## Chapter 1210 – 1210. The Path To Ascendance
*Kiiiiiiing*
Euntaemang’s massive, three-meter-long saber vibrated and howled. His inner energy enveloped the blade, swirling into a whirlwind.
“Wind-Thrusting Swift Strike!”
Euntaemang roared, swinging the enormous saber at me. Shouting out the name of his technique like that was pretty lame, but its power was undeniable.
A massive wind slash ripped through the ground, hurtling towards me.
*Woo-oong.*
I raised my sword, now imbued with azure energy.
*Demon-Slaying Sword Style, Ten Demonic Slashes.* I swung my sword in a cross, sending out a cross-shaped energy wave. The cross-shaped energy collided with Euntaemang’s wind slash in mid-air. My cross slash was the victor. It sliced through the wind, continuing towards Euntaemang.
Euntaemang didn’t retreat.
Instead, he planted his thick leg forward and charged. The blue cross slash reached his body. It failed to inflict any wounds. The armor he wore absorbed the energy.
Euntaemang reached me and swung his sword down from above. I blocked the attack by holding my sword horizontally. His strength was immense, befitting his massive frame.
“Hahaha! Your legs are trembling after just one exchange! You seemed so confident, I thought you had some skill, but it was all a bluff! I’ll make good use of your Five-Yin Squad!”
“…”
I bit my lip.
Euntaemang’s attack wasn’t the problem. An urge to use the Thunder Heaven Style was rising within me.
‘I want to fry this bastard with the Thunder Heaven Style… But… I have to hold back. Yeom Guseok can’t use lightning energy. If I use the Thunder Heaven Style now, all my efforts will be for nothing.’
*Demon-Slaying Sword Style, Reverse Demon Pursuit.*
I explosively channeled my strength, thrusting my sword upwards. His massive saber was deflected upwards. I was about to follow up with another attack.
‘Aim for the shoulder.’
Instead of retreating, Euntaemang stomped his foot powerfully. His black armor reacted, generating a shockwave. Caught in the shockwave, I was sent flying backwards, rolling across the arena.
Euntaemang leaped high. The massive saber flashed as it descended. I jumped to the side, dodging Euntaemang’s attack. *Thud!* The massive saber slammed into the ground.
“Hahahaha! You jump around like a startled grasshopper!!”
Euntaemang pulled his saber out of the ground, mocking me.
“Hahaha! As expected of our leader’s wit!”
“To laugh even during a duel… Our leader is truly amazing!”
“Leader! Crush that arrogant bastard!”
His excited subordinates shouted. Euntaemang listened to their cheers with a smile, as if it were only natural.
“Hansupyeong of the Water’s Edge Gate. You’re quite skilled. I’ll make you an offer. Become my subordinate. Then I’ll forgive your past insolence.”
“I’d rather die than become your subordinate.”
“Hahaha! To throw away your last chance! I admire your spirit! But, you’ll face a miserable death!”
Euntaemang gathered his inner energy. A blue haze rose around his entire body. He charged at me. He was much faster than before.
‘It’ll be difficult with just the Demon-Slaying Sword Style. *Moment*.’
In my slowed perception, I saw it clearly. That wasn’t the power of martial arts, but the power of an artifact. The armor Euntaemang wore was using his inner energy to enhance his physical abilities.
Euntaemang raised his heavy saber and swung it at me.
I jumped to Euntaemang’s side, dodging the attack. *Screeeech!* Friction occurred under my soles. The soles of my feet were burning.
‘*Moment*.’
I used *Moment* consecutively. I dashed towards Euntaemang. The energy-infused blade sliced through Euntaemang’s shoulder. The armor tore, and blood splattered. The attack was shallow due to the armor.
“A meaningless struggle!!”
My accelerated body felt heavy. But I could accelerate further.
‘*Moment*.’
With the third *Moment’s* acceleration, I spun my body. I imbued my sword with centrifugal force.
‘*Moment*.’
I confirmed my direction with the fourth *Moment*.
*Demon-Slaying Sword Style, Rakshasa’s Returning Flash.*
The sword flashed, becoming a streak of blue light that sliced through Euntaemang’s armor. Euntaemang couldn’t even react. He couldn’t even grasp which direction I had moved.
*Clang!*
His armor shattered, and blood splattered everywhere. At the same time, the sword I received from the Mouth Demon Society broke, spinning in the air.
*Thud.*
Euntaemang’s knees buckled.
“Le, Leader!!!”
“Pr, prepare the Iron Fortress Formation!!”
I dashed towards Euntaemang. I grabbed his hair and held the broken blade to his throat.
“Don’t move. Euntaemang isn’t dead yet.”
“Khuuu…”
Euntaemang made a gurgling sound. Blood gushed from his mouth. He looked to be in danger, but thanks to his armor, he was still alive.
His subordinates fell silent. They exchanged glances, looking at Euntaemang.
“Do, don’t act rashly…!”
Euntaemang’s shout stopped his subordinates. The surroundings became as quiet as if cold water had been poured over them.
“Good that you’ve quieted down. Euntaemang. I won this duel. Do you acknowledge it?”
“I acknowledge it… Let me go. If you kill me, my subordinates won’t stand idly by.”
“I have no intention of killing you. Since I won the duel, the Toyang Gate is now mine. Keep your promise.”
“I, I acknowledge you as the leader of the Toyang Gate.”
Euntaemang’s tone became respectful. He probably wasn’t truly submitting. But this should settle the situation for now. Things were going well.
“You, there.”
I pointed at a nearby subordinate.
“M, me?”
“It’s an order. Bring me the Five-Yin Pill.”
“Th, that’s…”
He glanced at Euntaemang. I smacked the back of Euntaemang’s head.
“Euntaemang is no longer the leader of the Toyang Gate. He lost the duel and acknowledged me as the leader. I am the leader of the Toyang Gate.”
“Y, yes, Leader.”
The subordinate carefully brought the Five-Yin Pill and handed it to me. I put the Five-Yin Pill in my pocket. By the way, this Five-Yin Pill was a spirit pill I obtained as an attendance reward from the Heavenly River System.
I stepped on Euntaemang’s back. Everyone around me looked at me with anxious eyes.
“Kneel. I am your new leader, Hansupyeong.”
“We greet our Leader!”
They immediately knelt on the ground and bowed their heads.
The logic of power worked well in the underworld sects.
“Good. Now that’s more like it. But we need to finish this properly.”
I kicked Euntaemang’s body. He rolled on the ground, groaning in pain. I applied some emergency treatment to his body by pressing his pressure points. He couldn’t die yet.
“Do you remember what you said earlier?”
“…Yes. I already acknowledged you as the leader. The Toyang Gate… is yours. Please spare me.”
“I’ll spare you. You’re useful. But that’s not what I asked. You clearly said this to me. You said you’d cut off my arms and legs and throw them into the pond to give the fish a special treat. You know what I said in response… right?”
Euntaemang’s face turned ashen.
“I, I was wrong. I swear my loyalty, so please… have mercy!”
“A man’s word.”
“Great hero! I beg you! I’ll give you all my hidden wealth!”
I pointed the broken blade at Euntaemang’s throat.
“A man’s word.”
“…is worth more than a thousand pieces of gold.”
“Remember this, I, Hansupyeong, am a man of my word, a real man, Hansupyeong.”
I imbued the broken blade with inner energy and threw it at Euntaemang’s crotch.
Euntaemang opened his mouth wide and screamed.
“Aaaaaaaaargh!!”
His loud scream must have echoed throughout the entire city.
“Euntaemang.”
“Gaaaack! Aaaaaaargh!”
“Euntaemang. Listen carefully.”
“Aaaaaaaaaaargh!”
“You better listen carefully. It won’t do you any good to displease me. Do you want to be gang-raped by your subordinates like a dog?”
“…”
“From now on, obey me absolutely. If you don’t want to be gang-raped by your subordinates like a dog. Do you understand?”
“I, I’ll be loyal. Please, not that…”
“I’ll be watching.”
I smacked Euntaemang’s head and looked around. Eyes filled with fear were directed at me. It seemed that my intimidation was successful.
“Today is a joyous day. We can’t miss out on alcohol and women on a day like this. We’re going to a brothel today. Prepare it.”
The subordinates’ eyes lit up. Alcohol and women. Their eyes sparkled at the mouth-watering words.
“Yes! Leader!”
I ordered the subordinates to treat Euntaemang and entered Euntaemang’s room. I started searching through things.
‘Found it.’
I found hidden money and ledgers. I opened a ledger and skimmed through it. Transactions with the White Mountain Merchant Guild were recorded.
This could bring down the White Mountain Merchant Guild! That wasn’t the case at all. The White Mountain Merchant Guild wasn’t so lax that it would collapse from a single ledger.
‘Still, I can put some pressure on them like in the original story.’
I wasn’t going to use it myself anyway.
I just needed to give it to Cheon Yuwoon. Then Jegalsun would know what to do with it.
‘Yeom Guseok’s work is done. Now… I need to take care of Seong Yujin’s matter.’
I was tired, so I decided to rest for a bit.
***
The next day.
After enjoying a pleasant night with the ace courtesans of the best brothel in White Mountain City, the Orchid Pavilion, I left the brothel in the afternoon. Before leaving, I took a bath to wash off the lingering scent of makeup and headed to the inn.
“Number 123. You weren’t here last night. Where were you?”
Cheon Yuwoon asked me. I confidently replied.
“There was an underworld sect called the Toyang Gate. I took it over.”
“…What? You took over an underworld sect?”
Cheon Yuwoon looked at me in disbelief.
“Not a bad choice,” Jegalsun said. He was sitting at a desk, looking through documents. I glanced at them and saw that they contained information about White Mountain City.
“Underworld sects are sensitive to information. Information is crucial for illegal activities. The Toyang Gate is the only underworld sect in White Mountain City. If used well, we can obtain useful information.”
I ignored Jegalsun’s words and handed the ledger to Cheon Yuwoon.
“Number 123. What’s this?”
“It’s a ledger I found in the Toyang Gate leader’s room. It seems to be related to the White Mountain Merchant Guild.”
“Oh, really? We’ve caught a big fish.”
Cheon Yuwoon received it with joy, and Jegalsun jumped up from his chair and approached Cheon Yuwoon.
“A ledger… Interesting. Let me see it too.”
I didn’t care whether they looked at the ledger or not.
“Where are the others?”
“Number 151 is monitoring the Heavenly Doctor’s Alliance and checking their movements. Number 567 and Number 290 went out to report. They’re probably meeting with the instructor at the agreed location by now.”
“No significant progress, it seems.”
“We’re still in the information gathering stage. We’ll start moving in earnest tomorrow. The current plan is for me to personally visit the White Mountain Merchant Guild and negotiate.”
“I see.”
“Aren’t you curious about what I’ll negotiate?”
“You’ll handle it well.”
After answering, I turned around.
“Number 123. Do you have other business?”
“I’ll be staying at the Toyang Gate from now on. I’ll bring any useful information I find.”
Without any lingering attachment, I left the inn.