Chapter 258

Chapter 258

The Dragon’s Flowers within the hall were unable to see what was happening outside. And because they couldn’t see, a few placed their faith in Jang Du's promise.

However, if they had been able to see outside, they would have realized that the situation there was far from simple.

“Fuck off already, you bastards!”

[Jang Du used Human Bomb.]

[While charging, all targets that are collided into receive additional damage. If a target is pushed back into an obstacle, it receives twice the additional damage.]

Slaaaaam!

“Stop him! Stop Jang Du!”

“Even a scratch is fine!”

“Haah... Haah...”

Jang Du had already sensed on his way here that things might not go as smoothly as usual.

The sharp rocks embedded in his back served as painful proof.

‘Damn it. Why did it...’

The explosions underground had injured Jang Du. While he might have been able to break through Insulating Steel at full strength, it was nearly impossible now in his injured state.

“Restrain him!”

Jang Du then turned to face the enemies before him, noting that some possessed rather unique abilities.

They were individuals Yu Gyeong had hired.

While Yu Gyeong wasn’t fond of the way they drew an evil spirit on their faces with blood, he couldn’t deny their skills.

Slash!

They attacked with their long, sharp fingernails, which looked like they hadn’t been trimmed in ages.

‘That looks dangerous.’

Jang Du could tell from their ominous energy that their nails were coated in poison.

Baaaaam!

They were also strong enough to endure a hit from Jang Du.

In truth, it was incredible that they could withstand even one of his attacks. Usually, a single strike from Jang Du was more than enough to turn someone into a corpse, yet somehow, they managed to find another chance.

“Damn it!” angrily shouted Jang Du, furious at his own weakness.

He knew deep down that he was using them as an excuse.

‘I can’t break it.’

Even though he struck the door with all his strength, it repelled the attack completely, leaving his right hand unusable.

‘Insulating Steel!’

Jang Du had realized it the moment he struck it.

‘It’s all Insulating Steel.’

Though he realized the meeting hall was reinforced with Insulating Steel, it didn't change anything at this point.

If he defeated Zhe Gak’s underlings and had another opportunity...

‘Krgh...’

Jang Du was still uncertain.

He did not believe that he could break down that door.

‘Lady Shin Yo!’

* * *

Zhe Gak calmed his racing heart.

“The same Jang Du who was supposed to be dead is here. I guess Yu Gyeong failed. That bastard... even his arrival is loud.”

Shin Yo pulled out the dagger lodged in the back of her hand.

Clatter...

“Haah... Haah...”

“How intense.”

“Your stupid plan’s over now that Jang Du is here. Hurry up and—”

“...Are you sure about that?”

Shin Yo scowled at Zhe Gak’s question.

Despite Jang Du arriving here, he was still very lax.

“You know it too, don’t you, Shin Yo?” mocked Zhe Gak.

“......”

“He might be strong, but he’ll never break through the Insulating Steel. Even if there were two Jang Du’s, it would be impossible. That wall’s just too thick. He can’t save you.”

“Krgh...”

“Seriously? Even I know that, and I’m the dumb one here. Ah, so you were just pretending not to know. Were you hoping that I’d get scared by Jang Du or something? Haha...”

Zhe Gak’s madness grew stronger and stronger.

However, it wasn’t as if Zhe Gak had become like this because he met Yu Gyeong.

He had always been like this.

Zhe Gak had simply hidden it, biding his time.

“Don’t you think you looked down on me too much?”

Shin Yo bit her lip.

The dent in the door was likely the result of Jang Du using all his strength. He had a habit of going all out, probably intending to break through with a single blow.

‘But he couldn't break it...’

Jang Du had failed to break through the Insulating Steel.

This also meant that he wouldn’t be able to break through it at all. And judging by the screams outside... no help was coming anytime soon.

‘No one is left to save us now.’

Then, there was only one method left.

"Argh, I can't stop feeling nervous knowing Jang Du is right outside. I can't do it how I intended anymore... this is all because of you, Shin Yo."

Zhe Gak then gave a fiendish grin.

“No more second chances. I’ll kill you if you refuse to sign.”

“......”

“This crazy...”

However, no one spoke out against Zhe Gak.

It was clear that whoever dared to speak up first would become his next target.

“Now, who should I... let’s go with you!”

“H-Hieee... Wh-why me?!”

“Are you refusing?”

The woman Zhe Gak singled out was also the same one who looked down on Seol Hong, along with Tae Yul.

Though they had coincidentally met again, both were now in the same extremely dangerous circumstance.

“I-I...” she stammered, staring at the decapitated head.

Step...

But then... someone stepped forward.

It was Chi Woo.

“What do you think you’re doing, Chi Woo?”

“It’s as you can see.”

Chi Woo, too, had a plan of his own.

‘I just have to hold out until Kang Seol makes it here.’

Jang Du had already arrived, and if Seol could make it as well, there might still be a chance. While Chi Woo had also heard the explosions earlier, there was no way Seol wouldn’t have managed to escape safely if Jang Du did.

“I will open the gate.”

Glooooooow...

The tattoos on her arm began to glow.

Rumble, rumble, rumble...

The room made of Insulating Steel began to shake as well.

It was as if the room itself had been lifted through the ceiling and into the sky.

“Wh-what is...”

[Shin Yo used Open Gate: Celestial Realm.]

[You are transported to the Celestial Realm, the realm of Xians.]

T/N: Xians are the immortal, mythical celestials of Eastern folklore, heavily rooted in Daoism.

Rumble, rumble, rumble!

‘Strange’ barely scratched the surface of the sensation everyone in the room was experiencing.

It was as if their bodies were floating while simultaneously being crushed under an immense force.

“What the hell did you do?!” shouted Zhe Gak.

“I’ve transported us to another realm—a world filled with the delusions you cherish so dearly.”

Rumble, rumble, rumble...

The celestial realm Shin Yo transported them to was an entirely separate world, much like the spirit and ghoul realms known to the people of Pandea.

In simpler terms, it was the realm of Xians, a place where dragons and phantom beasts also existed.

However, this was also the place where Shin Yo’s master lived.

‘Once Master realizes that I’m here...’

The residents of this world were eccentric and powerful enough to consume the entire Insulating Steel room.

It would mean death for all of the Dragon’s Flowers if they were caught. Despite this, Shin Yo still entered the realm, all in the hope of one possibility.

‘Master, please!’

She prayed that her master would notice her first and save her.

“......”

However, it quickly fell silent.

While it certainly felt like they were floating, there was no other reaction.

As they were unable to see outside of the room, all they could do was awkwardly blink.

‘No...’

After a few seconds, Zhe Gak began to laugh madly.

“Hah... Hahahahaha! You scared me, Shin Yo! Your jokes went too far.”

“Damn it...”

The Dragon’s Flowers fell to despair after even Shin Yo’s attempt failed.

There was now nothing to stop Zhe Gak’s plans.

“Bring those three to their knees before me.”

“Let me go! Let me go!”

“Seol Hong!”

Thud!

A hand pressed each of their heads firmly to the floor.

Chi Woo, Shin Yo, and Seol Hong all knelt before Zhe Gak.

“I had hoped to avoid damaging anyone who might become my servant, but... it seems that wasn’t possible.”

“Elder Brother Zhe Gak...”

Zhe Gak then lifted Seol Hong’s face by her chin.

Her eyes began to tear up as a red gash marked her forehead.

However, she did not cry.

“Seol Hong.”

Seol Hong shut her mouth.

“Do you think it’s unfair? Shouldn’t you have learned by now? The weak...”

“No, it’s not that...”

“Then...”

Seol Hong seemed sad.

“The person who wrote me those words of encouragement in those letters... that wasn’t you...”

Zhe Gak began to cackle, revealing the evilness in his heart.

“Who would ever pity someone as filthy as you? Know your place, Seol Hong. You are weak.”

Clench...

“Shut your mouth...” said Chi Woo, trying to raise his head.

“Go ahead,” mocked Zhe Gak.

“Strength gathers toward a will. Seol Hong—”

“Another boring sermon. It’s quite a nice one for someone with their head on the floor, though.”

Unfurl.

“Your scrolls. Now, hurry up and–”

Just as Zhe Gak was about to hand them their scrolls...

Thuuuuuud...

The room began to shake once more.

‘Jang Du? No, it’s Master!’

Color returned to Shin Yo’s face.

It felt as if a ray of light had pierced through the cracks to save them.

Though she had opened the gate to the celestial realm, she had left a piece of the Insulating Steel room behind in the real world, allowing them to return whenever.

They were now in an unstable situation, with the possibility of someone approaching from either world.

However, if Jang Du were the cause of the rumbling, he would have announced his presence first.

And if it was her master...

‘...it isn’t Master either?’

They would have searched for Shin Yo the moment they found the room.

But judging by how there was no sound...

‘Shit! It’s a phantom beast!’

Phantom beasts were ancient monsters who lived in the celestial realm, with some even rivaling the power of dragons.

“Zhe Gak.”

“Was that you, Shin Yo? You really—”

“No, it wasn’t me.”

“......”

“Let me warn you. A portion of this room is currently floating in the celestial realm.”

“And?”

“It isn’t just humans who dislike uninvited guests.”

Zhe Gak fell silent as Shin Yo slowly continued.

“It seems that a resident of the celestial realm has come to welcome us.”