Chapter 47: In the Human World, April's Fragrance Ends (18)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 47: In the Human World, April's Fragrance Ends (18)
"Something is wrong."
Shin Ja-eon, Leader of the Severing Sword Sect, stood before his gathered disciples.
"Everything has been off since the Seo Mu-ryang incident. I was certain he was in league with Mount Cheonro, but no matter how deep we dug into the Golden Powder Gang, no evidence surfaced. Instead, it was his suspicious dealings with the White Dragon Gang that stood out."
Shin Ja-eon licked his lips, his eyes narrowing.
"Lee Yu-baek seemed content to let the matter rest, but my suspicions remained. And now, what is this nonsense about them drinking in some remote valley? I sent someone to investigate, and the White Dragon Gang’s headquarters is a ghost town. It’s completely empty. Even their ledgers and valuables are gone."
"...You sent someone inside their headquarters, Master?"
"Yes. I sent In-so to infiltrate. The situation was simply too suspicious."
"My junior fellow disciple... Then it’s true? The White Dragon Gang has truly vanished?"
"It doesn't look that way from the outside, but the core is gone. It’s as if they packed only the essentials, planning to skip town under the cover of night."
"What could that possibly mean..."
"And that’s not all. The inner disciples of the Pungryu Martial Hall have also secretly departed the city. Hyeon-seung confirmed it."
"...Are you suggesting the White Dragon Gang and the Pungryu Martial Hall are about to go to war? Surely that can't be right."
"It seems unlikely, but it is clear that a great fire has been lit."
Shin Ja-eon tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, looking at his four disciples.
"Summon every member. We take our swords and head to that valley immediately."
"...Aren't we risking an incident by meddling in the affairs of another faction?"
"Then we will take the heat and offer an apology later. A great fire is blazing, and I must see for myself whether those flames are destined to spread to us."
Shin Ja-eon pushed his chair back and stood.
"We move now. Get ready."
* * *
At that same moment.
Before Hang In-woo’s betrayal had been laid bare.
The inner disciples of the Pungryu Martial Hall had been grumbling with discontent.
"Isn't the First Disciple being a bit too paranoid?"
"I know, right? Of all people, Gang Leader Hang In-woo would never stab our Master in the back..."
"Hah. Seriously. He was so insistent that we come, but this feels like a complete waste of time."
"If word gets out about this, it’s going to be incredibly embarrassing."
They had trusted Hang In-woo implicitly.
How many years had they spent together? How many times had Lee Yu-baek conceded his own interests to support Hang In-woo and the White Dragon Gang?
That was why, when the swords were finally drawn and the atmosphere turned lethal, their rage was all the greater. Their fury burned white-hot.
"When our Master had good news, he celebrated with us. When we were in sorrow, he grieved with us."
Lee Yu-baek was a man of immense magnanimity. Whenever he secured a great profit, he never kept it for himself, always sharing the wealth with his inner disciples.
"And yet the Hang family, who received more from him than any of us, dares to betray our Master?"
"Do they not fear the heavens?!"
The Pungryu Martial Hall’s inner disciples numbered just over twenty. In contrast, the White Dragon Gang had more than sixty men on the field. They were outnumbered more than two to one.
Even so, the inner disciples were not intimidated. Their righteous fury drowned out any trace of fear.
Fweeeet—!
When Kang Mu-hyeok’s signal finally pierced the air:
"Let’s go!"
Sching!
Without a moment’s hesitation, the inner disciples drew their swords in unison.
"If they do not fear the heavens, then we will make them fear us!"
* * *
Even in the heart of the enemy formation, Lee Yu-baek’s disciples did not falter.
"If we each take down two or three of them, we win, right?" said the second disciple, Seon Je-hun, known as the "Gale."
"Tsk. And you call yourself a direct disciple? You should take down at least four or five," the first disciple, Kang Mu-hyeok, chided him.
"Oh. Then I’ll just take three or four. I’m not so sure about five..." Mo Cheong trailed off.
Kang Mu-hyeok looked back at his two junior fellow disciples and warned, "Conserve your strength. Strike their weak points and end them efficiently."
"Yeah, yeah."
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
And then—
Kaaaaang!
Kang!
Lee Yu-baek was already clashing with Hang In-woo.
Craaaack!
As his left hand formed a Sword Secret Finger behind his back, his right hand swung his blade, striking Hang In-woo’s broadsword with precision.
"Kuh...!"
Lee Yu-baek wielded his sword with one hand while Hang In-woo gripped his broadsword with two, yet it was Hang In-woo who was forced back. Before he could even put his full weight into the strike, Lee Yu-baek’s sword had already found a vulnerable point.
"You’re slow, In-woo."
"That’s..."
Clang!
Before he could answer, a blade cut through his breath, unleashing a wave of Hard Force.
Hang In-woo’s face contorted. He was suddenly reminded of his training days under Lee Yu-baek.
What was it the man had always said?
Why didn't you raise your sword? Why didn't you block?
Hang In-woo let out a furious roar.
"You still have that same damn habit!"
Fwump!
Though there was no wind in the valley, his robes billowed violently. A shimmering haze rose from his body, twisting the surrounding air into a vortex.
Fierce Fire Piercing the Heavens.
He had reached a state where his blazing True Fire could generate tangible physical pressure. It was proof that he had not only entered the ranks of the first-rate but had firmly established his foundation there.
Fwoooosh!
His Fire Phase was both ferocious and delicate. He madly drew out his firepower, while simultaneously circulating it through the Twelve Standard Meridians, the Twelve Divergent Meridians, and the Fifteen Collateral Vessels, flooding his entire body with heat.
He forced the flames through the Collateral Meridians and even the Fine Collateral Vessels. Though crude, it induced a minute and partial refinement of his physical form.
As a result—
Crrrack!
The thick muscles of his arms danced, and his joints groaned like straining whalebone.
Lee Yu-baek’s brow furrowed.
"You... are using the martial arts of the Unorthodox Faction?"
Over-refining the body to the point of damaging one's own muscles and bones was a hallmark of the Unorthodox Path. But Hang In-woo had managed it with surprising stability. While it strained his frame, his brutally developed muscles and naturally thick bones absorbed the impact. Furthermore, the delicate control of his Fire Phase—ironically learned from Lee Yu-baek—mitigated the backlash.
The arm refined in this way resonated powerfully with the Innate True Qi in his Eight Extraordinary Meridians, resulting in an explosive surge of power.
Screeeech!
An eerie, ghost-like wail echoed from Hang In-woo’s broadsword.
Ghost Wailing Sword.
Tenth Form: A Downpour Carving the Heavens.
With veins bulging across his body, Hang In-woo swung his broadsword like a specter. The joints of his arm bent at impossible angles, adding unnatural speed to the tip of his blade.
Swish-swish-swish-swish!
The air split as if whipped. Sword strikes that defied inertia, born from the harmony of his Qi, relentlessly targeted Lee Yu-baek’s vitals.
Lee Yu-baek dodged the ghastly attack by a hair’s breadth.
Willow Leaf Step.
Seventh Form: A Fallen Leaf Evades the Wind.
"What...!"
Hang In-woo had poured a massive amount of strength into the assault, but Lee Yu-baek had evaded it with ease. Now, it was Lee Yu-baek’s turn.
A swift and decisive victory.
The Pungryu Sword was as fast as the wind and as flexible as a willow. It moved one step ahead, feinting and deflecting. If a ploy landed correctly, it was a style that could subdue any opponent in an instant.
Moreover, Lee Yu-baek’s current cultivation realm far surpassed Hang In-woo’s.
Hang In-woo broke out in a cold sweat.
"Weren't you suffering from an internal injury?"
"You were counting on that, weren't you? Too bad for you."
Lee Yu-baek’s blade steadily cornered Hang In-woo. One mistake, one wrong move, and his life would be forfeit.
Hang In-woo’s face was drenched in sweat. The unexpected appearance of the inner disciples, Lee Yu-baek fighting at peak condition—everything was deviating from his plan.
Against his better judgment, his eyes darted around to survey the battlefield.
Damn it! These worthless bastards!
The White Dragon Gang was being steadily pushed back. Despite outnumbering their opponents two to one, most of the corpses on the ground belonged to his men. The Pungryu Martial Hall fought with a unity born of rage and camaraderie. In contrast, the White Dragon Gang was flustered by a resistance far stronger than they had anticipated.
The tip of Hang In-woo’s sword grew increasingly wild. Lee Yu-baek’s blade, however, remained as steady as a mountain.
Calmly pressing his advantage, Lee Yu-baek asked, "Why did you do something so foolish? I don't understand. Even if Mount Cheonro is your benefactor, that is no reason to kill me. Could you not have continued to prosper by my side?"
"Heh heh. You’re the one being foolish. After you wipe out Mount Cheonro, what if my name comes up? Do you think you would have let me live, Elder Brother?"
"So you had no choice but to strike me? To save your own skin?"
"It’s your fault, Elder Brother. If you had just left Mount Cheonro alone, none of this would have happened."
"What a pathetic excuse."
"Hah. Really? So you're saying you wouldn't have killed me even if my name was linked to them?"
"I kill those who deserve to die. No matter who they are."
"See? There you have it."
"No, In-woo. 'Killing those who deserve to die' and 'killing you because your name came up' are two completely different things."
"What’s the damn difference?"
"They are different. Entirely different."
Hang In-woo’s brow furrowed deeply.
"You know what? I always hated it when you talked like you were the only one who knew anything."
Hang In-woo’s sword grew even more erratic. Deceived by Lee Yu-baek’s feints, he began to stumble.
"In-woo," Lee Yu-baek spoke as if chiding a child. "Your heart is wavering."
"You son of a...!"
Hang In-woo’s breathing was ragged. A flicker of pity crossed Lee Yu-baek’s eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. His sword, without the slightest tremor, continued to suppress Hang In-woo with exquisite, unpredictable movements.
"You are the one who betrayed me, yet you are the one who wavers. I haven't wavered in the slightest."
"Shut up! Just shut your mouth!"
A terrifying strike aimed for his neck. Hang In-woo tried to parry it with all his might. That was his fatal mistake.
Whoosh!
"Ah...!"
What he thought was a lethal attack was a feint. Faster than it had been extended, Lee Yu-baek’s sword faltered and bent away. The blade aura Hang In-woo unleashed struck empty air, and he was forced to bear the backlash of his own momentum.
"Hup...!"
He desperately circulated his True Qi to offset the force pulling him off balance, but such momentum was not easily negated.
Crack!
A sharp pain shot through his waist, and his body momentarily stiffened. Lee Yu-baek did not miss the opening.
"You were always so clumsy. I mistook it for innocence. I never realized it was cowardice."
His sword, without a hint of hesitation, lunged for Hang In-woo’s heart.
I’m... going to die...
The moment Hang In-woo’s face went deathly pale—
Claaaaang!
A straight-backed saber appeared like a shadow, knocking Lee Yu-baek’s sword aside. The Hard Force that erupted from the clash swept through the area, scattering sand and whipping their clothes into a frenzy.
"..."
Lee Yu-baek fell silent. He knew immediately who had intervened.
"Mount Cheonro?"
The man in the gray hood didn't answer. Instead, he bowed slightly to Hang In-woo.
"Third Chieftain. My apologies for being late."
"..."
Hang In-woo did not reply.
"Didn't the First and Second Chieftains tell you? Lee Yu-baek isn't the type to back down. And he’s not so naive as to skip basic precautions. It was obvious this would happen, which is why they sent me."
After a long silence, Hang In-woo asked, "How did you know we’d be here today?"
"Well, I’ve been hiding out in Xinxing County for a few days, watching. Ah, and I figured you’d be angry if I showed up right away, so I made sure to appear at a dramatic moment."
"You really are an irritating bastard. The spot where you stabbed me still aches."
"Aigoo. Please, try to forget about that. I made a mistake back then. I never imagined that the youngest, So-u, would become the Third Chieftain..."
"Tsk."
"Please, let it go. We’ll be living together in the stronghold now, and I’m terrified of you."
Listening to their conversation, Lee Yu-baek let out a hollow laugh.
"Third Chieftain?"
Hang In-woo smiled bitterly. "Well. That’s how it turned out."
"Then... Seo Mu-ryang..."
"Seo Mu-ryang approached me to build connections with Mount Cheonro. I think he secretly wanted to take my position, but heh. As if that would ever happen."
"..."
"So you were a Mount Cheonro bandit from the beginning."
"Something like that. I was stabbed and kicked out, but it’s only been a few years since I rejoined the family. Well. It’s all thanks to you, Elder Brother. In many ways."
Swoosh.
The wind blew, thick with the scent of blood and damp with killing intent.
The warriors of the Pungryu Martial Hall looked at their surroundings. Their side numbered less than thirty. The enemy, now joined by the bandits, easily exceeded a hundred. They were completely surrounded.
What’s more, the presence of the newly arrived bandits was formidable. There were at least three first-rate martial artists among them, a shimmering haze rising from their shoulders. The difference in strength was too great.
The morale that had soared began to falter. Lee Yu-baek keenly sensed the shift.
This is bad.
The mood had shifted from "Let’s fight!" to "Are we all going to die?" Enemies who fell into this state of mind always collapsed. At this rate, they would be routed. It would be impossible to even break the encirclement.
I need something to turn the tide...
Just as his anxiety reached its peak—
Piiing—!
An arrow, flying from an unknown location, pierced the brow of a bandit in the encirclement. With a dull thud, the man collapsed.
"What...?"
Before anyone could react, a second and third arrow flew in.
Thwack! Thwack!
One arrow sprouted from the brow of a bandit looking around in shock; another embedded itself in a different bandit’s temple.
Thump. Thump.
They collapsed instantly.
Out of the corner of his eye, Lee Yu-baek caught a glimpse of a crumpled official’s hat and patched, lowly rags disappearing into the trees above.
"You crazy bastard! Where did that come from?!"
In the instant the bandits reacted in shock, Lee Yu-baek kicked off the ground.
Fwoom!
He accelerated abruptly, striking at the enemy’s unguarded moment. His targets were Hang In-woo and the bandit who had called him Third Chieftain.
If I can take down the leaders...!
Lee Yu-baek’s foot stomped the ground once more, and he accelerated further. The harmony of his Qi dispersed the air resistance, rendering his movement silent. The surrounding scenery blurred behind him like a waterfall.
Lee Yu-baek’s sword, glowing with a pale green light, leaped up like a salmon, aiming straight for the neck of the bandit who had blocked his blade.