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Chapter 341: If You Listen

Kuwuung—!

Beneath the darkened sky, a colossal vibration echoed.

It was a tremor strong enough to shake Mount Tai.

Kwa-ddu-deuk—!

The unrelenting surge of energy swept everything in its path.

Trees that had stood tall crumpled as they were caught in the maelstrom of my Qi.

Rocky debris scattered across the uneven ground, leaving massive impressions behind.

Hooouuk—!

The wind pressure, stirred by my energy, radiated outward.

To think this chaos had been created by a single extension of my will.

It was simply absurdly powerful!

“What the…?”

Peng Ah-Hee, confirming the scene before her, unintentionally blurted out a question.

What did she just witness?

Who was the figure standing in front of her?

Draped in a Black Martial Robe, they looked strikingly similar to her brother, always clad in the same attire.

Though the black hair also resembled his, the aura felt distinctly different.

It was much denser!

‘Who is this person…’

As moments passed while she gazed at the young man blocking their path, the realization of who he was suddenly came to mind.

“•••Bi Prince?”

Her astonishment remained even after uttering the name.

One of the six dragons of the Luminary, Bi Yi-jin.

A member of the Three Eminent Beings known as Pejon Bi Ju.

He was the First-Born of the Bi family.

Years ago, he had attended the Dragon Meeting just once and earned the moniker of “Dragon.”

However, after that, he’d had almost no activity, leading to an endless array of rumors about the young man.

Having heard he had entered Shinryong Temple, yet he had shown no notable presence or activity, whispers circulated such as, ‘Are the Two Dragons even around?’

‘What the…?’

Peng Ah-Hee had to question her vision.

The Black Dance Hero, sprawled on the ground, was panting heavily.

This was a figure that had surely surpassed the peak level!

And yet, the opponent before them could render even that hero powerless in a single blow.

‘Was the Two Dragons that strong of a martial artist?’

Could he have even touched the Transformation Realm…?

“Stop watching. Tend to the wounds first.”

“•••!”

As the dust settled, between the lingering traces of the bet, the Two Dragons spoke to Peng Ah-Hee.

To be precise, he addressed Tang Soyeol.

“I won’t stop you if you wish to die, but otherwise, it would be best to act quickly.”

The amount of blood flowing from her thigh and shoulder was alarming.

Desperate, Peng Ah-Hee hurriedly tried to staunch the bleeding, attempting to pour Qi into the wounds.

But it seemed a futile effort.

The Two Dragons glanced at her, clicking his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk… it seems these days’ kids don’t know how to fight properly, nor do they know how to treat wounds.”

“Eh? What did you say…?”

“Nothing at all.”

The Two Dragons shook his head lightly and stared somewhere.

Guuuuh…

Something was writhing and groaning in the distance.

It was Cheol Jiseon, who had been flung away after taking the earlier attack.

Cough, cough…

Cheol Jiseon kept coughing, but thankfully, it appeared he wasn’t gravely injured.

Watching that, the Two Dragons spoke to him.

“You did well.”

In the brief moment of hesitation, Cheol Jiseon had recklessly charged toward the Black Night Princess, all because of the Two Dragons’ intentional premonition.

Of course, he made the choice himself to recklessly dive in.

What had he trusted to rush in like that?

It was incomprehensible to the Two Dragons.

He wanted to ask, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the moment for such inquiries.

“Once you’re up, take these women and flee.”

“Eh… Yes?”

Cheol Jiseon struggled to regain his bearings and stood up.

The Two Dragons instructed him to take the Black Dance Hero, Peng Ah-Hee, and the injured Tang Soyeol with him.

“W-where to?”

“Well, I can’t say much about that, but it should be safer than here.”

a: =

Yuncheo.

With each slight movement from the Two Dragons, creaking sounds filled the air.

It was as if the recent blow hadn’t been an illusion.

The traces of Qi that remained felt heavy.

“W-what are your intentions, Prince?”

Wouldn’t it be better to go together?

This unspoken plea lingered softly beneath his words.

Hearing that, the Two Dragons chuckled.

“I must stop that one. Why would I go anywhere else?”

“Eh? That one…?”

The Two Dragons’ gaze was fixed on the Black Night Princess, who had been sent flying by the last strike.

Cheol Jiseon frowned slightly as he sensed the intensity of the situation.

Wasn’t she almost dead after taking that hit straight on?

The power had upturned the terrain with sheer force.

Even now, the remnants left on the ground and the faint traces of energy made it difficult to breathe.

Noticing Cheol Jiseon’s reaction, the Two Dragons responded with a peculiar motion.

“I would have preferred to end it in one blow as well, but she doesn’t seem like the type to fall so easily.”

“But…”

Even so, it would have been wiser to find a chance to flee, even for a brief moment in this situation.

That was Cheol Jiseon’s thought.

Yet, the Two Dragons had a different perspective.

“It would be unacceptable to turn my back on an opponent.”

“B-Bi Prince?”

“Especially one who emits such malevolence.”

The grin on his face was unsettlingly eerie.

Was it really a good idea to smile in such a situation?

“Bi Prince… the opponent is exceptionally skilled.”

“So?”

So what?

This could be a martial artist who had possibly reached the Transformation Realm. A level unimaginable.

Cheol Jiseon might not have been able to gauge the opponent’s true proficiency, but the name “Black Night Princess” alone carried immense weight.

She was rumored to have disappeared years ago due to the Martial Alliance.

The master of the Black Night Palace, one of the strongest among the Demonic Factions.

Rumors also suggested she had been dealt with by the Martial Alliance, yet her whereabouts remained a mystery.

Could that figure he just encountered truly be her?

If so, it was likely that she had attained the Transformation Realm.

The Two Dragons didn’t appear alarmed in the slightest. He smiled slightly, proving it.

“If the opponent is strong, what’s the point of running away?”

“If one is afraid, that may be the case, but a martial artist should not think that way.”

Crack!

The sound of his clenched fist echoed loudly.

He had intended to say more, but—

Thud.

“Wha…?”

The Two Dragons pushed Cheol Jiseon away.

Just then, something shot past, grazing his cheek.

With a loud smash—!

The black Qi surged towards the Two Dragons’ outstretched fist.

Boom—!

The clash of the black energy with his fist sent a shockwave through the surroundings.

Moments after the storm passed, the energy that had been propelled from the clash fragmented like shards.

“Hah… hah…”

Cheol Jiseon sat on the ground, trying to catch his breath.

Had the Two Dragons not shoved him away just in time, his head would have been severed.

The relief mixed with fear surged up his throat.

Alongside the relief of still being alive came—

“•••Hoo…”

The heavy breathing from behind was a cause for concern.

Just incredible!

There she was, the Black Night Princess herself, emerging from the energy kicked back by the Two Dragons’ blow.

“Even that girl was surprisingly impressive… but this… this truly was unexpected.”

Clutching her ribs, she limped forth.

Just as she initiated an attack, her aura surged and she attempted to activate her defensive technique, but it was a poorly made decision.

Defensive measures should have been her priority.

Though she managed to block it somehow, the energy flowing within her was thrown into disarray.

She sensed several broken ribs.

With each step, excruciating pain shot through her.

As she moved her body, the Princess glared at the one who had attacked her.

“Who are you?”

She knew this generation was filled with exceptionally talented individuals.

However, this was a level that far exceeded the limits of Late-Stage Talents.

As they exchanged blows, the shock had left her almost speechless.

Hearing the Princess’ words, the Two Dragons briefly glanced at Cheol Jiseon.

“I’ll say it again, take those women and escape.”

“Do you think I would just let them go?”

As the Princess stepped to act, the Two Dragons did as well.

He quickly closed in and punched once more.

Reacting instinctively, the Princess tried to counter, but—

“•••!”

She felt as if her energy was not moving properly.

‘Was the earlier attack an issue?’

She seemed to be suffering from after-effects.

Even so, just when the Princess reached out to pour her Qi into Cheol Jiseon, aiming to reinforce him—

The Two Dragons slipped through the flow and blocked her.

Was he trying to disrupt her technique by reaching through the cracks in her energy?

In the brief moment of surprise, the Princess frowned and moved her legs.

It appeared she was about to act on her own.

But before she could take a step, the Two Dragons’ foot struck first, breaking her stance.

Bang—!

The force of their energy clashed, resonating through the air.

Despite the situation, the Two Dragons only expressed calmness as they thwarted the Princess’s movements.

‘How is this…!’

The Princess continued to be astonished at her opponent.

While his movements were undeniably fast, was he truly quicker than hers?

Tension built as she realized his motions were slower.

Perhaps it was a gap in realms or some other unseen factor.

It was clear the Two Dragons moved slower than the Princess.

Yet, despite that—

The Princess could not bypass the Two Dragons.

He seemed to know exactly how she would act, blocking her attacks before they gained strength.

How could he anticipate her movements?

‘What in the world…’

It was unreasonable.

Thump—!

Before she could extend her hand, a blow struck her shoulder, pushing her back.

Although the attack barely penetrated her defensive Qi, she was forced into a twisted stance and lost the ability to act.

At that moment, Cheol Jiseon moved, lifting the unconscious Black Dance Hero from the ground.

Seemingly recognizing they could no longer hesitate.

At the same time, Peng Ah-Hee reached out to assist Tang Soyeol.

Though the bleeding had not fully stopped, they couldn’t remain idle.

The Black Night Princess bit her lip, realizing she couldn’t let them go.

To think she’d be caught off guard by a Late-Stage Talent.

It was intolerable.

She reached out, directing her energy towards the escaping group.

As her energy streamed from her toes, it aimed to strike at the others, but—

That was also swiftly blocked by the Two Dragons.

Not by direct interference.

As he playfully dodged, her energy unraveled like dry grass blown by the wind.

“•••What nonsense is this…!”

Her own powers, intertwined with her essence, merely dissipated from a mere flick of his hand.

The shock lasted only a moment.

Boom—!

“Ugh…!”

As her energy dispersed, a direct blow struck her in the solar plexus, sending her stumbling back.

After just recovering from the earlier strike, she found herself reeling from another one.

Her tactics were completely foiled.

The pain wasn’t severe, but she had been blindsided by an actual hit.

She had sustained injuries in her previous fight with the Black Dance Hero too, yet—

This felt entirely different!

“Did you seek my name? How kind of you, but I have no interest in yours.”

His smirk remained.

What was so amusing?

There had to be more than mere joy in this encounter; a martial artist might as well thrive on the thrill of battle.

Even in this seemingly precarious situation, fighting was a joyful endeavor for the Two Dragons.

“I haven’t been known by many names, but as of now, I have but one.”

The past names bore little significance.

What mattered now was affirming to himself that he could bear such a name.

It wasn’t until he had reached this point that the title had begun to weigh heavily upon him.

“I am Bi Yi-jin. My alias… was it? Ah, was it Two Dragons?”

He couldn’t even recall what the alias was. Perhaps he hadn’t given it much thought.

Regardless, this title felt sufficient for the present.

Upon hearing Bi Yi-jin’s introduction, the Princess exclaimed.

“•••Two Dragons. Could it be that you are the successor of Pejon?”

Among the successors of the Three Eminent Beings, only the successor of the Sword Sovereign was known currently.

While the successor of the Heavenly Lord might have been the Black Dance Hero or Thunder Dragon, in terms of understanding the meaning behind their titles, it was a different matter.

It was a well-known tale.

The martial arts they wielded bore immense renown.

That significance alone…

‘•••I see.’

The Princess had to acknowledge the harsh reality that the Late-Stage Talent before her was indeed formidable.

If he were truly the successor of Pejon, then it made sense.

Although she had never met him personally, she was aware of the incidents where the legendary Pejon had single-handedly slain three of the strongest masters among the Demonic Factions long ago.

However, she had never imagined his successor would possess such monstrous strength.

Had he inherited the martial arts of his clan?

‘Does that mean the power he displayed earlier was… the martial arts of Pejon?’

She wondered if he had attacked without raising his Qi earlier.

If she hadn’t reacted so well, she might have already met her end.

Wheeeew—!

As the Princess once again unleashed her aura, the Two Dragons seemed perfectly aware and prepared to respond.

He appeared to be somewhat late in his reflexes, but the energy he extended toward Cheol Jiseon faded before it could reach.

In the end, Cheol Jiseon and Peng Ah-Hee disappeared with their injured companions.

Watching that, the Princess gritted her teeth.

This was unacceptable.

While the members of the Black Dragon Squad lay sprawled about, should she happen to let the Poison Phoenix escape, it would be a significant issue.

For a moment, she considered ignoring the Two Dragons and chasing after them.

“Looks like you’re a bit too complacent, huh? Are you daydreaming?”

The voice that rang out shook the Princess from her thoughts.

With that realization, she swallowed hard.

She appeared to still be near the peak of her powers.

To feel this way even as one who had reached the Transformation Realm—what a humiliation.

That such a feeling existed despite being a successor of Pejon crossed the line.

“Well, since the children have left, I suppose I can take things seriously.”

Energy surged forth from him.

“•••!”

The spiritual energy he released was truly outlandish.

It seemed to shatter the limits of the peak martial artist long ago.

Moreover, what he had just said implied he hadn’t even truly exerted himself until now.

As the Princess hesitated at the implication of his statement, the Two Dragons stepped forward.

“I consider this my first actual use of power, so I have some good news for you.”

With each step he took, he closed the distance to the Black Night Princess.

“Prepare yourself.”

The Two Dragons moved.

“I suppose this is my limit, so I’d better let you know in advance.”

The Princess recalled the earlier mishap and raised her defensive Qi to its fullest.

“If you can withstand this punch, it’s your victory.”

The Two Dragons’ fist came racing towards her.

It was much slower than before.

The Princess was filled with doubt. Why was he extending his strike so deliberately slowly?

‘Is he trying to feign weakness?’

Such thoughts crossed her mind as she observed the apparent slowness.

It was a total shift from how the Two Dragons had battled her moments before.

‘Is it time to evade?’

Thus, the Princess contemplated what choice to make in that fleeting moment.

Judging by her previous experience, blocking felt impossible now.

While she believed she might succeed in fending off the attack, she doubted the odds.

She decided she couldn’t let him hit her and began to create distance.

However—

Kuuuwuck.

“•••!”

In the midst of her deliberation, the Two Dragons’ fist was abruptly upon her.

Though it had clearly appeared sluggish, how had it arrived so quickly?

The Princess grimaced.

The energy in her Qi hastened toward the spot where he aimed to connect.

Too late to dodge.

Additionally, this time literally every ounce of her focus lay in defense.

Even if he managed to push her back, it would hopefully allow for a favorable counter…

Kwa-duke—!

“What?!”

Her defensive technique shattered effortlessly against his blow.

The Two Dragons’ strike plunged deep into the Princess’s abdomen.

Kuwuung—!

Once more, the mountain trembled with a formidable force, an intensity unfathomable compared to before.

The effects of that impact shattered the dyed sky above.

Droplets of energy trickled down through the cracks above.

And within those fissures—

An eerily familiar heat surged forth, almost as if beckoning.

 

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