Episode 57

Heokyeong, the Spectral Swordsman and head of the Mountain Sword Sect, clenched his teeth as he stared across at the countless warriors arrayed before him.

Beyond the plains stood the legendary Iron Whip Hero, Hwang Jang-gon, the renowned pinnacle master of the Righteous Alliance, commanding over five hundred of their warriors in formation.

He glanced behind him.

Even counting the ronin, fewer than two hundred warriors stood at his back.

And most of them were second-rate fighters, far inferior to those of the Righteous Alliance.

His chest ached.

This was all because their elite had been wiped out in the last battle, and with the Righteous Alliance’s sudden advance, they hadn’t even managed to secure aid from their ally, the Yun clan.

Suddenly, Hwang Jang-gon’s voice rang out.

It was a booming, resonant voice, filled with internal energy that made the air itself tremble.

“I thought we’d meet at the last summit, but it seems fate has delayed our encounter, Lord Heokyeong!”

That was likely a sarcastic jab at the Mountain Sword Sect, who had proposed the summit but then cowardly launched a surprise attack.

Heokyeong found no words to reply and clenched his teeth tighter.

But Hwang Jang-gon wasn’t finished.

“Oh, by the way. Have you heard any news of the deputy sect leader we sent in your stead? He asked me to pass along his regards to you, Lord Heokyeong, before his long journey! Ha ha ha ha!”

The surprise attack hadn’t only cost them two hundred elite warriors.

Heokyeong’s only other pinnacle master, Heo Jung—the Spectral Swordsman of the Mountain Sword Sect—had died during the ambush on the Righteous Alliance.

And he was Heokyeong’s only younger brother.

The Righteous Alliance warriors chuckled comfortably at Hwang Jang-gon’s slick words.

With every word he spoke, the Righteous Alliance’s morale soared, while the Mountain Sword Sect’s spirit sank further.

Unable to contain his fury, Heokyeong’s body trembled as he shouted.

“You shameless scoundrels! You hide behind the guise of righteousness, yet you brazenly invade others’ homes and then speak as if you’re in the right! How can you hold your heads high after such thievery? Aren’t you ashamed to call yourselves the Righteous Alliance?!”

Heokyeong’s retort wasn’t without merit.

It was true that the Righteous Alliance had invaded first, betraying the very name they bore.

But Hwang Jang-gon laughed heartily and smoothly countered.

“Ha ha ha! What shame is there in that? What is the duty of the righteous? Is it not to ‘eradicate the evil and purge the wicked’? So attacking the heretical Mountain Sword Sect is precisely fulfilling our duty! Ha ha ha!”

His silver tongue was undeniable.

Heokyeong was left speechless once more.

With the situation already grim, he was no match for such verbal finesse.

All he could do was grit his teeth again.

“Eeeek!”

Hwang Jang-gon continued, his laughter fading only briefly.

“Also, as far as I know, the heretics live by ‘survival of the fittest,’ yet Lord Heokyeong speaks of righteousness and alliance instead. How amusing! Have you perhaps been reborn as one of the righteous? Ha ha ha!”

The Righteous Alliance warriors burst into laughter again.

Heokyeong’s face flushed red and blue, but he remained silent.

Nearby, hidden in the shadows, Bisea-young muttered.

“Wow, he’s strong. I don’t know about his martial arts, but his words alone are overwhelming.”

Sak Mu-heun, also concealed nearby, replied.

“Still, their martial arts aren’t to be underestimated. Both Heokyeong and Hwang Jang-gon are known to have over seventy years of internal energy cultivation.”

Sunwoo Jin shook his head beside them.

“But right now, it seems words matter more than martial skill. The Mountain Sword Sect is already at a severe disadvantage in strength, and now morale has completely swung to the Righteous Alliance. Outnumbered, outclassed, and outspirited—today’s battle looks grim. If things go wrong, the Mountain Sword Sect might vanish today. That would be disastrous…”

Hwang Jang-gon, leading the Righteous Alliance, shared a similar thought.

He felt they could achieve a massive victory if they struck now.

That was why he felt such regret.

They could end the Mountain Sword Sect today.

But the sect leader’s orders forbade an outright attack.

Not long ago, the Righteous Alliance leader had commanded:

“Hwang, until further orders, pressure the Mountain Sword Sect but do not annihilate them.”

The meaning behind that was unclear, but as an order, Hwang Jang-gon had no choice but to obey.

He cast a final glance at the wavering Mountain Sword Sect warriors.

They weren’t raising their spirits to face him; instead, they murmured anxiously.

The ronin, dressed in mismatched garb, looked ready to flee at any moment.

Still, Hwang Jang-gon shook off his disappointment and smiled faintly.

“Though it’s a shame we can’t wipe out the Mountain Sword Sect today, I believe we can still ruin them without a fight.”

He was a seasoned veteran who understood the heretics well.

Driven not by loyalty but by self-interest, if they saw no chance of victory, they’d look out for themselves first.

So Hwang Jang-gon decided to limit today’s goal to crushing the Mountain Sword Sect’s morale with overwhelming force.

Just a little more pressure, and the terrified disciples would collapse on their own without needing to be touched.

By the next encounter, their numbers would be drastically reduced—probably halved.

With that in mind, Hwang Jang-gon began to put his plan into motion.

He called out toward the Mountain Sword Sect.

“However! Though our duty is to eradicate the evil, it would be improper to face you in such a pitiful state! Today, we come only to pay our respects briefly. Next time, we shall meet again with full strength!”

Bisea-young frowned and muttered.

“Huh? What’s his angle? They could easily win if they fought now, but they’re just backing off?”

Sunwoo Jin answered.

“I think they want to intimidate. What they showed today is only a fraction of their power. Next time, they’ll come with much greater force. Still, it’s puzzling. It seems more effective to strike now than to just scare them…”

The Mountain Sword Sect warriors sighed in relief but whispered nervously.

They showed no fighting spirit.

Hwang Jang-gon’s sharp gaze swept over them as he spoke again.

“But! Since we’ve met, it would be a shame to part without a little contest! How about a simple duel to test our strength?”

Heokyeong, who had briefly relaxed at the promise of no fight, tensed immediately.

The Mountain Sword Sect warriors stirred uneasily at the suggestion.

Fear had already reached its peak.

Bisea-young watched with a disdainful expression.

“Oh dear. If Hwang Jang-gon shouted ‘Attack!’ right now, they’d all scatter like cockroaches. What a ragtag bunch.”

“Ah, but I think that’s exactly what Hwang Jang-gon intends. If he can rout the Mountain Sword Sect without lifting a finger, that would be impressive.”

Heokyeong, sensing the trap, shouted back urgently.

“What exactly are you proposing?!”

Hwang Jang-gon replied smoothly.

“Our ancestors often measured strength through one-on-one duels to boost morale. Why don’t we follow their example and test our might in single combat?”

A one-on-one duel?

Heokyeong’s face twisted.

He knew well that besides Hwang Jang-gon, the Righteous Alliance had two other unknown pinnacle masters.

In contrast, the Mountain Sword Sect had only him left.

This was clearly a ploy to pick him off one by one.

Yet, despite this, Heokyeong accepted the challenge.

“Very well, Hwang Jang-gon. I accept your proposal! But on one condition: the victor continues to fight. Agreed? I will represent my side. If you have the confidence, come out now!”

Bisea-young frowned and muttered.

“Isn’t that reckless? You said the Righteous Alliance has two other unknown pinnacle masters.”

Sak Mu-heun shook his head.

“No, I think Heokyeong sees this as an opportunity. If they fought all-out, defeat is certain. But in one-on-one duels, especially with the winner continuing, it’s possible for Heokyeong to take down Hwang Jang-gon and the other two in succession.”

Sunwoo Jin nodded in agreement.

“Exactly. If he loses, it’s all over anyway. This is a chance Heokyeong cannot afford to miss—a chance to turn everything around. Hwang Jang-gon seems very clever, so it’s puzzling why he’d offer such an opportunity.”

As if to answer Sunwoo Jin’s question, Hwang Jang-gon laughed again and shouted out…

“Hahaha! Master Heo Moon-ju, you seem quite eager! But how can the leaders just step out and say they’re here for a simple test of strength? Here’s what I propose: neither you, Master Heo, nor any of the top experts will participate in the duel! Wouldn’t it be more fitting to give the younger generation a chance to build their reputations? Isn’t that the honorable thing for us seniors to do?”

Heo Gyeong’s expression shifted subtly at those words.

Though it wasn’t the complete turnaround he’d hoped for, if the top masters weren’t stepping into the ring, it wasn’t necessarily a disadvantage for their side.

In fact, this could be an opportunity to boost the morale that had been hitting rock bottom.

After a moment’s thought, Heo Gyeong readily agreed.

“Very well! Let’s do it that way!”

With the duel set, Sun Woo-jin’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“This could be an opportunity for us as well.”

“Hm? What kind of opportunity?”

“While everyone’s attention is focused on the one-on-one duel, we might be able to infiltrate the Jeonghyeopbang side.”

At that, Sak Mu-heun’s gaze sharpened.

“You mean to check on those top masters whose identities are unknown?”

“Exactly. We need to find out if they’re the Blood Sect’s leaders or not. And if they are…”

Sun Woo-jin’s words drew nods from both Sak Mu-heun and Bi Sa-yeong.

The three quickly relayed their plan to the other ronin among the Mountain Sword Sect and, moving stealthily, circled around toward Jeonghyeopbang.

Meanwhile, Heo Gyeong, as the Mountain Sword Sect’s head, immediately appointed Lee Gong-san as the commander of the escort unit.

Though barely in his early thirties, Lee Gong-san was already a first-rate mid-level martial artist—a promising talent Heo Gyeong had been keeping an eye on.

“Commander Lee, I trust you understand this duel is no ordinary contest. You must win!”

“Yes, Master! Leave it to me!”

With a crisp salute, Lee Gong-san prepared to launch himself toward the battlefield with light-footed agility.

But just as he was about to leap forward, he froze, spotting someone emerging from the Jeonghyeopbang side.

Lee Gong-san looked back at Heo Gyeong with a troubled expression.

“Master… the opponent who’s come out is…”

“Hm? What about them? What? A woman?!”

Indeed.

The champion stepping out from Jeonghyeopbang was a woman.

A young, beautiful woman.

Heo Gyeong’s anger flared as he shouted.

“To send a woman into a sacred duel! What kind of trick is this, Hwang Jang-gon?!”

A laugh came back immediately.

“Hahaha! Don’t get so worked up, Master Heo! Even a meal has appetizers, right? Watching a bunch of burly men fight from the start isn’t exactly thrilling! We have quite a few talented young female warriors in Jeonghyeopbang, so we thought we’d spice things up and give them a chance first! And don’t worry if the Mountain Sword Sect lacks female warriors—if needed, we can always send out a man who looks like a woman! Hahaha!”

Hwang Jang-gon’s words made Heo Gyeong grit his teeth once more.

Of course, he wouldn’t do anything to benefit their side.

In a duel where morale was on the line, facing a woman was no simple matter.

The Mountain Sword Sect had very few female warriors, and those they had weren’t exactly formidable.

Sending out a male warrior wasn’t an option either.

Even if a man won, it would only break even; but if he lost, the shame would be unbearable.

Besides, that sly Hwang Jang-gon wouldn’t have sent out just any woman.

No matter who came out, it had to be someone capable of defeating their fighters.

Heo Gyeong’s worry deepened.

Then, suddenly, a small, charming young woman sprang up from among the ronin and landed right before Heo Gyeong.

Clack!

Startled, Heo Gyeong’s guards drew their swords, wary of her sudden approach.

“Who are you?!”

But she didn’t seem to notice their threat. Instead, she smiled brightly and saluted Heo Gyeong.

“Pleased to meet you, Master! I am Cheon Ju-eun, the youngest of the Five Eagles siblings!”

Her lively, adorable voice made Heo Gyeong frown as he repeated the name.

“Hm? The Five Eagles siblings? Cheon Ju-eun?”

At that moment, Chief Commander Heo Jeon-sam hurried over.

“Didn’t I tell you before? We went through great trouble to bring her here from Zhejiang Province…”

Only then did Heo Gyeong recall. He remembered Heo Jeon-sam’s sudden visit, boasting about bringing trustworthy ronin.

At the time, he’d thought it was a fuss over some unknown fighters.

Now, he suddenly understood why she had come to see him and his eyes brightened.

“Ah, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Cheon. But I imagine you have a reason for coming to me at this very moment?”

Cheon Ju-eun smiled her trademark cute smile and replied.

“If given the chance, I would like to represent the Mountain Sword Sect and teach those hypocrites of Jeonghyeopbang a lesson!”

Just as expected.

Heo Gyeong smiled warmly at her words.

He couldn’t refuse a woman stepping forward.

Even if she lost, a duel between women wouldn’t carry much weight.

And if it turned out the opponent was a female master beyond her ability, they could always call for a proper fight between the men.

Heo Gyeong answered heartily.

“Very well, Miss Cheon! If you can uphold the honor of me and the Mountain Sword Sect, you will be generously rewarded!”

Hearing the words she’d been waiting for, Cheon Ju-eun smiled brightly, saluted, and sprang into action.

Whoosh!

In an instant, she soared into the air, covering a distance of four chang in a single bound.

The Mountain Sword Sect warriors gasped in awe at her nimble, bouncing movements.

“Whoa!”

“Such incredible light-footedness!”

“Like a cat! How can someone so agile be so cute?”

“Truly a doll-like young lady! Miss, you’re beautiful!”

Smiling again at the cheers, Cheon Ju-eun saluted the woman waiting for her from Jeonghyeopbang.

“I am Cheon Ju-eun, youngest of the Five Eagles siblings.”

Meanwhile, the three who had been moving stealthily toward Jeonghyeopbang stopped in surprise at the sight of Cheon Ju-eun stepping forward as the champion.

Sak Mu-heun asked Sun Woo-jin via telepathic communication.

“Is she really up to this? I thought her skills were inferior compared to Miss Cheong-yeon or myself.”

Sun Woo-jin and Bi Sa-yeong shared the same concern.

Cheon Ju-eun felt more like a cute little sister from the Seven Clans than a reliable comrade.

Not just because of her adorable appearance, but also because her skills were still lacking.

Still, Sun Woo-jin decided to set aside his worries.

“She probably came out with Miss Cheong-yeon’s approval. If Cheong-yeon thinks she’s ready, then she must be.”

Sun Woo-jin couldn’t fully trust Cheon Ju-eun’s abilities, but he had complete faith in Hae Cheong-yeon’s judgment.

To him, Hae Cheong-yeon was the wisest and most trustworthy person he knew.

As the group resumed their movement, the opponent standing opposite Cheon Ju-eun glared sharply and saluted in return.

“I am Ji Sang-im, youngest of the three Ji sisters from Jeogyeomsan.”

Heo Gyeong’s earlier thoughts were spot on.

The Ji sisters, renowned female warriors from one of Sichuan’s famed sword clans, were well-known throughout the province.

They were confident they could defeat any man, and among them, the youngest, Ji Sang-im, famed for her beauty, had volunteered first to showcase her skills and reputation.

Yet…

“The Five Eagles siblings? Who are they?”

“Cheon Ju-eun? Was there really such a cute female warrior?”

“How can someone be so adorable and yet so agile?”

The murmurs around them weren’t about Ji Sang-im, but solely about the small girl standing before her.

And it wasn’t just the Mountain Sword Sect warriors whispering.

Even the Jeonghyeopbang fighters behind Ji Sang-im were distracted, their attention fixed on the little girl ahead.

Ji Sang-im’s jealousy and anger boiled over.

“How dare that underdeveloped runt steal my chance to shine? I will never forgive this. I’ll make her a sacrifice to my fame right here and now!”

Without hesitation, Ji Sang-im drew her sword and declared.

Clang!

“Let’s begin immediately!”

Cheon Ju-eun smiled sweetly in response, placing her hand on the short sword at her waist and assuming a ready stance.

Crouched low, her small frame resembled a wildcat poised to pounce.