The Annihilation Of A Clan (6)

Hwaaaak!

The penetrating force that began from his pierced solar plexus started spreading through his entire body.

Dudududududuk!

The sound of the muscles, blood vessels, and organs throughout his body being mercilessly ground apart rang in his ears.

But Ha Jung-gang could not feel the pain. There was no time to feel it.

‘Why?’

He could not understand.

The Jinzhou Yan Clan’s martial arts overwhelmed those of the Cheongyang Association. It was no exaggeration to call them first-rate divine arts and peerless secrets.

How could he put into words the thrill he had felt when he first learned those martial arts?

He had never doubted that the Cheongyang Association would finally unify Sichuan and grow into a massive sect comparable to the Nine Sects and Five Clans. With the Yan Clan’s martial arts, that was more than possible.

Faith became conviction, and conviction became fanaticism.

And now, that fanaticism had been shattered.

‘Why did the Soul-Returning Divine Art break? Even if I have not mastered it, surely…’

That was when it happened.

Peoeok!

The sword force grinding through his insides swirled and burst out through his side.

‘Ah…’

Only then did Ha Jung-gang realize it.

‘This bastard’s martial art was stronger.’

It did not mean the realm he had reached. In truth, he did not even know what realm his opponent had attained. The fight had ended quickly, and he had not even been able to fully see through his opponent’s skill.

The one thing he was certain about was that his opponent’s inner cultivation method surpassed the Jade-Yin Soul-Returning Divine Art. It was not that it was more profound or higher in level. It was, quite literally, stronger.

When rock struck rock, the weaker rock broke first.

The hardness of his true qi itself overwhelmed the Yan Clan’s divine art. If their attainments were similar, it was not a martial art one could defeat by facing it head-on.

And on top of that, he had amplified that already powerful strength several times over with a strange silk-reeling explosive force.

‘Brother.’

To think he would die to a brat who had lived thirty years less than him, on the very first occasion he showed the new martial art he had learned.

Ha Jung-gang’s eyes slowly closed.

‘Please, complete the great work…’

Srrrk.

The Indestructible Sword slipped out, and Ha Jung-gang collapsed.

Thump, thump.

His heart beat powerfully.

A faint haze rose from Jin-hyeon’s body. Heavenly Wolf True Qi racing through his entire body was giving off intense heat.

As Jin-hyeon ended the fight and steadied his breathing.

Seogeok!

Ha Ung-gwon, who had attacked Han Cheol-sang, was covered in blood.

“Eek!”

Having drawn the Jade-Yin Soul-Returning Divine Art to its limit, he charged at Han Cheol-sang again.

Bang!

A strike of the Soul-Returning Divine Fist created a crater in the ground.

Han Cheol-sang, who had already circled to the side, swung his saber.

Seogeok!

A deep saber wound was carved into Ha Ung-gwon’s thick upper arm.

Ha Ung-gwon couldn’t believe it. The Yan Clan’s Corpse-Stiffening Art raised the body’s hardness to an unfathomable level, so how could it be cut so easily?

‘My Soul-Returning Divine Art has reached the seventh level!’

Teooooong!

Ha Ung-gwon quickly retreated with Ghost Step, then charged at Han Cheol-sang again.

It was as if he knew nothing but advancing. The way he charged at the enemy before him like a wild boar was truly blind.

Han Cheol-sang did not let his guard down.

He had been cutting him with Life-Snatching Saber, but normally, by now, Ha Ung-gwon’s entire body should have been sliced apart and collapsed. Yet the blade only cut through his flesh and skin as it passed.

‘If I draw up Red Lotus, it should be fine, but…’

With all of the enemies not even here yet, drawing up the Red Lotus divine art specialized for short decisive battles would be a waste of strength.

He was impressive, but not enough to use that on.

Papapapang!

Ha Ung-gwon’s fists were fast and powerful, but they were not enough to catch Han Cheol-sang’s movements as he evaded with Lotus Eighteen Steps.

Just as Han Cheol-sang, dodging Ha Ung-gwon’s fists with cold eyes, was about to slowly bring out Heaven-Shattering Saber.

Huuk!

An unusual wave of qi poured from Ha Ung-gwon as he drew his arm back behind his waist.

Han Cheol-sang’s eyes flashed.

‘Danger.’

Kwang!

Empowered by a forceful stomp, Ha Ung-gwon’s fist swung like lightning.

Rumble!

The fist wind that shot out with a thunderous sound completely blew away part of the outer wall of the single-story building behind Han Cheol-sang.

It was a truly remarkable strike. Han Cheol-sang inwardly admired it as he passed by Ha Ung-gwon.

Seogeok!

“Krrgh!”

Ha Ung-gwon staggered, then quickly used Ghost Step and retreated.

Kwang!

The saber qi that fell where Ha Ung-gwon had been left a long saber mark in the ground.

Ha Ung-gwon had already retreated past the training ground to the inner court gate, and his face was blue. It was not because of the Corpse-Stiffening Art, but because the force carried by the blade that had cut past his side had twisted his insides.

Han Cheol-sang’s eyes gleamed.

‘Not bad.’

He had realized he couldn’t face Han Cheol-sang head-on and retreated without hesitation. It was behavior completely different from the Cheongyang Association masters he had seen so far.

That was when it happened.

Jjeooooong!

“Kkrrgh!”

Do Il-gang blocked the middle-aged swordsman’s strike and was pushed back like mad.

“Not bad.”

He had tried to end it quickly, but Do Il-gang was somehow holding out.

At that moment, Han Cheol-sang turned his gaze toward the middle-aged swordsman, and the middle-aged swordsman anticipated the saber wielder who had driven back Ha Ung-gwon joining the fight.

Pababababak!

The swordsman avoided the pouring Life-Snatching saber qi and, with ghost-like movements, slipped out of the training ground and stood beside Ha Ung-gwon.

It was a remarkable movement art. Even Han Cheol-sang narrowed his eyes as he looked at the middle-aged swordsman.

The middle-aged swordsman, Black Hand Sword, the second-in-command of the First-Class Ghost Gate, asked Ha Ung-gwon.

“When will the Association Leader arrive?”

“He’ll be here soon.”

That was when it happened.

Hwaaaak!

As if it had been waiting, a ghostly aura came from beyond the outer court.

Black Hand Sword frowned.

“He should have come sooner. The First Elder died for nothing.”

In that instant, Ha Ung-gwon and Ha Jun’s faces stiffened.

Only then did the two turn their gazes toward Jin-hyeon, and their faces twisted in shock. They had seen Ha Jung-gang’s corpse collapsed in a pool of blood.

“You!”

Unlike Ha Ung-gwon’s eyes, which burned with both rage and caution, Ha Jun’s face twisted with disbelief.

Ha Jung-gang was the number two of the Cheongyang Association. A man like that had lost his life to the sword of a junior.

Ha Ung-gwon turned his head toward Black Hand Sword.

“Since Father has brought the Ghost Gate’s masters with him, you should also…”

In that instant, Ha Ung-gwon’s eyes shook.

“You!”

“What? What is it?”

“Your neck…?!”

“My neck?”

The moment Black Hand Sword touched his neck.

Puhwaaaak!

Black Hand Sword, split from his Adam’s apple to part of his cervical vertebrae, staggered and collapsed.

“Hah!”

The horrified Ha Jun stepped on a broken door panel and fell.

Ha Ung-gwon swallowed without realizing it.

‘When?!’

At that moment, Jin-hyeon stepped into the center of the training ground.

Most of the warriors who had been made to kneel had retreated far away. It was the natural choice if they didn’t want to be caught in the fierce clash of masters.

Ha Ung-gwon’s eyes trembled.

“Don’t tell me… it was you?!”

Jin-hyeon gave a small laugh.

That smile was so meaningful that fear suddenly rose in Ha Ung-gwon’s heart.

“When in the world did you make your move!”

Puk.

“Huh?”

With a dazed look, Ha Ung-gwon touched the back of his neck. Blood that had welled out smeared his hand.

And then.

“Uh?”

With that strange sound, Ha Ung-gwon’s body slowly tilted.

Thud!

Ha Ung-gwon’s body collapsed to the ground, twitched, then soon went still.

He was dead.

“B-Brother?!”

Ha Jun, collapsed on the ground, wore an indescribable fear on his face.

Jureureuk.

Blood gushed from the cut wound on the back of Ha Ung-gwon’s neck.

“Phew.”

When had he appeared?

Beside the collapsed inner court gate, white smoke rose from a shadowed place.

It was Oh Gyeong. At Jin-hyeon’s request, he had assassinated and dealt with two masters at the decisive moment.

Jin-hyeon spoke calmly.

“Il-gang nearly died.”

“He’s an interesting fellow, but we don’t have the kind of bond where I’d protect his life yet.”

“Is that so?”

“And to speak plainly, when you came with that many people, you should have expected at least one person to die, shouldn’t you? Isn’t that what fighting is?”

“True. Old Master Oh is right.”

He said that, but Oh Gyeong too had likely hidden in the darkness and watched for his chance in order to kill the enemy with the least possible effort.

Jin-hyeon knew that Oh Gyeong had not revealed all of his power.

It was only natural. This was a world where even martial artists lived while hiding a bit of their strength, so how much more would that be true for an assassin? He had not yet said he would enter the household, either, so in a situation where he might become an enemy someday, he couldn’t deliberately show all of his abilities.

Even so, Jin-hyeon was grateful that he had removed Black Hand Sword and Ha Ung-gwon.

Oh Gyeong blew out a refreshing stream of smoke, then tapped out his pipe and spoke.

“The qi waves I’m sensing are considerable. This time will not be easy.”

“I know.”

“What about that one? Shall we leave him?”

Where Oh Gyeong pointed was Ha Jun.

“Leave him. We need to keep one bloodline alive.”

“Not bad.”

At that moment, Oh Gyeong’s body slowly disappeared.

It was a strange concealment art, as if he were scattering like smoke, or turning transparent.

“In the final fight, if you do not bring out all the power you are hiding, even you will be in danger, Patriarch.”

With those words, Oh Gyeong vanished. It was skill that was hard to believe even after seeing it.

A moment later.

Hwaaaaaak!

The qi waves scattering the snow that had slowly begun to fall in every direction were impressive.

A ghostly aura hanging like fog. The chilling, cold forces seemed to gather together and call forth gray storm clouds.

At that strange and dense ghostly aura, Han Cheol-sang’s face stiffened, and so did Do Il-gang’s.

‘Strong.’

Han Cheol-sang drew out the internal energy of the Red Lotus Divine Fire Art in advance.

‘They are a far stronger force than I thought. I knew they would be impressive, but I did not think they would be this much.’

He glanced at Jin-hyeon.

‘Is this going to be all right?’

At that moment, Jin-hyeon slowly turned his head.

He loosened his neck, loosened his shoulders, and loosened his ankles. That sequence of movements looked terribly leisurely, completely out of place in the situation.

That alone let Do Il-gang relax slightly.

Han Cheol-sang smiled without meaning to.

‘He truly is remarkable.’

The ability to reassure his people with his actions alone, without even looking back. Whether intended or not, it was incredibly reliable.

At last, Han Cheol-sang realized it. He trusted Jin-hyeon far more than he had vaguely thought.

Not when he had formally received the position of Steward, but right now, he believed in Jin-hyeon as a companion he would stay with for life, and as his Patriarch.

Saaaaak.

Within the hanging ghostly aura, two men, one old and one young, revealed themselves.

Jin-hyeon’s eyes flashed.

‘He’s strong.’

The strongest person he had ever faced as an enemy had appeared.

Huk.

Even the ghostly aura spreading in every direction seemed to be pressed down by the qi waves of the old man nearing sixty.

Fsssh.

The small stones scattered across the ground were crushed and broke apart.

That happened even though he was not deliberately releasing his qi waves. It was proof that the presence and aura naturally flowing from him were immense enough to make the external energy tremble.

He was a transcendent master.

The number one figure of the Cheongyang Association had appeared, a man no one in the present Sichuan Murim seemed capable of handling.

“What is this?”

His gaze as he looked down at his dead eldest son was utterly cold.

“You couldn’t even hold out until I arrived? Tsk, tsk. I warned you so many times that Murim is a place where one moment of carelessness can cost you your head, even if you have trained in a peerless divine art.”

His child had died, yet that was all he said. There was not even a tremor in his voice.

Wooooooo!

Heavenly Wolf True Qi, burning to its limit, let out the cry of a wolf.

The old man knelt on one knee without even looking at Jin-hyeon.

As he looked at Ha Ung-gwon’s wound, the old man’s eyes grew colder and colder.

“One-hit kill… Either a master on a different level intervened, or an assassin entered the fray. One of the two.”

The old man raised his head and looked at Jin-hyeon.

A strange smile appeared on the face of Ha Baek-cheon, the Cheongyang Association Leader.

“You are a remarkable one. A fierce tiger, enough to make even my own children, who carry the blood of the Ha family, look worse than cats.”

It seemed he had grasped Jin-hyeon’s martial level at a glance.

Ha Baek-cheon’s smiling face gradually turned expressionless.

His smile did not mean he was pleased. Right now, Ha Baek-cheon was enraged to the extreme.

“It was you.”

“Yes, it was me.”

It was a question whose meaning was hard to grasp, and an equally ambiguous answer.

But with that simple answer, the two of them finished saying everything they needed to say to each other.

Ha Baek-cheon silently looked at Jin-hyeon, then his face twisted all at once.

“Eliminate everyone inside the inner court!”

Pabababababak!

More than fifty Ghost Gate masters who had cultivated the Yan Clan’s martial arts leaped into the air.

Rumble!!

Jin-hyeon charged forward as he began reciting the mnemonics of the Cunning Wolf Path, and the path beyond it.

It was the final battle to decide the strongest in Sichuan Murim.