Chapter 163: Evil Bonds Are Tenacious (1)

The Namgung Family.

A prestigious clan and one of the Five Great Families, they were the overlords of Anhui Province.

The Namgung Family was situated on the outskirts of Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province.

Behind them rose a substantial mountain like a great screen, and before them flowed a mighty river. A perfect terrain of backing mountain and facing water. Moreover, the only path leading into the village was a single bridge spanning the river.

With the bridge guarded, no enemy could infiltrate—a naturally fortified position. At its very heart sat the Namgung Family.

The houses surrounding the Namgung Family were all owned by branch families. The entire village was composed of the Namgung Family's bloodline.

Encircled by towering walls, the Namgung Family compound was itself a perfect fortress. Only those granted permission by the Namgung Family and those bearing the surname Namgung were permitted entry.

Among the numerous halls and training grounds that harmonized within the compound, there were certain spaces of particular importance.

The Sword Ringing Hall was one such space.

If the Divine Hall was the residence of the Family Head, then the Sword Ringing Hall was the residence of the Young Master.

The place where the next Family Head, who would lead the great Namgung Family into the future, resided. Naturally, its security was impenetrable.

Even under normal circumstances, the security was airtight, not allowing a single drop of water to seep through. But now, countless masters were gathered inside and outside the Sword Ringing Hall, making it resemble a fortress.

Excluding the martial artists stationed at the perimeter, more than ten people were gathered in the Young Master's chambers. But not one of them spoke a word.

Their gazes were fixed upon the bed at the center of the Sword Ringing Hall.

Lying upon the bed was a young man who appeared to be in his late twenties to early thirties.

Had he been in good health, he would have been handsome enough to be called a fine-looking man. But unfortunately, his face was covered in a deathly pallor, and thick veins bulged grotesquely across his entire body.

The young man's name was Namgung Mu-jin.

He held the exalted position of eldest son and Young Master of the Namgung Family's Head, Namgung Cheon.

He first took up a sword at the age of five and showed his talent at seven. By the age of ten, he had achieved accomplishments surpassing martial artists far his senior.

Naturally, he bore the expectations of every member of the Namgung Family. While such expectations might have been burdensome for an ordinary person, Namgung Mu-jin had surpassed them with ease, achieving results that exceeded all expectations.

He had mastered all of the Namgung Family's supreme techniques, including the Azure Sky Limitless Sword Art and the Great Extension Sword Art, and it had been only recently that he had begun learning the Emperor Sword Form, which only the Family Head was permitted to study.

"Was I too hasty?"

An elderly man who appeared to be in his mid-fifties gazed down at Namgung Mu-jin and murmured.

His eyes were cold and clear as a lake, and his refined features evoked the image of a distinguished scholar.

The elderly man was none other than Namgung Cheon, the Head of the Namgung Family.

The great martial artist who had completed the Emperor Sword Form for the first time in two hundred years. For that reason, the Namgung Family called him by the title of Sword King.

Namgung Cheon had left the management of the family to Namgung Chang and his brothers, devoting himself entirely to the path of martial arts.

What he desired was the path of the Sword Immortal, surpassing the Sword King. To reach the ultimate realm through the sword.

For that reason, he had neglected even overseeing his children's martial arts. It was three months ago that Namgung Mu-jin had come to him.

He wished to learn the Emperor Sword Form. Normally, it could not be transmitted before one formally attained the position of Family Head, but Namgung Cheon had willingly passed the Emperor Sword Form to Namgung Mu-jin.

Such was his trust in Namgung Mu-jin.

He believed that Namgung Mu-jin could carry on his legacy and complete the Emperor Sword Form magnificently.

Namgung Mu-jin had not betrayed Namgung Cheon's expectations. He progressed through the Emperor Sword Form at a remarkable pace.

Three months passed as he devoted himself to the Emperor Sword Form, forgetting even to eat or sleep. The problem erupted just a few days ago.

Namgung Mu-jin, intoxicated by his rapid progress, grew greedy. In his haste, he fell into deviation.

He was barely clinging to life, but his vital signs were critical—he could die at any moment. Without proper treatment, it was unclear how his life could be saved, but even if it were, he would never be able to practice martial arts again.

The Young Master of the great Namgung Family, reduced to a body incapable of practicing martial arts? For the Namgung Family, it was the worst possible scenario.

For that reason, countless physicians from across Anhui Province had been summoned to the Namgung Family. Every renowned healer, without exception.

Every physician who examined Namgung Mu-jin shook their head. With their abilities, they could not treat his deviation.

Enraged, Namgung Cheon had executed every physician who said it was impossible. He came to his senses too late and regretted it, but there was no undoing what had been done.

"Is the Sage still far away?"

"Jang-gyeong took his men to fetch her. She should be here soon."

"If she is the Sage, she will be able to treat Mu-jin."

"If she cannot treat him, then no physician under heaven will be able to save the Young Master."

"You must bring her here by any means necessary."

"Do not worry, brother."

The one who answered was Namgung Hwa, an elder of the Namgung Family. He was Namgung Cheon's younger brother and wielded considerable influence within the family.

Namgung Hwa looked at Namgung Cheon with a worried expression. At this moment, Namgung Cheon was in a state commonly described as having lost his reason.

Anger was eroding his rationality, and he was on the verge of an explosive outburst. If anyone so much as touched him, a catastrophe would ensue.

The Namgung Family's elders held their breath in the face of Namgung Cheon's fury when—

"Family Head!"

An urgent voice came from outside.

Namgung Cheon's eyes turned toward the door. Expectation flickered across his face.

"Have you brought the Sage?"

"Well, you see…"

The door opened and a Namgung Family martial artist entered the room. But he was alone.

"What happened?"

"The men who went to fetch the Sage were all massacred."

"What?"

"No matter how long we waited, she did not come, so we sent someone to investigate. They found only the corpses of our family's martial artists filling the inn."

"So our family's martial artists were massacred?"

"I humbly apologize."

"How dare! Who has thus insulted the main family?"

Namgung Cheon sprang to his feet. From his entire being, a terrifying aura erupted.

The sharp killing intent befitting the title of Sword King pierced the very hearts of all present.

The elders in the Sword Ringing Hall, overwhelmed by his aura, turned pale.

"F-Family Head! Please calm yourself…"

"Think of the Young Master, Family Head."

The elders tried to calm Namgung Cheon. But his fury would not easily subside.

"Who is it? The one who dared to kill our family's martial artists."

"That is… we are not yet certain. The innkeeper has fled, and there are no witnesses."

Namgung Cheon ground his teeth.

He was normally the most composed of men, but in the face of his child's crisis and his subordinates' deaths, his fury knew no bounds.

The martial artist continued cautiously.

"The methods were extremely cruel, and our family's martial artists were unable to mount any meaningful resistance before dying. The perpetrator is undoubtedly a formidable master."

"Deploy the Sword King Unit."

"What!"

"The Sword King Unit?"

In that instant, the elders let out cries of alarm.

The Sword King Unit was the Namgung Family's last line of defense.

The previous Family Head, Namgung Seon-wol, had secretly selected prodigies to protect the Namgung Family. He provided them with rare elixirs and secret manuals to cultivate.

They were deployed only when the Namgung Family faced an imminent crisis, and when they appeared, they displayed fearsome might.

The last time they had revealed themselves was thirty years ago—during the catastrophe of the Demonic Cult.

At that time, they had slaughtered over a thousand elite martial artists of the Demonic Cult who had breached the Namgung Family's walls, displaying overwhelming martial power to the world. Though they wore red masks, concealing their individual identities, the fact that they were the Sword King Unit became widely known.

After the Demonic Cult's invasion was repelled, they vanished as mysteriously as they had appeared, returning to their daily lives to continue guarding the Namgung Family.

Only the Family Head knew the identities of the Sword King Unit's members. And only the Family Head held the authority to mobilize them.

Namgung Hwa spoke cautiously.

"Brother, the Sword King Unit is only to be deployed in times of crisis for the Namgung Family, is it not?"

"And so?"

Namgung Cheon's voice grew cold. At this, Namgung Hwa quickly fell silent.

"N-No, of course."

The other elders who had witnessed Namgung Cheon's fury also sealed their lips tightly.

In the history of the Namgung Family, no Family Head had ever controlled the family as completely as Namgung Cheon. Once he made a decision, that was final.

Namgung Cheon raised his voice and called out.

"Su-cheon!"

"Yes! Family Head."

An answer came immediately from outside the door.

The voice from beyond startled the elders within. Not a single person among them was lacking in martial skill, yet none had detected the presence of the person outside.

"Take the Sword King Unit immediately and capture the culprit and the Sage."

"Shall I bring them back alive, or dead?"

"Bring the Sage back alive. The culprit need only be kept breathing."

"As you command."

With that answer, the sound of presence vanished.

Namgung Cheon looked at Namgung Mu-jin.

"Just wait a little while longer, my son."

A voice filled with a father's anguish reverberated through the room.

***

Dam Ho looked back. Behind him followed a beautiful woman and an old man.

It was Jong Ri-yeon and Hwa-no.

After Dam Ho left the inn, they had followed.

The innkeeper and the girl had fled on the spot as well. They understood—the Namgung Family would not let this rest.

Dam Ho spoke.

"Why are you following me?"

"We are not following you. We are simply going in the same direction."

"……"

"I'm telling the truth."

Jong Ri-yeon wore an expression of grievance.

Her words were also true.

The patient was located in Hanshan, and one had to follow the same main road that Dam Ho traveled to reach it.

Dam Ho looked at her for a moment. At this, Jong Ri-yeon's face flushed red.

"W-what is it?"

At that moment, Dam Ho turned away. His attitude of complete disinterest made Jong Ri-yeon feel awkward.

She felt a flash of anger.

"That man…"

"Please calm yourself, young mistress."

"Hmph!"

Hwa-no tried to soothe her. Jong Ri-yeon's shoulders trembled with indignation, but she refrained from further outbursts.

"Calm down, calm down. Think only of the patient. Jong Ri-yeon."

Jong Ri-yeon's gaze quickly settled. But Dam Ho's retreating figure still lingered in her eyes.

After last night's battle, she had vomited more times than she could count.

As a physician, encountering corpses was commonplace. She had witnessed many deaths and considered herself accustomed to the deaths of others.

But every death she had witnessed until now was nothing compared to the carnage Dam Ho had wrought.

Through Dam Ho, she had realized just how easily human life could be snuffed out.

To Dam Ho, the human body was more fragile than the most delicate clay pot.

Last night, Dam Ho's words came back to her.

—Killing people. It is not enjoyable at all.

How piteously those words had sounded. Perhaps that was why the aftereffects still lingered.

No matter how hard she tried not to think about it, her eyes kept drifting to Dam Ho.

"Young mistress!"

"Hmm?"

"Do not give him your attention."

Hwa-no spoke with caution but firmness.

"What do you mean?"

"He is a man who lives in a different world from ours."

"Well, that's…"

"An ordinary martial artist cannot kill people so ruthlessly. In all my years, I have never seen someone dispatch human life so mercilessly. A person like that cannot be sane."

Hwa-no's voice was remarkably calm. But his tone contained a powerful undercurrent of revulsion.

Jong Ri-yeon spoke as though offering an excuse.

"I have no interest in him whatsoever. Truly."

"Do not let that change, young mistress. These are the final words of an old man whose days are numbered."

"I… I understand."

Hwa-no's expression was heavy.

People are always drawn to the world they do not know.

Whether it is mere longing or simple curiosity, it matters not. The problem is that the more one is drawn in, the more one begins to give their heart.

Hwa-no sincerely prayed that such a thing would not come to pass.

The young Taoist stopped eating mid-motion and froze completely.

“Heh, you’re quite good at joking.”

“I’m not joking.”

Seeing Jin Ja-gang answer seriously, the young Taoist’s pupils shook.

The young Taoist showed a flustered expression.

When he moved his internal energy slightly to check, he could feel poison accumulated in his blood vessels. Even the tips of his fingernails had turned bluish.

“Huh? No, I… I haven’t done anything wrong to you, so why are you doing this? Where in the world does someone offer food and then give poison?”

At the young Taoist’s aggrieved words, Jin Ja-gang replied in an even more incredulous tone.

“I naturally thought you would know.”

“What? How would I know whether there’s poison or not?”

“Can’t you tell by looking?”

The young Taoist quietly looked down at his rice bowl. Then he also looked at the stir-fried side dishes that had come out.

Then he smiled sheepishly.

“I really can’t tell.”

“The color of the Sichuan pepper powder sprinkled on the rice has changed.”

“Oh, really?”

The young Taoist looked at the rice bowl as if it were fascinating.

“Is that so? I was wondering why you sprinkled Sichuan pepper powder on rice, thinking your eating habits were quite strange.”

“I was the one who sprinkled the Sichuan pepper powder, but…”

Jin Ja-gang stared intently at the young Taoist.

He had never seen such a careless and naive martial artist before. He couldn’t tell whether he was doing it on purpose or if this was his natural personality.

However, that carelessness seemed so natural and peaceful that Jin Ja-gang felt strange.

When meeting martial artists, Jin Ja-gang always had to live tensely as if standing on needles. Since one mistake could cost him his life, he had to keep his nerves on edge every time.

He had developed the habit of observing things in detail whenever he had time to use his surroundings for anything, and even when nothing was happening, he had to keep moving while making contingency plans in case of unforeseen circumstances.

Was it an inferiority complex?

Compared to himself who had lived this way, this young Taoist who seemed only two or three years younger was even innocent and naive. This might actually be the appearance befitting this age.

Having such thoughts made Jin Ja-gang’s mood peculiar.

Jin Ja-gang stood up from his seat.

“I would prefer if you didn’t follow me anymore. And you can discuss that poison with the person over there.”

At those words, the young Taoist looked toward the person sitting by the window. In the inn’s dining room, there were only Jin Ja-gang, himself, and one man wearing a bamboo hat sitting by the window.

As soon as Jin Ja-gang finished speaking, the person who had been sitting by the window shook his head and laughed.

“Haha. Well now. I didn’t expect that placing poison would be so easily discovered by a mere scoundrel of the evil faction. Is this what passes for a poison hand these days?”

Placing poison refers to mixing poison into food.

The young Taoist looked the person by the window up and down, then asked back.

“Huh? Are you perhaps someone from the Tang Family Great Compound?”

The person by the window lifted his bamboo hat and looked at the young man. He appeared to be around thirty years old.

“Greetings, Taoist Woon-jeong. I am called Tang Li-sim.”

When Tang Li-sim stood up and made a cupped-fist salute, the young Taoist Woon-jeong also returned the salute. However, his tone was disgruntled.

“I ate poisoned rice, but I was still fine until just now. However, seeing someone with the Tang surname, I’m no longer fine.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Woon-jeong replied as if it were obvious.

“I understand this area is jointly managed by us, the Tang Family Great Compound, and the Emei Buddhist sect – three sects together. Yet you carelessly use poison in such a place. That is an act of disrespecting our Qingcheng Sect.”

Tang Li-sim waved his hand saying it made no sense.

“How could testing an evil faction scoundrel become an act of disrespecting Qingcheng? I didn’t place the poison knowing that Taoist Woon-jeong would eat it.”

“Ah, is that so? Hmm, come to think of it, if I hadn’t been greedy for another’s meal, this wouldn’t have happened. Primordial Heavenly Venerable…”

While the two were talking, Jin Ja-gang packed his belongings and went out.

“You two can handle the detoxification, and I’ll be going now.”

Tang Li-sim snorted and swung his arm widely.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Three chopsticks flew toward Jin Ja-gang’s nose and embedded in the doorframe.

Thwack!

“You cannot leave this place at will…”

But Tang Li-sim couldn’t finish his words.

Somehow Woon-jeong had blocked Jin Ja-gang’s path and caught the chopsticks between his fingers.

He failed to catch one and let it slip, so it flew to the doorframe and embedded there, but he caught two of them.

Since he caught up the moment they were thrown, it meant he was much faster than the speed at which the chopsticks were thrown.

Tang Li-sim was speechless at the unimaginable speed of the movement technique.

“Ah, my stomach hurt so I missed one.”

Woon-jeong grimaced and glared at Tang Li-sim.

“I just told you that, yet you use your hands again? Isn’t this also disrespecting Qingcheng?”

“No, that’s… I threw them at that fellow, but you blocked them…”

Woon-jeong spoke clearly.

“The three sects respect each other and don’t carelessly use force within other sects’ spheres of influence. That’s the unwritten rule I heard from my master. So using poison and throwing hidden weapons in front of me means…”

When Woon-jeong mentioned his master, Tang Li-sim’s complexion rapidly worsened. Woon-jeong’s master was someone no one in Sichuan didn’t know.

However, the pride of the Tang surname wouldn’t let him easily bow his knees. When it came to pride, the Tang family was certainly not low either.

Tang Li-sim’s face hardened.

“You keep protecting that fellow? Are you deliberately picking a fight with our Tang sect? Even though you’re young, I was treating you with respect!”

“When did I pick a fight? Wasn’t it you who picked the fight first?”

Woon-jeong looked bewildered and glanced at the chopsticks in his hand.

“Just take these back.”

Woon-jeong swung and threw the chopsticks.

Whirr!

The chopsticks embedded in Tang Li-sim’s table in sequence. No, rather than embedded, it was more accurate to say they flew over and stood there.

Though it looked like a trick, it was skill in exquisitely controlling internal energy.

However, while one chopstick stood perfectly on the table without penetrating at all, the other was embedded about half an inch deep.

“Ah, my stomach hurt so…”

Woon-jeong turned his head awkwardly. Whether it was because the poison prevented proper control or because he was still young and lacked the subtlety of internal energy operation was unclear.

In any case, Jin Ja-gang didn’t get involved in their fight. Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Li-sim and asked.

“If you have something to say to me, please say it.”

Tang Li-sim smiled and said.

“I came to warn you. Today I’ll endure it for Qingcheng Sect’s sake. But if you continue walking around with your head held so stiffly even after leaving Dayi, you’ll see unpleasant sights.”

“Are you picking a fight?”

Jin Ja-gang returned the exact words Tang Li-sim had said to Woon-jeong.

Originally, he should have asked if he was threatening. But he said picking a fight instead of threatening. It was a term that could only be used in equal relationships, so there was clearly a difference in feeling.

“Insolent brat.”

Tang Li-sim ground his teeth while Woon-jeong laughed.

“Puhaha! Oh my, I’m sorry for laughing. I couldn’t help but laugh.”

Tang Li-sim’s face turned red and blue.

Jin Ja-gang paid no attention to their reactions and said.

“I understand. I’ll do as you advise. Will that be sufficient?”

“Yes!”

Jin Ja-gang gave a slight nod and left the inn. Tang Li-sim gritted his teeth and endured, not knowing what humiliation he might face if he blocked him again for no reason.

“Huh?”

Woon-jeong looked back and forth between Jin Ja-gang and Tang Li-sim, feeling troubled. His stomach hurt so he needed detoxification, but he was worried about losing Jin Ja-gang again while receiving antidote from Tang Li-sim.

However, Woon-jeong’s worry was unfounded.

Jin Ja-gang was walking not very far from the inn.

Woon-jeong received antidote from the reluctant Tang Li-sim, ate it, and quickly chased after Jin Ja-gang.

“Please let me go with you!”

Jin Ja-gang stopped in place and stared at Woon-jeong without answering. The voice had come from behind, but Woon-jeong was already walking alongside him.

Woon-jeong smiled sheepishly again, perhaps feeling unnecessarily embarrassed.

“I’m sorry. Originally I wasn’t planning to stick this close, but since you keep running away, I thought it would be better to just stay right next to you. Actually, if my master finds out we met like this, I’ll get in trouble, but please bear with me until you leave Dayi.”

Thinking about it, Jin Ja-gang realized it would probably be better to go together rather than having him suddenly pop out from hiding. If done well like when meeting the Tang family earlier, it could be helpful.

No, even aside from that, he realized it wouldn’t be easy to shake off this Taoist. He was prepared to follow anywhere and had the ability to do so if he set his mind to it.

“I understand.”

When Jin Ja-gang readily agreed, Woon-jeong happily followed along. Perhaps because of this, he chattered on about things no one had asked.

“Actually, getting scolded by my master once is better than doing wall meditation for a year.”

Jin Ja-gang agreed.

“I see. Even I would prefer getting scolded to wall meditation for a year.”

“Haha, thank you for understanding.”

Then Woon-jeong suddenly scratched his head and frowned.

“Oh no… I came without paying for the food I ate earlier. Could you wait a moment? I’ll go pay for what I ate and come back.”

“I already left money for it. The owner was scared and hiding in the kitchen.”

“Huh?”

Woon-jeong looked at Jin Ja-gang with surprised eyes.

“You… are a good person!”

“I don’t think so.”

Jin Ja-gang ignored him and walked on. Woon-jeong tilted his head and followed.

“Ah… is that so? Come to think of it, seeing you carelessly scatter poison powder around yesterday, you don’t seem like a good person.”

“What I scattered for you to see yesterday was just mixed grain powder.”

“What?”

Woon-jeong clapped his hands.

“Ah, no wonder it had a savory taste. I was deceived. As expected, you are a good person…”

“After that, you searched through the grass and looked for footprints on the ground to chase me, didn’t you?”

“Yes. I certainly did.”

“I sprinkled poison on the grass where the footprints were.”

“…”

“I mixed arrowroot poison neutralized with kudzu powder. You probably inhaled some without knowing.”

“…”

“It’s not lethal, but it would have clouded your judgment for about an hour, making it difficult to find me.”

“Oho! Such a method! So that’s why I couldn’t find you. No wonder my eyes were blurry and my head felt foggy.”

Woon-jeong opened his eyes wide and looked respectful. Woon-jeong’s transparent and clear eyes made Jin Ja-gang very uncomfortable.

“You don’t just kill, but use exactly the right poison for what’s needed. You seem very different from the rumors.”

Jin Ja-gang stopped walking and looked at Woon-jeong.

It was strange that he would approach and talk without hesitation while knowing the rumors, and get poisoned so defensively.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Is this your original personality, or are you pretending?”

“What do you mean?”

“According to what’s known in the world, I should be a terrible murderer.”

“Yes. I heard that too.”

Woon-jeong looked at Jin Ja-gang with sparkling eyes. It was a look that said what’s the big deal about that.

“That’s why I’m monitoring you. To make sure nothing happens until you leave our Qingcheng territory.”

In terms of martial arts alone, it was certainly possible. He wasn’t at a level to be dismissed just because he was young.

However, he was too innocent and bright. Compared to his martial arts, his brain was pure white, so he had a high probability of easily falling for tricks or being deceived.

“You seem too careless. What would you do if you accidentally ate poisoned food like earlier?”

“I got antidote and ate it.”

“That’s not what I mean. If someone ambushes you or tries to harm you with schemes…”

Woon-jeong waved his hands as if it was nonsense.

“Hey, here in Sichuan?”

Jin Ja-gang clearly realized.

Half of that baseless confidence came from his own martial arts, and the other half from faith in his sect.

That was a kind of protective shield that the sect’s reputation provided.