This Really Works! Jang Gapae's Leader, Woo Gwang
The leader of Jang Gapae, Woo Gwang, was convinced that the remnants left in Yi Gajang were nothing but frightened greenhorns. He figured the job would wrap up nice and easy. That's why he'd plopped himself down right in the outer courtyard of Yi Gajang, idly digging in his ear while waiting for his subordinates to bring back good news.
But no matter how long he waited, there was no word from them. Sensing something off, he ordered the subordinate guarding his side to round everyone up again.
There was no way they'd slipped out of the estate in the meantime. Was the manor just too damn big, making the search take forever?
"What the hell? This all that's left?"
His face twisted in fury. The number of subordinates who'd regrouped was down by more than ten.
His men exchanged panicked glances.
"You... you fucking idiots! You've fallen into a trap!"
Woo Gwang shot to his feet. He personally leaped toward the areas his missing men had been assigned.
Sure enough, behind one of the walls, he caught a faint presence. His subordinates might not have sensed it, but he—having reached a certain level—could feel that energy clearly.
"You rat bastards. Trying your pathetic tricks against this body?"
He bellowed with full inner energy, his voice booming like thunder.
From beyond the wall came a slight rustle of agitation.
'This is the spot.'
Yi Gajang's rats were definitely hiding here. But even he hesitated to vault the wall or kick down the door.
Over ten men had vanished without a sound or signal—there had to be a reason.
They were supposedly just warriors from the third-rate Hwang Sabang that had defected to Yi Gajang long ago. How could they possibly subdue Jang Gapae's battle-hardened thugs who'd roamed the jianghu without fear?
'Besides that mad third brother, is there someone else here who can actually use martial arts properly? Or maybe trap mechanisms? Formations?'
But that didn't add up. He'd heard enough about Yi Gajang's eldest and second sons—the so-called White Bone Heroes—their skills were laughable. Setting up proper traps or formations required massive funds and manpower, far beyond what a beggar clan like Yi Gajang could muster.
'...Could be poison.'
Woo Gwang grew even more cautious. Following Dang Sobaek had taught him better than anyone the terror of poison.
His life was too precious to leap over recklessly.
Pondering deeply, Woo Gwang reached a simple, clear conclusion.
To flush out a rabbit hiding deep in its burrow, fire was the best bet, wasn't it?
He'd planned to torch the place anyway.
"Hey! Set it ablaze! Burn this whole damn estate to the ground!"
"Yes, sir!"
His subordinates sprang into action at the command.
'Damn it!'
Yi Gajang's three key figures—huddled tensely—exchanged looks of clear panic.
This was a disaster. Who knew the enemy would be this cautious and thorough?
Burning everything without warning, not giving a damn about the captured subordinates' safety?
They hadn't even gotten a chance to spring their trap before Yi Gajang faced total annihilation by fire.
Gang Ryong whispered to Gwak Chonggwan.
"Gwak Chonggwan. What now?"
"No choice. Only one option left, right?"
"But that method...!"
"We have to trust him. Our young master."
Gwak Chonggwan and Gang Ryong's gazes turned to the remaining one.
Yi Jinun, receiving their looks, nodded calmly—surprisingly so.
He straightened his bent back, squared his shoulders proudly, and stepped forward.
The warriors who'd been playing dead flat on the ground rose one by one. Their eyes brimmed with genuine worry.
Jinun was different from both eldest brother Jingang and youngest Jinpyeong. He seemed indecisive and frail, but that very gentleness made him approachable and beloved by every warrior in Yi Gajang.
"Young master...!"
"Don't worry. We've trained bloody hard for a day like this, haven't we?"
Yi Jinun rolled up his sleeves with a smile. Flexing his scrawny arm revealed a quail egg-sized bicep.
Everyone's faces darkened further.
Gang Ryong stepped forward, convinced it wouldn't work, but Gwak Chonggwan grabbed his arm.
"Brother Gang. We've all seen it with our own eyes, right? Now's the time to trust Young Master Jinun. Believing in each other is our only way. Let's do our parts."
Gang Ryong nodded heavily.
Yi Jinun stood before the central gate, sword in hand. His still-skeletal frame looked like a strong gust could carry him away.
As acrid smoke rose beyond the wall and burning firewood piles were hurled everywhere...
Yi Jinun, steels himself, flung open the central gate with a bang.
He'd acted calm, like it was no big deal, but Yi Gajang's second son, Yi Jinun, was filled with terror inside.
Bang!
Opening the gate amplified that fear tenfold.
The warriors busy igniting dry firewood all turned to him. The fearsome-looking man in the center, urging them on, whipped around.
"What the—?!"
The man glared with a growl. Tattoos in black ink covered his body, his gleaming bald head scarred by a long gash across his face—adding savagery to his already ugly mug.
Jinun's legs shook. His vision narrowed and darkened; he felt like he'd faint any second.
"I... am... Yi..."
A mosquito-like squeak.
The sword-bearing thug snorted dismissively, eyes scanning behind him without a care.
"What're you mumbling? Who the hell are you? Anyone else inside?"
Already being ignored? If the enemy dismissed him, the plan was ruined.
Not on his watch. With his brothers absent, he was Yi Gajang's sole master here.
How could he face the household if he failed?
Grit. He clenched his teeth.
His brothers flashed in his mind. The ever-arrogant, unflappable youngest Jinpyeong. The unshakable eldest Jingang.
Imagining how they'd act calmed him.
His frozen body thawed. Clasping hands in salute, he declared in a clear voice.
"I am Yi Gajang's second son, Yi Jinun. Who might you be, and what business brings you to play with fire so recklessly in another man's estate?"
"Ah, you're that White Bone Hero middle brother, huh? Figures you'd be skin and bones like a skeleton."
Chortling, the man's gaze still pierced into the open gate.
This body is Woo Gwang, leader of Jang Gapae. Your bratty youngest dared block our operations and harass our kids, so I'm here for payback. He's probably dead by now, and I plan to slaughter you Yi Gajang lot and torch the place. That answer your question?"
Yi Jinun swallowed hard.
He'd suspected as much—Jang Gapae. He didn't buy the bit about his brother being dead; Jinpyeong wasn't someone anyone could just take down.
But the brutal vow to kill them all and burn everything? That hit hard.
"Hm. Seems our youngest gave you quite the headache. How about talking it out with him directly later?"
"I told you, he's dead."
"Nah, just wait a bit—he'll be back soon."
"...Passing the buck to your brother?"
"Not passing the buck—there's a saying, he who started it ends it, right? Brotherly matters between brothers—"
"You're not making sense. What kind of siblings are you? Fine, you first—"
Woo Gwang, chatting while scanning surroundings, sensed no other threats beyond this scrawny kid. No poison or trap signs either.
Judging it safe, he lunged, arm thrusting out.
"—come here!"
A massive palm filled his vision. Jinun froze stiff.
Gang Ryong, peeking from behind, couldn't help yelling.
"Young master!!"
Jinun snapped to, instinctively stepping forward. His body swayed side to side, leaving only a hazy afterimage as he vanished.
Wind blows through body and mind.
Pung Chwi Gwa Shin Sim.
Woo Gwang's hand sliced empty air.
"Huh?!"
Expecting an easy grab, Woo Gwang whirled in shock. Incredibly, Jinun—who'd dodged—looked equally stunned, staring at himself.
"You little shit... got some tricks!"
No hand this time. Woo Gwang pivoted, closing distance, slashing viciously with his side-sword. Leader of Jang Gapae indeed.
The blade whistled toward his nose.
But Jinun stood dazed, replaying his move.
Yi Gajang's warriors, peeking like chicks behind Gang Ryong, shrieked in unison.
"Young master!!!!!!!!"
"Sword! Watch the sword!"
"Look ahead!!!"
Jinun jolted awake, swaying his torso and stepping again. His form blurred.
Whoosh—
Woo Gwang's blade cleaved air. Jinun reappeared opposite, unscathed, un-bisected.
Woo Gwang halted, face full of bewilderment.
And Yi Gajang's second master Jinun—
fist clenched high, grinning ear-to-ear, bellowed triumphantly.
"You all saw it, right? It works! This really works!"
"Woooaaahhh!!!"
"Yi Jinun! Yi Jinun!"
Cheers erupted from beyond the wall. As Woo Gwang and his Jang Gapae thugs gaped in stupefaction, the bucktoothed Chonggwan Gang Ryong barked sharply.
"All forces—charge!!!"
With that grand signal, Yi Gajang's warriors vaulted the walls en masse, unleashing their pent-up qi as they crashed into Jang Gapae's ranks.