Book 15 Chapter 2

The Phoenix's Lost Left Eye

- Dok-an Bong, Dok Go-ryeong Arc

Act 1, Scene 1

The Right Moment

Yi Jin-seol was beaming with joy. Dok Go-ryeong, the idol of many young swordswomen, one of the Seven Phoenixes, and the elder sister she respected, had personally offered to give her sword-fighting lessons early in the morning.

A one-on-one special lesson with Dok Go-ryeong.

Under normal circumstances, this was a privilege she could never have dreamed of. Dok Go-ryeong was known among the Seven Phoenixes for being exceptionally cold and fierce, but this young girl's perception was different. While she appeared extremely fierce and ruthless on the outside, she was a warm and kind person on the inside. Those who knew her might find it hard to believe, but Yi Jin-seol firmly believed this. That is, except for her occasional extreme strictness…

Her left eye was hidden by a black eye patch that couldn't be concealed. No one knew its origin. People called her the One-Eyed Phoenix, Dok-an Bong (獨眼鳳), Dok Go-ryeong, and regarded her with awe.

"Do you understand? Whether it's a longsword, short sword, or dual swords, it doesn't matter. A master of the highest level can turn anything in their hands into a sword. In front of such people, discussing the length of a sword, its sharpness or hardness, or its quantity is meaningless. The key is to read the opponent's movements and discern the most advantageous moment, that is, 'the right moment' (適時). Without the 'vision' (시야) to discern this, you will lose every battle. Only after this is achieved can we discuss the opponent's 'weaknesses' based on one's own skill."

As she spoke, before her words were even finished, she suddenly lunged with her sword. It appeared to be a light thrust, but its speed and direction were so perfectly timed that it was incredibly threatening. Yi Jin-seol was momentarily flustered but calmly parried the blow with her right sword. Then, she attempted a counterattack with her free left sword.

Dok Go-ryeong was full of openings, as if she were being ignored. She must be careless.

Yi Jin-seol made up her mind.

Opportunities to land a blow on that perfectionist were rare. This state of carelessness was undoubtedly a golden opportunity. She would surely be surprised and praised. Her gaze upon her would change.

'Alright!'

As she gracefully turned her body like a butterfly, she was about to unleash her signature skill, the Twin Butterfly Dance (雙蝶亂舞)!

"Gasp!"

She suddenly stopped, as if frozen in time.

Her attempt was abandoned before it could even begin.

"Kyaa! Wh-when did you…!"

She hadn't even sensed its approach, let alone seen it. But the fact that the tip of a sword, emitting a sharp, killing intent, was pointed at her from beneath her left shoulder was an unchangeable reality. The position and 'timing' (시점) it occupied were so perfectly and exquisitely timed that Yi Jin-seol couldn't move, like a butterfly caught in a spiderweb. The face of Dok Go-ryeong, the owner of the sword, was expressionless.

"As you know, discerning weaknesses is the most crucial factor in determining victory or defeat in battles between masters. However, without the 'reading of moves' (수읽기) that discerns 'the right moment' (적시), weaknesses cannot be discerned. And the discovery of one's own valid weaknesses is proportional to one's own skill. An opponent's weakness is not absolute, but relative. The courage to leap into the opponent's embrace, audacity, the speed to exploit a fleeting gap that appears and disappears in an instant, the strength to withstand the opponent's sword power and the skill to deflect it! Knowing how much strength and skill you possess, and how accurately you understand it, are important factors that determine victory and defeat, life and death. That is why you must first and foremost train your own vision incessantly. Because understanding your own skill is also through your own eyes. To blindly swing your sword and try to solve everything with brute force is the act of a fool whose brain is stuffed with muscle."

To Dok Go-ryeong's continuous, invaluable advice, Yi Jin-seol nodded repeatedly. Her eyes, as she listened intently, were very serious. To learn sword principles from the disciple of the Sword Queen! This was an unparalleled stroke of luck.

Yi Jin-seol also knew well that Dok Go-ryeong had volunteered to teach because she was worried about her… It was for her peace of mind to train her a little more. This person!

Yi Jin-seol dedicated herself to learning with the will to miss not a single word. Perhaps she was becoming a little more mature now. Though there was no guarantee how long it would last.

Dok Go-ryeong continued,

"When facing a master, it doesn't matter if you have one sword or two. Thinking you can be careless just because you have dual swords, or one more sword than others, is a sure way to get into trouble. With one in each hand, your movements are restricted to avoid interfering with each other, and your power is less than with two hands. Therefore, you must always be aware of your weapon's shortcomings. You must conceal your weaknesses and win with your strengths. In other words, it is important to secure advantageous positions where your strengths can be magnified over your weaknesses. Do not forget this and keep it firmly in mind."

Then, she thrust her sword forward again. This was because learning through practice was much faster than through words. Her sword, which incessantly thrust at vital points, was a monotonous attack, devoid of any variation. Yi Jin-seol swung her dual swords, attempting to parry the monotonous thrusts with her flamboyant swordplay, but she was steadily pushed back, seemingly outmatched.

After about twenty exchanges!

As Yi Jin-seol retreated, her face contorted more and more, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead, while Dok Go-ryeong, who advanced with her sword, looked as relaxed as if she were on a stroll.

"Your dual swords focus too much on flamboyant movements. Flashiness might help deceive the opponent's eyes, but when you meet a true master, it's nothing more than useless decoration. This is because they see through your strengths and weaknesses at a glance without being fooled by the dazzling exterior. Moreover, it leads to wasted movements. That's why you can't even properly parry a simple thrust like the one I'm performing now."

Despite her cute and lively appearance, Yi Jin-seol had always possessed an unusual passion for martial arts and a deep desire to explore them. Hearing this, she couldn't help but feel a surge of defiance. So, she decided to unleash her best possible move. Her eyes flashed, and her figure split into two.

The Twin Swords' Consecutive Twelve Slash Attacks (雙劍二連十二斬擊)!

This was a phantom attack using accelerated movement, a twenty-four-strike consecutive sword technique. It was a desperate skill used only on battlefields where lives were at stake or in martial arts tournaments where honor and pride were on the line.

"Foolish!"

Even Dok Go-ryeong, who had maintained her composure until now, became flustered. This was a technique she couldn't block with a light parry! However, it wasn't impossible to counter.

Yi Jin-seol's body flickered, and her form split into two. Sword energy erupted from all four swords.

"Still too green!"

*Shwoosh!*

Dok Go-ryeong flicked her wrist lightly and swiftly thrust her sword towards a single point.

Yi Jin-seol's once beautiful face was now contorted into a grimace. Her tearful, deer-like eyes seemed on the verge of shedding pearly tears.

She felt indignant.

Her attack, poured with all her might, was useless against this formidable woman.

Before the twelve and twelve, a total of twenty-four consecutive attacks could even be fully unleashed, Dok Go-ryeong's sword tip had already blocked Yi Jin-seol's movements, as if to show off. This time, it was her throat. She couldn't even guess how her sword techniques had been countered.

Dok Go-ryeong shivered her shoulders slightly and rebuked in an angry voice,

"You foolish girl! Did you already forget what I just explained! I told you that focusing too much on flashiness makes your movements larger, creating many openings and weaknesses. If those weaknesses are exploited by the opponent, the attack will fail or you'll be counterattacked. Furthermore, if your strength is dispersed, it becomes difficult to deliver a decisive blow."

Shrinking under Dok Go-ryeong's fiery scolding, Yi Jin-seol lowered her head deeply. Her delicate shoulders trembled slightly, like a small bird shivering in the cold. Something gathered in her throat, threatening to spill out in drops at any moment.

Seeing her like this, even a woman with nerves of steel couldn't help but soften.

"Seol-ah, you always put me in a difficult position! Don't cry!"

Dok Go-ryeong placed her hand on Yi Jin-seol's trembling small shoulder and spoke. Her voice was not the fierce storm of her scolding, but a soft and warm voice like a spring breeze.

Sniffling, Yi Jin-seol nodded. She looked like a puppy.

"Masters of the highest level don't need many techniques. Battles are often decided in a single exchange. That's why masters, when facing each other, don't move carelessly unless they see a clear advantage. If there are no weaknesses, they wait. They wait for 'the right moment' (적시) unique to them… If even that doesn't work, they create one. And then they strike. This is how masters fight. It doesn't matter whether you strike first or last. What matters is who touches the opponent first. A sword that doesn't connect is as meaningless as talking to someone who isn't ready to listen. Of course, if you're an ultimate master, you don't need to worry about any of this!"

Only then did Yi Jin-seol peek up and look at Dok Go-ryeong. Her eyes were swollen and messy, but she smiled faintly without concern.

"An ultimate master, like Sword Queen?"

Dok Go-ryeong suppressed a smile at the adorable sight and shook her head.

"That person is not just an ultimate master!"

"Then who?"

"That person is a god of the sword!"

Her voice held a firm conviction, like a prophet delivering an unchangeable truth. It was easy to guess how much this formidable woman respected her master. It was already a faith that went beyond awe.

"I've actually never seen that person's true skill. In fact, they rarely draw their sword. They probably don't need a sword anymore. The number of times I, myself, have seen that person wield a sword can be counted on my fingers. However, when I stand before their sword, there's a strange sensation I feel. That sensation, at least, is never forgotten and is etched into my body."

"What kind of sensation?"

The tale of the Sword Queen, the idol of all female martial artists, naturally piqued her interest. It seemed she had already forgotten about crying.

Dok Go-ryeong closed her eyes as if recalling the situation.

"I didn't feel any ki or sword intent, but that alone was enough. The moment their sword tip pointed at me, I realized. Ah, no matter where or how I move, I cannot escape that sword! It was like a transparent net woven from the sky was tightly covering me. The sense of helplessness and pressure is something you can never understand without experiencing it. It's an indescribable feeling. But if you ever encounter someone who gives you that feeling, flee desperately. It's a sign of someone infinitely stronger than you, on a different level. You can never win. Recognizing and acknowledging the difference in capability is by no means something to be ashamed of."

"Yes, Sister!"

Yi Jin-seol nodded obediently. Then, she vowed inwardly never to forget it.

"Hmm, you have a surprisingly affectionate side!"

"Does this side of me seem unexpected?"

In response to Na Ye-rin's question, Bi Ryu-yeon honestly nodded.

"Indeed!"

The two were sitting on a rock about ten paces away from Dok Go-ryeong and Yi Jin-seol, watching their actions.

No one had agreed to this (these regular outings). Bi Ryu-yeon hadn't bothered to ask for permission, and Na Ye-rin hadn't clearly expressed her consent or refusal. However, the two walked together along a path still damp with morning dew, breathing in the scent of lush green grass that tickled their noses, and strolled together through the twilight, their paths illuminated by the fiery hues of the sunset painting the horizon of the distant sea of clouds. Even though no one had mentioned or agreed upon this matter beforehand, their actions were as natural as if they had always done so.

"Looking at her usual fierce demeanor, it's hard to imagine such a side."

Especially since that fierceness was most powerfully and effectively displayed towards Bi Ryu-yeon himself. It was impossible to like the way she looked at him as if he were some bandit or thug. Furthermore, the formidable defense was quite challenging! While it was useful for dealing with other riff-raff, it was a considerable nuisance when applied to him personally.

"Yes, she's a very fearsome person. Extremely strict. But…"

"But?"

"She's also very kind. She used to be much brighter and more cheerful…"

Na Ye-rin trailed off. As if she didn't want to mention that incident anymore.

"Her left eye, it's not congenital, is it?"

Bi Ryu-yeon's observation was met with a nod from Na Ye-rin. If such a large wound were acquired later in life, there had to be a story behind it. And that story was undoubtedly extraordinary.

"The One-Eyed Phoenix…"

That name was now admired and longed for by many, regardless of gender, at the Cheonmu Academy. Of course, the woman sitting next to him commanded a massive personal guard, said to number in the hundreds, no, thousands if one considered the entire martial world. But the person in question seemed to view it as nothing more than a 'nuisance'. And indeed, some elements were a definite nuisance.

"When did it happen?"

"Seven years ago… it was summer…"

The past etched in Na Ye-rin's memory was the image of a woman wailing in a downpour, as if the sky were crying with her, her blood pouring from her empty eye socket, indifferent to the beating rain. The blood seemed like tears flowing from her eyes. So everyone watched in silence, forgetting to staunch the bleeding.

"That's a story you can't answer even if I ask, isn't it?"

Just as some pasts need to be brought into the light and revealed, there are also pasts that must be quietly buried in darkness.

"Yes, but even if I wanted to answer, there's nothing to tell. Because no one knows the full story of what happened eight years ago."

As she recalled that time, a dark shadow fell over her face. It was nothing short of a nightmare. Sometimes, there are things that even the winds of time and the tides of years cannot wash away.

"Do you know something?"

"……?"

"Sister Disciple is actually five years older than me."

She hadn't noticed at all.

"Could it be… because of that incident seven years ago?"

"Yes, it was such a severe wound that I couldn't recover for a full two years. Even after that, it took a long time to heal the emotional scars."

Once again, a shadow fell over Na Ye-rin's face. Bi Ryu-yeon inwardly regretted it. No matter how much his behavior transcended common sense, he wasn't so ill-mannered as to dig into someone else's wounds. Believe it or not.

One should not carelessly pry into someone's past for mere curiosity. Especially when it makes someone sad!

"I've made you recall bad memories. I'm sorry!"

The fact that this person, Bi Ryu-yeon, was apologizing was astonishing. If anyone who knew him saw this, they would worry if the sun would rise in the west tomorrow.

Na Ye-rin shook her head. She had never told this to anyone before. No, she couldn't. Then why could she tell it to this man?

"No. It wasn't intentional. It's okay! Sister Disciple Dok Go will have almost healed from that wound by now. Her smiling face now is enough. And that's all thanks to Seol."

At that time, she was like a living corpse, devoid of vitality. But the pathetic figure she was then was nowhere to be seen. Fortunately, that was enough for Na Ye-rin.

The one who opened her tightly shut heart was not herself, but this child over there. Something she herself could never have done! At that time, she herself was like an emotionless, inanimate doll. For that, she was incredibly grateful to that impetuous girl.

"However, after the Troubled Demon Palace exam, my nightmares have increased. I wish it would stop…"

Even at this moment, the two had no idea of the trials of fate that Dok Go-ryeong was about to face.

*Whoooosh!*

The morning wind brushed past the two. It was a sharp wind. Perhaps the wind that blew that morning was a signal of the dark foreshadowing.

And the next day, a man who pierced through the Three Gates of Oblivion with the strength of a single individual arrived here at Hongmae Valley. That man was called the First Young Master, Bi.

Act 2, Scene 1

Encounter (遭遇)

"Sister Disciple! Sister Disciple! …Dok Go Sister Disciple?"

As if not hearing Na Ye-rin's call, Dok Go-ryeong turned her head, her gaze fixed as if frozen on one person's face. Though they stood in the same space, on the same ground, she felt a sense of otherness, as if they were in parallel universes that would never connect.

A chilling sense of disconnection! No matter how loudly she shouted, she felt it would be impossible to reach the other side.

After a long moment of rigidity, Dok Go-ryeong's body began to move. However, Na Ye-rin's voice still seemed to fall on deaf ears. She walked towards one direction like a madwoman. Her steps were unsteady; was she so confused that she couldn't control her body?

"Sister Disciple!"

Na Ye-rin called out to her receding back, but still, there was no reaction. Finally, giving up, she lowered her hand that had been extended towards her back.

What was that sensation? A strong feeling that sparked in her mind! Then, a chaotic entanglement of complex emotions flooded into her heart. Na Ye-rin felt as if she were suffocating from the intensity of that emotional outpouring.

"Sister…"

An ominous wind swept through her heart.

This had never happened before.

Her slender arm extended gracefully to the side, as if to cut and paste a dance move, stopping the sixteen steps.

"Wait a moment!"

There was someone fearlessly blocking the path of the Great Young Master, who was walking towards his lodging under the protection of the Seven Heavenly Warriors. Surprisingly, the person was a woman. Her left eye was covered by an inverted triangle-shaped eye patch. Bi's indifferent gaze stopped on the eye patch.

"Rude!"

Do Chu-un, the Third Warrior, Serpent and Scorpion Sword Whip (蛇蝎劍鞭), and Baek Sa-yeong, the Fourth Warrior, Snake Fang Sword (蛇咬劍), of the Seven Heavenly Warriors, lunged forward like a whirlwind, emitting killing intent. Like brutal chariots sweeping across ancient battlefields drenched in blood, they intended to slaughter any being who dared to block their path, regardless of right or wrong. However, Dok Go-ryeong's one eye remained unmoved even by such threats.

"Stop!"

Great Young Master Bi raised one hand and restrained their actions.

"B-but she is blocking the Lord's path."

The Third and Fourth Warriors protested vehemently in unison. It seemed their minds were filled only with loyalty to their Lord. Dok Go-ryeong, watching their display, let a faint smirk play on her lips.

"Hmph, what loyal beasts you are. To bare your fangs like that for your master. You might bite anyone if you're not careful. Wouldn't it be better to muzzle them?"

No one would be pleased to receive such an insult, being told to be muzzled as if they might charge and bite indiscriminately like beasts.

"You…!"

"I'll kill you!"

The two men, insulted, unleashed intense killing intent. It was a deep murderous intent that seemed unlikely to remain mere a threat.

*Click!*

Dok Go-ryeong quietly gripped her sword hilt with her left hand and gently slid the sword open with her left thumb. She had no intention of apologizing to these scoundrels. She was preparing to draw her sword.

"Didn't you hear? I said stop!"

Although Bi's voice became deeper, it wasn't filled with anger, but the two subordinates trembled with fear and withdrew their killing intent. They knew well that this was how their master expressed his displeasure. A cold anger that seemed to freeze the very soul! It was perhaps the most terrifying anger in this world.

"Look closely at the emblem embroidered on the left side of her chest."

As her lustrous black hair, which cascaded like a beaded curtain, fluttered in the wind, the emblem was revealed. It was a white goose symbol with four wings, as if ready to take flight! And in the center, the character for 'sword' (劍) was clearly embroidered.

"Th-that emblem!"

The eyes of the two subordinates widened. It was the emblem they had heard of through rumors.

"The Four-Winged Flying Goose (四翼飛鴻)! It's an emblem that only the master of the Southern Sea Sword Pavilion and the disciple of the Sword Queen, the foremost female martial artist in the martial world, can possess. Even with your skills, you wouldn't be able to easily defeat them… I do not wish for any further commotion."

The emblem of the Flying White Goose (飛翔白鴻) was a unique symbol of the Sword Pavilion, where the number of wings indicated the level of mastery. Among these, the Sword Queen, who held the highest rank, had six wings, and the elders who managed the Sword Pavilion in practice had five.

A four-winged flying goose indicated that only three individuals among the younger generation were permitted to possess it, making it fitting to be called a disciple.

"Even as a disciple of the Sword Queen, one of the Three Stars of the Sword Pavilion, I don't believe you would lose."

Still, these individuals seemed unable to accept their master's command.

Such confidence!

Dok Go-ryeong instinctively felt that such confidence was not mere bluster. Such arrogance could never be attained through ordinary training or study.

'What kind of capabilities do these people hide?'

They were not people to be taken lightly.

"I will listen to your story. For what purpose do you block my path?"

"……."

Dok Go-ryeong could not readily answer that question. The answer to the question had not yet been prepared. Her body had moved before her thoughts, so she had simply blocked him without asking. She herself was confused about what to do next, what to ask.

When she tried to ask, her voice wouldn't come out, as if a needle were stuck in her throat. But she endured the shame and managed to muster the courage to ask.

"…Did we meet before?"

Dok Go-ryeong asked, glaring sharply into Great Young Master Bi's eyes. Her face had a very complex and subtle hue. His eyes widened slightly, perhaps from surprise.

"Are you flirting with me now? To receive such a rare experience from the disciple of the Sword Queen… it's an honor!"

"Hahaha!"

"Khehehehe!"

"Hohohoho!"

The entire group burst into loud laughter at the Great Young Master's mocking reply.

"Th-that's ridiculous!"

Dok Go-ryeong exclaimed, her face flushed with shame. But even after receiving such an insult, she only shouted. This was an unimaginable reaction for her usual self. The desperate need for an answer had overshadowed her anger. Her tightly clenched fists trembled.

As the laughter subsided, Great Young Master Bi stared directly into Dok Go-ryeong's one eye with a serious expression. She, in turn, met his gaze unflinchingly.

'Merciless eyes… like a solitary peak in winter!'

The eyes she knew were not as cold as the frozen earth. It was an icy, heartless face, completely unlike the man who had just burst into such vulgar laughter. It was as if the laughter from moments ago were merely a theatrical performance.

'Perhaps I mistook him for someone else…'

Just as she was having this thought, Bi's reply reached her ears.

"We have never met before. And I don't think there's much need to meet in the future, do you? Is that a satisfactory answer?"

After a brief glance at the woman who nodded quietly and briefly, Bi led the Seven Warriors and swept past her like the wind.

Dok Go-ryeong remained frozen in place, unable to move, as if caught in frozen time. An inexplicable sadness welled up in her chest.

"Sister Disciple, what's wrong?"

When she came to her senses, her junior sister Na Ye-rin was standing beside her with a worried expression. Dok Go-ryeong quickly made an excuse,

"Ah… it's nothing. You don't need to worry about it!"

She didn't want to cause concern. This was purely her own problem. And it was a problem that no one else should know about.

"Ouch!"

Suddenly, a fierce pain shot through her left eye, hidden beneath the eye patch. She quickly covered half her face with her palm and pressed down, but the intense pain didn't subside easily.

"Sister!"

Na Ye-rin exclaimed worriedly and grabbed her shoulder.

*Thwack!*

Dok Go-ryeong irritably shook off her hand.

"Ling Sister…"

At that surprised voice, Dok Go-ryeong snapped back to her senses. What kind of pathetic display was this!

"S-sorry! It's nothing, don't worry. It's just an annual occurrence. I need to go… and rest."

Her last words were so faint that they were barely audible.

As Dok Go-ryeong walked towards her lodging, her shoulders slumped, devoid of any vitality. Worry etched itself onto Na Ye-rin's face as she watched. But all she could do now was watch.

"Ugh!"

A short groan escaped Dok Go-ryeong's clenched lips. With every step she took, the pain in her left eye intensified. She felt as if hundreds of fiery ants were biting her body.

Her body and mind were in utter chaos, jumbled together. Her unbalanced body stumbled, and her footsteps became as tangled as those of a drunkard.

Right now, she just wanted to rest; she couldn't think of anything else.

One must grasp when to step forward and when not to. People who misjudge the timing of advance and retreat, acting inappropriately for the situation, are often called 'tone-deaf.' This type usually judges the world by their own standards and settles within it, thinking that's all there is. It's a foolish act akin to living in delusion, detached from reality.

Unfortunately, this type of person is not particularly rare. In fact, it's our misfortune that we encounter them so often. They can be found easily by just looking around. And here, there was one such person.

"Hehehe! Great Young Master, even though that woman has only one eye, her face is quite pretty, isn't it?"

From beside the silently walking Great Young Master Bi, Wu Mun-chu, the Fifth Warrior, Shattering Wind Scythe (碎風鐮), began to speak in a vulgar tone.

"She's so arrogant, just because she has the title of a disciple of the Sword Pavilion! How dare she block the Great Young Master's path."

Great Young Master Bi remained silent and did not slow his pace. Wu Mun-chu seemed to take this as agreement. So, emboldened, he continued to prattle on greedily. This was a mistake.

"What do you think, Great Young Master? Shall I crush her from above later? Then she'll be happy to… *gasp*!"

Wu Mun-chu, the Fifth Warrior of the Shattering Wind Scythe, who had uttered the most vulgar lewd remarks, could not continue. Suddenly, a sharp sickle was placed in his mouth. If he had continued to prattle even a little more, he might have lost half his tongue to the blade of the iron sickle.

Wu Mun-chu was utterly shocked. What was this sickle shoved into his mouth? Wasn't it his beloved weapon, 'Shattering Wind' (碎風), which he always used to slaughter others? He couldn't even guess when or how that weapon, which never left his waist, had ended up in the Great Young Master's hand.

Bi's voice, extremely restrained and emotionless, flowed out.

"I never permitted that. Then, who gave you the right to even think such trivial things?"

Wu Mun-chu's face turned pale with fear. His forehead was already drenched in cold sweat. The remaining six warriors watching were also aghast. However, no one stepped forward to stop him.

"I dislike vulgarity. If you ever say such a thing in front of me again, I will cut off that filthy tongue of yours and feed it to the dogs."

His voice was quiet, yet chillingly cold. If there were a god of hell, he would surely speak in such a voice.

"I… I apologize!"

Afraid of being cut, he couldn't even move his tongue properly, let alone pronounce words correctly. However, before his apology was finished, the sickle's blade disappeared from his mouth, and the iron sickle was back at Wu Mun-chu's waist. It was a ghost-like maneuver that didn't even give him a chance to sense the movement of air.

Wu Mun-chu stood there in a daze. He felt as if he had had a daytime dream. But the goosebumps that covered his body and the bristling hairs on his arms protested that it was not a dream.

"Don't forget your place. You are my servants and my limbs. You are not allowed to move without my permission. Remember this! Foolish limbs that forget their status will be severed! There are plenty of limbs to replace them! …Until I give permission, do not touch her."

"Y-yes, understood! I-I will remember!"

Bi's voice held a sharpness and cold determination, like an ice blade honed by winter winds. All seven Heavenly Warriors bowed in unison, responding to his authority, which surpassed that of a monarch. A silent fear gripped their hearts. There was no room for disobedience. To defy him was to defy the heavens.

Interlude

Nightmare (惡夢)

The moon hung over a sea of stars.

A moon halo softly enveloped the moon, as if it were mist rising from the sea of stars.

Deep night.

Beneath the moonlight that poured evenly upon the earth, people dreamt their own dreams. Although night arrived for everyone without fail, it seemed to be quite discriminatory, as if it were a spiteful sleeper that favored some severely.

"Gasp!"

Dok Go-ryeong sprang up from her bed with a scream that was almost a gasp, kicking off her bedding violently.

"Huff, huff, huff!"

Her breathing was rough and unstable, as if she had just fought a fierce battle. Her entire body was drenched in cold sweat. Had she had a terrible nightmare?

"Why… why am I having that dream again…?"

It was a nightmare she wished she would never have to recall again.

"Ugh!"

Again, an intense pain shot through her left eye. Biting her lips tightly, she quickly pressed down on it with her left hand. It felt as if a red-hot iron was wildly stirring inside her left eyeball.

She wanted to forget it now. She wanted to stop suffering now. But the wound etched into the depths of her soul was too deep and vivid.

"Master…"

The face of her master, who had always enveloped her with boundless grace and love, faintly appeared in her mind. Overwhelmed by longing, she quietly lowered her head. She suddenly missed her master terribly.

The remnants of the nightmare were still fiercely tearing at the deep wounds etched in the bottom of her heart.

Act 2, Scene 1

"You are indeed Dok Go's Ling-ah. You are an intelligent child. Welcome, my child! I am Lee Ok-sang, and I will be your master from today onwards."

It was a beautiful voice that flowed from a benevolent smile, like an embodiment of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

'Th-this is the person!'

A shiver ran down the young girl's spine. The girl, who had bowed her head before Lee Ok-sang, was so overcome with joy at meeting the deity she enshrined in her heart's temple that she trembled so much she couldn't even give a proper simple response. Lee Ok-sang accepted the girl, trembling with emotion like eternal ice jade, with a smile.

"What are you dawdling about? Hurry and perform the Nine Bows Ceremony (九拜之禮)!"

At the words of her father, Dok Go Yeong-hong, the current head of the Dok Go family, Dok Go-ryeong, finally came to her senses and hurriedly performed the great bows.

Three bows to the portrait of the founding ancestor of the Sword Pavilion, three bows to the portrait of the fourth ancestor, the previous Sword Queen, and then three more bows to Lee Ok-sang, who would become her master. A total of nine bows.

Dok Go-ryeong was nine years old at the time.

On this day, she finally became a disciple of the Sword Pavilion.

On the white sandy beach, shimmering as if sprinkled with finely ground gold powder, a girl was performing a flowing sword dance.

As the girl's slender body kicked off the sandy ground and moved, her black hair, which flowed down luxuriously, swayed in the wind like silk threads. Though her face had not yet completely shed its girlish features, her healthy physique already showed distinct curves, exuding the fragrance of a mature woman.

Beauty like a blooming flower bud. Her inner self was filled with the light and vitality that were the crystallization of youth.

As the girl's dance steps quickened, beads of sweat that formed on her delicate forehead scattered in the air like jewels. The girl's rosy lips were stained with a vibrant and refreshing smile, like fragments of light that filled the distant horizon. She was a very active flower.

*Swish!*

Each time the girl's sword swung, the sand beneath it moved in response, forming a spiral trajectory.

This phenomenon was called 'Sword Wind Traces' (劍風蹟). It was the sight of sword power contained within each breath and movement being silently released. Although she still had a distinctly childlike air, the fact that she had already achieved this level of accomplishment was by no means ordinary talent. Her appearance, dancing in a state of absorption as if she had forgotten herself, was as elegant as a wild goose playing in the sea breeze. On the left chest of her upper garment was embroidered the image of a white goose with two wings.

The girl loved swords. She loved the clear, shining straight sword blade and the gentle sound it made as it cut through the wind. Especially when she felt her spirit transcend her body and become free through the sword, she was immersed in an inexpressible happiness. She felt as if she could continue practicing sword fighting like this for her entire life.

She wished this moment could last forever…

She didn't need ornate clothes, expensive accessories, or handsome men. Only this sword…

The girl, who sometimes lost herself while practicing sword fighting, sometimes truly wished for that. That's how much she loved swords, more than anything else.

It was at that very moment.

*Clap clap clap clap!*

Startled by the sudden applause from behind her, the girl's gaze turned towards its source.

And then, piercing her gaze was a clear white goose emblem, its wings numbering six.

The Six-Winged Flying Goose (六翼飛鴻)!

In the Sword Pavilion, only one person could possess that emblem.

As she performed a sword bow, the girl sank to her knees with a thud.

"M-master!"

Yes! The woman receiving the girl's bow was Lee Ok-sang, one of the Three Stars of Cheonmu and known as the pinnacle of sword mastery in the martial world, more often called 'Sword Queen' (劍后) with reverence than by her given name.

Though she had long surpassed a hundred years of age, her appearance was utterly unbelievable for an elderly woman with white hair who had lived past a hundred.

An elegant face full of grace, as if time had reversed, jet-black hair. Was it supreme elixir art, or makeup that had reached the realm of divinity? Or perhaps she had returned to youth (返老還童)?

Even from her current appearance alone, one could easily infer that she was an ultimate master who had reached the pinnacle of accomplishment.

"Ling-ah, you've improved a lot. The hesitation at the tip of your sword has disappeared. And you swing your sword with such joy, it made me happy just watching!"

"Th-thank you, Master!"

How could a young girl's heart not rejoice at her master's praise, which was as vast as the sky? She was a master who never spoke empty words. If she said she had improved, she truly had. Dok Go-ryeong felt tears welling up from overwhelming emotion.

The Sword Queen smiled with a face full of benevolence.

"Hohohoho, oh my! You rejoice with tears at your grandmother's praise? You still have a long way to go."

Her laughter was filled with the verdancy of youth and the refreshing coolness of the sea breeze, making it impossible to imagine it belonging to a grandmother who had long passed a hundred years. Dok Go-ryeong thought she looked younger than her mother, who was barely past forty.

"It was the exquisite Little Goose Sword (小雁劍) and the refreshing Flying Goose Sword (飛鴻劍). To reach the realm of absorption in the sword (沒我醉劍), forgetting yourself, at your age… you are truly commendable!"

Receiving praise for one's sword techniques from the Sword Queen was a highly honorable occasion for a swordsman.

The Sword Pavilion had two introductory sword techniques: the Little Goose Sword (小雁劍) and the Flying Goose Sword (飛鴻劍). Only after mastering these two could one be granted entry into the secret techniques according to their level of achievement. Without proving their aptitude through these two sword techniques, one could never even glimpse the edge of the secret techniques in their lifetime.

It was a secret technique precisely because it was not carelessly passed down. Just as trying to fill a small vessel with too much water would only break the vessel.

"Perhaps the time has come!"

"Th-then…"

Joy began to spread across her face.

"Yes, it is time for you to be taught the secret techniques of the Heavenly Jade Spirit Sword (一上玉靈神劍). Practice diligently. I will be watching!"

"R-really?"

The Sword Queen did not spare the effort of nodding again for her beloved disciple.

"Th-thank you, Master!"

Dok Go-ryeong was ecstatic with boundless joy. Her heart pounded as if it would burst.

Ah, how long she had waited for this moment! How long she had longed for this moment!

Not every disciple named in the Sword Pavilion's roster was permitted to learn the secret profound techniques. It was a privilege enjoyed only by a select few.

Like all other disciples of the Sword Pavilion, Dok Go-ryeong had endured arduous training for this day.

Still in a state of happy confusion, Dok Go-ryeong gazed blankly at her master's retreating figure for a moment. Even after the Sword Queen's figure completely disappeared from her sight, she remained standing there as if she had turned to stone.

"Kyaaaaaaak! Yahoo!"

And then, a moment later, a scream of pure joy echoed across the golden beach.

*Flutter!*

However, the legend that several white seagulls nearly died of heart attacks from this ecstatic scream never reached human ears, remaining forever as a hidden story of nature.

Act 2, Scene 2

Sword Pavilion (劍閣) - Guardian of Guanyin

To the south of the sea, there is a mountain called Putuo Mountain.

- In fact, it might be more accurate to say Southeast Sea, but since it's commonly written as Southern Sea, let's just say Southern Sea for now.

Putuo Mountain (普陀山).

It is a Buddhist holy land located on an island in the Zhoushan Archipelago, Hangzhou Bay, Zhejiang Province.

Along with Mount Wutai (五臺山) and Mount Emei (峨眉山), it is considered one of China's three great mountains (3대 명산), and when Mount Jiuhua (九華山) is included, it is considered one of the four great sacred mountains (4대 도량).

It is named after Potalaka (補陀落), the spiritual land of Guanyin Bodhisattva said to be in southern India, according to legend. It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, a monk brought a statue of Guanyin from Mount Wutai, and when his boat reached this place, it stopped on its own and refused to move, so he built Putuo Temple and enshrined the Buddha statue, which became the origin of its sacred status.

Here, on this land of Guanyin's manifestation (觀音示顯), which is an object of worship, was the Sword Pavilion (劍閣).

Sword Pavilion (劍閣).

Located at the foot of Mount Putuo in the Southern Sea, it is a holy land of swords composed solely of women.

An absolute male-prohibited zone (絶對禁男區域).

Due to its remoteness from the center of the martial world, it does not intervene much in the affairs of the martial world, but there is no sect that dares to ignore it. This is because it is the dwelling place of the Sword Queen, Lee Ok-sang, one of the Three Stars of Cheonmu, who is currently most respected, transcending both orthodox and heterodox paths.

However, even aside from the Sword Queen, their miraculous sword techniques are unparalleled, and men who are merely men in name learn a profound lesson through their swords that superior swordsmanship transcends gender. This potential to produce female sword masters worthy of being called Sword Queen is the true strength of the Sword Pavilion.

Many martial artists mistakenly believe that the Southern Sea Botam Hermitage is the Sword Pavilion. Mistaking these two for the same place is extremely dangerous. It seems that when the Sword Pavilion disciples first began to operate in the martial world (at a time when the Sword Pavilion had not yet been named), their reply of "I came from Putuo Mountain" when asked where they came from caused this misunderstanding. Moreover, since the Southern Sea is too far from the center of the martial world, few people have actually visited it, leading to the ingrained notion that Botam Hermitage is the Sword Pavilion.

However, Botam Hermitage is by no means the same as the Sword Pavilion.

While it is true that these two are in the same location, and it is also true that there has been much exchange of teachings between the two sects (it seems there has been very close exchange between the two sides throughout generations).

However, even if that were the case, viewing these two places as the same would be a tremendous error. It is reasonable to consider them as two very different and separate groups.

Botam Hermitage can be considered a religious site, while the Sword Pavilion is a martial arts sect. As can be seen in the case of Shaolin Temple, many religious groups in the martial world possess characteristics of martial arts sects. No, it would be more accurate to say that as long as they possess martial power, they cannot be free from the martial world. However, not all religious groups are martial arts sects. This is impossible without basic capabilities. Furthermore, the founder of the first Botam Hermitage seems to have been far from martial arts. It had no connection with the martial world from the beginning.

Moreover, Botam Hermitage venerates Guanyin Bodhisattva.

Guanyin Bodhisattva (觀世音菩薩).

Called Avalokitesvara in Sanskrit, the name means "one who perceives the sounds of the world" (觀自在者) or "self-possessed observation." Therefore, it is also called Guanzi Zai (觀自在).

Guanyin means listening attentively to all the sounds of this world, and Guanzi Zai means observing and caring for all things in this world with self-possession. Thus, strictly speaking, both have the same meaning. Which one to use is a matter of personal preference.

It is also called by various other names such as Guang Shiyin (光世音), Guan Shiyin (觀世音), Guanzi Zai (觀自在), Guan Shizai (觀世自在), Guan Shiyin Zai (觀世音自在), and is abbreviated as Guanyin (觀音).

Then, what is a Bodhisattva?

Bodhisattva (bodhisattva) refers to a sage (聖者) who benefits the world and sentient beings, so Guanyin Bodhisattva is a Bodhisattva who saves and guides sentient beings with a heart of great compassion and benevolence.

As the name suggests, it must be someone with very keen ears and excellent eyesight. Otherwise, how could it hear all the sounds of the world (though there are far more useless noises), and observe all things in the world (though there is little worth observing)?

The people of Botam Hermitage are those who serve such a being, whose essence is compassion and benevolence. If you ask them if they are good at using swords, they might angrily retort that asking about sharp weapons to those who serve the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva is "a contradiction in terms."

Then, why did this misunderstanding arise?

The reason can be found in the background of the Sword Pavilion's creation.

Botam Hermitage, as one of the four great sacred mountains of Buddhism, has many followers and pilgrims, and thus receives enormous donations, financial support, and contributions. Coupled with the income from its own land, its wealth is estimated to be immense.

As the saying goes, "Too much is as bad as too little" (過猶不及)?

Excessive wealth invites unwanted guests. Botam Hermitage was no exception.

Moreover, due to its geographical characteristic as an island surrounded by the sea, the professions of these uninvited visitors were limited. Consequently, Botam Hermitage was repeatedly attacked by pirates who plundered its valuables and food supplies. The Southern Sea navy was helpless against these elusive sea thieves. Without the help of the surrounding martial arts sects, Botam Hermitage might have been completely plundered by pirates long ago. However, the forces that the surrounding martial arts sects could dispatch were limited. Furthermore, the navy was not a trustworthy entity. It was fortunate if they didn't stab them in the back.

The pirate raids continued relentlessly. Then, one person rose up in anger, a woman, who was the first Sword Pavilion Master and the first Sword Queen, Lee Ok-min.

From childhood, she was born into a martial family, and with her beauty and exceptional sword talent, she gained fame from a young age. She was a disciple of Botam Hermitage and a devout follower of Guanyin Bodhisattva. It is said that she never let the teachings of Guanyin Bodhisattva leave her heart for a moment.

After receiving secret sword techniques from an unknown recluse in the Southern Sea, she felt that guarding Guanyin was her destiny, and gathered disciples to found the Sword Pavilion. At this time, she received the enthusiastic support, warm welcome, and steadfast backing of Botam Hermitage, which goes without saying. For Botam Hermitage, which lacked any substantial military power, it was a case of "dare not ask, but sincerely wish for" (不敢請，雖願).

Thus, the Sword Pavilion was born. However, it was not until much later that this place was officially called the Sword Pavilion. In the early days of its establishment, most of its disciples were disciples of the Sword Pavilion and simultaneously disciples of Botam Hermitage. Therefore, it is not surprising that these two places are often mistaken for the same place.

For this reason, most disciples of the Sword Pavilion believe in Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the masters of the Sword Pavilion, from Lee Ok-min onwards, have been called guardians of Guanyin Bodhisattva and protectors of Botam Hermitage in the Southern Sea. If Botam Hermitage in the Southern Sea is the holy land of Guanyin's manifestation, then the Sword Pavilion here can be called the land of Guanyin's protection.

And even now, the Sword Pavilion quietly guards the holy land of Guanyin Bodhisattva with its swords.

The Sword Pavilion, usually so quiet it was almost silent, was now bustling with activity. Everyone in the pavilion was moving about busily. Curiosity piqued, she overheard conversations here and there. Synthesizing a few of these stories, Dok Go-ryeong realized that this busyness was the result of preparations for the visit of a distinguished guest.

What kind of person could make the entire Sword Pavilion this busy? Was an 'Emperor' coming? Her curiosity only intensified, not satisfied. Dok Go-ryeong concluded that she could no longer bear it.

"Sister Yu, who is coming?"

Dok Go-ryeong's actions were swift after reaching a conclusion. She stopped Yu Su-gyeong, who was busy with preparations under the guise of tidying up, and asked.

"You're so busy right now… honestly!"

Yu Su-gyeong expressed slight displeasure at her inquisitive junior sister interfering with her work, but she still answered her curiosity.

"The Master of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion is scheduled to visit soon."

A hint of surprise flickered across Dok Go-ryeong's face.

"The Master of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion? That's a huge figure!"

Someone of that stature was certainly worthy of making the Sword Pavilion this busy.

"But… why?"

Even for someone as young as she, it was hard to believe that the Master of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion would personally travel to such a remote corner without any specific reason.

"Well… I didn't hear the details, but… the Heavenly Demon Pavilion also wants to send some disciples here for training, and they're coming to discuss that."

To receive instruction from the Sword Queen.

Transcending orthodox and heterodox paths, it was an irresistible prospect for any female swordswoman. For women, especially those learning martial arts, there was no one who didn't admire the Sword Queen.

"The Master of the Heavenly Demon Pavilion has good taste. Indeed, Master is amazing!"

Dok Go-ryeong's chest swelled with pride.

"Sister Yu, what should I do?"

While everyone in the pavilion was busy preparing to welcome the distinguished guest, Dok Go-ryeong had no specific task, so she was free. That's why she could even cause this disturbance.

However, she was very displeased that she was the only one free. It felt like she was being dismissed, as if told, 'You're not yet qualified to be in charge!' Her personality wasn't so carefree as to readily play around when told she could. Perhaps this diligence was what made her who she was today.

"Well, there isn't much work for you to do."

The task assignments had already been completed. There was nothing left to assign to Dok Go-ryeong. But she didn't give up and pestered.

"Being idle and doing nothing is not my hobby. I'll do anything, just give me a task. I swear to complete it with my honor and my life!"

She declared resolutely.

"Why such a grand oath of life and death…"

Yu Su-gyeong chuckled softly.

"Heh."

Dok Go-ryeong playfully stuck out her tongue and smiled sweetly. It was an endearing smile. Seeing her so determined, they had to give her something to do.

"Tsk tsk, you live such a hard life! I don't understand."

Yu Su-gyeong, put in a difficult position by her resolute determination, was forced to create something to do. Even if it was a trivial task, it would clearly mean something to her junior sister.

"Hmm… yes!"

A good idea struck her. Thinking about it again, it was a brilliant plan. This should satisfy her junior sister. And she would be freed from the disturbance.

"Then how about going on patrol?"

Yu Su-gyeong asked suggestively.

"Patrol?"

"Yes, go and scout the surroundings in case any ruffians with impure intentions or assassins are hiding. It's a very important task, so do it diligently."

Although the possibility of such an event was extremely slim, she knew well that her junior sister wouldn't bother with such minor details.

"Yes, Sister Disciple!"

As expected, the girl answered with a strong voice. No objections or counterarguments were raised. With this, she had escaped the status of a freeloader, and Dok Go-ryeong was sufficiently satisfied.

"Dok Go-ryeong, I will now undertake the mission of patrolling the island."

Dok Go-ryeong replied with a voice as forceful as a soldier.

Yu Su-gyeong shook her head again at the vibrant and serious voice.

"R-right…"

'Why does this girl go out of her way to suffer…'

For her, who prioritized resting during any free time, it was an incomprehensible mindset.

"Well, let's start by patrolling around the beach first!"

Patrols here always centered around the beach. Due to the geographical and topographical characteristics, unwelcome guests with malicious intentions always entered from the sea. However, because the sea, by its nature, is open in all directions, it was easy to discover any anomalies. For this reason, visitors rarely came during the day when the sun shone brilliantly overhead. Moreover, the weather was so good today that the horizon, where the sky and sea met far away, was clearly visible.

Dok Go-ryeong strolled along the beach as if on a leisurely walk. No, she was patrolling! Scattered on the white sandy beach she was walking on were rocks taller than a person, jutting out like bamboo shoots. Their black surfaces were smooth and shiny, worn down by the wind and waves.

Then, as a small wave lapped and receded, pulling a handful of sand with it, Dok Go-ryeong's eyes caught sight of a young girl sitting by a rock, dressed in snow-white robes. She looked about thirteen or fourteen years old. The girl in white robes, with deep and quiet eyes uncharacteristic of her age, was gazing out at the sea. The girl's clothes fluttered in the sea breeze like pure white wings.

Dok Go-ryeong's steps stopped behind the girl, and the girl in white turned her head to look back.

"Ye-rin?"

Her voice was devoid of all emotion, as if all her feelings had been extinguished. It was unbelievable that such a voice came from the mouth of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl with a beautiful face like a carved seven-colored jewel. It was inorganic.

"Ah, it's Ye-rin!"

Dok Go-ryeong replied with a bright voice.

The young girl in white robes before her was Na Ye-rin, her junior sister who had joined three years ago. Even at her young age, her enchanting and mysterious beauty, which she couldn't hide, was extraordinary, even to a fellow woman.

"What's wrong…?"

Na Ye-rin asked in short, clipped words.

"Patrolling!"

Dok Go-ryeong replied with a laugh, short and strong. At her cheerful and confident response, Ye-rin nodded quietly as if she understood. Her movements were like a doll's.

After a long silence, the young girl spoke again.

"Sister…"

"Yes?"

Dok Go-ryeong and Na Ye-rin's gazes met. Her eyes, mystical like the night sky spread across the heavens, seemed to draw you in. However, at times, those eyes seemed to peer into the future and pierce the barriers within people's hearts, making one feel a chill. For this reason, many within the sect avoided her. Among them, Dok Go-ryeong was the one who got along best with her.

"…Be careful."

Her voice, lacking any rise or fall in pitch. It was too monotonous for a warning.

"Hey! What are you talking about so suddenly? You're so strange…"

Dok Go-ryeong said, slightly flustered. She was clearly not telling her to patrol carefully. Although she didn't offer further explanation, Dok Go-ryeong intuitively understood.

Then what?

This young junior sister sometimes said such incomprehensible things.

"Just…"

At that answer, Dok Go-ryeong could only shake her head. She was still a difficult child to understand. However, whenever she saw her strangely mature demeanor, unbefitting her age, she felt a pang of pity.

"Sister… be careful… man… love… pain…"

Na Ye-rin's final murmur was unheard by Dok Go-ryeong. Where were those eyes, like the night sky, looking now? It was something perhaps even the girl herself didn't know.

"Yes, did you say something?"

Na Ye-rin quietly shook her head. Dok Go-ryeong decided to give up.

"You're truly cold as ice. Honestly… even an ice sculpture wouldn't be as cold as you, Ye-rin! Girls should be more cheerful!"

Though her words sounded like a reprimand, they were filled with genuine concern for her junior sister. She was worried. Still, she had improved significantly compared to before. In the past, she had gone for seven days and nights without speaking.

At her age, when one should be overflowing with youthful energy and curiosity, she must have felt an itch in her mouth if she didn't speak even for a moment… How deep a wound must be etched in that small, bird-like chest? It was beyond her imagination.

'Has it already been three years since that child arrived…'

Dok Go-ryeong remembered that scene as vividly as the day she entered the sect (perhaps that scene would never be erased from her mind).

"Say hello, this is the child who will be your junior sister from today. Her name is Ye-rin. She is the daughter of the current Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Jin Cheon-roe, the Sword God, Na Baek-cheon."

Her master said, pointing to the girl she was seeing for the first time.

"Hello, Ye-rin! I'm Dok Go-ryeong. Please take care of me. Call me Sister So-ryeong!"

Dok Go-ryeong greeted her with a cheerful voice and a bright smile. However, there was no reply.

The white-robed girl, pretty as a doll, trembled like a small bird caught in the rain, hiding behind her master.

"Oh, dear! Poor thing… She seems to be still recovering from the shock. She still rejects others' contact so strongly…"

The Sword Queen clicked her tongue in pity. At that moment, her master's words lingered strangely in Dok Go-ryeong's mind. But she couldn't bring herself to ask what shock she had suffered.

When an adult acts immaturely, it's unbecoming and ridiculous, but when a child acts immaturely, it's a tragedy. However, it was certainly evident just by looking that the little girl before her was greatly afraid of something. What kind of ordeal must she have gone through…

The girl's eyes, trembling with fear, were as clear and deep as the night sky. They were incredibly impressive eyes with a strange charm.

Dok Go-ryeong knew who should take the initiative in such a situation. So, she mustered her courage and extended her hand. In such situations, pretense wouldn't work. It was a matter of confronting each other with sincerity and truth.

Dok Go-ryeong crouched down to her eye level and gently stroked her younger junior sister's head.

"Becoming fellow disciples through the ritual of disciple induction and formal initiation means we are bound by a deeper connection than blood-related sisters. Blood sisters are connected by blood, but fellow disciples are connected by soul. So, no matter how difficult things get, you don't need to be afraid. You are not alone. If anyone bothers my little junior sister, this great senior sister will smash them! So don't worry!"

It was quite a radical statement.

When Dok Go-ryeong's hand first rested on her head, the young Na Ye-rin flinched, closing her eyes tightly like a shy cat. A small tremor of fear, transmitted through her fingertips, could be felt. Nevertheless, Dok Go-ryeong continued to stroke her without stopping.

Eventually, the tremor transmitted through her fingertips lessened significantly. It seemed the gentle, wind-like touch of her senior sister's hand pleased her younger junior sister's heart.

"So, please take care of me again, little sister!"

Dok Go-ryeong greeted her again with a cheerful smile. This time, there was an unexpected response.

"Y-yes, Sister…"

Although it was a voice as thin as a mosquito's buzz, Dok Go-ryeong's ears, trained in the Sword Pavilion's 'Guanyin's Clear Hearing Technique' (觀音之聽法), didn't miss it. Overwhelmed with emotion, Dok Go-ryeong hugged the young Na Ye-rin tightly.

*Kyah!* A short scream from the girl was heard for a moment and then disappeared.

"Oh my, you're brave! I was worried because you kept avoiding people!"

A small gap opened in Na Ye-rin's tightly shut heart. The Sword Queen looked at Dok Go-ryeong with a proud gaze and smiled contentedly.

"We have another new family member…"

She silently watched the two disciples embracing each other with benevolent eyes, like incarnations of Guanyin Bodhisattva.

"…Shall we have a welcome party this evening?"

It wasn't a bad idea.

- Act 2, Scene 3

A Girl Meets a Boy - A Duet of Boy and Girl

- The boy was very fond of the girl's sparkling, vibrant eyes. They shone brightly, healthily, and vibrantly, like black pearls sealed with sunlight. That's why the boy liked the girl's eyes.

The girl saw him standing on a protruding cliff on the beach where waves broke with white foam.

He was surrounded by dozens of seabirds, so much so that one might suspect he was being attacked. White birds gathered around the man. Seagulls perched on his shoulder without any resistance or wariness.

He was a very mysterious boy. However, strictly speaking, it was difficult to call him a boy, or even a young man. He looked about eighteen or nineteen years old. His face seemed to fit the expression "youthful." He was a face she had never seen before in the vicinity.

"You're someone I've never seen before. If you don't mind, could I know your identity?"

The boy's gaze, which had been gazing at the sky indefinitely, slowly turned.

His face looked incredibly forlorn and empty. There was no light in it. He looked like a person sculpted from dust. His lips parted slowly. His eyes were fixed on the emblem on her left chest.

"White Goose emblem? Sword Pavilion?"

He recognized the Flying White Goose emblem at a glance. This meant he was at least not an ordinary person. He was a martial artist.

Dok Go-ryeong nodded.

"That's right. I'm a disciple of the Sword Pavilion. What brings you here? As the security chief responsible for patrolling the Sword Pavilion, I must know the reason."

Of course, the title of security chief was a joke.

With only two wings, she couldn't hold any official position yet. Not having a position meant not having professional responsibility. And that meant she wasn't yet qualified for independence, reminding her that she was still in a protected status. For her, whose independence was more pronounced than anyone else's, this was a very painful thing. Perhaps that's why she was so fixated on patrolling.

"Then, Security Chief, I will answer your question. I was merely gazing at the vast sky and breathing in the salty air carried by the refreshing sea breeze. The sea breeze here is pleasant. I thought it might lighten my heavy heart a little. It's a hopeful speculation, but perhaps it might even make me forget myself."

For a moment, the expression he wore was so full of sadness that Dok Go-ryeong's heart ached. He had a charm that naturally captivated those who watched him. He was a type of person she had never encountered before. That's why he was all the more fresh, stimulating, and effective.

*Thump! Thump!*

Her heart suddenly began to pound faster. It felt like she had run a long distance without rest.

"Wh-what's happening?"

Her face turned red without her realizing it. It was strange.

"What's your name?"

Dok Go-ryeong asked. It wasn't a question born from the duty of a security chief to identify outsiders.

The boy shook his head and said,

"Hmm… I've forgotten!"

After pondering for a while, the boy replied with a nonchalant expression. Judging by his expression alone, one might mistake him for someone casually discussing what was for breakfast that morning.

"A-are you perhaps… amnesiac?"

A surprised and excited voice blurted out.

The boy knew well what was sparkling like stardust in the girl's eyes. It was a burdensome light called curiosity.

"No… isn't it rude to stare so openly?"

Dok Go-ryeong was looking at the boy with eyes that seemed to say, 'Oh my, amnesiac! I've never seen that before!' It was indeed an excessive breach of etiquette.

"You… you're not amnesiac?"

The girl's question, her face now crestfallen, drew a faint line of a smile on the boy's lips. It was the first smile he had shown since meeting Dok Go-ryeong.

"Of course not! But perhaps I need it now."

It wasn't a joke. He genuinely wished to have amnesia. No, not just wish, but truly desperately desired it.

"You want to forget your name…? Are you trying to escape the chains that bind you?"

Though it might have been said without much thought, it hit the mark. Subconsciously, Dok Go-ryeong had grasped his strongest desire. That's why he couldn't help but smile.

"Being so bluntly pierced is quite painful. A name I want to discard but cannot discard… it might be another form of destiny."

The young man's eyes seemed incredibly deep. At first glance, they looked even wise. Such profound eyes would suit an old martial artist past sixty, not a young man barely twenty.

Being able to wear such a deep expression at that age showed the weight of the burden he carried. Despite his young age, the burden of his fate seemed far from light.

According to the Book of Changes (周易), and in Eastern thought, fate can be changed. But destiny is, as the name suggests, determined from birth and never changes. To blame destiny is foolish. But it is equally foolish not to act to change one's fate.

Which one was he?

"But can you truly find peace of mind just by forgetting your name?"

Like being pierced in the heart by a sharp, chilling blade, the boy clutched his chest in intense pain. A bitter smile spread across his lips.

"It might be my misfortune to know that it's impossible. But right now, I honestly just want to forget the name that weighs on my shoulders and rest, even if only for a moment. Even if it's just a temporary measure called escapism… it's incredibly urgent for me."

As he said this, his face looked extremely tired and lonely.

What kind of life had he lived to wear such an expression at that age? Dok Go-ryeong was surprised at herself for feeling so curious.

To be this curious about the opposite sex… it was a first.

"Um… then how about this?"

Dok Go-ryeong continued, smiling brightly.

"Let's forget your past name for now. But it would be too inconvenient to have no name, right? So, I'll specially give you a new name. While you bear that name, try living as if you were reborn, forgetting the person who bore your past name!"

The boy fell into thought for a moment at the girl's bold suggestion.

He couldn't easily find an answer to this sudden and audacious proposal. However, he couldn't deny that it was an incredibly attractive proposal.

"Forgetting your name…"

It was an escape from the curse bound by the name.

"Yes, forgetting your name means forgetting the person who bore that name, doesn't it? While you have a new name, you can forget the past and rest. Become someone else. Like an actor in a Peking opera!"

Dok Go-ryeong moved on to the next step without even waiting for the boy's response.

"So, what should I call you? I can't call you 'Hey' or 'You'. And 'Anonymous' is too cliché…"

Dok Go-ryeong spoke incessantly without even considering the other person's reply. The boy was being dragged along.

"Yes, then how about Eun-myeong (Eun-myeong)?"

"Eun-myeong?"

"Yes. Because you're hiding your name. Hidden (隱), Name (名), together, Eun-myeong (隱名)!"

As she said this, Dok Go-ryeong smiled broadly. It was a bright smile, devoid of any ulterior motives.

"Eun-myeong…"

He savored the sound, rolling it over his tongue. It had a good resonance, a very appealing feeling.

"Don't you like it?"

Was her mood always like the all-weather, bad weather? Her expression suddenly turned sullen.

Then the boy shook his head vigorously. It seemed his delayed answer had caused a misunderstanding.

A lifeline extended from an unexpected person in an unexpected place… The choice of whether to grasp that hand or let it go was the boy's. And the boy finally made his decision.

"No, I like it! Eun-myeong, it's a name I really like. You might be a savior sent by heaven."

Thus, the boy accepted the girl's proposal.

"Oh my, a savior… That's too much exaggeration."

The girl also smiled broadly, following the boy's lead.

"Well, I'm serious…"

The girl didn't know that this was the first time in a year he had smiled so genuinely.

"I'll be back for a bit!"

"Have a good trip, Sister Disciple!"

Na Ye-rin said, waving goodbye to Dok Go-ryeong as she left with a beaming smile. It was a sight she had seen often lately.

"Ye-rin, come here for a moment?"

Yu Su-gyeong beckoned Na Ye-rin from afar.

"Yes, Sister Disciple Yu? What is it?"

Yu Su-gyeong whispered, as if worried about being overheard.

"Ye-rin, I don't see So-ryeong around much these days. Do you have any idea where she's running off to?"

"Hmm? I have no idea."

Na Ye-rin replied in an overly mature tone.

'This child really has no charm…'

Yu Su-gyeong muttered inwardly. She found it rather burdensome to deal with this child.

"I'm sorry, for not being charming."

Yu Su-gyeong flinched and recoiled at Na Ye-rin's blunt words.

"Ah… hahaha… Wh-what are you talking about…"

It was impossible not to be taken aback when one's thoughts were read so easily. She tried to gloss over it, but it was no use.

"It's written on your face."

Na Ye-rin said bluntly in her doll-like voice.

"R-really?"

Yu Su-gyeong touched various parts of her face in surprise. Of course, there were no letters written there.

"Ahahaha… Ahaha…"

Yu Su-gyeong, her face flushed red as a ripe persimmon, burst into stilted laughter again.

"……."

Even amidst this, Na Ye-rin's face remained expressionless. It was like a marble statue.

"W-well, speaking of which, has she perhaps found a boyfriend lately? She's going out so often, So-ryeong! Ahahaha!"

She tried to divert the attention elsewhere, but without any change in expression, she couldn't tell if she had succeeded or failed.

"A single hand cannot clap" (孤掌難鳴). Hands must come together to make a sound. Shouting alone is useless. Does this child not even possess the slightest bit of curiosity? She felt all the strength draining from her shoulders.

"As expected, that's unlikely…"

Yu Su-gyeong sighed and mumbled in a quiet voice.

There were no particular complaints.

He was one of the chosen few, and his family was wealthy enough to support and educate him without any problems. His future was predetermined from birth, and he was proud of himself and his family. But one day, he heard that everything he saw, heard, and thought was an illusion.

His gaze and thoughts were an imposed personality designed to deceive others. A fabricated value system. In reality, he shouldn't have been seeing, hearing, and thinking that way. But the value system that had been built up over time couldn't be shattered in an instant. Therefore, coercive measures were taken.

His value system was shattered into pieces that day. His value system was reconfigured for the sake of his family's purpose.

Nothing valuable can be obtained without a price. He had to pay the price for his destiny, for the privileges he had enjoyed. This meant he had to destroy the existing world and become a completely different person. There was no room for choice. He had faced the god who presided over his fate and destiny. There was no second choice for him.

But that's precisely why he feared receiving his capping ceremony (冠禮: coming-of-age ceremony).

Through the capping ceremony, people receive a new name (字) and inherit the history and identity of their family. They are reborn as true human beings from half-humans. But for him, the capping ceremony far surpassed this ordinary meaning. It imposed a new destiny upon him. And that destiny had already stained his hands with blood. The indelible bloodstain of a lifetime, perhaps it was a baptism of despair.

He felt as if the person he had been would disappear once he received the capping ceremony! But the act he had committed was more tormenting than he had anticipated.

So, he ran away. He ran away recklessly. And he arrived at this small island in the Southern Sea. The eyes of surveillance were still lingering around him. He wasn't completely free from the shackles of destiny. He knew they were just watching. Still, he met her here. That alone made him satisfied.

'But how long can this happiness last?'

He couldn't be sure. He could only realize his own powerlessness.

He already knew. He no longer had the right to be happy… He had already betrayed the person he cherished most. On that day, his heart died along with his conscience.

So, he had given up. He had no expectations. But then he met her. The one who looked directly at him with eyes that shone like black pearls filled with sunlight!

'Can I be happy with her?'

But the destiny that bound him was not so light. Recalling that, a shadow fell across his face. He felt infinitely pathetic, struggling in a swamp from which he could not escape. Even in the middle of a midsummer day, he felt a chill.

"Eun-myeong, are you inside? I'm back!"

Her voice, bright and lively, ignorant of the darkness, called out from outside. It was the voice that, once again, pulled him out of the darkness.

'Yes, let's not think about it now. Didn't I decide to forget the self with the past name for a while! I'll just play the role I've been assigned for now! Even if it's just a summer dream, let's enjoy this happiness for a moment.'

He made that decision and forced a smile onto his face. He couldn't show her a dejected face.

"I'm here, Ryung!"

He replied with a bright voice.

Act 3, Scene 1

Pirates - Black Sea Breeze

A ship, riding the night sea tide, floated a short distance from the island. It wasn't very large, but its stern was sharp, its width narrow, and it had several triangular sails that made it easy to sail against the wind, giving it a very swift appearance.

This ship, named 'Black Sea Breeze' (검은 해풍), was as experienced as it looked. Its performance, traversing seas filled with countless dangers, was outstanding even among its peers in the same profession. Its pride was that it had never sunk despite having gone through so many life-or-death situations.

A man stood tall on the deck, facing the sea breeze, his single eye fixed as if on a single point.

Botam Hermitage.

His gaze was currently focused there. Due to the distance and the moonless night, only tiny lights, like fireflies, were visible in the faint starlight.

"You've certainly memorized the infiltration route, haven't you?"

On the deck of the 'Black Sea Breeze,' facing the sea breeze head-on, Do-gok asked Jung-gwang.

"Of course, Captain!"

Do-gok was the sole decision-maker for this ship's sea routes. Being called Captain on a ship floating in the middle of the sea hinted at his profession. Jung-gwang was the first mate.

*Clack!*

A fist suddenly sliced through the night sea.

"Ouch!"

A short gasp escaped Ji Hyeon-gu (智賢鷗), Jung-gwang, the brain of the 'Black Sea Breeze' and nicknamed the Wise Seagull.

Do-gok growled and shouted.

"I told you not to call me Captain! How many times have I told you to call me 'Admiral!' Are you looking to die, huh?"

Admiral was a title referring to the supreme commander of a fleet leading dozens of warships. It seemed an excessive title for pirates who engaged in robbery and plunder.

'What arrogance… Admiral my foot! Just a mere pirate…'

Jung-gwang seemed to have a better grasp of reality than his captain, Do-gok. Even if he were called 'Captain,' he might grudgingly accept it. People should know their place.

However, Jung-gwang was wise and had a brain, so although he grumbled inwardly, he showed nothing outwardly. And his flawless composure! It was impeccable tact.

"Admiral Do-gok! Ah… what a pleasant sound!"

To further his flawless tact, Jung-gwang decided to ignore his captain, who was floundering in his delusion, regardless of whether he drowned.

Pirates (海賊)!

There are mountain bandits (山賊) in the mountains, and pirates on the sea. Therefore, 'pirate' is a term used to classify professionals in a specific trade based on their geographical location.

Some argue that it refers to those who engage in their work using a specific mode of transport, not geographical characteristics. Therefore, they argue that if they gather and operate in the sky, they should be aerial pirates, and in space, space pirates. However, some scholars dismiss their arguments, stating that idiomatic or slang expressions are not the universal definition of language.

To put it simply, the most important thing is that their main business is 'plunder' and 'destruction.' They may claim to be 'free winds of the sea' rebelling against an oppressive society, but a robber is a robber, a thief is a thief.

Do-gok was missing his right eye. Hence, his nickname was the One-Eyed King (片目王).

The 'Black Sea Breeze' he led was a major pirate group in the Southern Sea, a source of terror and disgust for ships sailing this southern sea. And Do-gok, the leader of this group, was often used as a term of abuse like 'son of a bitch,' 'eighteen bastards,' or 'son of a turtle' by sailors.

Why was this notorious pirate group, which even Japanese pirates yielded to, here? Of course, it was for business.

His empty right eye socket was said to be a scar from when he, in his youth, was actively engaged in plunder and was attacked by a female swordswoman. Fortunately, he survived due to the female swordswoman's mercy, but it was a wound that would never fade. Of course, although he harbored hatred for the incident, he had not a shred of gratitude. However, this sea bandit, unable to control his overflowing pride, never even dreamed of seeking revenge for that incident. It was as clear as day that it would end in a suicidal death, like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot. He was a man who valued and cherished his own life.

The first mate, Jung-gwang, was one of the few who knew the origin of that female swordswoman. That female swordswoman's sect was the Sword Pavilion. And… the culprit was a person named Sword Queen Lee Ok-sang.

For Do-gok, it was a stroke of luck, a miraculous recovery from the brink of death. The Sword Queen's actions were benevolent, befitting a guardian of the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva. It was likely meant as an encouragement to reform. But, like a true pirate, he was ungrateful. Instead, he repaid the favor with hatred. From then on, Do-gok hated the Sword Pavilion to the point of grinding his teeth. However, he wasn't completely foolish and never harmed anyone from the Sword Pavilion.

The Sword Pavilion and the Sword Queen, these two entities, were objects of hatred and also objects of fear for him. Therefore, he greatly preferred to harm the Sword Pavilion indirectly.

This plan to plunder Botam Hermitage was conceived with such a clear conviction.

"Then we will begin operations at the exact hour of Zi (子 - 11 PM to 1 AM)!"

Do-gok commanded.

Night patrols were extremely important missions for the Sword Pavilion.

It was customary for disciples of the Sword Pavilion with two wings to take turns on these night patrols. In principle, it was done in pairs, but it wasn't uncommon for someone to undertake it alone for some reason or circumstance.

Today, Dok Go-ryeong was alone. That's why the person who witnessed the scene was only herself.

'Th-those are…'

A group of nearly twenty people, carrying something on their shoulders, moved stealthily along the coast. From their appearance, the items on their shoulders looked quite heavy. The direction they came from was a place she knew well. It was where Botam Hermitage was located.

'Could they be pirates?'

She quickly hid herself in the nearby bushes.

"Captain Kwang-hae, this ended up easier than expected."

One of the men, seemingly a subordinate, said with a smile to the burly man walking at the forefront of the group. The burly man carried nothing but a large sword at his waist. He seemed to be the leader of this group.

"I know, right? Botam Hermitage, Botam Hermitage, I thought it would be incredibly difficult, but it was too easy! I thought it would be harder!"

The burly man, called Kwang-hae, replied in a gruff voice.

"It was effective that we knew the location of the emergency communication bell and the watch posts in advance. As expected, the First Mate's brains are something to be recognized."

"Hmph, what use would an old seagull have if it didn't have a brain? At least it can avoid becoming roasted seagull!"

Kwang-hae replied in a listless voice. He seemed to have a competitive spirit towards First Mate Jung-gwang. Therefore, it was impossible for him to hear praise for Jung-gwang pleasantly.

In any case, their conversation clearly explained who they were.

'So, they were pirates! How dare they rob the abode of Guanyin Bodhisattva!'

In such cases, the course of action was clear.

'I must contact the Pavilion quickly!'

But as Dok Go-ryeong rummaged through her pockets to find the emergency horn, her expression suddenly changed.

'W-where is it! The emergency horn is gone!'

It was a rule to carry an emergency horn during patrols. Of course, she knew it well and had never failed to adhere to it.

It seemed she had forgotten to bring it. Humans make mistakes. Her mistake was understandable. But why did it have to be today of all days!

As uneventful days continued, her vigilance had become increasingly lax. A martial artist's mindset should always be prepared for the unexpected… She had become too complacent, immersed in peace and recent happiness. It was shameful. But now was not the time for regret, but for action.

"Stop!"

Dok Go-ryeong rushed out from the bushes, drawing her sword, and shouted.

"Wh-who are you!"

The pirates, returning after a fruitful raid, were startled by this sudden appearance and momentarily disoriented.

"How dare you steal from Botam Hermitage… you have the guts! Return the stolen goods immediately! Otherwise, this sword will not forgive you."

Although she intended it to be intimidating, her lone figure wasn't very convincing.

"Wh-what! You startled me! It's just a little girl?"

Kwang-hae said, patting his chest.

"How dare a little girl mock an elder? …Huh?"

Kwang-hae's eyes widened as he saw Dok Go-ryeong's beauty. This was an unexpected bonus. Suddenly, desire surged like a black flame from the bottom of Kwang-hae's chest.

"Oh, what a prize!"

The beauty of Dok Go-ryeong was of a level rarely seen in a remote, small island.

Kwang-hae licked his lips, feeling his mouth water. It was a repulsive sight, even more so than a toad. In a pirate group, the 'Assault Captain' refers to the plunder captain. This title was traditionally given to the cruelest, most aggressive, and most vicious individuals who led the plunder from the front.

Kwang-hae, the Assault Captain of the 'Black Sea Breeze,' was no exception. He was so terrible that he was also known as 'Crazy Wave' (狂波浪) for making plundered ships as chaotic as if they had been hit by crazy waves. He was a scoundrel who should not be associated with as a fellow human. Especially for beautiful girls like Dok Go-ryeong…

"To dare attack us, the 'Black Sea Breeze,' alone! Your courage is commendable, young lady, but alas, you must be captured. As our prize, heh heh heh heh."

A vulgar laugh, like a slimy ooze, flowed from the mouth of the mad wave, Kwang-hae, as he gave the order again.

"Hey everyone, it's a precious prize. Don't damage it! Capture her carefully!"

Dok Go-ryeong was enraged by the words that treated her like an object.

If captured by pirates, at best, she would be sold to slave traders and become a slave. Her body and future would be ruined, not to mention her reputation. Furthermore, she had heard of the 'Black Sea Breeze.' Trying to recall it, she had never heard of them being a refined group that merely demanded ransom.

"You bastards! You even engage in human trafficking! I will kill you all in the name of my Sword Pavilion."

Dok Go-ryeong concluded that she had encountered an enemy she could not possibly spare and removed all hesitation from her sword. It was a resolve to kill. In fact, she had never experienced real combat before.

"W-what! Sword Pavilion!"

The name Sword Pavilion carried a power that stimulated fear and dread in these individuals. The movements of several pirates visibly stiffened. On the sea, perhaps, but on land, the Sword Pavilion was superior. Or rather, it wasn't even a contest. To the pirates of the Southern Sea, the name Sword Pavilion was an object of terror, inhabited by 'Narakas' (hellish beings).

"D-don't be afraid! Why are you afraid, you idiots!"

As a seasoned pirate, Kwang-hae quickly regained control of the situation.

"Look at the opponent! It's just a little girl! And she's alone! Why are you afraid?"

As he said, the pirates quickly returned to their senses.

"Don't underestimate me! I alone am enough for pirates like you."

Dok Go-ryeong declared confidently with a vigorous voice. Despite being surrounded by twenty rough men, she showed no signs of being intimidated. Her attitude was so confident that it made one think, 'Truly a disciple of the Sword Pavilion!'

However, Kwang-hae was focused on something else.

"Hehehe, so you really are alone!"

The barbaric pirate's shifty eyes gleamed sharply.

Dok Go-ryeong regretted her words as soon as they were out of her mouth. If she had been wiser, she wouldn't have confessed her solitude. Bluffing was also a tactic in warfare.

"Even if the name of the Sword Pavilion is terrifying, the rabbits they raise aren't scary! How about you drop your sword and surrender meekly? I'm reluctant to damage a new prize! This magnificent elder brother will pamper you sufficiently, so rest assured! How about calling me Grand Brother Kwang (廣大哥) from now on! Kwang-rang (廣郞) would be even better! Hehehehehe!"

It was a hideous smile that threatened to drip saliva. Hearing those disgusting words and worthless boasts sent shivers down Dok Go-ryeong's entire body.

"Sh-shut up! Why would I entrust my life to an ugly barbarian like you! I'd rather bite off my tongue and commit suicide."

It was no joke. The sincerity of her words was beyond doubt.

"Wh-what! Barbarian! Have you ever seen a barbarian as handsome as me, huh?"

Kwang-hae's words were not even acknowledged by his subordinates. Even if the shoe fits, the sky doesn't change to square, and the earth doesn't turn round. It was the same for Do-gok, who wanted to be called Admiral. It seemed delusion was a tradition of the 'Black Sea Breeze.'

"You want punishment instead of reward! You will regret those words! Hey everyone, attack!"

The pirates charged forward with ferocious roars.

"Who's going to regret it! See for yourself how sharp the Sword Pavilion's sword is!"

What was reward and what was punishment? Dok Go-ryeong, who had no intention of agreeing with the madman's distorted sense of values, swung her sword without hesitation and clashed. Forgetting her fear, she bravely confronted them. Silver sword energy flickered from her sword. Even the goddess of war couldn't have been more valiant than her.

And the long night began.

Never before had time felt so much like her enemy as it did tonight. Despite never having neglected her time management, time seemed to be against her. It was unfair. But as the fight wore on, the situation became increasingly disadvantageous for Dok Go-ryeong.

'Perhaps I was not strong enough?'

Although she had mastered the Little Goose Sword and the Flying Goose Sword and had been praised by the Sword Queen, she was still a young girl. Moreover, this was her first real combat. The only experience she had was sparring with her junior sisters. Her experience in close combat was practically non-existent.

Still, her swordsmanship was dazzling. Her sharp sword techniques, like the swift wingbeats of a swift goose darting through the encirclement, were enough to confuse the pirates.

Dok Go-ryeong, having received systematic training as a disciple of a prestigious sect for a long time, possessed that level of skill. The pirate riff-raff, who blindly focused on brute strength without proper martial arts training, were no match for her. Among them, only the Assault Captain Kwang-hae had trained in actual martial arts.

However, they possessed the wickedness and cruelty accumulated through years of real-life plundering. Furthermore, morality was worth less than a passing dog's bark to them. They would do anything to win. Their mindset that the winner takes all was natural for pirates.

The lack of combat experience, no matter how systematically trained as a disciple of a prestigious sect, served as a fatal weakness for her.

Moreover, one hand cannot fight ten. Her skill was not yet strong enough to overcome the difference in numbers and gender. As time went on, Dok Go-ryeong was being pushed into a disadvantageous position. Her breathing became ragged, and sweat poured down like rain. Her feet felt heavy, as if sinking into the sand, and her sword-wielding arm felt as if it were holding a thousand-pound iron bar.

Yet, she gritted her teeth and swung a sharp sword at the man charging at her. A silver flash sliced through the moonless night beach. With a 'clink,' a fountain of blood spurted from the man's neck. His saber was cut in half and scattered on the white sand. It was the level of 'steel cutting' (斷鋼) with sword energy.

"Huff, huff, huff!"

After felling another pirate, her body was already at its limit. All the muscles in her body screamed fiercely. Her breathing was extremely ragged. She was experiencing for the first time how difficult it could be to breathe. It was agonizing, like breathing underwater.

How many had she cut down?

Seven? Eight?

Some of them she hadn't finished off. But even amidst such sacrifices, the pirates were persistent. As their comrades fell one by one, their toxicity deepened, and they cursed her with unspeakable words, but perhaps out of professional dedication, they did not give up on capturing her alive. Fortunately, this worked to the advantage of the exhausted Dok Go-ryeong. But even that was reaching its limit. The captain-level Kwang-hae had not yet entered the fray. If he stepped in directly, it would be truly dangerous.

Seeing the blue veins pulsing on his forehead, it seemed he was quite agitated. Moreover, he was not a person with much patience.

"You foolish idiots! Do we really have to wait until it's my turn? How can I trust weaklings like you and plunder with peace of mind? You unreliable fellows! Move aside, I'll handle it myself!"

Finally, the captain stepped forward.

Dok Go-ryeong had to steel herself. If she defeated him here with all her might, she could gain the upper hand. There was no room to retreat. It was a desperate situation.

"Huh? Huh?"

Kwang-hae was quite flustered.

How could such strength come from that small body? He had come out confident of victory, thinking she must be exhausted… This way, his boast would be a disgrace. He had intended a one-on-one duel. He had his pride, so he couldn't possibly suggest they fight together. And he was confident enough.

But in a one-on-one situation, that little girl rushed at him like a madwoman. The sword, which he thought had lost its power, was still fast and sharp, and it continued to exhibit mysterious changes.

'This, this isn't right… Pfft!'

The situation was not unfolding as Kwang-hae had wished.

'I have to end this quickly…'

Dok Go-ryeong was also becoming anxious. Her qi and stamina were almost depleted. However, she was biting her teeth and charging forward, squeezing every last bit from her dan tian. But it was obvious that the longer she dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be.

'Then!'

Using it might be very dangerous in this situation. But without using it, she couldn't reach a conclusion. There was no other way to win. But if it continued like this, she, alone, would be at a disadvantage. There was no choice.

'Alright! I'll bet everything on the final move of the Flying Goose Sword!'

Dok Go-ryeong calmly waited for an opportunity. She knew better than anyone that there would be no second chance.

"Hiyah!"

As Dok Go-ryeong's momentum visibly weakened, Kwang-hae saw his chance and swung his large saber powerfully, thrusting it forward. Thinking that she couldn't defend against large movements now that her precision was gone. But this was a misjudgment. She had been focused on defense to seize the opportunity, 'the right moment' (적시), not because her strength had waned. Rather, she had been conserving her strength while focusing on defense, waiting for the right moment.

The larger the movement, the bigger the opening. Dok Go-ryeong, using the 'White Goose Unruly' (백홍무란) footwork, evaded the opponent's attack and unleashed her strongest technique towards the gap.

Flying Up Thousand Miles (飛上千里)!

A high-level sword technique that unleashed dozens of sword energies simultaneously by striking the air. Twelve sword energies shaped like geese flew from the girl's sword. Currently, twelve was the limit.

"Gasp!"

Kwang-hae, not having time to be surprised that such sword techniques, seen only from first-class masters, came from a small girl, gulped air and frantically swung his saber to block the incoming goose-shaped sword energies with the 'Miraculous Wave Formation' (廣波幕幕).

*Clang clang clang clang! Bang bang bang bang! Whaaaat!*

In a desperate effort to survive, he swung his saber with all his might. A loud noise, like hailstones falling on a steel plate, echoed.

"Huff, huff, huff! I-I blocked it!"

He managed to block it, but he wasn't unscathed. His breathing was ragged, and red blood flowed from the wounds all over his body. His clothes were tattered like rags. Still, he was alive. Although he sustained many minor injuries, his skin was only cut, and nothing had reached his bones.

'Did I fail…?'

Dok Go-ryeong felt her vision go black as she tried to catch her breath.

She had no moves left.

'Indeed, the Sword Pavilion's sword is sharp! To think that even a young girl can unleash such a powerful sword technique!'

Kwang-hae felt a chill down his spine. If the Sword Pavilion as a whole were to come upon hearing of the Botam Hermitage incident… The thought alone was a terrifying disaster. The incident at Botam Hermitage must have already reached the Sword Pavilion. Now, time was running out. Kwang-hae began to feel very anxious.

Kwang-hae let out another loud laugh and shouted.

"Hahahaha! I wanted to play with you a bit more, but time is short! Too bad! The fun ends here!"

He forced a loud laugh, and the wounds on his body ached fiercely. Still, for the sake of his bluff, he gritted his teeth and endured.

"Hmph, don't make me laugh! You can talk like that after you defeat me!"

But in reality, she could barely stand.

Kwang-hae immediately replied to Dok Go-ryeong's words.

"I'll defeat you now!"

As he swung his fierce saber like a whirlwind with his right hand, he signaled his subordinates with his left hand. The faces of the subordinates who received the signal creased. 'Are you serious right now? Against such a small girl? How cowardly!' was the clear reaction. 'After boasting so much earlier!' was also implied. Though he felt a brief sense of shame, his fear of the Sword Pavilion completely overwhelmed his meager shame.

The pirates reluctantly began to act. A tall, emaciated pirate took out a small tube from his pocket. Then, he took out a needle tightly wrapped in a leather pouch and inserted it into the tube. He then brought the other end to his lips and aimed it towards the girl.

Dok Go-ryeong, busy dodging Kwang-hae's fierce attack, seemed to have no energy to pay attention to anything else. Kwang-hae's mouth curved into a lewd smile as he received the signal that preparations were complete.

"What's so funny…"

*Whoosh!*

The emaciated pirate exhaled the breath he had inhaled deeply into the tube.

*Fiiing!*

The compressed air rushed through the narrow tube with tremendous pressure, and the expanded, powerful force propelled the iron needle at tremendous speed. The iron needle flew like an arrow towards Dok Go-ryeong's back.

Dok Go-ryeong's words couldn't be finished.

Her consciousness was drifting away from her body. A very unpleasant feeling washed over her.

"Wh-what is this?"

No matter how hard she tried to straighten her body, she couldn't stop her stumbling steps. Her vision blurred like ink smeared on a water mirror. She felt dizzy.

"Po-poison?"

Dok Go-ryeong asked, biting her lips.

"Hehehe, rest assured! It's just a simple sleeping agent! We can't afford to carelessly damage precious items!"

Kwang-hae said with a grotesque smile, more repulsive than a toad.

"A-a sleeping agent?"

Dok Go-ryeong's eyes were already largely unfocused as she asked. Kwang-hae nodded.

"Yes, it's a special sleeping agent that can put even an elephant to sleep instantly! It's a genuine article specially made for martial artists, who have stronger resistance than ordinary people. It's so expensive that we don't use it carelessly. Be honored! And be happy! Because when you wake up, paradise awaits, hehehehe!"

It might be paradise for him, but for her, it was clearly hell. However, she no longer had the strength to resist. Her limbs became tangled, and her head began to ache as if it would split. She felt nauseous.

"B-b-b-beast…"

Even her tongue was starting to go numb. She wanted to curse him, but even that was now impossible.

"Khehehe, thanks for the compliment! Pirates are all like that!"

His smarmy laughter was creepily disgusting. If only she could drive a sword into that neck! But her hands and feet wouldn't move, as if ensnared by a petrifying spell. Dok Go-ryeong's consciousness continued to sink into that dark abyss.

'Eun-myeong…'

Why was that name and that face appearing now? It was a futile hope… a wish that couldn't be fulfilled… Even if he were here now, she didn't think he would have the strength to save her.

Still… still…

'I want to meet you one more time…'

With that, Dok Go-ryeong's consciousness completely faded.

Act 3, Scene 2

Descent of the Grim Reaper (死神降臨)

"Now, quickly, pick someone up! We're moving. The Captain is waiting impatiently!"

Kwang-hae commanded. If Do-gok were here, he would have undoubtedly smacked him on the back of the head, asking who the captain was.

"Yes!"

A subordinate pirate in yellow robes stepped forward and was about to lift the fallen Dok Go-ryeong when…

*Pop!*

"Kuaaaak!"

A chilling scream erupted from the yellow-robed pirate's mouth. A scream filled with pain. A scream that seemed to echo from the depths of hell.

"Wh-what happened?"

Kwang-hae, flustered, looked at his subordinate. An unexpected incident had occurred.

"Gasp!"

Kwang-hae's eyes widened. What he saw was astonishing. The yellow-robed pirate, who had been fine moments ago, was clutching his severed right arm below the elbow, wailing in agony.

Red blood was gushing out from the severed limb.

[Do not touch!]

While the chaos had not yet subsided, a voice echoed simultaneously from all directions. No, it felt as if the voice echoed from all eight directions simultaneously. He couldn't even guess the direction.

"Wh-who are you?"

If Kwang-hae had been more polite and wiser, he might have asked, 'Which departed soul are you?' but he was too panicked.

[Do not touch! Do not touch her with your dirty hands! That is a transgression (無禮). An act of not knowing one's place! Not knowing one's place, not knowing one's position, not realizing one's vulgarity, insulting her, attempting to defile my divinity (神聖). These are all unforgivable sins, great sins that can only be repaid with death. Great sins that cannot be repaid with anything other than death. Only death can pay the price.]

The air of nature echoed with a human voice. An immense pressure was felt. The voice was imbued with a mysterious power that subdued the listener's spirit. And it was filled with authority, like a military order from the god of war.

"I-is that… Six Directions Sound Transmission (六合傳聲)?"

A secret technique that uses internal energy to create artificial resonance from six directions, hiding one's position and causing confusion to the opponent.

"Reveal yourself!"

Kwang-hae shouted irritably. An inexplicable sense of dread and fear gnawed at his nerves. Anxiety washed over his inner being.

"F-First Mate! Th-there…"

Kwang-hae's gaze moved rapidly following his subordinate's fingertip.

A person was walking out from a small thicket. Initially, tension was evident on his face, but as the distance to this mysterious intruder gradually decreased, the tension did not increase but visibly lessened. And finally, his face became one of utter disbelief, as if saying, 'I can't believe this!'

He was still a young boy. He was clearly a youth between late teens and early twenties, but to Kwang-hae, who had experienced countless battles, he was merely a snot-nosed brat.

He was the boy whom Dok Go-ryeong had named Eun-myeong. Kwang-hae, judging the boy solely by his appearance, made a personal misjudgment. This was the greatest mistake of his life.

There is a backside to every phenomenon! What appears is not everything.

'In the martial world, it is forbidden to judge an opponent by their age and appearance.'

Superficial appearance does not reflect inner essence.

It is not as if gold nuggets are only found in old silk pouches. The possibility of finding gold nuggets in plain cloth pouches cannot be ruled out. The point is to discover it before opening it. This kind of discernment is the true skill that allows one to survive in the martial world for a long time.

At this moment, he had forgotten this 'common sense' of the martial world. In fact, since many people easily forget this 'obvious thing,' it might not be entirely his fault. However, the responsibility for his mistake was entirely his.

Eun-myeong's eyes, after a glance at the fallen Dok Go-ryeong, turned back to the pirates.

Though his expression was hardened, betraying no emotion, his eyes alone were filled with killing intent so intense it could constrict the observer's heart. His eyes were as cold as if death itself resided within them.

[I will collect my due!]

From Eun-myeong's eyes, shining brightly in the darkness, cold rage, unimaginable for a human, swirled.

*Glug!*

The sound of swallowing dryly could be heard from various places. These people instinctively felt a strange aura emanating from this boy.

'Does this boy possess the spirit to dominate over twenty rough pirates?'

Kwang-hae had to abandon his initial contempt for the boy. The entire area was already overwhelmed by the cold spirit emanating from the boy. As proof, no one dared to move rashly, their eyes fixed on the boy.

Death itself had descended before them.

"L-little boy… S-state your name!"

Kwang-hae shouted defiantly, but he failed to completely hide his inner turmoil. He had already lost his initial momentum. It was a tactical error. However, he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. But the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"You have neither the right to know my name, nor the right to ask it!"

It was a voice devoid of any emotion, utterly indifferent. It was unbelievable that such a voice could come from the mouth of such a young boy, like the sound of Yama, the King of Hell, from his court.

"There is only one thing you must do, and only one thing you can do."

The boy declared with the voice of Yama.

"Atone for that sin with death!"

The verdict was passed.

In the ecosystem, where creatures are bound by the food chain, not a single predator wishes to be eaten by a larger predator.

But if the prey is delicious, predators will inevitably be drawn to it. In that sense, Botam Hermitage was top-tier prey. However, the existence of the Sword Pavilion was turning this top-tier prey into 'cake in a painting' (畵中之餠).

Still, these flesh-eating animals starved for gold and silver do not give up. Despite attempting several times and failing each time, they do not give up. This relentless persistence is the true fear of these predators.

However, tonight, the pirates would be the ones to suffer a setback. They had encountered the Grim Reaper.

"Kuaaaak!"

Another short shriek echoed on the midnight beach.

*Splash, splash!*

The sound of waves crashing against rocks swallowed the scream, along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Spotted one, Mak-pung, scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose any more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered relentlessly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous idea! That's impossible! That's something out of legends or stories."

Do-gok shouted like a madman, frothing at the mouth.

"Shoot! Shoot! Don't let him get on board!"

He yelled at his subordinates, but for some reason, Do-gok realized that it was already too late. He had made a tactical error. But he couldn't afford to lose more momentum. It was a matter directly related to victory or defeat. However, the situation was increasingly turning unfavorable.

"Aargh!"

A muffled cry echoed again. The waves crashing against the rocks swallowed the scream along with the white sand.

"Ugh, ugh, ugh…"

Kwang-hae was in a state of panic.

His teeth chattered incessantly. Although he had been through countless battlefields, this man, like a ferocious man-eating shark, had never trembled with such fear. The aura emanating from the boy's slender body was the touch of death itself. No one could withstand his every move.

No, it was impossible to even know what was happening. The traces of how death was brought about were unfathomable.

His hands merely swung lightly. Yet, each time, without fail, a death occurred. He showed no mercy in his hands. There were no bladed weapons like swords or sabers in his hands. Nor were they hand techniques, fist techniques, foot techniques, or claw techniques. Yet, death raged among them like a ferocious beast.

Was there an invisible blade hidden somewhere? Those who brushed against the cloak of death met their end, cut as sharply as if by a fine sword. It was as if an unseen scythe of death was dismembering and slaughtering them.

His every move was incredibly fast, precise, and brutal. When the tenth subordinate fell by his hand, Kwang-hae, driven to madness, finally realized.

'This guy intends to annihilate us! Just as he promised, he plans to leave no one alive!'

He felt like he was going mad with unbearable fear.

"Attack together! It's impossible alone! Attack together!"

A desperate struggle for survival began.

"Waaahhh!"

With roars and shouts, they tried to shake off their fear and eight men charged at once. But Eun-myeong didn't even flinch. As the saying goes, a rock remains unmoved even when bombarded with dozens of eggs.

Once again, he swung his sleeve vigorously. Then, a silver gust of wind lunged like a beast, biting the necks of eight people.

*Swoosh!*

The heads of eight men soared into the air simultaneously, accompanied by fountains of blood. It happened in a single move.

"Nine more to go!"

His emotionless voice uttered, and a cold killing intent emanated from his eyes.

"L-let's run!"

Kwang-hae screamed, his eyes almost rolling back.

But death does not forgive fugitives. He kicked a spear dropped by a pirate into the air and threw it with all his might.

*Thwack, thwack, thwack!*

*Squawk! Squawk! Squaaawk!*

Three pirates were impaled in a single line, becoming pirate skewers.

This was not a fight, but a one-sided slaughter.

"U-uuaaahhh! We-we have to escape! Fighting such a monster is insane! It's the Grim Reaper."

Kwang-hae ran without looking back. The shadow of death was closing in on him. He had no time to look back. He ran at full speed towards the ship they had arrived on.

'If I can just get on that ship…'

Finally, he reached the ship they had arrived on. It was an ark that would save him from this hell.

But the shadow of death was much faster than he thought.

"Are you the captain?"

*Gasp!*

Kwang-hae, panting heavily, looked up and was terrified.

Eun-myeong was already standing on the stern of the ship he had arrived on, looking down at him. His eyes were as cold and indifferent as crystals of death.

"…But you're not the captain. Where is the captain?"

Eun-myeong's eyes accurately pierced his identity.

"Ov-over there… On the main ship out at sea."

Who would loyalty exist for pirates? For pirates, loyalty meant the number one item to discard in a crisis.

Eun-myeong, focusing his gaze on the tip of his second finger, enhanced his vision to pierce the darkness and could confirm the silhouette of an object faintly illuminated by the starlight. Even relying on starlight, it was an amazing ability.

Pirate ships never enter regular ports. It's impossible for pirate ships to dock at regular ports, and it would be a disaster if they accidentally ran aground on reefs or got their rudders stuck in the sand by coming too close to shore. That's why they had divided into small fast boats to infiltrate the coast.

"Good! Confirmed! You can go now!"

Eun-myeong said in a curt voice.

"Th-then, you'll spare me?"

A flicker of hope appeared on Kwang-hae's face, who was trembling on his knees. Overwhelmed with emotion, he stood up abruptly and bowed to show respect. But he couldn't.

'Huh? What happened?'

Kwang-hae couldn't perform the fist-and-palm salute. It was probably impossible to do so ever again. Why? Because both his arms were no longer attached to his shoulders. Had his arms grown tired of his shoulders? But there was no pain.

It was a bizarre yet soul-shattering experience. The sound of death's footsteps approaching his ears echoed louder than thunder. He was not even granted the merciful moment of death that his subordinates had received.

*Thump!*

His height suddenly shortened. This time, it was his legs that were severed. There was no pain either. Experiencing such a grotesque event while conscious was truly immeasurable terror. It was a shock that shattered the soul.

Kwang-hae's face contorted into the most horrific and pathetic expression a human could make. Tears streamed from his unfocused eyes, and saliva poured like a waterfall from his half-open mouth.

And then…

The intense pain, which had been momentarily suppressed, flared up from the severed limbs and rushed into his brain.

"Kuaaaaaaaak!"

A desperate scream, utterly unimaginable for a human, erupted. The wails of ghosts would be less than this.

*Thud!*

Finally, Kwang-hae's severed head fell onto the white sand. His eyes remained wide open. Perhaps it was the greatest moment of his life, to be freed from that pain and meet a peaceful death.

"I clearly said, you will pay the price!"

The Grim Reaper, in the guise of a boy, uttered an indifferent voice. The counting was not yet over.

There was no moon on the new moon night. Instead, the stars shone dazzlingly. The sea also seemed to glitter with starlight, its dark surface shimmering as if sprinkled with pearl powder.

The Black Sea Breeze floated quietly on that shimmering black silk cloth.

"Huh? Hey, Spotted one? What is that?"

"…Well, Captain?"

In response to Pirate King Do-gok's question, Mak-pung scratched his head.

*Clack!*

As expected, a fist flew.

"Ad-mi-ral!"

Emphasizing each syllable, Do-gok raised his voice again. Mak-pung's mouth pouted.

"Are they already returning? Such fast fellows. But why are they returning so soon? Don't tell me Kwang-hae is slacking off alone?"

Do-gok had stayed behind, entrusting this mission to Kwang-hae, who had begged to be given the task. If he knew that his trusted subordinate had reported his location without hesitation, Do-gok would probably have rolled his eyes.

He squinted and looked at the landing craft approaching the main ship. It was incredibly fast.

"It's incredibly fast! When did my men get such good rowing skills…?"

However, he couldn't even finish his sentence and lost his voice. His eyes widened further and further.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

Consecutive explosions shattered the silence of the night sea. Simultaneously, white splashes of water erupted one after another.

"Wh-what? Cannon fire?"

Terrified, he quickly ducked and looked around, shouting in a panic, but there were no warships visible anywhere. Those lazy fellows would never be on duty this late at night. Moreover, if they, who knew these waters well, weren't here, it would be easy to run aground on such a dark night without moonlight.

The explosions were coming from that small speedboat heading towards the main ship.

"Wh-what is that?"

"Th-well? One thing is for sure: our proud and valiant pirates don't travel so noisily, they travel quietly."

"Hurry and call Jung-gwang!"

Do-gok shouted urgently.

"Yes, Captain!"

Given the situation, Do-gok decided to let this matter slide for now. Mak-pung, the spotted one, ran towards the captain's cabin, and Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang, who was surprisingly engaged in reading, a feat uncommon for a pirate, hurried out onto the deck.

"What's the matter, Captain?"

'This guy and that guy! These guys are clearly rebelling on purpose!'

As if for evidence, he emphasized the word 'Captain' more than necessary. But there was no time to argue about that. In response to Jung-gwang's question, Do-gok pointed wordlessly in one direction. There it was. It was much closer.

He took out a telescope (a rather old looted item) from his pocket and turned it towards that direction. Though it was a moonless night, he could confirm it by relying on the starlight.

Jung-gwang's mouth dropped open.

*Boom!* … *Boom!* … *Boom!*

As water splashed noisily from behind the speedboat, the boat shot forward like an arrow. Do-gok snatched the telescope from Jung-gwang's hand, held it to his right eye, and enhanced his vision. Jung-gwang's mouth also gaped open. It was an unbelievable sight.

There was only one person on that boat. And it was a very young boy. As the boy stood stiffly at the stern of the boat, whenever he unleashed his archery towards the sea, the boat moved forward like a swift dolphin. Still, as if pricked by conscience, he held an oar in his hand.

"What should we do, Captain?"

Do-gok gave orders, vowing to tear that mouth apart someday.

"All hands, battle stations! This ship will now engage in combat."

Jung-gwang echoed the command.

"Understood, Captain! This ship will now engage in combat, Captain! All hands, battle stations, Captain!"

'I'm already busy! Grr!'

Blue veins pulsed like roaring earthworms on Do-gok's forehead. He had no intention of hiding his displeasure.

"Hey, Seagull!"

Jung-gwang, called by his old nickname, flinched for a moment but maintained his composure.

"Yes, is there anything else, Captain?"

"You're very blatant."

"I don't understand what you mean, Captain!"

Jung-gwang replied, feigning ignorance.

"Well, fine! We'll settle this later!"

For now, there was something more important to do.

"Wise decision, Captain!"

Jung-gwang chimed in. Do-gok shouted again.

"Lights out! Turn off the lights!"

To avoid attracting attention and to ensure perfect stealth, all lights on deck had been extinguished. However, while darkness was ideal for hiding, it was unsuitable for combat.

The deck was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

"Archers, deploy to the port side! The rest of you lazy bums, grab your bows and assemble! Prepare crossbows! Something's coming. Shoot it no matter what! Drown it! Say goodbye to the night sea with a gurgle. Feed it to the fish!"

Do-gok roared and commanded. A sense of instinctive fear washed over him. His intuition was usually accurate.

According to Do-gok's orders, the deck became busy. His commands were followed swiftly and accurately without fail. As a pirate group that had recently gained fame in the Southern Sea, their movements were organized and swift.

Archers were deployed, crossbows were loaded, and bowstrings were drawn. There were still over fifty subordinates remaining on the ship. Since moving in a large group would only announce their presence, they hadn't sent many ashore.

Answers of "Ready, Captain!" came from various places. Hearing these answers made Do-gok's insides boil. The veins on his forehead throbbed more prominently.

"Hey, you fools! I said Admiral, Admiral!"

He was operating as a pirate with these fools as his subordinates… He suddenly began to feel miserable. Sighs escaped him.

He decided that after this incident, he would completely re-educate these guys.

Ignoring their agitated captain, Jung-gwang gave orders.

"Everyone, standby! Wait! Fire all at once when they enter within fifty paces of the alert line. If you shoot too early when they enter range, the arrows won't have enough force to inflict a fatal wound. It's a waste of arrows. Prepare for a two-row staggered volley formation (2列交錯連環射陣)."

True to his nickname, Ji Hyeon-gu, Jung-gwang's command was quite competent and to the point. He waited with his right hand raised high.

Finally, the speedboat entered their range. Swallowing dryly, the pirates waited anxiously.

As the boy unleashed two more arrows from his palm, the boat had already moved five paces.

"Volley fire!"

As the raised hand fell, dozens of arrows and three crossbow bolts flew towards the dark, turbulent night sea with sharp whistling sounds. They were like a terrifying pack of sharks sensing blood and rushing towards their prey.

Eun-myeong, cutting through the night sea at full speed on the speedboat, deflected the incoming arrows like a windmill with a look of amusement. The powerful air current generated by the windmill-like rotation of the oar deflected the arrows flying towards him in all directions.

"Do you think ordinary arrows without internal energy can stop a martial artist? That's ridiculous."

Eun-myeong muttered with an emotionless face.

Do-gok and Jung-gwang's faces changed drastically as their first attack, which they were quite confident in, turned out to be futile.

"Damn it, as expected, he's a martial artist. And quite a master at that. Arrows are not very effective. Crossbowmen, aim for the boat! Sink it."

As Jung-gwang said, arrows without internal energy could only hinder the movements of a top martial artist. Furthermore, for an ultimate master, they were practically useless.

"Load the Swift Wind Arrows (快風箭)!"

Three massive crossbows simultaneously aimed at the speedboat. On them were loaded arrows with shafts as thick as iron clubs. The Swift Wind Arrow was a special arrow made for crossbows, designed for naval battles. With this, a small wooden boat could be pierced with a single shot. Moreover, even a skilled martial artist couldn't withstand this head-on.

"Fire!"

*Fiiiuuuuung!*

A sharper sound than before echoed in the night sky as the Swift Wind Arrows shot towards Eun-myeong's speedboat at terrifying speed. One missed. The second was deflected by using the oar to swing it away. The heavy weight of the Swift Wind Arrow was felt in his fingertips.

*Bang!*

However, the third accurately pierced the bow of the boat and disappeared into the sea. It was a large and heavy arrow, so its destructive power was immense. Due to the shock, Eun-myeong's body was thrown into the air. The stern of the boat was lifted high as the powerful force struck the bow.

"It hit! Yes!"

Do-gok and Jung-gwang embraced each other and jumped for joy. But their joy was short-lived… as they witnessed an even more astonishing sight. The boy, who they thought had fallen into the sea and was struggling, was now running across the water towards them at terrifying speed.

"A-a ghost!"

Some ignorant pirates, seeing this, cried out in terror. A human running on water while wearing a physical body! It was a realm they had never heard of, so they could only attribute it to the work of a ghost.

However, Do-gok and Jung-gwang were different. They were both skilled martial artists in their own right. Not all martial artists are the same. There are ranks.

The problem was that there was a huge, almost unspeakable gap between themselves and the being rushing towards them.

"Water surface running (登萍渡水)! What a ridiculous