“T-that was….”
“Did a sword just fly into his hand?’
“Void Air Movement?”
Everyone on the deck became very still for a moment and then burst into noise, clearly shocked at how Iron Sword had appeared.
Hong Gu-ga, who had seemed confident in his abilities just moments ago, now looked shocked.
Even Do Wook, sect leader of the Southern Edge sect, was shocked.
“It isn’t that.”
“What do you mean, sect leader?”
The disciples of the Southern Edge sect voiced their questions as they did not understand what had happened.
Elder Do Wook then said,
“That is the Air Sword technique.”
‘…!!’
At that statement, all of them fell back to talking.
“A-Air Sword!”
They could not believe it.
The Air Sword technique was considered to be the best, even compared to the many other sword techniques in Murim.
It was only natural for everyone to react this way to something considered a mere legend.
“I have seen many warriors, but to reach such a level at this age. He truly must be a monstrous warrior.”
Seriously?
I only called Iron Sword to show off my skills, but the reactions were quite different.
Everyone was looking at me like I was some kind of freak. Actually, any normal person would be surprised if a man of my age managed to reach the point of manipulating an Air Sword with just his natural skills.
Hyuk Cheon-man spoke to me with a stiff expression.
“… you hid your skills. Sajae.”
Uh?
What was with his reaction?
If he put his mind to it, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to simply overpower me. Yet he looked shocked.
“How can you say that? Sahyung can…”
“No. It is a skill I cannot do. Moving a sword without seeing it, more so from the distance of the cabin.”
‘Ah!’
That’s right.
The fact that this object was moved using internal qi was true.
This was something that could be seen with their own eyes. Yet, for some reason, Hyuk Cheon-man was also surprised.
When Hyuk Cheon-man admitted that such a skill was beyond him, the reaction from the people around us intensified.
Of course, the person who was the most puzzled was Hong Gu-ga. It seemed that he had been very dependent on Hyuk Cheon-man.
The elders of the Beggars Union and the warriors around him were also concerned. Their will to fight seemed to disappear due to this praiseworthy display of skill.
Hong Gu-ga grasped his batting stick.
“Well, still, you are alone. If everyone cooperates….”
Thud! Swish!
Before he could say anything else, Short Sword flew out from the cabin.
-Why didn’t you call me!?
I didn’t call her, and yet she moved on her own. If she also moved, my internal qi would be depleted even faster!
However, this was good.
“You are seeing this?”
“L-leader!”
The man was intimidated even further. Hong Gu-ga, who had lost his will to fight, looked at Elder Do Wook and Hyuk Cheon-man.
“We will soon have to fight a decisive battle near the rivers, and you two cannot continue to watch…”
I cut off his swords.
“Leader Hong.”
“What?”
“Isn’t this a problem for just the Beggars Union? Could it be that the leader of the Great Beggars Union, one of the Eight Great Sects, is trying to borrow the power of another sect and my own sahyung to just deal with one person? Those of the Murim seemed to be thick-skinned.”
My sarcasm caused his face to contort. It seemed like I touched his ego.
In the end, he shouted orders at his men.
“YOUUUU! Fine! I will show it! Hardened hands!”
The members of the Beggars Union hesitated slightly at this order but soon moved to build a human wall.
It was a way to use ten people to create a unified form to make a wall.
I have heard of this. It was one of the three renowned defenses of the Murim sects.
It was famous and renowned along with the Arhat martial arts of the Shaolin. It was simple, unlike other defensive techniques. Still, many people heard it was a bizarre technique that drove opponents into a corner.
“Drive him to the ledge!”
At Hong Gu-ga’s orders, his beggars rushed quickly toward me. Their arms were entwined, and they looked determined to not move until their opponent was finished.
But this method had a weakness.
It would be more effective with more people, but since there were only thirty warriors here, it felt like a waste of time.
Tatatat!
However, I saw someone running from behind them. It was Hong Geol-gae.
He was heading towards the cabin. It looked like he used this as an excuse to harm the others in my party.
What?
I already called for Iron Sword, so they must…
Kwang!
“W-what?”
At that moment, the wall of the cabin was smashed through as someone charged out like a bull. It was one of the twins, Song Woo-hyun.
‘Ha….’
I told them to use the signal to escape, but did they instead follow Iron Sword? He then rushed ahead and smashed his head against a beggar.
Thud!
“Kuak!”
Blood gushed out from the beggar’s mouth, who was attacked by his head. The wall was pushed back.
“AHHHH!”
“Hold tight!”
The arms that were interlocked were coming loose, but the beggars on both sides tried to endure.
-OHHH! He has quite a hard head.
I didn’t think that Song Woo-hyun had such power. Our teacher did say that this was an ability that Song Jwa-baek could not have. Was that true?
“Damn it!”
“Push the back row too!”
They all stuck close to one another as all thirty of them tried to push Song Woo-hyun back.
It seemed like he had also reached another level.
“I too! Ughhhhh!”
At that moment, Song Jwa-baek pushed his twin in the back.
This would inevitably happen when the two large twins, each taller than the average man, unleashed their full strength.
Kwaak!
The wooden boards on the ship’s deck began to break as the wall of beggars was pushed back little by little.
The beggars who used this defensive wall could not hide their shock.
But did they know?
If the twins used their actual skills, their strength would easily double.
I then heard a sound from somewhere.
Chak!
“Kuak!”
I looked over and saw that Sima Young was slapping Hong Geol-gae. The beggar, who had been slapped, then tried to rush her.
“How dare you!!”
She dodged the technique easily and then slapped him on the other cheek.
Slap!
“Kuak!”
Hong Geol-gae decided to use a technique, but Sima Young simply moved her upper body to avoid it and continued to slap.
Jjjjkkkk!
At some point, his lips and cheeks swelled as gaps appeared in his martial arts.
“S-stop…”
“Close that mouth. Not yet.”
Slap!
“Uhp!”
Sima Young, who had been waiting to do this since we were at the guest house, didn’t care about his condition and simply continued to coldly slap him, ignoring that blood was beginning to flow.
-That one is scary at times.
If she didn’t stop now, she’d break him down.
She wasn’t the daughter of the Four Great Evils for nothing.
“YOUUUU! Get away from my grandson!”
Hong Gu-ga moved from beyond the wall. As expected of someone of his skill, he moved swiftly to reach Sima Young while avoiding people around us.
Chak!
I moved to block his path.
“I am your opponent.”
“You!”
Was it because he was worried for his grandson? The old beggar swung his stick without another thought. It seemed that he was using a well-known technique considering how his stick was bending uniquely.
Certainly, the changes in his technique were worthy of being called the best.
Chachachang!
I simply stood there and blocked his attack. There was no special technique here. I simply blocked it using my reflexes.
“… Oh god.”
“He didn’t move a single step back against the leader of the Beggars Union and even blocked his attack.”
“Is he really on the level of the Eight Great Warriors?”
Exclamations of surprise could be heard everywhere.
I looked everywhere while I was blocking, so I heard it well.
However, Hong Gu-ga was simply busy trying to hit me.
‘Nice.’
This man was certainly skilled to a level, but he was unlike Hyeok Cheon-man.
From the flow of his attacks, I could already understand it.
No matter how good his techniques were, his level was below mine.
“Huah!”
Hong Gu-ga extended his left hand as he unleashed his technique.
A shocking and unique move.
However, since I had plenty of internal qi left, it wasn’t an attack I couldn’t respond to. However, just as he was about to extend his left hand further, he stopped.
-Hehehe.
Short Sword had stopped right in front of his eyes. Hong Gu-ga’s face paled as he saw the floating sword.
Just a little bit more, and he would have lost an eye.
“Kuak!”
Hong Gu-ga tried to widen the distance by moving back.
-How dare you run!
Yet Short Sword made sure to keep her distance close to Hong Gu-ga and chased after him. Seeing this, the man fell into deep thought.
-I did good, right? Look at them trying to run.
Short Sword was excited as she told me this.
I hadn’t meant to do it, but since she could move independently, she could also attack.
Well, this wasn’t something to think about to make her move.
If this was used well, it would help me escape dangerous situations. Hong Gu-ga continued to avoid her and ended up being blocked by the ship’s railing. Any further, and he would fall.
The currents of the water were rough. Even if he was extremely skilled, it would be too dangerous for him to survive.
The declaration of surrender finally came from his mouth.
“Stop… stop! This old man has lost!”
Cho Seong-won’s mouth could not stop smiling at this.
-Ahem. Shall we end it now?
‘No, just stay still.’
-Uh?
I ordered Short Sword to stay there. The old man was puzzled since she didn’t move back even after he declared surrender.
“Didn’t I say I have lost?”
“I decide the end.”
“What?”
Hearing this, Do Wook, the leader of the Southern Edge sect, moved forward.
“Now, Warrior So. Didn’t he say he had lost? Any further would be too much.”
I snorted at this.
“It wasn’t enough that they accused me of being part of the Blood Sect. They also attacked me and imprisoned my colleagues. Do you think one word would end it all?”
“That….”
“Isn’t it right to leave matters to those who are involved.”
Do Wook was unable to reply as my words were all correct?
Wasn’t I right?
If my martial arts were weak, the result would have been different. For the Murim Alliance, it would be the worst-case scenario since such actions could push me towards the Blood Sect, who were their enemies.
Hong Gu-ga gritted his teeth.
“Then what do you mean? Should I die for you to end this!?”
“Since we are members of the Justice Faction, why would I be so hard on a senior?”
“Then what do you want?”
“Wasn’t I accused and insulted as someone of the Blood Sect in the presence of so many seniors and warriors? Should I not at least get one eye to restore the honor of my teacher and colleagues?”
‘…!!!’
Everyone fell silent at how strongly I was coming forward against the Beggars Union.
“Y-You!”
“Still, since you are my senior, I should give you a chance.”
At my tortuous yet hopeful words, his face became red. Even if he was someone from the Beggars Union, this still shamed him.
Hong Gu-ga barely suppressed his anger and said,
“A chance?”
“A chance to get the facts straight.”
“… to get the facts straight?”
I approached Cho Seong-won. Everyone’s eyes focused on me as I pointed to him.
“Didn’t you say that this friend of mine was once your disciple with no talent, and so the position was changed to your grandson as your successor?”
“… that’s right.”
“Then prove it here.”
“Prove?”
“After all, there are elders of the Beggars Union here and the Southern Edge sect who will witness this.”
“What are you going to do?”
The Beggars Union leader couldn’t hide his anxiety as I smiled at him.
“It is simple. Wouldn’t it be possible to find out whether he really lacks something like talent or not?”
“You really…”
“Teach this friend the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palm.”
“W-what?”
If you didn’t like that, then give me an eye.
