Chapter 162. It is called "Mountain Stream"
At that moment, the face of the Dongho Stronghold Boss, Tal Myung Hyeol Jang, Oh Jin Woong, hardened. He now understood why Yeon Jeokha was so furious: he had received orders from the Grand Chaeju.
Suddenly, he recalled the rumors circulating among the merchants of Dongho.
"Wait, I heard someone from the Yeon Clan of Waryong Manor killed a Demon Warrior in Namyang Chamber of Commerce."
Namyang and Wuhan are less than a month apart. Naturally, the strange news from Namyang had already reached Dongho.
"Could it be that you are from Waryong Manor?" asked Oh Jin Woong.
"How did you know?" responded Yeon Jeokha as he raised his sword.
Oh Jin Woong shuddered upon hearing the response.
'Damn it!'
His suspicions were true.
If the young man from the Yeon Family who killed the Demon Warrior in Namyang was indeed the Grand Inspector, there was no hope for him. The young man was a master superior to him; he had felt it clearly during their brief confrontation.
His internal energy, even when used forcefully, was countered shockingly. Despite being younger, Yeon Jeokha's skill surpassed his own.
'When it rains, the best option is to take shelter for a while.'
Oh Jin Woong decided that fleeing was the best option instead of facing him. However, surrounded by water, he knew it wouldn't be easy.
He discreetly observed his surroundings, searching for an escape route.
He knew his subordinates couldn't help him against the Chief Inspector. He would have to resolve this on his own.
As he desperately sought a solution, his gaze fell on Namgung Yeon. She was a beautiful woman, but at this moment, she might be useful in another way.
Then Yeon Jeokha, as if playing, said:
"If you don't answer, I'll simply proceed. I hope you find peace, one way or another."
Barely finishing his words, Oh Jin Woong pulled something from his pocket and threw it to the ground.
Puff!
A cloud of white smoke spread across the deck.
The night was already dark, but with the addition of the smoke, nothing could be seen.
At the same time the smoke spread, Yeon Jeokha swung his sword.
"Poison?"
He felt his sword lightly hit something, but his target had escaped.
Retracting his sword, Yeon Jeokha quickly used the third technique of the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship, "Dragon and Tiger Windstorm."
Kwak kwak kwak!
A whirlwind swept across the deck.
Meanwhile, amidst the smoke, Namgung Yeon sensed a suspicious presence.
"Poison?" she heard Yeon Jeokha's voice from the front.
If Yeon Jeokha was there, the ominous presence must be Oh Jin Woong.
'Is he targeting me?'
Though it seemed ridiculous, in this situation, it was his best option.
Namgung Yeon dropped her hands and waited.
Soon, the thin, severe face of Oh Jin Woong appeared through the smoke.
A smile appeared on his face when he saw Namgung Yeon.
Fortunately, she hadn't moved.
Oh Jin Woong extended his hand in a claw shape towards the woman, using his technique "Golden Hand of Death."
At that moment, Namgung Yeon's delicate hand slightly lifted.
Their hands met halfway.
Papapapap!
Oh Jin Woong's fingers didn't even come close to Namgung Yeon, repeatedly bouncing back.
'What is this? Who is this woman?'
Oh Jin Woong frowned.
His "Golden Hand of Death" technique was a supreme technique that even experienced masters couldn't resist.
However, he couldn't penetrate the defense of this woman's small hand.
At that moment, Yeon Jeokha's whirlwind swept the deck, dispersing the smoke and revealing the scene.
Yeon Jeokha, seeing Oh Jin Woong fighting with Namgung Yeon, shouted furiously.
"You damn old man! How dare you!"
With a firm step, Yeon Jeokha advanced.
Disconcerted by the situation, Oh Jin Woong lost his rhythm.
Namgung Yeon, a top-tier expert, didn't miss the opportunity.
Avoiding Oh Jin Woong's hand, she used her "Ghostly Steps" technique to move like a phantom to the side.
Surprised by his opponent's sudden disappearance, Oh Jin Woong looked around him.
At that moment, a torrent of energy came directly at his face.
Uruuruuru!
With a thunderous sound, the Namgung Family's "Heavenly Thunder Palm" technique was launched at him.
"Ah!"
The young woman, barely twenty years old, launching such a powerful technique left him stupefied.
Desperate, Oh Jin Woong used his "Nine Death Strikes" technique to counterattack.
Boom!
Namgung Yeon took three steps back, but Oh Jin Woong was also pushed back a step.
"Who are you?"
Oh Jin Woong looked at Namgung Yeon in astonishment.
The fact that her palm technique was strong enough to face his own technique was incredible.
Namgung Yeon pointed behind him with her finger.
Feeling nervous, Oh Jin Woong looked back.
At that moment, Yeon Jeokha's sword, which had been hanging, shot up like lightning.
It was the first technique of the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship, "Flying Dragon Ascension."
Three beams of sword energy shot towards Oh Jin Woong.
With no time to dodge, Oh Jin Woong took the hits directly.
Puff puff puff!
The sword energies pierced his shoulders and face.
"Ah!"
Oh Jin Woong let out a choked groan.
Jeong Sang Baek, the vice-boss, was left with his mouth agape.
Everything happened in an instant.
After mentioning the Grand Chaeju and the Demon Warrior, the Boss had been killed.
He thought the Grand Inspector had come to enjoy himself, but instead, he had killed the Boss with a single strike.
'Could it really be because of the Demon Warrior?'
While Jeong Sang Baek was lost in his thoughts, Yeon Jeokha signaled everyone to step back.
Jeong Sang Baek, though uncomfortable, obeyed and withdrew.
At times like these, it was better to follow orders and keep a distance.
Crack crack.
Oh Jin Woong's corpse began to writhe and emit strange noises.
In the quiet night by the lake, the sounds of breaking bones were clearly audible.
Soon, a familiar creature appeared on the deck.
With a massive body, bat wings, and protruding fangs, it was a demonic dragon.
The demonic dragon opened its mouth, and smoke began to pour from its throat.
"Kyahhh!"
With a thunderous roar, many on the deck fell to the ground.
Only Yeon Jeokha, Namgung Yeon, Namgung Cheon, and Old Shim remained standing.
Seol Chasu's group could do nothing as they had no way to defend themselves.
They were clearly shocked by the proximity of the attack.
The demonic dragon's red eyes fixed on Yeon Jeokha.
With a flap of its bat wings, it opened its mouth again.
Whooosh!
An infernal fire surged towards Yeon Jeokha.
Prepared, Yeon Jeokha used the third technique of the Nine Heavens Supreme Swordsmanship, "Wind from Heaven."
The wind gathered at the tip of his sword.
Whooosh! Kwak kwak kwak!
With all his might, Yeon Jeokha unleashed a massive typhoon directly at the infernal fire.
The clash between the fire and the wind caused sparks to fly in all directions.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As the fire spread across the deck, the sailors tried to extinguish it with water.
However, the water evaporated on contact, turning into steam.
The fire spread even more, as if oil had been poured on it.
Finally, the sailors abandoned their efforts and began to flee in all directions.
The demonic dragon, which seemed about to take off, flapped its wings harder.
"I won't allow it."
With a shout, Yeon Jeokha used the fourth technique of the Nine Heavens Supreme Swordsmanship, "Heavenly Woman Scattering Flowers."
Hundreds of sword energies rained down from the sky like hail.
Puff puff puff!
The demonic dragon's wings were pierced by hundreds of holes, preventing it from taking off.
Furious, the demonic dragon opened its mouth once more.
Whooosh!
Yeon Jeokha leaped into the air to avoid it, using the "Nine Divine Dragons Turning" technique to spin towards the demonic dragon.
The demonic dragon unleashed several flames into the sky, but it couldn't reach Yeon Jeokha.
Finally, Yeon Jeokha reached the demonic dragon's head and dove down.
Crack!
The "Heavenly Woman Descends" technique plunged into the demonic dragon's crown.
"Kyahhh!"
The demonic dragon, writhing in pain, soon turned to dust.
Yeon Jeokha, seeing the burning ship, frowned.
That fire wouldn't go out until the ship was completely consumed.
The fire had already taken over more than half of the deck.
Jeong Sang Baek ran to Yeon Jeokha, bowing deeply.
"Grand Inspector, the flames cannot be controlled. We must return to the ship we arrived on."
"Can you transport everyone present?"
"Yes, there is enough space. This gathering wasn't very large, so there aren't many here."
Nodding, Yeon Jeokha began to walk.
Jeong Sang Baek, following cautiously, asked:
"Grand Inspector."
"What?"
"What came out of Oh Jin Woong's body... What was it? It was spitting fire..."
"People call it a demonic dragon."
"A demonic dragon? Why was it inside Oh Jin Woong?"
"I don’t know. I would like to know as well."
Yeon Jeokha knew that Demon Warriors transformed into monsters upon death, but he didn’t know why.
"So, was the demonic dragon pretending to be Oh Jin Woong all this time?"
"A demonic dragon pretending to be Oh Jin Woong? That’s an interesting thought. I’ll remember it."
Jeong Sang Baek smiled broadly. Receiving praise from someone of high rank made his day not so bad after all.
The large burning ship illuminated the entire lake.
As Yeon Jeokha and his group watched the ship from the deck of the other boat, Eun Wol approached and bowed deeply.
"Sir, my name is Eun Wol. Thank you for saving me from Oh Jin Woong."
"Me?"
Yeon Jeokha pointed to himself with his finger. Though he had fought with Oh Jin Woong, he didn’t recall rescuing anyone.
Eun Wol smiled and said:
"Yes, I was about to be dishonored by Oh Jin Woong, but you saved me. Please tell me your name so I can remember it always."
"There’s no need for that."
Yeon Jeokha waved his hand, rejecting the offer, but Eun Wol didn’t rise.
Then, Old Shim intervened.
"Eun Wol, right?"
"Yes."
"The name of our Young Master is Yeon Jeokha. Don’t just thank him with words; play something on your instrument. Our Young Master doesn’t like empty gratitude."
"Oh, yes..."
Eun Wol adjusted her instrument in her lap.
"Old Shim, why are you spouting nonsense? If I wanted to hear music, I would ask for it. Why do you speak for me?"
"Well, I noticed you were looking at her instrument with interest, so I thought we should hear something."
Eun Wol, smiling, began to play.
"This piece is called 'Mountain Stream' (高山流水)."
Soon, the melodious music filled the air.
The clear and beautiful sound blended with the light from the burning ship, creating a magical atmosphere.
Even Yeon Jeokha, who had been murmuring, closed his mouth and got lost in the music.
Namgung Yeon, with an indifferent look, observed Eun Wol.
"Mountain Stream" symbolizes a deep and understanding friendship.
Was she referring to the relationship between Yeon Jeokha and Old Shim?
Or perhaps to her own feelings towards Yeon Jeokha?
For someone like Eun Wol, Yeon Jeokha could be a figure of destiny.
With these thoughts, the music of the zither became even more poignant.
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