WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR
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Episode 24: The Trap (2)
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The masked figures, cowed by Evil Heaven's terrifying presence, which called Zhang Fei on Changban Bridge to mind, had no choice but to stop in their tracks.
Of course, not all of them were frightened.
One brave masked figure rushed at Evil Heaven, swinging a Willow-Leaf Saber.
“Hyah!”
Whoosh!
In that instant, Evil Heaven moved like a gale and seized the Willow-Leaf Saber they had swung.
“Khahahahaha! Good!”
“Eek!”
The startled masked figure kicked at him, but Evil Heaven caught the leg and slammed their body into the ground as though wielding a flail.
Boom!
“Urgh!”
With a single slam, the ground cracked and their face was crushed.
So Evil Heaven had truly gone easy on us senior and junior martial brothers during our sparring matches.
After tossing them down another two or so times, Evil Heaven left the masked figure dangling upside down, limp as a corpse.
“Hmph! Boring.”
Evil Heaven snorted and flung the masked figure toward the cliff.
Though their comrade had died, not one of them dared step forward after watching.
That was how overwhelming Evil Heaven's presence was.
- Damn, he looks like a wild beast.
That was exactly right.
Having torn off his shirt and unleashed the Golden Blood Body, Evil Heaven was a beast incarnate.
Even the enemy was frozen in place beneath his oppressive aura.
At that moment, he looked invincible under heaven.
Just how formidable was the Southern Heavenly Swordmaster, who had never lost to someone like this?
- ...I don't know. If it is him now, even the former master from back then might not be certain of victory.
The Southern Heavenly Steel Sword spoke gravely.
Judging by that, Evil Heaven's Martial Arts seemed to have grown far stronger than they had been fifteen years ago.
Then the biggest masked figure among them, a fist practitioner of enormous build, stepped forward.
- Looks like the giants are going to fight.
The masked fist practitioner was tall enough to make ordinary people look small.
But Evil Heaven was far larger still.
“Bizarre Oddity. You truly live up to your reputation.”
“So you're my next opponent?”
“I have always hated being compared to you. Fine, let's see wha...”
Before they could finish, Evil Heaven darted forward with agility entirely unsuited to his enormous frame.
“In a hurry, are you?”
Though clearly surprised, the masked fist practitioner carefully withdrew and threw a punch.
Evil Heaven also stamped down hard and sent out a fist.
Boom!
The instant their fists collided, a fierce air-splitting sound burst through the area.
The wind pressure around them was enough to stir the air.
Their first exchange appeared even.
However...
“Urk.”
A groan slipped from the masked fist practitioner's mouth, and their body was pushed back.
Outmatched in Force of ki, they pulled back their fist and hurriedly unleashed a series of fist techniques at Evil Heaven.
Fist shadows shot out like savage beasts.
“Khahahahaha!”
Evil Heaven let out a wild laugh amid the fist shadows. Instead of evading, he rooted both feet firmly like tree roots and spun his fists.
Papapapapap!
It seemed like a simple movement, but it contained the profundities of a higher martial art.
The fist shadows containing feints were flung aside by the rotation, leaving only the genuine strike.
Smack!
Evil Heaven blocked it with his left arm, then immediately punched toward the masked figure's ribs.
Crack!
“Urgh!”
It was an astonishing blow.
The sound of bones breaking could be heard even from here.
The masked figure must have been in agony, yet they still struck Evil Heaven in the face with their left fist.
Thud!
Evil Heaven slightly twisted his face, letting the fist glance away.
Using that opening, the masked fist practitioner hurriedly employed a step to create distance.
‘Amazing.’
I could not take my eyes off the fight.
Though they were one level below Evil Heaven, the masked fist practitioner possessed martial prowess worthy of a Master.
Crack!
Fine fractures formed beneath the retreating figure's feet.
They were discharging the fist force Evil Heaven had inflicted through their feet.
“He has become even stronger while I was away.”
Second Venerable One Seo GalMa, who stood beside me, voiced his amazement.
He too seemed stunned by Evil Heaven's divine might.
Why did I feel so proud just because someone had praised him?
At that moment, someone behind us stepped forward and called out.
“I would like to offer my seniors some advice.”
It was Baek Ryeon Ha.
I had thought she had concealed her internal energy, but the strength carried in her voice was far from ordinary.
Several masked figures, who had been unable to move because Evil Heaven blocked their path, turned around.
Baek Ryeon Ha shouted at them.
“If you are people my sister sent, this matter is not unrelated to us. Surrender now and tell us who ordered you and the full circumstances, and we will guarantee your safety.”
Hearing her call, I realized anew.
She was no ordinary clever woman.
She was probably the one who laid this trap.
- She laid the trap?
‘Yes.’
It was a trap that had deceived even her allies.
- It would have been nice if you had told us.
‘The situation was urgent, and it was better for only a few people to know this information.’
The only ones who likely knew were Evil Heaven, Seo GalMa, Han BaekHa... and perhaps Brigade Leader Jang MunWoong.
There might have been another one of Baek HyeHyang's people among our allies, so they likely had not revealed the truth to the others.
- Those sisters are truly remarkable.
The SoDam Sword clicked its tongue.
I felt the same way.
Baek HyeHyang's side, which had used another power base to arrange this scheme, and Baek Ryeon Ha, who had noticed and laid a trap in return, were both formidable.
- That thousand-year-old fox did not look so clever. She just seemed like the type to crush people with brute force.
If so, someone must have acted as the strategist who laid out the plan for her.
Perhaps Baek Ryeon Ha was trying to discover who that person was.
That person would provide stronger grounds for attack than Baek Ryeon Ha, who shared the Blood Demon's bloodline.
- But do you know something?
‘What?’
- You are not so ordinary either, figuring all this out from the circumstances alone.
What was so remarkable about that?
Anyone could have guessed this much if they knew the circumstances.
I did not think much of it.
“This is my final advice to you, seniors. If you do not surrender, only death awaits you.”
At her words, a masked figure carrying an axe shouted in an enraged voice.
“You are taking us far too lightly!”
“Urgh!”
The voice boomed like a tiger's roar, making my ears ache.
But if they shouted that loudly, there was a strong chance the sound would carry through the surrounding mountains.
With the situation turning against them, they had started thinking.
“Persuading them will not work. In that case, we should finish this quickly and take only a few alive.”
Seo GalMa had reached the same conclusion as I had.
Baek Ryeon Ha must have judged the situation unfavorable as well, because she nodded.
“Insolent fools. Fine! Let us see who dies in the end! Move!”
“Yes!”
At the axe-bearing masked figure's cry, the masked figures turned toward us.
Since their plan had gone awry, it seemed they intended to leave Evil Heaven to the masked fist practitioner and fight us.
Their target was naturally Baek Ryeon Ha.
“Sixth Blood Star, protect the young lady.”
Perhaps preparing for any emergency, Seo GalMa asked Han BaekHa to guard her.
Han BaekHa seemed to agree.
“Understood.”
“I will deal with the one carrying the axe. Someone lend me a saber.”
“Here.”
A high-rank warrior handed over a Willow-Leaf Saber, and Seo GalMa frowned.
He must not have brought his treasured blade because he had hidden himself among the procession. It was likely because a Willow-Leaf Saber differed from his specialty weapon, the long saber.
Still, a skilled warrior never blames their tools.
He gave it a few light swings, and even the sound it made was different.
“Brigade Leader Jang, can you move?”
“I am fine, Elder.”
After checking Jang MunWoong's condition, Seo GalMa pointed the saber forward and gave the order.
“Warriors, follow me! Cut down the enemy!”
Whoosh!
Seo GalMa sprang forward at the head of the group.
The high-rank and mid-rank warriors, their fighting spirit roused by his cry, bravely followed behind him.
Though injured, a Brigade leader was still a Brigade leader.
Jang MunWoong led from the front, charging toward the enemy.
Papapapapap!
The two sides clashed fiercely in an instant.
The amusing thing was that both sides wore masks, making the battle extremely chaotic.
Though their masks differed, it was difficult to tell ally from enemy at a glance from a distance.
‘That works in my favor.’
I opened my Central Dantian.
I should be able to display a suitable amount of skill amid the chaos.
After all, everyone would be paying attention to that side.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Seo GalMa and the axe-bearing masked figure had already clashed.
The masked figure possessed no small amount of martial prowess, capable of exchanging more than ten blows with him in an instant.
I would have liked to watch if the circumstances had been different, but...
Stab!
“Urk!”
We needed to dispose of the enemies quickly now.
After piercing one masked figure through the throat in an instant, I targeted another.
It had been a long time since I had fought in such a chaotic melee. It was ideal for displaying my skills.
Papapapapap!
I moved freely through the masked figures, first eliminating those who were weaker. This fighting method proved highly effective for our side.
As they fell one by one, the enemy masked figures began to lose ground.
“That one! Kill the one with the rusty iron sword first!”
“We need to kill that bastard first!”
- I have been found out.
Perhaps I had moved around too freely.
The enemy masked figures around me shouted in unison that I should be killed.
As a result, two or three rushed me at once.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
I employed sword techniques to block their attacks.
But did they really have the leisure to focus only on me?
Stab!
“Urgh!”
One masked figure, focused on me, was struck by one of our high-rank warriors.
In a melee, it was better to focus on dealing with the enemy in front of you than targeting a particular person.
The enemy's numbers were visibly shrinking.
Among the more than forty masked figures, only around three were truly skilled.
The rest were a mix of Advanced and second-rate martial artists.
Papapapap!
Despite being injured, Jang MunWoong was performing admirably, as expected of an Expert.
Just as I had expected, Jang MunWoong was skilled even among Experts.
There was an Expert among the masked figures as well, but Jang MunWoong was overwhelming that opponent barehanded.
‘The remaining number is...’
There were roughly ten enemies left.
They had only endured this long because they were Advanced masters.
Then an intense clash of metal rang out, and two figures shot high into the air.
They were Seo GalMa and the axe-bearing masked figure.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
‘Amazing.’
Seo GalMa was displaying astonishing divine might as well.
Living up to his epithet, Chaotic Blade Demon Emperor, Seo GalMa was overwhelming the axe-bearing masked figure with tyrannical saber momentum.
The masked figure could barely block his saber techniques.
‘A Venerable One truly is a Venerable One.’
The Blood Cult's Four Venerable Ones had not earned their renown for nothing.
Then one of the enemy masked figures drew a throwing spear from their back, intending to hurl it at Seo GalMa while he fought in midair.
Whoosh!
I used my movement skill to leap upward.
Then I deftly knocked aside the throwing spear the masked figure had launched.
Clang!
Seo GalMa had nearly been put in danger.
To interfere in a battle between those who could be called the leaders.
It was exactly the sort of thing those of the force of evil would think.
Still, in a chaotic battle, winning was what mattered.
“You keep interfering!”
The masked figure who had thrown the spear gritted their teeth.
It was then.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Claaang!
Whirl! Whirl! Whirl! Stab!
At last, the battle was decided.
Seo GalMa's sharp strike broke the axe blade, sending it flying into the cliff and burying it there.
Not missing that fleeting moment, Seo GalMa severed one of the figure's wrists.
Slash!
“Aaargh!”
The masked figure with the severed wrist fell to the ground.
Seo GalMa landed gracefully, preparing to finish them.
“It is over.”
Just as he was about to cut off their head...
Whoosh!
The kneeling masked figure flung something from inside their clothes.
It was a needle-like concealed weapon.
When a master like that infused it with internal energy, its power was far from ordinary.
“You bastard!”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Seo GalMa hurriedly swung his saber and blocked the concealed weapons.
But without missing the opening, the masked figure turned and rushed somewhere.
Whoosh!
That place was where Baek Ryeon Ha stood.
“Who gave you permission!”
As the figure rushed forward, Han BaekHa, the Blood-Hand Witch, moved before Baek Ryeon Ha with both hands stained red, as though she had been prepared.
Her precautions had been a masterstroke.
There was no way someone who had lost a wrist and suffered injuries could do anything to Han BaekHa.
Yet an unexpected situation arose.
Whoosh!
The masked figure, whom everyone naturally thought would target Baek Ryeon Ha, changed direction.
Then they charged at me with astonishing speed.
“Damn it!”
Seo GalMa ran to stop them, but the distance between us was too great.
Thinking I could not evade, I raised the Stellar Star Mystic Art to the Fourth Level and unleashed the Stellar Star Sword Art's most powerful sword technique, the Sixth Technique, Pursuit Return Sword.
Whirrrrr!
My sword momentum spun violently and shot forward.
No matter how skilled the masked figure was beyond the Expert realm, they would find this technique difficult to block with bare hands, especially with only their left hand.
But my expectations were once again wrong.
Stab!
“Urgh!”
‘What?’
The Southern Heavenly Steel Sword pierced through their chest.
Yet the masked figure grabbed the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword, used a grappling hold to twist my arm, then wrapped their severed arm around my neck.
Then they spoke to me.
“Rusty Iron Sword. You must be So WoonHwi, the disciple of Bizarre Oddity.”
‘!?’
This person knew my name exactly.
“Y-you know me?”
Pretending to be frightened, I cautiously reached for the SoDam Sword.
But before my hand could touch it...
“You must pay for interfering again and again. Come with me!”
Whoosh!
The masked figure, their arm wrapped around my neck, leapt straight off the cliff.
“Nooo!”
“Young master!”
Seo GalMa and Baek Ryeon Ha cried out at the same time, but my body was already falling with the masked figure into the distant abyss.
Fwoooooosh!
Even while we were falling to our deaths together, the masked figure spoke as though they had taken vengeance.
“Cough, cough. That is why you should not have acted up, you brat.”
Grip!
“Urk!”
As though determined never to let me go, they squeezed my neck with all their strength.
At this rate, I felt like I would be strangled to death before we hit the ground.
At that moment, I drew the SoDam Sword and stabbed into their flank, toward the lungs.
Stab!
“Ghk!”
They had endured being stabbed in the chest, but once their lungs were pierced, the strength gripping my neck weakened.
I pushed the Stellar Star Mystic Art to its limit and forcibly broke free.
“Y-you bastard!”
Enraged, they flailed their left hand, trying to seize me.
But because we were both falling, they could not keep their balance, and I evaded the hand.
Had their chest and lungs not been injured, it would have been dangerous.
- Grab me!
The Southern Heavenly Steel Sword shouted.
I pulled the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword from their chest.
Shhk!
“Gah!”
“You die instead!”
I stabbed toward their forehead like lightning.
Though they raised an arm to block, the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword pierced through that arm and drove into their forehead.
Stab!
There was not even a final scream.
They stared at me with a twisted expression.
They were dead.
It was then.
Splash!
‘Aaargh!’
A shock as though every bone in my body had shattered swept over me.
I had been so focused on them that I had not noticed. At some point, we had fallen into the valley below.
Having fallen from such a tremendous height, the impact was beyond imagination.
Whoooooosh!
My body plunged deep underwater, then was swept sideways and carried up by the powerful rapids.
Perhaps because I had pushed the Stellar Star Mystic Art to its limit, I suddenly regained my senses.
But my entire body was too badly shaken to move.
- Un Hwi, get a hold of yourself!
- Do not let go of us!
Even in this situation, the Southern Heavenly Steel Sword and SoDam Sword shouted, worried that I might drop them.
Perhaps my body had stiffened during the fall, but fortunately, I had not let them go.
Still, if things continued like this, I might be swept away by the rapids and die.
Plunge!
My body sank below.
Water forced its way into my mouth, making it feel as though even my nostrils were blocked.
The thought that I might die made a hot energy surge powerfully from within my chest.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The Stellar Star Mystic Art, which had stopped, began circulating through my entire body again.
My body, stiffened by the impact, began to move little by little.
I flailed and raised myself above the surface.
But being swept away by the rapids, even that was not easy.
Desperate to survive somehow, I stretched my hands upward and kicked my feet.
It was then.
Whip!
Something wrapped around my wrist.
‘What?’
Whoosh!
In that instant, my body, which had been swept away by the rapids, was pulled out of the current.
Looking at my wrist, something faint was coiled around it, and the sensation was strange.
But one thing was certain.
The force pulling me possessed such tremendous Force of ki that I could not withstand it even at full strength.
Papapak!
Pulled by that force, my body bounced against the rapids several times before being dragged somewhere.
It was a cave visible through a gap in the valley.
It seemed someone inside was pulling me in.
Whoosh!
Before long, my body entered the cave.
Crash!
The pulling force was so strong that the moment I entered the cave, I had no choice but to roll across the ground.
Only after rolling several times did the force weaken, and someone grabbed my shoulder.
Tap!
What kind of old master had saved me from the rapids like this?
“Huff... huff... cough.”
The water I had swallowed came back up as though I were vomiting.
Even amid my confusion, I raised my head to see who had saved me.
‘!?’
I could not contain my shock.
A bizarre figure, so emaciated that they seemed to be little more than skin and bones, was looking at me and smiling.
< Episode 24: The Trap (2) > End
Footnotes:
Zhang Fei's stand at Changban Bridge is a famous scene from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, where his fearsome presence halts pursuing enemies.
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