Chapter 396 – The Sky of Green Forest Falls (3)

Whoosh!

Jin Do-hwi's body elongated. A black shadow extended from where he stood to where Dam Ho was, then merged into one.

It was Spatial Transposition, a supreme lightness technique that allowed instant teleportation. The only difference from conventional Spatial Transposition was that he moved a much greater distance.

Jin Do-hwi's eyes flashed with killing intent as he appeared right in front of Dam Ho.

"I'll tear that insolent mouth of yours apart."

Rustle!

The black wing-like cloak stretched out and wrapped around Dam Ho. Expanding to a fearsome size while ignoring physical dimensions and area, the black cloak was the Dragon Blood Robe, one of the Demon Cult's treasures.

Deep in the forests of the distant southern lands lived a spirit creature called the Black Blood Heavenly Silkworm. The thread spun by the Black Blood Heavenly Silkworm had the strength of steel and the flexibility of silk.

Thread made from Black Blood Heavenly Silkworm silk had the property of expanding when internal energy was injected into it, but it was so difficult to obtain that few in the martial world knew of it.

Jin Do-hwi's martial arts involved using the Dragon Blood Robe made from Black Blood Heavenly Silkworm silk. The Dragon Blood Robe could transform at will according to his intentions.

Dam Ho unleashed Star-Shattering Fist toward the Dragon Blood Robe.

When the Star-Shattering Fist hit, thunder naturally erupted. But not this time. The moment of impact, the Dragon Blood Robe softly changed and absorbed all the shock.

It felt like punching empty air – his fist felt nothing. Just as Dam Ho frowned, the fluttering Dragon Blood Robe stiffened like an iron plate and attacked Dam Ho again.

Swish!

Like a bird folding its wings, the Dragon Blood Robe neatly folded and constricted Dam Ho.

Jin Do-hwi mocked Dam Ho.

"No attack will work. My Dragon Blood Robe absorbs all impact."

For someone like Dam Ho who relied purely on overwhelming attacks, the Dragon Blood Robe was naturally his nemesis. That was why Jin Do-hwi was confident of victory.

When his attacks proved ineffective, Dam Ho tried to escape upward. But again the Dragon Blood Robe blocked his path.

Whooom!

The Dragon Blood Robe generated Gang Qi.

Generally, it was nearly impossible to generate Gang Qi with cloth like a cloak. But the Dragon Blood Robe made it possible.

The Gang Qi-infused Dragon Blood Robe constricted Dam Ho.

Tremendous pressure arose along with blade winds that cut across Dam Ho's skin.

'So that's how.'

Only then did Dam Ho understand why the corpses of the Namgung Family martial artists were so mangled. The Gang Qi-emitting Dragon Blood Robe had compressed them like a press.

Once trapped in the Dragon Blood Robe, escape was impossible. For ordinary martial artists, that is. But Dam Ho was no ordinary martial artist.

His five fingers spread wide and adhered to the Dragon Blood Robe. The Gang Qi-infused Dragon Blood Robe was sharp enough to split metal in an instant. But it couldn't wound Dam Ho's hands wrapped in Silver Net Hands.

His palm and five fingers completely adhered to the Dragon Blood Robe.

"I told you it's useless."

Whooom!

As Jin Do-hwi sneered, Dam Ho's palm adhered to the Dragon Blood Robe emitted spiraling force.

It was Five Fingers Rock Breaking Force.

Ripple!

The spiraling force made the Dragon Blood Robe undulate. The Gang Qi within the Dragon Blood Robe also fluctuated.

Jin Do-hwi's eyes widened.

'This can't be!'

It was common knowledge that the Dragon Blood Robe infused with his energy was absolutely unaffected by external influences. At least since Jin Do-hwi began using the Dragon Blood Robe, this had never happened even once.

"Urgh!"

For the first time, the Dragon Blood Robe slipped from Jin Do-hwi's control and fluctuated.

At that moment Dam Ho deployed his charging steps.

Boom!

Before even unleashing Star-Shattering Fist, the air burst and the fluctuating Dragon Blood Robe was instantly stripped away. Jin Do-hwi's body hidden behind the Dragon Blood Robe was revealed.

Star-Shattering Fist exploded.

Clang!

A metallic sound rang out and Jin Do-hwi's body was pushed backward. His left palm was swollen and puffy.

Even defending with the hand technique called Residual Blood Devil Hand, he felt impact as if all the bones in his palm had been crushed.

It was truly terrifying power.

Jin Do-hwi felt his hair stand on end and quickly retreated. Dam Ho's martial prowess far exceeded his expectations.

But Dam Ho didn't let him retreat.

Strange gravitational force arose and grabbed his ankle. It felt like falling into the deep sea and being crushed by an enormous amount of seawater.

At that moment Dam Ho's Star-Shattering Fist erupted once more. The same stance, the same technique.

If it were another martial artist, they would have burst with indignation, asking if he was looking down on them. But Jin Do-hwi was different.

His eyes changed first.

"Hyah! Dragon Spinning Gang."

Instantly the Dragon Blood Robe that had been pushed back by Dam Ho's force came flying toward Dam Ho, rotating at terrifying speed. The Gang Qi within the Dragon Blood Robe also rotated at tremendous speed.

The rotation of the giant awl made of Gang Qi pushed even the air aside. It collided with Dam Ho's fist.

CRASH!

In an instant, with a tremendous roar, the surrounding air burst out. Violent winds whirled in all directions and as the air was pushed away, it momentarily became a vacuum.

"……"

Unbelievable silence arrived.

A quiet world without sound or movement – Dam Ho existed in the center of it.

The silence didn't last long.

WHOOSH!

As if to fill the void, the air that had been pushed outward gathered like a tsunami all at once.

Dam Ho's robes fluttered madly and his hair writhed like tens of thousands of snakes. His eyes stung like awls from the air rushing in to instantly fill the empty space. Still, Dam Ho didn't close his eyes.

His eyes were tracking Jin Do-hwi's whereabouts. But Jin Do-hwi's form was nowhere to be seen. Instead, only his voice could be heard like an echo.

"I'll withdraw for today, Fist Demon. But we'll meet again soon."

The last part was so faint it was barely audible. In that brief moment he had moved far from Overlord's Stronghold.

It was truly terrifying lightness technique beyond human limits. His presence had already vanished and could no longer be felt.

As Dam Ho glared in the direction Jin Do-hwi had disappeared, it happened.

"Father!"

Hwang Hye-ryeong came running, calling Hwang Gyeong-mun with a voice mixed with tears. She held the collapsed Hwang Gyeong-mun on the ground.

"Father, Father! Open your eyes."

Hwang Hye-ryeong hastily injected internal power into Hwang Gyeong-mun's vital points. Her eyes were completely stained with tears.

Whether her wish came true, Hwang Gyeong-mun struggled to open his tightly closed eyes.

"Hye-ryeong… is that you. Why did you come back?"

"Father! You'll be fine. Just hold on a little."

"Where's Il-gwang?"

"He'll come soon."

"Trust him… depend on him. Him…"

"Father, don't talk. Your energy is scattering."

At Hwang Hye-ryeong's tearful words, Hwang Gyeong-mun quietly reached out to stroke her hair.

He felt the silky smooth texture of her hair. When Hwang Hye-ryeong was young, how much scolding had he received for trying to tie her hair with his clumsy hands.

Seeing her messy hair, Hwang Hye-ryeong would cry sadly and Hwang Gyeong-mun wouldn't know what to do. After that, he never tied Hwang Hye-ryeong's hair even once.

After so long… it had been so long since he felt his daughter's hair. His daughter's warmth was transmitted completely through her hair.

A smile seemed to appear on Hwang Gyeong-mun's lips before his head tilted to the side. His breath had stopped. Unaware of this fact, Hwang Hye-ryeong was still desperately injecting internal power into Hwang Gyeong-mun's body.

Dam Ho's eyes sank even deeper.

Whether by coincidence or not, the breathless Hwang Gyeong-mun's face was turned toward him.

"Please take care of my daughter."

His eyes, which had lost the light of life, seemed to be saying that.

Dam Ho bit his lips hard and turned away.

The flames that had been blazing fiercely just moments before had all been extinguished. The vacuum created during Dam Ho and Jin Do-hwi's collision had extinguished all the embers.

Dam Ho walked down the mountain, leaving Hwang Hye-ryeong behind.

Though Jin Do-hwi had disappeared, the Demon Cult martial artists who had followed him hadn't managed to retreat and were still engaged in fierce battle with the Green Forest bandits.

BANG!

Death named Dam Ho descended upon them.

***

In the great hall, Namgung Mu-jin sat alone without even lighting a lamp. In the darkness filling the hall, Namgung Mu-jin polished his sword.

He had learned the sword at five and was already using real swords at seven – he was a sword genius. Receiving the expectations of the entire Namgung Family, the pressure made him anxious and he even suffered qi deviation, but still no one in the Namgung Family possessed martial talent like his.

He polished his sword with all his heart. Though the sword he polished daily without fail didn't have even the smallest speck of dust, he still polished it endlessly.

While polishing the sword, he should empty his mind like still water, but it wasn't easy.

"Sigh!"

Finally he sighed and finished polishing his sword.

An inexplicable anxiety was attacking him. Though he thought he had finished all preparations, strangely his mind was shaken.

"Is it because I'm not walking the righteous path?"

He smiled bitterly.

He had used Overlord's Stronghold to disperse the Demon Cult's forces. At the time he thought it was the best choice, but as time passed, only uncomfortable feelings arose.

Namgung Mu-jin soon shook his head.

"No. How can I be shaken? Everyone in the family is looking only at me. Don't waver, Namgung Mu-jin. No matter what shame you must bear, you must only look ahead and advance."

Those were words to himself.

It was fine to be called blinded by revenge, and it didn't matter to be accused of causing fatal damage to others for the family's prosperity.

He was born and raised solely to protect and make the Namgung Family prosper.

As Namgung Mu-jin was steeling his resolve, it happened.

"Young Family Head!"

The hall door opened and one of the Namgung Family's martial artists rushed in.

"Th-they're here."

"They?"

"The Demon Cult has attacked. They've appeared beyond the main gate."

"Already?"

A bewildered look appeared on Namgung Mu-jin's face. The enemies had appeared faster than his expectations.

If luring them to Tyrant's Stronghold had succeeded, they should have bought at least three or four days.

"What's their strength?"

"Th-that's… they weren't dispersed at all."

"Does that mean the diversionary tactic failed?"

"That's not it, but unexpectedly few martial artists were lured to Overlord's Stronghold."

"Hmm!"

As the martial artist answered, Namgung Mu-jin was letting out a thoughtful sound when it happened.

"AHHH!"

"It's them."

Outside, the screams of Namgung Family martial artists echoed. The Demon Cult had begun their full invasion.

Namgung Mu-jin's complexion changed as he rushed outside.

"This can't be!"

The first sight he saw upon leaving the hall was the main gate with flames reaching the sky. The massive gate that had symbolized the Namgung Family's dignity for hundreds of years was burning, and the great walls that had protected them from external enemies were crumbling. Through the collapsed walls, countless black shadows poured in. They were Demon Cult martial artists.

The Demon Cult martial artists who flooded in like a receding tide were clashing with Namgung Family martial artists everywhere.

"Stop them!"

"Not one of them will pass through here."

The Namgung Family martial artists screamed and blocked the Demon Cult martial artists. But their morale was greatly broken.

In the hundreds of years of Namgung Family history, they had attacked other sects countless times, but the main family had rarely been attacked by other sects. And they had successfully defended against the few invasions.

The sight of what they thought was the safest place in the world being trampled greatly broke the Namgung Family martial artists' spirit.

"The Namgung Family, nothing special. To think it was only this much."

Divine Fire Hall Master Nam Hyeon-so sneered as he watched the Namgung Family crumble miserably.

It was precisely his subordinates who were leading the slaughter of Namgung Family martial artists.

"Stop right now, you bastards!"

Namgung Mu-jin tried to rush toward them in anger. But he couldn't achieve his goal. Because of a woman who appeared like a ghost.

She was a dazzling beauty with dreamy, enchanted eyes. Behind the woman in sky-blue robes hung a pipa.

The woman was precisely Yo Sa-ran.

"You're my prey, boy."

"Get out of my way!"

Namgung Mu-jin unleashed Azure Sky Limitless Sword toward Yo Sa-ran. But Yo Sa-ran too easily evaded Namgung Mu-jin's sword.

Namgung Mu-jin's face hardened. Only then did he instinctively realize Yo Sa-ran was no ordinary martial artist.

After catching his breath briefly, he unleashed the Emperor Sword Form that only the family head could learn. A sword cutting through darkness, fragments of shattering light – within that, Yo Sa-ran opened her mouth.

"Give your all, last family head of the Namgung Family."

The appearance of Divine Nun was unexpected even for Tang Qing.

Tang Qing’s face, which had been forcing a smile, froze in place.

Divine Nun looked down at Tang Qing with an alluring bearing and said.

“The Tang clan has been a prestigious family for 2,500 years since Tang Shu-wu, the second son of King Wu, who was descended from Emperor Yao of the Taotang clan. Particularly, the family rules of the Sichuan Tang clan are renowned for being very strict. All the clans in the martial world do not hesitate to model themselves after the Tang family’s rules.”

Tang Qing released Jin Ja-gang’s hair that he had been gripping.

Thud, Jin Ja-gang’s upper body fell to the floor.

“But for the former family head of the Sichuan Tang clan, the leader of the Poison Sect who rules over ten thousand poison schools and sixty thousand poison masters, to make such irresponsible statements.”

When Tang Qing kept his mouth tightly shut and said nothing, Divine Nun narrowed her eyes and smiled.

These weren’t just anyone’s words, but those of Divine Nun, the sect leader of Emei Sect. Each word from Divine Nun In Eun, called one of the Two Buddhas along with Shaolin Temple’s Great Buddha, was never light.

Tang Qing clenched and unclenched his fists as he looked at Tang Gwi-ok.

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

Tang Gwi-ok didn’t answer. Tang Qing continued without waiting for a response.

“You’ve crossed the line. Matters occurring within our family and the Poison Sect should be handled internally. But you’ve brought outsiders into the inner courtyard and escalated things.”

With Divine Nun’s intervention, the matter of Jin Ja-gang and the three Poison Sect Cliques was no longer an internal affair. It had expanded to the outside.

Tang Gwi-ok opened her mouth.

“The Divine Nun visited for mediation. But I wasn’t the one who brought her in.”

One corner of Tang Qing’s mouth rose.

“Are you playing word games with me now? You’re saying she came this far without spilling any blood and without your permission?”

“Poison Dragon requested mediation from the Divine Nun as representative of the three cliques.”

“Don’t use Poison Dragon as an excuse. In the end, weren’t you the one who allowed that damned nun to enter?”

“We held a family meeting on whether to receive the Divine Nun who had received a mediation request. However, it was a mediation request from Poison Dragon, who had received authorization from three of the Poison Sect’s six divisions. We had no justification to refuse the visit.”

Tang Qing ground his teeth hard as he looked around at even the elders.

“Such justification…”

Tremendous internal energy rose from Tang Qing’s small body. Chilling killing intent burst forth and instantly covered the great hall.

Not only the Tang family elders but also Yuk Ha-seon, Ro-gwan, and Tap Tak-yeon raised their internal energy to counter Tang Qing’s killing intent. Only Tang Gwi-ok and Divine Nun remained unchanged in expression, but as Tang Qing’s killing intent grew thicker, their eyes also furrowed slightly.

It was extremely intense killing intent. Not just a feeling, but materialized killing intent poured out in all directions like needles.

Whiiiii.

Those in the great hall began hearing ringing in their ears and felt their pores stinging all over.

Tick, tick tick. Countless hairline cracks appeared in the great hall’s beams and walls. Tiny holes were pierced as if actually stabbed by needles.

Suddenly a throwing spear shot out from the wall and embedded in the floor.

Thunk!

The tip of the embedded spear trembled.

A mechanism hidden and installed in the wall had been damaged by Tang Qing’s materialized killing intent and misfired.

The faces of those in the great hall became serious.

Since it was originally a hidden weapon meant to threaten masters capable of entering the inner courtyard, its power was not low at all. It had embedded strongly enough in the floor to penetrate ordinary protective energy shields.

If unlucky, they too could meet their end from blind hidden weapons.

The dozen or so subordinates brought by the three Poison Sect Clique leaders were elite, carefully selected. However, they couldn’t endure Tang Qing’s killing intent and their faces turned pale. They bled from their noses and their eyes became bloodshot.

“Huff, huff.”

The subordinates gasped in pain.

Yeong-gwi, disguised as a male warrior, also had to hold her face with trembling hands. Her human skin mask was quickly drying and cracking. She bit her teeth so hard enduring the killing intent that blood formed on her gums.

Tap Tak-yeon commanded his subordinates.

“You all leave this place!”

But the subordinates couldn’t move at all.

This was because Tang Qing was blocking the entrance.

Tang Qing’s mouth split wide.

“Where are you going? No one can leave here.”

Tang Qing no longer hid his murderous intent. His hair stood up backward like a lion’s mane.

Kill and destroy!

He planned to kill everyone to silence them!

Hehehe! Hehehehe!

“If I kill them all, who will know about justification or anything else!”

Ping! Another hidden weapon misfired and crossed the great hall.

Several Tang family elders hurriedly dodged.

Divine Nun opened her thin eyes and asked.

“Do you plan to kill even this nun to silence her?”

Tang Qing raised his eyes and smiled with a demonic face.

“Why not? It wouldn’t just be you. Emei Sect will pay the price too. You didn’t come without that resolve, did you? Hehehe!”

“You are truly wicked.”

Divine Nun also began releasing her internal energy outward. Her nun’s robes fluttered gracefully even amid the pouring killing intent.

The air in the great hall churned greatly as the energies of Tang Qing and Divine Nun clashed.

Whiiii!

Another hidden weapon fired.

“Argh!”

Unluckily, one of Leper Mound’s assassins was hit by the hidden weapon. The top-shaped hidden weapon shattered the assassin’s knee and bounced away. The assassin screamed and fell to the floor. His concentration broken, he couldn’t resist the killing intent and took the full brunt of Tang Qing and Divine Nun’s internal energies. Moreover, the hidden weapon was naturally coated with poison. The assassin instantly bled from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth, trembling all over before dying.

But no one around had the capacity to pay attention to the assassin. Countering the internal energy battle between the two was already overwhelming.

A smile appeared at Divine Nun’s lips.

“This nun has always looked forward to facing King of Hell. Two dragons are too many for Sichuan.”

“Indeed. Two dragons aren’t necessary. Especially in the future world!”

“Ah, the future world? I heard you’re plotting evil deeds. Was that true?”

“Evil deeds?”

Tang Qing’s internal energy became even fiercer.

Whoooo! Wind even blew inside the great hall with closed doors and blocked windows.

“It’s not evil. The Shaolin monks package killing people as good deeds and righteous law, so why is my hundred-year great undertaking called evil?”

The radiance bursting from Tang Qing’s small eyes filled the great hall.

Now the world will not dare underestimate the Tang Gate.

The Tang Gate will rule over the martial world!

You, and Emei Sect, will be the first sacrifices!

Tang Qing’s voice echoed through the great hall. The great hall shook.

Ding! Diiiing! Sounds of strings snapping came from here and there.

Ping! Whiii!

Hidden weapons fired from broken mechanisms began shooting out one by one. Except for Divine Nun, Tang Qing, and Tang Gwi-ok, the rest were startled and flew to avoid the hidden weapons.

Those who couldn’t dodge in time were hit by hidden weapons in parts of their bodies.

“Argh!”

“Ugh!”

Even Tang family elders, though they could handle poison, couldn’t ignore the destructive power of the hidden weapons themselves.

Divine Nun smiled with her eyes and said.

“Would you like to face this nun?”

Tang Qing’s murderous intent reached the heavens and his eyes became bloodshot.

“Not only you, but I’ll tear apart every nun in Emei Sect and throw them into pig pens. The taste of being eaten alive by pigs while conscious will be quite good, won’t it? Hehehe!”

Whiii! Whiii!

Broken hidden weapons continued flying around the great hall.

Yuk Ha-seon, Ro-gwan, and Tap Tak-yeon ground their teeth and shouted.

“Prepare!”

They had to fight Tang Qing.

They couldn’t escape this place without fighting.

But then!

A small, faint voice was heard.

“That’s… not necessary.”

It was such a quiet sound it could barely be heard, yet everyone in the great hall focused on the voice.

They couldn’t help but do so.

The speaker was none other than Jin Ja-gang!

Jin Ja-gang was standing behind Tang Qing, blood-soaked with both broken arms hanging down.

Tang Qing knew Jin Ja-gang was getting up behind him but didn’t even turn around.

“This rat bastard. You were awake.”

“King of Hell.”

Jin Ja-gang raised his head covered in dried blood and spoke to the back of Tang Qing’s head.

“Do you know where you are?”

Tang Qing frowned.

It wouldn’t be Jin Ja-gang asking because his head was spinning and he didn’t know where he was.

He was asking about the meaning of being in the inner courtyard.

What would happen next was clear as day. Fighting would eventually make Tang Gwi-ok and the Tang family elders side with Tang Qing. So Divine Nun or the three clique leaders would inevitably die here.

However, this was the Tang family’s heart, the inner courtyard. If masters like Divine Nun or the three clique leaders ran wild, the inner courtyard would be damaged. Many Tang clan blood relatives also lived in the inner courtyard. If the already few blood relatives died or were injured, it would be a great loss.

This was a completely different problem from Shaolin Temple destroying part of the outer courtyard.

The Tang family’s pride would be greatly hurt. Hadn’t they already suffered great pain once when Jin Ja-gang burned the library?

But if the inner courtyard was destroyed and Tang family blood relatives died, their external prestige would obviously plummet beyond words.

Tang Qing snorted.

“First time seeing someone threaten by taking another’s family prestige hostage? You think you can do something to me with that?”

Tang Qing turned his head slightly back and glared terrifyingly at Jin Ja-gang from the corner of his eye.

“You won’t care what happens to our family’s prestige. You’ll be in a pig’s belly before today is over!”

Cold killing intent permeated his voice.

But Jin Ja-gang looked down at Tang Qing and said.

“When even the monks couldn’t see the inner courtyard, do you think those guys could set even one foot in the inner courtyard… That’s what you said. Who said those words?”

Tang Qing twisted his lips. Those were his own words to Jin Ja-gang.

The three Poison Sect Cliques had entered the inner courtyard without spilling a drop of blood.

Tang Qing was wrong and Jin Ja-gang was right.

But Tang Qing didn’t acknowledge it.

“You were wrong to bring in Emei Sect. The innocent nuns of Emei Sect will become pig feed because of you. The rain must have stopped too. I’ll burn down all of Mount Emei as an example.”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“Then I’ve also wronged Qingcheng Sect. I boasted to Qingcheng Sect too that I became representative of the three Poison Sect Cliques.”

Tang Qing’s expression changed.

Of all things, Qingcheng Sect?

Qingcheng Sect had left Mount Qingcheng and scattered throughout the martial world, living as wanderers. Unlike Emei Sect, there was no way to silence them!

Tang Qing turned his body completely. He glared at Jin Ja-gang as if to devour him, baring his teeth.

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes turned cold.

“Whatever happens in the inner courtyard, today’s events will be known to the martial world. King of Hell, you cannot prevent that.”

Tang Qing bared his teeth. His clenched fists trembled with anger.

“This bastard…”

Jin Ja-gang spoke as if grinding his teeth.

“Didn’t I ask from the beginning? King of Hell, if you don’t keep the rules, when you achieve your great undertaking and the Tang family rules over the martial world, do you think people will follow you?”

Tang Qing’s bright red face contorted heavily. Wrinkles carved deep grooves creating countless undulations on his face.

Whiii, ping! Amid the flying hidden weapons, Jin Ja-gang slowly bowed toward Tang Qing.

“King of Hell, you prepared your great undertaking to make the Tang family the supreme sect of the martial world.”

Jin Ja-gang bent his waist until his face was visible right in front, bringing his head to Tang Qing’s shoulder. Their faces crossed as if almost touching.

Then Jin Ja-gang said.

“Then now it’s time for you to choose. Will you abandon your great undertaking to save yourself, or will you abandon yourself for the Tang family’s future?”

Tang Qing’s eyes widened as if they might tear. The pupils of his bloodshot eyes shook.

Tang Qing finally completely understood Jin Ja-gang’s intention.

What Jin Ja-gang had taken hostage to threaten him wasn’t something like the Tang family’s prestige.

What Jin Ja-gang had taken hostage was the Tang family’s future.