Chapter 160

The servants busily cleaned the estate, and the Sima Family’s villa was bustling with people moving luggage.

Yeonghwa, checking if anything was missing, suddenly remembered something and turned to Sima Bu.

“Ah! By the way, is it okay if we don’t say goodbye to our friend in the Martial Alliance?”

“It’s fine. They seem busy anyway. Just leave a letter.”

Sima Bu added with a tired expression.

“And if we go to meet them, they’ll probably bring out that ‘portrait’ and start reminiscing about the old days.”

Sima Bu’s most embarrassing past.

The time when he had to disguise himself as a woman to survive.

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Being the second son between an older brother and a sickly, adorable younger sister was quite pleasant.

Moreover, with a loving mother who passed away early and a strict father who only cared for the youngest daughter, it was the best.

And in such an environment, Jiegal Bi-Young was the second son of the Jiegal Family.

He didn’t have a bad relationship with his father, Jiegal Gyu-geun, his older brother, Jiegal So-Bong, or his younger sister, Jiegal So-Wol.

His father was busy with family affairs, and whenever he had time, he always took care of his beloved younger sister.

How could they have a bad relationship when they rarely saw each other? They got along well.

In a world where some families sell their children or beat them to death after drinking, having parents like this was truly a blessing.

With his older brother, they exchanged simple greetings or jokes when in a good mood.

Since there was an age gap, his brother was already being groomed as the successor, and Bi-Young had no complaints, so their relationship was smooth.

…His younger sister was kind, cute, and pitiful.

She monopolized the family’s attention, but he didn’t feel jealous or dislike her.

It’s natural to focus on the sick person in the family.

Bi-Young also visited his sister’s room occasionally to tell her interesting stories or made-up tales to keep her entertained.

There was no misfortune. It was a peaceful life.

One day, amidst such days, Bi-Young met a girl.

Black hair that reached her waist, snow-white skin.

Despite her quiet and noble appearance.

A doll-like pretty girl with fiery, glowing amber eyes.

He didn’t know the exact circumstances.

She was Sima Hwa, who had come to the Jiegal Family to seek refuge due to some family trouble.

His first impression was that she was quiet and aloof.

She didn’t seem sickly, but she rarely left her room and didn’t interact with anyone.

…And she was kind.

He saw it by chance.

The cold-looking girl sighed while walking, then turned back and ran.

She picked up a limping, dirty cat that no one cared for and treated it.

…Damn it, what was that?

His heart raced like crazy.

He had never sought attention from his parents, but he wanted her attention.

He fell in love.

He wanted to make Sima Hwa’s shadowed face smile.

He wanted to protect her.

Even though he was weak.

At the Martial Alliance’s Bi-Ryong Training Ground.

“Ha… Ha…”

Jiegal Bi-Young woke up from meditation, breathing heavily.

He took out Sima Hwa’s portrait from his pocket and looked at it.

Then immediately.

He unfolded the Heavenly Insight Scroll to grasp the fragments of the Heavenly Qi Divine Movement that only Jiegal Yang had achieved.

He didn’t need his family or anyone else.

He recalled the child he couldn’t protect while seeking strength.

***

Ma Yang was preparing to leave for Jeoseokhyeon.

‘Jeoseokhyeon… It’s an infiltration mission. I’ll have to leave the disciples behind.’

She found Tang Wu, the Third Elder with sharp eyes, training alone at the training ground and approached him.

“Are you already able to move?”

Tang Wu shrugged with a self-deprecating smile.

“Since I’m not dead, I guess I’m fine.”

He didn’t look like someone who had been pierced near the heart. Hyeonho must have treated him well.

Tang Wu slowly practiced his basics while stretching.

“I lost to someone weaker than me.”

Ma Yang remembered Sima Mantian.

Despite luck and opportunity, she had been overpowered by Mantian, who was several steps below her, and lost Wang Miaoyang.

Irritated by the memory, Ma Yang frowned.

“Fights are always unpredictable.”

“That’s true. That brat fought well too. …It’s also my personal issue.”

Tang Wu looked at his calloused hands, hardened from countless secret techniques.

“I forgot the reason I wanted to get stronger, intoxicated by the power in my hands.”

Perhaps because he had come close to death, he reflected on his life.

Tang Wu’s past flashed before his eyes, from the Sichuan Tang Family to the Martial Alliance, back to the Tang Family, and then to the Ilwol God Sect.

“Or maybe I deliberately ignored it.”

“………”

“Since your situation seems complicated, I’ll tell you.”

Tang Wu spoke calmly to the silent Ma Yang.

“Don’t forget the reason you sought power, even betraying your sect.”

Tang Wu smiled bitterly.

“Otherwise, you’ll end up like me, defeated ridiculously.”

He left after finishing his story.

An unexpected, unnecessary piece of advice.

But perhaps because of the unsettling dream, Ma Yang’s emotions were in turmoil.

The reason she joined the Ilwol God Sect?

It was simple. The Ilwol God Sect possessed the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra from the Ancient Grave Sect.

All of Ma Yang’s martial arts were learned from her master.

Her weaknesses and habits were all known, so she couldn’t surpass her master, Ma Xuan, with her current skills.

The reason she betrayed her sect and sought power.

It was to kill Ma Xuan.

Ma Yang’s purple eyes wavered. Emotions she had suppressed rose to the surface.

To protect…

Wang Miaoyang.

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In the office of the Jeoseokhyeon administrator.

Hyeonho and Ma Yang, envoys from the Ilwol God Sect, were seated.

While the Martial Alliance was unaware, the Ilwol God Sect had secretly established a cooperative relationship with the royal family and the Jeoseokhyeon administrator.

The decisive battle between the Ilwol God Sect and the Martial Alliance.

Jeoseokhyeon was one of the Ilwol God Sect’s advance routes.

Hyeonho, the Ilwol God Sect’s elder, finished talking with the administrator with a sly, fox-like smile.

“Alright, let’s proceed as discussed.”

After the administrator left.

Ma Yang, who had been sitting quietly, spoke.

“It didn’t seem like I needed to be here.”

“Haha~ It’s just for show. Sending two elders shows how important we consider this place.”

Hyeonho’s gaze curved, and he gave a sly wink.

“And~ Ma Yang, your real mission is different, right?”

“Ha…”

Ma Yang sighed in annoyance.

Her real mission was to stay in Jeoseokhyeon undercover and monitor the Martial Alliance’s movements.

Originally, such missions were handled by Tang Wu or Hyeonho.

But due to injuries, Ma Yang had no choice but to take on the mission this time.

Ma Yang narrowed her eyes and glared at Hyeonho.

“You look perfectly fine to me?”

“Haha… I only look fine on the outside. Even coming here as an envoy is pushing it.”

His sly face was irritating, but Hyeonho was indeed overexerting himself.

Moreover, while the Ilwol God Sect had strong martial artists, no one handled espionage as well as Hyeonho.

He was an irreplaceable resource.

Ma Yang sighed and relaxed her expression.

“I can’t use disguise techniques or bone-shifting skills. Don’t you have anything to help me hide my identity?”

“Sometimes, you all treat me like a mystical creature with convenient tools and spells.”

“Weren’t you a raccoon dog?”

“…At least call me a fox.”

Hyeonho muttered but took out a small pill from his pocket.

“This is…?”

“Simply put, it’s a pill that makes you younger while the effect lasts.”

Ma Yang’s eyes widened as she looked at the pill.

“While researching a poison, I found that it strangely stimulated the dantian, causing peak-level masters to revert to youth.”

“This is a safer and more refined version.”

Ma Yang’s purple eyes focused. The voice of Sima Mantian, who had mocked her as ‘spoiled,’ echoed in her mind.

“So… if I take it, I’ll become younger?”

Originally, Ma Yang maintained her beautiful appearance due to her high martial arts level, so she didn’t need to obsess over youth.

But the word ‘spoiled’ had shocked her deeply.

“Yes. But until the effect wears off-.”

Before Hyeonho could finish, Ma Yang swallowed the pill.

Gulp-.

And nothing happened.

Ma Yang clenched and unclenched her hands, looking around her body.

But there was no change.

Hyeonho cautiously spoke, glancing at her.

“Uh… maybe try moving your body a bit to let the effect take hold.”

Hyeonho subtly swayed his body, making Ma Yang feel a sense of self-loathing.

She had immediately taken the pill upon hearing it would make her younger.

But with no effect, shame rose, and Ma Yang bit her lip, her face red.

This was all because of that brat, Sima Mantian.

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Embarrassed, Ma Yang left.

She put on a hat and used her lightness skill to swiftly move across the rooftops.

“Ha… I must be cursed.”

Thinking about it again, it was absurd, and she sighed.

She needed to find a suitable place to rest quickly.

Tap-.

Ma Yang lightly kicked off the roof and flew up, but something felt off.

“…Huh?”

The distance was short. And her body felt strange.

‘What is this!?’

Thump! Thump! Her heart raced, and her body felt hot.

Her limbs didn’t move as usual. They felt short!?

‘Hyeonho! What did you make me take!?’

Ma Yang cursed inwardly.

Losing her balance in mid-air, she fell.

***

Kidnapped while taking a nap.

Wang Miaoyang puffed her cheek in disbelief and grumbled.

“If you’re going to take me, at least wake me up…”

Embarrassed, her face turned red as she got angry.

“Wrapping your master in a baby blanket and carrying her on your back, what kind of nonsense is that!?”

“Teehee… I just wanted Master to sleep comfortably…”

Mantian, with three bumps on his head, was whining when he saw something falling from the sky.

“What’s this…?”

He reached out and caught.

A beautiful girl with light purple hair like a violet, falling from the sky.