Chronicles of the Martial God’s Return - Chapter 141

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The inn where Ma Dok-jin was staying held a certain reputation throughout Ak-yang. So many guests came daily that empty rooms were rare, and waiting times were long.
Yet today, the inn was conspicuously empty.
No—not just today.
Since Ma Dok-jin arrived, the place had been deserted.
Drifters passing through had recognized Ma Dok-jin, who wielded real power even within the Demonic Emperor Castle, and while rumors spread with dark whispers, what mattered most was that several martial artists had died simply for glancing at him inside the inn.
For Ma Dok-jin it meant time to rest undisturbed, and he was content with that. But for the innkeeper and the regular patrons, it was an inconvenience of the highest order.
“When exactly is he leaving? He shows no sign of going anywhere at all…”
“At least we’re making money, aren’t we?”
Jeom So-i and the innkeeper muttered complaints and sighed in the kitchen.
Nothing had gone right since Ma Dok-jin arrived at this inn. His subordinates moved through Market Street and the surroundings of Ak-yang with sinister glints in their eyes, combing every corner, and as a result, many people lived holding their breath.
Now she understood why the Heterodox Sect earned their name.
“At this rate, we’ll be swallowed whole by the Heterodox Sect.”
The innkeeper clicked her tongue disapprovingly and shook her head.
She had heard that the Orthodox Faction and Heterodox Sect were clashing. It was rumor, but she knew it was no lie.
With Ma Dok-jin arriving in Ak-yang under such circumstances, it seemed he intended to extend the Heterodox Sect’s reach to this place as well.
Until now, various martial schools had been established in this land, but she wasn’t sure whether they had simply vanished after a short time and left things peaceful, or if there was another reason. But if it was the Heterodox Sect—not some other power—that was moving in, what would happen next was as clear as fire.
She never imagined the dissolution of the Murim Alliance would weigh so heavily.
There was no one to turn to for help.
“Should I perhaps contact the magistrate’s office?”
“Forget it, forget it. Hong Won-chang wouldn’t be able to do anything against martial artists like them either.”
“But there are things the magistrate has resolved before…”
Jeom So-i let out a small sigh.
The atmosphere of Ak-yang had grown heavy.
A mere handful of outsiders had drifted into the town, yet all of Ak-yang seemed gripped by fear, its breath held.
The Heterodox Sect.
The weight of the name “Evil Way Practitioner” was enough.
To commoners ignorant of martial arts, they were simply killers wielding swords. And the Evil Way Practitioners themselves made sure such perceptions took hold.
Crash!
“Argh!”
A heavy sound erupted from outside.
Startled by the commotion, Jeom So-i scrambled up and hurried out. Inside the inn, several martial artists lay sprawled on the ground, blood streaming from their wounds.
Jeom So-i froze in place, paralyzed by fear.
“Idiots… did my warning sound like a joke to you?”
It was Ma Dok-jin.
Ma Dok-jin, who had been drinking alone on the inn’s first floor, had apparently gotten into a dispute with some other martial artists for reasons unclear.
“Gasp…”
“M-Ma Dok-jin… what are you doing here…?”
The drifters retreated, swallowing hard. They had come to this famous inn in Ak-yang without thinking, knowing they had to stop here.
But the moment drunk Ma Dok-jin stepped into the inn, he blocked their way. Before they could even argue, they were scattered like leaves. That Ma Dok-jin’s family held a central position in the Seven Houses of the Evil Way was no mere rumor—he had just proven that his martial strength was far beyond what they could contend with.
“Please… spare us…!”
“Spare you? But I said entering meant death, didn’t I?”
Ma Dok-jin smiled coldly and drew his blade.
He had never issued such a warning, yet here in this moment his word was law. Thus his actions too must be accepted by all, for he possessed strength.
Shing!
Bright red blood drenched the entire inn.
Ma Dok-jin shook the blood from his blade and gazed at those who had survived.

***

“What’s happened?”
“There’s been… another disturbance at the inn, sir.”
At the constable’s words, Hong Won-chang furrowed his brow.
The Heterodox Sect ruffians were causing trouble in Ak-yang day after day. His subordinates wielded control over the back alleys and even the Red Light District, stirring up chaos wherever they went, and as for Ma Dok-jin, their leader, how many had he already killed…
Most of the dead were martial artists, which left him powerless to act.
If ordinary commoners had been killed, he would have grounds for arrest. But this man seemed to deliberately target only martial artists, as if to provoke someone.
Corpses had been removed from the inn so many times, he’d lost count.
“Why does he stay here instead of leaving? What is he doing?”
Hong Won-chang exhaled a long sigh and shook his head.
Every time martial artists entered Ak-yang, some incident erupted. He couldn’t view it favorably, so irritation bubbled up first.
‘If only the Murim Alliance had a presence here…….’
If that were the case, friction with the Murim Alliance would be inevitable, but wouldn’t it be far better than having these bothersome fellows show up at all?
Or rather, from the beginning…….
‘If the master would only step in?’
Hong Won-chang’s eyes gleamed for a moment.
But he shook his head just as quickly, dismissing it as absurd. He knew all too well that this man wouldn’t lift a finger for something that wasn’t his own concern.
So what possible benefit would move him to drive out these Heterodox Sect dogs?
‘But then again—aren’t these Heterodox Sect bastards connected to Kwon Mu-jin?’
Wait a moment…….
Could it be that all this is happening because of that man?
After the Hanan incident, most martial artists knew it: Kwon Mu-jin had broken with the Heterodox Sect and escaped.
And if Kwon Mu-jin’s master was Ma Dok-jin, then wasn’t it possible he’d come all this way to exact vengeance for those who’d abandoned the faction?
“Has anyone said anything?”
“Just fear, sir…… Nobody dares speak freely…… People won’t even come near the inns. How many bodies have turned up already, I can’t say…….”
“Cursed bastard. If he wants to start a ruckus, let him do it in his own house…….”
“Should we arrest him?”
Hong Won-chang shook his head firmly.
The opponent was a martial artist of the Heterodox Sect.
And not just any sect—one backed by a massive organization like the Demonic Emperor Castle. Laying hands on him carelessly could leave him unable to manage the consequences.
Often, the Heterodox Sect and officials of high rank were in bed together, knowingly or not.
Getting on the wrong side of such people brought no good.
“Sigh. But I can’t just let it go either…….”
He rubbed his throbbing head as he sighed. He’d prefer to leave as soon as possible, but the problem was that the man had barricaded himself in an inn with no apparent intention of departure.
Just then, a voice came from outside.
“Sir! A visitor has arrived!”
“A visitor?”
Hong Won-chang tilted his head in bewilderment.
In times like these, who would come calling?
“Who is it?”
“Well, that is…… the young lady from the manor…….”
“What?”
Hong Won-chang sprang to his feet and rushed outside, flinging open the door. Expecting Dan Woo-hyun, his eyes went wide as he looked down.
There stood a small girl.
Dan So-mi was beaming at him, waving her hand.
“So, So-mi.”
“Hello! Dad said to come here for a bit!”

***

“Have you heard?”
Dan Woo-hyun asked, gazing at Kwon Mu-jin before him.
Hair matted and disheveled.
His entire body was drenched in sweat. He hadn’t washed in a long time and looked filthy beyond measure, yet his eyes as he gripped his sword were sharper than ever.
A killing intent emanated from him.
The murderous aura radiating from his gaze was like a blade ready to cut down anyone in its path.
“I have heard.”
More than two weeks had passed since he began his cultivation.
With Kwon Mu-jin unable to eat or sleep properly during that time, only sheer momentum seemed to have kept him alive. The power and weight of it could be felt even in each breath he exhaled.
Dan Woo-hyun nodded.
But something felt off, and he glanced sideways at Sado-hak.
He saw Sado-hak turn his head away in a sulk.
“Then what are your intentions?”
At the question, Kwon Mu-jin spoke without a moment’s hesitation.
“Death.”
“Hmm?”
Killing, of course, was inevitable.
Considering the rage dwelling in his heart, it was understandable that the word came without hesitation. Yet why did it feel somehow alien, somehow wrong?
It must be his imagination, he thought, and nodded.
“Kill them? What’s your plan after that? The Demonic Emperor Castle won’t sit idle.”
“I will. All of them.”
……
That was an unexpected answer.
Dan Woo-hyun pressed his brow, deep in thought.
Something about that reply felt off.
He hadn’t asked the question to hear such a simple declaration. He’d wanted to understand Kwon Mu-jin’s resolve, or perhaps how he planned to handle the aftermath. But “kill them all, without hesitation”? Where did that come from?
What kind of thinking had produced that answer?
Dan Woo-hyun glanced sideways at Sado-hak.
He could see the other man turning away, his expression strained.
“You think the Demonic Emperor Castle is something you alone can handle?”
“I was taught that there is nothing a person cannot accomplish through effort.”
The blazing intensity in his eyes was saturated with murderous intent. It was as though he merely recalled the organization he’d once belonged to, yet in Kwon Mu-jin’s gaze there remained only hatred and fury—and the singular purpose of slaughtering everyone within those walls.
One could justify this as a natural change, given that he’d trained desperately to kill Ma Dok-jin; yet to have cultivated such killing aura, such fervor in the eyes, and such overwhelming presence in mere half a month was decidedly remarkable.
Dan Woo-hyun regarded Sado-hak once more.
When their gazes met again, Sado-hak averted his eyes and turned away.
‘He’s become a complete killing ghost.’
Kwon Mu-jin had sought instruction from Sado-hak. Namgung Cheon was occupied with Namgung So-hye, and moreover, the martial arts of the Orthodox Faction did not align with the Evil Way teachings. And since Dan Woo-hyun was not inclined to teach anyone, Sado-hak was the only suitable choice. The man’s ideology had been planted in Kwon Mu-jin’s mind, and in the span of half a month, he had returned as a killing ghost.
Dan Woo-hyun didn’t need to see what kind of training had been done.
To transform a person into a killing ghost, one need only force them to experience terrors worse than death itself, and teach them that they cannot survive without killing.
Over these two weeks, Kwon Mu-jin had likely brushed with death multiple times, and from that shock and terror, he had cultivated the instinct that killing was the only path to survival.
That was not something Dan Woo-hyun approved of.
‘But his resolve… I can respect that.’
There is nothing a person cannot accomplish through effort.
That was Kwon Mu-jin expressing his confidence that he could tear down the Demonic Emperor Castle itself. The moment one begins to think something is impossible—whether it be a person or anything else—one can no longer move forward. In this moment, Kwon Mu-jin had finished his preparations to take that next step.
There was no need to view even that negatively.
“Very well then. Go and bring it to me. Ma Dok-jin’s head.”
“Yes, sir!”
Kwon Mu-jin’s shout rang out like thunder.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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