novelraw Chapter 155 : Caught in One’s Own Trap (1)
Chapter 155 : Caught in One’s Own Trap (1)
Chapter 155: Caught in One’s Own Trap (1)
“Dare you—!”
As Jeok Seongja openly threatened her, fury flared in the eyes of the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden.
Of course, while the Qingcheng Sect and Jeok Seongja held greater influence within the Murim Alliance, they were by no means in a position to disregard the Shrine Maiden Sect so brazenly.
After all, the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden—being the only one capable of standing on equal footing with the Heaven-Piercing Sect Leader of the Demonic Alliance—was someone the Murim Alliance could never afford to lose.
“Hmph! To think a mere Shrine Maiden Sect would dare to utter such words to Qingcheng.”
However, to Jeok Seongja, who had come here for the sole purpose of wiping the Tang Clan of Sichuan off the map, such matters held no significance whatsoever.
At that instant, both individuals began drawing upon their respective powers.
Sss!
Paaah!
Soon, the spiritual force of the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden clashed against the qi of Jeok Seongja, and the impact wave took form like a violent whirlwind.
At that overwhelming sight—
“Ugh!”
“Wh–what is that?!”
The commoners who had followed behind gasped in horror, unable to comprehend what was unfolding before them.
It seemed as though a life-and-death battle between martial masters of the Sect Leader level from the Nine Sects and One Gang—something unseen for generations of peace—was about to begin.
Creak!
Suddenly, the main gate of the Sichuan Tang Clan swung wide open, and unexpected figures poured out in a rush.
‘What?!’
Both Jeok Seongja and the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden, who were preparing for a fierce confrontation, widened their eyes in astonishment.
Those who emerged were neither Tang Sewoon nor the warriors of the Tang Clan.
“Protect the Divine Physician!!”
“Lady Immortal! We will protect you!”
“Ah, wait—everyone?!”
Men and women, young and old alike—all the patients who had been receiving treatment at the Tang Clan’s medical wing—came rushing out.
Each of them bore splints or bandages on their limbs, their faces pale and drained of blood.
It was obvious at a glance that they were in no condition to fight, yet even as they groaned in pain and stumbled forward, they stood their ground in front of the Shrine Maiden Sect Leader.
That commoners would step forward to block martial artists was something utterly unheard of in all of Jianghu.
“How dare these wretches...!”
By the time Jeok Seongja grasped the situation, his anger flared, but the commoners shouted back, voices filled with resolve as if ready to die.
“No matter if you’re from Qingcheng Sect, this is too much!”
“That’s right! If you wish to take our Divine Physician, then you’ll have to kill me first!”
“My life’s been long enough! Take me too!”
“Y–You—!”
For the first time, Jeok Seongja found himself at a loss for words.
He wanted nothing more than to cut down these insolent fools who dared to defy him and beg for death—
But even though he had come bearing justification for striking the Tang Clan, if he were to slaughter unarmed civilians, the Qingcheng Sect would instantly be branded throughout Jianghu as a sect that massacred commoners.
The backlash would be catastrophic. The losses would far outweigh the gains.
‘Tang Sewoon, that devious bastard... to think he’d stoop to such tricks.’
Although, judging by the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden’s look of genuine surprise, it was clear that the commoners’ actions were entirely voluntary, Jeok Seongja convinced himself that it was all part of Sewoon’s scheme.
“Hmph! To hide behind innocent lives like a coward—such despicable behavior befits a vile villain!”
“Sigh... And just what sin has the Tang Clan Head committed?”
At her words, Jeok Seongja’s eyes gleamed coldly.
Fine, then. Let’s see you trap yourself with your own tongue.
With so many ears listening, once the Tang Clan’s alleged crime was spoken, rumors would spread through Sichuan in an instant.
“You ask, so I’ll answer! The Sichuan Tang Clan’s crime is—!”
“What, are you about to claim that the plague spreading through Shuangliu County was caused by the Tang Clan’s poisons?”
“?!?!”
To his astonishment, the very accusation he had prepared burst forth from the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden’s mouth first.
…How does she know that?!
For a moment, Jeok Seongja was struck speechless.
“A plague, you say?”
“Hah! So you came here to pin that on the Tang Clan?!”
Rumble rumble.
The murmuring of the commoners grew louder.
Even the Qingcheng Sect warriors couldn’t hide their bewilderment as the situation unfolded in a way none had expected.
At that moment, the Shrine Maiden Sect Leader shook her head and muttered under her breath—words that still reached Jeok Seongja’s ears.
“Unbelievable... Truly unbelievable. How could his words match yours so perfectly?”
‘...Tang Sewoon said the same thing beforehand?’
No way!
A flash of realization struck Jeok Seongja’s mind like lightning.
A surge of qi filled his eyes, nearly reaching full power, as he turned his gaze past the commoners and the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden, scanning the interior of the Tang Clan.
Something was off. Terribly off.
Not a trace of presence—no flow of energy, no hint of life.
‘Don’t tell me—!!’
Tang Sewoon was not there.
And he had already learned of their plan beforehand and put it into action.
Jeok Seongja shouted in a fury.
“Damn it! Was that all a stall—!”
“Come, Sect Leader??”
“We retreat!! Everyone, with all your might, head for Shuangliu County!!”
“……!!”
The warriors of the Cheongseong Sect, who had been bewildered by Jeok Seongja’s sudden move, only then belatedly understood the meaning.
Tang Sewoon had kept them here in order to rush to Shuangliu County to seize the evidence.
“Cheongseong will never forget this!”
Jeok Seongja ground his teeth and shouted to the Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden, then immediately used full-force lightness skill and departed.
Watching that urgently receding back.
‘May fortune favor you, Tang Clan Head.’
The Nine Heavens Immortal Maiden quietly uttered a spell for Tang Sewoon.
Shuangliu County.
The place where the plague had broken out.
A small village writhing in pain.
All of the villagers had been forcibly driven out to a wide clearing.
Those who had been praying and enduring, hoping they would somehow recover despite having been transformed into hideous shapes by the plague, trembled with terror at the circle of warriors surrounding them.
The Taoists of the Cheongseong Sect looked at them with cold eyes and drew razor-sharp swords.
“Wah, wah. Ma-, Masters, why are you doing this?”
“P-please spare us. We did not choose to be infected with the plague……”
“Please, at least spare my child who hasn’t even passed a year yet.”
“Don’t just stand there, you bastards!!”
“Aaah!”
A Cheongseong Taoist kicked a middle-aged woman who had begged desperately to spare at least her child.
The Taoist, covering his nose and mouth with one hand for fear of catching the plague, showed no hint of remorse for his action.
But not everyone was like that.
“……Elder, is this truly permissible?”
One of the First Disciples, his face turned ashen, asked the Cheongseong Sect’s Elder — Se-ryu Geomjeol (細柳劍節) Chu Uja (秋優子) — in a serious tone.
Chu Uja answered without the slightest change of expression.
“What did you say.”
“This isn’t right. No matter the plague, how can we take life from them with poison?”
Some Taoists were holding medicine vials.
Inside them was a mysterious poison that the First Disciple Ma Geollyun had obtained.
Although the Cheongseong Sect — one pillar of the orthodox factions — was about to commit a horrific slaughter, Chu Uja brazenly spoke a reckless statement.
“These people have been infected with a plague incurable even by the Tang Clan. We are simply sending those trapped in the wheel of suffering to a more comfortable place. How could that be a sin on our part.”
“Th-that's……”
“Enough! Our will shall be justice! Think of nothing else and obey only the sect’s orders!”
“…….”
The despairing First Disciple hung his head low.
In Chu Uja’s mind, which had passed by that disciple as if nothing had happened, only the true intent and purpose floated.
‘Heh heh, we will force the Tang Clan to their knees and become the true victors of Sichuan.’
Sswish!
Chu Uja drew her sword.
She then issued orders to the warriors of Cheongseong.
“Now, bring these people relief from their suffering…!”
“The Tang Clan’s warriors, hear me!!”
“!!”
A roar filled with profound qi burst out from somewhere, cutting off Chu Uja’s words.
Chu Uja’s eyes widened as if they would burst when she found the source of that energy.
On the far side of her vision a man had appeared, leading a group of warriors.
‘Why the hell is he here!!’
An existence that should never have been here.
The head of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Tang Sewoon glared with murderous eyes.
“Enemies!! Everyone prepare for battle!!”
“They were not human! They were shameless fiends filled only with greed!!”
Even as Chu Uja belatedly organized her battle formation, Sewoon’s roar continued.
To everyone’s surprise, Tang Sewoon shouted.
“Slay every demon without exception!! Rescue the innocent!!”
“Block them!!”
He screamed for the eradication of the Cheongseong Sect.
Waaaaa!!
Tudada!
At the clan head’s command, Tang Clan warriors began to surge forward like madmen.
Many combat squads of varying appearances poured out like the fierce waves of the sea.
“Show them no mercy! Hunt down and execute every one who dared touch the Tang Clan!!”
The first to reveal their might were the Dark Flower Unit led by Tang Bi.
Having improved their hidden-weapons arts with the help of Yeo Seon and practiced poison arts with the toxin Sewoon had brought, their combat power was truly destructive.
“Q-qi-dispersing poison?!”
“I-I can’t gather my qi!”
gag! cough?!
They first scattered Immortal’s Cripples above the enemies’ heads to temporarily seal their qi.
Chara-rara!
Puff-puf!
“Ughk!”
“……!!”
Countless hidden weapons flew like drifting cherry blossoms at the defenseless enemies, turning the Cheongseong Taoists into cacti blooming in the great desert.
“Those who aimed for the Palace Head’s life!”
“Slaughter them all!”
Meanwhile, warriors of the Beast Palace were also running rampant.
Their copper-toned muscles about to burst, the Beast Palace warriors surged forward and swung their gauntlets.
“Die!!”
“You damned barbarians!”
Under that overwhelming presence, the Cheongseong Taoists unleashed the finest sword techniques they had.
Titing! Ting!
“The swords aren’t working, gnk—!”
“You can’t even feel it in your liver!”
“It’s like toothpicks instead of swords!”
No sword technique could pierce the armor of muscle; the blades only bounced off.
As the Taoists, flustered, prepared a counter, two white tigers flashed in like lightning and sank their sharp molars in.
“Aaah!! My arm, my ar—!”
Crunch!
Fshshsh!
A Taoist who had been shrieking after having his arm bitten by a white tiger suddenly had his head torn off.
The white tiger licked its lips.
Unprepared for such enemies, the Cheongseong Taoists were becoming lifeless corpses one after another.
“Get lost!”
Squeaaak!
Chu Uja swung her sword fiercely but could not hide her bewilderment.
It was understandable.
The development made no sense at all.
‘How on earth did they know to be here?? And the Southern Beast Palace helping the Tang Clan?? What nonsense is this?!’
No matter how she thought about it, no questions were easily solved.
Her head began to pound.
“Elder! The commoners…!”
“……!!”
At that moment, when one disciple called out, she turned her head and saw the bound commoners frantically fleeing.
In an instant, her thoughts raced.
‘Damnation! If this continues, we must at least erase our traces…!’
Pah-bat!
Chu Uja stamped her foot to silence them by killing every fleeing commoner.
Just as she was about to swing her sword.
“You were worthless as ever.”
Chara-rarara!
From somewhere, dozens of threads flew in.