Learning Martial Arts #1
In this insane situation, I felt stunned for a moment, but since my survival was on the line, I snapped out of it right away.
"No, you fucking bastard!!!"
I immediately screamed at Go Seok-sam's back as he ran off!
"Hey, you piece of shit! Where the hell are you going?! Get back here, now?!"
This crazy troll fucker was abandoning his comrade mid-battle and fleeing?!
"You bastard! Get back here!!!"
I bellowed at the top of my lungs, but Go Seok-sam didn't stop for a second. Hell, he seemed to be running even faster. He was sacrificing me as bait just to save his own ass! That motherfucker—I'd kill him for sure!
"Ushiieeeek!"
"Ushishit!"
About half the Little Blue Ghosts chased after Go Seok-sam at first, but they soon turned around and charged back at me. They figured it'd be easier to take down the lone target.
"Fuck this shit!!"
Because of that, I ended up completely surrounded. Every last Little Blue Ghost was coming for me. Fighting them off alone... my odds were...!
"Go Seok-sam, you worthless fuck! Get back here! Hurry up and come back!"
Paat!
No need to even think about it. I bolted after Go Seok-sam just like he had, running for my life.
"Get back here, you bastard!"
"Uwaaaaaah!"
The Little Blue Ghosts pursued me relentlessly while Go Seok-sam kept fleeing. Could I catch up? But there were too goddamn many of them...!
"Ushiieeeek!"
"Shiiiik!"
In the end, trying to force a breakthrough, the Little Blue Ghosts clinging to me attacked from both sides.
Chwak!
Their sharp claws shredded the seams of my clothes.
"You dogshit fuckers!"
I swung my iron club to keep them at bay and kicked like I was punting a soccer ball, but my unstable stance made every hit miss.
"Ushiieeeek!"
Seizing the opening, more Little Blue Ghosts jumped onto my back, yanking at my hair.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
No, fuck, my hair!
"Hey, Go Seok-sam, you fucking bastard! Get back here! Help me out! Uwaaaah!"
Paat!
I immediately threw myself to the ground and rolled hard, executing a perfect log roll.
"Ushik?!"
I crushed the Little Blue Ghost stuck to me under my weight and sprang up, sprinting away. This was seriously not working. I couldn't handle them alone! Better chase down Go Seok-sam!
"Go Seok-sam, you fucker! Stop!"
"Huff, heuk!"
"Don't run—fight back!!!"
His stamina must've sucked because Go Seok-sam started staggering as he ran. That real motherfucker! If he had the energy to run, he should've used it to fight!
Thud!
Finally, Go Seok-sam collapsed, and I made it there.
"Hey! Get up!"
"Huff, heuk!"
He was gasping like he was about to pass out. He'd exhausted himself fleeing.
"Ushiieeeek!"
"Shishit!"
I was out of breath too. But the Little Blue Ghosts showed no mercy, charging at us like they wanted to kill.
With a partner who was total deadweight and way too many enemies, I decided to...
"Kieeeekeeeee!!!"
I let out a yokai-like screech and pulled back. The Little Blue Ghosts flinched at my scream, hesitating for a second. And then...
"Ushiieeeek!"
"Ushishit!"
They swarmed the fallen Go Seok-sam.
"Ugh, uwaaaah! Save me! Please save meee!!!"
Only then did Go Seok-sam snap to his senses, thrashing and begging for his life. I hadn't planned on this shit, fuck. But he'd run first. Rage and hatred boiled up inside me.
"Kwaaaah! Save me, saaaave meee! Aaaah!"
"That's what you get for not fighting, you fucker!"
"Aaaah!"
The fully distracted Little Blue Ghosts tore into Go Seok-sam. In gamer terms, he'd pulled all the aggro. Meanwhile, I quickly caught my breath and...
Paak!
Paak!
Slammed my club into the backs of their heads, cracking skulls.
"Manhae!"
Alone, I couldn't win. But with a meat shield? Now we're talking. The Little Blue Ghosts were too focused on Go Seok-sam right now.
"Go Seok-sam! If you don't wanna die, get up and fight or something!"
"Haak, haaak...!"
He seemed to regain a bit of sense at my words, but he was still exhausted. He barely managed to push at the Little Blue Ghosts with his hands. But that was enough.
Paak!
With Go Seok-sam as my meat shield, I diligently smashed the Little Blue Ghosts' heads.
"Kkeik?!"
"Ukkiik?!"
I unleashed all my fury on them, beating them to death!
"Die! Die, you fucking bastards!"
I pounded the Little Blue Ghosts like a maniac. If they clung to me, I threw them off; if they were on the ground, I stomped them hard. And with my club technique, I cracked their skulls open.
"Ushiik...!"
The Little Blue Ghosts, having lost their comrades, backed away in fear. Perfect. Their morale was finally broken!
"Kwaaaaaah!"
It all came down to momentum. To instill terror in them, I grabbed one by the tail.
"Ushiieeeek?!"
I swung it like a flail!
Whoosh whoosh!
And smashed it into another one!
Puuuuk!
"Keeeeek!"
Like a giant grabbing a comrade's ankle and using it as a club. After that Musou rampage, the swarming Little Blue Ghosts scattered in retreat.
I won...! I barely beat these yokai fuckers! I'd survived another day!
"Haa!"
About half of them down? The relief of survival drained my strength, and my head spun. Without using Go Seok-sam as a meat shield, I wouldn't have made it either. After surviving this long, nearly dying was unforgivable.
"Go Seok-sam, you fucking bastard!"
"Aak...!"
I couldn't hold back. I grabbed the bloodied, face-down Go Seok-sam by the collar and yanked him up.
"You dare run, you piece of shit?!"
"S-sorry..."
"Sorry my ass, you fucker! We came here risking our lives together—you're supposed to cooperate! You useless shit!"
Slap!
I backhanded his cheek hard.
"Kwaaaah!"
One wasn't enough. Another!
Slap!
"Aaaah!"
"If you bail, what happens to me?! You tried to fucking kill me, you bastard?! Wanted to see me die?!"
I'd treated him like a comrade! I'd planned to fight to the end together! We'd split 200 mun each and part on good terms! But the second it got dangerous, he ditched me!
Slap!
Slap!
Slap!
"Kwaaaah! Kwaaaah!"
I kept slapping his cheeks until my rage subsided, then yanked his hair hard, ripping out clumps.
"Hoo...!"
Of course, I wasn't just beating him mindlessly without thinking ahead. Let's think rationally. Earlier, when we talked, he'd admitted he was a nobody. No money, no backing—so even if I beat him to death, no backlash. In the Murim world, no backing meant you were just prey. The kind you could beat freely without consequences.
"Hua!"
Finally spent, Go Seok-sam slumped over. Not dead, but he'd suffer. I didn't care what happened after.
Swipe.
I quickly gathered the Little Blue Ghosts' corpses. Ten right here by my hand. Including the ones farther off, I'd cut their numbers by more than half today. Losing that many comrades, the rest would flee elsewhere. They had learning ability—when a group got wiped, they switched hunting grounds.
Anyway, one job done.
"..."
Strength drained from me. I needed rest. I leaned against a suitable spot, closed my eyes. Time to recover stamina. Circulate energy to heal.
"Couldn't get more pathetic than this."
Morning. The liaison gaped at the battered Go Seok-sam, the battlefield, and the Little Blue Ghosts' corpses.
"Didn't expect this many. But we beat 'em all to death."
"You did great. This many... And that guy's half-dead."
"It was a brutal fight. Felt like a real war. Heh."
"Yeah... Anyway, here's your pay. 200 mun each."
"Ooh!"
A heavy money pouch!
"Thanks!"
I counted it—solid! A whopping 400 mun in my hands! Could weight be this joyful?
"Heh heh, see ya!"
As I pocketed the cash and turned to leave...
"M-my money..."
Go Seok-sam muttered something weird from behind.
"What?"
His voice made my anger flare, but I suppressed it. It was morning, eyes were watching.
"Got something to say?"
"W-well..."
I got right in his face.
"Your red face says you do. Spit it out."
"..."
"You fucking prick. Don't remember last night? You didn't fight, ditched me and ran?"
"Th-there were more yokai than expected..."
"We took money for the job—what's that excuse? Felt good throwing me as bait and bailing? I nearly died because of it!"
"Heuk...!"
I grabbed his collar and hoisted him up. He trembled in terror, mumbling.
"I-I'm sorry..."
Pathetic sight, but no mercy. Even on modern Earth, he'd get wrecked. This was Murim—no pity for someone who tried to screw me over. If he hadn't collapsed, I might've actually died. He had some credit as a meat shield, but running meant he deserved this. Plus, he hadn't killed a single yokai. I did them all. And he wants his share?
"Wanna die for real?"
"S-save me!"
"I'm taking the money. You tried to kill me—pay the price. And I killed all the yokai fuckers, right? Got it? Fuck off, you shit!"
"Heuuk!"
I roared and released him; he bolted like he was fleeing Little Blue Ghosts again. Even that loser strutted like he could hunt yokai.
"Next time we meet, you're dead."
Time to head back. The money in my pocket felt heavy.
"Oh, right."
Gotta collect the corpses and cash 'em in. That many should net a few mun.
"Hoo."
Big money, but not fully satisfying. I'd fantasize about beating Go Seok-sam every night before bed from now on.
Lots of wounds. First time at a physician's clinic.
"Take this anti-inflammatory pill and apply this golden wound salve—it'll heal quick. Your bones and tendons are sturdy; no risk of infection."
The white-bearded old doc spoke with gravitas, making it feel legit. Visuals are a cheat code.
"Ooh, really? What's an anti-inflammatory pill?"
I knew golden wound salve—Murim's Madecassol.
"Pill made from herbs that reduce swelling. Here—one for 50 mun, salve for 20."
Pricey, fuck. But I had cash. Grit my teeth and invest. Can't neglect injuries or my health drops. Paid up, applied salve as directed, swallowed the pill with water. Eat well, sleep well, and it'd heal fast.
Back to the inn.
"..."
Had some hangover soup noodles, then crashed in my room. Go Seok-sam... Thinking of that fucker made my blood boil again. Should've hit him more? Nah, that was enough. He got wrecked by Little Blue Ghosts and me—forget it.
Anyway. How to survive from here?
"...I need to get stronger."
A flash of insight. No—realization from last night. Power. I need power. Nearly died alone against a Little Blue Ghost pack. If I were stronger? I'd handle them solo no problem.
"Yeah...!"
That thought sent shivers through me.
Martial arts!
Mugong! To build strength and skill, I had to learn martial arts! This was Murim, after all! Learning martial arts here was the most natural thing! Master martial arts to boost my power!
"I'll learn martial arts!"
Got money? Invest it! On Earth, real estate—but this is Murim! Invest in martial arts! Use this cash to learn martial arts!