Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: Act 4. The Wind Constantly Shakes the Trees (2)
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The intruder who had burst through the wall into the shrine carried a sword case on his back that resembled peacock feathers.
There were countless warriors in the world, but only one possessed such a distinctive feature.
It was none other than the Peacock Ghost Sword, Shin Mu-wol.
"Got you."
Shin Mu-wol said, glaring at the Golden Lion. The Golden Lion's face, hidden behind his mask, stiffened rigidly.
"To think you'd follow me all the way here."
"You beggar scum! Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me chasing after you bastards?"
"Shin Mu-wol, I should have killed you long ago."
A storm-like aura erupted from the Golden Lion's entire body. Shin Mu-wol sneered in response.
"That's my line, you dog!"
"This shrine will be your grave. Kill him!"
At the Golden Lion's command, the Blood Chain Ghosts charged toward Shin Mu-wol.
Clang!
The Blood Chain Ghosts drew their grotesque weapons—iron chain sickles linking scythes and chains.
Dozens of iron chain sickles flew toward Shin Mu-wol.
"Get out of my way, you minions!"
Shin Mu-wol spread his arms wide. Two swords shot out from the Peacock Sword Box. He hurled them at the Blood Chain Ghosts.
Whoosh!
The two swords spun fiercely as they flew toward the Blood Chain Ghosts. The chain sickles, forming a net-like barrier, collided with the swords and scattered in all directions.
Shin Mu-wol seized the opening and drew another sword, launching himself at the Golden Lion.
"Halt!"
"How dare you!"
This time, the First Flame Asura and Second Flame Asura blocked his path.
They unleashed their signature techniques against Shin Mu-wol.
Boom!
Fierce fist winds and sword energies hurtled toward him. In that instant, Shin Mu-wol's sword unleashed its own sword energy.
Slash!
With a sound like tearing silk, the energies from the First and Second Flame Asuras split in two.
The First and Second Flame Asuras' eyes widened in shock. Shin Mu-wol's kicks slammed into their chests.
"Urk!"
"Ugh!"
The two staggered back. Shin Mu-wol dashed through the gap. The Blood Chain Ghosts pursued him.
Dozens of chain sickles flew toward his back, but he ignored them.
His target had been the Golden Lion from the start. No matter the cost, he had to subdue him.
'I have to capture him to uncover the full truth.'
Slash!
A few chain sickles grazed his body. Flesh tore, and blood sprayed, but Shin Mu-wol did not stop.
"Insolent fool!"
A chilling glint flashed in the Golden Lion's eyes.
His hand shot up into the air. In an instant, hand gang energy formed in his palm.
The Golden Lion hurled the hand gang.
It was an unstoppable, indestructible force flying toward him. Shin Mu-wol felt a intense sense of crisis.
"Hyah! Whirlwind Blood Demon Slash!"
With his shout, the remaining two swords ejected from the box.
Shin Mu-wol extended his hand, and the three swords spun violently around his palm. Streams of energy spiraled outward in arcs.
Boom!
The gang energy clashed with the spiraling streams, erupting in a massive explosion.
"Urk!"
"Hngh!"
Shin Mu-wol and the Golden Lion both groaned in strain. Their bodies shuddered from the impact.
Meanwhile, the First and Second Flame Asuras recovered from the shock and joined the Blood Chain Ghosts. Under their relentless assault, Shin Mu-wol found himself in dire straits.
'Damn it!'
Shin Mu-wol's face twisted.
The Golden Lion, having escaped the crisis, was fleeing the shrine. If he let him get away now, who knew when he'd get another chance.
'I'll give flesh to take bone.'
He was about to unleash a technique, prepared to sacrifice an arm if necessary.
"Don't even think about it."
Suddenly, a booming voice echoed through the shrine.
Thud!
"Argh!"
The Golden Lion, who had just stepped outside, was flung back in.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the mask of the Golden Lion as he tumbled across the floor.
A massive man strode in afterward.
Joy lit up Shin Mu-wol's face.
"Big Brother!"
The man, a full head taller than an average person, was none other than Geom Yul-cheon—the one man Shin Mu-wol respectfully called "Big Brother."
Geom Yul-cheon looked at Shin Mu-wol.
"Sorry I'm a bit late. You okay?"
"You really need to move faster next time. I thought I was done for."
"Drama queen."
Geom Yul-cheon chuckled softly.
In the meantime, the Golden Lion struggled to his feet.
"You bastard!"
Terrifying killing intent radiated from his body. But Geom Yul-cheon accepted it without flinching.
Geom Yul-cheon took heavy steps toward the Golden Lion.
"Golden Lion, we finally meet."
"Did you send this punk after us?"
"You bet."
"Why pursue us?"
"You don't expect me to believe you don't know?"
Geom Yul-cheon countered instead. The Golden Lion ground his teeth at Geom Yul-cheon's demeanor, as if he knew everything.
The closer Geom Yul-cheon got, the greater the overwhelming pressure. It was the first time since the Demon Lord that the Golden Lion had felt such presence.
'Where do these guys keep coming from?'
Both Damho and Geom Yul-cheon were variables outside the Golden Lion's calculations. Their appearances amplified his unease.
"You've stirred up quite the mess all this time."
"You?"
Whoosh!
In an instant, Geom Yul-cheon kicked off the ground and charged at the Golden Lion. An immense pressure, like a massive boulder rolling toward him, enveloped the Golden Lion.
"How dare you!"
The Golden Lion roared and threw a punch. Gang energy gathered around his fist and shot toward Geom Yul-cheon.
Geom Yul-cheon extended his right hand. A sphere of energy formed above his palm, then stretched into a blade shape.
It was unmistakably a sword formed of qi.
Geom Yul-cheon swung the qi blade into the incoming fist gang.
Thunder Strike Art, Fifth Form: One Strike, a Hundred Warnings.
Boom!
White lightning crashed down.
"Arrrgh!"
The Golden Lion screamed in agony as he was hurled back. His body was charred black, white smoke rising from it.
"Lord Golden Lion!"
The First and Second Flame Asuras and the others rushed to aid him.
"Your opponents are me."
Shin Mu-wol blocked their path.
"Eek!"
"Out of the way!"
They attacked Shin Mu-wol. He fended them off, alternating between five swords.
In the meantime, Geom Yul-cheon approached the fallen Golden Lion.
"Groan... You?"
The Golden Lion barely lifted his head to glare at Geom Yul-cheon. His eyes burned with feral rage, enough to kill a man a dozen times over with a look alone.
Geom Yul-cheon squatted down in front of him.
"Celestial Church. Golden Lion Yeom Neung-cheon."
The Golden Lion's pupils trembled. Yeom Neung-cheon was his real name. Few knew it, yet Geom Yul-cheon had uttered it.
The shock hit him hard.
"I've been tracking you all for a very long time. I have a lot of questions. So you're going to tell me everything."
Geom Yul-cheon smiled.
His mouth smiled, but his eyes blazed with ferocity.
The Golden Lion was overwhelmed by Geom Yul-cheon's gaze. But he couldn't show weakness here, so he bellowed.
"In your dreams, brat. No one can make me talk."
"Yeah, they all say that at first. But they all spill in the end. You'll be no different."
"Eek!"
"Trust me. I'm an expert at this."
Geom Yul-cheon's smile deepened.
***
Damho returned to Sakju in the evening. The first to greet him unexpectedly was Branch Chief Gong Son-jung.
"Dam... Hero Dam!"
He fidgeted like a dog desperate to relieve itself.
"Speak."
"As you predicted, Hero Dam, we found people connected to the Demonic Cult. We captured some of them, but..."
"But?"
"They all took their own lives. Ruthless bastards."
Gong Son-jung shook his head, still shuddering at the thought.
"They suicided?"
"Yes. By the time we rooted them out, they were already dead."
"......"
"I-I'm sorry. But there was nothing we could do."
Gong Son-jung desperately made excuses.
He feared Damho's anger, but unexpectedly, Damho turned away silently. That didn't mean Damho was at ease.
He had suspected as much. But having his suspicions confirmed left a bitter taste.
It felt like sinking into a vast, bottomless swamp, invisible undercurrents swirling around him.
"So that's how it is?"
His already cold eyes grew even more ruthless.
He had wanted to find a quiet place to live in seclusion with his master. Yet the world wouldn't leave him be.
He didn't care what happened to himself. But his master was different.
Master Hyeon So was his reverse scale. Touching Hyeon So was as good as touching his own.
Damho, heading to the annex, changed direction.
He left the branch and walked the streets of Sakju.
"Gasp!"
"The Demon Lord?"
People recognized Damho and hurriedly cleared a path.
No one in Sakju didn't know Damho.
His distinctive limp, his all-black attire—those were Damho's trademarks. Even those who didn't know his face knew those features well.
Damho was unaware, but a saying circulated in the jianghu about him:
—If you encounter a limping warrior, check twice or thrice. If it's the Demon Lord, never provoke him. That day will be your last.
It even led to hilarious incidents where other limping folk became objects of fear.
The crowd filling the street parted like the sea, and Damho walked through the gap.
People averted their eyes from him. But soon, unable to contain their curiosity, they stealthily glanced up to see where he was headed.
Unexpectedly, Damho headed toward the street lined with pleasure houses. Some impatient onlookers showed disappointment.
'He's a man after all.'
'Visiting a brothel in times like these.'
Oblivious or uncaring of their stares, Damho walked on silently. Then he stopped in front of one pleasure house.
It was called Heavenly Fragrance Tower.
Among Sakju's many pleasure houses, it was the oldest and largest.
Damho entered Heavenly Fragrance Tower. The manager rushed out in a panic.
"W-Welcome."
Sweat trickled down the manager's back. He too had recognized Damho.
"What brings you here?"
"Take me to the madam."
"P-Pardon? What?"
"I know this place is a Haomen branch. So guide me."
"Y-Yes, understood."
The manager nodded frantically and hurried inside.