Chapter 154: Ihwa Fairy and Man Inhwa (2)

At that moment, Yong Hwarin spoke.

“Everyone, hold it in.”

“What? After what just happened, you’re telling us to endure? This wicked woman has taken all my internal energy.”

“Your younger siblings are waiting outside this room.”

At those words, the three fell silent. Revealing their condition would benefit no one.

“I feel like I won’t be at peace until I kill this wicked woman.”

“We can’t kill her yet.”

“And why is that?”

“She’s a necessary hostage if we want to get out of here. Besides, I haven’t seen the Taoist priests of Mount Hua here. It seems they’ve been imprisoned somewhere else, and we’ll need Miss Man to find them.”

Despite those words, Shangguan Joyoung could not let go of his rage and gathered the remaining energy in his hand, ready to strike Ihwa Fairy down.

But when he noticed that her ears were missing, he paused in shock and lowered his hand.

“Where are your ears?”

Ihwa Fairy gave a bitter smile and pointed to the ground.

A pair of ears lay discarded on the floor, creating a bizarre scene.

“Who did this to you?”

“Who else do you think is in this room?”

When Ihwa Fairy asked back, Shangguan Joyoung turned to Yong Hwarin.

“Did you do this, Young Master Yong?”

“I did. I had no choice but to act in order to wake you all.”

The others swallowed hard at Yong Hwarin’s ruthless methods.

To their young minds, killing would have seemed less cruel than cutting off a woman’s ears. The very thought had never crossed their minds.

“If I hadn’t done that, this wicked woman wouldn’t have woken you up. Thank you, Hwarin. It’s really comforting to open my eyes and see you here.”

“I promised I would save you. But this isn’t over yet. We’re in Myoseon Mountain, at a secret branch of Ihwa Palace. This place is protected by formations. Escaping won’t be easy. And before that, we need to find the Taoist priests of Mount Hua.”

Seomun Yuwon spoke to Ihwa Fairy.

“Where are the Taoist priests of Mount Hua? Speak quickly!”

He glared at her with killing intent, but Ihwa Fairy looked at him as if he were no more than a passing dog and didn’t bother to reply.

Yong Hwarin calmed the agitated Seomun Yuwon and asked again.

“Where are the Taoist priests of Mount Hua?”

Ihwa Fairy looked hesitant for a moment.

“You’re too slow to answer.”

The moment Yong Hwarin’s hand moved toward his sword, Ihwa Fairy flinched and backed away.

“I’ll tell you! I’ll tell you!”

The group stared in fascination as Ihwa Fairy, who had played with them at her whim until now, trembled like a mouse before a cat when faced with Yong Hwarin.

‘He must have cut her ears off every time she delayed her answers. Hwarin really knows when to be ruthless. That’s how he survived in the Bamboo Forest and managed to infiltrate this place. The more I know him, the more he amazes me.’

Paeng Giyok grew curious about the true nature of Yong Hwarin.

It was rare for someone their age to have such experience and ruthlessness. If he had to compare, perhaps only Tang Cheolgi, considered the most outstanding late-bloomer of the Tang Clan, could match him.

“The Taoist priests of Mount Hua have been imprisoned elsewhere.”

“Why did you do that?”

Yong Hwarin had seen the disciples of Mount Hua fighting in Ihwa Fairy’s belly but hadn’t seen them here.

Since Ho Maeyok and Sa Ilhyang were missing, he assumed that Ho Cheongun, Poong Imso, and Sa Jeokwoo would be here.

But they weren’t.

So Yong Hwarin suspected that Ihwa Fairy had kept them separately imprisoned because she didn’t want to turn all the Nine Great Sects against her.

“Do I have to tell you that too?”

Yong Hwarin nodded.

“Why should I show you any consideration? As you can see, I hold the sword.”

Ihwa Fairy had never suffered such humiliation before. Her anger boiled to the point where her facial muscles trembled uncontrollably.

She barely managed to suppress her lip-quivering fury and opened her mouth.

Still, it was better to endure than to lose her nose.

‘I swear I’ll rip you apart and kill you!’

“I intended to use the Taoist priests of Mount Hua as hostages to demand something from Mount Hua.”

“What were you planning to demand?”

Just as Yong Hwarin asked and Ihwa Fairy was about to answer, screams rang out from outside.

Soon after, the clashing sounds of weapons echoed loudly.

The group waiting outside had clashed with the palace guards.

As Yong Hwarin tried to head outside, Shangguan Joyoung spoke.

“Let’s agree to treat what happened here as if nothing happened. Let’s swear not to speak of what occurred here to anyone.”

Yong Hwarin nodded and then stepped outside, swiftly taking down five attacking guards with Dragon Scale Finger.

“Soon more guards will come after hearing this commotion. We must leave this place quickly.”

As he exited the pavilion, Yong Hwarin asked Ihwa Fairy again.

“Where are the disciples of Mount Hua?”

Seeing how calm Yong Hwarin remained even in this situation, Ihwa Fairy inwardly clicked her tongue.

He showed no signs of wavering.

“They’re imprisoned in a separate annex. You’ll find it beyond this ridge.”

Yong Hwarin hadn’t expected there to be another annex besides these pavilions.

“Lead us there.”

Ihwa Fairy turned as if flustered, but an eerie smile crept across her face.

Yong Hwarin showed no mercy as he continued to strike down the attacking guards with Dragon Scale Finger.

One strike, one kill.

The warriors of Ihwa Palace were nearly first-rate martial artists, yet they crumbled helplessly before Yong Hwarin’s deadly assaults.

The young masters following behind watched with admiration and fear at yet another display of Yong Hwarin’s power.

Each time they met him, he had grown stronger.

The fear of how much more he could grow began to tighten around their hearts.

Ihwa Fairy didn’t even blink as her subordinates fell to Dragon Scale Finger.

‘Once you reach the annex, you’ll all be on your knees, begging me to spare your lives.’

Man Inhwa had imprisoned the disciples of Mount Hua in the annex because those residing there were highly skilled.

‘They probably don’t know that over a hundred members of Ihwa White Sword Unit are stationed in that annex.’

The Ihwa White Sword Unit had secretly entered Myoseon Mountain to confront Mount Hua.

Man Inhwa hadn’t expected to capture the young masters of the martial clans in the process, let alone take the disciples of Mount Hua hostage.

While investigating the identities of the Mount Hua disciples, she discovered that two of them were the children of Mount Hua’s sect leader. She had planned to use them to demand what she had long desired from Mount Hua.

Ihwa Fairy believed her plan had gone perfectly, with unexpected fortune even adding to it, leaving her with no worries. But out of nowhere, Yong Hwarin, utterly wicked to the bone, had barged in and was now completely ruining her perfect scheme.

However, she was certain he didn’t know that the Ihwa White Sword Unit was stationed here.

No matter how strong he was, Ihwa Fairy believed he could not handle over a hundred experts on the verge of the master level.

She was confident that a force like the Ihwa White Sword Unit could easily subdue any mid-sized sect.

Before long, Yong Hwarin and the group arrived at the annex.

“Where are they in there?”

At Yong Hwarin’s question, Man Inhwa replied.

“They’re locked up at the very back of the annex.”

“Good. Let’s go.”

Yong Hwarin turned to the group and spoke.

“Everyone, please wait here. I’ll go and return.”

Yong Hwarin thought it was better for him to go alone since he was still in the best condition.

“I’ll go too.”

“So will I.”

Paeng Giyok and Namgung Soomyung stepped forward at the same time.

Since these two had not had their qi drained by Ihwa Fairy, they were still capable of fighting.

Yong Hwarin believed they could at least protect themselves, so he nodded.

“Let’s go together.”

Yong Hwarin glanced at the Three Chivalrous Sisters, and Jegal Cheongyeong.

Without words, his gaze asked them to take care of the others.

Jegal Cheongyeong and Jeong Minji answered with a slight nod.

The two women happened to look at each other at the same time and shared a slightly awkward smile.

Seomun Yuwon, Shangguan Joyoung, and Danmok Gyeol felt humiliated but kept their mouths shut.

They feared that if they spoke up, the incident with Ihwa Fairy might be exposed, so they dared not provoke Yong Hwarin.

On the way here, they had pushed themselves by using light footwork, depleting the little remaining qi they had, and now their legs were shaky.

Seeing that, Seomun Seoseol quickly supported Shangguan Joyoung, Namgung Sohong supported Danmok Gyeol, and Danmok Wan supported Seomun Yuwon.

Watching this, Yong Hwarin cast an unexpected look.

He had never imagined these people would end up paired like this.

Paeng Giyok patted Yong Hwarin on the shoulder and spoke.

“While we were enduring hellish days together, many of us leaned on each other and found comfort. It’s natural to rely on those closest, rather than someone far away.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Why? Are you disappointed?”

He already knew that most of the women had shown interest in Yong Hwarin.

“What are you talking about? I’m no womanizer. Right now, I have no room in my heart for such things.”

At that moment, Yong Hwarin seemed to understand why the women had looked at him so indifferently when he first rescued them.

It was because they had already formed attachments after enduring hardships together.

‘I’m really relieved. Their gazes had been quite burdensome.’

Yong Hwarin then asked Paeng Giyok.

“So, did you find someone too?”

Paeng Giyok slightly blushed at that.

“Oh? You did, didn’t you?”

Surprisingly, Paeng Giyok’s eyes drifted toward Shangguan Mijong.

When their eyes met, Shangguan Mijong also blushed and lowered her head.

Yong Hwarin smiled and sent a sound transmission.

Giyok, you’ve made the best choice.

What do you mean by that?

You’ll find out later.

Since Shangguan Mijong, like Jegal Cheongyeong, didn’t make it into the Three Great Beauties of the Martial World but did make it into the Twelve Flowers of the Martial World, she was indeed a good match for Paeng Giyok.

So, who did Namgung Soomyung pair up with?

Without answering, Paeng Giyok grinned at Yong Hwarin.

Take a guess.

Yong Hwarin blinked and replied via sound transmission.

Miss Jeong?

Jeong Minji? Jeong Daji?

No, Miss Jeong Suji.

What? That wildcat and Namgung Soomyung?

I was surprised too.

Jeong Suji was a woman known for her ruthlessness, capable of slicing off a man’s lower parts without blinking an eye.

The fact that such a woman had feelings for someone was surprising enough, but that she liked the slightly naive Namgung Soomyung was even more shocking.

‘They must have felt immense fear in their young hearts while being kidnapped by Ihwa Fairy. Amid that, they leaned on and comforted each other, and feelings grew. It’s natural for men and women to form attachments when they endure hardships together.’

Such bonds, difficult to form under normal circumstances, could stick like glue once formed.

Still, the fact that it was none other than Jeong Suji, who constantly mocked and teased Yong Hwarin, now paired with Namgung Soomyung, made him smile uncontrollably.

‘Maybe she’ll tone down her teasing of me from now on.’

Seeing them smiling and laughing like they didn’t realize they might soon die, Ihwa Fairy clicked her tongue.

‘As expected, they’re nothing but foolish brats if they can feel romantic in a situation like this. And to think I’ve suffered such humiliation at the hands of kids like these.’

The more she thought about it, the more she believed Yong Hwarin couldn’t be left to die an ordinary death.

He was someone who needed to be torn apart, his flesh cut and his bones ground to dust.

“Let’s get moving, shall we?”

While Yong Hwarin was chatting and laughing, he decided he couldn’t afford to waste more time. He grabbed Ihwa Fairy by the waist and leapt forward.

Even while carrying someone, his Rising Dragon Movement didn’t lose any speed.

As Yong Hwarin dashed toward the annex, Paeng Giyok and Namgung Soomyung leapt after him.

“This way.”

Ihwa Fairy pointed toward the place where the disciples of Mount Hua were held.

Though they had entered deep into the annex, the Ihwa White Sword Unit was nowhere to be seen, making Ihwa Fairy nervous.

‘Where the hell did they all go? At least they should have left someone to guard the place.’

While Ihwa Fairy was feeling anxious, they arrived at the room where the disciples of Mount Hua were locked up.

“How do we open it?”

A large iron lock secured the metal door, preventing it from opening.

There wasn’t a single guard nearby.

Namgung Soomyung considered cutting the lock with his sword.

But before he could, Paeng Giyok drew his blade first.

Srrrrk!

Without a moment’s thought, Paeng Giyok had already pulled out his blade, intending to cut the lock.

Just from this, it was clear how different their temperaments were.

Paeng Giyok poured his qi into the blade and struck down.

Chaeng!

However, the lock didn’t break easily.

It would take someone at the level of Qi Net Mastery to cut through a lock of this strength.

‘Looks like Giyok isn’t showing his full strength because Namgung Soomyung is here. Since their families have long been rivals, neither of them wants to reveal all their skills in front of the other without realizing it.’

Seeing this, Yong Hwarin stepped forward.

“Let me try.”

He had no intention of wasting any more time here.

Drawing his sword, he gathered his power and channeled it through the Tai Chi Dantian into the blade.

The blade shone brightly for a moment.

At that moment, Yong Hwarin swung the sword down.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep