episode_0117

A medium-sized ship heading towards Haenam Province.

Of course, Bang So-un and his entourage were on board.

The cabin was, of course, the most spacious first-class cabin.

Inside the first-class cabin, the friendly attendants were all naked and lying down side by side.

What were they doing?

It was easy to tell.

Each of them was being meticulously massaged by women from behind.

It was a privilege of the leader, Bang So-un, to have two of them behind him.

There was no longer a veil covering their faces.

They were completely naked, so it was only natural.

From their breasts to their thighs, they shamelessly pleased their masters with their lewd bodies.

Yet, they skillfully satisfied their masters with their expert massage techniques.

Because their skills were exceptional.

They were the top female martial artists.

Dansimhyeopnyeo Yeonsu-rin.

Dokyo-rang Galsa-hyeon.

Danwol-do Ju Ok-yeong.

That was their true identity.

As their goal was to be the top female martial artists, they brought all the top resources available in case of emergencies, and even brought Ju Ok-yeong, who was at the highest level among the top resources.

Eun Hwa-yeong couldn’t be left alone for too long, so she was excluded.

Because the journey to Haenam Province was long.

“Hehe, if the other guys knew we were enjoying such a killing feast from the top of the sea, they would be envious to death, right?”

Jang Il opened his mouth with a satisfied expression.

“Haha, of course they would.”

Bang So-un also laughed.

But his smile seemed a bit complicated.

It seemed like he was thinking about something.

Bang So-un changed the subject.

“Speaking of which, about Geombong.”

“Ah, Geombong. Honestly, I was a bit surprised. I didn’t expect it to pop up like that all of a sudden. And to be a special product on top of that.”

A special product.

It was very rare for Jang Il to say that.

Because there were hardly any women who could meet Jang Il’s strict standards of craftsmanship.

No, only twice before.

Gangnam’s best beauty, Hwang Bo-seol, and the secret agent, Eun Hwa-yeong.

Only those two beauties had met his standards.

That’s why Jang Il dedicated those two special women to Bang So-un.

One as a wife, and one as a de facto concubine.

The fact that the special women were only held by the benefactor and the master, Bang So-un, was a manifestation of the sincere expression of what was right.

Even if Bang So-un said, “I can easily give up a few people because your skills are amazing,” his unwavering sincerity was evident.

It was truly a sincere sentiment, like the famous Jeokbal Muho shedding tears.

“Special indeed. Yes, indeed.”

Bang So-un nodded in agreement.

It was so captivating that he couldn’t take his eyes off for a while.

“To be honest, I was impressed at first sight. I felt a strong urge to make her mine.”

Bang So-un was a dominant figure, but it was rare for him to express such emotional impulses towards a woman.

Until now, his goals had always come first, and emotions came second.

Hwang Bo-seol for wealth and foundation.

Eun Hwa-yeong for information.

A tool for obtaining a painting of the outside world, Yang Yeon-hwi.

Recruitment of female warriors for obtaining military power.

This expedition also had a clear purpose of testing Jang Il’s precise abilities.

That’s why Bang So-un, as the leader, always prioritized rational judgment over emotions, which allowed them to achieve repeated successful ventures.

Jang Il, who also worshipped Bang So-un, naturally acknowledged this.

If Jang Il, a bundle of desires himself, had been alone, instead of building a solid foundation, he would have recklessly touched one woman after another and would have already been overwhelmed and killed by enemies.

In any case, the fact that Bang So-un expressed such emotional impulses towards Geombong alone was enough to show that he was emotionally captivated by her.

“Oh, is that so? Then this is your chance to get your hands on it.”

“No, that would be too risky.”

However, Bang So-woon made a rational judgment even in such an emotional state.

His innate coldness was a quality that suited a leader of a faction.

“If we use poison, we might be able to make it work somehow…”

Jang Il blinked his eyes.

It was because the first batch of goods had just arrived from Guwei.

Guwei’s special Mountain Poison was already proven to be effective even against top-notch experts.

The thought of using the Mountain Poison he had brought for emergencies to carry out the operation crossed his mind.

However.

Bang So-woon still shook his head calmly.

“No, it’s still not good.”

“Not good, you say…”

“First, the situation and place are not ideal. The ship is too crowded and narrow to carry out the work. So, should we land in Haenam Island instead? That’s not good either. The Haenam faction is already onto us. Besides, they will continue to monitor us from Haenam Island due to the marriage proposal with the main disciple.”

“Well, listening to your words, it does make sense…”

Jang Il nodded in agreement as if he understood.

Bang So-woon continued.

“And secondly, this is just my feeling.”

“What do you mean, sir?”

“There’s no opening. It’s the first time I’ve felt that there’s absolutely no opening in a person.”

“Yes? Despite that, he seemed quite sloppy for someone with such tremendous skills.”

Jang Il’s feeling was somewhat different.

It wasn’t just Jang Il’s feeling.

The Haenam faction warriors accompanying Gumbong were also feeling the exact same way.

A famous expert who didn’t seem as skilled as expected and appeared somewhat sloppy.

It wasn’t just their misconception.

Reversal of the Return (返撲歸眞).

A stage where martial arts surpass a certain level and become ordinary like a prayer.

Gumbong had reached that stage, so it was natural for them to feel that way.

Encountering a master of the Reversal of the Return was a rare occurrence in one’s lifetime.

In that sense, it was rather odd for Bang So-woon.

Perhaps it wasn’t a feeling but a judgment of the brain brought about by superhuman reason.

“Hmm, really? That can’t be true, can it?”

It was when Bang So-woon smirked.

The ship suddenly made an abrupt stop, causing their bodies to lurch as if they were being thrown off balance.

Fortunately, the high-level experts quickly supported their bodies, avoiding crashing into the wall.

“No, what kind of driving is this?”

When Jang Il expressed his annoyance, Bang So-woon raised his hand, lost in thought.

“A ship is not a carriage. There shouldn’t be any sudden stops.”

“What?”

“Something has happened.”

Bang So-woon seemed certain.

“Everyone, quickly put on your clothes. We need to go out.”

***

Haesabang (海沙幇).

A grand name, but they were just pirates.

There weren’t many exceptional martial artists among them, but they had maintained a place in the martial world due to the uniqueness of the sea.

Martial arts and maritime skills were completely different.

No matter how exceptional martial artists were, once they fell into the sea, they became prey for the masters of maritime skills.

Therefore, they could confidently establish and move around in their territory, the sea.

“Hehe, this prey seems to have a lot to offer.”

“Yeah, it looks like there’s plenty to go around.”

Cheopsok, the eighth leader among the nine leaders of Haesabang, Jeseok Li, chuckled and nodded at his subordinate’s words.

Considering the rules of Haesabang, where they collected tolls based on the number of heads, such a target with a seemingly large number was a very appetizing prey.

“Get the boys ready.”

“Yes, Captain Li!”

Three swift ships from different directions rushed towards the pirate ship Bang So-woon was on.

Poh Dong-yeong watched calmly from the large warship, which was designed for battle.

With a sly smile.

***

“Now, now, everyone, please don’t panic! We won’t harm you if you don’t resist! That much is certain! Just pay the toll and you can go back, so please prepare your toll! I’ll say it again! Don’t panic and pay the toll….”

The captain shouted loudly to the passengers.

As the captain took a proactive approach, even the passengers who were experiencing this for the first time seemed to calm down to some extent.

Passengers who had experienced this before were already preparing their toll with a resigned expression.

However.

Only two people seemed very flustered.

The executioner and the priest of the Haenam faction.

They were exchanging hurried opinions in a low voice in a corner of the deck.

“Wh-what should we do, executioner?”

Normally, they would reveal themselves as disciples of the Haenam faction and settle things between themselves.

-This is your territory, so I respect you even though I’m from the Haenam faction.

-Oh, really? I’ve heard a lot about the great name of the Haenam faction. So I’ll respect that and only charge you three minutes of toll.

They seemed to be talking like this, pretending to be okay, but the gist of it was roughly this.

It meant that martial arts factions would give face to each other and let things slide.

If they didn’t intend to fight, there was no reason to draw swords and fight to the death.

But there was one problem.

This was not an ordinary situation.

The Geombong faction was present.

And it was for the sake of a martial arts competition involving the top disciples of the Haenam faction.

In such a situation, to let things slide like that?

No matter how much face they wanted to save, it was not acceptable.

The Haenam faction and the Hasabang faction were not equal factions in the martial arts world.

There was a clear difference in rank.

It was just because of the special nature of the sea.

And that special nature was the problem.

They couldn’t openly show their strength.

“Ugh, of all times, why now?”

The executioner pondered.

The priest waited for the executioner to come up with a good answer with his eyes darting back and forth.

And then.

“Well, there’s no choice. We’ll let the Geombong faction take the lead.”

Finally, the answer came from the executioner.

“You’re going to let them take the lead?”

“We’ll see how the Geombong faction acts first and then decide how to handle it.”

“Ah… That’s a good way to handle it, executioner.”

The priest’s eyes sparkled.

If the Geombong faction paid the toll, they would pay too.

If they didn’t pay, they wouldn’t either.

This way, there would be no loss of face for the martial arts factions.

“Alright, let’s go with that.”

***

…It was a perfect plan.

So why.

“Where the hell is that Geombong woman?!”

The executioner cursed in his mind.

“Wh-where did Geombong go…!”

The priest also wailed in his mind.

“What are you doing? Not paying the toll?”

The Hasabang pirate glared at the Haenam faction members who were unable to do anything.

The Haenam faction martial artists who were at a loss.

As the pirate was about to curse at them for being unable to do anything, he suddenly stopped speaking.

“Wait a minute. You guys….”

He saw the emblem of the Haenam faction.

His expression changed.

“Haha, so you’re from the same martial arts world.”

As the pirate prepared to attack, there was no choice for the Haenam faction members who couldn’t see Geombong.

The executioner opened his mouth as if there was no choice.

“Well, I’ve heard a lot about the name of the Hasabang faction, and as I heard….”

That’s when it happened.

“Aaargh!”

A piercing scream that tore through the ears.

As they turned their heads, they saw blood splattering high in the air.

Thud!

The person dressed in Hasabang attire, or rather, the now lifeless body, collapsed like a limp tree.

The shocked eyes of the executioner and the priest widened.

W-what is this?!

Who in their right mind would attack a Hasabang pirate with a knife on the sea….

In an instant, the atmosphere froze as if the air had turned cold.

Breaking that chilly atmosphere, a voice rang out.

“What I hate the most? It’s those bandits pretending to be martial artists. Pirates are no different. How dare those pirates.”

Bong So-un, triggered by his deep-seated aversion to bandits from the Pyogo region.

It seemed to trigger the same reaction towards pirates as well.

After all, they were just villains causing harm to the common people while pretending to be martial artists.

“Kill them all! Worthless scum who don’t even deserve rebirth.”

Bong So-un’s resolute shout.

…What the hell is wrong with that crazy bastard?

That’s what everyone thought at that moment.

“Hooh.”

Somewhere, a delicate woman’s voice rang out.

No one knew it was the voice of Geombong.

“Damn it, did you see that crazy bastard! Tear him apart right now!”

The crazed pirates, with eyes filled with madness, rushed towards Bong So-un and his group.

It was the beginning of a bloody battle that no one had expected.