Fall

"Hahaha!"

Laughter echoed from a room in an obviously high-class tavern.

"Thank you for joining us today, Young Master."

Inside, Peng Seo-jin was enjoying a meal with some middle-aged men.

These were renowned merchants from Hebei who had been doing business with the Hebei Peng Family for a very long time.

Recently, they had found themselves in quite a difficult situation.

But Peng Seo-jin had personally stepped in to resolve the issue.

This gathering was arranged to express their gratitude for his help.

"Did you see how those bastards immediately shut their mouths and said they'd stop doing business in Hebei when our Young Master personally intervened? Haha!"

"When it was just us, they were so aggressive and glared at us fiercely."

"Oh, don't even mention it. I even got slapped by those thugs. But seeing them tuck their tails between their legs like that was so satisfying. Hahah!"

"That's why they're one of the Five Great Families. We truly feel secure thanks to you, Young Master. We're nothing but grateful."

"I'm glad you feel that way. It makes the trip worthwhile. Haha."

In truth, if these merchants faced difficulties, it wouldn't be good for the Peng Family either.

But Peng Mugang, the current head of the Peng Family, wasn't the type to care about such things.

His policy was that there was no need to personally step in to solve problems for long-time business partners just because of their relationship.

However, Peng Seo-jin thought differently.

While participating in unjust acts was obviously wrong, he believed it was necessary to help when they faced unfair treatment and difficulties.

That way, the Peng Family could also receive help from them when needed.

So Peng Seo-jin was willing to interact with and assist merchants in situations like this.

For that reason, the issue he had resolved this time involved the tyranny of a merchant association called the "Golden Manor."

The Golden Manor was an organization rapidly expanding its influence in the Central Plains, notorious for its ruthlessness in pursuing profit by any means necessary.

Peng Seo-jin remembered hearing about their infamous reputation in passing.

When he heard that they were leading warriors to bully merchants in the Hebei region, Peng Seo-jin had personally stepped in.

Fortunately, they had retreated more easily than expected.

Although at the end, a man called the "Golden Manor Lord" had left with the ominous words, "We'll meet again"...

Since this was the kind of thing one usually heard when dealing with such matters, Peng Seo-jin didn't pay it much mind.

Given their different perspectives, Peng Mugang, his father and current family head, didn't look favorably on Peng Seo-jin's actions.

But this was one aspect of how Peng Seo-jin, who would someday inherit leadership of the family from Peng Mugang, wanted to shape the Peng Family.

Though he was called the Mad Dragon for his uncontrollable ferocity in battle, in other aspects he showed such an inclusive and warm demeanor, which was why so many people followed him.

Anyway, he had enjoyed a meal and drinks with the merchants.

"I'll be taking my leave now."

"Yes, Young Master. Please take care on your way back."

By the time the sky had darkened, he finally bid farewell to the merchants and headed back to the Peng Family estate with his bodyguards.

*Haha. Did I overdo it a bit?*

Since they were people he had known for a long time, he had naturally opened up, and with the delicious food and drink, he had imbibed enough to feel slightly tipsy, though not quite drunk.

Of course, he could instantly dispel the effects of alcohol by using his internal energy, but he didn't want to do that right away.

The cool night air felt pleasant, and it had been an enjoyable evening.

The bodyguards were also in good spirits, having been treated to a fine meal separately.

They had ventured quite far today compared to usual, so they needed to hurry back from now on.

Though they could have stayed overnight, Peng Seo-jin preferred to return to the main house and sleep there whenever possible, unless there was a special reason not to.

After all, tomorrow would bring its own tasks.

How long had they been walking like that?

As Peng Seo-jin was pleasantly gazing at the stars while heading towards the Peng estate, his eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Who's there?"

As soon as Peng Seo-jin spoke, the bodyguards' auras sharpened.

*Rustle, rustle.*

Soon, a group of men carrying swords appeared around them.

Peng Seo-jin's face twitched.

It wasn't just one or two.

There seemed to be nearly fifty of them.

Peng Seo-jin and his five bodyguards quickly used their internal energy to push away the effects of alcohol.

They could no longer enjoy the cool night air, the pleasant tipsiness, or the twinkling stars.

"Are you targeting me? What's your identity?"

Though he didn't really expect a straightforward answer, he couldn't not ask either.

He became intensely curious about why nearly fifty martial artists with seemingly formidable skills had appeared before him so late at night, and what grudge or reason they might have.

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't recall incurring such a great enmity with anyone.

Well, actually, there was one possibility that came to mind.

*Could it be... is this what they meant by "We'll meet again"?*

The assailants snorted at Peng Seo-jin's question.

"You don't need to know anything about that. All you need to do is die quietly right here today."

Fifty warriors drew their swords and began emanating killing intent towards him.

"Ha."

Peng Seo-jin let out a hollow laugh.

Of course, he was strong.

Stronger than most of his peers!

He had been recognized as a prodigy from childhood and had diligently trained in the Peng Family's highest martial arts.

Moreover, for a family of the Five Great Families' caliber, it was standard practice to feed countless elixirs and internal pellets to their heir without hesitation.

So currently, Peng Seo-jin possessed excellent martial arts skills and internal energy.

However, facing fifty people with skills just slightly below his own, all staring at him with murderous eyes, was not a welcome situation.

No, honestly, this was quite dangerous.

Peng Seo-jin deliberately tried to appear as relaxed as possible while drawing out the conversation.

As he did so, he thought.

Charge in and fight?

No, that would be insane. He might be able to cut down at most a dozen or so, but far more blades would instantly pierce his body.

No matter how much he racked his brain, there was only one conclusion.

This fight was unwinnable, absolutely unwinnable.

In moments like this, the wisest course of action was to focus entirely on surviving and escaping.

It wasn't the time to worry about a martial artist's pride.

One, two, three!

After quickly counting with his eyes to signal the bodyguards, Peng Seo-jin immediately launched a palm strike at the nearest assailant.

*Pueeeork!*

Caught off guard by the sudden palm strike, one enemy fell, spewing blood.

At that moment,

"Now! Run!"

Peng Seo-jin and the bodyguards simultaneously leapt towards the gap that had just opened among the assailants surrounding them.

But the enemies moved very skillfully and quickly.

Their blades flashed in the moonlight.

And then,

*Puk, puk!*

"Kuhek!"

"Daemyung! Ilkang!"

Two of the bodyguards lost their lives to the assailants' hands.

Peng Seo-jin called out their names.

But even as they died, they shouted:

"Just keep running, Young Master! You must survive!"

"Damn it!"

At the bodyguards' desperate cries, Peng Seo-jin had no choice but to run and keep running.

He couldn't let their sacrifice be in vain.

The night that had begun so pleasantly had turned horrific.

Though he desperately wanted to turn back and fight those damned bastards to the death, Peng Seo-jin knew.

That would truly be dying for nothing.

*Tadarak. Tadadarak.*

As expected, it seemed they had finished all their preparations and were waiting.

Though they had tried to catch the enemies off guard and escape quickly, they soon allowed the assailants to give chase.

It wouldn't be long before they were caught.

The remaining three bodyguards who had been fleeing with him turned and threw themselves at the assailants.

"Everyone!"

"Hurry and go, Young Master! We'll handle this!"

"Uwaaaaah! You bastards! You won't get away!"

But it didn't take long for their bodies to be hacked to pieces by numerous weapons and fall to the ground.

"Damn it! Damn it all!"

Peng Seo-jin ran like mad, using his lightfoot skill to its fullest.

Then,

*Wheeeeeing.*

Soon he arrived at a bridge connecting two cliffs.

He looked around. Was there anywhere else to go?

There wasn't. If so, there was no need to hesitate.

He got on the bridge and ran with all his might towards the other side.

But,

"You can't escape!"

The assailants had already formed ranks on the opposite side as well.

"Ha......"

Just how many people had come to capture him alone?

Truly, Peng Seo-jin was dumbfounded.

"Ha. Haha."

Had it been a mistake to go out today?

No. Judging by these bastards' actions, it seems they had been waiting for him to come out anytime.

So even if it wasn't today, he would have eventually fallen into their hands.

The assailants slowly approached Peng Seo-jin from both sides of the bridge.

Now there was no escape. Was this the end?

Such thoughts made Peng Seo-jin's vision go dark.

To die so absurdly?

This was too miserable.

But was there a way...

It was then.

Suddenly, the sound of water flowing beneath the bridge caught Peng Seo-jin's ear.

He glanced down.

It was high. High enough that the river below looked small.

There was no guarantee of survival if he fell from here.

But...

"This is the only way."

The assailants, not hearing Peng Seo-jin's muttered words, grinned as they gradually closed the distance.

"Come out. Even if we kill you, we need to bring back evidence. So don't make this difficult and..."

But as the grinning assailant was speaking, he caught sight of Peng Seo-jin's face.

For some reason, that expression revealed what he was thinking.

That wasn't the face of someone who had given up.

Which meant...

"If it's my fate to live, I'll live, and if it's my fate to die, I'll die! But at least I won't leave my fate in your hands!"

Peng Seo-jin drew his blade.

Then he raised it high.

"Th-This madman! S-Stop him!"

One of the assailants screamed hysterically, but,

"It's already too late!"

*Seogek. Seogek.*

Peng Seo-jin's blade cleanly cut through the bridge.

Along with that,

*Paeeeeng!*

The tightly secured bridge completely came loose, and the bridge broke.

Soon, everyone on the bridge was falling towards the cliff below.

"Uwaaaaaaah!"

The assailants, who hadn't expected this situation at all, fell towards the bottom of the cliff, screaming terribly.

"Ha. Damn it all."

Amidst it all, Peng Seo-jin let out a bitter laugh.

Would he survive... that was impossible to know.

But he didn't want to die like this.

Soon his body plunged deep into the river below the cliff with a splash.

That was the last thing he remembered.