The Ghost's Temptation
My vision was fading. Yet, one thing remained exceptionally clear.
It was the blue gaze of the old man, staring down at me from a crouched position.
...Why is this old man here?
Before I could even process the shock of this unexpected encounter, the old man spoke.
"Do you remember what I told you last time?"
Last time?
What does he mean by last time...?
Ah.
I remembered.
It was our final conversation.
Just before we parted ways, the old man had asked me a question.
"What if our positions were reversed?"
Reversed?
"Could it not be that you might end up asking me for a favor?"
The old man had definitely said that.
And I had immediately scoffed at his words.
"If that ever happens, I'll grant whatever wish you want, old man."
...What did the old man say to that?
"Understood. I shall see you next time, then."
"..."
I dragged the memory of the old man's words from the depths of my mind.
Having recalled the conversation, I looked at him and swallowed hard.
As if sensing that I had finally remembered, the old man's expression shifted.
"Now, let me ask you once more."
His face split into a wide grin. The sight of it made my body freeze, momentarily driving away the pain.
It was a terrifying expression.
Wearing that very smile, the old man asked me:
"Shall I help you?"
It was the temptation of a ghost.
Clang!
"Ugh!"
Yeon Socheon's arms trembled under the relentless onslaught.
He barely managed to raise his sword to deflect the massive nodachi, but he was ultimately pushed back.
Beyond his strained vision, the giant continued his assault.
Despite his massive bulk and weight, the man was incredibly fast.
It was a gap born from a difference in their martial realms.
An overwhelming sense of helplessness slowly drained Yeon Socheon's strength.
Yeon Socheon already knew.
Sancheon Gwiin was merely playing with him.
The rogue expert could have ended this fight whenever he wanted.
Yet, he chose not to.
Is he mocking me?
Realizing the situation, Yeon Socheon grimaced.
He was exhausted.
He was so spent that he could barely draw a proper breath.
Even so, Yeon Socheon swung his sword.
He could not afford to die here.
I have no choice.
He furrowed his brow, channeling his energy.
I have to use it.
He was about to unleash a power he had been holding back.
Under normal circumstances, it was a technique he should never use in real combat, but he had run out of options.
He had to do whatever it took to break through this crisis.
*Thud!* He planted his foot firmly, establishing his center of gravity.
"Hmm?"
A strange light flickered in Sancheon Gwiin's eyes as he witnessed this.
He had sensed an unusual aura.
Yeon Socheon drew energy from his dantian and wrapped it around his body.
In an instant, the energy channeled into his blade.
His Sword Qi flared to life.
Twisting his waist slightly, he kept his gaze fixed forward.
He took a specific stance, preparing for a wide, sweeping strike.
As he settled into the posture, the Sword Qi began to morph.
"Fuuu..."
With a deep exhale, a sudden coolness washed over his body.
Hummm!
A subtle, mysterious energy began to coalesce along the edge of his sword.
"This brat...?"
A look of annoyance crossed Sancheon Gwiin's face.
What was this? His instincts were screaming at him. They warned him that whatever was coming was dangerous.
The boy was barely a First-class martial artist at best.
That was the extent of Yeon Socheon's realm as he had assessed it.
Yet, he was feeling threatened by such a weakling?
It made no sense.
Sancheon Gwiin gripped his hilt tightly and lunged forward.
Just as he was about to cleave Yeon Socheon in two—
"Stop."
The sudden voice made Sancheon Gwiin freeze mid-motion.
*Thwack!*
"Agh!"
Taking advantage of Sancheon Gwiin's hesitation, Pung Yeon suddenly appeared and kicked Yeon Socheon squarely in the abdomen.
The gathering energy dispersed instantly. His stance shattered, and Yeon Socheon collapsed to the ground.
"Cough! *Hack*... Ugh!"
Having taken a direct hit, the fallen Yeon Socheon dry-heaved repeatedly.
"Hmph."
Sancheon Gwiin slammed his nodachi into the ground.
He scowled at Pung Yeon and said, "You were just standing there watching, so I thought you wanted me to handle him myself."
Pung Yeon smiled at Sancheon Gwiin's words.
"Of course not. We are partners, after all. I merely watched to let you have a little taste of the action."
With those words, Pung Yeon walked over to the collapsed Yeon Socheon.
*Grab.*
"Ugh..."
He seized Yeon Socheon by the throat and lifted him up.
"Young Master. Are you alright?"
Pung Yeon asked with a smile. Yeon Socheon stared back at him with eyes full of pain.
"W-Why..."
He couldn't understand it. He couldn't bring himself to believe it.
Not the man standing before him, nor the reality of the situation.
How did things turn out like this? Why was his own bodyguard doing this to him?
Reacting to Yeon Socheon's disbelief, Pung Yeon spoke.
"Are you surprised? If so, my apologies."
"Pung Yeon... Just what..."
"You look quite pathetic right now, Young Master."
Pung Yeon raised a hand and wiped the blood from Yeon Socheon's cheek.
"What... What are you doing, Pung Yeon..."
They had known each other for five years.
Yeon Socheon could not believe this betrayal from the bodyguard he had come to regard as family.
But reality was cruel.
*Squeeze!*
"Ack!"
The grip on Yeon Socheon's throat tightened.
"I must say," Pung Yeon said, his eyes crinkling with amusement as he applied more pressure. "Young Master, why did you have to needlessly offend Lady Cheon and bring this upon yourself?"
"..."
At the mention of his sister's name from Pung Yeon's mouth, Yeon Socheon's lips trembled violently.
"Pung Yeon... Don't tell me... all of this... was my sister's doing?"
Yeon Socheon asked, his voice shaking from the shock.
Hearing this, Pung Yeon burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
What could possibly be so funny? Pung Yeon chuckled for a long moment before finally stopping.
"Young Master. My naive Young Master..."
He looked down at Yeon Socheon and continued.
"Did you honestly think we could have made it this far solely on your luck and my skill? How did you expect to survive in this harsh Jianghu with such naivety? Did I not tell you time and time again?"
It was the advice Pung Yeon had always given him.
"There is no one in this world you can trust. Only you can protect yourself. I taught you this so many times, yet it seems you still have much to learn, Young Master."
"Ugh..."
Despair washed over Yeon Socheon's face.
"Lady Cheon provided the information and made me a promise..."
*Squeeze.* The grip on his throat tightened even further.
"She promised that if I finished this job cleanly, she would readily appoint me to the position of Guard Captain, which I have always desired..."
"Khhh..."
"Please don't take it too personally. After all, with your meager capabilities, you could never offer me such a position, could you?"
Yeon Socheon tried to pry the hand away, but his suppressed body refused to move as he wished.
"So, if you must blame someone, blame your own incompetence."
"Argh!"
"Out of respect for the time I spent looking after you, I will make your end painless."
"Let... Let me go! I said let go of me!"
Yeon Socheon desperately tried to channel his energy, but—
*Thud!*
"Ack!"
Pung Yeon's fist slammed into his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him.
"Your resistance is needlessly fierce. If you keep this up, I will have no choice but to make this painful."
As Pung Yeon grumbled in annoyance, Sancheon Gwiin, who was standing behind him, chimed in.
"Hey, you haven't forgotten our promise, have you?"
"Ah, I haven't forgotten. Don't worry."
Pung Yeon replied with a smile.
"As promised, I will ensure the martial artists of the Namgung Family continue to head this way. That is why I leaked the information in the first place. However..."
"Ugh! *Gasp*..."
"I have some business to attend to here first. Could you clean up those pests over there in the meantime?"
He was referring to the dogs of the Martial Alliance who were still breathing.
Since reinforcements might arrive at any moment, they needed to wrap things up cleanly.
At the politely veiled command, Sancheon Gwiin shook his head expressionlessly.
He didn't care what Pung Yeon did.
As long as the man kept his promise, nothing else mattered.
With that thought, Sancheon Gwiin moved to finish off the survivors.
Coughing repeatedly, Yeon Socheon forced his eyes open and glared at Pung Yeon.
"You piece of trash..."
To think he had trusted and followed such a man for years.
The corners of his eyes trembled with intense betrayal.
His life within the sect had been one where he had no place to lean.
In that lonely existence, Pung Yeon had been his only confidant.
He had struggled desperately to survive, day after day.
He had sworn to eventually overcome his sister.
And he had believed Pung Yeon was like a real older brother, looking out for him through it all.
Foolish idiot...
Yeon Socheon cursed himself.
Just as Pung Yeon had said, he shouldn't have trusted anyone.
While dreaming of revenge, he had failed to properly observe his surroundings.
Because of his mistake, it had come to this.
In the end... was I just dancing in the palm of my sister's hand all along?
He had thought, even if just for a brief moment, that he had found hope.
But it was all a lie.
In the end, he had accomplished nothing.
"Have you given up, Young Master?"
Pung Yeon sneered at Yeon Socheon's defeated look.
"Well, it saves me the trouble of having to drain your strength, so I suppose this is for the best."
As he spoke, he raised his other hand, which now held a dagger.
Resignation slowly filled Yeon Socheon's eyes at the sight of the blade.
Just as Yeon Socheon was about to close his eyes for the last time—
*Thud.*
Something rolled right next to him.
What was it?
Yeon Socheon focused his blurry vision to check.
"..."
Yeon Socheon's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
It was a head.
Specifically, the head of Sancheon Gwiin.
It bore the exact same expressionless face from moments ago.
It was Sancheon Gwiin's head, cleanly severed at the neck.
"Huh...?"
Yeon Socheon wasn't the only one who saw it. Pung Yeon had noticed it too.
Pung Yeon whipped his head around to look behind him.
"What in the..."
Pung Yeon froze at the sight that unfolded before him.
Not far away, Sancheon Gwiin's headless body was collapsing.
*Thud!*
The massive frame fell lifelessly onto the dirt.
"Sigh..."
A low sigh echoed from somewhere.
The lanterns had gone out at some point, leaving the area cloaked in pitch-black darkness.
And within that darkness, Pung Yeon spotted something.
Eyes.
Deep, brilliant blue eyes.
Someone was staring at them from beyond the shadows.
*Shiver!*
The moment Pung Yeon locked eyes with them, a chill ran down his spine, and the hairs on his body stood on end.
"Who's there?!" Pung Yeon demanded, releasing his martial aura.
*Step.*
Footsteps echoed from the darkness. With each step, the blue eyes drew closer.
Yeon Socheon watched this unfold as well.
He was particularly transfixed by the blue light flickering in the dark.
That is...
Yeon Socheon could not tear his eyes away from the glow.
*Step.*
The footsteps approached slowly.
Before long, the owner of the footsteps stepped into view.
"Ah... Ah...?"
Yeon Socheon gasped involuntarily as he recognized the figure.
Long, brownish hair.
The youth who appeared had his hair untied, falling in a disheveled mess around his face. He looked to be about Yeon Socheon's age.
It was Bang Seongyeon.
He was trudging forward, resting his sword casually against his shoulder.
Blood was dripping down his thigh.
"Young Master Bang...?"
Pung Yeon was equally bewildered.
How was this possible?
How on earth...?
What had happened to Sancheon Gwiin, and how was this kid walking over here completely fine?
It was an incomprehensible situation.
As Pung Yeon warily watched the front, Bang Seongyeon suddenly spoke.
"Go ahead and choose."
"What?"
Pung Yeon asked, taken aback by the random statement.
Bang Seongyeon continued, completely unfazed.
"Do you want to be sliced into tiny pieces? Or..."
As Bang Seongyeon spoke, his eyes—
"Do you want to be beaten to death like a dog?"
For some reason, they glowed a vivid, brilliant blue.