Eyes of Burning Vengeance
Why were her eyes like that...? There could be countless reasons for training one's eyes that way. In Muyeong Bido's case, it was to grow stronger. And naturally, that pursuit of strength had its own driving force: revenge. She had been honing her blade for a decade to repay the indelible humiliation she'd suffered ten years ago.
A master of flying knife techniques who had once dominated the jianghu, her pride had soared after breaking through to the Peak realm. Arrogance might have played a part. But that towering self-esteem and hubris had shattered in a single night. In the hated land of Sichuan. The Tang family of Sichuan. The mighty clan renowned for poisons and hidden weapons. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined that such a powerhouse would stoop to filthy deeds in broad daylight.
"Step back."
At that single command, the inn's patrons vanished like the ebbing tide, as if they'd rehearsed it beforehand.
"They say you're pretty good with flying knives, huh?"
The man who introduced himself as Dang Cheol-san spoke in a provocative tone.
"And?"
His words weren't polite, so neither were hers.
"Perfect. Just right to serve as fertilizer for my reputation."
"What?"
"I'm saying I'll devour your no-name fame."
Dang Cheol-san flashed a repulsive smile.
"Hmph. Tang family or whatever, I don't back down from a fight that comes to me."
Muyeong Bido stood her ground defiantly. But.
It wasn't just Dang Cheol-san who moved. The Tang clan warriors he'd brought swarmed in, encircling her all at once.
"Eek... What the hell is this?!"
It was so absurd she could only blurt it out. But.
"What else? We're gonna gang up on you."
Dang Cheol-san spat words fit for a back-alley thug, a thick sneer curling his lips.
"You're insane. You think the Tang name will come out of this unscathed if word gets out?"
"It will. No one will believe your lone ravings anyway. Everyone in the inn, all my Tang warriors, and finally me—we'll all say it was a fair one-on-one duel."
"Kuh... What?!"
She'd heard plenty that the Tang played dirty despite being orthodox, but they were still righteous. One of the Five Great Families, pillars of the righteous sects. Muyeong Bido's shock was all the greater for never imagining they'd sink this low.
"Heh, dirty? The world only cares about results. The victor spins the process however they like, and that's that."
Dang Cheol-san sneered as he rose. Clap. He clapped his hands once.
The Tang warriors pounced on Muyeong Bido in unison. And so the fight began.
The outcome was predictable. Outnumbered. Muyeong Bido suffered a crushing defeat.
Squish.
Dang Cheol-san ground his heel into the back of her battered, broken head as she lay sprawled.
"Ugh... uuuuh...."
"Muyeong Bido put up a decent fight, but it ended in my victory—Dang Cheol-san's—in mere moments. How's that?"
"Excellent, Young Master."
"Good. Now make it the truth. Got it?"
"Yes, sir."
"You... despicable... bastard...."
Muyeong Bido barely moved her bloodied lips to spit her venom.
"Despicable?" Squish! Dang Cheol-san pressed harder.
"Uuuuugh...."
A groan of agony escaped her.
"Pathetic. This is your fault. You never should have set foot in Sichuan. The moment you dared tread this land, this was your fate."
"Ugh... uuuuh...."
"Listen well. Never set foot in Sichuan again. Don't even flap your mouth. Live like the rat you are, scurrying in the shadows. That's fitting for a rootless bitch with no pedigree."
He spoke as if gazing at an insignificant ant. To him, it was the most natural thing in the world. In his mind, the jianghu folk fell into three categories: the ruling elite of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families; those barely treated as people from mid-tier sects; and the vermin from minor sects or unaffiliated riffraff without even a registry.
Dang Cheol-san lifted his foot and turned away.
"Clean it up perfectly. Shatter both her wrists."
"Yes, sir."
Crack! Crunch!
"Aaaargh!"
"Goddamn it."
Just recalling that memory made her head throb. Her gut boiled. An hatred that would never fade.
"I'll kill him. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him. Kill him."
She couldn't let that dog-like bastard Dang Cheol-san live. Not that mongrel flaunting his overblown title of Dark Severer.
In a one-on-one, she'd never have suffered such shame. His hidden weapons hadn't felt superior to hers. Yet the jianghu had already accepted it as fact that he'd crushed her. It wasn't his power. It was the Tang family's might that made it so.
Grind.
Muyeong Bido clenched her teeth.
"Just a little more. No matter what."
She had grown stronger. Undeniably so. Strong enough to swear she could slaughter that Dang Cheol-san a hundred times out of a hundred.
But.
Dang Cheol-san had grown stronger over those ten years too. And the truly terrifying part wasn't him. It was the Tang family's power. Even now, he'd have those damned Tang lackeys glued to his side. Without the strength to kill them all too, revenge was impossible.
Knowing that, she'd spent a full decade sharpening her blade of vengeance, building her power.
It was fine. A gentleman's revenge was never too late, even after ten years.
"Hm?"
That was when it happened. Muyeong Bido's expression changed. She'd sensed presences approaching her hideout. Several of them.
Not villagers. Villagers moved with heavier, unguarded steps. Untrained common folk.
Which meant.
"Those guys again? Or..."
Muyeong Bido's brow furrowed.
***
"Sure are a lot of caves, huh."
Bang So-un muttered as he scanned the surroundings. Over a dozen visible just by eye. Checking each for a hideout would be a chore.
"Phew, how long's this gonna take?"
Jang Il clucked his tongue, already sounding drained.
"Any presences?"
Bang So-un glanced at Yeon Su-rin.
"My apologies, but not yet..."
Yeon Su-rin bowed her head, abashed.
"Nah, it's fine, it's fine."
Bang So-un smiled leisurely. He knew well. Even against another Peak expert, sensing someone hiding inside was far harder. If they were determined to conceal their presence, spotting them from outside was no easy task.
"Hmm... Should we split up and check 'em one by one?"
Jang Il blinked.
Bang So-un shook his head.
"No, too risky. If she's hostile, you could get jumped alone."
"Ah, true. So we all stick together?"
"Haha, that'd take forever."
"Then, Young Master, got some clever idea...?"
"Clever idea, huh. Yeah, something's come to mind. We're far enough from the village—might as well go bold."
"Ooh, what is it, Young Master?"
Jang Il's eyes gleamed.
"Fire."
Bang So-un smiled meaningfully.
"Fire?"
"Light a blaze at every entrance, pump out smoke. Think she'll sit tight? She'll bolt like a filly with its tail on fire."
"Aha."
Jang Il nodded vigorously, finally getting it.
"As expected of you, Young Master. A walking sack of tricks."
"Haha, this ain't much."
Bang So-un chuckled and turned to his slaves.
"You heard? Torch 'em quick as you can."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Yes, Great Master."
Jeolhwadae sprang into action.
***
"Hm?"
Muyeong Bido, suppressing her presence, caught it. The acrid stench of smoke stinging her nose.
F-Fire?!
Those mad bastards!
Her eyes bulged in fury, rage surging to her scalp.
This wasn't provocation. It was shoving a blade at her heart.
Muyeong Bido burst out without hesitation, killing intent blazing.
***
Tat-tat-tat!
"She's coming!"
Yeon Su-rin warned with a stiff expression, shielding Bang So-un. Ju Ok-yeong guarded him too. Gal Sahyeon blocked Jang Il.
And soon.
A silhouette shot from a distant cave.
Shrieeek! Shwick!
The moment she emerged, something sliced the air sharply. Flying knives.
Clang! Kang!
Yeon Su-rin deflected the knives aimed at Bang So-un and herself.
Kang! Claaang!
Gal Sahyeon blocked those targeting Jang Il and her.
Meanwhile.
Kiiing!
"Ugh?"
Ju Ok-yeong frowned as she parried a knife aimed at her nape. It wasn't just fast and precise—the force behind it was far stronger than expected. Her hand went numb.
This was the gap between first-rate and Peak. She felt it keenly.
"Haha, well now. She's pissed, huh?"
Bang So-un let out a laugh.
No words, straight to assassination. Not something that happened without extreme provocation.
Of course, he'd anticipated it. Setting caves ablaze was plenty to drive anyone berserk.
"Jang Il, your turn."
Bang So-un said expectantly.
"You got it, Young Master."
Jang Il stepped forward eagerly.
...Though Gal Sahyeon clung to his side like a nanny.
"Over here, you bitch! I'll beat the manners into you uppity slut—come get some!"
Jang Il taunted.
Muyeong Bido had likely never heard such vulgar bait in her life. Not even that dog Dang Cheol-san had stooped that low.
"You... you son of a bitch I'll rip apart!"
Muyeong Bido's form lunged at Jang Il.
The taunt had worked. Her gaze locked perfectly.
Jang Il's eyes widened hugely at once. Eerie eyes that seemed to suck you in just by looking. They glowed demonically, drawing everything in.
With storm-like force. The power that had subdued even Black Dream Butterfly in an instant.
A triumphant smile curled Jang Il's lips.
But.
"Why are your eyes like that, you freak?"
Shrieeeeeek!
Flying knives hurtled mercilessly. Three of them.