The Five Eagle Siblings (3)

Sect Leader Heo Gyeong, the Light-Splitting Swordsman of Mountain Sword Sect, clenched his teeth as he stared at the countless warriors arrayed opposite him.

Beyond the plain, Iron Palm Hero Hwang Jang-gon—a famed pinnacle expert of the Righteous Chivalry Guild—stood in formation with no fewer than five hundred guild warriors.

He glanced back over his shoulder.

Even counting the hired wanderers, fewer than two hundred fighters stood behind him.

Worse, most were second-rate compared to the Guild’s force.

His chest ached.

This was because, in the last battle, all their elites had been annihilated, and the Guild’s sudden advance left no time to receive aid from their new allies, the Yun Clan.

Then Hwang Jang-gon’s voice rang out.

It boomed with inner power, shaking the air.

— I had expected to meet you at the previous parley, Sect Leader Heo, yet here we are only now at last!

He was mocking Mountain Sword Sect for proposing talks first and then launching a cowardly ambush.

Unable to find a retort, Heo Gyeong ground his teeth again.

But Hwang Jang-gon wasn’t done.

— Ah, yes. I wonder if you’ve had any news of your Branch Lord you sent in your stead? He asked me to pass along his regards to you for his long journey! Hahaha!

What they lost in that ambush wasn’t only two hundred elite fighters.

Heo Jung—the “Branch Swordsman,” one of Mountain Sword Sect’s only two pinnacle experts alongside Heo Gyeong—had died attempting to ambush the Guild.

He had been Heo Gyeong’s only brother.

At Hwang Jang-gon’s slick taunts, the Guild’s warriors laughed at their leisure.

The more he spoke, the higher the Guild’s morale rose—and the lower Mountain Sword Sect’s sank.

Shaking with rage, Heo Gyeong finally shouted back.

— Shameless curs! You so-called orthodox men invaded another’s home first, then dare to act righteous! After such brigandry, you parade your faces without shame—doesn’t calling yourselves the Righteous Chivalry Guild embarrass you?!

It wasn’t a bad rebuttal.

The Guild had indeed attacked first, hardly befitting the “orthodox.”

But Hwang Jang-gon chuckled and flowed smoothly back.

— Hahaha! What’s there to be ashamed of? What is the duty of the orthodox? To “eradicate devils and destroy evil,” of course! Attacking the unorthodox Mountain Sword Sect is precisely our duty! Hahaha!

Such an oiled tongue.

At his greased words, Heo Gyeong again had nothing to say.

With the situation already poor, even his tongue lost ground; words alone could not match him.

He could only grind his teeth anew.

“Eek!”

And Hwang Jang-gon continued.

Dropping his laughter, he spoke again.

— Besides, as I understand, the unorthodox live by “the strong devour the weak.” Yet Sect Leader Heo speaks of righteousness and chivalry—how amusing! Have you perhaps been reborn as an orthodox man? Hahaha!

The Guild’s warriors burst out laughing again, while Heo Gyeong flushed red and blue, unable to answer.

Watching nearby from concealment, Bi Sayoung muttered,

“Yikes, he’s strong. Whatever his martial arts, that tongue alone is unbeatable.”

Sag Muhon, hiding with him, replied,

“His martial arts won’t be trivial either. Both Heo Gyeong and Hwang Jang-gon are said to have over seventy years of inner power.”

Seonu Jin shook his head.

“Right now, the tongue matters more than skill. Mountain Sword Sect is already far weaker; now even the momentum has swung wholly to the Guild. Outmatched in numbers, quality, and morale—today’s fight looks grim. If this goes wrong, Mountain Sword Sect may vanish today. That would be… inconvenient.”

Iron Palm Hero Hwang Jang-gon was thinking much the same as Seonu Jin.

If he struck now, he could win a crushing victory.

Thus he felt regret.

He could end the Mountain Sword Sect today.

But he couldn’t attack because of the Guildmaster’s order.

Not long ago, the Guildmaster had instructed:

“Protector Hwang, until further orders, keep Mountain Sword Sect under pressure—but do not erase them.”

Whatever the reason, an order was an order, and Hwang Jang-gon had no choice.

With regretful eyes, he swept the wavering fighters of Mountain Sword Sect again.

Instead of sharpening their will against him, they only murmured anxiously; the men in mismatched garb—clearly hired wanderers—looked ready to bolt.

He set aside his regret and smiled.

“Even if I can’t erase them today, I can still ruin them without a fight.”

A veteran, he knew how the unorthodox worked.

They followed profit, not loyalty; if they judged there was no hope, they would look to their own skins first.

So he fixed today’s goal: show overwhelming force and crush Mountain Sword Sect’s will entirely.

With just a little more pressure, the terrified disciples would collapse on their own, without him lifting a finger.

Next time he saw them, their numbers would be far smaller without any battle at all—

Half, perhaps.

With that thought, Hwang Jang-gon decided to set today’s preparations in motion.

He shouted toward Mountain Sword Sect,

— Still! Though it is our duty to destroy evil, it would be discourteous to engage you when you’re in such disorder! We came only to pay our respects today. Next time, we shall return with our full strength!

Bi Sayoung frowned.

“Huh? What’s his angle? If they fight now, they’d win easily. Why withdraw?”

Seonu Jin answered,

“He wants to frighten them first—today’s force is just a fraction, and next time they’ll come with much more. Still puzzling—hitting them now would be more effective than scaring them.”

As Hwang intended, Mountain Sword Sect’s warriors sighed in relief yet murmured with unease.

There was no fighting spirit to be seen.

Eyes keen, Hwang Jang-gon spoke again.

— But! Since we’ve met, parting without even a small exchange would be a pity, would it not? What say we trade a few simple blows?

Heo Gyeong, momentarily relieved that there’d be no battle, grew anxious.

Even the suggestion of a “simple exchange” set his men buzzing.

Terror had peaked.

Watching, Bi Sayoung muttered with exasperation,

“Good grief. If Hwang just shouts ‘Attack!’ they’ll all scatter. A total rabble.”

“Right—and that’s likely his plan. If he routs them without lifting a finger, that would be quite a feat.”

Sensing the same, Heo Gyeong hastily shouted back,

— What exactly are you proposing?!

Hwang Jang-gon replied,

— Since ancient times, our forebears matched strength in single combat to lift their army’s morale! Let us follow their example—an exchange of one-on-one duels to test our mettle!

One-on-one?

Heo Gyeong’s face twisted.

He knew there were two unknown pinnacle experts with the Guild besides Hwang Jang-gon.

Mountain Sword Sect now had only himself at that level.

“Simple duels,” indeed—clearly a ploy to defeat even him one-by-one.

Even so, Heo Gyeong accepted.

— Fine! Hwang Jang-gon! I accept—on one condition! The victor continues to fight! Agreed?! I will go first! If you have the courage, come out at once!

Bi Sayoung grimaced.

“Isn’t that reckless? The Guild supposedly has two more unknown pinnacles.”

Sag Muhon shook his head.

“No, he sees an opening. In an all-out clash they’ll be crushed. But duels are different—and if the victor stays on, Heo Gyeong could, in theory, defeat Hwang and the other two in succession.”

Seonu Jin nodded.

“Right. If they lose, it’s over anyway. For Heo, this is a chance he can’t afford to miss—a chance to flip the board. Hwang seems clever; why offer this?”

As if to answer him, Hwang Jang-gon laughed and shouted,

— Hahaha! You’re in quite a hurry, Sect Leader Heo! But can we call it a “simple test” if leaders themselves step forth? How about this! You and I—and all pinnacle experts—will not participate! Better to give the young a chance to build their names—that is a senior’s duty!

Heo Gyeong’s expression turned strange.

It wasn’t the sweeping reversal he wanted, but without pinnacles, they weren’t necessarily at a disadvantage.

Indeed, it could lift their rock-bottom morale.

He agreed readily.

— Good! Let it be so!

As the duel was set, Seonu Jin’s eyes gleamed.

“This could be our chance too.”

“Hm? What chance?”

“While everyone’s attention is on the duels, we can infiltrate the Guild’s side.”

Sag Muhon’s eyes sharpened.

“To identify those unknown pinnacles?”

“Yes—confirm whether they’re Blood Sect marauders. And if they are…”

Sag Muhon and Bi Sayoung nodded.

After passing the plan to their scattered companions among the Sect’s wanderers, the three slipped from concealment and curved around toward the Guild.

At the same time, Sect Leader Heo Gyeong, as match-caller, appointed Lee Gongsan, deputy captain of the guard.

Barely in his early thirties, Lee Gongsan already possessed mid first-class skill; Heo had long marked him as promising.

“Deputy Lee, you know this isn’t just any bout. You must win.”

“Yes, Sect Leader! Leave it to me!”

Lee Gongsan saluted crisply and prepared to launch across the field with light-body skill.

But as he leapt, he froze at the sight of someone stepping out from the Guild.

He looked back at Heo Gyeong, troubled.

“Sect Leader… the opponent is…”

“Hm? What about— what? A woman?!”

Indeed.

The challenger from the Guild’s side was a woman.

Young and beautiful.

Heo Gyeong shouted in anger.

— How dare you send a woman to a sacred duel, Hwang Jang-gon?!

The answer came at once.

— Hahaha! No need to get excited! Even a meal begins with a small appetizer! Why start with burly men? Our Guild has many talented young heroines—consider this a mood-setter and a chance for them! And if Mountain Sword Sect has no woman warrior… you could always send a man who fights like a woman! Hahaha!

Heo Gyeong gnashed his teeth again.

Of course—Hwang would never offer them anything favorable.

In a morale-bound duel like this, facing a woman was tricky.

The Mountain Sword Sect had few women warriors.

And those they had were hardly showpieces.

Sending a man wasn’t easy either—if he won, it was only expected; if he lost, the shame would be immeasurable.

And that fox Hwang wouldn’t send just any woman.

Whoever stepped out would likely crush most men.

Heo Gyeong’s dilemma deepened.

Then—

A petite, cute young woman vaulted from among the wanderers and landed before Heo Gyeong.

Tap!

Startled, his guards drew their swords to bar her way.

“Who are you?!”

Smiling as if the threat were invisible, she saluted.

“An honor to meet you, Sect Leader. I’m Cheon Jueun, the youngest of the Eagle Five Siblings.”

At her lively, charming voice, Heo Gyeong frowned, repeating the name.

“Eagle Five Siblings? Cheon Jueun?”

Outer Commander Heo Jeon-sam hurried up.

“I told you before, did I not? The ones I labored to invite from Zhejiang…”

Only then did Heo Gyeong recall—Heo Jeon-sam bursting in, crowing that he had brought trustworthy wanderers.

He had thought then: why the fuss over no-name hirelings?

Now he thought he knew why she’d come to him.

Eyes brightening, he asked,

“Pleased to meet you, Lady Cheon. I take it you have a reason to seek me out at this moment?”

Cheon Jueun gave her signature sunny smile.

“If you’ll grant me the chance, I’d like to represent the Mountain Sword Sect and instruct the hypocrites of the Righteous Chivalry Guild.”

Exactly as expected.

Delighted, Heo Gyeong smiled broadly.

If a woman would step up, he had no reason to refuse.

Even if she lost, a woman-to-woman duel carried little sting.

And if the opponent proved overwhelming, he could steer it to proper men’s bouts afterward.

He boomed,

“Good! Lady Cheon, if you uphold my name and the Sect’s, you will be well rewarded!”

Beaming, Cheon Jueun saluted and sprang forward.

Whoosh!

In a blink she vaulted skyward, covering more than forty paces in a single bound.

Her springy, nimble movement drew gasps from the Sect’s warriors.

“Oooh!”

And that wasn’t all.

Just as she seemed about to touch down, she bounced like a rubber ball and sprang skyward again—and after repeating this five times, she alighted before the waiting Guild woman.

Mountain Sword Sect roared.

“Waaaa!”

“What light-body skill!”

“She moves like a cat! How can someone that nimble be that cute?!”

“She looks like a doll! Lady, you’re lovely!”

Basking in their cheers with another bright smile, Cheon Jueun saluted her opponent.

“I am Cheon Jueun, youngest of the Eagle Five Siblings.”

The three infiltrators paused at the sight of Cheon Jueun stepping forth.

Sag Muhon sent a whisper to Seonu Jin.

— Will she be all right? I thought she was behind Lady Cheong-yeon and Lady Na in skill.

Seonu Jin and Bi Sayoung shared the worry.

Cheon Jueun felt more like the Seventh Squad’s adorable kid sister than a comrade to entrust one’s back to.

Her looks contributed—but so did her still-developing skill.

Seonu Jin set aside the worry.

— She must have Lady Cheong-yeon’s leave. If Lady Cheong-yeon judged it fine, it’s fine.

Seonu Jin couldn’t fully trust Cheon Jueun’s skill—but he could trust Hae Cheong-yeon’s judgment absolutely.

As they resumed moving, the Guild’s challenger across from Cheon Jueun narrowed her eyes and saluted.

“I’m Ji Sang-im, youngest of the Three Sword Sisters of Ji.”

Heo Gyeong’s earlier guess had been spot-on.

The Three Sword Sisters of Ji, from Ji Sword Manor—one of Sichuan’s famed sword lineages—were renowned female warriors, all three.

They feared no man who might step out; and Ji Sang-im, the most beautiful of the three, had volunteered first, eager to spread her fame.

And yet—

“Eagle Five Siblings? Who are they?”

“Cheon Jueun? Since when was there a warrior that cute?”

“How can someone be that cute and that nimble?”

All the murmurs around them were about Cheon Jueun—not Ji Sang-im.

Not just from the Mountain Sword Sect.

Even the Guild’s own warriors behind Ji Sang-im buzzed over the “little doll” ahead rather than over her.

Jealousy and fury boiled in Ji Sang-im.

“That stunted brat dares steal my moment? Unforgivable. I’ll make her the sacrifice to my fame, here and now.”

She wasted no time, drawing her sword with a ring.

Shing!

“Let’s begin.”

Cheon Jueun smiled and set her hand on the cord-tied scabbard at her waist, taking a drawing stance.

Crouched low, her small frame looked like a lynx coiled to spring.