Repay Resentment with Blood

"Aigoo, look at all this dust on my clothes."

I dusted off my robes as I stepped down from the carriage. Ahead of me stood Man Hanseok, holding his long spear with a tense, resolute expression, alongside a young woman in her early twenties wearing light purple martial attire.

While traveling down the main road, we had heard the clashing of blades. Hanseok had gone ahead to investigate and reported back that a group of thugs was surrounding and threatening a woman, prompting us to rush over.

"I don't know who the hell you are, but do not interfere with the business of the Pansu Sect!"

A middle-aged man with a face that practically screamed 'unorthodox thug' barked the warning. I leaned back in a crooked stance and asked, "And who exactly are you guys?"

"Are you saying you've never heard of Hebei's Pansu Sect?!"

Hebei was the province surrounding Gyeongsa, the imperial capital. I had never heard of an unorthodox sect operating so boldly near the capital. Well, except for the Double Axe Sect, who had been foolish enough to try.

"Yeah, sorry, but this is our first time meeting, so I wouldn't know. Miss, do you happen to know what this 'Pansu Sect' does?"

When I addressed the woman standing next to Man Hanseok, she shook her head.

"Never heard of them in my life."

"See? You guys should just rename your sect. How about the Nobodies?"

"The... what?"

"The Nobodies. As in, a bunch of nobody-has-ever-heard-of-you losers. It fits perfectly."

"Y-You bastard...!"

The leader of the pack trembled with rage, then turned to his lackeys and roared.

"Get them! Tear them apart!"

I really couldn't understand these guys. Hanseok had literally just swatted two of their men away with his spear a moment ago. Why were they rushing us so fearlessly? Did they all share some form of collective short-term amnesia?

"Young master, watch out!"

Naturally, Man Hanseok was the first to react to the woman's warning. Spinning his long spear into a starting stance, he shouted with a tense but booming voice, "Step back! If you come any closer, I will break you!"

"What are you waiting for?! Attack!" the leader barked, though he himself showed no intention of stepping forward.

Look at this guy, running his mouth while hiding behind his men. I decided it would be best to take out the leader first and leave the rest to Hanseok. I called out to him.

"Hanseok, just strike!"

"B-But...!"

Seizing the initiative was crucial in fights like this, but Hanseok hesitated. Having only participated in controlled spars, he lacked real combat experience, making him overly cautious. Just as I was about to urge him on—

"Young master, you're built like a mountain! Why are you being so timid?"

"...Excuse me?"

"A man of your size should act like it!"

I glanced over. The woman was actually scolding the hesitant Hanseok. Wait, wasn't she the one who was being threatened just a second ago?

"Use your strongest technique!"

"Y-Yes, ma'am!"

"Hurry!"

Flustered by her nagging, Hanseok began to execute the forms of the Hanbing Geukchang. He looked utterly bewildered, as if wondering why he was taking orders from her, but the technique was already in motion. Despite his awkwardness, the power behind his strike was formidable.

Thud!

"Argh!"

The moment Hanseok's spear swept forward, one of the thugs was sent flying. The Pansu Sect members, who seemed to be third- or second-class martial artists at best, stood no chance against the fluid, whipping motions of his heavy spear.

Crack!

"Aaargh!"

Hanseok's spear connected like a bat hitting a grand slam. Except, of course, the ball was a human being. Even though it was broad daylight, another thug was launched high into the air, on his way to becoming a star in the sky.

"How can you idiots not dodge a single spear?!"

"W-We can't even get close to him!"

While the Pansu Sect thugs were entirely focused on Hanseok, I quietly slipped toward the young maid who was being held hostage. Even her captor was completely distracted by the spectacle. Since I couldn't channel qi into my right hand, I used my left hand to strike his pressure points.

Tap, tap!

"...!"

Having his paralysis point struck, the thug froze instantly, unable to utter a sound. If not for the hostage, I would have smashed his face in right then and there.

"Shh."

I gestured for the girl to stay quiet. Quick-witted, she silently slipped out of his grasp. With the hostage safe, I immediately dashed forward, targeting the leader of the Pansu Sect.

Whoosh!

Utilizing the Second Stage footwork of the Baekyak-gwonkyeol, I closed the distance in the blink of an eye. The startled leader jumped back in shock.

"Whoa!"

"Surprised?"

Before he could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠even react, I grabbed him by the collar and delivered a brutal headbutt straight to his forehead.

"Aaargh!"

The unexpected impact sent him reeling. He clutched his forehead, screaming at the top of his lungs. Man, how unsightly. If my right hand were fully healed, I would have planted a fist in his face instead of a headbutt. Left with no choice, I wrapped my right arm around the dazed leader's neck, locking him in a chokehold.

"Ack... cough!"

"Listen up, everyone!"

At my shout, the remaining thugs turned around, their eyes widening in shock.

"B-Boss?!"

One of the thugs, who had been desperately trying to avoid Hanseok's spear, stared at me with a dumbfounded expression. Five or six of their men were already groaning on the ground. Their leader was held hostage by me, and the maid had already escaped and was clinging to the purple-clad woman. Realizing the tables had turned, the remaining Pansu Sect members began to lose their will to fight. Time to drive the final nail into the coffin.

"We are from the Donhwabang. The man wielding the spear is Man Hanseok, the son of the Cold Soul Spear, the Sect Leader of the Donhwabang!"

"The... the Cold Soul Spear?!"

The thugs gasped in panic at my words. Even the choked leader stiffened in shock. That was all well and good, but Hanseok looked just as shocked as they were. Why are you surprised, dummy?

"Using my name like that without asking...!" Hanseok sputtered, flustered by my sudden decision to sell him out. I hadn't even given him a heads-up.

Sorry, Hanseok, but this is for the sake of righteousness. Besides, the name of the 'son of the Cold Soul Spear' carried far more weight and recognition than 'the Head Nutritionist of the Mutual Righteousness Academy.'

"Though the Donhwabang is based in Guangdong, we maintain close ties with the Nine Great Sects and One Association, including the Beggars' Sect. If you wish to make enemies of both the Donhwabang and the righteous factions, by all means, keep fighting."

"..."

Essentially, I was saying: 'If you keep pushing, the righteous sects will march in and paint your headquarters red. You cool with that?' Even if the Donhwabang was relatively small, we held the upper hand in raw power, making this a highly effective threat. If they didn't like it, they should have been stronger. The leader tapped my arm weakly, signaling for me to let him go.

"Alright, I get it... Just let me go."

"Why is a hostage talking so casually to me? Do you want to taste some blood today?"

"P-Please let me go."

"Just so we're clear, if you say something cliché like 'You'll pay for this!' as you run away, I will bury you in the mountains right now."

"...!"

There was always that one guy who couldn't resist leaving a parting threat, so I gave him a stern warning. Judging by his reaction, he had indeed been planning to say it. What a predictable bastard. As I loosened my grip, I swiftly struck his mute point. It was better to shut his mouth completely so he couldn't make a peep.

"...! ...!"

The leader of the Pansu Sect stumbled away from me, desperately trying to yell something, but only wheezing sounds escaped his throat. Deprived of even the dignity of a parting threat, they chose a pathetic, hasty retreat, dragging their wounded comrades along as they scurried away.

"Are you alright, Miss?"

"Are you really from the Donhwabang?"

"The big guy over there is indeed the son of the Donhwabang's leader."

"I-I am Man Hanseok."

Hanseok offered a polite martial greeting, and the woman returned the gesture.

"I am Dang Go-hye of the Sichuan Tang Clan. Thank you for your assistance."

"Head Chef, is it over?"

I let out a dry laugh as Gye-yeong poked his head out of the carriage, clutching our luggage tightly.

"Yeah, it's over."

"...Head Chef?"

Ah, I hadn't introduced myself yet. How forgetful of me.

"I work at the Mutual Righteousness Academy. We shouldn't linger on the main road, so please, step into the carriage."

As Dang Go-hye and her maid climbed inside, Gye-yeong wore an incredibly bashful expression. Hey! Why are you looking like that? It's not like you're on a blind date.

"Thank you once again. May I ask your name...?"

"I am Yoon Gomyung. I run the dining halls at the Mutual Righteousness Academy."

Dang Go-hye tilted her head, trying to place the name, before her eyes widened in realization.

"Chef Yoon of the Mutual Righteousness Academy...? Wait, are you the Inner and Outer Hall Master?"

"I'm not sure how you know my official title, but yes, that is correct."

"Every student from the great sects and clans at the academy knows your name! Especially after you defeated that great arch-demon alongside the So-cheonma!"

"Those rumors are highly exaggerated. I merely lent a hand; Lady Seonwoo, the So-cheonma, did all the heavy lifting..."

"Seeing your martial arts just now, I don't think those rumors were exaggerated at all."

"Ahem."

Let's just move past this, please. I hate it when things get complicated. As I tried to brush it off, Hanseok suddenly chimed in with a question.

"But Lady Dang, how did you end up surrounded by such scoundrels in the first place?"

"I was on my way back to Sichuan."

"With just the two of you?"

"We hired a trustworthy coachman as well."

Dang Go-hye sighed and began to explain.

"They blocked our path, so I thought they were just ordinary bandits at first. But they let the coachman go and ordered only the two of us to step down."

"Even after you revealed you were from the Tang Clan?"

"They didn't even ask. In fact, they already knew my name."

I had heard rumors that the world was growing more chaotic as rogue unorthodox sects slipped from the control of the Four Blood Alliance, but I never ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠imagined some crazy minor sect would deliberately target the Sichuan Tang Clan.

"Then they took my maid hostage and tried to kidnap me. I thought Hebei would be safe, but I guess I was wrong."

"No matter how much martial arts you have learned, the Jianghu is still far too dangerous for two women to travel alone."

Hanseok, do you really think they don't know that? Seeing him offer unsolicited advice like this made me think that if he were in modern Korea, he'd be the type to send backseat-gaming emails to streamers. While I was debating whether to stop him, Dang Go-hye's gaze suddenly sharpened.

"If there were only three or four of them, I could have handled it myself, you know? Usually, people back off the moment I mention the Tang Clan."

"Even so..."

"I appreciate the help, but could you stop lecturing me about what's already happened?"

"...Yes, ma'am."

Hanseok immediately shrank back. True to the reputation of the fierce Tang Clan, she shut him down without hesitation. Still, he was the one who had just saved her.

"He's still a student at the academy, so his sense of righteousness is a bit overzealous. Please understand."

"...What? A student?"

"Hanseok, what year are you in again?"

"I'm a sixth-year."

At the mention of 'sixth-year,' Dang Go-hye stared at Hanseok, scanning him from head to toe in sheer disbelief. Ah, did she think he was my age? He was massive, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but deep down, he was still a gentle, innocent kid. Realizing her mistake, Dang Go-hye bowed her head slightly.

"I-I'm sorry. I completely assumed you were around Chef Yoon's age..."

"He'll be in the graduating ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠class next year, but he's still basically a kid. He only asked because he was genuinely worried about you, Lady Dang, so please don't hold it against him."

"No, not at all. I'm sorry, Young Master Man."

"...It is fine."

Hanseok replied with a dazed look. He seemed deeply shaken by the fact that she had lumped him into the same age bracket as me.

"It's just because I look so young. My bad."

"...That is not comforting in the slightest, Chef Yoon."

Uh... sorry. That was the only consolation I had.

"..."

"..."

The atmosphere inside the carriage turned ice-cold in an instant. Is this a carriage or a freezer truck? As I desperately racked my brain for an icebreaker, Gye-yeong spoke up.

"Head Chef, about our destination."

"Ah, right. Our destination."

We had completely forgotten to mention the most important part.

"Lady Dang, we are currently heading to the Beggars' Sect Headquarters to celebrate the Dragon Head Sect Leader's sixty-sixth birthday."

"The Beggars' Sect Headquarters?"

"Yes. Since it's a grand birthday celebration, many prominent figures will attend, including elders from the Tang Clan. I think it would be safest for you to travel with us and reunite with them there."

At my suggestion, Dang Go-hye's expression stiffened for a brief second before returning to normal. Did she dislike the idea?

"Ah... thank you so much, Chef Yoon."

"Don't thank me. You should thank this guy instead."

"Young Master Man?"

"If Hanseok hadn't spotted you, we wouldn't have taken this road."

Hearing this, Dang Go-hye glanced at Hanseok and gave him a sharp poke in the ribs.

"Eek!"

"Why is a big guy like you so easily startled? Don't be so pouty."

"...Yes, Lady Dang."

The more she teased him, the more Hanseok shrank his massive frame, while Dang Go-hye grew increasingly dominant. Was she really the same woman who was being threatened by the Pansu Sect just moments ago?

There was no chewing gum in the Central Plains, but Dang Go-hye gave off the distinct vibe of a rebellious teenager loudly smacking gum. Usually, daughters of prestigious noble clans were expected to be refined and elegant, but she was surprisingly rough around the edges.

And so, accompanied by the spunky Dang Go-hye and her maid, Hanseok, Gye-yeong, and I continued our journey south toward the Beggars' Sect Headquarters.

At the foot of the mountain where the newly formed unorthodox Pansu Sect resided.

"...Gah!"

The last remaining sect member collapsed under a cold, gleaming blade. Wang Hoeng, the leader and master of the Pansu Sect, could do nothing but watch in absolute terror as the swordsman approached.

Clad from head to toe in a Black Wind Robe, the mysterious man pressed the edge of his blade against Wang Hoeng's throat and spoke.

"Wang Hoeng, speak."

"W-We had captured the Tang Clan girl, but some bastards interfered..."

Slash!

"Aaargh!"

Wang Hoeng screamed in agony as the black-robed man cleanly sliced through his arm.

"Do you not know that excuses are a sin?"

"I-It's the truth! A young guy and a fat guy suddenly showed up and... Argh!"

Slash!

The black-robed man severed his other arm without a shred of hesitation. Terror consumed Wang Hoeng's eyes.

"Their names?"

"I-I don't know the young one, but the fat one was from the Donhwabang! His name is Man Hanseok!"

"A Man... The son of the Cold Soul Spear, then."

The black-robed man let out a cold chuckle. Mistaking this as a sign of leniency, Wang Hoeng desperately begged for his life.

"S-So please, spare my life..."

"W-Wait! Give me a chance! Just one more chance...!"

Thrust.

"Gark...!"

The black-robed man's sword pierced straight through Wang Hoeng's chest.

"There are no second chances."

Without looking back, the black-robed man turned and walked out of the Pansu Sect's manor.

Left behind to bleed out, Wang Hoeng used his final moments before descending into hell to trace a single character on the floor with his pooling blood.