Chapter 166

A face flushed red, as if thoroughly drunk.

Eyes that even felt a hint of madness.

A rough energy radiating from his entire body.

At Beomgang’s appearance, Jeokmyeon was greatly flustered and hesitated.

“Gwan O was defeated!”

The ones who were flustered by Beomgang’s appearance were Baekmyeon and Eumyu as well.

In particular, Eumyu drew his sword and radiated a ki filled with killing intent.

It was an act to protect his master, Baekmyeon, but it ended up provoking Beomgang instead.

“How dare… how dare you show killing intent to me, the disciple of the Fist King!?”

Beomgang rushed over, stomping, and threw a fist strike at Eumyu.

‘Fast!’

It was a fast fist that didn’t match his huge build.

Eumyu, as befitting a master of the fast sword technique, threw five sword strikes in a single breath.

Clang-clang-clang-clang—!!

Beomgang’s fist and Eumyu’s sword clashed chaotically.

Jeokmyeon and Baekmyeon quickly stepped back from the fight between the two, which had no room for compromise.

“What’s going on!?”

“I don’t know either! That person claimed to be the disciple of the Fist King. I thought it was the nonsense of a madman and guided him to a suitable room… could he really be the disciple of the Fist King!?”

“Damn it! Eumyu! What are you doing! Kill him right now!”

“…”

Eumyu did his best to kill Beomgang.

But as if to prove that being the disciple of the Fist King was not a lie, the fist strikes that Beomgang threw were filled with great power and speed.

‘If I’m not careful, I’ll be the one who gets hurt!’

If he confronted him with mediocre strength, he could be defeated in reverse, so Eumyu had to swing his sword with all his might.

The fierce offense and defense of the two martial artists continued without a break.

The Cheonru became a mess due to their fist and sword power.

“Keuk! Th-this bastard! Do you know who I am!”

At that moment, Beomgang rushed at Eumyu like an angry boar, and at his reckless charge, Eumyu was flustered and swung his sword repeatedly.

But Beomgang, who had imbued his two fists with internal energy and deflected the sword ki, spread his two arms and hugged Eumyu.

“Uh-oh!? I-I can’t stop!”

But Beomgang, who had rushed in too recklessly and couldn't control himself, flew out of the wide-open window of the Cheonru, hugging Eumyu.

“Kyaaaah!!”

Beomgang and Eumyu fell straight down from the Cheonru.

“Damn it! What a mess! Jeokmyeon! Is this how you manage your business!?”

“Will this be enough?”

Jeokmyeon ignored Baekmyeon and raised his voice, looking at Jihwa.

Baekmyeon, who found the situation strange, turned his head and faced Jihwa.

But at some point, the slender woman Jihwa had disappeared, and a man with a similar build was standing there.

“It’s enough.”

At the deep man’s voice, Baekmyeon stepped back.

No, he tried to step back.

‘M-my body!’

His body wouldn't move.

‘Could it be?! At that time?’

Was it when Jihwa said she would give him a massage and used her hands?

Everything had gone wrong from the moment he had sent his ki flowing and judged that Jin Sohyun was not a martial artist.

“What’s your scheme, Jeokmyeon! Do you think you can get away with this!? Ok Myeon won’t stand still!”

“Don’t worry, Baekmyeon. Ok Myeon won’t know that you’re dead. No… even your precious escort won’t know.”

“Wh-what do you mean by that!”

“This is what I mean.”

Baekmyeon’s eyes widened as if they would tear.

Because Jin Sohyun, who was standing in front of him, had imitated his voice exactly.

‘Sound Devouring Art!’

Baekmyeon, as befitting a branch manager of the Hao Sect, quickly judged the situation.

‘Jeokmyeon has betrayed the main sect! Then who is this person!?’

He had learned the Bone Shrinking Art and the Sound Art, and Jeokmyeon was following him.

No matter how much he racked his brain, there seemed to be no such person.

Since saving his life was the priority now, Baekmyeon decided to lower himself.

“I don’t know who you are, but please tell me the reason for this.”

“I am Jin Sohyun.”

“Jin So…hyun…!”

The very person who had destroyed the Baekhwag Pass that Baekmyeon cherished overnight, and the monster who had annihilated the Nameless Pavilion alone.

‘He was also dressed as a woman when he destroyed the Baekhwag Pass… to have overlooked that!’

Without even having time to blame his own complacency, Baekmyeon knelt down on the spot.

“To meet Young Master Jin…! It’s an… honor.”

“Baekmyeon. Listen carefully from now on. Just like Jeokmyeon, if you are useful to me, I will let you live, and if I judge that you are useless, I will kill you.”

“…!”

At Jin Sohyun’s cold voice, Baekmyeon’s lower lip trembled.

“P-please give your order.”

“I plan to kill Ok Myeon, who caused my master’s death. And I will kill all those related to him.”

‘Master? Could it be that Bieunggaek was Jin Sohyun’s master!?’

It was a surprising fact that Jin Sohyun was fine, but Bieunggaek, who had been killed by Ok Myeon and the Blood-Sucking Sword Demon a while ago, turned out to be his master.

Sweat poured down like rain from the face of Baekmyeon, who was feeling the clear killing intent from Jin Sohyun with his whole body.

“Tell me about your plan from now on.”

“What plan are you talking about…”

“What did you intend to demand when you came to find Jeokmyeon?”

“That’s… to establish a Baekhwag Pass…”

Swish—!

The cool blade held at Jin Sohyun’s fingertip touched his throat, and Baekmyeon felt as if he would faint.

“I’m short on time, so I’ll only give you one chance. And the chance you have now is over.”

“Keu… keuk!”

“Tell me your real purpose.”

“I was planning to… push Jeokmyeon out of Honggang!”

“With the Baekhwag Pass?”

“That’s right. After establishing the Baekhwag Pass, I planned to use it to push Jeokmyeon out of this position!”

“By what means?”

“The government does not interfere with blue houses and prostitutes, but it does not allow human trafficking. And using that… I was planning to… push Jeokmyeon out.”

“You son of a bitch!”

Jeokmyeon was greatly enraged.

If the Baekhwag Pass had been established like this, Baekmyeon was planning to use it to report to the government that Jeokmyeon was actually using the courtesans of Honggang as a means of human trafficking.

Of course, although there was an unwritten rule of non-interference with the government, the situation was different for human trafficking.

This was also the reason why Baekmyeon had abandoned his own branch office and had escaped from Gansu as if he were running away.

If the government stepped in directly, the problem would become bigger.

So much so that the Hao Sect could not handle it.

And Baekmyeon was planning to use this.

“I will help you! Great Master!”

This time again, Jin Sohyun’s title had changed from Young Master to Great Master.

“I will be more helpful than Jeokmyeon.”

“The reason?”

“I have many outstanding martial artists that Jeokmyeon can’t even dream of imitating. If we use them, it won’t be impossible to deal with Ok Myeon. Please believe me!”

Jin Sohyun, looking at Baekmyeon who was begging him to believe him, smiled faintly.

“I know. I believe you.”

***

“Tsk!”

Eumyu clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes, chasing after the disappeared Beomgang.

But Beomgang, who had been swinging his fists as if to kill him at any moment, had disappeared into the darkness.

There was no way to know the reason.

Although he wanted to chase after Beomgang and finish him, Eumyu couldn't.

‘My lord!’

He was an escort.

Since the safety of his master, Baekmyeon, was the top priority, Eumyu kicked off the roof of the Cheonhwagak and jumped up.

Eumyu, who had reached the Cheonru with a few leaps, quickly went inside.

“My lord!”

“You’re late.”

Baekmyeon was sitting peacefully and drinking alcohol, as if nothing had happened.

Eumyu, who had confirmed that he was safe, let out a sigh of relief and knelt on one knee.

“I’m sorry.”

“So… what happened to that disciple of the Fist King?”

“I lost him. I will send people to find him.”

“Tsk! Enough. Jeokmyeon will find him on his own.”

Baekmyeon dusted off his bottom and stood up from his seat.

“No… perhaps all of this was Jeokmyeon’s play. He must have been planning to take my head this time.”

“…!”

Eumyu’s eyes turned cold.

“I’m tired today, so I’ll be on my way. Eumyu, you keep a close watch on Jeokmyeon’s movements.”

“Are you saying I should stop guarding and monitor Lord Jeokmyeon?”

As Eumyu asked as if he didn't understand, Baekmyeon said with a hollow laugh.

“Since the first attempt failed, Jeokmyeon will also be careful for a while. Besides, that bastard can’t kill me. He was probably just checking if I had any other escorts besides you. Don’t worry. At least in Honggang… Jeokmyeon won’t be able to kill me.”

As if he had gained some enlightenment, Eumyu clasped his hands and bowed his head deeply.

“As you command.”

While Eumyu was secretly moving to monitor Jeokmyeon, Jin Sohyun went to the quarters prepared in the Cheonhwagak with Baekhwa.

A place guarded by thirty first-rate martial artists under Baekmyeon’s orders.

Baekmyeon, who had entered, sat down on the bed and then took off the mask he was wearing.

What was revealed was not Baekmyeon’s face, but Jin Sohyun’s.

“Phew…! I really didn’t think it would succeed. More importantly, how on earth did you do it?”

“What?”

“Your voice! How did you imitate that creepy Baekmyeon’s voice?”

“It’s a type of sound art called the Sound Devouring Art.”

“Then can you imitate my voice too?”

“No, I can’t imitate a woman’s voice.”

“That’s a relief.”

Baekhwa sat down gently next to Jin Sohyun.

“Then we’ll have to be together here until the next day, right? Was this also your aim?”

“Baekmyeon is a man who is fond of women. There’s no way such a person would go to bed alone.”

“Hmph…”

Baekhwa, who was fidgeting with her feet, unlike her usual self, carefully brought up the subject.

“I didn’t mean to listen, but I heard.”

“What?”

“About your master. Is the reason you’re fighting the Hao Sect… because of your master’s death? If it’s an uncomfortable topic, I won’t ask anymore.”

“…That’s right. My master was murdered by the Hao Sect. And to find the bastard who murdered my master, I have to go into the Hao Sect myself.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“How much do you know about the Hao Sect?”

“All I know is what I’ve heard from the previous Cheonhwagak Master. That they have eyes and ears all over the world, and that it’s an organization where your life is in danger just by mentioning its name.”

“Don’t try to know more than that. And if by any chance I don’t come back… leave Honggang with Yuha. Because Jeokmyeon might betray me.”

Jin Sohyun did not trust Jeokmyeon.

He was always straddling the line between the Hao Sect and Jin Sohyun.

And he was scheduled to side with the one who survived.

Nevertheless, the reason Jin Sohyun had let Jeokmyeon live was to confront Ok Myeon.

‘It will be hard for me to meet Ok Myeon on my own.’

He needed a pretext to have a meeting.

And for that pretext, he needed Jeokmyeon.

“Two steps.”

Of the three steps for revenge, he had now taken the first step.

What remained were two steps.

He had to meet Ok Myeon.

***

Clack— Clack—!

Jeokmyeon was lost in deep thought as he watched Baekmyeon’s corpse, which was engulfed in flames.

“How terrifying.”

—I believe you.

At the one word of belief, he felt Baekmyeon’s face light up.

But that was also short-lived.

—I believe you will betray me.

As soon as Jin Sohyun’s words ended, Baekmyeon’s head was cut off.

At the same time, the mask and clothes that Baekmyeon was wearing were taken off.

Jin Sohyun, who had killed Baekmyeon in one go, put on his mask and clothes and then asked him to take care of the corpse.

“Is this a warning.”

It was a warning.

What would happen if he betrayed him.

He had shown it through Baekmyeon.

‘It’s as if I’m seeing a different person.’

It was the complete opposite of Jin Sohyun’s known actions and personality.

“It’s difficult, so difficult.”

He couldn't gauge where the ship he was on was heading.

Was it heading for a cliff?

Or was it heading for a sea with infinite possibilities?

Jeokmyeon stared blankly at the flickering flames, unable to see his own future.

There was no way to know how far the blade of the enraged monster heading for the Hao Sect could reach.

Jeokmyeon was just planning to watch as a bystander.

But he had a hunch.

That soon, he would have to bet all the cards he had.

“I’ll have to see Ok Myeon’s face after a long time.”

(End of Chapter)