Chapter 602

Chapter 602 - Side Story 36

Below the cliff, at the rear of the Green Forest crowds, orthodox sect warriors and Green Forest bandits were engaged in a deadly battle.

The orthodox sect warriors also learned the reason why the Green Forest gathered at Huixian Temple through clues that occasionally emerged while fighting the Green Forest bandits.

That their leader was at Huixian Temple, and that they were targeting Tang Gyeong and Jin Heon along with Steel Lady Hero.

"Get out of the way!"

"We must hurry to rescue Steel Lady Hero! Clear the path!"

However, the resistance of the Green Forest bandits driven into a corner was also formidable. The remaining elderly heads, middle heads, and young heads led the way against the orthodox sect warriors.

"Kill all the bandits!"

"Orthodox sect brats! Do you think you can get past us?!"

"Waaaah!"

Clang clang, clang!

The sound of weapons rang out and screams burst forth everywhere. The joys and sorrows of countless deaths and lives constantly intersected.

A refined middle-aged man entered the center of that fierce battlefield.

Except for his unusually pale skin, there was nothing particularly noticeable about him, so he didn't draw others' attention. But before long, the middle-aged man's presence gradually began to reveal itself.

Wherever he passed, the orthodox sect warriors and Green Forest bandits who were fighting while spreading killing intent flinched. It was because of a sense of dissonance more terrible than the stench of blood spreading to a degree they couldn't become numb to.

Spurting blood and flesh from all directions.

Pools of blood so abundant on the ground they sloshed.

Blind blades flying everywhere.

Rolling around in that, no one could remain in decent shape.

But the middle-aged man was different.

From the moment he entered the battlefield until he reached the middle of the fierce combat zone, he was the same as at the start. A clean appearance without a single drop of blood. Since even his skin was pure white, his presence increasingly stood out on the battlefield.

Finally, someone who had once visited the Martial Alliance headquarters looked back at the middle-aged man amid the chaos and was shocked. They recognized the middle-aged man's face.

"The, the former Martial Alliance Leader?"

Poison Dragon!

It's Poison Dragon!

Poison Dragon, who said he wouldn't interfere in Jianghu affairs, had appeared here.

He briefly turned his head toward the one who recognized him and nodded in greeting, then continued to cross the battlefield with steps neither fast nor slow.

Some of the orthodox sect warriors stopped fighting and withdrew out of respect for him, out of awe.

The orthodox sect warriors in Jin Ja-gang's walking path split apart.

The Green Forest bandits also were initially bewildered about what was happening, but soon realized.

"Poison Dragon..."

"Poison Dragon has come..."

"Really? Is it really Poison Dragon?"

"I, I don't know. Seeing the orthodox sect guys withdrawing..."

The Green Forest bandits didn't know what to do and hesitated in place. It was so packed with people they couldn't even avoid him matching Jin Ja-gang's walking speed. And if they avoided him for no reason, they might be killed by the angry squad leaders' swords from behind.

They just gradually hesitated and withdrew backward.

Jin Ja-gang said.

"I'd appreciate it if you'd move aside so I can pass."

It was ordinary speech but contained energy that chilled to the bone.

The Green Forest bandits got goosebumps and withdrew backward. Jin Ja-gang walked that path as if it were nothing.

Despite clearly showing his defenseless back, not a single person tried to strike with even ambition.

Anyone with eyes could see. No, even if they tried not to see, it naturally caught their eyes.

That even though Jin Ja-gang was stepping on ground full of blood and flesh, not a single drop of blood was even on his shoes.

***

Fifty thousand Green Forest bandits couldn't advance properly and were caught up by orthodox sect warriors at the rear.

Because of just one person blocking the path ahead.

A young monk who appeared to be in his early twenties. Because of that one person, they hadn't been able to advance for quite a while. He was cleverly blocking the only passage up to Huixian Temple along the cliff and valley.

The monk stood covered in blood, and around him lay a tremendous number of injured people.

"Aigo..."

"Kkeung."

But among the Green Forest bandits the monk struck down, not a single person had died. Even with broken limbs and covered in blood, there were no fatal injuries.

Because he only injured rather than killed the Green Forest bandits, the injured were making the path even more complicated. With hundreds crying out, even stepping on bare ground wasn't easy.

But that too had now nearly reached its limit.

Left Commander, Gold Commander, and Dark Commander stepped forward. The monk continued to be wounded and pressed. His breathing gradually became labored. One side used every means to kill, while the other tried not to use killing techniques, so it became disadvantageous.

The Three Commanders' hearts were also quite urgent. Orthodox sect warriors were chasing from behind and Right Commander was fighting Poison Dragon's children above. They had to quickly clear the path and go up.

Finally the Three Commanders broke through. The monk was thrown between the Green Forest bandits like a tattered rag.

"A signal came from Huixian Temple. Hurry up..."

The Three Commanders shouted at the Green Forest bandits to follow and intended to rush to Huixian Temple.

But they couldn't.

Suddenly the Green Forest bandits crowded in the back tried to move aside left and right, causing chaos.

That narrow path split apart, creating enough space for one person to pass through comfortably.

Through the path thus created, a middle-aged man walked comfortably. The Three Commanders' entire bodies got goosebumps.

How could they forget his face!

That face that had hardly changed!

Jin Ja-gang supported the monk sprawled in the middle of the path. For the first time, blood stained Jin Ja-gang's clothes.

"You worked hard."

Blood Only One Devil smiled faintly.

"I'm sorry this is all I could do. Indeed, the words of ancient sages are not wrong. Saving people is harder than killing them."

Jin Ja-gang nodded.

"Stand up. You've done enough."

Blood Only One Devil stood up with all his strength. Then he pressed his palms together and staggered back the way Jin Ja-gang had come.

Left Commander, Gold Commander, and Dark Commander ground their teeth while surrounding Jin Ja-gang in a品-shaped formation.

"The enemy of King, the Great One...!"

"How dare you appear in this place!"

"You've even abandoned your own vow not to interfere in Jianghu affairs!"

Jin Ja-gang stood still and looked at the three.

Then asked.

"Don't you remember?"

"What!"

"I would have carved it into your bones. That if you remain beasts rather than humans even after becoming adults, you will surely meet me."

Jin Ja-gang's eyes turned cold. Left Commander, Gold Commander, and Dark Commander were pressed as if their entire bodies were weighed down by a thousand-pound weight. The oppression was worse because past terror revived.

"Kkeuk!"

Jin Ja-gang slowly raised his hand but they couldn't move a finger. For this moment, to kill Poison Dragon, they trained martial arts for all those long years, yet they couldn't do anything!

But then.

"Stop!"

There was one more person flying over the Green Forest bandits.

So fast that they shouted from far behind but had already appeared before the three.

Crash! Like a meteor falling, destroying the surrounding ground while stabbing down with a sword and landing.

Mu-gak's Sword. It's Seo Gyun.

Seo Gyun seemed to have run from very far away, covered in dust all over his body.

"Poison Dragon! Think once more before acting! If you act, I will surely fulfill my duty to you!"

Jin Ja-gang greeted Seo Gyun gladly.

"It's been a while."

"Ah, it has been a while."

Seo Gyun, who greeted in a daze, shook his head and said.

"Do you know how many places I traveled with Elder Bian Bu because of you, to prevent you from stepping forward? So please don't make that effort in vain. The moment even a drop of Asura Blood falls, I must have a lifelong fight with you."

Jin Ja-gang answered.

"That won't happen."

"Then lower that finger first before speaking!"

Jin Ja-gang looked at the hand he was holding up, then raised it higher to point at Huixian Temple.

"I'm going to that place, will you come with me?"

Seo Gyun glared at the Three Commanders while widening his eyes. The Three Commanders were the heads of an organization. Yet their spirits were already severely crushed, their faces deathly pale.

"Then they are...?"

"It seems they haven't forgotten what I said yet. They should be fine."

Jin Ja-gang lowered his arm and began walking as if nothing happened. The Three Commanders flinched and withdrew backward, then rushed forward with wounded pride.

"Die!"

Jin Ja-gang looked at Seo Gyun.

With a look asking what he would do, Seo Gyun let out a sigh-like lament and shook his head.

In a flash, Seo Gyun moved. Gold Commander struck down at Seo Gyun with an iron abacus, and Dark Commander shot countless hidden weapons. Left Commander cut at Seo Gyun's waist with a great sword.

Seo Gyun swung without even drawing the sword from its sheath. He struck and crushed the iron abacus and deflected the hidden weapons. He pressed down Left Commander's great sword with the sheath and buried it in the ground.

"Urk!"

The Three Commanders flinched in surprise. Even though their bodies stiffened because of Jin Ja-gang, to counter their attacks in one breath.

Seo Gyun didn't stop and rushed in swinging the sheath. The Three Commanders attacked together but were actually pushed back. Seo Gyun's every sword stroke and move contained deep principles. It was as if fighting an experienced master over a hundred years old.

Before long, the Three Commanders were rolling around with broken limbs.

After fighting Seo Gyun for about a hundred exchanges.

The Three Commanders felt wronged and resentful, but with their skills, they couldn't overcome even Seo Gyun, let alone Jin Ja-gang.

Seo Gyun kicked the Three Commanders aside as if clearing away something bothersome and cleared the path.

Then he looked at Jin Ja-gang and said as if admonishing.

"Not because Ha Seon asked me to help. Because if you act, I have to kill you. Then I too will have no choice but to die."

"I know. Let's go."

Jin Ja-gang led the way up and Seo Gyun followed behind.

***

Right Commander had been feeling something strange for a while.

It had been long past the time the Three Commanders should come up, and the Green Forest bandits assembled below the mountain should have shown themselves by now.

But no one appeared.

No, they did appear.

Two shadows.

But they weren't the ones Right Commander was waiting for.

Jin Ja-gang and one other person, the Hornless Sword Seo Gyun.

There was a reason the Green Forest bandits couldn't come up. Right Commander bared his teeth and glared at Jin Ja-gang.

Tang Gyeong, who was sitting on the ground with broken legs and injured ankles, was surprised to see Jin Ja-gang.

"Dad!"

He didn't expect Jin Ja-gang, whom he thought wouldn't come, would come this far. Tang Gyeong's eyes welled up with moisture.

Jin Ja-gang looked at Tang Gyeong and clicked his tongue.

"You're badly hurt."

And he looked at Jin Heon.

Jin Heon had been completely frozen from the moment he saw Jin Ja-gang. Jin Ja-gang rubbed his forehead as if troubled.

Tang Yu-jeong became the savior and spoke.

"Why did Dad come here?"

"Me? Ah, so I had something to say..."

Jin Ja-gang looked at Right Commander who was grinding his teeth desperately. Then he nodded.

He remembered Right Commander's face.

"So it was you. You were called Lang."

Right Commander ground his teeth and said.

"Don't carelessly call my past name. That name disappeared the moment King, the Great One, passed away."