Kowloon's Red Pole Falls
Acid rain pattered down relentlessly in the back alleys of Hong Kong's Kowloon, turning the neon signs' glow into a bloody smear. Jang Chen, shrouded under a black umbrella, made his way toward the rundown warehouse that served as the Triad's secret branch. His steps were lighter than ever before. The horrific headaches that had gnawed at his mind were gone, and the murky poison choking his dantian had vanished. It was pure freedom, reclaimed after years.
"All this... because of that one's single gesture."
Jang Chen murmured as he lightly bowed toward the empty air. The Spirit Grade gu poison that had bound him—the Heavenly Spirit Spider—had been subdued in an instant by Kang Suhu's overwhelming spiritual pressure, a memory still vivid. The fact that Kang Suhu, whom he was supposed to turn into a half-human shikigami, was actually a Duikryeong terrified him even now.
That one is no human. The incarnation of the Duikryeong, ruler of the netherworld.
Jang Chen was certain. The owner of that white hand that danced like a butterfly. Kang Suhu was the incarnation of the Duikryeong.
There was a legend passed down through generations in the Wudang Sect. On the prophesied day when the gates of the netherworld open, when heaven and earth touch, and all the living mingle with all the dead in the final day. Before that day arrives, the rulers of the netherworld emerge into the human realm first. The first to appear is the Duikryeong.
The one who commands all wandering spirits in the world. It grows by devouring vengeful spirits, strengthening as the grudges of the unjustly slain accumulate. The moment the Duikryeong sets foot in the human world, all graves on earth tremble, and the dead open their eyes.
Following it comes the Sahwang, the Death Emperor. The ruler of death itself. If the Duikryeong is the king of wandering spirits, the Sahwang embodies the phenomenon of death. When the Sahwang reaches out, the lifespan of the living burns away before their eyes, and no flower or grass grows on the path it treads.
One who faces the Sahwang is already dead. They simply have not yet fallen.
The third to appear is the Honhwang, the Soul Emperor. The master of the soul's origin. While the Sahwang rules the death of the flesh, the Honhwang oversees the annihilation of the soul. Souls devoured by the Honhwang cannot even become wandering spirits—they are erased from existence entirely.
Finally, the last and latest to come is the Myeongjon, the Nether Lord. The Wudang legend continues thus:
The day the Myeongjon opens its eyes—that is the true end of the world.
Jang Chen swallowed hard. All he could hope now was that the Myeongjon's return would be as delayed as possible.
"Since I've been fortunate enough to catch the Duikryeong's eye... perhaps this is fate."
There was no reason for the Duikryeong to spare him. He and Chun Mei had worked together to turn Kang Suhu's sister into a half-human shikigami and prepare her as a Baekryeonggwi.
—A Baekryeonggwi is a disaster-grade evil spirit. I'll raise it well and use it as my shikigami.
The Duikryeong had surely said that. He intended to use Kang Suhu's sister, Kang Mina, as his shikigami. That confirmed it: Kang Suhu was no man, but a Nether Grade evil spirit wearing his skin. How else could one use their own flesh and blood as a shikigami?
—Your abilities are quite exceptional. To kill a talent like you—how could I face my Wudang ancestor, Zhang Sanfeng?
Jang Chen firmly believed Zhang Sanfeng had saved him.
The Duikryeong praised my exceptional abilities. Doesn't that mean he intends to use me as his subordinate?
A thick murderous intent swirled in Jang Chen's eyes. Having gained an absolute master, it was time to clean up the remnants of his past. Ma Weiching of the Triad, who had treated Wudang's Jang Cheonsa like a dog. He would sever that bastard's head and offer it as proof of loyalty to his new master.
"Halt. Identify yourself."
Two burly Triad guards at the warehouse entrance raised their pistols, blocking his path. Jang Chen folded his umbrella and smiled coldly.
"Fucking bugs."
Two yellow talismans slipped from Jang Chen's sleeve. He pinched one between his index and middle fingers, flicking his wrist lightly.
Shuuuk—!
The talismans sliced through the air. Mere scraps of paper, yet they whistled like sharpened steel, grazing the guards' napes.
"Kuh... Gah!"
Blood fountained from their throats. They crumpled without firing a shot.
It was the Wudang secret art: Flying Talisman Slash, infusing talismans with sword energy.
Jang Chen stepped through the pooling blood into the warehouse. The vast interior teemed with dozens of armed Triad members. In the center sofa sat Ma Weiching, the Triad's Red Pole, puffing a cigar.
"Master Jang? You're early."
Ma Weiching exhaled smoke arrogantly. He hadn't yet noticed his fallen men outside.
"Did you handle that Korean detective prick?"
"No."
Ma Weiching's brow furrowed at Jang Chen's curt, insolent reply. The surrounding thugs leveled their guns at him in unison.
Click, clack.
Bolt actions echoed sharply through the warehouse.
"You messing with me? I gave you three days."
"The joke's on you. You planted the Heavenly Spirit Spider in my head and used me like a dog."
Ma Weiching's eyes widened. He never imagined Jang Chen would bare his fangs. His life was firmly in his grasp—or so he thought. A sinister smile crept across his face as he pulled a small black bell from his pocket.
"Too bad, but I'm still holding the leash."
Ma Weiching raised the bell high.
"No matter that you're Wudang's Jang Cheonsa, you can't withstand a Spirit Grade gu poison. Kneel, Jang Chen!"
Ting-a-ling—!
He shook the bell violently. The incantation bell's dull tone, meant to trigger the gu, reverberated.
But Jang Chen didn't kneel. He stood firm, snorting derisively, his face free of pain.
"...Huh? What's wrong?"
Ting! Ting! Ting!
Ma Weiching shook it frantically in panic. Jang Chen merely rolled up his sleeve leisurely.
"Useless. Ma Weiching."
"Th-this can't be! The Heavenly Spirit Spider is a Spirit Grade gu! No human power can break it... How the hell did you?!"
"I didn't break it. My new master shattered it with a flick of his wrist."
Awe laced Jang Chen's voice with genuine reverence.
"Master? New master?"
"One you insects couldn't even dream of. Your pathetic sorcery is mere child's play before him."
"Bullshit! Kill him! Turn that fucker into Swiss cheese!"
Ma Weiching shrieked in desperation. Dozens of thugs pulled their triggers.
Rat-tat-tat-tat—!!
Hundreds of bullets rained down on Jang Chen like a storm. He didn't blink, swiftly forming hand seals with both hands.
"Taiji Qigong, Protective Gang Qi!"
Whoosh—!
A hemispherical blue aura exploded from Jang Chen's body. Bullets smashed against the barrier, crumpling midair like they'd hit invisible steel, clattering to the floor.
"M-monster!"
"Bullets ain't sticking!"
The thugs recoiled in horror. Maintaining his gang qi, Jang Chen drew a bundle of red-inscribed talismans from his coat.
"My turn now."
He scattered them into the air. Dozens fluttered like butterflies. Finger seals formed, he shouted sharply.
"Break!"
Kaboom—!!
The talismans detonated like grenades. Blue flames swept the warehouse, engulfing the thugs.
"Gaaahhh!"
"H-help!"
They rolled on the floor, screaming. Jang Chen's white longcoat billowed as he fired Flying Talisman Slashes like bullets, gliding through the inferno.
Thud!
His fist pierced the nearest thug's solar plexus—explosive force infused with dantian energy. Bones burst from the man's back; instant death.
"Fire! Keep firing!"
Ma Weiching howled from behind the sofa. Survivors charged with machetes and rifles.
"Fools."
Jang Chen drew a short dagger from his waist. Blue sword energy rippled along the blade. He danced through them.
Slash! Slaaash!
Blood sprayed everywhere. Each flash of his dagger severed throats and hearts with precision. A perfect dance of slaughter.
"Guhk..."
"S-spare..."
In just three minutes, the forty elite Triad members lay strewn across the warehouse. The air reeked of blood, gunpowder, and burning talismans.
Jang Chen approached Ma Weiching, who cowered behind the sofa, dagger dripping blood.
"Hiiik! St-stay back!"
Ma Weiching aimed his pistol, hands trembling like leaves. Jang Chen casually swatted it away.
Clang—!
The gun skittered across the floor.
"D-don't do this, Jang Chen! Kill me, and Triad HQ won't let you live!"
"Triad? Hilarious."
Jang Chen seized his collar and hoisted him up. Ma Weiching's legs kicked futilely in the air.
"My master could wipe out the Triad in a day if he wished. You're not worth his time."
Jang Chen's eyes gleamed with fanatic zeal—the gaze of one who had overwritten old terror with greater fear and awe.
"Wh-who the hell is this master making you act like this?!"
"A name too sacred for your filthy mouth."
Jang Chen focused energy into his gripping hand. Blue gang qi burrowed into Ma Weiching's throat.
"Gack! Sp-spare... Guh!"
"As the first offering to my master, your life will do nicely."
He raised the dagger in his other hand. Blue sword energy flickered menacingly along the blade.
"Remember in hell the price of touching Wudang's Jang Cheonsa."
Slash—!
The dagger arced, cleanly severing Ma Weiching's head. It tumbled across the floor. Blood gushed from the stump like a fountain.
Jang Chen flung the corpse down and shook the blood from his dagger. Then, very slowly... using the corpses' blood as ink, he carved a character with reverence for his master.
"Ughhhh!!!"
In the Triad's headquarters in Harbin, China, Ilryong Ma Weijun clutched his chest and gasped. The entire conference hall froze at his outburst.
"My lord, wh-what is it?"
"I have to go to... Hong Kong's Kowloon. Right now."
It was a critical meeting with China's president and other power brokers, but he stormed out. No one dared stop Ma Weijun's momentum. His close aides sensed something had happened to his twin brother, Ma Weiching, in Hong Kong.
As Ma Weijun strode to his office, his subordinates quietly made calls and issued orders via chat, discreetly probing what had gone down in Kowloon's branch.
The grim news reached Ma Weijun: Red Pole Ma Weiching dead. The Kowloon branch annihilated. His eyes turned bloodshot. His shark teeth—gold-capped—ground with a screech.
"Call Chun Mei. She's coming too."
"But my lord... she's returned to Yunnan due to her clan's funeral rites. Another gu poison shaman, perhaps?"
"I said call Chun Mei."
"Yes, my lord!"
Ma Weijun's shark teeth gleamed sharply.
"Whoever killed Ma Weiching dies by my hand. I swear on my name."