Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: What Was Lost (1)
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"Th... that's too much. Even if you've captured the Top Sword of Cheongsung, I'm still a name known to all in Qinghai."
"So?"
"And besides, this place isn't filled with your people, is it?"
Let's not fight needlessly and hurt each other.
The second brother seemed to be thinking along the same lines, nodding repeatedly.
'The youngest, who's on my level, got taken down without a fight. I might end up the same.'
It was the moment the second brother glanced at the youngest's corpse and opened his mouth to speak.
"Cough!!"
With a violent cough, the second brother collapsed to the floor as well.
He too was foaming at the mouth and shedding bloody tears.
"That's too much!!"
"Let me show you what too much really is."
Dang Yu-wol flashed a sinister smile.
The Fierce Person Sword saw what lurked in his eyes.
'This guy's... a killer.'
The kind who doesn't care about human lives.
The type who kills and discards people like trash.
'Eyes just like those mad monsters I saw in the Northern Army.'
This won't do.
'But what now?'
Should he fight?
The confidence that had overflowed against enemies since reaching the transcendent realm wouldn't budge.
'Damn... damn... damn...!! Why here of all places...!'
"That sword. You gonna draw it or not? If not, just die... "
"You bastard!!"
Gnashing his teeth, the Fierce Person Sword finally drew his blade.
Sorry to his brothers, but he had to survive.
The moment he drew his sword, Dang Yu-wol's hand moved.
"Urk!!"
-Chiiiing!!
With the clash of sword and dart, Dang Yu-wol sprang into motion.
His dagger, sliding like flowing water, was infused with sword qi.
"Haaap!!"
His opponent was the killer of Cheongsung's Top Sword.
No room for carelessness.
Thus, from the very start, the Fierce Person Sword unleashed sword gang, deploying his signature poison sect technique, the Fierce King Sword Formation.
"My lord!!"
Dozens of strands of ferocious sword gang targeted his throat.
Yet Dang Yu-wol paid it no mind, merely swinging his dagger.
"Gasp!!"
"Wh-what is that!!"
Everyone present was stunned.
Dang Yu-wol had dodged every attack by the barest margin, like a sheet of paper.
-Do you know the countermeasure?
'This bastard crossed over to the Blood Cult.'
To join the Blood Cult, martial artists had to surrender their techniques.
Naturally, the Blood Cult had dissected, analyzed, and devised counters for them.
'This much is nothing if you just read the flow.'
Unlike the leisurely Dang Yu-wol, the Fierce Person Sword was going mad.
He moved as if he knew every single one of his moves.
"Haaap!!"
Sword infused with qi clashed against the dagger wrapped in sword qi.
I won.
The moment joy flickered in his eyes.
Dang Yu-wol lightly flicked his dagger.
"Gasp!!"
The qi failed to slice the sword qi and simply slid off harmlessly.
The epitome of refined qi deflection.
That alone made it clear.
'This guy's... an incredible master...!!'
"How in the world?!"
Did he possess an enlightenment surpassing even the experts he'd met before?
-Stab!!!
Instead of answering, Dang Yu-wol pierced his heart without hesitation.
In the end, the Fierce Person Sword met a pathetic end unworthy of the evil he'd accumulated.
"Y-young... Young Master... Young Master. What in the... "
"No big deal. Innkeeper, sorry about this. I didn't want to damage your place."
The aftermath of the sword gang had wrecked tables and furnishings.
From the innkeeper's perspective, it was enough to bring tears of blood.
"Use this for repairs."
"Y-yes!!"
Dang Yu-wol tossed a gold ingot.
More than enough for repairs.
"And sorry, but if you have a barn, could I borrow it?"
"Pardon? Of course, but... what for?"
"Need to interrogate this one."
Dang Yu-wol looked down at the poisoned second brother collapsed on the floor.
The second of the Qinghai Three Evils, Chasing Light Sword Yi-ro, slowly opened his eyes.
"Ugh..."
'What... what happened...?'
All he remembered was facing off against the Tang Clan young master.
Regaining his senses, he realized his body was bound to a chair.
"Eek!!"
His acupoints were sealed; he couldn't muster his qi.
Panicking and struggling, his gaze shifted and landed somewhere.
"Hiiiik!!"
"You're awake?"
A chilling voice rang out.
He could never forget its owner.
Dang Yu-wol.
The most terrifying person he'd ever met.
"Wh-what did you do to my big brother!!"
"Killed him."
"...You bastard!! I'll get revenge! I swear I'll avenge him!!"
"You need to be alive for revenge."
"Urk."
"I'll give you a chance. Why are Qinghai scum in Sacheon?"
"...Th-that's."
"No need to answer. We'll find out anyway when we investigate."
'Then why ask!!'
"If you want to save your worthless life, spit it out and save me some time."
'This demon bastard...!!'
He'd done all sorts of dirty deeds in Qinghai himself.
But not like this guy.
He'd never looked at people like mere objects.
"Don't want to talk? Protecting your sworn brothers' honor?"
-Impressive. I like men with that kind of loyalty.
'Same here.'
Then he should respect that resolve.
As Dang Yu-wol stood, he broke out in cold sweat.
He's gonna kill me.
He's really gonna kill me.
"Pl-please spare me! I'll talk! Th-the Black Alliance! The Black Alliance said they're entering Sacheon soon!"
"Black Alliance? Aren't they busy checking the Murim Alliance?"
"Th-the Black Alliance Lord wants his son to rack up merits..."
'Strengthening internally? Or setting up a successor?'
"They won't commit their full forces, then."
"Y-yes. That's what I heard. They're gathering unorthodox sects from other regions..."
"They want to join the Black Alliance too?"
"Yes. It's a good deal for us..."
A good deal.
A sneer curled on Dang Yu-wol's lips.
'Bugs, all of them.'
When the Blood Cult advanced on the Central Plains, they quickly struck the Murim Alliance from behind.
And they profited immensely from it.
-Bastards.
The Murim Alliance had suffered greatly because of the Black Alliance.
The allied imperial army was routed, forced to retreat their front lines massively.
For the two who hated the Blood Cult, the Black Alliance was something to eliminate.
Nothing more, nothing less.
"Please... at least spare my life!! I've told you everything! So...!!"
"Tell me more."
Dang Yu-wol smiled, waiting for his words.
After rambling on for a while, Yi-ro slowly fell silent.
No more to say.
-To sum it up, it's still just scouting for now.
Still not something to take lightly.
The Yangtze Waterway Pirates and the Mountaineer Bandits were showing interest in the Black Alliance's Sacheon push.
-Chase off the wolves, and tigers start prowling.
'Doesn't matter.'
Just catch them and make tiger-skin rugs.
"Wh-what about me?"
Yi-ro cautiously asked the contemplative man.
Snapping out of it, Dang Yu-wol wordlessly waved his hand.
"Cough!! Wh-why..."
"Did you really think you'd live?"
"Demon... scum... your end... won't be good either..."
Dang Yu-wol snorted at the dying man's curses.
"I've long since abandoned any thought of dying peacefully."
The next day.
Despite the Qinghai Three Evils incident, the Sacheon Escort Agency escorts and porters ate well and slept soundly.
"Let's move out."
"Yes!!"
Unlike the cheerful group, Yu Hwa's expression was grim.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry. It was my failing that made you have to step in, my lord."
"Nonsense. If you're gonna think like that, just train harder."
"Yes!!"
Yu Hwa steeled her resolve.
She'd increase her training time from now on.
"Two more days from here, and we'll reach Ami County. What are your plans once we arrive?"
"And you?"
"We'll deliver the goods and stay another two days."
"Why?"
"We have to pick up another shipment there. A commission from Taeseong Pavilion."
"Ah, I see. Then we'll go together two days later."
"Yes!!"
And so the escort continued for two days, until they arrived at Ami County.
"Still so many people."
"Lots of boat traffic from here."
As the escorts and porters chattered, Ami County indeed bustled with crowds.
"Plus, Ami County is a holy site for Buddhism."
"That's why it's so austere?"
The porters, new to Ami County, looked around curiously.
Then they hurriedly bowed their heads.
"Be careful. This is Emei Sect territory. Plenty of martial artists around."
Among martial artists, there were plenty of crazies who'd flip out over a single glance.
Better safe than sorry.
Dang Yu-wol scanned the escorts.
They looked relaxed now that the escort was over.
"That's the place. Ami Merchant House."
"Ami Merchant House? Run by the Emei Sect?"
"More precisely, by a lay disciple of Emei."
"Emei lay disciple, huh."
"Even monks need worldly goods."
"Fair enough."
"They handle supplies and food for Emei Sect."
After a brief explanation, Yu Hwa raised her hand.
The wagons stopped, and porters began unloading.
"We'll handle the rest. Why don't you sightsee, my lord?"
It was just tedious work left.
No need for Dang Yu-wol.
He didn't refuse Yu Hwa's consideration.
"Take care, then. And this."
"This is..."
"You worked hard. Eat well today."
He tossed a gold ingot, and Yu Hwa bowed deeply, overwhelmed.
The escorts and porters watching perked up excitedly.
"Don't cause trouble."
"Yes!!"
Morale boosted with one gold ingot.
Cheap, he thought, as Dang Yu-wol walked calmly away.
"Waaah!!"
"So this is Mount Emei!! Buddhism's holy site!!"
Nearby, young martial artists who looked like novices could be seen.
A bit annoying if you squinted, but loud.
Still, those around just smiled warmly.
-They look young... around your age, huh? What do you think? Wanna join 'em?
'A vengeful ghost who's lived decades counting my past life?'
Dang Yu-wol chuckled at Ye-ui's joke.
No leisure for carefree wandering with his fate.
'Not the time to worry about that crap.'
As he thought that and tried to ignore them.
A voice full of delight rang out.
"Could you be the Young Clan Head of Sacheon Tang Clan?! Young Master Dang?!"