A Small Spark Ignites Fire. (2)

Yu Jinsan’s form shot out like an arrow.

In an instant Tang So-gun’s hands blurred into a mirage—no, they only seemed to vanish because they moved too fast to see.

They moved at a speed no eye could track; all Yu Jinsan could tell was that throwing weapons were being hurled.

Papapapat-!

Dozens of gleaming shafts slammed toward the charging Yu Jinsan.

‘Is it really to this extent?’

It wasn’t just speed. Each throwing dagger carried internal qi and could pierce wood. There was nowhere to dodge—at least by normal standards.

Yu Jinsan’s advancing form suddenly twisted at an odd angle.

Tatatat-!

He’d used the Shaolin Great Body-Shift Technique Jeong Hye taught him. This body-moving art let his body go wherever his mind wanted—truly the supreme evasion skill. Running while leaning sideways as if about to fall made him look bizarre, but it worked.

The distance to Tang So-gun dropped to about three feet.

Another ten throwing daggers flew at him.

Puk-! Puk-puk-!

They punctured sleeves—he barely avoided being hit.

Two steps forward.

If he took two more steps, he could land a strike on Tang So-gun.

But Yu Jinsan misjudged.

Suddenly the gap between them widened rapidly.

It was Tail Wind Shadow Step, a Tang family technique that slid one explosively backward.

‘What, you bastard!?’

He felt like a fish he’d almost caught wriggling free.

Tang So-gun’s back burst through the warehouse wall.

Outside, he kept his distance and continued firing throwing daggers with practiced skill. He was no easy opponent—truly a leader of the Tang family caliber.

Yu Jinsan doggedly pursued, refusing to let him go.

His Dragon Slaying Spear swept aside the incoming daggers.

Tatang-! Tatatangtang-!!

They were thin, long piercers—barely visible. He parried them by sensing the flow of qi. Had he not reached the Supreme realm, he could never have blocked them.

Occasionally other projectiles were mixed in, producing stomach-dropping moments. Some changed course mid-flight; some slowed then sped up.

Still, Yu Jinsan stubbornly advanced and closed the distance.

‘One more step!’

After trials and twists he closed in and pulled his Dragon Slaying Spear back over his shoulder.

But just before he thrust, Tang So-gun pushed off the ground and leapt.

Yu Jinsan, fired up, bent his knees—but he couldn’t leap. Tiny metal beads rained down like pellets.

It was the family lord’s secret martial art: Raining Heaven-Thunder Storm.

There was nowhere to hide. If they hit him, even Vajra Indestructible wouldn’t remain intact.

Clenching his teeth, Yu Jinsan spun on his left foot.

‘Return Wind Shield!’

The thirteenth form of the Yu Family Wind Slaying Spear, a defensive technique. The Dragon Slaying Spear spewed a gale above his head and formed a barrier. The falling metal beads struck the spear’s blade and shattered.

Kaang-! Kakakakang-!!

Even though the beads were small, thunderous sounds erupted—the clan leader’s inner power had to be immense.

It was touch-and-go, but he barely held on.

As the assault subsided, Yu Jinsan pushed off the ground and leapt.

At last the close-quarters fight was about to begin.

As he closed in, two short daggers flashed from Tang So-gun’s sleeves.

The Tang sect’s arts weren’t limited to thrown weapons. Gripping the short, thin paired blades, Tang So-gun’s sword energy surged.

A bright aura flared at the tip of Yu Jinsan’s spear, radiating grand momentum.

‘That’s far enough, you bastard!’

One-Light Extreme Flash—the fastest form of the Yu Family Wind Slaying Spear. In a blink a beam of light shot straight out.

It was blocked, but that was expected—he was already preparing the next form. With the spear’s reach, offense and defense had reversed.

The spear tip rose high and then fell vertically.

Instead of merely countering, Tang So-gun crossed his daggers above his head in a defensive stance—but it wasn’t simple defense. Just before impact, a burst of qi exploded from his paired blades, emitting a powerful repulsive force.

With a heavy boom Tang So-gun was thrown to the ground; Yu Jinsan flew even higher.

Yu Jinsan wore an ‘oh no’ expression.

‘You deliberately bounced me off?’

It seemed Tang So-gun had induced that move on purpose—to create distance and change direction.

Yu Jinsan was airborne while Tang So-gun, back on the ground, finally relaxed a little.

Tang So-gun’s gaze cooled.

‘This ends it, Yang Monster.’

He was certain. In the air Yu Jinsan couldn’t move freely and thus couldn’t avoid the volley of throwing daggers. Dozens of small metal beads—no, not daggers—were already cupped on Tang So-gun’s fingers, ready to launch.

Sensing the danger, Yu Jinsan furrowed his brow.

As befits a clan leader, Tang So-gun was experienced and seasoned.

But Yu Jinsan wasn’t the only one sensing danger.

• Grandpa, Tentacle One Hundred and Eight Strikes!

Yu Jinsan’s eyes snapped wide open. He’d momentarily forgotten—he still had a trump card.

The Invincible Seol Spear Technique, the form his granddaughter devised: Tentacle One Hundred and Eight Strikes. He’d never used it in real combat, but now it was the best option.

‘Let’s see what my granddaughter’s spear art tastes like!’

Flipping upside down midair, Yu Jinsan fell headfirst.

Tang So-gun waited for him to get into range—apparently planning to unleash his deadly close-range projectile technique so he couldn’t dodge.

When the distance closed to within five feet, Tang So-gun’s hands and Yu Jinsan’s Dragon Slaying Spear moved together.

The metal beads shot upward.

From above a red spear tip extended downward like tentacles.

Both were essentially the final move; whoever gained the upper hand here would seize victory.

Immediately the countless splitting spear tips began to deflect every incoming bead.

Kakang-! Kakakakang-!!

Sharp metallic sounds rang out without end.

Tang So-gun, still launching projectiles, grew increasingly pale. A spear art that defended and attacked at once—he was flustered by this strange form he’d never seen.

No matter how many projectiles he sent, the tentacles struck and deflected them all.

‘How can such a spear art exist…’

There was no time to be surprised.

Before he knew it, over a hundred tentacles had closed within arm’s reach and began to coil around his body.

He hastily activated his defensive strengthening technique but knew it would be useless. At this rate his whole body would be torn to pieces.

The Tang family warriors watching from afar screamed.

“Brother, sir!”

“No!!”

Their shouting changed nothing.

Tang So-gun’s whole body vanished into the shadow of the Dragon Slaying Spear.

Then a fierce roar poured out like hail.

Kwajik-! Kwakwakwakwang-!!

Before the unprecedented brute force of the spear art, everyone was left speechless.

As Tentacle One Hundred and Eight Strikes finished, Yu Jinsan’s feet lightly touched the ground.

Pride filled his face.

He slanted the Dragon Slaying Spear and glanced down to his lower right—at the sprawled Tang So-gun.

Contrary to everyone’s expectation, Tang So-gun’s limbs were intact. Instead his body was tattered and bloodied.

Tang So-gun’s defensive device hadn’t completely absorbed the spear’s force—the moment before the strike Yu Jinsan had nullified the force. Only the two of them knew that.

No one knew why Yu Jinsan spared Tang So-gun; it was because of a grand plan he privately harbored.

“F-family lord!”

The Tang sect warriors rushed to their family lord, while Yu Jinsan moved on, leaving them behind.

His steps were easy, his shoulders stiff with pride as he approached his granddaughter.

“Well? You saw Grandpa’s skill, right?”

Yu Seol clapped her hands and genuinely rejoiced.

“Yes, our Grandpa is so cool!”

“As expected, the only one who appreciates me is our Seol.”

Although he couldn’t say it aloud, Yu Jinsan’s heart leaped with joy. He had taken the leader of the Tang family—a top house among the five great families of the martial world. The thrill hadn’t faded.

They were celebrating the victory when a roar cut through the air.

“Yin Yang Twin Monster, you bastards!”

Turning back, the Tang family warriors surrounding their family lord glared at them. Naturally enraged—the pillar of their clan had been horribly mauled—they had no intention of sitting quietly.

“Lose the glare from your eyes. This old man is asking nicely.”

A middle-aged man carrying the unconscious family lord spat out his resentment.

“You dare touch the Tang family and think you’ll escape unharmed? We won’t leave this be!”

Yu Jinsan poked his ear with his pinky and asked gruffly, “Just you lot? Do you think that’s possible?”

No one answered; they only trembled with anger.

At their predictable reaction Yu Jinsan snorted and spoke, “If that Tang So-cheon or whatever comes back, tell him to come to the market. I’ll be around taking a look.”

“People like you think you can handle him?”

“Hm. Everyone said that at first—until they got their asses handed to them by us.”

It was the Tang family’s restricted area where outsiders were forbidden. Even though the notorious Yin Yang Twin Monster strode openly through the village, no one could stop them.

As the surroundings quieted, a look of satisfaction crossed Yu Jinsan’s face.

They walked in silence for a moment.

Yu Seol linked arms with him, matching his stride and playfully flirting.

“Grandpa, aren’t you hungry? You didn’t get to eat the noodles earlier.”

“Hm. Using qi like that does make me a bit hungry. But aren’t we broke right now?”

“No. I have money. I’ll buy it.”

“You? Where did you get money?”

“I borrowed it from that guy earlier. The young master.”

What money would the knocked-out guy have lent her? She had likely pocketed it as spoils of war without even noticing. You couldn’t scold her for that—this was the murim world where might made law.

“How much do you have?”

Yu Seol smiled, dimples showing.

“Heehee. Curious? Want to see?”

Looking at his granddaughter’s face, he saw the look of someone who’d hit the jackpot. It seemed to be more than just a few coins. He’d find out soon enough.

“Enough, child. Let’s take a look around first.”