Chapter 139. Gi Seung-gyo, I'll Protect You for Life
Sado Young Master flinched in surprise when Won Seung uttered his family name. He had never revealed his true identity here, yet this bastard knew it.
How in the world? Even the Bi Sword Sect guy doesn't know me, but this punk does?
Sado Young Master's mind reeled in confusion.
As Won Seung assumed a refined posture reminiscent of a great sword master, not only Sado Young Master and Gwak Gyo but even Gi Seung-gyo glanced over at him.
Won Seung spoke in an arrogant tone.
"From the moment I bought this abandoned Bang family estate, I figured there'd be trouble. I left for a bit to avoid the hassle, but I still got dragged in. Well, no turning back now. I don't know what your deal is, but you've pointed your sword at me—you're not walking away alive."
"You mad bastard!"
"Sado Young Master, haven't you heard there's always a bigger sky above? If you knew my true identity, your legs would shake so bad you couldn't stand."
Everyone pondered his bombastic words. They knew the owner of this house as Joo Neung from Sichuan.
This guy had another identity?
But there was no time for deep thoughts. One wrong glance could mean death. Gi Seung-gyo and Sado Young Master, Won Seung and Gwak Gyo—all glared at each other, watching every move.
A tense silence fell.
'A wild sword's momentum is unpredictable. I have to clash with it head-on and feel it out.'
Having made up his mind, Won Seung turned to Gwak Gyo with a solemn tone.
"Come on."
His expression was relaxed, but his heart raced with chill. Meeting Gwak Gyo's murderous gaze, he couldn't shake the thought that death might come. Still, he saw this as a wall he had to overcome.
Won Seung had never stepped up for a proper one-on-one duel before. He'd always been caught in situations and fought enemies that way.
Over ten years of systematic assassin training, he'd mastered three sword styles and gained sixty years of internal energy. Plus, after recently acquiring the Bi Sword Sect's Horizontal Heaven, his understanding of swordsmanship had deepened. He had only lacked life-or-death experience, but it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he'd surpassed first-rate.
However, Won Seung harbored an unusual fear of death. Everyone feared it, but for him, it loomed larger. Growing up watching kids around him die had left an indelible scar.
He knew he feared life-or-death battles. That's why today, sword on his lap as he awaited the enemy, he'd steeled his mind. Now, he faced Gwak Gyo, a Peak Expert from Mount Man Sword, in direct confrontation. No tricks here.
Sword against sword—they had to settle it that way.
'If I back down now, I'll live forever as a coward.'
A single exchange that decided life and death.
Won Seung burned with resolve: even if their swords clashed, he'd sever his opponent's throat in that one moment.
In truth, Gwak Gyo stared in stunned disbelief. With his sword lowered, Won Seung's defenses were wide open—a posture only an overwhelming superior would take against an inferior.
'Arrogant punk.'
Not the first fool to die by my hand after showing off like that.
Gwak Gyo was cautious. He'd witnessed Won Seung's poison arts, flying dagger skills, and swordsmanship firsthand. No pushover.
But he was young. Lacked real life-or-death experience. So Gwak Gyo decided to use his secret technique.
Minor Drunken Palm Strike.
Sacrifice an arm to take the neck. A ruthless gamble only someone who'd survived countless brutal duels could pull off without hesitation.
Gwak Gyo made his choice, swallowed a sinister sneer, and drew a deep breath.
The moment hung on a knife's edge.
"Hold on!"
Won Seung thrust out his hidden left hand and flicked his fingers. A puff of white powder shot toward Sado Young Master, who was facing off against Gi Seung-gyo.
Pow!
The powder burst like a firecracker, engulfing Sado Young Master. He swung his left hand, sending the dust cloud billowing toward Gi Seung-gyo.
Gi Seung-gyo slid sideways, whipping his sword to swat it away—only for the powder to get caught in his sword aura's vortex, condensing into a spear-like streak that shot straight at Sado Young Master. Sado flailed his sword wildly, scattering it.
The two clashed again.
Won Seung flashed white teeth in a grin.
"Can't have us fighting alone, right?"
Thorough as ever, he'd sparked their fight first to prevent any tricks from Sado Young Master.
"Now come."
Gwak Gyo glared murderously, then lowered his sword just like Won Seung.
And stepped forward.
Thud, thud!
Gwak Gyo advanced with his sword down, front exposed and defenseless—like he was begging to be killed. It threw off any attacker, creating momentary hesitation.
Allow him within half a zhang, and...
At half a zhang, Gwak Gyo sprang forward explosively. He crossed his hands in an X, shoving in with his body. His inner right hand gripped his sword in reverse grip; his outer left wore thin silver-wire gloves, donned who-knows-when.
Risky against a true expert—you might lose an arm. But no one had ever blocked it. A mutual destruction absolute, it made opponents freeze before the sudden death.
That hesitation decided life and death. Until now.
But.
Won Seung lunged too, snapping his wrist to raise his sword. His hidden left hand drew a short dagger. As Won Seung's diagonal thrust came in, Gwak Gyo's left hand swept it outward. Then his reverse-grip right sword aimed for Won Seung's throat.
Won Seung frantically raised his left to block. His wrist protector caught the blade with a screech.
Kriiiik!
In that instant, Gwak Gyo's left hand struck Won Seung's heart.
Thud!
"Guhk!"
A groan escaped Won Seung. His upper body reeled from the chest blow, but he stepped forward with his right foot, whipping his sword around. Gwak Gyo reached down to grab the blade, but Won Seung ducked his torso forward and headbutted him square in the face.
Thud!
A watermelon-splitting crack echoed.
A dogfight?
Winning is what matters.
Gu Yeom-jung glared at the house where clashes of weapons rang out sporadically. To the left of the low hill's house was a small vegetable patch; to the right, a slope with a few trees.
His elites had taken positions on the hill, patch, and slope, crossbows trained. Anyone bursting out would be riddled like a beehive.
'Six from Mount Man Sword, one from Bi Sword Sect. And they're still fighting.'
The Bi Sword Sect expert was holding out impressively. Gu Yeom-jung's calculations hadn't factored in the house owner, Joo Neung.
'It'll be over before dawn.'
The order was to capture alive if possible, but Gu Yeom-jung ignored the "if possible." Even peak jianghu masters avoided the Four Great Sword Sects and Three Great Dao Gates. No need to risk his life. He knew this mission bypassed official Jin Yi Wei channels.
Careful, yes—but not suicidal.
Then.
"Commander Jang Cheon-ho has arrived."
His direct superior, Jang Hak-ryang, was here. Gu Yeom-jung and Joo Gyeong-cheon exchanged surprised glances. Was this worth pulling in Cheon-ho?
They rushed to report to Jang Hak-ryang.
"The rebels are fighting inside, and we're securing the perimeter."
Jang Hak-ryang nodded at Gu Yeom-jung's report. He didn't know the full story either—just a bit more invested than Gu. His superior, Jeok-in, said capture one alive, so he'd grab that one.
"As expected of White Tiger Gu—cautious. Good work. They're rats in a trap anyway."
Jang Hak-ryang glanced at the three hundred fully armed elites he'd brought, plus three more White Tigers.
No Ten Great Expert could escape this house now.
"We need one alive, so watch and strike at the right moment."
"Understood."
Gu Yeom-jung saluted, scanned the house, then leaped to a tall tree by the wall.
Under the bright moonlight, he saw ants battling in the courtyard.
Gok Sang, circulating energy by the wall near the main gate, inwardly groaned. Far from expelling the poison, he'd lost his internal energy. He had no idea Won Seung's powder was Dokgoe's venom. If he had, he'd have fled instead of trying to force it out with qi.
'!'
His energy was gone, but a Peak Expert's senses remained. He opened his eyes at the subtle movements outside.
Joo Gwan-in sensed it too, breaking his circulation to peer through the gate crack.
Then, beyond that wall, a massive owl landed on a bare winter branch.
No—not an owl.
'That bastard.'
The guy from the inn today, Gu Dae-in, who'd humiliated him.
'Of all times.'
He might've been watching all along. With Jin Yi Wei involved, tonight wouldn't end well. Two dead already, him poisoned—total mess.
As Joo Gwan-in ground his teeth, a watermelon-cracking sound came from the courtyard.
"Kuhk!"
Gwak Gyo staggered. Won Seung's brutal headbutt had smashed his nose and shattered his upper teeth.
Even as stars exploded in his vision, a master's eyes tracked Won Seung's sword. He twisted, reversing his grip to block—then felt a prick in his side, followed by searing agony that froze him.
In that instant, Gwak Gyo kicked out with his right foot, slamming Won Seung's abdomen.
"Euk!"
Won Seung reeled back, vomiting blood.
Heart struck, headbutted, then gut-kicked—pure agony. His head buzzed like a swarm of bees, guts twisting as if snapped.
The fierce close-quarters brawl in the small yard had brought them near Gi Seung-gyo and Sado Young Master.
Sado raged at his subordinate's peril. He'd just pressed Gi Seung-gyo, giving him a spare move.
"Gwak Gyo!"
Sado swung his sword, unleashing sword qi at Won Seung.
'This fucking dog!'
Too sudden for defense. Won Seung raised his wrist guard to sacrifice an arm—but Gi Seung-gyo staggered forward, sword extended, batting the qi away.
'Ah, Gi Seung-gyo. I'll protect you for life.'
Won Seung vowed inwardly. Gi could've seized the advantage by targeting that moment... but he'd saved him instead.
Sado lunged at the distracted Gi Seung-gyo.
But.
Shiiiing!
Won Seung hurled Dok Sabu's dagger—the one that had pierced Gwak Gyo's side—with a full burst of one jiazi's power.
The dagger flashed like lightning at Sado's throat. He desperately raised his sword to deflect it. In that split second, Gi Seung-gyo's thrust came; Sado leaped back.
In that brief gap, Gwak Gyo charged Won Seung, unleashing a flurry of wild strikes. Won Seung hurled his right-hand sword.
Flying Sword.
Not sword qi—a real sword flung forth.