novelraw Chapter 314 : The Importance of Trust (2)
Chapter 314 : The Importance of Trust (2)
Chapter 314: The Importance of Trust (2)
"Mm?"
"What?"
"What is that nonsense!"
Their reactions varied.
They thought Tang Cheolgi was lying to escape the situation.
"Think about it. Jeong Sojeo is over there. Do you know who Jeong Sojeo is? She’s probably the person Yong Gongja treasures the most."
To that, Seomun Yuwon responded.
"I’ve heard that the Heavenly Sword Hero and the Phoenix Sword have a special connection."
"Doesn’t it make sense that the Heavenly Sword Hero came to rescue the Dragon and Phoenix Sword?"
Seomun Seoseol cut in bluntly.
"So who is Yong Gongja? I’ve met him before, and there’s no Yong Gongja here."
"Do you think Yong Gongja is a fool? Of course he disguised himself."
"Ah!"
Upon hearing that, Wi Jiman slapped his knee.
"I know who it is."
Tang Cheolgi asked in curiosity at Wi Jiman’s words.
"Who?"
Wi Jiman smirked and said,
"There was someone whom Tang Gongja introduced as his friend the day we met at the inn. That person is likely Yong Hwarin. Isn’t that so?"
Everyone turned to look at Tang Cheolgi at once.
Seomun Yuwon finally nodded.
"That makes sense. Even when we were brought here as hostages, he didn’t suffer a single injury. He handled five warriors of the Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit on his own with ease. I found it truly strange. Why didn’t someone that strong attempt to escape?"
Realizing they were beginning to believe him, Tang Cheolgi drove the point home.
"In fact, the antidote I brought was something Yong Gongja obtained by seducing Wi Oh with the Soul Capturing Art."
"Ah, so that’s how it happened."
Seomun Seoseol exclaimed in admiration.
"As expected of Yong Gongja. To use Soul Capturing Art on the terrifying Wi Oh and succeed."
Wi Jiman looked at Seomun Yuwon and asked,
"What do you think, Brother Seomun?"
Seomun Yuwon spoke in a low voice.
"To be honest, I don’t particularly like Yong Gongja. He’s so outstanding that I feel insignificant next to him. But I can say this with certainty. If I were on the battlefield, I would definitely stand by Yong Hwarin’s side."
Wi Jiman muttered in a doubtful tone.
"Rumors about Yong Gongja have spread far and wide, but I never really believed them."
Seomun Yuwon shook his head.
"If what Tang Gongja says is true, and he really is Yong Hwarin, then we will certainly escape. I dislike him, but if my life’s on the line, I’d trust him unconditionally."
Wi Jiman already knew how much Seomun Yuwon disliked Yong Hwarin.
So for him to speak this way, it meant Yong Hwarin must truly be formidable.
"What about you, Tang Gongja?"
Tang Cheolgi now felt he could finally speak his true thoughts.
"I believe I could entrust my life to him. He is the first prodigy I’ve ever admired this much."
"Hmm!"
Wi Jiman didn’t particularly care for Tang Cheolgi’s personality, but he didn’t doubt his skills.
If someone like him spoke this way, then Yong Hwarin was surely more impressive than he had imagined.
If he was someone Tang Cheolgi would entrust his life to, it might be worth joining this plan.
Jeong Minji was undergoing a similar internal process.
Hwangbo Mak took a particular interest upon learning that the person who devised the plan was none other than Yong Hwarin.
Especially Hwangbo Jooyang, who showed great curiosity.
"Is he really as handsome as Namgung Soomyung or Pang Giyok?"
Hwangbo Jooyang asked the question while looking at Seomun Yuwon from afar.
She already knew that Seomun Yuwon was among the hostages but had chosen not to acknowledge him.
At one point, Hwangbo Jooyang and Seomun Yuwon had been engaged in marriage talks.
But after discovering that Seomun Yuwon continued to meet other women during that time, she declared the engagement off.
Even so, she hadn’t completely forgotten Seomun Yuwon. The reason she insisted on joining her orabeoni for the Shaolin Temple Gathering this time was also because she knew Seomun Yuwon would attend.
She blindly followed him, hoping to speak with him, but ended up in misfortune.
Several times, Tang Cheolgi and Jeong Minji had tried to introduce them to each other, but Hwangbo Jooyang’s firm refusals had kept them from speaking.
Jeong Minji offered an awkward smile.
"Yong Gongja isn’t a handsome man like Pang Sohyeop or Namgung Sohyeop. The public has it wrong. In some ways, he has an average appearance. Some say he’s good-looking, others say he looks scholarly."
"So in other words, he’s far from handsome."
Hwangbo Jooyang looked slightly disappointed, as she had hoped to become interested if he were better-looking than Seomun Yuwon.
Hwangbo Mak spoke.
"If Yong Gongja really is as extraordinary as the rumors say, I’ll follow this plan."
Jeong Minji replied with a face full of conviction.
"I’ve fought by his side until now. All the rumors about him are true. Even the Three Grand Elders of the Heavenly Demon Sect were slain by Yong Gongja. As for Lightning-Faced Madman, you can leave him to Yong Gongja."
Hwangbo Jooyang asked,
"Then who will deal with Wi Oh?"
"We will handle him. Besides, since he’s under the effect of Soul Capturing Art from Yong Gongja, he won't pose a threat."
Jeong Minji then turned to Gun Yeom and Gun Wi, who had remained silent.
"Do either of you have different thoughts?"
Gun Wi shook his head.
"No. We trust Jeong Sojeo. If she trusts someone, we can trust them too."
"He is a hundred times more trustworthy than I am."
At those words, Hwangbo Jooyang made a slightly jealous expression.
With no more objections, Jeong Minji spoke resolutely.
"Good. From now on, listen carefully to what I say."
Jeong Minji began to explain how they would protect the hostages.
Meanwhile, Lightning-Faced Madman took long breaks while waiting for Jo Qiansheng to join him.
Although he said they would meet at the safehouse, he took his time, considering Jo Qiansheng might join midway.
But with no sign of contact, he finally spoke to Wi Oh.
"From now on, we move straight to the safehouse without rest. It seems the Protector is planning to arrive later."
"Understood."
"Let’s go."
As Lightning-Faced Madman stood up, Wi Oh shouted,
"Everyone move out! Form ranks!"
The scattered hostages gathered around.
At that moment, Yong Hwarin approached Wi Oh, who had finished roll call, and whispered,
"Wi Oh, obey my command."
At those words, Wi Oh’s eyes turned dazed.
"Please, give your order."
"Do you also have the antidote for the Seven-Day San Gong Poison?"
"Yes, I have a small emergency supply."
"Bring it here."
"Understood."
They had secured the antidote for the poisons mixed into the Seven-Day San Gong Poison, but not for the poison itself.
Moments later, Wi Oh returned with a small jade bottle.
Opening the lid revealed just over ten doses of antidote.
‘This won’t be enough to detoxify many people. Still, it’s better than having none.’
Yong Hwarin couldn’t afford to waste more time and decided to make do with it.
"Wi Oh, follow my command."
"Please give your order."
"From now, group the subordinates into units of ten and send them to Jo Qiansheng at intervals of two hours. Make sure Lightning-Faced Madman remains unaware."
"Understood."
There was a clear reason Yong Hwarin gave this command.
If too many people were removed at once, the Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit or Lightning-Faced Madman might quickly catch on. But by sending them ten at a time at two-hour intervals, the risk of discovery would be significantly reduced.
Moreover, if they were sent to a random place, even the subordinates might grow suspicious, so they were sent specifically to Jo Qiansheng.
If the plan succeeded, they could reduce the number of warriors in the Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit—numbering around a hundred—by at least half.
Even if battle broke out by mistake, the difference between fighting a hundred and fighting fifty could change the outcome drastically.
Yong Hwarin had already received signals from Jeong Minji and Tang Cheolgi indicating that they had reached an agreement with the hostages. That was why he issued such orders to Wi Oh.
Afterward, Yong Hwarin also left a signal for Deuksang, who followed him secretly. Since Deuksang was accompanied by assassins from the Blood Green Unit, the battle would be manageable.
Wi Oh began sending groups of ten from the Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit to Jo Qiansheng. Meanwhile, Lightning-Faced Madman began to sense something strange with the steadily decreasing number of warriors.
"Captain Wi! Captain Wi!"
But no matter how loudly he shouted, Wi Oh did not respond. Lightning-Faced Madman led his aged body personally.
"Where is Captain Wi?"
When he asked a warrior from the Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit, the man shook his head.
"I don’t know."
"Damn it!"
When even the subordinate warriors claimed they didn’t know where their captain was, Lightning-Faced Madman realized something was seriously wrong.
"Everyone, gather!"
Of the nearly one hundred warriors of the Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit, only forty remained.
Lightning-Faced Madman, now seething with rage, declared,
"From this moment on, anyone who attempts to leave this place will be severely punished! Even if it’s under Captain Wi’s orders, do not move! Also, if any hostages show suspicious movement, subdue them without hesitation! Even if there are casualties during suppression, it does not matter!"
"Understood!"
The authority of an elder from the Elder Council of Blood Demon Castle outranked that of a captain.
"We will wait here until Captain Wi returns! You all, find out where he went and report to me!"
Lightning-Faced Madman took swift action.
Seeing the situation rapidly shift, Yong Hwarin turned to Tang Cheolgi.
Tang Cheolgi nodded, indicating he had fused the poison of the Madok Petrification Leaf with his energy.
Yong Hwarin then sent a telepathic message to Jeong Minji.
–We’ll begin the attack now. Prepare Min Mae as well.
–Be careful, Gaga.
Having recovered her energy, Jeong Minji responded via telepathy.
–Stick close behind me and don’t fall back.
Yong Hwarin gripped the large needle he had received from Deuksang and fired it with Dragon Scale Finger Technique.
Pipipipipipiping!
The needle, launched with Dragon Scale Finger Technique, embedded into the foreheads of warriors standing guard.
Three warriors collapsed to the ground without even a groan.
"Enemy attack! Stay alert!"
Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit warriors shouted.
Cha-cha-cha-cha-chang!
All at once, the warriors of the Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit drew their swords.
But when another five were taken down instantly by Yong Hwarin’s swiftly fired needle, they charged toward him.
"Seize that bastard!"
The warriors realized Yong Hwarin was using hidden weapons and screamed, but they fell before even getting close to him.
As his men were defeated, Lightning-Faced Madman stepped in personally.
"You bastard!"
His signature weapon was the Nine-Section Whip.
Clang!
He was a fearsome warlord who once ruled the Central Plains with his pitch-black whip.
Such was the might of his Nine-Section Whip that he had earned the title Invincible Nine-Sections.
The needle deflected off Lightning-Faced Madman’s Nine-Section Whip.
Shreeeek!
As the whip shot out, it coiled around Yong Hwarin’s body, but Yong Hwarin leapt up swiftly.
At the same time, the whip slithered like a living creature, aiming for Yong Hwarin midair.
Its movement was so precise, it looked as though he were controlling a living organism.
But Yong Hwarin was no easy target.
He dropped swiftly to the ground, dodging the Nine-Section Whip by a hair’s breadth.