It’s The Evil Heaven Alliance.

Its lower body was that of a snake, but two arms extended from its upper body.
Its face was a mix of snake and human.
Its yellow pupils turned toward the group.
The sight made everyone hold their breath.
That was only the beginning. The others began transforming into yokai one after another.
They had taken too long.
However, Gyo-ha’s gaze remained calm.

‘I did what I could.’

He had taken yokai power from every prisoner. Thanks to that, their yokai power had been greatly reduced.
He still didn’t understand how it worked.

‘It’s probably because the yokai power wasn’t originally theirs.’

That was the most likely explanation.
Each prisoner transformed into a different form.
A snake, a wild dog, a rat. There was even one that resembled an insect.
There were six of them in total.
Two had not transformed, while Namgung Hyeok and Peng Seon-ho had dealt with the rest.
Although they had lost most of their yokai power, their presence was still extraordinary.
They had been trained martial artists rather than ordinary people to begin with.
Their bodies could only have become more powerful after transforming into yokai.
The group aimed their weapons at the creatures.
As everyone watched the yokai warily, Moyong Hwi spoke.

“…Tang Un-jeok. Notify the authorities immediately and ask them to evacuate the civilians.”

The pressure emanating from them was far from ordinary.
At Moyong Hwi’s order, the man from the Tang Clan left the inn.
The battle began the moment he stepped outside.

“Kkweeeeeeeeeek!”

A creature resembling a wild boar charged at the group.

“We cannot allow them to escape the inn.”
“I know.”

Danmok Seo responded to Jeon Pung.
At that moment, a scream came from outside.
Could there have been another assailant?
The group thought of Myeong-gong, who had escaped. However, Gyo-ha shook his head.

‘It isn’t Myeong-gong.’

Gyo-ha would have smelled him if he had approached.
It wasn’t a yokai.
However, they could not check outside in the middle of the battle.
As the others grew confused, Tang Un-jeok, who had gone to notify the authorities, returned.

“It’s the Evil Heaven Alliance.”

The group frowned.
Why would the Evil Heaven Alliance appear here?
Could the Evil Heaven Alliance have been behind this incident?
However, Tang Un-jeok’s report was not finished.

“The Jeokyang Clan has mobilized personally.”
“Ah.”

The group groaned and turned toward one person.
Gyo-ha blinked beneath their gazes.

“…Ah.”

He belatedly let out an exclamation.
Moyong Min had picked a fight with him because of the Jeokyang Clan.

“This confirms that Taoist Gyo was telling the truth.”

The others let out hollow laughs at the words of Hyeon Gong, a Shaolin disciple.

“Fortunately, they appear to have contacted the authorities beforehand. They have sealed off the surrounding area.”

That meant they had already received permission.
Even the Evil Heaven Alliance would find it troublesome to antagonize the government.
The earlier screams probably came from people who had not received the warning in time.

“Then we don’t have to hold back.”
“We’ll handle them.”

When Gyo-ha rose, Namgung Hyeok followed him.
Jeon Pyeong also tried to get up, but Gyo-ha shook his head.

“Take care of things here.”
“Seuseuseuk!”

The snake-like yokai sprayed venom.
The group had no choice but to retreat.
Fortunately, the poison did not distinguish between humans and yokai.
One of the yokai writhed in pain.
Jeon Pyeong nodded at the sight.

“Do not push yourself too hard. We will join you as soon as we finish here.”

The battle resumed.
Gyo-ha and Namgung Hyeok left the others behind and stepped outside the inn.

“Won’t it cause problems for you to be here?”

Jeokyang Hu had targeted only Gyo-ha, not Namgung Hyeok.
However, Namgung Hyeok shook his head.

“You are already practically a member of the Namgung Clan, Brother.”

Both the Patriarch and the Sword Saint, the Supreme Patriarch, had given their approval.
There was no longer any reason for him to hesitate.
Gyo-ha stared at Namgung Hyeok.
He did not seem willing to withdraw even if Gyo-ha told him to.
When Gyo-ha turned back, he saw a group approaching with a vicious air.
He had never seen the two at the front before, but they looked strangely familiar.
They closely resembled Jeokyang Hu, whom he had met before.
However, the resemblance ended with their appearance. Neither possessed Jeokyang Hu’s commanding presence.

“A stupid-looking face and an absurdly large body. You must be Gyo-ha.”

Namgung Hyeok’s eyebrow twitched at the words of the slightly taller man.

“…Whether elder or younger, the Jeokyang brothers have no manners. That tells me everything I need to know about your clan.”

This time, the speaker’s eyebrow twitched.

“That insolent face. You must be Namgung Hyeok.”

The man spoke while glancing at the person beside him.
The nearly identical man shook his head.

“It doesn’t matter. Father told us to sweep aside anyone who gets in our way.”

‘Is the smaller one the elder brother?’

The taller one had stepped forward first but continually watched the shorter one.
Just as Gyo-ha suspected, the shorter one was the elder brother, Jeokyang So.
The taller one was the younger brother, Jeokyang Gwang.
Jeokyang So looked toward the inn.

“It’s noisy over there. Is something happening?”

Numerous waves of energy churned inside the inn.
There were even sounds of destruction.
A battle was taking place.
However, judging by the brothers’ expressions, they knew nothing about the situation.
They had not planned their arrival around it.

“Well, this is fortunate. Things would have become complicated if the Murim Alliance had interfered.”

Unlike the grim-faced Jeokyang So, Jeokyang Gwang welcomed the situation.

“Judging by the situation, it doesn’t appear they intend to fight us alone.”

Namgung Hyeok spoke to Gyo-ha.
Even now, the people behind the brothers radiated vicious energy.

“They say no younger brother measures up to his elder.”

Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue quietly.
Jeokyang Hu might have been a villain, but at least he had been forthright.
Jeokyang So frowned at Namgung Hyeok’s remark, while Jeokyang Gwang raised his chin as though he didn’t care.

“It doesn’t matter. It would have been boring if only the two of you came at us.”

Gyo-ha loosened his body as he walked forward.
He couldn’t use one hand, but so what?
There were two opponents?
It didn’t matter.
Gyo-ha had grown stronger since then.
Even now, at this very moment, he was becoming stronger.
Moreover, these two were inferior to Jeokyang Hu.

“Take care of the ones behind them.”

Namgung Hyeok nodded at Gyo-ha’s words.
The men following the brothers were also inferior to those who had accompanied Jeokyang Hu before.
Namgung Hyeok had experience fighting them as well.
There was no guarantee they used the same martial arts, but their foundations would be similar.

“We have to hurry.”

Gyo-ha muttered quietly enough for only Namgung Hyeok to hear.
Namgung Hyeok understood what he meant.
All signs of people nearby had already disappeared.
The area had been properly sealed off. Moreover, yokai were rampaging nearby.
Someone was watching the entire situation.
Myeong-gong.
There was no chance he would overlook this opportunity.
They had to finish the battle before he intervened.
A haze rose from Jeokyang So’s and Jeokyang Gwang’s swords.
It was dark, nearly black.

Black Nether Killing Sword.

Gyo-ha had seen it before.
He avoided their attacks and thrust out his fist.
Kwang!
Confusion appeared on the brothers’ faces as they were pushed backward.
The Sword Qi was merely bait.
The blade that followed afterward was the true attack.
However, knowing that didn’t make it easy to defend against.

“Stay focused. He defeated our elder brother.”

Jeokyang Hu.
The heir of the Jeokyang Clan.
Until recently, neither of them would have dared challenge his supremacy.
Their opponent was the man who had defeated him.
The brothers changed their stances.

Soul-Extinguishing Black Extremity Sword.

It was a secret sword art available only to the direct bloodline of the Jeokyang Clan.
Their presence changed.
However, Gyo-ha looked down at his fist as he watched them.

‘Just as I thought.’

It hadn’t been his imagination.
He had felt it before while fighting Jeokyang Hu.
After fighting the people transforming into yokai, he could sense it even more clearly.

‘…I can absorb their qi.’

He could not absorb every kind of qi. It was possible only because their qi possessed qualities similar to Yokai Qi.
His opponents did not appear to know that yet.
Gyo-ha licked his lips.
He drew back his fist while watching the brothers hesitate to approach.
Kung!
He stamped the ground.
Gyo-ha shot in front of them in an instant.
However, the brothers swung their swords as though they had been waiting for him.

Soul-Extinguishing Black Extremity Sword.
Dark-Soul Binding Shadow.

Two shadows surged toward Gyo-ha.
At that moment.

Red Blossom Palm.
Kwang!
The approaching shadows rippled.
Gyo-ha did not stop there. His foot shot toward Jeokyang Gwang.

‘This madman!’

He was throwing a kick while a sword was coming for him.
Jeokyang Gwang angled his blade toward Gyo-ha’s foot.
At that moment, Gyo-ha changed the direction of his kick.
The foot that had been aimed at Jeokyang Gwang’s head abruptly swept downward.
Gyo-ha hooked the sword guard with the top of his foot
Ssuk.
Jeokyang Gwang’s hand was yanked downward in an instant.
Jeokyang Gwang hurriedly tried to pull his sword free, but it didn’t budge.
His face was dragged toward the ground.
Gyo-ha’s elbow closed in before his eyes.

“Not so fast!”

A sword thrust in from the side.
It was Jeokyang So.

“B-Brother.”

Jeokyang Gwang retreated and sighed in relief.

“…Thank you.”

Jeokyang Gwang had thanked him.
It was something Jeokyang Gwang would never normally say. In fact, it was difficult to believe those words had come from his at all.
However, there was no time to savor the moment.
Gyo-ha had already taken his stance again.
Red Blossom Palm.
Another vortex swirled from Gyo-ha’s palm.

“Keuk!”

The brothers raised their swords to block.
Gyo-ha immediately assumed his stance again.
The brothers exchanged signals while watching him.
They could clearly perceive the state of Gyo-ha’s internal energy.
Their opponent was pouring out his internal energy.
He was clearly pushing himself too far.
If they held on, he would destroy himself.
That was what they believed.
Just as they expected, the Red Blossom Palm gradually weakened.
Gyo-ha breathed heavily.
Not even a handful of internal energy remained within him.
He had quite literally emptied himself of every last bit.
Knowing that, the brothers looked at Gyo-ha with cruel smiles.

“Are you finished with your little tricks?”
“No.”

Gyo-ha shook his head.

“I finally used it all.”

The brothers did not understand his words. For some reason, Gyo-ha looked relieved.

“It gets in the way.”

Gyo-ha glanced toward the inn.
It was still noisy inside. The others would not be coming out anytime soon.
He could sense no one else nearby.
The area had been completely sealed off.

‘So that’s how it is.’

Gyo-ha licked his lips.
Only the enemies and Namgung Hyeok were present.
Moreover, Namgung Hyeok had already witnessed this several times.

‘…Though this will be my first time using it properly.’

The brothers became wary of Gyo-ha’s reaction, then shook their heads.

‘It’s a bluff.’

What could he possibly do without internal energy?
Gyo-ha’s body was abnormal, but even it had limits.
The brothers aimed their swords at Gyo-ha.
At that moment, Gyo-ha grinned.
Something changed.
The air. The wind.
Goooooooooooo.
The brothers could not perceive it. They merely felt an ominous chill run down their spines.
The source of that ominous sensation stood directly before them.
Gyo-ha slowly straightened.
Gyo-ha should have possessed no internal energy at all.
Yet the air around him trembled with an unknown energy.
That was not all.

“…!”
“Our internal energy?”

Their internal energy was being drawn away.
At a terrifying speed.

“How dare you take my internal energy!”

Upon realizing what was happening, Jeokyang Gwang charged.

“Wait!”

Jeokyang So called out urgently, but Jeokyang Gwang had already reached Gyo-ha.
With no other choice, Jeokyang So charged as well.
Even without internal energy, Gyo-ha was too dangerous for one of them to face alone.
Moreover, they didn’t understand what was happening.
Jeokyang Gwang swung his sword.
Gyo-ha didn’t appear to have any intention of dodging.
Just as the sword was about to slice through Gyo-ha’s neck.
Grab.
Gyo-ha’s palm caught the blade.
Jeokyang Gwang’s eyes trembled.
The blade didn’t budge, as though it was embedded in stone.
Even Jeokyang So, who had been charging forward, was forced to stop.
Gyo-ha spoke while looking at the brothers.

“Let’s finish this quickly. Someone is waiting, after all.”

Gyo-ha’s eyes now shone gold.
It was an alien color unlike that of a human.
Gyo-ha’s gaze shifted past the brothers.

“Isn’t that right?”

The brothers flinched at Gyo-ha’s words and looked behind them.
A man was already standing there.
The man, Myeong-gong, stared at Gyo-ha with a rigid expression.