The Tiger And The Phoenix And The Wolf. (3)

“By the way, who’s chasing you?”

Cheon Woo-hwan answered with a dark expression.

“…The Blade Emperor Peng Mu-gi. He is pursuing us.”

The Blade Emperor, far bigger a figure than they’d expected.

As the skilled warrior of the Hebei Peng family, even Yu Jinsan was well aware of his fame.

His blade techniques were unmatched in the murim world.

It was easy to see why the Extreme Five panicked and fled.

“You dragged such a terrifying fellow to my place?”

“We apologize. We judged that only the Yin Monster could handle him…”

His name alone carried a fearsome presence.

But there was absolutely no reason to be afraid of anyone.

“How about me?”

Cheon Woo-hwan tilted his head as if not understanding the question’s implication.

“You said only the Yin Monster can face him? Does that mean I, an old man, can’t match the Blade Emperor?”

“N-no, that’s not…”

Cheon Woo-hwan showed obvious embarrassment. It was a natural reaction.

The Yang Monster’s reputation did not compare to the Blade Emperor’s.

But he was not the Yu Jinsan of old.

Now his confidence was fuller than ever.

“Tsk tsk. How would you know the true form of this old man?”

The Extreme Five finally began to scrutinize Yu Jinsan closely.

He definitely felt very different from the last time they saw him.

But how could they gauge his martial skill level?

The only one they trusted blindly was the Yin Monster.

“Please help us, elder.”

“We beg you…”

A look of disappointment crossed Yu Jinsan’s face.

He had expected at least some empty words claiming he could beat the Blade Emperor.

Annoying as it was, there was nothing to be done; reputation ruled the martial world.

Yu Jinsan turned his back, hands clasped behind him.

“You brats. Come follow me.”

The Extreme Five were thrilled and repeatedly bowed toward his back.

“Thank you, elder.”

“Thank you so much!”

“We will never forget this favor.”

They followed Yu Jinsan inside and looked around.

By the pond on the right, the Yin Monster stood smiling and waving.

They bowed once more in that direction.

Then their gazes shifted back to the left.

A beautiful woman stood demurely beside the Yin Monster, likely the guest the Yang Monster had mentioned.

The Extreme Five couldn’t take their eyes off her.

Yu Jinsan noticed and gave them a warning look.

“Don’t stare so intently at the guest.”

Cheon Woo-hwan replied, flustered.

“S-sorry, elder. She looks like someone we’ve seen somewhere before…”

“M-me too!”

“May I ask who she is?”

Yu Jinsan saw her head nod slightly.

It was a sign that it was okay to tell them.

“Who else? It’s the Sword Empress.”

At that moment, all five mouths dropped open at once.

They had all been present on the day of the Sword Empress’s Gold Dust Ablution ceremony in the past.

Now their memories returned.

“Th-the Sword Empress is here… why…?”

“This can’t be…”

Perhaps amused by their reactions, Yu Jinsan subtly asked.

“If it makes you uncomfortable, you can leave. I won’t stop you.”

For reasons unknown, the Sword Empress and the Yin Monster were together in one place.

That meant this spot was as safe as it got in the world.

The Extreme Five frantically waved their hands.

“N-no way.”

“Absolutely not.”

Yu Jinsan, leading the way, snickered and said.

“Alright. I’ll feed and lodge you, but you’ll have to earn your keep.”

Cheon Woo-hwan approached and answered confidently.

“Tell us anything to do. We can do it all.”

Their eager faces pleased Yu Jinsan as well.

Soon their steps brought them to the vegetable plot.

He pointed with his index finger to around the left half and continued explaining.

“Today you’ll harvest the ginseng field over there. They’re very precious herbs, so handle them carefully. When you’re done, I’ll have them cooked up for you.”

“…B-by any chance, Jinsan Ginseng?”

Jinsan Ginseng was the name of the herb grown by his granddaughter.

Yu Jinsan tilted his head and asked.

“How did you know? Have you eaten it?”

The Extreme Five nodded with pale faces.

“That, Yin Monster gave it to us…”

“P-please, anything but eating that…”

He had no idea his granddaughter had already fed it to them.

Yu Jinsan clicked his tongue, sensing his plan had been spoiled.

“Tsk. Grown men whining about food. It’ll be over soon, so take it easy and work.”

The Extreme Five clasped their hands again and bowed toward his back.

“Yes, elder!”

“Thank you!”

Whoosh!

A cool breeze pleasantly blew under the warm sun.

The Extreme Five, clustered in the vegetable plot, couldn’t stop smiling.

“Hyung, this is my first time doing fieldwork in my life.”

“Then have we ever done it? If the master knew we were doing this he’d faint in his coffin.”

“Heh heh.”

“Hahaha!”

“Stop the nonsense and work hard if you don’t want to be kicked out.”

“Yesss!”

They were clearly excited.

And for good reason.

“Feels like a dream that we’re living with them.”

“Everyone will envy us, hyung.”

“Of course. I can die content now.”

They were going to live under one roof with the Yin Monster, a hero of the Evil factions, and the Sword Empress, the former top master of the martial world.

They couldn’t hide their excitement.

“Not much left, so let’s finish quickly.”

The Jinsan Ginseng the Extreme Five dug up amounted to nearly four hundred roots.

A short while later, as the work neared completion.

“Uncles, what are you doing?”

Everyone’s gaze converged on one spot.

Yu Seol was approaching there with a bright smile.

Cheon Woo-so, the second of the Extreme Five, dusted off his hands and stood up to ask.

“What’s the matter, Yin Monster?”

“Want to play with us? Unnie asked me to invite you.”

Everyone was dumbfounded.

The Sword Empress and the Yin Monster inviting them to play together.

They didn’t know what it was, but they’d never miss such an opportunity.

“Really?”

“Sure!”

Yu Seol grinned and waved one hand.

Then the swords neatly placed to one side flew up into the air.

“Catch!”

Though startled, the Extreme Five each gripped their swords.

Thud! Thwap!

“But what are we doing?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Yu Seol led them to where the training ground was.

There, Soso stood demurely waiting.

Only then did the Extreme Five feel an inexplicable unease and hesitate.

Standing in the training ground with two peerless warriors, naturally they were tense.

Soso, sensing their feelings, winked one eye.

“It’s okay, hyungs. We won’t hurt you.”

Her teasing words eased their tension.

“What are we supposed to do?”

“We’ll play a few games now. Oh right! I’m the referee.”

As if she’d been waiting, Yu Seol raised one hand.

“Catch me, uncles!”

Was she proposing a game of tag? A child’s game, but who could refuse?

“Then we…”

As Cheon Woo-hwan trailed off, Soso smiled and continued explaining.

“You may use weapons. If anyone even touches a sleeve, I’ll reward them by teaching a martial art.”

Her offer was irresistible.

And the Sword Empress’s techniques? If they could learn anything from her, martial artists would line up willing to risk their lives.

There was nothing to lose.

Besides, the Yin Monster even had her eyes blindfolded.

“Is that all?”

“Of course.”

It was more than worth trying.

They’d have to avoid five people in the cramped training ground, and blindfolded to boot.

Even if they couldn’t fully track the Yin Monster’s movements, they might get lucky and tag her.

“Alright!”

Yu Seol was already waiting for them at the center of the training ground.

“Come on in.”

The five people of Evil Faction circled around the Yin Monster as if to surround her.

Each gripped a scabbard in hand. Since they only needed to graze a sleeve, real swords weren’t necessary.

Following Cheon Woo-hwan’s lead, the five steadily tightened the circle.

When they reached a distance of three feet.

All five sprang toward the center simultaneously.

Their movements were uniform and not ordinary; they’d trained together long enough to be well-coordinated.

They closed in on the Yin Monster in an instant and all thrust their scabbards forward at once.

Suddenly a blinding flash erupted, obscuring their vision.

In that instant, Yu Seol was already gone from the spot.

“Huh?”

“What the…”

The Extreme Five looked around frantically.

Yu Seol was already five feet away.

“Hehe. I’m right here.”

It was the Light-Body Technique ‘Flash Across the Void’ taught by the Sword Empress.

She could imitate it despite having learned it less than a day ago.

Such extraordinary talent even had Soso applauding from watching.

“Now we’ll do it properly!”

The game of tag began again.

From now on the Extreme Five were desperate; they couldn’t miss a chance like this again.

But every time they almost caught her, she slipped away, fueling their frustration.

And there was someone happily watching the scene.

It was Yu Jinsan, who had stepped out for some air while training the Muscle Changing Technique.

‘Good thing I let those fellows be the targets. Otherwise I’d have been in that spot myself.’

The thought of himself chasing his granddaughter made him feel exhausted.

The Extreme Five, who came as houseguests, were useful in many ways.

Soon, as they tired and gave up, Yu Seol tempted them with something else.

“Shall we play something else now?”

“Something more fun.”

The practical practice of the light-body technique was only the beginning.

She intended to test the new martial arts learned from the Sword Empress and get them into her body.

The Extreme Five were perfectly suitable for that level of practice.

‘Tsk tsk. Poor things. They’re getting properly baited today.’

It was while Yu Jinsan watched them with pity.

Suddenly a voice filled with hostility rang from beyond the fence.

“Come out, Extreme Five. I know you’re hiding here.”

The voice was hushed like a whisper, yet it echoed thunderously.

At the very least, an absolute master surpassing the Supreme realm.

With inner power of that level, he was no ordinary figure.

‘Seems like it’s the Blade Emperor after all.’

Terrified, the Extreme Five froze like ice, eyes wide.

In contrast, Soso and Yu Seol watched the situation with interest.

Then Yu Jinsan shouted loudly toward beyond the fence.

“Who are you to make a ruckus in front of someone else’s house!?”

The Blade Emperor did not back down in the slightest.

His voice was heard again from beyond the fence.

“Hand those brats over right now. If I enter, I’ll consider you all the same gang.”

“What is this guy saying? Does he know whose house this is?”

Perhaps because of Yu Jinsan’s resolve, the Blade Emperor’s tone seemed to change.

But whether it was anger, embarrassment, or something else, there was no way to tell.

Yu Jinsan struck back at him once more.

“When you plan to leave, go quietly. If you cross my fence, you’ll die.”

Who would dare provoke the Blade Emperor like that?

He was a legendary figure, counted among the Ten Greatest Warriors of the murim world.

Suddenly a tremendous killing intent traveled over the fence to this place.

“Blade Emperor Peng Mu-gi. That’s me.”