Lust Demon's Promise (5)
The Mad Demon Dokgo Jin had been an ordinary man.
An ordinary man with a great deal of rage inside him.
A little more than most people — no. A great deal more.
So when his family was murdered by martial artists, rather than weighing their strength, he simply grabbed a sickle and charged into the nearest gathering of unorthodox fighters.
From that day on, the slash-and-burn farmer became Dokgo Jin. And as the years rolled by, he became the Mad Demon Dokgo Jin.
A freak of a martial artist who loathed martial artists.
Blessed with peerless martial arts from a stroke of fortune, cursed with a streak of foul luck that refused to let him die, and forever raising hell wherever he went — that was the Mad Demon Dokgo Jin.
And yet there was one kind of person he never laid a hand on.
"…Old man, you really ain't gonna take me?"
"Ah, for heaven's sake. A big fellow like you, and this clingy? Listen here — I can't take you aboard with that enormous hunk of iron."
"…Haa."
When yet another boatman refused him passage, Dokgo Jin simply sighed and turned away.
To reach his destination of Shenyang, he had no choice but to cross the Pajeo River that lay between.
But most of the boatmen wanted nothing to do with him.
It was his fearsome face, his massive frame, and above all the enormous Demon-Slaying Blade he carried.
Ferrying martial artists rarely ended well, but the real problem was that the river wasn't deep enough for large vessels. With only small boats available, the boatmen all refused him for fear of capsizing under a man of his size and weaponry.
Damn it…
He couldn't deploy a high-level lightness technique like Walking on Water, and every boatman had turned him down. In the end, Dokgo Jin rolled up his sleeves.
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"I'm gonna swim across."
"Are you mad? With that giant hunk of iron on your back?"
"If I sink, then I guess that's the end of my life."
Just as Dokgo Jin was about to hurl himself into the river, a young girl stepped into his path.
"W-wait a moment!"
"What is it, kid?"
"Would you… like to ride my grandfather's boat?"
"…A boat?"
Dokgo Jin pointed to the Demon-Slaying Blade strapped across his back.
"Even carrying something like this?"
"Yes! My grandfather is the best boatman on the whole Pajeo River!"
"Then lead the way."
"Ah… yes!"
The girl scampered ahead, then suddenly spun around and bowed.
"Oh — my name is Bi-yeon!"
And she beamed at him with a bright, open smile.
That was how Dokgo Jin and Bi-yeon first met.
Following the girl, he found an old man who looked too frail to even work an oar properly.
"…That's him?"
"Yes!"
"…Doesn't look like he can row for shit."
"No! My grandfather is the best!"
"Haa…"
Half-skeptical, Dokgo Jin approached the old man.
"…Excuse me."
"Hm?"
"I'd like to cross the river…"
"…What was that?"
"I said I want to cross the river!!"
"Ah~, the river…. Climb aboard."
"…"
The old man already looked frail enough — and now Dokgo Jin confirmed he was hard of hearing too. Worry crept in.
…We're not gonna sink halfway, are we?
He was about to back out when Bi-yeon, standing behind him, smiled sweetly.
"Hurry and get on!"
"…Fine."
Just as Dokgo Jin stretched a foot toward the boat, the sound of hoofbeats rose in the distance.
Not one or two — a whole pack of them. What now?
He turned toward the sound. Riders on horseback were shouting as they came.
"From this moment, every boat here is commandeered by the Moyong Clan! Payment will be settled later — make haste!!!"
"…What?"
After the cavalry thundered past, martial artists followed in their wake.
…Looks like they just got their asses handed to them.
Seeing the wounded fighters, Dokgo Jin snorted.
"So the defeated bastards were the ones barking so loud."
"…Pardon?"
At his chilling words, Bi-yeon flinched and shrank back. Dokgo Jin reached out and ruffled her hair.
"It's nothing. Let's get on."
"B-but… if we disobey the Moyong Clan here…"
"…So the Moyong Clan's tentacles reach all the way into Jilin Province."
"…"
When Bi-yeon couldn't answer, Dokgo Jin started to climb back off the boat.
But the old man stopped him.
"…Don't get off."
"Hm?"
"…First passenger goes first. That's a boatman's rule."
"…You sure about this, old man?"
"What's there to be unsure about? Once the boat's on the water, they can't say a damn thing."
The old man gazed at the Moyong Clan martial artists with cloudy eyes.
"There are plenty of boats. One passenger more or less won't matter."
"…Alright then. But weren't you hard of hearing?"
"I keep my ears closed to the messy business of this world."
"Heh…"
Dokgo Jin found himself liking the old man.
Anyone who'd lived that long had seen plenty of ugliness — and most of that ugliness came from the thugs scattered across the Central Plains who called themselves "martial artists."
"Thank you for taking me, old man."
"I'm only taking you because you look like you'll pay."
"Hahaha! I'll throw in a little extra, then."
When Dokgo Jin boarded, the boat rocked hard for a moment — but it stayed afloat without serious trouble. The old man braced himself and pushed off with the oar.
"Bi-yeon."
"Yes!"
Just as the girl called Bi-yeon reached to untie the rope mooring the boat to shore, a martial artist approached.
"Hold it!"
"…"
Clang!
The old man stopped the boat. The martial artist drew his sword first and bellowed.
"Did you not hear the messenger's words?! The Moyong Clan has claimed first right to these boats!"
"Eek!"
A wet-behind-the-ears punk drawing steel before anything else — Dokgo Jin let out a sigh.
"Haa…. This old man's hard of hearing."
"And who the hell are you?"
"Getting a little short with me, aren't you?"
"Ha! Do you know who I am?"
"Oh, for fuck's sake. Old man, wait a moment."
As Dokgo Jin started to step forward, the old man caught his arm.
"…Don't."
"…It's fine. I'm strong, you know?"
"…"
At those words, the old man released him. Dokgo Jin climbed out of the boat.
The martial artist sneered at the sight.
"Ha! Swinging a blade a few times and now you're full of pride. Listen well! I am—"
"Fuck off!"
Whoosh!
Dokgo Jin slammed the flat of his Demon-Slaying Blade into the man's midsection.
"Guh!"
"Oh… he flies pretty far."
He hadn't even used a proper technique — just a casual swing — yet the man sailed farther than expected. Dokgo Jin grinned as he watched.
"Hahaha! Look at that bastard. The splash he makes is spectacular!"
"…So you were a martial artist too."
"You already knew when you took me on, didn't you?"
"…In the end, you were just another martial artist…"
Hearing the old man's hollow voice, Dokgo Jin frowned and was about to ask what he meant — when suddenly:
"Mm…!"
He sensed a sword strike flying at his back.
Clang!
Dokgo Jin raised his weapon, blocked the blow, and checked his attacker.
Ironically, the man who had struck him looked more shocked than Dokgo Jin himself.
"…Judging by how you blocked my sword, you must have a name. Who are you?"
"Spare me the bullshit. You sons of bitches never introduce yourselves first, do you?"
"…Could you be that unorthodox dog they've been calling the 'Mad Demon' lately?"
"Unorthodox, my ass. I'm not even a martial artist."
"A madman, then. I am No Sunpyeong. Heard of me?"
"The only martial artists I know are those Tang Clan bastards and the Sword God."
"…You really are insane."
"Heh heh heh. Why don't you shut that mouth of yours?"
Dokgo Jin slung the Demon-Slaying Blade over his shoulder and beckoned to No Sunpyeong.
"You people have a favorite method, don't you? Drawing steel first. So let's just fight."
"…So you insist on drinking the bitter cup."
Watching No Sunpyeong raise his sword, Dokgo Jin laughed like a madman and charged.
"Bring it, you fuck!!"
Dokgo Jin's eyes turned red — and his memory cut off there.
When he came to, No Sunpyeong stood before him on the gravel bed of the river.
Gazing at the countless boats crossing far in the distance, Dokgo Jin spoke.
"Guh…. You're filthy strong…"
"Hoo…. You've got some skill yourself."
"Bullshit…"
No Sunpyeong's face twisted at the words.
"Have you no manners?"
"Do you show manners to a beast?"
"…Fair enough."
Shing.
No Sunpyeong's blade came to rest against Dokgo Jin's throat.
"…Any last words?"
"Fuck off."
"Safe travels."
As No Sunpyeong's sword rose into the air, Dokgo Jin closed his eyes.
Fuck… so this is as far as I go.
He waited for the descending blade.
Clang!
The sound of steel meeting steel rang out.
"…Clan Head."
"Just call me brother-in-law. Nearly all the clan's people have boarded by now."
"…Very well, brother-in-law."
Dokgo Jin shifted his eyes. There stood a middle-aged man in splendid robes.
Looking at that face, Dokgo Jin sneered.
"…Snake-eyed bastard."
"Are you truly the Mad Demon? The one who set the entire Murim buzzing by swearing to wipe out the Tang Clan?"
"Heh… yeah. If that's the story, then that would be me."
"Oh…"
The middle-aged man stroked his chin.
"Brother-in-law. Let's spare this one."
"…Is that your judgment as Clan Head?"
"Yes. Looking at him, even this lowborn has considerable skill. Leave him free and he'll harass the Tang Clan on his own. A useful dog for the Moyong Clan's path ahead."
"Heh heh heh…"
Dokgo Jin laughed at the words, and No Sunpyeong's brow furrowed.
"What's so funny?"
"Ah… looks like I get to live again."
"…Consider yourself blessed with foul luck. There won't be a second time."
"Ah, heh heh heh. I've heard that line plenty of times."
Dokgo Jin pushed himself upright.
"You — what's your name?"
"Hm?"
"You're the Clan Head, right? I'd like to know the name of the benefactor who spared my life."
"Those aren't the eyes of a man asking a benefactor's name. Those are the eyes of a man asking his prey's."
"Think whatever you want."
"Moyong Byeok."
The head of the Moyong Clan, Moyong Byeok, leaned in close to Dokgo Jin's face and smiled.
"I'm stronger than my brother-in-law, so take care."
"…I'll remember that."
"Hahaha! Let's go, brother-in-law."
"…Very well."
Moyong Byeok and No Sunpyeong boarded the last remaining boat.
It happened to be the very boat Dokgo Jin had been about to take.
"Cast off."
"…The child must come with us."
"A child?"
Moyong Byeok looked at Bi-yeon.
Then he smiled gently and extended a hand.
"Come here."
"Ah…"
But Bi-yeon was too terrified to move. Moyong Byeok's eyes narrowed.
"I said come here."
"I… I don't want to."
"Bi-yeon! Just get on…!"
"Haa…. This is why lowborns…"
At Moyong Byeok's glance, No Sunpyeong nodded and stepped in front of Bi-yeon.
"Get on. Now."
"Th-this mister too…"
Slap!
No Sunpyeong struck Bi-yeon across the cheek. The old man cried out as if in a fit.
"My lord! Please spare her… my lord!!!"
"You're beating a kid who can't even use martial arts, you sons of bitches!!"
Dokgo Jin roared, spitting blood — but No Sunpyeong only sneered at the sight.
"The weak are useless."
"…What?"
"Those born weak submit to the strong. Is that not the law of the martial world?"
"…They're ordinary people who've never learned martial arts."
"Worms who never even tried to grow strong."
Grind.
Dokgo Jin ground his teeth in fury.
He wanted nothing more than to charge out and kill No Sunpyeong on the spot — but his body wouldn't obey.
"Is being born weak a crime?! When you're busy just scraping by, when the hell do you get stronger?!"
"I don't understand. If being born weak isn't a crime, then what is it?"
At that moment, Moyong Byeok — who had been listening quietly — spoke.
"…Brother-in-law."
"Yes, Clan Head."
"Don't bother trying to make lowborns understand. This is growing tedious."
"…Yes."
No Sunpyeong raised his sword and drove it into Bi-yeon's stomach.
Thud.
"…Ah?"
"You crazy bastard…!!"
Bi-yeon clutched her belly and collapsed. The old man wailed.
"Bi… Bi-yeon! Bi-yeon!!"
"Don't make a fuss, old man. A wound like that won't kill her."
"…What?"
"But if too much time passes, she will."
No Sunpyeong hoisted the limp, bleeding Bi-yeon onto his shoulder and boarded the boat.
"If you're late, your granddaughter dies. Row hard."
"Sh-she can really live?"
"…Do I look like a man who speaks empty words?"
At Moyong Byeok's icy rebuke, the old man clenched his teeth and began to row.
"Y-you said she could live!"
"Ah… I give you my word. Get her to a physician quickly and she'll survive."
"…Yes!"
Dokgo Jin could only watch it all unfold.
Those dog bastards…!
It was a full day later that he recovered enough to swim across the river.
And it was then, on the far bank, that he found the corpses of Bi-yeon and the old man.
"…I swear it. I will absolutely fuck those bastards over."
He buried Bi-yeon and the old man. And he kept that promise — two years later.