Chapter 90: The Fist King Makes His Appearance as Chief Escort
The Fist King Makes His Appearance as Chief Escort
Chapter 90: The Fist King Makes His Appearance as Chief Escort
Dan Woo-sung and Mad God sat nearby, watching Cheol Myung-ho fight. Even if the man wielding the greatsword were to go for Cheol Myung-ho's throat, the two of them could intervene faster. They intended to let him experience real combat on his own.
Cheol Myung-ho, oblivious to their watchful eyes, swung his halberd with movements he had never been formally taught. Fighting was deeply tied to instinct and raw talent. He adjusted the halberd's momentum with his left hand before unleashing the Fox Spear Technique. No matter his stance, his strikes—slashes, chops, thrusts—never ceased. The Threefold Swordplay he had painstakingly learned was finally proving its worth.
The leader of the Yellow Dog Gang deflected the halberd and suddenly spotted Dan Woo-sung standing with his arms crossed. His stomach lurched. The man's expression and gaze were downright murderous. The fact that he noticed Dan Woo-sung mid-fight meant he still had room to spare—but fleeing wasn't an option.
Cheol Myung-ho roared.
"This bastard's got his head somewhere else—!"
He raised his halberd vertically and brought it down like an axe, again and again.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The impact against the greatsword was bone-jarring. The Yellow Dog Gang leader kicked off the ground with his left foot, sending a clump of dirt flying straight at Cheol Myung-ho's face before lunging forward, aiming his greatsword at Cheol Myung-ho's neck.
Even in the chaos, Cheol Myung-ho swatted the dirt away with his left hand and then hurled his halberd like a javelin. He'd been in enough dirty fights to keep his cool.
As the gang leader deflected the halberd and thrust his greatsword forward—
Cheol Myung-ho read the movement, dodged, and smashed the man's skull with an iron-ribbed umbrella drawn from his back.
THUD!
A single strike—already fatal. But Cheol Myung-ho, still wired with adrenaline, rushed in and pulverized the gang leader's head into mush with the umbrella.
Dan Woo-sung spoke.
"He's dead. Enough, Fox."
Only then did Cheol Myung-ho stop and stare at the corpse.
"Hah... Pathetic bastard."
His chest still heaved violently. Then, turning to Mad God, who had been silently observing, he said,
"Brother, my apologies. You taught me spear techniques, and I still ended up throwing mine away."
Mad God pointed at the halberd lying on the ground.
"If you threw it, pick it up."
While Cheol Myung-ho retrieved his weapon, Dan Woo-sung and Mad God finally stood, dusting themselves off.
To them, this was just another day.
Cheol Myung-ho trailed behind them, opening his mouth to speak before swallowing his words.
Calling them "masters" still felt awkward.
Halberd resting on his shoulder, he trudged toward his fallen horse with a sullen expression. Despite only taking a single kick, the beast was dying, its insides seemingly ruptured. The same man who had just shattered a skull with brutal efficiency now blinked back tears as he watched the animal's labored breaths.
Kneeling, he stroked the horse's mane.
"Damn it... I'm sorry."
Dan Woo-sung and Mad God glanced back but said nothing before heading toward the carriage.
In the martial world, comrades died—this was just another lesson. They didn't interfere.
Cheol Myung-ho stared into the horse's fading eyes.
"Sorry."
He stood, about to rejoin the group, but hesitated. The horse's ragged breaths were the only sound left—it wouldn't last much longer.
"Ah, damn it."
Gripping his halberd, he stepped forward and brought it down on the horse's head.
SPLAT!
A mercy kill—but it didn't make him feel any better. Glaring around with venomous eyes, he stormed after the other two.
An indescribable bitterness churned in his chest.
When Dan Woo-sung returned to the carriage and checked on Baek Yak and the subordinates, he noticed the others' gazes shifting.
Cheol Myung-ho stood alone in the wilderness, swinging his halberd like a madman.
The Fox Spear Technique—taught by Mad God.
He wielded it with furious desperation.
From inside the carriage, Mad God watched before bursting into laughter.
"Hahahahaha—!"
Not mockery—but a rueful chuckle, the kind that acknowledged the harshness of the martial world. He laughed because Cheol Myung-ho had grown stronger since yesterday.
When Dan Woo-sung and his group entered the Dragon Marsh Inn, every eye in the room locked onto Baek Yak. A rare beauty drew attention, whether from martial artists or ordinary men.
But amusingly, no one dared approach—not because Dan Woo-sung or Mad God seemed intimidating, but because Cheol Myung-ho, still seething after his horse's death, looked downright murderous. To seasoned experts, Dan Woo-sung, Baek Yak, and Mad God were the ones to fear—but to the average person, Cheol Myung-ho was the most terrifying.
The four sat at a table, planning to eat before relieving Baek Yak's subordinates guarding the carriage and supplies.
Since Cheol Myung-ho hadn't spoken since his horse's death, Dan Woo-sung placed the order.
Silence hung over the meal.
Soon, a middle-aged Taoist entered the inn, whisk in hand, and took a seat. After ordering noodles, he addressed Dan Woo-sung's group.
"What's the West Wind Escort Bureau transporting?"
Mad God kept eating, indifferent, while Dan Woo-sung, Baek Yak, and Cheol Myung-ho turned to the Taoist. Already irritable, Cheol Myung-ho snapped back.
"Who the hell are you?"
The Taoist smirked and lifted his left sleeve with his right hand—revealing a missing arm. A man who flaunted his disability like this usually bore a grudge against Yoo Jung-hong, leader of the Murim Alliance.
Cheol Myung-ho scoffed.
"One-armed freak. So what?"
The Taoist waved his chopsticks.
"Let me ask politely again. Are you heading to the Murim Alliance?"
Cheol Myung-ho answered.
"What if we are?"
The Taoist replied,
"I won't allow it."
Cheol Myung-ho, emboldened by Mad God, Dan Woo-sung, and Baek Yak, squared his shoulders.
"Who the hell are you? Listen, the people here aren't to be trifled with. Don't ruin the mood."
The Taoist studied Dan Woo-sung, Baek Yak, and Mad God one by one before scoffing.
"A scholar who's trained in external arts, a pale-faced young lady, and a man who looks like a retired innkeeper. Truly terrifying."
Mad God acted deaf, slurping his noodles. Baek Yak, with her hearty appetite, chewed her food obliviously, letting the Taoist's words go in one ear and out the other.
Dan Woo-sung, sensing newcomers approaching outside, sipped his water.
The Taoist stood and bowed slightly as two elderly men entered the inn.
"Elders, they're here."
The twins were gaunt, their complexions sallow. The only way to tell them apart was that one was missing his right arm.
They were the Blue Cold Twin Killers—masters of Extreme Yin martial arts—and the Taoist was Daoist Master Gonggong, a rogue expelled from the Taishan Sect for his wicked deeds.
The Eight Dragons Sect had spread word through the underworld, summoning these three. Daoist Master Gonggong had once held a formal Taoist title, but after his expulsion, he adopted the moniker "Empty Void."
The Blue Cold Twin Killers arrived, and Daoist Master Gonggong smiled amiably.
"I'll take the woman. The valuables are yours, Elders. The intel was expensive, but it seems accurate—they're transporting goods for the Murim Alliance. Ever heard of the West Wind Escort Bureau?"
The twins shook their heads in unison.
"No."
"Never."
Their voices were as gloomy as their presence. By now, every other patron had fled the inn.
Cheol Myung-ho finally sensed the newcomers' overwhelming aura and grimaced. These were on a completely different level than the Yellow Dog Gang leader he'd killed.
Meanwhile, Mad God and Baek Yak kept eating.
Cheol Myung-ho turned to Dan Woo-sung, who had finished his meal first.
"Done eating?"
His tone practically begged, Do something about these trash. Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"Lost my appetite. Bugs sure love swarming around. Escort work's a pain in the ass."
Now he understood why the West Wind Escort Bureau's owner had been so reluctant to let his spoiled son, Goo Woong, take on escort missions. Traveling the martial world meant facing death at every turn.
Dan Woo-sung turned to the Blue Cold Twin Killers and Daoist Master Gonggong.
"Old men. What do you want?"
Daoist Master Gonggong chuckled before flicking his chopsticks at Dan Woo-sung's eyes with a flick of his wrist.
SWISH!
Two chopsticks shot forward—but Mad God, still eating, swept his sleeve. The projectiles veered off course and embedded themselves in the wall.
THUNK!
The three intruders stared at the wall.
Mad God spoke.
"Still eating. Baek, you done?"
Baek Yak smiled.
"I'd like more."
Mad God grinned like an indulgent uncle and nodded.
"Good appetite."
Her usual icy demeanor melted away when she ate, making her look like an innocent girl.
Dan Woo-sung addressed the three.
"Fight here, and it's three against three. Step outside, and I'll handle you alone."
Cheol Myung-ho cut in.
"Four against three. Why leave me out?"
Dan Woo-sung replied,
"Stay out if you don't wanna die."
Cheol Myung-ho wasn't ready for this level of combat. Dan Woo-sung stood.
"Outside."
As Daoist Master Gonggong opened his mouth to retort, Dan Woo-sung cut him off.
"Shut it and move."
The Blue Cold Twin Killers rose first.
"Fine. There's a master here we don't recognize—wouldn't want to interrupt his meal."
Their tone suggested Mad God's display hadn't impressed them. Mad God muttered between bites.
"Ignorant bastards."
Cheol Myung-ho seized the moment to ask,
"Huh? Those guys don't know you, Brother?"
"They should."
"What's your title?"
"Not telling."
Cheol Myung-ho turned to Baek Yak.
"Miss Baek, do you know?"
"Yes."
"What is it?"
"Not telling~"
Cheol Myung-ho sighed as he watched the three men and Dan Woo-sung head outside.
"Why am I the only one who doesn't know?"
Dan Woo-sung gestured to Baek Yak's waiting subordinates.
"Go eat."
"Yes, Chief Escort."
The subordinates brushed past the underworld martial artists and entered the inn.
One of the Blue Cold Twin Killers sighed.
"In forty years of roaming the martial world, I've never seen an escort chief this bold."
"Indeed."
Daoist Master Gonggong clicked his tongue.
"First for me too. Hey, Chief Escort—why not fetch that expert from inside?"
Dan Woo-sung studied them before summoning a wisp of white energy in his palm.
< End of Chapter 90: The Fist King Makes His Appearance as Chief Escort >