episode_0019

The Bloodline Pavilion is one of the factions established in Seongdo.

They are not merely simple-minded ruffians, but rather, in name, a branch of the Demonic Faction.

To be precise, it would be more accurate to describe them as a business conglomerate run by thugs.

While those from the Righteous Faction prioritize face and espouse grand causes like chivalry, those from the Demonic Faction care solely for their own well-being.

What would such people use their martial arts for?

Naturally, it is used to covet and exploit what belongs to others.

Forcing nearby merchant groups to merge and extorting protection money.

Operating gambling arenas like martial arts duels to rake in money.

Gathering prostitutes with nowhere to go and running a pleasure house.

Their activities are truly diverse.

Even if the powerful ones hold sway, some things are still an eyesore.

It’s not for nothing that the Demonic Faction is called the Heretical Path or the Black Path.

As such, the size of a main stronghold tends to vary depending on how much the average person has plundered, and the Bloodline Pavilion’s building was quite large among them.

Cheongun moved leisurely towards the back garden of the manor.

“Wow, they’ve really taken a lot,” Cheongun muttered in a gruff voice.

Anyone seeing it would think it was a martial arts sect’s manor, not the main base of an intelligence organization.

The structure of the building was grand and magnificent, exactly like the Righteous Alliance’s branch located on Mount Cheongseong.

Well, it wouldn’t be wrong to call it a branch of the Demonic Cult… but regardless, it was a scale that wouldn’t have been possible without them having plundered an awful lot until now.

“Don’t the Righteous Faction collect protection money too?”

“Do they extort it by force like you guys?”

“…”

Before Jin Cheonwoo could choose his words, Cheongun continued.

“Hey, Black Blade.”

“…It’s Black Killing Sword.”

“From now on, you will guide me to where the Pavilion Lord is.”

Jin Cheonwoo blinked foolishly.

Guide him where?

And this guy, he’s using informal speech now.

“Why are you looking for the Pavilion Lord-nim?”

“Only I ask questions. Lead the way.”

“No, common sense dictates that if you tell me to guide you, I won’t just say ‘Yes! Understood!’ and lead you there, will I? We’re supposedly family, aren’t we? Do you think I have no loyalty, even if I haven’t learned much?”

“Oh, loyalty. That’s cool?”

“Ahem.”

Jin Cheonwoo wiped his nose.

Cheongun, uncharacteristically, smiled kindly and asked.

“Alright. Then, for your last words?”

“Huh?”

“Leave your last words. I’m asking specially because it’s cool.”

Jin Cheonwoo seemed to immediately grasp the meaning of my words.

Loyalty is good, but dying… that’s a bit much.

Jin Cheonwoo, having made a quick decision, led the way with a hearty expression.

“Follow me. I will guide you.”

“What? You’re not keeping your loyalty? Are you trash?”

“Come to think of it, I’ve never really had a proper conversation with the Pavilion Lord.”

“Is that so? Then lead the way.”

“Yes, yes.”

Lunatic. Madman. Son of a bitch.

Jin Cheonwoo swallowed his curses inwardly as he guided the way.

“May I ask just one thing?”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know what Young Master is thinking, but couldn’t you just turn back now?”

“Turn back? Why would I turn back from such a good place? Stop with the nonsense and just guide the way properly. Where is the Bloodline Pavilion Lord?”

“No, what are you going to do by going alone to where the Pavilion Lord-nim is? Do you know how strict the security is there? It’s not like you’ve come alone to start a war or something…”

At those words, Cheongun, who had been staring, replied.

“That’s right?”

“Huh?”

“That’s right. I came to start a war.”

Cheongun chuckled.

Did you think I came here to sightsee?

The reason he finally sent Namgung Yuli back, who had insisted on following him, was precisely to put an end to things from the very beginning.

“Are, are you perhaps crazy?”

Cheongun drew his internal energy.

Jin Cheonwoo quickly added.

“…Do you have a separate plan?”

“A plan? Why would I need that?”

“You wouldn’t have come to the heart of an enemy stronghold teeming with experts without any plan, would you?”

A plan? I don’t have one?

Why would that be necessary?

Look around immediately!

How many batteries… no, how many demonlings are there?

Look here, a demonling.

Look there, a demonling.

Demonlings are everywhere.

Every time he brushed past them, his nerves were on edge and his dantian tingled, making him not envy the precious thousand-year-old snow ginseng at all.

If he could achieve enlightenment in this state, wouldn’t it be possible to reach the legendary realm of body cleansing and bone transformation?

Ah, how precious.

How could I leave these people and go anywhere?

“I don’t have confidence.”

“Right?”

“No, I don’t have confidence in *losing*.”

“…”

Jin Cheonwoo was on the verge of going mad.

He simply couldn’t grasp the actions of this brat… no, this madman.

He had brought him because Cheongun threatened to kill him if he didn’t guide him to the Bloodline Pavilion, but if it was discovered that he had brought in a madman with a bounty on his head, he too would not escape accountability.

And he couldn’t just kick him out here.

If he cried out, ‘This bastard is threatening me! Help me!’ and then Cheongun killed only him as retaliation and fled, wouldn’t that be the most miserable death?

‘Damn it, I’m really going crazy.’

Jin Cheonwoo was quick-witted.

So quick, in fact, that he had risen to his current position with mediocre martial arts skills, relying solely on his perceptiveness.

He had always managed to navigate dangerous situations.

It was all thanks to his keen intuition.

And now, for some reason, he had an ominous premonition that Cheongun was about to cause trouble.

“Sigh, this way, please.”

“Alright.”

Had they walked for about an hour?

Jin Cheonwoo soon arrived at the main gate of the Golden Hall.

A wooden plaque engraved with ‘Pavilion Lord’s Residence’ hung above the red-painted door, where the paint was peeling.

It was the Golden Hall where the Pavilion Lord resided.

Knock knock knock!

Jin Cheonwoo hesitated before approaching and knocking on the main gate.

Soon, the door slightly opened, and a man peeked his head through the gap.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Jin Cheonwoo.”

The man meticulously examined Jin Cheonwoo’s face.

“Who is that?”

“No, don’t you know me? It’s Black Killing Sword Jin Cheonwoo.”

“Black Killing Sword? Is that perhaps your alias?”

“Damn it.”

Jin Cheonwoo grumbled as he pulled out an identification token.

“You were one of us.”

“…”

“Did you just join? Come on in.”

The man, having confirmed the token, nodded and opened the door.

Cheongun, who had been watching silently, patted Jin Cheonwoo’s shoulders with both hands as he passed.

“Hang in there.”

“…”

…For some reason, Jin Cheonwoo felt unpleasant.

Cheongun, with his sword drawn, darted through the door and entered.

The full view of the Golden Hall’s interior came into sight.

There was a long corridor extending down the middle, at the end of which was an elaborately decorated chair, like a throne.

A woman sat perched upon it with a nonchalant expression.

It was clearly the Pavilion Lord’s seat.

On both sides, figures resembling bandits were lined up, easily numbering in the dozens.

Jin Cheonwoo, who entered late, whispered in a voice only Cheongun could hear.

“That woman is the Bloodline Pavilion Lord, Bloodline Sword Venerable Wih Yeonghwa.”

“I know.”

Cheongun unconsciously nodded.

Looking at her face, he vaguely remembered.

She currently acts as the Bloodline Pavilion Lord, but in the future, she becomes the leader of the Blood Demon Unit, one of the Demonic Heavenly Cult’s three major intelligence organizations.

There is a demonic art called the Soul-Devouring Life Cultivation Art.

It’s a demonic art that enhances internal energy by consuming the life force of young children… that is, human flesh. She was a trashy woman who kidnapped children day in and day out, trying to master just that one technique.

“Her own martial prowess is formidable, but she’s also the woman who killed the previous Pavilion Lord and ascended to that position through her unique schemes.”

“Is that so?”

“Her skill at swaying people with her three-inch tongue is incredible, so be careful or not.”

Cheongun blinked his eyes.

Is this guy… is he perhaps worried about me?

He was truly a funny guy.

At that moment, Bloodline Pavilion Lord Wih Yeonghwa opened her mouth.

“Who are you?”

“Are you the Bloodline Pavilion Lord?”

“I asked first, you deficient fool. Well, no need to answer. Your face reminds me. You’re the one Haomun put a bounty on recently, aren’t you? What was your name? Cheongun?”

It’s you, isn’t it?

Finally found you.

“To dare crawl into this place by yourself, you must be truly insane.”

Along with those words, all sorts of insults poured in from both sides.

Cheongun stood still and listened to them.

Threats of stabbing him, dismembering him, or turning his good-looking face into a male prostitute’s were hurled, each a crude “encouragement” characteristic of the Black Path.

Amidst the chaos, the Bloodline Pavilion Lord secretly moved her fingertips, casting a sound attack.

While she was running down the clock with her words, a bluish true energy rose like mist between her fingers.

Jin Cheonwoo gulped, looking at Cheongun, who stood still.

He came in so confidently, so why was he just standing there blankly, doing nothing?

Could it be that he was intimidated by the atmosphere?

‘Be careful of psychological warfare.’

It was just as he was about to utter that one phrase.

!!!

In an instant, Cheongun vanished.

Only faint dust shimmered where he had stood.

It was when he was looking around, bewildered.

Crunch!

The sound of an eggshell being crushed echoed from somewhere.

Jin Cheonwoo, startled, looked up.

Cheongun was already standing next to the Pavilion Lord.

One peculiar thing was that the Pavilion Lord’s head, which had just moments ago been sitting majestically and running her mouth, was gone.

No, to be precise, it was rolling on the floor, spurting blood.

Clink!

Cheongun slowly sheathed his sword with an expressionless face.

Red drops of blood dripped from the sword blade.

He calmly spoke, looking at the stunned men.

“Bloodline Sword Venerable Wih Yeonghwa is dead.”

“…”

“From now on, I am the Bloodline Pavilion Lord.”

“…”