#72. The First Gate of Hell's Exact Time (6)
A man who had spent his entire life lording over others could never suddenly bow his head. Especially if the other party was someone who had always bowed eagerly to him—it only bred a sense of betrayal instead.
Even so, he hadn't expected his hired top experts to be sent here at such a critical moment.
'Idiots.'
Thinking of the second favor he'd asked of the Haomen, Mu-pung-ma-gan Han Geum-taek unraveled a transparent thread from his magan as he spoke.
"This is why quick-witted little shits are no fun."
Han Geum-taek's specialty was distracting with his threatening magan while moving invisible threads and needles differently to hook the enemy's body unnoticed.
I sheathed my Black Dragon Sword and said, "You don't have to chase the employer?"
"Gye-ryong Merchant Group already prepared more force than their target stronghold. And that's not your concern right now."
"What did the caravan lord order you to do to us?"
"Bring back one right arm and the dantian. If that's not possible, a head's fine too."
"Even for ronin, isn't that too cruel?"
"Who knows. We do our jobs properly for the pay."
The distance closed as we talked. I said to the three brothers,
"Yeonra-bu leader Yeon Chu-ak is known for his devastating downward axe strikes. Maintain the sword formation, disperse his power as much as possible, and think about how you can win."
"……."
"……."
When practitioners confirm their improved level, they dive deeper into training. I left Yeon Chu-ak to the three brothers like that.
The kids experiencing real combat for the first time trembled in fear, but their eyes remained sharp.
I kicked off the ground and unleashed Heavenly Lone Walker God Step, instantly closing the gap to the three and me.
"Hup!"
"What the…!"
"Damn it!"
I simultaneously unleashed Cartoon Invincible Fist, creating nine fist images in the air.
Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!
Han Geum-taek and Dam Cheol-gak wildly swung their signature techniques and retreated, while Yeon Chu-ak deflected the fist images with his axe, circling to naturally charge at the three brothers.
The confrontation I wanted was set.
"Be careful!"
With those words, I unleashed Cartoon Invincible Fist again, concentrating nine fist images on the two.
Clang.
Boom.
Turtle-shell-like gauntlets burst from Dam Cheol-gak's sleeves, smashing the fist images, while Han Geum-taek madly retreated to create distance—but I stuck close without letting him.
"Damn it!"
Knowing Han Geum-taek needed distance, Dam Cheol-gak dove between us. As Han Geum-taek swung his magan to adjust the fishing needle in the gap—
"The Thousand Silkworm Cloak isn't just for you."
"Guh, when?!"
I retrieved the Flying Dragon Claw embedded in Han Geum-taek's chest along with a fist image, yanking him airborne in an arc and slamming him onto a rock.
Crack!
"Kuhk!"
As expected of someone on the cusp of first-rate and peak, his nose shattered and face scarred, but in that brief moment, he offset the shock and pulled out the Flying Dragon Claw from his chest.
"You bastard! Even more despicable than the rumors."
"What rumors?"
"They say Black Flame has vile thoughts."
"……Deep thoughts like pitch black……."
"Shut up!"
Hearing my hated nickname twisted like that made it even worse.
"I'll tell the Four Emperors' Peak Lord later."
I drew the Black Dragon Sword and unleashed Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion.
Illusion swords and changing swords filled the space between me and the two, clouding their vision.
Dam Cheol-gak, who first tried batting away every sword he saw, realized illusions were mixed in and focused only on the real ones.
Han Geum-taek finally swung his magan, hurling fishing needles irregularly.
Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-boom.
Air exploded each clash of Black Dragon Sword and gauntlets, and as an invisible needle aimed for my nose—
I retreated with Tae-eul Paeman Sinbo.
"Kraaaak!"
As I withdrew, the Flying Dragon Claw secretly embedded in Dam Cheol-gak's chest yanked taut, delivering agony.
"When?!"
"Focus on one spot, and others go unseen."
I unleashed the illusion steps of Tae-eul Paeman Sinbo to dodge the needles while yanking the Flying Dragon Claw with full power.
Crunch.
Flesh tore with a sickening sound, leaving a fist-sized gash in Dam Cheol-gak's chest.
"Kuhk."
Blood poured like a waterfall, instantly soaking his martial robes red.
The moment Dam Cheol-gak clutched the wound—
I extended my left hand, activating the Azure Dragon Ring.
"What is this?!"
His vital energy sucked by the Azure Dragon Ring stanched the blood, but the wound necrotized rapidly instead.
Toward charging Han Geum-taek, Twin Heaven Sword Conclusion; toward retreating Dam Cheol-gak, Cartoon Invincible Fist.
Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!
Illusion swords and fist images whirled everywhere, kicking up thick dust.
"Cheol-gak! You okay?!"
Han Geum-taek searched through the hazy dust, but no reply.
The moment I saw Han Geum-taek like a puppet—
I unleashed Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth, the secret of Tae-eul Sword Emperor.
Three swords hung in the air; Han Geum-taek grimaced and sneered.
"That damn illusion ends here!"
Han Geum-taek swung his magan everywhere against the sword images.
A check to discern real from illusion.
But no illusions vanished from the magan's wind.
"Wh-what?!"
All thought illusions were real. Having wasted power hunting the real one, he belatedly retreated without distinguishing.
But too late—Ten Thousand Swords of Heaven and Earth struck.
Pu-pu-puk.
Two shallow shoulder stabs, one deep torso gash.
Han Geum-taek squeezed his last qi to shoot magan and needles.
Whir.
Ting.
But the needles passed through afterimages of the illusion steps, hit a rock farther on, and bounced off.
"H-how."
I said from behind Han Geum-taek.
"My Small Justice Squadmates say: fool me once, mistake; twice, fool; thrice, idiot."
Han Geum-taek turned, eyes shaking like he'd seen a ghost.
"This… is the level between second-rate and first-rate?"
As if answering his hollow words, the Black Dragon Sword moved.
His eyes reflected pupils full of illusions and real swords.
"You vile bastard……."
The best compliment in battle.
I lightly expressed thanks.
"Appreciate the praise."
*
After dealing with Han Geum-taek and Dam Cheol-gak, I headed to the three brothers.
Clang-clang-clang.
Boom.
The gold-silver-bronze brothers desperately faced Yeon Chu-ak.
Covered in minor wounds here and there, but as I'd said, they deflected his axe as much as possible, fully utilizing the sword formation's advantages to drag it out.
"Damn it! You bastards!"
Yeon Chu-ak's attacks kept getting blocked, while the three exploited gaps for minor strikes.
The pity was, even when attack chances arose in the formation, they hesitated and failed to finish.
"How long you gonna fight?"
"Big brother!"
"Senior brother!"
As the three called me, Yeon Chu-ak started minding me.
"Already? What kind of… damn it!"
Distracted by me, Yeon Chu-ak showed an opening.
Geum Pyo thrust but hesitated; Eunho blocked the axe instead.
"Dam Cheol-gak! Han Geum-taek!"
Yeon Chu-ak called, but no answer.
Then, as if decided, he kicked off to flee—
I soared with him, unleashing Cartoon Invincible Fist.
Bam-bam-bam-bam-bam!
Yeon Chu-ak took the fist images full-body midair and crashed down; the three reformed the sword formation around him.
But their training prowess faltered.
Despite energy circulation leeway, they couldn't press.
The gap between practice and real combat showed.
"What if one of you loses an arm or dantian shatters? Think you'd do better?"
"……."
"……."
The three brothers' swords sharpened as minds cleared.
Yeon Chu-ak's speed slowed.
Tang.
Eunho, with most inner power, created an opening.
Geum Pyo thrust.
'But shallow.'
Killing wasn't easy.
Even against enemies, instinct made them hesitate.
Just as I swung the Black Dragon Sword—
Dongryong's eyes reddened, bursting between Eunho and Geum Pyo.
At once, killing intent beyond his age exploded from Dongryong's body.
"Ughhh!"
Yeon Chu-ak's face paled at the sudden killing intent.
'No way…….'
Stunned by Dongryong momentarily, he carved a massive wound on Yeon Chu-ak last.
"That's enough."
I pressed the sword to Yeon Chu-ak's neck; the three brothers and he froze, all panting harshly.
Steam rose thickly from sweat-soaked bodies.
"Hoo, hoo, hoo."
As Geum Pyo and Eunho caught breath, Dongryong still glared with killing intent.
Yeon Chu-ak feared Dongryong more than me at his neck.
"Stop the killing intent, Dongryong."
"……Huh? Okay."
No sooner said, Dongryong's eyes returned innocent, and tension released—he started panting.
"Sp-spare me!"
I looked at begging Yeon Chu-ak.
"Weren't you here to kill us?"
"I-I just did it for money. No personal grudge!"
"Would you have taken this job if we were Wudang instead of Tae-eul Gate?"
"……."
Crack.
"Kyaak!"
I instantly pulverized Yeon Chu-ak's arm and shattered his dantian.
"Kuhk!"
Deep internal injuries; he vomited blood.
"Remember. Draw a sword carelessly at Tae-eul Gate again, and it won't end well."
#
"……."
"……."
Late dinner; Geum Pyo and Eunho sulked.
Meanwhile, Dongryong, unaware of his massive killing intent earlier, wolfed down bowls of rice-and-jerky porridge, saying it was tasty.
As I subtly released killing intent, the spoon-holding brothers flinched.
"!"
"!"
"!"
But no panic retreat.
Already using energy circulation comfortably.
I smirked at that; Geum Pyo cautiously spoke.
"Sorry, senior brother."
"For what?"
"Earlier."
Still dwelling on that?
"Should've ended it quicker. Ended up borrowing your hand……."
"Killing ain't easy. I think it's amazing you protected each other without breaking formation."
"……But."
"Anyway, you three beat Yeon Chu-ak. I just finished."
Their faces relaxed then.
"Senior brother, now that we beat those three, won't Gye Yeonseok send more?"
Geum Pyo and Dongryong gulped at Eunho's words.
"No worry there."
"Huh?"
"Told Haomen two favors, right."
"One was tracking Gye Yeonseok."
I nodded.
"Right. The other: inform their target stronghold."
Gye Yeonseok used his wealth to pick the weakest of Murim Alliance-designated strongholds.
Saho Stronghold near Puyuan in Zhejiang.
No notable experts besides the martial leader and deputy.
I had news sent to them.
Knowing Gye-ryong's escorts and ronin targeted them, Saho might ally with others or seek aid from one of the Green Forest Seventy-Two Strongholds.
"Th-then what happens?"
"Green Forest Seventy-Two are practically off-limits. Not something a single academy applicant with a hundred warriors can handle."
Green Forest Seventy-Two boasted top scale among thousands of strongholds.
Each rivaled a faction; ragtag but all knew some martial arts—often even prestigious warriors detoured.
"Then…."
"If Saho's smart, Gye-ryong won't recover bodies. Dumb, maybe they will."
"Whoa……."
The three gaped at my words.
"…Senior brother's scary."
Geum Pyo shuddered, shaking head.
I smirked at him.
"Jianghu's always been like that."
Dreaming rainbow jianghu, crushed by harsh reality, they fell silent weighted down.
Then Eunho, as if remembering,
"…No wonder they gave you that nickname."
"……What'd you say?"
"Hahaha."
The three sat side-by-side, laughing before long.
Eunho asked,
"By the way, senior brother, which stronghold for us? Gye Yeonseok picked the weakest."
I poked the campfire with kindling; sparks flew.
"Ssangmak Stronghold, one of Green Forest Seventy-Two."
"……."
"……."
"……."
*
As Eunho and Dongryong lay preparing to sleep, I approached Geum Pyo on guard.
"Senior brother, that joke went too far."
"Huh? What joke?"
"……Is Ssangmak really the target?"
"Few strongholds left for our late start."
"……Not that, but… sigh. Never mind."
Geum Pyo sighed long.
"More than that, not sleeping… what're you doing?"
"Geum Pyo."
"Yes."
"Don't freak out, listen."
"……You saying that makes me more anxious."
Turning to campfire, Dongryong huddled avoiding Eunho's pranks.
"Dongryong… seems like the Heavenly Killing Star."
"……Mmph!"
Geum Pyo's eyes bulged wildly, mouth covered by my hand.