Chapter 161 – Seo Ok-rang (5)

“When you feel like crap, you need to go unwind.”

When she heard that, she thought he meant to share a farewell drink.

But she was mistaken.

– Madman of Dongcheon Hall.

The place he suddenly brought them to was a cave far from Suzhou.

‘What is this place?’

A musty smell wafted from the cave, and the words ‘Maegumgul’ were inscribed beside it.

“Wait. If this is Maegumgul…”

A place where wandering vagabonds gather to buy and sell death.

A dangerous market where people with nothing to lose gather.

The Madman walked in boldly and shouted.

“What are you doing, you idiots! We have guests!”

At his words, dozens of murderous gazes from within the cave turned towards them.

*Clang clang clang!*

Swords began to flash inside Maegumgul.

***

‘Ahhh!’

Seo Ok-rang screamed inwardly, gripping her sword tightly.

She saw a vagabond slowly falling backward in her field of vision.

Behind him, more vicious-looking vagabonds were charging forward.

‘This crazy man!’

Apologize now!

She screamed inwardly, but it was too late.

Instead of apologizing, the Madman stepped on the fallen vagabond’s head and threw a series of punches.

*Thud! Thud!*

She heard the sound twice, and five charging vagabonds collapsed.

She didn’t know how he did it, but it was clear he used an incredibly mysterious method.

“Ugh!”

“Damn!”

As their comrades fell, the vagabonds sprang into action.

Vagabonds who would sell their lives and comrades for money quickly united against a common enemy.

‘Maybe this is the true terror of vagabonds.’

There was no time for such idle thoughts.

*Tat tat!*

The vagabonds the Madman had knocked down were now rushing towards them.

“Miss Seo!”

Il-pyo quickly stepped in front of her and swung his sword.

*Swish!*

It was a decent sword strike, worthy of someone claiming to be from Euncheon Hall.

But the opponents were seasoned vagabonds.

*Tat tat!*

They dodged his straightforward strike with a sneer and slashed at his neck with their swords.

“Ugh!”

*Clang! Clang clang clang!*

Il-pyo, now facing four opponents, quickly stepped back and swung his sword wide.

*Clang! Clatter!*

His clean technique deflected their swords and blades, sending sparks flying.

But.

*Tat tat.*

Instead of retreating, the vagabonds kicked up dirt, causing Il-pyo to cry out in surprise.

“Ugh!”

He remembered.

‘This happened before.’

Recalling the treacherous tactics of the rapist from his past, his vision blurred.

“Ugh!”

He quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve, but the vagabonds didn’t miss the opportunity.

“You seem skilled, but.”

“You’re just a novice.”

“Die!”

*Slash!*

As their swords cut his shoulder and side, Il-pyo realized.

‘It’s too late.’

Just like before.

But there was something different this time.

“Young Master Il!”

*Clang!*

Seo Ok-rang, shouting sharply, kicked off the ground and intervened.

Flowing Stream Step.

The Cheongseong Sect’s secret technique, resembling a flowing stream.

Seo Ok-rang’s small body slipped through the fierce sword strikes, facing four attackers.

*Clang!*

She struck their swords with the technique of the Dragon Palm.

*Smack!*

Tilting her upper body back as if she was about to fall, she kicked up, striking the wrists of the attacking vagabonds.

*Whack!*

She then leaped into the air, performing an aerial somersault, and used the Clear Wind Sword Technique.

*Clang clang clang!*

Barely fending off the four attackers, Seo Ok-rang instinctively continued her sword technique, chasing them down.

*Swish swish swish!*

Her sharp sword strikes forced the vagabonds to retreat with hisses.

“Damn!”

“Huff, huff.”

Seo Ok-rang, her shoulders rising and falling, was astonished by her own skill.

‘My body feels light?’

Her instinctive continuous strikes felt so natural.

‘I thought it would be difficult after neglecting my martial arts for a while.’

Had the threat of death awakened her dormant instincts?

‘Maybe.’

A spark of hope ignited in her heart.

*Swish!*

As a sword strike aimed at her back, she came to her senses.

*Clang!*

“Young Master Il!”

Standing back-to-back, Il-pyo dragged his sword along the ground.

“Watch your back. Isn’t it dangerous?”

Seo Ok-rang smiled at Il-pyo, who had chosen to stay and protect her instead of running away.

A soft smile that hadn’t graced her lips in a long time.

“You seem reliable.”

But the smile didn’t last long.

“Madman! Behind you! Behind you!”

“Oops!”

As the instructor rolled on the ground, dodging swords flashing from all directions, her smile vanished.

“Miss Seo! Watch your side!”

“Ugh. Seriously.”

*Slash! Clang!*

Seo Ok-rang’s hands moved quickly as she swung her sword in a wide arc, deflecting attacks.

Because of this.

She didn’t notice that the man who had been moving ahead had disappeared.

***

Maegumgul had its rules.

The weak stayed at the entrance, and the stronger ones took positions deeper inside.

It wasn’t just about hierarchy.

It was a matter of pride, refusing to accept casual visitors.

They filtered out the riffraff at the entrance, leaving only the real deal for the higher-level vagabonds to handle.

But how many genuine clients came to this place?

Most of the time, it was just another day of disappointment.

Sang-gwang, who occupied the deepest part of Maegumgul, felt the same.

‘Should I look for some work?’

As he began to feel the pressure from the lack of clients, he heard an unusual sound.

*Clang clang clang clang!*

Even in the deepest part of Maegumgul, a seasoned vagabond couldn’t mistake that sound.

“Some wandering fool must have picked a fight.”

It happened occasionally.

A client who couldn’t handle the rough vagabonds would cause trouble.

The outcome was always the same.

“More fish for the waters of Suzhou.”

But Sang-gwang quickly realized he couldn’t make such a hasty conclusion.

*Clang clang clang clang!*

“They’re holding out quite well…”

Could it be a disciple from a prestigious sect?

‘Even so, it doesn’t make a difference.’

Those who learned swordsmanship in a training hall couldn’t withstand the vagabonds.

A blade honed in real combat couldn’t be stopped by a greenhorn.

They might hold out a bit longer, but the end would be the same—ground meat scattered in Suzhou.

“Should I take a nap?”

As he wrapped himself in a blanket and turned over.

*Thud. Thud.*

The unfamiliar footsteps echoing through Maegumgul startled Sang-gwang.

‘They broke through?’

Maybe at the entrance.

That’s where the weakest were.

But this was different.

To get here, they had to pass through many skilled fighters, some of whom even Sang-gwang couldn’t ignore.

Warriors who could hold their own in any sect.

Yet, they were wandering like drifters, with harsh pasts and backgrounds that forced them to the edge.

And someone had passed through all of them to reach here?

‘My goodness. They didn’t just pass through.’

The footsteps approaching were calm.

Unhindered, leisurely steps.

This could only mean one thing.

‘No one can sense this person.’

Realizing the difference, Sang-gwang felt a chill down his spine.

*Thud. Thud.*

Listening to the footsteps, he reached for his sword.

But something was different this time.

‘Huh!’

Instead of the sword he always kept by his side, he grasped at empty air.

He had kept it in the same place for decades.

“Are you the Black Wolf of Suzhou?”

‘When did he get so close?’

The voice, coming from nearby, sent shivers down his spine.

*Thud!*

He quickly flipped over and gathered his energy.

“Huh.”

But he couldn’t help but let out a deflated sound.

The stranger held his sword, which should have been by his side.

‘I couldn’t even sense this master.’

His fighting spirit quickly dissipated.

“You catch on quickly.”

*Whoosh. Thud.*

As the sword arced through the air and landed in his hand, Sang-gwang spoke.

“What brings you here?”

“I have a request.”

“You’re a master far beyond my reach. What could you possibly need from someone like me?”

“You don’t use a dragon-slaying sword to kill a chicken, do you?”

A dragon-slaying sword.

Sang-gwang was both amazed and amused by the stranger’s arrogance.

‘This man can afford to be arrogant.’

Though he was now a trembling wreck, the name Black Wolf of Suzhou wasn’t one to be taken lightly.

For someone to treat him like a child, what more could be said?

‘Today is surely the day I die.’

Sensing the end, he tried to maintain his pride and asked.

“Can you tell me about the request?”

“If you want.”

A vague impression emerged from the darkness.

“It’s nothing difficult.”

Who is this person?

He peered into the darkness, but couldn’t recall anything.

‘I can’t see his face clearly.’

Puzzled, he listened to the explanation, and his expression turned strange.

“Is that really all?”

“I’m a busy man. I don’t have time for idle talk.”

A chill ran down his spine again, making Sang-gwang quickly correct himself.

“I didn’t mean to doubt you.”

For such a dramatic entrance, the request was too simple.

One. Stop the fight at the entrance.

Two. Hand over the person he pointed out.

Three. Deliver that person to the uninvited guests at the entrance.

“Why? Do you feel camaraderie with fellow vagabonds?”

“Of course not.”

He’d sell his own life if needed.

Other people’s lives meant nothing.

However.

“Someone like you could easily handle this.”

“Sometimes it’s fun to put on a good show using someone else’s hands.”

“For that reason.”

Hey. Your tongue is too long.

“As I said, I’m a busy man.”

Even negotiating is a waste of time.

*Thud.*

Opening the pouch that fell in front of him, Sang-gwang was shocked.

“This is too much…”

But he quickly realized.

There was no one in front of him.

*Thud.*

Dropping the pouch, Sang-gwang rubbed his neck.

“Whew. The Grim Reaper has visited.”

His terrified voice echoed in the darkness of Maegumgul.