Blue wave (4)
The full moon shone brightly that night.
The gate guards of Guageom Sect were blinking hard to stave off the drowsiness creeping over them.
Then, suddenly, a woman's voice rang out.
"Help us! Please, someone help us!"
The guards' eyes snapped open wide, hands instantly drawing their weapons as they turned toward the source of the cry.
Chachang! Chang!
A woman, supporting another figure who seemed about to collapse, was running toward them, shouting.
The supported figure wore a hood pulled low, but her smaller build suggested she too was a woman.
The woman cried out again.
"A lecherous fiend is after us! Please!"
Behind them, the guards glimpsed a black-clad masked man, who hesitated when he saw them, then turned and vanished into the darkness.
The captain of the gate guards stepped forward, wary eyes still fixed on where the masked figure had fled, and spoke reassuringly to the women.
"You are safe now, ladies. Since you have reached Guageom Sect, we will protect you from here on."
Tears welled in the woman's eyes as she bowed gratefully.
"Thank you. We were attacked so suddenly, my friend was injured, and I feared I'd be overpowered as well… but truly, Guageom Sect lives up to its reputation."
At her words, the captain gave a meaningful smile.
"Come inside and rest. Your friend should receive treatment."
"Yes, we'll accept your kindness then. Thank you."
He ordered the gate opened, allowing the two women inside, then asked,
"By the way, where do you come from?"
"Ah, we are disciples of Cheongpung Sect, a branch family of Cheongseong. We were on our way to visit Cheongseong's main mountain when…"
Just then—
The moment the gate closed, the captain, following behind them, suddenly thrust his hand forward, striking the woman's back to seal her acupuncture point.
Tak!
The startled woman cried out.
"Ahh! What are you doing?!"
In the same motion, he struck the other woman on the back as well.
Tak!
"Perhaps I dreamed well last night. I didn't expect such fortune to fall into my lap."
Gone was the polite demeanor. His expression now brimmed with greedy lust.
This so-called captain of Guageom's guards was in truth Ma Chungseol, a top-class first-rate warrior of the Blood Cult, stationed here by the Allied Justice Gang.
Gazing at the two women collapsed on the ground, he trembled with excitement.
Both were rare beauties—the unveiled one already radiant, and the veiled one, even with just a glimpse of her face, promised equal allure.
And now he knew they were from Cheongpung Sect, some third-rate clan. That left no reason for restraint.
"Heheheh! Boredom ends at last. Since they'll belong to the brothers inside soon enough, I may as well have my fun first."
Though paralyzed, one of the women could still cry out since her speech meridians weren't sealed.
"What… what are you doing?! Why would a guard of Guageom—?!"
"Kehahaha! Did I ever say I was a guard of Guageom Sect?"
Her face blanched. She screamed with all her might.
"Help! He's a lecher! Someone, please!"
Hearing her cry, Ma Chungseol's face twisted with pleasure, his body shuddering.
The sound of her fear, the writhing of her body—it all drove him into a frenzy.
"Yes, yes. Such a pretty face, such a sweet voice."
He bent down to flip her body over.
At that instant—something flashed from her sleeve.
Puk!
"Gahk!"
As her body turned, a dagger pierced straight into Ma Chungseol's heart.
He had been too careless, too lustful. Even as a top-class first-rate martial artist, he hadn't the chance to react.
Eyes bulging in shock, blood gurgling from his lips, he croaked,
"But I sealed… your meridians… how…?"
And then he collapsed.
Lady Jeong Yeon quickly released the acupoint of the hooded "injured companion"—Seonu Jin—and whispered,
"I'm sorry. We should have found out where the women were being kept first…"
Seonu Jin replied swiftly,
"No. You made the right call. With him trying that, you had no choice. Distracting him was all we could do."
They had already anticipated the likelihood of him trying to seal them.
That was why Seonu Jin, leaning on Jeong Yeon's support, had kept his senses keenly focused. When Ma Chungseol struck, he secretly unsealed her point in the same instant.
Being pressed so closely against her had made it possible.
But the original plan—to be taken inside and learn where the women were held—had failed.
The man had tried to sate himself right there, under the eyes of other guards. Truly, a Blood Cult degenerate to the core.
Around them, the other guards cried out.
"That wench killed the captain!"
"Catch her!"
The patrols circling inside the walls, who had been watching idly, now rushed forward in shock.
Jeong Yeon, still supporting Seonu Jin, drew her sword in one hand and sprinted back toward the gate.
At the same time, Bi Sayeong and Jeong An were hiding outside along Guageom's side wall.
They had played the part of black-clad pursuers earlier, but once Jeong Yeon had screamed for help, they knew for certain Guageom Sect housed Blood Cult's men.
That had been the signal to move.
—This way.
Though not as sharp as Seonu Jin, Bi Sayeong's training kept his senses honed. He had already spotted a weakly-guarded section of wall and now crouched there, waiting.
Then voices drifted from within.
"The women are escaping! After them!"
"What about this side of the wall?"
"Catch them quick and come back! It'll be fine!"
When the sentries abandoned their posts to rush toward Jeong Yeon and Seonu Jin, Bi Sayeong sent a whispered transmission.
—Now, Lady!
He vaulted lightly over the wall—smooth and silent as a black cat.
Jeong An followed right after. Her movement, just as she had boasted, was excellent.
Once sure she had landed safely, Bi Sayeong sharpened his senses, probing the compound.
The plan had been for Jeong Yeon and Seonu Jin to discover where the women were held. But since they had not, the responsibility now fell to him.
The weight of it honed his focus like a blade.
Just then, Jeong An's nervous voice reached him through sound transmission.
—Lord Bi, I'm trembling so much. What should I do?
Bi Sayeong let out a soft chuckle despite himself.
So eager to infiltrate, and now, at last inside, the nerves had struck her.
—Don't worry, my lady. The real danger is with Jeong Yeon and Jin distracting them. We're not in as risky a role. Trust me.
Of course, no one knew what enemies lurked deeper inside. But he could hardly admit that to her.
—I think the captives are likely kept in one of the inner buildings. What do you think?
—Yes, I think so too.
—Then let's go.
Keeping low, Bi Sayeong slipped between buildings, stealthy as a prowling cat.
Face flushed with excitement beneath her mask, Jeong An trailed close behind.
Neither realized that from a rooftop, two pairs of eyes were watching their every move.
—What do you think?
—Entertaining. Let's watch a bit longer, shall we?
—Hmm… perhaps so.
Meanwhile, Jeong Yeon—still supporting the "wounded woman" Seonu Jin—slammed open the main gate and dashed out.
Beyond the flung-open gate, four gate guards came into view.
They stared in surprise at the open doors, then spotted the pair and instantly reached for their weapons.
Jeong Yeon lunged at the nearest one, sword flashing. They had to strike before the guards were fully prepared.
"Haaap!"
Chaaeng!
Her blade was blocked with ease, and Jeong Yeon clenched her teeth.
Even the lowliest gate guards, clearly Blood Cult lackeys, were first-rate warriors with their inner power filled to the brim.
"You wench, how dare you!"
The guard who parried her sword spat a curse. Jeong Yeon pressed forward, refusing to relent, but at that moment—
Pusshhk!
"Guhhhk!"
A hidden dart shot out like lightning from beneath Seonu Jin's cloak, piercing straight through the man's throat. His eyes went blank as life drained away.
Jeong Yeon froze, startled at the sudden turn, when a voice rang in her ear.
—Lady! Behind you!
Snapping back to her senses, she spun around. Another Blood Cult guard was already bearing down on her.
"You bitch!"
Gritting her teeth, Jeong Yeon unleashed a flurry of dazzling sword-light.
"Eiiik!"
Shushushuuk!
The chaotic, wind-like slashes—the signature of the Chaotic Wind Sword, an Ami Sect technique.
Cha-cha-cha-cha-chang!
Though pressed hard, Jeong Yeon managed to fend off the sudden strike. The technique's power was formidable, but more than that, her opponent was careless.
Though his inner strength was first-rate, he lacked true mastery. He hadn't yet considered that she could actually kill him.
And at that instant, another dart streaked from beneath Seonu Jin's cloak.
Pyushhk!
"Kuhhhk!"
At such close range, with no warning motion visible, the first-rate warrior had no chance to block.
The remaining two guards cried out.
"The injured woman is throwing hidden weapons! Be careful!"
"You damned slut!"
But Jeong Yeon only heard Seonu Jin's steady voice in her ear.
—Face them boldly, lady. I'll cover your back.
At that, a smile rose unbidden to her lips. In this moment, his voice was the most reassuring thing in the world.
Since the day she first held a sword, her elders had always judged her the same:
She had talent, but her over-cautious nature and constant second-guessing hampered her growth.
The exact opposite of Jeong An, who was reckless and heedless, yet progressed swiftly if she survived.
Jeong Yeon knew her flaw well, but temperament was not easily changed.
And yet now, without realizing it, she was charging forward with reckless courage—wielding even the Ami Sect's most aggressive art: The Sword of Annihilation.
First stance of the Sword of Annihilation.
Demon-Slaying Ghost.
Kiiiiiieeek!
Her sword screamed with a ghostly wail, unfit for orthodox swordplay.
The storm of slashes tore through the air like claws of a maddened fiend.
Cha-cha-cha-cha-chang!
"Aaaghh!"
One of the guards, overwhelmed, finally failed to block. Jeong Yeon's sword shredded him mercilessly.
"Haa… haa…"
She stared in shock at the corpse, realizing she had just slain a peer first-rate warrior almost unconsciously.
Then Seonu Jin's voice pressed again.
—Well done, lady! But now we must flee!
"Ah! Y-yes!"
Jolted back, she grabbed him and leapt forward.
The last guard already lay dead, a dart buried in his neck.
As Jeong Yeon carried Seonu Jin onward, more warriors poured out from inside the gate.
They saw the corpses of their comrades and shouted in alarm.
"She killed all the brothers at the gate!"
"Was she a master in disguise?!"
"Quick, call for the captains and the elders!"
Guageom Sect boiled with chaos, like a hive stirred with a stick.
They could not allow their secret to escape alive.
From within, warriors surged out, chasing Jeong Yeon and Seonu Jin into the night streets.
'As expected of Jin… solid as ever.'
Bi Sayeong, hidden nearby, grinned with satisfaction. With the guards drawn out, searching the compound would now be far easier.
Inside the sect's main hall.
In the sect master's chamber—empty of its true master for months—two men sat drinking.
They were Ma Jangdo Yang Bulgi, eldest disciple of the Blood Demon Elder Jang Sansama, and Jim Mado Myeong Daesul, his junior. They had been running Guageom ever since its takeover.
Yang Bulgi suddenly frowned.
"Something's noisy outside. What's going on?"
Myeong Daesul shrugged, uninterested.
"Probably nothing. Just some trivial fuss."
But Yang Bulgi shook his head.
"No. I heard something about women escaping. Could it be one of the captives? Go check."
Yang Bulgi's inner strength had surpassed eighty years; Myeong Daesul's had not yet crossed that threshold. That was why only the elder could hear clearly.
Grimacing, the junior stood.
"Tch. Where are the third and fourth when you need them?"
He went out grumbling, then soon returned.
"It's not one of the captives. A woman actually walked in of her own accord, but slipped away at the last moment. That's why it's so noisy—they're chasing her."
At that, Yang Bulgi's face twisted in irritation.
"She slipped past the captains? What fools. They should be executed."
"No need. She already killed the captain. Must've caught him off guard. Idiot deserved it."
Yang Bulgi's eyes gleamed strangely.
"She killed a captain? That woman?"
Stroking his chin, he suddenly rose.
Myeong Daesul blinked.
"You're going yourself?"
Yang Bulgi smiled greedily.
"I've been bored. Bedding captives already broken is dull. It's best when you catch them yourself. I'll be back shortly. Keep guard here."
"Fine. I'll fetch a girl or two myself. If she's pretty, bring her alive."
"Kheh, understood."
With that, Yang Bulgi left the hall.
Neither Seonu Jin nor Bi Sayeong knew that Ma Jangdo Yang Bulgi, a master with over eighty years of cultivation—on par with Man Jongrim of the Thirteenth Flying Dragon Division—had gone out to pursue them.
Nor that Jim Mado Myeong Daesul, with seventy years of power, remained behind guarding the main hall.