0082 : Amcheonhyang (Dark Heaven Village)
Swish—
I swung my sword wildly, cleaving through the pirates in a frenzy. The foot soldiers seemed to lack remarkable martial skills, as I could dispatch most of them in mere moments. After eliminating about twenty, perhaps sensing the tide turning, the remaining pirates began to flee back to their ship. It appeared that their vessel was swiftly retreating despite ramming us.
The skirmish on board ended rather anticlimactically. However, I could hear the cheers of those around me.
“Woohoo!!”
“Thank you, Little Hero!!”
While they were fighting desperately, I had single-handedly massacred the pirates, making it feel as if I had taken them all down myself.
I surveyed the casualties on our ship. There were one or two dead, and around ten injured. It was a brief clash, but given the injuries, it seemed the pirates were quite skilled in combat. While I had slaughtered them with relative ease, it was apparent that typical soldiers would have found it difficult to contend with such ferocity.
The Lord of Seogung Escort Agency approached me, saying,
“Little Hero, those guys might launch flaming arrows at us; we need to be cautious.”
As the Lord of Seogung had noted, the pirate fleet seemed to be circling nearby, looking for an opportunity to attack. His experience suggested to him that they might shoot arrows soon.
“Are they not after our trade goods? Should we take drastic measures and set their ship ablaze?”
When I posed the question, the Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association shook his head.
“If you believe your martial skills are strong enough to repel them in close-quarters, we might sink them first and catch the crew to sell as slaves. Alternatively, they may follow us closely, looking for a chance to attack.”
“Hmm.”
“If we can just block the flaming arrows, I believe we can handle the rest. What do you think, Little Hero?”
The Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association and the Lord of Seogung seemed quite anxious. It was understandable, given that the Blood Saber Group operated on a much larger scale than they had originally anticipated. It was rare to encounter three large pirate ships at once, especially since the Blood Saber Group had already lost over twenty men and still seemed to retain considerable strength.
I gazed at the pirate ships, contemplating my next move. Then I spoke.
“The distance is too great for a direct confrontation right now. If they come closer, I will leap over and try to block their arrows.”
“Even if they shoot arrows, there may be around fifty of them. Do you really think you can manage?”
“Prepare a small boat for me. If I can shorten the distance, I might have a chance.”
“Understood!”
I hurriedly secured myself to a rescue boat that was on standby. Two rowers joined me, looking skilled yet extremely tense. They said,
“We’re counting on you, Little Hero.”
“The Blood Saber Group are the largest and most vicious pirates in the Yellow Sea. Please, let us just escape this situation…”
I smiled reassuringly.
“Don’t worry; this is nothing at all.”
“Whoa…”
The rowers looked pale with trepidation. After all, a seemingly teenage boy was calmly fighting off pirates covered in blood with not so much as a change in his expression. To them, I probably looked like a monster. But to me, who had fought countless creatures and monsters, human pirates were just trivial foes.
“Here they come!”
At that moment, the largest of the Blood Saber ships made a beeline towards us. From the sight of archers standing on the deck with bows drawn, it seemed they were indeed planning to shoot arrows as the Lord of Seogung had predicted. I enhanced my vision, focusing intently on their movements, and noticed the arrows were simply iron-tipped, not specially soaked in oil for fiery shots.
‘It’s not a flaming arrow.’
With that realization, I understood their tactic: the pirates were circling our larger ship, planning to clear out the enemies on our deck with arrows before attempting to board themselves, likely coveting our trade goods.
“Let’s go!”
Swish—
The rowers cut the ropes, diligently paddling through the waves as they began to approach. I swapped my sword for a spear, keeping my gaze locked on the approaching ship. As they spotted our small boat, arrows began to whiz towards us.
Thud thud thud!
I knew a long spear would easily deflect long-range projectiles. Quickly, I activated the defensive stance of Thunderlight Palm, parrying the arrows aimed at me and my rowers. The rowers were astonished that none of the arrows had hit us, even as they continued to row.
I glanced at the water’s surface, remembering that knowing the color of the water could help gauge distances at sea. Once we were roughly within thirty spells toward the enemy ship, I leaped into the air.
As I activated my Thunder Roar breathing technique, my internal energy surged intensely. I didn’t have the skills to leap twenty spans in one go; however, I managed to jump with the force of about ten spans, planting my feet firmly on the surface.
Whoosh!
My body soared above the water without sinking, creating a massive splash as I ascended. Though I couldn’t yet perform supreme lightness techniques, channeling my energy into my feet allowed me to leap above the surface of the water. When I landed on the deck of the pirate ship, all eyes turned toward me in surprise.
Without delay, I swung my spear, cleaving through three pirate archers standing nearby. The spinning blade of my spear felt like tearing through flesh.
“Ahhhh!”
“Ugh!”
Just before engaging in full combat, I glanced at the rowers in the boat. They seemed busy steering the small boat, hoping to make a swift escape. I realized that if I could clear the deck quickly, their lives would be safer, so I unleashed a battle cry.
[You are all dead men!!]
“Uuuaaaak…”
With a thunderous roar like a lion’s, the pirates on the deck screamed and collapsed. Without holding back at all, I channeled my internal energy to the fullest, rupturing their eardrums and causing blood to flow freely from their ears. Although it felt somewhat merciless, I quickly set aside such thoughts, knowing full well how brutal these pirates could be.
As the pirate archers were swiftly incapacitated and the deck secured, the remaining pirates appeared bewildered. Perhaps influenced by the commotion among the front ship’s crew, the other pirate vessels hesitated as well. I scanned the deck for any other foes to dispatch when a group of pirates wielding crimson blades charged out from within the ship.
“Die!!”
They rushed out all at once, swinging their swords. The seemingly endless tide of Blood Saber pirates numbered over thirty, making it remarkable to think they had been hiding inside the ship. It was feasible given the size of the vessel, which was unusually large for a pirate ship.
Clang!
Clang!
I defended myself against the pirates attacking from all directions, and they were stunned that they couldn’t lay a finger on me despite surrounding me with their numbers.
“Insane!”
“How can a kid like him possess such martial skill…”
I quickly gauged their abilities. Surprisingly high for pirates, their average skill level was notable, with several capable individuals mixed in who could rival seasoned escort members. Any top-tier martial artist caught in their encirclement would likely face death.
However, I decided it was time to end this probing skirmish and let my killing intent shine through.
“Time to die!”
Whoooosh!
As my spear twirled at the tip, it created a buzzing sound reminiscent of a swarm of bees. This was a basic technique I had learned from the Three Extremes, utilizing the collision of different energies and skills to produce overwhelming destructive power. While it didn’t have a special name, mastering this technique could yield effects comparable to higher martial arts forms.
Crash!
As I swung my spear like a windmill, the bodies of the five pirates encircling me were shredded apart. It was not a sound of fabric ripping, but akin to the dull thud of a giant’s arm striking down, creating a significant shockwave. When the pirates froze in horror at the gruesomeness of it all, I charged in and struck five more times in quick succession.
Splat!
“Gaaah!!”
The human bodies shattered, and torrents of blood split the air. In an instant, the deck became a sea of blood, and brains and entrails splattered onto the floor. Startled and unable to fight back, fifteen pirates unexpectedly departed for the afterlife, causing the remaining crew to drop their blood sabers in a panic.
Clank!
“Eek… eek…”
“A monster…!!”
I had no thought of sparing them. After all, they were vile scoundrels who raided ships to sell people into slavery and violated women before killing them. It was more merciful to take their lives so easily. With not a twitch of my expression, I plunged my spear into three of them, skewering them like kebabs.
Thud!
“Ughkk!!”
“Ahhhhh!!”
With a grin, I smiled and spun my spear using the Lan (欄) technique. The resulting noise echoed as the pirates were ripped apart from the inside, shredded into pieces. Once I had cleared the deck, I found myself the only one left amid the bloodbath.
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I said,
“Are you going to stop watching and join in?”
“…”
Three figures clad in blood-red robes gripped their swords, staring intently at me. Uniquely, they wore crimson masks matching their outfits, concealing their identities. Believing these must be the leaders of the Blood Saber Group, I provocatively called out,
“Are you the leaders?”
“That is correct.”
“Hurry and attack. I promise to make your deaths painless.”
“Who are you? Why do you interfere with us?”
“What does it matter to a soon-to-die man?”
“Ugh…”
Deciding there was no longer any value in conversation, I charged forward. The three leaders of the Blood Saber Group, exuding killer intent from their blades, began to counterattack.
“Wha?!”
I was taken aback when their sword energy suddenly appeared.
BANG!
‘What? A pirate leader can use sword energy?’
Sword energy isn’t something just anyone can wield. It’s a skill achieved only after intense training by top-tier martial artists who have honed their abilities over many years. While it’s possible to summon sword energy without reaching the pinnacle of martial arts, the surprise was undeniable.
“Cough!”
Yet, unable to withstand the internal force in my spear, they spat blood and fell to their backsides. Had I not been apprehensive and eased my strength, I could have likely taken down at least one with that single strike.
I glared sharply at the trembling leaders of the pirate group trying to push themselves back to their feet.
“What’s your deal? Who taught you that martial arts?”
From a single clash, it was evident. While their lackeys might not have it, these leaders possessed a structured understanding of superior martial arts. It was utterly ridiculous that mere pirate leaders would have such training. They could easily pose as top-tier masters in the martial world, yet they chose a life of piracy instead.
“Gahhh!”
“Waaaah!!”
They didn’t respond and instead charged at me with twisted howls. I was startled, feeling their strength and speed suddenly escalate. Just moments ago, they hadn’t been this formidable; their capabilities had surged remarkably. It was a clear enhancement of their physical abilities.
‘Truly unrivaled strength.’
Clang! Clang!
I was both surprised and wary as their strength suddenly surged, prompting an intense standoff for about twenty seconds. The force behind their attacks was so great that even my steel spear seemed on the verge of breaking if I didn’t deflect their strikes with skill. Of course, it was evident that martial arts, after all, are strengthened with good physical power, so I had no choice but to concentrate and engage with these elite fighters.
Then, I noticed a gap in their movements and swiftly lunged, piercing one of them right through the chest. As a fist-sized hole appeared in the center of his chest, he looked down in disbelief. I anticipated the moment he would slowly collapse.
“Kiieeeek!!”
“Wha?!”
Instead of collapsing, he became even more powerful and charged at me. It was such an unexpected turn of events that I had to retreat quickly, blocking his assault. Before I knew it, I had been cornered at the edge of the deck, bewildered. It was a seemingly fatal wound that would have killed any ordinary human, yet this one stood upright as if nothing had happened!
I spoke,
“Hey… what the hell are you? Why aren’t you dead?”
“Grrr… kwak…”
“……”
Upon closer inspection, I realized they weren’t letting out battle cries typical of warriors but shrieking incomprehensible cries. Their eyes, wide open and glistening, seemed almost like those of a dead fish, sending unsettling chills down my spine.
I instinctively felt that I wouldn’t be able to extract any useful information from these creatures. Determined to get serious, I gripped my spear even tighter.
“Consider it an honor to die by this technique.”
The aura of thunder surged through me. For the first time in this battle against the pirates, I unleashed my thunderous energy. The sudden change startled them, and when one of their heads and forearms exploded in circular bursts, only then did they react.
Boom!
Simply activating the thunderous technique and executing a thrust created a devastating effect.
Droplets of blood splattered as one leader fell to the ground. I grimaced as the stench of rotten fish filled the air, scales scattering everywhere as he collapsed.
‘What the heck?’
The remaining leaders ignored their fallen comrade and charged forward.
“Kiieeeek!!”
“Hmph.”
But having already activated my thunderous energy, they posed no threat to me. I gracefully dodged their powerful attacks using the Thunder Cloud Stealth technique, swinging my spear two or three times as I passed by. In the next moment, dozens of holes appeared in their bodies.
“Kiieeeek!!”
Yet, astonishingly, despite being riddled with holes, one of the leaders charged at my back with reckless abandon. Their spirit was truly terrifying, igniting a boiling frustration in me. I retaliated with a kick from the Thunder Cloud Soft Fist, aiming for his head.
Thud!
With a single kick, the neck snapped and the head shot up into the air before crashing down to the ground. I wondered if I had gone too far in my anger, examining the head that lay fallen. Upon closer inspection, I was taken aback and my mouth fell open.
“……!!”
The face resembled that of a giant frog, but the overall form was that of a fish, complete with visible fins! They were unmistakably fish-like humanoids. As I hastily looked over the fallen leaders’ bodies, I noticed they were a bizarre blend of fish, frog, and human traits. Gills were attached to their necks, their bellies were white, and their whole bodies were green.
This was the first time I had ever encountered such a creature, leaving me utterly speechless. I had assumed they were human since they had spoken and utilized martial arts just moments ago, but could it be they were indeed of a different race?
Twitch!
“Ugh.”
I felt the disturbing feeling I had earlier grow even stronger. I realized that being close to these creatures was the cause of it. To be precise, the malice they harbored was stimulating my internal energy.
However, after killing the body of the main one, I began to feel a slight relief. It made me acutely aware that this other race was emitting poisonous essence that contaminated the surroundings. I pondered over how this had come to be, but couldn’t arrive at a conclusion.
I then descended deeper into the ship. In that area, normal humans were busily rowing the boat instead of fish-like beings. I pointed my spear at one of them, stating,
“Your leader is dead. Surrender!”
One of the pirate crew members gasped in shock.
“Huh… is he really dead?”
“Yes.”
“I understand. We’ll surrender. Just spare our lives.”
The declaration of surrender came smoothly. The other crew members immediately ceased rowing, raised their hands, and discarded their weapons. This revealed to me that they had been participating in this against their will.
The remaining pirates were easily subdued. Once I raised a flag of surrender, other pirate vessels drew near, and I ended up slaying around twenty more pirates in total. The remaining members of the Blood Saber Group, frightened, promptly surrendered one and all.
After the pirates capitulated, I returned to the main ship. The Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association greeted me warmly.
“Young hero! I can hardly believe you defeated the Blood Saber Group all by yourself…!!”
At the same time, he couldn’t hide his slight discomfort. Understandably so, as my body was drenched in the blood of the numerous foes I had slain today. Wiping the dried blood off my face, I said,
“Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association, I’d like a moment to discuss something with you.”
“Haha… of course.”
“If possible, please invite the Lord of Seogung Escort Agency as well.”
“Me too? Certainly.”
Amidst the bustling activity, I entered a private room with the Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association. There, I set down the heads of the Blood Saber Group leaders, wrapped in a large cloth, onto the table. Unwrapping it brought forth a putrid stench of rotting fish, and both the Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association and the Lord of Seogung Escort Agency couldn’t conceal their shock.
“Ugh!”
“What… what is this monster?”
I replied calmly,
“These three are the leaders of the Blood Saber Group I killed. I thought it would be unwise for them to be seen by other crew members, so I brought their heads here.”
“Ugh, please wrap them back up. It’s not a pleasant sight.”
“Understood.”
As I rewrapped them, the Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association pinched his nose and said,
“Are you not joking, young hero? Are these really the leaders of the Blood Saber Group?”
“Do you have to see the bodies to believe it? I had them hidden from the pirates, but if you want to see them yourself, then so be it.”
“N-no, I’ll trust your word.”
The Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association looked horrified. Meanwhile, the Lord of Seogung Escort Agency, who had been pondering quietly beside him, spoke up.
“I feel like I’ve heard tales about such creatures.”
“What kind of tales?”
The Lord of Seogung Escort Agency’s face paled as he continued,
“There were rumors that the Blood Saber Group is connected to the Sea God’s kin. Their sudden surge in power over the past few years to the point where they can intimidate even official trade groups is said to be due to some strange powers they’ve acquired… perhaps this incident is related.”
“If these creatures are dead, does that mean it’s over?”
“Not necessarily. There is likely a pirate island that serves as their stronghold. Through that pirate island, they are surely receiving supplies from the mainland.”
“So there are more of their kind?”
“Perhaps…”
A silence descended over the room, an ominous chill lingering in the air.
It was the Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association who broke the silence first. With a displeased expression, he waved his hand dismissively and said,
“Enough! I’m not interested. My business is to bring trade goods to Goryeo and conduct transactions. Anything beyond that isn’t my concern. Matters concerning the pirate island should be entrusted to the navy, don’t you think?”
The Lord of Seogung Escort Agency nodded in agreement,
“I think so too. Let’s bury this matter for now and focus on taking down the pirates to gather information on their stronghold. Let’s throw these grotesque heads and bodies into the sea.”
“……”
“Once again, thank you, young hero. I will make sure to repay you.”
Although I sensed the matter had roughly settled, an uneasy feeling lingered within me.
‘The Sea God’s kin?’
From my experience, these creatures undoubtedly originated from another world. The astonishing strength and vitality they possessed when I faced them were likely innate traits of that other race. If these creatures were indeed referred to as the Sea God’s kin, could it mean they live beneath the ocean?
Nevertheless, the situation flowed smoothly. The surrendered pirates were confined on the merchant ship, while the bodies of the fallen leaders were quietly disposed of in the sea at night.
I arrived in Kaegyeong, the great harbor of Goryeo, about four days later. The group of merchants disembarked, busy negotiating trades with the waiting merchants of Kaegyeong at the port, while I stealthily blended in with them to enter the city.
“Hahaha! Let’s have a drink.”
After the day’s events, as it grew early evening, the Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association entered the foreign merchant lodge. He invited me and the Lord of Seogung Escort Agency to join him for drinks, to which I didn’t refuse. A table laden with delicious Goryeo food and snacks was prepared, and the Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association said,
“Young hero, what are your plans now?”
“I intend to settle in Goryeo for a few years to learn the ways of this land. Goryeo is an interesting place, and I would like to travel here for some time.”
“Hm… I won’t try to stop you, but…”
The Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association, who had been subtly probing, finally broached the main subject.
“Would you consider joining our association as a major partner? I could offer you significant authority and wealth within our organization.”
“Hmm?”
The Lord of Seogung Escort Agency chimed in,
“I also agree. With you on board, our future trade endeavors would be much safer. If the two of us help you, you could become one of the wealthiest individuals in Shandong in just a few years.”
“……”
“Please, we earnestly ask you to join our association.”
I smiled bitterly and declined their offers,
“Thank you, but I’m afraid not.”
“Hmm…”
“I have things I must do.”
If I settled in Shandong, I could gain wealth and prestige, and eventually have my pick of beautiful women. Yet, at this moment, those were not my priorities. Although I had time to seek immortality, I couldn’t afford to waste it. It was clear that exploring Goryeo in search of enlightenment would take much longer, so I had no choice but to refuse them.
The Lord of Daeryong Merchant Association, resigned, said,
“Then I wish you the best of luck. And if you wish to live in Kaegyeong, I can personally speak to the Goryeo nobles on your behalf.”
“You’re on good terms with the Goryeo nobles?”
“Of course. Just so you know, the Goryeo aristocracy has undergone a shift due to the king’s decree, with the Choi clan being supplanted by the Jeong clan. I have quite close ties with the Jeong family, so I can arrange something for you in a few days.”
His words were not empty promises. He had provided me with a considerable sum as a reward for this ordeal and arranged for accommodation in Kaegyeong, as well as a meeting with the most prominent noble of Goryeo, belonging to the influential Jeong clan.
—————————= Author’s Note =—————————
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