Chapter 17
"... Now even the Mocheon Sect has shown up where the Kaiyang Society is."
Jongcheon, a middle-aged warrior of the Fierce Sky Faction, muttered in a low, sunken voice, his brow furrowing.
Beads of sweat stood out on his wrinkled forehead.
"... Mocheon Sect?"
"You've probably heard of it. It's a rising Righteous Faction that dominates the capital of Guizhou Province. That young man with the thick eyebrows is Murong Jin, the fourth son of the Mocheon Sect's sect leader."
This was a name Jaseong could never forget.
According to Hyang-I, the Mocheon Sect was a martial sect founded by a branch of the Murong family. And the Murong family was one of Jaseong's sworn enemies.
—If they'd fought while worrying about even the lowliest commoners of this pleasure quarter, there's no way they would've exterminated the Demonic Cult so easily. It was nothing but a small sacrifice for the greater good. Do not let it trouble you.
A master of the Murong family had killed Jaseong's eldest brother and sister-in-law, and had coldly dismissed it as "a small sacrifice for the greater good."
At this moment, Jaseong couldn't help but recall that man's face and voice—along with the memories of that day when the streets of the Red Light District were stained with blood, all as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.
Because of that, cold killing intent welled up in Jaseong's eyes.
The Fierce Sky Faction warriors, oblivious to Jaseong's inner turmoil, alternated their gazes between the Kaiyang Society and Mocheon Sect members, murmuring anxiously.
"... The Righteous Faction that rules Guizhou Province's capital and the notorious Dark Path, drinking in the same room."
"If things go south, this Cheongha Pavilion could end up smashed to pieces tonight."
"If Mocheon Sect and Kaiyang Society break out in a bloodbath, what should we do, Captain?"
The Righteous Faction and the Dark Path were like cats and dogs, always ready to bite and scratch each other.
A fight breaking out was inevitable.
And if a bloodbath happened at Cheongha Pavilion, which was under Fierce Sky Faction's protection?
Naturally, Fierce Sky Faction would have to intervene to stop it.
The problem, however, was that it was tricky to take sides in such a fight.
The Kaiyang Society was Fierce Sky Faction's arch-enemy, and the Mocheon Sect, being of the Righteous Faction, was also hostile to them by default.
"Hey, youngest! This big brother will make you a man tonight!"
As the drinks began flowing, one of the Kaiyang Society's Dark Path members shouted rowdily.
"Errand boy! Bring us the prettiest courtesan here! Isn't there one named Nabin?"
The young errand boy ran over and bowed deeply at the waist.
"Uh... well... Nabin is currently entertaining other guests. There are plenty of other courtesans, though, so please take a look—"
"Quiet. I came all the way from Daebang just to see Nabin. Bring her, and spare me the chatter."
"But Nabin is—"
SLAP!
Without warning, the Kaiyang Society thug slapped the errand boy across the face.
Blood spurted from the boy's mouth at the same time.
"How dare a lowly errand boy talk back?"
"Kehek!"
SLAP!
"What a mess this establishment is! Who the hell manages this shit?!"
"Kkheuk! I—I'm sorry!"
At the Kaiyang Society's rampage, the Fierce Sky Faction warriors on the upper floor instinctively gripped the hilts of their swords.
It was obvious the thugs were stirring trouble on purpose.
But the Fierce Sky Faction warriors couldn't intervene so easily.
As mentioned before, among the Kaiyang Society's group was the powerhouse Heartless Demon Gu Nuong, a hulking man wielding a mace.
'... To take on Heartless Demon with our present strength would be suicide. Besides, Mocheon Sect is right next to Kaiyang Society. Since they're the leading Righteous Faction in Guizhou Province, they'll likely try to subdue Kaiyang Society first. If those two start to fight, it would be best to seize the opportunity then...'
Jongcheon, the middle-aged warrior of Fierce Sky Faction, was calculating in his head when—
"Hey. Let's eat in peace, will you."
Murong Jin of Mocheon Sect threw a casual glance at the Kaiyang Society thugs and made a curt remark.
As expected, the clash between Mocheon Sect and Kaiyang Society had begun. At that moment—
Creak—Creak—
Heartless Demon Gu Nuong slung his iron mace over his shoulder and strode toward Murong Jin.
His figure was massive, and with every step he took, the wooden floor creaked menacingly.
Until this point, everyone in the pavilion tensed, fearing a bloody conflict would erupt.
Yet in the next moment, their expectations were betrayed.
"Master Murong, it's been a while."
Heartless Demon Gu Nuong greeted him warmly. Murong Jin, too, returned the greeting.
"It's been a while, Heartless Demon Gu Nuong."
"If my subordinates made a fuss and spoiled the mood, I apologize."
"Well, it's fine. It happens when men drink."
"By the way, did the item we sent previously suit your needs?"
"It was quite useful. I'll count on you again next time."
Upon hearing this exchange, the Fierce Sky Faction warriors could hardly believe their ears.
Instead of acting like mortal enemies, the Righteous Faction and the Dark Path chatted as if they were old friends.
"But Heartless Demon, your men were just talking about the courtesan named Nabin. Is she really such a sight?"
"Are you interested as well?"
"I heard she's the one beauty of Gaeyang, so I thought I'd like to see her at least once."
Murong Jin said, raising his glass. Hearing this, Heartless Demon Gu Nuong approached the errand boy, whose cheeks were swollen blue.
"Keh?!"
Heartless Demon Gu Nuong placed his heavy mace atop the errand boy's head, then spoke chillingly.
"Go fetch the courtesan called Nabin. Or this errand boy's head might burst and splatter soon."
"Kkuh! Kkuuh! P—please, great hero...!"
As the errand boy begged desperately, Heartless Demon's subordinates jeered and clinked their cups, their eyes filled with scorn and cruelty.
Murong Jin simply sipped his wine with a careless gaze, his expression unconcerned about whatever became of the lowly errand boy.
"Those sons of bitches deserve to die...!"
Watching this scene, the Fierce Sky Faction warriors gripped their sword hilts even tighter.
"Twin Tigers of Poisoned Eyes."
"Yes, Captain."
"You two slip out the back and head to Fierce Sky Faction. Bring the Mantis Maiden and whoever else is left."
"... But Captain, can Mantis Maiden handle Heartless Demon Gu Nuong?"
At the Twin Tigers' question, jongcheon was filled with helplessness.
Rightly so—unless the Fierce Sky Faction's leader himself showed up, Heartless Demon Gu Nuong was a monster no one could handle.
While the Fierce Sky Faction warriors were paralyzed with indecision, the courtesan Nabin trembled.
Her name kept pouring from the mouths of these thugs.
Cheongha Pavilion's Pavilion Mistress also wore a frozen expression, darting her eyes about with no idea what to do.
But then, something unexpected happened.
CRASH!!
Suddenly, Jaseong hurled a wine bottle and struck Murong Jin of Mocheon Sect in the head.
"Gaaah!"
Blood streamed down Murong Jin's head as he screamed—Jaseong had poured all his inner strength into the throw, hurling the bottle from the second to the first floor.
"What the—?! Who did that?!"
In the face of this sudden surprise attack, Murong-jin's followers and the Kaiyang Society thugs drew their weapons and shouted threateningly.
By contrast, the courtesans and Fierce Sky Faction warriors stared wide-eyed.
"This crazy...!"
"What are you doing, master of the Hao Sect...!"
Even after causing such an uproar, Jaseong was perfectly calm. In fact—
Tap... Tap...
He fearlessly descended to the first floor, approaching two disciples of Mocheon Sect, five Kaiyang Society thugs, and the hulking mace-wielder, Heartless Demon Gu Nuong.
At that moment, old memories resurfaced in Jaseong's mind.
Tap... Tap...
His late eldest brother used to work in the pleasure houses of the Red Light District, just like that errand boy, to feed the six- or seven-year-old Jaseong.
Tap... Tap...
He, too, had suffered misfortunes at the hands of drunken patrons, just like the errand boy now—beaten like a dog, drenched in wine, crawling between drunkards' legs, and more.
Tap... Tap...
The six- or seven-year-old Jaseong could only watch blankly. He'd had no strength to do otherwise.
'But... things are different now.'
"Who did this?! Who's the reckless bastard—!"
"It's me, you sons of bitches."
Jaseong replied. At this, both Murong Jin and the Kaiyang Society thugs were stunned.
They had never imagined that a boy who appeared only sixteen or so would dare provoke them.
"... Did a brat like you throw a wine bottle at a Mocheon Sect disciple? How dare you?"
"My seniors used to say—"
"What...?"
"In the martial world, if you draw your sword once, you'd better be sure to stain it with blood, or you'll be plagued with regrets."
Shiiing—
Jaseong drew his sword, then calmly took the opening stance of the Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique, his face expressionless as always.
"Today one or two of your limbs are bound to be hacked off. Some of you might die, too."
* * *
Naturally, upon hearing Jaseong's words, the Kaiyang Society thugs responded with derisive laughter.
"Ha, take our limbs? Does this brat have a death wish?"
Among them, a burly man wielding a giant broadsword approached Jaseong.
At that moment, the spectators around them cast anxious glances at Jaseong. Though not as fearsome as Heartless Demon Gu Nuong, the man with the giant broadsword was nonetheless a renowned expert among the Dark Path.
"That's the Mad Blade Demon, Cheon Kang...!"
"They say he wields that massive blade like a pair of chopsticks!"
But while everyone's gazes brimmed with concern—
Swoosh!
Jaseong's figure shot toward the broadsword-wielding man like a bolt of lightning.
He had unleashed the third martial art of the Heaven Evading Way, the Heaven Evading Phantom Step.
True to Hong Gukyul's words of "the lightest step," the speed of the Heaven Evading Phantom Step was astonishing.
His figure left a blurred afterimage as he instantly arrived before the broadsword man.
"?!"
Naturally, the man was caught off guard. He never imagined the young boy could move with such speed.
The man hastily raised his broadsword to defend himself. But—
'First move of the Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique—Heaven Evading Sweeping All Armies.'
SPLASH!!
Unfortunately, the broadsword man's defense was futile.
With his Samadhi Eyes activated, Jaseong expertly found an opening and severed both of the man's wrists in a single slash.
"Gyaaaaah!!!"
Losing both hands at once, the broadsword man collapsed to the floor, screaming in agony.
"He took Cheon Kang big brother down in one blow?"
"W—Who is that guy?!"
At this shocking display, screams of disbelief escaped the mouths of the Kaiyang Society thugs.
Even the Fierce Sky Faction warriors, courtesans, and errand boy were stunned into silence.
'W-What is this...?'
When Jaseong hurled the bottle at Murong Jin and the Kaiyang Society, they thought he was insane.
Yet, he'd felled his enemy with a single blow instead.
And of course, the most dumbfounded of all was Murong Jin himself, who'd been struck by the bottle.
Blood still streamed from his forehead, but greater shock was written across his face.
'An expert...! That speed is easily on par with my second eldest brother...!'
Murong Jin swallowed hard as he looked at the bloodied floor and the broadsword man writhing in agony.
Then—
"Step aside."
A deep, weighty voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
As Jaseong, holding his blood-dripping sword, looked up, the giant who wielded the iron mace was rising from his seat.
Groooan—
Number three in the Kaiyang Society's hierarchy, counted among the very few in the back alleys of the Dark Path who had no equals—Heartless Demon Gu Nuong.
He had once shattered an entire minor sect on his own during his days as a wandering rogue, using his fearsome iron mace skills: the Heaven-Crashing Mace Technique.