Chance For Atonement. (1)

The three surrounding the strange monk unleashed a brutal barrage of attacks.

Baek Gyu’s sword cut across his waist, Yu Jinsan’s Dragon Slaying Spear pierced his back, and Jeong Hye’s palm strike mercilessly slammed into his front.

Smack-! Crack-! Boom-!!

They had already landed dozens of blows, yet the strange monk held firm.

By all rights he should have died ten times over; it was utterly baffling.

Yu Jinsan could easily tell: a blood-red aura enveloping the man’s body was protecting him.

This bizarre martial art was by no means inferior to the Vajra Indestructible Divine Arts.

‘What kind of martial arts is this…’

It felt like striking an iron fortress, but they were almost at the end of their effort.

He drew the spear and gathered his internal qi, intending to break through the monk’s protective energy with a heavy strike.

“Die, you bastard!”

It was a heavy attack laden with Yu Jinsan’s tenfold vital force.

Yet a nagging premonition prickled every sense of his body.

Something was off. With a strike this strong, the monk should have defended somehow, but he seemed utterly unconcerned.

But that did not mean he could stop.

Just as the tip of the Dragon Slaying Spear, wrapped in a red whirlwind, was about to pierce the monk’s flank.

As the old saying goes, an ominous premonition seldom fails.

Suddenly the blood-red aura surrounding the monk exploded outward in all directions.

It moved with such blinding speed like light that there was no time even to dodge.

With a thunder that shook heaven and earth, the manor’s walls trembled as if about to collapse.

At the same time, the three who circled the monk were flung in different directions.

Yu Jinsan was tossed a full ten chang before he could finally regain his stance.

‘What was that just now?’

It had been an immensely powerful shockwave.

The more he watched, the more the art’s wickedness seemed to exceed all bounds.

One small mercy: the blood-red protective energy shielding him had dissipated.

Yet the monk’s demeanor was unsettling.

As Yu Jinsan steadied himself, he suddenly widened his eyes.

‘Could he be trying to flee!?’

Suddenly the strange monk turned and began to run away.

Yu Jinsan quickly recovered his posture.

He had sustained minor internal injuries from the earlier impact, but nothing serious.

At that moment Baek Gyu and Jeong Hye were also beginning to give chase.

“What, that bastard!?”

Curses continued to pour from Baek Gyu as he pursued.

Jeong Hye just laughed like a madman at his side.

And behind them, Yu Jinsan chased with a dark expression.

The monk’s light footwork skill was extraordinarily fast.

Did he realize that if caught he’d die? Despite a body riddled with wounds, his movements were unhindered.

Even Jeong Hye couldn’t close the distance.

“If we lose him it’s over! We must catch him!”

If that terrifying bastard returned alive, it would be hard to rest easy.

Both Yu Jinsan and Baek Gyu felt their tempers burning.

What could they do if he came back with allies seeking revenge?

“His protective energy is gone; if we catch up, we should have a chance…”

Baek Gyu trailed off; it was easier said than done.

The distance between them and the monk had already opened to some fifty chang.

At this rate they’d lose him soon.

Anxious, Yu Jinsan twisted his grip on the Dragon Slaying Spear.

“Take this!!”

With a single cry, the spear’s tip struck the ground and shot upward.

Thoom-!!

With a dull sound, a fist-sized stone rose from the earth.

It then launched at tremendous speed toward Baek Gyu’s back.

There was no time to explain.

Fortunately, Baek Gyu seemed to sense Yu Jinsan’s intention.

Silently pursuing the monk, he raised the sword he held up along a diagonal to the right.

Just as the speeding stone passed his flank.

Baek Gyu’s body spun like a storm as he planted his left foot.

In that instant the broad face of his sword mercilessly struck the incoming stone.

A crisp sound rang out in all directions.

As Baek Gyu’s force was added to the flying stone, its speed became unbelievably fast.

Screeeech-!!!

The stone tearing through the air became engulfed in red flames.

The acceleration was so great the air itself ignited.

In an instant the stone closed the gap and was about to strike the monk’s back.

But he was not an easy target.

In a flash, his upper body began to contort at a strange angle.

But it wasn’t perfect.

The flame-wreathed stone crushed part of the monk’s left shoulder as it passed.

Sadly, it only grazed him.

Yet he did not stop running; he didn’t even cry out.

‘…If he gets into the market it’s over.’

Whether by chance or design, his steps were headed straight for the market.

In the crowded place pursuit would become even harder.

It was frustrating, but there was no better option.

Baek Gyu, seeming to understand, spat curses from behind.

“You damn bastard, get struck by lightning and die on the way!”

The monk immediately plunged into the bustling market.

He barreled through the lanes without regard for whether people were there or not.

Anyone blocking him was shoved aside by his shoulder or grabbed and flung backward.

“Eek!”

Screams did not cease where the monk passed.

The three chasing him stepped on air and leapt up to secure a view.

But what would that really change?

Just as they were contemplating giving up.

Suddenly a heavy crash erupted from the center of the market.

At the same time the monk’s steps halted abruptly, as if inertia had been ignored.

He looked like someone struck by lightning mid-run, trembling all over.

Why would he, fleeing for his life, suddenly stop?

It was nothing short of strange.

Could he be planning another trick? Just as the three closed in on him.

Suddenly his posture began to collapse.

Falling to his knees for no reason, he shook his head wildly like a reed in the wind.

On closer inspection, he was being beaten by someone.

Wham-! Crack-! Kaboom-!!

He was struck so hard his neck jerked left and right as if it might snap.

Astonishingly, the one beating him in the middle of the market was Yu Seol.

“Seol…”

“What, why is she there…?”

Yu Jinsan and Baek Gyu approached in stupefaction, while Jeong Hye snickered from the roof of the pavilion.

Only after the monk’s eyes rolled back did Yu Seol’s fists cease moving.

She then grabbed his ear with one hand and demanded.

“Is it okay to bully people in the market or not?”

The monk’s eyes were unfocused; he couldn’t answer, foam forming at his mouth.

But Yu Seol was not one to let it slide.

She shook his ear mercilessly as she pressed him.

“Answer me!”

Watching, Yu Jinsan quickly stepped forward and restrained his granddaughter.

“Enough. That’s enough.”

At her grandfather’s gesture, Yu Seol stepped back, voice trembling.

“Why are you about to cry? What kind of relationship do you have with this guy?”

“He hit the skewer stall uncle, didn’t he?”

Yu Jinsan had followed and witnessed it too.

He saw the vendor his granddaughter frequented fall to the ground.

There were many things to ask about where she’d been, but none were urgent.

First Yu Jinsan approached the monk and slapped him across the face.

“You insolent bastard, you harass the elders?”

He was old, and so was Jeong Hye.

Thinking of how their hearts had dropped chasing this runner, his anger hadn’t cooled.

After a few more slaps, his focus slowly returned.

“You are… who?”

The monk’s gaze fixed on Yu Seol.

At that moment Yu Jinsan stepped in front of him and clenched his fist.

“She’s your mother, you bastard.” (literal line delivered by Yu Jinsan lol)

Struck squarely on the temple, he lost consciousness again.

“Bloo— the Blood Death Guest!”

A shout triggered murmurs among the bystanders who had gathered.

“Isn’t that the Blood Death Guest who allegedly defeated the Kunlun Martial Emperor?”

“I’m sure! Look at that outfit and the tattoos on his face!”

“Who on earth did that to him?”

The answer came from an unexpected place.

A monk atop a nearby pavilion roof was dancing and shouting.

“The Yin Monster caught him! The Yin Monster caught him!”

Most of those present were martial artists from the Evil factions.

None of them doubted the claim.

They were all impressed and began to praise Yu Seol.

“Truly, the Yin Monster Great Warrior!”

“We respect you, Great Warrior!”

Spectators began to press into the center of the market.

At this rate it was getting chaotic and they could do nothing.

They needed to move the scene first.

Yu Jinsan sent a quick telepathic message to his granddaughter.

• Grab him. We need to take this guy home first.

• Okay, got it.

Grandfather and granddaughter grabbed the monk’s shoulders from either side.

They then kicked off the ground and flew up in a showy ascent.

At the sight, the Evil faction martial arts warrior cheered once more.

“Yin Yang Twin Monster, the best!”

Yu Jinsan dragged the monk into the house.

Leaving the unconscious man, he scolded his granddaughter.

“Seol, you ran away leaving your grandpa alone? Where have you been all this time?”

Yu Seol shook her head and protested.

“I didn’t run away. I went to look for grandpa.”

He already had some idea of what his granddaughter had been up to.

It was maddening.

“This kid — lies just automatically come out when she opens her mouth.”

“Lies? Why would I~”

Yu Seol feigned innocence and played dumb.

Yu Jinsan held up a letter his granddaughter had left behind.

“Then what’s this?”

“I left it in case grandpa came back first.”

It seemed she’d prepared that answer in advance.

Blood, after all, doesn’t lie — her manner matched her father’s when he was young.

“So you stormed into the Murim Alliance’s stronghold to find grandpa?”

“I went because grandpa might have been kidnapped.”

Yu Jinsan understood well that he couldn’t win with strength or words alone.

“I see no sign of remorse. From tomorrow you won’t ask grandpa to play with you anymore.”

At that moment Yu Seol grabbed her grandfather’s sleeve with a frantic look.

“I’m sorry.”

Her sudden change in attitude was startling.

He felt like laughing, but couldn’t.

Yu Jinsan folded his hands behind his back and put on a solemn face.

“Will you run off fighting again without grandpa’s permission?”

“No. I won’t. I went to ask where the Alliance leader is.”

She seemed itching to fight the Murim Alliance leader as soon as possible.

But not now. They had to wait until a certain victory could be predicted.

“Someone might think the Murim Alliance leader is your friend.”

Yu Seol came up and buried her face in his shoulder.

Seeing her so vulnerable, he couldn’t scold her further.

Besides, he himself had been away for days because of the Muscle Changing Technique.

As he hesitated whether to forgive her at this point.

“Hyung!”

It was Baek Gyu’s voice.

He appeared to have finished tidying up at the Defeating Blade Clan and only just returned.

“Come on in!”

A moment later the pavilion doors opened and Baek Gyu appeared.

“Our pretty niece, why were you crying?”

Yu Seol ran to Baek Gyu, tugging his collar and sniffling.

“Grandpa says he won’t play with me anymore.”

“Ha ha! I’ll talk to him nicely — go out and play for a while.”

As Yu Seol stepped outside the pavilion, Baek Gyu inspected the strange monk and asked.

“How did you bring this dangerous fellow into your home?”

“The Defeating Blade Clan doesn’t have a proper prison, and this place is safer.”

“True, with Seol here I admit it. But can you really interrogate him inside the house?”

“What problem could there be? Hurry and bring him in.”

Baek Gyu tilted his head in bewilderment.

“Where to, you say?”

When Yu Jinsan lifted the floor mat, a small entrance to the basement was revealed.

“To the Chamber of Atonement.”