Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 186 : Angry Shadow (3)

Namgung Min's expression, coming out of the Elder Council, looked quite tired.

It was understandable that he was full of worries and anxieties, as the biggest incident since he became the Alliance Leader had occurred.

The death of a friend was a sad thing, and the fact that the Shadowless Division had become assassins was an absurd thing. On top of that, the pavilion masters and Wang Pavilion Master who had died at the inn also weighed on his mind.

Although he could roughly ignore the elders of the Baekgeom Mun and the Shandong Yue family, the Huashan Sect relentlessly pushed Namgung Min.

The words of the Huashan Sect's elder, who urged him to quickly catch the culprit and restore the alliance's reputation, felt like a thorn in his throat.

Namgung Min, who was walking with the guards following him, let out a small sigh and approached the gate of the inner courtyard.

The guards went that far.

Namgung Min, who had entered the inner courtyard, walked along a small path with a dense forest and entered his study.

Namgung Ji, who had come in advance, was sitting in the study.

She stood up and greeted Namgung Min when she saw him.

"Father."

"Sit."

Namgung Ji, who had sat down in a chair, poured tea as Namgung Min sat in front of her and said, "It seems the atmosphere of the Elder Council is not good."

"Don't worry about it."

Namgung Min's indifferent answer sounded to Namgung Ji as if he were telling her not to be interested in the affairs of the alliance.

"I'll go down to Guguang tomorrow. The inn's affairs are not yet finished."

"Don't go tomorrow, go down with the Inspection Pavilion Master in a few days. In any case, the Inspection Pavilion Master also has to go to the inn."

"Yes?"

Namgung Ji's eyes widened as if she were surprised by Namgung Min's story.

"Is there a problem?"

As Namgung Min asked gently, Namgung Ji quickly changed her expression.

"No. There's no problem. I'll go down with the Inspection Pavilion Master."

Hearing Namgung Ji's answer, Namgung Min drank his tea and waved his hand.

"You may go now. A guest is scheduled to come."

"Yes. I'll take my leave."

"Don't get too deeply involved in the inn's affairs."

Namgung Min said suggestively, as if he knew everything. Namgung Ji, who was about to stand up from her seat, showed a smile.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Namgung Ji answered and then quietly went outside. Her heart was pounding, and it was an unavoidable instinct.

As Namgung Ji moved away, a low voice came to Namgung Min's ear as if whispering.

"That Jin family guy is too dangerous to keep by your side. Why didn't you say you knew everything?"

At the voice, Namgung Min's expression changed in an instant. There was no worry on his face.

Only a faint smile lingered on his lips and then quickly disappeared.

"He pulled out a tooth that was bothering me, so is there a need for me to step forward? Power is not something to be shared, but to be held alone. The Zhuge Wonju has been wielding my power as if it were his own. Since Jin Sa-wol has done a great job for me, I should just watch."

"But it might become poison someday."

"Then we'll solve it then."

"Even if you think about the young lady's safety..."

"You talk too much."

Namgung Min said as if whispering and then lifted his teacup. A killing intent brushed his face.

"What would happen if Zhuge Qing's death were to be known to the whole world? You are the only witness, so I would have to reveal you to the world. I can't do that. Not only that, but Ji-ah is also involved in this matter. Should I announce that my daughter is among those who killed Zhuge Qing? Before that happens, I have to kill and destroy all who know about this incident."

At Namgung Min's voice, the shadow in the darkness realized that his own life was at stake.

"I have overstepped my bounds. I'm sorry."

"I understand your concern. But don't worry too much. It's just a good liquor that can be contained in a cup."

"Yes."

With the answer, the low whisper no longer bothered Namgung Min's ear.

"The Jeongcheon Wonju should be a person who listens well like the Hobeopwonju... The Huashan Sect, which is at odds with Wudang, would be good."

It didn't seem bad to give the gift of the Jeongcheonwon to the Huashan Sect, which was angry over the death of Seok Jeong-bi.

***

Jin Sa-wol saw Tang Hyu's hand move with the sound of the wind. In that short moment, one of the two chopsticks that had flown through the air was touching his glabella.

It was a move of extreme speed.

Jin Sa-wol drew his Yuseom Sword and struck the chopstick.

With a clang! sound, a tremendous repulsive force flowed through the sword, and his body was thrown back on its own.

Immediately after, a boom! sound erupted.

Jo Geom-ok, knowing that the power contained in the chopstick thrown by Tang Hyu was unusual, had avoided it instead of blocking it.

As the carriage was shattered to pieces, Woo Jeong-bong shouted and flew into the air.

"What are you doing all of a sudden! Senior Tang!"

Whirl!

Woo Jeong-bong, who had rotated about ten times and landed on the ground, drew his sword and glared at Tang Hyu.

His face was extremely angry.

Tang Hyu, in the meantime, had passed Woo Jeong-bong and approached Jin Sa-wol, who was standing with Jo Geom-ok.

His steps were like the shrinking earth technique, and he shortened the distance by one zhang with each step.

With a thump! thump! sound, Tang Hyu, who had reached five zhang in front of Jin Sa-wol, stood with his hands behind his back.

In the meantime, the startled horse ran away, and Woo Jeong-bong chased after it.

Jo Geom-ok made a cupped fist salute and greeted Tang Hyu.

"I greet Elder Tang. I heard you were in the alliance, but I'm sorry I couldn't come to see you."

Although Jo Geom-ok had met Tang Hyu a few times, she had never seen him so cold as today.

Tang Hyu ignored Jo Geom-ok and was looking at Jin Sa-wol.

'He blocked it?'

Tang Hyu knew that Jin Sa-wol was an outstanding warrior because he had blocked the chopstick he had thrown.

Although five zhang was a considerable distance for ordinary people, it was a meaningless distance for Jin Sa-wol and Tang Hyu.

The reason he had kept that much distance was for 'just in case'. And that meant that Tang Hyu was wary of Jin Sa-wol.

Perhaps Jin Sa-wol was even more wary than Tang Hyu.

Jin Sa-wol examined Tang Hyu with his sword in hand.

Although he was not holding a weapon, he looked like a person who had weapons all over his body.

"Are you Jin Sa-wol?"

"I am Jin Sa-wol. The greeting seems too excessive."

"Was it excessive? I thought it was appropriate."

"The carriage is broken."

Jin Sa-wol glanced at the wreckage of the carriage.

Tang Hyu nodded. So what? That was his face.

"Do you have business with me?"

When Jin Sa-wol asked, Tang Hyu showed a smile.

"My gut tells me that you killed Zhuge Qing."

"Is it a gut feeling?"

"It's a gut feeling."

"To think that Senior Tang, who is called one of the Three Gods in the martial world, believes in a gut feeling. Without any proof."

"Is there anyone else who has a reason to kill Zhuge Qing besides you?"

"That's something we don't know."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Tang Hyu shook his head.

"There are times when a gut feeling comes before proof. And don't forget that in the martial world, martial arts are justice."

"What do you mean?"

"Literally."

Tang Hyu's eyes turned to Woo Jeong-bong, who was approaching on horseback. Woo Jeong-bong shouted at Tang Hyu.

"What are you doing now! Even if you are a great senior, isn't this too much! A surprise attack all of a sudden!"

In that instant, a whoosh sound was heard, and a sharp silver shuriken was embedded in Woo Jeong-bong's left shoulder. Although the distance was seven zhang, it was as if a lightning bolt had pierced through.

"Aaargh! Aigoo! I'm dying!"

Woo Jeong-bong let out a scream and fell to the floor. Woo Jeong-bong's face, who had stood up while holding his left shoulder, was full of anger.

Tang Hyu ignored Woo Jeong-bong and turned his eyes to Jin Sa-wol.

The only person who had seen properly how and when he had moved his hand was Jin Sa-wol.

Jin Sa-wol's expression hardened as his eyes met Tang Hyu's.

'Is he trying to fight?'

It seemed as if he were trying to kill him without any proof. Tang Hyu, as if he had read Jin Sa-wol's thoughts, released his hands from behind his back and stroked his beard with his left hand.

"Usually, bad guys don't care if others get hurt. Because I am the most important. A good guy cares if others get hurt. He thinks it's more comfortable for him to get hurt than for others to get hurt. What about you?"

It was then that a whoosh! sound was heard.

Jo Geom-ok's eyes widened. In an instant, a small silver scale flew towards Jo Geom-ok's glabella.

It was the Fish Flash Dart, one of the unique weapons of the Tang family, in the shape of a fish scale.

It was a fleeting moment. There was no time to think about Tang Hyu's intention.

Jin Sa-wol extended his sword and blocked in front of Jo Geom-ok's glabella, whose eyes were wide open.

With a clang! sound, the Fish Flash Dart flew up into the air and disappeared into Tang Hyu's sleeve.

Tang Hyu, who had retrieved the hidden weapon by unfolding the Air-Grabbing and Object-Retrieving technique, said to Jin Sa-wol, "I'm glad you're the latter."

Jin Sa-wol frowned. If he hadn't blocked it, Jo Geom-ok would have died.

It was a provocation to stimulate Jin Sa-wol. And he had been caught in it.

Originally, he should have been pushed back while blocking the Fish Flash Dart, but he couldn't because of Jo Geom-ok.

If he had hidden his martial arts, he should have done so, but he had received all the repulsive strong energy contained in the Fish Flash Dart.

He had shown that he had strength.

"Look after Brother Woo."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Jo Geom-ok came to her senses and ran to Woo Jeong-bong.

Jin Sa-wol turned his body and said, "This is not a good place, so it would be better to move."

Whoosh!

With his words, Jin Sa-wol, who had kicked off the ground and jumped up, used his lightness skill and headed for a low hill visible in the distance.

Tang Hyu, as Jin Sa-wol flew away quickly, looked at Woo Jeong-bong and Jo Geom-ok.

"What is this..."

Although Woo Jeong-bong looked as if he were about to rush at Tang Hyu at any moment, Tang Hyu shook his head.

"I'll explain later."

Whoosh!

Tang Hyu, who had jumped up into the air, hurriedly chased after Jin Sa-wol, who was flying far away.

"Explain what?"

Woo Jeong-bong asked Jo Geom-ok, revealing his upper body. Jo Geom-ok pulled out the shuriken embedded in Woo Jeong-bong's shoulder and applied gold sore medicine.

"I don't know either."

Jo Geom-ok's expression was not good because she was worried about Jin Sa-wol's safety.

***

An unknown river was flowing between the low hills. The area around it was a plain, and to the west, low mountains passed by like a folding screen.

Jin Sa-wol was standing in such a place where no human presence could be found.

As the low grasses swayed in the wind, Tang Hyu was seen flying in.

Chuck!

Tang Hyu, who had landed on the ground, still maintained a distance of five zhang from Jin Sa-wol.

"Why did you kill Zhuge Qing?"

When Tang Hyu asked, Jin Sa-wol was silent for a moment. Tang Hyu asked again.

"Was it because of the inn?"

"Why did you attack the inn?"

As Jin Sa-wol's expression changed, Tang Hyu smiled. It was the appearance he had wanted.

"The inn does not deserve to have the Thousand Gold Vault."

"It seems Senior Dang deserves to have it?"

"Sufficiently."

"So you killed so many of my people?"

"Was killing Zhuge Qing revenge?"

When Tang Hyu asked again, Jin Sa-wol admitted.

"It's revenge. Although it's not all over yet."

"Hahahaha! You're a guy with guts. It's really amazing... It's truly surprising."

Tang Hyu laughed loudly as if he were in a good mood because Jin Sa-wol had admitted.

"Who's next? Is there still someone to take revenge on?"

"You, senior."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Tang Hyu nodded. Since he had come out like this, there was no need to hide.

"Yes, I destroyed the inn. I killed them all. Originally, all sources of trouble must be eliminated."

"That's right. All sources of trouble must be eliminated."

Jin Sa-wol agreed with Tang Hyu's story.

The two had told the truth, and that meant that neither of them had any intention of letting the other live.

'One of the two will die.'

Both had the same thought.

Flash!

A light exploded in front of the two's eyes at the same time. In the meantime, both had moved their hands at the same time.

(End of Chapter)