Jin Sa-wol's hand strongly gripped Jo Geom-ok's slender waist. As a hot energy rose from below with a strong pressure, Jo Geom-ok, as if she had lost her strength, fell into Jin Sa-wol's arms.
Although it was a sudden situation, Jo Geom-ok obediently followed Jin Sa-wol. She entrusted her body to his hands, was held in his arms, listened to his heartbeat, and closed her eyes.
Right now, feeling Jin Sa-wol's heartbeat was more important than anything else.
Jin Sa-wol's expression did not change.
With an expressionless face, he stroked the hair of Jo Geom-ok, who was held in his arms, and looked at the empty ceiling.
"I met Brother Jeong-bong at the inn."
Jo Geom-ok reacted to the story of Woo Jeong-bong. As Jo Geom-ok raised her head, Jin Sa-wol looked at her face and said.
"He's the same as ever. He might come to the Namcheonhoe soon."
"He'll come."
Jo Geom-ok showed a smile.
Jin Sa-wol soon changed his expression and changed the subject.
"The master of the Salmun was the Blood Hand Flying Shadow of the Esoteric Cult. Jeokrin was also in Hangzhou."
"The Esoteric Cult? Is that true?"
"It's true."
As he mentioned the Esoteric Cult, Jo Geom-ok's expression hardened noticeably. Although she had not seen the Blood Hand Flying Shadow in person, she had heard of his nickname.
Jin Sa-wol said again.
"It seems Jeokrin has a force like the Esoteric Cult that we don't know about."
Jo Geom-ok thought of a group with the scale of the Esoteric Cult, but nothing came to mind.
"Perhaps the annihilation of the Esoteric Cult was also intentional..."
Was it not a tail-cutting?
Jin Sa-wol, who had thought that far, showed a faint smile.
As he thought that his opponent was not an ordinary person but a monster, his heart pounded without him realizing it, and his fighting spirit rose.
He hugged Jo Geom-ok's waist even more strongly. Jo Geom-ok was still. It seemed it was better to do so now.
Just then, Seo Mun-ryeon opened the door and came in. She opened her eyes wide when she saw Jo Geom-ok and Jin Sa-wol clinging together and raised her voice.
"I knew it would be like this!"
Seo Mun-ryeon, as if she were angry, crossed her arms and said again.
"I came just in case, and it's just as I thought! I can't leave you two alone because I thought it would be like this."
As Seo Mun-ryeon approached, Jo Geom-ok had no choice but to fall from Jin Sa-wol's arms. Jo Geom-ok frowned and glared at Seo Mun-ryeon.
"Why did you come?"
"I was about to leave, but when I thought about it, if I leave, only you two will be left. I don't know what you two will do. I came because I was worried about that."
As Seo Mun-ryeon sat in a chair, Jo Geom-ok looked at Seo Mun-ryeon with a face that said she was worrying about everything and then sat next to Jin Sa-wol.
"I'll stay here and go with Sa-wol."
At Seo Mun-ryeon's words, Jin Sa-wol nodded. In the end, the three of them had to go to Guryeon Mountain.
***
On the southern lakeside of Poyang Lake.
Numerous martial artists who had chased the Demonic Cult members were gathered there. In the middle of them, Gung Tae-yeong and Namgung Wi, the young master of the Namgung family, were standing together.
Namgung Wi looked at Poyang Lake with cold eyes and asked.
"Since you missed the Demonic Cult guys, the alliance's position will be difficult."
"We haven't missed them yet. We are chasing their traces, so we will be able to find out their whereabouts soon."
"Can't you even guess where they went?"
"If we move rashly based on a guess, we could rather be in a predicament."
At Gung Tae-yeong's answer, Namgung Wi sighed and shook his head.
"If they crossed over to Fujian, we would have received a message from the Baekgeomun. Since there is no message from the Baekgeomun, it seems they went to Guangdong. Shouldn't you think that much in your head?"
"What if we go down to Guangdong and they're not there? Also, if they went to Guangdong, we will receive a message from the Hainan Sect. Since the Beggars' Sect is also moving, we will find them soon. We have to wait until an order comes down."
"That's..."
At Gung Tae-yeong's answer, Namgung Wi turned his body and looked around at the numerous martial artists. Although there were warriors of the Martial Alliance, there were also many warriors of small and medium-sized sects who wanted to build a reputation, including the Namgung family.
"How are you going to explain to them? Are you going to tell them to wait here all day?"
"We will wait. It's not too late to discuss it when the Blue Dragon Division Master comes."
"Do as you please."
Namgung Wi showed a smile, turned his body, and approached the warriors of the Namgung family. As the heads of other small and medium-sized sects approached and asked what had happened, Namgung Wi just told them to wait.
"They say they missed them."
"It seems the pursuit team sent by the Martial Alliance only came back empty-handed."
"They say the Demonic Cult guys are elusive, and it seems to be true. I never thought the Martial Alliance would not be able to respond properly and would be in a bind."
"If the Martial Alliance is so sloppy, can we trust the Martial Alliance?"
Although various stories broke out noisily, Gung Tae-yeong was silent. He could not respond to their complaints one by one.
"You annoying bastards."
Gung Tae-yeong muttered and clenched his fists.
***
The third squad leader, Mo Haeng, who had been injured, was prostrating himself in the center of the Blue Dragon Hall's main hall.
As he was kneeling on one knee, his leg was numb and his back hurt. Because he was injured, it was difficult to even prostrate himself. But the Blue Dragon Hall Master, who was sitting on the grand master's chair, did not acknowledge his pain.
Dozens of officials were standing on the left and right of the main hall, glaring at Mo Haeng. Their killing intent and fighting spirit made Mo Haeng's life difficult.
'You guys should go too. You'll end up like me.'
Although Mo Haeng was in a bad mood, he managed his expression. The Blue Dragon Hall Master's voice was heard.
"You went to Guryeon Mountain and there were Demonic Cult guys there, is that right?"
"Yes, Master."
Mo Haeng, who had raised his head, raised his voice with an angry face.
"The Demonic Cult guys killed my subordinates. Please let me take revenge. I will restore the honor of our faction."
As Mo Haeng raised his voice, various words broke out from the left and right.
"Where does a team leader bastard talk about revenge?"
"Shouldn't he be grateful that he wasn't expelled? Should the third squad leader take responsibility? How about it?"
"What? You crazy bastard. In my eyes, it seems he did a good job just by coming back alive from the Demonic Cult guys."
"Enough!"
The Blue Dragon Hall Master shouted loudly. As the main hall became quiet, the Blue Dragon Hall Master looked around at the left and right and said.
"Team Leader Mo, retreat and rest."
"Loyalty!"
Mo Haeng shouted with a loud voice and then left the main hall.
The Blue Dragon Hall Master asked the officials standing in the main hall.
"The Demonic Cult guys are in Guryeon Mountain. What should we do?"
"We must destroy them all. I think it's an opportunity to spread the reputation of the Blue Dragon Hall throughout the martial world."
"No. The Demonic Cult guys all have high martial arts. We must inform the Martial Alliance and fight them in alliance with the other three halls."
"What kind of nonsense is that? A prey has appeared before our eyes, and you're saying we should share it with other guys? Have the other three halls ever offered to share the credit?"
The first squad leader in his early forties raised his voice, and the second squad leader of a similar age frowned.
The Blue Dragon Hall Master stroked his beard and said.
"I also agree with the first squad leader. The fact that the Demonic Cult guys appeared before our eyes means that the Blue Dragon Hall is meant to kill them. If we kill all the Demonic Cult guys, the reputation of our faction will spread throughout the martial world, and the reputation of our Blue Dragon Hall will also rise.
If there is food in front of us, we eat it before others eat it. The first, third, and fourth squads, prepare to leave for Guryeon Mountain. We will go to Guryeon Mountain in three days. We will wipe out the Demonic Cult guys."
"I understand. Loyalty!"
"I will follow your command."
"I will follow the master's command."
As the three squad leaders raised their voices and went outside with their subordinates, a silence lingered in the main hall.
What remained were the second, fifth, and sixth squad leaders, as well as the officials of the Blue Dragon Hall.
The second squad leader said.
"If we are defeated, the aftermath will also be considerable."
"There is no defeat for the Blue Dragon Hall. The remaining squad leaders should also prepare to depart. I will go to Guryeon Mountain myself."
"Loyalty!"
A loud voice echoed in the main hall once more. The Blue Dragon Hall Master licked his tongue and touched the sword hanging from his waist.
'I'll see blood for the first time in a long time.'
The Blue Dragon Hall Master showed a smile and exuded a strong fighting spirit.
Three days later.
Hundreds of warriors came out of the Blue Dragon Hall. The place they were going to was Guryeon Mountain.
Pigeons flew into the sky from a nearby village.
***
Namcheonhoe.
The name hanging on the main gate of the nine-story pavilion briefly caught Jin Sa-wol's feet.
Jin Sa-wol, who was looking at the large signboard with the words 'Namcheonhoe', was silent. The Namcheonhoe had received what the Blood Killing Faction had left behind, and now it was the Namcheonhoe's.
At first, he had no particular thoughts, but now that the Namcheonhoe was right in front of him, all sorts of thoughts crossed his mind.
'If this is my path, there's no need to refuse.'
As Jin Sa-wol turned his head, he saw the gazes of numerous people. They were the people of the Namcheonhoe standing in the wide training ground.
Jin Sa-wol looked around at them for a moment, felt a hot energy, and then entered the main hall on the first floor.
He saw the grand master's chair at the end of the main hall. He walked slowly there.
Thump, thump!
The sound of footsteps rose with Jin Sa-wol. It was the sound of the footsteps of the people of Namcheonhoe who were following him.
The fact that the sound was cheerful was due to his mood.
"Good."
Jin Sa-wol showed a smile, stepped on the nine stairs, and stopped in front of the grand master's chair. Jin Sa-wol, who had turned his body, looked around at the people standing below.
Although there were not many people standing in the wide main hall, it was still okay.
On the left, Bi-sun and Lee Mak-jeong were seen, and Do Sam-gi was also standing. He had arrived before Jin Sa-wol. After that, about ten officials who had come with Lee Mak-jeong were seen.
On the right, Seo Mun-ryeon and Jo Geom-ok, as well as Jo-rim, were standing, and the officials of the Hwahwaru were also standing.
Jin Sa-wol looked around at all of them and then opened his mouth.
"I am Jin Sa-wol, the leader of the Namcheonhoe."
As Jin Sa-wol's voice, filled with internal energy, echoed in the main hall, everyone's faces brightened. Everyone's eyes were full of hot energy.
Jin Sa-wol, who had received their gazes, showed a strong energy.
Whoosh!
With the sound of the wind, a black energy that had risen from under Jin Sa-wol's feet went down the stairs like a mist and covered everyone's feet.
Everyone felt a clear killing intent and a sharp premonition that if they moved even one step, a sharp dagger would fly and pierce their hearts.
But it soon disappeared into Jin Sa-wol's shadow in an instant, as if it were a lie.
Everyone's eyes widened. Cold sweat flowed down Lee Mak-jeong's back. Because the pressure that was pressing him was similar to the former Demonic Cult Leader's.
Jin Sa-wol's voice echoed quietly.
"You are all my people. Since everything in the Namcheonhoe is mine, you are also mine. I, Jin Sa-wol, will protect this association even if I am attacked by any external enemy. No one can harm my people. That is the first promise I can make to you."
At Jin Sa-wol's story, everyone was silent.
Jin Sa-wol had promised everyone's safety. If there was one thing that the people gathered in the main hall wanted the most, it would be safety.
That was the reason Jin Sa-wol had created the Namcheonhoe.
Jin Sa-wol said again with cold eyes.
"I will not forgive betrayal. Those who have betrayed me and this association will be chased to hell and killed. If they are already dead, I will find their corpses and dismember them. That is the second promise."
As a cool air flowed in the main hall, everyone nodded. They also had the same mind as Jin Sa-wol.
(End of Chapter)
