Stars Fall
“Gah!”
“Keurk!”
Chaos erupted behind Gal Uiin. Someone shouted urgently.
“Poison!”
“Hold your breath!”
Tatata-tak!
Sparks flew wildly through the steam. Gal Uiin and the surrounding experts simultaneously unleashed their body-protecting auras infused with intense heat, incinerating the poisonous mist.
Accompanied by a acrid stench, the blackened poison smoke dissolved into the sulfurous vapors spewing from the ground.
Gal Uiin turned around.
His ten subordinates were already vomiting blood and collapsing, or on the verge of it.
“It’s coming again!”
“Unleash your body-protecting auras!”
Woooong!
The experts around Gal Uiin, having been caught off guard once, immediately activated their auras in unison. At the same time, they thrust their palms toward Yuksoon and the others.
Damn…!
As an overwhelming palm force surged toward him, Yuksoon swiftly shoved the poison mist into the steam vents. He’d nearly been poisoned himself in the process, and he patted his chest in relief.
Killing intent exploded from Gal Uiin’s eyes. Glaring at Yuksoon as if he’d tear him apart, he drew his sword.
Shring.
“You vile scum…”
“Me, vile scum? That’s rich. You lot, who came swarming here for revenge against your young master who kidnapped children and trafficked in human lives—you’re the last ones who should be talking.”
“You’ve got some nerve mocking me with that foul mouth of yours. You bastard! The others I might spare, but you—I’ll rip out your heart and chew it up.”
“You’d better have some sturdy teeth. My heart’s pretty tough, you see.”
Yuksoon shot back without flinching. But inside, his heart sank into despair. He’d thought he’d found a way, but after one success, it had become useless.
I need to hold out longer…
“Attack!”
Papap!
The assault began. Due to the narrow, treacherous terrain, only about ten foes charged at once.
“Hah!”
Flash!
Jin Hoe and Jin Myeong’s swords unleashed streams of qi. Yuksoon’s right hand pierced the chest of an enemy who’d closed in too near.
Thuk!
“Kwaak!”
Kakang!
Kwajik!
“Keurk!”
Two heads flew clean off. Jin Hoe and Jin Myeong struck again, toppling two more.
In the midst of it, a sword slashed at Yuksoon’s right hand.
Kakang!
Sparks and the clash of metal rang out. The opponent’s eyes bulged at the unbelievable power of the Golden Diamond Hands, a sight that heralded his death.
Thuk!
Yuksoon mercilessly punched a hole through the man’s heart.
“Kwaak!”
Chwaaak!
Blood drenched Yuksoon’s face. But before he could wipe it away, he had to block the next incoming attack.
Klang!
Pat!
Amid the metallic clang, blood spurted from Yuksoon’s abdomen. He’d blocked the sword, but a hidden weapon slipping through the gap at a clever angle caught him off guard.
“…!”
Sizzle!
Yuksoon staggered back two steps from the burning shock in his gut, glancing down. A bizarre projectile—not a flying blade or dagger—was embedded in his abdomen.
Tremble…
A hidden weapon that pierces body-protecting aura…
In this close-quarters brawl, Yuksoon had been circulating his aura the whole time, exchanging blows. Ordinary projectiles should have been deflected.
That was when it happened.
“To think I’d encounter someone who’s mastered the Golden Diamond Hands here…”
A chilling voice, as if crawling up from hell, slithered into Yuksoon’s ear. He knew instantly from the voice alone: the one who’d thrown the weapon was from the Ghost Corps.
And sure enough, a Ghost Corps member appeared. His form flickered like a real ghost, half-substantial, half-ethereal.
The ghost’s mouth split open to his ear, revealing fangs.
“Heh heh heh. Poison isn’t just your toy, kid.”
“…!”
Yuksoon’s eyes widened. Before the words finished, a sinister sensation seeped into his body.
This is bad!
He hurriedly sealed the meridian leading to his dantian and yanked out the projectile. That was when—
“Ugh!”
A heavy groan erupted beside him. Jin Myeong, spewing blood from his mouth, lurched toward Yuksoon.
Yuksoon thrust out his left hand, catching him. The weight transmitted through his palm told him Jin Myeong’s strength had already fled his body.
“We have to hold out somehow!”
“…Understood.”
With Yuksoon’s aid, Jin Myeong barely regained his footing, gritting his teeth and gripping his sword tighter.
Kakang!
Kwakwak!
Jin Hoe still held his ground. But with Yuksoon and Jin Myeong momentarily disengaging, the attacks focused on him. He took a blade to the shoulder, blood spraying as he reeled.
Even then, his sword sliced through an enemy’s waist, condemning the foe to a gruesome death with his upper body severed.
“Kwaaaak!”
“Help the sect leader!”
“Hah!”
The Mudang Sect Taoists who’d been hanging back roared and charged. But the cramped space allowed only one or two to advance.
One leaped at a Black Cloak targeting Jin Hoe.
Puk!
The sword burst out through the Taoist’s back. But instead of screaming, he embraced the enemy and rammed his blade into the foe’s chest.
Thuk!
“Keurk!”
Then the Taoist’s head was cleaved off by a sword from behind. Yet he didn’t release the sword plunged into the enemy’s chest. His severed head rolled to Jin Hoe’s feet.
Tremble…
Red-veined tears—or was it blood?—streamed down Jin Hoe’s cheeks from his bloodshot eyes.
“Watch out!”
A streak of blood-red light hurtled toward Jin Hoe. At the last instant, Yuksoon’s Golden Diamond Hand swatted it away.
Kwang!
“Ugh!”
Yuksoon was flung back with a groan. Blood poured from his abdomen.
Jin Hoe’s pupils flushed red. It was a reflexive response to the Ghost Corps member charging at him.
Whoosh!
Scorching energy erupted from Jin Hoe’s entire body. He turned to Yuksoon and cried out.
“If heaven lets me survive… I entrust those children to you.”
“…!”
Before Yuksoon could respond, Jin Hoe hurled himself at the Ghost Corps member. In his despair, he’d chosen his final act: self-detonation, igniting all his power in one strike for mutual destruction.
In that fleeting moment, fragments of his life flashed through Jin Hoe’s mind like a lantern show. Happy days. But they ended in the tragedy of his sect’s annihilation.
He’d climbed this far to prevent that horror. But now, there was nothing left he could do.
I’m sorry.
Jin Hoe’s body glowed crimson-hot. A massive explosion followed.
Kwaang!
“Sect leader!”
“Senior brother!”
Everyone cried out. Jin Myeong collapsed to his knees.
Kwaooo…
The clash halted briefly. The Golden Merchant Group experts, who’d been pouring on the assault, fell back. The Mudang Sect disciples huddled against the blast’s aftershocks.
Yuksoon’s eyes trembled. In his shaking pupils, the image of the Ghost Corps member, charred into a lump of flesh, stabbed like a dagger.
Blood gushed from his torn arm, but the ghost lived. Jin Hoe was nowhere to be seen. The bloody clumps covering the ghost—and scattered everywhere—were likely all that remained of him.
“You bastard!”
Yuksoon charged at the staggering Ghost Corps member. His weakened Golden Diamond Hands, drained by wounds and depleted qi, still burrowed into the foe’s chest.
Thuk! Crunch!
Yuksoon’s hands shattered ribs and plunged deep.
“Kwaaak!”
A wretched death cry tore from the ghost’s mouth—one that seemed impossible even if his head were severed.
At the same instant, a sinister energy descended behind Yuksoon.
Swaeak!
Yuksoon closed his eyes. Poisoned and unable to properly circulate his qi, he couldn’t dodge or block.
I’ll go first, my lord.
Thuk!
* * *
Seo Wi-ryang asked, “What is it about our lord that you like so much? Watching you, it’s like you’re gazing at a lover.”
Yuksoon smiled faintly. “Everything.”
“Damn… You’re really head over heels, huh.”
“You’re no different, you rascal.”
“Well, yeah, but…”
“By the way, what’ll you do once your revenge is done?”
“What else? Help our lord. What about you, once the great cause is fulfilled?”
“Dunno. Never thought that far ahead. But still…”
“Still?”
“Guess I’ll get married first?”
Hahaha!
Farewell, Wi-ryang.
Baek Mu Yeong approached. “Enough slacking. Everyone, to the training grounds.”
“Give us a break. I’ve been swinging my arms all day—my stomach’s practically glued to my spine.”
“Enduring hunger is training too. On your feet.”
Be a little nicer to us, brother.
“I’m here!”
Song Yeong poked his head out, followed by the tiger-like Baek-un and Akso sauntering in. Seo-baek trailed behind, rubbing his head after taking a hit.
I’ll head out first, brothers. Take your time.
“Hey.”
Clap!
Someone placed a hand on Yuksoon’s shoulder. It was Blood King Sin Hwi.
“Wanna grab some food together?”
Yuksoon couldn’t answer. His eyelids grew heavy; no voice came out.
His body sank deeper into an abyssal darkness.
I wanted to get closer… Please take good care of our lord, Blood King.
Thud.