“Huff… huff…”
My breath was scraping up my throat.
This damn body. Fucking Moyong Sohae.
I didn’t expect the fatigue to hit this fast. Gal-whatever was even weaker than Hwang Ik, who I fought at the Martial Gathering. Never thought I’d struggle this much with someone like him.
At least he looked like shit too.
“You… fucking… you’re good.”
“Oh, thanks for the compliment.”
Leveled up from rat to dog, huh. I gave a quick nod of thanks and rushed in again. The bastard, already covered in shallow cuts, swung his blade hard without even flinching.
But this was exactly why I used twin swords — it made reacting to heavy, wild attacks easier. Gaps were easier to exploit.
No need to land one clean blow. Martial artists always underestimate the damage of minor injuries stacking up. They never realize it’s a straight road to death.
I ducked his blade and slashed around his ankle. I’d aimed wide, expecting him to dodge, so it still nicked him. The point was to make him move awkwardly.
Best case, he drops. Worst case, Dang Iheon finishes up and gets here soon.
“You sneaky little bitch…”
“Gal-whatever, admit it. You’re fucking pissed right now, huh?”
“It’s Gal Cheongyeok!”
“Wow. You’re really stuck on that, huh? Doesn’t matter, I’m not remembering it.”
I slashed for his face. My blade grazed his cheek.
The bastard had introduced himself three times while fighting. I didn’t bother remembering — I’m bad with names, and I didn’t give a shit. Still didn’t.
Bang!
“Oop—look at you losing your temper.”
I barely dodged the blade that came crashing down on me. It slammed into the ground right in front of my toes, and even I felt a chill down my spine.
Kak.
He pulled the blade free and swung upward. I pushed off the wall and launched myself back. Staying backed into corners was a bad idea — I needed to move toward the building.
Wonder if Proprietor Chae got away safely. Damn it. This bastard kept me from checking.
If my subordinates from my past life saw me struggling with this one asshole, they’d blow a vein and keel over.
Before I could get near the building, a blade charged with energy came screaming at me.
Gods, I’m so fucking sick of this.
Kwa-kang!
The sword crashed into the wall of Hwaan Tea House, crumbling part of it. Blew open a clean hole. Thank fuck Proprietor Chae wasn’t around to see this.
The bastard bared his teeth. As he yanked the sword free, his eyes locked on mine, full of murderous intent. Yeah, he was well and truly pissed.
“Playtime’s over.”
“About fucking time, jackass.”
I slowly raised both swords in front of my face. With my face hidden behind the blades, he wouldn’t see the smile.
“Come on, then.”
“HRAAAH!”
He charged like a rabid boar. I ran at him too, full tilt.
Part of why I provoked him this much was to bait an opening… but the bigger reason?
When humans get pushed to their mental limit, they start moving on instinct.
Which means… his training with the Red Serpent Corps would start showing. And I knew exactly how those bastards fought.
Step one — the overhead slash.
I dodged just as his blade came down toward my skull. His weapon was heavy — that meant every wasted swing drained him.
I slashed toward his ribs. Got lucky — it went deep. Good start.
Next — right low angle.
I flipped my body, raised the sword that cut his ribs, and dragged it up his shoulder. Blood sprayed everywhere.
“Ghhrk!”
“Damn, that’s gotta hurt.”
I chuckled and tossed another jab. His face went red with rage.
Truth be told, I was getting tired too. My wounds weren’t deep, but the scratches added up. Blood was trickling out.
Then suddenly, his blade gave off a nasty whine as it vibrated in his grip.
Shit. He was pouring his energy into it.
All that ‘rat’ talk from earlier, and now he was going all in. Fucking exhausting. Guess I couldn’t stall anymore either.
I pulled what little fresh energy had gathered in my energy center and pushed it through my limbs. My legs surged. Muscles sprang back to life.
I launched.
All I could see was the bastard’s neck. His pulsing vein. The only thing in the world that mattered.
“HAAAH!”
I let out a battle cry and crossed my blades in a slash.
He didn’t just sit there and take it. A wave of sword energy crashed down at me like a goddamn lightning strike.
Even if my blades hit his neck, I couldn’t be sure I’d survive the counter.
But I was gambling on one thing.
I fucking hate to admit it…
BANG!
A deafening crack exploded above me. The bastard’s sword twisted violently off to the side — just barely missing me.
Sssk.
My blade nicked his neck. A red line bloomed.
Blood sprayed in a violent gush.
“Yeonhwa! Are you okay?!”
Out of nowhere, Dang Iheon was there, snatching back the throwing blade he’d just launched. He must’ve charged it hard — it cracked half the damn wall open.
Gal-whatever slammed his blade into the dirt and clutched his neck. His body was crumpling. Knees buckled. He looked up at me, dazed.
“Khrr… hrrkk…”
Watching his beet-red face as he gurgled like a drowning rat… only then did I finally relax. No matter how skilled you are — if your body can’t keep up, you’re fucked.
“Gal… what was it. Whatever. Mister Gal, later.”
“…Gal… Cheong… kehkk…”
“Told you. Not remembering it.”
I nudged his head with my boot. Blood gurgled out, painting the ground red. He wouldn’t last long.
I gave Iheon’s chest a weak punch with my limp fist.
“Thanks. You really nailed the timing.”
“Yeonhwa. What the hell were you thinking…”
“Knew you’d show up. I heard what was going on inside.”
“My heart nearly gave out.”
He let out a long breath, sounding more rattled than I’d ever heard. For a second, I felt a little guilty.
But damn, he and I really made a good team. Kid’s not just any Young Master of the Dang Clan.
“We moved the hostages to the storage behind the kitchen. Everyone on the first floor’s been taken out.”
“Yeah. Then we should—”
Iheon’s expression suddenly went deadly. He whipped out a throwing blade and hurled it.
I turned just in time.
A sharp whistle sliced the air. A flare streaked upward, cutting the night.
BOOM! BOOM!
“A signal flare…! Fuck!”
Iheon’s blade skewered the bastard’s forehead, but it didn’t stop the flare. Fuck. I should’ve double-tapped.
“We need to run!”
He grabbed my wrist and leapt. But from the second and third floors of the tea house, Red Serpent Corps bastards in blood-red uniforms started pouring out.
I was exhausted. This was on him now. But let’s be real — unless you’re a top master, you can’t fight off this many alone.
We tried to run, but they closed in fast. Surrounded.
Back-to-back, Iheon and I braced ourselves.
He whispered fast.
“On three, duck.”
“Got it.”
“One. Two…”
We had to get out of the center. Anything else, we’d be dead.
“Three.”
I yanked my sleeve over my face the moment he finished. Iheon flung a small pouch — it exploded midair.
Smoke bomb.
We jumped up through the confusion.
A bit away from Hwaan Tea House, at a fork in the road—
“Th-this way! Over here! You’re from the Moyong Clan, right?!”
Two martial artists moving like streaks of light slowed as a disheveled middle-aged man leapt into their path. Covered in scrapes and panting — Proprietor Chae.
“I’m the proprietor of Hwaan Tea House. I escaped thanks to Young Lady Moyong Yeonhwa. That road! Go that way!”
He’d been waiting at the fork just in case the reinforcements got lost. One of the martial artists nodded.
“Got it. Stay back. It’s dangerous.”
“Yes! Please, help the Young Lady!”
“Don’t worry.”
The two vanished almost instantly. So fast, the wind from their movement tossed Chae’s messy hair into the air.
He couldn’t help but wonder — why only two?
But then he remembered.
They looked exactly alike.
They had to be the Twin Stars of Swift Swords.
Proprietor Chae’s legs gave out, and he collapsed. He couldn’t go back. But he couldn’t leave either. All he could do was pray they’d all come back safe.
Moyong Cheon and Moyong Ha — famed as the Twin Stars of Swift Swords — finally reached Hwaan Tea House.
Even before kicking the doors in, the scent of blood choked the air.
The brothers didn’t need words. They’d trained and fought together for years. Their coordination was instinct.
They spotted the battlefield.
Iheon and Yeonhwa were barely holding on, fighting for their lives.
Good thing the Sichuan Dang Clan specialized in poison and throwing blades — they were at least built for handling groups. Without that edge, they’d be dead by now.
But Iheon was getting dragged away from Yeonhwa, and she was being pushed into a corner, surrounded by five enemies.
Moyong Cheon grit his teeth and charged his blade. Moyong Ha was already cutting through the enemy.
They both headed straight for Yeonhwa.
Whatever else happened, the Young Master of the Dang Clan could fend for himself. Yeonhwa needed them more.
Luckily, she wasn’t seriously hurt yet.
“More rats, huh? Coming in without a hint of fear.”
Enemies blocked their path fast. The twins pushed forward, blades ready, eyes fixed on Yeonhwa.
“Yeonhwa!”
Moyong Cheon shouted, blade glowing with aura. Across the distance, their eyes met.
For a moment, color returned to Yeonhwa’s exhausted face.
But that flicker of relief was all it took.
The enemies who hadn’t been able to get a clean hit finally saw an opening. They all struck.
“Yeonhwa! No—!”
Moyong Ha’s roar exploded like thunder. Even Iheon, caught mid-battle, whipped his head around.
The twins launched forward—too late.
The blade was already closing in on Yeonhwa.
Shhk!
A horrific sound split the air.
Yeonhwa’s face drained of all color.
She stared ahead in a daze.
At the back of the person who’d jumped in front of her—
“…Sahyeon?”
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