Ch. 15

More than ten days had already passed since the Jeongshimdan members had been training deep in the mountains.

The members were physically and mentally exhausted from the repetitive training and the daily mountain treks.

Like any other day, the Twin River Elder stood before the members.

His voice was tinged with a strange excitement, more so than usual.

"Today, each group will hunt a mountain beast. Think of it as an extension of your training and cooperate with your group members to carry it out. We will compare the number and size of the catches, and the group that comes in first will receive a special benefit."

At the Twin River Elder's words, the members all cheered in unison.

They seemed more excited about the word 'hunt' than the benefit.

It was enough to be excited just to get away from the same daily routine.

The thirty members split into groups and went deep into the mountains, each setting out to find their prey.

Group Five, to which Qin Jiang belonged, pushed through the undergrowth of the mountain foothills, with Qin Jiang and Peng Yuyan at the center.

Even Geum Jeongrip, who usually followed silently behind, couldn't hide his excitement today, his face flushed.

"This is my first proper hunt. Let's eat our fill of meat for dinner tonight!"

Eon Huirak laughed and patted Geum Jeongrip's shoulder.

"Don't get your hopes up too high. If your expectations are too high, you'll only be more disappointed."

Having been together from morning to night for ten days, it was a sufficient period for them to become like brothers.

After deciding to speak comfortably with each other, they found out that Peng Yuyan and Eon Huirak were two years older than Qin Jiang, and Geum Jeongrip was one year older.

Qin Jiang listened to the group members' conversation and took the lead, searching for tracks.

In fact, hunting was not unfamiliar to him.

When he lived in the mountains with his father, they would hunt when there was nothing else to eat.

Qin Jiang paused for a moment and pointed to a clear footprint on the dirt ground.

"This way. Judging by the footprint, I think it might be a roe deer."

Sure enough, after going a little further, they saw a roe deer quenching its thirst in a shallow stream.

Peng Yuyan and Eon Huirak exchanged glances. Eon Huirak stepped forward first and said,

"We'll slowly drive it over, so you get ready to catch it."

"I understand."

As the two began to move slowly in sync, Qin Jiang also held his breath and picked up a stone.

Geum Jeongrip also followed behind with a rather tense expression.

Baekri Myeong, who had fallen behind, stood with his arms crossed, a dissatisfied look on his face, kicking at a clump of grass with the tip of his foot and muttering.

"What kind of training is this... A martial artist is not a hunter, this is utterly trivial."

Qin Jiang paid no attention to his complaints.

That complaint, which had started on the first day of entering the mountain, had not rested for a single day.

The sound of a clump of grass being violently pushed over was heard, as if Peng Yuyan and Eon Huirak had started to drive the roe deer.

Qin Jiang lowered his posture, felt the presences around him, and quietly held his breath.

One, two, three—

As Qin Jiang counted to three in his mind, a roe deer shot out from between the bushes.

Qin Jiang quickly threw the stone in his hand at the roe deer.

The stone, imbued with a green-tinged energy, flew sharply and accurately struck the roe deer's head.

The roe deer collapsed into the bushes with a loud noise.

"Caught it!"

"Brother Qin Jiang is truly amazing. Where on earth did you learn this?"

Peng Yuyan shouted with joy, and Geum Jeongrip clapped his hands with an admiring face.

Qin Jiang spoke lightly, as if it were no big deal.

"Because I lived in the mountains. Even if I'm not good at it, I can do as much as others."

At Qin Jiang's words, Peng Yuyan showed curiosity and asked,

"Did your father perhaps make a living as a hunter?"

"That's not it, but there were times when he had to. I would force myself to follow him then."

Memories of staying in the mountains with his father came to Qin Jiang's mind.

His father was not a hunter, but he was good at hunting.

People around him often told him that he should be a hunter instead of a porter.

His father always gave the same answer then,

"The mountain has its own laws. The mountain takes care of us, so I too must maintain order."

When he was young, he didn't understand his father's words and would ask again.

Because, if you hunt, you get meat, and back then, he just wanted to eat delicious meat every day.

To him, his father would say with a smile,

"It's just that. This father of yours prefers to live as a porter than to see blood."

'If only I had insisted he become a hunter then, would things not have turned out this way?'

It was a sharp gaze that woke Qin Jiang from his reverie.

When he turned his head, Baekri Myeong was sneering and being sarcastic.

"Are you so proud of catching one? How arrogant."

Geum Jeongrip frowned and grumbled softly.

"Young Master Baekri, can't you just spend a day like today with a smile?"

"Shut up! Do you think a guy like you could even talk to me if you weren't in the same group as me?!"

Peng Yuyan and Eon Huirak looked at each other with troubled expressions.

Although Geum Jeongrip's family was severely lacking compared to the rest, he was still a member of the same group.

They were living face to face all day long, so how could such harsh words come out?

Geum Jeongrip's face turned red, and he could be seen gritting his teeth.

Qin Jiang watched the two for a moment and then opened his mouth calmly.

"Apologize."

At Qin Jiang's calm tone, Baekri Myeong shouted even more irritably.

"Why should I! Who are you to order me around?!"

"If you won't apologize, I'll leave you behind."

Baekri Myeong glanced once at Qin Jiang, then ignored his words and turned his body.

As Qin Jiang really turned his back on him and moved away with the group members, Baekri Myeong's anger flared up, and he kicked a tree root protruding from the ground.

"Damn it!"

After complaining for a long time even after the group members had disappeared, Baekri Myeong suddenly looked around and found the tracks of a small animal that had scattered in a different direction.

After hesitating for a moment, Baekri Myeong muttered quietly.

"Right. Even without you, I can catch this much by myself!"

He would catch the prey by himself and show the group members what he was made of.

Baekri Myeong slowly walked deep into the forest, moving away from the rest of the group members except for Qin Jiang.

Although moving alone was somewhat unsettling, considering his bruised pride from a little while ago, he could take this much risk.

"Damn it, I'll crush that arrogant face of yours nicely!"

However, it wasn't long before Baekri Myeong realized that hunting was not as easy as he had thought.

The rabbit he was chasing, as if it knew someone was following it, began to run at a fast speed.

Becoming desperate, Baekri Myeong ran recklessly towards the rabbit without thinking.

"Wait! You! Stop!"

However, there was no way Baekri Myeong, who was not used to hunting, could properly chase a nimble rabbit in the dense undergrowth.

With every long stride, bushes and branches got tangled,

and the ground under his feet became increasingly soft and slippery.

The rabbit leaped here and there, crossing through the bushes, and then suddenly changed direction and disappeared down a steep slope.

However, in Baekri Myeong's mind, there was only the thought, 'I can't lose the rabbit'. In that moment,

Thud—!

The ground he stepped on seemed to collapse. Baekri Myeong lost his balance and fell forward.

He quickly reached out to grab something, but all his fingertips touched were clumps of dirt and gravel.

"Aack!"

Baekri Myeong helplessly rolled down the steep slope. Sharp rocks, bushes, and branches mercilessly scratched and tore at his body.

By the time he came to his senses, he was already slammed onto the ground at the bottom of the slope. His whole body ached and throbbed.

Baekri Myeong endured the pain and tried to slowly get up.

But a hot pain shot up from his right ankle.

"Ack!"

Unable to bear the pain, he gritted his teeth and sat down on the ground.

A feeling of resentment surged, wondering why he had to suffer like this.

"Damn it! Damn it...!"

Baekri Myeong, enraged at his situation, slammed his fists on the ground.

At that moment, someone's voice was heard from above.

"Baekri Myeong!"

The owner of the voice was Qin Jiang.

The fact that he had been caught in this state by Qin Jiang of all people made him even more resentful.

Baekri Myeong shouted irritably.

"Don't come! I don't need your help!"

But Qin Jiang ignored Baekri Myeong's words and skillfully came down the slope.

Qin Jiang, who had quickly approached, furrowed his brow slightly and examined Baekri Myeong's condition.

"Don't move."

"I'll take care of it myself, didn't I tell you to get lost!"

"Be quiet. I'm just rolling up your clothes."

"Ugh! This is your fault!"

The entire foot was swollen blue.

Qin Jiang clicked his tongue, then tore his own clothes and pressed them against Baekri Myeong's shin.

Qin Jiang, who was looking around, turned his body and disappeared into a nearby bush.

Qin Jiang quickly scanned the surroundings to find the necessary medicinal herbs in the nearby bushes.

He pushed aside the damp and dark bushes and went a little deeper.

It would be good if there was a medicinal herb that could relieve pain or reduce fever.

As Qin Jiang looked around, a familiar plant came into view.

'Found it.'

Fortunately, it was a medicinal herb he had used a few times. Since he had to use the root, something hard hit Qin Jiang's fingertips as he was digging in the dirt.

Qin Jiang paused and dug the dirt a little more carefully.

A stone slab, faintly revealed in the dirt, was visible.

Before taking out the stone slab, he looked around once and carefully took it out; it was a small stone slab the size of his palm.

On the stone slab, a very old and faint inscription and an exquisite pattern were engraved.

Heavenly Demon Returns to the Void

Demonic Star Opens the Path

'This is...!'

Qin Jiang's eyes widened. It was because he remembered the story Geum Jeongrip had told on the day they entered the mountain.

The secret grotto where the remnants of the defeated Demonic Cult had hidden their treasures.

It looked like an object related to the Heavenly Demon's Secret Grotto.

Qin Jiang, who was quietly examining the stone slab, hid it deep in his robes at the sound of someone calling him from a distance.

'I should keep this a secret for now.'

Qin Jiang covered the dirt again, then picked up the medicinal herb he had pulled out and stood up.

At that moment.

Shushuk! Pak!

A throwing knife flew and stuck right next to where Qin Jiang was standing.

"!!"

As soon as he quickly lowered his body, a masked assassin shot out from between the bushes behind him like lightning.

Qin Jiang instinctively twisted his body to avoid the sword the assassin swung.

The opponent gave no room and ducked again, aiming deeply for Qin Jiang's side.

Swish!

Qin Jiang unfolded the Heavenly Net of No Trace and quickly widened the distance between them.

A sharp sword energy grazed his hair, narrowly missing.

"You rat-like bastard!"

The assassin shot back in a cold voice.

Judging by the sharp energy flowing from his body, he was a greater master than the ones who had come to the thatched-roof cottage where he had lived with his father.

The assassin twisted his sword and thrust it at Qin Jiang again.

The internal energy emanating from the tip of the sword cut through the wind and rushed fiercely.

Chaeng! Kwwaaang!

Qin Jiang quickly drew his sword and blocked the assassin's attack.

A roar spread as the intense internal energies collided.

"Who sent you?"

When Qin Jiang asked, the assassin, instead of answering, ducked again and swung his sword.

This time, he changed the path of his sword more cunningly, aiming for Qin Jiang's vital points in succession.

Chaeng! Chaeng! Chaeng!

Several exchanges occurred in an instant. The surrounding area, which had been full of bushes, was completely cut down by the sword energy, leaving the area bare.

"Shut up and die!"

The assassin pulled back his body and quickly threw another throwing knife from his robes.

Hwiik- Shushuk!

Qin Jiang hurriedly swung his sword to deflect the three throwing knives that came flying in succession.

However, not missing that opening, the assassin dug into Qin Jiang's blind spot. In his hand, instead of a sword, was a red-lit poison needle.

The assassin suddenly leaped forward and shot the poison needle at Qin Jiang's neck.

"This is the end!"

Qin Jiang gritted his teeth.

An unavoidable distance.

What should I do?

The fleeting moment as the poison needle was shot felt as long as an eternity.

I don't want to die.

Why?

Because I haven't finished what I need to finish yet.

I can't die until I uncover the truth of my father's death.

Therefore, I cannot forget everything like my mother.

Qin Jiang finally realized.

If his mother's heartlessness was a state of no-thought, having forgotten everything,

then his heartlessness was not forgetting until the very end.

Never letting go.

Only moving forward for the goal.

That too was heartlessness.

In an instant, the condensed energy in Qin Jiang's body exploded out.

Kuo-oh-oh!

The assassin, who was closing the distance, instinctively pulled his body back at the overwhelming energy of unknown origin.

Qin Jiang did not miss that fleeting opening.

Qin Jiang's figure soared into the air and disappeared like a shadow.

This sword is heartless, so it will never be broken.

Demon-Slaying Heartless Sword, Third Form

Heartless Flash

Qin Jiang's sword fiercely dug into the assassin's back like a raging lightning bolt.

If Baekri Seom's Heartless Flash was a sword that quietly cut through heaven and earth, then Qin Jiang's sword was the sword of a destroyer that destroyed everything.

Chwaak!

The assassin's black clothes were torn long, and blood spurted out.

The assassin let out a groan and staggered, collapsing.

He had deliberately left him alive to find out who was behind it.

Qin Jiang pointed the sharp tip of his sword at the assassin's neck and asked coldly,

"I'll ask again. Who sent you?"

(End of Chapter)