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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Chapter 105
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Cheongun and Seolhwa returned to Surochae that instant.
Cheongsan’s family was waiting for the two in front of the camp leader’s tent.
“Is it over already?”
“Not yet. But Gwiyoungchae seems to be losing, so we need to get out of here before that happens.”
“!”
Cheongun shouted to his companions.
Cheongsan, Moyong Yeonhwa, and the Jeokryongdan members who had come with them all looked at Cheongun with tense expressions.
“From now on, we will leave the Surochae territory without rest. Cheongsan will lead the way, and the Jeokryongdan Commander and I will follow, erasing our tracks from the rear.”
“Wait.”
Cheongsan interrupted Cheongun.
“I’ll take the rear. Brother, your condition isn’t fit for a fight. It’s better if I stay at the back to buy a little more time.”
“I’ll stay at the back too. I’m confident in erasing tracks.”
Moyong Yeonhwa also agreed with Cheongsan.
After a moment of thought, Cheongun decided to follow Cheongsan’s wishes.
“Alright. We’ll do that then.”
Cheongun and the Jeokryongdan Commander each carried Hwarin and Soyak, while Seolhwa and Yugang followed. Then came the Jeokryongdan members, and finally Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa.
“There will be no rest until we cross the mountain.”
Cheongun looked back at the chaotic Surochae.
Beyond Surochae, a faint smoke rose from the riverside.
“Let’s go.”
***
Thump— Thud-Thud—
Rustle. Rustle.
The Namgung party sped through the mountains.
There were no proper paths, as no one had traveled there, making both progress and erasing tracks difficult.
The forest was dark, with hardly any moonlight penetrating.
They had said they wouldn’t stop until they crossed the mountain, but they had no idea where this mountain ended.
But the Namgung continued without stopping. They pressed on endlessly.
“H-huh… Dad…”
Soyak finally burst into tears.
She had followed the Namgung, fearing she might be a burden to her father, but even as a child, she wasn't completely oblivious.
The child, sensing the gravity of the situation, knew her father’s life was in danger. But.
‘Maeng Deungho won’t die.’
Seolhwa’s thoughts were different.
‘Yuk Hyeolju lost Ma Jongui. So he’ll want to keep Maeng Deungho in his grasp, no matter what.’
His words about taking Maeng Deungho as a subordinate instead of Ma Jongui weren't just a simple provocation.
Even if the situation changed and Maeng Deungho had no intention of following Yuk Hyeolju, there wasn't *no* way to make him a subordinate.
‘All he needs to do is get Jin Soyak.’
A father who would do anything for his son.
If he just got his hands on Jin Soyak, Maeng Deungho would have to obey, even if he hated it.
Yuk Hyeolju would surely know this.
‘So, I must protect Jin Soyak, no matter what.’
With Ma Jongui dead.
If Jin Soyak didn't fall into their hands, Maeng Deungho wouldn't become Yuk Hyeolju's subordinate either, and then Yuk Hyeolju's power would be significantly weaker than what she knew from her previous life.
‘If that happens, it might even become difficult for Yuk Hyeolju to seize control of the Yangtze River Surochae.’
If they struck Yuk Hyeolju while he couldn't consolidate control over Surochae...
‘They might even be able to kill Yuk Hyeolju before the Hyeolgyo even appears…!’
To do that, safely escaping this place was the priority.
Seolhwa looked back at Cheongun, who was breathing heavily.
“Haa… haa…”
Cheongun's condition was serious; his internal energy was already unstable, and he had suffered internal injuries from Maeng Deungho.
After just half a *shijin* of light-body martial arts, his energy was already becoming chaotic.
‘It would be better if I carried Hwarin.’
Just as she approached Cheongun to say something.
CRASH—!
“!”
From behind the group, a massive impact sound resonated, and the ground trembled.
The leading members of the group stopped in surprise and looked back.
A rough and massive aura was felt from the rear.
The forest was dark and dense, making it hard to see, but soon, Cheongsan and Moyong Yeonhwa’s auras were also felt fluctuating wildly.
A battle had broken out.
“Jeokryongdan Commander.”
Cheongun set Hwarin down and drew his sword.
“Please take care of the children.”
“No, Young Master…! Your condition isn’t for fighting right now…!”
“It’s at least a Transcendent Master. I have to go.”
“But…! …Jeokryongdan, support the engagement at the rear! Quickly!”
“Seolhwa.”
Cheongun looked at Seolhwa.
Even knowing his condition was extremely poor, the biggest reason he insisted on joining the fight was to protect Seolhwa.
“Run as far as you can.”
Seolhwa didn't know how to respond.
Seolhwa knew Cheongun's condition better than anyone.
But he was the only one who could face the enemy who attacked the rear.
Intellectually, she thought it was right for Cheongun to go, to buy even a little time.
But.
“…Dad.”
Her chest ached. Her mouth was dry, and her hands were sweaty.
In her previous life, Namgung Cheongun had not died at this time, but the situation had changed.
The thought that Namgung Cheongun might die from this unpredictable threat made her heart plummet.
‘Anxiety.’
She was anxious. That he might die.
“I’ll follow soon.”
As if sensing her anxiety, Cheongun stroked Seolhwa’s cheek with a softer smile than before.
The warmth that lingered on her cheek for a moment soon faded.
By the time she instinctively reached out to grab Cheongun’s hand, he had already vanished.
***
Whish—
“Argh!”
One Jeokryongdan member was struck down in a single blow.
“Haa… haa…”
Cheongsan stared blankly at the fallen member who had sacrificed his life to protect him. Cheongsan’s greatsword lay shattered in two pieces on the ground.
‘…That monster….’
The assailant who attacked the rear was truly a monster.
A master of the Transcendent Realm, beyond what Cheongsan and Yeonhwa could handle.
They fought desperately to buy time, but Cheongsan and Yeonhwa couldn't even endure five exchanges.
“Hah… haa…”
Moyong Yeonhwa was also catching her breath on one side. Pushed back by the aura, she had rolled on the ground and crashed into trees, already a mess.
Cheongsan looked at Yeonhwa and picked up his broken sword.
“At least you run.”
“!”
Cheongsan stood in front of Yeonhwa.
Yeonhwa looked up at the back of the man who blocked her path. It was a massive back, rippling with a blue aura.
“…What are you talking about? You don’t think you can beat him without me, do you?”
Yeonhwa used her sword to brace herself and stood up. She looked at his massive back for a moment, then stood beside him.
“I told you. Swords are about strength, not size.”
“Kee hee hee. For a man, bigger is always better. I still think so.”
“Stubbornly holding onto a broken sword…”
Moyong Yeonhwa looked at the enemy, who was radiating a sinister aura in front of her.
It was a truly unpleasant aura.
“…Don’t die.”
“You too. If you die, die after me.”
“…”
The two faced the assailant.
Watching the two, Jeokgoesu chuckled.
“Seeing these pathetic worms rise up without knowing their place, it truly pains this Lord Jeokgoesu’s heart.”
At his words, the pirates who came with Jeokgoesu burst into laughter.
Only Jeokgoesu was fighting; the pirates weren't even properly holding their swords.
“Do you know how vast my heart is? It probably can’t even be compared to rivers and seas.”
“…”
“In that sense, I shall grant your wishes.”
Jeokgoesu licked the blood off his sword.
“You two, I’ll send you off in one go.”
A dark crimson aura enveloped his sword.
It was an unpleasant aura, sticky and metallic, just as Moyong Yeonhwa had felt.
Whoosh—
As Jeokgoesu swung his sword at Cheongsan and Yeonhwa, a dark crimson sword energy surged towards the two.
“Damn it…!”
Just as the two simultaneously raised their swords to brace against the surging aura.
Whoosh— CRASH—!
A blue sword energy, flying from behind the two, collided with the dark crimson sword energy, blocking the attack.
With a thunderous roar, leaves scattered and dust rose from the wind pressure created by the two energies.
When Cheongsan and Yeonhwa barely managed to open their eyes, Cheongun was standing in front of them, blocking their path.
***
RUMBLE—
A massive tremor shook the area.
Sleeping birds fluttered and flew up, and an ominous wind blew from somewhere.
Seolhwa stopped walking.
When she stopped, the Jeokryongdan Commander and Yugang also put the children down and caught their breath.
“What’s happening?”
Yugang approached Seolhwa.
“…Dad.”
“What?”
“Dad…”
The recent collision was clearly Cheongun’s aura.
She couldn’t have mistaken his clear, pure aura.
‘What happened?’
Her heart pounded, *thump, thump*.
The anxiety she had felt when parting with Cheongun enveloped her.
Seolhwa clutched her pounding heart. The unfamiliar sensation of her chest tightening filled her with dread.
“Are you… sick?”
Seeing Seolhwa covered in cold sweat, Yugang was startled and grabbed her.
Just as he was examining Seolhwa’s complexion with a worried expression.
‘!’
“Dodge!”
Seolhwa pushed Yugang away. But.
Whoosh— SPLAT—!
“Gasp…”
Red blood splattered, and Yugang gasped.
Seolhwa’s eyes wavered.
The moment she tried to push him away, Yugang had tightened his grip on her, refusing to be pushed.
“You…”
“This… hurts… a bit…”
Cough…
Yugang’s body tilted forward, then slumped into Seolhwa’s arms.
At that moment, a familiar metallic scent of blood tainted Seolhwa’s nostrils.
“…”
“Ah—this. I meant to kill him in one blow.”
Seolhwa, who had been staring blankly at the blood on her hand, raised her gaze to look at the figure standing with the moonlight behind them.
“You really didn’t die?”
“…”
“Young Lady.”
