The Rain of Arrows
“Hahahahaha!” Jo Pacheon burst into laughter.
“It seems your scroll of luck couldn’t protect you after all. Im Bukjin, go wipe your ass and prepare to die.”
In truth, the phrase “wipe your ass and prepare to die” was something Bukjin had once said to Jo Pacheon. Jo Pacheon was now using the enemy’s own blade to cut them down.
‘Huh?’ Bukjin was slightly surprised.
‘That pretty boy actually knows how to say such crude things, things I’d usually say?’
At that moment, everyone watching the broadcast had already witnessed Bukjin trembling and spitting blood. And because of that recently aired scene, the odds at countless gambling houses in Unmong City were being adjusted once again.
Originally, Bukjin had been the most popular among gamblers, but his popularity was steadily waning. His odds had already fallen out of the top ten.
“The second event of the Movement Technique trial is to cross the Arrowfall Gorge!” Chief Supervisor Mae Jiwon shouted loudly.
“Look over there!”
He pointed to a paper bridge and the deep snake pit beneath it. Just then, an assistant supervisor pulled out a green flute, put it to his lips, and began to play. A strange flute melody echoed, and the fierce venomous snakes in the pit suddenly lined up as if they were well-trained elite soldiers. Then, moving in an orderly fashion, they crawled up onto the main arena.
‘Controlling snakes with sound?’ Bukjin’s eyes gleamed at the sight.
‘That’s a useful skill to learn! If I open a snake show when I go back to Earth, I could make a fortune!’
After all the venomous snakes had crawled out of the pit, dozens of education office workers appeared from somewhere and installed something inside the ditch. A moment later, all the work was complete.
“Look closely!” Mae Jiwon’s voice rang out.
At that moment, one of the education office workers pushed an unknown spherical object, about half a *jang* in diameter, into the ditch. The sound of the sphere rolling was heard, and a moment later, as if the sphere had triggered some mechanism, an enormous volley of arrows shot out from the walls of the ditch. When the sphere rolled once around the ditch and came out, it was densely embedded with arrows.
“The rules of this trial are very simple. You must use your Movement Technique to safely cross this rain of arrows. The less time taken! The fewer arrows you are hit by! The higher your score will be!” Chief Supervisor Mae Jiwon explained the rules clearly, word by word.
The students fell silent upon hearing his words.
‘What in the world...’
‘Who designed such a trial...’
Just crossing over a ditch teeming with venomous snakes was already a cruel trial. But now, they were being told to pass through a rain of arrows, leaving the students feeling utterly bewildered.
‘What if… I get riddled with arrows and die?’
‘Arrows don’t have eyes!’
‘Who on earth prepared such a vicious trial?’
Even Bukjin was speechless.
‘Do they really have to go this far? The designer must be a pervert!’
Bukjin lowered his head and looked at the number tag he had drawn. It was number 36. It seemed like a pretty good number. Bukjin was glad he wasn’t first, at any rate.
This was the final event of the Movement Technique trial. The score for this event was crucial. It was the deciding factor in whether Bukjin’s butler, Wang Chung, would be able to make money as planned.
Bukjin decided he couldn’t keep up the act any longer. Moreover, he had made a life-or-death wager with Jo Pacheon, and if he couldn’t achieve an overwhelming score, the outcome of the wager would be uncertain. Jo Pacheon was not someone to be underestimated. Furthermore, the gamblers and casino owners weren’t fools. He might be able to deceive them for a short while, but not forever.
Therefore, Bukjin resolved to complete this Arrowfall Gorge trial stably and to the best of his ability, securing first place.
Bukjin recalled the principles of various mechanisms in his mind. By then, the trial had already begun.
Ak Hong-hyang was unlucky again. She had drawn number 1 for this trial, making her the first to participate.
Standing at the entrance of the gorge where arrows rained down, Ak Hong-hyang gripped her sword tightly, her mind in turmoil. She felt she could have done better if she had to cross the paper bridge again. But facing the rain of arrows before her, she had no idea how to proceed.
‘Am I going to die like this, riddled with arrows? Can I really do it?’ Ak Hong-hyang repeatedly questioned herself inwardly.
‘It’s as good as eliminated already… Should I just give up?’ Complex thoughts ceaselessly crossed Ak Hong-hyang’s mind.
Then, suddenly, a cheer came from somewhere.
“Junior Sister Ak! You can do it! You got this!” Bukjin, standing among the students, shouted loudly.
“This rain of arrows is nothing compared to the dangers we faced on Bukhwang Mountain! You survived Bukhwang Mountain, so there’s no need to fear a little arrow rain! Don’t give up! Only those who persevere to the end are truly strong!”
Even as he cheered, Bukjin was spitting blood.
“Senior Sister Ak, you can do it!”
“Hong-hyang! You can do it!”
Baek Geum-un and Han Bul-bu also cheered loudly.
Ak Hong-hyang turned her head to look at her three classmates. The cheers echoing in the quiet arena brought immense strength and warmth to her heart.
‘That’s right! Senior Brother Im is right! This arrow rain is nothing compared to the enemies who pursued us on Bukhwang Mountain!’
On Bukhwang Mountain, Ak Hong-hyang had carried the unconscious Bukjin, who was injured, and escaped the pursuit of the wicked adventurers. She had returned alive from a tragic fate. What she had experienced on Bukhwang Mountain was a hundred times more brutal than the crisis she now faced.
‘Yes, I have the conviction to overcome all of this! I must believe in myself!’
Back on Bukhwang Mountain, Ak Hong-hyang had felt fear, but she had never once thought of giving up.
‘When did I become so weak? Give up? That’s impossible.’
She resolved that she absolutely could not give up, for herself and for Bukjin, who had cheered her on. With this thought, Ak Hong-hyang completely banished the distracting thoughts from her mind.
“Ready… Start!” the Chief Supervisor shouted loudly.
Ak Hong-hyang dashed forward quickly. There was no trace of fear or hesitation in her movements. As soon as she had moved about one *jang*, the Mystic Gate Formation and mechanisms activated.
Shu-shu-shu-shuk—!
Arrows flew ceaselessly from both side walls. The ditch was about twenty *jang* wide. The arrows flying from both walls were more than enough to cover the entire range of the ditch.
Chang—!
Ak Hong-hyang drew her sword. A cold sword light flashed. Ak Hong-hyang busily performed her Movement Technique to dodge the arrows and struck others away with her sword. After moving another *jang* or so, arrows covered every direction, and she could no longer avoid them.
Puk—! Puk—!
Arrows began to fly and embed themselves one by one into Ak Hong-hyang’s body. Blood splattered. Fortunately, the arrows did not penetrate her body but merely wounded her clothes and skin before falling to the ground. However, due to the continuous injuries, her clothes were already stained with blood.
Gritting her teeth, Ak Hong-hyang paid no mind to the arrows wounding her body, and like someone impervious to pain, she continued to sprint forward. Her black hair whipped wildly in the wind. All the students watching wore blank expressions. They had never imagined that the very first student would present such a tragic and heroic scene.
Ak Hong-hyang had completely given up on blocking or dodging the arrows, running forward like a madwoman.
Whish—! Whish—! Whish—!
Arrows continued to pour down like rain. She looked like a child running through a downpour, as if she might be swept away by the arrow rain at any moment. But she never stopped, persistently pushing forward.
It was a short time, less than three *shik*, but to the onlookers, it felt like an eternity.
A moment later, Ak Hong-hyang staggered and reached the end of the ditch, and at that instant, the arrow rain ceased. Her blue swordsman’s uniform was already dyed crimson with blood. Broken arrows were embedded in her left shoulder and right leg. Blood dripped from her longsword, running down her arm, one drop at a time.
Ak Hong-hyang bent at the waist, leaning all her weight on the longsword plunged into the ground, barely standing.
“I… I did it…”
Her wildly disheveled black hair flowed over her mask. It was a truly pitiful sight, but Ak Hong-hyang’s face was alight with confidence and a smile. A caterpillar had broken through its cocoon and become a butterfly. Through this challenge, she had gained the will to reach the end, no matter how difficult the path.
At that moment, Ak Hong-hyang slowly felt intense pain surge through her entire body.
“It hurts…”
Ak Hong-hyang’s body slowly collapsed to the ground. The waiting medical staff and priests dispatched from the Sword Lord Temple rushed forward to catch her. Soon, Ak Hong-hyang was moved to the treatment room to receive care.
Even Mae Jiwon, the Chief Supervisor of this trial, was moved by Ak Hong-hyang’s spirited display.
Ak Hong-hyang, time taken: 27 *shik*. Arrows hit: 41. Arrowfall Gorge cleared. Score: Grade C, Upper Rank!
Mae Jiwon, who had been deliberating between Upper Rank and Middle Rank, ultimately declared an Upper Rank score, impressed by Ak Hong-hyang’s determination.
At this time, Bukjin, Baek Geum-un, and Han Bul-bu were already rushing to the treatment room. Ak Hong-hyang lay on a makeshift cot, her face very pale, as she looked at her friends and spoke.
“I, I… I didn’t make you guys ashamed, did I?”
Hearing her words, Han Bul-bu and Baek Geum-un quickly nodded.
Bukjin smiled and said, “You are our pride.”
“Pride?”
At that moment, Jo Pacheon’s laughter was heard from the side.
“Is it pride to run forward, taking arrows with your body because your skill is lacking? Haha, I’m ashamed just watching! She was hit by 41 arrows! If this were a real battle, she would have died dozens of times over, so what’s there to be proud of?”