Chapter 310 : Swallowing the Azure Dragon Three Marbles

Chapter 310: Swallowing the Azure Dragon Three Marbles

The immense pressure of the true qi felt as if a rope was tightening around my neck.

That was how overwhelming Lightning-Faced Madman’s true qi was.

“There’s someone here who isn’t affected by the Seven-Day San Gong Poison!”

At Lightning-Faced Madman’s shout, the martial artists of the Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit, who were surrounding the hostages, revealed their killing intent.

“Over here!”

One of the Dragon-Slaying Blood Sword Unit warriors suddenly shouted and thrust his sword at Jeong Minji.

“There’s energy emanating from this woman!”

Jeong Minji had deliberately released her energy to draw attention to herself, worried that Yong Hwarin might be exposed.

“Hmph!”

Lightning-Faced Madman stared piercingly at Jeong Minji.

“If you’re someone unaffected by the Seven-Day San Gong Poison, then you’re dangerous. You should’ve stayed still if you wanted to live. You did something foolish.”

Without asking a single question, Lightning-Faced Madman tried to kill her without hesitation.

Yong Hwarin was ready to strike the moment Lightning-Faced Madman brought his hand down on Jeong Minji’s head.

He was gathering his energy for that purpose, but then a cold voice flowed out from behind Lightning-Faced Madman.

“Chief Elder.”

At those words, Lightning-Faced Madman, who had been acting with utter arrogance, halted his hand in midair.

Yong Hwarin suppressed the energy he had been gathering.

Upon seeing the face of the man who appeared behind Lightning-Faced Madman, he knew Jeong Minji wouldn’t be harmed immediately.

‘So Jo Cheonsaeng was here too.’

Jo Cheonsaeng had retreated to a safehouse after his fight with Yong Biyang.

Then, upon learning that Jeong Minji was among the hostages held by Lightning-Faced Madman, he had hurried over.

As he reviewed the list of hostages, Jo Cheonsaeng found a way to get back at Yong Biyang.

“What brings you here, Head Protector?”

Although Lightning-Faced Madman was a member of one of the three branches of Blood Demon Castle, the Elder Council, he couldn’t ignore Jo Cheonsaeng, who was the head of the Protectorate Council.

The position of Head Protector carried more authority than that of regular elders.

“That woman is a hostage I desperately need. It would be troublesome if you act rashly.”

Upon hearing this, Lightning-Faced Madman’s face twisted like a toad’s.

“How should I interpret that, Head Protector?”

“What else could it mean? I’m making a request to you, Chief Elder.”

Jo Cheonsaeng spoke with a smiling face, and even Lightning-Faced Madman, whose temper was known to flare, couldn’t act out.

It was because he already knew well what kind of person Jo Cheonsaeng was.

It would be a loss to strain relations with the Head of the Protectorate Council over a single hostage.

“Would you yield that hostage to me?”

Yong Hwarin silently hoped that Lightning-Faced Madman would refuse Jo Cheonsaeng’s request. If Jo Cheonsaeng took Jeong Minji away, everything he had done until now might be in vain.

“If the Head Protector desires her, I’ll have to yield.”

Yong Hwarin closed his eyes tightly for a moment. If he was to be separated from Jeong Minji like this, he thought he would have to take down Lightning-Faced Madman’s group first and then go after Jo Cheonsaeng.

That was the only plan he could think of.

But just then, Lightning-Faced Madman handed Jo Cheonsaeng a letter. Jo Cheonsaeng received it and thought deeply with a grave expression.

“What do you think, Chief Elder?”

“I believe it would be best for us to join forces and act together. Why else would that man enter our territory? If someone originally headed to Jeongju came here, it must mean he has business with us.”

“That makes sense.”

“Then there’s a chance we might end up fighting him. If we want to respond, we’ll have to combine our strength.”

It wasn’t So Yonghwa of Dark Echo Valley that they feared — it was the power behind him.

Furthermore, according to the information they had gathered, So Yonghwa’s martial prowess after finishing his isolated training was said to be beyond imagination.

They had no need to clash with So Yonghwa.

“Do you know why he’s coming here?”

Jo Cheonsaeng asked, and Lightning-Faced Madman shook his head.

“I don’t.”

“Could it be that someone he knows is among the hostages here?”

“What connection could the Vice Lord of Dark Echo Valley have with someone from the orthodox sects?”

“Then perhaps we’re not his target.”

“No. From his path, I hear he’s headed in the direction of our safehouse.”

“And the Muhwa Corps is chasing him — that puts us at a disadvantage.”

“Indeed. If the Muhwa Corps learns of our existence, they won’t let us go.”

“So you’re saying we should avoid them for now. How disgraceful.”

“It’s not yet time to clash with the Muhwa Corps Leader.”

At those words, Lightning-Faced Madman nodded in agreement.

“Understood. Then we’d best move together. I’ll bring the hostages I’ve been keeping.”

After Jo Cheonsaeng took the hostages and left, Lightning-Faced Madman said to Jeong Minji,

“Consider yourself lucky. If not for the Head Protector, today would’ve been your death anniversary.”

“Well then, thank you.”

As Jeong Minji said this with a smile, Lightning-Faced Madman’s pockmarked face flushed red.

“Wi Captain, have her consume the Seven-Day San Gong Poison and confirm it properly.”

“Understood.”

Wi Oh brought over a bowl of the Seven-Day San Gong Poison.

“Drink it.”

– Gagaga, please don’t move first. You must strike when their vigilance is down. Hold on for now.

Jeong Minji, worried that Yong Hwarin might lash out in anger if he saw her ingesting the poison, sent him a telepathic message before she lost her internal energy.

– Got it. Just endure a bit more.

Yong Hwarin’s casual speech gave her a strange feeling.

Though he had spoken casually before, he mostly used honorifics, which often made him feel distant.

But ever since she became a hostage, Yong Hwarin had dropped all formalities, making her feel like she truly was his woman.

It was because Yong Hwarin never spoke casually to a woman unless she was a little girl.

After confirming that Jeong Minji had lost her internal energy, Wi Oh asked,

“What do you think of this Yong Hwarin?”

As she thought of Yong Hwarin, memories of the night they spent together surfaced when Wi Oh suddenly asked the question.

Jeong Minji looked at him, puzzled by his intent.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m curious what kind of person he is.”

He spoke while showing signs of embarrassment.

Only then did Jeong Minji realize the rumors about Wi Oh were true.

‘So this man enjoys men.’

She suddenly felt a chill. The thought that someone like him was eyeing her beloved Yong Hwarin with filthy thoughts made her sick.

“Hmph! He’s someone I’d like to meet at least once. Just to see if the rumors are true.”

“What kind of rumors did you hear?”

“They say even Cho Uhui rejected him. Who in the world would reject Cho Uhui? That must mean Yong Hwarin isn’t into women.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Jeong Minji was dumbfounded and asked again.

“He must be someone who likes men, right?”

She felt sick to her stomach upon seeing the chilling look in his eyes.

Staring at Wi Oh as if she would kill him, Jeong Minji couldn't hide her disgust.

Yong Hwarin, who had been eavesdropping, at first felt his hair stand on end, but a different thought crossed his mind almost immediately.

‘If this is a weak spot, then I’ve found one.’

Yong Hwarin sent a telepathic message to Jeong Minji.

Upon hearing the message, Jeong Minji’s face turned pale in shock.

But Wi Oh misinterpreted her expression.

‘Now that Yong Hwarin’s hidden truth is exposed, her face turns to shit color.’

Trembling, Jeong Minji spoke the words Yong Hwarin had sent her.

“H-how did you know that?”

Wi Oh’s eyes lit up with ecstasy at her response.

“Right? I knew it. I’ve heard many times that beautiful women gather around him. But there’s never been a rumor linking him to any of them. That’s something men who prefer men can sense right away. Still, how unexpected. That kind of hero being a sodomite.”

“N-no! He...”

Jeong Minji instinctively tried to deny it, but clenched her eyes shut as Yong Hwarin’s next telepathic message flowed in.

To make the man she loved out to be a sodomite — it was too cruel a task.

“One time, Lord Yong mentioned Captain Wi.”

“Really? About me?”

Wi Oh was already well known in the murim for his preference.

“What did he say? Yong Hwarin?”

When she said his name, it was so sly and suggestive that it made Jeong Minji feel like spiders were crawling all over her.

“He said the only man who caught his attention was Captain Wi.”

“He really said that?”

Jeong Minji closed her eyes again. She couldn’t bear to look Wi Oh in the eyes and say such things.

“Yes. Among the renowned experts in murim, there aren’t many who lean that way.”

“Exactly. A master always recognizes another master.”

Wi Oh became noticeably more friendly.

“I’ll make sure you’re never inconvenienced wherever you go.”

It was his way of saying he’d take care of her as a reward for giving him such delightful news.

“T-thank you for the kind words.”

Jeong Minji couldn't tell whether it was Yong Hwarin who had made her say these things or not.

“You wouldn’t understand. People like us don’t even need to see each other. Just hearing the name is enough to stir deep longing. We perceive others through our souls.”

Jeong Minji was left speechless at his sincere, heartfelt words.

‘But if the target is my man, that’s a different story.’

“Have you ever slept with him?”

The sudden question left Jeong Minji at a loss for how to respond.

Wi Oh asked because there were some men with his tastes who also slept with women.

“I’ve tried seducing him a few times, but he never even looked at me.”

At her words, Wi Oh burst out in laughter.

“Hohoho, of course. That’s just how men like him are.”

His face showed immense relief.

“He’ll definitely come for you, won’t he? Didn’t you say he always rescues his comrades?”

“Y-yes.”

“The day I meet him isn’t far off. Do you know why I volunteered to come here? It was to meet Yong Hwarin.”

Jeong Minji muttered inwardly.

‘Gaga must be really something. He even attracts this kind of man now.’

Jealousy bubbled up—toward a man, not a woman.

“When he gets here, he’ll definitely fall into our hands. I just hope he doesn’t get hurt too badly. Hngh!”

Wi Oh chuckled with a nasal laugh, lost in his fantasy.

After finishing his conversation with Lightning-Faced Madman, Jo Cheonsaeng walked among the hostages.

He passed by Yong Hwarin’s side.

But just as he was about to exit the group of hostages, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He turned to Mo Baek, who had been standing by.

“Baek-ah, do you feel that? That strange energy?”

Mo Baek spread his energy toward the hostages.

“I sense something... unusually strong spiritual energy.”

“Right?”

Yong Hwarin was shocked as he listened to their conversation.

‘Ah, they must have sensed the energy of the Azure Dragon Three Marbles.’

Indeed, since the night before, ever since he had finished circulating his qi, a strange energy had begun to flow out from the Azure Dragon Three Marbles.

Before coming here, Yong Hwarin had entrusted the White Tiger Demon-Subduing Sword to Deuksang.

He had considered leaving the Azure Dragon Three Marbles with Deuksang as well, but since their secret had yet to be revealed, he had kept them on his person to examine further.

Jo Cheonsaeng wasn’t the type to just walk away after sensing something unusual.

If they recognized the Azure Dragon Three Marbles, they might see through his disguise.

So Yong Hwarin, pretending to cough, quickly swallowed the Azure Dragon Three Marbles from his robe.

Gulp!

The Azure Dragon Three Marbles were large, and swallowing them was difficult.

They stuck in his throat, nearly bringing him to tears.

But he forced them down and let out a forced cough to cover it.

Dang Cheolgi, seeing Yong Hwarin doing something, continued to act as a windscreen for him.

He deliberately moved to draw others’ attention toward himself.