Chapter 428

Chapter 428 – Breaking Through the Death Line… (3)

"Huff! Huff!"

Cho Yeon-woon gasped roughly as he deployed his lightness skill. On his back, So Cheon was carried.

So Cheon was covered in blood and had lost consciousness. Not far from Sacred Heart Hall, Cho Yeon-woon had been able to rescue So Cheon.

When he found him, So Cheon was seriously injured from fierce battle with Heavenly Kill Divine Whip Yoon Gwang. Cho Yeon-woon desperately shook off Yoon Gwang and rescued So Cheon to escape.

"How is So Cheon?"

Hae So-wol, who was deploying lightness skill beside Cho Yeon-woon, asked with a worried face.

"Not good."

Cho Yeon-woon shook his head.

He could feel So Cheon's faint breathing from behind.

The breathing that continued thinly as if it might stop at any moment was precarious. If Hae So-wol hadn't been injecting internal energy from beside him, So Cheon would have already stopped breathing.

Hae So-wol followed beside Cho Yeon-woon while looking at him with fresh eyes.

She already knew Cho Yeon-woon was strong. Cho Yeon-woon had proven his strength by defeating Thunder Lightning Martial Guest Nam Hak. But the martial prowess he displayed against Swift Wind Divine Fist Yi Seon-chang was on a different dimension from before.

Now treating Cho Yeon-woon on the same level as the Nine Martial Dragons would be tantamount to an insult to him. Against Yi Seon-chang, one of the Seven Great Demons, he had displayed almost equal martial force. In addition, in the process of rescuing So Cheon, he had displayed tremendous martial prowess against Heavenly Kill Divine Whip Yoon Gwang too.

It was no different from him alone facing two of the Seven Great Demons. Of course Hae So-wol had helped, but even so, it was no different from achieving tremendous results alone.

The two people raced through Ak-yang's complex maze-like back alleys at frightening speed. How long had they run like this?

"Here, brother."

"This way."

Suddenly two people revealed themselves from one side of the alley.

It was Eun So-cheong and Cheong-un. They gestured to Cho Yeon-woon and Hae So-wol.

"Are you okay?"

Tears were welling up in Eun So-cheong's eyes as she looked at Cho Yeon-woon.

What greeted her when she came outside through the secret passage under the well was precisely Cheong-un and martial artists from Hao Sect.

Cho Yeon-woon had found the secret passage under the well thanks to Hao Sect. They had provided information and Thunder Bombs to Cho Yeon-woon through their connection with Dam Ho. Thanks to this, Cho Yeon-woon could secure the secret passage.

Only after meeting Cheong-un and the Hao Sect members could Eun So-cheong know how hard Cho Yeon-woon had struggled. If not for him, she and many martial artists who participated in the suicide squad would have all lost their lives.

Cho Yeon-woon patted Eun So-cheong's head while carrying So Cheon on his back.

"I'm fine. More importantly, what about the escape route?"

"It's prepared, but we must hurry. If they notice and pursue, even that will be dangerous."

Cheong-un stepped forward.

The one who had suffered the most mentally after leaving the suicide squad was precisely Cheong-un. After consulting with Cho Yeon-woon, he had worried greatly to secure a safe escape route.

Because he was there, Cho Yeon-woon could focus on rescuing the suicide squad.

"Hand So Cheon over here."

Cheong-un received So Cheon and administered a secret elixir of Qingcheng Sect. Then So Cheon's complexion became much more comfortable. The urgent fire was extinguished for now.

Only then could Cho Yeon-woon and Hae So-wol breathe sighs of relief and have leisure to look around.

The number of suicide squad martial artists rescued with Hao Sect's help was only about twenty people in total. The remaining martial artists were still left in the Demon Cult's main base fighting desperately. It was unknown how many of them had survived.

There might still be many alive, or they might have been completely annihilated. To grasp the exact situation, they would have to return to the Demon Cult's main base again. Though he wanted to go back, Cho Yeon-woon couldn't do so.

Not only was the risk burden too great to go back, but it could endanger the other people he had barely rescued. Regardless of others, Eun So-cheong had to be protected safely without fail.

'I can only leave the rest to heavenly fortune…'

Cho Yeon-woon turned around praying that they would safely escape. A harsh aura flowed on his face.

"They'll definitely send pursuit forces. We must escape Ak-yang before they follow."

"Understood. Please lead us."

At Cheong-un's words, Cho Yeon-woon hesitated.

Though he had stepped forward unable to watch everyone be annihilated, he had never thought about leading all these people.

Looking around, twenty suicide squad martial artists were looking at him with earnest eyes. Their faces were full of anxiety and fear.

Their expressions and attitudes had changed to the complete opposite of when they boldly departed from Mount Song. Faced with the threat before them, they desperately needed someone to rely on.

The someone they wanted was precisely Cho Yeon-woon.

"Being able to survive even this much is thanks to Great Hero Cho. Please lead us, Great Hero Cho."

Hae So-wol's words were decisive.

"Understood. Though my strength is meager, I'll take the lead, so please help me greatly."

"Just give orders. We'll jump into the fires of hell."

"That's not necessary, let's move quickly first. We don't have much time."

At Cho Yeon-woon's words, everyone began moving in unison. Everyone was exhausted and injured, but no one said a word about hardship. Because they too already knew the seriousness of the situation.

Cho Yeon-woon bowed to the Hao Sect disciples who had helped until now.

"Then please take care of yourselves. When they know we've escaped, the Demon Cult will definitely try to find accomplices."

"Haha! Don't worry. No matter how persistent they are, they're not as good as us. Don't worry about us and hurry to escape Yueyang. If we waste time like this, even the barely secured escape route might be blocked."

"Understood. Then…"

Cho Yeon-woon left the Hao Sect members behind and moved with the suicide squad. Under his command, the suicide squad moved in unison and escaped.

The Hao Sect leader watching this scene unconsciously muttered:

"Drunken Cloud Dragon, truly a star of turbulent times."

Though it's a cruel saying, heroes are not born in peaceful times.

They only reveal their true form when the world is chaotic and soaked in blood. Incomplete beings who can only find meaning of existence in turbulent times – the Hao Sect leader thought Cho Yeon-woon was also one of such people.

"Now, let's move too. We'll completely erase all traces and escape this place."

"Yes!"

The Hao Sect members began moving with vigorous answers.

***

Dam Ho indifferently looked at Nok Su-bing's face as she slept as if unconscious.

It had been a day since he had conversed with the unknown being through Nok Su-bing. As soon as the conversation ended, Nok Su-bing had fallen asleep as if fainting, and when she woke up the next day, she couldn't remember what had happened the night before at all.

Other memories were fine, but only the night's memories were cleanly deleted as if cut out with scissors. Something that couldn't happen by common human sense had occurred.

The one who used Nok Su-bing as a messenger was precisely her master.

'The Nameless One.'

The old man who revealed himself as one without a name.

Dam Ho thought the Nameless One might be the same person as the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Evil Cult. Because he couldn't think of anyone else who possessed dark arts that could use a living person as a messenger from thousands of li away.

The Nameless One was using living people like puppets. To him, the value of living people was nothing more or less than tools to be used.

Though Dam Ho had often been called a merciless human, not once had he thought humans were toys that could be used and discarded at any time.

It could simply be thought of as the amusement of a cold-blooded person without blood or tears, but Dam Ho felt there was something more than that.

It was when Dam Ho's gaze was sinking deeper into contemplation.

"Brother, what are you thinking about so deeply?"

A familiar voice broke his reverie. When he raised his head, Bang Jin-bo was looking at him.

"Nothing."

"Hehe!"

Bang Jin-bo let out his characteristic laugh.

It had already been several years since he was with Dam Ho. Probably no one in the world experienced and knew Dam Ho as much as Bang Jin-bo did. That Dam Ho's gaze had sunk so deeply was evidence that he had many thoughts. Though he couldn't know what he was thinking about.

Bang Jin-bo felt good just being with Dam Ho. Though everyone in the world called him a bloodthirsty murderer, to him Dam Ho was a person like the most reliable barrier.

"Brother… ah, no."

Bang Jin-bo was about to ask something then quickly shook his head. Then Dam Ho opened his mouth.

"Speak!"

"I was just curious."

"……"

"If this blood chaos ends, how will you live, brother?"

Bang Jin-bo's face showed genuine curiosity.

Though they had been together for years, Dam Ho had never once told him what kind of life he wanted to live. So he was curious. What life this iron-blooded man dreamed of after retiring from the martial world.

Dam Ho was silent for a while. After time passed, what came from his mouth was not an answer but a question.

"How do you want to live?"

"Me… I'm thinking of maybe running an inn. If it's too big it'll be burdensome, and if too small it'll be boring. Just a moderate size where not too many people come. But if too few come it might fail, so just on a moderate path selling moderately…"

A gentle smile had appeared on Bang Jin-bo's lips.

Though he had mighty martial arts and fame enough to be called the Mount Hua Great Chef, he was dreaming a modest dream.

He had no thought of doing something about the world with his martial arts, and only thought about how he could feed people good healthy food cheaply. And if the opportunity came, he wanted to devote himself more to cooking and organize his enlightenment into a book.

"With your skills, you could run a big inn and become a famous person or wealthy man counted among the best in Central Plains. Isn't it a waste?"

"Not at all."

Bang Jin-bo shook his head immediately.

As Dam Ho said, with his current skills he could receive all kinds of treatment and accumulate tremendous wealth. But such a life wasn't what Bang Jin-bo wanted.

He wanted to serve healthy food to as many people as possible, not just himself alone, and if capable, raise many disciples. Though it was far future business.

At Bang Jin-bo's firm answer, Dam Ho's gaze sank even deeper.

This young boy in front of him had always been like this.

Even when he lost his father and was left alone in the world, he hadn't lost his warm gaze toward the world. That's why he thought he shone.

Through countless years of hardship, the light of his beliefs hadn't dimmed at all. Rather, it was shining more dazzlingly. That light was getting stronger as time passed.

It was brightness existing in a realm Dam Ho could never possess even if he raced his entire lifetime. That's why he might want to protect it from going out. Dam Ho's thought was that at least one such being should exist in the world.

Bang Jin-bo looked at Dam Ho with brightly shining eyes.

"What about you, brother? How do you want to live?"

"Well!"

"Don't be like that, please tell me."

Today Bang Jin-bo particularly pestered Dam Ho.

His will to hear Dam Ho's answer no matter what was visible.

Dam Ho suddenly looked at his own fist.

Calluses protruded like nails. When clenched tightly, his fist that reminded one of a blunt spear was no different from a completed weapon by itself.

He had stained these two fists with the blood of countless people. Hundreds, perhaps over a thousand.

His life, his soul was already stained red with others' blood. For such a subject to crave a peaceful life was also deceiving himself.

Through conversation with Bang Jin-bo, Dam Ho clearly realized such feelings of his own.

He wasn't someone who would settle somewhere just because the blood chaos ended.

The place he would return to was neither Mount Hua Sect nor remote mountain valleys with few people.

"Somewhere… I'll wander looking for places to fight."

"Brother?"

"Do you think I could live a normal life now?"

"That's…"

Bang Jin-bo couldn't say anything.

Dam Ho was no longer looking at Bang Jin-bo. His gaze was toward the sleeping Nok Su-bing. No, he was looking at that someone who had peeped at him through Nok Su-bing.

Dam Ho was intuiting it.

That he was standing at the end of the path he was walking.

He didn't know if the path would continue after that, or if it would be cut off so he couldn't go further, but it didn't matter. As long as strength remained, he would walk to that place.

Whether he was the Nameless One, or the Heavenly Evil Cult Leader, or some other being didn't matter.

Because by his existence, there was still reason for him to live. ​