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Chapter 306. Black Path Rising Star, the Black Flame Dragon (4)
After Wang Estate and Jin So-un joined up, the journey for Great Heaven Merchant Guild became far more comfortable.
Wang Estate's servants prepared meals with fresh ingredients at every stop, and warriors far more skilled than Great Heaven Merchant Guild's own stood guard duty.
On top of that, Jin So-un—who held the distinction of Murim Academy's top scorer—had joined them. It was as safe a journey as anyone could wish for.
'......Should I be happy about this, or worried?'
Yet the reason worry never left Go Jung-tak's face throughout the journey was, ironically, also because of Jin So-un and Wang Estate's carriage joining up.
Ẃе̂ b̆ ǹоv̈ е̂ l̃ Е̊n ŭ m̃а̄
'Even so, demolishing a Black Path sect like that......'
At first, he couldn't shake his anxiety watching Jin So-un drag the Upper Gate Gang's thugs along and storm into their headquarters.
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Academy top scorer or not, it was still a Black Path sect.
Walking alone into a den where dozens to hundreds of battle-hardened Black Path veterans were gathered—from Go Jung-tak's perspective, that was sheer madness.
When he suggested to Wang So-so—who was essentially Wang Estate's person in charge—that they go rescue him, Wang So-so only blinked in surprise.
"What? Brother Jin? Why?"
Еn̈ û m̌а
She was so nonchalant in her certainty that Jin So-un would come back.
He ended up being the strange one for worrying.
But.
'He actually came back in one piece.'
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More than just in one piece. He'd come back with a promise from the Upper Gate Gang that they'd provide protection without charging the protection toll going forward.
Just as Go Jung-tak was wondering what on earth he'd done to extract such a promise—
Еn ǔm a
BANG!
"Where's Great Heaven Merchant Guild!"
A second Black Path group spotted Great Heaven Merchant Guild's carriage and came calling.
THWACK, THWACK, THWACK!
Once again, Black Path teeth went flying like kernels of corn.
"Take me to your Sect Leader."
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......The exact same sequence as the Upper Gate Gang repeated itself.
Go Jung-tak was aghast.
The Black Axe Sect they'd provoked this time commanded a force twice the size of the Upper Gate Gang.
What's more, Black Axe Seven Dogs, who had founded the Black Axe Sect, was a dangerous adversary whose infamy extended not just across Hebei but into Anhui as well.
Once again, unlike the carefree Wang So-so, Go Jung-tak chased after Jin So-un to the Black Axe Sect, terrified that the Guild Master's eldest son might meet with disaster.
And then.
W̆еb nо̊ v е l Ěn̊ŭ ṁ a
Huh?
CRASH—!
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THWACK, THWACK!
THUD, THUD!
Go Jung-tak's expression somehow became that of a man who had achieved enlightenment.
'I was worried for nothing.'
Е n ũm̆ а. i_d
How to put it—it was like watching a bear that had barged into a beehive.
The bees stung with all their might, risking their lives, while the bear was too busy gorging on their precious honey to care.
As if the stings weren't even a nuisance.
'And to this degree, no less......'
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Go Jung-tak had never trained in martial arts himself, but having worked with escort agencies and merchant guilds for years, he'd seen plenty of people who had.
He'd thought their abilities exceeded the ordinary, and yet Jin So-un......
Ẽ n̊ ŭm ӑ. îd̊
'Is he even human?'
Had it been him, he would've pissed himself the instant he encountered them mid-journey—yet of the nearly hundred Black Path thugs, not a single one was left standing.
Then Jin So-un wrapped his arm around the Sect Leader's neck and began threatening him.
"......"
......He didn't particularly want to know the contents of those threats.
He was simply relieved beyond measure that not a single person from the guild had been harmed.
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And he thought that was the end of it.
The Black Path sects ahead would only grow larger in scale.
Surely even Jin So-un wouldn't keep charging in so recklessly.
But.
BANG!
"Where's Great Heaven Merchant Guild!"
É n ümâ
THWACK!
"Take me to your boss."
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P-please, stop......!
But Go Jung-tak's silent screams went unheard.
Every time thugs came to collect protection tolls, Jin So-un deployed. He returned only after the Black Path sect was in ruins.
By the time they entered Anhui Province, seven Black Path sects lay in rubble.
Wеb̂ n о̀ v̈ӗ l̊ E n̂ um а́
At this point, a different worry began creeping up on Go Jung-tak.
"Is it...... really alright to just leave this be, my lady......?"
At Go Jung-tak's question, Wang So-so tilted her head.
"Hm? Leave what be?"
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"Young Master Jin keeps getting into conflicts with Black Path people—I'm worried whether it's alright."
"Hmm...... Didn't Brother say he became friends with them? I actually think things are going very well."
Ẁ е̊bn̆ öv̀е̃l Ӗn ů má
"......"
"And didn't they say they'll provide protection from now on without charging the protection toll?"
"That's exactly what worries me."
Why were Black Path people the way they were?
Because they defied established norms and rules as they pleased. Because they lived however they wanted without caring what anyone else thought—that was what made them Black Path.
Promises were things they could break whenever it suited them.
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They might be lying low now, but one day they could seek revenge. And if enough disgruntled parties gathered, they could mount a group attack.
"Hmm......"
"We don't have time to sit here worrying about—"
Wang So-so, who'd been listening to Go Jung-tak's concerns, thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Brother Jin must have something in mind."
"......Pardon?"
W̃ е b́ n o vë.l̊ En̄ǔ mа
Something in mind?
Hadn't he just been mindlessly storming in, beating everyone to a pulp, and coming back?
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There hadn't been a shred of deep strategy or careful deliberation visible in any of it......
"You think he was acting without thinking."
"......"
The mysterious smile on Wang So-so's face left Go Jung-tak unable to shake his uneasy expression.
W̄е̊ bn о v̂ е l Е n̈u m̊a
Before long, the smile had vanished, and she added a question.
"Brother Jin...... reached his current position as a disciple of Taeul Sect. Do you understand what that means?"
Taeul Sect—a sect so strapped it had to watch Gyeryong Merchant Guild's mood just to afford two meals a day.
A talentless disciple of such a third-rate sect.
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Go Jung-tak had thought it was already remarkable enough that such a person had entered Murim Academy on his own merit.
But Wang So-so shook her head.
Ё n u m̆а̊
"That's not all. Founding Great Heaven Merchant Guild, recovering Taeul Sect's lost secret transmission—Brother accomplished all of it."
Go Jung-tak's jaw dropped.
No matter what, the idea that a single person had achieved all of that was hard to believe.
Wang So-so nodded as if his reaction were perfectly natural.
"It's hard to believe, I know. But it's the truth."
"......Good lord."
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"There has never been a single step in Brother's path that lacked purpose. I'm sure there's intent behind what he's doing now, too."
After hearing Wang So-so's words, Jin So-un looked different to Go Jung-tak.
Could he truly harbor some deep purpose that Go Jung-tak couldn't fathom?
Go Jung-tak turned to look at Jin So-un, who was enjoying daytime drinks with the warriors at another table.
Even while drinking, he kept his eyes fixed on the inn entrance.
"Ah, why are the Black Path punks in this area so damn slow? How do they expect to make a living like this?"
W̊ е bn̈о̃v ėl̆ Е ṅu m̌ a
A warrior beside him asked.
"Isn't it better if we pass through without trouble?"
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"What are you talking about! What about all the money they've stolen from us so far? And what about when I'm not around?"
Having barked his rebuke, Jin So-un licked his lips as though savoring something.
"Ah, I hope the next batch has saved up a decent stash. The last bunch were such reckless spenders they were completely broke......"
Go Jung-tak's head slowly tilted.
Wе b̌ n о̄v̌ ӗ l̂. E_n̈ ü.m̌а̇
Was there really some deep strategy he was missing?
All he could see was a street thug looking to shake people down......
BANG!
But Go Jung-tak's thoughts ended there.
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"Where's Great Heaven Merchant Guild!"
......Because Jin So-un's next prey had walked into the inn.
Е n̊ û.m.а́ .і̌d̆
"Finally!!!"
Jin So-un's voice rang out with unmistakable delight.
***
Friends.
A word meaning people you've known and kept close for a long time.
Father once told me to make plenty of friends in my youth.
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Any friend you make, he said, will prove helpful someday.
In my past life, I never managed to follow that advice.
But in this new life I'd been given, I was diligently putting Father's advice into practice.
"We're friends, right?"
When I asked, my newly made friend nodded rapidly and answered.
"R-right! We're friends, aren't we!"
Е n̆ ü m а̄. і d́
A friend who went by the alias Poison Fang Sword—his face was menacing, but his heart was warm.
Willing to share every last coin he'd earned just like that.
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Where else in the world would you find such a warm-hearted friend?
"Take care of things from here on out."
"D-don't worry. You're running a merchant guild, Jin So-un, so of course I'll protect it—koff! I-I've got this whole area locked down, so don't you worry!"
My friend pounded his chest with bold assurances.
Е nǔ mа̀
It would've been nice if he'd opened his heart like this before his eyes turned into chestnuts.
Watching him was making even my heart ache for no reason.
Anyway, Father was right.
Making lots of friends meant receiving lots of help.
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I was determined to make even more friends going forward.
As I finished catching up with my friend and was about to leave his sect—
En um̃ ǎ .іd̊
CRACK, CRACK.
"......?"
A group of men came pouring through the door I'd already half-demolished.
Then, with expressions bristling with killing intent, they drew their sabers in unison.
"Poison Fang Sword, face my blade this instant!"
"How dare you lay hands on our Lantern Inn—hm?"
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Warriors who'd stormed the Poison Fang Sect with enough fury to wage war.
But then.
The sight of shattered furniture scattered everywhere and wounded Poison Fang Sect members lying about left them utterly slack-jawed.
"Wh-what in the......"
"Did some of our guys come ahead of us?"
"Sir, we just arrived."
W ѐb̄ ǹо̃ v̄ еl̇ Е nū m а
While the intruders stammered in confusion, Poison Fang Sword ground his teeth and shot to his feet.
"Lantern Sect, you cowardly bastards. Of all times......"
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Halfway through his cursing, his eyes met mine and he clamped his mouth shut.
What the hell was going on?
In the meantime, the Lantern Sect people must have pieced together the situation, because they triumphantly raised their sabers.
"Poison Fang Sword! Today we settle this once and for all!"
Ẇ е̄ b_n о̇ v̌ е̊l Ê n̆ úm а
"Grrr, Deung Go-hyeon! You dare call yourself Orthodox Path after pulling this?"
"I told you—justice would judge you someday. Today is that day!"
From what I could see, the Poison Fang Sect and Lantern Sect were rivals in this area.
They'd happened to barge in while I was visiting the Poison Fang Sect.
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But......
'That's strange.'
W̃ е b n̄ о v̇ е ĺ Ё n ŭ m а̌
I'd never heard of an Orthodox Path sect called the Lantern Sect.
Was this another problem stemming from the Black Thought Alliance?
"The Lantern Sect was founded by a disciple of the Wind Fragrance Sect, a Lay-Affiliated Martial Sect under Qingcheng. Those bastards trade on Qingcheng's name while committing the same evils."
So explained Poison Fang Sword, the infamous Black Path figure.
So they were essentially a lay disciple of a lay disciple of Qingcheng Sect?
At that point, invoking each other's names would be embarrassing.
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In fact, the Lantern Sect members all used sabers, not swords.
"Speaking of which......"
Just then, Poison Fang Sword cautiously addressed me.
"Could you...... give us a hand? We! We're f-friends, aren't we!"
At Poison Fang Sword's words, I couldn't hide my deep disappointment.
"Asking your friend for unreasonable favors—you really are a rotten guy. You don't deserve to be my friend, tsk. Maybe I should just wipe you all out."
Е̊n umа̄_
"Wh-what are you saying!"
"Hey, I'm a disciple of an Orthodox Path sect, am I not? If I'm seen fighting alongside you lot against Orthodox Path sect members, imagine how big the scandal would be."
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"......"
"Besides, if a friend can't even handle his own problems, what's the point of being friends? Hmm...... yeah, I'd better just clean house."
"W-wait! Wait!"
Poison Fang Sword glared with both eyes bulging.
Е nu ḿ ӓ .і̂ d
"The Poison Fang Sect isn't that weak. Even in this state, we can fight just fine!"
"Oh ho...... is that so?"
I turned back and took a seat on a bench.
Truth was, I was curious to see who'd win.
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The moment I sat down, the Poison Fang Sect members drew a collective breath, looking like they'd just gained an army of a thousand.
"All Poison Fang Sect members, rally to me!"
Ẅѐb ń о vе́l̃ Еňu m̌ ǎ
His thunderous voice shook the entire compound.
It was fortunate, at least, that not many had broken limbs.
The Poison Fang Sect also had far greater numbers, and even excluding those too injured to fight, they outnumbered the Lantern Sect.
Actually, what kind of balls did these Lantern Sect bastards have, storming in here in the first place?
They didn't even look that strong.
"Who is that man?"
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Deung Go-hyeon pointed at me, but Poison Fang Sword snarled.
"None of your concern."
Deung Go-hyeon then spoke as if warning me.
"If you interfere, I will show you no mercy."
I nodded readily and waved them on, and the battle between the two groups began.
"RAAAGH!"
Е̄ n̊ u mа́. і d
"Charge!"
CLANG, CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!
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BANG, BANG! CLANG, CLANG! CLANG, CLANG!
As I'd expected, the Poison Fang Sect and Lantern Sect were at similar levels.
No—being honest, the Poison Fang Sect looked slightly better.
Their improvisation was sharper, if you'd call it that.
Ӗn̂ǔ ḿ_a
And the lads had more guts.
While the Lantern Sect fought textbook Orthodox Path style—wary of even minor injuries, aiming only to inflict damage on the opponent—the Poison Fang Sect fought like real men, disregarding small wounds and charging straight for throats.
Under normal circumstances, the Poison Fang Sect should've won. But the two forces remained locked in a dead heat.
'The injuries must be deeper than I thought.'
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Come on, I didn't even hit them that hard.
Mid-battle, Poison Fang Sword shot a resentful glare my way.
Wе́b̊ n̈ǒ v е̌ l̄ Ӗṅ um̃_à
But there was nothing I could do about it, no matter how hard he stared.
Well, what was done was done.
As the Poison Fang Sect gradually began losing ground, the Lantern Sect grew emboldened.
"Press the attack! Today we erase the Poison Fang Sect from the world!"
"RAAAGH!"
The Lantern Sect's sabers grew sharper with mounting momentum, and the Poison Fang Sect members were pushed further and further back.
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Then, as if steeling himself for something, Poison Fang Sword pulled a red pill from inside his robes and swallowed it.
'Hm? That's......'
His second-in-command and third-in-command followed suit, and before long every last member of the Poison Fang Sect had taken a red pill as well.
"Ngh...... ngh...... NGGAAAH!"
Three Lantern Sect warriors had been pressing Poison Fang Sword back—then he suddenly erupted with an enormous Qi Wave and sent all three of them flying three jang away in a single blast.
"Huff...... huff...... huff......"
Е n u̇m а.ïd̄
White steam poured from his mouth with every deep exhale.
His face flushed crimson, and his eyes burned an even deeper red.
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Ha, fuck, that's......
'Blood-Explosion Pills.'
The very same thing Gye Cheol-yeong had used during his exam.
Between two forces that had barely any gap in skill to begin with, the scales began tipping drastically.
Ѐnú ma
The Poison Fang Sect members, drunk on the power of the Blood-Explosion Pills, drove the Lantern Sect back in unison.
"GAAHK!"
The first Lantern Sect member went down with a severe wound.
"KGHK!"
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"Wh-what is this......!"
One after another, Lantern Sect warriors began falling.
Ē n̄ üm̆а̇ . і d
Just as I was about to step in and break it up, thinking the Lantern Sect members might all die at this rate—
"The Lantern Sect is eternal!"
Now what?
This time, a Lantern Sect member swallowed a pill he'd been clutching.
The rest of the Lantern Sect followed suit, and a tremendous Qi Wave rippled outward.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
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'You bastards are on Blood-Explosion Pills too?'
......What the fuck kind of murim battle turns into a junkie showdown?
While I lamented the absurdity—
The fight locked back into a stalemate.
Knowing they couldn't afford to exceed a hundred moves, both sides threw caution to the wind and forced reckless attacks, and the fighting grew increasingly savage.
'What a mess.'
Eṅ u mа̀
Blood-Explosion Pills were useful when fighting an opponent of similar level—under the premise that the opponent hadn't taken one.
In a situation like this, it was nothing more than Mutual Destruction.
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Everyone seemed to know it, because as they neared the hundred-move mark, movements on both sides began slowing.
"Haaaah! Haaaah! Haaaah!"
"......D-dammit, what do we do?"
The ultimate game of chicken, each side staring down the other.
Wё b̌nǒ v̄ е̃ l̆ Е nu_mа̂
Unable to fight on, yet unable to stop after coming this far.
A tense silence hung between the two forces—
When an enormous Qi Wave erupted from within the Lantern Sect's ranks.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!
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The source was none other than Deung Go-hyeon.
Though fifty moves had passed since taking the Blood-Explosion Pill, his martial arts uniform still bulged as if about to burst, and his hair floated in the air, buoyed by the explosive Qi Wave.
Еn̆u m а
"I'll...... I'll kill every last one of you!!!"
"S-sir! If you push any further—"
A Lantern Sect member rushed to stop him, but Deung Go-hyeon answered not with words but with his saber.
SLASH—!
The saber severed the neck of the sect member who'd tried to restrain him, and a fountain of blood erupted.
"Th-this...... what......"
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While the Lantern Sect members stood frozen at the sudden turn—
Deung Go-hyeon shot toward the Poison Fang Sect members like lightning.
SLASH—!
Blood fountained as three Poison Fang Sect members' heads rolled across the ground.
Three necks severed in a single stroke.
"Uh, uh-heh-heh-heh!"
Е̊n um̄ а̇
Apparently impressed by his own feat, Deung Go-hyeon began swinging his saber again.
Merciless movement.
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The Poison Fang Sect members fought back desperately, but for some reason the gap between them and Deung Go-hyeon had become enormous.
WHOOOOSH!
SLASH—! SLASH—! SLASH—!
The speed of his saber was extraordinary.
Е_n̂ û_mа . і ď
He even sliced through a Sword-Qi-clad blade before lopping off the Poison Fang Sect member's head—and that display of might was enough to send the terrified survivors fleeing.
But.
"Wh-where do you think you're going! Today, I won't leave so much as a root of the Poison Fang Sect!"
BOOM!
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Deung Go-hyeon, crazed with malice, kicked off the ground and soared. Clods of earth tore loose and sprayed dirt in every direction.
His footwork was a shambles, but his speed was insanely fast—enough to cut off the Poison Fang Sect member who'd fled first.
Е̇n u m а̌.ī d́
'......The Blood-Explosion Pill can do this?'
No matter how potent a Blood-Explosion Pill was, there was a limit to how much it could draw from a person's Latent Power.
Deung Go-hyeon clearly seemed to have exceeded that limit by a wide margin.
Moreover, Deung Go-hyeon had killed one of his own sect members first.
As if defying the very laws of the world......
THUMP, THUMP.
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Just then, the Red Phoenix Bracelet shuddered against my body.
The moment I lifted my gaze and locked eyes with Deung Go-hyeon—
"......!"
Goosebumps rippled across my skin.
His eyes had turned entirely black, like obsidian.
'Demonic Art......'
Wеb nо v е̊ l Еn̆ ùm̂ ă
Those accursed eyes were staring at me as if appraising prey.
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