ALL NOVEL Ch 31
All supplies destined for the Black Heaven Alliance were cut off by Jo Hwi’s orders.
However, unlike in the past, when the Black Heaven Alliance would fly into a rage and cause a scene if even a small amount was reduced, this time, there was no reaction at all from them.
Jo Hwi, unfazed, continued to focus on his work.
With a large stockpile of coal secured, he consulted with the general manager on the design of a massive furnace. Martial artists sent by the Namgung family were also strategically deployed to ensure no gaps in the operations.
The supplies that were supposed to go to the Black Heaven Alliance were redirected to the General’s Department, strengthening their position in the Jiangxi region. This further increased General Yuk’s favorable opinion of the Jo Ga Daesang Council, to the point where it reached new heights.
Despite everything going smoothly, there was one issue that nagged at Jo Hwi: the liquor and black spirit sent to the Martial Arts Alliance.
While he didn’t mind the black spirit, to think that he had to give away the extremely expensive Seolhwa Shinju for free—it was simply unacceptable to Jo Hwi, given the cost of the drink.
But, he thought, if one bottle could appease the top martial factions in the world, it might be worth the investment, even if it was a bit of a stretch.
However, what truly troubled him were the ongoing supply issues with the black spirit and the Seolhwa Shinju.
For the time being, he had managed to resolve the issue by diverting supplies meant for the Black Heaven Alliance, but that was only a temporary fix.
The larger issue remained unsolved.
Even now, a significant portion of the supplies from Anhui were being rerouted to Jiangxi, which had caused widespread dissatisfaction among the merchants in Hefei.
The supply itself was far too inadequate.
Although new workers were being recruited and quickly trained for the task, no matter how many stores were opened, they couldn’t meet the demand of the entire Jiangxi region with a small-scale operation.
What was needed now was a bold decision.
The scale had to be raised from a cottage industry to an industrial level if they were to dominate the entire Jiangxi region.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the meeting room, while Jae Gal-woon was immersed in the final stages of the design for the ten-story tower, he overheard Jo Hwi muttering to himself.
“Establish Jo Ga Foods. To mass-produce Yuk Gyeop Noodles and Black Spirit, we need to source pre-cooked ingredients to scale production. Rename the brewery to Jo Ga Liquor and implement a division of labor system from the Ironworks. Increase production of Hanbingju by several tens of times and dominate the entire Jiangxi region. Once we have excess, we can explore new sales channels. The quickest route is to Hubei.”
Every now and then, Jo Hwi muttered phrases that Jae Gal-woon couldn’t fully understand, but it was clear that Jo Hwi was starting another huge project.
“Are you feeling lonely talking to yourself? Could you fill me in on the details as well?”
Jo Hwi grinned.
“Of course, Vice Chairman.”
* * *
At the Jo Ga Inn by Poyang Lake.
Namgung Jang-ho and Jang Il-ryong clinked their glasses.
“Heh, Namgung hyung, do you know what the happiest thing has been since I joined under Jo Hwi hyung?”
“Don’t you ever get tired of saying that?”
“No, do you know how few people in Anhui and Jiangxi can enjoy the privilege of drinking this rare Hanbingju for free whenever they want? How many people get to live that life?”
Yeom Sang-rok nodded in agreement and subtly refilled his own cup.
Jang Il-ryong, his brows twitching, grabbed Yeom Sang-rok’s wrist tightly.
“Bastard! You’re drinking too fast!”
“You bastard! You’re not much different yourself!”
The muscles in Jang Il-ryong’s chest twitched.
“You bastard! Are you saying the manager and employee are on different levels? If you don’t like it, why don’t you take the lead?”
At that moment, Jin Ga-hee, with a pale face, quickly snatched the bottle of Hanbingju from the table.
*Gulp gulp!*
“Hey, you pale woman!”
“That bitch!”
*Thud!*
Jin Ga-hee slammed the bottle on the table, flipping her long hair back.
“Where is Pang So-hyeop?”
At her question, everyone quickly turned their eyes away and feigned disinterest.
Jin Ga-hee sneered and laughed harshly.
“You’re all sticking up for her just because she’s a woman, right?”
“We’re sticking up for her as fellow ‘humans.’”
“Hmph. Why is that man always so weak to women?”
Namgung Jang-ho, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke up.
“Before anything else… it’s strange that you even see her as a woman.”
“What?”
Namgung Jang-ho briefly hesitated, his eyes narrowing as they met Jin Ga-hee’s ghostly pale face.
“What’s the point of accumulating power by harming others? Are you saying you’ll give up being human for the sake of such inhuman martial arts?”
“Hoh, what’s so inhuman about sharing a little blood?”
Jin Ga-hee smiled with a subtle and mocking expression. Namgung Jang-ho gave her a warning with a firm tone.
“If this were a place of righteousness, or Namgung’s territory, you would already have been handed over to the Martial Arts Alliance.”
“Wow! To a fellow?”
Namgung Jang-ho’s lips twisted into a strange grin.
“A fellow?”
Namgung Jang-ho suddenly stood up, his face cold as ice.
“I’ll make you aware of your position. In my eyes, someone who lusts for human blood like you is no different from the Nan Ok Blood Demon.”
Twenty years ago, the notorious Nan Ok Blood Demon, who committed countless murders, was finally slain by the Martial Arts Alliance’s experts.
For a moment, Jin Ga-hee looked pleased, as though comparing herself to a legendary figure.
“Hoh! How glorious! To be standing side by side with Nan Ok Blood Demon!”
“Crazy woman!”
Yeom Sang-rok shook his head in disbelief.
The Nan Ok Blood Demon had shown no mercy, even to the righteous sects, causing massive damage to the world of martial artists.
“Enough of this nonsense. I’ll be going now.”
As Namgung Jang-ho left the inn, Jang Il-ryong and Yeom Sang-rok also stood up to leave.
Jang Il-ryong gave Jin Ga-hee a quick glance.
“You’re taking it too far. You better stop, or you’ll keep provoking Namgung hyung, and that’s dangerous.”
Jin Ga-hee scoffed.
“Hmph! You think I care about that old fool?”
With a sigh, Jang Il-ryong quickly followed after Namgung Jang-ho.
On the way back to the Jo Ga Daesang Council’s lodgings.
As they turned a dark alley, Namgung Jang-ho suddenly crouched down.
“Killer intent!”
“What?”
Tch tch tch tch!
Silent waves of shadows crept in from all directions.
In the pitch-black darkness of the alley, a figure slowly emerged.
The sharp blade of a crescent sword gleamed silver under the moonlight.
“Kill!”
The masked man shouted, and simultaneously, assassins appeared like ghosts, surrounding them.
On the rooftops, on the walls, atop the cypress trees.
Without hesitation, Namgung Jang-ho swung his sword towards the three assassins who had entered his range.
“Emperor’s Heavenly Slash!”
Swoosh!
The intense sword aura surged out in three powerful lines, smashing everything in its path, but the assassins didn’t move at all.
The sword aura passed through their bodies without resistance!
“Damn! It’s an illusion! And could you stop with that absurd chant? If you’re going to do that, just wear it on your head! I’m Namgung family’s second son!”
Jang Il-ryong unleashed his supreme martial skill, the Yeongse Cheolgap Sin, and shot forward like a cannonball, crashing into the wall.
Boom!
“Ha ha ha! I’ll kill you all!”
Jinmu Yeokcheon Gwon (True Martial Reversed Heaven Fist).
Third Fist.
Reverse Heaven Nine Strikes.
With the force of a powerful true strike, nine strikes radiated out, turning the ground beneath them upside down.
In that instant, the assassins’ bodies seemed to collapse into the earth, vanishing without a trace.
Boom boom boom boom boom!
Several buildings were completely destroyed, their shapes barely recognizable.
Spot!
A chilling murderous aura filled the air.
As Namgung Jang-ho and Jang Il-ryong looked up, their eyes wide in shock, they realized everything had already gone too far.
From the sky, hundreds of silver crescent swords rained down like a storm.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh!
“Ugh!”
“Ahhh!”
They frantically tried to block and dodge, but they couldn’t stop all the hundreds of blades.
As Namgung Jang-ho tried to pull the eight swords embedded in his shoulder, thigh, and abdomen, his body swayed from the poison.
Grabbing the sword tightly, he stabbed it into the ground to steady himself.
“…Poison?”
“Ugh! Damn it!”
Though Jang Il-ryong had trained in his supreme martial skill, the Yeongse Cheolgap Sin, and suffered less damage, he too was poisoned.
The masked man, who seemed to be their leader, revealed his white teeth under the moonlight.
He grinned.
“Heh heh, you’re nothing but post-competition level warriors.”
With only experience gained from fighting in competitions, they were no match for their opponents.
Although they were members of prestigious families, their high cultivation levels were useless against real threats.
“Oh no!”
Finally, Yeom Sang-rok appeared at the center of the scene.
He wielded a massive chain scythe with brilliant skill, spinning it fiercely before slamming it into the ground.
Whoosh!
Boom!
“Oh no! Isn’t that the Black Moon Special Forces?”
Yeom Sang-rok, while casually licking the blade of his chain sickle, couldn’t hide the tension in his body.
Namgung Jang-ho and Jang Il-ryong observed the trembling figure of Yeom Sang-rok.
The man who would act tough even in front of his own master, Ma Gyeom-wang, was now shaking with fear?
Namgung Jang-ho clenched his lips in frustration, slowly channeling the poison from his body into his meridians, ready to draw his sword at any moment.
“Get out of the way.”
Jang Il-ryong quickly grasped the situation.
For someone to call Ma Gyeom-wang’s disciple “you” means these people were from the Ten Slayers.
If each of them were a Ten Slayer, then they were as good as dead.
To reach the level of Ten Slayers, one must be beyond extraordinary, and among them, some had even reached the Hua realm.
There were at least twenty of them.
Jang Il-ryong spat in disgust.
“Shit, they’re really serious.”
Jang Il-ryong stood up and glanced at Namgung Jang-ho.
“Namgung hyung, hurry up and bring Jo Hwi hyung.”
Thanks to his Yeongse Cheolgap Sin, Jang Il-ryong was in slightly better condition, but Namgung Jang-ho needed immediate treatment.
However, Namgung Jang-ho twisted his face in anger, glaring at the enemy.
“Retreat!”
Were they telling him to turn his back?
To a swordsman who had mastered the Emperor’s Sword?
In an instant, a powerful surge of sword aura erupted from Namgung Jang-ho’s blade.
“Run away!”
His martial aura shot out like a beam of light.
Then, Namgung Jang-ho unleashed the Emperor’s Sword, pouring all his internal energy into the technique!
Emperor’s Sword Form.
Later style: Emperor’s Thunderous Dance.
It was an unfinished form, but the most powerful sword technique he could muster at that moment.
The immense power of the Emperor radiated through him.
A bluish wave of sword energy surged, crashing down upon the assassins.
Whoosh!
The assassins were caught off guard by the sudden onslaught, and one was struck directly by the sword wave.
“Ugh!”
Galcheon, the leader of the Black Moon Special Forces, retreated, gritting his teeth.
*‘So this is the power of a prestigious family!’*
Look at that overwhelming blue sword wave.
It wasn’t just talk; the Emperor’s Sword was no mere technique to be dismissed.
At that moment, Galcheon’s aura flickered.
“Be careful!”
Yeom Sang-rok screamed in warning!
What made the Black Moon Special Forces so terrifying wasn’t their individual strength.
As soon as Galcheon moved, the members of the Special Forces also faded into shadow.
A barrage of crescent blades flew toward them at an astonishing speed.
It was the legendary Night Moon Flying Killing Dance of the Black Moon Special Forces, a combined assassination technique they used to perfection.
Whoosh!
“Shit! Damn it!”
Yeom Sang-rok’s eyes changed.
A murderous aura that could freeze the air emanated from his eyes, and his martial skill, the Surasalmagyum (Sura’s Killing Demon), exploded into a storm across the area.
Clang!
Clang! Clang!
With bloodshot eyes, he desperately parried the incoming blades, but there were too many to block.
“Ahhh!”
Yeom Sang-rok was mercilessly slashed and fell to the ground.
“Hahaha!”
Under the cold, clear moonlight, Jin Ga-hee floated through the air, executing her aerial martial arts while swinging a whip.
*Swish!*
“Brother, you guys are weaker than I expected.”
While desperately trying to suppress the poison that spread through his body, Namgung Jang-ho stared at Jin Ga-hee’s back, his face more filled with disbelief than surprise.
Is this woman even sane?
There were at least twenty Ten Slayers, each of them having reached an extraordinary level of skill!
Even though his Emperor’s Sword was still incomplete, it was a technique that squeezed every ounce of his energy and should have been impossible to avoid for those of their caliber.
Jang Il-ryong’s surprisingly powerful strikes, and Yeom Sang-rok’s brutal combat skills, were not even close to being enough against them.
But Namgung Jang-ho’s concern soon turned to utter shock.
*Tch tch tch tch!*
From Jin Ga-hee’s Blood Wave Sword, an even stronger aura exploded forth.
“Hell!”
“That woman…!”
Jang Il-ryong and Yeom Sang-rok’s eyes widened in shock.
A blood-red aura, shimmering like heat waves, began to emanate from Jin Ga-hee’s entire body.
Namgung Jang-ho let out a groan, almost as if spitting out his words.
“…Jin Mu-hwa (True Martial Flower)?”
That was clearly a manifestation of her internal energy being released externally—True Martial Flower.
Although it didn’t feel like the overwhelming pressure Jo Hwi had displayed, even at its initial stage, it was unmistakably a symbol of the Hua realm!
For Namgung Jang-ho, this was a huge shock.
‘What the hell…!’
Despite the absence of the Fire Mountain Dragon and Blue Cloud Dragon, he was the winner of the last So-ryong Conference.
This meant that among all the advanced warriors of the righteous factions (excluding the Fire Mountain Dragon), he was the best.
On the other hand, Jin Ga-hee was nearly unknown in the martial world, even among the rogue factions.
How could such a woman have reached the threshold of the Hua realm, something even he had not accomplished?
Namgung Jang-ho couldn’t make sense of it, and Jang Il-ryong and Yeom Sang-rok were equally perplexed.
But their confusion was to be expected.
No one knew the true nature of the martial arts Jin Ga-hee was mastering, the Blood Serpent Heart Fountain (혈사심천공).
The blood of an Absolute Realm martial artist was like the legendary Gongcheongseokyu to her.
Drinking the blood-filled pools from those rare few Absolute Realm masters was perhaps even rarer than discovering Gongcheongseokyu.
This was a truly extraordinary turn of fate!
At that moment, Galcheon, leader of the Black Moon Special Forces, reappeared under the moonlight like a ghost.
“Are both of you out of your minds?”
Yeom Sang-rok and Jin Ga-hee were both members of the Black Moon Special Forces, the Black Slaughter and Ghost Killers under Hyeok Cheon-ryeon.
To oppose the Black Moon Special Forces was to commit an act of rebellion—an unforgivable sin.
More than that, it was incomprehensible that they would face off against a group entirely composed of Ten Slayers.
However, the fact that Jin Ga-hee was a disciple of the Poison Whip Killing King raised some concerns.
The Poison Whip Killing King’s Seven Deadly Poison Whip was a perfect counter to their Night Moon Killing Dance.
Moreover, though Jin Ga-hee was using some trickery, she was now revealing the True Martial Flower.
“Hahaha! I’m perfectly sane!”
Jin Ga-hee, having fully channeled her internal energy, tossed her long hair back.
“Insane.”
Jin Ga-hee grimaced.
“Shit! Everyone calls me crazy!”
The Seven Deadly Poison Whip.
Sixth Strike.
The Return of the Catastrophe Whip.
Her whip spun with incredible speed and split into numerous whirlpools, extending outward in all directions.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Jin Ga-hee didn’t stop there. She swiftly reeled in her whip and leaped into the air.
The Seven Deadly Poison Whip.
Fourth Strike.
The Flying Shattered Eight Whips.
The Blood-Red Whip split into eight sharp, blade-like whips, streaking toward the ground at blinding speed.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
It looked as though the two were performing a combined martial arts technique.
Galcheon could not afford to underestimate this and shouted fiercely.
“Illusion!”
However, Jin Ga-hee’s strike was half a beat faster.
The members of the Special Forces vanished like ghosts!
Those trying to avoid the whirlpools were struck by the sharp blades, while those trying to dodge the blades were swept up by the powerful whirlpools.
“Arrgh!”
“Gah!”
Galcheon’s gaze shifted.
In a single attack, five or six were injured.
Indeed, the Seven Deadly Poison Whip was as deadly as ever!
This powerful wide-area whip technique was perfect for taking on large groups.
Galcheon signaled, and the Special Forces’ figures faded into shadow once again.
Whoosh!
A wave of crescent blades shot toward them at breakneck speed.
Jang Il-ryong activated his Yeongse Cheolgap Shin and charged forward like a cannonball.
He knew too well the terrifying power of the Night Moon Flying Killing Dance, a flawless technique with no wasted movements.
It was best for someone with strong external power like him to block it!
But then, his vision was filled with fluttering hems.
Long hair swaying under the moonlight!
The Blood-Red Whip still swirling with immense energy!
Then, an almost illusory scene unfolded.
The Seven Deadly Poison Whip.
Fifth Strike.
The Blood-Light Overlapping Whip.
The Blood-Red Whip, spinning at an unimaginable speed, split into numerous parts and quickly turned into a blood mist, forming a massive shield in the air.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Eventually, hundreds of crescent blades couldn’t penetrate the Blood-Light Overlapping Whip and all fell to the ground.
Jang Il-ryong stared blankly at Jin Ga-hee.
“Wow, damn…!”
It felt like something was going to break!
“Take me!”
Galcheon ground his teeth in frustration.
His suspicions were confirmed.
The defensive power of the Seven Deadly Poison Whip!
Its use of the whip maximized its advantage, a perfect counter to techniques involving water or wind.
Galcheon narrowed his eyes, assessing the situation.
Namgung Jang-ho, still struggling with the poison inside him, was watching with a deadly glare!
Yeom Sang-rok, looking like a viper, was ready to strike at any moment!
A monstrous amount of external energy surged from Jang Il-ryong as he steamed with heat, and even the previously calm Jin Ga-hee was now showing signs of intense power!
“Retreat!”
Seeing the disappearing Special Forces, Yeom Sang-rok collapsed to the ground.
“Damn…!”
He felt a sense of relief at having barely escaped, but the reality was that he had completely betrayed the Black Moon Special Forces.
“…What is life anymore?”
He didn’t even know why it had come to this.
But one thing was certain: it was all over.
Jin Ga-hee’s Blood-Red Whip wrapped back up into her sleeve.
“Hah, hah…!”
She panted, but it was clear she was pleased with her display of power.
Jin Ga-hee smiled as she looked at Namgung Jang-ho.
“Not your ally?”
Namgung Jang-ho smiled faintly and slowly collapsed.
“Arrest is cancelled…”
Having fought the poison within his body, his tension broke and he lost consciousness.
“Oh no! Quickly! Quickly to the target zone!”
Jang Il-ryong lifted Namgung Jang-ho and ran frantically, while Yeom Sang-rok and Jin Ga-hee also performed their aerial techniques.
* * *
When Jo Hwi opened the jade box, a cool, refreshing chill spread throughout the area.
“Ah…”
The pure white ice crystals were so delicate that they seemed as if they would shatter at the slightest touch, but Han Seolhyeon immediately recognized them as *Cheonbingnyeong* (Heavenly Ice Spirit). The internal *Bingbaeksingong* (Ice White Divine Art) was reacting violently, swirling with energy.
Jo Hwi carefully asked, “Is this amount enough?”
Han Seolhyeon nodded her head frantically. “Ah! This is more than enough!”
Just the cold aura emanating from the crystals was enough to cause a strong reaction in her *Bingbaeksingong*. This was more than sufficient. Her older brother, Han Seolbaek, had only consumed two nyang of *Cheonbingnyeong* in the past.
With watery eyes, Han Seolhyeon gazed at Jo Hwi.
She had heard of the tenacity and narrow-mindedness of the Tangain family, and there was no way they would have given it to her freely.
She, being from the Northern Sea, knew the true value of *Cheonbingnyeong* better than anyone.
Han Seolhyeon stood up and gave a deep bow. “Han Seolhyeon, with my name as a pledge, I will surely repay this favor.”
Jo Hwi felt a sudden shudder, looking into Han Seolhyeon’s deep gaze and graceful form.
“What… What is this? This is just part of the deal. Now, is there anything else I should be worried about with ice?” Jo Hwi asked.
Han Seolhyeon wore a confident expression. “Of course not. With this amount, I should be able to reach the *Bingin* (Ice Person) level.”
“Good!”
Since coming to Gangseo, Jo Hwi had often lost sleep over his concerns about ice. Handing the box over to Han Seolhyeon, he stood up.
“I will assist. Let’s not waste time and start right away.”
“Yes!” Han Seolhyeon replied, her trembling hands slowly reaching for the *Cheonbingnyeong*.
“Ah!” The moment her hand touched it, a powerful shiver ran through her body. The *Bingbaeksingong* was stirring fiercely.
In an instant, the *Cheonbingnyeong* emitted an even brighter white glow and was entirely absorbed into Han Seolhyeon’s hand.
Her face instantly drained of color.
Frost began to form on her face, as the immense cold energy of *Cheonbingnyeong* wrapped around her entire body.
She immediately sat in the lotus position, and frost began to cover the surface of her clothing.
*Tsutsu tsutsu tsutsu!*
The overwhelming cold aura of *Bingbaeksingong* swept over the entire meeting room, transforming it into an ice palace.
At that moment…
“Jo Hwi, hyung!”
Jang Il-ryong entered the meeting room, carrying Namgung Jang-ho on his back. His face looked as grim as that of a yaksha.
Jo Hwi, observing his expression, was momentarily shocked, but he quickly composed himself and put a finger to his lips.
This was a critical moment!
If he missed this chance, Han Seolhyeon would regret it for the rest of her life.
Jang Il-ryong, after scanning the room chilled by the ice, spotted Han Seolhyeon sitting in the lotus position.
Soon after, Yeom Sang-rok and Jin Ga-hee arrived, both sensing that Han Seolhyeon was about to enter a crucial phase.
*Hwaaaaa!*
Soft ice flowers began to bloom wildly around Han Seolhyeon.
The ice flowers reflected the moonlight, turning into radiant crystals that scattered in all directions and began to swirl slowly around her.
Jo Hwi could feel the powerful natural energy within these flowers.
Without needing an explanation, he understood—this was her essence, her everything.
The gentle waves of the ice flowers began to change, growing faster and fiercer.
In an instant, they transformed into a violent blizzard-like wave, and all objects in the room were violently sucked into it.
Shocked, Jo Hwi urgently signaled Jang Il-ryong’s group.
“Avoid it!”
*Crash crash crash!*
Jo Hwi wanted to protect the meeting room with his will, but he couldn’t do it.
While his *Geumcheon Daeshin* and *Mashin Gong* were pure internal arts, Han Seolhyeon’s mastery of ice meant that mixing in foreign energies could turn her ice powers into something unpredictable.
The wave of ice flowers, now like a whirlwind, tore the entire room apart, shooting toward the sky.
However, in the next moment, all the energy of the ice flowers seemed to vanish, and Han Seolhyeon slowly descended under the moonlight.
“Hmph!”
Jin Ga-hee snorted and turned away, ignoring her.
The lingering waves of ice flowers remained around Han Seolhyeon, their soft aura recognizable only by those who had reached the *Hwa-gyeong* (flower realm) in martial arts.
Jo Hwi, watching this, smiled warmly and congratulated Han Seolhyeon on her progress. But his face soon hardened.
He walked toward Jang Il-ryong and stood in front of him, his gaze turning to Namgung Jang-ho, who was slumped, bloodied, and lifeless.
He gave a grim smile. “Heukcheonryeon?”
Jang Il-ryong, terrified, nodded vigorously. He knew that any wrong words would result in death at Jo Hwi’s hands.
Jo Hwi slowly shifted his gaze toward the Heukcheonryeon clan.
As his pupils contracted rapidly, Yeom Sang-rok involuntarily took a step back.
In that fleeting moment, the purple aura flashed.
It wasn’t the gaze of a human.
* * *
Three days ago…
Heukcheonryeon leader Heukcheon Daesal summoned the poison master to the capital.
“The noxious medicine you have been consuming every fifteen days is none other than the *Hwalryeokjin Dan* (Vitality Elixir).”
*Hwalryeokjin Dan?*
The *Hwalryeokjin Dan* was a famous supplement, known for boosting vitality and strength.
Heukcheon Daesal immediately ordered the medicine to be discarded.
At last, the Heukcheonryeon clan realized they had been poisoned all along.
*Shudder*
They had endured much because of this poison.
Heukcheon Daesal immediately took advantage of their anger.
“From now on, sever all ties with the Jo-gadaesanghoe and take control of all their businesses!”
Heukcheon Daesal had given the land of Poyangho to the Jo-gadaesanghoe for free, knowing that one day, he would seize it.
The Jo-gadaesanghoe had broken their promise before even half a year passed, and Heukcheon Daesal couldn’t help but laugh at their foolishness.
In the world of Jianghu, giving up your advantage was the most foolish move.
Heukcheon Daesal’s storerooms were now all moved to Zhe Jiang, and he trusted only one thing—the evil spirit. No matter how skilled the person was, they couldn’t do anything now.
However, things began to go wrong from the very start.
A messenger, frantically kneeling before him, reported: “Lord, the Black Moon Special Forces have returned! But they have failed their mission!”
“Failed?”
The only force that could potentially pose a threat to the Joga Daesang Association was the evil spirit assassin, but the mission of the Black Moon Special Forces was not to deal with the evil spirit assassin.
“Are you telling me they couldn’t handle just a handful of post-peak experts from the righteous factions?”
It was known that a few of the righteous faction’s post-peak experts were managing the core operations of the Joga Daesang Association. The idea was that once their limbs were cut off, the evil spirit assassin would show up.
But to fail such an easy task? The Black Moon Special Forces?
Although they were rated lower than the Special Killer Ghosts directly under the leadership of the Lord, they were still part of the Ten Greatest Forces in the Black Heavenly Order, a respected group.
Black Heavenly Assassin clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, a habit he had whenever he felt strange anxiety.
What bothered him most was the absence of Dark Heavenly Assassin, who had been sent on a personal mission months ago, with no word from him since.
“What exactly caused this failure?”
The messenger, looking around cautiously, finally spoke.
“Well… Soma Gyeom and Dokmae Hong suddenly barged in…”
“Soma Gyeom? Dokmae Hong?”
Aren’t those disciples of the Poison King and the King of Swords?
Had those fools joined forces with the righteous faction’s disciples, and in the end, turned traitor?
However, considering their level, they could only be considered top-tier at best.
“Are you saying that just the addition of those two caused the Black Moon Special Forces to be defeated? Is that even possible?”
“They say Dokmae Hong showed the martial skill of the Huakyung.”
“Huakyung?”
A mere woman had reached a level on par with the Eight Kings in a single day?
The Poison King, who had been lurking in the corner of the capital, flashed his sinister eyes.
“She must have consumed the blood of a martial artist.”
The Poison King smiled darkly and walked slowly towards the Black Heavenly Assassin.
“I will personally resolve this matter.”
Hearing that, Black Heavenly Assassin felt a sense of relief.
He had always trusted the Poison King, who was meticulous and cold-hearted.
“I’ll leave the Special Ghosts to you.”
The Special Ghosts were the most elite force directly under the Lord of Black Heavenly, and even if the evil spirit assassin, with his unrivaled power, joined in, they would be able to handle the situation without much trouble.
“Thank you for your kindness, Lord.”
At this point, Black Heavenly Assassin still thought that erasing the Joga Daesang Association from the West Sea was just a matter of time.
They were the Black Heavenly Order, the most powerful faction with over eight thousand experts gathered from the three realms. The idea of a small merchant organization like the Joga Daesang Association defeating them didn’t make sense.
So, another long period of silence fell over the Black Heavenly Assassin’s headquarters.
* * *
The condition of Namgung Jangho was worse than expected.
While the external wounds were not too serious, the internal injuries were a different story. He had been poisoned and had used his internal power recklessly, which led to this dire situation.
Zho Hwi looked anxiously at Jeong Ga-un.
“Have we received any word from the Life and Death Clinic?”
The Joga Daesang Association exclusively supplied the Life and Death Clinic’s herbal medicine to the Anhui and Gangseo regions. Out of loyalty and face toward their long-standing partner, they should have been willing to help.
“I sent a letter to Jeonseogu, so a reply should come soon. Let’s wait a little longer.”
Meanwhile, Yeom Sangrok, who had been lying beside Namgung Jangho, suddenly became agitated, rubbing his body with a disgruntled expression.
“Why is he the only one being treated? I’m in pain too!”
While Namgung Jangho was receiving various expensive treatments like gold ointment, special decoctions, and silk bandages for fractures, Yeom Sangrok’s treatment was minimal—just a few simple herbal patches.
Zho Hwi looked coldly at Yeom Sangrok.
“You’ve been detoxified. What are you complaining about? You’re just whining over a few scratches.”
Zho Hwi had already purged the poison from Yeom Sangrok and Jangho using his pure internal power, the Sword Heaven Method. The real problem was Namgung Jangho, whose poison had penetrated deep into his marrow, making it impossible to cure with just the Sword Heaven Method.
“Still, this is excessive.”
“Shut up. You’ve been drunk in inns day after day, doing nothing. What have you accomplished?”
Yeom Sangrok flared up.
“How can you say that? Look at my feet! I’ve been running around collecting artisans—sixty of them!”
Zho Hwi turned his face to the side with an indifferent expression.
“Then why is that woman late?”
It had already been six hours since Jangilryong and the others went to fill the ice in the Binggo businesses. The evening had fallen, and Han Seolhyun, who had taken the Tianbingling and reached the Hua Jing level, should have arrived by now.
Zho Hwi opened the window and shouted toward the roof.
“Jin Ga-hee!”
Jin Ga-hee, who had been staring out at the vast Po Yang Lake, looked down at him.
“What?”
“Han So-jeo still hasn’t returned. Can you go look for her?”
“I don’t want to. Why do I have to find her?”
Jin Ga-hee puffed out her cheeks and averted her gaze.
In this dangerous situation where Black Heavenly Order could strike any moment, and with the unconscious Namgung Jangho, it wasn’t a good time for her to move.
Zho Hwi sighed helplessly.
“I’ll give you my blood.”
Jin Ga-hee, startled, immediately jumped down with remarkable agility. She quickly pressed her face against the window and looked at Zho Hwi with wide, sparkling eyes.
“Really?”
“Half a hop.”
Half a hop (90ml) was something! Having witnessed Zho Hwi’s extraordinary abilities multiple times, Jin Ga-hee’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Understood!”
In an instant, Jin Ga-hee performed a leap and disappeared from Zho Hwi’s sight.
“Ha…”
Irritated, Zho Hwi kicked Yeom Sangrok’s legs.
“Move out of the way!”
“Ahh! Why are you hitting me?!”
* * *
Hidden signals were detected in Jangilryong’s sensory field.
Jang Il-ryong huffed like a bear, quickly opening the door to Cheonsang Uncha and rushing out.
Soon, white mist began to rise from his entire body. It was a distinct phenomenon that occurred when he activated the Yeongse Cheolgapshin technique.
“Don’t come out!” he shouted.
Having traveled to nearly eighty business locations and continuously practicing Bingbaeksingong, Han Seol-hyeon was already performing her breathing exercises as soon as she boarded the Cheonsang Uncha.
Even though she had reached the state of Hwagae (the stage of supreme martial ability), she had already sensed murderous intent since before the half-pass of the breath.
Had she not been in the final moments of her breathing exercises, she would have already warned Jang Il-ryong.
“Who are these bastards?!” Jang Il-ryong shouted, his roar echoing through the quiet mountains, infused with powerful internal energy.
Sss…sss…sss!
The sound of grass being cut echoed from all directions, and the dense murderous intent coming from the nearby grass was beyond what Jang Il-ryong had imagined.
As the murderous aura made his skin tingle, Jang Il-ryong’s muscles twitched in response.
Bang!
Jang Il-ryong immediately unleashed his first strike, the powerful force of the Jinmu Yeokcheon Gwon tearing through the nearby pine trees along the mountain path.
Crash!
Crack!
The hidden assassins leapt out in all directions, and Jang Il-ryong’s body launched like a cannonball.
“Even if you hide, you’re still up in the trees, you bastards!” he shouted.
He unleashed his martial attack like a waterfall toward the assassins.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
One of the black assassins, unable to twist their body in mid-air, was struck directly by the attack.
Crack!
Confirming the resounding blow, Jang Il-ryong grinned sinisterly and activated his Yeongse Cheolgapshin technique as he rushed toward the grass.
“Ha ha ha ha! Where are you hiding? Come out, all of you!”
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
From afar, the Dark Blade Killer King watched in disbelief.
“Truly a beast-like fellow,” he muttered, impressed.
Raising his hand slowly, he signaled.
The true strength of the elite unit, the Special Assassin Spirit Team (Teuksal Gwiryeongdae), stationed at the frontlines of the Black Heaven League, was now revealed in the mountains.
With a loud noise, the Special Assassin Spirit Team members, waiting in their positions, sprang into action and began to seize control of the mountain path.
Some blocked the front and rear of the Cheonsang Uncha, while others lined the sides of the path, sprinkling vast amounts of caltrops into the grass.
The star-shaped traps—hidden mechanisms—were scattered everywhere.
Shocked, Jang Il-ryong quickly performed a light movement technique and stood before the Cheonsang Uncha.
His face, now the color of earth, showed that his opponents had a far superior tactical system.
The fluidity and naturalness of their movements made it clear to Jang Il-ryong that these were no ordinary fighters.
The waves of murderous intent reaching his senses told him that each of them was at a level far beyond his own.
“Damn, it seems today will be full of dangers rather than roads,” Jang Il-ryong muttered.
With the front and rear of the mountain path completely blocked, and so many caltrops laid in the yard, there was no way to escape into the grass.
But then, an even more despairing situation unfolded.
Whoosh!
“It’s been a while.”
Cracking his whip, the Dark Blade Killer King revealed himself from the shadows.
He was known as the most cold-hearted of the Eight Kings of the Black Heaven League, and his martial prowess rivaled that of the strongest of the eight.
Jang Il-ryong had always kept an eye on him from behind the frantic Magyeom King, who was always full of wild energy.
“Damn…” Jang Il-ryong glanced at the Cheonsang Uncha behind him.
Sweat began to soak his hands, and he realized this was a situation he couldn’t handle alone.
“The Sampaecheon gang, dividing the three factions, always with these surprise attacks. Damn it, all of you!” he cursed.
But the Black Heaven League showed no signs of hesitation.
Whoosh!
Once again, the Dark Blade Killer King cracked his whip and gave an eerie laugh.
“The purpose of those who speak in front of their enemies is obvious,” he sneered.
The Dark Blade Killer King activated his blood force, having reached the Hwagae state of his blood power technique.
“You want to stall, but it won’t work on me.”
His long, blood-red whip shot out toward Jang Il-ryong.
* * *
When the news from the Life and Death’s Inquiry arrived at Jo Hwi’s side, an unexpected piece of bad news came with it.
“…What?” Jo Hwi asked, his face initially brightened by the news that a physician would be sent within three days, but soon he turned grim.
“Say that again!” he demanded.
The head of the Bukhosa (Black Tiger Association) groaned, his face bloodied and contorted in horror.
“All of the business locations in our network were attacked simultaneously by mysterious groups. The mercenaries protecting us, who were secretly shielding us, are all dead.”
“How bad is it?” Jo Hwi asked, his voice steady but tense.
The head of the Bukhosa grew even darker.
“From what I’ve confirmed, Chief Craftsman Nam Cheon-il and the owner of the Yang Brewery, Yeoyong-so, are dead. Many of our workers are also dead. And…”
“And?”
The Bukhosa leader swallowed hard and continued.
“…Chief Yeosong is missing. His survival is uncertain.”
Upon hearing this, Jo Hwi’s demeanor changed drastically.
“This Chief Yeosong!” Jo Hwi exclaimed.
Chief Yeosong was a brilliant strategist capable of expanding defenses by tens of times even in Jo Hwi’s absence. He was a founding member of the Jo Ga Daesang Hoi (Jo Family Alliance) and Jo Hwi’s most trusted subordinate!
The anger flared inside Jo Hwi, and his eyes, which had become hollow like burnt-out embers, split the distant sky.
Had they moved too quickly?
No matter how strong he was, he was still alone.
The Jo Ga Daesang Hoi was protected by just six of his own trusted martial artists.
It would have been better to draw in the Namgung family a bit more and weaken the power of the Black Heaven League before taking action.
But the deed was already done.
Regret was pointless now.
If the Black Heaven League pushed forward using their advantage of having numerous strong martial artists and attacked sporadically, there was only one solution.
Jo Hwi looked at Jeong Ga Un.
“From this moment on, we abandon all operations of the Jo Ga Daesang Hoi! Gather everyone who has survived and call them back to the Hoi! Hurry! I need you to send a messenger immediately!” he commanded.
Jeong Ga Un, who had been momentarily stunned by the distorted, grim face of Jo Hwi, nodded without thinking.
“Understood!” he replied.
If a pack of starving wolves had started hunting, the only way for the sheep to survive would be to stick together. Once the sheep were safe, the shepherd would take up arms and begin hunting the wolves.
As Jeong Ga Un rushed out, Jo Hwi called him back.
“Vice President Jeong!”
“Yes?” Jeong Ga Un turned back.
Jo Hwi surveyed the surroundings of the Jo Ga Daesang Hoi before speaking.
“When all the members of the Hoi have gathered, I want you to deploy the best formation you can muster.”
Jeong Ga Un hesitated for a moment, then looked back at Jo Hwi.
“My older brother is still at Poyangho. His skills are far superior to mine. I’ll try asking him for help. I’m sure he’ll assist us.”
“We’ll cover the cost of the formation and any necessary arrangements,” Jo Hwi assured.
Jeong Ga Un grinned.
“I’ll make sure you get your money’s worth.”
With those words, Jeong Ga Un disappeared, using his lightness skill.
Jo Hwi chuckled quietly to himself.
“Money’s worth…”
If it could save the lives of the thousands of employees who supported Jo Ga Daesang Hoi, even a fortune wouldn’t be too much.
At that moment, a groan of pain was heard.
“Ughhh…”
Namgung Jang Ho, struggling, was waking up, drenched in sweat, and slowly rising to his feet.
“Jo Bong Gong…” he muttered.
Jo Hwi hurried to him, trying to help him up.
“You shouldn’t be moving yet! The poison might spread if you do!”
Namgung Jang Ho harshly shook off Jo Hwi’s hand.
“I’ve heard everything. Go quickly, find So Jeo!”
“You can’t push yourself!” Jo Hwi urged.
In an instant, Namgung Jang Ho grabbed Jo Hwi by the collar with surprising force.
“Are you telling the son of the Imperial Family to sit idly by while his friends suffer?”
Jo Hwi stared into Namgung Jang Ho’s intense eyes for a moment, then reluctantly gave a dry smile.
“You’re speaking so casually to a family loyalist?”
“Go! Now! Even in this state, I can still protect myself!” Namgung Jang Ho ordered.
Jo Hwi’s face suddenly grew grim.
“Jeong Ga’s formation will be deployed here soon. And in three days, a doctor will come from the Life-and-Death’s Inquiry.”
“…” Namgung Jang Ho said nothing.
“Brother Namgung, you must survive. Or I’ll be the one to kill you. For real.”
Though Jo Hwi’s face remained calm and collected, Namgung Jang Ho could see the fierce turbulence in his eyes.
He could feel Jo Hwi’s anger clearly.
“I’m the Little Sword Master,” Namgung Jang Ho said, his voice becoming slightly more relaxed.
Jo Hwi’s expression softened just a little.
“Much better.”
“What’s better?”
“You don’t look like a stuffy orthodox master anymore, Brother Namgung.”
Boom!
A massive crater formed, and Jo Hwi vanished in an instant.
The Sword Heaven All-Powerful Step (Gyeomcheon Jeonnoongbo), a legendary technique of the sword, reappeared in the martial world.