Yak Bing gazed at Bu Eunseol with wistful eyes.
“Come to think of it, you really resemble my little sister.”
A deep longing mingled with despair filled Yak Bing’s expression and gaze as she recalled her sibling.
For a moment, she fixed her eyes on empty air, bit her lip, and spoke.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get out of here safely.”
“Ahh.”
“You don’t believe me.”
A dry smile appeared on Yak Bing’s face.
“The truth is, I came here to find my sister.”
She gave a faint smile.
“My real name is Jo Yak-bing.”
Bu Eunseol swallowed his surprise.
Jo Yak-bing.
She was one of the Four Great Divine Thieves—the most outstanding thieves in the martial world—and renowned for her extraordinarily swift qinggong, earning her the nickname Shadowless Thousand-Li Step.
‘She’s in disguise.’
Jo Yak-bing’s true face was famously beautiful. Since it was so well-known, she had slightly altered her appearance for this mission.
“I’ve wandered the martial world since childhood, but my sister did not.”
As a child, Jo Yak-bing had met Gwak Yeong-san, an eccentric master from the Wind Medicine Sect known as the Migratory Bird Divine Thief, and became his disciple.
Unlike her, however, her younger sister was frail and could not learn martial arts. Instead, she stayed home studying to enter the renowned Jegalseowon Academy.
Then one day, her sister vanished as though evaporated.
Their parents searched everywhere and even contacted the authorities, but no trace could be found.
When Jo Yak-bing, already making a name for herself wandering alone, heard the news, she immediately began tracking her sister.
If no sign could be found even after scouring all eighteen thousand li of the Central Plains, her sister must be held in a place with ironclad security.
Continuing her investigation for any clue, she discovered that not only her sister but countless other beauties had secretly disappeared over the years. She learned that many abducted women had visited famous temples in Shaanxi, including Ban-Gye Temple.
Finally grasping a thread, she disguised herself as an ordinary young lady from a common family visiting Shaanxi temples to pray.
As expected, one night masked assailants kidnapped her and sold her here.
“They say the women abducted by these people are taken to some secret place. My sister is probably there.”
Jo Yak-bing whispered in a low voice.
“I must find her.”
Given the massive scale of this organization, escaping with her sister might be impossible. Judging by her expression, she had clearly brought some precious artifact or demonic item as a last resort.
“Ahh (Why are you telling me all this?)”
When Bu Eunseol mouthed the words, Jo Yak-bing smiled brightly.
“I told you—you resemble my sister.”
Then, with utmost seriousness, she added, “She said ‘two days,’ so it can’t be long now.”
Fierce resentment burned in her eyes.
Soon, she would reach the place where her sister was taken and rescue her.
Two days later.
“Ho oh, you’ve done some research on your own.”
The nun exclaimed in admiration as she watched Jo Yak-bing dance.
“You’ve mastered emphasizing your natural beauty. It differs from the original intent, but it’s refreshing and good.”
She nodded with satisfaction.
“You seem ready now.”
Smiling, the nun pointed at Bu Eunseol and Jo Yak-bing to the disciples waiting behind her.
“Take these two.”
Outside, a palanquin waited at the mountain gate, surrounded by martial artists in black uniforms.
‘The same experts from the Secret Demon Palace.’
Bu Eunseol instantly recognized them as the Secret Demon Palace members who had carried the sacks here.
‘If Protector Tak saw this, he’d faint.’
Once, the Secret Demon Palace had dominated the martial world. But after Tak Ilhon vanished, its members scattered, and the palace was believed to be naturally disbanded.
Yet now, a demonic sect served as a lowly branch of the Mount Hua Sect, transporting women?
‘I’ll leave cleaning this up to Protector Tak.’
Swallowing those thoughts, Bu Eunseol boarded the palanquin.
Tap, tap.
The martial artists once again sealed their pressure points.
Then, lifting the palanquin, they raced off swiftly.
Whoosh—whoosh.
Carrying the two, the palanquin shot forward like an arrow.
Bu Eunseol pretended to faint.
Jo Yak-bing, however, seemed to have used a form-shifting technique so she quietly kept her eyes open, gravely counting the distance.
After running all day, the surroundings suddenly grew silent, as though submerged in water.
‘A formation is in place.’
Such stillness occurred only when entering an area layered with ancient formations.
Splash.
Finally, amid the sound of parting water, the palanquin stopped.
When it opened, someone unsealed their points.
Bu Eunseol and Jo Yak-bing rose unsteadily with bewildered expressions.
Outside stood masked martial artists, their eyes gleaming sharply.
“Come out.”
Bu Eunseol looked around in feigned confusion.
Towering cliffs rose on all sides, and at their base stood a luxurious manor.
No ordinary manor could be built beneath real cliffs like this. It was undoubtedly protected by a powerful formation.
‘No matter how high his position, a Mount Hua elder couldn’t hide a manor of this scale.’
If all this was due to formations, even mobilizing all of Mount Hua’s manpower would have taken years just to set them up.
An external force, not Mount Hua, was surely involved.
“This way.”
The hall they were led into contained an enormous bedchamber. Inside stood a massive bed large enough for thirty people, surrounded by strange incense and candles.
The burning incense was a potent aphrodisiac—one that even the invincible-to-all-poisons could not resist.
Over a dozen women were already inside, breathing heavily with entranced expressions.
Jo Yak-bing frowned at the scent but soon regained calm. Like Bu Eunseol, she had mastered circulating inner energy while perfectly concealing it.
‘Something happened.’
The dozen women waiting here wore thin silk garments and looked terrified.
They had likely undergone another thorough inspection before Bu Eunseol and Jo Yak-bing arrived.
Clatter.
A sinister man entered.
He scanned Bu Eunseol and Jo Yak-bing, then spoke coldly.
“You two—strip immediately.”
Bu Eunseol’s eyes flickered.
No matter how perfectly he deployed the Face and Bone Shifting Art, he could not change his actual body into a woman’s.
If forced to undress here, his disguise would be exposed instantly.
‘Should I subdue him?’
The sinister man’s steps were steady, and the vibrations of his true energy were considerable. Whether his hastily improvised mind-seizing technique could capture the soul of such an expert again was uncertain.
‘No choice.’
As Bu Eunseol steeled himself and tensed his fingers—
Thud, thud.
Heavy footsteps announced the entrance of a burly middle-aged man.
The sinister man immediately clasped his hands respectfully.
This was Mount Hua Elder Chae Ju-heung.
Outwardly, he radiated a dignified aura and noble bearing, appearing every inch the lofty figure.
In reality, he was a depraved fiend who built hidden manors and abducted beauties.
“They said supreme peerless beauties had arrived—indeed.”
Chae Ju-heung gazed at the scar on Bu Eunseol’s throat and nodded.
He gestured to the sinister man.
“Remove the other women.”
“But the great method is already prepared…”
“Today, I wish not for the great method, but true pleasure of clouds and rain.”
Enamored by Bu Eunseol’s beauty, Chae Ju-heung wanted all other women cleared out.
“Leave only that dancing girl to heighten the mood and send the rest away.”
“Elder—”
“Don’t make me repeat myself.”
At Chae Ju-heung’s words, the man bowed.
“Yes, sir.”
Chae Ju-heung licked his lips as he stared at Bu Eunseol.
“Come here.”
Instead of answering, Bu Eunseol briefly closed his eyes.
The chamber’s outer walls were thick iron, and formations blocked the outside.
This was less a bedchamber and more a secluded training hall designed to prevent interference.
‘It was originally meant for a great method.’
“Did you not hear me?”
As Chae Ju-heung approached—
Whoosh-whoosh!
Jo Yak-bing, who had been waiting demurely, shot forward like lightning, extending her index and middle fingers.
She struck the Yeongdae point on his back.
True to her Shadowless Thousand-Li Step title, her speed was like a flash of light.
Striking the Yeongdae point paralyzed the limbs.
As Chae Ju-heung stiffened, Jo Yak-bing smiled coldly.
“So the mastermind behind abducting all those women is a Mount Hua elder.” She glared at the frozen man.
“Where is Jo Chusu?”
“Who are you?”
When Chae Ju-heung asked calmly, Jo Yak-bing drew a sharp hairpin and aimed it at his throat.
“Answer only what I ask.”
“I don’t know any Jo Chusu.”
“Do you wish to die?”
“It’s the truth.” Even with the hairpin at his throat, Chae Ju-heung smiled leisurely. “Do you think I’d remember the names of women brought here?”
“What?”
“Most have their yin energy fully drained and are killed that same day, then discarded. Only those with peerless beauty like you survive.”
He leisurely scanned Jo Yak-bing up and down.
“Since you say she’s your sister, there’s no need to search—she couldn’t have escaped being plain. She was surely drained and discarded.”
“You vile bastard!”
Enraged, Jo Yak-bing drove the hairpin halfway into his throat.
Shunk.
Yet something strange happened.
Instead of piercing flesh, his neck stretched like rubber by the length of the embedded hairpin.
“What—?”
Greatly shocked, Jo Yak-bing plunged her palm deep into his chest.
Shunk.
But his body stretched backward like a boneless creature and her hand could not penetrate.
“The Zither-Flower Plain Soul Hand.” Seeing her embedded hand turn golden, Chae Ju-heung gave a faint smile.
“So you’re the Shadowless Thousand-Li Step, Jo Yak-bing—the one who steals anything and everything.”
He grasped her hand.
It turned out his pressure points had never been sealed.
Jo Yak-bing unleashed her Flying Swallow Thirteen Thunders, striking thirteen kicks from his shin to his groin. Yet only his skin dented slightly; he took no real damage.
“You’ve learned a bizarre demonic art.”
As Jo Yak-bing’s eyes flashed and she retreated—
Grab.
Chae Ju-heung instantly closed the distance and twisted her wrist.
“Let’s see your real face.”
He poured energy into her.
Crack, crack.
Bones creaked in her face as the disguise began to unravel, revealing a beautiful woman with sparkling eyes.
“Indeed, your true appearance is better.” Chae Ju-heung laughed heartily. “They say you’ve stolen every elixir under the sun—your inner energy must be profound.”
Then he suddenly released her wrist and unsealed her points.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“This place is vast, and the formations block all sound—no matter how you struggle, nothing will carry outside.”
He licked his lips.
“And this elder enjoys hunting fresh, lively prey that sneaks in like you.”
The chamber was so large because he had played deadly games of cat-and-mouse here with women—and the infiltrators targeting him.
Swish-swish!
Using her swift qinggong, she slashed at him like a swallow.
Ting-ting!
Yet standing in place, he blocked every attack with a single finger.
‘No choice.’ Jo Yak-bing retreated like lightning, aiming to escape outside.
But seeing Bu Eunseol standing dazed, she bit her lip.
‘I can’t leave her behind and escape alone.’
Reading her hesitation, Chae Ju-heung smirked.
“A thief with loyalty—how touching.” He pointed to the door behind her. “But no need to waste effort. No matter how hard you try, you won’t escape through there.”
“What?”
Jo Yak-bing spun and flung the door open.
Beyond it was solid iron.
“When—?” Biting her lip, she leaped upward to burst through the ceiling.
Thud.
Same result.
Once activated, this hall was encased from floor to ceiling in thick iron.
“You think you’re the only one to infiltrate here?” Chae Ju-heung licked his lips leisurely. “Among them were experts far beyond you. Yet all were torn apart by my hands.”
Jo Yak-bing bit her lip.
She could never have imagined the monster abducting and violating women was a Mount Hua elder. Above all, Chae Ju-heung’s martial arts were far stronger than rumored, and he had mastered strange demonic sorcery.
There was no way out.
“I’m sorry.”
Jo Yak-bing smiled weakly at Bu Eunseol.
“For failing to keep my promise to save you.”
In her hands now appeared two pitch-black orbs.
Heaven-Collapsing Explosion Pellets.
Preparing for the worst, she had secretly brought these demonic items—one capable of melting iron and stone in an instant.
“We all die together!”
She slammed her hands together, bringing the two pellets into collision.
In this narrow iron-sealed space, if both exploded, no martial art—no matter how great—could survive.
Then something astonishing happened.
Flick.
Just before they collided, Jo Yak-bing’s body froze.
Chae Ju-heung had swiftly sealed her demonic points.
As her body softened and collapsed, he calmly placed the two pellets on a distant table.
‘Sorcery.’
Watching silently, Bu Eunseol frowned.
Chae Ju-heung’s movement was quick, but not beyond Jo Yak-bing’s reaction. Yet she had stood blankly, unable to detect it.
“Now, shall we enjoy ourselves?”
Chae Ju-heung licked his lips at Bu Eunseol.
As he approached—
BOOM!
With an explosive sound, Chae Ju-heung’s body slammed into the ceiling.
Bu Eunseol had struck his Danjung point with the Final Fist Demon Form.
Hummm, hummm.
The iron walls and ceiling vibrated endlessly from the aftermath.
Yet Chae Ju-heung’s body remained intact, not shattered.
Thud.
He dropped from the ceiling and examined his chest.
The area struck by the Seventh Fist Demon Form was caved in deep enough to fit a human face.
Yet he showed no pain, only a relaxed expression.
“This is unexpected.”
Chae Ju-heung tilted his head with a strange look.
“To think you possess a technique that fooled even my eyes.”
“You must have learned a demonic art like the Thousand-Flesh Hundred-Spirit Technique.”
“Oh my—did you even change your gender to infiltrate?” When Bu Eunseol spoke in his original voice, Chae Ju-heung smirked. “That’s not so rare. Others like you—changing gender to enter—have come before.”
He leered down at Bu Eunseol.
“And they all became rather unique playthings.”
Revulsion surged through Bu Eunseol, unbearable.
“As an elder of the Nine Great Sects, why do this?”
“I do this precisely because I hold the position of elder in the Nine Great Sects.” Chae Ju-heung spoke with a bitter expression.
“Far too many restrictions. And of all the roles, I ended up with this one.”
‘Not the real elder.’
From his tone and expression, this Chae Ju-heung was clearly an impostor—like Hall Leader Yong Myeong—replaced by another.
“No need to drag this out.”
He would simply behead the fake and rescue the women.
No reason to chat further with this pig.
“Even in women’s clothing, you’re quite handsome, so—”
As Chae Ju-heung continued, his eyes widened.
Two strands of sharp energy were already slashing toward his throat.
Whirl!
Greatly alarmed, he spun his body diagonally like a top, barely evading.
“Who are you?”
For the first time, the leisurely Chae Ju-heung’s face hardened.
With that single move, he realized the extraordinarily high realm Bu Eunseol had reached.
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