NOVEL NEXT Chapter 148
In the Martial Realm, the number of female martial artists was not large.
Even though internal energy could grant one physical abilities that transcended gender limitations, the number of female martial artists remained small.
Ultimately, in learning martial arts, physical condition was very important.
Therefore, with the exception of the righteous sects, the martial techniques that female martial artists of the villainous sects usually practiced were not orthodox; instead, they often relied on objects that women could carry without attracting attention, such as small daggers, concealed weapons, or even fans.
“Ah…having to grapple with a baby with the smell of milk, how tiresome.”
“Auntie, how about you just bow out and return home?”
The veins on the temple of Mok Hyang of the Yohwa Demoness surged.
“Dear child, it seems you don’t know, but a person dies when their head is cut off?”
“So, why don’t you just offer your neck, Auntie?”
“How dare you address someone of my age like that?”
“Auntie.”
The word struck her as profoundly irritating.
Hadn’t she, in her pursuit of maintaining youth through Chae Yang Bo Eum all the way to her forties, been most sensitive to talk of her age?
She would never let someone who spoke of her age walk away easily.
“Child, once you reach my age, you will deeply regret those words.”
“I’ll get there eventually~”
“Hmm…do you really think so?”
With a wicked smile, Mok Hyang unfolded her fan, half covering her face, as if flirtatiously enticing a man. In response, Hye-ryeong, looking utterly exasperated, drew her sword and assumed a fighting stance.
“No matter what you say, Auntie…I’m single-mindedly devoted to Mister! I don’t need your unnecessary interest!”
“There’s nothing more enjoyable than driving a wedge between lovers.”
At the taunting words, as if scolding a young child, Hye-ryeong’s brow furrowed.
It was a highly provoking statement, from Hye-ryeong’s perspective.
“Wouldn’t you have to practice isolation for an awfully long time to start thinking like that?”
“I have met men older than you.”
“…So that’s why your body reeks of chicken coops.”
Mok Hyang’s brow distorted as she struggled to maintain her composure. After all, there was no way she could overlook Hye-ryeong’s last remark.
“To you, I will deliver a lesson.”
“Don’t flaunt your age and just stick out your neck. I’ll put it up in the marketplace.”
With a burst of earth, Hye-ryeong’s foot propelled her body forward. In an instant, her sword struck like a wave, targeting Mok Hyang’s pressure points with rapid strikes.
Mok Hyang, as if her sword path was all too apparent, fended off the attack effortlessly with her fan. Watching this, Hye-ryeong’s eyebrows twitched.
And in a mockery-like voice toward her reaction, Mok Hyang’s voice slipped into her ear:
“Once, I fought a swordsman from Hainan. That coarse and bold warrior of the Hainan Sword Sect was still just a man at my feet.”
“With that figure of yours?”
Sending her a gaze laced with suspicion, Hye-ryeong swung her sword. Her successive wave-like sword strikes hammered ferociously against the fan imbued with her opponent’s internal energy.
But not even the fan flinched.
It was due to the basic disparity in their accumulated internal energy and experience.
“Even though you’re considered tall, I’m also above-average. But having a body like yours…men would dislike it.”
“Out in the streets, it seems men only stare at your chest.”
Hye-ryeong smirked at the corner of her lips.
A mocking sneer, as if from someone who had never experienced it but was jealously mocking others.
Clasping her teeth together, Mok Hyang eyed the insolent Hye-ryeong who kept arguing back over every little thing.
“I had planned to let you off easy, but I see that won’t be possible.”
Closing her fan, Mok Hyang pushed Hye-ryeong’s sword aside effortlessly and sent a Tan Chi attack toward Hye-ryeong’s flat chest.
But Hye-ryeong was not one to fall easily.
In an instant, she spun around with her fluid water step, evading Tan Chi, and immediately swung her sword again in an effort to maintain the offensive.
The Hainan Thirty-Six Swords technique was an aggressive method, after all.
Mok Hyang, knowing the characteristics of this method, began to counter Hye-ryeong’s sword with equally fierce strikes.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
At first glance, the fierce duel between the two appeared evenly matched. However, when martial opponents of similar skill engaged in endurance contests, the victory usually went to the one with the greater reservoir of internal energy.
Eyeing Mok Hyang, who refused to yield easily, Hye-ryeong shifted her sword to her left hand. She had determined that she couldn’t beat the opponent simply by hiding her real abilities.
Recognizing the switch to Hye-ryeong’s left hand, Mok Hyang smirked and unfolded her fan once again.
“The Hainan Thirty-Six Swords is also famous with left-handed techniques. This is only the second time I’ve seen it actually used.”
“Then this will be the last time you see it.”
Hye-ryeong’s sword darted like a streak of light straight for Mok Hyang’s neck. Observing the attacking sword aimed at her neck, Mok Hyang faced the fan toward the sword, waited until it touched, then skillfully folded the fan in a way to trap the sword.
“Ugh…”
“You think you can hit me, knowing all the sword moves? What a pig-like child.”
Twisting her fan, she manipulated Hye-ryeong’s sword into following its direction.
“Now, the show is over.”
She flicked her fingers again, putting Hye-ryeong in a situation where any slight misstep could mean a hole through her chest.
Should she drop her sword?
Or should she resist?
Hye-ryeong, caught in this dilemma, gritted her teeth hard.
‘A swordsman must never let go of their sword.’
Words that her teacher, the Sect Leader of Hainan Sword Sect, had emphasized repeatedly.
If she lost her sword, she might survive the moment, but with her clumsy martial arts technique, Hye-ryeong wouldn’t stand a chance.
‘What should I do…!’
Time for decision-making.
An image of William flashed through her mind.
“That might work!”
The success chance wasn’t high.
But there’s always a chance to succeed or fail when you attempt something.
Hye-ryeong gathered all her internal energy from her Dan Tien, wrapping it entirely around her chest.
A highly inefficient and risky method, but having closely observed William’s Auras during their spars, Hye-ryeong managed to rudely imitate it.
‘Please!’
“How can my Tan Chi possibly…”
Mok Hyang’s Tan Chi struck Hye-ryeong’s chest. Instead of piercing through, the attack merely made her chest swell, having its effect mitigated by the inner energy protecting her.
Due to using up all her internal power, Hye-ryeong only had a handful of energy left in her, but reversing the situation would only require the tiny opening she’d cleverly created.
“Gyaah!”
In a flash, Hye-ryeong’s sword pulled back, then thrust straight towards Mok Hyang’s heart. Despite the unexpected maneuver, all Hye-ryeong managed to do was leave a long gash across Mok Hyang’s chest.
“Y-you…damnable girl!”
“Hehe, it looks much better now. Beauty pretense really doesn’t suit an Auntie’s face.”
‘I have no strength left.’
Side effect from using all her inner power. Hye-ryeong gritted her teeth against the immediate desire to collapse, keeping her eyes on Mok Hyang, whose clothes were getting soaked in blood.
Mok Hyang pinched a point to stop the bleeding and then smiled casually at Hye-ryeong again.
“Dear, it seems you’ve used up all your internal energy with that last move. Fu fu…”
“Hmph. Auntie, you know what?”
“What?”
“Hainan Sword Sect’s swordsmen always fight for their lives.”
‘Catch me just once, once!’
Hye-ryeong’s fluid water step unfolded again from her feet. Compared to her previous attempts, the speed was clearly slower.
‘Just pretending…heheh…What a treat this child will be.’
Mok Hyang unfolded her fan, anticipating Hye-ryeong’s attack with a sensual motion.
The distance between them was about twenty steps. As Hye-ryeong closed in on Mok Hyang, she recalled her spars with William.
‘Don’t stop the attack. The best defense is attack. Once the offense stops, it’s your turn.’
‘The Hainan Thirty-Six Swords moves like waves, and relentless attack is the best strategy.’
‘Like waves?’
‘Why can’t anyone stop the waves?’
Why can’t people stop the waves?
‘Because waves are water?’
‘Exactly.’
‘Waves are water…no matter the attempts to block them, you can’t cut through the water…’
From long hours sparring with William.
Experience gathered from battles with demon masters.
Her figure suddenly halted about three steps away, catching Mok Hyang off guard as she raised an eyebrow in surprise. In that moment, Hye-ryeong’s sword scattered moonlight as it surged forward.
‘This is a new move…!’
Mok Hyang’s eyes followed Hye-ryeong’s sword.
It wasn’t fast enough to be called a quick sword.
However, the true essence of the Hainan Thirty-Six Swords wasn’t speed but relentless attacks.
Mok Hyang forcefully slapped Hye-ryeong’s sword with the aim of breaking her technique.
But, just before it touched the fan, Hye-ryeong’s sword suddenly lost momentum, making a half-turn, and reversed its grip.
“I need to go see Mister…so just die already!”
Again, Hye-ryeong unfolded her fluid water step.
“I’m being defeated by a kid like you…”
Before Mok Hyang could finish, Hye-ryeong’s invading sword slashed deep across her neck.
As blood sprayed out, Mok Hyang staggered backward, clutching her neck.
But just as one can’t stop a broken pot from leaking, could someone with a deeply slashed neck survive?
“That move just now…”
“Victory Wind and Waves!”
“That’s impossible…that’s…”
“Just the reverse direction of it.”
“Reverse…”
Mok Hyang’s body collapsed.
Seeing Mok Hyang’s hair rapidly changing colors, Hye-ryeong furrowed her brows and swung her sword to sever her head.
“I need to rest a bit before catching up.”
She had not for a moment thought that Mok-kyeong and William would lose.
The two were far too strong.
Immediately sitting down, Hye-ryeong commenced her internal energy training.
She had a tangled skein of thoughts to untangle in her head.