Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 199 : Deal

The basement of the Chung Pavilion looked like a maze with several stone chambers connected.

Many things had happened here for a long time.

Using many slaves, they tested poisons and medical techniques, modified human bodies, or made them learn demonic arts to find out the aftereffects.

All of these were things that the former Cult Leader, Cheon Yu-myeong, had ordered, but among them, what had stimulated Jang Cho the most were the corpse demons.

He researched the demonic art of moving corpses and the soul-capturing technique.

But he failed repeatedly.

It was faster to eliminate the mind of a living person and make them a loyal dog that listened well.

Even though Cheon Yu-myeong had disappeared, Jang Cho did not stop his experiments.

In order to create Heavenly Armored Corpses, he tried to make the skin harder than steel using various drugs, and he used the dead to learn the soul-capturing technique.

That became a problem.

Because it was an experiment forbidden even in the Demonic Cult. If Jang Cho's experiments became known in the martial world, he could become a public enemy.

The Demonic Cult, using the secret research of the Chung Pavilion as an excuse, captured Jang Cho and imprisoned him in the Thunder Prison.

All the research materials were burned along with the Chung Pavilion, and all the stored corpses were also eliminated.

Jang Cho, with his long black hair hanging down, was sitting in a stone chamber where only a single candle was flickering and giving off light.

His eyes were full of emptiness. Because all his past research had disappeared.

Thump!

The door of the stone chamber opened, and Gung Ma-yeop entered with a lantern.

He stroked his beard, placed the lantern full of bright light in front of Jang Cho, and sat down on the floor.

Gung Ma-yeop glared at Jang Cho, who did not even greet him, and said, "You wouldn't know how much I hate that bastard Cheon Yu-myeong."

"Do I need to know? I don't think a very busy person like you came here to talk about such useless things."

"You should know. Didn't you play with Cheon Yu-myeong's corpses in the Chung Pavilion? What did you receive from the Cheon Cult Leader? A demonic art manual? Where is Cheon Yu-myeong?"

Gung Ma-yeop's story just seemed like a justification to imprison him.

Jang Cho shook his head and asked.

"How would I know where that Cheon family bastard is? Rather than that, it seems you want something from me, what is it?"

"You have a good reputation within the cult."

Hearing the words 'good reputation', Jang Cho felt that Gung Ma-yeop wanted him.

Gung Ma-yeop showed a relaxed smile, stroking his beard.

"I'll get you out of here. You can continue the experiments you want to do, and if necessary, it's not difficult to get you 'firewood'. So be on my side."

"Are you saying you'll imprison me here and then become friends?"

"Many cult members have been treated by you. Your medical skills are outstanding, so there are many who have received your grace. If you move, they will follow you. I need that power."

"To think you came all the way here for such a thing, it seems you're being chased quite a bit."

Gung Ma-yeop was a master that everyone acknowledged. As a person who was mentioned as the next Cult Leader, there were quite a few cult members who followed him.

Compared to that, he, the Chung Pavilion Master, was just a small and insignificant power.

For him to come and ask him to come under him meant that the opponent was also not to be taken lightly.

"It's not to the extent of being chased. I just need your ability."

"If you become the Cult Leader, I will be loyal."

"Are you saying you will be loyal no matter who becomes the Cult Leader?"

"There's no reason to pledge Chung to someone who hasn't even become the Cult Leader yet."

At Jang Cho's answer, Gung Ma-yeop shook his head and said.

"Unfortunately, no matter who becomes the Cult Leader, I cannot receive your Chung. Because you will die soon."

At Gung Ma-yeop's story, Jang Cho showed a hardened expression.

Although he was imprisoned in the Thunder Prison, he had not thought of death. But as death was mentioned, he was momentarily flustered.

"Did you come with the intention of killing me?"

"If that were the case, I wouldn't have said I would get you out."

Certainly, if Gung Ma-yeop had intended to kill Jang Cho, he would have killed him.

"Who will kill me?"

When Jang Cho asked, Gung Ma-yeop showed a smile.

"Since you're a smart guy, you would have guessed, wouldn't you? Do you think I alone would have ordered you to be imprisoned here? It's not my will, but the will of the Dokgo family you are loyal to. The head of the Na family also had a hand in it."

At Gung Ma-yeop's story, Jang Cho frowned. Even if this story were a lie, it was true that he was offended.

He suddenly recalled the memory of the Hwahwaru Master, Dam-ji, who had come to visit a while ago.

He had also conveyed the message of the head of the Na family. It was a story of joining hands with him and driving out Gung Ma-yeop.

Even then, Jang Cho had refused. Because of the Dokgo family.

He had been loyal to the Dokgo family with Mun-gang for several years. Because he thought the next Cult Leader should be the Dokgo family.

Looking at the history of the Demonic Cult, it was the most peaceful and stable when the Dokgo family became the Cult Leader.

"Is that true?"

"It is."

Jang Cho sat down, leaning against the wall without a word, with a hardened expression. Seeing Jang Cho's face full of worries, Gung Ma-yeop stroked his beard and smiled.

To have many worries meant to be anxious.

"I heard you sent Jin Sa-wol out of the Demonic Cult and to the Central Plains. The Hao Faction Master also had a hand in it, right?"

Hearing Jin Sa-wol's name, Jang Cho thought that Gung Ma-yeop's purpose was not him, but Jin Sa-wol.

"Are you in contact with Jin Sa-wol?"

"I am. Why do you ask?"

"I'm as interested as you are. He's a good talent to lead the Demonic Cult. His background is also good. He was a killing ghost of the Ghost Spirit Valley, right? Is he on good terms with the head of the Na family?"

"I don't know that."

Hearing Jang Cho's answer, Gung Ma-yeop smiled again as if he were pleased.

"There's no time. One day. I'll come back tomorrow. If you pass tomorrow, it will be hard to live."

Gung Ma-yeop, as if he had said all he had to say, turned his back and went outside.

As the door of the stone chamber closed with a thump! sound, Jang Cho touched his forehead with a hardened expression.

***

The death of the Inspection Pavilion Master, Song Mu-pung, had a considerable impact on the Martial Alliance.

The Martial Alliance announced the God of Death as a public enemy of the martial world and also put a bounty on him.

The numerous assassin organizations of the martial world, fearing that they would become public enemies of the Martial Alliance, hid their appearances, and a cold air like a cold wave in midwinter lingered in the Martial Alliance.

The ten or so Martial Alliance officials sitting in the wide conference room of the Martial Arts Hall were silent with heavy expressions.

Namgung Min, who was sitting in the seat of honor, was looking ahead with a cold gaze.

No one could read what he was thinking. It was just that he was in a bad mood.

"The Martial God Pavilion, find the God of Death as soon as possible."

"Yes? The God of Death is..."

The Martial God Pavilion Master, who looked to be in his early forties and had a horse-like face, opened his eyes wide.

The God of Death was a guy that even the Inspection Pavilion Master could not catch. Rather, he had lost his life, so he couldn't help but be flustered when he was told to catch him.

"If you can't catch him alive, bring his head even if you have to kill him."

"Yes? That's..."

"Answer."

The Martial God Pavilion Master, who had received Namgung Min's gaze, bowed his head.

"I understand."

"What are you doing?"

"Yes?"

"Go out and catch him!"

"As you command!"

As Namgung Min's voice grew louder, the Martial God Pavilion Master quickly stood up and hurriedly went outside.

The Sword Wind Hall of Buk Myeong-woo and the Fierce Tiger Hall of Seok Jeong-bi belonged to the Justice Pavilion. But since the Justice Pavilion had lost two pavilion masters because of the God of Death, it was entrusted to the Martial God Pavilion.

The Martial God Pavilion Master, who had left the conference room, kicked the ground.

"I've stepped in shit."

He, who had let out a word, headed for the Martial God Pavilion with the waiting pavilion masters.

After about half a shichen (one hour) had passed, the officials who had been sitting in the conference room all went outside.

As they came out, they returned to their respective places with a sigh.

The only person left in the conference room.

He was a person in his mid-thirties wearing a blue robe, with distinct features and a face with thick lines.

Looking at his eyebrows, which resembled a crescent moon, he also had a feminine feeling.

Namgung Min, who saw him, frowned.

"Why did you stay?"

"This is my room. The Martial Arts Hall. I am the master."

"That's right."

At his answer, Namgung Min turned his head as if he were annoyed.

Son Muk, the master of the Martial Arts Hall, who saw Namgung Min's expression, laughed on purpose.

"Hahahaha! Since there's no laughter, the atmosphere here seems too dark. Hey! Bring more tea!"

Since it was the conference room of the Martial Arts Hall, as Son Muk's loud voice echoed, the maids brought hot tea.

Namgung Min, who had drunk a sip of the hot Yongjeong tea, opened his mouth as if his mood had been relieved.

"If you have something to say, say it."

Son Muk, whose eyes met Namgung Min's, lowered his voice and carefully opened his mouth.

"Who are you thinking of to replace the Jeongcheon Wonju?"

"It's not too late to worry after seeing the decision of the Elder Council."

Namgung Min's words meant that he would refuse the decision of the Elder Council. And it sounded as if he would replace Zhuge Qing with a person he liked.

Son Muk thought that was better.

Son Muk smiled and asked.

"Do you think the Martial God Pavilion can catch the God of Death?"

"They can't. But they have to do something. We can't just let them sit around and play in the alliance, can we? They've rested for too long."

As Namgung Min said, the Martial God Pavilion, while being called the elite of the alliance, had not left the alliance and gone outside for several years.

He was a pavilion master appointed by Jo Han-yu, but after Jo Han-yu's death, he had been living as quiet as a dead mouse.

"May I help the Martial God Pavilion?"

"Do as you wish."

"Yes."

"Leave the inn alone."

Hearing Namgung Min's words, Son Muk showed an awkward smile and turned his head. He looked like a person who had been caught playing a prank.

Namgung Min said with a faint smile.

"You also have a lot of suspicion like me. Since so many have died at the inn, it's worth suspecting the inn."

"If the Alliance Leader had attached surveillance, there would be nothing for me to do. I was just worried... and interested."

"What about the Demonic Cult?"

"It's very complicated."

Son Muk shook his head and drew a picture of the Demonic Cult's situation in his head. The picture was drawing a complicated circle.

"What about the Jongnam Sect?"

"We are now looking for the last remaining disciple, but we don't know where he has disappeared."

"Find him and bring him."

"I understand. Don't worry. We'll find him soon."

"Is it certain that the culprit is Na Hyeon-gi?"

"Na Hyeon-gi says he killed the disciples of Ha Shin-hak and the Jongnam Sect. He has solidified his position in the Demonic Cult with that incident."

"It's certain."

At Son Muk's answer, Namgung Min stood up from his seat.

"Prepare the Demonic Cult side as well."

"I understand."

Son Muk also stood up from his seat and answered politely.

Son Muk, who was watching Namgung Min leave, sat down at the wide round table and let out a deep sigh as his figure disappeared.

Preparing an assassin to enter the Demonic Cult was a very difficult task.

"He could have at least given me the Shadowless Division."

Son Muk grumbled and rubbed his forehead.

***

Namgung Min, who had entered the rear garden, was walking to the pond and paused for a moment. It was a place where no one was, and since only permitted people could enter, there was no presence.

Namgung Min said to the pond.

"It seems I have to call Gung Tae-yeong. Tell him to come."

"I understand."

"Pick a competent person from the Blood Killing Squad."

At the words 'Blood Killing Squad', Muyeong, who was standing in the forest, was silent for a moment. The Blood Killing Squad were assassins raised by Muyeong, and they were people with very outstanding skills.

"I will prepare."

(End of Chapter)