Chapter 188: Grudges Accumulate Unknowingly (1)

Cho Yeon-woon raised his head and surveyed his surroundings.

He was currently on a desolate highway. All that could be seen was barren earth and a yellow sky.

The bleak landscape weighed down the hearts of Cho Yeon-woon and his fellow disciples.

"Hah!"

Cho Yeon-woon let out a sigh.

It had been over four months since they had begun searching for the Demonic Cult's stronghold in the northern Central Plains. In that time, they had scoured every corner of Shanxi Province. But nowhere had they found anything that could be called the Demonic Cult's base.

Because of this, Cho Yeon-woon and his disciples were thoroughly exhausted.

Beside him, disciple Jeong Gyeon-hwi called softly.

"Senior Brother?"

"What?"

"Should we not return now?"

"I am not sure."

"No matter how I think about it, searching Shanxi further will yield nothing. If after all this we have found nothing, then it simply is not in Shanxi."

"I think the same. But we cannot simply return of our own accord, so it is frustrating."

Under normal circumstances, they would have been exchanging casual jokes. But the long, endless journey had worn them down, robbing them of even their humor.

It was then.

"Senior Brother!"

Sang Gwan-su, the youngest among the group, called out.

"What is it?"

"Over there?"

Sang Gwan-su pointed toward the sky.

A hawk circled overhead.

Cho Yeon-woon's eyes lit up.

"A messenger hawk?"

He extended his hand toward the sky. The hawk descended like an arrow and perched upon his forearm.

A small message tube was attached to the hawk's leg. Inside was a tiny, rolled-up letter.

As Cho Yeon-woon read the letter, his expression grew grave.

Jeong Gyeon-hwi asked.

"What is it, Senior Brother?"

"We are to join the Shouzhou Branch immediately."

"Shouzhou?"

"Yes. It seems the Shouzhou Branch has become a target of the Demonic Cult. We are ordered to reinforce their defenses."

"The situation must be more serious than we thought."

"It seems many have already died. We must steel ourselves."

"Do not worry, Senior Brother. We are disciples of the White Cloud Manor. We steeled ourselves long ago."

"Yes!"

As Cho Yeon-woon nodded…

On the opposite side of the highway, a group of people was approaching.

Dust covered their heads and shoulders, suggesting they had come a long way.

They were pulling two baggage carts and appeared to be an escort company or a group of merchants passing through.

"Senior Brother?"

"Step aside and let them pass."

"Understood."

At Cho Yeon-woon's command, Jeong Gyeon-hwi ordered the disciples to move to one side of the road. The apparent leader of the approaching group raised a hand in a slight salute of gratitude.

Cho Yeon-woon also bowed his head slightly in return.

Rumble!

The sound of cart wheels echoed along the highway.

Cho Yeon-woon stood to one side, watching the passing figures with dispassionate eyes.

All wore broad-brimmed hats and raincoats, with ornately carved sword sheaths hanging at their waists.

On one of the carts they pulled, a man lay alone, his face covered by his hat. He appeared to be asleep, paying no attention to Cho Yeon-woon's party.

As Cho Yeon-woon watched the man in the hat, he felt as though a needle were piercing his brow.

'What is this?'

Immediately after, a faint scent of blood刺激 his nostrils.

Cho Yeon-woon's face hardened.

At that moment, the man on the cart raised his hand. The cart and its escort halted.

He sat up and looked at Cho Yeon-woon. His voice drifted from beneath the hat.

"You have good instincts."

"You?"

"Tch! I would have let you pass, had things been different."

Cho Yeon-woon shouted to his disciples.

"Everyone, be on guard!"

Hearing his voice, the disciples quickly retreated and assumed defensive postures against the strangers.

The man in the hat shook his head and descended from the cart.

Cho Yeon-woon glared at him.

"Who are you?"

"You would not know even if I told you. I am a newcomer to the martial world."

The man removed his hat. A handsome face was revealed.

Fine features, firmly set lips, and sharp eyes were laid bare for all to see.

The moment Cho Yeon-woon saw the man's face, he felt a chill run down his spine. The aura emanating from the man's body made him tense.

The man smiled.

"But I shall make an exception for you. My name is Jo Ja-gyeong."

"Jo Ja-gyeong?"

"Now, won't you reveal your name?"

"My name is Cho Yeon-woon."

"Crooked Cloud Dragon?"

"You know me?"

"You are more of a figure than I expected. To meet you here of all places."

The man who had identified himself as Jo Ja-gyeong wore a slightly troubled expression. But a smile soon returned to his face.

"Since we have met regardless, it cannot be helped. I have long wished to test myself against one of the Nine Dragons. Crooked Cloud Dragon would be a worthy substitute."

His voice carried killing intent.

Cho Yeon-woon's brow furrowed.

"The Dem… onic Cult?"

He had spoken the words without thinking. Jo Ja-gyeong did not deny them.

"I am Jo Ja-gyeong, Captain of the Heaven Overturning Division of the New Cult."

"And?"

"Our meeting was a coincidence, but I wish to settle things with you. I have heard so much about you and the Nine Dragons."

Jo Ja-gyeong laughed.

The blood scent that Cho Yeon-woon had detected was emanating from Jo Ja-gyeong. He had killed so many that the scent had naturally permeated his body.

Cho Yeon-woon gritted his teeth.

"Heaven Overturning? A bold name."

"You will learn whether it is bold or not through experience."

Jo Ja-gyeong smiled and advanced toward Cho Yeon-woon.

A powerful killing intent washed over Cho Yeon-woon. It was strong enough to make even those at the peak of martial arts falter. But Cho Yeon-woon did not flinch in the slightest.

This level of killing intent was nothing.

He had met someone whose killing intent was several times greater. Having experienced that, he could move naturally even under terrifying pressure. But his disciples could not.

Overwhelmed by Jo Ja-gyeong's killing intent, the disciples stood rigid, frozen in place.

Cho Yeon-woon shouted.

"Everyone, snap out of it!"

His lion's roar awakened the disciples' minds.

In that instant, Jo Ja-gyeong's subordinates charged at Cho Yeon-woon's disciples.

As if that were a signal, Cho Yeon-woon and Jo Ja-gyeong clashed.

Shing!

Jo Ja-gyeong's sword cleaved through space.

With no form, no technique—it merely cut the shortest distance. Yet this simple swordplay was chillingly sharp.

Cho Yeon-woon was driven relentlessly backward. Jo Ja-gyeong never relinquished the advantage once gained.

His sword, like a viper, sought Cho Yeon-woon's vital points.

Shing!

The sword wind that sliced skin made Cho Yeon-woon wince.

'This fellow—his sword path is alive.'

Even in that instant, Jo Ja-gyeong's sword was hurtling toward Cho Yeon-woon's brow.

Sword and Body as One.

Yet he used none of the extreme techniques like sword energy or sword force that consumed qi. It was an extraordinarily efficient and extreme form of swordsmanship.

It was not a sword art that could be learned by endlessly repeating forms. It was a style that had been naturally ingrained through countless battles and bloody fights.

As though reading Cho Yeon-woon's thoughts, Jo Ja-gyeong spoke coldly.

"They call it the Battle Sword Style."

Shing!

But the sword did not stop.

The Demonic Cult's history spanned over a thousand years. During that long age, countless branch schools had risen and fallen within the Cult.

The Battle Sword Style was one of those that had survived for over a millennium. That was how unique and powerful it was.

In the Battle Sword Style, there were no fixed forms or rigid sword paths. At each moment, the sword was wielded according to the situation, and one survived.

The more one survived, the stronger one became, and those who survived to the end carved their names into the history of the Demonic Cult.

Jo Ja-gyeong was the current successor of the Battle Sword Style.

His sword was merciless and terrifying. Wounds appeared across Cho Yeon-woon's body.

From shallow cuts on the skin to deeper gashes, the variety was wide.

"Hmph!"

But Cho Yeon-woon showed no sign of weakening and scoffed.

If Jo Ja-gyeong was the successor of the Battle Sword Style, then he possessed the Eight Desolation Divine Fist. And the successor of the Eight Desolation Divine Fist never retreated.

"Hyah!"

He unleashed the ultimate technique of the Eight Desolation Divine Fist.

Boom!

For the first time, fist and sword collided.

With a thunderous roar, the two bodies lurched.

Both must have sustained considerable damage, yet neither yielded an inch.

"Not bad."

"You are the same."

Their sword and fist clashed once more.

Clang!

A steel sword and a flesh-and-blood fist collided, and the sound of metal rang out.

"Hyah!"

Cho Yeon-woon unleashed the Eight Desolation Divine Fist's ultimate technique—Eight Desolation Myriad Strikes.

A blow carrying the weight of ten thousand loads.

CRASH!

A metallic ring unlike anything before sent Jo Ja-gyeong's body skidding backward. Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth. He had sustained some internal injuries.

But Cho Yeon-woon's complexion was no better. He too could feel his qi and blood surging and was desperately trying to calm them.

Jo Ja-gyeong had used neither sword energy nor sword force, yet his blade carried an aura similar to a penetrating technique.

A penetrating technique executed with a sword? It was an unheard-of martial art.

Swish!

Jo Ja-gyeong's body lightly kicked off the ground.

As he approached in a wide arc, his sword released a crescent-shaped wave of sword energy.

Crescent Moon Strike.

A sword energy unique to the Battle Sword Style, distinct from ordinary sword energy.

Crash!

"Kuh!"

For the first time, a strangled groan escaped Cho Yeon-woon's lips. It was as though he had been struck by a massive iron hammer—his entire body ached.

He had neutralized it with the Eight Desolation Divine Fist's ultimate technique, yet the impact was still this severe.

Cho Yeon-woon staggered for a moment. But he quickly forced his qi under control and charged at Jo Ja-gyeong.

"Hyah!"

The ultimate techniques of the Eight Desolation Divine Fist erupted in rapid succession.

Eight Desolation Subduing Demon, Eight Desolation Invincibility.

Boom! Boom! Crash!

Successive thunderous sounds tore through the air.

A storm-like surge of energy swept in all directions, and shattered stone fragments flew like hidden weapons.

The two fought as though maddened.

They fought, and fought again, burning everything they had.

Their entire bodies were drenched in blood. Yet neither retreated.

They were truly like demons driven mad by battle.

Slash!

Bang!

Cho Yeon-woon's side was deeply slashed, and Jo Ja-gyeong was sent hurtling backward as though struck by a boulder.

The wounds were severe enough that both collapsed and could not move.

"Senior Brother!"

"Captain!"

Cho Yeon-woon's disciples and the Heaven Overturning Division's fighters rushed to their sides.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“You say to try everything with words, yet you’re hiding a blade behind your back.”

Taoist Bok-cheon understood the meaning of Jin Ja-gang’s words and threw away even the tree branch he had been holding in his hand.

“Just because I have nothing in my hands, would Qingcheng’s sword techniques become laughable?”

This was precisely the situation Jin Ja-gang had most wanted.

From the beginning, Jin Ja-gang had no chance of winning against Taoist Bok-cheon.

When he couldn’t even properly break through Woon-jeong’s sonic techniques, how could he possibly defeat Woon-jeong’s master, Taoist Bok-cheon?

However, Jin Ja-gang had something he absolutely needed to request from Taoist Bok-cheon.

To obtain the remaining profound mysteries of the Jade Void Nine Light Five Thunder Toad Technique, he needed to meet Dark Venerable Master, the sect leader of Qingcheng Sect. If he gave up just because a line had been drawn before his eyes, there was no telling when the next opportunity would come.

Therefore, Jin Ja-gang found the only way he could win and threw his decisive gambit.

Wouldn’t Taoist Bok-cheon, a master second to none in Qingcheng Sect, be unable to avoid the challenge of a greenhorn like Jin Ja-gang?

He had even made him throw away his tree branch!

“Go ahead and try to your heart’s content!”

“I’ve already…”

Jin Ja-gang slightly lowered his body and raised his internal energy.

“Begun.”

“Very well. I’ll receive it!”

Taoist Bok-cheon opened his eyes wide and watched what Jin Ja-gang was doing.

A young whelp who was no match at all.

Taoist Bok-cheon had accepted his challenge.

However, Jin Ja-gang didn’t begin his attack as quickly as Taoist Bok-cheon had expected. The first move belonged to Jin Ja-gang, and until Jin Ja-gang made his move, Taoist Bok-cheon would absolutely never move first.

In that case, Jin Ja-gang could take sufficient time to draw out the maximum strength he possessed!

“Ugh… Uaaaaah!”

Jin Ja-gang circulated his internal energy using Mad Blood Heaven technique. This was something that had been forcibly implanted in Jin Ja-gang, so it was still a shackle he couldn’t escape.

Pop, pop pop.

As the internal energy containing poison energy in Jin Ja-gang’s qi and blood ran wild, capillaries began bursting.

Thud thud.

His right eye also gradually filled with blood.

Taoist Bok-cheon recognized Jin Ja-gang’s technique at a glance.

Mad Blood Heaven technique was originally an assassin’s method for facing masters several times stronger than oneself.

He knew its power was not low.

However, he instantly grasped that this level couldn’t stand against him.

“Tsk tsk tsk. What a foolish thing to do. Doing such things will only lead to your own destruction.”

Taoist Bok-cheon even clicked his tongue leisurely. Right now he could kill Jin Ja-gang with just one finger. But since he had yielded the first move, he had to wait.

“I was thinking of sparing your life, but you were going to die anyway if left alone. I’ll reduce that suffering for you.”

He could see that Mad Blood Heaven technique was gradually reaching its peak and Jin Ja-gang’s body was reaching its limit.

Moreover, since it was only his right side, he could tell how much his body’s balance had collapsed.

Thud thud, thud thud thud.

His qi and blood continued to be damaged and burst, making rupturing sounds like threads snapping. Blood continued to flow, so Jin Ja-gang’s face and right side of his body were covered with blood streaks flowing down like a disgusting web.

Tremble tremble tremble, Jin Ja-gang’s body shook.

“Hmm?”

Taoist Bok-cheon’s eyes narrowed.

Even to the eye, he had already passed his limit. Jin Ja-gang’s right eye had turned bright red and was shedding bloody tears – no, blood like tears!

‘Yet he endures?’

Just when he thought Jin Ja-gang’s eyeball might burst if he continued.

Suddenly the pained expression on Jin Ja-gang’s face, who had been gritting his teeth, faded.

In an instant, Jin Ja-gang’s atmosphere changed.

His body, which had been trembling like an aspen leaf due to the violently rampaging internal energy, calmed down. As his body became composed, the irregular trembling began to pulse regularly like a heartbeat.

‘He suppressed and controlled the internal energy that was raging as if it would tear his body apart in an extreme situation?’

In his right bloodshot eye that had been shedding bloody tears, a clear energy gradually appeared.

A profound mysterious energy that didn’t match his bloodshot eye.

The more Jin Ja-gang’s face found peace, the more Taoist Bok-cheon’s face contorted in contrast.

“This…”

Though not absolute, the light in one’s eyes reveals much about internal energy usage.

For instance, clear spiritual light indicates the purity of internal energy, and the deep, profound mysterious energy that shines is a characteristic mainly shown by Taoist internal cultivation methods.

The fact that mysterious energy suddenly shone from Jin Ja-gang’s bloodshot eyes as his internal energy stabilized, and that Wishful Fairy Maiden Dan Ryeong-gyeong was behind him.

Wasn’t the meaning of these two facts clear?

Toad Technique!

Jin Ja-gang created a whirlpool beneath his right foot just as Taoist Bok-cheon had done. However, the direction of the whirlpool was somewhat puzzling. Rather than rising in a consistent flow, the direction changed unexpectedly in the middle.

The flow created by the whirlpool beneath his feet and the direction of the clothing folds swirling from ankle to knee were different from each other, and the direction his waist sash fluttered was different again.

This was something that could absolutely never happen in ordinary natural phenomena.

Even the small blood streams that flowed out from his ruptured qi and blood were caught up in the whirlpool and splattered frantically in all directions. Small bloody droplets continued to fly, creating a fine bloody mist.

Standing close across the line, Taoist Bok-cheon’s clothes were also splattered with considerable blood.

But blood wasn’t the problem.

Taoist Bok-cheon’s face was extremely contorted. He was so angry that his eyebrows shot up and the tips of his beard trembled. His hair stood on end.

This was because he knew what Jin Ja-gang’s internal energy operation method meant.

The Whirlpool Dam Breaking of Five Thunder Toad Technique!

As Taoist Bok-cheon knew the origins of Five Thunder Toad Technique, he absolutely could not forgive Jin Ja-gang using Five Thunder Toad Technique.

Taoist Bok-cheon ground his teeth so hard they made a grinding sound.

“This damn…”

As unimaginable anger for a Taoist welled up, Taoist Bok-cheon spat out a curse and unconsciously turned his gaze to glare at Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

Killing intent extended strand by strand from Taoist Bok-cheon’s body.

At that moment, Jin Ja-gang, who had been continuously spinning wheels inside his body until then, extended his right fist.

Whoosh.

Though it couldn’t be said he was off guard, since he was caught in a surprise attack while speaking, Taoist Bok-cheon’s breathing became somewhat tangled.

Of course, Taoist Bok-cheon had sufficient ability to handle that level as a supreme master. He quickly inhaled and held half a breath, immediately stopping his breathing and using the breath-stopping technique to instantly draw up his internal energy.

Taoist Bok-cheon extended his left palm to try to block Jin Ja-gang’s fist by wrapping around it… However, just before his palm touched the fist, he folded his ring finger and little finger. He blocked Jin Ja-gang’s fist with only his thumb, index finger, and middle finger. This was because he saw saliva protruding between Jin Ja-gang’s fingers.

Jin Ja-gang’s right fist, which he had pushed forward strongly, collided with Taoist Bok-cheon’s three fingers.

Crack!

The sound of joints twisting and bones dislocating was heard. However, it wasn’t from Taoist Bok-cheon’s gnarled fingers but from Jin Ja-gang’s fist. The finger bones on the little finger and middle finger side of Jin Ja-gang’s fist, which had caught on Taoist Bok-cheon’s fingers, were dislocated and pressed inward.

The saliva barely didn’t touch Taoist Bok-cheon’s palm.

Jin Ja-gang didn’t show his pain and opened his hand. His middle finger and little finger were pressed inward and wouldn’t move. However, he cleverly manipulated his remaining fingers to turn the direction of the saliva.

He grasped the saliva with his thumb and index finger and stabbed at Taoist Bok-cheon’s fingers. Taoist Bok-cheon curled his index finger and flicked it to strike the side of the saliva.

Clang!

The saliva bounced back toward Jin Ja-gang and embedded in Jin Ja-gang’s neck. Jin Ja-gang frowned and grabbed Taoist Bok-cheon’s wrist with his index and ring fingers. It was the Capturing Dragon Strike technique of embedding fingers into the skin.

Taoist Bok-cheon gathered his fingers and pushed Jin Ja-gang’s fingers away in a circle with his hand blade. Jin Ja-gang’s hand failed to grasp Taoist Bok-cheon and only swept through empty air in a circle. It was a basic Grappling technique based on energy transformation. However, for Jin Ja-gang who hadn’t learned the basics, it was inevitably a technique that would always be confusing when he encountered it.

Jin Ja-gang pulled out his hand and bit his pressed middle finger and little finger with his mouth and pulled.

Crack, he dislocated the joints and then fitted his fingers back in. He bit so hard that his teeth embedded in his fingers, and since blood was already splattering, blood flowed freely.

Then he took needles from his sleeve, held them in his hand, and continuously stabbed at Taoist Bok-cheon’s body. Since Taoist Bok-cheon also had his feet planted on the ground, he couldn’t avoid. Taoist Bok-cheon extended his left hand and pushed away Jin Ja-gang’s hand one by one to block.

Since Jin Ja-gang had been attacking with only one hand from the beginning, Taoist Bok-cheon was also defending with only one hand.

Already in the blink of an eye, there had been about ten exchanges of offense and defense.

Surprisingly, Jin Ja-gang was still holding his breath. It was said that if one could deploy sixteen swords in one breath, they would be recognized as a disciple of Qingcheng Sect, and Jin Ja-gang had almost approached that level!

However, it was certain that his breath was almost at a critical point. Jin Ja-gang’s complexion changed and his movements became noticeably slower. Even so, small blood droplets were still floating in the air from his body. This meant he wasn’t pouring out his internal energy all at once but was still continuing to operate it.

Taoist Bok-cheon was suspicious of Jin Ja-gang’s intention, but there was no need to watch any longer. Before ending the third round like this, Taoist Bok-cheon also had to make his move.

Taoist Bok-cheon struck Jin Ja-gang’s chest with his palm like lightning with his left hand. Jin Ja-gang raised his right arm to block his chest. Taoist Bok-cheon ignored it and struck his forearm instead.

Thwack!

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes widened as his body staggered.

“Kugh!”

With a single strike, Jin Ja-gang’s breathing was broken. Jin Ja-gang spat blood. His right arm hung limply against his body, paralyzed and unmoving.

Taoist Bok-cheon continuously struck Jin Ja-gang’s body. He struck his shoulder and hit his elbow and upper arm.

He was using his palm like sword techniques, striking Jin Ja-gang with Qingcheng’s Seventy-Two Wave Sword.

In just a moment, several palm prints were stamped on Jin Ja-gang’s body. Due to the blood flowing from his body, the palm prints remained clearly visible.

Thwack! Thwack!

Every time Taoist Bok-cheon struck with his hand, Jin Ja-gang’s body sprayed blood droplets. Taoist Bok-cheon also had blood splattered over half his body because of Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t endure any longer and raised even his left hand to try to block his body. However, Taoist Bok-cheon continued to strike regardless of whether Jin Ja-gang blocked or not.

Soso screamed as if crying out.

“Kyaaaah!”

Bian Bu held Soso back and stopped her. Jin Ja-gang hadn’t fallen yet. Though they didn’t know if he could win against Taoist Bok-cheon, a master of Qingcheng Sect, they believed he must have some plan.

But at some point, Taoist Bok-cheon stopped with his arm raised.

Woon-jeong’s eyes widened.

“Huh?”

He hadn’t even deployed half of the Seventy-Two Wave Sword. He had only unfolded about twelve swords.

“He, he endured?”

Since Taoist Bok-cheon had stopped his attack, the third round was now over.

“He endured Master’s offensive?”

Woon-jeong was so surprised he couldn’t close his mouth.

Taoist Bok-cheon was looking at his own hand. It was hard to see clearly because so much blood was on it…

Woon-jeong let out another puzzled cry.

“Huh?”

Taoist Bok-cheon’s left palm was torn.

“Whaaat!”

Because his palm was torn, he had been forced to stop the Seventy-Two Wave Sword.

Taoist Bok-cheon frowned with an expression where cold energy emanated chillingly as he looked down at Jin Ja-gang. However, Jin Ja-gang was crouched and on the verge of collapse, yet he was looking at Taoist Bok-cheon and smiling.

Taoist Bok-cheon was incredulous but couldn’t help but keep his promise. Gritting his teeth and trembling with suppressed anger, he spoke through clenched teeth.

“As promised, since you endured without taking a single step, I’ll forgive you.”

“No.”

Jin Ja-gang seemed to have difficulty speaking as he pulled out the needle stuck in his neck. Blood oozed out thickly.

But Jin Ja-gang smiled with his blood-stained face.

“Since I won, you’re the one who must keep the promise, Taoist.”