35 Chapter 35

Chapter 35: Grass Snake Troupe Ma Jongwok's Story

Ma Jongwok walked in despair. His robes that were once silk and embroidered with fine linings were now ragged sacks. His neatly arranged hair before now looked nothing but a dirty mop.

Everything that he once had is now gone. His mother, his father, the merchant group, his friends and everything.

Ma Jongwok was made to realize just how cruel the world is. When his mother and father died, no one helped him to bury them. He was made to dig his own parent's grave. He asked the people he used to help back then for some small assistance but they closed their doors at him.

He thought that they were kind to him back then because of his personality but now he realized that their kindness to him was a facade; a facade to get access to his wealth, they only befriended him because he was the son of a rich merchant.

In desperation he headed to Gongdong Sect to ask for help but they too were the same, but unlike the other, the Gongdong sect seemed to be afraid of something.

****

Seven days before the tragic events that befell the Ma Family, Cheon Mujin, a man of dubious intentions, sat in his study, poring over a booklet with a sinister grin etched on his face. With a calculated air, he scanned the page that detailed the profile of Ma Jongwok, the young heir of the Ma Merchant Group, muttering the details under his breath.

"Ma Jongwok. 17 Years Old. Male. Son of Ma Merchant Group President. Talented in martial arts. Kind and humble." His lips curled into a satisfied smile as he plotted his next move.

"He should be more than enough for my new troupe," Cheon Mujin mused, his eyes glinting with a dark ambition. Flipping to another page, he beheld an intricate drawing of a fearsome figure with a scarred face and a mane of fiery red hair. Cheon Mujin would normally go for the Cult's young martial artist for his new troupe but doing so would arise suspicion inside the cult and a large scale investigation would be made. Which is quite dangerous for him.

The text beside the illustration read, "Red Lion Greatsword. Forces of Evil. Location Near Guangdong Province. Known for his greed." A sense of twisted satisfaction washed over Cheon Mujin as he connected the pieces of his elaborate scheme.

"This would be perfect," he murmured, his mind already envisioning the impending chaos. With a snap of his fingers, a servant appeared at the threshold of the room.

"Commission me a skin mask, this one," he commanded, tearing out the page featuring the Red Lion Greatsword and handing it to the servant. The servant bowed and swiftly departed, leaving Cheon Mujin to revel in the anticipation of his impending machinations.

Seven days later, the commissioned skin mask arrived, meticulously crafted to resemble the visage of the infamous Red Lion Greatsword. As he donned the mask, Cheon Mujin employed his mastery of the Full Body Manipulation Art to enhance his physique, giving him a more imposing and intimidating presence.

Stepping out into the night, he embarked on the execution of his meticulously laid-out plan. As the moon shone eerily over the province, the news of the Ma Family massacre rippled through the land, sending shockwaves of horror and despair throughout the entire region. Cheon Mujin, watching from the shadows, reveled in the chaos he had unleashed, knowing that the first step of his grand design had come to fruition.

Before delving further into his sinister agenda, he made a calculated detour to the renowned Gongdong Sect. He sneakily invaded the Sect Leader's room and without the latter noticing, he placed his sword on the Sect Leader's neck and said.

"If you dare to aid Ma Jongwok," his voice dripping with venom, "prepare to face the dire consequences. Your sect will not be spared from my wrath." With a malevolent glint in his eye, he vanished into the night, leaving behind a chilling aura of malevolence and foreboding.

"That completes my first step."

Unbeknownst to the real Red Lion Greatsword, his name was being used by a fearsome being called Cheon Mujin.

*****

Night:

Ma Jongwok was walking down the streets with his usual dead and empty eyes. Time to time he would stumble to the ground and fall due to starvation and exhaustion.

'I…I don't know what to do anymore…. I want revenge but I can't even move my body properly… how would I even get my revenge?' He thought in despair.

Suddenly he bumped into someone. He was about to apologize but the other one apologized first.

"I'm sorry about that. I wasn't looking at all." For the first time someone wasn't rude to him at all.

He looked up to see who the man was but it was not a man but a child, he had long hair tied neatly and stringlike eyes. He was sure that this man is a young master of some clan so he apologized fearing that the latter would beat him up.

"I-I'm sorry for bumping into you young master," even though his body aches from moving he still bowed.

"No need to be sorry. I was the one at fault. How about this? How bout I treat you to a meal as an apology? You are looking quite famished after all." The young man said with a soft smile.

"A-are you sure?" Ma Jongwok asked.

"Of course I'm sure! Now let's go eat!" The young man dragged Ma Jongwok away and the two ate a bountiful meal.

After they ate, Ma Jongwok, feeling energized, bowed his head to the young man.

"Thank you very much, young master, for helping me!" He said.

"I haven't helped you yet that much to get such gratitude." Said the man.

Then he looked at Ma Jongwok and said,

"Let me formally introduce myself. I'm Cheon Mujin of the Emerald Serpent Clan. I'm looking for a man who touched one of our Merchant Group." Said Cheon Mujin.

"What? What do you mean by that?" Asked Ma Jongwok with confusion.

"Actually your father. Ma Julwon, is an associate of ours. The Ma Merchant Group is actually one of our subsidiaries."

This is false. Cheon Mujin just made this up. Of course if the Ma Merchant Group was actually their associate then no one would've been able to touch even their servant as Cheon Mujin likes to protect what is his with violence.

"I'm very sorry for your loss. We weren't able to react fast enough since we came all over to the Ten Thousand Mountains." Apologized Mujin as he patted Ma Jongwok's shoulder

.

"I'm actually here to go hunt for the one who destroyed the Ma Merchant Group. The Red Lion Greatsword. Would you like to assist me and deliver the killing blow?" Cheon Mujin asked.

Ma Jongwok thought that the world had betrayed him and that no one was going to help him at all. He would be left alone to die on the streets with no one to care and his parent's murderer would remain to roam free.

But now a chance was given to him by this gracious savior.

He kneeled to the ground with one knee and shouted.

"Please take me in! As long as that monster gets killed, I'm ready to give up my life to you. I promise to serve you to the best of my abilities!" Shouted Ma Jongwok and with that Cheon Mujin smiled and patted his shoulder.

"I'm going to form a new group and you would be its first member. Ma Jongwok, would you like to join me in that endeavor?"

"I swear my fealty to you!!"

Later on that night Cheon Mujin captured the innocent Great Lion Sword, he destroyed his mouth in order for him to not be able to talk and prove his innocence. Then he gave him Ma Jongwok and let the latter give the killing blow. After that Ma Jongwok swore that he would do anything to repay Cheon Mujin's kindness. Anything at all.

******

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