Karmic Retribution
"Sigh. Are you really going, then?"
"Of course I am. Who knows what havoc that bastard will wreak if left alone? You expect me to just sit quietly with my mouth shut?"
"It's like striking a boulder with an egg. If a subjugation force had gathered, that would be one thing, but do you truly intend to challenge the Ghost Command King alone?"
"A crowd might actually make things worse. Better to handle it swift and clean—a quick slice and done."
Jin-yeong gave up trying to dissuade her. No matter what he said, she simply wouldn't listen.
The Ghost Command King was hardly an opponent to take lightly; he might well be stronger than Geuk Pyeong. They had barely scraped together a victory during the Hubei Calamity as it was, and now she meant to march in and face an even deadlier monster all by herself? True, Ryeong had consumed the Heavenly Poison Pill and attained the consummate Transcendent Realm, but there was no predicting what sinister arts their foe might bring to bear. If he could, Jin-yeong would have clung to her pant legs to hold her back.
Yet he knew full well she wasn't someone who could be swayed by desperate pleading. In the end, the only thing he could do was follow along.
"Now that you've reached the Super-Peak Realm, your light-body arts must have improved, right? How long do you reckon it'll take if we sprint all the way to Hebei at full tilt?"
"If we push ourselves to the absolute limit, perhaps seven days and nights."
"Right. Shut your mouth and make sure we get there in three. Otherwise, something real fun is going to happen—understand?"
Was this her petty revenge just because he had tried to stop her? Jin-yeong shot her an aggrieved glare, but such looks had never worked on Ryeong. To think a single slip of the tongue would sentence him to three straight days of nonstop running.
Before he could even let out a sigh, Ryeong kicked off the ground and shot forward. Terrified that failing to arrive within three days would mean being worked within an inch of his life, Jin-yeong gritted his teeth and launched into his own light-body technique.
And so, on the exact third day, Jin-yeong crossed the border of Hebei Province in a state barely short of crawling on all fours, just as he had when they first entered Sichuan. His clothes were so tattered that anyone would have mistaken him for a Beggars' Sect disciple.
His light-body arts had indeed improved after ascending to the Super-Peak Realm, but the terrain had been brutal. From the very beginning, they scaled Mount Bokryong and dashed strictly along rugged shortcuts, and whenever he strayed even slightly off course, Ryeong would hunt him down. In truth, with all the detours and mountain crossings, he felt as if he had run half again the distance between Hubei and Hebei. On top of that, he was burdened with a hefty pack of luggage, making swift movement all the more grueling.
Naturally, Ryeong showed no sympathy for his plight. If anything, she only teased him further.
"Exhausted already? What are you going to do when the real work hasn't even begun?"
"Haa... pant... Let's find an inn and rest for a moment, please. My legs feel like they're about to fall off."
"Your whining truly is peerless under heaven. Fine, you suffered for three days, so let's take a break."
"I only pray we don't cross paths with any Unorthodox bastards at the inn. I'd hate for my hands to get itchy again."
Jin-yeong recalled their time in Hubei. Back then, half-dead from exhaustion, he had gotten entangled with the Blade Ghost Gang and the Flowering Tiger Sword Sect. Looking back, it had turned out to be a fortunate connection, but at that moment, he had felt a genuine urge to murder someone. Who would want their mood ruined when all they wanted was to enjoy a good meal? With that in mind, Jin-yeong dragged his trembling legs toward a lively, bustling tavern; quiet places always carried a far higher chance of trouble brewing.
Fortunately, the inn they chose this time was actually normal. There was no one who looked like an Unorthodox scoundrel, the prices were reasonable, and the food was delicious. After wolfing down dishes like a starving ghost, Jin-yeong finally let out a contented sigh. A man truly lived on the strength of his food. Only with a full belly could one muster the vigor to survive in this world.
"What do you plan to do now? Will you go meet the Paeng Clan first?"
"That was the plan, at least—to let them know I'll be taking down the Ghost Command King alone."
"Can you really pull it off on your own? We have no idea what might be lurking in there."
Ryeong had pondered this very question during their journey to Hebei. Would an army even matter against the Ghost Command King? His infamy was such that he had been crowned one of the Four Great Evils. Rumors even hailed him as the strongest among them, meaning ordinary numbers wouldn't deal a scratch to him. Moreover, almost everyone who had ventured toward the World of Chaos Palace had vanished without a trace. Unless one was an elite master, merely setting foot on those grounds was asking for death.
Ryeong possessed the ability to converse with ghosts. Although they dissipated once they gave up certain information, she knew they never followed the Ghost Command King of their own free will. If that was the case, couldn't she turn them to her advantage? In exchange for granting them release, wouldn't it be far better to slip in alone and eliminate the Ghost Command King in silence?
The assassin's way.
"No matter how many times I think about it, going alone is the right choice. Better to handle it quietly than cause a huge commotion."
"I know your assassination arts are peerless, young lady. But to face the Ghost Command King alone—"
"Hush. I know he isn't someone who can be felled in a single strike anyway. And I'm hardly just a simple assassin, am I?"
In any case, Ryeong could not kill through ambush alone. She could only unleash deadly techniques against those who harbored malicious intent. It seemed to be a restriction Immortal Hyeok had imposed to steer her away from the life of an assassin.
'Sorry, old man. Just because I'm cultivating the sword doesn't mean I'll ever forget my assassination arts.'
She had lived as an assassin for decades. Could such instincts be discarded just because someone told her to cast them aside? Ryeong intended to put the Four Divine Beasts Sword aside for this battle and face the Ghost Command King with her old methods. It was a chance to prove why the Heavenly Slaughter shared the title of the Four Great Evils with him—and determine who truly stood at the pinnacle.
It was an unofficial duel, and even if she defeated the Ghost Command King, the Heavenly Slaughter wouldn't formally be hailed as the supreme evil. Yet Ryeong had her pride. Even among the Four Great Evils, she wanted the title of the strongest for herself. Before she was a swordswoman, she was an assassin—and before she was an assassin, she was a martial artist.
"To be honest, I'm thinking of visiting the Paeng Clan later."
"Wouldn't it be better to notify them first? Just in case you suffer a grave injury..."
"Those brutes have nothing but brawling in their skulls. Involving them will only complicate things."
If the Ghost Command King was the type whose strength swelled against numbers, launching an assault with a mob could turn out to be poison. To eliminate such variables, going alone was essential. And what if he excelled in one-on-one combat? Then she would simply bring him down by whatever means necessary.
In the first place, he was a demonic practitioner. As long as she possessed the power of the Celestial Immortal Divine Art, the odds of falling into an outright disadvantage were slim. If things truly turned dire, she could combine her innate true qi to resist the demonic energy and simply slip away. Rather than tangling with the Paeng Clan and letting her prey slip through her fingers, it was far better to say nothing at all.
"It's settled. I'm going to take down the Ghost Command King tomorrow. You stay right here."
"Return safely, young lady. Things will be difficult for me without you."
"Not stopping me anymore? Don't worry, I'll definitely come back."
"Having come all this way, are you someone who could be stopped just because I tried? All I can do is wish you good fortune in battle."
Ryeong chuckled. His expression screamed please don't go, and the sight of him looking so thoroughly miserable made it impossible not to laugh.
"Then let's stuff ourselves silly today! Innkeeper, four more bowls of noodles over here!"
Since tomorrow was an unknown, she might as well enjoy today. Ryeong downed liquor and shoved food into her mouth like mad, and before long, the morning sun climbed into the sky.
"What a refreshing morning. Perfect weather for killing someone."
"Go and return in one piece. I'll be waiting."
"Got it."
Early in the hour of the Snake. Having finished her preparations, Ryeong stepped out of the inn. The previous night, she had received a dagger delivered in utmost secrecy from the Namgung Clan.
It was known as the Evil-Slaying Dagger. Its name carried the meaning of annihilating wicked throngs—a title that could hardly be more fitting for Ryeong. Its resilience rivaled even the Red Cloud Divine Sword. This was no ordinary blade, but a dagger forged from ten-thousand-year cold iron. She had received a far grander gift than expected. Surely the head of the Ghost Command King would serve as sufficient repayment?
Leaving the inn behind, Ryeong journeyed northward. She had already cross-referenced and confirmed the location of the World of Chaos Palace through Namgung Jaun and Zhuge Hongun. One had to venture to the northernmost reaches of Hebei, almost bordering Beijing itself, before the World of Chaos Palace would reveal itself. All she had to do was run until she reached a barren expanse where nothing survived.
'Come to think of it, Liaoning is quite impressive.'
With the World of Chaos Palace sitting right near Beijing, trade between Liaoning and the Central Plains still flourished. Even more remarkably, one of the Five Great Clans, the Murong Clan, was situated right there. Had they signed some non-aggression pact? Running endlessly with her light-body art left her mind wandering through all sorts of idle musings.
How much time had passed? At long last, Ryeong set foot upon earth where no living thing dwelled. Just as the two clan heads had said, from here onward was undoubtedly the territory of the World of Chaos Palace.
"To think it would be so saturated with evil energy. Disgusting."
Thanks to the Celestial Immortal Divine Art, Ryeong could perceive wicked sorcery and demonic qi far better than anyone else. The moment her feet touched this barren soil, her brow furrowed at the suffocating density of evil energy.
"If he could maintain a domain like this right under the nose of the Central Plains without being wiped out, he certainly earned the right to be called the strongest of the Four Great Evils."
Step by step, Ryeong ventured deeper into the domain. With every stride, the swelling evil qi clawed at her raw instincts.
Slaughter every living thing near you right this instant. You were born to kill—a calamity destined to scourge the world.
"Why don't you shut your traps?"
Ryeong's chilling gaze locked dead onto the gibbering specters whispering nonsense into the air.