Chapter 134

Yeonghwa’s red eyes gleam coldly as she cleans the garden.

“Did you think setting a fire would create chaos and give you an advantage?”

Sacred Fire Spirit Technique

Sacred flames rise, burning the intruders who dared to invade the sanctuary of her beloved brother.

“Fire is the creation of Ahura Mazda, not on your side.”

The sacred flames summoned by the Sacred Fire Spirit Technique devour the flames ignited by the Blood Church, extinguishing them.

It burns only the enemies, distinguishing friend from foe.

However, the flames do not spread, only burning the enemies before dying out. Perhaps the initial burst of anger was too intense.

The garden, used as a training ground…

The temporary headquarters of the Jeonjin Sect, arbitrarily decided by Wang Miaoyang, has been reduced to ashes.

“Ah… the Jeonjin Sect headquarters!!”

Wang Miaoyang, who had been napping and rushed out upon hearing the commotion, gazes despondently at the empty space left in ashes.

“From the ashes… the revival of the Jeonjin Sect begins before it even starts…”

The wooden signpost inscribed with “Jeonjin Sect,” placed in the center of the garden by Wang Miaoyang, has also turned to charcoal.

Honestly, what difference does it make between a garden and an empty lot…

“I had planned to make this small garden a holy site, reviving from here…”

It seems she had been dreaming of arbitrarily turning the disciple’s villa garden into a sacred site.

“…I can’t forgive this.”

Wang Miaoyang’s small body trembles.

She leaps into the fray in an instant.

Zap-!

A line of internal energy is released from her soft hand, splitting the space.

Frost-Shattering Palm

The intruders surrounding the estate, the Blood Church, face the wrath of Jeonjin.

Strictly speaking, it was Yeonghwa who turned the garden into an empty lot.

But if the Blood Church hadn’t invaded, Yeonghwa wouldn’t have had to burn the garden.

So, it’s the Blood Church’s fault.

In any case, the Sima Family has managed to repel the Blood Church’s surprise attack with minimal damage.

However, the overall situation remains chaotic.

“Where is Sanpeng… Iron Peng?”

In response to Sima Family Head’s question about Jang Sanpeng, Poong Baek replies.

“That guy went out to find the Young Master and Poong Ran as soon as the fire broke out in the streets.”

Sima Family Head nods at his words.

As the family head, the task he assigned to Jang Sanpeng was to guard Mantian. He acted correctly.

Sima Family Head looks at Poong Baek’s stiff face.

He maintains his composure, but his worry is evident.

Perhaps Poong Baek stayed to fight here because Sanpeng went out. He probably wants to go out and save Poong Ran right now.

Sima Family Head prefers subordinates with families.

Because they can be threatened with their families if necessary. Taking care of a subordinate’s family earns their loyalty.

Those with nothing to lose, even if capable, are unpredictable.

“Divide the troops.”

Sima Family Head quickly makes a decision.

“We’ve repelled the surprise attack, but I don’t think this is the end. So, Yeonghwa and I will stay here to establish a safe base. Poong Baek and…”

Sima Family Head awkwardly bows to Wang Miaoyang, who is standing uncomfortably.

“Master Wang Miaoyang, please help find my son and Poong Baek’s daughter.”

“Ah… Yes! I will bring them back safely.”

Although Wang Miaoyang is the leader of the Jeonjin Sect…

Currently, she is a martial artist who eats, drinks, and lounges at the Sima Family Head’s house, helping out when needed.

As a guest, she follows Sima Family Head’s words without question.

Moreover, Mantian is her precious disciple. She was planning to go look for him even without being asked.

“If it’s about finding my brother, I’ll go too.”

Yeonghwa, worried about Mantian, tries to join the conversation, but Sima Family Head flatly rejects her.

“If the enemies are targeting you, it’s dangerous to go out. And we need to keep this place safe in case Mantian and Poong Ran return.”

Yeonghwa bites her lip.

If the Blood Church is really targeting her, going out might attract their concentrated attack, only hindering the search for her brother and Poong Ran.

“…Understood.”

Yeonghwa nods in understanding.

With no more time to waste, Sima Family Head quickly orders Poong Baek.

“While we’re gone, send a signal if the kids come here.”

“Understood.”

Poong Baek also quickly responds, and the Sima Family’s martial artists, along with Wang Miaoyang, head out.

Sima Family Head rubs his temples and sighs.

Was it too lax to be in the middle of the Martial Alliance…

Or are the Blood Church, causing chaos in the heart of the Martial Alliance, just insane?

He wants to rush out and find Cheon-i right now.

…But he can’t.

“Use the furniture in the house to build a defensive wall. It’s better than nothing.”

He looks at Yeonghwa, who is directing the remaining personnel.

Family is precious. That’s why it doesn’t need to be large.

It only increases weaknesses.

He should have known.

“Sigh… What’s the point now?”

A self-deprecating laugh escapes him as a ridiculous thought crosses his mind.

If Jang Sanpeng, that guy, were here…

He would have teased him, calling him a soft, soft wolf.

***

Wearing a new mask to hide his identity, he moves swiftly across the rooftops.

A servant, guard, and assassin of the Sima Family.

Iron Peng, Jang Sanpeng.

He prefers to be called Jang Sam, disliking the character “Peng.”

“…Tsk.”

While quickly searching for Mantian and Poong Ran, Jang Sam clicks his tongue.

An obstacle has appeared.

Twelve crescent-shaped blades rush towards him from different directions, cutting through the wind.

Tang Family Secret Technique – Twelve Linked Slashes

Jang Sam spins in mid-air, dodging the first blade and reading the trajectory.

Finger-Shooting Technique

He flicks iron pellets from his hand, deflecting all the remaining blades.

The twelve blades fall like leaves.

Jang Sam glares at the person who launched the hidden weapons from the rooftop.

An elder of the Ilwol God Sect he had encountered before at Jeoseokhyeon.

“Hey~ bird brain~ we’ve met before.”

Tang Wu smiles sharply.

Jang Sam frowns.

Of all times, he had to run into this annoying guy.

Although he had managed to escape due to the difference in skill…

That doesn’t mean…

Tang Wu is weak.

Knowing he can’t easily escape, Jang Sam doesn’t hesitate.

He quickly moves his hands.

Dozens of pellets are fired.

Tang Wu laughs lightly at the barrage of iron pellets.

“Ha! That again.”

He pulls out a three-section staff from his waist and swings it, blocking and shattering all the pellets.

Clang-! Clang-clang-clang!!

After dozens of strikes.

Tang Wu examines the pellets scattered on the rooftop.

‘I thought something was off… as expected.’

Some of the pellets are of different sizes.

Mixing pellets of different sizes among dozens to confuse depth perception and misjudge distance.

“…Pathetic tricks.”

A sneer forms on Tang Wu’s lips.

Such random attacks relying on the number of hidden weapons only work on amateurs.

They don’t work on true masters.

But Jang Sam immediately takes stance again and fires dozens of pellets.

The result is the same.

The ruthless staff technique of the Song Emperor unfolds.

Song Emperor Staff Technique

Tang Wu swings his three-section staff again, deflecting the approaching pellets.

“That’s why I said it’s pathetic-!!”

Whoosh-!!!

And then, the staff touching the iron pellet explodes.

Thunderfire Pellet

Tang Wu hurriedly discards the shattered three-section staff and emerges from the black smoke, covered in soot.

“Cough- cough! What is this?!”

“Hey~ thanks for setting fires everywhere.”

Jang Sam’s sneer echoes towards Tang Wu.

“Originally, it’s a ‘martial art’ that needs to be used carefully. Thanks to you, I can use it without worry.”

Tang Wu’s eyes tremble.

“…What? Martial art?”

His face turns red with confusion and anger.

“This is a Thunderfire Pellet! You coward!!”

“It’s a martial art that uses Thunderfire Pellets instead of ordinary hidden weapons. And in a fight…”

The corners of Jang Sam’s eyes, visible beneath his new mask, curve into a smile.

“Winning is everything.”

Thunderfire Pellet

Dozens of pellets are fired towards Tang Wu again.

The first iron pellet explodes.

Triggering a chain reaction, the surrounding pellets also explode, causing a chain explosion.

Bang! Bang-bang-bang-bang!!

A black cloud rises. A clean victory.

As the Young Master would say.

‘I am Jang Sam! The one who wields explosive martial arts! A celebratory victory!’

But there’s no time to celebrate, so he quickly tries to leave when.

Bang-!

A black hidden weapon, as black as ink, flies through the smoke.

‘A hidden weapon made of ink iron?’

Jang Sam hurriedly tilts his head to dodge the hidden weapon.

“……?!”

Tang Wu, who had jumped through the smoke, swings his leg down towards Jang Sam’s head.

As expected of a master, he has a life-saving technique.

He must have had a secret move.

In any case, it’s too late to dodge.

In desperation, he raises his arm, infused with energy, to cover his head and block the attack.

It feels like he did the same thing in the last fight, but this is the best he can do now.

Crash-!!

The rooftop, already at its limit from the ongoing fight, collapses under the recent attack.

Jang Sam falls towards the ground like a falling bird.

·

·

·

Sanpeng liked the number three.

It meant the third.

Because there was an older sister and a second sister.

And a fourth, fifth, and cute younger sisters.

Ah, not by blood.

It was just a title given by the instructors who trained young girls as assassins here, in order of age.

In that sense, he disliked the character “Peng.”

An assassin group composed only of women.

Because the symbol of this organization was a large bird.

As is typical of such organizations.

The lives of the children brought here were as insignificant as flies.

Training that bordered on abuse.

If you failed the training or simply didn’t please the instructors, you wouldn’t get food and would starve.

The first sister, who was only a year or two older but was as kind as a mother.

She died while being punished for sharing food with the younger sisters who failed the training.

Perhaps shocked by this, the second sister gradually withered away and became unable to train.

She didn’t want any more family to die.

Sanpeng took on the training in her place.

The instructors, for whatever reason, accepted.

Yes, it was just entertainment.

When Sanpeng finished the training, what he saw was the second sister’s corpse.

There is no future here.

He had to find a way to at least let the younger sisters escape.

…But how?

Sanpeng was too weak.

Then, the Sima Family Head Sima Bu, the then Iron Dog Iron Peng, and Poong Baek.

The organization was destroyed by just three martial artists.

It was probably a conflict between evil factions.

Or there was some personal grudge.

He remembers trembling as the instructors, who were like ghosts, exploded like flies at the gesture of the Unknown.

We, the younger sisters, became spoils of the Sima Family.

…It was scary, but he couldn’t stay still.

“Family Head, what should we do with the children captured here?”

At Poong Baek’s words, the Unknown spoke in a cheerful voice.

“Huh~ were they raised as assassins? Reminds me of where I used to be. They made us kill each other.”

Poong Baek’s face crumples.

“Are you insane?”

“No… I’m not suggesting that. Just saying.”

Sanpeng quietly approaches Sima Bu, who is deep in thought.

“…I know how to kill people.”

He suppresses the rising fear to protect the remaining younger sisters.

“I’ll work for you. So please let my sisters go.”

He doesn’t know what Sima Bu was thinking, but the Family Head accepted the deal.

The Sima Family’s assassin training was tough but systematic.

He ate well, rested well, and slept well.

As he stood out, he began to learn under Poong Baek.

This was before Poong Baek became the upper echelon, so naturally, it involved finding and beating up the Sima Family’s enemies.

Poong Baek always looked at him with a dissatisfied expression.

Thinking back, it must have been because he had a young daughter and was concerned about a young boy working as an assassin.

That’s why he always made sure to provide food.

Then one day.

Sima Bu… the Family Head took him somewhere.

It was a fabric store.

Looking at the store from a distance, he saw children laughing and chatting, helping their parents.

Though their appearances had changed over time, there was no doubt.

…They were his younger sisters.

Sanpeng’s eyes widened.

“It’s a fabric store under the Sima Family. They were adopted because they had no children for a long time.”

It wasn’t a false expression.

The younger sisters were living ordinary lives, smiling happily.

“Remember that your family will always be under the Sima Family.”

A cold voice. But it didn’t matter.

Sima Bu wasn’t a good person, even in jest, but he kept his deals.

“So, as long as I remain loyal, it’s fine. Not bad.”

At Sanpeng’s bold words, Sima Bu quietly chuckled.

“That’s not enough. Follow me.”

At the Sima Family estate, a boy with soft cheeks, walking with a cane, comes into view.

Sima Mantian. The Young Master.

“From today, your name is Jang Sanpeng.”

“Huh?”

“The weapon Jang. From now on, you are my son’s weapon and guard.”

Being a guard was one thing, but receiving a surname wasn’t a bad thing.

“Then, please call me Jang Sam instead of Sanpeng.”

But surprisingly, no one called him Jang Sam.

Except for one person.

“So, what should I call you?”

“…Huh?”

At Jang Sam’s words that the pronunciation of “Peng” sounded stupid and he disliked it, the young Mantian tilts his head and asks.

“You said you don’t like ‘Peng,’ so what should I call you?”

“Uh… then please call me Jang Sam.”

From then on, the Young Master called him Jang Sam.

He’s a whimsical person, but oddly kind in some ways.

Jang Sam liked Mantian.

Not for any grand reason.

Because the time spent with Mantian was peaceful and enjoyable.

Because he gave him the peaceful daily life he had given up for his family.

…Would the Young Master be sad if I died?

It’s a sight he wants to see and yet doesn’t.

Jang Sam forces himself up from the debris of the collapsed ceiling.

If he’s going to fight, he needs even a little more internal energy.

He releases the Disguise Technique and Bone Shrinking Technique, revealing his true face and body.

His senses become more acute, and his body feels lighter.

He tosses away the cumbersome bird mask, sweeps back his hair, and speaks to Tang Wu, who has lightly descended through the broken ceiling.

“Come at me. I’ll give you a proper fight.”