Chapter 280

“The same suffering?”

Mang Ryo frowned.

Mang Ryo brought his face close to Myowol’s and spoke quietly.

“It would have been nice if you and I weren’t competitors. I wouldn’t have had to worry constantly about losing Poison Dragon to you.”

Myowol’s facial muscles twitched.

“If it were no one else… but you who wanted it… I could have… yielded…”

Mang Ryo blinked several times as if some thought had occurred to him, fell silent for a moment, then struck the back of Myowol’s neck with the heel of his palm.

Thud!

Blood filled Myowol’s pupils and life rapidly drained from her eyes.

Myowol buried her head in the ground and died.

Mang Ryo laid Myowol straight and even closed her eyes.

“Namo Amitabha.”

After reciting the Buddha’s name, Mang Ryo gazed at Myowol for a moment before saying.

“Thank you for following someone like me all this time, and you suffered greatly. Rest in peace.”

However, when he closed her eyes and turned to look at Baek Li-jung, Mang Ryo’s lips were smiling again. Though Baek Li-jung felt it was somewhat forced, that wasn’t what mattered.

“You’ve delivered Mount Emei and the Shandong Evil Sect into Poison Dragon’s hands. Even Qingcheng Sect.”

“Ah, was it that obvious?”

Hearing Mang Ryo’s answer, tendons bulged in Baek Li-jung’s jaw.

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice you were passive about dealing with the Zhuge family members to save him from me?”

“So you deliberately tried to kill Poison Dragon more?”

“He’s my son’s enemy.”

Mang Ryo clicked his tongue.

“Of course you did. Still, that was too much. If you knew I was jumping in to save Poison Dragon, you could have shown some restraint.”

Baek Li-jung spoke in a desolate voice.

“Speak uselessly and I’ll kill you. You think you can survive after doing this to me because you brought suitable terms for a deal?”

Mang Ryo smiled even at Baek Li-jung’s threat and said.

“I just gave them to you.”

Blood vessels slowly appeared in Baek Li-jung’s eyes. His face showed he thought this was useless talk.

Mang Ryo added more quickly.

“I gave you Poison Dragon, Qingcheng Sect, Mount Emei, and the Shandong Evil Sect.”

Mang Ryo was returning exactly what Baek Li-jung had said to him.

Baek Li-jung focused his eyes. A stream of killing intent flew toward Mang Ryo’s neck. Mang Ryo scratched his goosebump-covered neck and spoke as if tossing out words.

“The Martial Alliance Leader is alive.”

Baek Li-jung’s eyebrows twitched. He released his fingers that had gripped the handle of the Heavenly Vermillion Blade as if about to draw the sword he had just sheathed.

Mang Ryo added one more word.

“In perfect health.”

With that one word, Baek Li-jung’s expression changed completely.

Mang Ryo muttered as if to himself.

“Hmm. No, that’s not right. I’m not sure if I can say he’s in perfect health. I did make several holes in his body after breaking through Golden Bell Shield, Iron Robe Technique, and… what was that protective energy technique?”

“Blazing Yang Divine Secret Art.”

“Right. Blazing Yang Divine Secret Art. I broke through that too and made several holes in his body. And I poisoned him with Absolute Emperor Death Poison. That much…”

Baek Li-jung said.

“No problem at all.”

“Right. I figured as much. Then Master Hae-weol is indeed in perfect health.”

Mang Ryo looked at Baek Li-jung as if asking whether he now understood why he had such a confident face.

“How about this? Can I survive?”

Though Baek Li-jung tried to appear calm, it was clear he was thinking countless thoughts even at this moment. His eyes were filled with excitement that could be felt.

Only after a long while did Baek Li-jung speak.

“I’ll spare you.”

Baek Li-jung’s voice was very cheerful.

It was a voice that seemed to have forgotten even that Baek Li-gwon had died at Jin Ja-gang’s hands. Mang Ryo shook his head.

Those who think politically and seek profit are inevitable. Even a child’s revenge becomes dim when they start calculating political gains.

Mang Ryo didn’t despise such people who were opposite to him. Because such people existed, he had been able to come this far.

What Baek Li-jung thought upon hearing about Master Hae-weol was one thing.

Master Hae-weol’s successor!

The next Martial Alliance Leader!

Why would Master Hae-weol, who was in perfect health, pretend to be wounded and retreat to seclusion while watching from the sidelines? It meant he wouldn’t interfere no matter what happened.

Then someone would have to restore order to the chaotic Martial Alliance, and whoever distinguished themselves in the process would become the next Martial Alliance Leader.

That Baek Li-jung had grasped Master Hae-weol’s true intentions earlier than others through Mang Ryo was a great advantage. He could prepare in advance and start advantageously.

If he first united the various factions within the alliance and made them his allies, the position of next Martial Alliance Leader could become Baek Li-jung’s!

Baek Li-jung muttered.

“Successor…!”

Right now, Baek Li-jung’s head was filled only with thoughts of the Martial Alliance Leader position.

Mang Ryo’s eyes narrowed as he watched Baek Li-jung.

Baek Li-jung was so absorbed in thoughts about the Martial Alliance Leader that he didn’t even notice the blue blood vessels protruding from his neck and jaw, rising up to his cheeks.

Mang Ryo observed this carefully, then cleared his throat softly.

“Ahem.”

Then he asked Baek Li-jung again as if testing him.

“How about it? Wasn’t I right in saying I gave you Qingcheng Sect, Mount Emei, the Shandong Evil Sect, and Poison Dragon?”

Only then did Baek Li-jung come to his senses and answer.

“Qingcheng Sect and Mount Emei won’t do.”

Baek Li-jung spoke decisively as if he had already become the Martial Alliance Leader.

“There are still many in the alliance who trust those two. If I antagonize them, I can’t bring more numbers to my side.”

Baek Li-jung looked at Mang Ryo and smiled slightly.

“But Poison Dragon and the Shandong Evil Sect are different. It was good not to kill them today.”

Mang Ryo also smiled.

“Finally we’re thinking alike.”

Same bed, different dreams.

Both knew well that they were smiling with different thoughts. Also that someday one might stab the other in the back.

However, until then, they would use each other as much as they could. Mang Ryo, now a fugitive, wanted someone to depend on, and Baek Li-jung needed every hand he could get for his grand purpose.

Both could shake hands with devils from hell if necessary. No, Mang Ryo had learned today that Baek Li-jung had already crossed the line and had one foot in hell.

“Kekeke.”

Mang Ryo laughed with his face completely scrunched up.

Whether it was mockery of the martial world’s heartlessness, expression of self-deprecation, or manifestation of sadness for someone, only Mang Ryo himself would know.

* * *

The Shandong Evil Sect and Qingcheng Sect led by Dan Ryeong-gyeong had descended to the foot of the mountain.

The number of Evil Sect members was about a dozen. Quite a few were injured.

Qingcheng Sect was the same, with four out of five severely injured.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong said.

“Let’s part ways now. Being together won’t help, and having others see you with us won’t be good for Qingcheng Sect either.”

“Cough. That would be best.”

Elder Bok-cheon had barely stopped the bleeding with emergency treatment, but blood still leaked slightly whenever he coughed.

“Then what about Poison Dragon…”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong, the Evil Sect members, and Qingcheng Sect’s masked figures all looked at Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang still hadn’t awakened.

Bian Bu said.

“He seems to have fainted from a head injury, so he’ll wake up soon.”

Gam Chung clicked his tongue.

“It’s fortunate that’s all, having faced Demonic Nun and Indestructible Heavenly Sword. For being covered in blood all over, he doesn’t seem particularly injured.”

Elder Bok-cheon said.

“He should have been beaten more severely for recklessly challenging Indestructible Heavenly Sword without knowing his place, but since he wasn’t beaten much, it seems wrong that he’ll live long. For now, we’ll take him.”

The Evil Sect members chuckled. Watching Jin Ja-gang fight, it wouldn’t be strange if he died any time. To say he probably wouldn’t live long made them laugh.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong agreed.

“Originally being from the righteous path, it wouldn’t be good to associate with the unorthodox path for long. Do that.”

Then Dan Ryeong-gyeong nodded.

“Then.”

Elder Bok-cheon closed his eyes briefly, opened them, raised his hand and cupped his fists. It was extremely polite, unlike his previous attitude toward Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

Dan Ryeong-gyeong wasn’t one to not understand the meaning of the cupped fist salute. Since Dan Ryeong-gyeong had one arm, she placed her hand on her chest in a half-salute as greeting.

“Let’s go.”

Dan Ryeong-gyeong led the Evil Sect members away. A long journey to Shandong remained.

Soso, walking with Bian Bu, turned her head back.

Woon-jeong had removed her mask and waved at Soso with an awkward smile. Soso also bowed her head toward Woon-jeong before following behind Dan Ryeong-gyeong.

* * *

Jin Ja-gang woke up in a room vibrating with medicinal smells.

“You’re awake!”

As soon as Jin Ja-gang opened his eyes, Woon-jeong immediately ran out and shouted toward the outside.

Jin Ja-gang still had a throbbing head and his entire body ached, but he could move.

As he sat up, Elder Bok-cheon entered after a moment.

“It’s been two days.”

Elder Bok-cheon sat in front of Jin Ja-gang while coughing dryly. Elder Bok-cheon removed Jin Ja-gang’s bandages, looked at his wounds, then stared directly at Jin Ja-gang.

The wounds where small blood vessels had burst and capillaries had spurted were completely healed without a trace, and his right arm where flesh had split and burst was almost healed with the sewn parts nearly fused together.

“Looking at it outwardly, I’m more seriously ill than you.”

“Thank you for taking care of me. But what about the Fairy Maiden…”

Woon-jeong interjected from the side.

“She returned to Shandong. We’re still remaining in Sichuan.”

With the Tang family temporarily withdrawn and Mount Emei turned away, there was no place safer than Sichuan for Qingcheng Sect.

Jin Ja-gang heard the rest of the story from Woon-jeong. Jin Ja-gang spoke with some regret.

“So all the Zhuge family people ended up dead.”

Elder Bok-cheon spoke as if scolding Jin Ja-gang.

“Don’t worry about matters beyond your capability when you can’t even take care of your own body.”

“I understand. I just thought it would have been helpful later if at least one or two had survived.”

Elder Bok-cheon’s eyes narrowed.

He realized why Jin Ja-gang had deliberately taken risks and turned the fight with Myowol and Baek Li-jung into a muddy battle. While he intended to make the fight advantageous by pressuring Myowol and Baek Li-jung, he had also tried to somehow save the Zhuge family warriors to burden Baek Li-jung in the future.

“The intention was good but reckless. And treating people like objects or tools is not something one from the righteous path should think.”

As Elder Bok-cheon nagged Jin Ja-gang as soon as he woke up, Woon-jeong fidgeted nervously beside them.

“Right. What do you plan to do from now on?”

Elder Bok-cheon asked. Woon-jeong carefully interjected.

“Master, Poison Dragon just got up. Asking such sudden questions…”

“Did I ask you?”

When Elder Bok-cheon glared, Woon-jeong flinched and closed her mouth.

“Since you tried to save the Zhuge family people, you must have had thoughts about what comes after.”

Jin Ja-gang thought for a moment before answering.

“There’s something I must do.”

“What is it?”

“I want to go back to the beginning and trace through it.”

Jin Ja-gang looked at Elder Bok-cheon and said.

“I want to know why the Medicine Sect was attacked by the Poison Sect, and why the Poison Sect tried to eliminate the Medicine Sect’s existence.”

“Will that help your revenge?”

“I think it will help me know them and know myself.”

“Seeing how well you speak, you could leave soon.”

Woon-jeong’s eyes widened as she called to Elder Bok-cheon.

“Master!”

Elder Bok-cheon stood up, dusting himself off, then said as he left through the door.

“But you’re still just as stupid. With that level of skill, what could you do even if you uncovered the whole truth? Building your skills comes first. I’ll teach you a technique before you go, so come out at dawn once your body heals.”

After speaking, Elder Bok-cheon immediately left while coughing.

Woon-jeong’s expression brightened.

“That’s wonderful, Brother Poison Dragon!”

Woon-jeong looked at Jin Ja-gang and took his hand, saying it was wonderful. Though Jin Ja-gang was a bit bewildered, he didn’t feel bad about it.

Jin Ja-gang also looked at Woon-jeong and smiled quietly.

Jin Ja-gang had survived again.