Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 60 : The Ten-Sword Ghosts

Murong Bao was listening to the reports of the pavilion masters during the morning assembly. In the midst of it, a man who appeared to be in his early thirties said.

"Since the Red Spider Sect belongs to the Hao Mun, it seems we will have to get the cooperation of the Hao Mun."

"Will the Hao Mun obediently tell us about the Red Spider Sect Master? Find a Hao Mun member and bring him here."

"Yes."

As Murong Bao's voice grew louder, the man answered and bowed his head. He could not look straight at Murong Bao's fierce face.

Murong Bao looked at the five pavilion masters and deputy pavilion masters standing in the conference room and said.

"Yun Deok was killed by an assassin, but we couldn't even find a trace of that assassin. Jo Mal-sang went far away and died. But you don't know anything. Is this something you should be saying in front of me right now?"

"I'm sorry."

As the men answered in unison, Murong Bao shook his head and spoke again.

"I don't need an apology. Bring me the Red Spider Sect Master. I'll give you five days. If it's the work of an assassin, the Red Spider Sect Master will know. If there's no income, we'll have to take at least the Red Spider Sect Master to the Alliance."

"Yes!"

The men who had answered in unison at Murong Bao's words hurriedly left the conference room. As they left, the woman in white who was standing at the door came inside.

Although she was wearing a martial arts uniform that was easy to move in and was a head taller than ordinary women, her hourglass figure could not be hidden.

The woman in white, with long black hair, an oval face, and skin as white as jade, had an indifferent expression.

Although her eyes were small, narrow, and long, and her eyelashes were long, she could not hide her cold impression.

Jo Geom-ok, a disciple of the Wudang Sect, was currently in charge of Murong Bao's guard duty.

Murong Bao asked.

"Have you looked for the guide of the Shadowless Hall?"

"No."

"If he didn't fly into the sky, does that mean he went into the ground?"

"It's not a joke, there's not even a trace."

Murong Bao showed a face full of worry at Jo Geom-ok's answer.

"Although it's an important matter to drag the Red Spider Sect Master to the Alliance, it's also an important matter to find the weakness of the Namgung family."

"We also have to catch and kill the guy who impersonated the Ten-Sword Demon."

At Jo Geom-ok's indifferent words, Murong Bao smiled.

"That's a matter of course. It seems there are all sorts of strange guys in Nanchang City. To dare to impersonate the number one assassin in the martial world without fear. And against the great Namgung family at that."

The smile on Murong Bao's lips had at some point turned into killing intent.

The position of the inspection pavilion master of the Martial Alliance was a position where the person most trusted by the Martial Alliance leader was seated.

Naturally, Murong Bao knew many secrets of the Martial Alliance and was doing a lot of work.

* * *

It is a good way for safety to enter the house of the one who is trying to kill me.

Woo Jeong-bong quietly watched the back of the siblings who were enjoying a walk. It was Namgung Ji of the Namgung family and her youngest son, Namgung Wook.

Namgung Ji was thinking deeply of Namgung Wook, so much so that she had sent half of her own bodyguards to Namgung Wook.

Because of that, Namgung Ji, who was short of bodyguards, had to keep a master like Woo Jeong-bong by her side.

'Is it because they're half-siblings? They don't resemble their two older brothers at all.'

Woo Jeong-bong felt that Namgung Wook's appearance and behavior were different from Namgung Yu and Namgung Wi.

Everyone exuded a prayer. That person's personality and atmosphere appeared in that prayer.

If you train in martial arts, at some point, when you surpass a certain level, you can roughly grasp that person's disposition just by their prayer.

In terms of color, if Namgung Yu and Namgung Wi were blood-red, Namgung Ji looked like a turbid green, and Namgung Wook looked like a pure blue.

"What are you thinking so much about?"

Namgung Ji, who had at some point separated from Namgung Wook, approached Woo Jeong-bong and asked.

"There's a story that the Namgung family is the one who tried to kill me, so it's funny that I'm here as a bodyguard... Oops!"

Woo Jeong-bong hurriedly closed his mouth. What he had been thinking had come out as words without him realizing it.

Namgung Ji's expression hardened.

She looked around. Fortunately, there was no one nearby.

Namgung Ji, who had confirmed that fact, whispered to Woo Jeong-bong.

"Walk."

Woo Jeong-bong hurriedly nodded and walked.

Namgung Ji, who had gone up to the pavilion located in the center of a wide pond, asked Woo Jeong-bong, who was following her up.

"Where on earth did you hear such a story?"

The area around the pavilion was a pond, and there were no bodyguards nearby.

Woo Jeong-bong answered.

"The Beggars' Sect members told me. But it seems they're not sure either, since it's a story they heard in the market."

"If such a rumor is circulating in the market, it's not a situation that can be stopped."

"But is the story the beggars told really true? It's not, right?"

Namgung Ji, who had received Woo Jeong-bong's hot gaze, contemplated how to speak.

'He's a pure person.'

Since he was asking so openly, she couldn't lie.

"That's right. It's true that my older brother hired the assassins of the Red Spider Sect."

"You son of a bitch."

Woo Jeong-bong clenched his fist, thinking of Namgung Wi. His face was one of contemplating what to do.

"There's no evidence."

"The Red Spider Sect Master is the evidence. If we catch that guy, it's done, right? Murong Bao is currently hell-bent on catching the Red Spider Sect Master."

"My older brother will interfere with that."

"The one who tried to kill me using the bandits of Shinsuichae must be Namgung Wi, right? At that time, it wasn't me, but Murong family's Sang Yu-rim who died instead."

"I don't know about that well."

Namgung Ji really had a face that said she didn't know well.

Although she also knew that Sang Yu-rim had died, she didn't think that Murong Bao had come in person because of that.

Namgung Ji asked.

"Knowing that, why did you take on my guard duty?"

"The Ten-Sword Demon."

"The Ten-Sword Demon?"

"I don't know if I can say this, but for now, only you know."

"A secret?"

"It's a secret. There was a story that the Ten-Sword Demon was a disciple of the Wudang Sect. Hearing that, my master was very shocked. But a short while later, the disciple who had spread the rumor that the Ten-Sword Demon was a disciple of the Wudang Sect died."

"Hmph!"

Namgung Ji's eyes widened as if she were very surprised. Woo Jeong-bong lowered his voice and whispered, bringing his face close to Namgung Ji's ear.

"I have to catch the Ten-Sword Demon and confirm if he is a disciple of the Wudang Sect. That's what I have to do. I received a secret order. The only people who know about this are me and my master. Now that you know, you must never tell anyone anywhere."

"It's serious."

Namgung Ji, as if she had recognized that the situation was big, nodded and then asked.

"What about the Beggars' Sect? It seems there are beggars who are helping. Anyway, right now, beggars are encamped on the other side of the main gate."

"They don't know. They're just doing the job of delivering the information I want. They're helping."

"What about Young Master Jin?"

"I don't know. I didn't tell him."

"You said you were friends, so what's the reason for not telling him such an important story? And what's the reason for telling me?"

"I suspected him of being the Ten-Sword Demon, but it was cleared up, and since he's trustworthy, there was no need to do so. But you're the target of the Ten-Sword Demon, right? Since I don't know when that assassin will come, I have to tell you. We have a common enemy. Let's find the Ten-Sword Demon."

Woo Jeong-bong's eyes were burning with truth.

Namgung Ji, who was looking at Woo Jeong-bong, who was full of motivation like an active volcano, frowned and took a step aside. He was too close.

"If the Ten-Sword Demon is a disciple of the Wudang Sect, it will be a fatal blow to the reputation of the Wudang Sect. Isn't that okay? The main family and the Wudang Sect are fighting over the position of the Alliance leader. They must be desperate to find each other's weaknesses, right?"

Swish!

Woo Jeong-bong stuck to Namgung Ji's side again and whispered in her ear.

"I'm not interested in that. What I want to know is the Ten-Sword Demon."

"I understand. If that's the reason, let's do it together. I also have to catch the Ten-Sword Demon."

"Can I trust you?"

When Woo Jeong-bong asked, Namgung Ji answered.

"Trust me. Let's keep what you told me between the two of us."

"Let's do that."

"Then tell me what you talked about with Murong Bao."

At Namgung Ji's words, Woo Jeong-bong talked about his business with Murong Bao.

There was nothing special. It was just how he had met Sang Yu-rim and what he had talked about with her.

Since Jin Sa-wol was there in between, he suddenly thought of Jin Sa-wol.

* * *

Creak! Thump!

As the sound of the main gate opening was heard, Jin Sa-wol, who was eating in the kitchen, turned his head.

He saw a dozen or so martial artists entering the yard.

"Are you there?"

Murong Bao, wearing a blue silk robe and a jangpo, looked around the house with his hands behind his back.

Jin Sa-wol poked his head out with a difficult expression, leaning on a crutch.

"Who are you?"

As Jin Sa-wol showed his face, Murong Bao observed Jin Sa-wol with a sharp gaze.

His left arm was in a splint, his waist was bent halfway, and his complexion was also not good.

Murong Bao showed a disappointed expression at the younger-than-expected and sickly appearance. Still, as if courtesy were ingrained in his body, he spoke politely.

"I am Murong Bao of the Martial Alliance. I came because I wanted to ask about Hyun Jin. Would it be okay to intrude for a moment?"

"Please come in."

Since it was the Martial Alliance, he couldn't tell them to leave.

Jin Sa-wol turned his body and sat at the table in the study. Since he was moving with difficulty, leaning on a crutch, his movement was slow.

Murong Bao could tell that Jin Sa-wol's body was not normal just by smelling the decoction.

Jo Geom-ok followed Murong Bao, who was going inside, like a shadow. The rest of the warriors were all waiting in the yard.

Murong Bao asked.

"Are you seriously injured somewhere?"

"I was injured while going out for a bounty."

"I heard you went to kill the Blood Curtain Master, but were had instead."

"Who told you that?"

"Hyun Jin."

Jin Sa-wol, who thought of Woo Jeong-bong, let out a long sigh and poured tea.

Murong Bao, who was drinking the cold tea, frowned when the tea was more bitter than he had thought.

Jin Sa-wol had never told Woo Jeong-bong about killing Loyal Ghost King.

Since Woo Jeong-bong was also not in his right mind, he thought that Jin Sa-wol's injury was from the Blood Curtain Master.

At that time, Jin Sa-wol's injury was in a serious state, no matter who looked at it.

Jin Sa-wol touched his shoulder and showed a pained expression. He slightly opened his collar and showed a blue bruise.

"It was a reckless act that didn't suit my station. I'm regretting it. It's all thanks to Hyun Jin that I came back alive. I'm very grateful to him. I'm not planning to do such a reckless act in the future."

"Isn't it a relief that you're alive? There's no one who doesn't make mistakes. The fight with the Blood Curtain Master will surely be a good experience for you too."

Jin Sa-wol showed an awkward smile at Murong Bao's encouragement and then asked.

"What are you curious about?"

Jin Sa-wol looked at Murong Bao. Although his gaze was directed at Murong Bao, his eyes took in Jo Geom-ok, who was standing behind him, all at once.

Murong Bao's lips moved.

"How did you meet Hyun Jin?"

Although Murong Bao's question was no different from an interrogation, there was no reason not to answer. Murong Bao's gentle voice seemed to be used to this kind of thing.

"He came to my house after I killed Hyung Jo-geo. He said he would be indebted to me since I live alone. I thought there was no need to refuse since a disciple of the Wudang Sect had come to live with me. There's nothing to lose by building a friendship with the Wudang Sect, is there?"

As Jin Sa-wol answered, it seemed as if sharp daggers were pouring down on his head and shoulders.

It was Jo Geom-ok's gaze. Her prayer was subtly pressing on Jin Sa-wol.

(End of Chapter)