#1
6
1.
Dang Hyeok-jae nodded at my words.
“Everyone is being careful. Because they are afraid.”
Akyang is quiet.
If the silence until now was due to bowing one’s head in fear of the sound of weapons, now it is as quiet as the calm before the storm.
People selling candy and rice cakes while walking the streets had disappeared, and merchants who used to solicit customers had left their stalls out and were constantly scanning their surroundings.
“I’ve heard rumors that assassins are roaming around. You’re the one who did that, aren’t you?”
“……
Why do you think it is a rumor?
“Because rumors are spreading faster than necessary. Even gossipmongers have a physical limit to how much they can spread a story, you know. But do you really think that will work?”
As expected, it is not easy to deceive a smart person with such a simple method.
“Someone like you, Branch Manager, is skilled at analyzing and distinguishing between truth and falsehood, but those guys aren’t.”
You can tell just by looking at the fact that the Black Dao sects have stopped moving.
Everyone is bringing their guards into their quarters and showing signs of further tightening their security.
Expanding my power would be good, but if I die like the leader of the Mukhyeolbang, it would only benefit my subordinates.
Thanks to this, Akyang was able to maintain a ceasefire for a short while.
Of course, some members of the Baekdo sect who could not endure the anxiety eventually packed their bags and left Akyang.
Because we never know how things will unfold in Akyang in the future.
Then, may I pack my bags again?
“Why are you asking such a question?”
“If you die, will Taeeulmun invest in me?”
Why would you say something so unlucky?
For some reason, even if we survive, I feel like withdrawing the investment promise.
Dang Hyeok-jae wore a bewildered expression.
“Isn’t that the truth? If you die, what would I do going all the way to Taeeulmun?”
“This guy is unbelievable. Listen to him, who do you think is going to die!”
“Geom-ak will definitely show up from the Mukhyeolbang side. Geom-ak is a being regarded as standing shoulder to shoulder with the Three Evils of the Fierce Gods.”
The Three Evil Spirits refer to those who occupy the third position among the Eight Evil Spirits.
Dragon Evil, Blood Evil, Dao Evil.
These three were effectively judged to pose a level of danger one step higher than the other Eight Evils, and at the same time, they were also major targets of observation by the Murim Alliance.
I am well aware of that as well.
Moreover, Geom-ak is filled with resentment because of the death of the Mukhyeolbangju and what happened to me.
The other eight evils
Even if the number of people shows up, there is a high possibility that I will insist on coming out.
An unavoidable situation.
I shook off the thoughts that kept sinking into worry and changed the subject.
How did the request turn out?
I heard that it has departed from Changsha. It should arrive by the day after tomorrow.
“You mean two days? Then won’t that be late?”
“Then what should be done? There is such a thing as physical distance.”
“Why didn’t you open a single Dangga branch in Akyang in the first place, even though you took on the role of Akyang branch manager?”
“Good grief, anyone listening would think I had actually entrusted it to someone else.”
Dang Hyeok-jae pouted.
Do you want to see the investor die?
I told them to come as soon as possible without resting. It will be a close call, but they will arrive on time.
Dang Hyeok-jae’s gaze at me was filled with anxiety.
Please don’t die.
Suddenly, I became curious about his true feelings.
“Are you doing this purely out of concern for me? Are you doing this because you’re afraid the investor might die?”
At that moment, Dang Hyeok-jae’s eyes shook violently.
“…….”
That’s enough. I won’t listen to your answer.
“Geom-ak is like that too. What on earth do they take for people?” As I entered the Yujangmun and passed the training ground, I stopped in my tracks at a strange sight. “What is he doing?” It turned out that Jang Sa-gyeong, the leader of the Yujangmun, was taking a walk while looking around the sect.
He is far too relaxed for someone who has to face a life-or-death battle in two days. ‘Does he completely trust the secret move he has hidden?’ Normally, in a situation like this, it would be only natural to train while saving every moment, yet for some reason, he is completely at ease.
“Huh? Young Hero Jin!”
I slowly clenched my fist and bowed to Jang Sa-gyeong, who looked pleased to see me.
Were you with me?
“I was just checking how damaged Yoo Jang-mun’s facilities were.”
Jang Sa-gyeong seemed confident of Yoo Jang-mun’s victory.
Otherwise, wouldn’t it be impossible to show that you are preparing for such a distant future?
“Would you like to walk together for a while?”
“yes.”
Jang Sa-gyeong walked slowly through the gate and showed me around.
The barn where I used to skip training and hide secretly as a child.
The space where he held his wedding, the room where Jang Woo-jae was first born, etc.
He slowly unfolded the story that could only be accumulated because he had lived his entire life within the Yujangmun.
I’m sorry.
Then, I tilted my head at the sight of him suddenly handing me an apple.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you know that Woojae likes you? No, wait… it would be more accurate to say he admires you.”
“yes?”
“Ever since he went to Hakgwan, more than half of the letters Woojae sent were about you. He would write about what a wonderful man you are, and how great and magnanimous you are, without missing a single one.”
“He used to say that he wanted to become that kind of man, and that he wanted to work alongside you.”
Is that so?
So I stopped him. ……
“The path you are walking is too difficult and too painful. I told you to walk the easy path.”
No parent would want their child to walk a thorny path.
“I understand. It is a natural choice.”
That is why I feel even more ashamed. I chose only the easy path, only to end up needing your help.
Jang Sa-gyeong bowed deeply while holding the fist.
Although Yoo Jang-mun’s disciples were nearby, he appeared to pay not the slightest attention.
I was surprised and quickly helped him stand up.
“I’m afraid people might see. Please get up.”
Jang Sa-gyeong raised his head, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
I truly admire you. I can understand why our Woojae looks up to you.
You are too kind.
“I truly regret it. Why did I always try to avoid life, when it is only natural for it to be painful?”
There was no more conversation between the two of us once we started walking again.
Just as we finished our walk and were about to turn around, Jang Woo-jae came into our view.
But I wasn’t alone.
Jang Woo-jae hands over the messenger pouch to the reinforcements from the Murim Alliance and receives a small wooden box.
I felt a strange attraction to the shape of the wooden box and approached him.
“Ah! CEO Jin!”
As the Murim Alliance member hurriedly leaves the scene as if fleeing, Jang Woo-jae smiles awkwardly.
There is definitely something.
“What is that?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
I mean what I exchanged with that person.
Ah, it’s nothing special. I received a cheap elixir hoping it might be of some help ahead of the duel.
May I take a quick look?
It is really nothing special. If you need something better, CEO Jin, I will get you something better.
“No. I’d like to see what that is.”
With those words, I reached out Baek Bong-su and took out the wooden box from Jang Woo-jae’s bosom.
“Hey! D-CEO!”
As expected, it looks like something I’ve seen many times before.
Putting aside Jang Woo-jae, who was trying to snatch the wooden box, I opened it and a dark reddish-brown ring came out.
I turned my gaze and looked at Jang Sa-gyeong.
He also had a rather surprised look in his eyes.
I barely managed to swallow a sigh.
Do you know what kind of thing the Blood-Explosion Pill is that you dare mess with it so recklessly?
If you aren’t confident you can win, you can just send someone else out.
“No! I can definitely win. I was just preparing for a sure victory.”
I understand how you feel.
It must be a determination to do everything possible for his sect.
However, the current situation is different from yesterday; it is not a critical situation that warrants self-destructive behavior.
Crunch.
Jang Woo-jae could not hide his surprised expression as he crushed the Blood Shards along with Mokgap.
I looked straight at him.
“This is something that no one in the Yujangmun would want.”
Then, he soon shifted his gaze to Jang Sa-gyeong.
“Especially since it certainly isn’t the scene Father wants to see.”
Jang Sa-gyeong was looking at Jang Woo-jae with a face as hard as stone.
When Jang Woo-jae was unable to lift his head.
Jang Sa-gyeong said solemnly.
“Follow me!”
I quietly watched the two of them leave. How shameful it is to show one’s parents the act of inviting death.
Jang Woo-jae could not lift his head even after entering the room.
It was only after quite some time had passed that Jang Sa-gyeong’s heavy voice was heard.
“Do you know what your fault is?”
“Our body and hair are received from our parents; to not dare to harm them is the beginning of filial piety. You have violated the most fundamental basis of filial piety.”
A loud shout burst from Jang Sa-gyeong’s mouth.
“no!”
“……!”
Jang Woo-jae looked at his father with a surprised expression.
His eyes were filled with frustration.
“Do you truly not understand! It is precisely because you tried not to fulfill your responsibilities!”
what.”
“What is your responsibility! As the successor of the Yu Jang-mun, is it not to protect the people of the Yu Jang-mun and save them!”
“Only the Sect Leader is prepared to face death for the Yujangmun. Are you already the Sect Leader of the Yujangmun?”
Disappointment gradually began to appear in Jang Sa-gyeong’s eyes.
“How could you flee to death to escape such a heavy burden? Is that how the Young Hero Jin you admired so much would act?”
“Father…….”
“If you have watched him for so long, surely there must be something you have learned. I asked if that is all you have learned from Young Hero Jin.”
Jang Sa-gyeong let out a long sigh as he looked at his son, who had his head bowed low.
“Just by witnessing Young Hero Jin negotiating with the Black Blood Sect yesterday, I could gauge why you wanted to follow him. What did you learn from that?”
Are you talking about manly bravado?
“No! We agreed that if the Liu Zhang Sect fell, we would hand it over and simply leave. Didn’t Young Hero Jin already save everyone in the Liu Zhang Sect by then?”
“ah……!”
Jang Woo-jae opened his eyes wide.
To think I’m only realizing that important thing now.
Seeing the change in his son’s eyes, Jang Sa-gyeong lowered his voice.
“That is likely the reason he is called the Black Flame Dragon in the martial arts world. The fact that the Taeeul Sect, which once had no presence, became the talk of the town in just a few years must also have been possible because of the tremendous role he played.”
At Jang Sa-gyeong’s words praising Jin So-un, Jang Woo-jae felt so ashamed that he wanted to find a hole to hide in.
“Do you realize your mistake now?”
I chose a path that was too easy… too comfortable…
A smile formed on Jang Sa-kyung’s lips at Jang Woo-jae’s answer, which continued in a crawling manner.
“That’s it! That’s exactly it!”
The reason I specifically chose you over others is that you also bear a responsibility as the successor to the Yoo Jang-moon.
I will keep that in mind.
“I apologize for telling you to sever ties with the Nine Great Sects in the past. From now on, always observe and learn from Young Hero Jin. And consider what you can do for the people of the Liu Zhang Sect in the future.”
“That is the responsibility you must fulfill as the successor of the Yoo Jang-moon.”
Jang Sa-gyeong’s admonition weighed more heavily on Jang Woo-jae’s shoulders than any reprimand. After Jang Sa-gyeong and Jang Woo-jae left, I, left alone, headed to the Sect Leader’s private training ground.
Since I had obtained permission in advance, no one stopped me.
The most important thing for me right now is dealing with Geomak.
The problem is that Taeeulmun’s martial arts are not well-suited to fighting Geomak.
In particular, that uniquely stealthy and fast sword was extremely difficult to deal with.
“Of course, I don’t know what will happen if we engage in a full-scale duel, but we also need to consider how the Black Swordsmen will react after Yoo Jang-mun wins. ‘Those guys who stabbed us from behind won’t admit defeat and back down meekly just because they lost the duel.’ In any case, we must win the duel and make preparations so that Mukhyeolbang cannot recklessly attack us.”
Therefore, I couldn’t fight by exploding all my internal energy.
Fortunately, I had a way. The White Moon Heaven-Controlling Three Forms I recently obtained from the Demon King.
However, the problem is that two days is far too short a time to master this difficult martial art.
I never thought the day would come when I would use this.
There was a theory that briefly came to mind while achieving harmony between spirit, energy, and spirit based on advice received from the Divine Sword in the past.
Using my curse.
I have a memory so painful that it feels like a curse.
In addition, he reached the realm of Oryongbongseong and achieved harmony of spirit, energy, and spirit.
Recently, having obtained a fortuitous opportunity, I have surpassed the Sun and Moon Unity and reached the stage of Jade Art and Gold Flower.
An ascended state where the body moves as one thinks, and there is no obstruction in the flow of energy.
It is to acquire martial arts skills in a very short amount of time by using these two things.
Did Senior Baek do it like this?
Baek Haegwang appears in my mind and begins to unfold the Baekwol Jecheon Samsik.
I recalled everything accurately, not only Senior Baek Haegwang’s movements but also his breath count, the way he used his muscles, and even the spacing of his footsteps.
A vivid image, as if he had appeared right before my eyes.
As I recited the inscription of Baekwoljecheonsamsik, I commanded my body to imitate Baek Haegwang’s movements exactly.
Crack.
The sound of muscles tearing echoes even before the arm is fully extended.
Pow, pow.
As the hand fully opened, the joints twisted violently and the bones were ground.
Thump thump thump.
My heart started beating wildly, perhaps startled by the excessive movement.
At that moment, “Aaaah!”
Clang.
In the end, I couldn’t hold back and let go of the Black Dragon Sword.
“Haa, haa, haa.”
This is a time-saving technique conceived through the harmony of spirit, energy, and mind.
A crazy thing only I, with my absolute memory, can do.
I make my body identical to my opponent’s and surpass the entire training period he has gone through in one go.
I muttered while clutching my aching elbow.
“Crazy, what on earth was that training?”
It was only natural that the body would be strained, as it is a body that should change gradually through long training and rest, so it jumped ten years over in a single night.
Moreover, it feels like the greater the opponent’s level, the more exponentially the pain increases.
As I reached out to grab the Black Dragon Sword, my arm trembled uncontrollably.
The fact that I felt instinctive fear even though I was not aware of it.
However, when you reach your limit, you can see the way.
“Phew, phew, phew. If I let go here, it’s all for nothing.”
I clenched my lips and reached for the Black Dragon Sword.
“Aaaargh!”
