Kang Sogun

46

A secluded inn on the outskirts of Hefei City.

Jo Unryong's complexion, sitting in the small garden of the separate annex, was not very good.

As the weather warmed, the piled-up snow was melting quickly.

Jo Unryong, who was watching the melted snow drip from the roof tiles, sighed without realizing it.

He could not help but admit to himself that the spirit he had held when he had set out into the martial world had been somewhat dampened these past few days.

Jo Unryong had been secretly proud that, except for his master, even his two older martial brothers were below him.

In fact, after coming out into the martial world and seeking out those called masters to fight, he had been able to make them all kneel before his Fire Dragon Saber.

His fighting spirit had grown day by day, and at some point, he had even had the arrogant thought that perhaps only the ten great masters were his opponents.

And yet, he had even lamented that he could not meet the ten great masters because they did not come out into the world like dragons in the clouds.

Jo Unryong, who had been wandering in search of an opponent, had heard the news of the Three Blade Sect's annihilation while on his way to find Yeon Seongyeol of the Three Blade Sect. At the same time, he had heard the rumor about the master who had annihilated the Heavenly Martial Faction's military brigade in Xinyang and had chased Kang Sogun, just in case.

Jo Unryong had watched from a distance as Kang Sogun had disposed of the Black and White Twin Demons. And he had followed him, certain that he was a master worthy of a match.

But a few days ago, after seeing Kang Sogun cut off the arms of the Ten Guests of Heavenly Martial in a single breath, he had learned that there was a sky beyond the sky.

'I was arrogant!'

Jo Unryong felt keenly that he had been a frog in a well.

On that day, while disposing of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, he had in fact also suffered an internal injury.

While he had suffered an internal injury while dealing with the lowest-ranking of the Ten Guests of Heavenly Martial, Kang Sogun had cut off the arms of three people stronger than him with an injured body.

He could not help but admit it.

Moreover, what was that violent blood energy? Just by looking at it, it was a blood energy that constricted the body and mind.

Jo Unryong gritted his teeth.

'But I can't give up.'

He was pursuing the ultimate realm that could be achieved through martial arts.

Not everyone who held a sword walked the path of a martial artist.

Rather, it was a world where most people, after learning a certain amount of martial arts, ran wild to obtain power and wealth with their meager skills as capital.

Martial artists who pursued the pinnacle of martial arts were extremely rare. Jo Unryong wanted to walk that path.

But Jo Unryong was not foolish either. He had no intention of fighting and dying a dog's death when the opponent was far superior to him.

Shouldn't he be alive to see the pinnacle of martial arts, or not?

Jo Unryong glared at the residence of Kang Sogun, who had given him fear for the first time in his life.

Kang Sogun had not come out for several days since coming to this inn that night.

Kang Sogun was using his blood energy to treat his internal injuries. Since half of the Ten Guests of Heavenly Martial had died, the Heavenly Martial Faction would send even stronger masters.

Kang Sogun had no choice but to awaken and accept his blood energy.

If the blood energy ran wild and surpassed his will, he would lose his reason and become a demon craving blood.

That was why it was a blood energy that he had barely managed to put to sleep by operating the Golden Elixir True Art for a hundred days after coming out of the Martial Tomb.

But now that it had awakened again, it was difficult to control it right away. Even when he tried to suppress it with the Golden Elixir True Art, it struggled and resisted.

If that was the case, he had thought it would be better to use the blood energy to heal the internal injuries that were becoming chronic.

It was not an easy task. The blood energy was like a wild horse and tried to run wild unexpectedly. If it had not been for the Golden Elixir True Art, he would have become a cripple with his qi and blood tangled before he lost his reason to the frequently rampaging blood energy.

Since the internal energy accumulated by the Golden Elixir True Art was located in his dantian, the blood energy could not enter his dantian and spread throughout his body.

The blood energy that had spread to his internal organs seeped into the organs that were hardening due to his internal injuries. The blood energy that had seeped deep into his organs and muscles would instantly devour the evil energy of the Yocheon Pavilion Master that remained in his body. The blood energy was a predator.

Although his internal injuries were healing, his heart was gloomy. The blood energy did not assimilate with Kang Sogun's will. It was as if another being had entered his body.

So he had to always be careful to prevent it from running wild.

'It's getting stronger day by day. At some point, I might not be able to suppress it even with the Golden Elixir True Art.'

Kang Sogun thought that in that case, he would burst his own latent meridians and die. He thought it was a fate he had to accept the moment he awakened his blood energy.

***

Darkness fell deeply.

As Jungrang was changing into his night clothes and was about to leave, Yeon Hwasim came out into the living room and saw him.

"Where are you going at this time of night?"

Jungrang hesitated for a moment and then said.

"As you know, the movements of the Jeongha Martial Hall are unusual right now. I'm thinking of finding out what's going on."

"Didn't Hall Master No ask you to pretend you didn't see?"

Jungrang pulled Yeon Hwasim and sat her down at the table.

"Hwasim. I think you have heavenly luck."

It was not an answer to her question, and he was saying something out of the blue, but since Jungrang's expression was serious, Yeon Hwasim just listened.

"The martial world I have experienced was not like that. It was a place where those who smiled in front would stab you in the back when they turned around."

Yeon Hwasim had heard how harsh a world Jungrang had lived in.

"Great Warrior Jang and Hall Master No are upright and righteous people, worthy of being called great warriors. But there are not many such people in the world. That's why I said you have luck. Because the few people you have met since coming out into the martial world were righteous men. But you can't always live by relying on such luck."

Jungrang lowered his voice and said.

"The Jeongha Martial Hall is a military force under the Great Righteous Martial Hall. I trust Hall Master No, but I don't know the Great Righteous Martial Hall. So I need to find out what's going on."

'So that I can protect you.'

He could not say the last words.

Because Yeon Hwasim would surely feel burdened.

"Then I'll go with you."

Jungrang shook his head.

"Spying is not as easy as you think. If we move together, it can be that much more dangerous."

At Jungrang's words, Yeon Hwasim could not follow.

Jungrang quietly left the residence, went over the back wall, and disappeared.

***

The Three Tigers of Shandong were also discussing. They had also been asked by No Ichil not to pay attention to what was happening outside. But they could not pretend not to know.

"It's truly strange. To be continuously involved in the affairs of the martial world since Miss Yeon came."

Jang Mugang lamented.

"Judging by the atmosphere, it's not a simple matter. We have to assume that not the Jeongha Martial Hall, but the main hall of the Great Righteous Martial Hall is moving. It means it's by no means a small matter."

"Since Hall Master No told us to stay out of it, wouldn't it be better to follow his words? We might cause trouble instead."

Wi Eunghwan's injuries had not yet fully healed. He did not want to get involved in a dangerous matter in this situation.

"I don't think so. We have to know what's going on to save our own lives."

Sim Mabaek shook his head at Wi Eunghwan's words.

"There must be a reason why Hall Master No isn't telling us."

"Are you going to entrust your life to someone else's goodwill? You're still so naive, when on earth will you grow up?"

"But if we get misunderstood as interfering in the affairs of the Great Righteous Martial Hall, our position will become difficult."

"Is our position being difficult important? Have you forgotten Miss Yeon? It's not just our lives on the line."

"Brother! What are you saying? Have you forgotten that you always cause trouble and I'm the one who cleans up after you?"

"What? Oh my. Sim Mabaek has lived too long. To hear such nonsense from my little brother."

As Sim Mabaek and Wi Eunghwan bickered, Jang Mugang cut them off.

"That's enough. This time, Mabaek's words have a point. Although Hall Master No is treating us with goodwill, we can't be sure that the Great Righteous Martial Hall is also like that. We have to find out what's going on. But we can't just go around poking our noses in. So..."

Jang Mugang stood up.

"Let's go out and have a drink. If we go to a tavern, we might hear something."

"That's right. They won't find fault with us just for going for a drink."

Sim Mabaek, who had been feeling stuffy after recuperating for a long time, jumped up. In the end, even Wi Eunghwan followed.

Flower Shadow Pavilion.

"They say this is the best tavern in Hefei."

"Even so, can it be as good as the Mohong Inn?"

Yueyang, being next to Dongting Lake, was a place where inns and taverns were developed. Since people constantly visited, it was always changing.

On the other hand, Hefei was a historic city, so old establishments were developed.

The tavern was full of people, but there were no one who looked like martial artists.

"Shall we go somewhere else?"

"Is it easy to meet martial artists? How many bastards go around revealing that they are men who eat with a sword? Let's just have a drink here and go in."

Since Wi Eunghwan, who had been the most seriously injured and was still uncomfortable moving, said it, Jang Mugang and Sim Mabaek had no choice.

As the three were ordering and eating food and wine, the door opened and a familiar face came in.

It was Jo Unryong.

Jo Unryong had gotten tired of waiting for Kang Sogun to come out of his residence. He had come alone, thinking of having a drink, and had met the Three Tigers of Shandong.

"It is a great pleasure to see the three great warriors here."

Jo Unryong greeted them politely.

Although he bickered with No Ichil, Jo Unryong was extremely polite to the Three Tigers of Shandong.

"Haha. We meet again here. Let's have a drink together."

Jang Mugang had Jo Unryong sit down.

"Young Master Jo, what brings you to Hefei?"

Jang Mugang, who knew that Jo Unryong was a person of the Dragon Slaying Society, asked with a surprised look. Hefei was like the inner room of the Great Righteous Martial Hall. It was not a place for people of the Dragon Slaying Society to be wandering around.

"I followed Brother Kang."

"Brother Kang, you mean Kang Sogun? Is he also here in Hefei?"

"He is at an inn in the village outside the city."

Jang Mugang frowned.

Although Kang Sogun had left without a word, Jang Mugang had guessed the reason.

'What a strange fate.'

To meet again after Kang Sogun had gone to the trouble of leading the pursuit of the Heavenly Martial Faction. There was no coincidence like this.

"They say that although the world is wide, those who are fated to meet will surely meet. It seems Young Master Jo and we have a connection."

Sim Mabaek offered him a drink.

"The connection was made a long time ago."

Jo Unryong said something meaningful.

"A long time ago? Did we know each other?"

Jo Unryong, with a serious expression, poured wine into the cups of the Three Tigers of Shandong one by one.

"A long time ago, there was a child who left his hometown with a will for the saber. Fortunately, he met a renowned master and was able to enter the right path of martial arts. The child, who was engrossed in training, one day heard of the tragedy that had occurred in his hometown. It was that the government army was subjugating them, having branded them as a rebel force."

Jo Unryong's voice was calm.

"That night, the child ran to his hometown village. I cannot forget that night road, where I desperately hoped that my parents and young sibling were alive."

The Three Tigers of Shandong realized that the child was Jo Unryong.

"But fortunately, the righteousness of three people protected the village. The child's parents and sibling were able to safely escape the swords of the government army."

Jo Unryong stood up from his seat, held his wine cup, and bowed respectfully.

"If it weren't for the three great warriors, I would not have been able to meet my parents and sibling again."

Jang Mugang recalled the incident that had given them their nickname.

He had not known that jumping in, unable to stand the atrocities of the government army on the road he was passing, would lead to such a connection.

"We just did what we thought was right."

Jo Unryong's face was gloomy even after he finished speaking.

"A person's fate is unknown. It was only a moment that I was relieved to have met them."

As the story, which seemed to be ending, continued, the Three Tigers of Shandong watched Jo Unryong.

Jo Unryong poured his wine, drank it down, and then lamented.

"My parents and sibling fell ill and passed away not long after that incident."

"Oh dear, may the deceased rest in peace."

The Three Tigers of Shandong were saddened.

"But I was glad that I could be there for their last moments."

Jo Unryong shook off his gloomy mood and raised his wine cup.

"I have disturbed the minds of the three great warriors with a useless story, so I must drink a penalty shot."

Jo Unryong emptied his wine cup in one go. Seeing that, Jang Mugang laughed heartily and filled his cup.

"Since I have met a hidden dragon today, I must drink heartily."

***

Kang Sogun, hearing the sign of Jo Unryong leaving, packed his things and came out.

Although he did not know what Jo Unryong was thinking in following him, their paths were different. He had been looking for an opportunity to shake him off, but he had left the inn on his own.

Kang Sogun rode through the night towards Nanjing.

(End of Chapter)