Nothing Beats a Fresh Face
“Aaaah! Bind them all!”
The lead North Sea warrior swung his curved sword while kicking a wolf in the belly. Chaeng—! The massive wolf bared its fangs, eyes blazing, and leaped forward.
“You crazy bitch! Get back!”
The merchant screamed and drew his sword. Kang! Sparks flew as steel clashed against blade. The merchant barely dodged the wolf's teeth, twisting his sword to knock away the warrior's curved sword. But there was more than one opponent.
“Grrr...”
Two more wolves lunged from both sides at once.
“Yi Yi!”
Paeng So Yeon stepped in front of me and drew her broadsword. The heavy Hebei Paeng Clan saber technique sliced through the air. Thud! One wolf took the hit and tumbled away whimpering, but in that gap, another warrior's curved sword came flying toward Paeng So Yeon's shoulder.
“Ugh!”
She twisted away, but the sharp blade tore through her thick coat. Red blood splattered across the white snow.
“Paeng So Yeon!”
I instinctively reached out, but my powerless hand—devoid of any internal energy—just flailed in the air. Helplessness sank into my bones. All I could do was scream.
“Goddamn it, for real! If words won't work, we'll make 'em with our fists!”
Jegal Jiun snarled irritably and kicked off the ground. Her dantian was sealed, leaving her unable to circulate qi, but her Bi Seon Mun footwork still carried the grace of a Peak Expert. Whoosh—! Gliding across the snow like a ghost, she slipped into the embrace of one warrior in an instant.
“Where you lookin'? Right here, dummy!”
Her small fist slammed precisely into the warrior's throat.
“Gack!”
It lacked power, but the pinpoint strike to his vital point made the warrior gasp and nearly tumble from his mount. But it was only for a moment—the surrounding warriors closed in to surround her.
“Shit, there's too many! Hey, you furry bastards! I'm a guest, remember?!”
Jegal Jiun gritted her teeth and backpedaled. The situation was hopeless. The merchant was struggling against three foes, the wounded Paeng So Yeon was gritting her teeth to guard my front, and Jegal Jiun was feeling around my waist before yanking out my sword without hesitation. Ching—! A clear sword cry cut through the blizzard.
“Hey! Yi Yi! Get your head straight!”
Jegal Jiun snapped irritably, blocking my front. Her sword tip whipped like a serpent, grazing the nose of the charging wolf.
“Yelp!”
The wolf recoiled in panic, and she used the opening to grab Paeng So Yeon's shoulder and pull her back toward me.
“You idiot! Bleeding like that and you wanna protect someone? Fall back!”
“But...!”
“Shut up and do as I say! You're just dead weight right now!”
Biting her lip at Jegal Jiun's sharp tongue, Paeng So Yeon retreated. With her small frame, Jegal Jiun shielded both Paeng So Yeon and me, dodging enemy blades with flashy footwork by a hair's breadth. Her movements were bizarre and sharp, like dancing or sliding across the snow.
Meanwhile, up front, plum blossoms were blooming in full.
“Get out of the way!”
With the merchant's shout, dozens of red plum blossoms bloomed in the air. Whoosh—! The Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Techniques. Mount Hua Sect's signature art unfolded across the North Sea tundra. Every burst of sword energy scattered red petal afterimages that swirled amid the blizzard.
“Damn it!”
“Wh-what the hell?! That sword style!”
The North Sea warriors panicked, yanking their wolves' heads back. The merchant's sword wove unpredictable trajectories, slicing wolf legs and batting away warrior weapons. Cha-cha-chang! A chain of metallic clashes rang out, and three lead warriors tumbled from their mounts. It was overwhelming momentum. The merchant's eyes were colder than ever, her single-minded resolve to protect us turning her into a demonic sword ghost.
“Come at me if you dare! Touch a single hair on my junior brother, and I'll dye this North Sea snow red with your blood!”
She roared, regripping her sword. Red plum afterimages rose like heat haze around her, making even the bold North Sea warriors hesitate and hold back.
Silence fell on all sides. Amid the swirling snow, only ragged breaths hung taut in the air.
Jegal Jiun subtly positioned herself in front of me, then casually tossed the sword into the snow. Thud—
“What are they doing?”
Even the enemies seemed confused, their wolves' growls falling silent.
“Look, we didn't come to fight, okay?”
Jegal Jiun raised both hands high and shouted, but the warriors kept their curved swords ready, eyes wary. Their blue gazes gleamed with suspicion.
Then Jegal Jiun sighed deeply and suddenly yanked open her collar. Flap— Her pale shoulder, collarbone, and the upper curve of her perky breasts were brazenly exposed. She shook her hips seductively, flashing a coquettish smile at the warriors.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
Senior Sister yelped in horror.
“Just watch... Nothing draws a man's eyes like this.”
Ignoring her, Jegal Jiun approached Senior Sister and boldly grabbed her voluptuous breasts.
“Kyaa! You psycho bitch!”
Senior Sister screamed, but Jegal Jiun used the recoil to thrust them forward even more, shouting at the warriors.
“Krasivaya! Grudi! Korova!”
The clumsy but clear words—pretty, breasts, cow—twisted the warriors' faces into weird expressions.
“Prostitutes?”
“Looks like they're just crazy women.”
The warriors murmured in confusion. The killing intent faded, replaced by bewilderment.
Then Jegal Jiun grinned and delivered the finishing blow. Pointing to her crotch, she shouted in broken pronunciation.
“Ledyanaya! Bing Nyeo! Nash... Bing Nyeo!”
At that word, the warriors' eyes changed.
“They came to see the Ice Woman?”
“Seems like it... Bringing sacrificial whores?”
The warriors exchanged glances and nods. They slowly sheathed their curved swords and dismounted. The lead warrior checked his wounded comrade, then jerked his head toward us.
“Follow me.”
He gestured roughly for us to trail behind.
“Oh...! Looks like it worked?”
The blizzard had eased a bit, but the ankle-deep snow was still tough to trudge through.
“Ugh...”
Paeng So Yeon staggered with a short groan. Fresh red blood seeped from her shoulder again.
“You okay? Hang in there just a little longer. We can get you treated once we reach the village.”
Senior Sister supported her, eyeing the wound with worry.
“Sorry, sister... I was supposed to help, but I just became a burden.”
Paeng So Yeon hung her head, voice trembling. The proud Hebei Paeng Clan lady, looking so dejected. Senior Sister shook her head firmly at her self-reproach.
“No. Because of you, I could focus on the front without worry. If you hadn't blocked them, Yi Yi would've been in danger. Thank you, truly.”
Paeng So Yeon's eyes welled up at Senior Sister's sincere comfort. A bond thicker than mere camaraderie flowed between the two women.
Then Jegal Jiun, walking ahead, snorted and butted in.
“Pfft, what're you talking about? I did all the work. She just got stabbed and bled everywhere. Without me, you'd all be wolf chow!”
Thwack!
“Ow! Ah... shit... I saved your asses and this is the thanks I get?!”
Jegal Jiun yelped, clutching her butt. Senior Sister's kick had landed perfectly.
“Shut your trap and walk quietly.”
Senior Sister huffed but didn't scold her further. Annoying as she was, they couldn't deny her quick thinking had saved them from disaster. Jegal Jiun grumbled but strutted ahead with a smug look.
How long had we walked? Far across the endless tundra, faint outlines emerged.
“Hey! Buildings over there!”
Jegal Jiun pointed. The massive fortress gates swung open, and North Sea residents poured out like a tide. Men in beast pelts and soldiers with sharp spears surrounded us. Their eyes brimmed with curiosity, sharp wariness, and hostility toward outsiders. Hundreds of gazes pierced us.
“Uh? We're screwed?”
Jegal Jiun's face paled. Her eyes darted anxiously around.
“This many rushing us at once? Even the world's best wouldn't survive. If they attack here, we won't even leave bones behind.”
Her hand instinctively went to her waist, ready to draw a hidden weapon. Tension stiffened her shoulders amid the hostile air.
Tap.
Senior Sister firmly grabbed Jegal Jiun's wrist.
“Calm down.”
Her voice was low and steady, though her fingertips trembled faintly.
“Don't escalate things over what hasn't happened yet. If you move rashly, it'll just cause misunderstandings.”
“But...”
“Shh.”
The taut tension choked us when the crowd parted like the Red Sea, and someone stepped forward.
“Are you from the Central Plains?”
It was a familiar tongue. Rough with a North Sea accent, but fluent Central Plains speech. The owner was a woman draped in thick fur robes. Her body was voluptuous to the point of bursting—massive breasts and swaying hips that strained even against the heavy clothes, instantly captivating the eye. Her plump cheeks flushed pink, and her round eyes held an oddly innocent yet seductive charm, like a ripe peach.
She scanned us with curious eyes and smiled brightly.
“Whoa! Fuck! She speaks Central Plains!”
Jegal Jiun blurted out a curse in shock. Senior Sister jabbed her side in panic, but Jegal Jiun gaped, unable to tear her eyes from the curvy woman.