Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Having blown Seo Wi-ryang away, Jang Geon caught his breath for a moment, then pulled a small piece of paper from inside his shirt and rolled a cigarette. Biting it in his mouth and touching his index finger to the tip to ignite a fire, Jang Geon shook his hand clean and thought.

He had thought that to create the Extreme Yang Skill, one had to utilize the Samadhi True Fire that he had just ignited. He realized that one day, internal energy cultivated beyond a certain level would boost the power of the Twelve Meridians and gather the yang energy of the five viscera into a single point to manifest it externally, and guessed that would become the clue to the Extreme Yang Skill.

And as a result of clashing hands with that demonic practitioner just now and tearing his qi channels, he felt that his theory wasn’t entirely wrong, but it wasn’t right either. Samadhi True Fire was something beyond a simple Extreme Yang Skill. If one wanted to ignite fire on one’s hands and swing them like Seo Wi-ryang did, instead of studying Samadhi True Fire, the correct answer was simply maximizing the operation of yang energy.

Of course, an ordinary person could not endure yang energy turned into streams of fire flowing through their qi channels, so just as Seo Wi-ryang had done moments ago, one would have to chew and eat human hearts to become a monster.

Exhaling smoke with a puff, Jang Geon walked steadily toward the fallen Seo Wi-ryang with his left hand hooked on his belt and his right hand holding his cigarette. Seo Wi-ryang was lying flat on his back, coughing up blood.

Staring blankly up at the sky, he felt Jang Geon approaching and opened his mouth.

“…Wh-What kind of fist art… was that…?”

“For now, I’ve named it Silk-Reeling Force.”

“Silk-Reeling… Force…?”

Jang Geon inhaled smoke once more, exhaled it with a puff, and said,

“You raise internal energy starting from the tips of your feet, gain rotational force from the joints throughout your body, and pour it out through your palms. Just now, I was in a bit of a hurry, so I started from above the waist.”

“Wh-Who did you learn such a thing from…?”

Bringing the cigarette to his lips, Jang Geon let out a chuckle.

“Well now. Was it Tai Chi where Silk-Reeling Force appeared? Then it must be Zhang Sanfeng.”

“Zhang… Sanfeng…?”

Jang Geon bit the cigarette between his lips and continued,

“A figure breathed life into by seniors in ancient legends. They say in his late years he ascended to heaven and became an immortal.”

“An immortal… An immortal, you say… Where is such a thing. If you don’t want to tell me… just forget it…”

Muttering to himself while staring blankly at the sky, Seo Wi-ryang suddenly began to regain focus in his two eyes.

“…You had better run far away, Jang Geon. When The Palace learns that I used demonic arts and still died, you’ll be hunted.”

“The Palace? Are you referring to the Imperial Palace?”

Jang Geon noticed that the focus in his eyes was the last spark brought on right before death and asked. Seo Wi-ryang let out a hollow laugh at that question.

“The Imperial Palace? Are you talking about that Liu family? No. The Palace I speak of is the true Palace of His Imperial Majesty. Not the house of thieves who stole the world through fisherman’s gain. The true masters of the Central Plains, who have been oppressed, slaughtered, and driven out for a thousand years, are gathering their strength under his shadow. I remained on the outside because I lacked the opportunity to prove my loyalty, but the true martial forces of The Palace consider someone of my level mere light snacks…”

“Is that place called The Palace spreading demonic arts to the New Continent?”

However, despite Jang Geon’s question, Seo Wi-ryang’s eyes quickly turned cloudy.

“…Damn it. I should have cursed out loud at that bastard Son Gwang… Sang-jeong ah, ah, Sang-jeong ah. You were supposed to go to the Central Plains and gain fame… Right, my wife. I will join Sang-jeong and come to you soon…”

After rambling incoherently for a moment, Seo Wi-ryang soon stopped breathing and went completely limp. Jang Geon stood watching his figure quietly with the smoking cigarette in his mouth. In the end, both father and son had died at his hands. Though he knew that was the life of a martial artist living on the edge of a blade, and that they were bastards who had committed all sorts of atrocities, he couldn’t help a bitter taste in his mouth.

Looking at the deceased Seo Wi-ryang like that, Jang Geon realized a crackling sound of burning wood was ringing out and turned his head. Fire was spreading through Seo Wi-ryang’s manor. It seemed to be due to the fire ignited when he hit the wall earlier.

“…A secret organization of demonic practitioners dreaming of rebellion. I don’t want to get involved in such matters.”

Jang Geon muttered nonchalantly even as he watched the growing flames. Seeing his demeanor, he seemed to have no intention of putting out the fire. Taking his eyes off the spreading fire, Jang Geon turned to Gong Pyeong, who had untied his bindings before anyone noticed and was kneeling while holding his younger brother in his arms. Gong Pyeong was staring blankly at his brother’s face.

“…Are you alright?”

“I’m not alright. How could anyone be alright when their younger brother has died…?”

The fully burned cigarette stub approached his lips. Jang Geon picked it up, casually flicked it away, and spoke.

“I should have come a bit faster.”

“No. Rang was unconscious ever since he was captured and beaten severely last night. But how could Brother Jang have helped any further? I am only grateful that you avenged us.”

Gong Pyeong answered like that while looking only at his dead brother’s face, and Jang Geon watched him silently, then walked over to a corner and picked up the bamboo hat he had thrown aside. Dusting off the dirt on the bamboo hat with a thud, he said,

“Go to Cheongsu Village. If you sell my name, they’ll at least help with the funeral. And find Yang Goeng to handle the cleanup here.”

While putting on his bamboo hat and whistling with a sharp whew to call Jojo, Gong Pyeong was looking up at Jang Geon with a swollen face.

“…Yang Goeng?”

“I heard that guy has some connection with the Imperial Army. Even if not, whether it’s the Martial Alliance or the Imperial Army, they loathe demonic practitioners, so he’ll take care of cleaning this place up. He’ll also investigate the relationship between Son Gwang in Gamsan and Seo Wi-ryang on his own.”

“Then what about you, Brother Jang?”

Jang Geon mounted Jojo and answered as he took hold of the reins,

“As for me, I’m just going my way.”

“…If you report demonic practitioners to either the Martial Alliance or the Imperial Army, there should be a reward?”

“Share it with the people of Cheongsu Village. And tell Jin Su-yeon’s gang to stop banditry too, since Seo Wi-ryang is gone.”

He continued speaking as he sat atop Jojo,

“Do you need help getting to Cheongsu Village?”

Gong Pyeong shook his head.

“No, there are horses at this ranch, so I’ll ride one. But Brother Jang. Are you really just going to leave like this? If what I saw just now was correct, Brother Jang is a warrior among warriors who single-handedly dispatched Seo Wi-ryang, who practiced demonic arts, and his subordinates. Even if not the Imperial Army, the Martial Alliance might bestow a medal, and then your fame would resound loudly throughout the New Continent…”

Riding Jojo, Jang Geon merely smiled subtly without answering. It was a transcendent smile, as if asking what good it would be to receive such a thing. Lightly pulling Jojo’s reins, he spoke,

“I’m sorry about your younger brother. Farewell then.”

Bowing his head slightly, Jang Geon soon began to leave Seo Wi-ryang’s ranch at Jojo’s steady pace.

On the ground of the ranch he left behind, the sprawled corpses spilled out all their warm blood and grew cold, and the fire caught on the manor grew into a blazing inferno rather than spreading gradually at some point. Gong Pyeong looked at Jang Geon’s back receding under the sun leaning slightly toward the west, then turned his eyes to the burning manor in the fluttering ash. The red flames blazed fiercely as if they wouldn’t go out until they consumed the manor completely.

When Gong Pyeong, who was staring blankly at it, looked back at Jang Geon, he had already moved so far away that he could only be seen as a small dot. And even that small dot could no longer be seen once he crossed the hill.

Sitting blankly for a moment longer, Gong Pyeong soon stood up from his seat, fetched a horse from the stable, loaded his younger brother, and left the burning manor.

Only cattle remained at the ranch where all the living people had left, chewing silently with blank eyes as ash fell upon their heads. The blazing manor was reflected in their clear eyes.

* * *

Dark Dragon Agent No. 3, who until a few days ago was Geom Jung-chan, leaned against the railing and looked down at the night street of Gamsan City.

Though it could not be compared to the thousand-year ancient capital Chang’an, Gamsan City, established by the Emperor and counted as one of the three major cities of the New Continent, shone brightly as if it were daytime even in the middle of the night, tempting countless people and being tempted in turn. Drunkards losing track of day and night drinking alcohol, laborers busily pulling rickshaws, upstarts walking with their bellies thrust out arrogantly, and heavily made-up prostitutes clinging to them. Countless desires flowed, and as many dreams swam in the sea of a sleepless city.

Staring blankly down at that city, she fiddled with the cloth tied around her wrist. Unlike her time as Geom Jung-chan when she wore black martial attire without any ornamentation, she was currently wearing a skirt with a narrow waist and broad hem fashionable in Gamsan City, an jade hairpin and small hat on her head, and even red makeup on her lips. On top of that, she wore heeled shoes said to be trendy in the Central Plains and a thick leather belt emphasizing her slender waist. She thought neither Jang Geon nor Yang Goeng would be able to recognize this transformation.

Just then, someone appeared behind her.

“No. 3, the job is done.”

When she turned around, a large man wearing a pitch-black robe with a tiger’s mouth drawn on his face mask was standing there. He was holding a severed head.

“Your deduction was correct. Behind Son Gwang was a demonic house. It seems to be either Nangung or Murong.”

“Did he use demonic arts?”

“Son Gwang? No. There was a swordsman protecting Son Gwang. His skill was quite worth clashing with.”

She gestured with her chin toward the head held in the large man’s hand.

“Is that it?”

“Yeah. No. 12 and No. 17 took Son Gwang to the safe house.”

“I see. Son Gwang was an individual lacking martial talent in the first place. That was also the reason he left the Son Clan and became a merchant in the New Continent. Perhaps they enticed Son Gwang using that as bait. Well, if we dig into him, we’ll find out the reason.”

The large man walked steadily and stood beside her. He looked down at the brilliant night street of Gamsan City with ferocious eyes like a wild beast, matching the tiger’s mouth drawn on his mask.

“To enjoy such glory under His Majesty’s grace reaching ten thousand realms, yet fall for the enticements of mere losers and ruin one’s life. Though from a collateral branch, to be born a descendant of a giant clan and make such a choice. I wonder what kind of confidence made him think he wouldn’t eventually get caught.”

She smirked at the large man’s words.

“I don’t know that well either. Perhaps Son Gwang was merely seeking usable military force. The position of Gamsan Guild Leader involves fiercer power struggles than elsewhere.”

“Merely trying to survive. Still, foolish all the same.”

The large man snapped around and walked away. But he, who seemed to be leaving without hesitation, suddenly stopped his steps and looked back at her.

“I heard you met an unusual martial artist on your way.”

“…Ah, that? Other than using the Meridians Sealing Technique, there was nothing special. Since there are people in the Martial Alliance who use the Meridians Sealing Technique, I figure he probably learned it there.”

“Would one attach Dark Dragon Agent No. 7 and support operation funds for an unremarkable martial artist?”

At the large man’s words, she remained quiet for a moment, then tilted her head slightly and put on a strange smile.

“…The authority and methods of the Dark Dragon Bureau are uniquely ours. According to His Majesty’s decree, even a Commander cannot casually pry into it in the New Continent. But since I don’t recall reporting about that martial artist, it seems Commander investigated it on your own discretion… Should I make an issue out of this?”

Even after hearing the answer, the large man looked into her eyes for a long time, then smiled faintly above his mask.

“It’s good to see you take pride in your work, Dark Dragon Agent No. 3. But keep in mind that only when you are under His Majesty’s will can that become true pride. Then I will take my leave, so please handle the cleanup.”

The large man spoke like that and disappeared into the building without seeming to care that the head in his hand was swaying. Only after she was certain the large man had completely left did she let out a sigh and think.

There was no need to defend Jang Geon. She could have simply reported that despite having no particular background, he was an individual with outstanding martial arts, and that an investigation into that aspect was needed. Why she had clashed with an Imperial Army Commander to protect such a person was something she herself found hard to understand. Leaning her back against the railing, she subconsciously fiddled with the cloth tied around her wrist.

After a moment, shaking her head to regain her senses, she clacked her heeled shoes and entered the building.

This place was one of Son Gwang’s high-end brothels, and inside the five-story building, Son Gwang’s martial artists slaughtered by the hands of the Imperial Army Commander lay fallen as pale corpses, staining various places with blood. Among them were customers of the brothel and courtesans who had been caught up in the fight and killed. Looking at those corpses with bitter eyes, she checked whether everyone was truly dead or if anyone was pretending to be dead.

Finishing her check, she knocked over lantern oil onto the floor starting from the fifth floor and descended to the lower floors. Coming outside to the first floor like that, she saw martial artists of the Martial Alliance blocking murmuring people and keeping them from approaching.

One man among them felt her presence and turned around. A handsome face wearing a hero’s headband and clean blue martial attire. Did they say he was the son of the Gamsan Branch Leader of the Martial Alliance? Although the Martial Alliance received support from the Empire, it was clearly a separate organization, yet the Gamsan branch was uniquely conscious of the Imperial Army’s eye. Thanks to that, even though she handled the job easily, she found it hilarious.

Seeing him approach, she smiled and spoke,

“The job is finished. Drive the people back further.”

“Ah, is that so? Then… What? Drive them back further?”

The moment she nodded, the people’s murmuring grew intense. When the Martial Alliance martial artist looked up at that murmuring, blazing fire was starting from the top floor of the brothel building.

“Th-This… What on earth…”

“We appreciate the Martial Alliance’s cooperation. Thanks to you, we were able to capture an evil demonic practitioner and make him pay for his crime.”

“F-Fire needs to be put out, ”

Her hand stopped him.

“Do you dare to investigate the traces of the Imperial Army’s martial arts?”

The Martial Alliance martial artist backed away in shock.

“No, no, nothing like that. I had no such intention.”

“Good. Then organize the surroundings so the fire doesn’t spread to other places. Do it cleanly so the whole of Gamsan won’t burn down.”

The Martial Alliance martial artist hesitated looking at the fire growing larger, but eventually nodded and led his subordinates. Setting the surroundings in order so the fire wouldn’t spread and drawing water in advance to spray it, even watching residents and neighboring merchants hurriedly fetched buckets to help.

While they ran around like that to prevent a massive fire, Dark Dragon Agent No. 3 stood with her arms crossed, watching the scattering fire. Among the people running around busily, there were those who glared at her or spat out curses, but being a person of the Imperial Army, no one dared to touch her.

However, looking at the flames, she merely seemed somewhat blankly lost in thought, even as those curses fell upon her ears.