Chapter 147: Few in the World Possess Such Skill
The blade is merciless. When it cuts, flesh splits, organs sever, and bones shatter. Then, the person dies. A first-rate master is someone with at least thirty years of internal energy. Their sword strikes differ from those of an ordinary person. Struck by a blade infused with inner energy, the hit area explodes, sending you straight to the afterlife.
It's different if the one struck is also a master. Experts clad in protective aura can deflect blades even without external arts like Iron Cloth or Horizontal Refinement. But reaching that level requires at least the True Realm.
Won Seung wasn't a True Realm master, but he possessed sixty years of internal energy and had mastered the Musanggok Yin-Yang Twin Veins technique. He feared not the ferocious onslaught of blades surging toward him. Sensing the soldiers from the Ministry of War charging, Won Seung suddenly shifted his body.
Thud! Thump thump!
The scene unfolded much like before. Won Seung deftly evaded the blades while smashing the Ministry of War soldiers aside. His movements were fluid, like an octopus twisting through water.
Snap! Crack!
Arms broke, shin bones shattered. Considering they were from the Ministry of War, Won Seung refrained from using poison. He'd hit them just hard enough to sideline them for half a year or so.
But Mu Gi-an, peering through the gap in the gate, was dumbfounded. Won Seung's martial prowess was astonishing, and the fallout from this mess was beyond comprehension.
"Ahh..."
A sigh escaped him unbidden. He cursed his presence here. Just being associated with this could make him a target for the Ministry of War—and a likely corpse.
Mu Gi-an wanted to slip away unnoticed, yet he couldn't tear his eyes from the spectacle. Watching Won Seung gleefully thrash over a dozen foes was downright exhilarating.
If only for the nonstop chatter...
"You punk, pulling bandit tricks with that pathetic skill?"
"Daring to swing a sword before a righteous sect's lay disciple!"
"This is Mount Strike Tower Style!"
Exhilarated amid the melee, Won Seung wouldn't shut up.
He'd claimed to be a serious guy... What a cheap mouth.
Then.
"Everyone, stand down!"
A fresh band of warriors burst into the alley, their leader bellowing.
At the newcomers, Won Seung and the Ministry soldiers pulled back.
The Ministry of Justice inspector flinched at the scene before the gate. The disguised thugs scattered everywhere were obviously Ministry of War goons. But this was unforeseen.
That dazed guy up front looked like a Ministry of War division chief? Same rank as him, then. The disguise sowed doubt.
"Ah!"
Won Seung cupped his fists toward the inspector in Ministry of Justice garb.
"Officials from the Ministry of Justice, I presume. Perfect timing. I was just holding off these bandits trying to break in."
One of the now-bandit-labeled Ministry soldiers spoke up.
"No, we're from the Ministry of War."
The inspector furrowed his brow.
"You're Ministry of War? Then what's with the disguises in the dead of night, attacking Ministry of Justice men?"
"..."
The soldiers glanced at their leader. The division chief was still out of it, a deep footprint etched across his face.
The inspector growled.
"I asked for a reason!"
"We don't know either. Once the division chief wakes..."
"You mocking the Ministry of Justice? Trying to arrest our men without warrant in the middle of the night?"
"Ahh..."
The soldiers were speechless. Far from arresting anyone, they'd been thoroughly thrashed. Proud Ministry of War elites couldn't admit getting beaten by some county investigator.
"Get lost, now!"
"We can't. That guy..."
"File a formal complaint at the Ministry tomorrow."
With the inspector growling, the soldiers had no choice. They dragged their dazed superior away.
The inspector turned to Won Seung.
"You're Joo Neung, the Samya County investigator?"
"That's me, but not an investigator anymore. Got fired today."
"I'm a Ministry of Justice inspector. Come with me."
Hmph. High-ups were all the same. No explanations, just orders.
When Won Seung didn't budge, the inspector scowled.
"What are you waiting for? Move."
"I don't know the details, but dragging me off without procedure doesn't seem right. No crime, no reason to go in the night."
"I'm not arresting you. Protecting you. You nearly got nabbed by those Ministry goons."
"As you see, I handle myself fine."
The inspector was stumped. This fool couldn't read the room.
"No matter your skill, if the Ministry sets its sights, you'll be caught. Then it's torture in their prison. Not scared?"
Won Seung puffed out his chest.
"Why fear when I'm innocent? A real man carries himself with dignity and grace. I'll walk into the Ministry proud tomorrow morning."
Won Seung dug in his heels, so the inspector relented. The Ministry thugs had been mauled; unlikely to return tonight. Besides, inner city gates closed at the third watch. No high official, he was stuck at the outer guest quarters anyway.
Fine, then.
"Tomorrow morning, come to the Samya County office."
The inspector left two warriors at Won Seung's gate and headed off.
"Gonna stand guard all night? Come in. Got a room to crash."
"Don't worry. Relief's coming. You sleep."
They politely declined, so Won Seung shut the gate.
Mu Gi-an, who'd watched the chaos, shook his head in awe.
"You're a master, alright."
"Told you Baekhwa Pavilion's a righteous sect branch."
"Big sects are different. So, what about me?"
"Out the back door."
Won Seung saw Mu Gi-an off, then cooked a late dinner with Im Cho-ye. By then, it was the third watch.
"Sleep easy, no worries."
He tucked Im Cho-ye in, then hit his own bed. Pondering tomorrow's Ministry drama and countermeasures, a thud echoed from the rear garden, followed by odd noises.
Like an animal whimper...
What now?
Trouble hadn't stopped since moving in. Bad feng shui? Makes sense—whole family wiped out.
Won Seung rose and headed to the garden; Im Cho-ye, sensing it too, emerged.
"Huh!"
Won Seung gaped in the garden. Gi Seung-gyo slumped against the wall, carrying someone on his back, gasping.
Gi Seung-gyo's unfocused eyes met Won Seung's and fluttered shut.
Im Cho-ye nearly cried out, but Won Seung shushed her with a finger to his lips.
"Shh!"
She clamped her mouth and hurried over. Won Seung checked: Gi Seung-gyo carried Jin Eok-so. Both bloodied, unconscious.
Who did this?
Bi Sword Sect foes again? Won Seung scanned—no other presences.
They hauled the pair inside. Won Seung examined them.
Jin Eok-so's right shoulder was pulverized, severe internal injuries. Gi Seung-gyo had his right shoulder pierced.
Vicious bastard. Aimed to cripple their sword arms.
Can't wield a sword with no right arm? Better off dead.
Jin Eok-so's internals were wrecked; breathing shallow. Im Cho-ye teared up, stomping at her uncles' wounds.
"Don't worry. Meeting me's their fortune. Boil saltwater."
Won Seung fetched needles, surgery tools, golden sore salve from the medicine room. Fed them internal injury pills first, stripped Jin Eok-so's top—revealing a muscled torso. Im Cho-ye arrived with saltwater.
Won Seung cleaned the crusted blood.
Hit by aura.
Shoulder bones shattered by monstrous aura. Ordinary man would've lost the whole arm.
Won Seung needled Jin Eok-so numb, sliced shallow with a scalpel. No blood—inner energy sealed it. Matched bone shards, wired with steel pins.
He'd practiced on corpses; first live patient. Hands cautious at first, then sped up. Finally, sutured skin, wrapped tight.
Next, Gi Seung-gyo—pierced by sword aura, bone severed. Easier: sliced, aligned, pinned.
To Im Cho-ye:
"Without me, they'd be crippled for life. Few in the world possess such skill."
Now, Bi Sword Sect owed him big.
Im Cho-ye gazed at him like a Medical God.
Treatment done, dawn broke.
"Nap a bit. Busy day."
Won Seung bedded Im Cho-ye, then circulated energy in his room. Better than sleep now.
Morning, he vaulted the back wall to the county office.
Mu Gi-an crashed in the annex after late drinks. Won Seung woke him.
"Chief investigator, got a favor."
* * *
Won Seung went with the inspector to the inner Ministry of Justice.
Waiting in the side hall, the Judicial Minister arrived with Won Seung's report.
"This true?"
"Yes."
"Can you repeat it before the War Minister?"
"Why hesitate on the truth?"
"Good. Wait in the guest hall."
Won Seung waited in the quarters. Hours passed, lunch came and went—no call.
Meanwhile, Justice and War Ministries bickered over him. War yielded; interrogation here.
Decision made, Won Seung returned to the side hall.
Unlike morning, it was packed. Judicial Minister at the dais desk, aides flanking. Justice warriors lined with staves; left table, scribes with brushes. Right, a War division chief forward, Hong Il-wan behind—face swollen grotesquely. Yesterday's young nobles too.
Judicial Minister to War chief:
"Questions? Ask here."
War chief, scowl unmasked, stepped up roaring.
"You the Joo Neung who beat innocent men?"
"Joo Neung, yes. But innocents? Don't think so."
Won Seung replied calmly.