Chapter 96

Shh-

San's sword sharply cut through on a horizontal plane. The rainbow light fluttered and spread out. Biyeon’s sword cut on a lower horizontal plane. Their attack was swift, and the speed of the traveling rainbow light was fast. A sharp aura flew with the rainbow light. It was an ominous-looking light wave.

Soun and Sohun lowered themselves to defend against the horizontal rainbow light waves heading towards them. They swung their swords against the incoming aura attack and prepared to counterattack. However, the rainbow light wave lightly passed by without being diffracted by their sword strikes. Like a soft sound wave, the rainbow light wave passed through their bodies without any visible physical damage.

After passing through Soun and Sohun, the rainbow light wave reached the Han-Sung Clan warriors behind them. However, the rainbow light wave was much less vibrant in color after it had passed Soun and Sohun. The two Han siblings tilted their heads. The effect of this light attack was unclear. Was it a debuff? Perhaps a camouflaged pre-attack? A bluff?

Si-It-

Again, ominous sounds rang out in succession. San marched vigorously forward while shaking his sword from side to side. Biyeon followed with a cheerful gait, also swinging her sword from side to side.

Different colors of light constantly formed on their swords, bursting out thousands of times, each with a different color. From red to purple, from colorless to white, the bursting light spread out like waves. The bursting light captured the spectrum of all colors.

The two walked by all the Han-Sung warriors.

“Nonsense!” Sohun Han screamed. 

His sword fell from his fingertips helplessly.

“Why is this happening…” Soun quietly cried while dropping his sword as well. He knelt down on one knee. Sohun also sat down on his knees and stared at the passing figures of San and Biyeon in vain.

He lowered his head. An unexpected feeling of utter despair came rushing in. Their Acceleration ‘lines’ had been mercilessly cut off. They depended on these lines to Accelerate their entire bodies. Thus, with these lines severed completely, they couldn’t Accelerate anymore.

They looked back at their party with urgent expressions. The Han-Sung Clan warriors looked at their defeated clansmen with fear-filled eyes. When their captains retreated, the warriors did the same, but they didn’t know why they retreated nor what had happened to their captains.

Regardless, San and Biyeon’s attack had brought their captains to their knees. In the far back, Hanyoung was trembling. The situation went beyond his expectations. The opponent’s actions were so unexpected that he never had a chance to intervene. He was holding his hilt so tightly that it was about to break.

These opponents had always deviated from his expectations. What happened now was no exception.

‘H-How… how did they use the Han-Sung Clan’s skill?’

His head was spinning like crazy. Though he was said to be as wise as a Sage, he couldn’t make sense of what he just saw. Nothing could be properly interpreted, and common sense was useless.

‘T-They… they knew! They knew why our clan wanted the Archon bones and material… But how? Even within the clan, only a few could use the Archon bones for this type of attack. The users have to be at least a third-level Awakened Warrior. The wave of rainbow light that just passed through… that’s my specialty! Is this just a coincidence?’

Hanyoung shook his head. Should he follow them? That would be underhanded as the losing party of the duel. Should he give up? That would make things worse later on. Didn’t he see with his own eyes what they were capable of?

‘Archon bone swords that can sever the lifeforce and transmitting lines of Awakened Warriors, and Archon leather and accessories that block those forms of attack… No one knows this except for me, my brother, and the core clansmen. It was discovered by accident a long time ago. Under certain Acceleration conditions, Archon bones vibrate unusually. When this vibration is put onto a sword, it is dispersed in a rainbow of light, having the effect of breaking the Acceleration lines of an Awakened Warrior. In other words, the most effective weapon against the Awakened is Archon bones. Also, only Archon leather and accessories can block it.’

In his wrinkled eyes, one could see the image of his two most cherished clan disciples looking at him with lifeless expressions.

“We were stupid. We were too proud…” said Hanyoung in a whisper. 

“I’m sorry,” Soun said as he dropped his head and started sobbing.

“We were frivolous and uncautious,” Sohun picked up his sword, wrapped it with both hands, and cried aloud. He knew the condition of his body best.

“Now I know why elder told us to be careful. Also, why you bought certain items with so much of the clan’s money in spite of being ridiculed and opposed by the other clansmen. We were too stupid and proud. If I had another chance…”

Hanyoung gulped. They were injured to such a destructive degree that recovery couldn’t be guaranteed, even with all the knowledge and specialty doctors possessed by the Han-Sung Clan. Hanyoung’s younger brother, who Hanyoung had accidentally made into a cripple ten years ago, was still far from recovering his past abilities. Hanyoung stared at the two people moving away.

“I was stupid. I didn’t know our opponents or their combat strength. My greed brought this upon us. I never expected this kind of scenario. I never would have thought that there would be people who could use the specialty skills of all three Absolute Clans,” Hanyoung murmured.

“What are we going to do? Are we going to leave it like this?” asked Hanjun.

“I will follow them. Hanjun and Hanya, let’s go together.”

“For… revenge?” Hanya asked, doubting that revenge was possible.

“Revenge?”

Hanyoung stared at Hanya. She probably didn’t understand the situation. Furthermore, there would be no good that could come out from her knowing. There were already enough enemies within the clan to deal with. News and information of this duel would cause further chaos and internal strife.

“It was a fair duel. They asked, and we responded. For what cause are we going to talk about revenge?”

“Then…”

“Coercion through force and might seems difficult, so what can we do now? We’ll have to beg if it comes down to it. Fortunately, from today’s actions, it doesn’t seem like they’re trying to be hostile to the Han-Sung Clan, so let’s just follow them. Everyone else should go and wait at the hotel. It would be best if there weren’t many people moving around.”

Hanyoung moved forward. His two grandchildren got atop their horses and quickly followed. San and Biyeon had already disappeared far into the city.

‘Revenge? Wouldn’t I want that? Knowing that they know how to properly use Archon bone swords, even I may not be able to contend against them. On top of that, there are two of these monsters… the situation is getting worse and worse…’ Hanyoung swallowed these words. There was no point in verbalizing them into the world.

***

“Those guys are probably having a hard time,” San muttered and laughed.

“Since they don’t have nectar, their injuries will probably last quite a long time, right?”

“You have to mix salt into food to make it taste better. They should have been more cautious. Anyway, we should take some rest. After all, this technique has a large negative aftereffect. Every part of my body is screaming in pain. We’ve sustained an injury to about 20% of our bodies, right?”

“Yes. I feel like I’m going to blackout as well.”

They went around the outskirts of the city and found a shaded canopy under a quiet stream. Biyeon pulled out two flasks the size of her fingers from her backpack. A bright red liquid was contained in the transparent cellulose flasks.

“It’s delicious…”

“It tastes like milk chocolate.”

A breeze blew through the trees. San was leaning against a tree trunk and looking up at the sky.

His hands were twirling and playing around with Biyeon’s hair. On his knees, Biyeon slept happily with a bright child-like smile on her face. It seemed as though she was having a pleasant dream.

‘Yes… let’s get past this hurdle also… friend…’

San tilted his head. His strong lips slightly flickering.

‘My love…’

San narrowed his eyes and looked up at the sky. The white clouds were quite dazzling in the jade-colored sky. The sky seemed to forebode some more excitement to come.

Episode 2. Book 5: Investment – Chapter 3

Northern summers are short. By dinnertime, the weather was already cool.

With the dry scent of hay mixed into the passing wind, it seemed like Fall was quickly approaching.

But presently… 

The wind was refreshing, and the sunset was beautiful. Everything seemed fine in the world. Except for this place. There were always places in the world where many people gather but are reluctant to be in. One of those places was the livestock market. There were also two different types of livestock markets. 

One was a place where ordinary citizens and servants of aristocratic families, the so-called ‘common people,’ usually visited. In this type of market, livestock was bought and sold for immediate use or to raise at home. In other words, it was a food market to buy and sell poultry or meat. 

Another market was the horse market. Different types of people gathered in this type of livestock market. They were usually customers who wanted to buy very expensive ‘vehicles.’ Therefore, it was frequented by aristocrats, warriors, and large-scale merchants who possessed a lot of money. So, in this market, people wore all kinds of clothing and came with numerous attendants. 

Anyway, for a number of reasons, mainly economical, these two types of livestock markets were always closely placed together. In addition, there were other reasons why these markets were so close together, which was difficult to understand for ‘common people.’ This other reason was just as lucrative and operational as the other ‘public’ operation.

Even in the midst of the crowded livestock markets, there were always places where people were scarce. These were the livestock hospitals and slaughterhouses that were attached to the livestock markets. Especially, customers of noble status would never see these places in their entire lives.

This was a place where socially low-ranking people could test out dangerous equipment, including swords, without anyone suspecting it as strange. Thus, those who work in the shadows often frequented these areas without bringing up any suspicion.

‘Poramo Livestock Market’

It was the largest livestock market in Porato City. Two people entered the market as the sun was setting.

***

“This is similar to our traditional outdoor markets.”

“Their way of bargaining seems more like a fight. I don’t think people can buy something here without having the guts to lose a few limbs.”

San and Biyeon walked slowly and looked around the marketplace with interest. Even though the number of people decreased as the evening time approached, there were still many people wandering inside the market.

Originally, this market specialized in selling meat but due to its foot traffic and geographical advantage, merchants could be seen selling all kinds of groceries and miscellaneous goods. The rent prices were probably very high to operate a business here. 

The entrance to the market was wide enough for two carriages to pass by. Around the main road, the sides of the road were always crowded with various stalls that had their wares spread out. However, there wasn’t very much meat visible, probably because it quickly spoiled. Instead, various live creatures stored in baskets were being sold.

“They also eat rats?”

Biyeon opened her eyes wide into circles.

“There are also snakes…”

San clicked his tongue. Passing through this thoroughfare, they went towards the market that sold livestock in earnest. The road split into two parts, the left to the general livestock market and the right to the horse market.

On this road, people also fell into two categories. Status and money were accurate measures of the social status of human beings in this marketplace.

San stared at the split in the road while cracking his knuckles.

Soon he straightened his back, stretched, and then moved on. Putting his lips near Biyeon’s ear, he whispered in a low voice.