Chapter 172: Chapter 8. Even the Fierce Wind Cannot Wash Away the Scent of Blood (1)

CRASH!

Dam Ho rolled roughly across the ground. It was only after tumbling a dozen or so times that he finally came to a stop.

"Cough!"

Dam Ho lay face down on the ground and vomited blood. His face was completely devoid of color.

His entire body's muscles screamed with extreme agony, as though they had been pounded by a massive pestle. The sword still piercing his lung made even breathing painful.

"Hagh! Hagh!"

Dam Ho let out a metallic wheeze and glared ahead.

Where his gaze fell, Namgung Cheon lay sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving with labored breaths.

His condition was no less wretched than Dam Ho's.

One cheekbone was caved in, distorting his face. Broken ribs pressed against his lung, allowing him only shallow, hurried breaths.

Dam Ho's Six Harmonies Blood Mountain and River had shattered more than ten bones throughout his body. He had barely survived by drawing up his Protective Energy at the last moment.

If he had been struck by the Six Harmonies Blood Mountain and River with his bare body, his life would have ended already. The mere thought of it sent a chill through his spine.

At that moment, Dam Ho rose to his feet.

With the sword blade still lodged in his chest, the sight of him standing sent a wave of fear even through Namgung Cheon.

Dam Ho's body swayed as if it might collapse at any moment. Yet somehow he remained standing and began walking toward Namgung Cheon.

Even in such a state, the killing intent in Dam Ho's eyes had not diminished in the slightest. His unwavering resolve to kill Namgung Cheon was displayed plain for all to see.

"Stub…born…"

Even Namgung Cheon, who had faced the world, was sickened by Dam Ho's tenacity.

He too staggered to his feet with great effort.

They had reached a state of mutual destruction, but that didn't mean he could simply sit and let Dam Ho finish him off.

"Very well! Let's end this today! Cough!"

Namgung Cheon forced his voice louder, but he ended up vomiting blood. The internal injuries he had sustained were far from trivial.

Dam Ho limped slowly closer. His blood-soaked figure looked like an evil spirit crawling out of hell.

Namgung Cheon stared at Dam Ho's figure and shuddered.

In all his years, he had never imagined a human being could be so demonic. Even among the Demonic Cult warriors he had faced thirty-odd years ago, not a single one had been this terrifying.

'If I let him live, the consequences will be endless.'

His hands trembled violently.

He couldn't tell whether it was from fear of Dam Ho or from the pain of his wounds. There was no room to distinguish.

Scrape! THUD! Scrape! THUD!

Dam Ho's characteristic off-beat footsteps stimulated Namgung Cheon's heart with ominous foreboding.

"Kugh!"

Namgung Cheon bit his lip hard. But the fear refused to subside.

That was when—

"Patriarch!"

Suddenly, a shout echoed from the distance, and a group of warriors came running toward them. They were the Namgung Family warriors who had been following Namgung Cheon.

At their arrival, Namgung Cheon pointed at Dam Ho and screamed.

"Kill him!"

His voice boomed across the battlefield.

The Namgung Family warriors changed course and rushed toward Dam Ho.

Dam Ho looked at the approaching warriors with dimming eyes. With their arrival, whatever chance he had left was gone.

The Namgung Family warriors surged forward with terrifying momentum. Even seeing them, Dam Ho felt no fear.

'Master.'

He only regretted that he would never see Sage Hyeon-so again.

The corners of Dam Ho's mouth curled upward.

When it came time to die, he would kill at least one more before dying.

He had no desire to leave his name in the world, but neither would he give up and simply lie down to die.

'Come.'

As Dam Ho steeled himself for one final stand—

"Foolish! Get on!"

Suddenly, Jong Ri-yeon's voice came from behind.

When he turned his head, Jong Ri-yeon was riding the Dark Steed, charging toward him. She stopped before Dam Ho and pulled him onto the Dark Steed's back.

"Hiya!"

The moment Dam Ho was aboard, Jong Ri-yeon spurred the Dark Steed and burst from the battlefield.

"Stop!"

"Damn it!"

The Namgung Family warriors who arrived late deployed their movement techniques, but they couldn't catch up to the Dark Steed.

The Dark Steed vanished from their sight in an instant.

In the end, the Namgung Family warriors abandoned the pursuit and ran to Namgung Cheon.

"Are you all right, Patriarch?"

"Track him down!"

Namgung Cheon screamed, vomiting blood.

"Yes!"

"He must be eliminated no matter what. If we let him live, he will become a great calamity in the years to come."

Bloodshot madness filled Namgung Cheon's eyes.

The Namgung Family warriors caught a glimpse of a sliver of fear hidden within that madness.

'Why is the Patriarch—'

'Could it be that the Patriarch fears the Fist Demon?'

Doubt arose in the minds of the Namgung Family warriors.

At that moment, Namgung Cheon shouted again.

"You must track him down and kill him! By any means necessary… Do you understand?"

"We understand!"

In the end, the Namgung Family warriors answered with all their might.

Namgung Cheon stared with bloodshot eyes in the direction Dam Ho had disappeared.

"I must kill him. If he lives, he will become a great catastrophe. Ugh!"

Namgung Cheon vomited blood and collapsed.

"Patriarch!"

The Namgung Family warriors caught his falling body.

***

"Hm?"

Bang Jin-bo suddenly raised his head and looked at the sky.

"What's wrong?"

Hwang Hye-ryeong looked at Bang Jin-bo with a puzzled expression.

"Ah, it's nothing. I just had a strange feeling."

"Really?"

"It's probably nothing. Heh heh!"

Bang Jin-bo let out his characteristic laugh.

After Dam Ho descended the mountain, Bang Jin-bo had remained at the Yellow Mountain, adapting to his new surroundings.

Following the rebellion of Yoon Chung and Jo Yun-san, Hwang Gyeong-mun was reorganizing the Overlord's Nest and the Green Forest.

He expelled those who had sided with the rebels and the remnants of the Demonic Cult, and appointed new, trustworthy individuals.

As a result, a bloodbath had swept through the Overlord's Nest and the Green Forest. The bloodbath that swept the Green Forest was truly terrifying—countless people had died or been wounded.

Bang Jin-bo had witnessed every bit of it with his own eyes.

Hwang Gyeong-mun had ruthlessly punished the traitors. His iron-fisted measures, worthy of the title Overlord, left many Green Forest bandits trembling in fear.

Many words were spoken about Hwang Gyeong-mun's actions, but Bang Jin-bo paid them no heed.

He had traveled the world with Dam Ho.

He had witnessed scenes even more violent and terrible than this. That was why he understood that Hwang Gyeong-mun had no choice but to act as he did.

Of course, that didn't mean he could accept it without limits, but at least he no longer rejected it blindly as before.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

"Father is calling for me."

"The Chief?"

"Yes!"

At Hwang Hye-ryeong's words, Bang Jin-bo looked puzzled.

He had been at the Overlord's Nest for over a month now, and in all that time, Hwang Gyeong-mun had never once sought him out.

Bang Jin-bo followed Hwang Hye-ryeong to Hwang Gyeong-mun's residence.

"Come in."

Hwang Gyeong-mun welcomed Bang Jin-bo warmly.

"You called for me?"

"Yes! I have something to give you."

"Something to give me?"

"Yes!"

Hwang Gyeong-mun smiled.

Though he had ruled with an iron fist to punish the traitors, the eyes with which he looked at Bang Jin-bo were filled with warmth.

He reached into his robes and produced a book.

"While clearing out the stronghold, I found this."

"The Five Elements Gentleman Art?"

"That's right. It's not well-known in the Murim, but it is a superior martial art that utilizes the energy of the Five Elements."

"Why give this to me?"

"He said so. That a martial art governing the Five Elements' energy would suit you."

"He did?"

"Yes!"

Tears welled in Bang Jin-bo's eyes.

It had been over a month since Dam Ho left this place. In that time, Bang Jin-bo had missed Dam Ho dearly.

Dam Ho had left without a word, and Bang Jin-bo had even harbored a small grudge. He never imagined Dam Ho would think of him until the end.

'Brother!'

Suddenly, he wanted to see Dam Ho.

Hwang Gyeong-mun held out the Five Elements Gentleman Art to Bang Jin-bo.

"Master this."

"But I don't even have the basics of martial arts."

"Don't worry. I will teach you personally."

"The Chief himself?"

"That's right."

"But it must be troublesome for you."

"I received a great favor from him. The least I can do is this. The cleanup of the Green Forest is also finished, so now seems like the perfect time."

"Thank you. I will practice diligently."

"You must."

Hwang Gyeong-mun smiled as he watched the moved Bang Jin-bo.

Honestly, he didn't think Bang Jin-bo could achieve great mastery in the Five Elements Gentleman Art. Superior martial arts were not so easily mastered by just anyone.

But with his help, Bang Jin-bo could at least achieve a fifth-level accomplishment. That would be more than enough to preserve his life in the Murim.

"I will begin teaching you tomorrow. Come at dawn."

"I will."

"You may go now."

"Yes!"

Bang Jin-bo bowed to Hwang Gyeong-mun and ran outside. After Bang Jin-bo left, Hwang Hye-ryeong asked carefully.

"Will you really have the time?"

"If I don't, I'll have to make it. Otherwise, that friend might come looking for me."

Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled softly, knowing exactly who "that friend" was.

"Brother must be well, right?"

"Who would dare harm him? He'll be fine. Don't worry."

"Yes!"

Hwang Hye-ryeong nodded.

Hwang Gyeong-mun gazed at her with a contented expression.

Even after learning that he was the Gae-ryeong, Hwang Hye-ryeong's affectionate manner toward him had not changed.

He was grateful for such a daughter, and proud of her as well.

Hwang Hye-ryeong suddenly asked.

"Is the reorganization of the Green Forest complete?"

"Yes, it is."

"You've worked hard."

"Their roots were deeper than I expected. That's why more blood had to be shed."

Hwang Gyeong-mun closed his eyes gently. His face looked extremely weary.

He had spent decades in the Green Forest.

The people he had purged were all individuals he had known for decades. Disposing of them was never easy. But it had to be done.

Yoon Chung had corrupted the Green Forest over a truly long period. To eliminate them completely, much blood had to be spilled.

That series of actions had exhausted Hwang Gyeong-mun profoundly. Not physical fatigue, but mental exhaustion and damage.

"I'm afraid."

"Of what?"

"That there may be Demonic Cult infiltrators in other sects as well."

"That's…"

Hwang Hye-ryeong could not answer rashly.

Hwang Gyeong-mun rose and walked to the window.

"The bloodbath in the Green Forest is but a gentle breeze. A greater, more vicious wind will swallow the world. We must stockpile our strength to prepare for that time."

"Fa…ther!"

"At its center, your brother will surely be there. He may wish to live freely, but once one steps into the Murim, that is impossible."

A shadow fell over Hwang Hye-ryeong's face.

Hwang Gyeong-mun patted her shoulder.

"Don't worry too much."

"Yes!"

"No calamity can do him any harm."

The warriors looked toward the main gate and shouted.

“Who goes there!”

Jin Ja-gang scattered needles from both hands. The orthodox faction warriors at the gate were struck by the needles. The effects appeared immediately.

“Uaaaah!”

The warriors struck by needles foamed at the mouth and collapsed.

Jin Ja-gang stood his ground.

He could see Soso lying beaten in the middle of the courtyard. When Soso saw Jin Ja-gang, she sobbed and continuously shook her head.

“Ah-eo-eo, ah-eu-eo-eo-eo.”

Fire blazed in Jin Ja-gang’s eyes.

He recalled the memories of Soso caring for him with devotion.

Grind grind grind.

Jin Ja-gang ground his teeth.

“I repent that I forgot, as a human being, that there are things I must naturally protect because I am human.”

Jin Ja-gang drew needles in his hands. Then he walked in without hesitation.

“What nonsense are you spouting…!”

The warriors rushed at him.

Jin Ja-gang recalled the villagers who had died at Stone Forest Gang and Shadow Bureau. Even though he later learned it was because of him, he was ashamed of himself for dismissing them as unavoidable rather than feeling compassion or seeking revenge for them.

“I repent that I failed to be angry at things I should rightfully have been angry about!”

Jin Ja-gang threw needles. Some staggered after being hit by needles, while others rushed forward and brought down their swords. Jin Ja-gang drew sickles from behind his back, gripping one in each hand.

Thud thud, thud thud thud.

As he activated Mad Blood Heaven technique, rupturing sounds echoed from the qi and blood throughout his body as internal energy began circulating rapidly.

Clang!

After blocking the sword flying toward his head with the sickle in his left hand, he swung the sickle in his right hand to tear open his opponent’s abdomen. He immediately rotated his body to the side to avoid the flying sword, using the rotational force to swing his sickle. He struck the sword with the back of his sickle to deflect it, then turned another half circle and stabbed the side with the opposite sickle. The side pierced by the sickle was torn right off.

In an instant, two men collapsed spilling their entrails. The warriors struck by needles also fell one after another.

The orthodox faction warriors hesitated.

Jin Ja-gang spoke through gritted teeth.

“I repent that I was bound only by revenge and tried to pass by even when witnessing injustice.”

Jin Ja-gang shook his sickles to fling off the blood on the blades. He caught his breath briefly and walked further inside.

“I repent my cowardice in avoiding righteous deeds, claiming I could not perform them because I was not a chivalrous hero of the martial world.”

Jeon Woong clutched his wrist and grimaced as he shouted.

“Attack!”

Jin Ja-gang poured internal energy from Mad Blood Heaven technique into his feet and leaped. A warrior blocking his path thrust a spear. Jin Ja-gang hooked the spear with his sickle and deflected it. The shaft of the spear caught by the sickle snapped clean off. In the moment the warrior was flustered, he stabbed the warrior’s crown with his sickle.

Thunk!

The sickle embedded deeply into the head up to its curved part, with the tip piercing through and emerging from the nose.

The warrior with the sickle embedded in his head dropped to his knees with a thud.

Jin Ja-gang pulled out the sickle. Blood and brain matter gushed from the hole, then the warrior trembled violently before falling face-first and dying.

This horrific sight made the orthodox faction warriors’ flesh crawl.

“Cr-cruel evil faction b*st*rd!”

Jin Ja-gang recalled Chu Sajin. He remembered giving Chu Sajin a long speech about whether the orthodox faction was righteous. He also recalled dismissing Bian Bu’s words about distinguishing between orthodox and evil when he had heard them with one ear and let them pass through the other.

Jin Ja-gang’s right eye began turning red.

Pop.

Blood vessels burst inside, turning his eye bloodshot.

“I repent that I discussed justice with an insincere attitude despite having neither experienced nor knowing much about it.”

Grind grind grind.

Jin Ja-gang ground his teeth as he continued walking forward.

He could see the crying Soso and Bian Bu vomiting blood. Their appearances reminded him of Master Jang’s family and his wife, and Rangrang. He thought of the dinner he had shared with the Jang family, and recalled Master Jang hovering between life and death, his wife being beaten by the Zhuge family, and Rangrang.

“I repent that I abandoned those I should rightfully have protected!”

Limp, limp.

As Jin Ja-gang approached with his limping gait, the warriors hesitantly retreated.

Jin Ja-gang recalled the people of Medicine King Sect and Vice Sect Leader Yong Myeong who had died in his place when escaping from Extreme Poison Sect.

Bloody tears flowed from his bloodshot right eye. He felt utterly ungrateful for having thought he would do what he could but accept death if it came.

“I repent for being ungrateful and acting arrogantly.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Dan Ryeong-gyeong, who was being overwhelmed by Myowol with wounds all over her body. Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s right shoulder was empty, and blood continued flowing from the severed shoulder.

Jin Ja-gang realized he had had several opportunities to learn martial arts. If he had learned then, he wouldn’t have suffered such a fate against Baek Li-gwon at Lan Family Village, and wouldn’t have needed to be carried here. Then he wouldn’t have had to cause harm to Soso and Bian Bu like this. He wouldn’t have had to let so many people in the manor die. Dan Ryeong-gyeong wouldn’t have had to lose her arm because of bringing him.

“I…”

Jin Ja-gang’s fists trembled.

“Though I cannot distinguish right from wrong, I was trapped in the arrogance of believing I alone was orthodox. Because of this, I caused suffering and harm to those around me.”

Jin Ja-gang expelled blood energy from his eyes while emanating increasingly intense killing intent.

“I repent.”

Jin Ja-gang bit his lips until they bled.

“I repent to ensure I never again commit such foolish acts. I repent that I have only now realized the present moment is the most precious time for me.”

Blue blood vessels bulged prominently on his neck and jaw as capillaries burst. Extreme pain struck him. Along with this, internal energy surged even more intensely within his body.

And the more this happened, the more intense the killing intent and aura Jin Ja-gang emitted became, making the Sichuan orthodox faction warriors even more intimidated.

Myowol twisted her mouth crookedly as she looked at Jin Ja-gang.

The aura emanating from that smooth-faced young man exceeded her imagination. No, it wasn’t aura but precisely killing intent.

Unrefined killing intent.

Not the refined killing intent learned through high-level training from childhood at prestigious orthodox sects, but unrefined killing intent that had become ingrained through daily exposure to death while staining hands with the blood of countless people.

That vicious and unfamiliar killing intent made even her tongue sting.

If she felt this way, how must the others feel?

The orthodox faction warriors had been retreating since earlier. When Jin Ja-gang approached, they retreated. They seemed unaware of it themselves… The Sichuan orthodox faction warriors were not common street thugs you might see in broad daylight. They had stronger pride and more backbone than those from other regions. Yet they were overwhelmed by Jin Ja-gang’s massive killing intent.

Jeon Woong suddenly remembered something and looked at Jin Ja-gang’s gait, his eyes widening greatly.

“Poison Dragon… it’s Poison Dragon…”

The weight that the name Poison Dragon carried.

The incident of destroying Yunnan’s poison sects and consecutively defeating the Zhuge family’s Young Phoenix and the Baek Li family’s Silent Dragon had shocked the martial world.

Regardless of how strong his martial power was or how lucky he had been, Poison Dragon had become a sufficient object of fear just from the number of people he had killed.

The Sichuan warriors swallowed dry saliva. After hearing the name Poison Dragon, their hesitation became even more severe.

Jin Ja-gang turned his gaze to Jeon Woong.

“I ask you.”

Jeon Woong was clutching his increasingly blackening hand and sweating profusely when he met Jin Ja-gang’s bloodshot eyes and his body stiffened. He barely escaped the binding by drawing up internal energy, but fear crept up insidiously.

“What are you asking!”

Jin Ja-gang asked in a chilling voice.

“What is the reason you attacked this place and killed people?”

“We… received orders from the Martial Arts Alliance.”

The fact that he had already used the word “we” revealed that Jeon Woong had an evasive mindset from the start. Jeon Woong seemed to realize his mistake and added more words.

“Eliminating the evil faction and establishing chivalry in this land is the destiny of us orthodox faction people!”

Jin Ja-gang sneered and said.

“Then you have nothing to say even if you die.”

“Wh-what?”

“If your cause is worthy enough to kill others and establish, shouldn’t it be natural to stake your own life?”

Jin Ja-gang pointed his sickle at Jeon Woong’s hand.

“Isn’t it hot?”

Jeon Woong was startled. The hand struck by the needle had been swelling and feeling burning pain since earlier.

“You will soon die as all the blood in your body boils. I’ll give you a chance to establish your chivalry during your remaining time.”

Jin Ja-gang pointed his sickle at himself.

“Kill me.”

“Why should I…”

“From now on, I’m going to kill all of you here. So you need to kill me before that to stop it.”

Jeon Woong was astounded. He glanced sideways at Myowol, seeking help.

However, Myowol was just watching.

Myowol felt intoxicated by that strange atmosphere Jin Ja-gang was emanating. So she had no intention of stepping forward yet. Even if Jeon Woong died, it wouldn’t greatly affect Myowol. To be honest, she was more interested in observing Jin Ja-gang further.

Was it possible to overwhelm an entire group of fifty warriors just by killing a few people?

Even that attitude of muttering as if talking to himself was doubling the killing intent Jin Ja-gang emitted. Anyone would feel fear.

‘Has he reached observational killing intent beyond visual killing intent?’

Rustle.

The slight goosebumps rising on Myowol’s arms proved it.

Jeon Woong had no choice but to step forward when Myowol showed no intention of intervening.

“We just do… as we’re told. The Martial Arts Alliance…”

“Hearing those words makes me feel even more at ease. There’s no antidote anyway.”

“What did you say?”

Jin Ja-gang laughed long while blood dripped from burst capillaries in his eyes, face, and jaw. Now he looked not at Jeon Woong but at all the other Sichuan orthodox faction warriors and said.

“So you can direct your resentment not at me but at the Martial Arts Alliance.”

Jin Ja-gang exploded all his swollen internal energy at once and charged. Several warriors who had been overwhelmed by his aura couldn’t even move and had their throats torn by Jin Ja-gang’s sickles.

Three men clutched their throats and staggered before sitting down. Their throats were half-severed and dangling as they spewed tremendous amounts of blood.

“Huk! Huk!”

After pouring out his internal energy all at once, Jin Ja-gang felt the agony of his entire body crumbling as he placed his hands on his knees and gasped for breath.

Belatedly, the Sichuan warriors shook off their fear and rushed at Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang activated Mad Blood Heaven technique for the second time. Due to consecutive use, his entire body’s qi and blood ruptured, bringing pain so intense his vision turned white. Jin Ja-gang bit his lips to wake himself from the pain.

He lowered his body and stabbed the approaching warrior’s instep with his sickle, then rolled to the side and hooked another warrior’s ankle with his sickle. The moment he pulled the sickle, the ankle and heel were severed and bent grotesquely.

“Uaaaah!”

He stabbed the face of the warrior who was screaming and rolling on the ground with his sickle. The warrior died with his eyes wide open, unable even to close them.

The warriors were startled and stepped back, bringing down their swords and thrusting with spears.

After avoiding a sword, Jin Ja-gang hooked his sickle on the guard between the blade and handle and pulled. The warrior was dragged forward while still gripping his sword. Jin Ja-gang headbutted the warrior’s nose, and when the warrior’s head jerked back, he slit his throat.

Then he rolled on the ground to avoid a spear while stabbing the instep with his sickle and hooking the ankle to sever it. In an instant, three or four men were rolling on the ground. Jin Ja-gang crawled on the ground and methodically stabbed each fallen warrior to death. The poison he had applied to the sickles had already been wiped clean.

Due to the nature of sickles, blood splattered severely when attacking. Jin Ja-gang was quickly drenched in blood. More blood from others splattered on him than the blood flowing from his own burst capillaries.

The ordinary warriors couldn’t properly follow Jin Ja-gang’s movements. This was Jin Ja-gang who had engaged in countless life-and-death battles with masters. Now his movements had become even faster and stronger due to Mad Blood Heaven technique.

In just a short time, more than ten men had already met their deaths.

“Huk, heo-eok!”

Jin Ja-gang gasped for breath again.

When warriors approached to attack during this gap, Jin Ja-gang raised his head and glared at them. When he flashed his killing eyes while drenched in blood, the warriors’ legs went weak momentarily and they couldn’t move.

They were overwhelmed by his aura to a seriously problematic degree. Due to their bodies stiffening, they couldn’t properly display their original skills either.