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Chapter 305: The Passage to Luoyang (3)

Chapter 305: The Passage to Luoyang (3)

Even after that, several traps appeared, but Ma Hye-ryang could only grit her teeth in frustration each time.

The events unfurled in a terribly close shave, each failure almost painfully disappointing.

But with each failure, her conviction only intensified.

Next time. Next time…

She was certain of success.

Her opponents were so stupid, naive, and seemingly clueless.

Now, having brainwashed herself, she was filled with the single-minded determination to succeed and a festering hatred within.

“Ughhhh…”

“Are you okay? I’m not sure how terrifying that King or whatever is, but looking at you now, it seems like getting hit might be preferable.”

Having a broken leg would be better.

It was a situation that could easily turn life-threatening.

“Fine… just shut up and keep walking.”

“I’m saying this because you don’t look okay. Even if you’re weakened, this seems way too extreme. Isn’t it? Or, if you’re going to beg anyway, why don’t you come under me? I could use you as a porter at least. Just let me know if you’re interested.”

“Aaaak! Aaaaaak!”

Ma Hye-ryang slammed her forehead against the wall.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

“Alright, alright, I’ll leave if that’s what you want. Should I be worried about death? Even saying thanks makes a fuss. Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah. To anyone else, you would look like a dead body. The name ‘Foolish Corpse’ would fit perfectly!”

“Shh. Keep it down. They’ll hear.”

“Let them hear. That’s the point.”

Jinhyuk and Elisabeth giggled together.

In times like these, they got along famously.

For those on the receiving end, it was so maddening it was like foaming at the mouth with rage.

‘I’ll kill them. I’ll surely kill them, enslave them for life after feeding them Solitude.’

Ma Hye-ryang swallowed her thirst for vengeance internally.

Finally reaching the seventh checkpoint.

This was the last trap before arriving at Luoyang and a trap that was a whole different dimension from the previous ones.

Whoosh!

A faint energy could be felt flowing through the charms attached to the walls.

The grand spell had been completed.

…Now!

Ma Hye-ryang bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

As blood seeped into her mouth, a red aura surged in all the areas around her, except where she was.

Kwa-Kwa-Kwa-Kwa-Kwa-Kwa!

[The ‘Red Viper’ formation activates!]

With the spell activated, restraints appeared in the passage, forcibly binding any intruders.

Kwaak! Kwaak!

Jinhyuk and Elisabeth were bound in the blink of an eye.

“What is… this?”

Jinhyuk feigned a nervous voice, stiff expression, and body movements oozing panic.

A near-perfect score of 98 out of 100.

“Wow. I’m. Shocked. My. Body. Can’t. Move. What to do. Big. Trouble.”

Elisabeth also flaunted her arms lazily, reading her lines as if from a textbook.

Regret filled him, sincerely wishing he had brought someone else… The acting was painfully bad.

“Keh-he-he… Kah-ha-ha-ha! Finally caught you!”

Ma Hye-ryang burst into manic laughter.

“What’s this… Did you do this? We were getting along fine. But why…?”

“Just. like. that, you didn’t notice at all. You were completely. tricked.”

“Elisabeth.”

“Yeah?”

“Can you keep it down before I shove wasabi up your nose? My patience is starting to wear thin.”

“I’ll, I’ll be quiet. I can be really quiet, you know. See. Haap!”

Elisabeth securely closed her mouth.

“Unbelievable. Even in this situation, you only jest. Well, you won’t know what’s coming, might as well be lax.”

Ma Hye-ryang pulled out a repulsively-looking insect from her sleeve.

It was Solitude.

“Kiiii…”

Solitude wriggled its legs desperately, eager to enter a body.

“That moment Solitude takes root in your body, you’ll absolutely obey my words. Kah-ha-ha! Now, I’ll return the humiliation I suffered tenfold.”

“As one of the righteous factions, the Paebang, to use such methods… How many people have you stabbed in the back? Some must’ve died unable to bear Solitude?”

“That’s none of my business. If they stupidly choose the wrong side and die, it’s their own fault, isn’t it? Besides, if those pitiful lives serve the greater cause, they should be grateful to die for it.”

Ma Hye-ryang approached with a full-faced smile.

*Damn…

Part of the plan or not, the thought of ingesting that thing was honestly revolting, especially since Solitude was such a nuisance.

But.

To let Ma Hye-ryang completely believe that everything was going according to her plan, there was no other choice.

Jinhyuk clenched his eyes shut.

Gulp!

Something dreadful slid down his throat.

[You have been afflicted with a status ailment!]

[If you fail to obey the target, you will suffer permanent and lethal damage to your body.]

Red alerts popped up one after another.

A throbbing pain already began in his brain.

“Forget it. Resisting only prolongs the pain.”

Yes, normally that’s correct.

But not in this case.

[A 5-star barrier ‘Partial Interruption’ activates!]

As soon as Jinhyuk knew of the trap, he was prepared.

The barrier he had drawn earlier before entering the passage was now infused with magical power.

And almost simultaneously, in the next instant.

[Your unique skill ‘Blood Demon Qi’ activates!]

[Your unique skill ‘Black Heaven Demon Emperor Technique’ activates!]

A dense negative energy began to rise from within his body.

His unique demonic energy was exactly what Solitude relished the most.

The barrier ensured that all magical energy would flow to an optimized location.

“Kiieeee?”

The parasitic creature that had been fretting suddenly purred contently, stretching out comfortably.

The pain swiftly subsided.

‘Good.’

Of course, none of this showed on his face.

He maintained an expression of agony, crucially showing that he would not submit to the opponent.

Of course, the unknowing Ma Hye-ryang could only be bewildered.

‘What, what is this?’

As time passed, the once-composed face of Ma Hye-ryang twisted into a grimace of horror.

No one had heard of a human resisting Solitude through all of history.

Even the grandmasters of Shaolin had succumbed to it, hadn’t they?

However.

“Kuk!”

The subject was still alive, their eyes still gleaming with life.

Undoubtedly.

It was unbelievable, but the man was fervently resisting Solitude.

“The Chief… must be interested for a reason.”

Ma Hye-ryang couldn’t even fathom his mental strength.

But she couldn’t afford to just stand and marvel.

If she were to allow this to continue and fail her mission, she’d have no face to show to him.

“It can’t be helped.”

Ma Hye-ryang drew a knife and pressed it to Elisabeth’s throat, threatening to slit it if the resistance continued.

“Screaaaaam!”

“Surely, even you won’t just stand by and let your betrothed die.”

“That’s right. That’s right. You’re not thinking of leaving me to die, are you?”

Elisabeth acted every bit as if she were a damsel in distress.

We’ll settle this later for real.

“Wait… Okay, I understand. I won’t resist. I won’t resist.”

Jinhyuk bit his lower lip hard.

“But just let me ask one thing. I’m so curious I can’t stand it.”

“You really are difficult. Go ahead and say your damned piece.”

“Where is the Heavenly Demon now? They were nowhere to be seen when I visited the Heavenly Demon Cult.”

“…”

It was a weighty question.

Ma Hye-ryang’s mind raced.

With a hostage and focusing all his energy on resisting Solitude, there was no room for error.

And, had he asked something else, she would have refused to answer, but…

Should she protect the imbecile who was harmed in a foolish battle against the 50th floor’s inhabitants and ended up with internal injuries?

She weighed her mission against a flicker of curiosity.

The contemplation was brief.

“Of course you didn’t see. That fool is currently in Luoyang.”

“What? The Heavenly Demon… in Luoyang, the heart of the Martial Alliance?”

“Indeed. That idiot abandoned our beautiful sect, seeking a yellow stone, saying it was essential. Thanks to that, Left Guardian and the Chief could gulp down all the power.”

“Yellow… stone…”

The corners of Jinhyuk’s mouth lifted.

Everything made sense now.

“Has your curiosity been satisfied? When you become my puppet, you’ll naturally learn much more.”

“Thanks. I’m completely relieved now.”

“Then, now… Huh?”

Ma Hye-ryang’s eyes widened in shock.

The man who should have been securely bound, Jinhyuk, was moving freely.

Cling!

The knife pointed at Elisabeth gyrated aimlessly in the air.

“The formation?”

“I told you. If it’s this kind of thing, I’m pretty confident. Now, all your cards are on the table, what are you going to do?”

“Don’t be mistaken! You think I came here unprepared?”

Ma Hye-ryang roared as she retreated.

That very moment.

Kwaang! Bang!

Three blood-corpses burst out of the ground, red all over.

“Kraaaaagh!”

“Koaaaah!”

“Kieeeeh!”

These were several times mightier than the blood-corpses that ravaged the Blue Sea Castle, top-grade corpses bestowed by the Death Sorcerer himself, meant to confront the most formidable masters.

“Kill the woman and bring that man to me on his knees at once!”

However.

The smug laugh from the issuing orders soon faded.

Pop!

“Huh?”

A strange sound echoed from behind.

The corpse that had grabbed Elisabeth suddenly had its head torn off.

“Who dares to lay a hand on me with such a filthy undead?”

Elisabeth, as if mildly irritated, casually tossed the corpse’s head aside.

Crack! Crunch!

The other two corpses were bent in half and tumbled to the ground.

“How… impossible… She’s not just an ordinary girl…”

Ordinary was an understatement.

Though she appeared fragile, Jin-jo was stronger than an ogre in grip strength.

“You, it seems you’ve been gravely mistaken…”

Jinhyuk smirked.

“No matter what you intend, it’s useless. After all, I’m right above you in the pecking order.”

“Damn it…”

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Ma Hye-ryang attempted to flee in panic.

As always, types like her boast confidence until things go awry, then flee first.

Thump!

Jinhyuk quickly caught up and kicked Ma Hye-ryang in the back.

“Keuuurk!”

Already battered and exhausted, Ma Hye-ryang couldn’t dodge even a simple strike.

Now.

How shall I deal with you?

The first idea that came to mind was, of course, the blade…

‘It’s a waste on a sword. I can’t tarnish it with filthy blood.’

It’s not a sword meant for the likes of her, especially not for its maiden cut.

It should be reserved for a worthy opponent.

Jinhyuk retrieved a new weapon from his spatial inventory.

[The Levišta family’s symbol acknowledges its new master!]

Abigail’s scythe made of spirit wood emerged.

The scythe, shaped like a crescent moon, drew a sinister curve with a daunting glow from the eye inset in the center.

Meanwhile.

[You have successfully obtained 3 fortunes and information!]

[‘Solitude’ is now under your control.]

[You have acquired information regarding the Heavenly Demon.]

[You have obtained information about the location of the ‘Moonstone’!]

[Skill ‘Human Skin Mask’ has been copied!]

[Human Skin Mask]

Difficulty to acquire: A

Description: Allows you to mimic any target’s appearance, and as your mastery in martial arts grows, the authenticity can be further perfected.]

Copying the skill was also a success.

Everything worth taking from the enemy had now been extracted.

“I thank you for the information. I never imagined you’d be this helpful.”

Considering the past, he should have made her suffer even more.

But considering what she’d just done… forget mercy.

The countless number of lives she had sacrificed, betraying their families and clans to become slaves, and the several times more that had brutally died, dictated that she deserved to taste true bitterness.

“There’s something perfect for you. And you should be looking forward to it.”

With a tap of the scythe on the ground.

[The special skill ‘Tree Where the Specters Reside’ activates!]

Ku-ku-ku-ku-ku!

Purple-lit tree trunks burst from the ground.

“What… what do you plan to do?”

Well.

“I intend to grant you eternal life.”

The spirit tree sucks the fluids and mana out of a person.

At the same time, it keeps the prey alive for a very long time, so they won’t die easily.

So cherish that dearly preserved life that you’ve been so eager to maintain.

As long as you can, at least.

Gurgle! Gurgle!

The trunks wrapping around her began to suck fluids from their host’s body.

“Aaaargh!”

Ma Hye-ryang screamed, her voice tearing through the air.

For about a thousand years or so… she will stay alive in this passage.

Unable to die even if she wishes for it.

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