121 - What To Do if You’re the Villain and the Heroine Likes You

The Path You've Walked (9) "Damn, the weather is disgustingly nice." The leader of the Gongmyo Sect, Gongmyo Ryeong, frowned as she gazed up at the sky. The sky was so clear and blue that it seemed possible to discern the heavenly signs with a mere glance. And the heavenly sign she saw was that of great misfortune. "Damn it, the Pillar of Decision followers, even if they are just greenhorns, there are more than 200 of them, each drawing upon the accumulated power of their families and factions…and with such meticulous plans and traps set…yet the heavenly sign still reads great misfortune." "There's nothing we can do. Isn't that just like the Pillar of Destiny followers?" Byeokcheonki clicked his tongue as he spoke. In the middle of Datian Desert. There, around the Black Castle—the sealing site of the Wonrip—hundreds of Pillar of Decision followers were positioned. And on the periphery, Chugiki followers from each family, carefully selected, also densely surrounded the place on all sides. Above them were warships prepared by each faction, as well as gigantic magical treasures that required multiple operators, turrets, and battering rams. War magical treasures were also erected in abundance. "Chugiki followers, prepare to cast Shade-Calling Wind!" At the command of Makri Sect leader Makri Hwangcheon, the chugiki of the Makri Sect began to gather their energy behind the formation flags. Koogoo goo goo goo! Terrifying shades of energy began to accumulate within their formations, giving rise to a menacing wind. "Jin's Sect cannot lose either! To not be outdone by the Makri dogs, prepare the White Dragon's Wing Array and the Sun-Fused Crimson Fire!" Jin's Sect chugiki gathered to form their array. Inside, blood-red, burning flames began to blossom. The flames of Jin's Sect, feeding on the scorching heat of the Datian Desert, grew even larger than the shade wind gathered by the Makri Sect. Seeing this, Makri Hwangcheon's twitching eyes were noticed by an elder of the Makri Sect beside him. The elder gave a disgruntled look to another lower-ranking elder, who turned beet red and shouted with a turn: "Bolster the shade wind even larger than those Jin dogs! If you properly enhance the shade wind, I'll grant each person three Soul Life Pills! But if you fall behind them, expect something very interesting to happen!" Koogoo goo goo goo! No sooner had he finished speaking than the shade wind from the Makri Sect shook off the desert's heat and swelled even larger. Jin's Sect also intensified their flames, and both families competed, enhancing their secret magical formations to an even greater extent. Watching them, a high-ranking member of Qingwen Sect chuckled. "When those two families come together, there's never a dull moment." "Oh my, even Brother Qingwen speaks true. If only our two families could truly join—there would never be a dull moment…" "…Jinlu Sect leader, please choose your words with care." "Pfft. Is it not acceptable to relax and chat before the unveiling of the Sealed Destiny Castle, especially when we still have time?" Jinlu Sect's leader Jinlu Yeoncheon, a voluptuous beauty dressed in a black long robe and with eyes highlighted in shimmering blue makeup, retorted. "And what of a union between families? Isn't that a matter of public rather than private concern? Brother?" "Hmm, Yeoncheon. Right now the leaders of the six families of the Empire are looking this way with piercing eyes. What will you do if internal discord breaks out before the battle?" "Hmph, the Ha, Ge, Jun, Yeoljeon, Ori, Jeon families. All combined, they still can't hold a candle to Jinlu Sect. Rather than such petty talk, Brother, can't you treat me as you did in the past?" Qingwen sect's senior member massaged his temples as if in pain, then set his face and said sternly: "…Jinlu Sect's leader, please return to your place." "Think about it, Brother. The union of the bloodline of the Sect, descendent of the Blood of the Ascendant, and Jinlu Sect, founders of the Holy Empire—" "Enough! I will tolerate no further idle talk. As the supreme commander, I order you, Jinlu Sect's leader, to return to your position. Should this continue, I will govern with military authority!" "…Hmph. Very well, Commander. Think on it well." Jinlu Yeoncheon winked at Qingwen sect's senior member with a playful smile before returning to her place. The senior member of Qingwen sect pressed his head as if it ached. "Still, why isn't the detective arriving yet…?" He asked this of Byeokcheonki, who had been attentively sticking close to Gongmyo Ryeong. "Leader Byeok, didn't your Pillar of Decision follower go to escort the detective?" "Ah…well, you see." Byeokcheonki's expression stiffened slightly. Gongmyo Ryeong had drifted away from him during this time, and Byeokcheonki, looking both frustrated and perplexed, scrunched up his face. "Leader Byeok, are you in contact?" "Ha, about that…" Just then— Koogoo goo goo goo! From the east of the Datian Desert, a massive black shadow swelled towards the sealing site of Wonrip. Kwoa goo goo goo goo! Black curses scattered in all directions. And that shadow at the center of the curses looked around and spoke. [It appears I've not arrived too late.] Paaah! Immediately following the shadow, Byeokmunseong approached Byeokcheonki and bowed respectfully. "Leader, I have completed my mission." "Oh, indeed. Well done. Haha, Commander. It looks like everyone has gathered now." "Indeed it has…" Wrapped in a dark curse, the shadow, Seo Eunhyeon. The ruler of the east, wearing white bandages over his body, Manliminrab. The confident and proud leader of the Byeok Clan, wearing a white and blue robe, Byeokcheonki. The three stepped forward before the senior member of Qingwen. "The plan is duly known to all three of you, so there isn't much need for me to explain. However, I would advise all three of you to keep visualizing the scenarios in your heads." "Understood." Byeokcheonki replied, but Seo Eunhyeon and Manliminrab simply nodded. "And also… the Sealed Destiny Castle will soon appear, so take this in preparation." The senior member of Qingwen passed magical devices to Byeokcheonki and Manliminrab. "Inside the devices, I've placed diviner spirits." "Ha, real elixir spirits. Even just drinking it boosts all sorts of abilities for a short burst." Byeokcheonki admired the setting sun magical device, and without saying much, Manliminrab pulled out some liquor from the device. Then, on the spot, he drank all the bottles of the elixirs he had brought with him. Koogoo goo goo! After consuming all of those potent elixirs, Manliminrab’s aura swiftly transformed. Koogoo goo goo goo! His cultivation seemed to skyrocket in an instant as he took a deep breath. "Good, it's only for a short time but….” "Leader Byeok…" "Ah, I will drink mine before activating the Gyeokcheonbu." "Do so." Qingwen sect’s senior member's gaze shifted to Seo Eunhyeon. "Detective Seo, are you currently drinking it?" From within the curse, Seo Eunhyeon nodded. [I am drinking while waiting.] "Well then, let's hope everything goes according to plan…" Qingwen sect’s senior finished his words and then with a serious face, he gathered his strength. And he looked up to the sky. All the Pillar of Decision and Chugiki followers in the venue looked up at the sky without exception. Seo Eunhyeon looked at the Black Castle instead of the sky, While Manliminrab started inserting spirit stones into a large cannon he had taken out from the setting sun magical device. Byeokcheonki drew out the Gyeokcheonbu and infused it with energy. Everyone looked up at the sky, calculating the heavenly signs and timing. "It's time!" Gongmyo Ryeong shouted loudly. "The Liberation Castle…" One of the rulers of the east quietly murmured. "The Sealed Destiny Castle appears." One of the tribal chiefs of the Grand Plains steely faced. Koogoo goo goo goo! The void shattered, and a huge cylindrical castle, which had been drifting through another dimension, entered the reality of this space. Koogoo goo goo goo! At the same time, the numerous cultivators there felt a shift in the heavenly energy of the world. The energy of liberation. Obstructions were penetrated. Bound elements were released. An imprisoned entity was unshackled. And a sleeping force awakened. Giik, giik, giigiiik! A secret of the Gongmyo Sect. Using the nearby dragon veins, a sealing array formed by connecting them – Bagua Absorption Sealing Formation. From within the array, streams of blood-red energy began to emerge. Goo goo goo goo! Simultaneously, many cultivators felt the pressure of energy and their faces hardened. The being inside was trying to come out. The Liberation Castle finally settled completely in this world. And with it, the surrounding heavenly energy also began to fill more vigorously with the energy of liberation. Koo gook, koogoo gook! Bloodlight began to crack and burst through various parts of the array. Throughout the dry desert, the scent of blood began to permeate. Sssss... Between the cracks, a mist of blood flowed out. Pajik, pajijik, pajijijik! The sealing array gradually started to disintegrate. One Pillar of Decision follower swallowed hard. Koogoo goo goo goo! The array broke into pieces, and the energy that had formed it scattered in all directions, visible to the naked eye. And finally. Hwaaah! The sealing array was completely unsealed. A blood-red hue spread across the world as if the desert itself was drenched in the scent of blood. Sshwaaaa! The Black Castle was engulfed in the blood fog. And from within the castle, someone began to walk out. Step, step... A blood-colored long robe. Pale white hair. Hands creased with numerous wrinkles. And still wearing an eerie semi-transparent, blackish mask. It was Wonrip, the Blood-Eyed Master. [Have you been well?] Koogoo goo goo goo! All 400 Pillar of Decision and Chugiki cultivators gathered at the venue felt as if they could hardly breathe at that single statement. "The Pillar of... Qingwen sect’s senior member trembled his lips as he gauged his realm. "Mid-Stage...!" Byeokcheonki's complexion darkened. "To have formed both Yin God and Yang God so freely? Has he attained the stage of the Pillar of Mid-Stage where Yin and Yang can freely combine and separate..?" [There is no need for fear.] Seo Eunhyeon interrupted Byeokcheonki's words. Sssaaa... A black curse spread around him. The blood mist could not enter the area of the black fog formed by the curse. [He boasted he would reach the advanced stage of the Pillar, but at best he shows up only at the mid-stage. Isn't the great Pillar of Destiny cultivator ashamed of not keeping his word?] Kwooo. The black curse bubbled, and as it touched the blood mist, the mist decayed and fell into the desert. [Come at me, Wonrip. Today you will die.] [What's this? There's no demonic energy, but this looks unmistakably like a demonic skill. Have you heightened a skill made from a secondary demonic technique?] Wonrip paid no attention to Seo Eunhyeon's words, just observing him. [Yes, interesting. A rash fellow. But it seems there’s a misunderstanding...] I spoke to Manliminrab. [Begin the attack.] Manliminrab nodded and, without waiting for Wonrip to prattle on, aimed the cannon he had drawn at him. Hundreds of spirit stones he had inserted into the cannon's grooves lit up simultaneously. And then. Flash! A bright blue ray shot towards Wonrip. With the blue light beam, it was as if night had fallen, and the whole world's light had been pulled into the beam. Kwogoo goo! The sound followed belatedly, and the whole place quaked. Ssshhh... Dust clouds dissipated. Manliminrab cautiously began to say, as if expecting. "We've got rid of..." [That's impossible. Attack from Makri Sect, Jin's Sect, and all other families, unload on him!] Qingwen’s senior retreated, sending the command in all directions. The Chugiki of the Makri Sect launched their prepared Shade-Calling Wind technique at Wonrip. Jin's Sect simultaneously released their Sun-Fused Crimson Fire technique at him. Several Chugiki cultivators using the power of their array simultaneously unleashed an area-wide divine skill at a single entity. "Eliminated..." [I have not. Now is just the beginning, so be prepared.] I unleashed more curses, and looked inside the dust cloud. And within, bloodlight stretched out. Qingwen’s senior member's voice came from behind. "Scatter!!!" Kwagoo goo gwang! A bloody beam shot out towards our position. As the dust clouds settled… Koogoo goo― Above the Black Castle. There stood Wonrip, unscathed, with thousands of black and red jiangshi arrayed beneath him. And naturally on display were all his magical treasures and artifacts. Among these. Wonrip also held an unfamiliar blood-colored whistle in one hand. [Two hundred years is no short time for either of us. Let's see what kind of play you've got...] Whiiing! He lifted the blood-colored whistle to his lips. And then. Kwaaahhh! As he blew into the whistle, a blood wind mixed with the blood mist spread in all directions, pushing back the collective force of the Pillar of Decision.