Chapter 987 – 987. Ascension To The Light
My dick compass was clearly pointing at the woman on the platform.
Though she was wearing a veil, it wasn’t enough to fool my senses. The atmosphere, her voice, the outline of her body. Combining all of that, she was 100% a beauty.
‘The fact that she’s wearing a veil is proof enough.’
If she were ugly, there would be no need to cover her face with a veil. Did she wear a veil to hide her identity? If she were ugly, the world wouldn’t even give her a second glance.
‘There are female martial artists among the challengers of the Manmu Tower. But there aren’t any pretty ones. If they’re pretty, they wouldn’t bother learning martial arts in the first place. Even if they did, they wouldn’t do dangerous things like being a wanderer. If money is the goal, becoming a courtesan is more realistic.’
Hwangbo Family. A child of a prestigious family. Good genes, a life without want, a body trained in martial arts. She couldn’t possibly be anything but beautiful.
‘She’s stepping forward herself… to pass this trial.’
This trial requires everyone to band together, whether they like it or not. They have to stick together to protect their flag and steal the enemy’s flag. It requires not only martial arts skills but also tactical movements.
‘She’s going to act as the center of the group under the name of the Hwangbo Family. Otherwise, there’s no need to reveal her identity.’
It was obvious that she intended to take control of Group 55 by leveraging her family’s authority. In fact, the wanderer martial artists were intimidated as soon as they heard the name Hwangbo Family. For wanderers, prestigious sects and martial families were insurmountable walls, a different world they could only admire.
I raised my hand and asked Hwangbo Ga-hye on the platform a question.
“How can we believe that you belong to the Hwangbo Family?! Hiding your identity with a veil doesn’t make you convincing! If you’re really from the Hwangbo Family, take off the veil with pride!”
All eyes turned to me. It was stinging. Especially from the two men wearing bamboo hats behind Hwangbo Ga-hye, I could feel blatant killing intent. They were probably Hwangbo Ga-hye’s escorts.
“That’s right! Who’s going to believe you’re from the Hwangbo Family if you don’t show your face! If you’re really from the Hwangbo Family, show us your face!”
Sung Ji-gon shouted from the side. That was the start of it. Other martial artists also began to look at Hwangbo Ga-hye with suspicion.
“Come to think of it… we’re currently inside the Manmu Tower… it would be hard to tell if someone was impersonating the Hwangbo Family.”
“Covering her face with a veil… that’s too suspicious.”
“I’ve never even heard of the name Hwangbo Ga-hye? Is she really a member of the Hwangbo Family?”
“You don’t know Hwangbo Ga-hye? That name is famous. The Shandong Jewel, Hwangbo Ga-hye. Her beauty is said to be like a jewel. If she’s really Hwangbo Ga-hye, showing her face would be proof enough!”
The atmosphere was heating up. It wouldn’t be calmed down by just talking anymore. If Hwangbo Ga-hye wanted to gain trust, she had to reveal her face.
Hwangbo Ga-hye didn’t panic.
“Very well. I will remove the veil and prove that I am Hwangbo Ga-hye.”
The black veil fell.
Silence descended.
Men and women alike gasped at her beauty. Her skin was as white as if it were glowing, with clear black eyes. Beautiful eyebrows and cherry-like lips. Her black hair, pulled up, looked as smooth as silk. Judging by her appearance alone, she looked to be in her mid-twenties.
‘She’s a beauty indeed. Objectively speaking, she’s slightly less beautiful than Namgung Rin.’
Comparing her to Namgung Rin might have been a bit much. Namgung Rin was the heroine of a novel and was even described as the most beautiful woman in the world. On the other hand, I didn’t even know which novel Hwangbo Ga-hye was from.
‘If I don’t know, there’s a high chance she’s from a game.’
Well, the important thing was that my dick compass was fiercely pointing at her.
I will definitely fuck her.
“I am Hwangbo Ga-hye of the Hwangbo Family. If you still don’t believe me… I will prove it through a duel.”
“……”
The proof was already done. She became the leader of Group 55.
***
Hwangbo Ga-hye, now the leader, set the basic guidelines. The wanderers followed without complaint. It was a reasonable guideline that was easy to understand.
I waited for an opportunity and approached her when she was free.
Up close, she was bigger than I had thought. She was about the same height as me, and her shoulders were broader than most women.
‘If her shoulders are broad, her chest is usually big too… now that I see it, she’s compressing her chest with her clothes.’
Gulp. I swallowed. I didn’t know exactly how big they were, but they were at least bigger than an H cup. I wanted to release those sealed breasts with my own hands right now.
‘The Hwangbo Family has been known to be big for generations. Considering that, Hwangbo Ga-hye’s size makes sense.’
Hwangbo Ga-hye’s gaze turned to me. She was full of wariness. It was partly because I had incited the crowd earlier, but she seemed to have grasped my skills to some extent.
“What is it?”
“As a member of the Namgung Family, I would like to have a conversation with Miss Hwangbo Ga-hye. I apologize for what happened earlier. I never thought I would meet the Hwangbo Family in the Manmu Tower.”
“It’s already settled, so there’s no need to apologize. More importantly, you’re from the Namgung Family?”
In typical martial arts novels, there are the Five Great Families or the Seven Great Families. Among them, the Namgung Family and the Hwangbo Family are always present.
“Yes. Although the blood of Namgung doesn’t flow in my veins, I am a member of the Namgung Family.”
“…A son-in-law, I see. I’ve heard the story. You are… Young Master Sung Yu-jin.”
“You know me?”
“Everyone who needs to know knows about Young Master. About your background and your skills. It may be displeasing to Young Master, but… please follow my command in this trial. I ask you.”
Hwangbo Ga-hye bowed her head. Her waist also lowered about 30 degrees. My gaze went towards her chest. Her chest didn’t move at all. It was clear how tightly she had sealed her chest.
‘Should I use my Heavenly Eye to see through the seal?’
I felt the urge, but I held back, anticipating the pleasure of releasing that seal with my own hands.
“Of course. I’m not very good at leading people. I’m more grateful that Miss Hwangbo is leading the group.”
“We… no, we need Young Master Sung’s strength. With Young Master’s strength, we can definitely pass the 9th floor trial. So, please tell me honestly. What does Young Master Sung want?”
I want you.
Saying that would be the worst kind of sudden outburst.
“Miss Hwangbo. I am the same as you. I want to pass the trial. For that, I will cooperate with you. I don’t want any other compensation.”
“That’s a relief. We may only be together for this 9th floor trial… but let’s work well together.”
Hwangbo Ga-hye smiled. She was beautiful even when I looked at her again. And the body under those clothes must be beautiful too.
Rrrrrrrrr. Rrrrrrrrrrrrr!
***
Group 55 finished their minimum preparations and went outside. Huddling inside like cowards wouldn’t benefit them at all. To pass the trial, they had to steal two flags from other groups within ten days.
“Young Master Sung.”
Hwangbo Ga-hye grabbed my hand. Her hand wasn’t as smooth as her face. It was rough. It was calloused. Her fingers and the back of her hand were full of small scars. It was a hand befitting the Hwangbo Family, famous for their fist techniques.
If she experienced a rebirth, this rough hand would become smooth, but that was a distant future for her. It might even be a future that never comes.
“Young Master Sung, please take charge of scouting. There aren’t many people I can trust besides Young Master Sung. I’m asking you.”
I understood her thoughts. If she sent someone else to scout, she might lose her forces for no reason. To avoid losing forces, she needed my strength, which could definitely return alive.
“Haha. Understood.”
“Thank you, Young Master Sung!”
Hwangbo Ga-hye squeezed my hand tightly. It didn’t hurt. If nothing else, I knew that she smelled fragrant.
‘Is it her body odor? Or perfume?’
I didn’t know. The smell of sweat from a pretty woman’s body was as good as high-end perfume.
Anyway, as Hwangbo Ga-hye asked, I went to scout. I was about to run until my feet were sweating, but I got lazy and took out a drone and flew it into the sky. If anyone said anything, I could just say it was a magical artifact. The world was convenient in that regard.
‘Found them.’
There were five groups nearby. Group 14, Group 71, Group 101, Group 37, and Group 44. Two of these groups were ambushing, and the other groups were prowling around like beasts looking for prey.
‘But it’s damn wide inside the tower. Is it really bigger than Seoul? This world is ridiculously large in terms of population, land, and magic.’
I finished scouting and returned to Group 55. When I returned in less than an hour, disbelief filled Hwangbo Ga-hye’s eyes.
“Young Master Sung…? Is there a problem?”
“I’ve already finished scouting. There are two groups ambushing. There are three groups moving around.”
“What? It hasn’t even been an hour yet?”
“Luckily, I had a magical artifact specialized for scouting.”
“…I see.”
The look of disbelief didn’t disappear.
I smiled. In a few hours, that look would change 180 degrees.
‘Women are drawn to capable men. …Men are the same, though.’
Beautiful looks are one of a woman’s abilities.
“Let’s target Group 71. If we know the enemy’s ambush, we can turn it against them.”
“That’s a good choice.”
Hwangbo Ga-hye was a no-nonsense woman, unlike her gentle way of speaking. Once she set a goal, she attacked Group 71 without any hesitation. Well, it wasn’t surprising. I had predicted her personality to some extent after seeing her hard fists. If she were an ordinary woman, she wouldn’t have fists harder than a rock.
“Enemies! Group 55 is attacking from behind!”
“Damn it! Fight quickly! It’s over if we lose the flag!”
“He’s a martial artist of the Five Qi! If we catch him, it’s nothing!”
The battle ended in 30 minutes.
I took the lead and killed seven martial artists first. They were all martial artists who had reached the Realm of Emergence. Half of Group 71 was killed, and half surrendered. In the case of Group 55, there were four casualties.
‘…Now that I see it, the Manmu Tower didn’t randomly form the groups. Group 71 didn’t have any strong people of the Five Qi, but they had 13 martial artists of the Realm of Emergence. The rest were also in the late stage of the Entrance Realm.’
On the other hand, Group 55 only had five people at the Realm of Emergence or higher, including me. Three from the Hwangbo Family, me, and Sung Ji-gon.
And as if they had been watching the battle, soldiers appeared from one side. More than 50 of them restrained the defeated martial artists of Group 71.
“Congratulations on Group 55’s first victory. We will clean up the battlefield for a moment. Five casualties have occurred in Group 55 as well. Do you have any intention of absorbing the prisoners?”
“…Is that possible?”
“A group is completed with 30 members. It is also possible to fill the five empty spots with prisoners.”
The eyes of the defeated martial artists of Group 71 changed. The losers were given a chance. Only five out of 15 could survive.
“Choose me! Choose me! I’m at the second stage of the Realm of Emergence!”
“I have no injuries! My sword is fine!”
“…I’ll give you the magical artifact I received as a reward for the 8th floor trial! Please accept me!”
The martial artists knelt on the ground and cried out. It was common for them to bang their heads on the ground, and they offered martial arts, magical artifacts, and even elixirs. If they passed the 10th floor trial, they could receive even better rewards.
“Young Master Sung. What should we do?”
As expected, Hwangbo Ga-hye’s gaze towards me had changed. It was filled with trust, and a friendly smile was drawn on her face.
“Miss, you are the one leading Group 55. Do as you wish.”
“Is that really okay?”
“Miss. A man’s word is his bond. I am not a man who speaks with two tongues.”
“Young Master Sung is very manly.”
“Haha. I am a bit like that.”
Hwangbo Ga-hye accepted five prisoners into Group 55 in order of their skills. There were no complaints since it strengthened their forces.
