Chapter 247 – Friend…(1)

"Hyah!"

Bang!

Muk Il-gwang's axe split the head of an approaching Blood Dark Squad warrior vertically. Grayish brain matter and red blood splattered everywhere, making a mess of the deck.

"Huff!"

Muk Il-gwang exhaled deeply.

Misty steam continuously rose from his massive body. Sweat drops were evaporating from the heat radiating from his body.

He didn't know how many he had faced. The enemies kept coming endlessly like ants crawling out of their nest.

Muk Il-gwang swung his axe with full force to meet them.

The Blood Heaven Axe Technique wielded with two large axes showed even greater power in chaotic battles.

The axe handles were stained red with blood, and the flowing blood sticky on Muk Il-gwang's fingers.

"Brother!"

Bang Jin-bo's eyes trembled. Muk Il-gwang turned around and grinned.

"Don't worry. I'll protect you."

"Brother?"

"I promised big brother. I'll keep my word no matter what happens."

Though he said this, his stamina had already reached its limit. His hands holding the axes were trembling, and exhaustion was evident on his face.

Still, Muk Il-gwang gripped his axes tightly. His eyes burned with anger.

More than half of the Yellow Demon Channel bandits on the speedboat were already dead. Though from different bases, they were fellow outlaws. They were like brothers to him. Their deaths made Muk Il-gwang angry.

"You b*st*rds!"

Jang San-woo roared.

His entire body was stained with blood. Numerous corpses lay at his feet. They were enemies Jang San-woo had killed.

Even while engaged in fierce combat with the Blood Dark Squad, he never let go of the rudder. If he lost control of the rudder, the speedboat would be swept away by the rapids and shatter.

"Everyone, hold on! Just endure a bit more and we'll escape Hell Gorge."

Jang San-woo encouraged his subordinate bandits. The surviving bandits swung their weapons in fury. Having lost many comrades, their eyes saw nothing else.

"Die! You b*st*rd!"

"Ahhh!"

They charged in desperately fighting for their lives. Since they couldn't match one-on-one, four or five would gang up on one enemy.

Though they fought hard this way, even this had reached its limit. Their bodies trembled and they barely had strength to hold their weapons.

"Damn!"

"Is this the end?"

Just as despair was rising from the bottom…

Suddenly, the Blood Dark Squad looked up at the peak of Hell Gorge. The way they all silently looked up at the sky gave people a strange sense of fear.

They started stirring.

"The Immortal…"

"…is dead."

In that moment, the Blood Dark Squad exchanged glances and suddenly leaped toward the top of Hell Gorge. The cliff walls of Hell Gorge turned completely red as the Blood Dark Squad climbed up by digging their hands and feet into the cliff or using lightness skills.

"What?"

The surviving Yellow Demon Channel bandits looked blankly at the Blood Dark Squad climbing the cliff.

Like ants returning to their nest after losing their queen, the Blood Dark Squad frantically climbed the cliff.

Finally able to catch his breath, Muk Il-gwang muttered in a low voice.

"Brother!"

He could tell without seeing.

There was only one person who could make the persistently attacking Blood Dark Squad retreat so urgently.

Dam Ho had made them move.

Swish swish!

Red shadows climbed up and joined behind Deung Cheon-so. Hundreds of warriors in red martial clothes lined up.

The Blood Dark Squad emanated terrifying killing intent toward Dam Ho. Deung Cheon-so briefly looked at the Blood Dark Squad lined up behind him.

The Blood Dark Squad was a great asset of the Demonic Cult. Their individual martial arts were strong, but what was truly frightening was one particular internal technique they had mastered.

Deung Cheon-so gave them an order.

"Use the Blood Spirit Soul-Dragging Technique."

For a moment, the Blood Dark Squad's eyes wavered. But soon they used the technique.

The Blood Spirit Soul-Dragging Technique was one of the Demonic Cult's forbidden arts. Those who mastered it could connect their spirits.

When spirits are connected through this technique, thoughts are shared. The more people connected, the more the power increases exponentially. However, the technique had a weakness – once used, there was a very high chance of becoming disabled afterward.

It was a technique that put tremendous strain on the brain. If used wrongly, one could become an idiot, or worse, suffer complete paralysis – truly a demonic technique.

Even Deung Cheon-so was shocked. The Blood Dark Squad wasn't originally created to be used this way. They were carefully created for a greater purpose, but because of Dam Ho, they had to use their full power.

"In that case, I'll definitely take your head."

Deung Cheon-so roared. Terrifying killing intent emanated from his body. But even at his killing intent, Dam Ho didn't blink an eye.

Dam Ho's eyes were darkness itself.

His pitch-black eyes held not a trace of emotion.

Suddenly, he reached behind his back. Deung Cheon-so's sword was still stuck in his back. Dam Ho grabbed the blade. Then pulled forcefully.

Swoosh!

The sound of the sword cutting flesh rang out. The Blood Dark Squad and Deung Cheon-so flinched. The sound of the sword cutting Dam Ho's flesh felt like it was cutting their own hearts.

Dam Ho finally pulled out the sword stuck in his back.

His blood flowed down the blade. Dam Ho's face reflected in the blood-stained blade.

Crack!

When he applied force, the sturdy blade crumbled like a cookie.

"You!"

Deung Cheon-so, seeing his precious sword shatter in Dam Ho's hands, charged in anger.

That was the signal.

Swish!

The Blood Dark Squad attacked Dam Ho following Deung Cheon-so.

Short spears flew and arrows cut through the air. Some threw hidden weapons, others charged in bare-handed.

Though it seemed like they were charging randomly without any order at first glance, there wasn't a single gap in their wave attack. Connected through the Blood Spirit Soul-Dragging Technique, the Blood Dark Squad shared the optimal method instantly to attack Dam Ho.

Whoosh!

At that moment, Dam Ho's body vibrated slightly.

The Shield, a protective technique of the Defensive Energy Technique, was deployed.

Dam Ho jumped into the middle of the Blood Dark Squad with the Shield surrounding his body.

Clang clang clang!

Arrows deflected, hidden weapons struck the Shield and fell. Deflecting the enemies' sabers and swords, he charged straight ahead.

The shortest distance between two points. At the end were Dam Ho and Deung Cheon-so.

"Madman!"

Only then did Deung Cheon-so realize Dam Ho's target was only himself, and he trembled.

Dam Ho completely ignored the Blood Dark Squad's attacks. Leaving defense to the Shield, he attacked solely to kill one person – Deung Cheon-so.

That persistence and blind killing intent was enough to terrify even the great Deung Cheon-so.

Stab!

A Blood Dark Squad member's sword pierced his side through the Shield. The shocking pain that made his mouth gape shot up his spine and rang in his head. Still, Dam Ho didn't cry out, nor did he stop.

His eyes saw only one person – Deung Cheon-so. He completely ignored all other attacks.

Bang!

Dam Ho's Fortress Piercing Kick exploded in front of Deung Cheon-so.

With a "splat" sound, flesh exploded. But Deung Cheon-so was fine. A nearby Blood Dark Squad member had thrown himself in to block at the critical moment.

Instead, the Blood Dark Squad member's body exploded like a firecracker. Deung Cheon-so's entire body was stained red with his blood.

"You!"

Deung Cheon-so swung his sword in anger.

The Black Dark Heaven-Stealing technique was unleashed, targeting Dam Ho's heart.

From the front came sword energy with massive power, from the other three sides the Blood Dark Squad charged like hungry demons. There seemed nowhere for Dam Ho to dodge. And Dam Ho had no intention of dodging.

He stretched both hands forward.

His hands using the Silver Net Hand technique had invisible nets of fine energy formed. In that state, he grabbed Deung Cheon-so's sword.

The sword trembled as the Silver Net Hand clashed with the sword energy.

Seeing this sight, Deung Cheon-so felt his heart might burst. Grabbing a sword wrapped in sword energy with bare hands? Something impossible by his common sense had happened.

But soon he shouted:

"How dare you use such evil techniques? I'll blow off those hands!"

He poured even stronger energy into the sword. The energy gathered on the sword expanded explosively. But in just one place, where Dam Ho's hands gripped, it only wavered without expanding.

Creak!

Veins bulged on Deung Cheon-so's forehead and his sword hand trembled. He didn't let go of the sword.

The Blood Dark Squad, who had hesitated momentarily, charged at Dam Ho again. The weapons in their hands would pierce Dam Ho like a hedgehog. His job was to endure that brief moment.

That's when it happened.

Clang!

Cracks appeared on the sword's surface where Dam Ho gripped it, and it exploded instantly. The sword shattered, unable to withstand the clash of internal energy between Dam Ho and Deung Cheon-so. Hundreds of sword fragments scattered in all directions like hidden weapons.

"Kuhk!"

The fragments struck not only Deung Cheon-so but also the Blood Dark Squad and Dam Ho. Over ten fragments pierced Deung Cheon-so's chest and abdomen, and about ten Blood Dark Squad members charging like moths to a flame instantly lost their lives.

Five or six fragments also pierced Dam Ho's body. Still, Dam Ho didn't cry out and unleashed the Wide Pressing Hand technique.

Crack!

Deung Cheon-so's shoulder collapsed.

"Kugh!"

Deung Cheon-so gritted his teeth and stepped back. His face clearly showed his bewilderment.

Dam Ho pursued relentlessly and unleashed a Single Yang Strike.

Crunch!

Deung Cheon-so took a hit to his nose. As his nose bridge collapsed, blood sprayed everywhere, staining his face completely red.

Meanwhile, Dam Ho allowed another hit from the Blood Dark Squad. Though the Shield minimized the damage, it didn't mean he couldn't feel pain.

Deung Cheon-so felt fear toward such a Dam Ho. Despite receiving so many wounds, Dam Ho targeted only one person – Deung Cheon-so.

Even the great Deung Cheon-so couldn't help but be terrified by such persistence and venom.

'To think such a person existed in the world.'

His whole body trembled involuntarily.

He too had been called stubborn growing up, and was evaluated as a cold-blooded person without blood or tears. But compared to Dam Ho, the difference was as great as between the full moon and a firefly.

Dam Ho was truly persistent. He attacked targeting only Deung Cheon-so. He ignored the Blood Dark Squad's attacks.

Bang! Bang!

He attacked and attacked again.

Having lost all three swords, Deung Cheon-so couldn't find an opening to counterattack. His hair had long been disheveled like a madwoman's, and his entire body was covered in wounds large and small.

Deung Cheon-so's face was twisted. Though he didn't want to admit it, he was feeling fear toward Dam Ho now.

"Block him! Block him even if you have to throw your bodies!"

He shouted at the Blood Dark Squad.

Bang!

At that moment, Dam Ho's hammer-like fist struck his temple. Deung Cheon-so's consciousness flew away momentarily.

Dam Ho's attacks continued like wagon wheels without pause on Deung Cheon-so's staggering body.

An elbow struck his chest, followed by a shoulder attack with full body weight. A knee buried into his abdomen, and a heel shattered his left shoulder.

"Uwaah!"

Deung Cheon-so vomited blood and collapsed.

Dam Ho's relentless combination attacks had shattered every bone in Deung Cheon-so's body. Deung Cheon-so wobbled like an octopus on land before collapsing to the ground.

He barely raised his head to look up at Dam Ho. He opened his mouth, drooling blood and saliva.

"Heh! Fist Demon, Fist Demon. To think someone like you existed in the world. But your end won't be so…"

Bang!

At that moment, Dam Ho's large fist struck Deung Cheon-so's face. Deung Cheon-so's head shattered like a watermelon.

Deung Cheon-so died without finishing his words. Though he had killed him, Dam Ho had no time to rest.

The Blood Dark Squad was charging like a swarm of bees. Dam Ho threw his whole body at them.

Bang!

Death arrived.

Due to Divine Nun’s unexpected actions, Jin Ja-gang and Tang Ha-ran were able to safely pass through the encirclement.

The two walked in silence for a while.

However, the atmosphere was awkward, different from the warm and friendly mood earlier.

While resting briefly by a small stream where water flowed gently, it was Tang Ha-ran who spoke first.

“I…”

She started speaking but seemed to find it difficult to continue.

With difficulty, Tang Ha-ran continued.

“Are you angry?”

Jin Ja-gang, who had been waiting for Tang Ha-ran’s words, showed a slightly surprised expression.

“Why would you think I’d be angry?”

“Well… because I didn’t speak up and hid it… uh, um.”

“No. It’s not like that.”

“Then you already knew?”

Suddenly Jin Ja-gang’s face turned red.

Tang Ha-ran watched Jin Ja-gang’s reaction and burst into laughter at the sight.

“The great Poison Dragon is getting flustered?”

Jin Ja-gang also laughed awkwardly.

“It’s because this is something I never thought about.”

Tang Ha-ran, who had been laughing, pouted her lips.

“What? Then you thought nothing would happen?”

“It’s not that. It’s just…”

Jin Ja-gang looked at the starry sky and said.

“I can’t believe such a day has come to me.”

“But we don’t know yet.”

Tang Ha-ran took Jin Ja-gang’s hand and placed it on her stomach.

It wasn’t yet time for any signs to show. However, Jin Ja-gang felt as if a small heartbeat was resonating in his hand.

“Will this child be able to safely come out into the world? Will it be able to safely endure the treacherous thorny path we must travel ahead?”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t answer that question either.

The martial world teeming with powerful masters and forces incomparable to the Poison Sect they had faced in Yunnan.

A stern world where one wrong judgment would immediately lead down an irreversible path.

The small spark of life that had suddenly emerged in that world couldn’t help but perplex Jin Ja-gang. Seeing Jin Ja-gang’s complex expression, Tang Ha-ran said.

“I know how heavy and difficult the burden you carry is. That’s why I’m trying not to force you.”

“This is something I should naturally take responsibility for.”

“No, I didn’t say that to hear such words. Do I look like the kind of woman who forces responsibility on men?”

“No.”

Tang Ha-ran put strength in her hand. She pressed Jin Ja-gang’s hand and her own hand more firmly against her stomach.

“I actually wanted to stay by your side. I wanted to become a companion you could comfortably lean your back against and rely on. But now that’s become difficult. Let me say something selfish.”

“Please speak.”

“You go your way. I’ll do my best to protect our child. I will…”

Jin Ja-gang could understand what Tang Ha-ran couldn’t finish saying.

Even if you can’t complete your revenge and can’t return, I’ll protect our child. I’ll protect your child.

“Miss Tang…”

Jin Ja-gang showed a surprised expression.

That was no different from a farewell notice. It meant it was time to part.

Tang Ha-ran suddenly made a strange smile and pretended to be angry.

“Still calling me Miss? Have you ever seen a Miss with a protruding belly from having a child?”

“What?”

“Call me properly. I’m no longer your Miss.”

“Uh, well…”

Jin Ja-gang answered while flustered but trying his best.

“W-wife?”

Tang Ha-ran burst into silent laughter.

“Good. Though it was said without courage, anyway I now have the courage to handle anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Did you forget? Children are precious in the Tang family. If the worst case happens, I’ll return home.”

Tang Ha-ran smiled and said to Jin Ja-gang.

“So when that time comes, you’ll have to come get me again. Of course, I’ll do my best to prevent that from happening.”

Jin Ja-gang and Tang Ha-ran held each other’s hands tightly.

In this harsh world where they couldn’t even guarantee how much longer they could live, a short relationship that began with a brief meeting and burned brightly, and after this night they didn’t know if they could see each other again…

Jin Ja-gang gritted his teeth and made a resolution.

“I’ll become strong. I won’t die. And I’ll do my best to return.”

Tang Ha-ran smiled and asked back.

“To whom?”

“Of course to…”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Ha-ran and smiled.

* * *

Tang Ha-ran left the next day.

Jin Ja-gang worried about Tang Ha-ran, but that was actually unnecessary concern.

Even though Jin Ja-gang had become stronger, Tang Ha-ran was still strong as well. She was a martial artist who could protect herself. Moreover, Sichuan was where she was born and raised.

Alone, she could move around much more freely than Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang immersed himself in meditation under a waterfall, receiving the cold stream of water.

Due to last night’s events, his heart was still pounding and he couldn’t concentrate. Worries and concerns about the future, anxieties, and also joy and happiness. Indescribable complex emotions and thoughts kept distracting Jin Ja-gang.

However, in this state, he might die before even reaching the Martial Alliance’s Guizhou branch, let alone dealing with it. Only by safely completing the business in Guizhou could Jin Ja-gang save himself and take another step closer to his revenge.

Jin Ja-gang tried his best to calm his mood and shake off his thoughts.

Only after a full half day had passed and his entire body had become cold as ice did Jin Ja-gang feel his head clearing.

Both Bian Bu and Soso who remained on Qingcheng Mountain, and Tang Ha-ran as well, had chosen and decided their own paths.

Now it was the same for Jin Ja-gang.

It was time to return to his own path.

To survive, he must become an Asura!

* * *

The Martial Alliance’s Guizhou branch.

Two and three-story rectangular mansions were densely built along the river with their backs against cliffs.

Due to being geographically closer to Guangxi, they took the form of elevated wooden buildings on stilts.

This was a method of making pillars from timber and placing floors on top of the pillars to build houses above them. Due to the many mountains, humidity, and abundance of venomous snakes and insects, residential areas were built elevated from the ground.

Multiple railings and stairs were placed outside the mansions, connecting them so one could travel between different mansions in the air. From the outside, it appeared somewhat complex.

Jin Ja-gang circled near the branch with its drooping fence and observed.

‘About twenty servants. Checking the number of dishes coming from the kitchen, there are roughly eighty warriors in the branch.’

It was much fewer than the numbers he had faced so far. Of course, even though the Sword Hero Squad had been deployed, they would have incomparable power to Yunnan’s Poison Sect.

‘But with my current strength, I have a chance of winning even in a direct confrontation.’

Jin Ja-gang closed his eyes briefly.

Soso’s face came to mind.

Guizhou’s Medicine Sect had also been attacked like Yunnan’s Medicine Sect.

How cruel and terrible the acts committed then must have been.

To commit the atrocity of cutting off the tongue of Soso, who was just a young child!

He couldn’t forgive the Martial Alliance’s Guizhou branch for watching this and, on the other hand, cooperating with the Poison Sect to help massacre Guizhou’s Medicine Sect.

Bian Bu had told him why Soso had ended up in the Evil Sect.

“Guizhou’s Medicine Sect had many skilled masters, so despite the Poison Sect’s large-scale attack, they couldn’t easily conquer it. The Medicine Sect’s heroes evacuated the elderly and weak to the Martial Alliance’s Guizhou branch and engaged in desperate resistance. But… the Martial Alliance used the elderly and weak who had been sent trusting them as hostages… to disarm Guizhou’s Medicine Sect. Well, what happened next is obvious.”

Of course, Bian Bu had also said something different from what Jin Ja-gang knew.

That the Medicine Sect had attacked the Poison Sect first.

That this was what resulted from that.

However, regardless of which side spoke the truth, betraying those who had entrusted themselves to them and cutting off the tongue of a young girl not even eight years old was an absolutely unforgivable despicable act.

And what had the most influence on that decision was none other than Guizhou’s branch leader, Golden Fortune Merchant Hae Mak.

From the information Jin Ja-gang had gathered around Guizhou after entering, there were rumors that Golden Fortune Merchant Hae Mak had originally been a merchant leading a large trading company in Guizhou, and after joining the Martial Alliance, he had obtained the branch leader position through enormous financial power.

Of course, there were also widespread rumors that after becoming branch leader, he had gained even more profit than the money he had brought in using the Martial Alliance’s name. However, in Guizhou where there were no major sects, his influence was already so great that no one could oppose him.

He was so thorough in calculating gains and losses and never did anything that would cause him loss that even his nickname retained “merchant.”

When orders came from above, his following them meant he ultimately acted based on his own calculations of gains and losses.

If he had dirtied his hands based on his own judgment, he had to pay the price.

Jin Ja-gang slowly opened his eyes.

“When my work is done, I’ll go see what kind of ugly face that person has.”

Hiss, hiss.

The snake in Jin Ja-gang’s hand made threatening sounds. His hand was swollen, apparently from the snake bite.

Jin Ja-gang released the snake and watched the branch’s mansions for a long while before leaving.

* * *

A notice suddenly arrived at the Martial Alliance’s Guizhou branch.

The notice wasn’t on paper but was a corpse thrown inside the Sect. On the chest of a patrolling warrior’s corpse, words were written in blood.

Massacre

Massacre meant killing without leaving a single person alive.

The corpse was so poisoned that its limbs were swollen and its entire face had turned dark, making it impossible to recognize who it was – a disgusting sight.

“What crazy bastard?”

Guizhou branch leader Golden Fortune Merchant Hae Mak was a master in his fifties who, unlike typical martial artists, wore expensive silk clothes. He had a sturdy build and carried a large iron abacus at his side with his hands behind his back.

Hae Mak put on gloves and examined the corpse from various angles.

“It’s definitely someone who was killed by someone who handles poison. Is it someone rebelling against the Martial Alliance?”

Hae Mak looked at the corpse and fell into thought. He was considering in various ways who could do such a thing.

Perhaps it was some Evil Sect members who couldn’t go to Qingcheng Mountain causing a disturbance to draw attention.

After thinking for a moment, Hae Mak ordered the corpse to be removed.

“Either way, it won’t hurt to be careful. From today, increase the number of external guards and carefully check whether there’s poison in water and food.”

“Yes!”

However, it wasn’t just once. That day at lunch and dinner, warriors who had been patrolling were found dead from poison.

The same word “massacre” was written on their chests. Particularly on the fifth corpse, even the time was specified: “Four days remaining.”

“This bastard?”

Hae Mak’s eyes twisted.

It seemed difficult to view this as a simple threat anymore.