Chapter 12 - 77 to 83

Dangsangmyeong, who had gathered the Umochim with the help of the amnestic recovery, thought to himself.

'Even people die like this.'

To be honest, it was unexpected. The opponent had quite a strong internal energy. The poison originally applied to the Umochim was not lethal enough to affect such a person. Changbokdok - It was a poison that was mixed into food and the like, and only caused stomachache. The amount applied to the Umochim would be difficult to harm even the criminal.

However, when you add auditory poison to it, it becomes a completely different story. It becomes so poisonous that even a small amount can kill a person.

[It is natural. There are not many people in the world who can withstand the poison of this body.]

The hearing speaks proudly. Now, he is a food spirit of the obvious, but what kind of being was he originally? He is a being who has eaten hundreds of poisonous Yi Mae-mangryang and has been reborn as Jin Go-dok. It is said that he has the most vicious poison in the world. It must have been so bad that he was called Il-dok (一毒) because he is the best among the poisons of the Tang family.

Such a poisonous hearing permeates, even a single drop can lead to death.

one side.

The Sapa warriors began to stammer and open their mouths, their expressions still in shock.

"The princess of Mokyeong Palace died…? And in just one move."

"… How unbelievable. He is not the type of person to leave in vain like this."

"He collapsed and died after only one or two breaths. He must have used some extremely strong poison…!"

"Has anyone seen the release…?"

"Even the princess suffered, so how could any of us have seen it? Even the police didn't catch it."

"Rather than that, the needle came out on its own. Surely it wasn't a hollow water drop…?"

"Speak sensibly. Consider his age. He must be young at best."

"Regardless of age, has there ever been such a capable person in the Tang family? It's impossible for rumors not to spread about him, at least because of his looks."

"Shut up, you idiots. The princess of the palace has passed away…!"

Those who appear to be archers of Mokyeong Palace are exploding with anger.

Including them, the Sapha warriors standing around awkwardly all looked like they had a hard time believing it. That was understandable, since Mokyeonggung was a relatively powerful faction under the Heuksayeon, and especially the palace master Jang Taecheon was famous for his deep internal energy from taking all kinds of elixirs indiscriminately. He was loud and nosy, and he liked to meddle in other people's business. This time, when he discovered Taeheo and Hyeonso running away, he led his disciples to join them. Hoping that they might be holding secrets. Surely, he would never have dreamed that he had found a place to die on his own.

"Wow… The author is being described so simply."

Hyun So also couldn't hide his surprised expression. He knew that Dangga was once the leader of poison and secret weapons, and was called the best in Sacheon. Although it was said to have declined, it was right to say that it still had some power. However, he could kill a strong man like Jang Tae Cheon with one move...!

One of the reasons Hyun So fled in the first place was because of Jang Tae Cheon's existence. The number of Sapa's soldiers was a burden, but more than that, he didn't have the confidence to handle someone like Jang Tae Cheon without any losses. However, a young man who seemed to have lived half as long as Hyun So had lived took care of him easily. Hyun So once again thought about the potential of poison and secret weapons. Couldn't it be that, like Sa Baek's intention, Dang Ga could be a solution to the current situation that the public was in…?

at that time.

One of the Mokyeonggung archers stepped forward and let out a roar.

"You! Do you know who this person is and dare to do something about it…!"

The reason that the Tang family was able to survive in Sacheon was partly because of the order of the Black Lotus, but it was also largely because the Tang family did not cross the 'line'. They stopped most of their external activities and just stayed in the city. They never attacked the other apostles' defenses first. It was as if they were aware that they had to stay hidden.

However, the incident that happened a little while ago was due to the preemptive strike of a young man who seemed to be the successor of the other party. It was clearly a 'line' crossing. Mokyeonggung could have gathered other factions and attacked the party using this incident as an excuse. Is it because he is still young and cannot tell the difference between heaven and earth? Even though it was clear that he had put his family in danger, the young man's face was incredibly calm.

"Do you know what you just did? This is tantamount to declaring war on our Mokyeong Palace…"

"Declare war-"

The young man, Dang-myeong, cut off Mok-yeong-gung's words.

"These Taoist priests are guests of the main family. And this is the main family's territory, Seongdo. Aren't you thugs who came all the way here, threatening the guests with hundreds of people? Furthermore, since you invaded our territory first, I think you were the ones who declared war."

"What kind of nonsense…."

"You killed the loudest one to make an example of him, and now you keep talking. And do I have to know who the other guy is who can't even do a single point of reference is?"

Mokyeonggung Palace was speechless. How could he possibly avoid responsibility like this? It was difficult to even consider the weight of the life of Jang Taecheon, the princess. It was true that he died in a minor attack before his identity could be revealed.

Of course, it wasn't as easy as he thought. At least in this situation, Tae-heo was the only one who could avoid the sharp remarks that Dang-myeong was spitting out.

Dang-myeong said, looking around at the hundreds of Sapa soldiers who filled the front.

"Choose. Either back down or attack. Since the guests are safe, I will show mercy this time. If you back down, I will not cause any more trouble."

"… Enough with the boasting. I already know that you have no other reinforcements. Do you really think that you can take on this many people by yourself?"

"There is nothing I can't do."

"Ha…! You think you're some kind of Jangpanpa Ikdeok (equipment)? Even if your secret techniques are mysterious, they have their limits. I don't know how you plan on overcoming the numerical disadvantage."

"Isn't that none of your business? By the way, your tongue really is long."

At Dang-myeong's words, all the Sapa warriors had expressions of shock. I don't know what they were believing, but their overconfidence was not a good sight.

"Huh. That kid's way with words…."

"Your arrogance is sky-high. As an elder, shouldn't you discipline him?"

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"The momentum I feel is nothing special. Rather, the Taoists behind me seem to have achieved more."

"In short, all you have to do is be careful of the dark magic. There will be a deadly poison. Everyone, raise your eyesight to the max. There is no death more miserable than losing your life to a blind dark magic."

"Let's peel off that handsome face. If we make it into cotton, it'll probably cost quite a bit."

"You can just rush in at once. No matter how fast my hands are, I can't take on over a hundred people at once."

The Sapa warriors who had been whispering among themselves seemed to have gained courage from their conversation and began to slowly close the gap between them.

In fact, it was impossible to back down like this. There were innocent citizens of the saints everywhere, looking at me with curious eyes.

If the story spread throughout Sacheon that nearly two hundred men had retreated because they could not defeat a mere three or four men, it would be a complete disgrace.

"I see you've made up your mind."

"Hit it!!"

As soon as someone shouted, the Sapha warriors began to charge forward, each performing light attacks.

Gugugugu-!!

The axis is shaking. Many people deliberately stepped on the ground hard. It was a strategy to instill a sense of intimidation. It was a method often used in group battles between martial arts forces. Because one small variable can create a huge gap.

Also, it seemed like a movement with dark techniques in mind, as it did not shoot in a straight line but spread out in a fan shape.

Dang-myeong muttered as he took in the sight at a glance. Sometimes, I feel like using a sword.

After restricting movement to the area of life, if you swing the long sword energy that you pulled out like a stick from left to right, it will be over -

[what?]

My hearing returned, wondering if I had heard muttering.

Dang-myung didn't answer, but poured the poison of hearing into the poison bottle in his bosom, then took a bundle of spit and dabbed it on the tip of the stick before throwing it into the air.

Whoosh - hundreds of sharp-pointed swords soaring into the sky.

As they approached with their light swordsmanship open, the Sapha warriors looked puzzled. Where is that guy throwing his secret weapon?

Even though they paid attention to the upper part just in case, the needles were so thin that it was difficult to distinguish them. Even though they had raised their eye technique to the maximum.

Only Dang-myeong was able to recognize the sky-high U-mo-chims one by one. His senses were also thanks to his Ju-sa-mang-yeok. Although the range of his Ju-sa-mang-yeok was limited due to his lung veins, he had no difficulty detecting the U-mo-chims.

"It's nothing. Common sense tells you that you can't move a weapon that was thrown like that as intended."

"That's right. It's probably just a ploy to buy a little bit of time…!"

It was when the Sapha drones, which had been on guard for a moment and slowed down, started to increase their light attack speed again.

Dang-myung muttered, lightly holding the right hand that had thrown the bundle of Umochim.

'Fall.'

Those who sense something ominous are the first to look up to the sky.

"uh?"

*****

"I, that… ."

"why…?"

When others looked up at the sky, hundreds of needles were already falling with their tips upright. A feast of fine needles falling quickly like raindrops…!

"…all damage."

As someone was muttering like that, Umochimwoo descended to the ground.

Peekaboo, peekaboo, peekaboo, big one!

It was a split second. Dozens of lives were lost.

Those who were hit by even one of the Umochims fell down helplessly, just like Mokyeonggungju Jang Taecheon, rolled their eyes and groaned before dying. They would die within three breaths at most. Those who avoided the Umochims by a hair's breadth, or rather, those who were missed by the Umochims, felt a mixture of shock and relief. Is this how it feels to have death sweep away your neck?

"This is crazy."

"Is this reality right now…?"

"… How many people were affected by one move?"

"Hey, he's throwing something again. Watch out!"

Naturally, he didn't just carry around a bundle of umokchi. Since umokchi were extremely useful and small in volume and weight, he always carried three or four bundles in his bosom.

'Fall'

Once again, the rain of Umochim fell to the ground, and as expected, dozens of Sapha warriors died in vain. The eyes of the survivors slowly began to fill with fear. It was only natural that more than half of their strength was lost in just two moves.

It was an unbelievable, ignorant, and terrifying poison. People would die just from being lightly stabbed.

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Those who were relatively farther back hesitated to approach, and those in the front, thinking that it was a do or die situation, swung their weapons and approached Dang-myeong. It was common sense that the throwing technique would not be effective if they got too close.

The obvious answer was to use the smoke wheel to collect the scattered feathers, whether they approached or not. There were also a few who were unluckily knocked down by the feathers that were returning.

"Die, you bastard!"

The first one to reach out to Dang-myung-myeong was a weapon that resembled a Bangcheonhwa-geuk, and it had a bluish spear energy in it.

For a Sapa slacker, he has quite a pure spirit - Thinking that way, Dang-myeong grabbed the blade. The eyes of the Sapa slacker wielding the Bangcheonhwageuk were filled with doubt. You're going to catch this with your bare hands…?

There is a skill called empty-handed white sword entry.

It refers to the technique of catching the blade of an opponent's weapon with one's bare hands as he swings it with all his might. It was a skill that required not only outstanding skill in the technique but also overwhelming superiority in physical strength through internal energy over the opponent.

Masters who have reached the realm of the art sometimes perform a public offering with just two fingers. This is a means to show off their own skills or to make their opponents feel the gap in skill.

However, this was only possible in the case of ordinary weapons.

The moment a blade is covered with a black or ceramic ware, the story changes completely. Even if it is not a sharp blade, it still has a certain degree of sharpness. Even a simple brush will cut your skin. The very idea of catching something like that with your bare hands is absurd.

If you protect your fingers with hand energy, it might be different.

However, there was no sign of anything on the fingers of Dang-myeong, who was currently holding the blade of the Bangcheonhwa-geuk surrounded by the window. If he had raised the water, it would have inevitably been accompanied by some kind of halo or faint energy.

'You cheeky bastard. Your arrogance is costing you your life.'

Since the public import white man was a skill that was only used against lowly people, the Sapa warrior felt humiliated but also secretly delighted. I will cut off your fingers and pierce a hole in your neck!

And so, a fleeting moment passes by.

It was when Dang-myung-myeong's hand touched the day of Bang-cheon-hwa-geuk.

Kwajik!

"?!"

Sapha Muin looked bewildered by the completely unexpected result. What happened now…?

The sharp energy that could cut through metal was not even able to cut through the skin of the fingers, and was not even able to scratch the skin…!

The captured Bangcheonhwageuk could not advance any further.

Of course, this was possible thanks to the protective energy Yongrin that surrounded Dang-myeong's entire body. Originally, the deep green light that was emanating faintly was under Dang-myeong's control, so it only appeared to be naked, but in reality, it was as good as wearing a peerless armor that could even block Dang-myeong's energy.

Even if it was a spear and a lance, it would be difficult to do anything to the hand of the dragon-clad man, so it was impossible for something like a spear to inflict any wounds.

In an instant, the energy that had been protecting the blade of the Bangcheonhwageuk disappeared, and Dangyeonmyeong poured his true energy containing the secret of destruction into it.

Damn it!

Starting from the part where Deungmyung had his fingers, dozens of cracks spread across the blade and it shattered. It was like a porcelain vessel breaking apart.

Sapa Muin's eyes were filled with surprise. Simply breaking a blade was something that anyone who had mastered the art of qigong could do. However, it didn't seem like he had much strength, but the fact that he was able to break an iron weapon into small pieces meant that he had to use a high level of internal energy.

How did a guy who doesn't even look like he's been tested get to this point?

But surprisingly, surprisingly, the attack could not be stopped. The Sapha warrior quickly swung his fist while holding the Bangcheonhwageuk. Not only that, but the other warriors also quickly approached while holding their weapons.

Even in the midst of all that.

Dang-myung didn't pay any attention to those who were rushing in. He just reached out to the falling pieces of iron. What was he trying to do?

Those watching, especially the Gongdongpa Hyeonso, recognized that Dangdangmyeong was in a life-or-death crisis.

"Sogaju…!"

The moment Hyunso was about to run away in a hurry, saying, "It's dangerous."

Phew! Phew!

A strong air current suddenly appeared. It was from the palm of Dang-myung's hand. The hem of his outstretched arm was curled up to his elbow, and even his hair swung around as if he was facing the strong wind head-on. It was a whirlwind of such strong energy.

'Turn around.'

The name of the spell was to release energy waves that contained the secrets of scattering and breaking in all directions through the long-sighted spirit. However, he limited the area to a certain extent and made it swirl only within that area. The energy wave whirlwind that was created in this way was not large, but it was very strong. It was enough to instantly stop the falling pieces of iron.

The pieces of iron, broken into small pieces and sharpened and light, soon caught the new air current. Each one spun and accelerated in an unpredictable direction.

Another secret technique created by Sogaju Dangmyeong - the Iron Pyunpyo has finally been revealed to the world. Of course, this is not the first time that the Iron Pyunpyo has been cast, but all those who have seen the Iron Pyunpyo before have already become the ghosts of the common mountain. It would be safe to say that this is the first time that it has been properly revealed.

"What is this wind pressure…!"

"I created a whirlwind with my energy. The use of my internal energy is extremely difficult!"

"But that memorization technique, doesn't it seem familiar? A whirlwind of memorization… ."

"Are you trying to say Mancheonhwawoo?"

Those who approached gasped in surprise, and those who watched commented, pouring out all sorts of speculations in one breath.

Yu Myeong-myeong simply raised his hand. The iron whirlwind also followed Yu Myeong-myeong's long arm.

The moment when the Sapha warriors who had been swinging the iron sword and the Bangcheonhwageuk overlapped.

Ps ...

In an instant, the hem of his clothes were torn, and blood spurted out from his skin. It didn't take long for the Sapha unmanned form trapped inside the iron plate to turn into a red piece of rag. In just one breath—and the other unmanned form that happened to be in a straight line with him also quickly became similarly emaciated. The two of them died before they could even scream properly. Judging by the fountains of blood gushing from all over their bodies, it was probably due to excessive bleeding.

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Dang-myeong didn't stop there and swung his reddened iron sword at those who approached him. Those who knew how to put a sword on their weapons at best were unable to block the iron sword. Their level was too low to block all the sharp pieces of iron that were poking at them from all sides. Those who resisted by striking with their swords several times soon died, spitting out blood and screaming.

Among those who were a little far away, there were those who turned around and tried to escape by performing light moves, but before they knew it, the back of their necks were dangling with needles stuck in them. Since they were thrown in a way that could be seen through the Anbeop Shiryuan, it was a sure hit.

It was a blink of an eye. Everyone who was within striking distance was killed.

"… It looks like a wolf. It looks like it's swarming a flock of sheep."

"I didn't know there was such a talented person in our family…."

"I heard what the Taoist said earlier. He clearly called himself Sogaju. So is that young man the new small-time owner of the famous Tang family…?"

"It seems like I've witnessed the true face of Tangga's secret martial arts. It's a skill specialized in mass murder…!"

"It's a cruel and uncivilized act. The word slaughter naturally comes to mind."

The saints and commoners who were watching let out their breaths and murmured their impressions. It wasn't just the commoners who had not learned martial arts. Some had tried to enter the Daebangpa while working as military officers in their youth, and others had learned simple techniques in preparation for this kind of spectacle.

Those with a keen eye for the law and a gift for the gab were called "hosaga" (好事家), and they would appropriately dramatize what they saw and spread it among the public. This is how the rumors of the martial arts world were created. The nicknames of famous martial artists were often born in this process.

Suddenly someone said.

"At this point, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a dark poisonous dragon."

****

"That's incredible. Four hundred. I didn't know that poison and poison were so scary."

Hyunso said.

The annihilation of nearly two hundred Sapha warriors was nothing short of instantaneous. Tangga's Sogaju, Dangga's Sogaju, approached the enemies with a red whirlwind in his hand and waved his hand here and there. It was a light movement like swatting flies, but the results were anything but light. With each wave of his hand, several bloody corpses appeared. Occasionally, he would throw a needle, and after a few repetitions, there was no one left standing.

Hundreds of people were annihilated against just one person.

Tae-heo muttered, not taking his eyes off Dang-myeong, who was walking back with a limp after retrieving the U-mo-chim using an unknown method.

"I am the author."

"yes?"

"The bodies in the communal area. Didn't you say that it was the work of just one person?" "Ah…!"

Hyunso recalled what had happened only after hearing Taeheo's words. Now that he thought about it, the bodies that had been hit by the Umochim were not much different from what he had seen at Gongdongsan. At the time, no matter how much he had used secret weapons and poison, he thought it was impossible to fight three hundred people alone, but after seeing it for himself, he couldn't help but believe it. It was even more so when he saw the expression on Dangmyeong's face, who seemed to be at ease even after annihilating nearly two hundred people. At the same time, he had a question. Did secret weapons and unlearning consume less internal energy?

'Anyway, Sa Baek was right. The Tang family is worth embracing.'

Although there was an unfortunate incident where Taeheo was injured when he met Yu Giljun of the Black Lotus, the power of the poison and secret martial arts of the Tang family that he saw firsthand was truly great. Of course, there aren't many martial artists as good as Sogaju's Dangsangmyeong, but it's not like there aren't any. Surely, a young man who looks close to his prime isn't the best martial artist in the family.

Hyunso spoke while guessing like that. Before he knew it, Dangsangmyeong was right in front of his nose.

"You are truly amazing, Sogaju. At your age, you are so incompetent…."

"It's nothing special. It's possible because most of them are just low-level thugs with no name."

"You are too humble. Even our Lord Sa-baek could not help but be impressed."

"hmm."

Tae-heo let out a low sigh. Hyun-so found Sa-baek a little strange. Originally, Sa-baek, Tae-heo, was the type who didn't tend to do whatever he wanted. But looking at Tae-heo now, it seemed like he was having a hard time dealing with the Dangga Sogaju. Now that I think about it, Tae-heo didn't seem to have ever spoken directly to Yu-myeong. If it was him as usual, he would have casually called him "this guy" and "that guy" to young men of that age.

one side.

As Hyunso had guessed, Taeheo felt an inexplicable discomfort when looking at Dangsangmyeong. Of course, there was a reason.

'… That's strange.'

His sense of humor, which had reached Hwagyeong, was telling. The realm of naturalism was far below his. Considering his age, he seemed to have achieved quite a lot, but that was all. He may have possessed amazing memorization and ignorance, but that was only in the realm of skills. The achievement itself must not have been deep.

But why is that?

The eyes of Deungmyungmyeong - As I met the eyes with a faint green tint, which was a characteristic of the trained Naegigong, I felt a certain creepiness. It was a nerve-racking feeling, as if I was dealing with a much stronger person.

So I didn't speak informally to him rashly.

Tae-heo, who was thinking back on when he had felt this sensation before, was soon able to recall a man. It was the man he had met not long ago.

Heuksaryeonju Yu Giljun.

As soon as he thought about it, Tae-heo shook his head internally. No, that doesn't make sense.

Putting a young man who doesn't even look like he's fit for the job and the absolute ruler of Sacheon on the same level.

This is nonsense.

'… It seems like you've become a bit oversensitive due to your injury.'

In that way, Tae-Heo denied the single ray of doubt and buried it in his heart.

That's strange.'

On the way back to his family home with the two Taoist priests of the Gongdongpa faction, Shikshin Cheonggyeong thought to himself.

'It's clear that the level of ignorance in memorizing the iron plate was quite high… .'

The two secret techniques that Dangsangmyeong displayed while dealing with the Sapa warriors were clearly powerful. In particular, the technique of scattering the Umochim, a small needle secret technique, high into the sky and making it fall like a shower. The Umochim-woo's lethality will be determined by the power of the poison, so it will be very useful to Dangsangmyeong, who has the poisonous Jingodok as his food spirit.

Likewise, the secret martial arts called the Iron Pyunhyo seemed to be undefendable for those below a certain level. At the very least, one would need to possess a technique that allowed them to move faster than Dang-myung could swing his hands to evade them.

But does that mean that you can just look at the iron plate and say, "Mancheonhwawoo"?

It was a hearing where a few civilians and Sapa warriors could be heard muttering.

It was ridiculous.

Mancheonhwawoo was the secret technique of the Muyeonggaek who made him a true idiot in the past. It was a technique created by a being who had reached the realm of beings who were born as assassins and possessed all kinds of secret techniques, by extracting the essence of those secret techniques.

Of course, he was a strong and uneducated man, and even if he was a master who had reached the level of Hwagyeong, he would just die after being stabbed all over his body when facing Mancheonhwawoo. As far as Cheonggyeong knew, there was no one stronger than Muyeonggaek. He had never seen anyone he wanted to kill but couldn't.

However, the world did not know the true nature of Muyeonggaek. He was only known as the first head of the Sacheondang family and a considerably strong man.

Muyeonggaek hid his true abilities and did external activities. So that no one would be wary of him. The method of closing the veins to complete the Yongrin self-defense technique made it possible.

Then, he 'secretly' went about eliminating those who were harmful to humanity. Sometimes, he would use the form of a sword to kill the strong who had reached the state of Hwagyeong, and sometimes, he would kill the powerful and evil spirits with his radiance. His opponents were not limited to humans.

Heung-gyeong knew because he was present at the scene of the murder. Naturally, the existence of Mancheonhwa-woo should have been a secret that only a few people knew about. But it came out of the mouths of mere commoners and Sapa thugs…? And to confuse it with something like 'the iron plate'?

There was definitely something off.

'... Could it be that the descendants of that bastard Muyeonggaek were not able to properly perform the Mancheonhwawoo? If they had been able to use the Mancheonhwawoo with proper power, such a thing would not have come up.'

Hearing had been sealed for a long time, so he couldn't properly grasp the situation because he had been released, but he had judged that Dang-myeong had properly continued the progress of Mu-yeong-gaek. Not only had he properly mastered the poison-eating spirit, the Dok-yo-cheong-gwang-gi, but he had also completed half of the preparatory process for completing the self-defense technique, Yong-rin, so it was natural to think so.

Also, Dang Ji-hye, the mother of the deceased and the current head of the family, has also reached Hwagyeong, so it is assumed that the family fortune of the Dang family will remain strong.

But the more I looked into it, the more strange the situation became. Thinking back, it was strange that a bunch of Sapa thugs had the courage to come all the way to the front yard of the Dang family. It wasn't that I wanted to melt into a handful of poison.

'The current state of affairs in the Tang Dynasty is worse than that of Muyeonggaek's lifetime... Does that make sense?'

Hearing reached his own conclusion, but it was still strange. It was not common for a person with a Hwagyeong skill to be unmanned, whether in the past or present. Especially in the case of Dangmyeong, considering his age, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he had achieved remarkable things. In this way, there are two Hwagyeong masters in one family, but their prestige is not high?

'Come to think of it.'

Heung-gyeong recalled what Dang-myeong had said a few days ago. He had said that he wanted to live an ordinary life this time.

I thought that perhaps the world might not know the power of the Tang family.

'… or perhaps the Tang family's power has become particularly strong in this generation.'

As not a short period of time has passed, there could have been many possibilities.

There is also a saying, "Flowers don't bloom for ten days."

If hundreds of years had passed, even if it was a Tang family, it would have experienced many ups and downs, so the progress of Muyeonggaek may not have been completely conveyed. Unlike Dokyocheong Gwangsimbeop or Hosin Ganggi Yongrin, Mancheonhwawoo may have been lost to time.

'If that's the case, then this could be an opportunity…!'

Heung-gyeong laughed inwardly.

Because he had spent a long time with the Muyeonggaek as a true dharma master, he had encountered the complete secrets of Mancheonhwawoo several times. And his memory, which was like a stray dog, was incomparable to that of a human. He remembered the entire secrets clearly, without missing a single word.

If you can use the strongest secret technique of Sacheondangga, Muhak, and Mancheonhwawoo as collateral, you can be promised freedom. Maybe you can escape from the fate of a food god.

'... Wait a minute. Is that guest Muyeonggaek after this?'

Heung-gyeong suddenly had an unpleasant thought. Was it possible that the guest of the house had sealed away all of his memories, keeping in mind that his progress would not be properly continued in the future?

I foresaw that if the poison request madness continued properly, I would be able to control my hearing.

'… That can't be happening.'

Pushing aside the awkwardness, Cheonggyeong continued his thoughts.

There seemed no need to reveal that he knew the secret of the Mancheonhwawoo. For now, he was going to wait until Dang-Yang-Myeong desperately wanted a powerful force.

Judging from the fact that he annihilated hundreds of Sapa's unmanned forces at once, it seemed like he was trying to bring about some change. I don't know why he, who wanted to live an ordinary life, came forward, but it wasn't a bad thing for the hearing. If the party was caught up in this kind of conflict, it was certain that something difficult for Dang-myeong would face.

Since ancient times, there have been as many eccentric people in the world as grains of sand.

Just look at what happened to the Taoist monk who reached Hwagyeong. He was attacked by someone called Heuksa-ryeon-ju.

Heung-gyeong knew that Mu-yeong-gaek had personally confronted many Hwa-gyeong masters. Even if they reached Hwa-gyeong, there was a considerable gap between them. Those looking up from the bottom would all see the sky of Hwa-gyeong as the same, but when they actually reached that sky, there was a higher sky—Cheon-oe-cheon (天外天).

When Deungmyung is in despair, if you offer him the complete secret of Mancheonhwawoo, will he be able to refuse it?

'It's going to get fun from here on out.'

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Longing for the day when he would be free, the hearing was content on its own.

****

"Hello, Lord Soga. Who are these people…?"

As I entered the Tang family home and reached the outer garden, there was someone who greeted me politely.

The leader of the Ho-won-daeju Dang Gye-jung￣ He was originally the leader of the Par-ryong-dae, a military unit directly under the third elder, Dang Seok-hyeong. Yu Myeong-myeong combined the Par-ryong-dae and the Jun-ryong-dae directly under the elder, and named it the Ho-won-dae, and had them guard the outer garden. There were opinions within the family that it was a waste of energy, considering that it was a trivial task compared to the military power they possessed, but Yu Myeong-myeong's thoughts were firm. In his opinion, it was a worthless military unit that would be suitable for guarding the gate.

Anyway, it seemed like it was his turn to stand.

"We are guests from the main house who came from the community."

Dang-myeong glanced at Dang-gye-jung and said.

"There was some friction with the Sapa gangsters who were looking down on the saints a little while ago. Let's strengthen our defenses a little more. Place security personnel around the house. If you see any suspicious people, let us know immediately."

"I obey your orders."

Although he was curious about the circumstances, Dang Gye-jung did not ask any more questions and simply stepped down. This was because he knew very well that he was in an unsound position. In order to gain Sogaju Dang-myeong's trust, all he could do was to fulfill his assigned duties. To faithfully carry out the orders that were given.

Hyunso's eyes lit up as he watched that sight. The hierarchy seemed to be more established than he had thought. The system of obeying orders from above was properly established. The thought of a prestigious military family came to him naturally.

After the group entered the outer garden.

"Then, I will now take my leave. Sogaju. I hope the two Taoist priests also take good care of themselves."

The party leader left to take care of business with a brief greeting, and Hyunso and Taeheo were guided straight to the reception hall. Originally, they had to go through a simple process of verifying their identity, but since the person accompanying them was the head of the household, even that process was omitted.

"You can just wait here."

"Thank you, Sogaju."

"Thank you."

Hyunso and Taeheo expressed their gratitude politely. Taeheo was now acting as a counter-communist to Dangsangmyeong. He couldn't speak to Dangsangmyeong in an informal tone because it felt so awkward. The others didn't think it was that strange. It seemed that Taeheo was treating Dangsangmyeong to some extent because he was the head of a small household. Only Hyunso, who knew Dangsangmyeong's temperament well, tilted his head in confusion.

Soon, Sibi came in and placed teacups in front of Tae-heo and Hyeon-so.

Dang-Myeong said as he felt the gentle scent of tea spread throughout the room.

"Then I will tell the Lord about your visit."

"Oh, please pass this on to me as well. It's a letter from the head of the clan, Sogaju."

"Okay, I understand. Rest well."

After accepting the letter that Hyunso handed him, Dang Yuanming left the reception room. Dang Wonjin also bowed his head slightly and followed him.

widely.

After the door closed, Hyunso spoke in a low voice.

"It's unexpected in many ways. Four hundred."

"I see."

"Did you see that earlier? A warrior guarding the outer garden has such great skills. He was a skilled warrior who could be considered an elite member of any given faction."

"It wasn't just the silk merchant, but most of the people standing guard were like that."

The two of them were completely misunderstanding the situation of the escort force because they did not know about it. They thought that the party had enough money to devote that much power to the escort of the foreign yuan.

"Also, this guy named Dang Won-jin from the Bongwidae clan was no slouch. He seemed to be of a similar level to me. After talking to him for a bit, I learned that the Bongwidae is the escort force of the Sogaju clan. And the number of warriors in the Bongwidae clan is said to be around eighty. If all of them have the same level of martial arts as the man named Dang Won-jin… ."

"That in itself would be a considerable force."

"Yes. Even though he is a minor, it is surprising that such power was given to a young man who does not look even young. It seems that the power of the Tang family is much stronger than I thought."

But the most surprising thing is the owner himself, Hyunso added.

"Looking back, I can't believe it. He single-handedly killed nearly two hundred people. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed it. I didn't know that the combination of well-learned memorization and poison could be this powerful… There's no such thing as one against a hundred."

"Yes. It was even more impressive than I thought. Even when dealing with that many people, they didn't lose their breath at all. I thought several times that it would be a useful force in a large-scale wave defense battle. Not only would it kill the enemy, but it would also be able to greatly reduce the innocent casualties of our own troops."

"… But Sa-baek. Why on earth did So-ga-ju kill all the Sapa warriors? It seemed like he could have chased them away, but he killed them all anyway… Could it be that he's trying to make a stand against Heuk-sa-ryeon?"

"I guess we'll have to meet the head of the household to find out. It could be that he's trying to reveal the strength he's accumulated while crouching down…"

Tae-heo briefly recalled his fight with Yu Gil-jun, the Black Lotus Master. They say he was born with the qualities of a great master, but Yu Gil-jun was a monster beyond imagination. In just a few attacks, didn't he steal the essence of hundreds of years of martial arts from the Gongdongpa? He even dared to give himself the arrogant name of Bokjeonggong. From Tae-heo's perspective, that was more painful than his internal injuries.

To stand against the Black Lotus is to be hostile to such beings.

Tae-Heo was skeptical.

It was clear that the Tang family's Sogaju's Mandangmyeong had surprising potential. Tang family's power also seemed stronger than expected. However, it didn't seem like it could do anything to Heuksa-ryeonju. Then, wouldn't it eventually lead to destruction?

'You never know. If there's a master of Hwagyeong in the Tang family...'

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Tae-heo suddenly had that thought and let out a hollow laugh. That couldn't be happening, right?

Even in the Gongdong faction, which is one of the major factions at the moment, there is no one other than Taeheo himself who has reached the level of Hwagyeong. If there had been a master of that level in the Tang family, it would have been called Sega again.

Tae-Heo's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching people.

Someone who had just arrived in front of the reception room spoke.

"I am Dang Gyu-Hyeon, the head of the Tang family. The head of the family has ordered us to invite you two to the family hall."

The office of the head of the dark room.

A woman wrapped in a blue robe reads the letter at a glance. Perhaps to emphasize her dignity, her clothes were not particularly flashy, but they could not hide the woman's exceptional beauty.

Sacheondanggaju Dokbong Dang Jihye⎯ Her eyes soon reached the end of the letter. There was nothing important in the letter. It was just a formal greeting and a request that the two people who were taking this letter would treat each other appropriately, as their intentions were no different from their common intentions.

It wasn't even addressed to the head of the household. It was written as 'A letter from the head of the household'. This was natural, since Dang Ji-hye had only recently taken the position of head of the household. Before that, the position was vacant. Originally, it was a letter that should have been sent to the elders' house.

Dang Ji-hye's eyes flashed with intelligence. There was no way that a letter from the head of the Daebang faction, the leader of the Gongdong faction, could be without any intention. The fact that it did not contain any specific content must have some meaning in itself.

'I guess he intended to see the main house with his own eyes and judge it.'

Dang Ji-hye was once the successor of a large family that was called Sega. It wasn't hard to guess this much. In addition, according to Dang Yuanming, one of the two Taoists he brought had reached Hwagyeong.

There aren't many strong people in the entire martial arts world who have reached the level of Hwagyeong. There were only one or two in Daebangpa or Sega. So there was a high chance that he would be one of the top masters in Gongdongpa.

He sent such a person as an envoy to Dangga, located in the center of Sacheon, which is no different from Sadocheon. Although there was nothing written in the letter, he must have brought something important.

"Yeonmyeong-ah. What do you think?"

Since it was a private gathering of only the two of them, Dang Ji-hye called her son and asked his opinion. Although she was the current head of the household, Dang Yuanming would eventually rise to the position of the head of the household. Even if she handled the miscellaneous matters within the household, she wanted to respect Dang Yuanming's thoughts on getting involved with other factions.

Sogaju Dangmyeong opened his mouth.

"I understand that the main family once contacted the Gongdongpa for a competition for the ownership of Sogaju. They wanted to obtain a corner of the Gongdongsan Mountain."

"That's right. Looking at the flow of funds executed by the General Office, there was evidence that a considerable amount of money flowed into the Gongdong faction, although not as much as the Jegal family."

"There wasn't much talk back then, but now you've contacted your parents, right? So, something that didn't exist back then has come up now. In just a few years."

"It looks like there's something wrong."

"You probably know that I was ambushed by the Sapa gang, including the Taeeulmukgeompa, at Gongdongsan. After killing them all, I left right away, fearing that I would get involved in something unnecessary."

At that time, Yuan Ming had left the place early to hide his inaction that had reached the state of Hwagyeong. If he happened to encounter another Hwagyeong martial artist, his realm could be revealed. He didn't know if there was a Hwagyeong master in the Gongdong faction, but since Daebang faction was a member of the Yukpa faction, he judged that there was a high possibility.

Dang-myung continued to speak.

"Perhaps, the Taoist priest Tae-Heo, one of the two who came this time, must have seen the traces I left behind. A person of that caliber would have been able to guess my inaction to some extent just from the scars on my body, and he must have planned to visit my family home to confirm it for himself. In terms of timing, it seems that he left Gongdongsan only a few days after the competition ended. It must have taken a few days for the Gongdongpa to go through their own departure procedures… ."

"It feels like you moved a little too hastily. I don't know what happened though."

"If there is something that requires force in the current joint faction, it will be enough reason to hurry."

"It's something that requires force… Are you thinking of a wave defense war?"

"Yes, Mother. If not, there would be no reason for him to show such great interest in his family. He moved after finding traces of a secret weapon capable of killing a large number of people alone. My guess is probably right. He will request your cooperation."

"The Gongdongpa is a big sect. The old sect… no, it's now the six sects. In any case, even if they fight a big sect war, it's extremely unlikely they'll reach out to other places. They're also a Taoist sect after all. Unless they're fighting the Cheonma Sect…"

"If you're talking about the Heavenly Demon Sect, are you talking about the Demon Sect?"

Dang-myung felt his curiosity rising. In his previous life, when he was swinging his sword like crazy in the mountains, he had vaguely known about the Demonic Cult. His master, the Sword Ghost, had occasionally told him stories about the martial arts world. It had appeared quite often, and he said it was a group that worshipped strength itself.

It is a place where the logic of survival of the fittest applies.

And the one at the peak of that strength is said to be the Demon Lord.

How strong would such a being be?

Indeed, will he be able to take the sword that he has set his mind to?

Dang Ji-hye nodded and said.

"That's right. It's a place where no single force can compete with any other faction in the martial arts world. I understand that its power has declined compared to before. A considerable amount of its power has left and gone over to Magwangcheon."

"… That's definitely true. I heard that the key figures that make up Magwangcheon were all followers of Magwangcheonju, the leader of the Demonic Cult."

Dang-myung's eyes lit up with a dreary light.

Magwangcheonju Yeonjunghyuk.

He is a genius of a rare caliber, comparable to Yu Gil-jun of Heuksalyeonju, and the main culprit behind the downfall of the Tang family. He was known to have a strange temperament, and it was said that because of that, he only targeted the daughters of famous military families. He was said to be a scoundrel who made marriage proposals without any reason.

If a family refused the offer, they would suffer a blow equivalent to destruction, and if they accepted, they would marry the other person, spend the first night with them, then abandon them as if they had nothing more to do and never come back.

It didn't take long for Tang Family's Jinju Okyeop⎯ Dokbong Tang Zhihui, one of the five great clans at the time and the best in Sacheon, to become Yan Zhonghyeok's target. Since Tang Zhihui had a fiancé, Tang Family naturally refused the marriage, and Yan Zhonghyeok's followers, believing that this damaged the authority of Magwangcheonju, rose up in revolt. When they invaded Tang Family in large numbers, a bloody battle broke out, but ironically, because of the presence of Heuksayeon, Yan Zhonghyeok, the Magwangcheonju, did not step forward. After all, Sicheon was the territory of Heuksayeon. He was worried that it could escalate into an all-out war between Heuksayeon and Magwangcheon. Thanks to this, Tang Family was able to avoid destruction.

'I guess I'll have to take care of Magwangcheon someday.'

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Dang-myeong muttered to himself. He wanted to live as normally as possible, but that didn't mean he wanted to keep alive the man who had made his mother suffer for so many years.

Grace doubles, resentment tenfold…!

In order to practice the Dangga family rules, wouldn't it be necessary to eliminate not only the Magwangcheonju Yeon Joonghyeok, but also Magwangcheon himself? No, to properly avenge the grudge, it would be necessary to eradicate the root of the bastard, the Demonic Cult.

Tang Zhihui said, whether she knew this obvious idea or not.

"Anyway, have the guests come over here. It would be rude to keep them waiting too long. I heard that you are also in mourning. From what I heard from the head of the royal guard, I guess the distribution is quite high. I think it would be right to send the general."

****

The Dark Poison King, Sichuan No. 1

It was when I glanced at the bold handwriting on the signboard and stepped inside the pavilion.

'… What kind of energy.'

Hyunso's face hardened at the sudden pressure he felt. It was because he felt an enormous presence on his skin. It meant that a master of a level that was difficult to approach was nearby.

"Four hundred."

"…I know."

Tae-heo also looked very surprised. Although he had thought that Dang-ga's power might exceed his expectations after seeing So-ga-ju's official name, this was truly unexpected.

'It's a flower.'

Even if others didn't know, Tae-Heo could clearly gauge his opponent's level. Because they had reached the same level of skill. The opponent's accomplishments that he could feel through his senses were very clear.

It's like an onion⎯ Tae-heo muttered without realizing it. It's not that it wasn't true, the more you dig into Dangga, the more surprising things keep popping up. Who would have thought that there would even be a master of Hwagyeong?

Tae-heo and Hyun-so heard a few stories from General Dang Gyu-hyeon while they were on their way. That Dang-myeong won the competition for Sogaju held at Gongdongsan and was officially crowned Sogaju not long ago, and that his mother was appointed as the head of the household.

That's why I guessed that the female head of the household who was currently in charge of the household would not be that great. It was simply because the head of the household was young, and she was only filling the position in name.

There were some parts that were a bit suspicious. I know that the old party was definitely controlled by the elders, but now that I look at it, it seems that the authority of the head of the family was not completely in name. In the meantime, did the elders of the party die of old age?

"The Lord is inside. Please eat."

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Party General."

"Thank you."

After a brief greeting to Dang Gyu-hyeon, Hyun-so and Tae-heo entered Dang Ga-ju's office. The more they walked, the more their powerful presence grew.

"Are you here?"

Dang-myung immediately approached the two and spoke to them. He added that he was sorry for making someone who was not feeling well walk. He was referring to Tae-heo's internal injuries.

"Greetings. This is my mother and the head of the family."

It was when Hyunso and Taeheo turned their heads following Dangsangmyeong's gesture.

A beautiful woman, perhaps thirty years old, wearing a floor-length blue robe, clasped her hands together and opened her mouth.

"I am so happy to meet you two great Taoist priests. I am Dang Ji-hye, the head of the Dang family."

"…!"

Hyunso and Taeheo looked very surprised. It wasn't just because the woman who called herself Danggaju had a beautiful appearance or because she looked young enough to be believed to be the sibling of Sogaju Dangmyeong.

The astonishment of the two was due to the fact that the surprisingly enormous presence was coming from her.

In particular, Tae-heo's surprise was considerable. Even if the Wu-wei that had reached the state of Hwa-gyeong was like that, the internal energy that he felt from Dang Zhi-hye was much more profound. Gi-gam said that it was clear that she had been honing her immense internal energy for a long time. However, Dang Zhi-hye's face looked like she was only about thirty years old. Even if she had considered the half-life of the old man, she could not have breathed for more than half a century.

Looking at the smooth back of her hand, it seemed that she had not learned the art of making her face look younger.

So, did you ingest the spirit of some legendary creature?

Hyunso was the first to come to his senses. He clasped his hands together in a hurry and spoke.

"Excuse me. The common area is welcoming the party leader…!"

"… My name is Tae-heo. Please forgive my rudeness."

Dang Ji-hye waved her hand at the two's apology and said.

"No. How rude. I, but… using the Crown Prince's belly…? If I'm not mistaken, the current co-chief's name is Taecheong."

"Taechung is my disciple. I took on the troublesome position of Jangmun so that the immoral disciple could focus on his studies."

"Ah. I see. Then you must be older than my father, who is very noble. Please speak comfortably."

I had guessed that Tae-heo's distribution would be the same as that of the Gongmun faction's Jangmun Tae-cheong, but I never thought it would be a death sentence instead of a priest. If Tae-heo didn't have another death sentence, it meant that he was actually the highest elder of the Gongmun faction. It was a little uncomfortable to just listen to the anti-communist group.

However, Tae-heo shook his head at Dang Ji-hye's words.

"How can I treat my master, who leads his family, poorly, even though he is young? How much more so, when his master has reached a state of ruin. The strong deserve respect. This is even more so in these troubled times."

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This time, Hyunso was terrified. Just now. Did you say Hwagyeong…?'

Hyunso widened his eyes as he looked at Sa Baek Tae Heo. The presence of the Dang Ga Ju was no joke, but Hwa Kyung…?

He also knows the name Dang Ji-hye. To be exact, he 'remembered' it. When Hyun-so was still a young man, whenever the late-age scholars of Sacheon and its vicinity gathered, they would talk about Dokbong or Sacheon Jeilmi. Dokbong Dang Ji-hye, the golden-jeweled and first-age scholar of the Tang family, was the object of envy for the youth of that time.

However, such fame turned out to be poisonous. He became the target of Ma Gwang-cheon-ju Yeon Jung-hyeok, who was always doing bad things. As a result, the family fell into ruin. All the best masters of the family died, and the head of the family also became lowly.

The last news Hyun So heard from Dok Bong was that she had stepped down from her position as So Ga Ju. She was responsible for the series of events related to Ma Gwang Cheon. Of course, those who knew knew that this was a plot by the elders to seize power in the Tang family. Hyun So also guessed that it was due to some kind of coercion.

'You had a child.'

For some reason, Hyun So seemed to know why Dang Ji Hye had resigned from her position as So Ga Ju at that time. Wasn't there something she had to protect?

Anyway, it was surprising that Dang Ji-hye, who was completely unexpected, suddenly appeared as the head of the household, but Sa-baek-in Tae-heo's words were even more shocking. He mentioned that she had reached the level of Hwa-gyeong. If I remember correctly, Dang Ji-hye was a few years younger than Hyun-so. But she had already reached such a high level…!

There aren't many masters of Hwagyeong in the world. The exact number is not known, but if you look at the Gongdong who is currently in charge of one of the six factions, only one person, Taeheo, has reached Hwagyeong. And even that is a level that he has reached after seventy lifetimes of hardship.

It was hard to believe, but it was impossible for Tae-Heo, of all people, to have seen it wrong. He had also reached Hwa-Gyeong. Also, the enormous presence that Dang Ji-Hye still exuded was forcing recognition.

'I have a mother like this…'

Hyun-so could finally understand the extraordinary achievements of Dang-myung. How could he win the competition? There must have been a reason why there is no one who is born under a guardian. He must have received a lot of teachings from his mother. In this case, it could be called Ho-mo (虎母).

'… I wouldn't mind being called Sega right now.'

It's not that it wasn't, but considering the level of the Tang family's military power that could be guessed from the level of the warriors guarding the outside world, the level of martial arts that the head of the family, Tang Zhihui, had reached, and the overwhelming memorization and martial arts that the head of the household, Tang Yuanming, had shown, it was strange that it wasn't called a Sega. In fact, it seemed that the family was in better shape than before the fight with Ma Gwangcheon.

The five great martial arts families in the current martial arts world had one thing in common. They each had at least one master who had reached the level of Hwagyeong. In fact, it was the existence of one peerless master who had reached the level of Hwagyeong that had the decisive influence on them being called the great martial arts families. However, now that Hyun-soo looked at it, it seemed that the Tang family was no worse than them. No, if we assume the case of the Bangpa War, wouldn't the Tang family be much better?

'No matter what happens, we must embrace it…!'

Hyun So swallowed dryly and thought. For some reason, the Dang family was hiding overwhelming power. It seemed that the other Dang family members did not know that the Dang family head Dang Ji-hye had entered Hwagyeong. It could be guessed from the fact that he had bitten everyone except for the head of the So family, Yu Myeong-myeong. This could definitely be a powerful weapon. Like a dagger hiding a sharp edge in the darkness, if he just revealed himself at the right time, he might be able to suppress the Black Lotus's movements. The fact that Sa Baek-in Tae-heo mentioned the Dang family head's realm like this must have been to somehow draw them to his side.

At that moment, Hyunso quickly made a decision.

Dang Ji-hye opened her mouth without losing her smile.

"You said it was a time of chaos?"

"Yes. Just look at the Sacheon here. A 'monster' that suddenly appeared has destroyed three of the old factions and completed the Sadocheonha. Of course, since the Tang family is still alive and well, it's not like it's a perfect Sadocheonha. Not only that, but with the Ma Gwangcheon to the east and the Demonic Cult running wild to the west, how could this not be a time of chaos?"

"You are praising your family. By the way, 'monster'… Was Black Lotus Master really that strong? I heard that you encountered him by chance."

Until recently, Hwagyeong had never dreamed of such a thing, but Dang Ji-hye thought it was a bit funny. To ordinary martial artists, Hwagyeong's master Tae-heo was no different from a monster. But if Tae-heo was worthy of being called a 'monster', then just how strong was Yu Gil-jun, the Black Lotus Master?

Tae-Heo frowned slightly, as if recalling that time, and then said.

"… They say he was born with the talent of a great master. That wasn't an empty boast. He took the essence of the martial arts of the original school without even trying it out a few times. Then, he immediately grafted it onto his own martial arts and created a new martial art. It was truly astonishing to see that."

"If it's true… that's incredible. It's not just shallow ignorance, it's communal ignorance… ."

"I hate to admit it, but it's true. And the fact that I'm still alive despite my defeat is entirely thanks to the magnanimity of the Black Lotus Master. He said he was so pleased with the essence of the common martial arts that I took away, and that he would spare my life. That's why I ended up with an internal injury."

Tae-heo calmly poured out surprising facts. This was different from his usual self-respect, because he recognized Dang Ji-hye as a strong person of equal level, and he desperately needed the cooperation of the Dang family. This time, after clashing with Heuk Sa-ryeon-ju Yu Gil-jun, Tae-heo realized that if he made a mistake, the Samun Gong-dong faction could disappear into the back alleys of history like the Cheongseong faction, Ami faction, and Jeomchang faction that were destroyed.

There was also an intention to create a sense of crisis and easily elicit cooperation from the ruling party.

For a moment, a somber atmosphere flowed through the room. Although he spoke calmly, the fact that a high-ranking official of the Jeongpa, who was as high as Taeheo, had been defeated by Heuksa-ryeonju was not a light matter. It implied that the Sixth Sect could become the Five Sect at any time.

It was natural that he broke the silence. He decided that it was time to get to the point.

"I am truly sorry that such an unfortunate incident occurred on your way to visit my hometown. So, I cannot help but ask why you two Taoist priests have come such a long way."

"I will get straight to the point since the Lord Soga has spoken first."

On the public side, Hyunso stepped forward. Taeheo closed his eyes slightly as if he had nothing more to say and stepped back. It seemed as if he was taking care of the internal affairs, or as if he was leaving everything to Hyunso. Maybe it was both.

Hyunso continued speaking.

"The main faction plans to cooperate with Kunlun to attack the Demonic Cult. After Yeonjunghyeok left the Demonic Cult and created Magwangcheon, the Demonic Cult's power has not been the same as before, but it is still an undeniable faction that it is difficult to find a single match. If we send insignificant forces, we will be the ones to suffer. However, we cannot just recklessly send the main faction's elite forces, including Taeheo Sabak."

"You're worried that the Black Lotus will move north."

"Yes. If the elite forces are sent to support Kunlun and are attacked by the Black Lotus, it will be difficult for the main faction to properly defend itself. And since this is a defense battle, I think the martial arts of the Gui family will shine. After all, as the Sogaju has shown, the martial arts of the Tang family are specialized in killing many people."

So, I would like to ask for your cooperation in returning home━Hyeonso concluded her speech like this.

Dang-myung thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

"I guess it will be difficult."

"yes…?"

Hyun-so was flustered. He had never expected that Deung-myeong would reject him right away. Judging from his previous attitude, he seemed friendly…? Although he was still keeping quiet, Tae-heo also seemed to be twitching his eyebrows, which seemed to be bothering him. If it had been normal, he would have burst out in anger, but he was surprisingly patient. It was because he was injured and conscious of Dang-ji-hye who had reached Hwa-gyeong. There was no benefit in getting emotional for no reason.

"Sogaju. It is none other than the task of eradicating Sima's group. Please reconsider. If we fail to stop the demonic cult that is currently spreading, we may cooperate with the western Ma Gwangcheon and this time, a demonic world may unfold…!"

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Hyunso poured out his words urgently. He was desperate. He didn't know about the Tang family's power, but he thought that he had to somehow win them over once he confirmed it. If he could cooperate with the Tang family, he could save tens of innocent lives… no, maybe hundreds.

Hmm━

Dang Myeong-myeong pretended to think a little and opened his mouth.

"As you know, Master, Sacheon is a land where the Black Lotus and its subordinate factions thrive. You could call it the world of Sacheon. But you know, I don't think that's necessarily a problem."

"… What are you talking about? Sogaju."

"Sacheon, where Black Lotus reigns, is quite peaceful. You must have seen quite a few civilians on your way here. What did their expressions look like? They probably didn't look like people who were simply being exploited. The Sado factions extort money from the territory for various reasons, such as protection money, but they never cross the line. That's because they know that if they do, they will be attacked by other factions. They firmly maintain public order within the territory, and they also make efforts to provide relief in times of famine. Their methods, such as threatening those who have accumulated wealth, are not very normal, though."

"… … ."

"Many commoners say that life is better now than when the Six Factions were the old ones. That's only natural. Back then, it's said that those in charge of the territory would change several times a fortnight. They would have collected silver coins every time, so you can imagine how much the commoners suffered. From their perspective, they would have thought that it would be better if either Jeongdo or Sado took the lead. In fact, the commoners' lives are much more affluent now than before, and there are many commoners who worship Heuksa-ryeonju."

"I have no idea what you are trying to say…."

"Let's be honest."

"…yes?"

"Until the Black Lotus faction grew stronger, the community never came forward. Sacheon is not a common territory. Or maybe it was because they were wary of the Black Lotus Lord who destroyed three of the old factions. I don't intend to blame them. It's natural to put the safety of one's own faction first."

But━ After saying this for a long time, Dang-myung continued speaking.

"Now you are asking for my family's cooperation under the pretext of eradicating Sima's followers. You said you would help Kunlun, but I know you have in mind the situation where your lips are cold and your teeth are cold. If Kunlun falls to the Demonic Cult, it is obvious that the next order will be a hollow, so that is why you are so active in this matter. Also, my family advocates righteousness, but that does not mean that we should eliminate the evil factions like Heuksa-ryeon. The pursuit of the martial arts we have acquired is different, but in the end, what is important is people. I think the Demonic Cult is similar." The words of the Sogaju are not ordinary.'

Hyunso felt embarrassed and embarrassed at the same time.

Yu Myeong-myeong mentioned the joint actions of not intervening in the affairs of the Sacheon Black Lotus, and said that he had no intention of blaming them. It was natural to think about the safety of one's own faction. At first glance, it could be seen as a generous statement, but it was not. This was a statement that prevented Hyun So-ga and the joint faction from raising their banners as a political faction any longer.

I couldn't claim to others the flag that wavers depending on the situation. That's why I felt ashamed. Also, it felt like I was hit in the bone when I was told that Kunlun's crisis and our common position were like a sudden blow to the head, so it was hard to properly refute.

'Somehow the owner of the house was just watching quietly.'

Hyun-so thought as he glanced at Dang Ji-hye, the head of the household, who was now completely in the position of an onlooker. Even though he was a small household head, Yu Myeong-myeong was still a young man who seemed to have not yet reached his prime. It was a bit strange to entrust such an important family matter to Yu Myeong-myeong, but now that I look at it, it seems that he had the ability to do so and was trusted with it. No, it was more than just ability, but his wisdom seemed to be worse than that of an eighty-year-old man.

The fact that Jeong and Ma were fighting over territory - they brought the great ideological conflict down to the realm of practicality in one fell swoop. This wasn't just a matter of being resourceful.

I thought it wouldn't be that difficult to win over the Tang family, since he was a lone warrior walking the path in Sacheon, which was teeming with Black Lotus and its Apostle factions, but when I spoke to him directly, it wasn't easy. It was extremely difficult.

In any case, there was no point in further discussing the logic of IE, evil, and demons. The person who had the right to judge the situation of Heuksa-ryeon was Sogaju Dangmyeong.

Hyunso realized that he needed to change his attitude in order to win over the Tang family.

'I told you to be honest.'

What Dang-myeong said a little while ago flashes through my mind. What does it mean?

If you think about it, the attitude he showed towards Hyunso and Taeheo for a short time was definitely friendly. He 'forcefully' killed over a hundred Sapa warriors to save them from danger, and even allowed Taeheo to stay in the family as a guest until his internal injuries had somewhat improved. This was enough to be considered friendly.

Hyunso guessed. It was likely that Dangmyeong would have easily figured out that they had come to ask for help. Even if he didn't know that they were preparing for a fight with the Demonic Cult, there was a high chance that he would have realized that force was needed.

Just by looking at what he was saying, it was easy to see that the owner of the small house, Dangmyeong, was a man of considerable insight. This meant that he was completely different from the other later indices of the Muga or Bangpa, who were often driven by a sense of petty fame.

That person, standing up, showed off his power and guided them to the family home as if he had been waiting. Then he declined the offer. No, to be precise, he said that it would be 'difficult' to accept the request for cooperation. It could be a polite expression of refusal, but Hyun-so felt that it was just a matter of fact that he was unable to provide what the family wanted.

He is not bound by the logic of politics, politics, and evil, and pursues practicality - the person that Hyun-so met in a short time was Dan-myeong. It was a strange thing.

Given his disposition, it wouldn't be strange if he joined the Black Lotus at any time, but somehow I didn't think that would happen. I had a gut feeling that he would continue to be on the side of the Jungdo.

In any case, the tendency to pursue practicality was understandable. Right now, the Tang family was surrounded by the Black Lotus and was in a situation where it was almost like being isolated. Production and consumption were both confined to the territory of Chengdu. This was abnormal. Of course, Chengdu was a large city, but it was not enough for the Tang family, once one of the five powers that ruled the world, to maintain its scale.

'What do you wish for? It must be money.'

Whether it was money or something else, it was fine. Hyunso had been given full authority over this matter by Jangmunin. To be exact, it was the authority given to Sa Baekin Taeheo, but it didn't make much of a difference. Taeheo wasn't very knowledgeable about the internal affairs of the community. He couldn't properly estimate how much he could give to the party.

Of course, Hyunso considered the lives of the four disciples of the Samun clan to be more important than such meager wealth. The secret martial arts of the Confucian scholar, who had single-handedly annihilated nearly two hundred Sapa warriors, flashed before his eyes. If he could elicit the cooperation of the Tang family, he would not mind paying a thousand pieces of gold.

Hyunso, who had organized his thoughts like that, opened his mouth.

"Sogaju. I was thinking short-sightedly. If you need help, it's only natural that you should pay a reasonable price. Since you may have circumstances for your return, I won't ask you to help me without any reason. However, our community is willing to pay a price commensurate with the help you provide. How about discussing that first?"

"Okay, now you're being a little more honest."

Without any hesitation, Dang-myung answered. His expression of delight was evident. Hyun-so was finally able to confirm that he had correctly identified it. The owner of the Tang family did not intend to help the community. He simply wanted to receive a reasonable price.

"Please tell me specifically what areas you would like the main family to cooperate with. Then, the main family will decide how much power to organize. We will discuss the price later."

For a Taoist, you're quite perceptive. Thanks to you, things will be easy—the young man thought, and a pleasant line formed on his lips.

****

The conversation between the common-law party's Hyeonso and the party's Sogaju Dangmyeong ended only after it got dark.

It was because their differences of opinion were not easily narrowed down. As Hyun-so had expected, Deok-myeong demanded money and property in return for military support. However, even for Hyun-so, who was willing to accept most conditions, the amount Deok-myeong demanded was so large that he thought it was a bit excessive.

Because they asked for such a huge sum of money that they could run the joint venture for several years and still have some left over.

'Sogaju. I don't mean to belittle the power of the Guiga, but isn't this too much…! This amount of money is a huge burden even for the main faction. Even if I have been delegated full authority by the chief priest… .'

'I know my family and my power well. I think it is appropriate. But I have told you many times. If you lower the amount, I cannot move it myself.'

'... Honestly, with that amount of money, you could even invite a master of Hwagyeong. The amount is calculated that way just because the head of the household is participating, and not because the head of the household is participating himself.'

What started out as a gentle discussion with laughter quickly escalated into a heated argument.

The issue was whether or not Sogaju Dangmyeong would participate in the battle. Hyunso and Taeheo, who had witnessed Dangmyeong's amazing secret martial arts and Umochimwoo right in front of their eyes, wanted to somehow get him to support them in the battle against the Demonic Cult. Although the other martial artists of the Tang family were also somewhat proficient in secret martial arts and dragon poison techniques, they were even more so after hearing that it was extremely rare for someone to be able to easily kill a large number of people like Dangmyeong.

The characters of the Demonic Cult are generally cruel. Many of them have a tendency to be infinitely weak to the strong, but infinitely strong to the weak. They have no way of letting their enemies live, and they tend to use any means and methods to win. If they can't kill them in one go, they will cling to them until the end, so the fights with the Demonic Cult always result in more damage than expected.

If a master of the secret technique of the level of Dangunmyeong joins, it will definitely be possible to greatly reduce the damage to the allies. It does not even allow approaching, and it sprays poisonous stingers that cause death even if they just brush against it like a shower, so only a very small number of people will be able to get through it.

However, the amount that Dang-myeong demanded in return for his participation in the war was absurdly large.

It wasn't that he wanted to avoid fighting the Demonic Cult. Rather, he was actively helping Gongdong and Kunlun to completely eradicate the Demonic Cult. The Demonic Cult was the hometown of the Demonic Cult's Yeon Junghyuk. Didn't Yeon Junghyuk owe him something because of his mother? And the current Demonic Cult's leader was Yeon Junghyuk's father, and it was a well-known fact that Yeon Junghyuk terribly regarded his father.

The intention was to kill the leader of the Demonic Cult. The leader of the Demonic Cult, who worshipped the strong, was the top figure. The leader of the Demonic Cult was also naturally a strong person who had reached the highest level. That was why he demanded such a large sum of money.

Besides, even though he didn't reveal it, he himself had already reached the level of Hwagyeong. As Hyunso said, shouldn't we consider it an appropriate amount if it's enough to invite a Hwagyeong master?

Dang Yuanming never intended to move for less than the price he had set for himself. Although his mother, Dang Jihye, had reached Hwagyeong, it was only a coincidence due to the internal affairs of Mannyeonhwari. Since her internal power was enormous, she would have an advantage in implementing and maintaining her strength, but in terms of mastery of martial arts, she would definitely be inferior to other Hwagyeong masters. She would not be easily defeated, but it was hard to guarantee that she would be safe if she encountered another Hwagyeong master.

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I have to leave my mother behind. Of course, I won't just leave without taking any action, but I thought that there were definitely some risks that I had to take, so I didn't want to participate unless I got my due. I could put off the work of taking care of the Demonic Cult until later.

No matter what Dang-myung had in mind, it was an amount that Hyun-so could not possibly tolerate. If only he had known Dang-myung's true inaction.

It was fortunate that he was aware that the fire was on his feet and that he was in the wrong position. If not, Hyunso thought that he would have kicked the seat and left several times.

Since neither side changed their minds, the story had to be long.

Still, a conclusion was reached.

'… Okay. To this extent.'

'When you return to Guipa, we will send escort and support troops.'

'I will send you the promised amount right away. Then, what about the measures taken against Heuksa-ryeon?'

What the community ultimately wanted was two things.

In the fight against the Demonic Cult, the Tang family is requested to provide support for an elite force comprised of those with considerable proficiency in the art of secret martial arts and poison techniques, and to suppress the Black Lotus of Sacheon and its direct forces from advancing north.

'I intend to take the initiative myself.'

The official said confidently. Instead of him being removed from the support force, he would definitely block the movements of the Black Lotus and its subordinate forces in Sacheon. The gist was to draw their attention to the Tang family.

'But, is there a way? I know that the Sogaju possesses outstanding martial arts skills, but that doesn't mean that he will attract the attention of the Black Lotus and all of its subordinate forces... .'

Hyunso asked with a somewhat worried expression. If the plan had failed, the clan could have faced the crisis of extinction. So it was necessary to know at least what the plan was.

'There will be a Sacheon branch meeting soon. It is a place where all the Sacheon factions gather to get to know each other, and it is said that the successors of each faction usually attend. This year, an invitation has also arrived at the main house.'

Dang-myung said calmly. But his eyes were shining fiercely.

'I intend to kill all the successors of the Apostle's faction who came there.' In fact, the Sichuan District Meeting is a fairly traditional event.

Since ancient times, Sacheon has been a land where various factions and families of all kinds have been scattered, and even more diverse groups of people have been active. Although there were pillars of major political factions such as Cheongseong and Ami, their influence did not extend to the entire Sacheon, so large and small Sado factions continued to exist on the outskirts.

The Apostolic Sect usually called themselves a neutral sect between the orthodox and the orthodox, but there was a reason why they were classified as an evil way. It was because they completely ignored the banners called righteousness and cooperation, and were only concerned with profit. Naturally, they did not care at all about justification when they were planning something. They invaded the territory of other sects without hesitation and considered it natural to increase their power.

In addition, the weather in Sacheon was hot and humid. The temperament of those living in such a climate was generally warlike, and those who had learned martial arts were even more so, not less. Friction arose over small matters, and it was common for a war of attrition to break out under the pretext of such friction.

The common people were the ones who died in the frequent territorial disputes. They were busy with their livelihoods, and fights broke out every day. There were also those who went against the will of the warriors or were killed by blind swords.

There have been crop failures from time to time, not due to natural disasters such as drought or heavy rain, but due to human intervention.

At first, Cheongseong, Ami, and the families of the secular families, Bangpa and Fami, came forward to try to clean up the Sado forces. However, it was not easy. The Sado forces were like weeds, and when the roots were pulled out, another force would crawl in from somewhere and act as the master of the territory, exploiting the common people.

And even among the Apostolic Faction, there were those with relatively high martial arts skills or those who had mastered difficult martial arts, so there were cases where the Jeongpa side suffered in return. If such bleeding accumulated, the Jeongpa faction could have been pushed into a defensive position.

A means was needed to effectively pressure the Apostolic Factions. It would be icing on the cake if it could make the Apostolic Factions feel more powerful, and if it could also suppress the fighting between the Apostolic Factions to some extent.

The event that was held against such a backdrop was the Sacheon Branch.

The influential families or factions of Sacheon took charge of hosting the Sacheon branch, and those who were invited to attend were the successors of each family and faction. At first, it was held in the form of friendly competitions, such as offering precious elixirs or spiritual items as prizes from the Jeongdo faction.

However, after a few years, the non-competition tournament was no longer held. The reason was simple - people fought however they wanted, even without borrowing the format of the non-competition tournament.

Jeong and Sa.

A group of energetic young people with different values gathered together. Most of them were the ones who were usually supported as successors by their respective factions or families. On the surface, they seemed to be trying to promote friendship, but rather than strengthening friendships, it was only natural that frequent frictions accompanied by murderous intent occurred.

However, all the factions and families that participated in the Sacheonjihoe tacitly tolerated such strife.

Because it was efficient.

Those who were designated as the next great chieftains of Cheongseong and Ami showed overwhelming inaction in the Sacheonjihoe. There were no cases of killing the successors of other factions or families, but there were frequent cases of making them paralyzed. The successors of other apostle factions who witnessed this directly tried not to go against Cheongseong and Ami's feelings. This means that the number of fools who ran wild without knowing anything has decreased significantly.

In addition, direct confrontations between the Apostolic factions have decreased considerably. It has become a natural custom for the Sacheonjihoe to compare their strengths and for the losing side to yield some of its power to the winning side. Each successor is the present and future of their own faction or clan. Although it was a match that they had arbitrarily decided to play, the leaders of each faction and clan have decided to accept the results.

As the number of territorial conflicts and guerrilla wars decreased significantly, the people and the government welcomed it with open arms. The number of people supporting the Sacheon branch gradually increased, and the guerrilla families who hosted the event came to consider it a great honor.

It was extremely rare for the Sacheonjihoe to end quietly. There was a high probability that a sword fight would occur, and those who showed overwhelming skill at that time would gain great fame or nicknames as newcomers. This was because it was an event that attracted so much attention from the world.

There have been various incidents and accidents that have occurred in the Sacheon branch. There was an incident where a fairly outstanding person appeared in the Apostolic Forces and killed a number that was difficult to count with both hands, and there was an incident where a person of low caliber brought along an excessive number of escorts and threatened other participants, only to be assassinated.

As various things happened, the Sacheonjihoe developed its own rules, the most representative of which was the part about participants, their escorts, and attendants.

First of all, the participants had to be the successors of each faction or family, and they had to be under 25 years of age. And they had to limit the number of escorts and servants to one person each, and they had to be people who had not yet reached the age of majority. It didn't matter how many escorts they brought to the place where the Sacheon branch meeting was held, but in the end, only three people, including the participants themselves, could attend the Sacheon branch meeting.

Anyway.

This year, the Tang family was also invited to the Sacheonjihoe. Since Dang-myeong was the successor to the family, that is, he was placed above Soga-ju.

During that time, the party had refused to attend the Sacheon branch meeting because the positions of the head of the household and the head of the small household were vacant.

It wasn't because there was no one to send, but because the Sacheonjihoe held in the land that had become the Apostle World by the Black Lotus was nothing more than a meeting for only the Apostle factions. It was of no practical use to the party. They couldn't show an overwhelming difference in level, and since the other factions were all destroyed, they were greatly outnumbered. It was obvious that they would return after being harassed or ridiculed.

Originally, I had no intention of attending the Sacheonjihoe. I could probably crush those who attended with overwhelming inaction, but it was just a waste of time. I could deal with those Sapha rascals at any time.

However, this joint proposal involved a considerable amount of money. It was a huge amount that could have the entire party idle for a year.

Since the family felt the need to clear out the surrounding factions in order to expand their territory outside of the city anyway, Dang-myeong decided to use the Sacheon Branch. I heard that all the successors of the Nanda and Ginda factions under the Black Lotus are joining the Sacheon Branch. What if we kill them all?

It was no different from wiping out the Sacheon Sapha forces in one fell swoop.

Of course, the Tang family would have to take care of the aftermath, but Dang-myeong was confident. And while the attention of the Sa-pa forces under the Black Lotus was focused on the family, Gong-dong, with the support of the Tang family, could attack the Demonic Cult together with Kun-lun.

That was the plan.

****

"Uncle."

Dang Ji-hyeok, who was once the Dokwang Daeju, greeted the elder Dang Myeong-sin, who was returning from the dark battle, and said:

"Why did you call me, Master? I heard that you also summoned the President and the Five Elders."

"The opportunity has come."

"What kind of opportunity is this…?"

"Shh. Keep your voice down. Someone might be listening. Let's go in and talk."

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"…yes"

Dang Ji-hyeok answered obediently and went into the room with Dang Myeong-sin. He didn't feel anything, but as his uncle Dang Myeong-sin had said, he didn't know what was going on. Especially, those who had thoughts of turning their backs on the family had to be extra careful.

widely

"Now, speak."

Dang Ji-hyeok said, feeling a bit miserable that he had to raise his voice and be careful not to raise his voice too much in a closed space with good soundproofing.

"Guests have arrived at my home. They say he's a member of the Gongdong faction. I haven't seen his face, but I heard a familiar name. Tae-heo… If I remember correctly, he's the current head of the Gongdong faction."

Tang Myeong-shin was the same age as the disciples of the Crown Prince Bae of the Gongdongpa. That is why he could recall what he had heard about Tae-heo in his youth. He had clearly been known as the best talent of the Gongdongpa, but at some point he completely stopped his activities, as if he had been training in a closed facility.

"How could someone of that caliber come all the way to my hometown?"

"You came to request military support. Since the Bangpa War is coming up. My family has decided to provide support to three military units."

"A war between waves? Who would the Gongdong, one of the six waves, fight? And they're reaching out to us… ."

"It's a demonic cult."

"yes…?"

Dang Ji-hyeok asked in surprise. The Demonic Cult? Are you saying that the Heavenly Demonic Cult, the strongest in the martial arts world as a single force, will fight together? And on top of that, it was called a defense war. It wasn't some small-scale local war, but a proper clash with one side's fate at stake…

"Why is the main family involved? What kind of obligation does it have to the community?"

"I heard that they agreed to receive a considerable amount of money in return. Since the council is not yet functioning properly, they must have readily accepted the joint proposal."

"… You said you would support three armed forces. So, could it be…?"

"Yes. My direct health unit, the chief's poisonous sword unit, and the five elders' dark force unit have been dispatched. I don't know when they will depart, but they told me to get ready for now."

"Is this your intention to eliminate us? With the help of the Demonic Cult."

"I didn't feel that way, but I guess that's not a bad thing. The direct military force of me and the other elders would be a burden to the head of the household."

"Don't be so dumbfounded, listen carefully. This is your opportunity."

Dang Myeong-shin emphasized the word 'opportunity'.

"Can't you leave your clan without arousing suspicion? Once you leave Sichuan, everything will be fine. You can go east to Shaanxi through Gansu. You can also go back a little further north."

"…Are you saying that we should run away without supporting the community?"

Dang Ji-hyeok asked with a slightly displeased expression. He didn't feel like fighting the Demonic Cult, but he was running away on the way to support them...? This was a complete disgrace to his family's reputation. No matter how much he intended to turn his back on his family, wasn't this a bit too much?

Dang Myeong-sin reprimanded Dang Ji-hyeok for that.

"You idiot! Come to your senses. Even if we stay at our parents' house, we will suffer humiliation and there will be no glory for us. We should make a cool-headed judgment without being tied down by things like family honor."

"… What my uncle said is correct."

"Prepare to leave at any time. Pack valuables separately, but leave some behind so that people don't think they'll leave forever. Also, tell them to place children with some martial arts skills, including Moonchan, in the health center, and to set a time for those with little martial arts skills to escape. I heard that Sogaju is attending the Sacheonjihoe because of some change in his mind. It'll be easy if you wait for that time."

"All right."

Dang Ji-hyeok bowed his head with a stern face at his uncle's request. Now, they would truly be turning their backs on the family they were born and raised in. For some reason, he felt as if dark clouds were hanging over the future, and he had a bad feeling about this, but Dang Ji-hyeok tried to shake off his anxiety by shaking his head.