Chapter 76: The Tao (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: The Tao (2)
Seo-jun and Hwan Bae-ho set off toward the scene of the incident.
Along the way, Seo-jun realized that Hwan Bae-ho’s Lightness Skill was genuinely impressive. For someone whose cultivation hovered somewhere between the First-rate and the Peak Realm, his speed was remarkably fast.
Since there wasn't much else to do while they traveled, Seo-jun asked him about it.
“My role usually involves tracking,” Hwan Bae-ho replied. “In such situations, isn't a Lightness Skill the most vital asset? It would be highly problematic if the pursuit were delayed because of me.”
“Aha. So you focused your martial arts training entirely on Lightness Skills?”
“That is correct. Because of that, my actual combat power is quite meager.”
“Well, you’re part of the Namgung Clan. It doesn’t matter as long as others can make up for your lack of combat power.”
Seo-jun figured this was the true advantage of belonging to a large faction. If one roamed the Murim alone with weak combat power, they would inevitably run into a mountain of trouble. After all, the Murim was a place where a single wrong step or a misplaced glance could lead to a sword fight.
However, in Hwan Bae-ho’s case, there was no major issue even if he solely developed his specialized field without worrying about his martial prowess. Others in the clan could fill the gap.
I should be careful when I fight a large organization later, Seo-jun noted internally.
After traveling for a few days, they reached the Yangtze River. Staring out at the vast, rolling expanse of water, Hwan Bae-ho spoke up.
“Young Master, I will go find a boat immediately.”
“No need for that.”
“Pardon?”
Seo-jun grabbed Hwan Bae-ho by the scruff of his neck and grinned. “Keep your mouth shut. It’ll hurt if you bite your tongue.”
“Pardon?!”
Boom—!
Seo-jun kicked off the ground and soared into the sky. Looking down at the massive Yangtze River stretching far beneath his dangling feet, Hwan Bae-ho was paralyzed with terror.
“Yo-Young Master! We’re going to fall!”
“We won’t.”
Using the technique of the Yellow Dragon Crossing the Clouds, Seo-jun’s figure shot forward through the empty air. Hwan Bae-ho’s jaw dropped at the sight; it felt exactly as if they were flying across the river on the back of a yellow dragon.
“Is... is this the Super Peak Realm…?”
“Hmm, it’s probably a bit different from the Super Peak Realm you’re thinking of.”
To Seo-jun, it felt more like he had just invested his points into a slightly different skill tree than other martial artists. He chuckled and landed lightly on the opposite bank of the Yangtze River.
Hwan Bae-ho bowed his head, his expression utterly blank. “Thank you….”
“Don’t mention it.”
After that little stunt, Hwan Bae-ho became even more polite. But being more polite also meant it became harder to casually approach him.
Seo-jun hadn't seen Chun-bong in days, and the only person by his side was this rigid, awkward tracker. Even though his madness didn't flare up thanks to the perfect balance of his Essence-Qi-Spirit, he couldn't help but feel a bit gloomy from the isolation.
“Is it here?”
“Yes, Young Master. I believe we need to stop at two locations to properly establish the tracking trail. Would that be alright?”
“Of course. I should follow the expert’s lead.”
Arriving at the small city where the incident first occurred, Seo-jun followed closely behind Hwan Bae-ho. The first place they examined was where the conflict had initially broken out.
Hwan Bae-ho inspected the partially cleared scene, stared intently at a seemingly random patch of dirt, and nodded. “It is certain that five of them were traveling together. I have identified their physical characteristics and stride lengths, so we will have the advantage in the pursuit.”
“What? You can figure all that out from here?”
“Ah, if you look right here….”
Hwan Bae-ho launched into a detailed explanation, but honestly, Seo-jun didn't understand a single word of it. His tracking was literally a practical technique, not a martial art, making it impossible for Seo-jun to mimic regardless of how flawlessly he handled his internal energy.
Giving up on trying to read the footprints, Seo-jun stood up. “Shall we head to the next location for now?”
“Yes.”
The next place they visited was a small-to-medium sect that had been entirely annihilated.
A crooked sect plaque and the charred remnants of a fire greeted them. The stinging stench of rotting, uncollected corpses hung heavy in the air. As Seo-jun frowned at the metallic tang of blood, Hwan Bae-ho quickened his pace.
“Young Master, I can go in alone.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m curious too.”
Once inside the ruined sect, Hwan Bae-ho quickly examined the traces of battle and the chaotic footprints left everywhere. Then, he immediately stepped outside the gates and began to stare intently at the ground.
After about five minutes had passed...
“This way.”
“Oh….”
Seo-jun had absolutely no idea how he did it, but it seemed the tracker had successfully identified their escape route. And so, the tedious travel began once again.
The only thing to do while running was to engage in trivial conversation. As Seo-jun moved his feet with machine-like precision, he suddenly remembered something and asked.
“By the way, about those guys.”
“Do you mean the Five Heroes of Anhui?”
“The Five Heroes of Anhui? Is that their actual title?”
“It seems they referred to themselves as such.”
“They certainly have thick skin.”
As Seo-jun let out a hollow laugh, Hwan Bae-ho explained a bit more about their targets.
“There is a leader among them, and the sworn brothers he gathered during his life in the Jianghu make up the Five Heroes of Anhui. It seems they weren't of good character to begin with… but seeing as they committed such a brazen act, it appears they intend to leave the region and flee to a far-off place entirely.”
“Wow, how do you know all that?”
“It was likely written in the briefing documents the Chief Steward gave you.”
“…Aha.”
So I just didn't read it? Feeling a sudden pang of embarrassment, Seo-jun shut his mouth.
As they ran, the brilliant red and yellow autumn leaves caught his eye. Before he knew it, autumn was in full bloom. Time really flew by.
After traveling for a few more days—during which Seo-jun admired the autumn leaves as if he were on a leisurely journey of self-discovery—Hwan Bae-ho’s eyes suddenly sparkled.
Honestly, it was absurd. Was the man using some kind of tracking magic? The movement of his internal energy was only enough to slightly enhance his sight and smell. Seo-jun really didn't know how he pulled it off.
“Young Master, we’ve caught up.”
“Already?”
“Yes. It seems they weren't moving very quickly.”
“Those lazy bastards.”
Did they really think the Namgung Clan was some neighborhood corner store? If Seo-jun hadn't been there, the pursuit might have been delayed due to a lack of manpower, but even so, these criminals had absolutely no sense of danger.
Then again, how many truly smart people were there among those who lived by the blade? Sure, there were a few, but there were far more who were just muscle-brained thugs.
— Kyaaaak…!
Just then, a piercing scream rang out. Soon after, the presences of five martial artists were caught in Seo-jun’s Qi Sensing.
Did they decide to just go all out and do whatever they wanted since they had already committed a capital crime? A hollow laugh escaped his lips.
“Follow from behind.”
Seo-jun’s eyes glinted coldly.
*
Jiangnan, south of the Yangtze River, was a fairly developed region, but not every city could flourish. Small, run-down cities inevitably cropped up in the gaps. From the dark back alleys of one such city, a terrified voice leaked out.
“Why, why are you doing this…. Please spare me….”
A girl, not even an adult yet, trembled violently as she backed away.
Five men were smirking maliciously in front of her. The girl, who had been dragged and thrown into the dirty alley, couldn't believe this situation. It had been a day like any other. Yet that ordinary day had been ruthlessly trampled upon without a single warning.
Even an ignorant girl knew that she wouldn't be able to escape this situation unscathed. Her only source of hope was a small sect located in this city.
“The, the people from the Hot Wind Sect will be here soon…! Please let me go…, kyaak …!”
Slap—!
A hand the size of a pot lid struck her cheek heavily.
In the eyes of the girl who fell and trembled on the dirt, a massive man loomed. He wore a confident, ugly smile without a hint of fear toward the Hot Wind Sect. Despair completely filled the girl’s eyes.
“Ugh, uuu….”
The man’s foul breath brushed against her skin as he stepped closer. “Stay quiet. There’s no one in this tiny city who can stop us.”
“Oh, really?”
At the unfamiliar voice, the girl’s head turned slowly. A single ray of hope she hadn't completely let go of flickered back to life inside her.
“Who are you?”
The five men glared at the stranger who had just interrupted them.
The stranger, Seo-jun, stared intently at the scene. It felt strangely, sickeningly familiar.
An alley. Scum. A woman. A scream.
The only things that had changed were his own martial prowess and the strength of the scum before him. Oh, and his current situation.
She’s young.
The girl trembled as she looked up at him desperately. It was different from back then, when he had stepped forward despite having no power, only to have his belly slashed open for his trouble.
“You pieces of filth.”
The image of the terrified young girl overlapped with Chun-bong’s face. By the time he realized it, the sheer anger filling his mind was practically overflowing from his eyes.
Seo-jun’s expression hardened into stone as a deep golden light emanated from his pupils.
Swish—
With a faint sound, his figure vanished. He reappeared instantly in front of the girl. One startled man managed to step forward, wrapping his hands in Fist Qi to block.
Creeeeeak—!
But it was futile. Seo-jun’s hands effortlessly tore through the man’s arms, ripping them off before clamping like a vice around his throat.
“Ke-kehek…!”
Absolute terror filled the man’s eyes. He tried to flail his arms—which were now missing everything above the wrists—but it was meaningless. He only sprayed blood everywhere.
Staring blankly into the man's terrified eyes, Seo-jun curled his hand and swung it downward.
Crunch—!
The man’s torso was shredded into several vertical pieces, scattering blood and viscera across the alley walls.
Seo-jun, his entire body now stained red with blood, looked at the remaining four men.
“This bastard killed the third…!”
“…Don't act rashly. He’s a master.”
“See you at the promised place!”
Without lingering over their dead sworn brother for even a second, the men quickly scattered in different directions.
Just as Seo-jun was about to give chase—
“ Hic ….”
Thud. He heard the sound of something collapsing behind him. Turning around, he saw the young girl had fainted, her eyes rolled back in her head.
Blinking, Seo-jun looked at the gruesome carnage he had just created. It was certainly way too much stimulation for a child who knew nothing of the Murim.
“Oh, boy.”
Scratching his head, Seo-jun loaded Finger Pellets into the fingertips of both hands.
Th-th-th-thud—!
With a series of heavy, percussive sounds, the Finger Pellets shot forward, aiming directly for the fleeing men’s backs.
“Aaargh…!”
One was killed instantly as his back was pierced through.
“Ugh!”
Another was grazed on the arm, while the remaining two barely managed to block or dodge the projectiles.
“Mister.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Hwan Bae-ho, who had been standing back observing, quickly approached and bowed. Seo-jun gestured toward the unconscious girl.
“Please take her home.”
“Understood.”
“You can follow my trail on your own, right?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Giving a thumbs-up, Seo-jun kicked off the ground.
Thump—!
His body sprang forward, soaring into the air above the alleyways.
That one first.
Having chosen his next target, Seo-jun’s eyes emitted an eerie, predatory light.