Chapter 436 – Heroes Are Born in Chaotic Times (2)

People generally think that when many martial artists fight entangled together, it becomes a chaotic battle where friend and foe are hard to distinguish, but the higher the level of martial artists, the more they instinctively find opponents matching their caliber even in chaos. ​

The suicide squad martial artists and the Ten Soldiers were like that. ​

Hae So-wol clashed with Seomun Ha-gyeong, one of the Ten Soldiers, and Cheong-un marked Nam Jeong-ok who freely wielded the Nine-Cut Ten Thousand Poison Whip. ​

So-cheon competed with Ji Su-hyeon, and Im Dok-o was Cho Yeon-woon's share. The remaining suicide squad martial artists collided with the martial artists the Ten Soldiers had brought. ​

"Kyaaah!" ​

"Die!" ​

Enraged shouts and curses erupted everywhere. ​

From their appearance, the grace and dignity usually associated with the martial world's greatest prodigies had long disappeared. What remained was only the desperate will and venomousness to definitely kill the opponent. That appearance was closer to beasts than humans. ​

Swish! ​

Whoosh! ​

Swords and sabers cut through the air and someone's blood shot up into the void. ​

"Urrgh!" ​

"Kuugh!" ​

Beast-like screams filled the battlefield, and within it, humans lost reason and rampaged while venting madness. ​

Humans no longer existed here. At least for today. ​

It was as if the entire world had gone mad. Within it, beasts wearing human masks vented the madness they had suppressed until now. ​

Jeong Cheon-ak took in all those scenes. ​

Everyone had become beasts rampaging, but only he stood alone in the middle of the battlefield like a noble crane. ​

Even the suicide squad martial artists rampaging madly with rage didn't try to approach Jeong Cheon-ak. They too instinctively sensed that Jeong Cheon-ak was somehow different. ​

The bearing of one standing at the peak and the dignity of a strong person could be felt from Jeong Cheon-ak. ​

Jeong Cheon-ak couldn't find a reason to join the fight. ​

Because none of the suicide squad martial artists were his match. If there was anyone with potential, it was perhaps Cho Yeon-woon fighting Im Dok-o. ​

Cho Yeon-woon definitely appeared to be of different caliber. ​

He possessed skill, judgment, and senses actually superior to the Nine Martial Dragons. If he continued growing steadily like this, he might someday become his opponent. But that was impossible. ​

Im Dok-o was a master not greatly different from Jeong Cheon-ak. Moreover, he possessed Hidden Soul Sand. Even for Jeong Cheon-ak, Hidden Soul Sand wasn't easy to handle. ​

Once even a mouthful was inhaled, that was the end. Jeong Cheon-ak didn't think Cho Yeon-woon could handle Hidden Soul Sand. ​

The Ten Soldiers were his brothers. Though not born of the same blood, they were closer than blood relatives. That's why he trusted and respected them. His intervening in their fights was no different from insulting them. So Jeong Cheon-ak watched. He would only intervene when the battle situation tilted. ​

Cho Yeon-woon was fiercely fighting Im Dok-o while keeping his nerves sharp toward Jeong Cheon-ak. ​

'Fortunate. That he's not joining.' ​

Seeing how things were going, unless it was a considerable case, Jeong Cheon-ak wouldn't intervene. That was fortunate for Cho Yeon-woon and the suicide squad at least. ​

Other suicide squad martial artists might not know, but at least Cho Yeon-woon vaguely sensed how terrifying martial power Jeong Cheon-ak possessed. Because of that, he also knew what hell would unfold the moment he intervened in the battlefield. ​

Right now the battle situation was maintaining a tense balance so he was silently watching, but if things turned even slightly unfavorable for the Demon Cult martial artists, he would definitely join. ​

He had to defeat Im Dok-o before that. The only person with any possibility of facing Jeong Cheon-ak was himself. ​

That's when it happened. ​

Swish! ​

Suddenly a burning sensation struck his left shoulder. Hidden Soul Sand had swept across his shoulder. ​

Clothes and skin were torn away as flesh turned black. Terrible pain assaulted Cho Yeon-woon. ​

'A mistake.' ​

Cho Yeon-woon hastily retreated and stopped the bleeding. Im Dok-o looked at such Cho Yeon-woon with killing intent. ​

"You're worrying about Cheon-ak while facing me. Unbelievable." ​

His killing intent made Hidden Soul Sand ripple greatly. ​

Im Dok-o was greatly angered that Cho Yeon-woon was guarding against Jeong Cheon-ak while facing him. Because he thought Cho Yeon-woon was disrespecting him. ​

Cho Yeon-woon also acknowledged his mistake. Im Dok-o wasn't easy enough to face while thinking of other things. ​

To defeat him, Cho Yeon-woon also had to concentrate on this fight. ​

"Right! I did something ridiculous. A big mistake. So as an apology, I'll focus only on you." ​

"You should have done that from the start." ​

Im Dok-o's gaze turned toward Cho Yeon-woon's left shoulder. Cho Yeon-woon's shoulder struck by Hidden Soul Sand was already losing its function. ​

Even with his whole body intact he couldn't guarantee victory, but having lost one arm, he thought victory had tilted toward him. ​

Taking advantage of the momentum, he attacked Cho Yeon-woon. ​

"Die! Drunken Cloud Dragon." ​

Swish! ​

Instantly the Hidden Soul Sand coiled around his body all flew toward Cho Yeon-woon at once. Before the Hidden Soul Sand covering the entire void in black, Cho Yeon-woon appeared to have nowhere to flee. And Cho Yeon-woon had no intention of fleeing either. ​

Kwooo! ​

Energy swirled around his whole body. He had deployed protective energy. ​

Hidden Soul Sand blocked by protective energy bounced away. Cho Yeon-woon didn't miss that brief gap. Instantly withdrawing protective energy, he rushed at Im Dok-o like lightning. ​

"Hyaat!" ​

With a great battle cry, Cho Yeon-woon's signature technique Eight Desolations Divine Fist unfolded. ​

Kwakakak! ​

Cho Yeon-woon's limbs spewed terrifying power. ​

As techniques organically linked, he pressed Im Dok-o without giving him time to breathe. But Im Dok-o wasn't an ordinary martial artist either. While recovering Hidden Soul Sand, he calmly blocked or deflected Cho Yeon-woon's attacks. ​

"Not bad. Martial Alliance dog." ​

"Same to you." ​

Even while conversing, they didn't stop violently moving their hands and feet. ​

Attacking with Hidden Soul Sand was blocked by protective energy, and when protective energy was withdrawn, Hidden Soul Sand bored in like a viper again. ​

Both had reached the realm of freely controlling internal energy. Im Dok-o alternating between Hidden Soul Sand and fist strikes appeared like a demon, while Cho Yeon-woon alternating between protective energy and fists and kicks evoked a heavenly general. ​

They were truly attacking and defending with all their might. Engaging in a perfect battle of unified offense and defense. ​

Their fight was rushing toward a climax. The same was true for others. ​

Hae So-wol was also doing her utmost against Seomun Ha-gyeong. ​

The Ice Jade Sword that Seomun Ha-gyeong held was a treasure among treasures. If even slightly grazed by the Ice Jade Sword, wounds would freeze and coldness would penetrate the body. The coldness froze blood circulating in the body, so internal energy had to be used to melt it. ​

But Hae So-wol wasn't entirely disadvantaged. She had accumulated much experience through her martial world travels. Among them, experiences accumulated while traveling with Dam Ho were greatly helpful. ​

Kakakang! ​

Sparks flew from their swords, and sword energy shattered. ​

Cheong-un and Nam Jeong-ok's fight was also rushing toward a climax. Qincheng Sect's supreme technique didn't fall behind even against the Nine-Cut Ten Thousand Poison Whip. ​

Because of that, Nam Jeong-ok's face twisted like a demon. Because the fight he thought would end quickly was dragging on endlessly. ​

His Nine-Cut Ten Thousand Poison Whip coiled around Cheong-un's body like a viper. ​

"Just die already. Qincheng dog." ​

"Hmph! How can you call yourself an upright martial artist while relying on such a weapon?" ​

Cheong-un struck away the Nine-Cut Ten Thousand Poison Whip while shouting resolutely. At this, Nam Jeong-ok's face twisted even more. ​

"What's the difference between a sword and a whip that you talk nonsense? If you're going to say such things, throw away your sword first." ​

"The sword is the king of all weapons, different in caliber from such junk." ​

"Hmph! Righteous sect dog, still full of pretense. The one who wins by any means is truth." ​

Swish! ​

Nam Jeong-ok concentrated more power into the Nine-Cut Ten Thousand Poison Whip. Then a distinct halo formed on the Nine-Cut Ten Thousand Poison Whip. It was whip aura. ​

Tension appeared on Cheong-un's face. Though he knew the opponent was a master, he hadn't thought he'd reached the realm of freely deploying energy. ​

Nam Jeong-ok could be said to have already taken one step into the realm of absolute masters. In contrast, Cheong-un's realm was still ambiguous. Visible but unreachable. So it was a realm where half a step was regrettable. But Cheong-un didn't retreat. It was a situation on the edge of a cliff with nowhere to retreat anyway. ​

If he retreated or knelt, comrades fighting hard nearby would be endangered. ​

Cheong-un concentrated power into his sword with truly all his might. ​

Kakakang! ​

As sword and whip collided, his body was helplessly pushed backward. But fortunately, his sword struck by whip aura still endured without breaking. ​

Cheong-un found a thread of hope in the fact his sword was still intact. ​

"Hyaaat!" ​

Qincheng Sect's supreme techniques unwound from his sword like thread. His entire body was instantly wrapped in silver sword energy and clashed with Nam Jeong-ok's whip aura. ​

Kwaaang! ​

The aftershock of their collision swept in all directions. Martial artists fighting nearby were swept up by the energy wave and tumbled, and many were affected. Among them was Im Dok-o who had been fighting Cho Yeon-woon. ​

Im Dok-o's Hidden Soul Sand was swept by the energy wave and momentarily scattered. Hidden Soul Sand was lighter than sand grains so was easily affected by external energy waves. Because of that, Im Dok-o had to use Hidden Soul Sand while paying special attention to surrounding conditions, but an unexpected situation had unfolded. ​

Im Dok-o hastily recovered Hidden Soul Sand, but Cho Yeon-woon didn't miss that gap. ​

"Haat!" ​

He threw his whole body at Im Dok-o just like that. With his bare body without even deploying protective energy. ​

Though Hidden Soul Sand had scattered much from the unexpected energy wave, a considerable amount still swirled around Im Dok-o's whole body, making it dangerous. Charging bare-bodied without deploying protective energy toward such Hidden Soul Sand was truly suicidal. ​

Everyone thought so. Not only Im Dok-o the Hidden Soul Sand's owner, but even Jeong Cheon-ak who had been observing. ​

Kakakak! ​

And in fact it was. Cho Yeon-woon's flesh touching Hidden Soul Sand was gouged out, muscles were torn away, and he instantly became a blood-person. Yet Cho Yeon-woon didn't scream once or stop his body. ​

Eight Desolations Divine Fist's ultimate technique exploded. Power saved for this moment erupted like an active volcano. ​

Kwakwang! ​

"Kuuk!" ​

Im Dok-o's body swept up in the explosion flew backward like a falling leaf. His whole body was already dyed with blood, and his left shoulder and right leg were broken and dangling. He had suffered fatal damage. But he didn't despair yet. ​

Because he grasped that Cho Yeon-woon who had exploded all his power had no strength left. Cho Yeon-woon had consumed all cards he could attack with, and what remained was only his counterattack. ​

"Become blood sand." ​

At his gesture, just as Hidden Soul Sand fluttering in the air was about to coil around Cho Yeon-woon again… ​

Crack! ​

Suddenly Im Dok-o's head snapped sideways. ​

His skull shattered, and blood and gray brain matter scattered everywhere. Im Dok-o's body that had been staggering collapsed with a thud. ​

'H-how?' ​

That was the last thought Im Dok-o had while alive. ​

"Kuugh!" ​

Cho Yeon-woon groaned and withdrew his extended leg. What had just struck Im Dok-o's temple was precisely his leg. And his leg was a metal prosthetic. ​

When he first attached the prosthetic after his leg was severed, Cho Yeon-woon had struggled to balance his body. The metal prosthetic and his original leg differed considerably in weight, and because of that, his body's balance was subtly disrupted. ​

Naturally deploying Eight Desolations Divine Fist wasn't easy either, and its power was inevitably significantly weaker than originally. But Cho Yeon-woon through bone-carving effort instead weaponized the prosthetic. ​

"Kuhup!" ​

Only after confirming Im Dok-o had died did Cho Yeon-woon exhale the breath he'd been holding. His face was deathly pale without a trace of blood. ​

He wanted to just collapse on the ground. But he couldn't. Though he had barely defeated Im Dok-o, danger hadn't disappeared yet. ​

That's when it happened. ​

"How dare you!" ​

Kwaaang! ​

With an angry shout, powerful force struck Cho Yeon-woon. ​

Cho Yeon-woon couldn't even scream and was flung over ten zhang, tumbling on the ground. ​

Enraged by Im Dok-o's death, Jeong Cheon-ak had struck Cho Yeon-woon with a palm. ​

"How dare you kill Dok-o." ​

Terrifying killing intent poured from Jeong Cheon-ak's eyes. ​

Because it happened so instantaneously, Jeong Cheon-ak couldn't prevent Im Dok-o's death in time. Having lost a comrade right before his eyes, his rage was truly fearsome. ​

Crack! ​

The killing intent and force he emitted overturned the earth in the area. ​

At Jeong Cheon-ak's demon god-like appearance, Cho Yeon-woon's pupils wavered. ​

'We're all dead.' ​

Ga Mu-ru lowered his great sword and tapped it on the ground.

He was breathing heavily and roughly. His body was covered with wounds inflicted by the Emei Sect nuns. Blood was still seeping from his side.

Ga Mu-ru looked at the river. His gaze was fixed on the ships carrying salt. The hundreds of ships had almost all passed through this area, leaving only the wreckage of destroyed ships.

“Huhuhuh…”

Ga Mu-ru suddenly began to laugh.

“Huhuhuhuh.”

Then he asked Jin Ja-gang.

“Do you know what those ships are carrying?”

“Salt containing poison.”

“No.”

Ga Mu-ru looked at Jin Ja-gang.

“They are carrying nothing important at all.”

Jin Ja-gang paused momentarily while trying to use his hands.

“If it’s nothing important, why did you risk your lives to protect it?”

“Until a little while ago, it had meaning. It carried enough poison and salt to overturn the entire martial world.”

Has the meaning changed now?

Ga Mu-ru glanced toward Divine Nun and the Emei Sect nuns.

“What do you think they were poisoned with?”

“Don’t tell me…”

Though Jin Ja-gang didn’t speak it aloud, he could tell that Ga Mu-ru was referring to Five Paths Fatal Poison.

“It has begun.”

Ga Mu-ru said through gritted teeth.

“The sinking of the martial world.”

Jin Ja-gang’s eyes narrowed.

How did the Five Paths Fatal Poison! And why were the Emei Sect nuns poisoned with it?

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“What was the reason you said at first that King of Hell would find it difficult to succeed?”

Ga Mu-ru exhaled heavily and said.

“Our Northern Heaven evil faction has been involved in this matter for a long time. We joined hands with King of Hell and prepared step by step to enter the Central Plains.”

Jin Ja-gang realized immediately.

“You were planning to steal those ships.”

Ga Mu-ru smiled with his eyes.

“That’s right.”

The Northern Heaven evil faction was playing the role of escort guards for the salt fleet. But inwardly, they had different intentions. They planned to seize the ships at the right moment and claim the poison and salt for themselves!

But before they could steal the ships, the Five Paths Fatal Poison had already leaked out and the Emei Sect nuns were poisoned.

Are other parties involved?

Ga Mu-ru clicked his tongue.

“But in the end, both King of Hell and our Northern Heaven became clowns.”

Those who crawl are surpassed by those who run, and those who run are surpassed by those who fly.

It was wickedly complicated and entangled.

“That fellow Baek Li-jung revealed the existence of salt to the entire martial world for his own benefit, and that fellow Mang Ryo drove the salt fleet into one place out of his own greed…”

The Demon Cult, the Northern Heaven evil faction…

Individuals consumed by personal desires… even the leaked Five Paths Fatal Poison.

It was truly chaos.

There was no other way to explain it.

Even if the Tang Clan had been intact, it seemed uncertain whether it would have succeeded as Ga Mu-ru said.

If all of this had occurred under someone’s planning, that person would have to be one of two things.

Either an unparalleled genius or a thoughtless fool.

“How foolish.”

At Ga Mu-ru’s words, Jin Ja-gang twisted his lips.

“Who was it that got involved in such foolish business?”

Ga Mu-ru muttered as if talking to himself.

“In my youth… Haewol and I fought with each other’s ideals at stake. To prove each other’s justice. But in the end, what drove our Northern Heaven out was the interests of the martial world.”

A deep sense of betrayal could be felt in Ga Mu-ru’s eyes. His low voice rumbled and echoed.

“Should the survival of swordsmen in the martial world be decided based on profit and loss like the beads on merchants’ abacuses? Is a martial world where great causes are determined by a few coins and a few measures of land functioning properly?”

Ga Mu-ru revealed his fighting spirit.

“I don’t think so. Now I will defeat you and find those who used me to kill them. And I will raise a new banner in the martial world!”

“Unfortunately.”

Jin Ja-gang raised his internal energy while standing as if to block Ga Mu-ru’s path.

“Even if the martial world sinks, you won’t see that spectacle. Your journey ends here.”

Jin Ja-gang drew up internal energy to the centers of both palms.

Asura Blood seeped from where he had cut with the sickle earlier. Jin Ja-gang activated Blazing Flame Twin Palm while clapping his hands together.

CLAP!

Blood droplets were rubbed together and steam rose from his heated palms. As Jin Ja-gang continued to circulate internal energy, more vapor billowed from his palms.

Artificially created blood mist!

Ga Mu-ru’s eyes deepened. Tension also appeared in his gaze. Countless wounds had formed on his body from the earlier battle. If that blood mist touched them, the poison would invade his body.

Ga Mu-ru lowered his great sword and prepared for battle.

Jin Ja-gang pulled both arms back then simultaneously extended them forward while deploying Asura World Annihilation Soul.

SWOOOOSH!

The extending Asura Sutra dragged the blood mist along as it whirled violently and covered Ga Mu-ru.

Ga Mu-ru brought down his great sword while simultaneously emanating blade energy to cut through the blood mist and Asura Sutra.

CLANG!

The Asura Sutra trembled and bounced as if hitting a solid wall, then hesitated before flying toward Ga Mu-ru again.

The Asura Sutra whirled violently and engulfed Ga Mu-ru. Ga Mu-ru concentrated his internal energy further to activate Lightning Blade.

ZZZZZT!

Lightning swept through the blood mist that had risen like fog. The blood mist scattered into small droplets. Some collected on the blood lines of the great sword before flowing and bouncing off.

Due to the injuries he had sustained earlier, Ga Mu-ru’s great sword had become slower. So Ga Mu-ru embedded his great sword in the ground and faced the blood mist and Asura World Annihilation Soul with pure palm force. Though his body was a mess, his internal energy remained intact.

WHOOOOOM!

Ga Mu-ru’s palm force punched holes through the web of Asura World Annihilation Soul. The blood mist exposed to the palm force couldn’t even touch Ga Mu-ru’s body and fell as droplets.

Finally, the Asura Sutra lost all its power and fluttered weakly. As Jin Ja-gang retrieved the Asura Sutra and tried to emit it again, Ga Mu-ru sent palm force flying to strike Jin Ja-gang’s right shoulder.

Jin Ja-gang tried to dodge but the Thousand-Year Turtle Shell on his shoulder cracked with a sound and his arm went limp.

Jin Ja-gang knelt and forcefully planted his left hand on the ground. Asura Sutra emerged from beneath Ga Mu-ru’s feet.

POP POP!

Thin threads invisible to the eye shot up from the ground like needles. Amazingly, Ga Mu-ru instantly stepped on the tips of the five emerging Asura Sutra strands in sequence and leaped to Jin Ja-gang’s front.

He reached Jin Ja-gang’s front in an instant. Jin Ja-gang tried to straighten his body to resist, but Ga Mu-ru’s hand was already raised above.

“Die.”

Internal energy dwelt in his blade hand. Jin Ja-gang’s head seemed about to be crushed like tofu at any moment.

Then.

POP POP POP POP!

Asura Sutra burst out through Jin Ja-gang’s abdomen, piercing through the broken Thousand-Year Turtle Shell.

Ga Mu-ru’s body flinched.

Three rigid strands that had emerged from Jin Ja-gang’s abdomen pierced through Ga Mu-ru’s chest. They penetrated his lungs, heart, and internal organs.

Ga Mu-ru looked down at Jin Ja-gang with a rigid expression. Jin Ja-gang’s right arm was behind his back.

The Asura Sutra extending from there had penetrated Jin Ja-gang’s own body and pierced through to Ga Mu-ru’s chest.

A low groan flowed from Ga Mu-ru’s mouth.

“Mmm…”

Ga Mu-ru breathed in roughly.

Gurgle, gurgle. With each breath, the sound of blood boiling came from his lungs and throat. Blood and pus had already filled them.

Ga Mu-ru stepped backward. Swoosh, the rigidly threaded Asura Sutra pulled out of Ga Mu-ru’s body.

Jin Ja-gang gasped for breath while looking at Ga Mu-ru.

Slowly, crimson annihilation flowers began to bloom petal by petal on Ga Mu-ru’s torso.

Ga Mu-ru’s face contorted.

“Asura Blood…”

Because his internal energy was so profound, the speed at which the extinction flowers spread was slow.

Ga Mu-ru staggered and picked up his great sword. The moment he lifted the great sword, Jin Ja-gang released Asura Sutra again.

POP POP POP!

The Asura Sutra became several small points that pierced through Ga Mu-ru’s body.

Ga Mu-ru’s movement stopped completely.

It was over.

As the poisoning worsened, the number of extinction flowers blooming on Ga Mu-ru’s body began to increase. Blood and pus dripped continuously from the countless wounds on his body.

Ga Mu-ru would never recover again.

Ga Mu-ru staggered and was about to fall. However, he never knelt to the very end.

THUD!

Ga Mu-ru embedded his great sword in the ground and leaned against it.

Then he looked at Jin Ja-gang.

“Poison… Dragon!”

Complex emotions were contained in Ga Mu-ru’s tightly pressed lips.

Jin Ja-gang said while gasping for breath.

“If you have any last words, I will listen.”

Ga Mu-ru glared at Jin Ja-gang for a while before spitting out thick bloody foam.

Then he raised his eyes to look at Jin Ja-gang.

“Cut him down.”

The light of death cast a shadow over Ga Mu-ru’s eyes.

“Cut down the one I could not, in my place. Successor of Haewol. The one I tried to cut. The one Haewol tried to cut. The same one who corrupted King of Hell and made a mess of the martial world.”

“Who is that?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps… he might be right before our eyes and we still cannot see him. But… his influence has spread throughout the entire martial world…”

Bloody foam poured from Ga Mu-ru’s eyes, nose, and mouth.

Divine Nun came before Ga Mu-ru and raised her sword.

“Thunder Emperor. In the end, you meet your death in the Central Plains rather than a foreign land, so this is all Buddha’s grace. I will bestow mercy upon you, so please achieve enlightenment.”

“I’m grateful.”

Ga Mu-ru was not as resentful as expected.

With bloody foam bubbling in his throat making gurgling sounds, he spoke to himself.

“I stayed away… from the Central Plains for too long…”

Divine Nun’s sword severed Ga Mu-ru’s neck.

Ga Mu-ru’s body fell like an old tree toppling over. Wounds all over his body festered and burst as bloody foam bubbled up.

Divine Nun looked at the salt fleet that had already passed by long ago and asked.

“What happens to those ships?”

“The Poison Sect’s Three Cliques will block them downstream.”

Only then did Jin Ja-gang catch his breath and ask.

“What happened?”

Rage bloomed on Divine Nun’s face. Jin Ja-gang had never seen Divine Nun, who always wore a gentle expression, display such anger.

Divine Nun suppressed her anger and slowly opened her mouth.

“There was a rebellion in our sect.”

“…!”

Divine Nun’s words were enough to shock Jin Ja-gang.

It was such sudden news.

How could a rebellion occur in Emei Sect, the sacred ground of Buddhism!

It was too shocking.

“The majority of our sect was poisoned this morning. I was delayed because I had to suppress the rebellion and then rush here immediately, so please understand.”

From Jin Ja-gang’s perspective, he was grateful just that she had come running in that condition. To come to keep her promise while poisoned was no ordinary matter.

But more than that, the rebellion at Emei Sect was a bigger problem.

Especially if that poison was Five Paths Fatal Poison.

Jin Ja-gang’s expression also hardened greatly.

Jin Ja-gang looked up at the Heaven.

It was hard to believe.

“I believe it means there were double and triple schemes behind the plan King of Hell prepared.”

“It appears so. Probably prepared for when the salt would be stolen.”

“But…”

Jin Ja-gang felt that something didn’t quite add up.

“But it failed.”

Jin Ja-gang said again.

“This is presumptuous, but doesn’t the fact that Master is here mean the rebellion definitely failed?”

“That’s right.”

Divine Nun’s eyes also narrowed as if she found it strange.

“The poison wasn’t in the salt but in the tea water.”

“Tea instead of salt…”

“However, the amount of poison was less than expected, so it didn’t reach the worst situation.”

Jin Ja-gang felt even more suspicious.

“It doesn’t make sense.”

If someone had deep schemes, they could prepare double and triple plans. But in such cases, they must ensure success, not failure.

Moreover, as Ga Mu-ru had said, too many variables were involved in this affair.

If the goal was to seize control of the martial world, they should put maximum support behind the Tang Clan’s plan, not create double and triple traps to cause confusion as they did now.

“Young hero.”

Divine Nun spoke with pale lips.

“It seems incomprehensible events are occurring. After hearing your words, I too can no longer understand their purpose.”

Divine Nun said to Jin Ja-gang with a stern face.

“But I suspect this didn’t happen only in our Emei Sect. I’m worried something might have happened to the Tang Family Compound, so hurry back and check.”

Jin Ja-gang suddenly recalled.

The signal!

The signal that Baek Li-jung’s military strategist Sim Hak had raised just before dying!