Chapter 869: Execution.

Tap tap–!!

Someone runs like crazy down a forest path in the deep night. It was a man who looked to be in very bad shape, judging by his ragged breaths and scowling expression.

“Gasp… huff!”

He kept running with his hobbling body. Even while running, he was in agony.

His battered body couldn’t handle the speed, and he was growing increasingly exhausted. But the man couldn’t stop.

‘Damn it… Damn it–!!’

The man, Ilcheonggeom, gritted his teeth and kept running.

How did it come to this? His body moved before he could understand the situation.

‘What about the Gyecheon Sect Leader? What happened to that guy.’

How did everything happen?

Just what happened to make things suddenly turn out like this?

‘That guy… Why him.’

The Saint King. The moment Gu Yangcheon suddenly invaded Cheongryongdae. And the moment that guy mentioned the crime.

Ilcheonggeom was already moving.

The fight with that guy, no, it was one-sided violence that left his body wrecked. It hadn’t been long since he’d regained consciousness, yet his mind drove his body.

It happened the moment that guy mentioned the crime.

That guy seemed to know.

Just like last time, that guy already knows something.

Moreover, he seems to possess certainty and evidence.

Is that why? Ilcheonggeom left his quarters and ran like crazy.

Afraid of being caught for the crime and punished? No. He was simply afraid of being caught.

Because he had already abandoned his beliefs and values. Because he had joined hands with the unorthodox sects and dragged the Alliance’s honor through the mud.

That had become self-loathing.

Resisting was also a problem. Ilcheonggeom had already grasped the reality from his fight with Gu Yangcheon.

‘That guy is a monster.’

He was a monster. He couldn’t win even if he gave his all.

Surely not, could it be that a guy who barely passed the age of majority was at the level of the Ten Great Masters? He couldn’t believe it even after experiencing it himself, but that was the reality.

Ilcheonggeom gritted his teeth and put strength into his legs.

Where should I go if I run away like this? I don’t know. My mind is blank.

Where would a warrior of the Alliance who abandoned chivalry have a place to go?

Having lost his destination, he was just running.

Should I try expressing my grievance if I go back? No. That killing intent wouldn’t be resolved by any words.

‘Damn it.’

How did it come to this? I don’t know, even after thinking about it a hundred times.

If a problem occurred, where did it go wrong? Was it from when I started making an enemy of Gu Yangcheon?

Or.

‘Since that guy appeared?’

Whatever it is, Gu Yangcheon is the problem. Why did such a monster suddenly pop out and block my path?

‘I…’

I had to climb higher in the future. I shouldn’t fall in a place like this.

My head is spinning. Is it okay to run like this?

Shouldn’t I have run away, leaving my subordinates behind?

Ah, I have run away, leaving my subordinates behind.

As his consciousness slowly returned, Ilcheonggeom’s expression kept hardening.

It was hopeless. The more he thought about it, the more there was no way back.

‘Damn it…’

If I go to the Alliance like this, it’s ruin.

I had to find a way.

‘First, should I escape Sichuan.’

After that, hide myself in my family’s stronghold… Then find a way to clear my name by claiming it’s a false accusation-.

Whoosh—!!

“…!!”

Ilcheonggeom quickly ducked his head. Then, something passed overhead.

WHOOOSHAAAAAA—!!!

Immediately after, a gust of wind blew from behind along with an explosion sound. He stopped and looked back.

The path he had been running on until just now had been devastated.

Ilcheonggeom recognized that it was an explosion formed by an energy blast.

He acted immediately upon confirming it.

He turned his head forward. Someone was standing in front, looking at him.

And with a rather disappointed expression, too.

“Grrr–!! I couldn’t kill him.”

It was a woman with short hair that barely reached her chin. She was holding a staff significantly taller than her, and the intermittent killing intent she felt was unsettling.

Ilcheonggeom frowned as he looked at her.

Because he knew who she was.

‘Definitely… the descendant of Eul-yeonggeomhu.’

The daughter of the woman the Alliance extremely avoided mentioning.

‘That guy’s subordinate.’

She was a subordinate of Gu Yangcheon.

That means.

“You idiot. You should have hidden your presence a little better.”

Ilcheonggeom swallowed dryly at the voice that followed. Two blue lights flickered in the darkness far away. He soon realized they were eyes.

“I definitely told you to practice, but judging by the looks of it, you didn’t, did you?”

“Ah, no… I, I did…!”

“Tsk.”

A young man appeared, clicking his tongue disapprovingly at the woman’s reaction. Seeing the cause of his current state, Ilcheonggeom gnashed his teeth.

“…You bastard…”

At Ilcheonggeom’s words, the young man looked over and smiled.

“Oh, nice to see you.”

He waved his hand and said to Ilcheonggeom.

“We have quite a lot to talk about, don’t we?”

His identity was, obviously, Gu Yangcheon.

---

I smiled looking at the wrecked Ilcheonggeom.

He was truly battered beyond recognition.

Of course, it’s largely my fault. I broke several of his bones and made sure he couldn’t walk properly.

Since he ran with all his might with such a body, it was natural that he became even more wrecked.

Actually, it’s surprising he ran in that state. The pain must have been immense…

‘Does it mean he was desperate enough to endure it?’

It’s laughable.

That someone who cared so much about honor ended up so miserably ruined.

I can’t help but laugh. Contempt threatened to surface, so I forced my lips down.

“Back then, you said.”

I said, looking at Ilcheonggeom.

“‘Betting my life, I have never violated righteousness and chivalry.'”

“…You bastard…”

“‘A man’s word is worth a thousand gold pieces.’ It’s a saying I dislike a bit, but what about you?”

Ragged breathing could be heard. Resentment welled up in his eyes.

“You can’t answer?”

“How dare… How dare you, you bastard…!”

“That’s not an answer. I just asked you, what happened about betting your life.”

“Hah…!”

Staggering, Ilcheonggeom got up and said.

“What crime did I commit, anyway, for you to frame me like this?”

“A frame-up?”

Hahaha.

Hearing that, I burst out laughing, unable to hold back.

“Wow. Even coming this far, you don’t disappoint me. You’re quite something, in many ways.”

“It’s all slander and a frame-up. Surely, you bastard plotted things and framed me, right?”

Oh.

I inwardly exclaimed. Half of that was right. He’s not as clueless as I thought.

But.

“I gathered all the evidence and brought it. Have you lost your mind or something? Are you crazy?”

“…What evidence did you obtain?”

“What else? It’s a compilation of everything you’ve done so far.”

Should I explain it one by one? I did that earlier, so it’s a bit bothersome. But since we have some history, I decided to do it.

“First of all, it’s the matter of you commissioning someone to poison me. Regarding that part, I obtained evidence with the help of the Tang Clan and the confession of the guy who was preparing the poison himself…”

What kind of poison was used is something even those outside the Tang Clan could know, but for definite proof, I used their name.

Catching them as they administered it was easy.

“I’ve also gathered the circumstances and evidence of you colluding with the Gyecheon Sect Leader to kill me.”

“Nonsense…!”

“You think this is nonsense, you punk? Does this really look like nonsense?”

I added, loosening my shoulders slightly.

“Actually, even if you really tried to kill me, it wouldn’t have mattered much.”

This was also half-true.

“If someone is a total asshole, you might want to kill them, and you might even try.”

Trying is one thing, but I just blurted this out. Because the important part was what came next.

“But at least someone claiming to be righteous shouldn’t have colluded with an unorthodox punk.”

“You pursue righteousness and chivalry? More honorable than anyone? Stop talking bullshit. Look. Isn’t the honor now lying in the dirt truly yours?”

I tapped the ground with my toe.

Ilcheonggeom didn’t answer.

“As for me, I hate the righteous sects immensely. And the Martial Alliance is the same.”

In my past life as well as this one.

I despise those called righteous sects. I despise the unorthodox sects even more, of course. However.

“But honestly, it’s not that I hate the righteous sects. To be precise…”

I suppressed the emotions welling up in my eyes.

“It’s bastards like you that I hate.”

Those hiding behind the guise of chivalry, whose insides are blackened.

That was insanely despicable and hateful.

“Kuhuk…”

Ilcheonggeom groaned. There was still no answer. It didn’t matter.

I took a step back and said.

“Honestly, if there were false accusations or disgrace, you wouldn’t be running away so disgracefully like this. Right?”

As I hit the nail on the head, Ilcheonggeom stiffened. Seeing him like that, I said, as if giving him a chance.

“It’s shitty, and I thought about killing you right now, but I’ll still give you a chance.”

“What…?”

At the word ‘chance’, Ilcheonggeom’s eyes turned towards me.

Meeting that gaze, I put my hand on Bongsun-i’s shoulder.

“Beat this girl.”

“Huh?”

“What did you say…?”

“Then I’ll just let you go. Wherever you go, whatever you try to do, I’ll let it slide for now.”

Seeing her expression, she didn’t seem to understand the meaning of “Beat Bongsun-i.”

“Why? Don’t you want to? This is quite a good opportunity, isn’t it? You don’t want to fight me, right?”

“…Have you really gone mad…?”

“No way. Ah, if you perhaps don’t believe me, I’ll swear on my family, my name, even my parents if you want.”

“…”

“Just win. Then I’ll let you go peacefully.”

“Hah….”

A strange emotion boiled up in Ilcheonggeom’s eyes, who had been hobbling.

“…How much further do you intend to ignore me? Even if my condition is bad… I am…”

“You’re talking too much.”

Since the bullshit was increasing, I cut him off.

“So, are you going to do it or not?”

“…”

Ilcheonggeom replied not with words, but by placing his hand on his waist.

Was it the remaining speck of pride that made him not answer verbally?

Could someone fall so quickly to that extent? It was curious.

“…You will regret this.”

“Damn it.”

Even amidst this, that’s bullshit.

Still, it’s fine. He has to act like that for there to be a reason I brought this crazy girl.

“Huh? Can I fight?”

Bongsun-i, who took a while to understand the conversation, asked me.

“Yeah. Fight.”

As soon as I gave permission, her expression brightened instantly.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“How much can I do?”

“As much as you want.”

“Huh? Huh?”

As the conversation progressed, Bongsun-i’s condition changed subtly.

The hair on her skin started to stand on end. Goosebumps rose.

“Then, then.”

Bongsun-i grinned widely. At that moment.

“Can I kill him?”

Sssaaaaaaa—!!!

Immense killing intent gushed out from her body.

“…”

Ilcheonggeom startled, receiving the killing intent into his body.

It was terrible, truly terrible. This must be the first time he’d felt such pure killing intent.

Without other resentment or unnecessary emotions. Truly pure murderous intent.

That was Bongsun-i’s killing intent.

And enduring such killing intent, I gave my final answer.

“Yeah, kill him.”

“Heeheeheeheeheehee—!!!”

Perhaps pleased with the answer, Bongsun-i laughed maniacally.

Kkeugeuk–!!

A change occurred in the staff she was holding.

The blunt end gradually became sharper.

Before long, it had completely transformed into the shape of a spear.

Hwiririric–!!

Bongsun-i, who spun the spear roughly a few times, prepared her stance.

Fighting spirit began to seep into the killing intent.

Her stance was also peculiar. It wasn’t the basic stance of spear fighting.

One hand held the spear, while the other was planted on the ground as she crouched low.

At first glance, it looked like a beast crouching low.

Ilcheonggeom was bewildered by the utterly bizarre stance.

Seeing that, I said.

“Draw your sword. Don’t get hit while being careless. She’s kinda scary?”

“…What is that…”

Despite my warning, Ilcheonggeom showed a confused reaction.

Bongsun-i, having confirmed the opponent’s unease.

“Kyaahahahahaha—!!!”

Bursting out a laugh resembling a cry, she leapt forward.

The spear lunged towards Ilcheonggeom. He quickly drew his sword and took a defensive stance, but.

Crack!

The spear tip struck his sword’s surface.

BOOOOM-!

“Gack!”

The impact exploded, smashing through all the trees in the forest as he flew far away.

KWA-CRUNCH–!!

“Hahahahahahahaha—!!!”

Bongsun-i laughed, seemingly having no intention of letting him escape, and dashed quickly after him.

“…Well, I’ll be.”

Watching the scene, I sat down on a nearby rock.

Honestly, I was a little worried.

If Bongsun-i gets like that, it becomes a bit difficult to stop her later, but even in his injured state, Ilcheonggeom needed to be at least that strong to face her.

It’s a bit dangerous for him in his right mind.

So, how long will it really take?

‘In my opinion, it doesn’t seem like it will take that long.’

Whether Ilcheonggeom is defeated or Bongsun-i collapses from exhaustion.

Well, whatever happens, it won’t be that long.

Judging so, I put my hand into my pocket and felt something.

An object with a smooth surface. It was a cracked mask.

“Well then…”

“As soon as that side is finished.”

“Shall I prepare to use this too?”

I had to prepare to use the prey to aim for bigger prey.