Chapter 167: Chapter 167

Gu Muak groaned and slowly opened his eyes.

What entered his blurry vision was none other than the pavilion of the Hyangsan Sect.

Looking at the place that had become a useful dwelling ever since he coincidentally learned the martial arts of the Hyangsan Sect, he let out a sigh of relief.

‘It… it was a dream.’

There was no way such an incredible master would come looking for him. Unless someone inside the Hao Sect betrayed him, it was something that could never happen.

Since Gu Muak believed he took care of his subordinates better than anyone, he did not think for a second that someone had betrayed him.

“Are you awake?”

“Hic?!”

At the voice that heard, he jumped up from his seat.

In an instant, severe pain surged from his beaten face. Staggering heavily and covering his face with one hand, he looked toward the sound with trembling eyes.

A man was roasting a wild boar he had caught from somewhere over a fire lit in a brazier. He tore off a leg and threw it toward Gu Muak.

“Eat.”

“Hi… Hieek…!”

The wild boar leg fell in front of Gu Muak.

Startled, thinking it was a hidden weapon flying at him, Gu Muak glanced at the meat and let out a sigh of relief.

‘Ah, I’m not dead yet, right? Right?’

Gu Muak gathered the meat and carefully read Dan Woo-hyun’s expression. Seeing that man there, it seemed he wasn’t dead for now.

As he slowly bit into the meat, he realized once again that he was definitely alive.

“I thought about just snapping your neck.”

“Cough?!”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s words, Gu Muak stopped eating the meat and gasped for air.

It was because he felt sincerity in Dan Woo-hyun’s words.

“But keeping you alive seemed useful in many ways.”

“Thank you! This Gu Muak will dedicate his life to being of help to the Great Hero from now on.”

“You sound exactly like a certain bastard.”

Dan Woo-hyun smirked.

Watching this guy reminded him of Jang Sam-tae. Perhaps that was why he didn’t kill him.

That fellow was also not much at first, but became more and more useful as time went on.

“What is the level of the Hao Sect’s information?”

“Well… it is counted among the fingers in the Central Plains…”

Flinching, he slinked his head away. There was no way a martial artist wouldn’t know of the Hao Sect’s information-gathering ability.

It was to the extent of rivaling places like the Beggars Sect or the Assassination Hall, which were considered first-rate even for their martial arts.

“Only that?”

“What do you mean, ‘only that’? Even that much is amazing…”

“Where is the place with the most information in the Central Plains?”

“Wouldn’t it obviously be the Beggars Sect? After that, the vagabonds… and merchants… and assassins…”

“There are many.”

“Right…?”

Putting a piece of meat into his mouth, Dan Woo-hyun looked at Gu Muak.

A small smile spread across his otherwise expressionless face. At the smile whose meaning could not be grasped, Gu Muak swallowed hard.

“My thoughts are a bit different. I believe the Hao Sect is the place with the most information in this Central Plains.”

“Why would you say such a thing…”

Flinching, Gu Muak trembled.

“First, the proof is that the Hao Sect, which is merely a gathering of thugs, is active as an information network. Second, having made countless deals over time, there must have been dangerous people. Yet, the Hao Sect is still alive and well.”

“That is because if we avoid them well here and there…”

“Third, whether they are high-ranking officials or martial artists, they cannot escape the eyes of the Hao Sect.”

“…”

It was the most important point.

Gu Muak shut his mouth.

The information power of the vagabonds traveling the Central Plains was quite grand. However, they visited courtesan houses or gambling dens when they had money.

This was the same for high-ranking officials or anyone else.

Thus, all kinds of information gathered in those courtesan houses and gambling dens managed by the Hao Sect.

Thanks to that, they could gather information faster than any other place, and by analyzing it, they could display the skill of selling only verified information.

Such a place was indeed the Hao Sect.

“In my view, you bastards must even know secret histories that you should never know. That is why you are hiding and running around like this.”

“Hahaha…”

‘This… damn it!’

Gu Muak let out a hollow laugh and turned his head.

In fact, he also thought that the Hao Sect was the best information organization in the Central Plains.

Even excluding subjective judgment, that was why the leaders of the Hao Sect had lived thoroughly hiding their identities for generations.

Just like Gu Muak was doing now.

“You said you didn’t know about me… but in truth, you must have grasped it to some extent.”

“…”

Under the gaze that was like a single blade, Gu Muak shut his mouth.

Saying he did not know about the Hunan Dan Family was also a lie. While he couldn’t say he knew everything, he had already grasped most of the facts.

However, there was really no useful information on this man.

Was it just that he was strong, and that he had resolved most of the major incidents that occurred in Yueyang starting from the Black Way Association?

Where he appeared from, or which sect’s master he was, was completely unknown.

But what was even more than that was.

“For example, would it be about the fact that Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak are staying there?”

“Hahaha…”

Although he could not be certain, he had also grasped something about those two people to some extent.

The two people active under the masks of the Gentleman Sword and the Heavenly Demon.

However, because accurate information was so lacking, he had not been able to have certainty.

That was why he purposely sold the information of the Chu Gate Family.

Because if they touched the Hunan Dan Family, he would be able to find out every single thing happening inside.

If things went well, he could obtain extremely valuable, jackpot information.

If it was confirmed to be Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak, the value of that information would surpass imagination.

The apex of the Demonic Cult and the alliance leader of the Orthodox path who was known to be dead.

If the fact that those two were living in one place became known to the Martial World, the ripple effect would be massive.

“You are amazing, Great Hero. Truly, I cannot hide my surprised heart.”

Gu Muak realized he could no longer hide his inner thoughts.

Composing his expression, he bowed respectfully and looked at Dan Woo-hyun. Though still fearful, the opponent in front of him was someone fully worthy of respect.

“So, I wish to hear the reason why you spared this Gu Muak’s life instead of striking off his neck.”

“You need to bring me some information.”

“Information… do you mean?”

“Yes. Is there any other reason for me to keep you alive?”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s words, Gu Muak swallowed a groan.

“What kind of information do you need?”

“A red-haired man, and information on those associated with Man Hu-ryang.”

“I don’t know about the red hair… but if it’s Man Hu-ryang, it is quite expensive?”

“Would it be as expensive as your life?”

In an instant, a sharp pain as if his entire body was being pierced by an awl was transmitted.

Gu Muak gasped and shifted his gaze.

Cold sweat poured down his forehead.

‘This is no joke.’

The Golden Lake Merchant Group was composed of people who had risen to a position where they could not be touched recklessly.

There were even rumors that even the Imperial Court treated the Golden Lake Merchant Group with special care, but information on Man Hu-ryang, the leader of the merchant group?

Furthermore…

‘What is this red-haired man again?’

Without even saying exactly who it was or what their name was, he just blindly said red hair.

In the first place, it was doubtful whether a person with such strange hair even existed in the Central Plains.

With his mind turned into a jumble, Gu Muak groaned.

He could not even guess what on earth this man was trying to do with that information.

“I say it again, think of it as the price of your life.”

Leaving those words, Dan Woo-hyun stood up from his seat.

Without even listening to an answer, he walked away with long strides. His back shown like that seemed to have many openings, as if one could easily kill him if they rushed.

However, Gu Muak shook his head.

Because the moment he rushed, the one whose neck would fall would be himself.

As he let out a great sigh, the voice of Dan Woo-hyun, who had vanished from his sight before he knew it, echoed in his ears.

-A wise decision.

Goosebumps broke out all over his body.

* * *

“Pant, pant… those crazy bastards!”

Escaping from Cheonza Mountain, Jang Sam-tae and Ma Janggang panted heavily and leaned their bodies against a tree. Having starved and been unable to sleep for days already, it was driving them mad.

The pursuing chasers of the Demonic Cult were rapidly narrowing the encirclement, as if determined not to lose them.

Both of their bodies were covered in wounds, and their appearances were beyond wretched, utterly exhausted.

Jang Sam-tae was grateful for his fast feet.

Without this, he would have died dozens of times over.

“I’m going crazy, seriously! How long are they going to chase us?”

“I don’t know either. More than that, are you okay? It seems you’ve bled quite a bit.”

“Look who’s talking.”

Just as he said, it was not the time to worry about others.

Jang Sam-tae, who was at a lower level than Ma Janggang, had fewer wounds because he mostly ran away, but Ma Janggang, who had faced the pursuers head-on, was in a state where it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any moment.

Although he was at the tail end of the Martial World’s top one hundred masters, dealing with dozens of people whose individual skills bordered on first-rate was by no means an easy task.

“If we go a little further, there is a waterway. If we move along that, we’ll be able to shake them off.”

“Damn it! I will absolutely not die! Even if I die, I’ll die by So-mi’s side, damn it!”

Jang Sam-tae clenched his fists tightly.

He had not run away squeezing out his strength until now just to die in a place like this.

Rustle-!

At that moment, a sudden brushing sound was heard.

The two suddenly lowered their bodies and shut their mouths.

It seemed the pursuers had already caught up nearby.

Jang Sam-tae gasped and looked at Ma Janggang.

He could see the strength fading from the eyes of Ma Janggang, who was panting roughly.

Since he had pushed himself considerably, it would actually be difficult for him to even keep his eyes open.

Jang Sam-tae pulled out a dagger from his chest.

‘Think carefully! As long as I use what I’ve learned well, I can live!’

The ones who taught him were Dan Woo-hyun, Namgung Cheon, and Sa Do-hak. Since it was martial arts learned from those called the supreme masters, dying vainly in a place like this was no different from dragging their names through the mud.

“Do you see any traces?”

“They cut off around here…”

Voices were heard from a close distance.

The figures seen through the thicket were definitely cultists. They were just looking around to find traces, perhaps not thinking anyone would be hiding near them.

Although he wished they wouldn’t clash if possible, looking at their path of movement, they would definitely come toward where they were.

Furthermore, with Ma Janggang in poor condition, if a fight broke out, it was as good as killing him.

‘Damn it! Why do I have to suffer like this?’

Muttering to himself, he spun the dagger in his hand.

‘I must absolutely not miss.’

‘I will take them out in one breath.’

Since he had to deal with two guys in an instant, the tension pressured him doubly.

Rustle-!

Realizing that the voices of the bastards were gradually getting closer along with the sound of the thicket parting once again, Jang Sam-tae threw his body forward.

Slash-!

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