It’s fast.

Ansasugwi noticed that blood was rotting in the cough. A perfect ambush that even he wouldn’t notice.

His opponent was skilled in controlling their energy. It wasn’t that they couldn’t react at all, but they could barely sense it until it was right upon them.

There had clearly been only one person who arrived by ferry… Could they have swum here?

No, that doesn’t seem right; their clothes aren’t even wet—why is that…

—Crack.

A strange sound came out. Ansasugwi realized it was a sound that could never be produced alone.

The sound of bones and flesh twisting, about to tear apart.

With a single fist, he pierced through the closest subordinate. Caught in that eerie sound, the subordinate didn’t even have the opportunity to resist as their hair was cruelly grabbed.

And then—

Whoosh.

They were thrown right in front of the barely standing woman.

There was not a single extraneous action in the series of movements. It was so fluid that it was hard to believe they were holding a person.

Distant from being glamorous. It was simply movement that trimmed away all unnecessary actions.

It’s as if… as if…

You are witnessing a blade polished with great care.

“Y-you…!”

A martial artist rarely seen. With solid fundamentals, they were someone completely apart from himself.

But the battle situation was advantageous.

There were two masters, but one couldn’t move. The other was necessarily constrained by the person they were carrying.

Looking at it, it seemed the other side also had a deep bond with that flesh doll. Then the story changes.

Ansasugwi laughed, chuckling as he raised his hand.

In a battle, life and death are not determined solely by strength.

The cowardice of digging into the opponent’s weakness.

That’s how I buried even the masters who were stronger than me. And more than anything, this is above water.

“Can you really protect it?! Against us?!”

“Shut your mouth.”

The stranger took a step forward.

—Thud.

The boat shook.

“It smells foul.”

“Attack!!!”

Subordinates leaped in synchrony. The lantern swayed on their drawn swords.

Swords on the boat shot from all directions. This was something entirely different from those on land.

Even amidst the swaying, they advanced with familiarity. They even used the recoil to their advantage.

Swords that could only be wielded by those who have dined on the boat. But they never thought that they could stop that master from the very beginning.

Only trusting in oneself.

“Haaah!!”

He grips his hand. Drawing out the internal energy of his entire body, he shapes it with unstable power.

The rising waters. The water that rose like a serpent formed into the shape of a beast in an instant.

Ansamamoo (anchovy dance).

Baekakgi (hundred instruments).

The waters shaped like fish gaped open. Each one pierced through the air like a swift dart.

The first launch was three. The beast of energy, seizing an opportunity, grazed the opponent’s neck.

“Die!”

The stranger flipped in mid-air. The flying projectiles only tore apart three unfortunate subordinates.

But they didn’t stop. Sending out curled beasts again and again, they sought for an opening.

Any wound can be dug into. Ansasugwi knew that fact very well.

If you ask me now what I should aim for…

That would be it.

“Cough!”

He scattered the projectiles. One beast splits into ten tiny beasts and fills the air.

Each small one’s power is weak. With a master of that caliber, this kind of projectiles wouldn’t deal any damage.

But, you see. What I need to protect isn’t just your body, is it?!

“Die!”

Mixing the small with the large. Everything scattered dives toward the opponent’s center.

The flesh he holds. So Hye.

Startled, the opponent hurriedly scattered their arms. The small beasts that they failed to avoid sweep through all at once. But in that moment, a larger beast gaped open its mouth.

The teeth of the water bore down toward the center. It was already too late to avoid the projectiles that engulfed the enemy completely.

Just as he managed to turn in time, the result was the same.

—Crack!

The left shoulder and face.

Flesh was ripped away, spilling blood into the air.

“Hahaha! A bastard with a cock is unnecessary! I’ll personally take you to hell!”

“…….”

The strange man clenched his mouth at the dripping blood. He stared at his own wounds, gritting his teeth.

“Were you going for a cheap shot in this situation?”

“Of course! I’m going to keep going! You idiot! If there’s a weakness right in front of you and you don’t dig it, that’s like shouting you’re an idiot!”

He moved his hands. Once again, he drew in the lacking water energy.

“I’ll personally polish your head. Just in time, I didn’t have enough to play with. With a head like yours, it should hold out pretty well. I’ll play with you for a long time. Hehe.”

“…Your techniques.”

Ansasugwi witnessed something strange.

Sure enough, new flesh was rising in the clearly torn wound. Even the dried blood around it was seeping inwards in an instant.

Wondering if he had seen wrong, he closed his eyes. But in the blink of an eye, he returned with complete absence of a wound.

“…What? Wait…”

“If I’m to take you to Jo So Hye, I have to handle that first.”

The warrior turned his body while carrying So Hye. A new face was peeking out beneath the gnawed face.

In an instant, the white sword drawn let out incomprehensible whispers.

Ansasugwi covered his ears.

“Kh?!”

The warrior turned his body. He kicked the tip of the drawn sword forcefully with his foot.

—Evil!

“What?!”

He’s not using it but launching it?!

Ansasugwi quickly raised his hand. But the swiftly flying sword passed by him and fell onto the water.

What’s this? A surprise gift? Ansasugwi, blinking in confusion, burst into laughter.

“Have you gone mad?! Just discard your weapon?!”

“I didn’t throw it away; I asked for it. It seems Baekya doesn’t quite like tonight’s story either.”

“…What?”

—Crack.

A strange sound was heard. Ansasugwi immediately turned his head.

Below the boat, something was stuck in the river.

A sword that should have fallen into the water was instead freezing the water.

Ansasugwi’s eyebrows trembled. The strange chill emanating from the sword wasn’t merely freezing the vicinity; it completely enveloped the area.

“I walked across ice when I came here. Baekya’s power is boundless. Assuming cooperation, it easily froze the water.”

“How… what is this?”

“How many fish are left?”

Ansasugwi trembled and turned to look behind.

The warrior was approaching. He gestured with his hand, but the already frozen surface didn’t provide any water.

“Use it sparingly. That’s the last bit of energy you can use.”

…

What he holds is a life not even worth the weight of a person.

It’s light. At the same time, a sense of fragility lingers. Without expressing it verbally, I instinctively sensed that the lifespan of the woman I held was running out.

What had been enduring would have loosened upon meeting someone. As that determination crumbled, her body was reacting late.

Perhaps this girl…

Might have been holding onto life just to meet Ju Ryeongryeong.

…I feel dirty.

Very much so.

I grabbed Sujeok by the hair.

Dragging him over, I tossed him in front of Ju Ryeongryeong.

Some screamed. I saw the ones trying to jump down and moved my body.

The jaws came flying. Ignored. I took it on my back as I grabbed both their hair at once.

A sharp pain followed, but I silently pulled them in front of Ju Ryeongryeong.

“W-what the hell…?!”

I caught all the escaping ones. They struggled and broke their ankles.

I tried to bring them to Ju Ryeongryeong in as intact a form as possible.

I ignored anything obstructing me.

The last one that needed to be consumed was left until the end.

Ansasugwi stumbled and let out a monstrous roar. As his techniques were capricious, he directly lunged at me, extending his fist.

But it wasn’t time yet, so I casually dodged and thrust my foot into his chest.

I stepped on his ribs.

Ansasugwi spat blood.

“Ugh…”

“Your turn isn’t yet. Jo So Hye is working, so wait a bit.”

I selected the leeches and brought them all in front of her. Ju Ryeongryeong, who looked down with eyes full of bloodshot fury, cruelly sliced each one.

Starting with fingers, then toenails. Eventually, limbs were all severed, leaving only the bleeding bodies.

Screams and groans filled the boat. Severed limbs tumbled about.

…It’s hell.

But knowing that this hell is something they’ve created themselves, I didn’t say a word.

The moonlit night was stained with blood. I grabbed the last man’s hair and brought him before her. There were no words between us. I simply moved as if doing something natural.

Suddenly, Ansasugwi sprang to his feet. I immediately grabbed the leg he was about to leap off the boat with.

I slammed his whole body against the railing. Broken wood splinters stuck all over his body.

“GUAAGH!!!”

He mustn’t be killed.

Killing isn’t my job.

Ansasugwi reached out. It seemed he gathered the last of his strength and shattered the frozen surface with his power. He tried to devour my entire being using the scant water he had barely replenished.

But it was all crushed. An incomplete energy like Jin Wi-lyang. That level of incompetence was shallower than I had expected; I merely scraped it all off with a swing of my foot.

Nine Heavens Blood Demon Technique (구천혈마공)

First Form (제일형)

Ilma (귀수일마) – Demon Horn (마각)

The burst of water brushed past my nose. Now, completely devoid of techniques, Ansasugwi let out a scream.

“GAAAH! What are you?! Why are you doing this to me?! Are you, are you related to So Hye’s brother?!”

“…….”

“Damn it! It was just a mistake with one girl! M-Money! I’ll compensate with money! In my treasury, there’s a tower of gold! You’d surely like that!”

“…….”

“L-Let’s talk! Let’s talk! What the hell is that sword…?!”

I dragged the one I had grabbed to where Ju Ryeongryeong was standing.

Ju Ryeongryeong raised her hand. She took the leg I presented.

Ansasugwi’s face turned pale.

“J-just wait…”

“There are things to discuss, Ansasugwi.”

Ju Ryeongryeong moved her hand with a crack.

“I’ll listen. Everything. So keep talking. While I take you apart.”

I heard the sounds.

Amidst screams and gasps, there were the cries of beasts.

At first, there was desperately clinging.

Then, raging furiously like a madman…

But eventually, it all resulted in only choking sounds.

Yet, it was still alive.

…Although I’m not sure if that should be termed as alive.

I leaped onto the water to grab Baek Ya. Quickly placing it back in its sheath, I whispered.

“Thank you for helping me.”

Baek Ya let out a low growl. I couldn’t quite understand the meaning of that sound, but it didn’t seem bad.

From a distance, a ferry was approaching. The screams echoed, making it curious; upon spotting me, the boat immediately turned around.

But I had no intention of letting it go. I immediately moved my feet.

Ghostly Spirit Step (귀영보) – Wall (벽)

The footwork that had saved my life when falling from Fengma Cave led me onto the boat.

“Hii, hiiick!”

“Where’s the treasury?”

I grabbed Sujeok’s neck and whispered.

“Speak at once. If you don’t want your limbs to be torn.”