Chapter 306 - Underworld's Divine Star Black Flame Dragon (4)

After Wangga Manor and Jin Sowoon joined them, the Daecheon Merchant Group's journey became far more comfortable.

Wangga Manor's servants prepared meals with fresh ingredients every time, and warriors far more skilled than those of the Daecheon Merchant Group stood watch in shifts.

On top of that, Jin Sowoon, the shining top student of Murim Academy, had joined them, so it was practically the safest journey one could ask for.

'... Should I be happy about this, or worried?'

But the reason worry never left Go Jungtak's face throughout the journey was also because Jin Sowoon and Wangga Manor's carriages had joined them.

'Still, to smash an Underworld sect like that...'

At first, he had been unable to shake his worry when he saw Jin Sowoon drag the Underworld figures of the Sangmun Gang along and storm into their sect.

He might be the top student of Murim Academy, but that place was still an Underworld sect.

From Go Jungtak's point of view, entering alone into a den where dozens, perhaps hundreds, of people hardened by the Underworld Murim had gathered was sheer madness.

When he told Wang Soso, who was practically the person in charge of Wangga Manor, that they should go save him, Wang Soso instead widened her eyes.

"What? Oppa Jin? Why?"

She had been so utterly calm, so certain that Jin Sowoon would return.

It had made Go Jungtak, the one worrying, seem strange instead.

But.

'I can't believe he really came back perfectly fine.'

He had not merely come back unharmed.

He said he had even received a promise from the Sangmun Gang that from now on, they would protect them without taking a protection transit fee.

Just as Go Jungtak was wondering what kind of trick he had pulled to obtain such a promise...

BANG!

"Where is the Daecheon Merchant Group?"

A second Underworld group came looking after seeing the Daecheon Merchant Group's carriages.

THUD THUD THUD THUD!

Once again, the Underworld's teeth were knocked loose like corn kernels.

"Guide me to your Sect Leader."

... The exact same thing that had happened with the Sangmun Gang repeated itself.

Go Jungtak was horrified.

Because the Black Axe Sect they had provoked this time possessed twice the power of the Sangmun Gang.

Moreover, the Black Axe Seven Hounds who founded the Black Axe Sect were dangerous opponents infamous not only in Hebei but even as far as Anhui.

Unlike Wang Soso, who remained relaxed again this time, Go Jungtak chased after them to the Black Axe Sect in case Jin Sowoon, the Merchant Group Leader's eldest son, met with some disaster.

And yet.

Huh?

BOOM!

THUD THUD THUD!

THUMP! THUMP!

Go Jungtak's expression somehow became that of a man who had attained enlightenment.

'I was worrying for nothing.'

How should he put it? It was like watching a bear barge into a beehive...

The bees staked their lives to fire their venomous stingers, while the bear was too busy scooping up their precious honey to care.

As though the stingers were not even a nuisance.

'Still, to think he was this strong...'

Go Jungtak had never learned martial arts, but after working for escort agencies and merchant groups all this time, he had seen many who had.

He had thought their abilities exceeded ordinary standards, and yet Jin Sowoon was...

'Is he really human...?'

Of the nearly one hundred Underworld figures he would have pissed himself upon encountering during a merchant journey, not a single one was standing unharmed.

And Jin Sowoon had wrapped an arm around the Sect Leader's neck and started threatening him about something.

"..."

... Go Jungtak did not particularly want to know the contents of the threat.

He simply thought it was a tremendous relief that not a single person from the merchant group had been injured.

And he thought this was the end.

Because any Underworld sect that appeared from now on would surely boast even greater power.

He thought Jin Sowoon would no longer step forward so easily.

But.

BANG!

"Where is the Daecheon Merchant Group?"

THUD!

"Guide me to your boss."

P-Please, stop...!

But Go Jungtak's scream did not reach him.

Every time they came to collect a protection transit fee, Jin Sowoon moved out, and only after an Underworld sect had been smashed apart did Jin Sowoon return.

In that manner, seven Underworld sects alone were destroyed before they entered Anhui Province.

At this point, a different worry began to surge within Go Jungtak.

"Is... is it all right to just leave this be, my lady...?"

At Go Jungtak's question, Wang Soso tilted her head.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Young Master Jin keeps causing conflict with Underworld figures, does he not? I am worried whether this is truly all right."

"Hmm... Did oppa not say he had become friends with them? I actually think everything is going very well."

"..."

"And besides, did they not say the Underworld sects would protect us from now on even if we did not pay protection transit fees?"

"That is exactly what worries me."

Why were Underworld figures called Underworld figures in the first place?

Were they not Underworld figures because they broke established common sense and rules however they pleased, paid no mind to others' opinions, and lived however they wanted?

To them, a promise was no different from something that could be broken at any time.

They might be bowing their heads now, but they could take revenge someday, and if enough people grew dissatisfied, they might be attacked by sheer numbers.

"Hmm..."

"We do not have time to sit here blankly worrying..."

After listening to Go Jungtak's concerns, Wang Soso thought for a moment, then opened her mouth.

"Oppa Jin must have some plan."

"... Pardon?"

A plan?

Had he not simply charged in without thinking, beaten them to a pulp, and come back?

There had not been a trace of deep strategy or careful deliberation in that entire sequence of events...

"You think he is simply acting without thinking."

"..."

Seeing Wang Soso wear a subtle smile, Go Jungtak could not wipe the uneasy look from his face.

Before he knew it, the smile had left her face, and she added a question.

"Oppa Jin... reached his current position as a disciple of the Taiyi Sect. Do you know what that means?"

The Taiyi Sect, which had struggled even to eat two meals a day and had to watch the Gyeryong Merchant Group's mood.

A talentless disciple of such a Third-Rate sect.

He had thought it impressive enough that such a person entered Murim Academy through his own power.

But Wang Soso shook her head.

"That is not all. Founding the Daecheon Merchant Group and recovering the lost secret teachings of the Taiyi Sect were both things oppa accomplished."

Go Jungtak's mouth fell open.

No matter what, it was not easy to believe that one person had accomplished all of that.

As though Go Jungtak's reaction was only natural, Wang Soso nodded.

"It is difficult to believe. But it is true."

"... Huh."

"There has never been a time when oppa's actions held no purpose. I am sure everything he is doing now has an intention behind it too."

After hearing Wang Soso's words, Jin Sowoon looked different to him.

Did he truly possess some profound intention that Go Jungtak knew nothing about?

Go Jungtak looked toward Jin Sowoon, who was enjoying daytime drinks with the warriors at another table.

Even while drinking, he kept watching the entrance of the guest house.

"Ah, why are the Underworld bastards in this town so slow to act? Can they even make a living like this?"

Then the warrior beside him asked,

"Wouldn't it be better if we passed through without trouble?"

"What are you talking about! Then what about all the money we've had stolen until now? What about when I'm not around in the future?"

After barking that, Jin Sowoon wet his lips with his tongue as if smacking them.

"Ah, I hope the guys coming this time have saved up a lot of money. The last bunch were such wasteful bastards they were totally broke..."

Go Jungtak's head tilted.

Was there really some profound strategy he did not know about?

He just looked like a thug trying to shake people down...

BANG!

But Go Jungtak's thoughts did not continue from there.

"Where is the Daecheon Merchant Group?"

... Because Jin Sowoon's next prey had entered the guest house.

"They're finally here!!!"

For some reason, Jin Sowoon's voice rang out brightly, as if he were excited.

Friend.

A word meaning someone you have kept close and associated with for a long time.

Father told me when I was young to make many friends.

He said that if I made friends of any sort, there would come a day when they helped me.

In my previous life, I could not put Father's advice into practice.

But in this newly gained life, I am working hard to follow Father's advice.

"We're friends, right?"

When I asked, the new friend I had made quickly nodded and answered.

"Th-That's right! Aren't we friends?"

He was a friend called by the title Poison Fang Sword, and while he looked rough, he was warmhearted.

He even shared all the income he had earned like this.

Where else in the world would you find such a warm friend?

"I look forward to working with you."

"D-Don't worry. It's a merchant group run by you, Jin Sowoon, so of course I should protect it. Cough! I-I have this whole area in my grip, so don't you worry!"

My friend thumped his chest as he boasted.

It would have been nice if he had opened his heart like this before his eyes swelled black and blue.

Just looking at him made my own heart ache for no reason.

In any case, Father's words were right.

When I made many friends, I received much help.

I thought I should make even more friends from now on.

After thus catching up with my friend, I was about to leave his sect.

CRUNCH, CRUNCH.

"...?"

A group of men swarmed in, wrenching open the door I had half destroyed.

Then, with murderous looks on their faces, they drew their sabers all at once.

"Poison Fang Sword, receive my saber at once!"

"How dare you lay a hand on our Lamplight Guest House... huh?"

The warriors who had stormed into the Poison Fang Sect with a fierce momentum as though they were about to wage war at once...

Yet soon.

Seeing the broken furnishings strewn everywhere and the injured Poison Fang Sect disciples collapsed on the ground, they became dumbfounded.

"W-What is this..."

"Did one of our people come here first?"

"Hall Leader, we have only just arrived."

While the intruders were flustered and at a loss for words, Poison Fang Sword ground his teeth and sprang to his feet.

"You despicable bastards of the Lamplight Sect. Of all the times..."

He had been spewing curses, but when his eyes met mine, Poison Fang Sword clamped his mouth shut.

What the hell was going on?

In the meantime, perhaps having roughly grasped the situation, the members of the Lamplight Sect raised their sabers triumphantly.

"Poison Fang Sword! Today, we settle this once and for all!"

"Grrr, Deung Gohyeon! Can you still call yourself an Orthodox sect after this?"

"I told you clearly. One day, justice would judge you. Today is that day!"

Looking closely, it seemed the Poison Fang Sect and the Lamplight Sect were rivals in this area.

By chance, they had apparently stormed in just when I happened to be visiting the Poison Fang Sect.

But...

'Strange.'

I had never heard of an Orthodox sect called the Lamplight Sect.

Was this also a problem related to the Underworld Alliance?

"The Lamplight Sect is a sect founded by a disciple of the Wind Fragrance Sect, a lay sect of Qingcheng. Those bastards use Qingcheng's name to commit the same wicked acts."

So said the infamous Underworld figure Poison Fang Sword.

So they were about the lay disciple of a lay disciple of the Qingcheng Sect?

At that point, it seemed embarrassing for either side even to mention the name.

In fact, everyone in the Lamplight Sect was also using sabers.

"So, about that..."

Just then, Poison Fang Sword cautiously spoke to me.

"Could you help me...? W-We are f-friends, are we not!"

At Poison Fang Sword's words, I could not hide my deep disappointment.

"Seeing you make such an unreasonable request of a friend, you're a complete bastard. You don't qualify as a friend. Tsk. Should I just wipe you out?"

"W-What do you mean!"

"Hey, aren't I a disciple of an Orthodox sect? Imagine if someone like me mingled with you lot and fought a disciple of an Orthodox sect. How big do you think the problem would get?"

"..."

"And besides, if a friend can't even look after himself, I suppose there's no need to be friends with him. Hmm... yes, it'd be better to just get rid of him."

"W-Wait! Wait!"

Poison Fang Sword glared with both eyes and said,

"Our Poison Fang Sect is not that weak. Even in our current state, we can fight as much as we need!"

"Oh... is that so?"

I turned back from where I had been about to leave and sat down on the wooden platform.

To be honest, I was curious who would win if they fought.

When I took my seat, the Poison Fang Sect drew in a breath as if they had gained an army of thousands.

"All Poison Fang Sect disciples, gather!"

His ringing voice resounded through the entire Poison Fang Sect.

It was fortunate, at least, that not many of them had broken arms or legs.

The Poison Fang Sect also had far more people, and even excluding those too injured to fight, they still had more members than the Lamplight Sect.

No, but what kind of guts did these Lamplight Sect bastards have to storm in here in the first place?

They did not even look that strong.

"Who is that man?"

Deung Gohyeon pointed at me, but Poison Fang Sword growled through his teeth.

"That is none of your concern."

Then Deung Gohyeon spoke to me as if warning me.

"If you interfere recklessly, I will never forgive you."

I nodded readily and waved my hand, and the fight between the two groups began.

"Uwaaaagh!"

"Strike!"

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!

BANG BANG! CLANG CLANG CLANG! CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Just as I had expected, the Poison Fang Sect and the Lamplight Sect were at similar levels.

No, to be honest, the Poison Fang Sect's skill seemed slightly better.

Should I say they had better overall adaptability?

Along with that, their guys had a bit more guts too.

Like a textbook Orthodox sect, the Lamplight Sect guarded even against small injuries while trying only to damage the opponent, whereas the Poison Fang Sect paid no mind to minor wounds and charged in like real men, aiming only for the opponent's neck.

Originally, this should have been a fight the Poison Fang Sect could win, but the two forces maintained an even balance.

'Their injuries must be deeper than I thought.'

Honestly, I hadn't even hit them that hard.

In the middle of the fight, Poison Fang Sword's resentful gaze shot toward me.

But even if he looked at me like that, there was nothing I could do for him.

Well, what could be done now?

As the Poison Fang Sect gradually began to be pushed back, the Lamplight Sect grew even more emboldened.

"Strike! As of today, let us erase the Poison Fang Sect from the world!"

"Uwaaaaaah!"

The Lamplight Sect's sabers grew sharper as their momentum rose, and the members of the Poison Fang Sect, driven onto the defensive, gradually began to retreat.

At that moment, as though Poison Fang Sword had resolved himself to something, he took a red pill from his clothes and swallowed it.

'Huh? That is...?'

Then the second and third strongest members of the Poison Fang Sect also began swallowing red pills, and eventually all of the Poison Fang Sect's members started taking the pills one after another.

"Urgh... urgh... uwaaaaaagh!"

Poison Fang Sword, who had been retreating while avoiding the swords of three Lamplight Sect warriors, suddenly erupted with an enormous wave of qi and blasted the three men thirty feet away in one blow.

"Huff... huff... huff..."

Every time he breathed deeply, white steam burst from his mouth.

His face flushed red, and his eyes gleamed even redder.

Ah, fuck, that thing...

'It's the Exploding Blood Pill.'

The very thing Gye Cheolyeong had used during the exam before.

Between two forces that already had hardly any difference in skill, the scales began to tilt rapidly.

The Poison Fang Sect disciples, all intoxicated by the power of the Exploding Blood Pill, began driving the Lamplight Sect back.

"Kwaaagh!"

For the first time, someone from the Lamplight Sect suffered a grave wound and collapsed.

"Kuhuk!"

"W-What is this...!"

One after another, the warriors of the Lamplight Sect began falling.

Just as I was about to step in and stop them, thinking that at this rate all the Lamplight Sect's warriors might die...

"The Lamplight Sect is eternal!"

What the hell was this now?

This time, one disciple of the Lamplight Sect ate the pill in his hand.

Then the other Lamplight Sect disciples began following him and eating pills too, and an enormous wave of qi spread out.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

'You guys have Exploding Blood Pills too?'

... Fuck, how did a fight in the Jianghu turn into a drug-fueled battle?

While I could not help lamenting it...

The fight once again became evenly matched.

Perhaps because both forces were anxious that they must not exceed one hundred moves, they began forcing attacks while accepting injuries, and the fight grew rougher and rougher.

'What a mess.'

The Exploding Blood Pill was useful when fighting an opponent of a similar level, under the premise that the opponent had not taken one as well.

A situation like this was nothing but mutual destruction.

As if everyone knew that, once they approached one hundred moves, people's movements began to slow more and more.

"Huff! Huff! Huff!"

"... D-Damn it, what do we do?"

Each side watched the other in an extreme battle of nerves.

They were in a state where they could neither keep fighting nor stop after having come this far.

At that moment, while silence flowed between the two forces for a while...

An enormous wave of qi exploded from among the Lamplight Sect warriors.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The owner of that wave of qi was none other than Deung Gohyeon.

Though fifty moves had already passed since he took the Exploding Blood Pill, his martial robes were still swollen as if ready to burst, and his hair floated in midair, pushed upward by the erupting qi.

"I... I will kill you all!!!"

"H-Hall Leader! If you go any further here..."

One Lamplight Sect disciple urgently tried to stop him, but instead of answering, Deung Gohyeon swung his sword.

SLASH!

The neck of the disciple who had tried to stop Deung Gohyeon was severed, and a fountain of blood gushed up.

"W-What... is..."

While the Lamplight Sect disciples froze at the sudden turn of events...

Deung Gohyeon charged like lightning at the Poison Fang Sect disciples.

SLAAAASH!

Suddenly, fountains of blood erupted, and the heads of three Poison Fang Sect disciples rolled across the ground.

He had not cut down one person with a single saber stroke, but three people's necks.

"U-Uhahahaha!"

Perhaps marveling at his own move, Deung Gohyeon began swinging his saber again.

Merciless movements.

The Poison Fang Sect disciples desperately blocked him, but for some reason, there was an enormous gap between them and Deung Gohyeon.

SHRING RING RING RING!

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

The speed at which he swung his saber was extraordinary.

He even displayed the might of cutting through swords wrapped in Sword Qi and then severing the necks of Poison Fang Sect disciples, and the terrified Poison Fang Sect disciples gave up resisting and began to flee.

But.

"Wh-Where do you think you're going! Today, I will not leave even the roots of the Poison Fang Sect behind!"

BOOM!

When the venomous Deung Gohyeon kicked off the ground and leaped, clumps of earth were torn open and sprayed sand in every direction.

His footwork was a complete mess, but his speed alone was insanely fast, enough to block the path of a Poison Fang Sect disciple who had fled first.

'... The Exploding Blood Pill can do this much?'

No matter how much it was the Exploding Blood Pill, there was a fixed limit to what it could draw out from the potential he possessed.

Yet did Deung Gohyeon not seem to have far surpassed that limit now?

Moreover, had Deung Gohyeon not killed a disciple of his own sect at the very beginning?

As if he were someone defying the laws of the world...

RUMBLE, RUMBLE.

At that moment, the Red Phoenix Bracelet trembled.