Chapter 184
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Lightning Flash (4)
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*It was when he reached 'three hundred eighty'. That meant starting from 'three hundred fifty', thirty more counts had passed—a mere sliver of time, just one-fifth of an incense stick's burn (fifteen minutes).
Jin Ga-yong sidestepped diagonally without even glancing back, drawing his sword behind him.
Whoosh.
The merchant escort lunging for a backstab convulsed like a fish out of water. His vision had gone pitch black.
Both literally and figuratively...
The escort dropped his swinging blade, clutched his eyes with both hands, and rolled on the ground.
"Argh! My ey~es!"
This made five who had tried to ambush Jin Ga-yong from behind and ended up dead or crippled.
The inner courtyard teemed with over fifty swordsmen, so numerically overwhelming. But these five were all who had dared attempt a backstab so far. It was proof enough that rushing him never ended well.
As a result, dozens of swordsmen trailed behind Jin Ga-yong, weapons drawn and charging en masse, yet none dared step within three paces of him.
They'd all become mere scenery.
If the outer courtyard guards were this rattled, one could only imagine the pressure on those facing him head-on in the inner courtyard.
Their boiling fighting spirit shattered in an instant. Over twenty swordsmen backpedaled simultaneously, driven off by Jin Ga-yong alone.
And as the momentum shifted, Jin Ga-yong lunged forward, sword flashing.
He slashed two aside and drove his blade tip straight into the heart of the man deep inside, bellowing encouragements to rally the fight!
Squelch.
The stabbed man was the captain leading the merchant escorts—a big name in the jianghu, hired by the Gold Lion Merchant Group at great expense. But he was no different from the rest, managing only a final word to Jin Ga-yong with eyes wide in shock.
Gurgle.
What was that, like a toad croaking in rage?
Blood had surged up his throat. So he must have been trying to say something like, "Who are you?" That was the usual last gasp from those who crossed swords with Jin Ga-yong, whether they truly knew nothing of him or foolishly thought they did.
Rumble~
The inner courtyard guards scattered left and right. While the outer guards had learned "Rush him and you're screwed," these had learned "Loitering in front of Jin Ga-yong means death."
A path cleared before Jin Ga-yong. At its end stood the Gold Lion Merchant Group's office.
Step, step.
*It was when he reached 'four hundred'.
Three awaiting escort guards inside the office met their end on Jin Ga-yong's blade. The outcome was the same—"Rush him and you're screwed"—but at least they'd exchanged a few blows, a small consolation.
*It was when he reached 'four hundred twenty'.
Now, only two living souls remained in the office: Jin Ga-yong and the elderly, martial arts-ignorant owner of the Gold Lion Merchant Group, Elder Seok Ryul.
In one corner lay an old swordmaster turned eternal guest. Seok Ryul gazed at him with a complicated expression and spoke.
"Incredible. To think that guy bit the dust in just ten exchanges. He was quite the name in Jiangnan... The world had the wrong idea about Ye Mountain's Zhao Family Manor's second young master!"
"Those your dying words?"
"No, wait! Before you act, will you hear this old man out first?"
Seok Ryul, sensing Jin Ga-yong's aura was off, spoke urgently.
Didn't they say one word could repay a debt of a thousand taels? He planned to start with flattery to open the conversation, soften the mood, then negotiate a deal for his life. With his wealth, he had plenty of cards to play.
But...
'He's rushing things, no helping it. First, show the Choeojin list to calm him, then haggle the compensation amount...?'
Slice.
A chill suddenly grazed Seok Ryul's Adam's apple, filling him with dread. Clutching it, hot liquid soaked his hand.
Eh? This wasn't supposed to happen...
At that moment, Jin Ga-yong twirled his sword in the air, flinging off the blood, and sheathed it with a click. The swordsman's blade had served its purpose here.
Clack.
Jin Ga-yong fixed his cold gaze on the collapsing Seok Ryul and said,
"The world doesn't know this Jin? You're no different, Merchant Lord. I've come to hold you accountable, not to discuss some constructive future."
Seok Ryul collapsed clutching his throat, trembling as he died. Jin Ga-yong departed.
By then, Bi-ho had counted to 'four hundred fifty', meaning Jin Ga-yong's incursion and exit from the Gold Lion Merchant Group had taken just a bit over half an incense stick.
Lightning quick.
The Zhao Family Manor had begun with a daytime raid on the Choeojin assembly point yesterday, scattering them like leaves. They planned six more strikes before night's end.
One down: the Gold Lion Merchant Group, courtesy of Jin Ga-yong. The other five were either already hit or en route.
For reference, Bi-ho's team had drawn the same duty. The difference? Others had clear targets; Bi-ho's was at their discretion.
This massive counterattack came three days after the Choeojin dared touch the Zhao Family Manor. Petty revenge for the offense, grand warning to the jianghu.
'The Zhao Family Manor never forgets grudges!'
Bi-ho stopped counting at 'four hundred sixty-three'. His bait had gotten a bite. Far off, a group of riders approached his party's position.
Thud thud thud—
Bi-ho dusted himself off and stood. Hyeong U-saeng stretched, and So Myeong-rang grabbed his blunt sword from against a rock and slung it on his back. Once ready, Bi-ho turned to his two comrades.
"They're here. Shall we go say hello?"
...
The greeting was heavy. Hyeong U-saeng hurled a massive rock at the approaching riders.
The three vanguard riders below were caught mid-stride. A boulder struck the lead horse's head like lightning.
Thud!
The horse crumpled sideways. Amid the shock, the lead rider reacted sharply, kicking off the falling mount to leap high.
The two trailing riders yanked their reins, halting abruptly. Glancing around, they spotted another fist-sized object flying from the same direction.
It arced through the air, unavoidable, straight at the airborne leader. Before they could shout a warning, a heavy impact rang out.
The lead rider fluttered down like a cut kite.
Splat~
"Who goes there?"
The two rear riders dismounted toward the voice, but not from where the rock came. They sidelined it with a glance, questioning straight ahead.
Blocking their path stood Bi-ho and So Myeong-rang.
"Not much for owl-mask losers like you to say, is there? Hyo Pa-gyeong, was it? Shady as they say. My question: where are you headed?"
All three ambushed riders wore owl masks carved from wood. The fish who bit Bi-ho's bait were Hyo Pa-gyeong warriors guarding Yulin Garden's interior.
The two owls flinched. That tone knew them too well, reeking of interrogation. One asked,
"You know us? Who do you belong to?"
Bi-ho stepped forward with a lazy grin.
"Who knows? Broadly speaking, same roots as you? Though you don't see it that way. Anyway, my turn. Seen any traitors around here?"
"Traitors? What nonsense is this?"
"Oh? So not you guys? Then come with us to clear up the misunderstanding."
"..."
Thief crying thief.
So Myeong-rang's thought exactly. They were the ones jumping out to pick a fight, yet Bi-ho grilled them so innocently the owls looked guilty as sin.
Of course, they had dirt to hide.
The two owls exchanged glances. One charged Bi-ho; the other bolted into the opposite woods. Sacrifice one to save the other.
So Myeong-rang exploded from cover, swinging his blunt sword at the attacking owl.
Flash.
Bi-ho ignored the charger, pursuing the fleeing owl. Thrusting his left hand, the rope dart whipped out, biting the owl's calf.
Crash~
Bi-ho lunged to pin the tangled, face-planted owl, but it sprang up, hurling a hidden throwing star.
Bi-ho paused, whipping his sword to deflect it.
"Die!"
The owl charged Bi-ho, abandoning flight after the leg wound.
Clang-clang-clang—
Desperate slashes were fierce, but flaws showed after three exchanges. Could a gimpy leg still attack properly?
The owl's planted right foot twitched. Its swing faltered. Bi-ho's blade struck the gap.
Parried and slashed.
Slash.
Then unleashed eight strikes in a breath.
Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh...
"Whew~ Damn, that startled me."
Bi-ho calmed his pounding heart, grumbling. So Myeong-rang approached, job done, eyeing the mangled, spreadeagled owl like a masterpiece.
"Nicely tenderized."
"Tch, says the one who diced his up."
"Hmph. So now what? All three like this—no prisoner. Shouldn't we have nabbed one?"
"Too bad, but what can we do? We plugged the leak; that's some comfort. We'll catch hell, but... sigh, whatever. Let's pull out."
They dragged the three corpses roadside into the brush and hurried off.
Moments later.
One crawled from the bushes: the owl Bi-ho had shredded. Grievously wounded but alive—he'd faked death at the end with the Turtle Breath Grand Technique, halting his breath to fool the enemy.
Glared venomously at Bi-ho's group's vanished direction, then limped back the way he'd come. To report the incident up the chain.
And from afar, hidden, Bi-ho's group watched. They quietly tailed him, following their guide's kind lead straight to Yulin Garden.