Chapter 383 – The Earth Burns and People Shed Tears (2)

The moment he heard that voice, Muk Il-gwang felt the blood in his entire body turn cold. ​

His fingertips holding the axe felt itchy. As if countless ants were biting at his fingertips. ​

Muk Il-gwang slowly turned his head. Then he saw a man of average build. ​

A middle-aged man with an ordinary face that could be seen anywhere had been watching him with arms crossed at some point. But the aura flowing from his body was truly formidable. ​

The moment Hwang Hye-ryeong saw him, she was reminded of a massive mountain range. His presence was that overwhelming. ​

"Ah!" ​

Enough to make Hwang Hye-ryeong unconsciously let out a sigh. ​

Muk Il-gwang bit his lips hard. ​

Setting aside the opponent's mountain-like aura, the fact that he hadn't noticed until the man approached close was bewildering. ​

If the middle-aged man had harbored malicious intent, Hwang Hye-ryeong would already not be of this world. For Muk Il-gwang, who proclaimed himself Hwang Hye-ryeong's bodyguard, it was a chilling moment. ​

Muk Il-gwang asked while gripping his axe tightly. ​

"Who are you?" ​

"The master of the guys you killed." ​

The middle-aged man answered indifferently while looking at the traces of his subordinates who had turned into pieces of meat. A cold light was rising in his eyes. ​

"Those guys were trash. They attacked and annihilated Daegeum Military Post without my orders. So I was going to kill them with my own hands. But that's no longer necessary. Since you killed them. It's as if you did what I should have done." ​

"Then you should thank me." ​

"However, they were my subordinates. Even if they had to die, they should have died by my hand, not by someone else's. I can never tolerate that." ​

"……" ​

Muk Il-gwang's eyes trembled. ​

The killing intent in the middle-aged man's voice made the air in the area turn cold. ​

Strength entered Muk Il-gwang's hand gripping the axe. His body was reacting first to the opponent's terrifying killing intent. ​

Muk Il-gwang straightened his back. ​

If possible, he wanted to escape Anhui Province without clashing with the Demon Cult. But with the situation having come to this, it seemed unavoidable that blood would be spilled. ​

He said to Hwang Hye-ryeong. ​

"Miss, if it seems like I'm going to be pushed back, please flee without looking back." ​

"I can't do that." ​

"Miss! You must do so. Please promise me." ​

Muk Il-gwang's voice was resolute. ​

Hwang Hye-ryeong bit her lips hard. ​

Muk Il-gwang looked like he was truly facing a life-or-death enemy, not just a simple opponent. She had never seen Muk Il-gwang this tense before. His desperation was conveyed directly through his expression. ​

"I promise! If Il-gwang seems to be at a disadvantage, I'll run away." ​

"You promise?" ​

"I promise." ​

Hwang Hye-ryeong nodded without hesitation. ​

Only then did relief appear on Muk Il-gwang's face. Now he felt he could give his best without regrets. ​

Muk Il-gwang cupped his fists to the middle-aged man. ​

"I am Muk Il-gwang of the Green Forest." ​

"My name is Nam Hyeon-so. I am the Divine Fire Hall Master of the Divine Cult." ​

"As expected, you're from the Demon Cult." ​

"It's the Divine Cult." ​

Nam Hyeon-so corrected Muk Il-gwang's words. Muk Il-gwang silently nodded. He didn't have the luxury to argue about such trivial matters now. ​

His opponent was a super master of the Demon Cult. ​

Though he too had grown much over the past three years, this was an opponent he couldn't dare be confident of victory against. ​

Muk Il-gwang glanced at Hwang Hye-ryeong's face. It might be the last time he saw her. So he etched it deep in his heart. ​

He asked while drawing up his inner power. ​

"What brings the Divine Cult to Anhui Province?" ​

"Aren't you already guessing?" ​

"It must be because of the Namgung Family." ​

"That's right. With Namgung Chang dead by the Fist Demon's hand, now is the perfect opportunity. We will annex the Namgung Family." ​

For a moment, Muk Il-gwang's eyes wavered. It was his first time hearing the news that Dam Ho had killed Namgung Chang, the strategist of the Martial Alliance. ​

It was news with the destructive power to shake the martial world. But Muk Il-gwang tried to hide his agitation and asked. ​

"After the Namgung Family, it would be Overlord's Fortress on Mount Huang." ​

"How did you know that?" ​

Interest appeared in Nam Hyeon-so's eyes. ​

Because that was indeed their plan. ​

The leader of Anhui Province was undoubtedly the Namgung Family. Once they dealt with the Namgung Family, other sects would surely lose their focal point and fall into disarray. ​

Then what remained would only be Overlord's Fortress on Mount Huang. ​

Overlord's Fortress was a stronghold existing at the apex of tens of thousands of Green Forest outlaws. Once they dealt with Overlord's Fortress too, the Green Forest outlaws who lost their focal point would instantly fall to mere bandits. ​

Muk Il-gwang bit his lips hard. Flesh tore and blood flowed, but he couldn't even feel the pain. ​

One more reason not to retreat had arisen. Even if he lost his life here. ​

Hiss! ​

Crimson haze rose from Muk Il-gwang's entire body. It was a phenomenon that appeared only in those who had mastered the Blood Heaven Axe Technique to perfection. ​

"My name is Muk Il-gwang. I'm from Overlord's Fortress that you're planning to attack." ​

"Is that so? There's sufficient reason to fight." ​

Nam Hyeon-so nodded. ​

He uncrossed his arms. ​

Muk Il-gwang's fighting spirit was transmitted through the air. It had been truly long since he'd encountered a young martial artist who radiated this level of fighting spirit. That's why he was pleased. ​

"What more words are needed? Come at me! Young hero of the Green Forest." ​

"Hyaat!" ​

As soon as Nam Hyeon-so's words ended, Muk Il-gwang burst forth with a battle cry. ​

Whoosh! ​

Two axes exploded with terrifying crimson axe energy. It was an attack containing tremendous power enough to shatter even large rocks. ​

Muk Il-gwang's axe fell toward Nam Hyeon-so's crown. At that moment, Nam Hyeon-so raised his hand. ​

Clack! ​

Instantly, Muk Il-gwang's axe stopped in mid-air. ​

"Guk!" ​

Disbelief appeared in Muk Il-gwang's eyes. ​

Nam Hyeon-so had stopped the axe imbued with axe energy with his bare hand. But he couldn't just be amazed. Because Nam Hyeon-so attacked his chest with his other hand. ​

Instead of dodging, Muk Il-gwang blocked the attack with his remaining axe. ​

Crash! ​

At that moment, Nam Hyeon-so's fist exploded on the axe's surface. The axe that had been imbued with crimson axe energy shattered and scattered like glass. ​

"Gaah!" ​

Subsequently, an intense shock struck Muk Il-gwang's entire body. Though his breath was momentarily cut off, Muk Il-gwang endured the pain with superhuman patience. ​

"Your body is quite sturdy." ​

A cold smile appeared at Nam Hyeon-so's lips. ​

Muk Il-gwang swung his axe widely to shake off Nam Hyeon-so's hand. Then he poured all his inner power into the axe. ​

Hiss! ​

The faintly spread crimson axe energy gathered and soon formed a distinct axe shape. ​

Strong energy created with an axe – this was axe force. ​

When strong energy was created with a sword, it was called sword force, and when it could be formed with a blade, it was called blade force. ​

Generally, creating axe force was much more arduous and consumed inner power extremely severely compared to creating sword force or blade force. It was more a matter of inner power than enlightenment. ​

Axes were much larger and had wider surface area than swords or blades. Naturally, to encompass the entire wide surface, much more inner power had to be consumed. ​

Instead, because the tremendous weight and size could be converted directly into destructive power, the might was superior to blade force or sword force. ​

Muk Il-gwang fully utilized such advantages of the axe and deployed his technique. ​

Blood Moon Piercing Kill. ​

The technique with the greatest destructive power of the Blood Heaven Axe Technique was unleashed toward Nam Hyeon-so. ​

Whoosh! ​

The massive axe flew toward Nam Hyeon-so, cutting through the air. ​

Though the axe flying while heating the air in the area red-hot was fearsome, there was no change in Nam Hyeon-so's expression. ​

Instead, Nam Hyeon-so threw his body into the trajectory of the axe imbued with axe force. The axe force barely grazed past his head. ​

Even in a situation where flesh trembled and hearts pounded, Nam Hyeon-so's eyes shone coldly. Conversely, Muk Il-gwang was shocked enough to stop his heart. ​

Nam Hyeon-so's cold gaze pierced his chest. Subsequently, his palm adhered to Muk Il-gwang's chest. ​

Boom! ​

A thunderous sound erupted and Muk Il-gwang's body was flung like a cannonball. On his chest remained Nam Hyeon-so's palm print clearly. ​

Universe Shattering Palm. ​

It was Nam Hyeon-so's signature technique. ​

Universe Shattering Palm was a palm technique that used penetrating force to destroy the opponent's interior rather than exterior. It was such an advanced martial art that even within the Demon Cult, few could block Universe Shattering Palm. ​

With this one move, Muk Il-gwang's interior was ruined. ​

His energy and blood were shaken, and his internal organs were thoroughly mixed up. ​

Muk Il-gwang's massive body swayed precariously like a candle about to go out. ​

"It's over." ​

Nam Hyeon-so threw a palm strike toward such Muk Il-gwang. He was trying to finish it. ​

That's when it happened. ​

"Hyaat!" ​

Hwang Hye-ryeong threw a palm strike at Nam Hyeon-so with a battle cry. At this, Muk Il-gwang coughed up blood and shouted. ​

"N-no!" ​

He wasn't an opponent she could handle. ​

At that moment, Nam Hyeon-so's palm force changed direction and struck Hwang Hye-ryeong. ​

Bang! ​

"Hueuk!" ​

With an intense striking sound, Hwang Hye-ryeong tumbled on the ground. Muk Il-gwang hurriedly embraced her. ​

"Miss!" ​

"I-Il-gwang!" ​

"Didn't you promise to flee?" ​

"I'm… sorry! I won't keep the promise." ​

"Miss!" ​

"How could I abandon Il-gwang?" ​

"Grrr!" ​

"I'd rather die together if we must die. I can't do that." ​

Embraced in Muk Il-gwang's arms, Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled sadly. At such an appearance of Hwang Hye-ryeong, Muk Il-gwang choked up. ​

"Miss!" ​

"I'd rather die together than be separated. Absolutely! So don't tell me to run away alone." ​

"I understand." ​

Muk Il-gwang embraced Hwang Hye-ryeong's delicate body tightly. ​

Her warmth filled his embrace. ​

It was a situation where their lives were in danger, but strangely his heart felt at peace. ​

Nam Hyeon-so clicked his tongue looking at the two people. ​

"Tsk! I can't bear to watch." ​

He raised his hand to deploy Universe Shattering Palm again. Now if he brought down his hand, Muk Il-gwang and Hwang Hye-ryeong's lives would be over. But Nam Hyeon-so couldn't bring down his hand. ​

Because of a woman standing behind Muk Il-gwang and Hwang Hye-ryeong at some point. ​

She was like a ghost. ​

She had appeared without sound or presence and was standing silently behind the two people. Muk Il-gwang and Hwang Hye-ryeong hadn't noticed her existence at all. Her appearance was that secretive and eerily quiet. ​

Nam Hyeon-so's eyes changed. ​

He dispersed the inner power he had gathered in his hand and opened his mouth. ​

"General Yo." ​

"It's been a while, Hall Master Nam." ​

The woman opening her mouth with a smile was precisely Yo Sa-ran. Her appearance was unexpected even for Nam Hyeon-so. ​

"Why are you here?" ​

"Because they're children I have a connection with." ​

"Did you know they belonged to the Green Forest?" ​

"No, I didn't know that. I just happened to meet them and formed a friendship." ​

At Yo Sa-ran's answer, Nam Hyeon-so frowned deeply. ​

Blood Wheel Witch Yo Sa-ran was a member of the Four Great Generals, an existence of higher rank than him within the Demon Cult hierarchy. Though she had such an innocent face, no one knew exactly how old she was, having lived for such a long time. Her martial arts were correspondingly formidable. ​

She hadn't become a member of the Four Great Generals for nothing. The fact that no one who had fought Yo Sa-ran and lived to tell about it existed proved her martial prowess. ​

"What should I do? General Yo." ​

"Spare them just once." ​

"That's…" ​

"Think of it as owing me a debt." ​

"I understand." ​

Nam Hyeon-so readily nodded. ​

If he could make Yo Sa-ran owe him a debt in exchange for the lives of two youngsters, it would be profitable for him. Yo Sa-ran was a martial artist with that much presence and value. ​

Only then did Hwang Hye-ryeong and Muk Il-gwang, who noticed Yo Sa-ran's appearance, look up at her. ​

"S-sister?" ​

"Somehow I couldn't feel at ease even after sending you off." ​

"Were you also a Demon Cult member, sister?" ​

"Yes! I'm the Blood Wheel Witch, one of the Four Great Generals of the Divine Cult. I didn't want to let you know such a fact." ​

"Ah!" ​

At Hwang Hye-ryeong's reaction, Yo Sa-ran's face slightly grimaced. ​

It was a reaction she had expected to some degree, but it still bothered her slightly. However, she soon made a calm expression. ​

"Leave Anhui Province immediately. Little sister." ​

"Sister?" ​

"Hell will unfold in Anhui Province." ​

Yo Sa-ran looked down at her own white hands. ​

These hands would open the gates of hell in this Anhui Province. ​

Tang Qing answered forcefully.

“The time gained by sending my son-in-law as an envoy to Shaolin Temple is a fortnight! Now it takes another fortnight for Shaolin Temple to reach Sichuan! And another fortnight for news of their failure to be delivered to Shaolin Temple! That’s a total of one and a half months!”

The corners of Tang Qing’s mouth rose as his expression twisted like a laughing evil spirit.

I have already obtained all the time I needed!

An Yul-jin’s expression contorted.

He hadn’t expected that even that would be prepared for.

“So… will you… reject my hand?”

Tang Qing bared his teeth and stared directly at An Yul-jin with round eyes as he said.

“How could that be? If I don’t take it, you’ll obviously go elsewhere to ally. And I can’t refuse a hand extended for survival either. That wouldn’t be something to do while wearing a human mask.”

At Tang Qing’s words, An Yul-jin’s expression, which had seemed suppressed until then, began to relax. He even wore a smile.

“Fortunate. Your great-grandchild is lucky. Meeting a grandfather who knows human ethics and saving their life.”

Tang Qing’s eyes twitched.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said. That granddaughter named Ha-ran, the Tang family bloodline she has conceived.”

Tang Qing quickly turned to look at Tang Gwi-ok. Tang Gwi-ok answered.

“Ha-ran’s expression hasn’t been good lately, so since the Medical Immortal came, I asked him to take a look.”

“Oh, tsk.”

Tang Qing’s forehead furrowed. It meant he had done something unnecessary and almost had a weakness exposed.

But Tang Gwi-ok shook her head.

“External affairs are older brother’s domain, but protecting the Tang family bloodline under any circumstances is my duty and mission.”

“Right. You’re correct. That’s also important work. I won’t blame you.”

An Yul-jin snorted.

“King of Hell. Know that you’re lucky. Thanks to you making me wait here for a day, I was able to see that child. Otherwise, both child and mother would have died.”

“We have many skilled physicians on our side too. Until a few days ago, there was nothing wrong.”

An indescribable radiance flowed from An Yul-jin’s eyes. An Yul-jin, who was merely a small hunchback, revealed the presence of a giant in an instant.

“King of Hell. You’re looking down on me too much. Are you comparing me to those worthless physician quacks?”

Tremendous internal energy burst forth from An Yul-jin’s body.

Crack, crack.

The stone floor An Yul-jin stood on cracked.

Tang Qing’s aura also rose naturally in response to An Yul-jin’s momentum. His carefully arranged hair stood up and his clothes puffed out.

Strength entered the hand gripping the chair’s armrest, crushing and crumbling the armrest like tofu.

Clatter, clatter. The furnishings in the room shook left and right, making sounds as they hit the floor, and the tea water boiled, steaming.

Tang Qing spoke with his teeth bared and torn mouth seemingly smiling.

“How dare you show off your strength in front of me?”

An Yul-jin didn’t back down either. The shell of the staff An Yul-jin was holding began cracking and falling off. The blade hidden inside the staff was revealed as the shell broke.

“Shall we test whether it’s showing off or not? Shall I guess the child’s father?”

“If you’re wrong, I’ll kill you right here.”

“The child’s father is Poison Dragon. Isn’t that right?”

Tang Qing raised his eyes and laughed.

“Did you hit it based on rumors?”

“Tremendous poison blood flows in the child’s body. That’s affecting the mother too.”

Tang Qing was rather pleased.

“Blood poison? You’re saying blood poison flows in a child that’s only a few months old?”

“Blood poison should only be called blood poison when it can be controlled. Right now it’s just blood mixed with poison. You know well why the Tang family has few heirs, don’t you?”

Because they handle poison. There were many cases of improper pregnancy or infertility. Of course, even when pregnancy occurred, cases of successful childbirth were rare.

“Moreover, it’s the seed of Poison Dragon, who is emerging as the martial world’s greatest poison master. She has conceived Poison Dragon’s essence. I guarantee that during childbirth, not only the mother and child, but everyone within a ten-zhang radius will be unable to escape death.”

An Yul-jin paused in his speech and looked at Tang Qing with the same smile.

“As one who practices medicine, ignoring a mother obviously facing death wouldn’t be something to do while wearing a human mask. King of Hell. I’ll give you a gift. I’ll ensure the child is born safely.”

“What’s the success rate?”

An Yul-jin lowered his voice and continued.

“I’m An Yul-jin. Not only will the child be born healthy, but if I put in a little more effort, that child will be born with the strongest poison-immune constitution in martial world history.”

A small ecstasy formed and disappeared at the corners of Tang Qing’s eyes.

“That wouldn’t be free.”

Saving the mother and child was the price for the Tang family and An family medical house joining hands. But making the child born with a poison-immune constitution was a different matter. Since the child in the womb had to be cared for, it would be a completely different issue from teaching martial arts to an adult.

“There is one thing I’d like to request.”

“Don’t beat around the bush and speak! Don’t you know time is precious between old men who don’t have many days left?”

But An Yul-jin delayed until Tang Qing stamped his feet in frustration and tore his hair before answering.

“My granddaughter.”

Tang Qing’s head tilted crookedly. He understood what An Yul-jin meant to say.

“Oh…”

An Yul-jin said.

“I want to give my granddaughter to Poison Dragon.”

Tang Qing answered with a rotten expression.

“What a terrible deal.”

An Yul-jin retorted.

“It’s the best deal.”

Tang Qing withdrew his momentum and leaned back against his chair.

“I’ll think about that. Our son-in-law’s price seems rather undervalued because of a child that hasn’t even been born yet.”

An Yul-jin also withdrew his internal energy.

“Think it over slowly. I don’t want to undervalue Poison Dragon’s worth either. But I’d like a decision before my son-in-law takes your head.”

“I will. Don’t worry about that.”

King of Hell Tang Qing was watching Poison Dragon.

Soon Poison Dragon’s value would skyrocket.

An Yul-jin judged this and decided to invest. An Yul-jin wrapped his staff blade with cloth from a nearby table and said.

“Then, before starting work, there’s something I’d like to ask as an advance payment.”

“Hmm? Why do you want so many things?”

“It’s nothing much. Earlier you said Poison Dragon and rebels are coming to take your head?”

“I did.”

“But how can you know even how many of them there are? Did you plant spies here and there?”

Tang Qing giggled.

“Being steeped in the formless power struggles of the imperial palace, you’ve forgotten something very basic. The movement of many people inevitably involves something. Do you know what that is?”

“Tell me.”

“The flow of funds.”

Tang Qing raised his index finger and said.

“When many people move, funds flow accordingly. If ten people need to move for a fortnight, money for a fortnight moves with them. The money for ten people to eat, sleep, defecate, and spend is much more than you’d think. Moreover, when it becomes dozens or hundreds of people, even the exact numbers can be estimated.”

“Hmm.”

“If you chase people, they disappear at some point. But if you chase money, traces always remain.”

An Yul-jin’s eyes flashed.

“You’ve seized control of the commercial world.”

Only the commercial world could track the flow of money. When had he extended his reach even to the commercial world? It was truly meticulous beyond comparison. Impressive enough to draw admiration.

“I don’t spend every day rummaging through documents with the scholars I’ve had pass the imperial examinations for nothing. Do you understand?”

Tang Qing’s smile deepened.

“In the imperial palace, hundreds or thousands of taels move easily at a word from the emperor and high officials, so you wouldn’t have known such things.”

An Yul-jin nodded and sheathed his weapon.

“I’ve heard valuable advice.”

“Not at all.”

An Yul-jin said.

“Now your granddaughter and great-grandchild will save their lives.”

“I keep getting annoyed at you calling it great-grandchild. Is that damned great-grandchild a son or daughter?”

An Yul-jin smiled coldly.

“I’ll leave that much as a small pleasure.”

* * *

Yeong-gwi and Jin Ja-gang continued pressing their journey.

Now they chose to move quickly only during heavy rain. This was to avoid being spotted by Mount Hua Sect and Zhongnan Sect people. Of course, they couldn’t guarantee how much they could deceive their attention this way.

They ran for five more days.

There was still no sign of Mount Hua Sect or Zhongnan Sect making moves.

But Jin Ja-gang, who was being carried on Yeong-gwi’s back, suddenly said.

“Wait.”

When Yeong-gwi didn’t stop walking, Jin Ja-gang said again.

“Please stop for a moment.”

“Why?”

Yeong-gwi stopped belatedly.

Splash! Water splashed greatly due to the sudden stop.

Jin Ja-gang got down from her back. Only then did Yeong-gwi realize why Jin Ja-gang had asked to stop.

“The smell of blood?”

Since it was raining heavily, smells didn’t spread well. Smelling blood meant it was very close.

Jin Ja-gang limped forward. Yeong-gwi was about to scold him for walking defenseless without any preparation, then closed her mouth.

Instead, she drew up her internal energy and carefully followed behind Jin Ja-gang.

Not far ahead, as soon as they turned the corner of the mountain path, they found the source of the blood smell.

A small-statured old man stood with his hands behind his back.

Below him, several martial artists could be seen collapsed and bleeding.

Jin Ja-gang saw the old man and cupped his hands.

“It’s been a long time. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

The old man looked at Jin Ja-gang, nodded, then gestured toward the corpses.

“You clean this up.”

“Why are you pushing work you did onto me, Master?”

The old man was about to get angry but held back.

“Then and now, you’re a master at getting on people’s nerves. Can’t you see? This was done because of you.”

When Jin Ja-gang tried to approach the old man, Yeong-gwi stopped him.

The old man with long white eyebrows looked at Yeong-gwi, then at Jin Ja-gang again, and asked.

“What’s with her? I saw she was carrying you the whole way. You two seem quite close?”

“We’re not particularly close.”

“Then who is she?”

Jin Ja-gang couldn’t readily answer. Come to think of it, he couldn’t clearly say what to call Yeong-gwi. A future subordinate but currently an enemy, or should he call her a colleague?

Instead of introducing Yeong-gwi, Jin Ja-gang told Yeong-gwi about the old man.

“This is Taoist Haewol.”

Taoist Haewol clicked his tongue.

“That fellow always acts like this, tsk.”

Yeong-gwi’s eyes widened.

Yeong-gwi cupped her hands.

“I greet the Alliance Leader. I’m just a commoner from Leper Mound.”

“What commoner when you’re a young woman?”

Taoist Haewol scolded. Yeong-gwi swallowed dry saliva. Even though it was hard to see beyond ten zhang due to heavy rain and she was even wearing a human skin mask, how could he recognize her at once!

Jin Ja-gang spoke as if reading Yeong-gwi’s curiosity.

“Master is originally good at seeing through people.”

“You’re really exposing all of people’s secrets in front of others? Ha ha ha.”

Taoist Haewol laughed as if incredulous.

Meanwhile, Jin Ja-gang went to check on the dead martial artists. They were Mount Hua Sect martial artists.

After confirming the identities of the dead, Jin Ja-gang threw the corpses down the cliff to dispose of them.

“By the way, what brings you here?”

Jin Ja-gang asked.

Taoist Haewol looked directly at Jin Ja-gang and opened his mouth.

“I’ll speak directly.”

Taoist Haewol paused briefly then said.

“Don’t go.”