Chapter 155: Every Meeting Must Come to an End (2)

Since the founding of the Murim Alliance, all the pleasure quarters of Anyang had been enjoying an unprecedented boom. The Heavenly Tower, having established itself in Anyang, was also experiencing its greatest prosperity.

Though they had joined the Murim Alliance under the banner of upholding justice in the martial world, at their core, they were men overflowing with vigor.

Their energy far exceeded that of ordinary men, and their vitality was boundless. It was only natural that they would seek women. The easiest place in Anyang to take a beautiful woman to bed was the Heavenly Tower.

Thanks to this, the courtesans, the chief steward, and the servants of the Heavenly Tower had been screaming with joy at the flood of customers for quite some time.

"Hah."

Ki Ye-hwa let out a soft sigh.

Business was too good, and that too was a problem. There were not enough courtesans, and she had to bring in more from elsewhere.

Just yesterday, she had brought in courtesans from another branch of the Hao Sect. Since they came from such a distant place, there were countless concerns, from the courtesans' health to every other detail.

"Now I can finally breathe a little easier."

Given the nature of a pleasure quarter, once it had established itself, customers would not easily desert it. If she could win over the warriors of the Murim Alliance in the early stages, she would not need to worry too much about future business.

Ki Ye-hwa picked up the teacup on the table.

The fragrant aroma of tea cleared her mind and body.

Ki Ye-hwa sipped her tea for a moment and gazed out the window. For some time now, it had been raining in Anyang. Even the distant surface of Dongting Lake was being pelted by raindrops.

The scene of mist rising over the water was beautiful to the point of being mystical. But Ki Ye-hwa felt no particular emotion. Her mind was occupied by other thoughts.

"Where is he, I wonder?"

The man the world called the Fist Demon.

Because of her request, he had been compelled to rescue Hwang Hye-ryeong. Having saved her, Dam Ho had immediately vanished from the world.

"He must be at the Overlord Outfit by now."

Ki Ye-hwa considered this fortunate.

Had Hwang Hye-ryeong been captured or injured by the Murim Alliance, Anyang would have instantly become a battlefield. And the current boom would certainly not have continued.

Above all, sending the eye of the storm, Dam Ho, away from Anyang was the greatest achievement of all. Had he been here, she could not have enjoyed such peaceful days.

"My Lady."

At that moment, the chief steward called to her from outside.

Ki Ye-hwa's brow creased slightly at the interruption of her thoughts.

"What is it?"

"Well… the guest in the VIP room requests to see you personally."

"You know perfectly well that I do not meet guests in person."

"Yes! I told him so, but…"

The chief steward's voice sounded somewhat unusual.

Ki Ye-hwa finally opened the door. There stood the chief steward, his head bowed.

"Is it someone so important that you cannot refuse?"

"That is correct."

"Who is it? Who wishes to see this Ki Ye-hwa?"

"It is the Military Advisor of the Murim Alliance."

"The Military Advisor of the Murim Alliance?"

Ki Ye-hwa's expression hardened visibly.

She knew well that the Military Advisor of the Murim Alliance was Namgung Chang. The mere title of Military Advisor was already burdensome enough, but the man was also an Elder of the Namgung Family.

He was truly a titan among titans.

"Hah."

Ki Ye-hwa sighed involuntarily.

From the outset, she had no choice.

For those who lived and worked in Anyang, Namgung Chang's words were tantamount to a decree of life or death.

"You said the VIP room?"

"That is correct."

"Let us go."

Ki Ye-hwa left her quarters with the chief steward and headed for the VIP room.

The VIP room was located at the highest point of the Heavenly Tower. It was not a place that anyone could enter simply by having money. The people who frequented it held important positions in both the Murim and the government.

The courtesans assigned to the VIP room were the most beautiful and alluring among all the women of the Heavenly Tower.

The chief steward knocked on the VIP room's door and spoke.

"My Lady has arrived."

"Do come in."

A deep, resonant voice was heard, and the chief steward opened the door. The scene within was revealed.

Two middle-aged warriors sat facing each other. Though their faces were unfamiliar, Ki Ye-hwa identified their identities without difficulty.

'Namgung Chang, the Azure Star of the Left, and Oh Gun-ui, the Hundred Sword Swordsman.'

One was an Elder of the Namgung Family and an Elder of the Murim Alliance. The other was an Elder of the renowned Hainan Sect.

The arrival of a single one of them would have been enough to cause a stir throughout the Heavenly Tower, and now two such figures had come at once. Ki Ye-hwa could not help but feel anxious inwardly. Yet, contrary to her feelings, a radiant smile graced her face.

"Ki Ye-hwa of the Heavenly Tower greets the honored guests from the Murim Alliance."

Her voice was exquisitely clear, pleasing to the ears of all who heard it. But both Namgung Chang and Oh Gun-ui were seasoned veterans of the Murim. They were not enchanted by Ki Ye-hwa's voice.

Namgung Chang smiled and spoke.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Ki. As you may already know, I am Namgung Chang, the Military Advisor of the Murim Alliance. That is my friend, Oh Gun-ui, the Hundred Sword Swordsman."

"I have long heard of your illustrious reputations. To have two such esteemed figures visit the Tower at once is more than this humble girl can bear."

"There is no need to be so modest."

"I beg your pardon?"

"As the branch leader of the Hao Sect, you are more than qualified to meet with us. Moreover, as the leader of the Anyang branch, you are one of the top three most influential figures within the Hao Sect."

In that instant, Ki Ye-hwa's expression froze.

Not many people knew her true identity. And the fact that the leader of the Anyang branch was one of the top three power brokers within the Hao Sect was known only to the inner circle.

'Where did the information leak?'

But there was no leisure to ponder at length.

"Please, take a seat. It is a pain in the neck to look up at you like this."

Ki Ye-hwa nodded and took her seat.

If they had come knowing the full truth, denial would be of no use.

"I did not come here simply to listen to the laughter of courtesans, it seems."

"Who could dislike the laughter of young, beautiful women? It is only regrettable that circumstances prevent me from enjoying it."

"If one does not spend time with courtesans in a pleasure quarter, is there any reason to visit?"

"As you can see, we are all getting on in years and cannot keep up with young women."

Namgung Chang spoke with a jesting air.

Though a faint smile hovered at his lips, his eyes gleamed sharper than ever.

"What a pity. Even the butterflies refuse the flower."

"One does not need to trifle with flowers to achieve one's purpose."

"Then what purpose brings you here?"

"I wish to meet with the Sect Leader of the Hao Sect."

"What?"

"I would like you to serve as the intermediary."

Namgung Chang cut to the chase without further circumlocution.

"Why do you wish to meet with the Sect Leader?"

"We would like the Hao Sect to join the fight for justice in the Murim."

"We are merely a gathering of lowly folk who banded together to survive. How could we possibly be of use? We would only fear sullying the good name of the Murim Alliance."

"Is there a distinction between high and low in a fight for the Murim? Put such worries aside. If the Hao Sect lends its support, it would be of great help in the battle against the Demonic Cult."

"What power could we lowly folk possibly possess?"

"Your intelligence network would be of immense help to the future endeavors of the Murim Alliance."

Namgung Chang was relentless.

Ki Ye-hwa turned her gaze to Oh Gun-ui, the Hundred Sword Swordsman.

Oh Gun-ui had not uttered a single word the entire time, keeping his eyes gently closed. Yet his hand never once strayed from his sword.

He was in a posture to draw his blade at any moment.

The message he conveyed was unmistakable.

'I will absolutely not tolerate any refusal of Namgung Chang's proposal.'

Depending on what decision she made, the course of the Murim Alliance's actions would change.

At that moment, as though reading her conflicted thoughts, Namgung Chang offered a word.

"We can become good friends. Do not think too hard about it."

His voice was sweet and gentle, like a demon's whisper. But the moment she accepted his proposal, the Hao Sect would be thrust to the very forefront of the war against the Demonic Cult.

For the first time in her life, Ki Ye-hwa regretted her own decision.

'I should have kept the Fist Demon.'

He would have been an excellent counterbalance to the Murim Alliance. He was an existence that even the Murim Alliance feared.

Ssss!

Oh Gun-ui made a show of drawing his sword.

She had never had a choice from the beginning.

The law was far, but the sword was near.

"Very well. I will send word to the Sect Leader."

"A wise decision. Your decision will save the Murim from the grasp of the Demonic Cult."

"But the decision belongs to the Sect Leader. I cannot make any guarantees."

"Do not worry. A Sect Leader of the Hao Sect should have the wisdom to read the times. Surely she will not make such a foolish decision as to bring about the Hao Sect's ruin."

Ki Ye-hwa closed her eyes.

***

"Gggghk!"

Jo Yun-san let out his final ghastly groan and moved no more. His breath had finally ceased.

While Dam Ho fought Yun Chung and the Dark Ghosts, Jo Yun-san had been locked in a desperate battle with excruciating itching.

He had tried his utmost to endure the itch, but in the end, he could not resist and clawed at his entire body with both hands. His skin had been stripped away and hung in tatters, but he continued to scratch. In the end, he had bitten through his own tongue and ended his life.

In the state of Jo Yun-san's corpse, it was difficult to find any trace of a human form. Dam Ho gazed down at Jo Yun-san's remains in silence for a long time.

Everyone held their breath.

The number of those who had died at Dam Ho's hands on this single day alone reached into the hundreds. And despite such a prodigious massacre, Dam Ho showed no sign of exhaustion.

"G-Grandmaster. Are you all right?"

The warriors of the Overlord Outfit finally rushed over to support Hwang Gyeong-mun.

They were the pure green forest folk who had not been co-opted by Yun Chung. They had been imprisoned by Yun Chung but were freed with the help of Muk Il-gwang and Hwang Hye-ryeong.

"I am fine."

Though his answer said otherwise, Hwang Gyeong-mun's condition was far from good. The poisoning with Scatter Energy Poison and the subsequent use of the Repelling Force had aggravated his internal injuries.

He needed to treat his injuries as soon as possible. And he needed to drive the Blood-Lung Poison from his body.

"Father!"

"Grandmaster!"

Hwang Hye-ryeong arrived at last, running alongside Muk Il-gwang.

Seeing that she was safe, a look of relief spread across Hwang Gyeong-mun's face.

What he had feared more than his own death was harm befalling Hwang Hye-ryeong.

"I am fine. Do not worry."

"Father."

Hwang Hye-ryeong embraced Hwang Gyeong-mun.

Father and daughter expressed their gratitude for each other's safety and felt the warmth between them.

Though they were not of the same blood, a bond stronger than blood existed between them.

"Please, climb onto my back."

Muk Il-gwang offered his back to Hwang Gyeong-mun. But the latter declined his offer.

"I am fine. I will walk on my own two feet."

Even wounded, he was a tiger. A tiger never relied upon others.

Hwang Gyeong-mun took a step forward on trembling legs. In the direction he headed, Dam Ho stood.

Only then did Hwang Hye-ryeong and Muk Il-gwang notice Dam Ho.

"O… Brother?"

Hwang Hye-ryeong's voice trembled involuntarily.

Dam Ho was so drenched in blood that his original form was nearly unrecognizable. Yet the fact that he remained unbroken even as a blood-soaked figure sent great ripples through Hwang Hye-ryeong's heart.

In that moment, hazy memories rose in her mind like a phantom.

A burning village. People turned to blood. And two men.

Though covered in blood, their faces as they fought to protect their family were somehow familiar.

She murmured involuntarily.

"Father. Brother."

And then she collapsed.

"My Lady!"

Muk Il-gwang caught her frail body in his arms.

Dam Ho's eyes took in the scene. The words she had murmured in that final moment as well.

Dam Ho's pupils wavered.

Mang Ryo’s rude manner of speaking made Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s gaze turn sharp.

Mang Ryo continued speaking in an understanding tone.

“Ah, what I meant was a joke about why you’re putting on airs when you can’t even attack someone showing their back. Well, enough of that talk, let’s do this. This is something even children can understand – it’s simple.”

Mang Ryo pointed at the fallen Jin Ja-gang.

“I’ll borrow Baek Li-gwon for a while, so you can take care of this fellow. And when the time comes, we can each retrieve what we’ve entrusted to the other. How about it? Isn’t it quite simple?”

“What?”

Zhuge Ming interjected.

“What kind of scheme is this!”

“Ah, don’t get excited. The formation commander also has work to do.”

Mang Ryo requested of Zhuge Ming.

“Please convey this to the Sword Pavilion Master. If he chases after me or bothers me in any way, it will be difficult to guarantee the safety of this cute fellow.”

Zhuge Ming asked with an attitude ready to charge at any moment.

“Do you know what happens when you dare to show disrespect to the Sword Pavilion Master?”

“Oh my, you’re saying dangerous things. When did I show disrespect? Rather, I’m trying to save the Sword Pavilion Master’s adopted son from Shandong Enchanting Flower. Would you be able to save him if I left him here? If he dies, you’ll have to take full responsibility, won’t you?”

Though his words were crude, they weren’t wrong. Of course, one couldn’t expect courtesy in speech from someone who called Baek Li-gwon a bastard.

“You’re acting like a complete bat.”

“Bats can do anything to survive.”

Mang Ryo smiled slyly.

“Well then, it seems things are roughly settled.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong blocked Mang Ryo.

“I don’t think things are settled.”

“They’ll have to be settled. If you block me one more time, I’ll throw this fellow to the Zhuge family without delay. Then I’ll have no choice either.”

The implication that he could join forces with the Zhuge family to attack Dan Ryeong-gyeong was left unsaid.

Mang Ryo alternately glanced at Baek Li-gwon and Jin Ja-gang.

“I don’t have time. If either one dies, everything I’ve said becomes invalid.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong looked at Mang Ryo with displeasure, then moved aside to let him pass.

Mang Ryo nodded his head in greeting.

“Thank you.”

Mang Ryo slung Baek Li-gwon over his shoulder, held his crutch in one hand, and instantly left the scene.

The gazes of Zhuge Ming and Dan Ryeong-gyeong turned toward Jin Ja-gang lying collapsed in the middle.

However, Zhuge Ming quickly abandoned his greed.

Jin Ja-gang’s breathing was so faint that he seemed ready to die at the slightest touch.

In this situation, if he carelessly took Jin Ja-gang and the man died, he would bear all responsibility for what happened afterward. He didn’t have enough loyalty to the Baek Li family to take such a risk.

Whether the evil faction took him and he died or not, from that point on it wasn’t his concern.

“I’ll withdraw this time. However…”

Zhuge Ming looked at Jin Ja-gang. Even with his body in that state, his eyes were still alive. He was sickeningly tenacious.

Zhuge Ming said to Jin Ja-gang.

“You have received our family’s death warrant. Even if you’re lucky enough to live today, as long as you breathe, we’ll meet again. The Nine Palace Eight Trigram Formation deployed by the Zhuge family’s true blood is incomparable to what you experienced from the vassal family.”

Jin Ja-gang wanted to retort but no voice came out.

Soon Zhuge Ming withdrew and left.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong had an uncomfortable expression. She hadn’t obtained what she wanted and had only gained trouble.

Bian Bu came running breathlessly. He had been watching from afar and rushed over as soon as the situation seemed settled.

Bian Bu saw Jin Ja-gang’s condition and sat down in shock as if crying out in surprise. Jin Ja-gang was in such a terrible state that it was miraculous he was alive, and his pupils moved to look at him.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong turned and said.

“Treat him. I need to take the child.”

“Yes, yes!”

Bian Bu applied medicine to Jin Ja-gang’s body and tore clothes to bind him as an emergency measure.

Even during this, Jin Ja-gang kept his eyes open for a long time before finally being able to fall asleep as the pain somewhat subsided.

* * *

Five days later.

Jin Ja-gang had been moved to some location and was receiving treatment.

His entire body was wrapped in bandages with only his eyes exposed.

Bian Bu entered and lit incense good for internal injuries in the room.

“Honestly, I didn’t think you’d come out of there alive.”

Jin Ja-gang answered in a small voice.

“I… didn’t think so either.”

“The Zhuge family’s Nine Palace Eight Trigram Formation isn’t a feng shui formation but a military formation used in war adapted into a martial arts formation, so I thought you had absolutely no chance.”

Bian Bu came and examined Jin Ja-gang’s bandages, then unwrapped them and cleaned his wounds. Due to burns, pus was flowing and blood continued to seep, so even though he changed bandages frequently, they kept getting soaked.

“Of course, your use of poison and setting fire to the village to advantageously secure the battlefield was very clever, but… what is this? Why did you do such a reckless thing… sigh.”

“I did it to survive.”

“Don’t say things you don’t mean. Do you think I don’t know you did it to save the villagers?”

“In the end… I survived too, didn’t I?”

“Is this surviving? The doctor said it would have been dangerous if the Lord hadn’t intervened. If infection sets in and fever starts, it could become uncontrollable, so prepare yourself mentally.”

Jin Ja-gang remembered. While being transported by cart, Dan Ryeong-gyeong had continuously infused true energy into Jin Ja-gang’s body. Thanks to this, his wounds didn’t worsen and he could endure until the doctor could treat him.

Bian Bu thickly applied ointment to Jin Ja-gang’s wounds and wrapped them again with clean cotton cloth.

“How does anyone fight so crudely? I’m going to end up pouring out all the universal cure-all medicine I painstakingly made, tsk tsk.”

“I’m sorry to be indebted to you. I’ll definitely repay this kindness.”

“Forget it. No one who says such things has ever repaid kindness. Rather than saying it, don’t speak and repay with money later.”

After Bian Bu finished changing the bandages and was catching his breath, Dan Ryeong-gyeong entered.

“How is he?”

“Thanks to you, I seem to be alive. Thank you.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong sat lightly on the edge of the bed where Jin Ja-gang lay.

“You were too reckless.”

“Setting the fire was the method with the highest chance of my survival.”

“Not the fire, but the young hero’s methods.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t know what she meant and couldn’t answer.

“Are you referring to the burn wounds?”

“Ah, first I should apologize for that. To calm the young hero’s condition, I examined your body without permission.”

“It’s fine.”

“Then I’ll speak. The internal energy cultivation method the young hero uses is very wrong.”

Jin Ja-gang hadn’t thought it was good either. A method that destroyed and consumed his own body couldn’t be good.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong continued in a calm tone.

“Half your qi and blood channels are blocked and half are severely injured, torn and ruptured everywhere. If my guess is correct, that would be… probably Mad Acupoint Piercing. An internal energy operation method used by assassins.”

“Ah, so that technique was called Mad Acupoint Piercing.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong spoke bitterly as if Jin Ja-gang’s nonchalance was absurd.

“Those who learn Mad Acupoint Piercing don’t live beyond three years and die spewing blood from every orifice in their body. In the young hero’s case, your right side that you’re using will end up that way.”

“Three years… longer than I thought. I understand.”

“You’re not talking about someone else. This is about the young hero.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Dan Ryeong-gyeong with calm eyes.

“If I don’t use Mad Acupoint Piercing, will I live more than three years?”

“There’s no law saying you can’t live three years.”

“Didn’t you promise Mang Ryo? That you’d release me if he brought Baek Li-gwon.”

“The young hero looked down on me then and still does now. Though I may be foolish and dull, I’m not someone who moves at others’ commands. I also hate being used by others most of all.”

“I have no intention of blaming you or interfering with you. Whenever something happens… I’ll just do my best to survive in my own way.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong still spoke calmly.

“That Mang Ryo fellow is faithless and sinister. I despise such people. While you’re with me, the young hero doesn’t need to worry about that person.”

“I won’t impose for long.”

“Saying you’ll impose is also disrespectful to me. If you say such things again next time, I’ll strip the young hero’s bottom and spank you.”

That was somehow a chilling statement even for Jin Ja-gang. Getting spanked at his age!

With such a gap in martial arts and his body in this condition, if Dan Ryeong-gyeong made up her mind to do so, he would have no choice but to suffer it.

Jin Ja-gang said with a stern face.

“I will have my revenge.”

“…”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong smiled quietly.

“Hmph, that’s truly something a vengeful spirit would say.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong stood up and said.

“Since the topic came up, let me say something. I once told the young hero about revenge.”

“You told me to stop my revenge.”

“Do you have no intention of withdrawing those words even now?”

“Yes.”

“Even though you won’t be able to have a sound body even if your wounds heal?”

“My body wasn’t sound before either.”

“The situation has already changed greatly from before.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong erased her smile and spoke seriously.

“It’s only been five days since you clashed with the Zhuge family at Lan Family Village, but stories about the young hero are already circulating among the gossips of the Central Plains. That you single-handedly broke through the Zhuge family’s Nine Palace Eight Trigram Formation.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong paused briefly before continuing.

“Do you know what that means? The young hero’s sphere of activity will move from the frontier Yunnan martial world to the center of the jianghu martial world. You’ll encounter human groups dozens, hundreds of times more complex than what you’ve experienced in Yunnan so far.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t feel it was real. It felt like words unrelated to himself.

“Until now, I’ve lived fighting against those stronger than me. What would be different from before?”

“Now it won’t just be simple enemies, but all sorts of people will cling to you. Those who suggest working together, those who want to borrow the young hero’s fame, those who want to use you, those who want to watch out of curiosity…”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong waited a moment before continuing.

“But worst of all is that the young hero has become too big a figure compared to your actual abilities.”

“…”

“Those who approach the young hero will turn the moment they realize you’re weaker than they thought. It’s their nature to devour those with higher fame but weaker strength than themselves.”

Jin Ja-gang chuckled.

“I become prey?”

“That depends on the young hero.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong looked quietly at Jin Ja-gang before speaking.

“There’s a saying: ‘The benevolent tiger hides its claws, the divine dragon conceals its scales.’ Those who see far know how to wait for the right time and hide their talents.”

Jin Ja-gang realized why Dan Ryeong-gyeong had been speaking at length.

“You still have something you haven’t said. If you have something to say, you can say it directly without beating around the bush anymore.”

“Are you not yet ready to accept the dark path?”

Jin Ja-gang was stunned. He suddenly felt his situation viscerally.

He had fought the Zhuge family, called a prestigious orthodox family, and also fought a disciple of the Baek Li family.

Having even gained the nickname Snake Scorpion Poison King, who would now see Jin Ja-gang as orthodox?

But Jin Ja-gang couldn’t immediately answer Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s question. He couldn’t accept it yet.

“There’s plenty of time, so think about it gradually.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong nodded in greeting and left the room.

Bian Bu politely saw Dan Ryeong-gyeong off and came to Jin Ja-gang’s side.

“Hmm. This is the first time I’ve seen the Lord put so much effort into someone. It seems you’ve caught her fancy. Don’t keep being difficult and just say you’ll become part of the group.”

Jin Ja-gang found it absurd.

“A group?”

“If we help each other and live together, we’re a group. What’s the big deal? It’s better than grandly talking about some great alliance. Ah, of course I’m against you joining.”

When Jin Ja-gang looked at him as if asking what he meant, Bian Bu grinned.

“Ah, who knows what you might mix into the food just for one nagging comment? How could I live in such anxiety?”

Of course, he wasn’t being serious but was just joking around.

“Well, rest a bit. I need to go take care of business too.”

After Bian Bu left, Jin Ja-gang was alone in the room.

Only then did the groans he had been holding back flow out.

“Ugh…”

His whole body was sore and painful. There wasn’t a single bone fragment or muscle fiber that didn’t hurt. The large wound cut across his chest was so painful that it felt numb, as if it wasn’t his own flesh.

But what troubled Jin Ja-gang more than physical pain was none other than Mang Ryo’s existence.

‘Mang Ryo!’