Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 193 : Troublesome Guests (1)

Seo Mun-ryeon's eyes widened as if she were surprised for a moment. But she soon shook her head.

"I don't trust people, but I trust desperation. When you want to grasp at straws, if you hand them a rope, it's human nature to give up even their liver and gallbladder."

Looking at Seo Mun-ryeon's expression, it seemed as if she had already received several secret manuals.

Otherwise, there was no reason for Seo Mun-ryeon to speak with such conviction.

"What martial arts of the Jongnam Sect do you want?"

"The Taiyi Divine Art."

At the mention of the Jongnam Sect's secret divine art, Jin Sa-wol judged that she had a good reason to covet it.

Seo Mun-ryeon glanced around and asked quietly.

"How about joining hands with me this time and becoming the Demonic Cult Leader?"

Ambition was burning in Seo Mun-ryeon's pupils as she asked Jin Sa-wol. Her true purpose for coming to him was the Demonic Cult Leader.

"Hands?"

"You can just marry me. If you have the Seo Mun family at your back, there's nothing you can't do."

"That's not a place for me to go."

Jin Sa-wol coldly refused and then said again.

"I'll accept the request for now. And can I meet that disciple of the Jongnam Sect?"

"If you come to Kaifeng."

"I'll stop by soon."

Seo Mun-ryeon decided to make a plan to capture Jin Sa-wol if he came to Kaifeng.

Swish! Jin Sa-wol, who saw Seo Mun-ryeon standing up from her seat, asked as if he had suddenly remembered.

"What about Cheon Yu-myeong?"

"If I had found him, I would have already told you. I'm going now. I have a lot to do."

"I won't see you off."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Seo Mun-ryeon pouted her lips and showed a sulky expression.

Jin Sa-wol pretended not to know and avoided her gaze.

Seo Mun-ryeon went outside and then met Jo-rim for a moment and spent some time.

It wasn't that they had a special conversation, but since they had met for the first time in a long time, they just talked about the past.

After Seo Mun-ryeon left, the person who entered Jin Sa-wol's room was Bi-sun.

"The eldest daughter of the Seo Mun family wouldn't have just come all the way here... It's not serious, is it?"

"She asked if I had any thoughts of becoming the Demonic Cult Leader."

"Hmph!"

Bi-sun looked at Jin Sa-wol with a face of astonishment that he had never seen before. He had not been so surprised even when the inn had burned down.

Bi-sun, as if he had come to his senses, changed his expression and asked.

"She just said something useless and left."

Bi-sun shook his head at the thought that it was absurd. It was not something Jin Sa-wol should be interested in either.

Jin Sa-wol brought up another topic.

"She also made a murder for hire."

"Who?"

"Na Hyeon-gi."

Hearing Na Hyeon-gi's name, Bi-sun was not as surprised as before. Since he had already been surprised once, it seemed there was nothing more to be surprised about.

"I don't know what kind of intention she came with."

Although Bi-sun showed a face of not being able to understand, Jin Sa-wol shook his head.

"The head of the Na family has returned to the Demonic Cult. He says he wants to become the Cult Leader. What do you think?"

"He's not a tiger that has grown enough to show his claws yet, is he?"

"What if he has grown?"

"What do you mean?"

"The head of the Na family killed the disciples of the Jongnam Sect. He also killed Ha Shin-hak."

Ha Shin-hak was an absolute master who could not be killed even if the Demonic Cult wanted to. The number of Demonic Cult members who had died at his hands was over a hundred, so he was one of the orthodox faction members that the Demonic Cult wanted to kill the most.

"If that's true, he must have gained a great reputation within the cult."

"Those who had a grudge against Ha Shin-hak would also follow him."

"If the head of the Na family becomes the Cult Leader, we can clean up all those who drove us out when Cheon Yu-myeong was the Cult Leader. I'll also pay back my personal grudges..."

"The head of the Na family asked me to take charge of the Ghost Spirit Valley. I refused that order."

"Oh dear."

Bi-sun had a face full of regret.

Jin Sa-wol stood up with an expressionless face and opened the window.

As a cool wind blew, he felt his chest cool down.

"If the head of the Na family tries to kill me, what will you do, brother?"

Although it was a sudden question, Bi-sun just stared at Jin Sa-wol's back.

Today, he felt unusually lonely.

'The head of the Na family kills Brother Jin.'

Bi-sun contemplated for a moment and let out a deep sigh. No matter how much he thought, there was no answer.

If he wanted to kill him, it was not an impossible thing.

"That won't happen. But if by any chance such a thing happens, I'll be by your side."

"Hoo hoo."

Jin Sa-wol laughed lightly and nodded.

This time, Bi-sun asked.

"If the head of the Na family tries to kill me, what about you? What will you do?"

"I have to kill him."

Jin Sa-wol turned his head, glanced at Bi-sun, and then turned his eyes out the window again.

"Na Hyeon-gi."

There was no hesitation in his answer.

***

Na Hyeon-gi was sitting quietly in front of a small round table with a wine cup.

"He's late."

The appointment time was noon. But the time was passing noon.

After another half a shichen (one hour) had passed, Na Hyeon-gi could hear footsteps.

Na Hyeon-gi, who had turned his head, nodded when he saw Dokgo Hyeon in a black martial arts uniform entering the room.

Dokgo Hyeon also just nodded when he saw Na Hyeon-gi and did not open his mouth to greet him. It was an atmosphere that said they were not on such terms.

"Is it the first time since we attacked the Cheon Cult Leader together?"

"It was a while ago."

"It wasn't that long ago."

Dokgo Hyeon nodded. Since there was liquor, he naturally raised his hand, poured a cup, and drank it.

He didn't even seem to care if there was poison in the liquor.

"You came all the way to see me. What's going on?"

"I'm trying to become the Cult Leader."

At the words 'Cult Leader', Dokgo Hyeon was about to drink his liquor and then put down his cup.

Dokgo Hyeon's eyes examined Na Hyeon-gi's whole body.

"It's not a joke."

"I'm always serious. I don't think it will be difficult if I join hands with the Dokgo family."

"With us?"

"Who is the person closest to the Cult Leader right now? It must be Gung Ma-yeop."

As Na Hyeon-gi said, Gung Ma-yeop was the person closest to the Cult Leader. As the tiger disappeared, the fox played the role of king, and he was also the person with the greatest power in the cult at present.

He would probably hold an elder's meeting soon to discuss the election of the Cult Leader.

"Are you saying you'll drive out Gung Ma-yeop?"

"Of course."

"You're very confident."

Dokgo Hyeon, as if he knew where Na Hyeon-gi's confidence came from, said again.

"Don't think you can become the Cult Leader just because you have the cooperation of the Seo Mun family."

"It seems possible if the Dokgo family helps. First, let's drive out Gung Ma-yeop, and then we can fight for the position of the Cult Leader, can't we?"

Na Hyeon-gi's intention was to drive out the biggest enemy and then fight.

"Where is Jin Sa-wol?"

Suddenly, Dokgo Hyeon looked for Jin Sa-wol. Hearing that name, a deep wrinkle was made on Na Hyeon-gi's face.

It was a name he disliked hearing now.

"I don't know."

"That's a shame."

"You seem to be very interested in a trivial killing ghost."

At the word 'trivial', Dokgo Hyeon laughed lightly. But on Dokgo Hyeon's face, which had stopped laughing, there was a lot of anger.

"When we drove out the Cheon Cult Leader, Gung Ma-yeop also contributed his strength, and you also put in a lot of effort. You have a lot of merit. But the one who showed the greatest strength was Jin Sa-wol. Because Brother Jin's martial arts were so great, the Cheon Cult Leader ran away. If it weren't for Brother Jin, we would all have died. If Brother Jin says he will become the Demonic Cult Leader, our family will help without any conditions. But you are not."

At Dokgo Hyeon's words, Na Hyeon-gi cast a subtle gaze. It was a look of wounded pride.

But that was only for a moment. Na Hyeon-gi showed a smile and poured liquor into his cup.

"If there's anything the Dokgo family wants, I'll give it all. But I will be the Cult Leader."

"It seems our family looks ridiculous. Do you think we can't beat you?"

Although he heard Dokgo Hyeon's words, Na Hyeon-gi ignored them and drank his liquor.

"I will marry Dokgo Hye. In any case, there's no one to take her, is there? Are you going to let her live alone in a single room for the rest of her life?"

"Don't drag my sister into your ambition."

As Dokgo Hyeon's prayer became stronger, Na Hyeon-gi raised his cup as if he understood.

"I will. But it would be better to hold my hand. If I become the Cult Leader as I am, I might destroy the Dokgo family."

"Hahahaha! I acknowledge your ambition. But you will have to take responsibility for what you have said today in the future."

Dokgo Hyeon stood up from his seat as if he were offended. Na Hyeon-gi stopped him.

"What if I kill Gung Ma-yeop?"

"Then I will acknowledge you and help you."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise on my name."

Dokgo Hyeon put his name on the line because he thought it was an impossible thing anyway.

As Na Hyeon-gi nodded, Dokgo Hyeon hurriedly went outside. After he left, Dam-ji came in a short while later.

She showed a smile and poured liquor into Na Hyeon-gi's cup.

"He gets excited more easily than I thought."

"Because the Dokgo family are the ones who value cooperation the most in the Demonic Cult. They are like a pillar that can set the crooked Demonic Cult straight. They don't compromise with injustice and fight to the death if they are enemies."

"That's a story that's only possible when you have strength. If you don't have strength, you have to survive even by bowing your head."

"I got a promise, so I achieved my purpose. Now all that's left is Gung Ma-yeop."

He knew well that Dokgo Hyeon was a person who kept his word once he had spoken.

If he killed Gung Ma-yeop, the Dokgo family would surely help him.

"But the words about marrying Dokgo Hye. Were you serious? Hmph! What's so good about a widow like that."

"It was a joke. I just mentioned it to excite him."

At Na Hyeon-gi's smiling words, Dam-ji erased her angry expression and said with a serious face.

"There's some bad news from Luoyang."

"Bad news? If it's Luoyang, it's Jin Sa-wol."

"Yes. Jin Sa-wol says he has no intention of taking charge of the Ghost Spirit Valley. He insolently refused the family head's proposal. And..."

"And?"

"He also killed the killing squad I sent. They were people sent to punish Jo-rim, who had betrayed the Hwahwaru, but he even gave a warning. He said she was his person, so don't touch her."

Na Hyeon-gi stroked the head of the very angry Dam-ji. Dam-ji, who felt Na Hyeon-gi's touch, relaxed her expression as if her anger had subsided.

Na Hyeon-gi, recalling Jin Sa-wol, cast a hot gaze into the air.

Dam-ji's voice was heard again.

"Jin Sa-wol is ignoring the family head. I don't think we can just leave him like this. How dare a killing ghost of the Ghost Spirit Valley disobey the family head's order."

Dam-ji's words were not wrong either. But Jin Sa-wol was a special person to Na Hyeon-gi.

He was a benefactor and a friend who had saved his life.

But still, there was a discomfort in his heart. Because the martial arts of Jin Sa-wol, whom he had met after several years, had surpassed his own.

Not only that, but he had become an absolute master to the point where he could not even reach his toes.

Dokgo Hyeon of the Dokgo family was following him, and Gung Ma-yeop also acknowledged Jin Sa-wol's martial arts.

He knew that Cheon Yu-myeong had also retreated from Jin Sa-wol's sword. All of that felt like a lie.

'A killing ghost...'

Jin Sa-wol was a killing ghost of the Ghost Spirit Valley. Although he was a killing ghost who stood out among the numerous killing ghosts, it was just that much.

'It was jealousy.'

Na Hyeon-gi felt that his emotion at that time was jealousy. Even knowing that, he had to hide it.

Because he had no power.

But now he had power. He was confident that he could kill anyone he fought.

"Send one more time."

"Yes?"

"Tell him to take charge of the Ghost Spirit Valley one more time."

"Yes, I will."

Dam-ji answered, stood up, and quietly went outside.

(End of Chapter)