Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 106
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#106
Ja-gang-cheon deliberately knocked down the guest quarters that were still maintaining their form. And he steadily continued without stopping, examining the floor.
The search continued for a full three hours, and finally in the last guest quarters, he found a suspicious area.
Thud. Thud.
Unlike other places, it made a hollow sound.
‘There’s a space below.’
Ja-gang-cheon didn’t rush and slowly estimated the size of the empty space.
Thud. Thud.
From continuously fighting assassins, he was becoming similar to them in some way.
Without rushing, he continued tapping the floor.
‘If Cheonsal-seong is down there, he’ll keep getting tense.’
Just as the assassins had tormented Mugyeong at the abandoned temple, this time Ja-gang-cheon tapped and kicked the floor.
When the size was completely measured, Ja-gang-cheon gripped Mukryeomdo in his right hand.
Terrible pain surged up from the gaping wound, but he needed Mukryeomdo now.
‘Once will be enough.’
Since it was the best method to catch an assassin, he couldn’t give up.
Having finished his preparations, Ja-gang-cheon took a deep breath and raised his right foot.
Then he stomped down forcefully, unleashing his True Foot technique.
Crash!
The impact of his True Foot technique spread forward and turned into clear cracks at a certain point.
It was exactly where the floor was hollow.
Perhaps burdened by the ceiling that seemed about to collapse, someone finally burst out.
Ja-gang-cheon didn’t miss the chance and struck down at the leaping shadow.
Tremendous energy burst forth, and the black shadow that took the full impact fell to the floor like a straw doll and moved no more.
But Ja-gang-cheon couldn’t be satisfied.
‘Fake Jangju.’
The one who had burst out was the fake Jangju.
When he realized this, Ja-gang-cheon’s back stung sharply.
Sizzle!
The smell of burning skin arose as the pain of burns surged up again. But the attacker was equally disappointed.
Ja-gang-cheon had once again tilted his body to avoid a vital spot.
Slash!
Cheonsal-seong continuously swung his flame dagger, pressuring Ja-gang-cheon.
Clang! Clang!
Eventually, he even lost his grip on Mukryeomdo that he had been holding precariously.
Cheonsal-seong was definitely a cut above other assassins even in direct combat. Especially his quick hand movements using the flame dagger were threateningly difficult to handle.
‘This is formally learned dagger technique.’
It didn’t look like the efficient dagger technique learned in assassin training, but rather a formal martial art.
Slice!
The flame dagger only grazed him slightly, yet intense pain surged up as if it had caught fire. It had an effect as if it had been heated in fire and just pulled out.
Slice! Slice!
As he began to be pushed back, wounds increased on Ja-gang-cheon’s hands and forearms. However, neither of them made any groans or battle cries.
They only looked into each other’s eyes, waiting for an opportunity.
At this distance, they could only stop when one of them died.
In the current situation, Cheonsal-seong had an overwhelming advantage. However, Ja-gang-cheon knew one simple move to change this situation.
For this, even while being pushed back, he continued to observe Cheonsal-seong’s footwork.
And when he was certain,
He placed his foot in that spot first.
It was the technique of Preemptive Step that he had now learned to use as skillfully as Song Ja-in.
Tap.
Cheonsal-seong’s foot stepped on Ja-gang-cheon’s instep and slightly lost balance. At that moment, Ja-gang-cheon grabbed and pulled Cheonsal-seong’s wrist. Then Cheonsal-seong instead used that force to twist the tip of his flame dagger toward Ja-gang-cheon’s heart.
Slice!
It barely grazed under his armpit as it passed, and the tide of battle was reversed.
As if thrown, Cheonsal-seong passed by Ja-gang-cheon and showed his back.
Sensing danger, Cheonsal-seong turned his body without even looking back and swung his flame dagger in a wide arc.
But nothing caught on his hand. Moreover, Ja-gang-cheon wasn’t visible to his eyes either.
When he felt something had gone terribly wrong, Ja-gang-cheon’s foot, lowered as if sweeping the floor, struck Cheonsal-seong’s knee with added rotational force.
Crack!
The shinbone was completely displaced and protruded outside the skin. Even Cheonsal-seong, who had completely fallen, let out a groan at this level of impact.
“Ugh…”
It was surprising that he didn’t scream. What was more surprising was his fierce counterattack. Dozens of thin needles flew consecutively.
“It’s already over.”
Ja-gang-cheon quickly moved to the side using Bicheon Shinbo, then in an instant headed toward him.
Thud!
Ja-gang-cheon kicked away his arm that was thrusting the flame dagger.
Clatter!
As the flame dagger rolled on the floor, Cheonsal-seong’s counterattack also ended.
Thud!
Ja-gang-cheon struck down at his face as he barely raised his upper body.
Thump!
From the impact of hitting the back of his head on the floor, the light rapidly drained from his eyes. Seeing this, Ja-gang-cheon didn’t bother waiting and threw another punch.
Bang!
This time his fist crushed the nasal bone and went deep into the face. No one could survive such an injury.
Ja-gang-cheon wiped his fist, which had thick blood clinging to it, on Cheonsal-seong’s clothes.
And as always, he searched the body.
“This must be a tradition.”
A note came out from his body as well. It was also a list.
Ja-gang-cheon collected the flame dagger and then checked the list and the number of corpses.
Fortunately, the number of corpses was correct without needing to pursue anyone further.
“Now it’s all over.”
As if sensing Ja-gang-cheon’s victory, Byeokseong was approaching from the distance.
***
“So you found even Cheonsal-seong and finished him off.”
“Yes? It ended up that way.”
The old man who was drinking at the shabby inn today as well nodded with a serious expression.
“It seems the rumors about Ja-gang-cheon were wrong. He’s much more outstanding than the rumors suggested.”
Gye Ju-man was quietly listening to the information the Heukjeom leader was conveying.
“He asked you to look into Seo Iwon?”
“Yes. The investigation is already complete.”
“It would be. Since it’s a place we’ve been continuously watching.”
“How much should I tell him?”
“Tell him everything. Now that Salmak has disappeared anyway, what would there be to hide about Seo Iwon? He’s probably just complaining to the King of Hell.”
“Understood.”
After hearing the response, Gye Ju-man went to the inn to match the time of Ja-gang-cheon’s return.
After being momentarily surprised by Ja-gang-cheon’s wounds, Mugyeong let out a sigh of relief upon hearing that he had ultimately dealt with them.
“Are we returning to the manor now?”
“I’m just meeting with the Heukjeom people before I go. I asked them to investigate Seo Iwon.”
Fortunately, without having to wait long, Gye Ju-man came to find them.
“I’ve brought information about Seo Iwon and Leewon Manor.”
“We’ll all listen together.”
“Seo Iwon was a person from this Shanxi Province who had long supported Salmak. His original name was Dong Sang-chun, and he was someone who conducted large-scale smuggling trades with the northern foreign tribes. When the military discovered this, he was sentenced to execution.”
“What? You’re saying he died?”
“Officially, yes. However, the person who died wasn’t Dong Sang-chun.”
Someone else had died in his place. While this couldn’t happen in cases directly investigated by the Imperial Palace, it often occurred when the Shanxi Province military proceeded independently.
“Dong Sang-chun died in that place, and he lived a new life as Seo Iwon. In exchange for Salmak’s active help, he took on the role of connecting requests to Salmak in Henan Province.”
“Why would such a person call martial artists on training journeys and deliberately create fake victories?”
“He needed fame as a martial artist.”
Gye Ju-man revealed the decisive reason why Hwang Dae-ung’s father had to die.
“The principle of non-interference between government and martial arts world. He wanted to be recognized as a martial artist through fame. That way, he could stay much further from the government office.”
“Ah…”
“For him, who had been sentenced to execution and had falsified his identity, being recognized as a martial artist was a kind of safety measure. Calling rising martial artists on training journeys and defeating them was the fastest way to gain fame.”
“He killed them because he didn’t have the skill to actually win.”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“It was a trap planned from the beginning.”
All the events had been clearly revealed.
Ja-gang-cheon looked at Han Dae-woong, who was quietly listening from behind. Though he was suppressing his emotions, his clenched hands were trembling.
After confirming that sight, Ja-gang-cheon asked his final question.
“How long has Heukjeom known this fact?”
“I don’t know that either. You asked about Seo Iwon, so I just collected the information available within Heukjeom. It could have been from long ago, or they might have investigated due to this incident.”
Though he spoke at length, it ultimately meant he couldn’t tell them.
Ja-gang-cheon didn’t bother venting his frustration on him.
“I understand. Our transaction ends here.”
“Are you returning to Jiao-nan?”
“It’s certain we’re leaving here. How much is the final information worth?”
“Just go. It’s repayment for all I’ve received so far.”
As Gye Ju-man left the guest room, everything they had to do in Shanxi Province was finished.
Ja-gang-cheon went to Hwang Dae-ung, who was still suppressing his emotions.
“You don’t need to hold back.”
“Sob!”
Finally, at Ja-gang-cheon’s prompting, Hwang Dae-ung’s tears burst forth.
“I can’t say I understand. I can’t even imagine how much it hurts. So if you have something you want to say, I’ll listen. If you need something, I might be able to help.”
How comforting those words were – Hwang Dae-ung’s emotions burst forth even more greatly.
Having held back for so long, once the tears started, they turned into wailing sobs along with unsightly snot.
Ja-gang-cheon kept his promise and listened to all his crying and wailing by his side.
‘This crying must be what he wants to say.’
Until those words ended, Ja-gang-cheon didn’t leave his side.
***
“This is Deungmyeong Manor.”
Ja-gang-cheon had returned to Deungmyeong Manor.
As always, all the household members came running out to welcome them.
Though Ja-gang-cheon received the warmest welcome, Mugyeong also received treatment that wasn’t lacking.
Hwang Dae-ung still had an awkward expression, but he didn’t dislike the people who were making efforts for his sake. He even had a premonition that he might settle down in this place.
And there was another being receiving a welcome.
“Wow! Hyeongnim! Is there really such a big horse in the world?”
“Isn’t that not a horse?”
Neigh!
It was Byeokseong showing his prickly personality.
The people of Deungmyeong Manor were curious like Ja-gang-cheon, so Byeokseong received great attention.
“We’ll need to build a stable.”
The Craftsman’s face immediately brightened when work that required him arose.
“I’ll build you a stable that suits your size.”
Snort!
Byeokseong pushed away the Craftsman who had approached with his head.
“Well now. That one’s as big as Pansuk, but has a temper just like Subordinate.”
At that moment, the surroundings became quiet. His muttering had been too loud.
The Craftsman, belatedly realizing this fact, bowed his head toward Cheon-gu.
“I’m sorry. I think I need to quit drinking. At this age, I’m already going senile…”
“Why are you apologizing? Weren’t you just giving a compliment?”
“What?”
“You said it resembled me, so it must be a compliment, right?”
“Ah! Of course! I meant it’s sturdy like Pansuk Dae-gyo-du and smart like Cheon-gu Subordinate.”
“Of course I understood it that way.”
“Of course! Haha!”
At those words, all the manor family members laughed awkwardly.
“Cheon-gu hyeongnim really is smart!”
“Everyone in Jiao-nan knows our Subordinate’s exceptional mind.”
As people tried to take turns singing praises, Cheon-gu said a word.
“Stop. That’s enough.”
At his cold tone, everyone shut their mouths.
“Gangcheon. You’re going to tell us what happened, right?”
“Of course! I even practiced how to tell you.”
“Cook. Please prepare seats in the dining hall. Let’s all listen while taking care of meals for those who just arrived.”
“Yes! Subordinate!”
All the manor family members ran to the dining hall with expectant expressions.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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