Chapter 163: A Crafty Bastard (1)

When I looked over from the opposite pavilion, First Young Master turned his head and met my gaze.

“Did you come to take Ihwa Fairy?”

First Young Master asked.

“That’s right. She’s a valuable hostage.”

We exchanged words as if we had known each other for years.

“So, you’re the one called Yong Hwarin?”

“Yeah. And what’s your relationship with that bastard Third Young Master?”

I never thought anyone would dare refer to Third Young Master, Eum Sajeok, as a ‘bastard’.

“Hahaha. Eum Sajeok once complained to me about how much he suffered because of you. I can see why now.”

I let out a faint laugh.

“Sounds like you’re sure you won’t end up the same. Am I wrong?”

First Young Master laughed heartily.

“Hahaha. How could I end up like Eum Sajeok? That kid learned martial arts practically under my guidance.”

Judging by appearance, he looked no more than five years older than me, but the way he spoke was downright irritating, so I shot back sarcastically.

“Did you somehow regain your youth? To have taught that bastard Third Young Master martial arts.”

As I continued speaking, I tried to inch my body closer to Ihwa Fairy, but it wasn’t as easy as I had hoped.

First Young Master’s overwhelming presence made it impossible to slip through.

“If Eum Sajeok calls you his teacher, that makes you First Young Master, right?”

“Exactly.”

We had no reason to hide anything and spoke openly.

“First Young Master, Third Young Master… It sounds like you belong to some grand organization. Can you tell me where you’re from?”

“That’s not going to happen. We’re not ready to reveal ourselves just yet.”

“What do you mean? Haven’t you already made enough noise in the martial world?”

“Hahaha.”

First Young Master laughed, and I continued.

“That bastard Third Young Master tried to kidnap the young masters of the clans, and you attacked the Namgung Clan. That’s more than enough to announce yourselves to the world.”

Until that moment, I hadn’t found a single opening in First Young Master’s defense.

I had to somehow shake him to create a chance to reclaim Ihwa Fairy.

So, I provoked him.

“Would you be surprised if I knew your real name?”

“My name?”

First Young Master laughed in disbelief.

“Hahaha. I’ve never once revealed my real name in the martial world. How could you possibly know it?”

I believed I had him hooked by the way he responded, so I pressed on.

“What will you do if I really know your name?”

“You’re ridiculous. If you know my name, I’ll bow to you.”

“That sounds good enough.”

Truth be told, I had never heard his real name before.

But I could make an educated guess.

Back in Soho, when I questioned Eum Sajeok about his name, he had once given me a false one.

‘People tend to name someone they either hate or admire when giving a fake name. It’s a subconscious desire to become that person.’

I didn’t take that moment lightly.

“Your name is Yang Gwak.”

At that time, when Eum Sajeok said that name, I had shot back with the opposite name, which had infuriated him.

He had reacted so strongly that I knew the name carried deep, mixed feelings for him.

“Huh…”

First Young Master, Yang Gwak, let out a sigh of disbelief, having been caught off guard.

“How do you know my name?”

Yang Gwak didn’t deny it.

“Ask the man standing behind you.”

Yang Gwak turned to look at his strategist.

At that moment, I kicked a tile with qi imbued into it and sent it flying.

Then I used the Cloud-Soaring Dragon Art and shot toward Ihwa Fairy.

“You crafty bastard!”

Yang Gwak blocked the tile, which had been aimed at his strategist, not him.

“Master, I’m fine. Go after him!”

After deflecting all the tiles, Yang Gwak watched as I slipped past him and couldn’t help but admire my move.

To think I used his own name to throw him off balance—it wasn’t an ordinary trick.

I landed on the ground and pulled out two large needles from my sleeve.

While Yang Gwak was still in the air, I aimed and shot the needles using the Yongrin Finger Technique.

Since the battle with Ihwa Palace, I had been carrying these needles for their usefulness.

Even from a distance, the force behind my hidden weapons was palpable.

Yang Gwak quickly drew his sword to block.

Clang!

It felt as if someone had yanked him from behind. He was knocked back at least five paces in midair.

“Dammit!”

He hadn’t expected such power from something so small.

“Impressive.”

The needle had pierced through the blade of his sword.

Had he not raised his internal energy just in time, the needle would have gone through the sword and into his forehead. Realizing this, a cold sweat ran down his back.

I smiled wickedly as I rushed toward Ihwa Fairy.

Just as Yang Gwak tried to catch up using light footwork, I turned around and fired another needle using the Yongrin Finger Technique.

Yang Gwak raised his sword again to block.

But the needle’s direction suddenly shifted.

“Huh?”

It was aimed at his strategist on the rooftop.

“Damn it!”

Yang Gwak couldn’t let his strategist die.

The strategist was essential in the ongoing succession battle filled with schemes.

Of all the strategists under his command, this one was exceptional.

Yong Hwarin’s hidden weapon was far beyond anything the strategist could block or dodge.

“You bastard!”

Swearing loudly, Yang Gwak unleashed his full internal energy and performed light footwork, rushing toward the pavilion roof where his strategist stood.

Never before had he used light footwork so desperately.

And at that moment, he realized why the third had been so thoroughly defeated by Yong Hwarin.

‘He’s someone you can’t afford to let your guard down against.’

Failing to catch up to the flying needle, Yang Gwak threw his sword.

Clang!

The sword, thrown with the force of his internal energy, struck the needle and deflected it. However, the strategist let out a scream and fell from the roof.

“You sly bastard!”

Grinding his teeth at having been outmaneuvered again, Yang Gwak rushed to catch the falling strategist and immediately checked his condition.

“Strategist Mak Gun-sa, are you alright?”

“It pierced my shoulder, but I’m fine.”

“Good. It’s lucky I managed to change the needle’s trajectory with my sword. Otherwise…”

Just imagining it made his skin crawl. If he hadn’t intervened, the needle would have pierced the strategist’s forehead.

“Master, that man must be eliminated. He’s a threat to your plans.”

Strategist Mak Gyo, too, found Yong Hwarin’s tactics deeply impressive.

The way he had disturbed their composure and slipped past them in that short moment felt like watching a seasoned master of the martial world at work.

“I’ll be fine. You must capture the Heavenly Central Sword Hero.”

But Yang Gwak couldn’t easily move on.

The wound in the strategist’s shoulder, caused by what seemed like a mere needle, looked as if it had been pierced by a spear.

After applying acupressure to the area around the wound, he turned back to see that Yong Hwarin had already plunged into the ranks of his men, tearing through them with overwhelming momentum.

“What a monster…”

“I’ve never seen the Dark Heaven Guard get beaten this badly by a single martial artist. With the numbers we mobilized this time, we could’ve wiped out a small sect within two hours, yet here we are…”

“That just shows how troublesome it is to face someone who has reached that level.”

“I’ll take charge of the retreating forces and ensure the safety of the strategist. Go now, or you’ll lose Ihwa Fairy for good.”

Yang Gwak gathered his full internal energy and stomped the ground.

Mak Gyo handed Ihwa Fairy over to the remaining members of the Dark Heaven Guard, hoping they could hold out until their master arrived.

I activated my sword formation, cutting down those blocking my way one by one, though it took time.

I even drew my Black Silk Celestial Silkworm, using it to maintain my advantage.

Whenever I found myself in danger, I used the Yongrin Finger Technique to escape, cutting down the black-clad men who stood in my way.

Even so, as I drew closer, Ihwa Fairy screamed at the men carrying her.

“Move! Move faster before that bastard catches up!”

She looked back at me with terrified eyes.

The fear she had felt in Seokok still burned in her mind like a brand.

She would rather die than fall into my hands again and endure that torment. Powerless to use light footwork, Ihwa Fairy furiously berated her escorts.

Fortunately, the distance widened slightly when other members of the Dark Heaven Guard sacrificed themselves to block me, allowing Ihwa Fairy to breathe a sigh of relief.

But soon, I had dealt with all the black-clad men and was rapidly closing in again, causing her to scream at her carrier.

“You useless bastard! Run faster! Faster! That bastard is catching up!”

The black-clad man wanted nothing more than to throw her to the ground, but he couldn’t disobey his master’s strict orders.

“We’re going to get caught at this rate!”

Just as Ihwa Fairy screamed in frustration, she spotted Yang Gwak approaching behind me, and she clutched her chest in relief.

The last thing she wanted was to face me again.

Sensing an overwhelming surge of energy flying toward me from behind, I couldn’t help but turn around.

“If I had a little more time, I could have caught her.”

I felt a pang of regret. If I turned my back again to capture Ihwa Fairy, I risked being struck by First Young Master. I couldn’t afford to chase any further.

“You caught up quickly.”

“Hehehe. No one can match my light footwork. Did you really think you could humiliate me and live to tell the tale?”

“If you get this upset over something like this, how do you expect to survive in this ruthless world? You’ll face many more humiliations than this. If you throw your pride around every time, ten lives won’t be enough.”

My lecturing tone made him snort in disbelief.

“Heh! You really are something else. Let’s settle this here and now.”

Yang Gwak decided this was the moment to reveal all the techniques he had kept hidden.

A massive surge of energy spread around him.

Though I watched with a serious expression, I stood relaxed.

But I wasn’t looking at him—I was watching the group approaching behind him.

Mak Gyo and about thirty more black-clad men were rushing toward me.

I realized that if they managed to surround me with Yang Gwak joining in, I would be at a disadvantage.

Yang Gwak was goading me into a direct confrontation, knowing this.

A less experienced martial artist might have fallen for his provocation.

But I was already an old hand at this game and saw through his ploy immediately.

“Fine. Let’s settle this in one blow!”

I gathered the full strength of my Three Revolutions Internal Energy and released it all at once.

A terrifying wave of power burst out from my body, sweeping through the surroundings.

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