Chapter 33: The Young Princess of Sunghwa Palace 2

Whether people were present or not at the inn, the atmosphere between the two remained consistently quiet. Yet this didn’t mean the next events would signify the development of a romantic relationship. Both understood better than anyone else from each other’s expressions and words that a ‘martial contest’ would follow.

It was difficult to explain in words, but that was simply their nature.

Strong individuals…

The only natural thought they harbored in their hearts was ‘I want to compete.’

However, given their personalities, they were engaged in a calm exchange of words. Especially Jin Sohye, seeing that Sunghwa Palace had made many mistakes, had taken the rare step of setting aside time to apologize first, and she did so with utmost sincerity.

Baek Moo-jin, of course, read Jin So-hye’s thoughts completely.

But Baek Moo-jin’s personality was exceptionally unique. Even while Jin So-hye struggled to apologize, Baek Moo-jin remained calm, showing no particular emotion.

He showed no arrogance, nor any sign of anger.

It was as if he hadn’t given a thought to the matter of the left minister or the person who had just picked a fight with him. In truth, Baek Moo-jin felt little emotion about the events of today.

Baek Moo-jin’s next words also revealed something about his character.

“You must have expended quite a bit of your internal energy. You can engage in combat after fully recovering it.”

At those words, Jin Sohye stared at Baek Moo-jin blankly and said.

“Since you defeated the Left Minister, perhaps a little…”

As Jin Sohye trailed off, Baek Mujin immediately retorted.

“A little what?”

Jin Sohye swallowed her next words.

She had intended to ask if he was getting cocky.

But since Baek Moo-jin wasn’t under her command, and since Sunghwa Palace had done many wrongs, Jin So-hye couldn’t speak her mind as she usually would.

Baek Moo-jin roughly guessed the meaning behind Jin So-hye’s intended words and chuckled softly. Jin So-hye then continued with a stiff expression.

“…Anyway, I’m fine today. That is, if Lord Baek is fine with it. Are you perhaps tired from coming here with the Left Minister and the Minister of Justice?”

This time, Jin Sohye’s provocation came through. Baek Mujin shook his head and replied.

“Light Steps… I was quite fast, but not so much that I couldn’t fight. I’m fine too.”

With that, the two glared at each other. Their minds were more focused on determining the superiority of their martial arts than on any romantic interest.

Jin Sohye looked at Baek Moo-jin and thought.

‘He’s too valuable to kill.’

Even then, Jin Sohye assumed that no matter how strong Baek Moo-jin was, he couldn’t possibly compare to her level.

She believed Baek Moo-jin could never possibly imagine how she had grown strong at the Seonghwa Palace, or what burning desire drove her.

Jin Sohye stood up and said.

“Get up.”

Baek Moo-jin nodded.

“Let’s do that.”

In a way, their personalities and backgrounds were remarkably similar, yet neither of them realized how alike they truly were.

The two walked out of the inn in silence.

2.

Under the bright moonlight, the two walked along the night road, gradually distancing themselves from the Jin’ga Trading Company and the inn district.

They intended to find a deserted spot.

The stars in the sky shone brightly, like spectators eager to witness their duel. Even as they walked, the two spoke very little. Before they knew it, they had arrived at the base of a sheer cliff.

Above all, the silence was perfect.

The surrounding scenery was truly rugged, which made it even better.

Both of them were quite fond of this bizarre location.

Though it would never be known to the martial world, the duel Baek Moo-jin and Jin So-hye were about to wage was a truly fascinating showdown.

The Snow Mountain Hundred Families’ Snow Flower Divine Art versus the Holy Flame Palace’s Heaven-Shattering Divine Art.

No matter how deeply one delved into the ancient history of the martial world, there had never been martial arts with such starkly opposing elements. Neither had ever drawn upon their full strength since stepping into the martial world, so the crucial question was how far they would push themselves in this duel.

Jin Sohye gazed up at the towering cliff for a moment before drawing her long sword with a sharp clang.

Baek Moo-jin also circled around, meticulously checking once more that no one was watching nearby. Then, stopping at a suitable distance, the two faced each other.

Originally, Jin Sohye had planned to gain experience by killing the Northern Martial World’s Sima Wai Dao, then retreat into seclusion for training before crossing over to the Southern Martial World to defeat every master of the renowned orthodox sects and clans. She had never once drawn her sword the moment she met an opponent before. In a way, this meant she held Baek Mujin standing before her in extremely high regard.

Jin Sohye glanced down at her long sword before issuing a warning to Baek Mujin in a cold tone.

“No one has ever survived a duel with me. It wasn’t my intention, but that’s how it turned out.”

It was a warning to be cautious. But Baek Moo-jin merely smiled and gave a slight nod.

“It seems the young princess is quite formidable.”

At Baek Moo-jin’s words, Jin So-hye let out a “Hmph…” and bowed her head deeply.

Whenever she tried to make the atmosphere a bit heavier, Baek Moo-jin kept making offbeat remarks that were hard to respond to.

Jin Sohye closed her eyes for a moment, focusing her mind.

‘As quickly as possible, and if possible, send them away alive. They’re martial artists from Baekdo and the North Heaven Alliance.’

Just as Jin Sohye opened her eyes to launch her attack… Baek Moo-jin interrupted again.

“But… are you planning to duel with swords?”

“Huh? Is that not allowed?”

Both the questioner and the responder displayed a distinctly foolish aspect. Baek Moo-jin continued speaking.

“Is the sword perhaps your greatest strength?”

“Why do you ask?”

Baek Moo-jin spoke with a serious expression.

“I don’t wield my sword at just any time.”

“Then when do you use it?”

“When I must kill someone for certain.”

“Huh?”

Baek Moo-jin continued as if from another world.

“Isn’t that what a sword is for?”

Jin So-hye frowned and looked at Baek Moo-jin.

‘What kind of person is this?’

Somehow, he even seemed like the type to show off.

Their life experiences differed, and the teachings they received while training in martial arts were different, so it was an unavoidable difference.

Jin Sohye sighed and nodded.

“Then let’s first spar with palm techniques. If there’s no clear winner, we’ll settle it with swords.”

“Agreed.”

Jin Sohye drew her sword, then took a few steps toward a large rock immediately visible before stopping. She had spotted a flat, wide rock to place her sword upon, and coincidentally, Baek Mujin had also moved toward the same rock at the same time. The two, who had hesitated, walked forward again and placed their long swords side by side on the rock.

The scene looked incredibly awkward.

Regardless, the White Sword and the Red Sword lay side by side, as if watching the duel between the two.

3.

Baek Moo-jin, having taken his place, spoke.

“Begin.”

Jin Sohye rolled her eyes inwardly.

‘It really takes forever just to get to the duel… This is why the White Path is so frustrating.’

When Baek Moo-jin flashed another sly grin, Jin So-hye now found his smile downright infuriating.

Jin So-hye glared at Baek Moo-jin and said.

“Be careful.”

As she spoke, an unusual, intangible wave of energy erupted from Jin Sohye’s body. Baek Mujin’s eyebrows shot upward instantly. It felt as if she had released a restriction within her body in an extremely brief moment. Her very aura had changed.

Jin Sohye’s figure vanished before Baek Moo-jin’s eyes, and suddenly, her palm appeared within his field of vision.

Baek Moo-jin stamped the ground with the power of his left foot, simultaneously sliding backward.

Baek Moo-jin retreated, and Jin So-hye followed suit…

The two moved straight through the air for five zhang. Even if ordinary martial arts masters had witnessed it, they would have been left speechless.

Before anyone knew it, Baek Moo-jin landed on his right foot, regained his balance, and instinctively unleashed the force of his White Flower Divine Skill, now amplified to the fourth level, striking Jin So-hye’s right arm.

A thunderous roar erupted instantly.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaang············

Jin Sohye, her face contorted in fury, flew toward the cliff at a speed incomparable to her previous movement.

Baek Moo-jin watched Jin So-hye fly away, letting out a low groan.

‘Without even realizing it, I… Could this really be the end?’

It was the same force he’d used to overwhelm Jwasang back then. Jin Sohye’s lightness skill was so fast that Baek Moo-jin unconsciously unleashed a powerful surge of energy.

But Jin Sohye, who had been flying backward, spun her body several times, kicked off the cliff, and flew back toward Baek Moo-jin in a curve.

Baek Moo-jin let out an involuntary gasp.

“Ah…”

She was strong.

Of course, Jin Sohye, who had been flung back by immense force, felt the same. As she charged at Baek Mujin again, she unleashed the Heaven-Shattering Flame Technique from her twin blades, enveloping him. Seeing Jin Sohye’s hands, now a much deeper crimson than Zuo Si’s hands that had attacked Baek Mujin… Baek Mujin, who had been standing blankly, hastily wrapped his entire body in the White Flower Divine Technique.

Then, as if Baek Moo-jin had released the restraints he had imposed on himself, an intangible wave of energy spread out in a circle.

It was truly a clash of bizarre martial arts…

But energy waves alone couldn’t block Jin Sohye’s attack. Jin Sohye pierced through the chilling aura Baek Mujin emitted and simultaneously unleashed the Heaven-Shattering Flame Technique from both palms. Instantly, her hands glowed red as if clutching flames. In fact, every time she moved, she left behind an illusory afterimage, as if trails of fire followed her.

‘This woman… she’s truly dangerous.’

Baek Moo-jin found himself involuntarily soaring into the air.

As Baek Moo-jin soared upward, Jin Sohye, judging his choice to attack, clasped her twin swords together on the ground. She generated an external energy manifestation, a fiery ball, and hurled it skyward.

Where on earth could such martial arts exist?

If it weren’t for Baek Moo-jin, anyone else would have been terrified upon seeing it.

But the moment he saw the fireball streaking up from below, Baek Moo-jin added the essence of ice to his external energy manifestation, creating a palm-shaped ice barrier.

The sounds produced by their martial arts were distinctly unique.

Whenever Jin Sohye used her flame technique, it produced a crackling sound, while Baek Moo-jin emitted a crunching sound whenever he manifested his White Flower Divine Skill into a physical form.

Thus, the tangible shield created by Baek Moo-jin and… the tangible flames created by Jin So-hye collided mid-air.

The aftermath of that collision was immense. Had anyone been watching nearby, their lives would have been in grave danger.

The problem was that even pouring out martial arts power to this extent, neither could inflict any damage on the other.

After deflecting the shockwave erupting below once more, Baek Moo-jin drew a trajectory and landed lightly on the ground, letting out a soft sigh.

‘Impressive.’

Amidst the roar and the billowing dust, Jin Sohye approached Baek Moo-jin, her eyes shining.

Baek Moo-jin spoke as if expressing admiration.

“That was astonishing.”

At those words, Jin Sohye shook her head and approached.

“It seems both of us are in danger now.”

Baek Moo-jin replied only in his mind to Jin So-hye’s words.

‘No, only you…’

Then, with an expressionless face, Baek Moo-jin drew the White Flower Divine Art up to the Five Stars. He expected there would be no need to draw it up any further…