Chapter: 338
It wasn’t difficult for the Black Night Princess to find her target.
At best, it would be akin to a climax.
Otherwise, it was merely a gathering of those who had remained at the second-rate level, once they might have aspired to be at the first-class.
The only real threats, such as Geomhu and Cheonghae Ilgeom, were said to be handled by Taeju and Amwang.
Her task was straightforward: to locate Dokbong and bring him back.
The dark energy prepared by Taeju gradually enveloped the formation laid out on Mount Tai, shaping it into a singular space.
‘What is that power?’
The Black Night Princess observed the energy slowly covering the sky, voicing her doubts.
Though it seemed similar to the energy she possessed, it was distinctly different from the power granted by the ‘heavens.’
‘Looks like that power is dealing with something.’
Considering the location of the incident was Hanam, where both the Murim Alliance and Shaolin were situated, it was clear that hasty actions could cause trouble to descend upon her.
This made her decide it was a rather risky endeavor.
Taeju had previously warned her not to worry about it.
Well, I guess so.
What was currently unfolding, resembling a formation, seemed to be resolving an issue.
‘Then what remains?’
Binding the instructors scattered all around.
This responsibility was deemed fit for Taeju’s subordinates.
The Black Night Princess, once known as Simaoje, felt the atmosphere around her; it was murky and unsavory.
‘Black Dragon…’
The warriors of the Sapha clan, regarded as deceased from bygone days.
They were reportedly slain by the current Swordmaster, who was also identified as the Whirlwind Sword of that time.
For some strange reason, both Taeju and the contemporaneous members of the Black Dragon Corps survived.
The Black Night Princess looked on.
‘No need to worry.’
Quietly turning her head.
She had no business worrying about that at the moment.
Her priority was to handle her affairs swiftly.
Then she would return to the heavens.
That was her only goal.
A request from Taeju, who was relying on her assistance.
Hearing the news that even the Dark King would participate in battle urged her into action.
Of course, curiosity hung in the air.
She had some inkling of Taeju’s ambitions, yet the exact reason for seeking the Tang Clan’s Dokbong was a delightful puzzle she pondered about.
Though she hadn’t directly asked.
Before she realized it, a pitch-black formation filled the sky.
“Let’s go,” said an accomplice beside the princess.
Upon hearing that, the princess scowled.
“Don’t dare to issue orders to me.”
With a click of her tongue, she leapt down from the cliff, diving into the grass below.
Soon after, she spread her aura.
The sensation emitted by her aura engulfed nearly the entire mountain.
With such a rough amplitude, if any Geomhu or Cheonghae Ilgeom were present, they would’ve sensed it immediately.
One.
They were not here.
Even if they were, the circumstances didn’t allow them to move freely.
With this thought in mind, the princess gradually expanded her aura.
‘Found it.’
As anticipated, she quickly located her target.
Amidst the trees, a head of dark green hair came into view.
The subtle poison within her body revealed her descent from the Tang clan.
The level of her aura wasn’t particularly high.
The princess could easily snuff her out with just a blink if she chose.
The Black Night Princess’ physical form blended with the wind, transforming into energy and disappearing.
Reaching her target was an instantaneous task.
Prior to extending her hand, she considered once more.
‘Did I tell them to bring her back undamaged?’
She thought she only needed to keep her alive.
As a precaution…
‘First of all.’
The follower flanking Dokbong drew her ire.
It was evident from the choice of attire and the aura radiating from him.
He appeared to be a relative of the Peng family.
There were several individuals she needed to exercise caution around.
However, this particular girl fell outside that category.
Then.
It would serve her well to take action, perhaps even eliminate him for an easy retrieval.
As the unfolding events played out, the Tang clan’s girl surveyed her surroundings with keen eyes.
The princess quietly condensed her energy, sharpening it.
With the intent to deliver a swift, lethal blow to her head.
Kiieen!
The energy began to spiral as per her command.
Without hesitation, it shot towards Peng Ah-hee.
Hoping that she’d meet her demise without the chance to react.
At that moment.
“Ah-hee!”
‘What?!’
A strange turn of events occurred.
Dokbong, whom she thought would be oblivious, quickly reacted, shielding the girl next to him.
Pick!
Thanks to the Black Night Princess hastily shifting her hand and redirecting, her target’s death was narrowly averted.
“So… Soyeol!”
“Ugh…”
Dokbong had sustained a severe injury to his arm.
Caught off guard by the sudden twist, Peng Ah-hee was flustered.
Nevertheless, stopping the bleeding took precedence.
Watching this unfold, the Black Night Princess blurted out.
Thud!
She took shape and materialized before Dang So-yeol.
“Girl.”
Upon hearing that soft voice, Peng Ah-hee flinched and cast her gaze toward the Black Night Princess.
“How did you figure it out? At your level, that shouldn’t have been possible.”
At the inquiry from the Black Night Princess, Dang So-yeol turned her head towards her.
“…Who, who are you…?”
“That isn’t something you need to know.”
Her eyes filled with terror, she must have quickly recognized the gap between herself and the Black Night Princess.
The Black Night Princess was utterly intrigued.
How did she sense my presence?
She was only at a crude level, barely achievable even for the first-class.
“Are you the one from the Tang Party?”
Dang So-yeol swallowed her saliva at the princess’s question.
“I won’t ask you twice.”
In the ensuing silence, the princess again summoned energy to her fingertips.
Now aiming at Peng Ah-hee, she decided that would leverage her advantage better.
Seeing this, Peng Ah-hee trembled slightly.
In a rush, Dang So-yeol spoke up.
“You already know… Don’t you? Why is our esteemed senior treating us this way?”
“Is it because you trace your lineage back to a prestigious family? You’ve dressed your words with honey.”
The “esteemed senior” was a clever tongue usually wielded by the majority of political figures.
That was precisely why it irked her further.
Thump!
It was as if she had nothing more to say.
The Black Night Princess stepped closer to Dang So-yeol.
Yet, Peng Ah-hee rushed to wrap her arms around Dang So-yeol in a protective embrace as she stopped the bleeding.
It was a futile gesture of defiance.
“Time doesn’t allow much leeway, so I’d prefer you to refrain from resistance. I can’t stand pesky interruptions.”
“…”
As the black thorns materialized around the princess once more.
This time, Peng Ah-hee clutched Dang So-yeol, preparing to take the hit instead, as if to act as a shield.
How warm to the point of being foolish, this friendship!
Regardless, once dead, you’ll grow cold eventually.
With a flick, the Black Night Princess brushed Peng Ah-hee aside.
Just when she intended to vanish with Dang So-yeol.
She suddenly halted.
Stomp!
A swift pause mid-step, her eyes darted towards the bushes opposite her.
“It feels familiar.”
A sense of guests approaching entered her awareness.
How on earth did they notice me? She had deliberately concealed her presence to avoid detection, after all.
She sensed someone swiftly drawing closer.
Clear energy surged!
‘Two individuals, huh?’
The Black Night Princess prepared a thorn aimed at Peng Ah-hee.
Directing it towards the place where she sensed energy.
Whish whish!
The thorns sped forward, targeting the intruders.
One of them hurled another aside and swung their sword, intercepting the thorn.
Well, well!
A smart move! Moreover, it seemed to be backed by suitable dexterity!
A more condensed energy swirled and flew in toward her.
As a heavy force touched down, Kwang!
With a thunderous clash, a violent noise erupted!
The collision sparked a brief rift before calming down.
Rattle!
The energy that hit the flower mirror was effectively severed.
‘Impressive!’
A true compliment.
Soon, the owner of that energy emerged from beyond the bushes.
And as I expected…
Upon seeing the face, the Black Night Princess remarked.
“What do you know? A familiar aura indeed, it seems it’s the Sword King’s spawn.”
The offspring of the Sword King of that era.
Moreover, the very girl she had encountered before.
“Looks like you’ve got business with me.”
The woman, with tight white hair, aimed her sword directly at the Black Night Princess.
She directed her gaze toward Dang So-yeol, who was propped up against a rock, panting for breath.
“It’s been a while. You and I go way back.”
That face—she indeed recognized it. Back at the main palace of the Black Palace, she was with the devil’s offspring, wasn’t she?
“Do you remember me?”
The Black Night Princess reflected on that time and inquired of Namgungbia.
She nodded.
“…I know.”
“Then why draw your sword?”
It was a bemused query.
Did she seem ridiculous enough to draw a blade against her?
‘Tsk tsk!’
“Do you find me amusing?”
“…?”
“If not, maybe it’s because you recall how you were treated by the demon that you think of me as pathetic.”
A wave of dark energy coalesced, emanating a sharpness from her very feet.
It felt thoroughly disdainful, as if she were being ignored by this mere wisp of a soul.
“This is the Black Night Princess you’re addressing.”
A sardonic smile crept onto her face.
I only set out to bring Dokbong along! And yet, here’s Namgung Se-ga, the Sword King’s lineage?
So, that thundering tongue belonged to the idiot’s daughter, eh?
Not so bad—
As the Sword King bore his own debts.
With that thought, the princess turned towards Namgungbia, “Had I opted to simply ignore you, I might’ve spared your life. What a foolish failure…”
“…Is that you?”
“What?”
“…You’re the one who turned that child into this…”
“Are you referring to Dokbong? Yes, that was me….”
Whoosh!
Just as the Black Night Princess concluded her statement, a dazzling light appeared right before her.
Namgungbia unleashed her energy and swung her sword with full force!
Bang!
Deflecting the blow with her own energy, the Black Night Princess scrutinized Namgungbia closely.
This was due to the extraordinary level of power in play.
‘This isn’t fitting for her age at all.’
It became clear that the earlier compliment was no mere fluke.
Namgungbia’s prowess was beyond what one would expect from her youth.
CLANK! Screech!
The sword tip that was cleaving through energy changed course to evade the shielding force.
Once blocked, it swiftly pivoted to another angle, pressing further in.
‘Ha!’
Such discernment sparked admiration.
More so, clarity saturated every move; the intent to kill exuded from her.
It was a decisiveness absent even in late bloomers.
Steadily pressing in, she succeeded!
Instantly, a formidable presence latched onto the Black Night Princess’s feet.
‘The Emperor’s Sword form!’
A secret technique of the Namgung lineage, rumored to be privy only to direct descendants.
Given its vast scale and extreme challenge, it wasn’t simple for anyone to wield.
Yet, the young girl had deployed it with remarkable aplomb.
Within its thrust, ripples of energy flowed and dominated the vicinity.
Moreover, she wielded her blade with serenity and speed.
Even the renowned Black Night Princess couldn’t help but express admiration.
‘The Sword King birthed something preposterous.’
What level was she at?
It seemed she had surpassed peak cultivation entirely.
The empathic field and perceptive scope had clearly eclipsed the boundary.
Surely, ripe maturity—a level that was an achievement.
‘A monster indeed.’
In an age merely beyond childhood, she had reached such mastery.
It signified heaven’s bestowed talent.
A roaring storm of swords rained down, splitting into myriad branches.
The Black Night Princess grappled to block with her energy.
‘Must clear this up.’
At this caliber, she required immediate extermination!
Such potential would surely become an obstacle to her heavenly aspirations.
Kaboom!
The myriad energies split again, multiplying.
The stakes contained within the swords grew tangible.
This blade had the fortitude of steel!
It moved with graceful finesse, each stride impeccably silent.
Evading the onslaught of the princess’s energy burst from all angles.
Namgungbia continued to swing her sword.
‘Yikes!’
A perilous situation already; even a mere brush could spell doom!
No iota of hesitation remained!
Already having cut a path, she pressed further.
Shatter!
With a sweep, she expanded her energy, widening her opening.
Racing forward, she harnessed the enhanced speed gifted by her sheer will.
Her years of training in swordsmanship were coming to fruition, not a deceiving sight.
A smooth transition.
Buried within that fluidity lay components of sharp precision.
Rake!
Another surge of energy was ripped apart.
The route reached for the princess sprang completely open.
Namgungbia spotted this, tilting her sword filled with energy, rushing towards her target.
The target was her neck!
“You stand on another level compared to everyone else.”
Just as the energy-laced sword neared the princess.
“That’s it.”
Crack!
The sudden burst of energy surged forth and landed squarely against Namgungbia’s side.
“Ugggh!”
Bang!
Overwhelmed by the impact, Namgungbia found herself airborne before landing awkwardly on the earth.
Quickly regaining composure, she readied her stamina.
But respite was a luxury she could not afford!
The Black Night Princess’s assault began to rain incessantly.
“Even in such circumstances, to have momentarily blocked with energy, it’s truly astounding.”
As if the earlier strike had been a jest.
An onslaught without a sliver of leeway given.
Boom boom boom!
Striking like lightning—marks manifested on the ground, clouds of dust swirling.
“Your capacity to make instantaneous assessments is also commendable. Had the situation been more fitting, I would have actively sought your obedience!”
This was sincere.
Not many within the Central Plains possessed such talent.
It was the sort so remarkable that she might be inclined to enforce her will and keep her close.
Such was how deeply desire clawed at her!
“The timing isn’t right, so it seems there’s little choice.”
Thus, the princess had to pour in her effort; this girl was too formidable to be toying with.
At least one silver lining existed.
That she had detected her early and could handle it with urgency.
This quest for merely picking up Dokbong had proven fruitful indeed.
The lengthy bout of energy culminated at last.
The Black Night Princess gestured to cease its flow.
This should suffice.
It’s stunning to see someone reach peak at such a tender age.
Even so, it was indeed peak.
The chasm between those who had reached the depths of martial prowess and those at the flower’s summit was starkly evident.
Thinking all had culminated, the moment she gathered her energy for a final blow—
Thwooosh…!
Bursting through the thick dust cloud.
A pinpoint of sword strike dove toward the Black Night Princess’ neck.
Swish.
Soon after, blood splattered forth.
The sanguine trail was from the Black Night Princess’s neck.
Thus, the attack appeared to succeed.
“This wretched girl…”
Yet, disappointingly, it didn’t hit home.
Though the incoming sword strike was both forceful and swift.
The Black Night Princess’s energy acted as a protective barrier against it.
Leaving only a mere cut on her neck.
No mortal wound sustained.
And still—
The princess found herself staring in utter shock.
“…ha.”
What met her gaze was the aftermath of tremendous assault.
At the epicenter, Namgungbia, encircled in a halo of energy, shielded herself while bleeding, peering over here.
Regret shone through her eyes.
Meeting that gaze caused the Black Night Princess to swallow her shock.
‘Was this the plan all along?’
From the very first interaction, recognizing she stood defenseless, the Black Night Princess inadvertently let her guard down.
Was that an invitation to the attack merely orchestrated moments ago?
If so…
She was a truly daunting individual.
To withstand that kind of agony just to set up this lone blow?
Had every maneuver from the start been orchestrated?
“You genuinely must perish here, you four-year-old.”
The astonishment was too profound to bear!
Once again, the princess steeled herself, asserting that the girl needed to be silenced right then and there.
Coincidentally, it seemed Namgungbia couldn’t endure any longer.
Balance faltered and she crumbled, collapsing to the earth.
Efforts to nail such a strike had been quite taxing!
Approaching the fallen Namgungbi, the Black Night Princess was intent.
To eliminate her here to avoid repercussions.
Such contemplation was at the forefront of her mind.
But in that very moment, as she summoned her energy to finish off—
Slash!
A sharp clamor erupted from where Dokbong was located.
The Black Night Princess turned her gaze, caught off guard by what was unfolding.
“…!”
The sight before her compelled a gasp.
“What in the blazes are you doing?”
Dang So-yeol, who had been resting against a boulder, suddenly plunged a dagger into her thigh and withdrew it.
She pressed the blade against her neck, her fiery gaze fierce and unyielding!
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