Chapter 62 : Chapter 62

Chapter 62. Talents Gathering (4)

"Haaa..."

Baek Sua let out a deep sigh.

Just in case, she dressed prettily, put on makeup, and even wore musk. But what was the point?

"Why are you sighing? Are you not feeling well?"

What did she expect?

Knowing he was originally this kind of human.

'Forget it. Let's just do the job.'

"I came because I have a separate report."

"Do you have to do it now?"

"It's not good if there are watching eyes."

"What is it?"

When Baek Sua gestured, a black shadow swooped down from the ceiling. There was...

"An assassin?"

Wearing a black mask, covering the whole body with black night clothes, and wearing a small knife at the waist.

The figure who appeared dressed in an attire that couldn't be anything but an assassin was a young girl who still looked like a child.

"I picked her up on the way here recently."

"On the way here? You picked up an assassin on the way back from the north?"

"Yes."

At Baek Sua's words, Han Cheong-un shrugged and said.

"Sua. Although we claim to be between the Righteous and Evil, isn't doing assassination contracts a bit much?"

"That's not it."

Baek Sua sighed and spoke to the assassin girl.

"Take off your mask."

"Yes. Master."

And when the girl took off her mask, Han Cheong-un...

"Huh? Is she?"

"Do you recognize her now?"

"It is a face I've seen somewhere..."

Baek Sua spoke as if frustrated.

"Look closely. There is no way the Sect Leader doesn't know this face."

"Hmm..."

Han Cheong-un stared at the girl's face.

Features of a child with baby fat still remaining on pale skin.

But she was also a beautiful girl who would surely become a peerless beauty comparable to Baek Sua when she grew up.

If she was such a beautiful girl, he might have seen her somewhere...

"No, you don't remember the person who stabbed your belly?"

"My belly... Ah!"

Han Cheong-un suddenly remembered.

He didn't know this girl's name. But...

"Ah, that kid back then?"

"That's right. It's her."

Countless assassins came for Han Cheong-un, who was active across the board leading the Evil-Annihilating Squad.

They targeted Han Cheong-un in various ways, but very few achieved meaningful results.

One female assassin among those few succeeded in landing a blow on Han Cheong-un's belly. Although it was a result achieved by rushing in with multiple comrades.

And after that, that assassin...

"Didn't you deal with her, Sua?"

"I did."

Baek Sua, whose eyes went wild seeing Han Cheong-un stabbed, attacked the assassin at that moment.

And after a brief exchange, she cut off the assassin's arms and immediately blew off her head.

Her murderous appearance at that time remained clearly in Han Cheong-un's memory.

"But you brought her back this time?"

"I found her by chance on the way back from the north."

Han Cheong-un looked at her standing blankly in the room and said.

"A strange fate."

"I suppose so."

The assassin who died at Baek Sua's hands was now taken in by her hands.

"What happened?"

"On the way back, I coincidentally found this child wandering and tracked her. And I discovered a facility training children as assassins."

"Children?"

"There were about thirty when I saw them. But judging by the scale of the facility, it seemed there were originally more than ten times that."

"Is it Gu?"

"It seems so."

Originally, Gu is part of sorcery for cursing and a method created by those who study poison to obtain stronger insect poison.

To collect countless poisonous insects and create the strongest poison among them.

But there are those in the world who apply that to people.

A method of gathering hundreds of children and making them compete in death to obtain talent among them.

It is something that neither the Righteous Way nor the Evil Way can do recklessly.

"Who are the bastards?"

"I don't know. I killed the guys managing the site, but they didn't have any particular characteristics..."

Hearing Baek Sua's words, Han Cheong-un approached the child standing expressionlessly.

And he bent his waist to meet the child's eyes.

"..."

The child's eyes were empty.

"What is your name?"

"I am Number Thirteen."

"...Do you wish for anything from me?"

"A slave exists only as a tool for the master."

"..."

Han Cheong-un's expression crumpled severely.

And when he looked at Baek Sua, she also shook her head.

"I tried talking to them too, but they were all similar. I don't know what process they went through, but their humanity has been thoroughly erased."

"Right. So that was it."

He didn't know what bastards committed this, but it seemed they had created a fairly advanced human Gu.

It would probably take a very long time to recover their self.

"How many children did you say in total?"

"Thirty-two."

"Let's take them all in."

"Understood."

Han Cheong-un knew that these children would become very capable assassins if raised well. He knew, but...

'I can't raise them like that.'

It might be too far gone for them to live normally. But still, he would make sure they recovered at least minimal humanity and lived their own lives.

Some time later.

The Ultimate Path Gate created an orphanage to take in and protect orphans.

And they took in and protected the orphans of Yueyang.

It was like volunteer work done by a sect that established itself as a local hegemon to manage public sentiment.

But people didn't know.

That among the ordinary orphans mixed in that orphanage, fatal daggers were mixed in.

If Baek Sua picked up assassin children by chance, there was also a talent who rolled in like a pumpkin while they were just staying still. That was...

"Come out!"

A loud voice shouting from outside the main gate.

When a warrior of the Eon Clan went out upon hearing that sound, a man in shabby clothes carrying a sword on his back spoke.

"I am Im of the Im Clan, born in Shanxi. I came to challenge Sect Leader Han Cheong-un of the Ultimate Path Gate."

"Ah, I see. Well, then please come in for now."

The Eon Clan warrior accepted the challenger familiarly.

It was nothing new.

Since the Ultimate Path Gate stood out in Yueyang and rumors about Han Cheong-un spread, such drifters challenged him from all directions.

In fact, most of such people...

"To prove if you are qualified to challenge the Sect Leader, we ordinary disciples will test you."

Were sorted out at the lower level.

Most of those who called themselves challengers were drifting ronin, and it was hard to find real experts among them.

Nine out of ten who challenged were sorted out by the Eon Clan warriors.

With Han Cheong-un's help, they had regained their family's internal energy cultivation method and were gradually approaching the level of first-rate experts, and there were almost no drifting ronin they couldn't handle.

However...

"Uh?"

Just one move after the duel began.

Before the fist extended by the Eon Clan warrior could fully reach out, a cool sword was touching his neck.

And the opponent said...

"Is this enough to prove my qualification?"

"..."

The level was different.

Seeing him prove his skill in one move, the Eon Clan warrior bowed his head and said.

"I will report to the Sect Leader immediately."

And a moment later.

Han Cheong-un, who came after hearing the report, shouted in exclamation upon seeing the challenger.

"Flying Swallow Swordsman Im Cheong?!"

Then the opponent twitched his eyebrows and said.

"I am meeting you for the first time, so how do you know me?"

Han Cheong-un bowed politely to Im Cheong and said.

"I saw you once from afar in the past."

Speaking like that, Han Cheong-un clenched his fist inwardly and thought.

'Jackpot.'

Flying Swallow Swordsman Im Cheong.

He is one of the ronin warriors commonly scattered in the Gangho.

But the difference between him and other ordinary ronin is that he is a real expert.

Most ronin are beings who live hand to mouth receiving jobs from time to time with skills fluctuating between second and third-rate.

But rarely, experts existed among such ronin, and Im Cheong was one of them.

There were many sects that wanted to recruit him, but he refused to belong anywhere and just traveled the world holding a single sword.

And if he thought someone was worth challenging, he would visit indifferently and request a match.

He is not a man who moves for money.

A pure competitive spirit.

This man was a ronin more like a ronin than anyone else, living for today betting his life on a single sword.

'Originally, he went to the Limitless Gate, challenged Cha Mugyeom, and that was the end, right?'

Cha Mugyeom is not a character who accepts opponents challenging him seriously half-heartedly.

Naturally, he used his full power, and Flying Swallow Swordsman Im Cheong's path ended there.

But somehow the karma twisted, and he came to Han Cheong-un.

And Han Cheong-un had no intention of letting this man go easily.

"I will accept the match. But not for free."

"I don't have much money, but if this is okay, take it all."

Im Cheong held out his entire money pouch tied to his waist. But Han Cheong-un shook his head.

"I don't need money. Instead, let's bet ourselves."

"I am not interested in perverse acts?"

"I also like pretty women."

"I heard rumors. That the Sect Leader of the Ultimate Path Gate is a lecher and keeps peerless beauties all around."

"Do such false rumors circulate?"

Would they be false rumors?

Han Cheong-un grumbled for a moment and said.

"It's a life living as a martial artist anyway. Let the winner become the master and the loser become the subordinate who obeys absolutely."

"Is that acceptable?"

"Yes."

"Good. I will do so."

Im Cheong accepted readily.

Rather, Han Cheong-un was flustered.

"Did you accept sincerely?"

"It's a life walking on a blade anyway. Whether it is death or life, what is there to regret?"

"..."

Ah, this person...

Is a real ronin.

Everyone worries about the future and prepares for it. But this man has none of that.

He just lives every moment with full force.

"Now, let's have the match."

"Hmm..."

Im Cheong drew his sword, and Han Cheong-un also lifted his spear. And...

"The match is decided."

After about fifty exchanges.

Han Cheong-un's attack broke Im Cheong's sword in half.

Then Im Cheong looked at his broken sword and threw it to the ground.

And he bowed politely to Han Cheong-un and spoke.

"I am called Cheong of the Im Clan, born in Shanxi. Please take care of me from now on."

"I am Han Cheong-un, Sect Leader of the Ultimate Path Gate."

Thus, Im Cheong joined the Ultimate Path Gate.

Junggang, Jo Bi, Im Cheong, and even the children of the assassin group...

Talents not yet known to the world began to gather at the Ultimate Path Gate one by one.

* * *

Three years later.

Several men appeared in the sleepless city of Yueyang.

Men wearing green martial arts uniforms with the character Tang engraved on their chests were quite flustered as they entered the street.

"Is this Yueyang?"

"That's right. Brother."

"Hmm, right. It seems this is Yueyang."

"I suppose so. Brother."

They were extremely flustered.

They heard rumors that the night streets of Yueyang were flashy. But they didn't know it would be to this extent.

"Young Masters, please play here before you go."

"Come to our Cheonhwa Tower. We will give you an experience you will never forget."

"Young Master. Play with us. Yes?"

Brothel after brothel after brothel.

Flashy brothels were lighting lamps and soliciting customers to the point where one wondered if such a place really existed.

The waiters actively attracting customers were one thing, but the attire of the courtesans actively stepping out to solicit was truly unconventional.

"Are those clothes?"

"Probably. It even looks like expensive Shu brocade."

"No, if it's clothes, shouldn't they cover something?"

"Don't look too much."

"You are looking too, Brother?"

"Ahem, I am doing this to prepare for any potential danger."

"..."

Right now, these young masters were shouting with their whole bodies on the flashy night streets of Yueyang.

[I am a pushover!]

There was no way the experienced waiters and courtesans would miss this sign. A courtesan with a voluptuous figure and revealing clothes approached a man, actively hugged his arm, and said.

"Master, spend tonight with me."

"Ahem, I came because I have business. I didn't come to enjoy romance."

"There is always room for a one-night leisure."

"That is true... No, that's not it."

The man shook his head and spoke.

The scent of the woman approaching his nose was very stimulating, but he had to perform his mission now.

"I am Dang Gun of the Sichuan Tang Clan."

"I see. This girl is called Plum Scent."

"Do you happen to know a place called the Ultimate Path Gate?"

"..."

Then the courtesan's expression changed completely.

Not only her, but the expressions of other waiters and courtesans who had gathered around also changed completely.

"What business do you have with the Ultimate Path Gate?"

"Ah, my cousin brother and sister are members of the Ultimate Path Gate. I came to find them..."

"Haaa. Was he a guest of the Ultimate Path Gate?"

"Then we can't treat him as a pushover?"

"Ay, let's go somewhere else."

The courtesans and waiters receded like an ebbing tide.

The moment it was revealed he was a guest of the Ultimate Path Gate, they couldn't treat him as a pushover no matter how naive the young man was.

Business in this Yueyang...

No, just to breathe and live, one must be extremely careful with people related to the Ultimate Path Gate.

The courtesan who was hitting on Dang Gun also straightened her attitude.

"So you were a guest of the Ultimate Path Gate. I failed to recognize you."

"Ah, yes..."

"I am called Chunja."

"Didn't you say you were Plum Scent?"

The woman blushed and said.

"Forget that."

"..."

"If you say you are a guest of the Ultimate Path Gate, I will call our shop's escort warrior for now, so please wait."

"Escort warrior? Ah, perhaps was this brothel a place protected by the Ultimate Path Gate?"

At Dang Gun's words, Chunja grinned and said.

"Every brothel existing in Yueyang is a business under the protection of the Ultimate Path Gate."

"...Pardon?"

Dang Gun looked around.

A street of pleasure forming a sleepless city so bright one couldn't distinguish between night and day.

Every brothel on this street is a business receiving protection from the Ultimate Path Gate?

Then just how much is the incoming revenue?

'I heard they seized the hegemony of Yueyang, but to think it was to this extent?'

The Sichuan Tang Clan also exerted absolute influence in Chengdu of Sichuan, but it wasn't to this degree.