Chapter 137: Why Pry into Someone Else's Martial Arts Like a Bumpkin?
Among the three newcomers, the one in the center was a handsome man in his late twenties. Dressed impeccably in a blue robe, he exuded an air of nobility at first glance.
Won Seung could guess the young master's identity. He must be the Sado Young Master that Gok Sang and Ju Gwan-in had mentioned.
The young master's stance was remarkably natural. No matter how he looked at it, he didn't seem inferior to Gi Seung-gyo. Moreover, flanking the young master were two men around Gok Sang's age.
These bastards are all Peak Experts too…
"Greetings, Young Master."
Gok Sang and Ju Gwan-in hurriedly bowed toward the young master.
As his suspicions were confirmed, Won Seung's heart sank.
That wasn't all. Massive shadows flew over the wall, crashing into the courtyard with heavy thuds. They were the beady-eyed ruffian and his minions. Already dead, their limbs twisted unnaturally as they rolled across the ground.
Then another person appeared. Another Peak Expert.
These vicious bastards!
Won Seung realized they had no intention of letting him live.
Now it was do or die—he had to fight his way out.
The Sado Young Master glared at Gi Seung-gyo for a moment before turning his gaze to Won Seung. Won Seung was still holding the starting stance of the Bokho Sword Technique, but it looked somehow sloppy.
"What's this guy?"
Before Gok Sang could answer, Won Seung spoke up.
"I'm the owner of this house. You look like Jianghu folk—think it's okay to fight like this in a civilian home? There's an open field just outside. Go fight…"
"Kill him!"
Before Won Seung could finish, the Sado Young Master barked curtly and looked back at Gi Seung-gyo. He showed no interest in Won Seung whatsoever.
This fucker? Interrupting someone mid-sentence to order a kill?
Won Seung's eyes narrowed sharply.
Should he dump the Seven Treasures Soul Separation Powder on them?
But he had to deal with the immediate threat first. Gok Sang, the closest to Won Seung, lunged at him the moment the young master's order rang out.
Hmph! As if.
As Won Seung readjusted his grip on his sword, someone moved faster. Gi Seung-gyo had somehow positioned himself in front of Won Seung and shouted,
"Little brother, get back for now."
Clang!
Gok Sang thrust desperately, but his sword was deflected by Gi Seung-gyo's blade. He was pushed back a whole zhang. Then Ju Gwan-in leaped in to join him.
Whoosh!
Ju Gwan-in and Gok Sang unleashed a barrage of sword strikes at Gi Seung-gyo. Sword winds and energies whipped toward his vital points.
In that instant, Gi Seung-gyo assumed a sword stance.
Tssst!
Shockingly, countless sword phantoms materialized in the air. Watching this, Won Seung finally understood why they were called the Bi Sword Sect. Gi Seung-gyo moved ceaselessly, each motion birthing sword energies that became flying swords hurtling toward Ju Gwan-in and Gok Sang.
As the Bi Sword Sect's swordsmanship—beyond mere sword manuals—unfolded before him, Won Seung grew excited, forgetting his own peril as he watched intently.
"I told you to get out of here—what are you doing?"
Gi Seung-gyo shouted urgently again when Won Seung didn't move.
"This is my house. They're the ones who should leave."
Won Seung shook his sword emphatically. In truth, escape wasn't an option. Would those three on the wall just let him flee?
Gi Seung-gyo said no more and swung his sword. He handled the two with ease. Clearly, he'd followed them knowing they were luring him out—just unaware the Sado Young Master was watching from behind.
Won Seung felt a gaze and turned. The Sado Young Master was looking at him.
Suddenly intrigued, the young master asked,
"Why aren't you running? Not afraid of death?"
"You must be mistaken. I have enough skill to defend my own home."
As Won Seung infused energy into the Bokho Sword Technique stance, a smile tugged at the Sado Young Master's lips.
"Is that so? Let's see that skill then."
He raised his hand. The men on the wall leaped down in unison. The two flanking the young master charged Gi Seung-gyo, while the one who'd dealt with the beady-eyed crew flew at Won Seung.
The man's face was unusually dark, black qi seemingly leaking from his eyes. He closed in instantly, thrusting his sword—which vanished mid-strike.
Illusory sword?
Won Seung had already seen the Myeonggeom Mountain experts wield diverse styles. Gok Sang used fast sword, Ju Gwan-in heavy sword. True to its name, Myeonggeom Mountain seemed to train in various schools' techniques.
The dark-faced man's sword had vanished, but Won Seung didn't lose track. He'd handled illusory swords himself. His Tae-eul Sword Art centered on variations and illusions.
Won Seung stepped back, raising his sword sideways.
Clang!
As the blades clashed, Won Seung unleashed the exquisite Four Strokes Piercing Heaven. It combined defense and offense into a single form: pushing or pulling with Retreat and Advance, and repelling or drawing in with Repel and Absorb—subtle inner energy manipulations that neutralized the foe's weapon while targeting the throat's Heavenly Pivot acupoint in a vicious strike.
Back at the assassin camp against the chief instructor, his energy control was lacking, but now it was ingrained enough to wield Retreat-Advance-Repel-Absorb.
The dark-faced man mistook Won Seung's Absorbing Finger for adhesion and poured inner energy to twist and fling his sword free. But Won Seung's blade rode up his foe's and pierced the Heavenly Pivot.
Gurk!
With a short cry, the dark-faced man staggered backward and tumbled under the veranda.
Won Seung knew these enemies were ruthless, so he struck lethally first. Eliminating even one while they were off-guard was key, hence opening with the life-saving supreme technique Four Strokes Piercing Heaven.
The dark-faced Peak Expert fell pathetically beside the sprawl of the beady-eyed ruffian Won Seung had killed—following his minions into the afterlife all too easily.
"!"
Everyone in the yard froze at the sudden turn. Won Seung, the apparent weakling anyone could chop down, was a hidden master!
But Gi Seung-gyo and the four Peak Experts couldn't stop. A moment's distraction could mean death in this perilous fray.
Won Seung lowered his sword and addressed the glaring Sado Young Master.
"You need to learn some manners first—like listening till someone's done talking. I was about to say I could kill scum like you in one stroke."
The Sado Young Master stared in disbelief and demanded,
"What sword art was that?"
"Why pry into someone else's martial arts like a bumpkin? What's yours, then?"
The young master's face hardened coldly.
"Insolent cur!"
Simultaneously, his robes billowed wildly. On a windless full-moon night, it was ghostly.
This guy's the real deal.
Won Seung steeled himself inwardly, plunging his left hand into his poison pouch and grabbing a handful of scattering powder.
Gu Yeom-jung was about to bed a courtesan after a long time when he heard footsteps outside.
"What is it?"
"Urgent news from outside the east gate, sir."
Gu Yeom-jung scowled and sat up.
"You, out."
The courtesan was unceremoniously chased from the room in near-nudity. As she opened the door, a black shadow slipped in.
"Myeonggeom Mountain experts have appeared at the Bang family ruins. Four new ones joined the two we were watching—six total. A Bi Sword Sect expert showed up too."
"Hmph… those damn dogs. Starting a fight in the middle of the night."
Gu Yeom-jung cursed and dressed.
"Mobilize everyone. Light armor since they're masters—pack crossbows, iron chains, and plenty of hidden weapons."
The shadow vanished.
As Gu Yeom-jung grabbed his sword, he muttered to himself,
Six Myeonggeom Mountain experts… hard to capture them all. Can't report to the Inspector General this late… Wait, Ju Gyeong-cheon is on duty tonight.
Leaving the pleasure house, Gu Yeom-jung dashed to his superior's quarters with lightness skill. Ju Gyeong-cheon, on night duty, was a close friend.
"What's this at night?"
"The Inspector General gave me a secret task, but the opponents are Myeonggeom Mountain masters—six of them. Help me out."
Ju Gyeong-cheon frowned at the explanation.
"Jianghu scum daring to fight in the imperial capital?"
He summoned the duty officer.
"Everyone except minimal guards—arm up and prepare to deploy."
"Thanks."
"Your problem is mine."
Moments later, over 160 armored Embroidered Uniform Guards in indigo storm robes streamed out the east gate. All first-rate experts, their momentum was fierce, their movements swift.
Tssst!
"Urk!"
One Myeonggeom Mountain expert finally spat blood and flew back. Gi Seung-gyo's flying swords were astonishing. Not true blades but dozens of sword energies mimicking them left even Peak Experts like Gok Sang scrambling to defend.
Won Seung envied Gi Seung-gyo's technique, resolving to master the Bi Sword Sect's Heaven-Sweeping Sword no matter what.
The Sado Young Master paled, grasping the gravity. Myeonggeom Mountain had countless peaks, and Yeongchwibong ranked among the top ten. He'd brought five top disciples from there, yet they couldn't handle the third disciple of the Bi Sword Sect. Shockingly, this third disciple outshone even first disciple Bang Pyeong.
The young master glared at Won Seung, who was absently admiring the swordplay. This guy ruined everything. Lost a master to him carelessly—now it's all gone wrong.
I'll kill him! But Gi Seung-gyo's side was critical.
Gnashing his teeth, the Sado Young Master bellowed,
"All of you, back off!"
Whoosh—he soared like a goose, forming a sword seal and slashing the air. His sheathed sword on his back unsheathed itself, flying toward Gi Seung-gyo.
Imperial Flight Sword?
Won Seung's eyes widened. But it wasn't true imperial flight. In a flash, the young master's form exploded forward, grabbing the hilt mid-air and flicking his wrist.
Whoosh!
Dazzling sword energies wove a net, engulfing Gi Seung-gyo.
As he attacked, the Sado Young Master shouted,
"Cut that bastard's head off."
Gok Sang, Ju Gwan-in, and the surviving other man turned to Won Seung.
Won Seung grinned at them.
"One by one, or all at once?"
Please have some pride as masters. Come one at a time.
But Gok Sang and Ju Gwan-in charged together. The other man watched the young master and Gi Seung-gyo, ready to join if needed.
Swoosh!
Gok Sang's fast sword flew in; Ju Gwan-in's heavy sword smashed down.
In that instant.
Pof!
Won Seung vanished, white powder billowing in his place.