Chapter 254: Chapter 254

Early in the morning, Dan Woo-hyun, who was quietly staring at the ruined manor, swallowed a low groan.

It was hard to believe that this was the work of a young child.

Several pillars were cracked so severely that it wouldn’t be surprising if they collapsed right now, and the garden presented a grim scene that could no longer be called a garden.

If one were to see it late at night, on a day without even moonlight, it exuded an ominous atmosphere that naturally made one wonder if a ghost would appear.

“Hehe…”

Dan So-mi smiled awkwardly beside him.

She seemed embarrassed because every place Dan Woo-hyun was looking at was filled with traces of her destruction.

Normally, she would have slipped away and just watched his reaction, but she stayed close to his side because she didn’t want to be apart from Dan Woo-hyun, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“You did well.”

“Hing…”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s unexpected praise, Dan So-mi hung her head with a dejected expression.

It was because she felt that he didn’t mean those words as genuine praise.

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun let out a soft sigh and turned his gaze around.

He saw Sa Do-hak sleeping while leaning against the pavilion since morning, and Namgung Cheon playing baduk with Zhuge Un next to him.

Gwon Mu-jin and Ma Jang-gang were meditating in a corner, and Jang Sam-tae, who looked as if he had been beaten up for some reason, was sniffing while sweeping the yard.

Clap!

Watching this, Dan Woo-hyun clapped his hands.

At that sound, everyone’s eyes focused on him.

“We will repair the manor.”

“Call some people, call people.”

“We have plenty of money, let’s hire people.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s single word, everyone waved their hands in refusal.

As if their laziness reached the heavens, everyone shook their heads reluctantly.

“If you want to sleep outside, you may do so.”

“Ah! It seems best to fix that first! This Sam-tae will quickly prepare a hammer and nails.”

“Ahem… Lord, it seems we will need some wood.”

“Since we also need to apply new wallpaper… I will quickly go to Yueyang.”

The quick-witted Jang Sam-tae ran off in a hurry and brought back a hammer and nails. Gwon Mu-jin took an axe and ran into the forest, and Ma Jang-gang headed to Yueyang to buy paper for the torn doors.

In an instant, the quick-witted ones took the easiest tasks and vanished.

In truth, staying by Dan Woo-hyun’s side was the hardest task of all.

“Do we have to do something too?”

“It won’t take long. That is, if we do it properly.”

Looking at Dan Woo-hyun, who glanced at them, Sa Do-hak and Namgung Cheon nodded their heads.

With Dan Woo-hyun, who was no ordinary person, present, it would certainly end quickly.

“Then let us begin.”

Dan Woo-hyun smiled as he looked around the manor.

* * *

“Haah… haah… haah…”

A man breathed heavily, his blood-red eyes shining.

The clothes he wore were no different from rags, and his body was covered in wounds.

The man’s body was in a state so disastrous that it was hard to believe he was alive.

Even so, he was breathing and felt that he was alive.

The blood flowing from his cut and torn wounds was enough to make it unsurprising if an ordinary person died on the spot, but the man had no expression on his face as if he didn’t feel a shred of pain, and only gasped as if exhausted.

The blood congealed on the sword he held was clearly shed by the dozens of experts scattered all over the place.

“I… I will not die…”

He muttered in a cracked voice, his eyes shining. His shuffling walk was truly not like that of a human.

He wanted to live.

He did not want to die.

He had to take revenge.

He must kill the bastard who destroyed his everything.

The anger of one who lost everything made him sell even his soul to the devil. When he thought that all the power he possessed now was the price for it, he couldn’t suppress his bitter yet boiling anger.

He trod heavily, walking toward somewhere guided by a voice echoing in his head.

Behind him, something was burning fiercely.

Although it was not one of the Nine Great Sects and One Union, it was a sect that had a decent reputation among small and medium sects.

No people were seen running out from inside, nor were there even groans filled with agony.

They were all dead.

“I will kill you…”

Walking toward an unknown destination, the man walked with the wildfire behind him.

As if constantly quenching his thirst, he licked the bloodstains on his lips several times.

That sight was truly bizarre, and it seemed he had given up on being human anymore.

Perhaps thinking so himself, he let out a self-mocking smile.

“Stop right there!”

Chachachak!

At that moment, someone suddenly showed up.

Every single one of them carried a sword.

Their appearance could never be called ordinary.

Whether they had been chasing him from the beginning, the eyes of those blocking his path burned like active volcanoes.

The embroidery symbolizing the Martial Alliance was stitched on their chests, and their skills were all first-rate or higher.

They all burned with fighting spirit as they looked at the bizarre figure in front of them.

It was the anger of those who lost close friends, families, and lovers.

Grinding their teeth, they gripped their swords.

Their eyes were filled with the determination to cut down that monster today at all costs.

“Murong Hyeok-mun! Pay with your death for the crime of killing innocent people and defiling the name of the orthodox path!”

“…”

Murong Hyeok-mun.

He smirked as he looked at the experts of the Martial Alliance.

That appearance was just like an evil ghost.

No, it was eerie enough to say he was the evil ghost itself, and he exuded a fierce atmosphere that made no one want to approach.

He gripped his sword properly and his eyes shone.

Without stopping his steps, he rather rushed forward.

Just like a beast of prey.

* * *

The house repair, which took nearly four days, was finally finished.

It was possible because those who couldn’t even slack off due to Dan Woo-hyun’s pressure worked day and night.

The manor, which looked like an abandoned house, had regained its beautiful appearance of the past.

Gwon Mu-jin, who sat down as if exhausted, caught his breath.

“Now that there is no one to break it, it is a relief at least.”

When Dan So-mi broke the house, how terrified had he been?

Gwon Mu-jin also had confidence in his internal energy, but since he didn’t have the absurd strength like Dan So-mi, in a way he was even envious.

“So-mi didn’t break it!”

“Haha, let’s just say it wasn’t your intention.”

At Gwon Mu-jin’s words, Dan So-mi puffed up her cheeks.

She was needlessly annoyed.

“It is done. More than that… they are coming now.”

Rustle!

Dan Woo-hyun muttered as he looked beyond the wall.

When the major construction that lasted for four days ended, as if they caught the scent from afar, the white tiger and the white cat jumped over the wall and came inside.

Seeing them after a long time, Dan So-mi showed a bright smile and was about to approach, but then flinched and stopped.

It was because a deer was held in the mouth of the white tiger.

“You brought something decent.”

Growl.

The white tiger let out a low growl.

When it set down the hunted deer, the white cat jumped off its back and began to tear at the leg of the deer. Perhaps it was extremely hungry, as it ate greedily and well.

“I will cook it! Haha! It has been a while since we had venison, so shall I show off my skills?”

Jang Sam-tae grabbed the dead deer and lifted it up. At the same time, the white cat, which was eating the venison ravenously, was lifted up, dangling.

“…”

Jang Sam-tae stared at it and waved his hand once.

However, the white cat dug its sharp claws deeper into the meat and struggled not to fall.

“Hey! Get off already!”

Meow!

A sharp cry was heard.

Whether it was hungry, the white cat held on and on as if it would never let go.

Eventually, Jang Sam-tae, who got annoyed, shook the deer randomly, and the white cat let out a sharp cry.

Meooow!

Then, it leaped straight up, instantly closing the distance with Jang Sam-tae.

Slash!

“Argh!”

Jang Sam-tae grabbed his face and let out a scream.

When the meat dropped with a thud, the white cat let out a satisfied meow and began to chew and eat ravenously.

It didn’t seem to care at all about Jang Sam-tae making a fuss next to it.

Dan Woo-hyun sighed and picked up the white cat by the scruff of its neck.

The creature that had resisted Jang Sam-tae so fiercely cried cutely with a gentle expression.

Meow.

“I will take care of yours later.”

The white cat cried softly as if it understood.

These were the words of none other than Dan Woo-hyun.

Even if it disliked it, it had no choice but to obey.

The white cat also knew Dan Woo-hyun’s terror well.

“This damn cat bastard…!”

Hiss!

When Jang Sam-tae swore and glared at the white cat, the white cat, which got down from Dan Woo-hyun’s arms, bristled its fur and glared back at Jang Sam-tae, threatening him.

‘Go ahead and try me.’

It seemed to be provoking him like that.

“Ugh, unable to handle a single cat bastard… tsk tsk.”

“How pathetic…”

Gwon Mu-jin and Ma Jang-gang clicked their tongues as they watched it.

The one the white cat looked down upon the most in the manor was none other than Jang Sam-tae.

Whether it was because he was weak or for some other reason, it was clear that he was being looked down upon considerably.

Grinding his teeth and glaring at the white cat, Jang Sam-tae raised his fist.

He looked ready to hit it.

Growl!

At that moment, the white tiger slowly passed by Jang Sam-tae’s side and let out a sound. Goosebumps broke out all over his body at the low growl filled with warning.

“Oh, damn it! These cat bastards think I am their food!”

Jang Sam-tae shouted roughly, but the two spiritual beasts didn’t even pretend to listen and strolled to find a place to settle down.

Unable to watch any longer, Dan Woo-hyun stepped in.

“It is a waste of time. Hurry up and bring out the food.”

“Am I a person who cooks for you?!”

Jang Sam-tae, whose anger reached the top of his head, shouted loudly. Everyone froze on the spot and stared blankly at Jang Sam-tae.

Even the white tiger let out a snort.

Smack!

“Aaah!”

“You are asking for a beating.”

Jang Sam-tae, holding his head, frowned.

By now, he had developed quite a tolerance, so this level of pain was nothing. With a wronged expression, he headed to the kitchen with the deer.

“Tsk tsk tsk… that fellow just never changes.”

Sa Do-hak clicked his tongue as he watched him.

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