Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 118 : Eating the Fog (1)

The fog had already passed their faces and risen above their heads.

As a blurry world unfolded before their eyes, the two instinctively hunched their shoulders.

Although there was nothing in the world to be afraid of, the fact that they could not take a single step forward in a situation where they could not see an inch ahead brought fear.

"This is a big problem."

Woo Jeong-bong, who saw the thick fog he had never experienced before, stuck to Yeon-il's side. Yeon-il also leaned on Woo Jeong-bong's shoulder and flinched.

Rumble!

At the sound of thunder, Yeon-il and Woo Jeong-bong were startled and looked at the place where the sound had come from.

They had the illusion that a huge monster they had never seen before was rushing at them with its mouth wide open.

Kkiiiaaaa!

As a strong wind blew, the wail of a ghost hit their ears.

The two instinctively hugged each other and sat down.

"Let's hold on until the fog clears."

At Woo Jeong-bong's words, Yeon-il nodded. There was nothing they could do right now.

* * *

Jo Geom-ok and Son Ae-hwa, who had left the cave, moved quickly to the front of the esoteric sect's main hall.

In front of the main hall, dozens of corpses were scattered.

They had sword wounds on their foreheads, necks, and hearts. They were all places that Jin Sa-wol preferred.

Since there was no other presence, it seemed that Jin Sa-wol was safe.

'Fortunately, it seems there's nothing wrong.'

Jo Geom-ok was relieved and entered the main hall. Son Ae-hwa, who had followed her, opened her mouth.

"I hear footsteps from behind."

At Son Ae-hwa's words, Jo Geom-ok noticed that she was skilled in listening to the ground.

'A scout?'

She felt a similar energy to the members of the Shadowless Squad.

"Let's go up to the second floor."

"Yes."

The two went up to the second floor without a sound and, slightly opening the window, stood in the shadows and looked down.

A short while later, she saw people flocking in her eyes.

Son Ae-hwa muttered quietly.

"I see the master of the Wall Demonic Hall, No Seo-pung, the Blood Curtain's Mun-gang, and the Cheongseong Four Swords of the Cheongseong Sect. There's also the Silver Dagger Guest of the Diancang and Tang families."

"You seem to know a lot about the people of the martial world. You're knowledgeable."

"I don't know much. I just know the famous people of the famous families."

"I don't know a single one. I know the name of Mun-gang because I've heard of his notoriety. But is that fatso really Mun-gang?"

"The masters who looked down on Mun-gang just by his appearance are all dead."

At Son Ae-hwa's words, Jo Geom-ok twisted the hair that had fallen below her ear.

Son Ae-hwa, with her arms crossed, was looking at the warriors of the Wind Blood Pavilion through the gap in the window, and her expression suddenly hardened.

It was because of the men in black with slender physiques. Judging by their physiques, they were women, and there was one face she knew.

'Hwahwaru...'

They had also come from Hwahwaru.

Swish!

Son Ae-hwa took out a handkerchief and covered her nose and mouth.

"What's wrong?"

"There's someone who knows my face."

"Someone you know... Was it the Demonic Cult?"

Son Ae-hwa flinched at Jo Geom-ok's sharp gaze. She hesitated, not knowing what to answer.

When she heard Jo Geom-ok's name, she knew that she was a disciple of the Wudang Sect. Since she was a master of the peak, she was not an opponent she could fight head-on and win.

In that instant, she thought of Jin Sa-wol.

"It's been a long time since I left the Demonic Cult. And now I'm the innkeeper's servant."

It was Son Ae-hwa, who emphasized Jin Sa-wol's servant. Jo Geom-ok looked at Son Ae-hwa for a moment and then turned her gaze.

"Then you don't have to worry. Since you're Sa-wol's person."

"That's a relief."

At Jo Geom-ok's words, Son Ae-hwa showed an eye-smile as if she were relieved.

Jo Geom-ok looked at Mun-gang, who was standing side by side with the master of the Wall Demonic Hall, and asked.

"Do you know Sa-wol well?"

"A little."

"What kind?"

"The kind that is the scariest shadow to have as an enemy."

"That's right. And what Sa-wol hates the most is betrayal. So it's better not to even dream of betrayal."

Jo Geom-ok gave a warning, as she was from the Demonic Cult.

Son Ae-hwa did not think badly of it. She even thought that it was a kind of jealousy towards her, who was close to Jin Sa-wol.

And she had never dreamed of betrayal.

"Don't worry."

Son Ae-hwa turned her gaze and watched the orthodox and unorthodox sects talking.

"I have something I'm curious about. If the innkeeper were to sleep with another woman or smile affectionately, what would you do?"

"I'll kill them."

"What?"

Son Ae-hwa's eyes widened at Jo Geom-ok's answer, which came without any hesitation.

Jo Geom-ok looked at her with indifferent eyes that had no emotion and spoke again.

"I'll kill them both."

Jo Geom-ok spoke shortly and turned her head. Son Ae-hwa's hair stood on end at the eerie chill.

'It was jealousy.'

Son Ae-hwa was thinking that it was a relief, and then she looked down at the sound of metal.

Clang!

Everyone drew their weapons at once and held them in their hands. A tense tension lingered around.

Even though the sun was setting, the orthodox and unorthodox forces still did not withdraw their strong killing intent towards each other.

Although the fight below had stopped for a moment, it was only for a moment.

No Sa-pung stepped forward.

"This place will be managed by our Cult. So you orthodox brats, go down."

Do-guk, one of the Cheongseong Four Swords, stepped forward. He was covered in blood and had a very tired face. But his eyes were still alive.

"Don't talk nonsense. Do you think we'll let you guys take the treasures left by the Three Emperors?"

"Look, do you think there are treasures here?"

"We'll find them if we look."

Do-guk's face was full of desire.

No Sa-pung revealed his killing intent. He, who had defeated Geum Sa-ryong of the Justice Hall, was still at ease.

Geum Sa-ryong of the Justice Hall had been internally injured and had retreated in a hurry. Although the remaining members of the Justice Hall who had not yet arrived would come again, they would not appear tonight.

It was then that the fight below had stopped.

Fighting without any gain would only cause damage to each other.

No Sa-pung looked around at the orthodox martial artists. Although their number was over a hundred, it was not a number they could not face.

"I deliberately gave you a chance to run away, but you didn't know your place and stayed, and now you're even being greedy."

"Hmph! It's you guys who are being greedy!"

As Do-guk's voice grew louder, No Sa-pung raised his hand as if he had no choice.

"Kill them all."

"Kill all the unorthodox!"

With Do-guk's shout, the two groups began to fight, entangled again.

* * *

Kang Hang, who was sitting on the lake full of fog, felt frustrated as night fell.

The reason he had come here first was to strike first and get out before the main force of the Demonic Cult came.

But in this state, there was nothing he could do.

It was because of Jin Sa-wol and the ones who had appeared earlier than expected.

"Hee-hee!"

"Ugh! It's a ghost!"

At the sound from a distance, Kang Hang flinched without realizing it.

Thump!

Hee-hee-hee-hee!

An explosion and a strange laugh were also heard with the wind.

As the temperature dropped sharply due to the fog and he felt a desolate feeling, he closed his eyes.

Rumble! Thump!

Once again, the sound of a storm pierced through the fog and rushed in.

Thump!

The lumps of stone that had collapsed on Dan Ji-hyu's head, which had hit the cliff, fell. Dan Ji-hyu gathered all his remaining internal energy in his sword and cut the lumps of stone.

"Hmph!"

Thump! Thump!

The large lumps of stone split in half and fell to Dan Ji-hyu's left and right.

But he could not be relieved yet. In front of him was Dokgo Shin-wi.

Although he tried to get up, his legs gave out and he could not get up.

"Ugh!"

Dan Ji-hyu, who had vomited blood, looked at the sword wounds on his arms and legs, as well as his abdomen and back, which had been continuously beaten.

Although the internal injury was a problem, the injury on his right arm was more on his mind than the internal injury.

"Kill me when you can."

At Dan Ji-hyu's words, Dokgo Shin-wi raised his left palm.

"I intend to."

Whoosh!

The moment Dokgo Shin-wi's left palm moved, Dan Ji-hyu's front turned completely black.

'This is the end.'

From the memories of his childhood to becoming the leader, all the events flashed through Dan Ji-hyu's mind like a revolving lantern. Although it was a very short moment, it felt like he had had a good dream.

Dokgo Shin-wi, who looked at the bowing Dan Ji-hyu, turned his body and looked around at the foggy surroundings.

Swish!

He lightly jumped up and stood on the pile of stones where Jin Sa-wol was.

He saw Dokgo Hyeon, who was poking his head out through the fog.

"You've worked hard. How is your body?"

"I'm fine."

Dokgo Shin-wi smiled, raising his hand. In that instant, Dokgo Shin-wi grabbed his chest and vomited blood.

"Ugh! Cough! Cough!"

Blood flowed from his side.

It seemed that his qi and blood had been twisted due to the excessive use of internal energy.

"You've overdone it."

"Cough. I'm fine."

"Please rest."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Dokgo Shin-wi sat on a flat stone. He, who had taken an internal injury medicine, caught his breath for a moment.

Dokgo Shin-wi turned his gaze to Dokgo Hyeon and said.

"This is my nephew, Hyeon-ah."

"I am Dokgo Hyeon."

"I am Jin Sa-wol."

Jin Sa-wol and Dokgo Hyeon exchanged greetings and then closed their mouths. Dokgo Shin-wi wiped the blood on his beard and asked.

"I heard you own the Gangnam Grand Inn. What happened?"

"I just became independent."

"That's not bad."

Dokgo Shin-wi had no intention of opposing whatever path Jin Sa-wol took.

Jin Sa-wol treated Dokgo Shin-wi differently from other people. His tone and gaze contained a slight emotion.

"There was someone who came here before me."

"It must be Kang Hang."

"Did you know?"

"I received a report."

Dokgo Shin-wi answered and then let out a sigh. Seeing him constantly touching his chest, it seemed his stomach was not well.

Jin Sa-wol took out a small gourd bottle from his sleeve and held it out.

"Please have this."

"What is it?"

"It's a demonic essence pill. I carry one for emergencies, so please have it."

"I'm fine. What's the use of me, who has not long to live, eating it? It will just become shit."

As Dokgo Shin-wi refused, Jin Sa-wol had no choice but to put the gourd bottle in his sleeve.

Dokgo Shin-wi asked.

"Have you completely become a person of the orthodox sect now?"

Looking at the path Jin Sa-wol had walked so far, he could think so.

"If I'm in the land of the orthodox sect, I have to become an orthodox martial artist."

"Do you think they will acknowledge you?"

"I have no intention of being acknowledged. I'm just wearing the mask of an orthodox sect."

"You'll have to decide your color clearly."

At Dokgo Shin-wi's words, Jin Sa-wol nodded as if he understood.

"I will walk the path of the demonic way."

"You're going to walk the demonic way while wearing the mask of an orthodox sect? Who will acknowledge that? Do you think it's possible to live like that? Who in the world lives like that?"

Dokgo Shin-wi shook his head and denied Jin Sa-wol's will. Jin Sa-wol smiled.

"When I saw you at Zhongnan Mountain in the past, you were with Ha Shin-hak. At that time, you looked like an orthodox martial artist to me. But you are walking the demonic way. There's no reason I can't do it."

"Hmm..."

Dokgo Shin-wi swallowed a groan at Jin Sa-wol's words. Since everything he said was true, he could not deny it.

"Dan Ji-hyu is asleep. Since I've hit his acupuncture points, he won't wake up until tomorrow morning. You take good care of him. He will be of help to you."

"So you didn't kill him? I thought you were telling me to finish him off."

"It's more beneficial for you to spare Dan Ji-hyu than to kill him."

It was the tone of a grandfather worrying about his grandson. Jin Sa-wol also knew that heart.

"Understood."

Jin Sa-wol, who was answering, narrowed his eyes.

He heard a strange sound. It was a heterogeneous sound, like an insect crawling.

'An assassin?'

Jin Sa-wol's expression turned cold.

(End of Chapter)