Chapter 191 : Yeonshin, Remembers
Chapter 191: Yeonshin, Remembers
Everyone’s gaze focused on Lee Jaseung’s scar.
“What is that wound?”
Water recognized it and gasped. She immediately looked at her older brother.
Her brother knew this wound better than anyone. He was also the only person in Jianghu who had learned the martial arts technique capable of creating it.
Water felt confused. A moment ago, Lee Jaseung had asked her brother who made the wound. It should have been obvious that her brother was the one who inflicted it.
Lee Jaseung asked again.
“I asked where the one who left this wound is right now.”
The man did not answer. Instead he widened his eyes as if startled. Then a smile spread across his face, clearly a smile of joy.
Water answered in his place.
“Other than my brother, is there anyone who can use the Thunderstrike Form of the Nine Divine Demonic Blade Style?”
Rain flinched at the words Nine Divine Demonic Blade Style.
“The Nine Divine Demonic Blade Style? That martial art only passes down to the Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect doesn’t it?”
The next moment Rain’s eyes went wide.
“No way?”
Water nodded with a solemn expression.
“My brother is the heir of the Heavenly Demon Sect. Well, he used to be.”
Rain was shocked. He had known Water was an unusual woman, but never imagined she would be of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s bloodline.
Water had brought Rain here intending to reveal who she really was.
Her brother’s name was Ho Yeonshin, and Water’s real name was Ho Yeonseo.
Their father Ho Yeongang had barely escaped the cult on the day Yao Hong rebelled.
Their grandfather, the Heavenly Demon of that generation, died at Yao Hong’s hands. There had been only one reason Yao Hong could start a rebellion.
The practical loss of the Heavenly Demon Soul.
The Nine Divine Demonic Arts, when brought to their extreme peak, could summon that overwhelming demonic soul.
By their grandfather’s generation, it could no longer be summoned.
As a result, the Nine Divine Demonic Arts retained only half of their power.
Yao Hong did not miss that chance. He spent many years working as a loyal subordinate of the Heavenly Demon, gaining trust while serving the Heavenly Demon Sect. And at the decisive moment, he betrayed them.
To kill the Heavenly Demon, he prepared ten lethal stratagems. Even without the Heavenly Demon Soul, the Heavenly Demon’s strength was still overwhelming.
Yet in the end, their grandfather died in the trap Yao Hong created.
Their father Ho Yeongang barely escaped and lived in hiding, dreaming of revenge.
But things did not go as he hoped.
The Asura Demon Sect tried everything to kill Ho Yeongang. Countless Demonic Humans were desperate to find him.
Yao Hong feared that Ho Yeongang might master the Nine Divine Demonic Arts to their peak and revive the Heavenly Demon Soul.
Living on the run, Ho Yeongang could not easily gather power for the revival of the Heavenly Demon Sect. During that time, he met a woman and had Ho Yeonshin and Ho Yeonseo.
Ho Yeongang hoped his children would master the Nine Divine Demonic Arts to their extreme peak.
But Ho Yeonseo had no talent for martial arts. She hit a limit early and could not progress.
Ho Yeonshin was better, yet he also failed to complete the arts.
What their father passed down to him instead was the Nine Divine Demonic Blade Style, consisting of seven opening forms and seven later forms.
Ho Yeonshin barely learned the opening seven forms. He could not learn the later seven at all.
Meanwhile the Asura Demon Sect grew even stronger than the former Heavenly Demon Sect.
Ho Yeonshin finally spoke.
“Yes, I remember.”
He remembered clearly the day he met Lee Jaseung.
It was a day he could never forget. Like the day their grandfather died, it was the day their father fell and only the two children survived.
Ho Yeonshin recalled that day.
“Huff, huff, huff!”
Panting for breath, Ho Yeonshin ran across a field.
He carried someone on his back, his younger sister Ho Yeonseo. Both of their clothes were soaked in blood and their injuries were severe.
Ho Yeonseo in particular had a deep wound on her leg and the bleeding had not been properly stopped. Blood kept flowing down.
“Are you alright?”
At his question, Ho Yeonseo opened her eyes.
“I am alright. What about you, brother?”
“I am fine.”
But Ho Yeonshin was not fine. His external wounds were not the issue. He had been poisoned by a deadly toxin and was using his inner Qi to stop it from spreading. If he used his inner Qi too heavily now, the poison would spread and kill him.
But their pursuers were closing in, so he could not rest even for a moment.
“…Father, he…”
Ho Yeonseo could not finish speaking. Tears rolled down her face.
Ho Yeonshin clenched his teeth to hold back his own tears. This was not the time for weakness.
“If we find him, we can take revenge.”
Ho Yeonseo knew exactly who he meant. Their father had spoken of him constantly.
“Brother, that story is only a legend.”
“No, it is not a legend. I am sure the founder of our cult and the first Cult Leader is still alive.”
“I cannot believe you actually trust that story. If he were alive, he would have shown himself at least once. But in all these long years, not one person has seen him.”
“He must have appeared somewhere. We simply did not hear.”
“Brother, please wake up! Father did not believe that legend because of faith. He believed it to hide his despair. You cannot be like this too!”
Their father Ho Yeongang had firmly believed it and made every effort to find the first Cult Leader, Cheol Murin. He believed Cheol Murin could save the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Ignoring his sister’s words, Ho Yeonshin spoke with conviction.
“He would never want the Heavenly Demon Sect to fall.”
“If that legend is true.”
Ho Yeonshin did not reply further and focused on running.
His mind was filled only with saving his sister and taking revenge.
After running for who knows how long, exhaustion finally forced him to stop.
Ho Yeonseo had fainted from blood loss. He needed to find a hiding place and treat her quickly.
“Haa, haa.”
A deep breath escaped him.
He was about to sit and regulate his breathing, but dozens of men descended around him.
Swish, swish.
They were Demonic Humans of the Ghost Chasers of the Asura Demon Sect. Their specialty was tracking and killing fugitives. Their martial skill was formidable.
From among them, the Ghost Chasers leader Juma stepped forward.
“Where are you going in such a hurry, young cult master of the Heavenly Demon Sect?”
Ho Yeonshin’s eyes turned cold.
“I never thought those words would come from your mouth.”
Ho Yeongang had known Juma was one who betrayed them to follow Yao Hong. He had taught Ho Yeonshin everything he learned.
Juma laughed.
“Oh, the young cult master has some spirit.”
“It is not only spirit. I can snap the neck of an old traitor like you without difficulty.”
“Then try.”
Ho Yeonshin clenched his teeth. He was in no condition to fight them. If he used the inner Qi that was suppressing the poison, he might kill them, but he would die as well.
“If you come with us quietly, your life will be spared.”
Ho Yeonshin let out a small bitter laugh.
Yao Hong would never spare him. If he would, he would not have betrayed them.
Ho Yeonshin looked at Ho Yeonseo. If he killed them all, his sister might survive. The chance was slim, but he had to take it.
‘You must live.’
Ho Yeonshin turned, his eyes burning with resolve.
Just as he began drawing up the inner Qi holding back the poison, it happened.
Swish swish swish swish swish swish swish swish!
Daggers flew toward the Ghost Chasers.
A dozen Demonic Humans fell instantly, and the others narrowly dodged the projectiles.
Sshhh.
Someone rushed straight at Juma.
“Stop him!”
Juma panicked at the sudden ambush. The attacker’s speed was terrifying.
The men who tried to block were cut down instantly.
The remaining Demonic Humans threw themselves forward, but the masked man was far stronger.
They all fell within moments.
“Die!”
Juma, the last one standing, leapt forward with his sword. His skill far surpassed that of his men, but his fate that day was the same.
As the masked man brushed past him.
Slice!
Splatter!
Juma collapsed, blood spurting from his neck.
The masked man who had slaughtered them all glanced at Ho Yeonshin.
Ho Yeonshin was shocked by the man’s skill, then shocked again when he realized the man was very young. His mask could not hide that.
The masked man spoke softly.
“Go.”
“Why are you saving me?”
The masked man did not explain.
“Are you planning to let your sister die too?”
Ho Yeonshin froze. The fact that he knew Ho Yeonseo was his sister meant this was no coincidence.
‘He knows me.’
He was desperate to know the man’s identity, but as the masked man said, more pursuers would come soon.
Ho Yeonshin lifted his sister again. As he turned, something caught his eye.
“Asura!”
He recognized the dagger in the masked man’s hand.
And he recognized more. Ho Yeongang had taught him much in preparation for facing the Asura Demon Sect. Information about Jianghu, treasures, spiritual medicines, poisons and antidotes.
“I heard of someone building power to seize the Black Way Alliance. That someone is you!”
The masked man was Lee Jaseung.
“Why did you spare us?”
Lee Jaseung answered.
“Because while the Demonic Cult focuses on hunting you, I intend to unify the Black Way Alliance.”
Ho Yeonshin sensed the truth in those words. The man was confident and was showing him the future he intended to build. He wanted Ho Yeonshin to survive and draw the Demonic Cult’s attention.
Staring into the abyssal eyes of Lee Jaseung, Ho Yeonshin spoke.
“When we meet again, you will be the Lord of the Black Way Alliance huh.”
“Probably.”
He did not say thank you.
Ho Yeonshin carried his sister and left. His memories ended there.
Now the past continued with Lee Jaseung’s own recollection.
Just as Lee Jaseung turned, he felt someone watching him.
He looked to the side and spoke softly.
“Come out.”
Then, someone slowly stepped out from behind a tree.