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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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‘Of all people, Thunder Sword is…here?’
Shadow Demon cursed inwardly, though she didn’t show it.
Namgung So-yeon, the Thunder Sword.
A renowned martial artist, one of the best of her generation, who achieved the peak of martial arts mastery at just twenty-two.
‘Did she deliberately show herself in Yunnan to make us lower our guard?’
She had seen Namgung So-yeon at the Yunnan front lines, where they had been facing off until recently.
So how did she end up in Sichuan?
‘…It must be because of that man.’
Shadow Demon’s gaze shifted to the man lying in the shade of the tree.
As if sensing her intent, Namgung So-yeon drew her sword and stepped in front of the man and blocked him from her view.
“Is he a friend of the Thunder Sword?”
“Shadow Demon, I never thought I’d hear you say such a thing. He’s the one you captured and imprisoned.”
‘???’
Shadow Demon remained silent, though she was completely baffled.
“You imprisoned Master Kang, subjected him to who knows what kind of hardship, and now you’ve come to capture him again! You are truly unjust.”
Namgung So-yeon, her imagination adding details to In-ho’s supposed suffering, grew increasingly agitated and swung her sword.
Dust rose from the ground.
“That man trespassed in our Cult’s most sacred place and fled.”
“So what?”
“Leave him here and be on your way.”
“And if I refuse?”
“This isn’t a request, Thunder Sword.”
Shadow Demon drew a dagger from her belt, and a smirk played on Namgung So-yeon’s lips.
“Shadow Demon, do you think you can defeat me?”
As Namgung So-yeon channeled her internal energy, a golden aura enveloped her sword.
The blade, glowing brighter, crackled with energy, sending sparks of lightning into the air.
‘What an incredible aura.’
Shadow Demon frowned at the force emanating from Namgung So-yeon.
Could she even last ten exchanges in a direct confrontation?
She bit her lip and cursed her own weakness.
“Winning or losing is irrelevant.”
Lowering her stance, she held the dagger at her side.
“Everything is according to the will of the Heavenly Demon.”
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Namgung So-yeon watched Shadow Demon charge straight towards her and steadied her stance.
‘I have to finish this quickly.’
The longer it dragged on, the worse it would be. Shadow Demon’s tactics became more varied under the cover of darkness.
Moreover, In-ho’s condition seemed to be worsening.
Taking a deep breath, So-yeon closed her eyes and expanded her senses.
The Shadow Demon charging head-on was likely a feint.
She would attack from somewhere else.
But where?
*Clang!*
The clash of metal against metal.
She raised her sword to block Shadow Demon’s downward kick.
Shadow Demon’s shoes were studded with sharp metal spikes.
“Oof.”
She channeled her internal energy to deflect the heavy weight pressing down on her.
Shadow Demon didn’t resist but instead performed a somersault in the air and landed gracefully.
One exchange.
“You’ve gotten stronger. Been training hard?”
Namgung So-yeon was taken aback by Shadow Demon’s enhanced strength and agility.
“…”
Shadow Demon didn’t reply, her gaze fixed on Namgung So-yeon.
“Well then, I guess it’s my turn.”
Releasing a burst of internal energy, Namgung So-yeon lunged forward and slashed horizontally with her sword.
Like a comet with a golden tail, a streak of golden light followed the path of her blade.
But her attack sliced through empty air, toppling only a few trees in the forest.
‘Tch, she vanished?’
Shadow Demon was nowhere in sight. Namgung So-yeon scanned her surroundings.
*Glint.*
Something silver glinted in the air.
Like a spider web meticulously spun, countless shimmering silver threads surrounded her.
“Is that…wire?!”
As the fine wires shimmered, trees snapped and crashed to the ground.
“Ugh!”
She rolled to avoid the falling trees and quickly regained her footing.
‘This terrain is not in my favor.’
In an open field, Shadow Demon would be no match for her.
No matter what weapons she used, she would be overwhelmed by Namgung So-yeon’s superior strength.
“Alright. If she’s using the environment to her advantage…I’ll just destroy the environment.”
Talking to herself, Namgung So-yeon stomped her foot and swung her sword.
*Crash!*
Dozens of trees fell before her blade.
Through the scattering debris, she caught a glimpse of Shadow Demon retreating.
Namgung So-yeon dashed forward and seized Shadow Demon by the collar mid-air.
“Gah!”
Shadow Demon grimaced as she was held fast and then slammed onto the ground, landing hard on her back.
She rolled away from the falling sword and threw a handful of hidden weapons, trying to create some distance.
But Namgung So-yeon swatted them away and continued her relentless pursuit.
“You brute!”
Shadow Demon, who had maintained her silence until now, finally spoke in exasperation.
She launched a wire towards Namgung So-yeon, wrapping it around her right hand, but when Namgung So-yeon pulled, it was Shadow Demon who was yanked forward.
“Agh!”
She was pulled off balance and struck by Namgung So-yeon’s left fist, crashing through the remaining trees.
“…”
Namgung So-yeon looked in the direction Shadow Demon had flown. The blow had been infused with internal energy and must have caused significant internal injuries.
She could finish her off now, but if Shadow Demon started fighting seriously, it would take too long.
It was a shame to miss the chance to eliminate a high-ranking member of the Demonic Cult, but saving a life was her priority.
“Shadow Demon, don’t follow us any further.”
Namgung So-yeon spoke toward the spot where she thought Shadow Demon was hiding, then turned and continued on her way, with In-ho still on her back.
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Back at the Heavenly Demon Palace, the Heavenly Demon noticed a crow suddenly arrive and immediately sensed that something had gone wrong.
The message on the note filled her with rage, which spread like wildfire throughout the palace.
– The person in the portrait has been confirmed. Attempted capture, but failed due to interference from Thunder Sword. Will continue pursuit. Will accept punishment for failure upon return.
“Damn those Namgung bastards.”
The Heavenly Demon gritted her teeth.
Yet, she also felt a surge of joy.
The nagging worry that she might be wrong had melted away like snow in spring, confirmed by Shadow Demon’s message.
“I’ll go myself.”
She would personally hunt down that Namgung wretch, who had dared to steal away her beloved disciple.
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