I'll Show You How Fierce the Fuhou Sword Art Is!
Won Seung pondered deeply and realized the bait wasn't for him—it was Im Cho-ye's martial uncle. Go Yeong-ju had said the ones searching for Im Cho-ye were under surveillance by Myeonggeom Mountain experts. And those Myeonggeom Mountain masters knew they were being watched.
'They're planning to take him out tonight.'
Won Seung racked his brain for a moment before letting out a sigh-like mutter.
"Deceiving Heaven to Cross the Sea!"
To reclaim his home, he had to go all-in.
'They want to lure out Im Cho-ye's martial uncle and kill him? Fine, I'll set the stage for them.'
Won Seung left the inn and headed home. As he drew near, he spotted the rat-eyed scout and his lackeys hiding in the alleys.
'Pathetic idiots. Hiding in plain sight like that.'
Reaching the house, Won Seung's demeanor shifted. From a clueless scholar, he transformed into the chief disciple of Fuhou Pavilion, striding confidently toward the gate. He'd already wiped off his disguise on the way, altering his appearance.
The rat-eyed scout and his goons watched from the alley as he pretended to know nothing, unlocking the front gate's bolt and stepping inside.
Thud-thud.
The sound of the scout scurrying off in a hurry reached his ears.
'Yeah, go fetch them. Let's end this.'
Won Seung entered the inner quarters, changed clothes, then headed to the medicine room. One wall held an array of weapons: swords, sabers, daggers. He strapped on his chest protector, wrist guards on both arms, grabbed some throwing knives, and tucked a short sword loaded with Seven Treasures Soul Separation Powder into his waistband behind him.
Finally, he selected a slightly short sword—perfect length for deploying the Fuhou Sword Art of the public domain.
With his preparations for murder complete, Won Seung sat in the parlor, sipping tea with eyes closed. He reviewed the Fuhou Sword Art forms in his mind, running through them fluidly, but the contents of the Bi Sword Sect's Dominating the World Sword Manual kept intruding. It truly was a supreme art. So intricate that once it surfaced in his thoughts, it was hard to shake.
Intending to drill the Fuhou Sword Art, he ended up fully immersed in the Bi Sword Sect's Dominating the World Sword Manual.
* * *
"He's back?"
"Yes. I clearly saw him enter the house."
"Got it. Keep watching him."
After sending the rat-eyed scout away, the gaunt man with a cold, ruthless face—Gok Sang—spoke.
"What a coincidence. We were about to use the lure, and now the homeowner shows up."
Gok Sang had planned to wander alone, pretending to search the house to draw out the hidden watcher. But suddenly, the owner had returned home.
Gok Sang considered changing plans.
"Perfect. Let's take them all out at once."
The thick-voiced man, Ju Gwan-in, declared.
"We have to deal with that guy anyway, right?"
"Is that necessary? Him buying the house seems coincidental. No need to stir up the Imperial Guards by messing with a commoner."
Gok Sang shook his head, but Ju Gwan-in wouldn't back down.
"He might've found the sword manual while fixing up the place."
"We searched every inch, and nothing turned up. I suspect Bang Pyeong was just bait all along."
"No. I'm convinced Bang Pyeong had it. He's Im Wi's chief disciple, after all. Fleeing all the way to the capital? He must've carried the sword manual."
"It's more logical that the girl took it and vanished."
Ju Gwan-in scowled at Gok Sang's words.
"Where the hell did that girl go? She was definitely in the house."
Back then, even Sa Do Gongja had joined them—five in total—to wipe out Bang Pyeong's family and ransack the house. Yet they hadn't found Im Wi's granddaughter or the sword manual. Government troops arrived right after, forcing their retreat. They'd snuck back in sporadically since, but still no sign of either.
"Fine. I'll go alone. He'll definitely follow. Join me when he shows."
Gok Sang grabbed his sword and stepped into the night streets. The ongoing fireworks for the full moon festival made everything noisy. He walked the main road, then turned into the alley toward Won Seung's house. This was a quiet residential area.
Won Seung's house came into view at the base of a low hill.
Gok Sang spotted the rat-eyed scout lurking in the alley.
"Good work. You're dismissed."
With a low murmur and wave of his hand, the scout bowed hastily and vanished with his lackeys. Watching their retreating figures, Gok Sang's eyes turned icy. They were dead men too.
The search for the Bi Sword Sect's sword manual demanded utmost secrecy. Sa Do Gongja's orders: eliminate all involved.
Gok Sang vaulted over the wall, landing in the moonlit courtyard. He glanced at the inner quarters—light shone from the parlor.
'If you'd waited just a few more days... Blame your luck.'
Bathed in moonlight, Gok Sang made no effort to hide. He stared at the inner quarters and called out.
"Come out."
His gaze shifted beyond the wall. He'd sensed someone tailing him on the way. He extended his energy but detected nothing. Yet someone was there. Meaning the foe was no weaker than him.
Gok Sang wasn't calling the homeowner—he was summoning his pursuer.
He figured a Bi Sword Sect disciple might outrank them individually, but not against a joint assault. The fact they only spied from hiding proved it. That's why the two had stuck together—until their patience ran out. Now, risking it all alone to lure the Bi Sword Sect disciple.
As expected, a figure emerged from the shadows by the wall. A white-robed man in his mid-to-late twenties, sword on his back.
Gok Sang's cold eyes narrowed.
"You must be Bi Sword Sect's third disciple, Gi Seung-gyo."
"……."
The white-robed man said nothing. Gok Sang twisted his lips and asked again.
"Where's the second brother, Jin Eok-so?"
"……."
The man in white merely fixed Gok Sang with icy eyes.
"I'm Gok Sang of Myeonggeom Mountain's Yeongchwi Peak."
"Myeonggeom Mountain?"
Only then did the white-robed man speak.
"Why did Myeonggeom Mountain commit such slaughter?"
"Green boy. You know nothing. No need to enlighten you. Just die."
Gok Sang's eerie voice chilled the courtyard.
At that moment, Won Seung emerged from the parlor, lantern in hand. Spotting Gok Sang and the white-robed man in the yard, he cried out in surprise.
"Hey, who are you!"
Gok Sang and the white-robed man's gazes turned to him. Handsome lad, still boyish.
Won Seung eyed them both and bellowed.
"Don't you know trespassing's illegal!"
"Hah…."
Gok Sang sighed. To think they'd wasted days in the capital, enduring humiliation from the Imperial Guards, just to catch an idiot like this. Couldn't he see the situation?
"You're the homeowner?"
Gok Sang's cold gaze swept over Won Seung again.
Won Seung flinched, frowning.
"You know me? Dang Dok Su sent you?"
"Dang Dok Su?"
Puzzlement flickered in Gok Sang's eyes. Won Seung's face hardened with resolve as he shouted.
"That villain Dang Dok Su killed my master and now comes for me! Fine. I, chief disciple Joo Nung of Fuhou Pavilion under Great Public Cave, will settle this today!"
He drew the sword from his waist and assumed the starting stance of the Fuhou Sword Art.
"I'll show you how fierce the Fuhou Sword Art of Great Public Cave is!"
"Ahh…."
Gok Sang sighed involuntarily. Now he saw—the kid had his own backstory, drifting to the capital. He clearly didn't grasp the situation. Hadn't even seen the Bi Sword Sect sword manual. Yet they had to kill him just for witnessing them. Unsettling, but Sa Do Gongja's orders were absolute.
The white-robed man glanced at Won Seung, then turned to Gok Sang.
"Gok Sang, this is between us. Let's settle it outside."
Then, someone landed on the wall with a thick voice.
"No need for the hassle! Gi Seung-gyo, you're dying here."
Ju Gwan-in stood there, sword sheathed, arms crossed.
'Everyone's here now?'
Won Seung scanned the three men in the yard and on the wall, thinking to himself.
The white-robed man's gaze shifted to Ju Gwan-in, who sneered.
"To think we'd catch you so easily after dragging it out."
The white-robed man eyed Gok Sang and Ju Gwan-in.
"You two alone couldn't touch Senior Brother Bang? More help? Call them all."
He'd admitted to being Bi Sword Sect's third disciple, Gi Seung-gyo.
Ju Gwan-in let out a hollow laugh at Gi Seung-gyo's words.
"Your senior brother died by my sword... And here you are, arrogantly prattling on."
At the claim that he'd killed Bang Pyeong, chilling killing intent burst from Gi Seung-gyo's eyes.
"How dare trash from Myeonggeom Mountain defy the Bi Sword Sect!"
Eerie cold swept the yard. The massive killing intent made Gok Sang and Ju Gwan-in flinch.
'Oh, perfect!'
Won Seung inwardly cheered. Gi Seung-gyo exceeded expectations—an Ultimate Peak master.
Won Seung hadn't forgotten Im Cho-ye's tales of her uncles' prowess. Eldest senior brother Bang Pyeong at Three Stars level, second and third uncles beyond Five Excellences. Bang Pyeong, at Three Stars, had repelled the intruders.
So Gi Seung-gyo, beyond Five Excellences, could surely handle these two. No need for him to step in?
Lately, Won Seung had focused on swordsmanship. Memorizing the Bi Sword Sect's Dominating the World Sword Manual had deepened his sword enlightenment immensely. Plus, his master's secret weapon, Seven Treasures Soul Separation Powder. Even hearing Myeonggeom Mountain experts were Peak level didn't scare him much.
He'd confirmed it personally at O-bok Guest House. He could handle one alone. That's why he'd set this trap. With a Bi Sword Sect expert, victory was assured.
If either Gok Sang or Ju Gwan-in were Ultimate Peak... He'd have fled to Yeongtap Temple for 108 bows without looking back.
Won Seung waited leisurely for Gi Seung-gyo to carve up the pair.
Unlike laymen's tales, experts' battles ended in seconds. Rumors of seven-day fights were pure bluster. Who had equals for such marathons? In real combat, tiny gaps decided life or death in a few exchanges. Prolonged scraps were for street thugs.
'The aftermath's the issue...'
He still needed to confess rescuing Im Cho-ye to Gi Seung-gyo and reveal his 108-bow atonement at Yeongtap Temple. That'd neatly resolve the hot potato Im Cho-ye. But the Bi Sword Sect's Dominating the World Sword Manual remained.
Return it? Probably. But if they learned he'd seen it?
Extermination...
It boiled down to Gi Seung-gyo and the second disciple's character. If they'd kill without hesitation, he'd stay silent about the manual. Stealing arts was wrong, but survival first. People needed virtue for a reason.
'First, gauge Gi Seung-gyo's personality.'
But the situation flipped. Under the full moon's glow in the yard, black shadows flickered, and three more figures appeared on the walls.
"!"
'More Myeonggeom Mountain experts?'
We're screwed.