Chapter 148: Jangcheon Sect (7)

*Whoosh!*

As the flames erupted nearby, Namgung Yun-ho quickly leapt back.

*Whoosh! Boom!*

It was a close call.

The fire that had just passed where he was standing exploded, consuming the broken furniture.

‘Is this a different type of energy?’

And it was the extreme Yang energy technique.

The kind that turns objects into charcoal in an instant.

‘How did a demonic practitioner master such a difficult Yang energy technique?’

There was no time to be surprised.

“I’ll kill you first!”

The manager, driven by murderous intent, attacked Namgung Yun-ho, who was the closest.

*Swish swish swish!*

“Ugh!”

*Whoosh!*

He dodged using the Iron Plate Bridge technique, but the heat from the fire that grazed him was intense.

*Pop!*

He sprang up and countered with a straight punch.

But this opponent was entirely different from the ones he had faced so far.

*Boom!*

As their hands collided, sparks flew, and Namgung Yun-ho was pushed back five steps.

“Ugh.”

It wasn’t just the strength.

The heat that traveled up his fist disrupted his energy.

‘This is a different kind of energy.’

Just colliding with it caused such a shock.

“Haha. You’re pretty good for a kid.”

*Swish swish swish!*

As the burning hands darted towards his neck and sides, Namgung Yun-ho quickly stepped back.

*Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The flames flickered before his eyes.

The fiery trails they left behind.

Having quickly assessed the situation, he managed to avoid the attacks, but Namgung Yun-ho couldn’t hide his frustration.

‘It’s hot. Even blocking is difficult.’

Even if he could anticipate the moves, it wasn’t enough to ensure victory.

The heat from the air, heated by the flames, entered his lungs and scorched them.

‘Breathing is difficult.’

Is this the power of different energy?

As his breathing faltered, his energy flow was disrupted, making his movements increasingly erratic.

‘If only I had my sword.’

He could face this heat without worry.

As he considered picking up a discarded sword, the instructor’s voice rang out.

“If you don’t have a sword, will you just run away?”

Then what should I do?

‘Even fighting is difficult.’

At that moment, he recalled something.

The strange palm technique the instructor had used earlier.

– Shattering Thousand Hands Palm!

The manager had called it that, but Namgung Yun-ho, unfamiliar with Cheongseong Sect’s techniques, thought of something else.

‘Shinmu Sword Technique?’

The unfamiliar palm technique reminded him of a familiar pattern.

‘Is my hunch correct?’

He wasn’t sure.

He was just a Ghost of Dongcheon Hall.

He lacked confidence, but he knew he had to act.

“Haha! I’ll turn you into charcoal!”

*Whoosh!*

The intense heat singed his bangs.

Breathing in the acrid smell and heat, Namgung Yun-ho visualized an imaginary sword.

Softly.

Then he grasped the imaginary sword in the air.

‘Sword Seal.’

Thinking he had a sword in his hand made him feel more confident.

“I’ll roast you to the core!”

*Whoosh!*

The extreme Yang palm technique, fueled by demonic energy, was terrifying.

‘But I have a sword.’

Thinking this, his body reacted.

*Swish!*

Using the most familiar technique.

– Shinmu Sword Technique First Form: One Strike.

A simple downward slash.

Having lived as the Ghost of Dongcheon Hall, the technique was ingrained in him, making it fast and powerful.

*Buzz.*

Energy naturally responded.

*Slash!*

For the first time, the approaching flames were split.

“Huff.”

At the same time, cool air entered his nostrils.

His turbulent energy quickly calmed, clearing his mind.

“What? What trick did you use?”

Seeing the scattered sparks, the manager was confused.

‘Of course.’

All he saw was Namgung Yun-ho’s hand drawing a straight line in the air, as if holding an imaginary sword.

“You! Using cheap tricks!”

Enraged, the manager attacked more fiercely.

*Whoosh!*

*Whoosh!*

The rapid claw techniques aimed at his eyes, shoulders, and sides were relentless.

*Pop pop pop!*

But Namgung Yun-ho, having anticipated the moves, countered them.

And he split them.

“Wind Splitting.”

*Slash! Slash!*

The flames that scorched his skin scattered like falling leaves.

‘It works.’

Seeing his improvised technique work, he recalled the instructor’s words.

“Is there any point in performing sword techniques without dropping a coin?”

“It’s about not losing the center of the sword.”

When Baek Ri Seol asked, the instructor had said.

“Think about when you learned movement techniques. The same applies to the sword.”

‘The body and the sword are the same.’

Why did he say that?

‘He must have known this day would come.’

Thinking this far, he wondered.

‘If the body and the sword are the same.’

Why think of them as separate?

Body and.

Sword.

Together.

Could they not create a technique?

As he pondered this.

“Tsk. You’re getting ahead of yourself.”

*Bam!*

The manager, swinging his hands like a demon, was suddenly pushed back.

“Ugh.”

As his thoughts were interrupted, Namgung Yun-ho staggered and spat blood.

“Why am I…”

“You’re not ready for this level.”

*Thud!*

The instructor, smacking him on the back of the head, scolded him.

“Hey! Are you just going to watch?”

“I’m just as surprised.”

*Swish!*

Unfolding his fan, Jegal Tan shook it vigorously.

“Ugh! You bastards!”

The manager, shaking his head, emitted a denser killing intent.

As he struggled to speak, Jegal Tan approached.

*Swish swish.*

A firefly-like light floated at the tip of his fan.

“You didn’t need a sword.”

“I’m lacking too.”

*Swish. Swish.*

As the blue energy sparkled around Jegal Tan.

“Argh!”

The manager fired flames into the air.

*Boom! Boom!*

*Whoosh! Boom!*

The indiscriminate Yang energy sent innocent people screaming.

“Ah! Boss!”

“Please spare us!”

But the manager, his eyes black with demonic energy, was out of control.

“A demonic practitioner?”

“The boss was a demonic practitioner?”

“We’re all dead.”

Even unorthodox martial artists have lines they shouldn’t cross.

Losing one’s sanity and falling into demonic arts, becoming a demon.

No one can survive practicing forbidden demonic arts.

This wasn’t just a fight anymore.

“Argh!”

Having lost his humanity, the manager roared like a beast.

*Whoosh!*

The rampaging demonic energy created fiercer flames, sending scorching winds everywhere.

“Ah!”

“Fire! Fire!”

The gambling den, consumed by flames, quickly became a scene of chaos.

In the midst of it, one person was smiling.

It was Baek Ri Seol.

“This is the perfect environment for my Flame Dance.”

She whispered, shaking her wide sleeves.

*Boom boom boom boom!*

With graceful movements, the flames followed her sleeves, swirling and losing control.

*Swish swish swish!*

The flames flickered and twisted, losing their intensity.

“Argh!”

The manager’s eyes turned completely black.

Consumed by demonic energy.

Seeing this, Cho Un-hwi dusted off his hands.

“This won’t do.”

You.

*Thud thud.*

Ignoring the flames.

Kicking aside the debris, Cho Un-hwi picked up a bottle of liquor.

“Sleep.”

*Bam!*

*Crash!*

The manager collapsed.

***

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Before they could even catch their breath from the end of the fight.

“Instructor!”

*Swish!*

Flying through the flames with Floating Cloud Steps, Mo Yong So-hye shouted.

“The authorities are coming!”

“The authorities?”

Startled, the group looked outside and saw it was true.

*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*

Flares lit up the dark lake.

*Boom boom boom boom!*

Boats with countless torches and war drums approached rapidly.

“There! Over there!”

“Catch the ones jumping into the water!”

People fleeing the fire were quickly caught by the authorities and beaten with clubs.

“Arrest them all!”

As the North Gate Guard’s flag waved, the gamblers wailed in despair.

Seeing the fierce arrests, the four turned pale.

“Why are the authorities here now?”

“We need to get out of here.”

“Instructor! Hurry!”

Instructor?

Turning, they saw Cho Un-hwi frantically stuffing something into a bag.

“In…structor?”

As Mo Yong So-hye approached, Cho Un-hwi urgently shouted.

“Help me pack this.”

“What?”

“This is the money I won.”

Frantically stuffing money into a bag, he had even collected the betting slips.

Seeing this, everyone’s expressions turned sour.

In disbelief, Baek Ri Seol asked.

“Instructor?”

“Did you call the authorities?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“To arrest the unorthodox sect bastards.”

Justice, justice.

He insisted, but the four were certain.

‘He’s destroying evidence.’

‘Definitely destroying evidence.’

‘It’s evidence destruction.’

Mo Yong So-hye, her eyes cold, said.

“This is a crime.”

“This is my money. You all saw it? A fair win.”

As he claimed it was fair, they were sure.

‘He cheated.’

‘He definitely cheated.’

‘He cheated for sure.’

Baek Ri Seol, pulling at her hair, screamed.

“Stop it! What are you going to do? We’ll get caught!”

“I have an escape plan.”

He’s serious.

Realizing this, Namgung Yun-ho moved.

He grabbed an empty bag and started stuffing silver coins into it.

“Yun-ho?”

“We have no choice. If we’re caught, it’s not just the instructor in trouble!”

If caught, they were finished. Suspension would be the least of their worries.

If arrested, they’d be branded criminals.

“We either all go down or all get out.”

“Damn it!”

Realizing the urgency, Jegal Tan joined in.

“Sister, hurry.”

“Ugh. I don’t want us to be a criminal couple.”

Mo Yong So-hye and Baek Ri Seol reluctantly joined the looting.

As they tearfully helped, Cho Un-hwi kept pestering them.

“So-hye, that’s not my silver.”

“Ugh! How can you tell in this mess?”

“I know. I’m a righteous person.”

Didn’t think so.

“Do you get excited stealing other people’s money?”

“That’s theft.”

“A crime.”

Feeling wronged and insulted, Mo Yong So-hye exploded.

“Instructor! Shut up!”

“What? You’re talking back to your instructor?”

Stealing and talking back.

“Lady So-hye has become a delinquent.”

“No, I haven’t!”

Even calling her a lady.

“That’s too harsh for a young girl!”

“Lady, girl, same thing.”

“Please.”

Shut up!

Holding back the last word was hard for Mo Yong So-hye.

But the instructor’s next words were unbearable.

“It’s okay. I heard girls like bad boys. Even if you fall into evil, someone will like you.”

“Why is the instructor a villain but not popular?”

“Ugh.”

“An unpopular villain is the worst.”

“Ugh.”

Mo Yong So-hye burst into tears, and Cho Un-hwi clutched his chest.

***

Myojinmun’s first request.

– Finding the cat abuser.

Ended with an unorthodox sect burning, gamblers wailing, a girl crying, and a man’s pride shattered.