Last Vacation (2)
Their emergency treatment, which had eased their breathing, had just finished.
Swoosh! I immediately pulled out all the remaining Hoemyeongdan pills from my bosom.
I prescribed them generously to those in critical condition.
"Cheon Myeong, what do I even do to thank you?"
Meng Yuon, whose kind nature shone through, looked ready to burst into sobs.
"Your sect is basically my sect now."
Meng Yuon and Peng Jincheon were the first true friends I'd made since transmigrating into this world—friends I could open my heart to.
More than that, the Fighting Sword Sect belied its fierce name with its simple, family-like atmosphere and good-hearted people. I wanted to save as many of them as possible.
Whoever did this... they'll pay for it.
Nothing definitive had emerged yet on whether it was the Black Heaven Gang or someone else, so I held off on jumping to conclusions.
"Ugh... ughhh."
After a good long while, Meng Yuon’s master—the head of the Fighting Sword Sect, who ran the place like a tight-knit family—Fighting Spirit Sword Guest Meng Danya finally opened his eyes.
He was a swift swordsman renowned in Sichuan Province, a first-rate expert, but having passed sixty, his hair and beard were now thick with white. In other words, his prime years were behind him.
"Are you alright?"
I'd dosed him generously with Hoemyeongdan on account of his age, and it had done the trick.
For Meng Yuon—who was an orphan as far as the heavens were concerned—this man was like a father. He was the one who'd given Meng Yuon his surname and name, after all.
"Wh-who are you...?"
Meng Danya, barely revived with a sword wound still fresh across his chest, opened his mouth in astonishment.
"Sect Leader!"
Meng Yuon broke down in tears at the sight. Peng Jincheon and I calmed him as we spoke up.
"We're Yuon's best friends."
"We rushed here from Cheonmu Academy when we heard you'd lost contact."
Understanding the situation at our words, Meng Danya gripped my hand tightly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. To show my son's friends such a disgrace instead of proper hospitality."
Meng Danya bowed his head deeply, full of remorse.
"No need. True friends share each other's hardships, don't they?"
I said that as I tended to the other survivors as well. Thankfully, my medical skills had improved day by day, so there were no major issues, and I could put them at ease for the moment.
"You've cared for us, treated us, and even fed me precious medicine on top of that."
Meng Danya knew full well his rapid recovery was thanks to the Hoemyeongdan I'd given him. A seasoned warrior, as expected.
To calm his repeated thanks, I changed the subject.
"By the way, Sect Leader—what on earth turned the Fighting Sword Sect into this?"
I couldn't hold back my rage, my eyes blazing as I spoke.
I was just as furious as Meng Yuon. The Fighting Sword Sect reminded me of my own family in its harmony, and Sect Leader Meng Danya—essentially Meng Yuon's father—was a man worthy of respect.
I didn't know who had shattered this peaceful place to pieces, but they'd pay dearly, without fail.
"Master, was it the Black Heaven Gang?"
Meng Yuon wiped his tears and asked with grim resolve.
And sure enough, our suspicions hit the mark.
"How did you know about those bastards?"
Meng Danya stared in shock at Meng Yuon—his greatest pride.
"I overheard merchants talking on the way to Sichuan. They said the gang's been rampaging lately, sweeping up minor sects..."
"That's right. Their devilish schemes targeted our Fighting Sword Sect. We held out as best we could and proposed peaceful terms, but they were cowards. They pretended to accept, dragging it out... until they ambushed us last night."
Meng Danya's explanation only fueled my outrage. They'd feigned acceptance of peace talks, stalling day by day. In the meantime, they'd no doubt encroached on the inns and territories the sect managed, siphoning them away.
That's why the sect's funds dried up—they couldn't send Yuon pocket money or support.
It was textbook Black Gang and unorthodox sect tactics. Start off mild-mannered, slowly drain the blood. When the target weakens and staggers? Sink your teeth into the throat in one go.
Just like this.
"Since the ambush was last night, the Black Heaven Gang's vanguard must be celebrating nearby, right?"
I couldn't let them off the hook. Famous unorthodox sect or not, no mercy.
I ground my teeth and asked Meng Danya.
"That's true, but... they're dangerous. The Black Heaven Gang leader is a superhuman peak expert, and their vanguard includes first-rate masters. Our young, uninitiated disciples aren't enough. Regrettably..."
Meng Danya, the veteran of the jianghu, knew the world's harshness all too well. He swallowed his rage, insisting it was time to endure the injustice.
But we weren't the type to back down.
"Master, these two friends of mine, and..."
Clang!
Meng Yuon stopped crying. He drew his sword boldly and continued.
"I'm not the Meng Yuon I used to be."
Well said, Yuon.
Clang!
Peng Jincheon drew his blade in support.
"Not just me—the Peng Clan of Hebei won't stand for this either."
I clenched my fist and made my vow.
"I'll take the Black Heaven Gang leader."
The most effective way for a small elite force to defeat a larger enemy: strike the head.
But first...
I'll annihilate the Black Heaven Gang vanguard that torched Meng Yuon's home away from home—the Fighting Sword Sect.
"Where's the fanciest inn or best liquor joint around here?"
The reason was simple. Having succeeded in their ambush last night and claimed a easy victory, the enemy would be reveling, drunk on booze and merriment. With their guards down, drowning in liquor—how could I miss that opening?
"I'll guide you."
Meng Yuon took the lead.
And so, Cheonmu Trio's last vacation turned into a mission: saving the Fighting Sword Sect in peril.
"Uahaha!"
"A total rout—victory!"
"They said the Fighting Sword Sect was small but the master strong and disciples fierce. What a joke."
"Right? That old sect leader bawling, begging us to spare his disciples only? Hilarious."
"Kukuku, that's why we left 'em alive, yeah? If we hadn't torched the place..."
"Ha! Exactly. Burned alive means we honored the peace deal."
At the grandest inn in the village near the Fighting Sword Sect, we overheard demons in human masks laughing.
The Black Heaven Gang vanguard was toasting their cowardly win, partying nonstop.
"Man, shoulda stripped their martial arts before leaving."
"Yeah. Heard their swift swords were decent."
"Nah. Fighting Sword Sect's orthodox. Steal their arts, and the Murim Alliance might step in. This way's perfect."
Meng Yuon's face flushed crimson as he listened—timid and kind-hearted no more. His glare could've murdered them a dozen times over.
But I moved first.
Flames erupted!
The vanguard numbered over fifty. Outnumbered badly, ambush was our only play.
I unleashed fist force at the utterly off-guard foes.
Roarrrrr!
My pent-up fury fueled crimson fist blasts that became a fire demon, engulfing the villains.
Kaboom!
The massive inferno storm judged the wicked.
"Gaaahhh!"
"Wh-what the hell?!"
"Ambush! Ambush!"
"Where from? Cheongsung Sect? Ami Sect?"
"Or Sacheon Tang Clan?"
Drunk and reeling, they couldn't get their bearings.
"Yuon! Jincheon!"
I called my friends. Meng Yuon especially was bloodshot-eyed, itching to charge.
"Slaughter them all!"
No mercy today. Vowing to break the no-kill precept, I struck.
Before my flames spread to the innocent inn, I quelled them.
Nothing beat water-attribute Five Elements Fist for cleanup. Extinguishing the blaze while hammering the enemy—what could be better?
Kabooooom!
Two waves of fist force later, the fifty foes were halved in seconds.
These were all first-rate-ish experts, skilled enough—but drunk and careless? Easy pickings.
"It's those bastards!"
Sect Leader Meng Danya had mentioned a peak expert among them.
"Sichuan's famed blade master, Desolate Blade Ja-chung!"
A local's shout from inside the inn.
Desolate Blade Ja-chung: veteran peak expert, blade wielder from the unorthodox world.
A blade calls for a blade in return.
I glanced at Jincheon—he'd already unfolded his Heaven-Earth Chaos Blade Method.
Clang, claaaaang!
Sparks flew in their duel.
Desolate Blade Ja-chung lived up to his rep as a top warrior, but drunk and underestimating the "kid"? Fatal mistake.
Slice!
A chill sound, and Ja-chung's head flew.
We'd won the opening probe. A victory for the Fighting Sword Sect's vengeance, really.
"So, who's the vanguard captain?"
Our momentum surging, the three of us dominated the dozens remaining.
I sought their leader. Desolate Blade was strong but no commander.
There has to be a real boss.
My hunch nailed it—someone leaped forward.
"Don't care who you are—you just made a huge mistake. We're the Black Heaven Gang, pinnacle of Sichuan's unorthodox sects."
Overhearing murmuring locals, this was Cruel Twin Clubs Man Beom-seong, a peak expert the gang had scouted hard.
Some guy who wielded twin clubs in the unorthodox world, smashing skulls left and right—earning his brutal moniker.
"If you've got any guts among you, step up. One-on-one duel."
Man Beom-seong bellowed.
Unorthodox scum always pulled this: silent when ahead, crying for fair fights when behind.
I ignored him. Today's star wasn't me, but...
"Yuon. Tear him apart."
Little Affectionate Swordsman Meng Yuon.
No need for more words. The moment I called him...
Flash!
Even to my eyes, his sword tip blurred like a storm.
Meng Yuon had instinctively realized: this Cruel Twin Clubs was the ringleader who'd torched the sect and slaughtered its family.
Meng Yuon's revenge match had begun.