Chapter 299 : Saving Jo Gyeongmae (1)

Chapter 299: Saving Jo Gyeongmae (1)

Jo Gyeongmae had tried everything to save her two daughters, but it didn’t seem like the two would listen.

Geum Myeongryeol listened to the mother and daughters’ conversation with a gentle smile.

“Yujin, the people of Jeong Family Manor may be women, but their spirit is no less than that of any great man. You should learn from their righteous courage.”

But Geum Yujin thought differently.

“Father, they don’t intend to run. The only way we survive is by escaping while the people of Jeong Family Manor fight those old monsters.”

Hearing that, Geum Myeongryeol flushed deeply in shame.

“They’re prepared to die in battle, and you want us to flee?”

“Father, dying here would be a pointless death.”

“How is it a pointless death?”

“Isn’t it too unjust to die to such a demonic beast without even getting a chance to fulfill our will?”

Suddenly, Geum Myeongryeol muttered as he listened to his son.

“Ah... you may become a martial artist, but never a righteous warrior. You lack righteousness and chivalry. I raised you wrong.”

“Father, I just believe there’s no meaning in dying such a meaningless death.”

Disappointed, Geum Myeongryeol turned away from his son.

“I will die fighting alongside them. You escape this way.”

He, too, didn’t want to sever the Geum Clan’s bloodline.

Despite his disappointment, he respected his son’s decision.

But he himself could not abandon righteousness and flee.

No—more than righteousness—he could not abandon Jeong Family Manor and run.

Jeong Suji, who had been listening to their conversation, sneered.

“They say a man’s true worth is revealed in moments of crisis. That saying couldn’t be truer.”

“There is one exception, though.”

“Yes, I’ll give that to Yong Hwarin.”

Though they could die at any moment, the two sisters still chattered.

Jo Gyeongmae spoke to her daughters.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be a better mother to you. But I want to die as a good mother.”

Once again, Geum Myeongryeol and Jo Gyeongmae leapt at the Tai Chi Twin Swords at the same time.

Then, Geum Myeongryeol pulled a dark-colored iron lump from his robe.

“My son, go now!”

He handed a book to his son.

“Father… must you really do this?”

“If there is a path for you to walk, then there is one for me too. One day, the Black Tortoise Clan must stand without shame. That alone is enough for this father.”

That Geum Myeongryeol would even hand over the Black Tortoise Lunar Art manual meant he was transferring all authority to his son.

Knowing what that meant, Geum Yujin hesitated for a moment, then turned his back and fled.

Jo Gyeongmae recognized the object in Geum Myeongryeol’s hand as a Thunderburst Pellet and shouted at her daughters.

“You two get away too!”

They believed they could at least kill one of the two with the Thunderburst Pellet. It certainly had that much destructive power.

Flash!

Geum Myeongryeol ignited the Thunderburst Pellet with his energy.

The Tai Chi Twin Swords had already escaped more than ten jang away by the time he triggered the explosion.

“No! Let’s die together, you damned old monsters!”

KWAANG!

A deafening blast echoed across the mountain as Geum Myeongryeol perished on the spot.

In contrast, Jo Gyeongmae tumbled through the air before falling.

She had already lost consciousness, and blood flowed from her seven orifices.

Even if she had died instantly, there would have been nothing to say.

“Mother!”

Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji caught the falling Jo Gyeongmae in their arms.

But Geum Yujin clenched his teeth and escaped the place.

The Tai Chi Twin Swords didn’t pursue Geum Yujin as he fled.

Seeing that, it was clear that to the Tai Chi Twin Swords, the people of Jeong Family Manor were more important than those of the Geum Clan.

“Stubborn ones, aren’t they.”

“We almost got killed.”

“If it weren’t for First Young Master’s order to capture them alive, you’d already be dead by my hand.”

Truthfully, he would’ve slaughtered them already if not for the twenty years of meals he had eaten under Cheonmamu.

It was because of that debt that he listened to Yang Gwak’s request.

“But is it fine now that the Geum Clan Head is dead?”

“It’s fine. First Young Master said to capture the women if possible. He didn’t say anything about sparing the men.”

“True. Besides, the guy blew himself up with a Thunderburst Pellet, so it’s not our fault.”

“Stupid bastard! Did he really think that crappy Thunderburst Pellet would work on us?”

They laughed at the sight of Geum Myeongryeol, now reduced to bits and scattered remains.

But his death was not in vain.

It was because Yong Hwarin, who had been searching for their trail at the base of the mountain, had heard the explosion. Had there been no explosion, he would’ve gone the other way.

In that sense, Geum Myeongryeol’s heroic death was deeply meaningful.

“Stop causing trouble and come along now.”

As the two old monsters approached, Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji gripped their swords and stood up.

“If you want to take us, you’ll have to carry our corpses, you wretched old monsters.”

At those words, the face of the black-robed elder contorted.

“There is no respect for your seniors.”

“I’ll have to rip off an arm or two for you to learn fear.”

The white-robed elder raised his sword and stepped toward Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji.

He swung his sword at the moment they were still unable to suppress their spiritual energy, aiming to cut their shoulders.

Piiing!

The white-robed elder turned to the right at the strange sound.

He saw a figure approaching, executing movement arts.

But the sound had come right before his eyes.

‘Hidden weapon!’

The white-robed elder raised his sword to block the strange energy flying at him.

Ziiiiiing!

Though he blocked it with the blade, half of the large needle had embedded itself in his sword.

“Huh? What’s this?”

The vibration transmitted through his palm was by no means of someone with minor cultivation.

“That one! At the very least, he's reached the Transcendent Realm! We should be cautious.”

At the white-robed elder’s words, the black-robed elder turned his head toward the approaching figure with curiosity.

“Ah, it’s Young Master Yong! Sister, it’s Young Master Yong!”

When Jeong Daji shouted loudly, Jeong Suji replied,

“Yes, that scoundrel. If he was going to come, he could’ve come sooner. He only shows up after Mother ends up like this.”

Though she spoke like that, inwardly she couldn’t be more relieved that Yong Hwarin had appeared now.

Their lives were as good as dragged away or already dead.

And more than anything, their mother Jo Gyeongmae was in such critical condition that anything could happen at any moment.

They had seen Yong Hwarin several times save people on the brink of death with spiritual energy, so now, more than anyone, they were glad he was here.

“Young Master Yong, our mother is in bad condition. We don’t have the luxury to waste time fighting those old monsters. Finish the fight within ten seconds.”

When Jeong Suji shouted, the Tai Chi Twin Swords scoffed in disbelief.

“Well now! Are these kids ignorant of reality or simply unaware of how the world works? What are they even saying?”

As the black-robed elder muttered, the white-robed elder responded.

“Don’t tell me that little brat actually believes he can subdue us in ten seconds?”

Jeong Daji cut in and answered,

“That man is the Heavenly Sword Hero. He’s the one who took down the Three Grand Elders. Young Master Yong. You're all dead now!”

Hearing such absurd words, the black-robed elder exuded killing intent.

“So First Young Master told us to bring you in as hostages for negotiations, but that brat walked in on his own? This is like fishing for minnows and catching a whale.”

“And after we catch him, I’ll rip out your tongue, so just wait.”

After throwing such pride-crushing remarks at Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji, they moved toward Yong Hwarin.

“So you’re the one called Yong Hwarin, who killed the Three Grand Elders?”

They had already been briefed by Yang Gwak and knew the name Yong Hwarin.

“That’s right, seniors. But it’s more accurate to say the Three Grand Elders died mad. Sure, they died fighting me, but if they hadn’t lost their minds, they might have survived. So when you age, be careful not to lose your wits.”

As Yong Hwarin attempted provocation, the Tai Chi Twin Swords smirked.

“You’ve got a sharp tongue for a brat. But you picked the wrong opponents!”

The Tai Chi Twin Swords spread out to either side and charged at Yong Hwarin simultaneously.

“Seniors, not even giving your junior the first strike? That’s not the way of the martial world. How can you expect respect as seniors acting like that?”

“In life-or-death combat, what seniority matters!”

From the black-robed elder’s sword burst forth a sword qi equivalent to the Three Gaps stage.

Yong Hwarin evaded by leaping into the air.

Then the white-robed elder surged upward and slashed his sword, also filled with energy equivalent to the Three Gaps. Yong Hwarin did not let his guard down.

‘Now I understand why they lost. Both of them have cultivation at the level of the Transcendent Realm. It’s no wonder the Jeong Family sisters were overwhelmed.’

Yong Hwarin exchanged ten or so moves with the two and then backed away.

“Young Master Yong, I told you, there’s no time to play around!”

“I know. Now I understand their secret. Just give me three seconds.”

At Yong Hwarin’s response, the Tai Chi Twin Swords flared in anger.

“What? Our secret?”

“Yes. The two of you don’t attack me together. If two martial artists at the Transcendent Realm struck simultaneously, even I wouldn’t have it easy. But for some reason, you take turns attacking—one strikes only after the other finishes. So I observed and realized… you two are sharing your energy.”

No one had ever discovered the martial secret of the Tai Chi Twin Swords until now. But after just a few clashes, Yong Hwarin had revealed it, sending chills down their spines.

“You’ve got sharp eyes for a brat. But just knowing won’t help you. You won’t be able to withstand the combined power of the two of us at the Four Gaps level.”

The Tai Chi Twin Swords emitted their spiritual energy and began to share power.

To do that, they had trained in the same cultivation technique and frequently fused their energy to gain identical spiritual energy.

Though each of them individually was only at the peak level, barely reaching Two Gaps, when their powers combined, they exceeded Four Gaps.

If Jo Gyeongmae had fought them one at a time, she could’ve defeated them, but with their powers combined, she stood no chance.

“Now that I know your secret, I have a way to deal with you.”

Yong Hwarin suddenly stretched out his left hand like lightning and sent palm force toward the black-robed elder.

Almost as if he had been waiting, the black-robed elder placed his palm against Yong Hwarin’s hand, channeling his power inward.

The black-robed elder’s cultivation surged into Yong Hwarin’s body, making his energy boil.

But rather than neutralize it, Yong Hwarin extended his right hand to grab the white-robed elder’s shoulder.