Chapter 265  

Dan Ryeong-gyeong paused to think, then nodded.  

She had grasped what was happening.  

“The Tang family’s daughter has returned to her clan.”  

“As expected of the Fairy Maiden! That’s right. Tang Ha-ran went back to the Tang family. The Tang family withdrew only after that.”  

Bloodlines of the Tang clan always took precedence over any external matters.  

Children were already precious to them, but if the relative was with child, even more so.  

And if that child was fathered by Poison Dragon, then it was a matter of even greater weight.  

“The Tang family made a bold choice.”  

“In the first place, that Thunder Brand Sword fellow underestimated the Sichuan martial community. When he went after Qingcheng, he ignored both the Tang family and Mount Emei. So the Tang family seized the excuse to protest against the Martial Alliance. It’s a case of killing two birds with one stone.”  

“But just because the Tang family withdrew, is there any guarantee that we can live?”  

“If we can just push Mount Emei back, the rest are rabble from medium or small sects. Then we can fully escape Sichuan. As long as no unexpected outsiders interfere.”  

“Unexpected interlopers…”  

“Ah well, no use worrying about that. If they’re unexpected, there is no point thinking ahead, right?”  

Dan Ryeong-gyeong chuckled faintly.  

“What about Mount Emei?”  

Mang Ryo pointed to himself.  

“That depends on me.”  

“You would help us without any price?”  

“Not exactly. A mangy cur’s life like mine isn’t worth more than a blade of grass, but the lives of Shandong sect elites, and yours, Fairy Maiden, aren’t cheap, are they?”  

“Stop evading. Tell me exactly what you want.”  

“Just live. That’s all. Since I dragged this decrepit body here to save you, then at least try your best not to die. Can you do that?”  

If he had said such a thing in ordinary times, Dan Ryeong-gyeong would have been furious. But now, what he said was not unreasonable.  

“So in the end your true goal is the Martial Alliance?”  

“More accurately, Baek Li-jung.”  

“He fell from the cliff.”  

“You think he died like that? That old man with golden eyes said he hasn’t appeared because he’s gone into closed-door cultivation to prepare for what is to come. Do you think someone like that would die so easily?”  

If the Martial Alliance Leader, Master Hae-weol, had said it, then…  

Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s face hardened.  

“He’s… alive?”  

If only she could go now and search to confirm. But surrounded as they currently were, they couldn’t spend days combing cliffs.  

“Now that I remember, before he passed on, Venerable Woo-am suddenly yelled for us to flee, saying he sensed something strange in Baek Li-jung.”  

At Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s words, Mang Ryo clicked his tongue.  

“If he was going, he could at least have told us more clearly. Tsk.”  

Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s gaze turned frightening as she glared at him.  

“Do not insult our Master’s death!”  

But Mang Ryo wasn’t frightened.  

“To you, he’s precious. To me, he was just some fool who couldn’t even protect Qingcheng. Let’s make this clear. If you don’t like my words, I’ll just withdraw right now.”  

“How dare you!”  

Dan Ryeong-gyeong’s eyes flushed with blood. She threw the gourd in her hand to the ground, smashing it, and leapt to her feet. Mang Ryo also stood, facing her.  

The killing intent emitted from Dan Ryeong-gyeong spread through the Supreme Pure Palace.  

The very pillars of the palace shook. Dust fell from the beams.  

Mang Ryo’s body shivered, but instead of retreating, he grinned. His body hair stood on end, making his appearance eerie.  

The Evil Sect warriors outside were alarmed and rushed in.  

“Fairy Maiden!”  

Dan Ryeong-gyeong ground her teeth, glaring at Mang Ryo.  

“If you insult our Master one more time, I’ll tear open your mouth and hang it from this palace roof.”  

Mang Ryo bared his teeth in response.  

“You want to know what that golden-eyed bastard of a Martial Alliance Leader gave me as reward for betraying him? Hong-yeong Pill. Do you think I have a future after that? Damn it, when someone treats you kindly, you’d better accept it properly. Otherwise, whether you’re Poison Dragon or whatever, you’ll all just die.”  

The Evil Sect warriors growled at Mang Ryo for being so insolent to their Fairy Maiden.  

“This filthy wretch! How dare you speak to Fairy Maiden like that?”  

“You think saving us once gives you the right to belittle us?”  

But Dan Ryeong-gyeong, still glaring at Mang Ryo, raised her hand to stop them.  

“Enough.”  

“Fairy Maiden! He is too arrogant!”  

Dan Ryeong-gyeong remained silent for a moment, then spoke.  

“He has cause. Leave him.”  

Hong-yeong Pill.  

One of the Taoist elixirs created for eternal life. It purifies the meridians, prevents illness, and maintains health. For martial artists, continuous strengthening, and growth of internal power.  

But the end was almost always disastrous.  

Hong-yeong means “Rainbow Bloom.” When rainbow-colored blossoms began forming at the glabella, the user would go insane. They wandered and then died.  

Thus, it was a banned elixir.  

Master Hae-weol had given this pill to Mang Ryo.  

Go, rampage as you wish, then die miserably in the streets, a death befitting a monster.  

That was the meaning.  

Back then there had been no choice. Mang Ryo could escape only after taking the pill under the eyes of the Alliance Leader’s men.  

In the end, he had no choice.  

“Heh heh heh, damn old man,” Mang Ryo laughed with a chilling face.  

Dan Ryeong-gyeong looked at this sight with complexity.  

* * *  

Jin Ja-gang had entered Sichuan.  

Tang Ha-ran had already returned to her clan. As a result, the Tang family lifted the siege at Qingcheng.  

An unavoidable choice. But it was the safest for Tang Ha-ran.  

Jin Ja-gang set his path directly to Qingcheng Mountain.  

But unexpectedly, someone was waiting for him on the road.  

Shin Yung.  

From a vassal family of the Zhuge clan, he had once been Zhuge Yon’s guard. The only one who saw the assassin.  

But Jin Ja-gang felt an ominous aura from Shin Yung’s expression. And the same for Shin Yung toward him.  

Circumstances were too different now.  

“It has been a long time.”  

At Jin Ja-gang’s greeting, Shin Yung spoke without turning.  

“Since the Tang clan withdrew, the Zhuge clan has decided to end our pact with them and resume pursuing you. You’re heading to Qingcheng, aren’t you?”  

“Yes.”  

“If you go, you won’t come out alive.”  

This meant the Zhuge family was also involved now.  

Though the Tang withdrew, the Zhuge family entered. Truly layer upon layer of obstacles.  

But he could not refuse to go.  

“Thank you for giving me this warning.”  

Only then did Shin Yung glance at him. There was turmoil in his eyes.  

“Why did you do it?”  

Jin Ja-gang stayed silent.  

Shin Yung clenched his jaw against emotions and continued.  

“Was it Tang family assassins who killed my lady?”  

Before Jin Ja-gang could reply, Shin Yung answered himself.  

“It must have been the Tang family.”  

“Yes.”  

“Then why… why were you with Tang family blood?”  

Jin Ja-gang could not answer.  

“The Tang family is my enemy, and my lady’s killer. I trusted you when you said you’d uncover the black hand behind it all. And yet, knowing the Tang clan was the cause, you betrayed me and dallied with Tang family blood.”  

Shin Yung pressed again.  

“Were you allied with them from the start? Did you deceive me?”  

That was why Shin Yung had come alone, to confirm.  

When Jin Ja-gang didn’t answer, Shin Yung shouted.  

“Speak! If you remain silent, I’ll kill you here and now!”  

Jin Ja-gang slowly shook his head.  

“No.”  

“You’ll silence me with death?”  

“There is no reason to.”  

Jin Ja-gang looked directly into Shin Yung’s eyes.  

“I finally understand a little of your heart. That is all I can say.”  

“And yet you killed Silent Dragon?”  

Shin Yung’s face twisted.  

“That contradiction in your words and deeds, I cannot understand!”  

He drew his sword and rushed like a gale. His slash seemed meant to bisect Jin Ja-gang.  

But the slash never reached him. Mid-swing, he halted. Jin Ja-gang had already bound his arms, shoulder, and torso with Soul Seizing Thread and moved behind him.  

Shin Yung was tied, unable to move.  

“Urgh! How… how did you get this strong so quickly…!”  

Behind him, Jin Ja-gang held the thread’s loop and then released it, retrieving the thread. Once freed, Shin Yung attacked immediately, whipping his hilt bottom toward Jin Ja-gang’s temple.  

Jin Ja-gang seized his nape and shoulder, flipping him over. Shin Yung spun once and landed flat on the ground. Jin Ja-gang stepped on his back and wrenched his arm behind.  

Shin Yung dropped his sword. Jin Ja-gang shoved him away to create distance.  

Yet Shin Yung still tried to rush in, unable to accept the huge difference in strength.  

Jin Ja-gang raised his hand, holding a hidden weapon. The gesture was clear: If Shin Yung came, he would kill him.  

“Do you want to die?”  

In response, Shin Yung spat contemptuously.  

“Kill me. If I cannot avenge her, I’ll rather die and follow my lady.”  

“Then you won’t see the vengeance completed.”  

“What?”  

Jin Ja-gang spoke.  

“My vengeance is not over.”  

“Don’t talk nonsense. The Tang clan has your…”  

But Jin Ja-gang was earnest. He stared into Shin Yung’s hatred-filled eyes without flinching.  

“If you wish to exact revenge, I won’t stop you. But I have not yet come to terms enough to consider this vengeance complete.”  

Shin Yung slowly picked up his sword and stood.  

“Ridiculous words.”  

But calmer now, his voice was low.  

“If you survive Qingcheng Mountain, you will not only be my lady’s enemy but also the enemy of the entire Zhuge clan.”  

Jin Ja-gang sensed something dangerous.  

“Stop!”  

“I will watch from hell, to see how far you walk.”  

Shin Yung turned the blade and stabbed his own heart.  

Crunch!  

The sword pierced through, bursting out his back. Blood poured from his mouth.  

Shin Yung staggered, fell to his knees.  

Jin Ja-gang rushed to hold him as he collapsed. He had never imagined Shin Yung would go so far as suicide.  

“Why… why did you do this?”  

Shin Yung smiled, blood spilling.  

“You said you understood me? I lost what was precious. This world holds… no meaning for me… no strength to avenge… then what do I have left? A world without what I cherished… it’s nothing but darkness.”  

If Tang Ha-ran were gone, would Jin Ja-gang feel the same?  

Shin Yung’s breathing faded, his body went cold.  

Jin Ja-gang’s heart ached sharply.  

These tangled threads of hatred and grief.  

This was perhaps the weight of fate he would forever carry, so long as he walked the path of revenge.  

The burdens of people’s stories, of their lives, heavy, painful, sometimes despair itself.  

“Darkness…”  

Jin Ja-gang felt heavier than ever before.  

“Go well…”  

He laid Shin Yung’s body down.  

“I’ll see you… in hell.”