Chapter 545
Chapter 545
Chapter 545. Death-Taking Guest (5)
Our purpose was not to kill them, but to subdue them.
Because if we were to find out what this place was, there had to be someone capable of answering.
That was why I put out the fire.
Because the darker it is, the more advantageous it becomes for a small elite group like us.
Papapak!
Tadadat!
We subdued them, then pressed their acupoints so they could not resist.
And we removed the cloth covering the night pearls.
Flash!
The surroundings suddenly grew bright, and those who had been guarding the prison suffered as though their eyes had been damaged by the sudden light.
There were ten people we had subdued in total.
I had everyone except one person’s eyes covered.
“Ugh!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“Urgh!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“Wh-who are you?” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“Do you think you will be safe after doing this?” (Black Path Martial Artist)
Thwack!
Puh-uk!
They could not even move their bodies, yet their mouths kept chattering.
The warriors each struck the ones they had subdued with their fists.
“Kgh!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“Kuhuk!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
It was to remind them once again of their current situation.
Thanks to that, the surroundings became quiet.
“It is always the cowardly dog that barks. You do not need to wonder who we are or why we are doing this. Just answer what I ask.” (Young Master)
I continued speaking.
“What is this prison for?” (Young Master)
At my question, they answered.
“As if we would tell you that so easily...” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“I know you will not tell me so easily, and I also know how to crush you to make you answer.” (Young Master)
Puk!
Warrior Yeo Eungam raised his sword, stabbed it into the thigh of the one whose eyes had not been covered, and twisted it.
“Aaaaaaagh!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
Did they hear that dreadful scream? The bodies of those whose eyes were covered trembled.
When sight is blocked, hearing and smell become sharper.
In other words, the scream let out as a blade stabbed into a thigh, and the smell of blood that flowed from it, stimulated their imagination.
A person’s imagination is usually more horrifying than reality.
I turned my head and looked at the Death-Taking Guest.
He had a somewhat uncomfortable expression.
“What is the matter?” (Young Master)
“It is just... strange.” (Death-Taking Guest)
“What is?” (Young Master)
“I heard you were definitely good, but the figure of Hyung-nim I see before my eyes right now is...” (Death-Taking Guest)
“Not good?” (Young Master)
At my question, he flinched and nodded.
“There are times when I think of myself like this as a demon. Times when I wonder if I really have to go this far.” (Young Master)
I chuckled.
“But there are times when one must act like a demon in order to save someone. If you are only good to everyone, you cannot save even one person, and your own fate may be severed as well.” (Young Master)
“Chivalry... is not an easy thing.” (Death-Taking Guest)
I nodded.
“Good and evil originally have two sides. If I am evil to them, then I would be good to those imprisoned here.” (Young Master)
“......” (Death-Taking Guest)
Since he had gathered quite a number of aliases, I thought he would know the world well, but it seems that was not the case.
“So...” (Young Master)
I grinned as I looked at the subdued men and said,
“If you do not answer obediently, you will see just how far I can go.” (Young Master)
As soon as my words ended, Warrior Yeo Eungam twisted the sword again.
“Kkaaaaaaagh!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“So it would be good for your well-being to hurry up and spill it. Our Liege is a truly frightening person.” (Warrior Yeo Eungam)
At Warrior Yeo Eungam’s words, I continued.
“The first one to speak will be killed painlessly.” (Young Master)
“......” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“Or would you rather be killed painfully?” (Young Master)
Then a reaction came immediately.
“N-no! I-I will speak!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“I will! I will tell you!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
I lightly tapped one of them.
“You there, speak.” (Young Master)
“Yes!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
He spoke quickly.
“Th-this place is a prison.” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“I know that. And since I am impatient, I might hand the opportunity to someone else...” (Young Master)
“The higher-ups judged that these people were interfering with their work and locked them up here.” (Black Path Martial Artist)
Interfering...
“I do not understand. If they are interfering, they could just kill them, so why go to the trouble...” (Young Master)
That question of mine was answered from elsewhere.
“Because it would be a waste to kill them.” (Yoon Seongjin)
A voice weak and small, but clearly audible.
I turned my gaze toward the place where that voice had come from.
A young man sitting inside the prison and looking this way.
His clothes were worn and shabby, but the light in his eyes alone was clear.
“Could you perhaps be Master Seonhyeop Mirang?” (Yoon Seongjin)
“I am called that. You know me.” (Young Master)
“I saw you during the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Arts Competition.” (Yoon Seongjin)
“I see. Then who are you, Young Master?” (Young Master)
“I am Yoon Seongjin of the Jinsoyoon Family of Anhui Province.” (Yoon Seongjin)
What? Yoon Seongjin of the Jinsoyoon Family?
I could not help but be startled. I had heard of him as well.
“Are you the Young Master Yoon who was said to have gone missing?” (Young Master)
There was a huge reward of five hundred silver coins placed on him.
“Is that how it is known?” (Yoon Seongjin)
“Yes. You are known to have gone missing, Young Master. But what happened?” (Young Master)
“Phew... When I came to my senses, I was here. And when I piece together the things said by those who came in and out of this place, it seems those imprisoned here are people who interfere with their work, but because they have some use, they were locked up like this.” (Yoon Seongjin)
“I see.” (Young Master)
Young Master Yoon Seongjin calmly explained the situation.
In my previous life, he never returned in the end.
“How many people are imprisoned here?” (Young Master)
“I do not know the details either, but there should be more than ten. The number of rice bowls loaded on the cart was about that many.” (Yoon Seongjin)
Even in the midst of that, he had grasped the number of rice bowls on the cart. He was quite calm and strong-willed.
“But why were you imprisoned here, Young Master Yoon?” (Young Master)
“I do not know either.” (Yoon Seongjin)
I turned my head and looked at the Black Path men we had subdued.
They were trembling with their eyes covered.
I asked the Black Path man in blue pants whom I had pointed out.
“So, where are these higher-ups?” (Young Master)
“Th-that is...” (Black Path Martial Artist)
When I shook my head, Warrior Ipil thrust his sword into that man’s shoulder and twisted it.
“Kkaaaaaaagh!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“Is there anyone else who will answer?” (Young Master)
At my question, one Black Path man cried out urgently.
“W-we are the Black Cat Sect. We only did as the Sect Leader ordered!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
The Black Cat Sect...
This place is the middle of Henan.
It is an area firmly held by the Martial Alliance.
And yet some place called the Black Cat Sect or whatever committed such acts without fearing the Martial Alliance?
There is no way.
This was surely done with the Martial Alliance’s tacit approval or under its orders.
“First, it seems we must free those who are imprisoned.” (Young Master)
At my words, Young Master Yoon shook his head.
“You may free us later. Even if we leave the prison now, we cannot be of help.” (Yoon Seongjin)
“Could it be Qi Dispersing Poison?” (Young Master)
“That is right.” (Yoon Seongjin)
No wonder...
The level of the Black Path men guarding this place was not all that high, and there was a reason the prisoners had not been able to escape the prison.
They had been made unable to use martial arts with Qi Dispersing Poison.
I had expected as much.
Even if one is a martial artist, if one cannot use inner arts, one is no different from an ordinary person who is good with weapons and has trained the body a little.
It would be a different story for someone who had learned outer arts, but there is no way such a person would have been locked up here.
“Understood. Then...” (Young Master)
I asked the Black Path men.
“Is there anyone who will guide us to the Black Cat Sect?” (Young Master)
“......” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“There is no one. Then I will burn you alive and kill...” (Young Master)
“I-I will guide you!” (Black Path Martial Artist)
Phew, they only listen after I go as far as threatening them like this.
And so, guided by that Black Path martial artist, I arrived at the Black Cat Sect.
“Mm...” (Young Master)
“Hehehe. How is it? The majesty of our Black Cat Sect! Now you are all as good as dead.” (Black Path Martial Artist)
“......” (Young Master)
The Black Path martial artist beside me laughed vilely.
The Black Cat Sect was larger than I had expected, and it seemed to have many martial artists as well.
“As you said, it is impressive enough to throw its weight around.” (Young Master)
Even with our strength, we could deal with them well enough, but it was not to the point where I could be certain there would be no casualties at all.
How should I...
Ah!
I smiled broadly, and perhaps having seen it, the Death-Taking Guest asked.
“Do you have some good idea, Hyung-nim?” (Death-Taking Guest)
At the Death-Taking Guest’s question, I laughed lightly.
“Younger Brother Death-Taking Guest.” (Young Master)
“Yes?” (Death-Taking Guest)
“There is food someone secretly made to eat in secret. But then someone else comes and says that the food has spoiled, even though it has not, and tells him to throw it away. It is a situation where he cannot say that it has not spoiled, even though he was the one who made it. If, in the end, he cannot even eat it and has to throw away that food he made with his own time and money, he would be quite annoyed, would he not?” (Young Master)
“Would it only be annoyance? Would he not be rather furious? But why do you ask that?” (Death-Taking Guest)
It seems he cannot understand my intent from this alone.
Well, since he does not know the Martial Alliance’s true face...
I did not give him a detailed answer and turned around.
“There is such a thing. Let us move quickly.” (Young Master)
We immediately returned to the prison.
“From now on, move according to my instructions.” (Young Master)
“Yes.” (Warrior)
“We obey your command.” (Warrior)
Since there happened to be paper, brush, and ink there, I wrote a letter and handed it to Warrior Yeo Eungam.
“Deliver this to the Martial Alliance as quickly as possible. And...” (Young Master)
I gave additional instructions.
“Understood.” (Warrior Yeo Eungam)
“Then let us rescue the people here and gather them in one place.” (Young Master)
First, we brought Young Master Yoon out of the prison.
Even if he could not use inner arts, he looked the youngest, so he would be helpful.
“What in the world are you thinking?” (Yoon Seongjin)
“When I went to deal with the Black Cat Sect, it turned out to be a larger sect than expected. So I intend to call reinforcements.” (Young Master)
“Reinforcements, you say?” (Yoon Seongjin)
“Yes. Before that, getting out of this place is important, so we are hurrying.” (Young Master)
As we learned the identities of those imprisoned inside the prison, we could not help but be surprised.
Because most of them were people with names of some renown.
Among them, the identity of one person left even me shocked.
One of the Empire’s Five Divine Physicians, Red-Clad Hua Tuo, had been imprisoned.
He was the foremost authority when it came to treating external injuries.
It was said he always wore red clothes so that even if blood splattered on them, it would not show.
Even now, he was wearing red clothes.
Though after a long time, the color had faded considerably.
He clasped his hands to me.
“I am truly grateful that you have saved us like this.” (Red-Clad Hua Tuo)
“You need not say such things. More importantly, we must hurry and leave this place first.” (Young Master)
Saying that, I asked Warrior Seowoo.
“Have we rescued everyone imprisoned here?” (Young Master)
“Yes. That is correct.” (Warrior Seowoo)
Just then, Red-Clad Hua Tuo spoke.
“There is one more person. That man is... Ah! He is a man whose hair ends are blue, like that young man over there.” (Red-Clad Hua Tuo)
“Pardon?” (Death-Taking Guest)
“Wh-what do you mean? Hair like mine?” (Death-Taking Guest)
The Death-Taking Guest asked with a bewildered face, and Red-Clad Hua Tuo pointed to one place.
“Over there, there is one more prison.” (Red-Clad Hua Tuo)
At those words, the Death-Taking Guest immediately ran there, and I followed behind him as well.
There was one more prison there.
And this was below the place where the willow grove I had seen earlier was growing.
Then this must be the place where I heard the groaning.
Slice!
The Death-Taking Guest immediately cut the bars and rushed inside.
Then he sank down in front of a man lying on the ground and cried out.
“Master! Master! Please come to your senses! It is me, Gyeok! Gyeok has come!” (Death-Taking Guest)
I approached them. Then I quietly reached out and checked the middle-aged man’s pulse.
That is a relief.
He was not dead yet, only unconscious.
But he was greatly exhausted and in poor condition.
It seemed he had not even been able to eat proper meals, and being locked in such a damp place for a long time, there was no way his health would be good.
Red-Clad Hua Tuo spoke from behind.
“He was in critical condition from the time I first came here. I treated his external injuries, but that was the best I could do.” (Red-Clad Hua Tuo)
“Then, Divine Physician, were you treating the people here?” (Young Master)
“How could I stand by and watch people dying? So I pleaded with them and treated them as much as I could under their watch.” (Red-Clad Hua Tuo)
“I see.” (Young Master)
In other words, the reason the people here had been able to survive until now was thanks to Red-Clad Hua Tuo’s treatment.
“That man is not merely afflicted with Qi Dispersing Poison, but has been poisoned with an even more severe poison. I have suppressed it with acupuncture, but he will not be able to endure for very long.” (Red-Clad Hua Tuo)
Poison...
I had guessed as much when I saw my inner arts move while checking his pulse.
If it is an ordinary poison, I can detoxify it.
But before that, leaving this place comes first.
It would be troublesome if the Black Cat Sect bastards swarmed in as a group.
“Hurry and carry him on your back. Let us leave this place.” (Young Master)
“Understood. Hyung-nim.” (Death-Taking Guest)
Like this, by chance, we were able to find the Death-Taking Guest’s Master as well.
The Martial Alliance.
A single letter delivered as dawn broke was in the Alliance Leader’s hand.
It was a letter brought by a martial artist, and he had stood before the main gate and shouted loudly.
“It is an urgent message from Seonhyeop Mirang, the hero of the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Arts Competition!” (Martial Artist)
The name Seonhyeop Mirang was quite famous in Luoyang.
Not only were the events of the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Arts Competition still being talked about, but the stories that followed were also widely known among the people.
For that reason, this letter could not help but immediately fall into the hands of the Martial Alliance Leader.
He unfolded the letter.
[This is Eun Seoho, Young Head of the Eunha Merchant Guild and one who has received the Alliance Leader’s grace, bowing my head to the ground as I present this letter to the Alliance Leader. The matter is none other than this: while passing through the lands of Henan, I discovered and rescued people trapped in a cave, and in the process learned that they were connected to a Black Path group called the Black Cat Sect...]
“Phew.” (Martial Alliance Leader)
The Alliance Leader could only sigh and crumple that letter.
The Black Cat Sect.
It was a place he knew well himself.
Because the one who had ordered them to create a prison in the cave and confine people there was none other than the Alliance Leader.
‘You stupid bastards!’ (Martial Alliance Leader)
Honestly, he wanted to ignore this letter, but he could not.
Eun Seoho was the person to whom he himself had given the alias Seonhyeop Mirang.
It made no sense to ignore a letter from such a person.
Moreover, because of the final contents, he could even less afford to do so.
[I wondered if perhaps this matter was related to traitors, so I also requested support from the Imperial Palace.]
If the Imperial Palace were to discover anything connected to him...
He squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip.
Before that happened, he had to get rid of the Black Cat Sect.
“Summon an emergency meeting! Immediately!” (Martial Alliance Leader)