#330. Don't Let Anything Grab Your Ankle
"As expected, you're quick on the uptake."
Gwan Hong straightforwardly asked the man who had acknowledged his subordinate status under Baek Gwi.
"You're not Do Dae-cheol, Baek Gwi's trusted aide. Are you from the bloodline of those traitors who crossed over from old North Korea?"
"Traitors? That's because the old republic collapsed under the monsters, and those South Korean bastards annexed the north on their own whim. To be precise, we're independence fighters. Who got branded as traitors because we failed."
"Independence fighters? Traitors? You're just like your master, clinging to old tales. So? What's the name of the man who came to take my head? Let's exchange names before we fight."
"I usually don't give out my real name... but since it's about claiming the neck of the great Gwan Hong, I suppose leaving my name behind as part of that glory isn't so bad. Yi Han-cheol."
Gwan Hong muttered the name Yi Han-cheol several times, pulling the man's identity from his memory.
"Right, Yi Han-cheol. I've heard the name before, even if not the face. Leader of Baek Gwi's execution squad. Right?"
"Impressive that you've pieced it together. Even Heuk-su doesn't know about me."
"That guy Heuk-su was too busy swallowing up Yeokcheon Guild, trusting only Baek Gwi's promises as a partner. He never dreamed Baek Gwi had a side pocket outside the guild. Narrow-minded."
"That confirms it—you're someone who has to die here."
"Is that why you came? I was wondering why an assassin was so chatty."
"Consider that your last words."
Gwan Hong sneered, and a chill settled over Yi Han-cheol's face.
Yi Han-cheol drew his weapon from behind his back. In both hands were bizarre tools that combined a sickle and a sword.
Gwan Hong recognized the odd shape at a glance.
'Kopeshes.'
Kopeshes.
Egyptian sickle-swords evolved from battle axes.
The 60cm blade extended straight like a sword up to the middle, then curved like a sickle for the rest.
The inner curve hooked enemy arms or yanked down shields, while the outer curve bore a razor-sharp edge.
Not commonly used for assassinations, but in the gate era, they shone against shield-bearing tanks, making them decent in PvP.
"Not the best for dual-wielding, is it?"
"Judge that after experiencing it yourself."
Yi Han-cheol crossed the kopeshes' blades into an X and charged.
Gwan Hong stabbed his longsword into the ground and drew the twin daggers from his waist in reverse grip.
The dagger and kopeshes clashed.
Pushed back by the charging force, Gwan Hong slid on his soles.
"Hup!"
As Yi Han-cheol swung the kopeshes with a snort, Gwan Hong leaped lightly into the air and backpedaled.
Yi Han-cheol didn't miss the opening, following with rapid swings of both kopeshes. Gwan Hong blocked with his daggers.
In the dozen steps Gwan Hong retreated, sparks flew amid dozens of exchanges.
Yi Han-cheol slashed with the outer blades continuously, then suddenly hooked the inner blade to snatch Gwan Hong's dagger. Gwan Hong laid his dagger flat, deflecting the attack.
In that gap, Yi Han-cheol's other kopeshes whipped toward Gwan Hong's nape. As the inner blade flashed to sever his neck, Gwan Hong switched the dagger from reverse to forward grip, defending the back of his neck.
Kaang!
With a clear metallic ring, Gwan Hong counterattacked this time.
He kicked Yi Han-cheol's abdomen. Yi Han-cheol blocked with his forearm, but Gwan Hong twisted the kick mid-motion to target the head.
Yi Han-cheol easily ducked. Then a flying knee rocketed toward his lowered face—the head kick had been a feint.
Ppak!
A dull thud echoed as Yi Han-cheol's head snapped skyward. Gwan Hong infused mana into his twin daggers.
Saw Blade
The blades crossed sequentially, slashing diagonally across Yi Han-cheol's chest.
"!!"
Gwan Hong frowned at the sensation lingering in his palms. It hadn't felt like cutting flesh.
Yi Han-cheol righted his stance and leaped back, creating distance. His torn clothes flapped.
"Whew, if this weren't good armor, I'd be dead."
Visible through the gash on his chest was armor blending silver and dark tones in patches.
'Leather and metal. Even a hastily unleashed skill couldn't pierce it—must be composite plate made from gate resources.'
Gwan Hong replayed the earlier moments when Yi Han-cheol had pressed aggressively without much defense. He'd relied on this armor.
Had Gwan Hong played defensive and waited for a counter, he might have been caught in a reversal the moment his attack bounced off.
Gwan Hong steadied his breathing and his stance.
"No one makes this easy."
"Figured that out now? You think we'd half-ass catching you?"
"Not you."
"Huh?"
Gwan Hong jerked his chin.
"Behind you."
"Haha, you think I'd fall for that obvious—"
Yi Han-cheol cut off mid-laugh and hurled himself aside. Raw killing intent pulverized where he'd stood. The concrete cratered, debris spraying everywhere.
Yi Han-cheol rolled and checked his attacker.
'Wei Shaoguang!'
The Kirin child of Kirin Guild, member of the allied Ten Dragons Society under Gu Dong-zun.
Wei Shaoguang.
Recognizing him, Yi Han-cheol subtly retreated.
"A big fish arrives."
Wei Shaoguang glared at Gwan Hong and warned Yi Han-cheol.
"Back off. I won't pursue. We're taking Gwan Hong."
"Talking like you own the place. Sorry, but no yielding on Gwan Hong. Take his corpse if you want."
Yi Han-cheol couldn't just withdraw, realizing Wei Shaoguang aimed to capture rather than kill. His master wanted Gwan Hong dead—alive, he'd be trouble someday.
Gwan Hong stepped in as the enemies vied for him.
"Too many wanting me—flattering, but I have prior commitments. Unfortunately, you're low priority."
Wei Shaoguang dismissed it as bravado.
"Gwan Hong to the end, huh? What can a guildless worm like you do?"
"Want a demo? Send someone if you're curious."
"Pfft! Hahaha! Gwan Hong! Didn't know you had a clown streak. Making me laugh—impressive."
Gwan Hong glanced at the hunters lined behind Wei Shaoguang. He'd also sensed Baek Gwi's unseen subordinates.
Wei Shaoguang noticed too, scattering killing intent beyond the containers to probe.
Gwan Hong smiled even in the tangled mess.
"No, you're the impressive one."
"What?"
"Holding back from killing me outright. Must take guts."
"Mocking me?"
"Not at all. Genuine praise."
"Don't need praise from scum like you. Test my patience no further."
Wei Shaoguang stepped forward. Gwan Hong backpedaled. Yi Han-cheol advanced.
Wei Shaoguang eyed Yi Han-cheol; Yi Han-cheol gauged Wei Shaoguang. Gwan Hong alternated glances.
"Perfect timing. All gathered—or exceeding expectations."
As Gwan Hong muttered, the collapsed warehouse ruins shuddered.
A container lifted, and Ja Cheong-rin crawled out. He shoved it aside.
With a thunderous roll, Ja Cheong-rin emerged from the blast zone, black aura shed, greatsword on his shoulder. He brightened at Gwan Hong.
"Kekeke! Still here? Good, that's how it... Huh? Who the hell are you?"
Ja Cheong-rin scowled at the intruders. Moments later, an explosion hurled debris skyward as Ryu Sisi burst out.
"Dumb brute. Thrashing without knowing priorities."
Ryu Sisi grumbled toward Ja Cheong-rin, then froze. She'd spotted the intruders too.
Unlike Ja Cheong-rin, Ryu Sisi knew the allied heavyweights well.
"Wei Shaoguang, slithering here for scraps?"
"Pup talking big. Think Huanglong Guild's banner makes you somebody?"
"What're you babbling, small-pond frog?"
Ryu Sisi taunted childishly, but Wei Shaoguang ignored it—taunts had to match rank.
Whatever their ranks, in Chinese guilds, faction mattered more.
You could rise by skill, but holding it meant fitting into the pecking order. Lineage across the industry, not just guilds.
Even enemies respected this in peacetime—Chinese guild rules.
"Huanglong's scraping the bottom, sending nobodies I don't recognize after Gwan Hong. Short-staffed?"
"Worried about factions? Go gripe at the nursing home, gramps. Don't swing swords on-site."
Gwan Hong watched them bicker.
'What a hilarious lineup.'
Skilled but naive to internal politics: two executives fresh from outposts, clueless on guild affairs; Wei Shaoguang, veteran trembling at Gwan Hong's name; Baek Gwi's man, still opposing post-Korea exile.
'Huanglong's my home, but hunting me. Allies are mortal foes, yet saving me. Baek Gwi must kill me outright, but China's limits hinder quick response. Perfect stage for a schemer.'
Gwan Hong relished the contradictions.
He'd anticipated some ploy choosing the tiger's den, but not this snarl. Huanglong and allies both botched personnel.
If leading them, he'd send a politically savvy veteran for Huanglong, Li Xian over rigid Wei Shaoguang for allies.
'Organizational issues, probably. Huanglong tangled with Mirage; allies placating Wei Shaoguang.'
Reasons aside, all weak at improv.
Gwan Hong slipped into the standoff.
"Everyone, calm down. Seems all who should be here are. No more coming?"
His calm amid universal hostility drew eyes.
Gwan Hong grinned as if their stares were cheers.
"All here, so let's pose a fun riddle."
"From a dead man walking?"
"Why did I run?"
Even dim Ja Cheong-rin shut up. Ryu Sisi's eyes twitched; she gripped her spear tight.
As Ryu Sisi readied to hurl, Wei Shaoguang's guandao was at her throat.
Ryu Sisi sweated coldly, yelling at Ja Cheong-rin.
"What're you doing?! Allied scum attacking our own!"
Ja Cheong-rin hesitated; Gwan Hong added,
"Few in Huanglong outrank me. Anyone know why I'm hunted?"
"Never thought about it. Now I'm curious."
Ryu Sisi snapped at Ja Cheong-rin's question.
"Listening to a traitor? You betraying too, Ja Cheong-rin?!"
"Why snap? Makes me want to hear more. What happened? Great Gwan Hong on the run?"
"Don't play smart where it ain't needed, monkey boy!"
As Ryu Sisi swung her spear at Ja Cheong-rin, Wei Shaoguang's blade inched closer.
"I'm curious too. Continue, Gwan Hong."
"Thanks for the chance. Must irk you."
"Said speak, not piss me off."
"Would I dare before Kirin child Wei Shaoguang?"
Wei Shaoguang eyed Ryu Sisi.
"Hey, you want him dead?"
"Obviously. Mission."
Gwan Hong waved with a salesman's smile.
"Straight to it. Inside Huanglong Guild..."
"Shut up!"
Ryu Sisi finally hurled her Whirlwind Spear. Wei Shaoguang reflexively swung.
"Kwaaak!"
Ryu Sisi's right arm hit the ground, flopping like a landed fish.
Seeing it, Ja Cheong-rin charged Wei Shaoguang, slashing with black-aurad blade.
Wei Shaoguang blocked but, caught off-guard, couldn't fully. He spat blood, retreating.
'Now!'
Yi Han-cheol lunged at Gwan Hong, using the spear as cover.
Gwan Hong faced the pincer from spear and Yi Han-cheol.
'Ryu Sisi... tied to Mirage? Note that.'
Gwan Hong activated Saw Blade on his daggers, shouting,
"Mirage devoured Huanglong Guild!"
Kwaaang!
* * *
Eight hours before Thomas arrived at Shandong Peninsula.
Kang Moo-hyuk prepared the Gwan Hong rescue team with Thomas and Go Eul-ji while monitoring Joo Se-ah tailing Seong Seon-je.
Fortunately, no notable moves from Seong Seon-je yet, so observation sufficed—but a powder keg, handled carefully.
To focus on rescue, Kang Moo-hyuk entrusted Seong Seon-je to Joo Se-ah.
With Mr. Jo's support, barring illusions, low risk.
'Now focus on Gwan Hong. What he's aiming for, why choose enemy-packed Shandong as escape—need to sort my thoughts.'
First, surprise.
Huanglong wouldn't expect Gwan Hong fleeing to Shandong.
Entering guild turf alone was shoving head in tiger's mouth; surveillance lax there.
'Too risky for just that. Gwan Hong's too cunning for such gambles.'
Kang Moo-hyuk knew Gwan Hong's feats in Sinuiju and Makyung.
Without Kang Moo-hyuk's variable—or full countermeasures once revealed—neither would have failed so easily.
He didn't underestimate from results.
'Huanglong Guild, Gu Dong-zun Alliance, Shandong's Cheonmyeong Guild. Plus Baek Gwi lurking in China. I'd kill Gwan Hong at first chance as Baek Gwi.'
Northeast and east China giants entangled over one man—a massive incident.
Kang Moo-hyuk was convinced Gwan Hong walked into the inferno deliberately.
'Two aims. First: Check Huanglong.'
Leak Mirage ties to anti-Huanglong forces, giving anti-coalition cause.
Shrink Huanglong ops, force defense—widening Gwan Hong's room.
'Second: Internal chaos.'
Similar goal, but flipping the board.
'Bi Won-jun's status.'
Gwan Hong confirming Bi Won-jun-Mirage link.
If unrelated, bloodbath in Huanglong post-Inner Mongolia gate.
If guilty, chaos grants Gwan Hong freedom.
'Win-win for him—back to the wall.'
Kang Moo-hyuk realized Gwan Hong risked all.
Even innocent, he'd be branded traitor colluding externally.
Pin on Gwan Hong lets Bi Won-jun purge without backlash.
Shaken orgs need external foe and scapegoat.
Bi Won-jun might regret Gwan Hong's talent, but duty first.
"S-ranks aren't carefree after all."
Joo Se-ah needed him similarly.
And.
'Prepare without me too. Guild master moves freely—no ankles grabbed.'
This Gwan Hong op crucial for many reasons.
Kang Moo-hyuk reaffirmed resolve, reviewing the plan.