Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword grazed Wi Gwang's shoulder, leaving a shallow wound. Blood trickled from the sword's tip, but Wi Gwang calmly adjusted his fan.
"Did you think you could defeat this one with just this much?"
Wi Gwang's voice was relaxed, and a mocking smile spread across his lips. Instead of answering, Seo Ryeo-hwa swung her sword even more intensely. The two people's energies clashed, distorting the air, and the surrounding leaves scattered wildly.
I watched their fight from a distance, biting my lip.
'Though Wi Gwang was wounded, it's not fatal.'
The battle of a Hwagyung Realm master was not something I dared to interfere with. Each time Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword flew like light, Wi Gwang swung his fan, blocking it by a narrow margin. His movements were relaxed, but the wounds he sustained from Seo Ryeo-hwa's attacks didn't seem to be without effect.
'If I interfere, I'll only get in the way. For now, it's better to just watch.'
The sword in my hand felt heavy. Just the aftermath of the fight made me feel breathless. The overwhelming energy emanating from their clash pressed down on my body.
'I knew Wi Gwang was strong, but I didn't know he was this strong.'
I pondered what I could do in this situation. My abilities were too lacking to recklessly jump in, but I couldn't just stand by and watch either.
Wi Gwang blocked Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword and scoffed in a low voice.
"You cannot defeat this one with just this much. Acknowledge your limits."
Seo Ryeo-hwa's eyes gleamed coldly. She took a short breath, then charged at Wi Gwang again. I watched her movements, trying to find a subtle opening.
Watching the continuous exchange of blows, I keenly felt the gap that could never be bridged.
She swung her sword once more. Intense sword energy struck down towards Wi Gwang, but his fan, with precise movements, blocked it every time. The two people's fight was growing even more fierce.
At that moment, Jin Myeongwoo, who had dealt with all of Wi Gwang's subordinates, swung his sword and charged at Wi Gwang.
"Hwaaaap!!!!"
'That fucking idiot...!'
A sneer flickered across Wi Gwang's face as he looked at Jin Myeongwoo. Even amidst his fight with Seo Ryeo-hwa, he calmly looked at Jin Myeongwoo and unfolded his fan.
"Myeongwoo! Stop!"
Jang Seoyeong cried out in horror at the sight. Her voice was filled with desperation, but Jin Myeongwoo ignored Jang Seoyeong's cry and immediately swung his sword at Wi Gwang.
Wi Gwang sneered and lightly moved his fingertips. The sharp qi that burst forth from his fingertips broke Jin Myeongwoo's sword and deeply cut his chest.
"Kkeuaaak...!"
Jin Myeongwoo was sent flying backward by the powerful impact, tumbling onto the ground. Blood flowed from his chest, and a faint groan escaped his lips. He lay motionless, having collapsed powerlessly.
"Myeongwoo!"
Seo Ryeo-hwa's desperate cry echoed, cutting through the air.
Wi Gwang swung his fan and spoke.
"Foolish. You don't even know your place, and you dared to challenge this one?"
He looked mockingly at the fallen Jin Myeongwoo, then turned his body back towards Seo Ryeo-hwa.
"How dare you do such a thing again right before my eyes!"
Seo Ryeo-hwa, enraged, gripped her sword anew and instantly charged at Wi Gwang, swinging her sword.
-Kang!!!
Her sword energy emitted an even deeper blue light, pressing down on Wi Gwang.
"Kkeueuk... Wi Gwang's relaxed expression twisted.
Seo Ryeo-hwa pressed Wi Gwang, raising her voice and shouting.
"Everyone, take Myeongwoo and get away!"
As soon as Jang Seoyeong heard those words, she ran and supported the fallen Jin Myeongwoo.
"Myeongwoo, snap out of it!"
Jang Seoyeong's urgent voice echoed. Jin Sohee and Seolhui also quickly took positions to help Jang Seoyeong, wary of their surroundings.
Jin Myeongwoo was limp and unconscious. Blood flowed from his chest, but fortunately, he was still breathing.
"Mother, take Myeongwoo and get away immediately."
I said firmly to Jang Seoyeong. Her eyes trembled greatly as she cried out in a shaking voice.
"Seoyun-a, what are you going to do...!"
"I will stay and help Sword Empress-nim."
At my words, she shook her head even more vehemently.
"No! What if you get hurt too...!"
"Mother. If we stay, we'll only be a hindrance. If I get into danger, I will follow right behind you."
I took a deep breath and looked straight at her.
Jang Seoyeong looked at me silently. Her eyes held worry and fear.
"Seoyun-a...."
"Please, Mother."
She finally gritted her teeth and nodded.
"Sohee-ya, Seolhui-ya. Take Myeongwoo and retreat."
"Understood, Mother."
Jin Sohee and Seolhui moved swiftly to support Jin Myeongwoo.
Jang Seoyeong bit her lip and looked straight at me. Her eyes held a mix of worry and fear.
"Seoyun-a.... You must survive."
Leaving behind her words, spoken in a trembling voice, I turned and moved towards the center where the Sword Empress and Wi Gwang were fighting.
I used a spiritual message to speak to her.
[Sword Empress-nim, can you hear me?]
Seo Ryeo-hwa dodged Wi Gwang's powerful attack and briefly nodded.
[Sword Empress-nim, can you defeat Wi Gwang right now?]
[It's difficult. In my current state, about an ilgak is my limit.]
[Then... Sword Empress-nim, trust me and lure him to the north. I have a plan.]
[To the north? Is there a way?]
[There's no time to explain now. You must lure Wi Gwang in that direction. I will take responsibility.]
[Alright. I will trust Young Master Jin.]
Seo Ryeo-hwa swung her sword even more fiercely against Wi Gwang.
'I don't know the exact location of the Boundless Linked Bewildering Formation, but I can pinpoint it....'
I observed Wi Gwang's movements and slowly moved. Seo Ryeo-hwa began to move little by little towards the north.
"I don't know what scheme you're cooking up, but do you think this one will fall for it so easily!"
Wi Gwang glared at us with cold eyes and swung his sword. Seo Ryeo-hwa barely blocked his attack, retreating step by step.
"Hoot, it seems the Tamhwaranggun of the world, Wi Gwang, is afraid?"
Along with Seo Ryeo-hwa's cold reply, a blue sword light burst forth. Wi Gwang received her attack, advancing step by step.
I kept my eyes on Seo Ryeo-hwa and moved towards the north.
'First, I need to get over that ridge.'
Seo Ryeo-hwa dodged his attacks, slowly retreating. With each step, she steadily, yet surely, widened the distance towards the north.
-Kang! Kwang!
Wi Gwang's fan unleashed qi that tore through the air. Seo Ryeo-hwa blocked his attack, retreating even further.
"How far do you intend to run?"
Wi Gwang's lips curled into a sneer. His attacks were growing stronger, and Seo Ryeo-hwa's breathing gradually became rougher.
I watched their battle, looking around.
'Just a little more... just until there....'
We were entering deeper into the forest. The surrounding trees grew denser, and the air began to subtly change.
'This is it.... It's definitely around here.'
Suddenly, Wi Gwang stopped. His gaze sharpened.
"Strange...."
Wi Gwang cautiously surveyed his surroundings. Even with his Hwagyung Realm cultivation, it seemed difficult for him to pinpoint exactly what it was. He merely seemed to have instinctively sensed danger.
Seo Ryeo-hwa continued her attacks.
'Good.... Just a little more.'
Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword flew towards Wi Gwang once more. We were now almost at the target location.
'It'll be soon....'
I surveyed the surrounding terrain. Faintly, I could see rocks forming a pentagon. I had found the entrance to the Boundless Linked Bewildering Formation.
"It's futile."
Wi Gwang lightly parried Seo Ryeo-hwa's sword. Her sword, disheveled from the long battle, could no longer threaten Wi Gwang.
"I don't know what scheme you're up to, but I'll stop playing around now."
Wi Gwang took out a red orb from within his robes.
'That's...!'
It was a red elixir made by the Hocheonhoe.
"That is...."
Tension entered Seo Ryeo-hwa's voice.
Upon confirming the red elixir, I immediately sent a spiritual message to Seo Ryeo-hwa.
[Sword Empress-nim, run towards me immediately!]
Seo Ryeo-hwa trusted my words, quickly turned her body, and ran towards me.
"Running away, are we.... But it's too late!"
Wi Gwang put the red orb into his mouth and swallowed it in one gulp. Instantly, a red aura burst forth around him as if exploding.
"Sword Empress-nim, this way!"
I grabbed Seo Ryeo-hwa's arm and leaped between the pentagonal rocks. Wi Gwang's red qi pursued us from behind.
"Do you think running away will change anything!"
Along with Wi Gwang's furious shout, the red qi flew towards us.
Before the qi could reach us, we entered the Boundless Linked Bewildering Formation.
"This place...?"
Seo Ryeo-hwa murmured, looking around. A strange energy enveloped us.
"It's the Boundless Linked Bewildering Formation."
I said, looking at Seo Ryeo-hwa.
"The Boundless Linked Bewildering Formation...? I've never heard of such a formation..."
A question flickered across Seo Ryeo-hwa's face. At that moment, Wi Gwang's red qi flew into the formation.
-Kuung!
But the qi scattered like mist. The formation's energy had neutralized Wi Gwang's attack.
"For now, let's get out of here."
I grabbed Seo Ryeo-hwa's arm and went deeper into the formation.
***
Wi Gwang coldly glared at the spot where the Sword Empress had disappeared. His eyes were stained blood-red from the effects of the red elixir.
"A formation...?"
-Swaaaak!
The red qi flew towards the pentagonal rocks. It was as if it could cleave the sky, but even with his powerful strike, the formation didn't budge.
"Tsk, no choice then."
Wi Gwang slowly moved towards the entrance of the formation. There was no hesitation in his steps. Neither the strange energy he felt within the formation nor the ominous premonition could stop him.
"Do you think you can escape from this one?"
His voice, filled with cold killing intent, echoed. Wi Gwang's body disappeared as if seeping between the pentagonal rocks.
Having entered the formation, Wi Gwang looked around the space that resembled a large cave. His red energy illuminated the surroundings, revealing the walls, but there was no trace of the Sword Empress anywhere.
He took a step to search for the Sword Empress. The cave floor subtly vibrated as if reacting to his energy. But at that moment, a strange mist began to rise from beneath his feet.
"This is?"
Wi Gwang frowned and tried to raise his inner energy to push away the mist. However, the mist was not just simple energy. It coiled around him as if absorbing his inner energy, enveloping him even more densely.
"With such a trivial formation, you think you can...."
Before he could finish his sentence, the mist completely obscured his vision.