056 - Prohibition Seal
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed as Jin Muhon stepped into the tent.
Every gaze in the tent locked onto him.
"Jin Family Head! Come on in! You should've sent word ahead—I would've come out to greet you myself!"
"……."
Ak Manho welcomed Jin Muhon with the enthusiasm of a long-lost brother.
Jin Muhon narrowed his eyes and stared at him.
"What is this? Act normal."
"Hahaha! How could I act normal with our Jin Family Head here? Right?"
Ak Manho's face lit up as he reached out to grab Jin Muhon's hand.
With a casual twist, Jin Muhon evaded and locked Ak Manho's wrist in a golden snare grip.
"Agh! I-I'm happy to see you too! So happy, let's just let this go!"
"……."
Jin Muhon released the hold.
Ak Manho stumbled back, rubbing his wrist. It had only been gripped for a moment, yet it was already swollen red.
Monster. He seems even stronger than before.
Swallowing the thought, Ak Manho quickly composed himself and guided Jin Muhon to the head seat.
"Come, come. Jin Family Head, don't stand there—let's head over this way. I'll introduce you to my subordinates."
"Did you eat some weird medicine? You're acting strange today."
"Hahaha! I told you, I'm just thrilled to see the Jin Family Head!"
The young bandit leaders, unaware of Jin Muhon's identity, blinked in confusion, trying to make sense of the scene.
The veteran leaders, meanwhile, bowed deeply with wide-eyed shock.
"Brother Kwak, who the hell is that guy to make you bow like that?"
"Shh! Shut up and bow too."
"Come on, at least tell me who he is first."
"Then drop dead."
"…Huh?"
The bandit leaders stared blankly at Jin Muhon.
The veterans' bows were so solemn that no one dared act rashly.
As he walked, Jin Muhon glanced at the three men standing in the center.
Their attire was familiar.
Those guys…
Just from their clothing, the situation clicked in his mind.
Something was off. As expected, the Demonic Cult.
"Come, Jin Family Head. Take my seat here."
Jin Muhon sat naturally at the head position.
"You?"
"I'll stand beside you. How could I take the lead with the Jin Family Head here?"
Despite his words, Ak Manho moved behind Jin Muhon like a loyal subordinate.
"Gasp! The Chief Bandit Leader's yielding the head seat!"
"Damn it! What the hell is going on?"
Ak Manho, who never yielded his spot to anyone, was now bowing his head to a stranger.
Confusion spread through the tent, especially among the young leaders.
"Hmph."
"……?"
The Demonic Cult envoys were equally baffled.
With Ak Manho stepping back, who were they supposed to negotiate with?
This sudden intruder who claimed the head seat?
Who the hell was he? He looked barely in his late twenties.
"Huh? But Jin Family Head, your face looks a bit different."
As the tension eased, Ak Manho finally noticed his surroundings.
Jin Muhon gazed down at the envoys and spoke.
"Skin care."
"Ah! Skin care? Makes sense. These days, even men care about their looks. You did a great job—look at least ten years younger."
"You look ten years older."
"Ha. Ha. Ha. Well… I've had a lot on my mind…."
Jin Muhon raised his hand slightly.
Ak Manho shut his mouth and stepped back.
Now for the real start.
Jin Muhon spoke slowly.
"How's Cheon Gunak?"
His single question ignited fury in the envoys.
"Insolent fool! Who the hell do you—"
The lead envoy bellowed at Jin Muhon, but his words trailed off.
His eyes widened, breath quickened.
And then.
"……!"
His mouth gaped open as his entire body trembled.
"What's wrong with that bastard? Gotta pee?"
"Looks like he's shaking in fear."
"Fear? The Demonic Cult dog who was barking at us?"
"Why?"
The envoys' ears rang with their pounding hearts; their hands and feet felt numb with cold.
Jin Muhon smirked.
"So you recognize me."
"……!"
The lead envoy snapped to his senses.
"Run!"
Whoosh—!
Without looking back, he kicked off the ground.
The other two hurriedly followed with lightness skill.
Clap!
Jin Muhon clapped his hands.
It was Point Soul, dominating their souls.
"Ugh!"
"Krrk!"
Due to the soul power gap, the envoys merely staggered unlike the bandits, but they escaped the tent.
Several bandit leaders, caught in the Point Soul, collapsed like felled logs.
"Jin Family Head! They're running!"
"Tch. Annoying."
Flash!
Jin Muhon's form vanished from his seated position, leaving an afterimage.
Everyone in the tent gaped.
"Th-that's… Phantom Step?!"
"Chief! Who the hell is he?!"
Ak Manho, blinking in a daze, snapped awake.
"Let's go outside!"
"Yes!"
The bandits rushed out en masse.
***
Shrieeek!
Like a hawk pursuing a sparrow, Jin Muhon targeted the leader first.
"Damn it!"
Realizing escape was impossible, the leader spun and thrust his palm.
Rumble!
Tremendous palm force surged forward.
Jin Muhon lightly extended his index finger.
Puk!
"Krrk!"
The leader's palm pierced by the finger twisted in agony, body shuddering. He couldn't move.
Jin Muhon grabbed the falling man's nape and hurled him back toward the tent.
Crash! Thud thud!
The acupoint-struck leader rolled roughly across the ground.
Jin Muhon stood firm, glancing left and right.
The other two fled in opposite directions.
"Not bad."
Even if one was caught, the other would escape.
Jin Muhon extended his hand to two nearby bandits.
"Lend me your swords."
"Pardon? Ah! Yes!"
"Here!"
Dazed by Jin Muhon's prowess, the two handed over their precious blades without question.
Vmmm— vmmm—
Jin Muhon infused upper dantian energy into each sword.
Strange waves glowed atop the dark blades.
He threw them.
Shrieeek—! Shrieeek—!
The swords flew in different directions.
Hearing the whoosh, the envoys veered sharply with lightness skill.
Jin Muhon altered the swords' paths.
Puk! Puk!
The blades curved unnaturally, piercing each envoy's back.
"Th-that's Flying Sword!"
"Flying Sword!"
The bandit leaders emerging from the tent witnessed the feat and plopped down on their asses in shock.
Jin Muhon looked at the two bandits.
"Bring them."
"…Y-yes! Yes!"
"Got it!"
The pair rushed off with comrades.
Jin Muhon strolled slowly toward the tent.
Rush!
The gathered bandits parted like the sea.
Thud thud thud.
He approached the fallen leader.
The man looked up, body rigid.
"V-Vice Cult Leader… I greet you."
Terror quivered in his pupils.
Jin Muhon gazed down emotionlessly.
"Early greeting."
"Forgive me… I was just so shocked."
Vice Cult Leader.
How many in the martial world bore such a title?
The bandits, already reeling from his display, could barely speak.
Thud! Thud!
The bandits dropped the two fleeing envoys before the tent.
Despair crossed the leader's face.
Jin Muhon noted the change and spoke flatly.
"Someone bring a chair."
"Yes!"
A young leader who had opposed Ak Manho dashed over with one.
"Sit, sir!"
"Good."
Jin Muhon leaned back leisurely.
"You have something to say?"
"Nothing… in particular."
The leader averted his eyes and murmured.
"Is that so?"
The young leader who brought the chair jumped in.
"Family Head! These are Demonic Cult envoys! They threatened us to cooperate or they'd ignite the Yangtze for the coming righteous-demonic war!"
Unaware of Jin Muhon's identity, the youth showed quick wits.
Ak Manho, watching from afar, slapped his thigh in regret.
Should've been me.
"Righteous-demonic war?"
Jin Muhon showed interest.
But the lead envoy clamped his mouth shut like a mute.
Then.
"Ughhhh…."
"Grraaah…."
A grotesque groan echoed from somewhere.
Jin Muhon and the bandits turned toward it.
"Wh-what is that?"
"Fuck… what the hell?"
The two sword-struck envoys slowly rose.
Nearby bandits backed away in horror.
Jin Muhon frowned.
A familiar aura emanated from their bowed heads.
"Demon Spirit Pill."
The two envoys gaped toward Jin Muhon.
"Kraaaah!!"
"Aaaargh!!!"
Their eyes turned bloodshot, muscles bulged grotesquely.
Blood-red energy surged like roaring flames.
"Kekeke. Too late."
The fallen leader's serpentine eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Jin Muhon looked down at him.
"Too late?"
"Even you can't handle those. Blood-mad Sword Demon. The bandits here die because of you."
"……."
Jin Muhon stared silently, then lightly kicked the ground.
Swish! Slash!
No dramatic sound or explosive aura.
Jin Muhon simply appeared beside one envoy as if he'd always been there, drawing his Four Emperors Sword lightly.
"…Huh?"
"What?"
The bandits blankly watched the envoy's head spin like a red moon in the sky.
"Kraaaah!!"
The lone remaining envoy reached for Jin Muhon.
But his sword was faster.
Swish—
The attacking envoy's hand froze mid-air.
Bandits blinked between him and Jin Muhon.
"What… just happened?"
"Why'd he stop?"
Soon, a long red line appeared from the envoy's shoulder to waist.
Slide—thud.
The bisected torso slipped to the ground.
"No! How can you dispatch a Demon Spirit Pill user so easily?!"
The horrified leader let slip the information.
Jin Muhon approached the sprawled man.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Blood dripped from his sword as shadows from the flickering fire danced red across his face.
The leader realized his mistake and clamped his mouth.
Damn it!
His pupils trembled like in a typhoon.
The Sword Demon, exiled by his lord's scheme, dantian destroyed—yet not weakened.
No, stronger than in the cult.
I have to report! Somehow!
But no way to do so.
Jin Muhon stopped.
The leader looked up in despair.
"Spare… me."
"……."
Jin Muhon silently flicked the blood from his sword.
"A warrior of the New Cult must always embrace death."
"Vice… Leader."
"Even with a blade at your throat, fear not death. Like those two."
The leader's trembling gaze fell on his severed subordinates.
Sizzle—
Red mist rose behind Jin Muhon.
Chilling, just to behold.
"Vice Leader! I'll talk! Everything I know—"
The leader begged abjectly.
But before he finished, his face flushed red.
"……?"
"Mmph! Mmmphh?!"
His head swelled rapidly.
Jin Muhon stepped back, erecting an aura barrier.
Boom!!
The leader's head exploded like a watermelon.
Blood, brains, and mashed fragments splattered against the barrier and fell.
Jin Muhon furrowed his brow.
"A prohibition seal."
Then.
From the exploded head, a thread-like red energy writhed skyward.