Invitation to the Chatroom of the Gods - Chapter 8



Only Krnovel

Episode 8 – Build up virtue (2)

A loud noise that cannot be heard at this ambitious hour.

“Oh, right. Today is the night market day.”

Our village was called Uihwang, located in Oksan County, Gangseo Province.

To be exact, it was a remote village a little bit away from Uihwang, and its night market was very famous.

The first night market to open in our town was, unexpectedly, due to the heat.

Our town was incredibly hot.

Without exaggeration or joke, it can be said to be murderous.

So the heat is enough to kill a person.

On a clear, cloudless day, it is common to see townspeople lying down on the streets.

Even my father would get dizzy and say he couldn’t practice during the day, so what more can I say?

So I couldn’t move at all during the day.

Eventually, people started to move around in the evening when the temperature dropped somewhat and they rested during the day.

As people’s activity hours were pushed back to the evening, merchants naturally became active in the evening as well.

Going to the market also had to last through the evening and into the night.

As such trends and customs became established, the night market as we know it today came into being.

Because of the hot weather, the night market was only open in the summer.

It was now past the fall season, so it wasn’t the time for a night market to open.

However, as the night market became more and more famous, many people from different regions came to visit after hearing about it.

It has developed into a festival, and now it is held as a night market regardless of the season.

When the night market opens, it is crowded with people from all over the region.

Now that the sun had set, it seemed like the night market was about to begin in earnest.

“···But it’s still strange?”

Still, something was strange.

Because the loud noise I just heard felt like a commotion, not a noisy feast.

“What happened?”

* * *

As we followed the noise, we found people gathered together and talking loudly.

It wasn’t the kind of noise you get when you’re watching a play or something.

So it wasn’t a festive atmosphere.

It certainly looks like something happened.

Bam!!

As expected, the commotion was heard again.

As we pushed our way through the crowd, we saw two men completely destroying a street vendor.

A familiar woman was sitting in front of a destroyed street stall.

‘Isn’t it Ji-ae?’

Danjiae, the daughter of Mrs. Tak, who runs a mill in our village.

She was a kind-hearted young lady who would stop by the missionary office and give me some rice cakes whenever my mother made them.

It looks like the lady came out to sell rice cakes at the night market instead of the man…

“What are you looking at? Are you excited? Huh?”

A rough-looking man was threatening the people around him.

People slowly and helplessly retreated.

I couldn’t even think of helping rashly.

That would be the case, because the sly man was ready to draw the sword hanging from his waist at any moment.

‘A martial artist?’

It seemed like that was the case.

And I too am a martial artist.

I know it’s weird to say this, but even so, the martial arts world is a bunch of crazy people.

People living in a crazy world where everything is forgiven if you just pick on one person and say, “This is the law of the jungle.”

Of course, not all martial artists were like that.

There were more martial artists like that.

But just by looking at them, you can tell that they are low-quality parasites and thugs.

Those two were definitely crazy guys who would pull out their knives if they got into trouble.

“There’s a hair in the food you were eating. What should I do?”

The sly man suddenly thrust something out.

A thin, black thread about an inch long.

“The master almost ate your dirty hair!”

It looked like there was a hair in the rice cake that Ji-ae sold.

···But something was strange.

A hair sticking out from a sharp man.

It seemed strange that it was Ji-ae’s hair.

The color of the ink was the same, but the length was clearly different.

That one is short, and Ji-ae’s is long.

So, this is more like Ji-ae’s hair…

“How are you going to take responsibility for this?”

It was right to see it as that sly man’s.

“I was eating deliciously when a hair came out and ruined my appetite.”

The sharp-tongued man tapped Ji-ae’s forehead.

···I kind of understood the situation.

“But you are asking for a hundred nyang···.”

“So you can’t give me a hundred nyang?”

“I don’t have that much money···.”

“Then, shouldn’t you repay it with your body?”

The man’s face was twisted into a sinister expression.

The man flicked his tongue and reached out his hand to Ji-ae’s chest.

Ji-ae resisted, but it didn’t mean much.

The village youth and old men, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward.

But behind the sly man.

He stopped in his tracks at the sight of the fierce gaze of the giant man carrying a large axe.

Everyone was just stamping their feet and not knowing what to do.

I stepped forward just before Ji-ae’s underwear was about to come undone.

Percussion!

“Please stop.”

“What are you?”

“Your Majesty, Master Cheongun···.”

The sly man tilted his head at Ji-ae’s words.

“A teacher? Are you from a military background?”

“It is called the missionary’s blue cloud.”

“Missionary?”

The man’s demeanor softened slightly at the mention of the missionary.

But is this an officer I’ve never heard of before? The man’s expression suddenly distorted again.

“How dare you, a country village official! Do you know who we are?”

“Who are you to be acting like this?”

“Bullying? Huh! Did you just say bullying?”

The sly man continued, snorting.

“You must have heard of the Great Monster Gate.”

I haven’t heard of it.

Just as you have never heard of the name of the Missionary, I have never heard of the Goeseongmun sect.

“Gosh, gosh!”

“Why is the evil eye’s scream coming all the way here….”

But the townspeople seemed to have heard of it.

Ak-an was a city quite far from our city.

However, judging from what the people in our village knew, it seemed to be a fairly powerful sect.

“And this person here is the great black-handed magician of the Great Monster Gate, Yuk Un-yeon!”

The sly man pointed to the giant standing behind him and said.

This is also obvious, but it’s the first time I’m hearing this name.

Still, it seems like he is a martial artist.

Also, looking at the way they behave and cause trouble…

“Oh, but still, raise your head up high! Do you really want to die?”

It seemed like he belonged to the Black Way.

To put it bluntly, he is a city thug, a traitor, and a bully.

These are people who are worthy of being called by any name.

This sly man didn’t seem to have any outstanding martial arts skills, but he was still a blacksmith.

If you get stuck, twist your balls.

When you feel sick, you poke your stomach.

The Black Dogs are a group of lunatic murderers who treat human life like flies.

Usually, there is a group of black magicians in every village or town.

Just as shadows are created when light shines, there is a world of back alleys wherever you go.

However, there was no black group in Uihwang, where our village belongs.

This was because after my father settled in the village, all the black sesame seeds were wiped out.

In fact, it was my father’s influence that led to the opening of a night market in our town.

It was thanks to my father that I was able to walk around town safely in the dead of night.

But things changed after my father passed away.

Slowly, the black hordes began to poke their heads in.

Now that the tiger that guarded the mountain has disappeared, all kinds of beasts are claiming to be the masters of the mountain.

So now these two black guys.

It seemed that they were planning to extend their influence to Uihwang, where our village belongs, following the evil spirits.

The surroundings became quiet in an instant at the man’s grumbling.

I responded to the two men calmly.

“How can such great men threaten innocent women? As a martial artist, aren’t you ashamed?”

“What? This kid is so cocky!”

A rough man, unable to control his anger, swung his fist at me.

And I didn’t really respond.

Exactly, I wanted to know how to deal with this.

‘Why is it so slow?’

Because the fist was infinitely slow.

It was like watching a child throwing stones.

The momentum of the swinging fist was no different from that of a child.

No matter what, it’s embarrassing to accept something like this.

I twisted my body and easily dodged the man’s sharp fist.

“···uh?”

The lanky man lost his balance and staggered as his fist missed.

And was it really that mad that I avoided it?

“Is this kid harmed?”

The skinny guy swung his fist at me again.

And, as expected, it was slow.

It looks like it has momentum, but I can’t really call it momentum.

I dodged the man’s sharp fists several times.

Then the man’s face became distorted and contorted.

“이 개새끼가!”

visor!

He suddenly pulled out the sword he had been carrying on his waist.

“Hey, hey!”

“Report to the authorities! Quickly!”

People shouted in great panic.

I was a little embarrassed too.

“I will kill you!”

Because he really was trying to kill me.

As expected, it’s a group of black magicians who take out their swords first when they’re about to be defeated.

Wedge!

There is no hesitation or reluctance in swinging the sword.

He really intends to kill me.

···Still, it’s slow.

It’s also not threatening.

I easily dodged the swinging sword.

“What, what is it?”

The sly man looked very flustered, as if he didn’t know that he could avoid even this.

He ignored it lightly and struck the man on the back of the neck with the edge of his hand.

“Ugh!”

With a sound like a pig’s throat being slit, the slender man fell to the ground with a thud.

And at that very moment.

Phew!

A sharp, cracking sound came to my ears.

As I instinctively pulled back, a large axe swept past the spot where I had just been.

“They say he was a master of martial arts, so he was trained in martial arts.”

A heavy voice was heard after that.

Black-handed magician Yuk Yun-yeon.

Yuk Yun-yeon slung the large axe he had just swung across his shoulder.

I wondered why he was called the Black-Handed Demon while using an axe.

It looked like it was a nickname he gave himself.

To put it simply, it’s self-indulgence.

Still, one thing was certain: he was different from the sly man before.

‘I know how to use my internal energy.’

Yuk Yun-yeon is a true warrior.

However, the level did not seem that high.

It must have been third-rate, middle-class.

In any case, he is a third-rate warrior at the very bottom of the martial arts world.

But you should never look at it as a joke.

Even if it’s a third-rate drone, it’s still drone.

Those who have properly learned how to kill people.

First of all, he has no hesitation in killing people.

He has no hesitation in tearing flesh and drawing blood.

He is a person who has mastered the art of killing people efficiently, called martial arts.

That Yuk Yun-yeon was building up his momentum to kill me.

And now there’s no avoiding the fight.

‘Can you do it?’

It’s not that I’m not afraid.

To be honest, I’m scared. I’m scared.

I was afraid that I would get hurt, and I was scared that I would die.

I couldn’t handle even one bit of internal energy properly.

What’s more, right now I don’t even have a decent weapon.

···Can I do it?

Even if you have doubts, you shouldn’t hesitate.

You must not hesitate.

I furtively clenched my fist.

And as I leaned forward, I suddenly felt a familiar energy inside me.

The small amount of internal energy accumulated in my danjeon.

Internal energy amplified by the wisdom of the Youngbo Pilbeop.

A power that could be called spiritual energy is stirring in my danjeon.

As I put strength into my legs, an inexplicable power explodes from my danjeon.

Kwaang!

The dirt floor goes deep and my body is shot forward.

The distance between Yuk Yun-yeon and me is quickly narrowing.

“······!”

Yuk Yun-yeon’s eyes opened wide at the incredible speed.

Yuk Yun-yeon swung his axe in panic. But my fist struck Yuk Yun-yeon’s chest first.

Boom!

Yuk Yun-yeon’s body swayed greatly. However, the sensation in his fingertips was shallow.

Yuk Yun-yeon twisted her body in that split second to let out the shock.

“This kid!”

Yuk Yun-yeon shouted in a curse.

He quickly straightened his staggering body and swung a large axe at me.

This isn’t a skill that’s been learned once or twice.

I know all too well how to kill a person.

I realize anew that Yuk Yun-yeon is a martial artist.

My head spins quickly. The instinct for survival prickles my brain.

My body dug deep into the flesh of Yuk Yun-yeon.

It’s not about pulling back, it’s about digging in.

Because the weapon called an axe couldn’t exert much force against an opponent that was close by.

Soon, Yuk Yun-yeon’s axe struck my shoulder.

Crunch!

···But the shoulder was not cut off.

Because it was the axe handle, not the blade, that struck my shoulder.

The axe’s blade couldn’t reach me because I was leaning too close to it.

However, the shock was completely transmitted to me.

“Ugh···!”

The excruciating pain that spreads through my entire body makes me dizzy.

My shoulder blade feels like it’s dislocated.

···But it endures.

I chewed on it, forcing myself to hold onto my clouded mind.

Open your eyes wide with the dagger.

Now it’s my turn.

The internal energy that had been stirring in my danjeon suddenly boils over.

The boiling internal energy takes the form of a beast of death and roars at the enemy before him.

“What, what is this···!”

Yuk Yun-yeon can’t shake off her embarrassment.

He is a third-rate warrior at the very bottom of the martial arts world.

But come to think of it, I’m the same way.

I too am in the same position as a third-rate unmanned vehicle.

No, I’m not even a third-rate drone.

Pfft!

My fist, squeezed with all my strength, struck Yuk Yun-yeon in the side.

At the end, the spirit energy of the Youngbo Pilbeop explodes and its power is amplified.

Ugh!

I can clearly feel Yuk Yun-yeon’s ribs being crushed with my fingertips.

Unable to bear the pain, Yuk Yun-yeon’s mouth fell open.

“Khahak···!”

Red blood poured out from Yuk Yun-yeon’s gaping mouth.

Yuk Yun-yeon, who had lost a great deal of strength, even dropped the axe he was holding.

···The match has been decided. It is my victory.

But it doesn’t stop.

Not yet, not yet.

Recover your outstretched fist and prepare for a sure finish.

The dantian is the most lethal vital point for a martial artist.

The Grim Reaper roars once again.

Inheriting that power, my fist struck Yuk Yun-yeon’s dantian.

Pfft! Pfft!

A sound that should not come from the human body was heard.

Yuk Yun-yeon’s body flew a distance of at least two zhang and fell to the ground.

A sagging body and eyes that are turned upside down.

At the corner of Yuk Yun-yeon’s mouth, bubbles were bubbling along with blood.

···It didn’t look like he was dead.

But I can’t live my life like before anymore.

I will never be able to continue to commit such outrageous acts as I am doing now.

“Phew···.”

Only then could I breathe a sigh of relief.

Only then did I have time to look around.

So, I slowly looked around the night market.

“······?”

The atmosphere is unusual.

Two eyes opened wider than a lantern.

Mouths that are wide open and look like they might tear apart at any moment.

“······!!!”

“······!!!”

“······!!!”

Everyone was looking at me in astonishment.

Right then.

“asleep!”

The skinny man who had been lying down suddenly got up and ran towards me.

A sly man with a sword in his hand, rushing forward with a vicious aura.

I thought I fainted, but it seems I didn’t.

Unable to react to sudden situations.

My shoulder was dislocated and I couldn’t move my body properly.

You’re going to die without being able to move.

It was just when I wanted to.

Squeak─!

An eagle shot out of the night sky like an arrow and attacked the sly man.

It was so fast that I thought it was a lightning strike.

The eagle tore the man’s face open with its dagger-like claws.

He grabbed the man by the shoulder and struck him, then pecked out his eyes with his beak.

It really only took a moment for the sly man’s face to turn bloodshot.

“Kkaaaak!”

The skinny guy screamed loudly.

It was so noisy that the eagle flapped its wings and swooped, “Crash!”

The man fell down and fainted.

A hawk landed gently on the head of the unconscious man.

And then suddenly the eyes that were staring at me…

Huh?

It seemed like I was wondering if I shouldn’t live here.