Chapter 501: Even If the Bait Gets Chewed
Joo Gweol arrived urgently at the rear gate of the Chongqing Branch.
Just as the report had said, carriages were entering through that gate.
The enforcement martial artists guarding the rear gate simply watched the scene unfold. The reason they opened the gate was because of the Demon-Slaying Brigade martial artist, Jeong Hyeok.
The other Demon-Slaying Brigade members had gone with Jin Hagun to rescue the Famed Name Manor Lord, and Jeong Hyeok alone remained to bring the carriages into the Branch.
“What is all this?”
At Joo Gweol’s question, Jeong Hyeok replied.
“This is the external force reinforcements requested by the main unit.”
Jeong Hyeok answered exactly as Jin Hagun had ordered.
“You brought in reinforcements without even informing me?”
Joo Gweol couldn’t understand. Not only were the Branch’s forces assembling, but now even external support martial artists were gathering steadily. And on top of that, they had requested even more reinforcements?
‘Are they preparing for war or something?’
That thought naturally came to Joo Gweol’s mind.
“You may be part of the Demon-Slaying Brigade, but this is clearly a place where I am the leader. Bringing in reinforcements without my permission?”
Jeong Hyeok answered respectfully.
“This is an exclusive operation of the Demon-Slaying Brigade. In the current emergency situation, you’re aware that the decisions of the Demon-Slaying Brigade take precedence over the Branch’s, aren’t you?”
It was a valid point, and Joo Gweol couldn’t argue, but he couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment toward Jin Hagun.
‘Fine, disappointment is disappointment. But just who did he call in?’
Joo Gweol’s gaze shifted back toward the carriages.
“It doesn’t look like soldiers, more like supplies?”
The carriages were too large to be carrying just people.
Joo Gweol walked over and flung open the back door of the transport carriage.
In that instant, Joo Gweol was startled.
Inside were over a dozen martial artists. It was his first time seeing so many large-bodied individuals gathered in one place. And those people were now looking straight at him.
Of course, Joo Gweol, as the Branch Leader of the Martial Alliance, wasn’t someone who would back down just because the opponents were large—but this time, he did.
Normally, he would’ve shouted at them to get out of the carriage and state their affiliation.
But now, he was so overwhelmed by their aura that he couldn’t say a word.
Especially after locking eyes with one of them—his heart felt like it was shrinking.
He had met all sorts of martial artists during his life as a branch leader, but never had he felt such a strong presence.
The scar crossing the man’s face in particular made it clear—he had walked the path of Asura.
That man was none other than the Demonic Army Commander, Jangho.
Jangho stepped down from the carriage first, followed by other members of the Demonic Army. The other carriages opened in unison, and more Demonic Army members stepped out.
They weren’t just brutes with fierce looks and large frames. They had originally been elite—and under Jangho’s command as Demonic Army Commander, they had become the finest elite force.
Moreover, since it wasn’t possible to bring all two hundred members of the Demonic Army, only those with extensive experience and powerful martial skills were selected. It was the elite of the elite who had arrived.
Jeong Hyeok, who had already been informed, realized that the Demonic Army was a far more formidable force than what they had known.
Even now, they were concealing their demonic energy. Which meant their presence and aura would be even more overpowering once revealed.
Joo Gweol asked, trying hard to hide his surprise.
“Who are you people?”
To Joo Gweol’s question, Jangho replied in a thick voice.
“We’re here to support the Demon-Slaying Brigade.”
Having to utter the word Demon-Slaying himself did not sit well with Jangho. But in this situation, such things were trivial.
“Your affiliation?”
“None.”
Because it was unthinkable that the Demon-Slaying Brigade would bring in followers of the demonic path, Joo Gweol could not figure out the Demonic Army’s true identity.
‘Leader Jin, do you really think they’re going to strike us?’
Just then, it happened.
One of the Demonic Army members who had been standing near a building suddenly leapt onto the roof.
That massive frame landed lightly atop the roof. After scanning the surroundings, he came back down swiftly.
“He’s fast.”
Upon receiving a report that someone had been present and fled, Jangho asked Joo Gweol for confirmation.
“Did you station any subordinates over there?”
Joo Gweol had the thought, What sort of trick is this now? but answered truthfully for the moment.
“No.”
Jangho’s expression turned grave.
That meant someone was surveilling the area.
At that moment, other Demonic Army members began to move.
Three standing near the wall rushed toward it in unison.
Thwack! Crack! Thwaaaack!
The swords they thrust pierced through the wall.
Blood was smeared on the third Demonic Army member’s sword. Meanwhile, the one who had gone up to the roof earlier was now atop the wall, scanning the back.
There were bloodstains on the ground, but no corpse.
He reported to Jangho.
“Missed them again.”
People with that level of skill were watching them?
Jangho spoke hurriedly.
“They’re already inside.”
Just as Joo Gweol opened his mouth to say something, Jangho made a shh gesture to silence him.
Sensing danger, Jangho drew in his qi and searched the surroundings.
The silence was suddenly broken by a sharp gust cutting through the air.
Chwaaaaaaaaaaang!
A pitch-black rain of hidden weapons poured down.
“Iron Wall!”
At Jangho’s cry, the Demonic Army members instantly aligned, shoulders pressed together, backs facing inward as they drew their weapons in formation.
As the hidden weapons rained down, they spun their swords all at once.
Papapapapapapapapak!
The incoming hidden weapons were all deflected by the Demonic Army.
Joo Gweol and Jeong Hyeok deflected them alongside the enforcement martial artists of the branch. However, the branch martial artists, whose martial arts were relatively weaker, couldn’t completely fend off the hidden weapons.
Papapapapapak!
The one who leapt in and deflected the hidden weapons for them was Jangho.
“Thank you.”
Joo Gweol expressed his gratitude. But now wasn’t the time to leisurely exchange pleasantries.
With that hidden weapon attack as the signal, screams erupted from all directions and the clash of weapons rang out. The surprise attack had begun in earnest.
Jangho hurriedly asked Jeong Hyeok of the Demon-Slaying Brigade,
“Which way is the dungeon?”
“That way.”
Jangho ran in the direction Jeong Hyeok pointed and issued his command.
“Half of you, follow me. The rest, assist the Martial Alliance martial artists!”
Because letting the Martial Alliance’s people die was precisely what their enemies wanted, Geom Mugeuk had given the order to protect them as much as possible.
As per Jangho’s command, the Demonic Army split into two groups.
Half followed Jangho, and the rest ran with Joo Gweol and Jeong Hyeok toward the direction of the Main Division building.
Jangho ran in the lead.
He had already received word through the Heavenly Communication Pavilion about what was happening here.
That was why this mission was more special than any other. In truth, Jangho had no interest in the Martial Alliance martial artists or the orthodox world of Murim. The only person he cared about—
Seo Daeryong.
He had to protect Seo Daeryong, who stood at the center of this conspiracy.
In the distance, masked martial artists could be seen standing at the entrance of the building. The martial artists who had guarded the dungeon entrance were already down.
Realizing that masked intruders had already gone inside, Jangho’s heart grew anxious.
Shweeeeeeeek.
Their large bodies began to pick up speed.
Through a window along the corridor, a sliver of moonlight seeped in faintly.
Seo Daeryong was sitting on the edge of a worn, hard bed, gazing out through the barred window.
Come to think of it, this was his first time being locked up in a dungeon. He had always looked in from the outside of this dungeon.
He thought he ought to share this experience the next time they had a drinking session. He’d boast about it endlessly. Just thinking about the endless exaggerations thrilled him.
Back when I was locked up in the Martial Alliance’s dungeon, do you know who was in the next cell?
Plop.
At that moment, he heard the sound of water dripping from somewhere.
‘Is that coming from outside?’
But then, the smell of blood stabbed his nose.
Just as he realized it wasn’t the sound of water—but drops of blood falling—
Shuuuuuu.
The next moment, a masked figure slid into view right in front of the bars.
Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!
An order to kill must have been given—without a word, a hidden weapon flew into the dungeon.
Pak! Pak! Pak!
The hidden weapons that flew between the bars struck the bed. At some point, Seo Daeryong had overturned the bed to block the front of the bars.
‘Are they seriously trying to kill me without warning?’
Seo Daeryong was dumbfounded. If you're going to kill someone, shouldn't you at least show your face and say something like, “Because of this and that, you're going to die”? Just one word?
A blade aura came flying at the bed that had blocked the hidden weapons.
Shiiik!
The iron bars and the bed split clean in half.
And from the falling halves of the bed—
Swaaaash!
A stream of blade energy surged out like a storm.
Thinking Seo Daeryong had been subdued and unarmed, the masked attacker hadn’t been on guard and failed to dodge the attack.
Puaaak!
The blade energy sliced the masked man’s body apart, and he collapsed.
Seo Daeryong swung the blade once more and completely cut through the bars.
The moment he stepped out of the dungeon—
Swaaaash! Swaaaash!
Sword auras roared through the corridor, filling the space.
Kwaaajik.
A saber embedded into the floor.
Kwakwakwakwang!
Some of the sword auras clashed with the saber; the rest grazed past it.
Seo Daeryong infused his blade with inner strength and used it as a shield to block the sword auras. It was a defensive technique mainly used by his master, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.
‘These crazy bastards!’
Even after having his inner strength sealed and surrendering his weapon, he had doubted they’d go so far as to storm the Martial Alliance’s branch—but they truly had. These enemies defied all common sense.
The masked assailants who had unleashed the sword auras now charged toward Seo Daeryong. Their momentum as they thrust their swords while charging was overwhelming.
Seo Daeryong threw himself back into the dungeon. Though it looked like he was retreating out of fear, that wasn’t the reason. He judged it would be more advantageous to fight inside the dungeon than in the narrow corridor. In a tight space, a saber had the edge over a sword.
The three masked attackers were adept in coordinated assault techniques.
Chang! Chang! Chang! Chang!
Seo Daeryong struck back with his saber, parrying their sharp, thrusting attacks.
They pressed on relentlessly, not giving him a chance to counterattack, but Seo Daeryong blocked the storm of attacks with composure.
Compared to the finest elite martial artists, he might not have had as much real combat experience—but there was one thing that made up for it.
That was blood-drenched effort.
Seo Daeryong used to make a vow during training: any kind of regret before dying was fine, except this one.
‘Ah… I should have trained harder.’
The result of that effort was unfolding now.
His body moved faster than his mind. The movements he had drilled again and again flowed out naturally.
As Seo Daeryong staggered under the fierce assault, the masked man on his left seized the opening and lunged with a sword thrust.
Seo Daeryong regained his balance with agile footwork, then—
Shhhhhh!
Paaak!
Seo Daeryong’s saber severed the masked man’s neck. It had been a feint to lure the opponent in.
Seo Daeryong didn’t miss the opportunity that came with the collapse of their coordinated assault.
He pressed in aggressively and cut down the second masked man. Blood splattered from his arm during the exchange, but it had been a calculated move—giving up flesh to take bone. Once their formation collapsed, the fight proceeded entirely as Seo Daeryong intended.
Paaak!
Seo Daeryong sliced through the torso of the third masked man.
In this moment, Seo Daeryong was not the cautious, timid investigator. He was the sharp and bold martial artist, Seo Daeryong.
Having dealt with the three, Seo Daeryong stepped outside the dungeon.
Suddenly, his expression stiffened. At the far end of the corridor, a crowd of masked men came charging in. There were many of them.
If the dungeon had been breached this easily—then the outside must already be engulfed in battle.
The masked men charged in with a ferocity that disregarded death.
Seo Daeryong did not dodge. He infused his saber with his rising internal energy.
His saber trembled with a powerful vibration, and then the secret martial technique of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon unfolded.
Heaven-Extinguishing Demonic Blade Style, Third Form.
Blood Storm of the Annihilating Blade.
Blade energy extended from his saber and tore through the air in a spiraling storm.
The masked attackers saw it. Multiple blades of energy, split and spinning, flying directly at them.
Fuaaaaaaaaaang!
A rampaging attack within a narrow corridor—completely unavoidable.
Papapapapapapak!
Their charging bodies were shredded and scattered.
Even Seo Daeryong, who had unleashed the technique, was shocked by its power. It was his first time using Blood Storm of the Annihilating Blade in real combat, and its impact was overwhelming. But just as powerful was the cost—it consumed an immense amount of inner energy.
He had already depleted much of his energy blocking the earlier sword aura, and after using Blood Storm of the Annihilating Blade, he felt the strength drain from his entire body.
“Hoo...”
Seo Daeryong exhaled and examined a nearby corpse.
‘Who are you people?’
He had allowed himself to be captured deliberately, using himself as bait to find a clue through these men. Were they assassins? Mercenaries for hire? Or perhaps—
It was at that moment.
Swaaaash!
A single dagger flew straight at Seo Daeryong.
Chyaaaang!
Seo Daeryong deflected the dagger with his saber, but his blade trembled violently. The internal energy contained within the flying weapon had been formidable.
As he looked into the calm, composed eyes of the approaching masked man, Seo Daeryong understood.
‘This one is the leader.’
His grip on the saber tightened.
The masked man who appeared to be the leader didn’t say a single word. As if simply carrying out his assigned task, he charged toward Seo Daeryong.
Chaeaaang!
A heavy impact reverberated through Seo Daeryong’s arm. The opponent’s internal energy was overpowering him.
Chang! Chang! Chang! Chang!
What barely allowed Seo Daeryong to hold on was his martial technique. The Heaven-Extinguishing Demonic Blade Style, more refined and powerful than his opponent’s, was compensating for his lack of inner strength.
But his opponent wasn’t only overwhelming in terms of internal energy. His swordsmanship was precise, and his combat experience was deep—he showed no obvious openings. Moreover, the narrow corridor placed Seo Daeryong, who wielded a saber, at a disadvantage.
Papak!
Blood sprayed from Seo Daeryong’s arm. But there was no time to tend to the wound. The masked man relentlessly aimed for his vital points, thrusting his sword without pause.
Still, Seo Daeryong wasn’t simply being beaten down.
Paaak!
His saber slashed across the masked man’s body, and blood burst forth.
‘You bastard! The bait might get chewed on, but it won’t die so easily!’
Though fear lingered as he fought, Seo Daeryong felt a strange exhilaration as well. He thought, So this is why martial artists want to die fighting.
Chang! Chang! Chang! Chang!
Seo Daeryong was being pushed back, little by little.
Eventually, he was driven all the way to a dead-end wall. Blood splattered from his opposite arm and side.
‘Even if I die, I must see Master one last time.’
And in his final moment, the person who came to mind was Geom Mugeuk.
‘Thanks to Young Cult Leader-nim, I’ve lived a brilliant life!’
Shweeeeeek!
At the moment the flying sword aimed to pierce Seo Daeryong’s throat—
Kwaaaang!
One side of the wall exploded, and the masked man was slammed into the opposite wall.
Seo Daeryong saw it.
Someone had broken through the wall and hurled the masked man aside.
In that fleeting instant, the masked attacker tried to twist his body to block the blow—but the one who crashed through the wall was much stronger and faster.
The person who drove a sword through the masked man’s heart had a body nearly twice the size of a normal man.
Seo Daeryong could never fail to recognize him.
“Lord!”
The one who had saved him was none other than Jangho.
“Fortunately, I wasn’t too late.”
Their eyes met in midair.
Seo Daeryong was so stunned and moved that he didn’t know what to say.
That the person who said he’d come would be Jangho—he hadn’t imagined it even in his wildest dreams. Behind the broken wall, massive figures were lined up like a folding screen. They looked imposing and reliable.
Who would have thought these huge guys could be so welcome!
With trembling eyes, Seo Daeryong spoke to Jangho.
“You just missed your chance to become my right-hand man.”
Jangho gave a wide smile in return. To Seo Daeryong, never had that smile and those scars looked as impressive as they did now.
“Being your right hand sounds nice, but I couldn’t possibly let myself lose my precious drinking buddy, could I?”