Chapter 146. Those Wearing Black Masks (5)
“I knew from the moment we came with Young Master Jin. Traveling while going around with that man? As if…….”
Seong Mo-ran grumbled like that while taking off her splendid accessories and removing her outer robe.
“I told you from the beginning that we did not come here to travel…….”
“Who said anything? Why are you secretly listening to my muttering?”
No, if she muttered right beside my ear in such a quiet place, was that not something she was saying for me to hear?
“……Once this matter is over, I will treat you lavishly at Songhyang Pavilion.”
“Who likes that kind of Courtesan House that only men go to……. I heard it is wonderful to float a boat on Dongting Lake and enjoy the night scenery…….”
In a situation where we might have to confront the Diancang Sect, the fact that she merely brought up a boat on Dongting Lake was probably her own way of being considerate.
I nodded willingly.
“Only the night scenery? How about we launch the largest and most splendid boat, bring musicians and chefs aboard, and enjoy ourselves? As a rule, if one is going to enjoy a vacation, one should enjoy it like that.”
Seong Mo-ran’s nostrils flared and her lips pursed as she forcibly held back her laughter.
“Well…… If it is to that extent, that is fine. But Young Master Jin, are you all right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Spending that much money and standing against Diancang. To be honest, after this matter is resolved, there is nothing Young Master Jin will gain from it.”
“…….”
I had been a meat shield, but even so, I had risked my life at the front line of the battlefield to stop the tide of the Demonic Path.
The Orthodox Path’s hypocrisy was not something that had started yesterday, but seeing bastards who even wore the mask of the Demonic Cult to act for their own interests made my insides churn so much that nausea rose in my throat.
“Is this not something a warrior who holds a sword should naturally do?”
“…….”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It just does not seem to suit you when the Rising Star of the Black Path Murim says such things. A Black Path chivalrous hero…….”
“……Those kinds of words keep causing misunderstandings…….”
“Eldest Senior Brother, they have begun moving.”
Geum-pyo looked back and said that.
I stopped speaking and turned my gaze.
From a pavilion that looked like an abandoned building on the outskirts of Yueyang, three men came out with a creak.
One was the waiter we had met at the Flower Moon Pavilion.
The other two were men I had never seen before.
While the waiter returned to Yueyang again, the two men began moving in the opposite direction.
“They are moving.”
“Where are they going?”
“They are probably moving to confirm whether the information is true and inform their superior at the same time. The main body will likely appear then.”
“As expected…… You grasp their nature quickly, like a Black Path martial artist.”
“…….”
This woman, seriously.
The Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers, Seong Mo-ran, and I quietly followed the men.
The Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers and I could use the Ghost-Breathing Step, so we followed close behind the men, while Seong Mo-ran followed from far away with an expression full of curiosity.
The place we reached after following the men was a secluded estate on the outskirts of Yueyang.
We had hidden ourselves on the roof of the estate.
Seong Mo-ran looked around with a serious expression.
-Did they hide the people somewhere else?
We examined every corner of the estate, but we could not find any of the captured people anywhere.
In addition, the strict security made the investigation even more difficult.
However, there was one thing that caught my eye.
-I do not think so.
-Why?
-Are there not too many cartwheel tracks by that back gate over there? The estate does not seem to be used much normally, so why are there cartwheel tracks left?
-Ah…….
-They are probably carrying people in and out, or food to feed them.
-As expected, you know this well.
-……What does that mean?
-Nothing. At any rate, that means they are somewhere in this estate, so where do you think they are?
-……The Hao Gate’s Yueyang Branch. Its underground was quite broad, was it not?
-That is right.
-If sunlight does not enter from outside and the interior is blocked off by partition walls, would they not be unable to tell where they are?
-In the end, that means we have to search underground?
Relying on the moonlight that had peeked out from between the clouds, I pointed to the warehouse to the south.
-I think they are probably inside there.
-Why?
-When people are stationed at a warehouse like that, does it not mean they have either hidden gold, silver, and treasure there, or that what is inside has value equal to gold, silver, and treasure?
-Hmm…… We will have to wait until Seon-hwa brings people.
I shook my head.
To begin with, the plan was not that relaxed.
-They will try to move quickly because of the Namgung Clan. If we wait, we may lose them all.
Now that the other side knew Jeonghwa was related to the Namgung Clan, they would be watching the Namgung Clan as well.
The best method right now was to hold them here until the Namgung Clan arrived.
Seong Mo-ran widened both eyes beneath the black mask.
-Are you insane? You want us to handle this by ourselves? There are more than eighty people here alone.
-We will move as noisily as possible. In the meantime, please rescue the people, Miss Seong.
-…….
-I suspect Diancang is involved. If even they step forward, this matter can no longer be resolved.
-A-all right. But…… do not die.
-Understood.
Seong Mo-ran walked two or three steps, then looked back at us.
-Even if your arms or legs are cut off, make sure your face is not hurt as much as possible.
-……Are you really worrying about me right now?
That was quite an intense way to worry.
-……Anyway, be careful. I will move as quickly as possible.
I looked at the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers and asked,
“Miss Seong said not to die. Are you worried?”
Geum-pyo adjusted his grip on his sword with an absurd expression and said,
“She would faint if she heard Senior Brother Jin threw us into the Twin Curtain Stronghold.”
No, when did I ever throw them…….
Before the boys could even hear my excuse, they threw themselves down.
Moonless Unit Captain Jeong So-myeong’s eyes trembled as he listened to the report.
‘Insane…….’
The Namgung Clan?
The Namgung Clan, of all things?
Did that make any sense?
A mere entertainer belonging to the Namgung Clan…….
“Are you certain?”
“It has not been confirmed, but…….”
“But what? Finish your words properly, you bastard! Do you not know that the life or death of our teacher’s sect is at stake right now?”
“We have obtained information that the Azure Sky Merchant Guild placed a request with the Beggars’ Sect to find Jeonghwa.”
They must have felt something strange while searching on their own and then placed the request.
Moreover, the ones searching for Jeonghwa were Namgung Seon-hwa and Seong Mo-ran.
It was famous that the two were close, which added credibility to the information.
“If only we had a little more time, we could have swallowed Blue Bamboo Pavilion whole…….”
It was regrettable, but there was no helping it.
If they were caught by the tail here, Blue Bamboo Pavilion would no longer be the problem.
“What is the state of the Blue Bamboo Pavilion Owner?”
“He requested the Diancang Sect’s help and is staying at Seongsa Tea Garden.”
Originally, the plan had been to drag things out a few more days, then present his daughter as if they had barely found her and receive the contract.
However, now that things had turned out this way, they could not leave evidence behind.
“Kill the girl named Jeonghwa and throw the corpse into Dongting Lake. Mobilize all the warriors of the teacher’s sect. We are moving the estate.”
“Yes!”
“Hurry. If the Namgung Clan moves first…….”
Aaaagh!
Jeong So-myeong’s words could not finish because of a scream from outside.
Guh!
CRASH!
After the scream came a roar like an explosion.
They had already arrived?
Was that possible, given the time?
There was no way.
Jeong So-myeong’s head turned so sharply it seemed it might break.
“You bastards! You brought a tail with you!”
“T-that cannot be. We checked three times before coming here.”
“…….”
Then there was only one conclusion.
The pursuers were masters skilled enough that these men had not noticed them.
Jeong So-myeong’s face turned white.
“Ask the teacher’s sect for help immediately……. No, go straight to Seongsa Tea Garden!”
“Y-yes!”
“I will go out by myself.”
The scene that met Jeong So-myeong’s eyes when he left the pavilion was utterly horrific.
The elites selected from the teacher’s sect were strewn about everywhere, and the attackers wearing masks were swinging their swords without hesitation.
After observing the culprits’ skill for even a short time, Jeong So-myeong quickly judged that they were not people he could easily handle.
“Everyone, stop!”
Jeong So-myeong raised his voice even further.
“Did I not tell you to stop!”
Only then did the warriors of the Yuwol Sect withdraw.
“What brings Gentlemen on the Beam to such a remote place?”
While speaking to the intruders, Jeong So-myeong quickly sent a sound transmission.
-Gather every warrior in the estate here.
Then he continued speaking calmly.
“Do you know that this estate is operated by the Yuwol Sect?”
“…….”
Even though he was trying to resolve it peacefully with words, the intruders remained silent like mutes.
“If you came seeking property, you came to the wrong place. This place was made for the warriors of the Yuwol Sect to train.”
The intruders still said nothing.
However, when he examined the intruders closely, something strange became visible.
While one of them was tall and imposing, another looked like a child who had not yet finished growing.
‘Could they be children?’
When Jeong So-myeong’s thoughts reached that point, he felt heat slowly rising in him.
“If you are not going to say anything, then why did you come here?”
After confirming that the warriors of the Yuwol Sect had almost all gathered, Jeong So-myeong’s speech began to grow shorter.
“You are foolish bastards. You came to your own graves by yourselves.”
“…….”
The largest of the intruders raised a black sword as dark as the mask he wore.
“What are you waiting for?”
At the words of this intruder, who was acting like the owner despite being an intruder, Jeong So-myeong’s patience reached its limit.
“Strike! Show them the terror of the Yuwol Sect!”
“Yes!”
The battle that had briefly stopped began again.
If I had to name the martial art I had used the most in my previous life, it would absolutely be the Minor Heaven Sword Art.
Not because it was the strongest martial art, but because it consumed the least inner arts. It had been an unavoidable choice.
Five warriors of the Yuwol Sect charged first.
If the points of attack were concentrated in one place, there would instead be no place to evade.
Instead of retreating, I advanced and thrust the Minor Heaven Sword Art in.
“Kuhak.”
The warrior whose right shoulder was pierced dropped his sword and collapsed.
I avoided the warrior who swung his sword frantically at the unexpected situation and cut his heel.
“Kuaaaagh!”
When living flesh and tendons were cut apart, even a Demonic Practitioner collapsed while clutching the wound.
I stepped on the fallen warrior’s body, sprang up, and thrust at the vital points of three warriors at the same time.
CLANG, CLANG, SQUELCH.
Two attacks were blocked, but the third attack was effective.
A fountain of blood bloomed, and a groan filled with pain burst out.
“What are you doing! Hurry and kill him!”
The warriors flocked in because of the disturbance.
Their numbers, which were gradually increasing, soon spread to become courage for them.
I had taken down three, but six more were added.
It was not very different from my previous life.
Battles against Demonic Practitioners had always been like this.
So many people continued to rush in that it was impossible to distinguish whether they were humans or waves, and my poor inner arts would soon show the bottom, forcing me to block their swords with nothing but the strength of my muscles.
It was a sword swung only by the instinct that I wanted to live, without even knowing the reason.
Perhaps because my desperate feelings reached it, or perhaps because the battlefield was such a chaotic situation, there had even been times when I had driven my sword into the neck of an opponent cloaked in sword qi.
“Kuhak.”
“Huff, huff, huff.”
“Grrrkk.”
Just like the warriors of the Yuwol Sect now dying with great wounds in their necks.
Those Demonic Practitioners back then had all worn expressions just like these, unable to believe their own deaths.
“You stupid bastards! Are you saving your sword formation to make soup with it?”
The warriors who had been rushing in blindly spread out.
I clung to them persistently and swung my sword to finish them before they could form the sword formation.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, SQUELCH.
After three forms were exchanged, a Yuwol Sect warrior fell.
Again, after three forms were exchanged, another Yuwol Sect warrior’s blood flowed.
It was a situation similar to the battlefield of my previous life, yet a completely different scene unfolded.
“Deploy the formation!”
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG.
Thirty swordsmen began moving in a circle all at once.
The Yuwol Sect’s Thirty Yuwol Sword Formation was unmatched in terms of offensive power alone.
“We will go!”
Along with Eun-ho’s shout, the Gold-Silver-Copper Brothers unfolded the White Tiger Sure-Kill Sword Formation.
The sword arts of the three people, who had been moving separately, began changing as if they were being unfolded by a single person.
“Gold-Silver Armor!”
Along with Eun-ho’s shout, the three of them began scattering the Twin Heaven Sword Formula at the same time.
The Thirty Yuwol Sword Formation, which had been poised to smash through Geum, Eun, and Dong’s sword formation at once, could no longer advance, as if it had met a solid steel wall.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE.
Although the warriors of the Yuwol Sect were clearly far greater in number, the White Tiger Sure-Kill Sword Formation did not move, as if it had taken root.
“Star Illusion!”
Starting with Eun-ho, two people produced Illusion Swords at the same time.
Dozens…… no, hundreds of Illusion Swords began surrounding the entire Thirty Yuwol Sword Formation.
“Insane…….”
“What in the world is this…….”
“What is this!”
The warriors of the Yuwol Sect unfolding the sword formation did not seem to be at the level where they could distinguish Illusion Swords from real swords, and they looked terrified by the Twin Heaven Sword Formula filling the air.
SQUELCH, SQUELCH, SQUELCH, SQUELCH, SQUELCH, SQUELCH.
At the same time, the sounds of flesh being pierced burst out, and screams full of pain erupted.
“Kuhuk.”
“Ueok.”
“Grrrkk.”
I rushed toward the other Yuwol Sect warriors who had been staring blankly at the White Tiger Sure-Kill Sword Formation.
The Twin Heaven Sword Formula descended upon them.
“……Hm?”
“I-Illusion Swords?”
Some of the warriors who had squeezed their eyes shut at the Twin Heaven Sword Formula flying toward the napes of their necks wore dazed expressions when they found their necks intact, but not all of them were like that.
“Ugh!”
“Kkeuagh!”
“Kuhuk!”
The warriors of the Yuwol Sect became Lonely Ghosts because of the real swords hidden among the Twin Heaven Sword Formula.
Another five fell.
I shot forward like an arrow and scattered the Twin Heaven Sword Formula once again.
SHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Dozens of sword blades repeatedly appeared and vanished, bewildering the eyes, and in the meantime, they stole the opponent’s life.
The Yuwol Sect warriors who had been encouraged by their numerical superiority were now gradually retreating little by little.
“These moronic bastards…….”
Tap.
The one who seemed to be their leader launched himself from the pavilion.
I shook out my left hand and unfolded the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist.
THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD, THUD.
“Hup!”
He tried to twist his body in midair, but ultimately failed to avoid the offensive of the Ten Thousand Transformations Invincible Fist, and crashed into the pavilion at the same speed with which he had flown forward.
CRASH.
The pavilion, which had already been old, scattered dust and made a creaking sound.
And with their leader gone, I began sweeping through the warriors who had fallen into confusion one after another.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG.
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG.
Now that they had already grasped the opponent’s skill, the swords of the Yuwol Sect warriors no longer carried any spirit.
All that remained was a defensive appearance as they tried to survive somehow.
And to me, who had gone through countless battlefields, that appearance was nothing more than tasty prey.
Aaaagh!
Kuhuk.
Kkeuk!
With sounds like air escaping—pshuk, pishuk—blood burst and flowed in every direction.
The Yuwol Sect warriors looked as if they had no idea what to do as they watched their comrades die.
After the area was cleaned up once.
A black figure jumped down from the roof and landed beside me.
-Young Master Jin.
Surprised by Seong Mo-ran’s appearance, I asked,
-Have you saved them all already?
-No. I could not save them.
-Why not?
-There are too many people captured. There are more than ten children alone.
-…….
-It would be better to finish this as quickly as possible, rescue them, and leave.
As I rapidly turned my head to change the plan.
Bang.
A signal flare rising from the broken pavilion embroidered the dark night sky with flame.
“Kuhuk.”
The leader who had crashed into the pavilion stepped out of it once again with blood streaming from the corner of his mouth.
“……You rat-like bastards. I do not know who you are, but do not think you will leave this place alive.”
There was no longer any time to drag this out.
After meeting Seong Mo-ran’s eyes, I drew up all of my inner arts.
“Young Master Jin…….”
“Please step back for a moment.”
The trembling air began gathering in my grasp in an instant.
Then, one-third of the inner arts filling my Dantian vanished with a thump.
RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE!
The Radiant Heaven Divine Palm that shot out immediately swallowed the pavilion and the leader whole.
Kkeuaaaagh!
Kuhuk!
Keok!
While the warriors swept up in the Radiant Heaven Divine Palm screamed and collapsed, Seong Mo-ran and I shot forward at the same time.
Although Seong Mo-ran and I had never matched our movements alone, perhaps because of the many experiences we had gone through while taking the Regular Exam together, our movements matched perfectly even though we did not speak.
It felt as stable as when I had matched hands and feet with the members of the Sojeong Squad in the past.
“I-Iron Sword Sect! You……! You were people of the Iron Sword Sect!”
The moment I launched myself to cut down the bastard who had recognized Seong Mo-ran’s martial arts.
“Everyone, stop!!”
A Lion’s Roar that shook the interior rang thunderously throughout the estate.
“…….”
At the entrance of the estate, Jong Byeok-gi stood with his clothes wildly disheveled, looking this way with blazing eyes.
