Chapter 87: Becoming Free
My and Hansanha’s silence was broken unexpectedly.
Because a group of people leaped out from the houses in the alley all at once.
“To interfere with the great work!”
“Die!”
“Tear apart the shackles of humanity with the fangs and claws of a beast!”
They were Demonic Cult bastards.
Buuuuk, the sound of clothes tearing was heard, and the sweet scent of demonic arts wafted over.
The Demonic Cult mbers had transford in mid-air.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
By the ti they landed in front, behind, to the left, and to the right, they were already in the form of half-beasts, no longer human.
“Krrrrrr.”
“Uwoooo.”
The alley was filled with the cries of beasts.
In the midst of it, my and Hansanha’s eyes t.
Hansanha took out two short, curved blades from his sleeves and shouted.
“Sword Hero, be careful!”
A wolf-humanoid lunged at him.
“Branch Leader! Be careful!”
Thump, thump, thump.
I heard the sound of hooves from behind .
I whipped around to see a humanoid with deer antlers charging at .
“Wolves, deer, bears, goats, these animal friends are so close!”
I waited until the humanoid got close and then slightly twisted my body.
The creature tried to accelerate and pass by, but.
I didn’t miss.
I cut the neck of the humanoid whose side was exposed with Mukheun.
The severed head flew into the air.
The head, propelled by the acceleration, flew for a while before its antlers stuck into the ground, and it stood upside down.
Due to the elasticity of the antlers, the head swung back and forth.
Paak, the large hand of the bear-humanoid swatted the head away. Blood and brain matter scattered and flew into the alley.
The mont the bear-humanoid tried to retract its hand.
“Too late.”
The creature’s eyes widened for a mont.
I flew in in an instant with the Xun Trigram Technique and brought Mukheun down.
“Guwak.”
Naturally, the creature’s head was split vertically.
“Branch Leader!”
After taking down two of them, I had a mont to look at Hansanha again.
“You bastards! Don’t underestimate the martial arts of the Rogues’ Guild!”
He deflected the sharp claws of the wolf-humanoid and then dug into its embrace, delivering a series of strikes.
The way he moved his feet briskly and wielded the short blades in both hands.
It was undoubtedly a martial art from the south.
Many of the Rogues’ Guild’s branch leaders were not skilled in martial arts, but fortunately, Hansanha was skilled enough not to worry about.
If so.
Woooong—, Mukheun cried out with all its might.
“Yes, let’s go!”
The beasts, as if they had heard my battle cry, rushed in one after another.
But they were nothing more than fourth-grade demonic beasts, the lowest of the four grades in the Demonic Beast Illustrated Guide.
I am the one who fought against even the highest-grade demonic beasts!
I hooked Mukheun on the horn of the charging goat-humanoid and spun it around.
Then, I rcilessly brought it down and cut off another horned head.
A wolf, a tiger, and a snake followed, but it was the sa.
“You ca together, so go together!”
Paak!
The tiger’s head was the last.
The floor of the alley was filled with severed heads.
Then, I looked around the alley.
“Huh? Where is he?”
I couldn’t see Hansanha.
“Branch Leader, where are you?”
“H-here. Heok, heok, heok…”
From under the corpse of the goat-humanoid, a curved blade suddenly appeared.
It seems he was pinned down while fighting.
“Heave-ho. Are you alright?”
As I moved the corpse, Hansanha got up.
Red blood was dripping onto his white hair.
“Wh-what is all this?”
“Congratulations on becoming a Beast ridian Hunter (獵師).”
Whether he was pinned under a corpse or had blood splattered on his head, he had achieved victory.
But Hansanha waved his hands.
“Beast ridian Hunter? What are you saying to a bookstore owner. Heok, heok… Let’s just say the Sword Hero did all this. I don’t want to get involved with the Demonic Cult. Heok…”
He caught his breath for a mont.
“Sword Hero, what is really going on?”
“How did you end up here, Branch Leader?”
“My mbers reported that a group of people ca out of this alley and scattered quickly. Since it was the alley where the Guild Leader disappeared, I didn’t take it lightly and ca to see for myself.”
“I see.”
“And there was the Sword Hero, standing with a sword. And then the Demonic Cult mbers appeared. What is all this?”
He had co to investigate and had been caught up in a fight.
“Before that, just a mont. Where did the people who ca out of here go?”
“It was very sudden, and they also scattered in different directions. My mbers are looking for them, but we haven’t found out where they headed yet.”
I looked around the alley, it was deserted and quiet.
It was not much different from when I had co to inspect this place before.
It was a perfect place to hide secretly.
“What’s going on is—”
I told him about what had happened inside the complex.
“Is that true? The Demonic Cult tried to take over the entire complex?”
“It’s true. If we hadn’t found out now, they would have actually taken it over.”
“Heo, Sword Hero, that is truly a great achievent. The prestigious families inside the complex will surely revere you as a benefactor.”
Ah, is that so?
Not just the Han family, but everyone?
“But that’s for later. I couldn’t find the Guild Leader in Madam Jeong’s residence.”
“You couldn’t find him? Does that an—”
“It seems the Demonic Cult took the Guild Leader with them when they fled.”
Hansanha’s face contorted.
“The information the Guild Leader knows is so vast……. They won’t let him go easily.”
“That’s right. But if they eventually think he is a hindrance to their escape, they might take action.”
“No, no! Sword Hero, I will go to my mbers right away.”
“I will also keep moving. If there is any new news, please let know. If you can’t find , please tell Jayeong.”
“I understand!”
Hansanha left imdiately, without even tending to his wounds.
“Huu……”
Who could be the commander-in-chief?
They sent a rare pangolin to the selection tournant.
Now, they used fourth-grade demonic beasts, but with quite deep demonic arts, as a way to buy ti.
Only soone at the level of an elder in the Beast ridian could pull off sothing like this.
“Mukheun, we might have a hard ti this ti.”
Woooong—, my friend says it’s fine, no matter what.
As it always has been.
“Sword Hero!”
At that mont, my old comrade-in-arms, Jang Gangcheon, ca running out of the tunnel.
No, have we beco comrades-in-arms again?
“The fire at the residence? How did you appear from the tunnel?”
“The Virtuous Mothers' Association is well-prepared for fires. They put it out in no ti.”
So perfect control is good in that respect.
Jang Gangcheon looked at the Demonic Cult mbers in the alley.
“This is?”
“Those Demonic Cult bastards were buying ti. It seems the main force has already escaped from the alley.”
“Really? If so, then please entrust the search to our Beggar’s Gang.”
“The Beggar’s Gang will step up?”
“Isn’t it obvious? In Kaifeng, where our main headquarters is located, how dare they! This is a matter of pride!”
That’s right.
If they let them get away here too, the Beggar’s Gang wouldn’t be able to hold their heads up for a while.
Seeing the fire in Jang Gangcheon’s eyes, it seed I could entrust the search to him.
“Wait, but there are a few things to be careful about. There’s sothing that’s bothering too. Let’s ask for this as well.”
After hearing all my words, Jang Gangcheon looked at with a strange expression.
“Why are you looking at like that?”
“Sword Hero, how do you know all this? You’re not soone from twenty years ago, but you’re incredibly skilled in fighting the Demonic Cult.”
Not the past, but the future, not twenty years ago, but we will fight in the future.
But it’s the sa for Jang Gangcheon.
“You will soon beco skilled too.”
“?”
“I guarantee it.”
Jang Gangcheon tilted his head, but there was no ti to linger.
He soon headed to the Beggar’s Gang for the search.
Now, the Demonic Cult’s tail has been stepped on.
If they had been hiding completely underground, it would have been different, but they have been spotted by people.
And the Rogues’ Guild and the Beggar’s Gang have started the search at the sa ti.
It won’t be long now.
.
.
“Hey, but did you stop by the house? Shouldn’t you be leaving right away?”
Jayeong asked .
After sending the Rogues’ Guild and the Beggar’s Gang on the search.
I was also thinking of searching within Kaifeng City.
“I have to deliver the news to you too. So that you won’t be surprised when soone from the Rogues’ Guild or the Beggar’s Gang cos. I told them to tell you if they can’t find .”
“That’s true.”
Jayeong’s face was flushed.
Today is the fourth day since we arrived in Kaifeng.
Now that we are finally on her brother’s trail, she must want to go out herself.
“They say the Demonic Cult is on the loose, so I can’t leave Taebok alone.”
“I t Elder Pao earlier. The three elders all said they would guard this place. And the Beggar’s Gang mbers will be guarding it too.”
“If anyone breaks through, they will get a taste of my steel abacus.”
“Hmm, that’s right.”
Taebok was lying on the bed.
He looks at the pieces hanging from the bed with a peaceful face.
It’s a toy made of animal-shaped wooden pieces tied to a stick and balanced.
Tock, when I turn it, the toy spins round and round.
I can’t tell if he’s concentrating on the rotation or just staring blankly.
One thing is for sure, it’s lovely.
“The animal pieces are fun, right? When you grow up, you won’t have to see hideous things like the Beast ridian Demonic Cult. Because your father will have put them all away sowhere.”
For example, the underworld.
Jayeong chuckled and ca to my side.
“Or should I make this toy with the heads of the Beast ridian demonic beasts?”
“……”
“What do you think, Taebok?”
“……”
No, that’s a bit too much…
Banggeut—, Taebok smiled.
His eyes crinkle, and his small, toothless mouth opens slightly.
“You smiled? Does it seem like a good idea, Taebok?”
“W-wait a minute. Just because he smiled, it doesn’t an that…”
Baaanggeut—, Taebok’s smile grew wider.
So pretty.
It is pretty, but.
Taebok, if you smile like that now, your mother is going to do sothing amazing.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Why are you so stiff?”
“Ah, a joke. Huu.”
It was a joke.
I still have a long way to go with both curses and jokes.
And most of all.
‘Given your personality in your pri, I thought you might actually do it.’
“Right, of course it has to be a joke. It’s horrifying just to think about it.”
“What are you thinking? Why would I make sothing like that?”
While we were deliberately trying to ease the tension like this.
Thump, thump, thump.
A knock was heard on the door.
Soone has co.
We looked at each other.
“Stay by Taebok’s side.”
“Yes, please call if there’s news about my brother.”
I headed towards the main gate.
“Who is it. The Beggar’s Gang? The Rogues’ Guild? Or?”
The Demonic Cult?
“It’s the Association Leader.”
“Ah?”
The Association Leader?
Isn’t she busy taking care of things inside the complex right now?
First, I opened the main gate and let her in.
“I won’t go inside the house. I just ca to say hello and leave.”
“Say hello?”
“Yes, the greetings of the noble families inside the complex, and my own greetings.”
The day had now completely set.
She said she would return right away, but we couldn’t talk in the dark.
I lit a torch and placed it in the torch holder in the yard.
Hwareuk, the wind shook it once and passed by.
“First, on behalf of the prestigious families, I would like to extend my greetings.”
The Association Leader got to the point.
“Thank you. Great Hero Jin Yeomyeong is now the benefactor of our Kaifeng prestigious families.”
She bowed deeply.
Hansanha had said earlier that the prestigious families would revere as a benefactor.
And now, before a day had even passed, the Association Leader had co to find and lowered herself.
“If it weren’t for the Sword Hero, our Virtuous Mothers' Association would have lost all the children we so cherished to the Demonic Cult.”
Since what she said was true, there was no need for to say words of modesty.
Whether they relied on the Magic Pill or learned demonic arts.
Either way, the children of the Kaifeng prestigious families would have been subjugated by the Demonic Cult.
“From now on, the Kaifeng prestigious families will all step forward for Great Hero Jin’s requests. It will be the top priority of the Virtuous Mothers' Association.”
I had only followed the children before my eyes.
And now, the gratitude of the Kaifeng prestigious families followed .
Several things I could do with their power co to mind.
The Association Leader’s greetings were not over.
“My greetings are also words of gratitude. Not as the Association Leader, but as Hahou Seojin, thank you. This is not a re formality, but my sincere heart.”
Even without adding that it was sincere, I could feel the sincerity in her voice.
It was a voice filled with a mother’s gratitude, not the dignity of the Association Leader.
There is sothing I want to ask her.
“Will the policy of the Virtuous Mothers' Association change now?”
Perfect control.
Will the policy that had so many cracks now change?
“Well. I don’t know.”
“Then will you still continue with that policy—”
“I’m not the Association Leader anymore.”
“?”
I looked at her face again.
“I’m thinking of asking Madam Yang, Handangyudo’s mother, to be the Association Leader. I believe she can lead the new Virtuous Mothers' Association well.”
Hwareuk, the torch was pushed by the wind, and its light cast upon Hahou Seojin.
Sothing had changed.
The face that had been filled with majesty, dignity, and sternness is now.
“You’ve let go, and beco free.”
“What did you say?”
“I said you’ve beco free.”
Yes, before, her face was filled with so many things.
Now all those things have gone.
So might say she has lost her energy.
But in my view, it’s different.
“Perfect control. I can imagine how much you must have worried and been tense for that. Haven’t you let go of everything now?”
“Ha. You can see that?”
“I have my own story too.”
Because I too have lived with a heavy burden.
The mirror I looked into then and the mirror I see now, the sa person, yet a different person is reflected.
My face, free from the taut tension and fatigue.
I like how it is now.
“Really? Well, everyone has a story.”
She smiled faintly.
“Then I’ll be on my way. I won’t take up any more of your ti. You should spend ti with your cute son.”
Hahou Seojin turned her body.
Did she really just co to say hello?
“You could have co slowly.”
“I give my thanks right away. Moreover, since you’re a martial artist, you might leave.”
Hmm.
The image that cos to mind when you think of a martial artist includes one who roams the world.
But I cannot leave.
“I ca to Kaifeng because there is soone I want to find. I cannot leave until I find him.”
“Soone you want to find? Please tell . Our Kaifeng prestigious families will do our best to help.”
“No. The search will soon—”
Thud.
The door of the main house behind opened.
“My lady?”
Jayeong ca out of the house, holding Taebok.
“What is it?”
She slowly, little by little, approached us.
Hwareuk, the torch flickered in the wind, and the fla grew for a mont.
That light shone on , Jayeong, and Hahou Seojin.
And after a mont, Jayeong said a word to Hahou Seojin.
“…Mihyang unnie?”
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