Tap the text to show or hide reading controls.
Yeon Mujin, wearing a drunken-dog mask, mocked them every time he opened his mouth; he was the very embodiment of ridicule.
The taunting didn’t stop. He crouched beside a fallen comrade and began rifling through the man’s chest.
“What is this? Some new kind of thief? But do thieves act so brazenly?”
That wasn’t it. Yeon Mujin wasn’t after pockets; he wanted the claws bound to the warrior’s forearms—the weapon.
He took the claws, strapped them on, and assumed a stance. The silver-clawed man stared at him in disbelief.
“…What do you think you’re doing now?”
“What, wasn’t this supposed to be a fight?”
“You’re going to face us with claw technique now?”
“Judging by my skill, I look capable enough, huh?”
Those words trampled the pride of the Lonely Claw Unit, who’d devoted themselves to claw techniques.
The silver-clawed man sighed deeply.
When anger passes a certain point, it stops being anger and becomes hollow resignation.
“Do you even know how to wield claws, or are you just talking?”
“I learned a bit of it long ago.”
“You—”
The silver-clawed man barked an order to his companions in unison: tear that bastard apart and kill him.
“Don’t curse me after you die.”
Clang! Clang!
Yeon Mujin struck his claws together with both hands in reply.
“Curse yourself instead.”
Seven enemies, one weapon.
Clang! Clang!
No, two. He’s wearing them on both hands.
You ask if I know how to use claws?
Who do you take me for? Of course I know.
Know? I even briefly belonged to the Lonely Claw Troops in one of my previous lives.
When it comes to claw technique, I’d be more of a warrior than you lot.
Swish!
“Oh dear.”
A henchman’s claw shot toward my face.
For the record, these look blackened and crude like third-rate scrap iron, but they’re expensive items. They say they’re forged from black iron mixed with powdered blue-azure stone. Despite the rough exterior, their price rivals precious metals.
Each probably costs dozens of silver coins. In any case, it’s a clan that truly loves wasting money.
I slipped my gauntlet’s claw between the incoming blades, like interlacing fingers with both hands facing each other.
Kakang!
Two pairs of blades snarled at each other.
If I just twist my wrist a bit—
Crack!
“Gah!”
The arm of the man who’d aimed at me made an ugly noise as it bent back.
Although we matched blows, my body was far more supple and sturdy, thanks to steady training in Travelling Swallow Qi cultivation.
With two rendered combat-ineffective, the remaining henchmen coordinated and came at me.
I met each of them eye to eye.
Hyun-muk, Da-myeong, Jeo-geum, Jang-nok…
In truth, I already knew these bastards. They’d once been comrades, eating from the same pot—cute in their own way.
Shik! Shiiiik!
Cute actions aside, I slid my claw inside the arc of a swinging blade. If they swung like that, riding along their edges my claws would shred their fists and palms. It’s a basic counter you only see in claw-vs-claw combat.
Sure enough, perhaps they hadn’t wasted their claw training; the ones swinging blades flinched. You claw-fed bastards.
I used the back of the claw I’d placed there to swing and smash both their lower jaws.
Were the ones I hit named Hyun-yeong and Dam-muk? Or not? Honestly, I don’t remember the names well. How could I remember so many lousy henchmen?
Pop!
A few teeth flew out with a sound. Damn, that must hurt.
With no time to rest, two more charged.
I pulled my splayed arms inward and raked them with the blades.
See, I said these blades were expensive and sharp. That’s why they can do this.
Squeeeak!
Ching-ching!
The blades I swung shattered two men’s claws and left three shallow gashes.
They weren’t deep cuts. It’s not even my weapon—I’d feel bad soaking it in too much blood.
“…Ugh!”
“Gah!”
One went down spewing blood from his chest; another was left with a facial wound. They had a noticeable height difference.
Having subdued them so easily, the two remaining henchmen’s eyes widened.
See? I told you. Back in the Lonely Claw Troops I was a promising claw expert.
I looked at the two and muttered in an imposing voice.
“Jeo-geum, Jang-nok. Did you see the difference in skill?”
The two flustered fools exchanged glances and then asked.
“…Who is that guy?”
“Wasn’t it? Damn, I’m confused.”
Embarrassed, I was about to finish them off when—
“Wait!”
The silver-clawed man shouted, looking at me with a slightly surprised expression.
“Bi-gang, Sa-un. Stand down. You’re not the ones to face him.”
“Right. That was the name. It was almost the same!”
At his command, the two stepped back.
He looked at me. I looked back.
“Where did you learn those claw techniques?”
“Did you cause a ruckus even at the Wang Merchants?”
“Take off the mask. Do you know any of us?”
“What business have you here? Were you so keen on Chun-sik?”
“So the official troops were a lie, huh? Trying to trick us.”
I fixed my gaze on the silver-clawed man.
“You don’t listen well. Answer the questions I’m asking.”
He scoffed incredulously.
“Crazy bastard. Who says I should answer?”
He clicked his teeth and stepped forward.
“I’ll offer your neck to the leader as a gift.”
“Look at you. What, are you some cult doing human sacrifices?”
But thinking carefully—
“I guess it’s similar. You and your leader all poke through corpses, don’t you?”
The silver-clawed man’s face went pale and his gaze sharpened.
Ah, right. That was supposed to be a secret, wasn’t it?
I quickly shot a glance behind him and said,
“This was told to me by Clan leader Jang as well.”
“…Jang Chun-sik, you’ll have to be beaten to death for this.”
“It’s a misunderstanding, misunderstanding!”
“Clan leader Jang, it’s too late. Misunderstanding or not, once it’s heard, your life is forfeit.”
For once the silver-clawed man nodded in agreement.
“That’s true.”
Tears welled in Chun-sik’s eyes.
“First, I’ll kill you!”
He planted his feet and charged.
His speed was a different league from the henchmen I’d faced moments ago.
Kkagakang!
I swung my blades without yielding to block him.
At that speed, the earlier counter would have been a stretch.
A duel of single weapons depends on animal reflexes and instincts. With a dozen blades crossing, a single strike from a blind spot can cost you your life. The higher one rises in claw mastery, the better they use those hidden talons.
Spurt!
A blade rose beneath my jaw. For a moment my chin nearly got pierced.
That I’m matching him with claw technique instead of a long weapon is thanks to Travelling Swallow Qi pushed to the extreme and the reflexes it granted me. That silver-clawed bastard is rather old, after all.
…But was that guy’s name Cheol-ack? Or not?
Spurt!
The Cheol-ack bastard squeezed his eyes shut and stepped back. A shallow trail of blood lined his eyelid. This time I landed a blow.
“Oh ho, you dodged that?”
The provoked man seemed excited.
He looked younger than me, but seeing blood offended his pride. What an act.
A fight should be cold-blooded. Lose your cool and your vision narrows. I know that from experience—I’m hot-headed.
Shk! Shk! Shiiiik!
His silver claws sliced the air keenly.
Claw experts of the Lonely Claw Troops grow quieter as their level rises; that’s why they use the character for silence. This guy was an amateur. His excitement shattered the calm.
Look, even now he’s wildly swinging and lunging—wait, fuck, this is dangerous.
Copper claws, silver claws, golden claws aren’t just colors; as rank rises, the claws’ sharpness and hardness increase. Wearing basic claws, I’m at a disadvantage in a head-on clash.
That bastard trusts that and pushes his blades in. Simple and effective. The problem is I’m the one who has to stop it.
When I raised my right hand to block, I seized the moment, twisted the claw to prevent escape, and swung it straight. I calculated that if it collided, I’d win.
But—
Didn’t I say? Your vision narrows.
At a distance where a blade could rip your face open, there’s one more thing reachable even if both arms are trapped.
I kicked up a half-beat faster than him.
Bwoak!
“…!”
My shin landed between Cheol-ack’s crotch.
Who won the fight between the shin and Cheol-ack?
It was me.
Cheng! Cheng! Cheng!
The fight between Yeon Mujin and the silver-clawed man was brutal.
Jang Chun-sik watched, biting his nails.
Blades brushed ears—this was a duel between masters targeting vital points. Just watching made the hairs on one’s head stand on end.
“Ah!”
“Hm!”
“Gasp!”
“Phew…”
Jang Chun-sik and the clan members all uttered exclamations as if on cue. Just now the silver-clawed man’s blade had narrowly grazed under Yeon Mujin’s chin. It truly looked like his head would be pierced, but to evade it so—one couldn’t help but exclaim.
‘…But who am I supposed to root for?’
Chun-sik was so intoxicated by the tension that he forgot his duties.
Shouldn’t he be running away now? Isn’t this his last chance?
Pop!
That opportunity vanished too.
Yeon Mujin had kicked the silver-clawed man’s groin without mercy.
Watching, men screamed in unison and clutched their own crotches—a fear that makes any man instinctively recoil.
Sure enough, the silver-clawed man sank down, foaming at the mouth.
“Almost died there.”
Yeon Mujin said it so nonchalantly. Is he even human?
“You… cowardly…!”
“You should’ve guessed he was crazy when he showed up wearing that weird mask, Cheol-ack.”
“How do you… know my name…?”
Yeon Mujin kicked the silver-clawed man again, rolling him over, then addressed the remaining two henchmen.
“Bi-eun, Sa-gang. Take the fallen ones and get out now. If you don’t, I’ll smash your peanuts too. You male prostitutes.”
The two henchmen were flustered.
He’s letting them go just like that? Without killing them?
Some of those who could still move got to their feet.
The Lonely Claw Troops gathered their injured and vanished in an instant.
Supported as he left, the silver-clawed man spat one final spiteful remark.
“You’ll regret letting me live, mark my words.”
Yeon Mujin’s reply was even more ridiculous.
“You think that’s the first time I’ve heard that line?”
…
The silver-clawed man, staring at Yeon Mujin as if his mask would be pierced by the gaze, disappeared with his subordinates.
Yeon Mujin took off the claws and threw them into a corner.
Jang Chun-sik immediately approached and shouted.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing!”
“What, you bastard.”
“Do you even know what you just did?”
“I saved your life.”
“No, it’s not that…! Even without your help, I would have survived!”
…
Yeon Mujin stared at Chun-sik without a word.
“Kill all your underlings and live yourself? Is that how you wanted to live?”
Chun-sik covertly averted his gaze.
His conscience pricked, but facts must be faced.
“No, half could have lived… But now it’s all ruined! Not even half will survive! Did you know what kind of people they were when you did this? They were the very…”
“They’re Lonely Claw Troops scum. The hunting dogs of Bukgung Bi-beom.”
“A-are you insane, seriously!”
Chun-sik looked around as if someone might have heard, then lowered his voice as much as he could.
“Don’t recklessly speak the name of the Bukgung Family’s kids!”
“I can.”
…
“I’m also with the Bukgung Family.”
…
Chun-sik stared at Yeon Mujin with a face that said he was terrified.
Doesn’t that make it even worse?
“We’re all dead now. The Lonely Claw Troops will definitely pursue us again. Because of you!”
“Why is that my fault? It’s because you clung to the Bukgung Family like a leech. Own up to your actions and accept it.”
“Fuck, you told me to fetch evidence and that’s how I got caught!”
In the end, Chun-sik exploded.
Is this something a person should say?
Chun-sik loved peace. Self-preservation first, complacency and idleness—weren’t those his favorite sayings? And the one who shattered that peace, what the hell was he whining to me about?
It was then.
Smack!
Chun-sik saw a sparkling star inside the room.
Immediately a burning pain hit the bridge of his nose. Drip—something sticky ran down along his philtrum.
Yeon Mujin planted a solid punch on Chun-sik’s face and said,
“So what are you going to do about it?”
He’s the definition of a real motherfucker.
Reading Settings
