Chapter 434 – Who Deserves the Bottom of Hell More? (3)

The sharp peak of the mountain, as if piercing the full moon, stood pointing toward the sky like a blade.

Someone suddenly appeared atop the precipitous peak that ordinary people wouldn't dare climb. Descending slowly with robes fluttering like an immortal descended from the moon, it was precisely West Queen Mother Yong Hwa-seol.

The unconscious Namgung In-hu was draped over her shoulder. Leaving Nok Su-bing alone at the mountain's base, she had ascended to the peak with him using aerial walking.

Landing at the summit, Yong Hwa-seol roughly threw Namgung In-hu onto the small flat area. From that shock, Namgung In-hu regained his lost consciousness.

Barely opening his eyes, he recognized Yong Hwa-seol.

"West… Queen Mother?"

"It's been a while, Great Hero Namgung."

"How are you here? No, more than that, the Fist Demon……"

"I took custody of you from him."

Yong Hwa-seol's answering voice was colder than ice. Only then did Namgung In-hu recognize his situation.

His body was utterly devastated. His internal organs were nearly crushed, and major meridians were severed or damaged. The fact he was still breathing was only thanks to his profound internal energy, in reality, he was as good as dead.

Namgung In-hu realized Yong Hwa-seol had taken some measure with him. And that it wasn't out of concern for him.

His already pale complexion turned even whiter.

"Don't tell me you…?"

"That's right. I want to get answers from you."

"It's useless. You won't be able to obtain any answers from me. Don't you know that well?"

"No, I don't. And I'm confident I can definitely get answers from you."

"West Queen Mother."

Namgung In-hu's pupils wavered.

Yong Hwa-seol's eyes were sharper than blades, and her voice was colder than North Sea ice.

No matter what anyone said, she was a member of the Four Divine Emperors. One of the four strongest people in the world. An absolute martial artist who had reached the ultimate realm in a woman's body.

If Namgung In-hu's physical condition had been normal, he might have been able to endure to some degree, but in his worst state now, he absolutely couldn't handle her.

"You appeared at truly an exquisite moment."

"Because I was waiting."

"Ha!"

"Where is 'he'?"

"I have no idea what West Queen Mother is talking about."

"Let's not do this."

"What do you mean?"

"Just as Great Hero Namgung knows me well, I also know you well. Let's not waste each other's mental energy."

"……"

"Just tell me 'his' whereabouts. Then I'll leave you and quietly withdraw."

"Stop your futile efforts. I know nothing."

"People are truly fascinating. Their character doesn't change until death. I thought Great Hero Namgung would be the same."

"Then you understand well. That there's nothing you can obtain from my mouth."

"Normally, that would be true."

Yong Hwa-seol's eyes swept over Namgung In-hu's entire body. Instantly, Namgung In-hu felt cold sweat flowing over his whole body.

"Don't tell me?"

"I've endured a lot until now. For his sake, and respecting his will. I endured, and endured again, persevering until today. I thought my patience had no limits. But I realized. Ultimately, everything has an end, and my patience had also reached its limit."

"But you promised!"

"You all created an atmosphere where I had no choice. Under the pretext of the greater good for the world."

"However……"

"I've watched your actions for the past several decades. But no matter how favorably I view them, I don't think your actions are truly for the world."

Crack!

Everything around seemed to freeze at her frosty voice. Indeed, Namgung In-hu was feeling extreme cold. Though he couldn't distinguish whether it was from her cold anger or his body temperature dropping before death.

Yong Hwa-seol grasped Namgung In-hu's pulse point. Then hellish cold poured into him through his blood vessels.

Namgung In-hu's eyes bulged. His mouth involuntarily gaped open from the terrible pain he was experiencing for the first time in his life.

Looking into Namgung In-hu's eyes, Yong Hwa-seol quietly continued:

"What I learned from watching the Fist Demon is that violence used at the right time and place is more efficient than any other method."

"Urgh!"

Finally, a groan leaked through Namgung In-hu's lips.

The shadow of death was falling over his eyes, and Yong Hwa-seol stared directly into them. Then she said indifferently:

"If you won't answer, I'll mercilessly kill the last survivors of the Namgung family that the Fist Demon is protecting."

"Th-that's……"

Instantly, Namgung In-hu's pupils wavered. And Yong Hwa-seol didn't miss his wavering.

"You don't want the Namgung family to disappear from the world like this either, do you?"

"Urrgh!"

Under the moonlight, Namgung In-hu's screams only grew louder.

***

"What on earth?"

Though Yong Hwa-seol and Namgung In-hu had disappeared long ago, Namgung Yeong-hwi still hadn't escaped confusion. The same was true for Namgung Seon-hwi.

Though they seemed rather composed having experienced much hardship, fundamentally they were still children who needed someone's protection. The events that occurred last night were too tremendous for them to handle.

The appearance of Namgung In-hu who revealed himself as a family elder, his fight with Dam Ho, and the dramatic appearance of the living legend Yong Hwa-seol. Too many tremendous things had happened in one night for a small child's heart and mind to handle. So they were still confused and afraid.

Fear that hadn't been seen before was heavily cast in Namgung Seon-hwi's eyes as he looked at Dam Ho standing to one side.

He had known Dam Ho was frightening. Having already seen him fight, he thought he knew well enough how terrifying he was. But the moment he saw the fight with Namgung In-hu, he realized what he knew about Dam Ho was merely the tip of the iceberg.

Dam Ho was more frightening than he had vaguely imagined. So much so that even the Four Divine Emperors of the world didn't dare treat him carelessly and had to make requests.

Despite such a fierce battle, Dam Ho appeared completely unperturbed. He still stood like a statue without any change of expression. That appearance felt even more frightening. So he couldn't look at him directly.

Then there was a warm touch grasping his hand. It was Namgung Yeong-hwi.

Though he had become a bit more mature, he was still the younger brother he had to protect.

"Yeong-hwi. Don't worry. Brother will protect you."

"Yes!"

Namgung Yeong-hwi nodded vigorously.

'Right! Now I'll just focus on protecting Yeong-hwi. Everything else is a luxury for me.'

He decided to forget both Namgung In-hu being defeated by Dam Ho and being taken by Yong Hwa-seol.

Anyway, until today he hadn't even known Namgung In-hu existed. They were worse than strangers, so there was no reason for affection to develop now.

Above all, his instinct was telling him nothing good would come from associating with Namgung In-hu.

He was someone who hadn't shown himself even when the Namgung family was annihilated. For such a person to suddenly appear saying he would help rebuild the Namgung family so they should blindly follow him was suspicious from the start. In fact, he had tried to forcibly kidnap him and his brother.

Namgung Seon-hwi couldn't trust anyone. Most people he had met so far had ambiguous good and evil. Some hid malice behind smiling faces, and among those he thought were villains were surprisingly good people.

Young Namgung Seon-hwi still lacked the ability to see through to the true appearance hidden behind their outward faces. Not yet.

'Then it's much better to rely on ahjussi. At least ahjussi's outside and inside are the same.'

It was when Namgung Seon-hwi bit his lip hard. Bang Jin-bo came running breathlessly from the inn's main building that still maintained its form, shouting:

"I paid everything. We can go now."

"Did you really pay everything?"

Bang Jin-bo had spoken to Dam Ho, but Namgung Yeong-hwi answered. But Bang Jin-bo nodded as if it didn't matter.

"Yes!"

"It must have cost a lot of money."

"I have that much. Don't worry."

Bang Jin-bo smiled and stroked Namgung Yeong-hwi's head.

His gaze turned toward the completely collapsed separate building.

Due to last night's incident, the separate building collapsed and the innkeeper suffered enormous losses. To rebuild the collapsed building and endure until customers returned would require much money, but the innkeeper couldn't possibly have that much.

The innkeeper was as good as completely ruined. Like a bolt from the blue. Bang Jin-bo proposed to the owner that he would take over the inn. And he actually paid quite a lot of money to acquire it.

"Brother, didn't you waste money on something pointless?"

"We can't let innocent people suffer losses because of us."

"But still……"

"It's okay. If it comes to it, I can retire from the martial world later and run an inn here."

Bang Jin-bo looked at the half-collapsed inn.

Now that inn belonged to Bang Jin-bo. Though he couldn't return here right away, he could come back someday and reopen the inn. He had acquired it with that mindset.

Bang Jin-bo looked at Dam Ho.

"Brother, can you wait a bit? The innkeeper said he'd pack some rice balls."

"……"

"Hehe! I'm fine. Though I spent all the money I'd saved bit by bit, at least now I have my own inn."

Until Bang Jin-bo returned, the former owner would continue operating the inn. That was their contract.

Though it was impulsively done, Bang Jin-bo didn't regret it. And Dam Ho also supported Bang Jin-bo's decision.

Bang Jin-bo's future had to be created by Bang Jin-bo himself. If he gradually became independent like this, someday he would be able to walk his own path.

Dam Ho no longer worried about Bang Jin-bo. He was steadily growing as both a martial artist and an adult. Further involvement would only hinder his growth.

Dam Ho's gaze turned toward the Namgung brothers.

The Namgung brothers appeared hesitant. They still wore expressions of fear toward Dam Ho. Expecting the same from them as from Bang Jin-bo was still too much.

Dam Ho spoke to the Namgung brothers.

"You two."

"Yes?"

"Yes!"

The Namgung brothers answered simultaneously.

"From today, learn martial arts from Jin-bo."

"What do you mean?"

"Huh?"

The Namgung brothers tilted their heads simultaneously.

"Sparring with Jin-bo will teach you things."

"Ah!"

Only then did the Namgung brothers nod as if understanding. Conversely, Bang Jin-bo wore a troubled expression.

"Brother? But I……"

"The Namgung family's martial arts have depth."

"Huh?"

"Sparring with those children will teach you things too."

As the saying goes, teaching is learning.

To teach others, one needed to carefully review what one possessed.

The same was true for sparring. To spar well with others, one had to coolly assess one's own capabilities. What Bang Jin-bo needed now was also to properly assess his own capabilities.

Though the Namgung brothers' abilities were pitiful, fighting them would still teach Bang Jin-bo much.

"Understood. I'll do that."

Bang Jin-bo's answer was spirited.

Traveling with Dam Ho, he occasionally received incomprehensible orders. But looking back after time passed, Dam Ho's words were always right. Though the means or process were extremely extreme, they always produced the best results. That's why Bang Jin-bo trusted Dam Ho.

Bang Jin-bo looked at the Namgung brothers.

"I won't use internal energy. You can use yours."

"But……"

"It's okay! That much is fine."

"Understood."

"Begin. Come at me!"

Bang Jin-bo beckoned them with his finger. Then the Namgung brothers simultaneously rushed at Bang Jin-bo.

"Hyaaat!"

"Haap!"

Their battle cries echoed through the inn's courtyard.

Dam Ho stood in place quietly watching them fight. For what was supposedly children's sparring, their match was unbelievably fierce.

Their sparring continued until the innkeeper brought rice balls. And it would continue throughout the remaining journey.

Dam Ho's gaze turned skyward.

Like the flow of the era, clouds were flowing rapidly. ​

Jin Ja-gang raised his Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art to the Eighth Light Level.

The Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit roared from within Jin Ja-gang.

KRAAAAAAAAH!

Jin Ja-gang’s face contorted as demonic energy momentarily burst from his eyes.

The demonic energy soon subsided, but Ga Mu-ru’s fighting spirit grew stronger in response to it.

The Three Supremes of the martial world.

How long could he fight against Thunder Emperor, one of them?

However, there was no fear.

Jin Ja-gang drew two short clubs from his back.

When the ends of the clubs struck each other, they made a clacking sound as blades sprang out.

Folding Sickle Blades.

Jin Ja-gang grasped the blade of a Folding Sickle Blade with his hand and pressed his palm against the blade edge as he pulled.

SLASH!

Along with blood, clear liquid coated the blade of the Folding Sickle Blade.

The absolute poison containing King of Hell’s annihilation essence, Asura Blood!

In experience, martial arts application, and perhaps even the Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit’s internal energy, he might be insufficient against Ga Mu-ru.

However, once would be enough.

If Jin Ja-gang’s Asura Blood merely grazed Ga Mu-ru once, Ga Mu-ru would find himself in a fatal situation.

Ga Mu-ru’s eyes gleamed as he recognized Asura Blood.

Having experienced countless battles, he could instinctively sense danger. Yet he too showed no fear.

“Come!”

Ga Mu-ru gripped his great sword and shouted.

Simultaneously, Jin Ja-gang rushed at Ga Mu-ru. Holding Folding Sickle Blades in both hands, he drew needles from between his fingers with Heaven and Earth Defeating Palm and pushed with his middle finger to shoot two poison needles. Ga Mu-ru deflected the needles with the side of his great sword.

Jin Ja-gang lowered his body and spun like a top while slashing at Ga Mu-ru’s shin. He didn’t need to cut deep to sever the ankle. Just grazing would cause poisoning. There was that much leeway in distance.

Ga Mu-ru’s eyes widened. His pupils contracted extremely and his lips curved upward.

As if he was enjoying the situation!

Then, without avoiding Jin Ja-gang’s Folding Sickle Blade, he raised his great sword high and brought it straight down.

KUUUUUU! The great sword carrying a thousand catties of weight fell as if it would pierce through Jin Ja-gang’s head and torso.

If left as is, Ga Mu-ru would certainly lose one leg. No matter how strong Ga Mu-ru was, he wouldn’t be able to withstand Asura Blood.

However, Jin Ja-gang would die. His head and torso would be crushed and pierced by the great sword.

Yet Jin Ja-gang didn’t dodge. Instead, he extended his arm further.

He slid the handle of the Folding Sickle Blade to grip it longer. Instead of the shin, he aimed for Ga Mu-ru’s groin and swept the Folding Sickle Blade upward.

SHUAAAK!

If the groin rather than the leg was cut, Asura Blood would go straight up to the internal organs.

Once the red extinction flowers began blooming, even Ga Mu-ru couldn’t escape death!

Ga Mu-ru was smiling.

Jin Ja-gang also bared his teeth in a grin.

Their weapons crossed almost simultaneously in vertical trajectories.

KWAAAAAAAH!

The ground shook as dust clouds rose.

Ga Mu-ru’s great sword was embedded deep in the ground, and Jin Ja-gang’s arm was raised completely to the sky.

A difference of merely half a chi.

By half a chi, Ga Mu-ru’s great sword and Jin Ja-gang’s Folding Sickle Blade missed each other.

Though it didn’t directly touch the great sword, a long vertical wound appeared on Jin Ja-gang’s face from the wind pressure.

SPLURT! Blood spurted.

The fabric between Ga Mu-ru’s thigh and groin was sharply cut away.

Neither struck first.

Jin Ja-gang immediately laid his body down while kicking Ga Mu-ru’s knees with both feet. Ga Mu-ru twisted the embedded great sword sideways. Ga Mu-ru’s forearm swelled greatly as his muscles tensed. The great sword embedded deep in the ground turned sideways, pushing away dirt. Jin Ja-gang’s feet kicked the side of the great sword.

THUD THUD THUD!

Ga Mu-ru’s body shook but didn’t budge an inch. Ga Mu-ru twisted and lifted the great sword embedded in the ground. Jin Ja-gang rolled his body to the side. The dirt floor was carved in a long line as semicircular blade energy extended straight out.

Jin Ja-gang continuously threw needles while rolling. Ga Mu-ru turned his body diagonally to block the needles with his armor.

TING TING TING!

In the brief gap, Ga Mu-ru stamped his foot.

WHOOSH! Ga Mu-ru’s body disappeared.

KAAAAAH! The Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit warned. Jin Ja-gang heightened all his senses.

Ga Mu-ru appeared behind Jin Ja-gang. Ga Mu-ru’s great sword slashed silently.

SLAAASH! The great sword penetrated Jin Ja-gang’s body. Jin Ja-gang’s body was split by the great sword. The afterimage divided into two branches and scattered.

Ga Mu-ru’s eyes quickly swept left and right. Jin Ja-gang’s afterimage appeared on the left. Ga Mu-ru incredibly lightly swung his great sword to cut Jin Ja-gang’s waist.

But that was also an afterimage.

Jin Ja-gang struck down with his Folding Sickle Blade from above Ga Mu-ru’s head.

Reverse Afterimage Soul-Confusion Technique!

Ga Mu-ru bent his waist sideways while raising the broad face of his great sword to block.

Jin Ja-gang continuously struck down with his Folding Sickle Blade.

CLANG CLANG! CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Sparks flew from the blood lines etched like comb teeth on the sword face.

Ga Mu-ru kicked straight up.

THWACK! Jin Ja-gang was hit in the stomach and floated upward. However, Ga Mu-ru also frowned. Ga Mu-ru couldn’t attack Jin Ja-gang and hesitated momentarily.

The pain from broken ribs briefly stopped Ga Mu-ru.

Jin Ja-gang threw a Folding Sickle Blade. Ga Mu-ru deflected the Folding Sickle Blade with the handle of his great sword. In midair, Jin Ja-gang extended Asura Sutra to pull back the deflected Folding Sickle Blade. The returning Folding Sickle Blade aimed for Ga Mu-ru’s shoulder. Simultaneously, Jin Ja-gang struck at the side of Ga Mu-ru’s neck with the opposite Folding Sickle Blade.

Strength entered Ga Mu-ru’s hands gripping the great sword. Tendons stood out prominently on the back of his hands.

Ga Mu-ru ignored the Folding Sickle Blades flying from left and right and swung his great sword widely. Not cutting with the blade edge, but like fanning with the broad sword face!

WHOOOOOOSH!

Tremendous wind pressure arose and blew Jin Ja-gang away.

Jin Ja-gang rolled on the ground, stood up, then bent his waist. Right afterward, Ga Mu-ru’s blade energy flew and horizontally split the heaven and earth above Jin Ja-gang’s head.

The crouched Jin Ja-gang shot poison needles again.

Flash Severance! A fast straight flash flew toward Ga Mu-ru’s eyes. Ga Mu-ru brought down his great sword to emit blade energy while crushing the poison needle. Semicircular blade energy scraped the ground as it flew toward Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang raised his right hand upward with all his might. While being blown by the blade wind, Asura Sutra he had laid on the ground wrapped around Ga Mu-ru’s ankle. Ga Mu-ru lifted his body and spun while bringing down his great sword to consecutively release three blade energies. Flying faster than the previous blade energy, when they reached Jin Ja-gang, all four blade energies had become the same speed.

Massive blade energy flew in, dividing Jin Ja-gang’s frontal view into several sections. This time there was absolutely no corner to dodge. Jin Ja-gang drew out five strands of Asura Sutra, grasped the ends with both hands, and held them up front to block. He had no choice but to trust craftsman Beon-u’s words that even sword energy could be blocked.

BOOOOOONG!

Three blade energies struck the Asura Sutra and one split Jin Ja-gang’s chest.

ZZZZZT!

The sparks of deflected lightning burned Jin Ja-gang’s flesh and hair.

Jin Ja-gang’s organs were shaken by the impact as he spat blood and flew backward. He dropped both the Folding Sickle Blades and Asura Sutra threads he was holding. The Thousand-Year Turtle Shell on his stomach and chest burned black, crumbling as pieces flew off.

The blade energy that struck Jin Ja-gang still had power left as it continued to split the river water, creating water sprays.

Jin Ja-gang stood up, bleeding through his teeth.

Wind blew as Ga Mu-ru grabbed Jin Ja-gang’s head with one hand and lifted him up. Grip strength strong enough to crush even rocks squeezed his head.

Jin Ja-gang kicked the dented area in Ga Mu-ru’s armor.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Though Ga Mu-ru flinched from having his broken ribs kicked, the armor prevented major impact. Jin Ja-gang placed his finger on Ga Mu-ru’s wrist holding his head and pressed down.

Wudang’s Inch Force!

Ga Mu-ru released his hand and retreated like lightning.

Jin Ja-gang’s fingertip pressed empty space.

BOOOOM!

Space exploded. Sand and dirt from the riverbank scattered explosively, obscuring Jin Ja-gang and Ga Mu-ru’s vision.

Jin Ja-gang stepped down to the ground then used the rebound to spring up and kick Ga Mu-ru’s chin with his knee. Ga Mu-ru blocked the knee with his forearm. Jin Ja-gang repeatedly kicked Ga Mu-ru’s broken rib area with his opposite leg.

CLANG! CLAAANG!

The armor rang as Ga Mu-ru’s eyes contorted. Ga Mu-ru tilted his head back slightly then struck Jin Ja-gang’s head with his own forehead.

THWACK!

Jin Ja-gang sat down hard on his buttocks.

Ga Mu-ru tried to strike the seated Jin Ja-gang with his great sword but staggered.

Jin Ja-gang threw his body forward as if diving while drawing long needles from between his fingers. Then he stabbed at the top of Ga Mu-ru’s foot. Ga Mu-ru staggered while stepping backward. Jin Ja-gang followed Ga Mu-ru, continuously stabbing at his feet.

STAB STAB STAB!

Thinking he couldn’t keep retreating, Ga Mu-ru stamped his foot hard and took one large step backward.

Jin Ja-gang had been waiting for that moment.

Jin Ja-gang took a long breath then gritted his teeth. He grabbed and raised the scattered Asura Sutra threads, extending them forward. Along with this, he drew up his maximum internal energy and poured the full power of Inch Force into the Asura Sutra.

The explosive energy of Inch Force made the Asura Sutra threads dance wildly. Like living things, the Asura Sutra threads whirled madly in front of Jin Ja-gang.

Asura World Annihilation Soul!

SWAAAAAAAASH!

The Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit’s form dwelt in the Asura Sutra’s whirling. Asura Sutra covered Ga Mu-ru like a tidal wave. Asura Sutra could easily cover a range of over ten zhang. Even if Ga Mu-ru retreated, it would fly faster to engulf him.

If scratched even once, just once, Asura Blood couldn’t be avoided!

Ga Mu-ru’s clothes instantly swelled. He explosively drew up internal energy in one moment. Lightning crackled at the tip of his great sword.

Ga Mu-ru raised his great sword high then brought it down like lightning.

Lightning Blade, One Blade Conquers the World!

ZZZZZZT!

Lightning Blade burned through half of the Asura Sutra whirl and cut in. Countless sparks flew as smoke rose.

KIIIIIIIIING! The Asura Sutra whirl scraped against Lightning Blade, producing ghostly wails. Without retreating an inch, Asura Sutra and Lightning Blade continued scraping against each other.

The internal energy of Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art Eighth Lights Level surged endlessly from all of Jin Ja-gang’s energy channels. Sweat thoroughly soaked his whole body. The soaked sweat instantly evaporated, leaving white salt residue.

His hair fluttered and clothes billowed.

The power of Asura World Annihilation Soul and One Blade Conquers the World were nearly equal.

No, Ga Mu-ru still had strength remaining. Ga Mu-ru stepped forward once more and swung his blade again.

KWOOONG! The power of One Blade Conquers the World increased another level, pushing back Jin Ja-gang’s Asura World Annihilation Soul.

Like a tightly condensed round bud blooming in one instant, Lightning Blade broke through Asura World Annihilation Soul.

KWADDDDDD!

The powerless Asura Sutra fluttered in midair.

In midair…

In midair!

Ga Mu-ru immediately looked up.

Jin Ja-gang had come right in front of him. Jin Ja-gang’s afterimages were lined up in succession, having leaped over the space where Asura World Annihilation Soul and One Blade Conquers the World had collided.

Wudang’s secret technique, Reverse Afterimage Soul-Confusion Technique!

Jin Ja-gang’s nose bled from overexerting his internal energy. Drops of blood flew backward.

Having unleashed powerful ultimate techniques twice in succession, Ga Mu-ru’s internal energy flow must also be disrupted!

However, Ga Mu-ru stepped forward again from that state. As he stepped forward, his great sword swung along with it. One Blade Conquers the World was deployed once more.

Monster.

Truly a monster.

Ga Mu-ru seemed to possess endless internal energy.

Even Jin Ja-gang was momentarily speechless.