The Eight-Faced Spirit Hand
Jo Gun-hyeong, Commander of the Vermilion Shadow Squad, was known throughout the martial world by the epithet Eight-Faced Spirit Hand.
It was a title earned from the terrifying spectacle of his throwing daggers raining down from eight directions simultaneously, piercing through ranks of enemies on the battlefield. Many in the martial realm assumed his prowess was suited only for mass warfare, claiming his throwing daggers would lose their lethal edge in a one-on-one duel against an elite master. But that was a catastrophic misjudgment. Consider what would happen if daggers meant to scatter across eight directions were instead focused on a single point. It was a nightmare no warrior would ever wish to face.
Commander Jo's eyes sank into a frigid, predatory glare.
"So, this is the confidence of the Dragon-Tiger Plaque Master—the pride of a man who broke through Mugeuk Gate."
A suffocating wave of killing intent erupted from his body, radiating outward so sharply that Mok Woo-jeon, standing off to the side, visibly flinched.
"Squad Leader Dokgo, you seem to take me rather lightly. Is that it?"
"Not in the least," Dokgo Jin replied smoothly. "Who under heaven would dare take a squad commander of the Five Banners lightly?"
"Hmph. Then you must be scheming to use me as a stepping stone to establish the name of your fledgling Mad Tiger Squad."
Dokgo Jin gave a tranquil nod.
"I won't deny it. But isn't this an equally enticing opportunity for you, Commander Jo? An indisputable chance to legitimately win back the subordinate who was taken from you."
Jo Gun-hyeong's brow furrowed. The transfer had already been finalized through an official accord between the Banner Lords and sealed with Tang Pung-yeong's personal consent. Throwing a tantrum would never reverse an official assignment. Only by subjugating Dokgo Jin could he manufacture the justification required to drag Tang Pung-yeong back under the Vermilion Bird Banner.
A sneer touched Commander Jo's lips.
"Very well. I shall gladly dance to your arrogant tune."
He pushed himself up from his seat, his voice cold as winter ice.
"There is no need to drag this out. Tomorrow at noon. We settle this at the Thousand Armies Martial Arena."
The Thousand Armies Martial Arena was the grandest training ground in the Northern Heavens Fortress, vast enough to assemble thousands of warriors all at once.
"As you wish," Dokgo Jin agreed.
Commander Jo shifted his sharp gaze toward Tang Pung-yeong.
"I will show you, Tang Pung-yeong. I will show you who your true commander really is."
He was well aware that Tang Pung-yeong had guided him into this exact corner.
"My apologies, Commander," Tang Pung-yeong said calmly.
"Save your hollow courtesies. You will be coming back tomorrow anyway, so stay put for today."
With that parting threat, Commander Jo swept out of the room. The suffocating malice that had saturated the chamber vanished as though washed away by a sudden draft.
Mok Woo-jeon finally released the breath he had been holding.
"Whew... A banner commander truly is something else. Dragon-Tiger Plaque... no, Squad Leader, are you genuinely confident about this?"
"..."
Dokgo Jin offered no spoken answer, offering only a faint, knowing smile.
Mok Woo-jeon had been rattled by the sheer weight of Jo Gun-hyeong's presence, yet looking upon Dokgo Jin's serene expression, an odd calm settled over him. Good grief. By all logic, the odds heavily favor Commander Jo... Yet no matter how hard he tried, he could not envision Dokgo Jin lying defeated, either.
Dokgo Jin turned his gaze toward Tang Pung-yeong.
"You handled that brilliantly, Vice Commander."
"You flatter me. But will you truly be all right? I steered him into this because it seemed the most expedient course, but Commander Jo is by no means an ordinary adversary."
"Do not worry yourself."
Dokgo Jin looked between the two men, his voice carrying unmistakable gravity.
"I shall now issue my first command as leader of the Mad Tiger Squad."
Startled, Tang Pung-yeong promptly dropped to one knee and cupped his hands in a formal martial salute.
"Awaiting your command, Squad Leader."
"...Ah."
A moment late, Mok Woo-jeon followed suit, bowing his head.
Dokgo Jin's eyes turned deep and fathomless.
"The two of you will spread word of this duel as widely as possible. Ensure that not a single soul in the Northern Heavens Fortress remains ignorant of it."
"By your command!"
The Dragon-Tiger Plaque Master, newly appointed commander of an independent squad, is dueling the Vermilion Shadow Commander!
The sensational news swept through the Northern Heavens Fortress like a wildfire in the dry season.
"The Vermilion Shadow Commander—isn't that the Eight-Faced Spirit Hand himself? A clash between him and the Dragon-Tiger Plaque Master!"
"From what I hear, the Plaque Master drafted one of his subordinates, and Commander Jo came to take him back."
"Well, of course. Nobody wants to lose a talented subordinate. But to go so far as a public duel?"
"The transfer was already an official decision, so his hands were tied. Apparently, it was the Dragon-Tiger Plaque Master who proposed the challenge in the first place!"
"Whoa! But even if he holds the Dragon-Tiger Plaque, can he really take down an established squad commander?"
"Hey, the Plaque Master is an official squad commander in his own right now."
"Come on, a newly appointed greenhorn is completely different. Don't you know how monstrous the veteran commanders are?"
"That's true. But haven't you heard? Word is the Plaque Master recently cleared the notorious Mugeuk Gate."
"What? That changes things completely!"
"Exactly. When and where is it happening?"
"Noon today! At the Thousand Armies Martial Arena!"
"What are you waiting for? It's almost time—move!"
The Thousand Armies Martial Arena was already an ocean of people. It had been a long time since the most expansive training ground in the fortress had gathered such an enormous crowd. High overhead, the midday sun blazed with blistering heat, while the collective battle lust and radiating qi of thousands of martial artists dried the very air into brittle tension.
The western perimeter was completely held by the elite Vermilion Shadow Squad of the Vermilion Bird Banner. Clad in matching crimson uniforms, hundreds of warriors stood in immaculate, razor-sharp ranks. To uphold the prestige of their commander, they projected an overbearing momentum like an unbroken wall of crimson steel, their sharp gazes locked in heavy silence upon Jo Gun-hyeong in the arena's center.
On the opposite side, the atmosphere surrounding the Iron Soul Unit was entirely different.
They simply lounged about. Some sat cross-legged on the ground casually wiping down their blades; others stood with their weight shifted to one leg, chewing on stalks of grass as they cast indolent glances toward the Vermilion Shadows across the way. Yet the casual ease seeping from their disorderly posture effortlessly deflected the razor-sharp pressure of the crimson ranks.
"Our Dragon-Tiger Plaque Master never does anything small! Throwing a grand spectacle the moment he leaves our squad!"
"Don't you dare forget your roots in the Iron Soul Unit, Plaque Master! If you get pushed around by the Vermilion Shadows, you'll answer to us!"
"Answer to us? What could you possibly do to him?"
"Get revenge for him, of course!"
"With your pathetic martial arts? Dream on!"
"Shut your mouth, the Plaque Master is going to win!"
"Hahaha, damn right he will!"
Laughter and coarse banter rippled through the Iron Soul ranks. Though they projected an utter lack of decorum, their eyes remained pinned to Dokgo Jin's back like iron rivets. Beneath their rough teasing lay absolute trust and immense pride in a man they had acknowledged as one of their own.
A short distance away, Vice Commander Yoo Seol-ah stood with her arms crossed among the spectators. She pouted, her tapping foot betraying the nervous agitation churning beneath her composed exterior.
"Hmph. Look at them, acting like it's a festival... Anyone would think he's still in our squad."
Yeom Baek offered a faint smile.
"Can you blame them? It wasn't long ago that an ordinary member of our unit rose to challenge a banner commander."
Yoo Seol-ah bit her lower lip, hesitating before asking, "Do you think... Dokgo Jin can really win?"
"Who knows? Jo Gun-hyeong is an opponent even I find troublesome to deal with."
"Mm..."
"Still, Dokgo Jin wouldn't have proposed this duel without knowing what he was up against. He must have a plan."
"I suppose so..."
In the center of the arena, where the collective breathing of thousands seemed to quiet at once, Dokgo Jin took measured strides toward Jo Gun-hyeong.
The Vermilion Shadow Commander had set aside his customary practical garments in favor of a deep crimson long robe. As the hem fluttered in the dry breeze, the hilts of countless throwing daggers concealed within flashed into view. Unlike his usual habit of carrying only a handful slotted into his belt, this was a lethal, fully armed battle array—an unmistakable declaration that he intended to crush Dokgo Jin with the entirety of his strength without holding back in the slightest.
"..."
Commander Jo glanced up at the sun hanging at its zenith, then gave a slow nod.
"Right on time. Are you ready?"
"Of course."
Halting three zhang apart, the two men locked eyes, their stares piercing through each other as they formally clasped their fists in salutation.
"Dokgo Jin, Leader of the Mad Tiger Squad."
"Jo Gun-hyeong, Commander of the Vermilion Shadow Squad."
In an instant, the air between them pulled taut until it seemed ready to shriek. The moment their hands parted, Dokgo Jin reached back and gripped the hilt of Extinction resting across his lower back.
Clang—shing!
The silver-white blade slid from its sheath, releasing a frigid wail into the midday heat. But the moment that pristine, translucent steel settled into Dokgo Jin's palm, Commander Jo whipped his sleeve.
Screeech!
With an ear-splitting whistle, a throwing dagger shot from his cuff, streaking directly toward the space between Dokgo Jin's brows. Right from the opening breath, the Vermilion Shadow Commander unleashed a lethal killing strike without hesitation.
Clang!
Extinction batted the flying steel aside, and the true battle began.
The weapon unleashed from Commander Jo's sleeve was a willow-leaf dagger roughly seven inches long. Stripped of a crossguard, its sleek silver blade featured a slender, blood-red fuller carved down the center, while a crimson silk tassel trailed behind like a serpent's tail. Trailing a scarlet afterimage accompanied by a piercing scream through the air, it resembled a venomous serpent lunging toward its prey.
Yet Dokgo Jin deflected it with ease. For a master of Jo Gun-hyeong's stature, neither the kinetic force nor the velocity behind the projectile was particularly formidable.
A formal greeting, then.
Just as Dokgo Jin anticipated, no sooner had the first dagger been parried than three more came hurtling through the air.
Sh-sh-shriek!
The shrieking wind tore through the atmosphere, their speed leagues beyond the first.
Now it truly begins.
It was an assault of staggering precision. Taking a half-step back, Dokgo Jin spun Extinction like a windmill, cloaking the blade in pitch-black Ink Flame Qi.
Cl-cl-clang!
The daggers slammed violently into the pitch-black sword curtain spun by Extinction. Screeching metallic impacts rang across the arena as the deflected daggers burrowed deep into the flagstones, reducing the solid granite to powder.
A stinging shockwave shuddered up Dokgo Jin's wrist. The inner qi imbued within the flying daggers struck with the crushing weight of a warhammer; had he not woven his Ink Flame Qi into the parry, neutralizing the force would have been far from simple.
And yet, Jo Gun-hyeong was far from finished.
This time, five daggers tore through the air. Like the razor talons of a swooping raptor, each carved a distinct, deadly arc as they converged.
Swoooosh!
A half-hearted sword barrier won't hold this.
Instead of yielding ground, Dokgo Jin lunged forward, choosing to intercept the flying daggers head-on.
Cl-cl-cl-clang!
With miraculous precision, the tip of Extinction struck down four of the daggers. But one slipped through.
Rip!
The stray dagger grazed across his left shoulder. Having twisted his torso just in time, only his fabric was sliced, leaving the flesh underneath unmarked.
Yet before he could breathe, seven daggers filled his vision.
Truly a grandmaster of the throwing dagger.
The distance was too narrow to dodge, and the sheer volume too great to completely block. A chilling gleam ignited in Dokgo Jin's eyes as Extinction traced a blinding defense.
Cl-cl-cl-clang! Sh-sh-shwick!
He parried four, while the remaining three slashed past, sharply grazing his flank and thigh. It was the calculated price of split-second judgment—determining precisely which blades to deflect and which to let graze his body. Thanks to that brutal resolve, Dokgo Jin closed the gap, standing barely a single zhang before Jo Gun-hyeong. He had entered striking range; a single thrust of Extinction could pierce him.
Their eyes locked.
"..."
Extinction, hurtling toward Jo Gun-hyeong's impassive chest, suddenly reversed its trajectory in mid-air.
Cl-cl-clang!
A dagger lunging for Dokgo Jin's blind spot from behind was batted away by the blade. In that split-second interval, Jo Gun-hyeong deployed his lightness skill, swiftly gliding back to reestablish distance.
Astonishingly, the daggers Dokgo Jin had evaded had arced in mid-air, curving back to strike him from behind.
To assume a throwing dagger travels only in a straight trajectory is folly. Daggers can bend in wide crescents, and as proven here, they can even circle back like boomerangs. Jo Gun-hyeong had blended multiple advanced trajectories into a single volley of seven daggers. He had even factored in the exact paths Dokgo Jin would take to evade them.
And Dokgo Jin had seen through the trap, aborting his lethal lunge to preserve his life.
The seasoned masters observing the exchange from the crowd marvelled in awe.
"Incredible... both of them!"
"That's a banner commander's prowess for you!"
Yet doubts immediately crept in among the spectators.
At this rate, closing the distance will be near impossible for the Dragon-Tiger Plaque Master.
Still, he isn't the type to back down so easily.
How will he counter this...?
As the two peerless combatants stood locked in deadly equilibrium, the arena held its breath, the spectators' anticipation soaring to fever pitch.
Dark Sky Martial Emperor
Author | Jeong Cheon
Publisher | Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
Managing Editor | Editorial Department
Published by | Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. - Dreambooks
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