Chapter 132
After the battle, silence fell.
No one could easily open his or her mouth. They simply remained silent, looking at the one standing victorious and the one fallen in defeat.
At that moment,
Gasp!
Someone inhaled sharply with wide eyes.
Tang Guhwi's headless corpse melted away and was absorbed into the ground, disappearing completely.
Whether it was a side effect of the demonic martial arts or something else, they couldn't know, but Tang Guhwi's body couldn't even be recovered.
Even if there had been things they wanted to investigate, that too became impossible.
Yeo Un-hwi, who had been watching the spot where Tang Guhwi's body disappeared with a slight frown, soon raised his head.
Then he looked at Tang Mujun, who was severely injured, and Tang Jinwoo, who still hadn't opened his eyes, and stretched out his hand towards them.
A golden energy flowed from his hand and entered the bodies of Tang Mujun and Tang Jinwoo.
Though they had received emergency treatment, their condition, which had still been in shambles, rapidly improved.
How can this be......
Everyone watched in amazement at this astonishing sight, where simply extending a hand and letting energy flow could accomplish such a thing.
Soon, Yeo Un-hwi finished treating the two and turned to leave.
There was no reason for him to stay here any longer.
However,
W-wait a moment, please!
One of the Tang Clan warriors mustered up the courage to ask the masked man who was about to disappear.
Yeo Un-hwi paused and slightly turned back.
Even with just a glance, an extraordinary aura could be felt.
Perhaps it was because they had just witnessed that battle.
Gulp. The warrior swallowed his nervousness and opened his mouth again.
Who exactly are you?
But no answer came.
Seeing that Yeo Un-hwi was still just staring blankly with no intention of answering, the warrior hastily added:
Please tell us your name!
Why should I?
For a moment, the warrior was at a loss for words.
It was literally up to this person whether to reveal his name or not.
But they couldn't just let this person leave like this.
The Tang Clan repays debts twofold and favors tenfold.
Regardless, this person was a benefactor of the Tang Clan.
A benefactor saved Tang Jinwoo, Tang Mujun, and countless Tang Clan warriors.
So, just as the warrior was about to ask again,
Mu Myeong.
He answered.
For a moment, looks of shock flashed across everyone's faces.
They knew the name Mu Myeong.
It was the name of the mysterious master who had recently defeated the Phantom Divine Monarch and joined the ranks of the Ten Great Masters.
But at this moment, the one who was most surprised was Tang Mujun.
'To think that masked man was Mu Myeong.'
Yeo Un-hwi's other identity was just as shocking.
What on earth was this man?
Peng Seo-yeon's husband, whom she had thought to be a mere scholar, turned out to be a master with extraordinary martial arts.
Moreover, the level of his martial arts was enough to completely overwhelm and defeat Tang Guhwi, whom even his father couldn't handle.
And now, his other identity was Mu Myeong.
Everything about this man was nothing but surprising.
What other surprises could there be?
In fact, Yeo Un-hwi had planned to disappear this time without revealing his identity.
But he changed his mind and deliberately revealed the name 'Mu Myeong' because he sensed that they absolutely wouldn't let him go without knowing from the Tang Clan warriors' atmosphere.
If he disappeared like this, it felt like the Tang Clan would use any means necessary, no matter how long it took, to find him.
So he gave them a name.
In simple terms, it was like throwing them the bait of 'Mu Myeong'.
At times like this, the arbitrarily created identity of Mu Myeong was quite convenient.
After watching the warriors repeat the name Mu Myeong several times, Yeo Un-hwi vanished with a swish.
As if he had never been there.
It was truly an elusive and ghostly footwork technique.
It was then.
"Mmm."
Tang Jinwoo regained consciousness.
Father! Are you alright?
Fortunately, thanks to Yeo Un-hwi, Tang Jinwoo's complexion, which had been pale, was now much more stable.
Tang Jinwoo, who had awakened belatedly, cleared his head and suddenly widened his eyes as he looked around.
Guhwi, that fellow......!
Father, about that......
Tang Mujun's gaze turned to where Tang Guhwi's body had melted away and disappeared.
...I see.
Tang Jinwoo, who had heard the whole story from Tang Mujun, quietly nodded.
So it's all over.
Saying that, he looked with bitter eyes at the spot where Tang Guhwi's body was said to have disappeared.
His heart seemed complicated.
*Mu Myeong, Mu Myeong.*
To think that the mysterious masked man was Mu Myeong.
He had heard from Mujun.
The reason he had only subdued him was that he couldn't bear to show a father his son dying before his eyes, even if that son was the world's most unfilial child.
Heh heh.
He wanted to tell him it was an unnecessary concern.
He, as a father, had been prepared to kill his son with his own hands.
So seeing such a thing wouldn't have bothered him at all.
When he had made up his mind to kill, he had steeled himself for that much.
But,
*That consideration... is appreciated.*
In a corner of his heart, he found himself feeling both saddened and relieved that he hadn't seen his son die.
Mu Myeong had not only saved everyone in the Tang Clan, but also a father, Tang Jinwoo.
Soon, Tang Jinwoo tightly closed his eyes.
'Guhwi. What did we do wrong that made you do such things?'
It was truly frustrating and heartbreaking.
But that was only for a moment before Tang Jinwoo shook his head.
It felt sinful to even remember his son who had turned his blade on the Tang Clan and even taken the lives of innocent people.
He could no longer do such a thing.
He was the head of the Tang Clan.
Soon, Tang Jinwoo slowly gathered himself and stood up.
Then, he began to collect the bodies in the village, along with the other Tang Clan warriors who had arrived belatedly.
Not just giving orders, he himself helped with the task along with Tang Mujun.
Everyone tried to stop him, but he couldn't allow that.
As a human, he felt it was his duty.
All the dead were buried in a sunny spot near the village.
That was all they could do for now.
It was then,
Mom, Dad... sob, sob......
Tang Jinwoo's eyes fell on a small child weeping bitterly as the child looked at the dead villagers and families.
Tang Jinwoo's heart stirred.
What should he do?
But that deliberation didn't last long.
Child, come with me.
Tang Jinwoo reached out his hand to the child.
Soon, the tear-stained child hesitated for a moment before slowly taking that hand.
It was the moment a new connection was formed.
***
A day had passed since the fierce battle ended.
There was no sign of life in the small village that had been reduced to ruins by Tang Guhwi, who had become a bloodthirsty murderer.
*Swoshhh.*
Only an ominous wind blew through the devastated village.
However, a single black sapling was growing in the middle of that seemingly empty village.
Strangely, the tree didn't have a normal appearance, but was entirely black-red.
And bizarrely, the spot where the tree had grown was exactly where Tang Guhwi had died and his body had melted away and disappeared.
*Whoooooosh.*
*Swish.*
At that moment, a man appeared there.
As a black cloak covered him from head to toe, it seemed impossible to glean any information about him.
All that could be glimpsed was his nose, eyes, and mouth.
After staring at the black tree for a moment, he muttered as if perplexed.
His voice sounded just like metal scraping.
Hmm. I was certain it would reach Full Bloom, but to stop at mere Blooming. What happened?
A human implanted with the Seed of Ruin sprouts and grows into a blood-crazed Demon using his or her hatred as nourishment.
And when they reach Blooming, they gain tremendous power.
Even considerable masters in the current martial world would find it difficult to handle.
That was inevitable.
Not only did the Berserk Mad Demon amplified by hatred absorb the vitality of others, but it also drew out all the life force of the seed's host at once, making such power possible.
But a host that has Bloomed lives for only one day because it uses up all its life force.
That was an inescapable fate unless they were among the special few who reached Full Bloom or were a suitable vessel.
To reach Full Bloom, one had to be more exceptionally evil than anyone else.
Whether that evil was outwardly visible or hidden within didn't matter.
And it wasn't a common occurrence.
But at least this time, the bandaged man thought he had found a human who would surpass Blooming and reach Full Bloom.
Yet the result was completely different from his expectations.
It was truly perplexing.
The host implanted with the Seed of Ruin is connected to the one who planted the seed.
So when he suddenly felt that energy cut off, he came to this place belatedly.
Soon, the bandaged man clicked his tongue in disappointment.
Well, it doesn't matter. He was ultimately unsuitable anyway. I just need to collect what I need.
Then he slowly reached out his hand towards the black sapling.
Black energy rose like a mirage from his hand towards the black tree.
*Woooong.*
But then,
"Hm?"
Though black energy should have flowed out from inside, there was no sign of it at all.
As the man was puzzled, the black sapling crumbled in an instant into tiny particles.
No, it vanished.
Ah, no, what is this......!
The man exclaimed in shock, uncharacteristic of his usual self.
Not a trace of energy remains in the Black Sapling!
Moreover, it completely crumbled and vanished as soon as he touched it.
As far as he knew, this was something that could never happen.
Except... one possibility.
C-could it be......
The man's two pupils were trembling as if an earthquake had struck.
...Hah! So that's what happened.
***
Under the clear sky, Jin So-baek was talking with Yeo Un-hwi.
He had just finished relaying to Yeo Un-hwi what had happened that day.
Then Jin So-baek shared the information he had recently gathered.
The content was about how the Tang Clan had handled the aftermath and what its current situation was.
It was said that the head of the Tang Clan, Poison Rain Tang Jin-woo, had taken in the only surviving girl from the village.
He had not just accepted her into the Tang Clan, but as an adopted daughter. And he had held a memorial service for the sacrificed village, which was one of many other stories that flowed from Jin So-baek's mouth.
I see.
Yeo Un-hwi slowly nodded.
From what he heard, it was clear that the Tang Clan were doing their best in their own way.
Of course, that wouldn't lessen their burden.
They would likely carry the deeds Tang Guhwi had committed as their burden, as a long-standing debt.
It was truly a laughable thing.
The person who commits the act and the person who cleans up and takes responsibility are separate.
But that was the way of humans.
At least the head of the Tang Clan, Tang Jinwoo, was not someone who didn't know human decency.
That was enough.
Any ill-fated connection with them had disappeared with Tang Guhwi's death for Yeo Un-hwi as well.
Soon, Jin So-baek, who had relayed all the information he had gathered, shrugged his shoulders.
By the way, everyone's complaints are not insignificant because we deployed all the Hao Sect members throughout Hebei and Sichuan to find Tang Guhwi's location.
Hm? I thought I paid enough for that.
That's true. But how should I put it? It's like they're trying to get credit for working hard?
I'm not giving any more money for that.
What? Have you already run out of money?
No, I mean I don't have money to waste frivolously. I'm already your personal treasury.
Ahem. Well, I won't say you're not. But didn't I give you a wonderful gift in return?
A gift, he says.
On the day Yeo Un-hwi was moving to locate Tang Guhwi and settle things, the white mask that Jin So-baek had handed over was a key object.
He said it was a precious mask with the ability to never come off in any situation unless the wearer specifically wanted to remove it.
Jin So-baek's face had been so proud when he handed it over.
But honestly, Yeo Un-hwi didn't feel it was that impressive.
He was willing to return it anytime.
Jin So-baek also knew well that the reaction to the gift was not very enthusiastic.
Indeed, he was not an easy person to deal with.
He had hoped to somehow get some credit for this matter and maybe receive more money, but Yeo Un-hwi had clearly drawn the line.
Tch.
Jin So-baek smacked his lips and made a sullen face.
It was then.
Daddy!
In the distance, Yul-i was approaching with Peng Seo-yeon, smiling.
Haha, your daughter is always so lovable whenever I see her, enough to make even a confirmed bachelor like me want to get married.
He was sincere.
Strangely, that bright smile was particularly memorable, truly a lovable child's smile.
Just looking at her naturally brought a smile to one's lips.
Like him right now.
Well, I hear that often.
Why did Yeo Un-hwi seem more arrogant and puffed up than ever at this moment?
At times like this, he looked like nothing but a doting father who only cared about his wife and daughter.
But as one recalled the recent feats this man had accomplished, that was far from the truth.
The Phantom Divine Monarch, the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon, the Black Demon Castle of the Demonic Cult, and even Tang Guhwi who had gone berserk after becoming a Demon.
Adding the names of the Black and White Twin Demons almost seemed unfair, given how formidable these opponents were, yet they had all been eliminated by Yeo Un-hwi's hand.
'Whew. What a terrifying man.'
The more he thought about it, the more chills ran down his spine.
Jin So-baek felt he had truly acquired a fearsome client.
Well, as long as the payments were made properly, he welcomed all clients, assuming they weren't from the Demonic Cult or enemies of the martial world.
Anyway, I'll be taking my leave now.
All right. See you again.
Soon, Jin So-baek disappeared with light steps.
Then Peng Seo-yeon approached Yeo Un-hwi with Yul-i.
Peng Seo-yeon looked curious as she watched Jin So-baek walking away.
Who was that? I've been seeing him occasionally lately.
Hmm, is that just a well-connected younger brother I somehow got to know?
A well-connected younger brother?
Yes.
Yeo Un-hwi nodded as if it were no big deal.
Someone he became friends with while strolling around the neighborhood?
Why would he need news from nearby villages?
Anyway, she thought he associated with some strange people.
She had no idea.
That young man was the Sect Master of the Hao Sect, one of the top information organizations in the Central Plains.
The 'connections' Yeo Un-hwi mentioned referred to the entire Central Plains.
Daddy! Hug me!
Just then, Yul-i, who had come back from playing happily at Sowol Academy, smiled brightly and spread her arms wide towards her father.
Soon, a smile spread across Yeo Un-hwi's face.
Shall we? Then how about our Yul-i riding on my shoulders for the first time in a while?
Yes! I'd love to!
Soon, Yeo Un-hwi lifted the brightly smiling Yul-i onto his shoulders and slowly looked up at the sky.
For some reason, he thought it seemed like perfect weather to shake off the past and make a new start.
The sky over the Peng Family was clear again today.