Black Flame Dragon Quieting the Chaos (4)
"Fire!"
"Fire! It's on fire!"
"Wake everyone up!"
The flames that started in the main hall spread in all directions, throwing Mukblood Hall into chaos like a bolt from the blue. Warriors, too drunk to even properly tie their robes, staggered around, hauling water and splashing it onto the hall, but the blaze showed no signs of dying down.
A cartwheel rolling down a mountainside doesn't stop until it hits a rock. The nine black path sects of Akyang, led by Mukblood Hall and Black Wind Palace, wouldn't halt their war just because the hall lord was dead.
Akyang's black path forces were that cartwheel. And the rock to stop them? Paradoxically, it was the exact same method they'd been using all along—
'Instilling fear.'
After the hall lord died, the deputy would step up. If the deputy fell, Black Wind Palace would take Mukblood Hall's place. The only way to stop them was to make them realize their own lives hung by a thread—not the disposable grunts, but the decision-makers'.
"The top dogs all think alike, no matter where they are."
Even in the Murim Alliance, the number of leaders willing to throw their lives away like mere grass could be counted on one hand. No way were these black path small fries any better than the white path lot.
"Wake the kids! The fire's spreading!"
"Most everyone's at Yujangmun, so we're short on hands."
"Then rouse the villagers! Tell 'em to help if they don't wanna die!"
The fire clinging to the massive hall where the lord resided only fueled their growing panic. Watching the scene from afar, I unleashed Gui-sik Haeng-bo again, racing toward the farthest point from the burning hall.
'Now it begins.'
The massive blaze engulfing the hall cast a huge shadow over my position. Hiding in it with Gui-sik Dae-beop, I prowled Mukblood Hall, eyeing only those barking orders.
"Hey, you bastard! Run! You ain't runnin'?!"
A hulking brute spat curses and unleashed his killing intent from one side. Swinging an axe the size of a man's torso, he looked ready to cleave disobedient underlings in half—and that's why no Mukblood Hall warrior dared approach him.
I slipped behind him along the shadows. Sensing my presence, he swung a fist while cursing.
"Hey, you bastard! Who the hell are…?"
Puuk.
Feeling the foreign object pierce his chest, the brute's head slowly lowered.
"What's your rank here in Mukblood Hall?"
"……."
Huh, he was so quiet I poked his body. No breath left in the giant.
"Damn… I didn't stab that deep."
I dragged his corpse to a spot out of sight, then darted between shadows again, scouting for the next mark. But the command types were too close to the hall, busy fighting the fire—no good targets.
So I switched to the grunts.
"Hey, who the—"
Puk.
"Hey! Why aren't you hauling water…?"
Puk.
No need for a proper fight. These idiots were too busy with water buckets; I'd slit one's throat, and another would fill the gap. Soon, a narrow alley behind a building was piled high with bodies, no room to step.
'Gotta go deeper in.'
Uujik—
Unable to hold, one side of the hall collapsed, flames bursting everywhere.
"Scatter! It's spreading!"
"Get out, you bastards!"
"Hall Lord! Has anyone seen the hall lord?!"
As the hall crumbled, fire leaped to the next building. Half-mad with fear, they dropped buckets and fled every which way.
Kwang.
Finally, the largest hall fell, turning the grand training ground and plaza into a sea of fire.
"It's spreading there too! Get water!"
"Not enough buckets."
"Bring dirt then, you bastards!"
The moment eyes turned to the other hall, I crept up behind the dazed stragglers. Grabbing one to pierce his throat—
A strange voice rang from above.
"Fearless bastard."
"!"
Lifting my head, dozens of feet filled the air. Pukak—
I urgently stepped Tae-eul Paeman Sinbo to dodge; the cyan stone floor shattered, rocks flying everywhere.
'What kind of destructive power…'
I'd heard of Saak's (Snake Evil) leg arts, but never imagined a bare foot could pulverize cyan stone without qi.
"Fleeing before me, then coming back? Do I look that easy?"
A middle-aged man descended from the roof, hands behind his back. His goatee made his sly face even shadier as he chuckled.
"Heard the Black Flame Dragon was all talk. But you've got some weird martial arts."
"I'm not the Black Flame Dragon."
"Saw you at the black path night meeting."
Damn, one of those black path bastards from then?
"Ah! We go way back. Mind stepping aside? This is between Mukblood Hall and me."
Saak twisted his goatee with his fingers.
"More precisely, between Mukblood Hall and Yujangmun."
"No one's paying anymore. No need to overdo it, right?"
"I only take upfront payment."
"Figures. Trusting a black path dog's credit? What an idiot."
"Kukukuku. Your arts reek of Daoist stuff, but your mouth's pure back-alley thug."
Saak, hands behind back, whipped his right foot like a lash—eight times.
Peopeopeopeopeopeopeok.
Even with my external training and qi coating, the glancing hits felt like shattered bones. His legwork's advance and retreat outpaced most swift swords—no openings.
I tried widening the gap to swing my Black Dragon Sword, but Saak wasn't having it. I tossed out bait.
"I'm a sword specialist. Don't you wanna see my swordsmanship?"
"Pfft, that swordplay that killed the hall lord? I'm not that curious—too timid."
But unlike those idiot Small Justice Squad fools, he didn't bite.
Peopeopeopeopeopeopeok.
Three rounds of legs sealed every gap; retreating brought fiercer pressure, closing distance.
"Where you goin', punk?!"
Charge to trip him, and he'd smash my thigh in close quarters—shocks that nearly toppled me.
'His adaptability's insane.'
Not honed in spars or drills—this was raw, life-or-death brawling refined to the extreme. Same forms felt different; different ones felt the same.
In that brief clash, Mukblood Hall goons started noticing, drawn by the prolonged fight. Any more delay, and my fear-instilling plan would fail. I desperately pulled back.
Retreat was key tactics too.
"Still running?"
"Got someone waiting."
"I'll send word you can't make it."
"No thanks. I prefer direct talk."
I maxed Tae-eul Paeman Sinbo, spawning three illusions. Simultaneously, Cartoon Invincible Fist to blind him, then Sacred Fire Demon-Exterminating Hand at his vital points.
He twisted desperately, launching kicks to evade.
Papang, papang, papapapang.
Explosions scattered embers everywhere.
"Felt it earlier, but these aren't normal flames. What the hell arts are these?"
"Flames of justice that crush black path scum."
With the words, I scattered Sacred Fire Demon-Exterminating Hand for space, pivoted, and powered my legs.
But then Saak said something weird.
"He's still mine. Hands off."
Jjeup.
Not aimed at me. A chill crawled up my spine; I ducked fast.
Quaaaeak—
A sharp whoosh—sheared hair fell to the ground.
'…No presence?'
Saak clicked his tongue at my hair on the floor.
"Tsk tsk, told you not to touch."
"Saak, employer’s dead. Quit messing around."
"See? That's why I take payment upfront."
"……."
Why's he sulking mid-fight? Ugh, I hate this. One jokes about his dead boss; the other pouts like a kid over lost pay. White path has weirdos too, but they're normal compared to black path trash.
"Hey? Your bill's running."
Don't call a man a bill! You psycho!
At Saak's words, I looked up—Geomak (Sword Evil) stood before me, blocking escape.
"Don't run. Bill."
"At least treat me like a person!!"
I unleashed Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion, squeezing his defenses. Geomak's brow twitched.
His sword blurred into motion—insanely fast.
Ping- ping- ping- ping- ping-
I gasped at his single move. Illusions and real strikes indistinguishable.
Illusions deceive. But striking all without distinguishing means no deception works. Sounds dumb, but seeing it? Impressive. Tempting, even.
"How much pay?"
"A lot."
"I can pay a lot too."
"How much?"
"Ten thousand nyang gold?"
Geomak's brow shot up. Seriously biting?
"……What do I do?"
"Kill those Mukblood Hall bastards and Saak over there."
Hearing it, Saak grumbled and kicked.
"Hey, you idiot! What're you listening to?!"
"……."
Geomak pouted sulkily, then shook his head.
"Saak's mean. Holds grudges. Torments forever."
I dodged his kicks with Iron Plate Bridge and said,
"Just kill him here."
"Kill Saak, no more jobs."
"You two friends?"
Saak answered.
"Childhood pals."
Oh ho. Buddies, huh.
"That's why elders say make friends wisely."
"This guy's one of the Eight Evils thanks to me."
As Saak said, their long partnership covered weaknesses perfectly. Geomak drained my upper guard; Saak tangled my legs below. One was tough enough—two? No escape.
I memorized their arts, plotting.
"Proud of ruining your friend's life?"
"Infamy like the Black Flame Dragon's is still fame."
Shit, when did my moniker turn infamous? The question rose, but a sudden blade swallowed it.
'What sword art has no presence!'
Like before, no sense of his blade. Speed aside, undetectable—I couldn't look away. Fix on Geomak, and Saak hammered my lower body.
"There! Intruder's there!"
Mukblood Hall goons, fire-distracted, gathered.
One hand Cartoon Invincible Fist with Sacred Fire Demon-Exterminating Hand, the other Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth spawning two swords.
Peopeong, peopeong, peopeong.
Cartoon Invincible Fist met Saak's legs, exploding flames outward.
Chaechaechaechaechaechaeng.
Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion from the myriad swords shattered against Geomak's blade.
Sword qi would amp it, but no time with Saak. Mukblood Hall swarmed the area, battle shock keeping distance—but ready to charge, auras fierce.
"Bill, give up. Arm's coming off."
"……."
As he said, I was too frantic for curses, hands a blur. Like debris caught in perfectly meshed locks—one wobble from death.
Instead, I dove into their midst.
Geomak's blade grazed above my brow; Saak's toe slashed my thigh.
'Now!'
I retracted Cartoon Invincible Fist, thrusting my left at Geomak too.
"My foot's hittable, huh?!"
Saak unleashed full-power kick, qi vivid. Bone-shattering, skin-tearing force.
Left hand seized Geomak's blade. Skin split, blood fountaining.
"Ngh?!"
As Geomak gaped, I unleashed Ihwa-Jeop-mok's linking art at full power, twisting his sword path onto Saak's kick.
Puk—.
Peong!
Flesh piercing and compressed qi exploding rang out.