Chapter 95

Chapter 95 – The Changed Situation (3)

In a room with a gorgeously engraved image of a dragon on the ceiling…

Geum Man-jung opened a safe, which was installed in a large drawer, protected by a circular lock.

He opened his mouth to speak after he had filled the safe up.

“Come in.”

When the permission was granted, a man opened the door and strode in. In the name of protecting him, he was put on escort duty.

“What is it?”

“I’m just here to talk. We’ve tentatively agreed to give five locations.”

“Ah. I see.”

Geum Man-jung’s expression went stiff.

That meant it was decided to hand over several shops, including the clothing store, to the Blue Dragon Sect. Moreover, he knew very well that it couldn’t be stopped.

Didn’t they even ask him to hand over the entire area a month ago?

“Don’t be too heartbroken. Now isn’t the time to fight. They won’t last long anyway.”

“I know that, but… when will help come? It’s been quite some time since I contacted the sect.”

It had been around half a year since he asked for help from the Hidden Truth Corps. Still, nothing had been heard from them.

On the other hand, the Blue Dragon Sect has grown considerably. Its influence extends beyond the area, and into managing businesses now too.

Moreover, the cost of protection in the red light district has become an issue recently.

“Wait. In any case, the matter will be resolved once the Hidden Truth Corps are dispatched.”

“Yes. I hope so.”

Geum Man-jung let out a short sigh. He too, believed this.

He knew how strong the people of the Hidden Truth Corps were.

He raised his gaze in thought of something, and asked.

“But, did you look into that person from yesterday?”

At his question, Sang Cheon-jang nodded.

“It didn’t look like he belonged to the Blue Dragon Sect.”

“Then is it someone from the Mount Hua Sect? Didn’t you say that traces of Mount Hua’s swordsmanship was on the bodies of the dead?”

“I thought that too. However, upon investigation, it turns out that he isn’t from there.”

“Then from where is he?”

“It doesn’t make sense that an unknown warrior did that to save a girl.”

“Haa…”

Geum Man-jung sighed. A person who suddenly intervened in a complicated situation.

In addition to interfering with his business, he injured and killed dozens of people. It was very uncomfortable for Geum Man-jung.

“Don’t worry. I traced his moves, and found his current location.”

“Ah…”

At that, Geum Man-jung’s face brightened, and the other man nodded as if it was no big deal.

“By now, my men must have already gone after his head.”

The Heavenly Official Guards.

An organization made up of eleven warriors from the Crimson Demon Pavilion, who follow Sang Cheon-jang.

Cheol Sawoo, a commander of strong build, listened to his captain’s orders and headed for the tavern located on the edge of the red light district.

“This place, right? It has to be.”

As they stood at the entrance, Cheol Sawoo picked up his bamboo hat, looked around, and nodded his head.

The nine others followed him.

Step.

Step.

One man and one woman in the center of the tavern. No one other than them.

When he raised his hand, his men following him stopped. Cheol Sawoo glanced behind himself once more, and then strode towards the man and woman.

And as he stood next to the woman, he questioned her.

“Name.”

“…”

The woman didn’t answer. She sat there, saying nothing.

“Hmm.”

Then he took out a parchment from his sleeve.

He examined the portraits on it, comparing them to the faces of the man and woman in front of him. He smiled.

“They’re the ones.”

Srng!

As if waiting for that moment, the subordinate beside him pulled out his sword from its sheath. With eerie sounds, the blades of the rest came out.

“Don’t kill the man. He has to be captured alive.”

“Yes.”

After the order was given, the parchment was put back into his sleeve. Cheol Sawoo turned around and began walking away.

“Did Sang Cheon-jang send you?”

“…!”

The man sitting opposite to the woman suddenly spoke up.

Cheol Sawoo stiffened, slowly turning back to look at them.

A man sitting cross-legged was looking at the floor.

And the woman who was on the other side, who finally opened her mouth to speak.

“Can this be won?”

Her voice was terrified. On the other hand, the man’s voice contained nothing but arrogance.

“They’re barely even worth my time. Their power seems much lower than I thought…”

After that, something terrifying came.

The energy Cheol Sawoo felt from the man gripped his entire body.

Still, he was a member of the Heavenly Official Guards. He couldn’t show his fear, so he tried to maintain an upright posture.

But, with his intuition telling him it was dangerous, he quickly shouted.

“Hurry up!”

Four guards rushed at the man, but that was all they could do.

Cheol Sawoo’s ears caught the sound of something strange in the air, before things began to fall down like a lie.

“…!”

Cheol Sawoo’s eyes widened.

Four of his men had died without even being able to use their weapons or attacks.

It was because of this man, whose strength they couldn’t dare to confirm.

At that moment, the man stood up from his seat. He sauntered towards Cheol Sawoo.

“You’re from the Crimson Demon Pavilion?”

“…What?!”

“What’s so surprising about that? A unit called the Heavenly Official Guards. Didn’t you move with Sang Cheon-jang on the orders of the Supreme Pavilion Lord?”

Cheol Sawoo was more and more bewildered.

However, hearing all of his affiliations come out correctly, he guessed that the other man had to be of the same sect.

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m from Mount Hua.”

“You expect me to believe that?!”

“Don’t believe it if you don’t want to.”

Seol-Hwi looked around, before continuing to talk.

“Well, it isn’t like you’ll be able to survive for much longer.”

When Seol-Hwi decided to fight properly, a number of gaps could be seen.

His only choice for so many gaps was to ‘Attack.’ There was a reason.

The advantage of going back 3 seconds in time.

He was planning to use that as an opportunity for the Plum Blossom Sword technique. The sword marks would stay on the dead bodies.

After dealing with them, Sang Cheon-jang would come. He would see these marks and be confused.

Perhaps even start to doubt Lee Gu-myung.

Hak! Swish!

Blood spilled out.

The warriors in the tavern couldn’t fight, and had their necks and arms blown away. Some fell after being stabbed dozens of times by Seol-Hwi’s attack.

What stood out the most among them…

Bang!

They died without even recognizing the shape of the explosions.

It’s an attack that is difficult to determine whether it is Plus Blossom swordsmanship or a martial art.

Seol-Hwi stood in the center of all of it.

Drip.

Drip.

Looking at the blood flowing down his sword, he asked.

“Shouldn’t you at least resist a bit?”

“…”

Cheol Sawoo lowered his head. His eyes were mixed with numerous emotions, but one thing was sure.

The will to fight.

Is that it?

Seol-Hwi’s eyes turned to the sword the man was holding. The sword was unusual.

It felt like it was crying during the fight, the sound of that sword.

The Ghost Sword of Cheol Sawoo.

A weapon known to go after blood.

It was said that if the sword is swung, it gets stronger and more destructive each time.

The sword had to be what he was confident about.

And with this sword, the thought of losing might not come.

“Let’s see how great it is.”

Seol-Hwi lowered his own sword and provoked Cheol Sawoo, watching as the man furrowed his brows.

Seol-Hwi knew that his provocation and careless attitude would make the man try to use this.

Shing!

Cheol Sawoo used the Ghost Sword to cut his wrists and the back of his arms. Then, after soaking the blade with his blood, he licked it.

Woong!

And the sword cried again.

Like the sound of wind rustling the walls in the middle of the night, the cry of the sword could be heard by Seol-Hwi.

“Don’t make me regret it.”

They were just 2 meters apart from each other. Perhaps because of the short distance, the sword went for Seol-Hwi’s throat in the blink of an eye.

Then, he turned it to the right, where Seol-Hwi had moved his neck to avoid it.

Shhhing!

As Seol-Hwi turned and fell back, he continued to move.

The aggressive offense of trying to get the opponent down, seemed as if the man didn’t want to give any moment of peace to Seol-Hwi.

Perhaps because of that, Seol-Hwi’s eyes saw the sword moving the man, not the man moving the sword.

Shall I get hit once?

Seol-Hwi, who was half-turned and kept moving backward, lowered his body and rushed ahead.

Cheol Sawoo lowered his sword vertically, trying to split Seol-Hwi in half.

Seol-Hwi hurriedly turned sideways to dodge the attack, and then struck back with his own sword.

Ching!

Uk!

But, Seol-Hwi was the one who was pushed back.

Although his sword didn’t fall short, the opponent’s sword is known to be a divine weapon.

In particular, the power of the sword, which he could feel was different from a normal sword.

At that moment, Seol-Hwi was surprised, and the opponent didn’t miss his chance.

The sword came from three directions, all of them unavoidable.

Even so, Seol-Hwi didn’t falter.

Because there was a skill gap between them that could not be narrowed with just a sword.

Chak!

Seol-Hwi’s sword slashed diagonally. And before the movement could even change, something fell to the ground.

It was Cheol Sawoo’s arm.

“This is why I like the Plum Blossom Sword technique.”

Seol-Hwi spoke in a calm voice.

When the opponent tried to make his move, he used the Plum Blossom Sword technique.

That speed.

It was possible because his technique was several times faster than the speed of the opponent.

“Kuak!”

After losing one of his arms, Cheol Sawoo hesitated for a while as he knelt on the ground.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

“Sorry, but no.”

He refused Seol-Hwi’s words.

Cheol Sawoo knew what came after. The last blow.

“…Then I will give you an honorable death.”

If the man was going to be stubborn, Seol-Hwi couldn’t say anything more.

Swish!

Cheol Sawoo’s head was cut off, as he met his fate in that kneeling position.

“…What are you?”

The woman asked, covering her mouth.

A man like Cheol Sawoo was easily subdued.

Seol-Hwi answered in a dry voice.

“Now you’re free. You’d better leave soon. The captain of these guys will be here any moment.”

“You… Do you have a place to escape?”

“You’re misunderstanding something.”

Seol-Hwi cleaned the blood off of his sword and sheathed it. He looked at her and said,

“The hunt starts now.”