45 – 04# Honeyed Words, Dagger in the Heart 口蜜腹劍 (4)

The unstable ground collapsed from the impact, and I fell off the cliff with two Demonic Sect thugs. Even while plummeting, they attacked.

Luckily, by some stroke of fortune, I managed to fend off the attacks. Landing first, I tilted my head back to stare at the sky. The cliff was deeper than I had initially thought.

At least not deep that could be climbed with a few leaps. That meant that ignoring the b*stards in front of me and climbing up the cliff was impossible.

I clicked my tongue, then moved my gaze down. There, I saw a furry beast-like creature and a woman wearing a beast mask with black hair. What in the world is this?

“Is it a beast imitating a person? Or is it a person imitating a beast?”

“Originally, humans are in no way better than beasts, so why would you speak so disparagingly?”

“If you’re going to spew such sophistry, just die here.”

Why are they talking about beasts in this day and age, as if we were in some ancient era? Unless their brains have regressed to a beast’s level, I can only suspect some kind of mental illness.

Since there was neither the time nor the reason to stall. I quickly raised my sword to attack. That is until I heard the woman’s words.

“If you kill us, your disciples die too.”

“What kind of dogshit threat is that…”

“Consider it. Not only the Hundred Grandmasters up there, but even among the escorts, there are martial artists we’ve planted. Do you truly think your disciples could withstand that?”

“…”

I fell silent. Because it was a truth I couldn’t deny. Even in my mind, I calculated that my disciples’ strength wouldn’t last even a few seconds against such odds.

“Alright, let’s concede that’s possible. But does that give you a reason not to die?”

“Are you deliberately looking away? Don’t you feel it, even now, on your very skin? The intense aura we’re exuding.”

“…You speak of demonic energy?”

“And most of the Hundred Grandmasters fighting above have pledged allegiance to the Demonic Cult. If nothing else, they have an uncanny sense for *magi*?”

I understood the situation, roughly. If I killed these b*stards here, then the disciples who might have been taken prisoner above would be killed by them.

A checkmate, without any way to escape. Even so, I didn’t relinquish my sword. Seeing my resolve hardening, the woman tilted her head and said,

“So, you’re abandoning your disciples? Truly, devoid of blood and tears…”

“Don’t jump to conclusions. When did I ever say I was abandoning my disciples?”

“Then surrender immediately…”

“I will not surrender. Because you haven’t brought my disciples before my eyes.”

I couldn’t deny that the situation was unfavorable. Even if I killed these things and scaled the cliff, if my disciples were captured, they’d be dead within mere seconds.

But I couldn’t give up here. Because I didn’t teach my disciples to give up. So, as long as my disciples are fighting, I will continue to fight as well.

“Come at me. I’ll tear you limb from limb.”

With those final words,

our fighting spirit clashed with all its might.

◇

Earning a place among the Hundred Grandmasters was certainly no easy feat. But in truth, maintaining that name was even more difficult. There were no formal examinations, per se.

Yet in the current martial world, where evaluation was based purely on skill, any sign of dulling was noticed like a phantom. Or perhaps it was because there were so many filled with envy and jealousy.

From that perspective, Go-gyeom and his peers were truly a blessed generation. Every single one of them had earned their place among the Hundred Grandmasters.

Not just empty words, Go-gyeom was genuinely proud of himself and his fellow disciples. Because there were quite a few who succumbed to the lure of power and strayed down the wrong path.

Therefore, when he was stabbed in the back out of nowhere, the greatest sense of betrayal was felt by none other than Go-gyeom. It was only because it was Go-gyeom that he barely managed to avoid a fatal blow.

If it had been any other martial artist, they would have died on the spot. A deadly killing move, showing absolutely no mercy, wielded against him by his own friend…

“What… what the hell is this?”

“…”

“I’m asking you, what the hell is this?!”

An uncontrollable betrayal surged within him, and Go-gyeom could no longer contain his roar. Crimson blood splattered from his lips with the shout, rendering him almost ghostly.

“If it was a mistake, there’s still time…”

“I wouldn’t swing my sword at a sworn brother by mistake.”

“…You b*stard.”

The youth with hair the color of the deep ocean, Haeun Sword Baek Sanha, answered Go-gyeom’s words with a smirk playing on his lips. Of course, it wasn’t as though Go-gyeom asked because he didn’t know the truth.

The sudden appearance of vicious enemies, coupled with his sworn brothers turning their blades against him, the very man responsible for protecting this procession. How could Go-gyeom *not* know what was happening?

Despite all this, the reason Go-gyeom posed the question, right up to the very last moment, was solely because he couldn’t overcome the desire to believe in his brothers to the bitter end.

“I can’t comprehend it. You betray the orthodox Murim Alliance and expect to get away with it? No, from the very beginning, what kind of wealth and glory could possibly justify such a gruesome betrayal…?”

“A genius like you will never understand our feelings, even in death.”

“…What does that…”

“Is more conversation needed here? We have made our choice. Now it is your turn.”

Go-gyeom wordlessly stared at his shoulder. True to the grand title of Haeun Sword, the thrust, rippling like a wave, caused blood to gush from his shoulder like a waterfall.

“…I see, I understand now. However, it seems you haven’t grasped your own predicament.”

“What was that?”

*Whiirr! FWOOSH!*

A whip forged from steel threads, concealed within his sleeve, shot out in an instant, aimed at Haeun Sword Baek Sanha’s neck. Only the intervention of another top martial artist standing nearby saved him.

Had someone not intervened, Baek Sanha would have lost his life then and there. Baek Sanha easily realized this, a chilling shiver crawling down his spine.

“During the past five years we spent honing our martial arts together at the Seonmu Academy…”

“…”

“It seems you’ve forgotten that not a single one of you ever managed to defeat me, even once?”

“…That arrogance is utterly repulsive, Go-gyeom.”

“In this situation, it’s not arrogance, but confidence.”

‘Damn, things aren’t exactly looking good.’

Concealing any sign of weakness from the enemy is fundamental to combat, let alone military strategy. Even knowing this, Go-gyeom couldn’t help but frown.

His specialty had been effectively sealed away by this unexpected surprise attack. Go-gyeom primarily used two whips crafted from steel, drawn into threads as fine as silk.

Thanks to this, he had even been granted the rather extravagant title of Twin Dragon Steel Thread. However, having his shoulder pierced by that attack, he wouldn’t be able to lift his arm in the immediate fight.

In the end, his combat strength was effectively halved from the very start. However, Go-gyeom quickly corrected his disheartened thoughts. When you think about it, wasn’t he almost killed by that attack just now?

“Yet, I was fortunate enough to avoid a fatal blow, and I can still move an arm and a leg without any problems. I should be grateful that I can still fight.”

‘Even in this disadvantageous situation, he can still smile? That monster…!’

Even bleeding, a smile gracing his lips, Ko Gyeom lifted the still-serviceable hand to wield the Iron Dragon Silk. Baek San-ha felt himself once again overwhelmed.

Not only Baek San-ha, but the other Hundred Grandmasters were utterly crushed by Ko Gyeom’s spirit. Yet, among them, there was a sole exception. He strode forward, bold and unhurried.

From among the Hundred Grandmasters, the largest, like a bear, shouldering a massive greatsword to match his size. He advanced with the swagger of a returning general – Ma Gang.

“…Ha! Well, this actually works out quite well for you. You’ve never made a secret of your dislike for me.”

“Aye. Couldn’t stand the way you acted, you weasel-faced cur. I vowed to correct that habit of yours someday.”

“So, the day you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived?”

Since their days training together at the Seonmu Academy, Ma Gang and Ko Gyeom hadn’t exactly seen eye to eye. Ko Gyeom didn’t expect anything different. But Ma Gang shook his head.

“Not today, at least.”

“What?”

“Are you trying to break our pact, Ma Gang?!”

“You were the ones who broke it first.”

Ma Gang had joined this ambush for one reason only: He believed the condition that he could fight Ko Gyeom at his full strength. But Ko Gyeom, in his present state, could hardly be considered whole.

“You broke the agreement first. Why should I be bound by my word to you?”

“You… You don’t want to climb to greater heights?!”

“What’s the point if I can’t climb there with my own strength?”

“Puh-hah!”

The utterly chaotic situation made Ko Gyeom burst into laughter. Those he believed were lifelong friends had betrayed him, and the one he disliked was now offering aid.

“…I owe you a debt. Just this once.”

“Don’t bother stating the obvious.”