Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 22 : Rain Falls (1)

"It's the beginning of my revenge."

The word 'revenge' settled in his ears. Jin Sawoon thought of the deceased Kang Yu and Jang Muryong.

Dokgo Hye spoke again.

"It's something I decided on my own. It's not anyone's order, but my own. Young Master Jin, you will have to choose. Who I am, what kind of person I am. When you make that choice, let's see each other again then."

At Dokgo Hye's words, Jin Sawoon nodded and then quietly disappeared into the darkness.

* * *

A small pavilion was built on the mountainside overlooking the flowing river.

Although the pavilion was located in a place with good surrounding scenery, almost no one climbed up here. It was a secluded place where Soo Yang-yeong of the Na family would occasionally come up to rest.

Although the sky was full of dark clouds, a bright flower bloomed on the face of Soo Yang-yeong, who was sitting in the pavilion.

She sat with a face full of joy, waiting for someone. A short while later, a middle-aged man in white appeared from the mountain ridge and slowly entered the pavilion.

"It's been a long time."

At Cheon Yu-myeong's voice, Soo Yang-yeong smiled, stood up, and embraced him.

"I missed you."

At Soo Yang-yeong's gentle voice, Cheon Yu-myeong smiled. He embraced her with both arms and then slowly let her go.

"Has the head of the Na family left?"

"Yes. He left with his family this morning."

"Good. Let's prepare too."

"Shall I go too?"

"It doesn't matter."

At Cheon Yu-myeong's answer, Soo Yang-yeong nodded as if she was in a good mood.

* * *

Jin Sawoon, who had killed Seo Woon-gang and met Dokgo Hye, entered Cheonsu City to see Hyung-wook.

He entered Hyung-wook's house, but he couldn't find him.

Jin Sawoon, who had waited there for half a day, judged that he had left for Daemu Mountain and then left Cheonsu City.

Jin Sawoon, who had left the city, changed into plain common clothes and then slowly headed for Daemu Mountain.

* * *

Darkness had fallen thick around Daemu Mountain. In the deep forest of the dark Daemu Mountain, several people were moving.

They passed through the forest and entered an abandoned manor built in a wide basin. Since a dense forest surrounded it, one couldn't even know of the abandoned manor's existence before getting close.

Na Hyungi, who had entered the spacious main hall, took off his rain-soaked cloak and sat in an empty chair.

His team members sat around him and took a rest.

A large brazier placed in the center of the main hall was emitting hot heat. Around it, a dozen or so Slaughter Ghosts were gathered, warming their cold bodies.

A short while later, other men in black, wearing bamboo hats pressed down, came in and sat down by the brazier.

As time passed, the number of people gathering increased. When the number exceeded fifty, two people walked to the head of the table.

Seeing them, everyone stood up.

The middle-aged man standing at the head of the table was Na Jin-seong, the head of the Na family with a sharp impression. Next to him, Hyung-wook stood, following him like a shadow.

"The reason we have gathered like this today is, as you may have heard, because of a great change within the Cult. The Cheon family is carrying out a bloody business against our family. They have killed the Slaughter Ghosts and exterminated Ghost Spirit Valley. We have suffered great damage, and we may have to hide for the time being."

Although Na Jin-seong's voice echoed, no one opened their mouths. Only silence lingered.

Na Jin-seong, who looked around at the Slaughter Ghosts gathered in the main hall, opened his mouth again.

"We are facing a great threat. But as long as you are alive, the Cheon family will not be able to sleep peacefully. Ghost Spirit Valley will be rebuilt. To plan for the future..."

Na Jin-seong, who was speaking, frowned as he heard a faint sound of something cutting through the air.

Thwack!

A dull noise from outside the door of the main hall struck everyone's ears. Immediately after, the sound of 'ping-ping!' cutting through the wind echoed.

Thwack-thwack! Thwack-thwack-thwack!

"Arrows!"

Someone's voice echoed.

As they opened the door of the main hall, countless lights filled the night sky.

"Fire arrows!"

Thwack-thwack-thwack!

Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

Countless arrows, on fire, fell towards the main hall like a downpour.

As the main hall also caught fire because of the burning arrows, the Slaughter Ghosts were momentarily flustered.

"Fall back."

As Na Jin-seong's voice echoed, the Slaughter Ghosts who had gathered in the main hall went out in the opposite direction of where the arrows had come from.

As they entered the spacious garden, countless flames fell from the sky again. It was an attack as if they had predicted their movements in advance.

"Dodge!"

"Hide!"

The Slaughter Ghosts shouted and moved urgently to avoid the rain of arrows that flew in like a storm.

The Slaughter Ghosts who had come out to the wide open space unfortunately had no space to hide. It was an attack mixed with fire arrows and regular arrows, and it was too late to avoid.

Some of the Slaughter Ghosts grabbed the comrade right next to them and used them as a shield to block the front.

"You!"

"This bastard!"

Thwack-thwack-thwack!

The arrows that flew in without a moment to defend pierced the bodies of the Slaughter Ghosts. Ma Ryong, who was holding a corpse with dozens of arrows embedded in it, threw the corpse with an indifferent face and looked around.

He could see that about a dozen people had defended in the same way as him. They were all familiar faces and first-class Slaughter Ghosts.

Some hid behind a distant tree, and others sat under a wall.

Immediately after, the attack began.

"Waaaaaah!"

"Kill them all!"

With a mixture of roars and shouts, the warriors of the Cheon family who had jumped over the wall began to attack the Slaughter Ghosts.

"Tch!"

Ma Ryong showed a cold smile and was about to step forward but then stepped back.

The Slaughter Ghosts who had hidden behind the trees threw hidden weapons. The Slaughter Ghosts who were sitting under the wall also threw hidden weapons and retreated.

"Kuaaak!"

"Keuk! You cowardly Slaughter Ghost bastards!"

"Watch out for the hidden weapons!"

Screams and loud shouts erupted.

The retreating Slaughter Ghosts, seeing that even the back gate was full of warriors from the Cheon family, realized they were surrounded and gathered together.

Some jumped over them to escape, but they were skewered by the flying swords and died.

Seeing that, the Slaughter Ghosts gave up on escaping and retreated. The warriors of the Cheon family who were closing the distance had faces full of killing intent.

Many torches flickered, and the houses of the abandoned manor were burning.

The number of Slaughter Ghosts gathered in the center of the garden was only twenty.

But among them, Na Jin-seong and Na Hyungi were not there.

Among the warriors of the Cheon family who had surrounded the Slaughter Ghosts, Cheon Mun-jung stepped forward and looked for Na Jin-seong, but was flustered to find that he was not there.

He shouted loudly.

"Head of the Na family! Are you going to kill all the Slaughter Ghosts?"

His voice spread in all directions, but the surroundings were quiet.

In the forest on one side of the burning garden, Na Jin-seong and Na Hyungi were sitting quietly. The darkness covered their figures.

"If you don't come out, I'll kill them one by one."

Cheon Mun-jung's voice echoed again. Hearing that sound, Na Hyungi whispered quietly.

"We'll die if we go out anyway."

At his words, Na Jin-seong nodded.

"I know."

Na Jin-seong's mind was filled with various complicated thoughts. The attack of the Cheon family was an unexpected event.

Swish!

Na Jin-seong took out a martial arts secret manual from his bosom and held it out to Na Hyungi.

"From now on, this is yours. Learn this."

"Ghostly Soul Sword Art."

Seeing the secret manual, Na Hyungi's eyes widened. It was a sword art that only the family head and direct descendants learned, a symbol of the Na family.

As Na Hyungi took the secret manual in his hand, Na Jin-seong spoke again.

"I was ignorant and couldn't learn it properly. But you will surely be able to achieve great success. If you achieve great success, you will lead the Na family in my place."

"It's not something I can do. I still can't even do the work of a Slaughter Ghost properly."

"Just do it."

Na Jin-seong said in a low voice, then shook his head and grabbed Na Hyungi's shoulder.

"Although I am a worthless father who has done nothing well for you, for now, just take what I give you. The power of the Na family is not just the Slaughter Ghosts. Go to the Buhakru in Luoyang and meet the owner."

Na Jin-seong took off his jade ring and handed it to Na Hyungi. As Na Hyungi nodded, Na Jin-seong soon stood up, leaped into the air, and appeared in front of the Slaughter Ghosts.

"Were you looking for me?"

"Where were you hiding?"

Cheon Mun-jung smiled and raised his sword. Then Na Jin-seong asked with a cold expression.

"Where is the head of the Cheon family?"

"Do you think my older brother would have come here?"

"Do you think you can be my opponent? There's no way the head of the Cheon family wouldn't come here when you might make a mistake or die."

Na Jin-seong spoke as if he knew Cheon Yu-myeong well. As his words ended, Cheon Yu-myeong slowly walked out from behind Cheon Mun-jung.

"How did you know I was here?"

"How could you not be?"

"If you knew so well, you must have known that things would turn out like this."

"I didn't know this."

Na Jin-seong frowned and spoke, then asked.

"Didn't we agree to join hands with our family? But what on earth is this?"

"Did you believe that? You naive friend."

"So you were after my neck from the beginning."

Cheon Yu-myeong did not deny it and nodded.

"I was after the Na family. There are too many families in our Cult who raise their voices. That's the problem. We need to reduce the number of elders."

At Cheon Yu-myeong's story, Na Jin-seong's expression hardened and he held his sword in his hand.

Sreung!

As he raised his sword, a smile hung on Cheon Yu-myeong's lips.

"Is there a need to waste useless energy? Just give up."

"You're talking nonsense."

Na Jin-seong answered and then raised his sword to shoulder height. In that instant, a silver flash of light appeared from behind Na Jin-seong and cut through his neck.

Thwack!

A dull sound echoed, and Na Jin-seong's head fell to the ground. The eyes of the falling Na Jin-seong were directed at Hyung-wook, who was standing with a sword.

Thump!

As Na Jin-seong's body fell forward, Hyung-wook, who was standing with a sword, picked up Na Jin-seong's head.

"The head of the Na family is dead."

Cheon Yu-myeong smiled when he saw Hyung-wook. Since it was an expected event, he was not greatly surprised.

"To kill your master, isn't that excessive loyalty?"

"That's what you wanted."

"That's right."

Hyung-wook put down Na Jin-seong's head with a calm face and then prostrated himself in front of Cheon Yu-myeong. Then the surviving Slaughter Ghosts also prostrated themselves in unison. Among them was Ma Ryong.

Cheon Yu-myeong said.

"Now that the head of the Na family is dead, Ghost Spirit Valley is yours."

Hyung-wook, who received Cheon Yu-myeong's gaze, quickly stood up and answered.

"It is the Cult Leader's."

Hearing his answer, Cheon Yu-myeong laughed out loud as if it were amusing.

"Hahahaha! You are indeed like an old fox. I like that. Yes, can you rebuild Ghost Spirit Valley?"

"Of course."

"You will have to continue to be loyal in the future."

"Yes."

Hyung-wook answered and lowered his head, and Cheon Yu-myeong stroked his beard with a satisfied expression.

It was then.

"Na Hyungi is not here."

Soo Yang-yeong, who had walked over with a hardened expression, looked at the dead Slaughter Ghosts and spoke again.

"He's the bloodline of the head of the Na family. If he escaped, we must find him and kill him."

"No one has left this place. Isn't it that he burned to death and couldn't be found?"

"Is that so? I'll have to look again."

Soo Yang-yeong nodded and then looked at her own belly.

Swish!

A sword that had pierced through her abdomen came into her view. As dark red blood flowed down the sword, Soo Yang-yeong's whole body trembled.

Pfft!

Cheon Yu-myeong, who had pulled out the sword, showed a disappointed expression when he saw Soo Yang-yeong turning her body.

"You've worked hard all this time."

"Why?"

As Soo Yang-yeong, who was clutching her belly, asked, Cheon Yu-myeong answered, admiring the blood on his sword.

"I'm going to be the Cult Leader. If I take the wife of a dead friend, who would like that? Wouldn't it naturally be a problem for my reputation?"

"You despicable bastard."

"The despicable one is not me, but you."

Cheon Yu-myeong lightly moved his sword, cut Soo Yang-yeong's neck, then shook off the blood on his sword and sheathed it.

Soo Yang-yeong stared blankly ahead and then slowly collapsed.

Thud!

As she died, Cheon Yu-myeong spoke to Hyung-wook.

"Before the sun rises tomorrow morning, kill all the members of the Na family and find Na Hyungi's corpse."

"As you command."

As Hyung-wook cupped his fist and bowed his waist, Cheon Yu-myeong nodded and then turned his body.

As he retreated, the warriors of the Cheon family poured out of the abandoned manor like a tide.

(End of Chapter)