Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Jin Ja-gang stared down at Kang Gyu for a long time.

At last, he had killed all the leaders of the Four Great Poison Sects.

But Kang Gyu’s final words left Jin Ja-gang feeling uneasy.

The other masters had made desperate final attacks before dying, but Kang Gyu had tormented Jin Ja-gang with just a few words.

That they had no choice.

That the Five Great Poison Sects of Yunnan had no choice but to attack the Medicine Sects.

There was something unsettling about those words, like they belonged to a world Jin Ja-gang had never experienced.

No.

Jin Ja-gang shook his head vigorously.

There was no need to think too deeply about this.

Whatever Kang Gyu’s words meant, Jin Ja-gang was already nearing his destination.

After wiping out Poison Valley and finally Baek Li-jung of the Martial Arts Alliance, this long journey of revenge would reach its conclusion.

Jin Ja-gang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

‘There are still remnants left at Iron Umbrella Sect.’

Nearly fifty or sixty people remained at Iron Umbrella Sect.

But Jin Ja-gang had no intention of returning there.

The general assembly of the poison sects was a good opportunity-perhaps his last-to infiltrate Poison Valley. Even now, time was tight. He couldn’t afford to return to Iron Umbrella Sect and then go back again.

So Jin Ja-gang decided to use “him.”

He planned to use “him” to deal with the remnants of Iron Umbrella Sect.

Would “he” follow Jin Ja-gang’s thinking?

Of course, he would have no choice.

When Jin Ja-gang heard about Five Birds Sect at the Iron Umbrella Sect manor, he realized “his” intentions.

That’s why he had deliberately revealed himself at Iron Umbrella Sect.

To force “him” to act.

Jin Ja-gang opened his eyes, looked toward the road leading to Iron Umbrella Sect, then turned away.

‘Since you tried to use me, you should also take care of some troublesome tasks for me.’

Limp, limp.

Jin Ja-gang headed in the direction of Poison Valley, opposite from Iron Umbrella Sect.

* * *

About half a day after Jin Ja-gang left.

Mang Ryo appeared.

Mang Ryo had left Five Birds Sect and followed Jin Ja-gang’s trail all the way here.

Looking at the horrific scene of carnage, with blood everywhere, Mang Ryo smiled.

“Good. Very good.”

Mang Ryo casually surveyed the scene as if out for a stroll. In front of Kang Gyu’s corpse, still sitting cross-legged, he even clicked his tongue in feigned sympathy.

“I warned you to be careful, but why are people so careless? That’s why you die like dogs. Tsk.”

Mang Ryo continued walking, examining the corpses of Iron Umbrella Sect warriors scattered around.

He noted that some of the corpses showed no external injuries.

“He must have poisoned them somewhere before coming here? Even Kang Gyu, known for his caution, didn’t notice at all. He’s becoming more and more cunning. Hehehe!”

After looking around for a while, Mang Ryo suddenly realized that Jin Ja-gang’s footprints continued forward.

“Hmm?”

Not toward Iron Umbrella Sect, but in the direction of Poison Valley.

“What’s this?”

Mang Ryo’s expression became strange.

“He didn’t go back to Iron Umbrella Sect?”

No matter how carefully he checked, Jin Ja-gang’s footprints definitely headed toward Poison Valley. Jin Ja-gang’s distinctive uneven footprints, caused by his limp, were unmistakable.

“Could he be sparing those remaining at Iron Umbrella Sect?”

That couldn’t be. Jin Ja-gang wasn’t the type to leave loose ends.

At Stone Forest Gang, he had methodically checked each person, stabbing them with a skewer to ensure they were dead. At Shadow Bureau too, he had gone around the village, hunting down and killing any survivors.

How could such a person leave dozens of people alive at Iron Umbrella Sect?

It made no sense.

“Does he have a compelling reason to reach the poison sects’ assembly at Poison Valley on time?”

That was the only explanation that made sense for now…

Suddenly, Mang Ryo remembered that Jin Ja-gang had caused a commotion at Iron Umbrella Sect’s main gate.

“Wait? Why did he do that then?”

He had been meticulous enough to deceive the cautious Kang Gyu and poison him. Yet he had shown his face and caused a disturbance at the main gate?

And he hadn’t even succeeded, but failed, according to reports.

Apparently, he had been hit by a Joint-Breaking Needle and fled with an antidote…

Mang Ryo’s face twisted into a half-smile, half-frown.

“He was hit by a poison needle and ran away?”

Others might not know, but Mang Ryo did.

That Jin Ja-gang was immune to all poisons.

Jin Ja-gang had survived for a month in the Sulfur Pool mine, where even masters of the poison sects couldn’t last half a day.

Such a Jin Ja-gang fled because of a poison needle?

And even took an antidote?

Mang Ryo laughed heartily.

“What a cunning dog!”

Now Mang Ryo understood Jin Ja-gang’s intentions.

Jin Ja-gang must have heard about the villagers massacred at Stone Forest Gang and the farmers slaughtered near Shadow Bureau.

Only Jin Ja-gang himself and Mang Ryo knew that Jin Ja-gang wasn’t responsible for those killings. Everyone else thought they were either Jin Ja-gang’s doing or the work of those opposing the poison sects.

Jin Ja-gang must have been puzzled.

Who was using his actions to slaughter innocent bystanders?

Why were these massacres being blamed on him?

“Hehehe.”

Mang Ryo could roughly guess what conclusion Jin Ja-gang had reached.

He must have thought that someone was killing everyone who had seen him in order to use him.

So he had thrown out bait to force a choice on the person following him-Mang Ryo.

‘I’ve shown myself to the warriors of Iron Umbrella Sect, but I won’t go back to kill them. What will you do? If you want to keep using me, you’ll have to deal with Iron Umbrella Sect yourself, won’t you?’

How utterly shameless!

“Impudent b*st*rd! Hehehe.”

Mang Ryo stroked his beard and thought slowly.

Jin Ja-gang still didn’t know of Mang Ryo’s existence. That’s why he had done the unnecessary act of fleeing with an antidote.

If Mang Ryo dealt with Iron Umbrella Sect, Jin Ja-gang would confirm that his thinking was correct-that someone was indeed trying to use him. But he still wouldn’t know it was Mang Ryo.

Conversely, if Mang Ryo left Iron Umbrella Sect alone, Jin Ja-gang would think his suspicions were wrong. However, he might wonder if the fact that no one took his bait was because the person knew his past-Mang Ryo.

“What should I do…?”

Mang Ryo pondered with delight.

“Should I pretend to be fooled just this once?”

Iron Umbrella Sect needed to be eliminated anyway for Mang Ryo’s grand plan.

Contrary to Jin Ja-gang’s thinking, Mang Ryo didn’t care whether someone had seen Jin Ja-gang or not. He killed to frame Jin Ja-gang, not to eliminate witnesses.

So if Mang Ryo eliminated Iron Umbrella Sect, Jin Ja-gang would think his bait had been taken, but in reality, he would once again be deceived by Mang Ryo.

“Hehehe, and to think he endured in the fire at Shadow Bureau.”

Mang Ryo clicked his tongue. At the time, he thought he had deceived Jin Ja-gang well, but Jin Ja-gang had never fully let go of his suspicions. That’s what led to this situation.

“Come to think of it, doesn’t ‘mutual deception’ describe us perfectly? Hahaha!”

Mutual deception.

There couldn’t be a more fitting description for the current relationship between Jin Ja-gang and Mang Ryo.

Mang Ryo rushed toward Iron Umbrella Sect using lightness skill.

Thud, thud!

If he was going to take the bait, he might as well enjoy it.

* * *

Evening, as the sun was nearly setting.

At the Iron Umbrella Sect manor.

The warriors were finishing their daily tasks and about to close the main gate.

Thud, thud.

A long shadow approached the manor with an awkward gait, leaning on crutches.

Despite having prosthetic legs on both feet and using crutches, the shadow moved surprisingly fast.

By the time the warriors had half-closed the gate, the figure was already at the entrance.

The warriors were startled and stopped closing the gate.

“What business do you-“

Mang Ryo burst into laughter and continued walking.

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine. Continue what you were doing. I was planning to have the gate locked anyway.”

“What?”

Mang Ryo instantly passed the warriors and entered through the half-open gate.

After entering just inside the gate, Mang Ryo looked back.

“What are you doing? I said close it.”

From the warriors’ perspective, it was bewildering that an unknown visitor had suddenly entered and was ordering them to close the gate.

“Hey, you-“

At that moment, Mang Ryo reached out, grabbed a warrior by the collar, and threw him inside.

“Ugh!”

Crash!

However Mang Ryo had used his hand, the warrior who tumbled to the ground couldn’t get up.

No, his neck had already been twisted beyond repair, and he was dead.

“Uwaagh!”

The other warrior at the gate was horrified and aimed his iron umbrella, pulling the mechanism.

Ping!

The Joint-Breaking Needle that shot out was caught between Mang Ryo’s fingers. Mang Ryo tossed the needle aside and roughly grabbed the warrior by the hair. Just like before, he threw the warrior inside while holding his hair.

Then he looked at the bell hanging inside the gate.

“Is this the bell to alert of intruders?”

Mang Ryo unhesitatingly rang the bell.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

As the sound of Iron Umbrella Sect warriors rushing out could be heard, Mang Ryo closed the main gate with a satisfied smile.

Creeeeak.

A moment later, a human arm shot up over the manor wall, spraying a stream of blood into the sky.

“Aaaaaagh!”

From that point on, terrifying screams began to ring out continuously from Iron Umbrella Sect.

* * *

In the deep night, approaching dawn.

Mang Ryo appeared before Chu Hyo, who was drinking in the garden.

It had been five days since he had suddenly disappeared.

Mang Ryo stood before Chu Hyo, covered in blood from head to toe.

The smell of blood was overwhelming.

Chu Hyo’s eyes flashed briefly but quickly calmed.

Chu Hyo poured wine into the empty cup that had remained in place since Mang Ryo left.

Mang Ryo drank the cup in one gulp and said:

“Aren’t you going to ask where I’ve been?”

Chu Hyo smiled self-mockingly.

“What’s the point of asking? It won’t change anything.”

Mang Ryo looked at Chu Hyo and said:

“Get up.”

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s time to move.”

Chu Hyo stared blankly with a dazed expression, then shook his head.

“Where would I go?”

There was no sign of the will to live in Chu Hyo, who had lost his only son, grandson, and daughter-in-law all at once.

Mang Ryo bluntly said:

“I’ve found the limping one’s trail.”

Chu Hyo flinched at those words.

Mang Ryo continued:

“I’ve also discovered his purpose and who’s behind him.”

Chu Hyo’s eyes widened.

“Who is it?”

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Jin Ja-gang stared down at Kang Gyu for a long time.

At last, he had killed all the leaders of the Four Great Poison Sects.

But Kang Gyu’s final words left Jin Ja-gang feeling uneasy.

The other masters had made desperate final attacks before dying, but Kang Gyu had tormented Jin Ja-gang with just a few words.

That they had no choice.

That the Five Great Poison Sects of Yunnan had no choice but to attack the Medicine Sects.

There was something unsettling about those words, like they belonged to a world Jin Ja-gang had never experienced.

No.

Jin Ja-gang shook his head vigorously.

There was no need to think too deeply about this.

Whatever Kang Gyu’s words meant, Jin Ja-gang was already nearing his destination.

After wiping out Poison Valley and finally Baek Li-jung of the Martial Arts Alliance, this long journey of revenge would reach its conclusion.

Jin Ja-gang closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

‘There are still remnants left at Iron Umbrella Sect.’

Nearly fifty or sixty people remained at Iron Umbrella Sect.

But Jin Ja-gang had no intention of returning there.

The general assembly of the poison sects was a good opportunity-perhaps his last-to infiltrate Poison Valley. Even now, time was tight. He couldn’t afford to return to Iron Umbrella Sect and then go back again.

So Jin Ja-gang decided to use “him.”

He planned to use “him” to deal with the remnants of Iron Umbrella Sect.

Would “he” follow Jin Ja-gang’s thinking?

Of course, he would have no choice.

When Jin Ja-gang heard about Five Birds Sect at the Iron Umbrella Sect manor, he realized “his” intentions.

That’s why he had deliberately revealed himself at Iron Umbrella Sect.

To force “him” to act.

Jin Ja-gang opened his eyes, looked toward the road leading to Iron Umbrella Sect, then turned away.

‘Since you tried to use me, you should also take care of some troublesome tasks for me.’

Limp, limp.

Jin Ja-gang headed in the direction of Poison Valley, opposite from Iron Umbrella Sect.

* * *

About half a day after Jin Ja-gang left.

Mang Ryo appeared.

Mang Ryo had left Five Birds Sect and followed Jin Ja-gang’s trail all the way here.

Looking at the horrific scene of carnage, with blood everywhere, Mang Ryo smiled.

“Good. Very good.”

Mang Ryo casually surveyed the scene as if out for a stroll. In front of Kang Gyu’s corpse, still sitting cross-legged, he even clicked his tongue in feigned sympathy.

“I warned you to be careful, but why are people so careless? That’s why you die like dogs. Tsk.”

Mang Ryo continued walking, examining the corpses of Iron Umbrella Sect warriors scattered around.

He noted that some of the corpses showed no external injuries.

“He must have poisoned them somewhere before coming here? Even Kang Gyu, known for his caution, didn’t notice at all. He’s becoming more and more cunning. Hehehe!”

After looking around for a while, Mang Ryo suddenly realized that Jin Ja-gang’s footprints continued forward.

“Hmm?”

Not toward Iron Umbrella Sect, but in the direction of Poison Valley.

“What’s this?”

Mang Ryo’s expression became strange.

“He didn’t go back to Iron Umbrella Sect?”

No matter how carefully he checked, Jin Ja-gang’s footprints definitely headed toward Poison Valley. Jin Ja-gang’s distinctive uneven footprints, caused by his limp, were unmistakable.

“Could he be sparing those remaining at Iron Umbrella Sect?”

That couldn’t be. Jin Ja-gang wasn’t the type to leave loose ends.

At Stone Forest Gang, he had methodically checked each person, stabbing them with a skewer to ensure they were dead. At Shadow Bureau too, he had gone around the village, hunting down and killing any survivors.

How could such a person leave dozens of people alive at Iron Umbrella Sect?

It made no sense.

“Does he have a compelling reason to reach the poison sects’ assembly at Poison Valley on time?”

That was the only explanation that made sense for now…

Suddenly, Mang Ryo remembered that Jin Ja-gang had caused a commotion at Iron Umbrella Sect’s main gate.

“Wait? Why did he do that then?”

He had been meticulous enough to deceive the cautious Kang Gyu and poison him. Yet he had shown his face and caused a disturbance at the main gate?

And he hadn’t even succeeded, but failed, according to reports.

Apparently, he had been hit by a Joint-Breaking Needle and fled with an antidote…

Mang Ryo’s face twisted into a half-smile, half-frown.

“He was hit by a poison needle and ran away?”

Others might not know, but Mang Ryo did.

That Jin Ja-gang was immune to all poisons.

Jin Ja-gang had survived for a month in the Sulfur Pool mine, where even masters of the poison sects couldn’t last half a day.

Such a Jin Ja-gang fled because of a poison needle?

And even took an antidote?

Mang Ryo laughed heartily.

“What a cunning dog!”

Now Mang Ryo understood Jin Ja-gang’s intentions.

Jin Ja-gang must have heard about the villagers massacred at Stone Forest Gang and the farmers slaughtered near Shadow Bureau.

Only Jin Ja-gang himself and Mang Ryo knew that Jin Ja-gang wasn’t responsible for those killings. Everyone else thought they were either Jin Ja-gang’s doing or the work of those opposing the poison sects.

Jin Ja-gang must have been puzzled.

Who was using his actions to slaughter innocent bystanders?

Why were these massacres being blamed on him?

“Hehehe.”

Mang Ryo could roughly guess what conclusion Jin Ja-gang had reached.

He must have thought that someone was killing everyone who had seen him in order to use him.

So he had thrown out bait to force a choice on the person following him-Mang Ryo.

‘I’ve shown myself to the warriors of Iron Umbrella Sect, but I won’t go back to kill them. What will you do? If you want to keep using me, you’ll have to deal with Iron Umbrella Sect yourself, won’t you?’

How utterly shameless!

“Impudent b*st*rd! Hehehe.”

Mang Ryo stroked his beard and thought slowly.

Jin Ja-gang still didn’t know of Mang Ryo’s existence. That’s why he had done the unnecessary act of fleeing with an antidote.

If Mang Ryo dealt with Iron Umbrella Sect, Jin Ja-gang would confirm that his thinking was correct-that someone was indeed trying to use him. But he still wouldn’t know it was Mang Ryo.

Conversely, if Mang Ryo left Iron Umbrella Sect alone, Jin Ja-gang would think his suspicions were wrong. However, he might wonder if the fact that no one took his bait was because the person knew his past-Mang Ryo.

“What should I do…?”

Mang Ryo pondered with delight.

“Should I pretend to be fooled just this once?”

Iron Umbrella Sect needed to be eliminated anyway for Mang Ryo’s grand plan.

Contrary to Jin Ja-gang’s thinking, Mang Ryo didn’t care whether someone had seen Jin Ja-gang or not. He killed to frame Jin Ja-gang, not to eliminate witnesses.

So if Mang Ryo eliminated Iron Umbrella Sect, Jin Ja-gang would think his bait had been taken, but in reality, he would once again be deceived by Mang Ryo.

“Hehehe, and to think he endured in the fire at Shadow Bureau.”

Mang Ryo clicked his tongue. At the time, he thought he had deceived Jin Ja-gang well, but Jin Ja-gang had never fully let go of his suspicions. That’s what led to this situation.

“Come to think of it, doesn’t ‘mutual deception’ describe us perfectly? Hahaha!”

Mutual deception.

There couldn’t be a more fitting description for the current relationship between Jin Ja-gang and Mang Ryo.

Mang Ryo rushed toward Iron Umbrella Sect using lightness skill.

Thud, thud!

If he was going to take the bait, he might as well enjoy it.

* * *

Evening, as the sun was nearly setting.

At the Iron Umbrella Sect manor.

The warriors were finishing their daily tasks and about to close the main gate.

Thud, thud.

A long shadow approached the manor with an awkward gait, leaning on crutches.

Despite having prosthetic legs on both feet and using crutches, the shadow moved surprisingly fast.

By the time the warriors had half-closed the gate, the figure was already at the entrance.

The warriors were startled and stopped closing the gate.

“What business do you-“

Mang Ryo burst into laughter and continued walking.

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine. Continue what you were doing. I was planning to have the gate locked anyway.”

“What?”

Mang Ryo instantly passed the warriors and entered through the half-open gate.

After entering just inside the gate, Mang Ryo looked back.

“What are you doing? I said close it.”

From the warriors’ perspective, it was bewildering that an unknown visitor had suddenly entered and was ordering them to close the gate.

“Hey, you-“

At that moment, Mang Ryo reached out, grabbed a warrior by the collar, and threw him inside.

“Ugh!”

Crash!

However Mang Ryo had used his hand, the warrior who tumbled to the ground couldn’t get up.

No, his neck had already been twisted beyond repair, and he was dead.

“Uwaagh!”

The other warrior at the gate was horrified and aimed his iron umbrella, pulling the mechanism.

Ping!

The Joint-Breaking Needle that shot out was caught between Mang Ryo’s fingers. Mang Ryo tossed the needle aside and roughly grabbed the warrior by the hair. Just like before, he threw the warrior inside while holding his hair.

Then he looked at the bell hanging inside the gate.

“Is this the bell to alert of intruders?”

Mang Ryo unhesitatingly rang the bell.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

As the sound of Iron Umbrella Sect warriors rushing out could be heard, Mang Ryo closed the main gate with a satisfied smile.

Creeeeak.

A moment later, a human arm shot up over the manor wall, spraying a stream of blood into the sky.

“Aaaaaagh!”

From that point on, terrifying screams began to ring out continuously from Iron Umbrella Sect.

* * *

In the deep night, approaching dawn.

Mang Ryo appeared before Chu Hyo, who was drinking in the garden.

It had been five days since he had suddenly disappeared.

Mang Ryo stood before Chu Hyo, covered in blood from head to toe.

The smell of blood was overwhelming.

Chu Hyo’s eyes flashed briefly but quickly calmed.

Chu Hyo poured wine into the empty cup that had remained in place since Mang Ryo left.

Mang Ryo drank the cup in one gulp and said:

“Aren’t you going to ask where I’ve been?”

Chu Hyo smiled self-mockingly.

“What’s the point of asking? It won’t change anything.”

Mang Ryo looked at Chu Hyo and said:

“Get up.”

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s time to move.”

Chu Hyo stared blankly with a dazed expression, then shook his head.

“Where would I go?”

There was no sign of the will to live in Chu Hyo, who had lost his only son, grandson, and daughter-in-law all at once.

Mang Ryo bluntly said:

“I’ve found the limping one’s trail.”

Chu Hyo flinched at those words.

Mang Ryo continued:

“I’ve also discovered his purpose and who’s behind him.”

Chu Hyo’s eyes widened.

“Who is it?”

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