The Return of the Sw Chapter 104 : The End of a Wicked Move. -01

Chapter 104: The End of a Wicked Move. -01

They had won the battle, but they had not subdued every assassin.

A few quick-witted assassins had hidden themselves instead of joining the fight.

They remained perfectly still, waiting for Ban Hojin and his party to leave.

Unfortunately for them, their presence had already been completely detected by Ban Hojin.

“Hohoho. If you do that, we’d be grateful.”

“To be honest, we’re quite exhausted.”

“Whew. Age cannot be deceived. I’m really not what I used to be.”

At the Eight Protectors’ lighthearted banter, Ban Hojin smiled faintly.

Then he silently sealed the paralysis acupoint and mute acupoint of the Dark Moon Sect Leader, who was keeping his mouth shut and cautiously reading the situation, and turned around.

Although it was his first visit in this life, he had been here in his previous life, so Ban Hojin knew where the training compound was located.

He had already confirmed it by focusing his sensory perception.

Thus, Ban Hojin immediately set the direction.

“We’re coming too.”

“Shouldn’t we take the Dark Moon Sect Leader with us just in case? If there’s still an assassin hiding, they might try to take him.”

“The Dark Moon Sect Leader can be carried by Joun, since he’s the most injured. As for the small fry, I or Iryong can handle them without Brother having to step in. Just tell us where they’re hiding and we’ll capture them.”

“I still have some strength left.”

Following closely beside Ban Hojin, Seonwu Bang, Seo Joun, Moyong Cheok, and Jeong I-ryong spoke in turn.

It was as if they were declaring that they would go with him no matter what.

Seeing them approach, all equally smeared with wound medicine, Ban Hojin let out a quiet chuckle.

“If you’re that worried, then do as you wish.”

“Leave it to us!”

With Ban Hojin’s permission, Seo Joun quickly hoisted the Dark Moon Sect Leader over his shoulder.

As if he were carrying baggage.

The Dark Moon Sect Leader writhed in agony, unable even to cry out.

“Huff…!”

“You heavens-defying fiends!”

Guided by Ban Hojin under the guise of coincidence, Beopmu and the Eight Protectors arrived at the training compound and widened their eyes.

Seeing children who appeared no older than ten imprisoned like livestock filled them with fury.

And the others were no different.

Especially the youngest, Seo Joun, whose eyes grew moist as his emotions surged.

“Save your anger for later. The children first.”

“That’s right. There’s no time to be angry.”

“I’ll free them at once!”

At Ban Hojin’s words, the group scattered.

Even anger was a luxury they could not afford at the moment.

The rage filling their chests could be released later. The four of them, along with Beopmu and the Eight Protectors, moved swiftly and rescued the children crammed into the tiny rooms.

“Urk!”

Then Jeong I-ryong made a sound as if suppressing vomit.

At the sight before him—something he could scarcely believe even as he saw it—he covered his mouth with his hand.

Otherwise, he felt he would retch.

“Ugh….”

A boy, apparently caught while trying to escape, had all four limbs severed and was bound to chains hanging from the ceiling like pork in a butcher’s shop. Seeing this, Jeong I-ryong squeezed his eyes shut.

He could not bear to look any longer.

“Do not avert your eyes. Even as you do, the child’s suffering only lengthens.”

“C-couldn’t he be saved?”

The voice was flat, yet far from indifferent.

Rather, it felt as though killing intent and fury were being forcefully restrained.

That was why Jeong I-ryong stared at Ban Hojin’s back with reddened eyes.

“Would the child wish it?”

“Khk!”

At the sight of the boy’s sunken eye sockets, hollow where his eyeballs should have been, Jeong I-ryong swallowed his tears.

But despite his effort, they slipped down from the corners of his eyes and traced his cheeks.

“Insane…!”

“These bastards!”

At the unnatural tone in Jeong I-ryong’s voice, Seonwu Bang and Moyong Cheok rushed inside.

Then they roared in fury.

The moment they saw it, they understood what had happened.

Moreover, on either side of the room, the corpses of children were rotting away.

“In your next life, be born into a good family. And as an adult… I am sorry.”

Though his ears had also been cut off and he would not hear, Ban Hojin spoke noheless.

It was not his crime, yet as an adult, he felt he had to say these words.

At the same time, he used his internal energy to stop the boy’s heart.

So that the child would feel as little pain as possible, and end his life in peace.

“I will never let this go!”

Feeling the child’s breathing gradually weaken in his arms, Seonwu Bang kicked the door open.

True to his usual fondness for children, he was consumed by extreme fury.

To the point that one might not have thought such a side existed in him.

Yet no one stopped him.

Boom! Bang!

A thick killing intent, heavier than any they had felt while fighting the Dark Moon Sect, surged explosively from outside the building.

It was Seonwu Bang’s killing intent.

At the chilling aura, Jeong I-ryong and Moyong Cheok shuddered involuntarily.

“He won’t kill them all, will he?”

“He won’t kill them. He’ll probably make them just like these children.”

“That’s good enough. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. They should suffer the same as what they’ve done.”

“What’s gotten into you? I didn’t expect to hear that from you.”

“Beasts should be treated like beasts. People like people.”

Moyong Cheok was genuinely surprised.

He had not expected such words from Jeong I-ryong of all people.

“I’m human too. How could I not be angry after seeing this?”

“Fair enough. Hoo.”

“Still, I’m worried about the children. It’ll be hard for them to return to their original lives, won’t it?”

“Probably. But we have to try.”

Jeong I-ryong and Moyong Cheok’s gazes turned toward Ban Hojin.

For some reason, it felt as though Ban Hojin might have a solution.

“We’ll have to look into it. First, let’s clear this place.”

“Yes.”

While the two conversed, Ban Hojin removed the iron skewers piercing through the boy’s shoulders and gently laid him on the floor.

Then he pressed his palms together toward the boy’s body.

In his previous life, he had assaulted the Dark Moon Sect’s stronghold, but he had never entered the training compound, so this sight was new even to Ban Hojin.

Thus, Ban Hojin closed his eyes and prayed for the repose of the boy—and the children who had died here.

“I’ll hurry even more.”

“There might be another room like this.”

After pressing their palms together toward the children at Ban Hojin’s side, the two men hurriedly left the room.

They feared there might be another place like this.

Fortunately, there were no more rooms like it.

Whooosh!

After rescuing all the surviving children, Ban Hojin gave Seo Joun a glance.

He could use a fire talisman, but it seemed better to ignite a large blaze at once with Extreme Yang Energy.

As if understanding his meaning at once, Seo Joun raised Extreme Yang Energy with both hands and set the fire.

Thud.

As befitted the name Extreme Yang Energy, a massive blaze instantly devoured the building. Watching it, Ban Hojin quietly pressed his palms together.

The others followed suit, offering prayers for the children who had died here.

Unlike the busy Geum Family Estate warriors moving about, Ban Hojin leisurely clasped his hands behind his back and looked up at the western sky.

The sunset had begun, and the sky was slowly turning red.

“No matter how much you search, you won’t find what you want.”

Left alone, the Dark Moon Sect Leader spoke with a sardonic smile.

Knowing what Ban Hojin sought, he snickered.

He anticipated the frustrated expression Ban Hojin would soon wear.

Yet regardless of his expectations, Ban Hojin’s expression did not change.

“Do you think I kept you alive for evidence?”

“Isn’t that so? Isn’t that why you came all this way?”

“That part is true.”

“Search for a hundred days. You’ll never find it.”

“So there is something that could be called evidence?”

Ban Hojin spoke as if probing him.

The Dark Moon Sect Leader curled his lips into an unpleasant grin.

“Kekeke! Well? Is there? Or isn’t there?”

“You seem excited.”

“I may die, but you won’t get what you want either!”

The moment his limbs were severed, his life as a martial artist had effectively ended.

Moreover, having seen him mercilessly slaughter subordinates who had surrendered, his eyes filled with malice, the Dark Moon Sect Leader had already abandoned any desire to live.

But he did not intend to die easily.

He planned to torment Ban Hojin until his very last breath.

“That’s your wish.”

“You seem to trust the Geum Family Estate, but this is the Dark Moon Sect. No one knows this place better than I do.”

“Not everyone is dead yet.”

“Even if they’re alive, they’re as good as dead. You think they’ll cooperate?”

“They probably won’t.”

The Dark Moon Sect Leader sneered.

Though Ban Hojin acted indifferent on the surface, surely he must be anxious inside.

Destroying the Dark Moon Sect was a first act of revenge, but it would not satisfy him.

Even if the Dark Moon Sect disappeared, as long as the client remained alive, a second or third force would target Ban Hojin.

‘Strong as he may be, he’s still human. A martial artist might endure for a month somehow, but no one survives an entire year.’

If he were at the level of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven, no assassin sect would accept such a commission—but Ban Hojin had not yet reached that height.

Though recognized as a powerful figure beyond the rising generation, he was not yet so formidable that assassin sects would not even attempt it. Thus, he would continue living under the threat of assassination.

At least until he rose to the level of the Murim Ten Kings.

No—more likely, the client would try to eliminate him before that happened.

“In the end, you’re destined to die! Kekeke! Kuhahaha!”

“Everyone dies someday. But the moment I die will be decided by me. Not by someone else.”

“You’d like to believe that. But that wish won’t come true! Even in death, I’ll curse you!”

“I suppose I should shut that mouth first.”

Looking down at the Dark Moon Sect Leader, who was desperately trying to provoke him, Ban Hojin grinned.

The more stubbornly the man struggled, the more he felt like teasing him.

“No matter what you try, you won’t be able to silence me! Unless you seal my mute acupoint!”

“That won’t do. I need to hear your screams and lamentations. The moment of your death is already decided. It will be when you are in utmost despair and frustration.”

“Hmph! Empty bluster!”

The Dark Moon Sect Leader snorted.

He considered it absurd nonsense.

Yet at Ban Hojin’s next action, his pupils wavered.

Thud. Thud.

“Let’s see. It should be around here.”

“What are you suddenly doing?”

“What does it look like? I’m cracking open someone else’s vault. A secret vault at that.”

“A s-secret vault? I have no such thing!”

“Then why are you stuttering?”

Though he tried to appear calm, Ban Hojin saw it clearly.

The man was visibly shaken.

As befitted a former Special-Grade Assassin, he controlled his breathing and expression—but the body could not lie.

There was a reason it was called body language.

Thud!

“Here it is.”

After tapping around with his heel, Ban Hojin grinned when he heard a subtly different sound.

As if he had found exactly what he sought.

To the Dark Moon Sect Leader, that smile appeared utterly wicked.

At the same time, he swallowed dryly without realizing it.

“You don’t have time to waste on pointless things.”

“Why not? The minor tasks are being handled by the Geum Family Estate men. The display vaults and warehouses too. But the real one is right here.”

Thrust.

Locking eyes with the Dark Moon Sect Leader, who was still pretending nonchalance, Ban Hojin crouched down.

Squatting, he plunged his hand into the ground. As though touching tofu, his right hand crushed through the earth and burrowed inward with ease.

Rumble—

Soon, the ground trembled.

As a square iron plate, just large enough to fit a grown man, revealed itself while clumps of dirt fell away, the Dark Moon Sect Leader’s mouth fell open in disbelief.

“Well now, how should I thank you? For increasing my wealth.”