea.'
Such a silent conversation passed between them.
As Gyeo Hwi and Un Se-hyeok's auras intensified.
Everyone in the training ground channeled their energy to the max and retreated unsteadily.
A clash of auras from two transcendent experts.
Not one peak master present could withstand it.
Ban Yun was no exception.
'Is the transcendent wall truly this high?'
He had thought himself close to knocking on that door.
Yet the realm displayed by these two transcendent masters loomed impossibly distant.
Ku-ku-ku-ku-ku-kwang!
Ha Mu-baek hurtled toward Sangnam, unleashing Eagle Soaring Myriad Miles amid deafening air-ripping sounds.
He furrowed his brow slightly.
'What the hell—why are all these guys popping up?'
Presences of powerhouses not mentioned in the intelligence from the Heavenly Net Gate and Beggar Clan pinged his senses.
Their reports on Sangnam made no mention of transcendent experts.
"Won't take even half a shichen."
Ha Mu-baek muttered, gauging the remaining distance.