Murim Without a Heavenly Demon (7)
I locked eyes with a man who had one eye covered by an eyepatch. This place wasn't that remote of a mountain hollow, but it wasn't somewhere anyone would just happen to pass through, either. Especially not someone suspicious-looking at a time like this, with one eye patched up—what were the odds a decent person would come calling? And what were the odds that Cheok An Geum Gwi, chasing down the Fengyu Merchant Group, would track them all the way here?
My brain finished the math. Fuck me.
The one silver lining was the angle—Cheok An Geum Gwi probably couldn't get a good look at Hong Yeonhwa. Her petite frame made it possible for me to block her completely just by standing in front.
I straightened my shoulders to shield her and whispered softly.
"Go inside and hide."
"……."
She might not have grasped the full situation, but she read the mood just fine. Without a word, Hong Yeonhwa backed away stealthily into the room. Only after confirming she'd tucked herself completely behind the wall did I start moving—slowly, playing the part of a homeowner greeting an unexpected guest.
I eyed the sword at my waist while sizing up the gap between me and Cheok An Geum Gwi. He was a peak expert. Just one step above a first-rate like me, but that wall was no joke. Bigger than the gap between third-rate and first-rate, even. Unless he collapsed from exhaustion on his own, no number of first-rate martial artists could take him. There was a reason they started calling you a true master at peak—you'd stepped a little beyond the realm of ordinary humans.
So, somehow, I had to bluff my way out. Fighting was a losing bet from the start; surrender was my only play. If it came to blows... I'd drop to my knees fast, convince Hong Yeonhwa to hand over whatever hidden treasure or whatever, and beg for our lives.
Cheok An Geum Gwi was already at my doorstep. I laced my voice with the right mix of wariness and surprise.
"Who are you?"
"……."
"Lost your way? Head straight down the hill if so—the main road's there. The village below is close; you can see it with your eyes."
"……."
"Hey?"
Up close, Cheok An Geum Gwi looked utterly bizarre. Silk robes embroidered with dragons and phoenixes. Rings on every finger. Necklaces layered two or three deep. And makeup caked on thick as dough. He'd scraped together every gaudy, expensive-looking thing he could find... surpassing nouveau riche into full-on clown territory.
And this freak was just staring at me, silent. The thought that this weirdo could kill me without breaking a sweat was enough to make my head spin.
"Say something, at leas—"
"You."
I was mid-act when Cheok An Geum Gwi cut me off cold.
"Trying to scam me."
"What? Scam?"
"You're dying today because you dared to covet my money."
Fuck. Bluff failed hard. Not even a nibble.
For a split second, I almost admired the sheer gall of claiming the Fengyu Merchant Group's legacy as his own—and killing me over it. But a chill surged up, and I reflexively drew my sword.
Two clear metallic rings echoed out.
...Two?
Clang!
I blocked Cheok An Geum Gwi's initial strike purely by luck. He'd swung low in a diagonal slash, but that let my draw trajectory overlap his blade path.
"Guh!"
The moment our swords met, I knew. I'd figured it out in my head already, but my body confirmed it now. No chance. I couldn't win. The power in his blade was on another level. And he hadn't even unleashed sword qi, the mark of a peak expert.
One clash tore open my palms and nearly snapped my wrists. My bones hummed like alarm bells warning of danger.
I was just about to go into surrender mode per plan when our eyes met—his cold gaze.
...No negotiating with this guy. The type who figures stabbing a few times to force the truth out is way more efficient than thinking.
Should've surrendered the second I spotted him?
No time for regrets. He'd already reset his stance for the second strike.
"Nngh!"
I wrenched my body aside. My honed physique could handle awkward contortions. I'd blocked the first attack with my sword arcing overhead, so I tilted it slantwise. Then twisted sideways, shoving my shoulder forward. Final form: sword flat guarding my head, shoulder bracing the blade.
His vertical slash rained down on me.
Boom!
"Gaaahhh!!"
The crash was too violent for mere sword-on-sword. Probably that blue mist coiling his blade... sword qi. My body couldn't withstand it and got blasted backward.
When I came to, I was in the room, not the yard. Hong Yeonhwa's wide eyes and the shattered door met mine. Blacked out for a sec and flown in here, huh.
Good thing Master's sword was tough. A normal blade would've cleaved me along with it.
Crunch.
"Kuh..."
A slight shift, and agony exploded from my shoulder with a weird grinding sound. Shattered blocking that strike, no doubt. Once I noticed, pain screamed from everywhere—shoulder first. Bones creaked all over; muscles spasmed wildly. A fishy taste rising meant my organs were messed up too.
"Wh-what the...?"
Hong Yeonhwa's panicked face rushed over.
"Eut, ah, guh..."
Wanted to yell for her to run, but pain choked my words.
...Even if I could speak clear, she wouldn't bolt anyway.
Cheok An Geum Gwi kicked aside the door wreckage and stepped in. He stared hard at Hong Yeonhwa, then spoke.
"Hmm... Thought I'd killed every last drop of Fengyu Merchant Group blood... A bastard child living outside the group?"
"What nonsense. This lady is the Heavenly Demon. You, looking like a Peking opera actor, dare speculate on this lady's origins?"
"This lady? Heavenly Demon...?"
Cheok An Geum Gwi rolled his one good eye at her words. Hong Yeonhwa ignored it, clenching her tiny fist and aiming it at him.
"If you claim to be righteous even in death, leave this ignorant one be and face this lady."
"What? Righteous? Me?"
His flour-caked face twisted grotesquely, then he nodded.
"I see. A crazy bitch you kept locked up somewhere. Makes sense now. But..."
He raked her over with a leering gaze.
"Your looks are top-notch. Sell you to a brothel, and I'd rake in the gold. ...Alright, deal. Hand over the Fengyu Merchant Group's last legacy. I'll kill that guy quick and painless, and sell you to a decent house."
You fucking bitch? Even surrendering wouldn't have mattered then?
Answer's no, asshole!
"Urgh!"
Forcing myself up triggered a scream of pure agony. Hong Yeonhwa glanced over at the sound, eyes set like she'd made a decision.
No way...?
Before I could speak, she turned back and stepped forward.
"Not bad."
"Right? Then hurry up and—"
"However, it does not please this lady. So this lady shall offer a new choice."
Hong Yeonhwa pulled back her extended fist and planted it on her hip.
"Flee now, and this lady shall spare your life."
"Ha...?"
She nodded as if granting vast mercy. Cheok An Geum Gwi looked baffled for a beat, then scowled fiercely.
"Even a mad bitch... turning down fine wine for punishment drink? Fine. Face is fine; can do without limbs."
"The punishment drink falls to you, who dared speak so freely before this lady."
That did it. Cheok An Geum Gwi raised his sword high and charged, done holding back.
I desperately lunged to counter, but my broken body wouldn't obey. Collapsed after one step.
Lowering vision: his blade closing on Hong Yeonhwa's arm.
And... next instant, Cheok An Geum Gwi—punched in the gut by Hong Yeonhwa—crashed into the yard.
"Wha...?"
What just happened?
I saw it all. She dodged the incoming sword, slammed a fist into his solar plexus. Thwack! Leather-drum sound, and he flew back.
...Saw it clear as day, but it made zero sense. Even if he held back without killing intent, how dodge a peak expert? How did that punch send him flying?
Hong Yeonhwa's internal energy still felt faint. My senses weren't sharp enough for exact level, but definitely not enough to yeet a person.
I blinked stupidly, and she came over to haul me up.
"How... hiding your power...?"
"Enough. While this lady fights, flee. His goal is this lady; he won't bother chasing you."
"……."
She brushed off my question with an order to abandon her. Then whispered with a bitter smile.
"It was quite enjoyable while it lasted."