Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 24

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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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#024

Ja-gang-cheon kicked off the ground and shot toward Hang-a-ri Deulsseo like an arrow. The experienced Second was surprised by Ja-gang-cheon’s lightness skill but stepped aside and dodged the flying fist.

“Huh?”

The moment he thought he had dodged the punch,

Ja-gang-cheon had already withdrawn his fist and passed by him.

“Big brother!”

Bang!

Ja-gang-cheon’s fist slammed into the face of Sa-myeon-rang, who was getting up after falling.

As his eyes rolled back and he lost consciousness, Ja-gang-cheon grabbed the head of the First.

It was exactly what Sa-myeon-rang had done to the Donghai Merchant Guild worker moments before. However, the result was completely different.

“Stop!”

Crack!

Ja-gang-cheon crushed Sa-myeon-rang’s head with his grip strength.

Those who witnessed this were shocked by the fact that one of the Shandong Owak had died.

‘He’s done it now.’

Many people thought that.

“I’ll kill you!”

Hang-a-ri Deulsseo, Kkeoktdari Setseo, Gom-bo Chwineo Netsseo, and Oepari Daseotsseo all rushed toward Ja-gang-cheon simultaneously.

‘These won’t be easy opponents.’

He had dealt with the First through a surprise attack, but the remaining four were actually more difficult opponents than Gwimyeon Ssangssal.

Moreover, since this wasn’t underwater, Ja-gang-cheon had no intention of facing them head-on.

Tap.

With just a light kick off the ground, his body soared as if flying and landed on the roof of a nearby guest quarters.

Then he picked up a small stone.

Whoosh!

The carelessly thrown stone flew toward the one-armed man. It was because the one-armed man, who excelled in lightness skills, had followed the fastest.

Since stones become excellent weapons when they gain speed, the one-armed man struck it down with the iron whip he was holding.

That’s when it happened.

“Duck!”

Clack!

Gom-bo Chwineo Netsseo’s voice was heard right after he struck down the stone.

“Ah!”

A thick iron nail was flying behind the stone.

It was a hidden weapon that others could see but he, being right in front, failed to notice in time.

‘I definitely only saw him throw a stone.’

It was a technique of flicking his fingers while withdrawing his hand after throwing the stone. However, matching the path and speed of the previously thrown stone was definitely not easy.

-Son! Shall we play the needle-throwing game?

It was a technique Ja-gang-cheon had started at age five and perfected at age ten.

“Gack!”

The reward for accomplishing something difficult was sweet.

Thud!

The one-armed man with an iron nail embedded in his forehead collapsed while still running, crashed into the roof railing, and fell noisily to the ground.

And he moved no more.

“Cowardly bastard! We won’t give you an easy death!”

“We’ll crush your bones and stomp on them slowly!”

“We’ll leave only your head and burn you to death slowly!”

The remaining three poured out curses.

“What can’t you do with words?”

At the obvious mockery, the three exchanged glances.

They were angry but recognized that the current situation wasn’t good.

“As long as we don’t let our guard down, a brat like that is nothing.”

“I have an idea.”

Kkeoktdari Setseo suddenly changed direction.

The place he headed toward was the Donghai Merchant Guild headquarters.

“Just kill a few people he cares about and he’ll cut off his own limbs.”

Bang!

After breaking down the door and entering, he quickly looked around. But no one was visible.

Instead, something sharp tickled his ankle.

“Huh?”

There was a red line drawn across his ankle.

He had caught on a taut thread while entering the merchant guild.

The thread had snapped but left a clear wound on his ankle. And sudden pain rose from that wound.

“Ugh…”

It was a terrible poison.

“A trap…”

Everything from initially showing the merchant guild member Seok-ho to sending him to the medical hall had been a prepared trap.

They had thought he would target the merchant guild members when cornered.

And the rope set up to catch his ankle was coated with the lethal poison of Mansim-ak, who was called the Poison King.

“Gack!”

In the end, the Third had no time to respond as his body became paralyzed and his heart stopped.

Two remained.

Ja-gang-cheon came down from the roof.

“You only have confidence in exact proportion to your numbers.”

With only two left, they were still angry but didn’t rush forward immediately.

They exchanged glances and moved positions, trying to take positions in front and behind Ja-gang-cheon.

Ja-gang-cheon, who had no reason to give up an advantageous position, rushed toward Chubby Second.

Then the Fourth came around behind Ja-gang-cheon as if he had been waiting.

But Ja-gang-cheon, who had been going forward, stomped hard on the ground and suddenly leaped backward.

Considering the speed he had been running, it was an unbelievable movement.

Gom-bo Chwineo Netsseo didn’t overexert himself and prepared to defend. He blocked the flying fist with his palm and struck away the leg technique aimed at his side with his forearm.

Meanwhile, Chubby swung his iron club from behind Ja-gang-cheon, achieving a pincer attack.

Though they had lost three members, the martial arts of these two were also formidable.

Their coordinated attack was perfect like one person and even pressed Ja-gang-cheon.

‘We won.’

It was when the two were certain of victory.

Slash!

Blood spurted from the wrist of Chubby, who was bringing down his iron club aimed at Ja-gang-cheon’s shoulder.

Clang!

At the same time, sparks flew from the Fourth’s sword that was heading toward Ja-gang-cheon’s thigh.

During their momentary hesitation at the different impact than before, Ja-gang-cheon stepped back. Only then did they see Ja-gang-cheon holding two short swords, one in each hand.

Ja-gang-cheon’s appearance with weapons was different again.

With eyes coldly chilled like an assassin, he rushed toward the two without delay.

Slash! Slash!

In the fierce exchange, blood occasionally spurted up.

It wasn’t fatal. But as small wounds accumulated, their movements began to dull.

Their movements became unnatural due to the pain.

The more this happened, the faster wounds accumulated. And at some point, they began to think they wanted to stop.

But they couldn’t.

‘If I stop, my comrades will die.’

With their combined attack barely holding on, what if I give up?

Fear and loyalty clashed.

The one who ended that fight first was Second.

Bang!

Second, who had squeezed out his last strength to swing his iron club, suddenly turned around and fled.

“You bastard!”

Fourth, left alone, regretted that his decision had been too late.

It was truly a matter of split seconds.

Did Second know this and strike first?

Thud!

Fourth, who was already barely holding on, couldn’t block Ja-gang-cheon’s dagger.

Thump.

As Fourth collapsed with his throat pierced, Ja-gang-cheon climbed onto the roof of the tallest inn in the area.

“How far do you think you’ll get with that body.”

Ja-gang-cheon clicked his tongue once and deployed his lightness skill, soon catching up to the blood-soaked Second.

And the result didn’t deviate from expectations.

Second collapsed with a dagger stuck in the back of his head, ending the fight. It was the moment when Shandong Province’s five notorious masters disappeared.

***

The incident of Shandong Owak’s death had several meanings.

First, it clearly showed who the master of Jiao-nan was. Moreover, those who had doubts about Gwimyeon Ssangssal’s death shut their mouths.

Because he had directly dealt with all five under many watching eyes.

Though traps, poison, ambushes, and hidden weapons appeared in the process, no one criticized Ja-gang-cheon for facing all five alone.

“Lord hyung-nim. So you’re saying Hao-mun will come looking again?”

“Yeah. Just wait and see.”

When Hao-mun’s Yeon-hee had visited last time, Ja-gang-cheon had said.

-Those bastards think they’re helping me.

Pansuk only now understood the meaning.

“Hao-mun thought you couldn’t protect Jiao-nan, Lord hyung-nim.”

“Yeah. If I protect Jiao-nan, the story changes. Hao-mun isn’t in a position to boldly demand negotiations.”

Just then, a gentle voice was heard from outside the door.

“Lord. It’s Yeon-hee.”

“Wow! Hyung-nim! She really came!”

“Tell her to come in.”

The door opened and Yeon-hee entered.

Her greeting bow went down a full span lower and her actions were cautious.

“Thank you for allowing my visit, Lord. I came because there are additional matters to add to last time’s proposal.”

Even her speech had changed, showing courtesy to the point where Ja-gang-cheon felt burdened.

“Noona. Be comfortable.”

“Yes. Thank you, Lord.”

“But that doesn’t mean the content should be comfortable too.”

Yeon-hee, who had briefly smiled, erased it and moved with Ja-gang-cheon to the rear garden pavilion.

Yeon-hee, who moistened her lips with tea, recalled Ja-gang-cheon’s nature and immediately brought up the main point.

“We’ll donate 30% of the profits earned through the black market to the manor.”

It was a groundbreaking condition from Hao-mun’s perspective, but Ja-gang-cheon showed no reaction.

“I think you’ve missed the key point.”

“If there’s something you want, please tell me.”

“I still hate Hao-mun coming into Jiao-nan. I think you’ll monitor me and gather information to sell elsewhere. I hate that such danger exists.”

“There will be no monitoring of you, Lord.”

“If you’re in Jiao-nan, information about me will naturally gather.”

When people live, there are stories they naturally come to know. Telling them not to do even that is like telling them to live with their ears closed. It doesn’t make sense.

“Do you have a method you want?”

“Anyway, I can’t know what you do behind the scenes. So bring me a document saying you won’t provide or sell information about me to others.”

He wanted Hao-mun’s promise certificate. Regarding this, Yeon-hee answered without hesitation.

“That’s impossible.”

Hao-mun is an information gathering organization. Restricting its utilization is only for truly special cases.

That specialness is literally very special, and Ja-gang-cheon’s level didn’t qualify.

“Then give up.”

“Hao-mun’s official document won’t work, but I can personally give you a promise. If you want, I’ll leave it in writing.”

Yeon-hee saying this has two meanings.

First, she won’t use information in problematic ways.

Second, if she does, she’s confident she won’t get caught.

“Hao-mun can’t do it, but noona can?”

Cheon-gu, who was beside them, interpreted those words.

“It means if problems arise, she’ll take responsibility and step down instead of Hao-mun.”

“That’s right. But I promise you. There won’t be any problems.”

As one of only five Dan-ju in Shandong Province, she could probably control the affairs of a small city like Jiao-nan.

“Good. Then shall we start negotiations now?”

“Isn’t this the end?”

“What are you talking about? The real thing starts now.”

Ja-gang-cheon pointed to Cheon-gu beside him.

“He’s our manor’s Subordinate. The Subordinate will conduct the negotiations.”

Cheon-gu, who had officially received the position of Subordinate, straightened his posture.

For Yeon-hee, who thought she had already conceded much, a nightmarish time began.

One hour later,

Yeon-hee, having finished negotiations, left Deungmyeong Manor.

“Noona. Take care.”

Unlike when she entered, Yeon-hee received Ja-gang-cheon’s farewell.

“Dan-ju. I’ll see you next time.”

Cheon-gu beside Ja-gang-cheon also politely offered his greetings.

“Thank you for the hospitality of both young heroes.”

In the harmonious atmosphere, they exchanged warm farewells.

Yeon-hee maintained courtesy with a smile until the end and slowly turned around.

With each step, she drew closer to the carriage that had been waiting for her.

When she climbed into the carriage through the door the coachman had opened,

“Ahhh! These damn brats!”

The inside of the carriage filled with screams and curses.

“I’m going to kill them! I’ll cut off their groveling necks and throw them as dog food! I’ll tear off their flesh and make pickled fish!”

“We’ll depart now.”

The coachman drove the carriage as if accustomed to this.

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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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