Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 200 : Battle (1)

A warm energy circulated in the tea room where a tea table was set. It was the heat coming from the brazier placed on one side.

Dokgo Hye sat next to the brazier and looked at Dokgo Hyeon, who had entered the room.

"What happened to Pavilion Master Jang?"

"He's imprisoned in the Thunder Prison."

"Why?"

"He's bait."

At the word 'bait', Dokgo Hye frowned. Jang Cho was too valuable a person to be used as bait.

His medical skills were needed by the cult, and the Loyalty Pavilion was an indispensable place.

"Who is the bait to lure?"

"I don't know that much."

Dokgo Hyeon shook his head, and Dokgo Hye asked again, persistently to the point of being annoying.

"Who did such a thing? Gung Ma-yeop?"

"The head of the Na family did it. The Seo Mun family head also helped. It seems the Seo Mun family head is helping the head of the Na family a lot."

"Helping? Is the Seo Mun family head a person who would help others? He's just using the head of the Na family, and the head of the Na family is also just using the Seo Mun family head. There is no cooperation in our cult."

At Dokgo Hye's words, Dokgo Hyeon could not deny it and agreed.

Dokgo Hye poured tea into a teacup and said again.

"Have you met the Seo Mun family head?"

"Not yet. It seems we'll see him at the elder's meeting soon."

The elder's meeting to decide the Demonic Cult Leader would be held soon. It seemed that it would be decided then whether a bloody fight would break out or whether it would end moderately.

"You're late."

With a voice, Mun-gang entered the room. At his chubby appearance, Dokgo Hye showed a smile and stood up.

"Sit down."

As she welcomed him, Mun-gang made a fist and bowed his waist.

"You look well."

"I'm not well."

Dokgo Hye erased her smile, offered tea to Mun-gang, who was sitting in a chair, and asked.

"What happened to Cheon Woo-hyeon? Have you still not found him?"

"It's a complete mystery where he disappeared."

Mun-gang drank his tea with a sigh and said again.

"It seems someone in the cult is helping him. Otherwise, he couldn't have disappeared without a trace like this."

Mun-gang was chasing Cheon Woo-hyeon and his family. The day Cheon Yu-myeong disappeared, the members of the Cheon family estate also disappeared.

It was his job to find them and kill them.

"What about Cheon Ae-ryeong?"

"She's not there."

Cheon Ae-ryeong, the daughter of the Cheon family estate master, Cheon Mun-jung, was also a target to be killed. Since Cheon Woo-hyeon and Cheon Ae-ryeong could become seeds of revenge in the future, they had to be found and eliminated at all costs.

At Mun-gang's answer, Dokgo Hye and Dokgo Hyeon showed disappointed expressions.

Dokgo Hye changed the subject and said.

"If I marry the head of the Na family, will there be any benefit to our family?"

"You don't need to think about it seriously. The head of the Na family just threw it out there, he didn't actually have marriage in mind."

"I wish that were the case..."

Dokgo Hye muttered in a low voice as if she were bothered and let out a deep breath.

The three began to talk about the upcoming elder's meeting.

***

A middle-aged man stood, admiring the falling leaves. He gently stroked his long beard and smiled.

His pupils were clear, his eyebrows were thick, and he had a dignified shoulder line.

Wearing a black long robe over a red cape, he slowly began to walk.

Dam-ji, who had flown in, fluttering her pink skirt, quietly followed the middle-aged man who was walking on the small path.

As the middle-aged man paused his steps for a moment, Dam-ji quietly opened her mouth.

"Father. Did you call?"

At Dam-ji's voice, Seo Mun Ga-jeong, the head of the Seo Mun family, turned his head. Seeing the bowing Dam-ji, Seo Mun Ga-jeong walked again.

As he opened his mouth, a low, mid-bass voice seeped into the forest.

"If the head of the Na family becomes the Cult Leader, the seat next to him will be yours. Then the power of our family will also be yours. Your shoulders are heavy, so I believe you will do well."

"Thank you for believing in me, Father."

"Tell the head of the Na family that we will see him in two days. We should meet once before the elder's meeting."

"Yes."

"You may leave."

As Seo Mun Ga-jeong's words ended, Dam-ji disappeared without a sound.

Seo Mun Ga-jeong walked the path again and then smiled.

"The Hao Faction is mine, and the Hwahwaru is also mine. Since all the eyes and ears of the world are mine, now I must make the arms and legs mine. The Demonic Cult... How long have I waited? Hoo hoo hoo."

Seo Mun Ga-jeong's low laughter was carried away by the wind.

***

Sreureureuk!

A faint sound, as if a snake were crawling on the floor, lingered in the room.

It was the sound from the grayish-white mist that was enveloping Jin Sa-wol, who was sitting on the floor and practicing qi circulation.

The mist filled the room like fog and then slowly seeped into Jin Sa-wol's nostrils.

"Phew..."

Jin Sa-wol, who had let out a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes, was still sitting without any movement.

Immediately after using up all his innate true qi in the fight with Jeokrin, he could do nothing.

But he gathered a handful of internal energy with the Explosive Art of the True Blood Demonic Art, and then he increased his internal energy again by practicing qi circulation with the Six-Layer Demonic Art.

As he exhaled a handful of breath and inhaled six breaths, his internal energy increased at a rapid pace.

But the healing of his physical injuries and damaged qi and blood required time.

The bruises on his arms and upper body had not yet completely disappeared, and the injury on his shoulder also remained.

Rest was needed for the twisted muscles to be corrected.

Although Song Ha-sang had told him to rest for a few months, he did not have that luxury.

'It will take three months.'

He had to move slowly without overdoing it and control his qi and blood through qi circulation whenever he had a chance.

"May I come in?"

Hearing Song Ha-sang's voice, Jin Sa-wol stood up from his seat and went out to the study.

Song Ha-sang, who was standing in the study, showed a smile when he saw Jin Sa-wol.

"You look better today than yesterday."

"Thanks to you, brother, my internal energy has stabilized."

As affection was included in Jin Sa-wol's speech, Song Ha-sang felt good. Song Ha-sang held out the decoction he had prepared and said.

"It's a restorative soup. I put in ginseng and deer antlers, which are good for the body. It's good for restoring energy, so drink it all up."

At Song Ha-sang's words, Jin Sa-wol drank the decoction. Song Ha-sang looked at him with a pleased expression.

Thud!

Jin Sa-wol, who had put down the decoction bowl, asked Song Ha-sang.

"Did you find out?"

"The Dark Cloud Division also doesn't trade with me, so it's difficult to find out about the affairs within the cult. It seems the head of the Na family ordered it."

It meant to block his eyes and ears. But no matter how much they blocked the Dark Cloud Division, there was the Hao Faction.

"I'll be leaving here for a while, so help Brother Bi."

"I will. I was thinking of doing that anyway."

As Song Ha-sang's answer ended, Bi-sun and Jo-rim came in at the right time.

"How is your body?"

"It's much better."

"That's a relief. What are you going to do from now on?"

When Bi-sun asked, Jin Sa-wol turned his gaze to Jo-rim, thinking of Yuk Seol-jeong.

"I have to go to the Demonic Cult. How is Yuk Seol-jeong?"

"She's still sleeping."

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

"I have to go to the Demonic Cult."

At his words, Bi-sun and Jo-rim said as if they had been waiting.

"Let's go together this time."

"I'll go too."

As the two stepped forward and spoke, Jin Sa-wol answered as if he could not.

"Brother and sister, you should organize this place and make it a manor."

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Bi-sun and Jo-rim cast a look of dissatisfaction. Bi-sun said.

"Changing it to a manor is something the carpenters will do anyway, so it's not difficult. But if you die, what's the point of making this place a manor? It's just an empty house."

"Find out the movements of the Martial Alliance. Because I don't know how it will change. And before I go to the Demonic Cult, I'm thinking of stopping by the Martial Alliance."

"Why the Martial Alliance?"

When Jo-rim asked, Jin Sa-wol showed a smile.

"Since I'm going to the Demonic Cult, I'm thinking of granting what the alliance wants. So that we can deal with Jeokrin together. It seems it will be less difficult to deal with him with the alliance than to deal with him alone."

"You're saying you'll bring in the power of the majority."

"If it's an absolute master of that level, it's much more effective to deal with him in a wheel battle with many people than to deal with him alone."

Bi-sun and Jo-rim also muttered as if they understood and nodded.

Song Ha-sang chimed in.

"It seems it's a priority to find out the base of that person named Jeokrin. It's to strike first."

"He's not an opponent that will work."

Jin Sa-wol shook his head. Song Ha-sang stroked his beard as if it were a shame. Just then, Namgung Ji, who had opened the door, came in.

"What are you talking about so happily without me?"

"Sit down."

At Bi-sun's words, Namgung Ji sat down in the remaining chair and said.

"The Inspection Pavilion has left. I'm on my way back from seeing them off."

"Are you okay?"

When Jin Sa-wol asked, Namgung Ji changed her complexion and shook her head.

Song Mu-pung was an opponent with whom she had had marriage talks. They had had quite a few conversations and had developed into friends, but since he had died, a great sadness remained.

"I'll be fine after a few days. I feel once again that this is the martial world."

As Namgung Ji saw people dying several times, she came to know well where she was living.

Bi-sun asked with a curious face.

"What does the Alliance Leader want?"

"The safety of the safe. A lot of money is needed to maintain the alliance. Of course, numerous factions raise money for the alliance, but public funds and private funds are different."

"I'm going to the alliance, will you go with me?"

When Jin Sa-wol asked, Namgung Ji contemplated and then nodded.

"Yes. I also have to report on the work here, so let's go together. Let's go together when Brother Woo wakes up."

"I'll have to go and wake him up."

Jin Sa-wol thought of Woo Jeong-bong.

***

Woo Jeong-bong's face, who was lying on the bed, was the very picture of peace.

"Chomp! Chomp! Everyone, goodbye."

In his dream, he had been hit by Jeokrin and had flown away, and he had met a dragon ascending to the sky.

Although it was a dream, the dream was reality.

Jo Geom-ok, who was quietly watching Woo Jeong-bong, who was muttering in his sleep, sighed.

Woo Jeong-bong's sleep talk was heard again.

"Is it an early exit... Chomp! Give me liquor. Give me the gisaeng house too."

This time, as if he were having a good dream, a flower of laughter bloomed on Woo Jeong-bong's face.

"Yeon-il, you bastard... How dare you covet my woman? You bald bastard. I'll kill you. Chomp!"

At Woo Jeong-bong's words, Jo Geom-ok chuckled without realizing it.

"Instead of liquor, Sister Jo? Yes, introducing Sister Jo is not my job. She listens to me well. Although Sister Jo's personality is dirtier than a monkey's and fiercer than a wild boar's, she's quite okay."

In that instant, Jo Geom-ok's hand went to Woo Jeong-bong's face.

Slap!

"Ouch!"

Woo Jeong-bong, who had opened his eyes with a flash, jumped up and looked around. His large eyes touched his cheek and then frowned when he saw Jo Geom-ok.

"What? Why does my face hurt?"

"Don't you remember? You were hit a lot."

"Ah..."

Woo Jeong-bong nodded, recalling the fake Jin Sa-wol.

"You've been sleeping like a log for four days. Are you a little better now?"

"No. My face hurts a lot."

"What about your body?"

"My body..."

Woo Jeong-bong, who was looking around his body, confirmed that he was half-naked, covered himself with the blanket, and said.

"I think I'm okay. What happened? Who treated me?"

"The doctor here is competent. He also kept feeding me internal injury medicine and corrected my qi and blood with needles."

"I see."

Woo Jeong-bong lay down again with the thought that it was a relief.

"What about Brother Jin?"

"He'll come."

"What about the fake Brother Jin?"

"That guy is the bad guy. He disguised himself as Sa-wol, killed the people of this inn, and I think he was after the safe. Fortunately, he was caught in the middle and ran away, but I don't know when he'll come. So we have to be careful. There's also bad news."

"What is it?"

"Pavilion Master Song was killed by that guy. If it's not the God of Death, he wouldn't have such martial arts."

"The God of Death..."

Woo Jeong-bong frowned and then looked at Jo Geom-ok.

"Get dressed and go out."

At his words, Jo Geom-ok went outside without a word. As she closed the door and came out, she saw the approaching Jin Sa-wol.

(End of Chapter)