Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 195 : Jeokrin

"Are you saying you're not sick?"

"No."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Son Ae-hwa tilted her head, then felt a killing intent and turned her body.

She retreated when her eyes met the cold gaze of Jo Geom-ok, who was standing outside the pavilion.

Jo Geom-ok glared at Jin Sa-wol and said, "I came to say goodbye because I have to go to Shaolin... I can't go."

Seeing the flirtatious appearance of Son Ae-hwa and Jin Sa-wol, she couldn't possibly go to Shaolin.

Jo Geom-ok contemplated whether she should either get rid of Son Ae-hwa or flirt herself.

As Jin Sa-wol entered the pavilion, he asked indifferently, "You're going to Shaolin?"

"I think I should go and light some incense."

"When are you planning to go up to Wudang Mountain?"

"Not yet."

As Wudang Mountain was mentioned, Jo Geom-ok glared at Jin Sa-wol with a face full of anger.

Thinking back on Jin Sa-wol's words, it felt as if he were trying to chase her away.

Jo Geom-ok, who was about to get angry, was suddenly asked by Jin Sa-wol.

"What about the Huashan Sect?"

"It seems they're leaving for Shaolin tomorrow. The Baekgeom Mun also said they would go to Shaolin and then come back."

"Everyone is going to Shaolin."

Since a great star of the martial world had fallen, Shaolin had opened its main gate wide and was receiving many incense guests.

Since the opportunity to enter the precincts of the Shaolin Temple was not so common, many martial artists headed for Shaolin.

As everyone said they were leaving the inn, it felt as if a weight had been lifted from his mind.

If they came again, he was thinking of closing the inn's door and not opening it.

In any case, since there was no inn, he was thinking of leaving it as a manor.

"If you're thinking of going to Shaolin, you can go with me."

At Jo Geom-ok's enticement, Jin Sa-wol shook his head.

"I don't like the smell of incense."

He didn't like being among the orthodox faction members, and he didn't like the smell of incense from the temple either. It was a smell that always waited for the dead.

***

The next day, around noon.

Woo Jeong-bong and Song Mu-pung, who had parted with the noisy disciples of the Huashan Sect and the Baekgeom Mun, sat facing each other in a restaurant with tired faces.

Woo Jeong-bong grumbled and then, as the liquor came out, he drank a cup first.

"Kraaak!"

Thud!

"How am I supposed to know where the God of Death is, and they're getting angry at me."

"You have to understand."

Song Mu-pung drank his liquor with a smile, as if it were no big deal.

"When the God of Death appeared, you were definitely at the inn, but did you really not see him?"

"If I had seen him, I would have killed him. Would I have just let him be?"

"Where was Mr. Jin at that time?"

"He was with Sister Jo."

"Where exactly?"

"We were looking at the burnt-out front buildings. Miss Namgung was also with us. You asked the same question before."

At Woo Jeong-bong's answer, Song Mu-pung nodded.

'After Jin Sa-wol came, the Wonju died. Here too, after Jin Sa-wol came, Buk Myeong-woo and Seok Jeong-bi died.'

Although Song Mu-pung suspected Jin Sa-wol in his heart, he had too many witnesses who were with him.

As a result, he naturally moved away from being the culprit.

'Why did the person called the God of Death come here and kill Buk Myeong-woo and Seok Jeong-bi, and even Wang Yao? Is he a person with a deep grudge against the Martial Alliance?'

Recalling the grudge of the Martial Alliance, the dead Jo Han-yu came to mind. There were quite a few who disliked him.

Song Mu-pung drank his liquor with a face full of worries. Lately, his mind had become complicated, and he felt disoriented.

What Song Mu-pung did not know was that everyone around Jin Sa-wol was one.

"Aren't you going to Shaolin, Senior Song?"

"Aren't you going?"

"I'm planning to go in a few days. If I go now, it's obvious that there will be a lot of people, so will I be able to greet the adults properly?"

"I have the same thought."

Song Mu-pung was thinking of staying here unless it was a special matter. He was planning to continue to hover around Jin Sa-wol.

As the meal came out and they were eating, the subordinates of the Inspection Pavilion who had gone out came in. They were those who had returned after investigating the inn, Guguang Fortress, and this vicinity.

Two of them stepped forward. Both were of the pavilion master class.

"I'll excuse myself."

Woo Jeong-bong, observing the situation, stood up and sat down in the seat next to him.

The warriors of the Inspection Pavilion who had gone out to investigate reported to Song Mu-pung in a low voice.

"We went down to the vicinity of the Jo family estate, but there were no people who had escaped the inn alive. Since they were annihilated on Muyeon Island, there are no people to tell us about that day."

"The surviving warriors of the Guguang branch also said that after being attacked by the Ghost Hand Pavilion and the Blood Killing Faction, they only saw masked people. That the masked people killed the inn people..."

At the words 'masked people', Song Mu-pung's expression hardened. He turned his eyes and looked at Woo Jeong-bong, but it seemed Woo Jeong-bong had not heard, as he was drinking liquor.

The identity of the masked people was the warriors of the Martial Alliance, led by Buk Myeong-woo and Seok Jeong-bi.

Since he was the Inspection Pavilion Master, it was not so difficult to find that out. Fearing that their identities would be revealed, they had killed all the inn people who had gathered on Muyeon Island.

If this incident became known in the martial world, the reputation of the Martial Alliance would be greatly damaged. Knowing that well, he had to keep it quiet.

"Anything else?"

"No."

"No."

Hearing the answers of the two pavilion masters, Song Mu-pung stroked his short beard, swallowed a groan, and then stood up from his seat.

"Rest."

"Yes."

As the warriors of the Inspection Pavilion answered at the same time and retreated, Song Mu-pung set out to find Jin Sa-wol.

***

Jin Sa-wol, who had opened his eyes after practicing qi circulation while sitting in the pavilion on Namsan, felt his chest cool down.

Today felt a little lighter than yesterday.

Birds were flying in the sky, and the sun and clouds were dancing on the surface of Poyang Lake.

"Mr. Jin."

Jin Sa-wol, who had turned his head at the voice from behind, showed a smile when he saw Song Mu-pung.

In that instant, Song Mu-pung stared blankly at Jin Sa-wol.

A bright light shone on his back, and his clear, transparent eyes and fine skin were like a painting that was hard to see in the human world.

His neatly combed black hair fluttered in the wind, and his white robe was like seeing a noble crane.

'Was he that handsome?'

Song Mu-pung's heart pounded without him realizing it. Today, Jin Sa-wol looked unusually handsome.

Song Mu-pung quickly came to his senses and asked.

"Did I disturb you?"

"No. What's going on?"

Jin Sa-wol asked, turning his head to look at Poyang Lake.

Song Mu-pung was about to enter the pavilion, but he couldn't because of the strange atmosphere and stood outside.

"I came because I have a few things to ask."

"Ask."

"Did you kill Buk Myeong-woo and Seok Jeong-bi?"

Song Mu-pung asked directly. It was to see Jin Sa-wol's expression. If he got an answer from his feeling, he could find the proof.

Jin Sa-wol showed a subtle expression and then showed a smiling eye.

"I killed them."

"Hmm..."

The moment he heard Jin Sa-wol's answer, Song Mu-pung grabbed the hilt of his sword without realizing it.

It was then. A low voice echoed from behind Song Mu-pung.

"Step back."

At the cold voice, Song Mu-pung, who had turned his head, opened his eyes wide when he saw another Jin Sa-wol.

"Mr. Jin? How can Mr. Jin..."

Song Mu-pung, who was speaking, trembled all over when he saw the red sword that had come out of his abdomen. In that instant, the hand that had grabbed Song Mu-pung's chin moved strongly.

Thud!

Immediately after Song Mu-pung's head was turned back, Jin Sa-wol, who had faced his face, clicked his tongue.

"Tsk! Tsk! I was fishing, but I didn't catch a big fish, only a small fry."

Jin Sa-wol, who was muttering to himself, had a face full of laughter.

He left the falling Song Mu-pung behind and looked at another Jin Sa-wol.

Jin Sa-wol in a blue long robe.

Jin Sa-wol in a white robe.

Although they had the same face, their atmosphere was distinctly different.

Jin Sa-wol in the blue long robe looked at the dead Song Mu-pung and then, raising his eyes, said to the Jin Sa-wol in white, who had the same face as him.

"It's Cheon Yu-myeong."

"I also had that name."

"Is it Jeok Sa-yeong?"

"I also had that name. Hoo hoo hoo. But how did you know it was me?"

"A person's atmosphere cannot be changed even if you try to change it. Also, even if the face changes, the gaze does not change. I can tell who you are just by looking at your gaze."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, the Jin Sa-wol in white erased his smile.

"You've grown up a lot. You've grown up well. You're admirable."

"You speak as if you were my father."

"Father? Kehahahaha! Ahahahaha!"

At the word 'father', the Jin Sa-wol in white burst out into a sky-gazing mad laugh and laughed loudly. Since he had laughed as if the sky would leave, many people would gather here soon.

Jin Sa-wol's expression hardened. A sound attack with tremendous power came flying and hit his ears, but it was not to the extent that he could not endure it.

The pavilion next to the Jin Sa-wol in white cracked at the laughter that burst out like a lion's roar and then collapsed with a crash.

The Jin Sa-wol in white stopped laughing.

"Your father... yes, that guy was quite a useful guy."

"I'm glad he's not my father. I was worried that the blood of a dirty guy might be mixed in."

"The blood is mixed."

"What do you mean?"

"You are my grandson."

The moment he heard the words 'grandson', Jin Sa-wol's shoulders shook greatly. The huge internal energy that had come up from his dantian gave strength to his whole body.

A hazy energy like a mirage bloomed from above his shoulders. Jin Sa-wol grabbed the hilt of his sword.

"You crazy bastard."

Although he felt Jin Sa-wol's killing intent, the Jin Sa-wol in white did not erase his smile.

"My name is Jeokrin. And I am a descendant of the Three Sovereigns, the Esoteric Cult Leader, and the Demonic Cult Leader."

"So?"

Jin Sa-wol put strength into his feet and endured his emotions. For now, it was a priority to know about the identity of the man named Jeokrin in front of him.

"Did you come to see your grandson's face?"

At Jin Sa-wol's words, Jeokrin raised his hand and touched his face. Then, Cheon Yu-myeong's face appeared.

Jin Sa-wol's gaze, who saw that face, changed to indifferent. He had found his composure.

"I had seven wives, twenty sons, and seven daughters. Among them, less than ten were to my liking. I killed all the lacking ones. Among them, your father was quite competent, so I entrusted the Esoteric Cult to him. And I tried to make many children into Heavenly Armored Corpses or Heavenly Ghosts. The children were raised well, and when they became adults, they were made to marry each other. Then the blood would be mixed."

"You're really a crazy bastard."

"In any case, shouldn't the descendants who have inherited my blood become the strongest monsters in the world? Why would I give that great power to others? Hoo hoo hoo."

Jeokrin, who had laughed lightly, opened his mouth again. It was then. Jin Sa-wol's Yuseom Sword appeared at Jeokrin's glabella.

Jeokrin raised his sword, blocked Jin Sa-wol's attack, and said.

Clang!

"Even if it wasn't a Heavenly Ghost, the Heavenly Armored Corpses were almost complete. But the Demonic Cult and the Martial Alliance came to the Esoteric Cult. These bastards burned the Heavenly Armored Corpses and turned the Esoteric Cult upside down. I was angry, but I endured it. Because the experiment could be done in the Demonic Cult. But I couldn't just leave, so I killed those who knew me. Your father too."

Jin Sa-wol glared at Jeokrin without a word. All of Jeokrin's stories echoed in his ears like nonsense.

"You were lucky to survive there. My cute grandson."

"The reason to kill you has increased."

"Because I killed your father? It's natural to take revenge."

"No. I just don't like you."

The moment his words ended, a strong light flickered around Jin Sa-wol. It was a strong energy explosion.

As a boom! sound erupted, the figures of Jin Sa-wol and Jeokrin were pushed back one zhang each.

(End of Chapter)