Dongjeong Lake Water Fortress (2)
Swords and spears flashed in every direction. Shim Kang and Yu Su-gwi's faces twisted in frustration. They were the elite warriors representing Dongjeong Lake Water Fortress, the very ones who had sent countless foes to sleep eternally at the lake's murky depths. Yet here they were, cornered in their own stronghold.
They needed to finish off their current opponent quickly and deal with that bastard soaring high above. But the Chwi Hwa Bang Lord's martial arts were far more refined than expected, dragging the fight out without a swift resolution.
Shim Kang's crescent blade, infused with his profound inner energy, struck with pinpoint precision at vital points. Yu Su-gwi's spear flowed flexibly, disrupting balance and deflecting attacks. Though still in his late twenties, he fought like a seasoned veteran of the jianghu, honed by endless battles.
If even this unremarkable faction's leader was this capable, it made sense why their comrade Jjak-gwi had failed despite mobilizing a massive force.
Shim Kang and Yu Su-gwi exchanged glances. To seize the advantage, they needed to create a crack. And the target was obvious.
Take out those young punks first.
Rather than Nak Pung-hyeon, who wielded a sword both firm and supple, they focused on the awkward-looking, ragged brothers. But they soon realized even that wouldn't be easy.
It wasn't just the Chwi Hwa Bang Lord's sword protecting them. The eldest brother—the young man with lips pressed tight—wielded a deceptively solid sword style, offering no openings. Moreover, underestimating him and pressing the attack had nearly ensnared them in the enigmatic aura blooming from his blade path more than once.
The Bang Lord seemed overwhelmingly dominant now, but the youth's swordsmanship was an unfathomable art whose depths no one could gauge. At least his inexperience, the scabbard still on his sword, and the complete absence of aggression or killing intent were small mercies.
That left one option. The handsome youth whose tattered, ripped training robes couldn't hide his looks. His stance and expression were clearly inferior to the others, so concentrating on him would surely yield a quick kill.
Shim Kang stepped forward powerfully, swinging his crescent blade to push back the Bang Lord and scabbarded youth, creating space. Then, back-to-back with Yu Su-gwi, he spun like a top.
As the Bang Lord rushed to fill the gap, Yu Su-gwi's spear thrust toward him in an instant. Stunned by their swift position swap and unpredictable shifts, the Bang Lord raised his blade vertically and halted.
But their real target was the youth on the opposite side, swinging his sword half-heartedly, caught off guard.
Yu Su-gwi, who had seemed to spin half a turn back-to-back, slammed the ground and completed his rotation. Ignoring the aggressively pressing Bang Lord behind him now.
Suddenly exposed to two foes at once, the handsome youth—who had been fully focused on blocking Shim Kang's crescent blade—let out a gasp.
"Ah!"
The one-on-two setup formed in a flash. Nak Pung-hyeon, who had slowed to guard against the spear, urgently charged at Yu Su-gwi's back. The scabbarded youth thrust out desperately to shield his brother from being pierced.
But Shim Kang and Yu Su-gwi had honed this maneuver countless times. Layered with feints and psychological ploys in that split second, their combined rotational force propelled the spear forward at a speed no expert could block.
It was a clash of instants. Nak Pung-hyeon's fierce sword momentum toward Yu Su-gwi's back meant some damage was inevitable, but losing one of the three was far worse.
Ping—!
With a ear-splitting whistle, the spear plunged into the youth's brow in a blink.
Shattering Heart Water Halberd. Yu Su-gwi's signature killing move that had pierced countless hearts.
This time, aimed at a handsome face.
Thud!!!
The spear finally broke through the opponent's face. The tactile feedback of penetration was unmistakable. Yu Su-gwi grinned triumphantly.
Got him!
But... '!!!!!' He could only gape in shock.
The handsome youth's face he thought pierced was blurring and scattering like mist.
Yu Su-gwi realized it. Their painstaking ultimate technique, executed at the cost of sacrifice, had sliced through empty air. What he'd impaled was merely an afterimage.
Immediately, Nak Pung-hyeon's sword sliced into his shoulder blade.
No gain, only loss.
"Urk!"
Yu Su-gwi rolled across the ground, enduring the pain. Shim Kang's crescent blade deflected the enemy's sword upward a beat late, minimizing damage. Yu Su-gwi sprang up, whirling his spear in all directions to guard against exploits.
But no one lunged at his opening. The Bang Lord and Shim Kang clashed fiercely after wounding him. The youth who dodged his ultimate with astonishing footwork patted his chest with a pale face.
The other youth, instead of exploiting the gap, checked on his near-death brother first.
"Jinun! You okay?"
"H-Hyungnim... Am I... am I still alive? Right?"
Called Jinun, the youth touched his face with trembling hands. He knew full well he'd nearly died.
Confirming his face intact, he looked down and flushed in embarrassment.
"Looks like... I pissed myself."
Yu Su-gwi's face contorted. Who cares if they pissed—how could they lose focus mid life-or-death battle?
Gripping his spear tighter, he charged again. But he froze, spotting something.
Wooden shards impaled on his spear. Shattered boat fragments, just like before.
When? How?
Something nagged. Despite the penetration feel, the attack failed. Someone had deliberately flung wood shards, delaying the spear's path.
Perfectly timed, with perfect force and accuracy. It didn't fully halt the spear, but in their instant-clash duel, it was decisive.
'!!!!!'
He scanned urgently. The booming crashes from all sides had stopped. No more laughter from the boy destroying boats while flying between sky and lake.
His subordinates, scrambling to stop the boy, now swarmed the battlefield, unable to find him.
That bastard! His doing!
A chill ran down his spine. Gooseflesh rose. The flying destroyer lurked hidden, watching like a beast overseeing its cub's hunt.
And that beast's power was beyond comprehension.
This is wrong. We can't win alone. When will the Fortress Lord...!
Report should've reached the Lord long ago, yet no sign. The old Fortress Lord hadn't left his quarters lately. Even if he came, against this caliber, victory seemed impossible.
The brothers recovered and approached. Surrounded subordinates hesitated, pointing weapons uselessly, afraid to charge.
Yu Su-gwi bellowed.
"What are you doing? Charge them!"
"Y-Yes!"
Rebuked, the lackeys belatedly rushed the brothers. Unprecedented—subordinates never intervened when vice-leaders fought personally.
Confirming the foe swarmed, Yu Su-gwi turned and bolted toward the lake.
"Wha—what?!"
Shouts erupted. Not just the brothers, but his own lackeys too. Who'd expect the infamous Yu Su-gwi to flee, back turned, in his home turf?
"Yu Su-gwi! Where you going, traitor? You dog! Fucking bastard!"
Realizing the escape, Shim Kang roared curses.
Yu Su-gwi ignored him. Survival first. Once in the lake, no one could catch him.
The lake loomed close. In a blink.
But thwack!!!
Something slammed in, numbing his lower body. No time for a proper landing—he tumbled messily.
Undignified for his skill.
"Urgh—!"
He scrambled up. Seeing what struck his knee, dread chilled him. More wooden shards, like on his spear.
Lucky it wasn't a hidden weapon.
As Yu Su-gwi delayed rolling, someone pierced the lackey swarm toward the lake like an arrow. Another vice-leader, Shim Kang.
After clashing alone with the Bang Lord and taking wounds, he'd chosen flight upon seeing Yu Su-gwi flee first.
"Outta my way!"
Unlike the brothers, no mercy for the Bang Lord. He slashed lackeys blocking him in half without hesitation. Blood sprayed everywhere.
Yu Su-gwi staggered up. Shim Kang sacrificed subordinates to catch up. Together, they sprinted side-by-side to the lake.
Behind, Nak Pung-hyeon pursued, drenched in lackey blood, looking like a yaksha.
He had no intention of forgiving those who invaded his turf and slaughtered his family-like men.
The lake was mere steps away. But the Bang Lord closed faster.
As he overtook the limping Yu Su-gwi, the spear flashed desperately.
Into the carp tattoo on his longtime comrade Shim Kang's back.
"Gah!"
Shim Kang's charging form tumbled.