Chapter 1216

< Chapter 1216 > 1216. The Ascension Path of Light

“…This is how we live. We’re perfectly content with our lives right now!”

“Division Head. That’s just your opinion. Look around you.”

The Division Head slowly looks around.

There weren’t many sect members who defiantly opposed me like the Division Head, all worked up. At most, there were only 4 or 5 of them. The rest avoided the Division Head’s gaze, looking down.

The Black Path Sect.

Sure, it’s called a sect, but in reality, it’s closer to a gang. The ones with some skill and rank live pretty comfortably. You can swagger around like the Division Head. But the life of an average sect member wasn’t that great.

They don’t even properly learn martial arts, and if war breaks out with another sect, they’re the first ones to die. And it’s not like they’re respected by others. Even if they manage to survive somehow, then what?

The Black Path Sect is fundamentally a place for those who rely on brute strength. When you get old, you have to leave. Sticking around pointlessly will only get you killed.

Savings? All the money earned goes straight to booze and courtesans—there’s no way anyone’s saving anything.

What about farming? Farming is also a skilled profession. There’s no way someone who’s never farmed before could just do it. Even if they tried, most would quit because it’s too hard and boring.

“I’ll distribute all the remaining assets of the Tao Yang Sect among you. It’s not a small amount. You could live without working for 5 years. Use that money to join a martial academy and learn martial arts, buy land and farm, or start a shop—it’s up to you.”

The sect members looked intrigued. They rarely got their hands on such a large sum of money.

Only the Division Head was different.

“Don’t try to shake our righteousness with money! Tao Yang Sect is our history!”

“Righteousness. Yeah. Always this ‘righteousness’ nonsense.”

I grabbed the Division Head by the collar, kicked his shin, breaking it, and smashed his shoulder with a punch, shattering it.

“Aaaargh! M, Master!!”

“Division Head. Starting now, I’m going to test that so-called righteousness of yours. If your righteousness truly exists, I’ll hand over the position of Master to you.”

“Huh, h-huh, my l-leg…!”

“Don’t whine about a broken leg. I was about to kill you out of irritation.”

“…”

My voice carried a murderous intent, and the Division Head clamped his mouth shut, his eyes filled with fear, almost pitiful.

“As you can see, the Division Head is in my grasp, and I plan to kill him. If anyone wants to save the Division Head, step forward. But only those prepared to die in his place. Show me that vaunted righteousness, and I’ll spare the Division Head.”

I scanned the surroundings with a fierce gaze. The sect members avoided my eyes. Even those who usually acted as the Division Head’s loyal followers stayed silent, frozen like mice.

“Division Head. It seems the righteousness you speak of doesn’t exist here.”

“M, Master. I’ve made a mistake…”


“Damn…! I temporarily lost my mind. I will follow the head of the sect’s will. P-please, just give me one more chance!”

“I’ve already given you a chance.”

I clenched my fist. The deputy sect leader was close to an ordinary person, so there was no need to draw a sword. This guy rose to the position of deputy sect leader through politics and cunning alone, without martial arts. The wealth of the Dao Yang Sect was thanks to the deputy sect leader’s brainpower.

“I can’t let this slide.”

The former Dao Yang Sect leader, Yin Taiwang, stepped forward from among the sect members. He was armed with a massive demon-slaying blade and black armor.

“Whether man or woman, you’ve always been useless. Just stay out of it.”

“That’s impossible. Regardless of others, I need the deputy sect leader. With his brainpower… the Dao Yang Sect will rise even higher after this crisis.”

“You’re not getting it. As of today, the Dao Yang Sect is dissolved.”

“Hahaha! Do you think world affairs will go as you wish?!”

“…”

I ignored Yin Taiwang and swung my fist, planning to kill the deputy sect leader first, then him.

An interruption came. Yin Taiwang lunged at me with his massive demon-slaying blade. I stepped back while shoving the deputy sect leader in front of me.

“Guhhh!”

The giant blade stopped inches from the deputy sect leader’s face, causing him to tremble violently.

Tatatatt!

Masked figures wielding swords surrounded me from outside the training ground. Their coordinated movements showed they were no amateurs; they had clearly trained in martial arts.

‘Of course. Bai Shan Jin Family, right?’

Yin Taiwang must have called for help from the Bai Shan Jin Family. They likely regret losing influence in Bai Shan City after the last war.

“Hahaha! The tide has turned! Hand over the deputy sect leader now and give me the Five-Person Pill! Then I’ll grant you a clean death without torture!”

“You’re insane.”

I drew my sword from its sheath and swiftly beheaded the deputy sect leader. His head floated briefly in mid-air.

Yin Taiwang’s face twisted in rage.

“You son of a bitch! Kill him immediately!!”

The masked figures charged at once. I coiled strength into my abdomen and knees, leaping high into the heavens. My inner energy was extraordinary, carrying me five meters into the air in one bound.

Yin Taiwang glared at me, lips pursed, waiting to attack the moment I descended.

I released inner energy through the soles of my feet. Though it felt like my Yongquan pressure points might burst from such crude use, I successfully changed direction mid-air and soared toward Yin Taiwang.

Yin Taiwang raised his demon-slaying blade to counterattack. Too slow. And clumsy somehow.

‘This bastard. His wounds from the sparring match haven’t healed yet.’

As Yin Taiwang swung his blade, I activated my Instantaneous Movement technique. Through the slowed vision, I could see every detail of his movement. Our weapons clashed. The disadvantage was mine since my feet weren’t grounded yet unlike his.

But right now, I had Yin Taiwang completely figured out. If I know something, I can exploit it.

I used his own strength against him. Harnessing the shockwave from his demon-slaying blade, I spun my body while fine-tuning my sword movements with Instantaneous Movement.

Demon-Slaying Blade Technique: Mara Whirl Flash.

The energy-infused blade carved spiraling slashes across Yin Taiwang’s body. Only the black armor prevented his body from being cleaved apart; still, it couldn’t stop cuts from reaching his skin. In an instant, he was drenched in blood.

“……!!”

Instead of screaming, Yin Taiwang chose to counterattack. His mental fortitude was commendable. But his counter was meaningless ever since I read him.

Dodging Yin Taiwang’s blade by a hair, I landed and immediately leaped again, aiming my sword tip directly at him…


I slashed their jaws.

A body that leaps upward will inevitably descend due to gravity. As I descended, I managed to slice through Yuntaemang’s neck, severing it more than halfway. The matter was settled. Yuntaemang stumbled backward and fell flat on his back.

“Zen… Jang…”

Next, I dealt with the rest of Yuntaemang’s gang. They were weaker than him. Though they stuck together, making things a little annoying, I had no trouble handling them alone.

Ten minutes passed, and the battle ended.

The area around me was littered with corpses. I didn’t bother removing the masks of the dead to confirm their identities. It was obvious they were warriors from the Baeksan Gold Family, and I had no intention of picking a fight with them now.

‘I’m kinda pissed, but if I go rampaging into Baeksan Gold House right now, my plans will be ruined.’

I turned toward the remaining members of the martial arts school still standing in the training ground. Their eyes held a mixture of awe and reverence as they looked at me.

“I’ll say this again. Starting today, the Doyang Sect is dissolved. If anyone has objections, step forward now.”

“We shall follow the master’s will!”

“Good. As promised, I’ll distribute the money. Take it and leave.”

After handing out the money to the sect members, I departed from Doyang without any hesitation. My destination wasn’t my lodging; it was the city gate of Baeksan City. Staying in Baeksan City would risk being tracked by the Baeksan Gold Family. My plan was to publicly leave Baeksan City and sneak back into my lodging later that night.

“……”

Thud, thud.

As I walked down the road, I glanced behind me.

Six members of the Doyang Sect were following me. Even after leaving Baeksan City, they showed no signs of stopping.

“What foolishness is this?”

The six immediately knelt before me, bowing so deeply that their foreheads touched the ground.

“Master! Please take us in! We wish to stay by your side! We swear eternal loyalty! Please accept us!”

Their intentions were painfully obvious.

They wanted to learn my martial arts. To them, I represented an opportunity they didn’t want to miss.

‘This is giving me a headache.’

My irritation soared.

Should I just kill them all? I briefly considered it. After sparing their lives, it felt wrong to kill them again. Since I’d shown mercy once, doing it twice wouldn’t hurt.

“The Doyang Sect has been disbanded. I am no longer the Doyang Sect Master, and neither are you members of the Doyang Sect. Go away. Find your own path.”

“Master… No, Sir Hansu-Pyung! We’ll do anything you ask! We’ll even return the money you gave us! Please take us in!”

Bang. Bangbangbang.

The bastards started banging their heads against the ground. Blood flowed from their torn foreheads. They were trying to prove how serious they were, but I couldn’t care less.

“Six is too many.”

“…Pardon?”

“Two should suffice.”

With that, I turned and continued walking.

On my seventh step, screams echoed from behind. Soon, shouts mixed with curses and the sound of clashing swords followed.

By my ninety-fifth step, I sensed movement behind me. Turning around, I saw two bloodied men kneeling before me.

“Sir!”

“Please accept us!”

“For real, this is so damn annoying.”

“…Sir. We can do anything you ask.”

“If you said you only needed one person instead of two…”

The duo glared at each other with murderous intent. They were ready to kill each other the moment I gave the order.

It was ridiculous.

“Ha, you worthless trash. Do me a favor and know your place.”

Before they could respond, the sword at my waist swung, slicing through their necks. Two heads rolled across the dirt.

“Damn, these guys make me swing my sword unnecessarily.”