Chapter 306

Chapter 306
## Chapter 306. The Rising Star of the Black Path, the Black Flame Dragon (4)

—

Once the Wang Family aligned themselves with So-un Jin, the travels of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group transformed into a remarkably relaxed affair. At every rest stop, the Wang Family attendants utilized premium, crisp ingredients to orchestrate exquisite feasts, while martial artists possessing skills far superior to the caravan’s original guards established a tight, rotating watch schedule.

Furthermore, having So-un Jin along—the brilliant martial artist who had claimed the pinnacle spot at the Martial Academy—rendered the expedition as invulnerable as an imperial fortress.

‘…I am truly at a loss whether to celebrate this development or dread its consequences.’

The lingering apprehension shadowing Go-jung-tak’s features throughout the trek stemmed precisely from the presence of So-un Jin and the Wang Family’s accompanying wagons.

‘To effortlessly dismantle entrenched criminal syndicates in such a manner…’

In the beginning, panic had gripped him when he witnessed So-un Jin corral the underworld thugs of the Sang-mun-bang and boldly march straight into their primary fortress. Regardless of his status as the Martial Academy’s premier graduate, that stronghold was a den of seasoned outlaws.

To Go-jung-tak’s mind, stepping unassisted into a hornet’s nest packed with hundreds of ruthless veterans who had spent their lifetimes surviving the brutal underworld was nothing short of suicidal. When he desperately urged So-so Wang, the individual overseeing the Wang Family’s contingent, to mobilize a rescue mission, she merely blinked in mild bewilderment.

“Oh? Go after Oppa Jin? Whatever for?”

Her composure was absolute, rooted in an unshakeable certainty that So-un Jin would emerge victorious. Consequently, Go-jung-tak, despite his genuine concern, was left looking foolishly overanxious.

Yet, marvel of marvels.

‘He actually walked out of there without a single scratch.’

It wasn’t merely that he emerged unharmed. He proudly announced that he had extracted a binding pledge from the Sang-mun-bang: they would permanently waive all extortion levies against the caravan and instead serve as its personal security detail.

Just as the guard captain was losing himself in bewilderment over the extraordinary methods So-un Jin must have employed to secure such terms, a sudden disturbance shattered the peace.

*Bang!*

“Show us the leaders of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group!”

A separate faction of underworld marauders had intercepted the caravan’s path and advanced aggressively.

*Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!*

In the blink of an eye, the teeth of these new aggressors were scattered across the dirt like loose grain.

“Take me directly to your grandmaster.”

…The identical scenario that had unfolded with the Sang-mun-bang repeated itself seamlessly. Go-jung-tak felt a cold sweat break out.

The stakes were higher this time; the Heuk-bu-mun, which So-un Jin had just chosen to provoke, controlled a criminal empire double the size of the previous syndicate. Furthermore, the notorious “Seven Dogs of the Black Axe,” the brutal founders of the Heuk-bu-mun, were feared tyrants whose dark reputation extended well beyond Hebei and deep into Anhui.

Terrified that the eldest heir of the Merchant Group Leader might meet a gruesome end, Go-jung-tak ignored So-so Wang’s relaxed demeanor and cautiously trailed after the young master toward the Heuk-bu-mun stronghold.

And yet…

*Eh?*

*K-boom!*

*Thud-thud-thud!*

*Thump! Thump!*

Watching the unfolding chaos, Go-jung-tak’s expression gradually shifted into that of a monk achieving sudden spiritual awakening.

‘My anxiety was entirely wasted.’

It was a spectacle defying description—very much like observing a massive grizzly bear invading a wild beehive. The furious insects sacrificed their lives to plunge their stingers into the intruder, but the bear was far too engrossed in gorging itself on their sweet hoard to notice. The venomous onslaught did not even register as an inconvenience.

‘To think his martial prowess has reached such terrifying heights…’

Though Go-jung-tak was not an initiate of the martial arts himself, his decades of service within security guilds and trading syndicates had brought him into contact with numerous powerful masters. He had always believed their talents represented the peak of human capability, but So-un Jin was different.

‘Can a mere mortal truly possess such power?’

Faced with nearly a hundred hardened syndicate thugs—men who would have reduced Go-jung-tak to trembling terror during a standard trade route—not a single outlaw remained on their feet. Amidst the carnage, So-un Jin casually slung an arm around the paralyzed Sect Leader’s neck, murmuring dark ultimatums.

“…….”

The guard captain wisely chose not to dwell on the specifics of those threats. He simply found profound comfort in the fact that the caravan had suffered zero casualties.

He naively assumed this would mark the conclusion of the violence, reasoning that the underworld syndicates lurking further down the road would possess forces far too massive for a single youth to challenge. He assumed even So-un Jin would exercise prudence from this point forward.

He was mistaken.

*Bang!*

“Bring out the masters of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group!”

*Thwack!*

“Take me to your commander.”

‘Good heavens, please let this cycle end…!’

Regrettably, Go-jung-tak’s internal pleas went completely unanswered. Every single time an outlaw band arrived demanding tribute, So-un Jin would eagerly depart, returning only after the offender’s headquarters had been utterly pulverized.

Through this relentless methodology, seven distinct criminal syndicates were thoroughly dismantled before the caravan even crossed the borders of Anhui Province. By this stage, a fresh variety of dread began to consume the guard captain.

“Is… is it truly wise to permit this to continue unchecked, My Lady?”

Hearing his hesitant inquiry, So-so Wang tilted her head in curiosity.

“Oh? Permitting what, exactly?”

“Young Master Jin is systematically waging a private war against the entire underworld; I am deeply apprehensive about the long-term repercussions.”

“Hmm… but did Oppa not mention that he was simply forging alliances with them? From my perspective, the outcome seems exceptionally favorable.”

“…….”

“Furthermore, did they not formally pledge to safeguard our trade routes free of charge from now on?”

“That precise arrangement is what terrifies me.”

There was a reason these syndicates were branded as outlaws. Did they not thrive by defying established societal laws and morality, operating entirely on whim and brutality? To such men, an oath was a worthless currency, meant to be discarded the moment it became inconvenient. Though they groveled in defeat today, a bloody retaliation was inevitable; as the number of humiliated factions multiplied, they would eventually unite to launch a overwhelming ambush.

“Hmm……”

“We cannot afford to waste precious time in idle contemplation and worry like this……”

So-so Wang weighed the older man’s anxieties for a brief moment before offering her perspective.

“Oppa Jin always operates with a definitive strategy.”

“……I beg your pardon?”

A strategy?

From what Go-jung-tak had witnessed, the youth’s entire operational methodology consisted of charging blindly into enemy territory, beating everyone into submission, and strolling back. He failed to detect even a shred of tactical nuance or calculated foresight in those reckless displays.

“I can see from your face that you believe he is merely acting on wild impulse.”

“…….”

Observing the subtle, enigmatic grin gracing So-so Wang’s lips, Go-jung-tak remained thoroughly unconvinced. Her amusement vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a pointed question.

“Oppa Jin… achieved his current prominence despite starting as a low-ranking disciple of the Tae-eul Sect. Do you comprehend the magnitude of that achievement?”

The Tae-eul Sect had once been a destitute order, constantly subservient to the powerful Gye-ryong Merchant Group just to secure basic sustenance. The concept of an unbacked disciple from such a failing, third-rate lineage scaling the heights of the Martial Academy through sheer merit was already a miracle.

Yet, So-so Wang shook her head to indicate there was more.

“That is merely the surface. The founding of our current Dae-cheon Merchant Group and the miraculous recovery of the Tae-eul Sect’s long-lost esoteric styles were entirely orchestrated by Oppa’s hand.”

Go-jung-tak’s jaw dropped in sheer astonishment. The notion that a solitary youth could accomplish such monumental feats defied all logic.

So-so Wang offered a knowing nod, expecting his disbelief.

“It sounds entirely impossible, I know. Yet, it is the absolute truth.”

“……Good grief.”

“Oppa has never moved without a deliberate destination in mind. There is undoubtedly a grand design behind his current campaign against the syndicates.”

Following that revelation, Go-jung-tak found himself viewing So-un Jin in an entirely new light. Could the young master truly be executing a brilliant, hidden master plan far beyond a common guard’s comprehension?

He cast his gaze toward the far side of the tavern, where So-un Jin was currently matching drinks with the mercenary guards. Even while carousing, the youth’s focus remained locked onto the establishment’s front entrance.

“Good grief, why are the local outlaws in this province so painfully sluggish? How do they expect to run a proper criminal enterprise with this lack of urgency?”

A neighboring warrior raised an eyebrow.

“Is it not a blessing if we navigate these lands without drawing blood, Young Master?”

“What utter nonsense! What about the extorted wealth they’ve stolen over the years? And who will protect this route when I am no longer traveling with the caravan?”

So-un Jin offered a sharp clicking of his tongue, his expression darkening with greedy anticipation.

“Ah, I can only pray that the next crew to show up has a decently filled vault. The rabble from yesterday spent so lavishly on luxuries that their pockets were completely bare (Gae-teol)…”

Go-jung-tak’s skepticism instantly rushed back.

*Was there truly a profound, hidden philosophy at play here? He looks and sounds exactly like a common highwayman plotting a shakedown…*

*Bang!*

The guard captain’s internal critique was abruptly cut short.

“Where is the scum from the Dae-cheon Merchant Group!”

…The next unfortunate target of So-un Jin’s campaign had finally walked through the door.

“They’ve finally arrived!!!”

So-un Jin’s booming, inexplicably ecstatic shout rang out across the tavern floor.

A true companion.

A term meant to denote an individual with whom one has shared a deep, enduring bond over many seasons.

In my earlier youth, my sire frequently counseled me to amass a vast network of companions. He maintained that regardless of their background, a day would inevitably dawn when such alliances would bear fruit.

During my previous existence, I utterly failed to honor my sire’s wisdom. However, in this granted second life, I am pursuing that counsel with absolute fervor.

“We are bonded in mutual affection, are we not?”

Faced with my earnest inquiry, my newest companion offered a frantic nod, his voice trembling.

“O-of course! We are the truest of allies!”

This individual was widely known in the underworld by the terrifying moniker “Venomous Fang Sword,” yet beneath his menacing exterior lay an incredibly benevolent soul. To think he would willingly forfeit a massive portion of his personal treasury just to support my endeavors. Where else could one find such a selfless, giving individual?

“I shall rely heavily upon your vigilance in the days ahead.”

“H-have no fear! Since the enterprise belongs to none other than you, So-un Jin, I shall defend it with my life, *cough*! My authority over this territory is absolute, so rest easy!”

My companion delivered this grand declaration while forcefully pounding his own chest. It would have been far more pleasant had he discovered this generosity of spirit before both of his eyes were swollen shut.

Observing his battered state, a twinge of genuine sorrow touched my heart. Regardless, my sire’s teachings remained flawless. By proactively cultivating such relationships, I was securing boundless assistance. I resolved to accelerate my efforts to foster even more alliances.

Just as I prepared to exit his fortress after our brief bonding session…

*Crunch, crunch.*

“……?”

The splintered remains of the main doors I had shattered earlier were kicked aside as a fresh throng of armed men poured into the courtyard. Their expressions were murderous as they drew their heavy sabers in unison.

“Venomous Fang Sword, yield your head this instant!”

“How dare your sycophants lay a hand on our Jeon-deung Inn… wait, what?”

The invading warriors had charged into the Dog-a-mun compound with enough bloodlust to level a town, yet they froze instantly. Surveying the shattered remains of the pavilion and the groaning Dog-a-mun disciples littering the ground, they stood utterly paralyzed.

“What in heaven’s name occurred here…”

“Did a vanguard from our main branch strike before us?”

“Hall Master, we are the very first unit to arrive.”

While the intruders bickered in confusion, the Venomous Fang Sword ground his teeth and hauled himself upright.

“You treacherous snakes of the Jeon-deung-mun. To choose this exact hour…”

His vitriol died in his throat the moment his gaze collided with mine.

What a bizarre turn of events. Meanwhile, having pieced together a rough approximation of the situation, the invaders raised their sabers in triumph.

“Venomous Fang Sword! Today your lineage ends!”

“Curse you, Deung-go-hyeon! Do you dare claim the mantle of a righteous White Path sect while executing such underhanded ambushes?”

“I warned you repeatedly that cosmic justice would eventually demand your downfall. That day has arrived!”

Observing their banter, it became apparent that the Dog-a-mun and the Jeon-deung-mun were locked in a bitter territorial feud. The invaders had simply chosen to launch their assault at the exact moment I had concluded my business with the resident syndicate.

And yet…

‘Something is amiss.’

The name Jeon-deung-mun held no place among my knowledge of orthodox factions. Could this be another layer of the insidious corruption linked to the Sa-heuk-ryeon?

“The Jeon-deung-mun is an offshoot established by an outcast from the Pung-hyang-mun, which itself claims a distant lineage from the prestigious Cheong-seong Sect. They are hypocrites who exploit the sacred name of Cheong-seong to execute the exact same atrocities we do,” the Venomous Fang Sword explained helpfully.

So they were essentially the distant disciples of a minor branch belonging to a branch of the Cheong-seong Sect. At that level of separation, invoking the main sect’s name was downright embarrassing. Furthermore, every single one of them wielded sabers rather than the traditional swords of the orthodox order.

“Which brings me to a humble request…”

The Venomous Fang Sword turned toward me, his voice dripping with desperation.

“Could you perhaps lend your divine strength to our cause? We… we are sworn companions, are we not!”

Hearing his shameless plea, I shook my head in profound disappointment.

“To impose such an unreasonable burden upon a companion proves you are fundamentally lacking in character. You are entirely unworthy of our bond. Perhaps I should simply finish the job and eradicate your sect myself.”

“W-what do you mean by that!”

“Consider my position: am I not a celebrated initiate of an orthodox, righteous sect? Imagine the scandal if someone of my standing was seen brawling alongside underworld thugs against an organization claiming orthodox lineage. The political fallout would be catastrophic.”

“…….”

“Furthermore, a companion incapable of resolving his own domestic disputes is of little utility to me. Yes… it seems far more efficient to simply sweep your faction aside.”

“Hold on! Wait!”

The Venomous Fang Sword’s eyes flared with desperate resolve.

“The Dog-a-mun is not a collection of weaklings! Even in our current battered state, we possess enough steel to tear these invaders apart!”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Halting my exit, I turned back and casually seated myself upon a raised viewing platform. Truthfully, I was curious to see which side would triumph in a balanced clash.

Seeing me take a spectator’s position, the remaining members of the Dog-a-mun looked as though they had just received an imperial reinforcement of ten thousand troops. They drew themselves up proudly.

“All disciples of the Dog-a-mun, stand and fight!”

The commander’s roar reverberated through the compound. Fortunately for them, I had avoided fracturing any major limbs during my earlier lesson. Their ranks remained vast; even discounting the heavily concussed, the Dog-a-mun vastly outnumbered the invading Jeon-deung-mun force.

Honestly, I questioned the sanity of the Jeon-deung-mun. Their martial foundation appeared remarkably ordinary; what madness had possessed them to launch this raid?

“Who is the youth sitting on the platform?” Deung-go-hyeon demanded, gesturing toward me.

The Venomous Fang Sword snarled in response, “That is none of your concern, fool.”

Deung-go-hyeon cast a cold glare in my direction.

“If you dare to intervene, I will personally ensure your demise.”

I offered a cheerful nod and waved a hand to signify my neutrality. With that, the two factions clashed in a frenzy of steel.

“Charge!!!”

“Slay them all!”

*Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!*

*Bang! Bang-bang!*

As anticipated, their technical proficiencies were roughly identical. If I were forced to be completely honest, the Dog-a-mun actually displayed superior tactical flexibility. Their battlefield adaptability was far more dynamic.

Moreover, the underworld thugs possessed a savage edge. While the Jeon-deung-mun attempted to maintain standard orthodox forms—wasting precious focus on avoiding minor cuts—the Dog-a-mun completely ignored superficial flesh wounds, advancing like bloodthirsty demons with their eyes locked solely on their opponents’ throats.

In a fair contest, the Dog-a-mun should have achieved a swift victory, yet the battle remained locked in a desperate stalemate.

‘Ah, it seems the injuries I inflicted upon them earlier are taking a toll after all.’

Then again, I hadn’t holding back entirely. Throughout the melee, the Venomous Fang Sword kept throwing resentful glances toward my platform. I merely offered a mental shrug; he had only himself to blame.

As the grueling battle ground on, the wounded Dog-a-mun fighters began to slow, allowing the Jeon-deung-mun to seize the momentum.

“Press the advantage! Erase the Dog-a-mun from existence this very day!”

“Kill!”

The sabers of the ascending Jeon-deung-mun grew increasingly lethal, forcing the battered underworld syndicate into a desperate retreat. At that critical juncture, the Venomous Fang Sword reached into his robes with an expression of grim finality, pulling out a crimson narcotic pill and swallowing it whole.

‘Wait, that substance is…’

In immediate succession, his senior lieutenants followed suit, and within moments, the entire rank-and-file of the Dog-a-mun were consuming identical crimson pellets.

“Argh… ungh… AAAARGH!”

The Venomous Fang Sword, who had been struggling against three enemy combatants, suddenly unleashed a torrent of explosive internal energy, violently blasting his attackers thirty feet through the air. With every ragged breath he took, visible plumes of white vapor hissed from his lips. His skin flushed a deep, feverish crimson, and his pupils gleamed with an unnatural, bloody light.

Confound it all.

‘The Blood Bursting Pill.’

It was the exact same forbidden drug that Gye-cheol-yeong had utilized against me during the academy examinations.

The scales of battle instantly shattered. Intoxicated by the artificial surge of power granted by the forbidden drug, the Dog-a-mun disciples launched a brutal counter-offensive.

“Aaargh!”

The first casualty of the Jeon-deung-mun collapsed, his chest carved open.

“Gah!”

“What sorcery is this…!”

In rapid succession, the orthodox warriors were cut down like wheat. Just as I prepared to leap from my perch to prevent a total massacre of the Jeon-deung-mun forces…

“The Jeon-deung-mun shall never fall!”

What now?

To my utter amazement, a frontline Jeon-deung-mun fighter produced a matching alchemical pellet and threw it down his throat. Inspired by his actions, his remaining comrades duplicated the gesture, releasing another massive shockwave of artificial energy across the courtyard.

*Pop-pop-pop!*

‘Are you seriously telling me both sides are stocked with Blood Bursting Pills?’

Good grief, when did conflicts in the Jianghu degenerate into a brawl between drug-addled lunatics? I could only press my palm to my face in sheer exasperation.

Predictably, the battle locked back into a grim equilibrium. Driven by the terrifying knowledge that the drug’s efficacy would expire after a hundred exchanges, both sides abandoned all pretense of defense, trading mortal wounds in a frantic race against the clock. The courtyard transformed into a meat grinder.

It was an absolute circus. The Blood Bursting Pill is a potent asset only when facing a peer who lacks access to the same catalyst. When both sides are equally enhanced, the conflict simply accelerates toward mutual annihilation (Dong-gwi-eo-jin).

As the threshold of one hundred moves approached, the toll of the drug began to manifest, and the combatants’ flailing limbs grew heavy and sluggish.

*Huff! Huff! Huff!*

“……Curse it, what is the play here?”

A suffocating psychological tension filled the air as the exhausted survivors stared each other down. They lacked the stamina to continue, yet stepping back at this stage meant certain death.

Amidst this heavy silence, a sudden, terrifying vortex of internal energy erupted from the rear of the Jeon-deung-mun survivors.

*Pop-pop-pop-pop-pop!*

The source of this monstrous pressure was none other than Deung-go-hyeon. Even though fifty exchanges had passed since his consumption of the catalyst, his martial robes remained ballooned to the bursting point, and his long hair drifted wildly in the air, buffeted by the sheer volume of radiating energy.

“I… I will butcher every single one of you!!!”

“H-Hall Master! Stop! If you draw any more upon the pill’s reserve, your meridians will—”

Instead of offering a verbal reply, Deung-go-hyeon casually swung his saber at the disciple attempting to restrain him.

*Slash!*

The well-meaning subordinate’s head sailed through the air as a geyser of crimson erupted from his neck.

“What… what madness…”

While the remaining Jeon-deung-mun fighters stood frozen in sheer horror at their leader’s betrayal, Deung-go-hyeon blurred forward, descending upon the Dog-a-mun like a falling star.

*Slaaaaaash!*

With a singular, devastating arc, three more heads bounded across the blood-soaked dirt. He had decapitated three enhanced warriors with a solitary exertion of strength.

“He-he-he-he-he!”

Seemingly enraptured by his own monstrous capability, Deung-go-hyeon began to swing his blade in a frantic, unhinged rhythm. His execution was utterly devoid of human reason. The Dog-a-mun tried desperately to construct a defense, but the disparity in raw power was insurmountable.

*Slash-slash-slash-slash-slash!*

*Slash! Slash! Slash!*

The velocity of his strikes was anomalous. When he demonstrated the absurd feat of shattering a sword reinforced with genuine sword energy before effortlessly severing the wielder’s neck, the remaining syndicate thugs broke. Throwing aside their weapons, they fled in blind panic.

And yet…

“Where do you think you can hide! I shall salt the very earth beneath the Dog-a-mun before the sun sets!”

*Bang!*

Driven by a manic fury, Deung-go-hyeon shattered the cobblestones beneath his boots as he leaped, spraying blinding dirt and gravel across the courtyard. Though his footwork was completely erratic, his velocity was so supernatural that he materialized instantly at the vanguard of the fleeing crowd, completely cutting off their escape route.

‘…Can a common Blood Bursting Pill truly yield such a monstrous transformation?’

Regardless of the drug’s potency, it could only amplify the latent potential already residing within a practitioner’s vessel. The display Deung-go-hyeon was currently unleashing shattered those biological limitations entirely. Moreover, his casual execution of his own kin pointed to a total fracturing of his sanity. It was as if he were actively violating the fundamental laws of nature.

*Thump, thump.*

At that precise moment, the Red Phoenix Ring on my finger began to vibrate violently.

I raised my gaze, locking eyes with the rampaging Hall Master.

“……!”

An icy shiver raced down my spine.

His eyes had lost all human composition, transformed into twin orbs of absolute, bottomless obsidian.

‘A Demonic Art (Ma-gong)…’

Those corrupt, pitch-black eyes were locked entirely onto me, sizing me up like a choice piece of meat.