Why Did I Do That?
"Why did I do that?" "..." The Black Ink Faction Lord glared at me in silence. Instead of dismissing it as nonsense, he glanced once more at the bouquet and coffin in his hands before drawing a deep breath.
"Huuuuh..." It was like cooling the boiling heat inside him. The other righteous faction elders seemed to grasp the situation and took a step back. Moreover, Pyeong So-geon, who had brought Cheong-yong, stomped the ground hard as if signaling everyone to focus here.
"Listen well. At the request of this child, a friend of my Cheong-yong, I fetched a fine coffin from the warehouse and broke off an entire branch from the flower tree we raised in the garden. We cannot say whether vengeance for one's son or the righteousness of aiding the weak is more proper, so I have come as a mediator to end this grudge right here."
The Black Ink Faction Lord tossed the bouquet into the coffin.
"Fine. Then everyone here just watch. Whether I win or that bitch wins."
The Black Ink Faction Lord's attitude was clear. Tense, yet brimming with confidence that never considered his own defeat. His eyes held the certainty that he could easily sever my neck if not for the righteous faction surrounding him.
"Ah-ha."
I felt the same. Defeat? Why even think about that? I'm going to win anyway, so wouldn't it be better to worry about after the fight?
"Cheong-yong."
"Yes, great hero."
"If I die, don't avenge me."
"Yes."
"At times like this, you say 'no way' even if it's empty words, you heartless bastard."
I stepped forward. The Black Ink Faction Lord drew the great cleaver slung on his back, as if to vent his rage through power. But then I held out my hand.
"Hold on, Faction Lord."
"What? Begging for your life now...?"
"Let's not use weapons against each other."
"Why the hell not?"
"You're the senior here—show some consideration, you rude prick. And if we go swinging swords and stabbing... you might kill me, but you can't capture me, right?"
"Hoo?"
The Black Ink Faction Lord, who had been striding forward as if to say bullshit, paused in thought. It wasn't just me forbidden from weapons—the opponent was forgoing them too, so the terms were equal. He had been uneasy about ending his son's vengeance so easily. Besides, unarmed hand-to-hand combat, a brawl, would favor his massive build. He was superior in both external and internal arts, so if he dragged this out into a long chase and subdued her exhausted body to drag back to the Black Ink Faction... How good would it be to tear, rip, and torment her before his son's spirit tablet, making rivers of her tears? Of course, her bold proposal to fight without weapons suggested a hidden trump card, but he had his own. How many martial artists trained without secret techniques? A flicker of greed crossed his reluctant face.
"You won't pull out a dagger or steel claws from your sleeve if we agree, right?"
"Absolutely not. Want us to strip naked and fight? But you'd look too ugly. You'd die writhing, shitting and pissing blood everywhere—let's keep our clothes on for minimal dignity."
"Haha. Good. Very good."
I and the Faction Lord walked toward each other.
"Faction Lord. My name is Seol Ha-yeon."
"Black Ink Faction Lord. Wang Jak."
"Yeah, Wang Jak. Sorry for killing your son."
"..."
"Kidding. Not sorry at all."
Wang Jak's muscles bulged. Then, he exploded forward like a wild boar—the same ferocious charge he'd used to catch up to me before. Getting hit by that would be my ticket to a second reincarnation. Not wanting that, my feet moved into footwork.
A bear's form flickered over Wang Jak's foot as it dropped to split my head.
Wang Jak sneered at my evasion.
"I know your legs are wrecked—how long can you scurry like a rat?!"
His swung fist came. Light for probing, yet laced with vicious black fist qi. After a moment's thought, I casually deflected and redirected it.
Wang Jak, unexpectant, leisurely fired fist qi to test me. Knowing his superior size favored attrition. He advanced slowly, chipping away at my stamina and inner power with measured blasts.
"Where'd that bold spirit go?"
"..."
"Come on! Kill me and stuff me in that coffin!"
Boom. Boom boom. Crude fist qi exploding through the air. I deflected some, dodged some, countered others. No solid hits yet, but my defensive moves drew sighs from some righteous warriors.
"Hup!"
This time, no scattered qi—Wang Jak's fist shot straight. Unlike linear blasts, a Super Peak punch too heavy to deflect or block easily.
Crack!
Or so I thought—before my soft White Hand Devil Skill absorbed it and counterattacked.
"...!"
Five fingers thrust at his face after redirecting his punch. He exploded power into his legs and retreated. He dodged, surely. Yet...
Drip. Drip.
What was this blood dripping from him? From impossible range. Even if fist qi grazed, his external arts and false stellar qi on his face should've protected it. Another of those damn sorceries that plagued him for days? Wang Jak's doubt didn't last.
Boom!
The culprit who'd toyed with him in the chase—using bizarre footwork like Void Step—rushed him.
"Insolent!"
He swung. Vision blurred from the face hit, but it sharpened his mind. Instinct screamed she wasn't easy prey for capture.
Soon, both swung fists at each other.
......
"Feels like my body's about to fly apart. Fucking awesome."
Someone might ask: How'd the guy who was half-dead and wheezing on the way to Nam-chang muster strength for fisticuffs?
The answer lay in settling grudges. Perfect timing—Yeon Family and Black Mountain Faction goons came to "repay" minor debts.
I pretended to tremble, let them tie me, and got escorted to their base. Pathetic factions with only one Peak leader each... prime time for the Suck Star Great Law, optimized for crushing the weak.
'Wait! Elder! Spare me!'
'No can do. Debts must be paid in murim. Debt strike!'
Sucked them dry with Suck Star Great Law—their meager inner power, vitality, essence, all of it. Massive influx that'd wreck even me... but my body was already shattered; what's a little more? Instead, it revitalized me. Sure, backlash later for sustaining on others' life force, but enough to trade punches with the lord now.
"Hraaap!"
"Grraaa!"
Our fists collided. His was double mine, but I only recoiled slightly—no major damage. Thanks to White Hand Devil Skill's gains from slaughtering Yeon Family and Black Mountain Faction.
Two demonic arts that grow through killing advanced via old grudges' blood. At least for me. Here, my punch power matched the lord's. Or better.
Crack crack!
"Urk!"
Each clash, snake-like sword qi coiled up his arm. He freaked, blasting qi to shake off the crawling blade energy.
"What... sorcery is this, bitch?"
"Can't understand it, so it's sorcery?"
Not just clinging sword qi. A slash that shakes internals—like Internal Heavy Hand Method fused into sword qi via handblade, sans sword. Sword qi from handblade was wild; adding that principle? Insane feat. Wang Jak and watching righteous warriors gaped. More sorcery than sorcery—turning potential slaughter into fair duel.
"Hraap!"
Wang Jak stomped to break the disadvantage. His massive frame blurred behind me; thick foot dropped on my crown.
Bear form on his foot, smashing to cleave my skull.
Dodge? Wrong. All-in strike means gaping flaw from commitment. Exploit it.
Boom!
I burst power into my legs, flanking him instantly.
"No you don't!"
But he knew—of my explosive footwork rivaling sky-treading.
Crunch!
Twist ignoring his tearing bones/muscles. Caught her. Unavoidable bear paw arc.
Spiral suction in my hand. It twisted his leg slightly, but trajectory held.
One more. Crunch—chewed and swallowed Pyeong So-geon's gifted elixir pile.
His reluctant voice echoed: 'What? Just crude energy-packed pills? Any kind? Kid, that'll shatter your dantian before you use it.'
'I can. Me.'
'Fine. Whatever. Better than nothing. Good luck.'
He'd been moved by my warrior spirit, but I knew I could. Asked 'cause I could. Terrifying power surged; I condensed it flawlessly into one point.
Kiiiing!
Starlight-like stellar qi formed on my handblade. Kneaded into straight sword shape—like his cleaver, bone-cleaving.
"Good job."
Gripped the qi sword, assumed stance, swung.
"Damn."
His muttered last words—slash cleaved even them.
Shwick!
No shockwave. Massive body split, blood gushing, collapsed.
My victory.
......
"Slave."
"Yes, my lord."
"Peel some fruit."
"Yes."
The slave left. Could've told a maid, but he actually did it.
"Ah. Bones. When will they heal?"
Black Ink Faction Lord Wang Jak was dead. Massive grudge severed. Perfect closure—no objections.
"Aigoo aigoo. I'm dying."
After he died, I'd hovered near death. Brushed off the slave supporting my staggering self, stuffed the lord's chunks into the coffin tight. Nailed it shut—resurrection? Good luck opening.
Should've put fewer flowers.
"Urgh."
"Sis! You okay?"
"Idiot. Sis prefers 'bro'."
"Yuk-ryeong's so... clever."
O-ryeong and Yuk-ryeong—sisters nearly doomed by me—fate undecided. Slave said he'd take them to Wudang, so no worries.
'Oh yeah? Then every rescue goes to Wudang? Soon it'll be Wudang City, Wudang Nation?'
'We'll see later. Like you said, my lord.'
Her call. Warned her not to regret going nuts alone.
"Sis! Bro! Today with Cheong-yong bro, we ate dongpo pork at Tangchori Pavilion!"
"Dumplings stuffed with meat—so yummy!"
"...Lucky."
I'm convalescing on thin gruel-water while they babble. What karma.
I silently watched the sisters chatter. Never expected this scene despite doing it.
Still don't know why I chose that then. Plenty chances to ditch, yet I stubbornly saved these idiots like a fool.
"Wait."
Why did this happen? Planned to booze up and grope tits/ass, but woke to insane escape drama. Body wrecked, gains: cuddly twin sisters.
"Hey kids, this is bullshit."
"Huh?"
"W-what?"
"Call me hubby from now on, not bro. Won't sleep unless I marry you for real."
"Yay!"
"Wanna live with sis—er, bro—no, hubby!"
They wriggled into my arms. I hugged tight, glaring at the mirror in the corner.
Clear reflection: breathtaking beauty holding two kids. New face. But I scowled silently; mirror girl scowled too, displeased.
Yet her scrunched face oozed seductive charm tickling the heart. Cute yet haughty allure. Usually mixes poorly, but her beauty pulled it off.
Ridiculous—sigh escaped. Mirror girl bowed, sighing deeply.
Finally, hugging the whining "hubby" sisters, I could only say:
"Why did I do that?"