Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Let's Talk After You Survive (1)
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Huangbo Hyo-seon was heading back to the Martial Alliance.
Of course, I didn't hear this directly from her amid the cold shoulder she was giving me. It was Young Ho-kyeong who told me.
"It'll make it easier for you to move around now."
In truth, since it had ended at the edge of the Eternal Rest Pavilion, I hadn't paid it much mind.
But more than that, it bothered me to send her off in this messed-up state.
"She said she'll pay her respects to the Cult Leader today and then come greet me too, so don't worry."
"Is that so...?"
Maybe because they'd spent quite a bit of time together, or perhaps since they were both women, it seemed they'd built up some camaraderie.
At the very least, Young Ho-kyeong seemed to feel quite friendly toward her. I had no idea how Huangbo Hyo-seon felt, though.
"By the way, you look exhausted. Are you all right?"
"I-I'm fine."
Damn it. Was it that obvious?
No one had ever said I looked tired, even after staying up all night having sex.
Having a wild night of netori impregnation sex was great, but when I put Chae Su-ran to bed and returned to my quarters, I was faced with a hopeless situation.
Even if, as Chae Su-ran said, Jinghyeondong couldn't spread rumors about our affair, I had no idea what to say to take her away.
And the Young Cult Leader in front of me still had no clue I was a lecher specializing in milfs.
"If you're not feeling well, let me know. I'll send a physician."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Seeing how she showed displeasure toward her master, it seemed I needed to avoid getting caught as a lecher while eyeing a chance to bed her...
Otherwise, this warm tone might be the end of it.
"About that proposal you made last time..."
Since the elders apparently hadn't come up with any brilliant ideas, Young Ho-kyeong started pressing me again for any good thoughts I might have.
The Demonic Cult's base was up against the Divine Firmament Desert, so no matter how I looked at it, we were outmatched in resources by the Central Plains.
In the end, it meant the Cult had to lean on industries where human resources made up a bigger share...
I was just about to unpack the bundle of ideas I'd come up with when a servant's voice rang out.
What? Already?
Startled, I locked eyes with Young Ho-kyeong for a moment before turning my head toward where she gestured.
There was a side room visible.
Unlike the Young Cult Leader's quarters in the Cult Leader's hall, this residence had a side room for the servants attending her to rest in.
I quickly slipped behind that door, suppressing my presence as much as possible. Then I heard Young Ho-kyeong permit her entry.
Huangbo Hyo-seon's voice responded in a tone as warm as a spring breeze, compared to how she spoke to me. I steeled my resolve.
Even after you return to the Central Plains, I'll definitely bed you, so prepare yourself.
Huangbo Hyo-seon suddenly felt a chill run down her spine and glanced around.
"What's wrong?"
At Young Ho-kyeong's puzzled question, Huangbo Hyo-seon gave an awkward smile and met her eyes.
"Nothing, just a strange feeling... Must be my imagination."
Taking the tea the servant offered, Huangbo Hyo-seon changed the subject.
"Thanks to the Young Cult Leader's consideration, I was able to stay comfortably. Thank you."
"No need to thank me. Please convey the sincerity of our Cult to the Martial Alliance properly."
"Of course."
Though she'd vaguely seen the Demonic Cult headquarters as a den of demons, Young Ho-kyeong was someone she could interact with as pleasantly as any righteous heroine.
If not for that incident, she would've thought this trip to the Demonic Cult was truly fortunate...
'Yeomwangdo...!'
The man whose name and face she didn't know, whom she could only call Yeomwangdo.
And even that wasn't his actual title. All she knew about him was his martial arts and...
'No, no!'
Recalling the massive presence between his legs, she tried to push the thought from her mind.
And like so many people do, the very act of telling herself not to think about it made the thoughts swell uncontrollably.
The size of his member didn't matter; what mattered was the bond between man and woman. Remembering the radiation of yin and yang fluids wasn't even worth it. She repeated this to herself several times.
"Are you really okay? If it's hard to leave, you can rest longer..."
"I-I'm fine."
At Young Ho-kyeong's question, sensing something off, Huangbo Hyo-seon lifted the teacup she hadn't touched yet.
Young Ho-kyeong lifted hers as well.
"I don't know much about tea, but this has a deep flavor. What's it called?"
"I'm not sure either. Regrettably, it's not to my taste—the servant picked it..."
Young Ho-kyeong's words cut off unnaturally.
Before the puzzled Huangbo Hyo-seon could ask what was wrong, Young Ho-kyeong's expression twisted, and an immense pressure began to bear down.
"Y-Young Cult Leader? What's happening?"
It was said that peak demonic arts experts could freely conceal their demonic energy.
That's why Huangbo Hyo-seon hadn't sensed any from Young Ho-kyeong until now. But at this moment, terrifyingly potent demonic energy was vibrating the air.
Shrinking back from the fearsome demonic aura, Huangbo Hyo-seon realized something was gravely wrong only when Young Ho-kyeong collapsed.
"What in the world...! Is anyone there?! The Young Cult Leader is in critical condition!"
Huangbo Hyo-seon had some knowledge of qi and meridians as a martial expert, but she was no physician, and demonic arts were completely foreign to her.
"Urk...!"
She had no idea what had gone wrong to cause the demonic arts to rampage, but seeing a transcendent expert like Young Ho-kyeong groan and collapse made it clear this was no ordinary situation.
"Young Cult Leader, I'll fetch someone right away. Just hold on."
With this much energy, someone nearby would notice and come running soon.
Seeing Young Ho-kyeong barely nod, Huangbo Hyo-seon headed for the door to rush outside. But she spotted an old man and a few men running down the corridor and waved to signal her location.
"Here! Hurry!"
She said that, but immediately changed her mind. The moment she clearly saw their faces, she slammed the door shut.
She didn't know who the old man was, but she remembered the faces of the men following him all too well.
'Why are those guys here...?'
No, it wasn't about why they were here. What mattered was why they were here right now.
Huangbo Hyo-seon drew the greatsword placed beside her luggage. Unlike a slender longsword, its solid weight steadied her heart a bit.
Bang!
The old man shattered the door with a single palm strike and entered, followed by the peak experts she'd played tag with that night a few days ago.
"How dare a dog of the righteous faction commit such an act against our Cult's Young Cult Leader!"
From the old man's indignant shout, Huangbo Hyo-seon roughly grasped the situation.
"It's a misunderstanding! I did nothing to the Young Cult Leader!"
There are people with various stances even in the Ming Cult.
Even as she proclaimed her innocence, Huangbo Hyo-seon recalled what Yeomwangdo had told her.
These were surely the culprits behind Young Ho-kyeong's state, trying to frame her with this cheap ploy.
Unlike Young Ho-kyeong or Yeomwangdo, they were the type who wanted conflict between righteous and demonic factions.
"If you did nothing, why is the Young Cult Leader in such agony?! Surrender your neck obediently!"
Young Ho-kyeong had clearly collapsed after drinking the tea. There must be something in it.
But her opponents showed no intent to talk, charging at Huangbo Hyo-seon instead.
'Can I hold out?'
She had no idea when help would arrive.
With such fearsome demonic energy flaring, someone would report to the Cult Leader, but how long until they got here?
Since she wielded a greatsword instead of a longsword, she figured she could hold off those four peak experts to some extent.
But the old man, gripping a single dagger in reverse grip—that was the problem. She saw no answer for him.
A master far above her level. Against a joint assault including him, holding out wouldn't be easy.
"Hah!"
The four rushed her first. Huangbo Hyo-seon began the fight, properly utilizing the greatsword's length and weight.
Her crude sword strikes dominated the space. The cold, transparent trails like falling stars held enough power to counter their attacks.
'I can manage...'
Though slightly pushed back, her swordplay, fueled by rapidly depleting inner energy, endured their four-on-one assault.
The problem was...
"The wench has decent skill."
With no one else around anyway, the old man dropped the indignant act and growled coldly as he joined in.
Sharp, swift Finger Winds pierced the gaps in her swordplay.
She unleashed her protective qi at full power, but it wasn't something mere protective qi could block.
Quickly falling into a defensive, Huangbo Hyo-seon sensed the Palm Force rising from the old man's extended palm sweeping toward her side. She gritted her teeth, bracing for the impact that would engulf her body.
Bang!
But despite the roar, no shock came as expected.
Whatever happened, she poured strength into her sword, repelling the expert swinging at her iron chains—wait, no, her sword—and suddenly the attacks stopped.
"You... bastard...!"
The old man spat with far more genuine rage than his earlier act.
The moment she realized his gaze was directed behind her, Huangbo Hyo-seon also felt the air to her left heat up fiercely. She could guess who was behind her.
"Kang Yun...! Why the hell are you here?!"
"Is that standard for your sect? Berating the person already here with 'why are you here?' Lady Kyung said the same to me."
Hearing the old man's shout, Huangbo Hyo-seon froze mid-turn.
But even without looking, as the man from behind stepped up beside her, she had no choice but to confirm his face.
"Lady Huangbo, I get you have a lot to say, but let's talk after you survive."
It was sometime last year.
The young man who had boldly declared before her that he would become the world's greatest in the future.
The veil of Yeomwangdo lifted, revealing one of the Nine Dragons, the rising stars of the righteous faction.
In the heart of the Divine Firmament, Demonic Cult headquarters.