Chapter 90

Danwooseong and Gwangshin sat nearby, watching Cheolmyeongho fight. After all, the two of them could strike faster than the man wielding the greatsword could cut Cheolmyeongho’s throat. They intended to watch, allowing Cheolmyeongho to experience real combat alone.

Cheol Myeong-ho swung his Fang Heaven Flower Spear, oblivious to the two watching him. He executed movements no one had ever taught him. This was because combat is intrinsically linked to the realms of reason and instinct. Cheol Myeong-ho halted the spear’s motion with his left hand, then unleashed his spear technique. Regardless of his posture, the downward strikes, slashes, and thrusts never ceased. Thus, the painstakingly mastered Three Calamities Sword Technique was finally beginning to shine in its own way.

The leader of the Yellow Dog Brigade struck out at the Heaven-Shattering Flower Spear, but his heart sank the moment he spotted Dan Woo-seong standing there with his arms crossed. His expression and gaze were utterly murderous. Spotting Dan Woo-seong in the midst of battle meant he still had some breathing room, but he couldn’t flee immediately.

Cheol Myeong-ho bellowed.

“This bastard had other ideas…”

He kept swinging the Fang Heaven Axe, raised vertically, like an axe.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sensation transmitted through the greatsword was truly heavy. Huang Jiantan, who had leaped backward to retreat, kicked the ground with his left foot, sending a clump of dirt flying precisely at Cheol Myeong-ho’s face. He then charged forward, aiming his greatsword at Cheol Myeong-ho’s throat.

Even amidst the chaos, Cheol Myeong-ho struck the dirt clod away with his left hand, then hurled the Fang Heaven Flower Spear he held in his right. Having fought many dirty battles, Cheol Myeong-ho showed no sign of panic.

Just as the charging Hwang Geon-dan-ju swung at the Fang Tian Hua Jue and thrust his great sword forward again…

Cheol Myeong-ho read his opponent’s movement, dodged the greatsword, and struck the Yellow Dog Clan Leader’s head with the iron umbrella he drew from his back.

Thud!

Already dead from a single blow. But when the tense Cheolmyeongho charged forward and crushed Hwang Gyeondanju’s skull like a pulp with his iron-tipped umbrella, Danwooseong said.

“He’s dead. Stop it, Hori!”

Only then did Cheol Myeong-ho stop moving and stare at the dead man.

“Hmph… What a worthless bastard.”

Cheol Myeong-ho’s chest still heaved heavily. Then, he spoke to Gwang-shin, who was staring blankly.

“Brother, I’m sorry. You taught me spear techniques, but I’m still not used to it, so I threw the spear away.”

Kwang-shin pointed at the Fang Heaven Flower Spear lying on the ground.

“If you threw it, just pick it up.”

While Cheolmyeong-ho picked up the Fang Tianhua Spear, Danwoo-seong and Gwang-shin finally dusted themselves off and stood up.

Such incidents seemed quite routine for the two of them.

Cheol Myeong-ho chased after them, about to say something, but swallowed the words back down his throat.

Calling him “Master” felt awkward.

With the Fang Tian Hua Jue slung over his shoulder, Cheol Myeong-ho walked over to his horse, lying collapsed on the ground, his expression downcast. It had only been kicked once, yet the horse was dying. Its insides looked utterly mangled. Cheol Myeong-ho, who had crushed human skulls to kill, stared at the dying horse, his eyes welling up with tears.

Cheolmyeongho knelt down and stroked the horse as he spoke.

“Damn it, I’m sorry. Me.”

Danwooseong and Gwangshin turned to look.

Cheol Myeong-ho remained kneeling before the horse. Without a word, the two headed toward the carriage. Once you entered the martial world, you’d witness not just horses, but comrades dying. Even experiencing such emotions was part of the martial world, so Dan Woo-seong and Gwang-shin didn’t intervene.

Cheol Myeong-ho gazed into the eyes of the horse that couldn’t rise and said.

“I’m sorry.”

Cheolmyeongho stood up to join the procession, but turned back to look at the horse. Only a pitiful, rattling sound flowed out, and it seemed as if its breath would cease at any moment.

“Damn it.”

Cheolmyeongho approached, gripping his Fang-Heaven Flower Spear, and brought it down on the horse’s head.

Thud!

He struck it hoping to ease its pain, but naturally, he couldn’t feel good about it. Cheolmyeongho glared around with a venomous look before chasing after the two again.

An indescribable, shitty feeling boiled up inside his chest.

Dan Woo-sung returned to the carriage, checked on Baek Yak and his men, then turned his head following the people’s gaze.

Cheolmyeongho, who had been following, stood alone in the wilderness, wildly swinging his Fanged Heavenly Blade.

It was the spear technique Gwangshin had taught him.

He was swinging it as if possessed by evil.

Watching from inside the carriage, Gwangshin observed Cheolmyeongho and then burst into a long, drawn-out laugh.

“Hahahahahaha…”

It wasn’t merely a mocking laugh. It was a sorrowful laugh filled with regret, as if saying this was the true nature of the martial world. He was also laughing because Cheolmyeongho had grown stronger than yesterday.

.

.

.

When Dan Wooseong and his party entered the Dragon Marsh Inn, all eyes in the room instantly fixed on Baekyak. When a rare beauty appeared in an inn, it was only natural for men—whether martial artists or not—to stare.

Yet, oddly enough, it wasn’t because Dan Wuseong and Guangxin looked intimidating. It was because Cheol Myeongho, who had been sitting with a grim expression ever since his horse died, was so frightening that no one dared approach. To masters of high caliber, Dan Wuseong, Baekyak, and Guangxin might appear fearsome, but to ordinary folk, Cheol Myeongho was the most terrifying.

Danwooseong, Baekyak, Cheolmyeongho, and Gwangshin entered to eat first and sat around the table. They planned to relieve Baekyak’s men guarding the carriage and luggage after finishing their meal.

Since Cheol Myeong-ho hadn’t spoken a word since his horse died, Dan Woo-seong placed the order.

The meal began in silence.

Shortly after, a middle-aged Taoist carrying a whisk entered the Yongso Inn and took a seat. A moment later, the Taoist, who had ordered and was eating a bowl of noodles, asked Dan Wooseong’s group.

“What exactly is your Seopung Pyo-guk transporting?”

Kwangshin continued eating as if uninterested, while Danwooseong, Baekyak, and Cheolmyeongho stared at the Taoist. Cheolmyeongho, who had been irritated for some time, retorted.

“Who the hell are you?”

The middle-aged Taoist chuckled softly, then lifted his left sleeve with his right hand, letting it flutter. He was a Taoist without a left arm. A man who flaunted his missing limb like this meant he bore a grudge against the leader, Yoo Jeong-hong.

Cheol Myeong-ho said.

“One-armed. So what?”

The Taoist waved two chopsticks and said.

“I’ll ask kindly once more. Are you heading to the Martial Arts Alliance?”

Cheol Myeong-ho retorted.

“That’s correct.”

The Taoist replied.

“I will not permit it.”

Cheol Myeong-ho stepped forward boldly, trusting in Gwangshin, his friend, and the White Ghost. Cheol Myeong-ho also pointed his chopsticks at the Taoist priest and said.

“Who do you think you are? Hey, the people here are formidable. Don’t try to set the tone.”

The Taoist looked at Danwooseong, Baekyak, and Gwangshin in turn and retorted.

“A scholar who’s mastered external martial arts, a pale-faced young lady, and a man who seems to have retired from being an inn clerk? Truly terrifying.”

Kwangshin was stuffing his face with tangchori chop as if he’d gone deaf. Baekyak, who also had a hearty appetite, listened to the Taoist’s words with one ear while chewing noisily with his mouth full of rice.

Danwooseong sensed someone approaching outside and was drinking water first.

Then the middle-aged Taoist rose and bowed his head slightly to two elderly gentlemen newly entering the inn.

“Honored elders, we are here.”

Two emaciated old men with sallow complexions walked over and joined the Taoist at his seat. Distinguishing the twins was simple. Though identical in appearance, one lacked his right arm.

Because the Eight Dragons Sect had spread rumors throughout the underworld, the masters of the black path who had come were the bandits known as the Blue-Cold Twin Killers, and the villain who roamed about committing lewd acts under the guise of a Taoist master, the Empty-Empty True Man.

The Blue-Haired Twin Swords were practitioners of the Extreme Yin martial arts, while Gong Kongzhen was a Taoist who had been expelled from the Taishan Sect for breaking his vows. Originally, he had a title based on his seniority, but after his expulsion, he was a man who went by the pseudonym Kong Kong (Empty Empty). He lacked the courage to confront the actual leader, Yu Zhenghong, and was merely a troublemaker who interfered only with matters related to the Martial Arts Alliance.

When the Qinghan Twin Swords arrived, Gong Kong Zhenren smiled amiably and said,

“The woman is mine to take, and the treasure is yours to take, seniors. I was half-doubting this rather expensive information, but it seems accurate. It’s a courier heading to the Martial Alliance. Have you heard of the Xifeng Courier Agency?”

The two shook their heads simultaneously.

“No.”

“I don’t know.”

Their voices were gloomy too. After the Blue-Haired Twin Swords appeared, everyone in the inn had already left.

Only then did Cheol Myeong-ho sense the aura and presence of the newly arrived men, his expression turning sour. These were masters of an entirely different caliber than the Yellow Dog Gang leader he had killed.

Kwangshin and Baekyak continued eating their meal throughout it all.

Cheol Myeong-ho asked Dan Woo-seong, who had finished eating first.

“Finished eating?”

His tone demanded something be done about those trash. Dan Woosung nodded.

“It’s enough to make your appetite disappear. Bugs are swarming all over it. Courier work is getting harder to pull off. These damn little bastards.”

Now he understood why Gu Woong’s father at the Seopung Courier Agency had so strongly discouraged his son, the sole heir, from becoming a courier. Traveling the martial world as a courier was an ordeal, requiring steadfast movement amid the constant fear of death.

Danwooseong turned his head and said to Cheonghanssangsal and Gonggongjinin.

“Old men, what are you up to?”

Gonggong Zhenren burst out laughing, then flicked his wrist, sending the chopsticks he held flying.

Clang!

Two chopsticks flew toward Danwooseong’s eyes. At the same time, Gwangshin, who had been eating, swung his sleeve. The flying chopsticks changed direction mid-air and shot toward the wall, embedding themselves there.

Thud–!

Cheonghanssangsal and Gonggongjinnin stared at the wall.

Gwang-shin said.

“We’re not done eating yet. What about Young Master Baek?”

Baek Yak smiled and replied.

“I’ll have some more too.”

Guangxin smiled as if looking at his own grandchild and nodded.

“You’re eating well.”

Though she usually wore a cold expression, when eating, she invariably looked like an innocent young girl.

Danwooseong addressed Cheonghanssangsal and Gonggongjinin.

“If we fight here, it’s three against three. If you quietly go outside, I’ll take you on alone.”

Cheol Myeong-ho interjected.

“It’s four against three. Why are you leaving me out?”

Danwooseong said.

“Just stay out of it. Unless you want to get killed.”

Cheol Myeong-ho wasn’t yet at the level to join this kind of fight. Dan Woo-seong stood up and told Cheong Han-ssang and Gong Gong-jin.

“Get out.”

Just as Gonggong Jinren opened his mouth to speak, Dan Woosung cut him off.

“Shut up and get out.”

Cheonghansangsal rose first.

“I’ll leave. There’s a distinguished guest here we don’t know. We can’t disturb their meal.”

He’d seen Gwangshin’s skills, but his tone suggested he wasn’t particularly impressed. Gwangshin muttered while eating.

“I don’t know, you bastards.”

Cheol Myeong-ho seized the moment and asked.

“Huh? Do those guys know about you too?”

“Of course they do.”

“What’s his nickname?”

“I won’t tell you.”

Cheolmyeongho asked Baekyak.

“Do you know Young Master Baek?”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“I won’t tell you.”

Cheol Myeong-ho sighed and watched the three people leaving and Dan Woo-seong.

“Why am I the only one who doesn’t know?”

Dan Woo-sung gestured to Baekyak’s subordinates waiting nearby and said.

“Go inside and have your meals.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Baekyak’s men pretended not to notice the three figures who appeared to be black-clad martial artists and entered the Yongso Inn without a second glance.

Cheong Hanssal sighed.

“I’ve spent over forty years in the martial world, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a dignified chief of the Piao Bureau.”

“Indeed.”

Gonggong Jinren clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“This is my first time too. Hey, Chief Agent. Go inside and tell that expert from earlier to come out.”

Dan Woo-seong looked at the three men, then floated a strand of white silk in his palm.

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong