Chapter: 310
Shh…
A calm atmosphere enveloped the surroundings on a quiet night.
The season was still winter,
but instead of cold, a sharp bloodlust permeated the area.
Hanam.
Black clouds were gradually approaching the Hanam area.
Chuckle…
In the thick, gloomy fog, an old man with white hair burst into laughter. His voice was cracked, and a large sword scar marred his neck.
The old man’s nickname is…
Black Dragon Sword.
He was the first to unite the Sapa,
attempting to conquer the Central Plains from Sichuan.
A legendary master and martial artist from the past.
“Ah, Hanam,”
he murmured, gazing at the distant buildings radiating vibrant light.
A realm belonging to the Meng and Shaolin sects,
a place that could be called the heart of the righteous faction—
Hanamseong.
The Black Dragon Sword continued to laugh as he looked upon Hanamseong.
How long had he yearned for this moment?
How long had he waited
for the day he could set foot on this land?
“Taeju.”
A man appeared behind the Black Dragon Sword and knelt halfway.
He drew out a letter and handed it to the Black Dragon Sword.
“This is a letter that has reached the emperor.”
“You sent it quickly; it seems like you’ve been waiting quite a while,”
he replied, sensing a hint of urgency in the man’s actions.
This was probably a letter from the one who summoned him here.
He surmised that something must have provoked that individual;
perhaps it was a matter of the young Taoist’s temperament being at stake.
The Black Dragon Sword unfolded the letter to check its contents
before tucking it back into his robes.
Then he turned and stated,
“Set up a camp; it seems we will have to wait for a while.”
“Understood!”
At the command from the Black Dragon Sword, those hidden in the fog swiftly moved.
Since the sect’s domain was right before them,
there was a worry that they might get caught if they acted carelessly.
However, the Black Dragon Sword remained unfazed.
“Instead of just watching, why not get your hands dirty a little?”
He directed his gaze at a man standing nearby.
The man with dark eyes glared back at the Black Dragon Sword.
“I am not your subordinate, Taeju.”
The Black Night Princess, one of Sima Wu’s loyal subordinates,
was glaring at the Black Dragon Sword from the shadows.
Seeing the Black Night Princess, the Black Dragon Sword chuckled softly.
“I brought you here to ask for your share, but you seem to be getting angry for nothing.”
“What on earth were you thinking in coming all the way to Hanam?”
“What’s the problem?”
“This is the domain of the righteous. You were hiding in the shadows, keeping a low profile, so why are you now stepping into the light?”
The Black Night Princess could not comprehend.
No matter how he thought about it, the Black Dragon Sword’s behavior seemed irrational.
Responding to the princess’ question, the Black Dragon Sword smiled.
“It’s simply that the time has come.”
“…the time?”
“If you’re so concerned, what drew you to follow me, Your Highness?”
“…”
“Ha, your thoughts are transparent. You desire something, don’t you? You’re hoping that I might have a clue to help you break your restrictions.”
The Black Night Princess frowned at the Black Dragon Sword’s words.
It was a remark that hit uncomfortably close to home.
Sima Wu, along with the Black Night Princess, belonged to Sapa and could not tread upon the land of the righteous.
Well, now that another has perished, should we call him Sima Saje?
“Even with that mysterious aura, it seems you still can’t free yourself from your restraints?”
“You speak too casually.”
Crack.
A black aura rose from the Black Night Princess’s body like a shimmering mist.
Even as a deadly energy radiated outward,
the Black Dragon Sword merely smiled.
“Are you still flailing against the ban imposed by Hohyeop?”
At the Black Dragon Sword’s words…
Whoosh!
The energy emitted by the Black Night Princess lunged towards him in a massive form.
But before the energy could reach the Black Dragon Sword…
Crackle…
The energy dissolved to dust and scattered into the wind, as if it had never existed.
It was the result of a casual gesture from the Black Dragon Sword.
“If you are going to struggle, you might want to choose your opponent more wisely.”
“…Taeju…!”
“The only reason I accepted you was because I found your darkness intriguing. Are you so blind that you cannot see the difference?”
Thud.
In response to the Black Dragon Sword’s words, the Black Night Princess clenched his fists.
The past…
In a time where the righteous had a reputation,
and the master known as Yeomgwi roamed the Central Plains.
It was an incident—the Hu Xia, who detested Sapa, had sought the Four Emperors and Five Kings.
A humiliating event wherein
no one wished to recall the embarrassment of being united with the Sapa.
The Black Night Princess still remembered.
-Leave the Central Plains, and never reveal yourself again.
The spirit of the young warrior had been ablaze—
burning fiercely though he never took a life out of respect for the gold.
Why was that?
The princess could not fathom the reason behind Yeomgwi’s actions.
Did he want to witness her struggle against the shackles?
Or was there some other hidden reason?
The restrictions were powerful.
The Black Night Princess had lived like an abandoned shell until the sky was reached.
Even now, blessed with newfound strength…
Instead of erasing the restrictions, they merely remained suppressed and bound.
Furthermore…
The evil spirit he thought he could slay upon their next encounter had become even stronger.
‘A master of the Central Plains?’
What a laughable tale.
Such a monster!
Could he possibly be just a hundred-year-old master among mortals?
Not to mention, the same could apply to the individuals here in front of him.
The ghost, who should have vanished upon death,
was entangled in malevolence…
and thus transformed into darker shades of shadow.
“How about we save the distractions for later?”
“…I hope you will keep your promise.”
Heh.
“Of course. After this is finished, I will free you from your chains.”
What is it that this old man could achieve with what he could not accomplish regarding his own restrictions?
But having seen successful outcomes, the Black Night Princess had no choice but to believe.
The Black Dragon Sword redirected his gaze from the Black Night Princess,
gazing once more at Hanam.
Even late into the night, the lights shone brightly—
still beautiful as time marched onward.
It delighted the eyes of the Black Dragon Sword.
So brilliant!
The light was so beautiful that he felt an urge to snuff it all out.
“When will we proceed?”
“The operation… let’s see, we can start about a month from now.”
“What?”
Just a month of waiting?
He could not comprehend why they needed to wait so long.
Questioning the idea, the princess received an answer immediately from the Black Dragon Sword.
“They requested to wait for a while on the other side as well.”
The Black Dragon Sword recalled the contents penned in the letter at his side.
It indicated there was something to be done beforehand, so patience was required.
‘The little brat is a bit too cheeky.’
How dare they request that he wait!
It was incredibly brazen of them.
But knowing the depth of darkness that would soon swell,
he decided to give in this once.
“Above all else…”
Rattle.
The Black Dragon Sword gripped the bead in his hand tightly.
“They mentioned that it would take time for the reinforcements to arrive, so we need to wait.”
“Reinforcements?”
Who else could possibly arrive?
“If it were only Cheonghae Ilgeom, it would be fine to continue like this; however, unfortunately, there’s that notorious lady…”
“So who did you summon?”
The princess’s demeanor shifted to a fiercer tone.
Why had they come to this place in person?
What an indictment that was enough as it stood!
The Black Dragon Sword cast a subtle, elusive gaze at the princess’s words.
“You still can’t cast away your pride and self-centeredness. That’s why you can’t distance yourself from the malevolence of being a chivalrous soul.”
The moment he heard this,
the Black Night Princess released hundreds of energy blades.
Nighttime shadow concealed the presence of those dark blades.
A dense, dark power surged toward the Black Dragon Sword again.
Yet—
Bang.
The Black Dragon Sword’s response was faster.
“Ugh…!”
“Wasn’t he different before? Whatever has changed him so?”
Was it the influence of the mind?
Or was it the trouble caused by the princess’s misplaced pursuits?
The Black Dragon Sword could not determine.
Nor was he particularly interested.
Before it reached its full potential,
he genuinely wished that the princess would not go and ruin herself.
Such a substantial figure would be troublesome to discard.
“My curiosity about the name of your reinforcements may have spurred this.”
Swish!
A chilly breeze swept through the winter air, scattering the scent of blood.
The Black Dragon Sword squeezed out a dry laugh.
“The Dark King.”
“…!”
Upon uttering that name, the Black Night Princess’s eyes widened in shock.
The leader of the Seven Nights’ Squad,
the king of assassins who has never failed a single hit.
The Dark King!
He was coming to Hanam!
“Thus, he won’t fail. Keep your singular goal in mind.”
Finishing his words, the Black Dragon Sword released his grip from the princess’s neck and rose to his feet.
A silhouette that blocked out the rising moon appeared to loom ever larger.
“The dark, invincible possibility of the Tang clan.”
Dokbong Dangsoyeol.
“You simply need to capture that girl and bring her back here. It’s an easy task.”
“…Dokbong? They aren’t the descendants of the Sword Venerable, are they?”
The princess vaguely remembered the Black Dragon Sword’s sentiments towards the Sword Venerable.
Thus, understanding was elusive.
To her inquiry, the Black Dragon Sword replied,
Heh… “Unlike you, I do not let my thirst for vengeance ruin my plans.”
“…”
Leaving the speechless princess behind,
the Black Dragon Sword moved deeper into the forest.
By now, the formation was entirely laid out.
All that was left was to wait.
In anticipation of the many things to come.
‘As a herald of resurrection, this isn’t a bad setup.’
I, the Black Dragon Sword, will make it known that I am still alive.
Erasing the Shinryongwan, where the future of the righteous faction is gathered, will do just fine.
If I eliminate all those countless lingering spirits.
The reaction will surely be overwhelmingly heated.
‘Then what kind of face will you make?’
If, because of someone I couldn’t eliminate,
the Central Plains becomes stained with blood once more.
Wihyogun.
What expression will my dear friend show?
The thought genuinely intrigued the Black Dragon Sword.
Having entered the forest, the Black Dragon Sword leaned against a sturdy tree and closed his eyes.
In a place where moonlight was absent.
‘There really isn’t much time left.’
He pondered with closed eyes.
This plan will not fail.
Though the inspector is an unexpected figure,
for this, I have called upon the Dark King, and sought to evade Cheonan’s lookout.
As long as I am wary of any possible disruptions caused by the fallen sword’s intervention.
This endeavor will absolutely succeed.
‘Just like back then.’
As long as there isn’t a being like Wihyogun
present within the Shinryongwan…
A month has indeed passed since entering Shinryongwan.
It marks nearly thirty days in this exceedingly drab situation.
If there is a dilemma,
it’s something I think of every morning upon waking.
It’s intensely frustrating to endure this lifestyle for a year.
‘What even is practice?’
I heard that even over seven days and nights, there are practical exercises rooted in theory.
If I don’t perform the practice or training properly,
it could lead to expulsion, as dire as that sounds, so I’m trying my best.
‘The theory part is fine, but then there’s the practical side.’
As I’ve repeated countless times, no one here surpasses my theoretical knowledge on demonic energy.
Even if someone existed, they’d likely be an instructor.
For the tests, I wouldn’t fall short.
Thanks to that…
– Jinryong has a ferocious temperament coupled with sharp intellect—
those same ridiculous rumors were resurfacing.
Honestly, this is bothersome.
Having intelligence is one thing,
but why attach a vicious temper?
This is genuinely absurd.
‘The one who spread this rumor should really be caught and made to pay!’
Who the hell keeps poking around?
I’ll definitely track them down.
Sigh.
A breath of frustration escaped me.
Rumors, gazes, and the prospect of enduring this for a year—
it’s all terribly annoying.
What bothers me most right now is not all that.
“…Damn it, how do I go about this?”
Currently, I was by the governor’s office,
sitting on the grass where I had previously conversed with Wi Seol-ah.
The goal was the same as last time—
to find the secret note located in the depths of the Shinryongwan.
I was searching for a way to break through the formation.
But…
‘I can’t feel a thing…!’
The anomaly in the formation I sensed before—
at present, it’s as if it has vanished.
I had clearly observed the flow that Wi Seol-ah had interacted with, correct?
And yet, amidst this frivolous flailing,
‘Could it be…?’
The thought crossed my mind, forcing my brow into a frown.
‘…Is it impossible to do this alone?’
Similar to how Wi Seol-ah had held my hand before,
am I incapable of feeling the formation by myself?
‘This could turn troublesome.’
Knowing the location, I figured I could scout it out.
If this was the crux of the issue, then we’re in serious trouble.
‘Should I retrieve Wi Seol-ah now?’
That would likely be confusing for her.
But time was of the essence; decisions had to be made swiftly.
Quickly glancing back towards the palace structure, still a distance away.
‘I must accomplish this before I return.’
For now, Cheonghae Ilgeom was away from the governor’s office.
I had ‘requested’ this of Geom-hu.
‘…I have no idea where Wi Seol-ah is; what’s my course of action?’
Had I known it would come to this, I should’ve just brought her along.
I thought I could find it since I was acquainted with the flow.
‘What should I do?’
To rush back and fetch Wi Seol-ah at this point?
I couldn’t gauge how much time lingered ahead.
Neither could I risk randomly detonating around here.
Mastering the capability to conceal or control such a reaction eluded me.
To fracture the formation,
at least a level of destructive force like Yeom-ok would be demanded.
The instant that explodes,
there’s no way Cheonghae Ilgeom wouldn’t catch wind of the uproar surrounding us.
Tsk.
Thus, I found myself stuck in a position where I could do nothing.
Of course, sitting here, just swinging my hands aimlessly isn’t an option;
the clock’s ticking, and hesitation is not a luxury.
Finally, realizing I had no other recourse,
it was time to seriously consider locating Wi Seol-ah and bringing her back.
“Just what have you been doing all this time?”
A voice called out from behind me.
“…What, am I watching ants or something?”
I hadn’t sensed their approach.
This is bad.
It dawned on me quickly.
This area is either controlled by a spirit or some other force affecting where I could sense even the slightest movement.
I swiftly turned my head back.
The owner of the voice regarded me with a quizzical expression.
“…Who are you?”
I inquired, bemused.
The stranger mirrored my surprised reaction.
“That’s something I wanted to ask you.”
Just as I turned my head,
there stood a tall young man before me, forcing me to look up quite significantly.
With a strikingly handsome face,
despite an expression that showcased a hint of fatigue.
Donned in a ceremonial robe marked with mystical signs, this young man was someone I recognized.
I gazed at him and asked:
“Why are you here?”
Sleeping Dragon Woohyuk.
He was looking right back at me.
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