Chapter 134

His father’s name was Yeop So-pyeong.

It was during his father’s generation that Yeop So-pyeong’s family had moved to Tibet. The reason for their move from the Central Plains to Tibet was unknown, but the father and son had lived very diligently. As a result, they were able to build a certain foundation for themselves.

That was, until the monks of the Small Thunder Sound Temple visited a few years ago.

When the monks of the Small Thunder Sound Temple first came, Yeop So-pyeong’s father lost his life. He had stepped forward to protect his beloved grandson and was struck down by the monks.

After that, Yeop So-pyeong burned with resentment toward the Small Thunder Sound Temple. He scraped together information about the temple, determined to save his child somehow.

As befitting a mysterious sect, there was almost nothing known about the Small Thunder Sound Temple. They thoroughly blocked all information, and if anyone spread even the slightest rumor that was harmful to them, they would chase them to the ends of hell and punish them.

Because of this, even those who knew something about the Small Thunder Sound Temple kept their mouths shut. They feared that if they spoke out of turn, the blood monks of the Small Thunder Sound Temple might come for them.

No one gave Yeop So-pyeong any information. But Yeop So-pyeong did not give up.

The tenacity of a father whose child had been taken was truly remarkable. He delved into even the smallest pieces of information, and a few people, impressed by his determination, cautiously shared what they knew.

Like scraping together millet grains scattered on the floor, Yeop So-pyeong tenaciously gathered information about the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

“The Jijon of the Small Thunder Sound Temple is called the Dharma Master. The current Dharma Master is a man named Blood Buddha, and his martial arts are said to be so great they reach the heavens. There are rumors that he has mastered a divine art called the Heavenly Dragon Layered Supreme Gang.”

Yeop So-pyeong didn’t even know what kind of martial art the Heavenly Dragon Layered Supreme Gang was. He had only heard that it was the highest martial art of the Small Thunder Sound Temple and that Blood Buddha had mastered it.

“Blood Buddha has about ten subordinates, who are called the Blood Thunder Ten Monks. Under them are three hundred Mara Blood Monks, who are the true main force of the Small Thunder Sound Temple. Besides them, I know there are three or four other organizations raised for special purposes. I believe the ones who kidnapped our children were also for the purpose of cultivating weapons to be used for a special objective.”

Compared to the effort he put in, the knowledge Yeop So-pyeong had was not much. It was information that anyone could find with a little effort. But for Pyo Wol, it was a great help.

Originally, an assassin would collect and analyze as much information as possible before taking action. If this were a normal situation, Pyo Wol would have also wandered around the Southern Wood Forest and calmly gathered information first. But he couldn’t do that this time.

Now that Heuk Am had entered, the Small Thunder Sound Temple would realize Pyo Wol had come and would be preparing.

The more time passed, the more disadvantageous it became for Pyo Wol.

That was because the defenses of the Small Thunder Sound Temple would become that much stronger.

Quick Battle Quick Resolution.

He must not give them time to respond properly.

No matter how much Heuk Am was a member of the Small Thunder Sound Temple, it would be hard for them to easily believe the information he conveyed about Pyo Wol.

That was how much Pyo Wol’s abilities deviated from common sense.

The opportunity was now, while the monks of the Small Thunder Sound Temple were still half-believing, half-doubting. If any more time passed, they would be convinced by Heuk Am.

Pyo Wol rose from his seat. At that, Ah-myeong also shot up.

“I’m going with you.”

“Nonsense!”

Pyo Wol coldly dismissed him and turned away. Ah-myeong then grabbed onto Pyo Wol’s trouser leg and clung to him.

“Why? I can be helpful too. Let’s go together.”

Ah-myeong showed no intention of letting go until Pyo Wol gave his permission. But Pyo Wol had no reason to indulge his childishness.

Thwack!

Pyo Wol lightly struck Ah-myeong’s Dazhui acupoint.

Ah-myeong couldn’t even scream as he lost consciousness.

Yeop So-pyeong caught Ah-myeong’s collapsing body.

“I apologize. This boy hasn’t slept a single peaceful day since his younger brother was kidnapped. He thinks it’s all his fault that his brother was taken. It’s no use telling him not to think that way.”

“……”

“Ah-myeong will not be a hindrance. I pray that you will safely achieve your goal.”

Yeop So-pyeong bowed his head to Pyo Wol.

He did not know the extent of Pyo Wol’s martial prowess. He didn’t think Pyo Wol could bring down the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

The Small Thunder Sound Temple possessed a force and power too vast to be brought down by a single individual.

It was for the same reason that many sects in Tibet, despite holding grudges against the Small Thunder Sound Temple, did not dare to challenge them.

However, if there was one thing Yeop So-pyeong hoped for, it was that Pyo Wol would inflict even a small amount of damage on the Small Thunder Sound Temple. He wanted to show them that not everyone in Tibet would bow down to them.

Yeop So-pyeong silently watched Pyo Wol’s receding back.

‘Please, kill at least one more…’

He hoped his wish would be conveyed to Pyo Wol.

After leaving the village, Pyo Wol returned to the Southern Wood Forest.

His stamina had fully recovered while talking with Yeop So-pyeong. Having had a simple meal of dry rations, his body was also in peak condition.

There was no reason to hesitate.

Pyo Wol went to the stream he had been eyeing.

The water in other places tasted the same, but this place was different.

There were more fish in this stream, and above all, the taste of the water was subtly different.

It meant that the environment was more suitable for fish to live in than other streams.

Pyo Wol thought the reason was that human excrement was being discharged through this place.

When many people live together, the biggest problem is dealing with excrement. That’s why large cities all put effort into maintaining their sewage systems. But in a forest like this, there was no reason to build a separate sewage system. It was enough to let it flow into the surrounding streams.

Pyo Wol thought the stream he was at was such a place.

No matter how profound the formations used to deceive the eyes, they couldn’t hide something as fundamental as this.

Pyo Wol walked into the stream without hesitation.

As he walked upstream for a long time, an unfamiliar landscape suddenly appeared. But Pyo Wol was not deceived by the scenery.

He closed his eyes and listened only to the sound of the water.

He gauged his direction only by listening to the splashing sound of his steps in the water, not trusting any other sense.

Pyo Wol continued upstream like that for a long time.

Walking a path he had never experienced before, relying only on his hearing while blocking out all other senses, was by no means an easy task. But for Pyo Wol, who had trained his senses to the extreme in the underground cavern, it was not that difficult.

After walking for nearly three shichen, the fishy smell and stench became particularly severe. The stench that pierced his sense of smell was enough to make him lose his mind.

Only then did Pyo Wol finally open his eyes.

A huge temple was visible in the distance.

The temple, shrouded in darkness, looked like a monster in itself.

The plaque hanging on the main gate of the temple caught Pyo Wol’s eye.

Small Thunder Sound Temple.

He had finally arrived at his destination.

The stream Pyo Wol had walked along was passing through the underground of the Small Thunder Sound Temple. As Pyo Wol had expected, the Small Thunder Sound Temple was discharging its excrement through the stream.

Even from a distance, he could feel people moving busily inside the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

The atmosphere felt too unusual to be considered normal movement.

Pyo Wol had no trouble guessing the reason.

‘It seems that man has been blabbing about me.’

He was neither surprised nor shaken, as he had already anticipated it.

It was useless no matter how much they strengthened their guard.

Pyo Wol had already secured a perfect infiltration route.

Pyo Wol walked into the stream where filth was floating.

The water rose to his chest.

A stench so foul it was hard to breathe rang in his head.

It was a stream full of excrement from over a hundred people. This level of stench was to be expected.

Pyo Wol accepted the stench, which would make an ordinary person faint just from smelling it, with a calm expression.

For Pyo Wol, who had lived in the underground cavern, this level of stench could have no effect on him.

He submerged his entire head into the stream where excrement floated. He paid no mind to the filth clinging to his body and continued upstream.

In the middle, an iron bar as thick as a child’s forearm appeared. It was made to guard against potential intruders.

A trap was installed so that if even one of the iron bars was cut, a connected string would ring a bell inside.

It seemed impossible for even a child to squeeze through the gaps between the iron bars. But Pyo Wol thrust his head between the bars without hesitation.

Slither!

He slipped through the iron bars as if he were a snake.

Once he passed the iron bars, there was nothing left to stop him.

Pyo Wol poked his head out of the stream.

He could see light through an opening above.

The opening was the latrine where the monks of the Small Thunder Sound Temple relieved themselves. Pyo Wol confirmed that no one was around and came out.

As it was a smelly space, the security around the latrine was lax. No one in the Small Thunder Sound Temple thought an outsider would invade through here.

It was a common blind spot for sects that had never once been invaded by outsiders.

Because nothing had ever happened before, they thought nothing would happen in the future.

Thanks to this, Pyo Wol was able to easily hide inside the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

The first thing Pyo Wol did was find a nearby well and briefly wash off the filth from his body.

It wasn’t because he was dirty, but because he was worried about being discovered by the monks due to the stench from his body.

Circulating his internal energy to dry the water on his body, Pyo Wol surveyed the interior of the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

He heard the voices of monks.

“I don’t know who they think would dare sneak into the temple for them to be doing this. What is this useless act in the middle of the night?”

“I think so too, but it’s an order from above, so we have no choice.”

“In the hundreds of years of our temple’s history, we have never once allowed an outside intrusion… Who would dare to even think of invading our temple?”

“Didn’t I say it’s an order from above? Stop complaining and stand guard.”

“Yes!”

The complaints of the monks, who were suddenly forced to stand guard like a bolt from the blue, soared to the heavens.

It was a natural complaint for those who had never experienced this kind of work. Pyo Wol watched them for a moment before hiding himself in the darkness of the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

Inside the largest great hall of the Small Thunder Sound Temple, a man in a black form was prostrated.

It was Heuk Am.

In front of Heuk Am, the Dharma Master of the Small Thunder Sound Temple, Blood Buddha, and the top experts, the Blood Thunder Ten Monks, were arrayed.

Blood Buddha looked down at the prostrated Heuk Am with cold eyes.

“So what you’re saying is that you’ve fled here, chased by an assassin?”

“I’m… sorry.”

“And yet you haven’t even seen the assassin’s face, nor heard his voice once?”

“Yes!”

Heuk Am’s voice grew smaller and smaller. In contrast, the anger on Blood Buddha’s face grew deeper.

He slammed the table and shouted.

Bang!

“Do you think that makes any sense? To be chased for nearly a month by an assassin whose face you haven’t even seen. And we’re supposed to be wary of that assassin? I cherished you and spared no support, yet you disappoint me like this.”

“However, Dharma Master. You must believe me. What I said is true. He exists. He is…”

“Fine! Let’s say such a person exists. But you couldn’t even eliminate a mere assassin and came back with him on your tail?”

“That’s because I wasn’t prepared… If I am given enough time, I can eliminate him. Please give me a chance.”

Thud!

Heuk Am begged, pressing his head to the floor.

Blood Buddha frowned and looked at Heuk Am.

‘There’s no reason for that child to lie.’

He knew well how proud Heuk Am was.

If Heuk Am, who hated admitting failure more than death, was saying this, there was a high probability that what he had said so far was true.

Blood Buddha looked at the Blood Thunder Ten Monks.

“What do you all think?”

The Blood Thunder Ten Monks whispered among themselves, gathering their opinions. Then, the oldest monk answered as their representative.

“We all know that Heuk Am is not one to lie. Therefore, his claim that he was followed must not be a lie either. Normally, he should be punished, but he has taken revenge on the Qingcheng Sect. Since he has fulfilled the Dharma Master’s command, I believe he should not be punished.”

“Is that so?”

“Instead, we must capture the assassin who threatened Heuk Am. It will be difficult for him to invade because of the formations set up in the Southern Wood Forest, but just in case, how about we release the hunting dogs?”

“Hunting dogs?”

“Yes! The Mad Blood Monks under my command are skilled in such matters. If we release them, they will capture him on their own.”

“Hmm! Will they be enough?”

“They will be sufficient. No matter how great his abilities are, he will surely be caught in the formations and wandering the Southern Wood Forest. Catching such a person is as easy as flipping one’s palm.”

“That makes sense.”

Blood Buddha nodded his head.

The atmosphere in the hall was leaning towards releasing the Mad Blood Monks. But at that moment, Heuk Am was screaming internally.

‘No! That’s not enough. How can you possibly catch him with the likes of the Mad Blood Monks? That man is not as naive as you think.’

Heuk Am was going crazy with anxiety.

If he had his way, he would want to raise the alert to the highest level and release more troops to catch him. But the current atmosphere was by no means favorable to him.

If he uttered one more word here, it seemed they would interrogate him and lock him deep underground.

Blood Buddha and the Blood Thunder Ten Monks were more than capable of doing so.

Knowing this, Heuk Am kept his lips tightly sealed in his prostrated position.

‘In the end, I can only trust myself.’