Book 7 Chapter 12

The Return of the Old Master

The Five Specters of Soul Destruction moved like shadows, their lust burning competitively.

They were so desperate they couldn't see anything else.

But what stopped their desperate sprint, like stallions, was a single streak of silver light.

*Whee!*

The flash left a thin red line on the cheek of Kang Yak-yak, the lecherous Ghost Sword, who was charging ahead at the front. As the sharp premonition grazed his cheek, Kang Yak-yak instinctively leaped back and shouted.

"Who goes there?"

Landing a foot away, a sword hilt was already in his hand.

"Just a passerby!"

Before the Five Specters of Soul Destruction appeared a single old man. They had no idea that the old man's face was the same one etched into their minds as a nightmare among the sixteen members of the Jujak Group.

It was Biryu-yeon, who had appeared wearing a human skin mask he had kept hidden for years to conceal his identity.

"Reveal yourself!"

Kang Yak-yak shouted.

"You disrespectful rascals!"

"What did you say?"

"Here! Take this as a reward!"

"What?"

Still, the five of them lacked respect for the old man.

"Flying Ring Chaos Shadow Dance!"

*Pow!*

Ten flying rings shot from Biryu-yeon's hands, weaving through the air in unpredictable, arcane curves. They moved with a terrifying momentum that seemed to tear space apart.

The Flying Ring Chaos Shadow Dance was a casual move Biryu-yeon had created by combining the techniques of the Flying Thunder Sword. Even though it was made casually, its power was by no means weak.

*Gasp!*

Stunned by the unexpectedly powerful blow, the Five Specters of Soul Destruction poured all their abilities into evasion.

*Swish! Swish!*

But it was impossible to perfectly evade the rings that swirled through the air like a dance. Wherever the rings brushed past, a red line would inevitably appear, and blood would flow.

From Biryu-yeon's perspective, this was already holding back.

"Why is the senior blocking our path?"

The first of them, Gui-yeong Sal-geom, Sang-jung-ha, asked. His tone had clearly changed. They were indeed the kind of people who relied on force rather than etiquette.

"Now you're speaking politely! Are you showing respect for your elders now?"

'Who is it?'

Sang-jung-ha began to ponder.

Judging by his appearance, he didn't seem like reinforcements from the Mutang sect. With no markings on his body, it was difficult to determine his affiliation. Of course, if they knew the situation, it would be natural for him to intervene to help the Cheonmu Academy side. But if he didn't know the situation?

The Five Specters of Soul Destruction wanted to save themselves the trouble. They didn't want to waste energy fighting a formidable master.

"Excuse me, but may I know the esteemed name of the senior?"

He thought he was being as polite as possible.

"Rather than that, did you happen to hear any rumors?"

Biryu-yeon, wearing the old master's skin mask, suddenly asked.

"What rumors?"

"They say a terrifying Green Forest Yaksha appears here. I was ambushed by those fiends!"

"Hahahahahahaha!"

A Green Forest Yaksha, in simple terms, meant mountain bandits. To them, they were less than the dirt under their fingernails. Their laughter grew louder and louder.

Biryu-yeon, disguised as the old master, felt a little displeased.

"Why are you laughing?"

Biryu-yeon asked, not hiding his displeasure.

"Can mere mountain bandits dare to block our path?"

Sang-jung-ha boasted confidently. He didn't realize he had overlooked one thing.

"Then who is it that will block your path?"

"Th-that is…"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, Sang-jung-ha was at a loss for words. Of course, the answer was the old man in front of him, who claimed to have been robbed.

"Tsk tsk! Do you even have tears?"

"What tears does a man have? A man doesn't shed tears even when his parents die."

"Hmph! Then you won't want to hear my story."

Biryu-yeon clicked his tongue.

"Why not?"

"Because this old man's fate is a grand, epic saga, tangled with tragic circumstances that cannot be heard without tears!"

"Hoho! Let's hear the story then! The fate you boast of being tragic."

"A terrifying Green Forest Yaksha lives in these mountains. A fiend with no blood, tears, or snot! He has never left any money for those he met. He takes everything, leaving not even travel expenses! That is his unwritten rule! I was caught by that ruthless bandit, leaving me penniless. What a tragic fate that cannot be heard without tears. And all this in my old age."

From this point on, Biryu-yeon's somewhat lengthy story began. The Five Specters of Soul Destruction found it unpleasant, but they had no choice but to listen. They regretted speaking to him, but it was too late.

"And so… that's how it happened!"

The story was long, but the message was simple.

'I was walking. A bandit appeared. I was robbed by the bandit. Therefore, I am currently broke!' That was the end of it.

"So… what do you want?"

Sang-jung-ha, who had achieved the feat of listening to the entire story with extreme patience, asked with a contorted face.

"Do you happen to have any money?"

The eyes of the Five Specters of Soul Destruction's first member, Sang-jung-ha, widened in surprise. Why was he suddenly asking for money so crudely?

"What are you talking about?"

Biryu-yeon, wearing the old master's skin mask, said, scratching the back of his head.

"Ah! I was completely robbed of my travel expenses by those Green Forest Yakshas, so it's natural that I'm penniless. That's why I was wandering."

Biryu-yeon said, feigning innocence.

'Robbed and wandering?'

The five of them tilted their heads for a moment, as the words didn't connect logically.

"We can lend it to you."

Sang-jung-ha quickly stepped forward. He wanted to leave the situation as soon as possible. If he hadn't suffered such a setback from Biryu-yeon's Flying Ring Chaos Shadow Dance just moments ago, he wouldn't have yielded so readily.

"Oh! Will it be a bother?"

Of course, he had only asked as a courtesy. If they had said, "Yes, it is a bother," he would have had a prepared response: "Oh, really? Then take a few hits!"

"A bother? Not at all. Don't all under heaven agree? Furthermore, as a junior, seeing a senior in distress, it is only right and proper to help. Indeed! It is! Everything returns to its origin, and the one who ties the knot must untie it!"

Gui-yeong Sal-geom, Sang-jung-ha, said, hitting his chest and even using idioms.

The other four Ghost Swords looked at him with surprise. They thought he knew nothing but murder, arson, and rape, but they never knew that as the eldest, his tongue could be so smooth. They all glimpsed his newfound talent. Indeed, the leader had his own talents.

"Here you go."

Sang-jung-ha quickly rummaged through his money pouch and pulled out some cash. He had received a generous mission fee as he was on a special assignment.

*Clink!*

The sound of money, which always delighted Biryu-yeon's ears, rang in his ears. However, despite the pleasant and willing heart, his face began to contort hideously.

Sensing something was wrong, Sang-jung-ha started to break into a cold sweat. Only four money pouches had been opened. There was one person who had not opened their pouch. Without even checking, Sang-jung-ha knew who the culprit was.

He quickly winked at Kang Yak-yak, who was beside him. It was a signal to hand over the money quickly. Ghost Sword Kang Yak-yak's face contorted horribly. Judging by the movement, control, and combination of his facial muscles, his refusal was clear. He was a type who was as lustful for women as he was for money. His honest feeling was that he didn't want to give his precious money to an old man of unknown origin.

'Oh, you!'

Sang-jung-ha also began to move his facial muscles in response to Kang Yak-yak's reaction. His brows furrowed three layers deep, and the muscles controlling his eyebrows powerfully pushed them skyward, creating an intense glare. The muscles around his eyes changed rapidly, completing what is called a 'glare.'

With the most difficult technique, the muscles around his lips began to tremble, and Kang Yak-yak could no longer resist.

Even after taking Kang Yak-yak's money pouch, Biryu-yeon still seemed unsatisfied. The old master's frowning facial muscles showed no sign of relaxing. Instead, his killing intent grew stronger and stronger.

'Damn it! We've been tricked.'

The Five Specters of Soul Destruction finally realized they had stepped in something foul. The old man in front of them was clearly implying that the portion of their wealth they had given was not enough.

'How did he know there was more hidden money?'

They had truly fallen into a trap. The person before them was a plain robber, and one who used advanced violent means!

There was a limit to how much they could endure.

Despite calling themselves masters, they were completely unaware of how much higher their opponent's caliber was. Ignorance sometimes comes with the right to be rash. These individuals decided to actively exercise their right to rashness.

The exercise of that right manifested as violence.

"Die!"

Kang Yak-yak was the first to charge. He was confident that a surprise attack would succeed. Not missing this opportunity, the other four joined in. They were originally experts in surprise attacks, assassination, and combined attacks.

"If you have the ability!"

This was Biryu-yeon's reply.

They possessed a unique trait: they could kill people for trivial reasons or because they were annoyed. Therefore, they felt no guilt for their past actions.

Of course, this time as well, they had no reason to feel guilty. The person before them was not someone with such a weak life force that they could be easily killed by their rashness.

Their rashness was met with a terrible price. Instead of guilt, they had to taste bitter regret. A long period of reflection was given to them.

Biryu-yeon's lips curved into a dangerous, warning arc. The retribution that followed that smile was so terrible that even the word 'terrible' felt light. In such situations, it was ultimately beneficial to one's life to quickly leave without looking around.

However, in this world, the majority still mistakenly believed that recklessness was courage and wandered in delusion.

For those who learn through experience, it could be said that it is a person's duty to provide them with an experience. Biryu-yeon was not so wicked as to abandon that duty. His hand slowly tensed. He was willing to endure a little effort. Biryu-yeon's hand shot forward like lightning. The outcome was already predetermined.

*Wham! Boom! Smash!*

"Aaaargh!"

The screams were miserably pathetic. There was no mercy in the old master's hands. The price for failing to recognize a master as a novice was immense.

They had made the fatal mistake of not understanding the extremely simple and clear fact that one doesn't become a master just like that. And they had failed to realize that a master can do countless things more than novices in ways that novices cannot even imagine.

It was understandable that they wanted to deny reality. They would want to avoid falling to the bottom by simply accepting this cruel reality. It was like being on a high tower, looking down at the world below, when suddenly a meteorological anomaly, like a bolt from the blue, occurred, and their social status and pride, which had supported them, collapsed in an instant. A horrific reality awaited them, one they wouldn't accept even if they died and came back to life twice.

While their desire to make a final desperate struggle was understandable, Biryu-yeon alone did not understand it. And he felt no need to.

He was simply annoyed. These foolish and arrogant commoners who, like moths to a flame, rushed forward without facing reality. Biryu-yeon found no reason to tolerate such commoners, so there was no room for sympathy in his actions. Therefore, the Five Specters of Soul Destruction, deemed foolish commoners, had to be thoroughly beaten. Of course, it went without saying that the price would involve pain.

Today, they were fortunate enough to have a valuable experience, allowing them ample time for deep reflection on what bone-deep pain truly meant. Furthermore, the price they had to pay was not yet over. There was still a remaining price waiting to greet them.

In many ways, it could be considered a beneficial day that left them with lessons. It was also a nightmarish day they would never want to recall.

They were stripped bare, having lost all their possessions, and had to return.