Wandering Warrior Village, Sword Guesthouse.
The inn's floor was stained with blood and groans.
"Kyaaaagh..."
"Kuheok..."
About thirty wandering warriors writhed in agony, collapsing all over.
This had happened in not even a quarter of a quarter-hour since the fight began.
Devil Tiger, one of the warriors, stared at the scene in horrified shock.
His broken arm trembled, blood dripping to the floor.
'... I couldn't even follow him with my eyes... An incredible expert...!'
Devil Tiger could not forget what he had just witnessed.
Jaseong's swordplay, unfolding the Heaven Evading Flash Sword, struck like a thunderbolt from the heavens.
With every burst of flash, several warriors spurted blood fountains and collapsed at once.
No one managed to counter Jaseong's sword.
No, not even to properly see it.
It was a sword art so fast, it left one wondering if he was even human.
On top of that, his companions were also mighty experts.
Gu Janghu flung chopsticks as hidden weapons, disabling two or three at a ti.
His technique, striking vital points with perfect accuracy, incapacitated the warriors in an instant.
Every ti Lee Rin unleashed a palm technique, she nearly froze a warrior solid.
Their bodies slamd into the wall, spat blood, and fainted in one blow.
Their overwhelming martial arts filled every villager in the Sword Guesthouse with dread.
Only the two top experts of the Wandering Warrior Village—the Scarlet Scythe Lady and the Thousand Daggers Lecher—could still put up a fight.
When those two stepped forward, Devil Tiger felt a flicker of hope.
"Blood Bell Scythe Art ultimate move: Blood Hand God!"
The Scarlet Scythe Lady's massive scythe emitted a crimson aura as it targeted Jaseong's left side.
"Crimson-Yellow Twelve Cords, ultimate technique: Shadowless Flying Blade!!"
Thousand Daggers Lecher circled around Jaseong, seeking his vital points as he hurled twelve throwing knives.
The blades he threw were infused with powerful sword energy.
A fierce two-man attack from the top two experts of Wandering Warrior Village.
But Jaseong remained emotionless.
'Heaven Evading Flash Sword, first form: Heaven Evading One Flash Glory.'
As Jaseong swung his sword, a beam of light slashed horizontally.
Next—
Kakakakakakang!
The twelve throwing knives coming from all directions bounced off, every last one deflected with ease, despite the sword energy within.
One of the deflected blades lodged itself in the Scarlet Scythe Lady's abdon, showering her with a rough blood fountain.
Chuaaaaak!!!
"Kyaaagh!"
Seeing the Scarlet Scythe Lady collapse instantly, Thousand Daggers Lecher's eyes froze.
But Jaseong's astonishing display didn't stop there.
Srrrk!
In an instant, Jaseong's body split into two, bewildering Thousand Daggers Lecher.
The fully-matured Heaven Evading Phantom Step produced such a vivid afterimage, it was impossible to tell the real from the fake.
'Heaven Evading Flash Sword, second form: Heaven Evading Phantom, Traceless.'
Dazed, Thousand Daggers Lecher couldn't even tell how he had been struck.
He only saw a flash flicker before his eyes, and then—Chuaaaaak!—a fountain of blood erupted from shoulder to chest.
Just like that, the two experts crumpled before Jaseong's flash, like scarecrows.
'Scum not even worth using Celestial Gate Opening Art on.'
Jaseong muttered inwardly as he sheathed his blood-soaked sword.
Blood was spattered everywhere around him.
"Keuheuk...."
"Aaagh...."
Witnessing this overwhelming scene, the innkeeper and errand boy Cheon Woong stared in disbelief.
Even if the fad White-haired Blade Elder of the village intervened, could he do what this man just did?
That question arose naturally.
At the sa ti, Cheon Woong's small body trembled in awe.
How much tornt had he suffered at the hands of these warriors?
Jaseong's overwhelming martial arts washed away that resentnt like a refreshing sumr shower.
Surprisingly, Jaseong's punishnt did not end there.
"Gu Janghu."
"?"
"Do you know how to destroy the dantian?"
"...!"
Gu Janghu's eyes faltered at Jaseong's words, imdiately realizing what he wanted.
Of course, as soone from Killing Valley, Gu Janghu knew how to destroy a dantian.
"If you destroy the Ki Sea, Central Pole, and Crooked Bone acupuncture points around the dantian, one can never use internal energy again."
"I see. Then destroy all their dantians."
"Understood."
Jaseong and Gu Janghu proceeded to destroy the dantians of Thousand Daggers Lecher, scarlet Scythe Lady, and all the remaining warriors.
"Kkeeuuuaaaaagh!!!"
"Aaaagh!!!"
"F-forgive us, great hero! Pl-please, have rcy... AAAGH!!"
Naturally, destroying the dantian ca with unbearable pain.
Moreover, it ant far more than just losing internal energy.
At this mont, the warriors had beco cripples, unable to even walk properly.
Too cruel?
But there was not a hint of pity in Jaseong's eyes.
'... I am not kind enough to show compassion to trash.'
Considering all that the Scarlet Scythe Lady and Thousand Daggers Lecher's gang had done in the Wandering Warrior Village, this was the least he could do.
And another thing—
In the martial world, once you draw your sword, you must shed blood thoroughly to avoid later trouble.
That was why Jaseong destroyed their dantians without even a trace of compassion.
"So those so-called top four experts of the Wandering Warrior Village weren't even worth drawing a sword for."
Lee Rin approached and spoke.
"But, great hero... What on earth did you train during those ten days of seclusion? That sword art you just used—I never saw it during the Dark Path Duel Banquet...?"
It was only natural for Lee Rin to be astonished, since Jaseong had revealed a brand new sword art after just ten days, and its power was incredible.
But Lee Rin didn't hear Jaseong's response.
Because, in the next mont, Gu Janghu approached and spoke.
"But, leader... Now that we've revealed our true skills, it'll be hard for us to secretly gather information on those Three Souls Hall bastards. What should we do?"
Gu Janghu's concern was understandable.
Now that they had shown their true strength in the village, news of a new expert would make Three Souls Hall act even more cautiously.
Jaseong, however, was not worried.
In fact, he had already thought it all out.
"There's nothing to worry about."
"?"
"As long as you have sword and money, there's no trouble you can't solve."
"What do you an...?"
Jaseong looked around.
The only ones still standing in the Sword Guesthouse were the innkeeper and errand boy.
The rest of the warriors lay sprawled on the ground.
Clack—
Jaseong locked the door of the Sword Guesthouse.
Then, tossing fifty silver coins to the stunned innkeeper, he asked,
"Do you have empty rooms?"
"Y-yes! Of course we do!"
"Thirty will be staying. For the next ten days and nights."
"Wh-who...?"
"These pieces of trash here."
"Wha...?!"
Afterward, Jaseong bound the crippled warriors and locked them in empty rooms.
He told the innkeeper to keep them alive, as it was easier than dealing with thirty corpses.
"And only you and the errand boy are witnesses. You understand what that ans, don't you?"
"Y-yes...! I'll never speak a word of it, ever!"
In this way, Jaseong blocked the massacre from spreading beyond the inn.
Finally, he approached the errand boy Cheon Woong and handed back the stolen coin pouch.
"Take it."
"Th-thank you...!"
"And when everything's over, co with to Ansun."
"Huh...?"
"I'll find a doctor to treat your big sister and soone to protect your younger sister."
"Wh-what do you an...?"
"You no longer have to bear this burden alone."
Cheon Woong was left speechless by Jaseong's unexpected words.
'Why is he being so kind to ...?'
Cheon Woong couldn't understand, but at the sa ti felt a deep, powerful warmth.
Since his parents died, no one had ever reached out to him like this.
His reddened eyes overflowed with fat tears.
Watching Cheon Woong, Jaseong thought of his own past.
Toiling all day, laughing with his older brother over a pot of ager porridge—those childhood days.
In truth, at this mont, Jaseong was saving his past self.
* * *
As Jaseong subdued the two top experts of the village in an instant—
The reason Three Souls Hall had been absent from the Wandering Warrior Village was simple.
From the mont Jaseong arrived in the village, they had been outside it.
A deserted hall not far from the village.
Among broken pillars and shattered tiles, about twenty n in black martial robes embroidered with the character 'Soul' stood.
Each one exuded the energy of an expert.
It beca clear why even the Hainan Sect among the Nine Great Sects couldn't track them down.
Among them, three n with especially deep energy sat hidden in the darkness.
First Soul, Second Soul, and Third Soul.
These were the three most powerful in Three Souls Hall, distinguished thus.
Their faces were completely obscured by masks and shadows, eerie as evil spirits.
But why had Three Souls Hall co to this abandoned hall?
There was only one reason.
"You all must be the renowned leaders of Three Souls Hall."
A middle-aged man with thick eyebrows approached First Soul, Second Soul, and Third Soul, their faces hidden in shadow.
It was Murong Dangcheon, head of the Mocheon Sect.
His windbreaker fluttered, radiating an intimidating energy.
"You really ca alone, head of Mocheon Sect,"
First Soul, a man with a large blade strapped to his back, spoke in a low voice, his masked eyes raking Murong Dangcheon sharply.
"I said I would co alone, didn't I? Unlike myself, you all brought your subordinates."
"We didn't promise anything. When soone from the Righteous Faction of the Central Plains calls to et us, isn't it natural to be wary?"
"Hmph. That's why I ca alone. I thought you might doubt and be on guard against my intentions."
"Enough pretense. I hear you have an attractive proposal for us. What is it?"
"In the past, your Three Souls Hall has been hounded by the Hainan Sect and various orthodox sects, wandering all over the Central Plains. Isn't that life tireso now?"
Murong Dangcheon smiled mysteriously as he spoke.
First Soul frowned, unable to read his intent.
He had expected an assassination request, but this didn't seem like that.
"Tireso, you say... Why do you ask?"
"Stop wandering about the Central Plains. Stay and prosper here in Guizhou City. I, the Head, will make the arrangents."
"What...? What do you an?"
"Just as I said. I will guarantee that you, Three Souls Hall, can operate covertly in Guizhou City."
All of Three Souls Hall's mbers doubted their ears at Murong Dangcheon's words.
Under First Soul's mask, his eyes trembled minutely.
"Until now, whenever you carried out kidnappings, the local orthodox sects hunted you down. The Murim Alliance was notified, and their experts were summoned. But I have no intention of doing that."
"... What?"
"If a human trafficking case arises in Guizhou City, I'll report it as bandit activity. Especially, I'll ensure your nesis Hainan Sect can't even set foot in Guizhou City. In exchange,"
"......?"
"Hand over thirty percent of the money you make through human trafficking and such to . Consider it a protection fee for ensuring your safe operation."
"......!"
For an orthodox sect leader to make such a proposal—Three Souls Hall found it hard to believe.
First Soul's gaze sharpened, and Second Soul's mouth set into a hard line under his mask.
"... Unbelievable. True, so orthodox people have, at tis, hired us for assassinations. But to guarantee our human trafficking operations... This is a first."
"I fail to understand."
"?"
"Why do you think it impossible simply because I belong to the Righteous Faction?"
"......!"
"In the world of righteous martial arts, there is no place for the lowly in the virtues of justice and morality. Aren't the likes of peasants and wandering warriors rely pests who trouble the Central Plains? Might as well sell them for profit. Hahaha."
Such were the thoughts of one raised within the entitled bloodline of the Murong family.
When he first heard of Three Souls Hall's arrival, Murong Dangcheon had planned to wipe them out and seize their gold bars.
But on second thought, he couldn't know how much gold they carried—they might have hidden it sowhere.
So he chose to simply support Three Souls Hall's business.
Letting them operate covertly in Guizhou City, receiving thirty percent of their profits.
Of course, Murong Dangcheon's confidant, Faceless Ghost, had first voiced concerns about this plan.
'... Head. If it's discovered our Mocheon Sect is colluding with notorious criminal gangs in human trafficking, we'll face destruction.'
'It doesn't matter. I have no intention of allying with Three Souls Hall for long.'
'Sir...?'
'Once we pay off most of the money borrowed from the great martial world lenders, we'll trap Three Souls Hall, destroy them, and erase the evidence.'
'......!'
'Then we'll claim all the gold bars they amassed, and boost the sect's renown as the heroes who eradicated Three Souls Hall.'
'But what if those Three Souls Hall bastards realize they've been betrayed and start shouting that we've backed them?'
'Don't worry, Faceless Ghost. Who would believe the word of a notorious criminal gang? If rumors spread, we'll simply claim to have humored the gang to set up and destroy them.'
'As expected... An impressive plan.'
On top of that, Murong Dangcheon wanted to use Three Souls Hall to sweep away the botherso Fierce Sky Faction and the Hao Sect's Ansun branch.
He spoke again.
"There's a thriving pleasure district in Guizhou City. Especially in the Red Light District of nearby Ansun, there are plenty of pretty courtesans. Seizing and selling them would fetch a fortune."
"......."
"Also, there's the pleasure district in Gaeyang, run by the criminal Fierce Sky Faction. Trendous wealth flows there. If you take over their business, you could amass mountains of gold."
First Soul was silent for a while at Murong Dangcheon's words.
Shrouded in shadow, his face seed to be deep in contemplation.
* * *
Roughly an hour later, First Soul finally spoke.
"It's been a long ti since I t soone whose thinking aligns with mine."
"......."
"As you say, the worthless lives of the commoners, once shipped off across the river to Guangdong, are turned to gold. Any fool would refuse such profit."
"So your decision?"
"Fine. We'll hand over thirty percent of the money we earn from selling commoners. But on one condition."
"A condition?"
"We can't trust you so easily. As a token of your promise, send one of your sons to us."
Murong Dangcheon's brow twitched at First Soul's condition.
But it wasn't entirely unexpected.
After all, he too planned to double-cross Three Souls Hall eventually, and they no doubt intended the sa.
"Very well. By tomorrow, I'll send one of my sons to Wandering Warrior Village."
Murong Dangcheon thought of his fourth son, Murong Jin.
The one with the least talent, the most useless among his brothers.
"Bold and direct—I like that. Head of the Mocheon Sect. Then let us et here again in a month."
"Fine. Bring the protection fee to give then."
With that, Murong Dangcheon turned to leave.
But then, as he walked away, one of Three Souls Hall's n spoke to his back.
"To ride the sa boat as the Murong family bloodline... You're just as much a villain as us. Hahaha."
His laugh was not mockery, but the camaraderie of a fellow criminal.
But in the next instant—
"Haha. Just as much a villain..."
Murong Dangcheon laughed with him, then—
Shuack! Chuaak!
He unsheathed his sword like a bolt of lightning, slicing off the man's ear.
A stream of blood splattered across the floor.
"Watch your tongue. The blood of the Great Murong is not the sa as you criminals."
"Aaagh!"
"If I wished, I could annihilate you all right here and now."
The terrifying presence of a peak-level expert shook the ruined hall.
Broken pillars quivered from his murderous energy as dust scattered everywhere.
Witnessing this, First Soul slowly rose from his seat.
His black martial robes rippled in the darkness.
"My subordinate got carried away. Please accept my apology, head."
"......."
"But don't overestimate yourself. We are Three Souls Hall."
The tension in the hall was palpable.
Murong Dangcheon wore a cold smile as he sheathed his sword.
Then he turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Watching his retreating back, the three leaders of Three Souls Hall wore chilling gazes.
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