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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“Boss, let’s go together!”
Yang Kwai, having caught up while Namgung-Woo was rescuing the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency, tried to stop him from rushing off alone.
“We know you’re strong, Boss, but if they’re trying to delay us, it’ll take time. We’ll clear the way.”
Yang Jeong added, “It’s better to stick together.”
Namgung-Woo weighed the options.
Taking them along meant he could delegate the fighting, saving time. Going alone meant he could travel at full speed.
The outcome would likely be the same either way. There was no reason to split up.
He wanted to conserve his energy for whatever awaited him.
“Fine. You two lead the way.”
“Benefactor, I’d like to…”
“Miss Peng, stay with the Yo-Pyeong Escort Agency.”
Peng Ha-ryeong pouted, looking enviously at the Yang brothers.
“I’ll assign three Northern Sky Unit warriors to them. I can be of assistance to you, Benefactor.”
Peak Realm experts, especially those at the late stage, were rare.
Transcendent Realm experts were among the top one hundred in the world.
Even prestigious sects rarely had more than a handful.
Most of their fighting force consisted of Peak Realm martial artists.
And even within the Peak Realm, there were levels of skill. Peng Ha-ryeong was strong enough to be considered a valuable asset anywhere.
“…It’s dangerous.”
“I’ll be fine. You saved my life. I wouldn’t be able to repay your kindness if I shied away from danger now.”
Namgung-Woo allowed her to join them.
“Um, Boss, where are we going?”
He pointed north.
“The Forbidden City. Longevity Hill.”
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“Southeast! Peng Family, handle it!”
“Peng Wu-chek, take care of it!”
“Yes, Miss!”
One of the Peng Family warriors broke away from the group, a fierce saber light flashing through the darkness.
“Northwest! Not strong. Yang Jeong, go.”
“Yes, Boss!”
Yang Jeong, following the order, used his most reliable technique, the Single Branch Lightning, the first form of the Thirteen Lightning Sword Techniques.
His Qi-infused blade sliced the approaching yokai in half.
“This is a complete madhouse.”
Yang Kwai, having just dispatched another yokai, spoke for everyone.
Four Ghost Gates had appeared around the Forbidden City.
One, in the north, had failed to fully open and dissipated, but the other three were spewing out a constant stream of yokai.
“The Imperial Guards are here. They should have things under control soon.”
There were no established martial arts sects in Beijing. Only tourists and wandering martial artists.
They were no match for the sudden appearance of Ghost Gates.
To make matters worse, fires were raging throughout the city, adding to the chaos and panic.
But Beijing didn’t need martial arts sects.
They had the Emperor’s Blades.
The Imperial Guards.
“My uncle is there. They’ll be able to seal these low-level Ghost Gates soon enough.”
The Ghost Gates weren’t the real problem.
The real problem was…
The Yang brothers stopped abruptly.
A group of martial artists blocked their path.
Not allies.
“Damn it…”
Enemies.
They’d already encountered three groups of hostile martial artists on their way to the Forbidden City.
These were the ones responsible for the chaos, setting fires and hindering the Imperial Guards and any martial artists trying to seal the Ghost Gates.
They were the reason the chaos was spreading so quickly.
“Get out of our way if you don’t want to die.”
Yang Kwai spat, aiming his saber at the leader of the group.
“You’re no match for him, Brother. He’s a Peak Realm expert.”
“Boss, go ahead. We’ll take care of this.”
The enemy martial artists, who had been focused on the Peng Family warriors, scoffed at the brothers’ words.
“You two?”
“Die!”
Yang Kwai struck first.
The third form of the Thirteen Lightning Sword Techniques, the Crashing Thunder, a technique with almost no wind-up, exploited a gap in the enemy’s defense.
“Peng Wu-chek, Peng Wei, assist them!”
Two of the Peng Family warriors joined the fray, along with the two Yang brothers, turning it into a group battle.
Namgung-Woo quickly assessed the situation with his Ever-Clear Vision, noting their skill levels and fighting styles.
Satisfied, he focused his Qi.
“Don’t lose.”
“Go ahead! We’ll catch up!”
Leaving Yang Jeong’s shout behind, he and Peng Ha-ryeong continued their dash towards the Forbidden City.
Peng Ha-ryeong looked worried, but he didn’t share her concern.
The Yang brothers, with their combined combat skills and the Thirteen Lightning Sword Techniques, were more than capable of handling a group of Peak Realm experts.
His attention was drawn to the surging energy emanating from Longevity Hill, within the Forbidden City.
“There’s chaos in the Forbidden City too.”
“So?”
“No, forget the city. It’s Longevity Hill. Others will start to notice it soon.”
No matter how well you concealed your energy, there were limits.
Such a massive concentration of power couldn’t be hidden completely.
Other skilled martial artists would begin to sense it.
“The Forbidden City is a distraction.”
As he spoke, a blade of Qi shot towards them.
He drew his sword in a flash.
A single, decisive strike.
The Solitary Soul Sword, a secret technique of the Namgung Family, cleaved the incoming attack in two.
“Impressive.”
The attacker, seemingly unfazed, acknowledged his skill.
“But you’re not getting through.”
He wore a uniform similar to that of an official, over black robes.
He wielded a spear, not a sword or saber.
The attack had been a spear Qi strike.
“You’re a high-ranking individual.”
The man answered readily, “I am a Black Tortoise Guard, under the command of the True Son of Heaven.”
“True Son of Heaven? Are you rebels?”
“You misunderstand, young lady of the Peng Family. This isn’t rebellion. It’s restoration.”
The man was typically taciturn, but he had a reason to talk.
‘I can’t beat him.’
That was his first thought upon seeing Namgung-Woo.
He had to stall for time.
But his ploy wouldn’t work.
“Benefactor, I’ll handle this.”
“Are you sure? He’s strong.”
“I’ll stay on the defensive. Reinforcements should arrive soon. I can hold out until then.”
The Heaven and Earth Infinite Void Divine Art’s True Qi coursed through her meridians.
The density of her sword Qi was unlike any other Peak Realm expert. She was nearing the level of Sword Aura.
Years of training, fueled by rare elixirs and honed by the Peng Family’s secret techniques, were now blossoming, thanks to Namgung-Woo’s intervention.
If she could overcome this challenge, she would reach a new level of mastery.
It was an opportunity to leap years ahead in her cultivation.
But failure meant death.
A risk worth taking for a true martial artist.
“Good. Judging by his leg muscles and meridians, his footwork isn’t his strong suit. He’s slow and relies on brute force. Use the Infinite Void Steps to your advantage.”
“I understand.”
“Don’t be fooled by his stance. His Heart Meridian is more developed than his Lung Meridian. He’s left-handed.”
“…How devious.”
He’d exposed all the Black Tortoise Guard’s tricks with his Ever-Clear Vision.
“Don’t get hurt.”
“…I won’t!”
With that, he launched himself forward, propelled by the Infinite Steps.
“You’re not going anywhere!”
The Black Tortoise Guard’s spear Qi shot out again, but this time, it was met by a saber.
Peng Ha-ryeong, though not fond of ranged attacks, was capable of using blade Qi.
The two attacks collided and exploded in midair.
“You won’t stop the benefactor.”
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Having left all his pursuers behind, Namgung-Woo arrived at Longevity Hill.
The first thing he saw was a woman in a similar uniform to the Black Tortoise Guard, but in red, being utterly decimated by another woman.
A Vermilion Bird Guard, perhaps?
Her skill level seemed similar to the Black Tortoise Guard, but she was completely outmatched, unable to mount any kind of defense.
She died in four moves.
‘Strong.’
He knew instantly that this woman, this elegant lady, was stronger than anyone he’d encountered so far.
Peng Ja-ryeong, a Transcendent Realm expert?
Not even close.
Even if they were technically in the same realm, the difference in their power was vast.
Just like students in the same university weren’t all equal, there were levels within the Transcendent Realm, and the gap between them was immense.
‘Can I beat her?’
For a moment, even he doubted his chances.
Her aura was honed to an extreme.
‘I can win. But I’ll be injured.’
Even with his Ever-Clear Vision detecting the subtle signs of aging, the inevitable wear and tear of time, he couldn’t underestimate her.
His assessment was correct.
The elegant lady’s name was Han Gye-ran.
She was a consort of the previous emperor, the grandfather of the current Emperor Xianzong, and the Grand Empress Dowager, revered by the current emperor even more than his own mother.
Within the palace, she was known as “Elder of Elders,” a title of respect.
But during the tumultuous power struggles between two emperors, she’d earned another title, one more befitting a martial artist.
After single-handedly slaughtering a group of assassins, she’d become known as the “Martial Consort of Haedong.”
The martial consort from Haedong.
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Thanks Chaos!