Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Last Words
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Bang So-dok, visibly flustered, stammered in response.
"F-Fine. What do I need to do?"
At that moment, a sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
Bang So-dok whipped around in alarm to see a leather pouch flying toward him.
Han Ibi had thrown it just as promised.
Bang So-dok flicked out one hand and snatched it midair.
Han Ibi said,
"You're the one who needs to settle your old grudge. From what I saw earlier, you two have plenty of bad blood between you..."
Bang So-dok asked,
"Then what about you?"
Han Ibi replied with a grin,
"I'll stick around here and make sure your underlings don't get in the way."
"Make sure? How?"
"You'll see."
That's when Yun Ui-seol spoke up.
"Don't fall for it. That bastard's just toying with us ri..."
Whoosh.
The wolf fang rod charged in without warning, slicing through the air.
Bang So-dok burst into booming laughter.
"Doesn't matter. It changes nothing—you're still dead." He glanced sidelong at Han Ibi before continuing. "And if that punk betrays me... heh heh, I'll skin him alive and make myself a new pouch."
Cough. That brutal...
Han Ibi put on a nonchalant front, but a twinge of worry crept in.
Once more, the fierce clash between Bang So-dok and Yun Ui-seol erupted.
But with their skills so evenly matched... it didn't look like it'd end anytime soon.
Suddenly, Yun Ui-seol barked at his two underlings,
"Grab him!"
He was pointing straight at Han Ibi.
A bit thrown off, Han Ibi pretended to hurl the book into the air.
"Hey! I'm really throwing it!"
Yun Ui-seol scoffed.
"Like I care. My goal is destroying that thing anyway. Saves me the trouble—thanks. Oh, and you die too."
Wait, what?
This... this ruins the whole plan...
Then Bang So-dok's thunderous roar rang out.
"You bastard! If you actually throw it, you're first on my list—your choice!"
'It's... starting to go sideways...'
Yun Ui-seol ordered his men,
"Go! Retrieve the book. Feel free to toss it off the cliff."
Sure enough, his two thugs advanced on Han Ibi at the cliff's edge.
Even Bang So-dok, mid-battle, urgently shouted to his own subordinate,
"No! You go get the book too. Bring it back in one piece."
Now Bang So-dok's henchman was closing in on Han Ibi's position as well.
A bizarre alliance formed.
Two from Yun Ui-seol's side, one from Bang So-dok's.
They eyed each other warily but shared the goal of seizing the book, slinking toward Han Ibi like predators.
Han Ibi's threat of destroying the book no longer held water.
'Damn it all.'
Han Ibi cursed inwardly.
'I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime brilliant idea...'
That's when it happened.
One of Yun Ui-seol's men swung his sword at Han Ibi.
'Whoa.'
On the narrow cliff ledge, Han Ibi barely dodged the blade.
Another sword thrust in from the second man.
Clang!
Han Ibi parried it with his single-joint sword.
Now Bang So-dok's burly subordinate—built like his boss—swung a massive saber at him.
Klang!
Han Ibi steadied himself and barely blocked, then yelled at the giant,
"Hey, you idiot! Even if you kill me, you think those two morons will let you walk away?"
Only then did the brute seem to catch on, turning his blade toward Yun Ui-seol's men.
Stab.
Too late.
One of Yun Ui-seol's craftier goons had snuck behind and plunged his sword into the brute's back.
Even amid the frenzy, Yun Ui-seol spotted it and cheered,
"Well done, A-Sam."
Bang So-dok's face twisted in rage...
"That... brainless fu..."
Now Yun Ui-seol's two remaining men held nothing back.
They unleashed a barrage on Han Ibi.
The cliff end where Han Ibi stood was perilously narrow.
Barely enough room for one man to maneuver.
And with attacks pouring in...
'This is insane. One slip and I'm done for. Hold on...'
A sudden idea flashed through Han Ibi's mind.
'Falling... falling!'
Yes.
Footwork in a confined space.
That was the essence of the Bagua Steps.
Falling off the cliff or taking a sword—either way, the principle was the same.
Han Ibi let his foes close in.
'Bagua Spear Method.'
He unleashed the Bagua Spear Method.
A green flame erupted as if on cue.
The spears of Xun and Gen ignited.
Mid-frenzy, Han Ibi shoved their swords back with max strength.
Then, stepping Xun and Gen, he disrupted their rhythm.
He tried slipping into the gap that opened.
But these weren't greenhorns—they'd survived the jianghu. They read his intent and cut off his retreat.
Tensing every muscle.
'Perfect. Just what I wanted.'
Han Ibi smirked inwardly and stepped Qian and Kun simultaneously.
Then, raising both index fingers, he pushed the tensed-up duo in the direction of their own force.
Toward the cliff...
"Argh!"
"Save me!"
The two plummeted into the abyss in an instant.
'Success!'
Not a drop of blood or sweat spilled, and his foes were gone.
Riding the momentum, Han Ibi turned to flee—
'Gasp!'
He froze in shock.
The two bandit leaders, locked in combat moments ago, now blocked his escape.
Bang So-dok chuckled wickedly.
"Never thought I'd live to hear your whole story, kid."
Yun Ui-seol's face, by contrast, was grim.
Probably mourning his fallen men.
Even so, they now stood together blocking Han Ibi, per Yun Ui-seol's stance.
The book mattered more than their grudge...
Han Ibi couldn't afford to relax now.
The grunts were predictable, but these bandit heads were on another level.
Taking both at once on this cliff...
Hmm, moderate injuries at best—heavy at worst, or death.
No time for deep thought, anyway.
They attacked together.
Clang clang clang.
High-level foes—Bagua steps alone weren't enough.
And they'd already seen his trick once.
Then, as if realizing something, Bang So-dok said,
"You rat... You were after the book from the start."
Han Ibi couldn't reply.
Yun Ui-seol's razor-sharp sword—wolf fang rod's equal—rained down.
In tight quarters, a long, thin blade was terrifying.
Trapped like this, Han Ibi figured he had seconds before folding. He bellowed,
"Hey! Your guys didn't die! There's space down there!"
"What?"
It was true.
The drop was high, but there was ledge below.
Broken limbs, maybe—but not dead.
Yun Ui-seol dropped into a defensive stance and peered over.
'Last chance. Survive first.'
At the same time, Han Ibi swung hard at Bang So-dok's rod, then abruptly...
Whoosh.
Like slow motion.
The book floated free from the cliff, drifting in the air.
Han Ibi had seized the split-second to toss it.
"Nooo!"
Bang So-dok hurled himself outward like slow-mo, snatching it.
Thud—the wolf fang rod stabbed into the cliff face.
That was all Han Ibi confirmed.
Unleashing Zhongli Swift Leopard Step, he bolted with everything he had.
He hadn't cleared the system quest, but survival trumped all.
'Man, what a shame. That was probably a real treasure...'
Maybe even one of the 108 Fortuitous Encounters...
Shaking off regret, Han Ibi sprinted back the way he'd come.
Thankfully, their footprints were sunk deep in the mud.
'Phew. Without the rain, I'd be lost.'
Kung fu on a slippery path wasn't easy, but he poured on full speed.
Amid the misfortune, the relentless downpour was easing up.
* * *
Despite Jong Ri-hyeok and So Eun-ri's emergency treatment, Cheon Sin-u's life flame flickered out rapidly.
He'd lost too much blood.
Gasping heavily, he said,
"Failed the escort... Our Yeoseon Escort Agency... the agency... will be wiped out..."
Jong Ri-hyeok replied,
"No, the Yeoseon Escort Agency is one of the top agencies in the Central Plains. How can you say that over one lost shipment?"
Tears streamed down Cheon Sin-u's face—or would have.
Impossible to tell amid the rain.
"My... my greed... destroyed the Yeoseon Escort Agency... built over five generations..."
That's when it happened.
"Hyung! Hyung! What have you been doing this whole time?"
Han Ibi's voice called from behind.
Spotting him first, Yeo Nan-ju demanded,
"Where have you been? What kept you?"
Irritated, Han Ibi snapped back,
"What do you mean? I barely survived a near-death scrape, and you lot have been lounging here?"
So Eun-ri frowned and pressed a finger to her lips, signaling silence.
Only then did Han Ibi sense the gravity.
A man lying down.
Figures gathered quietly around him.
The classic scene of someone on their deathbed.
Grasping the situation, Han Ibi lowered his voice.
"Is it... that bad?"
Cheon Sin-u spoke.
"Excessive greed... Father warned me never to let greed take hold."
Everyone's faces grew solemn.
Then Cheon Sin-u laughed heartily.
Astonishingly, his eyes sharpened, his complexion ruddy.
Han Ibi recognized the sign.
'Return of the light.'
The brief resurgence before death.
Cheon Sin-u said,
"Hahaha. Come to think of it, I never properly introduced myself to you, young hero. What is your name?"
Jong Ri-hyeok stood and bowed.
"Please, Agency Head, no need for such formality. I am Jong Ri-hyeok of the Qingcheng Sect."
"Kind words—thank you. A Qingcheng talent, eh? I thought those piercing eyes were no ordinary gaze."
"You flatter me."
"But you must be new to the jianghu. Our Yeoseon Agency has been overshadowed by the Fukin Escort Agency in the same region for years... No, on the brink of ruin."
"You see truly, sir. This is my first foray into the world. I was ignorant of the martial scene."
"Hahaha. As I thought. The Fukin head has ties to the imperial court... using that power to expand relentlessly."
Han Ibi thought,
'Ugh... backed by the palace, huh.'
Cheon Sin-u continued,
"We had so little work it was pitiful. Then... recently, I took an escort commission."
Jong Ri-hyeok said,
"Isn't escorting goods your agency's calling?"
"True... but the client was the issue. We never take shady jobs on principle, but... ah... the pay was beyond imagination. I couldn't refuse—a once-in-a-lifetime chance to revive us."
"That must be the shipment from earlier."
(To be continued next time)