Chapter 275: An Unexpected Development (1)

I carefully examined the area and realized that this was where the Three Grand Elders were staying.

Sure enough, familiar energies were positioned all around.

‘Lee Yung, Gwi Ryeongma-in, and two unfathomable masters.’

While I expanded my spiritual senses in search of traces of the Three Grand Elders, I saw someone burst out through a door.

‘Sehee!’

Even in the darkness, I clearly saw Bukri Sehee.

The black-robed individual also witnessed the same scene and began to tremble.

‘Who is that? Who would react with such intensity upon seeing Bukri Sehee?’

While I was briefly lost in thought, Lee Yung appeared before Bukri Sehee and blocked her path.

Then, the Three Grand Elders appeared from behind, wearing a sheer nasam robe.

Just from that, I instinctively sensed what he intended to do, and murderous intent exploded from me.

Unconsciously leaking such killing intent, I startled the black-robed individual who wasn’t far from me.

At that moment, our eyes met.

Yet, the black-robed individual didn’t run away upon seeing me.

Rather, there was a glint of relief in his eyes.

Had he panicked and fled upon seeing me, it would have risked exposing his stealth to the Three Grand Elders, placing him in grave danger.

The black-robed individual looked as if he recognized my face.

Then, he turned his head away and once again fixed his gaze upon the pavilion.

In a way, it was as if he were ignoring me who stood behind him.

‘Truly a strange one.’

Since he didn’t treat me as an enemy, I simply kept observing.

Right now, what mattered was finding a way to save Bukri Sehee.

‘If I can somehow divert the attention of those surrounding the pavilion elsewhere, I might be able to do something.’

Even for me, it would be overwhelming to take on the Three Grand Elders and all his subordinates.

Especially the two masters whose strength nearly rivaled that of the Three Grand Elders.

Those two were Gu Ingeol and Jo Heon, both among the Three Loyal Guards of Hua.

Originally, Lee Yung had planned to bring all of the Three Loyal Guards with him to negotiate with Bukri Chang.

However, the Three Grand Elders changed his mind at the last minute and decided to meet Bukri Chang in person.

He was wary that his disciple, Lee Yung, might harbor ulterior motives in such a crucial matter.

If Bukri Sogun were to be spirited away, it would be a disaster—thus, he resolved to infiltrate the Bukri Clan directly and seize power.

Hong Ayul, upon hearing this, excused herself from the matter with another pretext.

Dong Oh had accompanied her for protection, leaving only two of the Three Loyal Guards to follow the Three Grand Elders.

“I keep finding myself surprised tonight.”

Three Grand Elders Lee Kangmin muttered as he looked at Bukri Sehee’s grown body.

Seeing her trembling like a rain-drenched bird only further stirred his lust.

“So you’ve been transformed using the Bone-Contraction Technique… no wonder no one could find Bukri Sogun. And yet we were chasing after a small-framed boy, thinking that was him—no wonder we failed.”

Now he understood why his spies had been unable to find Bukri Sogun.

She lived as Bukri Sehee normally, and only became Bukri Sogun when needed—how could anyone have known?

“Well, no matter. It’s all to my gain. Very good.”

He kept grinning as his eyes roamed over Bukri Sehee’s body.

Her small clothing clung tightly, and the sight of her swelling chest straining against the fabric drew his gaze most of all.

“Hehehe. I’m about to obtain both martial prowess and a woman. I ought to thank the Bukri Clan Head.”

The Three Grand Elders slowly approached Bukri Sehee.

Bukri Sehee thought that death would be better than suffering such disgrace.

With that thought, she picked up the dagger she had placed on the table earlier and slit her wrist.

“What foolishness is this!”

Before she realized, the Three Grand Elders had already snatched the dagger away.

Bukri Sehee, untrained in martial arts, couldn’t possibly resist him.

The moment she lost the dagger, she bit into her own wrist.

Tssssk!

As she tore open her artery with her teeth, blood spurted out like a fountain.

“Damn it! Stubborn wench!”

The Three Grand Elders grabbed her wrist in an attempt to stop the bleeding, but since it hadn’t been cut with a blade but bitten through, even sealing her pressure points didn’t easily stem the flow.

“This precious blood!”

Knowing that Bukri Sehee’s blood was a rare spiritual medicine, he was loath to let it spill.

“Better death than disgrace!”

As Bukri Sehee spoke coldly and prepared for death, the Three Grand Elders immediately sealed her Devil’s Point and brought his mouth to her wrist.

At the very least, he intended to drink the blood that was spilling.

Gulp. Gulp.

The way he rapidly drank the blood streaming from her wrist was grotesque.

Sensing that things had taken a dire turn, I prepared to rush into the pavilion immediately.

Saving Bukri Sehee was the first priority.

Even if I couldn’t escape the encirclement afterward, rescuing the endangered Bukri Sehee took precedence.

Just then, the black-robed individual sprang up and dashed toward the opposite pavilion, shouting:

“It’s Yong Hwarin!”

The moment that cry rang out, the presences guarding the pavilion all turned their attention toward where the black-robed figure stood.

The black-robed individual leapt down toward Lee Yung and slashed with his sword.

A gleam of sword qi flashed brightly through the dark night.

Tchaaang!

Lee Yung blocked the sword of the black-robed individual and stepped back.

As Myeolhwa, Gwi Ryeongma-in, and the Three Loyal Guards of Hua approached, the black-robed individual immediately fled.

“After him!”

Gu Ingeol and Jo Heon of the Three Loyal Guards of Hua chased after the black-robed individual.

When Myeolhwa and Gwi Ryeongma-in also attempted to follow, Lee Yung quickly stopped them.

“You two don’t chase him. Guard this place instead!”

Lee Yung believed he had a decent understanding of Yong Hwarin.

‘Yong Hwarin attacked and fled?’

He shook his head.

He was not that kind of man.

If he had a goal, Yong Hwarin was the type to fight to the death.

‘And such a man just attacks and runs?’

Lee Yung scanned the area.

Seeing the black-robed individual skillfully shake off two masters, Yong Hwarin realized that he too had come to rescue Bukri Sehee.

With no other option, he had made himself a decoy, posing as Yong Hwarin.

Yong Hwarin immediately moved to the opposite side of the pavilion.

Unfolding the Dragon Concealment Heavenly Art, he approached the rear of the pavilion.

Peeking inside, Yong Hwarin felt an uncontrollable murderous intent surge within him.

There stood Three Grand Elders Lee Kangmin, greedily sucking the blood from Bukri Sehee’s wrist.

“You son of a bitch!”

It felt like a cord of reason inside him had snapped.

Without hesitation, he leapt into the pavilion, pulled out a large needle, and fired the Dragon Scale Finger.

Piiing!

It was a Dragon Scale Finger charged with full power.

Three Grand Elders raised his palm mid-drink and blocked the needle.

“Khk!”

Blood smeared across his twitching lips as he let out a groan.

The needle had pierced through his palm.

Had it missed by a bit, it would’ve gone through his hand and straight into his skull.

“You wretch!”

Three Grand Elders recognized Yong Hwarin’s face and shouted in fury.

Yong Hwarin ran at him, continuously firing large needles.

Imbuing the Dragon Scale Finger with all of his internal power, he launched them with unrelenting force, and Three Grand Elders Lee Kangmin could not let his guard down.

Even the palm shielded with Blood Heaven Palm could not stop it, forcing Three Grand Elders to retreat to avoid danger.

With the path open, Yong Hwarin carried Bukri Sehee and escaped from the pavilion.

He desperately wanted to smash Three Grand Elders’ skull, but now was the time to tend to the unconscious Bukri Sehee.

Reaching the opposite rooftop, Yong Hwarin saw the two masters who had been pursuing the black-robed individual waiting for him atop the roof.

They had lost track of the black-robed individual who, even in the darkness, moved like someone thoroughly familiar with the terrain of the Bukri Clan, vanishing into hidden paths.

Realizing they had been lured away by a diversion, they rushed back in a hurry.

Seeing the two protectors of the Three Loyal Guards of Hua return, Three Grand Elders spoke.

“While I meditate to circulate my energy, the two of you restrain that man.”

Gu Ingeol and Jo Heon nodded.

“Understood.”

Three Grand Elders began meditation to convert Bukri Sehee’s blood into internal energy.

Lee Yung stood guard beside him along with Myeolhwa and Gwi Ryeongma-in.

Despite the chaos, the Bukri Clan showed no response.

It was as if they had no concern for what occurred here.

This was because of an agreement between Three Grand Elders and Bukri Chang.

No matter what happened, no one from the Bukri Clan was to enter the pavilion without his permission. And so, even knowing something had gone wrong, they ignored it.

“Clan Head, shall we dispatch our warriors?”

Bukri So, Chief Administrator of the Bukri Clan, asked as he looked toward the rear garden from where a fierce energy was emanating.

Bukri Chang thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“No warrior of our clan could defeat a man like Three Grand Elders. Do you think such a man would fall to some mere intruder? If we breach the agreement, he’ll use it as an excuse to bite back. It’s better we play ignorant. And if by chance something does happen to Three Grand Elders, wouldn’t that benefit us even more?”

It was in their best interest to stay out of it.

“What if something happens to Sogun?”

“Even if Three Grand Elders is greedy, he won’t drain all of Sogun’s energy.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“He’s dealing with a living spiritual medicine. Why would he consume it all in one go when he can enjoy it repeatedly? He’s not a fool.”

“That may be true, but…”

“Don’t worry, Chief Administrator. Just make sure the warriors of the clan don’t stir.”

Bukri Chang dropped the matter and returned to his quarters.

Following that, Bukri So issued an order forbidding the clan’s warriors—who had been gathering due to the disturbance in the rear garden—from approaching the area.

Yong Hwarin realized that the two middle-aged masters were not ones to be taken lightly.

‘These men have at least reached the threshold of the Boundary of the Upper World. This won’t be an easy fight.’

Though wary of them, Gu Ingeol and Jo Heon looked at Yong Hwarin with admiration.

“You must be the prodigy known as the Heavenly Sword Hero?”

“I am.”

“Oho, remarkable. Truly remarkable.”

Gu Ingeol could vaguely sense Yong Hwarin’s realm through his qi.

Just the fact that there was no disharmony between them meant he had reached harmony with Nature’s Energy and entered the Boundary of the Upper World.

“How could one so young reach the Pure and Complete Realm?”

Yong Hwarin understood that what they referred to was synonymous with the Boundary of the Upper World. It was regrettable that he had to fight such masters.

“Are you two also from the Heavenly Demon Sect?”

“We are.”

They admitted it without resistance.

“Then we must fight.”

“If you’re planning to escape, yes, we must.”

Setting Bukri Sehee down, Yong Hwarin spoke.

“I will not forgive them. I will not forgive anyone connected to those who harmed this woman. So if my strikes seem cruel, do not resent me.”

Yong Hwarin had no intention of forgiving anyone responsible for what had happened to Bukri Sehee.

Gu Ingeol stared at him quietly and said,

“I understand your resolve. We won’t hold back either, so you must give it your all.”

“Those who harmed this woman, those who stand in my way—I’ll kill them all.”

Yong Hwarin had never in his life felt such uncontrollable murderous intent.

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