How a Man and a Bear Catch a Fox
"Huff... huff."
Bang So-un fled with all his might. But it wasn't mindless running. He had calculated the battlefield layout, escape routes, and distances every step of the way.
Heading deeper inside was suicide. The Shadowless Squad was charging in like madmen—he'd just be throwing himself into their jaws to die.
So, what then? He had to veer outward. And among those options...
Bang So-un chose the lake. The ferry landing.
But the boats were long gone, hauled away to keep them from falling into enemy hands.
Thud.
"Hoo..."
Finally reaching the landing, Bang So-un collapsed and caught his breath. But he didn't have long.
The Shadowless Squad had closed in.
"You're that fucking bastard, the young master!" one squad member bellowed, eyes bloodshot with murderous rage.
He wasn't alone. Every surviving Shadowless Squad member had gone berserk, consumed by bloodlust.
"Yeah, that's me. The young master. So what?"
Bang So-un shrugged nonchalantly, not even bothering to stand. It was pure provocation.
The squad member's forehead veins throbbed like they might burst.
"You son of a bitch! Die!"
Whoosh! The first to reach him launched forward without hesitation.
Bang So-un already knew from I Yeon that they were all near first-rate fighters. Direct confrontation was impossible.
But his eyes remained calm. After facing a peak expert like that madwoman, these guys seemed like nothing.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason. He had something to rely on.
And that something soon revealed itself.
The moment the Shadowless Squad member's foot hit the ground—
Crunch!
"Gah?!"
The earth caved in instantly. And waiting below...
Stab! Stab! Stab! Stab!
Spears thrust up mercilessly.
"Gaaargh!"
The man let out a horrific death rattle as his corpse slumped limp.
That was Bang So-un's ace: a death trap.
True to form, he'd blanketed the ferry landing with them.
But he'd made it safely. Why? Because he'd marked the safe path with subtle signs only his people would recognize. Basic precautions.
"What the hell? The guy yelling about killing me drops first?"
Bang So-un taunted loudly for the arriving squad to hear.
The Shadowless Squad halted abruptly before the triggered trap and their comrade's gruesome corpse.
"Tch, traps here too?"
"You dog bastards! How many of these did you dig, you lunatics?!"
"Argh! You cowardly fuck! Just you wait—I'll grind you to pieces! You piece of shit!"
Already furious, they exploded in rage, screaming at the top of their lungs.
That moment—
"Shut your mouths! We don't have time!"
Muyeong bellowed with commanding force.
The squad fell silent instantly.
He was right. No time.
Enemies pursued fiercely from behind. They had to choose: charge through the trap field to take the enemy's head, or turn and fight the pursuers.
"..."
Muyeong's eyes rapidly scanned the suspected trap zone. If he could spot anything, he'd rush forward.
But...
'Tch, can't tell.'
Impossible. Nothing.
Ru-ju might have figured it out. But Ru-ju wasn't here.
No time to wait.
Muyeong chose.
"We fight the enemies coming from behind, stakes be damned."
Exactly ten foes. All first-rate experts.
They were outnumbered and outmatched.
But they had what the enemy lacked: hard-earned cohesion, forged by time and blood.
"Listen up! Don't let a single one survive! Fight to the last breath!"
Muyeong issued the heroic order. Everyone knew it might be his last.
Somber resolve hardened the squad's faces.
'The rest is up to you, Ru-ju. May you achieve our goal...'
"Charge!"
"Waaah!"
The Shadowless Squad roared into battle. They clashed head-on with the ten Jeolhwadae members.
Tak! Each step propelled his form skyward.
A woman in night-traveling garb chased desperately.
Eun Hwa-yeong and I Yeon.
"..."
Crunch. Eun Hwa-yeong bit her lip.
Without I Yeon's interference, she'd have caught and killed the fleeing Bang So-un by now.
But her deranged friend threw everything into blocking her. Seeing that cum-smeared face tore at her heart.
Her resolve wavered.
But no more delays.
Time to decide—even if it hurt.
"Sorry."
Eun Hwa-yeong murmured softly.
In a flash, her chain sword danced. Beautiful, yet hiding hundreds of blades within.
I Yeon countered with a quiet, weighty stroke.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Explosive clashes rang out. Each time, chain sword afterimages vanished.
But finally—
Stab!
One lingering afterimage pierced I Yeon's left ankle deeply.
"Ugh."
I Yeon groaned, dropping to one knee. The wound made standing on that foot impossible.
Eun Hwa-yeong gripped her dripping chain sword with trembling hands, poised to move.
Then—
"Must... block... must..."
Despite agony, I Yeon dragged her foot, struggling to rise.
Eun Hwa-yeong's eyes flared with rage and madness again.
Kill her. Must kill her. Even if I die.
Tak tak tak! The enemies she'd shaken were closing in.
"Tch."
Eun Hwa-yeong launched forward urgently.
One chance. Kill on that one shot. Absolutely.
"Huff huff, young master!"
Jang Il arrived first. As I Yeon predicted, she'd bought them time.
"Get over here now."
"Huh?"
"You see that? Get caught in it, you're dead."
The brutal clash between Shadowless Squad and Jeolhwadae. Not far off, the spraying bloodlust prickled their skin.
"Gasp."
Jang Il bolted to Bang So-un in panic.
Thud thud thud!
"Huff... huff..."
His bearish bulk arrived, heaving.
"Listen close."
Bang So-un spoke.
"...Y-yes."
"When I signal, dive into the water—no hesitation."
"Huh?"
"On land, you won't last one move. To buy even a second more, we go in the water."
Against peak expert Yeon Su-rin, poisoned and weakened, he'd lasted five moves.
A healthy one? One-move fodder, as they said in murim.
But water was different.
Experts drew power from solid ground. It let them strike unyieldingly, thrust powerfully, leap and glide.
No wonder river pirates dismantled stronger foes in water.
"Ah... got it! As expected, young master—you planned this!"
Jang Il marveled, realizing why the lake.
Hangzhou natives. Water was like a friend.
Swimming? Basic skill. Not pirate-level water arts, but they could maneuver underwater fine.
"What do you take me for? This is basic. I always think ahead."
Bang So-un continued matter-of-factly.
"Just stall for time. Hold your breath underwater. We win if we outlast."
No matter how strong the fox, numbers favored them—plus Yeon Su-rin.
Once she returned, victory was certain.
Just survive till then.
...Though losing limbs would suck.
As Bang So-un thought that—
"Argh! Sh-she's coming!"
Jang Il yelped in panic.
The fox appeared.
"I see her."
Bang So-un stayed calm.
"Sh-shouldn't we dive now?"
"No, not yet."
Even Eun Hwa-yeong couldn't instantly spot the safe paths amid traps.
She'd hesitate. Buy time here.
Bang So-un subtly checked his bosom: smoke bombs. For assassin escapes. Backup if traps failed.
They'd worked perfectly, but now extra insurance. Blind them before diving, gain more time.
"Fox bitch! Here to kill me?"
He taunted the approaching Eun Hwa-yeong.
All or nothing. See it through.
"I'll kill you!"
Tak! She shot forward.
Bang So-un's hope for hesitation shattered.
Tak! She stepped, surging ahead without pause.
'Tch, already figured it out?'
He bit his lip. He'd expected delay, but the clever fox had pierced the trap layout.
Else she couldn't charge so boldly, knowing one misstep meant hell.
"Y-young master! D-dive, now!"
"...No, not yet. A bit longer."
Bang So-un waited till the last second.
Tak! She stepped again. Almost upon him.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Mad eyes flashing, Eun Hwa-yeong thrust her chain sword. Blue sword qi surged.
"Now! Dive!"
Bang So-un yelled, hurling himself into the lake. He tossed smoke bombs without pause.
Boom! Whoosh! Boom!
Several exploded at once. Thick gray smoke clouded vision instantly.
Splash!
Bang So-un held his breath, submerging.
Dark night. Spotting a submerged foe here? Near impossible.
His plan: hold breath, endure.
Jang Il knew too—hiding somewhere, holding on.
Shiver shiver.
The lake water was ice-cold. Body near freezing.
But Bang So-un calmed, endured. Just hold on.
Time crawled—or blurred beyond sense. Pure focus on surviving underwater.
Suddenly, chills shot up his spine.
He whipped around instinctively.
"...?!"
His heart plummeted.
Thud thud! Chest pounded, blood raced.
Nearly exhaled.
Demonic red eyes right before him. Close enough to see every lash.
The chain sword moved.
Slice! Flesh tore, blood sprayed.
Miracle he missed vitals. No—his water ploy saved him.
On land, heart pierced.
Splash! Splash!
Bang So-un swam frantically upward.
First time swimming so desperately.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Gasping. Agony from the wound. Blood reddened the water.
He glanced back.
The fox followed.
"Thought water would save you?"
Eun Hwa-yeong said coldly.
"Damn it..."
Courtesan—should be poor swimmer. Glamorous brothels didn't scream water.
Beauties seemed water-averse. Local girls freaked at wet clothes.
Wrong. She outswam him. And wounded, the gap widened.
Distance closing fast.
"Huff... huff... stop following!"
Bang So-un yelled in terror.
But the creepy fox was on his tail. Mad red eyes. Dripping chain sword. All loomed large.
"Told you I'd kill you."
Chain sword moved. Felt slow.
So this is death.
Life flashed. Short, but enjoyed fully. No regrets—
"Young masteeer!"
Suddenly, a bearish bulk ambushed, tackling Eun Hwa-yeong's back.
Splat!
Both dragged underwater.
"Good job, Jang Il!"
Bang So-un dove again, eyes wide.
No time to waste—or Jang Il dies.
'Damn!'
Underwater brawl. Jang Il clamped her waist between thick legs, holding desperately.
Lucky ambush secured position. She thrashed, but water and his strength held her.
Arms were danger. Wild backward swings.
Jang Il dodged frantically. Many misses, but not all. Flesh tore, blood clouded.
'Help him!'
Bang So-un swam to her front, finally swinging his sword.
Pathetic strike. But murim truth: blades equalize all before them.
Stabbed, you bleed—thug or peak expert.
Eun Hwa-yeong blocked unwillingly.
Clashing underwater. Surreal for Bang So-un.
Third-rate him fencing a peak expert?
...Father, is this real?
Jang Il's grateful eyes urged tighter grip.
Front and back assaults frayed her focus.
She wanted to strike Jang Il, escape—but Bang So-un blocked.
How long? Suddenly, her mouth gaped. Eyes rolled back, whites showing.
Unconscious. Breath control failed first in panic.
They exchanged shocked glances.
Caught her...? A peak expert...? Us...?
Stunned, they surfaced late.
"Pha..."
"Huff... huff..."
Bang So-un and Jang Il gulped air.
"Th-this real, right?"
"Y-yeah. It is."
Squeezing her waterlogged breast: soft, squishy. Real.
They did it.
"...Uh, why grope her tits now?"
Jang Il eyed him—exhausted, yet this?
"Confirming reality."
"What if she wakes?"
"Nah, we're good now."
Bang So-un grinned.
Yeon Su-rin and Jeolhwadae had arrived.
"Our victory."