Chapter 99: An Unexpected Encounter

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Du Cheong and Yuk Tong’s minds went fuzzy for a moment at the feeling of their blood freezing cold.

The words Ju Yu-gang had just thrown felt more terrifying than the shadow of death approaching.

One who punishes evil, one who sometimes acts as evil for that purpose, one who shows not a shred of mercy or compassion to our kind… That was a forewarning that from now on, they too would suffer a dreadful fate like the three executives sprawled around them.

Their hearts were pounding to the point of near explosion.

Indeed, they couldn’t think of any way to respond with Ju Yu-gang before them.

Because extreme terror had swallowed everything…

Soon, Yuk Tong moved first.

KWAK!

A large body dashing out like an arrow.

He was showing his back and fleeing.

It was a final flight driven by survival instinct.

However.

PING!

The iron sword that left Ju Yu-gang’s hand flew at even faster speed and pierced through the middle of his calf.

PU-HA-AK- CRA-CRACK!

The blade penetrated flesh and even shattered bone.

“GAAAAAAH!”

With a sharp scream, the large form of Yuk Tong, who had lost balance, flopped down on the ground.

When Ju Yu-gang moved his hand again, the sword that had pierced the calf was SCHUCK pulled out and driven deep into the opposite calf.

“AAAAAAAAGH!”

The scream that immediately burst forth echoed loudly through the forest.

FLOAT.

The iron sword, scattering blood drops, lightly floated up again and came to Ju Yu-gang’s side to be gripped.

When Yuk Tong was made that way, Du Cheong’s reaction was no different.

“DAMN IT!”

Turning his body to the side, he screamed as if in a fit and kicked off the ground, deploying lightness technique with maximum internal cultivation.

PA-PANG!

He advanced without looking back, fiercely stirring up wind and dust.

His eyes rolled back.

It was a struggle to live.

Desperation was thoroughly evident in the series of movements, as if forcibly trying to shake off the terror in his chest.

Befitting the second-in-command of the Thousand Snake Gang, his speed was even faster than the escape Yuk Tong had attempted earlier.

But.

SWOOSH.

Ju Yu-gang stood blocking his path with lightness technique so covert that not even a faint presence could be felt.

‘Wh-what!’

Du Cheong, seeing him suddenly appear before his eyes, was terrified and reflexively thrust his sword.

CLANG-!

Metallic sound.

It was blocked too easily.

The sword tip laden with vital energy.

Yet.

Du Cheong’s eyeballs grew huge until bloodshot.

The emotion of shock became a transparent wave that vibrated in his jet-black pupils.

It couldn’t be helped.

Because what had blocked the sword tip was none other than Ju Yu-gang’s left palm.

It was a wondrous scene.

The tip of the blade met the palm and stopped dead.

Even the vital energy had dissipated.

It had been futilely shattered before the power emanated from the left palm.

The wave-like haze spreading in all directions was the proof.

Just then, another wondrous scene was captured by his eyes.

CRA-CRA-CRA-CRA-CRA-CRACK-!

The long blade shattered into pieces along with a noisy cracking sound.

Immediately after, when Ju Yu-gang curled his left hand and twisted his wrist, Du Cheong’s right hand rotated and snapped due to intangible energy crossing the narrow gap.

CRA-CRACK-!

Starting from the wrist twisted like that, the forearm, shoulder up to it were instantly twisted in a spiral, tearing and bursting, and crimson blood sprayed out.

“GAAAAAAAH, GAAAAAAAGH!”

The moment Du Cheong let out a massive cry of pain, Ju Yu-gang’s right foot rapidly struck his abdomen.

THWACK-!

Simultaneously, Du Cheong was flung fiercely backward as if hit by a huge cannonball and CRASH! collided with a boulder.

THUMP.

Fallen face-down on the floor, he couldn’t breathe.

‘Ugh… guh-guk…’

Before just one kick, it felt like his organs were falling apart in a mess.

Indeed, dark red blood was gushing continuously from his mouth.

It was a coughing blood symptom from severely damaged organs.

“You must want to bite your tongue and die. But… You’re the type that lack even the courage to attempt that.”

Having spoken quietly, Ju Yu-gang glanced at Yuk Tong over there.

“I’ll cut it off for you. You’ll never use it again anyway.”

Through Sword Controlling Technique, the iron sword shot up crossing the air then dropped down and drove into the center of Yuk Tong’s crotch.

PU-HA-AK!

Blood splattered high.

“AAAGH!”

Yuk Tong, whose precious thing had been severed, rolled his eyes back and convulsed.

Ju Yu-gang, without retrieving the sword, took leisurely steps and once again let out a cold voice.

“Even using immature young girls for those filthy deeds?”

A slight movement of his hand.

WHOOSH!

At that, the iron sword shot up once more before falling down fiercely.

PU-HA-AK!

This time, Yuk Tong’s wrist was cleanly severed as if by a guillotine.

Consecutive hand gestures, and consecutive sword cuts.

PU-HA-AK, PU-HA-AK, PU-HA-AK…!

The remaining one wrist and both ankles were cleanly cut off, spraying blood.

Following that.

SWOOSH.

When Ju Yu-gang, having retrieved the iron sword, waved his left hand, Yuk Tong’s body was drawn by Grasping Objects Through Air and flew to slam into an old tree over there.

THUD-!

And once more, once more, once more…

Eventually, the old tree, unable to withstand the shock, CRACK-SNAP! was destroyed, and Du Cheong, who had become a wreck, lay on the ground moving only his lips.

Was he asking to be killed quickly, or asking to be spared?

Of course, Ju Yu-gang was indifferent.

STEP, STEP, STEP.

Having been quietly walking, he presently stopped his form with the ground-fallen Du Cheong about five or six paces away.

“Ple… ase…”

At Du Cheong’s feeble voice, Ju Yu-gang showed a mocking smile.

“Please torment me more? Why of course, that’s how it should be.”

He stood Du Cheong up with Grasping Objects Through Air and immediately ruthlessly twisted the remaining one arm.

From hand to shoulder, all flesh and bone let out spine-chilling sounds while splitting and shattering in a spiral shape.

Next in turn was naturally both legs.

RIP, RI-RIP, RIP, CRACK, CRA-CRACK, CRACK… PSH-SHHHH, PSH-SHH…!

Twisted and twisted flesh was torn off and bone fragments jutted out and blood dripped pitter-patter.

THUMP.

When Du Cheong fell back to the ground.

CRASH, CRASH, CRASH…!

One of Ju Yu-gang’s feet, laden with heavy power as if executing a tremoring stomp, indiscriminately trampled on that body.

By now, Du Cheong, whose torso had almost turned into minced meat, had his eyelids half-closed while retching blood and foam from his mouth.

“Guh…”

It was truly a thread-thin breath sound.

In truth, even being alive, it wasn’t really living.

Soon, Ju Yu-gang looked down at Du Cheong, who was covered in blood, with an emotionless face and said.

“You lot don’t even deserve to eat prison food. I pray you go to hell and suffer agony for eternity.”

Now he was going to sever all their heads and end it.

But.

‘Hm?’

Ju Yu-gang, his gaze suddenly changed, abruptly shot the iron sword to one side.

CRASH-CRACK, CRASH-CRACK, CRASH-CRACK- KRA-CRASH!

The sword that smashed through several old trees in a row and advanced drove deep into the last tree.

“Gasp! P-please calm yourself!”

Someone crouching below where the blade was embedded let out an urgent cry.

Ju Yu-gang, having immediately retrieved the iron sword, wore a surprised expression.

“What…?”

At that, the person sprang up, dusted off his clothes, and strode out.

“Wow, you’re amazing. I thought I was hiding my presence well enough.”

He, wearing ordinary gray clothes, was a young man in his early twenties with a fairly sturdy physique.

However.

One iron sword hanging against the belt at his waist was telling he was a martial artist.

The young man’s features were handsome.

Especially his gaze, seeming filled with intelligent energy, was so attractive that even someone meeting him for the first time would feel favorable.

“Heonrin, what brings you here?”

The name Heonrin that came from Ju Yu-gang’s mouth… He was none other than Namgung Heon-rin, a direct bloodline of the Namgung Family and younger brother of Namgung Sang-rinrin.

“Hahah, well, it’s because of a mission that came down from higher up. What else would there be?”

Currently, Namgung Heon-rin held the status of a military official, so it seemed he had come out on some military duty.

Ju Yu-gang chuckled and nodded slightly.

“Right, I suppose. I asked a stupid question.”

“I was passing through the vicinity and knew you were here, so I deliberately stopped by briefly. There was quite a commotion, so I unintentionally surveyed the surroundings and followed all the way here. I was thinking to at least pay my respects before going, not to draw others’ eyes…”

Trailing off, Namgung Heon-rin glanced around at the blood-reeking surroundings before continuing his voice.

“You haven’t changed.”

“Of course, my nature isn’t going anywhere.”

“Still… It would be good to be careful.”

“I’m well aware.”

Ju Yu-gang, along with the brief reply, recalled in his mind the admonition of someone above whom he regarded like a teacher.

-Before setting off, be sure to keep this in mind. I’m well aware of your exceptional sense of justice and mission, but it would be troublesome to get caught up in unnecessary matters and expose your true identity. You must also keep good care of that sword disguised as government-issue. Understood?

That person, his direct superior, was in fact also Namgung Heon-rin’s superior.

“Anyway, I had no choice in this matter.”

“Yes, I heard everything you said earlier. I roughly figured out what kind of situation it was. Honestly… I would have done exactly the same.”

“Thank you for saying that. I won’t explain separately.”

“It’s the blood of filthy vermin. Please don’t stain yourself any further. Since I’m here anyway, I’ll finish up instead.”

Namgung Heon-rin unhesitatingly drew the sword at his waist and beheaded Du Cheong, Yuk Tong, and the other Thousand Snake Gang executives, gathering them to one side.

“I should be going now. I was originally thinking to have at least a cup of tea and chat, but I had no idea such a thing would happen, so time got delayed.”

“Very well. Go on then. Oh, is all well at that place?”

“Yes, for now… Of course, isn’t it our primary duty to thoroughly manage things so nothing happens? Hahah. Anyway, I eagerly await the day you return.”

Just then.

A presence was detected rapidly approaching from one side.

Right after.

SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-

A figure holding a sword emerged through the dense bushes not far away and appeared like a flash of light.

Namgung Heon-rin’s body flinched, and before he knew it, his hand gripping the sword hilt tightened.

‘A master! A government official?’

Ju Yu-gang, seeing him, opened his eyes wide.

“Oh, and what brings you here…?”

The identity of the figure who had appeared was the newly appointed escort martial artist Dam Maeng-gi.

“Are you alright! I met Sub-Captain Ban on the way and came running even faster after hearing the story!”

Having said that in a near-shout, Dam Maeng-gi immediately raised his internal cultivation and shot a sharp gaze toward Namgung Heon-rin as he cried out.

“A new enemy, you!”

“What?”

The moment Namgung Heon-rin was flustered, Dam Maeng-gi injected vital energy into the sword in his right hand.

“Damn! How dare you point a sword at Chief Magistrate Ju? I’ll execute you!”

At that, Ju Yu-gang quickly waved his hands.

“Hey, hey! Wait, he’s…”

Dam Maeng-gi was already charging in and wildly moving his sword.

Namgung Heon-rin reflexively parried with the sword in his hand, and an untimely battle unfolded.

CHA-CHANG, CHANG, CHA-CHANG!

Dam Maeng-gi’s rough voice mixed with the noisy metallic sounds.

“Shwing-shwing, shwing-shwing! Shwik, shwing-shwing, shwik! Shwing-shwing, shwik, shwik!”

Distracting sound effects.

As always, his hands and mouth worked separately.

Ju Yu-gang was aghast.

“S-stop…!”

“Don’t worry! This era’s strongest escort martial artist, I, will protect you! Shwik, shwing-shwing! Shwik, shwik! Shwing-shwing, shwik, shwing-shwing…!”

He’s not a bad guy!

Stop quickly!

Aah!

Heonrin’s clothes were just barely ripped!

At this rate, they’ll both see blood!

GASP, why is he even spitting at his face!

Ban Bu-bong, who had arrived belatedly, was bewildered upon encountering the situation.

‘What is this? Who is that…?’

At that moment, Ju Yu-gang waved and shouted.

“What are you doing! Quickly break up the fight!”

“Pardon? Ah… Yes, yes!”