The Weight of Blood and the Fox's Rage
They could feel the weight of the blood. The path ahead seemed to stretch on forever, but exactly seven figures blocked it. There was no time to hesitate. They had to break through in one go. Eun Hwa-yeong spurred her One-Blood Horse even more fiercely forward.
Thud-thud-thud-thud! The horse charged with the momentum to trample everything in its path. But two figures leaped in front of it—a tall woman and a small one. Ju Ok-yeong and Im So-min. Moon-Cutting Blade and Cold Sword. The two first-rate experts gripped their blade and sword, their gazes fixed on different spots: the horse's left leg and right leg. They had instinctively realized they needed to neutralize Eun Hwa-yeong's mobility first.
"Tch." Eun Hwa-yeong twisted her lips. There was no space to dodge. She could turn aside, but that would send her right back where she came from.
"Sorry. Don't forgive them."
She muttered words of condolence as the distance closed. In that instant, her figure leaped high into the air. At the same time—
Thwip! Thwip! Her hand flicked out two flying daggers in a flash. The daggers streaked like lightning, aimed precisely at Ju Ok-yeong and Im So-min's hearts.
"...!"
They could dodge if they tried. Thud-thud-thud-thud! But then they couldn't strike the madly charging horse. Their goal would fail. In the end—
Shiiik! Shwick! Blade and sword flashed. Crack! Thunk! The gruesome sound of two legs being severed. Hiiiing! The One-Blood Horse let out a pitiful cry.
Thud! It collapsed. But—
Stab! Stab!
"Ugh!"
"Kuhk!"
The daggers pierced Ju Ok-yeong and Im So-min's backs. They had twisted at the moment of attack to avoid their hearts, but they were gravely wounded. They froze in pained expressions, unable to move further.
Tap. Meanwhile, Eun Hwa-yeong spun once in midair and landed gracefully. Without a backward glance, she dashed forward. The horse was sacrificed, but now only five remained.
"Th-this crazy bitch! Block her!"
A young man's urgent voice rang out. Though unfamiliar, she instantly knew who it was. Only one man could command these experts so boldly at the Golden Dragon Battlefield: the new young master, Bang So-un.
'He came himself?'
Conflict flickered in Eun Hwa-yeong's heart for a moment. Bang So-un was a third-rate escort agency heir with unremarkable martial arts. Yet here he was, boldly on the front lines—likely to oversee the entire scheme. Whatever. What mattered was the chance to strike the enemy's head directly. Capture Bang So-un, and the battle ended.
'The odds...'
They're good, her mind calculated swiftly. With that, her figure veered sharply toward Bang So-un.
Whoosh! Her form shot forward with every step, her astonishing lightness skill evident at once. Bang So-un's face twisted in panic. It was understandable. Red-Eyed Fox Eun Hwa-yeong—her true power level had never been properly known. At best, people assumed her Pavilion origins as a courtesan meant mediocre or worse skills. Even her closest friend, I Yeon, didn't know her full extent; she'd never shown it, and no one had asked.
That ignorance became Bang So-un's blind spot.
"Y-young master... this is no joke!" Jang Il's eyes widened in shock.
"Kuh, I see it too."
He hadn't noticed on horseback earlier. Such super peak lightness skill. And those razor-sharp flying daggers. No woman with that combination could have ordinary martial arts.
"Y-young master... fall back for now!"
Jang Il tried to shove Bang So-un behind him, just in case.
"No, let's head inside."
Bang So-un calmed himself and moved not toward the exit, but deeper in. He'd realized the fox was targeting him, not escape. Perfect. Using himself as bait drew her in—like a lure. He still had three aces left. If they held, victory was his. And one was a trump card tailored against Eun Hwa-yeong. With that in reserve, this fight was already won.
"Come on, you fox bitch!"
Bang So-un bellowed from inside, channeling his energy. At the same moment, two Jeolhwadae members blocked Eun Hwa-yeong's path—nearly as skilled as Ju Ok-yeong or Im So-min. Sword and spear struck in tandem assault.
But then—Eun Hwa-yeong finally drew her weapon.
Thwip. A flexible sword uncoiled from her waist. The drawing sound alone revealed it was no ordinary straight sword.
"Chain Sword!"
Bang So-un shouted. The bluish chain sword wasn't rigid but supple and bendy—favored by those favoring tricky attacks. Hard to master, it wasn't common. Yet here it was in Eun Hwa-yeong's hand.
Shwick! The spear tip thrust forward. Shiiik! The sword sliced the air sharply. A powerful joint attack from the two Jeolhwadae elites.
In that split second, Eun Hwa-yeong's left and right hands moved as one.
Whip! Clack! Her chain sword's sheath suddenly clamped the enemy's sword. As the spear came, she whipped the chain sword to meet it.
Whirrl! The blade spun along the spear in a bizarre twist. A soft motion, yet the spear's power drained sharply. Seizing the moment, she released the sword clamp and thrust forward.
The spear-wielding Jeolhwadae member retreated to dodge. The chain sword seemed to cut empty air. But—
A blue aura surged ahead. Splat! Blood sprayed high. Her throat was slashed.
"S-sword qi!"
Bang So-un's eyes bulged in a stunned groan. Sword qi—that blue energy was pure sword qi. The hallmark of a Peak expert. Meaning...
This madwoman's Peak?!
With that thought, the first Jeolhwadae member fell.
Thud! The female warrior collapsed forward, bleeding out. Sword qi to a vital spot—fatal.
"Y-you-young master...."
Jang Il's body trembled, his earlier composure shattered. Now he truly felt the battlefield's weight. This was the murim world. To claim what they wanted, they had to risk everything—no exceptions for Bang So-un or Jang Il. If they dared seize this ruthless world, they must be prepared to lose it all.
Live or die. Win or lose.
"Damn it. My fault, my fault."
Bang So-un's face contorted in self-reproach. With better intel, a better plan—could he have taken Eun Hwa-yeong without spilling blood? He didn't know. But regret gnawed, the blood's weight heavy on him.
Crack!
"Gahk...."
Another Jeolhwadae member fell to sword qi, spewing blood. No fool would stand still with their sword sheathed. Especially not the ruthless fox who'd crushed all before her.
Bloody Eun Hwa-yeong shot toward Bang So-un without pause.
"Y-young master! Dodge now!"
Jang Il yelled desperately, blocking in front. He'd been saved from Sagong Hemi before. Now it was his turn to save Bang So-un.
"...No, one left."
Bang So-un bit his lip and held firm.
"O-one against that monster?!"
Two had fallen in seconds. One? Impossible unless it was Peak expert Yeon Su-rin. But she was at the rear. What was he thinking?
"Red-Eyed Fox! I'm right here!"
Bang So-un shouted, sword drawn. But Eun Hwa-yeong caught his legs trembling with tension.
"Bluffing isn't pretty."
She murmured coldly and lunged. Thud! Two steps away now—for her, an instant.
That moment—
"Block her."
Bang So-un commanded his final pawn. Tap! A black-clad woman's figure sprang forward. Eun Hwa-yeong didn't blink, wrapping the swung sword with her chain sword and pressing down.
Whirrl! As the chain sword pinned low, the woman's form wobbled. Shwick! Eun Hwa-yeong released and struck for the throat.
Right then—the drawn chain sword froze midair for the first time.
Eun Hwa-yeong's eyes widened in horror.
"Y-Yeon...?!"
I Yeon. Her one true friend, the only one she'd opened her heart to—right before her.
...Why? Impossible. She would never betray me. Never block my path with a sword.
Yet... that face. Smeared thickly with sticky white fluid—man's semen, unmistakable. The kind, pure impression now defiled by that filthy mess.
Her chest tightened like it was crushed. Blood tears threatened.
"Yeon!"
Her trembling cry met only—
Shwick! A sharp downward sword strike. Eun Hwa-yeong dodged late; the blade grazed her shoulder. Splat. Blood sprayed from her.
A light wound. But it tore her heart like a mortal blow.
"Aaaaaahhh!"
The wounded fox howled. True blood tears streamed from her eyes, staining her face red.
"I'll kill you! Whoever did this to Yeon—I'll kill you!"
Eun Hwa-yeong's red eyes gleamed with mad fury.
Tap-tap-tap!
"Wh-where are you going all of a sudden?!"
"Run."
"Huh?"
"No, those are crazy eyes. Real crazy eyes."
Bang So-un bolted backward. As a kid, a rabid dog had rampaged in his neighborhood. The two idiots who threw stones died bitten. Only the runners survived—including him. Lesson learned: flee rabid dogs.
And this was a rabid bitch who'd slain two already? Run. Run twice.
"Uwaaaah, wait for me, wait!"