Tit for Tat (1)

It looked at least three times the size of an ordinary wolf.

At the same moment, the ashen wolves scattered in flight.

Yelp!

Thwack!

In an instant, Blood Flower, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one of Black Heaven's assassins, shouted urgently.

"Everyone, ditch your masks and outer robes!"

The assassins began stripping off their pig-blood-soaked clothes.

The Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠closed in on the assassins just as the Absol Valley wolves fled.

Blood Flower judged this the perfect moment to escape.

"Now... "

She couldn't finish her sentence.

Her target, Hanbin, was grinning broadly right in front of her.

Blood Flower yelled,

"Who the hell are you?"

"You really don't know?"

"You're that infamous coward from Hebei..."

Before she could finish, Hanbin cut in.

"Skip the coward part. Call me a scoundrel instead."

"What the hell are you?"

Blood Flower raised her voice slightly. Of course, she knew who he was.

But doubts were creeping in.

Between her and Hanbin lay wolf corpses, their blood pooling into puddles mixed with bits of assassin flesh.

And he was smiling at a sight like that? He was supposed to be Hebei's top coward?

Even her assassins would be retching at this.

Blood Flower thrust her sword forward, scrutinizing Hanbin.

Under the moonlight, that pale, gaunt face was unmistakably Hebei Paeng Family's youngest young master.

Where did it all go wrong?

Then—

Thud! Thud!

The mountainside rumbled.

A glance sideways revealed the red-furred wolf approaching Blood Flower, eyes locked on its prey.

"Let's get out of here first," she said.

She knew the Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf was no ordinary beast.

Its realm felt on par with Black Heaven's master.

More dangerous than a hundred ashen wolves.

Escape came first.

Their mission was to kill Hebei Paeng Family's youngest young master, not become wolf chow together.

Hanbin tilted his head.

"Says who?"

"We need to fall back..."

"You came on your own terms, but leaving? You need my permission. Why? Because..."

"Why?"

"This is my turf."

Hanbin smirked. Blood Flower charged forward, bellowing,

"Cut his throat and let's move!"

Whoosh! Whoosh!

All the assassins raised their blades and lunged at Hanbin.

That's when Hanbin pulled a bundle of slender bamboo tubes from his satchel.

He hurled them like darts.

Pfft!

As the thin tubes flew toward them, the assassins swiftly slashed.

Slice!

The tubes split in midair.

But something sprayed from the cracks.

One assassin shouted,

"Poison! Watch out!"

The commotion was brief. One tilted his head.

"This smells like the same pig blood from before."

Blood Flower furrowed her brow.

Falling for the same trick again? Rage boiled up.

She launched herself at Hanbin like a spring.

"Die!"

"Says who?"

Hanbin replied playfully, channeling the energy of Lightning Flash.

Shhink!

In a blur of afterimages, Hanbin vanished.

He reappeared on the opposite side.

Tap-tap.

Intermittent footsteps echoed from the mountainside.

Hanbin was making them deliberately.

Footsteps rang from all directions—east, west, south, north—piling doubts in Blood Flower's mind.

"Super Peak?"

"Seems like it, Boss. Be careful."

Of course, it was all an illusion.

Once their eyes turned, Hanbin slipped into the bamboo grove and watched the clearing.

"Where'd it go?"

He tilted his head.

The Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf he'd spotted earlier was gone.

That's when—

Sniff. Sniff.

An odd presence made Hanbin whip around.

'Whoa.'

He froze.

The Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf was right beside him, red fur bristling as it stared.

Just five steps away.

Hoisted by my own petard.

Hanbin had fooled the assassins, but the wolf fooled him.

Gripping his sword, he observed it briefly.

He was less than a mouthful away.

Touching his blade, Hanbin recalled forms.

'Swift Sword Nanma.'

'One Touch Immediate Strike.'

Legend said the Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf's hide repelled ordinary sword ki.

So, when it opened its maw—that was the chance.

The wolf sniffed with its house-sized jaws.

As its mouth cracked open, drool the size of a fist dripped.

Even after countless battlefields in his past life, facing a demonic beast this close was new.

It felt like swords at each other's throats. Hanbin's lips curled.

This was proof he was alive.

As Hanbin chuckled softly, facing the wolf to unleash Yongrin Sword Art forms—

Shh-shh-shh.

Footsteps approached from behind.

A faint whiff of blood scent rode the wind.

The pig blood he'd smeared on the assassins.

The Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf reacted instantly.

Ignoring Hanbin, it whipped its head and plunged into the underbrush.

"Whew, nearly wolf chow there."

Catching his breath, Hanbin cautiously followed. Even unleashing Yongrin Sword Art on it, he wasn't sure his arms would stay intact.

Moments later, Hanbin spotted it: the Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf facing nine assassins.

Like a spirit beast, it didn't charge blindly. It gauged their realms, keeping distance.

But the assassins were different.

Nine was no advantage—it was a weakness: arrogance.

Except for Blood Flower.

"Everyone, fall b—"

Before she could order retreat, the other eight drew swords in unison.

Shing. Shing.

Exchanging glances, they charged the Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf.

Blood Flower had no choice but to draw hers.

Shing.

Up close, she sensed its realm below Black Heaven's master.

Worth a shot.

Slay the mystery beast, claim its inner core!

That was her goal.

The battle between the demonic beast and nine assassins began.

Hanbin watched like a spectator at a play, yawning.

Time for a cup of tea had passed, yet no victor emerged.

Precisely: the Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf held the edge.

Their red-ki blades couldn't pierce its hide.

The assassins dodged its strikes with swift moves.

Hanbin narrowed his eyes.

Their breaths grew ragged.

He quickly pulled night clothes from his satchel—taken from the first assassin.

They matched Black Heaven's perfectly.

By moonlight alone, no distinguishing him from them.

With the wolf's massive speed, they had no time to check comrades.

Just swinging blades, holding formation.

Fighting by sense, not sight.

Then Blood Flower shouted,

"Prepare to retreat!"

They backpedaled while slashing.

One in the group yelled,

"Boss, that's a Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf! Catch it, we're set for life. Black Heaven's honor's on the line!"

Amid battle, no telling who spoke.

Greed lit their eyes—even Blood Flower's.

"Scratch that. We take down the Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf!"

Of course, Hanbin had been the first to suggest it.

Blending into their midst, he slyly struck at the wolf.

Slash! Slash!

Clang! Clang!

Its claws parried like peerless swords.

But their numbers forced occasional gaps.

Assassins' and Hanbin's blades grazed its hide.

Splat!

Just chunks of fur—no real damage.

Hanbin upped his assessment of the wolf's power.

Hidden among them, he recalled forms.

'Swift Sword Nanma.'

'Lightning Flash.'

His sword sped up again.

The assassins, spurred by his flashy strikes, pressed harder.

"We can win this!"

"Pin its legs!"

Exchanging calls, they gritted teeth and charged.

Hanbin ignored their signals, focusing on his task: striking the flickering points ahead.

Many shimmering points.

Bright and dim ones mingled.

But bright points yielded nothing.

Deep strikes needed for higher formulas, it seemed.

Different targets, different acquisition methods.

Hanbin switched to dim points.

Stab!

One more for completing Human-grade formulas.

Dim points for Human-grade?

Bright ones must be Earth-grade.

Hanbin shouted,

"The Heavenly Mountain Blood Wolf's slowing! End's near—push hard! For Black Heaven's honor!"

The assassins surged with renewed vigor.

"Charge!"

"Claim the inner core!"

Hanbin eyed his blade.

Regretted leaving Wolah in camp.

Too flashy, so just a plain sword and daggers.

Swift Sword Nanma's power still flowed—full attack boost against demons, as expected. Only his strikes landed true.

Using its energy, he targeted the legs relentlessly.

Swish.

Swish.

Assassins moved in sync with his attacks.

Mingled strikes flowed naturally, like long-time partners in formation.

Why? Ghost Sword Squad had been assassin-like.

Hanbin had trained them in Black Heaven and Blood Veil formations— this was natural.

Exhilarated, Blood Flower yelled,

"Almost there! Take its inner core!"

"Yeah!"

Forgetting their mission, Blood Flower and the assassins hammered the wolf.

Tide had turned their way.

Hanbin thrust again.

Stab!

Dragon Blood Physique?

New text. Quickly, Hanbin checked Gisaengsaeng.