The Thousand-Killing Sword's Trap
It had already been half a day since they entered Hangzhou.
Moyong Sehui realized something was wrong.
She had thought the distance between them and their targets was closing.
But it seemed that wasn’t the case.
There was an inn.
The enemy had been there.
But now the inn was empty.
Except for the cold corpses of the innkeeper and his wife.
‘We’re too late.’
She wanted to bury the couple’s bodies.
But she stubbornly turned her head away.
If she didn’t catch Jeok San now, many more corpses would pile up.
Moyong Sehui rubbed the footprints the enemy had left behind with her fingers.
Among the long line of footprints, new traces had appeared.
Roughly fifty more people had joined them.
And the direction the footprints led…
‘It’s toward the Danga Manor…’
A sense of foreboding washed over her.
Goosebumps rose on her skin.
Moyong Sehui spoke.
“Follow me. We have to hurry!”
Perhaps because they had accepted her as their leader, the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes silently followed behind Moyong Sehui as she unleashed her movement technique.
As she hurried toward the Danga Manor, Moyong Sehui suddenly felt a strange gaze on her back.
The moment she whipped her head around—
Clack—!
Her eyes met Namgung Cheol’s, who was glaring at her.
‘What is it?’
His gaze was viciously hostile.
She should have noticed it then.
What he was thinking.
She should have stopped him.
No matter what it took.
Who would have thought Namgung Cheol would drag everyone toward death?
Clang!
Yu Sucheon’s sword collided with Jeok San’s, producing a heavy ring.
“Kyaaak!”
“Ugh!”
Internal energy exploded.
Like a blast.
The shockwave of qi turned into a gale that sent the market vendors staggering backward.
The vendors who couldn’t keep their balance wore worried expressions as they looked at Yu Sucheon.
Because Yu Sucheon was clearly struggling against Jeok San.
‘Aigoo… What are we going to do? Hero Yu Sucheon… He’s already covered in wounds.’
The white clothes he wore had already turned red.
Blood dripped from his sleeves.
On the other hand, the man fighting Yu Sucheon didn’t have a single scratch.
Yu Sucheon blocked the sword and retreated.
The moment the vendors’ worry deepened—
Splat!
Blood sprayed from Yu Sucheon’s face.
The vendors gasped in horror, trembling.
Yu Sucheon clicked his tongue.
The taste of blood flowing from the cut on his cheek was salty.
‘This bastard isn’t ordinary.’
He was from the Saheol Alliance too.
They were using the same sword technique, the Yongcheon Chilsibil-geom.
But had there been someone like this in the Saheol Alliance? Yu Sucheon’s eyes narrowed.
Hawk nose, catfish-like eyes, toad lips.
He remembered now.
Jeok San, the Mad Sword Fiend.
The worst scum of the world.
A worse bastard than Jeon Akgwan or Cheon Ilseong.
And he was strong.
Much stronger than Yu Sucheon himself.
‘Why is this guy here, and why did he come looking for me?’
They had never met face to face.
They had simply been rivals in a twisted competition over who could commit more atrocities.
‘Still, he’s disgustingly strong. I’d heard the rumors, but…’
He had already taken quite a beating.
Though it was only superficial wounds, the amount of blood he was losing wasn’t small.
Clang!
At that moment, Jeok San stepped forward and pressed in.
The footwork Tanji Gwangbo rapidly closed the distance.
Clang. Clang. Clang-clang-clang.
A rapid exchange of blows unfolded.
The more it continued, the stiffer Yu Sucheon’s expression became.
On the other hand, the corners of Jeok San’s mouth rose.
Splat-splat-splat!
Tanji Gwangbo pushed his body into the gaps at frightening speed, stabbing his sword into every opening.
Yu Sucheon’s hardened face remained unchanged.
‘Even the rumors were understated. He’s even stronger than that. So that’s why they call him the Mad Sword Fiend.’
Clang!
For a moment, Yu Sucheon and Jeok San, who had been clashing swords, separated and glared at each other from ten paces away.
The moment their eyes, which seemed ready to spark with fire, searched for each other’s weaknesses and gleamed ominously—
Snort.
Yu Sucheon smiled for the first time.
‘Damn it. I never thought the day would come when I’d be grateful to Dan Hyunwoo.’
Shhhk.
Yu Sucheon’s aura changed.
No, the nature of his internal energy shifted.
Even Jeok San could see the change.
Yu Sucheon said,
“I see. So that’s how it was.”
“Have you gone mad from fear before dying? What kind of nonsense are you spouting?”
“That’s how it was. Now I understand.”
“……? You really have lost your mind— Ugh?!”
Bang—!
Yu Sucheon’s body shot forward like a bullet.
Jeok San was startled and took a step back.
‘This bastard… he’s completely different from before?’
In the blink of an eye, Yu Sucheon’s blade was already right in front of his nose.
Jeok San swallowed dryly.
Clang!
Jeok San widened the distance and unleashed the Yongcheon Chilsibil-geom toward Yu Sucheon’s weak point.
Since it was the same sword technique, Jeok San had figured out Yu Sucheon’s weaknesses from their earlier exchange.
‘He was weak against attacks aimed at his elbow. That’s why the first blow cut his side. His footwork is also weak. His swordsmanship is strong, but it has many blind spots.’
Jeok San’s sword flew toward Yu Sucheon’s elbow.
But—
Clang!
It was easily deflected, the sword bouncing away.
Using the rebound to step forward, he attacked the side this time.
Jeok San was certain.
Because of his weak footwork, the bastard would definitely leave his side open.
However—
Clang!
Footwork so fast it was invisible, and consecutive deflections that instead closed the distance.
As if he already knew exactly what Jeok San would do.
‘How… how is this possible?’
All his weaknesses had vanished.
In an instant.
No, even faster than that.
Maddeningly fast.
And the flow of internal energy was completely different from his own, even though they used the same cultivation method.
Cold sweat poured down, soaking his face.
His composure disappeared, replaced by overwhelming crisis that revealed his tension without restraint.
On the other hand, Yu Sucheon’s aura grew stronger as denser internal energy accumulated within him.
‘Dan Hyunwoo… What kind of monster is he? Did he even teach me all my weaknesses? Seriously, it’s unbelievable.’
If he hadn’t learned martial arts from that man, his limbs would have been severed and he would have rolled miserably on the ground.
He might have even become dog food.
At first, he had fought the same way he did before learning from Dan Hyunwoo.
And the opponent had figured out every single one of his weaknesses.
Because his sword paths had relentlessly targeted only those weak points.
That was it.
That was how it was.
His sharpened senses picked up everything clearly.
Sound, smell, the movement of the wind, the flow of killing intent.
Now, the experiment was over.
Swish-swish-swish.
Yu Sucheon’s footwork instantly closed the distance to Jeok San.
Clang! Clang-clang-clang!
As Jeok San blocked his sword, his footwork suddenly tangled for a split second.
Too fast to react, the color drained from his face.
‘Damn it! Why is this bastard suddenly acting like this?!’
Slash!
The clothes covering his chest were cut open, fluttering as the front parted.
And then—
Splat—!
Blood sprayed.
‘This can’t be… I heard he wasn’t this skilled!’
A sense of crisis strong enough to make his head ring flooded in.
Jeok San gathered every bit of his internal energy and pointed his sword at Yu Sucheon.
But even as he watched, Yu Sucheon was smiling.
Like a bastard who knew he’d won.
“You son of a bitch!”
Jeok San launched his sword.
Yongcheon Chilsibil-geom, Thirtieth Form — Cheonji Bungae! His strongest strike.
Swoosh-swoosh!
But Yu Sucheon simply tilted his head slightly and dodged the sword.
As if he had known it would come there.
And that was the moment.
It truly was only an instant.
The moment Yu Sucheon’s body suddenly spun once.
Whoosh—!
Crunch!
He didn’t see it.
Jeok San, whose head now floated in the air, thought that.
Watching the world flip upside down, he realized just how terrifying his final sword strike had been.
Until his last thread of consciousness snapped, he felt it keenly.
His head, which had flown three meters high, scattered blood gruesomely.
Thud.
The head fell to the ground and rolled.
Yu Sucheon flicked the blood off his sword and stared at Jeok San’s face, which still looked up at him with hollow, disbelieving eyes.
“Live a good life from now on. Stop pulling your sword before even asking someone’s name, you piece of trash. Ptui.”
As if those words signaled the end of the fight, a loud cheer erupted.
“Waaaaah!”
The vendors who had been worried about Yu Sucheon swarmed around him.
“Amazing! As expected of Hero Yu Sucheon!”
“At first I thought you were losing and got worried, but I believed in you until the end!”
“Oh my, I’m so glad you’re alive!”
It felt a little embarrassing.
And don’t cry, seriously.
His mood lifted slightly.
People who worried about him like this.
There had been none in the Saheol Alliance.
That place was where people stabbed their worried friends in the back and betrayed those who helped them.
So this felt a little nice.
“Thank you for worrying about me. But where did Jeon Akgwan run off to again?”
When he turned around, the bastard was in the corner, hugging a duck and only peeking out with his eyes.
He really wanted to smack this guy!
“Hiiik! No, sir! I was protecting the duck!”
“Sure. Let’s go with that.”
If it had been before, he would have beaten him once… no, dozens of times, but right now he was in such a good mood that he could let it slide.
Yu Sucheon picked up the duck that had fallen to the ground after Jeok San died.
The cut was clean.
Why had an expert of this level come looking for him?
And why had he specifically asked for Yu Sucheon by name?
‘Don’t tell me these bastards figured out that I live at the Danga Manor?’
He didn’t know why they had attacked, but the Danga Manor could not be put in danger.
If by chance Dan Hyunwoo or Doctor Hwa weren’t home… then his mother-in-law might…
“Akgwan! Let’s head back quickly.”
“But I still need to buy onions?”
“They might have gone to the Danga Manor. We need to help that guy. What if he’s not home! Ah…”
He had said “that guy” again.
Did everyone hear that?
“Oh! Hero Yu Sucheon says he’s going to help that guy! As expected of a true hero. He can’t turn his back on someone in danger!”
“Hurry and go help that guy. We’ll report this to the authorities and clean up here ourselves.”
They heard it.
Damn it… Stop calling him “that guy.” I’m going to die. I’m going to get beaten to death.
Yu Sucheon hurriedly used his movement technique toward the Danga Manor.
Jeon Akgwan followed behind, clutching two ducks and a bunch of green onions as he ran desperately.
Moyong Sehui unleashed her movement technique frantically toward the Danga Manor.
Even though they didn’t know why she was in such a hurry, the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes following her didn’t ask.
That was how much they trusted her.
But soon Moyong Sehui faced a choice.
A fork in the road had appeared.
‘The footprints split.’
One group headed toward the Danga Manor, while the other headed down the official road leading to Yeohang and West Lake.
Moyong Sehui looked at Namgung Cheol with a bad feeling.
He had been insisting the entire time that Jeok San and his group would head toward Yeohang and West Lake.
He said,
“It seems they really went toward Yeohang. We must pursue them before they leave Hangzhou.”
“I think we should continue on our original path.”
The opinions split.
Namgung Cheol had been picking fights the entire time they chased Jeok San.
To reclaim his position as the great leader.
‘Damn it. We don’t have time, and now we’re getting held up here again.’
Moyong Sehui looked toward the official road leading to Yeohang and West Lake.
If they took this path, they would reach the area being developed to expand Hangzhou.
The place where countless manors were being built.
‘A perfect place to set a trap. Good for an ambush too.’
If they went down that road, they would need to be fully prepared.
At that moment, Moyong Sehui felt a chilling sensation and turned her gaze back to Namgung Cheol.
He was staring at her with the same vicious hostility as before.
A sense of foreboding suddenly hit her.
Namgung Cheol said,
“Then, Lady Moyong, you go that way. I will pursue them down the official road.”
“Wait…!”
She couldn’t even stop him in time.
Namgung Cheol used his movement technique and dashed down the road toward Yeohang and West Lake.
The hand that tried to stop him only sliced futilely through the air.
“Why suddenly…”
Jegal Yeon said,
“There’s no way Young Master Namgung can handle Jeok San alone.”
“I know. And if the son of one of the Three Great Families dies alone…”
It could lead to war.
They would also be accused of abandoning Namgung and letting him chase Jeok San by himself.
Jegal Yeon spoke nicely, but her words carried that implication.
Yet Jegal Yeon smiled faintly.
Because it was the Jegal Clan that wanted that very war.
Lately, the Namgung Clan had been making suspicious moves.
“Sister, it’s already too late. Why don’t we just continue on our original path… Sister!”
Before she could even finish speaking, Moyong Sehui chased after Namgung Cheol.
She planned to persuade him and bring him back.
She wanted to head straight to the Danga Manor, but she had no choice.
Jegal Yeon bit her lip.
‘Tsk. I tried to pretend to be worried and drag her along, but she’s too kind for her own good.’
Jegal Yeon said,
“We have no choice. Let’s go too.”
The Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes followed behind Moyong Sehui.
They had only run a short distance when they reached the area where numerous manors were being built.
The Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes followed the traces of Namgung Cheol, who was no longer visible.
And the place they arrived at was an empty lot where construction of a manor had just begun.
There, they saw Namgung Cheol standing.
The moment Moyong Sehui and the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes entered the clearing, they stopped.
In that place surrounded by walls on all four sides.
And inside, it wasn’t just Namgung Cheol.
Moyong Sehui bit her lip.
“……It’s a trap.”
Indeed.
Namgung Cheol was surrounded by about forty men, trembling.
Without even telling the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes who followed him to run away.
The entrance was blocked by a dozen Saheol Alliance warriors.
And at the center of the forty men stood an old man radiating terrifying killing intent.
The moment Moyong Sehui saw him, she sucked in a breath.
“……Heugam!”
“You know my name? Daughter of the Moyong Clan.”
“Damn it…”
The eyes of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes trembled.
There was no one who didn’t know his name.
And there was no one among the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes who could face him.
A senior expert of the Saheol Alliance and the worst villain.
The Thousand-Killing Sword Madman, Heugam.
A man who had already killed a thousand people ten years ago, earning the title of Thousand Killer.
He looked down at them.
As if looking at bugs. As if regarding insignificant insects.
The Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes couldn’t move, receiving that gaze fully.
As if they had truly become insignificant creatures.
Facing Heugam, Moyong Sehui shuddered at the feeling of a sticky shadow grabbing her ankles and dragging her down into the ground.
That dark, damp, pitch-black maw opening wide to swallow her whole was…
‘……Death.’