Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: The Knot of Grudges Twists Even More Viciously (3)
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Namgung Su was flung backward, vomiting blood from his mouth.
“Urk!”
The shock that pierced through his entire body shook his innards. Still, he had saved his life.
Thanks to the Namgung Family warriors who had thrown themselves in harm’s way to protect him.
Before him lay three Namgung Family warriors, reduced to bloody pulps. They had taken the full brunt of Dam Ho’s Wave-Cleaving Claw in his stead.
“Block him!”
The Namgung Family warriors hurled themselves forward.
They were already brimming with hatred toward Dam Ho. Disregarding their own lives, they leaped at him.
That became the spark.
“Kill him!”
The Murim Alliance warriors charged at Dam Ho all at once.
Like wolves pouncing on prey, the warriors swarmed him.
A space ruled by madness and killing intent.
And at its center stood Dam Ho.
Hwang Hye-ryeong on his back, Muk Il-gwang tucked at his side.
Muk Il-gwang had long since lost consciousness.
Dam Ho hurled Muk Il-gwang at the enemies rushing from the front.
Boom!
“Urk!”
“Gah!”
The warriors who collided with Muk Il-gwang’s massive frame screamed and collapsed.
The hall turned into a slaughterhouse in an instant.
That was the beginning.
Two axes were already in Dam Ho’s hands—Muk Il-gwang’s weapons.
Dam Ho threw one of Muk Il-gwang’s axes toward the front.
Whoosh!
The massive axe spun ferociously, sweeping away the oncoming foes.
“Argh!”
Piercing screams echoed through the hall.
The axe in Dam Ho’s other hand flew toward the opposite side.
Crunch-crack!
Sounds of flesh tearing and bones shattering rang out.
“Insane!”
Namgung Su shuddered at the sight.
It was like a lone tiger charging into a flock of sheep.
A bloodthirsty tiger massacring the sheep at will.
Blood sprayed everywhere, and cries of agony filled the air.
Namgung Su turned to flee.
He could no longer bear the fear.
‘I’ll never cross paths with that monster again.’
He vowed it over and over.
At that moment, a chill ran up his nape.
‘It’s him.’
No one told him, and he hadn’t seen it, but he knew instinctively.
His instinct was right. Dam Ho had already slipped behind Namgung Su’s back.
Namgung Su whipped around like lightning, unleashing the Namgung Family’s signature technique, Heavenly Thunder Finger.
A fierce burst of finger force shot toward Dam Ho’s forehead. But Dam Ho merely tilted his head slightly to dodge it, then closed in on Namgung Su’s chest in a flash.
Their eyes met. Dam Ho’s hot breath, thick with killing intent and the stench of blood, washed over him.
Namgung Su didn’t even have time to feel disgust.
Crack!
Instead, excruciating pain erupted from his chest.
Dam Ho’s fist had slammed into it.
It shattered his ribs and burrowed up to his wrist. He could feel his pounding heart gripped in Dam Ho’s hand.
“Guh!”
Namgung Su spewed blood.
More than the pain, it was Dam Ho’s indifferent gaze that sent shivers through him.
Squelch!
The heart in Dam Ho’s grasp burst.
The light of life faded from Namgung Su’s eyes. Paradoxically, though, a thread of relief lingered in his dying gaze.
‘I don’t have to fear you anymore. If you can chase me to the ends of hell, then come.’
That was Namgung Su’s final thought in life.
His body crumpled like a marionette with cut strings.
With Cheonggu Zhenren and now Namgung Su fallen, the Murim Alliance warriors lost their focus and milled about in panic.
In that moment, Dam Ho launched himself into the air.
He landed right in the midst of the gathered throng.
“Huh?”
A man there gaped, too terrified to even think of fleeing.
“Having fun?”
“W-what do you mean?”
The man asked in a trembling voice. Dam Ho’s eyes flared savagely.
“I’ve been wondering since earlier. Who’s the one stirring everyone up like that.”
The crowd’s madness hadn’t ignited on its own. Someone had been fanning the flames from the shadows at every critical moment.
The man backed away unsteadily.
Terror was plain in his eyes.
The man’s name was Gong So-chu.
He was a trusted retainer of Guo Geo-cheol, the vice sect leader of the Black Water Stronghold.
He had been hiding among the Murim Alliance warriors, inciting them all this time. It was a plot to use their power to kill Hwang Hye-ryeong.
At first, things had gone according to plan.
Oblivious to being used, the Alliance warriors eagerly attacked Muk Il-gwang and Hwang Hye-ryeong.
It was like reaping rewards without lifting a finger.
‘But who knew a monster like this would interfere.’
Dam Ho alone had ruined all their schemes.
The common sense and righteousness of the jianghu meant nothing to him.
Countless warriors were instead being toyed with by that one man, fleeing in terror.
A smile curled at the corner of Dam Ho’s mouth as he regarded Gong So-chu.
“It was you.”
Even after all these years, he still remembered those faces clearly. Gong So-chu was one of them.
The moment he saw Dam Ho’s smile, Gong So-chu felt chills rack his entire body.
“D-do you know me?”
“Guess you don’t remember.”
At Dam Ho’s words, Gong So-chu racked his brain. But no matter how hard he tried, nothing came up. He dismissed it as nonsense. If he’d ever encountered someone like Dam Ho even once, he would surely remember.
How could one forget someone who radiated such an intense presence?
Dam Ho asked,
“You didn’t act alone. Who is it? Who gave you the orders.”
“W-what nonsense? Who would order me?”
Gong So-chu made hasty excuses.
“Jo Yun-san?”
“H-how do you...?”
Crack!
The instant Gong So-chu’s eyes widened, Dam Ho’s fist smashed into his gut.
“Urp!”
Gong So-chu doubled over, vomiting up everything he’d eaten that morning.
His abdomen felt like it had been torn apart; even breathing was agony.
Dam Ho grabbed Gong So-chu by the scruff and started walking. Gong So-chu’s body, numb and limp, dragged behind him.
“Ugh!”
Despite the crowd, no one dared block Dam Ho.
In their eyes, he was no longer human.
No human could do this.
“Urp!”
Some buried their faces in the floor, retching. They couldn’t even meet Dam Ho’s gaze.
Dam Ho tucked the sprawled Muk Il-gwang under his arm.
With Hwang Hye-ryeong on his back and a man in each arm, he leaped into the air.
Dam Ho vanished in an instant. But no one dared pursue him.
Boom!
Namgung Chang shot to his feet.
His face was deathly pale.
“Say that again. What did you just say?”
“Well...”
The Namgung Family warrior who had come to report hesitated.
“Speak!”
“Young Master Namgung Su... has passed away.”
“Ridiculous...”
Namgung Chang’s shoulders trembled. But he quickly composed himself and asked,
“Where is Su’s body?”
“Outside.”
Namgung Chang burst through the door.
In the courtyard beyond the grand hall, Namgung Family warriors stood in formation, and in the center lay a cloth-covered form.
“No way?”
Namgung Chang approached on shaking legs.
The white cloth was soaked red with blood. He carefully lifted it. Beneath lay Namgung Su’s face.
Half his skull was caved in, eyes bulging wide. The terror he’d felt in life was etched plainly there.
“H-how? Who did this to him?”
“The Fist Demon...”
“The Fist Demon? Dam Ho? Why would he...?”
“Well...”
The warrior recounted everything that had happened.
After hearing it all, Namgung Chang closed his eyes.
‘In the end!’
His heart pounded wildly, his breath coming short.
The changes had started the moment Dam Ho’s name was mentioned. That name had branded an indelible fear into his chest.
“Dozens of warriors were killed or injured because of him.”
“Where is he now?”
“He’s escaped Ak Yang. The entire Murim Alliance is on high alert. They’ve named him a public enemy of the jianghu and are forming pursuit squads. They’ve ordered you elders to come at once.”
Namgung Chang hurried toward the Murim Alliance’s grand hall.
His complexion was utterly wretched.
‘All because of that one man...’
Namgung Chang bit his lip hard.
Everything he and the Namgung Family had built was shaking. If this continued, the very foundations of the Murim Alliance could crumble.
He pushed open the doors to the grand hall. Twenty pairs of eyes turned to him—all elders of the Alliance.
“Come in, Elder Namgung.”
“We’ve been waiting.”
Namgung Chang sat hastily, and the meeting began.
“You’ve all heard. This Fist Demon has tarnished the Alliance’s authority.”
“We must eliminate him to restore our prestige.”
“One slippery eel is causing chaos. We can’t let it go on.”
The elders unanimously demanded Dam Ho’s punishment.
Namgung Chang’s gaze turned to Hyunmu Zhenren, the Mount Hua Sect elder.
“What does Hyunmu Zhenren think?”
“Why ask me?”
“The Fist Demon hails from Mount Hua Sect, doesn’t he?”
“He did once.”
“So you’re saying he doesn’t now?”
“He rejected Mount Hua first.”
Hyunmu Zhenren’s voice was ice-cold.
He still couldn’t forget the humiliation Dam Ho had inflicted.
A disciple denying his sect?
From a prestigious sect like Mount Hua, no less.
Hyunmu Zhenren could never forgive Dam Ho.
To tolerate him would be to deny Mount Hua itself.
“Then we’ll take it that Mount Hua has no issue with how we handle the Fist Demon.”
“Mount Hua is part of the Murim Alliance. Remember that well.”
“We understand Mount Hua’s stance.”
Namgung Chang nodded emphatically.
The listening elders’ faces lit with satisfied smiles.
Had Mount Hua insisted on protecting the Fist Demon, it could have split the Alliance.
Qingyue Zhenren of the Qingcheng Sect stood.
“Let’s form pursuit squads now. We must eliminate him before he becomes a greater threat.”
“Well said!”
The elders agreed with Qingyue Zhenren.
Namgung Chang’s expression darkened.
It wasn’t just anywhere—the Murim Alliance itself was mobilizing. Now, there was no place left in the world for the Fist Demon.
No matter how strong his martial arts, he couldn’t survive turning the entire world against him.
That was the way of the world, the law of the jianghu as Namgung Chang knew it.
‘Then why this unease?’
A chill swept over him.
He clutched his shoulders.