Chapter 10
Chang’an County in Shaanxi Province.
Though it couldn’t compare to Xi’an, the provincial capital, it was still a fairly sizable city.
In particular, the black market (underground organisations) of Shaanxi Province was known for being especially ruthless and vicious, despite its scale.
That was because its members had struggled desperately to survive against the likes of Huashan and Zhongnan clans, two of the old-time factions.
To bring trade goods from the Western Regions into major provinces like Beijing, Anhui, and Hubei, one had to pass through Shaanxi.
Since trade in Shaanxi was naturally active, money flowed freely. For the underworld, that meant ample opportunities to exploit.
Despite the presence of two major clans from the Nine Great clans, the black market had stubbornly maintained its grip on the region. And in Shaanxi, after Xi’an’s black market, the second-largest organization was Seo Cheon Ho.
Its name claimed dominion over the western underworld, and the fact that it remained in power meant that no rival factions in the vicinity dared challenge them.
At that moment, the atmosphere in Seo Cheon Ho was tense.
Inside the large office of the organisation’s leader, rows of black-clad men stood in formation on either side.
At the end of the room sat Nam Il-cheon, the leader of Seo Cheon Ho, his expression hardened.
“What was the Tiger Hunting team’s last mission?” he asked.
“An assassination attempt on a candidate for the Murim Alliance selection.”
Bang!
Nam Il-cheon slammed his fist down, shattering the armrest of his chair.
“Who was in charge?!”
The general manager of Seo Cheon Ho trembled but quickly wracked his brain for an answer.
“I-It was the head of the Red Snake Squad, sir.”
At that moment, among the warriors standing in formation, the Red Snake Squad leader clenched his eyes shut.
Ever since communication had been cut off with the Tiger Hunting team, he had feared this moment would come.
“Step forward.”
Nam Il-cheon’s chilling voice filled the office.
The Red Snake Squad leader cautiously took a step forward.
Clang!
A teacup flew through the air and smashed against his head. Blood trickled down his face, but he didn’t flinch.
He knew that if he showed even the slightest resistance, it wouldn’t be a teacup coming next—it would be a sword.
Nam Il-cheon, his fierce aura now subdued, asked coldly,
“Why did you take on a request involving the Murim Alliance?”
The squad leader remained silent. There was no way he could say, ‘Because the client offered me a hefty bonus.’
“…Reason.”
Nam Il-cheon’s pressure intensified. Though his expression remained calm, his sheer presence weighed down on the squad leader like an invisible force.
The Red Snake Squad leader instinctively realized,
‘The boss might actually kill me.’
Thud.
He dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor.
“I-I’m sorry! The client offered a huge bonus, so I thought that if I handled it well, it would please you, my lord…!”
“…Enough.”
The suffocating pressure vanished instantly. The squad leader let out a quiet sigh of relief.
‘D-Did he believe me?’
But Nam Il-cheon simply gazed at him coldly before turning to the general manager.
“Bring the ledger.”
The general manager immediately produced a record book he had prepared in advance.
The Red Snake Squad leader’s eyes widened in horror…it was the very ledger containing details of the request.
Nam Il-cheon slowly read through the contents and spoke in an icy tone,
“Five taels of silver.”
The squad leader trembled, still bowing.
“Doesn’t seem much different from the usual pay.”
Nam Il-cheon continued,
“You said you got a bonus. Why isn’t it recorded in the ledger?”
Silence.
There was no possible excuse.
Nam Il-cheon stood from his seat and walked forward.
A shadow loomed over the squad leader’s bowed head.
“Sp-Spare me…”
“Why would I?”
“That…”
There were no words left to say.
Nam Il-cheon, who had been looking down at the pitiful sight before him, raised his fist high. A crimson aura flickered around his fist.
He was one of the most renowned martial artists in Shaanxi.
It was said that the number of warriors who had died at his hands exceeded one hundred, earning him the nickname Hundred-Killer Fist.
Nam Il-cheon’s fist descended to crush the head of the Red Snake Leader.
The Red Snake Leader tightly gripped his own head and clenched his eyes shut.
At that moment, the fist halted right above his skull.
“…No, that’s not right.”
Come to think of it, letting him die so easily after causing all this trouble would be too much of a mercy.
“Get up.”
The Red Snake Leader sprang to his feet as if he had been flung upward.
Whatever was said before didn’t matter—only the fact that he was being spared did.
“Th-Thank you!”
“Shut up. You’re going to take responsibility and clean up the mess you made. If anything goes wrong, even if I have to become a fugitive hunted by the Murim Alliance, I will make sure to rip your infant son to pieces.”
The Red Snake Leader suddenly felt like he couldn’t breathe.
He had a child—one that no one knew about.
A child born from a fleeting night with a woman he did not love. But still, he had taken responsibility for the child, as it was his own.
It was a secret he had never told anyone out of shame.
Yet, the Lord of Seo Cheon Ho already knew. A chill ran down the spines of every warrior present.
It meant that the Lord kept a close watch on the movements of all his subordinates.
The Red Snake Leader bowed his head.
“I have already taken measures. I sent my men, the Howling Fang team and the Execution team, to assess the situation. Just in case, I also requested assistance from the Silent Bear Squad and the Dark Stone Squad leaders to set up a defensive perimeter.”
Though he had made a mistake, he thought he had handled the situation fairly well.
By taking action first and reporting later, he hoped the Lord’s anger would subside, even if just a little.
But the result was the exact opposite.
“You **** *****s!”
“…”
The Red Snake Squad Leader looked at the Lord in utter bewilderment.
The Lord’s furious roar continued.
“Three of you *****s knew about this, and I’m only hearing about it now?! You worthless scum!!”
The Red Snake Squad Leader hurriedly bowed his head.
The Lord of Seo Cheon Ho was overwhelmed with the urge to crush his skull on the spot.
But then..
“Lord, why are you making such a fuss over nothing?”
A calm yet aged voice resonated through the office.
At the same time, the office door opened, and an elderly man with a kind face entered.
But despite his gentle appearance, the atmosphere in the room changed entirely the moment he arrived.
His presence, unintentional yet overwhelming, took full control of the vast office.
The Lord of Seo Cheon Ho’s demeanor immediately shifted.
“Ahem, I apologize. I’ve shown an unsightly side of myself.”
“It’s fine. Since you’ve been helping me, I figured I should return the favor this time.”
The Lord of Seo Cheon Ho’s eyes lit up.
“Oh, I’m grateful beyond words, but how could I dare ask for such a favor from you, lord demon? I didn’t do any of this expecting something in return.”
He was referring to the abduction of women brimming with yin energy for Suramagun.
Suramagun chuckled and replied,
“Does my assistance make you uncomfortable?”
“…O-Of course not!”
The Lord of Seo Cheon Ho hurriedly bowed his head.
Even though he was called the Hundred-Killer Fist and ruled over the Black market of Chang’an, the man before him was none other than the direct descendant of the Dark Heavenly Emperor/Lord.
Among his disciples, not a single one had failed to leave a mark on the martial world.
The Dark Heavenly Emperor may have vanished, but his shadow still loomed over Murim.
Suramagun chuckled and said,
“I, too, am human. Taking without giving makes me uneasy. I will resolve this matter, so don’t concern yourself with it.”
“Thank you, Dark Demon Lord.”1This’s not his nickname or a title he is famous with. It’s just a horrific to address him respectfully.
The Lord of Seo Cheon Ho bowed deeply in gratitude.
The warriors of Seo Cheon Ho shuddered in terror.
The man they feared so greatly was humbling himself before this person—just how monstrous was he?
Suramagun smiled kindly and patted the Red Snake Squad Leader’s shoulder. The Red Snake Squad Leader flinched violently, but Suramagun seemed amused by his reaction.
“Young one, everyone makes mistakes. It is forgivable. However, those who make the same mistake twice do not deserve to be treated as human. I still consider you human.”
“I-I will do my best.”
“Effort is not enough.”
“I will remember it without fail!”
Suramagun laughed in satisfaction.
In this moment, he looked like a benevolent scholar devoted to a lifetime of learning.
“Since you have already taken measures, if anything unusual happens, report to me directly, not the Lord. I will personally intervene.”
“…U-Understood.”
Just then…
The office doors burst open.
All eyes turned to the man who entered.
It was the deputy leader of the Silent Bear Squad, who had been asked by the Red Snake Leader to assist with the cleanup. His clothes were tattered, and his face was covered in blood.
“A-A disaster has occurred…”
His desperate cry sent a wave of unease through the room.
Suramagun spoke in a calm yet deep tone.
“Speak.”
The deputy leader took a deep breath, composing himself, then spoke.
“The subordinates under the Red Snake Squad Leader—the Howling Fang team and the Execution team—as well as the Dark Stone Squad have all lost communication. Sensing something was wrong, our Silent Bear Squad investigated the situation, and…”
He trailed off.
The Lord of Seo Cheon Ho exploded in fury.
“Speak quickly, you worthless maggot!”
The deputy leader flinched and hurriedly continued.
“…They were annihilated.”
“What?”
The Lord of Seo Cheon Ho’s face went blank.
“Did you flee alone? Did you personally confirm that Silent Bear Squad was completely wiped out?”
The deputy leader shook his head and stammered,
“I-I did not flee… That monster let me go.”
“What kind of nonsense is that? Why would such a skilled warrior spare you?”
“That’s because…”
“You **** ******, stop stalling and speak!”
The Lord raised his fist, ready to crush the deputy’s head.
But before he could, Suramagun caught his wrist and let out a sigh.
“Calm yourself. We must hear him out before acting.”
Suramagun turned to the deputy leader and smiled gently.
“Take your time and explain. Nothing will happen to you—I am here.”
Reassured by those words, the deputy leader took a deep breath, then hesitantly spoke.
“That monster told me to relay a message to you, my Lord.”
“And what is it?”
“‘I can’t be bothered to hunt you down one by one, so gather in one place for me.’”
Thud!
With a casual flick of his hand, Suramagun obliterated the deputy’s skull. His lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
Suramagun observed the scene with an amused expression.
“Haha, how entertaining, it seems you’ve got involved with a really interesting guy.”
“Haha, how entertaining, it seems you’ve got involved with a really interesting guy.”
KWAJIK!
Around the same time, chaos erupted outside.
The warriors inside turned toward the closed doors. The commotion was growing louder.
Screams rang out, bones shattered, and flesh was torn apart.
Then…
Crash!
“Hah, this kid is quite something. Strong, with a temper to match… He’d make a fine disciple.”
Suramagun trailed off.
Because at that moment, he realized what the dark iron staff in the young man’s hand really was.
“The… the Crescent Moon Staff…!”
Cheon Woo-jin let out a faint chuckle.
“Since you recognize it, I must’ve come to the right place.”
“W-Who the hell are you? Are you the Heukno’s reborn? No… You look similar, but there’s something different. Dammit, who are you?!”
Suramagun stammered, his face turning deathly pale.
The moment he saw the Crescent Moon Staff, memories of a nightmare came flooding back.
Everyone, including the master of Seo Cheon Ho, turned to stare at the Suramagun in shock. It was the first time they had seen him so shaken.
Trying to make sense of the situation, the master of Seo Cheon Ho glanced past Cheon Woo-jin—
And spotted Hwang Byeok, walking leisurely behind him.
“…The Tiger Hunting team?”
His mind raced.
Everything had started with an assassination request from the Tiger Hunting team’s leader.
And yet, while every elite squad that was sent had been annihilated and the mysterious intruder had stormed all the way here…Hwang Byeok was completely unharmed.
The master of Seo Cheon Ho’s face twisted into something monstrous.
“Hwang Byeok, you treacherous *****! You dare betray me?”
His body radiated pure killing intent, directed straight at Hwang Byeok.
But Hwang Byeok only scratched his nose with a calm expression.
When he had first led Cheon Woo-jin to the Execution team, he had been afraid.
Afraid that Cheon Woo-jin would die, and that he would be next.
But then—
Cheon Woo-jin had massacred the Execution team. And That was just the beginning…
By the time he had slaughtered the Execution team and the Howling Fang Squad, Hwang Byeok started to believe he might actually survive.
And after watching Cheon Woo-jin effortlessly wipe out the Silent Bear Squad and the Dark Stone Squad—
Hwang Byeok became certain.
‘This monster is far stronger than the master of Seo Cheon Ho.’
So when they arrived at Seo Cheon Ho…
“Hey, my Lord, have you had your meal?”
Hwang Byeok had already lost all fear.
And why wouldn’t he?
Standing in front of him was Cheon Woo-jin… A monster that no one in the world could defeat.
Or at least, that’s how it felt to Hwang Byeok.
The Lord of the Seo Cheon Ho and the dark path warriors stared at Hwang Byeok in stunned silence.
At that moment—
Cheon Woo-jin’s Crescent Moon Staff sliced through the air.
Crack!
Huang Bi’s head exploded.
His body collapsed before he even realized he was dead.
Cheon Woo-jin looked down at the lifeless corpse and muttered to himself.
“…You’ve outlived your usefulness.”
After all, Hwang Byeok had only brought him here to kill him.
He had never once promised to spare him.
Watching the scene unfold, Suramagun narrowed his eyes.
“…You. Are you a disciple of Heukno?”
“Hmm?”
Zhuge Liang tilted her head.
She had heard the name Heukno before.
A legendary villain of the martial world, once considered a top-tier war criminal, who had vanished over thirty years ago along with his very name from the records of the martial alliance.
Out of curiosity, she had tried to find more information.
But even as a vice captain of the martial alliance, she didn’t have access to those files.
Zhuge Liang’s gaze shifted to Cheon Woo-jin.
‘He doesn’t seem like the disciple of such a villain…’
But Cheon Woo-jin’s response was clear and unwavering.
“Yes, I am his disciple.”
He then turned to face Suramagun and cupped his fists.
Suramagun warily scanned his surroundings before speaking.
“…Where is Heukno now?”
“He has passed away.”
“What?”
Suramagun’s eyes widened in shock.
But the calm look in Cheon Woo-jin’s eyes told him it was the truth.
Seeing that…
Suramagun suddenly burst into laughter.
“Hahaha… Hahahaha! Serves that ***** right!”
“At long last, he’s dead! Finally! So… why have you come looking for me?”
Cheon Woo-jin smiled.
“I remembered something my master used to say.”
“…And what was that?”
“If you ever meet a disciple of the Dark Heavenly Emperor—”
“Crush their skull.”
Cheon Woo-jin grinned and raised his Crescent Moon Staff.
The entire room turned ice-cold.
