Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 36 : A Cricket in the Corner of the Room (1)

"Me?"

"If you go to the branch and report that you cut down the bandits, they will give you silver. Of course, I don't know if there will be any silver to give since you've already missed the time."

"So there's none."

Woo Jeong-bong, who let out a deep sigh with a pitiful expression, had a money pouch fall in front of his eyes.

Thump!

"This is your share of what I received from the branch."

At the fact that he had a share, Woo Jeong-bong's expression relaxed, and he checked the money pouch. Although it was lighter than what he had given to Sang Yu-rim, it contained ten nyang of gold. Since it was a considerable amount, Woo Jeong-bong smiled and put it in his bosom.

As Woo Jeong-bong showed a pleased smile, Sang Yu-rim frowned. It was because she instinctively felt that he had received more than her.

"Let's go to the market."

Sang Yu-rim gave Woo Jeong-bong a suggestive glance.

Woo Jeong-bong hesitated as he had no particular reason to refuse. He had just come back from the market, but it was annoying that she was asking him to go out again.

Sang Yu-rim, who had roughly emptied her rice bowl, stood up and said.

"Get ready. We're going right away."

Sang Yu-rim, without even listening to Woo Jeong-bong's answer, picked up the empty bowl and headed for the kitchen.

Although Woo Jeong-bong didn't like having to go out regardless of his own will, his body moved on its own.

A short while later, Woo Jeong-bong and Sang Yu-rim, who had left the house, came face to face with the mother and daughter from next door.

"Oh my? You're a pretty older sister."

Son Ae-hwa smiled at Sang Yu-rim and laughed cutely.

At the word 'pretty', Sang Yu-rim showed a pleased expression.

"You're a pretty young lady. Nice to meet you."

"Then."

At Sang Yu-rim's greeting, Son Ae-hwa bowed her head and then went into the house with her mother.

"The neighbors seem nice."

"They're pretty too. So elegant."

At Woo Jeong-bong's words that she was elegant, Sang Yu-rim crossed her arms as if she were offended and walked forward.

"Hurry up. We don't have enough time to look around before the sun sets. We have to be back before dinner."

"Alright."

Woo Jeong-bong answered and then hurriedly stood side by side with Sang Yu-rim and walked together.

As their figures disappeared between the alleys, Ha So-eun came out of the house with Son Ae-hwa.

The place they went to was Im Woo's house.

They, who had entered the house, approached Jang Ha-jeong, who was sitting in the room, and sat in front of her.

Im Woo brought tea and refreshments, placed them on the round table, and said.

"A strange woman has come in."

At Im Woo's words, everyone nodded.

"To think that one more house guest would be added. A hunting dog usually goes around alone, so why did he get a comrade?"

"She might not be a comrade. A body servant for night work? Pfft!"

At Jang Ha-jeong's words, Son Ae-hwa blushed and smiled with her eyes.

Jang Ha-jeong shook her head and spoke again.

"Her name is Sang Yu-rim. The maternal niece of the head of the Murong family. Her mother is the younger sister of the head of the Murong family."

"Is that all?"

When Ha So-eun asked, Jang Ha-jeong nodded. It was nothing special.

"The disposal?"

"We are waiting for a reply from the in-laws' house. After that."

"Good."

Swish!

As Ha So-eun stood up, Son Ae-hwa also stood up.

Son Ae-hwa slightly opened her collar to Im Woo and said.

"Come if you miss me."

"No."

Im Woo refused with a serious face.

Jang Ha-jeong's sharp gaze turned to Son Ae-hwa. Son Ae-hwa laughed and said.

"It's a joke, a joke. Hohoho!"

As Son Ae-hwa laughed and went out, Jang Ha-jeong shook her head.

"Lewd bitch."

Jang Ha-jeong didn't like Son Ae-hwa, who showed her sensuality. When she turned her head, she saw Im Woo blankly following Son Ae-hwa's back with his eyes.

Jang Ha-jeong instinctively swung her hand.

Slap!

"Get a grip."

"Huh? Oh."

Im Woo touched the red handprint on his bald head and nodded.

* * *

Swish!

Jin Sa-wol, who had appeared in the backyard like the wind, slowly drew his sword and trained in the Ghostly Soul Sword Art.

Since Woo Jeong-bong and Sang Yu-rim were out at the market, it was a good time to train in the sword art.

Shwik! Shwik!

He pierced the empty air with his sword and continuously unfolded the seven stances of the Ghostly Soul Sword Art from beginning to end.

Shwaaaak!

As a strong wind rose in a whirlwind, wrapped around the backyard, and moved away, Jin Sa-wol sheathed his sword.

After standing still for a moment and catching his breath, he unfolded the Ghostly Soul Sword Art from the beginning again.

As he unfolded it three times like that, the leaves of the trees standing in the yard were cut, unable to withstand the sword wind.

"Twenty steps."

The distance to the tree was ten steps, but the sword wind that had swept past that distance left a mark on the wall three zhang away.

On the wall, several lines were drawn in the shape of the character for 'one'. Occasionally, dots were also marked, which were the traces of piercing and cutting.

Jin Sa-wol sheathed his sword and piled the cut trees in front of it. It was to cover the traces.

He had to properly grasp his own martial arts level, but he couldn't right now. But he thought he would be able to find out soon.

Creak!

"Brother Jin, are you there?"

At the loud voice from the main gate beyond the house, Jin Sa-wol slowly headed for the front yard.

In the yard, Ha Mae-sang had come in.

"What brings you here?"

Jin Sa-wol, upon seeing Ha Mae-sang, asked without a greeting. Ha Mae-sang was not disappointed that there was no greeting, as if he were used to Jin Sa-wol's expressionless face.

"If you have time, will you go with me? There's someone who wants to see you."

Seeing that Ha Mae-sang had come in person, the person who wanted to see him was clearly a Hao Mun member above Ha Mae-sang.

As Jin Sa-wol nodded, Ha Mae-sang smiled and led the way out of the house.

* * *

The place Jin Sa-wol went to was Ha Mae-sang's Seonyakru. As he entered the first floor of the tea house, he saw several stout men sitting.

They were holding or carrying on their backs light and nimble-looking willow-leaf sabers.

They were wearing sleeveless clothes, and a black ox head was drawn on their shoulders.

'Black Ox Gang.'

Jin Sa-wol knew that these were the Black Ox Gang, one of the many unorthodox groups active in Nanchang City.

Since they were openly announcing that they were the Black Ox Gang like that, there was no way he wouldn't know.

The Black Ox Gang was famous for operating a gambling den called the Black Ox Den near the east gate.

Since a dozen or so large, well-built stout men were in the small tea house, it seemed it would not be easy to even move.

They were all looking at Jin Sa-wol at once. He didn't know if it was on purpose, but they all had rough impressions and were staring with wide eyes.

As Ha Mae-sang went up to the second floor, Jin Sa-wol also went up to the second floor.

Unlike the first floor, the second floor had no men from the Black Ox Sect. Instead, only one person was sitting in front of a small tea table, waiting for Jin Sa-wol.

He was a man in his prime who appeared to be in his late thirties, a man in his prime with a sharp impression and a long scar on his left eye.

The man, who had a short beard and short bangs, and his back hair tied up like a horse's tail, showed a forced, good-natured smile.

"Are you Jin Sa-wol, who is called the Lone Wolf? I am Jang Woong, the leader of the Black Ox Gang."

Jin Sa-wol just nodded slightly and then sat in front of Jang Woong. Ha Mae-sang served tea.

"I've often heard about you through Owner Ha. They say you're gaining quite a reputation."

"Is the Nanchang branch master of the Hao Mun Gang Leader Jang?"

"That's right. I killed the former branch master with my own hands."

Jang Woong said, clenching his fist proudly. His face was full of a cold smile.

'He's the same kind of guy as Ma Ryong.'

Suddenly, in Jin Sa-wol's mind, the image of the smiling Ma Ryong from the past in Ghost Spirit Valley brushed past.

Jang Woong was a man who gave off a similar smell to Ma Ryong.

"The Hao Mun is originally a place where the ruler of that region becomes the branch master. There's nothing strange about it."

"You mean you've taken control of this street?"

"Roughly."

Jang Woong shrugged his shoulders, answered, then drank his tea and frowned.

"The tea doesn't taste good."

"I'll bring another one."

Ha Mae-sang, as if he were surprised by those words, quickly prepared another tea.

As he retreated, Jang Woong crossed his arms and said.

"I heard your martial arts are quite amazing. Well, you have to take the rumors of the martial world with a grain of salt, but even so, it's amazing. Mak Gu-dong is not a man who can be killed so easily. How did you kill him?"

Jang Woong waited for Jin Sa-wol's answer with wide eyes. Mak Gu-dong's death seemed to be a very important matter to Jang Woong.

"I killed him well."

At Jin Sa-wol's simple answer, Jang Woong frowned.

"As the rumors say, you're a guy who's hard to get close to."

"Is there a reason to get close?"

"No."

Jang Woong stroked his beard and nodded. As Ha Mae-sang brought tea again, Jang Woong drank the tea. This time, he smiled as if he were satisfied.

"It's good. What does Brother Jin want from us? Owner Ha will give you information. Is there anything special?"

"There's nothing in particular right now."

"Right now... It means there will be a time when you need it."

"When the time comes."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Jang Woong touched his chin and nodded. Although he had a dissatisfied expression, he couldn't tell what it was.

Jang Woong raised his hand and said.

"Let's leave the greetings at that."

"Then."

Jin Sa-wol, who stood up with a simple greeting, quietly went down.

Ha Mae-sang, as Jin Sa-wol left the tea house, quickly went up to the second floor.

Jang Woong looked at Ha Mae-sang, sneered, and said.

"As I heard, he's an arrogant bastard. It'll be hard to get close to him."

"As much as he's arrogant, his skills are also outstanding. Since he's a guy with high martial arts, you have to coax him well."

"Martial artists are all arrogant bastards, so I have to just let it be."

Jang Woong spoke as if he had dealt with many martial artists and then drank his tea.

Jin Sa-wol, who had left Seonyakru, stopped on the street for a moment. Since it was time for the sun to set, many people were coming and going in the market.

There were various people, from families who had come out for a meal to lovers, and he could also see beggars sleeping between the dark alleys.

Jin Sa-wol, who had seeped into the crowd of people coming and going on the street, walked not to where his house was, but to the north street.

The place he was going to was the red-light district, a region like a sleepless city where many people came and went from early evening.

As he entered the red-light district, there were touts who grabbed Jin Sa-wol's sleeve from the entrance. They recommended that Jin Sa-wol enter the red-light district they belonged to.

Jin Sa-wol ignored them and walked slowly, then entered a red-light district called Nampungru.

As Jin Sa-wol's figure disappeared into Nampungru, a few people who were loitering around him disappeared into an alley.

Although it was past midnight, the red-light district was still bustling. He could see carriages and people coming and going on the street, and the courtesans were still continuing their touting.

Jin Sa-wol walked out into the red-light district, where the laughter of men and women and the sound of singing were mixed.

Since he had slept in a courtesan's room, his body condition was good.

He hadn't drunk wine, nor had he slept embracing a courtesan.

The room Jin Sa-wol had come out of was just as it had been when the table was first set with wine, and the courtesan was still sleeping, having lost consciousness.

Jin Sa-wol left the red-light district and entered the main road.

Unlike the red-light district, the area around the wide main road was very quiet. A few people were still coming and going to the red-light district, but their figures also soon disappeared.

Rattle! Rattle!

A carriage that had come out of the red-light district passed him. The carriage disappeared into the darkness far away, and a deep silence came again.

Thud! Thud!

The only person walking on the wide main road was now Jin Sa-wol. The shop doors were firmly closed, and beyond the roofs, the stars were smiling.

Swish! Swish!

A dozen or so black shadows slowly poked their heads out from above the roofs. They were all wearing masks, and only their two eyes were shining brightly.

Those eyes were all following Jin Sa-wol at once.