Chapter 75

Most demon sects are like this, but the Ilwol God Sect is divided into internal and external factions based on their areas of activity.

The internal faction, as the name suggests, manages the sect internally, trains lower-level members, and handles miscellaneous tasks and farming.

…It might sound funny that a demon sect farms, but people gather where there’s food.

Plundering or buying from elsewhere is only a short-term solution. It costs too much money.

Moreover, frequent dealings with external merchants risk exposing the sect’s location to the Martial Alliance’s remnants, making self-sufficiency essential.

Well, if the main base were as far from the Central Plains as the Heavenly Demon God Sect or Baehwa Church, it wouldn’t matter…

“Anyway, when there’s no special activity, the internal faction focuses on self-production, while the external faction’s role is to earn funds outside.”

“The weight of being the head of the family is heavy indeed.”

Hyeonho, the Ilwol God Sect’s Ninth Elder, also known as the Curse Merchant outside, smiled with a face oddly resembling a fox.

Even at night, a man wearing a reversed hat.

“You don’t need to explain that. So, the Heavenly Demon-less Heavenly Demon God Sect… took the job from those half-wits.”

The Fourth Elder, Ohgung from the Diancang Sect, placed his hand on the hilt of his sword while looking at the Jiegal Family’s private estate in the Martial Alliance.

“Whether it’s Guhae or not, we came to kidnap the kid said to have dragon’s blood.”

***

[Hey! Hey! Wake up! This isn’t the time for meditation!!]

At the voice of the black snake from within, beautiful blue eyes slowly opened.

“……”

An eerie silence. No sound of wind or insects.

Sensing the sinister aura creeping closer, Guhae, who had been sitting on a garden rock pondering a letter to Sima Mantian, stood up.

“Chakbong, Chak Hwang… stay back.”

“Chak?! Chaejaek-!!”

At their owner’s command, the plump sparrows, Chakbong and Chak Hwang, who had been dozing on Guhae’s shoulders, fluttered their wings and flew up.

“Human sacrifice to resurrect the missing Heavenly Demon… isn’t that ridiculous?”

“Rather, during the time when the Heavenly Demon existed, they denied such things. A sect losing its core loses its identity.”

Moving silently, a voice mocking contradictions spoke.

A man with a creepy smile and narrowed eyes, Hyeonho, emerged from the darkness. And…

“Ugh… Grandfather will… come soon…”

A girl, clearly a noble’s daughter, was subdued by the dark energy emanating from Hyeonho’s shadow, resembling a fox’s tail.

Jiegal Yeon, the granddaughter of Jiegal Yang, closest to Guhae in the Jiegal Family aside from her martial arts master.

“I… don’t mind me…”

Jiegal Yeon was weakly dragged along.

“Ahaha~ Sorry to crush your hopes, but Jiegal Gwailong is probably busy playing with my comrade and won’t come.”

“……”

Hyeonho, crushing the hope of a rescuer, smirked at Guhae, who silently glared at him.

Displaying the hostage, the dark energy tightly constricted Jiegal Yeon’s body.

“So, if you want the hostage safe, quietly surrender…?!”

Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms – Flying Dragon in the Sky

Hyeonho made one mistake: Guhae wasn’t just glaring; she was gauging the distance.

Before he could react, a whirlwind and silky black hair brushed past Hyeonho’s cheek.

Like a flying dragon snatching its prey, she tore through the shadow and rescued Jiegal Yeon.

“…Sorry.”

Jiegal Yeon, her mind hazy from the dark energy filling the estate, weakly whispered while in Guhae’s arms.

“It’s okay. Rest.”

Guhae, as calm as ever, reassured Jiegal Yeon and carefully leaned her against a nearby tree.

“Chakbong, tell Jiegal Yang to stop playing around.”

“Chak! Chakchak!!”

“Chak Hwang, take care of Yeon.”

“Chaejaek!!”

At the unexpected turn, Hyeonho’s narrowed eyes widened, and an incredulous laugh escaped.

“…Ha! Haha!”

The advantage of holding a hostage vanished instantly. But what was more surprising…

The smile faded from Hyeonho’s face. Tension made his throat dry.

He watched Guhae’s back, exuding a fierce aura despite her calm voice.

The dark energy filling the estate was suppressed by the dragon’s energy, unable to approach. The spirits scattered in fear of the celestial being.

‘The rumors about the Jiegal Family’s child having dragon’s blood were true…’

When the Heavenly Demon God Sect first made the request, he hadn’t taken it seriously.

He thought it was just martial artists, ignorant of sorcery, calling a talented, peculiar child with unknown origins a dragon’s child.

Why do martial artists love dragons so much that they slap the name on everything?

They’re just murder weapons with no understanding of the mystique the Eight Legions of Heavenly Beings hold.

…So he thought he could easily subdue her and move on.

But he was wrong.

“It seems I’ll need to demand double the original payment.”

Or perhaps take her to the Ilwol God Sect. That might benefit the sect more.

Of course, that’s if he can subdue her.

The noble dragon, having secured the hostage, turned her winter-sea-like blue eyes toward the intruder.

The surrounding temperature dropped sharply.

“Come at me.”

“…Looks like I’m being completely underestimated.”

But dragging it out wouldn’t help, so he obliged, launching into his techniques.

Five Poisons Fist

Centipede, snake, toad, scorpion, lizard. A secret martial art of the Five Poisons Sect, mimicking the movements of these deadly creatures.

Among dozens of feints, the most lethal strike aimed at Guhae…

“?!?!?!?!”

It didn’t land.

Stars governing fate sparkled in Guhae’s eyes.

Using Heavenly Mystery Steps, she discerned the feints and found the hidden strike. With Empty Clarity Fist, she nullified the force and caught it.

It was like an adult twisting a child’s wrist.

With unbelievable strength from her slender arm, Hyeonho’s body lost balance and spun 180 degrees.

Up and down reversed.

Simultaneously, Guhae released Hyeonho’s wrist and stepped back with her right foot.

Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms – Divine Dragon Swings Its Tail

She spun her body and delivered a powerful kick.

“Kuh-! Keuk-?!”

Like a dragon’s tail striking clouds to create thunder, the explosive force hit Hyeonho’s abdomen.

His body, unable to withstand the impact, flew through the air and crashed mercilessly into the ground, rolling in the dirt.

“Ugh-! Euk-! Ueeeeek-!!”

Hyeonho, barely stopping his roll, contorted his face in pain, forgetting all dignity, and vomited blood.

Had his protective energy been a moment slower, his ribs would have shattered, and his organs ruptured, killing him instantly.

‘This… is this the so-called late-stage strength…?’

He looked up at Guhae, emotionlessly preparing her next move, calmly ready to take his life.

The overwhelming aura emanating from a girl not yet sixteen was unbelievable.

Beyond being of dragon’s blood. Truly, the martial talent of the world’s greatest.

Instinctively, he realized.

He had to muster every ounce of strength, steadying his staggering body to prepare a spell.

‘This fight… if I don’t give it my all, I’ll lose…!!’

***

[That guy’s preparing something… finish it quickly with a big move]

‘I know.’

At the black snake’s voice, sensing something amiss, Guhae focused her internal energy in both hands.

Double Hands Fighting

Left and Right – Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms – Proud Dragon Regrets

Dragon-Subduing Twin Waves

Two massive dragons of energy, distorting space, swept forward, obliterating everything in their path.

Kwagagaga-!!

The Jiegal Family’s garden was devastated by the immense energy blast.

“During King Jinpyeong of Silla’s reign, the steward Bihyeong would disappear every night. The king, curious, asked.”

“Bihyeong said he slipped through shadows to play with goblins.”

…But it didn’t reach Hyeonho. Or rather, he narrowly escaped with his life.

From the tree’s shadow under the moonlight, Hyeonho’s upper body emerged, wriggling out of the shadow.

“Shadow Movement Technique. A lost sorcery from Silla.”

Kiiik-! Kiiiik-!!

Simultaneously, from Guhae’s shadow, venomous centipedes Hyeonho had sealed in a jar shot up, spewing poison.

“……?!”

She quickly jumped up, avoiding fatal injury, but the spreading poison clouded her mind.

“Dragons are mighty creatures, but they have two weaknesses: the reversed scale and the centipede’s poison.”

Hyeonho wiped the blood from his mouth, looking down at Guhae, who was staggering and collapsing.

“Well… not many remain unscathed after being poisoned.”

He didn’t approach until the poison fully took effect.

“These lines reveal the dragon’s strength; without targeting its weakness, victory is impossible.”

“Chak! Chaejaek-!!”

Chak Hwang, sensing her owner’s peril, flew swiftly to buy time until Chakbong brought Jiegal Yang.

“What’s this? A plump sparrow?”

“Chak-?!”

Hyeonho’s hand struck, sending the sparrow tumbling to the ground.

‘Sigh… I really went through hell.’

Though nearly killed, he had almost subdued the half-dragon with thick dragon’s blood. Hyeonho sighed, looking up at the sky.

Plop- plop plop-

…Suddenly, water droplets hitting his face made his narrowed eyes widen.

‘Water? Rain? That’s impossible…!!’

According to astronomy and weather, it wasn’t supposed to rain here today. Yet, it was raining.

As someone versed in sorcery, he knew.

This- this- someone was defying the heavens to make it rain.

It was absurd. Impossible.

Such a thing… only a being like…

As Hyeonho trembled in fear, the rain poured harder.

A man in a black dragon robe, appearing like a mirage in the downpour, emerged.

Eyes like a dark abyss, pale skin.

A handsome man with an icy demeanor, striking anywhere.

But what stood out most…

Were the sharp, inhuman teeth.