Chapter 335: Chapter 335

“Hey, did you hear? About the Hunan Dan Family…”

“Ah… yes, I heard. I do not know if it is true, though…”

“No, I was passing by on a boat, and people from Prince Geum’s Estate were controlling the area. No matter how I look at it, it seems to be true.”

“What is Lord Hong doing…”

Yueyang began to be in great commotion.

The Hunan Dan Family was now a place with absolute influence that moved Yueyang.

Not to mention the high praise from the villagers, knowing that what they had done was essentially for Yueyang, not a single person pointed fingers at them.

Furthermore, thanks to them, they had maintained good public security until now, but if such a Hunan Dan Family fell under the control of Prince Geum’s Estate, it was virtually the same as the Hunan Dan Family disappearing.

Moreover, many people were benefiting from the creation of the street stalls, but if the Hunan Dan Family, which could be said to be the center of it, disappeared, who would manage it?

Anxiety settled on the faces of the people.

Amidst such commotion, a girl stopped in her tracks.

Ju Ji-yak.

Hearing the voices coming from here and there, she frowned without realizing it.

Since she was already heading toward the Hunan Dan Family, she could not help but be flustered when she heard an entirely unexpected story.

“Is that really true?”

As it was still an unclear story, she sought an answer.

However, no one gave her a clear answer. This meant they had either not investigated it thoroughly, or it was the first time they were hearing it as well.

Ju Ji-yak let out a deep sigh. Then, raising her eyebrows, she spoke.

“Find out immediately. Every single detail!”

[Yes!]

* * *

Meanwhile, at that time.

The people who had suddenly lost their manor were currently staying in a safe house of the Hao Sect Clan, slightly away from Yueyang.

Because the surrounding area was encircled by mountains and was a rugged terrain that required going deep into the mountains, it was a secret place that people could not easily find and was also difficult to monitor.

Dan So-mi, who was lying still, had only recently fallen asleep after crying.

Perhaps because of the shock of losing the house she had built together with Dan Woo-hyun overnight, she cried so much that her eyes were swollen, which was no small ordeal.

Mae-hyang, who was beside her, kept watch with a worried expression.

“This is troublesome…”

Namgung Cheon smiled awkwardly.

The Golden Ring Tavern had burned down and disappeared, and Hong Won-chang still could not open his eyes. Fortunately, thanks to the emergency treatment, his life was not in danger, but he was in a state where it was difficult to move for the time being.

Since they could not keep him here, they had sent him home, but it was somewhat difficult to expect his assistance in resolving this matter.

Tap, tap.

Sa Do-hak was still frowning, as if displeased about something.

Unable to sit still, he held a wooden stick in his hand and kept striking the ground with it, showing how uncomfortable his state of mind was.

“I am sorry… I never thought they would act in this manner…”

Zhuge Un bowed his head in apology.

He had underestimated Yun Gong too much.

Although he knew well how powerful the Myriad Gold Merchant Group was, he had not expected them to act so despicably.

Excessive confidence was the root of the trouble.

“I do not care either way, but…”

At that moment, Sa Do-hak slowly raised his head and looked at everyone.

Not only Namgung Cheon, but also Jeok Mu-seong, Ma Jang-gang, and even Gu Mu-ak, who was keeping his mouth shut quietly in the corner.

If Geum Eun-hak had been here, he might have wet himself at that gaze.

That was how murderous Sa Do-hak’s gaze was.

A chill ran down their spines!

The senses of their entire bodies were suppressed by Sa Do-hak’s momentum. It felt as if their skin would be torn to pieces by that energy.

Trickle.

Zhuge Un broke into a cold sweat.

“When Dan Woo-hyun, that fellow, returns, who is going to explain this situation?”

Everyone bowed their heads, lost for words. Cold sweat was dripping from their faces.

It was none other than Dan Woo-hyun.

Since he was someone with as strong an attachment to the house as Dan So-mi, if he found out that they had been kicked out of the house, he would certainly not stay still.

“I am sorry… I did not grasp their… Cough!”

At that moment, the Hao Sect Clan Leader, Gu Mu-ak, bowed his head. However, those words could not be finished, and he was struck, sent flying to roll on the floor. Vomiting blood broke out from his mouth as he coughed violently.

“What is your job? Is it not your job to keep an eye on those targeting the Hunan Dan Family and provide information? And yet you did not know? You call that an excuse!”

Sa Do-hak’s momentum spread like a storm.

The absolute ruler who had governed the Demonic Cult.

As that appearance, which had not been shown until now, manifested, everyone gasped in astonishment.

This was his true nature, the one called the Demon Emperor.

“Now, now, stop it. It is already a done deed, so what is the use of speaking further?”

“Indeed, there are times like this and times like that.”

In the end, the only people who could stop him were Jeok Mu-seong and Namgung Cheon.

As they spoke and relaxed their pressure, Sa Do-hak’s energy that had stretched in all directions began to disperse little by little.

However, the energy of the two could not completely suppress Sa Do-hak. Just looking at that, it was clear that there was a gap between Sa Do-hak and these two.

“Hmph!”

Sa Do-hak eventually threw up his hands.

Although it was an infuriating situation, he also had certainly failed to prepare properly for this incident.

“With this, the Myriad Gold Merchant Group has taken over the entirety of Yueyang. Is it at least a relief that the Golden Ring Merchant Group has not fallen over?”

At Jeok Mu-seong’s question, Namgung Cheon nodded.

Geum Eun-hak was currently moving toward the Demonic Cult.

Since the Golden Ring Merchant Group was the only remaining source of money now, they had to consider it fortunate that it had not collapsed.

“So, you are not saying we should just take this lying down, are you?”

Sa Do-hak’s gaze turned toward Zhuge Un.

The responsibility for not handling this matter properly lay with Zhuge Un. Making street stalls to earn money was good, but failing to grasp their hidden intentions in advance was a blunder.

The one who knew this best was Zhuge Un.

“Of course. My pride does not allow me to just take it like this.”

Zhuge Un nodded calmly.

Although it was a situation where they had lost everything, they had not just lost it. It was the same for the Myriad Gold Merchant Group, which had also provided a pretext.

Just because they cut the line of Hong Won-chang, would there be no other power like him?

If he believed so, then Yun Gong had still not properly grasped the strength of the Hunan Dan Family.

Zhuge Un slightly stood up from his seat.

This time, he intended to corner Yun Gong and completely swallow him up. His eyes shone colder than ever.

* * *

“Oh my goodness…”

“Pant, pant…”

Jang Sam-tae and Namgung So-hye, who were sitting down in an unknown place, gasped for breath and frowned. How many days had they continued this chase?

Jang Sam-tae, who said he was going to look for Dan Woo-hyun, had not dared to leave Hunan under Namgung So-hye’s blade and was only circling around the vicinity.

He did not know where this place was, but it did not seem to be too far from Yueyang.

“Ah, stop chasing me!”

“That is why I said we cannot go any further!”

“Ah, damn it! Why is a woman so clingy?”

“Who is being clingy to whom?!”

Namgung So-hye raised her sword. Her stance clearly showed she would cut him down in a single stroke if he did not correct himself.

Although his skills had improved somewhat, he was not at a level to defeat Namgung So-hye, so Jang Sam-tae frowned and shut his mouth.

“Sigh, I should just stop talking… Why did you chase me instead of leaving me alone?”

“How can we follow Young Master Dan when we do not even know where he went!”

At those words, Jang Sam-tae wore a solemn expression. As if it were natural, he closed his eyes tightly and cast a reverent gaze like a believer worshipping a deity.

“He and I are connected heart to heart. The place he goes is the place I go, so no matter where I go, I shall follow behind him.”

“This crazy…”

Namgung So-hye shook her head in disbelief.

If a person was crazy, he was thoroughly crazy.

Having recently spent his time working without even eating properly, it seemed his mind had gone completely wild.

“No, I am serious!”

“Yes, yes, sure. Then it should not matter if we return to the family since he is there too.”

“…Since he is not there, it no longer has any meaning.”

“What bullshit…”

Namgung So-hye instantly covered her mouth.

She was originally of a gentle personality who did not use profanity, but dealing with Jang Sam-tae caused harsh words to burst out of her without her realizing it.

Namgung So-hye blushed crimson.

Looking at her, Jang Sam-tae laughed.

“You are becoming like us now.”

“Do not talk nonsense!”

Namgung So-hye shrieked and frowned. However, she felt a creeping anxiety because she really seemed to be gradually resembling Jang Sam-tae and the others.

Namgung So-hye pinched the bridge of her nose as if she had a headache. It was a feeling she could not describe.

Just as she was about to speak with an annoyed expression.

Namgung So-hye’s and Jang Sam-tae’s heads turned sharply.

Clatter, clatter!

The sound of horse hooves was heard from a distance.

It was not the sound of one or two people moving, but a large number of people traveling on horses. Moreover, the ground vibrated, indicating that their numbers were not just a few.

At the sound so intense it made them wonder if a war had broken out somewhere, Jang Sam-tae and Namgung So-hye held their breath and hid themselves.

Whether it was an army or not, it was best to avoid clashing with such a group if possible.

Not long after they watched the direction of the sound, a considerably large number of figures were seen moving.

Those clad in iron armor.

Their appearance, advancing while heavily exuding ghostly energy, instilled fear in those who watched.

Although they wore iron armor, they did not look like soldiers because they did not carry any flags.

Rumble!

They began to move in unison toward one place.

That bizarre appearance and the momentum felt made even Namgung So-hye shrink.

“Ghost Shadows…”

Namgung So-hye noticed their identity at once.

While there were entities dressed in iron armor in the Demonic Cult as well, they always had the emblem representing the Demonic Cult engraved on the chest of their dark iron armor.

Of course, a pattern was also engraved on them.

Instead of the Demonic Cult, they bore the image of a heinous ghost on their chests, and they possessed weapons rarely seen in the Martial World, such as spears and bows, in addition to the swords at their waists.

This resembled the Ghost Shadows they had only heard of through rumors.

“Those are the Ghost Shadows? The place rumored to be the hidden strength of the Myriad Gold Merchant Group?”

Namgung So-hye nodded slightly.

The Ghost Shadows were rumored to be one of the forces protecting the Myriad Gold Merchant Group, but it was not precisely known whether they actually existed or not.

Namgung So-hye’s lips trembled.

Watching their backs as they passed by, she was swept by an unknown anxiety. Soon, she muttered with a firm expression as if she had resolved on something.

“Let us… follow them.”

“…”

Namgung So-hye quickly grabbed the scruff of Jang Sam-tae’s neck as he tried to flee.

Unable to even make a proper sound, Jang Sam-tae struggled wildly in her grasp.

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