Chapter 32
Heuksalpyo Dongpaekyung was the fourth sworn brother of Heuksang Dogak Go Jooyong and the third-ranked enforcer of the Heuksang faction.
Though his internal energy cultivation was only at the early peak level—about seventy years of training—this was more than enough to make him the undisputed ruler of a remote region.
Yet, he had chosen to remain with the Heuksang faction.
It was because of the wealth and prestige promised by his leader, the formidable Heuksang faction head, Go Jooyong.
Go Jooyong was greedy, yes, but he understood that to gain even greater power, he couldn’t simply hoard what he had; he had to keep investing.
So he treated his peak-level sworn brothers with utmost respect.
Thanks to this, the Heuksang faction, boasting four peak-level masters, rose to become one of the Eight Great Powers of Guizhou and the dominant force in the southwestern part of Guizhou Province.
Just having four peak masters together was an overwhelming show of force in such a rural area.
Dongpaekyung, who had been with Go Jooyong through it all, fully understood how crucial capturing Saengsa Goeui was for their cause.
“A medical expert capable of producing elixirs on the level of summoning talismans—that’s truly a golden goose laying golden eggs.”
If they could secure him, the amount of wealth they could generate was unimaginable.
And that wealth would only make the Heuksang faction stronger.
Surprisingly, there were quite a few peak masters out there who could be hired if you had the money.
“Like Hyeolpyeon Seosi Ya Unhyang,” he thought, recalling the stunningly skilled and beautiful woman from the main faction.
That was Go Jooyong’s dream.
To keep increasing the number of peak masters he could hire with wealth, until one day, he ruled not just southwestern Guizhou but the entire Guizhou Province.
Dongpaekyung, sharing that dream, now looked at the surrounded Saengsa Goeui before him and felt as if that dream was becoming reality.
With a triumphant grin, he shouted, “Surrender quietly, Majonghwan! If you do, I’ll forget all the trouble you’ve caused! I’m a man of honor! Hahaha!”
But Majonghwan, the gaunt and fierce-looking Saengsa Goeui, sneered in response.
“You talk about honor after kidnapping other people’s children just because you want the elixir? That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard in my life! Hahaha!”
Dongpaekyung’s smile faded.
He didn’t like being mocked by some lowly wandering swordsman, especially one cornered yet acting so nonchalant.
But then he forced a bitter smile.
He decided to forgive him.
After all, anyone backed into a corner might put on a brave face.
As a man of honor, he had to tolerate it.
Dongpaekyung laughed heartily and stepped closer.
“Alright, alright. If you found it funny, I’m glad. Now, will you come quietly with me?”
Majonghwan’s eyes blazed like fire as he answered, “The only thing I’ll go with you is my corpse!”
With that, he drew a dagger and pressed it to his own throat.
Dongpaekyung was taken aback.
Suicide to avoid capture?
To that extent?
He quickly stepped back, trying to calm him.
“Wait! Calm down, Majonghwan! Let’s talk this through!”
“Talk? You want to talk with the ones who kidnapped my children for your precious elixir? Hahaha! No way! Get lost now, or you’ll only see my corpse!”
Taking his own life hostage to force them back was absurd.
Yet Dongpaekyung couldn’t ignore it.
He understood just how important Majonghwan was—just as well as Go Jooyong did.
But he couldn’t let Majonghwan know that.
So, gritting his teeth, Dongpaekyung tried to threaten him.
“If you want to die, then die! But if you’re not afraid of what will happen to your children after you’re gone, then tell me—what’s so great about your life?”
Majonghwan chuckled darkly.
“Great? Of course! I’m the one who can make Saengsahwan, aren’t I? That’s why you’re doing this! I’ll say it again—get out of my sight now! Or your plan to use my Saengsahwan ends here!”
Dongpaekyung’s jaw dropped.
How could he possibly know that?
Majonghwan knew his own worth all too well.
Majonghwan shouted, building momentum.
“I’m counting to ten! If you don’t back off by then, you’ll see my corpse! One!”
“W-Wait! Majonghwan! Let’s talk more!”
“Two!”
Dongpaekyung was flustered.
He thought he had them cornered, so what was this?
He couldn’t just let him die, but he couldn’t back down either.
“Three!”
His anxiety grew, and he barely had time to think.
“Four!”
Then, from behind, someone called out as they ran toward him.
“Third Enforcer!”
Dongpaekyung snapped, irritated by the interruption.
“What is it?! Now, of all times?!”
But when he looked, his eyes widened in surprise.
The lower-ranked warrior who had come running was covered in blood.
“A—an ambush! An ambush!”
“What?! An ambush?!”
Even amid the chaos, Majonghwan kept counting.
“Five!”
The bloodied warrior collapsed at Dongpaekyung’s feet, and Majonghwan’s voice rang out again.
“Six!”
Growing more anxious, Dongpaekyung glanced toward Majonghwan.
At that moment, a chilling sensation crept up the back of his neck.
He didn’t know what it was, but he instinctively leapt aside.
Three hidden weapons flew past, grazing his collar like streaks of light.
Shu-hak!
His blood ran cold.
It was the work of a warrior who had been lying down but suddenly sprang up.
“That—this guy?!”
The warrior smiled wryly, as if disappointed, then, as if he hadn’t stumbled at all, unleashed a dazzling flurry of sword strikes on the surrounding warriors and lunged toward Saengsa Goeui.
Shu-haak!
“Grahk!”
“Ugh!”
As the swordlight spread like a phantom, four nearby warriors spat blood.
Through the crimson mist, the attacker was already charging at Majonghwan.
Dongpaekyung was naturally shocked, but Majonghwan was even more so.
He couldn’t be sure of the attacker’s identity—someone he thought was a Heuksang faction member suddenly turning on Dongpaekyung and then rushing at him? Could it be a trap?
Just as Majonghwan pressed his dagger to his throat, ready to shout for a halt, a voice whispered in his ear.
“Sir! Maeng Un and Yong Ji have been rescued!”
Hearing those names, Majonghwan felt his strength drain away without realizing it.
Maeng Un and Ma Yong Ji were the names of Saengsa Goeui’s son and daughter.
At that moment, Sun Woojin, who had just arrived, embraced Majonghwan and dashed toward the cliff like a streak of light.
“Excuse me, sir!”
The Heuksang faction members watching were stunned.
“No way!”
“Is that even possible?!”
Sun Woojin was running straight up the cliff, carrying Majonghwan on his shoulder.
Pababababak!
It was an incredible display of climbing technique.
When Sun Woojin had reached about halfway up the thirty-zhang-high cliff, Dongpaekyung, still stunned, gritted his teeth and hurled hidden weapons at Sun Woojin’s legs.
“Do you think I’ll just let you escape?!”
This was the peak-level hidden weapon technique that had earned him the nickname Heuksalpyo.
Small throwing needles shot like beams of light toward Sun Woojin’s legs.
Shiiik!
But Sun Woojin seemed to expect it and leapt aside.
Tadak!
Having trained to perceive his surroundings with closed eyes and sensing the wind, these hidden weapons posed little threat.
Kakang! Kang!
Dongpaekyung’s needles struck the rocks in vain as Sun Woojin nimbly weaved left and right, continuing his ascent.
Tadak! Tak! Tak!
His movements were as light as a mountain goat’s.
Seeing this, Dongpaekyung exploded in rage.
“Signal the leader! Don’t let them get away!”
Then, he began climbing the cliff himself, hidden weapons at the ready.
Heuksalpyo Dongpaekyung was also a master of hidden weapons and secret techniques.
There was no way he would let them escape right before his eyes.
After climbing the cliff and catching my breath, I glanced back before starting to run again.
I had expected it, but for them to abandon all their men and chase after me like this—this guy was painfully slow-witted.
What was he planning if this was a trap?
…Though, of course, there was no trap.
Judging by his speed, I doubted I could shake him off easily.
As I resumed running, the Saengsa Goeui slung over my shoulder asked urgently.
He had probably held back until we reached the top of the cliff to avoid hindering me.
“Is it true? Did you really rescue Maeng Un and Yong Ji?”
Speaking while using secret techniques was difficult, but I had to answer.
Above all, gaining his trust was the priority.
I replied brightly, “Of course. Didn’t you hope someone would do that and draw their attention to you?”
“Ah, you… you really understood that!”
His voice was filled with gratitude.
His voice carried the weight of all the worries he’d been holding onto about his children, and the anxiety over his own decisions—it was as if a flood of relief was washing it all away at once.
I could understand it perfectly.
How anxious he must have been.
Sure, he probably acted out of the belief that there was no other way, but there was no doubt he had agonized over it countless times.
What if his flawed judgment ended up harming his children?
In fact, in his past life, his intentions had failed more than once.
I spoke to him again, seeing how overwhelmed he was, unable to find words through his tears.
“Neither of them suffered any harm. They’re both resting, healthy and sound. Please don’t worry.”
“…Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
Though they had come close to danger, I chose not to tell him that. I also decided to ignore the trembling, choked-up tone in his voice.
Suddenly, the image of my own father telling me I’d done well flashed before me, warming my heart.
But then, a voice from behind snapped me back, chilling me instantly.
“You there! Can’t you stop right there?!”
It was Dong Paek-gyeong’s voice.
As expected of a top-tier master—his speed was incredible.
Just by looking, it was clear I couldn’t outrun him while carrying Ma Jong-hwan.
I took a deep breath and spoke quickly again.
“So, all that’s left is for you, sir, to escape safely. Do you have a plan in mind?”
But with a heavy sigh, he answered gravely.
“I’m ashamed to admit it, but I have no grand plan. I only trust that because of their greed, they won’t kill me. And I’m certain that same greed will bring others who want to kill Go Ju-yong as well.”
His judgment was probably right.
After all, in his past life, he had succeeded in killing Go Ju-yong.
Maybe even without me, he could have found a way out earlier.
Hmm. So if things get desperate, I could just leave Saengsa Goeui behind and run alone?
Even one-on-one, I don’t stand a chance against Dong Paek-gyeong.
If the difference between second-rate and first-rate is like a housecat and a lynx, then the gap between first-rate and top-tier is like a lynx and a tiger.
No matter that he specialized in assassination techniques rather than close combat, there was no way I could win a direct fight against him.
Dong Paek-gyeong—a top master skilled in assassination and arcane arts.
And his assassination techniques were coated with a deadly poison called Jusadok.
Recalling the information I’d gotten earlier from a low-ranking warrior about the infamous Black Arrow Dong Paek-gyeong, I suddenly asked Saengsa Goeui.
“Sir, do you happen to have that?”
“Hm? That?”
Black Arrow Dong Paek-gyeong glared fiercely at the fleeing figure ahead.
He’d thought he could catch the guy carrying Ma Jong-hwan easily, but even after half an hour, the distance between them hadn’t closed.
For someone who specialized in assassination and arcane arts, this was a blow to his pride.
He wondered what kind of training the guy had undergone to run so well while carrying a person.
He wanted to throw an assassination dart, but the man had been shielding himself behind Ma Jong-hwan’s body since earlier.
Moreover, Ma Jong-hwan had been stiff and motionless for some time—he must have been subjected to pressure point attacks.
Dong Paek-gyeong seemed to realize the man knew he couldn’t kill Ma Jong-hwan.
Grinding his teeth in frustration, he was furious at being unable to catch or attack the target.
Then, the man shouted while running.
“Dong Paek-gyeong! Let’s negotiate!”
From his voice, he sounded exhausted.
Just as expected.
Dong Paek-gyeong smiled slyly and replied.
“What kind of negotiation?”
The man answered.
“You want Saengsa Goeui, right? I’m satisfied if I can get three—no, two—of the elixirs. If I get those, I’ll let you go quietly. How about it?”
Dong Paek-gyeong considered for a moment.
It wasn’t a bad offer.
If he could safely get Ma Jong-hwan back, who would keep producing elixirs, giving up two of them seemed reasonable.
Of course, killing the man outright would be best, but if he provoked him and Ma Jong-hwan got killed, that would be disastrous.
Besides, since the man had already pressure-pointed Ma Jong-hwan, he wouldn’t be able to resist self-harm like before, so his safety could be secured.
Negotiating seemed the wiser choice.
Dong Paek-gyeong answered.
“Fine! Let’s do that!”
The man brightened and shouted.
“Then stop right there! I’ll stop too!”
Hearing that, Dong Paek-gyeong slowed down and finally stopped.
Sun Woo-jin also halted and carefully set Ma Jong-hwan down.
He glanced at Dong Paek-gyeong, then cautiously searched Ma Jong-hwan’s clothes and pulled out the elixirs.
Sun Woo-jin looked regretfully at the five elixirs, then reluctantly took only two.
Dong Paek-gyeong watched them like a hawk.
Sun Woo-jin stepped back carefully and said.
“Alright, I’m withdrawing now.”
“Good! Get lost!”
Dong Paek-gyeong approached the motionless Ma Jong-hwan cautiously.
But he noticed Sun Woo-jin wasn’t leaving immediately; instead, he kept glancing at Ma Jong-hwan.
The man seemed to have other plans.
Then, suddenly, Sun Woo-jin threw several assassination darts at Ma Jong-hwan.
“Hah!”
Whirrr!
Anticipating this, Dong Paek-gyeong desperately threw himself over Ma Jong-hwan to shield him.
Chak-chak-chak-cheng!
He barely managed to block all four darts with his hands.
Compared to the man’s arcane arts, his assassination skills weren’t that impressive.
“Hahaha! How dare you show off your assassination skills before this old master!”
Having blocked all the darts, Dong Paek-gyeong laughed and launched a black dart toward Sun Woo-jin.
His signature move—the Black Arrow.
Shu-hak!
The black dart flew like a streak of light.
Sun Woo-jin, startled, hurriedly raised his sword to block.
Puhk!
But the dart, infused with deadly energy, pierced through the sword and embedded itself in Sun Woo-jin’s arm.
Dong Paek-gyeong smiled coldly.
With the poison-coated dart lodged in him, Sun Woo-jin was as good as dead.
Just as Dong Paek-gyeong prepared to throw another dart to finish him off—
Puhk!
He felt a sharp sting at the back of his neck.
Turning around, a chill ran down his spine.
Ma Jong-hwan, who had seemed incapacitated, was grinning fiercely, holding open the mouth of a leather pouch.
Two snakes were biting tightly into Dong Paek-gyeong’s neck—apparently, they had come from the pouch.
“W-what…!”
Dong Paek-gyeong’s shocked expression quickly turned to rage.
He had just been bitten, and already his vision blurred and nausea rose.
It was an incredibly potent poison.
“You bastard!”
Struggling to stay conscious, Dong Paek-gyeong tried to throw a dart at Ma Jong-hwan.
But at that moment, a blade pierced through his back and emerged in front of his chest.
Puhk!
“Ugh?!”
How?
It was incomprehensible.
He should have been dead already from the poison-coated dart…
With that thought, Dong Paek-gyeong breathed his last.
The moment the top master Black Arrow Dong Paek-gyeong was killed by the first-rate warrior Sun Woo-jin.