novelraw Chapter 347 : The Power of the Glass Divine Art (1)
Chapter 347 : The Power of the Glass Divine Art (1)
Chapter 347: The Power of the Glass Divine Art (1)
While the two were talking, a group appeared from the opposite side of Yeongcheon Cemetery.
-You’ve arrived now, I see.
When Mo Biyoung sent a telepathic message, Yong Hwarin enhanced his vision and examined the newcomers.
-That’s right, it’s Man Inhwa.
Beside Man Inhwa was a woman whose face was covered with a veil, followed by five martial artists.
-Someone’s coming from that side too.
Yong Hwarin turned his head and saw figures using movement arts, almost flying in from the opposite side of Man Inhwa.
-Hmm, it’s Hong Ayul. And that small middle-aged man beside her is Dong-o.
-Isn’t it dangerous to conduct a trade with only two people? What if Man Inhwa attacks?
-You must be saying that because you don’t know, Instructor Mo. If I’m not mistaken, that Dong-o fellow alone can handle all of Man Inhwa’s subordinates. He’s a master who has reached the Qi-Vision Realm.
-Ah!
Mo Biyoung seemed to understand now why Hong Ayul had brought only Dong-o.
The two suppressed their presence as much as possible and observed the newcomers’ movements.
Hong Ayul tried to remain calm as she looked at the approaching figures.
When she saw the people from Ihwa Palace, her suppressed anger flared up.
When Man Inhwa came within ten jang, Hong Ayul spoke.
“Did you bring it?”
Man Inhwa smiled coldly.
“Of course. Did Miss Hong bring hers?”
Hong Ayul nodded.
“Let’s each show what we’re trading.”
When Man Inhwa gestured to her subordinates, two martial artists stepped forward carrying a coffin.
Creak!
They set the coffin upright and opened its lid, revealing a boy lying inside as if dead.
“May I check?”
When Hong Ayul asked, Man Inhwa replied.
“Of course.”
As Hong Ayul walked toward the coffin, Dong-o spoke.
“Yul, I’ll check for you.”
“No. Only I can recognize my younger brother.”
When Dong-o tried to follow, Man Inhwa shook her head.
“Only Miss Hong may come.”
Hong Ayul said, “Please wait here.”
Though Dong-o didn’t like it, he obeyed her words.
Hong Ayul checked the boy’s wrist pulse and examined various parts of his body before confirming he was indeed her younger brother.
“He is my brother.”
At her words, Man Inhwa smiled.
“How could we play tricks when it’s an exchange for the Azure Dragon Three Marbles? We’re not the Heavenly Demon Sect or Namdo, after all. Shall we make the exchange now?”
“All right.”
Hong Ayul looked back at Dong-o.
Dong-o looked reluctant, as if hesitating, but after meeting Hong Ayul’s gaze, he sighed.
“I’m committing a great offense to Il Taegong. But since he told me to protect you no matter what, I’m sure he will forgive me.”
Dong-o pulled a leather pouch from his robe and tossed it to Hong Ayul.
“Please check.”
Man Inhwa untied the pouch and confirmed the Azure Dragon Three Marbles inside.
When she injected qi into it, the Azure Dragon Three Marbles shone with a blue light.
The Azure Dragon Three Marbles would emit light when infused with qi, but that was merely a superficial reaction.
To draw out their true power, simply injecting qi was not enough.
“That’s genuine. Leave the coffin and step back, Ihwa Five Divine Axes.”
The five men obeyed Man Inhwa’s order, setting the coffin down and stepping away.
“Are you going to use the remaining Azure Dragon Three Marbles to absorb your brother’s demonic qi?”
At those words, a murderous glint flashed in Hong Ayul’s eyes.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Ah, I’m only saying it out of concern. You see, there’s no guarantee the Azure Dragon Three Marbles can absorb Moonlight Demonic Qi. If your brother survives, you can assume the marbles absorbed it.”
“If you keep talking, I might kill you. Disappear from my sight.”
Seeing the atmosphere turn dangerous, Man Inhwa quietly withdrew.
Once they were gone, Dong-o said,
“As Man Inhwa said, the Azure Dragon Three Marbles might not be able to save your brother. We might have just lost one for nothing.”
“Even so, I can’t just give up on my brother. I want to try everything I can. And it’s still too early to say the Azure Dragon Three Marbles are lost.”
“Fine. If that’s your will, I’ll help you to the end.”
“But… will Grandpa Jo be okay?”
“Don’t worry. Old Jo excels at ambushes. None of them can match him.”
“There’s no way Man Inhwa came here without any countermeasures.”
“Let’s leave that to Old Jo and return. We need to treat your brother.”
“Yes.”
Hong Ayul thought of nothing else but treating her younger brother.
Dong-o lifted the coffin and leapt into the air.
Yong Hwarin fell into brief contemplation.
Should he chase Hong Ayul to seize the Azure Dragon Three Marbles, or chase Man Inhwa to take them from her?
‘I can’t be sure Hong Ayul has the other Azure Dragon Three Marbles on her right now.
She must have hidden them somewhere.
But Man Inhwa definitely has one genuine marble.
It’s better to go after the sure thing.
And Hong Ayul won’t know that you need the Nine Dragons Heavenly Ascent Technique to draw out the Azure Dragon Three Marbles’ true power.
That leaves room to make a deal later, so for now, I’ll chase Man Inhwa.’
With that thought, Yong Hwarin began trailing Man Inhwa.
Jo Heon had devised a plan to ambush Man Inhwa on her return after the trade.
Hong Ayul had never intended to simply hand over the Azure Dragon Three Marbles to Man Inhwa.
That was why she could hand them over without worry.
No matter how strong the escorts Man Inhwa brought, she did not think they could defeat Jo Heon and the Heavenly Demon Sect’s elite.
Jo Heon had selected over twenty elite warriors from Il Gongja’s Dark Heart Heaven Guard for the ambush.
Seeing Man Inhwa coming down the road, Jo Heon gave the order.
“Kill them all, and bring back only the Young Mistress alive!”
At that command, more than twenty Dark Heart Heaven Guard warriors rushed out.
When warriors with swords charged toward her, Man Inhwa snorted.
“Hmph, just as I expected.
I knew it was strange for them to hand over the Azure Dragon Three Marbles so easily.
Ihwa Five Divine Axes, block the enemies.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The Ihwa Five Divine Axes were masters well-regarded in Ihwa Palace.
She believed they could hold off the Heavenly Demon Sect warriors well enough.
However, the one Man Inhwa truly trusted was not the Ihwa Five Divine Axes, but the veiled woman standing beside her.
With her there, there was nothing to fear no matter who came.
In an instant, the Dark Heart Heaven Guard warriors clashed with the Ihwa Five Divine Axes.
The Ihwa Five Divine Axes wielded axes like ghosts, holding the balance despite being outnumbered.
Seeing this, Jo Heon clicked his tongue.
“For the sect’s elite to be only at this level… your training is lacking.”
He decided that once back at the main sect, he would personally take charge of their training.
“How can we aspire to dominate the murim if we’re struggling against the warriors of Ihwa Palace?”
In a short span, five Dark Heart Heaven Guard warriors had been killed by the Ihwa Five Divine Axes, prompting Jo Heon to step forward.
He feared that if the fight dragged on, their forces would be put at a disadvantage.
Seeing Jo Heon, Man Inhwa sneered.
“So this is the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Wind-Moon Flowing Heavens, Jo the Great Hero, one of the Three Flame Commanders?”
“So you know me. Impressive.”
“Of course I know you.
I know everyone who came as Miss Hong’s escorts.”
“In that case, it’s easy to explain.
You have only one way to survive.”
“Hohoho, senior, how can you say that so easily?
Did you think I came here without making my own preparations?
I can’t just give up before showing you what I’ve prepared.”
“Reveal your hidden card. I’ll take you on.”
With a confident smile, Man Inhwa turned to the veiled woman.
“Glass Divine Maiden, display your killing intent to your heart’s content.”
At those words, the veiled woman bowed and stepped forward.
“This is a secret weapon prepared by our palace.
Great Hero Jo, you will not be disappointed.”
“I look forward to it.”
As the slender figure of the veiled woman approached, Jo Heon laughed inwardly.
‘A young woman, it seems.
To rely on such a girl and speak so boldly… ridiculous.’
He planned to subdue her quickly and seize the Azure Dragon Three Marbles.
At that moment, the veiled woman threw several marbles to the ground.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Reddish smoke billowed up.
“Hold your breath!”
Thinking it was poison smoke, Jo Heon shouted.
But soon realizing it was non-toxic, he tilted his head.
‘Strange.
Why release something with no poison? Just for intimidation?’
Even with his abundant combat experience, Jo Heon did not know what the Red Smoke (赤煙) was or what it signified.
‘Better to subdue her quickly.’
Though he felt no fear, the strangeness made him uneasy.
Jo Heon struck down at the veiled woman’s shoulder with his palm force.
Instead of avoiding it, she met his palm head-on.
‘Foolish. To dare meet my attack directly.’
But contrary to his thoughts, when their palms clashed, a loud boom erupted.
Kwoom!
Jo Heon could hardly believe he had been forced back two steps.
‘Though I can’t see her face, she clearly appears young.
Yet her internal energy matches mine, an old master.’
Unable to believe it, Jo Heon attacked again.
He unleashed a flurry of techniques, aiming at the vital points of her abdomen and chest.
But each time, the veiled woman blocked his strikes with precision.
“Impressive.
Ihwa Palace has created a true secret weapon!”
As Jo Heon exclaimed, Man Inhwa smiled faintly.
“That’s not all.
Our palace didn’t pour endless resources into her just for her to be a mere secret weapon.
You’ll soon realize her full power.”
“Don’t make me laugh. ‘Soon’?
If she’s strong, show it now.”
“Unfortunately, she’s not fully complete yet, so she needs more time.”
“Fine. I’ll subdue her and hear directly from you what you’re so confident about.”
Then the veiled woman inhaled the red smoke completely.
Seeing that, Man Inhwa grinned slyly.
“That won’t be difficult.
Now, Great Hero Jo, you’ll see the power you wanted.
Glass Divine Maiden! Show your strength!”
The veiled woman’s aura changed drastically from before.
Strangely, her energy now felt so vivid it was almost tangible.
‘This is strange.’
Sensing danger, Jo Heon ordered his subordinates,
“Attack!”
Five Dark Heart Heaven Guard warriors rushed toward her.
It took only three seconds.
In just three seconds, the veiled woman killed all five elite warriors.
They hadn’t even touched the hem of her clothing.
No matter how skilled one was, avoiding all attacks from the combined assault of the Dark Heart Heaven Guard was impossible.
Yet the veiled woman seemed to know exactly how they would attack and evaded accordingly.
Even Jo Heon wasn’t confident he could avoid them like that.
It took less than a single breath for the five Dark Heart Heaven Guard warriors to die.
Blood dripped from the veiled woman’s sword.