Chapter 316 : He’s Just Ugly
Cheon Bi-yeon quickly retreated backward.
The wrist the Hao Sect Leader had grabbed was completely crushed.
“So you were hiding your strength?”
“You were doing the same thing, weren’t you?”
The Hao Sect Leader replied with a leisurely grin.
The two stared at each other briefly.
The guards the Hao Sect Leader had brought remained uninvolved, as though the current situation had nothing to do with them.
Swaeaek-!
The palm force Cheon Bi-yeon unleashed crashed toward the Hao Sect Leader like a tidal wave.
The Hao Sect Leader stomped heavily.
Jjeoeong—!
Along with a massive reverberation, the surrounding ground collapsed entirely.
The place swept through by the violet wave—
Nothing remained except a massive crater.
The moment Cheon Bi-yeon casually walked forward and leaned over to look into the pit—
Tak.
The Hao Sect Leader’s hand suddenly wrapped around her slender neck.
Cheon Bi-yeon’s face gradually reddened.
Even so, the killing intent she directed toward the Hao Sect Leader did not lessen in the slightest.
“You really look like a beast.”
Muttering quietly, the Hao Sect Leader leapt lightly out of the crater.
Cheon Bi-yeon grabbed the wrist choking her with both hands.
Fox Moon Qi flowed into the Hao Sect Leader’s body.
Yet it failed to even reach his dantian.
‘What is this?’
Something that could only be called inner power shredded the Fox Moon Qi apart.
That inner power was extremely peculiar.
Colorless and scentless, like plain water.
Thus, despite colliding directly with Fox Moon Qi before her eyes, she could not discern even the slightest trace of its properties or magnitude.
“Twin Shadows.”
At the Hao Sect Leader’s call, the guards who had remained motionless until now finally moved.
With movements resembling shadows themselves, the two descended to either side of Cheon Bi-yeon and pulled out thin silver threads like fishing lines.
The silver threads wrapped tightly around her entire body.
The Hao Sect Leader watched leisurely with his hands clasped behind his back before speaking:
“That new outfit suits you well.”
“…….”
Cheon Bi-yeon glared at him murderously.
The Hao Sect Leader exaggeratedly pretended to be frightened by her gaze.
“Cover those eyes too.”
At once, the shadows called Twin Shadows wrapped silver threads around Cheon Bi-yeon’s face as well.
The Hao Sect Leader let out a sigh of relief.
“That’s better. Though honestly, how should we deal with this? Such a bizarre existence surviving perfectly fine even after Saber King severed its head.”
The Hao Sect Leader was the man who knew more secrets than anyone alive.
Yet even he had never seen such a strange existence before.
“Should we burn you? Tie you up and toss you into the water? Why don’t you tell me yourself? If you cooperate, I’ll try to send you off cleanly and painlessly, however you prefer. Otherwise, we’ll have no choice but to try every cruel thing imaginable. Since we don’t know how to kill you, we’ll simply test everything.”
Though spoken in a playful tone, it was an incredibly terrifying threat.
After a brief silence, Cheon Bi-yeon’s voice emerged.
“The heart…….”
The Hao Sect Leader nodded as though understanding.
“Good. Then we’ll avoid that method. It seems chopping off your head or piercing your heart with a blade won’t kill you.”
“…….”
The silver threads binding Cheon Bi-yeon wriggled slightly.
Apparently, she desperately wanted to tear apart the threads immediately and kill the Hao Sect Leader.
The Hao Sect Leader continued:
“If possible, destroying the soul would probably work best. Unfortunately, I can’t do things like that.”
Just as the Hao Sect Leader began recalling sects and clans capable of handling “that sort of thing”—
The silver threads tightly binding Cheon Bi-yeon gradually began shrinking in volume.
The Twin Shadows and Hao Sect Leader reacted in shock simultaneously.
“What?”
The cocoon-like bundle continued shrinking before collapsing onto the ground.
Cheon Bi-yeon’s body inside had shriveled like dried wood.
“She escaped again.”
Even after binding all four limbs and sealing her acupoints, she had somehow undone everything and killed herself voluntarily.
The Hao Sect Leader stared at the ground with a dumbfounded expression.
Even against ordinary Huajing masters, he had been confident he could bind them forever if he truly intended to.
Apparently, the fake Moon Command Sect Leader wielded internal arts far beyond his expectations.
The Hao Sect Leader glanced around briefly before speaking:
“Should I tell Guest Dragon? No… push-and-pull is important in relationships. Do you know what push-and-pull means?”
“……I do not.”
“Push and pull. It’s a trendy phrase among young people these days. How can you call yourself the Hao Sect Leader’s guard without even knowing that?”
As the Hao Sect Leader clicked his tongue, the Left Shadow among the Twin Shadows wore a wronged expression.
What exactly did being a guard have to do with trends?
“My apologies.”
Still, a guard’s role was to obey when ordered, so he bowed his head.
The Hao Sect Leader nodded with satisfaction.
“Good. Hao Sect members should know everything.”
“……Yes.”
---
Sichuan Province, Emei Sect.
Abbess Jeonghye sat with an extremely serious expression, deep in thought.
She needed to allow Jin Seong-un and his friends into the Emei Sect, the Forbidden Zone for Men.
But what method could possibly exist?
The larger a sect became, the stricter its rules became as well.
Whether sect leader or powerful elder, no one could recklessly manipulate those structural laws.
Thus, even as sect leader, she could not arbitrarily handle the greatest rule governing the Emei Sect.
After lengthy contemplation, Abbess Jeonghye finally reached a conclusion.
There truly seemed to be only one method.
“The Heavenly Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.”
An event where younger generation martial artists exchanged knowledge and determined victory through martial contests, held annually in rotation among the Five Great Families and Nine Sects and One Gang.
Most titles like Five Dragons or Three Phoenixes were born there as well.
Officially, it was meant as an exchange of learning among younger martial artists.
But in truth, its greater purpose was to demonstrate that the Five Great Families and Nine Sects and One Gang stood at the center of the Orthodox Path, and that one needed their “approval” to be recognized as a younger generation talent of the Orthodox Faction.
This year, the Heavenly Dragon and Phoenix Gathering was scheduled to be held at the Sichuan Tang Family.
Abbess Jeonghye considered moving it to the Emei Sect instead.
After all, over ten years ago, there had been precedent for the event being held at the Emei Sect with both male and female martial artists participating.
The problem was that relations between the Sichuan Tang Family and the Emei Sect were somewhat awkward.
Both competed for dominance within the Sichuan region.
Requesting such a favor would require swallowing a tremendous amount of pride.
The moment Abbess Jeonghye mentioned the Heavenly Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, Seo-wol’s expression stiffened.
“Isn’t there another way? I doubt the Sichuan Tang Family would agree.”
“There is no other method.”
Having spoken, Abbess Jeonghye rose from her seat as though she had made her decision.
No matter what, she absolutely had to hear the secret behind the Extermination Sword from Guest Dragon.
That matter outweighed even the pride of the sect leader.
Sichuan Province, Sichuan Tang Family.
Abbess Jeonghye and Seo-wol visited the place, which was not far from the Emei Sect.
A robust middle-aged man with dark green eyes warmly greeted the two.
“What brings the Sect Leader here?”
It was Poison Sovereign Tang Tae-san, the Great Elder of the Tang Family.
Seo-wol felt inwardly displeased.
No matter how prideful the Tang Family was, should not the Poison King himself appear when the Emei Sect Leader personally visited?
As though sensing her thoughts, Tang Tae-san explained:
“Recently, the Family Head is on the verge of reaching the realm of Formless Poison. His entire body is overflowing with poison qi, so he cannot receive outside guests.”
Seo-wol’s displeasure vanished instantly.
A Poison King unable to control his poison qi?
She absolutely did not want to meet such a person.
Rather, she now felt relieved that Poison Sovereign had come instead.
“I’m Tang So-yeon, the Tang Family’s young mistress. It’s an honor to meet you.”
Tang So-yeon bowed elegantly.
After lifting her head, she glanced toward Seo-wol.
A strange mixture of wariness and competitive spirit filled her eyes.
Seo-wol rarely participated in activities outside the sect.
Because of that, endless rumors had attached themselves to her name.
Among them, the rumor Tang So-yeon found most memorable was that Seo-wol of the Emei Sect far surpassed the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
As someone known as the Poison Phoenix, Tang So-yeon had admittedly felt rather displeased upon hearing it.
“Come now, don’t stand outside like this. Please come in.”
Tang Tae-san guided Abbess Jeonghye and Seo-wol to the Tang Family’s most luxurious guest hall.
The four sat around a tea table.
After hesitating briefly, Abbess Jeonghye finally spoke.
“In truth, I came to ask the Tang Family for a favor.”
“Hoh? The Emei Sect asking our Tang Family for a favor?”
Tang Tae-san’s expression became strange.
A subtle sense of superiority and caution surfaced simultaneously.
Watching him, Seo-wol felt irritation rising inside her.
Abbess Jeonghye continued:
“It concerns the upcoming Heavenly Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.”
“Yes.”
“Would it be possible to hold it at the Emei Sect instead?”
Though polite, Abbess Jeonghye spoke directly.
Speaking in circles was not the style of Emei Sect heroines.
The Tang Family possessed a similar temperament, and Poison Sovereign replied firmly at once.
“No, that will not be possible.”
Abbess Jeonghye and Poison Sovereign stared at each other.
After a brief pause, Poison Sovereign continued:
“There are only fifteen days left. Those coming from afar have likely already begun traveling.”
“The Tang Family and Emei Sect are practically neighbors. I do not believe it would cause any significant issues.”
In other words, if the Tang Family cooperated, nothing would be problematic.
However, Tang Tae-san had no intention of agreeing.
“The Tang Family is not a clan that speaks twice with one mouth. Many are attending specifically because of the Tang Family’s name. How could we disappoint them?”
At those words, even Abbess Jeonghye’s composure cracked slightly.
He was speaking as though the Tang Family clearly stood above the Emei Sect.
It was a test.
If she were truly desperate, she could lower herself once more—or storm out in anger.
As an experienced master herself, Abbess Jeonghye saw through the intention clearly.
After a brief moment of contemplation, she spoke.
“In truth, recently at the Moon Command Sect……”
She began explaining everything involving the fake Moon Command Sect Leader.
Guest Dragon who resolved the matter, and the promise between them.
Abbess Jeonghye merely intended to explain events honestly and ask once again.
Yet before her explanation even finished—more precisely, the instant the title Guest Dragon was mentioned—Tang Tae-san and Tang So-yeon’s expressions changed instantly.
“Guest Dragon? Seong-un?”
“Hero Jin?”
Abbess Jeonghye and Seo-wol both looked bewildered.
Once Abbess Jeonghye finished the explanation, Tang Tae-san let out a long sigh before speaking.
“Hoh… you should’ve said that first. Let’s change it immediately.”
“…….”
“We’ll send Tang Family carriages to inform the younger generation martial artists already traveling. Don’t worry and summon Seong-un to Sichuan immediately.”
Unable to endure it any longer, Seo-wol finally asked.
Some people simply could not resist speaking when something bothered them.
Seomun Ak was like that.
Seo Yu-gyeom was like that.
And Seo-wol was the same.
“But earlier you said the Tang Family never speaks twice with one mouth…….”
“We have two mouths. Mine, and the young mistress’s.”
At that shameless response, Seo-wol wore a dumbfounded expression.
Just what kind of person was Guest Dragon for the Tang Family to treat him this extravagantly?
Tang Tae-san continued:
“In any case, let’s proceed that way.”
When it came to Jin Seong-un’s matters, the Tang Family treated them as though they were their own affairs.
Just as the atmosphere was warming pleasantly—
Tang So-yeon casually asked Seo-wol:
“By any chance, is Young Hero Seo coming with Hero Jin as well?”
“Young Hero Seo?”
“Ah, the handsome one.”
Seo-wol’s expression immediately turned serious.
“You don’t mean Young Hero Seomun?”
“Yes?”
“Hm?”
Tang So-yeon’s expression also became serious.
Both wore faces asking: What exactly did I just hear?
Seo-wol suddenly realized what she had said and blushed faintly.
“A-ah, the slick-looking one.”
“That’s right.”
“Hm… handsome? He did give off a dangerous atmosphere, but perhaps Young Lady Tang’s tastes are a bit…….”
“Sorry, but Seomun Ak is simply ugly beyond all debate.”
Seomun Ak, who was not even present, was suddenly insulted.
Abbess Jeonghye and Tang Tae-san both coughed awkwardly in embarrassment.
Seo-wol and Tang So-yeon immediately regained their senses and shut their mouths.
“She is still lacking in cultivation. I hope Poison Sovereign will kindly overlook it.”
“Haha, it’s the age for such things. Our young mistress is also at the age for marriage…….”
“Uncle!”
At Tang So-yeon’s sharp shout, Tang Tae-san shrank his neck and hurriedly changed the subject.
“Ahem! In any case, we shall handle the Heavenly Dragon and Phoenix Gathering exactly as requested. If matters like this arise again, there’s no need for you to travel such a long distance personally. Simply send word and summon me instead.”
Abbess Jeonghye blinked repeatedly.
The Tang Family was famous for its arrogance.
And among them, Poison Sovereign was known as the harshest and coldest man after the Poison King himself.
Had he ever shown such cooperative and gentle behavior before?
Of course, what Poison Sovereign truly meant by “matters like this” was:
“Anything related to our Seong-un.”