Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 96 : Tracking (1)

A middle-aged man who appeared to be in his early forties was sitting in a small room in a separate courtyard.

With a plump face and a slightly protruding belly, he was waiting for Jin Sa-wol while drinking tea.

Next to him stood Il-hu, and in the yard stood Il-bi.

Jo-rim was lying down due to her injuries and could not come to this place.

Although it was past midnight, Jin Sa-wol had not yet appeared.

"He's late."

The Hao Mun master, who had arrived in the evening, had a chat with the Martial Alliance Leader, Namgung Min, for about a shichen and then came to the brothel.

He was waiting for Jin Sa-wol in the golden room located in the innermost part of the brothel.

Currently, the brothel was closed. It was a chaotic atmosphere because many courtesans had died, and Mae Jeong-mun, who was the brothel master, had also died.

"Should I bring him?"

When Il-hu asked, the Hao Mun master, Mun-hyeok, waved his hand. Although he could have gotten angry, there was no change in his expression.

His real name was Seomun Ja-gang, and he was a cousin of Seomun Ok, the owner of Hwahwaru.

In the Seomun family, he was a person who had died of an illness when he was young.

Of course, that was only a fact known internally and externally, and Seomun Ja-gang, who had come over to the Central Plains, was living under the name Mun-hyeok.

Swish!

As Il-bi moved, Mun-hyeok turned his head.

A short while later, Jin Sa-wol and Bi-sun came in, opening the door.

Mun-hyeok looked at the two and cupped his fist.

"I am Mun-hyeok of the Hao Mun."

"I am Jin Sa-wol."

Jin Sa-wol smiled and then sat in a chair with Mun-hyeok. Bi-sun stood quietly behind Jin Sa-wol.

"I heard through the Alliance Leader. Congratulations on becoming the innkeeper of the grand inn."

"Does that congratulations mean that the Hao Mun also acknowledges me as the innkeeper?"

"Of course. With the current Alliance Leader and the Namgung family behind you, is there a reason to oppose? Instead, give me thirty percent of the income from the gambling house and the brothel. As you know, our sect made many sacrifices when we built the grand inn. Also, the number of our members who died at the inn this time is large. Please also consider their sacrifices."

"It's not the Hao Mun, but the Demonic Cult."

At the words 'Demonic Cult', a smile hung on Mun-hyeok's lips.

Jin Sa-wol drank tea with an indifferent face.

Mun-hyeok asked.

"How much do you know?"

"I know that the innkeeper is the Golden Demonic Pavilion Master and that a part of the grand inn's income goes to the Demonic Cult. I also know that the warriors of the Golden Pavilion are Demonic Cult members and that Hwahwaru and the Hao Mun are one."

Mun-hyeok smiled and stroked his beard.

He recalled the various situations he had heard from the Hwahwaru master and the reports he had heard from the pavilion master, Jo-rim.

He was a man with a dangerous aura that could not be seen as a mere Slaughter Ghost.

"What I want is thirty percent."

"The income from the brothel will not go to the Hao Mun. Instead, I will give you half of the income from the gambling house. And the brothel master will be the pavilion master. How about that?"

"The gambling house master will be a person from our sect."

"Good. Instead, if you take more than fifty percent of the income, I will get rid of the gambling house."

Jin Sa-wol's words meant that he would kill all the Hao Mun members in the gambling house.

"It's good that the talk is fast."

Mun-hyeok smiled as if satisfied and then spoke again.

"Since you've become the innkeeper of the Gangnam Grand Inn from a Slaughter Ghost, the Demonic Cult will not send assassins. Congratulations."

"Thank you."

Since Jin Sa-wol had said all he had to say, he stood up from his seat.

"I have a lot of work, so I'll get up. Please rest comfortably."

As Jin Sa-wol cupped his fist, Mun-hyeok stood up from his seat and bowed his waist.

As Jin Sa-wol disappeared outside, Mun-hyeok, who had sat in a chair, gripped his teacup tightly with a hardened expression.

"He's not an easy opponent."

It didn't matter to Mun-hyeok who became the owner of the inn. As long as he could consistently receive a part of that income, there was no problem.

The reason he was in a bad mood was because that income had decreased considerably compared to the past.

But Mun-hyeok did not know. If he had gotten angry or greedy here, his neck would have flown.

"How is Pavilion Master Jo's condition?"

"It seems she's still having trouble moving."

At Il-hu's answer, Mun-hyeok stood up from his seat and headed for Jo-rim's room.

Jo-rim, who was lying in a room full of the smell of decoction, sat up at the sound of the door opening.

A sweaty appearance. Her complexion was also not good.

Since Namgung Yu's sword had passed through her chest, a bloodstain was visible around her chest.

Mun-hyeok, who had entered the room, checked Jo-rim's condition and raised his hand.

"Lie down."

"Yes."

Jo-rim answered and lay down on the bed. Mun-hyeok, who sat in front of her, stroked his beard and said.

"The Jin family bastard said he would entrust the position of the brothel master to you. It seems you've built quite a friendship, seeing as he's entrusting the brothel to you even knowing that you're the pavilion master of Hwahwaru."

"Yes."

"You have a job to do."

"What is it?"

"Find out the Jin family bastard's purpose as soon as possible and let me know. Why he's trying to eat the inn, what purpose he's moving with, and what he's trying to get through the inn, in detail."

"Understood."

Hearing Jo-rim's answer, Mun-hyeok smiled and stood up.

"You choose and manage the gambling house master."

Mun-hyeok went outside as if he had finished speaking. As he went out, Il-hu and Il-bi, who were standing outside the door, quietly guarded Mun-hyeok and followed him.

After a short while, Il-hu came in.

"He's left the inn."

"I suppose the inn is uncomfortable since the Alliance Leader is here."

Jo-rim smiled and got up from the bed and put on a light robe. The painful appearance of a little while ago could not be found anywhere.

'The effect of the demonic essence pill is certainly outstanding.'

Jo-rim recalled the demonic essence pill she had received from Jin Sa-wol.

"What about Jin Sa-wol?"

"He's in his room."

"Let's go."

Jo-rim touched her neck and went outside.

* * *

"Should I have abandoned the Hao Mun?"

At Jin Sa-wol's desolate voice, who was walking on a dark road, Bi-sun hurriedly shook his head from side to side.

"What good would it do to be hostile to the Hao Mun? I'll get tired."

At Bi-sun's grumbling, Jin Sa-wol shook his head and drank tea.

A short while later, Jo-rim came in.

Il-bi and Il-hu were standing outside the door.

"I greet the innkeeper."

At Jo-rim's smile, Jin Sa-wol nodded. Although her greeting was like a joke, Jin Sa-wol ignored it and touched a chair as if to tell her to sit down quickly.

As Jo-rim sat, Jin Sa-wol said.

"The steward will be you, and Sister Jo will take care of the brothel and the gambling house."

Jo-rim had a face without complaints. Far from having complaints, a smile sat on her face. It was because she had heard the word 'sister'.

"Anyway, the master left, telling me to choose the gambling house master."

Even if not, she had no choice but to follow Jin Sa-wol. It was not that she was loyal, but because she felt grateful.

The person who had coolly killed Namgung Yu, who had killed Mae Jeong-mun, was Jin Sa-wol.

"What should I say to the pavilion master?"

"The truth."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Jo-rim nodded.

She was thinking of reporting that the plan for Hwahwaru and the Hao Mun to join hands with the Martial Alliance and occupy the inn had been passed over to Jin Sa-wol.

Although Jo-rim could not know what answer the Hwahwaru master would give, she decided not to think deeply about it. Anyway, it was not something she could do anything about.

After that, the three talked about the inn.

Among them, what Jo-rim was concerned about was the matter of creating a sect in Muyeondo.

"It's not easy to establish a sect. You'll have to be mindful of your surroundings."

At Jo-rim's words, Jin Sa-wol answered with an indifferent face.

"The Martial Alliance can become our enemy at any time. The Hao Mun is also the same. The martial world is a place where yesterday's friend becomes today's enemy. If so, we should have the strength to protect ourselves."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, the two nodded as if they agreed. In the end, what protected oneself was oneself.

"Everyone is confused because the innkeeper has changed. What should we do?"

"If they don't follow orders, we should make them quit. We'll hire new people for the shortage."

"Let's do that."

At Bi-sun's answer, Jin Sa-wol said as if he had remembered.

"Oh! We have to find Yeon Jeok-sim's whereabouts quickly."

"He must have gone to the Demonic Cult. But why?"

"If I don't bring Yeon Jeok-sim's neck within a year, the Alliance Leader said he would take back the inn."

"What? Why are you only telling me that important thing now?!"

Jo-rim opened her eyes wide and raised her voice.

* * *

The story that the Gangnam Grand Inn had fallen into great chaos but had recovered quickly with the help of the Martial Alliance spread throughout the martial world.

There was also a rumor that the dead innkeeper was a Demonic Cult member. The story that Yeon Jeok-sim had fled after killing Namgung Yu also circulated.

The new innkeeper was said to be very close to the Martial Alliance, and there was also a story that he was a distant relative of the Namgung family.

Anyway, as ten warriors of the Guguang branch guarded the main gate of the inn every day, the people who came and went to the inn could be at ease.

The warriors of the Namgung family left the inn five days after Namgung Wi arrived.

Dozens of carriages left the Gangnam Grand Inn and headed for the Namgung family, and it was known that Namgung Wi had shown off his close friendship with the innkeeper.

Thus, about five days had passed since the Martial Alliance Leader had left the inn.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Jin Sa-wol watched a new house being built on the burnt-out Golden Pavilion.

It was the place where he would stay.

Jin Sa-wol, who was watching the construction, slowly went up Namsan.

As he was slowly going up the stairs to the top, Jo Geom-ok appeared behind him.

"Are you building my room too?"

As Jin Sa-wol looked, Jo Geom-ok rolled her eyes and then smiled.

"I'll give you a small room in the corner of the second floor."

"Hmph!"

Although Jo Geom-ok snorted, her eyes were not displeased.

"It seems the disciples of the Wudang Sect have entered Guguang City. It seems they will arrive at the inn around evening."

"Which Wudang?"

"Hyun Jeong."

If it was Hyun Jeong, he was a tricky opponent. But Jin Sa-wol smiled.

As he climbed to the top of Namsan, he saw a pavilion. It was a pavilion called Namsanjeong.

As he went up there, he saw Muyeondo and the sea of Poyang Lake in the distance. Since it was a place with a good view, Jin Sa-wol often came here these days.

"What about Jeong-bong?"

"Since the Alliance Leader left, he said there was no one to be mindful of, so he went into the brothel and is living there. He said, 'If not now, when else can I play?'"

"He'll be very shocked. Just leave him."

"Shocked? What's there to be shocked about?"

"Demonic art."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Jo Geom-ok let out a short sigh.

Woo Jeong-bong had been greatly shocked that Jo Han-yu had learned a demonic art.

On top of that, hadn't Jo Han-yu tried to kill him? That was an unimaginable event for him.

The bigger shock was the fact that Jo Han-yu had killed Hyung Soo-pung and Cha-yong. As Jin Sa-wol told him that fact, Woo Jeong-bong fell into a demonic state.

Although Jin Sa-wol wanted to help him, he was just leaving him alone, thinking that it would be best to just leave him alone for now.

"When the inn is stable, I'm going to the esoteric sect."

"What?!"

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Jo Geom-ok's eyes widened.

"Why are you going there?"

"The hidden path of the Sea Peak Spirit Map is not far from the esoteric sect."

Jin Sa-wol recalled the Sea Peak Spirit Map he had seen with Namgung Min.

The reason he had not made a map was because it was safer to keep it in his head.

The Sea Peak Spirit Map had an island, a sea, and a mountain. A vermilion bird was flying, and a white tiger was running.

But that was only the outward appearance, and another picture was hidden behind it.

Several pictures were overlapped into one.

Since Jin Sa-wol's mind had become very clear after the Soul-Stealing Needle was removed, his five senses had developed further, and his sixth sense was also more sensitive than before. It was just that various thoughts often appeared and disappeared sporadically, which was annoying.

Anyway, because of that, Jin Sa-wol had not missed the numerous pictures hidden in the Sea Peak Spirit Map.

Although Namgung Min probably hadn't even thought of it.

"Get ready."

"Me? Why me? Surely I'm not going too?"

"Yes."

Jin Sa-wol answered shortly and then looked at Poyang Lake.

Jo Geom-ok raised her fist at his back.

(End of Chapter)