Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 219 : I Picked You

"Because you're a knowledgeable orthodox sect bastard, your way of speaking in circles is like a rotten horse-dung Taoist on the verge of ascending to immortality."

Son Muk was momentarily flustered, unable to tell whether she was cursing or complimenting him.

"If what you want is the Hao Faction, then kill me. That's the easiest way."

Seo Mun-ryeon showed a sneer and drank her tea. At her confident appearance, Son Muk showed a face of incomprehension.

There was no reason for her to be so confident in this situation.

She should have bowed her head and begged for her life.

"Are you not afraid of death?"

"If I were afraid of death, I wouldn't have become a martial artist."

"Then I shouldn't kill you, but lock you up in a dark underground stone chamber until you die of old age. In a place like the Infinite Hell of the Demonic Cult."

Seo Mun-ryeon was silent, as if she knew well what kind of place the Infinite Hell was. The maze-like stone chambers located at the end of a deep vertical cave were a place full of skeletons.

Son Muk raised his hand as Seo Mun-ryeon's expression hardened.

"Bring her in."

As his voice echoed, two warriors brought in the blood-soaked Mae Gang-hwa into the main hall, supporting her.

Mae Gang-hwa, with a fearful expression, raised her head and, upon discovering Seo Mun-ryeon, her eyes widened.

"Master! You must flee! All of these guys' stories are lies. I have never betrayed the Hao Faction! Master!"

Although she heard her shouting in a blood-soaked state, Seo Mun-ryeon shook her head with a cold face.

"You tortured her."

As her prayer grew stronger, Son Muk waved his hand.

"How could that be? Let her go."

At Son Muk's words, the warriors who were holding Mae Gang-hwa retreated. Mae Gang-hwa hurriedly stood behind Seo Mun-ryeon.

"What happened?"

When Seo Mun-ryeon asked, Mae Gang-hwa touched her burst lips and answered.

"After the master left for the cult, Wang Hong and Gwak Ji ran away. After that, the Martial Alliance came and..."

Mae Gang-hwa's story was very similar to her own prediction. Wang Hong had taken the lead and had gone to the Martial Alliance with Gwak Ji.

After that, the Martial Alliance had come, captured Mae Gang-hwa, and had induced a confession. That the annihilation of the Jongnam Sect, the helping of Na Hyeon-gi, and the stealing of the Martial Alliance's information to help the Demonic Cult Leader were all Seo Mun-ryeon's doing.

Although Mae Gang-hwa had endured the pain, she had not betrayed Seo Mun-ryeon.

"The Martial Alliance is oppressing our faction."

Hearing Mae Gang-hwa's story, Seo Mun-ryeon showed a cold gaze, but she knew that she could not escape because Mae Gang-hwa was by her side.

She could not leave this place alone, leaving behind a person who was loyal to her.

Son Muk had thrown a burden on Seo Mun-ryeon in case she tried to escape this place.

'I'm trapped.'

Seo Mun-ryeon knew that she was a bird trapped in this manor.

Son Muk had a relaxed face.

"Na Hyeon-gi, who annihilated the Jongnam Sect, is dead. Our faction has granted Gwak Ji's request. But I didn't know you would repay that grace with enmity like this."

"It's a laughing matter for a passing dog that the Hao Faction, which annihilated the Jongnam Sect, has avenged the Jongnam Sect. Master Seo Mun was too greedy."

It was a sharp criticism for coveting the secret manuals of the Jongnam Sect.

"You speak lies as if they were facts."

"What the alliance has decided is the truth."

"Hohoho!"

Seo Mun-ryeon suddenly thought of Cheon Yu-myeong. He had also said something similar. That he was the truth.

Seo Mun-ryeon thought that compared to Cheon Yu-myeong, Son Muk was like a child. That was the reason she could maintain her composure even when the situation was turning against her.

"The truth is what you make it. But why is the Martial Alliance persecuting our faction like this? They say they want the Hao Faction, but the Hao Faction is not a place that the Martial Alliance can handle. That can't be the reason. It seems the Martial Alliance is not aiming for our faction, but for me. Is it my feeling?"

When Seo Mun-ryeon asked, Son Muk, with a face of 'I can't help it', stroked his beard and said.

"The Demonic Cult has requested a meeting, saying they want to live in peace with our alliance. As a first step, they have decided to withdraw the sixteen branch factions they have created throughout the world."

As she learned that the Demonic Cult had stepped forward, Seo Mun-ryeon's expression hardened. Seeing the flustered Seo Mun-ryeon, Son Muk showed a smile.

"The Hao Faction was the Demonic Cult's, and we learned that it was a group loyal to the Demonic Cult because the Demonic Cult gave us information. They also gave us a large amount of information about the master. All the evidence that you have sold a lot of our alliance's information to the Demonic Cult until now."

Seo Mun-ryeon thought of Dokgo Hyeon, but he was not a person who would use the Martial Alliance like this. It felt like a scheme by Dokgo Hye or Dam-ji.

"There's no way out."

"If you go quietly, it will be comfortable for both of us."

"I will."

"We will go to the alliance tomorrow. Rest well today. I'm telling you in advance, but don't do anything useless."

Son Muk, as if his business was finished, clapped his hands once. Then, the waiting warriors came in, escorted Seo Mun-ryeon and Mae Gang-hwa, and headed for the inner court.

Seo Mun-ryeon, who had left the main hall, sighed inwardly as she examined the warriors of the Martial Alliance who were surrounding the manor in layers.

'Can I get out?'

Although she tried to find a gap, they were all people who looked to be of the first class. It seemed it would not be easy to get in or out.

As she entered a small room, Mae Gang-hwa knelt down.

"I'm sorry. Master. If I had dealt with it with more vigilance..."

"We won't die. So don't worry."

"Yes?"

"There's no need to worry. But worry about your own body. Are you okay?"

"I'll be fine if I rest for a few days."

"You look tired. Lie down and rest. Don't do anything today."

At Seo Mun-ryeon's command, Mae Gang-hwa had no choice but to go into the chamber and lie down on the bed. Perhaps because she hadn't slept properly for a few days, she fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.

***

A merchant ship carrying medicinal herbs was floating down the Yellow River. It was the ship that Jin Sa-wol and his party, who had left Luoyang, were on.

Jin Sa-wol, who was standing on the deck, frowned as a small boat approached quickly.

"One? A water bandit?"

"The number of people is small. Including the boatman, there are three."

"Indeed."

As Bi-sun had answered, it was too small a number to be called water bandits. It meant they had business with the ship. And it was urgent business.

The small boat approached the ship, and then, except for the boatman, two men and women hurriedly jumped up.

The two, who had jumped up a height of one zhang and had landed on the deck of the merchant ship, looked around and then, approaching Jin Sa-wol, bowed their heads.

"I am Geumdo, the escort of Young Lady Seo Mun."

"I am Cheonggeom."

"What is it?"

When Jin Sa-wol asked, Geumdo, one of the two, answered.

"As soon as the young lady arrived in Kaifeng, she was captured by the Martial Alliance. We also don't know the reason."

"We came in a hurry as we were ordered to inform Mr. Jin. The number of people we confirmed was about three hundred. There is a high possibility that there are more."

"The martial arts uniforms they were wearing were those belonging to the Sword Wind Hall and the Martial Arts Garden."

Hearing the words of the two, Jin Sa-wol turned his head to Bi-sun. It meant, 'Do you know the reason?'

Bi-sun crossed his arms and opened his mouth.

"I don't know. Why?"

His gaze turned to the approaching Jo-rim.

"What is it?"

"It seems Seo Mun-ryeon has been captured by the Martial Alliance. I don't know the reason."

"The Martial Alliance is doing a good job."

At Jo-rim's words, Do-geom and Cheong-geom, with hardened expressions, showed a cold chill and looked at Jo-rim.

"It was a joke."

At Jo-rim's answer, the two, with a serious face, took a step back.

"There must be a reason."

Jo-rim said again and then turned her eyes to the approaching Jo Geom-ok.

"If it's a matter of the Martial Alliance, wouldn't Miss Jo know better than us?"

"What is it?"

"They say Seo Mun-ryeon has been captured by the Martial Alliance."

"Is that so?"

Jo Geom-ok asked back with an indifferent face, as if she were not very interested. Jin Sa-wol stepped forward.

"It seems to be an urgent matter, so let's go now. Let's meet at the inn."

"You have to come within a month."

"Okay."

Jin Sa-wol answered and then, with a leap, landed on the small boat. Geumdo and Cheonggeom also moved together. But Jo Geom-ok moved faster than them.

Whiririk!

She, who had jumped into the air, landed next to Jin Sa-wol. As the small boat shook, Geumdo and Cheonggeom came down.

"Depart."

At Jin Sa-wol's command, the boatman rowed vigorously.

***

The flag of the Martial Alliance fluttered along the main road leading south from Kaifeng. Hundreds of warriors were moving, and at the head, dozens of horses and carriages were also visible.

Seo Mun-ryeon, who was admiring the clear water of the Baekri River and the wide-open plains visible beyond the curtain, turned her head as the warriors on horseback blocked her view.

Son Muk, who was sitting opposite, had a calm expression.

Mae Gang-hwa was resting in the following carriage. As per Seo Mun-ryeon's request to take good care of her, a doctor was called to treat her external and internal injuries.

It was the third day since they had left Kaifeng.

'It's about time he came. He'll come before we enter the main headquarters of the Martial Alliance.'

Seo Mun-ryeon thought of Jin Sa-wol and then asked Son Muk.

"Too many warriors are suffering because of me. Isn't this a great loss?"

"Shouldn't there be this many people to escort the Hao Faction Master?"

"It's suffocatingly many. But our faction could have had a good relationship with the Alliance Leader, so it's a pity. I'm greatly disappointed that the value of our faction is less than that of a branch of the Demonic Cult."

"If you think about the influence that the Demonic Cult and the Hao Faction have on the martial world, the answer is already decided."

Son Muk showed a slight smile.

In any case, Seo Mun-ryeon could not escape through these many warriors.

"Whoa! Whoa!"

As a loud voice was heard and the carriage slowly stopped, Son Muk frowned.

"What is it?"

When he opened the curtain and asked, a warrior who was on horseback answered.

"Someone is blocking the road. You don't need to worry."

At the warrior's words, Son Muk closed the curtain. A smile appeared on Seo Mun-ryeon's lips.

"Did something happen?"

"It's nothing."

Son Muk answered and then crossed his arms.

A young man wearing a black martial arts uniform was standing in the center of the wide main road. He was looking at the flag of the Martial Alliance, his long black hair fluttering. It seemed he was confirming that he had come to the right place.

The young man was Jin Sa-wol.

Jin Sa-wol had run for three days and nights. The remaining party members had been left behind because they could not keep up with his lightness skill.

Bae Min, the master of the Sword Wind Hall, who was leading the horses at the very front of the hundreds of warriors, led his horse forward.

"A martial artist?"

"I'm looking for the Hao Faction Master. Is she here?"

"What are you doing?"

Bae Min looked down at Jin Sa-wol with a dumbfounded expression. He had not known that there would be a guy who would pick a fight in front of the flag of the Martial Alliance and the Sword Wind Hall.

He was clearly a guy whose guts had popped out of his stomach.

Seo Mun-ryeon, who was in the carriage, smiled without realizing it when she heard Jin Sa-wol's voice.

'He's here.'

Unlike Seo Mun-ryeon's smile, Son Muk's expression was not good. Because it was tiring if an unexpected event occurred.

Bae Min's voice echoed from outside the carriage.

"It seems you're a Hao Faction member, but don't throw away your precious life and retreat. If you run away now, I'll spare your life."

With Bae Min's words, about ten horses slowly came forward and blocked Jin Sa-wol's front, drawing a semicircle.

The appearance of the warriors on horseback felt like a huge castle wall.

Jin Sa-wol grabbed the hilt of his sword and said.

"I will take the Hao Faction Master."

(End of Chapter)