Chapter 2
Chapter 2
2.
To the Poison Demon Sect (2)
Demonic God Church.
Considered the strongest single force.
People of the Central Plains pointed fingers at the Demonic God Church, calling it a den of devils, but Un-hyeok didn't care.
'My goal is revenge.'
On those involved in the death.
On those who merely stood by.
Shouldn't I return it tenfold, no, a hundredfold, to settle the score?
Un-hyeok felt it keenly when he was chased by Heaven's Net, Earth's Web.
That it was not enough to face the massive group that was the Central Plains alone.
'The Demonic God Church...'
All the better.
'If it means I can get revenge, I'll gladly become a devil.'
The goal was set.
'First, I must take control of the Demonic God Church.'
Un-hyeok recalled the information about Dok Un-hyeok that he had investigated before.
'The shame of the Poison Demon Sect.'
Dok Un-hyeok was said to have indulged in women and squandered all the wealth of the Poison Demon Sect.
Just how severe was it?
So much so that he eventually lost all his essence and died.
'What connection does he have with the Poison Demon Sect? Is that why I regained consciousness in this body?'
Not only was he falsely accused of mastering the martial arts of Geongondokma, the founder of the Poison Demon Sect, and died.
He only differed in surname from Dok Un-hyeok, but his name was the same.
'Is it fate, or a bad omen?'
I don't know.
What is certain is that I must now live as Dok Un-hyeok.
Meanwhile.
Hearing the commotion, one or two of the courtesans woke up.
"Ugh... What's all this noise from the crack of dawn... Eek!"
"What is it, Aeng-hwa? What's wrong?"
"Th-there... Black Bear..."
"What? Why is Black Bear here?!"
Black Bear's infamy was well-known in the streets.
It was said that if someone didn't repay their debts, he would beat them all, regardless of whether they were women, children, or the elderly.
Crash-!
Black Bear kicked over the table with the drinks.
"You bastards! Are you all here to watch? Get the hell out of here!"
"Kyaaa! R-run away!"
The courtesans, in a state of panic, grabbed their clothes and quickly left the room.
Only Un-hyeok remained calm in the brothel.
'...Should I see this as fortunate?'
Never mind Black Bear.
He had known Lee So-ye, the Dragon Brocade Hall's leader to which he belonged, in his past life.
No, to be precise, Lee So-ye was one of his former comrades.
'Dark Shadow Eye Demon, Lee So-ye.'
A woman with the best skill in the world in collecting and handling information.
-
Don't speak carelessly.
-
The eyes and ears of the Dark Shadow Eye Demon are everywhere in the world.
During the Central Plains Blood War, the Demonic God Church was most wary of Lee So-ye's intelligence.
Therefore, Lee So-ye was a talent that Un-hyeok absolutely had to acquire.
'Information is power.'
Un-hyeok also knew about the future events that would unfold, but that was mainly about major incidents.
Even those were likely not to unfold as they were.
'Because causality is like that. If the cause changes, the result will also change.'
Therefore, he needed an intelligence network to prepare for it.
'Even Lee So-ye, the best in the world, doesn't know some information right now. If I can use that, joining hands shouldn't be too difficult.'
But before that.
Un-hyeok wanted to create an opportunity for Lee So-ye to come looking for him.
"Three months ago."
Un-hyeok began, based on the memories of Dok Un-hyeok in his mind.
"I know that the principal I borrowed was a hundred Silver Coin Treasures. I'll pay that back within a month."
"That's a given. And you have to pay the interest as well. You do know that your debt is increasing even as we speak, don't you?"
He really thinks he's got me cornered.
The glint of desire in Black Bear's eyes.
I could see him trying to squeeze every last drop out of me.
Un-hyeok chuckled.
"I think you're mistaken about something. I have no intention of paying back all of that debt."
"...What?"
"I'll only pay back the principal I borrowed, a hundred Silver Coin Treasures, plus the normal interest rate of the Dragon Brocade Hall. And that too..."
Un-hyeok said clearly.
"Directly to the Dragon Brocade Hall's leader."
The Dragon Brocade Hall was a rising new power in the Demonic God Church, and it was currently engaged in various businesses.
One of them was daily lending, but the original interest rate was not that high.
The culprit behind the exorbitant interest rate was Black Bear.
He was trying to embezzle in the middle, so he arbitrarily raised the interest rate.
Of course, there was no way Black Bear would just stand by and watch.
"What the hell are you talking about? You're just begging to die."
This bastard.
I've been holding back, but he's treating me like a pushover.
He grabbed me by the collar and shook me so hard that I was dizzy.
"I'll count to five. Let go of me while I'm asking nicely."
"What?"
"Five."
Un-hyeok showed all his fingers.
Black Bear burst out laughing.
"Ha, I guess I'm not sober yet. I can't let this go. You're going to get a beating today."
As Black Bear raised his fist, three of Un-hyeok's fingers folded.
"Two."
What?
Isn't four supposed to come after five?
As Black Bear momentarily questioned,
Thwack-!
Un-hyeok stabbed Black Bear in both eyes without a moment's hesitation.
"Ugh, aaaaah-! My, my eyes!"
"Idiot."
Un-hyeok sneered as he looked at Black Bear, who was covering his eyes.
"You didn't really think I was going to count to five, did you?"
A preemptive strike is essential.
Because momentum accounts for ninety percent of a fight.
Un-hyeok had gained the upper hand over Black Bear, who was disoriented after losing his sight.
"You cowardly bastard! How dare you attack me by surprise. You won't get away with this..."
Clang-!
Black Bear's body staggered as he was hit in the head with a liquor bottle.
"Keuk-!"
"Hoo, so this isn't enough to faze you, huh?"
"Aaaaah-! You bastard! I'm going to kill you!!"
Black Bear, with blood flowing from his eyes, swung his fists wildly.
Whoosh-! Whoosh-!
"Where are you! If I catch you, I'll tear you limb from limb!"
But Un-hyeok was already far away.
'I see how he moves roughly. Should I aim for an opening?'
He quietly picked up a chopstick lying nearby.
One step, one step.
Quietly and secretly.
Un-hyeok approached Black Bear, who was panting for breath.
"Hah, hah, Dok Un-hyeok, you rat...! Don't hide like a coward, come out here!"
There was no sound, not even a rustle.
Meanwhile, Black Bear's eye condition had improved slightly.
He opened his eyes slightly, but his vision was blurry.
Black Bear looked around to find Un-hyeok, but he was nowhere to be seen.
'Where did he hide, Dok Un-hyeok!'
But at that very moment.
Tap tap-!
Someone tapped him on the shoulder, and Black Bear turned around and swung his fist.
"There you are!"
But Black Bear's fist only hit the air.
Instead.
Thwack-!
"Keu, keueoeok!"
The chopstick that Un-hyeok was holding pierced Black Bear's cheek.
As Black Bear collapsed with a thud, Un-hyeok raised his index finger to his lips.
"Shh."
Chills-!
He had lived a rough life, but this was the first time Black Bear had felt so cold.
'Is this really Dok Un-hyeok?'
A moron who was too scared to even make eye contact.
That was the kind of man Dok Un-hyeok was, according to Black Bear.
But today's Un-hyeok was a completely different person.
'He doesn't hesitate to harm people. I-I'm going to die if I'm not careful!'
Black Bear's instincts screamed at him to run away.
"Ugh-!"
Black Bear squeezed out every last bit of strength and crawled towards the exit.
But Un-hyeok wasn't going to let him get away with that.
Crack-!
"Kaaaaa!"
This time, the chopstick pierced the back of Black Bear's hand.
"I was going to have a serious conversation with you. Where are you going?"
He couldn't run away.
Black Bear's voice trembled with fear.
"I-I'm sorry. I was wrong..."
"Hey, watch your language?"
Flinch-!
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't know my place and was rude to you, Young Master... Please forgive me! I'll make all the debts disappear."
"That's a given."
Black Bear's face brightened.
"So, you'll spare me?!"
"I'll spare your life. But I won't let you go easily."
To make him so scared that he would wet himself just by looking at his face.
So that he wouldn't even dream of taking revenge.
That was Un-hyeok's way.
"Y-Young Master? What do you mean...?"
Un-hyeok grabbed Black Bear's ankle with one hand. He placed the sharp end of the broken liquor bottle on his Calcaneal Tendon.
"What are you doing... N-no!"
"There's nothing that can't be done in this world."
Slash-!
As Un-hyeok severed the ankle tendon, blood splattered on his face.
"Kaaaa!"
"Stop whining, this is just the beginning."
Thud-! Crack-! Snap-!
A while later.
"Keukeureureuk..."
Black Bear, who had been beaten to a pulp, foamed at the mouth and fainted.
Un-hyeok wiped the blood off his face and stood up.
"Tsk, my clothes are ruined."
Un-hyeok straightened his clothes and thought.
'I've thrown the bait, now I just have to wait for a bite.'
If Lee So-ye knew that Black Bear had become a cripple who couldn't even lift a spoon because of Dok Un-hyeok, she would definitely be interested, given her personality.
This was something that was far beyond her expectations.
'She'll come to see for herself soon.'
So, all that was left was to go back home.
'By the way, Dok Ryeon-hwi is my father, and Dok Mu-won and Dok Seo-ryeon are my siblings.'
To become family with those who were mortal enemies in his past life.
It gave him goosebumps, but what could he do?
Un-hyeok could do anything for revenge.
"Shall we go, then?"
Now, to his new home.
"To the Poison Demon Sect."
Meanwhile.
A man with heavy makeup like a woman.
Hong Ryu-yeon, the general manager of the Dragon Brocade Hall, was busily tidying up the place.
'That damn bitch. What business does she have suddenly visiting here?'
Behind the bookshelf was Ryu-yeon's secret space.
Climbing the stairs, Ryu-yeon hid the entrance to the secret space and sat on a chair.
Just as she was pretending to calmly fix her makeup, she heard footsteps from outside.
"Ryu-yeon, are you in there?"
"Of course. Leader, please come in."
The paper door opened,
Revealing a beauty with delicate features, resembling a cat.
The Dragon Brocade Hall's leader, Lee So-ye, appeared.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you while you're resting?"
Ryu-yeon had already erased her previous expression and had a kind face.
"Of course not."
Then, So-ye's gaze turned to the cosmetics scattered on the table.
Ryu-yeon quickly pretended to tidy them up.
"Hehe, I'm sorry. Leader, the room is very messy, isn't it?"
"Because of the scar...?"
The tragedy of the Magnificent Gate.
So-ye was originally supposed to be the young leader of the Magnificent Gate.
Until her senior brother, Woo Mun-so, murdered their master and took over the Magnificent Gate.
So-ye was also almost killed at the time, but fortunately, she was able to survive with the help of Hong Ryu-yeon.
But in the process, Ryu-yeon was left with an indelible scar on her face.
"I'm sorry, Ryu-yeon. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have that scar on your face."
"Don't say that. Leader, I would have made the same choice even if I went back to that time."
Ryu-yeon took So-ye's hand.
Warm warmth.
Come to think of it, Ryu-yeon had always been like that.
She always thought of So-ye before herself.
"Thank you. Ryu-yeon, I'm so glad you're here. If you weren't here, I might have collapsed a long time ago."
"Leader, you're too much..."
Hong Ryu-yeon, who smiled brightly, changed the subject.
"By the way, you must be very busy. What brings you here in such a hurry at this hour?"
"Ah...! That's right! The thing is, Black Bear, who went to get money from Wolharu this morning, has become disabled."
"What do you mean?"
"Dok Un-hyeok, you know, the shame of the Poison Demon Sect?"
"How could I not know? He borrowed a hundred Silver Coin Treasures from Black Bear a while ago."
"He did that?"
"...What? Really?"
Third-rate.
Even if it was an insignificant level among martial artists, it was not the case for ordinary people.
Moreover, Black Bear was strong even among third-rate martial artists.
No matter how many ordinary adult men ganged up on him, they wouldn't be able to defeat him.
"So, I went to ask Black Bear about it? But he was so badly beaten that he freaked out at the mere mention of 'Dok'."
"So, you came to me. Wondering if I knew anything."
"That's right, have you heard anything about Dok Un-hyeok lately?"
"Hmm, no. I haven't heard anything in particular. I report all the information I hear to you, Leader."
Except for one thing.
A secret that she could never tell.
"Is that so? Hmm..."
So-ye pursed her lips.
In fact, she wasn't interested in Black Bear becoming half a cripple.
She already knew that Black Bear's misdeeds had gone too far lately, so she was going to teach him a lesson.
But someone she didn't expect had done it for her.
"It's strange. The information I've collected has never been wrong like this before. Why is it only Dok Un-hyeok's that's like that?"
Martial artists often say.
That they can smell the Qi.
But that was the same for those who handled information.
She could feel something unknown in the information about Dok Un-hyeok.
After thinking for a while, So-ye made a decision.
"I can't do this. I have to see Dok Un-hyeok with my own eyes."
"Yes?! No, is that really necessary?"
Ryu-yeon didn't think it was a big deal, but So-ye thought differently.
"There must be a reason why the information is wrong. Even if it's trivial, if we easily overlook it, it might catch us off guard someday."
"Well, if that's what you think, Leader."
"And..."
So-ye looked at the blue sky beyond the window.
"I even put on makeup. It's a waste of a nice day to just stay at home. Let's go for a walk to get some fresh air."
So-ye swept her hair back as the wind blew in from the window.
"To the Poison Demon Sect."