Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 71

-Should I kill her?

Jo-rim's voice flowed into Jin Sa-wol's ear.

In Jin Sa-wol's eyes, he saw Jo Geom-ok, who was sitting blankly.

The target Jo-rim had mentioned was Jo Geom-ok. In such a defenseless situation, it seemed she could be easily killed.

-Just leave her.

Jin Sa-wol shook his head. Then, a sigh full of disappointment briefly brushed past Jin Sa-wol's ear.

Jin Sa-wol had many things to ask Jo Geom-ok. Although he had originally intended to kill her, he had changed his mind the moment he saw the Soul-Stealing Needle.

Murong Bao aimed his sword at Jin Sa-wol and said.

"Don't be upset. It will be easier on your mind if you think of it as a sacrifice for the martial world. It's a matter of course to repay the grace of being fed, clothed, and even taught martial arts since you were young with your life."

"Shut up! You son of a bitch!"

Although Jo Geom-ok shouted, Murong Bao was not interested. It was because he knew well that she was in a state where it was not easy to even move.

"Wait a moment. After I take care of this guy, I'll take your life."

He said, slightly raising the corner of his lips as if sneering, and then turned around.

Thwack!

"...Huh?"

Murong Bao stared at the red sword blade that had come out of his solar plexus. A white, slender hand grabbed Murong Bao's neck.

Jo Geom-ok whispered, blowing her breath into Murong Bao's ear.

"If you were going to kill, you should have shown your back after making sure I were dead. Did you not kill me because you coveted my body so much?"

"You... crazy..."

"One more thing. I also received the same order."

Swish!

The sword that had come out of Murong Bao's solar plexus drew a circle.

"Kraaak!"

"You know too much."

"Do you really think the Alliance Leader will forgive you?"

"It's a common case of being thrown away after being used. Your usefulness is over, Murong Bao."

Jo Geom-ok, who had pulled the sword from Murong Bao's back, stabbed Murong Bao's neck without any lingering feelings.

Thwack!

"Sister Jo!"

Just then, Woo Jeong-bong, who had just arrived there, shouted and jumped in.

Jo Geom-ok's eyes widened as if she were surprised to see Woo Jeong-bong. But she quickly changed her expression.

Woo Jeong-bong hurriedly ran to Murong Bao, held him, and retreated.

"What is this? Brother Murong! Get a grip!"

Murong Bao, seeing Woo Jeong-bong's face, chuckled as if it were absurd.

"Be careful... Hyun Jeong..."

Although Murong Bao moved his lips as if to say something, no words were heard.

As Murong Bao closed his eyes, Woo Jeong-bong stood up with a cold expression and looked at Jo Geom-ok.

"Sister Jo. How could you kill Brother Murong, a comrade?"

Clang!

Woo Jeong-bong, who had drawn his sword, showed killing intent.

"Explain."

It was an action that showed his will to kill her if she didn't speak properly.

"Murong Pavilion Master tried to kill me. So I killed Murong Pavilion Master."

"Why would Brother Murong try to kill you?"

"It was the Alliance Leader's order. The Alliance Leader, no, my master, must have thought I was no longer necessary."

"What nonsense..."

The relationship between a master and a disciple was the same as that of blood relatives. The fact that a master had tried to kill a disciple was a sin that could not exist for the orthodox sects.

"Brother Woo. I know you're an upright and straightforward person, but please come to your senses. I also received an order from the Alliance. To kill Murong Pavilion Master. Anyway, we had to kill each other."

Woo Jeong-bong's eyes turned to Jin Sa-wol. Jin Sa-wol nodded at Woo Jeong-bong's gaze, which was demanding the truth.

Jo Geom-ok's words were all true.

Jo Geom-ok sighed and spoke again.

"The Namgung family had no intention of killing Brother Woo. They were just trying to give a threat. But the Red Spider Sect tried to kill Brother Woo. The deceased Yun Deok also mobilized the Shinsuichae with the thought of killing Brother Woo. Why would that be?"

"What are you trying to say?"

"When the Namgung family made a request to the Red Spider Sect, the Martial Alliance also made a request to the Red Spider Sect. To kill Brother Woo."

"The Alliance Leader? The Alliance Leader made such a request?"

"To be precise, it wasn't the Alliance Leader. Would the Alliance Leader even know of a small unorthodox sect organization like the Red Spider Sect? It was someone else."

"Who is that?"

Jo Geom-ok sighed, receiving Woo Jeong-bong's killing intent.

"Who in the Wudang Sect is trying to become the Martial Alliance Leader after the Alliance Leader?"

At Jo Geom-ok's words, Woo Jeong-bong's eyes widened.

"Hyun... Jeong... Senior Brother?"

Woo Jeong-bong trembled his shoulders. He staggered as if the strength had drained from his legs.

The great senior brother of the Wudang Sect and a father-like existence whom Woo Jeong-bong liked and respected the most was Hyun Jeong.

"The Alliance Leader and Senior Brother Hyun Jeong know well that Brother Woo came down from Wudang Mountain to investigate their backs. So he must have been a thorn in their side. They tried to kill him by proxy and then blame it on the Namgung family, but that didn't work out well because of that bastard over there."

Jo Geom-ok pointed at Jin Sa-wol with her sword.

Woo Jeong-bong stood in front of Jin Sa-wol and blocked his view.

Although it was an action to protect him, not intentionally, Jin Sa-wol moved a step to the side when Jo Geom-ok was not visible.

Woo Jeong-bong still shook his head as if he couldn't come to his senses.

"Senior Brother Hyun Jeong would never do that."

"Please get rid of such childish beliefs. It was I who received the order from Senior Brother Hyun Jeong and requested the Red Spider Sect to kill you."

"Sister Jo..."

"Senior Brother Hyun Jeong is the one who will become the next Alliance Leader. Naturally, there are many in the Alliance who are lining up with Senior Brother Hyun Jeong, just like me. Although I follow the Alliance Leader's orders, I also follow Senior Brother Hyun Jeong's orders. Is that why? To think the Alliance Leader would order me to be killed... I was also surprised."

A bitter smile hung on Jo Geom-ok's lips.

"Well... since I've killed several people by the Alliance Leader's order, it would be troublesome in many ways if I were alive. That's why Senior Brother Hyun Jeong must have ordered me to kill Murong Pavilion Master."

Jo Geom-ok spoke as if to herself and then smiled.

"Sister Jo. Are you by any chance the Ten-Sword Demon?"

"Yes. Besides me, there are two more among the Alliance Leader's disciples. Also, the entire Shadowless Hall can become the Ten-Sword Demon. The Shadowless Hall is the Ten-Sword Demon. If the Alliance Leader retires, the Shadowless Hall will be handed over to the next Alliance Leader. If Senior Brother Hyun Jeong becomes the Alliance Leader, the Shadowless Hall will remain, and if the Namgung family head becomes the Alliance Leader, the Shadowless Hall will all die."

"Sister Jo. Let's go to Wudang Mountain together."

Since unbelievable stories were pouring out like a waterfall, Woo Jeong-bong was not in his right mind. One thing was for sure, he had to take Jo Geom-ok to Wudang Mountain.

Jo Geom-ok retreated and shook her head.

"I can't go."

"Why?"

"The Alliance Leader tried to kill me. He gave such an order to Murong Pavilion Master, so would he like it if I went to Wudang Mountain? Of course, he would kill me. I would be killed by the hands of my sworn brothers at Wudang Mountain."

"That won't happen. If all your words are true, my master will never sit back and watch. I will also do my best to protect you, Sister Jo."

"Brother Woo. The martial world is not Wudang Mountain."

Whoosh!

Jo Geom-ok, who had flown back, quickly showed her back, jumped once more, and then jumped over the wall.

"See you next time."

"Stop!"

Thwack!

Woo Jeong-bong unfolded his lightness skill and chased after Jo Geom-ok. But seeing the bundle of hidden weapons that filled the air, he quickly fell to the ground.

Although it was important to chase Jo Geom-ok, he was also worried about Jin Sa-wol's safety.

Woo Jeong-bong approached Jin Sa-wol.

"Are you okay?"

"It's nothing."

Jin Sa-wol looked at the western sky, where darkness was descending. It was the direction where Jo Geom-ok had disappeared.

"It's hard to walk."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Woo Jeong-bong sighed and had no choice but to sit in front of Jin Sa-wol.

"Get on."

Jin Sa-wol, who was on Woo Jeong-bong's back, felt comfortable.

"Where's Ji-ah?"

"I met Namgung Wi on the way. He said it was dangerous here and took her."

"Let's go home."

"Home? Not the Namgung family?"

"Let's rest at home today."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Woo Jeong-bong unfolded his lightness skill and headed for Nanchang City.

* * *

Jin Sa-wol, who had entered his house on Woo Jeong-bong's back, landed in the yard. Woo Jeong-bong patted his back and straightened his waist.

"It doesn't seem like it's been a few days, but it feels like I've returned to my hometown after a long time."

At Woo Jeong-bong's words, Jin Sa-wol went into the house and took out a gold sore medicine. Jin Sa-wol, who had taken off his clothes and stopped the bleeding on his shoulder and side, moved his left arm.

"How is it?"

As Woo Jeong-bong, who had followed him, asked, Jin Sa-wol nodded.

"It's fine. It was just a slight scratch."

"That's a relief."

Woo Jeong-bong was relieved that Jin Sa-wol's injury was minor.

"I'm going to rest a bit. I heard so many things today that I'm not in my right mind. My head feels like it's going to break. Ha..."

Woo Jeong-bong touched his head and headed for his own room.

Jin Sa-wol went into the kitchen, started a fire, and boiled water. It was then.

"Uwaaaak! Ugh! Aaaak!"

Hurry-hurry! Thump!

Woo Jeong-bong, who had run out to the yard, collapsed as if the strength had drained from his legs and pointed at his own room with his index finger.

"Hey! Sa-wol! It's a ghost!"

Jin Sa-wol, seeing Woo Jeong-bong, who was talking nonsense, sighed and went out to the yard.

Jin Sa-wol, who was looking at Woo Jeong-bong's room, took a step back without realizing it.

"Hmm?"

A woman with long black hair that came down to her knees and covered her face was standing there.

She moved her head, looked at Woo Jeong-bong and Jin Sa-wol, and then raised her hand and swept back the hair that was covering her face.

As a beauty with skin as white as jade and noticeable features revealed her face, Woo Jeong-bong's eyes widened.

"Hmph! Jo... Sister Jo?"

It was Jo Geom-ok. Jo Geom-ok looked around at Woo Jeong-bong and Jin Sa-wol and then turned her body.

"I'm tired, so don't wake me up."

"What? Tired? Hey! Why are you here? And that's my room."

As Woo Jeong-bong shouted and tried to follow her in, Jin Sa-wol grabbed his shoulder.

"Just leave her."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Woo Jeong-bong's eyes widened.

"Just leave her? That?"

"Isn't she pitiful?"

"Hmph! Pitiful? You can say such things too? How absurd. Did you think I would let her off if you said that?"

Although Woo Jeong-bong grumbled, Jin Sa-wol had already gone into the kitchen. Woo Jeong-bong hurriedly followed Jin Sa-wol and sat at the dining table.

Jin Sa-wol, who had boiled water, poured hot water into a teapot and said.

"I told her to come home."

"When?"

"At the abandoned manor."

Jin Sa-wol, who recalled the events at the abandoned manor, had exchanged telepathic messages with Jo Geom-ok when Murong Bao had appeared.

It was because of the Soul-Stealing Needle. Besides that, there were many things he had to talk about with her.

"So, you're saying that when Sister Jo ran away from the abandoned manor, you already knew she would come home? So you didn't chase her?"

"That's right."

Drip-drip!

He poured tea into a teacup and held it out in front of Woo Jeong-bong. Woo Jeong-bong drank the tea, blowing on it.

As the hot tea went down his throat, he seemed to have found some stability.

"You and that woman need to talk."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Woo Jeong-bong nodded with a complicated expression, as if he had acknowledged it.

* * *

Jo-rim, who had entered Honghwaru, had a smile full of smiles on her face, perhaps because she had seen an interesting sight after a long time.

She was satisfied because she had been able to hear the backstories of the Martial Alliance, which she had not expected.

The steward approached Jo-min, who was coming in with an eye-smile.

"A guest has come."

"A guest?"

"He said he would know if I said it was the Chung Pavilion..."

At the words 'Chung Pavilion', Jo-min frowned.

"I have shown him to the Sojeongwon."

The Sojeongwon, one of the separate rooms in the back garden, was a quiet place.

As she entered the room of the Sojeongwon, a man and a woman were sitting at a round table, eating.

They were a man and a woman who appeared to be in their early to mid-twenties. The man was well-built, had a square jaw, and small eyes. The woman had an ordinary appearance, but her fingernails were red.

Jo-rim smiled and approached them, saying.

"It is an honor to meet the disciples of the Chung Pavillion Lord. I am Jo-rim, the master of Honghwaru."

"The food here is not good."

"The kids are also not good."

At the words of the two, a wrinkle formed on Jo-rim's brow. When she looked inside, she saw two dead attendants.

The dead attendants were lying with their eyes wide open and their necks half-cut.

The man glanced at the corpse.

"The food didn't taste good, so I killed them instead."

"Why? Is there a problem?"

The woman with the red fingernails smiled cutely and winked one eye.

Jo-rim showed a smile with a chill and waved both her hands.

"Of course, there's a problem."

(End of Chapter)