Chapter 81

"Something terrible has happened."

Late at night, Im Mu-yeol burst into Jeong I-chu's room. Jeong I-chu, who had never seen such a thing happen before, woke up in surprise. Ahn-ssi, who was sleeping with him, was also greatly startled.

"There are intruders."

"What, intruders?"

Jeong I-chu jumped up and grabbed his sword. Im Mu-yeol quickly reported.

"Masked men of unknown origin have invaded."

"How many?"

"I'm not sure exactly, but I think there are at least several dozen."

Jeong I-chu was shocked. It felt like a bolt out of the blue.

Ahn-ssi hurriedly got out of bed.

"I have to go see Suryeon."

"Mu-yeol, please take care of our daughters."

"Understood. Please be careful, Sect Leader."

"Don't worry."

Im Mu-yeol and Ahn-ssi rushed to Suryeon's room. Jeong Charyeon ran from the end of the hallway.

"What's going on?"

She had woken up to the faint screams coming from outside. Her nerves were more sensitive than ever before.

Im Mu-yeol quickly told her the situation outside.

"I have to go back to the Sect Leader. You take care of the family."

"Yes, Uncle Im, please be careful! Let's go, Mom!"

Im Mu-yeol, worried about Jeong I-chu, ran back the way he came.

Jeong Charyeon and Ahn-ssi first went to Suryeon's room. Suryeon had just woken up from the commotion outside. Seeing that Suryeon was safe, Ahn-ssi embraced her.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

There was no time to comfort Suryeon, who was startled and confused.

"We have to get out of here."

Jeong Charyeon took the two of them and ran to Hwa Ryeon's residence.

Hwa Ryeon and Seo Baek lived in a separate mansion in the back.

As the three of them ran there, they heard the sound of weapons clashing in the distance.

Clang! Clang clang!

"You bastards!"

It was Seo Baek's urgent voice. Jeong Charyeon's heart raced.

"Hide here for a moment."

She hid Ahn-ssi and Suryeon behind a rock next to the building.

Ahn-ssi grabbed Jeong Charyeon's wrist as she tried to run out. An indescribable worry was etched on Ahn-ssi's face. But she couldn't stop her from going.

"Be careful."

Jeong Charyeon nodded bravely and ran off.

Jeong Charyeon's figure flew through the air. Her target was Hwa Ryeon's room window.

Crash.

Jeong Charyeon flew in, breaking the window. She knew she shouldn't be rushing in so recklessly, but she was too anxious.

Swish!

The moment she landed on the floor, a sword flew towards her face from the left. Jeong Charyeon instinctively twisted her body and rolled to the other side.

Whoosh.

The sword cut through the air with a whistling sound. Jeong Charyeon barely dodged it.

Swoosh--

Sword Qi was emitted from Jeong Charyeon's sword. The opponent, who didn't expect her to unleash Sword Qi while rolling on the floor, was hit directly.

"Kugh!"

The masked man fell, his chest split open.

In the corner of the room, Seo Baek was fighting two masked men. Hwa Ryeon was sitting behind Seo Baek, covered in blood.

"Sister!"

Jeong Charyeon screamed and stabbed at the masked men.

Swish swish swish!

She couldn't unleash Sword Qi, fearing that Seo Baek and Hwa Ryeon behind her might get hurt.

One of the two masked men turned to face Jeong Charyeon.

Clang clang clang clang!

Swords clashed in rapid succession.

Swish--

The masked man's skills were considerable. But Jeong Charyeon's skills were superior to theirs. Moreover, her previous combat experience was a great help.

"Sister-in-law, be careful!"

Seo Baek, who was struggling to fight the two masked men, had a moment of respite.

Clang clang clang clang clang!

In the instant that the swords clashed five times, Jeong Charyeon's sword pierced the masked man's heart.

Thud!

The masked man collapsed.

The masked man who was fighting Seo Baek became flustered when his comrade fell faster than expected.

Before he could even act on his thought of escaping, Jeong Charyeon's sword mercilessly stabbed him in the back. The masked man was too slow to dodge. He screamed and fell.

"Hoo--"

Jeong Charyeon sighed deeply.

It was her first kill, but she had cut down three people in an instant. But she didn't even have time to wallow in guilt.

"Sister, are you okay?"

Jeong Charyeon first checked Hwa Ryeon's injuries.

Fortunately, the injuries were not as serious as they appeared. She had been deeply cut on the shoulder, but it was not a life-threatening wound.

Jeong Charyeon went outside and brought Ahn-ssi and Suryeon into the house.

In the meantime, Seo Baek was tearing a cloth to tie up Hwa Ryeon's shoulder.

"Are you alright?"

Ahn-ssi and Suryeon rushed over, their faces pale.

"Don't worry. It's just a scratch."

Hwa Ryeon smiled faintly with a pale face.

It was a much deeper wound than that, but Hwa Ryeon's life was not in danger.

Jeong Charyeon said urgently.

"Brother-in-law, please take care of the family."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to help Father."

"No. I'll go. You take Mother and get out of here quickly."

"It's better for me to go."

Ahn-ssi intervened in their argument.

"Let's all go together."

"No. Mom, you have to take Suryeon and leave this place."

"Mother, Jeong Charyeon is right. Please leave first."

Then Ahn-ssi shook her head firmly.

"We are family. We must share life and death together."

The three daughters knew their mother Ahn-ssi's nature better than anyone. She was not the type to leave if forced. Besides, they didn't have time to argue like this.

"Jeong Charyeon!"

"Let's go and fight together!"

Perhaps that would be safer.

Judging by the atmosphere, there was more than one intruder. If Seo Baek and she were to escape separately and run into the masked men, it would be a bigger problem. But they couldn't leave their father behind either.

They ran towards Jeong I-chu's office.

Ahn-ssi held Suryeon's hand tightly. Suryeon was terrified, but she didn't cry. She forced back her tears and tried to comfort Ahn-ssi, saying that everything would be alright.

The sounds of weapons and screams were erupting from all directions.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it was nighttime, so the Initiate Martial Artists of the Righteous Sword Sect, the Azure Gate, were not in the Sword Clan.

Those who were fighting the masked men were the Crimson Gate and White Gate Martial Artists, who were the main force of the Righteous Sword Sect, but the Crimson Gate Martial Artists were not enough. Most of the masked men were similar in skill to the White Gate Martial Artists.

Jeong I-chu was locking the doors of the guest hall, where he was receiving surviving disciples and guests. When they entered the guest hall, the masked men did not immediately invade. The fighting had subsided for a brief moment.

"What's the damage?"

"More than ten have been identified. There will probably be more."

"Damn it!"

Jeong I-chu frowned. They were all precious pillars of the Righteous Sword Sect.

Currently, there were only five White Gate Martial Artists and six Crimson Gate Martial Artists gathered in the guest hall. Originally, there were seven White Gate Martial Artists and thirty Crimson Gate Martial Artists.

"But..."

Im Mu-yeol hesitated for a moment. But it was a report that had to be made.

"A significant number of the Crimson Gate have run away."

Jeong I-chu sighed briefly. As disciples, fleeing when the Sect was in danger was an act that deserved the most severe punishment stipulated by the Sect.

But Jeong I-chu wasn't as angry as he thought he would be. They were divided into Crimson Gate and White Gate, but most of them had lived their lives without knowing what real combat was. He thought it was fortunate that they had saved their lives that way.

"What are their identities?"

"I couldn't figure it out exactly, but I have a feeling they're not ordinary Martial Artists."

"What do you mean?"

"I think they're Assassins."

Jeong I-chu's expression hardened even more.

Who held such a great grudge that they would hire Assassins?

Jeong I-chu was worried about his family. But he couldn't worry about his family's safety in front of the disciples' corpses.

Im Mu-yeol knew his heart better than anyone.

"Jeong Charyeon has gone, so your wife and children will be safe."

Jeong I-chu nodded. He sincerely hoped so in his heart. If only they were safe, he wouldn't regret dying in battle.

At that moment, Jeong Charyeon and her family joined them through the back door.

"Father!"