Darkness Within Darkness (4)
My judgment? The beast's mistakes number three.
First, leaving the Ak Family's mark on Gu Gye-ak's corpse.
Second, underestimating Ak Byeongbi's tenacious life force.
Well, that one has some room for argument. If he'd known that bastard's lifeline was cockroach-tough, he'd have punched a hole straight through his heart like he did with Gu Gye-ak.
And the last... the fact that I was part of his scheme.
But above all, that third blunder is the fatal one. Targeting me—a guy whose already shitty life is overflowing with rage? No excuse in the world for that. Worth beating to death on the spot.
"What're you thinking?"
Hyeol-tu, following behind me, furrowed his brow. I shrugged nonchalantly.
"Well... gotta lure out the beast, right?"
"What the hell are you talking about? How do you plan to drag out some hidden rat...?"
"Criminals can't help but obsess over their own crimes. It's instinct—no killer can escape it. You know that better than anyone, don't you, Hyeol-tu?"
"The fuck?!"
This wasn't the Murim Alliance. This was Sahyeokryeon, where raw power and violence ruled. With the league lord's permission already secured, what did I have to fear?
Bam!
I kicked open the front gate and strode inside. Warriors sprawled in the courtyard fixed me with sharp glares.
I brushed off their stares and bellowed confidently.
"I'm here to see Vice Sect Leader Bae Hwan-jang of the Yellow Sand Sect."
Bae Hwan-jang was a notorious swordmaster and grand expert in dual sword arts. Unlike the outsider Gu Gye-ak, he'd been a core disciple from the start—and clashed with him constantly. In other words, prime suspect in the murder.
"What the fuck is this psycho? Does he know where he is?!"
"That guy's totally nuts."
"Fucking lunatic."
Even their cursing had a different vibe from the Murim Alliance. Orthodox sect folks would at least start with some bullshit about "propriety." These guys? They were drawing blades before even standing up.
Then.
"How dare you speak the name of our sect elder, Vice Leader Bae!"
A voice thick with fury flew in. Pushing through the warriors was none other than Gal Cheon-gi, looking like a filial son who'd just heard his parents insulted. Dude, didn't you just join Yellow Sand Sect? Anyone would think you were born into it.
"Ah! Gal Cheon-gi. Good to see you, but I've got business with the vice leader today, so... go fetch him, yeah?"
"You bastard!"
True to form for someone with zero anger management, he lunged without hearing a word. What a pain in the ass.
Here we go...
I sidestepped, unfolding Lianhua and hurling him toward Hyeol-tu.
"Huh?"
Hyeol-tu, who'd been watching arms crossed, clicked his tongue at the incoming blade and casually flicked his foot.
Then.
Boom!
Kr-bam!
Air exploded as Gal Cheon-gi slammed into the wall. Hyeol-tu raised his voice in irritation.
"What the hell was that?!"
I feigned surprise. "Whoa, why're you standing right there? I'm in the middle of work."
"...My fault?"
"Yeah. Or you could've just dodged."
"Hah...! Getting cocky now, are we?"
Meanwhile, Yellow Sand Sect warriors charged me. I grabbed one by the arm, snatched his sword, and kicked him down.
"Gahk!"
I uppercut the fallen one's jaw to knock him out, then blocked two serrated sabers thrusting in.
Kriiiing.
Blades ground together, screeching like nails on chalkboard. I relaxed my strength in a flash, executed Lianhua again—and tossed another warrior at Hyeol-tu.
"Jin Sowoon, you fuck! Why do you keep...!"
Boom!
Kr-bam!
Damn, quick reflexes. One kick from Hyeol-tu sent the guy crashing into the just-rising Gal Cheon-gi.
"Heh, why do you keep butting in? I told you not to."
"You little shit! You're the one who keeps...!"
"So just dodge, duh."
"I've never dodged anything in my life... you fuck! Cut it out!"
I kept hurling warriors his way, one by one.
Boom! Kr-bam! Boom! Kr-bam!
Five times over, Gal Cheon-gi—trying to stand each time—got smashed back into the wall by incoming bodies. Finally, the Yellow Sand warriors hesitated, backing off.
Black path folks were easy to deal with in this regard. They knew when someone was stronger and stopped charging.
I chin-nodded at the writhing Gal Cheon-gi on the ground and told the warriors, "Go get Vice Leader Bae Hwan-jang."
The warriors rolled their eyes, conflicted. Calling the vice leader meant admitting defeat to some orthodox punk they'd ignored. But not calling him? They'd be playing wall-ball with Gal Cheon-gi all day.
Then.
"Warriors of Yellow Sand Sect, hear me!"
A thunderous roar from inside the main hall, followed by dozens pouring out. Their aura alone dwarfed the small fry I'd just handled. The leader scanned the chaos, then locked eyes on me.
"So, an arrogant orthodox twig thinks Yellow Sand Sect is a joke. Teach him otherwise!"
"Yes, sir!"
Dozens shouted in unison, spreading into Eight Directions and unfolding saber formation. This might be tricky...
Whoosh.
A sudden wind. I looked up.
...Hyeol-tu had lightly kicked off the ground onto the gate roof.
I asked in disbelief. "Weren't you not dodging?"
"Shut it. I hate hassle."
"Figured."
Never expected him to anyway. I drew the Black Dragon Sword, channeling Tae-eul Divine Scripture.
Suddenly, four sword phantoms identical to the Black Dragon Sword materialized, encircling me.
Facing the Yellow Sand crew, I grinned. "Show me how great Yellow Sand Sect really is."
My words were the signal. The saber formation shifted, immense pressure squeezing from all sides.
He'd taken on Chaseokdu's heavy request, but right now, Hyeol-tu was far more interested in Jin Sowoon than that.
The Murim Alliance and Sahyeokryeon teetered on the brink of war. The envoy squad was in peril, its leader bedridden from wounds. Jin Sowoon had to resolve this mess without clues or backup.
The rising star Black Flame Dragon—how would he handle it? Hyeol-tu watched with great anticipation.
But...
'What the hell is this?!'
A massive racket made his brow crease. Explosions rocked the area.
Boom-boom-boom! Kr-kaboom!
The newly laid blue gang stone floor flipped, neat dirt piles scattered everywhere. It was one against many, yet the screams and curses came from Yellow Sand Sect.
"Crazy fuck! What the hell is that guy?!"
"Sword phantoms! Don't fear—break through!"
"Fuck! Easy for you to say! I nearly lost an arm to those damn things!"
Hyeol-tu let out a hollow laugh. "Hah, this is ridiculous."
He'd gauged Jin Sowoon's skill on the way, but this blew past expectations. And he wasn't even going all out. It felt deliberate—like he was stirring chaos without killing or maiming.
Pop-pop!
The sudden uproar at Yellow Sand Sect spread fast among nearby black path folk, who—fight-loving as they were—gathered quickest.
"What's going on? Black Flame Dragon vs. Yellow Sand Sect?"
"Heard he came to investigate the vice leader, shit hit the fan."
"Investigate? What investigation?"
"Something about probing Gu Gye-ak's killer."
"What a psycho! They kill the guy and now investigate? Who?!"
As the truth trickled out, outrage brewed among the black path crowd. Seeing Yellow Sand get one-sidedly crushed by Black Flame Dragon's prowess only fueled it. Some even jumped in.
"Let's teach that bastard a lesson!"
"Yeah! How long we gonna take the Alliance's boot?!"
"Charge!"
"Waaaaah!"
Yellow Sand's saber formation had long shattered. Black path reinforcements leaped walls, swarming Jin Sowoon.
Dozens rushed at once—his movements accelerated.
"Holy shit, never seen a madman like this..."
Hyeol-tu gaped at the display. He'd done plenty of reckless shit in his wild youth, but nothing like provoking an enemy stronghold solo against endless waves.
Truly terrifying prowess. Hyeol-tu found himself tracking every move.
Kr-kaboom.
Jin Sowoon glided like ice-skating, carving space. Black pathers wielding swords, axes, pitchforks filled it, swinging viciously.
His left fist unleashed dozens of fist shadows, weaving the air. Weapons aiming to impale him halted like hitting stone walls.
Thud! Boom-boom! Boom-boom-boom!
Four warriors down from the fist barrage. Six more rushed to fill the gap.
This back-and-forth would never end.
"Hah... Was Tae-eul Gate's martial arts always this level?"
Hyeol-tu murmured in admiration, then shook his head.
'No. This is purely his own enlightenment!'
Masterfully blending variation to confuse, swiftness to crush. Illusion and reality intertwined—even Hyeol-tu struggled to discern true from false.
A realm he'd grasped only after hundreds of life-or-death battles, wielded freely by this barely-twenty-something punk.
'What the fuck is this guy made of?'
But soon, Jin Sowoon began to falter. Not long by clock, but after dropping two or three per breath, stamina had to be waning—inner energy aside.
Worse, he was holding back. No fatalities or severe wounds, which emboldened the scum to charge bolder.
"He's tiring! Push harder!"
"Cut his throat! Hang him at Sahyeokryeon's gate!"
"Kill!"
In the frenzy of violence, screams, blood, and gnashing teeth, hyped black path warriors surged with renewed vigor.
Jin Sowoon visibly slowed.
—Jin Sowoon! What the hell are you thinking?!
Hyeol-tu transmitted urgently, but no reply. He was lost in the fight—dropping one, then the next in a trance, sword, fists, feet whirling.
His graceful steps snagged on the yard full of downed foes, tripping and exposing gaps endlessly.
Clang-clang.
Finally, shallow cuts appeared on his arms and legs. Black pathers pounced.
"He's bleeding!"
"Kill him!"
"It's over!"
Hyeol-tu couldn't watch anymore. He leaped in, back-to-back with Jin Sowoon.
"You lunatic...! Planning to die?!"
No response. Hyeol-tu scooped him up forcibly and vaulted to the roof.
Expecting resistance, but Jin Sowoon casually flicked blood from his sword and sheathed the Black Dragon Sword.
"Huh?"
And no sign of exhaustion now.
"What the actual fuck just happened?"
Hyeol-tu stared in bewilderment at the serene face.
"Said it was a hassle, but you jumped in anyway."
"The fuck?"
Jin Sowoon's cheeky grin left him dumbfounded.
"What kinda insane plan was that?! Weren't you trying to find the beast?!"
Jin Sowoon calmly dusted himself off.
"Got two things out of this."
"Two?"
A light nod. "Yeah. First, Sahyeokryeon will cooperate fully from now on."
Hyeol-tu nodded unwittingly. Better than this mess every time.
But he shook his head. "Only for some. You don't know how low black pathers are."
"Nah. Once they know I'm under your protection, they won't dare."
Hyeol-tu's jaw dropped. "You planned that from the start?"
"As an Alliance envoy, why would they help me otherwise?"
"Hah... crazy. What if I hadn't stepped in?"
Jin Sowoon smiled knowingly. "Plenty could monitor without entering my sight. No need to show yourself. Means protecting the envoy squad too, right?"
He'd clocked that? Since when?
"Plus, for mere protection, he could've used his own Sahwangbong warriors. Sending you two as escorts? Prep for potential threats."
"..."
Brain like a goddamn fox. No wonder he beat me at go.
For the first time in over a hundred years, goosebumps prickled Hyeol-tu's arms.
"Black Flame Dragon... Seokdu named you perfectly."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. But you caused a huge scene for 'gains.' Now every black pather in Sahyeokryeon wants you dead. You cool with that?"
Jin Sowoon beamed proudly. "That's the second gain."
Hyeol-tu blinked. "Threats to your life?"
A vigorous nod. "The mood's set now. For the beast who wants Alliance-Sahyeokryeon strife..."
His eyes sparkled. "Irresistible opportunity, right?"
"..."
Hyeol-tu had never felt fear of man or beast.
But for the first time, this smirking kid gave him chills.