Chapter 400 – The Age of Blood Chaos Begins (4)

Nam Hyeon-so looked at the Namgung Family with a cold gaze.

The Namgung Family had been thoroughly destroyed. Countless pavilions had been burned or broken, with only a few maintaining their intact form.

There were those secretly gathering in the pavilions that had maintained their intact forms. They were precisely the followers of Middle Heaven who spread the Demon Cult's doctrine.

Since the military force led by Nam Hyeon-so and others had subdued Anhui Province, it was now their turn to spread the Demon Cult's doctrine throughout Anhui Province.

The doctrine newly established by the Demon Cult over time was extremely volatile and easily spread to the general public. In that regard, Nam Hyeon-so thought the role of Middle Heaven was extremely significant.

Because of them, places occupied by force could definitely be made into the Demon Cult's territory. Though he didn't want to admit it, the role of Middle Heaven in spreading doctrine was that important.

Nam Hyeon-so decided to return to the main group, leaving only the minimum personnel to protect Middle Heaven. Their role was to destroy the enemies of the Demon Cult, not to defend occupied territories.

Golden Demon Pavilion and Blood Wheel Witch Yo Sa-ran, who had together attacked the Namgung Family, had long since left this place. And now it was Divine Fire Hall's turn.

The Divine Fire Hall martial artists who had been scattered throughout the Namgung Family gathered one by one. Nam Hyeon-so treated his subordinates extremely strictly. He especially applied discipline strictly and never forgave those who were late to the designated time. Therefore, Divine Fire Hall martial artists were never late for assembly time.

Nam Hyeon-so's eyebrows twitched. He had clearly ordered them to assemble on time, but there were empty spots that caught his eye.

"What's going on?"

Naturally his voice became sharp.

"Some of those tracking the survivors of the Namgung Family haven't returned yet."

His adjutant answered hastily. Because he knew that hesitating even for a moment would cost him his head.

"Are you saying you still haven't finished dealing with all the survivors?"

"I'm sorry. There are a few who slipped away cunningly like rats, but they'll be dealt with and return shortly."

"Hmm!"

Nam Hyeon-so looked at his adjutant with his arms crossed. His face was completely frowning.

It was because of an uncomfortable feeling like having food debris stuck between his teeth after enjoying a delicious meal.

"If you wait a moment, they'll join us soon."

The adjutant answered while sweating profusely.

He too was one of the famous masters within the Demon Cult, but he couldn't help but read Nam Hyeon-so's mood.

Nam Hyeon-so was an incomparable master compared to him and was also his direct superior. He kept his head down and only watched Nam Hyeon-so's mood.

That's when it happened.

"They will never be able to return."

Suddenly a cold voice flowed from behind them.

A strange light swirled in Nam Hyeon-so's eyes. Because he hadn't even detected his presence until he heard the voice.

He slowly turned his body around. Then he saw a strange figure who looked as if his entire body was wrapped in black wings.

The black wings writhing like living creatures were precisely the Dragon Blood Robe.

"Black Lion."

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

The owner of the Dragon Blood Robe was precisely Black Wing Death King Jin Do-hwi. At his appearance, Nam Hyeon-so tilted his head.

"Did you follow us all the way here?"

His face clearly showed displeasure.

The Black and White Lions could be called the left and right wings of the Cult Leader. They assisted at close range to the Cult Leader and performed the role of eyes and ears. That meant they were essentially no different from surveillance agents.

Everyone dislikes being watched. Especially strong people like Nam Hyeon-so inevitably hate being watched and controlled by others.

Therefore his attitude toward Jin Do-hwi had to be prickly.

Jin Do-hwi's eyes sank deeply. Because he understood Nam Hyeon-so's attitude toward him. But he didn't intend to make excuses. Because Nam Hyeon-so's guess was true.

"Ha! Does the Cult Leader distrust us so much?"

"Watch your words. He doesn't distrust, but wants to confirm."

Jin Do-hwi's voice became cold. In an instant, even the air in the area turned chilly. Nam Hyeon-so's expression hardened at his formidable power. Because he felt the gap between them.

His voice naturally softened.

"I understand! But why did you reveal yourself? Instead of just secretly observing as usual and leaving covertly."

"Because I have something to tell you."

"What is it? Are you going to tell me what happened to our boys?"

"That's right."

"Then tell me. Why can't our boys return?"

"There's a high possibility they were dealt with by the Fist Demon."

"Fist Demon?"

Instantly deep furrows formed in Nam Hyeon-so's brow. The moment he heard the word Fist Demon, all the blood in his body suddenly turned cold.

Jin Do-hwi nodded.

"That's right! The Fist Demon appeared at Overlord's Stronghold."

"Overlord's Stronghold?"

"Yes! He appeared while we were extensively subjugating Overlord's Stronghold to clean up after you."

"So what happened?"

"What do you think happened?"

"I suppose you didn't win."

"Correct!"

"Did you give it your all?"

"Well!"

Jin Do-hwi trailed off.

At this, Nam Hyeon-so intuited that Jin Do-hwi hadn't used his full power.

"Why didn't you use your full power?"

"I couldn't be confident!"

"Confident?"

"To subdue him, I too would have had to stake everything."

"He was that much?"

"The Fist Demon is that kind of martial artist."

"Hmm!"

Nam Hyeon-so's face hardened even more at Jin Do-hwi's words that seemed to acknowledge Dam Ho. Because the Jin Do-hwi he knew was extremely arrogant and never easily acknowledged others.

Even within the Demon Cult, the martial artists he acknowledged weren't many. At most the Four Great Military Commanders, Seven Great Demons, and leaders of the Inner Circle, and among them he evaluated the Four Great Military Commanders most highly.

"To summarize, he appeared at Overlord's Stronghold and there's a high possibility he clashed with my subordinates who were pursuing the Namgung Family remnants."

"That's my thought."

"So what are you trying to say? Should I lead all my subordinates in a joint attack?"

"The opposite. I wanted to tell you never to touch him."

"……"

Nam Hyeon-so's face, which had already been hardened, cracked greatly. But Jin Do-hwi was ruthless.

"This isn't a request or suggestion but an order. Until there are separate orders, absolutely don't clash with him."

"What do you mean? Are you saying this Nam Hyeon-so is no match for the Fist Demon?"

"I mean there's no need to have unnecessary conflict with him."

Even with Jin Do-hwi's explanation, Nam Hyeon-so couldn't relax his hardened expression. No, he couldn't. Because his pride was already hurt to the extreme.

Though the Black and White Lions were directly under the Cult Leader in the Demon Cult hierarchy, that didn't mean they had absolute superiority over all Demon Cult martial artists.

Someone at Nam Hyeon-so's level as Hall Master of Divine Fire Hall couldn't be taken lightly by anyone.

Nam Hyeon-so glared at Jin Do-hwi. But he couldn't read Jin Do-hwi's expression wrapped in the Dragon Blood Robe.

"Remember my words. Absolutely don't rashly clash with him. Even without you stepping forward, he won't last long. So don't waste your strength unnecessarily."

"……"

"Answer me."

"I understand!"

Nam Hyeon-so had no choice but to answer. His expression and eyes still didn't show agreement. But Jin Do-hwi decided to be satisfied with this much.

Though he had given the order, it was impossible to completely force someone at the level of Divine Fire Hall's Hall Master.

The Dragon Blood Robe wrapped around Jin Do-hwi's body rippled more fiercely.

'The Fist Demon isn't someone who can be dealt with impromptu. To hunt him requires meticulous planning and extensive preparation.'

This was a conclusion reached after directly exchanging moves.

The Fist Demon was strong.

Most of all, he was young.

Being young was a great weapon. Because it allowed unleashing endless stamina and infinite fighting spirit.

The greatest weakness of masters who had reached Jin Do-hwi's level was being old. The reason he didn't have a life-and-death battle with Dam Ho was the same. Because he couldn't guarantee victory, he didn't want to create a situation where he had to risk his life.

When someone reaches Jin Do-hwi's age, they never take risks in situations where they can't guarantee victory. He only moved when he had at least an eighty percent chance of winning.

Jin Do-hwi saw his chances at about sixty percent if he truly fought Dam Ho with everything at stake. Though in his favor, it was an ambiguous figure that could be overturned at any small variable. So he withdrew.

"Hunting the Fist Demon will proceed after consulting with military advisors and establishing a flawless plan. So be extremely careful not to clash with the Fist Demon."

"I understand!"

"Then know that and withdraw. You too should return to the main group as quickly as possible."

Jin Do-hwi turned without even listening to Nam Hyeon-so's answer. A humiliated expression clearly appeared on Nam Hyeon-so's face as he watched his retreating figure. But Jin Do-hwi didn't see such an expression and flew away and disappeared.

Whoosh!

The Dragon Blood Robe covering his body seemed to spread wide like huge black wings then instantly disappeared from sight.

Nam Hyeon-so couldn't take his eyes off the direction Jin Do-hwi had disappeared.

He opened his mouth long after Jin Do-hwi had disappeared.

"Jung-o."

"Yes! Hall Master."

Adjutant Yu Jung-o bowed his head and answered.

"Release the boys."

"Pardon?"

Yu Jung-o unconsciously raised his head to look at Nam Hyeon-so, then quickly closed his mouth after seeing bloodshot eyes and demonic energy. Nam Hyeon-so's voice filled with killing intent pierced his ears.

"Find the Blood Wheel Witch immediately."

"Do you mean Commander Yo?"

"Yes! Since she's directionally challenged, she couldn't have gone far. Find her and deliver my message."

"Wh-what should I say?"

Yu Jung-o unconsciously asked then swallowed dry saliva as he looked at Nam Hyeon-so.

The demonic energy in Nam Hyeon-so's eyes became even thicker.

"Tell her to repay her debt."

Namgung Seon-hwi glanced sideways. At the end of his secret gaze was precisely Dam Ho.

Dam Ho was riding Black Ghost while looking only ahead.

Roughly disheveled black hair, robes as black as darkness, and the pitch-black horse carrying him.

All of it felt truly terrifying.

Shudder!

Namgung Seon-hwi recalled the scene he had witnessed last night.

It really happened in the blink of an eye.

They were such ferocious martial artists who had charged with such tremendous momentum. They were incredible masters who had killed countless Namgung Family martial artists. Such masters became bloody pulp and flew in all directions before his eyes. And they never moved again.

Namgung Seon-hwi thought he was dreaming. What happened before his eyes was that unrealistic.

The Demon Cult martial artists weren't weak. Dam Ho was excessively strong. Namgung Seon-hwi thought he had glimpsed through Dam Ho the limits of how strong a human body could become.

'It wasn't strange at all that the Family Head was defeated by him. How could anyone deal with such a person?'

To him, Dam Ho was a terrible nightmare.

Just the fact of being in the same space made him feel suffocated. Still, he thought he would stubbornly stick by Dam Ho's side.

Namgung Seon-hwi looked at Namgung Yeong-hwi who was staying close to Bang Jin-bo. Namgung Yeong-hwi particularly followed Bang Jin-bo well.

For whatever reason, Dam Ho didn't drive away the Namgung brothers. He didn't give them any attention, but he didn't stop them from following either. In place of such Dam Ho, the one taking care of the brothers was precisely Bang Jin-bo.

He dismounted his horse and said.

"This won't do. I'll walk so you boys ride my horse."

"Really?"

Namgung Yeong-hwi was delighted.

Because he was exhausted from following the two people on horseback. Namgung Yeong-hwi, who was about to mount Bang Jin-bo's horse, suddenly stopped moving and looked at Namgung Seon-hwi.

"Brother?"

"You ride. I won't ride."

Namgung Seon-hwi bit his lips hard.

"Why?"

Namgung Yeong-hwi blinked his large eyes. Even after experiencing the calamity of losing their family, his young brother couldn't shed his innocent appearance. He had to protect such a brother.

"Because I need to become strong."

"What do you mean?"

"Anyway, I won't ride so you ride."

"Brother?"

"Hurry and ride."

"Okay!"

At Namgung Seon-hwi's urging, Namgung Yeong-hwi nodded and mounted the horse. Namgung Seon-hwi took the horse's reins in place of Bang Jin-bo.

"Brother, if it's okay, I'll lead it."

"Alright!"

Bang Jin-bo unconsciously nodded at Namgung Seon-hwi's bold spirit.

'I'll steal all the secrets of his strength. Then I'll revive the Namgung Family again.'

Namgung Seon-hwi swore he would follow Dam Ho even to the ends of hell.

Jin Ja-gang didn’t know the way, but there was no need to worry.

The open doors showed Jin Ja-gang the path to take.

The inner courtyard warriors guarding the passages, despite not being ordinary warriors, naturally bowed their heads, overwhelmed by Jin Ja-gang’s dignity.

The source wasn’t fear.

Before fear came reverence.

It was respect and admiration for the one who had brought down the absolute ruler who had protected the Tang family for over half a century, King of Hell.

Thus, without even knowing it themselves, they were guiding Jin Ja-gang to where he needed to go.

Creak.

The warriors guarding the fifteenth water and fire gate opened the door wide.

And there Jin Ja-gang met the one he had longed for.

Tang Ha-ran, who had been sitting on the wooden porch holding her swollen belly, smiled when she saw Jin Ja-gang.

Though Tang Ha-ran looked somewhat thinner than before, she was still beautiful.

Tang Ha-ran placed her hand to the side and stood up, approaching Jin Ja-gang. Though Jin Ja-gang’s abdomen and chest were soaked with blood, she embraced him without care.

No, she tried to embrace him but stopped and withdrew her arms.

Tang Ha-ran wrinkled her nose slightly.

After looking at Jin Ja-gang briefly, she slapped his cheek.

Slap!

It wasn’t a hard slap filled with great emotion.

Jin Ja-gang, unexpectedly slapped, briefly closed and opened his eyes.

Then, as if understanding why, he removed the long robe Yeong-gwi had draped over him.

Though faint, Yeong-gwi’s body scent remained on it.

Jin Ja-gang became naked again.

For a moment Tang Ha-ran stared at Jin Ja-gang’s body as if entranced. She caressed Jin Ja-gang’s chest with her slender jade-like hands.

Then her face reddened and she let out an almost inaudible sigh.

“Hah…”

Tang Ha-ran raised her head and smiled.

“You’ve become even more handsome than last time, my husband.”

Jin Ja-gang knelt and placed his ear against Tang Ha-ran’s swollen belly. Tang Ha-ran held Jin Ja-gang’s head with both hands. Tang Ha-ran shed tears.

“You know? You were in there for more than ten days. Every day I prayed to heaven and earth for you to come out safely.”

Tang Ha-ran said with tears in her voice.

Without answering, Jin Ja-gang kept his ear against Tang Ha-ran’s belly for a long time.

Then he stood up and lightly lifted Tang Ha-ran, carrying her into the room.

* * *

A hill where the Tang Family Main House buildings could be seen up close.

Standing on the branch of the tallest tree with his hands behind his back, Master Haewol looked down at the Tang family.

The Tang Family Main House was built according to formation principles, so no matter how high one climbed nearby, the inside couldn’t be seen. Even from where Master Haewol stood, the inner courtyard of the Tang Family Main House couldn’t be glimpsed at all.

But the supreme energy waves unleashed by the highest masters couldn’t be hidden.

Master Haewol had just felt those energy waves. New yet familiar energy waves. And conversely, King of Hell Tang Qing’s energy waves couldn’t be felt.

Master Haewol clicked his tongue.

“King of Hell has finally fallen. And someone even more vicious than King of Hell has coiled up in the Tang family.”

Master Haewol’s expression became gloomy as he talked to himself.

“Isn’t this an even worse situation than you dying at King of Hell’s hands?”

Like Jin Ja-gang had predicted, Master Haewol was certain that King of Hell Tang Qing and the Hungry Ghost King had some kind of relationship. Among the countless information branches leading to the Hungry Ghost King, the thickest trunk recently led to Tang Qing.

This meant Tang Qing’s great undertaking and the Hungry Ghost King’s interests aligned somehow.

Therefore Master Haewol had hoped Tang Qing’s great undertaking would succeed. He planned to unite all orthodox sect forces to fight the Tang family.

Then he thought the identity of the power hidden behind the Tang family would surely be revealed.

But by Jin Ja-gang bringing down Tang Qing and taking over the Tang family, future events became completely unpredictable.

Even the direction of the great undertaking Tang Qing had been plotting fell into mystery.

Master Haewol sighed deeply.

“The martial world is precious to me. I cherish the martial world more than anyone. But now I’ve become someone who must do vicious things to the martial world for the sake of the martial world I cherish.”

Master Haewol, who had been hanging his head for a while, suddenly stamped his foot.

Whoosh…

With a gust of wind, Master Haewol disappeared and only the tree branch where he had been standing swayed.

* * *

Sim Hak rushed breathlessly into the office.

“P-p-p-p, Poison King, no, K-k-k-k, King of Hell!”

Baek Li-jung and Mang Ryo were together when they looked at Sim Hak. Mang Ryo spoke to Sim Hak as if finding him pathetic.

“Strategist Sim, have a cup of tea and calm down. I can’t understand what you’re saying at all.”

Sim Hak took the teacup Mang Ryo offered and gulped it down, then spat it out.

“Pffff! H-h-hot!”

Mang Ryo laughed heartily.

“Are you a bit more alert now?”

Though Sim Hak’s palate and throat must have been burning from the burns, he didn’t seem to feel the pain.

“T-t-t-Tang… In S-S-Sichuan…!”

It meant it was that shocking an event.

Baek Li-jung’s eyes flashed. A sharp energy cut through the tip of Sim Hak’s scholar’s cap.

Flutter… The cut piece of the cap fluttered.

Sim Hak blinked. He finally seemed to come to his senses.

Looking at Baek Li-jung and Mang Ryo with a dazed expression, Sim Hak said.

“King of Hell… has fallen from power.”

Now Baek Li-jung and Mang Ryo understood why Sim Hak was so shocked.

It was something shocking enough.

The great King of Hell?

Baek Li-jung’s expression became somewhat serious.

“It hasn’t been long since the Stone Vajras were sent back as corpses… What are you talking about? Who defeated King of Hell?”

“Poison Dragon… They say Poison Dragon brought down King of Hell…”

Poison Dragon!

Mang Ryo’s eyes widened.

Mang Ryo opened his mouth but couldn’t speak.

He stared blankly at the ceiling.

Jin Ja-gang… had finally taken over the Sichuan Tang family!

Even just a few years ago, no, even when Jin Ja-gang was trapped in the mine tunnels, this would have been unimaginable.

The same was true when Jin Ja-gang wiped out all of Yunnan’s poison sects. Even then Jin Ja-gang was still very young and weak. All he had was a limping leg, a body that didn’t respond to poison, and some martial arts.

But…

He had climbed up by capturing King of Hell, who proudly held one king position among the One Master, Two Buddhas, Three Dao, Two Kings that move the martial world.

Moreover, Mang Ryo knew what driving force had enabled Jin Ja-gang to go that far.

Revenge.

That’s why it had to be more meaningful and satisfying.

The things he had laid down until just before Jin Ja-gang emerged from the mine tunnels had become the foundation that made the current Jin Ja-gang possible.

And finally.

Jin Ja-gang had become a man who possessed everything he wanted, or if not everything, then most things.

Strong martial power, a wife and child, even a family background.

He had gained many things.

Jin Ja-gang wouldn’t know how long Mang Ryo had waited for this moment.

Silence settled for a while.

Baek Li-jung glanced at Mang Ryo then asked Sim Hak.

“Is that Poison Dragon… the Poison Dragon I know?”

“That’s right. That Jin family bastard. It’s him. They say King of Hell was severely beaten by that Jin family bastard and even got qi deviation, collapsing.”

Baek Li-jung’s eyebrows twitched.

He still remembered.

When handing over Hundred Flower Valley to the poison sect, the small Jin family child who had looked straight at him.

That Jin family child had grown to become Poison Dragon and devoured the great King of Hell…

And where would Poison Dragon’s blade point next?

Sim Hak, shocked, tried to drink tea with trembling hands then spat it out.

“Argh, it b-burns!”

His mouth was all torn up from being burned earlier.

Sim Hak asked with a tearful expression.

“Then what do we do now? What happens to all the things we planned to do by joining hands with King of Hell?”

“Hmm.”

As Baek Li-jung fell into anguish, Sim Hak complained to Mang Ryo in a somewhat wronged tone.

“This is all because of Advisor Mang who recommended joining hands with King of Hell! Things just got complicated for nothing…! How are you going to take responsibility!”

Mang Ryo, who finally came to his senses, shook his head and answered.

“Ah, we should continue with that. It’s not like we’ll particularly lose anything.”

“That’s what I’m saying…! …Huh?”

Sim Hak suddenly made a strange expression.

Then he crept closer to Mang Ryo and stared at his face.

“Strategist Sim, what’s wrong?”

Sim Hak asked in a bewildered tone.

“Are you… crying?”

“Huh?”

“Are you crying right now?”

Sim Hak opened his eyes wide in surprise.

Mang Ryo felt under his intact right eye.

It was damp.

“Hmm?”

Trickle.

Tears flowed again.

That wasn’t Mang Ryo’s intention at all. He didn’t even know why he was shedding tears.

He had just briefly recalled the long time Jin Ja-gang spent in the mine tunnels.

It must have been hellish time for Jin Ja-gang too, but it was the same for Mang Ryo. Just as Jin Ja-gang had vowed revenge in the mine tunnels, Mang Ryo too had constantly ruminated on revenge.

Jin Ja-gang’s revenge was killing those who had made Hundred Flower Valley and Medicine Sect that way.

Mang Ryo’s revenge was trying to make it possible for Jin Ja-gang, who had nothing, to have as much as possible.

It was Jin Ja-gang who had made him lose everything achieved at the poison sect. But paradoxically, the current Mang Ryo had gained even more than back then.

Even so, Mang Ryo felt nothing.

Having lost once, even gaining again didn’t fill the void.

That heart.

The despair of falling into an endless bottomless pit unable to rise again.

The emptiness after the gold held in hand turned to sand in an instant and slipped through his fingers.

Was it fear of losing again?

No matter how much respect he received from juniors, how high his reputation rose, how strong his martial arts became, Mang Ryo could feel no satisfaction from any of it.

That’s why he felt more wronged.

Jin Ja-gang should be made to feel exactly the same as himself.

The feeling after having everything, then losing it and falling!

Wasn’t that why he had come this far!

Grind!

Mang Ryo ground his teeth.

The more he thought about it, the more anger surged.

“Huh?”

Sim Hak flinched and stepped back.

Mang Ryo looked at the retreating Sim Hak and showed a murderous smile.

Sim Hak awkwardly averted his face.

On the other hand, Mang Ryo felt great emotion at the fact that his revenge was now not far off.

“Hahaha!”

Mang Ryo burst out laughing.

Sim Hak looked at Mang Ryo with an absurd expression.

“Are you crazy?”

Crying, then grinding teeth in anger, then laughing, anyone would think so.

But Mang Ryo continued laughing.

“Hahaha! Hahaha!”

Mang Ryo’s maniacal laughter filled Baek Li-jung’s office.

Mang Ryo could feel it too.

The end was now in sight. The long, painful time of endurance.

* * *

The rainy season ended, and scorching heat arrived.

As the next sequence, plague naturally spread.

It was plague that always came after floods.

However, this year the plague spread particularly severely. Not only had flood control projects been ruined by corrupt officials, but heavy snow the previous year had made flood damage very severe.

People were dying and scenes of burning corpses wrapped in straw mats could be witnessed everywhere.

Endless burning smoke rose from various places.

The plague wasn’t easily contained.

The officials who had botched flood control projects couldn’t be expected to properly handle people’s relief either.

Relief rice and medicinal materials sent from the nation mostly disappeared along the way, and when they reached places that needed them, they were mixed with sand and stones, becoming inedible.

Food and medicinal materials. Those two things were most needed now that plague was spreading.