Chapter 657: Today, None of Us Will Die

TL: FoodieMonster007

"That's the place."

At his subordinate's words, Jin Hagun stared toward a distant building. It was an abandoned manor. The wind blew through, making the half-broken main gate let out a creaking sound.

They had finally discovered the location of the smithy artisan Gwak Yeong's younger brother and had arrived to rescue him.

This mission was particularly special to Jin Hagun.

It was a task that Geom Muyang had personally entrusted to him. That prideful man had assigned him the mission with the belief that Jin Hagun would handle it better than he could. This made it a job he was absolutely determined to accomplish.

"The manor is occupied by beggars, but judging by their movements, they are all individuals trained in martial arts."

"How many are there in total?"

"There are about seven or eight of them outside. It seemed there was a similar number inside as well."

They must be disguised as beggars, taking advantage of the fact that people tend to avoid places crowded with them.

"What are the positions of the sentries?"

The martial artist who had performed the reconnaissance unfolded a piece of paper. On it was a rough sketch of the manor's buildings.

"There are guards posted in all four directions. Here, here, here, and here."

The reconnaissance martial artist quickly pointed his finger at each of the guarded locations. As seasoned members of the Demon Slaying Brigade who had carried out numerous operations, they swiftly divided into teams and assigned their targets.

"There's a hostage, so we'll take them out quietly and then enter."

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists cautiously approached the manor from all sides. Jin Hagun and those with the most outstanding movement arts in the brigade led the way.

The moment the beggar guarding the outside fell to a hidden weapon, the martial artists rushed in from four directions, scaling the wall simultaneously.

As Jin Hagun dropped down lightly from the wall, a beggar guarding the spot tried to pull a throwing knife from his clothes. Since Jin Hagun had already known he was there upon landing, the man had no chance to shout or attack.

SHWIIK. SLASH!

With a single strike from Jin Hagun's sword, the martial artist disguised as a beggar collapsed, his throat slashed.

The other beggars guarding different spots also fell in unison to the surprise attack. They were quite skilled, but not skilled enough to handle an ambush from the Demon Slaying Brigade.

Having entered over the walls from all sides, the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists began to sweep through the buildings one by one. Drawing on their proficient experience, they silently eliminated everyone inside as well.

The only building left was the largest one in the center.

Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists quietly infiltrated it.

A throwing knife flew toward the necks of the beggars guarding the hallway. The knife struck true, and before the bodies could fall, the martial artists slid in to catch them. They advanced deeper inside without a single scream or the sound of a body hitting the floor.

And then, they reached the final door.

They cautiously opened the door and entered to find a large main hall. The space was so vast it prompted the thought that such a large room couldn't possibly exist inside this building.

In the center of the main hall, a man was sitting in a chair. His head was bowed low as if he were asleep, likely with his acupoints sealed.

They instinctively knew he must be the person they had come to rescue.

However, Jin Hagun remained cautious. Before sending a subordinate to check, he looked at one particular person.

He was the oldest-looking man among the martial artists who had come with them. In truth, although he wore the uniform of the Demon Slaying Brigade, he was not one of its members.

He was Hwa Song, the great master of the Great Order Soul Returning Art.

The Great Order Soul Returning Art is a martial art created to counter soul-stealing arts. It was a sorcery based on the Buddhist martial art, the Soul Sealing Light Meditation Art, and was specifically designed to oppose the soul-stealing arts of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

The Murim Alliance trained martial artists capable of using the Great Order Soul Returning Art, and Hwa Song was one of the two great Masters who taught them. He was, in fact, one of the two most skilled experts in the Murim Alliance at neutralizing soul-stealing arts.

The reason Jin Hagun had brought Hwa Song on this mission was because of Geom Mugeuk.

Geom Mugeuk had sent word that a master of soul-stealing arts was among their enemies this time. He had even added that they needed to be especially careful, as their opponent's skill was extraordinary.

Since receiving that message, the Demon Slaying Brigade had been moving with Hwa Song at all times. They had anticipated that their enemies might use soul-stealing arts in this rescue mission, and it seemed that was indeed the case.

Hwa Song looked around and immediately noticed the hidden secret art.

"A soul strengthening art has been cast here."

Hwa Song then explained the technique.

"In a space where a soul strengthening art is active, soul-stealing arts become much more powerful. Even I won't be able to easily neutralize them."

Jin Hagun's expression hardened. The person who cast the art would naturally be an expert in soul-stealing arts, which meant they could appear here at any moment.

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists formed a perimeter around Hwa Song, guarding in all directions. The person they absolutely had to protect was Hwa Song.

Jin Hagun circulated his qi to survey the surroundings, but thankfully, he didn't sense anyone hiding.

Normally, checking on the hostage would be the first step, but one should not move carelessly in a space where a soul strengthening art is active.

"First, I'll neutralize the soul strengthening art."

"Please be careful."

With skillful hand movements, Hwa Song began to neutralize the art.

He moved a vase on a display cabinet to the side. Then he took a hanging scroll from the wall and placed it on the floor. He wasn't just moving things around randomly. He moved each item carefully, one by one.

He also took a powder from his clothes and sprinkled it on the floor, erased a line drawn on the wall, and drew a new one next to it.

While he worked, Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade remained tense, guarding the surroundings.

After some time had passed, Hwa Song succeeded in neutralizing the soul strengthening art.

"It's done."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Even after the art was neutralized, Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists couldn't feel any change.

Now, everyone's gaze turned to the sleeping man in the center of the hall.

A man sleeping alone in a space where a soul strengthening art had been cast. Truly, if this hadn't been a rescue mission, they would have retreated first to assess the situation.

However, since there was a high probability that he was Gwak Yeong's brother, they approached him cautiously.

Hwa Song led the way with Jin Hagun, approaching the sleeping man. The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists acted as bodyguards on his left and right.

Hwa Song placed his palm near the man's forehead. A blue light seemed to flow from his hand, and then he spoke.

"This man is not under a soul-stealing art."

At that, a Demon Slaying Brigade martial artist approached and lifted the man's head. After confirming his face, the martial artist looked back at Jin Hagun and nodded once. It meant his appearance matched that of Gwak Yeong's brother.

"Wake him."

At Jin Hagun's command, a martial artist pressed the man's acupoints to wake him.

Although Hwa Song had said he wasn't under a soul-stealing art, they didn't know what kind of attack he might launch upon waking. Everyone raised their qi and remained tense.

The man who had just woken up stared at Jin Hagun and the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists with a startled face. The surprise and fear coming from him were by no means an act.

"Please, spare me!"

The man squeezed his eyes shut. Having just woken up, he didn't think the martial artists before him were there to rescue him. It seemed he thought they were on the same side as his kidnappers.

A Demon Slaying Brigade martial artist asked him, "What's your name?"

The man then cautiously opened his eyes and sized them up.

"Your name!"

When prompted once more, the man answered quickly.

"It's Gwak Ju."

It was definitely Gwak Yeong's brother.

Only then did Jin Hagun reveal his identity to him.

"We're the Murim Alliance's Demon Slaying Brigade. We've come to rescue you at your older sister's request."

He mentioned Gwak Yeong on purpose.

At those words, Gwak Ju's eyes widened, and then he broke into a bright smile.

"Ah! Finally! Thank you, thank you so much."

"Let's get out of here."

It was just as they turned to leave with him.

SHWIIIIK. CHAENG!

Jin Hagun instinctively parried a sword flying toward Gwak Ju.

He was truly shocked. The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artist standing right behind him had suddenly thrust his sword at Gwak Ju.

"He's been hit by a soul-stealing art!"

Just as that martial artist was about to attack Gwak Ju again, a fellow martial artist next to him subdued his vital acupoints.

"……"

The subordinate's expression contorted, and a pained scream escaped his lips. The veins on his forehead began to bulge instantly.

"No!"

Jin Hagun's heart sank as he shouted urgently. It was just as Geom Mugeuk had told him. He had said that if you subdued the acupoints of someone under a soul-stealing art, they would die a painful death.

Fortunately, they had Hwa Song.

He quickly placed his palm on the martial artist's forehead and recited an incantation. As a blue light flowed from his hand, the face of the martial artist, who had been struggling in pain, became peaceful.

The martial artist was bewildered to find everyone staring at him.

"What's going on?"

He didn't even realize he had been under a soul-stealing art. That's how formidable the skill of the person who cast it on him was.

Jin Hagun told him calmly, "You were just under a soul-stealing art."

The subordinate was shocked.

If not for Hwa Song, he would have died. No, if Geom Mugeuk hadn't sent word in advance to be careful, they would have met with disaster here.

Jin Hagun released his qi and scanned the surroundings. However, there was no sign of anyone else hiding anywhere in the main hall.

"Let's get out of here quickly!"

Escaping this place first was the best course of action.

Just as they were about to hurry out.

SHWIIK.

Another Demon Slaying Brigade martial artist swung his sword.

PAAT!

The martial artist next to him couldn't avoid the sudden attack. Blood spurted from his arm.

SHWIK SHWIK SHWIK! CHAENG CHAENG CHAENG!

He charged madly at his comrade. Other martial artists subdued him.

"Keuaaah!"

The attacker was in a more urgent state than the one who was injured. With his acupoints subdued, his blood vessels swelled as if to burst, and he let out a scream.

Hwa Song again placed his palm on the man's forehead and recited the incantation. Falling under the soul-stealing art was so natural that there were no prior signs.

Hwa Song was inwardly shocked.

This shouldn't be happening.

It would be one thing if the soul strengthening art were still active, but it had already been neutralized. Yet, to continuously use a soul-stealing art in such a situation was by no means an easy feat.

The higher an opponent's martial arts realm, the more difficult it is to cast a soul-stealing art on them. For a Demon Slaying Brigade martial artist, it should be extremely difficult. To use a soul-stealing art continuously like this? Just who was their opponent?

Before he could even release the soul-stealing art, another martial artist swung his sword and charged at Jin Hagun this time. Jin Hagun did not subdue him and instead shouted.

CHAENG CHAENG CHAENG CHAENG!

"Everyone, keep your distance from the person next to you."

The Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists created distance between themselves. They maintained enough space to block any sudden moves from the side.

"We need to get out of here now!"

"……"

A martial artist at the back ran and opened the door. For a moment, the martial artist flinched in surprise.

Beyond the opened door, instead of a hallway, was a space identical to this room. It was like looking into a mirror.

Instinctively feeling he shouldn't enter, he closed the door and opened it again.

WHOOSH!

This time, flames surged up right before his eyes. Startled by the intense heat, the martial artist hurriedly closed the door.

Jin Hagun watched this unfold while dealing with his subordinate. He could tell they had fallen completely into the enemy's space.

"Master Hwa! Please hurry!"

Perhaps his inner arts were lacking. The speed at which Hwa Song was dispelling the soul-stealing art began to gradually decrease.

However, the rate at which they were falling victim to the soul-stealing art was, conversely, getting faster.

CHAENG CHAENG CHAENG!

Another fight broke out among the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists.

"Fight without subduing their inner arts!"

They had to hold on without subduing their inner arts while Hwa Song dispelled the soul-stealing art. If the number of subordinates affected by the art continued to increase, a truly perilous situation could unfold.

Jin Hagun could understand why the orthodox sects of the murim considered the Soul-Stealing Demon Supreme and the Poison King to be the most troublesome opponents. Any fight is difficult for a martial artist, but facing a soul-stealing art was especially so. Fighting one's own comrades was a mentally exhausting battle.

Another Demon Slaying Brigade martial artist fell to the soul-stealing art.

He knew he had to escape this space.

Jin Hagun entrusted the subordinate he was fighting to another and ran toward the door himself.

SHWAAAAAAK!

Sword qi raged from his blade.

However, the moment the sword qi touched the door, it vanished as if it were melting snow.

He realized he couldn't get out unless he found a way to break the technique. He shouted to Hwa Song.

"Master Hwa, you must neutralize this space."

As if he hadn't heard his shout, Hwa Song kept his back to him and didn't turn around.

It was at that very moment. Someone called him from behind.

"Leader of the Demon Slaying Brigade, Jin Hagun."

Startled, he turned to see it was Gwak Ju. His eyes no longer held the naive look from before. Instead of attacking him, he said calmly.

"Do you know why this is happening?"

Jin Hagun could tell. The master of the soul-stealing art was speaking to him through Gwak Ju's mouth.

"……"

In response to the calm question, the opponent delivered shocking news.

"While neutralizing the soul strengthening art earlier, Hwa Song activated an even more powerful soul strengthening art."

"!"

It was an unbelievable claim, but the unfolding situation proved his words were correct. Otherwise, it made no sense for such a powerful soul-stealing art to persist.

"How was that possible?"

"I planted a new soul strengthening art within the method to neutralize the first one. He himself cast the Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art that I had arranged."

Earlier, he moved the vase, placed the scroll on the floor, sprinkled the powder, erased the line, and drew a new one. This meant that the process he had performed to neutralize the soul strengthening art had been arranged to activate another one.

"If the Blood Heaven Soul Strengthening Art had been active from the beginning, Hwa Song would have sensed something was wrong. However, in his relief at having neutralized the first art, he didn't realize a new one had been cast. I know him very well."

At those words, Jin Hagun understood. The opponent wielding this soul-stealing art, much like So Cheongrak or the Heaven's Edge Hermit, had been plotting around the Murim Alliance for a long time. He must have been working behind the scenes, especially around the experts of the Great Order Soul Returning Art.

"Hwa Song had neutralized this exact same soul strengthening art before. Twice, in fact."

Jin Hagun understood. The one who had provided the opportunities to neutralize it was the very person speaking now.

"That's why he confidently used the same neutralization method he had used back then, without a shred of doubt."

A hint of a smile touched Gwak Ju's eyes.

"Sometimes, familiarity becomes a person's greatest trap."

Gwak Ju looked at Hwa Song.

Hwa Song stood blankly with his back turned. He wasn't dispelling the soul-stealing art anymore. The light that had been busily glowing from his hands was gone.

Hwa Song slowly turned to face them.

The moment they saw his changed eyes, not only Jin Hagun but all the Demon Slaying Brigade martial artists let out a gasp.

The only person who could get them out of this place had fallen to the soul-stealing art. The few martial artists who had been standing around to protect him also drew their swords and turned toward Jin Hagun.

Those who were not under the soul-stealing art could not hide their bewilderment.

And on top of that, more shocking news came.

"At this very moment, the Leader of the Murim Alliance is likely killing the Young Cult Leader to save you."

"!"

The opponent's killing intent could be felt in Gwak Ju's eyes.

"The Young Cult Leader will die by the hand of the Leader of the Murim Alliance, and you will die here."

It meant that even if the Leader of the Murim Alliance killed the Young Cult Leader, they would still kill Jin Hagun. Their plan to kill Geom Mugeuk and Jin Hagun was proceeding to the very end.

Despite it being the worst possible news, Jin Hagun's expression brightened instead.

"Then they'll know we're in danger over there, too."

Jin Hagun said to his subordinates, "They'll be here to help us soon."

Gwak Ju laughed loudly in ridicule.

"You're clinging to false hope."

However, Jin Hagun's hope was founded on his absolute faith in his grandfather and Geom Mugeuk. His grandfather would never kill Geom Mugeuk, and Geom Mugeuk would never let such a situation happen.

"The two people I trust most in this world know I'm in crisis?"

Jin Hagun spoke quietly to his subordinates.

"Hold on until the end. Today, none of us will die!"