Chapter 48

Sososo’s guest room was locked, so in a hurry, Mantian laid her on his own bed and noticed something strange.


Even though it was late at night, it was suspiciously quiet.


As soon as he entered the inn, he looked for the owner and the waiter on the first floor to call a doctor, but they were nowhere to be found.


The second-floor rooms were also empty, except for the room where he and the late-stage disciples were staying.


An eerie silence filled the inn, with no signs of life.


“Ha… Ha…”


Just a moment ago, Sososo was fine, but now she couldn’t hold herself up and was breathing heavily.


‘…What on earth is going on?’


Currently, the owner, the chef, the waiter, and other guests who were seen until evening had all disappeared for some reason.


In other words, the only ones left here, unaware of what’s happening, are me and the late-stage disciples of the Righteous Faction.


It’s too early to be sure, but it feels like we’ve been caught up in some dangerous plot. This is no longer something I can worry about alone.


“Senior Brother! Junior Brother! Miss Dang! Wake up! Something’s wrong!!”


He knocked on the doors of the rooms where the late-stage disciples were staying, but there was no response. Since this was no time to hesitate, he broke down the door and entered.


All of them were in a deep fever, breathing heavily and unconscious, just like Sososo.


Now he was sure. This was a trap set by someone.


He didn’t know what method they used, but they must have used some special drug to deceive the Dang family and incapacitate all the late-stage disciples.


So now, he had two choices.


One was to rush to the government office and bring back the soldiers, and the other was-


“What? There’s someone awake.”


“That’s why you shouldn’t deal with those who talk about supernatural nonsense. They lie as soon as they open their mouths.”


“…But it seems like he’s the only one awake?”


Standing on the second-floor railing, he saw a group of assassins entering the inn at just the right time when all the late-stage disciples were incapacitated.


You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but these guys looked like real bad guys, walking in with swords in hand. They were definitely thugs or assassins.


Due to the time limit, the two choices were reduced to one. Now, he had no choice but to fight.


“No turning back now.”


He let out a sigh mixed with a mutter and shuffled down to the first floor.


Those who came up the stairs to kill, and those who went down the stairs to save. Their eyes met. A strange atmosphere filled the inn.


Creak- Creak- The sound of stepping down the old stairs echoed.


“Just asking to confirm. Who are you here to kill?”


“Namgung Sososo.”


“Did she do something wrong? Or is it a grudge?”


“Well, I don’t know. Must be some family matter.”


After descending the stairs, Mantian loosened his shoulders and asked the assassin who approached without caution.


“Thanks for telling me, but is it okay to be so kind?”


“Since you’re going to die soon, think of it as pocket money for the afterlife, friend.”


“Oh? Then this is your change, friend.”


Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Stick Lifts the Mangy Dog – Hitting a mangy dog from below.


The assassin, hit squarely on the chin by the stick swung upward, flew in a parabolic arc and crashed loudly onto the inn floor.


“What… is this…?”


The assassins’ eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected situation. They glanced at the assassin with a shattered jaw, now unconscious.


From the man they thought was just a lame duck, a pure, heavy, and hot energy flowed. Judging by the aura, he was at least a late-stage disciple of the Righteous Faction.


They thought it would be an easy task to enter the inn and kill the unconscious Namgung Sososo. They didn’t expect such an ambush.


The assassins looked at the stairs where Mantian stood with his back turned, calculating in their heads. Now, it was crucial to quickly kill Namgung Sososo.


There was no need to fight a mysterious martial artist. There’s no extra pay for shedding blood.


“If we let you go, will you leave quietly?”


In response to the assassins’ shameless proposal, Mantian smiled faintly. It was the face of someone who had made up their mind.


“You know what? Namgung Sososo’s sword is beautiful.”


“…What?”


Honestly, the assassins’ proposal wasn’t bad. Whether their offer was genuine or not, running away was the right choice here.


Risking one’s life for someone you just met and barely know is a bad deal. It’s a stupid move.


…But the beautiful sword dance under the moonlight is etched in my mind and won’t be forgotten.


What kind of life and resolve does one need to reach such a beautiful sword? I’m curious.


I want to know more about Namgung Sososo. I want to discuss martial arts with her.


…I want to make the sword that shone nobly under the moonlight mine.


I can’t help but laugh. I shouldn’t have called Jiegal Yang a crazy old man.


He raised his internal energy and prepared to unleash his basic forms, taking a stance. He stood in the way to prevent them from going up to the second floor.


“Beautiful things should be left in the world.”


“You’re crazy. Attack from both sides.”


He might be strong, but he’s just one person. If we attack from both sides and exploit his openings, he’ll have no choice but to fall.


Almost simultaneously, the sword blades aimed at his neck and heart from both sides. With his back to the stairs, there was nowhere to dodge. From now on, he had to counter every attack.


So, he cleared his mind and raised both hands to the sides.


He divided his mind into two.


***


Shortly after Mantian left, at the Sima Family.


Zhang Chunhua wiped away her tears as she cleaned the room where her playful son’s absence was deeply felt.


“I don’t know why he had to send the sick child outside. Is he sleeping well? Is he eating?”


She understood her husband’s intention to raise Tianyi as his successor, but she couldn’t help but worry. Especially since he was a child who needed a lot of attention.


“Big brother will be fine. Don’t worry too much, mother.”


At the soothing and gentle voice of Yeonghwa, Chunhua snapped out of her thoughts and smiled softly.


“I should be taking care of you as a mother. I showed you a poor side of me.”


“No, it’s okay. It’s only natural for family to take care of each other.”


Yes, as the wife of her beloved brother, it’s only natural to protect her husband’s absence and support her mother-in-law.


It’s not strange at all. It’s perfectly normal.


By the way, Sima Bu is both her father-in-law and her biological father, so she doesn’t particularly respect or support him.


However, unaware of these inner thoughts, Chunhua felt Yeonghwa’s actions were just the kind-hearted consideration of a daughter-in-law thinking of her mother and brother.


Thus, the two women cleaned Mantian’s room in a warm atmosphere and soon discovered a pile of paper.


Yes, it was literally a pile of paper. Thousands of sheets with various doodles of triangles, squares, and circles were stuffed inside a chest.


Unconsciously, Yeonghwa reached out her slender, pretty hand and picked up one of the doodled papers.


On that paper was drawn a truly perfect circle and square.


***


For Guhae, to defeat Banryong, and to no longer make that precious child cry, he began his training.


The resolve of a thirteen-year-old and five years of time, five years of frustration, and five years of effort combined to break through the wall.


Double Hands Fighting.


Right – Dog Chasing Stick Technique, Left – Empty Clarity Fist.


Both hands simultaneously unleashed two different basic forms, dealing with enemies approaching from both sides.


The relentless stick technique struck the enemy’s solar plexus, while the flowing fist technique deflected and subdued their attacks.


In an instant, three assassins fell. The faces of the assassins watching from behind twitched. Now was not the time to worry about face.


To be blocked by just one person and fail to kill the target in an incapacitated state. It’s a ridiculous situation.


“Call everyone waiting outside.”


The assassins waiting outside in case the Sword Dragon woke up entered the inn at the signal.


Swarming in, they walked in with footsteps, drawing their swords and surrounding Mantian, who stood with his back to the stairs in a semicircle.


The Evil Faction is not to be underestimated. And he had touched the pride of the assassins.


This is no longer just about eliminating a witness. No matter what it takes, we’ll kill him and then go up the stairs he’s guarding to kill Namgung Sososo.


This is a fight for the pride of the Evil Faction martial artists.


“We won’t let you go even if you try to run now, kid.”


‘They really brought a lot of people.’


He didn’t know the exact number, but it looked like about fifty.


He slightly turned his head to look at the inner room on the second floor where Sososo was sleeping soundly. He couldn’t help but sigh.


He turned his head back to look at the group of assassins.


He extended his left arm forward and firmly gripped his staff, preparing himself.


‘One against fifty… I’m going to make a legend today.’


Who moved first was unclear.


Those trying to go up and those trying to stop them clashed simultaneously.