episode_0118

The pirate ship.

They were a group that went unnoticed on land.

They didn’t make a fuss on the mainland and quietly kept to themselves for a reason.

However.

Things were different at sea.

That was their territory.

Like a domesticated dog outside the house turning into a fierce beast inside.

But that beast was now being hunted in reverse.

Slash!

Necks were severed.

Thud!

Hearts were split open.

Crack!

Skulls were crushed.

Every time, the pirates of the pirate ship were falling dead.

The deck was already littered with over a dozen pirate corpses.

The floor was soaked in crimson blood, overflowing.

“Ah!”

“Ahh!”

The ordinary civilians trembled in fear, huddling to one side with faces pale with terror.

Afraid that the pirate’s blades might turn towards them.

Their fears were not unfounded.

Though they were from the martial arts world, the pirates of the pirate ship were infamous for their cruelty, and no one knew what they would do if provoked.

“Damn it! These bastards are skilled!”

The pirates who had come to attack were quickly slaughtered, making it clear to them that they were facing skilled opponents.

“Well, well. Seems we underestimated them, didn’t we?”

However, the pirates remained calm.

Their momentum and gaze were still sharp.

It seemed like this was not their first time facing such a situation.

There was something they had planned.

“Move the ship immediately!”

A pirate who seemed to be a mid-level officer shouted.

As soon as his words ended, three fast ships with hooks began to shake the main ship violently.

Shake, shake, shake!

“What?!”

“You’re falling over!”

“Hold on tight!”

The civilians screamed in terror with pale faces.

Most of them had already lost their balance and were crawling on all fours on the deck like dogs.

That was exactly what the pirates were aiming for.

This was not land.

It was a ship floating on the sea.

The unstable deck could be easily shaken if one desired.

Of course, skilled martial artists would not struggle like the civilians, but that was not the only issue.

Almost all martial arts were based on the premise of using stable ground.

The feet that firmly supported the body were the most basic foundation for exerting power.

Just by disrupting this foundation, the effectiveness of martial arts would be greatly reduced.

The effort required to maintain balance was an added difficulty.

On the other hand, pirates were very familiar with such situations.

For them, a ship swaying in a storm was no different from their daily life.

There was no need to explain who had the overwhelming advantage in this situation.

“Hehehe, push them towards the corner.”

And another thing.

The pressure of not being able to be cornered.

The moment they fell into the sea, the pirates could easily take down even the most skilled opponents.

As long as the opponents knew this, they would feel the pressure.

The pressure of not falling into the sea.

That’s why they had to somehow force themselves forward, even if it was difficult.

This was also an advantage for the pirates.

Clang, clang, clang!

The pirates formed a formation and tried to push them into the corner.

Jang-il was flustered.

“Wait, wait! Hey… you bastards! Why are you suddenly shaking a perfectly fine ship?”

Jang-il was at the peak of his martial arts skills, but his martial arts knowledge was lacking.

That’s why he was panicking on the swaying ship.

But Bang So-un laughed.

“Haha, it’s okay. With your current skills, you can take down several pirates even on all fours.”

“Well… isn’t that a bit embarrassing?”

“Haha, who cares about embarrassment? Whether you use your hands or feet, just take down the pirates.”

“Ugh… alright. If that’s what you say…”

Jang-il swallowed his pride and balanced himself on all fours like a beast.

“Hahaha!”

“Did you see that clueless punk! That kind of guy calling himself a master, even a passing dog would laugh at him! Hahaha!”

The pirates burst into laughter.

Their morale boosted by the opponent’s pathetic appearance.

However.

A new figure suddenly attacked the pirates who were mocking at the front.

At an unbelievably fast speed on the swaying ship.

A martial arts technique known as the ‘Unseen Sword’ even in the martial world.

Swish! Swish!

Two flashes.

Thud! Thud!

Two pirates’ throats were cut, blood spurting out profusely, dyeing the surroundings a deep red.

“W-what, what is this?!”

“U-unbelievable!”

The pirates froze in shock.

The figure who caused this momentary massacre, Yeonsurin, calmly cleaned the blood-stained sword with a cold demeanor.

“You all will die. There can be no deviation from the strict orders of Lord Jang.”

“D-damn! Tear that bitch apart!”

“Damn it! Throw her into the sea no matter what!”

A second bloody battle erupted on the swaying ship.

***

Blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood.

Corpses, corpses, corpses, corpses, corpses, corpses.

Everywhere was covered in blood, and there was no space on the ground without pirates’ bodies.

Even from afar, it was evident.

If the eyes were not those of a lord.

“H-how… s-such…”

The voice of the subordinate trembled as it came out.

The expression of the adjutant, Podoongyeong, next to him was also stiff.

Then, suddenly, he shouted like thunder.

“Hold the commoners hostage and fight! It doesn’t matter if they die! Send the signal immediately!”

A method rarely used in the martial world to hold commoners hostage.

But that was a story for when there was room for it.

Now, it was the worst-case scenario.

There was no hesitation in using any means.

For the pirate gang to suffer a crushing defeat not on land but at sea?

There was no greater disgrace than this.

The prestige of the pirate gang, which ruled the sea as its domain, would plummet.

It had to be stopped at all costs.

It had to be.

“Y-yes! Adjutant!”

The subordinate urgently sent a signal with a flag.

***

Flutter!

The urgent signal from the waving flag on the flagship.

The pirates on the pirate ship also saw the signal.

Although their numbers were now reduced to just half.

The expressions of the pirates who saw the signal changed.

More fierce expressions.

“One, two, three, charge when I say so!”

A senior pirate immediately shouted.

“One, two, three!”

Roar!

The surviving pirates split exactly in half.

Half of the pirates charged towards the commoners like madmen.

“W-what?!”

“W-why are they coming this way?!”

“S-stop! We are commoners! Not martial artists!”

“W-we had no intention of resisting! We were going to offer ourselves as ransom!”

The panicked commoners tried to stop the pirates, but it was futile.

The commoners were in a life-or-death situation.

The face of Bang Sooun was also stiff.

He never expected those who dared to openly move like this to be so blatant about it, even if they were just using the name of the martial world.

‘Did you see those crazy bastards.’

Bang Sooun may not be a martial artist.

He is not a mercenary or a pirate either.

But he proudly considers himself within the realm of a normal person.

He couldn’t just stand by and watch innocent commoners being slaughtered by pirates.

In the end, Bang Sooun made a choice.

“Jehwadae, save the commoners!”

Sending his top three fighters to help the commoners was a choice that even the most hardened criminal would find difficult.

Because it directly affected his safety.

The remaining half of the pirates were eagerly waiting for an opportunity to kill Bang Sooun, their eyes filled with a desire for revenge and survival.

“Now is the chance! Kill her! Kill!”

A senior pirate with torn resolve shouted with a vengeful expression.

“Those bastards! I will definitely protect you, Lord!”

Jang Il’s determined gaze burned.

“Hmph, alright. I believe you.”

Bang So-woon was not yet losing his composure.

Because he truly believed in Jang Il.

However, even Bang So-woon did not anticipate one thing.

That his recent choice had moved someone.

***

“Uh, what do we do, execution?”

“What do we do? We have to stop this!”

The members of Haenam Faction.

They had been quietly observing the situation, mingling among the civilians, but they got caught up in the chaos caused by the pirates.

This situation was not something to ignore.

As members of the Haenam Faction, if they let the enemy attacking the civilians go unpunished, it would tarnish the reputation of the faction.

“Damn it, come at us!”

“Hah, we’ll show you what the Haenam Faction’s sword is capable of!”

Now, the executioner and the priest drew their swords and raised their spirits… but their expressions were not good.

The situation was precarious, and they were not used to fighting on a swaying ship.

Their bodies were trembling with tension.

At that moment.

The female warriors who had defeated the pirates flew in from somewhere and landed next to them.

“Whoa?!”

“Y-you guys?!”

The Haenam Faction members were taken aback.

For a moment, they almost lost their nerve.

They were too relieved.

‘G-gosh? They’re alive! They’re alive!’

*Sobs* The executioner and the priest were internally ecstatic, unable to express their gratitude.

***

The pirates were closing in aggressively.

Bang So-woon drew his sword for the first time.

Jang Il also clenched his fists tightly.

But then.

Thud.

A graceful beauty appeared out of nowhere and landed in front of them.

It was Geombong Yoo Seol-young.

Bang So-woon and Jang Il’s surprised eyes widened.

The unseen Geombong suddenly appearing at this moment?

Questions filled their minds.

Yoo Seol-young spoke.

“The choice you just made.”

“……?”

“I could tolerate it.”

Swish.

For the first time, Yoo Seol-young drew her sword.

In a peculiar stance.

For any martial arts faction that used swords, having the blade facing downwards was the most basic stance.

But she had the blade facing upwards.

“And I also find it annoying that trash like pirates are roaming around. You may want to kill them all, but I think differently.”

Yoo Seol-young said bluntly.

And finally, she made her move.