Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 18 : Spill (3)

As Seo Woon-gang disappeared, Seomun Ok asked with a face full of disappointment.

"Why did you let him live?"

"He's a guy who would stab a comrade for his own benefit. If a guy like that is loyal to me, wouldn't he be very useful? It's the same whether I kill him now or later."

"Certainly..."

Seomun Ok also nodded as if she agreed with his words. Cheon Woo-rin's purpose was to use Seo Woon-gang as a hunting dog. Of course, if he was useless, he had to be killed.

* * *

When Cheon Woo-rin appeared, Jin Sawoon looked for an escape route. They had blocked all directions, but there was a gap in the north.

There were fewer people than in other areas, and it looked lax.

Whoosh!

As he flew there, he heard the sound of someone chasing him. Jang Muryong followed him and fell into the tea field.

At that moment, dozens of men in blue rose from the tea field and attacked all at once.

He had thought it was an escape route, but Jin Sawoon was surprised that they had prepared for an escape.

Before their encirclement was complete, Jin Sawoon quickly turned to the right and jumped over the tea field.

Seeing them, Jang Muryong, who had jumped up again, cursed and poured out all the hidden weapons hidden in his sleeves at once.

"Shit! Die!"

Chareureureu!

Dozens of daggers and throwing stars, as well as iron caltrops, poured into the tea field at once.

"Keuk!"

"Ack!"

Because he had released many hidden weapons at once, their power was halved, but those who couldn't avoid them screamed in pain.

Although it was a brief moment, it also had the effect of blocking the enemy's movements. In the meantime, Jin Sawoon and Jang Muryong were almost able to get out of the tea field.

Shwaaak! Shwik! Thwack!

Just as they were about to enter the mountain from the tea field, the sound of a snake slithering through the grass was heard, and Jang Muryong staggered.

"Keuk!"

Jang Muryong frowned as he saw the arrow embedded in his right thigh.

Jin Sawoon also stopped. Kang Yu, who was on his back, shook his head with a weak expression.

"Leave me."

At his words, Jin Sawoon hesitated for a moment. This hesitation was a very short time, but that time could decide life and death.

"Chase them!"

Papapat! Papapapat!

Dozens of warriors were running, jumping over the tea field.

Jin Sawoon and Jang Muryong turned their heads and their eyes met. Jang Muryong cast a look that urgently said, "Decide quickly."

Kang Yu spoke again.

"The rule of Ghost Spirit Valley. If there is a wounded person during a retreat..."

"Abandon them."

Jin Sawoon answered in a dry voice. Kang Yu smiled as if satisfied. Jang Muryong said.

"Avenge me."

Jang Muryong also seemed to have given up on running away. At his words, Jin Sawoon nodded.

"Okay."

Whoosh!

With his answer, Jin Sawoon's figure disappeared into the forest.

"Heartless bastard."

Jang Muryong grumbled, turned his body, and drew his flexible sword towards the approaching warriors of the Cheon family.

Kang Yu also held a flexible sword in his hand but staggered and sat down.

It was not even easy to stand properly.

Jang Muryong took in the dozens of approaching warriors and asked.

"I didn't know I would die so futilely. Did you know, Team Leader?"

"Do you think I would have known?"

"It's a dog-like day."

"Yes, it's a dog-like day."

Shwaak!

In that instant, two daggers flew through the air, and Jang Muryong swung his flexible sword.

Clatter-clatter!

As the daggers were flung into the air, the sword of Seo Woon-gang, who had jumped out of the tea field, headed for Jang Muryong.

"You son of a bitch! I'll definitely kill you!"

Pat!

Jang Muryong endured the pain in his leg and swung his sword at Seo Woon-gang.

Seo Woon-gang parried Jang Muryong's sword.

"Who are you going to kill with that body? You funny bastard."

Seo Woon-gang sneered at Jang Muryong and leisurely stepped back. Immediately after, a sword light that bloomed from the right brushed past Jang Muryong's neck.

Thwack!

Jang Muryong's head, which had received a strong shock, flew into the air, drew a semicircle, and fell to the ground.

Kang Yu watched the back of the slowly falling Jang Muryong, then took out a yellow pouch from his bosom, threw it into the air, and cut it with his sword.

Thwack! Shwaaak!

As the yellow powder scattered in the wind and spread in all directions, Seo Woon-gang shouted.

"Poison! Dodge!"

At Seo Woon-gang's shout, the surrounding warriors all retreated.

The young man who had been dragging Kang Yu and Jin Sawoon around cut through the poisonous fog and cut Kang Yu's neck.

It was Jang Do, Cheon Woo-rin's bodyguard and friend.

Seo Woon-gang and Jang Do glared at each other for a moment. Seo Woon-gang did not look kindly at Jang Do, who had taken away the job he was supposed to do.

Whoosh-whoosh!

Cheon Woo-rin, who appeared with the sound of wind, saw the two and raised his voice.

"Hurry up and chase the remaining one! You must kill him."

"Yes!"

The two answered in unison and then headed for the forest. Behind them, dozens of warriors ran.

Cheon Woo-rin, who had confirmed the corpses of the dead Kang Yu and Jang Muryong, sheathed his sword.

Then he grumbled as if he didn't like the fact that one had escaped into the forest alive.

"He's going to die anyway, so I don't know why he's running away. He's being annoying."

* * *

"Kuaaak!"

"Ugh!"

Screams of pain echoed in Ghost Spirit Valley. Numerous martial artists were mixed together and fighting. The blood they shed flowed like a stream.

Cheon Mun-jung, the head of the Cheon family manor, had entered the room where the Valley Lord of Ghost Spirit Valley was staying.

He stood by the window, appreciating the scenery of the precipitous valley, and said.

"They say the Slaughter Ghosts insulted the young master and even tried to harm the Cult Leader's granddaughter. They joined hands with an outside force with many complaints against the Cult and attacked. How can I just stand by?"

Cheon Mun-jung turned his head and saw the Valley Lord of Ghost Spirit Valley sitting in a chair. The Valley Lord stared blankly at his teacup with a pale complexion.

Below his solar plexus, there was a lot of red blood, and the blood that had flowed down under the chair had pooled like a puddle.

"Heok! Heok!"

As if he was still breathing, Won Young-choong, the Valley Lord, let out a rough breath and moved his pupils.

"The head of the Cheon family has gone mad."

"Mad? I'm not mad, I'm telling the truth."

"Are you trying to pin the crime you committed on us?"

"The truth is that the dead are guilty. The one with power can speak the truth. You just have to die."

At Cheon Mun-jung's words, Won Young-choong's whole body trembled.

"You are the traitors who betrayed the Cult."

"No matter how much you talk, it's useless. The Cult Leader's Butterfly Crown will come out of this Ghost Spirit Valley."

Swish!

Cheon Mun-jung, who took out a crown with a butterfly pattern from his sleeve, smiled.

"You shouldn't have provoked our family. It was a self-defeating move to try to persecute our family by framing the young master as a traitor. How dare you try to kill my nephew? Our family will do everything in our power to kill you and kill you again."

"Do you think we'll just stand by? You'll die too."

At Won Young-choong's voice full of killing intent, Cheon Mun-jung shook his head as if he were pitiful.

"The head of the Na family will also allow this matter. He has decided to give our family strength in rebuilding Ghost Spirit Valley. Last night, the head of the Na family and my older brother had a secret conversation and came to a conclusion."

At Cheon Mun-jung's story, Won Young-choong's eyes widened.

His words meant that the Na family and the Cheon family had joined hands. And it meant that the power struggle to become the Cult Leader had begun.

"It means to throw away the stagnant water and put new water in a new cup, so don't feel sad and go well."

Cheon Mun-jung smiled, patted Won Young-choong's shoulder, and then walked outside.

Outside the door, he saw a dozen or so warriors standing, dressed in blood-soaked martial arts uniforms. When they saw Cheon Mun-jung, they bowed.

"We have taken care of most of the Slaughter Ghosts who were staying in the valley. But Steward Hyung-wook and Song Ha-sang of the Earth Insect Courtyard are not seen."

"Rat-like old man."

Cheon Mun-jung muttered as if he knew Hyung-wook well. Hyung-wook was a more difficult opponent to deal with than the Valley Lord, Won Young-choong.

"Search the valley thoroughly. We must find them and kill them."

"Yes!"

With a resounding answer, the subordinates retreated, and Cheon Mun-jung frowned slightly.

'Where are they hiding?'

Since Ghost Spirit Valley had only one entrance and exit, no one could leave if the entrance was blocked.

In that case, the ones who had disappeared were surely hiding somewhere here. There was no place for Hyung-wook's name in the newly created Ghost Spirit Valley.

* * *

On the summit of a mountain with a panoramic view of the precipitous valley of Ghost Spirit Valley, two shadows were swaying.

It was Hyung-wook and Song Ha-sang.

Hyung-wook, dressed in a black martial arts uniform, observed Ghost Spirit Valley with a calm expression.

He could see the warriors of the Cheon family roaming inside the valley, but he was not angry.

"What happened?"

When Song Ha-sang asked, Hyung-wook shook his head.

"I'll know when I see the family head."

Hyung-wook muttered, stroked his beard, and then soon disappeared with the smoke. Song Ha-sang also disappeared with Hyung-wook.

After they disappeared, a shadow as dark as lacquer appeared in that spot.

It was Jin Sawoon.

Jin Sawoon examined the footprints and knew that the two had been standing there until just a moment ago.

'There are escapees.'

This was a place with a secret passage leading to Ghost Spirit Valley, and only a few among the Slaughter Ghosts knew about it. The reason he knew this place was because of Hyung-wook.

Hyung-wook had told Jin Sawoon about this place and had instructed him to use it to escape if someone tried to kill him within Ghost Spirit Valley.

Whoooosh!

The wind blowing from Ghost Spirit Valley tickled Jin Sawoon's nose.

Jin Sawoon briefly contemplated whether to enter Ghost Spirit Valley or to follow the escapees. But at the thick smell of blood carried on the wind, he turned his body.

Whoosh!

Jin Sawoon's figure headed down the mountain.

* * *

A waterwheel was turning, and brocade carp were dancing in a large pond. There was a house in a tasteful place where bamboo and reeds were mixed.

The house made of bamboo was not large.

Inside the house full of green, a man was sitting and passing the time drinking bamboo leaf tea.

Chirp! Chirp!

The man, who was smiling as he listened to the sounds of the mountain birds, was a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his late forties.

The middle-aged man with a dignified impression narrowed his eyes and put down his teacup.

"If you've come in, sit down."

At his words, Hyung-wook appeared in the room with black smoke. He quietly cupped his fist and bowed his waist.

"I greet the family head."

"What's with the greetings."

Na Jin-seong, the head of the Na family, smiled and gestured for him to sit down, waving his hand.

Na Jin-seong had expected that Hyung-wook would easily find him.

As Hyung-wook sat in front of Na Jin-seong, he asked.

"Ghost Spirit Valley is being ravaged by the Cheon family bastards."

"I know well."

At the words 'I know', Hyung-wook's expression hardened. Although he had seen him for a long time, Na Jin-seong was still an unpredictable person.

It was also suspicious that he was just watching as one of his own arms was being cut off.

"Last night, the head of the Cheon family secretly came to me and made a proposal."

"What is it?"

"He said to join hands with him. It meant to let the matter of his son pass at a suitable level. He wanted to get rid of Ghost Spirit Valley. So I asked what he could give. Isn't a deal made when it's mutually beneficial?"

"What did you get for giving up one arm?"

"If he becomes the Cult Leader, Ghost Spirit Valley will become the eyes and ears of our Cult. We will get all the information."

"Hmm..."

At Na Jin-seong's story, Hyung-wook fell silent. It was difficult to judge right and wrong.

Na Jin-seong drank his tea and then spoke again.

"Of course, he also promised to compensate for Ghost Spirit Valley. He promised to give a lot of help in rebuilding Ghost Spirit Valley, so it will be a comfort to the dead."

Na Jin-seong had put a price on Ghost Spirit Valley and sold it off as if he were a merchant. That made Hyung-wook frown.

'Comfort...'

(End of Chapter)