Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Gongsacheok of Danjiang
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‘Damn!’
Even though he twisted his body the moment he was struck to lessen the impact, the pain from that palm strike was immense.
It felt like his arm bones were splintering apart.
Squeeeeak!
Then came an enormous whooshing sound piercing the air from behind.
Damn. So relentless.
Jinmu twisted his body mid-air with the Flying Dragon Flip technique and horizontally slashed his sword toward the rear.
Claaaang!
A fierce shock rang out, and his sword shattered.
The impact accelerated his fall, slamming him into the ground.
Thud! Roll roll.
“Cough, urk!”
Fearing more attacks might come, Jinmu rolled across the ground to evade. The moment he pushed himself up, he vomited nearly a bowlful of black blood.
“Groan...”
Even with both hands braced against the ground, the world spun dizzily.
That damn old geezer.
He wanted to turn around right then and iron out every wrinkle on that craggy face.
‘Damn it. No chance with skills that crumple after one palm strike. But if we meet again... I’ll make him pay!’
As Jinmu ground his teeth in resolve, Cheongsang and Cheongu—who had escaped unscathed—rushed over.
“Uncle Master! Are you all right?”
“Groan... I’m fine, so run. That old man might pull something...”
The moment Jinmu urged them on.
Crack! Crunch! Boom!
The entire building began to collapse.
“...”
The old man?
Rumble.
A cloud of thick dust rose as the whole structure caved in completely.
His sharp eyes scanned the debris amid the haze, but no human silhouette appeared.
No way? Crushed to death...? Impossible for that monster of an old man.
He must have fled.
Undoubtedly, the old man had brought the building down.
But why vanish?
With the power Jinmu had felt firsthand, the old man could have burst out and finished him off in an instant.
“Phew...”
Whatever the case, it was a relief. Jinmu let out a sigh and slumped to the ground.
His body was in ruins.
That filthy beggar of an old man.
He was curious about the geezer’s identity, but now wasn’t the time.
First things first: get to safety, recover, then deal with it.
“Geumjeoksan. You bastard dared to try killing me.”
Geumjeoksan was behind every ambush.
He’d watched the fool’s cute, sloppy schemes, only to nearly lose his life.
“Cheongu, Cheongsang!”
Jinmu called to the two beside him, about to ask for support, but the mood was tense.
Cheongu clenched his fists into a stance. Cheongsang had drawn his sword, glaring around.
Why...?
“Ha! Look at these punks. Still kicking?”
A gravelly voice echoed from afar. Jinmu’s blurry vision sharpened, and his surroundings came into focus.
Dozens of martial artists.
Leading them: a hulking giant with a bushy beard, arms crossed.
What the hell is this?
“You idiots from the Danjiang Seven Fiends. Can’t even nab three young Wudang Taoists? Looks like you all got smashed under that collapsed building after they wiped you out.”
The giant sneered at the ruins.
So who the hell are you, then!
“Anyway, lucky break. Was sweating a refund since Ipallyong botched it. Now I can squeeze extra from Wu Family Manor.”
Spilling all that key intel like it’s nothing?
Ipallyong rang a bell, but Wu Family Manor? What’s that?
Jinmu scowled at the giant’s obnoxiously loud soliloquy.
Damn, what a headache.
Mountains beyond mountains, huh? And dozens of them when he was like this.
Geumjeoksan, you dogshit bastard. If I get out alive, I’ll rip you apart.
But revenge could wait. For now,
“Who the hell are you?”
Jinmu rose slowly, facing the giant.
“What? ‘You’? Never seen such a rude little Taoist shit. Some kid mouthing off to his elders.”
“Shut it. I’m in a foul mood right now. So who are you, you lunatic?”
“Huh!”
The giant’s face twisted in disbelief at the filthy curse from a Taoist like Jinmu.
First time getting cussed by a Taoist—let alone one under thirty.
“Taoist gone nuts? Daring to curse me, Gongsacheok of Danjiang? Only a madman would.”
Gongsacheok?
Never heard the name. Good. But that aura was no joke.
Hyeon-gi level at least.
That put him at top-tier late disciple of any decent clan. Among major sect first-generation disciples, elite class.
What, honey smeared in Danjiang District? Why’s a street thug boss this strong?
In peak form, Jinmu could’ve politely stripped his bones and flesh. But now? Risky.
Victory wasn’t just about raw power, though.
Time for a bluff.
“Hey!”
“Hey?”
“Gong whatever-cheok, don’t care. Piss off, and I’ll let it slide. Golden opportunity, right?”
Gongsacheok laughed in utter absurdity.
“Ha, what a clown of a Taoist. Don’t know my name?”
“Fuck off. Why would I know some beggar thug’s name?”
Of course not.
No matter how Hyeon-gi skilled, even as former Lord of Evil Hegemony Heaven, Jinmu had no reason to know a local alley boss.
Still, caution first.
Current state couldn’t beat Gongsacheok.
One shot.
Provoke hard, force an opening.
“Hey, I’m Gongsacheok. Gongsacheok.”
“Sigh, exhausting. Fine, just rush me. Injured or not, think I’d lose to alley trash like you?”
“What? Hahaha! Never seen such a lunatic.”
Gongsacheok uncrossed his arms, turning to his men with a baffled laugh.
Jinmu seized the gap.
Pahak!
In a flash, he closed the distance and swung at Gongsacheok’s neck.
“Gah!”
Caught off-guard by the ambush, Gongsacheok recoiled in panic.
The sword tip grazed past his nape, carving a shallow gash and spraying blood.
Damn, too short.
Should’ve taken his head.
Failed to kill—the golden chance was gone. Jinmu glared at Gongsacheok, regulating his ragged breath with regret.
Normally, dead meat.
But this body? That was the limit.
One move alone, and nausea surged like blood to his throat, head reeling.
“Ambush out of nowhere? What kind of insane Taoist pulls that?”
Gongsacheok clutched his neck, face contorting like a demon as he drew his podao.
Eyes bulging, he lunged at Jinmu like a shot arrow.
Klang! Kkang!
Podao met sword, sparks flying in the air.
‘Urk. Damn, what power!’
As expected, Gongsacheok’s arts were no pushover.
That surging force above all.
Podao’s weight and size usually demanded two hands—hence ssangsu-dae.
Yet he swung it one-handed like a twig.
And the speed...
Damn. If only his body were whole...
Compensating inner power gap with technique finesse, but he wouldn’t last.
Each clash, barely swallowing the blood rising to his throat.
Ddang!
Swept back by the podao, Jinmu clenched his molars fiercely.
Escape route. Now.
His mind raced frantically.
When powerless, it all came down to cunning.
But nothing surfaced.
As impatience crept into Jinmu’s eyes.
Ah!
The old man’s words flashed back—the one who’d left him like this.
Wait. “Vicious scum,” he’d said. Matched Gongsacheok’s crew.
Zhuge Family, wasn’t it?
No reason for a man of that caliber to lie.
Maybe he’d backed off without killing for their sake.
Where, though?
Implied they were watching.
Jinmu swiftly scanned around.
Had to find them.
Murim clans obsessed with interests wouldn’t team with street rats.
“Not bad, punk, but not enough.”
A bluish aura bloomed on Gongsacheok’s podao, extending half a jang.
Blade Qi.
Now wielding blade qi, time ticked faster.
Damn. Should’ve taught Cheongsang sword qi basics.
Too late for regrets—no margin for it.
As Gongsacheok closed in, Jinmu kept hunting for Zhuge Family traces.
Then his gaze brushed a spot— a smirk curled his lips.
“You Wudang brat. I’ll slaughter you all and...”
Thud!
Jinmu parried the podao outright instead of deflecting, then leaped back.
“Phew. Toying around, moron.”
“...”
Cornered one second, raving mad the next?
His tense face had melted into smug leisure.
Even sheathing his sword.
“Yo, Gongsacheok.”
“Yo, Gong...? You’re dead meat...”
“Shut your trap, retard.”
Gongsacheok’s bewilderment deepened at Jinmu’s shift.
“This guy really lost it?”
Anyone would say so.
But Jinmu grinned.
Bluff flopped. Now, exploit surroundings—friend, foe, whatever.
“Can’t feel it? Zip it and look around.”
“What?”
Gongsacheok scowled, sweeping his eyes over the area.
And,
“Huh?”
What he saw: scholars in green robes cheongsam watching from afar.
‘What? Zhuge Geun? And... Blue Flower Guard? Damn it all, why are they here?’
Jinmu caught the flicker of panic in Gongsacheok’s eyes.
“Get it now?”
“...”
“Dumbass. Think I’m stupid enough to come here blind?”
Gongsacheok’s face crumpled like trash.
Zhuge Family: Danjiang District’s top dogs.
Pillar of the Justice Alliance.
Declined lately, sure—but Wudang was Justice Alliance too.
Rivals for Hubei turf or not, they wouldn’t stand by while Wudang Taoists got butchered by fiends.
Or so Gongsacheok figured.
‘Damn. Figured he’d called in Zhuge backup.’
The perfectly timed Zhuge presence sparked the natural mix-up.
Jinmu, never outfoxed in wits, waved cheerily at the Blue Flower Guard from afar.
“Why so late? Nearly croaked for real. Ah, if not for these wounds...”
Shouting to Zhuge Geun like old chums deepened Gongsacheok’s turmoil.
What now?
They looked tight, Jinmu and Zhuges.
Push through?
Before him: Blue Flower Guard, Danjiang Zhuge branch elites.
Numbers even with his crew, but quality? Worlds apart.
Most beyond Loyal Sword Realm, some touching early Hyeon-gi.
Gongsacheok alone? No contest.
But backing off? Wudang disciple target.
Lifetime on the run from Wudang.
‘Shit. What to do?’
As Gongsacheok agonized, Jinmu smirked slyly and sent a transmission to Cheongsang.
No use telling thick-headed Cheongu—would just stir trouble.
[Cheongsang.]
[Yes, Uncle Master.]
[Run.]
[Pardon? No fight?]
[Fight what? Same scum either way.]
Zhuge wouldn’t help.
Jinmu recalled the Zhuge folk from Bangcheon.
He’d humiliated them. Grudge-holding bookworms wouldn’t forget.
Probably tailing him.
If allies, they’d jumped in when Gongsacheok showed.
No fight needed—perfect for getaway.
Surveillance luckier than gold.
“Alright, cover the rear.”
Jinmu slipped away. Gongsacheok ground his teeth, just watching.