At the moment Ho Cheon-an was joyfully rolling in the dust of the inn courtyard,
Miss Yeo Il-ye was observing the mountain stronghold from the spot where she had spotted Ho Cheon-an and the Black Cat.
‘Back again, huh.’
It seemed there was still plenty of alcohol left in the stronghold. Even bandits couldn’t enjoy a good drink during a state of emergency. Yeo Il-ye focused on the two people sitting at the top seat.
“Huff, huff… w-wait, huff!”
“So, you managed to follow us this far?”
“Why are there so many people in the inn all of a sudden? And what’s with the Poison Doctor?”
Jeon Hu-dam was sprawled next to Yeo Il-ye.
“Something happened.”
“What the hell… what’s wrong with just telling me?”
Jeon Hu-dam complained while thinking of the two women, the Black Cat and Yeo Il-ye.
From his point of view, he couldn’t figure out what was going on. He had gone down the mountain to find the whereabouts of the 개왕채 Sect Leader, Mo Yeobu, only to receive a sudden order to wait in the inn with some papers.
Then when he arrived at the inn, out of nowhere, the Poison Doctor, Ho Cheon-an, and the Black Cat appeared. After handing the papers to the Black Cat, Jeon Hu-dam had no choice but to chase after Yeo Il-ye up the mountain.
‘Wasn’t the mission supposed to separate the Lord and Yeo Il-ye from the start?’
He thought it was a mission to lure Yeo Il-ye to Hyeong Gwi-san so that she wouldn’t run into the Black Cat, but somehow Yeo Il-ye and the Black Cat were now working together. The Black Cat had only sent a message to continue with the original mission without explaining anything.
“What’s that person who looks like a debtor’s lord? He seems strong.”
“That’s Gi Gyeong-chan from the Scarlet Blood Sect. I heard the author also recently reached Peak Stage.”
Jeon Hu-dam lifted his water pouch from his waist and took a swig before speaking.
“So, let’s find a gap, infiltrate the stronghold, and look for the Seven Treasures. If we find the Seven Treasures…”
“The Poison Doctor promised to cooperate.”
“Oh..? So, they really are the Ten Prodigies of Jeomchang Faction. The Poison Doctor will personally lead the assault on the stronghold.”
“Assault? No. The Poison Doctor said if we bring Mo Yeobu, he would open his mouth.”
“What the…?”
Jeon Hu-dam felt utterly dumbfounded. How could one possibly get out of a stronghold with two Peak Experts and over a hundred bandits inside?
“Can you please say something reasonable? I understand it’s taboo to mention the realm to Martial Artists, but let’s get to the point! Isn’t this merely the entry point to Peak Stage? No matter how much of a disciple of Jeomchang Faction you are, facing two Peak Experts in their home turf…”
“We’ll know once we see the result.”
Jeon Hu-dam was speechless at Yeo Il-ye’s confidence.
“Let’s go back. We can prepare and enter by dawn tomorrow.”
“Wait, sleep…”
Swish!
Watching Yeo Il-ye swiftly descend the steep slope, Jeon Hu-dam finally realized. He would have to descend the mountain and run back to the inn again after just climbing up.
“Damn it…”
*
Yeo Il-ye returned just as Ho Cheon-an was bragging about his rise to the top.
“Oh, you’ve come!”
At first, the group was happily listening to Ho Cheon-an, thinking he must be excited after reaching a new level after such a long time, but over an hour had passed, and it was starting to feel like torture.
Even the Black Cat and the Poison Doctor, who had been actively congratulating him at first, were now just staring at the floor before Yeo Il-ye entered.
From Ho Cheon-an’s perspective, it had been seven years of pent-up frustration, but for the group, reaching the top was just a simple milestone that had long been passed.
The Poison Doctor welcomed Yeo Il-ye as soon as she appeared.
“I plan to depart at dawn tomorrow.”
“Hmm… are you sure you can handle it alone?”
“I can manage.”
“Really? If that’s your intention, I’ll respect it. Well, I ought to prepare for when you bring that person back. Hey! Get up and stop lazing around.”
“Ugh! Can’t we at least rest for the night?”
“There’s still a mountain of work to do! You can’t rest until the work is finished!”
“If you’ve got the strength to drag someone else along, just do it yourself!”
While watching Maki being dragged out, the Black Cat asked Ho Cheon-an.
“Do you really think Yeo Il-ye can handle the 개왕채 alone?”
Ho Cheon-an chuckled.
“Why not tag along if you’re so curious?”
“Hmm…”
The Black Cat felt intrigued by Ho Cheon-an’s suggestion.
If Yeo Il-ye picked up a clue for revenge, the region of Sacheon would indeed be swept by blood storms. And the Black Cat was predicting that within that blood storm, Yeo Il-ye would be the one to fall.
But what if Yeo Il-ye was truly a master capable of handling a stronghold all by herself?
An outcome far from what the Black Cat had anticipated would surely arise.
‘I think I’ll just watch for now.’
The Black Cat resolved to follow Yeo Il-ye at dawn.
*
Yeo Il-ye gazed at the firmly shut door of the stronghold. There didn’t appear to be anyone in the watchtower, perhaps because yesterday’s banquet had taken place.
It wasn’t hard to understand.
Who would attack a stronghold at dawn while climbing treacherous mountain terrains?
Yeo Il-ye effortlessly hopped over the stronghold’s fence. Although the bandits had made some effort to sharpen the wooden spikes, Yeo Il-ye, a Peak Expert, moved around with ease as she surveyed the stronghold.
‘If there’s a leader, it must be there.’
The stronghold that housed over a hundred bandits featured several buildings, but the one most grandly decorated immediately caught her attention. Perhaps they wanted to mimic a guardian deity, as the head of a fierce beast was mounted on a post.
Creeeak…
As she entered, a reception room-style space welcomed Yeo Il-ye. Frowning, she gazed at the top seat reminiscent of a throne elevated by two steps. A hide blanket was draped across it.
“So, a mere bandit trying to assert authority, is it?”
Yeo Il-ye’s clear voice echoed within the building.
“Hehehe… it seems you’ve caught on.”
Mo Yeobu, having given up hiding in the corner, rose to his feet. Standing at six feet, with shoulders twice that of a common person, he was equipped with a gigantic axe fitting his size.
“Did you think you could fool me? From the moment that old fart, famous for being stingy, let loose my subordinates to kindly warn me, I smelled a rat.”
“But you didn’t run away.”
“Hahaha! Why would I? The Poison Doctor is indeed a target of concern, but just you…? You’re plenty within my reach.”
Mo Yeobu flashed a sinister smile at Yeo Il-ye.
“You have quite a fair figure. I should check what kind of resentment you have towards this elder in private.”
‘Slippery fellow.’
While gazing at Mo Yeobu, Yeo Il-ye was simultaneously sensing the subtle aura approaching from outside the door. If someone could conceal their presence to this degree, it could only be the Peak Expert, Gi Gyeong-chan.
At the moment Yeo Il-ye was being encircled by two Peak Experts.
“Hmmm.”
The Black Cat was perched atop a tree, furrowing her brow.
“Is this… perhaps the design of my senior?”
The situation was growing strange. Even with two Peak Experts present, if they took them down one by one, Yeo Il-ye still had a decent chance of winning. But as things stood, she was cornered by two Peak Experts, one in front and one behind.
No matter how newly promoted Gi Gyeong-chan was to his realm, the current situation was undeniably unfavorable for Yeo Il-ye.
‘Crap… in the end, if Yeo Il-ye gets into trouble, I’ll have to save her, won’t I?’
Ho Cheon-an knew that she had followed Yeo Il-ye. If Yeo Il-ye were to die or be captured in this situation, would he be able to leisurely return afterward? Obviously not.
The Black Cat realized that having followed Yeo Il-ye put her in a position where she had no choice but to help her and began to resent Ho Cheon-an.
As she scrutinized the building with dissatisfaction, Gi Gyeong-chan halted and gripped the Great Sword with both hands. The wooden door was closed, but to a Peak Expert, that door was like paper.
And that piece of paper burst.
No, rather, one side of the stronghold’s main building, which also served as Mo Yeobu’s dormitory, exploded.
Boom!
“…Heavens.”
The Black Cat muttered unknowingly.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
Caught in the fragments of the shattered wall and door, Gi Gyeong-chan hurriedly withdrew.
Boom!
A sudden gust swept away dust and debris from the ground in an instant. As Gi Gyeong-chan took a step back, he realized that wasn’t just any gust of wind; it was internal energy.
“W-What…”
Gi Gyeong-chan’s face paled.
[Ceaselessly wasting trivial techniques.]
Yeo Il-ye unleashed the Six Harmonies Sword Technique, resonating around the area. The bandits who had only just awakened from their stupor scrambled to grab their weapons in confusion.
What those bandits saw was the ruined abode of Mo Yeobu and…
Yeo Il-ye, enveloped in strong Qi throughout her body.
The minute Gi Gyeong-chan made eye contact with Yeo Il-ye, he felt an electrifying fear that froze him to the core.
‘I can’t stand against her!’
Gi Gyeong-chan’s gaze shifted toward his Dao. With all his might, he emitted his main technique, but it barely cloaked his sword. The innate power of a bandit was thin, and although he was lucky to have ascended to Peak Stage, his internal energies still fell short.
How many times greater was the difference in their internal energies? Three times? Five times? Or perhaps even more? For Gi Gyeong-chan, the thought that one could generate such immense internal energy was unfathomable.
The Yeo Il-ye he saw was no longer human. She was merely a storm of Qi. A tempest that seemed ready to sweep away the entire world!
“Hey! What are you all doing? Our opponent is just a girl! Everyone…!”
[What are you doing if not charging at that girl?]
The Black Cat realized that Yeo Il-ye wasn’t actually using the Six Harmonies Sword Technique. This was beyond any technique; it was simply her unleashing all her internal energy, amplifying even her voice.
‘What a lunatic…’
The Black Cat was astounded, finally understanding why Ho Cheon-an and the Poison Doctor were so calm. An amount of internal energy so vast it was unimaginable for a single person to wield!
“Chaaah!”
As Yeo Il-ye’s gaze shifted towards Mo Yeobu, Gi Gyeong-chan squeezed every ounce of his internal energy and charged forward, crafting his upper-level technique, aiming to stab her. Like an arrow released from a bow, Gi Gyeong-chan hurtled towards Yeo Il-ye.
A remarkable move befitting a Peak Expert!
Capable of shattering boulders several times larger than a person, his destructive move, however, gave Gi Gyeong-chan a sense of dread as if he were piercing into a storm.
Pressure.
With every step he closed the distance to Yeo Il-ye, his shoulders felt weightier, and his Dao trembled. It was as if he were thrusting his blade underwater, feeling resistance throughout his body.
Gi Gyeong-chan saw Mo Yeobu charging towards him, raising that massive axe high above him. As he felt the pressure of Yeo Il-ye’s internal energy, he still dared to harbor hope.
In the end, Yeo Il-ye had only one sword. Both his and Mo Yeobu’s weapons were equally surrounded by Qi.
Though Yeo Il-ye’s internal energy was monstrous, capable of enveloping her whole body, it was commonly known that internal energy alone could not fully counter a weapon’s Qi.
Even if the defender has superior internal energy, the force behind an attack carried by a Peak Expert with a weapon would inherently possess overwhelming strength. Even if it didn’t break through the protective barrier, the shock was unbearable.
‘If even one side can land a hit…!’
The destructive power of the Qi could cut boulders like tofu. If he could just land a hit… there was a chance to win!
Which side would it be…?!
Gi Gyeong-chan felt Yeo Il-ye’s sword moving toward Mo Yeobu, as if a myriad of stars were shining brightly in the presence of her vibrant sword energy blocking Mo Yeobu’s axe’s path.
Gi Gyeong-chan realized that the decisive moment had arrived.
In expert duels, often victory or defeat hinged on a single move.
Those of lower realms can’t utilize their power to the fullest. They might think they have perfected a move, yet those with lower realms cannot unleash fearsome strikes. Regardless of strength, they can’t release all their power in one go if their realm is lacking.
Consolidating all his energy into a single move is an incredible, revered technique.
Thus, Gi Gyeong-chan elevated his focus and stomped on the ground, thrusting his sword forth. He felt a smile rise from within. Maybe it was due to the life-and-death crossroads he was standing in, as such a monstrous figure like Yeo Il-ye stimulated his survival instincts, causing an almost artistic thrust.
In the heightened concentration, time seemed to slow, and Gi Gyeong-chan noticed Yeo Il-ye’s piercing gaze fixed on him.
And on Yeo Il-ye’s left hand, the sheath of her sword was grasped tightly.
Snap.
The belt securing the sheath around her waist snapped effortlessly without any resistance against Yeo Il-ye’s strength. The unsheathed sword met Gi Gyeong-chan’s thrust in a brilliant display.
‘Why did I have to choose a thrust?’
Regardless of the outcome, it would have changed nothing. Yeo Il-ye thought as she thrust her sword sheath.
The thrust of Jeomchang was unrivaled. It was a sword that could pierce the sun. As the sheath went forth, both Gi Gyeong-chan and Mo Yeobu’s eyes widened.
The blade and the sheath. The sword energy of both shone brightly, radiating like the sun. Mo Yeobu and Gi Gyeong-chan finally realized Yeo Il-ye’s intention.
With internal energy to spare for both sides, she was challenging them both at once.
Crack!
With the impact of Yeo Il-ye’s sheath colliding with Gi Gyeong-chan’s Great Sword, a split instantly formed.
Though it was merely the sheath, the sunlight-like brilliance and the star’s energy emanating from Yeo Il-ye’s sword clashed with Gi Gyeong-chan’s matched force.
It was already a foregone conclusion as to which side would be suppressed.
Boom!
The clash of energy erupted. Gi Gyeong-chan was thrown to the ground alongside the shattered pieces of his sword.
“Damn you!”
Mo Yeobu roared, swinging his axe down. Yeo Il-ye’s sword instantly adopted a defensive posture and transformed.
Boom!
When Mo Yeobu’s axe collided with Yeo Il-ye’s sword, a vast shockwave erupted, sending wooden shards scattered across the area along with clouds of dust. It was such an intense impact! The bandits fled, covering their faces.
Crrrunch!
[Hmm. Was it a bit too much to catch it right there?]
Yeo Il-ye mused lightly while observing her stance that had been slightly pushed back. The bandits swallowed hard. The debtor lord lay on the floor, his Dao shattered. He was coughing blood, which indicated severe internal injuries.
On the other hand, while Mo Yeobu’s attack was partially effective, he was merely pushed back. His storm-like internal energy remained steadfast, and the sword still throbbed with vibrant energy.
“Hey! Attack! We need to create a gap to survive!”
The bandits exchanged glances at Mo Yeobu’s urging…
But took a step back.
Seeing that, Yeo Il-ye calmly stated.
[Who would risk their life for a debtor lord that ran away from the Poison Doctor?]
Simply put. Was there any way the bandits would view Mo Yeobu’s withdrawal from Pixie as a noble act? But still, accepting Mo Yeobu’s return was inevitable, as the martial arts world prioritized the law of strength. If they were to engage in banditry, they needed the support of a Peak Expert like Mo Yeobu, leaving them no choice but to welcome his return.
Yeo Il-ye recalled her conversation with Ho Cheon-an the day they planned the operation.
“Do you intend to seek revenge on the bandits as well?”
“I have no clear notion of whether Mo Yeobu is a foe or not at this point. I don’t specifically intend to transfer my resentment to the bandits.”
“If that’s the case, let the debtor lord live. It’s better not to have to worry about the other bandits.”
[I only have business with the debtor lord, Mo Yeobu. The rest are of no concern to me.]
‘The bandits who’ve been left idle for a month by the Poison Doctor literally have no loyalty to Mo Yeobu! They simply need a powerful backing for their banditry, so they can’t help but welcome him as the leader.
‘If you’re hesitant to let them go, we could capture Mo Yeobu and track down the fugitives again.’
[Even if that debtor lord relocates to another mountain… it’s none of my concern.]
As the bandits locked eyes on Yeo Il-ye’s blunt muttering,
“Y-You! Don’t be fooled! Do you think that woman will spare you?”
Perhaps sensing the bandits’ decision, Mo Yeobu raised his voice.
“She will kill us all! That woman intends to eliminate each and every one of you! Don’t be fooled!”
Even as he yelled, the bandits continued to act in defiance. It was clear. Even if they all rushed in at once, they’d only meet their demise. Would the bandits that knew Mo Yeobu had disappeared for a month be willing to risk themselves?
In such a situation, who would step forward for a debtor lord? The Scarlet Blood Faction, led by Gi Gyeong-chan, cautiously supported the injured bandit faction and began their retreat from the stronghold.
Even if Mo Yeobu wanted to flail around, each time Yeo Il-ye’s sword pointed towards him, he could do nothing but step back helplessly.
It didn’t take long for the stronghold to fall into silence after all the bandits had retreated.
“Well, now we’re finally alone.”
Yeo Il-ye met Mo Yeobu’s rage-filled eyes and questioned him. After bringing him to the Poison Doctor, she knew he would surely force him to spill all the secrets, but before that, Yeo Il-ye wanted to hear the truth from Mo Yeobu firsthand.
“The Seven Treasures you possess… did you steal it from Yeo-ga Mountain Villa?”
“You….!”
Mo Yeobu’s eyes widened. Then, examining Yeo Il-ye, he burst into laughter.
“So you were that girl who survived at Yeo-ga Mountain Villa and joined the Jeomchang Faction! Hahaha… so I did! I burned down that villa, looted it, and killed people!”
Yeo Il-ye raised her sword in silence. Yet, even then, Mo Yeobu couldn’t stop laughing.
“I should’ve been more thorough! I could have exterminated every last rat, even the tiniest one hiding in the cupboard! I should have burned it all down! But in my greed to hoard riches, I neglected to kill off the people… and here I am, paying the price!”
“… Neglecting to kill off the people, you say.”
Yeo Il-ye chuckled hollowly. In that vast villa, over a hundred lives were snuffed out, and only she remained alive…
“It seems it was a good decision to seek the Poison Doctor’s cooperation.”
Mo Yeobu felt the laughter dying in his throat. For the first time, he sensed the chill of malice radiating from Yeo Il-ye’s calm, cold eyes.
A chilling, finely honed malice. Typically, malice burns brightly as it’s born of anger. But Yeo Il-ye’s malice was cut like a blade.
The flames of that vengeful hatred had refined into a blade-like form made of metal.
“After extracting all the information from you, I’ll ask the Poison Doctor to make sure you taste the other end of a hellish torment, whatever the cost. How about a poison that melts your insides over the course of eleven days? Or perhaps something like bugs that eat away at your flesh over a hundred days?”
Swish!
The sword energy erupted from Yeo Il-ye’s blade.
“Of course, before that, I should let you savor the sword I have honed.”
Yeo Il-ye set her stance.
The Four-Finger Saber Technique.
“This is martial arts I’ve refined since childhood in order to confront my enemies.”
Even when blisters formed on her palms, and even if they burst and blood flowed, she never halted her training. That hatred, forged into steel through the trials of extreme temperatures and the philosophy of transforming flames into ice, yet remained intact.
It was the very swordsmanship fueled by the hatred that had been kindled.
“How disappointing.”
“UAAAAH! Do you really think I’ll go down easily?!”
Mo Yeobu swung his axe around wildly, charging forward. Watching Mo Yeobu’s futile thrashing, Yeo Il-ye calmly said,
“Let me show you clearly. A gutter rat like you is simply too slow for Jeomchang’s sword.”
The Four-Finger Saber Technique. First strike. One Hand’s First String.
A flash zipped by.
Mo Yeobu’s two hands gripping the axe vanished into thin air.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.