Chapter 420

Jin Ja-gang’s consciousness gradually spread to his surroundings.

Simultaneously, all the senses of his body opened wide and the range of physical perception slowly expanded along with consciousness.

Jin Ja-gang listened carefully. Joyful voices were coming from somewhere.

“Let me see too.”

“What… why are you doing that?”

“Hey, you might have done something strange to the dice without me knowing.”

“You’re quite sharp. Have you rolled dice somewhere before?”

“Don’t think about cheating and take out new dice.”

“Tsk. Alright.”

Jin Ja-gang’s consciousness headed toward where the sound was coming from.

Despite having his eyes closed, he felt a clear scene as if seeing with his eyes.

One side of the garden, a little away from Jin Ja-gang.

Bian Bu and Taoist Master Bok-cheon were sitting facing each other with a strange tension flowing between them. Woon-jeong and So-so were cheering for each of them from the sides.

Jin Ja-gang watched what the two were doing.

Perhaps they had become bored while guarding Jin Ja-gang and were playing games. But Bian Bu and Taoist Master Bok-cheon were having a battle of wills over dice.

Jin Ja-gang found it amusing.

What were these bold people doing when the martial world was about to be in chaos?

With thousands of people dying, were they concentrating as if betting everything on a battle of wills over a single die?

No.

Jin Ja-gang judged that he had thought wrongly.

Jin Ja-gang had wanted this kind of ordinary daily life. He was fighting for this.

So even if the world ended right now, it might be right to enjoy daily life as daily life. That was right.

If you only worry about the sky falling and only worry about the earth caving in, even daily life would collapse.

Jin Ja-gang smiled and decided to concentrate his consciousness more to watch their battle of wills.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon said to Bian Bu.

“That Woon-jeong fellow was hanging around gambling dens like never before and playing by throwing dice alone, so I wondered what was wrong, and you taught him gambling?”

“Isn’t Taoist Woon-jeong also a grown adult now? How long will you treat him like a child?”

“Enough of such talk. Come out and let’s play once.”

“Hmph. It seems you’re sulking because I taught gambling to your disciple, but your own dice handling skills aren’t ordinary either?”

Even with the two’s battle of wills, Woon-jeong and So-so weren’t anxious. Rather, they were watching the two’s psychological warfare with great interest. Jin Ja-gang felt like he could hear Woon-jeong and So-so giggling inside.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Taoist Master Bok-cheon. He tried to feel Taoist Master Bok-cheon’s mood. Though Taoist Master Bok-cheon was frowning, he seemed more joyful than ever.

Then Taoist Master Bok-cheon suddenly slapped his neck and looked around.

“This Tang family has so many creatures crawling around, how is it that I can’t sense people coming?”

But Taoist Master Bok-cheon was startled when there was no one behind him.

Woon-jeong spoke as if asking why he was acting that way.

“Master, no one came.”

“Hmm?”

For just a moment, Taoist Master Bok-cheon and Jin Ja-gang’s eyes met. Of course, Taoist Master Bok-cheon’s gaze couldn’t see Jin Ja-gang’s consciousness with his eyes and only passed by. Because of this, Jin Ja-gang could tell that Taoist Master Bok-cheon was truly flustered. He could also feel his embarrassment.

“Strange.”

Bian Bu laughed making an exaggerated sound.

“What’s strange about what? You’re just embarrassed because you think you’ll lose after blaming the dice for nothing, right?”

“Hah, what do you take me for? Just give me the dice quickly.”

Bian Bu was about to give him the pair of dice but gripped them and made him promise.

“You keep your promises.”

“Don’t worry. If I speak with two tongues, I’m a son with two fathers.”

“Why go that far? In our world, we just call them dogs. If you lie, you’re a dog.”

“Whether bastard or dog. One of the two.”

“So keep your promise.”

Jin Ja-gang became curious about what promise the two had made.

Then Woon-jeong said to Jin Ja-gang.

‘The loser agreed to call the winner older brother.’

Ah, I see.

But suddenly Jin Ja-gang had a strange thought and looked at Woon-jeong. Woon-jeong wasn’t looking at Jin Ja-gang.

Who had spoken? Was it right that Taoist Woon-jeong had spoken?

So-so said.

‘We said it.’

Jin Ja-gang was surprised and looked at So-so. So-so was playing a slight finger game with Woon-jeong and wasn’t even glancing toward Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang wondered whether he had just heard auditory hallucinations, or whether all of this was an illusion.

* * *

Northern Heaven unorthodox sect’s Su Su-jin pointed her white hands sharply and repeatedly stabbed at Master Haewol. Master Haewol swayed his body. White light like rays of light seemed to penetrate and pass through Master Haewol’s body.

The attack power of Small Hand Demon Art was strong but not difficult to avoid. What was really troublesome was the light emitted by Small Hand Art. The flickering light in front of his eyes scattered, making it impossible to see properly. No matter how deeply Master Haewol’s eyelids covered his pupils, the rest of his vision was completely covered by light.

Master Haewol closed his eyes and while avoiding Su Su-jin’s attack, grabbed her left wrist. Su Su-jin was startled and tried to pull her arm away. Master Haewol pressed her wrist tightly with his thumb.

Su Su-jin’s face twisted in pain. Her fingers trembled and spread out, and her wrist began to bend.

SNAP!

Her wrist broke and bent.

Su Su-jin gritted her teeth and didn’t scream.

Northern Heaven unorthodox sect’s Go Lu-bon ran over and hugged Master Haewol tightly from behind. But no matter how Go Lu-bon strained and pressed, Master Haewol’s spread arms didn’t close.

Still holding Su Su-jin’s broken wrist. When Master Haewol held the broken wrist and lifted it up, Su Su-jin finally screamed.

“KYAAAAH!”

Go Lu-bon gave up trying to suppress Master Haewol with strength and struck his lower back with his elbow from behind.

Thud thud.

He was definitely hitting but it didn’t feel like hitting.

Master Haewol’s body rippled like soft cotton. Go Lu-bon shouted and head-butted Master Haewol’s back of the head with his forehead.

CRACK!

Only then did Master Haewol’s head shake as if he received a little shock. Master Haewol lowered his head then leaped backward, rather head-butting Go Lu-bon’s jaw. Go Lu-bon’s head bounced back and he staggered and retreated.

Since he was still gripping Su Su-jin’s broken arm, Su Su-jin’s face was completely twisted in pain. Su Su-jin, veins bulging, kicked Master Haewol’s groin. Master Haewol closed his legs and caught Su Su-jin’s ankle between his thighs. Though Su Su-jin tried with all her might to pull out her foot, the foot caught between Master Haewol’s thighs didn’t budge at all.

Master Haewol’s eyes rose, pushing up his eyelids.

Kill.

Su Su-jin shuddered at Master Haewol’s killing intent. Master Haewol extended his hand that wasn’t gripping the wrist and touched Su Su-jin’s solar plexus with his fingertips.

Wudang Sect’s Inch Force. Veins stood out on Su Su-jin’s twisted face. Su Su-jin’s hands shone the brightest they ever had.

FLASH!

Master Haewol’s retina was colored with light that flickered for a moment. His pupils opened and his eyes lost focus. Su Su-jin escaped from Master Haewol in the meantime.

Go Lu-bon, angry from being hit in the jaw, stripped off his upper garment and rushed at Master Haewol. Master Haewol turned his body and struck Go Lu-bon’s belly with his palm.

Go Lu-bon bent his waist saying “Ugh!” but soon straightened his body and slapped Master Haewol’s cheek. Master Haewol leaned his upper body back to avoid Go Lu-bon’s slap.

Master Haewol again struck Go Lu-bon’s chest and belly with his palms.

SMACK! SMACK!

Go Lu-bon staggered but seemed not to have received much damage and attacked Master Haewol. The lumps on Go Lu-bon’s body acted as natural armor, cushioning the impact.

“Ahahaha!”

Go Lu-bon was hit and fell but soon shook his head and got up laughing. It was a confident laugh as if bare hands couldn’t do anything to him.

Master Haewol stared at Go Lu-bon then raised his finger.

THUD!

Go Lu-bon’s right eye burst from being hit by finger wind.

“AAAAAH!”

Go Lu-bon grabbed his eye and screamed.

Master Haewol stomped his foot. The deck planks rippled like waves toward Go Lu-bon.

CRACK!

The planks bent and all the wedges and nails popped out, and when it reached Go Lu-bon, it made even Go Lu-bon stagger. Master Haewol struck Go Lu-bon’s chest with palm force. Go Lu-bon couldn’t step properly and floundered, then slipped and fell into the river.

SPLASH.

Then shadows intricately woven like spider webs covered over Master Haewol’s head.

* * *

The situation flowed interestingly.

They agreed to call each other older brother?

Though Taoist Master Bok-cheon was over sixty, his strong martial arts made him look forty, and though Bian Bu was also in his sixties, he looked like he was seventy. So whoever called the other older brother would seem strange to others.

Bian Bu pointed at Taoist Master Bok-cheon as if asking Jin Ja-gang to take his side.

‘This Taoist here says he dislikes gambling yet is very very familiar with dice. Is there such a two-faced Taoist in this world?’

When Jin Ja-gang shook his head and looked again, Bian Bu wasn’t speaking to Jin Ja-gang but was still only looking at Taoist Master Bok-cheon.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon looked at both Bian Bu and Jin Ja-gang ‘simultaneously’ and said.

‘In my youth, I saw many Taoists ruined by gambling, so I learned some techniques as preparation! Don’t drag Poison Dragon into this and let’s settle this quickly. Poison Dragon, you don’t take this person’s side either.’

Jin Ja-gang now gave up trying to confirm who was speaking to him. Such things were meaningless. Whether auditory hallucination or illusion, the essence doesn’t change.

Jin Ja-gang casually asked calmly.

‘What’s wrong with you two?’

‘Hmph. What’s wrong? We’re just comparing whose luck is better with dice.’

He couldn’t tell who answered, or whether Jin Ja-gang had really asked and received an answer. But when his doubts about whether it was auditory hallucination or illusion disappeared, all worries immediately vanished.

And Jin Ja-gang could watch the bet more joyfully.

“Alright, here I go!”

“Throw it!”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon picked up the dice.

Using all his strength to spin the dice in his hand, he threw them with all his might.

“Come out! Double six!”

* * *

Northern Heaven unorthodox sect master Black Horse, with a dark face long like a horse’s, threw a net toward Master Haewol. Needles were attached wherever the warp and weft of the net crossed, and weights were attached to the ends so that once caught, one couldn’t escape.

Master Haewol spread his arms toward the sky with his eyes out of focus. Soft and gentle palm force poured out and flowed gently through the air. The iron net Black Horse threw flowed to the side like being pushed by waves and passed by Master Haewol.

Black Horse hurriedly pulled the rope connected to the net to change direction. Master Haewol, unable to see ahead, slightly raised his head and stomped his foot. Master Haewol’s body shot out like an arrow and rammed into Black Horse’s chest.

CRACK! Black Horse’s sternum caved in and Black Horse was pushed and fell into the river like Go Lu-bon.

SPLASH!

Then hot heat approached over Master Haewol’s head.

WHOOSH!

Samadhi fire flames fell.