Chapter 425

The Tang Family Main House’s secret armory was opened wide for Jin Ja-gang.

The Tang family’s most skilled craftsmen had all gathered in front of the workshop waiting for Jin Ja-gang.

But more surprisingly, craftsman Beon Woo, who had lost both legs, was in front of them.

Beon Woo prostrated himself on the ground with tears streaming down his face to greet Jin Ja-gang.

“When I heard you defeated King of Hell, I immediately rushed here hoping to be of some help.”

Jin Ja-gang helped Beon Woo up.

“As promised, Soul Seizing Hall Master met its end along with Master Beon’s name. There was no private resentment, so he left a message saying he was sorry.”

“Thank you. Thank you.”

The workshop supervisor bowed his head to Jin Ja-gang and said.

“We’re on standby by the family head’s orders. However… time is urgent, so it will be difficult to craft new weapons.”

But Beon Woo pushed the case he had brought in front of Jin Ja-gang.

“I had prepared this in advance to give to my benefactor someday.”

Jin Ja-gang opened the case.

Inside was a pair of thin jade bracelets with a subtle luster flowing across their surface.

At first glance they looked like Soul Seizing Thread rings, but if they were ordinary Soul Seizing Thread, Beon Woo wouldn’t have struggled to bring them here in his condition.

Jin Ja-gang picked up the jade bracelets. Surprisingly, the bracelets had several small holes that weren’t visible.

Beon Woo said.

“Seeing your eyes, you’re no longer the person I knew before. Now you should be able to use this too.”

Jin Ja-gang unfastened the Soul Seizing Thread rings and changed to the jade bracelets. After putting his hands down, he instantly activated the internal energy of Jade Void Nine Lights Five Thunder Toad Art.

Pop pop pop!

Instantly Soul Seizing Thread extended from the bracelet holes and made ten holes in the floor. Like before, one side’s black thread was invisible while the other side’s white thread showed as a thin strand.

Beon Woo was amazed.

“I knew you could handle it. It’s several times more durable than the original Soul Seizing Thread and the black and white threads you’ve been using. It’s stronger than sword energy and will hold up against sword force for a while.”

Truly an item made with the best craftsman’s utmost effort.

“This was made solely for my benefactor. I took the liberty of naming it. This is no longer Soul Seizing Thread.”

Beon Woo bowed his head again and announced with an emotional tone.

“It’s Asura Sutra.”

Jin Ja-gang retrieved the Asura Sutra’s black and white threads embedded in the floor. It was truly seamless. Not only the wearing comfort but also the feeling of internal energy flowing through the threads was incomparably smoother than before.

“I like it. I’ll use it well.”

Jin Ja-gang handed over the Soul Seizing Thread he had been using to Beon Woo and entered the armory. All kinds of weapons were cleaned and hung up.

There were also over hundreds of types of hidden weapons. But hidden weapons you’re not familiar with are worse than useless. Jin Ja-gang preferred ordinary-looking needles. He selected needle cases of different lengths and gathered them.

The workshop supervisor followed Jin Ja-gang in and recommended one more thing.

“I don’t know about other things, but I strongly recommend you take this.”

It was a vest made by connecting several palm-sized thin turtle shells.

The workshop supervisor carefully removed Jin Ja-gang’s outer garment and put the vest on his bare skin inside. The turtle shells stuck to his skin and wouldn’t come off as if they had always been there. When he put his outer garment back on, it was thin enough not to show easily and wasn’t uncomfortable.

“It’s the shell of a thousand-year-old turtle. It’s impervious to swords and will provide a lifeline in desperate moments.”

For Jin Ja-gang who didn’t use protective energy, this was truly necessary equipment.

When Jin Ja-gang finished arming himself and left the armory, not only the workshop supervisor but all the craftsmen bowed their heads to Jin Ja-gang.

They didn’t know the detailed circumstances. Nevertheless, they could tell that Jin Ja-gang had risked his life for their sake.

No one in the martial world would have the guts to attempt what Martial Alliance Leader Master Haewol had failed at. Especially when it was obvious they would bear all kinds of infamy and notoriety.

So they couldn’t help but respect Jin Ja-gang who had stepped forward for this task…

* * *

The palanquin carrying Mang Ryo arrived in front of the Tang Family Main House.

Sim Hak trembled. They were trying to stick their mouths into a tiger’s den without any support, even in an almost unarmed state.

But unlike Sim Hak, Mang Ryo seemed excited.

“Where… shall we go?”

Mang Ryo dragged Sim Hak out of the palanquin and sent the bearers away after paying them generously.

Of course, having palanquin bearers wouldn’t help if problems arose. But keeping the palanquin on standby versus sending it away represented completely different mindsets!

“Are you crazy? Crazy? Are you insane!”

Sim Hak struggled while his nape was gripped by Mang Ryo’s hand.

“You said you’d handle the Tang family but you came to die! Came to die!”

But Mang Ryo laughed heartily while carrying Sim Hak to the front gate of the Tang Family Main House.

Then he took a deep breath and shouted with internal energy.

“I killed Haewol! I killed Haewol!”

Mang Ryo’s voice thundered throughout the Tang Family Main House, making Sim Hak turn pale.

Mang Ryo stood there glaring at the tightly closed main gate with excitement, raising the corners of his mouth.

“I know you’re still here. My eye is tingling. Come on, come out quickly. Quickly.”

The sound of bolts being opened was heard and the Tang Family Main House’s main gate began to open heavily.

And finally.

Jin Ja-gang revealed himself.

Mang Ryo threw Sim Hak aside. He opened his single eye wide and stared at Jin Ja-gang. He was so focused that he went from grinning to drooling.

Jin Ja-gang walked out and stared directly at Mang Ryo.

Mang Ryo shouted.

“I killed Haewol!”

Jin Ja-gang just looked at Mang Ryo without saying a word in response.

Mang Ryo kept smiling while glaring at Jin Ja-gang.

“You cunning thing. You made contact with Yangtze River Sword Sect while being called gambling dragon in Chongqing, and that was coordinating with Haewol, wasn’t it? Huh? Did you think you could escape my eye?”

Jin Ja-gang remained silent.

“But what now? Now Haewol is dead and your only breakthrough has disappeared.”

Mang Ryo shook his head as if pitying and shrugged his shoulders, his gestures exaggerated.

Moreover, his tone was chillingly affectionate. Like a friendly neighborhood grandfather speaking warmly, Mang Ryo said.

“Soon salt mixed with Five Path Fatal Pills will be released into the martial world. Since salt is so scarce, it will spread rapidly, and then chaos will break out everywhere. Of course, if you trace the cause back, the Tang family will eventually be pointed out as the culprit.”

Mang Ryo pointed at the high walls and gate of the Tang Family Main House.

“Then all of this that you have will turn to ashes and disappear in an instant. The reliable family and wealth that guards your back. Your beautiful wife and your only bloodline about to come into this world. All of it will become bubbles and disappear!”

Suddenly Mang Ryo’s expression changed completely.

“Just like me ten years ago!”

Mang Ryo huffed and puffed then forced a gentle smile while extending his hand toward Jin Ja-gang.

“The boats loaded with salt are anchored not far from here. If I don’t return within one hour, the boats will depart. Then those boats will spread to various places in the Central Plains. But you see, conversely, depending on what you do, something different from expected might happen.”

Mang Ryo trembled his shoulders as if the thought thrilled him.

“For example, all the boats carrying salt could disappear without a trace. People would think the boats sank after encountering unexpected storms. Then you would be able to protect the Tang family. You could enjoy everything you have now as if nothing happened.”

Sim Hak shouted in surprise from the side.

“What on earth are you talking about, Advisor Mang!”

Mang Ryo glared with eyes that seemed ready to shoot flames and yelled at Sim Hak.

“Don’t interfere at important moments when you’re just a spectator, you worthless brat! Say one more word and I’ll tear your mouth apart.”

Sim Hak’s complexion turned pale and he shut his mouth. But soon he stood up and finished what he wanted to say.

“The, the boats number in the hundreds and there are even masters from Demon Cult and Northern Heaven unorthodox sect, so what can you do! Stop talking nonsense right now and let’s go back! If Prefect Baek wakes up and learns of this, you’ll be in big trouble!”

Mang Ryo opened his eyes wide and said.

“Originally half the boats were supposed to go to the Yellow River and only the other half through the Yangtze River. But I brought all the boats to the route going through the Yangtze River. What do you think that means?”

Sim Hak thought for a moment then his eyes widened.

“Yangtze River Pirates?”

“Correct.”

Mang Ryo moved quickly and put both thumbs in Sim Hak’s mouth to pry it open.

“Then as promised since you spoke, I’ll tear your mouth.”

Sim Hak let out a terrible scream.

“AAAAAH!”

Sim Hak rolled on the ground holding his torn cheeks and spitting blood.

Mang Ryo took out silk cloth to wipe his hands and threw it away.

“Just like I had connections with Shandong unorthodox sect, I have some ties with the Yangtze River Pirates. No matter how skilled the people on the boats are, if water-dwelling folk decide to attack seriously, they can’t protect the boats.”

Sim Hak writhed and screamed rolling on the ground.

“How dare you do this to me! To me!”

Mang Ryo kicked Sim Hak as if he was noisy.

Only then did Jin Ja-gang open his mouth.

“What do you want to say?”

“Tsk tsk, still haven’t come to your senses? I’m trying to help save the Tang family and you like this. Then you should ask more politely.”

Mang Ryo mimicked Jin Ja-gang’s voice with a gentle and earnest tone.

“What should I do for you? Like that.”

Jin Ja-gang didn’t follow Mang Ryo’s words.

He just asked back with an even indifferent face.

“What do you want?”

“Tsk.”

Mang Ryo clicked his tongue and said.

“You see, after losing everything to you, I’ve lived thinking only of days like today. Do you know what that is? I wanted to receive a sincere apology from you for ruining my future. That’s all.”

Mang Ryo raised his hand in invitation.

“Just that. That’s what I want.”

“So what is that?”

Jin Ja-gang’s tone was still blunt, but Mang Ryo intuited that he had finally reached the moment he wanted.

He took a deep breath. His chest swelled with emotion. Now the moment he had longed and longed for had come.

Mang Ryo even trembled slightly as he pointed to the ground with his finger.

“Come here.”

Step! Jin Ja-gang moved without any hesitation and approached right in front of Mang Ryo.

Jin Ja-gang looked up slightly at Mang Ryo from right in front and asked.

“And then?”

Mang Ryo’s heart felt like it would burst.

“Kneel. Crawl. Kiss my feet and sincerely apologize. For taking away my eye, my legs, and everything I had.”

“Is that the answer?”

“And have the Tang family’s best horse and carriage ready. So I can return in time.”

Jin Ja-gang asked back.

“Then that’s it?”

Mang Ryo unconsciously nodded hastily.

“Yes yes, that’s all. How about it? You can do it, right? Huh? Just swallow your pride and kneel once, and you’ll be able to protect everything I lost. Huh?”

Thump! Thump!

His heart beat wildly.

Jin Ja-gang would bow his head, kneel, and kiss his feet. Then he would step on Jin Ja-gang’s head and grind it into the dirt. Still Jin Ja-gang couldn’t resist. He would want to protect what he had!

He would spit and mock to his heart’s content!

He would laugh and curse!

But even if Jin Ja-gang did that, he wouldn’t do as promised.

Of course!

He had come to see Jin Ja-gang despair miserably in the first place, to laugh at him as he grabbed the rope thrown down from despair and harbored hope only to have that too turn to despair, not to receive an ‘apology’ or anything from Jin Ja-gang!

But at that moment.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Mang Ryo with a strange expression.

It was a really strange expression in Mang Ryo’s opinion.

It wasn’t an expression of fear, sadness, anxiety, or anger.

It wasn’t contempt or mockery either.

Just puzzlement.

“What?”

Mang Ryo was briefly confused about why Jin Ja-gang was making that expression. It wasn’t the expression one should make in this kind of situation normally.

Jin Ja-gang asked.

“Do you really believe our relationship would be settled with just that much?”

“…”

Mang Ryo couldn’t answer.

He felt a dirty and uncomfortable feeling that couldn’t be explained in words.