Swordless Demonic Path

"Should we have left him alone? If it were me, I wouldn't be able to go because I'd be anxious."

"What?"

"We could take over the inn, couldn't we?"

At Jo-rim's words, Bi-sun poured tea with a dismissive expression.

"Don't even think about it."

The carriage of Jin Sa-wol, which was leaving the main gate of the inn, was visible beyond the window.

Bi-sun drank tea and sat with his legs crossed. He looked comfortable.

"You're saying that because you haven't seen Sa-wol's martial arts."

"I've seen them."

Jo-rim recalled Jin Sa-wol's swift movements when he killed Namgung Yu. It was a movement she could never imitate.

Bi-sun waved his hand and said.

"It's not at the level you're thinking of. I saw everything when Jin Sa-wol unfolded his martial arts on Muyeondo."

"How was it?"

"Jin Sa-wol killed Jo Han-yu. Of course, it's a secret that only we should know. But that fearsome Yeon Jeok-sim felt fear towards Sa-wol and ran away."

Jo-rim's eyes widened with a hardened expression.

Although she had heard about Yeon Jeok-sim's departure, it was the first time she had heard that he had been defeated by Jin Sa-wol.

The events of Muyeondo were like a secret, and no one opened their mouths. Bi-sun had also never spoken in detail about what had happened there.

As Jin Sa-wol left, Bi-sun and Jo-rim felt much lighter.

"How amazing. I had a rough idea, but how on earth can he become so strong? Did he get some kind of fortuitous encounter when he entered Muyeondo?"

"I don't know the details either. I've watched him for five years, but this is the first time he's changed so much. I've thought a few times that he's not a person but a monster, but now it seems he's even surpassed being a monster."

"What do you become when you surpass a monster?"

"Another monster. A monster that eats monsters."

Even so, Jo-rim had instinctively sensed danger from the strange change in Jin Sa-wol's atmosphere.

Recalling that time, she shook her head and changed the subject.

"Since the owner of the inn has changed, won't the unorthodox bastards make a fuss to take over the inn?"

"It's possible if they're greedy bastards who don't care about the Martial Alliance. But how many such bastards are there in the martial world?"

At Bi-sun's words, Jo-rim smiled. If you don't have power, there's no meaning in owning such a large-scale inn.

The martial world, no, the world was all about power.

Jo-rim smiled, approached Bi-sun, and sat on his lap.

"But do you know about our relationship?"

Jo-rim's hand wrapped around Bi-sun's neck. Bi-sun hugged Jo-rim.

"I didn't say it, but don't you think he knows?"

At Bi-sun's words, Jo-rim kissed his cheek.

* * *

A carriage was parked next to a clear stream.

"Hmm..."

Jin Sa-wol, who was leaning against the railing, crossed his arms and let out a short sigh.

"Are you worried about something?"

Jo Geom-ok, who was sitting next to him, asked. A dot was drawn on her left eye, which was conspicuous.

Although he couldn't understand why she had drawn a dot, he didn't ask. There was no reason to stop her if she liked it.

"What's with the dot?"

"Because we're a couple."

At the words 'a couple', Jin Sa-wol sighed.

After drawing the dot, Jo Geom-ok had been living as a couple with Jin Sa-wol. Since she liked those days, she was drawing the dot.

As if she wanted to let the outside world know that they were a couple.

Jin Sa-wol shook his head as if to tell her to do as she pleased. Jo Geom-ok was not someone who would listen even if he stopped her.

Jo Geom-ok asked with a face full of worry, touching the dot.

"Why? Is it because of me? Is this dot the problem?"

"That's not it, it's because of the inn."

"The inn?"

"I'm wondering if it's okay to leave just the two of them."

"Are you worried they'll betray you?"

"That's not it. I announced that we're under the protection of the Martial Alliance, but won't there be those who covet the inn? The Hao Mun is on my mind."

At the words 'Hao Mun', Jo Geom-ok nodded.

"Smack! Smack!"

The two, who turned their heads at the sound of smacking lips, looked at Woo Jeong-bong, who was sleeping inside the carriage.

Woo Jeong-bong had a carefree face without any worries.

Jin Sa-wol sat in the driver's seat, pressed down his bamboo hat, and moved the carriage. As the carriage slowly began to move, Jo Geom-ok leaned against Jin Sa-wol's side and sat down.

"The Hao Mun agreed to take fifty percent of the gambling house's income, but it's on your mind?"

"Because they're greedy."

Hwahwaru and the Hao Mun were one. But just because they were one, it couldn't be seen that they did everything together.

If Hwahwaru was focused on the Demonic Cult, the Hao Mun was looking at the world except for the Demonic Cult.

Jin Sa-wol remembered the greed he had read in the Hao Mun master's expression.

"Which sect can threaten the inn without being mindful of the Martial Alliance's eyes around the inn?"

"There are, two places. One is the Maninbang of Zhejiang, and the other is the Cheondomun of Anhui Province. Both are sects that walk the middle path."

They were sects that Jin Sa-wol also knew.

Jo Geom-ok leaned against Jin Sa-wol's shoulder, closed her eyes, and asked.

"Yeon Jeok-sim is a big shot in the Demonic Cult, so why is he going to a mountain village? To catch him, don't we have to go to the main headquarters of the Demonic Cult?"

"The Demonic Cult has fifteen huge branches, which are called the fifteen demonic lords. Among them, he is in the Jiangxi Demonic Lord's residence. It seems he's resting because of his injuries."

"Do you think he knows you're looking for him?"

"I think he doesn't, but I can't be sure."

Although Jin Sa-wol trusted the information from Hwahwaru, he did not completely trust Hwahwaru.

Didn't he tell him the whereabouts of Yeon Jeok-sim, and didn't he not tell Yeon Jeok-sim that he was looking for him?

It might not be, but he might have told him.

Jin Sa-wol thought that Hwahwaru would have told him.

If so, the enemy would be waiting for him. He had to think that way to be prepared for the worst.

That was the reason he had brought Jo Geom-ok and Woo Jeong-bong.

* * *

The Jin Sa-wol party, which had left the grand inn and moved east for about three days, arrived at Yibonghyeon, which was located at the entrance of the Guyeon Mountain Range.

The three, who had entered an inn, got a room and rested. Although it was a place with many outsiders coming and going, martial artists were extremely rare, so the three attracted the attention of the people.

Soon, the story that martial artists had entered the village spread.

Jin Sa-wol, who was sitting in the room, said to Jo Geom-ok and Woo Jeong-bong.

"We move at night."

"At night? Me too?"

"Brother Woo, you wait. If you're bored, it's okay to go to a brothel and play."

"Really?"

At the words that he didn't have to go on a night journey, Woo Jeong-bong smiled as if satisfied.

Jin Sa-wol took out three silver coins, gave them to Woo Jeong-bong, and then spoke again.

"This should be enough to spend a few days."

There was no reason to refuse the money he was giving. Woo Jeong-bong took the silver coins and then drank tea.

Jo Geom-ok said.

"Don't get caught up in lust and fall into qi deviation. The Demonic Cult has many strange evil arts. I heard that among them, there is also a demonic art that takes away all the essence of men who are caught up in lust. Although they don't appear in big cities, it is said that Yin Demons sometimes appear in small and medium-sized cities."

"I also know about the Yin Demon. Don't worry, even if I drink, I won't fall for lust. What do you take me for?"

"Alright."

As Woo Jeong-bong's expression became fierce, Jo Geom-ok answered and drank tea.

The Yin Demon they were talking about were the masters of the Yin Immortal Palace.

The Yin Immortal Palace, one of the mysterious sects of the martial world, was known to occasionally appear in the martial world and take away men.

If there was a Yin Demon, there was also a Lust Demon.

The men who absorbed the essence of women and killed them were the Lust Demons. They occasionally appeared in the martial world and kidnapped women.

Jin Sa-wol knew that most of the Lust Demons were Demonic Cult members. The place they belonged to was the Ilyangjeon, one of the seven halls of the Demonic Cult.

He had heard that the Yin Immortal Palace had also belonged to the Demonic Cult in the past. But he knew that they had separated because their relationship with the Ilyangjeon was not good.

"You two are going on a night journey, but is it okay for me to just play alone?"

"It's okay."

"Don't worry."

Jin Sa-wol and Jo Geom-ok smiled as if to tell him not to worry.

That smile felt strangely cold to Woo Jeong-bong.

When night came, Jin Sa-wol and Jo Geom-ok left the inn and went up Guyeon Mountain. The two, who flew like birds, unfolding their lightness skill, disappeared into the mountain in an instant.

Woo Jeong-bong, who was watching the two flying through the window, smiled at the weight of the thick silver coins he felt in his sleeve.

"Shall we go?"

Woo Jeong-bong went outside, recalling the brothel he had seen when he had entered the village.

* * *

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Jin Sa-wol and Jo Geom-ok, who had climbed a mountain peak, stopped for a moment and looked around at Yibonghyeon, which was sparkling with lights.

He saw low mountains winding and surrounding Yibonghyeon.

"Is it okay to leave Brother Woo alone?"

"It's okay."

Jin Sa-wol answered shortly and then moved again. Jo Geom-ok followed behind.

* * *

The Jiangxi Demonic Lord, Chae Gong-gong, was also the master of a manor called Nokokjang.

Since it was a manor in a deep mountain, most of the people who came and went to the manor were residents living in nearby villages.

They worked at the manor or farmed on the land owned by the manor.

That day, Chae Gong-gong was having lunch with merchants who came and went to the city. They were merchants who bought medicinal herbs and tea leaves.

"Martial artists have entered Yibong Village, and it is said that they are staying at a brothel."

"Really? Are they unorthodox bastards?"

"It doesn't seem like they're unorthodox. It seems they're just playing quietly and then leaving."

At the merchant's words, Chae Gong-gong did not pay much attention.

Yibong Village was a place that took several days to get to from here, and it was a place that martial artists often passed through.

"How is the grand inn?"

"It seems many martial artists are flocking there because they are recruiting warriors these days."

"Is there no rumor about the innkeeper?"

"There's almost nothing known. There's a rumor that the Martial Alliance is backing him, and there's also a story that he's a relative of the Namgung family. It seems they don't talk about the innkeeper even at the inn. They've been thoroughly ordered to keep their mouths shut."

At the merchant's words, Chae Gong-gong nodded and finished his meal.

Chae Gong-gong parted with the merchants and then headed for the back garden. He, who had entered a place where no one from the manor could enter, headed for the great pavilion where Yeon Jeok-sim was staying.

Yeon Jeok-sim was appreciating the scenery visible outside the window, drinking tea with a better complexion than before.

His troubled mind became much lighter as he was in a place with a good view.

"It's Chae Gong-gong."

"Come in."

At Yeon Jeok-sim's answer, Chae Gong-gong carefully came in and bowed his waist.

"The Gangnam Grand Inn is recruiting warriors to reside at the inn. There is news that the Martial Alliance is backing them, but there is no other special story."

At Chae Gong-gong's report, Yeon Jeok-sim touched his collarbone and frowned.

Although this place was secluded and good, the problem was that the contact with the Demonic Cult was slow.

Yeon Jeok-sim waved his hand.

Chae Gong-gong carefully went outside.

* * *

Two people were standing on a mountain full of green plants. It was Jin Sa-wol and Jo Geom-ok, who had come out of Yibong Village.

They were looking at Nokokjang.

Jo Geom-ok said with a serious gaze, with her arms crossed.

"There are no martial artists, and only ordinary-looking people stand out."

As she said, the people living in Nokokjang were people who did not know martial arts.

"I don't think so."

Although she had stated her opinion, Jin Sa-wol did not open his mouth.

He had crossed numerous mountains and looked at many villages for two days, and the most conspicuous place was Nokokjang.

"We have to check."

Jin Sa-wol looked at Nokokjang.

Nokokjang was quite large in scale, to the point where it was hard to see in a remote mountain village. He had no intention of just passing by just because there were only commoners.

The Demonic Cult had used ordinary people who did not know martial arts as a shield to block the attacks of the orthodox martial artists since a long time ago.

Since the orthodox martial artists did not kill commoners who did not know martial arts, they had used that point.

"Let's go in."

Whoosh!

Jin Sa-wol flew his body into the air and headed for Nokokjang.

(End of Chapter)