Chapter 2140 - MP 8

"Hmm, so you're saying we send out uncontrolled forces to eliminate unseen enemies while requesting reinforcements?"

"Yes. I don't know what his true intentions are, but he's neither our ally nor the enemy's, though it's clear he's a master. Naturally, if he falls into danger, he'll reveal his true colors and slaughter the enemies."

"But I have one concern. Will the congratulatory guests really leave the Family so easily? Once they realize a Heaven-and-Earth Net has been spread around the Family, no one will try to escape."

"Family Head, this place where the Namgung Family is located isn't connected only by land routes, is it? If we provide ships, they'll compete to leave the Family."

"That may be true, but the enemies may have spread their encirclement toward Chaohu Lake as well."

"Naturally they will. However, it won't be as thick as you think. That's because Chaohu Lake itself is as vast as the sea, and beyond it lies the Yangtze River. The idea that their Heaven-and-Earth Net would extend across all of vast Chaohu Lake and reach the Yangtze River is something that cannot exist or even be imagined.

Moreover, the Yangtze waterways are under the absolute influence of the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds, and we, the Namgung Family, hold most of the control over Chaohu Lake. This means that no matter how many ships they mobilize on Chaohu Lake, they can't have more than us, and they won't be warships either. That means the enemies are likely only blocking the land routes along the shores of Chaohu Lake. If the Namgung Family's ships all escape through the South Water Gate at once, the enemies will have no choice but to concentrate their martial artists at the entrance of Chaochuan."

Chaochuan.

One of the Yangtze River's tributaries that must be passed through to go from Chaohu Lake to the Yangtze River. If one wanted to take a ship from the Namgung Family to the Yangtze River, this river, Chaochuan, was the waterway that must be crossed.

What Namgung Bang was saying now was that since the enemies couldn't cover all of the vast Chaohu Lake, they would definitely concentrate their forces and ships in that direction.

After hearing Namgung Bang's words, Namgung Byeok thought it did seem like a decent idea. If they did that, in a situation where their hands and feet were bound and their eyes covered, wouldn't at least their feet be freed? For a moment, he had that thought.

However,

"Hearing your words, it does seem that way. But if we do that, most of the congratulatory guests will die. The enemy waiting outside is Heavenly Demon Castle. Not some small local sect."

It was an efficient method, but if they did that, massive sacrifices would inevitably follow. And it wouldn't be the blood of Namgung Family martial artists, but countless others' blood that would flow into the Yangtze River.

Namgung Bang asserted once more to Namgung Byeok with a firm expression.

"That can't be helped. After all, most of those who came here as guests came to get something or are those who already got something. Rather than staying here and continuing to be obstacles, I think it's more right for them to help the Namgung Family in this way."

"...."

It was terribly cold-hearted, but just as much, it was extremely realistic. Anyway, keeping the guests here now wouldn't help their forces at all. Rather, since they had to monitor them, it would only be a loss to their forces.

Above all, there was no visible way for the Namgung Family itself to survive right now. In that sense, the method Namgung Bang was presenting now seemed the best.

If things went well and the congratulatory guests broke through just the entrance of Chaochuan, they could cross to the Yangtze River and receive help from the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds, with whom the Namgung Family has an alliance. Moreover, if they used this method, they could finally send out of the Family that 'guest who is not a guest' who kept grating on Namgung Byeok's nerves.

Moon Full Emperor Falls.

To erase these words from his mind, Namgung Byeok had no choice but to accept Namgung Bang's opinion. Namgung Byeok thought a bit more, but still no other solution came to mind.

Having made up his mind, he looked at Namgung Bang and finally gave the execution order.

"Go out right now and launch all available ships, and gather all the congratulatory guests and the servants and workers within the Family toward the South Water Gate."

"Yes, Family Head!"

Namgung Bang answered vigorously and left the Emperor King Hall without a moment's hesitation.

Namgung Byeok waited until Namgung Bang had completely left, then slowly rose from his seat.

He raised his head once more to look at the sky. Through the wide-open ceiling, he could see the sky tinged with red sunset.

Would it be a mistake if that sight looked like blood flowing on water, spreading in all directions?

Before long, Namgung Byeok lowered his head back to its original position and left the Emperor King Hall.

The place his footsteps headed toward was.

The Medicine Hall.

***

A subtle tea fragrance, as gentle as the medicinal scent flowing through the Medicine Hall, filled the inner chamber abundantly.

Slurp.

The sound of swallowing that tea quietly broke the stillness inside the inner chamber.

Four teacups were placed on the round table located in one corner of the inner chamber, but the person drinking the tea was mainly one person, and the other three only quietly listened to his story.

Namgung Byeok continued his story while taking sips of tea intermittently. When the bottom of the teacup was almost completely visible, he finished everything he wanted to say.

Having heard the entire story, Tang O downed the already completely cooled tea in one gulp and said coldly,

"When should I leave?"

Drip…

As Namgung Byeok refilled Tang O's empty cup with tea, he said,

"You can leave today."

At the word "today," Tang Hwa, another member in the inner chamber, raised surprised eyes to look at him.

She looked like she had something to say, but said nothing and lowered her head again. She knew well that her opinion wasn't important anyway.

On the other hand, Dong Bong-su maintained a composed posture without being surprised even as astonishing words continuously poured from Namgung Byeok's mouth. It was because he had already guessed most of what Namgung Byeok was saying would be like this.

The only things Dong Bong-su didn't know were that the force surrounding the Namgung Family was Heavenly Demon Castle and the plan Namgung Bang had proposed.

Moreover, there was also the fact that he was adopting this composed appearance because Tang O wanted it.

Wouldn't 'Tang Sam, the ancient genius with a Holeless Body' that Tang O imagined not be easily shaken even when any crisis situation arrived?

Right, right. Life is half acting anyway.

In that sense, there was nothing easier for Dong Bong-su than acting like that. Especially since that appearance wasn't particularly different from his real self, there was no sense of incongruity to be found.

Squeak!

Tang O rose from his seat.

Dong Bong-su knew he was about to leave right now.

Then another unpleasant squeak sound came. Dong Bong-su had also risen to follow Tang O.

Looking up at them, Namgung Byeok brought the tea to his lips for a sip and spoke.

"When you leave, please take Hye-ah with you as well."

Tang O, who had been turning his body toward the door, turned back toward Namgung Byeok.

"Why?"

"I don't want to show her the sight of fighting that bastard."

Both Tang O and Dong Bong-su knew well who "that bastard" referred to.

"Is that all?"

"I'm afraid that I... that the Namgung Family might not last even ten days."

If this worked, the time it would take for Tang O to bring reinforcements. The ten days Namgung Byeok mentioned would mean those ten days and nights.

"Crazy bastard. Do you think I'd let you do that? How much would I get scolded by brother after dying? A nephew whose uncle is the Soul Chasing Poison Hand, and you're wishing curses on yourself like that. Tsk, tsk, tsk.."

Tang O spat out rough words unbefitting a famous martial artist and left the inner chamber of the Medicine Hall just like that. Following him, Tang Hwa also left the Medicine Hall.

Namgung Byeok glanced once at their backs and drank his tea with a bitter smile.

From Namgung Byeok's unconfident appearance, Dong Bong-su could feel that the situation was flowing much more seriously and urgently than expected.

Tap, tap.

Walking toward the door.

He organized and analyzed the story Namgung Byeok had told earlier in his mind. Though it wasn't a long time, Dong Bong-su discovered several major flaws in Namgung Byeok's plan.

First, Namgung Byeok had a huge misunderstanding about the 'intruder' who left the Three Holy Lights and the Four Bone Scripts, Four Blood Scripts. He had said he planned to use the intruder.

Intruder, intruder, intruder....

As Namgung Byeok mentioned the intruder several times, one could see how much he was concerned about him. But the truly important thing was that the intruder wasn't a master enough to be used in such a plan.

The intruder.

It was Dong Bong-su, himself.

The Three Holy Lights had nothing to do with his internal energy and were just a conditioned reflex from leveling up, yet Namgung Byeok was speculating about the 'intruder's' martial arts level based only on that.

'Namgung Byeok's first mistake is overestimating me, and.'

Another thing that bothered him.

Could Do Heo-ok and the force behind him—whether it was Heavenly Demon Castle as Namgung Byeok said or not—really not have predicted such a simple method as what Namgung Byeok had brought?

When Dong Bong-su assumed an extreme case, the Namgung Family could mobilize all ships within the Family and abandon the Family altogether, heading toward Chaohu Lake. In that case, for Heavenly Demon Castle, which couldn't easily mobilize ships, even if they took over the Namgung Family, pursuing the fleeing Family members wouldn't be easy.

Do Heo-ok probably included this case within the range of feasible scenarios as well.

If so, it was natural that the scope of the encirclement they were currently deploying would become much broader and strengthened. It definitely wouldn't be confined only to the entrance of Chaochuan as Namgung Bang and Namgung Byeok expected.

Of course, Namgung Bang's prediction made sense within the bounds of common sense. But from the moment Heavenly Demon Castle inexplicably attacked the Namgung Family, common sense was already broken.

Breaking common sense, breaking common sense, breaking common sense....

Dong Bong-su repeated those words several times. He thought the enemies had definitely used a method that broke common sense in blocking the waterways as well.

Here, there were various methods that broke common sense, but wouldn't the most effective method be just one?

Dong Bong-su thought of and hypothesized one very efficient method that could cover all of Chaochuan and Chaohu Lake. If that hypothesis was correct, Namgung Byeok's current plan could absolutely not succeed.

The difference between a probability being 0 and existing as 0.000...0001.

Existing and not existing.

The two were absolutely different. The plan Namgung Byeok proposed now was a plan that could emerge even if Do Heo-ok's plan had proceeded normally, so it had nothing to do with the discrepancy from the enemies' original plan failing.

'The second mistake is underestimating Do Heo-ok and the enemy forces.'

In a word, Namgung Byeok's plan was completely wrong from its premise.

A plan based on two wrong premises—it would be difficult for that to work properly. Dong Bong-su thought so.

Having finished thinking that far, Dong Bong-su finally arrived at the Medicine Hall entrance and opened the door to leave.

There was no way to change Namgung Byeok's plan anyway. To change it, he would have to do the crazy thing of revealing to Namgung Byeok that he was that 'intruder.'

If so, then as he had resolved earlier, he had no choice but to display 'improvisation' and break through this crisis.

As Dong Bong-su went outside and closed the door,

'Still, the probability of survival exists.'

He thought that again.

His existence had already caused a ripple in the 0 probability the enemies created. Already once, though very small, he had caused a crack in the enemies' plan. With that, the probability of 0 had already disappeared.

Now, live or die?

It's a 50-50 gamble.

Slurp.

Namgung Byeok drank tea alone for quite a long time even after Dong Bong-su disappeared. When he left the inner chamber of the Medicine Hall, a moon close to full had already risen high in the sky.

-x-X-x-

What do death and moonlight have in common?

It's that when the time comes, they visit everyone in the world equally.

Like the shadow of death that follows behind everyone in the world even when one tries desperately to avoid it, the moonlight that illuminated the Namgung Family was naturally also shining brightly on places other than there.

The peak of Seungryong Mountain.

Of course, the moon cast its light fully upon this place as well.

Receiving that light fully, there were two people casting long shadows behind them.

Among them, the man in black clothes with a languid expression, Paga Blood, spoke first. He was watching the distant Namgung Family with his arms crossed, and even while speaking, he didn't turn his gaze elsewhere.

"Transformed Shadow... should I call you Do Heo-ok now? Well, whatever doesn't matter. Shall I hear your excuses now?"

Standing beside him was a man with handsome features, Do Heo-ok.

The blue clothes Do Heo-ok wore had lost their original color long ago from how much blood had soaked into them. Now they had turned so black that they were almost indistinguishable from the black clothes Paga Blood wore. Just from his appearance, one could fully guess how much fierce battle he had fought today. That said, most of that blood belonged to other people.

Do Heo-ok also spoke while looking toward the Namgung Family like Paga Blood.

"Gray Shadow, you're talking as if I definitely failed."

"Then are you saying you didn't? Although they were outer shadows rather than true shadows, four shadows died without much gain. And the very fact that you, Transformed Shadow, are standing beside me flapping your mouth means the First Stratagem failed long ago. The First Stratagem only had a chance of success when you could be a hero who would become the focal point of the Orthodox Faction, but now that you're flapping your mouth while looking like a neighborhood dog trampled by village brats, the stratagem is already over."

Do Heo-ok chuckled at Paga Blood's somewhat loose manner of speaking and retorted.

"You're only half right. The core of the First Stratagem is indeed that I become a hero of the Orthodox Faction. But just because I'm standing here in this state doesn't mean I can't become a hero of the Orthodox Faction."

"What do you mean by that? Don't tell me you're planning to slaughter everyone in the Namgung Family without leaving a single one, then claim 'I am the successor of the Namgung Family'?"

Paga Blood, who had been looking only at the Namgung Family with languid eyes, turned his head to look at Do Heo-ok.

"If that's what you're thinking, give it up from the start. The Orthodox Faction trash values family or sect nameplates more, so they might acknowledge you as a somewhat talented master, but they won't think of you as the successor of the Namgung Family who will restore it. Maybe if you had learned the Namgung Family's martial arts, but as things stand now, it's impossible."

"Is that so?"

At Do Heo-ok's nonchalant response, Paga Blood clicked his tongue lightly.

"Ah, forget it. Don't make petty excuses going on and on. That's not like you, Transformed Shadow. When I met Gwang-un after over ten years, nothing about that guy had changed, but you, Transformed Shadow, have changed to be completely pathetic. Just clean up the Namgung Family and those trash here completely, then return to headquarters and report the truth to that person and await punishment. Wouldn't that be more like you...? Huh!? You...?"

Paga Blood, who had been telling Do Heo-ok to admit his mistake, suddenly closed his mouth with a surprised expression.

Twist…snap…crack…pop.

That was because Do Heo-ok's face and body were suddenly twisting and changing bizarrely.

Twist...

A moment later.

The handsome man named Do Heo-ok who had been standing there disappeared, and in his place stood some peerless beauty. Do Heo-ok, no, the beautiful woman whose name was unknown, smiled bashfully and acted coquettishly toward Paga Blood.

"How is this? If it's this appearance, don't you think I could become the successor of the Namgung Family without needing a witness named Namgung Hye, and without learning the Namgung Family's martial arts?"

The voice of Do Heo-ok, who had transformed into a peerless beauty, had also become that of a woman, making Paga Blood bewildered.

"...Don't tell me, your current appearance is!?"

"That's correct. This young lady is called Namgung Hye."

That's right. The current appearance of Do Heo-ok, who was shyly lowering his head, was precisely Namgung Hye, with whom he had been about to make a hundred-year marriage vow just earlier.

At that sight, Paga Blood burst into laughter.

"Kekekeke, hahahaha. Sorry. I take back what I just said. You're the same now as you were then..."

"The same?"

"A crazy bastard."

Usually, calling someone a crazy bastard is an insult. However, the words 'crazy bastard' coming from the mouth of Paga Blood, no, Gray Shadow, were the highest praise.

The true shadows and true clouds were all those who learned martial arts directly from Mubon. All of them possessed some outstanding quality, and that's why they were chosen by Mubon.

Mubon transmitted martial arts to each shadow and cloud that could maximize such qualities. Some had even reached the end of those specialized martial arts. Gray Shadow's words 'crazy bastard' were a special term referring precisely to such people.

Do Heo-ok, no, Transformed Shadow also knew this fact well, and from Gray Shadow's words 'crazy bastard,' he could guess that he had understood well the meaning of transforming into this appearance.

"A family that was annihilated. And revenge against a man who passed on all the true teachings of Thunder Clap Blade and even his internal energy before dying. Moreover, this woman originally knew nothing about martial arts. No one will suspect—no, can't suspect—that Namgung Hye doesn't know the Namgung Family's martial arts. Isn't this enough to have sufficient elements to continue with the First Stratagem? Gray Shadow?"

The polite speech of 'her' had already returned to Transformed Shadow's original tone. At this, Gray Shadow burst into laughter again and said,

"Kekekeke, hahahaha. Good, good. Very good."

At Gray Shadow's laughter, Transformed Shadow also laughed back as if joining in.

"Hahahaha. Ah, this won't do. From now on I should laugh like this, right? Hohohohoho!"

The two laughed like that for a while.

At some moment, Gray Shadow stopped laughing and looked Transformed Shadow up and down with a suggestive gaze, speaking lewdly.

"But Namgung Hye's beauty is truly beautiful. Even though I know you're a man, my thing is getting excited."

At his words, Transformed Shadow abruptly stopped the female laughter and made a murderous expression. A gloomy and bizarre voice that the real Namgung Hye could never produce flowed from her mouth.

"If you don't restore that filthy thing to its original state right now, you'll never be able to get excited again. Because I will, right here, right now, carve it out very. beau. ti. ful. ly."

Gray Shadow knew well that Transformed Shadow's words were a joke. However, he couldn't keep drooling over a man who was only a woman on the outside.

He had no choice but to swallow his saliva once with a gulp and calm down the third leg attached to his lower body.

That was when it happened.

Crackle.

A raptor appeared from far away in the sky and flew rapidly toward them.

The hawk that arrived above the peak of Seungryong Mountain in an instant circled above their heads for a moment, then began descending rapidly toward them. When they saw the hawk's appearance gradually enlarging, it was not the same species as the Killer Falcon that Gray Shadow had released to catch carrier pigeons.

"Ring Hawk?"

That hawk was precisely a Ring Hawk, raised for regular information exchange instead of carrier pigeons by a quite famous organization in the Martial World. Gray Shadow and Transformed Shadow both knew well who the master of that organization was.

He was precisely.

The last shadow not here among the seven shadows mobilized for this First Stratagem—Water Shadow.

The Ring Hawk coming here meant the time to begin the work was approaching.

Gray Shadow recovered his original utterly languid expression and raised one arm horizontally.

Fwoosh, flap flap…

The Ring Hawk glided down, gradually reducing speed, and landed on his arm.

A small and elongated wooden case was tied to the hawk's feet.

Pop!

Gray Shadow untied the wooden case from the hawk's feet and immediately opened the lid.

A pleasant sound came as the air filling the case escaped. Inside the case was a single piece of paper, on which was briefly written:

[Float.]

As soon as Gray Shadow confirmed the contents, he ignited Samadhi True Fire and burned the paper. Then he tossed out a remark in a languid voice.

"It has floated."

Though it was a statement without context, Transformed Shadow understood his words.

"Already? Well, it would be hard to say 'already.' The plan itself to begin on the full moon has already gone awry, so there's nothing strange about the ships floating now."

Tchik!

Gray Shadow suddenly tore the hem of his pants and poked holes here and there with his finger. Transformed Shadow knew well what he was doing, so just watched silently without saying anything.

A moment later, a single character 'Begin' was carved into the hem.

Gray Shadow rolled up that hem, put it in the case, and tied it again to the Ring Hawk's feet.

Then he immediately released the Ring Hawk back into the sky.

Watching the Ring Hawk fly away flapping, Gray Shadow grinned. The bloody feast that would unfold from now on. That anticipation made his heart excited.

"Then I should also move faster than planned. But what will you do, Transformed Shadow? Will you stay here and work with me?"

Transformed Shadow immediately shook his head.

"No, I'll follow that hawk."

"Going to Water Shadow? Why? I think this side will be much more fun?"

"You don't know. That side will be much more fun. I guarantee it."

"How? Ah? Because of Tang O? Eh, that one person doesn't match the weight of the Namgung Family."

"I don't know. If it were one person maybe, but if it's two people, the story is different."

"Two people? Ah! That light from last night?"

Gray Shadow could immediately tell who Do Heo-ok, that is, Transformed Shadow was talking about.

"Right, that light. That person is not from the Namgung Family, so he'll definitely come that way. I didn't see that light yesterday, but from what I heard, it seems to be at the level of the Two Divinities, Three Eccentrics. Perhaps... it might really be one of the Two Divinities, Three Eccentrics. Or it could be their predecessor. If not, wouldn't he at least be a reclusive master?"

"Ah, damn. Hearing your words makes me much more tempted by that side?"

"You just finish things up well here. Leave everything on that side entirely to me and Water Shadow."

"But you know. If yesterday's tremendous flash was truly made entirely of internal energy alone... even if you and Water Shadow attack together, you won't be able to beat that person."

"That's right. But... wouldn't that be fun in its own way? Haha... hoho."

With laughter that was difficult to distinguish as male or female, Transformed Shadow bent his knees. He was preparing to leap to depart.

The direction he aimed for was south, toward Chaohu Lake where the Ring Hawk had just disappeared.

It was precisely the moment when he was about to straighten his knees and leap.

"Ah, but Transformed Shadow, be careful on your way. I've spread our kids all over this area. As you know, our Heavenly Demon Castle kids are incredibly rough."

At those words, Transformed Shadow answered with a chuckle.

At the same time, Transformed Shadow's beautiful face and slender figure began to distort.

Twist, snap, crack, pop...

Before long, Namgung Hye disappeared, and in her place, a man with a terribly languid expression was crouching with his knees fully bent.

"Is this good? Hahahaha"

The face, manner of speech, laughter. Everything resembled him too closely. Gray Shadow had no choice but to let out an empty laugh at Transformed Shadow's new appearance.

Thud!

Transformed Shadow finally left the peak of Seungryong Mountain.

Watching that sight, Gray Shadow shook his head and muttered to himself.

"Just as Gwang-un is annoying, that bastard is annoying too. Though the meanings are very different. But, if he transformed into my appearance, shouldn't he also change into my clothes? He should have changed clothes here and then transformed. Kekeke."

With those lewd words, Gray Shadow also disappeared from the scene.

The ships had floated, and Mubon's Grand Plan, which had creaked momentarily, began flowing again.

-x-X-x-

Late at night.

In the sky floated a round moon nearly full—perhaps already full. Below it on Chaohu Lake, dozens of large and small ships were advancing rapidly forward.

Southward, southward.

Sswooosh, sswoosh.

Ships cutting through the water refreshingly.

Although most of the people aboard were not members of the Namgung Family, the ships belonged to the Namgung Family.

The composition was largely congratulatory guests who had come to celebrate this wedding, and while some of them remained at the Namgung Family, the absolute majority boarded the ships. Among those who remained at the Family, some still hadn't grasped how critical this situation was, or were those who judged it would be safer to remain at the Namgung Family.

However, such people were an extreme minority, so the Namgung Family, which had to monitor them, was relieved of one burden.

The rest, excluding them, were servants and workers of the Namgung Family and their dependents, whom Namgung Byeok had semi-forcibly loaded onto the ships. A fight would break out anyway when they arrived near Chaochuan. Before that, they couldn't waste the 'sacrificial lambs'' strength on rowing.

Unaware of Namgung Byeok's intentions, the congratulatory guests felt sorry and grateful about escaping alone. Naturally, they didn't doubt in the slightest that they would arrive safely at the Yangtze River.

However, at the very rear of the fleet.

Dong Bong-su, Tang O, Tang Hwa, and Namgung Hye. Only these four knew well that unprecedented danger lurked in Chaochuan.

Among them, Dong Bong-su was convinced that the actual enemies waiting in Chaochuan would be far more dangerous than Namgung Byeok had predicted.

If Namgung Byeok thought it was merely a dilemma, Dong Bong-su felt the current situation was like being surrounded on all sides.

He turned his head to look back. Since they were at the very rear of the escaping ships, the only things obstructing his view were a few fish occasionally waking from sleep and leaping above the water's surface.

Beyond the chilly night fog on the water, he could see a manor of magnificent scale. It was precisely Anhui's finest manor, the Namgung Family. However, Dong Bong-su's gaze didn't linger there long.

For now, that place was the most dangerous. Returning to the Namgung Family wasn't worth a moment's consideration.

Ahead.

His gaze turned forward again. Then what about that direction ahead where they were now heading?

If they continued forward for a few hours without any interference, Chaochuan would appear as Namgung Byeok or Tang O thought.

However,

In Dong Bong-su's thinking, that place was just as dangerous as the rear. Namgung Byeok and Tang O would have judged that breaking through Chaochuan was the safest and easiest option...

'If my thinking is correct, even if we reach Chaochuan, no, even if we reach Chaochuan and succeed in breaking through there, we will never be able to enter the Yangtze River.'

Dong Bong-su sneered at Namgung Byeok's naivety.

He felt that Namgung Byeok still hadn't grasped at all how thoroughly the enemy had prepared and struck here.

The word encirclement means to 'meticulously' surround. Namgung Byeok needed to reconsider the meaning of that word 'meticulously.' Of course, if he survived... and if afterward there was leisure left to do so.

Both front and rear disappeared from consideration.

Dong Bong-su's gaze this time went right, then turned left. On either side, dozens of lights flickered in the distance along the lakeshore. They were probably the rear units of the force surrounding the Namgung Family. They were too far away to know their exact numbers, but considering the distribution of torches, it was definitely not a small number.

Those moved gradually southward matching the fleet's speed. Even so, not all the lights followed the ships.

Preparing for contingencies, one light remained at regular intervals. Probably preparing for the ships to scatter and land on both sides simultaneously. From that sight, Dong Bong-su could read the opponent's strong will not to let even one person escape alive.

That's when Dong Bong-su sensed for the first time.

Perhaps the opponent's purpose wasn't to destroy the Namgung Family, but rather to kill everyone who had been at the Namgung Family and all those who participated as congratulatory guests.

"..."

Unease was already circulating throughout the entire fleet because of the lights. Most of the congratulatory guests had actually only heard about it in stories, and hadn't yet confirmed with their own eyes the reality of the enemy surrounding the Namgung Family. But now that they had clearly witnessed they were being pursued, they couldn't help but be anxious.

Still, to Dong Bong-su's eyes, both shores appeared relatively less dangerous than the front and rear. However, even so, attempting to land by bringing ships to shore was still an extremely perilous matter.

Even if they succeeded in safely docking the ships and climbing onto land, fierce pursuit from the enemies would immediately begin. Therefore, just as before, landing was also a difficult option to choose.

It was easily determined that front, back, left, and right were all unthinkable choices—no, choices one didn't even want to think about.

'Then where is left now?'

Which direction should they escape to have a high possibility of survival?

Logically speaking, there was still more left.

This time Dong Bong-su raised his head to look up.

Caw caw caw-.

The strange cries of hawks, like chick chirps multiplied by hundreds, were occupying Chaohu Lake's night sounds. There was no way to fly, but even if they could fly, as long as those Killer Falcons were traversing the sky, they couldn't escape this place by flying.

'Was this the end?'

It wasn't. There was still one more place.

Right beneath his feet, that is, Chaohu Lake below the ship. But this wasn't worth considering at all. The moment they fell into the water, it would directly connect to death. How long could they endure in the water at night? They would probably die of hypothermia before long.

What if they could endure?

Even so, they wouldn't survive long. Setting aside the problem of body temperature drop, what would they do when day broke? If they remained here, it would still be surrounded on all sides. Ultimately, to survive, they would have to swim in any direction—front, back, left, or right.

Now he had considered all possible directions for escape.

Front, back, left, right, up, down. He had surveyed all places they could and couldn't go without missing a single one, but the possibility of breaking through in any direction seemed slim.

'Then what should be done?'

Dong Bong-su continued thinking.

The way to live was bleak.

Now he had to choose the side with even slightly higher survival possibility. For now, as before, trusting Tang O, who stood beside him with his hands clasped behind his back watching only the far distance ahead, was the best path.

However, no matter how he figured it, this method was only the best choice in a bad situation like now, and was no different from the lesser evil. The last choice he had no choice but to take since he couldn't choose the worst option of jumping into the water and committing suicide.

No, perhaps even this...

'Could be the worst.'

Dong Bong-su's eyes turned toward one corner of the ship. Two women were crouching there. Beauties so beautiful as to be unparalleled in the world. They were precisely Namgung Hye and Tang Hwa.

However, Namgung Hye was currently completely drained of spirit due to Do Heo-ok's betrayal, and Tang Hwa was slightly frowning as if the wound she received earlier was aching.

Even if the two were in normal condition, they were burdens to Tang O. Although Tang O was an unparalleled master, he was merely a person with one body and two hands. If a desperate crisis struck, he would naturally save those two. Perhaps he might even save everyone including himself.

However,

Tang Hwa, Namgung Hye, and 'Tang Sam'—if he absolutely had to abandon one of these three.

'That would definitely be me.'

His granddaughter and his sworn brother's granddaughter. It would be difficult for his value to Tang O to be higher than theirs.

Everything he had thought about so far was mere supposition, but it was the reality confronting him and highly likely to be realized. Very much so.

Normally, anyone would give up on survival by this point, but Dong Bong-su absolutely never gave up.

He continued thinking endlessly. Although he didn't know well the reason why he should live, he strived to survive. And just like until now, he would simply survive.

Of course.

He was confident he would continue to do so afterward as well.

Sswoosh, sswoosh.

The faster Dong Bong-su's brain turned, the faster the ships' speed became.

Had about two more hours passed like that?

Still, all that intermittently reached the escaping congratulatory guests' ears were the noisy sound of ships cutting through the water and the hawks' cries.

The vast Chaohu Lake didn't easily show or tell them its end. Though they had glided a distance equivalent to passing several towns and cities, Chaochuan still hadn't shown even a glimpse, and torches still clung along both shores of Chaohu Lake. However, from the fact that their brightness was increasing, one could tell the lake's width was gradually narrowing, if only slightly.

Sswooosh, sswoosh.

A few more hours passed.

Finally, the land on both sides had come close enough to be confirmed with the naked eye, and the current was also becoming considerably faster. A sign that a river was approaching.

Now Chaochuan truly wouldn't be far.

At that fact, a mood of relief was gradually spreading through the fleet where silence had been hovering. People were feeling they might be able to escape the crisis situation to some degree.

On the other hand, Tang O and Tang Hwa's expressions gradually hardened. Probably the tension right before fierce battle, something like that.

Dong Bong-su's expression, having glanced once at their faces, remained expressionless as always. However, his brain was still turning rapidly. He knew well that there wasn't much time left to think.

Then at some moment.

"It's Chaochuan! Chaochuan is visible!"

Someone aboard a ship at the vanguard shouted loudly.

-x-X-x-

Though it wasn't yet visible to Dong Bong-su's eyes, judging by how the lake's width had rapidly narrowed to less than 1 kilometer, they had definitely entered the entrance of Chaochuan.

People cheered without exception.

Around that time, the lights that had been chasing the ships along the lakeshore were also gradually slowing their speed.

Dong Bong-su knew the reason clearly, but it seemed strange to Tang Hwa, who looked at Tang O and expressed her doubt.

"Huh? Grandfather, the lights that were following aren't chasing us anymore."

"I see..."

Tang O also frowned, narrowing his brow at the enemies' strange behavior. He felt uneasy that the lights were no longer following.

Even if the enemies had blockaded the entrance to Chaochuan, there were dozens of ships here. Moreover, hundreds of people were divided among these ships, and there were quite a few masters.

Also, though they were merely filling numbers, there were quite a few servants and workers of the Namgung Family and their dependents. To face all of these, support from the lakeshore would be essential. Yet the enemies had stopped their pursuit just before reaching Chaochuan.

'What does this mean?'

Does it mean the forces ahead alone are sufficient to stop all the ships here? Does that make sense? Did they bring enough demonic soldiers to perfectly blockade the entrance to Chaochuan even after using that many forces to surround the Namgung Family?

At the moment Tang O had doubts about that problem.

A small number of ships at the very front began to accelerate, pushing forward vigorously. To them, the lights from the lakeshore not following meant the enemies had given up pursuit.

'No. This isn't right. Something's wrong.'

No matter how he thought about it, Tang O couldn't understand the enemies' movements. He eventually transmitted his voice to the entire fleet as loudly as possible with his internal energy, slowing the ships' speed to the maximum extent possible. However, the ships that had already advanced ahead showed no intention of stopping and moved forward even faster.

Because of that, the escape fleet quickly separated into two groups.

The ships going ahead first and the ships that fell behind following Tang O.

It was when the distance between the two had widened to about a hundred meters.

"Aaaahhh!"

"It's reinforcements!"

"Support troops have appeared!"

Cheers came from the ships ahead.

At that sound, Dong Bong-su realized what was coming had come, and Tang O and Tang Hwa couldn't help but feel bewildered. They didn't know why those people were shouting joyfully at the sight of enemies.

However, it didn't take long for the two to figure out the reason.

"It's the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds!"

"They must have received word from the Namgung Family Head!"

"The Yangtze Waterway Strongholds have come to rescue the Namgung Family!"

The cries pouring from the vanguard ships said that the 'reinforcements' that appeared were water bandits from the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds.

As if to prove it, ships soon began pouring out from the entrance of Chaochuan.

The ships were all sleekly designed fast ships, each with a large ramming horn made of ivory attached to the front. Fast ships shaped like this were called Yangtze River Ships and were the main vessels of the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds.

And each ship had a flag planted at the bow, on which was embroidered a picture of eighteen large fish intertwined.

Kun.

That fish was a mythical animal with such a name. The Kun, known to be so large that its body length reached several thousand meters, could swim nine thousand meters with one flap of its fins and cause a tsunami that overturned three thousand meters of ocean with one flick of its tail, was precisely the animal symbolizing the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds.

The water bandits of the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds called the Kun a divine fish and called that flag the Divine Fish Flag.

"Divine Fish Flag... Is it really the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds?"

The ships that appeared were truly vessels of the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds. Naturally, those aboard them would be water bandits of the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds.

"Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds? Grandfather, why have they appeared here? Uncle Namgung didn't say anything like that, did he? Perhaps after we escaped the Namgung Family, did he send a messenger to the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds?"

Judging by her excited voice, Tang Hwa seemed to really think of the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds as reinforcements.

Tang O of course knew well that wasn't the case. If Namgung Byeok could have obtained rescue from the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds, he wouldn't have forced the congratulatory guests to escape like this in the first place.

Not only that?

Hadn't they seen enough on the way here?

All routes to the Yangtze River were blockaded. With the sky route blocked, which messenger could have reached the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds faster than ships?

Even if they could have transmitted news to the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds that the Namgung Family was surrounded, it would take at least three or four days for them to prepare to mobilize and come here.

Above all, there were too many of their ships. Even though more ships than those that had escaped from the Namgung Family were already blockading the entire entrance of Chaochuan, more continued to appear. To an extent where their end couldn't be known.

"...They're not reinforcements. They're not reinforcements! We must turn the ships around!"

"What? What do you mean?"

"Don't you understand? Heavenly Demon Castle and the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds have joined hands! We must escape this place quickly!"

"...!"

Tang O finally became completely certain that the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds were enemies, not reinforcements.

However,

'It's too late.'

In Dong Bong-su's view, the situation was already screwed. The enemies had fast ships so they could move at speeds far superior to this side, and the ships here had already lost even their acceleration while slowing down. If there was any fortune, it was only one thing—that most of the ships remained at the rear following Tang O.

Nevertheless, Dong Bong-su's eyes showed not a trace of wavering.

What was it?

What was he, Dong Bong-su, looking at?

His darkly sunken gaze was gloomily glinting. His calm eyes were fixed on the Divine Fish Flag of the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds with the Kun carefully embroidered on it.

'Found it. Finally!'

By the time Dong Bong-su shouted that in his heart, the vanguard ships were already quite close to the fast ships of the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds.

The congratulatory guests aboard those ships were still cheering as if Chaohu Lake would float away. Not knowing they were sticking their heads into a tiger's mouth.

A moment later.

The ship at the very front among them approached and attached itself to a distance not far from the lined-up ships of the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds.

Suddenly water bandits poured out en masse from the cabins of the fast ships. They all held bows in their hands. Seeing the arrowheads glinting sharply in the moonlight, one could tell how keenly they were sharpened.

"Fire!"

Someone on the fast ship shouted.

Sswish sswish swish sswish sswish swish!

Soon arrows poured from the rain clouds called the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds.

That rain became a concentrated downpour, instantly turning the decks of the ships that had recklessly gone ahead into porcupines.

"Aaargh!"

"Aaarggh!"

Cheers turning into screams truly happened in an instant.

Following that, the ships of the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds began their advance. They glided at full speed and crashed toward the Namgung Family's ships.

Thunk, creeeeakk.

The ships struck by the powerful ramming horns soon created foam and sank into the water. Many of the ships that had gone ahead were small and fast ships, so they were damaged even more easily by the ramming horns.

That sound echoed and soon reached even the ships that had fallen behind.

Has there ever been a time when the full moon's moonlight made people so cruelly disappointed?

The moonlight made people's eyes bright as day, and because of it, the congratulatory guests and ships being brutally crushed were visible all too vividly. This lacked nothing to terrify those who survived.

"Aaaaaahh!"

"Flee! Flee!"

Ships that fell into uncontrollable states began rowing toward the shore all at once. Even the ship Tang O was aboard began moving toward the nearest shore, escaping his control.

Most of the ships that had fallen behind at the rear turned toward the closer right lakeshore. Tang O also didn't stop the ship from heading that way since no other option was visible.

However, that too wasn't very hopeful.

The torches of the Heavenly Demon Castle demonic soldiers who had stopped their pursuit began moving again. Before long, they preemptively seized the places where the ships would dock.

The land was quickly covered by a wave of torches, and behind them, the waves created by the fast ships were rushing in fiercely. Behind was the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds, ahead was Heavenly Demon Castle. They had met the worst situation.

"Grandfather! What do we do!? We can't go toward the Yangtze River or toward the shore!"

Flustered, Tang Hwa spoke to Tang O, unable to settle down.

Tang O answered with a hardened face.

"First, we go to shore."

"But there...!"

Tang Hwa pointed toward the shore with her eyes and trailed off.

Having gotten quite close now, not just torches but those wearing black clothes who had pursued them were faintly visible. Their skin prickled from the killing intent they emitted. She had never experienced such a thing in her life and was already falling into a panic state.

Comforting her like that, Tang O clenched his teeth tightly.

"Still, we have no choice but to go that way. Hwa-ah."

Tang O chose the shore. He had no choice.

In his judgment, the water side showed absolutely no hope. No matter how skilled Tang O was, he had no means to match the Eighteen Yangtze Waterway Strongholds who were skilled in water combat.

Above all, since the ship Tang O was aboard had fallen to the very rear of the escape fleet, they could arrive first when retreating to shore.

Tang Hwa, thinking quietly, realized Tang O's words were right, so she only frowned silently without adding other words.

However, the screams echoing all around were truly unbearable. They were so horrific that they made her think she would soon become like that too.

Then at some moment.

A thought crossed her mind.

"Grandfather, but by now, shouldn't that person reveal himself? Why is he still hiding his appearance? No matter how strong he is, if the situation becomes more serious than this, it will be impossible to turn back..."

Tang O immediately realized who the 'that person' Tang Hwa was talking about was. The protagonist of the Three Holy Lights, the one presumed to have immeasurable internal energy... 'that person.'

Tang O also thought that if that person was aboard one of these ships somewhere, he would reveal himself now. However, 'that person' still wasn't revealing his appearance before them. No, they believed so.

In reality, the real 'that person' was standing beside them, quietly waiting for the 'time.' The precise moment to escape this crisis of being surrounded on all sides... just waiting silently.

-x-X-x-

Dong Bong-su quietly turned his head to survey the unfolding situation once more.

The ships that had recklessly rushed toward Chaochuan had already all sunk.

Following that, the fast ships that had done so were already closing in on this vicinity.

The ships here had suddenly changed direction but hadn't managed to move much toward land yet.

Thunk! Thunk!

Their ramming horn attacks hastily resumed.

Because of that, the fleet's battle line swayed overall. However, the ships remaining here were relatively larger and sturdier than the ships that had been smashed earlier, so they didn't easily sink from the ramming horn attacks.

Aaaahh!

"Don't leave a single one alive, slaughter them all!"

Someone's shout and screams became the signal for close combat. With the desperate thought of 'all or nothing' anyway, the congratulatory guests aboard the ships at the rear boarded the fast ships that had collided with them.

The water bandits' side likewise climbed onto the Namgung Family's sailing ships and engaged in chaotic battle.

Fortunately, there were quite a few masters among the congratulatory guests, so when close combat began, they could easily push back the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds' water bandits.

The problem was numbers. The enemy's fast ships were surging in endlessly, and this side's numbers were continuously decreasing. At this rate, they would be annihilated before even reaching shore.

"Damn it! We've been thoroughly played by those bastards..."

Tang O let out a low groan while watching the fierce engagement.

He vividly realized they had been dancing in the enemies' palm from the beginning. Not just Namgung Byeok or the Namgung Family, but even himself had been floundering around within their thorough plan.

The only thing he could believe in now was 'that person's' appearance. Though he didn't know if he was enemy or ally, it was certain that person wasn't on the side of Heavenly Demon Castle or the Yangtze Waterway Strongholds.

The enemy of my enemy is an ally for now—it was an overly naive and optimistic thought.

'If only that person would appear, the two of us could somehow manage...'

Though the situation was unfolding urgently, he decided to wait just a bit longer.

Sswish swiish swish swish swiissh swissh!

Arrows rained through the night sky and covered the entire fleet once more. However, since masters like Tang O were densely concentrated, the water bandits' arrow attacks couldn't achieve great effectiveness.

Even so, this side's situation didn't improve at all.

The ships were barely turning direction and heading toward land, but their speed was absurdly slow.

The distance from here to land was roughly fifty meters. The distance to the enemies was at arm's reach. The rear was already engaged in close combat, and even the flanks were gradually being taken by the enemies' fast ships.

Knowing there were quite a few masters on this side, the enemies deliberately didn't completely surround them and were driving the allied ships toward the shore.

Only the rear was engaging in hand-to-hand combat. By fighting at the rear, they were greatly agitating the other ships.

Before even a quarter hour had passed, the three sides were finally completely taken by the water bandits. Now if they reached the shore in this situation and lost even the remaining side to the demonic soldiers, it would be a perfectly surrounded formation. Though no one was rowing anymore, the ships were still moving toward shore by the inertia of their motion.

Aaaah! Clang! Crash! Plop!

The sounds of swords, sabers, and spears clashing, the death cries people emitted while dying, and the sounds of Namgung Family servants jumping into the water.

All those sounds and noises mixed together, making the chaotic situation even more confused.

The number of water bandits dying was still far greater than the congratulatory guests, but the number of congratulatory guests was gradually decreasing too. If this state continued for some time, it was obvious that when they reached the critical point, they would be completely pushed back.

"Damn it... This is as far as I can go."

Tang O had been waiting for 'that person's' appearance until now, but he couldn't just stand by any longer. However, he couldn't leave Tang Hwa and Namgung Hye on this ship and go to the rear to fight the water bandits either.

Now he had to make a decision.

If they remained here like this, they would ultimately either be caught and killed by the water bandits or be buried at sea with the ship—one of the two. If it were just him alone it wouldn't matter, but beside him were his granddaughter Tang Hwa and his dead sworn brother's granddaughter Namgung Hye.

He clenched his fist until it bled, then suddenly rushed at Namgung Hye and pressed her fainting point, knocking her unconscious. Then he immediately tucked her under his left side.

"Grandfather, why...?"

Tang Hwa opened her mouth in surprise at that sight. She didn't know what he was thinking.

On the other hand, Dong Bong-su knew what Tang O was trying to do. And he realized the 'time' had finally come.

Tang O's indifferent gaze and Dong Bong-su's cold gaze entangled in midair.

"I'm sorry. Right now I have no choice."

Dong Bong-su nodded as if nothing was wrong. As if it had nothing to do with him.

"It's fine. That side will make me feel more comfortable too. Please go quickly."

"..."

Even in this situation, Tang O felt it was a waste.

A talent who read his heart with just a glance without saying anything. No, perhaps he had already predicted it watching how the situation was unfolding...

However,

As he had just said... right now there was no choice.

He couldn't let Tang Hwa or Namgung Hye die. Between the feeling of waste and the feeling of his heart being torn, it was easy to know which was heavier without putting it on a scale.

"...!"

Hearing Dong Bong-su's words, Tang Hwa finally realized what Tang O was trying to do. He was trying to leave this ship taking only herself and Namgung Hye before the four-sided encirclement was perfectly completed.

Her eyes suddenly met Dong Bong-su's. Dong Bong-su was smiling. As if saying farewell, as if saying go quickly—such a leisurely smile.

An apologetic look crossed Tang Hwa's eyes very briefly. After all, it had been Dong Bong-su who saved her life earlier. But that was only an extremely short moment.

From this distance to shore was a full distance of over fifty meters. No matter how skilled Tang O was, taking three people and flying at once would be too much. No, even alone he absolutely couldn't cross in one go.

Crossing such a distance with three people?

It was difficult. Even if possible, what would they do after reaching shore? Namgung Hye and Dong Bong-su wearing Sosam's mask didn't know martial arts. The idea of taking such two people and breaking through Heavenly Demon Castle's encirclement was nonsensical.

Tang Hwa's eyes quickly recovered their original color. Cold air filled them so much that one couldn't tell when an apologetic look had appeared in her eyes.

"Grandfather, let's go quickly. There are people swimming over there."

As she said, there were quite a few people swimming toward shore. They were almost entirely Namgung Family servants and their dependents who knew absolutely no martial arts.

They had jumped into the water as soon as the fighting started. Though torches filled the land side, even they felt land was safer than remaining on the ship.

Among them, those very skilled in swimming had already advanced about thirty meters. On the other hand, among those who jumped into the water without even knowing how to swim, some had already become corpses floating around.

Tang Hwa pointed at such people with her hand and then launched her body.

Thud, Thud!

"Hwa-ah!"

Tang O had originally intended to tuck Tang Hwa under his other arm and cross, but when she suddenly jumped into Chaohu Lake, he followed in surprise immediately. However, Tang Hwa was flying toward shore without any problem.

Instead, others lost their lives because of her.

She continued leaping toward land, stepping on the backs or heads of people swimming desperately.

Each time she leaped once, one person swimming desperately to survive became crippled or died with their head bursting. Those whose heads burst and died immediately were rather fortunate, dying without even recognizing they were dying.

Those whose shoulders or backs were crushed floundered in the water and slowly met death. Without even knowing why they were dying.

Crunch!

Tang Hwa finally crushed the head of the person swimming at the very front and jumped into the water. That place was roughly five or six meters from shore. There were no more 'human stepping stones' to step on, and even if she climbed onto shore alone, it was obvious she would die under concentrated attack from Heavenly Demon Castle members.

As she submerged in the water, Tang O displayed the Movement Technique of Walking on Duckweed Crossing Water, already flying over her head and landing on shore.

Thud—

He immediately attacked the Heavenly Demon Castle members with one hand. Though he couldn't use both hands, he was still an unparalleled master.

Thud, thud!!

Among those waiting, there were quite a few masters, but they weren't Tang O's match. Masters died in a few of his moves, and as soon as they disappeared, the rabble fell and died like straw bundles.

While Tang O opened the way like that, Tang Hwa swam and climbed onto shore.

She turned her head to glance once toward Dong Bong-su, who was now barely visible, then disappeared into the bushes along the lakeshore following Tang O.

Right after Tang O and Tang Hwa left the ship in that manner, masters began leaving the ships like bamboo shoots after rain. Everyone flew toward the shore Tang O had passed. That was because Tang O had already swept through once, creating a fairly large power vacuum on Heavenly Demon Castle's side.

Thud, thud, thud!...

Each time a master left the ship one by one, the people floating on the water were turning into corpses.

Most couldn't unfold Walking on Duckweed Crossing Water, so they stepped on 'human footstools' with all their might and advanced a few meters at a time. The congratulatory guests flew toward shore, indiscriminately stepping on Namgung Family servants, forgetting whether they were Orthodox or anything.

After some time like that, their brawl with the Heavenly Demon Castle members who had safely landed on the ground began.

"Die!"

Clang! Clang-clang!

The fighting was fierce, and naturally blood and flesh flew everywhere.

Of course, corpses were abundant on the water too. The end of those who merely tried to survive was, just as it had always been at the Namgung Family.

Just like that.

Dong Bong-su watched that sight calmly. Then he lightly opened his mouth and spat out a remark.

"Truly human-like."

It was a cold statement, but to him, such things were human.

The true appearance humans reveal when cornered at the end.

How human is it?

That's precisely what humans are.

"The reason I love humans."

-x-X-x-

The masters' desertion accelerated more and more.

As if keeping pace with it, dozens of small guide boats poured out from the Yangtze River Ships that had been occupying only the flanks from afar.

The guide boats were what people commonly called punts, and being small, their speed was unrivaled. Moreover, since the water bandits' rowing skills were at a considerable level, that speed was multiplied even further.

They moved quickly and began retrieving the corpses floating on the water. Simultaneously, they engaged in combat with the masters who came flying over.

Unlike the masters who had successfully landed without much interference at first, the masters who faced interference from the guide boats found it much harder to approach land. Even so, the water bandits didn't block the masters very stubbornly. If they felt it was difficult to face them, they boldly abandoned their boats and jumped into the water. Not dealing with them forcibly, they were passing their handling over to the Heavenly Demon Castle members on shore.

Now battles were breaking out in every direction Dong Bong-su looked, and their fierceness was reminiscent of defending a castle gate during a siege.

All around was truly a feast of death itself.

"Aaaah!"

"Aaaahhh!"

"Save me!"

"Kill them all! Kill every single one!"

"Die! You bastard! Die, you sons of bitches!"

Skreeeeeeee!

Screams, curses, sounds of fighting, and the ear-splitting cries of the Killer Falcons.

A scene from hell was unfolding in all directions.

"..."

To Dong Bong-su's ears, all those sounds sounded like the songs of Chu from the past.

Surrounded on all sides.

The Hegemon-King of Chu, Xiang Yu, suffered his final defeat here at Gaixia in Anhui, surrounded by the forces of Liu Bang, the Han Emperor.

His strength could uproot mountains, his spirit covered the world…But times are unfavorable, and Zhui won't advance,Zhui won't advance, what can I do?Yu, oh Yu, what shall I do with you?

In despair, Xiang Yu recited this poem.

In such a situation, his beloved consort Lady Yu sang the following song in reply:

The Han soldiers have already taken all the land…From all sides comes the sound of Chu songs...The Great King's spirit and vigor are exhausted…How can this humble concubine wish to live?

With this song, Lady Yu committed suicide, and Xiang Yu broke through the enemy lines and eventually followed Lady Yu at the Wu River.

Dong Bong-su thought the current situation was exactly like that time.

Tang O was Xiang Yu, and he himself was Lady Yu.

Enemies were swarming all around, and horrific screams were wrapping around all sides like Chu songs.

The difference was that Xiang Yu, who was like Lady Yu, had abandoned him and left.

Above all, the real difference was.

While Lady Yu and Xiang Yu committed suicide, Dong Bong-su had absolutely no intention of doing so. No, he was rather smiling lowly even in this situation.

Clang! Clang-clang!

"Aaaahhh!"

Before he knew it, martial artists wearing clothes with the characters for Yangtze Waterway Strongholds written on them had climbed onto the ship he was aboard and were fighting with the few remaining congratulatory guests. The masters had already all left the ship. The congratulatory guests remaining here were woefully insufficient in both quality and quantity to escape this crisis.

Everyone was fighting back because it was regrettable to just offer their necks and die, but their swords and sabers no longer carried any spirit. Giving up, and death. Those two words were occupying their minds.

Except for one person.

'Now the time has come.'

Dong Bong-su quietly drew his Novice's Sword.

He walked slowly toward the opposite direction the ship was moving, that is, toward the stern.

"Die!"

Two water bandits rushed at him.

Shhk.

He was in a state that had advanced with yesterday's realization and level-up. There was no way the lowly water bandits could be his match. Dong Bong-su's soundless sword cut tickets to the Yellow Springs for both of them in just one stroke.

Seeing that, other water bandits rushed at him all at once.

Wooong—

Intense energy burst from Dong Bong-su's body.

The skill Circulating Energy was unfolding.

The Three Talents Sword Technique, enhanced with combat power increased by Circulating Energy and imbued with the essence of Windless Sword Technique, was truly fearsome. Before Dong Bong-su moved several times, the heads of over ten water bandits flew off.

Splurt! Thud. Rrrk-rrk-rrk

Blood spurted from necks, bodies collapsed, and the sounds of heads rolling on the floor spread sequentially across the deck.

At the same time, a ttiring sound rang through Dong Bong-su's mind.

[First Class Change Quest: Wanderer]

Tester-exclusive class.

Quest completion condition: Achieve 100 Kills of enemies Level 10 or above.

Current quest completion (completed/total): 1 / 100

There must have been one person Level 10 or above among the water bandits he just killed.

One out of a hundred.

That sound was precisely the bell announcing the start of the class change quest.

Also,

It was also the sound announcing the start of the hunt.

Shing. Slash.

Dong Bong-su swung the Novice's Sword down greatly to shake off the blood. His eyes had already sunk to perfect indifference.

He quietly surveyed his surroundings once more.

"..."

The gazes of the water bandits who had boarded the ship and the remaining congratulatory guests were all looking at him.

However, Dong Bong-su wasn't looking at them. He was checking how far the next water bandits to board were coming, not the ones who had just boarded.

Looking in the distance, the fast ships that had been reluctant to approach closely because of the masters were gradually approaching. It was probably because they judged there was no longer any need to launch guide boats to gradually attack the congratulatory guests.

'I must finish before they arrive.'

Dong Bong-su's gaze returned to the water bandits on the ship.

They were already fighting with the few remaining congratulatory guests, and most were surrounding him. They had realized he was the greatest master among those remaining on this ship now.

Seeing that, Dong Bong-su let out one indifferent laugh and began to dance.

Thud.

"Aaaahh!"

Crunch.

"Aarg!"

A situation where he didn't need to worry about Tang O or others watching. His sword was truly fierce. His sword, which had not a single wasted movement, mercilessly cut or stabbed the water bandits' vital points or necks every time it moved. His irregular techniques using Inventory Divine Arts were also highly effective. The water bandits were originally weaker than Dong Bong-su, and with swords suddenly appearing from his left hand, right hand, and even his mouth, they had no means to endure.

Before long, the heads of all the water bandits who had boarded in the first wave were rolling around on the floor, cut by Dong Bong-su's sword.

"Th-thank you."

In the eyes of the other congratulatory guests who had saved their lives for now thanks to his performance, he looked like a savior. The skilled masters had already left the ship for their own safety alone, yet here was a master remaining alone and fighting—how grateful would they be?

Several among the congratulatory guests approached him to express their gratitude.

"Elder Tang has completely..."

They thought of Dong Bong-su as a martial artist of the Tang Family. That was because the person who had been standing beside Tang O constantly until Tang O left was precisely Dong Bong-su. They had despaired when Tang O left the ship, but now thought it fortunate he had left a master behind.

However,

Dong Bong-su already had nothing to do with the Tang Family. The name Tang Sam was erased from his mind the moment Tang O left this place.

The Novice's Sword in his hand moved again slowly and soundlessly.

Slash. Thud. Roll.

"..."

Another headless corpse was created. The congratulatory guest who had been expressing gratitude to Dong Bong-su crossed the river of death in that very posture while speaking. His head that fell on the floor, and the mouth attached to that head, was still moving its tongue. As if trying to finish what it was saying.

"Why...?"

After a brief silence at Dong Bong-su's sudden action, the congratulatory guest standing right behind the deceased instinctively asked Dong Bong-su for a reason.

And.

Slash.

His neck also flew off exactly the same as before.

"Aaaahhh!"

Only then did people realize Dong Bong-su hadn't cut down the water bandits for their sake. People seized with fear ran here and there.

Dong Bong-su didn't bother chasing them right away. The ship's space was limited anyway, and the only place they could flee to was Chaohu Lake.

He looked quite leisurely at the Yangtze River Ships approaching this way.

'About a hundred meters.'

It was enough.

Considering the enemies' ships moving slowly, it would take about twenty to thirty seconds for them to arrive here. Moreover, at this distance, even if the enemies couldn't perfectly identify his face, they could at least sufficiently perceive the scene of himself fighting with the congratulatory guests.

After confirming that, Dong Bong-su followed mainly the agile ones among the fleeing congratulatory guests and swung his sword. Unfortunately, almost all were below Level 10, so they didn't help much with the class change quest.

Nevertheless, Dong Bong-su moved without rest. Those who received his attacks, like the water bandits, couldn't withstand his attacks mixing Windless Sword Technique and Inventory Divine Art for long and all lost their lives.

Those who didn't receive attacks were driven to the ship's corners in terror, then soon jumped into the water. However, they wouldn't endure very long either. The lake water at night would be as cold as seawater.

Pat!

Left alone, Dong Bong-su shook off the blood with the same motion as before.

Then he quietly entered the cabin.

The cabin was already completely empty and full of silence only. Only the subtle moonlight entering through the cabin window greeted him.

But!

The clothes he was wearing had changed at some point. Five characters clearly reflected in the moonlight embroidered on his chest.

They were precisely 'Yangtze Waterway Strongholds.'

The method he chose to break through the situation of being surrounded on all sides was precisely to wear Han Dynasty clothes and sing along with Chu songs.

And to make that more certain, Dong Bong-su slashed his face with his sword. Soon dozens of sword marks appeared on his face, and Dong Bong-su lost his original face. It stung and prickled terribly, but there was no method more certain than this. Among the water bandits now approaching this ship, there might be someone who knew the faces of the water bandits who came to this ship first.

This method was to prevent that. It was night anyway, so there would be no one who could recognize him perfectly, and they had already witnessed him and the congratulatory guests fighting. They didn't know who he was, but they would be certain that the last survivor of this ship was a water bandit.

Finally, he took out the identification tag of the person with the most similar physique to himself among the water bandits he killed earlier and checked the name. There, the name Kang Dal-hui was clearly written.

The moment Dong Bong-su engraved those three characters in his head.

He became Kang Dal-hui.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Though it hadn't been long since he shook off blood, blood soon beaded on the sword again. The blood flowing down his face was running down his arm, beading at the sword tip, and descending to the floor.

Dong Bong-su could glimpse his face slightly reflected in the pool of blood on the floor. Due to the sword wounds, his original face was completely unrecognizable.

"Not bad."

He said that lowly and left the cabin.

Tap. Tap.

Whether it was timed, or whether Dong Bong-su saw the Yangtze River Ships approaching and timed it precisely to when they would board, was unknown, but finally the water bandits' fast ships arrived at the ship Dong Bong-su was aboard.

"Hey, you. Are you alright?"

That was the first thing one of them said to Dong Bong-su. That's how much Dong Bong-su's entire body was covered in blood and his face was completely ruined.

Dong Bong-su raised his hand to wipe the blood flowing on his face again. The blood spread further, making his face even more of a mess.

After casually wiping away the blood covering his eyes once more, he quickly swept over the deck.

There were particularly many corpses not wearing clothes visible, but no one paid attention to the corpses. The real Kang Dal-hui would be among them, but no one could know he had died.

"Aaaaahh!"

Thump—thump!

Clang! Clang-clang!

Still all around, the last screams of 'Chu' were continuously echoing.

Kang Dal-hui, no, Dong Bong-su slowly wiped the blood-stained sword with his clothes and, facing the water bandit still staring at him, said this:

"I'm fine."

Thus Dong Bong-su succeeded in surviving once again.

-x-X-x-

A famous quote becomes nonsense and eighth-grader syndrome when a guy like you says it.

—Someone

***

Smack.

That bastard's head was completely crushed by my Ultra Capsong Justice Club.

"You won't be able to do bad things ever again, will you?"

Today, too, I purified the world by dirtying my hands. The redder my two hands become, the cleaner the world will be!!

'Ah! I still haven't done that yet. If I don't do that, I'm not a hero, right? Right?'

I grabbed that bastard's stiffly raised school uniform collar. Then I performed the final ritual.

"In the name of justice, I have judged you. So don't resent me even when you go to hell. Hmm... I feel more sorry for King Yama of hell though. I sent him another piece of trash like you, making dirty hell even dirtier. You know. Kekekek."

Ah, magnificent. Damn.

Though it's a parody of a line from the comic Justice Man, I added the words at the end. Doesn't this mean half the copyright belongs to me?

And you know what? These words suit a real-life hero like me much better than a gloomy guy like Justice Man. Right?

I laughed once, low and righteously, then carved the letters 'ㅈ' and 'J' on both cheeks of this future villain with a knife and left the scene.

Joyful. Refreshing. Feeling great.

I feel like I've accomplished everything. This is really why I do hero work. Right?

The satisfaction of having dealt with one piece of trash in the world who doesn't even deserve to breathe makes my footsteps even lighter.

Lalalala~~

That evening.

I was watching the news while eating the tasteless dinner my mom prepared. As expected, the news was splendidly introducing my brilliant achievements.

"Consumer prices for the sixth month..."

The announcer's idiotic comments that repeat every day—pass. What I'm watching is the white font at the bottom of the TV.

[This morning at 9 AM in Jungnang-gu... Middle schooler Lee was discovered dead.]

Seeing that article, I shrugged my shoulders in delight.

"Justice always wins. Heh heh heh."

Smack.

"Stop your damn nonsense. Justice my ass. Oh ghost uncles, aunties. Please take this bastard away and knock some sense into him."

"Ah, why are you hitting me? What gives you, Mom, the right to hit my head? Huh?"

Smack.

Mom's fist came down on my head like a missile once more. But no matter how lightning-fast the motion, I could see it very well. However, I deliberately didn't dodge it.

Bickering with Mom like this in daily life, and not dodging fists I could easily avoid.

All of these are types of camouflage, you know.

Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Iron Man... Hmm, Iron Man's a bit off. Then let's leave that out. Anyway, all those bastards are masters of disguise and camouflage. Of course, the best among them is Hentai Kamen. Right?

Damn, I'm jealous.

When I suddenly thought of Hentai Kamen, who purifies the world wearing women's panties on his head, my lower body started to feel stiff.

'Ah, when I watch hero shows, there's always one absolutely gorgeous heroine next to each hero! But what about me? Damn it. Next to me, there's only my demon-like mom.'

For a moment, I felt wronged. Then Mom, who was looking at my face, threw her fist at my head once more.

Smack.

"Hey, you brat. Tomorrow, go do some day labor or something and bring home at least a grain of rice. Don't just laze around at home every day wasting rice when you're over thirty years old. If you come home empty-handed tomorrow too, we're both going to die, so keep that in mind, got it? Got it?"

This time too, I didn't dodge Mom's fist and allowed it. Keuk! As expected, Mom's fist was stronger than any villain's in the world. Even though it was an action to deceive my family, if I allowed any more, my life would be in danger.

I immediately stopped the trivial action of eating and stood up to return to my justice hideout.

'As long as I'm alive, justice in the world is alive. Peace.'

Smack.

"Finish your food before going to jerk off, you brat."

"..."

To so easily figure out a hero's next action.

As expected, my mom was befitting of a hero's mom...

***

After enduring Mom's nagging and finishing my meal, I triumphantly returned to my hideout and placed the 4 bills of 10,000 won and 7 bills of 50,000 won I obtained from punishing evil beside my computer. With this much, I shouldn't have to worry about activity funds for about three or four days. With this, Mom won't be able to stop my hero activities for a while either.

"Anyway, these days villain bastards carry around so much damn money. It's all the money they extorted from other kids. Dog-like bastards. They should all be killed."

I was enraged. The large sum that a normal middle schooler absolutely couldn't possess was undeniable evidence of evil deeds.

'A-awesome! Shit!'

My appearance faintly reflected on the computer screen was killer. I flashed a handsome smile of triumph at the computer and pressed the power button.

Bbeep—

This Pentium 4 supercomputer is like my assistant that tells me where villains are. Should I say it's a grateful machine that always guides me to the hall of villains~

"Now, which trash is dwelling somewhere I can pick today?"

Usually, trash live wearing masks. But on the internet, they reveal their true colors without filter.

My main job is to weed out and eliminate such trash. That work is very annoying and difficult, but it gives me that much satisfaction. And if not a hero like me, who else would do such work?

National Assembly members? Police? Prosecutors?

Not even close.

Those bastards are all the hidden backers of evil. Look at movies, dramas, comics, novels. Their true appearance is clearly revealed there.

Though I don't have the leisure to punish them yet, someday I will definitely bring down justice's hammer on those bastards!

I struck a magnificent pose with my fist clenched for a moment, then began searching for villains in earnest.

Weekly Best, This Month's Humor, Funny Middle School, Medit...

I skimmed through posts on sites where trash mainly roam freely. Ah, of course, not all humans on these sites are trash. Trash are a very small minority, and I have the ability to filter out such bastards.

Sometimes I see posts in bright red letters, and that's precisely the mark of villains. I didn't know at first either, but because posts that appeared in red letters all had the common trait of being full of profanity and consonant-only typing, I tracked the authors of those posts and could conclude they were all villains.

I awakened this ability three months ago.

One night, I came home after drinking and, as usual, turned on my computer to check comments when I awakened.

And.

From that day, I became a hero.

In three months, I dealt with over ten villains, and strangely, they were all middle schoolers. My ability was probably one that preemptively weeds out villains who would become big in the future.

That made it even better. Isn't that a more important and difficult task? These days, students are scarier. Who could handle their group beatings?

They're invincible. Who could handle those bastards except me? Right?

Like that, today I found another villain.

The comment that bastard left appeared in red to my eyes as always.

[Hey you X-eating bastard. Today too, did you eat and have nothing to do so you're jerking off and reflecting? Kekekeke]

With that, that bastard's fate was decided.

Justice Man, dispatch! Peace!

***

I traced that bastard's IP and tracked his ID.

This work is no ordinary difficult task. Unless one is a super ultra super-special Magnus genius like me, no one could accomplish it.

After spending several days on it, I finally found out that bastard's school and home.

Then I observed for several more days. No matter how much I detected the signal, this was a process to thoroughly verify whether that bastard was really villain material worth killing or not.

And finally, I decided to kill that bastard. That bastard really deserved to die. I observed for several days, and none of his classmates talked to him.

How scary must that bastard be for that to happen? Right?

That bastard even went to and from home alone. That bastard was really meticulous. He only revealed his true colors when he went home and when he was fiddling with his phone. Every time without fail, red-lined posts went up on the Weekly Best site.

'I can't stand by and watch that bastard's evil deeds any longer.'

I decided to transform into Justice Man that very day. The execution time would be when that bastard returned home from the academy.

10 PM.

That bastard had finished academy and was passing through an alley to go home. After confirming no one was around, I approached from behind and swung my Justice Club.

Thud.

A loud sound rang out and that bastard collapsed to the ground.

But.

Strangely, my vision was red. Why is this happening? Have I awakened not just on the computer but in reality too?

With that thought as my last, I lost consciousness.

***

Bullied Killer J.

Dong Bong-su had finally caught the bastard he'd been chasing for the past few months.

Killer J was the nickname given because he left the initials J and ㅈ on his victims' cheeks.

For someone with no job, that bastard was quite meticulous and cruel. Among the prey Dong Bong-su had encountered so far, he was quite high in difficulty. And his behavior was very malicious by ordinary people's standards.

As the nickname suggested, that bastard hunted only by targeting the bullied. Middle school bullied at that.

Meeting that bastard in person today, he discovered one truly peculiar point. It was a characteristic clearly different from other prey he had hunted until now.

By modern society's standards, that bastard's eyes, which committed anti-humanitarian crimes without a care, were surprisingly clear. It wasn't that kind of transparency without any emotion like himself. That bastard's eyes were truly shining with a sense of justice.

Unless it was perfect camouflage he had never seen in his life, that bastard was... truly a 'crazy bastard' overflowing with justice.

However,

It didn't matter much to Dong Bong-su anyway. It was just a very slight lesson, nothing special. To him, that bastard was just another piece of prey.

Dong Bong-su hoisted that bastard and loaded him into his car parked near the scene.

Vroom.

The car disappeared.

The hero disappeared too.

The world became dark again.

And.

Dong Bong-su was still wandering the city searching for prey in the darkness.

-x-X-x-