Chapter 608
Yak Bing gazed at Bu Eun-seol with wistful eyes.
"Come to think of it, you resemble my younger sister quite a bit."
Her expression and eyes as she recalled her sister were a turbulent mix of deep longing and despair.
After fixing her gaze momentarily on empty space, she bit her lip and spoke.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you get out of here safely."
"Ah."
"You don't believe me."
In response, Yak Bing offered a dry smile.
"Truthfully, I came here searching for my sister."
A faint smile lingered on Yak Bing's lips.
"My real name is Jo Yak-bing."
Bu Eun-seol swallowed his surprise.
Jo Yak-bing.
She was one of the Four Great Divine Thieves—the four most exceptional thieves in the martial world.
Renowned for her extraordinary movement technique, she bore the epithet "Thousand Li Without a Shadow."
'She's disguised herself.'
Jo Yak-bing was famously beautiful.
Her face was so well-known that she had slightly altered her appearance for this mission.
"I've roamed the martial world since childhood, but my sister didn't."
In her youth, Jo Yak-bing had encountered Gwak Yeong-san, an eccentric from the Wind Medicine Sect known as the Peerless Divine Thief, and became his disciple.
But unlike Yak-bing, her younger sister had a frail constitution and couldn't practice martial arts.
Instead, she had been studying at home to enter the prestigious Jegal Academy.
Then one day, her sister vanished as if evaporated into thin air.
Her parents searched everywhere and even contacted the government offices, but no trace of her could be found.
Upon hearing the news, Jo Yak-bing—who had been roaming the martial world alone and making a name for herself—
immediately began tracking her sister's whereabouts.
Given that not even scouring one hundred eighty thousand li of the Central Plains yielded any clues, her sister must have been taken to a place with airtight security.
While following leads, she uncovered something else:
not only her sister, but numerous beauties had been disappearing in secret over time.
She also learned that the abducted women had visited several prominent temples in Shaanxi, including Ban-gye Temple.
Finally grasping a thread, she disguised herself as an ordinary woman from a devout family visiting Shaanxi's temples to offer Buddhist prayers.
And just as expected, one day, masked assailants abducted her and brought her here.
"They say the women taken by these people are transported to some secret location. My sister is probably there."
Jo Yak-bing whispered in a low voice.
"I have to find her."
In a situation where safely escaping with her sister from this vast organization might be impossible—
judging by her expression—
she had undoubtedly brought some precious artifact or demonic creature as a last resort.
"Ah (Why are you telling me this)?"
When Bu Eun-seol mouthed the words silently, Jo Yak-bing grinned.
"I told you. You remind me of her."
Then, with utmost seriousness, she added,
"The fact that they mentioned 'two days from now' means time is running short."
Her pupils burned with the searing light of a grudge.
Soon, she would find where her sister had been taken and rescue her.
The next day.
"Oh-ho, you've put in some effort, I see."
The nun watched Yak-bing's dance with admiration.
"You've grasped how to emphasize natural beauty. Though it deviates from the original intent, it's refreshingly good."
She nodded with a satisfied expression.
"It seems you're ready now."
Smiling, she gestured to the disciples standing behind her, pointing at Bu Eun-seol and Jo Yak-bing.
"Take these two."
Outside, a palanquin awaited at the mountain gate, surrounded by martial artists clad in black uniforms.
'Those are the masters from Bima Palace back then.'
Bu Eun-seol instantly recognized them as the same figures from Bima Palace who had carried women here while clutching bundles.
'Protector Tak would faint if he saw this.'
Once, Bima Palace had dominated the martial world.
But after Tak Il-hon disappeared, its members scattered, and the palace was said to have naturally disbanded.
Yet here they were—a faction of the Demonic Path now reduced to a minor branch of the Mount Hua Sect, transporting women?
'I'll have to leave the cleanup to Protector Tak.'
Swallowing his rising thoughts, Bu Eun-seol stepped into the palanquin. With sharp thuds, the martial artists struck acupoints again.
Then, hoisting the palanquin, they dashed forward at breakneck speed.
Whoosh—whoosh— The palanquin carrying the two shot forward like a loosed arrow.
Bu Eun-seol was pretending to be unconscious.
But Jo Yak-bing, having likely activated the Blood-Shift Great Method, had quietly opened her eyes and was measuring the distance with a grave expression.
After traveling all day, the carriage suddenly became as silent as if submerged underwater.
'A boundary formation must be in place.'
This kind of stillness was a phenomenon that occurred when entering an area layered with multiple Ancient Formations.
Swoosh—
Finally, with the sound of parting water, the carriage came to a halt.
As the carriage door opened, Bu Eun-seol felt as though someone had unsealed his Blood Circuits.
When he and Jo Yak-bing feigned confusion and clumsily rose to their feet, masked martial artists stood outside, their sharp gazes fixed on them.
"Come out."
Bu Eun-seol wore a bewildered expression as he surveyed his surroundings.
High cliffs rose on all sides, and beneath them sprawled an extravagant manor.
It was impossible that such a manor had been built at the base of real cliffs.
Most likely, the entire area was protected by an immensely powerful boundary formation.
'Even if he is an Elder of the Mount Hua Sect, hiding a manor of this scale would be impossible.'
If all of this was the result of a formation's influence, then the entire Mount Hua Sect would have needed years solely to set up formations.
There was a high probability that an external faction was involved—one beyond the Mount Hua Sect.
"This way."
The place Bu Eun-seol and Jo Yak-bing were led into was a massive bedroom inside one of the estate's halls.
Inside, a bed large enough for thirty grown men to lie down at once had been prepared.
All around, strange incense and candlelight flickered.
'Hmm.'
The incense burning in various corners was an extremely potent aphrodisiac—one so strong that even someone with Immunity to All Poisons wouldn't be able to resist it.
Inside, about a dozen women were already present, their expressions dazed as they panted heavily.
Jo Yak-bing also wrinkled her brow upon smelling the aphrodisiac.
But soon, her expression smoothed out again, suggesting she had mastered the same technique as Bu Eun-seol—perfectly concealing and circulating her Internal Power without detection.
'Something must have happened here.'
The dozen or so women waiting inside wore thin silk under-robes, their faces filled with terror.
They had likely undergone another thorough inspection before Bu Eun-seol and Jo Yak-bing arrived.
Click.
Then, a sinister-looking man entered.
After scrutinizing Bu Eun-seol and Jo Yak-bing, he spoke coldly:
"You two—strip immediately."
For an instant, Bu Eun-seol's eyes flickered.
No matter how skilled he was in the Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art, he couldn't transform his actual body into that of a woman's.
If he were forced to undress here, his disguise would be exposed instantly.
'Should I subdue him?'
The sinister man's footsteps were steady, and the shockwave of True Qi surrounding his body was formidable.
There was no telling whether a hastily executed Mind-Seizing Secret Art could seize the Spirit and Mind of a Master like him a second time.
'No choice.'
Just as Bu Eun-seol steeled himself and prepared to exert force into his fingers—
Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps sounded, and a towering middle-aged man with a massive physique entered.
The sinister man immediately clasped his hands respectfully upon seeing him.
This was none other than Chae Ju-hong, the Elder of the Mount Hua Sect.
Outwardly, he exuded a dignified aura, his gaze righteous and imposing—the very image of a lofty figure.
Yet in truth, he was a depraved monster who had built this mountain cabin to abduct beauties.
"I heard an unparalleled beauty had arrived."
Chae Ju-hong examined the fake wound on Bu Eun-seol's neck and nodded in satisfaction.
"Indeed, she is as described."
He flicked his fingers at the sinister man.
"Dismiss the other women."
"But the preparations for the Great Art are already—"
"Not today. Tonight, I wish to indulge in the pleasures of clouds and rain."
Chae Ju-hong, utterly captivated by Bu Eun-seol's beauty, intended to send all the other women away.
"Only keep that dancer girl to liven the mood. The rest—leave."
"Elder..."
"Do not make me repeat myself."
The sinister man bowed his head.
"Understood."
Chae Ju-hong licked his lips as he stared at Bu Eun-seol.
"You—come here."
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol closed his eyes briefly.
The outer walls of this enormous bedroom were reinforced with thick iron, and a boundary formation was deployed outside.
At this point, it was less of a bedroom and more like a training room—designed to prevent any external interference.
'This was originally meant for conducting the Great Art.'
"Can you not hear me?"
Just as Chae Ju-hong was about to step closer—
Snap!
Jo Yak-bing, who had been waiting quietly in a demure posture, moved with lightning speed, extending her index and middle fingers—
—and pressed them against the Spirit Platform acupoint on Chae Ju-hong's back.
True to her epithet, Thousand-League Shadowless, her speed was truly like a flash of lightning.
"Hmm."
If the Spirit Platform acupoint is struck, the limbs become paralyzed and immobile.
As Chae Ju-hong's body stiffened, Jo Yak-bing let out a cold laugh.
"So the mastermind behind the abductions of women all this time was an Elder of the Mount Hua Sect."
She glared at Chae Ju-hong, whose movements had halted like a rigid block of wood, and demanded:
"Jo Chu-su. Where is that child?"
"Who are you?"
When Chae Ju-hong asked indifferently, Jo Yak-bing pulled a sharp hairpin from her hair and pressed it against his throat.
"Answer only what you're asked."
"I don't know who Jo Chu-su is."
"Do you want to die?"
"It's the truth."
Even with the hairpin at his throat, Chae Ju-hong maintained a leisurely smile.
"Do you think I bother learning the names of every woman who enters this place?"
"What did you say?"
"Most of them have their Yin Qi completely drained and are discarded after being killed that very day. The only ones who survive are those like me—children with peerless beauty."
Chae Ju-hong's eyes slowly traveled up and down Jo Yak-bing's face with a relaxed expression.
"You said she was your younger sister? Then she must have been plain-faced, without exception. She was undoubtedly drained of her Yin Qi and discarded."
"You vile bastard!"
Enraged, Jo Yak-bing immediately drove the hairpin halfway into Chae Ju-hong's throat.
Sshhk.
But then something strange happened.
Though the hairpin should have pierced his throat—
Instead of penetrating, the flesh stretched outward as if elastic, matching the length of the embedded hairpin.
"This bastard—?"
Startled, Jo Yak-bing thrust her hand deep into Chae Ju-hong's chest.
Sshhk.
Yet his body stretched like a boneless creature, his skin elongating all the way to his back—
But she couldn't pierce through.
"Golden Flower Soul-Seizing Hand, is it?"
Chae Ju-hong's lips curled into a faint smile as he watched Jo Yak-bing's hand, now dyed gold, embedded in his chest.
"So you're that Thousand-League Shadowless, Jo Yak-bing—the one who steals anything and everything."
Clutch.
Chae Ju-hong seized her wrist.
It turned out the acupoint strike hadn't subdued him at all.
Snap-snap-snap!
Jo Yak-bing unleashed the Flying Swallow Thirteen Kicks, striking thirteen times from his philtrum down to his groin.
But Chae Ju-hong only suffered slight indents in his skin—no real damage.
"You've mastered some bizarre Demonic Arts."
As Jo Yak-bing's eyes flashed and she tried to retreat—
Clutch.
Chae Ju-hong closed the distance instantly and twisted his grip on her Pulse Gate.
"Shall I see your real face now?"
The moment he channeled his Internal Power into her—
Crack. Crack-crack.
The sound of bones shifting began to emanate from her face as her disguise started to unravel.
Simultaneously, the visage of a stunning beauty with sparkling eyes was revealed.
"Indeed, your true appearance is slightly better."
Chae Ju-hong chuckled darkly.
"You've stolen and consumed all sorts of Spirit Medicines, haven't you? That's why your Internal Energy is so high."
Then, abruptly, he released her Pulse Gate and even undid the acupoint seal.
"What's your game?"
"This place is vast, and the Boundary Formation blocks all sound. No matter how much you struggle, no noise will escape."
Chae Ju-hong licked his lips.
"And this Elder enjoys catching fresh, squirming things like you who sneak in uninvited."
The reason Chae Ju-hong's bedroom was so spacious—
It was because, over time, he had enjoyed playing Death Tag here not just with women, but also with those who infiltrated to hunt him.
Swish-swish-swish!
Jo Yak-bing darted at him like a swallow, her Movement Technique swift as she slashed toward him.
Ting! Ting!
But Chae Ju-hong remained standing in place, blocking every strike with just a single finger.
'There's no other choice.'
Jo Yak-bing retreated like lightning, intending to flee outside.
But then she caught sight of Bu Eun-seol, standing there blankly, and bit her lip.
'I can't leave that child behind and escape alone.'
Chae Ju-hong, having discerned her hesitation, let out a soft chuckle.
"For a thieving bitch, you've got admirable loyalty."
Then he pointed to the door behind her.
"Don't waste your energy. No matter how hard you struggle, you won't be able to escape that place."
"What did you say?"
Jo Yak-bing turned and shoved the door with all her might. But beyond the open door lay a solid wall of iron.
"When did this—?"
Gritting her teeth, she tried to leap upward, bursting through the ceiling.
Thud.
But it was the same.
This hall, its mechanisms activated,
was now encased in thick iron from floor to ceiling.
"Do you think you're the only one who's ever infiltrated this place?"
Chae Ju-hong licked his lips leisurely.
"There have been others—some with martial arts so far beyond yours they couldn't even be compared. And yet, all of them were torn apart and died by my hand."
Jo Yak-bing bit her lip.
She could never have dreamed that the man who had abducted and brutalized these women was an elder of the Mount Hua Sect.
Worse still, Chae Ju-hong's martial arts were far stronger than rumored, and he had even mastered strange sorcery.
In this situation, there was no way for her to escape.
"I'm sorry."
Jo Yak-bing looked at Bu Eun-seol and smiled weakly.
"I couldn't keep my promise to save you."
In her hands, two pitch-black orbs had appeared without her noticing.
Heaven-Crushing Explosive Pellet.
She had secretly brought them in preparation for the worst.
A single pellet could melt even an iron house in an instant.
"We'll all die together!"
She violently clapped her hands together, the pellets held tightly within them.
If two Heaven-Crushing Explosive Pellets detonated in this cramped, iron-sealed space—
no matter how formidable one's martial arts—
survival would be impossible.
Then, something miraculous happened.
Flick.
Just as the two pellets were about to collide, Jo Yak-bing's body froze.
Chae Ju-hong moved swiftly, pressing her paralysis point.
Her body went limp, collapsing to the floor,
and he carefully placed the two pellets on a distant table.
'Sorcery?'
Bu Eun-seol, who had been silently observing, furrowed his brow.
Chae Ju-hong's movements were quick, but not so fast that Jo Yak-bing couldn't react.
Yet, she had stood there blankly, completely unaware of his approach.
"Now, shall we have some fun?"
Chae Ju-hong licked his lips as he looked at Bu Eun-seol.
And in the moment he stepped forward—
Boom!
A deafening explosion sent Chae Ju-hong's body crashing into the ceiling.
Bu Eun-seol had struck the Danzhong acupoint in his chest with the Fist Demon Seven Forms.
Groan, groan.
The iron walls and ceiling of the hall trembled incessantly from the impact.
Yet, Chae Ju-hong's body remained intact.
Tap.
He dropped from the ceiling and glanced down at his chest.
The area struck by the Fist Demon Seven Forms was deeply sunken, enough to fit a human face.
But he showed no sign of pain, his expression still leisurely.
"Well, this is unexpected."
Chae Ju-hong tilted his head with an odd expression.
"To think you possess a technique capable of deceiving my eyes."
"You must have cultivated a demonic art like the Thousand Slaughter Hundred Spirit Art."
"Ah, so you even changed your gender to infiltrate."
When Bu Eun-seol spoke in his original voice, Chae Ju-hong chuckled.
"That's hardly surprising. Others have come disguised as the opposite sex before."
He grinned down at Bu Eun-seol, his smile sinister.
"And they all became... unique playthings."
Disgust welled up in Bu Eun-seol, nearly unbearable.
"Why would an elder of the Nine Great Sects commit such acts?"
"Because I am an elder of the Nine Great Sects."
Chae Ju-hong's expression turned bitter.
"There are too many restrictions. Of all positions, I had to end up in this one."
'He's not the real elder.'
Judging by his speech and demeanor,
the Chae Ju-hong before him was clearly an imposter—a replacement, just like the lord of the Dragon Coil Hall.
"There's no need to drag this out."
All he had to do was behead this fake Chae Ju-hong and rescue the women here.
No need to waste words on this pig of a man.
"Even in women's clothing, you're quite pretty—"
Chae Ju-hong's words cut off as his eyes widened.
Two razor-sharp strands of force were already slicing toward his neck.
Swish!
In sheer panic, he twisted his body like a spinning top, barely dodging the attack.
"Who the hell are you?"
The leisurely expression on Chae Ju-hong's face hardened.
That single move had made him realize—
just how terrifyingly high Bu Eun-seol's realm truly was.