Kang Sogun

"Kuh!"

No Ichil couldn't overcome the pain and let out a groan. He had never thought a day like this would come.

No Ichil looked down at his abdomen. The wound, which had been sliced long by a sharp saber, was deep.

It was a wound he had received while fighting fiercely with two of the Eleven Sabers of the Dragon Slaying Society. Fortunately, it was not fatal. Although it was a flesh wound, the memory of being hit like this was so old that the pain was new.

"Ichil. It seems you've had it easy for a while."

No Ichil said to himself, sprinkled golden wound medicine, and stitched up the wound.

The situation was not good.

No Ichil looked around. Zhu Zhanji, who was sitting by a bonfire far away, was fortunately uninjured.

But Shangguan Qingyou, who was lying next to another pile of fire, had lost an arm.

If Yeomga had not thrown all his blood plate beads and blocked Wu Mungeuk, Zhu Zhanji and Shangguan Qingyou would have died.

'The Dragon Slaying Society! They're backstabbing us after all!'

Although he had expected it, it was a very sudden surprise attack. The Dragon Slaying Society was not to be taken lightly. They could not be compared to the private soldiers of the Hefei branch, Yuk Ilcheong.

'To think that Wu Mungeuk would come in person.'

No Ichil looked down at the mountain. Somewhere on the mountainside, Yeomga and the killers of the sixth hall were in ambush. Below them, the masters of the Dragon Slaying Society would be crouching.

No Ichil took care of his own injuries and approached Shangguan Qingyou. Shangguan Qingyou was lying by the bonfire.

"Brother, are you alright?"

Shangguan Qingyou opened his eyes and then smiled faintly.

"What's the big deal about one arm that you look so dead? You count with your head."

"Yes, so how does it look when you count? Do you think we can get out of this encirclement?"

"Hmph! I didn't know Wu Mungeuk would come in person. But this will be his grave."

"Wu Mungeuk is a truly amazing man. To have cut off your arm with one saber. To kill that bastard, it seems the Great Brother will have to come."

Shangguan Qingyou looked up at the sky. The stars in the night sky shone.

"He will arrive before dawn."

The Great Brother they were talking about was the first hall master of the Great Righteous Martial Hall, the Heaven's Center One Sword, Baek Jeongmu.

Baek Jeongmu was a master who was ranked seventh among the ten great masters of the world.

Although the Dragon Slaying Society Master, the Heavenly Demon Saber, Wu Mungeuk, was ranked sixth among the ten great masters, Shangguan Qingyou and No Ichil did not believe in the rankings of the world.

Since the ten great masters had never fought each other, what meaning could that ranking have?

They believed that since their Great Brother, Baek Jeongmu, had already surpassed the human realm, he would naturally be able to kill Wu Mungeuk. No, they had to believe.

No Ichil chuckled.

"Then that's a real relief. I don't want to die in this desolate mountain."

"That won't happen."

Shangguan Qingyou muttered and looked to one side.

The Fallen Scholar, Yu Mungwang, and the Seven Beauties, Ban Yeowol, were sitting side by side on a rock, circulating their qi.

"If the seventh and eighth siblings use all their strength, I believe they can even catch Wu Mungeuk. Since the two are so close in affection that they are like one person, if they attack together, they will be able to cut off Wu Mungeuk's head."

Shangguan Qingyou turned his head again and sighed deeply.

"But I'm worried because I don't know who the enemy's strategist is. To have read our moves and laid such a powerful ambush."

"What's there to be afraid of a bastard who hides behind and uses his head? Just cut him down, and that's it."

"Are you teasing me?"

Shangguan Qingyou, who acted as the strategist of the Great Righteous Martial Hall, flared up. No Ichil usually looked down on strategists.

But this enemy's surprise attack was enough to surprise even Shangguan Qingyou.

That unknown person had made Yuk Ilcheong's private soldiers chase the martial artists of the Great Righteous Martial Hall who were heading to Beijing.

This was a move that seemed to fall for Shangguan Qingyou's plan. Shangguan Qingyou had thought he had diverted the enemy's attention.

So he had left the mountain village and had headed to Nanjing, escorting Zhu Zhanji.

But the masters of the Dragon Slaying Society had suddenly appeared and had stabbed like a dagger.

The masters led by the Dragon Slaying Society Master, Wu Mungeuk, had ambushed them. This also meant that they had read Shangguan Qingyou's plan clearly.

The fight of a military strategist and the fight between masters were different. The enemy had thoroughly put their masters at the forefront and had attacked.

If the Firearm Brigade that Shangguan Qingyou had prepared in case of an emergency had not followed, they would have all died on the spot.

"Anyway, I don't know what kind of bastard he is, but I will surely find him and kill him."

No Ichil said, looking down at the mountain.

***

Kang Sogun went down to the village and first confirmed where he was. It was near Huai'an, north of Nanjing. He had flown hundreds of li due to the rampage of the Blood Dragon Qi.

Kang Sogun unfolded his lightness skill and headed to Nanjing. He remembered that Mo Sang had suffered an internal injury, unable to withstand the Blood Dragon Qi, just before he had run wild.

Moreover, if an unknown enemy had harmed Jin Uncho, the Kang Residence could also be ambushed.

Kang Sogun's mind, which had escaped from a long delusion after a bout of sobbing, was clearer than ever.

'The dark current of the court, Bang Yeonso, the downfall of the Jang family... they are not unrelated!'

Kang Sogun realized that the fact that the crown prince, Zhu Zhanji, was being chased was also related to the dark current of the court.

Although he did not know what kind of force it was, it was a matter that had been prepared for a long time.

'The Prince of Han is not a person who would plot such a thing.'

Kang Sogun had seen the Prince of Han, Zhu Gaohou. He, who was a man of great strength, was rough and violent.

If he were to rebel, he would decide the victory or defeat by force, and he was not of a nature to secretly plot something over several years like this.

Kang Sogun unfolded his lightness skill, recalling the faces of the powerful people of the court. If he went to the Kang Residence and combined his mother's record and Jin Uncho's report, he would know who the enemy in the dark was.

Kang Sogun's figure was so fast that it could not be seen with the naked eye.

***

On the mountain below, Wu Mungeuk was sitting in a temporarily made thatched hut.

Next to him, a saber guest who looked to be in his early thirties and another in his late twenties were standing.

They were the great disciple, Yeom Gichang, and the second disciple, Seok Byeongdo.

"Have you still not found that bastard Unryong's whereabouts?"

Yeom Gichang nodded.

"It has been confirmed that he appeared in Hefei, but his whereabouts after that are unknown. However, it is presumed that he may have gone to Nanjing."

"That bastard! To be wandering around aimlessly when a great matter is at hand."

"Unryong has raised the prestige of the Dragon Slaying Society quite a bit. He has swept away the Ghost Shadow Brigade of the Heavenly Martial Faction."

"It is said that he has also disposed of the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, one of the Ten Guests of Heavenly Martial. It is heard that he is traveling with a person called the Blood Demon."

Yeom Gichang and Seok Byeongdo reported on Jo Unryong's recent situation.

"Hahaha. That bastard at least doesn't bring shame to this master."

"Honestly, his achievements are better than mine."

Yeom Gichang praised Jo Unryong. The master and disciples of the Dragon Slaying Society had a deep friendship.

Wu Mungeuk was pleased.

"Is there any news about the identity of the Blood Demon?"

"It will be revealed soon. Before that, if Unryong returns, we will be able to know more clearly."

Wu Mungeuk drank his wine.

"The hall masters of the Great Righteous Martial Hall were quite something. Especially the abacus beads of the one called Yeomga and the sword of the Fallen Scholar were worthy of being called the best in the martial world. You should also be careful if you meet them."

"We will keep that in mind."

Just then, a human presence was heard from outside, and two people came in.

The one who came in first was a middle-aged woman with a graceful face and a benevolent look, and the one who followed was a young woman of rare beauty.

Wu Mungeuk had his disciples offer them seats.

"Buddha Mother, please come in. As you can see, it is a thatched hut, so it will be uncomfortable."

"When have we ever rested in a comfortable place? This is more than enough."

The middle-aged woman called the Buddha Mother sat down, and the young woman stood behind her.

Wu Mungeuk said to the young woman.

"As the Flower of the Teaching said, they have come to Nanjing. We have dealt with them moderately and have driven them into the mountains and are guarding them. Now what do you intend to do?"

The young woman was called the Flower of the Teaching. The one who had planned this operation was the Flower of the Teaching.

The Buddha Mother stepped up and answered instead.

"The crown prince's life can be taken at any time. This time, we must uproot the Great Righteous Martial Hall, which is protecting the imperial family."

The Buddha Mother paused for a moment, looked at Wu Mungeuk and his disciples, and then continued.

"Since the hall masters of the Great Righteous Martial Hall are trapped in the mountains with the crown prince, the Heaven's Center One Sword, the first hall master, will come in person. Are you confident in facing him?"

"He and I are both called the ten great masters. It is difficult to say for sure who can defeat whom, but at the very least, I will not show a disgraceful appearance."

"You must catch him. If you erase the Great Righteous Martial Hall, the power of the imperial family will be reduced by half."

"But..."

Wu Mungeuk looked at the Flower of the Teaching.

The Buddha Mother looked back at the Flower of the Teaching and said.

"You will have to explain the situation."

The Flower of the Teaching took a step forward and opened her mouth. Her clear voice shook not only the heart of the vigorous Seok Byeongdo but also that of Yeom Gichang.

Although Yeom Gichang was married, Seok Byeongdo was still unmarried. He was making every effort to win the heart of the Flower of the Teaching.

"The emperor will not last long. The Buddha Mother has read the heavenly signs and has said that he will not be able to pass this summer."

At the words of the Flower of the Teaching, Wu Mungeuk and the others were greatly surprised.

The emperor had ascended to the throne last summer. They could not help but be surprised that he would die without even lasting a year.

As Wu Mungeuk and his disciples looked, the Buddha Mother nodded. The Buddha Mother had a divine ability and could read the heavenly signs and heal the sick.

The Flower of the Teaching continued.

"Although he has received the mandate of the Son of Heaven, he has oppressed the people and has killed countless loyal subjects, so it is the will of heaven that the line of the imperial family be cut."

A light of resentment flashed in the eyes of the Flower of the Teaching.

"Even if we catch the crown prince here, the imperial family will put up another emperor. Because there is the power of the Great Righteous Martial Hall, which is protecting the imperial family in the dark."

Wu Mungeuk nodded.

"In the old days, that thief, Zhu Yuanzhang, ascended to the throne with the help of the martial world. The fact that he advocated for the non-interference of the authorities and the martial world on the surface and then slaughtered countless martial artists behind the scenes must be punished. If the Heaven's Center One Sword blocks this, he will surely die at my hands."

The Flower of the Teaching said calmly.

"To cut the fate of the Ming, we must surely annihilate the Great Righteous Martial Hall."

"The Blood Saber Brigade and the Dragon Slaying Brigade of the Dragon Slaying Society are on standby. If they appear, it is as good as a dead life."

Yeom Gichang, who was also the commander of the Blood Saber Brigade, stepped up and said.

"I will surely cut off the crown prince's head!"

The Dragon Slaying Brigade Commander, Seok Byeongdo, also swore.

***

It was a bright moonlit night.

Kang Sogun was running. The night, where there were no other eyes, was good for unfolding his lightness skill.

"Stop!"

A few people appeared in front of Kang Sogun.

The saber light that flashed in the moonlight was cold.

The people holding the sabers were all wearing black martial arts uniforms. The small word "Dragon Slaying" was written on their chests.

'The Dragon Slaying Society?'

Kang Sogun was puzzled that the Dragon Slaying Society had appeared here, not far from Nanjing.

The saber guests of the Dragon Slaying Society, who were in ambush, were nervous, seeing the master who was approaching, unfolding his lightness skill as if flying.

One person ran to report to the main body, and the rest blocked the way.

"I don't know which sect's master you are, but this mountain is sealed. I hope you will go back."

The saber guest said, holding his saber upside down and cupping his fists to Kang Sogun.

Kang Sogun frowned, looking at the saber guests of the Dragon Slaying Society. If he crossed this mountain, Nanjing would be right there. It would take quite a while to go back.

"I have an urgent matter, so it will be difficult to go back. I am just a passerby, so please open the way."

Kang Sogun said politely.

"This is a battlefield. If you enter recklessly and get caught up in a fight, it will be difficult to keep your life. It would be better to just go back."

The saber guest also seemed not to want to cause trouble and urged him again.

Kang Sogun was now in a state where he had regained his original cool reason. He realized at once that the Dragon Slaying Society and the Great Righteous Martial Hall were fighting.

"Are you fighting the Great Righteous Martial Hall?"

(End of Chapter)