116. Yong the Great Hero Ruined Me
The chief instructor was so flabbergasted he couldn't speak.
What the hell did that bastard eat wrong?
The kids had trained for ten years in every hellish regimen imaginable, but he'd been swinging blades and killing for decades. All twelve instructors at the training camp were first-rate experts, and he himself was pushing toward the Peak realm.
Sure, thirty-three fresh-faced young punks were a handful, but if he got serious, he could slaughter them all.
Plus, with the patrol and surveillance squads thrown in, there was no way these brats could slip out of these mountains.
What the hell does he think he's got backing him up?
It was absurd, but he decided to try talking them down first. The chief instructor let out a sigh and spoke in a chiding tone.
"I heard the head instructor was dead drunk and made a little mistake. He's already passed out, so disarm and get back to your barracks."
Most of the instructors had been Jang Gyo-du's men from the start. After Jang died, Ak Gyo-du took over, then Sa Gyo-du—but none of them truly followed the new guy. It was the chief instructor who'd stabbed Sa Gyo-du in the thigh.
The chief instructor wanted to pretend tonight never happened. He couldn't just plow under a field he'd toiled over for ten years. He had faith in one thing: these kids were poisoned with Swolhyeol San. If they didn't want to die, they'd kneel eventually.
Won Seung scanned his surroundings.
Ten out of twelve instructors are here. The other two are probably in the back. Surveillance warriors number about twenty. Patrol around thirty. That's a little over sixty total…
There were another dozen warriors on the outer perimeter, but they were pretty far off, tending the fields, pigs, and chickens with the laborers. It'd take them time to notice the commotion and come running.
Still outmatched.
The patrol and surveillance guys were manageable for the kids if they played it smart. But the instructors were first-rate experts. It'd take two or three—maybe four kids per instructor.
Thirty-three kids total.
Against the instructors alone, maybe. But with the warriors? Without Sangong Poison, a lot of kids would die.
Have to take out the chief instructor for sure.
Won Seung recalled his duel with Gi Jangno the day before.
Musanggyeol at its peak was a true secret art. It doubled his internal energy in an instant—borderline cheating.
Forty years of cultivation plus Musanggyeol… add Sailgwancheon, and he could take on even Sa Gyo-du.
That lowlife drunkard Sa Gyo-du snoring away plastered… Snag the chief, and the pressure eased big time.
Honestly, escaping these mountains solo wouldn't be hard. But he couldn't abandon the kids he'd shared ten years of hell with.
That's why he'd sweated over brewing Soul Oblivion Pills, mixing Real Soul Pills, developing Sangong Firebombs… And now this sudden mess ruined it all.
What now?
Worst case, hole up in Dok Sabu's cabin with the kids and hold out?
As Won Seung racked his brain without answering, the chief instructor bellowed loud enough for the whole mess hall to hear, his voice icy.
"Looks like you've tasted a little blood and got cocky. Dream on. If you don't want to die right here, you'd better obey."
Won Seung snorted.
"We're already poisoned with a death sentence. What's left to fear?"
"Kehhehe. You wanna die here? You're the ringleader, huh? Wonder if the rest'll keep yapping after you're dead."
Won Seung burst out laughing.
"Hey, if you poisoned us, don't you think we can poison you right back?"
"……?"
Won Seung raised his voice deliberately so the kids inside could hear.
They needed hope. Confidence.
"Guess you didn't know I snuck into the central kitchen for scraps while wandering Dok Sabu's cabin? Kwak Gyo-du tailed me close, so he might know. Slipping poison into the kitchen's a piece of cake. You'll tire out fast in a fight."
That should clue the kids in.
The chief instructor's brow twitched as he glanced at Kwak Gyo-du. The man's eyes wavered.
No. 50 had hung around the central kitchen staff a lot.
The chief glared at Won Seung.
"You used poison?"
"Check your qi circulation. Kidneys aching?"
The instructors' faces hardened. Yeah, their lower backs had been sore lately during meditation.
Damn it, I knew it.
The chief cursed inwardly. This fifth camp had gone lax with two head instructors swapped out. He'd worried about that poison kid roaming the central area freely, and now it bit them.
He glared at Won Seung. This camp had the most survivors, including some standouts. He'd requested reinforcements from headquarters, but they blew him off—too late in the game.
The kids' skills were his achievement, but now they stabbed back at him.
Kill a few, and the rest'll kneel.
Blame it all on Sa Gyo-du.
Crush the rebellion, and he'd get credit—lighten any punishment.
The chief hardened his resolve for harsh suppression if needed and spoke coldly.
"What do you want?"
Won Seung flashed his teeth in a grin.
"How about we talk quietly? Head to the meeting room. Sip some tea, chat calmly."
He planned to seal them in and blast a Sangong Firebomb.
The chief was sharp. He saw the scheme.
But…
The flare-up spiraled out of control.
A scream erupted from behind the mess hall.
"Kugh!"
"Trainees escaping!"
Clash of weapons rang out. Someone breaking through the encirclement.
Ugh… who the hell?
Won Seung sighed. When he'd told the kids they weren't poisoned with Swolhyeol San, he'd half-feared this. And here it was.
One punk bolting to save his own skin after hearing the instructors and warriors were poisoned.
Can't trust people.
Tower of effort crumbled… total shitshow.
The scream flipped the chief's face.
Harsh suppression it is!
Ching!
Swish!
The chief drew his sword, and the clustered instructors followed suit.
He growled venomously.
"These bastards, scheming from the back door."
"Mm. Misunderstanding. I was serious about talking."
But talks were dead.
"No choice, then."
Won Seung backpedaled toward the mess hall door, flinging something into the brazier out front.
Then he stood like a gatekeeper, drawing his sword.
Left hand behind his back, right sword dangling low. Stylish pose from yesterday's stranger.
Except his left gripped a bamboo tube crammed with Chwimimonghonju instead of sword manual.
The chief sneered at him, eyes bulging.
"Three of you, kitchen back door! Rest, kill this one first!"
Instructors charged at his shout.
Won Seung watched them approach with the stranger's cool gaze. The instructors hesitated at his casual stance, sword low.
His eyes flicked to the brazier.
Why not exploding?
Then—
Boom!
The firebomb erupted, Sangong Powder blanketing three zhang. Acrid smoke and sparks flew everywhere.
Won Seung couldn't test freely with Kwak watching, so he'd made bombs in rough strengths: high, mid, low. No time to gauge now—he'd used the strongest.
"Cough, cough!"
Instructors hacked from the powder. But they still bounded lively.
Won Seung eyed the dodging men, muttering inwardly.
Failure? Poison's tricky to force down, huh.
He'd worried the powder's potency faded in the bomb. They just coughed, then glared with venom dripping from their eyes, charging again.
Won Seung whipped out the Chwimimonghonju sprayer from behind his back.
Psssh!
Liquid sprayed.
"Poison!"
"That dog bastard—grab him!"
Instructors shielded faces with sleeves, scattering.
Mm… first-rates on guard see bamboo tube and back off a zhang. Useless.
Heard the Dang Clan had a Hundred-Li Sprayer. Sprays poison a hundred ri?
Whoosh!
Won Seung scattered poison powder around the door last, slipped inside, and slammed it shut.
He spotted I-ho chatting with some kids.
"What happened?"
"No. 13 and a few said they'd act on their own and bailed."
Sudden chaos—no controlling anyone.
I-ho's face screamed defeat.
Won Seung sighed inwardly.
Outmatched even united… No. 13, you asshole, stirring shit to the end.
Water under the bridge.
Won Seung widened his eyes.
"Kids. Listen up."
He scanned them. Tense as hell. Meal interrupted, spiraling to life-or-death in seconds.
Seeing their anxious eyes, Won Seung's heart ached. Some would die. Most, probably.
Sold from poor homes… ten years of agony. Dying without blooming? Tragic.
Yong Jo-un flashed in his mind.
What would Yong do?
Not bolt solo. Fight alongside gladly.
Yong the Great Hero… you ruined me. I hate heroes.
But right now… he had to play the hero.
Won Seung sharpened his gaze.
"Get past this, and a new life's waiting. Fight just enough, then run like hell."
"Run?"
Dongho-gun I-ho scowled. Still looked cool.
"Forgot? They trained us. Stronger arts, deeper qi, know our weaknesses. Lucky I poisoned 'em days ago. Won't fight at full strength."
Kids' faces darkened.
"I'll open this door. You bolt the kitchen back way. Run! If hurt or blocked, head to Dok Sabu's cabin. This'll hold the poison barrier a day."
Won Seung passed out antidote pills from his bosom.
"Thanks!"
Kids teared up.
Won Seung struck a heroic pose, raising his sword.
"I'll guard your backs."
Sure, it'd be messy with firebombs and powders, not swordplay…
Yong Daehyeop, good enough?
He turned dramatically. Poison by the door should've dispersed.
"Go!"
Heading to the door, someone stuck close.
"Buddy. I'm with you!"
Jang Chil. Mm. Murder machine… handy now.
"Can't let you handle it alone. I said we'd do it together first."
Dongho-gun I-ho stepped up.
"You assholes. Don't hog the glory."
Another joined.
This one No. 18?