Chapter 175

Myowol dodged all the needles Jin Ja-gang had thrown and landed on the ground.

At that moment, a sharp crack pierced her ears and shook Myowol to her bones.

Myowol flinched. Her internal energy was momentarily disrupted and she nearly twisted her ankle while landing.

Myowol straightened her body and turned half a circle to avoid embarrassment. Her face reddened with shame. With a half-twisted face, she smiled murderously and looked back.

“This damned young Taoist!”

Woon-jeong held a wooden tablet called a hol in his hand as he looked at Myowol. The hol was an elongated wooden board about two spans long, a ceremonial tool held in hand when performing rituals or having an audience with the emperor.

Woon-jeong struck the two hol together once more.

Crack!

“Demon-Kneeling Beheading Twin Tablet Clapping.”

The sound of the tablets striking each other pierced sharply into Myowol’s ears.

Even covering her ears was useless. The internal energy flowed exquisitely through her ears into her brain, shaking her head and flowing out the other side. During that brief moment, her head became blank as a white sheet and she kept hesitating.

Crack, clack.

Every time Woon-jeong struck the tablets together, Myowol’s eyes contorted as if convulsing.

“This… no matter how I think about it, this is not right. It would be best if you stopped here and withdrew.”

Myowol ground her teeth audibly.

“Seeing you protecting and helping these evil spawn of the dark path, it seems the Taoist has also been possessed by demons! Amitabha, the seeds of demons were growing on Mount Qingcheng.”

Woon-jeong became angry.

“My actions have absolutely nothing to do with our Qingcheng Sect! And calling me a demon!”

“Didn’t the Taoist come on orders from Master Bok-cheon?”

“That’s correct. I came on my master’s orders.”

“Then why are you helping them? Surely Master Bok-cheon didn’t order you to help the evil ones of the dark path?”

“That’s not it, but…!”

“Then you’re disobeying your sect’s orders and acting on your own whim? May I tell Master Bok-cheon about this?”

“Eek! That’s too much. How could that be! If my master finds out…”

Woon-jeong was still young and innocent, so he couldn’t win against Myowol with words.

Bian Bu, who had been watching for an opportunity, interjected.

“Then why is the nun trying to kill people indiscriminately? Emei Sect told you to go as an observer, but you’re interfering on your own, so isn’t that the great crime of deceiving your master and destroying your ancestors? If you’re going to argue, wouldn’t it be proper to go argue with Emei Sect first!”

Myowol glared at Bian Bu with wide eyes. Bian Bu was startled and backed away.

Woon-jeong also realized from Bian Bu’s words.

“That’s right! Master Myowol, you also didn’t receive orders from Emei Sect to eliminate the evil ones of the dark path. So what you’re doing now isn’t right!”

Myowol suddenly let her arms hang down and looked up at the sky.

“Hoo…”

It looked as if she was acknowledging her mistake and giving up.

However, Myowol lowered her head again and muttered.

“Annoying…”

“…What?”

Myowol suddenly drew up tremendous internal energy.

BOOM!

An explosion occurred from Myowol’s body and air swept through the surroundings like waves.

“Uaaaah!”

Those nearby covered their faces and retreated. The chilling killing intent became thicker than before and covered the manor.

Myowol muttered quietly.

“I said it’s annoying.”

Sizzle sizzle…

Myowol’s collar, hair, and the dust on the ground began rising like heat waves. She was rotating tremendous internal energy through her conception and governing vessels at incredible speed.

The wheel of energy spun and overflowing power continuously spread to the surroundings, lifting everything around upward.

She was indeed a master ranking in the top five of the renowned Emei Sect.

“I should just kill all these bug-like things. Then wouldn’t my troubles also disappear?”

Myowol muttered while lifting her right foot. If she kicked the ground, there was no telling where she might fly.

It was impossible to know who Myowol would target first, but there was no way to avoid her first strike!

Just as Myowol was about to kick the ground and charge out.

Jin Ja-gang penetrated through the energy barrier Myowol had created and leaped in. It was a moment no one had predicted.

Jin Ja-gang thrust his dagger forward.

Whoooosh!

The energy barrier Myowol emitted became more intense. Jin Ja-gang’s clothes and hair were all blown backward and pushed away.

Quick-witted Dan Ryeong-gyeong moved together. Though her poisoning was worsening, she wouldn’t miss such a good opportunity.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong gathered internal energy and unleashed a palm strike.

BANG!

The energy barrier shook. Myowol glared at Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong gave Woon-jeong a signal. Woon-jeong hesitated then raised his tablets.

“Ah, I don’t know either. Master, I’m sorry! Demon-Kneeling Beheading Twin Tablet Clapping!”

Clack!

The sonic technique was much more effective at disrupting Myowol’s composure. Every time Myowol flinched, the barrier became thinner.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong repeatedly sent palm forces. The thinned barrier shattered. Myowol leaped in place to avoid the incoming palm forces.

Crack!

Woon-jeong tried to interfere with Twin Tablet Clapping but was a bit late, so Myowol had already dodged.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong continued sending palm forces. Woon-jeong tried to time his Twin Tablet Clapping, but it wasn’t easy.

He had never attempted cooperative attacks with sonic techniques before, and attacking an Emei Sect senior together with dark path people weighed on his mind, making him consistently a bit late.

Fortunately, once the timing matched. Myowol hesitated mid-leap while trying to avoid Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s palm force. She frowned as if her head was throbbing.

THUD!

Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s palm wind struck Myowol’s shoulder. Due to the rebound force from Myowol’s body, Dan Ryeong-gyeong who had struck her staggered. However, Myowol’s shoulder was also pushed back and she suffered minor internal injuries.

“Troublesome things…!”

Myowol’s eyes rolled back.

In that gap, Jin Ja-gang retreated about ten steps and used his fourth Mad Blood Heaven technique. Thanks to the Dengryeo Warming Pills, his qi and blood were considerably protected. However, this was the limit. No more Mad Blood Heaven technique would be possible.

Pop pop, pop pop pop.

Blood vessels burst in his right eye, making it much more bloodshot than before. The qi and blood in his right side burst and blood continued seeping… Jin Ja-gang drew out the internal energy sleeping in his meridians using the method Dan Ryeong-gyeong had taught him. In a more unstable state than before, the power of his internal energy increased another level.

Jin Ja-gang bit a dagger in his mouth and drew needles in both hands. Each needle was coated with false hellebore and Clear Blood Gland Snake poison. He pulled his left hand forward and right hand back, aiming at Myowol.

If not now, there would be no way to stop Myowol. Dan Ryeong-gyeong was doing her best but her complexion kept darkening, and Woon-jeong also bled slightly from his mouth each time he struck the tablets.

There was only one chance.

Jin Ja-gang carefully concentrated internal energy in both hands.

Whirr! Whirrr!

The internal energy bursting from his middle dantian was more vital than ever. However, Jin Ja-gang’s qi and blood supporting it was like a house built on sand, ready to collapse at any moment.

But Jin Ja-gang waited for the right moment as much as possible.

As internal energy exploded, he could draw up to six arcs with Flying Thread Twelve Branches. However, this time he needed to draw eight or more arcs.

Jin Ja-gang breathed in and out long and slowly, crouched like a beast waiting for just one moment.

Myowol thrust the Non-Killing Sword toward Woon-jeong.

Woon-jeong panicked and struck his tablets.

Clack! Crack!

Myowol approached then hesitated and hesitated again. Her head rang and ached as if it would split.

But Woon-jeong’s internal energy wasn’t inexhaustible either. As he struck the tablets, his internal energy gradually depleted. Each time, the power of the sonic technique weakened slightly.

Myowol swung the sword energy of the Non-Killing Sword. Woon-jeong became increasingly urgent and used footwork to dodge around Myowol.

Because of this, the precision of the sonic technique declined further. Myowol’s movements began to revive, and blood marks increased on Woon-jeong’s body.

“Ah! Ack!”

Still young Woon-jeong’s body stiffened with pain and fear each time he was wounded.

If Dan Ryeong-gyeong hadn’t occasionally sent palm forces to interfere with Myowol, his head would have already been severed.

At that moment, Jin Ja-gang finally swung both hands repeatedly and threw needles.

Whirr!

The poison needles flew toward Myowol drawing graceful arcs. Myowol turned her body to cut the needles flying from behind with the Non-Killing Sword’s sword energy. The needles were cut and fell in pieces.

“Twin Tablet Clapping!”

Woon-jeong hurriedly composed his breathing and struck the tablets, but Myowol had already finished cutting all the needles.

However, when Myowol hesitated at the late Twin Tablet Clapping, Jin Ja-gang charged while pulling the dagger from his mouth and stabbed at Myowol’s neck. Myowol’s contracted pupils moved smoothly following the dagger’s trajectory.

Jin Ja-gang used Bosam Sect’s blade technique to swing his arm powerfully as if striking down.

WHOOOM!

Even if Myowol blocked with her sword, he seemed intent on pushing through with force to penetrate her neck.

However, Myowol merely extended two fingers and blocked Jin Ja-gang’s dagger. Jin Ja-gang’s dagger was caught between Myowol’s middle and index fingers and stopped.

Clack!

Woon-jeong belatedly struck his tablets.

But by then Jin Ja-gang’s dagger had already broken between Myowol’s fingers. A mocking smile formed at the corners of Myowol’s mouth.

Woon-jeong was still just an inexperienced youngster.

Seeing Myowol’s smile, Woon-jeong panicked. He realized he was doing something wrong.

If he had properly executed Twin Tablet Clapping now, Myowol wouldn’t have been able to precisely catch Jin Ja-gang’s dagger, and then it would have been Myowol’s fingers that were cut.

However, Jin Ja-gang hadn’t staked everything on the dagger. As if he had expected Myowol to naturally block the dagger, as if he had anticipated that Woon-jeong wouldn’t execute Twin Tablet Clapping in time, the moment the dagger was caught he switched to Ilgok’s Golden Crow Hand technique, Capturing Dragon Strike.

He released the dagger and immediately grabbed Myowol’s wrist. Myowol struck upward at Jin Ja-gang’s wrist with her palm as soon as she broke the dagger with her fingers. She attached her back of hand to Jin Ja-gang’s back of hand and spun, causing Jin Ja-gang’s wrist to be caught in reverse.

Jin Ja-gang curved the fingers of his other hand like claws and stabbed at Myowol’s chest.

Myowol’s face reddened. No matter how old she was, she was still a nun.

Myowol became greatly enraged and while gripping Jin Ja-gang’s wrist, kicked Jin Ja-gang’s abdomen with her toes. Jin Ja-gang’s waist naturally bent from the pain in his internal organs.

Woon-jeong now had an almost tearful expression as he struck the tablets. This time too he failed to predict Jin Ja-gang’s actions and was too late with the tablets.

Crack!

However, when Myowol hesitated after kicking Jin Ja-gang’s abdomen, when she tried to stab the crouched Jin Ja-gang’s back with the Non-Killing Sword.

Myowol’s small pupils suddenly saw a needle that had flown right up to her eyes.

To be precise, it was a needle that had been flying from behind Jin Ja-gang. Hidden by Jin Ja-gang’s body so it couldn’t be seen, it became visible the moment Jin Ja-gang’s waist bent.

It was the single needle Jin Ja-gang had thrown with all his heart and soul. Unlike the previous needles, it had drawn as many as ten large arcs and flew much slower than the other needles.

But even though she saw the needle, Myowol couldn’t dodge it. She had hesitated due to interference from Woon-jeong’s sonic technique.

THUD.

The needle entered Myowol’s wide-open left eye, precisely into the contracted pupil.

“Huh?”

With her eye open, when the needle embedded precisely in her pupil, Myowol released Jin Ja-gang from shock and staggered backward.

Soon her eyeball became mushy. Blood vessels emerged and burst, turning her eye bright red. The Clear Blood Gland Snake’s poison began boiling inside her eye and her eye began melting.

“Ugh, uaaaah!”

Myowol screamed.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong struck Myowol’s back with all her strength using her palm.

THUD!

The palm strike hit properly. Blood gushed from Myowol’s nose and mouth. However, due to the rebound force of internal energy, Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s wrist also broke.

Woon-jeong kicked Myowol’s side with a tearful expression. The sound of ribs breaking rang out as Myowol’s body tilted sideways. Woon-jeong was also bounced away.

Myowol roared while spewing blood.

“Uaaaaah!”

Myowol looked at the three people with blood streaming from the hole where her left eye had been.

“How dare… How dare! I’ll kill you all!”