Chapter 333 – Fear Ruling Over Fear (2)

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Black Martial Hall’s Outer Hall Master Hyeok Mu-ui normally had confidence in his external techniques.

 

The Iron Bone Vajra Method he had mastered made his bones harder than steel and his muscles more elastic than whale tendons. Ordinary swords and sabers couldn’t even wound him, and it had saved his life multiple times.

 

Hyeok Mu-ui was confident this time would be no different. But the moment he clashed with Dam-ho, he realized just how arrogant he had been.

 

CRASH!

 

The moment he collided with Dam-ho, his steel-like body suddenly caved in. All his bones shattered and his blood vessels burst from the tremendous pressure.

 

“Kreaaaak!”

 

Hyeok Mu-ui vomited blood and flew backward. From a single collision, he reached an irresistible state and his breath was cut off.

 

Dam-ho’s charging technique was no longer merely a movement technique. Through numerous fierce battles, Dam-ho’s charging technique had advanced further.

 

It became more destructive and fierce.

 

And when combined with the Violent Demon Energy, it was nothing short of a catastrophe.

 

Kwaaaaaa!

 

Violent energy swirled around Dam-ho’s body.

 

In an instant, dozens of Black Martial Hall martial artists were swept up by the violent energy and flung away.

 

By the time they hit the ground, they were already dead.

 

“This can’t be!”

 

Cho Gwan’s body trembled seeing that sight.

 

The Black Martial Hall he had painstakingly cultivated was collapsing. By a single person, Dam-ho.

 

Dam-ho was a ferocious tiger that had jumped into a flock of sheep. No matter how many sheep there were, they couldn’t oppose a tiger. Black Martial Hall’s martial artists died helplessly.

 

Watching his subordinates die, Cho Gwan’s eyes went wild.

 

“You bastard!”

 

He drew up all his internal energy and charged at Dam-ho.

 

Swish!

 

The saber at his waist radiated dazzling saber energy. A massive blade energy struck Dam-ho directly.

 

CRASH!

 

“Krek!”

 

It was Cho Gwan who was flung backward with the roar. The attacker himself suffered the recoil.

 

His palm holding the saber ached as if crushed entirely. The pain of striking a thick iron plate with bare hands made his face contort involuntarily.

 

The violent energy had burst at the moment the blade energy struck, instead delivering the blow.

 

As Cho Gwan stumbled backward, suddenly Dam-ho appeared through the explosion.

 

His hair whipping about, he charged forward. His body expanded instantly as he deployed his charging technique.

 

“Hyaaa!”

 

Cho Gwan shouted and swung his saber once more. An even more reinforced saber energy formed.

 

Zing!

 

But the rainbow-colored saber energy dissipated before it could even be fully unleashed by a single strike from Dam-ho’s fist.

 

It wasn’t an ordinary blow.

 

It was a Shattering Palm Strike.

 

“Krek!”

 

As Cho Gwan let out a suffocating groan, the saber he held shattered into pieces. Through the shards of glass-like blade fragments, his shocked face was visible.

 

Crash!

 

Dam-ho seized Cho Gwan by the collar and before he could react, deployed the Earth Shattering Strike.

 

His legs were uprooted from the earth like trees, and his body flipped in mid-air before crashing toward the ground.

 

“Krek!”

 

Cho Gwan belatedly thrashed, trying to escape Dam-ho’s grip. But Dam-ho’s hand held him like shackles, refusing to let go.

 

“Fist Demon!”

 

“Stop thrashing.”

 

That moment, the men in scarlet robes who had been observing moved to rescue Cho Gwan.

 

Phew phew phew!

 

Multiple streams of spear energy struck Dam-ho’s torso. Though the violent energy instantly arose to neutralize it, Dam-ho’s movement momentarily slowed.

 

The scarlet-robed men seized that gap and snatched Cho Gwan from Dam-ho.

 

It happened in the blink of an eye.

 

The scarlet-robed men retreated while protecting Cho Gwan. But Dam-ho didn’t let them go.

 

Swish!

 

Dam-ho’s fist extended like a whip.

 

It was a Single Yang Strike.

 

CRASH!

 

The man in the lead took the blow on his shoulder. From the short but intense strike, his shoulder caved in.

 

“Krek!”

 

The man’s face twisted.

 

He tried to deploy the Lifesaving Absolute Technique with his remaining intact arm. But in that moment, all he could see were Dam-ho’s cold eyes. Somehow Dam-ho’s torso had penetrated all the way to his chest.

 

CRASH!

 

With a roar, the man’s body was flung backward. His face and chest were crushed beyond recognition.

 

“Jin-won.”

 

“You bastard!”

 

The scarlet-robed men, instantly losing a comrade, raged. But before they could even fully express their anger, Dam-ho leaped among them.

 

A storm named Dam-ho consumed everything and destroyed it.

 

“Kreeeek!”

 

“Kek!”

 

Screams instantly burst forth.

 

“This can’t be!”

 

Nam Ju-gyeong, the leader of the scarlet-robed men, felt his eyes trembling.

 

He was a martial artist dispatched by the Demon Cult.

 

His mission was to support Black Martial Hall and seize Guizhou. He was among the upper echelon of the Demon Cult and possessed great confidence in his martial arts. He believed that within Guizhou Province, few could match him.

 

In reality, there was no martial artist in Guizhou Province who could compare to him. When attacking Golden Sand Sect and the White Merchant House, he and the Demon Cult martial artists supported Cho Gwan. But none became his equal. So his arrogance soared to the heavens. Until just moments ago, that is.

 

CRASH!

 

“Kraaaak!”

 

Another roar echoed and his subordinate became a corpse flying away.

 

In an instant, half of the forces he had brought were killed by Dam-ho. It was truly unbelievable destructive power.

 

‘Half of the Seven Great Demons died at his hands. It’s really true,’ Nam Ju-gyeong bit his lips.

 

He realized there was no chance of victory in direct confrontation. He couldn’t handle an opponent the Seven Great Demons couldn’t overcome.

 

‘Abandon Black Martial Hall.’

 

The Demon Cult had supported Black Martial Hall hoping Guizhou Province would fall into chaos, not out of any special relationship. After all, they were merely using each other out of necessity, with no loyalty between them.

 

Nam Ju-gyeong thought he had done his duty by saving Cho Gwan’s life once.

 

‘I’ll escape.’

 

The moment he hardened this resolve, a tremendous pressure descended on him. It was Dam-ho.

 

Nam Ju-gyeong fired twelve spear energy strikes at Dam-ho in succession and without confirming the results, turned his body to flee.

 

Thud!

 

But before taking even three or four steps, his body froze. Unaware, Dam-ho’s hand had seized his collar.

 

“Krek!”

 

Even while gasping, Nam Ju-gyeong unleashed spear energy like lightning at Dam-ho’s chest.

 

CRASH!

 

“Kek!”

 

But before the spear energy could extend even halfway, Dam-ho twisted his wrist. His bone snapped like bamboo and punctured through his skin.

 

“Kyaaaah! Fist Demon!”

 

Splash!

 

At that moment, Nam Ju-gyeong’s head flew off. Dam-ho’s fist had struck.

 

The headless body convulsed briefly before collapsing like a log.

 

“Uu!”

 

Watching the Demon Cult’s dispatched martial artists all perish instantly, Cho Gwan wore a blank expression.

 

Dam-ho walked toward him.

 

Covered in blood, his appearance didn’t look human at all.

 

To Cho Gwan’s eyes, Dam-ho was a demon god itself.

 

“Uuu! Don’t approach!”

 

But Dam-ho paid no attention and continued walking. The surviving Black Martial Hall martial artists parted to create a path.

 

They had long lost their will to fight. They couldn’t dream of opposing Dam-ho and merely waited for this nightmare to end.

 

Desperate, Cho Gwan shouted with bloodshot eyes:

 

“Why are you doing this to me? What grievance do we have? Whatever happens here has nothing to do with you anyway, does it? So why cause bloodshed here in Guizhou Province? The heavens will never forgive you for this.”

 

“The heavens.”

 

“Yes! Don’t you feel shame before the heavens for being a disciple of Mount Hua Sect, a prestigious orthodox sect?”

 

Instantly Dam-ho’s eyes turned even colder. Cho Gwan’s words didn’t affect him at all. Seeing this, Cho Gwan changed tactics.

 

“No, I misspoke. Forget it. Instead, I’ll give you money. How much do you want? I’ve collected tens of thousands of gold from the White Merchant House and Golden Sand Gate. I’ll give it all.”

 

“Money?”

 

“Yes! Tens of thousands of gold is an enormous amount that you and Mount Hua could live comfortably on forever without working. You can keep any woman you desire and enjoy all the world’s glory. What do you think?”

 

Dam-ho answered with just a single word. But Cho Gwan interpreted it as agreement and gained more courage.

 

“Rather, why don’t we join hands? With me, we could conquer Guizhou Province, even a few neighboring ones. At that level, you could enjoy glory for generations. You don’t even need to move directly. I’ll handle all the dirty work. You just enjoy the glory.”

 

Cho Gwan’s voice grew increasingly louder.

 

Initially he was speaking carelessly to change Dam-ho’s mind, but as he continued, he became convinced by his own words.

 

Dam-ho, already ostracized by the world for his nickname Fist Demon, seemed ready to be tempted by a more appealing offer. With Dam-ho on his side, there was nothing to fear. Even the world’s Demon Cult feared Dam-ho. With him backing him, he could easily control several cities around Guizhou.

 

Cho Gwan became intoxicated by his own logic. He extended his hand toward Dam-ho.

 

“Why did you master martial arts? Wasn’t it to enjoy wealth and glory? Join hands with me. We shall be… no, I will offer complete loyalty. Black Martial Hall will serve you faithfully.”

 

His tone immediately changed.

 

Thump!

 

And he knelt down without hesitation.

 

At Cho Gwan’s appearance, the surviving Black Martial Hall martial artists all knelt in unison.

 

“We will serve faithfully.”

 

“Please lead us.”

 

Two hundred people or so shouted in unison as if by agreement. Their voices echoed through all of West Alley.

 

‘He’ll accept. He must accept.’

 

Cho Gwan muttered this internally while bowing his head.

 

It was a gamble with everything at stake. With high risk came sweet reward.

 

Cho Gwan raised his voice one final time.

 

“Black Martial Hall offers itself to Great Hero. Please lead us.”

 

“Please lead us.”

 

Their voices echoed through West Alley again. But Dam-ho’s answer they wanted didn’t come.

 

Unable to wait longer, Cho Gwan carefully raised his head. Then he saw Dam-ho looking down at him.

 

Contrary to Cho Gwan’s expectation of seeing greed, Dam-ho’s face showed no emotion.

 

An ominous premonition seized Cho Gwan and he hurriedly opened his mouth.

 

“Gr-Great Hero! Listen to what I’m saying…”

 

CRASH!

 

At that moment, a roar echoed through West Alley.

 

It felt like thunder crashing down. But the roar didn’t come from the sky.

 

It was the sound of Dam-ho’s fist striking Cho Gwan’s body.

 

Dam-ho’s fist pierced through Cho Gwan’s chest.

 

He stared in disbelief, looking alternately at his chest and Dam-ho. Until his final breath, he couldn’t understand Dam-ho.

 

“Kuk! Why… why?”

 

“Do I look like I need anything besides these two fists?”

 

“That…”

 

Cho Gwan’s body trembled at Dam-ho’s answer, then he breathed his last.

 

Dam-ho withdrew his fist from Cho Gwan’s chest and gazed at the Black Martial Hall martial artists.

 

“Kyaaaah!”

 

“Save me!”

 

At that moment, the kneeling Black Martial Hall martial artists scattered in all directions like grasshoppers.

 

Dam-ho’s eyes grew cold.

 

Filth must be cleaned, not held hands with.