ALL NOVEL Ch 36
While Jo Hwi was soaring through the sky on his sword, using indiscriminate force to unleash a barrage of his powerful energy, he noticed from below in the heart of the inner circle that elite warriors of the Black Heaven Alliance, dressed in black robes, were joining the battlefield like a storm.
“Black Heaven Alliance Lord? Ma Gyeom Wang?”
Jo Hwi sharpened his focus and saw that the leaders of the Black Heaven Alliance were the ones moving at the front, using powerful lightness techniques. The warriors following them were definitely the elite of the Black Heaven Alliance.
With the Lord and top warriors leading the charge, it was clear that they were the best of the best. Moreover, their numbers easily surpassed two thousand.
The numbers were overwhelming.
Even with Jo Hwi’s peerless energy and martial strength, there was no way he could incapacitate them all. Even if he could neutralize a quarter of them, the warriors from Namgung’s Sword Clan and his allies would still be in danger.
“Damn it!” Jo Hwi muttered, then immediately executed his sword flight technique toward the ground.
A massive blue aura formed in front of him, and it quickly began to shine brightly, soon exploding in a tremendous burst of light toward the enemy.
**Cheongung Muaegyeom (Sky Piercing Sword Technique).**
**Hosan Sik (Third Form).**
**Cheongung Mujin Cheonha (Sky Piercing, World Shaking).**
Among the most powerful techniques of Namgung’s clan, it was a devastating area-of-effect move, combining both immense power and control with a massive sword strike!
But the power of this move was not what Namgung Seongchan had expected.
From afar, Namgung Seongchan’s face was filled with astonishment.
“What in the world!?”
The sword’s power seemed like it would overturn the very sky itself!
However, the Black Heaven Alliance had experienced Jo Hwi’s sword techniques more than anyone else. In an instant, only those beyond the peak of Huakyung-level were able to soar into the air to counter Jo Hwi’s sword, while the rest of the warriors scattered in all directions.
*Whoosh!*
Black Heaven Daesal raised a sharp gray aura, tearing through Jo Hwi’s blue sword power in a straight line.
Taking advantage of the moment, Huakyung-level masters unleashed their own energy to disrupt and neutralize Jo Hwi’s sword attack.
The scene was spectacular, with dozens of energy streaks merging with Jo Hwi’s blue energy, creating a breathtaking visual spectacle.
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
Loud explosive sounds filled the air.
In the blink of an eye, Jo Hwi’s **Cheongung Mujin Cheonha** technique lost its power!
Only a few of the Huakyung-level masters were injured, but the devastating power of Jo Hwi’s sword was ultimately stopped.
There was a saying in the martial world: Five Huakyung-level masters could stop an Absolute Master.
Indeed, with a gathering of Huakyung-level warriors, they succeeded in stopping Jo Hwi’s overwhelming sword.
Suddenly, a massive explosion echoed from far away, shaking the heavens and earth.
*Boom boom boom!*
Hundreds of cannonballs, fired from the red-hot barrels of the **Cheonhwa Daepho (Heavenly Fire Cannons)**, soared into the sky.
The projectiles, like a rainstorm, arced in a perfect parabola, heading straight toward their target.
Jo Hwi’s face turned pale as he watched the projectiles’ trajectories.
No matter how many times he fired his Heavenly Power, he couldn’t absorb all of them.
Even with his infinite internal energy, after using several exhausting techniques like his **Cheongung Muaegyeom** and **Cheongung Mujin Cheonha**, he could feel his energy starting to falter.
As his mind raced, Jo Hwi finally made his decision.
**Cheongung Jeongdae Gyeombyeok (Sky Piercing, Ultimate Sword Barrier)!**
In an instant, a massive sword barrier appeared above the Black Heaven Alliance, mimicking the legendary defense technique of the Sword Sage, the highest sword defense form of the **Cheongeom Ryu** school.
Above the Black Heaven Alliance, a single sword materialized, splitting into two, then four, continuing to multiply endlessly.
*Szzzzz!*
The result was a massive forest of swords—**Gyeomrim (Sword Forest)!**
*Boom!*
*Boom!*
The deafening noise of the cannonballs colliding with the sword barrier filled the battlefield.
It was an awe-inspiring spectacle, as the warriors of the Black Heaven Alliance watched, mouths agape, in utter disbelief.
However, not all the cannonballs were stopped.
Some cannonballs managed to evade the expanding sword forest and made it past the barrier, streaking toward the Black Heaven Alliance’s front gates.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of cannonballs slammed into the **Cheonryong Jeonwi (Heavenly Dragon Vanguard)** and Namgung’s warriors.
*Boom boom boom!*
Horrific screams echoed across the battlefield!
*Ahhh!*
*Kwaaah!*
White smoke billowed as the cannonball impacts left behind blackened, lifeless bodies of Namgung’s warriors scattered across the battlefield.
Jo Hwi’s gaze soon fell upon Han Seolhyeon, who was now visible.
She had used her **Bingbaeksinjang (Ice White Divine Technique)** to intercept the cannonballs, but her clothes were torn, and she lay collapsed, drenched in blood.
A surge of anger exploded within Jo Hwi’s chest, an uncontrollable fury flooding his body.
*Thud.*
He felt as though the filament of reason in his mind snapped, and his eyes erupted in flames of rage like a volcano.
*Fwoooosh!*
Jo Hwi’s **Muheon (Martial Soul)**, symbolizing his ultimate power, was typically pure white, but now it shifted to a blood-red hue, resembling a fire of vengeance.
Black Heaven Daesal’s face turned pale as he saw Jo Hwi’s transformation.
“Blood…!”
He wanted to shout for his subordinates to retreat, but his mouth couldn’t form the words.
*Shudder.*
Looking down, he saw his own legs trembling uncontrollably, as if they were made of reeds.
It was an unprecedented fear.
How could a supreme master like himself still feel such terror?
Suddenly, everything seemed ominous.
His fearful premonition became reality as Jo Hwi muttered under his breath, his eyes glowing with crimson fury.
**“Cheonma Sam Gyeom (Heavenly Demon Three Swords)…”**
His heart pounded.
“What, what did he say?”
Black Heaven Daesal’s face twisted in disbelief as he turned toward Jo Hwi.
The purple fire of rage, like a blazing inferno, burned with intensity.
In Jo Hwi’s expression, there was no trace of reason, no more humanity—only the terrifying visage of a demon, as though his very soul had been consumed by his fury.
**“First Form.”**
As Jo Hwi’s voice, now tinged with a sinister aura, rang out, Heukcheon Daesal immediately screamed, his voice nearly breaking.
“Run, scatter! Get out of here!”
Jo Hwi’s voice echoed like a death knell throughout the Heukcheonryeon group.
– *Cheonma Myeolgyeobmu* (Heavenly Demon Annihilation Dance).
Since martial arts are human techniques, they inevitably manifest in some form—be it sound, light, or some other element—when they are unleashed.
This is because martial arts typically enhance internal energy, turning it into destructive power.
However, *Cheonma Myeolgyeobmu* defied all such norms of martial arts.
It was neither a powerful strike nor a martial technique that used energy.
No light beams, no deafening sounds occurred.
In the blink of an eye, over two hundred rectangular spaces were simply “erased.”
It was true *Myeolgyeob* (Annihilation).
The Heukcheonryeon stronghold had been located on the slopes of the Gu Ryu Mountain.
But now, the entire Gu Ryu Mountain had disappeared.
The once vast base of Heukcheonryeon had vanished as if it had never existed.
In its place was a massive rectangular abyss that seemed to lead down into the underworld.
The dark abyss was so deep that its bottom could not even be fathomed.
Heukcheon Daesal, still kneeling in shock, looked up at Jo Hwi.
Surprisingly, the reason he had survived was that his instincts had made him burrow under Jo Hwi’s feet.
Now, he slowly turned his head to gaze at the rectangular pit.
He could feel the wetness spreading around his groin.
The supreme martial artist, the leader of Heukcheonryeon, had truly soiled himself.
“*Huh…* *Ugh…* *Ahh…*”
Heukcheon Daesal, overwhelmed by the extreme shock, was shedding everything his body could expel—spit, tears, urine.
His lifelong ambitions, everything he had built, had been completely erased from the world.
Only now did Heukcheon Daesal realize how hollow his command to scatter had been.
At that moment, Jo Hwi’s voice, seemingly coming from the abyss, penetrated his ears.
“…Heukcheonryeon is no more.”
Jo Hwi’s proclamation felt like a judgment from the King of Hell, crushing Heukcheon Daesal’s heart.
It was a pain worse than death.
At that moment, Heukcheon Daesal couldn’t understand why he had instinctively burrowed under Jo Hwi’s feet to survive.
“You’ve not only massacred innocent people, but also used the imperial cannons for private use in conflicts. If the imperial family learns of this, all of you will face the punishment of complete annihilation. Do you wish for that?”
Heukcheon Daesal’s hollow gaze turned toward the gates behind Jo Hwi, where his subordinates were staring at him in confusion, having lost all will to fight.
They were all standing, weapons discarded, blankly staring at him.
“What… should I… do…?” Heukcheon Daesal muttered, his voice hoarse.
Jo Hwi’s eyes, filled with the power of the evil demon, gradually began to calm.
“All businesses of Heukcheonryeon will be transferred or dismantled by the Jo Family. The remaining Heukcheonryeon forces will be reorganized as workers for the Jo Family Construction. If you agree to this, I will prevent further bloodshed.”
Normally, complaints would arise from people with their wits intact.
But Heukcheon Daesal, his emotions burnt to ash, was unable to even respond.
“…I agree.”
Jo Hwi nodded silently.
He, too, had no desire to kill anymore.
The terrifying effect of using demonic energy, the *Mahuwa*, had been fully demonstrated by the recent results.
The visions of the demonic eruption, as seen by the sword master, had become a horrifying reality—he had now unleashed the forbidden power of the gods himself.
“…Wait.”
A massive pit opened up, and Jo Hwi disappeared from Heukcheon Daesal’s view.
Jo Hwi swiftly used his *Cheoncheon Jeonno Bo* technique to approach Han Seolhyeon, lifting her and helping her to her feet.
Neither Namgung Seongchan nor Jo Hwi’s allies dared speak to him.
The emotions on his face were unlike any they had seen before.
Jo Hwi examined Han Seolhyeon’s injuries briefly before turning to Namgung Jangho.
“Internal injuries are far worse than external ones. Jangho, please get her to our residence as soon as possible.”
Namgung Jangho nodded gravely, approaching Han Seolhyeon to help her, which allowed Jo Hwi to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
“Where are you going?”
At Namgung Jangho’s question, Jo Hwi turned his gaze to the north.
“To the granary. We need to minimize the damage.”
As he looked back and forth between the enormous pit and Jo Hwi’s face, Jang Ilryong suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
“Ha ha ha! Our Jo Hwi hyung! Now he’s really wiped out everything with just a sword! Is that what martial arts really are?”
Despite his attempt to laugh it off, Jang Ilryong’s face couldn’t hide the deep terror that had crept into his heart.
If even Jang Ilryong, known for his clear mind, was affected like this, what must others feel?
Jo Hwi then called over Yeom Sangrok and Jin Gahee.
“You two seem the most intact. Quickly tend to the wounded and return to the association. There’s too much to do.”
“Jo, Jo, sir!” Yeom Sangrok stuttered.
“Sir! We understand!” Jin Gahee added.
Their former master, Heukcheon Daesal, had just been brought down to his knees before Jo Hwi.
It was as if they were about to fall to the ground in full prostration.
Jo Hwi looked mournfully at the severely wounded.
Surprisingly, the casualties from Namgung Seoga’s sword masters were not as severe as those from the rear guard of the Cheonryong Imperial Guard. That was because the sword masters were all wearing the Yungun armor.
Fury surged once again in Jo Hwi’s heart.
He had never imagined that Heukcheonryeon would attack with the imperial cannons.
As Jo Hwi was about to turn toward Heukcheon Daesal once more with burning eyes, Namgung Seongchan called out.
“…Let’s talk for a moment.”
Namgung Seongchan, recalling how he had accepted Jo Hwi as a nameless disciple to maintain some connection, chuckled lightly.
A nameless disciple? This kid was close to being a god in the martial world.
“Is this urgent?”
The Namgung sword masters were still being killed or wounded in the granary, and Jo Hwi didn’t want to waste a single moment.
“It’s extremely urgent.”
Silently nodding, Zhou Hui raised his mind power and instantly blocked the sound waves.
Having reached the threshold of the Absolute Realm, Nangong Chengchan could immediately sense the magnitude of Zhou Hui’s mind power, which was as vast as the ocean and so dense that it made him feel as though he were suffocating.
“You may speak now, Elder.”
“Hah…”
Nangong Chengchan let out a long sigh, calming his startled heart, before speaking.
“Did you, by any chance, form a connection with the Celestial Immortal World?”
The term “Celestial Immortal World” referred to the realm of immortals.
Zhou Hui shook his head gently.
“I have never seen an immortal.”
Nangong Chengchan’s face darkened further.
“I have not properly taught you as a master, but as your teacher, I must say this: Never reveal such divine powers again in the martial world as you did earlier.”
Zhou Hui looked at him in confusion.
“Why not?”
“I will not ask how you gained such power, but it is clear that the strength you wield is not human. Those who have used power beyond the laws of human causality… The ones once revered as gods in the martial world—like the Demon God, the Sword God, and the Martial God—they all disappeared shortly after revealing their divine powers.”
The Demon God, who pushed the Central Plains into chaos.
The Sword God, who single-handedly destroyed the Dark Demon Sect.
The Martial God, who ended the Great War.
All of them vanished after revealing their divine might.
In particular, the Martial God’s family, the Sa Ma clan, still hasn’t opened their gates since the end of the Great War.
“The common belief among the knowledgeable scholars of the martial world is that this was not a coincidence. The prevailing theory is that the Celestial Immortal World had a hand in it… Regardless, can you promise me this?”
Zhou Hui had heard from his ancestors about the divine seat and its followers. While he wasn’t sure whether they were connected to the Celestial Immortal World, it was undeniable that they had been manipulating the martial world from behind the scenes.
Seeing the actions of the venerable Sword God, who swiftly killed the Lord of Yinbong Mountain, Zhou Hui had immediately realized that they were not a good group.
“I understand. I will keep a low profile unless something special arises.”
Only then did Nangong Chengchan’s expression soften slightly.
With the tension easing, his curiosity as a martial artist began to show.
“Is that… the martial art of the Sword God?”
What could he say?
The Demon God’s technique, which he had cultivated, was slightly different from what the Demon God had practiced.
It was the integration of the Celestial Demon Three Swords.
Since his own Celestial Demon Three Swords contained the same energy, they were undoubtedly different from the ancient Demon God’s sword technique.
For that reason, the Demon God had been rampaging earlier.
– You! What did you do to my Celestial Demon Three Swords!?
Zhou Hui felt little affection for the distinct actions of the Ancestor’s followers.
Ignoring the Demon God’s voice entirely, he spoke again to Nangong Chengchan.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Nangong Chengchan’s eyes, filled with suspicion.
He had seen Zhou Hui’s entire body engulfed in the flames of demonic energy.
How could such a human-like immense force be the Sword God’s power?
But Zhou Hui could not mention the Demon God’s martial art to an elder of the righteous sect, like Nangong Chengchan.
“Anyway… I understand. Go ahead.”
“Understood.”
With that, Zhou Hui ascended onto the Iron Sword, soaring into the air, grabbing hold of the kneeling Black Sky Demon and disappearing northward.
* * *
Nangong Su was among the twenty or so Heavenly Killers, who were engaging in a chaotic battle.
The Heavenly Killers were all masters from the Reverse Heavenly Killers Alliance.
While their individual martial skills were nothing compared to Nangong Su’s Absolute Realm, they fought fiercely, using coordinated tactics and strategic formations.
“Hoo…”
Nangong Su felt a twinge of regret. Had he completed the final form of the Sovereign Sword, he could have surpassed the martial spirit of the Absolute Realm and reached the realm of Wuji (the ultimate limit).
Nangong Su, with his Chang Tian Sword raised, surveyed the battlefield.
It was clear that many of the fallen warriors were from the Black Sky Sect.
However, due to the numerical disadvantage, a chaotic battle was inevitable.
Most of Nangong’s disciples were fighting six or so Black Sky warriors each.
The situation wasn’t looking good.
He needed to finish off the Heavenly Killers before he could join the main battlefield.
But those tricky bastards knew exactly how to handle martial artists at the Absolute Realm.
The martial artists from the Reverse Heavenly Killers Alliance occasionally unleashed powerful force fields, making them difficult to deal with.
It was estimated that there were about three to five of them hidden within the formations, and without dealing with them first, they couldn’t break through the formation.
Taking a deep breath, Nangong Su gripped his sword tightly, and the azure energy from his sword began to spread out, swirling like a cyclone.
At that moment…
Whooooooosh—
A deafening roar rang out from above the warehouse.
Zhou Hui was flying in using his sword!
The Heavenly Killers, stunned by the sight, all turned their wide eyes toward him.
“Lord! Lord!”
“Gah!”
Zhou Hui had already arrived, and with a swift motion, threw Black Sky Demon to the ground, where he lay motionless.
His eyes were hollow, as though his soul had left his body.
Stepping off the Iron Sword, Zhou Hui pressed his foot down on Black Sky Demon’s head.
At that moment…
The warehouse, filled with the sounds of weapons clashing, suddenly fell silent, as if cold water had been poured over it.
“If you don’t want to see your captain’s head explode, throw down your swords.”
As soon as Jowei applied pressure with his legs, the face of Heukcheondae was swelling up as if it were about to burst.
“Kh…!”
The groan from Heukcheondae, sounding like an animal’s cry, echoed throughout the room.
From Jowei’s eyes, a fiery, intense gaze emerged.
“Throw down your swords, you bastards!”
The warehouse, which had just been filled with blood, flesh, screams, and shouts, now enveloped in an eerie stillness.
“…”
“…”
No one spoke.
Who was Heukcheondae?
He was the leader of the Sampa Cheon, a faction that divided the demonic world.
He was one of the four absolute masters in the Sampa Cheon, the greatest fighter, a living legend who turned the Palmuza into the Chilmuza of the righteous faction.
Yet, despite being such an extraordinary figure, he lay face down, his face under Jowei’s foot, unable to offer any resistance.
His dilated, unfocused eyes immediately indicated that his life as a martial artist had come to an end.
Numerous warriors, including the Geosal and Cheonsal, watched the scene with wide eyes.
For many of them, it was the first time they had seen their supreme leader, Heukcheondae, so close.
They couldn’t help but freeze, unable to fathom such a sight.
Clang.
The bloodthirsty, deadly assassin, Chulryong, representing the Cheonsal in the warehouse, threw down twelve swords onto the ground.
Once Heukcheondae, the strongest of the Heukcheonryeon, surrendered, others began dropping their weapons one by one.
The once formidable force of the Heukcheonryeon, numbering in the thousands, was now bowing to just one man, Jowei.
“Heh…”
Namgoongsoo sighed with a sense of helpless admiration.
Heukcheondae Lee Kyungjin had been a great enemy to the Namgoong family for over forty years.
Seeing him in such a miserable and pitiful state, instead of feeling relieved, Namgoongsoo felt a strange sense of frustration.
“Jo Bonggong…”
Jowei immediately interrupted Namgoongsoo’s words.
“Don’t tell me you’re about to say something like showing respect for an enemy leader…”
With a calm and emotionless gaze, Jowei’s indifferent eyes caused Namgoongsoo to involuntarily swallow his saliva.
“By this bastard’s orders, 247 members of our Jo family association lost their lives. They killed merchants who hadn’t even mastered a basic martial art. Please, do not ask me to show mercy on this matter.”
In that moment, a brilliant white light radiated from Jowei’s steel sword.
A long white sword energy shot directly towards the Heukcheonryeon’s signboard.
Bang!
With a thunderous roar, the enormous signboard of the Heukcheonryeon’s first branch vanished without a trace.
“From today, the Heukcheonryeon is disbanded.”
His words, though bold, did not sound like a mere threat with Heukcheondae’s head under his feet.
“Anyone who wishes to join the Jo Family Association kneel. Of course, you may leave now, but the opportunity to join will be permanently revoked.”
Jowei, sheathing his sword, turned to the crowd with a commanding voice.
“There will be no need to bleed for tribute to the faction, nor will there be any life-risking missions. There will be no discrimination based on martial skill; everyone will have equal opportunity and will be paid based on their abilities and performance.”
Among the first to kneel was Chulryong, the assassin.
“What is your name?”
“Chulryong.”
Jowei slowly nodded, then called him back.
“Chulryong, your first mission is to return all the rice bought at discounted prices to the merchants, at the same price they paid. Handle that immediately.”
“Understood!”
Thud, thud.
As time passed, many members of the Heukcheonryeon who had knelt numbered over seven hundred, while many others chose to leave.
Jowei watched those departing without any hint of regret.
Once the situation was roughly settled, Jowei turned his gaze back to Namgoongsoo, giving a more human expression.
“It looks like the situation is more or less under control, Family Head.”
“Heh…”
Namgoongsoo, stroking his long beard, let out a helpless laugh.
It finally sank in.
The largest market in Jiangxi Province, a region south of the Yangtze River, had been taken over by a mere merchant faction, not a martial group.
This was truly a monumental event that could upend the entire martial world.
Thus, the Jo Family Association and Jowei’s name began to spread across the martial world.
—
Jowei was the first to offer compensation and job opportunities to the families of those killed in the Heukcheonryeon’s surprise attack.
The compensation was so vast that the Jo Family Association used a quarter of its assets to provide it.
In fact, deaths at the hands of merchants or in trade disputes were not uncommon in the martial world, but it was unheard of for a merchant faction to offer such generous compensation.
The unprecedented actions of the Jo Family Association only strengthened the loyalty of both the leadership and the members.
Jowei then promoted the fractured Jiangxi branch of the Jo Family Association to a central organization and announced a grand restructuring.
The scale of the new organization was enormous, far beyond the small estate it had once been.
The construction of dozens of buildings, incorporating the military strategies of the Zhuge family, was underway, with a clear distinction between internal and external sections.
As the construction neared completion, Jowei founded several new organizations.
Jowei realized that relying solely on external sources for information had its limits.
Had the Jo Family Association possessed an independent intelligence network, they could have anticipated the Heukcheonryeon’s attack beforehand.
Thus, the Jo Family’s newly founded organization, the “Jo Family Secret Pavilion,” was born.
Jowei was burning with ambition to grow the Jo Family’s Secret Pavilion (Jo Ga Sinbi Gak) into a powerhouse, comparable to the infamous ‘Yajeob’ of the martial world.
Simultaneously, the Jo Family’s first armed force, the Jo Family Heavenly Martial Brigade (Jo Ga Cheon Mu Dae), was established.
The Jo Ga Cheon Mu Dae consisted of twelve squads, with former Heukcheoryeon’s Cheonsal warriors taking on leadership positions. Each squad was tightly organized with martial experts of at least peak level.
What was unique was that the monthly salaries differed between the squads, with the first squad earning the highest salary.
However, the structure allowed members to rise to higher squads through matches and large-scale combat, creating fierce competition that pushed Jowei’s training methods and the development of the brigade.
The final creation was Jo Ga Construction (Jo Ga Geonseol).
Interestingly, all the members of Jo Ga Construction were former Heukcheoryeon martial artists who were below peak level.
During his travels through Sichuan, Jowei had witnessed an extraordinary sight—a perilous cliffside path being carved through a sheer rock face. Inspired by this sight, an idea occurred to him.
What if martial artists with mastery of their skills were hired as construction workers?
Martial artists, who possessed strength far beyond ordinary people, and with their agility and wall-climbing abilities, could make construction work incredibly efficient.
With the restructuring of the Jo Family Association nearing completion, Jowei began to shift his focus to business expansion.
First, he wanted to rid Jiangxi Province of the dirty elements of the underworld. He cleaned up the Heukcheoryeon’s illicit establishments, including brothels and gambling dens.
Next, he worked to improve and expand the shipping routes that passed through Poyang Lake, understanding that the core value of Poyang Lake lay in logistics. By enhancing this, he knew it would create a positive feedback loop for the economy.
Once this process was complete, the Jo Family Association stood in majestic glory.
However, there was something strange—the people of the martial world were unsure whether the Jo Family Association was a great martial faction or a leading merchant group. Its identity seemed ambiguous.
It truly was a **武商复合体** (a “martial-commercial complex”), a strangely unprecedented entity that had appeared in the martial world.
—
Jo Family Headquarters.
As Jowei hurried through the Jo Family Resource Hall (Jo Ga Ja Won Gak), suddenly, Jin Ga-hee dropped from the sky.
“Ah, damn! You startled me!”
Jowei, deeply engrossed in his business plans, felt his heart almost stop from the surprise.
Like any other person, Jowei couldn’t be constantly on guard, always heightening his senses.
“No! Why the hell are you crawling on rooftops instead of walking on the road?!”
Jin Ga-hee, with a sullen expression, was glaring at Jowei as if she wanted to kill him.
“Why didn’t you keep your promise?”
Jowei narrowed his eyes.
“What promise?”
“The half-hop! You promised!”
Jowei stared at her with a look of disbelief, as though he was tired of her obsessive fixation on blood.
“I’m busy. Later.”
“Hmph! Why did you do that in front of the Heukcheoryeon headquarters?”
Jowei, visibly irritated, crumpled his face in frustration.
“What now?! What’s the problem?!”
“Namgoong hyung! Chief Jang! Manager Han Seol-hyun! Everyone, wait at the front gate!”
Jowei stared at her blankly, as if confused by her sudden outburst, while Jin Ga-hee’s pale face grew even paler.
“Why does everyone else get called out, but I’m left out? Am I the only one treated like an outsider?”
Jowei’s actions further enraged Jin Ga-hee.
“I got hurt from that damn explosion too! But why is only Han Seol-hyun being treated? She’s ‘that woman,’ and I’m just a ‘damn bitch’?”
“No, I—”
Jin Ga-hee’s swollen cheeks, her pale face as if she were about to burst into tears, were truly unnerving.
“I saved her too! I saved your Ice Princess!”
“Damn.”
Jowei, feeling helpless, made a small cut on his arm with his steel sword, letting blood flow.
*Chomp!*
Jin Ga-hee bit Jowei’s arm as she cried out.
“Hey, are you crazy? You’re going too far!”
*Gasp…!*
Her pupils rapidly constricted as she sucked the blood. Jowei was horrified as she collapsed, convulsing.
“Ah! What’s happening now?!”
“Hhh… ugh…!”
Her eyes rolled back, revealing only the whites, and her pale face became grotesque.
“Come on, snap out of it!”
At that moment, Jin Ga-hee started shivering like a fish out of water and began screaming.
“Kiiiaaa!!”
Her expression was bizarre, a mix of extreme pleasure and pain, so much so that it was impossible to tell whether it was a scream of agony or one of ecstasy.
After a while, Jin Ga-hee, with her mouth open, laughed and drooled as she jumped up.
“Your blood is truly insane! My Blood Heart Sky Piercing Technique has already reached the ninth stage!”
“The ninth stage?”
Jowei was taken aback. To reach the final, tenth stage, there was only one step left?
“Does that mean you’re almost at the absolute level?”
“Well… reaching the tenth stage takes even more effort than getting from one to nine. But anyway…”
“Anyway?”
“I’m definitely at the peak of transformation now.”
“Hoh.”
Jowei was genuinely shocked. While he couldn’t ignore the environment around her, which allowed her to easily absorb the blood of a master martial artist, he still thought that her Blood Heart Sky Piercing technique was comparable to the greatest martial arts in the world. The speed at which she was advancing in internal energy was beyond belief.
“So…?”
Jin Ga-hee hesitated before speaking, and Jowei had a sudden ominous feeling down his spine.
“If I drink just a little more, I feel like something even greater will happen.”
“You crazy woman.”
With a horrified look, Jowei pulled down his sleeves.
“I’m busy. Leave me now.”
Jin Ga-hee quickly grabbed his collar.
“No, you should at least hear me out!”
“Ugh! What now?”
Her face flushed with a faint redness.
She then started twisting her body while touching her index fingers together.
“He’s just a wasted man anyway, right? Can I have him?”
“Who?”
Jin Ga-hee smiled brightly.
“Heukcheon Daesal.”
Jowei froze for a moment, confused by Jin Ga-hee’s absurd idea of taking Heukcheon Daesal, the former leader of the Heukcheoryeon, as her blood slave. But was this even possible?
It didn’t make sense. Most of the members of the Jo Family’s Heavenly Martial Brigade were former Heukcheoryeon masters. If word got out that the former leader of Heukcheoryeon was being treated like this, the backlash would be unimaginable. The entire underworld around Jiangxi could revolt.
Jowei firmly shook his head.
“No. Go back.”
Jin Ga-hee looked puzzled.
“Why? Why not? He’s just a useless drunk locked up in the manor anyway. Why can’t I have him?”
“No! Does that even make sense? If the Jo Family Association is known for drinking the blood of the former leader of Heukcheoryeon, do you think the Heukcheoryeon members will still stay loyal?”
“Can’t you do that much for me? I’ve heard everything. I know what you did in Sichuan!”
Jowei was taken aback when Jin Ga-hee suddenly brought up Sichuan.
“What… what are you talking about?”
“You worked so hard to give that woman the Heavenly Ice Lotus, right? You even took a beating from the Tang family, and you went to scout out the Heavenly Demon Sect to impress them?”
“What! When did I—”
Jowei was caught off guard, but Jin Ga-hee glared at him furiously.
“Wow! How shameless! How many people from Sichuan pass through the Jo Family Association because of iron ore? Are you going to call all those people liars?”
“Sigh…”
Jowei, frustrated, couldn’t hold back his words, and they struck Jin Ga-hee like a dagger to the heart.
“Compare things properly! Without Han So-jeo, all the cold tea and ice water production would come to a halt! How can you compare yourself to her? Han So-jeo is one of the most important figures in the Jo Family Association!”
Jowei’s words pierced Jin Ga-hee’s chest, and her face grew darker with each word.
“Right… that’s how you treat me…”
Her voice became dark and full of resentment, as if filled with the grievances of a woman scorned. Jowei, unnerved by the ominous feeling, snapped in anger.
“You think it’s easy for a martial artist who has reached the absolute peak to share their blood? If you keep trampling on my goodwill like this…”
Jowei threatened, his eyes wide.
“Then I’ll become an underworld leader too! I’ll rule with force!”
“Force?”
Jin Ga-hee’s face, initially sorrowful, now showed curiosity.
“W-What’s with your sudden change in expression?”
“What are you going to do with force?”
“Aren’t you going to back off?”
Jowei, horrified, took three steps back.
Jin Ga-hee lightly used her movement technique and closed the distance between them.
“Jowei, it’s better to leave while you still can.”
“I’ll also give you a position.”
“…A position?”
Jin Ga-hee scanned the buildings in the headquarters.
“Zhegal is the vice president and Jo Ga Cheon Gi Gak Master, that muscled guy, Jang Ga, is the main manager, and that Peng guy is the head of the Jo Ga Ja Won Gak. Even Yeom Sang-rok became the deputy head of Jo Ga Sinbi Gak!”
“…”
Jowei had a lot to say, but Jin Ga-hee’s impulsive, emotional nature, along with her complete individualism, meant she could never have loyal followers. Even someone like Yeom Sang-rok, who was driven by profit, wouldn’t get along with her.
Her most glaring flaw, though, was her appearance. Her pale, eerie face made everyone recoil in fear. No one wanted to be near her.
The only thing she had going for her was her formidable martial arts, but her leadership skills were severely lacking. Despite this, Jowei knew he had to give her something, or else she might explode at any moment.
“How about you manage the manor where the former leader of Heukcheoryeon is staying?”
“Manage?”
“Well, not manage, more like supervise. If the former underworld leader tries to escape, it’ll be a big problem.”
“Hoh, I see.”
“You like the rooftops, right? Sounds like the perfect job for you.”
“Alright! I’ll do it!”
Jin Ga-hee, full of energy, clenched her fist triumphantly. Jowei, strangely finding her cute, shivered.
“Well, then…”
Jowei quickly made his exit.
—
Meanwhile, Namgoong Jang-ho, who had unexpectedly joined forces with the assassins of Heukcheoryeon, was struggling every day with the chaos.
‘These bastards!’
While practicing the Nammu family’s Supreme Swordsmanship at the training ground, a few members of the Ten Thousand Souls clan naturally approached and took their places.
It was a basic rule in the martial world, even among orthodox sects, to avoid spying on the training of others. This was considered common etiquette.
However, the members of the unorthodox sects, who were unfamiliar with tradition and etiquette, had no such understanding.
Since it wasn’t appropriate to display the Supreme Sword in front of the unorthodox sect members, Namgoong Jangho immediately sheathed his sword and moved outside the training ground.
Sitting down heavily, Namgoong Jangho let out a deep sigh.
In a couple of years, he would have to return to his family and assist his father with managing the affairs of the clan.
That was the destiny of the second son.
Until then, he needed to develop his martial arts as much as possible.
Han Seolhyeon and Jin Gahee.
Although they had their own opportunities, the fact that they were even outclassed by late-stage female practitioners was something Namgoong Jangho could not accept.
“HAAH!” A loud battle cry echoed as the battle between the Ten Thousand Souls clan members began, and Namgoong Jangho turned his attention to the direction of the Joga Sinbi-gak (Joga’s Secret Pavilion).
The sound of weapons clashing followed him as he quickly sank into meditation.
However, the fight between the Ten Thousand Souls clan members didn’t last long.
Before long, they lowered their weapons and approached Namgoong Jangho.
Ma Yeomrang and Wi Jiak, two of the Ten Thousand Souls clan members, frowned and opened their mouths to speak.
“Why aren’t you watching our fight?” Wi Jiak asked with a scowl.
“Heh, isn’t it obvious? The so-called ‘Supreme’ swordsmanship of the Namgoong clan is not even worth watching for us unorthodox types,” added Pa Yeomgui, another member of the clan.
Namgoong Jangho, who had been sitting cross-legged in meditation, stood up with a twisted expression.
“What nonsense is this? Do you unorthodox types not even know the basic rule of the martial world that you shouldn’t spy on others’ training?” he retorted.
Wi Jiak chuckled derisively. “As expected, these righteous sects are hopelessly rigid. You claim to uphold the ‘martial world’s etiquette,’ but all you do is try to hide your weaknesses.”
The sarcastic remarks continued, with Pa Yeomgui adding, “Isn’t it obvious why you ‘orthodox’ types won’t let us watch your techniques? You’re just afraid your techniques will be exposed as useless, right?”
The venomous glares and insults seemed to enrage Namgoong Jangho, who now glared at Pa Yeomgui with deadly intent.
“I’ll make sure you understand how foolish it is to challenge the Namgoong family’s swordsmanship,” he declared.
Clang!
Namgoong Jangho drew his sword with a loud crack, adopting a battle-ready stance. In response, Ma Yeomrang Wi Jiak pulled out a pair of ghostly-headed knives from his back.
“Heh, you’ve got guts, don’t you?” Ma Yeomrang smirked.
Namgoong Jangho’s curiosity piqued. “A pair of ghost-head knives?”
Wielding a two-handed weapon wasn’t a simple matter in martial arts. While it might seem advantageous to use two weapons, it actually had many disadvantages. The martial world usually taught beginners the basics first—stable stances and movements that didn’t rely on flashy techniques but on strength and balance.
Dual-wielding was flashy, but it threw off the user’s balance, making it difficult to execute solid stances. To wield two weapons effectively, the practitioner would need years of specialized training.
Thus, the dual-handed technique was rarely used, and those who mastered it were few and far between.
Namgoong Jangho, intrigued by the challenge, said, “Impressive courage.”
Seeing Namgoong’s gaze on his weapons, Ma Yeomrang Wi Jiak’s smile deepened. “You’ll see why ‘Ten Thousand Souls’ has the ‘heavenly’ character in its name. Let me show you.”
Swish!
The moment he spoke, Wi Jiak’s knives whizzed through the air at an incredible speed. Namgoong Jangho could immediately sense the danger; the opponent’s movements were unlike anything he had encountered before.
Clang, clash!
The sound of weapons colliding rang out as Wi Jiak launched a relentless barrage of attacks.
Namgoong Jangho was stunned by the ferocity of the assault. Every move was deadly—designed to end the fight with a single strike. The constant, overwhelming barrage of attacks left him struggling to keep up.
As the strikes grew fiercer, Namgoong Jangho realized that Wi Jiak wasn’t trying to defend, but solely attacking. The force behind each blow threatened to overwhelm him.
At that moment, Namgoong Jangho had no choice but to reveal his own technique.
“Emperor’s Momentum!” he shouted.
The “Emperor’s Momentum” was the signature move of the Namgoong clan’s swordsmanship, a powerful technique passed down through generations.
However, when Namgoong Jangho unleashed the full force of his sword, Wi Jiak didn’t even hesitate. He quickly leaped into the air and executed a light, agile maneuver, using his ghost-head knives to break away from the attack.
With a mocking laugh, Wi Jiak shouted, “So that’s your ‘Emperor’s Momentum’? What a joke!”
Namgoong Jangho’s face darkened, not because of Wi Jiak’s words, but because he knew deep down that his rigid adherence to formal etiquette might have cost him dearly in a real battle. He had always prided himself on upholding traditions, but now he realized that, in the martial world, tradition alone couldn’t save him.
He had learned a valuable lesson: in battle, sticking to tradition without adapting to the situation could be a fatal flaw.
Some aspect that is restricting him, that dam bursts.
In an instant, a blue aura like the vast sky surged and enveloped his entire being.
Fwoosh!
The blue mirages shining like dazzling foam.
Wijiak’s eyes widened.
“What? Suddenly, “Jinmu Flower?”
Namgoong Jangho’s endlessly sunken eyes were staring at Wijiak.
A Modern Person Who Fell into the Martial World 6
BUKDU NEO ORIENTAL FANTASY STORY
Cheongruyeon New Martial Arts Long Novel
Author: Cheongruyeon
Publisher: Gwak Dong-hyun / Publisher: Joheun Sesang Co., Ltd.
Email: [email protected]
The copyright of this book belongs to Joheun Sesang Co., Ltd. and the author.
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ⓒCheongruyeon / Good World Co.,LTD
ISBN: 979-11-391-0710-4
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