I rushed towards the source of the noise, and chaos was everywhere.
What on earth is happening since morning?
A man swaggered in through the entrance of the Cheongun Pavilion, openly displaying his evil spirit.
And right behind him was…
A Gangshi!
“How did a Gangshi get here?!”
Well, how did it?
Pal Seon Village is a hub for merchants.
They come from all over the continent to showcase their items, bringing along all sorts of oddities. Naturally, this means baggage checks are frequent.
With increased activity, it’s only natural for there to be gaps.
Or maybe there’s a traitor among the inspectors.
If not, the Demon Sect might have a unique trick up their sleeve.
But is that what really matters now?
What’s important is that those Gangshi and Demon Sect followers trying to swagger into the Cheongun Pavilion look pretty threatening.
-Ding! Ding! Ding!
The bells indicated it was a Sa Gangshi.
It was definitely a Gangshi created using corpses.
The way to respond…
“We need to capture the one holding the bell!”
Correct. One of the Taoists in Cheongun Pavilion shouted.
Sa Gangshi basically moves according to the controller’s whims, so taking out the controller is faster than battling each of them.
It was the same in the Heavenly Bright Moon.
“Bring the innkeeper here! Hurry!!”
Now, it begins.
The repetitive event of defending the Cheongun Pavilion involves preventing the attack until the Pavilion Master appears.
If we defeat the Demon Sect attackers by then, we can choose one reward from three options. If we fail to defeat them before the Master appears, our achievements related to the Pavilion will just increase.
If we’re getting rewards anyway, it’s better to take them down.
“Innkeeper, stay back.”
“Don’t worry. I can handle protecting myself.”
Hongryeon had already drawn her sword. No, it wasn’t just her; several martial artists and Taoists had also drawn their weapons and prepared to fight.
Tension soared, and fear spread across the faces of non-martial artists.
It’s understandable. While martial artists might be okay, for ordinary villagers, the Demon Sect and Gangshi are as terrifying as evil monsters.
Perhaps the Demon Sect reveled in their fear.
With a cruel smile, the Demon Sect member swung the bell, signaling the seven Gangshi to leap into action.
“Ahhh, ahhh!!!”
People started to flee. With fewer people in the Cheongun Pavilion this early morning, it’s a good thing; if it were crowded, it would be sheer pandemonium.
“Sayoon, protect the innkeeper.”
Calmly uttering those words, Hongryeon dashed towards the Demon Sect, and the Gangshi scattered.
The Demon sect member laughed loudly and swung his sword at Hongryeon.
– Chae-ae-aeeng!!
It didn’t end in one blow. This guy might be tougher than he looks.
So all we have to do is hold off those Gangshi?
“Ah?!”
The Taoists and the martial artists who looked like novices here sprang into action to stop the Gangshi.
But one was slipped past.
“Uwaaaah!!”
Among those fleeing, a child fell to the ground. As a man, presumably the father, reached out to grab the child, a Gangshi appeared right before them.
The Gangshi is like a monster resurrected from the dead.
Of course, they harbor a strong hatred for the living, filled with malice eager to trample the weak.
It’s a punk!
So, instead of hesitating to catch a fallen child, he was an existence to enjoy, a person without any martial arts training.
– Ahhh!!!
Those teeth spread wide open are sharp.
With claw-like, pointy nails extended, the Gangshi Han-gu jumped up, ready to rip them apart.
– Ploonk!!
Sayoon and I didn’t say a word; we just ran.
Sayoon, who arrived first, kicked the Gangshi in the chest, causing it to stumble. Seizing the opportunity, she attacked a few times to push it further back, while I targeted its legs with my left leg.
The Gangshi, staggering from the attack, shook even more when I tripped it, and I took the chance to lightly smack its chest with my right hand.
Was it because Sayoon’s attack had an unusual amount of force?
– Thud!!
I hadn’t given it much power; I simply changed its direction and flow, yet the Gangshi rolled on the ground.
There was still a tingling sensation in my palm.
It felt like I had hit a piece of wood.
Well, considering that it must have been treated like a lion’s body, it made sense for the Gangshi’s body to be as solid as a gnarled tree.
“Not yet!!”
Sayoon’s expression was serious.
She knew that this was not enough to take down the Gangshi. She aimed her sword at it, while I assumed the Taijiquan stance and said.
“Take the child and retreat.”
“Uwaah!! Sob! Uwaah!!”
“Th, thank you!”
The father, hugging the crying child, ran off.
All that remained was the Gangshi and Sayoon, who was determined to face it head-on.
“The innkeeper can stay back!”
“Still, isn’t two better than one?”
“Hahaha… Yes! But be careful!”
“Hmm.”
Sayoon was young, and I was just someone who could slightly practice Taijiquan.
But everyone who could fight was fighting here.
Hongryeon was holding down the demonic cultivators alone, while the Taoists of Changwung were clearly preventing the remaining Gangshi from attacking others.
So, someone had to stop this Han-gu’s Gangshi.
And both Sayoon and I weren’t oblivious to the fact that it had to be us.
“Whew…”
I exhaled and raised my hands.
Right hand for Yang, left for Yin.
Holding the Yang up, I outstretched the Yin to direct the energy.
My right foot became a pillar for support, while my left foot created a foundation for freedom of movement.
“Let’s go first.”
– Kyaaaaah!!
With a horrifying scream, the Gangshi charged at me, aiming for my Yin.
As expected, it didn’t seem to be that strong of a Gangshi.
Its attacks were straightforward and clumsy.
The sharp, claw-like nails reached out towards my left hand.
If I faced it head-on, I’d lose, but the essence of Taijiquan is in controlling and changing the flow. So, there’s no need to resist the flow.
Just.
Change the direction.
I swiftly lowered my left hand to avoid the collision. Then, as my left hand moved again, it struck the Gangshi’s wrist.
The Gangshi’s strength was immense.
Comparable to the waves of a great river.
But a river flows gently,
And changing that flow only takes the strength of a feather.
Recalling the principles of Taijiquan, I lightly added my own strength to that power.
I placed it down.
I released the strength in my right foot and shifted to my left.
Using that strength as a pivot, I pushed away the Gangshi’s arm, and as it swiped at the air, I firmly pressed down with my right foot on the Gangshi’s leg.
The Gangshi, losing its balance, began to topple over and lost its balance even more. I merely nudged its shoulder, and it completely lost its balance, giving me the opportunity to seize the Gangshi and lift it up.
“Here I go.”
That was the only word I needed.
If Sayoon, who has trained to the point where her pretty sword shines, can handle this much, then it’s possible.
“Ha!!”
With a low battle cry, Sayoon leaped into the air.
Ascension Strike.
One of the powerful techniques in the first half of the Hongseong Divine Art.
As she jumped, the Gangshi—hit by the kick targeting its aerial body—flipped in the air, only to be met with Paralyzing Blade, a technique that spins and shatters stars, as it smashed into the Gangshi’s abdomen.
– Boom!!
A loud explosion echoed as the Gangshi was hit by the Paralyzing Blade, which is also my intermediate technique.
Even so, the Gangshi still had some strength left to swing its arm, but—
Her sword was already gleaming.
Yes.
It gleamed.
This effect arises because her swordsmanship improved alongside her growth.
The moment a soft light enveloped her sword, Sayoon delivered a decisive slash to the Gangshi’s chest.
Hongseong Divine Art, second half sword technique.
Seong Ha-ryun.
– Boom!!
With a powerful blow that cleaved through, the Gangshi crashed hard into the ground. It was struck with such force that the stone floor cracked.
The Gangshi struggled to rise, as if it couldn’t withstand this level of damage.
And then—
“Graaahh!”
From behind us came a scream. Sayoon and I quickly turned our eyes in that direction, feeling relieved.
There, we saw the former overconfident demonic practitioner, who had been running wild moments before, now cut in half by Hongryeon’s great sword, collapsing with a gaping chest wound.
“Phew… Are you okay?!”
As soon as she dropped the demonic practitioner, Hongryeon rushed towards us.
She seemed quite worried about how Sayoon and I were holding off the Gangshi.
“It’s fine. We didn’t do much.”
I patted her on the shoulder, and only then did Hongryeon look around.
The Gangshi, following the order of the sorcerer, had fallen limp, ceasing all movement.
“Is there anywhere that’s hurt?”
“None.”
All I had done was use Tai Chi to push the Gangshi a few times. Sayoon did the rest.
But Hongryeon then grabbed my wrist to check my pulse and examined my body before she was satisfied.
She then looked back at Sayoon, who let out a sigh of relief, happy that she hadn’t suffered serious damage.
“Um…”
Just then, a voice came from behind. The voice of quite young men and women.
When I looked, I saw the martial artists who had joined forces with the Taoists to fend off the Gangshi as soon as they appeared.
Everyone seemed quite startled, their faces pale from the sudden fight.
“Thank you for your help. I’m Namgoonghwa.”
A young woman, giving a slight bow, introduced herself.
Namgoonghwa. The youngest branch leader of the Namgoong Clan. She appeared in Heavenly Bright Moon too.
Although she didn’t get involved with Sayoon—
“Since I saw you using Tai Chi, I believe you must be Moonjeong…”
“I’m Yu Wol, owner of Seomhwa Village Inn.”
I met her gaze with a fist bump, and she tilted her head in surprise.
She had the upper hand, and she tilted her head in surprise.
“Seomhwa Village? No. You’re not a martial artist?!”
“That’s right. I just learned a bit of Taijiquan.”
“But… weren’t you scared? We were pretty scared fighting the Gangshi…”
It seemed others behind her were curious too.
“It was something that needed to be done, and since I could, I did. Besides, there was Sayoon from Hongseong by my side, and the Murim Alliance’s foremost disciple, Nak Ilgyeom, was dealing with the demonic cultivators, so what was there to fear?”
“Hongseong!”
She gasped and looked at Hongryeon. Hongryeon, who had been looking this way with an indifferent expression, nodded slightly.
“Hongseong’s foremost disciple, Hongryeon. Namgoonghwa, right? You’re the younger sibling of Namgoongse, right? I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Uh, sister, I-I’ve heard a lot about you too.”
“Yeah. I hear you’re looking to join the Murim Alliance’s Inspection Department? Hehe. We’ll meet again.”
Namgoonghwa shrugged her shoulders. No, it wasn’t just her. Everyone behind her looked the same.
Is it because they met someone famous in the Murim?
I looked at Hongryeon, who thought for a moment and then smiled brightly.
As the awkwardly bowing martial artists stepped back, she crossed her arms. Just then, a boy and the man who seemed to be his father approached.
“Oh dear… Thank you very much…”
“Mister! Thank you!”
“It’s nothing. Are you okay from where you fell earlier?”
“Yes!!”
“You’re quite brave. That’s good.”
I patted the boy’s head. The little one, who looked about six or seven, smiled broadly while the man hesitated and pulled something out from his pocket.
He seemed to decide whether to give it to me or Sayoon, but in the end, he handed it to me.
Looks like he thought it was appropriate to give it to an adult.
“I… I don’t know if this will suffice as a token of gratitude, but…”
What the man pulled out was a badge. It seemed like it represented his family…
“If you ever find yourself in Gaebong, please be sure to visit Cheonggajang.”
Cheonggajang? Where is that?
I didn’t know since it didn’t come up in Heavenly Bright Moon.
Anyway, if it’s in the Gaebong area… I promised myself I’d visit someday.
“I look forward to seeing you next time.”
“Yes. And also, thank you, Young Lady. Really. If it weren’t for you…”
“Oh, no! As a disciple of Hongseong, it’s only natural to protect the weak!”
“I hope you will visit Cheonggajang as well.”
“Sister! Goodbye!!”
As I watched him seriously say goodbye and take the child away, Sayoon came up beside me with a slightly flushed face and murmured.
“…Senior Sister. Innkeeper. Is this what they call cooperation?”
Enthralled by excitement, her tone trembled, and Hongryeon and I exchanged glances and chuckled.
Then it happened.
“What is this…!!”
Nam Chaehyun, the head of Changun Gwan and an outstanding talisman master, could not hide his shock.
Anyway, since the event was cleared, I’ll have to make sure to collect my rewards handsomely.
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