Chapter 238
Mount Jomchang, Yunnan Province.

Now the headquarters of the Blood Sect, this area had become a living hell for ordinary people, with countless Blood Sect sorcerers constantly stationed here.

Especially around Jomchang Mountain, the city of Dali had once been a prosperous and bustling place, inhabited mostly by Han Chinese rather than the Miao people.

But now, the residents of Dali could only lament the fact that they were not Miao.

While the Miao could retreat into the jungle to avoid the sorcerers, the Han residents had nowhere to hide.

Granted, there had been strict orders from the Blood Demon himself never to harm ordinary civilians.

But no matter how fearsome the Supreme One was, if he could fully control his madness, he wouldn’t be a true Blood Sect sorcerer.

And crucially, the Blood Demon didn’t concern himself with every little thing happening outside Jomchang Mountain.

As a result, the people of Dali now lived each day consumed by the fear of survival.

One early evening, three sorcerers burst into a tavern in Dali, slamming the door open.

Bang!

“Owner! Bring us the finest wine and the best dishes you have!”

These three were the famed Choo-woong Trio, among the most notorious sorcerers residing in Dali under the Blood Sect.

The tavern owner, Wang Soban, bowed so deeply it seemed his back might break, rushing out to greet them.

“Ah, welcome, heroes!”

Though his demeanor was servile, Wang Soban’s bright smile was genuine.

The Choo-woong Trio had visited several times before, paying well and enjoying the food, making them valued regulars.

In fact, having such powerful sorcerers as patrons was a stroke of luck for the tavern.

Their presence kept weaker sorcerers from causing trouble, acting as a reliable shield for the establishment.

“Please, have a seat! We’ll serve you the finest wine and dishes shortly!”

Wang Soban beamed with sincere delight, then hurried to the kitchen to instruct his wife to prepare the food with extra care before returning.

At that moment, a tense conversation from the Choo-woong Trio caught his ear.

“Lately, I haven’t seen any women wandering outside. It’s about time we caught one to have some fun.”

“Exactly, brother. There’s nothing enjoyable these days; it’s so dull.”

A cold sweat broke out on Wang Soban’s forehead as he overheard their cruel words.

He reminded himself once again: no matter how beneficial these sorcerers were to his business, paying well and all, their true nature was nothing but ruthless Blood Sect sorcerers.

He had to be careful—very careful—not to fall out of their favor.

Just then, the youngest of the trio, Nobindok, called out to him.

“By the way, owner!”

Wang Soban forced a wide smile and hurried over.

“Yes! You called?”

It was common for Nobindok to speak on behalf of his brothers, so Wang Soban had no idea what was coming.

Nobindok smiled meaningfully and asked, “Is your wife married to you?”

A chill ran down Wang Soban’s neck.

Though he couldn’t quite place the ominous feeling, he answered politely out of habit.

“Ah, yes! My wife is the cook here at the tavern.”

Nobindok’s face lit up.

“Good. Then have her come out for a moment.”

Wang Soban’s smile froze instantly.

The earlier conversation and this sudden demand to bring out his wife were converging into a dreadful conclusion in his mind.

He tried to reason, forcing a smile.

“She’s busy preparing your meal right now, so it’s a bit—”

But he should have remembered: these were not men who would be swayed by excuses. They were the merciless sorcerers of the Blood Sect.

Nobindok’s smile vanished as he said coldly, “Tell her to come out. Now.”

A shiver ran through Wang Soban’s entire body; his breath caught, and his legs trembled.

Even without being a warrior, he could sense the murderous intent radiating from Nobindok.

Reluctantly, Wang Soban had no choice but to call his wife out.

Like many others in Dali, he had long since lost the strength or will to resist the Blood Sect sorcerers.

“Dear! Please, come out for a moment!”

But she didn’t respond—likely too focused on cooking.

Wang Soban wanted to go find her himself, but fear gripped him so tightly that even a single step felt like it would cost him his life.

All he could do was call out more desperately.

“Dear! Please come out! I’m telling you, come out now!”

Finally, Wang Soban’s wife emerged from the kitchen, a hint of irritation in her voice.

“I’m in the middle of cooking. What is it?”

But as she stepped out, she immediately noticed the harsh, predatory gaze of the Choo-woong Trio sweeping over her, and her husband standing pale and trembling as if about to collapse.

She instantly sensed something terrible was about to happen.

Sure enough, Nobindok grinned wickedly.

“Huh, I didn’t expect much, but you’re not bad at all. Right, brothers?”

His elder brothers, Nogyedok and Noyeokdok, also smiled coldly.

“Yeah, better than I thought.”

“Could be useful in a pinch.”

She now fully understood the situation she was in.

Desperately, she looked to her husband for support.

But he couldn’t meet her eyes—overwhelmed by guilt, self-loathing, and a terror he couldn’t overcome, tears streamed down his face as he hung his head.

Nobindok addressed her.

“Come here, woman.”

Swallowing hard, she pleaded earnestly.

“Heroes, as you can see, I have a husband and a child at home. Please…”

But her words were cut off.

Nobindok asked coldly, “You say you can’t because of your husband and child. So if they weren’t there, it would be fine?”

Her face turned pale as she realized the meaning behind Nobindok’s sharp gaze aimed at her husband.

She saw his finger twitch toward Wang Soban.

She cried out, “No!”

She knew that if she hesitated any longer, she would lose her husband.

There was no more time to hesitate if she wanted to save him.

Nobindok’s cold eyes locked onto hers, silently demanding an answer.

With a trembling voice, she said, “Even if I have a husband and child… it doesn’t matter.”

Nobindok’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Tears streamed down her face, but she nodded firmly.

“Yes… it doesn’t matter.”

Hearing the answer they wanted, Nobindok turned to his brothers with a satisfied grin.

“So it seems, brothers.”

Nogyedok and Noyeokdok, watching with amused expressions, nodded approvingly.

“Good. Then today, instead of food, we’ll have something else. Owner, we’ll be leaving now.”

“Hey, why bother going outside? Just settle it here.”

“Is that so? That works too. Owner, we’ll be using this place. Close the doors and step outside for a while.”

Wang Soban felt utterly crushed by despair and helplessness.

These ruthless men were telling him to leave while they violated his wife right here in his own tavern.

But he had no choice but to comply.

“Yes, heroes. Understood.”

He felt as if he might die from the overwhelming shame, but as a resident of Dali, he had no other option.

He could only grow numb to these brutal realities.

Just as Wang Soban, unable to meet his wife’s eyes, was about to step outside, a clear female voice rang out.

“What about me, instead of that woman?”

The Choo-woong Trio all turned their heads toward the door.

Leaning casually against the doorframe was a woman dressed in a crimson martial uniform, watching them.

The moment they saw her, their eyes widened.

“Oh!”

“Look at this one.”

Despite her uniform, her figure was strikingly beautiful.

Though her bangs fell low enough to obscure her face, the glimpse of her lips alone was enough to tell she was a remarkable beauty.

She spoke again.

“Don’t like that idea?”

“Huh?”

Only then did the Choo-woong Trio recall her question: how about playing with her instead of the owner’s wife?

They chuckled as they replied.

“Why would we refuse?”

“No need to say more—that’s just nagging.”

“Come on, over here!”

Then she spoke again, briefly.

“Then send them away.”

At her words, Cho Woong-sam-ma glanced at the master and his wife.

Their eyes seemed to say, “Why aren’t you leaving already?”

“Ah, th-thank you!”

“Thank you, thank you!”

Realizing they were alive, the master and his wife bowed deeply, tears streaming down their faces, before rushing out the door.

As they left, they cast a fleeting, pitying glance at the woman leaning against the doorframe.

But in the end, they didn’t say a word to her and hurried outside.

Then Cho Woong-sam-ma rose to his feet.

Now, it was truly time to have some fun.

The eldest, No Gye-dok, licked the moisture from his lips and said,

“Well then, shall we begin?”

At his words, the woman hiding her face behind her bangs—Hae Cheong-yeon—straightened up from her lean against the doorframe.

She pressed her left thumb against the hilt of her sword and slowly drew it out.

Ting!

Between the white scabbard appeared a pure white blade, glowing with a radiant light.

But seeing this, Cho Woong-sam-ma burst into a sly chuckle.

They had already expected she wouldn’t simply surrender herself to them.

But that didn’t matter.

They exchanged words as they slowly advanced toward Hae Cheong-yeon.

“Heh heh heh, a rose is only more beautiful with its thorns.”

“The harder the hunt, the sweeter the thrill.”

“The more a woman throws a tantrum, the cuter she becomes, don’t you think?”

Cho Woong-sam-ma were among the top masters residing in Dae-ri, the pinnacle of martial artists.

The eldest, No Gye-dok, had nearly ninety years of internal energy cultivation, and his two younger brothers each had eighty years.

They were untouchable except by the absolute elite.

Hae Cheong-yeon watched them approach for a moment, then, as if about to draw her sword, she suddenly swung her hand toward them.

Whoosh!

Something shot out from her hand at terrifying speed.

Wheeeeee!

“!”

Cho Woong-sam-ma were startled by three small spinning rings suddenly fired at close range and hurriedly dodged.

Despite the proximity, their speed was terrifying.

Swoosh!

“Ugh!”

“Ah!”

The small rings grazed their clothes fiercely.

No Gye-dok barely avoided one and gritted his teeth.

“That woman… her specialty isn’t swordsmanship, but hidden weapons…!”

At that moment, the small rings that had grazed them spun fiercely and returned.

They spun so wildly that even inside this small inn, they didn’t hit the walls.

Wheeeeee!

“!”

“W-what is that?!”

“Blood Ring Martial Art?!”

Cho Woong-sam-ma were horrified.

It was unmistakably the Blood Ring Martial Art once used by Chuk Ho-tak of the Underworld Blood Victory.

A technique only high-ranking members of the Blood Sect could master—and now it was unfolding from Hae Cheong-yeon’s hand.

Panicked, Cho Woong-sam-ma turned to defend against the spinning rings.

Then, at that moment, the blade of Hae Cheong-yeon’s sword, Baek-yeon, finally shone brightly.

The Saint’s Sword Technique, Level Five.

Comet Black Strike.

Puuuuk!

“Gahk!”

The Comet Black Strike was a lightning-fast thrust that Hae Cheong-yeon’s father, Sword Saint Hae Un-baek, had once claimed rivaled even Il-sisa-il of Jeomchang.

The youngest brother, No Bin-dok, was pierced through the heart from behind and died instantly.

In the next moment, Hae Cheong-yeon’s spinning rings struck his back.

Puk!

Seeing this, No Gye-dok and No Yeok-dok shouted in shock.

“Youngest!”

“You witch, how dare you!”

Ting! Ting!

The eldest and second brothers immediately struck away the spinning rings and turned to attack Hae Cheong-yeon.

At this point, Baek-yeon’s blade was still embedded in No Bin-dok’s back.

“You woman!”

Then, suddenly, crimson lightning began crackling around Hae Cheong-yeon’s sword Baek-yeon.

Pajijijijik!

“Grrrgh!”

“W-what is this?!”

No Gye-dok and No Yeok-dok, advancing to strike her, were forced to retreat, unable to approach the powerful lightning surrounding her.

No Gye-dok muttered in disbelief,

“Could this be… the Blood Thunder Sword Technique?”

The Blood Thunder Sword Technique was the Blood Sect’s ultimate sword art, a variation of the Namgung family’s Royal Sword Style.

Only the core members of the Blood Sect could master it.

And now, this incredible technique was being wielded by the young woman before them—someone they had never seen before.

No Gye-dok swallowed hard and asked,

“Who… who are you?”

But Hae Cheong-yeon didn’t answer.

She silently extended her left palm toward him.

The deep crimson energy covering her hand radiated an ominous aura.

No Gye-dok frowned and shouted,

“What are you planning now…?!”

At that moment, a crimson dragon suddenly burst forth from her hand.

Krarararara!

It was a dragon made of fierce energy.

No Gye-dok already knew the name of this technique.

“G-Gucheon Blood Dragon…?!”

Terrified, No Gye-dok and No Yeok-dok scrambled to dodge as the dragon lunged.

But they were so shocked they failed to realize one crucial thing—

Hae Cheong-yeon’s Blood Ring Martial Art was not yet finished.

Wheeeeee!

Behind them, two more spinning rings whirled fiercely toward their backs.

Panicked, they barely managed to turn and deflect them.

Thud!

At that moment, the blood dragon suddenly changed direction and struck No Gye-dok’s back.

Krararararak!

“Ugh!”

No Gye-dok sensed this might be his last moment.

Desperately, he gathered all his internal energy and released it outward.

A barely formed protective aura.

“Haaah!”

Fwaaaak!

The fierce blood dragon slammed into the red barrier he emitted.

Kwahaaang!

A tremendous explosion shook the inn.

When the dust settled, No Gye-dok staggered forward, his body battered and broken, hands stretched out before him.

Finally, he collapsed helplessly.

Thud.

“Gahk!”

Blood gushed from his mouth.

He had suffered a grievous internal injury.

No Gye-dok barely lifted his head and looked ahead.

There lay his second brother, No Yeok-dok, dead, his chest split open.

The blackened, burnt wound showed he had been struck by the Blood Thunder Sword Technique.

Grinding his teeth, No Gye-dok glared at the approaching woman and asked,

“Who… exactly are you? Are you one of those so-called Blood Demons?”

Hae Cheong-yeon paused for a moment, then muttered,

“Blood Demon… maybe I am.”

Then she swung her sword, slicing through No Gye-dok’s arms.

Swish!

Puhak!

“Ugh!”

No Gye-dok, eyes wide open, could only watch as his arms were severed.

The devastating damage from the Gucheon Blood Dragon technique left him too weak to even move a finger.

But he could still move his mouth, and with a bitter smile, he said,

“Hmph! Why not just kill me? Are you playing with me? If you expected me to beg for mercy…”

Hae Cheong-yeon cut him off coldly.

“No such intention.”

Tap-tap!

Without emotion, she pressed her fingers against his blood vessels and walked behind him.

No Gye-dok shouted after her, now out of his sight,

“You woman! What are you trying to do to me?! St-!”

Then—

Crack!

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his neck.

“Ugh!”

A sound followed.

Sssslurp! Sssslurp!

Only then did No Gye-dok realize what she was doing.

She was sucking his blood.

Absorbing internal energy through blood consumption was a unique technique of the Blood Sect.

She was trying to absorb his internal energy.

“You… you woman! My internal energy…!”

But No Gye-dok could no longer speak.

His entire body sagged in helplessness, unable to utter a sound.

He could only gape and slowly die.

His final moments marked by the very method he had inflicted on countless others.

After a while, having drained enough blood and absorbed the internal energy, Hae Cheong-yeon pulled away from No Gye-dok’s neck.

The liquid dripping from her lips, the bitter taste and smell on her tongue and nose—it was a sensation she had grown disturbingly accustomed to.

Disgusting.

Everything about it.

Hae Cheong-yeon repeated silently in her mind,

“Now is not the time to be picky. I have to do whatever it takes.”

As always, she tried to convince herself.

But the filthy feeling didn’t fade.

She felt as if the madness of the Blood Sect’s martial arts, suppressed by the Great Calm Heart Technique, was about to surge uncontrollably.

In the end, she gave up trying to endure it alone.

Instead, she thought of the face she often recalled when she couldn’t bear it—

“Seonwoo Gongja.”

The image of his smiling face calmed her heart somewhat.

After all, he had come all the way into the Blood Sect’s lair to save her.

If she couldn’t endure this filth, it would be a betrayal to him.

Hae Cheong-yeon gritted her teeth and steeled herself once more.

“Hold on, Hae Cheong-yeon. No matter what, you have to get out of here and return to him. By any means necessary. So this much is nothing.”

Hae Cheong-yeon opened her eyes.

Her hair fell over her face, hiding her expression completely.

The madness and confusion that had just overwhelmed her were gone.

She closed her eyes again, focusing on sensing any presence around her.

Despite her intense concentration, her spiritual sight detected nothing.

But she knew all too well that didn’t mean she was alone.

Gu Yu-eumma and Ji Gi-eum’s subordinates were always lurking nearby, watching her every move.

So if even she—who had broken through the ninety-year internal energy barrier—couldn’t sense any presence, the answer was obvious.

Suddenly, she spoke.

“I’m about to start circulating my energy. Sorry to ask, but could you, Eumma, keep watch outside the inn for me?”

No response came.

A perfect silence. It was almost embarrassing—there seemed to be no one around at all.

But Hae Cheong-yeon didn’t doubt her instincts.

She stood silently, as if refusing to move until she got an answer.

Then, at last, a voice echoed from the empty air.

“No one will be able to disturb your energy circulation, so don’t worry.”

Despite the voice coming from within the cramped inn, its source was impossible to pinpoint—a remarkable concealment technique.

Knowing she couldn’t escape until she located him, Hae Cheong-yeon sat down and began circulating her energy.

Thinking back to how Chief Seol Poong had once tracked his position, she realized her own power still fell short even compared to his.

There was still a long way to go.

She also thought about something else.

Since Gu Yu-eumma and Ji Gi-eum were watching her, it meant Hyeolma had gone out somewhere again.

They probably didn’t want her to know, but she had already figured out that Ji Gi-eum only kept watch over her when Hyeolma was away.

“So if I ever escape, I’ll have to strike when Ji Gi-eum is by my side.”

And to do that, she needed to fill her internal energy to a full hundred years with the absorbed demonic energy.

A hundred years of internal energy.

Before she knew it, she had reached the very threshold of transcendence.

Her growth was astonishingly rapid—no slower than Seon Woo-jin, who was fully supporting Muk-rang at his side.