Chapter 32 The Life-and-Death Strange Doctor (2)

Chapter 32: The Life-and-Death Strange Doctor (2)

Dong Pae-gyeong of the Black Arrow Gang was the fourth disciple of the Black Shadow Bandit, Go Ju-yong, and the third enforcer of the Black Shadow Sect.

Though his internal energy cultivation was only at the threshold of the peak level, around seventy years of cultivation, that alone was sufficient to make him a formidable powerhouse capable of dominating an entire region if he went to a remote area.

Yet he had chosen to remain with the Black Shadow Sect.

This was because of the wealth and glory promised by his superior, the Black Shadow Sect Leader, Go Ju-yong.

Goju Yong was a greedy man, but he also understood well that to gain even greater things, one must keep investing rather than hoarding what one has acquired.

Therefore, he treated his supreme masters with the utmost respect.

As a result, the Black Pavilion, boasting four peak masters, eventually rose to become one of the Guizhou Eight Families and the dominant power in the southwest of Guizhou Province.

The mere fact that four peak masters gathered together meant they possessed overwhelming military might in this rural area.

Dong Pae-gyeong, who had journeyed through this process alongside Go Ju-yong, understood profoundly how crucial capturing the Life-and-Death Pact was for their cause.

‘A physician capable of producing elixirs of summoning-grade potency? That’s nothing short of a goose that lays golden eggs.’

If they could secure him, the wealth they could amass was beyond estimation.

And that wealth would undoubtedly make the Black Chamber even stronger.

Surprisingly, the world held many peak masters who could be hired with enough wealth.

‘Like that woman, the Blood-Stained Letter’s Ya Yun-hyang.’

Recalling that woman, the Blood-Stained Sword Maiden Ya Yunxiang, whose martial prowess and beauty were both unmatched in the realm, suddenly made his mouth water.

That was the dream of the great man, Go Ju-yong.

To keep increasing the number of peak masters like her, who could be hired with wealth, and eventually become the ruler not just of the southwest of Guizhou Province, but of the entire province.

Dong Paijing, who shared that dream, now gazed upon the besieged Shengshiguai before him and felt as if that dream was becoming reality.

He shouted with a face full of ecstasy.

“Surrender quietly, Ma Jong-hwan! Then I’ll just forget all the suffering I’ve caused you until now! I’m a man of honor, after all. Kwahahahaha!”

Then, Ma Jong-hwan, the gaunt, hard-faced man of life and death, sneered and retorted.

“You call yourselves men of honor? You kidnapped children just to get your hands on a magic potion? That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard in my life! Hahahahaha!”

Dong Pae-gyeong stopped laughing.

He disliked both being mocked by a mere martial artist and the man’s pretense of composure despite being cornered.

But soon, a bitter smile returned to his lips.

He decided to simply forgive him.

A cornered dog might bark, couldn’t it?

As a man of honor, he had to endure it. What else could he do?

Dongpaekyeong laughed heartily and approached him.

“Right, right. Glad you found it amusing. Now, will you come quietly with me?”

Ma Jong-hwan replied with eyes that seemed to spit fire.

“The only thing that can go with you is my dead body!”

Having said that, Ma Jong-hwan drew his dagger and pressed it against his own throat as if ready to strike at any moment.

Dong Pae-gyeong was startled.

He’d rather kill himself than be captured?

To that extent?

Dong Pae-gyeong hurriedly stepped back, trying to calm him.

“Hold on! Hold on, calm down, Ma Jong-hwan! Let’s talk this through!”

“Dialogue?! You want me to talk with you scum who kidnapped my children for the antidote?! Ha ha ha ha! I don’t need any of that! Get the hell out of here right now! Or else, you’ll only see my dead body!”

Using his own life as a hostage to demand retreat? It was nothing short of absurd.

But Dong Pae-kyung couldn’t ignore this.

He understood just as well as Go Ju-yong how crucial Ma Jong-hwan was.

But he couldn’t let the bastard know that. For now, Dong Pae-gyeong decided to try threatening him first.

Gritting his teeth, Dong Pae-gyeong shouted.

“If you can die, then die! If you’re not afraid of what will happen to your children after you’re dead! Do you think your life is that important?!”

Ma Jong-hwan chuckled and replied.

“It is! I am the one who can create the Life-Death Ring! Is that not why you scum are doing this?! I’ll say it again! Get out of my sight immediately! Otherwise, your plans to use my Life-Death Ring will end right here!”

Dong Pae-kyung’s mouth fell open.

How could that bastard…

He knew his own worth all too well.

Ma Jong-hwan shouted, driving the point home.

“I’m counting to ten! If you don’t back off by the time I finish counting, you’ll see my corpse! One!”

“Wait, hold on! Ma Jong-hwan! Let’s talk more!”

“Two!”

Dong Pae-kyung was flustered.

He thought he had him cornered, so what the hell was this?

He couldn’t just let him die, but he couldn’t really back down either?

“Three!”

Dong Pae-kyung’s heart was growing increasingly impatient.

He didn’t even have time to think.

“Four!”

That was when it happened.

Someone was calling his name and running toward him from behind.

“Master Samho!”

Dong Pae-gyeong, his heart racing, snapped angrily and looked in that direction.

“What is it?! In this urgent situation?!”

But Dong Pae-gyeong’s eyes lit up upon seeing him.

The lower-ranking warrior who had run up was covered in blood.

“A, an attack! It’s an attack!”

“What?! An attack?!”

Even amidst the chaos, Ma Jong-hwan didn’t stop counting.

“Five!”

The warrior, who had been running as if about to collapse, fell heavily before him, and Ma Jong-hwan’s voice rang out again.

“Six!”

Dong Pae-gyeong, growing impatient, glanced sharply toward Ma Jong-hwan.

It was at that very moment.

A sudden, chilling sensation ran down the back of his neck.

Not knowing what it was, Dong Pae-gyeong instinctively leapt back.

Three projectiles flew like bolts of light, grazing his collar as they passed.

Shushak!

His heart couldn’t help but freeze.

It was the work of a warrior who had been lying down and suddenly sprang to his feet.

“You… you bastard?!”

With a sly smile, as if disappointed, the warrior flashed a dazzling sword strike at the surrounding warriors, as if he’d never staggered, and lunged toward the life-and-death dilemma.

Shuuuwaaah!

“Gah!”

“Guh!”

As the sword light spread like an illusion, the four warriors nearby spat out blood.

Through that spray of blood, he was already charging toward Ma Jong-hwan.

Dong Pae-gyeong was naturally startled, but Ma Jong-hwan was equally bewildered by the sight.

The man he thought was Heuksangbang suddenly attacked Dong Pae-gyeong and then flew toward him—he couldn’t be certain of the man’s true identity.

Could this be a trap?

Just as Ma Jong-hwan thought this, placing a dagger to his own throat and about to shout a warning,

Suddenly, a telepathic voice reached his ears.

– Elder! We’ve rescued Meng Yun and Yong Ji!

Hearing those names, Ma Jong-hwan felt his strength drain away unconsciously.

Ma Mengyun and Ma Yongji were the names of the son and daughter of the Life and Death Demon.

In that instant, Sun Woo-jin, who had pounced on Ma Jong-hwan, grabbed him tightly and charged toward the cliff like a beam of light.

“Excuse me, sir!”

The next instant, the Black Robe Sect disciples watching him could only stare in utter shock.

“Ah, no?!”

“How… how is that possible?!”

Seon Woo-jin, carrying Ma Jong-hwan on his shoulder, was running vertically up the cliff face.

Pababababak!

It was nothing short of astonishing agility.

It was when Seon Woo-jin had sprinted halfway up the thirty-foot cliff in an instant.

Dong Pae-gyeong, who had been watching in stunned disbelief, suddenly gritted his teeth and hurled a hidden weapon at Seon Woo-jin’s legs.

“You think I’ll let you escape?!”

It was the pinnacle of his hidden blade technique, the very skill that earned him the nickname Black Arrow.

Small metal darts transformed into streaks of light, flying toward Seon Woo-jin’s legs.

Whoosh!

But Seon Woo-jin leapt aside as if he’d been waiting for it.

Thud!

For him, who trained in perceiving objects with eyes closed amidst snowstorms, a hidden blade he was already prepared for posed little threat.

Clang! Clang!

As Dong Pae-gyeong’s water attack struck the rock in vain, Seon Woo-jin began ascending the cliff, darting back and forth between the rocks.

Thud! Thump! Thump!

His movements were as light as a mountain goat’s.

Seeing this, Dong Pae-gyeong erupted in fury and shouted.

“Send the signal to the commander! We absolutely cannot let him escape!”

Then he himself began racing up the cliff face, just like Seon Woo-jin.

Black Arrow Dong Pae-gyeong, too, was one whose specialty lay in both hidden weapons and lightness techniques.

He absolutely could not let them escape before his very eyes.

***

After climbing the cliff and catching my breath, I glanced back and started running again.

I’d expected it, but to actually abandon all his men and chase after me? He couldn’t be anything but a slow-witted fool.

What if I was luring him into a trap? What was he thinking?

…Not that there was one, of course.

Judging by the pursuer’s speed, it seemed unlikely I’d shake him off easily.

Just as I started running again, the life-and-death rope draped over my shoulder suddenly asked urgently.

He must have held back until we were safely up the cliff, not wanting to be a hindrance.

“Is that true?! Did you really rescue Maeng-un and Yong-ji?”

Speaking while deploying divine techniques was extremely taxing, but he had to do it now.

Above all, gaining this person’s trust was the top priority.

He answered in a bright voice.

“Of course. Wasn’t it you who wished for someone to do just that, and diverted their attention to you?”

“Ahhh, that… You truly understood that!”

His voice was filled with deep emotion.

It was a voice that clearly conveyed the feeling of all the accumulated worries about his children and the anxiety about his own judgment being washed away at once.

It was easy to understand.

How anxious he must have been?

Even though he must have acted thinking there was no other way, he undoubtedly agonized over it countless times afterward.

Could his misjudgment harm his children?

After all, in his past life, his intentions had indeed failed.

Overwhelmed with emotion, unable to speak, I told him again.

“Neither of them suffered any harm at all. They are both perfectly healthy and resting soundly, so please don’t worry.”

“…Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

Truthfully, they had narrowly avoided a dangerous situation, but I didn’t feel the need to tell him that.

I decided to pretend not to notice his voice, trembling as if he might cry.

Suddenly, the image of my father, who had once told me I was brave, overlapped with him, warming my heart.

Then, a voice from behind rapidly cooled my heart.

“You bastard! Can’t you just stand still?!”

Dongpaegyeong’s voice was coming from behind.

Truly a master of the highest level, his speed was incredible.

Even at a glance, it seemed impossible to outrun him while carrying Ma Jong-hwan.

Taking a quick breath, I spoke rapidly again.

“So now, all that’s left is for you to escape safely. Do you have any plans in mind?”

But with a short groan, he answered heavily.

“I’m ashamed to say, young man, I have no grand plan. I’m only certain that their greed will prevent them from killing me. And that same greed will surely draw those who seek to kill Go Ju-yong.”

His judgment was likely accurate.

After all, in his past life, he had succeeded in killing Go Ju-yong.

Perhaps even without me, he would have found a way out just now.

Hmm, so if things get desperate, should I just abandon the life-and-death pact and flee alone?

Even one-on-one, I doubt I stand a chance against that Dongpaegyeong.

If the difference between second-rate and first-rate was like a cat versus a lynx, the gap between first-rate and peak was as vast as a lynx versus a tiger.

No matter how skilled he was in stealth techniques rather than close combat, there was no way he could win in a head-on confrontation.

Dong Pae-gyeong, a peak master whose specialties were hidden techniques and divine methods.

Moreover, his hidden weapons were said to be coated with the deadly poison, Jushadok.

Recalling the information about Dong Pae-gyeong, the Black Arrow, which I had beaten out of a low-ranking warrior earlier, I suddenly asked the old man of the Shisigae.

“Elder, do you happen to have that?”

“Huh? What is it?”

***

Black Arrow Dong Pae-gyeong glared at the fleeing figure as if he wanted to kill him.

He had thought he could easily catch a guy running while carrying Ma Jong-hwan on his back, yet even after half an hour had passed, he still hadn’t closed the distance.

For someone whose specialties were hidden weapons and running techniques, this was nothing short of a blow to his pride.

He was genuinely curious what kind of training this guy had undergone to run so well while carrying a person on his back.

Even if he wanted to throw a dagger to hit him, the bastard had been shielding himself by carrying Ma Jong-hwan on his back since earlier.

Moreover, Ma Jong-hwan had been stiff and motionless since earlier, likely because his acupoints had been sealed.

It seemed the bastard knew he couldn’t kill Ma Jong-hwan.

Dong Pae-gyeong gritted his teeth in rage that threatened to burst.

He was furious, nearly mad with rage at being unable to capture the man or throw his darts.

Then it happened.

The man shouted at him as he ran.

“Dong Pae-gyeong! Let’s negotiate!”

Judging by his voice, the bastard seemed pretty exhausted too.

Just as I thought.

Dong Pae-kyung, wearing a triumphant smile, retorted.

“What kind of deal are you talking about?!”

Then the bastard answered.

“Isn’t what you want the Life-and-Death Contract?! I’d be satisfied with just three… no, two Spirit Pills! So if I take only that, I’ll quietly leave this interest behind! How about it?!”

Dong Pae-gyeong thought for a moment.

It certainly wasn’t a bad offer.

If he could safely get back Ma Jong-hwan, who would continue producing spirit stones, then giving up a mere two seemed manageable.

Of course, killing the bastard would be best if possible, but provoking him needlessly and risking him killing Ma Jong-hwan would be disastrous.

Besides, since the bastard had already sealed Ma Jong-hwan’s acupoints, he wouldn’t be able to make a scene threatening suicide like earlier. That would allow them to secure his person reliably. All things considered, negotiating to that extent seemed the wiser course.

Having sorted through his thoughts, Dong Pae-gyeong replied.

“Alright! Let’s do it!”

At that, the bastard brightened and shouted.

“Then stop right there! I’ll stop too!”

Hearing this, Dong Pae-gyeong slowly slowed down and finally stopped. Sun Woo-jin also immediately halted his running and carefully laid Ma Jong-hwan down on the ground.

He then cautiously searched Ma Jong-hwan’s pockets, glancing at Dong Pae-kyung, and pulled out the spirit pellets.

Seon Woo-jin gazed regretfully at the five spirit pills, then, as if resigned, tucked only two into his own robe.

Dong Pae-kyung watched this with hawk-like eyes.

After gathering the spirit pills, Seon Woo-jin cautiously stepped back and said.

“Alright, I’ll step aside now!”

“Fine! Get out of here!”

Dong Pae-kyung also cautiously approached Ma Jong-hwan, who lay on the floor.

But Dong Pae-kyung could tell Seon Woo-jin wasn’t fleeing immediately; he kept glancing back at Ma Jong-hwan.

It seemed the bastard had other plans.

That was the moment.

Seon Woo-jin, who seemed ready to retreat, suddenly hurled several hidden weapons at Ma Jong-hwan.

“Haah!”

Whoosh!

Dong Pae-kyung, who had already sensed his ulterior motive, desperately threw himself forward, wrapping his body around Ma Jong-hwan to shield him.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Dong Pae-kyung barely managed to leap in time, using the water-based techniques in both hands to block all four darts.

Compared to his footwork, his throwing technique didn’t seem particularly outstanding.

“Kwahahaha! How dare you flaunt your throwing skills before this Dong elder!”

Having successfully parried all the darts, Dong Pae-gyeong burst into laughter and hurled his black sword at Seon Woo-jin.

It was the Black Arrow of the Star-Cutting Season, the weapon that had become his signature.

Shu-hak!

As the black arrow flew in like a beam of light, Sunwoo Jin, startled, hastily raised his sword to block it.

Thud!

But he couldn’t block the water arrow imbued with martial energy with his sword. The fiercely flying arrow pierced clean through the blade and embedded itself deep into Seon Woo-jin’s arm.

Seeing this, Dong Pae-gyeong grinned coldly.

With a poison-coated dart embedded in him, the man was as good as dead.

But just as he was about to throw another dart for the finishing blow…

Thud!

Dong Pae-gyeong felt a sharp sting on his neck. Sensing something ominous about this incomprehensible turn of events, he spun around.

There stood Ma Jong-hwan, whom he thought had been struck down, grinning savagely as he held out the opening of a leather pouch.

The two snakes clamped tightly around his neck must have emerged from there.

“Wh-what…!”

Dong Pae-gyeong’s horrified expression quickly turned to rage.

He had just been bitten, yet already his vision blurred and nausea rose.

It was clearly an extremely potent venom.

“You bastard, how dare you!”

Dong Pae-gyeong, fighting off the dizziness, moved his already stiff hand to throw a dagger at Ma Jong-hwan.

At that instant, the sword blade piercing his back burst out through his chest.

Thud!

“Gah?!”

How?

It was incomprehensible.

He should have been dead already, having been struck by a dagger coated in deadly poison…

With that thought, Dong Pae-gyeong breathed his last.

It was the moment Dong Pae-gyeong, the Black Arrow, a master at the peak of his art, was killed by Seon Woo-jin, a first-rate warrior.