Return of the Sword Emperor - Chapter 66

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 24: Omens of Ruin (1)

“Uncle!”

Jo Sa-eung rushed forward in shock, watching Jo Geuk crumple to the ground with anticlimactic finality.
As long as Jo Geuk had poured forth his relentless assault, Sa-eung had been certain of his uncle’s victory.
He knew well enough the reputation of the Iron Gaze Escort Warrior, yet had come to see him now as nothing more than a toothless tiger.
His certainty first wavered when, despite Jo Geuk’s increasingly ferocious barrage, Maegyunsang simply refused to break.
Jo Sa-eung, bracing himself for the worst, had wondered whether he should join his uncle in attacking Maegyunsang together—yet hesitated, fearful of wounding his uncle’s pride. That hesitation, in the end, had cost Jo Geuk his life.
Jo Sa-eung caught his uncle’s limp body, but Jo Geuk’s eyes would not open again.
Confirming his uncle’s wretched death, Jo Sa-eung’s head whipped around.

“Kill him! Kill them all!”

Jo Sa-eung’s eyes blazed blood-red as he screamed like a madman at the elder bandits of Heukgol Chae who had yet to join the fray, and at his subordinates standing guard to protect him.
Before Jo Sa-eung’s command had even finished falling, the elders of Heukgol Chae had already encircled Maegyunsang.
Jo Geuk—the Fan Master, as he was known—was bold in spirit, looked after not only his seniors but his subordinates with care, and had earned trust within Heukgol Chae that exceeded even that given to the organization’s leader. Even without Sa-eung’s order, more than one would have risen to avenge him.
Taking in the faces of those who surrounded him, Maegyunsang let slip a quiet groan.
Most of them were men he had known since his youth.
Though none were stronger than Jo Geuk, in the world of Nok Rim—where the principle of survival of the fittest held truer than anywhere else—the fact that they had endured this long proved them worthy of recognition as formidable warriors.
Maegyunsang took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings.
Despite the encircling bandits unleashing their wave attacks, Taechwing Escort Agency was holding far better than he had anticipated. The Escort Leaders positioned at key points fought brilliantly, and the Escort Warriors distinguished themselves well—but what truly caught his eye was the work of Milkgeom Dan, threading between the ranks of the Escort Warriors.
They moved freely within the formations established by the Escort Warriors without disrupting them, and remarkably, not a single bandit in their path came away unscathed.
Whenever an Escort Warrior found himself in peril, they sensed it with preternatural instinct and rushed to aid. True, the number of fallen Escort Warriors continued to mount even as they moved to intervene, but without their assistance, the casualties would have been far worse.

‘Confidence always has its reasons.’

Maegyunsang recalled Yu Seollan’s assured demeanor and offered a bitter smile.

‘And that man over there.’

Maegyunsang’s gaze turned toward Dokgo Jin.
He did not move as tirelessly as Yu Seollan or Namgung Ho, yet his impact at crucial points was far more profound. What gave him pause was that he had glimpsed a facet of tremendous hidden power dwelling within him.
He could venture a guess as to why.

‘He’s waiting for the Madoryeon dogs.’

His thoughts went no further.
The aged elders of Heukgol Chae, who had weathered countless hardships and long since retired, came surging toward him.

* * *

From the cliff top of Bifeng Ridge, the entire battle between Taechwing Escort Agency and Heukgol Chae could be seen at a glance.
A large drinking cup hung from Yubeak’s hand as he sat at ease upon a stone beneath a towering pine, watching the battle unfold with leisurely indulgence.

“Splendid.”

Yubeak wiped away the wine trailing from his lips, his satisfaction evident.
The breeze was refreshing, and the taste of the wine was fine.
Most of all, he savored the view—having the entire battlefield spread before him at a glance.

“That man there—he’s the Escort Leader of Taechwing Escort Agency?”

Chogun, standing beside Yubeak, answered at once.

“Indeed. The man known by the aliases ‘Heaven’s Foremost Escort’ and the ‘Iron Gaze Escort Warrior.'”
“The Iron Gaze Escort Warrior, is it? Yes, I believe I’ve heard the name before.”

Yubeak nodded slowly.
He was not some legendary master of the Jianghu, yet the mere fact that he remembered the name of an escort warrior made him worthy of recognition.

“He certainly possesses the skill to match his reputation.”

At Yubeak’s words, Chogun tilted his head in confusion.
Anyone watching the fight between Jo Geuk and Maegyunsang could see that Jo Geuk was leading the engagement.

“You don’t follow, I see.”
“No, he’s holding his own well enough, but it does appear that the fan master has the advantage.”
“He’s waiting. Waiting for the opening to strike at the throat and cut off his opponent’s breath in a single decisive blow.”

The moment Jo Geuk unleashed his counterattack, Yubeak’s eyes flashed with sudden intensity.

“Watch!”

Chogun instinctively turned his gaze and immediately understood why Yubeak had spoken. The duel ended in a single stroke—Maegyunsang, who had been patiently waiting for his chance, severed Jo Geuk’s breath with one swift movement.
One blow. The match was over.
Exactly as Yubeak had predicted, Maegyunsang seized the opening and ended Jo Geuk’s life in an instant.
Yubeak rose slowly from his seat, watching Jo Geuk collapse lifelessly while Jo Sa-eung’s fury erupted at the loss of his uncle.
He did not move toward the battlefield immediately.
Standing on the precipice, Yubeak swirled his drinking cup as his gaze drifted toward the escort leaders of the Taechwing Escort Agency.

“They fight well indeed. A far cry from the escort warriors I’ve known before. I didn’t expect even the spear wielders to have proper martial training.”

The spear wielders, treated as mere laborers in other escort houses, were forming surprisingly competent formations and fighting with real skill.
But those who drew Yubeak’s attention most were unmistakably the members of Milkgeom Dan.
Mixed among the escort warriors, yet utterly alien to them.

“Are you certain it’s them?”

At Yubeak’s question, the Heugwol Squad members who had barely survived the previous clash nodded with rigid faces.

“Yes, there is no doubt. It is them.”

From atop Bifeng Ridge, observing the battlefield, they had recognized Milkgeom Dan instantly. From that moment forward, their eyes had never once left them—or rather, never left Dokgo Jin.
Yu Seollan and Namgung Ho were certainly formidable. If he faced them again, he believed he could hold his own.
But Dokgo Jin was different.
The memory of that night, of Dokgo Jin slaughtering their comrades with merciless brutality, was enough to make their skin crawl.

‘Hmm.’

Yubeak studied Dokgo Jin, acutely aware of the palpable fear radiating unconsciously from the squad members.
There was certainly something strange about his presence.
Even in the chaos of battle, his movements possessed a composure that set him distinctly apart from the escort warriors. Yet compared to his companions, he didn’t stand out particularly.

‘On the surface, those two appear more refined and superior in skill… but…’

Yubeak tilted his head at the inexplicable sense of discord.
At that very moment, Dokgo Jin lifted his gaze slightly, and their eyes met across the distance.
Yubeak’s body went rigid.
Though the distance between them was considerable, he felt it unmistakably.

‘That bastard… was he waiting for me?’

Yubeak gripped the sword at his side.

“Protector!”

Chogun stepped in front of him.
Though his legs trembled beneath Yubeak’s cold, indifferent gaze, he had to hold his ground.

“If… if that man really is who we think he is……”

Chogun gritted his teeth and forced the words out, fighting down the terror that Dokgo Jin’s wrathful blade might sever his head at any moment.

“It’s dangerous, sir. I know your strength, but those elders—they fell to him……”
“That’s enough.”

Yubeak cut off Chogun’s words.
Chogun squeezed his eyes shut.
Yubeak understood the heart behind Chogun’s attempt to stop him and did not fly into rage.

“I came to Madoryeon because there are many strong ones here. And you’d have me pass up a chance to test myself against a master like that?”

Chogun could not bring himself to answer and lowered his head.
Yubeak laughed softly and tapped Chogun’s shoulder.

“That’s asking me to die. But what matters most is that I have no intention of losing. Hahaha!”

Laughing heartily, Yubeak hurled himself over the cliff’s edge.

‘He’s finally making his move.’

Dokgo Jin, who had sensed Yubeak’s presence for some time, tracked him with his eyes.
Yubeak stepped on a small pine tree growing halfway down the cliff face and shed his momentum, then spun in the air and landed at a height of about five feet from the ground.
Everyone started in surprise at the strange figure who had suddenly dropped from the sky and fell back.
Yubeak’s first target was not Dokgo Jin.
Though he yearned to cross blades with this long-awaited master at once, he had not forgotten why he had come to this place.
He flashed a cryptic smile at Dokgo Jin, who was advancing toward him slowly, then pivoted and rushed in a new direction.
His real target was Maegyunsang, who was holding his ground even under assault from the old men of Heukgol Chae.

‘Ah!’

Dokgo Jin’s eyes widened in shock—he had not anticipated that Yubeak would strike at Maegyunsang first—and he immediately threw his sword.
The blade shot from Dokgo Jin’s hand like a streak of light, seeking to block Yubeak’s advance, but Yubeak had already reached Maegyunsang’s side and begun his assault.
Maegyunsang, straining to fend off his enemies’ attacks, sensed the danger and twisted his body sharply.
A sword coming at him with devastating speed.
Even standing firm, he could scarcely guarantee he could parry such a blow—and with his footing already compromised as it was, there was no hope of defense.
Seeing no way to evade, Maegyunsang moved on instinct.
The attack from the old Heukgol Chae member pressing toward him came straight at his body, and he accepted it fully.
Searing pain raked across his shoulder, but he bit down hard and spun his body.
The old sanjuk’s blade drove into Maegyunsang’s shoulder, and the man smiled grimly—but his body was dragged along by Maegyunsang’s spin, and Yubeak’s sword, aimed at Maegyunsang, swept across the old sanjuk instead.
The old sanjuk fell without a cry, and in that same instant, a thick line of blood carved itself across his body before the wound burst open.

“Tsk.”

Yubeak, seeing that Maegyunsang had used the old sanjuk as a shield yet refusing to halt, turned his body and clicked his tongue.
Clang!
Yubeak’s eyes flew open in shock as he swatted away the sword Dokgo Jin had thrown.
The force contained in the blade was far more powerful than he had imagined.
A numbing shock ran from his wrist to his shoulder.
Unable to absorb the impact, he was driven back several paces.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
With each footfall, deep impressions marked the ground.
Dokgo Jin recovered his blade and stepped down beside Maegyunsang, observing his hanging arm, and spoke quietly.

“Are you unharmed?”
“I’ll hold up.”
“That was remarkable quick thinking.”

Dokgo Jin offered genuine admiration for Maegyunsang’s response in evading Yubeak’s blade. Had his judgment been even slightly slower, had his movements lagged for a heartbeat, he would never have survived that strike.
Maegyunsang’s gaze shifted toward Yubeak, who was watching Dokgo Jin with a peculiar expression.

“Fortune favors you. This man is truly formidable. Could he be a master of Madoryeon?”
“That seems likely.”

Maegyunsang could not help but marvel at Dokgo Jin’s composure even as he stood face to face with a Madoryeon master. And he found reassurance in knowing his eyes had not deceived him.

“I shall handle this man. Step back, if you would. But first—”

Dokgo Jin glanced at the approaching Yubeak and drew his sword. Then, toward the elderly bandits standing awkwardly in the midst of this sudden turn, he unleashed a single, decisive strike.

“Gasp!”
“Move!”

The elderly bandits, who had never anticipated an attack upon themselves, cried out in urgent alarm.
But Dokgo Jin’s assault came too swiftly, too sharp for them to intercept.
Three bandits fell in the blink of an eye.
One breathed his last on the spot; the other two barely escaped with their lives, though not without grievous wounds.
Seeing Dokgo Jin’s movements, fire kindled in Yubeak’s eyes.
Had he wished to restrain his hand, he could have minimized the damage. But there was no point in mercy here—and besides, this was an excellent opportunity to gauge Dokgo Jin’s true strength even further.

‘Without question. This one is genuine.’

Yubeak tightened his grip on the hilt, his hand still tingling from the exchange.

“I am Yubeak, Protector of Madoryeon.”

A flicker of recognition crossed Dokgo Jin’s eyes.

‘Yu… Beak? Ah! The No-Trace Sword—Yubeak! So it was him all along.’

The legendary swordmaster renowned as the First of Madoryeon—indeed, the swiftest blade in all the martial realm—was Yubeak himself.
By the time Dokgo Jin had become leader of Milkgeom Dan and begun his open conflict with Madoryeon, this man had already vanished from sight. They had never met face to face, yet Dokgo Jin still carried his reputation clearly in memory.
Dokgo Jin met his gaze steadily and returned the greeting with equal courtesy.

“Dokgo Jin of Milkgeom Dan.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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