Match
Of all those still reeling from shock, Dokgo Seol was the first to recover her senses.
She shook her head slowly. Pyeong-u's overwhelming speed and flawless movements had been impressive, but what astonished her most was the moment he had first drawn his sword.
"Haaah… Sword qi…"
The realm where one could infuse energy into a blade and project it outward—commonly called sword qi wounding an opponent.
The most important meaning of sword qi wounding an opponent lay in the skill of the user.
It meant that the martial artist's cultivation had reached its peak.
People called such warriors supreme masters.
One against a thousand—the dream realm where a single person could stand against a thousand foes.
The Invincible Sword Han Chu-gwang had shocked the orthodox martial world by reaching the rank of supreme master at the age of thirty-one.
But Pyeong-u… was only twenty.
How many in thousands of years of martial history had reached the supreme realm before the age of twenty?
In the last hundred years, the only one with such a reputation was the Heavenly Demon Sword Baek Un-hoe.
If Pyeong-u's skill became known, the entire martial world would be shaken. The current titles for the most promising young warriors—like the "Five Dragons and Three Peaks" or "Twelve Moons of the Rivers and Lakes"—would have to be rewritten.
Jin Dam-hwi's face had gone deathly pale. He was trembling so hard his teeth clacked. It was a wonder he hadn't wet himself.
Dokgo Seol looked from Pyeong-u to Cheon Ryuyeong.
"Pyeong-u is incredible, but so is Young Master Cheon."
Cheon Ryuyeong had personally chosen Pyeong-u as his escort. At the time, she had wondered why—because she was one of the few who knew his discernment from the time they had fought against the Demonic Sect.
She couldn't quite understand how it was possible, and could only give a wry smile.
Without a word, Cheon Ryuyeong rose from the porch and picked up the club he had set down.
Dokgo Seol swallowed her bitter smile.
"Do you want to take revenge yourself?"
It was understandable.
But right now, Cheon Ryuyeong barely looked capable of standing.
"Miss Dokgo. Do you remember what I said earlier?"
"What?"
"I said I would become ruthless."
"What are you getting at?"
Cheon Ryuyeong turned his gaze to Jin Dam-hwi, who was half out of his wits.
"You! I'll give you a chance to live."
Jin Dam-hwi's eyes locked onto him. As everyone watched in puzzlement, Cheon Ryuyeong twisted his torn lips into a smile.
"Defeat me, and you can live."
"…?"
"Final round—third bout. Let's begin."
"…!"
At Cheon Ryuyeong's declaration, Pyeong-u was so stunned he couldn't speak, while Dokgo Seol barked at him almost angrily,
"Young Master Cheon! What are you talking about? You can barely stand—how can you think of fighting?"
Cheon Su-yeon also sprang up and shouted,
"Brother! Are you out of your mind?"
She was terrified by the scene she had just witnessed, but also deeply relieved.
The people who had come to save them were incredibly strong, and seemed to be on close terms with her brother. Joy at having survived surged in her chest.
She was curious why such a stunning beauty called her brother "Young Master," but this wasn't the time to ask.
Her brother's sudden announcement that he would continue the match left her dumbfounded.
Cheon Ryuyeong turned from Jin Dam-hwi to his sister.
"Don't worry. I'm fine."
Then he spoke to Dokgo Seol.
"I will deal with him."
His voice was clear, but carried an unyielding stubbornness.
Dokgo Seol pleaded,
"Leave the revenge to us. Don't you know what kind of condition you're in right now?"
Cheon Ryuyeong shook his head.
"It's not just about revenge—I have something to confirm."
Dokgo Seol frowned.
"Confirm? What is it?"
"I'm not certain. That's why I'm going to find out now."
She was so exasperated she could feel her temper boiling.
"What kind of answer is that?"
Cheon Ryuyeong slowly stepped forward, standing in the center of the yard, and called out to Jin Dam-hwi.
"Come."
Jin Dam-hwi glanced between Dokgo Seol and Pyeong-u, not knowing what to do. It seemed like he was being offered a chance to live, but he couldn't quite believe it.
Dokgo Seol glared at him, then turned back to Cheon Ryuyeong.
"Young Master Cheon, I don't understand your actions at all."
She even wondered if he had taken a blow to the head and lost his senses. Others seemed to share her concern.
But Cheon Ryuyeong, in his characteristic deep, calm voice, said,
"My body is as heavy as lead, but my mind has never been clearer. If you trust me, leave this to me."
"I don't trust you—that's the problem. Back at the crossroads, you told me to trust you too, remember?"
At her retort, Cheon Ryuyeong scratched the back of his head.
"That's true. But this is a match I have to fight. It's not just revenge—it's about my future. I must do it."
Seeing his unwavering expression, Dokgo Seol realized that no matter what she said, she couldn't stop him.
Pyeong-u asked with a worried look,
"Brother! Are you really okay?"
Cheon Ryuyeong nodded and kept his gaze fixed on Jin Dam-hwi.
"Jin Dam-hwi. Are you going to throw away your last chance?"
Jin Dam-hwi swallowed hard.
"How can I believe you? If I kill you… won't your companions cut me down?"
Even as he spoke, he was confused. He couldn't fathom how Cheon Ryuyeong knew such terrifying people—or why they called him "Young Master."
But those questions were quickly buried under the fear that he might soon die. Right now, he had to think of a way to survive.
"Cheon Ryuyeong, l-let's do this. I'll give you ample compensation. So, to you two warriors here…"
Cheon Ryuyeong cut him off with a shake of his head.
"Have you thought about how disgusting your words would sound to the villagers you killed?"
"Well, they're already dead, so nothing can be done. Isn't the future more important than the past?"
Cheon Ryuyeong gave a cold laugh.
It was the kind of thing villains always said—what's the big deal about the past?
The honeyed phrase of burying the past and focusing on the future was an insult to truth and justice. Such thinking only allowed evil to repeat itself. That was the lesson life and history taught.
Jin Dam-hwi had been a tyrant steeped in barbarity. Having now seen a power greater than his own, he was reverting to an opportunist who watched the wind. If he wasn't broken now, he would one day reveal his black ambitions again.
Cheon Ryuyeong planted the club into the ground and leaned on it.
"There's only one way you live—by defeating me. Come. The third bout has already begun."
Jin Dam-hwi could only feel frustration.
For Cheon Ryuyeong to defeat him was unthinkable. The point of this exchange wasn't the obvious outcome of the match—it was preserving his life.
"Cheon Ryuyeong. Fine. I'll make it up to the dead as well so they won't feel wronged."
Cheon Ryuyeong furrowed his brow. He was forcing himself to stay lucid, but his body was crying out for rest. He wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep. That was why he had to fight now—before he collapsed from exhaustion and lost consciousness.
"Pyeong-u!"
At his call, Pyeong-u answered with a grim face.
"Yes, brother."
"If the head of the escort agency doesn't attack me, you kill him."
Pyeong-u was baffled. He couldn't understand why his brother was being so obstinate.
But Dokgo Seol was different—there was a glint in her eyes.
This was Cheon Ryuyeong speaking, and he was a man with an unusual, uncanny talent. He had instantly grasped the strengths and weaknesses of the Black Wolf Captain, and he had seen through Pyeong-u's true skill as a master.
Dokgo Seol nodded.
"All right. I'll follow Young Master Cheon's words."
Pyeong-u was floored. First his brother, now even his "sister"—what was going on?
But her declaration was a ray of hope for Jin Dam-hwi.
"My lady, are you serious?"
She gave him a look of pure loathing and nodded.
"If you win… I'll let you live. I'd rather cut you down right now, but the decision in this matter belongs to Young Master Cheon."
"How can I believe that?"
Her reply was icy.
"If you don't, I can kill you right now. Is that what you want?"
Jin Dam-hwi swallowed hard, then quickly forced a servile smile. He knew now that he had no choice.
"Hahaha. Such a beautiful lady—surely your words carry weight to match your beauty."
"I warn you… I said 'if you win.' So just win. If Young Master Cheon dies, then even if you win, you die."
"Don't worry. I'll only knock him out."
At their exchange, Cheon Ryuyeong gave Dokgo Seol a faint smile. He could feel in his heart that she both trusted and worried for him.
Hope flickered in Jin Dam-hwi's eyes.
Masters of the martial world rarely lied without cause. And these were clearly orthodox martial artists, not members of the unorthodox sects—making it all the more believable.
This was his last chance to live.
Jin Dam-hwi took a deep breath and faced Cheon Ryuyeong.
Looking at his battered state—like he might topple over from a single push—he almost wanted to laugh. But he didn't dare show it, keeping his expression grave.
"Cheon Ryuyeong. This is the proposal you chose. Don't regret it."
Cheon Ryuyeong nodded and raised his club.
Dokgo Seol, Pyeong-u, and Cheon Su-yeon watched him with anxious eyes.
Jin Dam-hwi stepped toward him.
Despite the seemingly obvious outcome, a taut tension spread through the air.
This bout would decide life and death.
Cheon Ryuyeong felt his heart pounding as he watched Jin Dam-hwi approach.
He was trembling—yet exhilarated.
And then… he saw it.
He saw exactly where Jin Dam-hwi's eyes were fixed on his body, saw the subtle rise of his right shoulder. Combined with the angle of his wrist and elbow lifting, it told him one thing.
Jin Dam-hwi was aiming for his head.
Cheon Ryuyeong remembered vividly all the moments when the man had struck him in the head. In all of those scenes, the same openings had been there.
His left flank. His chest and lower abdomen. And his legs.
Nearly his whole body was riddled with gaps. That meant Jin Dam-hwi was no master—and also that he underestimated Cheon Ryuyeong.
But right now, that wasn't what mattered to him.
Could he counterattack, even if clumsily?
Even while enduring a one-sided beating under the guise of a "match" earlier, one question had kept running through his mind: could he strike at the openings he saw?
At the time, even if he had wanted to, he couldn't. He had needed to feed Jin Dam-hwi's sadism without making him wary.
But now, those shackles were gone.
All that remained was to confirm it. Cheon Ryuyeong knew this was a pivotal moment—his first since deciding to train in martial arts.
He drew a deep breath.
Focus. Focus. And focus again.
His eyes never left Jin Dam-hwi as the man came ever closer.
Meanwhile, Jin Dam-hwi felt a strange pounding in his own chest.
This was a man he should be able to fell with a single swing. Just the fact that Cheon Ryuyeong was still standing was surprising—whether due to resilience or sheer willpower.
Still, he was the weak one, and Jin Dam-hwi was the strong one.
Yet he realized he was feeling tense.
A peculiar pressure.
It was different from the oppressive aura of the topknotted young master called Pyeong-u. This pressure pressed down on him in a way he couldn't identify.
Then he understood.
It was Cheon Ryuyeong's eyes.
Those eyes he had found irritating from the very first moment—filled with scorn.
But now, they felt different.
Like staring into a deep ocean, an abyss that threatened to draw him in. Eyes that seemed to already know everything he was about to do—arrogant, commanding.
No way… am I actually scared? Just because of the eyes of this wretched man?
Jin Dam-hwi shook his head violently. He decided the pressure was really from the two martial artists watching him.
"You!"
With a shout, he kicked off the ground.
Swaaaash!
His club cut through the air.
In that instant, the strange light in Cheon Ryuyeong's eyes sank. Like a cat in the dark, his pupils dilated and then shrank in an instant.
His arm had already dropped low—and so had the club in his grasp.
Swaaash!
Slightly after Jin Dam-hwi's swing, Cheon Ryuyeong's club rose—not to block, but to strike.
He chose attack over defense.
Crack!
Thud!
Two impacts rang out in quick succession, separated by the barest fraction of a second. Gasps of shock filled the air.
Jin Dam-hwi's club landed on Cheon Ryuyeong's shoulder instead of his head—barely missing. Pain twisted Cheon Ryuyeong's face.
But Cheon Ryuyeong's club shot forward without wavering—slamming straight into Jin Dam-hwi's groin. A direct hit.