Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Strange Object (4)

“The Jade-Faced Asura Lee Shin applied for sparring to the Grand Heaven Gate master Dokgo Shin!”

“Waaa! It is a confrontation between the Hebei Three Dragons and a rising expert!”

Cutting through the crowd’s cheers I stepped onto the martial demonstration ground. Whether the opponent also had no thought of refusing, he nodded and accepted.

“Thank you for accepting.”

“There was an unfortunate incident at the banquet hall, but from then I wanted to spar with you. I will yield the first move, so come.”

“Before that I want to ask.”

Whispering in a voice only audible to the opponent nearby.

“What was the mission? Killing cats? With that a bizarre power was added to the martial arts?”

“Suddenly what sound is that?”

Naturally feigning ignorance but it was clearly visible. A moment’s hesitation and trembling pupils, and the lips that were about to ask back.

“That which the Myriad Gold Merchant Group leader spoke of. Is it not with the gate master now?”

“Haa, I do not know what sound it is!”

“Then I will receive the yielded first move.”

Swinging the sword at a suitable speed I pressured the Grand Heaven Gate master. It was not swung sincerely, but at a speed and strength that an ordinary martial artist is hard-pressed to receive he was seen flustered.

“Whatever reward was provided, and whatever was newly proposed I do not know but that is by no means a fateful encounter.”

“Keuk!?”

“Didn’t we see together? The end of the merchant group leader? The world is not fair and talent and fateful encounters sometimes overcome effort. However, gaining power by killing things like cats is a heretical path, and an act that goes against heavenly principles so it can never end well.”

Dokgo Shin who had only barely received my attacks began a counterattack.

“So it was, so it was! This young fellow! I had doubts why you are so strong, but you already used it!”

“I said it was a heretical path. Why would I use such a thing?”

“Stop! Do not spit falsehoods! At that young age how could you obtain profound power if not that!”

The sword flashes. The sword just swung leaps and appears in a place not even a few spans.

“You do not believe my words. I cannot ask to believe.”

I block the leaping sword with the sword only with reaction speed.

“T-this! Even while blocking this can you dare chatter that it is not so!”

“...”

Having nothing to say I swung the sword at full power at the fastest speed, and tore all the sleeves and front placket.

“Since you cling so much you will not let it leave the body for even a moment.”

“A-no!”

“It is fine.”

Whether put in the inner pocket as the front placket tore one scroll jumped into the air, and I saw the text of the unfolded scroll.

[Act: Kill the opponent during sparring.]

[Gain: One cycle of internal energy.]

If missing the chance it would have been a bit tricky to deal with having obtained one cycle of internal energy.

‘Shall I retrieve it?’

But from the experience with the merchant group leader, that scroll seemed able to move position in an instant.

Then, rather than retrieving now let’s first confirm if it can be eliminated by cutting with sword qi.

Instantly manifesting sword qi I swung toward the scroll. Cutting into dozens of pieces at maximum speed, the fragmented paper scraps fluttered in the wind but faster than the speed my sword was swung it regenerated into a scroll and disappeared.

“Did something blue flash just now?”

“From earlier the sword keeps flashing so I don’t know well.”

Only proving the fact that it cannot be extinguished with sword qi I missed it.

“T-this damned fellow! To dare tear that! That was my fateful encounter!”

The sword flashes and receiving that repeating dozens of exchanges as if trying to quickly deplete energy, wrinkles increased on the Grand Heaven Gate master’s face.

“Heok, heok, that, my, fateful encounter, for, the prosperity, of my, Grand Heaven Gate...”

In the end the Grand Heaven Gate master collapsed not long after.

‘Whether due to greed as a martial artist, or whether it has the ability to bewitch people an obsession that cannot be known.’

Perhaps both. Contacting the Hebei branch chief I requested to pay attention.

A few shichen later, confirming the Grand Heaven Gate master from afar his condition was serious.

“Uheek! Uehihihi! The Grand Heaven Gate is number one in the Central Plains! Uahahaha! The Grand Heaven Eight Paths Sword Technique cannot be blocked by anyone!”

“Gate master! Come to your senses!”

“Ah, what on earth is this!”

The disciples grab him who drools and laughs like a child.

‘Is this also the influence of the strange force and turbulent spirit?’

Cases of soul or mind being pawned to a cursed object are common, I hope by extinguishing the fellow he returns to normal.

‘Sword qi alone is insufficient. Must aim for the weakness.’

I do not know what that is. In the current situation finding the owner so that no victim occurs from the mission and quickly tearing the scroll is the best.

“Three-legged, reconnaissance again.”

『Understood.』

I also strengthened patrol while going around alleys or outskirts, and witnessed little kids fleeing urgently.

“Hieek! Run!”

“Save me!”

Thinking perhaps received a mission to kill children I quickly ran and the kid met before was there.

“Don’t bully our benefactor!”

It was the One Day One Good Jin Sobae met last time and the kid of the house he was sponging off.

“Wi Mujin you! What benefactor is that kind of drunkard!”

“He is a benefactor!”

The drunk Jin Sobae is lying behind unable to even open his eyes, and the skinny boy is swinging a stick quite fiercely.

‘Quite something? Did he learn sword technique?’

However, whether originally weak in stamina he continuously coughed dryly.

“Benefactor, let’s go!”

“Ugh...”

At the appearance of the child supporting the adult who cannot come to his senses and staggers and disappearing I clicked my tongue.

‘I did forgive once, but pathetic.’

That human was also a martial artist for the time being, is the scroll targeting? If targeting he might be the number one person who will unconditionally fall.

『Boss, found. This time dogs died in a group.』

“Quite fast.”

『At times like this one should praise!』

I headed to find the next culprit.

“Who is it this time.”

* * *

Early morning, the Severing Peak Blade Jang Munyeon stared intently at the unidentified scroll that was placed at his bedside.

[Act: Kill 10 grass insects.]

[Gain: One year’s worth of internal energy.]

The text written instead of a picture was clearly nonsense that does not make sense, but while looking the heart kept being drawn.

‘Why does the thought arise that this might be true?’

Compared to the effort put into catching grass insects a reward that cannot be dared ignored so thinking of being deceived I went outside and the moment killing ten crickets, he trembled at the intense wave of power surging from the dantian.

‘It is true! Internal energy really increased!’

The internal energy that barely rises only by putting in effort for a full year came in just by killing ten grass insects.

‘This scroll is a treasure of a thousand ages!’

The pupils gleam with greed. He felt joy and pleasure at the increased internal energy, and the stubbornness and obsession not to be taken by anyone surged without knowing.

[Act: Kill 50 dogs.]

[Gain: Great achievement of the Mad Dragon Severing Blade and strengthening of the blade technique.]

Spending money he purchased dogs in large quantities at the market. In the process he heard the news that the Grand Heaven Gate master went mad by ear, but did not care.

“It is true, it is true! Uahahaha!”

Because he was busy rejoicing at his one level stronger martial arts and achievement.

The blade swung in the air splits into two branches. Like a mirage but both are real, he was confident there is no opponent who can block this attack.

‘What is next, what is next!’

He unfolded the scroll again.

‘Say whatever! I will fulfill all! If saying to kill people I will kill, if saying to spit on the parents’ face I will spit!’

So lead me!

To the number one of Hebei!

No! To the number one under heaven!

No! To the number one of ancient and modern times!

[Act: Kill 100 people.]

[Gain: Soul-Seizing Great Method.]

Not knowing what the Soul-Seizing Great Method is but not doubting in the slightest that it will be beneficial to himself and just as trying to perform the mission, a youth blocked in front of Jang Munyeon.

“You were here.”

“You... aren’t you the Jade-Faced Asura?”

“I heard the news that you bought a lot of dogs at the market and came looking.”

“Yes?”

I am not curious for what reason he came.

“I will have to start with you.”

“Looking at the eyes, you have already gone bad.”

All will become prey for my new Mad Dragon Severing Blade!

“Sleep for now.”

That was Jang Munyeon’s last memory.

* * *

“Gyaaak! I am Jang Munyeon! Aren’t you scared of the Mad Dragon Severing Blade! Let go right now!”

“Aigoo! Great hero! Why did you suddenly lose your mind!”

Tracking the scroll.

“I, Chu Hwayeong say you are no longer my opponent. If not wanting to become a guest of no return disappear from in front of the eyes.”

Restraining the martial artist moving for the scroll’s mission.

“Puheet! Puhiheet! I am Chu Hwayeong! I am the strongest! Keheet! No one can stop me!”

“This person is also like this!”

“Aigoo! Even peed!”

If finding the scroll in the bosom and tearing it the owner loses mind and becomes an idiot, and whether even vitality was sucked the body ages and becomes weaker than an ordinary person.

“My scroll! Give it right now! Uaaaaaah!”

Cannot not tear the scroll. Tried only retrieving without tearing, but the opponent struggled and foamed at the mouth and even if forcibly fainting immediately woke and charged like a zombie.

“Heheet! I am the strongest! I am the number one under heaven!”

“...”

Fearing suffocating from decline or one’s own foam I tore the scroll, and when the same thing repeated several times a strange rumor spread among the people who witnessed it.

“You know the Jade-Faced Asura? The people who sparred with that person all go mad!”

“I also saw! The sword flashed several times, and the Grand Heaven Gate master suddenly went mad!”

“C-could it be using some sorcery like a yokai?”

“Because emitting strong and terrifying killing intent the person who accepted it head-on cannot endure and goes mad!”

The incarnation of Asura emits intense fighting spirit, and if unable to endure goes mad.

To complete the sword cut a thousand people, and that killing intent is melted in the sword so the one who crossed swords goes mad from the killing intent.

Learned a sorcery that bewitches people and secretly used it to make the opponent go mad.

“This bastard, could it be trying to kill me socially?”

“Honored guest! We will somehow handle the rumor! Please do not give up the tracking!”

“I also know, but at this rate doesn’t it not end?”

Tried putting in water, tried burning in fire, tried covering the written text with ink, tried writing other text but nothing worked.

“Every time trying such an attempt it disappears on its own even without tearing, so the victims continue to increase.”

“As expected a strange object must be broken with the method of a strange object.”

“Failing the mission is not the condition.”

If so the moment I snatch the scroll, since no longer able to continue the mission it should be regarded as failure and it should stop operating.

“I think refusing the mission and ignoring might be the breaking method.”

“I do not know if that is possible.”

Since it bewitches people.

Even if not bewitching the reward itself is too attractive.

Since it is a temptation that any martial artist cannot refuse.

“At this rate I am worried whether all the martial artists of Tianjin will go mad.”

* * *

“...Ugh.”

Jin Sobae who was sleeping in the side room heavily drunk today also groaned.

-Waaaaa!

-One Day One Good! One Day One Good!

-Great hero! Thank you!

In the dream many expressed gratitude to him. Handing over their child, requesting congratulations, treating a meal, occasionally handing a gift.

“Uaaa...”

The world in the dream collapses. People’s faces change, cheers change to ridicule.

-Cripple, who asked to save? Why imposing a debt of the heart on us?

-He himself did it for honor, and it is not done with goodwill so there is nothing for us to care about.

-A true expert grasps the trap in advance and does not get hit. He fell in skill, and so only got hit.

Among the ridiculing people he saw the longed-for teacher.

-Sobae-ah.

The teacher approached and strangled his neck.

-Because of you the lineage of the Returning Heaven Flying Swallow Sword will be severed!

Along with the flowing blood tears wetting his face he woke from the nightmare.

“Heok, heok.”

Cold sweat does not subside. Rising from the spot he staggered with no energy, and extended a hand looking for the liquor bottle placed in the corner of the room.

‘What is this?’

A scroll never placed was caught in the hand, and unfolding to confirm the content.

[Act: Drink one bottle of alcohol.]

[Gain: Complete recovery of internal injury.]

Saying he would do it even without being told, the one who downed the liquor bottle beside the scroll sneered at the content.

‘If it was an internal injury that recovers with this kind of act there would have been no need to go around seeking all famous doctors and lose all property.’

The moment emptying the liquor bottle completely, he felt the insides refreshing for the first time in several decades.

“...”

Clenching and opening the right hand and moving internal energy, the internal energy flowed freely riding the acupoints of the right hand without blockage or severance, and all the acupoints of the entire body that were severed and broken here and there were completely healed.

“My body...”

Looking at the scroll with eyes containing joy and astonishment.

“Recovered?”