Chapter 68

“Phew!”

Do Jin-woo was sitting in his office, sighing deeply as if the ground beneath him was sinking. He stared out the half-open window, lost in deep thought.

‘Nothing must have happened to the Lord of the Country, right?’

His worry was solely focused on Yu Shin-yun. Despite everyone's attempts to dissuade him, Yu Shin-yun had left for Cheonmok Mountain, and Do Jin-woo was constantly worried about his safety.

‘Even just doubting is already disloyalty...’

As a subordinate, he should naturally trust his master, but the current situation made it difficult.

The pile of documents on his desk were filled with bad news for the Baegun Escort Agency.

Due to Yu Shin-yun taking a significant amount of reserve funds from the treasury, the financial situation was deteriorating faster than expected.

To make matters worse, the Huangluo Escort Agency was spreading malicious rumors about the Baegun Escort Agency to new escorts, encouraging them to defect.

Several new escorts had fallen for this scheme and submitted their resignations.

In such a situation, even the Jeongwongak members, to whom Yu Shin-yun had entrusted a separate escort mission, had not sent any news.

Do Jin-woo's worries were inevitable.

At that moment, he shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts.

‘I must pull myself together. In times like these, I must be a solid support for the Lord of the Country.’

With a slightly calmer mind, he stood up from his seat.

Swish!

He then quietly drew his sword from his waist.

Whoosh!

A surge of energy flowed from his sword, which he had raised in the air. Since Yu Shin-yun had helped him break through the Ren and Du meridians, his martial arts skills had rapidly advanced to the peak of the highest level.

When he fought with Guo Zhushan, he was still inexperienced in handling energy, but now he had become quite proficient.

‘If I can be of any help with this body...’

Although the path to the supreme level was still far away, he began to practice his martial arts to be of some help to Yu Shin-yun.

Just then,

Boom!

A sudden explosion echoed.

‘What is this!’

Sharp screams followed, and the outside quickly became chaotic.

Swish!

Do Jin-woo, sword in hand, rushed to the source of the noise. Upon arriving, he saw that the main gate of the Baegun Escort Agency was shattered.

“Grr!”

The escorts guarding the main gate were lying on the ground, groaning.

‘...Those are!’

In the next moment, familiar faces came into view.

None other than the two evil men of the Huangluo Escort Agency, Dou E'qi, and the chief, Yang Jimo.

The moment their eyes met, Dou E'qi gave a cruel smile.

Swish!

“What scoundrels are you!”

Old Daewoong, who had arrived late, erupted in anger. Behind him, Old Jianhuo and all the escorts from the various branches rushed in.

Clang! Clang!

The escorts simultaneously drew their weapons, which emitted a cold, blue light.

But something was off.

‘Just the two of them?’

No matter how he looked, there were no other Huangluo Escort Agency escorts around Dou E'qi.

However, it was impossible for such a despicable person to come here with just two people.

A foreboding feeling crept into Do Jin-woo's mind.

At that moment, Dou E'qi, ignoring the countless gazes directed at him, shouted arrogantly.

“Devil Yu Shin-yun, come out and kneel!”

His voice, imbued with inner energy, echoed throughout the entire agency.

Not only did they invade like this, but by calling Yu Shin-yun a devil, Do Jin-woo and everyone else's faces were filled with anger.

“What kind of outrage is this!”

Unable to contain his anger, Do Jin-woo gathered his energy and roared.

Seeing the energy emanating from Do Jin-woo's entire body, Dou E'qi's expression showed a hint of panic.

Judging by the amount of energy, it seemed Do Jin-woo was at the peak of the highest level, at least as strong as himself.

But this only lasted a moment before a cruel sneer returned to Dou E'qi's face.

Just then,

“Tsk! Who dares to draw a sword against my disciples!”

A lion's roar, filled with immense energy, shook the surroundings.

A group of people walked through the wide-open main gate.

Upon recognizing them, Do Jin-woo's face turned pale.

There were over ten of them, all wearing gray Taoist robes and carrying swords at their waists.

‘Oh no! The Taoists of Mount Huang are already on the move!’

Indeed, they were all Taoists of the Mount Huang Sect.

Crack!

Then, the middle-aged Taoist who had just let out the lion's roar walked into the scene with a majestic air. He had fierce eyes and very thin lips, giving him a sharp appearance.

However, what was peculiar was the oily sheen on his face, which made him seem less like a Taoist.

But those who knew his true identity had no time to think about it. They were only filled with shock.

This was the renowned swordsman of the Mount Huang Sect, who had reached the supreme level a decade ago. The elder of the Mount Huang Sect, Qing Shui, the Moon-Changing Sword.

Frowning deeply at the sight of the Baegun Escort Agency's escorts, Qing Shui clicked his tongue and spoke.

“Tsk, can't you put away your swords quickly!”

At his words, the eyes of the ordinary escorts trembled, unsure of what to do.

The Mount Huang Sect was a massive force within the martial arts alliance.

For ordinary escorts, it was impossible not to be terrified.

At that moment, Do Jin-woo, staring at Qing Shui, spoke resolutely.

“...With the intruders breaking down the firmly closed gate, who could possibly remain calm?”

Qing Shui's eyebrows twitched.

“This arrogant old man dares to speak so freely about safety!”

A young Taoist behind Qing Shui shouted.

He was Song Xue, the top disciple of Qing Shui. He was the senior brother of Dou E'qi and one of the most outstanding disciples among the Songzi generation.

Song Xue was at the same peak of the highest level as Do Jin-woo, but he possessed far superior martial arts skills due to the significant difference in the level of the martial arts he had learned.

However, Do Jin-woo was not at all intimidated.

“I have no idea why the Taoists of Mount Huang would travel such a long distance from Anhui to here.”

But Do Jin-woo already knew the answer.

Although the Huangluo Escort Agency had contributed a large sum for Dou E'qi, it was unlikely that an elder of the Mount Huang Sect would move for just a lay disciple.

If an elder who was eyeing the position of the next sect leader got involved in an unwarranted incident, it could severely damage his reputation.

However, the fact that they were here meant only one thing.

‘...They must have been promised a greater fortune than the loss of reputation if they were to settle our agency.’

He had told Yu Shin-yun that the Mount Huang Sect would not easily move because he still believed they were one of the nine orthodox sects.

But this proved to be a mistake. These people were no different from corrupt officials driven by greed.

“With my beloved disciple's arm cut off by a vicious devil, how could I not come?”

“Ha, a devil? What a ridiculous story.”

When Qing Shui referred to Yu Shin-yun as a devil again, Do Jin-woo spoke in disbelief.

In response, Dou E'qi spoke.

“Hmph! When you attacked me treacherously, it was clearly a demonic technique! If it wasn't a demonic technique, do you think I would have lost to such a scoundrel!”

“It was just a clear difference in skill! To call it a demonic technique just because you lost to your opponent's martial arts is too despicable!”

Old Jianhuo, who had been watching, could not contain his astonishment at Dou E'qi's shameless statement.

“The alliance's mission to expel evil and destroy devils is not yet complete. If there is even a slight possibility that he is a devil, I have the right to verify it.”

Qing Shui, invoking the name of the martial arts alliance, pressured them.

“...Our Lord is very busy and has no time to meet you. Please leave now.”

Do Jin-woo, undaunted, issued an order to leave.

Their gazes clashed in the air.

After staring intently, Qing Shui shook his head and said.

“...To a brat who doesn't know his place and acts insolently, a stern punishment is the best solution.”

Swish!

Without anyone noticing, Qing Shui's sword was already in his hand.

“To dare insult an elder of the Great Mount Huang! Our sect will teach you a lesson today.”

He began to emit a cruel killing intent.

Swish!

In the next moment, Qing Shui's figure vanished like a wisp of mist, activating the Mount Huang Sect's secret technique, Yunhai Huanzong Bu (Cloud Sea Illusory Trace Step).

Before Old Daewoong and the other escorts could react, he was already close to Do Jin-woo.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

His sword, which fell in a sweeping arc, multiplied into dozens.

True to his nickname, Moon-Changing Sword, he was a master of illusory sword techniques.

Realizing this, Do Jin-woo quickly moved.

Crash!

He rolled awkwardly on the ground but managed to avoid the sword. A chilling sword mark was left where he had been.

To avoid harming the other escorts, Do Jin-woo quickly moved to the training ground.

“Vice Lord!”

Old Daewoong and the other escorts tried to help Do Jin-woo.

Swish!

“From this moment on, anyone who moves even slightly will die.”

Song Xue and Dou E'qi blocked their path.

Old Daewoong and Old Jianhuo could not move easily.

Song Xue, at the peak of the highest level, and the nine top disciples of the Mount Huang Sect, all at the high level of the peak, made it impossible for them to move.

A non-sparring sparring match was taking place on the training ground.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

“Grr!”

Every time Qing Shui's absolute sword technique of the Mount Huang Sect, Nayue Jianfa (Moon-Grabbing Sword Technique), was unleashed, Do Jin-woo's body was marked with large and small sword wounds.

Do Jin-woo also launched counterattacks with his sword, but Qing Shui easily evaded them. Do Jin-woo could not even cut a single piece of Qing Shui's clothing.

The gap was too significant.

As time passed, the training ground floor was stained red with Do Jin-woo's blood.

Qing Shui could easily have brought Do Jin-woo to the ground if he wanted to, but he did not. He wanted to make him suffer as much as possible and look pitiful.

After a considerable amount of time,

Clang!

Do Jin-woo's sword fell to the training ground floor. With disheveled hair and a body covered in blood, Do Jin-woo knelt on the ground.

Seeing this, Qing Shui approached him leisurely.

“If you want to live, bring your master here quickly.”

“...Rather... kill me...”

Do Jin-woo, speaking with great effort, gave an answer that Qing Shui had expected.

He looked very pleased at this moment.

“Then you must also be punished for having a poor master.”

He raised his sword high.

Swoosh!

Just as he was about to slash and cut off Do Jin-woo's arm,

Boom! Boom!

“Gasp!”

A massive explosion echoed.

In an instant, Qing Shui's sword clashed with someone else's sword.

The escorts and Taoists were all wide-eyed.

“...That's enough.”

Yu Shin-yun appeared, his eyes filled with killing intent.

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