Deception

“Argh!”

Crimson blood gushed from Jong-yeon’s torn arm. Right Shadow, his face drenched in it, looked like a demon as he cackled.

“What will a swordsman do when he’s lost an arm?”

Watching from behind, Left Shadow doubled over, laughing too.

“He’s become a one-armed swordsman.”

“What now that you’ve lost your right arm?”

“If the right arm is gone, just use the left?”

Right Shadow clicked his tongue as though in pity.

“What about balance?”

“Then we’ll cut off the other one too.”

They were engrossed in mocking each other, savoring their victory. Jong-yeon had lost his arm; even just to stop the bleeding, he wouldn’t move for a while. Though only a fledgling in the martial world, he was still the Sword God Kang Yul-cheon’s disciple, so defeating him brought them immense satisfaction.

Just as Right Shadow turned boastfully toward the Black Butterfly members, Jong-yeon, in a lightning-fast move, seized Water Moon from his right hand still tangled in the whisk—this time with his left hand. Twisting his body halfway around, he thrust straight for Right Shadow’s waist.

It was the second form of the Water Moon Sword Technique. The blade swung in a steep downward arc to the right, spinning clockwise with fierce force. It was a decisive strike aimed at the opponent’s waist.

“Brother!”

Only then did Left Shadow notice Jong-yeon’s movement and shout for his younger twin. Hearing his elder’s warning, Right Shadow instinctively jerked backward. He couldn’t see Water Moon, but he felt the deadly killing intent rushing at his waist. Spinning his body to widen the gap, he tried to escape—but the blade had already reached his side.

Realizing his brother couldn’t possibly evade, Left Shadow improvised—he pulled the ring from his left ring finger and hurled it at his brother’s side.

Kang!

A piercing metallic clang rang out through the hall.

“Argh!”

Water Moon carved a gash more than an inch deep into Right Shadow’s side before returning. Dark blood dripped along its smooth blade onto the floor. Without Left Shadow’s ring, it would have been a fatal blow.

From the start, when his right arm was trapped by the whisk, Jong-yeon had resolved to sacrifice it—believing he could strike a fatal blow in the opening. But he hadn’t anticipated Left Shadow’s hidden weapon.

“I’ll kill you!”

Seeing his younger twin gravely wounded, Left Shadow’s smile vanished. His face twisted hideously as he lunged at Jong-yeon—so fast that his clawed hand reached Jong-yeon’s chin before his knees even hit the ground.

Whiik!

Just as Left Shadow’s nails were about to pierce Jong-yeon’s throat, a sharp sound cut through the air. It was a black stone—hurled by Kang Yul-cheon, who seemed incapable of lifting even a finger, yet had thrown it to save his disciple. It struck Left Shadow’s left hand dead-on.

“Argh!”

“Brother!”

As Left Shadow toppled backward, Jong-yeon slipped out of his range. It was only a brief reprieve, but enough to press an acupoint and staunch his bleeding arm. As the blood slowed, his clouded mind gradually cleared.

“That old fox tricked us!”

Abandoning the effort to pull out the stone embedded in his hand, Left Shadow now lunged at Kang Yul-cheon. Having imbued the stone with qi, Yulcheon’s meridians twisted again; he sat with his eyes closed, steadying his breath, seemingly unconcerned by Left Shadow’s approach.

Left Shadow’s whisk flew toward Yul-cheon’s face. White powder rained down across the Go board.

“Today I’ll kill you and wash away this humiliation!”

But the face that should’ve been struck seemed to shift a mere inch away.

“Huh?”

Enraged, Left Shadow swung his left arm again. Just as the white hairs of the whisk nearly brushed his face, Yul-cheon slowly opened his eyes.

“You wretch!”

With a thunderous shout, Yul-cheon slapped Left Shadow hard across the left cheek. It was only a slap, but charged with inner power, its force was immense. Unprepared—thinking his opponent still wounded—Left Shadow’s face snapped entirely to the side.

“Hyung-nim!”

Right Shadow realized Yul-cheon had recovered a fair amount of strength. He knew that even at half his power, his elder brother was no match. Yet he couldn’t help—he could barely rise. The bleeding from his side had stopped, but the wound from Water Moon’s sharp blade still burned with excruciating pain.

‘But I must save my hyung.’

Right Shadow groped for the fallen whisk.

“No chance.”

Jong-yeon executed the third form of the Water Moon Sword Technique, charging Right Shadow. Though weakened without his right arm, the quick blade could still inflict another wound.

“How dare you!”

Right Shadow was desperate to save his brother, but he couldn’t ignore Jong-yeon’s deadly charge. In an instant, they exchanged over a dozen strikes.

Left Shadow, his face slashed by Yul-cheon’s blow, trembled with humiliation. Spitting a mouthful of blood, a broken molar clattered onto the floor.

“I’ll kill you!”

Injured in his left hand, he channeled strength into his right and struck at Yul-cheon with a palm strike. His main weapon was the whisk, but his inner force was also profound—its power was terrifying.

Yul-cheon did not move from his seat. Instead, he tapped the table with his palm. The jade Go board lifted into the air—only to be shattered to pieces as Left Shadow’s palm strike struck it dead-on.

“The old fox is using petty tricks.”

Though he hadn’t injured him, Left Shadow felt reassured to see Yul-cheon couldn’t move from his seat. He decided it wouldn’t be too late to finish him off later.

Left Shadow switched the whisk to his right hand and flung three butterfly-shaped daggers directly at Yul-cheon’s face.

Whiik!

At the sharp whistle, Yul-cheon tilted his head back, narrowly dodging. The three daggers thudded into the screen behind him.

‘Damn it!’

Only after dodging did Yul-cheon realize it had been a feint. But Left Shadow was already at Jong-yeon’s side to aid his younger twin.

“How dare you try to harm my brother.”

A cloud of white powder billowed, completely blinding Jong-yeon. Having spent all his strength, he inhaled it helplessly. His head spun, and his legs weakened.

“Now you’re finished!”

“Now you’re finished!”

The two Black Butterflies giggled as they each seized one of Jong-yeon’s legs. With just a little force, they would be torn apart. Jong-yeon swung Water Moon desperately, but he couldn’t keep up with their speed.

It was then.

“What you’re looking for is here.”

Thud!

With a youthful voice, a book dropped at their feet.

“Found it!”

“Found it!”

Without hesitation, both lunged for it. Seizing the chance, Jong-yeon rolled free from their grasp.

Seeing Jong-yeon’s life on the line, Yun-seon could no longer stand by. In desperation, he had thrown the book and descended from the roof.

While the twins’ eyes were on the book, Yun-seon ran to Yul-cheon.

“Master!”

“Why…”

Yul-cheon was dismayed at the sight. Because of this affectionate child’s recklessness, his plan was ruined.

“Master, are you alright?”

Oblivious to his master’s thoughts, Yun-seon clung to him in tears.

“Huh?”

“Huh?”

The two, absorbed in the book, suddenly cried out and looked at each other.

“They tricked us!”

“They tricked us!”

Finally realizing, the twins glared at Yun-seon with terrifying faces. The book he’d thrown wasn’t the martial manual they sought, but a mere ledger.

“Yun-seon!”

Yun-seon turned at his senior brother’s desperate shout, but it was too late—Left Shadow seized his nape and flung him toward Jong-yeon. With no martial skills, he crashed hard into the floor.

“Argh!”

He landed on the hard stone floor, right arm first. Agonizing pain shot through his elbow—it seemed to have broken.

“Yun-seon!”

Though he had no strength left, Jong-yeon dragged himself across the ground to check on his junior brother. The sight was so pitiful it was hard to watch.

“Sahyung, I’m fine.”

Though wracked with pain, Yun-seon forced a smile. Compared to Jong-yeon’s bloodied state, his own injury felt like nothing.

“Did you memorize it all?”

Jong-yeon whispered, low enough the twins wouldn’t hear.

“Yes.”

Yun-seon nodded.

“Good. Well done.”

Proud that Yun-seon had carried out his instructions flawlessly, Jong-yeon burst into tears.

“Where is the Commentary on the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra?”

“Where is it?”

The twins glared at Yun-seon, trembling with rage. Once they had the manual, they intended to kill all three. To them, these pitiful weaklings seemed to be mocking them, and it infuriated them.

“Here it is.”

With a calm face, Jong-yeon reached into Yun-seon’s chest fold and pulled out a small book.

<Commentary on the Saṃdhinirmocana Sūtra>

Even from afar, the title was clearly legible.

‘What is this situation?’

Yul-cheon was speechless at his disciples’ actions. Yun-seon, perhaps—but why would Jong-yeon do this?

Jong-yeon knew better than anyone how vital the book was. Yul-cheon’s heart sank—his disciple was sacrificing everything to save him. His own old life was worth far less than that scripture.

Seeing Yul-cheon’s despairing face, Left Shadow was sure the book in Jong-yeon’s hand was real. He gave Right Shadow two subtle nods. Right Shadow caught his brother’s meaning instantly and smirked. Snatching the book would be easy—Right Shadow would grab it, and Left Shadow would kill the two boys.

“Come and take it, if you can!”

At Jong-yeon’s shout, the two figures darted forward. The distance was less than twenty paces. They were close enough to reach out and snatch it when—

Whoosh.

A small flame bloomed in Jong-yeon’s hand.

“No!”

“No!”

Their screams filled the Kang Family Manor courtyard.

광사 (誑詐), Deception: To trick with lies.