Chapter 83
Chapter 83
Translator: Penny
Chapter 83
One Strike, One Kill (1)
The man entering the Alliance Leader's Hall was Yeom Hwa.
True to his moniker, "The Butcher," he resembled a massive, ferocious beast. His frame was colossal, his muscles as hard as stone.
With his sharply slanted eyes, prominent cheekbones, and a nervously twitching jawline, his terrifying appearance was enough to make anyone fear encountering him even in their nightmares. Even meeting his gaze felt oppressive.
A fresh wound, not yet scarred, remained on his chest—a memento of Ho-yeon Nam's surprise attack. Yeom Hwa had refused to treat it, claiming it would be shameful to apply medicine and bandages.
Yet this beast, reeking of festering flesh, behaved like a well-trained hunting dog before Ma Bonggi.
"If we let this slide, the martial artists will mock our Heavenly Blade Gate."
"Didn't you already kill Ho-yeon Nam?"
"That's not enough."
"Then what?"
"We must kill everyone who was there that day. Only then will they never dare to mock Our Sect again."
Sama Cheon, the Chief Strategist who had been listening nearby, wore an expression of disbelief.
Yeom Hwa glared at him, but Sama Cheon met his gaze without flinching. Normally, one wouldn't dare act so disrespectfully toward the Martial Arts Alliance's Chief Strategist, but Yeom Hwa was a man who feared nothing.
Ma Bonggi smiled and said, "Their disciple committed suicide, and now they're demanding we punish you instead?"
"The weak deserve to die."
"Hahahaha."
Ma Bonggi burst into laughter.
"Withdraw for now."
"Understood."
As Yeom Hwa strode confidently out of the Alliance Leader's Hall, Sama Cheon finally unleashed his pent-up frustration.
"That man failed to complete his mission! He deserves punishment, not this arrogant display!"
"He seems to be in a foul mood. A few days of soothing should calm him down."
"Why do you trust him so implicitly?"
"He's skilled and thoughtless."
"Huh?"
"Such people are rare in the Martial Arts World. As their skills improve, their minds tend to sharpen accordingly."
Ma Bonggi's gaze sharpened as he turned to Sama Cheon.
"You, on the other hand, are burdened with too much thought. Tell me, would you prefer a subordinate like yourself, or one who follows orders blindly, without hesitation?"
For a moment, Sama Cheon was speechless. The comparison was absurd, yet the thought flashed through his mind that he truly wouldn't want a subordinate like himself.
"Of course I'd prefer a subordinate like myself. There are plenty of subordinates who do exactly as they're told."
Ma Bonggi burst into hearty laughter.
"Exactly! No matter how much you scheme, you'll always be in my palm. I'd choose you too. Hahaha!"
It was a laugh Sama Cheon couldn't tell if was genuine or not.
"The Martial Arts World's opinion is unfavorable. You should cover this up."
"Understood."
Sama Cheon left the Alliance Leader's Hall. Ma Bonggi had changed since becoming Alliance Leader. The once simple-minded Ma Bonggi no longer seemed so straightforward.
The intelligence organization was rapidly taking shape. Jin and Su, true to their reputation as exceptional spies, worked with remarkable efficiency.
"We're expanding our ranks with trustworthy individuals," Jin reported.
"Recruit the most skilled spies we can afford and ensure they receive the best possible treatment," I instructed.
"Rest assured, we will," Su replied.
I was already treating them as such, and they were fulfilling their duties with unwavering dedication.
"Yeom Hwa has emerged from his meeting with the Alliance Leader," Jin announced.
While establishing the intelligence network, Jin and Su were simultaneously monitoring the movements of the Martial Arts Alliance.
"He's currently staying at Wuhan's Premier Inn with the Four Heavenly Blades."
Wuhan's Premier Inn was the very inn where I had previously shared drinks with Gwangdu. Located near the Martial Arts Alliance Headquarters, it was renowned for its bustling atmosphere and constant stream of guests.
"Why didn't you rent a quiet estate?"
"Yeom Hwa has always disliked quiet places. He prefers to flaunt his presence in crowded areas."
"Well done. Continue to exercise extreme caution in your spy activities."
"Yes, I'll keep that in mind."
"Don't forget: what matters to me is you, not the information itself."
"Yes!"
I knew that even a single word of encouragement could give them immense strength. Organizations don't simply run themselves.
I immediately headed to Wuhan's Premier Inn.
A large crowd was milling around in front of the inn—not guests, but onlookers.
"That's The Butcher Yeom Hwa, they say."
"Wow! Look at that brute!"
"They say he killed Ho-yeon Nam with a single punch!"
Everyone was praising him. After all, who would dare insult him to his face?
Yeom Hwa sat at the central table of the inn, drinking wine. The table was piled high with dishes, and he had already emptied several bottles.
The inn was deserted. Everyone had fled in terror the moment he entered.
As a result, he could swagger and drink as if he had rented the entire place.
The Four Heavenly Blades sat diagonally around him, one at each corner of the table. They had effectively taken over the inn.
Trash.
That was my first impression. My personal philosophy had always been that the more skilled a martial artist became, the more they should avoid harming ordinary people.
Sure enough, their actions soon confirmed my suspicions.
Yeom Hwa signaled with a glance, and Il-u, the foremost of the Four Heavenly Blades, scattered silver coins in all directions.
"A gift from Great Hero Yeom to you all!"
"Waaaaah!"
The crowd surged forward, scrambling to snatch the coins from the ground.
Watching the scene, The Butcher Yeom Hwa wore an expression of regal satisfaction, as if he were a king surveying his domain.
Disgusting bastard!
Amidst the chaos, I noticed a woman watching Yeom Hwa more intently than the money—just like me.
To my astonishment, it was Chilho.
I never imagined we'd meet here of all places.
Sensing my gaze, she turned her head and met my eyes.
Chilho didn't recognize me. At the time, I was wearing a Human Skin Mask, so my face was different.
Chilho turned to leave just as an angry voice rang out from somewhere.
"You villain! Do you fear neither heaven nor earth?"
All eyes turned toward the source of the shout.
The speaker was an elderly woman with snow-white hair, her appearance weary from a long journey. Yet her eyes burned with a venomous fury that matched her earlier outburst.
A young woman stood beside her, the two bearing such a striking resemblance that their familial connection was immediately apparent.
As I gazed at the young woman, a strange sense of familiarity stirred within me. I was certain I had seen her somewhere before, but no matter how hard I tried to recall, I couldn't place her.
Il-u, who had been scattering money earlier, stepped forward.
"Who are you to speak such insolence?"
"I am Mae-rang. Ho-yeon Tak, whom you killed, was my grandson."
To everyone's astonishment, she was Ho-yeon Tak's grandmother. Her sudden appearance startled everyone present.
I was the most shocked of all. The name Mae-rang immediately brought to mind a woman I knew.
The reason the young woman accompanying her looked so familiar was because she was the spitting image of Mae-rang in her youth.
Mae-rang and I had grown up in the same village. As a child, she had adored me like an older brother, vowing to marry me when she grew up.
Of course, I was too busy wandering the Martial Arts World to pay her any attention. To me, she was just a naive little sister from the village.
Whenever I returned home, I would see her, and each time she grew more beautiful. But back then, I was obsessed with martial arts and had no interest in women.
After her adolescence passed, Mae-rang lost interest in me.
Later, I heard she had fallen in love with a descendant of the Ho-yeon Family who visited the village and married him. Ho-yeon Tak must be her grandson.
It truly struck me how fate can weave such intricate connections.
Mae-rang looked exhausted, as if she had traveled a long distance.
Il-u sneered, "So you're the grandmother of that weakling who killed himself for failing to protect his master."
"You insolent brat! Our Tak would never take his own life!" Mae-rang retorted furiously, swinging her cane at Il-u. But he dodged it effortlessly. It was more of a feeble old woman's swing than a real attack, yet Il-u mercilessly shoved her aside.
Before Mae-rang could fall backward, I stepped forward and caught her, preventing her from hitting the ground. Had I not intervened, her frail body would have suffered serious injuries.
Mae-rang turned to look at me.
"Thank you, young man," she said.
Up close, I could still see traces of her youthful face. She had been so naive back then, and now she was so old.
"Enough," Il-u said coldly, his words directed at Mae-rang but his tone sharp.
"What kind of whelp are you?" he demanded, clearly displeased by my interference.
"Just a bystander," I replied.
"Then mind your own business and stop meddling in the Superior's affairs!"
"You're hardly treating her with respect yourself."
A few people snickered at his words, but Il-u's murderous glare quickly silenced them, forcing them to lower their heads.
Just as Il-u was about to approach me, Yeom Hwa, who had been drinking at a table in the back, slammed his fist down with a thunderous crash. The force sent wine and dishes flying to the floor.
"My luck has been absolutely atrocious lately," he growled, his face twisted in a scowl. He rose from his seat and stormed upstairs.
Il-u stepped closer to me and warned in a low voice, "You'll regret this."
I offered no response.
As the Four Heavenly Blades followed Yeom Hwa upstairs, the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed. Chilho had vanished without a trace.
A young woman approached me and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you so much for your help. I am Ho-yeon Suk-jeong."
"Byeok Ridan."
"I will never forget Young Hero Byeok's assistance today."
"It was nothing."
"Thank you, young man."
"Please be careful."
The two figures walked toward the Martial Arts Alliance Headquarters.
I almost asked why they had come, but stopped myself. I already had a good idea. Based on their earlier conversation, it seemed they were seeking to prove that Ho-yeon Tak's death was not a suicide.
Could they possibly succeed in this place, with Ma Bonggi as Alliance Leader?
Watching them go with a hint of concern, I turned and walked away.
Instead of returning directly to my quarters, I took a secluded path. I had sensed someone was following me.
After walking for some time, I stopped in a deserted spot. With no people around and an open view of the surroundings, it was an ideal place to check for observers.
The person trailing me had no choice but to reveal himself.
It was Il-u, one of the Four Heavenly Blades, with whom I had clashed earlier.
"You're actually following me?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
Il-u replied coldly, "Didn't I warn you? You'll regret this."
"You're certainly impatient. To come after me so quickly..."
"I never delay killing someone."
"Killing me? Why would you want to kill me?" I asked, pretending to be surprised.
He answered, "You humiliated me in front of all those people. I never let anyone who insults me live."
"What insult did I possibly give you?"
"Daring to speak so recklessly without a shred of fear!"
"Is that all? You'd kill someone for such a trivial reason?"
"What other reason do I need?"
I now understood how this man had lived his life. He must have lived exactly like this: mercilessly killing anyone who dared to offend him, even slightly. Of course, he would have done it all in secret.
Even if his crimes were exposed, he would have slipped through the cracks like an eel, shielded by the Heavenly Blade Gate's influence.
Once, twice, and it becomes a habit. Before you know it, you've become a monster without even realizing it.
This time, he mocked me.
"What was that worthless old woman worth dying for? If you're reborn, just watch from the sidelines. Got it, you cripple?"
"Does your master know you've come to kill me?"
"Do you think I'd report every time I kill a wretch like you?"
"So, you came alone."
There was no one else in sight, but I still activated my Aura Sense to scan the surroundings. I had a nagging feeling Chilho might be lurking nearby, but thankfully, the area was clear.
I dropped the pretense and revealed my true nature.
"If you kill people for such trivial reasons, then I have ample reason to kill you too. Now, say your goodbyes."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Say goodbye to the trees, the grass, the birds—anything. You should bid farewell to this world before you leave it."
Il-u finally understood my meaning, his face twisting in disbelief.
"You crazy bastard! Hahaha!"
Il-u burst into laughter, and I joined in.
The moment our laughter subsided, he lunged at me, drawing his sword mid-air and thrusting it forward with deadly precision.
Swish!
It was a truly swift and accurate strike.
If his opponent had been anyone else, it would have been a truly brilliant move.
Swoosh! I effortlessly dodged the incoming sword, spinning through the air like an acrobat before kicking him squarely. He likely never imagined a master swordsman capable of evading his blade would resort to such a crude technique.
Bang!
The force of my kick shattered his shoulder bone with a sickening crack. Il-u staggered backward, his body twisting violently to one side. His arm went limp, dangling uselessly.
Grimacing in agony, Il-u pleaded, "Wait, wait! Ugh!"
He seemed to finally grasp the gravity of his situation.
I paused my attack and asked, "Why?"
"I was wrong," he gasped.
"You're quick to change your tune. If only your sword had been this fast."
"Please, spare me!"
"Spare you? So you can go fetch the others?"
"No! Absolutely not!"
"A bastard who'd kill someone over a single word, yet you expect me to believe he'd just let a shattered shoulder slide? That's pushing it too far."
"Please spare me! I'll do anything you want!"
I soared through the air and kicked the man's jaw with brutal force.
CRACK!
His jaw shattered, sending him flying backward.
Riding the momentum of my kick, I executed a Thousand Catty Drop, slamming my heel into his face.
THWACK!
His face caved in, killing him instantly.
Striding away, I turned back when I was about twenty paces away.
My sword sliced lightly through the air.
*SHIII