Chapter 213: Something Feels Off
Elder Hwap Hwan burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! Blood Elder! I still haven't heard your answer about that duel we discussed last time. Have you made up your mind yet?"
"If you can't recognize the goodwill I've shown you, then death is the only option! But..."
Blood Elder's expression shifted in an instant as he spoke.
"Let's deal with that brat first, then talk leisurely. What do you say?"
"Excellent idea!"
The moment Elder Hwap Hwan agreed, over twenty martial artists emerged from behind him. All were Divine Fusion Realm powerhouses.
Among them were three Myriad Laws Realm experts as well.
Combined with the Blood Sect's warriors, this was a terrifying force capable of annihilating an entire small nation.
Elder Hwap Hwan grinned maniacally at Yeop Hyeon.
"Yeop Hyeon, did you think you were the strongest? Far from it! This world is full of geniuses far superior to you! Take a look at whom this old man has summoned for you!"
As his words fell, a girl in a frozen skirt slowly stepped down from a nearby docked cloud ship.
The moment the girl descended, the temperature in the area plummeted. The spots she stepped on froze solid.
And Yeop Hyeon froze the instant he saw her.
The girl's gaze landed first on Yeop Hyeon.
In that moment, cold tears streamed from her eyes.
Elder Hwap Hwan was the one thrown into confusion.
Something's off?
He glanced at the two maids who had followed the girl down. They too furrowed their brows, sensing something was wrong.
After a brief hesitation, one maid hurried to the girl's side and whispered softly.
"Saintess."
But the girl didn't respond, continuing toward Yeop Hyeon. Suddenly, Elder Hwap Hwan blocked her path.
"Saintess, the one Hwap Hwan Sect wishes to handle is that Yeop Hyeon scum."
The girl stared blankly at the elder pointing at Yeop Hyeon.
Kill my brother?
In an instant, a bone-chilling frost erupted from her entire body.
Boom!
Elder Hwap Hwan's form slid over a hundred zhang away.
Finally coming to a stop, he stared at his hands. Both were frozen solid like ice, and frigid energy was seeping into his body. If left unchecked, he'd turn into an ice pillar!
Without hesitation, Elder Hwap Hwan severed both arms. No blood flowed from the stumps—they were already frozen through.
With his arms, the deadly chill detached as well. He let out a small sigh of relief, then glared up at the girl.
"Why?"
This was the question on everyone's mind in the arena.
Even the two Myriad Laws Realm experts guarding the girl looked at her with utter incomprehension.
Ignoring their curiosity, the girl reached Yeop Hyeon. Her guards jolted in shock and charged at him—but unexpectedly, she dove straight into his embrace.
"Oppa!"
Oppa?
Elder Hwap Hwan turned to stone on the spot.
The two warriors about to strike Yeop Hyeon froze mid-motion, powerless to act.
The girl's identity was none other than Yeop Ryeong.
Meanwhile, Yeop Hyeon, holding Yeop Ryeong in his arms, shivered with chattering teeth.
So cold! It's like the chill is piercing straight to my bones!
This was his first thought after embracing his sister after so long.
Noticing his state, Yeop Ryeong hurriedly pulled away and stepped back a few paces. Seeing the icicles dangling from Yeop Hyeon's body, she panicked, not knowing what to do.
"Oppa, this... I didn't do it on purpose... Hing... What do I do..."
At that moment, sword intent erupted from within Yeop Hyeon.
Pure Intent Sword Intent!
Once it manifested, the invading chill receded from his body almost instantly.
Elder Hwap Hwan, dark-faced, shouted at the two maids behind Yeop Ryeong.
"You two! What is the meaning of this?!"
The maids exchanged glances, and one approached Yeop Ryeong, whispering.
"Saintess, didn't we leave the sect this time to grant Hwap Hwan Sect's request...?"
"You want me to kill my oppa?"
Yeop Ryeong's icy voice froze the entire arena in an instant.
Puzzled, Elder Hwap Hwan asked.
"Saintess, you are the saintess of Bukhanjong. Why call Yeop Hyeon 'oppa'? Could it be that you..."
"He is my brother!"
Yeop Ryeong stepped forward, staring straight into Elder Hwap Hwan's eyes.
"Anyone who touches even a hair on my oppas head—I'll freeze them and their entire family to death!"
Suddenly, Yeop Ryeong's form shot skyward. At the same time, white snowflakes began falling from the heavens unbidden.
She clasped her hands, and the snowflakes spun like tops. The sheer force cracked the ground for a hundred zhang around. Soon, the whirling flakes shot forth like arrows—straight at Elder Hwap Hwan.
Heavenly Realm Armaments!
Elder Hwap Hwan stared in horror at the oncoming snowflakes. Surrounded from all directions, escape was impossible.
He had no choice but to block with his life on the line.
His hands slammed into the ground.
Boom!
The earth beneath him collapsed, and a pink flying dagger erupted from the soil into the air.
The pink dagger shattered nearby snowflakes in a flash, then hurtled toward Yeop Ryeong.
Yeop Hyeon was about to leap into action when Yeop Ryeong pointed at the space above Elder Hwap Hwan's head. The snowflakes merged into a massive snow lotus, plunging unerringly toward the dagger.
Boom!
With a heaven-shaking roar, the lotus pulverized the dagger without a scratch, then slammed into Elder Hwap Hwan.
Thud!
He was flung over a hundred zhang away. When he hit the ground, his entire body was encased in ice. Only his eyes could still move.
The onlookers' faces hardened instantly. A peak Myriad Laws Realm like Elder Hwap Hwan, subdued so easily!
Even more shocking: the Bukhan Saintess was Yeop Hyeon's sister.
This is seriously messed up!
Blood Elder glanced around, eyeing an escape.
The Myriad Laws Realm experts who'd come with Elder Hwap Hwan had already fled faster than him. If Yeop Hyeon and the Bukhan Saintess teamed up, they'd have no chance.
Yeop Ryeong pointed at the fleeing Hwap Hwan Sect warriors and shouted.
"Kill them!"
Her two Bukhanjong guards hesitated, unsure. Relations between Bukhanjong and Hwap Hwan Sect weren't bad. But killing them now would make the sects mortal enemies.
While they dithered, the Hwap Hwan Myriad Laws Realm experts vanished beyond the clouds.
Yeop Ryeong yelled furiously.
"See? Oppa was right! You can't rely on anyone else for anything!"
The guards' faces darkened. Realizing their blunder, they dropped to one knee in haste.
"Saintess, please quell your anger. We merely..."
Cold sweat poured from their heads. Though Myriad Laws Realm experts, Yeop Ryeong's status outranked them.
The Bukhan Saintess was Bukhanjong's undeniable hope for future dominance.
At fourteen, already slaying Myriad Laws Realm foes—what a prodigy!
Yeop Ryeong waved them off dismissively.
"I don't need you anymore. I have my oppa!"
Blood Elder's face paled. He bowed frantically.
"Saintess, there must be some misunderstanding. Blood Sect has no reason to make an enemy of Bukhanjong!"
"But you're my brother's enemy—and his enemies are mine!"
With that, Yeop Ryeong stepped forward. A frigid gale swept in, dropping the temperature further. Countless snowflakes materialized above Blood Elder and his men, each tip sharp as a dagger, sending chills down spines.
"R-Run! Everyone, flee!"
Blood Elder cried out in panic.
These were Blood Sect elites. Losing them here would be a devastating blow.
Fighting back seemed hopeless against the Bukhan Saintess and Yeop Hyeon.
I have to escape!
At his command, the Blood Sect warriors scattered—but the snowflakes were already arrowing toward them.
"Argh—!"
Screams of agony echoed across the arena. No Divine Fusion Realm could block those snowflakes.
Even Yeop Hyeon found this fierce side of Yeop Ryeong unfamiliar and intimidating.
Enraged at losing his prized warriors, Blood Elder glared with bloodshot eyes and charged her madly.
His vision was consumed by rage.
Yeop Hyeon launched himself, swinging his sword at Blood Elder.
The jet-black Spirit Water Sword descended, warping the surrounding space.
One Sword Determines Life and Death!
Infused with Evil Intent Sword Intent, this strike was more potent than ever.
Blood Elder, lunging at Yeop Ryeong, shrank back at the sight. Disbelief filled his face.
Could a Divine Fusion Realm unleash such power?
Desperately channeling his vital energy, he thrust out a palm. Pink energy exploded from it.
Boom!
The pink palm shattered, hurling Blood Elder a hundred zhang to crash into the ground, cracking it. Blood spewed from his mouth, his right hand severed.
Not dead yet, but critically wounded and combat-ineffective.
Silence fell over the arena. Then, hoofbeats thundered as a cavalry troop appeared.
The Chang Lan Dao Soldiers.
These hundred riders had just finished slaughtering or driving out the Blood Sect forces inside Yangjie City.
Yeop Hyeon bellowed at them.
"Don't let a single one escape! Kill them all! Hang the heads of Blood Sect disciples at the gates to honor the spirits of the hundreds of thousands slain!"
"Our Blood Sect will never forgive you..."
Slash!
Before Blood Elder could finish, the Spirit Water Sword beheaded him.
Sheathing his blade, Yeop Hyeon approached Yeop Ryeong slowly. He took her small hand and gazed softly into her eyes.
"Let's go. Oppa will buy you candied hawthorns!"