Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: TrueDetective
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: 18. Trap (4)
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Dang Sacheon saw it.
Just before the stun gun touched the sword blade.
The Masked Expert letting go of the sword gripped in his hand.
In that brief instant, he realized what Dang Sacheon was up to and swiftly pulled back his hand.
Even though anyone would panic if their opponent whipped out a stun gun mid-sword exchange.
It was a reaction speed that left him nothing but impressed.
Had they clashed head-on, Dang Sacheon would've undoubtedly collapsed the next moment, blood spurting from his chest.
But no matter how lightning-fast the Masked Expert's reflexes.
His opponent was Dang Sacheon.
Dang Sacheon indifferently drew another stun gun.
Then he thrust it squarely into the Masked Expert's side, where his eyes bulged in horror.
Closing in on the Masked Expert who'd dropped his sword and jamming the stun gun home was child's play.
“……!”
The Masked Expert went rigid without so much as a dying gasp.
Thud.
Watching the body crumple limply onto the basement floor, Dang Sacheon wiped the sweat trailing down his cheek with the back of his hand—stun guns still clutched in both fists.
A bright smile played on his lips as Dang Sacheon spoke.
“Good match.”
To avoid blurting out something dumb like 'Did he go down?', Dang Sacheon kept it short.
The two Protectors who'd watched the duel sprang to protest.
“Th-that wasn't a good match!”
“Dirty tricks, twice!!”
“Coward!!”
“You said you'd play dirty from the start!!”
Tucking the stun guns back into his robes, Dang Sacheon clicked his tongue.
“As I've said a dozen times, it's only natural for me—the Tang Clan head—to carry hidden weapons.”
“……!!”
“R-right. If it's the Tang Clan……!”
“I-is it natural? 'Cause it's the Tang Clan?!”
“The victor is this clan head. Time to claim the spoils.”
Dang Sacheon bent to snatch up the Masked Expert's mask.
That's when the two Protectors barged in.
Right Protector, left arm only.
Left Protector, right arm only.
Moving like a single unit, they each unleashed a palm strike at Dang Sacheon.
He crossed his arms on instinct to block, but couldn't stop the backward shove.
In that gap, Left Protector hoisted the Masked Expert and fell back as Right Protector screened him.
“Hmm.”
Shaking out his arms and resetting his stance, Dang Sacheon curled his lip in intrigue.
“Aren't you lot itching to break free from the rep?”
“That's true.”
“Don't we need to ID that guy to speed things up?”
“We wanna ditch the boss, sure. But the little boss…….”
“He's one of us! The little boss!”
Dang Sacheon twitched an eyebrow.
They'd cheered when the Masked Expert showed up earlier, too……
Seemed he treated these two well.
Dang Sacheon had figured the Protectors weren't the rep's people—so they'd let the Masked Expert drop.
Yet here they were lunging at him even after the takedown. Clearly not here to kill them.
Dang Sacheon shifted tone, coaxing now.
“Not here to kill him. Just wanna peek at his face.”
“No…….”
“No?”
Right Protector muttered under his breath. Dang Sacheon pounced: he hopped back, shaking his head wildly.
“No way, no way! Little boss has his own plan!”
“…Plan?”
Right Protector clapped both hands over his mouth, realizing the slip. Left Protector shot him a scolding glare while cradling the Masked Expert.
“What plan?”
“Enough.”
Right Protector shut him down with an open palm—no more talk.
“Tang Clan. Chase us, you die.”
He flicked a glance at the Masked Expert—maybe couldn't bring himself to kill for him—and tacked on:
“…Least, both your arms get chopped.”
“So don't.”
“We against the Tang Clan you…….”
“Don't wanna rip to shreds.”
“That Wudang punk's alive.”
“Little boss don't kill.”
“Skip chasing us. Check the Wudang punk instead.”
For all their ferocious bluster, they retreated hesitantly—then bolted out the entry window.
The instant they vanished from view, Dang Sacheon scooped up the sword on the floor.
‘Chase?’
They meant it. Chase and he'd die—or lose both arms.
Dying for the point manager? Piece of cake for Dang Sacheon.
Wasn't he the one promising another shot at idol life?
Idol-hood was his all.
Point manager offered to hand it back—so Dang Sacheon could stake his all in return.
‘But…….’
Needed to tip off the point manager: Masked Expert had another scheme.
A note might not cut it. Chase, die, and who'd vouch it was really from him?
‘Dying now? Zilch gain.’
Decision made, Dang Sacheon turned on his heel. No regrets.
…Back at the original rendezvous, Dang Sacheon ran into.
Pamon disciples grooving through group choreo.
* * *
Heavenly Demon said he'd reworked the Emperor Sword Form his way.
“You punks ever done real martial training? Nah, just danced. Emperor Sword Form's clan-head legacy art. Gold-spoon stuff—bodies forged from birth. So this lord pumps you full of qi to forge bodies fit for it.”
“…Got it. Thanks for the qi shot, and I follow…….”
I eyed the Pamon disciples thrashing like they were possessed. Asked:
“How'd Emperor Sword Form turn idol choreo?”
“Researched the fastest, sharpest way for you punks to nail Emperor Sword Form…….”
Heavenly Demon shut his eyes, replied.
“Conclusion: 170 bpm choreo only.”
“Dead serious? 170 bpm? Way too zippy.”
“Beginner talk. Nail the moves, no sweat. Pros who been there, huh.”
Suspiciously idol-obsessed Heavenly Demon eyed the Pamon disciples, pleased. Snooty query:
“You punks eyeing re-debut anyway?”
Pamon disciples froze mid-choreo at the question.
Glance-swaps. Moon Sair stepped up.
“Yeah. If we can… wanna try idols again.”
“Fine.”
Heavenly Demon grinned gorgeous, chin-stroke add-on.
“Gifting you this choreo: Emperor Sword Dance.”
“To us…?”
“Yup. Re-debut needs choreo, track, stage. Duh.”
“True but…….”
“Practice like it's re-debut rehearsal. Hustle.”
“……!”
That's why he twisted the form into idol choreo?
Spot-on: raw strength-training? Only revenge motive for these kids.
Re-debut goal? Their future, theirs.
Heavenly Demon choreo: tough swallow, but trendy-flashy-addictive.
‘Indestructible Heart’ or ‘Murim Most Wanted’ dances? Challenges raging. Emperor Sword Dance buzz? Guaranteed.
Never figured Heavenly Demon'd scheme that deep for Pamon kids……
Why's Heavenly Demon helping us this hard?
He knows the exit.
Rep's scroll zips him home—yet he sticks, drilling Pamon disciples on Emperor Sword Form. Why?
Not doubting now… but logic gap nagged.
‘Said I look like someone before…….’
If that's the hook, cool.
My brain churned; Heavenly Demon rolled on.
“Emperor Sword Form's form. Not sword-handling. Feels like dumb choreo sans insight. Got form? Embody it—you'll get it. Qi to train? This lord hooked you up. Yours now? Your job. Capisce?”
“Yes!!”
Pamon disciples boomed unison.
Doubts lingered on Heavenly Demon……
“Idols again? Fans again? Dream-come-true.”
“Ch-choreo drill together… old days vibe…….”
“Stage this? Swing track fits?”
“Ami on retro fits, yeah.”
Pamon kids buzzing? Even if Heavenly Demon's ploy, whatever.
He's essential now.
Dang Sacheon rolled in then.
“Point manager hyung.”
Post-Masked Expert scrap: clothes pristine.
Ditched that clown sword-proof vest somewhere……
“Dropped Masked Expert. Left-Right Protectors snatched him pre-face-check, bounced.”
“Dropped? Taiji crew handling ID, no?”
“Guessed our play. Taiji sunbae already cleared out.”
“Cleared?”
“Said no kill…….”
Clocked my shaky eyes, added:
“Rush back, check?”
“…Yeah.”
Glanced Namgung Mu drilling Emperor Sword Form with Pamon disciples. Woke Jaha—banned by Heavenly Demon, snoozing cornered.
“Huh? Wha—over?”
“Taiji hit. Head back.”
Normally confirm Taiji safe first, then Jaha……
Post-Shin Tae-eul mess: Jaha tougher than thought.
Shocks hit hard, tears flow—but vents, no bottle-up.
Shin Tae-eul pic purge? Thought meltdown. Now? Her cool call.
As guessed: no freakout. Jaha popped up, prepped.
Namgung Mu sniffed trouble, ditched line, closed on us.
“Trouble?”
“Taiji side issue. No comms set, but Emperor Sword Form passed…….”
“Emperor Sword Dance.”
Heavenly Demon sidled up, correction.
Blank-slate vibes sometimes.
“Comms snag? Fixed. Taught Emei girl sound transmission.”
Oh, that stare-down earlier.
Lesson, not beef?
Retract no-brain tag.
“Thanks. Heavenly Demon nim: Sword Dance delivered, contact locked. Bounce.”
“Good.”
Heavenly Demon beamed.
Piggyback Heavenly Demon; rest lightfoot grind to dorm.
“Taiji!”
Startled First Sword voice inside.
“Hyung!!”
Jaha bolted terrace window—Alliance Leader in living room? Ignored.
Good: Righteous-Demonic dorm chaos shoot wrapped. Cameras cleared.
We mobbed living room via terrace. Alliance Leader gawked.
“What, from there…….”
He sat floor-hugging. Lap: Taiji, out cold.
Intact, no hacks.
…Natural-worry territory now.
“Hyyyuung!!”
Taiji visual? Jaha sobs, yoinks from Alliance Leader.
Explanation glare: Alliance Leader blinked.
“Woke, checked living room—Taiji down.”
“Other presences?”
“Dunno… ambulance, cops?”
“…Nah, skip both for now.”
Situation shock, but cool-judging.
Classic Alliance Leader.
Dorm-back: Namgung Mu slipped to Baek Nah-an share-room, out—nodded. Nahani in.
Commotion immunity: pure Nahani.
What now?
Jaha wild-carded.
“Met our Pamon disciple kids.”
“……! Jaha sunbae, spill that…….”
Namgung Mu panic-block fail. Jaha:
“No spill, no know! Secrets in-team, mutual shade, hurt drops—I'll spill.”
Sleeve-eye-dab. To Alliance Leader:
“First Sword hyung. You the Masked Expert?”