Chapter 367

A boy who looked frail due to his hunched back, but whose eyes were always full of Poison Qi.

Those eyes, which had softened considerably while he ran the acrobatic troupe he had dreamed of since childhood, were now filled with their original—no, an even greater—Poison Qi.

Pyo Wol knew what such a look meant.

It was the look of a beast that had lost everything.

He didn’t know what had happened in the meantime, but it was clear that the boy had experienced a great loss.

So Gyeoksan’s gaze was fixed on Pyo Wol.

The moment he met that gaze, Pyo Wol realized. So Gyeoksan had recognized him.

Though he had changed his appearance and aura, there was one thing that would never change.

It was his eyes.

The occasional red glint that surfaced in his jet-black pupils was a trait unique to Pyo Wol.

So Gyeoksan remembered that look.

And so, he recognized him in an instant.

The reason why he was hiding his face and pretending to be someone else was not important. What mattered was that Pyo Wol had infiltrated this place like a viper, and that a ray of light was now shining on him, who had seen no hope.

But So Gyeoksan did not act rashly. He didn’t even acknowledge Pyo Wol.

He merely stared with his chilling eyes.

That gaze held many meanings.

Pyo Wol did not avoid So Gyeoksan’s gaze. Nor did he make any rash moves. He simply watched.

“Heh heh!”

So Gyeoksan suddenly let out a grim laugh and picked up the bowl that had fallen to the floor. Then, he began to scrape up the porridge with his bare hands and eat it.

The sight sent a chill down the spines of Hwang Akchu and his Subordinates.

If before he had simply seemed lost in madness, now it felt as if a sword was being held to their throats.

“Shit!”

Hwang Akchu shuddered and hastily closed the window.

He hurried to distribute food to the other rooms.

Although there were many rooms, only three, including the one So Gyeoksan was in, actually held prisoners. But Hong Yushin was not among them.

He was likely imprisoned in a different section.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Once all the food was distributed, Hwang Akchu hurriedly led his Subordinates outside.

Pyo Wol naturally followed them out.

As soon as they returned to the encampment, Pyo Wol blended into the crowd as smoothly as flowing water.

Hwang Akchu muttered.

“But didn’t eight of us go in?”

“What? Weren’t there seven of us?”

“No! I’m sure there were eight.”

“There are only seven of us now.”

“Hmm!”

Hwang Akchu furrowed his brow.

He was certain there had been eight when he counted. But now he could only see seven.

“Was I mistaken?”

“Doesn’t your mind play tricks on you when you’re stuck in this place for too long? Looks like it’s happening to you too, Captain.”

“You bastard! Are you saying I’m losing my mind?”

“Kil kil!”

Perhaps because the tension had eased, they joked around freely.

The unsettling feeling was naturally forgotten as he chatted with his Subordinates.

＊＊＊

Thud!

Gu Jahwang placed a pair of gauntlets on the table.

The gauntlets were so heavy that the stone-carved table resounded loudly.

They were gauntlets made from a special metal found only in the Western Regions.

They were three times heavier than iron of the same size, and their durability was more than five times greater.

An ordinary person’s shoulders would dislocate just from wearing them. Because of their immense weight, most Martial Artists couldn’t even put them on. But for Gu Jahwang, the weight was just right.

Gu Jahwang took out a dry cloth and began to meticulously polish the gauntlets.

The blood and flesh of countless people had stained them. Although he had wiped them down roughly, they would get damaged if not carefully maintained whenever he had time.

That was why Gu Jahwang polished his gauntlets whenever he had a spare moment.

In truth, in a place as sealed off as this, polishing his gauntlets was the only thing he could do.

“How boring! Knowing this, maybe I should have gone to Yingtan myself.”

It had been two shichen since he heard the news that people were looking for them at the Yingtan docks.

He had sent his Subordinates to investigate, but a sense of regret lingered.

No matter how strong he was, he was still human.

Living in a place so completely sealed off for so long, he yearned for the outside air. But if he, the leader, broke the rules and frequently went outside, the discipline of the prison would inevitably crumble. So he suppressed his desire and sent his Subordinates instead.

“Hmph!”

Gu Jahwang put on the meticulously polished gauntlets.

The tight feeling on the back of his hands and forearms felt good.

In this harsh world, the only things he could trust were his sturdy body and this pair of gauntlets.

Wearing the gauntlets, Gu Jahwang stepped outside.

A vast underground cavern came into view.

“Jade of No Regret… Whoever named it certainly named it well.”

A place from which one could never return once imprisoned.

He was the warden responsible for the Jade of No Regret.

As Gu Jahwang emerged, the Martial Artists in the barracks bowed one after another.

“Warden!”

“You’ve come out?”

Gu Jahwang nodded and walked past them.

Hwang Akchu, who was resting on one side, hurried over to him.

“Hyung-nim, you’re out?”

“Anything unusual?”

“No…thing, sir.”

“Why do you say it like that?”

“Pardon?”

“Your tone seems different from usual.”

“It’s nothing. Everything is fine.”

“Is that so? Good.”

Gu Jahwang stroked his chin with his gauntleted hand.

Hwang Akchu cautiously watched Gu Jahwang’s expression.

Although they were on “hyung-nim” and “dongsaeng” terms personally, he knew how strictly Gu Jahwang separated public and private matters.

Gu Jahwang’s Alias, Vajra Blood Arhat, was a name terrifying to his enemies, but it also instilled fear in his own allies.

Even someone like Hwang Akchu, who had served him up close, harbored the emotion of fear in his heart.

Gu Jahwang asked Hwang Akchu.

“Still no word from Daejin?”

“No, sir!”

“Hmph!”

Gu Jahwang frowned.

It had already been two days since Cheol Daejin left with the blood-robed men. This was the first time Cheol Daejin had not been in contact for such a long time.

“Something doesn’t feel right.”

“Is it because there’s no word from Daejin?”

“That, and I’m also bothered by those people who are asking around at the Yingtan docks.”

“Do you think his movements have been exposed?”

“Mm!”

At Gu Jahwang’s response, Hwang Akchu’s expression turned serious.

He had spent a long time with Cheol Daejin on the battlefield. So he knew better than anyone how outstanding his Martial Arts and meticulous his mind were.

Although they both held the rank of Captain, Cheol Daejin possessed Martial Arts several levels above his own. That was why he primarily handled external missions.

“He’s probably just delayed a bit. Don’t worry too much. Is Daejin someone who can be easily defeated?”

“You think so?”

“He’s a demon. You can trust him.”

“Hmph!”

At Hwang Akchu’s words, Gu Jahwang’s expression relaxed slightly.

Although his Martial Arts were not exceptional, Hwang Akchu had a way of making people feel at ease. His leadership skills were also excellent, so Gu Jahwang had Hwang Akchu manage the internal personnel, while Cheol Daejin handled external affairs.

Gu Jahwang asked.

“How is that bastard?”

“Who?”

“The hunchback.”

“He’s a tenacious bastard.”

“He’s still holding out?”

“Yes! His spirit hasn’t broken even after taking the Demonic Spirit Soul-Changing Poison.”

“A tough one.”

“I’ve never seen one so tough.”

The Demonic Spirit Soul-Changing Poison was a poison made from a Secret Transmission of the Western Regions.

Once ingested, one would be invaded by Demonic qi, lose their reason, and obey their master’s commands.

Most people would submit immediately upon taking the Demonic Spirit Soul-Changing Poison, but So Gyeoksan had been resisting for several months now. Gu Jahwang had never seen anyone with such mental fortitude. That made him covet the boy even more.

If he could just subdue So Gyeoksan and make him his subordinate, he would undoubtedly become a great asset.

“You’ve lit the Demonic Spirit Soul-Changing Incense as well, right?”

“Yes!”

“Keep it lit. He must be nearing his limit.”

“I will do so.”

Hwang Akchu nodded.

It was rare for Gu Jahwang to use both the Demonic Spirit Soul-Changing Poison and incense simultaneously. It meant he greatly coveted So Gyeoksan and the people imprisoned in his section.

The problem was that their mental strength was also strong, and they were still holding out, but even that limit was not far off.

It was then.

“Warden!”

Suddenly, a Martial Artist guarding the entrance of the Jade of No Regret came running.

“What is it?”

“A letter has arrived from the outside.”

“What?”

Gu Jahwang quickly snatched the letter and read it.

Hwang Akchu asked cautiously.

“Is it from Daejin?”

“No, it says another guest is coming from the outside.”

“A guest?”

“Yes! Keep a room empty.”

“There are plenty of empty rooms, so you don’t have to worry.”

“Tsk! A new guest at a time like this.”

Gu Jahwang clicked his tongue.

He had a bad feeling.

The back of his neck tingled, a sign that something was amiss.

It was the first time he had felt such a bad premonition since entering this place.

The sense of crisis he used to feel on the battlefield was suddenly rearing its head.

The problem was that he couldn’t identify its source.

This, too, was a first.

At least, it was the first time since he had come to the Jade of No Regret.

Gu Jahwang shook his head, trying to clear the negative thoughts.

‘The Slayer of Ten Thousand will be joining us soon. What could possibly happen?’

Now was the time to welcome the new guest.

“You will personally lead your Subordinates and escort the guest here.”

“Yes! Warden.”

Hwang Akchu made a Fist-Palm Salute and withdrew.

He quickly led his Subordinates and ran towards the vertical tunnel that led to the surface.

Gu Jahwang, who had been watching him for a moment, suddenly threw a punch behind him.

Kwwaaang!

With a deafening roar, one of the barracks exploded.

“What?”

“What’s going on?”

Startled Subordinates came running.

They looked back and forth between the horribly collapsed barracks and Gu Jahwang.

They wanted to ask why, but Gu Jahwang’s expression was so grave that they didn’t dare to speak.

Gu Jahwang walked toward the collapsed barracks.

A heat haze shimmered from his gauntlets.

It was proof that he had gathered a great deal of Internal Power into his two fists.

The Subordinates could only swallow dryly at the sight of Gu Jahwang.

‘Why is he doing that?’

‘Could it be an intruder?’

The Subordinates kept a close watch on Gu Jahwang, fully prepared to move at any moment.

All the Martial Artists inside the Jade of No Regret were men who had followed Gu Jahwang from one battlefield to another.

Although they were now stuck three hundred Zhang underground looking after prisoners, their instincts and skills as Martial Artists had not rusted.

Whoosh!

Gu Jahwang kicked aside the remains of the barracks.

In that instant, a look of relief washed over the faces of the tense Subordinates.

There was nothing inside the barracks that Gu Jahwang had kicked away.

‘Of course. Who would dare to infiltrate this place?’

‘The Warden must be on edge.’

They were actually relieved to see this human side of Gu Jahwang.

Gu Jahwang peered into the empty space of the barracks and muttered.

“Did I feel it wrong? I’m sure I felt a prying gaze.”

A moment ago, he had felt a sensation like being pricked by a needle.

Gu Jahwang had thought it was someone’s secret gaze. That was why he had unleashed a devastating punch at the barracks. But anticlimactically, there was nothing in the barracks where he had felt the gaze.

“Was I really mistaken? Me?”