Water Bandits' Onslaught
Without a moment to catch their breath, Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun's eyes flew wide open.
"They went to fight? When? Where?"
Whatever was going on, for all the subordinates to empty the estate, it couldn't be anything ordinary.
Yi Jinpyeong scowled, waiting to hear the full story, when the little kids spotted Yi Jingang and let out whoops of joy, swarming onto his body and legs.
"Big brother! Why'd you take so long?"
"Play with us!"
"We cleaned here super hard! We did good, right?"
"The chief steward gave us tons of pocket money! Mom and Dad were so happy!"
His focus shattered, Yi Jinpyeong bellowed, "Everyone shut up?!"
Silence fell in an instant.
One snot-nosed kid muttered, "Whoa... scary big brother."
Yi Jinpyeong stared at the kid in disbelief. "Who're you calling your big brother?!"
"Enough already—stop yelling. Kids, get off Young Master Jingang."
The girl acting as their leader waved her hands dismissively, and the children obediently peeled away from Yi Jingang. Glaring at Yi Jinpyeong, lips pursed tight.
Yi Jinpyeong recalled the girl playing leader. She had a sharp, clever look about her, but cheeky and bold. Name was Yeon, or something. Still cheeky as ever, but at least she wasn't calling Yi Jingang "big brother" anymore—signs of growing up, however slight.
She spoke up. "Chief Steward Gwak said if the young masters came back first, make sure to pass this on. There was a big fight at Chwi Hwa Bang, so they'd go help quick and come right back."
"Chwi Hwa Bang?"
Yi Jinpyeong was floored, clicking his tongue. Among those left at Yi Gajang, the highest master was none other than Chwi Hwa Bang leader Nak Pung-hyeon. He'd asked the man to drop by the estate now and then to keep things secure while they were away—only for trouble to hit Chwi Hwa Bang instead.
"So they all left without leaving even one behind? Just you kids?"
"The enemies aren't your average bunch, so it made sense. Better to all fight together than leave a couple half-assed guards."
Gwak Yeonyong, the chief steward, was handling Yi Gajang's brains just fine despite his youth. If he'd judged it that way, it definitely wasn't ordinary.
"Didn't hear who the enemies are exactly?"
"The uncles didn't tell us kids... But I overheard something about 'how the hell' this and that..."
"Dongjeong Water Bandits!"
Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun's faces changed drastically.
Among factions active around Dongjeong Lake, the one that could truly threaten Chwi Hwa Bang. The Dongjeong Water Bandits were basically a horde of aquatic thugs, so no doubt Dongbeonhoe hadn't bothered inviting them to the martial conference despite sending invites to nearly everyone else on the lake.
The Dongjeong Water Bandits—a name even village kids had heard of.
The kids listening with bated breath gasped in shock, letting out sharp cries.
"Dongjeong Water Bandits? Those scary water pirates?"
"Waaah! Our uncles are gonna get killed?!"
"Nooo!"
"Shut up!!! Who's dying?!"
Yi Jinpyeong bellowed again. But this time, the kids' clamor didn't die down easily.
"Hic... sob sob. My dad said if the water bandits catch you, it's the end! They gouge out your eyes, cut off your tongue... make you a slave working till you drop dead!"
"They don't give you food all day, just water! If you don't obey, they grab your ankle and hang you upside down!"
"They stuff you alive in a sack and toss you in the lake! And laugh while you thrash around underwater!"
"What if our uncles get caught by the water bandits?!"
The more they talked, the more the kids scared themselves into tears and wails.
To them, threats like the Demonic Cult felt distant and abstract. The Dongjeong Water Bandits, pillaging without mercy even among common folk nearby, hit far closer to home.
Yi Jinpyeong shook his head.
Still, calling them "our" uncles? How long had they been working here to get that chummy?
"Don't worry about nonsense. As long as this body is here, Yi Gajang won't fall, and no one will die."
Yi Jinpyeong lifted his chin, hands on hips.
The kids' leader—Yeon—clicked her tongue at the pose. "Instead of striking poses, why not hurry up? It's been half a day since the uncles left."
Speechless, Yi Jinpyeong glared at the girl. But the brazen kid met his eyes without flinching.
If she were his subordinate, learning martial arts, a bit older, or a boy—Yi Jinpyeong's temper would've had her in tears by now. Unfortunately, she checked none of those boxes.
"...You. Stay put and don't go anywhere."
Yi Jinpyeong vaulted the wall with the wind. Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun followed over the wall.
They'd been back at Yi Gajang less than a quarter-hour.
The season had shifted from spring into summer.
Dongjeong Lake's vast surface sparkled under the sun, while turtles stretched their necks long on sun-warmed rocks.
A serene, simple, peaceful Dongjeong Lake landscape.
But the Yi brothers had no leisure to admire the scenery.
Fearing some subordinate might be gravely injured, they unleashed their lightness skills at full speed.
They'd already pushed lightness skills hard returning to Yi Gajang. Especially Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun, arriving later than Yi Jinpyeong, had no breather before sprinting again—their breaths soon ragged, pace visibly slowing.
Noticing his brothers flagging, Yi Jinpyeong slowed to match them.
"Long-distance lightness skill is completely different from short bursts. Without mastering breath and pulse, no technique lasts, no matter how superb."
Huff. Huff. Huff.
Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun couldn't even reply.
"Think of wind in nature. It scatters yet connects, flows yet lingers. Don't force constant speed—flow with the wind's breath, skimming the ground. That's the subtlety of Pung Chwi Cheon-ri—chasing wind a thousand ri."
Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun didn't grasp it instantly. But as Yi Jinpyeong ran alongside, easing power when wind paused and adding it when it blew again, they gradually adapted to Pung Chwi Cheon-ri's rhythm.
With time, despite the vast distance without rest, their breaths steadied and grew natural.
As expected, their learning speed was unmatched.
Yi Jinun, now more at ease, asked, "Why would Chwi Hwa Bang clash with the Dongjeong Water Bandits right now? I thought everyone was lying low for the Dongbeonhoe event..."
Yi Jinpyeong, pondering briefly, replied, "Chwi Hwa Bang's leader mentioned it last visit. They're geographically squeezed between three giants—Geumrinhoe, Cheol-a-bang, and Dongjeong Water Bandits—always tightrope-walking."
"Tightrope..."
"The three have totally different natures, so no alliances. But none lack scale, barely balancing. With Dongbeonhoe pulling Geumrinhoe and Cheol-a-bang heads away, they won't move rashly. Perfect timing for Dongjeong Water Bandits to hit the easy target, Chwi Hwa Bang."
Suddenly, it struck him—maybe Nak Pung-hyeon skipped Dongbeonhoe precisely to watch for this.
In this turbulent jianghu, leading a minor faction meant constant vigilance. No relaxation, ever...
"The kids' tales aren't just rumors, right? Gouging eyes, chopping limbs... I've heard the Dongjeong Water Bandits play dirty too..."
"No way it'd be that bad. If they were that vicious, they'd have been wiped out or crushed by officials long ago."
"Their stronghold's in such treacherous terrain, officials and other factions can't easily subdue them."
"Ugh. Even so... how could humans in disguise do such things?"
Listening to his brothers, Yi Jinpyeong nodded. "A stroke of luck. Especially for you two."
"What do you mean?"
"Just poking around in tournament spars—must've left you wanting. Posing against that Demonic Cult punk, then parting—body all stiff, right?"
"N-no, not really wanting or stiff..."
"Perfect timing, then. If Dongjeong Water Bandits are that vile, no issue swinging your righteous swords. Crush 'em good, rack up real combat experience."
"A-hem..."
Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun's pace subtly slowed.
Yi Jinpyeong slapped palms on their backs, shoving them forward.
No more long-distance talk—full throttle.
"Wh-whoa!"
The scenery stretched like taffy. With a boom, the three brothers exploded ahead.
Chwi Hwa Bang's territory, the southeast lakeshore, was near.
"Kraaaagh!!!"
"Uahaha!!!"
"Kidnap the women! Slaughter the men! All of 'em!"
In the bustling alleys managed by Chwi Hwa Bang, clashes of steel, screams, and shouts echoed everywhere.
At the chaotic battlefield's heart, Chwi Hwa Bang leader Nak Pung-hyeon bit his lip hard.
The acrid stench of blood. Sickening, foul.
A smell he'd known all his life but never got used to. Especially if it was his men's...
Around him, the Flower-Wine Trio—Mae-cheongju, Chwi-go-gae, Jeok-an-ho—wielded twin swords, whip, and blade valiantly. Using them as anchors, his subordinates formed groups of three or five, bravely holding off the water bandit hordes.
But Chwi Hwa Bang warriors' numbers had already dwindled sharply.
'Never thought they'd invade deep with such massive forces...'
He'd stayed vigilant just in case, but hadn't anticipated the Dongjeong Water Bandits pushing this far into their core territory.
Without Yi Gajang warriors arriving at the critical moment, they'd have collapsed already.
"Kyaahou!!!"
In the enemy midst, unarmed, flailing limbs like a wild beast: hairy warrior Gang Ryong.
Leading Yi Gajang men in a long front line: short-statured Seo Dal.
Overweight youth chief steward Gwak Yeonyong scanned from on high, urgently relaying battlefield intel to Seo Dal and Gang Ryong.
Seeing Gang Ryong buried deep in foes, Nak Pung-hyeon yelled desperately at Gwak Yeonyong.
"I told you! Just hold the line! I'll smash the enemies!"
"Bangju, you know Gang-hyung doesn't listen well."
Nak Pung-hyeon grimaced at Gwak Yeonyong's reply.
Gang Ryong's Gu Hwan Nan Gyeok, passed from Yi Jinpyeong, had fully clicked, his skill soaring. But fighting solo amid that bandit swarm? No way to survive long.
As Nak Pung-hyeon lunged to support him—
The tiger-like Gang Ryong suddenly stiffened—thud—and collapsed.
With it, a chilling voice boomed everywhere.
"You fools. Why're you still fighting?"