<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 167>
Every decision comes with risk.
In Ban Li-ming’s judgment, this operation carried particularly high risks.
If successful, it could leverage Park Ki-hyuk’s fame to make the Triad known worldwide in a single strike, but failure would be akin to provoking a sleeping tiger.
High Risk, High Return.
Should she stay put?
Or should she make the move?
At this crossroads, Ban Li-ming’s decision was to proceed with the operation.
The operation named ‘Killing the Baby Tiger’ was executed, and as everyone knows, it ended in abject failure due to the performances of Park Bom and Berrie.
“In the end, it failed…”.
Failure was not surprising.
As the saying goes, ‘victory and defeat are the nature of warfare’, and success or failure can always flip like two sides of a coin.
What truly shocked Ban Li-ming, however, was another matter.
“…Park Ki-hyuk had already arrived? What does that mean? What? A cat? A slime? Wings? Explain it more clearly…!!”
Park Bom.
A mere eight-year-old child.
“Okay, let’s say the kid Park Bom was stronger than expected. But there must be limits! We sent most of the Jiangshi units deployed in Saudi Arabia. She wasn’t injured at all? Went back to the hotel unhurt?! Are you even calling this logical?”
We’re talking about an eight-year-old who doesn’t even reach Ban Li-Ming’s waist.
Meanwhile, her side sent over 100 Iron Jiangshis, along with the Triad’s elite action teams.
Had they failed to k*ll her at least, they should have incapacitated her for years!
And yet, Jin Yu-ri’s photo with Park Bom showed no signs of attack.
The photo revealed a slightly melancholic Park Bom, but her limbs, body, and even her hair remained completely intact.
It was impossible to believe she had been attacked.
“Because of this, we can’t even say we tried.”
At the very least, were she admitted to the hospital, it would have been possible to announce, ‘We were behind this incident!’ However, as things stood now, it was farcical for the Triad to move with such an outcome.
No gains.
But the losses were heavy.
Ban Li-ming would have to deal with Park Ki-hyuk’s fury over his child being attacked, on her own.
“Hu, there’s nothing else that can be done. Scatter the organization. Cease all external activities for the time being. Limit all contact with the outside world as much as possible.”
Frankly speaking, Ban Li-Ming had believed until now that she could handle Park Ki-hyuk.
Regardless of his rise to global prominence, Park Ki-hyuk was merely in his early twenties, an age where instinct and audacity outweighed rationality.
“If it were Korea, Kim Yeon-hee, the witch of Optimum, would assist him, but fortunately, this is Saudi Arabia, the land of a myriad miles. Information will inevitably be limited.”
He must lack absolute experience.
“If we lie low, he’ll eventually give up.”
This was Ban Li-Ming’s judgment, and as such, she dispersed her organization to various locations across Saudi Arabia.
Ultimately, this was her worst judgment.
It only took her four hours to realize.
Just four hours…
“Try saying that again. You mean the lower level organizations in Riyadh were halved?”
The lowest level, the front-line operatives responsible for gathering information for the organization, had vanished. More precisely, they had disappeared without a trace.
Effectively blinding and deafening the organization.
Ban Li-Ming couldn’t believe it.
Examining the disappearing operatives, most were at both ends of the city – Riyadh, the capital of the country, was not some small village. How could anyone race from one end of the city to another in just four hours?
Moreover, these were the Triads, possessing Iron Jiangshis even at the lower levels in the operation area.
So, the concept of Park Ki-hyuk overcoming this distance and physical capability was impossible by any standard.
“Someone else couldn’t have done this alone. It makes no sense, neither in common sense nor scientifically. Or was this merely a pretense of travel, and we were the target from the beginning?”
Ban Li-Ming’s thoughts were a complicated mess.
But unfortunately, she had no time to dwell on this.
By the next four hours, the remaining half of the Triad’s lower level operatives had been annihilated.
“…You haven’t uncovered anything? There must be something.”
Again, another four hours later.
Communication with the hidden action teams was cut off, and a warning was sent out:
“Do not gather! Scatter everywhere!”
Another four hours, and the mansions of the nobility they were connected with were all subdued.
“What… this is…”
Even the capital Riyadh was cleaned out, but it seemed that this wasn’t enough for Park Ki-hyuk, who proceeded to systematically eliminate every last Triad faction across the region.
Her subordinates were disappearing minute by minute.
It felt as if Park Ki-hyuk’s invisible hand was slowly strangling Ban Li-ming’s neck.
Everything that bore the name Triad was being eradicated. The operation, or rather, life itself, was in peril.
Everything was out of Ban Li-ming’s control long ago.
In the end, she had no choice but to play her final card.
They were the Triads’ elite, hidden away as representatives of Salman.
“Park Ki-hyuk? Park Ki-hyuk… ah, I remember. He’s a Sword Master, right? Asking our brothers to stop him? Haha, quit joking.”
“Brother, what do we do?”
“…Our contract is different. Our brothers agreed to participate as representatives in the succession battle for the throne. And now you’re asking us to stop Park Ki-hyuk?”
Three brothers who had mastered vampire magic — a forbidden art — grew up by decimating every small sect around Shanxi province, eventually becoming martial arts outlaws after wiping out even the Shaolin impact team.
Their nickname: Shanxi Three Fiends.
Ban Li-Ming made the best deal she could to get them to act, despite their hesitation.
“Six ginger Jiangshis and 211 steel Jiangshis. As for magic gems… really? You’ll give that much? Does that mean we can take the rest?”
“If we just stop him instead of killing him… it seems possible. What do you think, Brother?”
“Given the favorable terms, we can move, but keep this in mind — our original purpose was to act until the succession battle. If we move now, it could mean additional payment.”
In effect: ‘The payment was only until the succession battle. If we move now, it will cost more.’
A completely self-serving statement devoid of any sense of unity. On the other hand, it was very much in line with how the Triad operated, driven by money.
Ban Li-Ming consented, and preparations were made in secret for her escape.
Everyone has a plan.
Until they get hit.
“Kkeeurk!!”
“Oww!”
“Hheuerk!!”
Clearly, I only hit one of them, but three of them are screaming.
A bizarre trio of brothers appeared in front of me while I was busy collecting garbage.
Haven’t they said something about stalling for time?
Without knowing what they’re up against, they’ve decided to hold me back. While it might be amusing to crush them instantly, it’s more entertaining to watch their struggle for now.
Whoosh!!
The tallest one whistles, and all three charge at me, avoiding overlapping paths to circle me comprehensively.
The array is incredible.
With eyes not placed at the back of their heads, it is impossible to avoid a blind spot in such a formation.
Their breaths are impeccable.
Their movements pristine.
Their communication perfect.
‘This might count as one.’
As soon as I thought that ‘this might count as one,’ it all clicked. The instant my curiosity was satisfied, the fun disappeared.
Having nothing more to learn from them, their utility has ended.
I shift my footing.
Boom!!
The moment my feet touch the ground, a surge of mana crashes down like a tsunami.
“Jeenjang.”
“AAAAAH!!”
The ones who were attacking are thrown to the ground by the mana surge.
The ones struggling painfully on the floor gaze at me with a very malicious look.
“Mo, monster.”
“Can’t… stop.”
“You trickster, you’ve deceived us.”
Trickster probably means Ban Li-ming. She’s the mastermind behind this whole incident, though I haven’t seen her. The name surfaced while retrieving the memory.
The ones trying to rise.
It doesn’t suit my temperament to prolong a fight.
As mentioned previously, the moment their purpose became clear, their value was zero.
I quickly close the distance and kick one of the jaw.
A regular superhuman would have their skull shattered instantly. Yet, these guys…
“Phuek!”
“AAHH!!”
“Kkaaah!!”
They endure it, suffering but enduring.
I thought so. Looking down at the worm-like figure squirming under my foot, I said,
“As expected, ‘Connection’ right?”
The word ‘Connection’.
It literally means connecting, in magic terms, it means binding separate entities together.
For example, these garbage collectives; their lives are connected, sharing life force.
Thus, these brothers are simultaneously three as one and vice versa.
I immediately grasped their purpose.
“You three are the contingency for the throne succession battle, aren’t you?”
“…!!”
1-on-1 throne succession battle.
If you send these guys, it’s practically a 3-on-1 fight.
A secret move for the throne succession battle, but…
I grabbed his hair and pulled it up. Does this qualify as a topknot? It was convenient to hold onto.
Crack!
The guy’s scalp-complete-with-hair ripped off.
“Kkaaah!!”
The two others lying far away grab their heads and groan.
Apparently, the ‘Connection’ was stronger than I anticipated. Not just life force but senses as well seem to be shared. A level of connection rare even in the empire.
“Let’s dissect the details.”
As I prepared to behead him, the one lying on the floor nearby cried out desperately,
“Park Ki-hyuk! I, I propose a deal!”
“A deal…?”
This nonsense of talk.
Ignoring it, I severed a limb.
“Kkaaah!!”
The severed part tumbles to the ground, and bl**d spurts out like a fountain.
“Since you’re enjoying yourself, don’t get greedy.”
After slicing off the opposite side and cleaning up the branches like a bonsai, I uncaringly toss the remainder.
The body spinning through the air lands where an Abomination is currently feasting on a Jiangshi.
Gggurrrl…?!
The Abomination grabbing it tightly, its many faces, all over its body, grin broadly like a dog happy to receive a snack.
“Sa, save me!!”
With his body unable to resist, having lost all limbs.
To that succulent prey, the Abomination sank its teeth.
“Aauurgh!!”
“Not… kuh!!”
Screaming at the eaten companion, the trash seems disbelieving and checks his chest.
A bony hand protruding from the ribs.
It was my Skeleton.
Thus, never take your eyes off an opponent.
“Clean him up and send him over.”
The verdict came down.
The Skeleton nods, and the moment the bone Great Swords formed in the air, judgment was carried out.
Snap!
A gush of bl**d sprays.
“Then.”
The last one.
As I approach to seize the head, I was enveloped in a cloak.
On board a flight to Germany.
“Excuse me, let me pass for a moment.”
“Mu… Ah, yes…”
The man about to get irritated quickly adjusted his expression. He couldn’t stay mad at the beautiful woman in front of him, swallowing his saliva and pulling his knees in.
“Thank you.”
“Not at all.”
The woman gave a smile, but her eyes turned cold.
Yes, it is Ban Li-ming.
She had thrown the Shanxi Three Fiends into the hands of Park Ki-hyuk and was quietly pulling out herself.
‘It’s already hopeless now.’
Until tested, there were doubts. Park Ki-hyuk might be strong, but how strong could he be? Inside, she had looked down on him to some extent.
But, alas!
This was beyond monstrous!
In an almost day-long operation, Park Ki-hyuk had uprooted the Triad’s influence that had spread all over Saudi Arabia in months.
Ban Li-ming still doesn’t understand how this was possible.
‘If we had come here thinking we could take over Saudi Arabia…’
Every event was a calculated counter-measure.
Such precision indicates meticulous preparation. If the information advantage was absolute, and overwhelming power was added on top, then the result was decided even before the fight began.
‘If, purely out of emotional retaliation, it might still be a problem.’
That is to say, this disaster is entirely due to the impulsive actions of Park Ki-hyuk alone.
First, his ability to manipulate the concept of an inviolable space is confirmed, and second, he’s demonstrated his power to easily eliminate one whole unit of the Triad’s action team.
‘Whether the former or the latter, confronting Park Ki-hyuk is foolish.’
If confrontation was out of the question, the only remaining option was one.
The Thirty-Six Stratagems: Retreat!
As Sun Tzu said, a truly wise individual knows when to retreat.
‘If I were in contact with “Three(Three),” I might have prepared for a final battle.’
Three had vanished like a mirage, as always.
Then, cutting losses clean is the right choice.
But.
‘If the situation has deteriorated this much, retreating won’t be easy.’
Someone who could obliterate the Triad in Saudi within a day would undoubtedly be watching the typical escape routes like airports.
So, she sacrificed the Shanxi Three Fiends.
Purely to shift Park Ki-hyuk’s focus. And she abandoned all her subordinates who still followed her, fearing that she might be traced.
‘You deserve an apology.’
But if only one person can survive, isn’t it better for me, the capable one?
There’s only one catch: the reprimand awaiting her return to the headquarters, but that can’t be helped. After all, she had failed.
Failure is failure, regardless of the reasons. In the Triad, if every means and method are used but success is achieved, everything is considered justifiable.
On the contrary, the repercussions of failure are among the harshest of any organization, and with the extent of her failure, Ban Li-ming would need to forfeit her head.
But this is the ordinary scenario. Ban Li-ming is different.
She has her father backing her.
Her father is the Second-in-Command of the entire Triad. With him watching over her, as a single daughter, she wouldn’t be punished too harshly for the sake of face anyway.
With that in mind, she finally relaxes.
And the tension that had filled her fades away. Peace finally returns to Ban Li-ming’s heart.
Then, the man sitting beside her offers something.
“Um, um… Would you like to have this?”
What was extended was a chocolate bar.
Though normally something she wouldn’t give a glance to, today was special. She decided to extend a service today.
“Oh my, thank you. It happens to be my favorite.”
Ban Li-ming gave an alluring smile, and the man’s cheeks turned red.
As she reached out to take the chocolate bar at that moment,
Poke!
“Ugh!”
Jolted by sudden excruciating pain, she quickly turned to her side.
And Ban Li-ming’s eyes widened in shock.
“Yo… you…”
Because there stood the loyal subordinate who had until now protected her.
“How could you betray me?”
“What… Wha…”
Then again.
Poke!
Another sharp pain was felt.
Without screaming, looking down revealed a sword blade protruding out of her stomach.
From behind the seat, a bizarrely bent neck stared down at her.
“Why did you abandon us?”
This time, it was her Chief of the Guard.
A man who had protected her by her side for no less than ten years.
Poke!
The sword struck her again.
This time it was the Chief of the Guard’s deputy — a woman who had always been at her side.
Poke!
The sword pierced her neck.
This time it was the envoy she had used — someone known for loyalty above ability.
“Why did you abandon us?”
“Why did you leave us behind?”
“I want to live too.”
“Please save me too.”
The departed subordinates all drove their swords into her.
It hurts. It hurts so much.
Frantically trying to pull out the swords stabbing into her body, her hands are also pierced, pinning her to the seat.
“Someone, please… save me!!”
Save me. Please, someone, help me.
Begging desperately, she looked around. The passengers on the plane all turned their heads to look at her.
And at that moment, Ban Li-ming screamed.
Because every face she turned to see was, without exception, the subordinates she had abandoned.
They all raised their swords in unison.
As the sharp edges of the swords approached, despair colored Ban Li-ming’s eyes.
Someone, please save me. Please…
Begging helplessly and struggling fiercely,
The outcome doesn’t change.
“Sa… save me… kuh…”
Poke, poke, poke, poke…
Ban Li-ming turns into a pincushion from the swords.
Her skin is torn apart.
Her bones are shattered.
Her insides exposed, and more swords pierce the exposed areas.
Her lungs are punctured, and she can no longer even cry out.
‘Save me! Save me!! Save me!!!’
this wish
changes to
‘k*ll me please… please k*ll me…’
As her body, now reduced to tatters, has nowhere left for another sword to penetrate,
“…”
The face of the man who offered the chocolate transforms.
The white skin darkens, the slight build grows larger, and the brown hair turns black.
And when all of it has changed,
Park Ki-hyuk was eating the chocolate bar.
“Sweet.”
