Chapter 142: To the Valley of Villains (1)

    TL: FoodieMonster007

    FWOOSH!

    Flames roared to life, shooting up violently from all sides. Like a wild, hungry beast, the fire devoured everything in its path, licking the air with fiery tongues.

    “Fire! Fire!”

    The grand mansion that served as the headquarters of the Scarlet Tiger Gang, which stood in stark contrast to the run-down slums that surrounded it, was engulfed in flames. The fire that erupted from the heart of the mansion spread rapidly, consuming the entire estate in a matter of minutes.

    Bright red flames lit up the pre-dawn sky, and thick smoke drifted into the streets, rousing the neighborhood. Shocked residents rushed outside, their eyes wide with disbelief as they stared at the inferno that had engulfed the Scarlet Tiger Gang’s stronghold.

    “Isn’t that... the Scarlet Tiger Gang’s hideout?”

    “Good heavens, how did this happen?”

    “It’s divine retribution! Those bastards deserve it! Let them burn! Wahahaha!”

    Fortunately, the mansion stood on the outskirts of the slums, so there was no immediate danger of the fire spreading to other buildings.

    “Move!” a voice shouted urgently as blurry figures rushed past the gathered crowd, utilizing their movement arts to the fullest. With such speed and grace that they seemed to fly, the group hurtled toward the blazing headquarters of the Scarlet Tiger Gang.

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    They were the students of Azure Dragon Academy, led by Geo Sangwoong and Ya Suhyeok.

    “We’ll break down the front gate!” the two big boys yelled in unison as they approached the burning mansion.

    Together, they threw their weight against the gates—large enough for ten men to pass side by side—using their shoulders to ram it open.

    BOOM!

    With a thunderous crash, the gates flew inward, revealing a sea of flames and suffocating smoke that obscured the situation inside.

    “Step aside!” Hyonwon Kang yelled, running ahead and scattering the flames momentarily with a swing of his blade.

    As the fire parted, the inside of the mansion came into view, and the students’ grimaced at the sight.

    “So many corpses...”

    “What happened here?”

    Underneath the roaring flames lay dozens of brutally slashed bodies. From the tattoos on their arms, it was clear they were all members of the Scarlet Tiger Gang.

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    “Why are these guys dead?”

    “They didn’t die in the fire. Someone cut them down.”

    “...Was it Wiji Cheon?”

    “No way...”

    A grim thought crossed their minds.

    “Doesn’t matter who did it. Any fucker who messes with our junior is dead,” Hyonwon Kang growled like a wild beast.

    Wiji Cheon may have been stronger than him, but to Hyonwon Kang, who had no siblings, he was a cute younger brother, a junior at the Azure Dragon Academy, and a shy, soft-hearted chap who couldn’t even stand up for himself when the cafeteria lady overcharged him.

    “I sense something up ahead. Follow me,” he commanded.

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    “Wait... hold on,” Dokgo Jun objected, grabbing Hyonwon Kang’s shoulder. Although he had not fully recovered from his injuries, he had forced himself to run along with the others out of concern for Wiji Cheon. As a result, his face was pale and he was panting heavily.

    “Huff... The enemy is an unorthodox sect master, and he’s much stronger than Wiji Cheon. If we rush in recklessly, we’ll all be in danger, including Wiji Cheon,” he stressed anxiously.

    To his surprise, Hyonwon Kang replied calmly, “I know. I’m planning to ambush them after I assess the situation.”Ne/w novel chapters are p/u/blished at novelhall.com

    “...You’re more level-headed than I thought.”

    Hyonwon Kang smirked. “I learned that from someone not too long ago.”

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    “......”

    The group suppressed their presence and moved deeper into the burning mansion.

    CRASH! THUD!

    Pillars collapsed and the ceiling caved in as the fire continued its destruction. The thick smoke and unbearable heat made it hard to breathe, and if they weren’t trained martial artists, they would’ve succumbed long ago.

    [We’re almost at the Boss’s chambers. Prepare yourselves,] Hyonwon Kang warned using telepathy as he took the lead.

    Suddenly, a figure emerged through the flickering flames. The students tensed for a moment, wary, but the new arrival turned out to be a familiar face.

    “...Mr. Baek?” Hyonwon Kang muttered, shocked.

    “Took you long enough,” Baek Suryong said curtly. Having arrived before them, he had already inspected the scene.

    Geo Sangwoong stepped forward urgently. “Where’s Wiji Cheon? And the Scarlet Tiger Boss?”

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    However, his students only exchanged glances, clearly unbothered.

    Hyonwon Kang grinned. “Didn’t you know? We’re not people who care about things like class attendance.”

    “You delinquents think that’s something to be proud of?” Baek Suryong moaned, rubbing his temples.

    I can already picture the lecture I’m going to get from Grandpa...

    His head hurt just imagining it. Sighing, he decided to stop thinking. “Well, that’s a problem for later. Let’s move. Try your best to keep up with me.”

    “Yes, Mr. Baek!”

    Before long, word came from the Rogues’ Guild, and the pursuit began.

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    CRACKLE, CRACKLE.

    A small fire flickered between two figures.

    “Eat.”

    “No.”

    Wiji Cheon refused the food offered by the Scarlet Tiger Boss, who simply chuckled and ate it himself without pressing further.

    A heavy silence fell between them.

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    Wiji Cheon, his acupuncture points sealed, glared quietly at the Scarlet Tiger Boss. “How could you do that...?” he suddenly whispered.

    The Scarlet Tiger Boss glanced up. “Do what?”

    Up close, he looked like a grizzled middle-aged man, his disheveled hair and yellow eyes giving him a wild, almost feral appearance. When he wasn’t busy killing, however, he had a strange calm about him that only added to Wiji Cheon’s confusion.

    Wiji Cheon clarified, “How can you kill people so easily?”

    The Scarlet Tiger Boss scratched his chin. “Why not? I kill because I want to. What other reason do I need?”

    “......” Wiji Cheon felt a shiver run down his spine. He had misjudged this man. He wasn’t just ruthless, he was batshit crazy. The only reason he didn’t seem like it was because he used twisted logic as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

    The Scarlet Tiger Boss fixed his clear, piercing gaze on Wiji Cheon. “What about you? Why do you resist the Killing Sword?”

    “Because I don’t want to kill people as easily as you do.”

    “Heh, you think you can fool me? The Killing Sword is honed by taking countless lives. You’ve killed over fifty people, haven’t you? I’ll bet my life on it.”

    “......” Wiji Cheon bit his lip until it bled. The Scarlet Tiger Boss was right. Though the memories were blurry, he remembered killing dozens of people while suffering from qi deviation caused by the fake Unlimited Sword.

    Suddenly, the Killing Sword whispered to him again. Kill him.

    “Boy, surrender yourself to the Killing Sword. Embrace the freedom it offers. Do that, and your martial arts will soar to new heights. With your talent and age, you could become a grandmaster in ten years, maybe even less.”

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    There was genuine envy in the Scarlet Tiger Boss’s voice. He understood Wiji Cheon’s potential—something only those who had dedicated their lives to martial arts could grasp.

    Finishing his meal, the Scarlet Tiger Boss licked his lips, saying, “There’s a village just down the hill. Let’s go there together. I’ll release your sealed acupoints. Let the Killing Sword take over, and we’ll bathe in blood. Once you’ve tasted that thrill, you’ll never want to let it go...”

    “If you try anything like that! I’ll bite my tongue and commit suicide! Even if my acupoints are sealed, the moment they’re released, I’ll kill myself without hesitation!” Wiji Cheon shouted angrily, releasing his killing intent.

    The Scarlet Tiger Boss blinked, genuinely puzzled. “I don’t get it. Why are you so dead set against murder?”

    Recalling Baek Suryong’s teachings, Wiji Cheon said firmly, “Because it’s what my teacher taught me. I’ll never give in to the Killing Sword.”

    The Scarlet Tiger Boss scoffed. “What a quack teacher, ruining a genius who could’ve become the world’s greatest swordsman. You’re better off without him.”

    “Don’t insult my teacher. He’s a far better man than you’ll ever be,” Wiji Cheon retorted.

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    The Scarlet Tiger Boss sneered, his voice dripping with mockery, “So your teacher’s that great, huh? You talk as if he’s some unbeatable master.”

    “He may not be the world’s strongest, but he can easily defeat someone like you.”

    “Oh? So he’s a grandmaster, is he?” The Scarlet Tiger Boss laughed as he stood up. He stomped on the fire, snuffing it out, then hoisted Wiji Cheon onto his shoulder. “But tell me this, will your teacher even dare to follow us, once he figures out where we’re headed?”

    Wiji Cheon stayed silent.

    The Scarlet Tiger Boss grinned, showing his yellowed teeth. “How about a bet? If your teacher chases us down, I won’t force you to learn the Killing Sword.”

    “...Where are we going?”

    With a malicious grin, the Scarlet Tiger Boss scratched some letters into the dirt where the fire had been. “We’re going to the Valley of Villains, home to the murim’s Ten Great Villains.”

    Moments later, only the ominous words ‘Valley of Villains (惡人谷)’ remained scrawled in the dirt where the two had camped.

    Translator’s Note: Time for a poll since this place name is going to stick for a while.

    PollMake