Interfering Will Lead to Death.
The small stronghold of the Black Cat Sect often blended into the bustling commercial areas, but the Black Cat Hall was different.
It was situated a little away from the commercial district, resembling the mansion of a high-ranking official.
I gazed at the main gate of the Black Cat Hall and said to So Gun-pyeong, "You wait here for a moment."
"Wouldn't it be better to go in together? We are bound to fight anyway," he replied.
I looked at So Gun-pyeong.
"As you said, the master of the Black Cat Hall will likely order to kill us both right away. At that point, I will have no choice but to kill everyone who approaches. So for now, let’s do it my way. If I can scratch the master’s pride a bit, we might be able to have a one-on-one duel. When that falls apart, or at the right moment, it would be best for you to step in. Understand?"
Having faced my harsh words and provocations before, So Gun-pyeong probably understood my actions to some extent.
"I understand."
So Gun-pyeong moved towards the wall first, and I confidently walked up to the main gate, resting my large axe on my shoulder, and knocked loudly on the door.
The central part of the wooden door opened with a loud bang, revealing a pair of eyes peering out from a small rectangular space.
"Who is it?"
"I am Lee Ja-ha from Il-yang-hyeon."
The man's eyes scrutinized my face.
"Who is Lee Ja-ha?"
I sighed briefly before responding, "Stop with the questions and open the door. Before I break it down."
"Are you joking?"
The gatekeeper scoffed and shouted loudly inside, "A young brat named Lee Ja-ha from Il-yang-hyeon, who is arrogant and rude, has come. Does anyone know him?"
I let out a slight sigh, but it was indeed a fitting introduction.
However, I had no patience to wait until the door opened.
With my axe in hand, I leaped up and lightly landed on top of the main gate.
The wide view of the Black Cat Hall unfolded before my eyes.
Regardless of the factions, it was strange to think of it as a rich household, and it made my stomach twist.
"They live well. Very well..."
No matter how I looked at it, the structure of the house did not fit the main base of the Black Path.
But considering it was likely taken from someone else, it was not surprising.
As I stood on top of the gate with a large axe resting on my shoulder, those who noticed me began to shout or approach with grim expressions.
I briefly heard a torrent of insults directed at me after a long time.
"You little dog, you calf, where will you break? Shall I stab your belly?" and other threats followed.
Of course, it was the Black Path, so what could I expect?
After being thoroughly insulted, I jumped down and walked down the wide central path of the outer courtyard.
I picked up a chair that was sitting alone next to the central path, placed it in the middle of the outer courtyard, and set my axe upside down in front of me before sitting down.
My expression and demeanor, walking leisurely with a large axe and taking my place in the center, created an atmosphere.
And if my silence had not been effective, those who were glaring at me would have rushed at me immediately.
However, all these actions became my presence, allowing me to exchange glances with the riffraff of the Black Cat Hall without interruption for a moment.
In the meantime, the higher-ups began to appear one by one.
The officials arrived sequentially at the platform on the inner side, while the waiting subordinates spread out like a siege.
An old man, who arrived last, asked me, "Are you Lee Ja-ha from Il-yang-hyeon?"
I nodded at the old man, who looked like he had been rotting in the Black Path for a long time.
"That's me."
"Did you really come here alone?"
"Old man, I didn't come here to chat with you. Just tell the rabbit to come out quickly."
Just then, a calm voice came from inside.
"Who has come?"
"The one who killed the master of the Golden Dragon Hall, Lee Ja-ha, has come personally."
The higher-ups parted to the left and right, and a man wearing a rabbit mask walked out.
I observed the posture and atmosphere of the master of the Black Cat Hall.
He had an average build, and there was nothing particularly remarkable about his demeanor.
The master of the Black Cat Hall looked down at me and said, "Are you that Ja-ha?"
In a battle of wits, responding to a question with a question is the way of the martial world.
"Are you the rabbit slave of the notorious Daenachal?"
"......"
"Not a rabbit slave, but a slave rabbit? Anyway."
The eyes of the higher-ups widened in shock, and a heavy silence fell.
I couldn't see the master's expression due to the mask.
Before the master of the Black Cat Hall could choose his words, I continued, "You, a slave, sending assassins to me while pretending to be the leader of a rural stronghold. Do you think you can escape if you run away right now, or if your subordinates all rush at me? You little black rabbit who doesn't know your place. Now, open your mouth."
Someone next to the master of the Black Cat Hall gave me this evaluation.
"He's not an ordinary madman."
I spoke clearly and firmly.
"Listen, Black Cat Hall. If your master steps up to face me directly, he might be a decent leader regardless of skill. However, if he orders you all to rush at me knowing my strength, then he is nothing but trash of the Black Path, a coward of the Black Path..."
So Gun-pyeong, who had been listening near the wall, shook his head. "...... A slave of Daenachal, a fool who only puts on airs without any real skill, a rat hiding behind a mask, relying on the worthless reputation of Daenachal to manipulate you. What a pathetic fool."
As the insults poured down like a storm, a completely different atmosphere of silence settled in.
Amidst this, some of the subordinates subtly turned their gazes towards the master of the Black Cat Hall.
In fact, without the insults, my words were correct, and a mood was forming where they hoped the master would step up and handle it.
I extended my hand toward the master of the Black Cat Hall.
"Do you not understand the meaning of this silence? Such a person is not of the Black Path. He is a fool. Whose words are these? They are the words of the hidden master of the martial world, the Ja-ha of Il-yang-hyeon, the master of the Hao Gate, who finds it hard to find an opponent in the region. The saying that the martial world is vast and there are many masters is a saying meant for me, so keep that in mind."
As soon as I finished speaking, I let out a low chuckle.
Finally, the master of the Black Cat Hall opened his mouth.
"So you are saying you want to challenge me to a one-on-one duel. Do you think there is a master of a stronghold who would easily fall for such provocation? Your thoughts are as childish as your face. Your schemes are as short as your thoughts. Is it because you are a country bumpkin?"
This guy, look at his rhythm? Suddenly, the master of the Black Cat Hall looked around at his subordinates and realized that they too were hoping he would step up for a one-on-one duel.
A sigh escaped him.
The master of the Black Cat Hall glared at me with angry eyes.
"I will accept that one-on-one."
"Oh..."
"But, today, those who make the wrong choice about who will win will all die here. Those who think I will lose should move behind Ja-ha. Ja-ha, this will make it more interesting, right?"
The master of the Black Cat Hall looked around.
"Don't mind my gaze, feel free to move. What else can you do but die?"
Naturally, no one moved yet.
It was only natural to think that if the Ja-ha of Il-yang-hyeon and the master of the Black Cat Hall fought, the latter would win.
The master of the Black Cat Hall laughed at me.
"Ja-ha, this is your reality. Do you understand?"
At that moment, a man leaped from the wall and lightly landed on the ground of the outer courtyard.
Everyone's gaze suddenly turned to the man who had appeared.
Various short exclamations of mixed emotions erupted from all around.
"Ah."
"Huh?"
Of course, it was So Gun-pyeong, the master of the Golden Dragon Hall, who would become the three hundred warriors of the Hao Gate.
The unexpected appearance of So Gun-pyeong made the master of the Black Cat Hall scoff.
"So Master, how is it that you are still alive? I clearly told you to kill yourself if you failed. Are you begging for your life?"
So Gun-pyeong, who had firmly decided the direction of his life from the master of the Black Cat Hall's response, replied in a calm tone.
"Begging or not, Master, my life is now my own to manage. Why do you keep telling me to die or not, as if we shared some deep bond or loyalty? I don't think we have such a close relationship."
I interjected briefly into their conversation.
"That's right."
The master of the Black Cat Hall's gaze turned to me.
"Why did you spare that guy?"
I clarified the master's curiosity.
"Am I you, fool? So Gun-pyeong and I have shared pig bones together. Right?"
Suddenly mentioning pig bones while looking at So Gun-pyeong, he nodded with a somewhat dazed expression.
"Ah, yes."
So Gun-pyeong looked around the Black Cat Hall, trying to turn the atmosphere.
"Anyway... you two should have a manly one-on-one duel. Depending on the outcome, my fate will be decided. The Golden Dragon Hall will come to my side. I will bet my life on the victory of the master of Il-yang-hyeon."
Depending on the choice of the subordinates, So Gun-pyeong thought he would find out whether he had lived properly or not.
The master of the Black Cat Hall sneered. "...... Is that so?"
At that moment, one of the martial artists from the Golden Dragon Hall spoke to the master of the Black Cat Hall.
"Master, farewell. I will go over there."
The young swordsman immediately approached So Gun-pyeong and asked, "Master, why does your face look like that?"
So Gun-pyeong smiled and welcomed the subordinate of the Golden Dragon Hall.
"What do you mean? I got hit, so this is how it is."
"Well, as long as you're alive, that's good. That beaten face is also a welcome sight."
The master of the Black Cat Hall couldn't help but feel displeased.
"Just one person."
As soon as the master's words ended, another martial artist from the Golden Dragon Hall spoke again.
"Just two people."
With this, as So Gun-pyeong walked toward his place, this time, five or six people moved simultaneously.
One of them drew a sword, but So Gun-pyeong stopped him.
"Put the sword away. As I said, it's a one-on-one."
"Is that so? Understood."
So Gun-pyeong had no particular expression, but inside, he was very pleased.
After all, the subordinates who had shared joys and sorrows under the name of the Golden Dragon Hall were all moving to his side.
So Gun-pyeong asked me, sitting in the chair, "Master, are you confident? If you lose, the Golden Dragon Hall will all die."
"What confidence?"
"Of course..."
"Be quiet."
I grabbed the axe and stood up.
"The duel is a one-on-one between me and that rabbit. It doesn't matter if someone interferes. However, that person will also surely die, I promise..."
Before I could finish my words, something sliced through the air from the left and flew towards my temple.
Clang!
I had no time to gauge the identity of the projectile and quickly tilted my head.
A shining projectile whizzed past my eyes and embedded itself in the wall.
"......!"
Everyone closed their mouths in shock.
Before the master of the Black Cat Hall and I could clash, someone had ambushed me.
Even the higher-ups of the Black Cat Hall frowned and muttered, "Such a cowardly act..."
"Who did this? This was not ordered."
I quickly spotted the one who had thrown the projectile, whose movements had become exaggerated.
I didn't know whose orders he had followed to throw the projectile.
Perhaps he had acted on his own judgment.
In such a case, I could only be left speechless.
I gathered all my strength into the axe and hurled it at the one who had thrown the projectile, like a bolt of lightning.
Swoosh!
The body of the man who had thrown the projectile was struck directly by the large axe, splitting him gruesomely in half.
Splash!
As blood sprayed into the air, the axe flew with a thunderous sound and embedded itself in the wall.
As I had acted on impulse, the axe provided by the Dragon's Head had left my hand in an instant.
However, as I had slightly feared, the handle and blade had separated and broken apart.
Since I had only used the axe to create an atmosphere, I felt no particular regret.
While looking at the horrifically torn corpse, I spoke in a calm tone.
"I said, if you interfere, you will die. I don't understand why you would treat your precious life so carelessly. Is this what the Black Path is?"
As the atmosphere grew heavy, So Gun-pyeong spoke in a serious tone.
"Do not interfere again. I ask this of the higher-ups as well..."
So Gun-pyeong knew best that my words were not false.
If he did not stop at the right moment... the entire Black Cat Hall could die today.