Chapter Title: Iron Sword Gang
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"Ugh, uwaaa! Uwaaaaack!"
Kwang-dang-tang-tang!
The effect of a threat backed by real action was truly remarkable.
Just look at that pathetic sight of him, who had been strutting around clutching Pak Do moments ago, now fleeing inside the gate in abject terror.
"...The evil paths suit my constitution better, after all."
Tsk.
From now on, whether he liked it or not, he had to live as a disciple of the righteous Point Cang Sword Sect.
Was that why?
This irritating regret kept bubbling up, refusing to fade away.
"Maybe from now on, I should think of ways to resolve things without killing when my stomach turns."
In truth, after his sect was consumed in flames, he had rolled through the evil paths for longer than his time in Point Cang.
It wouldn't be an easy change.
Above all, experience had shown that evil path methods were far cleaner and more efficient in most cases.
'If it had been Master, he'd probably still be bickering pointlessly at the entrance.'
No matter how strong the suspicions.
Without solid evidence to back them up, drawing a sword recklessly wasn't the righteous way, was it?
And Point Cang wasn't like those other old sects or families that pulled dirty tricks behind the scenes.
"That's my pride, but honestly, it's frustrating as hell."
Tsk!
Isn't it said that fish don't live in water that's too clean?
That must be why, even in this turbulent chaos, they'd been so helplessly swayed by a half-wit like Gwan-jong.
"Not anymore."
To protect Point Cang, he was fully prepared to be as ruthless as he'd been in his Dark Heaven Emperor days.
Even if it meant volunteering for every filthy, underhanded task in the shadows.
The moment he passed through the wide-open gate, dozens of burly men poured out from everywhere, as if they'd been waiting.
"You bastard!"
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Daring to raid our Iron Sword Gang!"
"You've got guts sticking out of your belly!"
"Who sent you? Fess up, and I might spare your worthless li—gurk!"
Canned threats shot from three directions—front and both sides.
Gwang-il, making his earlier dilemma seem pointless, unhesitatingly punched a neat hole in the throat of the last one yapping away.
"From now on, anyone who barks nonsense without knowing their place dies on the spot."
"Th-that guy?!"
"Y-you! How dare you invade our Iron Sword Gang's home and kill our bro—guwaaack!"
Thud!
"H-hiiiik?!"
"Ex-expert! He's an expert!"
Without the slightest hesitation, his ruthless hands struck again, sending the gang members who had surrounded him scrambling back in unison.
They hadn't even seen what happened—comrades beside them dropping dead with holes in their throats.
Having forcibly silenced the enemy like that.
Gwang-il inwardly praised his decision to change into black clothes before coming here.
'Nothing beats black for dirty work.'
"Hmph."
A mask would have been perfect.
'Looks like this life, I'm screwed for playing righteous sect disciple too.'
A short snort at the sudden thought made the Iron Sword Gang members, misreading it, shrink back even further in panic.
'Their actions and level are a disgrace even for evil paths.'
Black道 street thugs would be a better label.
Still, one odd thing.
'No one's running?'
When facing an overwhelming expert like this, forgetting orders and fleeing first was the time-honored tradition of evil paths and black道.
That virtue of prioritizing one's life and gain wasn't showing at all here.
Which meant.
'They're leashed by something even more terrifying than me...?'
If not, promised rewards worth more than their lives, they'd have tried something by now.
But seeing them just trembling at a distance, it was clear they feared someone behind the scenes.
"Making me repeat myself three times already. Go call your gang leader."
"Here I am, you son of a bitch!"
Kwang!
A massive brute kicked open the door of the grand hall ahead and strode out arrogantly.
The innocent door shattered from the violent kick, tumbling across the ground.
"Where'd a stray dog bone like you roll in from, shitting all over our turf?! Huh?! You wanna die?!"
"..."
'Definitely black道.'
Of course.
What sane evil path group would set up shop in Point Cang's front yard, practically?
"Ha."
Irritation surged at the absurd conclusion. Naturally so.
Here he was, wasting precious time on trash like this.
As fury boiled over, debating whether to kill them all or just cripple their dantians for a living hell.
"Think you learned a bit of swordplay and can play hero, huh? You little shit. You know who's backing our Iron Sword Gang before stirring this shit up? Huh?!"
"...Backing? You have a separate mastermind?"
The hollow frustration in his chest vanished in an instant.
Gwang-il's eyes lit up as he spat out two short words with blatant intent.
"Yun Merchants?"
"...What? Uhahaha! This lunatic's lost it. You dumb fuck! How could those merchant scum possibly... "
"Bingo. Yun Merchants it is."
It didn't matter what they answered anyway.
What Gwang-il wanted was the honest reaction flashing across their caught-off-guard faces.
And he'd just confirmed the truth from it.
'These bastards have truly gone mad!'
No matter plans to stab them in the back later.
Their own kin had been eating and living in Point Cang for nearly a year—pulling this sleazy stunt?
Gwang-il felt more hollow than angry at the Yun Merchants' behavior, far below expectations.
"To think I got played by trash like this...!"
Hard to believe he'd been swayed by such lowlifes.
The absurdity doused even his anger for a moment.
"Wh-what the hell's this bastard blabbering about?! That's not true, you fuck! Don't pin your bullshit on—!"
"Enough. Don't want to waste words. Hand over the kidnapped kids."
"This fucker keeps—! ...Huh? Wha...?"
"These vermin never get it, no ears for reason."
Jururuk.
Kuwoong!
Not wanting to waste more time, Gwang-il punched a hole in the gang leader's forehead, stepping back to avoid the pooling blood.
His chilling gaze swept over the rest, legs frozen by his presence.
"Useless pests. I'll spare exactly three. First come, first served—bring the kids."
"?!"
"!!!"
The ruthless declaration was followed by his presence vanishing like a lie.
"Kkuk!"
Thump.
He immediately punched a hole in the nearest thug's throat.
"Don't move, you die. Too slow, you die. Run, and I'll sever your limbs and meridians, dump you in the mountains."
"U, uwaaaaa!"
"Outta my way! Move, you dogs!"
Uwaaaaaack!
U-dang-tang-tang!
The unrelenting barrage of terrifying threats.
Unable to endure the pressure, the Iron Sword Gang members bolted in a frenzy toward one side, fighting and tripping each other in the chaos.
"...Wonder if I can really give up this convenient way."
After watching the dogfight spectacle for a bit.
About forty terrified kids were dragged before Gwang-il, bruises everywhere—clearly beaten mercilessly.
This tragedy in Point Cang Sword Sect territory reignited Gwang-il's fury.
"Who was it?"
"Sp-spare...! Mercy...!"
The kids' faces paled further amid the corpses and dark blood.
Without his low, firm voice next, some might have fainted.
"Tell me who beat you. I'll avenge you right here."
"A-aa!"
The boy in front's shaky eyes widened instantly.
"When an adult asks, you answer first. What, don't want revenge? They might come for your fathers again."
"N-no, that won't happen! J-just spare us, we'll never—gurk!"
"I didn't ask you, trash."
"Kuh, kuheuk!"
Thud!
Fearing the boy he'd brought might say something stupid, the nameless thug preempted—his final moment.
As fresh blood mixed with the pooling mess.
"Th-that bad guy...!"
"That uncle! He beat our dads!"
"That man... ugh! Waaaaaah!"
Feeling safe now, the kids shook off their captors and swarmed behind Gwang-il, pointing wildly.
Not one escaped the brutal, honest fingers.
"Might as well just kill them all."
True to form, Gwang-il reached the simplest, swiftest conclusion—his sword drawing a fierce gleam without hesitation.
A cruel shimmer rippling blood-red.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Heading straight back to Iron Sword District with the kidnapped kids was impossible.
Too much left to do.
Especially, he had to meet the Yun Merchant Leader before reuniting with Master somehow.
Only then could he threaten or kill him as needed.
'Once I go back in, getting out again won't be easy for a while.'
Reasons aside, he'd slaughtered nearly a hundred here after locating Iron Sword Gang.
Turning those hopelessly inept juniors into proper humans would demand every waking hour.
'So, make sure they can't interfere with nonsense again.'
Plus, figure out why they pulled this obvious ploy now.
'Why such a reckless stunt bound to be exposed...?'
Shaking his head at the baffling behavior, his feet relentlessly carried him toward the Yun Merchants' main base.
The kids from Iron Sword Gang? He'd sent word via Point Cang name to nearby contacts for Iron Sword District—that should suffice.
'Once Master hears, his personality means he'll escort the kids back himself...'
Best to wrap this up fast.
'Not hard at all.'
He'd given the kids his Point Cang outer robe—no one would dare harm them upon seeing it.
Safe until Master arrived, at least.
'Grab the Yun Merchant Leader, extract info, settle it—done.'
Kill or spare, whatever.
His shadowy form glided silently over the Yun Merchants' compound wall like a ghost.
The icy gale of his body, chilling winds swirling, slipped into the merchant leader's office via the shortest path.
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