Double Singular Hands

Hyeongjin had originally planned to secretly follow the procession all the way to Yeonhyang and create confusion at a decisive moment.

But after witnessing the ambush at Jukpyeong, something kept nagging at him.

‘Ma Jingun and Jeok-woo definitely targeted the rear wagons at first. But after clashing with one escort chief, they suddenly shifted their goal.’

If that escort chief hadn’t been killed by Jeok-woo, he would have been instantly named the spy.

‘Then why?’

He concluded it would be far more advantageous to involve himself directly and uncover the truth.

It strayed from Jo Yang’s plan, but he decided Jo Yang would forgive this degree of flexibility.

His timely appearance when the escort chiefs were rebelling had even won Bureau Master Ma’s favor—by sheer luck.

‘There is definitely a spy amongst them.’

Late that night, as escorts and porters hurried preparations, Hyeongjin stared sharply, lost in thought.

He hadn’t learned why the center wagons were targeted, but it was clear the attacker knew what they contained.

He was certain: besides Bureau Master Ma, Yong Jo, and the dead Escort Chief Bang, someone else knew.

“Hero Baek, we’re leaving soon—please mount your horse.”

Yong Jo approached with a friendly smile.

Though Hyeongjin had briefly suspected him, a few words were enough to know Yong Jo wasn’t capable of it.

Hyeongjin politely posed a few questions.

“How many escorts and porters are there?”

“Seventeen escort chiefs, fifty-four escorts, and twenty porters—excluding the seriously injured.”

Wondering why he was counting heads now, Yong Jo blinked at him.

Unlike Ma Cheong-ok, he didn’t much like Baek Hyeongjin.

Hyeongjin seemed polite, yet somehow gave the impression of looking down on him.

“Did you personally decide the placements, Escort Chief?”

“Yes, most of it was by my discretion.”

“Did anyone request a specific spot, or suddenly change theirs?”

Yong Jo’s face hardened as Hyeongjin kept probing.

Were he not Jo Yang’s direct disciple, Yong Jo would have already expressed his displeasure.

“Hero Baek, the Bureau has its hierarchy. No one could plot anything outside the head Escort Chief’s authority. So if you don’t suspect me, stop asking these harsh questions.”

Realizing his mistake, Hyeongjin waved his hands apologetically.

But offended, Yong Jo gave only a curt farewell and disappeared into the crowd.

‘What a petty man.’

Hyeongjin was equally annoyed.

As he lowered his gaze out of embarrassment,

suddenly one porter’s step caught his eye.

“Huh?”

That was unmistakably Cloud-Stepping Stride—the Emptiness Dhuta Sect’s internal light-footwork technique.

Cloud-Stepping Stride allowed swift movement across distances while minimizing body weight.

It was impossible for a half-trained fighter to imitate.

“You there!”

Hyeongjin called out repeatedly and chased, but the figure only melted deeper into the crowd.

By now it wasn’t suspicion but certainty.

That man had to be the hidden spy.

Hyeongjin used Cloud-Stepping Stride himself to pursue.

Since the man carried a heavy load, the distance quickly closed.

Just as he was about to seize the man’s collar,

“Well, Hero Baek, what brings you here?”

A youth stepped between them, making his grasp meaningless.

It was Go In-gyeong, head of the Eminent Mountain Sect.

Unable to brush aside a sect head, Hyeongjin awkwardly assumed a defensive stance.

“Ah, Sect Leader Go, long time no see.”

His eyes searched behind In-gyeong, but the suspicious porter was already gone.

“I heard Alliance Leader Jo couldn’t come—so he sent his first disciple in his stead.”

Usually In-gyeong barely greeted him, so Hyeongjin couldn’t understand his sudden talkativeness.

He wanted to shove him aside but forced an awkward smile under the watching eyes.

“Move out!”

With Yong Jo’s shout, the procession began to move.

Hyeongjin abandoned his chase and returned to Ma Cheong-ok’s side.

His unease remained, but there was no time to pursue further.

“Are you alright?”

In-gyeong approached Yun-seon, who was wiping away cold sweat.

He had deliberately slowed his horse to find him naturally.

Before he knew it, he was near the last wagon.

“Yes.”

On the surface, Yun-seon’s face was expressionless, but inwardly, he was rattled.

He felt both gratitude and displeasure toward In-gyeong.

Thinking back on the earlier moment still gave him chills.

Seeing Hyeongjin, he had instinctively used Cloud-Stepping Stride to maintain distance—unwittingly sparking suspicion.

If not for In-gyeong, his identity and entire plan would have been ruined.

“Why did you help me?”

Unable to say “thank you,” he showed discomfort instead.

He needed to know In-gyeong’s intent before planning his next move.

“I know you’re the one from the inn. I was only repaying a favor.”

In-gyeong whispered in a low voice.

They were far from the vanguard, so no one would overhear—but caution never hurt.

Yet unease was creeping into his heart.

“What are you? Are you also with the Taiyi Divine Sect?”

“……”

Yun-seon’s silence was as good as admission.

In-gyeong gripped his reins so tightly his tendons bulged.

He couldn’t reconcile Yun-seon being both benefactor and enemy.

“And if I said no, would you believe me?”

At that, Yun-seon finally raised his head to look at him.

There was no fear or hesitation in his eyes.

If In-gyeong made a wrong move, he was ready to kill him.

Three hundred Ryeo citizens’ lives mattered more than a small bond.

“What is your purpose? Who are you really…?”

“And you? What’s your purpose?”

Yun-seon cut him off, and In-gyeong froze.

Emotions surged to his throat, but only his lips quivered—no words emerged.

Yun-seon didn’t even expect an answer; he only stared with deep eyes.

“Will you reveal it—or stop me?”

His calm voice carried no trace of kindness.

He seemed nothing like the clumsy innkeeper In-gyeong once met.

“And if I try to stop you?”

His voice finally broke out, tinged with steel.

He had sifted through countless words—only for one sentence to scrape out.

“If we’re weighing debts and grudges, mine comes first. So if you get in the way—even you—I’ll cut you down without hesitation.”

In-gyeong gave no reply.

He just rode forward, devoid of resolve.

And then,

“It’s the Taiyi Divine Sect!”

“Aaagh!”

Horrific screams rang from the front.

Ma Jingun led about twenty cultists in a head-on charge.

As the vanguard panicked, Ma Jingun’s black silhouette flashed.

His spearhead was relentless.

Whoever stood before him, he pierced straight through.

Even Ma Cheong-ok and the escort chiefs trembled in fear.

“You bandits won’t leave here alive!”

Yong Jo threw himself forward to shield his master.

Ma Cheong-ok reluctantly drew his broadsword, long tied to his saddle.

It came out stiffly, rusted from long disuse.

“Stay back.”

At that instant, Baek Hyeongjin leapt forward.

He had seen Ma Jingun before but never fought him.

Having improved his skills, he welcomed this as a chance to test himself.

Kkang!

Yong Jo was pushed back tens of meters after a single exchange,

and Hyeongjin took his place against Jingun’s spear.

He fused twelve modified techniques from the The Living Sword style, striking for vital points.

Since the spear’s reach was wide, he had to force it into close quarters.

Using Cloud-Stepping Stride, he slid into an opening and spun his sword toward the Chest Center acupoint.

Thud!

But the next moment, warmth surged into his lower abdomen.

It was Jingun’s palm wind.

He had spun his spear like a fan to block the strike, then unleashed a Taiyi Palm with his left.

Though he hadn’t mastered the Taiyi Divine Art, he had perfected Taiyi Palm through another discipline.

But splitting focus, it carried only thirty percent of his usual strength.

“Urgh!”

Hyeongjin spat blood and reset his stance.

This time, he meant to pour Silent Poetry energy into his sword.

The Living Sword’s true power bloomed only when fused with the Silent Poetry technique.

“Silent Poetry Fifteen Verses!”

He arched back, spinning his sword overhead in a circle.

Charged with internal power, it shone blue and whipped up a small storm.

Ma Jingun blocked calmly, though inwardly impressed.

Thud!

But then his spear pierced through the unformed sword aura.

His shapeless spear style targeted only vital points, brimming with killing intent.

No form, no order.

A crude, heavy thrust aimed straight for Hyeongjin’s chest.

Startled, Hyeongjin retreated three steps, spinning his sword.

It was the Vitality Preservation stance.

But the spear slipped through, slicing part of his coat.

“Hero Baek!”

Yong Jo rushed in panic, but Jingun was already gone.

As if possessed, he vaulted onto a wagon, then leapt back.

‘Again!’

Hyeongjin chased, dread rising.

If the middle wagons were his target again, something deeper was afoot.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

But his guess was wrong.

The target wasn’t the middle.

Each wagon he stepped on collapsed under its weight, crashing down.

And the last, the eighth,

splintered loudly, one wall collapsing.

“Huh?”

“What is this…?”

Those who backed away in shock widened their eyes.

Fear? Despair? Surprise? No.

It was revulsion.

“Ugh!”

Everyone clutched their noses at once.

From the wreck spilled a stench—and hundreds of cockroaches.

Even Jingun hadn’t expected this.

His usually cold eyes flashed red.

“What the hell is that…?”

Amidst the chaos, In-gyeong stood frozen.

Arms and legs jutted from the wreckage.

They were human, yet beastlike.

Dozens of women and children lay bound, entangled in filth.

“Urgh!”

Realizing they were still alive, In-gyeong vomited his dinner in horror.

Realizing he bore responsibility, he felt only revulsion.

“This… is my purpose.”

Yun-seon, now beside him, patted his back as he retched.

At his waist, a pouch jingled with dozens of copper nails.

양단수 (兩單手), Double Singular Hands:

In a game of Go, it refers to a technique that makes two of the opponent’s stones singular at the same time with one move. The opponent can only save one of the two stones, and if he saves one, he must give up the other.