Chapter 53

Chapter 53, My Blood Is Burning

Jaha stopped the boat around fifty jang from the stone island.

"Senior, hold the oars. If something happens, leave immediately."

Jaha handed the oars to Goeui.

Then he stood and shouted toward the stone island.

"Hwancheonma, listen!"

He filled his voice with true qi.

Every martial artist gathered around Willow Flower Water Garden could hear him.

Goeui burst into laughter.

"Hahaha. You really are a bold bastard. You're probably the first person to call Hwancheonma's name like he's some neighborhood friend."

Shinbi cursed when he heard Jaha.

"That damn bastard!"

Hwancheonma was equally speechless.

However, because of his dignity, he could not openly curse.

"Release my master and fellow disciples, then I'll hand over the spiritual medicine!"

Shinbi answered,

"Fine! Hand over the spiritual medicine first! Then we'll release the hostages!"

Jaha had already expected that answer.

He immediately pulled the spiritual medicine from his clothes.

"The spiritual medicine is here!"

"How do we know it's real?"

"Would I bring fake medicine while my master and fellow disciples are in your hands? Do you think I'm some demonic martial artist like you people?"

As Jaha said that, he laughed inwardly.

Until recently, he had been the Demon Cult Leader himself.

If necessary, he had been perfectly capable of breaking promises and crushing weaker people.

He was practically the definition of a demonic martial artist.

Hearing himself say something like this gave him goosebumps.

"This seat will confirm it!"

Hwancheonma Shin Jeok spoke.

He had become restless.

The spiritual medicine was right in front of him, yet they were wasting time arguing.

"Fine! Hwancheonma can confirm it! That will be fair!"

Hearing Jaha repeatedly call him Hwancheonma without even adding a respectful title made killing intent surge inside Shin Jeok.

However, this was not the moment to argue over manners.

He endured it.

"I'll approach you. When I do, open the silver box. The fragrance alone will be enough for me to know whether it's genuine."

"Fine! Come!"

Jaha answered confidently.

Goeui spoke from the back of the boat.

"You brat! How can you let Hwancheonma approach? How are you planning to deal with that old monster?"

"It's time to gamble. Besides, Senior once fought the former Demon Cult Leader evenly. Why should I worry when you're here?"

"Hahaha, this brat!"

Goeui laughed loudly.

Secretly, he felt pleased that Jaha acknowledged him.

Perhaps that was why.

Even if his opponent was Hwancheonma, Goeui decided that if necessary, he would risk his life and fight.

That was also the reason he had followed Jaha onto the boat.

Hwancheonma stepped into another small boat.

One of his guards rowed him closer to Jaha's boat.

When they came within several jang, Jaha shouted,

"Enough! Stop there!"

The boat stopped.

Hwancheonma spoke.

"They say medicine made from Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root releases fragrance as far as one hundred jang. I once consumed a hundred-year-old Fleeceflower Root, so I know its scent. Don't even think about deceiving me."

Hearing those words, Jaha ground his teeth.

Father gave that hundred-year Fleeceflower Root to the Seven Heavenly Demons as a reward. One of the cult members happened to obtain it through a fortunate encounter. Father said he couldn't keep all of it for himself, so he divided it among the Seven Heavenly Demons.

If we'd known things would end like this, we should never have given those bastards anything.

Jaha opened the silver box.

A sharp fragrance immediately spread through the air, clearing the nose with a single breath.

Even from five jang away, Hwancheonma smelled it and smiled.

It really is Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower Root. This bastard is unbelievably foolish. If it were me, I would've never brought the genuine spiritual medicine.

People from the righteous path were naive.

That made them easy to exploit.

If someone from the unorthodox or demonic paths had been told to bring such precious medicine, even if their parents and siblings were held hostage, they would never have brought the real thing.

"It's genuine."

"I told you! My master and fellow disciples are worth more than some spiritual medicine. Now show me they're safe."

Perhaps because the spiritual medicine was releasing its fragrance directly before him, Hwancheonma did not even feel irritated by Jaha's commanding tone.

He shouted toward the stone island.

"Bring out the hostages!"

Inside the pavilion on the stone island, Shinbi brought out Ha Seonbaek, Han Seol, and Jo Unryong.

Their acupoints had been sealed.

They could neither speak nor move properly.

Jaha shouted,

"Release their acupoints! I need to hear their voices and confirm they're safe!"

"That won't happen!"

Hwancheonma replied.

Jaha immediately stretched the hand holding the silver box over the side of his boat.

"Release their acupoints! Otherwise, I'll drop this into the lake!"

If the spiritual medicine sank into the lake, it would become nothing more than fish food.

Now that Hwancheonma had smelled it, Jaha knew he had no choice but to obey.

"Even if I kill your master?"

Jaha grinned.

"Can you really do that? Right now, if I told you to exchange your own son for this spiritual medicine, you'd probably do it."

Goeui's mouth fell open.

Calling the famous Hwancheonma "you" in such a disrespectful way looked completely insane.

Hwancheonma no longer had the energy to become angry over every insult.

"You're the only bastard alive who talks to this seat like that."

His voice was quiet.

However, Jaha could feel the killing intent hidden inside it growing.

Just as Jaha had said, the spiritual medicine was more precious to Hwancheonma than almost anything else.

After several encounters, Hwancheonma also understood that this countryside martial artist was stubborn enough to actually carry out his threats.

Jaha truly looked capable of throwing the medicine into the lake.

"Release their acupoints!"

At Hwancheonma's order, the guards released the sealed acupoints of Ha Seonbaek, Jo Unryong, and Han Seol.

Once the restriction disappeared, Ha Seonbaek stood and took several steps toward Jaha.

Perhaps because his body had suddenly been freed, his legs were stiff and he limped.

Jaha immediately asked,

"Are you all right, Master?"

Ha Seonbaek ignored the question.

Instead, he shouted,

"Ho! Go back! It doesn't matter if we die here! How can you hand such precious medicine to a demon like him? Have you thought about how much more blood he may spill after gaining that medicine? Think about the lives that may be lost. You cannot give that spiritual medicine to him!"

Jaha smiled bitterly.

The first thing Ha Seonbaek did upon seeing him was say something painfully righteous.

Jaha's head throbbed.

The moment Ha Seonbaek finished speaking, applause erupted from the lakeside.

The martial artists gathered around Willow Flower Water Garden possessed enough internal power to hear the conversation between Jaha and Ha Seonbaek.

For skilled martial artists, this distance was not enough to block sight or sound.

They were moved by Ha Seonbaek's courage and spirit.

Without thinking, they began applauding.

"As expected of Heavenly Demon Defying Sword's master!"

Jaha shook his head.

To persuade Ha Seonbaek, he had no choice but to imitate a righteous hero.

"If that's what Master wants, then I'll stay here and die fighting beside you. I'll throw the spiritual medicine into the lake and fight Hwancheonma to the death."

Ha Seonbaek sighed.

"Ho, you're still unbelievably stubborn."

Ha Seonbaek knew better than anyone that once Byeok Ho decided to do something, he would carry it through.

He had watched him since childhood.

"Even if the spiritual medicine is precious, even if Hwancheonma takes it, saving Master and my fellow disciples is more important to me. If Master truly refuses to allow the medicine to be given to Hwancheonma, then I'll throw it into the lake and offer my own head instead. If my life can save Master and the others, I'll gladly do it."

Hearing Jaha's emotional declaration, Ha Seonbaek fell silent.

I raised Ho well.

The thought filled him with pride.

He felt as though sacrificing his own life would no longer matter.

"Even if I'm gone, Ho will take good care of all of you."

Han Seol immediately became frightened.

"Master! What are you saying? Do you really think Senior Brother Byeok could live normally without you? He'd probably try to follow you into death. You know how much Senior Brother Byeok cares about you. He spent three whole years away earning money for your sake. If something happens to you, Senior Brother Byeok will never forgive himself. So please stay strong."

Han Seol watched Ha Seonbaek carefully.

She was afraid he might do something reckless.

Jo Unryong spoke with a serious expression.

"I also wouldn't be able to live if something happened to Master. Please remain strong."

Ha Seonbaek looked at the disciples who were like his youngest son and daughter.

His blood began to heat.

Ah, I've been looking at these children too narrowly.

They left home and worked in distant places for my sake. If something happens to me, they really might try to follow me into death.

Ha Seonbaek's eyes became hot.

For these children, I have to live.

No matter what happens.

At first, he had thought sacrificing himself would free Jaha and the others from Hwancheonma.

After hearing his disciples, he realized how foolish that idea had been.

Death solves nothing. No matter how painful it becomes, I need to stay alive and solve it while living.

Ha Seonbaek strengthened his weakening heart and shouted,

"Ho! I trust you! I'll follow your decision!"

Jaha let out a long breath of relief.

"Master! Trust me until the end, no matter what I do!"

"Understood! Even if you stab me with your sword, I'll still trust you, so don't worry!"

Jaha felt heat fill his chest.

His blood seemed to boil.

Who could possibly offer someone trust like that?

Even if you stab me with your sword, I will still believe in you.

Those words carried enough power to make his blood boil.

For a moment, even the murmuring around the lake disappeared.

The surrounding martial artists were also moved.

A master willing to die for his disciple, and a disciple willing to give his own life to save his master.

Because their lives were genuinely hanging by a thread, their words carried far greater weight.

Now that Ha Seonbaek had been persuaded, it was time to deal with Hwancheonma.

Jaha knew Hwancheonma cared excessively about how others viewed him.

Because of that, persuading him would not be difficult.

If Hwancheonma valued anything, it was his reputation.

That made this weakness easy to use.

"Hwancheonma, can you make a promise before everyone gathered here?"

Jaha's way of speaking was barely respectful.

Still, Hwancheonma ignored it.

He wanted to appear generous before all these people, as though he were a great man capable of tolerating Jaha's rudeness.

"Speak!"

Jaha filled his voice with true qi.

"If I hand over the spiritual medicine, will you promise to release my master and fellow disciples without touching even a hair on them?"

Shinbi whispered from behind,

"Father, don't promise him. Don't listen to that bastard."

When the attention of everyone around the lake focused on Hwancheonma Shin Jeok, Hwancheonma felt strangely trapped.

Still, he could not refuse.

The dignity of one of the Seven Heavenly Demons could not be damaged over something like this.

"Fine! I promise on my name!"

Goeui laughed when he saw Jaha force the promise from Hwancheonma.

"So that's why you gathered all these martial artists. You wanted witnesses so Hwancheonma couldn't break his word."

Every one of Jaha's actions contained some hidden intention.

Goeui found it entertaining to realize those intentions only later.

Shinbi sighed, then loudly spoke to Shin Jeok.

"Father, you're being deceived! We need to kill all of them!"

The Right Protector looked worried when Shinbi repeatedly urged Shin Jeok to ignore the promise.

His lord hated nothing more than someone continuing to argue after he had already made a decision.

"Shut up! I've decided! Don't question it!"

As expected, Hwancheonma immediately roared.

"I am Hwancheonma! Are you telling me to break my word because I'm afraid of bastards like them?!"

Killing intent flashed in his eyes.

Shinbi stepped backward.

If he continued, he felt he might lose an arm rather than merely receive a slap.

"Once this seat receives the spiritual medicine, release the hostages without harming them!"

"..."

However, Shinbi had absolutely no intention of letting those countryside martial school fools leave safely.

"Why aren't you answering?"

Under Hwancheonma's pressure, Shinbi reluctantly replied,

"Understood."

After hearing Shinbi's answer, Hwancheonma shouted toward Jaha.

"This seat has promised. Are you satisfied now?"

Jaha grinned.

Got you.

Jaha shouted back,

"I know that although Hwancheonma Shin Jeok belongs to the demonic path, he treats his promises as seriously as gold. So I trust you. But I don't trust your son. What will you do if your son breaks your promise?"

Goeui shook his head.

It turned out Jaha had forced Hwancheonma to make that public promise specifically because he had been thinking about Shinbi.

Jaha knew Shinbi did not value promises as much as his father did.

Hwancheonma also realized he had been drawn into Jaha's trap.

Still, he had already declared his word publicly.

He had to finish it properly.

"If my son breaks this seat's promise, I'll cut off his head!"

Since things had already gone this far, Hwancheonma gave the boldest answer possible.

"As expected of Hwancheonma Shin Jeok. You truly show the dignity of a hero of the demonic path."

Jaha praised him slightly, making it even harder for Hwancheonma to break the promise.

Shinbi ground his teeth while staring at Jaha.

If his father said something like that publicly, he would probably keep the promise.

It doesn't matter. I'll feed them poison that activates several days later. If they die afterward, who could prove I did it?

Shinbi had already prepared poison with that plan in mind.

Hwancheonma spoke as if granting a favor.

"So where should we exchange the medicine? Will you come to me, or should I come to you? You choose!"

Jaha did not answer immediately.

Instead, he stared at the muddy yellow lake water.

Because Willow Flower Water Garden was connected to the Yangtze River, the water was so cloudy that even if someone put their hand beneath the surface, they could barely see it.

When Jaha continued staring into the water, Goeui asked strangely,

"What are you doing? You're not planning to jump in, are you?"

Goeui was joking to reduce Jaha's tension.

"Of course not. I still need to kill Hwancheonma. I can't die already."

"Good. Face him with that spirit. And if things become dangerous, retreat. I'll deal with Hwancheonma."

Jaha looked warmly at Goeui.

Since awakening in Byeok Ho's body, Goeui had been one of the people constantly protecting him.

"Senior, your bones are already old and weak. I wonder if you could even survive one move from Hwancheonma."

Jaha teased him, then stepped off the boat.

He walked across the water as naturally as if he were standing on solid ground.

Then he stopped around ten jang away from Goeui's boat.

"Come here!"

Hwancheonma was about to enter another boat when his guards tried pushing it toward the water.

"Move it away! That bastard is standing on the water waiting for me, and you're telling this seat to ride a boat over there? Idiots!"

The guards flinched at Hwancheonma's murderous shout and hurriedly pulled the boat away.

After glaring at them once, Hwancheonma walked across the water toward Jaha.

The Right Protector looked worried.

"Will he be all right?"

Shinbi answered confidently,

"No matter how talented that bastard is, there's nothing he can do over the water. Don't worry. He has actually placed himself in a terrible situation. How can he compete with Father's nearly one hundred and eighty years of internal power? At most, he'll sink into the lake within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Shinbi spoke firmly, as though trying to eliminate his own doubts.