Chapter 126 – Revenge, and a Trap (8)

Pi-ahn calmly caught his breath. Despite his severe internal injuries, he still had the strength to fight.

After a moment, he dashed toward Yu-jin at an incredible speed, so fast that not even a shadow was visible.

But Yu-jin remained unfazed, extending his Radiant Wings in all directions, piercing and striking the empty air.

*Kwoooong!*

“Kugh!”

Pi-ahn, who had never imagined Yu-jin would use such a crude method to find him, gritted his teeth.

Yu-jin unleashed a palm strike concentrated with the power of the Nine Heavens Divine Demonic Arts toward Pi-ahn, who hastily twisted his body in mid-air and swung his sword.

*Kwakwakwaka!*

The palm strike flew toward the sky. But Yu-jin, having already launched it, had closed the distance to Pi-ahn and thrown a powerful punch, deflecting his attack.

Yu-jin threw another punch at Pi-ahn. Pi-ahn hurriedly tried to draw upon his internal energy.

But the Nine Heavens Divine Demonic Arts blocked the flow of his internal energy, and he ended up taking Yu-jin’s punch without being able to properly muster his strength.

In the end, Pi-ahn’s body was sent flying once more, crashing into the ground.

“Cough!”

He struggled to get up, but his face was already deathly pale, and dark red blood flowed from his seven orifices.

Furthermore, with each cough, fragments of his internal organs splattered out. Yu-jin watched him with a cold smile.

“The moment you allowed me to land a single punch, it was over for you.”

The Nine Heavens Divine Demonic Arts was the most foreign power in the world. Once it entered an opponent’s body, it completely severed the flow of their internal energy.

It was no exaggeration to say that Pi-ahn’s fate had been sealed the moment he was struck.

“To think… someone like you… exists in the Central Plains… Even the Great Dharma Master of Shaking Heaven… will have to… be on guard…”

Pi-ahn spoke as he felt his consciousness fading. But, as if unwilling to die just yet, he drew upon all the life force and internal energy in his body.

The Nine Heavens Divine Demonic Arts that had invaded his body tried to block his power, but Pi-ahn broke through it and threw his sword at Yu-jin.

The sword flying toward Yu-jin transformed into a thunder dragon, its mouth wide open.

“Tear him apart.”

But no sooner had Yu-jin spoken than an ink dragon, even larger than the thunder dragon Pi-ahn had created, emerged from Yu-jin’s body, tore the thunder dragon to shreds, and swallowed Pi-ahn whole.

*Kwoooaaaaaaang!*

Pi-ahn was completely obliterated without a trace. It was an empty end for the absolute master who had dreamed of reviving the Great Thunderclap Temple and advancing into the Central Plains.

Yu-jin glanced at the pool of blood before looking away.

“Consider yourself a dead man, Han Won-ha.”

The Beggars’ Sect, the Underworld Sect, and the Eastern Depot had already found proof of his collusion, and warriors from the Martial Alliance and the Imperial Family had moved to capture him.

However, Yu-jin had told the Martial Alliance and the Imperial Family not to kill him, and both groups had agreed.

* * *

A few days later, good news for the martial artists of the Central Plains and bad news for the martial artists of the Western Regions spread simultaneously.

-The martial artists of the Central Plains, swayed by the Western Regions, gathered to attack the Heavenly Dragon Brigade, but the Heavenly Dragon Brigade punished them without a single casualty.

Han Won-ha, imprisoned in the Thunder Prison, fell into despair at the news. He had risked capture to give information to the Western Regions, yet they had failed to deal with Yu-jin.

But he was completely restrained and couldn’t even commit suicide. Even if the Martial Punishment Hall wanted to save him, his crimes were too great, so Moon Won-sang had no choice but to abandon him. He was utterly alone.

Just then, prison guards came, took him from the Thunder Prison, and dragged him somewhere. The place Han Won-ha was taken to was a barracks, and there stood Yu-jin.

“Have you been well?”

Yu-jin spoke to Han Won-ha with a smile. But Han Won-ha only glared at him, saying nothing.

Realizing something, Yu-jin nodded and released Han Won-ha’s mute acupoint.

“I curse you! If it weren’t for you!”

At Han Won-ha’s anguished cry, Yu-jin looked at him with an expression of disbelief. The whole grudge had started with his brother and father, so why should he, an innocent party, be subjected to such a curse?

“Your father, and you… why are you all so shameless? Your brother was the one who touched my women first. He was the one who drew his sword on me when I was minding my own business. I was simply defending myself. And your father is ridiculous too, bringing warriors without even hearing the full story just because his son died. Don’t you think it’s strange, even to yourself? You people started the fight, yet I’m the one who gets blamed.”

“You have the power to spare everyone!”

“Don’t assume that just because someone is strong, they’ll automatically show mercy. And I gave them several chances. I made it clear multiple times that I had no intention of fighting. But they attacked me. You expect me to just lie down and die? I can’t do that.”

Han Won-ha could only grit his teeth at Yu-jin’s words, unable to say anything. Because what Yu-jin said was the truth, there was nothing he could say.

Yu-jin sneered at the silent Han Won-ha, then took something from his robes, unfolded it, and showed it to him. Written on it was an order to execute the traitor Han Won-ha. By Yu-jin’s own hand.

“You were too hasty. If you want revenge, you should wait a bit longer. ‘A gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years’—I suppose you’ve never heard that saying. Ah, but then again, I am a rather fearsome fellow to take revenge on.”

“Lord Yu-jin, please finish it quickly.”

Unable to watch Han Won-ha sink into the pit of despair, the guard spoke up, and Yu-jin nodded. Technically, killing him like this was against the law, but Yu-jin belonged to the Phantom Brigade.

He had the authority to execute criminals on the spot, so it didn’t matter. Yu-jin leaned in and whispered into the ear of the kneeling Han Won-ha.

“Princess Ju Yun-hui’s body was very hot. And she said the way you looked at her was utterly disgusting. That you didn’t know your place.”

Ju Yun-hui had never said such a thing, but Han Won-ha, having no way of knowing that, lowered his head.

Yu-jin, having given him despair until the very end, swung his sword and beheaded Han Won-ha. The guards collected Han Won-ha’s body as it rolled on the floor.

And a few days later, the Black Origin Fortress was mysteriously attacked and completely vanished from the world.

* * *

Yeon-hwa, who was in charge of the Beijing branch, the Heavenly Flower Pavilion, was promoted for her excellent work and was able to move to the Celestial Pavilion, where the Underworld Sect’s headquarters was located.

She would no longer be able to captivate high-ranking officials, but at the Celestial Pavilion, she would rarely have to sell her body. So, with mixed feelings of relief and regret, Yeon-hwa headed for the headquarters.

“I don’t care about the others, but it’s a bit of a shame I won’t get to see him again.”

Han Won-ha. A man who, unlike other officials, lived for only one woman. Even if their relationship was now impossible, he had not given up on his love.

All the men she had met until now, every single one of them, never refused a woman. That was why Han Won-ha’s unwavering love for Ju Yun-hui had captured her heart.

“Well, as long as he’s alive, I’m sure we’ll meet again someday.”

Thinking this, Yeon-hwa gazed at the beautiful scenery around her. The world was in an uproar over the advance of the Western Regions, but nature, as if unconcerned, only showed Yeon-hwa its beautiful sights.

“My lady.”

Hearing the voice of Cho-ryang, her loyal coachman, Yeon-hwa peeked her head out of the carriage in curiosity.

She saw a young man with quite handsome features. He looked like a scholar who had never practiced martial arts. The young man opened his mouth with a troubled expression.

“I apologize. I’ve lost all my luggage and have been left all alone. Excuse me, but would it be possible for you to give me a ride to Wuhan?”

At the young man’s words, Cho-ryang looked at Yeon-hwa, and Yeon-hwa studied the young man. He was a youth who looked as if he had ‘I am a good person’ written all over his face.

He didn’t seem like much of a threat to her, a martial artist, and in fact, seemed like he would be fun to tease. Yeon-hwa answered with a bright smile.

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you!”

At her reply, the young man bowed his head in thanks. Then, hidden from Yeon-hwa’s view, he smiled a smile that was utterly sinister. The young man’s name was Kang Yu-jin.

“My name is Yeon-hwa. And what is your name, young master?”

“My name is Jin Yu-gang.”

Yu-jin, who had changed his appearance through disguise, gave a false name. He looked at her bright smile and thought.

*’A beautiful courtesan.’*

A woman who possessed an explosive seductive aura, yet at the same time, an air of innocence.

She was too talented to remain a mere courtesan. On top of that, he could sense that her martial arts were also quite strong. But, as expected, a woman’s greatest weapon was a charm that could captivate any man.

*’This woman is likely a masterpiece crafted with the utmost care by the Underworld Sect.’*

Yeon-hwa was a courtesan, but one who could enthrall men and command them as her slaves.

The Underworld Sect had given her special training, teaching her how to seduce and manipulate men to achieve this.

But does this woman know?

That although she was raised with such care by the Underworld Sect, she has been abandoned by them?

*’No, it’s not that they abandoned her, but that they had no choice but to.’*

Yu-jin had gone to the Underworld Sect’s headquarters with Na Ye-jin, and the headquarters had no choice but to yield to him.

He was a hero of the martial world with formidable skills, but the power of the Imperial Family and the True Dragon Sword Clan behind him was something the Underworld Sect could not dare to withstand.

That was why they had abandoned Yeon-hwa, who had passed information about Yu-jin to Han Won-ha.

“Young master, what did you study?”

Yeon-hwa asked, looking at Yu-jin with eyes full of expectation. She had dealt with countless high-ranking officials while in charge of the Beijing branch, but it wasn’t simply because of her attractive body.

She had devoted herself to her studies to a degree that she was not inferior to the officials, and as a result, she possessed knowledge, martial skill, and a powerful charm that could encompass both.

“Well? I have read numerous books, but I’m not sure if you could call that studying.”

At Yu-jin’s words, Yeon-hwa looked at him with a puzzled expression. He said he read books but doesn’t call it studying—what did he mean?

Just then, Yu-jin gave a slight smile, and Yeon-hwa felt it was extremely ominous. It was a warning from the instincts she had honed over a dozen years as a courtesan.

“Because what I have learned is martial arts.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yu-jin deployed an energy barrier and grabbed Yeon-hwa by the throat.

“Gak!”

Yeon-hwa’s face flushed red instantly. Blood couldn’t circulate. Yu-jin smiled brightly at the captured Yeon-hwa.

“Woman, your courage is quite commendable, selling my information without knowing your place.”

Yeon-hwa’s expression turned to one of confusion at Yu-jin’s words. She couldn’t understand what he meant.

At her reaction, Yu-jin slightly loosened his grip and released his disguise, his face returning to normal.

It was a face Yeon-hwa knew well. The man called a hero in the current martial world—it was none other than Kang Yu-jin.

But she didn’t panic and pressed a device installed in the carriage. In that instant, her body was flung outside.

In truth, it wasn’t enough to escape his grasp, but Yu-jin helped her get away for the sake of a brief amusement.

“Let’s see you taste despair.”

Prey was best caught after being tormented.

Stepping slowly out of the carriage, Yu-jin looked at the coachman, Cho-ryang, who was glaring at him. Of course, Yu-jin had known from the moment he first saw him that the man practiced martial arts.

“You know who I am, don’t you? You must be well aware that you’re no match for me, yet you intend to oppose me?”

“I am only protecting my lady.”

In that moment, Cho-ryang’s figure vanished. He must have learned the martial arts of an assassin, as his concealment was superb. Of course, compared to Eun Seol-rin, known as the King of Assassins, it was nothing, but his skill as an assassin was exceptionally high.

“So that’s why his martial arts were weak. He’s an assassin.”

In truth, martial skill wasn’t that important to an assassin. The path a martial artist must pursue and the path an assassin pursues were completely different.

Eun Seol-rin, who was both an assassin and had reached the Transformation Realm, was an anomaly.

The Cho-ryang before him had weak martial arts, but as an assassin, he was a man who had clearly achieved everything.