Chapter 168: Chapter 168
A white hand pointed at the Jang Family Merchant Guild.
At that gesture, two of those who dismounted from the wagon ran into the merchant guild. It was to prevent the merchant guild people from hearing the commotion occurring at the inner residence and informing Jang Geon. Afterward, the remaining seven or eight all circled around toward the back of the merchant guild. At the very front, a grotesque figure covered in a black robe holding a spear led the way. Every time he took a step, a bell sound rang out tinkle-tinkle.
Then the grotesque figure’s steps came to an abrupt halt the moment he crossed the main gate of the residence. That was because in the middle of the residence’s yard, a monk stood looking at him with a single palm sign.
The monk, Jin Gyeon, spoke calmly:
“Namo Amitabha. Even without exchanging hands, a gloomy energy fills the air, so you are clearly a horde of demons and evil spirits. Having forgotten right enlightenment and fallen prey to Mara, where have you rashly come seeking?”
There was a subtle power in his gentle voice. It felt as though the air in the yard settled down calmly according to that voice. Excluding the grotesque figure, the other demonic practitioners all flinched and trembled upon hearing Jin Gyeon’s words.
Just then, the black-robed grotesque figure struck the ground *thud, * with his spear shaft. At that single action, Jin Gyeon’s eyebrows twitched and crumpled. The air in the yard, which had seemed settled, was subverted by that single thud sound.
“…Naturally we came to reclaim what was originally ours…”
It was an eerie voice like scraping iron. Hearing that sound, Jin Gyeon could intuitively feel that the situation would not be easy.
“Yours? Where here is there anything belonging to you? Could it be you came to receive alms like this bald monk?”
“…Cut the nonsense, Shaolin monk. We know full well Nine Yin Death Acupoint is here. Stand aside quietly and we will not take your life.”
“Hehe. As expected of a horde of evil spirits, you speak of killing far too recklessly.”
Jin Gyeon retorted calmly, but inside he felt great frustration. Seeing how they swarmed in right now, it was certain they were targeting the exact moment Jang Geon vacated his spot.
Furthermore, that meant that as long as Jang Geon was absent, they had the confidence to deal with Jin Gyeon quickly, kidnap Seo-ha, and escape New Sichuan.
His eyes rapidly swept the demonic practitioners gathered before the yard. The number was eight including the black-robed grotesque figure. They were all dressed in black martial robes and wore face masks, but the weapons they held were varied. From one holding a spear like the black-robed figure, to swords, sabers, a long iron skewer, and a large scythe, they were all different types.
Noticing that gaze, the black-robed figure let out a strange, cackling laugh.
“…The sound of your eyeballs rolling can be heard all the way here. Even if you inspect like that, can you block us alone?”
“Hmm…”
Jin Gyeon closed his eyes and slowly rolled his prayer beads. Right now, behind the closed door behind him, the children were breathlessly watching the situation. Fortunately, the children were all more calm than expected. Even if Seo-ha, who had suffered many harsh things, was like that, it was surprising that the Jang siblings and Dan siblings were not frightened.
However, that was also a story provided Jin Gyeon protected the children. Being demonic practitioners who killed people recklessly, excluding Seo-ha, they would not spare them even if they were children.
Seeing Jin Gyeon not answering, the black-robed figure lightly raised a hand to point at him. At that, four demonic practitioners behind him stepped forward in a heap. The blades they held gleamed sinisterly.
The grotesque figure spoke:
“Kill him.”
He said so as if spitting it out, then turned his eyes to the residence. It was an attitude as if Jin Gyeon was already dead, and now he would seek the Nine Yin Death Acupoint. The remaining three demonic practitioners followed behind him.
Receiving the order, the four demonic practitioners raised their respective weapons once and immediately charged. One spear, two thick sabers, and one sword like an iron skewer. They charged as if flying to drive their metal into Jin Gyeon’s body.
At that instant, Jin Gyeon’s closed eyes flashed open.
“You scoundrels!”
Jin Gyeon’s body accelerated in an instant. The spear and iron skewer stabbing toward his chest could not be completely avoided, so he thrust forward first, letting them slide past both flanks, while the two sabers striking down at his head and shoulder were deflected by striking their broad flat sides with his fists.
Simultaneously, the sabers meeting his fists vibrated greatly with a *wring, *. The two demonic practitioners holding sabers instantly crumpled their faces and were pushed back in the exact direction the sabers bounced off.
The iron skewer was much shorter than the spear. That was why the demonic practitioner holding that skewer found himself facing Jin Gyeon right before his nose when Jin Gyeon thrust forward. Instinctively, he tried to slam his forehead into Jin Gyeon’s face. However, Jin Gyeon’s shiny bald head slamming into his face was faster.
Inside the face mask, his shattered nose vomited blood in a rush. The iron skewer demonic practitioner stumbled back, and Jin Gyeon penetrated into that opening. It was a chance to finish one off.
However, rather than his fist sinking into the iron skewer demonic practitioner’s face, the missed spear blade returning to target his flank was faster.
Without overexerting, Jin Gyeon spun around with a spin, avoided the spear blade, and stuck close to the demonic practitioner holding that spear. That appearance looked like a spinning top rolling along a spear shaft.
“Ah!”
The demonic practitioner holding the spear uttered a short sound watching Jin Gyeon’s rotation. And Jin Gyeon’s elbow sank right into his chin.
With his chin turned with a clack, the demonic practitioner rotated half a turn as he tumbled backward. As he rolled across the floor, the momentary clash came to a stop.
“…Ho-oh.”
From the black-robed figure’s mouth, a small exclamation leaked out. Jin Gyeon stood still in the exact stance of driving his elbow into the spear demonic practitioner. Two demonic practitioners clutching their bounced blades were behind him, and on the left, the demonic practitioner with a shattered nose was glaring at him with blood-red eyes.
“…As expected of Shaolin. Yet no mercy is visible in your hand technique… Is not Great Mercy and Compassion Shaolin’s teaching?”
“That is for people and small living things. For Mara’s vanguard like you, a resolute iron hammer is needed.”
Jin Gyeon answered so, slowly pulling his two fists back to his flanks. In the next instant, a majestic qi surged from his entire body.
“And the Arhat for that punishment is none other than me.”
The demonic practitioners felt their bodies shrink back at that qi. For some reason, they could not approach easily, and power seemed to drain from their legs unnecessarily.
Just then, the black-robed figure’s spear struck the ground once more. This time, besides the *thud, * sound, a bell sound rang out tinkle-tinkle.
“Mmm…”
Then this time, conversely, Jin Gyeon’s eyebrows twitched as his qi shrank back. Instead, the demonic practitioners began to growl as if breathing opened up. Along with that, the demonic practitioner who had been struck by Jin Gyeon’s elbow and collapsed wriggled, and soon began to rise staggeringly from his spot.
Turning his back, when he turned around to face Jin Gyeon again, black demonic qi was flowing in streams from his eyes. That demonic practitioner set his dislocated jawbone with his own hand while glaring at Jin Gyeon. The crunch sound of bones clashing was eerie.
“…You are all irreversible monsters. Fine, today I shall clearly show you what our main temple’s Great Mercy and Compassion is.”
Jin Gyeon gritted his teeth. Though he gained the upper hand in the first clash just now, that was because these demonic practitioners charged without properly awakening their demonic arts. Furthermore, besides the four demonic practitioners faced right now, there was the black-robed figure watching the situation over there, plus three more demonic practitioners. Even if he defeated the four, a greater threat awaited.
His breath grew calm. There was no need to defeat all of these men. He merely needed to endure until Jang Geon returned, or until someone’s help arrived. No matter how much this place was slightly detached from downtown, this was the middle of New Sichuan, and as the fight continued, someone could witness the situation. He only needed to protect Seo-ha until then.
Even if Jin Gyeon died in that process, as long as he could protect Seo-ha and the children, it was sufficient.
And it was the exact instant he steeled his resolve like that.
“Huh? There are more here?”
It was a slightly goofy tone of speech. Was it because it did not suit the current situation? In an instant, all gazes there focused on the owner of the voice. It was at the main gate of the residence.
“…Donor Dan!”
Standing with dark grease stains here and there on his face and clothes, towel draped over his neck, the man was Dan Sang-woon. It was an appearance as if he had briefly come out to rest while touching something in his own research room. Thanks to that, no majesty of a hidden master or stance of a martial artist could be found; he looked just like a laborer doing physical work.
Seeing him, Jin Gyeon shouted:
“Donor Dan! Run away! Go find Warrior Jang! Tell him Seo-ha is in danger right now, ”
At that instant, the black-robed figure’s spear shaft struck the ground again. This time it was much more powerful than the previous two. The entire yard seemed to shake, and even the bell sound rattled fiercely, shaking his ears. Jin Gyeon groaned feeling his head and body sway.
Blocking Jin Gyeon’s mouth, the black-robed figure raised a pale hand to point at Dan Sang-woon. At that hand gesture, one demonic practitioner promptly pulled out his blade and charged over.
Having decided Dan Sang-woon’s fate with a single hand gesture like that, the black-robed figure turned his body. It was natural that he treated Dan Sang-woon so lightly.
The black-robed figure, Serpent Duke, had spied on Jang Geon and the Jang Family Merchant Guild through his own sorcery over the past few days. Because of that, he considered the greatest risk factor to be Jang Geon, and next to be Shaolin monk Jin Gyeon. That was because the rest did not show appearances of practicing martial arts or training. Striking right away after confirming Jang Geon moved away from the house was also for that reason.
That was why when a thunderous sound of splitting air *crack-crack-crack, * echoed from behind his back, even he had no choice but to flinch in surprise and freeze stiffly.
After the sound, a black lump flew and tumbled in the middle of the yard. It was the demonic practitioner who had charged at Dan Sang-woon. In the middle of the chest of the prostrate demonic practitioner, a single charred black palm print was stamped.
He was not breathing.
“…”
Everyone’s gazes turned to Dan Sang-woon once more. Opening and closing his right palm from which faint smoke flowed, he met their gazes upon feeling them.
In a slightly blank tone like at first, he spoke:
“Why, is everyone seeing a reclusive master for the first time?”
Dan Sang-woon, speaking like a joke, used his toe to flip up the sword dropped by the demonic practitioner who had charged at him, catching it in his hand. And to Jin Gyeon who had a dazed expression, he spoke:
“Seeing how Brother Jang seems to have gone somewhere, even so, if we fight together we can endure until Brother Jang arrives, Monk. Without anyone needing to sacrifice. So don’t say things like running away or whatever.”
“…Ah, I am sorry. This humble monk did not know Donor Dan’s skill…”
Dan Sang-woon laughed softly and bowed his head slightly. It was a humble greeting as if it were no big deal. Seeing him, Jin Gyeon’s expression brightened slightly.
Of course, Serpent Duke was not like that. Though for a very brief moment, he felt rage at the fact that he was frightened and froze simply from a sound. So pulling out the bell hidden inside his robe, he swung it violently and shouted:
“Kill them! Kill both of those fellows!”
At the bell sound rattling once more, reason vanished from the demonic practitioners’ eyes. Subsequently, a crunch-crunch noise echoed from their bones and joints as muscles bulged, and evil demonic qi poured out in streams. When the bell sound rang out again from there, the demonic practitioners who had become ferocious like beasts aligned their formation toward Jin Gyeon and Dan Sang-woon in an orderly fashion.
Excluding the demonic practitioner whose breath ceased first, three demonic practitioners attached themselves to Jin Gyeon and Dan Sang-woon each. They assumed beastly forms while holding their original blades in hand, growling. Yet unlike that beastly appearance, they did not look excited. No, strictly speaking, the bell swung by the black-robed figure acted as a leash, and they were moving according to it.
Because of that, the one who moved first was Dan Sang-woon.
“Here I go, Monk.”
“Good, Donor Dan!”
Matching them, the bell rang out and the demonic practitioners also charged to meet them. In the next instant, Dan Sang-woon’s sword tore the air once more with a *crack-crack-crack, *, and Jin Gyeon gathered the strength of his entire body to vomit a long Lion’s Roar *oo-oo-oo, *.
* * *
“…It seems you did not come knowing.”
“Mmm. Because there were nice clothes outside.”
Jang Geon and Dark Dragon Agent No. 3 remained silent for a long while before barely opening their mouths. Dark Dragon Agent No. 3, who had spoken first, felt as though her lips were drying up for some reason and opened her mouth again:
“How have you been doing during that time?”
“During that time…”
Since the last time the two faced each other was Gamsan City, it was already quite a story of the past. Jang Geon nodded his head slightly and answered:
“For now, since there’s no place particularly hurting, it’s fine to say I’ve been doing well. Do you not know already?”
“…Hearing it through news and hearing it directly from the person himself are quite different.”
“That is true too.”
Jang Geon replied with a slight smirk and looked around inside the fabric shop. It was neither too large nor too small. In the fabrics or clothes visible, nothing particularly special could be found. It looked just like a common fabric shop. Even Dark Dragon Agent No. 3’s current face was a woman in her mid-thirties, matching such a fabric shop.
Of course, in Jang Geon’s eyes, only the woman he had met in Gamsan City in past days was visible.
“Then conversely, I should ask. Have you been doing well?”
Dark Dragon Agent No. 3 covertly lowered her eyes at Jang Geon’s gaze looking at her, answering:
“I have no place particularly hurting either, so I should say I’ve been doing well. Though if there’s anything special, it’s that work has become very busy recently.”
“Because of Yu Seol?”
“…Yes, thanks to General Pacifying the East.”
Jang Geon nodded his head again. Though he didn’t know their exact friction relationship, it was clear for now that the Dark Dragon Corps was an organization following the Emperor’s command. Since Yu Seol came holding the title of General Pacifying the East and was organizing the Eastern Expeditionary Army, it was obvious they were slaving to death under her.
Just then, Dark Dragon Agent No. 3 asked first again:
“You said you came inside because there were nice clothes outside, right? The clothes that catch the eye at all are… blue martial robes?”
“Yeah. That one.”
At that instant, Dark Dragon Agent No. 3 faltered slightly.
“…That’s clothing worn by female martial artists though. Are you planning to gift it to someone?”
Jang Geon nodded his head.
“However, that one seemed like it would be too large. I will bring the child later, so let’s measure the size then.”
“A child?”
“I’m talking about Seo-ha. Do you not know who that is?”
She raised her head and looked at Jang Geon with subtle eyes:
“I know the name. Because it was a name that came out of the General’s mouth briefly. But I don’t know who she is exactly.”
“My disciple.”
“…Disciple?”
Jang Geon felt that her expression asking back looked as if she was relieved for a moment. So smiling slightly, he was about to say a short joke.
Just then, a faint sound grabbed and pulled his nerves. Jang Geon turned his head abruptly toward the outside of the fabric shop following it.
That face froze terribly in an instant, so Dark Dragon Agent No. 3, who was about to continue speaking, shut her mouth. And like him, she looked outside, but before the fabric shop, nothing special could be found except people, carriages, and rickshaws passing by.
“…Why are you doing that?”
When Dark Dragon Agent No. 3 asked so, Jang Geon turned back to her and answered:
“I will come again next time, So-hyang.”
He said only that, turned his body, and left the fabric shop. Dark Dragon Agent No. 3 merely watched Jang Geon’s receding back and could not grab him. Even after Jang Geon left, she kept her gaze on the entrance of the fabric shop for a long while.
* * *
Leaving the fabric shop, Jang Geon quickly scanned the surroundings and confirmed that it would not be easy to move because there were many people on the street. So he immediately leaped onto the roofs of surrounding buildings.
And cutting straight across New Sichuan, he began running toward the Jang Family Merchant Guild.