Chapter 306

The moment Ja Gyeong-jin caught sight of her, he couldn’t help but let out an involuntary exclamation.

“Whoa!”

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

Even compared to Choo Seo-rin, known as the most beautiful woman in Akyang, she stood out overwhelmingly.

Perhaps it was from rowing, but her loose clothing had slipped off one shoulder, revealing smooth, pale skin that radiated an irresistible allure—enough to captivate any man’s gaze.

Some looked at her with curiosity, others with admiration, and a few with greedy eyes.

Then she spoke again.

“Ugh, damn it! Why’d you have to come all the way out here and make things so difficult? I thought I was going to die trying to find you before it got too late!”

Her delicate appearance and sweet voice clashed sharply with the coarse tone she used.

At her words, the expressions of those watching her shifted from awe to stunned disbelief.

Without waiting for a response, she grunted and rowed herself closer to the island’s third pier, then leapt off the boat and onto the shore.

Rubbing her aching waist as if exhausted from the effort, she smiled brightly at Choo Ha-gon and asked,

“Are you by any chance the invincible hero, Choo Ha-gon?”

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Choo Ha-gon looked at her with a puzzled expression.

But it seemed Yeon Tae-jin hadn’t been waiting for an answer at all.

She smiled as if she’d already heard the reply and continued cheerfully.

“Ah, I knew it! You really do have the bearing of a true hero, just as I’d heard! Hello, I’m Yeon Tae-jin. It’s a real honor to meet the invincible of Akyang.”

Her bright greeting was completely out of sync with the tense atmosphere, leaving Choo Ha-gon awkwardly glancing at the Taoist masters of the Hyungsan Sect before stammering,

“Ah, well…”

Then Ja Gyeong-jin, who had just revealed his face, was the first to harden his expression and ask her,

“And who might you be to come here? And what exactly are you doing?”

He had sensed that Choo Ha-gon’s resolve had nearly crumbled moments ago.

Their plan to gradually chip away at his hope was on the verge of success.

But that good mood was utterly shattered by the arrival of this woman.

No matter how beautiful she was, it was infuriating.

‘And with that name—Yeon Tae-jin—combined with that beauty…’

Just as Ja Gyeong-jin began to suspect her true identity, Yeon Tae-jin smiled enchantingly and replied,

“Oh my, I’m a bit disappointed you don’t recognize me by name or face. Don’t you know Ha Won-dal-gi of Gwangseo Province?”

At her words, Ja Gyeong-jin narrowed his eyes.

‘So it’s true.’

She was indeed Yeon Tae-jin, the head of the Ha Won faction in Gwangseo Province.

“And what am I doing now? Well… honestly, our clever Sunwoo Gongja asked me to draw some attention and buy some time. At attracting eyes, I’m the best there is, after all.”

As she spoke, she swept her hair back with a captivating grace.

Despite her boastfulness, her confidence came off as charming and endearing.

Most of the warriors stood there slack-jawed, mesmerized by her beauty.

But Ja Gyeong-jin paid more attention to her words than her looks.

Especially when she mentioned buying time, his mind snapped to attention.

‘No way…!’

Just then, as Ja Gyeong-jin turned sharply toward the two warriors holding Choo Seo-rin, a sudden movement caught his eye.

Swish!

Behind the warriors stood a man dressed in black, sheathing his sword.

The warriors seemed completely unaware of his presence.

Ja Gyeong-jin shouted urgently,

“Watch your backs!”

Before the warriors could turn, a thin red line sliced across their necks.

In the next instant, blood sprayed like a fountain as their heads were severed.

Gasp!

Ja Gyeong-jin was horrified.

Though he’d sensed a flash of light before the sword was drawn, he hadn’t seen the blade’s path.

No matter the distance, that was an incredibly swift and deadly strike.

What’s more, before the blood even spurted, the man in black had already stepped back lightly, taking Choo Seo-rin with him.

His movement was so natural and effortless it was like watching the wind itself.

Alarm bells rang in Ja Gyeong-jin’s mind.

‘A master. But how could someone so young…?’

Though the distance was a bit far, the man in black was a strikingly handsome young man.

Ja Gyeong-jin racked his memory but had never heard rumors of such a master.

But that didn’t matter now.

Having lost the crucial hostage, Choo Seo-rin, he had to protect at least his son, Choo Sang-hyun.

He shouted to the twenty or so warriors holding Choo Sang-hyun,

“Be careful…!”

But it was too late.

Before he finished speaking, a small whirlwind suddenly appeared among the warriors.

Whoosh!

“Gyaaaah!”

“Aaah!”

“Kyaaah!”

It all happened in an instant.

A red, dragon-shaped whirlwind spun fiercely among the warriors, flinging those nearby into the air as if caught in a real storm.

Strangely, Choo Sang-hyun, at the center, remained unharmed while the others were thrown aside.

When the red dragon whirlwind finally stopped spinning, Ja Gyeong-jin saw it was a burly man dressed in red martial robes.

He looked similar to the man in black from before—a young man with overwhelming martial prowess.

Ja Gyeong-jin swallowed hard at the appearance of these mysterious young masters.

He was curious about their identities, but more importantly, he realized they had just lost all their hostages in an instant.

Clenching his teeth, he shouted at them.

“Who are you?! Do you even realize you’re interfering with the Hyungsan Sect’s event?!”

Yeon Tae-jin smiled and replied,

“Who would know what happens on this remote island? As long as the parties involved die, no one will ever find out.”

Ja Gyeong-jin realized that her words echoed their own plan to lure Choo Ha-gon here.

Rage boiled within him.

“Die? You think someone like you can just kill us?!”

But Yeon Tae-jin smiled unfazed and said,

“I’d like to, but I think one has to be given to the great hero Choo, and the other two to those who’ve been hiding back there with difficulty.”

She gestured with her thumb toward the small boat she’d arrived in.

Ja Gyeong-jin’s gaze naturally followed.

From beneath the boat, several figures were rising to their feet.

Sunwoo Jin and Seol Poong, masters of divine arts and stealth, were coming to rescue the hostages, having hidden beneath the boat while Yeon Tae-jin distracted everyone.

Among them, the muscular man wielding a massive three-pronged spear chuckled as he stood.

“As expected of Lady Yeon—considerate as always. Thanks. Now, one of them is mine!”

With a leap, he flew toward the island, his enormous spear in hand.

The three Hyungsan Sect Taoists who saw him muttered in shock,

“C-could it be… the Three-Pronged Spear?”

“Gam Jak-hyung?”

As martial artists, they couldn’t fail to recognize him—one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars.

Suddenly, one of the boat’s passengers stepped onto the island.

An elderly man in black robes, with a stern expression, wielding a thin straight sword.

Ja Gyeong-jin’s face went pale as he whispered,

“…Gui Do Baek Gi-ryang?”

Baek Gi-ryang glanced briefly at Ja Gyeong-jin, silently confirming his identity.

The other two Taoists who recognized him groaned softly.

“Th-this can’t be…”

“The Three-Pronged Spear and Gui Do? Why are they here?”

At that moment, Yeon Tae-jin turned to the dazed Choo Ha-gon and spoke.

“Hero Choo, please choose one first. Now that your children are safe, it’s time for revenge.”

Hearing that, Choo Ha-gon instinctively looked at his children.

He saw his son smiling beside the enemy youth, the acupuncture points released, and his daughter wrapped in a large cloth, rescued by the man in black.

It was enough to bring tears to his eyes.

But he quickly tore his gaze away and glared fiercely at the Hyungsan Sect Taoists, radiating fierce martial energy.

“I want to kill that man named Ja Gyeong-jin. Is that acceptable?”

His question was directed at Gam Jak-hyung and Baek Gi-ryang.

They naturally shifted their gaze away from Ja Gyeong-jin and looked at two different Taoists.

Choo Ha-gon had many questions.

Why had these famous masters—one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars and the formidable Baek Gi-ryang—come here?

And though they were renowned warriors, they were hardly saints. Why were they helping him?

Just then, Ja Gyeong-jin’s trembling voice broke the silence as he asked them,

“Why, why are you interfering with the Hyungsan Sect’s event? Do you truly wish to make enemies of the Hyungsan Sect?”

Choo Ha-gon suddenly chuckled to himself.

Apparently, they were even more curious about him than he was about them.

Well, it was only natural—after all, their entire conspiracy had been completely shattered.

It was at that moment.

A young man dressed in the enemy’s uniform, Seol Poong, walked forward with steady steps and spoke.

“Gam Nosa, Baek Nosa. As for Choh Daehyup, I understand there’s a grudge, so that’s unavoidable. But please, do not kill the other two. Brother Jin said there’s more to uncover by using them.”

The Taoists of the Hyeongsan Sect, as well as Choh Hagon himself, couldn’t help but be stunned.

Not because of what the young man said.

But because Gam Jak-hyung and Baek Gi-ryang bowed respectfully and replied.

“Understood, Gongja.”

“…”

It was an unbelievable sight.

Two top-tier masters, on par with the Thirty-Six Stars of the World, acting like subordinates to this unknown young man.

Jakyung Jin-in gasped in shock and asked,

“Wh-who are you? Surely… you’re not the deputy leader of the Cheonma Shin-gyo, are you?”

Seol Poong let out a bitter laugh.

He was basically saying, “That’s ridiculous.”

But Choh Hagon could understand Jakyung Jin-in’s feelings.

If he wasn’t the deputy leader of the Cheonma Shin-gyo, then who else could command two masters of the Thirty-Six Stars’ caliber as subordinates?

Yet Seol Poong seemed unwilling to say more about himself.

He looked at Gam Jak-hyung and Baek Gi-ryang and said,

“This is getting long-winded.”

At that, Gam Jak-hyung chuckled darkly and looked at Jakyung Jin-in.

“Well then, let’s have some fun. We’ve been losing all the time lately, so it’s about time we let off some steam.”

Without a word, Baek Gi-ryang turned and faced another Hyeongsan Sect Taoist, Jaguk Jin-in.

His murderous intent sharpened like a blade, focused and deadly.

Choh Hagon also fixed his gaze on Jakyung Jin-in, gathering his fighting spirit.

He was curious about their true identities and intentions, but revenge came first.

---

Just as the Three Earthly Wounds’ Gam Jak-hyung was about to strike Jagong Jin-in, and the Ghost Path’s Baek Gi-ryang moved against Jaguk Jin-in, the Invincible Golden Path’s Choh Hagon lunged at Jakyung Jin-in—

On the boat that Sunwoo Jin and his group had arrived on, Jin So-eun was smiling gently, soothing two elderly men.

“Don’t be too disappointed. Next time, you two will get to fight as well.”

They were Hong Hae-ah Jeung Chil and the Bone Ghost Demon Hong Chu.

In fact, when Gam Jak-hyung first leapt onto the island, these two had also tried to follow.

But when Baek Gi-ryang cast a cold, piercing glance over them, they had no choice but to stop.

They understood that after Gam Jak-hyung, it was Baek Gi-ryang’s turn—no interruptions allowed.

Jeung Chil, looking dejected, complained to Jin So-eun.

“Fine, I can accept that damn Bone Ghost guy, but how can he treat me like this? The master Baek Gi-ryang serves is my younger brother Poong, so by rank, shouldn’t I go first? Am I supposed to live being disrespected even by my brother’s subordinate? Huh? Just because I’m a decent fighter.”

Jin So-eun gave a wry smile and quietly comforted him in a low voice, careful not to let Baek Gi-ryang hear.

“You’re right. Baek Nosa was really harsh.”

But since Jeung Chil’s voice was also low, it seemed he had no intention of saying this where Baek Gi-ryang could hear.

It was both a relief and a little amusing.

Jin So-eun turned her gaze back to the island, where three battles were unfolding.

While Choh Hagon and Jakyung Jin-in were still locked in a bloody fight, the other two battles were already winding down.

Those were Gam Jak-hyung and Baek Gi-ryang.

No matter how strong the Hyeongsan Sect was, aside from the top swordsman of the Jiangmen Sect, Wi Jeong-guk, who was the best in Honam, there were probably very few who could defeat them one-on-one.

Jin So-eun’s eyes drifted to Sunwoo Jin, who was talking with Seol Poong.

She could sense the truth in what he had said earlier about the Hyeongsan Sect’s weakness—their strength was great, but scattered.