Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Storming the Western Dragon Ship
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"I'll keep taking the lead."
Yuk Jin-yang spoke with elegant poise. Won Yeong's lukewarm retort flew back at once.
"If that's what you want. But shouldn't we deal with that ship first? Don't forget, there are more than just the three of us aboard."
The junk couldn't withstand the Western Dragon Gang's ramming prow. It would shatter to pieces on impact. Those without lightness skills would all end up as fish food.
Yuk Jin-yang raised his arm and wiped the bloodstains from his face with his sleeve.
"Let's charge right in."
"Make them not even dream of ramming us? Not a bad idea."
Won Yeong gave Yu Baek a glance. He nodded. The three of them kicked off the deck simultaneously, soaring high. It was a leap powerful enough to dent the wooden planks.
Shocked gasps and shouts erupted.
"Block them! Block them now!"
"Fire arrows and bombs! No, hurl everything—spears, javelins!"
"N-no, stay back!"
Dark projectiles and thrown weapons rained down. They posed no hindrance to the trio. Unfurling their body techniques, they wove through the trajectories in an instant.
"Where do you think you're going!"
At last, the Western Dragon Gang Leader stepped forward. He whipped his arm like a lash. With a sound of tearing air, something hurtled toward them without warning.
Yuk Jin-yang swung Cheongram to deflect it. Glancing at the rebounding object, he recognized it as the iron shard he'd thrown earlier. Had the enemy kept it in mind? Before he could scoff at their pettiness, a shadow loomed suddenly.
"Die."
The Gang Leader's sword gale rushed in. Twin blades closed from different angles—not overwhelming in power, but blindingly fast to seal off blind spots.
Instead of parrying, Yuk Jin-yang gathered his energy. His body floated through the air like a fallen leaf catching the wind.
It was a motion that instantly pierced and dismantled the complex trajectories of the twin swords. The body technique he'd seized and mastered from the Imperial Guards proved its worth—the Golden Leaf's utility shone through.
Ssssk!
The twin swords fiercely cleaved the air. Leaving the stunned Gang Leader behind, the trio landed lightly. A puff of dust rose faintly at their feet.
Without exchanging words or assessing the situation, Yuk Jin-yang surged forward with lightness skill.
His target: the mast. The Western Dragon Gang's swift boat propelled itself solely by wind, without oars. Neutralizing the sails would rob it of momentum, leaving it adrift.
The Gang Leader realized his intent and hurriedly gave chase, but Won Yeong blocked him with a sly smile. Her bloodied iron spear, gripped in one hand, aimed straight ahead. It was her signature energy stance that generated explosive power.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"Out of my way!"
"How dense. You think I'll step aside just because you say so?"
Kwaaaang!
Leaving the explosive clash from their brief exchange behind, Yuk Jin-yang tore through the ranks of bandits. The crowd packing the deck parted before his ferocious charge, like prey fleeing a raging beast.
The Gang Leader's underlings—save for him—shrieked blame at their subordinates without mercy, no different from ruthless generals.
"At least land a blade on them somehow! You think backing off here will save you?"
"Anyone who flees in fear will face the whip later. No—I'll behead you myself right here!"
The leaders' desperate ravings did little to help. Amid the clamor, Yuk Jin-yang reached the mast. He swung Cheongram, severing the ropes supporting the sail in one stroke.
Charruk!
The satisfying sound of the sailcloth—emblazoned with the Western Dragon Gang's name—folding and collapsing echoed. Undeterred, Yuk Jin-yang pressed on, beheading the helmsmen in a single cut.
The now-powerless swift boat lurched heavily. Even the wind turned against it, twisting its course. In the end, it grazed past their junk with precarious clearance.
Yuk Jin-yang finally caught his breath and surveyed the scene. Won Yeong and Yu Baek were holding off a combined assault from dozens of bandits. Meanwhile, the number blocking his path had halved.
Most had joined the Leader or slunk away, gauging the odds.
"If you don't want to fight, get out of the way."
His voice carried infused energy, booming without raising his tone.
Not waiting for a reply, Yuk Jin-yang dashed forward with lightness skill. Even in a straight charge, most only hesitated. Only a scant few tried to block him as before.
Thanks to that, he quickly rejoined the group.
Yuk Jin-yang unleashed a kick laced with true energy. The sudden strike from behind gave his foe no chance to evade.
Kwang!
The Gang Leader, unleashing a barrage on Won Yeong, was sent flying by the kick. He crashed into the railing, which shattered without absorbing the impact. His body sailed far before plummeting toward the water.
"How dare you strike the Leader!"
He cleaved through the midsection of a spear-thrusting bandit who bellowed, then deflected a flying dagger from behind with his blade, sending it back. The bandit crumpled, a dagger embedded in his brow.
"Now I can breathe a little."
Won Yeong muttered. Despite her words, she looked unscathed.
That was when it happened. The Gang Leader, who should have plunged into the water, suddenly flipped his body. He slammed both arms down on the surface, raising a wall of water. The recoil launched him back aboard.
The simple motion allowed Yuk Jin-yang to grasp the true value of the martial art he employed.
'Using water as a medium for his body technique? He won't fall into the sea easily. A true water bandit.'
The Gang Leader stood on deck once more. Panting, he glared at Yuk Jin-yang.
"You bastard... I'll take your head myself."
Sinister energy writhed from his raised arms up to his chest. Demonic inner power flickered like will-o'-the-wisps in the darkness, dancing brilliantly.
"Many have said the same. All ended up dead on the ground."
Yuk Jin-yang replied indifferently, stomping down with force while channeling his energy to its peak. He planned to seize the initiative aggressively.
The Gang Leader spun in place. Infusing his inner power, he flicked his fingers. Water droplets at his fingertips shot forth like bombs, retaining their shape.
It was the feat of wielding water as hidden weapons. Not a major threat, but enough to disrupt Yuk Jin-yang's movements.
With no choice, Yuk Jin-yang swung his sword concisely instead of thrusting. The Gang Leader seized the opening and charged first.
Cclang!
Three blades met at a single point. The Gang Leader crossed his twins and pushed with savage force, like an enraged torrent.
Kugugugu!
Cracks spiderwebbed across the deck underfoot, carving deep furrows like plowed fields. At this rate, the footing would vanish.
Yuk Jin-yang surged with even greater energy. He shoved back with his blade. The deadlock shattered, and a follow-up overhead strike bore down to split the Gang Leader's skull.
"Kuhk."
The Gang Leader blocked Cheongram with one sword, but yielding to the sword force, he hurriedly supported from below with the other. He seemed ready to exploit a blind spot with his off-hand if needed.
Barely deflecting, the Gang Leader spun wide. His hem swept the deck as it billowed. Complex footwork unfolded.
Sword strikes rained amid the spin—not merely fast, but dazzling.
Shimmering auras blended with sword afterimages, disorienting the vision. It was the art of illusory swords, not mere feints but an utterly unpredictable flow.
Yuk Jin-yang thought.
'Don't get dragged in. Pierce the center in one go.'
Repeating it inwardly, he tracked the erratic movements with eyes and body.
The true energy of the Moon Maiden Divine Art, rising from his lower dantian, anchored his frame solidly in the middle dantian. His mind calculated moves. His heightened senses performed flawlessly.
The fierce close-quarters swordplay, the footwork maintaining balance amid flourishes, the arm trajectories—he processed it all, reverse-calculating the optimal path.
He laid Cheongram flat to deflect the right-hand thrust, twisted his body, and stepped forward. He slipped past the left-hand slash with ease, burrowing deeper inside.
A single step guided by instinct. It pierced the foe's rhythm, stabbing into the gap.
Gripping Cheongram two-handed, Yuk Jin-yang smashed down with full power. Sword Destroyer Stance. His whole-body, whole-spirit ultimate technique shattered the enemy's guard head-on.
The unstoppable blow reached the Gang Leader's body. From collarbone to spine, the gruesome sensation of cleaving through transmitted fully to his hands.
The Gang Leader perished without a final word.
A gush of blood soaked Yuk Jin-yang's face. He seized the severed head and held it aloft.
"Surrender."
Even with their leader dead, some resisted. They were the vile sort destined for execution if captured.
After beheading them too, the remaining bandits' morale crumbled. At last, every surviving Western Dragon Gang member discarded their weapons and surrendered.
While handling the aftermath, the group ferried their crew back from the junk.
"This is a finely crafted ship. Designed to be handled by a small crew. The bandits couldn't have built it—the original owner's care is evident everywhere."
Wang O-kyeong exclaimed in admiration. His eyes were already enchanted.
"We have spare rigging, so we can hoist new sails quickly. Why not tie our junk to this one and proceed?"
Yu Baek nodded in agreement.
"This size would let us rest comfortably."
"Of course. It's probably stocked with ample provisions, ensuring a bountiful voyage."
Won Yeong chimed in.
"I noticed earlier—it's large, so it's slow. Unnecessarily ornate too. We might attract nearby bandits. And don't forget? Our journey is urgent."
Wang O-kyeong looked down dejectedly. He stammered excuses.
"With the Western Dragon Gang fallen, nearby bandits shouldn't be a worry..."
Ignoring their debate, Yuk Jin-yang continued inspecting the swift boat.
The cabin interior was cluttered with clothes and utensils. Kicking aside floor clutter revealed a hatch. Another level below for cargo, with access arranged accordingly.
Yuk Jin-yang wrenched off the lock and flung open the door. But no cargo lay within.
Dozens of terrified eyes locked onto him. All were bound with shackles or ropes.