Rescue the Eldest Senior Brother! (1)
"Steward Gong. It seems the merchants delivering vegetables today have changed. They said something about rotating shifts."
Recently, the warriors guarding the entrance to the Blood Dragon Room, now called one of the real powers in the unorthodox world, sought out their leadership.
He was none other than Gong Jinwol, the steward in charge of the Blood Dragon Room's internal affairs, known as the Fox Ugly Monster.
His martial prowess was average, and his appearance was hunchbacked and ugly, but the sole reason he was valued was simple.
He was clever, intelligent, and a talent who managed internal operations flawlessly.
"What? There was no word of that."
As expected?
Even the slightest deviation made him jump up and down in a frenzy, so the entrance guards were already furrowing their brows.
"In any case, it's not allowed! Unauthorized personnel can't enter our room. Tell them to leave."
Moreover, Gong Jinwol's uniquely eccentric and prickly personality made everyone who dealt with him avoid him like the plague.
Even now, the Blood Dragon Room warriors were sticking out their tongues in exhaustion.
"They brought not only fresh vegetables but also special dishes for today... How about turning a blind eye, just this once?"
Desperate enough that even a high-ranking squad leader among the guards politely suggested it to Gong Jinwol.
"Special dishes? What's that supposed to mean? If anything, that's even worse. No variables allowed. No!"
Gong Jinwol was fully displaying his nitpicking nature.
It was right then.
"Steward Gong. Don't be so stingy."
Someone intervened in the commotion that had started at the crack of dawn.
"What? Who dares..."
Gong Jinwol was about to glare and growl at whoever dared to scold him, the real power in internal affairs.
"It's me. Gu Jinak."
Surprisingly, the man was Gu Jinak, the Blood Dragon Room's top later-generation talent and designated next leader, the Blood Dragon Ghost Sword.
"Gasp! Huh!"
Facing him, Gong Jinwol could only step back and cower.
Of course, since internal affairs were his domain, he could have raised his voice even if it was Room Leader Cha Gyunak himself, but he was no fool.
—I heard Gu Jinak suffered a major humiliation at the Black Heaven Assembly.
—Don't provoke him for a while.
—He needs comforting after that bitter defeat to a peer.
He knew the rumors circulating inside the Blood Dragon Room well.
No matter how nitpicky and eccentric Gong Jinwol was, he was ambitious and upwardly mobile.
Naturally, he wanted to impress the soon-to-be powerhouse Gu Jinak, especially knowing his recent foul mood, so he held his tongue.
"I've been feeling so down lately... I crave some fresh, delicious food."
Gu Jinak was exploiting those rumors masterfully.
"Ugh, ah, understood."
Gong Jinwol wanted to tell him to go to a tavern or inn if he wanted good food.
"But I can't go outside due to my circumstances... You know that, right, Steward Gong? Please make an exception just once."
Gu Jinak's gentle words and pleading tone completely disarmed him.
"Fine, then. Let them in. But! If they stray from permitted areas or paths, execute them on the spot."
Gong Jinwol was still no pushover.
"Would they dare?"
The new vegetable deliverers were, of course, Hyeon Yucheon, Eum Ji-myeong, and the Black Wolf Three Swords crew.
They were in disguise, and while Hyeon Yucheon's face was relatively unknown, and the Black Wolf Three Swords were less famous for only guarding Cheon Baeksang, Eum Ji-myeong was the exception.
[Senior Brother, are you alright?]
[I'm fine. What's this compared to rescuing Eldest Senior Brother?]
Thus, Eum Ji-myeong hid inside the cart under the pretext of special dishes.
They disguised themselves perfectly as workers for a merchant delivering vegetables and special food, infiltrating seamlessly.
Gu Jinak's scheme had shone through.
Hyeon Yucheon's plan was to infiltrate and head straight to where Eldest Senior Brother Jin Gwangma Geom Ga Jinuk and the Flash Demon Sword Unit were held—underground beneath the Blood Dragon Room's cliff.
"Has everyone unloaded the goods?"
Gong Jinwol watched Hyeon Yucheon's group with his usual sharp eyes, scrutinizing every move.
"Yes. We've handed everything over to the head chef... and today is the day to send vegetables and grains down below the cliff, right?"
Hyeon Yucheon played the part of the regular supplier with flair.
In truth, the Blood Dragon Room sent just enough food to keep the Flash Demon Sword Unit alive.
It was also a ploy to win over Ga Jinuk's heart.
"Hmph. Newbies who know a lot for your first day."
Gong Jinwol eyed them suspiciously and, unusually, accompanied them all the way to the cliff base.
'Huh? He's coming along?'
Hyeon Yucheon's eyes flickered momentarily as Gong Jinwol suddenly tagged along.
And for good reason—the original plan had Gong Jinwol staying behind so they could meet Gu Jinak at the cliff-base prison.
This development raised the risk of Gong Jinwol spotting Gu Jinak's betrayal.
"What? Surprised I'm coming?"
The quick-witted Gong Jinwol probed relentlessly.
Hyeon Yucheon wanted to strike him down right then, but it was morning now, with people active and watching, so he held back.
"Not that... It's just we weren't briefed by the previous shift."
Hyeon Yucheon was just as perceptive as Gong Jinwol.
Having gauged his obsession with procedures and schedules, he offered a plausible excuse.
"Hmm, I see."
Gong Jinwol's suspicions eased somewhat.
"Then let's head to the cliff."
Thus began the bizarre escort with the Blood Dragon Room steward.
Hyeon Yucheon's group wanted to shake him off somehow, but as befitting a massive faction, the Blood Dragon Room had no blind spots without people.
And that wasn't all.
"It's too quiet walking like this. Let me tell you an amusing story."
The silence was broken when Gong Jinwol suddenly spoke up.
"We're all ears."
Hyeon Yucheon and the Black Wolf Three Swords immediately played along to humor him.
"Don't let my looks fool you—I've rolled around the unorthodox murim for quite a while. My skills and appearance may be lacking, but my memory is exceptional."
As they walked, Gong Jinwol spun a strange tale.
"Oh, really?"
They took it as typical self-praise at first, but it grew odder by the minute.
"Anyway, the story I want to tell isn't some trivial boast... It's about how I, who used to flop around pathetically in the unorthodox world back then, suddenly recalled the heroes I saw at a past Black Heaven Assembly."
Hyeon Yucheon's face hardened again at the mention of the Black Heaven Assembly.
He wondered if his identity was exposed.
"I didn't attend this recent one, but I used to enjoy the past assemblies."
He relaxed at "past," but Gong Jinwol's gaze was peculiar.
"Of course I remember Demon Sword Ghost Elder Cheon Baeksang, and even the three men who guarded him like dragons and tigers."
Only then did Hyeon Yucheon and his group realize.
Incredibly, this old fox Gong Jinwol had seen through not Hyeon Yucheon, but the Black Wolf Three Swords trailing behind.
"Fate with people is funny. You never know where or how you'll meet. Who could've guessed I'd run into those precious three right in my own workplace, disguised as lowly workers?"
Gong Jinwol had been suspicious at first but recalled them while walking.
So he halted.
"How bold. This is our room's vital area. What do you plan in the middle of it all?"
Thinking he'd won, Gong Jinwol showed no fear despite being alone.
A shout or signal flare from him would ruin everything.
"If I'd known you saw through us, I should've greeted you sooner."
Even with his identity exposed, Hyeon Yucheon neither panicked nor despaired.
He responded more nonchalantly than ever.
"Allow a proper introduction. I am Magic Sword Sect Leader Hyeon Yucheon."
"What?! You're the one who won this Black Heaven Assembly..."
Gong Jinwol, who never let his guard down even against absolute masters.
That was why the Black Wolf Three Swords couldn't act rashly.
This cunning man planned to signal and foil everything at the slightest move.
They trusted Hyeon Yucheon and stayed put.
The result!
Invisible energy sword formed from hands
Hyeon Yucheon never missed the gap from Gong Jinwol's shock at his identity.
Despite heavy preparations against Gong Jinwol's skills, the gap was small, but with his supreme speed sword and invisible blade, he subdued him in one strike.
Not a single nearby Blood Dragon Room warrior noticed the ambush.
Thud!
To avoid screams or blood, he precisely sealed Gong Jinwol's mute acupoint and dantian with exquisite control.
A feat worthy of the Entering Divinity realm.
'Mmph! Mmph!'
Gong Jinwol was reduced to a blind man who couldn't even scream.
He couldn't transmit pleas either—nothing worked.
"Gong Jinwol, you overestimated your cleverness. If it were me, I'd have signaled and called for help the moment I spotted the Black Wolf Three Swords."
Hyeon Yucheon said.
In truth, Gong Jinwol had toyed with them to humiliate, never dreaming the young man before him was Magic Sword Sect Leader, the Magic Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon.
"Hm? Steward Gong? Is something wrong?"
Even more audacious—with Blood Dragon Room warriors everywhere—Hyeon Yucheon showed no fear.
Some nearby warriors approached at the minor commotion, but he handled it smoothly.
[Send them away if you want to live.]
Shake, shake!
All Gong Jinwol could do was shake his head to signal it was fine.
"Understood. Carry on."
Warriors rarely got proper replies from the perpetually grumpy Gong Jinwol, so they suspected nothing.
Thus, Hyeon Yucheon advanced to the cliff with his captive.
"You've arr... Gasp?!"
There, as planned, they met Gu Jinak, who startled at the sight of Gong Jinwol.
With this unexpected figure, everything seemed ruined, but Hyeon Yucheon smiled.
"He's certainly sharp and quick on the uptake. But in the end, just Sun Wukong in Buddha's palm."
Gong Jinwol scowled furiously, but he was powerless.
Thwack!
Hyeon Yucheon knocked him out cold with a solid strike to the back of the head, then pulled Eum Ji-myeong from the cart.
No one was around except Gu Jinak.
"Phew, feels like I can breathe now."
Eum Ji-myeong finally relaxed.
Now Hyeon Yucheon, Eum Ji-myeong, the Black Wolf Three Swords—all were assembled to meet Eldest Senior Brother Jin Gwangma Geom Ga Jinuk and the Flash Demon Sword Unit.
"Then I'll guide you."