Chapter 95 : Chapter 95

Chapter 95. You’re Still the Same (4)

Hellfire Dragon Yado.

Sect Master of Hell Gate, one of the Eight Evil Gates.

A powerhouse acknowledged by all of the martial world.

And yet…

“D-did we… catch him?”

“Cough… seems like it.”

He lay unconscious, embedded in the rock, completely motionless.

A tremendous feat accomplished without Han Cheong-un present.

As everyone soaked in the moment, the coldest person acted.

“I will take his head, Yado.”

Without hesitation, Im Cheong swung his sword.

This was war.

The victor taking the loser’s head was only natural.

Just as Im Cheong’s blade was about to touch Hellfire Dragon Yado’s neck…

BOOM!

“Ghk…!”

Im Cheong was blasted backward, blood spraying from his mouth.

‘Who?’

He hadn’t sensed anything at all.

Im Cheong lifted his head to identify the new enemy.

And at that moment…

“You are?!”

Im Cheong was shocked.

He rarely showed emotion, but now he couldn’t help it.

“Who is it?”

Jang Hyun asked, alarmed by Im Cheong’s expression.

Im Cheong stared at the man and spoke gravely.

“Heavenly Demon Sacred Lord, Dokgo Dan.”

“……!”

“What… what?”

No explanation was needed.

How could they not know?

Heavenly Demon Sacred Lord, Dokgo Dan.

Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect, the leader figure of the Eight Evil Gates.

The final descendant of the once-legendary Demon Cult.

In short, the supreme ruler of the Evil Faction.

And he had appeared alone in Akyang to save Hellfire Dragon Yado.

“Today ends here.”

The tone was casual.

Not threatening, not domineering.

Like saying what he’d have for lunch.

But…

“…….”

“…….”

The weight of words depended on who spoke them.

Facing the authority of the Evil Faction’s supreme ruler, no one could respond lightly.

Finally, Jang Hyun forced out words.

“V-very well.”

They were battered and broken.

If the opponent withdrew, that alone was fortune.

Then—

“Cough… stop spouting nonsense, Dokgo Dan!”

Hellfire Dragon Yado had regained consciousness.

“Who are you to end this war? This is my war!”

Dokgo Dan sighed in exasperation.

“Don’t be troublesome, Yado.”

“What?”

“Who do you think leaked the information that Cha Mugyeom was away?”

Hellfire Dragon Yado froze.

“Don’t tell me it was you?”

“Yes. It was.”

Grinding his teeth, Hellfire Dragon Yado demanded.

“For what purpose?”

“The Sichuan situation was stagnant. I wanted to open another path.”

“…….”

“But it was pointless.”

Hellfire Dragon Yado’s face twisted like a demon.

“Heavenly Demon Sacred Lord. You used me, Hellfire Dragon Yado, as a chess piece?!”

Dokgo Dan nodded calmly.

“Yes.”

“Ghk….”

“My mistake was overestimating you.”

“You… cough…!”

Watching Hellfire Dragon Yado vomit blood, Dokgo Dan continued.

“And yet you’re one of the Eight Evil Gates. To fall this easily.”

“I didn’t lose!”

Dokgo Dan looked at him with contempt.

“You lost.”

“Dokgo Dan….”

“Gui-ryeong King was foolish, but you surpass him. That beings like you are even considered my equals….”

Crunch.

Trembling with humiliation, Hellfire Dragon Yado roared.

“If you won’t help, then get lost! I can still fight!”

He forced his qi upward, accepting the risk of deviation.

He was ready to die fighting.

“Tch.”

“Are you going to?”

The Limitless Gate members tensed.

Hellfire Dragon Yado was gravely injured, but they were in no better shape.

Then—

“If you insist on dying after being spared once, that’s your choice.”

Dokgo Dan spoke calmly.

“You think I’ll die to those brats?”

“If I hadn’t helped, you already would have.”

“Ghk….”

That was true.

“And with that ragged body, if you want to face a monster, go ahead.”

“A monster?”

Hellfire Dragon Yado’s expression changed.

Dokgo Dan looked into the distance.

“He’s coming.”

A loud voice rang out from afar.

“Where are the bad bastards?! Line up your necks!”

It looked like the Great Sage Equal to Heaven riding clouds.

Someone was sprinting through the air, stepping on clouds.

Sky-Striding Void Path.

A dream-level lightness skill.

As the figure drew closer…

“G-what?!”

Hellfire Dragon Yado was horrified.

“Th-the Sword Emperor?”

Wudang’s First Sword.

The strongest of the Orthodox Faction.

Closest to the title of Number One Under Heaven.

Supreme Polarity Sword Emperor Cheonggong.

“Ghk….”

Hellfire Dragon Yado turned and fled immediately.

Facing that monster in his condition was suicide.

Watching him flee, Dokgo Dan smirked.

“Yes. That’s your limit.”

He then turned, examining those present one by one.

Jang Hyun.

Junggang.

Jo Bi.

Im Cheong.

“I’ll remember you.”

With those words, he vanished.

Moments later, the Taoist descended from the clouds and landed—

BOOM!

“Woosh!”

Normally, Wudang’s Cloud-Stepping Technique should land lightly like an immortal.

This man was the strange one.

“Where did the Evil Faction go?!”

Not quite matching his legendary image.

“They already left.”

Only Junggang answered cheerfully.

***

The war was over.

If one had to declare a winner, it was the Limitless Gate.

They perfectly achieved their goal of defending their territory.

Hell Gate had brought three hundred elites, but fewer than fifty returned alive, and Hellfire Dragon Yado himself barely escaped with his life.

As a result, the Limitless Gate’s reputation soared.

Even with Han Cheong-un absent, they had repelled Hell Gate.

That alone was enough to elevate their status.

“They’re impressive. Not just a money-making new sect.”

“I was surprised too. I thought they relied solely on Han Cheong-un.”

“That kind of sect is common.”

“Appears briefly, then fades.”

“The Limitless Gate is different.”

“I heard the Jinju Eon Clan is fully subordinate.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. The sect master and the Eon Clan’s last daughter are said to be engaged.”

“Where’d you hear that?”

“The Eon Clan merchant group. They told everyone.”

The Limitless Gate became a hot topic.

“And I heard Han Cheong-un got a sobriquet.”

“A sobriquet?”

***

“They’re calling you the Righteous Spear Wandering Hero.”

On the road back to Akyang, Han Cheong-un listened silently.

“Don’t like it?”

“It’s bad.”

“I think it’s good.”

“It suits you.”

Han Cheong-un sighed.

He didn’t care much about sobriquets.

Even in his previous life, he got one late—and hated it.

‘Heaven-Mandated Spear? What a joke.’

And this one wasn’t much better.

“Wasn’t ‘Wandering Hero’ what street thugs were called?”

“It can mean that.”

He could guess who spread it.

“That petty bastard. So this is his revenge.”

Definitely Cheongheo Jinren.

“If you don’t like it, make your own.”

“Should I?”

“Spread it through Seokgu.”

“Any ideas?”

“Jade Dragon Divine Spear?”

“…I’ll stick with this.”

Too much effort.

They arrived home.

“Is that Akyang?”

“We’re back.”

“I’m exhausted.”

As they entered the sect…

“Huh?”

“What?”

“Why?”

The heroes of Akyang—Jo Bi, Junggang, Jang Hyun, and others—were all collapsed, barely alive.

And in the center…

“Hmm? Who are you guys?”

A Taoist holding a sword in one hand and a wine bottle in the other.

Han Cheong-un smiled.

‘You’re still the same.’

He smiled, filled with a faint longing and quiet joy…