Chapter 48

<Chronicles of the Martial God's Return – Chapter 48>

“Remove their masks!”

Hong Won-chang shouted, looking down at the masked men who were groaning in captivity.

Although he was filled with the desire to drag them to the county office as they were and make them open their mouths even if through torture, checking their faces was the priority before that.

Several guards hurriedly approached and removed the masks.

“Ugh!”

“Urgh?!”

However, the moment the masks were removed, everyone was taken aback by the faces revealed. It was because their faces were hideously distorted, perhaps to hide their identities.

Their skin was mangled as if they had suffered burns, and their noses were crushed. No matter how one looked at them, their appearance was too wretched to identify.

Not to mention Dan Woo-hyun, even Gwon Mu-jin remained silent.

“How could they do this to a person…”

Namgung So-hye covered her mouth and trembled in fear, unable to hide her shock. She had heard that among those living in the shadows, there were indeed those who did such things without hesitation.

However, seeing it in person, she could not bring herself to look straight at them. Watching this scene was just that difficult.

“Who are you guys, and who gave the order?”

In the meantime, Hong Won-chang composed himself and interrogated them.

He was the one who had to be the calmest in this situation. Since he was in the position of leading the guards, he had to perform such duties.

However, they tightly shut their mouths, and instead cast sneers at Hong Won-chang.

“Tch?!”

“Stop it. They will not open their mouths even if you ask them like that.”

Dan Woo-hyun walked over to one of the men. He appeared to be the leader who gave orders among the attackers.

Meeting the eyes of the man who was bound and kneeling, he quietly observed the look in his eyes.

“You guys do not live in the shadows, do you?”

“!?”

“Those kinds of guys have specific characteristics. Their faces aside, they carry a poison pill hidden on themselves in case of emergency.”

Dan Woo-hyun reached out and searched their robes.

From inside, a small pill emerged.

However, even upon seeing it, Dan Woo-hyun's expression did not change.

“But they do not carry it so clumsily like this. Furthermore, you guys must have known that this mission would absolutely not fail. Since it was merely a matter of dealing with guards.”

Dan Woo-hyun reached out and grabbed the man's chin, blocking his attempt to avoid his gaze beforehand. Soon, murmuring with a thick smile on his lips.

“As expected, your base must be in Changsha.”

“……!”

“I will tell you why I think so. The rumor you heard about the magistrate finding drugs… was spread only in Changsha.”

“Keugh……!”

Dan Woo-hyun had passed the word to only a few people, and artificially spread the rumor only inside Changsha.

Since they had departed with the opium before the rumor could spread outside, the rumor naturally would not have reached other counties yet.

And yet, they had heard the rumor and launched an ambush.

If so, their area of operation was clearly Changsha.

Hearing all of this, Gwon Mu-jin, Jang Sam-tae, and even Hong Won-chang and the guards widened their eyes, unable to hide their astonishment.

They were shocked by the fact that he had acted after calculating all of this.

He was a terrifyingly meticulous man.

“You can know ten things by seeing one. Shall I guess the rest?”

“Ha…! I do not know what you are talking about. Just kill me already!”

He tried to deny it by resisting roughly, but it did not work. Rather, Dan Woo-hyun sneered as he observed the opponent's expression and the look in his eyes.

“It is certain that you came after hearing the rumor spread in Changsha, but no matter how I look at it, you are not the Lower Gate crowd. You are definitely not beggars either. Besides, if you practice such systematic martial arts, wouldn't you be closer to a sect rather than an information organization?”

Dan Woo-hyun spoke while watching the changes in his expression. Although he could not even properly read the changes at first because the face was too hideous, he perceived the look in his eyes, the lips, and the trembling of the body.

“Of course, there might be guys hidden in the shadows, but looking at your skills, I do not think you belong to that side no matter what.”

Drip-!

Cold sweat trickled down.

Gwon Mu-jin and Namgung So-hye, who were watching this whole situation, listened intently to Dan Woo-hyun's words. Because the outline was slowly beginning to reveal itself, little by little.

“So I gave it some thought. The name of the ones supplying the opium is the Three Paths Association… a place that has systematically learned martial arts and can quickly hear the rumors of Changsha. Furthermore, seeing how rapidly they expanded their power after the fall of the Black Dao Association, it was not just one place stepping forward. The name Three Paths Association must also mean that three places joined forces.”

“Die!”

The man quickly threw his hand forward.

That single move, delivered by gathering his final internal energy, attempted to strike Dan Woo-hyun's head directly.

However, simply by moving his head slightly, Dan Woo-hyun lightly dodged it, and his hand shot out like lightning, grabbing the man's throat.

Crack-!

“Keugh!”

The man, whose neck was snapped, was seen hanging limply.

Seeing that, the guards' complexions turned pale.

Dan Woo-hyun, who stood up from his spot, dusted off his hands.

Slightly turning his head, he looked at Namgung So-hye.

Because she would know much more information about Murim.

“Hearing what I have said so far, does any place come to mind?”

“…Yes, there is.”

Namgung So-hye knitted her brows.

Judging by the actions of the dead man just now, it was no exaggeration to say that Dan Woo-hyun's prediction was nine times out of ten accurate.

However, the places matching that description were exactly three, and they were none other than sects affiliated with the Murim Alliance.

That was why she was even angrier.

‘Once again… the shame of the Alliance… is revealed like this…’

Namgung So-hye did not want to admit it.

For once, she had hoped things would go differently from that fellow's expectations. However, this situation, which fit so perfectly, was gradually dragging her into a quagmire.

It was just then that Dan Woo-hyun's voice was heard.

“What is the point of just standing there? We must go.”

“Are you planning to leave everything to me like this?”

“Then what do you expect me to do?”

“The one who disguised himself with that person's face is surely likely to be in one of those three places too, right? Besides, isn't it possible that your guess is wrong?”

“Hmm……”

Dan Woo-hyun let out a short groan.

He was certainly curious.

Why they had disguised themselves with Jang Sam-tae's face, and who had manufactured this terrible opium.

Because he was also beginning to think that they might not have targeted Jang Sam-tae, but rather targeted himself.

Dan Woo-hyun grinned.

“Fine, I will lend a hand. Of course, you must not forget the price for it.”

“Well, that is… thank you.”

Namgung So-hye let out a deep sigh.

However, this man's skill was the real deal.

Considering the time it would take for people to arrive from the Murim Alliance branch and those who would be sacrificed if a battle broke out, going with Dan Woo-hyun was the wisest choice.

‘Even so, I did not expect him to agree this easily.’

Namgung So-hye stole a glance at Dan Woo-hyun.

A person who did not move by the will of others. That was why, even as she made the proposal, she had thought that he might not accept it.

Since it was merely throwing out a suggestion once.

Yet, her request was accepted.

“Then, let's go.”

It was highly surprising, but now was the time to move forward without thinking about other things.

* * *

Gu Gak-jin.

Gu Gak-jin, the Sect Leader of the Seven Horns Sect, bit his lips and looked at the others. In front of him were two other Sect Leaders representing Changsha, and every single one of them was swallowing groans, their displeasure obvious.

Since sending the boys, quite a lot of time had already passed.

Because they were talents raised by the joint forces of the three sects for this kind of work, they had not thought of failure at all, which made this delay extremely strange.

“What on earth happened?”

“There is no way they failed. Just be patient and wait.”

“We know that well too. If they failed against mere guards, what could be more ridiculous than that?”

Although it could not be called simple since it was a matter of breaking through guards, killing the magistrate, and retrieving the opium, the skills of those children were more than enough.

“Kekeke, do not rush so much. They are the children you raised and I made the medicine for. They will arrive soon if you wait, so do not worry.”

Chu Bang-ji.

The old man, called Old Monster Chu, opened the room door, entered, and smiled, revealing his yellow teeth.

He had used a special medicine this time. Although it lasted only for about fifteen minutes, it was a drug that rapidly increased a person's physical abilities.

The children were already highly skilled, and they had even consumed such a drug.

In short, since failure was impossible, he was relaxed.

“Chu Bang-ji, it is not that we do not trust you…”

“Hehehe, what is the reason you brought me here? Isn't it because you want to create a sect that surpasses the Eight Great Families and the Nine Sects and One Gang? Just follow me quietly. I will grant your wishes.”

“Ahem!”

“Hmph!”

The three individuals cleared their throats and turned their heads. Because his words were by no means wrong.

By recruiting Chu Bang-ji, their sects had become even more solid and firm in just half a year.

Using the opium, they began to command many people like their own limbs, and secretly addicted small and medium sects to seize their assets.

They even dabbled in human trafficking and made vast sums of money, so wealth that must be several times their original assets flowed in within just half a year.

That alone was an ideal situation, but since among the drugs Chu Bang-ji manufactured were those that maximized physical abilities, was it not truly like a tiger growing wings?

Now they only needed the sword to slay the dragon.

Of course, it required a little time to obtain it.

The Sect Leaders each harbored grand dreams. And thinking that they must not lose Chu Bang-ji, they would not refuse any work.

It was at that moment.

Boom-!

The sudden roaring sound woke them from their thoughts. The four of them looked at each other with puzzled expressions.

It was undoubtedly the sound of something breaking.

“What is going on?”

Gu Gak-jin, the Sect Leader of the Seven Horns Sect, jumped up and shouted.

However, no one answered.

‘What is the meaning of this?’

Scowling, he approached the window.

Clang, clang, clang-!

At that moment, a sharp sound echoed from somewhere.

The people inside the room rushed toward the window with pale faces, and finally, they could see.

“Arghhh!”

A woman unleashing her blue-gleaming sword at the subordinates.

“Th-That woman is……”

“Phoenix Squadron Leader! Namgung So-hye! How could she……”

Things were beginning to get strangely twisted.