Book 4 Chapter 6

The Attack on the Absolute Guarded Zone of BaiXiangGuan

Yielding to the instigation of the senior members of the AeSo Society,

Byulyon and his companions, who had placed a high-stakes bet, gathered after school

In the AeSo Society's room to seek a solution.

Their target was BaiXiangGuan, a place they had long considered an unattainable dream

For nearly thirty years, a male-forbidden zone, a paradise for women.

If success were guaranteed, it would be a task worthy of all their effort and a fortune in gold.

The AeSo Society had already invested immense effort and countless challenges in conquering BaiXiangGuan.

Within Cheonmu Academy, if one were to count the most heavily guarded places,

BaiXiangGuan would always be among the top five, a sacred, strictly forbidden sanctuary for men,

With thorough and stringent security.

However, the deep defenses layered in dozens of folds and the life-threatening formations

Failed to completely extinguish the interest and soaring curiosity of a few peculiar men.

The stricter the security, the more difficult the challenges, the more BaiXiangGuan's

Bewitching fragrance stirred the hearts of men and captivated their eyes and ears.

Amidst this, there were still those who shouted to themselves, "It's too early to give up,"

Searching for even the smallest crack of breakthrough. Cheonmu Twin Ghosts and BiYeonTae were among them.

They had made conquering BaiXiangGuan their life's goal,

Challenging it with passion and a heart full of fervor.

Breaking through the absolute male-forbidden formation of BaiXiangGuan was their lifelong mission as the AeSo Society.

Of course, it's undeniable that a significant part of their fervent passion was driven by the dark desires of men.

In this seething passion, a month passed like flowing water.

The crescent moon, hanging in the dark sky like a bent blade,

Revealed all earthly objects within its shadow's influence.

Without the torchlight illuminating BaiXiangGuan, the world would have been almost completely swallowed by darkness.

There was a reason for choosing the new moon night as the day for the endeavor.

The night of the new moon would likely heighten people's vigilance,

So choosing the waning phase of the moon, the new moon night, was a wise choice.

Hiding in the darkness with invisibility techniques, Byulyon felt a strange excitement as he gazed at BaiXiangGuan.

This slight excitement, rather than stiffening his muscles with tension,

Gave him a pleasant boost of energy. Furthermore, he was someone who had never feared or been tense

Since his debut in the martial world.

Although he didn't boast about his skills, Byulyon was inwardly confident

In tasks requiring such stealth and subtlety. Even though he hadn't mastered the invisibility and stealth techniques

That all AeSo Society members were supposed to learn, he possessed the Phoenix Dance,

A supreme movement technique that could be called peerless.

Moreover, he had practical experience that could not be traded for a thousand pieces of gold.

How could past events be exchanged for money?

When he was young, he had countless times tried to sneak away from meal duties to avoid his master's gaze,

Only to be caught. But he never gave up, and finally, he succeeded in evading his master's ghost-like senses with ghost-like skill.

He was someone with thousands of practical experiences, having evaded even his monstrous master, a possessor of ghost-like senses.

He was confident that unless it was something truly extraordinary, he could hide himself from anyone's eyes.

What was there to fear when he had risked his life countless times?

Half an hour before midnight, the gate of life in the Chaotic Flower White Mist Formation surrounding BaiXiangGuan

Was about to open. If they missed this chance, they would have to wait two more time units (four hours)

For the gate of life to open again. There was a risk of the sun rising before they could even begin.

In essence, the opportunity was only now. Two time units later would be the time for escape.

IlYueMuYing and ChuIlTae would also be lurking somewhere, like wolves eyeing sheep,

Waiting for an opportunity. Perhaps they were already inside.

In any case, now was the time to focus on oneself rather than others.

The preparatory infiltration training was perfect. The AeSo Society, with over a hundred previous infiltration records,

Possessed abundant data detailing infiltration routes, timings, directions, trap placements, and formation types,

A product of their past experiences and "honorable" records.

Furthermore, their independent information gathering was not neglected, so the prior intelligence was perfect.

The target was room 301 on the third floor. All that remained was to get inside.

Upon entering the academy, as Byulyon had personally experienced in his dormitory, Sword Soul Hall,

The buildings of Cheonmu Academy were intricately laced with a countless number of traps and mechanisms,

Like a spider's web. But even those in Sword Soul Hall were child's play

Compared to the triple and quadruple layered mechanisms of BaiXiangGuan.

BaiXiangGuan was a place where intricate mechanisms, with death as a cushion, were laid out.

Why were the mechanisms and formations in BaiXiangGuan more numerous and powerful than elsewhere?

Because they had to be vigilant not only against enemy incursions but also against the invasion of men,

Like wolves living within the same enclosure. Therefore, their ceilings, eaves, roofs, bathrooms, and toilets

Were densely packed with traps designed to deter male intrusion, possessing even greater lethality and terrifying power

Than those designed to counter enemy invasions. Perverted men who dared to sneak into this dormitory

To catch a glimpse of the privacy of their bathing and toilet areas would have to risk their lives.

It seemed the founder and architect of BaiXiangGuan had little faith or expectation

In the character and morals of the male students of Cheonmu Academy.

Otherwise, how could they have so readily laid out triple and quadruple life-threatening formations

To prepare for the invading wolves? Moreover, as if to prove the founder's concerns,

There had been hundreds of infiltration attempts. The purpose of these intrusions was unclear,

But one could bet their entire fortune that it wasn't for anything good.

With each infiltration attempt that failed and led to disciplinary committee proceedings,

The mechanisms and formations of BaiXiangGuan became more fierce and intricate, layer by layer.

At some point, they realized it had become an insurmountable stronghold, impossible for anyone to breach.

After the curfew, when the night defense mechanisms were activated,

Even the women of BaiXiangGuan could not move freely.

Due to the sheer number of mechanisms and their unknown locations, they could not move carelessly.

It was an inconvenient and bothersome situation, but they were willing to endure the discomfort

For the sake of their purity defense. Minority opinions expressing dissatisfaction were ignored.

Consequently, the mechanisms and formations in BaiXiangGuan were bound to be terrifying, both logically and conventionally.

Based on the estimated average skill of potential intruders, they could leap four to five Zhang in a single step with advanced movement techniques,

And wield sword energy to cut targets seven to eight Zhang away. Those below this standard wouldn't even set foot in Cheonmu Academy.

Moreover, the above criteria were merely average estimations, and some individuals possessed even greater skills.

Thus, how could they afford to be negligent with the corresponding mechanisms and formations?

The locations of mechanism activations and traps in BaiXiangGuan changed daily.

Failure to properly understand the counter-measures and passwords risked becoming a double-edged sword,

Potentially harming the user. However, even with such risks, the number of mechanisms in BaiXiangGuan did not decrease.

Once the emergency bell rang and a male intruder was confirmed,

A net of women, like a celestial net, would instantly surround BaiXiangGuan,

Conducting a thorough and watertight search for the intruder.

These women were none other than the top female experts from male-forbidden sects,

Their skills so great they could easily dismiss men. Furthermore, their hatred for men was almost pathological,

And mercy and forgiveness simply did not exist beneath their blades.

Men, filled with fear and awe, cautiously referred to them as the Twelve Heavenly Maidens of Poisonous Orchid.

Shortened, some called them "poisonous and hateful women," or more vulgarly, "poisonous bitches."

The reason they guarded this place was that they couldn't afford to leave the hen house wide open to a wolf's den.

They were legendary guardians of BaiXiangGuan. It was said that no one who had seen their true capabilities had ever left unharmed.

They were dealt with so swiftly and secretly that neither birds nor mice knew.

Contact with them was excluded from today's infiltration plan.

Contacting them, meeting them, would itself signify failure in this endeavor.

There was once a man who boldly boasted he would infiltrate BaiXiangGuan

And witness them performing their bodily functions, thus proving they were human like everyone else.

That man disappeared from the eyes of the world that day, and no further news of him was heard.

Since then, no one dared to covelaceously covet BaiXiangGuan.

Of course, many men inwardly refused to concede and harbored burning challenges,

They simply hadn't yet mustered the courage.

Their prior intelligence on them was also perfect. At this very moment,

It was when the Twelve Poisonous Maidens' guard was at its weakest.

The infiltration route was also perfect. They had practiced it numerous times.

All that remained was execution.

Byulyon's body moved as if melting into the darkness.

His movements were so stealthy that he would have been unrecognizable even in broad daylight.

'It seems I've passed the first checkpoint.'

Normally, the Twelve Maidens patrolled in groups of three. None of the three poisonous maidens

Spotted him. He also passed through the Chaotic Flower White Mist Formation,

Which utilized the flowers in the garden, without getting caught in it.

Byulyon slipped into the building as if his form dissolved.

If he had gone through the corridors, countless traps would have blocked him.

Although they weren't fully activated yet, as it wasn't the complete sleeping hour,

He needed to avoid the attention of people moving around.

Byulyon followed the footsteps of his seniors, moving his body.

First, it was the ceiling passage discovered by a senior of the AeSo Society,

Who had challenged BaiXiangGuan for the fifth time. The infiltration route was as he had memorized.

The space above the ceiling was, as expected, narrow.

He did not let his guard down even after entering the ceiling. He had already been warned

That a mechanism was installed here because a seventh or eighth senior was caught while using it.

Byulyon moved his body as cautiously as a cat, fully engaging all his senses.

His movements were still silent and formless.

When all the sleeping quarters within BaiXiangGuan were dark,

And the bell signaling bedtime rang, all the formations within BaiXiangGuan would activate.

In that case, it was safer to infiltrate during the time when some were asleep and some awake,

When the realms of reality and dreams intersected. Avoiding people would be much easier

Than avoiding the terrifying and monstrous formations that could appear from anywhere.

The surrounding vigilance would also clearly be much looser. Who would expect someone to infiltrate

While they were wide awake? It was an action that struck the unexpected.

Therefore, Byulyon decided to enter BaiXiangGuan during this time.

Several maidens were guarding the vicinity, but their positions were such that

They would absolutely not be able to catch him once he was within their sight.

"Well then, shall we go?"

Byulyon's form moved quietly, like a moon shadow. There was no sound, no form, not even a tremor.

'Huh? What's going on?'

He was sure he had moved according to the map in his mind, but where was he?

It was clearly not the path to his destination. Moreover, the strictness seemed to be several times greater than elsewhere.

Judging by the strictness of the defenses and the humidity filling the air, it was clearly… a bathroom.

'Ahem, should I call this a coincidence? Or timely?'

The time Byulyon infiltrated BaiXiangGuan was coincidentally the precious time when the female chivalrous women of Cheonmu Academy

Were washing away the day's dirt and fatigue and preparing for sleep.

What could be better than a hot bath to relieve fatigue?

Furthermore, the bathroom facilities at BaiXiangGuan were as opulent and clean as those in a wealthy mansion.

The sound of water dripping in the steamy bathroom

Echoed mysteriously in Byulyon's ears, a melody that evoked a strange emotion.

'But how could I have arrived at a bathroom located in the exact opposite direction of my objective?'

'Was it really just a coincidence?'

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Byulyon's movement towards the bathroom,

Which he knew of from prior intelligence, even though it was in the opposite direction of his target,

Was almost instinctual.

'Ah, so this is the place.'

Feeling the high temperature and humidity of the air stimulating his skin,

Byulyon was convinced that he was directly above the bathroom, and a sense of mission began to burn within him.

Byulyon first worried about how sturdily the building was constructed,

Whether they had used defective materials, and if poor construction was hindering comfortable living.

Suddenly, looking at the black wall (ceiling) blocking his view, which couldn't even block his ears,

The thought impulsively arose. As a man of honor, he believed it was his duty to prevent such injustice.

Therefore, Byulyon decided to test the material and strength of the bathroom ceiling.

'Tsk, tsk, indeed.'

It was as he thought. He didn't know who built this building, but they couldn't deny using shoddy construction and poor timber.

Otherwise, how could it be so easily pierced?

'What the…?'

When Byulyon poked the panel with his index finger, it sank in silently and pierced through instantly.

He lamented the weak and inferior timber and the shoddy construction.

He deliberately ignored the fact that he had used the divine skill of the Thunder God Finger on his fingertip.

Six parts of the Thunder God Finger could pierce a steel ingot made of solid iron.

'Man, this timber isn't the problem.'

Light streamed in from the coin-sized hole that had been punched.

For a moment, Byulyon couldn't make a hasty judgment about what action he should take.

But the conclusion was soon reached. Even though he wasn't a voyeur,

Wouldn't it be unmanly to carelessly throw away such a heaven-sent opportunity?

So, Byulyon readily accepted the favor heaven had granted him after a long time.

Byulyon's face was pressed close to the narrow opening leading to the secret paradise.

He thought agonizing over it was a waste of time. Byulyon, who was far from pretending to be a saint,

Felt no particular qualm about his current actions. Truly a shameless fellow.

As the building was poorly constructed (?), the soundproofing was also inadequate.

From beyond the wall, a voice like a silver bell could be heard.

It was a woman's voice he had never heard before.

"Kya ha ha! Sister, you're so beautiful. Really pretty. I'm jealous."

The one who exclaimed with pure admiration was Lee Jinseol.

Byulyon took a breath to agree with Lee Jinseol's opinion and shifted his gaze.

There she was. She was there.

The elegant curves that formed her body proved what the most beautiful form of a curve was in reality.

No one could argue with that. Her radiant and smooth fair skin,

Her full breasts like smoothly carved jade, her slender, elegant legs.

White jade and pearls would be rendered colorless and ashamed.

It was an overwhelming beauty that even jealousy couldn't help but wilt.

Although more than half the world is male, Byulyon would be the only man in this world,

Without lying, to have seen her dazzling naked body.

Even if given ten thousand gold coins, it was something kings and generals couldn't achieve by begging on their knees.

If this fact were to become known, Byulyon's body might be torn to shreds by the collective anger of all men.

How envious they would be.

Strangely, despite seeing her dazzling naked body, like a work of art, he felt no lust.

Instead, a sense of awe, or perhaps sanctity…

Her skin, as white as snow, rendering white jade colorless, and her perfect curves,

Which couldn't be carved any smoother. Faced with such perfect beauty that could blind a person,

Byulyon felt his mind calming down. And he felt a strange sense of happiness filling his body.

A peculiar happiness that made him smile without realizing it.

What was making him so happy and joyful? It was a question he himself couldn't answer.

If it were any other man, he would have strained his eyes to see her for even a moment,

But Byulyon, as if imprinting her graceful form onto his mind and soul,

Gently closed his eyes. A happy smile still lingered on his lips.

Byulyon was momentarily lost in that happiness and couldn't break free (This guy is also a pervert.).

There was no unfortunate event like blood rushing to his head or excessive blood flow to his lower body.

His temples didn't throb violently, nor did his heart pound as if about to burst.

His nose didn't bleed profusely, nor did his eyes redden and glisten with dark desire.

This peculiar satisfaction, fulfillment, and happy intoxication were shattered by a girl's envious voice.

"Wow, Dokgo sister's chest is really big."

"Oh my, child. What are you saying so shamelessly? You're speaking carelessly."

Byulyon's interest, broken by Lee Jinseol's voice, made him lick his lips in regret,

But the carriage had already passed, and the ship had sailed.

Byulyon couldn't help but agree with Lee Jinseol's exclamations.

The last time he saw her, it was hard to tell due to her tight martial arts uniform and intimidating aura,

But now, he saw she was indeed the owner of a large, ample bosom.

Not only was it large, but it was also firm and perfectly shaped.

It was understandable why the Cheonmu Twin Ghosts always picked on her chest, even knowing they would die.

And why they teased her as the "Giant Breast Witch." Seeing her in person, he finally understood.

"I want to be like you, sister. How wonderful that would be…"

Lee Jinseol, seeming regretful, touched her own chest.

Indeed, no matter how she thought about it, she felt it was too inadequate compared to the two sisters.

Even when she pushed them together, it didn't seem to work as intended yet.

Still having just left the "cliff" of a flat chest, she seemed envious of Dokgo Ryong's large breasts.

"It's not good just because it's big. If you want to emulate someone, emulate my sister's. Just being big can be a hindrance in a fight."

Even a woman's most attractive feature seemed to be merely an obstacle to Dokgo Ryong.

"Sister, really. Don't say such things. It makes me feel burdened."

Na Yerim, unaccustomed to such conversations, interjected in response to Dokgo Ryong's scolding of Lee Jinseol.

"But it's impossible to become like you, sister. You're too perfect. The goal level is so high you can't even look at it. I'm not stupid enough to stare at a tree I can't climb."

The way water droplets bounced like pearls was indescribably beautiful.

"Oh ho, then it seems possible for me?"

"Hmph, you're a bit big, but if you handle it diligently, it might grow. It hasn't fully grown yet."

Her sulky face looked somewhat petulant. Since she was stubborn once she made up her mind, Dokgo Ryong had no choice but to surrender and declare defeat.

"Alright, alright. I lose."

Dokgo Ryong raised a white flag as if admitting defeat. She always found the youngest, troublesome child difficult to handle.

"Really?"

The girl asked again, as if she still couldn't believe it.

"Yes."

"Then, will there be a surrender gift?"

"You greedy thing."

"Hehe."

Lee Jinseol's eyes sparkled with anticipation that was almost burdensome.

"Yes, what do you want?"

"That would be…"

As she spoke, Dokgo Ryong flinched. She sensed an unusual energy.

As expected.

"Then teach me the sword technique of Scattered Flowers Infinite Chain!"

"What?"

Dokgo Ryong's eyes widened. She knew for sure her ears weren't playing tricks on her.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course, sister."

Dokgo Ryong let out a hollow laugh. Lee Jinseol gazed at her with her eyes shining with anticipation, sparkling like stars. She was truly an audacious child.

"Then you'll teach me?"

"No!"

The answer was the opposite of her expectation.

"Whyyyy. Aiiing, sisterrrrr."

Suddenly, Lee Jinseol twisted her small, bird-like naked, wet body in various ways, pouting coquettishly. Water droplets scattered in the air, reflecting light like crystals. For Byulyon, it was a sight worth watching.

"It's still too much for you. It's too difficult. I'm afraid it would be too much of a burden for you."

The Scattered Flowers Infinite Chain technique required immense changes in sword energy formation, making it an extremely high-level skill. Even with considerable sword energy formation skills, one could barely imitate it. It was Dokgo Ryong's honest and objective judgment that it was still too much for Lee Jinseol.

"But you said you'd teach me if I succeeded in the Twelve Strikes of the Twin Swords Consecutive Cuts. Have you already forgotten?"

Ah, she remembered saying something like that. It was a promise made under pressure from Lee Jinseol, but a promise was a promise. She made that promise because she hadn't expected Lee Jinseol to master the Twelve Strikes of the Twin Swords Consecutive Cuts so quickly.

"Dokgo sister, if you keep doing this, I won't talk to you again. And I'll tell everyone in the academy that you're a big liar."

Oh no, she seemed to be truly upset. Dokgo Ryong knew better than anyone that Lee Jinseol, who said she wouldn't talk to her, wouldn't last three days. But given the promise, she decided to surrender for now. She vowed never to make casual promises again.

"You, you sly thing. Alright, alright. I lose, I lose. Are you happy now?"

"Yes, sister!"

As if all her sulking had vanished, her face bloomed with a smile. She looked incredibly lovely as she smiled, scattering water droplets like jewels.

Her appearance, being manipulated by a young girl, even with occasional smiles, made her nicknames "cold-blooded poison heart" or "witch grandmother" seem laughable. It was a look completely unsuited to the previously mentioned nicknames. Byulyon couldn't help but be surprised.

He wished he could set up camp right there, but reality didn't allow it. He felt he had wasted too much time. It was time to leave. It seemed everyone had finished bathing, so he decided to depart. Of course, he felt regret, but he resolutely decided to look forward to the next time.

"Creak!"

Was this the side effect of forcing himself to leave when his feet wouldn't budge? Or should it be called a lapse in concentration? In any case, that wasn't the immediate problem.

"……!"

At that moment, Na Yerim and Dokgo Ryong's gazes turned towards the ceiling. Na Yerim instinctively covered her chest with her left hand and stretched her right hand towards the sky. Along with her movement, the water in the bathtub surged, slashing through the ceiling like a giant scythe. Perhaps due to the aftermath, the mechanisms hidden within the ceiling were activated with a clamor, and the continuous sound of their activation filled their ears.

The three maidens, submerging themselves beneath the water in the bathtub, watched the unfolding situation. However, there was no reaction from above the ceiling. Not a single drop of blood flowed down from the crack.

"It must be a rat."

Lee Jinseol broke the silence first. It was only natural for dozens of rats to form a large family in a building over fifty years old, even with good maintenance. Occasionally, rat activity had caused false mechanism activations. Perhaps it was an overreaction.

Only then did Na Yerim and Dokgo Ryong feel relieved. They thought that if it had gotten this close, her keen eyes would have noticed it. But they didn't know they were wrong this time.

"It seems so."

"We'll have to fix the ceiling again. This is already the Xth time this year."

This year alone, the ceiling had been broken several times due to rats. They assumed this was another such incident. It was truly fortunate for Byulyon.

'Phew, I had a close call.'

The Hydro Blade grazed his shoulder by an inch. If he had been a moment slower, it could have sliced through his entrails. It was a hair's breadth escape.

Byulyon, hidden amidst the clamorous impact, quickly dodged. Byulyon was someone who could move faster than anyone else when he decided to move.

Having narrowly escaped the dangerous area, Byulyon decided to move more cautiously with a sense of vigilance. His form once again melted into the darkness, moving stealthily towards his target. His next destination was room number one on the third floor, Na Yerim's room. Carefully avoiding the scattered mechanisms, Byulyon moved silently.

Indeed, the power of information seemed to be an immeasurable and potent force. Moreover, he realized the importance of preparation. Based on the prior intelligence, Byulyon arrived at his target location with surprising ease, rendering previous infiltration attempts futile.

BaiXiangGuan Room 301. It was the room of BingBaek Bong Na Yerim. He only needed to retrieve one item from there. He carefully removed the ceiling and landed silently on the floor. A perfect score of ten out of ten.

Up to this point, it was good. Everything was perfect. However, the world sometimes offers unexpected events that delight people. Perhaps the world enjoys spontaneity. This instance was a case where the world, for its hobby, made things difficult for him.

"Who is it?"

A woman's voice was heard as the door suddenly opened. But it was a voice he had heard before. The owner of the voice was Jin Ling.

'Damn it, a setback.'

Why was Jin Ling suddenly appearing here? It wasn't the time to celebrate the reunion of fellow disciples after nearly half a year. Why, of all times, did Jin Ling enter Na Yerim's room at the very moment he was trying to hide himself with ghost-like stealth and evade detection with ghost-like movement techniques? This was clearly Na Yerim's room, not Jin Ling's. Was the address wrong?

"Yerim…? Gasp!"

It seemed the address wasn't wrong. Fortunately, he was wearing a mask, so there was no fear of being recognized. After all, a mask was standard equipment for such an operation. Byulyon's thoughts were fleeting. First, subduing Jin Ling was paramount. It was clear she hadn't recognized him.

As a direct disciple of the Ami sect and one of the Seven Phoenixes of Cheonmu Academy, Jin Ling, unlike ordinary women, did not scream hysterically. Instead, she reacted with instantaneous keen judgment and drew her sword. Repelling intruders was a duty of a dormitory student. At this moment, Byulyon had already moved.

"Oof!"

Her actions were swift, but she was too late. Jin Ling's sword, unfortunately, couldn't even be fully drawn from its scabbard, as if glued, before Byulyon grabbed it. Byulyon's agile movements were much faster than Jin Ling's response. Byulyon, compressing the space of several Zhang in an instant with his ghost-like movement technique, held her drawing sword with his left hand (if it had been drawn, she would have undoubtedly attacked him with sword energy) and instantly twisted his body, covering her mouth with his right hand. Jin Ling struggled, but her entire body was like a butterfly caught in a spiderweb, motionless. Her Zhenqi also did not flow smoothly. Byulyon, holding her from behind, looked at her sword, which was less than half drawn. Byulyon whispered softly in Jin Ling's ear.

"You drew your sword more than halfway; your skill is quite good."

Depending on how one heard it, it could be considered incredibly arrogant. She thought she was being ridiculed. However, for Byulyon, whether believed or not, it was a sincere compliment. Byulyon had sufficient qualifications to say such a thing to Jin Ling. In the past, Jin Ling would have been subdued by Byulyon's surprise attack before even drawing half her sword.

Fearing that his identity would be revealed, he did not say, "Your skills have improved greatly." This was because it could lead to misunderstandings or suspicion.

There was another problem. If he let her go like this, Jin Ling might claim he was a pervert, which could lead to a lot of trouble. He even considered revealing his Black Dragon Ring, but that could inadvertently be equivalent to presenting evidence to the authorities. It was an extremely risky affair. One piece of good news was that Jin Ling could not see his face.

Byulyon decided to knock Jin Ling unconscious. He pressed a pressure point, and Jin Ling collapsed to the floor. Carefully laying Jin Ling in a comfortable position, Byulyon cautiously surveyed the room, searching for the object he desired. It was undoubtedly somewhere in the room. Then it happened.

"Ding ding ding ding ding!"

Suddenly, a loud emergency bell reverberated throughout the entire building.

Even Byulyon couldn't help but be flustered this time. He had looked everywhere, and he hadn't touched anything. Jin Ling hadn't pressed it either. How could she have had the time, busy as she was drawing her sword?

'Could it be that person made a mistake?'

If so, the bet would end in victory. To safely receive the bet money, he had to get out of here safely. Moreover, Jin Ling was now lying on the floor. If he was seen by others, it wouldn't end well. But the heavens were heartless; he sensed movement approaching the room from the hallway at high speed.

'No way, three Zhang… two Zhang… one Zhang!'

The speed was incredibly fast. The presence had already reached the door.

The door burst open, and Na Yerim stood there. Her eyes widened with surprise when she saw Byulyon. Byulyon would have preferred to decline a joyous reunion with her in such a manner.

'Oh no, this isn't good…'

The moment the door opened, Byulyon spotted the item he wanted hanging on the clothesline. It was undoubtedly some sort of item to cover the soft, elastic breasts of women. Furthermore, seeing the character "린 (Rin)" embroidered in gold thread at the end of the silk fabric confirmed its authenticity. That was the item they were supposed to bring back as proof for the bet.

But the target was still far away. The distance of less than half a Zhang had never seemed so far. Byulyon hastily reached his left hand towards the fallen Jin Ling.

Na Yerim, engrossed in concentration, meditation, and training in the underground training room of BaiXiangGuan, found it difficult to calm her restless heart, which had been uneasy since early evening. Therefore, it was difficult to concentrate on her training. That anxiety persisted stubbornly until midnight, and even a bath for a change of mood couldn't shake it off.

She felt a vague sense of unease, but she couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. No clear image had yet surfaced in her mind like a painting. Her foresight and intuition, stemming from her divine countenance, possessed unparalleled accuracy. However, as she was not omniscient, she couldn't see everything as clearly as the palm of her hand.

Suddenly, a loud emergency bell rang throughout BaiXiangGuan. The alarm, ringing at five-interval intervals, was a signal that an intruder had entered the Sword Queen's Chamber. It felt ominous and dark. The Sword Queen's Chamber was the most sacred place located at the very top of the Hundred Phoenix Pavilion. It was a place where any intrusion by others must be absolutely forbidden.

'Am I late?'

Even she, who was usually unfazed by most things, couldn't help but be disturbed at this moment. If an intruder had entered the Sword Queen's Chamber, it would be a major catastrophe. That place housed the divine token and some of the heart's insights of the Sword Queen, one of the Three Stars of Cheonmu and the only female among them. In the history of BaiXiangGuan, no intruder had ever reached that point. But today, that precedent had been broken.

Her heart became unusually hasty, but alas, her hands were empty at the moment. She had left her sword in her room when she went to bathe. She couldn't possibly stop an intruder without a weapon. Although it would be a slight delay, her room was located on the path to the Sword Queen's Chamber anyway.

Without hesitation, she moved like the wind, leaping up the stairs. Ten leaps were enough for her to reach the front of her room. She hastily opened the door. But the scene inside shocked her into speechless dismay.

An unfamiliar man, an impossible sight, was brazenly present in her room. The man's face was covered with a mask, so she couldn't recognize him. Why was an intruder who should be in the direction of the Sword Queen's Chamber present in her room? For a moment, she couldn't make a precise judgment. At this moment, subjugation was more important than thought.

As she reached out, her beloved sword, Bongru (Phoenix Tear), hanging on the wall, magically slid into her hand. It was the result of excellent void-grabbing studies. As Bongru was in her hand, she drew her sword without hesitation. A dazzling white light sword lightning erupted from her sword. As expected, she had received the direct transmissions of two of the Four Great Sword Gods of the White Path, her sword energy was ferocious.

'This is no joke!'

She never expected him to unleash sword energy with such ferocity. It would be impossible to escape from here like this. As she unleashed the ferocious first sword strike and, as if that wasn't enough, prepared to unleash a second consecutive strike, Byulyon raised his left hand towards the sky. It was the same hand he had hastily extended towards the fallen Jin Ling just moments ago.

The secret technique of Flying Thunder Saber, Puppet Master's Chapter: Puppet!

Strangely, following Byulyon's left hand's movement, Jin Ling, who had been lying on the floor, abruptly stood up. She had not regained consciousness. She moved like a puppet controlled by a puppeteer, a 'puppet,' blocking Na Yerim's path. When he had extended his hand earlier, he had already wrapped Lightning Spirit Threads around her body. Now, Jin Ling was a dancing puppet controlled by his hands.

The unexpected interference prevented Na Yerim from using her sword any further. It was possible she might injure Jin Ling. Moreover, Jin Ling's body was now collapsing defenselessly towards her. She had no choice but to open her arms and support Jin Ling's body.

"KABOOM!"

The first sword energy collided head-on with the Burst Thunder Water emanating from Byulyon's left hand. A tremendous roar of energy enveloped the room like a gale. Flying objects made it impossible to keep track of things. Visibility was also hampered.

Byulyon deliberately clashed head-on with her sword energy, even though he could have dodged it. He did this to create an opportunity to escape amidst the clash of two forces. Normally, this alone would not be enough to escape her sharp sword, but now Jin Ling's body kindly blocked her hand. With that slight opening, Byulyon had no problem escaping. As the gale subsided and visibility returned, his presence was nowhere to be found.

'Did I miss her…?'

Only a faint familiar presence lingered in the room like an afterimage. But it wasn't over yet. For her, this trace of presence and information was enough. She possessed the Dragon Eye.

'Could it be that man?'

Even if his face was covered by a mask, his aura couldn't be hidden. Moreover, she was a possessor of the Dragon Eye. She couldn't possibly mistake him. The more concrete evidence was that she couldn't read the mind of the unknown man before her. It was the same phenomenon as before. At that distance, normally, whether she wanted to or not, the other person's thoughts would flow into hers. But this time, there was nothing, an emptiness. This had only happened once before. That was at UnHyang Pavilion. The unfortunate thing was that nothing was certain.

Byulyon quickly slipped out through the window and disappeared into the deep darkness like the wind. The breastcloth, the target of the bet, was not yet in his hand. However, Byulyon was neither disheartened nor flustered. He still had a trump card. By now, she too must have left her room to pursue him and the other person.

Byulyon's fingers moved elegantly, as if playing an instrument, under the faint moonlight. And following his hand movements, an object fluttered gently in the dark night sky. The object dancing beneath the starlight, swayed by the night breeze, was a silk cloth adorned with a beautiful peony embroidery, very thin and soft.

Before hastily leaving the room, Byulyon had embedded Lightning Spirit Threads into the target. As long as he was connected to the Lightning Spirit Threads, he could retrieve the target from a hundred Zhang away. The place Byulyon was currently standing was exactly a hundred Zhang away from BaiXiangGuan.

The piece of silk cloth, fluttering as if in the wind, landed safely in Byulyon's palm. A victor's smile graced Byulyon's lips.

In a small forest next to Sword Soul Hall, By a narrow path that had blocked Byulyon with countless traps when he first arrived at Sword Soul Hall, a man stood in the forest. In the late hours when everyone else was asleep, the man alone, hidden in the woods, was surprisingly HyoRyong.

But why was HyoRyong here at such a late hour? Had he secretly made a lover somewhere? If so, HyoRyong's prowess was truly excellent and commendable.

"I'm sorry. I failed."

A stranger's voice was heard from a corner in the darkness. HyoRyong was not disturbed by the sudden voice. Why was that man begging for forgiveness in front of HyoRyong now?

"As expected, you didn't succeed, Number One."

"I have nothing to say."

The man's voice sounded contrite. He was a being who lived concealing his existence with the darkness. He was known only as MuHeun Number One.

"Are you injured?"

"I… I'm sorry. I couldn't completely evade the mechanisms. I'm ashamed that I failed even with so much information from Third Master."

"It's not that big of a deal. It's fortunate you managed to escape safely."

HyoRyong's words were exceptionally gentle. However, the man's tension did not seem to ease. The person known as Number One was not someone to be carelessly underestimated.

"Bu… but…"

The man called Number One was so ashamed he didn't know where to put himself.

"We already knew BaiXiangGuan wasn't an easy place. Moreover, the Sword Queen's Chamber is located on the highest floor, with the most stringent security, and is the deepest of the deep, with complex formations. It's a place that men have never touched. So, this failure was bound to happen."

"I am ashamed. I will gladly accept the punishment for this failure."

Hidden in the darkness, Number One was so ashamed he couldn't lift his face. This was the first time he had failed to complete a given mission, so his shame was even greater.

"It's alright. No matter how profound the Sword Queen's insights are, they are merely the martial arts of a woman. There's no need to dwell on it or assign it more value than it deserves. Simply causing a minor disturbance is enough to achieve the intended purpose. Winning by stealing martial arts from others would only invite ridicule. That would be a humiliating disgrace for a student of the Great MaCheon Pavilion. I was against the First Senior Brother's plan from the beginning."

HyoRyong's words were calm, unlike someone who had experienced a subordinate's failure.

"My judgment was shortsighted, Third Master!"

Even Number One judged that Third Master lacked the coldness and ruthlessness uncharacteristic of a dark path cultivator. The difference in disposition between him and his First Senior Brother, Il Gong, was as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.

"Don't worry about it. Then, hide yourself and get some good rest. We don't know when the shadow of the Heavenly Official might find us. Cut off contact for a while. Focus on healing and make sure to erase any traces of blood."

"Understood."

Number One's body seemed to merge with the darkness, disappearing into the deep blackness. Only the night breeze gently blew through the faint moonlight.