Chapter 106: The Fist King Meets a Turncoat
The Fist King Meets a Turncoat
Chapter 106: The Fist King Meets a Turncoat
"To think Lee Ho-mun would meet such a futile end..."
Sang Yeop-pung, the leader of the Cheolsadan, turned away from the window of the building overlooking the Mokryong Hall. Inside the room were three captains of a hundred, Sang Yeop-pung himself, and the guest dispatched by the Night Assembly Alliance's leader, who had been intently watching the scene unfold. Though the distance was considerable, it was close enough to clearly witness the massacre that had taken place at Mokryong Hall.
The guest sent by the Alliance leader was a man in his thirties named Jeon Bi-rang.
In the martial world, he was known by the epithet Flying Sword Wolf, derived from inserting the word "sword" (geom) into his given name.
Among the Alliance leader's guests, he was often simply referred to as the Flying Guest.
His origins traced back to the Mubong Sect, an orthodox sect of the White Path. However, entangled in a conflict with his senior brother over a woman, he ended up killing him in a life-and-death duel. When the sect sought to punish him for it, he fought his way out in a bloody battle and was expelled.
After shaking off relentless pursuit from his former brothers and masters, he rebuilt his reputation among the unorthodox sects of the Black Path.
His life had been tumultuous, marked by occasional strokes of luck and a broad-mindedness that eventually led him to cross paths with the Night Assembly Alliance leader. Now, he served as an outsider swordsman and guest of the Alliance.
Given his history, was he truly of the Black Path? Or not?
Well, the Black Path was a faction that embraced everyone from outright villains to those who couldn't quite be called evil. For now, it was fair to consider him part of it.
At any rate, he had answered the Alliance's call.
Jeon Bi-rang turned to Sang Yeop-pung and the captains—all older than him—and spoke.
"Leader and captains, you should withdraw."
Sang Yeop-pung frowned.
"Flying Guest, what nonsense is this? The operation isn't over yet."
He didn't use honorifics—Jeon Bi-rang wasn't his superior.
Jeon Bi-rang, who had been observing the situation from the window, pulled his gaze away and turned around.
"You all saw it, didn't you?"
Sang Yeop-pung retorted,
"We saw it. Clearly, with both eyes. We must avenge Lee Ho-mun. If we all die, then the Flying Guest can step in."
Jeon Bi-rang shook his head.
"Leader, did you really see it properly?"
Sang Yeop-pung was agitated by Lee Ho-mun's death.
"Don't speak in that tone. Explain properly—why?"
Jeon Bi-rang nodded.
"Fine. Leader Sang, could you have killed Lee Ho-mun like that? He was practically reduced to dust. Even if they exchanged words at the end, judging by the duel as a whole, he was still killed in a single move. This isn't meant to disrespect the captains or Leader Sang. None of you here could have taken down Lee Ho-mun, the Black Ghost Party leader, in one strike. And even if you could, that man didn't even reveal his full strength. I can't even gauge how much power he's holding back. If Leader Sang were to face him now, it'd be a pointless death. The Alliance leader sent me to properly assess the enemy. Reporting back now would be the wiser choice. Tell him I said so—that was the task entrusted to me."
When Sang Yeop-pung tried to argue again, Jeon Bi-rang cut in with a cold tone.
"Leader Sang."
"Speak."
"I don't plan to fight him either. Understood?"
"..."
"What was the original plan? If all of you died, then I would step in. Go back. Meanwhile, I'll stay behind to observe him further and advise the Alliance leader to take this matter seriously."
Jeon Bi-rang paused briefly. This time, the captains waited silently for his next words.
He continued,
"The Alliance leader may have to intervene personally. Do you understand what I'm implying?"
At this, the expressions of the captains hardened.
"Are you saying he's that strong?"
Jeon Bi-rang waved his hand dismissively.
"From what I've seen, yes. And if I don't return, tell him these were my last words: 'If the Alliance leader has no intention of stepping in himself, it's better to halt this wasteful vengeance. That man's actions are clearly baiting him to come out.' Understood?"
Jeon Bi-rang was sharp.
One particularly composed captain immediately agreed.
"The Flying Guest is right. Leader, we should withdraw."
As the other captains voiced their agreement, Sang Yeop-pung finally nodded.
"Fine. But how exactly do you plan to gather more intel on the enemy, Flying Guest?"
Jeon Bi-rang smirked.
"Leader Sang, I'm just a guest of the Night Assembly Alliance. Tomorrow, at a reasonable hour, I'll go and ask him directly. 'Who are you? Why are you here? What do you want?' If we can talk, we'll share a drink and I'll return. If not, I'll either flee or die trying."
He glanced out the window again.
"Life's been dreadfully dull lately. Somehow, I think tomorrow might be a little more exciting."
As Sang Yeop-pung was about to leave, he suddenly turned back.
"Listen, Flying Guest."
When Jeon Bi-rang looked at him, the leader said curtly,
"Don't die."
Jeon Bi-rang replied flatly,
"Since when is that up to me? I'd rather not die either. Leader Lee Ho-mun was perhaps too brave."
With his accurate judgment, Jeon Bi-rang successfully sent the Alliance's leader and captains back.
True to his word, he arrived alone at Mokryong Hall shortly past noon.
Bloodstains still marked the floor, walls, and main gate. The bodies had been cleared away overnight.
Jeon Bi-rang knocked on one of the shattered doors.
Thud! Thud!
He could've just walked in—the doors were practically demolished—but stepping over the threshold felt impolite.
A few hall members, busy cleaning the courtyard, glanced at him.
"What do you want?"
Jeon Bi-rang replied,
"I'd like to see your boss. Tell him a guest has arrived."
The men exchanged looks.
"Boss? You mean the hall leader?"
Jeon Bi-rang interjected,
"Not your hall leader—the one above him."
"Ah, come in."
Perhaps because he came alone, or maybe because his attire and demeanor bore no resemblance to the Black Path, he was ushered into the main hall without resistance.
As he walked, Jeon Bi-rang took in the interior of Mokryong Hall.
The embedded steel spikes remained in the floor, arranged in a circular pattern. The hall members had left them intact, fascinated by their formation.
When he reached the main hall and stood idly, Dan Woo-sung soon emerged from within.
Dan Woo-sung studied Jeon Bi-rang.
His appearance was peculiar—gloomy eyes paired with flamboyant attire, devoid of the rough edges typical of the Black Path.
Dan Woo-sung asked,
"What brings you here?"
Jeon Bi-rang scrutinized him and abruptly inquired,
"Have you eaten?"
"I have."
"Then let's go out for tea. Your subordinates seem busy cleaning—too much dust."
He waved a hand through the floating particles in the hall.
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"Let's go."
The two walked side by side toward the tavern district. After a while, Jeon Bi-rang asked,
"Who do you think I am?"
Dan Woo-sung answered without hesitation,
"Sent by the Night Assembly Alliance, but not one of them."
Jeon Bi-rang sighed.
"Well, I walked right into that one."
He, too, now believed Dan Woo-sung was the real deal. Sending the leader and captains back last night had been the right call.
He didn't deny it.
"Correct. I'm not part of the Alliance. Just a scout sent at the leader's request. I'd rather not get killed on the spot, so let's have tea."
Dan Woo-sung remarked dryly,
"Bold of you to come alone."
Jeon Bi-rang glanced around the streets and exhaled.
"No teahouse in sight. How about a light drink instead?"
The surroundings were lined with inns and shops—hardly the refined setting for tea.
They ended up in an inn, ordering a bottle of liquor and two side dishes before facing each other.
Jeon Bi-rang introduced himself.
"My name is Jeon Bi-rang. Heard of me?"
When Dan Woo-sung shook his head, he pressed,
"What about the Mubong Sect? The sword sect of Honam."
Dan Woo-sung nodded.
"Ah, the Mubong Sect. The most militant orthodox sect in Honam, if I recall."
"Formerly of the Mubong Sect. I was expelled. Still being hunted, in fact. Every time they catch me, they try to kill me—all former brothers and disciples. Hard to stomach, really. The Night Assembly Alliance leader happened upon me and suggested that if I stayed with him, the Mubong Sect wouldn't bother me. That's why I'm with the Alliance now."
When the liquor arrived, Jeon Bi-rang pushed his cup forward.
"Pour me one."
Dan Woo-sung filled his cup, then his own.
Jeon Bi-rang made no move to touch the bottle, as if to dispel any suspicion of poisoning. Instead, he strained to gauge Dan Woo-sung's precise energy and strength through their conversation. But he gleaned nothing—Dan Woo-sung revealed nothing.
Jeon Bi-rang raised his cup.
"Let's drink."
They downed their shots and set the cups down.
Jeon Bi-rang asked,
"So why are you doing this? Grudge against the Night Assembly Alliance?"
Dan Woo-sung saw no need to divulge everything. The emergence of the Demonic Path siphoning internal energy, the possibility that the entire Southern Black Path was a target, his disdain for the Alliance's atrocities—these thoughts remained unspoken. He answered simply.
"No particular reason. Because they're the Black Path."
"Because they're the Black Path? That can't be it. Let's have another drink and talk more."
After another round, Jeon Bi-rang shared his story.
"In the Mubong Sect, there was a senior brother named Ji Si-heon. He raped my woman. I could've ambushed him, but he wasn't that intimidating—just a senior brother. So I killed him in a life-and-death duel. Strange question, but what do you think of that?"
Dan Woo-sung replied bluntly,
"What's there to think? You did well."
Jeon Bi-rang nodded, surprised by his reaction, then continued.
"The problem was, Ji Si-heon was the likely next sect leader. The eldest disciple. If his crimes came to light, the Mubong Sect's reputation would've suffered. So they buried the truth and expelled me. I could've endured just being expelled. But somehow, they turned me into the villain to my brothers. I knew they'd kill me if caught, so I fled. But my masters were harder to evade. After a prolonged chase, I gravely wounded one. He was too skilled to hold back against. What do you think of that?"
Dan Woo-sung said,
"What's there to think? You showed restraint by not killing him."
"Good. Straightforward. My dilemma is that my juniors are hunting me too. I've caught and reasoned with a few, but it's useless. Because some of their masters were the ones I wounded. I'm hated by seniors and juniors alike, and the pursuit never ends. Eventually, I drifted into the Black Path. Thoughts?"
Dan Woo-sung looked at him and replied,
"That was a stupid decision."
"..."
Jeon Bi-rang's expression didn't change. He simply stared with gloomy eyes before asking,
"Why?"
"Do you really need to ask?"
"What's the difference between the White Path and Black Path to me? Men like my senior brother parade around as orthodox. Had I not killed him, he'd be the next Mubong Sect leader. How is what they did any different from the Night Assembly Alliance? Suddenly, I'm getting emotional. Fine. Suppose you were in my place—what would you have done?"
Dan Woo-sung's answer caught him completely off guard.
"I would've lived alone."
Jeon Bi-rang blinked, baffled. Unable to comprehend, he pushed his cup forward—a silent request for elaboration.
Dan Woo-sung poured him another drink and said,
"Need it spelled out?"
Jeon Bi-rang sighed and replied,
"Let's drink first."
After they downed their shots, Dan Woo-sung spoke.
"First, you're underestimating the Night Assembly Alliance. A master who defects from the White Path is a prize for the Black Path. Especially when the Mubong Sect was clearly in the wrong. The Alliance leader could've killed you somewhere and pinned the blame on them. A perfect plaything—entertaining while also giving him a pretext to strike the White Path..."
Jeon Bi-rang countered,
"The Alliance leader isn't that kind of man."
Dan Woo-sung dropped formalities.
"You know people that well? Did you know your senior brother would rape your woman? Of course not. And yet you claim to understand the inner workings of the Southern Black Path's most powerful leader? Ridiculous. You didn't even see through your brother. The Alliance treats you like a VIP, so you puffed up with pride, didn't you? Now you're risking your life as a scout. What a magnificent turncoat swordsman we have here."
As Dan Woo-sung's mocking grin spread, Jeon Bi-rang's face finally flushed crimson.
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