Got You.

Kwagagagagagagang!
The ground was overturned wherever the shock wave passed.
Gyo-ha and Namgung Hyeok rolled across the ground to evade it.
However, the edge of the shock wave caught them and sent them flying.
By the time they hurriedly got up, the attack was over.
The place where the two had stood was completely destroyed. Not a single tree or rock remained.
It looked as though a typhoon had passed through.
Had it struck them directly, their bodies would have shattered like the trees and rocks.
Gyo-ha let out a hollow laugh at the sight.
A chill ran down his spine.

“He’s a monster.”
“But that doesn’t mean we have no way to deal with him. He can only use it while exhaling, so he cannot sustain it for long.”

An unexpected voice cut in from beside them.
When they turned, Jegal Yeon was standing there with her sword drawn.
She was still in terrible shape, but her breathing had stabilized, apparently after regulating her qi during that brief interval.
Under their gazes, Jegal Yeon spoke.

“I’ll join you. He also seems unable to move while exhaling.”

It was a cool-headed assessment befitting a young lady of the Jegal Clan.
Gyo-ha searched his memory at her words.
Myeong-gong had certainly been slow when turning his head.

“Then his attack is actually an opportunity.”

Namgung Hyeok understood what Jegal Yeon meant.
“I don’t think it will be that simple.”

Gyo-ha licked his lips while watching Myeong-gong.
He could tell from having traded blows with him.
His opponent appeared to fight crudely, but he was intelligent.
Even this might have been deliberate.

“Well, we’ll find out once we try.”

Gyo-ha grinned and stepped forward.
Myeong-gong watched the three of them as though their efforts were laughable.
Gyo-ha charged first.
Kwang!
Myeong-gong’s hand blocked Gyo-ha’s fist.
Jegal Yeon’s sword immediately followed, aiming for Myeong-gong.
Myeong-gong moved to stop Jegal Yeon with his other hand, but retreated after noticing Namgung Hyeok approaching from the side.
A succession of attacks followed.
Gyo-ha’s, Namgung Hyeok’s, and Jegal Yeon’s attacks rained down upon him.

[Tch, you bothersome pests!]

Myeong-gong’s eyes flashed.

‘It’s coming.’

Myeong-gong swung his arms while drawing a breath.
The three quickly exchanged glances.
They simultaneously launched themselves in three different directions.

[Awooooooooo!]

The Sound-Shattering Roar targeted Gyo-ha.
Myeong-gong knew who posed the greatest threat.
At that moment, Namgung Hyeok and Jegal Yeon rapidly approached Myeong-gong from behind.
Gyo-ha rolled across the ground to avoid the Sound-Shattering Roar and frowned.

‘It’s slower than before.’

It was also weaker. Was it because he had been forced to use it so hastily?
No.
Myeong-gong’s eyes were turned to the side even as he fired the Sound-Shattering Roar at Gyo-ha.
Namgung Hyeok.

“Hyeok!”

Namgung Hyeok reacted instantly to Gyo-ha’s call.
He wrapped his sword in qi and raised his Protective Aura Qi as well.
It was the correct decision.
The stream of wind gradually stopped.

[Eup!]

Myeong-gong stopped exhaling, then blasted the remaining breath toward Namgung Hyeok like a cannon shell.

[Keheong!]

Kwagagagang!
Namgung Hyeok was hurled over the bushes and slammed into the ground.
However, their efforts had not been entirely fruitless.
Jegal Yeon’s sword cut across Myeong-gong’s back.

“Hyeok. Are you all right?”
“…I’m fine.”

Namgung Hyeok rose through the cloud of dust. Contrary to his words, however, he was far from unharmed.
Namgung Hyeok staggered back and discarded his broken scabbard.
At the final moment.
Had he not crossed his sword and scabbard, it would have been his arm that broke.
Jegal Yeon spoke apologetically as Namgung Hyeok approached.

“…His hide is too thick.”

She had wasted the opportunity they had struggled to create.
Gyo-ha was already fighting Myeong-gong again and could not join their conversation.

“It’s all right.”

Namgung Hyeok raised his sword once more.

“Thanks to that, we learned more about his capabilities.”

He could break the attack off and fire the remaining breath separately. They had also confirmed that he was defenseless while using it.
Moreover, stopping the Sound-Shattering Roar took time.
They had gained something.
The two nodded and swung their swords at Myeong-gong once again.

Chaeng! Chaejaeng!
Swords and claws collided.
The exchange continued without pause.
However, their coordination gradually began to falter.
Namgung Hyeok’s injuries and Jegal Yeon’s dwindling stamina were the problem.

‘I have to create an opening.’

Jegal Yeon bit her lip.
Her mind was working faster than anyone else’s.
However, she had far too few pieces left to move.

‘If only we had one more person.’

Her wish was answered.

“Gate-Shattering Single Saber!”

A shout rang out from the side.
At the same time, a massive saber came for Myeong-gong.
Kwang!
Myeong-gong staggered from the unexpected strike.
Gyo-ha and Namgung Hyeok seized the moment and attacked.
Myeong-gong stumbled backward.

“Brother!”
“That’s right! Peng Seon-ho has arrived!”
“I told you not to shout the names of your techniques in a real fight.”

Peng Seon-ho had been smiling triumphantly, but he blinked at the unexpected rebuke.
Had he approached quietly, he might have created an even better opportunity.

“…But I can’t put any strength into it if I don’t shout.”

Jegal Yeon shook her head.
How had the Peng Clan trained him for him to develop such a habit?
However, a smile appeared on Jegal Yeon’s lips.
She had been worried about Peng Seon-ho throughout the battle.
Judging by his current condition, he had at least avoided the worst.

“Just to make sure, this isn’t Hell, is it?”

Peng Seon-ho asked while pointing his saber.
It was a natural question after waking up to the sight of something like Myeong-gong.

“You’re still alive, so don’t worry.”
“That’s good.”

He grinned and launched himself forward.

“Wait, we need to form a plan…!”

However, Peng Seon-ho had already joined Gyo-ha and Namgung Hyeok.
Jegal Yeon sighed and charged toward Myeong-gong as well.

Peng Seon-ho’s arrival brought the scales, which had been tipping against them, back into balance.
The closely matched exchange continued.
Displeasure gradually appeared on Myeong-gong’s face.
Gyo-ha bit his lip as he watched him.

‘This is getting in the way.’

The problem was Gyo-ha’s own arm.
The splint supporting his injured arm.
Since this one was made of iron, perhaps it should have been called an iron-splint or a metal-splint instead.
It was slowing his reactions.
Even now, the iron creaked against his swollen muscles.

‘Should I tear it off?’

The thought quietly crept into his mind, but he clicked his tongue after remembering Tang Ja-gyeong’s warning.
Moreover, his arm was not the only troublesome thing.
The Yokai Qi within Gyo-ha was reacting to Myeong-gong’s Yokai Qi.
It churned as though eager to burst out at any moment.
Keeping that Yokai Qi under control was an ordeal in itself.
At that moment, the course of the battle changed.
Peng Seon-ho launched an offensive so aggressive that it appeared dangerous.

“Splitting Forms, Breaking Formations! Tiger Radiance Ultimate Art!”

The names of techniques poured from his mouth without pause.
As Peng Seon-ho continued swinging his saber, his movements gradually slowed.
Peng Seon-ho breathed heavily.
It was obvious at a glance that he was in poor condition.
He had pushed his injured body too hard.

“Brother, fall back!”

Jegal Yeon shouted urgently.
Peng Seon-ho nodded and retreated.
Myeong-gong didn’t miss the opportunity.
He attempted to charge at the retreating Peng Seon-ho, but Gyo-ha and Namgung Hyeok blocked him.

[You irritating pests!]

Myeong-gong opened his mouth.
The surrounding air was sucked inward in an instant.
And then.

[Awooooooooo!]

The Sound-Shattering Roar surged toward Peng Seon-ho.

“Brother! Now! Dodge!”

Jegal Yeon shouted.

“Hold on, Sister Yeon told me to go all out…”

Peng Seon-ho complained, then gritted his teeth when he saw the Sound-Shattering Roar approaching.
Peng Seon-ho leaped to the side.
Even that movement looked unsteady.

‘I told you to pretend. Pretend!’

Jegal Yeon watched him with concern.
She had told him merely to put on an act, but he appeared to have genuinely expended all his strength before retreating.
However, his actions had created an opportunity.
Gyo-ha and Namgung Hyeok approached Myeong-gong from behind.
Jegal Yeon was watching Myeong-gong anxiously when she caught the look in his eyes.

‘…We weren’t the ones who set the trap!’

The surging wind weakened in an instant.
He had not stopped midway through as he had before.
Stopping the attack required time.
From the beginning, he had only pretended to take a deep breath while inhaling very little. Peng Seon-ho had never been his target.
His true target was…

“You have to dodge…!”

However, Myeong-gong had already expelled the little breath he had taken and began to move.
He swung his claws toward Namgung Hyeok.
Kwang!
Namgung Hyeok blocked with his sword, but couldn’t withstand the impact and was hurled away.
Myeong-gong turned his head, his eyes flashing.
His gaze contained only Gyo-ha.
Grab.

[Got you.]

Myeong-gong caught Gyo-ha’s fist in his hand.
Jegal Yeon gritted her teeth and swung her sword.
Puk.
Her sword pierced Myeong-gong’s hide, but he didn’t budge.
Myeong-gong opened his mouth.
At that moment.

“Duck.”

A familiar voice reached Jegal Yeon’s ears.
At the same time, a streak of light descended.
It was Moyong Hwi. Myeong-gong’s back jolted beneath his attack.
Moyong Hwi immediately assumed another stance.

Flashing Light Rushing Cloud Sword.

Another beam of light erupted.
This one was intense enough to illuminate the entire area.
Just as Moyong Hwi’s sword was about to reach Myeong-gong’s back.
Jjeujeujeuk.
Myeong-gong’s fur lengthened.

“…!”

Puk!
Moyong Hwi’s sword plunged into Myeong-gong’s back at the same instant that sharp spines pierced Moyong Hwi’s arm.
Moyong Hwi frowned and hurriedly retreated.
Myeong-gong’s appearance had changed considerably.
The fur along his back stood completely on end.
There was an animal known as the wei (猬).
It resembled a rat, but possessed one distinctive trait.
When threatened, the fur on its back rose into sharp spines.
A hedgehog.
Myeong-gong now resembled a hedgehog.
Seuseuseuk.
The spines settled, and he returned to his previous appearance.
Myeong-gong threw aside the Gyo-ha he had been holding and turned around.
Moyong Hwi posed too great a threat for him to continue attacking Gyo-ha.
Despite transforming his fur into spines, a large wound remained.
Moyong Hwi sealed the acupoints of his bleeding arm.
Remarkably, the bleeding stopped.
Moyong Hwi readjusted his grip on his sword and glared at Myeong-gong.
When Jegal Yeon stared at him in surprise, Moyong Hwi responded coldly.

“I did not intervene to save you. I acted only because we now have a chance of winning.”

Just as his words suggested, he made no attempt to hide his reluctance.
Leaving those words behind, Moyong Hwi charged toward Myeong-gong.
Jegal Yeon frowned as she watched him.

‘A chance of winning?’

Why only now?
It would have been better if he had acted when Peng Seon-ho regained consciousness.
Not only Namgung Hyeok but even Peng Seon-ho was now in poor condition.
The situation had worsened.

“He wasn’t talking about us.”

At that moment, Gyo-ha, who had been thrown away, walked back.
Tuk, tuk, Gyo-ha brushed the dirt from his clothes.
Myeong-gong was a monster and therefore beside the point, but Gyo-ha was no ordinary opponent either, making the sight all the more bizarre.
When the blood flowing from his split forehead reached his chin, he licked it away.
Jegal Yeon looked at Gyo-ha with confusion in her eyes.

“The chance of winning. He didn’t mean because of us.”

Gyo-ha clicked his tongue briefly, apparently displeased by something.
He then slowly walked toward Myeong-gong.
Jegal Yeon tilted her head, then understood what he meant.
The fragrance of plum blossoms rose from somewhere.
A figure charged toward Myeong-gong.
The hems of his Taoist robe fluttered.
Plum blossoms began blooming at the tip of his sword.
Jeon Pung.
He had arrived.
And he was not alone.

“What in the world is that…?”
“This is no time to admire it!”
“I wasn’t admiring it. I was horrified.”

Reinforcements had finally arrived.
Jegal Yeon looked toward Moyong Hwi again.
She now understood what he had meant.

‘…He had no intention of acting until there was a chance of winning.’

He had not even attempted to conceal that fact.
He had not remained there to help create that chance.
He had been watching to gather as much information about the enemy as possible.
By using her, Gyo-ha, and Namgung Hyeok.
He had been preparing for the next battle.
She could understand. Her father would likely have made the same decision.
But was it right?
Jegal Yeon did not know.