Heads Roll and Skies Beckon
Why the hell did I do that? Huh, what's this? Suddenly, there was some stranger's severed head in my hand. This guy was really careless—can't just go dropping your head anywhere like that. If it weren't for a good Samaritan like me, it'd get stolen in a heartbeat, you know? But seriously, you need to lose some weight. That double chin dripping like candle wax? Not a good look, and it's bad for your health too.
"Do I really have to go this far?" It soured my mood, but I still had to return the head. Looking around, sure enough, there was the headless corpse lying there. Judging by that slab of meat, I could tell who this noggin belonged to. A few steps forward, and I pressed the cut end against the neck stump. Even a three-year-old kid could see the head had found its owner again.
"Sigh. Next time, I'm charging a service fee to put it back on."
"......"
Having finished this tiresome good deed, Ha-yeon dusted the blood from her sleeves and turned away. But the sharp killing intent prickling her nape was unmistakable. She easily dodged the sword slashing down vertically, frowning in annoyance.
"The worst scum in the world are the ones stabbing at random passersby."
"Y-you crazy bitch! Do you even know who you've killed—who you've k-killed?!"
"Man, you must be really flustered, stuttering twice like that. Catch your breath and speak properly. What's a sword-slinger good for if you can't even do that?"
Turning around, two men stood there with faces twisted in hyperventilation. One was the guy who'd swung at her, stammering away, and the other was a lanky type who'd just drawn his sword late, eyes rigid with tension.
"You crazy bitch...! Do you know who you've killed?!"
"How should I know? If he was that special, I'd remember him."
Oh, is that why I did it? In the midst of her self-answering loop, the man now foaming at the mouth bellowed.
"You've killed the Young Lord of the Black Ink Faction!"
"Young Lord? Booze?"
"You fucking mad bitch! Let's kill her, brother!"
"What rotten luck, running into a lunatic like this."
The two Black Ink Faction warriors charged. It wasn't some epic clash with a lifelong archenemy, but their actions screamed utter madness. What they were doing was no different from insanity.
They'd failed to protect the Young Lord, letting his head get lopped off right under their noses. From that moment, her superiority was proven. They knew better than anyone—they couldn't beat this woman. They'd witnessed that instantaneous, clean beheading. But even knowing that, they had no choice but to draw their blades.
"The mad bitch who slew the Black Ink Faction's Young Lord! We, the Sa brothers, shall pass judgment!"
"Kuh-huh! Faction Lord! Forgive your worthless brothers!"
The demonic path was cruel. Righteous sects at least pretended to be virtuous, but the rough warriors of unorthodox factions pushed the law of the jungle harder than beasts.
What would happen if they turned tail and fled now? Given the Black Ink Faction Lord's vicious nature, if captured, he'd torture them until they begged for death. And beside the writhing brothers, the corpses of their families and friends would be displayed as trophies.
"Leave now, and I'll let both of you live."
"Dieee!"
"Haaa! Monster!!!"
"Monster who murdered the Young Lord!"
Sometimes, you have to charge even knowing the end. That's why their swings carried madness, fully aware of death. A swordsman must always be prepared to be cut while cutting, but most aren't. So they pour madness into their strikes toward death instead of resolve.
"Fine, then die."
Ha-yeon wasn't about to preach to these charging fools. She whipped her sword, unleashing snaking sword qi in a frenzy. Soon, two mangled corpses were strewn across the alley like grotesque displays.
"Tch."
She shook off her spotless blade needlessly before sheathing it. Wearing a look of extreme disgust, she kicked the slave's shin repeatedly. He still wore a dazed expression. In her arms, she'd haphazardly bundled up O-ryeong.
"Hey, slave boy."
"Yes."
"What's the Black Ink Faction?"
"If it's the one I know... it's a mid-sized sect with a Super Peak master as its lord."
Super Peak. Roughly upper-tier Aura Expert, from what I recalled. The classifications were so sloppy, it could be off—stronger or weaker.
"Probably the one you know. Do they live around here?"
"...Yes. From what I hear, they're fairly well-known in Chil-yang County."
"Yeah. Makes sense. Son's here, so dad's nearby. Even beasts keep their young close—humans aren't different."
But that was a problem. Those two dead guards had screamed their lungs out, practically begging to be heard. Anyone with ears in the neighborhood would've caught it: the brothers tried to avenge the Black Ink Young Lord and failed.
They'd done it on purpose. Only by shrieking like that could they spread word of the pig Young Lord's death and who butchered him. Plus, advertise their loyal end.
"Ha. Why'd they do that."
"What will you do now, my lord?"
"Dunno."
This was embarrassing in front of a mere slave. Strutting like some hotshot advisor, only for things to end up like this.
And even worse.
"Haha. What's done is done. I'll follow your will, my lord."
This slave punk, grinning like he'd seen the funniest shit. It pissed me off. Do I look that ridiculous? Fine, if I'd witnessed this firsthand, I'd laugh too—stunned or mocking.
"Shut up."
"Yes."
"No smiling either."
"That's impossible."
"You think I'm a joke too?"
Aigoo, my head. Amid it all, a small vibration hummed from her bosom—the tasty candied haw O-ryeong from earlier.
"Kiddo."
"Y-yes. Yes."
"Once is enough. Short and to the point. Why were you like that?"
"It's... it's my fault. I look too tempting, seducing men. I'm sorry, so sorry."
"Aigoo, my head. No—do you know why that meat slab went after you?"
"He... he bought me. Said he liked me. Paid seven nyang of gold..."
"Why are you here?"
"Suddenly... pirates smashed Dad's head, dragged Mom away. I got stuffed in a dark box, and when I woke up..."
Her story sounded off. Sure, they brutalize slaves to break them, but even that's too much hassle for this level.
"Any beef with that pig?"
"I... I dodged his hand for a moment."
Ah, got it. But what did it matter now? Point was, leave her, and O-ryeong plus her family get strung up like dried fish.
He couldn't stand tall as a father or faction lord otherwise.
"Any close kin? Cherished little bro, sis, big bro, benefactor gramps or auntie?"
"N-no. None."
"Family?"
"No... no... none..."
"You have some."
"...."
O-ryeong would've caught on if she had brains. I was racking my head over saving her—did I have to save the family too?
Sad reality. Back in the day, I'd stumble around naively, taking a few stabs. Ditch her now? Not a bad idea, honestly.
"Ugh. Worst mood ever."
"Y-yes? Sorry, sorry, so sorry."
"Nah. The one's sorry is the grinning slave. Hey."
"Yes, my lord."
"No smiling. Piss off. Head back alone."
"Let me help. And Wudang Sect isn't a temple—it's a Taoist monastery."
"I said scram. If you collapse stabbed midway, it's on you for meddling."
Ah, what a shitty day. Ha-yeon muttered, gazing at the sky. Hungover till dawn from boozing, couldn't sneak out at night either.
She expelled the hangover with qi, sharpening her hazy pupils.
"Tell me. Where's your family."
BAM!
"Gasp! Who?!"
"This the kid?"
"Y-yes. My little sister."
"You carry her."
"Yes."
No time for explanations—she bundled the sister like a parcel. Uncomfortable? Tough. Hate it? Rip free and run.
Wrapping the sisters mummy-style, they exited the crumbling shack... and blades flew at them like they'd been waiting.
"Ha."
She deflected one barehanded, then drilled a hole through its owner's skull. Sword qi zigzagged like a drift— even a seasoned Peak expert hadn't seen this, dying on the spot. Pitiful end for a Peak warrior.
Problem: he didn't come alone. Black Ink grunts—first-class, second, even third-rate—followed their elder, faces contorting as they yelled.
"Here! The killer who murdered the Young Lord just slew Elder Ghost Claw!"
That beastly roar ignited a giant's fury at the news. The pressure was leagues beyond the elder or slave—likely the Black Ink Faction Lord.
Ha-yeon blinked, savoring it. Hmm... too much. Winnable one-on-one, but with minions stabbing? No chance, especially with baggage to protect.
Nope. Time to bail.
She eyed the slave pitifully, his resolute gaze like he'd resolved to die.
"What's with the sword?"
"Even if my short life ends here, no regrets. Just endless sorrow for my master..."
"Shut up and loosen up."
"Pardon?"
Thwack! Grabbing his collar, Ha-yeon leaped. Thud-thud! Wall-running buildings, accelerating skyward.
"Grip tight. Especially the kids."
Gliding arms-spread midair, Chil-un Lou's tower loomed, Black Ink goons gawking below. Among them, a burly giant vaulted rooftops like a bullet—the Faction Lord.
Their eyes met; both seasoned enough to read intent.
'You?'
'Yup. Son's a fatty, but Dad's built like a tank. That really yours? Found under a bridge?'
'I'll kill you.'
'Doubt it.'
Veins bulged on the Lord's forehead. Regaining calm, he closed in. Idiot bitch soaring high? Predictable landing without wings. Falling like that? Fatal strike before recovery, easy capture.
Grinning savagely, he blasted toward the spot. Spotting them mid-fall, he bared fangs like he'd devour them.
"The moment you land! That's your funeral!"
"Then I won't land."
Think that's possible? The words died unspoken.
BOOM! Something burst. Then...
"Flew...? A person?!"
Whoosh-whoosh—whoosh! Legs kicking like swimming, qi blasts propelled her like a cannonball. Even the Lord, who'd lost his son, gaped in disbelief. Others? Jaws dropped, necks craned.
Flying humans? Possible? Air-stepping? Thoughts swirled visibly on their faces. Hilarious, really—all gaping like fish.
Ha-yeon, clutching three, shrank to a dot. Panicked Lord bellowed.
"Catch her! Seize that bitch at all costs!"
So dramatic. Humans can fly. Back home, mages flew, birds flew, knights flew. Knights even strolled skies in full plate, greatsword in hand, spare at hip, cape fluttering.
These three burdens made perfect weights. Not free, though—muscle tears and exhaustion as toll.
"Urk. One use and my body's wrecked."
She'd drained her qi and the slave's via Suck Star Great Law to fly. Midway limit hit; she landed on a tree. They tumbled branches to dirt.
One-use escape used—scatter and survive. I eyed the slave's dumbstruck face dully.
"Whatever. Can't walk now, so ditch me if you want."
"Ha, haha. No, my lord. I'll carry you."
"What's wrong with you? Survival instinct missing? Brain tumor? Masochistic kink made you reject girls at the brothel?"
"Strange words from you, my lord."
"Fuck, really."
Clap! Like she'd forgotten, Ha-yeon dumped weapons and gear, scooping O-ryeong and Yuk-ryeong.
"Let's go. Piggyback, slave boy."
"Ditching weapons? What about pursuers?"
"Use yours. Looked good."
"As you command. Don't know where we are... need bearings. Find nearby murim comrades for aid."
"...Think your hotshot comrades help strangers? Never worked for me."
"Don't scorn Wudang's name."
"Ah, so the monk ignores no suffering soul, huh."