Chapter 123: Chapter 123
Thud, the four people who set down their liquor bottles sprang into the air simultaneously.
The moment they left the inn, they melted naturally into the darkness.
Running through the darkness, the Hidden Dragon Squad members exchanged glances.
As expected, the martial artist was fleeing in the direction where the Gu Clan was situated.
Though he often looked back.
Naturally, no one in the Hidden Dragon Squad was so inexperienced as to be noticed by a martial artist who merely guarded a brothel.
In that way, the pursuit continued for an entire double hour. The fear of death drove even an injured martial artist to run for a full two hours.
Soon, the man who halted before a massive manor scanned his surroundings thoroughly before slipping inside.
On the signboard of the main gate, the characters for Gu Clan were written in a very imposing handwriting.
Watching this from a short distance away, the Hidden Dragon Squad members exchanged glances.
“To think it was truly connected to the Gu Clan.”
“And yet, how could people of the Righteous Path…!”
Song Yi-yeon and Jin Un let out sighs.
But Cheon Woo-jin knew. The Gu Clan was no longer a clan of the Righteous Path. They were abandoned by the Alliance Leader and told by even the Lord of the Black Overlord Castle that they belonged to the Demonic Path rather than the Unorthodox Path.
“Squad Leader, what will you do?”
At Song Yi-yeon’s question, Cheon Woo-jin turned his head to look at the Hidden Dragon Squad members. Everyone wore quite conflicted expressions.
Although unable to match Namgung or Mount Hua, the Gu Clan was also a family that wielded prestige in the martial world comparable to the Five Great Clans.
In any case, thinking that merely four of them would take on such a place made tension rise involuntarily. Above all, they already knew that their squad leader was a person who would immediately storm in if necessary, even if the opponent was the Heavenly Demon Cult rather than the Gu Clan.
Someone once said that sad forebodings generally tended to come true. It was the same now.
“We go inside and meet Gu Yong-baek.”
Cheon Woo-jin spoke nonchalantly.
The hint of tension deepened across everyone’s faces.
Even so, Cheon Woo-jin calmly continued speaking.
“It is the Hidden Dragon Squad’s first mission. Secure the person of the martial artist who fled from the brothel.”
“There must be easily hundreds of martial artists in there, so how on earth…”
Not only Jin Un who spoke thus, but Song Yi-yeon and Namgung Jin shared the same thought. If told to fight risking their lives, they would do so, but securing someone’s custody amidst that many martial artists was a problem of an entirely different dimension.
Of course, Cheon Woo-jin had no intention of assigning an unreasonable mission either. Turning his head to gaze briefly at the Gu Clan’s manor, Cheon Woo-jin drew the Crescent Moon Staff.
“Do not worry about that. They will have no spare strength to spend on you young heroes.”
Around the time everyone was bewildered, not understanding what he meant.
Just as Cheon Woo-jin’s figure seemed to stretch like taffy for an instant, an explosive boom burst out from the Gu Clan’s main gate.
BOOOOOM!!
Having ripped apart the thick, massive gate leaves like sheets of paper, Cheon Woo-jin vanished inside the Gu Clan.
“…”
The three wore half-dazed expressions.
They knew he would storm in, but they never imagined he would smash down the gate out of nowhere.
What awakened their senses was someone’s scream.
“K-Kuaaaak!”
“It’s a monster!”
Beyond the towering walls of the Gu Clan, pitch-black energy surged like waves, and each time, someone’s scream echoed once more like a death rattle.
“L-Let’s move too.”
Drawing his straight saber, Song Yi-yeon moved first. Behind him, the two swordsmen followed immediately.
* * *
Late at night, hundreds of Gu Clan martial artists who had been sleeping rushed out of the buildings in haste.
At the immense explosion erupting out of nowhere, they thought an earthquake had struck and collapsed the buildings.
However, that was not it.
Now, they felt that an earthquake would have been preferable instead.
Most martial artists of both the Righteous and Unorthodox Paths used to tremble upon hearing the Gu Clan’s name. Until recently, the Gu Clan was a predator incarnate, holding the justification of the Righteous Path in one hand and the brutality of the Unorthodox Path in the other.
Yet those martial artists of the Gu Clan were being helplessly beaten by a single man. Even while merely standing alone amidst hundreds of martial artists, his presence heavily weighed down upon the surroundings.
“J-Just what is that bastard?”
Terrified questions were blurted out from here and there.
They did not even know who he was or why he acted this way. To the Gu Clan martial artists, he seemed like nothing more than a crazy demonic fiend who visited on a moonlit night to pummel martial artists.
Meanwhile, a group of martial artists rushed forward once more.
Of course, it was a futile effort.
Cheon Woo-jin still stood at that initial spot.
Without taking even a single step, he swung the Crescent Moon Staff. A dozen blades lying along its trajectory shattered to pieces.
Barely a quarter of an hour had passed since entering the Gu Clan. Martial artists were already piled up and sprawled around Cheon Woo-jin.
In the midst of that, not a single person had died. Those who were lucky were merely unconscious, while those who were not squirmed in pain.
It was then.
“Wait! Isn’t that bastard Cheon Woo-jin?”
Finally, someone who recognized Cheon Woo-jin appeared. He was one of those who had accompanied Gu Jin-seok during the Martial Alliance entrance examination before.
At the name Cheon Woo-jin, the area stirred with commotion.
The weight of Cheon Woo-jin’s name during his applicant days and that of now were worlds apart. Although the Gu Clan was located far from the Martial Alliance, there was no way Cheon Woo-jin’s exploits had failed to reach them.
The momentum of the martial artists subsided. The martial artists who had rushed out right away possessed relatively lower martial strength within the clan. Because of that, realizing the opponent was Cheon Woo-jin, they lost their fighting spirit.
However, there was something they mistook.
A battle that had once begun was not something that could stop simply because they wished to stop.
“Where is Clan Patriarch Gu Yong-baek?”
“…”
Naturally, no answer returned.
After all, they were also martial artists of the Gu Clan. None of them were fools enough to answer someone who barged in out of nowhere and asked for the clan head.
At that, Cheon Woo-jin began taking steps that were neither fast nor slow.
When Cheon Woo-jin, who had remained still all along, moved, martial artists flinched here and there.
“Well, if I walk deep inside, I will meet him.”
Muttering to himself, Cheon Woo-jin suddenly confronted the martial artists ahead. Though trembling, they did not step aside.
Thinking that surprisingly there were true martial artists in the Gu Clan as well, Cheon Woo-jin thrust the Crescent Moon Staff forward.
Thwack!
Struck straight in the solar plexus, the martial artist flew backward.
Thanks to that, even the martial artists behind were swept up in that momentum.
Having opened a path with a mere light motion, Cheon Woo-jin walked among the martial artists once more.
Thereafter, it was repetition.
Walking, clearing them away, and walking again.
How much tedious time did he spend like that?
Cheon Woo-jin’s steps came to an abrupt halt.
A familiar face came into view far ahead.
“…You insect-like bastards. How could you fail to stop a single fellow and let him enter all the way here?”
A man exuding a perilous aura like a pitch-black wild dog that consumed human flesh. Gu Yong-baek reprimanded the clan’s martial artists.
At the same time, seven martial artists who carried an atmosphere completely different from those faced thus far dropped down around Cheon Woo-jin.
They silently unleashed their aura, exerting pressure upon Cheon Woo-jin.
Even so, Cheon Woo-jin merely observed their countenances with a dry expression.
‘They are masters.’
To compare them, they were at the level of a division head or hall master of the Martial Alliance.
Of course, even among hall masters the variance in skill was vast, but this caliber was enough to rival a fairly high-ranking hall master.
He understood anew the reason people feared the Gu Clan.
Of course, that statement had no relevance to Cheon Woo-jin himself.
“Why did you all only appear now?”
With Gu Yong-baek’s and their skills, they should have noticed the commotion long ago. Surely the leadership of a clan wasn’t sending young martial artists forward to test the opponent’s strength.
But when no other answer returned, Cheon Woo-jin had the thought that that was indeed the reason.
“Pathetic.”
Cheon Woo-jin murmured low and spread his senses wide. Seeing that the three Hidden Dragon Squad members were still moving busily, it seemed they had not yet found that man.
What could he do? He had no choice but to stall for more time.
Whoosh!
Cheon Woo-jin abruptly surged toward Gu Yong-baek.
Shocked by that sudden action, the seven martial artists poured out sword qi and saber qi toward Cheon Woo-jin.
He parried the sword qi rushing fastest from the front. However, the remaining six strands of sword qi and saber qi swept in with truly exquisite timing and angles.
In the end, Cheon Woo-jin had no choice but to withdraw his steps heading toward Gu Yong-baek.
Tap, as Cheon Woo-jin landed a few steps back, a peculiar smile crossed Gu Yong-baek’s face.
“It seems you are surprised. Indeed, that is natural. Looking only at the martial might of the Seven Great Protectors, they do not pale in comparison to the leaders of the Five Great Clans or the Nine Great Sects and One Clan.”
Cheon Woo-jin looked at those called the Seven Great Protectors with a novel expression. Literally, they seemed to be clan seniors or elders guarding Gu Yong-baek.
Believing he had seized some degree of initiative from the previous situation, Gu Yong-baek continued speaking.
“I cannot understand at all. What kind of lingering grudge do you have against me to come in the dead of night and cause such violence? Rather, as one who lost a son, it is I who should hate you even more.”
“Do you truly think I am causing violence?”
“Then what is barging in out of nowhere and carrying on like this if not violence? Because the Alliance Leader dotes on you, do you see nothing else in your eyes?”
Gu Yong-baek’s gruff voice sank even lower.
Regardless, Cheon Woo-jin shrugged his shoulders and spoke.
“If I truly had a grudge against the Gu Clan, would they all still be alive?”
Cheon Woo-jin pointed the Crescent Moon Staff toward the martial artists sprawled across the ground. Just as he said, not a single person had died.
Gu Yong-baek’s eyes narrowed.
“I see that your skill is outstanding. That is why it is all the more regrettable. Why the Martial Alliance?”
“What are you trying to ask?”
“I am asking why it is the Martial Alliance rather than the Black Overlord Castle. From what I heard, you received an extremely lavish reception at the Black Overlord Castle that day before returning.”
When Cheon Woo-jin stopped by the Black Overlord Castle, he had encountered Gu Yong-baek.
He had been coldly cast out by the Lord of the Black Overlord Castle, but even after that, he seemed to have investigated the situation inside through martial artists.
When Cheon Woo-jin gave no answer, Gu Yong-baek’s words continued.
“Just looking at the Martial Alliance right now, it is like that. The Alliance Leader does not recognize the traditional legitimacy of the vested interests like the Five Great Clans and the Nine Great Sects and One Clan, while the vested interests disregard the Alliance Leader’s authority. In a situation where gathering wills into one would barely suffice, they endlessly check, slander, divide, and hate one another under names like the Dragon and Phoenix Society.”
“You speak the truth.”
Cheon Woo-jin agreed for once.
At that, Gu Yong-baek chattered with even greater excitement.
“The current Martial Alliance is a sandcastle on the verge of collapse. Without anyone’s attack, it is bound to destroy itself. But what of the Black Overlord Castle? It is steadfast. The Castle Lord is still young, and the Thirteen Wolves under his command are loyal only to him. In a situation where you have a choice, receiving favor from both the Castle Lord and the Alliance Leader, which one should you naturally choose?”
Gu Yong-baek was genuinely frustrated. Furthermore, he intended to exploit a disaster-like figure like Cheon Woo-jin as an opportunity.
If he returned to the Black Overlord Castle bringing the fellow who had been lavishly received by the Castle Lord, couldn’t his merit be recognized?
The Lord of the Black Overlord Castle was a benevolent man for someone of the Unorthodox Path. Gu Yong-baek knew the true nature of that Castle Lord better than anyone.
“Let us sweep away the past like men. I will forget what you did to my son and your present rudeness. I have recently amassed immense wealth through a great venture. If you go to the Black Overlord Castle, the Gu Clan will firmly support your back.”
“Hmph.”
Cheon Woo-jin fell into contemplation for a moment.
Gu Yong-baek was also a man who knew when to wait.
But the contemplation was far too long.
“Ahem, give your answer soon…”
“All right.”
“W-What?”
Gu Yong-baek was startled in reverse. He had never imagined the youth would accept the proposal so readily.
“I will sweep away the past. Though I never held it in my heart in the first place.”
“Hahaha! Yes, a true man wouldn’t linger over such small matters…”
“However, I must hold you accountable for what is currently taking place.”
“What…”
At the same time, the Hidden Dragon Squad members landed on the scene.
Song Yi-yeon and Jin Un held a man from both sides.
It was the man who had fled from the brothel.
Cheon Woo-jin spoke calmly.
“Clan Head Gu. Why did you kill the Pinghai Merchant Guild head?”
Recognizing his face, Gu Yong-baek’s expression crumpled.
“You pretended to contemplate on purpose to deceive us.”
Speaking thus, Gu Yong-baek sent sound transmissions to the Seven Great Protectors all at once. It was an order to tear Cheon Woo-jin to pieces right now.
The Seven Great Protectors sprang forward simultaneously. At that incredible speed and energy, the Hidden Dragon Squad members felt as though their breath had stopped.
Cheon Woo-jin kicked off the ground and rose into midair. Not merely lifting his body slightly, but high enough to appear overlapping with the moon.
As if rehearsed beforehand, the seven rushing protectors kicked off the ground at once, surging beneath Cheon Woo-jin’s feet.
At that sight, Gu Yong-baek wore a cold sneer.
“Fool! To leap so high against multiple opponents…”
But Gu Yong-baek’s words could not continue.
With an utterly calm expression, Cheon Woo-jin raised the Crescent Moon Staff high. Without any change in expression, the Seven Great Protectors each thrust their blades beneath Cheon Woo-jin’s feet.
Soon, the Crescent Moon Staff plunged down toward them. From the tip of that crude, ink-black iron staff, pitch-black Dark Heavens Qi poured forth.
It strongly resembled the strike shown by the Alliance Leader during the sparring tournament before. If the Alliance Leader’s white sword qi had plummeted as a giant white egret, Cheon Woo-jin’s black Dark Heavens Qi descended as a dark dragon.
Dark Dragon Descending.
That immense and fiercely mighty dark dragon swallowed the seven masters in an instant. Even then, its momentum did not diminish at all as it struck the ground violently.
Crash-rumble!!
Immense booms and vibrations shook all directions wildly.
Soon, when the dark dragon from head to tail crashed into the ground and scattered.
Not even a trace of the seven protectors could be found.
Everyone merely stared at that scene, their souls dazed. Their bodies were stiff, unable to utter even the sound of breathing.
Amidst that heavy silence, Cheon Woo-jin landed.
Suddenly, Cheon Woo-jin and Gu Yong-baek’s gazes met.
Gu Yong-baek instinctively took a step back.
He had misjudged. He was a fellow that should never have been touched in the first place. He was truly like a natural disaster, where merely being associated would result in being shattered to pieces.
However, by the time he realized it, it was far too late.
Cheon Woo-jin reached out his hand.
At that, Gu Yong-baek’s retreating figure was pulled as if sliding, and soon Cheon Woo-jin’s hand gripped his shoulder.
Floating a mere tobacco pipe via Telekinetic Attraction was enough to be called a master.
If so, what should one call someone who could pull a human, and a master of Gu Yong-baek’s caliber at that, so helplessly?
Crack!
Within Cheon Woo-jin’s grasp, Gu Yong-baek’s shoulder bone shattered. Even so, Gu Yong-baek could not even let slip a groan of pain.
Looking straight into Gu Yong-baek’s eyes with his characteristically dry, profound gaze, Cheon Woo-jin spoke.
“What deed did you commit with the Qingcheng Sect?”