Chapter 1542 – 1542. The Ascent To The Light
The Dokgo Clan.
Once renowned as the foremost family under the heavens, the Dokgo Clan was now in a state of decline.
A family with a vague power, larger than a small sect but smaller than a prestigious one.
The Dokgo Clan always yearned to ascend to greater heights.
Dokgo Cheongha, the young mistress of the Dokgo Clan, had possessed a talent for martial arts since childhood. She was a genius. With that talent, she overwhelmed her male siblings and seized the position of young mistress.
She would one day become the head of the Dokgo Clan. However, the current state of the Dokgo Clan did not please her. Their power was too small. Even when trying to expand their influence, they had to be mindful of the Martial Alliance. The Martial Alliance had continuously kept the Dokgo Clan in check. This was due to the fact that one of the Dokgo Clan’s blood relatives had caused a bloodbath in the past.
‘At this rate, even if I become the head, the Dokgo Clan will not become the greatest martial arts family.’
As she fretted, an opportunity arose.
The war between the Martial Alliance and the Demonic Cult had broken out. The Martial Alliance did not want the Dokgo Clan’s help. They believed that the Martial Alliance’s power alone was sufficient, even without the Dokgo Clan. However, the Beggars’ Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects at the heart of the Martial Alliance, had a different opinion.
The Beggars’ Sect secretly approached the Dokgo Clan.
An old beggar with seven knots on his belt, signifying a Beggars’ Sect elder, had come to them.
So Ong-gae. A beggar of the Beggars’ Sect, famous for wandering the Jianghu. The Dokgo Clan welcomed him. Although he was a beggar, he was an elder of the Beggars’ Sect. He was a master they could not ignore.
The senior members of the Dokgo Clan welcomed him.
“So Ong-gae! We have heard much of your fame. Welcome to the Dokgo Clan.”
“I did not come to the Dokgo Clan to be welcomed. I have a proposal for the Dokgo Clan.”
Dokgo Han, the current head of the Dokgo Clan, cautiously asked,
“Is this the will of the Martial Alliance?”
“The Martial Alliance is very busy right now. The Demonic Cult’s Annihilation Squad has annihilated the Mount Hua Sect and is scattering and fleeing. The Martial Alliance is in a frenzy chasing after them. In the process, our Beggars’ Sect, which is in charge of the Martial Alliance’s information, is running around like crazy.”
“Of course, we are aware of the Beggars’ Sect’s hard work. Not only us, but all the righteous sects will respect the Beggars’ Sect.”
“Enough with the flattery.”
So Ong-gae cut him off. Dokgo Han was displeased but did not show it.
“Our Beggars’ Sect needs the Dokgo Clan’s help.”
“…It is difficult for you to suddenly say you need help.”
“The Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok, of the Annihilation Squad will pass through this place in a week and head to the Demonic Cult. It is one of the pieces of information our Beggars’ Sect has obtained.”
Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok!
Dokgo Han had heard that name a few times. Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok, had become famous for his bad blood with the Beggars’ Sect. There was a rumor spreading that he had massacred all the beggars in a city to find the Beggars’ Sect’s spy.
It wasn’t just a simple massacre. It was said that he would behead beggars and stick their heads on spears, and there were gruesome stories of him boiling beggars alive in a cauldron.
Because of this, the Beggars’ Sect gnashed their teeth at the name Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok.
“I will kill Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok. I want the Dokgo Clan to help me with that.”
“…Didn’t you say the Martial Alliance is chasing the Annihilation Squad members? What is the Martial Alliance doing?”
“Yeom Gu-seok is a young punk who hasn’t been in the Annihilation Squad for long. The Martial Alliance is aiming for bigger fish than Yeom Gu-seok. That is why the other elders of the Beggars’ Sect cannot step forward. Since the Beggars’ Sect is in charge of the Martial Alliance’s information, we cannot focus on just one person like Yeom Gu-seok.”
“I understand the situation. However, it is not our family’s concern. The Dokgo Clan does not belong to the Martial Alliance, and we have no personal grudge against the Lightning Blade.”
“I know. Still, please help me. If you help, the Beggars’ Sect will support the Dokgo Clan.”
“Support means…”
“I will help the Dokgo Clan join the Martial Alliance. Isn’t it time for the Dokgo Clan to break free from the shackles of the past and run through the vast fields of the Jianghu?”
“Father! No, Clan Head! This is an opportunity! It’s an opportunity for our family to shine again!”
Dokgo Cheongha, the young mistress who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. The eyes of the elegant beauty shone with desire. The retainers around her also spoke to Dokgo Han.
“Clan Head! Please accept!”
“This is an opportunity that may never come again if we miss it!”
“It is time to let the world know that the Dokgo Clan is still strong!”
“If we can join the Martial Alliance, the Dokgo Clan will soar!”
Dokgo Han was silent. So Ong-gae’s proposal was a good one that could not be refused. It was such a good proposal that it was suspicious. But that suspicion disappeared. It was understandable why the Beggars’ Sect wanted to kill Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok.
‘The Beggars’ Sect must want to kill Yeom Gu-seok at this opportunity. If Yeom Gu-seok returns to the Demonic Cult, the Beggars’ Sect will have no chance to kill him.’
It was right to accept So Ong-gae’s proposal. He would help them get rid of Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok. The known martial prowess of Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok, was in the early stages of the Five Qi Realm. If the Dokgo Clan went all out, they could easily handle him.
‘It’s easy. It’s an easy task. But… why am I so uneasy?’
In his heart, he wanted to reject the proposal. But there was no good reason. Rejecting such a good opportunity just because he had a bad feeling? His retainers would not accept it.
More than anything….
Dokgo Han looked at his daughter. Dokgo Cheongha’s eyes were full of desire. Dokgo Han knew his daughter’s ambition. At the very least, he didn’t want the family to hold her back.
“…The Dokgo Clan will help So Ong-gae.”
“Thank you, Clan Head Dokgo. You will never regret that choice. I promise in the name of the Beggars’ Sect.”
The atmosphere relaxed. So Ong-gae laughed, and the retainers laughed as well. Dokgo Cheongha also had a faint smile on her face. None of them thought that the plan would fail. Dokgo Han was the same.
Dokgo Han brought out expensive tea and offered it to So Ong-gae.
“I would like to know the information about Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok.”
“I will tell you everything I know.”
“How did you track Yeom Gu-seok? As far as I know, the Annihilation Squad is all scattered and hiding.”
“They are hiding and attacking the younger generation of the Martial Alliance. The Lightning Blade killed the top disciple of the Wudang Sect, Gwanggeom. He reported it to the Demonic Cult through a messenger bird, and our Beggars’ Sect was able to overhear the report and confirm the Lightning Blade’s location. He was going around calling himself the best swordsman of Joseon.”
“He was moving openly with a fake identity?”
“That’s right. He’s a bold one. Do you know what’s even more absurd? He’s returning to the Demonic Cult, traveling from city to city as if he’s sightseeing. He’s been harassing courtesans in brothels, and he’s been picking fights with martial artists he doesn’t like and crippling them.”
Dokgo Han frowned. Just hearing about Yeom Gu-seok’s actions made him feel evil.
“He’s a man who shouldn’t be left alive for the sake of the righteous path’s future.”
“You see it right. He will become a great demon in the near future. We must kill him before that.”
“Do you have a plan?”
“There’s not much of a plan. Judging by his actions, he will definitely stop by this city. He will spend a day at the best brothel and leave. We just need to surround the brothel, ambush him, and kill him. It’s a righteous act to kill a demon, so no one will criticize us. Rather, they will praise us.”
“I will prepare. The Dokgo Clan’s Dokgo Reconnaissance Unit will surround the brothel. Also, I, the young mistress, and the elders will all step forward to face Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok.”
“Thank you! That’s more than enough power! Hahaha! Just thinking about that evil man dying makes me laugh!”
Their atmosphere was very amicable.
•••
I entered Dokgo City.
The reason why this city is called Dokgo City is because of the influence of the Dokgo Clan. In the past, the city was built around the Dokgo Clan. But the fame that once shook the world was gone. Now, hundreds of years later, the Dokgo Clan’s position was ambiguous.
As I headed to the largest and most luxurious brothel in the city, I thought.
‘I heard the young mistress of the Dokgo Clan is such a beauty. I want to see her once. It wouldn’t be bad to see her before leaving the city.’
Dokgo Cheongha, the young mistress of the Dokgo Clan. She wasn’t a topic of conversation because of the Dokgo surname. Because of what happened in the distant past, martial artists and ordinary people alike tried not to mention the name Dokgo.
‘Her alias was Flying Swallow Sword, wasn’t it?’
It was an alias given to her because she was as fast, flashy, and free as a swallow flying in the sky.
‘I can’t just barge into the Dokgo Clan, so I’ll just have to see what she looks like from afar.’
And then, when I have time later, I’ll come back to take her.
I walked down the street, my long coat fluttering.
‘Ah, fuck.’
I was walking as if nothing was wrong, but I realized that I was fucked.
Someone was watching me. And it wasn’t just one person. Just from the auras I could sense, there were more than six people.
‘If they’re watching me, there’s only one reason. They realized I’m Lightning Blade, Yeom Gu-seok. Fuck.’
This city was the territory of the Dokgo Clan, so it was highly likely that they were martial artists from the Dokgo Clan.
‘What should I do? Should I escape with a space-shifting scroll? Or should I fight?’
If I used a space-shifting scroll, I could get out of here right away.
‘They’re not attacking right away, so it seems like they’re testing the waters… I can escape after enjoying this brothel, right?’
The guys watching me didn’t feel that strong. Even if all six of them attacked at once, I could kill them easily.
‘I can do it. If things get bad, I can just use a space-shifting scroll to run away.’
I couldn’t give up the brothel.
‘By the way… why do these beggar bastards keep catching my eye today? They all seem to be glaring at me.’
I wanted to kill them all, but this wasn’t my territory. If I acted recklessly, I would be tracked down.
‘Let’s go to the brothel.’
Oollu.
Even though it was daytime, Oollu was sparkling. I entered the brothel with anticipation.
“Waiter! Take me to the highest floor! And bring me the prettiest courtesans in this brothel! If you bring me an ugly one, I won’t let it slide!”
“Yes, yes! I will guide you!”
The waiter replied.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at the waiter’s back.
‘When a stranger comes, they usually ask for money first… why are they guiding me so willingly?’
In my experience, it was common to have a fight in a brothel I was entering for the first time. If I drew my sword and showed my sword aura, the waiters would finally start to grovel.
‘And this bastard. His actions are awkward. He’s a terrible actor.’
And I could feel gazes directed at me from all over the first floor.
At this point, there was no way I couldn’t know what was going on.
I was in a trap.
