Chapter 109
Jaseong spoke in a chillingly cold voice.
"Choose one. Either lay down your weapon while you're still alive, or die and let go of it that way."
"...!"
Jaseong's audacious words.
However, there was not a single unorthodox sect expert who objected.
It was because everyone was paralyzed by the overwhelming presence Jaseong exuded.
However, Jaseong's astonishing statement didn't end there.
"If you choose the former, I'll spare these successors as well."
With those words, Gu Janghu dragged out the unconscious Heuk Muguk, Kang Ryong, and Dokgo Yeon.
Upon seeing this, the experts of the unorthodox sects once again had their eyes tremble.
'It's true. So Elder brother Heuk Muguk was actually defeated...!'
'I'd heard the Tianxia Association Leader was quite an expert, but still—this is absurd. To subdue the successors being mentioned as the next overlords of the unorthodox sects without so much as letting them get injured...!'
'... This is terrible. To have Miss Dokgo Yeon, the dearly cherished of the head, captured... But why didn't she use Ten-Thousand Death Soul Powder?'
In particular, the martial artists from the Twin Dragon Clan and the Poison Valley fell into despair.
If the heir of their clan died so meaninglessly in a place like this, who would take responsibility when they returned?
Just then, as the experts of the three sects were hesitating on what to do—
"Oh, I almost forgot to mention."
"...?"
"These choices have a time limit."
Jaseong said abruptly.
After that,
Gooooo—
Suddenly, a tremendous surge of energy swept through the entire canyon.
The source of this energy was none other than Jaseong.
He slowly spread his fingers, opening the Ninth Gate and Heaven's Gate—the limits of the Celestial Gate Opening Art.
KWAANG!!
Centered on Jaseong, the internal power of the Heaven Evading Way exploded outward.
Along with it came a massive pressure, as if a whole mountain range were being flipped over.
Everyone present—including the unorthodox sect experts—felt as though they could not breathe.
'What overwhelming energy...! I can hardly breathe!'
'To think the Association Leader of Tianxia Association was a master of this level...!'
'... Even if all of us went at him, we couldn't withstand that. Is that why the elder was defeated so brutally...?'
Completely overwhelmed by Jaseong's energy, the experts from the three unorthodox sects eventually dropped their weapons one by one.
They had no other choice.
Even the guardians of the North Sea were formidable, and with a master like Jaseong joining them, there was no hope for victory.
Moreover, all their successors were already subdued and tied up.
[Bind them.]
At Jaseong's telepathic message, Han Soweol nodded and took out chains.
Together with the guardians of the North Sea, she blocked the energy channels of the thirty masters in turn and bound them.
'Phew... Everything went according to plan.'
Only then did Jaseong exhale a long breath and close the open Heavenly Gate.
He had actually been half in doubt himself.
Could he really subdue the top experts of the Four Great Clans and Seven Sects without spilling a drop of blood?
But it ended more easily than expected.
If they had chosen to fight desperately to the death, it would have been far more exhausting.
[You truly have the courage of a great hero. To subdue so many experts with just words....]
Lee Rin, wearing her white horned mask, approached, repeatedly expressing her admiration.
[But where will we keep this many experts? I don't think there's a suitable place for imprisonment....]
[We'll use Thousand Martial Pavilion.]
[That black market from earlier?]
[Yes. There's a usable prison there.]
* * *
Shortly after, Jaseong led the bound experts back to the black market.
When he entered the market—
"W-what's going on?! All those unorthodox bastards who caused the commotion earlier are tied up!"
"Could the Association Leader have defeated them all?!"
"The Tianxia Association may be the Central Plains' foremost Dark Path force, but is it really possible to defeat three of the Four Great Clans and Seven Sects at once...?!"
The black market merchants stared with wide eyes.
They, who had offered immense bribes to the Tianxia Association just to sell their stolen goods in the market, had thought the Association was finished.
But reality was the opposite.
It wasn't the Tianxia Association that was defeated, but the very successors of the unorthodox sects.
The Sword Demon successor of the Black Star Sect, the Mad Blood Young Master of the Twin Dragon Clan, even the Poison Maiden of the Poison Valley, all dragged in bound and powerless.
Such a scene was rare in all of martial world history.
[The merchants are gobsmacked. Well, if this were the original Tianxia Association, they never would have imagined this.]
Lee Rin chuckled and whispered telepathically.
Gu Janghu nodded in agreement.
[It's hardly ever happened in the history of the martial world for a single faction to subdue three major sects with almost no loss. It would have been impossible if not for our branch leader.]
Hearing his companions' praise, Jaseong walked over to an empty warehouse in the corner of the black market.
Just as he had heard from the Tianxia Association officials, the place had a prison once used by the Association.
"Get inside."
Jaseong locked up the thirty unorthodox sect experts there.
He blocked their acupuncture points so they couldn't talk among themselves, and instructed the North Sea guardians to keep watch in turns.
[branch leader. Now that we've dealt with the three unorthodox sects, let's look for the Evil Path Association Leader's Seal.]
Gu Janghu spoke telepathically.
As he had said, Jaseong and his party didn't come here just to block the unorthodox sects.
It was to find the Evil Path Association Leader's Seal, one of the Eight Great Treasures, kept in this black market.
And according to the Tianxia Association Leader Gun Hanmaek, the Evil Path Leader's Seal was hidden deep underground in the black market.
As they headed there, Jaseong's eyes were caught by an unexpected item.
'So this really is the biggest black market in the Central Plains, there are all sorts of rare herbs here.'
Jaseong stopped in his tracks.
A display case was overflowing with medicinal herbs.
It contained Dang-Gui, Cheongun Leaf, Baekhwa Bell, Thousand-Jin Vine, and even Fire Dragon Grass infused with the essence of volcanic mountains—all ingredients for Heaven Evading Alchemy.
'An unexpected bounty. I'll be able to replenish the Azure Spirit Pills I used up during the Guangxi Province dark path subjugation.'
Jaseong did a quick calculation in his head.
He could make at least six Azure Spirit Pills, which restore stamina and heal wounds sustained in battle,
and two doses of Meridian-Clearing Powder, which unblocks energy channels and promotes ki-blood circulation.
But he was missing the Celestial Cloud Pill.
He didn't have enough ingredients for this, which was said to exceed the Minor Rejuvenation Pill of the Shaolin in boosting internal energy.
There was no Silver Spirit Flower, imbued with the essence of Qinghai.
[Gu Janghu. Gather anything useful.]
[Understood, branch leader.]
Feeling deeply satisfied with the unexpected bounty, a faint smile crossed Jaseong's face.
But, regrettably, that smile didn't last long.
"Huk... Please, let us go... I'll do anything if you spare my life...."
"I'm so hungry... Haven't had a proper meal in three days... Please, just a little porridge...."
"My child is here somewhere... Please, just let me look for him, just once...."
The sound of someone's wet voice, of sobs and sniffles.
When Jaseong turned his head, he saw a rusty iron gate at the end of the underground corridor.
Inside were women in shabby clothing, huddled together.
Like captive beasts.
"Oh, Association Leader! What an honor that you would visit here in person!"
At that moment, a bald merchant came running over, bowing deeply at the waist.
"Is there a woman here you fancy?"
"...."
"These girls were supposed to be the highest class courtesans from Anhui Province. It took quite a bit of effort to bring them here."
"... How did you turn women destined to be courtesans into slaves?"
"Haha. That's a trade secret of course... Well, we saddled their families with impossible debts. Or we kidnap them. Hehe. You seem interested, so if you like, I'll give you two girls for free. Hehe."
The bald merchant wrung his hands and gave a foolish grin.
At those words, Jaseong stared at the women inside the iron cage.
Then he suddenly spoke to them.
"All of you, move back."
"...?"
The women in the cage looked puzzled at Jaseong's words.
But, without protest, they moved away from the iron bars.
The next instant—
Seokeok! Seokeok! Seokeok!! Kwakwakang!!!!
The iron gate shattered to pieces.
Jaseong had unsheathed his sword and cut it down with Sword Aura.
"W-what the... Association Leader! What are you...?"
The bald merchant stared in shock.
But Jaseong's actions didn't stop there.
BBAAM!!!
With a flash of his hand like lightning, Jaseong struck the bald merchant.
"Kugh!!"
The bald merchant immediately had his ribs broken and spat blood.
Jaseong had hit him lightly, but the man flew into the wall and collapsed.
"From now on, human trafficking is forbidden. If I see anyone buying or selling people again, I'll crush their limbs."
"Y-yes sir!"
The black market merchants trembled as they prostrated themselves.
The slaves, on the other hand, stared at Jaseong, dumbfounded.
"A-are you really letting us go?"
"Thank you...! Thank you so much!! Hkh!"
Dozens of women bowed again and again to Jaseong, thanking him with tears.
There were girls among them, and some young women only just of age.
As they watched the look in the women's eyes change from despair to hope, Lee Rin smiled in satisfaction from the side.
'He may look blunt on the outside, but the great hero really is kind at heart.'
In fact, this wasn't the first time Jaseong had done something like this.
He'd performed similar rescues when subjugating the dark forces of Guangxi Province.
Lee Rin found that side of Jaseong very appealing.
He was far more like a real chivalrous hero than the so-called Orthodox Faction who only talk of justice and loyalty.
"Thank you, Association Leader! Hkh!"
As people bowed with tears in their eyes, even Jaseong's usually stony gaze softened for a moment.
'... Big brother. Sister-in-law. Are you watching? The kid who used to just get beaten up in the Red Light District has grown up like this.'
Once wandering the gutters under the Red Light District, now an expert who saves countless lives—Jaseong.
What would his big brother and sister-in-law have thought if they could see him now?
Just then—
〈Student, the seventh Heaven's Mandate has been partially achieved.〉
Suddenly, a majestic voice rang out in Jaseong's head.
Next, flitter—flitter— a translucent slip of paper fluttered before Jaseong's eyes.
[Seventh Heaven's Mandate 'Salvation (救濟)' ― Achieved one portion]
The seventh Heaven's Mandate, "Salvation," which he had received before setting out to seize control of the Tianxia Association—
It was now one part complete, as he had just rescued the slaves of the black market.
For Jaseong, this was an even more meaningful gain than acquiring ingredients for Heaven Evading Alchemy.
However, he was puzzled.
'Partial achievement...? I don't see anyone else in the Tianxia Association's territory in need of salvation... What could be left for the remaining portions?'
As Jaseong walked on with a perplexed face, he headed for the room where the Evil Path Leader's Seal was kept.
The staircase at the eastern end of the black market, as told by Association Leader Gun Hanmaek.
Descend there, and a small room with an iron door appeared.
"This must be the secret vault where Gun Hanmaek collected his treasures. But it's tightly locked. What should we do?"
"Cut it open."
"Huh?"
Seokeok! Seokeok! KWAANG!!!
Jaseong slashed the iron door apart with overwhelming power.
The steel door split in two and crashed to the floor.
"... Great hero, isn't this a bit much?"
"One of the Eight Great Treasures of the martial world is in here. There's no point in dawdling."
"I'll light the torch. If I let you do it, you might burn the whole place down...."
Lee Rin struck sparks by rubbing her sword against the sheath, and lit the lamp she'd brought.
The moment the previously pitch-black vault was illuminated—
Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
"Great hero... What on earth is this...?"