Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Chapter 36: A Single Cloud Casts Its Shadow

Murim Alliance Luoyang Branch.

"Deputy Branch Leader. Again, again, again they've arrived."

Deputy Branch Leader Gong Pilsang's face turned pale.

Just when he thought he could finally settle his rear on the chair, an Alliance member reported another arrival.

Black Path members sent by Jin Yeomyeong.

Gong Pilsang hurried outside in confusion.

Past the main gate, he saw a Black Path group lined up in a long row in front of the branch headquarters.

"Which place do they say this is?"

"They say Black Blood Gang."

"Black Blood Gang? Where's that?"

"I don't know. It's not a sect the Alliance has identified."

The reporting Alliance member also swallowed hard.

The number of Black Path members the Ink Sword Hero sent today was tremendous.

They said the Ink Sword Hero personally cut down many Black Path too—just how many Black Path was he slaughtering?

"The Thunder Prison? Is there space?"

"None. For now, we're urgently putting them in remaining buildings."

"Buildings? The doors and windows?"

"We sealed the windows and posted Alliance members at the doors."

"Thank you. However, we're short on stocks and chains to bind them."

"Use from the budget. Don't forget proper acupoint striking either."

Gong Pilsang wiped the sweat from his forehead.

The Alliance member thought while watching such a Deputy Branch Leader.

'When the Ink Sword Hero sent someone this morning, he dismissed it. Thanks to that, aren't we running around frantically?'

The person the Ink Sword Hero sent said there was a Black Path supreme leader called Luoyang's Black Path King.

Gong Pilsang lightly dismissed it.

Saying if such an existence existed, the Alliance would have already identified him.

Of course, the Alliance member had also thought so then.

All the more so because there were no instructions on what to do.

However, not long after, Black Path members defeated by the Ink Sword Hero began being captured and brought in.

First they imprisoned them in Thunder Prison and Gong Pilsang began interrogation.

U-u-uaaak! The Black Path Butcher is chasing us!

A demon wielding a black sword! Sword Demon! The Sword Demon appeared!

They had lost their minds.

Interrogation didn't go well.

The Alliance member watched that scene beside Gong Pilsang.

He couldn't help but tilt his head. He wondered if the Butcher Sword Demon these bastards spoke of was really that Ink Sword Hero he knew. Though he had been different lately, to that extent?

While interrogating the earlier bastards was difficult, other bastards arrived.

Huh? Boss? Why don't you have a head? Ah, the Sword Demon is standing behind.

Hihihihit, hiit, Luoyang cursed land... land where the cursed swordsman lives...

Also lost their minds.

Sword Demon, Cursed Swordsman. It did seem to be the Ink Sword Hero.

These bastards didn't even have time for interrogation.

Because groups who had lost their minds kept surging in afterward.

"Deputy Branch Leader. The interrogation..."

"Stop now. How can we interrogate?"

"Haah. What is the Ink Sword Hero doing? We're about to spend all the branch budget on these bastards."

Gong Pilsang instructed the Alliance member.

"Just wrap it up well and only give the final report."

"What? You should supervise from beside. By what authority would I wrap this up?"

"No. Since I approved it, it's fine. I have important work."

"What important work besides this right now—"

Gong Pilsang entered the Deputy Branch Leader's office, leaving the Alliance member's appeal behind.

How should he report this to Hwangbo Gak again?

Recognizing the Black Path King's existence and taking the initiative to capture Black Path sects.

The Ink Sword Hero alone was doing more work than the entire branch.

"He said he'd rest. He said he'd rest, so why is he ..."

His hand pulled out a document from one section of the bookshelf.

"Did they even properly investigate?"

It was a bundle of documents with personal information on martial artists assigned to the branch.

These days, he couldn't trust these documents.

He pulled out one page.

Rough temperament and not compliant to superiors. If pressure is applied, there's concern he'll push back.]

Below that were several more lines.

[Tends to clash with colleagues due to rough attitude. Exclude as much as possible from missions requiring leadership or cooperation.]

"Well, well. These days he's become the leader of Outer Hall warriors?"

He pulled out another page.

Formidable martial arts. Extremely compliant to the Alliance, obedient to superiors, faithful to missions.]

"Nonsense! Compliant, obedient, faithful? That Jin Yeomyeong bastard?"

He threw a leave application at the Alliance, intimidated superiors, and said he'd do missions as he pleased.

"Now he's become a madman!"

He slammed the document on the floor.

Flutter—one of them slipped out and flew into the air.

He irritably snatched it.

He was about to tear it, but it was Alliance documents. He couldn't treat them carelessly.

It was a document about a swordsman who had now left Luoyang.

"Cloud-Severing Sword Jong Dohak? Was he here before I came?"

He unconsciously scanned the document.

Gong Pilsang's eyes widened.

Formidable martial arts. Though of aloof temperament, on one hand arrogant with a tendency to look down on others. Built reputation by subjugating Demonic Cult remnants—]

This wasn't important.

What was important was the content someone had added below.

[Sparred with Ink Sword Hero Jin Yeomyeong and won overwhelmingly.]

"Really? Is this real?"

After the trading captains' meeting ended,

Captain So handled several matters at the trading company and returned to his estate.

"I'll change clothes and drink, so prepare alcohol."

"Yes. Shall I serve Shaoxing wine?"

"Yes. Call Danhyang too."

It had been a day that didn't go well.

He needed to drink and relieve fatigue.

'Is this alright as is?'

Black Path sects under the Black Path King collapsed one after another.

That meant businesses trading companies conducted behind the scenes had failed.

He had focused the trading company's capabilities on the ruined capital Luoyang.

Trading company subordinates had opposed from the start.

He had overruled all that opposition.

Because of the backroom business subordinates didn't know about.

'Perhaps it's time to gradually pull out.'

He had seen profits sufficiently.

Rather, it would be better to cut ties with Black Path and do business cleanly again.

'Though Guyang Je seems determined to get his hands on Luoyang's commercial rights even if he dies.'

Watching Captain Guyang's behavior today, the thought of pulling out grew increasingly.

Guyang Je seemed to have firm faith in the Black Path King.

"He'll deal with the Ink Sword Hero."

People have intuition.

Captain So's intuition was warning not to deal with the Ink Sword Hero.

The Ink Sword Hero was dangerous.

It wasn't just temporarily raising havoc.

There was more, so avoid him.

Captain So had no intention of ignoring intuition warning this strongly.

"Call the comptroller. Tell him to bring the ledgers."

First, calculate profits to date.

"Call the hall leaders too. Tell them to assess personnel and equipment."

He also needed to plan completely leaving Luoyang.

"Is the alcohol prepared? Prepare seats for the number of people."

It would be a matter to discuss late into the night while drinking.

Subordinates would all agree too.

However, there was no answer.

"What? Is no one there?"

Captain So opened the door wide in irritation.

Not only the attendant who had received his instructions earlier, but servants and concubine Danhyang were all dead.

Bodyguard warriors hired at great expense were also dead.

He hadn't heard even a single scream.

"Are you Captain So?"

At the voice heard from behind, Captain So flinched in surprise and turned.

A man of average height, build, and appearance stood there.

Only the long sword in his hand was shining white.

The assassin laughed as if something was funny.

"Ah, why am I here? I'm not someone who should be doing assassin work. Of all missions, this kind."

Listening, he seemed quite displeased about taking on an assassination mission.

Captain So recalled today's trading captains' meeting.

"Did Guyang Je send you?"

He had cornered Guyang Je at the meeting.

He'd expected that bastard wouldn't stay still, but he didn't expect it this fast.

And he didn't expect the assassin's skills to be this excellent.

"Guyang Je? Would I listen to his words?"

However, it wasn't Guyang Je.

An arrogant expression crossed the assassin's ordinary face.

It seemed someone who looked down on Guyang Je had sent him.

"What? Not Guyang Je? Then who?"

Was there a captain who could look down on Guyang Je?

Guyang Je was an object of restraint and envy, but no one looked down on him...

"The Black Path King?"

"Right. It has to be at least that level to assign me a mission. Though it's more that I take on missions rather than being assigned them."

The assassin spoke unnecessary words, but it wasn't important to Captain So.

"The Black Path King steps forward? Just because I said a few words to Guyang Je, he takes my life?"

He had thought of leaving Luoyang just after entering the estate.

The Black Path King must have sent the assassin before that. Googlᴇ search novel✶fire.net

There had been no separate matters that displeased him, so Guyang Je was the problem.

"Why? No matter how much favor, to go that far for Guyang Je?"

The assassin approached.

The white, long sword rose to the sky.

Intuition belatedly shouted.

Dangerous. You'll die. Run away.

"Damn it, what running away?"

With the assassin approaching right before his eyes, how could he run away?

It was useless intuition.

"Should have noticed my danger instead of the Ink Sword Hero."

The sword about to fall stopped.

"I hear he's been causing trouble lately."

The assassin brought up words not even asked.

"My junior is working hard these days. Though it's probably thanks to my past teachings."

It seemed he had known the Ink Sword Hero in the past.

"You know? Though I can't reveal myself now due to circumstances, I overwhelmed the Ink Sword Hero before."

"You did? If your skills are enough to overwhelm the Ink Sword Hero... Uut!"

The assassin cut him down before Captain So could finish speaking.

"Still, there's no use getting admiration from a mere trading captain."

The assassin turned his back with an arrogant smile.

He just needed to complete the next mission anyway.

Endless admiration from the world would pour forth.

Cloud-Severing Sword Jong Dohak.

He moved his steps toward the next mission—eliminating the Ink Sword Hero.

"Now the alias Ink Sword Hero can't explain everything."

Kwak Daebang suddenly spoke.

"Besides Ink Sword Hero, you're also called Luoyang's Number One Swordsman, right?"

He had joined from the Yaksa Gate attack and exterminated Black Path with me.

Hmph—he snorted then tilted his head.

"Still, Ink Sword Hero or Luoyang's Number One Swordsman seem better."

What has he been talking about since earlier?

Feeling my gaze, he answered.

"I mean aliases. Ink Sword Hero or Luoyang's Number One Swordsman are sword-related aliases. But listen to what Black Path said today."

Butcher, Sword Demon, Sword Demon, Cursed Swordsman, and so on.

Even if they were aliases Black Path would only speak of briefly.

"Ah, definitely that's a bit..."

Before regression, I was called Sword God.

A glorious alias obtained while cutting down the Cult Leader.

The Alliance also greatly publicized the Sword God alias saying it helped externally.

I myself felt burdened.

Because I hadn't reached the ultimate proficiency of the Eight Trigram Unity Technique.

Though others didn't know, I myself couldn't be satisfied.

I had wondered if this life might produce a different alias besides Sword God.

"Brother Kwak is right. Rather, Ink Sword Hero or Luoyang's Number One Swordsman are the least embarrassing aliases."

"Heuheuhe. But those aliases can't seem to contain your recent actions."

Then he looked me over anew.

"Why are you like that?"

"I'm not perceptive, but."

"You seem like Luoyang can't contain you."

Did your perception increase?

Not all martial artists traveled the world.

Even making a name in the region where one lived was difficult work.

I had made my name known beyond Luoyang to the world while fighting the Demonic Cult.

"Now Luoyang is sufficient. Luoyang's Number One Swordsman, that'll do."

Couldn't use the ominous aliases Black Path attached, could I?

However, there was one name that came to mind when saying Luoyang's Number One Swordsman.

"A senior I knew before also claimed to be Luoyang's Number One Swordsman."

"I remember. Cloud-Severing Sword Jong Dohak."

He left not long after I came to Luoyang. That was already five years ago.

"He beat you in a spar?"

"And then started claiming to be Luoyang's number one."

Kwak Daebang shook his head side to side.

"Why are you like that?"

"You're the bad one."

"Ah. However... at that time I had just come to Luoyang. Considering the face of a regional martial world senior."

"Still, you should have lost appropriately. Losing too severely made the person get a swelled head."

"He had skills. Skills."

I looked up at the already darkened sky.

He had been a senior with the elegant alias of sword that cuts clouds.

"I wonder how he's doing now."