Are You Awake?

Peok!

Blood sprayed into the air. Gyo-ha fell backward.

Those watching around them sucked in a breath.

It felt like he was facing an enemy, not a disciple.

Regardless, Yun Heo looked at Gyo-ha with a calm gaze.

No, Yun Heo’s lips even quirked up slightly.

“At least something’s improved. Your toughness and evasion are better.”

As soon as Yun Heo finished, Gyo-ha staggered to his feet.

He spat, and a tooth rolled across the ground.

“S-shouldn’t we stop this?”

Noh-sam asked Moon Ryang.

Moon Ryang only let out a low hum, giving no reply.

“Try it, if you can.”

It was Jong Dae-woon. He sat on the ground, sipping from a gourd.

A gentle fragrance of liquor spread.

“What? Oh, this? I found it in a storeroom over there and brought one over.”

At his offhand tone, the party let out small snorts.

“Don’t worry too much. Look. He’s enjoying it too.”

Jong Dae-woon jerked his chin at Gyo-ha.

As he said, Gyo-ha rolled across the ground again and grinned fiercely.

How many times had it been now?

His face was a mess of blood and wounds.

But his eyes blazed with life. Who would call that figure human?

“The ones to worry about now are over there.”

Following Jong Dae-woon’s gaze, they saw the Justice Gate and the guests.

They too were watching the two bouts with shaken eyes.

“You don’t think they’ll get back at us later?”

Noh-sam asked cautiously, looking toward Su-jong Jinin and Red-Eyed Beggar.

Jong Dae-woon shook his head.

“They won’t. They may look like that, but they’re pillars of the Orthodox side. They’ll protect their face at least. I mean the Justice Gate and the Yeo-un Merchant Guild.”

As soon as he finished, Jeong-hye Jinin looked around and cleared his throat.

“This humble Taoist will withdraw now.”

Only then did the others come to their senses.

Watching another sect’s bout was discourteous.

What was happening now was more than a spar, it was closer to disciplining, but it was all the same.

Su-jong Jinin and Red-Eyed Beggar, who had been staring blankly, nodded with reluctant regret.

Standing at the edge of first-rate, they could learn much from Yun Heo’s movements.

When the Jinins withdrew, the others followed them back to the guest rooms.

Only the Justice Gate disciples remained.

They could only pull long faces, speechless, as they looked at the ruined garden.

Now that matters had settled, they couldn’t stir up trouble again.

And they couldn’t protest to someone even the Jinins avoided.

Naturally, resentment turned toward the Yeo-un Merchant Guild who had started this.

“…Young Master Bang. We will require a proper explanation for this matter.”

It was the Justice Gate’s Young Gate Master. Bang Geum-hyeok only hiccupped, unable to answer.

Koong!

At that moment, part of the wall collapsed.

Gyo-ha had slammed into it.

The Young Gate Master squeezed his eyes shut, then turned away. He couldn’t watch anymore. As he turned, the Justice Gate disciples followed.

Only a lone elder glared at Bang Geum-hyeok before leaving.

The Justice Gate also needed someone to take responsibility.

With this, the Yeo-un Guild’s fate was sealed.

They weren’t merely abandoned by the Justice Gate, they were now at odds. On top of that, their past abuses meant other merchants would shun them as well.

Bang Geum-hyeok’s face was so pale it could be seen in the night.

He cast a lingering glance at Yu So-ha, then left the Justice Gate with his warriors.

Thus only the party and the Yu Family Merchant Guild remained in the empty manor.

“…Should we head back for now too?”

They worried for Gyo-ha, but staying longer felt strange.

As Noh-sam and the others nodded, a voice came.

“Are you this brat’s friends?”

At some point, Yun Heo had turned to look at them.

Gyo-ha writhed on the ground, unable to rise.

“I’ve measured my disciple’s progress, so now I should check his companions. Come at me.”

“Eh?”

Yu So-ha blinked before she knew it.

Only Yu So-ha and the Yu Family’s people reacted like that.

Moon Ryang and Jong Dae-woon reacted at once.

They sprang backward.

Their blades were half-drawn.

They glanced at each other, faces hardening.

It was something only the two of them felt.

“So you’ve got some instincts.”

Yun Heo darted toward Moon Ryang.

Moon Ryang drew, but his blade cut empty air as Yun Heo’s palm touched his chest.

“Gah!”

Moon Ryang flew back. Yun Heo’s voice sounded at his ear.

“That blade, are you not going to draw it properly?”

He lifted his head to find Yun Heo looking at him indifferently.

Moon Ryang glanced at his blade and spoke.

“…It’s dangerous.”

“For you?”

At Yun Heo’s retort, Moon Ryang had no words. He was right.

Even at full strength, he couldn’t win.

“Or are you afraid?”

At his question, Moon Ryang bit his lip.

Then he sheathed his blade.

Moon Ryang set his stance.

“Blade-Draw Technique¹, is it? I’ve heard the pirates from Wa² use such techniques.”

At the same time, a baleful aura rose from Moon Ryang’s body.

His body launched forward.

And the moment the blade flashed free, a ghostly wail rose.

Nine Hells Ghost Reaping Blade.

First form.

Ghost’s Malicious Play.

A movement unlike before. Yun Heo’s smile deepened.

“Now you’re starting to look usable. But you’re still rough.”

Yun Heo’s foot swept the ground smoothly.

His robe fluttered with the motion.

Cloud-Dragon Grapple.

Yun Heo’s arms coiled around Moon Ryang’s body as he swung.

“…! …!”

Moon Ryang’s body twisted.

“Have you no awareness at all?”

Clicking his tongue, Yun Heo struck Moon Ryang’s chin with his palm.

Moon Ryang staggered and fell.

Having subdued him in a single exchange, Yun Heo turned his head.

“And you? Not coming?”

“…Ha, haha.”

Jong Dae-woon let out a dry laugh.

“In that case, I’ll go to you.”

Yun Heo lunged toward Jong Dae-woon.

Jong Dae-woon cursed and raised his iron fan.

Yun Heo’s brow arched at the sight.

“Why is a swordsman holding a fan?”

“…!”

Jong Dae-woon’s eyes widened.

But Yun Heo’s fist was already before his eyes.

Peok!

Jong Dae-woon’s body toppled backward.

Yun Heo dusted off his robe.

“One loses his wits the moment he draws, the other’s a swordsman waving a fan. You’ve made friends just like you.”

He turned to see Gyo-ha pushing himself up.

Gyo-ha grinned fiercely.

His eyes hadn’t given up yet.

Not only Gyo-ha.

“…”

Moon Ryang was already getting up again.

“At least you’re all sturdy.”

As Yun Heo glanced aside, the fallen Jong Dae-woon flinched.

He sighed and got up.

“Now then, come.”

Gyo-ha and Moon Ryang shot forward together.

Jong Dae-woon also rushed in, cursing.

And so they fought on until dawn.

“Ah.”

He opened his eyes; pain ached through his body.

Remembering yesterday, Gyo-ha let out a small sigh.

Then he noticed a shadow beside him.

“Master.”

He turned his head to find Yun Heo looking down at him, displeased.

“So your stupid look finally came back.”

Gyo-ha gave an awkward smile; he knew what he meant.

He meant the killing intent mixed into Gyo-ha’s fists.

“Killing intent isn’t bad. But if hesitation remains, it only gets in the way.”

Had he hesitated?

Gyo-ha stared blankly at his fist.

“Master, how do I fight while protecting people?”

“Just be strong.”

Was that all?

When Gyo-ha looked puzzled, Yun Heo nodded.

“If you’re strong enough to dominate the field, no one else will get any ideas.”

“…And if I’m not that strong?”

“Then you move tirelessly. To save even one more. The fewer enemies you have, the higher the chances they live.”

It was harsh, but Yun Heo spoke evenly.

“Killing intent can also be the answer. Kill one, warn a hundred.”

It was a four-character maxim that meant to punish one to warn a hundred.

“But if you hesitate, that hesitation will grab your ankle someday. That’s how a heart-demon comes.”

Heart-Demon.

At the unclear words, Gyo-ha knit his brows.

But soon he shook his head.

“No. I understand now.”

Gyo-ha’s hesitation wasn’t over whether he could kill.

It was because he didn’t know if this was the best way.

Of course, that too was hesitation.

But now he knew he wasn’t wrong.

He’d only realized his insufficiency.

Kkadedeuk.

A metallic creak came from his fist.

“Master. Let’s have a bout.”

Yun Heo snorted a laugh.

“Try saying that after you stand.”

At that, Gyo-ha tried to spring up, but only his legs twitched.

‘…Still, I’m your disciple…’

Did he beat him to this state?

Gyo-ha looked at Yun Heo in disbelief, but Yun Heo stood as if he’d said his piece.

“Still, your last attack wasn’t bad.”

“Huh?”

When Gyo-ha turned, Yun Heo was already gone.

Left alone, Gyo-ha mulled over his words.

What was that last attack?

“Ah.”

He sighed belatedly.

And realized why his body was like this.

That final strike.

It had been an imitation.

The very technique of the woman he’d met in the cave.

He’d seen it only once, but it was seared into his mind.

He didn’t fully grasp the principle, but the feel remained.

He moved his body following that feeling.

‘…And my bones popped out of place and I blacked out.’

Gyo-ha nodded.

It hadn’t even been an all-out blow. He’d merely copied the woman’s one move and ended up like this.

‘That big sister is incredible.’

He thought he’d failed, but from his master’s words, maybe not entirely.

‘How did she do it again?’

Gyo-ha wriggled his unresponsive foot.

“It was definitely like this…”

Ttuk.

“Ughack.”

With a strange cry, Gyo-ha fainted.

When he opened his eyes again, red light filtered through the windows.

After squirming in bed for a long while, he finally sat up.

He stepped outside to a familiar scene.

They were back at the Yu Family Manor.

“Oh, you’re up?”

Hurrying about, Yu So-ha spotted Gyo-ha and greeted him warmly.

“I heard you woke up this morning, but it seemed that you fell asleep again, so I didn’t wake you.”

“Uh, yeah.”

Gyo-ha nodded.

He had actually fainted again, but there was no need to say so.

“What about the others?”

“Oh, Taoist Yun went out on some business.”

She meant his master, Yun Heo.

“And the other two haven’t woken up yet.”

Yu So-ha smiled awkwardly. Gyo-ha’s face hardened.

“Don’t tell me Master…?”

“No. Well, that too, but…”

Yu So-ha waved her hands quickly.

“Seems they both had a lot of fatigue built up.”

Gyo-ha tilted his head. He could understand Moon Ryang, but hadn’t Jong Dae-woon barely fought?

But really, it was strange that Gyo-ha could get up after a fight like that in just a day.

“Young Master!”

Just then, a familiar voice sounded.

He turned to see Noh-sam running over.

“You’ve no idea how worried I was, Young Master.”

Noh-sam collapsed, on the verge of tears. A grown man sniffling wasn’t the best look.

Geum Ho-pyeong came over and patted his shoulder.

It seemed they’d grown close while he wasn’t looking.

After calming Noh-sam, he heard the aftermath.

“The Justice Gate Master woke this morning, saw the ruined garden, and fell ill.”

“Because of that, the sixtieth-birthday banquet was canceled.”

Gyo-ha nodded, more surprised that he’d slept through the commotion than at the facts.

And it was said that the succession ceremony for the new Gate Master would also be conducted quietly.

The Justice Gate had billed the damages from this uproar to the Yeo-un Guild.

The first son, Bang Sa-hyeok, was demoted to a common disciple. It was fortunate of him to not have been expelled.

But with this, the Yeo-un Guild’s future was as good as over.