Kang Sogun

The fire arrow that Shangguan Qingyou had shot soared up again. The fire arrow, which drew a narrow arc and fell, was clearly visible even from the Jeongha Martial Hall.

"It's an emergency signal. Everyone, move out!"

The master of the Jeongha Martial Hall shouted upon seeing the fire arrow. The martial artists who had been on standby rushed out.

"It's a powerful enemy. Even the gate guards, everyone go out!"

At the master's urging, even the warriors guarding the Jeongha Martial Hall all ran out.

Jungrang, who was watching this from the darkness outside the Jeongha Martial Hall, frowned.

'There is no one guarding the Jeongha Martial Hall right now. What if the Heavenly Martial Faction attacks at this time?'

Although they would not dare to enter because it was a martial hall under the Great Righteous Martial Hall, the eyes and ears of the Heavenly Martial Faction would still be watching.

'Of all times...'

Jungrang's heart became even more anxious because he had seen the Three Tigers of Shandong go out.

Sure enough, not long after, a suspicious movement was detected in the darkness. Although it was not certain, Jungrang could feel it with his skin.

Jungrang rode the darkness and headed for Yeon Hwasim's residence.

Jungrang, who was hiding in the bushes of the courtyard garden, concealed his qi and surveyed the surrounding presence.

The moonlight that filled the rear courtyard felt exceptionally cold to Jungrang.

'Hah!'

A person was standing in the courtyard, as if he had appeared out of nowhere.

He was a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar, and he was holding a red flute in his hand.

"Come out."

The middle-aged man said, looking at the side where Jungrang was hiding.

Jungrang came out into the courtyard and stood with his back to the building where Yeon Hwasim was.

"Are you Miss Yeon's guard? I heard you are quite something."

The middle-aged man, who exuded dignity, was the very image of a scholar one would see in a school.

"Are you from the Heavenly Martial Faction?"

The middle-aged scholar smiled calmly. Even though he had entered the rear courtyard of the Jeongha Martial Hall, a military force under the Great Righteous Martial Hall, alone, he looked very relaxed.

"If you know, then that's enough."

"It seems it is not polite to come to a house without a master like this."

The middle-aged scholar tapped his left palm with the flute in his right hand.

"I don't like it, but what can I do? That bastard Kang Sogun is so elusive, so I have to at least catch Miss Yeon to meet him."

As the opponent came out openly, Jungrang's complexion hardened gravely.

"If you are thinking of meeting him, you have come to the wrong place. We also do not know his whereabouts."

"We'll see about that."

The middle-aged scholar tapped his palm with his red flute again.

Jungrang suddenly thought of someone.

"The Blood Flute?"

The middle-aged scholar looked at Jungrang with a surprised look.

"You don't seem to be a simple guard."

The Blood Flute was the fifth of the Ten Guests of Heavenly Martial.

Everyone who needed to know knew that the Ten Guests of Heavenly Martial existed. But few knew the identities of the first to the fifth guests.

The Ten Guests of Heavenly Martial would fill a vacant spot with another person, but the first to the fifth guests had never been changed. It was not known who had become them in the first place, and the people had not changed.

The Blood Flute was a man who had shaken the martial world of Sichuan twenty years ago. He was a person who was known to have disappeared and died after getting into a fight with the Tang Clan.

"Is there another person in the martial world who uses a red flute?"

"Well, that's true..."

The Blood Flute nodded.

"Tell Miss Yeon to come out."

"You'll have to ask this sword about that..."

As Jungrang was answering, there was a sign of presence from behind, and the door opened. Yeon Hwasim, holding a sword, came out.

"Hwasim, go inside."

Yeon Hwasim shook her head.

"If that person is a master, it's the same whether I'm inside or outside."

The Blood Flute smiled.

"You are quite clever for your age. I have told you the reason I have come, so will you answer properly?"

The Blood Flute spoke politely, acting as if they had known each other for a long time.

"It's strange."

Yeon Hwasim said calmly, as if she were not afraid of the Blood Flute.

"What's strange?"

"In the first place, the fight was between the Heavenly Martial Faction and the Three Blade Sect. Doesn't that matter end if you take me, the successor of the Three Blade Sect? But to use me as bait to catch Great Warrior Kang. It feels like the cart is before the horse."

"It doesn't make sense that the smart Miss Yeon doesn't know the reason."

"Is it because of Gu Yangun? In fact, it was I who drove him to his death. To be more precise, he brought it upon himself. If you want to hold someone responsible, you should ask me."

The Blood Flute let out a hollow laugh.

Although Yeon Hwasim's words were true, it was a very naive logic that could not work in a martial world dominated by power.

"Let's go and argue about the rights and wrongs. Will you follow me? This is someone else's house, so it's not right to stay long."

"It is not polite to invite someone at night."

"It would be troublesome if you refuse so coldly when I am asking nicely."

The Blood Flute put his hands behind his back and took a step forward. As the red flute was hidden behind the Blood Flute's back, Jungrang became tense and drew his sword.

Although Jungrang had heard of the Blood Flute's fame, he did not know what kind of techniques he possessed. Since he had not heard a rumor that he used sound attacks, he guessed that it might be a hidden weapon technique.

The Blood Flute, seeing Jungrang's starting stance, nodded.

"It's a solid sword. But..."

The Blood Flute's figure suddenly seemed to disappear and then appeared in front of Jungrang.

-Hoooo.

With a ghastly sound like a ghost's cry, a red light flashed.

"Be careful!"

Yeon Hwasim was surprised and drew her sword, running.

Although the Blood Flute's first move was surprising, Jungrang was also prepared, so he retreated without hesitation and unfolded a defensive form.

-Clang!

-Hoooo.

The sound of metal clashing was heard as Jungrang's sword and the red flute clashed in succession.

The impact was not great. But the sound coming from the flute stirred Jungrang's mind. It was a sound that seemed to scratch his nerves.

"Hmm."

Jungrang withdrew his sword and tried to avoid clashing with the flute as much as possible.

The Blood Flute, seeing Jungrang's movement, let out a sinister smile.

"You're quite smart too. But it's no use avoiding it."

The red flute drew a strange trajectory and flew, aiming for the vital points on Jungrang's chest.

-Whirl.

The sound waves from the flute changed. Jungrang felt as if all the vital points on his body were being attacked at once.

"Kuh."

Jungrang swung his sword in all directions to protect his body and then retreated a couple more steps.

Then he was right next to Yeon Hwasim.

"Older brother! Let's face him together."

"No. The enemy is probably not just him. I'll leave the rear to you."

Jungrang pushed Yeon Hwasim. Yeon Hwasim had too little experience in the martial world to deal with such a dazzling and deceptive art.

So he had pushed Yeon Hwasim back with the reason of guarding the rear. But in fact, a strange laugh erupted from behind.

"Hehe. A quick-witted bastard. But can you stop me with just that delicate young lady?"

Jungrang's complexion hardened.

It was already difficult with just the Blood Flute, but there was another enemy. Moreover, he had not even noticed his presence. It meant he was a master.

The sound came from the roof. Looking up, an old man in a shabby, strange robe was squatting on the roof of the building. His bare feet, revealed under his short pants, were peculiar.

He had something similar to a sickle at his side, but looking closely, it was two short halberds.

Yeon Hwasim turned around and aimed her sword at the building.

Jungrang and Yeon Hwasim were in a situation where they were facing the enemy with their backs to each other.

The old man looked at the Blood Flute and clicked his tongue.

"I was wondering where you went, and you were fooling around with kids."

After the Demonic Sword of Qilian, Son Jo, and the others had been defeated and had returned, Jo Gaeryang had deployed the Ten Guests of Heavenly Martial again.

The third guest, the Soul-Reaping Saber, the fourth guest, the Twin Halberds of Noisy Death, Gongno, and the fifth guest, the Blood Flute, had rushed, but just before they arrived, the Ghost Shadow Brigade had lost track of Kang Sogun, whom they had been monitoring.

It had happened because Kang Sogun had suddenly left in the middle of the night to avoid Jo Unryong.

Although the Blood Flute had the appearance of a man of letters with dignity, he was in fact a hypocrite who was fond of women.

He knew that all this trouble had arisen surrounding Yeon Hwasim, who was called the number one beauty of Hubei. As soon as he heard from the Ghost Shadow Brigade that Yeon Hwasim's party was at the Jeongha Martial Hall and that the Jeongha Martial Hall was empty for some reason, he had come here. He had a dark heart for Yeon Hwasim.

"If one turns away from a flower, one is not a gentleman."

The corners of the Blood Flute's mouth curled strangely.

The hypocrite had revealed his true colors.

***

Kang Sogun, who was going to Nanjing over the hill, suddenly had a question.

'If No Ichil came to Hefei, wouldn't Miss Yeon's party have come too?'

He did not know why he had suddenly had that thought. As soon as he had that thought, Yeon Hwasim's large, clear eyes came to mind.

'Even Shangguan Qingyou came. That means the Shangguan Residence is empty. There's no way No Ichil would have left Miss Yeon's party behind.'

No Ichil had assured him of the safety of Yeon Hwasim's party.

Kang Sogun suddenly felt anxious. The injuries of the Three Tigers of Shandong were deep. Although Jang Mugang might be fine, Sim Mabaek and Wi Eunghwan would not have recovered yet.

Jungrang had also suffered minor injuries. Although they were not major injuries, it was clear that he would not be able to display his full capabilities.

Kang Sogun did not think that such concerns were because he was worried about Yeon Hwasim's safety. He was just busy catching up with the thoughts that came one after another.

'If they are in Hefei?'

Kang Sogun stopped his hurried steps.

The group that had been chasing Zhu Zhanji was clearly a well-trained army. Although martial artists were individually outstanding, they could never defeat an army.

'No Ichil and Shangguan Qingyou are being chased, unable to handle them. If they rush to Hefei?'

If Yeon Hwasim's party was in Hefei, they could be in danger.

Kang Sogun turned around.

The main road, on which the moonlight fell, stretched long. Its end reached an unknown darkness.

Kang Sogun threw himself forward. With one step, he seemed to fly, covering a full ten feet.

***

Wi Eunghwan was originally a light drinker. Moreover, his body was not yet in good condition.

"Big brother. I have to go and rest first."

"Hmph. That bastard is originally so unlucky. His talent for breaking up a drinking party is amazing. You bastard, if you go, I have to go too."

Sim Mabaek grumbled.

At those words, Jo Unryong's mind cleared. He stood up and cupped his fists in a salute.

"I have been presumptuous. An uninvited guest has joined and has been sitting for a long time. I will pay for this table."

"No. If you drink for free, you can't sleep with both legs stretched out. Isn't that right? Brother!"

Sim Mabaek waved his hand, looking drunk.

Jang Mugang was also worried that he had been away from Yeon Hwasim's side for a long time.

"Hahaha. Brother Jo. There will be a day when we can drink to our heart's content later."

Jang Mugang poured the last of the wine and raised his cup.

The four each emptied their cups and left the tavern.

"Where are you going?"

"There is a strange person who has been cooped up in a corner of a room for several days. I have to go and ask him what on earth he is doing."

Jo Unryong performed the proper etiquette and threw himself forward. His neat movements did not look drunk at all.

"Do you believe that bastard's words?"

Sim Mabaek, who was watching Jo Unryong's back disappear into the darkness, said quietly. His voice was completely different from the voice that had seemed drunk until now.

"I believe him. I saw his eyes."

"The Dragon Slaying Society is a place whose identity is unknown. It is also confronting the Great Righteous Martial Hall."

Wi Eunghwan said a word.

"It is natural for the forces of the martial world to fight each other to seize hegemony. We are not yet in the Great Righteous Martial Hall, so there is no reason to be particularly wary."

Jang Mugang liked Jo Unryong.

'He is a bastard who will break before he bends.'

Jang Mugang thought so to himself and set out on the road towards the Jeongha Martial Hall.

Just then.

-Boom!

The explosion of qi and qi clashing was heard from afar.

Although it was faint, the ears of the Three Tigers of Shandong heard it clearly.

"It's the Jeongha Martial Hall!"

Sim Mabaek threw himself forward.

"Well, I'll be damned."

Wi Eunghwan followed, running.

As Jang Mugang stomped his foot, he instantly took the lead.

***

A fire arrow was visible in the distance.

Kang Sogun, whose heart had become urgent, ran at full speed. He ran like a gust of wind under the moonlight.

A group of figures was visible, forming a line in front. The group that had been chasing Zhu Zhanji was reorganizing its ranks.

"Who is it?"

A masked man who was on guard shouted, but Kang Sogun had already passed him.

"It's an enemy!"

Someone else shouted again, but it ended in a hollow echo.

"Kuh!"

The person on horseback fell, and Kang Sogun had already taken the reins and was riding away.

The masked group was flustered by the sudden event.

"What on earth is going on?"

The leader, who had appeared late, asked, but no one could answer properly. It was as if they had been possessed by a ghost.

-Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Kang Sogun increased his vision and rode his horse.

It was a full-speed gallop through the night.

(End of Chapter)