Chapter 125: The Saintess and the Witch (3)
Baek Myo-jin’s face turned pale.
During their time in the Demonic Cult, this woman’s rank had been several levels above hers. She had never imagined that the Jade Flower Saintess would appear here.
“The Jade Flower Saintess…?”
Instead of answering, Yeon Seo-hwa launched a swift series of palm strikes. Baek Myo-jin instinctively raised her sword to defend.
Boom! Crash!
As her stance was instantly broken, Baek Myo-jin felt a sense of utter despair. Even in perfect condition, Seo-hwa was a formidable opponent. In her current exhausted and wounded state, she stood no chance at all.
Before long, a palm enveloped in black qi struck her chest.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
The blow shattered her protective qi completely, leaving her gasping for air.
It was one of Yeon Seo-hwa’s signature techniques, the Black Dragon Divine Palm.
What followed was a one-sided thrashing.
Seo-hwa’s arms blurred in the air, creating a flurry of afterimages. It was as if the Thousand-Armed Guanyin had descended.
Unable to maintain her stance, Baek Myo-jin was battered mercilessly.
Slap! Crack! Thwack!
Only after unleashing dozens of palm strikes did Seo-hwa finally stop.
Baek Myo-jin collapsed to the ground, her eyes glazed over. Covered in wounds, she lay limp, unable to stand.
Seo-hwa grabbed her by the hair, forcing her head up.
“So you managed to survive. Did you betray the Demonic Cult and align with the Hui, or were you their agent from the very beginning?”
“K-Kill me…”
“Answer my question first.”
“Ugh… Do you think I would tell you?”
Leaning down slightly, Seo-hwa stared directly into her eyes.
“Lest you forget, I am the Jade Flower Saintess.”
How could she forget? Yeon Seo-hwa was a woman who would achieve whatever she set her mind to, by any means necessary. When it came to cruelty, Baek Myo-jin could not even compare.
“You… didn’t show loyalty to the Demonic Cult either…”
A cold smile played on Seo-hwa’s lips, sending a shiver of dread through Baek Myo-jin.
“I have no interest in the defunct Demonic Cult. I want you to tell me everything you know about the Yeong Cult, which is currently operating under the name of the Demonic Cult. How many branches do they have here in Shaanxi?”
“You won’t find out easily.”
“Is that so?”
Yeon Seo-hwa pulled several long acupuncture needles from her sash. Seeing them, Baek Myo-jin flinched in panic.
“W-What are you doing?”
“Let’s discuss the details elsewhere.”
There were too many eyes watching here. It was not a suitable place for an interrogation.
Seo-hwa drove the long needles into several of Baek Myo-jin’s major blood points, sealing her internal energy and preventing her from using martial arts.
Thrust! Stab!
“Aaagh!”
Baek Myo-jin writhed in agony. A moment later, after a brief convulsion, she went limp. She had passed out.
Seo-hwa looked around. Over a thousand government soldiers still held their perimeter, refusing to back down.
Their faces were filled with disbelief. It was only natural, since they had just witnessed her easily overpower the Heavenly Sword Witch who had given them so much trouble.
One of the military officers snapped out of his shock and shouted, “R-Reveal your identity!”
There was a hint of hostility in his voice. It was understandable, as the Black Dragon Divine Palm she had used was clearly a demonic art.
“I am not your enemy. Stand down.”
The soldiers remained motionless, gripping their weapons tightly.
“The use of demonic arts without official permission from the government is strictly forbidden. If you cooperate and come with us for questioning, no harm will come to you.”
Banning the use of demonic arts… She had never heard of such a law. It was unprecedented. It seemed the government was determined to purge every demonic practitioner in Shaanxi.
Though the soldiers were merely doing their duty, her pride would not allow her to be dragged away like a criminal.
“I told you to stand down.”
Yeon Seo-hwa raised her right hand, and dozens of flying needles hovered in the air. With a wave of her arm, the needles shot toward the soldiers.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The needles flew like streaks of light, far too fast for the soldiers to dodge.
“Ugh!”
“Ah!”
“Kack!”
About twenty of the nearest soldiers stumbled back.
“Stop acting. It was merely a warning.”
Bewildered, the soldiers looked at one another. The needles were embedded precisely in the crests of their helmets.
If she had aimed for their vital points, it would have been a bloodbath. A suffocating silence fell over the street.
The flustered soldiers turned to their officer.
“S-She is incredibly strong.”
“What should we do?”
Even among peak masters, there were levels. The pressure radiating from this woman was on a completely different level than the Heavenly Sword Witch.
As they hesitated, a young girl stepped forward.
“She’s my master!”
Several soldiers who recognized the girl waved frantically.
“Come over here quickly!”
“It’s dangerous over there!”
“So-so, hurry!”
So-so ignored them and hugged Seo-hwa around the waist.
“Uncles, it’s alright. My master is a good person.”
The soldiers were at a loss. To think So-so’s master was a supreme master of the demonic path. Just then, a man pushed through the ranks.
“If any of you touch her, Captain So-mu will kill you all. Lower your weapons and stand down.”
It was Il-gwang, who had finished securing the camp.
At the mention of So-mu’s name, the soldiers’ attitude shifted instantly. The hostility in their eyes vanished. Captain So-mu was the legendary hero of the army. Who would dare draw a sword against his acquaintance? Since the deputy commander of the Wolf Fang Squad had spoken, there was no room for doubt.
“Lower your weapons!”
The soldiers stood down and sheathed their blades.
As the tension dissipated, So-so waved her hand and cheered, “Uncle Il-gwang!”
Stepping through the ranks, Il-gwang picked So-so up in his arms.
“You little troublemaker! What were you doing here?”
He playfully tickled her side.
So-so giggled, then suddenly pouted, looking at her clothes.
“My new clothes…”
They were brand new clothes. She was worried because his hands were stained with dried blood.
“They’re fine. The blood dried up a long time ago.”
Holding So-so, Il-gwang bowed slightly to Seo-hwa.
“…”
“Please take her. I will handle the rest.”
Seo-hwa nodded and grabbed the collar of the unconscious Baek Myo-jin.
Since Yeon Seo-hwa was the older sister of Yeon Cho-hee, Il-gwang gave her a warm, polite smile as they parted.
At that moment, Baek Myo-jin regained consciousness. Realizing she was being dragged away by Yeon Seo-hwa, she screamed to the soldiers, “W-Why are you just watching? Arrest me! Take me away! Now!”
Her face was swollen and battered, and her desperate plea was almost pitiful. The soldiers merely smirked, thinking she got what she deserved.
Il-gwang gestured to his men.
“A few of you stay to clean up, and the rest, fall back.”
Just then, a woman ran up to them. She was heading toward So-so, who was still in Il-gwang’s arms. It was the owner of the accessory stall.
So-so beamed at her.
“Sister! Are you alright?”
“T-Thank you, child. You saved my life.”
The woman took a sparkling necklace from her neck and placed it around So-so’s neck.
“Is this for me?”
“Yes. You saved my life, so I must give you a gift to ease my mind.”
“Hehe. Thank you!”
So-so smiled brightly, delighted.
As the merchant walked away, a familiar voice spoke from nearby.
“Our So-so received a wonderful reward. Helping others always brings rewards, whether it is a necklace or a warm heart.”
Everyone turned toward the voice.
So-mu had arrived at some point, standing with his hands behind his back. No one had noticed his approach.
“Father!”
So-so leaped from Il-gwang’s arms and flew into So-mu’s embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“My, you look like a little fairy in these new clothes.”
“Hehe. Really? Am I pretty?”
“Of course. You are the prettiest girl in the world.”
So-so narrowed her eyes and asked, “Then who is prettier, Master or me?”
Flustered, So-mu quickly scanned the area.
After confirming that Seo-hwa had already left, he whispered, “S-So-so is prettier.”
So-so giggled and fished something out of her pocket.
“Hehe. This is So-so’s heart!”
It was the red jade sword tassel.
It was the first gift he had ever received from his daughter. A warm smile spread across So-mu’s face.
“So-so is the only one who thinks of her father, isn’t she?”
“Yes! I am the best!”
“Indeed you are. The absolute best.”
Delighted, So-mu patted her head and began to walk.
A moment later.
A captain in charge of the dungeon guard came running over, pale and blood-stained. He knelt before So-mu, crying out in despair, “Please execute me. I failed to guard the prisoners properly and caused this disaster… Ugh…”
So-mu shook his head.
“I heard she mastered the Seduction Art. I came as fast as I could just in case, but I was a step too late. Why are you crying?”
“My men did nothing wrong… It was entirely my fault. Please punish me.”
Since a prisoner had escaped, the officers and guards responsible would face severe disciplinary action. A court-martial was inevitable.
So-mu patted his daughter’s back and observed the captain. His face was pale, and his armor was soaked in blood.
“You have a sword wound in your abdomen.”
“It is nothing…”
“You stopped the bleeding, but it must be agonizing.”
“Compared to my men who died… this wound is nothing.”
“You are mistaken.”
The captain slowly looked up.
“Pardon…?”
“You fought bravely and even tried to take the blame to protect your men. Do you think our military is so blind that we cannot tell right from wrong?”
“…”
So-mu walked past him, speaking softly, “Your actions are an example to all soldiers. You deserve a reward, not punishment. I will speak to the General myself.”
“C-Captain…”
“And it was not your fault. If anyone is to blame, it is me for not sealing her martial arts in the first place. Go and get your wound treated before you actually die.”
The captain wept as he watched So-mu’s retreating figure, bowing deeply to his back.
***
Baek Myo-jin was taken to Yeon Seo-hwa’s residence on Yangju Mountain.
Though she was determined to hold out, she confessed within a single day.
In the grassy field behind the hermitage.
Leaning back in a wooden chair, Seo-hwa stared down at the white-haired witch kneeling before her.
“Please… just kill me now…”
“You should have spoken from the beginning.”
They had extracted a wealth of information. They confirmed that there were three more branches of the New Demonic Cult in Shaanxi alone, along with their precise locations. All that was left was to purge them.
Seo-hwa turned her head to the right.
So-mu, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, took over the questioning.
“The Hui Emperor. No, where is your Cult Leader right now?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never met him in person.”
“Even though you are a branch leader?”
“Only a select few have the right to an audience. A mere branch leader like me stands no chance.”
At that moment, dozens of flying needles hovered in the air in front of Seo-hwa.
“You had better prove that you are useful to us.”
Seeing the needles, Baek Myo-jin quickly added, “He will soon move the capital to Kaifeng.”
So-mu frowned.
“Why Kaifeng?”
“He wanted to come to Chang’an, but you guys took it first. Luoyang was also an option, but the largest imperial palace outside of Chang’an is in Kaifeng. Since it lies in the heart of the Central Plains, it is the ideal location to rule.”
“That works out even better.”
“What do you mean?”
“Once we take Luoyang, Kaifeng is right there. It means he is coming closer to us. We should be glad he is seeking his own grave.”
Baek Myo-jin let out a sinister laugh.
“Hehe.”
“What is so funny?”
“You speak like that because you know nothing of him. Do you think you can stop him if he moves personally? When the time comes, you will learn the true meaning of despair.”