Episode 330

She knew well enough that saving someone in danger or brandishing a sword in the name of justice were just things people made up.

Zhuge Yeon, holding her sword confidently, took a deep breath.

‘This would have happened anyway.’

Thinking that, she watched the people approaching.

Since the incident occurred near Dan Woo-hyun, he was bound to get involved. Dan Woo-hyun would have wanted to be entangled in this situation somehow.

Zhuge Yeon, who disliked being dragged around by someone, thought it better to step forward under the banner of righteousness.

This is the result.

‘I never thought it would be Muho…’

Zhuge Yeon frowned and lifted her foot.

Swoosh-!

A blade brushed past beneath her feet. The distance to the opponent was considerable, yet the extended blade seemed to stretch as if to close that gap and flew in.

“Oh?”

The men were surprised, as they hadn’t expected her to be able to dodge it. They intended to sever her leg in one swift motion and toy with her before killing, but it didn’t go as planned.

“Idiots.”

Another man cursed his comrade and lunged forward.

The incompetence of his comrade, who failed to capture a mere woman instantly, seemed pathetic.

The man quickly closed the distance.

In an instant, the distance was reduced, and the extending strike was so fast it was nearly impossible to follow with the eyes.

However.

Pah-pah-pah-pah-!

She deflected the incoming knee with her sword baton and lightly evaded the spinning shoulder that came with a twist of her back.

Soon, after aiming for the decisive blow, she struck the outstretched hand with the blade’s edge and moved in, targeting the man’s Adam’s apple.

Swoosh-!

The blade grazed the neck dangerously close as it passed by.

The eyes of the startled man wavered.

Zhuge Yeon’s sword wasn’t as powerful as that of a Murim hero, nor did it carry any particular force, but it countered by meticulously identifying and responding to the opponent’s gaps and movements.

It was a somewhat tricky swordsmanship.

Even those who were quite confident in their skills couldn’t grasp Zhuge Yeon’s fighting style at all.

“Tch…!”

“What are you doing!”

“This woman…is stronger than expected.”

The man who stepped back quickly frowned.

It was true that he underestimated his opponent, but it wasn’t as if he had let his guard down. Each strike he delivered carried the power to kill a person in an instant.

Zhuge Yeon, having grasped the situation, deftly avoided what could be dodged and blocked what could be stopped.

Moreover, possessing the ability to perfectly exploit such gaps, a one-on-one scenario would not guarantee victory.

However, five comrades were present at this location.

With numerical superiority, a semblance of ease returned to their faces.

“Haah…”

Zhuge Yeon, having seen through the entire situation, took a breath.

The presence of the six men who had already taken their positions was formidable.

The fact that they were outstanding martial artists was already burdensome, and as they attempted a combined attack, Zhuge Yeon could only manage an awkward smile.

“How unsightly…”

Zhuge Yeon, who had just spoken, observed the expressions of the men. If they had any pride, at least one of them might have rushed forward, but they simply smiled and took a stance, as if the six of them were one.

‘They’re not taking the bait, huh?’

Judging by their refusal to act individually, it was clear that they were thoroughly trained.

Like the Seven Swords of Wudang or the Eighteen Arhats Formation, they fought using formations. Thus, the six of them were only complete when together as one.

“What are these guys?”

At that moment, with a rustling sound, Kwon Mujin appeared. He discovered the fallen Muho and widened his eyes in surprise.

The six men, who were standing in formation, naturally looked on, and Kwon Mujin slowly walked over and stood beside Zhuge Yeon.

“Two is better than one.”

Kwon Mujin looked at them with a slightly raised gaze.

Judging by the formation they were taking, they were undoubtedly planning a joint attack. They didn’t seem easy to deal with, so there was a possibility of a tough battle.

He glanced back over his shoulder. Between the bushes, Dan Woo-hyun’s figure was faintly visible.

Standing with his arms crossed, observing the scene intently, he looked as if he were testing something.

‘Was this how Jang Sam-tae felt?’

Kwon Mujin wondered.

He stayed by Dan Woo-hyun’s side to become stronger. However, having done nothing, he found himself caught up even by someone he had deemed third-rate.

One must marvel at Jang Sam-tae’s ability to have risen to such a level in just about a year, but Dan Woo-hyun’s role in driving the situation to this point is equally remarkable.

Kwon Mujin chuckled to himself unconsciously.

‘Becoming even stronger.’

Gripping his twin blades, he released his qi.

At that moment, Zhuge Yeon, standing nearby, looked at Kwon Mujin with a somewhat overwhelmed expression.

“You’re doing all the showing off by yourself. Even though you arrived late…”

Her single comment poured cold water on Kwon Mujin’s resolve.

“Kyaaaah!”

A horrifying scream burst from Gu Mu-ack’s mouth.

After stripping his upper body and whipping him several times, numerous scars on his body flared red.

His face bore clear traces of being burned, making it hard to recognize him as Gu Mu-ack without a closer look.

‘Damn it…!’

Gu Mu-ack took a breath while looking at those in front of him.

In the history of the Lower District Sect, it’s almost unheard of for the leader to be captured.

Due to their elusive nature, ability to conceal their identity, and manipulate information, who could possibly capture the leader of the Lower District Sect?

However, Gu Mu-ack broke that history.

‘Because of the Hunan Dan Family….’

He frowned unconsciously.

Hunan Dan Family.

Dan Woo-hyun.

Because of him, staying near Yueyang and Jiangsha became the root of the problem.

The Lower District Sect leader, who should have been hidden, stayed nearby to receive Dan Woo-hyun’s orders, so it was inevitable that the well-informed Tons of Gold Merchant Union would find out.

Gu Mu-ack frowned and looked at the person in front of him.

‘Ja Hak-sang.’

There was no way he wouldn’t know him. Not only him but also his subordinates. Those known as the hidden blades of the Tons of Gold Merchant Union.

Gu Mu-ack, who had not been informed that they had entered Yueyang, realized that there was a traitor within the Lower District Sect.

‘Even Yun Gong…!’

Once known as Man Hu-ryang’s right-hand man and considered a match for Zhuge Yun. The fact that such a person had come here meant…

‘Man Hu-ryang has returned to the Merchant Union?’

Considering that only the union leader could mobilize Yun Gong, it either meant Man Hu-ryang had returned, or a new union leader had been appointed.

Gu Mu-ack quickly regained his composure and judged it to be the former.

“What are you scheming so much about?”

Slap-!

“Argh!”

Gu Mu-ack let out a wail and caught his breath roughly. Feeling the throbbing pain in his chest, he couldn’t help but smirk.

“He…hehe, I…I don’t understand what wrong I have done to you gentlemen…”

“Hmm? I see. Haha, I didn’t tell you. It’s because you are the leader of the Lower District Sect.”

“L-lower District Sect leader! I’m just a common thug.”

Feigning perfectly while speaking lies, Yun Gong smirked. His expression seemed to see through all of his acting, causing Gu Mu-ack’s face to slowly harden.

He couldn’t hide it any longer.

He realized it.

“Damn…”

“Hahaha! Did you sense that your lies don’t work?”

“Why are you here? Shouldn’t you be doing business in Beijing?”

At Gu Mu-ack’s words, Yun Gong’s eyes sparkled.

Even without introductions, he had seen through his identity.

This meant that Gu Mu-ack was undoubtedly the leader of the Lower District Sect, and their intelligence network surpassed that of the Beggars’ Union.

“I have something to ask.”

“Kidnapping and imprisoning someone…and then wanting to ask questions after beating them up? How rude.”

“Haha, given the situation, I hope you understand. Isn’t it surprising enough that someone like you is seeing my face?”

Yun Gong looked down at Gu Mu-ack with a condescending gaze. No matter how renowned the Lower District Sect was, before the name of the Tons of Gold Merchant Union, they were nothing more than fireflies.

Their influence, as well as the power they wielded.

The words Yun Gong spoke were meant to make it clear that they were in a superior position, making it obvious that he regarded the other as beneath him.

Gu Mu-ack swallowed his silence.

A feeling so different from Dan Woo-hyun.

However, a different sense of fear surged in.

“Recite what you know about the Hunan Dan family.”

“Where is that supposed to be?”

Snickers and jeers echoed from all around. As if they had some understanding of the relationship between the Lower District and the Hunan Dan family.

‘But you know, Dan Woo-hyun is scarier than any of you bastards.’

Gu Mu-ack spat on the ground with a grimace.

He wasn’t afraid of dying. But if he angered Dan Woo-hyun, he would end up in a state neither dead nor alive.

Moreover, even if Gu Mu-ack were to die, the Hunan Dan family would still protect and assist the Lower District Sect. That alone satisfied Gu Mu-ack.

As he looked at Yun Gong with a determined expression, Yun Gong sighed as if he had read his mind. Then, as he raised his hand, countless members of the Lower District Sect and courtesans were seen being dragged in.

“You…you bastard!”

After making them kneel one by one in front of Gu Mu-ack, who was tied up, Yun Gong snapped his fingers.

Swoosh!

Soon, the heads of one Lower District Sect member and a courtesan fell.

Splash!

The blood spurted upwards, drenching Gu Mu-ack’s entire body.

The moment he saw that, Gu Mu-ack’s eyes trembled violently. Then some men kicked the corpses away and seated another pair of men and women.

“Please, spare us! Spare us!”

“Ugh…!”

The man shut his eyes tightly, and the courtesan, pale as a sheet, looked at Gu Mu-ack, begging for her life. No matter how lowly one’s life may be, no one wants to die like this.

Gu Mu-ack, witnessing this, ground his teeth and glared at Yun Gong.

“Aren’t you ashamed!”

At that rough voice, Yun Gong sneered again and gestured with his hand.

Slice!

Once again, the heads of two people rolled on the floor, and their bodies collapsed sideways without any resistance.

Watching this scene, everyone turned pale.

“S-save me!”

“Please help us, Lord! Please! I don’t want to die-!”

Voices of men and courtesans echoed shrilly from all around. The pleading voices, desperate to live, madly shook Gu Mu-ack’s mind.

“I will ask again. Tell me everything about the Hunan Dan family.”

Yun Gong’s voice sweetly stimulated his ear.