Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Under the dark moonlit night, the scent of death lingered over the entire village.

There was neither the sound of human presence nor the barking of dogs or crowing of roosters; a heavy silence had settled over the area.

Amidst that silence, a single noise could be heard.

Thud, thud.

Mang Ryo walked along the path, leaning on his cane with a bottle of liquor in one hand. His hands, clothes, and cane were all stained with blood.

Spotting a suitable pavilion, Mang Ryo climbed up to it.

He drank straight from the bottle.

Gulp, gulp.

“Delicious!”

Mang Ryo sat on the pavilion, gazing at the moon.

“Now, where has that guy gone off to?”

Jin Ja-gang had emerged from the mine shaft and had a chance to stretch his limbs with a good fight. Moreover, having killed the experts from Iron Umbrella Sect and Shadow Bureau this time, he must have gained confidence as well.

Thus, Mang Ryo couldn’t leave him be for too long. It was time to start hunting Jin Ja-gang down.

To do that, he needed to predict Jin Ja-gang’s next move.

There were three poison sects left that Jin Ja-gang might target.

Iron Umbrella Sect, Shadow Bureau, and Poison Valley.

“The easiest would be Iron Umbrella Sect.”

Iron Umbrella Sect used iron umbrellas as hidden weapons, and aside from the considerable power of their Joint-Breaking Needles, they had no particular distinguishing traits. Among the remaining three sects, they could be considered the weakest.

They had five experts, or rather, since Do Nam-gi had died here, including their sect leader, there were only four who could wield martial arts to any significant degree, and the number of regular disciples was around one hundred.

If Jin Ja-gang aimed to reduce the overall strength of the poison sects, targeting Iron Umbrella Sect first would be the most straightforward choice.

Mang Ryo took another swig of liquor.

“But… if it’s him, wouldn’t he target Poison Valley first?”

Poison Valley had the largest number of experts and disciples among the three sects and was the strongest. While the other poison sects were more like third-rate peripheral groups, Poison Valley maintained the discipline and scale befitting a proper sect.

In particular, Poison Valley’s leader, Hundred Scents Wei Zong, possessed skills recognized even in the broader martial world.

Thus, for Jin Ja-gang to attack Poison Valley would be akin to striking a rock with an egg, and it would be an extremely burdensome target as his first goal.

Nevertheless, the reason Mang Ryo thought Jin Ja-gang might target Poison Valley was singular.

Jin Ja-gang always exceeded others’ expectations.

The very idea of taking on all of Yunnan’s poison sects was already something beyond common sense.

Therefore, no matter how difficult attacking Poison Valley might be, if he succeeded, it would be as if Yunnan’s poison sects were nearly annihilated.

If Poison Valley fell, the remaining two sects would flounder and eventually disintegrate.

Of course, if the Martial Arts Alliance intervened, the situation would become more complicated.

Mang Ryo drained the liquor from the bottle in one gulp and tossed it aside.

In any case, that left Shadow Bureau as the third option.

“Ugh, Shadow Bureau is quite a troublesome one.”

Shadow Bureau was a sect specializing in assassination. Their martial arts weren’t particularly unique, but their movement techniques were exceptional, and they excelled in ambushes.

“If he’s determined to fight all the poison sects…”

For Jin Ja-gang, unlike Iron Umbrella Sect or Poison Valley, which would confront him head-on, Shadow Bureau, striking from the shadows, could pose a far more difficult challenge.

Reaching this conclusion, Mang Ryo suddenly slapped his thigh.

“Shadow Bureau it is.”

That would be Jin Ja-gang’s next target. He felt certain of it.

Jin Ja-gang knew that the three poison sects had gathered here and had extracted information by taking down warriors from each sect. Therefore, he must also know that a general assembly of Yunnan’s poison sects, hosted by Poison Valley, was imminent.

If so, he could easily predict that the three poison sects would unite their strength at the assembly.

At that point, the biggest obstacle would be Shadow Bureau.

Unless Jin Ja-gang were a top-tier master renowned in the martial world, at his current level, enduring Shadow Bureau’s persistent and prolonged ambushes would be difficult. Shadow Bureau could strike at Jin Ja-gang anywhere-be it at an inn, on the road, or in a marketplace.

Mang Ryo was convinced.

Jin Ja-gang would definitely head to Shadow Bureau.

Having predicted Jin Ja-gang’s movements, a laugh escaped him.

What was a thorn in Jin Ja-gang’s side was a useful tool for Mang Ryo.

Mang Ryo pulled a plaque from his sleeve. Even the silver plaque with its attached silver thread was stained with blood.

It was a silver plaque granting the same authority as an investigator from the Martial Arts Alliance.

With this plaque, he could request assistance from nearby sects and mobilize the forces of the Martial Arts Alliance’s branches.

Mang Ryo wiped the blood off the plaque with the hem of his robe.

“Well then, shall we start the hunt?”

From now on, Jin Ja-gang would live a hellish life, hunted relentlessly without a moment to breathe until the day he died. Perhaps, in the end, he would kneel before Mang Ryo and beg to be killed?

Mang Ryo let out a loud laugh.

For the sake of Jin Ja-gang’s cursed life, today was the day to take the first long step.

Mang Ryo left the village and raced through the night.

This was a race against time.

By the time dawn broke, a fork in the road appeared not far from Kunming.

Mang Ryo paused briefly at the crossroads.

Though he was somewhat fatigued from killing hundreds and immediately traveling via lightness skill, that wasn’t the only reason for stopping.

To the right lay Panlong, where Poison Valley was located; to the left was Fumin, home to Shadow Bureau.

Deciding which to visit first was a critical part of this plan. After catching his breath for a moment, Mang Ryo headed toward Fumin.

* * *

Fumin, with its winding river as a boundary, featured gentle hills and terraced fields layered across the landscape.

A wide road stretched through the scenery, leading to the heart where overlapping hills converged.

Shadow Bureau was situated at the very edge of this center. Over twenty flat mud houses were built in the shadows cast by the hills, hidden from prying eyes.

The sunny slopes of the hills were terraced fields, while the shaded areas behind them housed the dwellings, creating a peculiar sight.

Thud, thud.

Mang Ryo entered Shadow Bureau’s territory, the sound of his prosthetic legs echoing loudly.

The gazes of farmers working in the fields turned toward Mang Ryo.

“Heh heh heh.”

Mang Ryo stood still in that spot and waited.

The fact that he had arrived must have already been reported to Shadow Bureau’s sect leader, Guai Song.

Before long, an ordinary-looking village elder, as if he had been working in the fields and just stepped away, approached Mang Ryo holding a sickle.

Mang Ryo also walked toward him.

They stopped about three steps apart, facing each other.

Guai Song greeted him with a smiling face.

“Ha! It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

Mang Ryo, with his scar-covered face, also wore a broad smile.

“Thanks to your concern, I’ve been doing well.”

“I see. What brings you here? I figured the Martial Arts Alliance would send someone due to the incident at Stone Forest Gang, but there’s no reason for you to come all the way here while conducting an investigation.”

“Since I’m in a hurry, I’ll skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point…”

Mang Ryo continued immediately.

“They’re all dead.”

Flinch.

Guai Song was smiling with his eyes, but his mouth wasn’t smiling at all. Guai Song looked at Mang Ryo and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you get it from the fact that I’m here? The ones dispatched from Poison Valley, Shadow Bureau, and Iron Umbrella Sect to Stone Forest Gang-they’re all dead.”

Only then did Guai Song erase the smile from his eyes as well. A murderous aura flickered across his face.

“Who killed them?”

“The one who razed Stone Forest Gang to the ground.”

“What kind of person are they?”

“Well… for starters, no one has seen them.”

“How can there be no witnesses when there were so many people there?”

“Didn’t I tell you? They’re all dead, tsk. The culprit massacred every villager near Stone Forest Gang’s manor, regardless of age. The only witnesses are the dead.”

“Huh.”

Guai Song let out a hollow laugh.

“What kind of era are we in for someone to commit such reckless slaughter? Are they insane, seeking death?”

“That’s why I need Shadow Bureau’s help to catch them.”

“Us?”

“Shadow Bureau has the fastest information network, doesn’t it? This is an urgent matter, so I came here first.”

Guai Song fell into thought for a moment before suddenly asking Mang Ryo.

“Who is it?”

“Hmm? What do you mean by ‘who is it’?”

“You’ve been referring to them as ‘the culprit’ all this time, but it’s someone you know, isn’t it? That’s why you came to us, right?”

Guai Song was sharp. That made things convenient since there was no need for lengthy explanations.

Mang Ryo gave a sly smile and answered.

“It’s a limping fellow.”

***

***

Jin Ja-gang left Stone Forest Gang close to nightfall, so after walking for a while, he had to camp out and continue his journey on foot.

The distance to Fumin, where Shadow Bureau was located, was considerable. At Jin Ja-gang’s pace, it would take about four or five days.

Although he could draw energy through his Baihui acupoint to temporarily use martial skills, he had the drawback of being unable to use lightness skills that required sustained internal energy.

Thus, Jin Ja-gang walked diligently.

After walking all day, as the sun was nearly setting, he spotted a light slightly off the main road before entering the official highway.

It was an inn, its lights on, still open for business.

Jin Ja-gang no longer needed to hide or beg. He had enough money in his pouch to stay at an inn, and his attire was decent.

He walked toward the inn. It was a remote place with hardly any customers, yet a waiter stood outside, soliciting business.

Upon seeing Jin Ja-gang, the waiter tilted his head curiously before breaking into a welcoming smile and rushing over.

“Welcome, sir!”

Since night was approaching anyway, Jin Ja-gang decided to follow the waiter’s suggestion and have dinner and rest at the inn.

Though accustomed to killing, Jin Ja-gang was unfamiliar with worldly matters. Born in a remote mountain area with little exposure to the world, he had then spent eight years trapped in an underground mine shaft by the time he began to understand life.

Staying at an inn was a first for him.

Jin Ja-gang struggled with the unfamiliarity of ordering food.

Inevitably, he had to ask the waiter about everything from start to finish to place his order.

Fortunately, there was only one other table of customers at the inn. After giving a small silver coin as a token of appreciation for the explanations, the waiter, doubting if it was real silver, bit it with his teeth before happily returning to his duties.

‘A suspicious waiter, isn’t he?’

What Jin Ja-gang ordered after asking several questions was a simple fried rice with meat and vegetables.

Yet, even that was enough to move Jin Ja-gang deeply.

The savory taste of oil and the umami of meat dancing in his mouth enraptured Jin Ja-gang, who had only eaten raw poisonous plants. Even his tongue, accustomed to bitter and sour flavors, was astonished.

“Ha, delicious.”

Riding on the momentum, Jin Ja-gang ordered a Sichuan-style spicy beef stew called Sichuan Boiled Beef to eat as well.

Contrary to his initial plan of just having a light meal, once the food started going in, it was hard to stop.

As he was wolfing down the food, the waiter suddenly brought over a bottle of liquor.

“The customers over there said they’d treat you to this.”

Jin Ja-gang turned his head and saw one of three sturdy men, who looked like merchants, waving at him. The man appeared to be in his thirties.

“Hey, young friend, you look like you’ve been starving for a while. I’ll buy you a drink, so take your time eating.”

Jin Ja-gang felt quite embarrassed by the situation.

What should he do in a moment like this?

After a brief moment of thought, Jin Ja-gang stood up from his seat and offered a fist-and-palm salute to the men.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank us. We’re just merchants staying here, and since business went well today, we’re treating you. Don’t feel burdened and enjoy it.”

Though the merchants offered the drink, they didn’t bother Jin Ja-gang further. They seemed busy drinking and chatting among themselves.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the liquor, lost in old memories. The only time he had drunk alcohol was as a child, out of playful curiosity.

Yet, time had flowed so much that he was now of an age to drink on his own.

Jin Ja-gang poured the liquor and drank.

The unique aroma of the alcohol, its roughness, and the harsh, murky aftertaste stung his tongue.

‘A familiar taste.’

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Under the dark moonlit night, the scent of death lingered over the entire village.

There was neither the sound of human presence nor the barking of dogs or crowing of roosters; a heavy silence had settled over the area.

Amidst that silence, a single noise could be heard.

Thud, thud.

Mang Ryo walked along the path, leaning on his cane with a bottle of liquor in one hand. His hands, clothes, and cane were all stained with blood.

Spotting a suitable pavilion, Mang Ryo climbed up to it.

He drank straight from the bottle.

Gulp, gulp.

“Delicious!”

Mang Ryo sat on the pavilion, gazing at the moon.

“Now, where has that guy gone off to?”

Jin Ja-gang had emerged from the mine shaft and had a chance to stretch his limbs with a good fight. Moreover, having killed the experts from Iron Umbrella Sect and Shadow Bureau this time, he must have gained confidence as well.

Thus, Mang Ryo couldn’t leave him be for too long. It was time to start hunting Jin Ja-gang down.

To do that, he needed to predict Jin Ja-gang’s next move.

There were three poison sects left that Jin Ja-gang might target.

Iron Umbrella Sect, Shadow Bureau, and Poison Valley.

“The easiest would be Iron Umbrella Sect.”

Iron Umbrella Sect used iron umbrellas as hidden weapons, and aside from the considerable power of their Joint-Breaking Needles, they had no particular distinguishing traits. Among the remaining three sects, they could be considered the weakest.

They had five experts, or rather, since Do Nam-gi had died here, including their sect leader, there were only four who could wield martial arts to any significant degree, and the number of regular disciples was around one hundred.

If Jin Ja-gang aimed to reduce the overall strength of the poison sects, targeting Iron Umbrella Sect first would be the most straightforward choice.

Mang Ryo took another swig of liquor.

“But… if it’s him, wouldn’t he target Poison Valley first?”

Poison Valley had the largest number of experts and disciples among the three sects and was the strongest. While the other poison sects were more like third-rate peripheral groups, Poison Valley maintained the discipline and scale befitting a proper sect.

In particular, Poison Valley’s leader, Hundred Scents Wei Zong, possessed skills recognized even in the broader martial world.

Thus, for Jin Ja-gang to attack Poison Valley would be akin to striking a rock with an egg, and it would be an extremely burdensome target as his first goal.

Nevertheless, the reason Mang Ryo thought Jin Ja-gang might target Poison Valley was singular.

Jin Ja-gang always exceeded others’ expectations.

The very idea of taking on all of Yunnan’s poison sects was already something beyond common sense.

Therefore, no matter how difficult attacking Poison Valley might be, if he succeeded, it would be as if Yunnan’s poison sects were nearly annihilated.

If Poison Valley fell, the remaining two sects would flounder and eventually disintegrate.

Of course, if the Martial Arts Alliance intervened, the situation would become more complicated.

Mang Ryo drained the liquor from the bottle in one gulp and tossed it aside.

In any case, that left Shadow Bureau as the third option.

“Ugh, Shadow Bureau is quite a troublesome one.”

Shadow Bureau was a sect specializing in assassination. Their martial arts weren’t particularly unique, but their movement techniques were exceptional, and they excelled in ambushes.

“If he’s determined to fight all the poison sects…”

For Jin Ja-gang, unlike Iron Umbrella Sect or Poison Valley, which would confront him head-on, Shadow Bureau, striking from the shadows, could pose a far more difficult challenge.

Reaching this conclusion, Mang Ryo suddenly slapped his thigh.

“Shadow Bureau it is.”

That would be Jin Ja-gang’s next target. He felt certain of it.

Jin Ja-gang knew that the three poison sects had gathered here and had extracted information by taking down warriors from each sect. Therefore, he must also know that a general assembly of Yunnan’s poison sects, hosted by Poison Valley, was imminent.

If so, he could easily predict that the three poison sects would unite their strength at the assembly.

At that point, the biggest obstacle would be Shadow Bureau.

Unless Jin Ja-gang were a top-tier master renowned in the martial world, at his current level, enduring Shadow Bureau’s persistent and prolonged ambushes would be difficult. Shadow Bureau could strike at Jin Ja-gang anywhere-be it at an inn, on the road, or in a marketplace.

Mang Ryo was convinced.

Jin Ja-gang would definitely head to Shadow Bureau.

Having predicted Jin Ja-gang’s movements, a laugh escaped him.

What was a thorn in Jin Ja-gang’s side was a useful tool for Mang Ryo.

Mang Ryo pulled a plaque from his sleeve. Even the silver plaque with its attached silver thread was stained with blood.

It was a silver plaque granting the same authority as an investigator from the Martial Arts Alliance.

With this plaque, he could request assistance from nearby sects and mobilize the forces of the Martial Arts Alliance’s branches.

Mang Ryo wiped the blood off the plaque with the hem of his robe.

“Well then, shall we start the hunt?”

From now on, Jin Ja-gang would live a hellish life, hunted relentlessly without a moment to breathe until the day he died. Perhaps, in the end, he would kneel before Mang Ryo and beg to be killed?

Mang Ryo let out a loud laugh.

For the sake of Jin Ja-gang’s cursed life, today was the day to take the first long step.

Mang Ryo left the village and raced through the night.

This was a race against time.

By the time dawn broke, a fork in the road appeared not far from Kunming.

Mang Ryo paused briefly at the crossroads.

Though he was somewhat fatigued from killing hundreds and immediately traveling via lightness skill, that wasn’t the only reason for stopping.

To the right lay Panlong, where Poison Valley was located; to the left was Fumin, home to Shadow Bureau.

Deciding which to visit first was a critical part of this plan. After catching his breath for a moment, Mang Ryo headed toward Fumin.

* * *

Fumin, with its winding river as a boundary, featured gentle hills and terraced fields layered across the landscape.

A wide road stretched through the scenery, leading to the heart where overlapping hills converged.

Shadow Bureau was situated at the very edge of this center. Over twenty flat mud houses were built in the shadows cast by the hills, hidden from prying eyes.

The sunny slopes of the hills were terraced fields, while the shaded areas behind them housed the dwellings, creating a peculiar sight.

Thud, thud.

Mang Ryo entered Shadow Bureau’s territory, the sound of his prosthetic legs echoing loudly.

The gazes of farmers working in the fields turned toward Mang Ryo.

“Heh heh heh.”

Mang Ryo stood still in that spot and waited.

The fact that he had arrived must have already been reported to Shadow Bureau’s sect leader, Guai Song.

Before long, an ordinary-looking village elder, as if he had been working in the fields and just stepped away, approached Mang Ryo holding a sickle.

Mang Ryo also walked toward him.

They stopped about three steps apart, facing each other.

Guai Song greeted him with a smiling face.

“Ha! It’s been a long time. Have you been well?”

Mang Ryo, with his scar-covered face, also wore a broad smile.

“Thanks to your concern, I’ve been doing well.”

“I see. What brings you here? I figured the Martial Arts Alliance would send someone due to the incident at Stone Forest Gang, but there’s no reason for you to come all the way here while conducting an investigation.”

“Since I’m in a hurry, I’ll skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point…”

Mang Ryo continued immediately.

“They’re all dead.”

Flinch.

Guai Song was smiling with his eyes, but his mouth wasn’t smiling at all. Guai Song looked at Mang Ryo and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t you get it from the fact that I’m here? The ones dispatched from Poison Valley, Shadow Bureau, and Iron Umbrella Sect to Stone Forest Gang-they’re all dead.”

Only then did Guai Song erase the smile from his eyes as well. A murderous aura flickered across his face.

“Who killed them?”

“The one who razed Stone Forest Gang to the ground.”

“What kind of person are they?”

“Well… for starters, no one has seen them.”

“How can there be no witnesses when there were so many people there?”

“Didn’t I tell you? They’re all dead, tsk. The culprit massacred every villager near Stone Forest Gang’s manor, regardless of age. The only witnesses are the dead.”

“Huh.”

Guai Song let out a hollow laugh.

“What kind of era are we in for someone to commit such reckless slaughter? Are they insane, seeking death?”

“That’s why I need Shadow Bureau’s help to catch them.”

“Us?”

“Shadow Bureau has the fastest information network, doesn’t it? This is an urgent matter, so I came here first.”

Guai Song fell into thought for a moment before suddenly asking Mang Ryo.

“Who is it?”

“Hmm? What do you mean by ‘who is it’?”

“You’ve been referring to them as ‘the culprit’ all this time, but it’s someone you know, isn’t it? That’s why you came to us, right?”

Guai Song was sharp. That made things convenient since there was no need for lengthy explanations.

Mang Ryo gave a sly smile and answered.

“It’s a limping fellow.”

***

***

Jin Ja-gang left Stone Forest Gang close to nightfall, so after walking for a while, he had to camp out and continue his journey on foot.

The distance to Fumin, where Shadow Bureau was located, was considerable. At Jin Ja-gang’s pace, it would take about four or five days.

Although he could draw energy through his Baihui acupoint to temporarily use martial skills, he had the drawback of being unable to use lightness skills that required sustained internal energy.

Thus, Jin Ja-gang walked diligently.

After walking all day, as the sun was nearly setting, he spotted a light slightly off the main road before entering the official highway.

It was an inn, its lights on, still open for business.

Jin Ja-gang no longer needed to hide or beg. He had enough money in his pouch to stay at an inn, and his attire was decent.

He walked toward the inn. It was a remote place with hardly any customers, yet a waiter stood outside, soliciting business.

Upon seeing Jin Ja-gang, the waiter tilted his head curiously before breaking into a welcoming smile and rushing over.

“Welcome, sir!”

Since night was approaching anyway, Jin Ja-gang decided to follow the waiter’s suggestion and have dinner and rest at the inn.

Though accustomed to killing, Jin Ja-gang was unfamiliar with worldly matters. Born in a remote mountain area with little exposure to the world, he had then spent eight years trapped in an underground mine shaft by the time he began to understand life.

Staying at an inn was a first for him.

Jin Ja-gang struggled with the unfamiliarity of ordering food.

Inevitably, he had to ask the waiter about everything from start to finish to place his order.

Fortunately, there was only one other table of customers at the inn. After giving a small silver coin as a token of appreciation for the explanations, the waiter, doubting if it was real silver, bit it with his teeth before happily returning to his duties.

‘A suspicious waiter, isn’t he?’

What Jin Ja-gang ordered after asking several questions was a simple fried rice with meat and vegetables.

Yet, even that was enough to move Jin Ja-gang deeply.

The savory taste of oil and the umami of meat dancing in his mouth enraptured Jin Ja-gang, who had only eaten raw poisonous plants. Even his tongue, accustomed to bitter and sour flavors, was astonished.

“Ha, delicious.”

Riding on the momentum, Jin Ja-gang ordered a Sichuan-style spicy beef stew called Sichuan Boiled Beef to eat as well.

Contrary to his initial plan of just having a light meal, once the food started going in, it was hard to stop.

As he was wolfing down the food, the waiter suddenly brought over a bottle of liquor.

“The customers over there said they’d treat you to this.”

Jin Ja-gang turned his head and saw one of three sturdy men, who looked like merchants, waving at him. The man appeared to be in his thirties.

“Hey, young friend, you look like you’ve been starving for a while. I’ll buy you a drink, so take your time eating.”

Jin Ja-gang felt quite embarrassed by the situation.

What should he do in a moment like this?

After a brief moment of thought, Jin Ja-gang stood up from his seat and offered a fist-and-palm salute to the men.

“Thank you.”

“No need to thank us. We’re just merchants staying here, and since business went well today, we’re treating you. Don’t feel burdened and enjoy it.”

Though the merchants offered the drink, they didn’t bother Jin Ja-gang further. They seemed busy drinking and chatting among themselves.

Jin Ja-gang looked at the liquor, lost in old memories. The only time he had drunk alcohol was as a child, out of playful curiosity.

Yet, time had flowed so much that he was now of an age to drink on his own.

Jin Ja-gang poured the liquor and drank.

The unique aroma of the alcohol, its roughness, and the harsh, murky aftertaste stung his tongue.

‘A familiar taste.’

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