Chapter 51 —

I looked quietly at Namgoong Baek.

*Sigh…*

He had been full of anger, but now he seemed to realize reality. With a long sigh, his shoulders drooped.

There was no light in his eyes, no confidence—he looked like someone who had been crushed by life.

At that moment, I understood why Namgoong Baek had joined this subjugation mission. He claimed it was just for money, but the real reason had more to do with Muryong Hyuk.

It was clear that Muryong Hyuk had arranged for Namgoong Baek to join, in order to remind both the Namgoong and Muryong clans of their standing.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Even the Changryong members were mocking him openly—it showed that Muryong Hyuk’s intentions had worked.

But that wasn’t the only reason. It was likely to keep him in check, too. Namgoong blood wasn’t something to be ignored. If he ever showed potential, they’d cut him down quickly.

I smiled bitterly at the thought.

In the end, none of that mattered.

The real issue wasn’t Namgoong Baek—it was that Muryong Hyuk failed to see the talent in Baek’s younger brother. That would be his true regret.

While I was thinking this, Namgoong Baek looked at me with a bitter smile.

“You probably think I’m pathetic, right? I know\… I just don’t have anyone to talk to.”

“It doesn’t bother me. But I didn’t expect you to be from the Namgoong family.”

“Ha! The Namgoong family? It’s just a ruined clan now. Might as well call us the ‘Ruinedgoong Clan.’ Ha ha ha.”

Namgoong Baek laughed emptily, his eyes hollow. He knew his situation all too well and had given up hope of ever climbing back up.

Then—

*Grrgle\~*

His stomach rumbled loudly.

The mushrooms he had picked up clearly weren’t enough. He looked around, then suddenly stabbed into a bush with his dagger.

A spider the size of a palm had been crawling around. Once it stopped struggling, he skewered it with a stick and began roasting it over the fire.

I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

I’d never eaten a spider, no matter how hungry I was.

“Does it look weird? Haha, it’s a bit creepy, but surprisingly tasty. Want some?”

“No thanks. I’m not hungry.”

“It’s really good though…”

Namgoong Baek looked at me as if confused why I couldn’t appreciate such a “delicacy.” Then he crunched on the roasted spider, legs and all.

As I watched him chew, I instinctively turned away, pretending to look toward the village instead.

And then I heard something I shouldn’t have.

—“Aaaaah!”

A scream.

It was followed by commotion from all directions.

Even Namgoong Baek stopped eating and looked toward the village. What was supposed to be a one-sided slaughter of the Black Ox Society was apparently not going as planned.

Well, word of the subjugation mission had spread for a while now.

The Black Ox Society weren’t fools—they wouldn’t just sit and wait to be wiped out.

Even if we’d arrived earlier than expected, they must’ve had some traps ready.

Despite the subjugation team being powerful, it wasn’t going to be easy.

I looked over at Namgoong Baek.

His eyes were fixed on the village, filled with longing.

Despite what he said, he clearly regretted not being able to join the fight.

I smiled and reached out.

*Poke!*

“Guhk!”

I quickly pressed a pressure point, and Namgoong Baek collapsed.

After making sure he was out cold, I stood up and walked to the horse.

The bundle Jang Chu-hyung had tied up was still there.

I rummaged through it—there was a cheap sword from the market, a Black Ox Society uniform, and a leopard-patterned mask.

“Pyo-hyung Sword, huh…”

I laughed as I changed clothes.

The Black Ox Society had mentioned someone called “Pyo-hyung Sword,” said to be a peer of the group’s leader and a master warrior.

But I’d never heard of such a person before. Even members of the Black Ox Society had said they’d never seen him. So, I was certain he was made up by the leader.

I put on the mask and tied the sword to my waist.

Now, I looked exactly like a member of the Black Ox Society.

If the Changryong forces saw me, they’d attack without hesitation.

After double-checking my disguise, I turned to the mountain.

By now, Muryong Hyuk would have started the assault.

I rushed toward his future grave.

—

**Meanwhile…**

The path up the mountain was difficult.

There were traps everywhere, and while the Black Ox members knew the terrain well, the Changryong troops didn’t.

As a result, their advance was much slower than expected.

Still, the difference in power was undeniable.

*Slash!*

“Guh!”

*Slice!*

Despite being ambushed and walking into traps, the Changryong members didn’t flinch.

They simply cut down every enemy that appeared.

They were clearly the next generation of righteous warriors.

At the center of it all was Muryong Hyuk.

Each time he swung his sword, several heads flew through the air. There was no mercy in his attacks—only cold, lethal intent.

“…That’s Muryong Hyuk!”

“What do we do? He actually came!”

Watching from afar, Black Ox leader Kang Chan-sak gulped.

He hadn’t expected them to arrive so soon. He thought they had four more days.

Now, he had no time to escape or sell his valuables.

Worse, Muryong Hyuk and the Changryong forces were far stronger than expected. Muryong Hyuk wasn’t just skilled—he was a finished warrior, already beyond the level of someone in the late inner stage.

“Guaaaaah!”

“Help! Guhk!”

His men were being slaughtered left and right.

He had expected to buy some time, but Changryong was charging forward like an unstoppable wave.

It was hell.

Kang Chan-sak clenched his fist, then strapped a bag to his back and threw another at his deputy.

“What is this?”

“We’re running!”

“But everyone else is dying!”

“So we should die with them?!”

“Well… no, but…”

“If we cross the mountain, we’re in demonic sect territory. Changryong can’t follow us there. We’ll just hide until things cool down.”

“Then why didn’t we run earlier…?”

“You idiot! I needed time to sell the loot!”

“Oh, come on…”

Deputy Yeom Ga groaned, grabbing his forehead.

It was hard to believe everything fell apart just for that reason. Still, there was no time to argue.

They couldn’t win this fight.

*Bang!*

Suddenly, something flew toward Kang Chan-sak.

*Thud!*

“Aaaagh!”

A streak of light hit him like an arrow, piercing his shoulder. He screamed as he was knocked backward.

“Leader!”

Yeom Ga rushed to him.

The injury was bad—his shoulder was crushed, and the arm would probably have to be amputated.

Yeom Ga tried to bandage him, but there was no time.

“You think you can run from this distance?”

It was Muryong Hyuk’s voice, getting closer fast.

Kang Chan-sak gritted his teeth in terror.

The grim reaper had arrived.

Muryong Hyuk stood before him, having ignored all the traps and enemies in his path. His gaze was cold and emotionless.

No one from the Black Ox Society dared approach him. His presence alone froze them in place.

They began backing away, hoping to flee.

This was a group of serious criminals—there was no loyalty among them.

Muryong Hyuk knew that.

Ignoring the others, he stepped in front of Kang Chan-sak and Yeom Ga with a cold smile.

“You’ve crossed the line.”

“Guh…”

“It’s time to disappear.”

He didn’t waste time with speeches.

He raised his sword and swung at Kang Chan-sak’s head.

Just then—

*Clang!*

His sword bounced off something.

“…!”

Surprised, Muryong Hyuk looked down and saw a small hidden weapon on the ground.

He turned toward where it had come from.

Something was flying in—fast.

A figure wearing a leopard mask landed with great speed and swung a sword.

Muryong Hyuk blocked it just in time.

*Clang!*

Their swords clashed, sparks flying.

And they didn’t stop there.

*Clang! Clang! ClangClang!*

A rapid exchange followed—dozens of fierce blows in just seconds. Everyone watching was stunned.

*Clang!*

Finally, both fighters jumped back.

Muryong Hyuk slid backward, and so did the masked figure.

Someone from Changryong shouted, “Captain! He’s a top-level expert!”

Muryong Hyuk didn’t look away from his opponent.

“Don’t worry about me. Take care of the others.”

Hearing his order, the Changryong troops paused. They sensed how serious this fight was.

Then Muryong Hyuk asked, “Who are you? You don’t seem like an ordinary Black Ox member.”

Everyone turned to look at the masked figure.

Even the Black Ox members were curious—they’d never seen anyone like this.

Kang Chan-sak and Yeom Ga also waited for a response.

And then, a deep voice came from behind the mask, with a small, mocking laugh.

“Pyo-hyung Sword.”

The moment that name was spoken, the Black Ox members’ eyes widened.

They turned to look and then—

“Waaahhh!”

“Pyo-hyung Sword is here to save us!”

“You’re all dead now!”

Cheers filled the mountain.

The morale of the Black Ox Society soared.

The Changryong troops were shocked, but the most confused ones were Kang Chan-sak and Yeom Ga.

Yeom Ga looked to Kang Chan-sak, silently asking for an explanation.

Kang Chan-sak just shook his head.

How could he explain something he didn’t understand?

He had no idea why a fictional character had come to life.