Chapter 182: Realization Through Battle (2)

Yong Hwarin’s energy had been exhausted—his sword didn’t even emit a trace of sword qi. Seeing this, the others all let out cries of grief.

“Ah!”

“No!”

“Reckless!”

“Damn it!”

But then, an unbelievable scene unfolded before their eyes.

Just as the energy of the Soul-Extinguishing Frenzied Saber struck Yong Hwarin directly, the moment that force touched his sword, the form of a Blue Dragon manifested.

Yong Hwarin deflected the Soul-Extinguishing Frenzied Saber’s energy and added his own inner force to it using the Cloud Dragon Filling the Heavens technique.

Then, the qi formed surpassed that of five complete cycles, and the true Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword was unleashed.

Kwaaaah!

When the blue flames erupted, the energy that burst forth looked like a Blue Dragon and, in an instant, overwhelmed Heaven-Cleaving Saber Gu Hyeong.

When it made contact with Gu Hyeong’s body, the brilliant light of the flaring and fading blue flames was breathtakingly beautiful.

“If there's truly such a thing as nascent qi, this must be it!”

Even the assassins who had been attacking halted for a moment, mesmerized by the brilliance.

As always, beauty was followed by emptiness.

Just as the place where a beautifully bloomed flower withers holds only the desolation of its fall, the spot was now littered with torn flesh of Heaven-Cleaving Saber Gu Hyeong.

The assassins of the Grudge-Dissolving Unit charged at Yong Hwarin all at once.

They rushed in with resolve for mutual destruction with the man who had just slain their liege.

But Yong Hwarin, who had already grasped a sliver of the Inner-Outer Realm from the Tai Chi Profound Heavenly Sutra, did not evade. He crossed swords with them.

Jjeo-eong!

With a clash of sword qi, the assassins were ruthlessly hurled backward and crashed into the ground.

None who fell got back up.

“Come! I shall send you all to hell!”

Yong Hwarin stood tall and shouted from that spot.

Like moths drawn to flame, the assassins charged at Yong Hwarin.

Within less than two hours, not a single one of them remained standing.

Every last one of them had drawn their final breath while attacking Yong Hwarin.

A silence as deep as still water settled over the battlefield for nearly two hours.

Everyone was dazed, witnessing both Yong Hwarin’s overwhelming martial prowess and the assassins’ refusal to yield until the end.

“Squad Leader Mu! Gather the wounded!”

When Yong Hwarin, who never treated them lightly, spoke with commanding presence, Mu Iso, who had been staring blankly, snapped to attention.

“Yes, Small Sect Leader!”

Although Mu Iso was heavily wounded himself, his voice now carried strength. The rest of the group also came to their senses and began tending to the injured and administering first aid.

At Yong Hwarin’s cry, the Three Chivalrous Sisters and Namgung Yoo also began tending to the wounded. Everyone was moving at once, compelled by that unfathomable force exuding from Yong Hwarin.

The day before entering Kaebong, Yong Hwarin and his group led the wounded to a nearby county.

There were simply too many injured, and treatment was an urgent priority.

They entered the largest medical center and mobilized every physician in the county.

Treatment took nearly an entire day.

Among the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect, seven had been wounded, and the remaining three had internal injuries.

Of the Namgung Clan escorts protecting Namgung Yoo, aside from one casualty, two had been struck by iron arrows, but there were no other serious injuries.

It was thanks to Namgung Yoo’s timely dispersal of poison in the surrounding area during the fight.

Do Gye-gong had also sustained no small number of injuries.

After Oh Pyo-du’s death, he had fought like a madman, his entire body covered in sword wounds. The fact that only two people had died in such a fierce battle was nothing short of a miracle.

Most of all, it was thanks to Jeong Minji releasing the Golden Restraint and blocking the assassins with the Vermilion Phoenix Grand Ascension Art.

Thankfully, despite the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect suffering serious internal and external injuries, there had been no fatalities.

During treatment, Namgung Yoo and Do Gye-gong buried the fallen escort and Oh Pyo-du.

“This is all my fault.”

Bukri Sogun spoke to Yong Hwarin like someone burdened with guilt.

He believed the assassins’ attack had been because of him.

“Sogun.”

“Yes.”

“You must become stronger. Only then can you protect yourself—and protect others. Without strength, one should not set foot in the martial world.”

Yong Hwarin did not wish to assign blame.

If blame was to be cast, it would be his own—for being weak, for making a rash promise to Lee Geuk. He spoke out of concern for Bukri Sogun, who, despite being of a martial household, had not learned martial arts.

In his previous life, the fact that he had never heard the name Bukri Sogun from the Bukri Clan surely meant he had been weeded out within the clan.

Though the future had now changed, his feelings of sympathy could not be helped.

“If you dislike martial arts or the murim, then living an ordinary life isn’t such a bad choice either.”

Bukri Sogun lowered his head.

Yong Hwarin knew exactly what he meant.

As the long, drawn-out day passed and the hour of sunset arrived, a group of martial artists poured into the medical hall.

When Yong Hwarin sensed the energy of nearly fifty martial artists, he tensed up instantly.

He rose with his sword in hand, and the Three Chivalrous Sisters quickly grabbed their swords and stood beside him.

They were women who always stood at the forefront of battle.

Whoever had given them their alias, the term “chivalrous heroes” suited them perfectly.

To Yong Hwarin, regardless of gender, the ones most fitting to be called chivalrous were the Three Chivalrous Sisters.

The spot beside him had once belonged to the Violent Dragon Twin Swords, and more recently, it had been Mu Iso’s place.

Now that the Three Chivalrous Sisters stood there, Yong Hwarin felt reassured.

At some point, the Three Chivalrous Sisters had become comrades he could entrust his back to amidst flying blades.

Those who could move sensed the presence and came out with their weapons ready.

Namgung Yoo stood up, tucking something into her bosom.

“Are they enemies?”

To Namgung Yoo’s question, Yong Hwarin shook his head.

“I’m not sure yet.”

If they turned out to be enemies, it would mean another grueling fight against over fifty individuals.

“Ah, them?”

Namgung Yoo let out a sigh of relief upon seeing the martial artists entering her field of vision.

“They’re warriors of the Bukri Clan.”

At those words, sighs of relief spread.

“Damn it, if they were going to come, they should’ve come earlier.”

Mu Iso grumbled in frustration.

At those words, Bukri Sogun lowered his head.

Among the Bukri Clan warriors, five entered the medical hall.

“Sogun!”

“Uncle!”

“You’re unharmed! What happened? We searched everywhere and came all the way here. Were you injured?”

“I’m fine. The people here protected me.”

At those words, a middle-aged man appearing to be in his early fifties turned to Yong Hwarin and offered a clasped-hands salute.

“I am Bukri So, Chief Administrator of the Bukri Clan. I thank you for protecting Sogun.”

After a brief greeting, Bukri So listened to Bukri Sogun’s explanation.

He relayed without embellishment how Lee Geuk died in battle against Jeung Eungang, how Yong Hwarin took charge and escorted him, and how they were attacked by assassins.

“I do not know how to repay this grace.”

When Bukri So offered especially deep gratitude to Namgung Yoo, it sparked quiet discontent among the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect.

The one Bukri So needed to impress was neither Yong Hwarin nor the Three Chivalrous Sisters.

It was Namgung Yoo, daughter of the powerful Namgung Clan.

“All medical expenses will be covered by the Bukri Clan. I will provide ample payment to the physicians, so feel free to remain here for treatment as long as needed. I’ve also arranged for an annex at a nearby inn, so you may stay there.”

Bukri So, true to his status as a chief of a prestigious clan, swiftly handled all necessary affairs.

“Also, if you ever visit the Bukri Clan, we will surely repay you for protecting Bukri Sogun. We will make certain our gratitude is not lacking, so please do visit.”

After saying this, Bukri So turned to Bukri Sogun.

“Sogun, let’s go now.”

“Now?”

Surprised by the suggestion that they would leave immediately, Bukri Sogun questioned him. Bukri So’s face slightly hardened.

“Yes. Staying here any longer will only burden these people. What will you do if there’s another assassin attack?”

Bukri So’s expression clearly showed his desire to take Bukri Sogun away as soon as possible.

“Let’s stay here tonight and leave in the morning.”

“No!”

The uncle who had always been gentle now spoke in a firm, stern tone.

“You must leave now!”

He had always raised his voice like that, and Bukri Sogun had always obeyed without a word—so the response came out of habit.

But instead of shrinking away, Bukri Sogun lifted his chin and said firmly,

“Uncle, I don’t want to leave yet. I haven’t properly thanked those who saved me. Leaving like this would be wrong.”

“I already offered the thanks, so it’s fine.”

To that, Bukri Sogun straightened his back and replied,

“It’s not fine with me. The one who received help wasn’t you, Uncle—it was me. If I leave now, people of the murim will curse the Bukri Clan as rude and ungrateful scoundrels.”

“No matter what you say, you’re leaving now.”

As Bukri So reached to forcibly grab Bukri Sogun’s wrist, Yong Hwarin stepped forward and blocked him.

“Apologies, but if Sogun says he’ll leave tomorrow, then he must leave tomorrow.”

“What nonsense is this? His uncle is here to take his, yet you interfere!”

Furious, Bukri So unleashed his energy, but Yong Hwarin countered it with his own.

To his surprise, Bukri So found himself being pushed back by the force, which felt as though it had reached the sixth level. Deep inside, he was impressed.

“Phew, such an impressive young man.”

At those words, Mu Iso muttered with irritation.

“Do you think Heaven-Cleaving Saber Gu Hyeong was killed by luck?”

Bukri So flinched at that response.

If it was Heaven-Cleaving Saber Gu Hyeong, he was a master far beyond what Bukri So could even dare confront.

Naturally, Bukri So’s tone softened.

“Young Master Yong, why do you intend to interfere with the affairs of the Bukri Clan? Sogun is of the Bukri Clan.”

Now Bukri So was outright imitating a seasoned murim elder, pressuring Yong Hwarin.

He thought that by doing so, a nameless posthumous talent from a small sect wouldn’t be able to respond.

“I will first keep my promise to Senior Lee Geuk. He asked me to ensure Sogun’s safety.”

“Young Master Yong, you have fulfilled that promise. More than enough. I’m here now.”

Yong Hwarin shook his head.

“No. Only if Sogun leaves by his own will can I say I’ve truly kept that promise.”

Bukri So’s cheek twitched several times before he stepped back.

“Since you insist so stubbornly, I have nothing more to say. I’ll return tomorrow morning.”

Leaving those words behind, Bukri So exited the medical hall.

The others refrained from interfering since it was an internal matter of the Bukri Clan, but they were visibly displeased with Bukri So’s conduct.

“What an unpleasant man.”

Jeong Suji muttered. Normally, Jeong Minji would scold her for such words, but this time she remained silent.

She too had found Bukri So unpleasant.

“Sogun, leave when you want to. This brother will make that happen for you.”

When Yong Hwarin spoke to Bukri Sogun, she gave a faint, sorrowful smile.

“No. I’ll leave tomorrow morning.”

“If you’re going to leave in the morning anyway, why stay the night?”

Jeong Daji grumbled, perhaps uncomfortable that the Bukri Clan warriors were lingering around the medical hall.

“There’s something I must do.”

“And what is that?”

“I can’t say.”

Jeong Daji quickly lost interest and went over to the wounded Mu Iso.

Yong Hwarin had stopped Bukri So because he feared Bukri Sogun would carry guilt if they parted this way.

He intended to speak with him that night and offer his comfort.

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