'This is a disaster.'
In truth, even the Chief Steward must know.
If they lowered the terms any further, it would be no different from the old contract with Jongui Gate.
'So this is exactly what Jongui Gate wanted.'
Jongui Gate had not made a single threat or demand.
On the contrary, they had deliberately refrained from taking any external action related to the Yongmyeong Merchant Guild.
And yet, they were tightening the Guild's throat with terrifying perfection.
As if to show that Yongmyeong Merchant Guild could never survive apart from them.
'At this rate, there are only two outcomes.'
Either they fail to find a sect willing to protect them and end up as prey to the unorthodox world,
Or else crawl back to Jongui Gate, begging them to renew the contract on even harsher terms than before.
Either way, it was the worst possible conclusion.
'I cannot—absolutely cannot let that happen.'
As long as he was the head of Yongmyeong Merchant Guild, never.
Cheon Myeonghak's tightly clenched fist trembled faintly when—
Tadadat!
"G-Guildmaster! Are you inside?"
"What is it? Come in."
Clatter!
Hardly had Cheon Myeonghak spoken before the office door burst open.
A martial guard rushed inside and hurriedly bowed.
"Urgent report, sir! Two of our establishments, one in the west of Xi'an and one in the north, have been attacked by unknown assailants!"
"Wh-what!"
Cheon Myeonghak and the Chief Steward both shot to their feet in alarm.
Could it be that the Guild's very stability was already beginning to crumble?
Their faces turned pale at the thought.
Late at night.
In Cheon Wuha's quarters, only a single candle was lit to read by.
Where normally he would be reading alone, an unexpected visitor had come.
"What did you say? An attack?"
At the news delivered by Cho Mudo, Cheon Wuha's face twisted.
"What on earth is this about?"
"Two of our establishments, north and west of Xi'an, were struck by some group. From what I heard, there were about a dozen of them. They split into two groups of five and struck both places at the same time."
"Both at the same time?"
Cheon Wuha sank into thought at Cho Mudo's words.
From the description, their foes were clearly acting in an organized manner.
And they had a disturbingly precise grasp of the Guild's strength.
No matter that the Guild had no powerful protectors now—its establishments could not have been left completely undefended.
'What a nuisance.'
If they had challenged openly, that would be one thing.
But raiders striking and retreating in such a way were far more troublesome.
Especially since the Guild was desperately short on experts at the moment.
"And Father?"
"The Guildmaster has gone personally to inspect the attacked establishments."
"To a place that could be dangerous?"
"He took Master Jang and five martial guards with him."
"…Haah."
Cheon Wuha pressed his forehead and sighed.
True, Jang Uibo was the Guild's strongest fighter aside from himself.
A man at the threshold of the Peak Realm, he could easily deal with common thugs.
But what if this was a trap to lure out and seize Cheon Myeonghak?
"Have the information brokers found out who they are?"
"The Chief Steward is pursuing that separately. I've heard nothing yet."
"…I see."
So while going to check the establishments, they were also gathering intelligence.
For a sudden crisis, their response was at least adequate.
'Still, reinforcing Father's side should be the priority.'
He himself wanted to go, but that would mean leaving the main compound undefended.
Just as Cheon Wuha opened his mouth to speak—
"…Hm?"
Suddenly he turned his head, eyebrows rising sharply.
And then—
"…Ha!"
Rustle.
With a derisive snort, Cheon Wuha stood.
Cho Mudo asked, puzzled:
"What is it all of a sudden?"
"Please gather the guards at once, Instructor Cho."
"Eh? Right now?"
"Yes. It seems some petty thieves are trying to be clever."
Now his expression was cold, lips curled in disdain.
Cho Mudo's eyes widened as realization struck.
"Don't tell me… they're here?"
"Who knows? We'll have to confirm. But given the foul killing intent seeping in, I'd say it's likely."
"…!"
"They're enemies."
At that word from Cheon Wuha, Cho Mudo swallowed dryly.
Since he had joined the Guild, this was the first time he was facing true enemies.
"This is the Yongmyeong Merchant Guild, is it?"
A man in black, twin swords crossed on his back, stood grinning before the Guild's gate.
His fists clenched and opened as if unable to contain his rising greed.
A burly giant beside him, holding a massive saber, clicked his tongue.
"Calm yourself, Galpyeong. Don't ruin things now that we're here."
"Heh. And what could go wrong? Even Nangwi Sword isn't here right now."
"Black Bear is right. Nangwi Sword isn't the only one we should be wary of."
Another man, pale-faced with thin lips, licked them as he added:
"They say the Guild's young heir defeated Jongui Gate's brat… maybe exaggerated, but caution won't hurt."
"Tch tch. What a disappointment. Don't tell me, Samyeong, you're scared of some kid not even twenty?"
"…Low-born fool. Do you not even know the meaning of caution?"
"Enough. Lower your voices."
The man in a bamboo hat cut in quietly.
At once, as if acknowledging his higher rank, the bickering men fell silent.
"There will be no mistakes. Even if Nangwi Sword rushed back, he would need half a shichen at least. We'll be gone before then."
Shrrng.
He drew the sword at his waist.
The blade shimmered faintly red, and his eyes gleamed with bloodlust.
Whoosh!
In a single breath, the bamboo-hatted man reached the Guild's front gate, raising his crimson sword overhead.
"Taahh!"
Slash!
With a shout, his blade cleaved the gate diagonally.
Moments later, the thick wooden doors split apart, collapsing in a shower of splinters.
Crashhhh!
"Go!"
"Uhaahah! Loot everything!"
Fwshhh!
At his lead, Galpyeong, Black Bear, Samyeong, and over a dozen more surged through the ruined gate.
He smiled, savoring the chaos to come—
"Hmm…?"
"What the…?"
But instead of screams, confused voices rose.
They halted, wary, as the dust cleared.
"…?"
Five martial guards had already surrounded them inside the courtyard.
And standing calmly at their head were two figures.
"…Tch."
The boy in white at the front clicked his tongue.
"If you're just petty thieves, you should've snuck in over the wall. Instead you invite a beating."
'…That brat?'
The bamboo-hatted man narrowed his eyes.
Fifteen years old at most, with a youthful face.
Hands clasped behind his back, he surveyed them all with composure.
"Well… be that as it may…"
The boy's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Since you came all this way on your own… we'll take the gate fee."
"That brat… is he the young heir from the rumors?"
Black Bear muttered in disbelief.
So frail he looked like he'd never held a sword.
And yet he stood there with utter ease.
Did this boy really defeat Jongui Gate's young sect master?
While they stared, Galpyeong chuckled.
"Heh. Quite the welcome. How did you know we were coming?"
"With killing intent so blatant, who wouldn't notice?"
Cheon Wuha turned his gaze past them to the bamboo-hatted man.
"Isn't that right?"
"…!"
The man's eyes narrowed.
Could this boy have sensed his killing intent all the way from outside?
"Sharp senses for one so young."
"Sharp senses?"
Cheon Wuha smirked.
"Not wrong. But even a third-rate assassin's foul aura is obvious."
"Hah! Did you call me… third-rate?"
The man's laugh turned cold, and his killing intent thickened like tar.
"Say that again. Who did you call third-rate?"
The Guild's guards shrank back under the oppressive aura.
But Cheon Wuha's sneer only deepened.
"Am I wrong? If you weren't a third-rate assassin unable to hide your killing intent… you wouldn't be looting an undefended house instead of facing a sect head-on."
"You…! Hahahaha!"
The bamboo-hatted man laughed wildly.
"Never thought I'd see the day. To be called a petty thief by some brat… me, the Mad Blood Sword!"
"Mad… Blood Sword!"
"The blood-crazed killer…?"
At the name, murmurs of fear ran through the Guild's men.
The man raised one hand languidly.
"Galpyeong, Black Bear, Samyeong."
"Yes."
"Leave the others. That boy—bring him to me alive. I'll have him crawling and begging for his life."
"Yes!"
"Kek… poor wretch."
Whoosh!
The three leapt toward Cheon Wuha simultaneously.
Cho Mudo began to draw his blade when—
Step.
Cheon Wuha calmly strode forward.
In that brief instant, his sword was already in his hand, though even Cho Mudo beside him hadn't seen him draw it.
Swish swish swish!
Galpyeong's twin swords, Black Bear's saber, and Samyeong's longsword all slashed in from different angles—arms, legs, shoulder.
Deliberately avoiding fatal strikes, just as ordered.
But then Cheon Wuha leaned into their blades, lips curled in scorn.
"Wha—!"
Startled, they twisted their weapons to avoid killing him.
And in that instant, Cheon Wuha's sword lashed out, smashing against their blades and hilts.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Gahh!"
"No—!"
They staggered, struggling for balance.
Slash!
Rip!
Thud!
Crash!
"Agh…!"
"Y-you… what did you—"
In the blink of an eye, tendons were severed.
Galpyeong dropped his twin swords, arms dangling uselessly.
Black Bear collapsed, legs refusing to hold him.
Samyeong managed to stay standing with his left hand gripping his sword, but blood poured from his right wrist and one leg.
"H-he cut all our tendons in an instant…?"
"This should suffice."
Cheon Wuha nodded.
The rest were mere rabble.
Cho Mudo and the Guild's men could handle them.
"Subdue them. Leave none standing."
"By your command! Men, seize them all!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Damn—!"
The Guild's guards charged with fierce momentum.
Samyeong, the only one barely able to fight, raised his sword awkwardly left-handed.
But balanced on one leg, he could not stop the crushing strike of Cho Mudo's heavy blade.
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