NOVEL NEXT Chapter 256
256th Chapter: Heavenly Net
“Whee Sojeo!”
“Cheon Sojeo, you’re here too. Perfect timing!”
Seomun Cheong-ha and Seoharin greeted them with joyful voices.
“Looks like the girls are looking for a spot to die.”
A master of the Blood Sect clad in a red robe sneered as he drew his sword.
“Well, isn’t it you lot who are looking for that spot?”
The Black Dragon, Heuksaryong, retorted, raising her sword. Following her lead, Seomun Cheong-ha, Seoharin, and Cheon Sobin unsheathed their swords, vibrant sword energy igniting around their weapons.
“Attack!”
With Seoharin’s command, the four girl masters charged at the Blood Sect masters and the Qing army. The energy exploded, sending the Blood Sect master’s head flying into the air.
On the battlefield, where the four girls were making their mark, stood another girl on the opposite side—a lovely girl with impressive dark green pigtails.
It was Goeui Dang Yeong-ryeong.
“Hehehe. Now even a child with blood still wet on her head has come to the battlefield. Quite a pretty one, I must say.”
A Blood Sect master leered at Dang Yeong-ryeong with a disgusting expression. Hearing his words, she smiled sweetly.
“Isn’t the pretty Yeong-ryeong cute? But hearing compliments from an ugly traitor like you, Yeong-ryeong feels a bit offended.”
Dang Yeong-ryeong’s face twisted. If she were to receive praise, she would rather it come from Lee Cheol-soo. He was so infuriating for refusing to acknowledge her charm while being such a handsome bastard.
Dang Yeong-ryeong’s sleeve fluttered as she unleashed poisoned darts from her concealed arm.
“Keh!”
The Blood Sect master, filled with lustful thoughts, collapsed face-first with poisoned needles lodged all over like a hedgehog.
Without giving the opponent a chance to react, Dang Yeong-ryeong demonstrated the prowess of the Dang clan. She smiled as she continued to sprinkle poison and darts all around her. As a master who mastered poisons and stealth, the battlefield shook as enemy soldiers fell one by one.
*
Amid such fierce fighting, Juga-yul observed the battlefield calmly while mounted.
Her unfocused eyes reflected the scene of carnage. Although she had served in government for a long time in her past life, this was her first experience with war.
She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword at her waist, remaining composed.
Behind her was a carriage carrying Honggwangje, her golden master.
‘It should be time to arrive shortly.’
Her eyes narrowed.
The whirlwind of today had a simple condition for victory.
Gi Hwanmajon.
If the last lord of the Blood Sect died, they would be defeated as well.
Conversely, if she died, the assault force would fall apart.
That’s why Juga-yul volunteered to bait Gi Hwanmajon.
He wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
The moment Juga-yul’s eyes narrowed.
With an overwhelming flow of energy, the space warped. Pachuchuchut! The air cracked, and from the broken space emerged a figure draped in blood-red robes, holding a staff adorned with skulls.
“Ah-ha, so you are Juga-yul.”
The last lord of the Blood Sect, Gi Hwanmajon.
The master known for his bizarre sorcery emerged from beyond space.
“To think a mere child would interfere with the great plan of the exalted one. Yet, I sense the Energy of Reverse Heaven within you.”
Gi Hwanmajon spoke as he gazed at Juga-yul.
The exalted one had recently whispered this to him. Not just Lee Cheol-soo. Juga-yul as well, for she was also a possessor of the Reverse Heaven’s Mandate. With three stars of Reverse Heaven rising in the sky, the course of fate twisted, leading to a chaotic future where nothing was predictable.
Thus, to set everything back in order.
To ascend the exalted one.
Both Lee Cheol-soo and Juga-yul’s heads were needed.
The corner of Juga-yul’s mouth turned up at Gi Hwanmajon’s gaze.
“I cannot help but feel delighted to receive praise from a traitor.”
Being told she was merely a child.
That meant she was indeed an adorable girl in his eyes.
‘Looks like I’m the youngest among Noya’s women after all.’
Her age was the most powerful weapon she had.
Gi Hwanmajon’s brow furrowed as he saw Juga-yul joyfully react.
That was a provocation, yet here she was, delighted.
“How strange. You must be out of your mind. Have you been possessed by a spirit at such a young age? Juga-yul.”
“I refuse to listen to nonsense, traitor.”
Juga-yul’s face hardened at the mention of possession.
Who’s possessed? Unlike Jeoksawol, Geumhu, and Sosumahu, she was still an adorable girl with her youth intact.
She was too young to be possessed.
Seeing Juga-yul’s reaction, Gi Hwanmajon twisted his lips into a smile. He waved his staff.
“Though your martial arts are commendable for a royal, they are nothing before me. The exalted one desires your head. So today, I shall claim it and offer it to the exalted one.”
“Hmph, heheh!”
Just as Gi Hwanmajon’s eyes turned blood-red and he was about to unleash his malice.
A strange laughter echoed from somewhere.
Gi Hwanmajon turned toward the sound. He sensed an undeniable aura.
There stood a man.
Wearing dark sunglasses, holding a blade engraved with the word “Alliance,” stood the leader of the Martial Alliance, Do-hwang.
Juga-yul laughed.
Do-hwang.
He was precisely the trump card Juga-yul had prepared to eliminate Gi Hwanmajon.
Juga-yul knew.
Not long after Noya performed the Rebirth Great Method, Do-hwang attained the stage of Purification.
That’s why in her return to the past, she had secured the “Mumyeong-dohae” for safekeeping in the Imperial Palace and presented it to Do-hwang alongside preparations for the Liaodong expedition.
Juga-yul was confident.
If Do-hwang obtained the “Mumyeong-dohae,” he would surely surpass the stage of Purification.
And just as she expected, Do-hwang, having received the “Mumyeong-dohae,” had reached that stage.
“Your opponent is not the exalted one, but me—Do-hwang. Hehehe! Bring it on.”
Do-hwang smiled as he raised his sword. The powerful essence emanating from his sword spread in strands, scattering everywhere.
Stretched in strands, it was Strong Threads.
Gi Hwanmajon’s eyes turned completely crimson upon seeing this. Tears of blood dripped from his scarlet eyes.
With a chilling voice, he said.
“A bothersome bug has shown up. I will deal with you first and then take Juga-yul’s head.”
With that, Gi Hwanmajon thrust his staff into the air.
Boom!
The sound echoed.
[Ten Thousand Influences]
Gi Hwanmajon’s incantation engraved itself on the world. With it, the world shifted. The battlefield instantly vanished, replaced by a shimmering universe filled with starlight.
The Ten Thousand Influences.
The cosmic knowledge deceiving the heavens turned into the manifestation of Mind’s Martial Arts.
Do-hwang smiled upon witnessing the Mind’s Martial Arts of the Ten Thousand Influences.
He raised his sword high.
“Hehehe. This is interesting. Then I will show you my newly acquired Mind’s Martial Arts.”
Do-hwang’s robe fluttered. From his sword, powerful strands spread endlessly. As he spun the web of threads, Do-hwang recited an incantation.
[Heavenly Net
]Do-hwang’s comprehension took shape as Mind’s Martial Arts.
A web of threads covering the heavens and earth, a world entirely enveloped in threads, showcased the sharp traps of his energy.
Like a spider’s web, the world was completely covered by strong threads.
Seeing the Heavenly Net that Do-hwang unfurled, Gi Hwanmajon laughed. He sneered at Do-hwang.
“A mere child who has just reached the stage of Purification dares to block me? You still have a hundred years to go.”
“Pfft! You really can’t know until swords clash. Hehehe!”
Do-hwang replied, adjusting his sunglasses as he faced Gi Hwanmajon.
Soon after, the two absolute masters collided on the Manchu plains.
The overwhelming wave of energy swept across the battlefield. The war, full of spears and blades, continued on.
*
Meanwhile, on the side of Han Byeong-joo.
His words were translated by our Dongchang agent.
Of course, I could understand some of what he was saying without needing translation. I had once studied medieval Korean in this world.
But I made no show of it.
“Nice to meet you. The military leader of Joseon. I am Jo Nam-pyeong, the commander of the Imperial Golden Restricted Position.”
Our representative, Cheonranggaek, stepped forward.
Prior arrangements stated that Cheonranggaek would represent us at official gatherings.
Cheonma had a wild personality, Sosumahu was in a juvenile regression state, Geumhu and Sahyeong held no official titles, Sinseung was merely a monk held in disdain in Joseon, and Jeoksawol was unstable, hence the decision.
Han Byeong-joo surveyed our group. He briefly twitched when he saw Sosumahu stuffing her cheeks with sweets, but maintained his composure with his extraordinary patience.
“It is an honor to meet the commander of the Golden Restricted Position protecting His Majesty. Please, have a seat.”
After exchanging formalities, we were guided to a tiled room with refreshments. There we sat facing our party and the masters from the Training Pavilion.
Cheonranggaek silenced the room with a gesture. Confirming this, Han Byeong-joo began speaking.
“Now, I will explain the detailed operation. First, we will disguise ourselves as merchants here in Hanyang and procure supplies before heading to Hamheung in Hamgyeong-do to join the observatory. And on the day of the operation, the soldiers of Hamgyeong-do and Pyeongan-do will move under the guise of a tiger hunt, crossing the Amnok and Tumen rivers to ambush the Jurchens’ rear, supporting the Empire’s celestial troops crossing the Yalu river.*”
Of course, reinforcements of the Joseon army had arrived in Liaoning. However, the main force of the Joseon army that had reached Liaoning consisted of soldiers from the Lower Three Provinces.
The real elite cavalry of the Joseon forces had remained in Joseon, aside from a few dispatched to Liaoning.
“While the soldiers from Hamgyeong-do and Pyeongan-do create disturbances in the Jurchens’ rear, our special unit, including Commander Nam-pyeong and myself, will infiltrate Baekdusan disguised as the Joseon army. The guarding forces at Baekdusan will be handled by the masters from our Training Pavilion.”
“We will assist as well.”
At Han Byeong-joo’s words, the Dongchang agent replied. Disguised as merchants, our Dongchang agents had deployed around ten masters.
Swish.
Han Byeong-joo pulled out a map from his pocket. It was a map of Baekdusan. He pointed to a specific location on the map.
“We suspect that the traitorous Blood Demon is hiding in Donghyeol, near Birong Pokpo.”
“There’s a high chance he’s secretly hidden behind the waterfall.”
Cheonma remarked, stroking his chin. Han Byeong-joo nodded in agreement.
“Exactly. Our scouts dispatched to Baekdusan have been falling one after another, so we haven’t been able to pinpoint the exact location, but if we eliminate all the unlikely spots, only Birong Pokpo remains.”
From Yongak Majon’s confession, we only learned that the Blood Demon was somewhere in Baekdusan.
Baekdusan was vast. We couldn’t determine precisely where the Blood Demon was hiding.
Narrowing down the location of the Blood Demon was thanks to Joseon’s cooperation.
“To summarize, as the Liaodong expedition begins and the northern forces of Joseon ambush the Jurchens from behind, we shall climb Baekdusan amidst the chaos.”
“That’s correct.”
At my words, Han Byeong-joo nodded.
The operation was nearly flawless.
Now, we just had to scale Baekdusan.
I thought this while sipping green tea from a Joseon white porcelain cup.
With the mission briefing concluded, the Blood Demon assault unit set off towards Hamheung disguised as merchants, joining the masters from the Training Pavilion.
Upon arriving in Hamheung, we met with the observatory, took some time to rest, and finally donned Joseon army uniforms as we began our ascent up Baekdusan.
At the same time, the northern forces of Joseon crossed the Amnok and Tumen rivers, while Hwang Sang led the expeditionary forces against the Qing’s Eight Banners army on the Manchurian plains.
The Blood Demon.
We were truly getting close to his location.