Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 121 : Cutting the Fog (2)

"This bastard..."

Drip! Drip!

Blood flowed from Ja Cho-je's neck as he turned his head. Ja Cho-je opened his eyes wide at the hot feeling that soaked his chest.

"When... Keuk!"

Jin Sa-wol stared at Ja Cho-je's eyes, which were trembling like a willow tree.

Ja Cho-je grabbed his neck and looked at Jin Sa-wol's eyes in the mask, then extended his hand. It was to take off the mask.

Swish!

Ja Cho-je's hand seemed to grab Jin Sa-wol's mask. But Jin Sa-wol's figure was already heading towards the cliff.

Whoosh!

Jin Sa-wol's eyes, who had flown over the cliff, turned to Hwang-jeong and Mun-gang, who were standing with expressionless faces.

The two were not even holding the hilts of their swords and sabers.

It felt as if they had anticipated the current situation.

'There's not even any killing intent.'

Whoosh!

Jin Sa-wol's figure disappeared into the fog.

Hwang-jeong opened his mouth to Mun-gang, who had approached him.

"No Jeon-ju died in less than ten seconds. Ja Cho-je was one second."

"He's a hidden gatekeeper of the esoteric sect."

"That's a possibility."

"It's natural for a treasure to have a gatekeeper who protects it. Did he learn the martial arts of the Three Emperors?"

"If he's a descendant of the Three Emperors, it explains why he killed No Jeon-ju."

At Hwang-jeong's words, Mun-gang nodded.

Although there was a story about the Three Emperors regarding the Sea Peak Spirit Map, there was also a rumor that there was a monster that protected the treasure.

It felt like he was seeing that monster.

"How peculiar."

Hwang-jeong muttered and stroked his beard.

"Why does he hit and run?"

"Because it's convenient. Or does he want to play with us?"

"Play with us...? How dare he?"

Hwang-jeong muttered and saw the sea of fog wriggling strangely.

"It hurts my pride, but we can't play along. Retreat to the bottom! Everyone, go down to the bottom!"

"That's a good idea. There's no reason to stay up here."

Mun-gang smiled and then retreated.

The remaining Demonic Cult members and the members of the Black Dragon Faction all retreated to go down to the fifth gate.

As they retreated, Mun-gang stood at the very back.

Whoosh!

Mun-gang, who had jumped over the main hall, walked a few steps, then stopped and turned his body.

He saw a masked man standing on the roof.

Mun-gang also stared at the masked man who was looking down at him from the roof of the main hall. As their eyes met, the masked man seemed to be telling him not to run away.

Mun-gang's hand naturally went to the hilt of his crescent saber.

Whoosh!

The moment Jin Sa-wol's figure disappeared, Mun-gang's figure flew to the entrance of the stairs leading down.

Papapat!

Mun-gang, who had retreated at a fast speed, stopped at the entrance. As he saw his subordinates all going down the stairs, he blocked the entrance.

But Jin Sa-wol's figure was not seen.

Shwaak!

As a sharp sound of wind was heard from the left, Mun-gang flew down the stairs without hesitation.

Whoosh!

The sword that had passed through the empty air created a strong wind with a 'whoosh!' sound.

Jin Sa-wol stood at the entrance of the stairs and looked down. He saw Mun-gang standing between the night-luminescent pearls.

Mun-gang was holding the hilt of his crescent saber and smiling.

"I can fight you properly here."

It meant to come at him.

Although Mun-gang's prayer had become stronger, Jin Sa-wol did not move. It was better to fight in an environment that was even slightly more advantageous to him.

Jin Sa-wol came out of the fog and saw the retreating Demonic Cult members, and his annoyance rose at them moving against his intentions.

'A person who knows how to retreat is a scary person.'

It was what Hyung-wook of Ghost Spirit Valley had said. That story suddenly brushed past his ear.

Although he had intended to slowly dry them out using the fog, it seemed that killing No Seo-pung had given them a sense of caution.

Jin Sa-wol, who had stood on the roof, had a premonition that he would run away when his eyes met Mun-gang's.

Whoosh!

He quickly turned to the left and aimed for Mun-gang. Mun-gang turned his body and ran like crazy, and his speed was like lightning.

If he had taken the rear, it meant that he would fight properly, but Mun-gang was only pretending and was avoiding the battle.

But as he entered the narrow cave, he changed his attitude.

The stairs leading down were wide enough for about two people to pass, and the height was also low.

Jin Sa-wol looked down at Mun-gang, who was standing at a distance of about five zhang. He took another step back and shook the crescent saber in his hand.

"Don't you have confidence? Why are you standing there?"

Mun-gang had a confident expression in the fight in the narrow passage. Mun-gang's round physique filled the entire cave.

"Come at me."

Mun-gang smiled and then took another step back. Although his words and actions were opposite, Jin Sa-wol did not say anything.

He just stared at the inside of the cave until he slowly disappeared.

"Be grateful that you're alive today and look forward to tomorrow."

As Mun-gang's last voice was heard from the darkness, Jin Sa-wol turned his body.

* * *

Jin Sa-wol, who had entered the dining hall on the right side of the main hall, lit a fire and boiled porridge.

Jin Sa-wol, who turned his head at the sound of footsteps, frowned when he saw Jo Geom-ok and Son Ae-hwa.

"Weren't you at the fifth gate?"

"There's no suitable place to hide at the fifth gate."

"Yes. This forest is good for hiding."

At Jo Geom-ok's and Son Ae-hwa's words, Jin Sa-wol thought of the forest located not far away. It certainly seemed suitable for hiding there. But any assassin would hide there.

Jin Sa-wol approached Jo Geom-ok with a hardened expression. Jo Geom-ok was startled and took a step back.

"Why?"

Jin Sa-wol approached Jo Geom-ok even more with an indifferent face. Jo Geom-ok avoided Jin Sa-wol's gaze and retreated again.

Jo Geom-ok avoided Jin Sa-wol's gaze and asked again.

"Are you angry at me?"

"There's something you have to do."

"What is it?"

"There's an injured person. I'll bring him, so take a look."

"Who?"

"The leader of the Diancang Sect."

Jo Geom-ok frowned, recalling Dan Ji-hyu. Since she had met him several times, she knew his face. It seemed he was entrusting him to her because of that.

Jin Sa-wol, who had put the porridge in a soup bowl, disappeared into the fog.

As he left, Jo Geom-ok and Son Ae-hwa ate the porridge and filled their stomachs.

A short while later, Jin Sa-wol, who had returned carrying Dan Ji-hyu, laid him down in the dining hall and said.

"He'll wake up in the morning. Explain well and hide."

"You? Did you find the Three Emperors?"

"I couldn't find them. There was nothing."

"If so, wouldn't it be better to go back before more martial artists flock in? There's nothing good about staying long."

Jo Geom-ok's expression was not good. It was because the memories of her childhood remained.

The bad memories tormented her.

"Let's do that."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Jo Geom-ok's expression brightened for a moment. Jo Geom-ok asked as if she had remembered something.

"Did you meet Brother Woo?"

"I didn't see him."

"Where could he have gone? He definitely came up... I can't see him."

"He'll be fine."

Jin Sa-wol went outside again with a face that had no worries. As he disappeared, Jo Geom-ok and Son Ae-hwa closed their eyes and rested.

* * *

As dawn broke, Hwang-jeong and Mun-gang, who had woken up from sleep, walked through the wide training ground of the fifth gate.

On one side, a small hill where the corpses were buried was seen, and smoke was rising from the dining hall.

The two's expressions were not good.

Mun-gang and Hwang-jeong let out a long sigh, recalling the subordinates who had died at the hands of the masked man.

The problem was that they had misjudged the enemy and had dealt with him as if he were an assassin.

As a result, No Seo-pung and Ja Cho-je had died. Both were notorious masters in the martial world.

The death of Ja Cho-je was not something to worry about. They would choose a new leader and live well.

But the death of the Wall Demonic Hall Master, No Seo-pung, was completely unexpected.

Whoosh!

A cold wind came into the fifth gate, swirled around, and then disappeared. Hwang-jeong said.

"If the orthodox martial artists flock in, we won't be able to protect this place on our own."

Mun-gang stroked his beard and let out a short breath. Half of their forces were dead or injured and could not move.

If they included the lightly injured, they had lost seventy percent of their forces. It was impossible to block the orthodox martial artists who were rushing in with the remaining thirty percent.

Was it because words become seeds? Countless footsteps were heard, and gray-clad people rushed out of the narrow gate.

They all emitted a foul smell and were beggars with disheveled hair and faces covered in dirt.

They were holding long sticks in their hands and, after looking around with a carefree attitude, they sat or lay down.

Although they saw the Demonic Cult members, they did not seem to be very interested. Since their number was over a hundred, Mun-gang and Hwang-jeong could not help but be flustered.

"It seems this is the esoteric sect."

"As rumored, it was in a secret place."

"Will the food of the esoteric sect be delicious?"

"Will there be food? It will be full of rotten corpses. It seems they have killed them all."

Two of the beggars who were sitting at the very front were talking loudly. They had dark skin and a lot of beards, and their faces made it difficult to determine their age.

At least, since they had many wrinkles, it felt as if they were past middle age.

Although Mun-gang and Hwang-jeong frowned, they did not respond. It was not a situation to fight unnecessarily now.

'The defense is solid.'

Although the beggars were lying or sitting as if they were nothing, they were forming nine circles. It was a defensive formation, one of the nine palaces.

Whoosh!

Just then, a man in white was seen passing over the heads of the beggars.

"Huh?"

"What is that bastard! Why is he passing over our heads!"

Although the beggars shouted, the man in white did not care and jumped over the main hall. In a hurry, Mun-gang and Hwang-jeong chased after him.

A man in white, who had stopped in front of the stairs leading up, turned his body when he saw the chasing Mun-gang and Hwang-jeong.

He had single eyelids, thick eyebrows, thick lips, and a prominent nose. Although it was not a domineering aura, he had a manly strength.

He, who had a tall, well-balanced physique and fine skin, looked younger than his age due to his high martial arts, although his actual age was over fifty.

Although he looked to be in his mid-thirties, Mun-gang and Hwang-jeong bowed, as if they knew him well.

"I greet Lord Yuk."

"Hwang-jeong of the Wind Blood Pavilion greets you."

Yuk Sam-yuk, who was standing with his hands behind his back, showed a relaxed smile.

"Get up. I'm not the Cult Leader, so why are you so formal? Our Yuk family has not valued formality since ancient times. Instead, put strength in your voice. Your voice sounds like you're dying. Straighten your shoulders, and put some strength in your neck."

"Understood."

"Yes."

As the two's voices became slightly louder and their postures became stiff, Yuk Sam-yuk nodded and went up the stairs.

Hwang-jeong said in a hurry.

"No Seo-pung died upstairs. He was attacked by a masked man and could not last ten seconds. And Dan Ji-hyu of the Diancang Sect also went up, and Dokgo Shin-wi is also here."

"That old man lives for a long time. I expected Dan Ji-hyu to come... But."

Yuk Sam-yuk showed a slight killing intent.

"No Seo-pung is dead, but you two are alive?"

Yuk Sam-yuk, who had stopped walking, asked, and Mun-gang and Hwang-jeong lowered their heads with hardened expressions. Yuk Sam-yuk's killing intent brushed past the two's shoulders.

(End of Chapter)