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Im Sobyeong smirked as he observed Jongli Gok's twisted expression.
"Do you have a problem with this?"
Jongli Gok almost drove his sword into that sly face.
No, perhaps there wasn't even a need to hesitate. After all, wasn't this guy part of the evil sect? It might even be better to take this opportunity...
"Hoo."
However, Jongli Gok soon suppressed his frustration and let out a long sigh.
Those associated with the Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword all seemed to have a knack for shattering one's composure.
But regardless, this was clearly his own mistake this time.
"This won't happen again."
"Oh, it's not something that can end so simply."
"....What do you mean by that?"
"You don't intend to fight forever, do you? I'm sure you're familiar with the term 'contradiction'."
Jongli Gok let out another brief sigh.
'Contradiction.'
He wasn't wrong. Jongli Gok's sword could hold off Jeok Ho, but it was difficult to bring him down. Conversely, Jeok Ho couldn't overcome Jongli Gok's sword, but he could endure.
In short, it was a fight without a definitive outcome.
If this weren't a battlefield, one could continue until one of them tired out. But now wasn't the time for that.
Jongli Gok glanced briefly at Im Sobyeong.
'So, I'm supposed to trust this unreliable guy.'
It was a conclusion he'd rather avoid, but there was no other choice.
Still, one thing nagged at him.
"….But."
"Hmm?"
"That scenario doesn't seem to work in our favor."
As soon as Jongli Gok finished speaking, Thousand Faced Manipulator, Dam Yeohae, stepped forward to stand beside Jeok Ho.
"Hah! Are you underestimating me?"
Im Sobyeong asked as though he were incredulous, but Jongli Gok ignored him completely.
No matter how highly one rated Im Sobyeong, it was hard to see him as equal to Thousand Faced Manipulator. Even though Im Sobyeong had just blocked his attack a moment ago…
'That alone doesn't mean they're on the same level.'
It was a cold, objective assessment, devoid of flattery. Even if Im Sobyeong was a genius with both extraordinary intellect and martial talent, Thousand Faced Manipulator possessed an undeniable advantage he couldn't surpass.
The advantage of time—years of experience.
"Hmm."
Jongli Gok frowned slightly. No matter how he looked at it, the situation wasn't favorable. But it didn't really matter.
Jongli Gok spoke firmly to Im Sobyeong.
"Hold that formation for a moment. I'll take care of Thousand Faced Manipulator and come help."
"You're not suggesting a joint attack?"
"….The mere thought is horrifying. Working hand-in-hand with someone from the evil sect."
"Let's be clear. I'll be the hands, and you can be the feet."
For a moment, Jongli Gok's patience was about to snap. Only the decades he had spent as the leader of Zhongnan's sect allowed him to hold back the stream of curses on the tip of his tongue.
He briefly entertained the thought that dragging the fight out wouldn't be so bad, as long as it lasted until Im Sobyeong lost his head.
"Can you do it?"
"What do you think of me?"
"A bandit."
"…You're not wrong, but still."
Im Sobyeong muttered something about needing a career change, grumbling about how filthy this job was. Jongli Gok ignored his complaints and focused all his attention on Thousand Faced Manipulator.
Thousand Faced Manipulator and Jeok Ho didn't seem to consider working together, either. Not surprising—combining forces without prior coordination wasn't as simple as it seemed.
Instead, they would likely opt to quickly defeat their individual opponents.
Just as Jongli Gok would.
"Now answer me. Can you manage it?"
"Tsk."
Im Sobyeong leisurely fanned himself, exuding a relaxed air as if he were here for a pleasant outing.
Regardless of his true thoughts, simply maintaining such composure in a situation like this was impressive. Jongli Gok had to admit that much. It was clear why someone so young could rise to the title of the Nokrim King.
"Well, I'll finish quickly and come to help you. Just hold on without making a mess. There will be a gentleman who will feel uneasy if the Sect Leader dies here."
For the first time, Jongli Gok chuckled faintly.
"You mean he'd feel upset, not relieved?"
"Hmm. That's possible too."
Jongli Gok found himself growing a little curious.
If that fiery-tempered rascal heard that Jongli Gok had been killed by the evil sect, how would he react?
"But I doubt he'd be happy about it."
"...Hmm?"
Jongli Gok looked at Im Sobyeong as though he had just said something unexpected.
"The sect leader of a righteous faction, humiliated and defeated by the evil sect? That guy would throw a fit, screaming about what that makes Mount Hua, who took beatings from Zhongnan while he was gone."
"Kuh…"
He tried to hold back, but a laugh escaped him. The thought of Cheong Myeong frothing at the mouth, shouting those exact words, vividly played in his mind.
"That does sound likely."
"Doesn't it?"
"…Then I guess I have no choice but to survive. I can't let him mock me even after I die."
Im Sobyeong chuckled as well. Though it wasn't the time for laughter, he quickly suppressed it.
His gaze turned toward Jeok Ho.
'So, that's my opponent?'
A sigh naturally slipped out. That type of simple-minded brute wasn't exactly to his taste. If he had to fight, he'd prefer someone with a little more refinement.
"Your name's Jeok Ho, right?"
"...."
"Consider it an honor. I'll be your opponent."
Jeok Ho's lips twitched, clearly displeased.
"You?"
"Why? You don't like it..."
Kwaaaaah!
Without warning, a powerful surge of qi unique to Jeok Ho shot toward Im Sobyeong. It was the same clean and overwhelming energy that had shaken him once before.
Jongli Gok's expression stiffened. The trajectory of the qi was peculiar—if Im Sobyeong failed to block it, it would naturally redirect toward Jongli Gok. The arc of the attack made it clear that this was Jeok Ho's way of lodging a complaint.
Reflexively, Jongli Gok moved his sword.
"Tsk."
In that instant, Im Sobyeong clicked his tongue softly, then extended his fan with an almost casual motion.
Swish.
It looked as though he was lightly fanning himself, but the result was anything but light.
Kwaaaang!
The qi that had grazed past Im Sobyeong buried itself into the ground, exploding on impact. With a simple motion, the fan had diverted the trajectory of Jeok Ho's attack.
Jeok Ho's eyes flickered with interest.
'What was that fan's movement just now?'
It was soft, almost like the flowing style of the Wudang sword technique, yet distinctly different. The curves and straight lines intertwined freely, exuding a sense of wild unpredictability.
One thing was certain—there was a martial principle within it that Jeok Ho had never encountered before.
Intrigued, Jeok Ho stepped forward.
"Interesting. You're worth facing."
"Well, that's quite an honor."
Im Sobyeong replied with a bright smile.
Jeok Ho's upper lip twitched with irritation. Strangely, the Nokrim King's smile was irritating. Even though it didn't seem to be intended to provoke him.
Still, wiping that smile off his face was simple enough.
It was the moment when Jeok Ho was about to kick the ground and rush at Im Sobyeong.
Crack.
Jeok Ho's eyes widened in shock.
The fan was already in front of him—no, it was directly covering his face. The fully opened fan was descending toward him like a curtain.
Instinctively, Jeok Ho swung his blade horizontally.
The moment his blade clashed with the fan, he realized something was wrong. Instead of tearing through the fan, it clung to his blade, wrapping around it tightly like a taut bowstring.
Before he could process the sensation, a powerful rotational force traveled up the blade, invading his wrist.
Thud.
The twisting force threatened to snap his wrist, and Jeok Ho, realizing the danger, immediately leapt backward, spinning his body to release the pressure.
"Keuh!"
Despite the recoil, Jeok Ho retaliated with another slash, unleashing three consecutive strikes in quick succession—upward, left, and right.
Yet, before the strikes could fully manifest, the folded fan intercepted his blade mid-motion.
Clang!
'What?'
Jeok Ho was startled. The fan hadn't blocked a completed strike—it had intercepted his intent before the attack could take form. It was as if Im Sobyeong had read his thoughts.
Jeok Ho was so surprised that his heart leapt into his throat that he tried to quickly pull away.
"Not so fast."
At that moment, the fan, which had been folded, opened once more and multiplied, surrounding Jeok Ho from all sides. His entire field of vision was overtaken by the fluttering movement of fans, resembling a swarm of butterflies.
Jeok Ho grit his teeth and channeled all his strength into his grip.
Thud.
His entire body became a whirlwind of qi as he swung his blade wildly in all directions. A violent storm of energy surged around him, making it seem impossible for mere fans to penetrate.
But then, Im Sobyeong's fan changed its form again.
One of the fans that had been swinging around Jeok Ho with its wide-open shape folded with a clanging sound and swung around fiercely, hitting Jeok Ho's sword tip precisely.
Taang!
The blade stopped, frozen in mid-air. And then...
"Uppercut."
Thud!
Im Sobyeong pushed Jeok Ho's sword aside with consecutive strikes, closing the distance to his chest in an instant.
"Long time no see, huh?"
"You!"
Bang!
Im Sobyeong's palm struck upward, hitting Jeokho's jaw. Jeokho's head snapped back as if it would break, and his body was sent flying into the air.
The folding fan, seemingly weightless, struck Jeok Ho's chest mid-air. It looked as effortless as swatting a fly.
Tudududuk!
Jeok Ho's body hurtled like an arrow and crashed into the earth.
Kung. Kuung.
After rolling a few times, he lay sprawled out on the ground.
"...."
A strange silence followed.
Jeok Ho's silence was to be expected, but the true source of the quiet was Jongli Gok and Thousand Faced Manipulator. They stood frozen, unable to hide their shock, staring blankly at Im Sobyeong.
What in the world just happened?
"Tsk."
Im Sobyeong calmly unfolded his fan, gently fanning himself as he spoke.
"See? I told you. Martial artists like you from Kangho don't think things through. Did you think I won the title of Nokrim King in a gambling den or something?"
He let out a scoffing laugh, clearly annoyed.
"Believe it or not, I'm a rare owner of the Five Yin [o-eum,오음(五陰)]... or is it Four Yin now? Ugh... how many Yin was it again?"
Tilting his head as if trying to recall, he eventually gave up and shook it with a carefree gesture.
"Anyway, as someone possessing one of those rare meridians, do you think I'd be weak?
Looking down at the collapsed Jeok Ho, Im Sobyeong let out a faint chuckle.
"Sure, I can't handle someone like the monster from Mount Hua, but come on—do you really think someone like you could take me down?"
Jeok Ho, who had been lying still, began to stir. Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet, blood dripping from his lips.
"...Indeed."
His teeth, now stained crimson, gleamed as he smiled. Even after being thoroughly defeated, his face glowed with unmistakable joy.
"It seems I started off wrong. I humbly request your teachings, Nokrim King."
"It's not too hard to oblige. But…"
Im Sobyeong flashed a sly smile.
"You'd better be prepared. The teachings of the Nokrim King are expensive."
From Jeok Ho's eyes, a murderous intent mingled with exhilaration began to pour out.