"Everyone, track down the hostages! That's the lord's command!"
Torches flared to life everywhere as members of the Black Serpents scoured the area for traces of Go Seok-jeong.
Except for those who had been left behind to guard against intruders, Gal Pyeong had pulled together everyone he could to form a search party.
As they scattered about, combing the ground for signs, someone suddenly shouted out.
"Here! Footprints!"
"Fan out along the trail of prints and pursue them! It's just an old man and a child—they can't have gone far!"
Shouting orders from the front, Gal Pyeong drove the improvised search party onward. At his command, the Black Serpent members plunged into the forest in earnest, tearing through the undergrowth in search of their quarry.
Meanwhile, not far away, just as they had predicted, Go Seok-jeong was watching their movements with a groan of despair.
"Th–this…! Already discovered…?"
The torches were moving precisely in their direction, as though they had tracked his every step. His and the child's faces grew tense. If they delayed even a little, they would be caught.
"Hurry, we must go!"
"Yes, let's hurry."
Tat-tat-tat.
They pushed forward through the brush, quickening their pace, but moving swiftly in the pitch-black forest was not easy.
Worse still, Go Seok-jeong's aged body had withered and weakened far more than he expected in a single night.
Not long after, his vision swam and his breath clawed at his throat.
"Huuk…! Huuk…!"
"Faster, please!"
Frustrated by Go Seok-jeong's sluggish pace, the child urged him on while running ahead. Go Seok-jeong nodded reflexively, about to increase his speed—
Thunk.
"Ughk!"
Crash—thud-thud-thud.
He tripped on a stone hidden in the darkness and tumbled with a clamor. Alarmed, the child hurried to his side.
"Are you all right?"
"Urgh… mm…"
Nodding weakly, Go Seok-jeong tried to rise—but pain flared sharply in his right ankle.
"I… I'm fine. You go on ahead!"
He waved hastily, afraid he would only hold the child back. But the child would not abandon him, and instead supported his arm to move forward.
"Come on."
"Urrgh…!"
Agonizing pain lanced up his ankle, but Go Seok-jeong gritted his teeth and pressed on. He longed to tell the child to leave him and run, but the torches were already too close—there was no time to argue.
As they fled through the shadows—
Tap-tat-tat.
"Footsteps! Over there!"
"Got them!"
"No… no!"
Hearing the voices closing from behind, Go Seok-jeong's face turned ashen.
Then, suddenly, a black figure leapt over their heads.
Whssh!
Thud.
It was none other than Gal Pyeong.
Go Seok-jeong faltered backward, his path blocked. Gal Pyeong advanced with a twisted expression.
"You damned wretches…!"
Thwack!
Whirl—thump!
"No!"
With a brutal kick, Gal Pyeong sent the child flying into the underbrush. Go Seok-jeong screamed, rushing to the fallen child.
Thankfully, it hadn't been a strike infused with inner force. The child only clutched one shoulder in pain, face contorted.
"Urgh…"
"You—you beast! How could you commit such vile cruelty?!"
"Hmph… the old man still doesn't understand the situation."
Pain still throbbed in Gal Pyeong's cracked ribs, drawing a frown and cold sweat despite his attempts to restrain his movements. Yet he could not forgive the suffering this old man had caused him.
"Maybe if I smash that brat's face in, you'll behave."
"No! Stay away from him, you fiend!"
Step, step.
"Damn it…!"
Clench.
Go Seok-jeong wrapped his frail body around the child, shielding him with every ounce of strength. Tears welled in his eyes, mixing despair, fury, and guilt.
"It's all right. It will be all right. It's all right…"
His voice cracked as he whispered, holding the child's trembling body close. But he knew.
Every attempt had failed.
Torches surrounded them, casting light as Black Serpent warriors closed in. Gal Pyeong's hand clamped onto his hair.
Grab.
"This old man is a nuisance to the end…"
Go Seok-jeong shut his eyes tight, resigned.
Shhkk.
Thump.
"…What?"
Gal Pyeong's startled voice rang out. Go Seok-jeong blinked open in confusion, realizing the grip on his hair was gone. He turned—
And saw Gal Pyeong staring in disbelief at his empty shoulder, blood spurting like a fountain where his arm had been.
Splatter.
Collapse.
"Wh-what… what is this…?"
Staggering, Gal Pyeong dropped to his knees, staring down at his severed arm. Moments later—
Step.
"I should've cut off your wrist, not the tendon."
"…!"
"Had I known that filthy hand would be used this way."
"You… you're…!"
The voice, the manner of speech—so familiar. Horror chilled Gal Pyeong's heart as he looked up.
Through the dark brush emerged a figure in white martial garb, standing at Go Seok-jeong's side. His sword dripped blood, his appearance matching perfectly the man Gal Pyeong remembered—except for one thing.
"S–small young master…"
Yes, the young master of the Merchant Clan. But unlike before, there was no hint of laughter or composure in his face.
Only fury, cold and unfathomable.
And that was the last thing Gal Pyeong ever saw.
"W-wait—"
Slash!
Splatter.
Thud.
In the blink of an eye, Cheon Woo-ha's blade severed Gal Pyeong's neck. His corpse collapsed, blood gushing, as Cheon Woo-ha turned and bowed respectfully to Go Seok-jeong.
"…I have come to escort you, Master."
"W-Woo-ha… how are you here…?"
Go Seok-jeong stared in shock, then hurriedly looked around.
Two dozen Black Serpent warriors had surrounded them in a half-circle. He cried out anxiously.
"Go! Quickly!"
"…What?"
"I'm fine! Go! Don't you see? They captured me to lure you here!"
Sitting helplessly on the ground, lips pale and cracked, his tear-streaked, dirt-smeared face showed all the torment he had endured in just a day.
Cheon Woo-ha clenched his teeth, then turned cold eyes toward the enemies.
Swish.
"…Wait here."
"What…?"
"There are many sins to be repaid."
Step, step.
As nearly twenty Black Serpent members closed in, Cheon Woo-ha lifted his bloodied sword.
"Come."
"…!"
"All at once, if you can."
"You dare!"
"Die!"
Several rushed him, weapons raised. Surrounding him from all sides, they struck—
But he did not move. Until—
Slash!
Splatter!
Thud, flop, crash.
With a single sweeping strike, five men were cut down, cleanly halved.
The survivors froze in shock, faces pale.
"Keep coming."
"…!"
"Or shall I come to you?"
Step.
He advanced, and the circle of enemies fell back, their will to fight shattered.
"Woo-ha!"
"…."
"Enough… stop."
Go Seok-jeong's desperate voice called from behind. Woo-ha glanced back—seeing his master's face, torn with shock, worry, and fear—before lowering his sword.
Swish.
"…If you wish to live, leave now."
"…."
"This is your last chance."
The Black Serpents hesitated, backing away—
When suddenly, a thunderous voice boomed.
"You dare! Stay right there!"
Boom!
"L-Lord!"
'…Lord?'
Relief lit the warriors' faces. Woo-ha turned to see a massive figure approach, great saber in hand.
"So, the whelp walks into the tiger's den himself. You must be the Merchant Clan's young master."
"…The Lord, huh."
The aura radiating from him was overwhelming, stronger even than Gwang Hyeol-geom. Woo-ha's lips curled in a chilling smile.
Swish.
"Good. Saves me the trouble of hunting you down."
"What…? You dare…?"
The giant, Cheol Pae, frowned, his gaze falling to the five corpses on the ground.
'…In a single strike?'
The spacing, the posture of the dead—all showed they had been cut down instantly, without even realizing their deaths.
Gulp.
His grip tightened unconsciously. Even he couldn't replicate such skill.
"What are you hesitating for?"
"…!"
"Come."
Woo-ha pointed his sword at him. Cheol Pae shuddered, hastily barking an order.
"Listen, all of you!"
"…."
"If he moves even one step, cut down that old man instead! Understood?!"
"What…?"
Woo-ha tilted his head.
"So, not confident after all."
"Hah! Don't be foolish. Only an idiot wouldn't use such a fine hostage."
"…Do you think hostages will help you win?"
Woo-ha sneered, stepping forward. The circle widened, enclosing Go Seok-jeong.
"Throw down your weapon."
"…What?"
"Do so, and at least the hostages will live."
At that, Go Seok-jeong cried out immediately.
"Don't mind me!"
"…."
"I'd sooner bite my tongue and die than put my disciple at risk! Do not be swayed by their words!"
"Why, you stubborn old fool…"
Cheol Pae grimaced.
"Throw down your weapon?"
"…."
"Heh, heh, heh."
Woo-ha chuckled, lifting his chin arrogantly.
"Can you bear it?"
"…."
"You wretch."
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