Episode 63

Blood Clan Ghost Mosigal crouched in the shadows beneath the wall, sending silent signals to his subordinates.

“Get ready. The moment the men step forward, we strike.”

“Yes, understood!”

Mosigal had arrived at Gui Province’s Inhoe, where the Mountain Sword Sect’s gate stood, just yesterday.

He simply couldn’t tolerate the rumors about the Celestial Beauty, Yeon Hae.

So, after securing permission from the mighty warhorse master, Jeo Ungwon, to kidnap her, he had come to Inhoe with four top-tier subordinates—each a peak master with over seventy years of internal energy cultivation, including himself and the formidable Gui Zan Do So Yurung.

They were patiently waiting for the right moment.

But the woman known as Yeon Hae, the so-called Celestial Beauty, seemed to have barricaded herself inside the Mountain Sword Sect’s gate, refusing to come out at all.

Mosigal had planned to wait only until tomorrow. If she still didn’t appear, he intended to storm the sect’s gate.

So, her voluntarily stepping outside now was a stroke of luck he couldn’t have asked for.

He licked his lips, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“Heh heh heh… She’s beautiful. Truly beautiful. What if she hadn’t come out?”

At that moment, a subordinate’s silent message came through.

“What about the riffraff nearby, brother?”

Mosigal’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Have you already forgotten Lord Magun’s orders? Don’t do anything to draw attention. We don’t have time to kill those lowlifes. We grab Yeon Hae and get out immediately.”

“But… the two women nearby are pretty too,” the subordinate said.

Only then did Mosigal glance at Cheon Ju-eun and Na Seo-yu’s faces.

Indeed, hidden behind Hae Cheong-yeon’s presence, they were beauties not easily seen.

Apparently, his men thought it a shame to leave them behind.

“Handle them as you see fit. But no delays.”

With his permission granted, the subordinates responded eagerly.

“Yes, brother!”

Mosigal and Gui Zan Do So Yurung were both peak masters with over seventy years of internal energy cultivation—on par with Heo Kyung, the Mountain Sword Sect’s leader.

They had never worried about kidnapping a Celestial Beauty.

Their only concern, especially after the warning from So Myeon Magun’s disciple, Sa Won-yang, was to avoid attracting attention.

So Mosigal had sent one subordinate into the tavern first, planning to have him cause a ruckus on signal.

When the men stepped forward to stop the troublemaker, they would be vulnerable to a swift ambush from behind, allowing them to snatch Yeon Hae.

It seemed simple, but it was a plan honed through experience.

“Men get reckless when a beautiful woman is nearby. Even those who wouldn’t care when alone will step forward now. That’s just how men are. Heh heh heh.”

And just as Mosigal predicted, the men began moving toward the tavern, leaving the three women gathered behind—perfect for an ambush.

Mosigal sent the signal.

“One, two, three—attack! Ready? One, two, three!”

With a sudden burst, Mosigal, So Yurung, and three other Blood Cultists darted like wolves pouncing on prey, swiftly closing in behind Hae Cheong-yeon.

At that moment, she suddenly turned around.

Mosigal, charging wildly, caught a glimpse of her eyes—and felt a flicker of confusion.

There was no trace of panic or fear in her gaze.

“What’s this? Is she just stunned?”

But he quickly realized that wasn’t it.

From behind her, like a fierce tiger leaping out, came Shin-hyung—second son of the Five Eagles, Chang-hyuk.

Mosigal shouted in shock.

“How?!”

His plan and ambush should have been flawless—how could they have anticipated it?

He couldn’t comprehend the situation.

He had no idea this outing was a trap from the start, nor that Seol Pung had sensed their ambush long ago.

There was no time to ponder.

Seol Pung’s whirlwind kick struck at him with lightning speed and force.

KRAAANG!

“Ugh!”

Though he crossed his arms to block, the shock sent a jolt through his body, knocking him backward midair.

Struggling to regain balance, Mosigal shouted.

“A master! Take him down first!”

But as he shouted and glanced around, he was stunned.

Gui Zan Do So Yurung, a master on par with himself, was already locked in fierce combat with a burly swordsman.

Clang! Clang!

The young swordsman was no novice.

“Where did these guys come from…?”

When Mosigal realized the swordsman’s style was the Pointed Spear Sect’s Four-Stage Sword Technique, a chill ran down his spine.

At that moment, one of his subordinates who had charged from behind was suddenly cut in half, blood spurting out.

Gasp!

Mosigal was shocked.

The one who killed his subordinate was none other than the Celestial Beauty herself, Yeon Hae.

Her sword radiated a brilliant sky-blue aura.

“Celestial Beauty… a peak master?”

But he couldn’t afford to be distracted.

Seol Pung was still attacking him like a raging tiger.

SWISH!

“Argh?!”

By the time Mosigal snapped back to reality, Seol Pung’s Shin-hyung was already upon him.

He hastily raised his arm to block the tiger-like strike.

But instead of a blow, Seol Pung’s hand suddenly grabbed his arm.

Thwack!

“Ugh?!”

With a small circular motion, Seol Pung twisted Mosigal’s arm down, exposing his face.

Then, like a lightning bolt, he delivered a crushing punch.

BAM!

“Guh!”

Mosigal barely turned his head to avoid the full force.

The strike grazed his earlobe with such power it felt like it might tear off.

A storm seemed to pass by his face, sending a chill down his spine.

That was the last sensation he felt.

Seol Pung’s follow-up punch struck his jaw without delay.

CRACK!

His head exploded like a watermelon.

Gui Zan Do So Yurung, locked in battle with Jeon Won-young of the Pointed Spear Sect, was horrified.

Mosigal’s head was gone, replaced by a fountain of blood.

Whatever had happened, one thing was clear.

If he stayed here fighting, he’d end up the same.

“Ughhh!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Pouring all his strength into a final slash, Yurung spun and fled, shouting.

“Retreat! Everyone, fall back!”

But no one was left to hear him.

Of the three top-tier subordinates they’d brought, one had already fallen to Yeon Hae, another to the combined attack of Na Seo-yu and Cheon Ju-eun, and the last to Bae Jong-gwan’s crescent blade.

Yurung fled in a panic, running as if his life depended on it.

Had he ever run so frantically in his life?

Fortunately, the monsters didn’t pursue.

Still, he ran until he was gasping for breath.

Only after a long while, certain they weren’t following, did he stop to catch his breath.

“What the hell…”

Yurung couldn’t collect his thoughts.

He had thought that with two peak masters over seventy years’ cultivation and three top-tier subordinates, storming the Mountain Sword Sect’s main base would be no problem.

But what was this? Losing Mosigal and three subordinates to a handful of ronin?

The one who caused trouble in the tavern hadn’t been involved in the fight and would return soon, but even so, the damage was severe.

Now, among Jeo Ungwon’s subordinates, only Yurung himself, one peak beginner in hiding, and three top-tier fighters remained.

Assuming the tavern troublemaker returned safely.

“What now?”

Yurung muttered fearfully.

He dreaded reporting this to Jeo Ungwon.

No, more precisely, he feared the news reaching So Myeon Magun’s disciple.

If this disrupted their plans…

“Ugh, that can’t happen.”

He shuddered as if the mere thought was horrifying.

Better to die than face her wrath.

Yurung stood dazed for a long moment before finally moving.

He had to report to Jeo Ungwon, after all.

With heavy steps, he set off again.

Unbeknownst to him, three figures were stealthily following behind.

Sun Woo-jin sent a silent message to Sak Mu-heun and Bi Sa-young, who was trailing a bit farther back.

“Follow. They’re moving.”

“Got it. Do you think they’re fighting?”

“Hard to say. Two peak masters over seventy years’ cultivation came together, all for just one Yeon Hae. Madmen with that kind of skill are almost certainly fighting.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Soyurung was heading toward Sichuan Province.

Bisayeong, having gauged the direction, spoke again.

“If it’s this way, it seems more likely to be the Jeonghyeop faction rather than the Yun family’s territory.”

“It’s still too early to say for sure. It could be a forward base of the Yun family in Sichuan.”

After about an hour’s ride, Soyurung arrived at a secluded estate nestled in the forest near the border between Guizhou and Sichuan.

As he entered the estate, the three of them climbed onto the wall to observe what was happening inside.

Suddenly, a loud roar echoed from within.

“What?! At Mosigal? We lost three men under my command?!”

In the front yard knelt a man who had been chasing them.

Standing before him was a bald giant with a bear-like build and dark, weathered skin.

Bisayeong immediately sent a silent message.

“Found him!”

The figure matched exactly the description of the legendary giant Ma Jeowngwon they had heard about.

Given the situation, further confirmation seemed unnecessary.

Sakmuhun turned to the two and said, “Let’s head back now.”

The original plan was to find the giant’s hideout, then return with reinforcements to ambush them.

Only Seolpung was capable of facing a giant with over ninety years of internal energy.

But despite Sakmuhun’s words, Sunwoo Jin and Bisayeong hesitated to leave.

Behind the giant stood three subordinates.

One of them held a woman in his arms, wearing a greedy smile.

Bisayeong sent another silent message.

“She’s been acupoint-sealed, it seems. Can’t move at all.”

“Yeah, tears are streaming down her face. Judging by her clothes, she hasn’t been harmed too badly yet…”

But all three knew that was only ‘for now.’

They could tell at a glance what the men had been about to do before stopping.

If Sunwoo Jin and the others retreated now, the woman’s fate was clear—and grim.

Sakmuhun sighed quietly and sent a message to the two.

“I understand your sympathy, but sometimes you have to accept the impossible. None of us three can take down even one giant.”

He was right.

And they knew it well.

They couldn’t risk their lives for a woman they didn’t even know.

But knowing and acting were two different things.

They were well aware that none of the women taken by the giants from the front lines had ever been found—even as corpses.

If they left now, that woman would likely suffer a fate worse than death.

At that moment, Bisayeong signaled to step back.

His eyes were filled with a resolute determination.

From a slight distance, he whispered so the enemies wouldn’t hear.

“I’ll try to lure the giant away. Meanwhile, Sak-hyung and Jin, you rescue the woman.”

Sakmuhun and Sunwoo Jin, who had already guessed his resolve, sighed and objected.

“That’s too dangerous. No matter how skilled your new technique is, you’re facing a master aiming for the absolute peak.”

“Exactly. We acknowledge your skill, but the risk is just too high.”

Bisayeong grinned confidently.

“Why the fuss? I’m the top disciple of the Bijong Sect and even Seolpung recognizes me as the strongest with the new technique. Do you really think some bear like that can catch me, no matter how strong he is?”

Then, with a serious look filled with unwavering will, he added,

“And… I can’t just stand by thinking about our female comrades. If it were a clean death, maybe I could accept it. But it’s obvious what kind of horrors she’s about to face. I can’t let this happen.”

Sunwoo Jin sighed.

Bisayeong’s resolve was unshakable.

And honestly, he felt the same way—unable to just stand by.

In a heavy voice, he asked,

“Are you really sure about this?”

Bisayeong smiled again.

“Trust me. Our team is perfectly balanced—me to draw him out with the new technique, and you two to fight him head-on.”

And so, their course of action was set.