Chapter 550

Chapter 550

The hastily erected taverns and inns in the red-light district outside the Nanchang Murim Alliance headquarters were packed every day. Even at night, the lights didn't go out.

However, not everyone could enjoy together, because taverns that martial artists, merchant guild members, and workers could use were divided by district.

The taverns workers used were the most shabby, almost at the level of temporary structures with only planks erected, selling cheap alcohol. Even then, when there were no seats in the shops, it was common for them to take alcohol away and huddle together drinking on bare ground.

As night fell, groups of workers drinking while lighting bonfires here and there increased.

Veteran workers experienced in construction work gathered together to drink and curse.

"Damn it. I came here for the money, but I'm dying from anxiety because of the Poison Dragon or whatever."

"Right. Every night I have nightmares where some demon appears and my face melts. I can't sleep without drinking."

"But I heard he doesn't touch ordinary people?"

"Does poison have eyes? I heard after the Poison Dragon passes, whether hundreds or thousands, they all melt leaving only poison water. How would anyone know whether ordinary people or martial artists or someone's wife is mixed in there?"

The workers snickered and laughed but their faces were dark. Everyone downed alcohol to hide their anxiety. With only days left now, they could only hope the Poison Dragon wouldn't come until then.

"Come on, drink. Drink and sleep soundly. If you die in your sleep unable to wake because of the Poison Dragon, go to King of Hell and say, 'I came to the wrong place because I was drunk... please send me back.'"

Explosive laughter burst out. The workers laughed.

"Drink! Drink!"

Other groups of workers were equally anxious.

One worker, when the workers next to him talked about King of Hell, poured cheap fire liquor into his mouth and shook his head.

"When even Sichuan's King of Hell fell to the Poison Dragon, what's the point?"

"That Poison Dragon bastard would turn even King of Hell into a handful of poison water. Damn bastard."

However, a middle-aged worker with bushy beard scolded the other workers.

"The Poison Dragon hasn't wronged you, so why curse him so much? Thanks to him, we got work too. We're getting nice extra pay compared to other times."

The workers reproached him.

"Hey, why does foreman always defend the Poison Dragon?"

"Did you get something from the Poison Dragon? Or are you the Poison Dragon, foreman?"

"The Poison Dragon is just a murderer crazed by blood. A murderer not worth defending!"

The foreman, the leader of this group, got angry.

"The Poison Dragon is sacrificing his life for jianghu! If you can't support him, why curse him when you know nothing! If you keep saying such things, I'll deduct the drinking money from your wages!"

"This bastard!"

Having drunk plenty, one bushy-bearded worker pointed at the foreman.

"Jianghu or whatever, what do people like us know about such things? If left alone nothing happens, but we suffer damage because they fight among themselves over revenge or great causes! Am I wrong?"

"Wrong! The Poison Dragon has never touched people like us!"

"Damn it! They're all bastards, what's different?"

The bushy-bearded worker looked to the side seeking help.

"Hey, youngest! Am I wrong, huh? You're also scared to death because of the Poison Dragon! Isn't that bastard's very existence a public nuisance?"

It was a question to a young man who had been quietly drinking beside them. The young man had a pale face and looked like he couldn't properly work. However, the person was so sincere that all the workers liked him.

The young man smiled slightly.

"I wonder."

As if wanting support, the worker raised his voice more.

"You fool, if we all die here because of that bastard, money or whatever means nothing. But foreman is taking his side. Does that make sense?"

Instantly the foreman rushed at the worker and grabbed his collar.

"Hey you bastard! Can't you stop? Why are you going crazy at the youngest!"

When foreman and the worker grabbed collars and made a fuss, others around them cheered too.

"Fight, fight!"

Workers nearby stopped them both.

"Be patient. People can all have different thoughts."

"We've known each other for years, why fight over such things?"

The worker huffed and stepped back, and the foreman also rolled up his sleeves and glared at the worker.

Other workers forced them to drink lots as a sign to reconcile. Then when the foreman staggered drunk, they called the young man.

"Youngest. You're okay, right? Foreman seems very drunk, so you should take him to the lodging."

"Understood."

Watching the drunk foreman leaning on the young man's shoulder heading to the lodging, the workers clicked their tongues.

"Ah, he's such a good person but whenever the Poison Dragon comes up, he gets so excited and can't control himself."

"Tsk tsk. Who says otherwise?"

The foreman muttered while drunk. Even while being supported by the young man, he heard everything.

"Idiots... not even knowing I saved their lives..."

The young man with the foreman's arm around him said nothing.

The foreman said.

"Those friends... they're all good-hearted at core. They have wives and children at home. All friends living hand to mouth. They're not at fault except being ignorant. They don't know about you and just babble what they heard. I... hope those friends don't get hurt."

The young man answered.

"They won't. They absolutely won't get hurt. I promise you."

"Please do so. I believe you would..."

"I'll do that, so from now on even if my story comes up, you don't need to defend me."

"How can I stay still? What did you do wrong... I know how you've lived."

The foreman let out a deep sigh and said.

"Do you know how surprised I was when I first saw you here? You really can't imagine."

"I was too. I didn't know Uncle Zhang was working here. Are Langlang and auntie doing well?"

"They're well."

The foreman smiled bitterly with eyes half-closed.

"Langlang still sometimes... talks about you."

Jin Ja-gang didn't answer.

Zhang sighed again.

"Of all things, the Tang Family head is your wife... Or should I not call you informally anymore?"

"You can call me that. I haven't changed."

"I knew it. I knew you'd be like that! Why do people treat such a good kid like..."

Zhang's voice rose then soon said gloomily.

"The martial artists gathered inside. They'll all die."

"Yes."

"...Right. I understand."

The incident at Poison Valley clearly came to mind. Zhang removed his arm from Jin Ja-gang's shoulder and stood alone.

"I can go alone now. You must have lots to do too. Go on."

Jin Ja-gang looked at Zhang for a moment, then bowed and turned around.

Zhang was drunk but his mind was clear. So he could see Jin Ja-gang walking away with steady steps.

It was an absurd thing. Everyone was desperate to find the cripple, but that cripple was already by their side. He wasn't even a cripple...

"Later... come visit our Langlang... once..."

Zhang muttered. However, he knew best that was an impossible wish. Though Jin Ja-gang guaranteed it, just as it was impossible to prevent civilians caught up in fighting inside and outside the Alliance from dying.

Jin Ja-gang worked in Zhang's carpentry team during the day. And at night he worked at the loading dock. With hundreds of carts coming and going each day, manpower was needed day and night.

Though people at the loading dock loaded and unloaded cargo nonstop, there were more carts than usual. The loading dock supervisor brightened seeing Jin Ja-gang.

"Ah, you came? Good. Today you need to unload the items in those carts at the warehouse inside the Alliance. It's your first time inside the Alliance, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, there's nothing special, just unload the cargo hard and come back."

Jin Ja-gang rode on the cart with other workers and moved. Looking at the cargo loaded on the cart, numerous flagpoles were contained in sacks.

"What are these flags for?"

They were all three colors, each about a hand span long. But not just one or two; dozens of carts all carried flags. There appeared to be easily hundreds of sacks.

A worker beside him glanced at Jin Ja-gang and said.

"Something specially ordered. They said since the Poison Dragon didn't come, they're just moving them to the Alliance warehouse."

"What would they use them for?"

"Something about poison swamp markers, but I don't know."

Jin Ja-gang picked up a bright red flag.

"Poison swamps... I see."

Jin Ja-gang, the workers, and the carts loaded with flags waited in front of the Murim Alliance main gate.

"Wait a moment!"

Warriors standing at the main gate stopped the carts.

However, it wasn't about searching the carts or questioning the workers. As if it was a common occurrence, the workers didn't stir. They got off and watched small fights or chatted while waiting.

Soon the bell announcing midnight rang.

Dong dong dong.

"It's started!"

Not only the warriors but experienced workers also covered their ears and closed their eyes. Simultaneously, an eerie energy began spreading from the entire Murim Alliance headquarters.

Keeeeeeaaaaaaah!

Like a sharp wind sound blowing between valleys, a low demon's wail rang out.

The demon's wail rang for quite a while.

"Ugh, terrible. What is this?"

The workers grimaced and grumbled.

However, Jin Ja-gang could sense other things besides the sounds the workers heard.

Baek Li-jung was spreading the Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit's internal energy, no, his own internal energy, throughout the entire Murim Alliance. Fine net-like internal energy stretched in all directions touching everything.

'He's searching for me.'

He was monitoring whether Jin Ja-gang was entering or not. If Jin Ja-gang was in there, the Calamity Slaying Demon Spirit's internal energy of the same kind would surely react!

Baek Li-jung's internal energy reached even to Jin Ja-gang, tapping him. However, Jin Ja-gang's internal energy didn't react at all.

It was enormous internal energy enough to reach throughout the entire Murim Alliance. Baek Li-jung's internal energy, using countless masters as nourishment, had incomparably increased compared to before.

Beyond Demon Master and Demon Lord, he himself already stood at the demon itself.

However, Jin Ja-gang was indifferent. Jin Ja-gang's internal energy, already perfectly controlled, merely remained stopped according to Jin Ja-gang's will.

Soon the demon's wail faded to barely audible, and the warriors sighed and removed their hands from their ears.

Then they waved at the workers as if annoyed.

"Pass!"

The carts began moving. Though dozens of warriors were there, they received no particular restraint. When passing through the main gate, they only made people get off and walk.

Upon arriving at the warehouse inside the Alliance, the supervisor shouted while pointing out locations.

"If the higher-ups see us going back and forth inside the Alliance in broad daylight they hate it, so we have to unload everything overnight and return. Got it? If you slack off, you'll get punished!"

The workers began unloading cargo from the carts and stacking it in the warehouse.

***

Baek Li-jung was in darkness.

He climbed atop the highest pavilion roof in the Murim Alliance and ceaselessly emitted internal energy with his back to the moon. His internal energy had deepened to the point it didn't decrease even doing so.

"I don't sense it at all. Does he not intend to come, or is he scared?"

Baek Li-jung smiled showing his teeth. Jin Ja-gang's whereabouts still weren't revealed. However, there were no signs of him entering Nanchang yet.

That made sense, since tens of thousands of ordinary people surrounded the Murim Alliance like shields. Whatever tricks he tried to pull, they'd be obstacles, making his head complicated.

"Public opinion, justification? I'll flip all that crap in one go. Come. I'll watch clearly what face you'll make."

Ha ha ha ha!

Baek Li-jung's laughter swept the Murim Alliance headquarters in the night like madness.