Chapter 57: Fate Is Unfathomable, and the World's Affairs Cannot Be Foreseen (1)

Tak-tak-tak!

Bang Jin-bo's cleaver danced across the chopping board. The vegetables were sliced into perfect, bite-sized pieces by a knife so fast it was invisible to the eye.

"Whew!"

Bang Jin-bo stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow. On one side of the stall, the vegetables he had prepared were piled high in baskets.

He had made all the garnishes and rolled the noodles. The preparations for business were complete.

"How is it, Grandmother?"

"Perfect. Even I could not do as well."

The old woman shook her head in admiration.

She had run this stall for over twenty years, yet never had she seen anyone with knife skills like Bang Jin-bo's. And his personality—what a joy to be around. She felt more affection for him than for her own grandson.

That was why she had unwittingly revealed even her secret recipes for the broth and dough. But she had no regrets. With her shoulder in such poor condition, she could not have kept the business going much longer anyway.

At that moment, several customers approached. One of them appeared to be familiar with the old woman and addressed her warmly.

"What is this? Is the old woman not running the stall today?"

"My arm hurts today, so this boy will take my place."

"What? Did you have a hidden grandson?"

"You talk too much. Are you eating or not?"

"My, what a temper… Fatty, make us beef noodle soup for the number of people here."

"Yes! Please wait just a moment."

Bang Jin-bo smiled and dropped the pre-made noodles into boiling water. He then prepared the bowls, arranging the garnishes and vegetables that would go in.

His hands moved with practiced ease.

"Oh! He seems to know his way around."

"Indeed! I wonder how it will taste."

The customers watched Bang Jin-bo's technique with curiosity.

A short while later, when the noodles were done, Bang Jin-bo transferred them to bowls. Once he poured in the broth, a handsome bowl of beef noodle soup appeared.

"Here, the beef noodle soup is ready."

Bang Jin-bo served the customers.

"Well then, let us see how the fat chef's beef noodle soup tastes."

The customers picked up their chopsticks and began eating. At first few bites, their expressions were skeptical, but soon they were absorbed in the flavor.

"Hah! This is even better than what the old woman makes."

"It truly is! The sweat is pouring off me, and all my fatigue has vanished."

At the customers' praise, Bang Jin-bo wore a happy smile.

Strangers he had never met before were eating the food he had made and finding it delicious. He was deeply grateful for the sight.

'I want to make food that brings happiness to people. I want to see that smile on the faces of everyone who tastes my cooking.'

The beef noodle soup he had made was, for now, based on the old woman's recipe. With time, he would develop his own secret techniques.

Suddenly, Bang Jin-bo's gaze turned to Dam Ho. Even as he had been absorbed in cooking, Dam Ho had not moved a single step.

Bang Jin-bo hastily rolled another bowl of beef noodle soup and offered it to Dam Ho.

"Brother, please try it."

Dam Ho silently tasted the beef noodle soup Bang Jin-bo had prepared.

He ate slowly, savoring each bite.

Bang Jin-bo watched Dam Ho's reaction with a tense expression. After some time, Dam Ho set down his chopsticks. He had emptied the bowl, down to the last drop of broth.

"It is delicious."

"Heh heh! I am relieved."

Bang Jin-bo's expression immediately relaxed.

To him, Dam Ho's evaluation mattered more than anyone else's. It was not because Dam Ho's palate was particularly refined, or because he was generous with praise.

It was a matter of trust. That Dam Ho's word could be trusted without reservation. Bang Jin-bo believed and relied upon Dam Ho that deeply.

As if to prove that Dam Ho's words were true, a flood of customers arrived.

Their reactions were uniform.

At first, they regarded Bang Jin-bo—who was rolling noodles in place of the old woman—with skeptical eyes, but those looks soon turned to admiration.

Thanks to this, only Bang Jin-bo was busy. Despite the many customers, he remained composed and handled them without panic.

The old woman could not help but marvel at the sight of Bang Jin-bo.

"He is better than I am."

She even felt that the beef noodle soup he made tasted better than her own.

But she felt no jealousy. Perhaps it was because, having endured the many hardships of life, she sensed that her days were numbered.

The old woman gazed at Bang Jin-bo with warm eyes, as though looking at her own grandson.

The ingredients and broth he had prepared were nearly exhausted, and what he guessed would be the final customer arrived.

A middle-aged man with a mustache. At a glance, he had the look of an extremely fastidious fellow.

"One bowl of beef noodle soup, if you please."

"Yes!"

Bang Jin-bo rolled a bowl of beef noodle soup for the middle-aged man and then stretched.

"Aaah! It is over. Oh my, I am exhausted."

Though his words claimed exhaustion, the pleased expression remained on his face.

The old woman patted Bang Jin-bo's head.

"My, my! You have worked so hard, you dear boy. Toiling like this for an old woman you have never even met."

"Work hard? It was fun, thanks to you. And thanks to you, I learned a new recipe."

"I am glad to hear that. Thank you. Thanks to you, the broth I worked so hard to make was not wasted in vain."

The old woman and Bang Jin-bo looked at each other and smiled.

At that moment.

"Old woman, are you certain it was this boy who made this beef noodle soup?"

"Quite certain. When my shoulder ached and I could not run the stall today, this lad stepped up and made it himself."

"Is that so? Quite skilled, I must say. His vegetable preparation is top-notch. And he cooked the noodles with excellent timing. Where did he learn this?"

The final question was directed at Bang Jin-bo.

"My father was a chef."

"Is that so? From the looks of it, you are not the old woman's grandson, correct?"

"That is right."

"I will not beat around the bush. Could you help me with my work for a few days?"

"Your work?"

"I am Song Hwan, the head chef of the Red Cliff Manor. The master's sixtieth birthday celebration is fast approaching, and I am badly short of hands."

"Ah!"

"So what I am asking is whether you could assist me."

At Song Hwan's seemingly fantastical proposal, Bang Jin-bo wore a dazed expression. But Song Hwan's face was entirely serious, not at all a joke.

Song Hwan had come to the market at dawn to procure ingredients for the celebration. Since it was such a grand occasion, he felt it was best to inspect the ingredients himself.

While searching the market, he had spotted Bang Jin-bo preparing the ingredients for the beef noodle soup. At first, he thought the boy was showing off, but the more he watched, the more impressive his skill became.

Two of the Red Cliff Manor's chefs had unexpectedly fallen ill, and so Song Hwan had made this offer to Bang Jin-bo.

Bang Jin-bo looked to Dam Ho with a bewildered expression. He did not know how to respond to this unexpected proposal. But Dam Ho offered Bang Jin-bo no answer.

The proposal had been made to Bang Jin-bo. The decision was his to make. Whatever he decided, Dam Ho would not interfere.

"Well, what will you do? I do not have much time."

"Would I be of any help?"

"If you can, I would welcome even a cat's paw. I do not ask for much. If you can lighten the burden on the other chefs even slightly, that will suffice."

"If I will do, I would be happy to help."

"Good. Can you leave with me right now?"

"I am staying at an inn, so I need to collect my belongings first."

"I will be meeting the Red Cliff Manor's people at the clearing ahead in one hour. Have your things ready by then."

"Oh, and may I bring my brother along?"

Bang Jin-bo pointed to Dam Ho.

Song Hwan furrowed his brow for a moment. Dam Ho, clad entirely in black, gave him an unsettling impression. But given the urgency of the kitchen's situation, he could not afford to refuse Bang Jin-bo.

"I will speak to my steward and arrange accommodation. You may bring him along."

"Thank you."

Bang Jin-bo bowed his head in gratitude.

Song Hwan paid the old woman and rose.

"Then I shall see you shortly."

Bang Jin-bo watched Song Hwan's retreating back with a flushed face, then suddenly pumped his fist.

"Yes!"

Seeing him pump his fist and cheer, the old woman smiled.

"Are you that happy?"

"Of course."

"Be careful. From what I hear, the Red Cliff Manor is full of dangerous people who know martial arts. If you do something wrong, you could find yourself in serious trouble."

"Do not worry."

Bang Jin-bo looked to Dam Ho.

Dam Ho had not uttered a word.

"Brother, thank you. I hope I am not taking up your time for nothing."

"It is fine."

With that, Dam Ho turned away.

Bang Jin-bo gave all of today's earnings to the old woman and hurriedly followed Dam Ho.

The old woman's voice came from behind him.

"Why give me all of this money? You worked hard to earn it."

"But you taught me your secret recipe in return. Please take care of yourself and stay healthy. I will be going now."

Bang Jin-bo waved to the old woman and followed in Dam Ho's footsteps.

Upon returning to the inn, Bang Jin-bo hurriedly packed his things.

"Rice cakes, ladle… dried sea cucumber, lamb jerky."

After checking that nothing was missing, Bang Jin-bo slung the bundle over his back. A look of tension had appeared on his face.

The thought that he would soon be entering the Red Cliff Manor to cook made his body stiffen already.

'I can do this. Whew!'

He took several deep breaths, and his pounding heart gradually calmed.

"Brother, let us go."

"Very well."

The two stepped outside.

When they went to the stable, the Dark Stallion whinnied as if greeting them. Dam Ho patted the horse's neck when—

"So that is your horse?"

A cold voice rang in Dam Ho's ear.

He turned to see familiar faces. It was Mun Su-gyeong and Jwa Sang-cheon. They too had come to retrieve their horses.

Jwa Sang-cheon approached the Dark Stallion.

"Too fine a horse for a commoner to ride."

The emotion in Jwa Sang-cheon's eyes was greed.

Even a layman could tell that the Dark Stallion was extraordinary in appearance. The many horses in the stable cowered at the Dark Stallion's mere presence—proof enough.

"Sell me that horse. I will pay you a generous price."

"Senior Brother, that is rude."

Mun Su-gyeong was alarmed and tried to restrain Jwa Sang-cheon. But Jwa Sang-cheon paid her no heed and continued.

"What? I said I would pay a fair price."

"Senior Brother!"

Unable to bear it any longer, Mun Su-gyeong raised her voice. Jwa Sang-cheon grimaced and took a step back.

'These women, honestly…'

He resented Mun Su-gyeong for constantly interfering, but she was the Master's daughter after all. He had to maintain the bare minimum of courtesy.

"Fine, fine. I was merely commenting on how fine the horse is. Tch!"

Even as he retreated, Jwa Sang-cheon could not tear his eyes from the Dark Stallion. So bewitched was he by the horse's magnificent appearance.

'For now I will withdraw, but someday I will make that horse mine.'

It was said that treasures were meant for worthy masters.

A fine horse too was meant to be ridden by one of equal stature.

Jwa Sang-cheon considered himself the one worthy of the Dark Stallion.

Mun Su-gyeong apologized to Dam Ho on Jwa Sang-cheon's behalf.

"I am sorry. He is not usually like this. He has been rude, and I apologize in his stead."

"…"

"But did you not say you were going to East Lake?"

"Brother, we will also be stopping at the Red Cliff Manor."

"Oh?"

"I have agreed to help in the kitchen."

"I thought you said you were going to East Lake?"

"I was, but the head chef of the Red Cliff Manor asked me to assist him. So I will be working in the Red Cliff Manor's kitchen for a few days."

"Is that so? How wonderful."

Mun Su-gyeong smiled and cupped her fists in a martial salute toward Dam Ho.

"Then I shall see you at the Red Cliff Manor. Until then…"

She walked toward where Jwa Sang-cheon was standing.

Come to think of it, she had never heard the man's voice even once. Could he be mute?

Mun Su-gyeong turned to look back. But by then, Dam Ho had already mounted the Dark Stallion.

Dam Ho and Bang Jin-bo rode out of the inn on horseback.

Mun Su-gyeong found that she could not tear her gaze from Dam Ho's retreating figure.

"Sister, are you not coming?"

Had Jwa Sang-cheon's voice not reached her at that moment, she would have continued watching Dam Ho's back.

"I am coming. Let us go."

Mun Su-gyeong shook her head and went to Jwa Sang-cheon. But Jwa Sang-cheon was not looking at her.

His gaze was fixed in the direction Dam Ho had vanished.

'So he is heading to the Red Cliff Manor as well?'

In his eyes, the light of greed flickered once more.

Jin Ja-gang picked up the sword dropped by the fallen warriors. Gripping the hilt tightly, he approached the staggering fighters of the Stone Forest Gang.

Without the slightest hesitation or falter, he slashed at the necks of the disoriented warriors.

Though it was practically his first time wielding a sword, the years spent hammering rocks in the mine shaft had forged a grip strength surpassing that of most grown men.

“Argh!”

“Urk!”

The warriors collapsed, clutching their necks as blood streamed out.

However, this act had an unintended negative effect on Jin Ja-gang.

Jo Yang, the leader of the Stone Forest Gang, observed Jin Ja-gang’s swordplay and quickly discerned his level of skill.

‘He’s a beginner! He doesn’t know how to wield a sword properly. His martial arts are weak.’

There was no form or technique to his strikes; they were wild and erratic. The trajectory of his sword was inconsistent, and the wounds he inflicted varied in depth and width. He couldn’t even kill with a single blow.

A true expert would never wield a sword like that!

At that moment, Jo Yang’s eyes met those of one of the hall masters, who seemed to share his realization.

Jo Yang signaled to him with a glance.

This hall master, named Mo Gae, was among the top three in skill within the Stone Forest Gang. He wielded a long skewer over a foot in length as his weapon, naturally coated with cinnabar poison.

Whenever the skewer clashed with an opponent’s weapon, the cinnabar poison would disperse into the air, unknowingly poisoning the enemy. Due to the poison, the opponent’s movements would gradually slow, ultimately leading to their death at Mo Gae’s hands.

Though he rarely needed it anymore, Mo Gae still kept a detoxifying pill made from Smilax glabra in his mouth as a precaution before charging at Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang, who had been cutting down warriors one by one, suddenly felt a chilling killing intent prickling his skin and looked up.

Mo Gae was rushing toward him at high speed. Jin Ja-gang hurriedly stepped back and began fanning the smoke. Mo Gae turned his head to avoid getting smoke in his eyes and held his breath.

If he could hold his breath just once, he would gain enough time to pierce Jin Ja-gang’s head with his skewer.

Mo Gae leapt into the air, spinning his body to disperse the smoke in all directions, and in an instant, soared above Jin Ja-gang’s head.

“Die!”

From mid-air, Mo Gae aimed directly at Jin Ja-gang’s head. His trembling hand missed the exact center of the crown, but surely any part of the head would do. As long as the iron skewer struck anywhere on the head, unless it was made of steel, it would be fatal.

However, Jin Ja-gang had seen all of Mo Gae’s attack coming.

Jin Ja-gang had undoubtedly grown stronger-both mentally and physically.

During the eight tedious years of breaking rocks in the mine shaft, the martial arts techniques from the medicinal sects that he had repeatedly memorized and visualized in his mind came flooding back.

Jin Ja-gang executed a footwork technique, swaying his body. It was a basic footwork of the medicinal sects, but due to his limp, his movement shifted in a direction Mo Gae hadn’t anticipated at all.

“Huh?”

Mo Gae’s eyes widened in surprise.

Slash!

The skewer grazed past Jin Ja-gang’s head, tearing a piece of flesh from his shoulder.

Yet, Jin Ja-gang didn’t panic. He took a deep breath, drawing external energy through his Baihui acupoint into his body.

A small amount of internal energy flowed through his limited meridians.

In this situation, the technique he could use was the sword art of the Bosam Gate.

‘Great Exhalation Roar!’

Though the internal energy was minimal, by unleashing it with the method of Great Exhalation Roar, he could produce a powerful burst of energy in a single moment, akin to the Shaolin Temple’s “One Breath Completion” technique.

Having practiced this method hundreds, even thousands of times while chiseling in the mine shaft, Jin Ja-gang could execute it swiftly.

A considerable force surged into Jin Ja-gang’s grip and shoulder as he tightly held the sword.

Jin Ja-gang swung the sword downward from above with full force.

Mo Gae, caught off guard by the unexpected speed of Jin Ja-gang’s seemingly clumsy swordplay, could only flinch in panic.

Though Mo Gae tried to twist his body mid-air, he was too slow. Living a life of debauchery with daily drinking and currently suffering from advanced cinnabar poisoning, his movements were far more sluggish than he realized.

Slash!

Jin Ja-gang’s sword, imbued with internal energy, sliced through Mo Gae’s right ear and cleaved into his shoulder.

“Argh!”

Mo Gae failed to land properly and tumbled to the ground. His right shoulder, still attached to his arm, was severed diagonally and twitched grotesquely.

For Jin Ja-gang, witnessing the power of a martial technique fueled by internal energy for the first time, it was a shocking sight even to himself.

Even with his immature sword qi, he had severed a man’s arm from the shoulder, bone and all.

The overwhelming power and brutal scene caused his hand to tremble involuntarily.

‘Have I… become this strong?’

Mo Gae didn’t miss the sight of Jin Ja-gang’s trembling hand. Trembling hands were a common mistake among beginners who had never cut down a person before.

“Urgh! It hurts! S-save me!”

Mo Gae screamed like a common thug, rolling on the ground. Meanwhile, with his left hand, he gripped the skewer and hid it under his body, planning to attack when Jin Ja-gang let his guard down.

As expected, Jin Ja-gang didn’t move. For Mo Gae, piercing the unmoving Jin Ja-gang’s abdomen would be child’s play.

‘This brat!’

Mo Gae’s eyes glinted as he reversed his grip on the skewer, preparing to thrust upward.

But at that moment, his eyes met Jin Ja-gang’s.

Jin Ja-gang was staring straight down at him.

“Huh?”

Mo Gae flinched, feeling as if his intentions had been exposed.

Mo Gae knew too little about Jin Ja-gang. Despite his delicate appearance, Jin Ja-gang was a battle-hardened veteran who had faced countless life-and-death crises.

Without a shred of hesitation, Jin Ja-gang brought the sword down.

Thwack!

The sword embedded itself in Mo Gae’s head. Mo Gae’s eyes gradually lost their light, turning ashen.

With even the skilled Mo Gae defeated, the remaining warriors of the Stone Forest Gang lost their will to fight in an instant.

Jin Ja-gang calmly resumed fanning the smoke. The toxic haze continued to drift toward the Stone Forest Gang members.

“Cough, cough!”

“That, that b*st*rd!”

Of the eighty members, half were on the verge of death, and the other half could barely stand due to the effects of the poison. Only about ten, including Leader Jo Yang and the hall masters, were still capable of moving.

Fear and pain were evident on their faces.

Jo Yang gritted his teeth.

“Who… who the hell are you?”

Jin Ja-gang, not concealing his killing intent, replied:

“Didn’t you say it yourself earlier? A descendant of the medicinal sects.”

“W-what? Don’t make me laugh! That’s nonsense!”

“Is it? Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter to me. I’m only here to make you pay for your sins.”

“What did we do wrong?! Cough, cough!”

“Hundred Flower Valley.”

“…?”

“Medicine King Sect. Bosam Gate. Sanghwang Valley. Silkworm Cultivation Sect…”

Jin Ja-gang listed the names of the sects one by one.

“Cheondo Sect, Guseon Sect, Il-i Valley, Sajang Sect…”

The faces of Jo Yang and the Stone Forest Gang hall masters turned pale as they listened.

Jin Ja-gang was reciting the names of the medicinal sects that had been trapped in the mine shaft eight years ago.

After naming over twenty sects, Jin Ja-gang paused for a moment.

“There must be more. Besides these. In the mine shaft where I was, these were all who were there.”

Jin Ja-gang gazed at the sky briefly before slowly shifting his eyes to Jo Yang. Jo Yang bit his lip under the weight of Jin Ja-gang’s furious stare. Jin Ja-gang’s eyes held an emotion that someone of his apparent age should not possess.

Jin Ja-gang asked again:

“Why did the poison sects attack the medicinal sects?”

Jo Yang hid his trembling hands. Whether it was due to cinnabar poisoning or fear of Jin Ja-gang, he couldn’t tell. But he instinctively knew that surviving today against this young man would be difficult.

So, there was no need to answer obediently.

Since he was likely to die anyway, he decided to put on a brave front.

“Ke ke ke. Curious, are you? Too bad. You might kill me, but you’ll never hear what you want from my mouth.”

One of the hall masters jumped forward.

“I’ll tell you, just spare me…”

Jo Yang grabbed the hall master by the hair. Then, pulling him back, he twisted his neck.

Crack.

The hall master’s body went limp as his neck snapped.

After killing the traitor, Jo Yang glared at Jin Ja-gang with a smirk.

Smirk.

However, Jo Yang’s smirk quickly froze.

Jin Ja-gang was looking back at him with the exact same smirk.

“I don’t care if you don’t answer. Everyone involved will die.”

A chill ran down Jo Yang’s spine.

“This crazy, insane b*st*rd… You, alone, plan to attack the poison sects… the entire poison faction?”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t respond, only stared. Yet, that silence somehow conveyed an unshakable certainty that he would indeed hunt down everyone involved.

“You’ve touched the Stone Forest Gang, a faction affiliated with not just the Yunnan poison sects but also the Martial Arts Alliance. The Yunnan poison sects and the Martial Arts Alliance won’t let you live. Do you think you can survive unscathed?”

“How would I know? I don’t even know if I’ll live until then.”

“What?”

“But before that.”

Jin Ja-gang erased the smirk from his face and fixed a piercing gaze on Jo Yang and the few remaining hall masters and warriors.

“The Stone Forest Gang disappears today.”

“This ridiculous brat…”

Even as he spoke, more people collapsed, coughing. Only six or seven remained standing. At this rate, total annihilation was just a matter of time.

One of the hall masters, trembling, asked:

“If we sincerely apologize… will you spare us?”

Jin Ja-gang muttered to himself as if speaking to no one.

“Torturing, killing, and burying people alive-if an apology is enough to be forgiven… that’s how it works, right?”

Looking at the hall masters, Jin Ja-gang countered:

“I’ll kill you and apologize afterward. Will you forgive me then?”

The hall masters’ faces twisted in dismay.

If they died, what would Jin Ja-gang’s apology mean? What use was an apology after death?

“If your apology is sincere, shouldn’t it at least be worth that much?”

His tone was resolute, leaving no room for compromise. Jo Yang and the hall masters felt their vision darken.

But at that moment.

Suddenly, Jin Ja-gang staggered.

‘Huh?’

Jo Yang’s eyes widened.

He noticed a wound on Jin Ja-gang’s shoulder. It was the injury inflicted by Mo Gae’s skewer. As everyone knew, the skewer was coated with poison.

‘A chance!’

This might be their last opportunity.

Jo Yang shouted loudly:

“He’s been poisoned by Mo Gae’s toxin!”

At Jo Yang’s words, the remaining members rallied their strength.

Jo Yang charged first.

“Poisoned and still acting cocky, you brat! Everyone, attack!”

The remaining Stone Forest Gang members followed behind Jo Yang.

However, even as they charged recklessly after Jo Yang, they felt something was off.

Mo Gae’s skewer was coated with cinnabar poison.

Yet, Jin Ja-gang was poisoned by cinnabar?

Right now, the jars were still emitting cinnabar poison smoke, and behind him was a gourd filled with antidote, completely unaffected?

Someone shouted.

“S-stop!”

But it was too late.

Jin Ja-gang drew out a lethal dose of Kunlun Sulfur Jade Poison to his little finger and dropped it into the jar.

Then, with vigorous fanning, he directed the smoke toward Jo Yang and the charging Stone Forest Gang members.

Whoosh!

The moment the smoke touched Jo Yang, his eyes blurred, his vision faded, and his breath caught in his throat.

“Tr-tricked…!”

But it was all or nothing now. Jo Yang pressed on with his attack. He pulled out a poison pouch from his chest, spread it open, and thrust both palms forward.

Bang!

He unleashed the yellow powder from the pouch with a double palm strike, sending it toward Jin Ja-gang.

But that, too, was cinnabar poison. Cinnabar poison had no effect on Jin Ja-gang. Moreover, Jo Yang, already deeply poisoned by cinnabar, had completely lost his sense of distance.

Jo Yang’s double palm strike missed Jin Ja-gang entirely, striking only empty air.

In that moment, Jin Ja-gang circled behind Jo Yang and delivered a powerful slash to his back.

“Urgh!”

Jo Yang arched his back like a bow and collapsed.

Jin Ja-gang drew another breath of energy through his Baihui acupoint and executed a footwork technique. Though internal energy only flowed into one healthy leg, it was enough to propel him off the ground.

A dagger thrown by one of the Stone Forest Gang hall masters grazed past Jin Ja-gang’s body and embedded itself in the ground.

Jin Ja-gang cut down the remaining hall masters and warriors one by one, who were staggering from both cinnabar and Kunlun Sulfur Jade Poison.

The ground was littered with the poisoned and the dead.

Jin Ja-gang, noticing his sword’s edge had dulled and chipped, picked up Mo Gae’s skewer and began walking around, stabbing each survivor to death.