Chapter 14. The Four Deities Activated (4)

The noisy Choseongru suddenly fell silent.

"Hmph! You're going to hide until the end? Fine! I'll make it impossible for you to stay hidden!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Flames shot up from all sides of Choseongru.

"Aaaah!"

"F, Fire!"

"Ah! Martial artists!"

The people who had come to Choseongru were terrified.

It seemed as if oil had been poured, as the fire spread at an incredible speed. Choseongru, which boasted a certain history and reputation, was quickly trapped in a wall of fire.

Jegal Jun, who had been resting, quickly rushed out.

"Sister?!"

Jegal Ayeon had already come out and was looking out the window.

"Sister! What's with this fire?!"

"It's those guys."

"Excuse me?"

Jegal Ayeon's face was filled with intense anger.

"They're from the same gang as the ones I took down yesterday."

"......!!"

Jegal Jun gritted his teeth.

"How did they know about this place?!"

"That's not the issue right now!"

Creak!

Jegal Ayeon, who had jumped out the window, leaped over a roof.

It was a graceful movement, like that of a crane. It was the movement technique of the Jegal family, Cheonjisinheng (Heavenly Skill Body Movement).

Jegal Ayeon's face turned pale as she stood on the roof of the central building.

'Too many!'

There were easily over a hundred. At least a hundred and fifty.

'How could there be so many?'

She had only disciplined some bandits who were beating up a merchant. From the situation, it didn't seem like the merchant had done anything wrong, and it was critical.

After that, a minor black path sect that had been protecting the bandits came after her. Although it was a minor sect, she easily defeated them and leisurely made her way to Choseongru.

She thought that was the end of it.

But the man shouting loudly there was none other than the sect leader of the black path sect she had defeated.

"Ah! Sect Leader! Can you see that woman on the roof? That's her!"

"I see her, too."

Jegal Ayeon looked down at the man called the sect leader.

'High-level expert?'

He looked to be around forty, with a slender build and a gentle face.

However, his eyes were far from ordinary. The man's eyes, which glared at her from a distance, were as terrifying as a predator's.

"Sect Leader! Quickly, catch that woman and beat her up...!"

Snap!

"Ugh!"

The man rolled on the ground. The blood pouring from his nose and mouth suggested severe internal injuries.

Jegal Ayeon's face frowned.

'Yin Palm?'

It wasn't a martial art that released power externally. It was a Yin Palm technique that penetrated the body and caused internal damage.

The sect leader brushed off his hands.

"Idiot. That's why you're only a minor figure. Can't you see she's a high-level expert from a prestigious school?"

Jegal Ayeon shouted loudly.

"Who are you?!"

"You? Hmm, you're a young girl, but you have a foul mouth. I guess that's common among those trained in the white path prestigious schools."

"......!!"

"It's hard to look up at you, so come down. We need to face each other to introduce ourselves."

"What if I don't want to?"

"Well, if you don't want to, there's nothing I can do."

His answer was playful, but what happened next was not.

Leather bags flew from all directions.

Bang! Boom! Boom!

"Aaaah!"

"Ah! S, Save me!"

The already threatening fire became twice as large and more violent. It seemed the leather bags contained oil.

Jegal Ayeon shouted.

"Stop! I'll come down!"

"You should have done that earlier. People from the white path prestigious schools don't listen to reason."

Swish!

As soon as she finished speaking, Jegal Ayeon landed opposite the man.

Her movement technique was incredibly graceful. The middle-aged man's eyes widened in surprise.

"Wow! Impressive movement technique. So, which school are you from?"

"I am Jegal Ayeon of the Jegal family."

She disliked using her family's name to suppress others, but given the situation, she had no choice. If she made a mistake, innocent people could be harmed.

"Shinki Jegal! I see a descendant of one of the Seven Great Families."

The man examined Jegal Ayeon as if she were a strange animal.

Jegal Ayeon's face hardened.

'What is it?'

She wasn't afraid.

Bandits, let alone minor black path sects, would run away immediately at the mention of the Seven Great Families. Not only would they not win, but their lives would be in danger.

Yet, the man showed no such fear.

'Hmm?'

Jegal Ayeon realized that the man's eyes were somehow murky.

His aura was clearly that of a first-rate expert, but his eyes were turbid.

'What is it? Is he addicted to some strange drug?'

Rustle!

Before she knew it, Jegal Jun had also appeared beside her.

The man clapped his hands ostentatiously.

"Wow! Your movement technique is amazing! By any chance, would you teach it to me? I'm a bit weak in movement techniques."

He seemed strange at first, but it only got worse.

Jegal Jun involuntarily cursed.

"Crazy man!"

"Would you like me to pull out your tendons and slice your flesh while you're still alive? Then I'll tell you. Okay?"

It was a chilling statement.

It wasn't just a threat. The man's eyes were increasingly filled with madness. From his eyes and voice, it seemed he had done such things more than once.

"Who are you?"

"Ah! I haven't introduced myself, have I? I am the Sect Leader of the Leihwafang (Thunderfire Sect)."

It was a sect she had never heard of. Besides, neither of them had much interest in black path sects.

"I won't say much. Have your subordinates put out the fire immediately."

"Why should I?"

"What?!"

"Whether you're here or not, once I start a fire, that's the end of it."

Jegal Ayeon and Jegal Jun's faces twisted in anger.

The Leihwafang Sect Leader burst into laughter. Madness could be heard in his laughter.

"Since you came out willingly, I'll spare your lives! Now, how should I deal with you two?"

"You evil man!"

"The man looks sturdy, so I can sell him to old men who are obsessed with male beauty. The woman is pretty, so I can enjoy her and then sell her to a brothel!"

"You bastard!"

Bang!

She couldn't listen anymore. Jegal Ayeon and Jegal Jun kicked off the ground.

A sinister aura appeared on the Leihwafang Sect Leader's face.

"Ha!"

At that moment, dozens of hidden weapons flew from the bushes on either side.

It was a mediocre hidden weapon technique, but it was an unexpected ambush. In their highly agitated state, they were bound to be caught off guard.

"Ha!"

Swish!

Following Jegal Jun's gesture, the hidden weapons in the air changed direction.

It was the Jegal family's ultimate technique, Sotaeunjang (Small Heavenly Star Palm Technique). The broad palm force, like a silk ribbon, disrupted the direction of the hidden weapons. It was so advanced that it was hard to believe it came from a young man who hadn't even reached adulthood.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

"Jun!"

It was an amazing martial art, but they hadn't considered another ambush. Three daggers were embedded in Jegal Jun's thigh.

The Leihwafang Sect Leader smiled and wiggled his fingers. Daggers were attached to his finger joints.

"You're just a kid."

Jegal Jun gritted his teeth and stood up.

His martial arts were strong, but he lacked experience. Neither he nor Jegal Ayeon had any experience in group battles or chaotic fights.

"This much is... cough!"

Suddenly, Jegal Jun spat out blood.

It was bright red, but it smelled foul. Jegal Ayeon's eyes widened.

'Poison?'

She glared at the Leihwafang Sect Leader.

"Filthy man!"

"Why? In the martial world, this is basic, isn't it?"

"Give me the antidote immediately!"

"Don't worry. Your internal organs will be damaged, but you won't die. I said I'd sell you to old men who enjoy male beauty, didn't I?"

Despite her anger, her heart sank. The madman was serious about what he said.

"Next is your turn."

Swish.

The martial artists who had thrown the hidden weapons revealed themselves. They seemed determined to capture Jegal Ayeon.

She might have been able to handle it alone, but with her injured brother, it was difficult. Jegal Ayeon's face was filled with frustration.

* * *

Boom! Rumble!

The sound of the walls surrounding Choseongru collapsing could be heard.

It was hard to believe how strong the fire demon was, capable of collapsing stone walls. Yeon Jipyeong, who had already climbed to the top floor of the main building of Choseongru, shouted.

"Senior Xin!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

"First, have the men put out the fire! And, and over there! We need to help the Jegal family members!"

Despite his composure, Yeon Jipyeong was also flustered by the sudden situation.

Xin Mo quickly responded.

"We should evacuate the people first."

"Ah! That's right! Then I should help the Jegal family...!"

At that moment,

"Wait."

The two quickly turned around.

Yeon Hojeong was standing there. His face was covered with soot, as if he had been walking near the wall of fire.

"Brother?!"

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, yes! But brother, why wait?"

Yeon Hojeong looked at Xin Mo.

"Senior Xin."

"Yes, Young Master."

"I've opened a path in the back garden and the northeast and southeast directions. But that's not enough. There's earth piled up on both sides outside the southwest gate. If you go thirty zhang further, you'll reach the river."

"Yes, yes?!"

"I mean, break down the southwest gate. The final escape route is there."

"How...?"

Yeon Hojeong's eyes sparkled.

Xin Mo felt her back straighten.

"I accept Young Master's order!"

Xin Mo immediately moved.

Yeon Hojeong walked past Yeon Jipyeong and stood at the end of the railing. He could see Jegal Ayeon holding Jegal Jun.

'Now, show me your martial arts.'

He could see a faint aura rising from Jegal Ayeon's body. She seemed ready to use her full strength.

'Hurry!'

Yeon Jipyeong asked urgently.

"Brother! We need to open a path where the Jegal family is! There are many people there too!"

"It's fine."

"What?!"

"The fire won't spread further. The wind is blowing in the opposite direction, so there's no risk of smoke inhalation. It's safe for now."

"But if people panic and an accident happens...!"

"Everyone will survive once the battle is over. Don't panic."

"Then, we'll go help the Jegal family! We need to defeat them as soon as possible to open the gate...!"

"Wait."

"Brother?"

"Wait."

Yeon Jipyeong was about to ask what he meant but suddenly closed his mouth.

Above his sharp nose, his eyes shone a piercing blue, which was incredibly fierce.

It was a look he had never seen before. It was as if he was looking at a ghost's eyes, not a human's.

Thud!

Yeon Jipyeong, who had taken a few steps back without realizing it, tripped over a table leg. However, he didn't even notice. He felt a sense of alienation and fear at his brother's completely changed expression.

Yeon Hojeong was the same. His senses and intuition, which usually roamed in all directions, were now focused solely on Jegal Ayeon.

'If your family is behind this...'

His hand, which was gripping the window frame, tightened.

Crack!

The wooden window frame broke. He had unknowingly used the Bie Lajin technique.

"...I'll turn all of Hubei into a sea of fire, starting with you."

Bang!

Dozens of daggers were thrown at Jegal Ayeon.

A white aura suddenly rose from Jegal Ayeon's body.

Yeon Hojeong's eyes widened.