Leng Yushan was alive. As Seo Yong-hwa told him that, Jin Sa-wol tilted his head as if it were unexpected.
"It seems he wasn't killed."
"It's not that he wasn't killed, but it's right to say that there were various problems in killing him."
"What do you mean?"
"The Ice Palace's Cold Ice Art is impervious to the Soul-Stealing Grand Technique. There was also the method of absorbing his internal energy with the Star-Absorbing Demonic Art, but if that happened, the extreme yin of the Cold Ice Art and the yang of the Star-Absorbing Demonic Art would clash violently. If something went wrong, he could fall into qi deviation."
Jin Sa-wol nodded as if he understood.
It was very difficult to endure the cold energy of the extreme yin Cold Ice Art.
Jin Sa-wol suddenly became curious.
"If it's Jeokrin, it seems he could easily make even the extreme yin Cold Ice Art his own, but it seems he hasn't reached that stage yet."
If he had surpassed the stage of extreme demonic arts, it was possible to harmoniously make the energies of yin and yang his own.
The reason he was not affected even if he took away someone else's internal energy with the Star-Absorbing Demonic Art was because he had already surpassed the human stage.
Seo Yong-hwa shook her head.
"There is nothing impossible for my father. It's just that Leng Yushan's internal energy was too weak to be worth absorbing. If there was another reason, it would be the very low probability of qi deviation. Qi deviation is like an unexpected accident that comes regardless of the stage of martial arts. Is there a need to bother absorbing the weak Cold Ice Art unnecessarily?"
At the word 'weak', Jin Sa-wol showed a smile. Leng Yushan's internal energy, which Seo Yong-hwa called weak, was high enough to look at one Jiazi, and he was a leading figure among the late-stage masters of the martial world.
Seo Yong-hwa was a person who saw such a Leng Yushan as a weak being.
Since Jin Sa-wol's business was over, he stood up.
"I'll be going."
"You can stay a little longer. It's not too late to go out after the outside is sorted out."
"I've come this far, so I think I should see Jeokrin's face."
"You won't know even if you see him."
Jeokrin was wearing a completely different face now. Seo Yong-hwa shook her head as she recalled that face.
"No... you'll know... In any case, my father and you..."
Seo Yong-hwa, who had stopped speaking, raised her eyes and looked at Jin Sa-wol.
'Because they resemble each other in many ways.'
Seo Yong-hwa did not say the words out loud. Blood is drawn to blood, and those with the same energy recognize each other.
Jin Sa-wol frowned as if he were in a bad mood.
"What are you trying to say?"
"It's nothing. I'll guide you."
Seo Yong-hwa took the lead and left the room. Jin Sa-wol, who was slowly walking behind her, was about to grab the hilt of his sword but stopped.
The desire to kill and the affection for his mother conflicted. With a complicated expression, he followed Seo Yong-hwa, crossed the rear garden, and headed for the river.
***
Whoosh!
As numerous men in black rose like clouds from the rear garden and surged in, the group of the Seobeompa was startled and stopped.
They, as if they were all mute, threw hidden weapons at the group of the Seobeompa without saying a word.
Numerous hidden weapons that flew through the air with a bip! sound pierced the group of the Seobeompa.
"Kraaak!"
"Fuck! What is it!"
"Aaargh! My eyes! Eyes!"
With screams, the foremost men of the Seobeompa fell. The men of the Seobeompa, who were full of second- and third-rate members, were just scarecrows to the assassins of the Salmun.
The assassins of the Salmun, who had narrowed the distance with the Seobeompa, mercilessly swung their swords and killed the men of the Seobeompa.
"Uwaaaak!"
Screams constantly erupted from around the main gate of Namcheongwon.
Geumdo, who was standing on the roof of the main gate, was curious about Jin Sa-wol, but he could not dare to enter.
He just had to buy a little time for Jin Sa-wol. It was his role to draw the enemies' attention for a moment and then run away.
'Did he succeed?'
Geumdo, who was thinking as positively as possible, turned his body and headed for the promised place.
***
Jin Sa-wol and Seo Yong-hwa were standing on a high tree overlooking the pier, with a slight distance between them.
It was in the lush forest around West Lake.
The two, who had climbed to the top of a tall tree, were unshaken even in the blowing wind.
Jin Sa-wol was looking at a large cruise ship entering the pier.
On the cruise ship, middle-aged and elderly people dressed in silk robes and gisaengs with beautiful makeup, their skirts fluttering, were seen laughing.
They got off the boat in pairs and were laughing and talking. Jin Sa-wol just stared at the foremost person among them.
Although he had a plain appearance and looked to be in his mid-thirties, his gait was similar to Jeokrin's.
He instinctively thought that he was Jeokrin.
"Do you know who he is?"
"I don't know."
"He's the first one who got off."
Jin Sa-wol nodded as if his prediction were correct.
A considerable number of warriors gathered around the pier and escorted the men who had gotten off the boat.
Looking at it this way, he seemed no different from an ordinary man.
"I will kill Jeokrin."
"In any case, you will meet him in a few months. You can decide whether to live or die then."
Seo Yong-hwa seemed to think that nothing would change even if only one of Jin Sa-wol and Jeokrin survived.
Seo Yong-hwa, who had turned her head, examined the empty space where Jin Sa-wol had disappeared. A short while later, Jeokrin appeared in that place.
Jeokrin, who had lightly descended from the empty air, stood with his hands behind his back and asked.
"I saw my grandson."
"We were together until just now."
"He found this place well."
"It seems he received help from the Hao Faction."
Jeokrin stroked his beard and showed a smile.
"I'll visit when the time comes... He's an impatient guy. If he came, he should have bowed and left."
"It's not that kind of relationship."
"Why did he come?"
Jeokrin was asking Seo Yong-hwa in detail how Jin Sa-wol had found this place.
"He said not to think of killing the Hao Faction Master."
"So?"
"I said I would do so."
"He pressed with force."
"If I had said I couldn't do it there, I would have lost most of the assassins of the Salmun that I had raised with difficulty."
It was not a wrong statement. Jeokrin also nodded as if he understood.
Seo Yong-hwa was not in a good mood that Jin Sa-wol had stepped forward for Seo Mun-ryeon.
'Don't tell me he's thinking of marrying that bitch.'
Seo Yong-hwa showed a gaze of absolute disapproval and then changed the subject.
"The Ice Palace Master is at the Martial Alliance."
"That nasty guy must have liked that adopted son a lot to have come down to the Martial Alliance."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'll have to go to the Martial Alliance for the first time in a while."
Jeokrin said as if he were interested and then disappeared. Soon, Seo Yong-hwa's figure also disappeared.
A shadow of Jin Sa-wol was seen in the distant forest.
'Is it about twenty zhang?'
The maximum distance he could approach Jeokrin without being noticed. That was about twenty zhang.
He turned his body, imprinting the backs of Jeokrin and Seo Yong-hwa, who were disappearing in the distance, in his eyes.
***
Jin Sa-wol entered a small tavern not far from West Lake and sat down at any seat.
A short while later, Geumdo appeared from the kitchen, holding Dongpo pork and alcohol. He sat opposite Jin Sa-wol.
Geumdo asked with a curious face.
"Is the Salmun Master dead?"
"I couldn't kill him."
Jin Sa-wol showed a bitter smile and drank the alcohol that Geumdo poured.
"The Salmun Master's martial arts must have been high."
"They're great. It's not a problem to worry about. The Salmun Master has decided to stop the murder request for the Hao Faction Master."
"Is that true?"
"Yes."
Jin Sa-wol answered and then drank his alcohol again.
"The client was the Demonic Cult, as expected."
"I understand. I will report it as such."
"I'm going to the Martial Alliance."
"I will prepare."
Geumdo stood up from his seat and disappeared into the kitchen.
***
A man and a woman were slowly walking in the wide garden of the Martial Alliance's guest hall. It was Son Muk, who had returned from the Hao Faction, and Wang Hong, who was under the protection of the Martial Alliance.
The two walked on a small path.
"I met the Hao Faction Master, and it seems she has a grudge against Miss Wang. You should be careful, as she might send assassins."
"The assassins of the Hao Faction can't cross the wall of the Martial Alliance."
"If that's the case, it's a relief, but don't be relieved."
"Yes."
Son Muk recalled Zhuge Qing, who had been killed by an assassin, and became vigilant.
"The security will be further strengthened."
"Thank you."
"And the Demonic Cult Leader has changed. Na Hyeon-gi is also dead."
"Gwak So-hyeop will be very happy to hear that. How did he die?"
At Wang Hong's question, Son Muk briefly explained what he knew.
***
A young man with a sword appeared in the yard of a private courtyard deep inside the Martial Alliance's guest hall.
It was Gwak Ji, a disciple of the Jongnam Sect.
After entering the Martial Alliance, he had found stability and had devoted himself to martial arts training.
He unfolded the Nine Palaces Sword Art of the Jongnam Sect and sweated profusely. As he unfolded all the forms of the Nine Palaces Sword Art twice, his legs gave out, and he sat down.
"Haa! Haa!"
Gwak Ji, who was gasping for breath, recalled the time he had entered the Martial Alliance.
The Martial Alliance had welcomed him just for the reason that he was a disciple of the Jongnam Sect. They had not wanted anything from him and had guaranteed his safety.
It was all thanks to Wang Hong.
She had told him everything about the Hao Faction Master.
She had told him to leave because it was all a lie that she was being nice to him and that she would take revenge.
She had said that if she obtained the secret manuals of the Jongnam Sect, the Hao Faction Master would kill him.
Wang Hong had led him to the Martial Alliance, telling him not to forget the pain he had received from the Hao Faction.
If it weren't for her, he wouldn't have been able to train his martial arts so peacefully now.
"Are you resting?"
Wang Hong, who had gone out, came over the gate of the private courtyard and approached Gwak Ji, who was sitting.
As she approached, Gwak Ji showed a smile.
"If you've moved around so excitedly, you should rest for a while, shouldn't you?"
At Gwak Ji's words, Wang Hong approached him, helped him up, and said.
"I have good news."
"What is it?"
"Come inside."
Wang Hong pulled Gwak Ji's arm, went into the room, and sat down in a chair. Wang Hong poured tea for Gwak Ji and said.
"Na Hyeon-gi is dead."
"What! Is that true?"
"It's true."
Gwak Ji, who had jumped up from his seat, opened his eyes wide as if he were very surprised. He clenched his fists as if he were excited.
Gwak Ji calmed his excited chest and asked.
"Who did you hear it from?"
"It's Wonju Son's story, so it must be true."
"How did he die?"
"It seems Na Hyeon-gi fought the Dokgo family to become the Cult Leader. I heard he lost that fight and died. I don't know the internal situation in detail, but it's certain that he's dead."
"That's good."
Gwak Ji nodded and sat down in a chair.
"It's a thousand years of regret that I couldn't tear that dog bastard to pieces with my own hands."
Gwak Ji trembled his shoulders and chewed on his grudge. Wang Hong took Gwak Ji's hand and showed a gentle smile.
"Now that your enemy is dead, let go of that grudge."
"Thank you. I'm always grateful to Miss Wang."
Gwak Ji stroked Wang Hong's hand. Wang Hong stood up from her seat, approached Gwak Ji's side, and sat on his lap.
Gwak Ji did not refuse her natural action. Rather, he hugged Wang Hong's waist and buried his face in her chest.
"Now that my grudge is gone, all I have left is you."
Hearing those words, Wang Hong showed a cool smile.
(End of Chapter)
