Chapter 307 : What Exactly Are You?

Lanzhou, Gansu Province.

At Jin Seong-un’s request, Waveflow Immortal had investigated the woman named So-wol.

And now the results were neatly organized into documents atop her desk.

Waveflow Immortal’s expression was unusually grave.

At first, she had thought it was merely another common story.

How many times had men lost nations or sects after becoming completely enchanted by a beautiful woman?

Even if she used Soul Captivation Art and was technically a demonic practitioner… whether they were bewitched by Soul Captivation Art or simply seduced by beauty, what difference did it make?

At least, that was how Waveflow Immortal saw it.

However, the deeper she dug into the woman named So-wol, the more disturbing information she uncovered.

Incidents like this were occurring simultaneously throughout the world.

Orthodox factions, unorthodox factions, even the Demonic Cult—similar incidents were happening everywhere without distinction.

And every single case ultimately led back to one sect.

The scale of the matter was far larger than expected.

Most importantly, the sect responsible belonged to the Orthodox faction.

This had the potential to trigger a shockwave capable of shaking the entire Murim world.

In the end, Waveflow Immortal gave up on judging the matter herself and reported it to her superiors.

How much time had passed after that?

Creak, thud.

The man she had been waiting for naturally entered the room.

“You’ve arrived, Sect Leader.”

The Hao Sect Leader.

Alongside the Beggars’ Sect Chief, he stood at the pinnacle of information gathering in the current era.

Giving a casual nod, he slowly read through the documents Waveflow Immortal handed him.

“So Innkeeper Dragon already left?”

“Yes. It seems he’s trying to track them down in his own way with those foolish friends of his.”

“What are the chances he already approached Yusogung… no, Moon Command Sect?”

“High.”

The Hao Sect Leader gave a small nod.

From a personal perspective, he liked Jin Seong-un.

He liked waiters, he liked heroes, and he liked calm people.

There was no reason not to cherish Jin Seong-un, who was a calm heroic waiter.

The Hao Sect Leader tapped the desk lightly with his finger and sank into thought.

Not for long.

Soon, he asked Waveflow Immortal,

“How could a secular sect of Mount Emei Sect commit something like this? Who else knows?”

“At present, only me and you, Sect Leader.”

“I see.”

If this truth became known to the world, it would create a tremendous uproar.

After all, it was a secular sect of Mount Emei Sect committing such atrocities.

“How exactly did they expect to handle this?”

There was no such thing as an eternal secret.

Furthermore, they had been sending disciples all over the world to rake in money as though they had no concern for consequences.

The Hao Sect Leader’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“So they never intended to handle the aftermath in the first place.”

There was only one explanation in cases like this.

They intended to make one enormous profit, clean up their operations, and disappear.

“So what should we do? I already attached Hao Sect martial artists to Seong-un’s group just in case. But since there’s been no communication, I think they lost track of him……”

Major figures from the Orthodox faction, major figures from the Unorthodox faction, even major figures from the Demonic Cult were all tied into this matter.

Even if handled carefully, once this exploded, the backlash would be immense.

Knowing that, Waveflow Immortal looked at the Hao Sect Leader with concern.

Though his thoughts were always impossible to read, he was unquestionably competent.

The Hao Sect Leader nodded before speaking.

“Let’s expose everything. Reveal every sect, family, and individual involved. Especially put Mount Emei Sect’s name right at the forefront.”

Rather than accidentally leaking it and suffering the backlash—

It was better to expose everything cleanly all at once.

Waveflow Immortal’s mouth fell open.

“……Seriously?”

“Yes. Send letters immediately. And we’re heading to Innkeeper Dragon as well. I think I’d be disappointed if that brat died.”

“Understood.”

The two immediately rose from their seats.

It felt as though a wind carrying chaos was beginning to sweep through Murim.

---

Blazing crimson sword qi and dark saber qi shot toward the Moon Command Sect Leader.

“Sect Leader!”

Everyone was shocked, yet she remained calm, smoking her pipe leisurely.

Fwoosh.

Black smoke poured from between her lips.

The two streaks of saber qi and sword qi tore through the smoke and surged forward.

Only when the violent energies reached right before her face did she lightly swing her pipe.

Clang-!

With a thunderous metallic crash, the sword qi and saber qi scattered through the air.

She did not retreat even a single step.

She still stood exactly where she had been.

“What?”

Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak were greatly startled.

They knew very well what level of martial artists Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom had become.

Yet this woman from a tiny sect had casually blocked their attacks without effort.

While the two remained stunned, Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom swiftly completed their judgments and launched themselves forward.

In an instant, they had closed in before her and simultaneously swung their weapons.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Fire Dragon Hidden Sword.

Divine Slaughter Shadowless Saber.

The supreme sword art and saber art fiercely pressured her, yet the slender pipe effortlessly deflected and redirected every strike.

In merely two or three breaths, well over a hundred exchanges occurred.

Jin Seong-un’s gaze calmly sank lower.

Now that he had directly exchanged blows with her, he understood clearly.

‘This isn’t Lunar Essence Qi.’

Her energy imitated Lunar Essence Qi somehow, yet its source was far more sinister and malevolent.

He wanted to confirm its true nature.

Why exactly was she imitating Lunar Essence Qi?

Jin Seong-un raised his momentum further.

Stepping through Shadowless Steps, he continuously dug into her openings.

The iron sword moved freely as though it were part of his own body, maintaining relentless pressure.

Crimson Sword Aura blazed violently like raging flames, illuminating the surroundings.

Seo Yu-gyeom also seemed to understand Jin Seong-un’s intentions and heightened his assault alongside him.

A brief glance backward showed Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak already surrounded by Moon Command Sect martial artists, struggling through difficult battles.

Fortunately, Seomun Ak was still concealing his true realm, meaning the situation was not immediately critical.

“You’re quite impressive for someone so young.”

She spoke in a languid tone.

It was difficult to believe she was facing two Transcendent Peak masters.

Even while pushing back their weapons with palm force, she continued calmly smoking her pipe.

Fwoosh.

Thick smoke suddenly swept across Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom’s faces.

The smoke expanded unnaturally, eventually covering the entire manor.

Jin Seong-un’s sword lightly sliced through her sleeve.

Seo Yu-gyeom’s dagger rebounded after colliding against her palm force.

For an instant, surprise flashed through her eyes.

“Why are you two unaffected?”

What did she mean by that?

Just as confusion briefly crossed their minds—

Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom almost simultaneously turned and swung their weapons.

Boom-!

It was Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak.

The two had lunged toward Jin Seong-un and Seo Yu-gyeom with sword and fist attacks respectively.

Just as So-wol had done to the Thunderclap Sect Leader, the smoke she exhaled had clearly activated Soul Captivation Arts.

Unable to cut down their own friends, the two were forced to weaken their attacks.

At that moment, she unleashed enormous palm force powerful enough to engulf all four men at once.

‘Damn it.’

Seo Yu-gyeom cursed inwardly.

If he dodged alone, Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak would be struck dead by the palm force.

But if he tried to drag them away, those mind-controlled idiots would immediately attack again.

Even Seo Yu-gyeom could not instantly determine a solution.

Then it happened.

Dark crimson energy began leaking from Jin Seong-un’s body.

The energy immediately spread outward and seized control of the surroundings.

The palm force she unleashed collided against the Blood Demon Aura and was shredded apart.

Taking advantage of that moment, Seo Yu-gyeom forcefully smacked Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak across the forehead with his palms.

Moyong Hyeon flew backward and crashed into the ground.

Seomun Ak, being a Transcendent Peak master himself, managed to endure somewhat.

Seo Yu-gyeom did not miss the chance to legally beat this fool senseless.

Whether Seomun Ak resisted or not, Seo Yu-gyeom grabbed him by the collar and repeatedly punched him in the forehead.

“Wake. Up. Wake. Up, bastard. Die.”

Jin Seong-un flinched slightly.

That last part sounded strange somehow.

Soon, blood began flowing down Seomun Ak’s forehead, and his eyes gradually regained clarity.

Clicking his tongue, Seo Yu-gyeom casually threw Seomun Ak aside.

They could not afford to keep exposing their backs to a Profound Realm master.

Jin Seong-un and the woman were now directly clashing palm force against one another.

Blood Demon Aura and her sinister energy violently collided, detonating explosions throughout the surroundings.

Once again, surprise flashed through her eyes.

“I’m seeing many fascinating things today.”

Most people were crushed beneath the ominous pressure of Blood Demon Aura, yet she remained completely composed.

Instead, she merely curled her bright red lips upward with interest.

Until now, she had only taken small steps while fighting.

But for the first time, she directly charged toward Jin Seong-un.

Her pale and delicate-looking fingers split the Blood Demon Aura in half.

Then she suddenly approached Jin Seong-un and stared directly into his eyes as though examining a fascinating ancient relic.

At that instant, Seo Yu-gyeom’s Heavenly Slaughter Short Saber silently approached from below, aiming for her chin.

Tap.

Without even looking, she grabbed Seo Yu-gyeom’s wrist.

Her indifferent eyes briefly glanced toward him.

“So you are the Heavenly Slaughter Star. No wonder.”

As though she finally understood why Soul Captivation Arts had failed against him, she nodded with satisfaction.

Then her gaze returned to Jin Seong-un.

Under normal circumstances, the Heavenly Slaughter Star alone would have fascinated her immensely.

But right now, this man interested her even more.

After staring at Jin Seong-un for a moment, she spoke.

“Huh, Heavenly Martial Star?”

At those words, Seo Yu-gyeom’s eyes widened as he looked toward Jin Seong-un.

The reason the former leader of the Cloud Fortune Merchant Group had murdered his parents and adopted him had been because of the Heavenly Martial Star.

Mistaking the Heavenly Slaughter Star for the Heavenly Martial Star, he had committed such atrocities in hopes of raising him personally.

Jin Seong-un already knew this entire story.

‘Why didn’t he tell me?’

That question briefly crossed his mind.

But this was not the time to question such things.

Seo Yu-gyeom pulled forcefully, trying to escape her grip.

Yet despite her frail appearance, monstrous strength held him immovably, like Mount Tai itself.

Seo Yu-gyeom suddenly relaxed the strength in the hand she held.

The Heavenly Slaughter Short Saber dropped toward the ground.

At the same instant, he caught it with his other hand and stabbed her forearm.

Thud, thud, thud-!

He deeply stabbed her three times in succession.

No matter how powerful a Profound Realm master might be, once bones and muscles were pierced through, their grip should naturally weaken.

Yet her grip did not loosen even slightly.

Seo Yu-gyeom frowned deeply as he stared at her.

“Are you some kind of monster?”

Recently, he had encountered too many fights like this.

Starting with Jin Baek-cheon of Ice Palace, then the Peng Family blade master, the Blood Monster, the Alliance Leader, and now this woman before him.

Every master who surpassed the Profound Realm was a monster.

For the first time in his life, Seo Yu-gyeom felt impatience regarding his own realm.

* Take care of the other two.

Suddenly, Jin Seong-un’s Voice Transmission rang out.

At the same time, Jin Seong-un unleashed streams of Blood Demon Aura toward her.

An ominous and sticky energy gathered from all directions and wrapped itself around her body.

Blood Prison.

A technique that literally enveloped and crushed an opponent’s entire body with energy.

Naturally, if the pressure increased further, it could pulverize the target completely.

Yet her body was as solid as forged steel, merely constrained for a brief moment.

Taking advantage of that opening, Seo Yu-gyeom shot toward Moyong Hyeon and Seomun Ak.

Leaving Jin Seong-un alone made him uneasy, but if he abandoned those two idiots, they would absolutely die.

Soon, only Jin Seong-un and the woman remained standing there.

As though she had no intention of killing him immediately, she gazed at him leisurely.

“What exactly are you?”

“That’s my line.”

The two stared into each other’s eyes from point-blank range before simultaneously thrusting out their palms.

Their palms collided head-on.

Both desired a contest of internal energy.

Their energies surged violently through their meridians and slammed into one another.

Kwarurururung-!

As the energies collided, the ground beneath their feet began trembling violently.

A brief moment passed.

Then suddenly, her eyes widened.

Her once-relaxed expression became filled with shock.

She glared at Jin Seong-un as though she wanted to kill him and spoke.

“How are you using that bitch Dalgi’s energy? And as a man, no less…….”

“So you know not only the cultivation method, but also my Master herself.”

Jin Seong-un had already realized long ago that this woman was imitating the Lunar Essence Cultivation Art.

But knowing not only the cultivation method, but Dalgi herself, was another matter entirely.

His Master had said she possessed many disciples.

At first, he assumed these people were descendants of those disciples, or perhaps descendants of villains who stole the lineage, like the case of Myriad Gold Manor.

But he was wrong.

This woman spoke as though she had personally met Dalgi in the flesh rather than merely hearing stories about her.

‘Surely not.’

It was an absurd conclusion.

Yet nothing else explained it.

In his usual calm tone, Jin Seong-un asked,

“The wicked woman who stole my Master’s body and caused her death.”

At those words, her eyes trembled.

Jin Seong-un spoke with even greater certainty.

“Nine-Tails.”

“……So Dalgi that bitch also continued existing, just like me. Tell me immediately where she’s hiding.”

At that instant, an aura incomparably greater than before erupted from her entire body.

Even Jin Seong-un felt his skin tingle from the pressure.