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True to his alias “The Slaughterer,” he looked like a huge, ferocious beast. His build was enormous, and his muscles were as hard as rocks.

From his slanted eyes to his protruding cheekbones and his irritable-looking lower jaw, his menacing appearance was so frightening that even looking at him was uncomfortable.

There was still an unhealed wound on his chest. It was from Ho Yeon-nam’s surprise attack, and he had left it as it was, saying it was shameful to apply medicine and wrap it in bandages.

But even this beast-like man who reeked of festering wounds acted like a well-trained hunting dog in front of Ma Bong-gi.

“If we let this slide, the martial arts world will look down on our Heavenly Blade Sect.”

“Didn’t you already kill Ho Yeon-nam?”

“That’s not enough.”

“Then?”

“We need to kill everyone who was there that day. Only then will they never dare to look down on our sect again.”

Hearing this, Commander-in-Chief Sima Cheon , who was listening from the side, made an incredulous expression.

Yeom Hwa glared at him. Sima Cheon met his gaze without backing down. Normally, one shouldn’t act this way towards the Commander-in-Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance, but Yeom Hwa was someone who feared nothing.

Ma Bong-gi smiled and said,

“I hear their disciple committed suicide, and they’re causing an uproar saying you should be punished instead?”

“Weaklings deserve to die.”

“Hahaha.”

Ma Bong-gi laughed loudly.

“Go back for now.”

“Understood.”

After Yeom Hwa left the hall with a proud gait, Sima Cheon openly expressed his dissatisfaction.

“That man failed to complete his mission. He should be punished, yet he behaves so rudely?”

“He seems to be in a bad mood. He’ll be fine after a few days of coaxing.”

“Why do you trust him so much?”

“He’s skilled and doesn’t think much.”

“What?”

“Such people are rare in this martial world. Usually, as one’s skills improve, their mind works faster too.”

Ma Bong-gi’s gaze towards Sima Cheon sharpened.

“On the other hand, you think too much. If it were you, would you prefer a subordinate like yourself, or one like him who does whatever he’s told without thinking?”

For a moment, Sima Cheon was at a loss for words. It was an almost forced comparison, but the thought crossed his mind that he truly wouldn’t keep a subordinate like himself.

“Of course, I’d prefer a subordinate like me. There are plenty of subordinates who just do as they’re told.”

Ma Bong-gi then laughed loudly.

“That’s right. No matter how much you think, you’re still in the palm of my hand. I’d choose you too. Hahaha.”

It was a laugh that made it impossible to tell if he really meant it or not.

“The public opinion in the martial arts world is not good. I think we should cover up this incident.”

“I understand.”

Sima Cheon left the Alliance Leader’s hall. Ma Bong-gi had changed since becoming the Alliance Leader. The once simple Ma Bong-gi no longer seemed simple.

***

The intelligence organization was being rapidly established. Jin and Su, being excellent spies, worked quickly.

“We’re expanding our personnel with trustworthy individuals.”

“As long as the budget allows, recruit the most skilled spies and treat them well.”

“Don’t worry.”

I was already treating the two of them that way. Moreover, they were faithfully carrying out the tasks I had assigned them.

“Yeom Hwa met with the Alliance Leader and left.”

Jin and Su were monitoring the movements of the Martial Arts Alliance while simultaneously building the intelligence organization.

“He’s currently staying at the Wuhan First Inn with the Five Friends of the Heavenly Blade.”

The Wuhan First Inn was the same inn where I had drunk with Gwang-du earlier. It was a famous place not far from the Martial Arts Alliance headquarters, known for its many guests.

“Why not rent a quiet estate?”

“Yeom Hwa has always disliked quiet places. He liked to reveal his presence in crowded places.”

“Good work. Be especially careful in your spy activities from now on.”

“Yes, we’ll keep that in mind.”

“Don’t forget. What’s important to me is you, not the information.”

“Yes!”

I knew well that such words gave them great strength. Organizations don’t just run on their own.

I immediately went to the Wuhan First Inn.

There was a crowd of people in front of the inn. They weren’t guests, but spectators.

“That’s the Slaughterer Yeom Hwa.”

“Oh! Look at that build.”

“They say he killed Ho Yeon-nam with one punch!”

Everyone was praising him. Of course, who would dare to criticize him when he was right in front of them?

Yeom Hwa was sitting in the center of the inn, drinking. The table was full of dishes, and he had already finished several bottles of alcohol.

The inn was empty. When he entered, everyone was surprised and went outside.

Thanks to this, he could drink arrogantly as if he had rented the entire inn.

The Five Friends of the Heavenly Blade were sitting diagonally around him in four directions. They had taken over the inn.

Trash.

That was my first impression. It was my usual belief that the higher one’s martial arts skills, the less harm they should cause to ordinary people.

Indeed, an action that proved my intuition correct followed.

At Yeom Hwa’s signal, First Friend, who was sitting in front, scattered silver coins in all directions.

“A gift from Great Hero Yeom to all of you!”

“Woooah!”

People started picking up the money that had fallen on the ground.

Watching this scene, the Slaughterer Yeom Hwa had an expression as if he were a king.

Disgusting bastard!

In that commotion, I saw.

A woman who, like me, was watching Yeom Hwa rather than the money.

Surprisingly, it was Number Seven.

I truly never imagined I would meet her here.

Feeling my gaze, she looked in my direction.

Our eyes met. She didn’t recognize me. At that time, I had been wearing a human skin mask, so this wasn’t the face she had seen.

Just as Number Seven was about to turn around and leave,

An angry voice came from somewhere.

“You bastard! Don’t you fear the heavens?”

Everyone’s attention turned to that direction.

The person who had shouted was an old woman with white hair. She looked very tired, as if she had come from a long journey. But her eyes were filled with venom matching the anger in her voice.

A young woman was with her. The two looked so alike that anyone could tell they were blood relatives at a glance.

As I looked at the young woman, I felt like I had seen her somewhere before. She was definitely someone I had seen, but no matter how hard I tried to remember, I couldn’t place her.

First Friend, who had scattered the money, stepped forward.

“Who are you to speak such rude words?”

“I am Mae-rang[1]. Ho Yeon-tak, who died because of you, was my grandson.”

Surprisingly, she was Ho Yeon-tak’s grandmother. Everyone there was shocked by her appearance.

The most surprised person was me. Hearing the name Mae-rang, I could recall a woman. She was someone I knew.

The reason the young woman with her looked familiar was because she looked exactly like Mae-rang in her youth.

I had lived in the same village as Mae-rang when we were young, and she had liked me, calling me “big brother.” She said she would marry me when she grew up.

Of course, I was busy roaming the martial arts world, and to me, she was just a childish village sister.

Whenever I came home after that, I saw her, and she became more beautiful each time. But at that time, I was so obsessed with martial arts that I had no interest in women.

Mae-rang too, after passing her adolescence, lost interest in me.

Later, I heard news that she had fallen in love with a descendant of the Ho Yeon Clan who visited the village and married him. It seems Ho Yeon-tak must be her grandson.

I truly felt that fate was connected in such ways.

Mae-rang looked tired and exhausted, as if she had come from a long journey.

First Friend sneered and said,

“So you’re the grandmother of that weakling who committed suicide for failing to protect his master.”

“You bastard! Our Tak wasn’t a child who would commit suicide!”

Angered, Mae-rang swung her cane at First Friend. But First Friend easily dodged it. It wasn’t an attack, just an old person’s cane swing, but First Friend mercilessly pushed Mae-rang.

Before Mae-rang fell backwards, I stepped in and stopped her. Thanks to this, she didn’t hit the ground. If I hadn’t stopped her, she would have been seriously injured due to her frail body.

Mae-rang turned to look at me.

“Thank you, young man.”

Seeing her up close, traces of her childhood remained on her face. She had truly been childish then, but now she had aged so much.

“Please stop.”

It was meant for Mae-rang, but First Friend coldly said,

“Who are you?”

He seemed displeased that I had interfered in his business.

“Just a spectator.”

“Then keep spectating. Why are you rudely interfering in the affairs of elders?”

“Aren’t you also treating an elder rudely?”

At those words, a few people burst into laughter. But under First Friend’s menacing gaze, everyone lowered their heads.

Just as First Friend was about to approach me, Yeom Hwa, who had been drinking at the back table, slammed the table with a bang. This caused alcohol and food to spill onto the floor.

“These days, my luck is truly savagely bad.”

He frowned and got up from his seat, going upstairs.

First Friend came close to me and warned me quietly,

“You’ll regret this.”

I didn’t respond.

As the Five Friends of the Heavenly Blade followed Yeom Hwa upstairs, the spectators who had filled the place dispersed one by one. Number Seven’s figure was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared at some point.

The young woman came to me and bowed politely.

“Thank you so much for helping us. I’m Ho Yeon Suk-jeong[2].”

“I’m Byeok Ri-dan.”

“I won’t forget Hero Byeok’s help today.”

“It’s nothing.”

“Thank you, young man.”

“Take care.”

The two walked in the direction of the Martial Arts Alliance headquarters.

I was about to ask why they had come but stopped myself. I could guess. Judging from the earlier conversation, it seemed they had come to the Martial Arts Alliance to reveal that Ho Yeon-tak’s death wasn’t suicide.

Would that be possible here, with Ma Bong-gi as the Alliance Leader?

I watched the two with some concern as I turned my steps.

***

I didn’t return straight to my lodgings but took a secluded path. I had noticed someone tailing me.

After walking for a while, I stopped at a place where there were no people around. It was a good spot to check for observers, with no people around and open surroundings.

The person following me had no choice but to reveal themselves.

It was First Friend from the Five Friends of the Heavenly Blade, with whom I had just had friction.

“Don’t tell me you were tailing me?”

When I asked, pretending not to know, First Friend coldly said,

“Didn’t I tell you? That you’d regret it?”

“You’re truly hot-tempered. To follow me right away like this.”

“I’ve never postponed killing someone.”

“You’re going to kill me? Why are you trying to kill me?”

When I asked, feigning surprise, he answered,

“You mocked me in front of all those people. I’ve never let anyone who insulted me live.”

“What insult did I give you?”

“You dared to step forward and run your mouth without any fear!”

“Is that all? You’re trying to kill someone for such a trivial reason?”

“What other reason do I need?”

I could tell how this person had lived until now. He must have lived exactly like this. Mercilessly killing anyone who even slightly displeased him. Of course, he must have done it secretly like this.

Even if his crimes were revealed, he would have slipped away like a loach, backed by the Heavenly Blade Sect.

Doing it once, twice, it becomes a habit, and before you know it, you become such a monster.

This time, he mocked me.

“Why did you risk your life for that old hag? In your next life, just watch. Understood? You idiot.”

“Does your master know you followed me to kill me?”

“Do you think I report every time I kill someone like you?”

“So you came alone.”

There was no one visible around. Still, I raised my perception and scanned the surroundings. I thought Number Seven might be around, but fortunately, there was no one.

I revealed my true colors.

“If you’re someone who kills people for such trivial reasons, then I too have sufficient reason to kill you. Come on, say your greetings.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“To a tree, grass, bird, anything is fine, say your farewell greetings. You should at least bid farewell to this world.”

Only then did First Friend understand my meaning and made an incredulous expression.

“You crazy bastard! Hahaha.”

First Friend laughed loudly. I laughed along.

The moment the laughter stopped, he rushed towards me. Drawing his sword in mid-air, he thrust sharply.

Swish!

It was truly a fast and accurate move.

If the opponent hadn’t been me, it would have been a splendid move.

Whoosh, as I lightly dodged the incoming sword, I spun through the air like an acrobat and kicked him. He probably never imagined that someone skilled enough to dodge his sword would use such a technique.

Bang!

With one kick, there was a cracking sound of bones breaking, and First Friend staggered backwards.

“Urgh.”

His shoulder blade shattered, twisting his body to one side. Immediately, his arm went limp and dangled.

Grimacing in severe pain, First Friend pleaded,

“W-wait! Urgh!”

It seems he’s finally grasped the situation.

I paused my attack for a moment and asked,

“Why?”

“I was wrong.”

“Your change of attitude is really quick. If only your sword had been this fast.”

“Please spare me!”

“If I spare you? Will you go and bring everyone?”

“No, absolutely not.”

“A bastard who tries to kill people because his mood was ruined by a single word, you think I’d believe you’d just let it go after your shoulder was shattered? That’s too much, isn’t it?”

“Please spare me! I’ll do anything you want.”

I flew up and mercilessly kicked his chin.

Bang!

His jaw shattered, and he fell backwards.

With the momentum from the flying kick, I smashed his face with the Thousand Jin Drop technique.

Thud!

His face was pulverized, and he died instantly.

I walked away with big strides, and when I was about twenty steps away, I turned towards the corpse.

My sword lightly cut through the air.

Swish!

Boom!

As the Three Moves Infinite Sword was unleashed, his corpse was shattered into pieces and disappeared without a trace.

Looking at what could no longer be called “him,” now just blood seeping into the ground, I spoke coldly.

“You asked what I wanted? Just disappear forever for the sake of this world.”

I didn’t look back again, and not even a flock of crows gathered at the empty place.