Uncomfortable Escort Team (3): Bloody Clash with Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle
Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle. Twenty years ago, Blood Battle had been branded a public enemy of the martial world and gone into hiding. Ten years ago, Yeom Gwi-bi had done the same. These black path masters had crawled out of seclusion upon hearing news of the Four Black Alliance's formation.
"Nice to meet you. You got here pretty quick."
Yeom Gwi-bi approached, flicking the blood from her hands. Ak Byeongbi slammed his iron spear down with a thud, issuing a warning.
"Halt!"
Ak Byeongbi seemed unaware of Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle as well, but unlike at the inn, the ominous aura they exuded had him on high alert. In contrast, Yeom Gwi-bi maintained her leisurely smile, acting coy.
"Oh my! Don't be so cold, or this little lady might get hurt..."
She pouted her lips and made a sulky face. Compared to the middle-aged Ak Byeongbi, who looked his age, Yeom Gwi-bi appeared just shy of thirty, her outer appearance almost girlish. However...
Isn't that woman over sixty?
For me, who knew her true nature, watching the scene was pure torment.
Still, I wondered why these two had separated from their group and come here alone. I wasn't naive enough to believe it was coincidence.
Ak Byeongbi, still wary, spoke up.
"What are you scheming?"
His gaze shifted from the corpses strewn about to the trembling bandits.
Yeom Gwi-bi clapped her hands as if it were nothing.
"Oh! I was just guiding these evildoers."
"Guiding?"
"Yes! Coveting others' lives and goods, trying to extort passage fees— that's wrong, isn't it?"
"..."
Yeom Gwi-bi smiled sweetly with her plump lips and continued.
"If our presence makes you uncomfortable, just pass by."
"...Hmph."
Doubt lingered on Ak Byeongbi's face, but Yeom Gwi-bi just grinned at him.
"Of course. We're just punishing these pretenders who dare act like real bandits without being ones."
"I see."
Did he think it was just villains fighting among themselves? Ak Byeongbi finally nodded and turned back, shouting.
"Move out!"
At his command, the carriage began rolling slowly. The escorts and delegation members kept their guards up against the pair the whole time. True to their word, Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle merely watched, making no moves.
But as we passed them, I glanced around and let out a deep sigh.
It was a relief that Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle were letting us go quietly. That much was clear.
However...
Tremble, tremble, tremble.
The amateur bandits were pale as ghosts, shaking like they'd met the grim reaper. They clutched farming tools—sickles and pitchforks—as their only weapons.
...No matter how I tried to ignore it, it kept nagging at me.
Haa... Why'd they have to run into Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle of all people...
If they'd run into us, it'd end with a beating and some broken bones.
...It should have ended that way.
In the end, I stopped walking.
"What do you plan to do with them?"
"Jin Sowoon!"
"Benefactor Jin!"
Those ahead called out in surprise at my question, but I kept staring at Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle.
Yeom Gwi-bi's eyebrow twitched oddly.
"Why do you care, young master?"
"They look like family men forced into banditry by famine..."
I scanned the subdued, trembling bandits, then glared at Yeom Gwi-bi.
"Killing them seems excessive."
"Excessive?"
She stroked her lips with a bloodstained finger and chuckled mockingly.
"We lost our guides because of them. They need to take responsibility."
"And that means death?"
A steely glint flashed in Yeom Gwi-bi's eyes.
"Once you step into this law-of-the-jungle world, responsibility always means your life."
"..."
"Besides, if we hadn't judged them, your group might've suffered. That okay with you?"
"We're not that weak."
"Hmm..."
Yeom Gwi-bi eyed me curiously before continuing.
"Then, you'd fight us for these people who might've targeted you?"
A blatant provocation. But I didn't avert my gaze.
I recalled Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle's skill levels—two realms above the Eight Evils. A fight here would cost us dearly.
"You didn't barge in without that resolve, did you?"
"..."
Then, Yeom Gwi-bi half-turned her head.
"Tu-no."
"Got it!"
The one called Blood Battle slammed a trembling amateur bandit to the ground and raised his foot to crush his head.
"Crazy bastard!"
I stepped with Tae-eul Paeman Sinbo, breezed past Yeom Gwi-bi, and blocked Blood Battle's kick.
Thud.
"Gaaahhh!"
The bandit, whose head had nearly burst, screamed and fainted, his pants wetting between the legs.
Zzt, zzt.
My bones buzzed from blocking Blood Battle's foot. A bit more force, and they'd have snapped. I kicked his leg away with all my might.
Whoosh.
Thud.
Despite the crushing power, Blood Battle spun in the air like a feather and landed lightly.
Clang, clang, sching.
The delegation readied for battle. Ak Byeongbi gripped his iron spear tighter, Ilmyeong tucked away his Yeomju, and Dang Seohee slipped flying knives between her fingers.
Blood Battle grinned like he was having fun.
"See? Told you he's fun."
Despite the delegation's formidable auras, Blood Battle and Yeom Gwi-bi just chatted among themselves.
Yeom Gwi-bi covered her mouth and giggled.
"He is. More fun than Little Buddha, like you said. He actually withstood your kick?"
The delegation's faces soured at her words. Knowing Little Buddha's identity meant they knew this was the Murim Alliance's delegation—and still acted so casually.
Blood Battle pointed at me with his chin.
"Kid. What's your sect?"
I met his gaze steadily.
"Isn't it martial world etiquette to reveal your own sect before asking another's?"
Blood Battle looked stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"...Hahaha! What a riot."
His amusement faded quickly.
"So you won't tell me?"
Of course, I wasn't the type to demand courtesy from opponents.
"Jin Sowoon of Tae-eul Gate."
"..."
"..."
"..."
I could feel the delegation's sour glares. But what could I do? These were black path heavyweights once branded public enemies.
Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle feigned surprise at my answer.
"Huh? You're the Black Flame Dragon?"
"Oh my? Really?"
"..."
The two approached, their hostility gone. What was with this reaction?
"Not as fierce-looking as I thought."
"They say you're the black path's communal enemy. Who taught you?"
My head spun for a moment.
Don't spread rumors! There's an Inquisition officer right here!
Lacking the confidence to voice my thoughts before these masters, I quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway, they're probably family breadwinners, so please just punish them and let them go."
Yeom Gwi-bi had already lost interest in them, her eyes fixed on me. Blood Battle frowned and shook his head.
"No!"
"Pardon?"
"I've never let anyone who interfered with my business live."
"..."
Wasn't that why he'd been marked a public enemy? How could he show no remorse after twenty years?
As I gaped in disbelief, Blood Battle crossed his arms and proposed.
"But if you beat me in a bet, I'll hear you out."
"What bet?"
"Withstand my three forms. Then I'll spare them."
Without hesitation, I pointed at Ak Byeongbi.
"Our delegation leader is right there. Can't he do it?"
"...!"
I felt Ak Byeongbi's bulging glare. But what could I do? Blood Battle scared me too.
Blood Battle shook his head firmly.
"No. You take my three forms. Or they all die."
Damn his temper. I sighed.
"Haa... Fine."
I spread my feet shoulder-width and assumed my drawing stance. Curiosity lit Blood Battle's eyes.
"Ho, does Tae-eul Gate have a drawing stance?"
"First time hearing your tongue's that long, Blood Battle."
"...!"
Surprise finally crossed Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle's faces. The delegation and escorts looked ready to faint, realizing their identities.
Blood Battle's expression turned serious.
"You knew who we were?"
"We starting or not?"
"...Heh, fun."
As I didn't answer, Blood Battle clasped his hands behind his back, lifted one knee to his waist. Red energy gathered at his foot, an immense aura radiating outward.
"First form."
Boom!
With a sound like tearing air, sword energy shot like an arrow at my heart.
I circulated my inner energy and unleashed the first form of White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms.
Screee—
Slower than Blood Battle's blood energy, but Extreme Swiftness caught up. The energies clashed right before me.
Screeeeech—
A metal-grinding screech tore through the air, assaulting our eardrums.
"Huff, huff, huff."
Blocking just the first form drained my energy completely.
"Huh? That sword of yours..."
I cut Blood Battle off quickly.
"Two forms left."
"You're full of surprises."
Blood Battle unclasped his hands, curling them into circles. Air whistled in from all directions, forming a massive energy orb.
I prepared Radiant Heaven Divine Palm to counter.
Boom! Boom! KABOOM!
Their energies intertwined, echoing through the nameless mountain. Some trembling bandits and escorts vomited blood from the shockwave.
Whoosh—
As the dust cleared, Blood Battle stared at me in disbelief, eyes gleaming.
"Hah... I thought the rumors exaggerated, but they understated you."
Having blocked the second form, I was in no shape to reply.
I'm gonna die at this rate.
Most absolute masters held back for fun, but this madman didn't.
Not wanting to lose, I bluffed hard.
"One form left."
Blood Battle nodded eagerly.
"Right, right. Survive this, and I'll grant your request."
He assumed a qi stance and threw a simple punch. Red fist energy extended.
A plain form, no feints, but the immense power made me curse inwardly.
Fuck... He really means to kill me!
I unleashed Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth, coating one sword with energy and pouring all my inner power into it.
The slow, straightforward fist energy felt instantaneous.
"Haaah!"
At the clash of fist and sword energy.
Whoom.
The energy exploded, creating a vacuum, then air rushed in with massive blasts.
KABOOM. KABOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
I held to the end but was pushed back.
"Huff, huff, huff, huff."
Barely moved, yet gasping, cold sweat pouring.
After the explosion, Blood Battle stood firm, staring at his fist.
"How's that? I win, right?"
He grinned at me. As his hand turned toward the bandits,
I stepped between them, thrusting my Black Dragon Sword.
Blood Battle's eyebrow twitched.
"...You wanna die instead?"
"Not particularly."
"Then move."
"Don't wanna."
"Huh?"
His playful face hardened.
"I'm indulging you once or twice. Move if you don't wanna die."
I didn't want to die, but I didn't want to watch them die either.
"Won't be easy."
"Hah..."
Luckily, I'd dodged quickly—no internal injuries. After my "defeat," the delegation had surrounded Yeom Gwi-bi and Blood Battle, ready to strike. At least, it'd buy time for the bandits to flee.
As I thought that, Blood Battle glanced at Yeom Gwi-bi. Her lips moved—transmitting voice.
"Hmm?"
He nodded with an odd expression. Yeom Gwi-bi spoke.
"How about this? We only judged them because we lost our guides."
Killing for getting lost? As expected of insane black pathers without common sense.
As I stood dumbfounded, an even more absurd suggestion came.
"So, let us join your group?"
Huh, couldn't predict that.
"...Do you know where we're going?"
"To the Four Black Alliance's founding ceremony?"
"..."
Yeom Gwi-bi widened her eyes innocently.
"Oh, no misunderstanding. Just a guess. Heard the Alliance sent a delegation."
"And you'll spare them?"
She shrugged.
"Of course. Problem solved."
I'm not the delegation leader. Technically, not even my delegation. For permission, I'd need Ak Byeongbi's approval.
I looked at him. He subtly shook his head—a clear refusal.
I nodded to Ak Byeongbi, then told Yeom Gwi-bi,
"Fine. Come with us. But keep your promise."
"...!!!"
Ak Byeongbi glared murderously from afar, but Yeom Gwi-bi smiled at me.
"Of course."
Still, suspicion turning to murderous intent was better than actual deaths. Yeah, much better.