Chapter 401 – Those Who Protect, Those Who Take… (1)

"Phew!"

Cho Yeon-woon let out a quiet sigh.

He was sitting on the roof of a large wagon. Three or four wagons were traveling together in front and behind the wagon he was on.

The flag held by the man at the very front clearly bore the four words "Silver Merchant Escort Agency."

When he turned his head forward, he could see Eun So-cheong quietly sitting on the driver's seat.

"Damn it! How did it come to this?"

Eun So-cheong was someone who shouldn't be here. The place she should be was within the safe grounds of Shaolin Temple. The reason she had come out leading all the martial artists and merchants of the escort agency was because of Nam Cheon-san, the Martial Alliance Leader.

Successfully organizing a suicide squad by drawing enthusiastic support from young martial artists was accomplished, but the problem was how to infiltrate the suicide squad into Yueyang in Hunan Province, where the Demon Cult's main group was located.

After the Demon Cult took control, the people's hearts in Hunan Province and Yueyang rapidly turned toward the Demon Cult. A significant number of the people called the Demon Cult the Divine Cult and believed in and relied on them.

They willingly became the eyes and ears of the Demon Cult. By ordinary methods, it was impossible to approach Yueyang while avoiding their eyes. So what they came up with was to use numerous escort agencies, including Silver Merchant Escort Agency.

No matter how much the Demon Cult controlled Hunan Province and the southern Central Plains and prohibited the entry of outside martial artists, they couldn't completely block all ordinary citizens and merchants.

Merchant activities were especially important.

They had Divine Commerce Guild, the greatest merchant guild in the world, but it was impossible for Divine Commerce Guild alone to manage all of that vast territory. Therefore, they allowed much freer merchant activities, at least for escort agencies.

So Nam Cheon-san and the leadership of the Martial Alliance decided to use escort agencies. They would secretly merge suicide squad martial artists into the escort agencies.

Silver Merchant Escort Agency was also chosen for this reason. Moreover, Silver Merchant Escort Agency's original base was precisely Hunan Province. They had sufficient justification to enter Hunan Province, and furthermore, if Eun So-cheong, the only daughter of Silver Merchant Escort Agency, accompanied them, it would be easy to avoid suspicious glances.

That was why Eun So-cheong came to accompany Cho Yeon-woon and the others.

Perhaps hearing Cho Yeon-woon's sigh, Eun So-cheong turned her head to look at him.

"Keep that up and the ground will cave in."

"Let it cave in! If the wagon falls into the ground, we won't have to go to Yueyang by force."

"Do you hate going with me that much?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Because Jin-bo will scold me when he finds out about this."

"That's your only reason?"

"Don't you know how scary that is? If you get hurt, Jin-bo won't cook for me anymore."

"Sigh!"

Eun So-cheong shook her head side to side. But her expression wasn't unpleasant. Though he spoke like that, she knew well how much he was worrying about protecting her.

When she first received this proposal from Nam Cheon-san, she too was very troubled. But she had no choice but to accept when told that their help was desperately needed to safely get the suicide squad into Yueyang in Hunan Province.

The escort agency she led included over ten more suicide squad members besides Cho Yeon-woon. They were accompanying them disguised as the escort agency's guards and workers.

But their appearance was too unnatural. Though their fighting spirit pierced the sky, most of them were young martial artists without much experience in the martial world. They tried to act carefully, but that made them stand out even more.

"Please act a bit more naturally. If you move so stiffly, everyone will notice."

Unable to watch any longer, the merchants of Silver Merchant Escort Agency advised them to move more naturally.

"Phew!"

Seeing this, Cho Yeon-woon sighed once more.

Then a middle-aged martial artist lightly jumped up onto the roof of the wagon where Cho Yeon-woon was sitting.

"What are you sighing so much about?"

The person looking at Cho Yeon-woon with a slight smile was precisely Jang Jin-myeong, the Thousand Enemy Sword. He was the leader of the suicide squad that included Cho Yeon-woon.

Jang Jin-myeong was already a master who had gained tremendous fame decades ago. The epithet Thousand Enemy Sword was also obtained then.

At that time, Jang Jin-myeong was trapped with about twenty martial artists in a valley called Blue Mist Valley, but he made all his companions retreat and fought alone against the Demon Cult martial artists.

He didn't know how many he killed or how many martial artists he wounded. When he came to his senses, there were no living beings around him, and only the corpses of the pursuing Demon Cult martial artists were piled high.

It was unknown whether he actually killed a full thousand. But at least several hundred martial artists died by his hand, and because of this, he was able to obtain the tremendous epithet of Thousand Enemy Sword.

"Senior!"

Cho Yeon-woon quickly stood up.

"Ah! Sit comfortably. I don't intend to make you uncomfortable."

"No, I'm fine."

Despite Jang Jin-myeong's restraint, Cho Yeon-woon straightened his posture. Seeing Cho Yeon-woon like this, Jang Jin-myeong made an expression of having no choice.

He sat down comfortably across from Cho Yeon-woon.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"You seemed to have many worries."

"It's impossible to have no worries at all, isn't it?"

"That's true. Then may I ask why you changed your mind?"

"Pardon?"

"Didn't you initially refuse to participate in the suicide squad? So why do you now want to participate in the suicide squad?"

Jang Jin-myeong's eyes were as sharp as a blade forged blue-black. Looking into his eyes, it felt painful as if his eyes were being gouged out with a knife. But Cho Yeon-woon didn't avoid his gaze.

"Because my friends are going."

"Friends? Do you mean So-cheon, Cheong-un, and Miss Hae So-wol?"

"……"

"You look like you're wondering how I knew. Don't misunderstand. Anyone who has even a little interest in you could know this fact immediately."

"I didn't know you had that much interest in us."

"If I don't have interest in you, who should I be interested in? No matter what anyone says, you are the finest talents who will lead the next generation of the martial world. The appearance of young talents with such high fighting spirit as you in these troubled times is certainly a great blessing for the martial world."

"I don't know what to do with such high praise."

"You have sufficient qualifications to be praised. I'm sincere."

"Thank you."

When Cho Yeon-woon bowed his head, Jang Jin-myeong's eyes momentarily flashed sharply. But Cho Yeon-woon was bowing his head and didn't see this.

When Cho Yeon-woon raised his head again, Jang Jin-myeong's eyes had returned to their original light as if nothing had happened.

"You are a great asset to the martial world. I hope you won't be harmed by excessive desires or clumsy pursuit of fame."

"Haha! That won't happen. I've already paid the price."

Clang clang!

Cho Yeon-woon laughed loudly and tapped his prosthetic leg. Then a dull metallic sound rang out loudly.

Ordinary people usually become mentally withdrawn when a part of their body is damaged. Especially martial artists, who are more sensitive to physical balance than anyone, suffer greater mental damage. But nowhere in Cho Yeon-woon's current appearance could such signs be found. This was what Jang Jin-myeong highly valued about Cho Yeon-woon.

He patted Cho Yeon-woon's shoulder and said.

"Friends like you are destined to grow into great pillars of the martial world. Being able to watch the growth of young talent like you in my later years makes this martial world journey meaningful in many ways."

"I'm worried I might disappoint you, senior."

"Disappoint? That's nonsensical."

"You never know about worldly matters."

"Indeed! Worldly affairs are unpredictable even one step ahead. It's as arduous and difficult as pushing through muddy water."

"What should one do in such times?"

"What do you mean?"

"When you can't see even one step ahead and don't know what the truth is."

Perhaps finding Cho Yeon-woon's words unexpected, Jang Jin-myeong remained silent for a moment and looked at him with a profound gaze.

Such deep eyes – it was impossible to read any fragment of emotion within them. For ordinary people, that is. But Cho Yeon-woon was different. He didn't miss the small ripple hidden deep in Jang Jin-myeong's eyes.

After a long while, Jang Jin-myeong opened his mouth.

"In such times, there's only one method."

"What is that?"

"Trust and follow your seniors. We did the same during the First Righteous-Demon Great War. And as you know, the results were very good. As far as I know, that's the best method."

"Is that so?"

"Senior – one who learned and experienced first. The teachings and traces of those who experienced first are very valuable assets. Worthy enough to trust and follow willingly."

"Then I should trust and follow you too, senior?"

"That's right!"

"But what if the teachings of those who experienced first lead to wrong results?"

Perhaps feeling the barb in Cho Yeon-woon's words, the ripple in Jang Jin-myeong's pupils grew larger.

Jang Jin-myeong shook his head and stood up as if to hide his emotional disturbance.

"That will never happen. So trust and follow."

Since the eye level suddenly changed, Cho Yeon-woon had to look up at Jang Jin-myeong. Because of this, Cho Yeon-woon could no longer see Jang Jin-myeong's eyes.

'Trust and follow?'

Cho Yeon-woon thought there were no more frightening words than that.

There weren't many people in the world he trusted, and Jang Jin-myeong wasn't someone he knew deeply enough or had known long enough to receive such trust from him.

Jang Jin-myeong jumped down from the wagon roof and returned to his place, and Cho Yeon-woon watched his retreating figure for a long time.

***

Yo Sa-ran sipped her wine cup.

The place she was in was an inn in Shucheng, not far from Hefei where the Namgung Family was located.

In front of Yo Sa-ran sat her trusted subordinate Ju Cheon with a worried expression. Yo Sa-ran put the wine cup to her mouth and said.

"If you're going to keep making that face like a puppy that needs to poop, you'd better get up from your seat. You're ruining the taste of the wine."

"That's because I feel like a puppy that needs to poop."

"What?"

"Now that the Namgung Family matter is finished, shouldn't we hurry to the main group? If we delay here any longer, we'll be punished by the Cult Leader."

"So what if we get punished."

"Commander!"

"We're still far from done. The smell of blood won't be erased with just this much."

Ju Cheon flinched at Yo Sa-ran's words.

Others call her by the epithet Blood Wheel Witch and fear her, but Ju Cheon knows. In reality, she doesn't particularly like seeing blood.

If she weren't in a position where she had to protect the Divine Cult, she would have refrained from seeing blood as much as possible. But the status of being a commander of the Divine Cult wasn't something that could be cast off at will.

Once someone became a commander, they had to see blood whether they liked it or not. The duty of one who protects the Divine Cult was such. Until death, they couldn't escape the fate of blood.

Yo Sa-ran was faithful to her duties as a commander, and because of that, she had to hear that she was a witch crazed by blood. In reality, she had now become accustomed to blood and become numb to killing people.

"Still, it was fun when I met that child."

"That child, you mean the one from Green Forest…"

"Yes! Hwang Hye-ryeong."

Yo Sa-ran smiled brightly.

Though she looked to be in her twenties from her appearance, Yo Sa-ran's age was several times more than that. Hwang Hye-ryeong had called her sister while looking at her.

If she had known her true identity from the beginning, she wouldn't have called her that, but it was still a fresh experience for Yo Sa-ran. That's why it remained more memorable.

"I wonder if there will be such encounters again in the future."

"Once this period passes, won't such days come again?"

"Will they?"

Ju Cheon couldn't answer Yo Sa-ran's question. Because he wasn't confident even after saying it himself.

The martial world and the Divine Cult were sides that could never be united. When one side prospered, the other was bound to decline. The situation of Green Forest that Hwang Hye-ryeong belonged to was no different.

Meeting again as friendly acquaintances like before was impossible. Ju Cheon thought so. But he hid his inner thoughts and quietly picked up his wine cup.

Yo Sa-ran also no longer asked and quietly drank her wine. As the wine bottles piled up in front of the two people gradually increased.

"Commander!"

Suddenly someone appeared, opening the inn door.

Yo Sa-ran frowned and looked at the person who appeared. It was a martial artist in his late twenties wearing gray clothes. He prostrated before Yo Sa-ran.

"Who are you?"

"I am a messenger from Divine Fire Hall Master."

"Nam Hyeon-so?"

"That's right. Hall Master Nam ordered me to find and bring Commander Yo."

"Why?"

"I don't know the details either. He only told me to convey this message: it's time to repay the debt."

"Debt?"

Yo Sa-ran's pupils shook momentarily.

After Jin Ja-gang emerged, the Tang Family Main House was as quiet as death.

Wherever one went, barely any voices could be heard.

Too many things had changed in an instant, and what would happen next was unknown.

Therefore, anxiety was etched on the faces of all who passed by.

Tang Gwi-ok quietly called Tang Sang-yul.

“I hear voices of discontent are emerging from various places.”

“That’s true. The blood relatives of the Thirty-Six Chambers who are away on external matters expressed great concern upon hearing news of King of Hell’s downfall. They’re saying they won’t cooperate with anything unless there’s a clear explanation.”

“What are your thoughts?”

“King of Hell was a tyrant, but he devoted his life to the family. But Poison Dragon is not. Their discontent is justified.”

“Are you also discontented?”

Tang Sang-yul knelt on the spot.

“I only follow the family head’s commands.”

“Nephew.”

She called him nephew, not Soul Seizing Hall Master.

A hint of question appeared in Tang Sang-yul’s eyes.

“Yes, family head. Please speak.”

“Self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the nation, bringing peace to the world. Coveting the world is only possible after strengthening internal unity within the family. Since ancient times, there has never been a successful household with internal chaos.”

Tang Sang-yul listened silently.

“Gather those expressing discontent.”

Tang Sang-yul’s brow furrowed very briefly.

“…!”

“It’s been twenty years since I had you under me, nephew. You’ve truly done well all this time. I won’t forget your efforts even from the grave.”

Tang Gwi-ok’s tone was gentle and her eyes remained kind. But Tang Sang-yul was not one who wouldn’t understand the hidden meaning in those words.

Previously, Jin Ja-gang had taken the prisoners of the underground prison hostage to escape. They were all valuable hostages.

But to prevent the same thing from happening again, Tang Gwi-ok had all the prisoners beheaded.

Such a person was Tang Gwi-ok.

In some ways, she was no less than Tang Qing, if not more.

Perhaps bringing down Tang Qing was also within Tang Gwi-ok’s calculations.

Tang Sang-yul briefly closed and opened his eyes. Then he rose from his seat and bowed to Tang Gwi-ok.

Four deep bows with head touching ground.

A bow of gratitude. Tang Sang-yul lowered his head until it touched the ground and performed four deep bows. On the fourth and final bow, he kept his forehead pressed down for a long time before rising.

But Tang Gwi-ok added no more words.

Tang Sang-yul finished his bows, rose from his seat, and left the room with heavy steps.

* * *

Divine Nun decided to leave quickly once matters seemed to be concluding.

Jin Ja-gang went outside the Tang Family Main House to see Divine Nun off.

Emei Sect nuns were waiting at a distance of two hundred zhang from the Tang Family Main House.

Divine Nun hadn’t come to the Tang family, which was no different from a tiger’s den, empty-handed. If things had gone wrong when attacking Tang Qing, the nearby Emei nuns would have immediately joined the battle.

Divine Nun, who had been silent, finally spoke.

“Nothing has been resolved yet. You’ve merely climbed over one big mountain on the path.”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“I understand.”

Divine Nun looked into Jin Ja-gang’s deep eyes, which had changed greatly from before, and said.

“Don’t become a second King of Hell. Remember that Emei Sect is always at Mount Emei.”

A threat awakening vigilance or a promise as a supporter.

It was strange but fulfilled both meanings.

Jin Ja-gang responded with a cupped-hand salute instead of words. Divine Nun also joined her palms in farewell.

Led by Divine Nun, the nuns disappeared with their robes fluttering.

Jin Ja-gang watched the Emei nuns disappear for a while before turning around.

When Jin Ja-gang returned to the Tang Family Main House, a servant waiting to guide him was there.

“The family head is waiting.”

“Please guide me.”

Jin Ja-gang followed the servant indifferently.

The servant led Jin Ja-gang through a complex winding path. Nearly two hours had passed but only the same stone walls could be seen.

But Jin Ja-gang continued following the servant without any complaints.

Then he stopped at a crossroads splitting in three directions.

The servant hesitated and turned around.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“I’ll spare your life, so go back.”

The servant’s eyes flashed with surprise. Without another word, the servant bowed to Jin Ja-gang and disappeared into a side alley.

Soon after, aged voices could be heard.

“Well now. You showed no killing intent and revealed no presence, yet how did you know we were here?”

Jin Ja-gang shook his sleeve.

A small mouse popped out. It crawled up the wall and disappeared through a crack. Bloodsucking leeches had been hidden on the wall to mask their presence.

“It’s a technique I’ve seen once before.”

“Truly befitting Poison Dragon.”

Front and back, left and right.

Fourteen people.

Masters who appeared to be at least fifty, some as old as eighty, appeared emanating a murderous atmosphere.

Jin Ja-gang looked at them and asked.

“What is this about?”

The old masters frowned.

“To be so calm even in this situation.”

“Are you looking down on us, or have you lost fear after undergoing bone and marrow transformation?”

Jin Ja-gang answered.

“Neither. I’m just curious what this is about.”

“We are Tang clan members. We rushed here upon hearing news of troubles at the main family. Well, does that answer you?”

“It doesn’t.”

An impatient-looking old master spoke in a displeased voice.

“Where did this nobody come rolling in from to try acting like the master!”

Other old masters clicked their tongues.

“What is that niece thinking? If she’s gone senile, she should step down from the family head position. Where did she bring in this nobody with no lineage to overthrow her brother?”

Jin Ja-gang stared at them and asked.

“So specifically, what are you displeased about?”

One master shouted.

“Didn’t you dare covet King of Hell’s position and cause trouble for our family!”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t deny it.

“I did.”

That was the end. With Jin Ja-gang cutting off his words like that, the old masters found it hard to continue.

“Such insolence!”

Jin Ja-gang looked at the old masters one by one and said.

“Since you seem not to understand, I’ll say it one last time. I’ll spare your lives, so go back.”

The old masters’ eyes widened.

“Y-you you…”

The earlier words about sparing them weren’t directed at the servant but at themselves!

“I acted according to procedure under authorization from the three Poison Sect Cliques. What was wrong about that?”

The old masters shouted.

“You bastard!”

“You may not like my actions. The way I handled things may be inconvenient. Then protest according to procedure at the family meeting.”

“This bastard dares! After King of Hell, you’re trying to humiliate us too with your three-inch tongue! But such tricks won’t work on us!”

The old masters began showing killing intent.

Sensing the killing intent, anger slowly began entering Jin Ja-gang’s brow.

“You’re neither mountain bandits nor street ruffians, yet what are you doing secretly luring someone out in broad daylight?”

The old masters’ faces reddened as they shouted angrily.

“You’re acting as if this is your own house! This is the house where we were born, our hometown!”

“If we kill you and bury you here, no one will know!”

Jin Ja-gang looked at them quietly and asked.

“Are all of you here?”

“Do you think we’re laughable! Even King of Hell couldn’t ignore us gathered here!”

Jin Ja-gang shook his head.

“It seems you’ve fallen into a trap.”

“Hmph. Are you scared now?”

“No, you have. Someone gathered all the discontented in one place.”

“What?”

The old masters were furious.

“Everyone, there’s no need to listen to more of this bastard’s cunning words. Let’s first cut off his limbs, then carry him to question the family head.”

“Where does this young brat…”

The old masters raised their internal energy and approached Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang raised his hand.

Soul Seizing Thread was released.

“I knew you were here yet came along obediently.”

“Hmm?”

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes turned cold.

“Why do you think I did that?”

Poison liquid flowed from Jin Ja-gang’s palm and trickled down along Soul Seizing Thread. The poison liquid flowed toward the direction where the masters who had appeared from where Jin Ja-gang came were located.

The old masters, sensing something ominous, rushed at Jin Ja-gang from all directions.

Jin Ja-gang pulled Soul Seizing Thread.

Whiiii!

Because Jin Ja-gang had released it earlier while walking, Dark Thread that had been spread on the ground shot up like a spring. The ankles and shins of three Tang clan masters in its trajectory flew off.

Without looking back, Jin Ja-gang turned toward the remaining three directions. One whose feet were severed rolled and threw his sleeve at Jin Ja-gang. Three poison needles hit Jin Ja-gang’s back.

Jin Ja-gang paid no attention and ran in another direction. The one who threw the poison needles was embarrassed. But he couldn’t worry about embarrassment. Flowers began blooming from his severed leg. He quickly pressed acupoints to prevent poison spread and bit an antidote pill.

But blood foam was already boiling from the severed area.

“Aaahhh!”

The old masters took out hidden weapon tubes from their sleeves and fired them.

Bang!

Countless poison needles poured out. Jin Ja-gang steadied his breathing, brought both hands together, then extended them forward like twin palms.

He manifested Wudang Sect’s One Inch through Dark Thread and White Thread. Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art Seven Light Emperor’s extreme, tremendous internal energy flowed into Dark Thread and White Thread. Dark Thread and White Thread explosively swept in all directions.

Swooooosh!

The poison weapons bounced away.

Some fired poison arrows. But even the poison arrows were shredded by Soul Seizing Thread’s whirlwind.

All walls, structures, and people in front of Jin Ja-gang were scraped by Soul Seizing Thread. Walls peeled, structures fell, limbs were severed.

It was terrifying destructive power.

Those scraped spewed blood foam, while those unharmed were busy retreating.

With this single move from Jin Ja-gang, the Tang clan masters were seized with fear.

“Wh-what…!”

Jin Ja-gang retrieved Soul Seizing Thread and said.

“It seems you didn’t hear much news about me before coming?”

“Wh-what?”

“King of Hell collapsed on his own, but his subordinates who blocked my path, I killed them.”

Those even slightly scraped by Soul Seizing Thread were suffering, spewing blood foam. Only five remained unharmed.

The five old masters ground their teeth and retreated.

“To dare use lethal force freely within the Tang Family Main House.”

“You bastard, you absolutely won’t die peacefully!”

The old masters looked at each other, then split left and right and ran. They tried to escape by stepping on walls and climbing over barriers.

But those who leaped up absurdly disintegrated in midair.

Into five or six pieces.

Blood droplets formed in the air.

As if spider webs were spread, thin threads were strung everywhere.

It wasn’t Jin Ja-gang’s Soul Seizing Thread.