Chapter: 854
Kwa-gaga-gak–!!! A storm sweeps across the ground.
Swords rain down in countless numbers.
Like an unrelenting gust, chaos spread in every direction, leaving destruction in its wake.
Shiiiiik-!! Four blades of light draw circles, each with a distinct movement.
It looked as if they were alive.
One spinning sword points its tip and lunges forward.
“Huh.”
Namgung Bi-ah raises her sword at an angle, lowering the blade.
Ki-ki-ki-ki! A flying sword is deflected, scraping against her sword.
Sparks fly and the angle shifts.
The attack was successfully parried. Yet, Namgung Bi-ah’s gaze remained steely.
It wasn’t just the end after one attack.
As expected, as soon as she dodged one strike, two more lunged at her.
Namgung Bi-ah narrowed her brows, channeling power into her legs.
Pahchik-! Energies surged, wrapping around her sword as she unleashed it into her danjeon.
Pressure manifested through her body. It was the activation of the Imperial Sword Form.
In an instant, the swords darting towards her slowed down. Namgung Bi-ah seized the moment.
The sword filled with energy cleaved through the air. The two swords were swept away by the force of her energy, clearing the previously blocked path.
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t hesitate. She immediately lunged forward.
That movement resembled the flash of lightning.
In the blink of an eye, she was in front of her opponent, swinging her sword. At this rate, she could sever his neck.
But.
“…!”
She halted her swing, quickly turning her head. The sword plunged into the space where her face had just been.
Pick-! A gash opens on her cheek, blood splattering.
A few strands of hair were severed. She spun around, creating some distance.
“Hoo…”
Namgung Bi-ah exhaled, wiping the droplets of blood from her cheek.
The tension continued to rise incessantly.
“You have good instincts.”
The Lord of Gyecheonmun chuckled while observing Namgung Bi-ah.
The old man remained with hands clasped behind his back.
Seeing this, Namgung Bi-ah squinted. He hadn’t moved a single step thus far.
The disparity in skills was overwhelming. Even at the same level, the caliber was worlds apart.
There was no comparison to the Eunrang Sword.
“It was the same earlier. How pitiful for such a young girl.”
“…”
“Even if you tried, you shouldn’t have been able to be this strong…”
Kkul-kkul. The old man laughed. With that laughter, the swords returned to Gyecheonmun.
“Your Majesty. That fellow included, kids these days are definitely a whole different level.”
Phew…
Namgung Bi-ah steadied her breath and regained her stance.
You couldn’t win. It was inherently clear just from the flow of the fight.
“That’s why it’s even more regrettable. How cruel to oppress a child like you who could shine so brightly.”
Her opponent was merely observing. This was a fact that was starkly clear.
He was toying with her, adjusting himself at his convenience.
Namgung Bi-ah glanced back briefly. Wi Seol-ah remained motionless.
Standing still, her gaze was affixed to the tree.
Something must be wrong.
“So, how about you answer my question? Then I’ll spare your life.”
“…”
“Your life will be spared. But what’s going to happen to everything else?”
Namgung Bi-ah scrunched her nose in response to the foul odor wafting toward her.
A putrid scent emanated from the old man.
“Of course. In exchange for sparing your life… you’re going to have to become my old man for a while and give me some genuine enjoyment.”
A desire so vivid it was repulsive.
Seeing that made Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes turn frigid.
This was a feeling she often experienced toward her opponents. Something she had grown accustomed to. Every time she felt such a thing, Goo Yangcheon’s words came to mind.
“It’s because you’re pretty. If you were only mildly pretty, I wouldn’t mind, but this is a bit excessive.”
She was pretty. It seemed undeniable.
Knowing that didn’t elicit any real emotion. It wasn’t of much help to her life.
She merely acknowledged it.
No, she had known it since she was little. Back then, she even considered it a curse.
Most of her misfortunes stemmed from this.
“If I didn’t have this face, wouldn’t it solve my problems?” She had thought that as well.
But.
Now, things were a bit different. She didn’t care.
That gaze. The desire to behold her.
Now, it truly didn’t matter.
What once bothered her ceased to be a nuisance.
There came a day she posed such a question. He gazed at her with incredulity.
“You don’t like pretty things? What kind of lunacy is that?”
“No, I don’t particularly hate them. What? Breasts? Why on earth are we discussing breasts now! Hey! Why aren’t you unfastening your clothes? Has this guy really lost it?”
“I don’t dislike either. In fact, if I must, I prefer them, so stop asking and go! I have to train!”
The moment she stopped loathing the burdensome things was around then.
Even his face, which would blush and shy away under her intense gaze, and the tiny desires glimmering in his eyes. Oddly enough, she didn’t abhor them.
Occasionally, she pondered. She understood he was suppressing his own desires, yet she wished he wouldn’t have to.
One feeling, sure, it was solely for him and no one else.
“So, let’s stop this futile fight. Just be quiet… Hmm?”
The Lord of Gyecheonmun frowned, halting his speech to gaze at Namgung Bi-ah.
“What’s going on? Why are you laughing?”
Namgung Bi-ah was smiling.
She thought of him, but the current situation also quite tickled her fancy.
A fight she couldn’t win. A battle showing no chance of victory. A moment where death could loom.
All of that made Namgung Bi-ah grin.
“Hehe…”
Gyecheonmunju chuckled hollowly, as if he comprehended the meaning behind Namgung Bi-ah’s smile.
“I merely thought a beautiful flower had found a bit of talent… And here we are.”
The blades spinning around suddenly came to a halt. A hint of distaste flickered in the eyes that had previously shone with desire.
“Girl. You are a fighting spirit.”
Often found among warriors. They revel in combat and live bungled lives. Those who relish in killing are labeled as murderers while those who are obsessed with fighting in and of itself are called fighting spirits.
In that regard, this girl was a brawler.
She smiled in delight in this situation. It was ridiculous.
“Well, that’s possible.”
Gyecheonmunji stifled a grin. If she was that beautiful, so what if she was a fighting spirit? It wouldn’t change a thing.
‘If I can just capture her, she’ll be a precious asset.’
How on earth did she get here? And how did she unravel this formation? And.
‘Who is that girl behind her?’
The gaze of Gyecheon. More precisely, a blonde woman who seemed bewitched, staring intently at the sacred tree of Ilcheongyo.
Dae-Hwan knew the identity of that woman as well.
‘Sword Master. The descendant of that ancient demon.’
Was it called the Seomwolgeom?
The very thought sent cold shivers down his spine. He had only briefly encountered them.
A figure who annihilated enemies by unleashing countless swords on the battlefield.
A number unparalleled to his own four swords.
If she was truly the offspring of such a monster, she would definitely pose a threat.
‘For some reason, she stands still.’
Despite the ongoing fight, her attention was solely on the sacred tree. While the reason remained unclear, it was beneficial for him.
‘I’ll capture them both.’
He planned to catch them both and use them against the Holy King.
Additionally, it seemed he would be able to unravel the mystery while giving a splendid gift to his followers after a long time.
“If you can hang in there, do so.”
Dae-Hwan smiled, waving his hands.
Once again, the swords showered down like stars.
At that moment.
“Hoo.”
Namgung Bi-ah exhaled anew.
A voice echoed in her ears persistently.
[Hurry and draw it out!]
The elder’s voice pierced her ears, but Namgung Bi-ah disregarded it.
Not yet. There was still plenty she could do.
[You foolish child…! It won’t make a difference if you stubbornly resist–!]
The descending sword neared Namgung Bi-ah’s head.
The line of fate drew near. It was then that Namgung Bi-ah finally drew her sword.
It was not a brute force.
Kukugugugun—!!!! The sword struck with force, and the shockwave rippled outward.
Crack.
Simultaneously, something got severed.
“…!!”
Gyecheonmunju staggered, sinking to one knee.
“Cough…!”
Blood sprayed from his mouth as he clutched his chest.
Something flowed from the upper part of his body too. It was blood.
The upper section of his body suffered severe damage. Gyecheonmunju glared ahead, feeling pain.
“…You little brat… How did you manage to wield the Heart Sword…!”
The Lord of Gyecheonmun spat venomously, his face contorted.
Shhhh…
“…Hoo.”
The same breathing sound from earlier emanated from the spot where the explosion happened.
Swords scattered across the floor. Namgung Bi-ah stood amid the wreckage.
She wasn’t completely unharmed. Signs of cuts were visible in various places.
Her attire was torn, and blood continuously streamed from her mouth, hands, and legs.
The wounds didn’t seem shallow, though.
Yet.
At that moment, Namgung Bi-ah smiled.
She beamed brightly. As if the current situation delighted her, she blossomed in joy.
“…It feels… good?”
She echoed the words recently uttered by Gyecheonmunju.
*
Within an underground chamber, a stocky old man rushed in with a panicked expression.
“What on earth happened-!!”
“…Elder…!”
At the sight of the elder’s entrance, those inside exclaimed, their eyes wide as lanterns.
“S-suddenly the formation was dismantled.”
“What do you mean ‘suddenly’? What did the guards do?!”
“I can’t reach them!”
“…What does that even mean?”
The elder’s eyebrows furrowed at the report.
“The formation was suddenly lifted?”
“When was the last time you switched with the sentries?”
“…About half an hour has passed.”
“…That’s all?”
Only half an hour? After such a short time, the formation was lifted?
This was utter nonsense.
The elder found it hard to believe.
“Even if we called upon that renowned Wind Dragon Lord, we could restrain him for four days. And just half an hour? Do you think that makes any sense?”
Furthermore, it had been rumored that the Wind Dragon Lord reportedly perished during the recent Hanam attack, leaving only a handful of individuals capable of dismantling this formation.
“Are you sure you’re not mistaken?”
“…I swear it’s true.”
“Is there any chance the formation itself malfunctioned?”
The elder questioned with skepticism.
“Last I checked today, the formation was confirmed to have no issues.”
“Then, does that suggest it was an external attack?”
“That’s how we interpret it…”
“What’s our Lord’s status? Where is he right now?”
“The Lord is currently… supposedly off to catch a rat.”
“…Tsk.”
He was aware someone had infiltrated the chamber. He had long been eager to capture them, but he had held back considering that the Lord might have had intentions.
‘Could it have been them?’
Those who stealthily followed.
What kind of chaos had they unleashed? If they had, then how?
The elder was at a loss, but now certainly was not the time for inaction.
“I’m going to assess the formation. You come with me.”
He’d grab someone who knew about the formation and set them in motion. First, he needed to head outside and get a grasp on the situation.
The elder hastily rose from his seat and began to move.
He practically sprinted towards the entrance. The place appeared to have multiple entrances, but in truth, there was only one.
Even the old man wasn’t well-acquainted with that path.
“It’s to the left.”
Only a scant few knew of it. The old man proceeded, following their direction.
Just as he was about to advance toward the proper entrance…
“From here, take a right…”
“…Wait a moment.”
The elder halted, placing a hand over the man’s mouth.
“…Stop.”
“Y-yes…”
The man looked bewildered, yet the elder’s gaze remained firmly fixed ahead, beads of cold sweat trickling down his forehead.
“Elder…?”
“Who goes there?”
The elder inquired forward. At that moment, someone stepped closer from the front.
Only then did the man feel…
“Guh!?”
The overwhelming intent to kill that invaded them.
Footsteps echoed from beyond the shadows inhabiting the entryway. As the figure came into view…
In the inky dark, something glimmered with a blue light.
It took little time for him to comprehend that the light belonged to a pair of eyes.
“You…?”
The elder widened his eyes, finally recognizing who emerged.
“Castle….”
“I have something to ask you.”
The young man cut off the elder before he could finish.
The man felt his limbs quaking as he observed.
The killing intent was fierce, yet even setting that aside, there was something else lingering.
‘…What, the eyes?’
The once azure eyes began to shift. The color was transforming.
The dazzling yet chilling blue gradually morphed until it finally turned purple.
As he witnessed that, a chill gripped his throat.
Thoughts escaped him. Only fear remained.
Thud. Thud thud.
His teeth chattered and rattled uncontrollably.
“I’m searching for someone… Do you have any idea?”
“Huh, a person?”
At that query, the elder’s muscles bulged with intense effort.
He pushed against the killing intent and released a substantial amount of energy.
“Do you have any idea where this place is…!”
A wall of swollen muscle.
The man, albeit unbeknownst to him, felt a wave of relief. The elder was a martial artist who had reached the flower garden.
Thus, even should that person possess incredible strength, it would take time to call for reinforcements…
Thud.
“Huh?”
The man blurted out in disbelief. The elder suddenly dropped to one knee.
“Elder…?”
He turned, checking for an explanation of the sudden event, yet the elder made no response, tumbling to the ground.
Boom—! The giant figure crumbled to the earth, and as the man looked to approach the elder…
Thud. Something thudded to the ground in front of him. Upon seeing it, the man screamed and stumbled backward.
“Heeeeeeek—!!!”
It was a heart. A heart that was still faintly beating.
Whose could it be? No way?
The man gazed again at the elder.
Blood pooled from the fallen elder’s chest, soaking the ground.
“Oh… Elder… Elder.”
Crunch! A foot stomped down upon the heart, crushing it. Blood sprayed across the man’s cheek.
“I don’t think you caught that, so I’ll ask again.”
Swish. Fingers seized the man’s chin, forcing him to look up.
They locked gazes.
“I’m looking for someone. Do you happen to have any information?”
He felt something moist against the hand gripping his chin.
It was the elder’s blood.
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