Chapter 140: Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts (6)

“So-hye!”

With a gasp, Mo Yong Seon-ya collapsed to the ground, spitting out blood.

“Damn it. I was too complacent.”

Namgung Yun-ho, biting his lip, stepped forward, but Gon Ya-pyeong, holding his prey, was already spreading a blood mist.

He was about to flee.

“Move aside.”

*Swish.*

Baek Ri Seol, holding dual swords in reverse grips, was about to unleash her secret technique.

*Thud!*

The creature, who had been opening its mouth unguardedly, staggered.

*Thud!*

Again, the sound of a blow echoed as a tiny elbow struck the inside of the wrist.

*Thud! Thud thud thud!*

The sound of a leather drum being struck continuously followed.

“I can do this. I can read it.”

Every time the creature tried to spread the blood mist, Mo Yong So-hye struck with perfect timing, and even from a distance, the creature’s confusion was evident.

“Argh!”

But as expected of a master, he unleashed his swift palm techniques towards his fierce prey.

*Thud thud thud thud!*

*Thud thud thud thud!*

The mixed sounds of punches and palm strikes echoed loudly.

The difference in skill was clear.

The palm aura quickly overwhelmed the variations of Mo Yong So-hye’s Wooden Hundred Hands Technique.

But Mo Yong So-hye had allies.

*Swish!*

Moving like she was stepping on grass, Baek Ri Seol stabbed at the back.

*Swish swish swish.*

Namgung Yun-ho, using a heavy footwork, closed the distance.

*Bang! Bang!*

The creature, retracting its hands, pushed away the sword with the back of its hand and flicked its fingers to strike the sword aiming at its stomach.

As it took in the helpers beyond, its focus on the palm technique wavered for a moment.

That was when it happened.

“Argh!”

With a desperate cry, Mo Yong So-hye burst into tears.

“Stupid instructor!”

The creature, trying to strengthen its palm technique, was taken aback.

*Thud!*

“Grr?”

A kick from below made the creature stagger.

*Thud! Thud!*

What followed was a bizarre rhythm of the Wooden Hundred Hands Technique.

*Thud! Thud thud thud!*

*Thud! Crack! Snap!*

Hands moved so fast they were almost invisible, striking up the arms, the neck, and the crown of the head.

Seeing the relentless strikes, Mo Yong Seon-ya widened her eyes.

“My goodness. So-hye’s martial arts are so versatile?”

It was evolving into a different form from what she had seen before.

‘I can’t just stand and watch.’

Steadying herself, she unleashed her Jade Wind Sword Technique.

Although she was now working night shifts at Euncheon Hall, the talent that once heated up the Mo Yong Clan hadn’t gone anywhere.

*Swish.*

A more intense aura emerged from the tip of her sword.

But there was a voice that cooled the heated battlefield.

“It seems it’s time to finish this.”

Wang Woo, who had arrived panting, was creating a transparent aura on his sword.

Seeing this, Yeo Mae-hong widened her eyes.

“This is sword energy…”

The supreme level only allowed to those who had surpassed the Wall of Lamentation.

“A golden sword energy…”

As the aura from the sword began to burn away the demonic energy, butterflies seemed to emerge from the tip of the sword.

“Argh!”

Sensing the threat, the creature unleashed its energy, creating a massive whirlwind that threw everything around it.

“Kyaa!”

“Be careful!”

Baek Ri Seol, who was closest, grabbed Mo Yong So-hye from mid-air.

“Such immense energy?”

Impressive, but.

“To lose control and be swayed by power.”

In the fierce wind, Wang Woo murmured like he was singing.

“It’s like giving a supreme sword to a child.”

Step by step, with steady steps, Wang Woo moved forward, swinging his sword.

*Swish.*

As the vivid sword light flashed, the wind split.

*Slash!*

The creature’s right arm flew off.

“Ugh!”

“Argh! Argh!”

Trapped by the pressure of the sword energy, the creature struggled as death approached.

“You can’t escape.”

Wang Woo prepared for the final strike.

*Drip.*

The sweat running down his forehead showed how much effort he was putting into the next strike.

That was when it happened.

“What is this mess?”

A familiar voice rang out.

*Flinch.*

The pressure that had been dominating the scene wavered.

As the concentration broke, a gap appeared in the pressure.

“Argh!”

Taking this opportunity, the creature exploded its demonic energy, pushing away the pressure and starting to flee.

The escape was aimed at the new intruder.

Instinctively, it knew it needed new prey to replenish its life force.

A faint, seemingly weak presence.

But as soon as it met the eyes of the new arrival, the creature spoke with a human voice for the first time.

“What? What?”

What do you mean, what?

*Slash!*

The bleeding creature slid to a stop, unable to continue running.

***

Cho Un-hwi, holding a sword, looked around.

Then, with a puzzled expression, he asked.

“Why does everyone look like that?”

“Cho, Cho…”

Instructor Cho!

Seeing everyone on the verge of tears, Cho Un-hwi pretended to be confused and asked.

“Why? Oh, why?”

“Really…”

Why are you only showing up now?

We’re glad you’re safe.

They wanted to ask many things, but Yeo Mae-hong couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Seeing this, Cho Un-hwi smiled.

Then he turned to Namgung Yun-ho and asked.

“Yun-ho.”

“Yes, Instructor.”

“Was this person someone we shouldn’t have killed?”

That would be a problem.

Hearing the sound of fighting, he had thrown his sword without thinking.

Muttering, Cho Un-hwi, sensing the awkward silence, nodded.

“We should bury him.”

“…What?”

“What else? If we killed an innocent person, we need to hide the evidence.”

Isn’t it better not to do things that require hiding evidence in the first place?

Someone asked, and Cho Un-hwi answered.

“You never know.”

“No, no. It’s fine!”

As they tried to stop Cho Un-hwi from dragging the body into the forest, Mo Yong Seon-ya asked angrily.

“Why did you only show up now?”

“I went to get water and got lost.”

“The valley is right next door, how did you get lost?”

Trying to find the right words to scold him, Cho Un-hwi patted what he was carrying on his shoulder.

“I also found this.”

Finally noticing the dark red figure, Yeo Mae-hong was shocked.

“Instructor Yang!”

***

The reunion was quite emotional.

At least, that was Cho Un-hwi’s opinion.

Everyone else had teary eyes.

Especially Jo Hyeon, who was holding the limp Instructor Yang and crying.

“Oh, Instructor Yang.”

He’s alive. He’s alive.

Seeing the emotional reunion, Cho Un-hwi whispered to Yeo Mae-hong.

“We might get treated to a meal later.”

“Really. Have some tact.”

What did I do?

Grumbling, Cho Un-hwi turned his attention elsewhere.

“Instructor Mo Yong.”

“What is it?”

“The fortune-teller said to avoid water.”

“Why bring that up now?”

Mo Yong Seon-ya cursed, her lips twitching.

“No, the fortune-teller seems accurate. Maybe I should get a reading.”

“Please, just be quiet.”

The next day, the martial artists gathered by Myojinmun arrived.

With them, they found one more body and seven survivors, finally ending the sudden incident.

“Phew. Now we can relax.”

Amidst the respectful gazes of the martial artists from nearby Suzhou.

“Let’s go back.”

Wang Woo declared.

The short and intense incident came to an end.

At least for those living in the light.

***

One night, after returning to his post.

Taking advantage of the late hour, Cho Un-hwi left Myojinmun.

He headed to an abandoned inn on the outskirts of Suzhou.

Entering, the smell of mold hit his nose.

*Creak.*

Finding a relatively intact chair, he sat down, and a hunched figure fell from the air.

“Danya, you irreverent fool.”

Why are you angry again?

“Making the lord wait.”

“Leave it. There must be a reason.”

“No reason justifies keeping the lord waiting.”

Seeing his fierce gaze, it seemed another round of discipline might start soon.

As he enjoyed a moment of solitude, the awaited person arrived.

*Swish.*

Falling from the air were Myojinmun’s sect leader in night clothes and a black sphere.

It was Danya.

“Danya.”

“My lord.”

“Why are you so late…”

“Well, it’s because of this woman.”

But inside the black sphere was someone who shouldn’t be there.

“Yo-ran.”

“It’s been a while, Your Excellency.”

Why is the head of the Hao Clan’s Muhan Branch here?

He asked quietly, and the pale Yo-ran clutched her skirt tightly.

“I have urgent news for the Shadow Sovereign.”

“…Urgent news.”

“I still have my uses. So, I asked Danya…”

Watching the terrified and rambling Yo-ran, Cho Un-hwi turned to Danya.

“Explain.”

In an emotionless tone, Danya, startled, knelt on one knee.

“My lord, well, I said it was okay, but she insisted on following.”

Danya explained, waving his bandages.

“No matter how I threatened, she insisted on coming.”

“So you brought her here?”

“She said she would be useful. So I couldn’t help it.”

“Tsk.”

Pressing his forehead with his finger, Cho Un-hwi looked at Yo-ran.

“Yo-ran.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

“It seems I worried you a lot.”

Despite the gentle tone, the room’s temperature was chilling.

“Eek.”

“Grr.”

Danya and Myo Gwang gasped, but Yo-ran remained steadfast.

Despite being terrified, she took one step at a time.

“I still have my uses.”

“To be useful to Your Excellency, I gathered information about Suzhou.”

“I can still be of help. Help. Sob.”

Yo-ran swallowed her sobs.

Why is he treating me so coldly when I came so desperately?

Tears welled up in her eyes.

But she didn’t let go of the booklet she was holding tightly.

“This is…”

She handed over a book filled with information about Suzhou’s underworld.

“It’s a book containing everything about Suzhou. It’s a treasure of the Hao Clan.”

It was the result of painstaking efforts to gather information, hoping to stay close to him.

She hadn’t planned to give it away so easily.

She would have boasted about its usefulness.

“There’s a base of the Heavenly Destruction Society in Suzhou.”

“If you plan to take it, you must be wary of certain people.”

“They could pose a great danger to you.”

But what is this?

*Flip. Flip.*

In the silence, only the sound of pages turning echoed.

Like a child waiting for their father’s work to end, she waited anxiously.

‘Nothing ever goes as planned with this person.’