Chapter 403 – Those Who Protect, Those Who Take… (3)

"Amitabha! Amitabha!"

Gwang-hae, who had been devoted to chanting sutras for a while, closed the Buddhist scripture and stood up from his seat. It was because his heart was so disturbed that he couldn't bear it.

Gwang-hae stood up and opened the window. Then a somewhat cold wind blew in and cooled the sweat flowing on his face.

The panoramic view of Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance engulfed in darkness entered his vision. Lights were lit everywhere making it seem like a city that never sleeps, but somehow Gwang-hae felt that sight was strange.

He had been suffering from heart demons for some time. The fact that he, who had learned Buddhist martial arts and had a stronger mental foundation than anyone, was suffering from heart demons was itself an unfamiliar experience. He had never been like this since residing at Shaolin Temple, making it all the more bewildering.

Gwang-hae closed his eyes tightly.

Many people didn't know the reason for their heart demons and were troubled, but he knew the reason.

"Amitabha! Heavenly Sword King…"

His heart demons began precisely after Heavenly Sword King Jeok Gyeong-cheon appeared. To be exact, it was after he saw Jeok Gyeong-cheon in person.

Since then, Gwang-hae had been tormented by inexplicable heart demons. But he couldn't tell anyone about this fact.

Not only Martial Alliance Leader Nam Cheon-san, but also Shaolin Abbot Gwang-cheon and the main leadership all believed in and relied on Jeok Gyeong-cheon's existence.

The epithet Heavenly Sword King contained such weight and trust. Enough to make even the Abbot of Shaolin Temple believe and follow him. That's why he couldn't raise questions about his heart demons.

The heart demons grew larger day by day and were gradually eating away at his mind. He had endured and held out until now, but even that had reached its limit.

"Amitabha! Amitabha! If Patron Dam were here at a time like this, I would have believed and relied on him. It's just regrettable that he's not here."

Gwang-hae recalled Dam Ho who had left this place not long ago.

Dam Ho had oppressed everyone at Shaolin Temple and the Martial Alliance with his pure presence. At the time it felt somewhat suffocating, but looking back, his heart had been at ease then.

Dam Ho was truly someone worthy of trust and reliance, especially in turbulent times like now when one couldn't see even one step ahead. But now he didn't exist here. That made it all the more regrettable.

Gwang-hae hung the prayer beads he had been holding in his hands around his neck. A resolute light appeared on his face.

"Nothing will be solved by thinking alone like this. If I have doubts, confirming with my own eyes is the surest method. Yes, now is not the time to think but to act."

Gwang-hae went outside wearing his gray monk's robes without even putting on his red kesa. Leaving Shaolin Temple's mountain gate, the place he headed to was precisely the Martial Alliance.

Gwang-hae was an elder of Shaolin Temple. Therefore, he could enter the Martial Alliance without any inspection or identity verification.

Arriving at the Martial Alliance, the place he headed to was precisely Jeok Gyeong-cheon's quarters. Considering Jeok Gyeong-cheon's status as a previous generation master, he was assigned a separate annex building.

The path to the annex was quieter than expected. This was because a considerable number of martial artists, including the death squad, had left the Martial Alliance. Thanks to this, Gwang-hae was able to arrive near Jeok Gyeong-cheon's quarters without anyone's interference.

Gwang-hae was catching his breath for a moment and thinking about what to do when it happened.

Creak!

The annex door opened and someone revealed themselves. It was precisely Jeok Gyeong-cheon. Instantly, Gwang-hae unconsciously hid behind a nearby wall.

He didn't know why he did that. His body just moved first at that moment. Gwang-hae hid behind the wall and watched Jeok Gyeong-cheon.

After looking around briefly, Jeok Gyeong-cheon soon began walking toward a certain direction. His appearance of occasionally looking around and being on guard looked quite suspicious, so Gwang-hae held his breath and secretly followed him.

'What am I doing?'

The fact that he, an elder of Shaolin Temple, was following senior master Jeok Gyeong-cheon felt somehow ridiculous. But it was too ridiculous to stop now.

As soon as Jeok Gyeong-cheon left Shaolin Temple, he deployed his lightness skill toward the opposite side of Shaoshi Peak.

'Is he going to Taishi Peak?'

Taishi Peak was a large peak on the opposite side of Shaoshi Peak where Shaolin Temple was located. At first glance it looked gentle, but inside it was full of precipitous cliffs and strange rocks, making it extremely dangerous.

Therefore, even in broad daylight, one had to be careful when hiking there. It wasn't a place to go secretly at night like now. Even the monks of Shaolin Temple who were familiar with Mount Song didn't enter Taishi Peak after sunset.

A questioning light appeared in Gwang-hae's eyes. Though he had many curiosities, he decided to suppress them for now and follow Jeok Gyeong-cheon to the end.

Swoosh!

Jeok Gyeong-cheon's lightness skill was remarkable.

He disappeared to Taishi Peak in an instant as if cutting through the wind. Gwang-hae deployed his lightness skill with all his might, not wanting to fall behind.

Gwang-hae was also a renowned master at Shaolin Temple. He was confident that his lightness skill was second to none, but even with such ability, following behind Jeok Gyeong-cheon was not easy.

Eventually, he lost track of Jeok Gyeong-cheon halfway up Taishi Peak. Finding traces of Jeok Gyeong-cheon in the pitch-black darkness was not an easy task. But Gwang-hae didn't give up and persistently tracked Jeok Gyeong-cheon's traces.

'Where on earth did he disappear to?'

Gwang-hae's face was full of questioning light. An unknown anxiety was ringing alarm bells in his heart again.

His mind to return since he had come this far conflicted with his mind to see it through since he had started following.

It was when Gwang-hae was experiencing such conflict deep in his heart.

"How did it go?"

Someone's quiet voice came from beyond the dark thicket. It was precisely Jeok Gyeong-cheon's voice. Instantly, Gwang-hae held his breath and hid his presence as much as possible. Then he carefully approached the direction from which the voice came.

After advancing about ten zhang like that, he saw two people facing each other beyond the thicket.

One person was indeed Jeok Gyeong-cheon whom he had followed. But the person standing opposite him was completely unidentifiable. This was because he appeared vaguely as if his entire body was wrapped in white mist.

His body also looked blurry, and his face was smudged so that his original appearance couldn't even be guessed.

"It's proceeding as expected."

His voice in response contained no highs or lows, and no emotion whatsoever. Since it was his first time hearing such a voice, Gwang-hae was even more surprised.

'Who on earth is that person?'

A being that previous generation master Jeok Gyeong-cheon secretly met after leaving the Martial Alliance in the middle of the night. Naturally, he couldn't help but be curious.

Gwang-hae tried to remember if there was such a being in his memory. But at least in his memory, such a being didn't exist.

Jeok Gyeong-cheon showed no particular emotion even while looking at the being with a blurry form. As if he had met with him countless times.

"What about the Cult Leader?"

"He has headed to the Central Plains."

"Already?"

"It's said he moved earlier than scheduled."

"Hmm! Then this side must hurry as well."

Jeok Gyeong-cheon nodded his head.

'Cult Leader?'

Instantly, Gwang-hae was so shocked he felt like he would choke. He never expected Jeok Gyeong-cheon to mention the word Cult Leader.

Rustle!

He was so shocked that he ended up stepping on nearby tree branches while moving his body.

"Who's there?"

Jeok Gyeong-cheon glared in the direction from which the sound came with an angry voice. When he raised his eyesight, he could clearly see Gwang-hae hiding behind the thicket.

A bewildered light appeared on Jeok Gyeong-cheon's face.

"Oh no! It's Gwang-hae."

Realizing his identity was exposed, Gwang-hae stood up and came out from behind the thicket.

"What brings you to this place at night?"

"What brings senior to this place? And who is that person?"

"Tsk!"

Seeing Gwang-hae express doubt, Jeok Gyeong-cheon clicked his tongue. He never dreamed that Gwang-hae would follow him.

"Your curiosity will kill you."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Sometimes knowing how to endure even when curious is the secret to living long. To think you don't even know such a simple fact."

"Are you saying you'll kill me now?"

"That's right!"

Jeok Gyeong-cheon nodded without hesitation. At such appearance from Jeok Gyeong-cheon, Gwang-hae frowned even more. A subtle demonic energy was flowing from Jeok Gyeong-cheon.

The demonic energy he was emitting was completely incompatible with the epithet Heavenly Sword King. Only then could Gwang-hae understand the identity of the heart demons he had been experiencing. He must have unconsciously sensed Jeok Gyeong-cheon's secret demonic energy without even realizing it himself.

Though he no longer existed, he had once received teachings from Immeasurable Divine Monk, who had been Shaolin's highest-ranking member. Because of this, his Buddhist mind had deepened further. Originally, those with deep Buddhist minds were more sensitive to evil energies.

'So that's what it was?'

Gwang-hae thought he should return to Shaolin Temple as quickly as possible to inform Gwang-cheon of this fact. But the actions of the one who had contacted Jeok Gyeong-cheon were faster than his actions.

Swish!

A sinister force flew without sound or presence.

"Huh!"

Only when the force almost reached right in front of his nose did Gwang-hae realize this fact and hastily deployed Hundred Step Divine Fist.

Crash!

The sinister force and Hundred Step Divine Fist collided, producing an explosion.

"Ugh!"

Gwang-hae's body shook and blood traces appeared at the corners of his mouth. He had suffered internal injuries from just one clash.

As soon as he realized the disadvantage, Gwang-hae flew away without hesitation.

When the one who had made contact tried to chase Gwang-hae, Jeok Gyeong-cheon raised his hand to stop him.

"No need to pursue."

"But…"

"There's someone else to deal with him."

"Perhaps?"

"Yes! Shouldn't we test him with this opportunity?"

"Hmm!"

The being who had contacted Jeok Gyeong-cheon let out a groan. The 'him' that Jeok Gyeong-cheon mentioned was such a remarkable being. To the extent that he thought he could never survive in his hands either.

"This will be the end of Gwang-hae's fate."

Jeok Gyeong-cheon's indifferent gaze turned toward where Gwang-hae had disappeared.

"Huff huff!"

Gwang-hae let out rough breaths.

His gray monk's robes were torn in places, exposing bare skin.

His internal injuries were serious. Still, he couldn't stop.

"I must inform the Abbot of this fact quickly."

He recalled the suicide squad created under Jeok Gyeong-cheon's leadership. The suicide squad included a large number of young talents representing the current martial world. If they suffered great harm due to Jeok Gyeong-cheon's conspiracy, the martial world's spirit would be greatly broken.

It wasn't too late even now. He had to prevent such a worst-case scenario.

It was when Gwang-hae tried to gather strength again to deploy his lightness skill.

Swoosh!

Suddenly, with tremendous air-cutting sound, something huge fell from the sky.

The black and massive thing stood tall in front of Gwang-hae with a loud crash.

"Get out of the way!"

Gwang-hae hastily deployed Prajna Palm without even having time to gauge his identity. Then tremendous energy surged out like a tsunami and struck the being that stood blocking Gwang-hae's path.

Crash!

With a roar, tremendous aftershock swept all around.

It was Prajna Palm that could turn even house-sized boulders into fine powder. But Gwang-hae, who had deployed Prajna Palm, was clutching his wrist with a distorted face.

This was because the wrist that deployed Prajna Palm was dislocated.

What blocked his path was definitely a person. Though he wore a mask on his face so his original face couldn't be recognized, he definitely had human form. Yet the fact that the hand that deployed Prajna Palm was dislocated meant his hardness transcended imagination.

"Amitabha!"

Gwang-hae's pupils shook.

Thump!

He approached Gwang-hae with heavy footsteps. Instantly, Gwang-hae felt as if a massive mountain was moving.

"What is this?"

Though he had only taken one step, Gwang-hae felt tremendous pressure he had never imagined before.

"Wh-who are you?"

The opponent didn't answer Gwang-hae's question. A storm was raging in the pupils visible through the mask.

At the ferocious gaze that seemed to destroy everything in the world, Gwang-hae unconsciously stopped breathing. Just by meeting his gaze, he felt burning pain as if his head was turning completely white.

"Hah!"

Gwang-hae drew up all his spiritual power and deployed Tathagata Thousand Hand Palm. It was Tathagata Thousand Hand Palm that concentrated all his spiritual power.

He deployed it with all his might without thinking of the consequences. All his spiritual power flowed out like an ebb tide with this one move. That's how desperate Gwang-hae was.

Crash crash crash!

The opponent didn't dodge his attack.

Palm force that could pierce through iron plates three feet thick continuously struck his chest. But only his clothes and mask were torn, and he didn't retreat even one step or get injured.

His true appearance was revealed through the torn mask. The moment he confirmed his face, Gwang-hae's eyes opened wide as if they would tear.

"H-how are you here?"

That person absolutely shouldn't be here.

He was…

At that moment, he extended his massive hand and grabbed Gwang-hae's entire head. Then he pulled it out completely.

Crack!

Neck bones came out attached, and muscle fibers were helplessly torn away. As if pulling out a radish, he pulled out Gwang-hae's head too easily.

Gwang-hae's head in his hand blinked, not recognizing death. At that moment, he applied force to his hand.

Crack!

Like a watermelon bursting, Gwang-hae's head exploded.

He stood tall and stared endlessly at headless Gwang-hae.

On the surface, Soul Seizing Thread Master Tang Sang-yul appeared to have started another rebellion.

However, Tang Sang-yul had been Tang Gwi-ok’s longtime subordinate. It would be difficult for such a person to recklessly stir up trouble without Tang Gwi-ok’s orders.

Through this incident, the Tang family members clearly realized that this was the family head’s will.

Moreover, since Tang Sang-yul had embraced the representative dissenting forces and died together with them, there were essentially no more who could oppose the family head.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the thirty scholars kneeling.

Most of those who had worked with Tang Qing were mute and simultaneously deaf. Moreover, all tasks were divided into fragments so they didn’t know much about each other.

Tang Qing was the final destination where the information these people brought arrived. Tang Qing, who didn’t trust people, didn’t place middle managers and personally managed all information himself. And once he saw information, he put it in his head and discarded everything.

Though Tang Qing’s spacious office still had tens of thousands of bamboo scrolls left besides the discarded ones, they weren’t immediately useful information that Jin Ja-gang was curious about.

Jin Ja-gang went to find Tang Gwi-ok.

Tang Gwi-ok, who had been looking out the window, said.

“The martial alliance leader has lost power and the Martial Alliance, considered an iron fortress, has begun to split. Qingcheng Sect, the holy land of Taoism, has scattered in all directions… and the guardian deity who protected our family for long years has also collapsed. New eras always come with sacrifices.”

Tang Gwi-ok turned her head and greeted Jin Ja-gang with a smile.

“Come in. You who will lead the new era. What brings you to me?”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Gwi-ok for a moment, then asked.

“I want to know about the great undertaking.”

“You must be thinking of stopping the great undertaking?”

“Yes.”

Jin Ja-gang said.

“Ten years ago, the Poison Sect struck Medicine Sect. As a result, we could identify all the types of medicinal herbs traded by martial world sects.”

“I truly cannot help but admire son-in-law’s sharp insight. That’s right. Older brother learned the medicinal herbs used by each sect and found the compatibility with the internal energy cultivation methods those sects possessed. And sometimes…”

Tang Gwi-ok said something unbelievable.

“He seemed to directly capture the direct disciples of those sects to verify if his thoughts were correct.”

One more curiosity was solved.

The incident Master Haewol had been searching for over a long time.

The incident where disciples who had learned the direct transmission methods of each sect disappeared.

The culprit was precisely Tang Qing.

Tang Qing had been steadily preparing to subdue martial world warriors from long ago.

“Is that the Five Path Fatal Pill?”

“The Five Path Fatal Pill is a general-purpose poison made from the most easily obtainable materials. By adding and removing several materials from there, poisons compatible with each sect’s cultivation methods can be made.”

Tang Gwi-ok said.

“And one more type of poison is added.”

Soul Extinction.

The fatal poison Tang Qing had produced from his own bone marrow.

Cultivation method compatibility plus Soul Extinction. That’s why even Demon Exterminating Monk Mu-gak had no choice but to succumb.

“Then the Five Path Fatal Pill will be difficult to produce anymore.”

Perhaps with Tang Qing, who was the core of the great undertaking, collapsing, the great undertaking would end.

If not for the words Tang Qing left at the last moment, Jin Ja-gang might have thought so too.

The great undertaking… has already begun…

You cannot stop the flow… Only choices… remain…

Jin Ja-gang asked Tang Gwi-ok.

“Do you understand the meaning?”

“All external affairs were handled by older brother’s hands. Older brother didn’t tolerate my involvement at all. But when he was in a very good mood or very bad mood, he would give hints bit by bit. Because of that, I learned that older brother was making a very dangerous gamble with our family’s fate at stake.”

Tang Gwi-ok paused briefly before continuing.

“Older brother brought in forces whose true nature couldn’t be known.”

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes flashed.

Hungry Ghost King! It’s the Hungry Ghost King!

“Though older brother was a meticulous person, he ultimately couldn’t reveal the identity of those forces. He grumbled about failing in tracking several times. But in the end, he couldn’t give up their proposal and accepted it.”

“What was that?”

“Unifying the martial world.”

“That’s impossible.”

Having experienced the martial world enough, Jin Ja-gang now knew how difficult that was.

“The Tang family becomes the head and they become the hands and feet to move the world. That seems to have been what they proposed to older brother.”

“I understand that holding the world in one’s hands isn’t something achieved by subduing one or two masters.”

“That’s right. It’s only possible by making many martial artists, not just one or two, submit. That’s why the Five Path Fatal Pill was made from common materials.”

But Tang Qing had sacrificed his own vassal families against the Stone Vajras instead.

If those who should truly become hands and feet disappeared, and those forces became complete hands and feet, it was unknown what would happen later. A situation could arise where the Tang family alone couldn’t do anything with their hands and feet bound.

Perhaps Tang Qing, knowing this point, had the thought of quickly absorbing the Poison Sect’s six cliques.

Therefore, Jin Ja-gang’s interference preventing the absorption of the six cliques was very fatal to Tang Qing. Ultimately, the reason Tang Gwi-ok turned her back on Tang Qing was also there.

Seeing the Tang family’s fate rapidly declining, she thought they must pull out.

Jin Ja-gang fell into thought for a moment.

It was clearly revealed that Tang Qing had joined hands with the Hungry Ghost King.

But the Hungry Ghost King’s whereabouts were still unknown. If even Tang Qing couldn’t find him, it was questionable whether he even had substance.

But because there is substance, aren’t people continuing to move somehow?

“The production of Five Path Fatal Pills is now over. But the great undertaking hasn’t ended…”

This leads to the conclusion that Five Path Fatal Pills are already released somewhere in abundance.

But now that the Tang family and all six Poison Sect divisions have escaped Tang Qing’s control, it’s puzzling how they would make martial artists consume them and how they would handle the aftermath.

Floods.

And plague.

Medicinal materials piled up in the poison schools.

“The Five Path Fatal Pills I know were in the form of antidotes. Finding the remaining Five Path Fatal Pills would be the urgent priority.”

If enough to subdue all the masters of the martial world, it wouldn’t be a small amount.

Jin Ja-gang asked Tang Gwi-ok.

“Do you agree with my thinking?”

“I’m neither young nor a youth with boiling blood. I have no interest in righteous causes and no personal greed. Only protecting the family is my duty, and to protect the family, I can do any number of somewhat unrighteous things.”

Tang Gwi-ok, who had given a long preamble, said.

“Shaolin Temple still regards our family as an enemy, and due to what older brother did, other sects will also be watching us covetously. If we don’t take responsibility and retrieve what was done, our family’s future would be no different from nonexistent.”

This meant she agreed with Jin Ja-gang’s intention.

“I must attach one condition.”

Even without Tang Gwi-ok saying it, Jin Ja-gang knew.

Jin Ja-gang was connected to the Tang family through Tang Ha-ran. But he still couldn’t be considered a Tang family person. If he wanted to use the Tang family’s power, he needed to be in a position befitting that.

“Soon, I will make a decision.”

Tang Gwi-ok smiled.

“This old woman is at an age where I don’t know when I might not open my eyes in the morning. I hope to see that while I’m alive, when I can still be of some help.”

It was a similar feeling to what Divine Nun had said.

A threat, or a promise as a supporter.

“I understand.”

Tang Gwi-ok’s smile deepened upon hearing Jin Ja-gang’s answer.

Poison Dragon doesn’t lie.

He keeps what he says himself.

That is the image of Jin Ja-gang that has recently become known to the martial world, not a blood-crazed madman.

* * *

As rumors spread that Jin Ja-gang had brought down Tang Qing, several figures came to visit the Tang Family Main House.

The first to arrive were Bian Bu and So-so, who came as messengers from Shandong’s unorthodox sects. Bian Bu’s Achilles tendon had been severed when he was with Jin Ja-gang at Namga Village before, so his leg was still inconvenient. Unlike Jin Ja-gang who recovered quickly, he had a different body. Therefore, So-so came supporting Bian Bu.

“Well… you’ve become even more spiritually bright?”

Bian Bu immediately noticed Jin Ja-gang had changed upon seeing him.

“How did you come all this way when your body is inconvenient?”

“It’s a long journey and we’re coming to the Tang family, which is a prestigious orthodox sect. When we chose the person least like an unorthodox sect member, there was only me.”

Jin Ja-gang also welcomed So-so.

“So-so, you came well too.”

So-so nodded and smiled brightly.

Next to arrive were Qingcheng Sect’s Taoist Master Bok-cheon and Woon-jeong.

“Poison Dragon friend! It’s complete chaos. Everyone’s talking about Poison Dragon friend. In the martial world, there’s no one who doesn’t know Poison Dragon friend…”

Woon-jeong waved at Jin Ja-gang with a happy face, then saw So-so and immediately turned his head.

“Miss So-so! Hehehe.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon sharply smacked Woon-jeong’s head.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon also saw Jin Ja-gang and offered congratulations.

“You’re no longer the little one who only used evil before. But don’t forget to humble yourself more as you rise higher.”

By not completely speaking down to him, Taoist Master Bok-cheon showed he was respecting the current Jin Ja-gang.

“The situation is urgent, so I’d appreciate if you could arrange a place.”

Jin Ja-gang guided them to a quiet location. The leaders of the three Poison Sect Cliques also attended together.

After brief introductions among each other, Jin Ja-gang spoke of Tang Qing’s great undertaking related to the plague.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon and Bian Bu showed bitter smiles.

“King of Hell has touched something irreversible.”

“With the slightest mistake, he could be branded a public enemy of the martial world, leaving not a single foundation stone of the Tang family.”

“From that perspective, Lady Li Hua’s decisiveness saved the Tang family.”

While briefly discussing this, Taoist Master Bok-cheon said to the leaders of the three Poison Sect Cliques.

“Since the topic of plague came up, the people’s lives have reached a very serious state. Merchants and local notables are releasing grain to barely avoid the worst starvation, but the plague isn’t subsiding easily.”

Bian Bu interjected.

“While coming, border inspections on all routes have been strengthened, and areas with plague have had roads completely closed, making travel impossible. But the plague continues spreading, so closed areas are also increasing.”

Yuk Ha-seon also added a word.

“According to a message from our side yesterday, among martial artists with internal energy, those falling to the plague are increasing one by one.”

Martial artists who handle internal energy rarely get sick. They have strong resistance to infectious diseases too. Yet if there are those falling to plague, it’s proof the plague is that severe.

“Ah, there’s an interesting story.”

Tap Tak-yeon said.

“Small and medium poison sects are releasing medicinal materials. You know. Our poison sects have been collecting medicinal materials good for plague since several years ago.”

Bian Bu added.

“Ah, I saw while coming. Though more expensive than usual, they’re selling at considerable bargain prices. Even that is greatly appreciated by common people.”

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes lit up.

The most promising speculation currently is that Five Path Fatal Pills are mixed in those medicinal materials. If not, there’s absolutely no means to spread Five Path Fatal Pills to martial artists.

As if reading Jin Ja-gang’s thoughts, Ro-gwan said.

“If ordinary people get sicker and die from eating plague medicine, martial artists won’t touch the medicine at all.”

“But that’s the most likely route for Five Path Fatal Pills in antidote form to spread.”

Yuk Ha-seon said.

“Since they know our poison sects bought medicinal materials in large quantities, we’ll all soon face pressure to provide medicinal materials. If Five Path Fatal Pills are mixed in there…”

There was no need to say more. Without the satisfaction of driving out Tang Qing, troublesome matters would befall both the martial world and the three Poison Sect Cliques.