Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 94 : The Master of This House is Not Here (2)

Woo Jeong-bong, who had parried Namgung Yu's sword, landed in front of Jo-rim.

Namgung Yu, who had retreated after seeing him, had a hardened expression.

Next to Woo Jeong-bong were Jo Geom-ok and Bi-sun.

Bi-sun hurriedly hugged Jo-rim, who had collapsed.

"Are you okay?"

Although Bi-sun asked, Jo-rim shook her head. Bi-sun trembled his shoulders as he saw the dead Mae Jeong-mun and the severely injured Jo-rim.

Woo Jeong-bong emitted a strong prayer and aimed his sword at Namgung Yu.

"What are you doing?"

"I thought it was someone else, but it's Brother Woo of Wudang."

"I asked what you were doing."

"I'm cleaning up the Demonic Cult bastards and the Hao Mun members, so don't interfere and get out of the way."

Woo Jeong-bong, with a face full of anger, raised his sword, pointed at the dead courtesans and merchants, and said.

"Who is the Hao Mun? In my eyes, they look like ordinary people."

"Those are not commoners who don't know martial arts, but a wicked group that has cooperated with the Demonic Cult until now. So I killed them."

"Do you think I'll believe that?"

"What are you going to do if you don't believe me? Pfft! Hahahaha!"

Namgung Yu laughed at Woo Jeong-bong with a face full of sneers. Namgung Yu stopped laughing and then said to Woo Jeong-bong with a face full of killing intent.

"Let's say I killed people who don't even know martial arts. So are you going to kill me? Can you kill me?"

"You crazy bastard. Do you think you'll be safe after doing that?"

"I'll be safe. Who will punish me?"

Namgung Yu smiled as if he knew his own situation very well.

"At most, I'll be banned from going out for two or three years or be locked up in prison. But what's the big deal about that?"

At Namgung Yu's words, Woo Jeong-bong could understand why Namgung Ji had said that her two older brothers should not become the family head.

And he also seemed to know why she had tried to protect her younger brother.

Namgung Yu sneered at Woo Jeong-bong, who could not say anything, and then spoke again.

"It's just that a few good people got caught up and died while I was killing the Demonic Cult bastards who had flocked to occupy this inn. Is that my fault? Or is it the fault of our martial artists who are here? No. The ones who are at fault are those bitches who dared to try to kill me."

Namgung Yu raised his sword and aimed it at Jo-rim. Namgung Yu showed his killing intent as if he would only be satisfied if he killed Jo-rim.

Woo Jeong-bong blocked Jo-rim's front.

"You're blind. Do we look like scarecrows to you?"

"The disciples of the Wudang Sect died fighting the Demonic Cult members. How about that?"

As Woo Jeong-bong's expression hardened, Namgung Yu turned his sword and aimed it at Woo Jeong-bong.

"Don't interfere and get out of the way. If you don't want to die."

A faint tangible energy lingered on Namgung Yu's sword. Although Woo Jeong-bong gripped his sword firmly, he hesitated.

Seeing that, a sneer hung on Namgung Yu's lips. In that instant, a black shadow passed by.

Rustle!

"...?"

At the sound of flesh being cut, Namgung Yu's eyes widened. Woo Jeong-bong, who was watching that, also opened his eyes wide.

Everyone who was standing around the Golden Pavilion was watching Namgung Yu's neck being slowly cut.

Everyone was standing as if they had lost their minds at the unbelievable reality.

Thump!

Although Namgung Yu's head fell to the ground, no one moved.

Thud!

Although Namgung Yu's headless body fell to the ground and spewed blood, the people just looked at the dead Namgung Yu with faces full of astonishment.

"Hmph!"

"Uwaaaak! This can't be!"

"Young lord!"

In that instant, the Guguang branch master and the warriors of the Namgung family, who had come to their senses, looked at the man in black who was standing at a distance of five zhang.

The man in black was standing with a fox mask and a black cloak.

"Why are you so surprised?"

The man in black's voice echoed deeply. It sounded as if several people were speaking.

"Ugh!"

In that instant, with a shout, the warriors of the Namgung family jumped at the man in black. But they could not even walk a few steps before their heads were pierced by a flash of light.

Thwack! Thwack!

As five people collapsed on the spot, the Guguang branch master shouted.

"What kind of bastard are you!"

"I am Yeon Jeok-sim."

The moment they heard the name Yeon Jeok-sim, everyone flinched. But that was only for a moment. Everyone showed their killing intent towards Yeon Jeok-sim with angry faces.

The Guguang branch master shouted again.

"Do you know who you killed! He is the young lord of the Namgung family. You killed the son of the Martial Alliance Leader!"

"I made a mistake. So?"

The fox mask made a face that said, 'So what?'

The Guguang branch master's eyes widened.

In that instant, the fox mask jumped towards the west mountain and killed the warriors of the Martial Alliance who were blocking his front with his sword energy.

Thwack!

"Kraak!"

"Uwaaaak!"

"Chase him!"

"Don't let him get away!"

Screams were rampant with a spray of blood. As the fox mask flew through that gap, the warriors of the Martial Alliance chased after him.

Rumble! Thump-thump-thump!

The Golden Pavilion completely collapsed.

After a short while, Jin Sa-wol slowly walked over and hugged the dead Mae Jeong-mun.

Bi-sun supported Jo-rim, and Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok silently followed Jin Sa-wol, who was walking.

* * *

There was a two-story house in a separate courtyard with a wide garden and a pond. Jin Sa-wol was sitting in one of the most expensive golden rooms in the brothel.

Jin Sa-wol was lost in thought, touching the golden ruler.

Right now, the inn had no owner. The innkeeper and Jo Han-yu were dead, and the four pavilion masters were also all dead.

Namgung Yu, who had led the Namgung family, was also dead, and Jo-rim was lying down due to her injuries.

Although there was a branch master of the Martial Alliance, he was out of his mind because of Namgung Yu's death.

They only controlled the entrance of the inn and could not drive out Jin Sa-wol and his party.

On top of that, the fact that they had killed commoners who did not even know martial arts was held as a weakness against Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok.

Thump!

With the sound of the door closing, Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok, who had entered the yard, soon came into the tea room where Jin Sa-wol was sitting.

Woo Jeong-bong sighed, sat in a chair, and drank tea.

"The Guguang branch master begged me to pretend I didn't know about him killing the merchants and courtesans who were doing business at the inn."

"He said he had no choice but to kill them because of Namgung Yu. He asked me to let it go since he had killed them on Namgung Yu's order."

At the words of the two, Jin Sa-wol did not show any particular interest. There was no reason to care who the Guguang branch master was or what kind of person he was.

Woo Jeong-bong sighed and said.

"I never thought Yeon Jeok-sim would appear there. I thought he had run away after being severely beaten by Uncle Jo, but he was wandering around here. That bastard."

Woo Jeong-bong clenched his fist and then drank the tea with a gulp!

Seeing that, the eyes of Jin Sa-wol and Jo Geom-ok widened.

Jo Geom-ok let out a long sigh as if she were dumbfounded.

"Hoo... I knew from the beginning that Brother Woo was a clueless fool, but I never thought he would be this foolish."

"What? Why am I a fool?"

"You don't know that?"

"What?"

Jo Geom-ok looked at Jin Sa-wol as she received Woo Jeong-bong's cold gaze. Jin Sa-wol slowly shook his head.

Jo Geom-ok let out a deep sigh and answered.

"Haa... I was just saying. Please forget it."

"No, if you said something, you should finish it. Why are you stopping? Do I look like a joke to you, Jo Sa-mae?"

"It's fine since you're alive in this mess."

At Jo Geom-ok's words, Woo Jeong-bong suppressed his anger as if he agreed.

"Namgung Yu is dead, so it's a big deal."

Woo Jeong-bong trembled his shoulders, recalling Namgung Yu, who was dying in front of his eyes. He had never seen such a fast quick sword in his life.

In that instant, Woo Jeong-bong's eyes turned to Jin Sa-wol. As far as he knew, the master of the quick sword was Jin Sa-wol.

"Surely...?"

At Woo Jeong-bong's appearance, Jo Geom-ok raised her hand as if to say, 'Why did you only notice that now?' It was an action to tell him to speak quickly.

But Woo Jeong-bong shook his head.

"That can't be. That bastard, Yeon Jeok-sim."

Woo Jeong-bong let out his killing intent, recalling Yeon Jeok-sim, whom he had met on Muyeondo.

Then he came to his senses and asked Jin Sa-wol, who was drinking tea.

"How was the Thousand Gold Treasury?"

"It was okay. I saw so much gold that I couldn't take it all in."

"How amazing. Are you going to take it all out?"

Jin Sa-wol shook his head.

"I'm going to leave it at the inn. If I have the inn, there's no need to move it."

Understanding the meaning of Jin Sa-wol's words, Woo Jeong-bong opened his mouth in surprise. Jin Sa-wol took out the golden ruler and showed it, saying.

"The innkeeper is dead, but this relic that proves the innkeeper is in my hands. The Golden Pavilion Ruler."

Jin Sa-wol handed the golden ruler to Woo Jeong-bong.

Woo Jeong-bong looked at the ruler made of gold and then returned it to Jin Sa-wol.

"It looks precious."

"Because it's gold. And it's the key to enter the Thousand Gold Treasury."

Jin Sa-wol smiled, turning the golden ruler this way and that.

* * *

The warriors who had come down from the main headquarters of the Martial Alliance entered the inn around midnight. It was because they had run without rest due to the news that Namgung Yu had died.

And when morning came, Namgung Min showed himself in person.

Next to Namgung Min stood An Chang-san, the pavilion master of the Definition Pavilion, one of the seven pavilions of the Martial Alliance.

Behind him, at a distance of about three zhang, Jeon Du-geun, the branch master of the Guguang branch, was following, holding his pounding chest.

"The one who killed Namgung Yu is Yeon Jeok-sim. According to the testimony of those who saw him, he hid himself for a while after fighting with Jo Han-yu on Muyeondo and then appeared again."

The first thing to report was the death of Namgung Yu, the son of Namgung Min.

Namgung Min listened to An Chang-san's report, walking to the burnt-out Golden Pavilion with a hardened expression.

"Yeon Jeok-sim of the Demonic Cult and the Gwi-pung Pavilion and the Yaksha Hall belonging to the Wall Demonic Hall attacked the retired Jo Maeng-ju and the inn. Although we killed most of them, our side also suffered great damage."

"What about Yeon Jeok-sim?"

"We're chasing his whereabouts, but..."

An Chang-san trailed off and shook his head. Although a strong prayer pressed his shoulders, An Chang-san did not tremble.

"I'm sorry."

"Find him."

"Yes."

At the strong killing intent, An Chang-san answered, sweating coldly.

Namgung Min silently looked at the burnt-out rubble of the Golden Pavilion. Next to him, An Chang-san continued his report.

A short while later, Jo-rim came walking, supported by Bi-sun. She knelt before Namgung Min.

"Jo-rim, the Guguang branch master of the Hao Mun, greets the Alliance Leader."

As Jo-rim knelt and greeted, Bi-sun also followed and knelt.

Namgung Min nodded with his hands behind his back.

"What happened? Why did the Golden Pavilion collapse?"

"That... the young lord..."

Jo-rim raised her head, met Namgung Min's eyes, and then reported in detail what had happened with Namgung Yu.

When she said that he had killed the gambling house master and the brothel master, and had killed people who did not even know martial arts, Namgung Min emitted a strong prayer.

"...And the person who cut me was also the young lord."

Namgung Min, who had heard the whole story, called the Guguang branch master who was standing behind.

Since he did not even know his name, he gestured with his eyes for him to come.

Jeon Du-geun ran over with his head bowed and said.

"It's, it's all true."

"If there are lies, you'll have to give your neck."

"There are no lies. It's true."

At Jeon Du-geun's words, An Chang-san nodded.

"I've confirmed it."

As An Chang-san said it was true, Namgung Min showed a bitter expression.

"Make sure to keep your mouths shut."

"Yes."

"I'll keep it in mind."

An Chang-san and Jeon Du-geun answered.

Jo-rim bowed her head, and Bi-sun did not even raise his head.

Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok approached with the bodyguards of Namgung Min.

"I greet the Alliance Leader."

"Jo Geom-ok of Wudang greets the Alliance Leader."

Namgung Min, who had received the greetings of the two, looked at Jin Sa-wol, who was standing silently behind Woo Jeong-bong.

Jin Sa-wol bowed his waist towards Namgung Min and then said.

"I have opened the Thousand Gold Treasury."

(End of Chapter)