Chapter 122
“I’m going to kill every single one of them,” Gang Reyong said coldly, as if merely stating a fact.
“…” Jian Ruxue could only sigh in helpless resignation.
In the end, she was nothing more than a follower of Gang Reyong, powerless to go against his orders. The only resistance she had left was in her thoughts.
As that realization settled in, her mind drifted to the past…
[Flashback of Jian Ruxue]
To the beautiful mountains and blooming sakura trees, to that peaceful, serene world she once knew.
Back to her childhood, training alongside her senior brothers and sister.
She had always been a quiet child, but one brimming with curiosity. She even had a pet parrot she adored and fed with care. It was her joy, her light, but that happiness had been short-lived, just like the parrot.
She remembered being deeply depressed, until she met her master, who responded to her grief with a single, simple sentence:
“Such is life.”
After that, she spent years in seclusion, immersing herself in the teachings of Mount Hua.
When she finally emerged, the world had changed, or perhaps she had.
As she grew older, she became numb to the society around her.
Everyone seemed to harbor cruelty in their hearts.
Even those closest to her were driven by their own desires, some willing to betray one another for the sake of gain.
Over time, she learned to accept this reality. But deep within, she harbored no such desire herself.
For her, the teachings of Mount Hua were everything and even now, they remained deeply engraved in her heart:
Help the needy. Do not bully the weak. Protect them. And most importantly, cherish what you have, no matter how little, and be grateful for it.
[Flashback End]
“Sigh, child…” Jian Ruxue muttered quietly, her voice laced with defeat. “I only hope you don’t reach the point of no return, consumed by so much anger that it leads to your own destruction.”
While Jian Ruxue was lost in her own thoughts, Gang Reyong remained unmoved. Without hesitation, he connected with the Abyss of Death and effortlessly erased the consciousness of the two First-Stage Martial Artists.
It was as easy as breathing.
Using the illusion ability granted by his Will, the task posed no challenge. Everyone had a vulnerability hidden deep within their minds, and with his illusions, he could exploit those cracks, again and again, until their sanity collapsed.
Once the deed was done, Gang Reyong raised his head and spoke in a voice devoid of warmth:
“Arise.”
The void before him twisted and distorted in response.
From the distorted void, three figures emerged, shrouded in an eerie darkness.
The first two were the Fourth and Seventh Elders. The last was Jin Hyuk. Each of them radiated the terrifying presence of a First-Stage Martial Artist.
***
Elsewhere, three elders shot through the skies, their robes fluttering in the wind as they moved at full speed. One of them suddenly felt the ground tremble beneath them and muttered in horror:
“What should we do now?”
“Obviously, we return to the faction,” another replied flatly.
“Right. Even that monster shouldn’t be able to breach our faction.”
“And even if he does… so what? What can he possibly accomplish? The moment he steps foot inside, he’ll be killed on the spot.”
Saying this, the three elders’ pace rapidly increased, and they finally came out of the place and passed by villages after villages.
However, these villages were a little different.
Screams echoed constantly through the air, each one sending a shiver down the spine of anyone who heard them.
These were the villages under the control of the Shadow Faction.
The three elders paid no attention and continued forward.
However, when Gang Reyong saw these villages, he fell silent.
There was a heavy silence and an oppressive atmosphere. Common people were being relentlessly tortured, shown no mercy.
Even the villages under the Demonic Faction hadn’t been this cruel. As long as they paid their tribute, they were allowed to live.
But here, it was different. The common people were treated as slaves, and even the slightest mistake resulted in brutal punishment.
They were worked to death and even in death, their bodies were butchered and fed to their children, so the young could grow strong.
Gang Reyong watched this with a chilling calm.
But Jian Ruxue could not remain composed. Though she didn’t move, her presence radiated killing intent.
“Can I act, Gang Reyong?”
Gang Reyong gave a silent nod.
“Kill them all and I mean everyone tied to the Shadow Faction. Cut them to pieces. Let only their screams resound through heaven and earth.”
“Very well,” Jian Ruxue replied with a nod, then walked forward at a steady pace, her face expressionless.
Her steps faltered slightly as she approached a man whipping a group of farmers without mercy. The more they toiled, the more they were beaten, whipped endlessly for no reason at all.
The man noticed her immediately, a lecherous grin curling on his lips.
Swish!
His arms and legs were severed in an instant.
“Eh?” he muttered in confusion, until his fingers were broken one by one, and his family jewels were crushed.
Jian Ruxue then grabbed a rod, pierced it straight through his mouth and came out from the other side, and drove it into the ground, merciless and ruthless.
He screamed, still alive, writhing in pure pain.
By this point, the others had already noticed Jian Ruxue.
But soon, what began as a scene of horror turned into a nightmare, the last nightmare for everyone who had once worn a cruel grin while torturing these people.
Gang Reyong looked at the suffering common folk and spoke coldly:
“Even if we kill these people and even the entire Shadow Faction, another group will take their place, or they’ll be mercilessly slaughtered by bandits. I have to change things… I—I…” He stared at his clenched hand. He wanted to feel anger but couldn’t resolve himself, there was a chilling calm in his mind.
“I must take control of the Shadow Faction for this to work.”
In that moment, Gang Reyong’s determination solidified. His goal was clear; now, the only question was how to orchestrate it.
A tiny man had set foot in the Shadow Faction, ready to drag one of the three strongest forces into hell and rule over it.
The only question is, will this spark cause a terrifying flame that will burn eternally or be extinguished by the wind.