The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

The Gwangjung Faction, which had been running ahead, felt a change after one mealtime had passed.

The presence of the Sadok Sect, which had been aiming for the disciple of the Ten-Armed Blood Ghost just like them, had disappeared in an instant.

Yeom Ugil, the elder of the Gwangjung Faction, stopped in his tracks.

"Wait."

At Yeom Ugil's command, the martial artists of the Gwangjung Faction stopped all at once.

"What about the Sadok Sect?"

"They were following right behind us until a moment ago... but they suddenly disappeared."

'Suddenly disappeared?'

Yeom Ugil was forty-eight years old.

To survive in the rough and ruthless world of the unorthodox faction for over forty years, one had to not only have outstanding martial arts skills, but also be quick to judge the situation.

He began to carefully assess the situation.

'Something is strange.'

As Yeom Ugil placed his hand on his sword hilt, the martial artists of the Gwangjung Faction who were following him also held their breath and half-drew their swords.

"Jwaboo. Go and check where the Sadok Sect went."

"Yes."

The martial artist called Jwaboo went back the way they had come with one of his companions.

And so, another koku of time passed.

Jwaboo did not return.

'As expected, something is strange.'

This time, Yeom Ugil drew his sword completely.

At that, the rest of the martial artists of the Gwangjung Faction also drew their swords and began to be on guard.

"Everyone, listen. Don't let your guard down..."

Before Yeom Ugil could even finish his words, he had to swing his sword.

Clang!!

It was because he had to deflect the sword that had flown from the forest at a lightning-fast speed.

His palm tingled.

Moreover, the sword that had been deflected by his sword was a sword that Yeom Ugil knew well.

'That's Jwaboo's sword.'

Jwaboo, whom he had sent to check on the Sadok Sect, had not returned, and only his sword had returned.

"So you are the disciple of the Ten-Armed Blood Ghost! What did you do to Jwaboo!"

At his shout, a man appeared from between the forests.

A handsome man wearing an enemy's robe.

Yeom Ugil intuitively realized that he was the disciple of the Ten-Armed Blood Ghost.

"I wonder."

At Jin Sohyun's answer, Yeom Ugil narrowed his eyes.

"Did you kill him?"

—Everyone, move secretly. The opponent is a user of flying sword techniques. If we get close, we can deal with him.

While talking with Jin Sohyun, Yeom Ugil sent a telepathic message to his subordinates.

The martial artists of the Gwangjung Faction who had received his telepathic message moved secretly and spread out wide.

"I never imagined that the disciple of the Ten-Armed Blood Ghost would be here."

"But why do you keep calling my master the Ten-Armed Blood Ghost?"

"He's your master, and you don't even know that? The Ten-Armed Blood Ghost is Kang Cheon's old title. No, perhaps it's the title that suits him the most."

Jin Sohyun looked down at his white martial arts robe.

It was definitely a white robe.

But now it was stained red with blood.

The fishy smell of blood that had been piercing his nose was no longer felt.

'Have I gotten used to it... this smell?'

It wasn't just the smell of blood.

Now he no longer hesitated even in killing.

Jin Sohyun felt that he, who had become numb to death, was unfamiliar.

Yeom Ugil's eyes sparkled as he felt that Jin Sohyun was confused.

'His skills are sufficient, but he still lacks experience in the martial world.'

Yeom Ugil, a seasoned master of the martial world, did not miss the opening.

"Jwaboo was a father with three children. He had lost his wife early, so his children had only their father."

"..."

Jin Sohyun's gaze trembled.

"I won't deny it. As you think, we are the unorthodox faction. But before that, we are the same humans. Are we not? There is no reason for us to kill each other."

"Then why did you come?"

"We had no other choice. The Heretic's Path Alliance is at the pinnacle of the unorthodox faction, and if we don't follow their orders, we will be eliminated. And then eventually... we will all die."

"So you came to kill the next-generation talents?"

"I won't deny that either. But can you give us a chance? We are all someone's father, child, and brother. You are also someone's child, are you not?"

Yeom Ugil stuck the sword he was holding into the ground.

It was to show his intention with his empty hands.

"There is no need for us to shed any more blood. Is there not?"

"That's right."

As Jin Sohyun nodded slightly, a smile formed on Yeom Ugil's lips.

"Let's each go our own way. We will return to where we came from... and you too..."

Yeom Ugil said, maintaining a kind smile.

"Go back to where you came from."

As soon as his words ended, the martial artists of the Gwangjung Faction who had been secretly approaching Jin Sohyun rushed in.

"If that place is the underworld, I'll pass."

Jin Sohyun's complicated expression instantly turned cold.

Yeom Ugil, who saw this, realized that something was wrong.

But his realization was too late.

"Thousand Hands, Piercing Cone."

As Jin Sohyun extended his two hands forward, the swords that had shot out from between the bushes flew towards the martial artists who were rushing towards Jin Sohyun.

Thwack thwack thwack—!!

The eight martial artists collapsed with swords stuck in their abdomens or chests.

'Was it a trap!'

Jin Sohyun, who had dealt with a part of the Gwangjung Faction's martial artists in an instant, threw his body.

He opened the front of his robe and took out a flying sword from the flying scabbard hidden inside.

Two flying swords left Jin Sohyun's hand.

Swoosh—!

The two flying swords, imbued with the power of a single line of splitting lightning, aimed for Yeom Ugil.

"This brat!!"

Yeom Ugil swung his sword fiercely and tried to deflect the two flying swords.

But Yeom Ugil did not know.

How strong a power the single line of splitting lightning, imbued with all of Jin Sohyun's strength, contained.

The moment he pushed his blade in, Yeom Ugil felt his sword being pushed back.

'No.'

Two streaks of lightning pierced Yeom Ugil.

"This... monster..."

Yeom Ugil, who had vomited dark red blood from his mouth, could not continue his words and collapsed.

As their leader died instantly with large holes in his chest and abdomen, the martial artists of the Gwangjung Faction fell into chaos.

"Aah... aaak!!"

"It's a monster!"

"R-Run away!"

There was no way that the martial artists belonging to the unorthodox faction would have a sense of loyalty.

Watching the martial artists of the Gwangjung Faction who were scattering in all directions to save themselves, Jin Sohyun gasped for breath.

"Is it alright to just let them go?"

"It'll be fine. Right now, it's more urgent to help the other officials than to chase them."

Oh Seolhwa, who had felt that Jin Sohyun's breathing had become rough, looked at him with a concerned gaze.

'Is Young Hero Jin himself alright?'

The number of unorthodox faction members that Jin Sohyun had faced to get here was over a hundred.

Although he had fought while controlling his internal energy as much as possible, their number was too large.

Moreover, he had even displayed his sword control art to deal with the Gwangjung Faction.

Of course, there was no way his internal energy would be left.

"Young Hero Jin."

Oh Seolhwa blocked Jin Sohyun, who was about to move.

"Rest for a bit. I will stand guard for you."

"No. I'm fine."

Even if Jin Sohyun did not do qi circulation, he was slowly recovering his internal energy just by breathing.

But Oh Seolhwa, who had no way of knowing this, had no intention of letting him go and spread her arms.

"I can't let you go. The lives of the other officials are important, but..."

Oh Seolhwa stuttered.

"Y-Young Hero Jin's life is just as important."

Although Oh Seolhwa's cheeks seemed red, Jin Sohyun had no time to care about that.

"I'm still fine."

"What do you mean, you're fine! There wasn't a single easy opponent among the unorthodox faction members that the Young Hero has faced! Young Hero Jin is also overexerting himself to deal with them!"

This was true.

Young Hero Jin was overexerting himself so that not a single official would die.

The mental fatigue was accumulating more than the physical fatigue.

No matter how hard he tried to ignore it, their deaths were clearly left in Jin Sohyun's mind.

"There's no need to overexert yourself like that alone."

Oh Seolhwa's hand was placed on Jin Sohyun's shoulder.

It was a warm touch, as if her heart were being conveyed.

Jin Sohyun lightly grabbed Oh Seolhwa's hand and put it down.

"I haven't found her yet."

"Haven't found her? Who?"

"Siu."

"Siu... ah, Young Hero Jin's maidservant..."

"Yes. Siu has never learned martial arts. She won't be able to escape from these people."

Jin Sohyun smiled lightly, as if to say not to worry.

"Don't worry. I won't collapse until I find Siu."

***

"Hoo... hoo... hoo...!"

Jong Ryeo'ak's breath was rough.

His back was drenched in sweat, and his steps were also heavy.

"Damn it."

"I'm fine, so put me down. I'll take care of myself."

"Shut up! What are you going to do when you can't even run properly!?"

"I'm not a martial artist, so they might not kill me. At this rate, we'll both die!"

Siu struggled to get down from Jong Ryeo'ak's back.

Jong Ryeo'ak, who could not stand it any longer, discovered something and threw his body there.

"Get down!"

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had arrived at a cave, put down Siu, whom he had been carrying on his back, and pushed her into the cave.

"Stay here and don't move."

"Yes! I'll stay here, so you run as far as you can, mister."

Siu ran to the inside of the cave and squatted in a corner.

Jong Ryeo'ak, who was watching this, turned his body and stared at the outside of the cave.

There was no need to spread his qi sense wide.

Their enemies were now moving openly.

'Why did this happen? What on earth is the Martial Arts Alliance doing?'

Jong Ryeo'ak looked down at his left arm.

There was a deep cut that had only been barely stopped from bleeding.

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had first encountered the unorthodox faction members, had thought they were instructors dispatched from the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

How would they obstruct him this time?

Would they throw dung bags again?

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had thought little of the appearance of the black-clad men, had hidden Siu behind his back and had drawn his sword the moment they had exuded killing intent.

Because his response was late, his left arm was cut.

'This is real!'

The killing intent they were exuding was real.

Also, the black-clad men were not instructors dispatched from the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

"Hehehe! What a windfall! There's a wench too?"

"This bastard is quite something."

"Don't waste time, attack together and kill him."

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had realized that these were not martial artists belonging to the orthodox faction, immediately raised his internal energy and scattered his sword qi.

"Ugh!"

"It's sword qi! Dodge!"

While they were retreating, Jong Ryeo'ak ran with Siu on his back.

But no matter how outstanding his movement technique was, he could not continue to run away with Siu on his back.

'Should I just go like this?'

If he were to run away alone, there was a high possibility of survival.

But Siu would most likely die.

'She's a brat who has nothing to do with me anyway. And...'

Siu, who was squatting in the corner, smiled brightly.

"I'm fine, so hurry up and go."

Siu, who should have been more afraid than anyone because she didn't know martial arts, was forcing a smile and telling him to leave.

It was right to leave.

It was better to lead the martial artists of his sect and avenge Siu.

That was wise.

Jong Ryeo'ak tore at his hair.

"This... hell!"

He walked in front of Siu and raised his sword.

As he swung the sword he was holding wide, the outer wall of the cave collapsed.

"Kyak!"

While the surprised Siu was ducking, the outer wall of the cave collapsed, leaving a small gap between Siu and Jong Ryeo'ak.

"Don't move from there."

"Y-Young Mister Jong!"

Jong Ryeo'ak turned his back, holding his sword.

At the entrance of the cave, the unorthodox faction members who had been chasing them were standing, exuding a sinister aura.

"You didn't get far."

"It seems you've come to find your own grave."

"I should praise you for being smart. Hahaha!"

Jong Ryeo'ak stared at the seven unorthodox faction members who were laughing at him and revealed his teeth.

"I am Jong Ryeo'ak, the twenty-third disciple of the Jongnam Sect."

Jong Ryeo'ak laughed, revealing a ferocious killing intent.

"It's a hassle to deal with you one by one, so come at me all at once, you trash."

"What!?"

"You crazy bastard!"

Jong Ryeo'ak ignored their ridicule and raised his internal energy.

He raised his sword to the middle level and said.

"I will show you the sword of Jongnam."

(End of Chapter)