Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 201 : Battle (2)

Thud! Thump! Thump!

The sound of the carriage moving was enough to wake Woo Jeong-bong from his deep sleep.

Woo Jeong-bong looked at Jin Sa-wol, who was sitting next to him, and Jo Geom-ok and Namgung Ji, who were sitting in the driver's seat, in turn.

They were a group that had left Guguang a few days ago to go to the Martial Alliance.

Since the Inspection Pavilion Master of the Martial Alliance had died, they had to go and be investigated.

Jo Geom-ok and Woo Jeong-bong were scheduled to stop by the alliance and then go to Shaolin. Since a great star of the martial world had fallen, they could not not go.

Many disciples of the Wudang Sect were also stopping by Shaolin whenever they had time.

'What's good is good.'

Among the words he had first learned in Wudang, it was the word that touched his heart the most. His master had said that the most important thing in human relationships was 'what's good is good'.

He had said that being with good people was the joy of life and the way to go to the path of immortality.

'Am I going to the path of immortality now, or am I leaving for the secular world?'

Woo Jeong-bong, who had been contemplating for a moment, shook his head.

'Still, the secular world is the best.'

Woo Jeong-bong sighed, having a lot of regret that there was no gisaeng house.

"What's wrong? Did you have a bad dream?"

"I didn't have a good dream or a bad dream. What is a dream?"

Jin Sa-wol took Woo Jeong-bong's question with a serious expression. His appearance, nodding his head and thinking deeply about something, looked like a person trying to get an answer.

At the appearance of a disciple listening to a lesson in front of Confucius, Woo Jeong-bong asked again seriously.

"Is the path we are going the path of immortality?"

"What kind of bullshit are you talking about so difficultly? We're going to the Martial Alliance now."

Jo Geom-ok, who could not hold it in, answered, and Woo Jeong-bong frowned and turned his head.

"Don't mind her. Sometimes her head goes around like that."

At Jo Geom-ok's words, Jin Sa-wol crossed his arms and did not open his mouth, as if he were in deep thought.

Jin Sa-wol soon said to Woo Jeong-bong.

"I didn't have dreams before. But lately, I sometimes have dreams. Even if I try to remember what the dream is, I forget everything when I open my eyes. Is that normal?"

"That's normal. Because a dream is an illusion. That's why there's a saying, 'a spring dream of a single field'."

"That's about the futility of life. You're saying you can't remember your dreams."

Jo Geom-ok, after rebuking Woo Jeong-bong, said.

"I can't remember either."

"I also think I had a good dream last night, but I can't remember. Everyone is like that. So you don't need to think it's strange."

"Everyone is like that. If there's a dream you remember, it's a dog dream. A dog dream."

At Woo Jeong-bong's story, Jin Sa-wol thought it was normal since it was like that. Namgung Ji asked.

"What's the reason for wanting to see the Alliance Leader? It doesn't seem to be because the Inspection Pavilion Master died."

"It's a secret."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Namgung Ji showed a disappointed expression.

***

Jin Sa-wol, who had entered the Martial Alliance, was guided not to the guest hall, but to Namgung Min's residence.

Although the news that he had entered the alliance spread quickly, since he was not an important person in the martial world, he was not talked about by people.

There were many eyes that were watching Woo Jeong-bong or Jo Geom-ok more carefully than Jin Sa-wol.

Jin Sa-wol, who had entered the Alliance Leader's study, looked around the quiet room and then sat down in a chair.

Many books were inserted in the bookshelf, and several orchids and a bamboo forest were visible beyond the window.

As the maids came in, Namgung Min also came in with them.

"I greet the Alliance Leader."

As Jin Sa-wol stood up and greeted, Namgung Min smiled and raised his hand.

"Sit down."

As Namgung Min sat down in a chair, Jin Sa-wol slowly sat down opposite him. As the maids put down the tea and refreshments and went out, a silence lingered in the room for a moment.

Namgung Min poured tea for Jin Sa-wol and said.

"Let's skip the useless greetings. What brings you here?"

"It is an honor to see the Alliance Leader."

"Not that kind of greeting, the main point."

"I'm scheduled to go to the Demonic Cult."

"The Demonic Cult."

Namgung Min shook his teacup, thinking about the current situation of the Demonic Cult. Hot steam was rising. The Demonic Cult was also a hot place like this now.

"Are you thinking of jumping into the muddy water?"

"Yes."

Since Jin Sa-wol had already decided, he answered briefly. A short answer meant that he was firm.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"No. If there's anything you want, I'll do it."

"It's a deal."

At Namgung Min's words, Jin Sa-wol announced a silent affirmation.

"It would be best if you could kill the Demonic Cult Leader."

From Namgung Min's point of view, the Demonic Cult Leader was a troublesome opponent, and it was good for him to die no matter who became the Demonic Cult Leader.

It was natural that the power of the Martial Alliance would become stronger if the power of the Demonic Cult weakened.

"That's impossible. Let's do what's possible."

"It would be good if you could kill at least one official."

"I understand."

Since it was a realistically possible thing, Jin Sa-wol did not refuse.

Hearing Jin Sa-wol's answer, Namgung Min smiled and asked.

"Then I'd like to hear your deal. Tell me."

"Do you know a person named Jeokrin?"

"Jeokrin? Who is he? It's a name I've never heard before."

As Jin Sa-wol mentioned a person, Namgung Min showed interest.

"He is a person who has revealed himself to be a descendant of the Three Sovereigns. And he killed the Inspection Pavilion Master."

At Jin Sa-wol's story, Namgung Min's expression hardened.

He opened his eyes wide as if he were very surprised, and then he regained his composure with a calm face and asked.

"I thought you were the one who killed Pavilion Master Song, but it wasn't."

"What if I had killed him?"

"I was going to take appropriate measures."

Namgung Min did not need to hide the fact that he was watching. In any case, Jin Sa-wol also knew.

The reason he had no great complaints about what Jin Sa-wol was doing was because it coincided with Namgung Min's intentions.

Jin Sa-wol had been scratching the back that Namgung Min had found difficult to scratch well until now.

The killing of Zhuge Qing, the killing of Buk Myeong-woo or Seok Jeong-bi in the past, and Wang Yao were also the same.

Zhuge Qing was a person like Han Xin, and the rest were people who had been appointed when Jo Han-yu was there.

But the Inspection Pavilion Master was not.

If Jin Sa-wol crossed the line any further, he was planning to give a warning. But he had heard an unexpected name.

"Continue."

At Namgung Min's words, Jin Sa-wol brought up the story of Jeokrin. Namgung Min listened with a serious expression.

The reason Jin Sa-wol was telling Namgung Min about Jeokrin was to be careful.

Namgung Min showed a serious expression when he heard the story of Jeokrin.

"He's a monster."

As he said that a person who had been the Demonic Cult Leader was roaming the Central Plains, he felt a sense of alarm. But on the other hand, he also doubted whether Jin Sa-wol's words were true.

Jin Sa-wol, considering that point, said.

"Bad news will come from the Ice Palace soon."

"If that person went to the Ice Palace, that would be the case."

Namgung Min showed a gaze that hoped Jin Sa-wol's words were not true.

Jin Sa-wol, as if his business were finished, said.

"I'm thinking of leaving the inn as a manor. Since the rumors are not good, it seems no guests will come even if I open the inn."

"Reputation is important in business. Do as you wish."

"Yes. I will get up now."

As Jin Sa-wol stood up, Namgung Min raised his hand.

As Jin Sa-wol left the study and moved away, Namgung Min let out a hmm! breath.

"Shadow."

"Yes."

A low voice flowed from the empty air.

"Gather all the information from the Three Sovereigns to Jeokrin."

"As you command."

As the voice from the air disappeared, Namgung Min drank his tea and then stroked his beard.

***

Two men were sitting in a small room.

It was Son Muk, the master of the Martial Arts Hall, and Hyeonjeong of the Wudang Sect. He, who had entered the alliance as an elder of the Wudang Sect, often enjoyed tea with the officials of the alliance.

Son Muk frowned and had a question.

"The Alliance Leader meets the owner of a mere inn in person? The owner of an inn, not the head of a martial arts family or a faction? Isn't that strange?"

If it were the position of the Martial Alliance Leader, it was a relationship that could never be met.

"Since he has donated a lot to the Martial Alliance, he should meet him at least once."

"If it's just once, it's necessary to meet out of courtesy."

"You seem to be very interested in the inn."

"Because quite a few important officials of the alliance died there. Doesn't that mean there's something? A report that attracts martial artists, or..."

As Son Muk's gaze became sharp, Hyeonjeong roughly grasped Son Muk's intention for wanting to see him.

"I don't know anything."

At Hyeonjeong's smile, Son Muk stroked his beard as if it were a shame. It was certain that there was something in Guguang, but he was frustrated because he didn't know what it was.

'There's something...'

Son Muk quickly rolled his head to satisfy his curiosity.

Hyeonjeong, who was watching Son Muk, sighed inwardly.

'If you know too much, you die.'

There was a good reason why all those who had intervened in the inn had died.

The martial world was a place where those who coveted treasure died.

Hyeonjeong had given up because he knew that.

But now Son Muk, the master of the Martial Arts Hall, was showing interest.

'Should I stop this, or not? Just leave it?'

Hyeonjeong was lost in thought for a moment.

***

"Kraaak!"

A scream erupted along the valley path between the mountains. Starting with that sound, numerous people began to fight.

"Attack!"

"You fucking bastards! Who are you! Reveal your affiliation!"

"Die! You dog bastard!"

The warriors escorting the carriage and the group attacking the carriage were entangled in a chaotic mess.

Dokgo Hye, who was sitting in the carriage, frowned.

Although she was moving with fifty escorts, she had not expected them to attack so openly.

"Is it Gung Ma-yeop? Or who is it?"

Dokgo Hye, who had opened the curtain and looked outside, sweated when she saw that more warriors were ambushing in the forest.

Dokgo Hye's eyes and the eyes of a masked person standing in the forest met.

"Dokgo Hye is inside. Attack the carriage!"

At the shout of the masked person, even the waiting masked people joined in. Their attack pressed the escort warriors.

"Aaargh!"

With a scream, the blood of the escort warriors splattered on the carriage.

"Capture Dokgo Hye."

At another shout, Dokgo Hye got out of the carriage, holding her sword. She mercilessly killed the masked people who were attacking to capture her.

Her sword stabbed or cut the necks and hearts of the masked people.

Since they had to capture Dokgo Hye alive, the masked people who were attacking her could not use a killing sword.

But Dokgo Hye did not need to. Naturally, her sword was fierce.

"Capture her! You must not even cut a single strand of her hair. Kill the rest!"

The shout of the masked person echoed again.

"Kraaak!"

"Kaaak! Miss!"

With a scream, a maid who was near Dokgo Hye was cut by a sword and died. A thick drop of blood fell on Dokgo Hye's clothes.

"Keuk!"

"Uwaaaak!"

Around Dokgo Hye, there were constantly dying escort warriors. Although the martial arts of the escort warriors were also outstanding, the enemies were people with martial arts of a higher level.

On top of that, since a group of over two hundred was attacking, there was no way to stop them.

"Capture her!"

Several masked people began to attack, surrounding Dokgo Hye. Although Dokgo Hye's movements, blocking their swords and attacking, were nimble, they repeated hitting and running.

It was a trick to make her tired.

'It's a wheel battle. You dog bastards.'

Dokgo Hye looked at the retreating masked people with a tired, sweaty face.

Just then, other masked people attacked from behind.

Dokgo Hye turned her body and struck their swords. In that instant, a rope flew and caught her legs and arms.

"Hmph!"

(End of Chapter)