Chapter 29: We Were Not Afraid Together

When talking about peerless masters, they say they exchanged ten blows in a single breath, or that they could fight for an entire hour without rest, but this is a story that applies only to those who have reached a peerless level of martial arts.

This is because even with the help of internal energy, combat is something that rapidly wears down one’s stamina.

“Heok. Heok.”

This tendency is especially prominent in rising stars with little practical experience like Ma Yu-han.

I imitated Ma Yu-han, who was genuinely panting, and let out an equally rough breath.

I could see his expression growing darker with anger as his breathing became longer.

We are almost there.

“Will you apologize to our Ran-mae?”

This line should be enough.

Anger and impatience are bound to paralyze reason.

This is especially true for those with a small disposition.

My plan will not be wrong.

Haven’t I thoroughly investigated his nature and background?

Ma Yu-han briefly glanced around.

Since I had intentionally arranged for a deserted place, no one was in sight.

“I’ll kill you, you bastard.”

As expected.

Ma Yu-han did exactly as I had led him to.

Black vapor wavered from his entire body.

It was a clear sign of the manifestation of demonic arts.

“Brother Chun-baek, did you see that?”

“Yes. You were right.”

Lee Chun-baek’s cool voice filled the space.

“What?”

Ma Yu-han, surprised by the unexpected voice of another, looked around, but he could not see Lee Chun-baek’s figure.

The reason was that Lee Chun-baek, who had appeared without a sound, had perfectly taken the position behind Ma Yu-han.

Thud.

“Keok.”

Making my struggle seem futile, Lee Chun-baek easily subdued Ma Yu-han.

His rough hand grabbed the nape of Ma Yu-han’s neck and lifted him up as he was.

Like a kitten being held by the scruff of its neck by its mother cat, Ma Yu-han, with both feet off the ground, could not move an inch.

Lee Chun-baek placed his remaining hand on the Life Gate point on Ma Yu-han’s back.

“Keueuk.”

This was a more certain and rougher method of confirmation than grabbing the pulse gate on the wrist.

The reason was that the Life Gate point, also known as the gate of life, was much closer to the Qi Center than the pulse gate.

Having already confirmed the manifestation of demonic arts, Lee Chun-baek’s actions became uninhibited.

After a short while.

“It is as I thought.”

Lee Chun-baek’s verdict was passed.

His gaze was not on Ma Yu-han but on me.

“Can I kill him?”

As if in answer to that question, Ma Yu-han struggled violently, but he could not escape Lee Chun-baek’s grasp.

“Don’t kill him. Let’s hand him over to the Murim Alliance.”

At the words Murim Alliance, Ma Yu-han’s complexion turned pale for a moment.

Thwack.

He fainted from a single blow by Lee Chun-baek to the nape of his neck.

Thud.

Lee Chun-baek threw Ma Yu-han to the ground as if dropping a piece of luggage.

He was a man truly without mercy when it came to followers of the demonic path.

“What should we do now?”

Lee Chun-baek, who had been disgusted by the dandy costume, was no more.

It was because he had achieved a great result by following my plan.

“First, let’s go to the Beggar’s Gang.”

“Let’s do that.”

Of course, that plan is just beginning.

“Heroes of the Beggar’s Gang, I’m counting on you.”

“Isn’t it a brother’s matter? Severing Dragon, just trust us.”

I explained the whole story to the beggars of the Beggar’s Gang and handed Ma Yu-han over.

The news that the young sect leader of the Heuksu Mun, a long-established fixture in Shanxi, had learned demonic arts, so it was a foregone conclusion that the beggars of the Beggar’s Gang would be astonished.

“Jao-gae, it’s urgent. Hurry to the Shanxi branch of the Murim Alliance.”

“Yes!”

Although the beggars of the Beggar’s Gang looked sloppy, their movement arts were a peerless technique called one of the best in the Jianghu.

This news would be delivered to the Shanxi branch of the Murim Alliance immediately.

We saved time, and the Beggar’s Gang members gained an achievement.

Furthermore, the prestige of me and Lee Chun-baek, who had rooted out and suppressed followers of the Demonic Cult through the Beggar’s Gang, would be known in the Jianghu.

It was truly a method of killing three birds with one stone.

The only drawback was that we had to hurry to get the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fleeceflower Root.

Of course, there is no problem.

The reason is that I am not alone now but with Lee Chun-baek.

I am confident that we can take care of the Heuksu Mun faster than Jao-gae can arrive at the Shanxi branch and bring the forces of the Murim Alliance.

Isn't that why I stopped by the Beggar’s Gang first?

“Brother Chun-baek.”

“What is it?”

“What is your realm now?”

I asked casually.

It is not because I do not know that asking about another’s realm in the Murim can be rude.

It is a conviction that we have become a relationship where we can comfortably ask such questions.

“I’m at a level where I can unfold the Sword Thread.”

It means that his realm has surpassed the Peak Realm and reached the Transcendent Peak.

Considering his personality, which values humility as a virtue, I can tell that the State of Harmony is not that far for him.

As expected of a successor of a mysterious sect.

“What about you?”

“Well, I’m about the same.”

With the tempering of Uncle Yeo Baek, aided by the power of the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art, I had also recently stepped into the Transcendent Peak.

“Brother Chun-baek, wouldn’t you like to have a big fight with me?”

At that question, a smile bloomed on Lee Chun-baek’s face.

“I’d love to.”

Since he had endured for seven days and nights even after knowing of the existence of the followers of the Demonic Cult, he must be truly pleased with that question now.

“Let’s go. To build our achievements.”

We moved by unfolding our movement arts that had reached the Transcendent Peak.

The destination is the Heuksu Mun.

A sect means a group.

Since strength usually comes from unity, it is common sense that a sect is stronger than an individual.

But isn’t the Jianghu Murim a place where all sorts of mysteries and eccentrics are rampant?

In the Jianghu Murim, there are individuals stronger than groups, beings that break common sense.

In fact, although they are all called sects, not all sects can be the same.

There are large sects like the Nine Sects One Gang where all sorts of monstrous figures are hidden, and on the other hand, there are also small sects that consider a Peak master as their greatest pride.

There are no clear-cut standards, but generally, if you secure several Peak masters, you are called a small sect, if a Transcendent Peak master emerges, you are called a small-to-medium sect, and if you recruit several Transcendent Peak masters or a master of the State of Harmony, you are called a mid-sized sect.

Groups that have not even secured a Peak master usually do not call themselves a sect and attach names like gang or band.

“Will it be okay with just the two of us?”

Lee Chun-baek asked me at the entrance of the Heuksu Mun.

“It will be more than enough.”

“If you say so, then it must be so.”

Ten years later, at the time of the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, the Heuksu Mun had grown into a mid-sized sect representing Shanxi.

It was thanks to the money from selling the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fleeceflower Root and the secret support of the Demonic Cult, which had arranged the Great War of Righteousness and Evil.

With a master of the State of Harmony and several masters of the Transcendent Peak in their midst, the downfall of the Shanxi Murim is understandable.

Of course, it would be absurd for me and Lee Chun-baek to face such a mid-sized sect by ourselves.

But not now.

Wasn't it after they sold the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Fleeceflower Root that the Heuksu Mun gained its power?

It means that the current Heuksu Mun is just a humble small sect that has existed in Shanxi for a long time.

Of course, it is not an easy task for a master of the Transcendent Peak, not even the State of Harmony, to face a whole sect alone.

The reason is that even if there are no Transcendent Peak masters on the opposing side, a direct confrontation with a large number of people involves many variables.

In addition to that, if they have some hidden strength as spies of the Demonic Cult, there could be a high probability of me facing a setback alone.

But I am not alone.

I looked at Lee Chun-baek, who was nodding in front of me.

One and two are different.

If I were to be picky, isn't two also a group?

This means it is a fight between a group and a group, so I am confident that we will never lose.

“Let’s go.”

“Let’s do that.”

I walked towards the Heuksu Mun with Lee Chun-baek.

His and my steps, entering the tiger’s den, were supremely calm and dignified.

Considering Lee Chun-baek’s awkward steps when entering the Beggar’s Gang's hut, I could also tell that he felt much more comfortable with this.

“Who are you?”

A guard guarding the main gate of the Heuksu Mun asked me.

Although I had thrown off the fluttering long robe of a dandy, the martial arts uniform I was wearing now was also from the Dancheon Clan, boasting a high price.

It was a natural reaction for the guard’s behavior to become polite.

“You don’t know me?”

“I apologize.”

I slightly raised my chin towards the guard who was bowing his head.

Naturally, a high-handed composition was formed where I was looking down on him.

“I am the second son of the Dancheon Clan, Dancheon Myeong. Remember that.”

An arrogant expression and a dogmatic tone of voice.

It was the epitome of a rude and unrestrained descendant of a prestigious clan.

Since it was just a matter of adding a little exaggeration to my appearance before I experienced the life of Myeong-gae, the acting was not difficult.

“Did you make an appointment?”

“Do I have to do something like that?”

Originally, making an appointment when visiting another sect is essential and common sense.

Despite that common sense, the guard repeatedly bowed his head and continued.

“I apologize. Could you please wait a moment?”

Even at the guard’s polite question…….

“Do you have the right to stop me?”

I shot him a sneer and passed him by, entering the main gate.

“Ah……”

The guard’s hand, which was trying to stop me, could not reach its destination and wandered aimlessly in the air.

The reason was that it was difficult to even guess what kind of trouble he would get into if he touched me, who was clearly a descendant of a prestigious clan at a glance.

Passing the guard, I headed towards the heart of the Heuksu Mun with dignified steps.

While ignoring the guard who was following me anxiously.

In this situation, anyone would question my behavior, not the Heuksu Mun’s.

But this is intentional acting.

It is because I cannot finish my intended business in time if I follow all the procedures for a guest visiting a sect.

But it was not just to pursue procedural convenience.

Since it was to take away any room for the spies of the Demonic Cult to think and time to prepare, wouldn't my rudeness be unavoidable?

To add my honest feelings, there is also the reason that I have no intention of being polite to the spies of the Demonic Cult.

“You are truly an unknown person.”

Lee Chun-baek said the same words I often heard from Ma Sok of the Rogues’ Guild.

“Secrets make a martial artist stronger.”

I looked at Lee Chun-baek and gave him a slight smile.

I understand.

If I were to witness the Dancheon Myeong who mingled with the Beggar’s Gang members without reservation and the arrogant descendant of a prestigious clan Dancheon Myeong at the same time within half a day, I think I would be confused too.

Lifting my head and striding through the inside of the Heuksu Mun with dignified steps, no one stopped me and Lee Chun-baek.

“Is this the place?”

“I think so.”

Before long, our steps reached the front of the largest building in the Heuksu Mun.

Just by the scale of the building, it was not difficult to see that it was the core of the Heuksu Mun.

And I did what I had planned long ago.

I gathered the overflowing internal energy in my Dragon Spring Point and…….

Kuuuung!

I stomped a powerful foot, shaking the surroundings.

Since the goal was the stomp itself, not a stomp as a preparatory motion for a martial art, its power was extraordinary.

As if performing the Ten-Thousand-Pound-Weight technique, the ground beneath my feet caved in, and the building shook.

“What’s going on!”

As it was an effective action, the members of the Heuksu Mun, surprised by the commotion, grabbed their weapons and instantly gathered in front of the building.

Although they lacked strength, they were not without the structure of a sect, so the appearance of the Heuksu Mun members was like that of skilled swordsmen.

“I am Myeong, the second son of the Dancheon Clan.”

At my words, someone who seemed to be a leader stepped forward.

“If you are the second son of the Dancheon Clan, aren’t you Severing Dragon? What is this outrage?”

As expected, the alias of a Dragon and Phoenix lived up to its reputation.

He, whom I did not know, knew of my existence.

I got straight to the point.

“I have caught a spy of the Demonic Cult.”

He immediately regained his composure, but my eye did not miss the fact that he flinched for a moment.

I should assume that fellow is related for now.

“But that spy.”

I intentionally dragged out my words, but no noise was mixed in.

It was because the whole venue was focused solely on my actions.

“Upon investigating his identity, it turned out to be the young sect leader of the Heuksu Mun, Ma Yu-han. Do you have an explanation?”

The expressions of the Heuksu Mun members who blocked us hardened frighteningly.

At the same time, their killing intent surged.

“Ah, I’ll take that as your answer.”

With this, I could be perfectly sure.

The fact that not only the direct descendants of the sect leader but all the Heuksu Mun members gathered here were followers of the Demonic Cult.

“Is there anyone else who knows that fact?”

The leader asked with a stiff expression.

“Not yet?”

I lied.

Where would there be a reason to tell them the truth?

“Well done. Thank you.”

His quiet words.

Everyone in the venue understood its meaning.

He had just decided to kill and destroy the evidence.

If he killed and destroyed the evidence, it would be as if it never happened, so it did not matter who I was.

“Are you really going to make that choice?”

The smile on my face deepened.

At the same time, all the members of the Heuksu Mun took their ready stance.

A touch-and-go situation.

Was it because I was emboldened by having Lee Chun-baek by my side?

For some reason, I wanted to bluff a little more.

“I am Dancheon Myeong, a debutant in the Jianghu who has come to punish the spies of the Demonic Cult.”

I said so while making a clasped hands greeting.

Since the achievements of a debutant in the Jianghu are usually at the level of subjugating low-level Green Forest Bandits, this is not that big of a bluff in a situation where the great achievement of wiping out spies of the Demonic Cult is right in front of me.

My gaze turned to Lee Chun-baek.

“Don’t you think you should introduce yourself too, Brother Chun-baek?”

“……Do I have to?”

“Wouldn’t it be better to match the mood, since we’re at it?”

Sreung.

Lee Chun-baek, who had been shaking his head, drew his sword.

“I am the wanderer, Lee Chun-baek.”

As soon as Lee Chun-baek’s introduction ended.

“Attack!”

The members of the Heuksu Mun rushed towards us.

“Let’s go.”

“Let’s do that.”

Tat.

Lee Chun-baek and I leaped towards the members of the Heuksu Mun.

Although it was a tense situation and I did not confirm it accurately, I think there was a smile on both his and my faces.