Fireworks in the Dark
Choi Min-su's eyes widened.
Kim Jun, who had burrowed inside, opened his mouth again and thrust out his fist. It was a clumsy attack.
"I'll find it. When the flames shoot up, come that way."
"You're... Kim Jun?"
Only then did Choi Min-su recognize him. He never imagined he'd see the carrier from the video in the Dungeon Association's audiovisual room here.
"Yes, that's me."
Kim Jun kicked and swung his fists in a way that looked awkward but fierce.
"How are you... here?"
Choi Min-su blocked lightly, grasping the intent, and asked.
"Came to rescue a friend. Details later. To avoid suspicion, toss me back there."
Choi Min-su nodded and struck Kim Jun's chest with both palms.
Thud.
Kim Jun soared over the thugs like an elegant butterfly.
The thugs looking up at him mid-air wore faces mixed with fear and relief. They dreaded ending up like him, but were relieved they hadn't yet.
When he hit the ground, Kim Jun didn't even need a proper landing technique.
'Whew... it's really incredible. Flew at least ten meters, but the power retracted at the end.'
To fool the thugs, Kim Jun groaned in fake pain and slowly backed away.
Then, an arrow pierced the darkness.
It broke through Choi Min-su's solid defense and embedded in his arm. As he grimaced pulling it out, the thugs cheered.
Another arrow flew.
Choi Min-su barely deflected it. The arrow's power was far stronger than expected.
Blood dripped from his torn palm.
The third arrow, slicing through the air, split into two right before Choi Min-su's nose. He snapped one with his hand blade, but the other lodged in his left shoulder.
Kim Jun's eyes widened at the sight.
Choi Min-su, yanking out the arrow and tossing it aside, glanced at Kim Jun.
His eyes blazed.
'Hurry and save Muhyun!'
Kim Jun nodded and melted into the darkness.
At that moment, three arrows flew. They doubled again.
"Oh ho."
Pure admiration.
Yeon Un-jae had watched Choi Min-su's raid videos endlessly. Choi Min-su, who never retreated before any monster and fulfilled his tanker duties, was Korea's strongest tanker. But the man holding out alone in the open lot below was beyond that.
To flick away a Gon-geun-si with his fingers.
To dodge a Gyeo-gok-si.
Even Jung-hyeon-si couldn't touch Choi Min-su.
"Have you seen enough?"
Turning, Yeon Un-jae looked at the three pavilion leaders in the shadows behind.
"Well-deserved reputation. I see why the family head has courted Choi Min-su so persistently. However, if Yeonmu-dae steps in, it ends in moments."
It was Cheonmu Pavilion Leader Yeon Sang-gon.
"Yeonma-hoe would take less than five minutes, not fifteen."
Cheonma Pavilion Leader Yeon Si-hwa vied competitively.
"Haha, such confidence is a sight to behold. But neither Yeonmu-dae nor Yeonma-hoe should move. Cheonchal Pavilion Leader, explain why."
At Yeon Un-jae's words, Yeon Myeong-deok, who had stood apart silently, stepped into the moonlight.
"If Choi Min-su dies, countless raiders including Mun Hyeo-rin will take interest, triggering a full investigation. Yeon-ga, who clashed with him internally in Cheonhon-dan, will face suspicion. That's why you're here unofficially—officially, you're all attending to duties elsewhere. Cheonchal Pavilion has secured perfect alibis."
Yeon Sang-gon nodded and eyed the family head.
"But ranged archery and these worthless thugs won't sever Choi Min-su's lifeline."
"Naturally."
"You have a plan."
It was Yeon Si-hwa.
"Like fireworks?"
With that, Yeon Un-jae signaled with his eyes. Yeon Myeong-deok pulled a remote from his pocket and pressed the button without hesitation.
The spot where Choi Min-su stood exploded.
Black smoke billowed everywhere, and the thugs' screams echoed massively. Human remains flew in all directions—some arms still clutching curved blades.
From afar, it truly looked like... fireworks.
"What do you think?"
Yeon Un-jae grinned like a mischievous boy.
Choi Min-su lay at the bottom of a three-meter-deep crater.
"Hoo...."
Experience shone in the critical moment.
The split-second wariness! Long-honed instinct told him it signaled crisis.
'Without Geumgangbyeok, I'd be mincemeat. Damn old bastard. Hiding Hwato-tan like this. I'll repay this—with interest.'
Panting, he spat blood.
Even the strongest tanker paid dearly for ignoring inner energy flow. His qi and blood churned wildly throughout his body.
The black sky brimmed with stars, as if they'd pour down.
Rising, his spine ached like it was crushed. Fortunately, no bone damage—he stood.
He checked his body.
Inner energy... severed in places, but trickled slowly through his body like a stream.
'Not the worst. I'm alive.'
"Kahk, spit!"
Choi Min-su hacked out phlegm-clotted blood from his throat.
Then, the twinkling stars multiplied. Not stars.
Arrows shot with Yeon-ga's signature archery.
Choi Min-su nearly screamed trying to raise his arm for a barrier. The explosion's shock had left it unresponsive.
The arrows hurtling fiercely... dozens at least. Not from one or two archers.
'Damn, turning me into a porcupine.'
A shadow leaped from the crater's edge.
The shadow swung a sword at the incoming arrows. Over half ricocheted or were sliced. Choi Min-su twisted slightly to dodge the rest.
It was Yeon Mu-jin.
"You."
"Climb up."
Yeon Mu-jin extended a hand.
Choi Min-su grabbed it and rose.
"Abandoning the family?"
"A family like this? Might as well not exist."
"The old fogies will love that."
"No more dirty work for coffin-bound geezers."
"Anyway, thanks."
"My mess. I shit it, I clean it."
Yeon Mu-jin snapped an arrow in his thigh and thrust his sword at more incoming ones.
Watching, Choi Min-su reached into his pocket.
He pulled two pristine white pills—rarely used. Baekseon-dan, made from radium and select cores.
'Kinda wasteful.'
Precious even in life-or-death; regret flickered as he eyed them.
Choi Min-su smacked his lips, popped one in, and tossed one to Yeon Mu-jin.
"...This?"
"Take it. We've a fight ahead."
Inner energy surged from his dantian like a flood, spreading through his body—like entering a dungeon.
"Don't get too thrilled. Effect lasts an hour or two, then days of payback."
Then, three buses pulled up at the lot's entrance.
Thugs poured out, roaring as they charged Choi Min-su and Yeon Mu-jin.