The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

“Are you going now?”

“Yes.”

Ju Opal hesitated and then held out his hand.

Jin Sohyun took his hand.

From Ju Opal’s calloused palm, the traces of a long time and the training that was like torture that he had gone through could be felt.

Ju Opal called himself a coward who had abandoned his family and villagers and had run away.

But Jin Sohyun did not laugh at him.

‘That’s what power is.’

For a young farmer who had only farmed his whole life to face the martial artists who had appeared to kill people was as good as suicide.

Surviving was the best that Ju Opal could do at that time.

So who could blame him?

Ju Opal stared at the waterfall that was pouring down without a single waver, even though 30 years had passed.

“I didn’t know that my fear was blocking me with an invisible wall. Maybe… I didn’t want to leave this place. Because I was… afraid of dying.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“I plan to return to my hometown. And I have to clean up what I haven’t been able to do until now. It’s already late, but I have to try something, don’t I?”

Ju Opal said with a bitter smile.

“Thank you. If I hadn’t met you, I would have been running away for the rest of my life, unable to escape from this place forever.”

“I’m also grateful. Thanks to you, Uncle Ju, I found my way.”

“I’m glad that someone like me was of help.”

Ju Opal, who had nodded his head, gently let go of the hand he was holding with Jin Sohyun.

“The path you are trying to walk is something that a commoner like me can’t even imagine. Please be healthy.”

“You too, Uncle Ju, be healthy.”

Jin Sohyun, who had nodded his head, said a short farewell to Ju Opal and then turned around.

The one who had gained enlightenment in the last valley was not only Ju Opal.

It was not an intended meeting.

Jin Sohyun, who had come up the mountain just to fill his own shortcomings, had encountered a fateful meeting there.

A man who was born a commoner but had tried to overcome the limits of his birth with effort.

Jin Sohyun went down the mountain, recalling Ju Opal’s 30 years.

The place he arrived at after coming down the mountain was the Cheonru of the Cheonhwagak.

And there was a welcome face there.

“It’s been a while.”

The leader of the Martial Alliance’s Hidden Shadow Unit, So Soil, looked at the handsome young man who had suddenly appeared.

So Soil soon guessed who he was.

“So you are the famous Jin Sohyun. It’s an honor to see you in person like this.”

“I’m sorry about that time.”

As Jin Sohyun brought up the matter at the Four Daoist Assembly, So Soil lightly waved his hand.

“You have nothing to apologize to me for. Thanks to you, we were able to finish the Four Daoist Assembly safely, so we are the ones who should be grateful. Moreover… it seems that I owe you my life this time.”

As So Soil’s words ended, Jin Sohyun stared at the empty air.

The empty air rippled, and a man appeared.

A gray beard and lifeless gray eyes.

“Which one are you?”

“…The first.”

“The first of the Ghost Star: Phantom Guest, the First Guest.”

“So you are the one who killed the Third Guest.”

The First Guest came with big strides, looking at Jin Sohyun with his gray eyes.

The overwhelming pressure emanating from his tall and large build was enough to make anyone feel intimidated.

“If it weren’t for the Sect Master’s order, I would have killed you on the spot. It’s a shame.”

Jin Sohyun did not bother to answer.

What was important was that he was not late and that So Soil was alive.

“Fortunately, I wasn’t late.”

So Soil, who had nodded his head, trembled as he recalled the past of just a few days ago.

Five days ago, So Soil, who had been ordered by the Alliance to deal with the brutes related to the Four Daoist Assembly, had come face to face with a man in the darkness.

His presence alone had made So Soil and the Hidden Shadow Unit unable to move.

‘He’s a master!’

So Soil had immediately recognized that he was a master.

The appearance of a master who could not be defeated even if the entire Hidden Shadow Unit rushed at him.

In a situation where he could neither survive nor run away, So Soil had tried to bite and swallow the poison pill embedded in his molar to carry out the rules of the Hidden Shadow Unit.

At that moment, the man said.

“Originally, you all should have died here, but you were lucky. Follow me.”

“Where are you trying to take us?”

Even at the moment he had prepared for death, So Soil had spoken to try to get even a small piece of information.

At that, the man said firmly.

“Don’t ask. I was only ordered to bring you, not to be your conversation partner.”

“…”

So Soil and the Hidden Shadow Unit had no choice but to follow the man.

With the determination to commit suicide by swallowing the poison pill if necessary.

And so, So Soil, who had come to Honggang, had met Jin Sohyun there.

And only then did he realize that it was Jin Sohyun who had saved their lives.

“By the way, what is the reason you were looking for the Hidden Shadow Unit?”

“Do you remember the martial artists of the Namrangbang who used birds at the Four Daoist Assembly?”

“I do.”

“I heard that you, Great Master, and the Hidden Shadow Unit are chasing the remnants of the Namrangbang. Did you… kill them all?”

“I did.”

At the words that all the remnants of the Namrangbang were dead, Jin Sohyun scratched his head.

As Jin Sohyun was at a loss, So Soil asked with curiosity.

“Why are you looking for the remnants of the Namrangbang?”

“Because I want to know how they control the birds.”

“That’s… all?”

“Yes.”

So Soil, who had heard Jin Sohyun’s story, contemplated for a moment and then stood up from his seat.

“If that’s the case, there is one way.”

***

Jin Sohyun, who had left the Cheonru following So Soil, met the gaze of the First Guest, who had walked out with him.

The First Guest was quiet.

He didn't move rashly, as if he had a cautious personality.

As if he were only acting as ordered, the First Guest only had killing intent in his eyes and did not use his killing techniques on Jin Sohyun.

“I don’t know how you persuaded the Sect Master, but I’ll be watching.”

“The reason I’m leaving the Hao Sect alone is one.”

Jin Sohyun said with a voice that had no pitch.

“Because Ma Seongun, who killed my master, is from the Heretic Path's Alliance. If it were the Hao Sect that had killed my master, I would not have spared any of you.”

The two martial artists stared at each other without a single concession.

The end of the unyielding confrontation was announced by So Soil.

“To get there, we have to go without a break for three days.”

Jin Sohyun, who had nodded his head, turned his back, and the First Guest raised his hand.

At that, Jin Sohyun, who was about to walk following So Soil, stopped in his tracks and said.

“This is the last time I’m letting you off.”

“…”

With these words, Jin Sohyun got into the carriage with So Soil, and Beomgang followed.

As the carriage disappeared along the main road, the First Guest lowered his raised hand and let out a light sigh.

“I think I know why the Sect Master joined hands.”

Given the personality of the Hao Sect Master that the First Guest knew.

There was no way he would join hands with a variable like Jin Sohyun.

But now he seemed to know the reason.

‘He’s a guy who doesn’t follow common sense.’

Although he looked very young on the outside, the power hidden inside him was something that even the First Guest could not dare to fathom.

In particular, the sharp momentum that Jin Sohyun had shown at the end had made even the First Guest, who had the strongest martial prowess among the Ghost Star: Phantom Guest, unable to move a single finger.

“It’s going to be chaotic… for a while.”

***

A thick smell of blood.

How many enemies had he killed to come here?

As he smelled the blood, he could feel the Blood Jade wriggling.

‘Is it not enough even after taking that much?’

The Blood Jade, which had begun to covet the blood of masters in earnest, wanted a new prey this time too.

A hunger that knew no limits wanted new blood.

And it was the blood of a master who had trained in martial arts for a long time.

“I couldn’t finish it that time. Let’s finish it today.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Kang Cheon spread his hands and unfolded all ten of his flying swords.

The ten swords that had soared into the sky using the sword control were all aimed at Ma Seongun.

“It’s a familiar sight.”

Ma Seongun smiled, recalling the moment that was both the future and the past.

There was a huge gap between his helpless self who had been defeated then and his current self that was incomparable.

Although he had not been able to properly face even the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains.

But not anymore.

Ma Seongun, who had taken the power of the masters with the power of the Blood Jade, was at a point where he could not control his overflowing power. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

“Kang Cheon. Show me again. The sword you showed me at the end…”

“Hmm! Do you think you can block them all? A guy who could barely block one.”

“So show me. Everything you have.”

Ma Seongun said this and swung the Bloodstone Sword.

A force of great power was contained in the lightly thrown slash.

Kang Cheon, who was surprised by the unexpectedly strong power, threw two flying swords and countered Ma Seongun’s slash.

But two flying swords were not enough.

‘I’m being pushed back.’

He could already not match Ma Seongun in internal energy.

Kang Cheon had to bring two more flying swords and block Ma Seongun’s slash with a total of four flying swords.

“Phew—!”

A frustrated breath burst from his mouth on its own.

“You seem to be struggling.”

“This is on the light side.”

“Don’t bluff. The slash you just blocked didn’t even contain three-tenths of my power. And this time, I plan to put in five-tenths of my power. So.”

Ma Seongun said with a smile.

“Don’t die so futilely.”

As the second slash came, Kang Cheon brought all his flying swords in front of his chest and put all his internal energy into them.

And then.

Ma Seongun’s slash and Kang Cheon’s Flying Heaven Ten Sword clashed.

Kwa-ga-ga-gang—!!

With a huge explosion of ki, all ten flying swords were deflected.

And at the same time, a rough sandstorm blew.

Ma Seongun swung his sword and sent a sword wind.

As the sword wind cleared all the sand dust, there was… no one there.

“Kang Cheon…”

Ma Seongun gritted his teeth and quickly looked around.

But Kang Cheon had already erased his presence and had been gone for a long time.

Gu Jucheol had also disappeared.

‘Was he planning to run away from the beginning?’

Ma Seongun felt anger at his own painful mistake.

He had never thought that Kang Cheon, who was called the Ten-Part Blood Demon, would run away in front of an enemy.

The reason the Flying Heaven Sword Master had lost his life in the fight between the Martial Alliance and the Heretic Path's Alliance was because of Kang Cheon’s such tendency.

But.

‘It’s changed.’

The Flying Heaven Sword Master, who had not retreated even until the moment of his death, had chosen to run away himself.

Ma Seongun’s existence had changed the martial artist named Kang Cheon.

“Tsk…”

Although it was very regrettable that he had missed Kang Cheon, one of the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains, and Gu Jucheol, who was comparable to him, his disappointment did not last long.

Because they would come to find him someday.

And when that day came, he could just feast to his heart’s content.

Ma Seongun came out of the messy Sword Saint’s mansion, holding his hungry stomach.

To find a new prey.

With his empty eyes flashing.

On the other hand, Kang Cheon, who had barely managed to escape by obscuring his vision, carefully put down Gu Jucheol, whom he was holding in his arms.

‘His breathing is rough, and his pulse is irregular.’

Kang Cheon realized that Gu Jucheol’s time was not much left and his heart became anxious.

“Hold on! Get a grip! You’re not someone who would die in a place like this!”

“Kang Cheon…”

Gu Jucheol followed Kang Cheon with his blurry gaze.

“Don’t say anything! I’ll go find a doctor!”

“Listen… to me carefully…”

“I told you not to talk!”

Kang Cheon, who had realized that Gu Jucheol was squeezing out his last strength, had no choice but to support him.

“If it’s a will… I’ll listen.”

“Sohyun… Jin Sohyun… Blood-Sucking… Sword Demon… his target is… Jin Sohyun… that child…”

“What do you mean? Ma Seongun is targeting Sohyun?”

“He… knows… that Sohyun… has a talent… that is not inferior… to his own… so… protect him…”

As he could no longer see in front of him, Gu Jucheol fumbled in the air with his crushed hand and found Kang Cheon’s shoulder.

He said, placing his hand on Kang Cheon’s shoulder for the last time.

“Make sure… that Sohyun… and that bastard… don’t meet.”

“Just trust me. Now, rest… peacefully.”

Kang Cheon realized that he could no longer feel any life from Gu Jucheol’s body.

“Rest peacefully.”

Kang Cheon, who had gently closed the eyes of Gu Jucheol who had ended his life, shattered a tree with his tightly clenched fist.

He wanted to find Ma Seongun right now and twist his neck in his rising anger.

But Kang Cheon could not do that.

“That bastard is getting stronger. Maybe…”

There was a high possibility that the Martial Alliance and the righteous martial world were the ones who were running out of time.

If this continued, the entire Central Plains martial world might collapse because of a single person.

Kang Cheon walked along the path, carrying the dead Gu Jucheol on his back.

A path whose end was unknown.

Along the long road.

(End of Chapter)