Chapter 528: The Man Trusted by the Young Cult Leader
Chapter 528: The Man Trusted by the Young Cult Leader
“…You really came.”
Dan-ah’s voice trembled with shock. Had she ever been this surprised in her life?
“Haah, haah, haah…”
The sound of heavy, ragged breathing gradually slowed.
The back she was staring at no longer seemed small. It was the back that had blocked the terrifying sword qi of the Four-Man Group as it poured down like rain. It was the back that had slammed shut the gates of hell that had swung wide open for her and her siblings.
Seo Dae-ryong slowly turned to look at her.
A flicker of relief passed through his trembling eyes, glad that he hadn't arrived too late. Overwhelmed by the fact that he had saved her by a hair’s breadth, Seo Dae-ryong found himself momentarily speechless.
“…How did you find this place?”
At Dan-ah’s question, Seo Dae-ryong finally found his voice.
“…I heard you were looking for me.”
The moment she heard those words, a lump formed in Dan-ah’s throat. It wasn't just gratitude; it was guilt. She had assumed he wouldn't come. She hadn't believed in him.
Yet this man had run until he was breathless just to reach her side.
The person just as surprised as Dan-ah was Gang Dal.
He really exists!
A master with a small frame wielding a massive blade.
Gang Dal had also been skeptical. In fact, he had thought it was a lie. He had only taken her in because of the noble way she was willing to sacrifice her life to protect her siblings—to protect her client.
But the person she spoke of actually existed?
If that man was truly a master from the main headquarters as she claimed, Gang Dal should have stepped forward to greet him immediately. However, they were still surrounded by the bastards of the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad, standing in a tense standoff with blades drawn.
Of course, his subordinates and even the pursuit squad members were currently fixated on the newcomer.
But the person most stunned by the current situation was Yo Goeng.
What is this? Who the hell is this guy?
He was confused. The expression on the man’s face as he looked at the woman was one of innocence and bashfulness.
Could the person who blew away the Four-Man Group in a single strike really make a face like that? Yo Goeng was so bewildered that he even glanced back at the mangled corpses of the Four-Man Group.
Yo Goeng secretly gathered internal energy into both hands. He intended to launch a surprise attack with his unique martial art, the Blood Hand Palm, if the opportunity arose.
“Where do you hail from?” he asked as politely as possible.
The dozens of scattered pieces of the Four-Man Group—so mangled one couldn't tell which limb belonged to whom—served as a grim warning to be cautious.
Seo Dae-ryong slowly turned toward him.
In that moment, Dan-ah saw it. The bashful look he had when facing her turned incomparably cold. Her heart skipped a beat.
“Who are you?”
At Seo Dae-ryong’s calm question, Yo Goeng replied, “I am Yo Goeng, the one in charge of the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad.”
He didn't humble himself completely, nor did he act with arrogance. Since a chaotic battle was likely to break out again, he had to consider his subordinates' morale while also accounting for his opponent's skill.
“And who might you be?”
Instead of answering, Seo Dae-ryong drew the great blade planted in the ground before him. He handled the massive weapon, which was as large as his own body, with effortless ease. Because of his small stature, the sight was even more imposing.
Seo Dae-ryong only acted playfully in front of Geom Mu-geuk; standing before Yo Goeng, he was a completely different person.
“The Seven-Road Pursuit Squad. I’ve heard of you.”
Though he appeared calm on the outside, Seo Dae-ryong’s anger had reached its peak. If he had been even a moment later, she would have been killed by these pieces of trash.
“I’m touched that you’ve heard of insignificant people like us.”
“It’s probably not a good thing that I know who you are.”
For the villains who crossed his path, the end was always either the dungeon or execution.
“When I heard the rumors about you, I thought to myself…”
Yo Goeng waited tensely for Seo Dae-ryong’s next words. He hoped for something positive so the atmosphere might improve.
“…‘I hope you bastards cross my path just once.’”
Yo Goeng’s expression froze.
“However, if you answer this question, I might consider forgiving you.”
At the word 'forgiving,' Yo Goeng’s eyes twitched with killing intent. He barely suppressed the urge to unleash a palm strike immediately.
“What is the question?”
“Who commissioned this job?”
Yo Goeng replied coldly, “If the client were someone we could name, do you think we would have climbed over this wall?”
His resolve not to speak was clear.
Instead, a smile of relief touched Seo Dae-ryong’s lips. From that smile, Yo Goeng knew.
He wants to kill me.
Yo Goeng forced his expression to soften.
“Enough blood has been shed. We shall withdraw here. What do you say? If you let us go peacefully…”
Seizing the opening, Yo Goeng unleashed a technique from both hands.
Vrooooom!
A palm strike of red energy erupted from Yo Goeng’s hands, flying toward Seo Dae-ryong. It was a move of terrifying power.
Swish!
Simultaneously, Seo Dae-ryong’s great blade sliced through the air.
Boom!
The two energies collided with a thunderous explosion. Yo Goeng had anticipated that his Blood Hand Palm might be blocked. He was already prepared to follow up with his next move.
However, he hadn't expected the opponent’s gang qi to cleave through his palm strike and fly straight toward him.
No!
The young master standing before him had opened his Conception and Governing Vessels and consumed two spirit medicines. The martial art he wielded was the demonic art of a Demon Lord. And above all, this was happening right in front of the woman he liked.
No matter how renowned a ronin expert Yo Goeng was, he could not withstand the Heaven Extermination Demonic Blade Form unleashed by such a man.
Heaven Extermination Demonic Blade Form, First Form: Extermination Blade Single Strike.
The gang qi sliced through the red palm energy and struck Yo Goeng’s body directly.
Crrraack!
Yo Goeng’s body exploded into pieces right before everyone's eyes.
The seventy or so members of the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad watched in horror as bits of their leader rained down around them. To them, Yo Goeng was a terrifying figure they couldn't even look in the eye. They never dreamed he would die like this in a single strike.
A suffocating silence fell over the area.
The one to break the silence was Gang Dal. He spoke to those who still held their swords pointed at him.
“Your captain is dead. Drop your weapons.”
At his words, the pursuit squad members looked at each other, paralyzed with indecision.
Swish! Thwack! Swish! Thwack!
Gang Dal lunged forward, stabbing two pursuit squad members in quick succession. The two, who had lost their focus, collapsed while coughing up blood.
“Drop your swords or die!”
Frightened by Gang Dal’s fierce momentum, about ten men nearby dropped their weapons. However, even more of them grew hysterical and wild.
“Kill that bastard!”
“Kill him no matter what!”
About twenty pursuit squad members charged at Gang Dal. It was clear why these men were called madmen. Even in this situation, they were the type to charge forward swinging their blades.
“Protect the Branch Manager!”
Just as the demonic practitioners were about to step forward to block them—
Swaaaaaang!
Seo Dae-ryong’s great blade cut through the air once more.
Heaven Extermination Demonic Blade Form, Second Form: Extermination Blade Wave.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
The charging pursuit squad members were swept away and blown apart by a wave of blade qi. With that single move, everyone who had been running was reduced to bloody mist and scattered in all directions.
Dealing with villains was Seo Dae-ryong’s daily job. He knew their nature better than anyone. They were strong against the weak and weak against the strong, always looking for a gap to bite. Today, there would be no mercy for them.
Seo Dae-ryong pointed his blade at those who still hadn't dropped their weapons.
Even madmen had their limits. The remaining pursuit squad members couldn't hold out any longer and threw down their swords.
The demonic practitioners of the branch suppressed their internal energy and forced them all to their knees. It wasn't something they should be happy about, even if they had spared their lives. Once they were locked in the dungeons of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, a pain worse than death would await them.
Gang Dal approached Seo Dae-ryong.
“Thank you so much for your help. I am Gang Dal, the manager of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Jing’an Branch.”
Everyone’s attention focused on Seo Dae-ryong. Finally, he revealed his identity.
“I am Seo Dae-ryong, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s Huangquan Pavilion.”
Gang Dal recoiled in shock. It was a rank he hadn't even imagined. The other demonic practitioners were equally stunned.
There was a massive difference between a Branch Manager and a Pavilion Master. Furthermore, he wasn't just any Pavilion Master.
The Huangquan Pavilion Master?
The Huangquan Pavilion was the inspection agency responsible for investigating treason, malpractice, and corruption within the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Due to the nature of the organization, it was the most powerful entity, taking precedence over all other internal groups.
The ghosts who dragged practitioners away, the Huangquan Pavilion that made every cultist tremble—they were the true power among powers within the Cult!
The dazed Gang Dal quickly performed a fist salute and bowed his head.
“I greet the Huangquan Pavilion Master!”
Clack, clack, clack.
Following his lead, the branch practitioners straightened their posture and offered a disciplined, simultaneous salute.
“We greet the Pavilion Master!”
Their voices echoed loudly through the area.
Gang Dal was overjoyed. It was amazing enough that the woman’s words were true, but for that master to be the Huangquan Pavilion Master?
Is this really happening to me?
He felt that this incident might finally bring some light into his life.
Maybe I’ll even get transferred to the main headquarters!
He desperately hoped it would be so.
When Seo Dae-ryong revealed his identity, Dan-ah and Dan-yeon were also startled. In truth, they didn't know much about the Huangquan Pavilion. However, judging by the reactions of those fearsome branch practitioners, he was clearly someone of very high status.
Having revealed his identity, Seo Dae-ryong turned back toward Dan-ah.
The terrifying man who had just blown his enemies apart, the high-ranking official of the Demonic Cult, was now smiling at her. He was acting bashful, just like that day. His eyes were as pure as they had been then.
Seo Dae-ryong asked her, “You seem to be injured. How is your body?”
“I’m alright.”
Just then, Dan-bi and Cho-hui emerged from the building. Dan-bi, who had woken up late, had come out to help her sister despite Cho-hui’s attempts to stop her, having heard the sounds of battle outside.
However, they were stunned by the scene before them. Corpses were strewn everywhere, and the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad members were all on their knees.
Dan-bi’s startled gaze landed on Seo Dae-ryong, who stood in the center of it all.
That person is…?
She recognized him immediately. How could she forget the man who had followed her sister and identified himself as a demonic practitioner?
Dan-ah spoke quickly before her sister could say something inappropriate.
“This is the Huangquan Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He saved our lives, so greet him quickly.”
Dan-bi was shocked to hear he was the Huangquan Pavilion Master. He really was a demonic practitioner, and a high-ranking one at that?
Dan-bi bowed her head respectfully. “I will never forget this kindness.”
Then, the youngest, Dan-yeon, whispered to Dan-ah, “Sister, I take back what I said about you having bad taste in men.”
Dan-ah’s face turned red.
As the tension finally broke, she suddenly coughed up blood. The internal injuries she had been suppressing had flared up.
“Are you alright? Are you okay?”
A panicked Seo Dae-ryong rushed over and helped her sit down. He was so flustered and alarmed that Dan-ah ended up feeling more embarrassed.
“I’m fine.”
“Fine? You're coughing up blood! Please, come out and help!”
Gang Dal said urgently, “I’ll call for a physician.”
“I wasn't talking to you.” Seo Dae-ryong looked up toward the sky and shouted, “Please help her!”
Then, someone lightly leaped down from the roof. It was Geom Mu-geuk, who had been watching the situation.
He had intentionally stayed out of it to let Seo Dae-ryong handle things himself. He wanted Seo Dae-ryong to be the hero of the day.
Even while coughing up blood, Dan-ah looked after her sister first.
“My sister is injured too. Please check on her first.”
“Sister, what are you talking about! Please check on my sister first.”
Geom Mu-geuk first injected a stream of internal energy into Dan-ah’s back to examine her condition. When it came to internal injuries of martial artists, he was more skilled than most physicians.
“By coughing the blood out instead of letting it burst internally, you’ve actually avoided a critical injury.”
Fortunately, both women had escaped fatal internal damage. It was an injury that would heal with some rest.
“Thank you. I will not forget the grace of this treatment.”
When Dan-ah expressed her gratitude, Geom Mu-geuk redirected the credit to Seo Dae-ryong.
“Give your thanks to Pavilion Master Seo. He ran without rest to save you.”
Dan-ah looked at Seo Dae-ryong. His heavy breathing from earlier was still vivid in her ears. If not for him, she and her siblings would have died on the spot.
Under her gaze, Seo Dae-ryong made an awkward expression. Just as she had liked his bashful look when they first met, she liked his current expression just as much.
Geom Mu-geuk smiled as he watched the looks being exchanged between the two.
Seeing this, the youngest, Dan-yeon, asked Geom Mu-geuk, “And who might you be, young hero? I would like to know your name.”
Everyone naturally assumed this young martial artist was a subordinate of the Huangquan Pavilion Master. In that moment, Seo Dae-ryong realized his mistake.
I was so distracted by the woman that I didn't even introduce the Young Cult Leader.
Seo Dae-ryong shouted to Gang Dal and the other branch practitioners, “This is the Young Cult Leader of our Cult. Everyone, show your respect!”
The Young Cult Leader?
Gang Dal thought he had misheard at first. He understood the Huangquan Pavilion Master coming because he had sent a missive, but the Young Cult Leader?
“What are you doing?”
At Seo Dae-ryong’s shout, Gang Dal and the other practitioners simultaneously performed a fist salute and bowed deeply.
“We greet the Young Cult Leader!”
With the appearance of the legendary Young Cult Leader, everyone was in a daze. The women were equally shocked. They also knelt down along with the others.
That man was the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult!
Geom Mu-geuk told them all to rise. Seo Dae-ryong bowed his head deeply to Geom Mu-geuk.
“I have committed a discourtesy in my haste.”
No matter how urgent the situation, he should have introduced Geom Mu-geuk before asking him to provide treatment. The closer they were, the more he should have maintained etiquette. That was something Geom Mu-geuk emphasized every time.
Looking at the apologetic Seo Dae-ryong, Geom Mu-geuk smiled brightly. How could he not know what Seo Dae-ryong was feeling? He was simply happy that the bond between Seo Dae-ryong and Dan-ah was being forged.
“I understand, Pavilion Master.”
Since it was in front of Dan-ah, Geom Mu-geuk also politely performed a fist salute.
“The Pavilion Master is the person I trust and cherish the most. Anyone the Pavilion Master wishes to protect is someone I must protect as well.”
Geom Mu-geuk was treating Seo Dae-ryong with more respect than he ever had since they met. How could Seo Dae-ryong not realize that Geom Mu-geuk was treating him with such extreme courtesy because they were in front of the woman he liked?
…Thank you so much.
Dan-ah looked at Seo Dae-ryong with a new light in her eyes. This man was truly trusted by the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
Gang Dal’s heart was pounding. It was surprising enough that the Huangquan Pavilion Master had come, but he couldn't believe the Young Cult Leader was at his branch. As a demonic practitioner, he was experiencing something he might not encounter once in a lifetime.
Even if he never made it to the main headquarters, he could live the rest of his life boasting about this single memory.
Just then, the subordinates drew their swords all at once, going on high alert. Gang Dal’s gaze turned toward the outside.
In the distance, a single carriage was racing toward them.