Chapter 28
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Chapter 8. Guests from Sichuan (3)
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*Shark Tooth Nima Paengjo
The second of the Eight Fiends was a master of swordsmanship.
His weapon was a rugged saw-toothed blade, and he was a murderer who took pleasure in slicing off the limbs of the living with it.
It was said that the highest level attained in the Black Rock Scripture was the sixth phase of fire.
*Female and Male Yakshas Seo Tak-jin and Sang Gok-bi
The sixth and seventh of the Eight Fiends were a married couple who fought in perfect harmony.
His wife, the Female Yaksha Seo Tak-jin, was skilled in hidden weapons and lightness skills, while her husband, the Male Yaksha Sang Gok-bi, wielded an iron mace with deadly proficiency. Their true power shone when they fought together rather than alone.
Not only that, but their tastes aligned perfectly—they both loved two-legged meat. The difference was that Seo Tak-jin enjoyed sampling her husband's cooking, while Sang Gok-bi delighted in preparing meals for his wife. In every way, they were a well-matched pair of cannibals.
Their highest levels in the Black Rock Scripture lingered just below the fifth phase of fire.
Thus, though the three surviving Eight Fiends hadn't reached great heights in the Bloodied Black Rock Scripture, they still demanded utmost caution.
First, ordinary sword strikes that merely cut the skin inflicted no damage. One had to precisely target weak points like the eyes, nose, or mouth—or deliver a blow powerful enough to cleave bone.
Second, if entangled even briefly with the sinister internal energy of the Black Rock Scripture, one's own qi would be sucked away, causing numbness as the flow of inner power broke. Vitality itself was being devoured. In the heat of fierce combat where victory could flip in an instant, this would prove fatal.
In truth, if one's own might overwhelmingly surpassed theirs, such concerns were irrelevant. But absent that superiority, dealing with them was no small burden.
Moreover, even setting aside their demonic arts, their personal martial prowess was exceptional, and they boasted rich experience in major battles. They wielded the abilities of the Black Rock Scripture with cunning subtlety, so charging in blindly could easily end in a one-shot death.
This was precisely why so many Sichuan experts had been utterly crushed and stripped bare by the Eight Fiends in the initial clashes.
"What the hell... Even if Sichuan's masters fell because they didn't know, what sharp countermeasures do we have if we fight knowing full well? What are we supposed to do?"
Ye Dok-du grumbled, prompting Jin Ga-yong to offer the plan he'd prepared.
"Hit them with a lightning-fast ambush and take them down one by one. I'll handle the second, Nima Paengjo, with A Jeok-gang covering my back."
"Yes, sir."
Here, "covering the back" meant any actions enabling Jin Ga-yong to fully focus on the second Fiend—blocking interlopers from others or lending a hand whenever free.
"Ma Yeop, you take the sixth, Seo Tak-jin, with Flying Tiger as backup."
"Understood."
"Hwa Yeong and Ye Dok-du handle the seventh, Sang Gok-bi, with Deputy Choi Ong watching your backs. No need to push too hard. If it feels dicey, just buy time. We'll join once another side wraps up."
"Heh heh heh, we'll play it smart. By the way, from the reports, these three bastards hole up in their lair and rarely venture out. Any plan to lure one away alone?"
"They move every ten days like clockwork—to visit the five black path sects in the area who've submitted to them."
"Hm, makes sense. If they didn't show their faces periodically like that, other black path forces might get ideas."
"Exactly. Usually, the second one leads five or six underlings on patrol. That's our window."
"Every ten days... So when's the next one due back?"
"Day after tomorrow."
The Face Pursuit Unit spent another hour refining the plan before rising to act. Discussion over—it was time to move. Launch was in two days, but preparations were underway.
Tension etched the members' faces, yet their eyes burned with fighting spirit. A far cry from the revulsion when the Sichuan Eight Fiends were first mentioned.
It was only natural.
They might hesitate before battle, but once committed, they cast aside all restraint—that was the life of those who roamed the jianghu with a single blade.
The Face Pursuit Unit split into pairs and a trio to avoid drawing eyes.
Flying Tiger paired with Ma Yeop, the temporary addition, to sync up early since they'd tackle the Female Yaksha Seo Tak-jin together.
They rode leisurely, arriving at an inn near Yeonpyeong Sect in the capital by evening.
Ma Yeop was a taciturn man, and Flying Tiger could be too when needed. They'd exchanged fewer than five words en route, and even sharing dinner at the inn changed nothing.
After eating, as Ma Yeop rinsed his mouth with tea, he asked,
"How do you want to sync up?"
His voice grated as always, tossed out bluntly without preamble—not exactly friendly. More like, since we're stuck together, might as well ask.
Even so, Flying Tiger replied smoothly.
"Hm, want to cross blades lightly?"
"Curious about my skill?"
"More like, I need to know your sword style to back you properly. Plus, if I get a pointer or two under that excuse, all the better."
"Pointers, huh? When?"
"One hour after dinner. Let it settle first."
"See you then."
Ma Yeop headed to his room.
Flying Tiger lingered, sipping tea leisurely while pondering his partner. A face full of backstory and grudges. But what of it? Nothing to do but accept.
He drained his cup, shaking off stray thoughts. Then he pieced together the routes surveyed from headquarters to here—which spots to station horses, how far to sprint flat-out, ideal terrain for hiding, and so on.
In truth, nine out of ten such hypotheticals proved useless. But to fish out that one gem, he mapped them out ten, a hundred ways—that was his method.
Thoughts dragged on tediously.
Execution? Bold as brass!
...
Under the moonlight, two men faced off, one drawing sword, the other blade.
The younger swung his saber through the air a few times to loosen up. The one-eyed man held his longsword steady, then at eye contact, warned, "Watch yourself," and swept it horizontally.
Clang~
A strike that could fell a full-grown tree in one go.
The youth braced the flat of his blade with his left hand to block, staggering back unsteadily as the force overwhelmed him.
The saber clattered to the ground.
As the youth tried to plead, "Go easy?", Ma Yeop lunged without mercy, slashing and slicing in wild arcs.
This bastard!
The youth clamped his mouth shut and countered fiercely with his saber.
Sword and saber clashed relentlessly, sparks flying every which way from the friction.
Chiang~ clang. Clang. Clang. Clang.
...
Flying Tiger collapsed in a sweaty heap, panting, too spent even to stand.
Over a hundred exchanges had flown in a blink—mostly Ma Yeop attacking, Flying Tiger scrambling to defend. Pushed to the brink, he barely held until Ma Yeop sheathed his blade, collapsing from exhaustion.
Ma Yeop stood unfazed, no sign of strain. He gazed down silently before asking,
"Well? Figured out my type after crossing blades?"
"Yeah. Fully analyzed."
"..."
"Curious? I'll tell you. Lunatic type, itching for death. Like it?"
"I see. Analysis done—I'm off."
Ma Yeop left. Flying Tiger grumbled, sprawling flat. His mutters faded, and staring at the moon, his eyes gleamed with life.
The fierce bout with Ma Yeop had been far more thrilling than expected. Just recalling it set his heart racing.
The next day.
They scouted the outskirts by day to memorize the terrain.
Come evening, Flying Tiger led them to the "Orchid Garden" annex of the brothel "Six Fairies." It was where the Face Pursuit Unit had first gathered, and now members trickled in again. Effectively, their safehouse.
Jin Ga-yong unrolled a floor plan of the Yeonpyeong Alliance's manor—somehow procured—and traced residences, patrol routes, and such with his finger.
Notably, a compound large enough for a hundred housed only about twenty full-timers. They'd bought nearby buildings to station expendable grunts instead.
"Gotta practice demonic arts without prying eyes—smart move."
"Works for us. Finish quick, then booze it up easy tomorrow."
Ye Dok-du chimed in on Choi Ong's words. He clearly chafed at nursing his drink before the big op.
The group ate while chatting about daytime observations. Flying Tiger and A Jeok-gang focused on food over talk.
Ma Yeop said nothing, touched no food, just downed shots on an empty stomach now and then. But his sidelong glares at leader Jin Ga-yong cut sharp.
Nothing noteworthy emerged from the talk, so topics dried fast. Myriad Transformations Sword Hwa Yeong wrapped it with bold boasts—but oddly singled out Flying Tiger at the end.
"Leader says play safe till backup, but not me. Watch this—I'll show you how Myriad Transformations Sword crushes a demon! Got it, Flying Tiger?"
Flying Tiger blinked at Hwa Yeong, then raised his cup like a toast and drained it.
With that, the gathering ended.
On the way back to the inn, Flying Tiger and Ma Yeop walked in silence as usual. At the door, Flying Tiger broke it.
"You look pissed."
"..."
"Tomorrow's big for you too, but with that mood, can you even swing straight?"
"My sword's always ready. Spare me the needless worry."
"Ah, right. Just that your one good eye's glaring like it'll devour the leader—worried you'd swing at the wrong target."
Ma Yeop halted abruptly, fixing Flying Tiger with furious eyes.
Flying Tiger grinned back.
"Heartless Sword Jin Ga-yong's personal grudge?"
"Huh?"
"No need to bark so much. I know private from duty. Like you said, tomorrow's the day I've craved—so I can stomach worse displeasure."
"Woof woof."
"...?"
"You spout such bullshit so well, had to try barking back."
"Don't cross the line."
Ma Yeop's grating voice hardened into outright menace. His scar-riddled face twisted like a demon's—nightmare fuel.
Flying Tiger patted his waist saber teasingly at the demon.
"Seems you're the one stumbling blind over lines... How about another round to vent that rage?"