"The Price for Mocking Us Is Death!"
Hong Tae-hyung's form shot forward like an arrow, kicking off the ground.
Pa-pa-pat!
The sword pursuing utmost speed targeted Mu Yun's shoulder acupoint. It was a probe to gauge the reaction of this man he deemed a strong foe. His two brothers' blades followed in swift pursuit.
Shuuuuk!
Mu Yun's form met the incoming sword head-on with the momentum to bisect it in one stroke. He didn't evade the other two sharpened edges converging as well.
Cha-ae-ae-ak! Shuuuk!
The three men's eyes twitched in shock.
'Why is this guy...?'
With mere inches left, he was thrusting his body onto the blade. An action possible only if he was ignoring them or trading flesh for bone.
Hong Tae-hyung's eyes narrowed.
'There's something here.'
Just as the warnings from his accumulated experience, power, and speed signals blared through his body, the straight-line advance twisted like a dragon coiling.
Whiric!
His body followed the flow, twisting as well. Guided by hyper-sensation, his hand turned toward the blade. In that instant, rotation was added to the three rigid blades. Maintaining their triangular formation, the warped sword paths precisely aimed for Mu Yun's torso.
Whiik! Hwarak! Sarak!
The tips hurtled to crush his entire body when the three men's pupils shook simultaneously. A motion transcending the instant blurred their vision ahead.
It was the same as what he'd shown before Clan Lord Hong Jae-yul earlier. Only then did Hong Tae-hyung intuit it.
If a mid-peak expert could move like that in close quarters...
'He's trained external arts.'
The way to deal with him became clear.
'Keep distance.'
The moment he decided that and tried to step back, Hong Tae-hyung startled.
'Wh-when!'
The fist-clenched hand was already closing in on his temple. No time for thought. He instinctively leaned back as his body demanded.
Hwarak!
But the fist drawing an arc pursued him once more.
'Dangerous!'
In that instant, the other two blades twisted. Reforming the formation took priority. The altered sword paths targeted Mu Yun's other acupoints. If he didn't retreat, he'd be hurt too.
Shuuuuk!
The hasty retreat and the opponent's sideways twist announced the space opening up. Hong Tae-hyung let out a short sigh of relief.
'That was close.'
A warrior's instinct raised goosebumps on the back of his neck. A man versed in both internal and external arts. The combined power sent shivers through even this super-peak expert.
'Gotta stake my life.'
His ten subordinates couldn't even budge from their spots. No gap to enter amid the lightning-fast assault shift.
Hong Tae-hyung's transmission voice flew to his two brothers. To retract what he'd said earlier.
-We have to kill him. Or we'll die.
The answer was already on his brothers' faces. A few clashes had informed them.
-We know.
To hide external arts mastery so perfectly...
-Keep distance.
-Obvious, isn't it?
-He's fast even at range. Switch to Conversion Array.
-Got it.
The encroaching sword strikes drew complex lines, narrowing the encirclement. Piercing shrieks rang in their ears as they cleaved the air. Fierce energy waves between the blades scattered light.
Cha-ae-ae-ak! Shuuuk!
Mu Yun advanced toward the incoming blades as his hyper-sensation dictated. His ground-kicking leap folded space with speed.
Shyiiiik! Pa-ang!
A faint regret brushed Mu Yun's lips.
'This is as far as I can show.'
Time to suppress his warrior's intent. He could draw them out more and sever all three breaths in one strike, but revealing further would bring more harm than gain. The crowd had swelled to over three thousand. Not just merchants—nearly every warrior in Chim-ju, righteous or unorthodox, had turned out. Even Jeok-un Mun Lord Seol Do-seung and a few Ha Hu Clan elders watched with gleaming eyes.
Today's goals were twofold: instill confidence in the escorts, and position himself as a recruitable ally to the clans. That's why he'd overplayed the external arts angle. Show just enough to suggest he'd fused internal and external to surpass super-peak—nothing more.
Mu Yun's known age was early thirties. Across the jianghu, few reached super-peak at that age. If he'd broken through on internal energy alone, the great clans would mark him for death. With external arts, future growth seemed limited. An ally worth having, a foe to avoid. That was the sweet spot for today.
No helping it. He'd have to slowly dismantle the three.
Fists and blades intertwined, flying ceaselessly.
Shuuuk! Cha-ak!
Mu Yun's flow-riding fist struck down a sword strike, only for another to follow. The encircling winds grew fiercer.
His thrusting fist strikes slithered snake-like past the blades in all directions. The swords, by a hair's breadth, grazed over his shoulders and whipped the air.
Kwa-ang! Kwa-kwang!
Churning dust winds scattered everywhere. Fist energy swirling winds around his body clashed with icy sword qi strands, birthing whirlwinds in the air.
Hwi-iing! Whiric!
Keen blades threatened to embrace his body dozens of times by the slimmest margins. Mu Yun's fists rang in their ears with crisp wind-pressure bursts.
The exchanges grew ever faster and fiercer. Gasps erupted endlessly from the stunned crowd's mouths. Warriors gaped, mouths agape.
"Heavens! A black path bangju with that skill!"
"That's definitely super-peak, right?"
"No. He's trained external arts too. Look closely."
"Oh! Yeah, up close. He's even pushed back when separated."
"That's why those three can't close in."
"Still impressive. Internal and external to that level at his age."
"Guess the rumors of a master for Cheong-ho Bangju are true."
"Makes sense. No way he got there alone."
"Hey, look over there."
"Huh? Where?"
"Jeok-un Mun Lord Seol Do-seung's out."
"Really? Why's he just watching?"
"Probably assessing before stepping in. They'll clean up anyway."
"Fair point!"
Then, the elder beside Jeok-un Mun Lord Seol Do-seung sent a transmission.
-Who is that?
Seol Do-seung infused courtesy into his reply.
-The black path bangju here.
-What? That guy?
-I thought mid-peak too. Got fooled.
-Ha! Clever one.
Seol Do-seung asked cautiously.
-What do you make of him?
This elder could be asked such things. No one surpassed him in appraising bodies. He'd dropped by briefly after two years to check Seol Do-seung's own. No one here should know of his existence—not even son Seol Jin-gwang. The secret organization of the unorthodox alliance Sado-ryeon, Saya-hol. Only Seol Do-seung knew in Chim-ju.
After observing Mu Yun awhile, the elder's eyes flashed.
-External arts, but meshes well with internal. He'll rise a stage effortlessly. Beyond that, tough.
-Meaning?
-He can aim for super-peak.
Judgment from one who knew his own power best. Fury twisted in Seol Do-seung's eyes like a beast's.
He'd already judged Mu Yun.
-No need to drag it out.
-...Discard him?
Such a talent?
-Too sharp. Keep him, he'll swallow us.
-What? Why leave him till now?
-Assets to seize kept growing. Dilly-dallying.
-Don't drag. Decide fast—best policy.
-Understood.
-Oh! Shouldn't you step in?
-I'll escort to the outskirts...
-No need. Fight's ending soon.
-Still, you honored us with your visit...
The elder spoke again out of concern.
-Enough. And stop the drugs. This is your limit. Get my meaning?
Seol Do-seung's face darkened instantly.
-...Yes.
-Remember: Greed loses all.
-...!
Meanwhile, sudden unease whipped through Hong Tae-hyung's mind.
'We'll lose like this.'
The youngest, Hong Dae-won, faltered. Shocks traveling his blade dulled his thrusts. Sure enough.
The charging foe leaped like a flying bird onto the youngest. Massive leap sent dirt skyward.
Pat! Whiik!
'Danger!'
Mu Yun's straight charge suddenly bent like a willow branch.
Whiik!
Speed followed by an utterly unexpected angle. Shocked youngest Hong Mun-cheon's eyes bulged.
'This!'
No time for brothers to aid. No room to think. The clenched fist was already flying at his solar plexus.
Shuuuuk!
'Too late to dodge.'
Hong Dae-won summoned milk-suck strength. Attack as best defense. Pouring all internal energy into a frontal thrust, Mu Yun's fist veered sharply.
Cha-ae-ae-ak!
Hong Dae-won intuited. Fist filled his vision.
'Too late.'
Instinct shut his eyes as lightning flashed.
White blaze struck his face.
Ppak! Ppa-kak!
"Kuhk!"
Mu Yun's movements accelerated. He folded space to the hesitating second brother Hong Mun-cheon.
Cha-ak!
A chilling scream signaled urgency.
"Heuk!"
Fist smashed into his hastily reared head.
Shyiiiik! Ppak!
"Geuk!"
Unbearable agony buckled him as another fist flew at his lowered chin.
Shuuk! Peo-eok!
"Kuhk!"
Rough coughs spewed congealed blood. Mind blanked in excruciating pain. Knees collapsed, body crumbling.
Thud!
One left. As he surged at the backpedaling Hong Tae-hyung.
"Stop! All of you, halt!"
A massive voice booming before the inn pierced ears.
'Seol Do-seung!'
Chance to etch into the crowd. That he feared not Seol Do-seung.
Mu Yun added speed to his surging step. Heavy whoosh and bluish light smashed Hong Tae-hyung's face.
Ppa-kak!
"Keuk!"
Immense pain whitened Hong Tae-hyung's mind. Rising fury even so.
'This damn bastard!'
Momentary misjudgment. Assumed foe would stop with Jeok-un Mun Lord's intervention.
Hadn't slowed, wouldn't have fallen so pathetically.
Regret-laden consciousness faded softly.
Tok!
"......"
Sudden silence announced the fight's end.
＊ ＊ ＊
Moments later, Seol Do-seung's heavy voice countered.
"Is that true?"
Thousands of eyes turned to the one spinning the long explanation.
Mu Yun pointed at Escort Chief Hong Jae-yul.
"The bill of exchange issued at the Ha Hu battlefield should be in his pocket."
"...And if not?"
"Search and see."
He'd pre-applied faint scent to the bill. Divisional leader Seol Jin-gwang's face twisted rummaging Hong Jae-yul's pockets.
"...It's here."
"Matches the thirty thousand nyang from Ha Hu Battlefield? Dated yesterday?"
"Yes."
Jeok-un Mun Lord Seol Do-seung's eyes blazed with certainty.
'He knew. Lured them.'
Alone, other ways to resolve. But now three thousand eyes and ears—and Ha Hu Clan too.
Minimize fallout, dissolve the scene fast—best move. Approach differently.
"You should've come to us fleeing the mountain."
"Barely survived—mind for that?"
"Black path lives like that daily. Without that grit, you wouldn't stand here."
Mu Yun's sly smile added color.
"Opponent's changed, seems."
"Opponent?"
"Interrogation's for him. I'm the victim."
Laughter burst here and there in the crowd.
"Kuk-ku! He's right. Thieves are them."
"Bangju's words have bite."
"Why not? Ha Jo-mun and Jeok-un Mun are in-laws."
"Heuk! What? Then Jeok-un Mun...?"
"Heavens! Watch your mouth. Trouble."
"...!"
Murmurs swelled. Noisy chatter battered Seol Do-seung's ears nonstop. Face hardening with each word, resolve piled unseen.
'Time to bring it out.'