Chapter 61

As Ha Jeon-ik’s straight sword was met by a surge of lightning…

Startled, Ha Jeon-ik dropped his sword and lunged left. But Dan Woo-seong, holding his sword in his left hand, kicked faster. He struck Ha Jeon-ik’s torso with his foot, then shifted Ha Jeon-ik’s sword to his right hand.

In that instant, he channeled the lightning energy…

Whoosh— Crackle-pop!

The blade, which had held a black light, was now enveloped in white light.

To the eyes of the black-clad masters, this was not mere sword energy, but Sword Qi.

“…”

It was not a smooth white energy gathered on the sword body, but rather a constant, ceaseless movement of large and small white lightning bolts, accompanied by a truly deafening roar.

Could anyone have anticipated that the Great Prince of the Galaxy Alliance possessed such formidable power? Rumors of his strength had likely reached them through various channels. Yet Danwooseong had never given his all, even at the Dragon-Phoenix Grand Assembly. Judging a person’s depth solely by hearsay leads to precisely this outcome.

Frozen in place, the leaders of the Eight Dragon Gate, their hands still clutching their swords, stood motionless, their expressions frozen in shock at the extraordinary, bizarre sound.

Ha Jeon-ik, who had taken a kick, was leaning against the wall, staring at Dan Woo-seong.

Myeong the old master clenched his teeth and said.

“A disciple of the Kwon King! Such audacity…”

Dan Wooseong raised his straight sword and declared.

“Die.”

As Dan Wooseong swung his sword vertically toward Myeong Nosa, the white metal clinging to the blade flew toward him with a strange whirring sound.

Myeong Nosa countered with his twin swords, and a deafening roar erupted.

Kwaaaaaaaaaaaang!

Mang Nosa’s new form soared through the air, crashing into the wall with a thud before sliding down with a slurping sound. Yet the outcome differed from the one who had struck the wall before. Wrapped in white mist, it trembled incessantly, white foam trickling from its mouth.

Dan Woo-sung stared at Ha Jeon-ik, his straight sword in hand.

Ha Jeon-ik soared alone into the air, then descended through the ranks of his subordinates facing off against him.

Ha Jeon-ik’s expression was deathly pale.

‘The disciple of the Martial King?’

Then Dan Woo-sung threw the straight sword he was holding.

Clang! Thud!

The leaders of the Eight Dragon Sect whipped their heads around to see Ha Jeon-ik’s straight sword embedded between the eyebrows of the fierce old master.

It felt like a complete madman had stormed in. Even Ha Jeon-ik, the Palryongmun leader who had weathered every storm, seemed at a loss.

In the martial world, force is both the beginning and the end.

Dan Woo-seong sat down in the Eight Dragon Sect leader’s chair, glared at the leaders still gripping their swords, and pointed a finger as he spoke.

“Anyway, I’ll start by killing those who try to run.”

Dan Wooseong asked Ha Jeonik.

“Master Ha, what do you think I’m thinking? Tell me.”

Ha Jeon-ik immediately replied.

“I don’t know.”

Dan Woo-sung nodded and replied.

“I think I know what you’re thinking now. Can I survive here today? Can I escape? Should I order my men to charge first and then retreat? That’s about it, right? Right or wrong? Answer me.”

Ha Jeon-ik replied curtly.

“You’re right.”

Dan Woo-sung looked at the man claiming to be a soldier of the Palryong Gate.

“Palryongmun soldier.”

The soldier answered.

“Yes.”

“You claim to know so many ways to shut down the Galaxy Trading Company’s business. You’re going to make a few of our clients disappear? You’re a clever one, aren’t you? Come here. Military genius.”

When the military officer remained motionless with a stiff expression, Dan Wooseong addressed Ha Jeonik.

“Lord Ha, choose one: either die yourself, or send the soldier over here.”

Ha Jeon-ik gestured toward the soldier as if to say, “Go on.” As the soldier, who had been mingling with the crowd, took a few steps forward, Dan Wooseong, who had been seated, unleashed a barrage of brain waves toward him.

BOOM!

The soldier flew into the wall, his head smashing open as he collapsed onto the old man’s body.

No one had anticipated he would die in such a manner.

All who witnessed it flinched.

Only then did they realize a madman had entered the Eight Dragon Gate.

Dan Woo-sung spoke.

“Does the Palryongmun Master have family?”

Lacking the mental capacity to think, Ha Jeon-ik immediately retorted.

“Yes.”

Dan Woosung said.

“What? You have family? Then why did you charge in so brazenly? Are you crazy?”

Ha Jeon-ik frowned. He wondered what this meant. But upon pondering the words for a moment, he realized it meant they would kill even his family. Of course, this would only apply if he touched the Eunha Trading Company.

Ha Jeon-ik addressed his subordinates.

“Put down your swords.”

The sword fell to the ground.

Ha Jeon-ik knelt first, then pressed his forehead to the floor. “I gravely misjudged your abilities, Master. This Ha Jeon-ik’s crime is great. From now on, the Palryong Gate and this Ha Jeon-ik will do as you command.”

The remaining leaders knelt together.

Dan Woo-sung retorted.

“You are also part of the Black Path, are you not?”

“Yes.”

“You expect me to trust the Black Sword? I heard that after Lord Sohan, the Black Sword was left with nothing but a bunch of idiots waving around their twin blades and pretending to be something.”

“Not all of them are like that.”

“Oh? Well then, since Master Meng swore to avenge his death, the head of the Eight Dragons Sect had better keep his word now. Act like a proper Black Path. I’ll grant you your revenge.”

Ha Jeon-ik retorted.

“I’ve belatedly realized I lack the skill to keep my word.”

“Even without the skill, keeping one’s word is the way of the black path.”

Ha Jeon-ik, who had been bowing his head, crawled over and grabbed the knife lying on the floor. He placed his left hand on the floor and then brought it down.

With a thud, one of his little fingers was severed.

Ha Jeon-ik said.

“Every time I speak out of turn, I will sever one finger.”

Ha Jeon-ik commanded his subordinates kneeling before him.

“You too, cut them off.”

Following Ha Jeon-ik’s lead, his subordinates also severed one of their own fingers without hesitation.

Dan Woo-sung said.

“Am I Jin So-na? I have no ability to rehabilitate trash like you. I have no intention of unifying the underworld with such worthless scum.”

“We’ll simply do as we’re told. We won’t consider ourselves outlaws anymore. We don’t deserve that status.”

Dan Woo-sung abruptly stood up and walked toward Ha Jeon-ik.

“Hey, Ha Mun-ju.”

“Yes.”

Dan Woo-sung grabbed Ha Jeon-ik by the head and lifted him up.

Their eyes locked.

Dan Woo-sung spoke.

“Even if the Eunha Trading Company burns to the ground, our clients go bankrupt or are wiped out, someone goes missing, or my father or brother gets stabbed… The important thing is.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t die.”

Dan Woo-sung gripped Ha Jeon-ik’s head as he continued.

“I won’t die. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Understood.”

Dan Woo-sung said, looking at the leadership.

“Who is this second-in-command?”

“It is I. My name is Ha Tae-seong.”

Dan Woo-sung, who had been studying Ha Tae-seong’s face, said.

“What? Ha Mun-ju, is he your brother?”

“Yes.”

“Clean this up. I’ll take Ha Mun-ju with me. Let’s go.”

Ha Jeon-ik silently walked over to where the two bodies lay. He tore a piece of his robe, wrapped it around his finger, and then followed Dan Woo-sung out.

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“Hot!”

Cheol Myeong-ho had pushed chairs and tables into one corner, using the entire underground gambling den as his training ground as he swung his iron-tipped umbrella.

“Seventy-four thousand eight hundred… eight hundred… Dammit, I forgot.”

Squeak— As the door at the top of the stairs opened, Cheolmyeongho bellowed.

“Who’s there! You made me forget!”

Danwooseong clicked his tongue as he descended the stairs.

“Shut up, you little brat.”

Cheol Myeong-ho shut his mouth the moment he saw Dan Woo-seong, then bellowed again at the man following behind him.

“Who the hell are you?!”

Dan Wooseong clicked his tongue.

“Is this guy already showing early symptoms of demonic possession? Take it easy. You crazy bastard, you’re driving me nuts.”

Ha Jeon-ik scanned the underground gambling den with a pale expression. The madman with the black umbrella kept glaring at him.

Dan Woosung said.

“Hey, go boil some noodles. I’m hungry.”

Cheolmyeongho retorted.

“Master, why are you making noodles here? Go home and eat a proper meal.”

Hajun-ik narrowed his eyes as much as he could at this bizarre conversation.

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Slurp!

The three sat around eating the noodles Cheol Myeong-ho had brought. Cheol Myeong-ho took a sip of the broth before asking.

“What the hell is this, you clumsy bastard?”

Cheolmyeongho looked over and saw a rather menacing-looking guy with his hand bandaged. Of course, he knew without asking that this was the guy who’d been beaten up by his friend. He was just curious about his identity. Danwooseong answered while eating his noodles.

“Palryongmun Leader Ha Jeon-ik.”

Cheol Myeong-ho nodded and repeated Dan Woo-seong’s words.

“Ah, Ha Jeon-ik, Master of the Eight Dragons.”

Dan Woosung asked.

“You know him?”

“No. How would I know? What a ridiculously childish name. Eight Dragon Gate, huh? Why not just call it Nine Dragon Gate? Why leave out one dragon? Hahahahaha…”

Cheol Myeong-ho burst out laughing alone, then collapsed from his chair and kept laughing.

“Palryong… Damn it, am I the only one laughing? Ah, this is too funny.”

No one laughed.

Cheol Myeong-ho shook his head and stood up, then sat back down in his chair and ate his noodles.

Dan Woo-sung asked Ha Jeon-ik.

“Mr. Ha, how many men do you have under you?”

Ha Jeon-ik replied.

“Two hundred and forty men.”

Cheol Myeong-ho snorted derisively.

“That’s a lot. So you were a black-clad assassin.”

Ignoring Cheol Myeong-ho’s words, Dan Woo-seong addressed Ha Jeon-ik.

“Master Ha, this is Cheol Myeong-ho. Is he weaker than you?”

Ha Jeon-ik looked at Cheol Myeong-ho and replied.

“He is.”

Dan Woo-sung ordered casually.

“Gather your men and clean this entire place up. Tear it down. Turn it into an underground training ground.”

Ha Jeon-ik immediately retorted.

“Understood.”

“And select opponents for Cheolmyeongho’s sparring practice based on their skill level.”

“Yes.”

“If Cheolmyeong-ho gets injured, you bring a physician to treat him.”

“Understood.”

“Purchase every healing potion you can afford with your own money and give them to Cheolmyeong-ho.”

“We will.”

Dan Woo-seong said.

“Train and invest in Cheol Myeong-ho until he becomes the Nine Dragons Sect Master. Since he’s also my disciple, don’t treat him carelessly.”

Ha Jeon-ik replied.

“Since you spared my life, this Ha Jeon-ik will henceforth unconditionally complete whatever task the Master commands.”

Cheol Myeong-ho raised his hand as if he had something to say.

When Danwooseong looked at him, Cheolmyeongho spoke up.

“No, what kind of nonsense is this without hearing the person involved? We’re already swamped practicing the Samjae Sword Technique. And who’s teaching whom?”

Dan Woosung retorted.

“I forgot to ask your opinion. So you don’t like it? Just count the times you swing it in the sparring session toward your Three Calamities Sword Technique count.”

Cheol Myeong-ho addressed Ha Jeon-ik.

“Don’t you have any pride? Just do as you’re told. You seem older than us, after all.”

Ha Jeon-ik retorted.

“It’s better than dying.”

“Wow, you’ll live long enough to paint the walls with shit.”

Dan Woo-sung stood up and said to the two of them.

“You two handle it. Ha Mun-ju, if Cheol-myeong-ho dies, I’ll take revenge on the entire Palryong-mun.”

“Understood.”

As Dan Woo-sung vanished without a trace, the two men were left alone in the underground gambling den.

Once alone with Ha Jeon-ik, Cheol Myeong-ho suddenly grew quiet. No matter how he looked at it, this man was stronger than him.

Ha Jeon-ik held out his hand, its fingers severed, and said.

“Master Cheol, I’ll return with my men. In the meantime, I’ll have my hand treated.”

“There’s no need to come back.”

“First off, I’ll do whatever I’m told without question.”

Cheol Myeong-ho clicked his tongue.

“Why go that far…”

Ha Jeon-ik said this, his face still pale.

“I hear you’re a disciple of the King of Power. No dark sect has ever survived after provoking him. I consider myself fortunate and intend to cooperate when possible. I look forward to working with you.”

“Kwonwang’s disciple? I’ve never heard that before.”

“Have you heard of the Eight Dragons Sect?”

“I said I haven’t.”

Ha Jeon-ik stood up and said.

“Then I’ll take my leave first.”

After Ha Jeon-ik disappeared, Cheol Myeong-ho said while clearing away the noodle bowl.

“Damn it, the bastard might not know. He’s being subtly dismissive. I may not know your Eight Dragon Gate, but I know the Martial Alliance Leader, Elder Yu Zhenghong. You worthless brats, I’ve eaten meals with the Martial Alliance Leader, shared conversations, you little bastards, I’ve done it all.”

It was the initial symptom of demonic possession. The Eight Dragon Sect latching onto him at this opportune moment was, after all, a positive development for Cheol Myeong-ho.< The King of Swords Appoints the Nine Dragon Sect Leader > End