Suddenly, Jin Yong, the master of Killing Valley, vanished from Gu Janghu's sight.
When he reappeared, he was already right in front of Gu Janghu's nose.
"Twin Moon Assassin Sword, Third Form—Twinned Moon Strangulation!"
The two swords rotated, wrapping around Gu Janghu.
Like two crescent moons intertwining, sword light spiraled and attacked.
Chang chang chang chang!!
Gu Janghu hastily swung his swords, blocking with the sa routine.
But because Jin Yong's speed and precision in martial arts were superior, a groan escaped Gu Janghu's lips before he knew it.
Jin Yong's assault didn't stop.
"Twin Moon Assassin Sword, Fifth Form—Soul Pursuit Beneath the Moon!"
The sword light left afterimages as it chased Gu Janghu. Gu Janghu backed away defensively, but the sword light relentlessly followed.
Chwak!
Sword ki grazed Gu Janghu's shoulder.
"Urgh...!"
Gu Janghu gritted his teeth.
'How can there be such a difference using the sa martial art...!?'
Both he and the master of Killing Valley now faced each other using the Killing Valley's twin sword technique, the Twin Moon Assassin Sword.
However, the master of Killing Valley was more accomplished in the art, on top of having more experience.
That difference was showing clearly in this duel.
"Gu Janghu. I acknowledge your talent."
Jin Yong spoke, swinging his sword.
"I almost want to take you back to Killing Valley. However... betraying your lord can't be forgiven!"
Twin Moon Assassin Sword, seventh Form—Stars Sinking as the Moon Sets!
Sword light scattered like stars and assaulted Gu Janghu from all directions. Gu Janghu spun his twin swords, defending.
But—
Chang chang chang! Kaang!
Gu Janghu began to be pushed back.
All over his body—chwak! chwak!—sword wounds increased. If this continued, it was clear Gu Janghu would lose.
Yet, Jin Yong did not smile.
Despite hundreds of exchanges, Gu Janghu had not suffered a fatal wound, contrary to his expectations.
'This brat... to have grown so much in just a few years? What sort of lucky chance did he encounter?'
It hadn't been long since Gu Janghu left Killing Valley, but his skills had grown terrifyingly enough to stand on par.
'I must kill him here and now.'
Jin Yong's eyes grew cold.
He had co to slay the Eternal Divine Physician, only for another troubleso foe to appear.
* * *
While Gu Janghu and the master of Killing Valley fought, high-ranking assassins under Killing Valley's lord appeared from the forest, hurling flying blades.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Five blades flew from the darkness.
Lee Rin hurriedly drew her treasured sword to deflect them.
But she didn't need to intervene.
Her protectors—the swordswon of the North Sea—stepped up to block the elite assassins.
"Protect the palace mistress!"
Nursemaid Han Soweol shouted, drawing her sword.
Simultaneously, the North Sea protectors unleashed swift movent to deflect the incoming blades.
Chang chang chang chang!!
At that mont, Killing Valley's elite assassins erged from the shadows.
Four in all.
Each exuded a formidable presence fit for Killing Valley's best.
Shuaaa!!
The next instant, silvery sword light from the elite assassins poured toward the North Sea protectors. The North Sea won responded in kind.
Chang chang chang! Kaang!
The North Sea won unleashed biting cold, while the assassins fought back with deadly martial arts—clashing violently.
Han Soweol's sword knocked aside one assassin's blade, but imdiately another aid for her head.
Han Soweol exploded the cold of her dantian and t the sword head-on.
"Kruk!"
"Kkaak!"
Cries burst from both sides.
A North Sea protector was struck in the shoulder, while a Killing Valley assassin clutched a frostbitten arm.
Amid the fierce exchange, Lee Rin watched Gu Janghu being pushed back and moved toward him.
'I can't just stand by anymore!'
Sword drawn, Lee Rin charged at the master of Killing Valley.
Ice Lord Asura Sword Art, 12th form—A Thousand Li of Ice!
Shiiiiiik—
Fierce cold burst from Lee Rin's sword. Instantly, the air around her began to freeze. Frost settled on branches, and ice spread on the ground.
In that state, Lee Rin thrust straight for the master of Killing Valley's back.
Kwaa—!
The chilling cold enveloped the master of Killing Valley.
But he had already anticipated Lee Rin's intervention and parried with sword aura.
But then—
'?!'
Sothing unexpected happened.
At the mont their swords clashed with a kaang, Lee Rin's overwhelming cold rode the blade and infiltrated his body.
'This martial art is from the North Sea Ice Palace...?!'
The master of Killing Valley's eyes twitched.
The martial art was unexpected, and the strength of her cultivated power was imnse.
Lee Rin's internal energy had already reached over a cycle and a half—her strength was incredible.
Few in the martial world could match such internal energy.
Moreover, martial arts from the North Sea Ice Palace beca ever more venomous as one's internal strength grew.
Because of that, the previously victorious master of Killing Valley montarily lost his flow and balance.
Chang chang chang! Kaang!
Gu Janghu's twin swords, the master of Killing Valley's twin swords, and Lee Rin's North Sea blade clashed fiercely.
All three were supre experts—their speed left only afterimages for the untrained eye.
In the midst, Gu Janghu forced himself to steady his breath.
His body was drenched in blood from injuries sustained before Lee Rin joined the fray.
Shoulder, flank, thigh—blood oozed everywhere.
'It can't go on like this...'
So, in the next instant, Gu Janghu resolved to use his secret move.
The Guryong Flying Blade—a hidden martial art from the Guryong Clan, which Jaseong had retrieved from the Secret Vault of Peerless Arts.
Gu Janghu had practiced it in spare monts. But could he actually use this unmastered art in real battle?
[Rin. Buy so ti.]
At Gu Janghu's telepathic plea, Lee Rin nodded and stepped up.
She faced the master of Killing Valley one-on-one, unleashing the Ice Lord Asura Sword Art.
anwhile, Gu Janghu drew a willow-leaf flying blade from his waist.
He drew up true ki from his dantian.
As energy gathered at his fingertips—chijik! chijik!—a crackling blue flash erupted.
Lightning seed to gather at his fingers, dancing around the willow-blade.
'Guryong Flying Blade, Fourth Form—Swimming Dragon Rules the World!'
At last, the gathered lightning exploded from Gu Janghu's fingers.
The secret art of the Guryong Clan—the Guryong Flying Blade—was unleashed, and the enhanced willow-blade darted toward the master of Killing Valley.
'This technique—?!'
The master of Killing Valley, dueling Lee Rin, threw out sword aura to deflect the flying blade.
But then, Gu Janghu's blade suddenly swerved sharply.
"?!"
The master of Killing Valley's eyes widened.
The blade's twisting, serpentine trajectory curved back toward him.
Pusshuk!
At that instant, the willow-blade pierced his right shoulder.
"Kuuk?!"
An unexpected cry burst from the master of Killing Valley's lips.
Blood gushed from his shoulder.
'That brat...!'
He gritted his teeth, attempting a swift counterattack.
But, regrettably for him, Lee Rin once more pressed in with the Ice Lord Asura Sword Art.
With his right shoulder pierced, he could not fend off Lee Rin's attack as before.
Indeed, Lee Rin's cold energy began to freeze his energy channels.
And Gu Janghu once again unleashed Guryong Flying Blade, Fourth Form—Swimming Dragon Rules the World.
Chwak!
This ti, the blade pierced his left shoulder.
The master of Killing Valley, mustering all his might, unleashed movent to lunge for Gu Janghu.
"It's over now."
Lee Rin's frigid, energy-laced voice ca from behind him.
As the master of Killing Valley turned frantically—
Ice Lord Asura Sword Art, 13th Form—Soul Cleaving Slash!
From Lee Rin's blade, freezing cold and snowy white sword aura erupted.
Chuaak!
Blood shot from the master of Killing Valley's back like a fountain.
"Keuh...!"
A terminal scream tore from his lips. His eyes were wide, as though he couldn't believe he'd die such a futile death.
"Valley lord?!"
The elite assassins too widened their eyes in shock.
The leader of the largest assassin organization in the Central Plains—their lord, the master of Killing Valley—felled by two young experts was unthinkable.
"If you value your lives, fall back now."
Lee Rin leveled her sword at the remaining elite assassins, her breaths coming out as frosty mist unique to North Sea Ice Palace martial arts.
The icy tone made the assassins flinch. Then, without hesitation, they all turned and fled.
How could they go up against two young new experts who had toppled the master of Killing Valley?
Watching this, nursemaid Han Soweol lowered her sword. Her gaze upon Lee Rin brimd with admiration.
'Milady. You've beco so strong already. You truly don't need us any longer... You are drawing ever closer to the path of the palace mistress.'
Having toppled Killing Valley's master Jin Yong, who had terrified the martial world, Han Soweol's thoughts were not unreasonable.
Through all the ti spent together with Jaseong, Lee Rin and Gu Janghu had grown imnsely strong.
Now, their nas could loudly resound through the martial world.
* * *
At the sa ti as Lee Rin and Gu Janghu drove away Killing Valley's master and his elite assassins—
Kwaa—
The heat radiating from Jaseong's body slowly subsided. The tides of agony pressing on his body faded.
Afterward, he felt a large portion of the energy near his heart had been purified.
The turbid energy was almost expelled.
The Eternal Divine Physician imdiately tapped various acupoints to stabilize his energy channels.
He, too, was sweating from the effort of continuously injecting internal energy into Jaseong.
"Congratulations. You've succeeded with the first stage."
By then, Jaseong was close to exhaustion.
His face was pale, and he was drenched in unknown black fluid.
"Now rest for three days. After that, we'll begin the second stage."
Rising, the Eternal Divine Physician spoke.
With trembling legs, Jaseong followed him outside.
But then, an unexpected scene greeted his eyes.
"What... happened here...?"
Outside the cave was an expanse of blood. Strewn about were the corpses of the master of Killing Valley and two elite assassins.
While Jaseong looked on in puzzlent, Lee Rin rushed over.
"Great hero! Are you okay?"
Lee Rin asked, seeing Jaseong's pallid face.
"... It feels like I've co back from hell."
Jaseong answered with a weak smile.
"But, what in the world happened?"
"The master of Killing Valley and his elite assassins attacked."
"...the master of Killing Valley?"
"Luckily, we drove them all off. Don't worry."
"... Thank you. And well done."
Jaseong's gaze shifted from Lee Rin to Gu Janghu.
Gu Janghu, after the combat, had his martial robes utterly soaked in blood.
At that mont, Gu Janghu spoke unexpected words.
"Hall lord. Get on my back."
"...?"
"The hall lord looks very unwell. I'll help you back to the cottage."
"... You don't look much better yourself."
"I am your protector. No matter how hard it is, taking care of the hall lord cos first."
"..."
Jaseong's heart was touched.
After sharing so many hardships and joys, he truly felt as though he had gained a new family.
Watching the three, the Eternal Divine Physician smiled warmly.
'... I too once had such companions in the past. Though now, they have all left this world...'
Rembering days gone by, the Eternal Divine Physician looked at Jaseong.
At that mont, within Jaseong, the energy of the Millennium Blood Ganoderma, blended with his internal energy of 60-year cycle, swirled.
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