“Really?”
Gang Jun was flustered and took a step back. With the blood returning to his head after being cleanly countered, it seemed like he was coming to his senses.
Due to his unsportsmanlike conduct, I had no choice but to respond with a half-sword technique. Even from an objective standpoint, it was an impressive scene.
Blocking without fully drawing my sword didn’t simply mean that I couldn’t draw it. As long as the scabbard doesn’t leave the belt, blocking with half a sword requires a very limited angle to nullify the opponent’s attack. This means I had to manage to block their attacks at a limited angle while my defense was completely unprepared.
And I’d done it twice in a row.
On top of that, I transferred the recoil back to the opponent, breaking the flow of the initial attack.
Even if one doesn’t know martial arts, there’s a feeling to it.
Right now, even if the people of Gyeongsu Market were complete novices, they would have gotten the impression that I was an expert for pushing the opponent back.
I bit my lip.
It was frustrating.
The bounty for eliminating the black bandits in Gyeongsu Market was just a normal mid-tier quest.
But suddenly, I ended up showcasing high-level skills that should have been shown only for upper-level quests! It was like ordering sweet and sour pork and ended up being served a portion fit for a banquet!
Not that Black Cat was watching from behind; it was really embarrassing.
However, I was a 7-year veteran Sacheon Outcast.
Once I’d let the service slip, there was no choice but to enhance customer satisfaction.
Those guys from Taegyeong Sect really hit the jackpot today.
After taking a step back, Gang Jun was gauging my mood. He looked bewildered that a lowly sect like his was receiving a service that could barely qualify for a mid-tier quest.
It was like being a guy who thought he had booked a motel only to find out it was a hotel, with the bellboy rushing to take his luggage while he stood there, flabbergasted.
My insides twisted.
From now on, I had no choice but to give services better than mid-tier, all because of that guy’s unsportsmanlike play!
He was a guy who didn’t even observe basic etiquette in the service industry, suddenly drawing his sword without so much as a word.
If I were just an ordinary Iryu, I might have been injured by that surprise attack.
And now, to provide VIP services to someone like him? I felt a surge to just throw everything away.
Seriously, he should consider himself lucky.
If Black Cat hadn’t gestured for me to come out, I would have turned the place upside down by now.
“Impressive. You managed to counter my Taekyo Myungban Blade.”
Of course, that blade didn’t exist. Why would I bother learning such a flashy technique wasting my martial arts slots?
Gang Jun was on guard.
What are you doing, dude? This is your moment to showcase your chivalry and martial skills! Say something already!
When an opponent casts [Impressive], it’s customary to reply with [You too], acknowledging them and appealing your greatness to the crowds, creating a synergistic effect that makes the duel itself seem spectacular.
About 5 to 10 seconds passed.
That guy was so clueless that he was only watching me, not saying anything at all.
The crowds who had been eagerly waiting for Gang Jun to reveal his chivalry exchanged glances of confusion.
This is exactly why lowly sects like that don’t work. They lack basic skills! The sect members from Taegyeong who had appeared with Gang Jun were also just watching, not making any move.
The actor freezes, and they should be supporting from the back instead of just gawking. Someone has to come in from off-stage to keep the show going, right? Were they here just to sightsee? They’d go back to their sect claiming they did some grand thing.
I felt like the show would totally flop, and I had no choice but to provide an additional service.
“Hehe, still acting like a chivalrous hero?”
Lee Ho, who had been unable to scream and only let out groans, moved the leg that was on his wrist. He twisted his feet as if to crush his wrist, using all his strength to do so.
“Ungh!!!”
“It’s you!!!”
Only then did Gang Jun react.
“I can’t understand these so-called heroes. With hostages at stake, unable to attack properly or even respond. What do they even want to do with their lives?”
What is the number one thing the audience cheers for among heroes?
Of course, it’s a hero with strong martial arts and a sense of justice.
If Gang Jun had waited for me to draw my sword while stepping on his own sect, I would’ve leisurely drawn my sword and provoked him. Then, as he got furious and swung his sword, I would’ve dashed back, saying “Oh no!” while letting Lee Ho go.
And then I’d just say something like, “I got careless,” and start dodging some attacks until I was like “Ugh, there’s no way to handle it,” pretend I was injured, and then run into the alley.
Even if he’s a black bandit, to instantly defeat a horrendous Sacheon Outcast is just so straightforward and refreshing, it practically sells itself!
But thanks to that guy’s surprise attack, the “strong martial arts” part got tangled up. The crowd couldn’t possibly think Gang Jun, after being easily blown back by my counter, had impressive martial arts.
So I needed to make the crowd realize that [Ah, that attack just now was unintentional].
The flow was dragging and the impact diluting, but asking a spooked friend to bring out a perfect performance was hard even for a 7-year veteran like me, Ho Cheon-an.
“I suppose this won’t end here.”
I pulled my foot away from Lee Ho and stepped forward.
Gang Jun was like a rock that couldn’t shine on his own.
So I had to make myself the shining one. There’s only one way to resurrect a hero with such a faint presence.
Defeating the villain who left a strong impression on the audience!
After all, the very existence of a hero is to overcome such villains, so once you defeat the riveting villain, the rest just gets wrapped up accordingly. Even if I was silent, looking concerned that any hostages wouldn’t get hurt would become something praiseworthy.
Thus, I had to become a villain who would deliver shock and horror to the crowd.
Hidden behind Black Rib, the eyes that wouldn’t be seen quickly scanned the ground. Lee Ho was overused and not fresh. How about that one? Oh, that one’s way too big to handle.
Drawing my attention, there was one thing.
Sa Ho.
Wearing ample martial robes, others might not know, but after pushing Sa Ho away to counter that dual-dragon strike earlier, I knew. Sa Ho was left as skinny as a shrimp. While he didn’t look that skinny at first glance, considering his dry body, his height was quite tall.
Sa Ho had the perfect physique as if he was born for this very moment.
I felt as if I was mesmerized as I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up.
I can do this.
With Sa Ho by my side, we can create something fantastic!
I tightened my grip.
Pouring all my priceless inner strength into the performance was generally unheard of. Variables weren’t controllable in this situation, so I couldn’t predict what unexpected events might occur.
Thinking about it, it would be right to preserve my inner energy.
But right now, I had to do it.
Living as a Sacheon Outcast for seven years, this was the moment I could create the best scene of my life!
The artistic spirit within me compelled me.
[Go!]
“Then you! [Taegyeong Sect]! [One Strike Three Blades]! [Gang Jun]! Die for the people!”
Sa Ho… flew.
With a weight lighter than most women combined with a body trained to the limits of Iryu, and using my learned throwing techniques, [Wooden Rock Throw], I poured ninety percent of my inner strength into it.
Sa Ho, tracing a parabolic arc, flailed his limbs wildly. Although this was reality and not a movie, every movement and expression of Sa Ho felt vividly stuck in my vision, like it had been slowed down for effect.
Could there be a more impactful scene than this?
Using people without hesitation as obstacles was a villain’s way. And the victim flying through the air due to such a villain. A hero who had to rescue that victim and defeat the villain. The chivalrous Gang Jun!
“Aaaah!!!”
“Oohhh!!”
Feeling the crowd’s screams and shocked gazes, I was certain.
It was phenomenal.
As a 7-year Sacheon Outcast, I, Ho Cheon-an, had given birth to countless legends and myths, yet today was the moment where a new legend surpassing my past seven years was being born in front of me.
Confidently, I focused ahead.
Gang Jun and Sa Ho collided. It looked like he was trying to catch him completely, but honestly, it’s tough to catch a flying person in such a scenario. Regardless, Sa Ho fell to the ground without any broken bones, while Gang Jun looked unsteady.
I was already running.
While watching the collision, I adjusted my pace to close the gap and noticed Gang Jun preparing to raise his sword, so I quickly approached him and leaped.
“Die, Gang Jun! Crimson Blood Blade!”
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