Chapter 173: Preparations Complete - 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 173: Preparations Complete - 1
Heavenly Moon Palace
The Heavenly Moon Palace was situated in the vast Qilian Mountains of Gansu Province.
Its location reflected the intentions of the first Palace Master, who believed that the pure energy of Mount Qilian would foster a perfect balance and harmony of essence, energy, and spirit.
The Heavenly Moon Palace was a sect that specialized in the sword. Over the centuries, it had produced countless swordsmen, all of whom possessed enough skill to dominate their respective eras.
While the number of notable swordsmen from the palace was vast, three stood above the rest.
The first was the founder and first Palace Master, Joo Gyeong-chan, who was revered as the Sword God.
The second was the 37th Palace Master, Ju Chan-gi, who had served as the Murim Alliance Leader.
The third and final was the 38th Palace Master, Joo So-yang—the "Best Among Women" who held the title of Heavenly Sword Empress.
All three were legendary figures who had left an indelible mark on the history of the Murim.
The first Palace Master, Joo Gyeong-chan, possessed such overwhelming sword mastery that he was called the Sword God, and he was once the undisputed Greatest of All Time.
The 37th Palace Master and Murim Alliance Leader, Ju Chan-gi, was also renowned as the greatest orthodox martial artist of his day. Though he eventually lost his life to the Heavenly Demon, his reputation for chivalry remained a paragon for all martial artists.
As for the 38th Palace Master, Joo So-yang, she was considered an exceptional existence even within the Heavenly Moon Palace.
The palace accepted disciples regardless of gender as long as they had talent, but its martial arts focused on the "Strong Sword"—a style so fierce and powerful that it was traditionally difficult for a woman’s body to master.
Joo So-yang was the first woman to shatter that limit.
Despite being a woman, she reached the ultimate heights of the Strong Sword and grew into one of the most powerful figures in the current Murim.
Many marveled at her genius. Some went as far as to say that if she had been born a man, she, not Lee Jae-won, would have been the World's Greatest Martial Artist.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Joo So-yang was swinging her sword with all her might.
The power was so immense that the air vibrated violently with every strike. It was a clear testament to the staggering sword force she possessed.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Crack.
The sound of the blade cutting through the air grew louder, and soon, cracks began to spiderweb across the steel.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
She paid it no mind, swinging the sword even harder.
Shatter!
Before long, the cracked sword finally exploded, unable to withstand the sheer pressure of her Strong Sword.
Clang.
She stared at the hilt remaining in her hand for a moment before tossing it to the ground. She turned around without a hint of regret.
"I suppose Tang-made swords aren't all that special, are they? To think the durability is this poor."
A smile played on her lips as she spoke.
"..."
Tang Seo-yoon, who was the target of her gaze, merely stared back with cold eyes, remaining silent.
"Ah, right. I haven't unsealed your acupoints yet, have I?"
Joo So-yang wore an expression of sudden realization. She had forgotten that she hadn't released the paralysis after sealing the girl's pressure points.
Joo So-yang walked slowly toward Tang Seo-yoon.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
She reached out and unsealed the acupoints.
Swish!
The moment she was free, Tang Seo-yoon swung her hand toward Joo So-yang’s cheek.
Grab.
However, her hand was effortlessly caught by Joo So-yang.
"Now, now. If my cheek were to swell up, my husband would be very sad."
Joo So-yang smiled, looking at the fiercely resisting Tang Seo-yoon as if she were a cute pet. The girl struggled to pull her hand away, but it was futile. With her internal energy suppressed, there was no way she could escape the grip of a martial artist who had reached the Transcendent Realm.
"It’s useless."
Joo So-yang’s smile deepened at the sight of Tang Seo-yoon’s struggle.
"Release me this instant!" Tang Seo-yoon shouted sharply.
"I’m afraid I can’t. Until your fiancé arrives, you must stay here at the Heavenly Moon Palace, Lady Tang."
Joo So-yang shook her head slightly as she spoke. Tang Seo-yoon was the hostage intended to lure Jang Sun-woo. There was no way she would let her go.
"The Tang Clan won't stay quiet once they find out about this!" Tang Seo-yoon screamed.
She was right. Officially, Tang Seo-yoon was the only remaining direct-line descendant of the Tang Clan besides the Poison King. Kidnapping her was tantamount to declaring war on the entire Sichuan Tang Clan.
"Find out about what?" Joo So-yang asked, feigning ignorance.
"You kidnapped me, a direct bloodline of the Tang Clan! Do you really think you'll be forgiven for this?"
"Heavens, no. Didn't you follow me to the Heavenly Moon Palace of your own volition because you admired me so much?"
"Stop lying through your teeth!"
Tang Seo-yoon’s voice rose in anger at Joo So-yang’s brazen attitude. To kidnap someone and then spout such nonsense?
"It’s fine. People only believe what they want to believe anyway."
"What!?"
"Think about it, Lady Tang. Why would I—a hero of the Great War of Righteousness and Demons and the mistress of the Cheonmu Alliance, the most powerful force in the Murim—bother to kidnap you?"
Joo So-yang spoke with a thick smile.
"No matter how much you scream the truth, very few will believe you. Just think: whose word will people trust? Mine, a woman who commands the respect of the masses, or yours, the girl known as Dok Seo-si?"
Joo So-yang continued with absolute confidence.
"People all harbor fantasies in their hearts, you see. And they desperately want those fantasies to remain unbroken. To many martial artists, I am that fantasy. Beautiful, powerful, and a savior of the Murim."
She looked Tang Seo-yoon straight in the eye.
"If someone tries to break that fantasy, the masses will turn against them. My followers are everywhere. I will spread the rumor that Jang Sun-woo tried to defile me, and many will believe it. And you, Lady Tang... you will simply be seen as someone babbling lies to cover up your own tarnished reputation."
"Do you think the Tang Clan will tolerate such a thing?" Tang Seo-yoon asked, her voice cold.
"It doesn't matter if they tolerate it or not. Public opinion is already on my side. In the end, justification is created by the masses. I will shed tears before the world, and the people will denounce and condemn the Tang Clan. In such a situation, if the Tang Clan declares war on me, whose side do you think the Cheonmu Alliance will take?"
She continued with a playful smirk.
"Will they side with the Tang Clan, who is trying to protect a vile rapist? Or will they side with me, the victim who is weeping with guilt even after executing that rapist?"
Grind.
Tang Seo-yoon gnashed her teeth. She realized that if this woman truly set her mind to manipulating public opinion, ruining a person's life would be child's play. She knew better than anyone the kind of influence Joo So-yang wielded.
The titles attached to her were endless.
The daughter of the former Murim Alliance Leader.
The primary wife of the current Cheonmu Alliance Leader.
A hero of the Great War of Righteousness and Demons.
The Best Among Women.
The Heavenly Sword Empress.
These titles represented her immense power. The influence she had built since the days of the old Murim Alliance, her achievements in the war, and her status as the greatest female martial artist... her reach had extended to a realm that even the sect leaders of the Nine Sects dared not challenge.
If she decided to bury Jang Sun-woo, it was entirely possible. Unlike her, Jang Sun-woo was an unproven variable.
Tang Seo-yoon bit her lip harder. She was furious, but she felt pathetic for being unable to do anything.
Pat, pat.
Joo So-yang slowly raised her other hand and began to stroke Tang Seo-yoon’s head.
"A woman’s tears can be a powerful weapon. Especially for a woman of my standing."
Her touch became even gentler.
"So, if you don't want something like this to happen again, get stronger and make a name for yourself. All of this is happening because you are weak."
Joo So-yang spoke in an incredibly soft tone, but her words were filled with thorns. The discrepancy between her voice and her words made Tang Seo-yoon even angrier.
Slap.
Tang Seo-yoon swiped her hand through the air, rejecting the touch.
"My, you seem quite angry."
Joo So-yang let out a small giggle.
"Perhaps you should choose to cry rather than bite?"
Tap. Tap. Tap.
After offering her "advice," she sealed Tang Seo-yoon’s acupoints once more. Although the Thousand-Transforming Illusionary Mist Formation was active and escape was impossible, she was worried the girl might try something extreme.
"Now, all you have to do is wait for your husband to arrive."
Joo So-yang’s smile widened as she looked at her prisoner.
*
Tang Clan Secluded Training Cave
Hummmmmmm.
Sitting in a lotus position, Sun-woo closed his eyes and circulated the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art. The Yin-Yang Harmony Qi surged through his fine meridians and acupoints, spreading its energy without restraint.
Soon, the energy manifested as a shimmering aura around his body. The swirling Qi then began to slowly seep back into his skin.
Flash.
After an unknown amount of time, Sun-woo’s eyes snapped open. They were filled with a brilliant, piercing light.
He stood up slowly. His body felt overflowing with vitality and incredibly light.
Whoosh. Whoosh.
Sun-woo threw a few punches into the empty air.
Pop! Pop!
The sound of the air breaking tickled his ears. He nodded in satisfaction. It seemed he had completely absorbed the elixirs he had taken from the Tang Clan.
He began to walk toward a corner of the training cave where various items were piled up. Reaching the corner, he began to pick them up one by one.
The first thing he took was a suit of armor shaped like a demon’s face.
Overlord Ghost-Face Armor.
It was one of the Six Great Treasures of the Murim, a relic he had stolen from the secret vault that had essentially become Lee Jae-won’s personal treasure chest. Though it had the drawback of consuming a large amount of internal energy, its power far outweighed that flaw. Its durability was such that ordinary Sword Qi or Sword Astral couldn't even scratch it, and it was a treasure among treasures that could grant the wearer transcendental power depending on the situation.
Back at White Flower Peak, this armor had given him the chance to defeat the Sword Emperor, Yang Tae-san. Though it had been damaged by Lee Jae-won at the time, its self-repair function had fully restored its former glory.
Sun-woo held the armor and brought it close to his body.
Hummmmm.
The Overlord Ghost-Face Armor began to resonate before wrapping itself around him.
Click.
Soon, a large, gaping demon’s mouth sat upon Sun-woo’s chest. He had become one with the armor.
Hummmmm.
The armor vibrated as if greeting him. After patting it a few times, Sun-woo reached out again.
This time, he picked up a black robe embroidered with golden dragons.
Black Dragon Robe.
A legacy left behind by the Poison King, who was once the World's Greatest Martial Artist, it was a mystical garment of immense utility. Woven from Heavenly Silkworm Silk, the robe was durable enough to easily deflect most Sword Qi. Furthermore, it possessed a consciousness of its own; when infused with internal energy, it could expand and move of its own accord to assist in battle. It was the same treasure that had once protected Tang Seo-yoon from the countless arrows of the Blood Bow Unit.
Swish.
Sun-woo draped the Black Dragon Robe over his shoulders. As he channeled his energy, the robe adjusted itself to fit his frame perfectly. Once fully donned, the black fabric fluttered fiercely as if in greeting.
After calming the robe, Sun-woo leaned down one last time.
This was the final piece. The object he picked up was a single sword.
Chring.
As he infused it with energy, the stiff blade transformed into a supple soft sword.
Dragon Tail Soft Sword.
Like the armor, it was one of the Six Great Treasures of the Murim—a famous blade with a will of its own. It was the sword he had taken from Lee Ye-seol, the sword that had started all of this.
Sun-woo projected his will into the weapon. The Dragon Tail Soft Sword slowly coiled around his waist, eventually taking the form of a simple waistband.
Seeing the sword fully equipped, Sun-woo’s eyes gleamed.
He now possessed three treasures the likes of which the Murim might never see again: the Overlord Ghost-Face Armor, the Dragon Tail Soft Sword, and the Black Dragon Robe.
However, he had never used all three at once. The armor was too conspicuous, so he had left it behind before going to the Tang Clan, and he hadn't had the chance to properly coordinate the robe and the sword except when fighting the Yin-Yang Demon.
But now, he was wearing them all. Not only that, but he had absorbed every elixir the Tang Clan had to offer to compensate for the energy drain these treasures required.
He couldn't even imagine how much power he could now unleash.
A cold murderous aura began to swirl in Sun-woo’s eyes.
All preparations were complete.