The Secret Of Sea Dragon Island. (3)

Im Pyeong-il couldn’t move.

A chill ran through him; gooseflesh prickled his skin.

“Th-That can’t be…”

He couldn’t close his mouth at the scene unfolding before him.

A master known as the Yin Monster was mercilessly beating two red-masked men—with his bare hands.

Power beyond imagination. Against such an overwhelming presence, resistance was meaningless.

Skrunch—! Wham—! Crack—!!

They weren’t even given a chance to scream.

He struck so indiscriminately that it was hard to make out the details with the naked eye.

Only after another breath did the loud impacts stop.

At the same time, the two bodies went limp.

The master called the Yin Monster naturally began to search them.

A moment later, a voice of disappointment slipped through his lips.

“Hng. Nothing, my spoils…”

Yu Jinsan, watching, stepped forward with his hands clasped behind his back.

“They look like beggars at first glance. Anyway, well done. Step back for a moment.”

Having swapped places with Yu Seol, Yu Jinsan looked down at the two men.

Both seemed unconscious and didn’t move.

A deadly glint clouded his eyes.

Yu Seol, standing behind, stepped toward Im Pyeong-il with a face full of curiosity.

“Mister.”

Perhaps still shaken by the display of power, Im Pyeong-il flinched and took a half step back.

“…?”

“Don’t worry. We’re not good people, but we don’t hurt just anyone.”

Yu Jinsan, who had been twisting a masked warrior’s neck, called over his shoulder.

“What are you saying? How good a person is grandpa.”

Yu Seol looked at Im Pyeong-il and gave a slight shake of her head, then made a face as if to say it was a lie and not to believe him.

Im Pyeong-il stood dumbfounded, unable to move. What on earth was this situation?

“But what’s that?”

Yu Seol’s gaze turned to his left arm: a sack of rice he’d risked his life to steal.

Sensing her look, Im Pyeong-il hugged it tightly with both hands and answered.

“Fo-food supplies.”

“Tch. I won’t take it. But sir, you really resemble someone I know.”

Im Pyeong-il knew exactly whom she meant; he’d heard it earlier from Yu Jinsan.

“Im, Im Pyeong-su? That’s my little brother.”

At that, Yu Seol clapped her hands in delight.

“Wow! Really? Uncle Pyeong-su is my friend!”

Only after seeing Yu Seol’s bright smile did some of Im Pyeong-il’s tension ease.

“Really… I can’t believe it. How did our foolish Pyeong-su come to be friends with you two?”

Yu Jinsan, finished with his work, dusted himself off, stood, and approached.

“Your brother is a vigilante of Hyangnam County. He walks the righteous path admired by the local murim world.”

“Is th-that true?”

“Why would I lie? Not long ago he almost got beaten by a bastard named Gu Yang-ho, but we saved him.”

Im Pyeong-il’s eyes reddened instantly.

“Ah… Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

To bring such joyful news, his tone and expression carried sincerity. How could one not be grateful?

The two brothers were indebted to these extraordinary people for their lives.

“No need to dwell on it. By the way, why are you staying on this island now?”

“…There are people I must protect.”

Even without hearing details, Yu Jinsan had a hunch.

There must be people hiding somewhere to avoid the masked warriors.

There were many questions, but nothing urgent; once they trusted him, they would reveal everything on their own.

Someone nearby moaned.

“Graaah!”

Yu Seol muttered while looking up the hill.

“I left him asleep earlier; looks like he woke up.”

It was the black-masked figure they had tied behind a tree to interrogate. The granddaughter had apparently knocked him out earlier.

Since it was nearby, the three of them walked over.

For some reason, he was in great pain.

“Gyaaak!!”

What on earth was happening?

Yu Jinsan looked at his granddaughter and asked, “What’s wrong with him?”

Yu Seol shrugged as if she didn’t understand.

“No. I didn’t hit him.”

The man who’d been screaming began trembling all over. The eyes visible through the mask had turned almost completely white.

Then Im Pyeong-il, watching from behind, muttered quietly.

“It seems the effects of the red ginseng have worn off. If left like this, he’ll die.”

Yu Jinsan had never heard the herb’s name before either, but he had a suspicion.

“Could those be the ones being cultivated over there?”

He pointed to a field of plants tinged red in the distance.

Im Pyeong-il nodded and continued his explanation.

“That’s right. Eating it temporarily causes the blood vessels throughout the body to expand.”

Now the behavior of the red-masked warriors made sense.

Yu Jinsan signaled and pointed at the black-masked man.

“But judging by that state, the side effects seem severe.”

“Yes. If it’s not taken continuously, the blood vessels will contract without end and lead to death.”

As he finished speaking, the masked warrior in pain went limp. He had died.

“That’s truly terrifying. To think such an evil herb exists in the world.”

Im Pyeong-il pointed at the barrier surrounding the island’s center.

“Those are seeds the demon brought when he came to this island.”

“You mean Jeon Sa-ryong—the Water Battle King?”

When Yu Jinsan mentioned the name, Im Pyeong-il asked in surprise.

“…You knew about him?”

“The reason we came to this island is to catch that bastard. So we’d appreciate your cooperation.”

After he spoke, Yu Jinsan saw hope in Im Pyeong-il’s previously despairing eyes.

Then Im Pyeong-il said in a trembling voice.

“Everyone offered prayers every day, hoping this day would come…”

“I’ll take that as an offer of cooperation. Now tell me: what must we do to catch him?”

Im Pyeong-il looked around, slung the sack of rice over his shoulder, and answered.

“Follow me. This place will soon be discovered; we must move to a safer location.”

Even after seeing the Yin Monster’s power, Yu Jinsan still didn’t look reassured, which showed how terrifying Jeon Sa-ryong and his subordinates must be.

They would learn just how formidable they were in time.

Yu Jinsan hung the bundle on his granddaughter’s back. Most of its contents were snacks he had taken from the ship’s cabin.

Soon the grandfather and granddaughter followed Im Pyeong-il and moved on.

A short while after they set off, Yu Seol, apparently bored, padded up close to Im Pyeong-il and asked, “By the way, why do they wear masks of different colors?”

“They indicate rank. The white masks are called White Evil and were once the island’s residents.”

“So they were normal originally?”

“Yes. Until they were poisoned by the red ginseng and brainwashed. Now they are so broken they can no longer think normally; they’re no different from corpses.”

Because their martial skill is weak, they are even more vulnerable to the herb’s effects.

Listening absentmindedly, Yu Seol murmured in a gloomy voice, “…How pitiful.”

“And the Black Evil and Red Evil were martial artists and officials who came to pacify this place,” Im Pyeong-il continued. “Black Evil wielded sword qi, and Red Evil appeared to be at least peak to super-peak level. They, too, seem to have been poisoned by the red ginseng and are being controlled.”

“Are there more?”

“Yes. A very small number wear blue masks—the Blue Evil. They have reached the Supreme realm, so be careful.”

Yu Jinsan, listening quietly, asked with a puzzled expression, “Bodies at the Supreme realm shouldn’t be susceptible to herbs like that, should they?”

“That’s right. Our captain said that Jeon Sa-ryong used an evil sorcery.”

It seemed someone else was directing the resistance forces, including Im Pyeong-il. He was curious who their captain was, but he’d find out soon enough; there was no need to ask now.

“So we only need to be careful of the Blue Evil.”

“No. There’s more.”

Yu Jinsan asked, baffled, “There’s more?”

“Yes. I heard there are those wearing golden masks inside that barrier.”

“Honestly, what next. What are those guys?”

“I haven’t seen them either. Our captain is the only one who’s gone inside the barrier and come back alive.”

“Well, we’ll learn in time.”

Yu Jinsan didn’t press further.

They pushed through the mountain and traveled roughly a day’s journey.

Ahead, a ruined temple came into view.

As they drew nearer, Im Pyeong-il stopped his light footwork and said, “This way. Follow me closely.”

“Hm. Is that temple the headquarters?”

“It’s one of the safehouses. The headquarters is elsewhere.”

There seemed to be more resistors than expected. After all, the island was once said to be home to tens of thousands, so it wasn’t surprising.

A moment later, arriving at the temple entrance, Im Pyeong-il gave a signal.

Peep—! Peep—! Peep—!

A short bird trill sounded three times.

Shortly after, two people clutching swords appeared from inside a hall whose roof had half collapsed.

“You’ve struggled, brother. You’ve finally brought food.”

“Yes. It’s not much, but we’ll get by for a while.”

“That’s such a relief. But who are the kids behind you?”

For the first time, Im Pyeong-il’s face, long filled with darkness, wore a faint smile.

“They are the ones who will free us from this hell.”

“Eh? What do you mean…”

At that moment Yu Seol waved from behind and winked with one eye.

“Nice to meet you. We are the Yin Yang Twin Monster.”

“Yin Yang… Twin Monster? What on earth are those kids? You must explain, brother.”

They wouldn’t be let in unless it made sense to them; of course, that was natural. Children so cleanly dressed and fair-skinned in a hell full of despair—it was unimaginable.

Im Pyeong-il spoke gravely to the bewildered warriors.

“Show some manners. They are the ones who knocked down three Red Evil with bare hands.”

The two warriors immediately retorted as if they couldn’t believe it.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“That doesn’t make sense, does it?”

They couldn’t bicker forever.

Yu Jinsan watched silently and signaled his granddaughter with his eyes.

Yu Seol gently extended one hand.

Rustle—rustle—!

Fallen leaves on the ground whipped up and enveloped the two warriors’ entire bodies.

Soon their toes lifted off the ground.

“Ack!”

“Gasp!”

The warriors flailed their limbs in terror, faces gone pale.

Had it been usual, she might’ve played more tricks, but Yu Seol immediately set them down; continuing felt like it might go wrong.

“Were you very scared? Sorry, my grandpa told me to…”

Yu Seol looked embarrassed, apologetic, but nothing could get through to the two men. One slumped against the wall as his legs gave out; the other sank to his knees. Their shock had not yet settled.

“Brother, I don’t know what’s what, but get inside for now.”

“Thanks. We’ll see you later.”

Im Pyeong-il patted their shoulders and led the way inside.

Inside the temple he lifted the straw mat covering the floor, revealing stairs leading down.

Yu Jinsan first measured the interior with his qi-sense. Within roughly a little over a hundred meters, he felt the crowded qi of many people.

“So you’ve all been hiding and living in a place like this?”

“They had no choice if they wanted to survive. Come inside quickly.”

A short while later, the grandfather and granddaughter who followed him down were quite shocked.

The villagers were huddled together in a mess so pitiful words couldn’t describe it.

Lifeless eyes. Emaciated bodies that revealed how little they’d eaten—one could say they lived only because they couldn’t die.

He had expected something, but not such a harrowing sight.

Then the delighted voices of small children rang out.

“Oh? Mister’s here!”

“Hng. Why are you so late!?”

Children of around five or six tumbled forward and hugged Im Pyeong-il’s waist.

At that moment he wore a happier expression than ever.

“Come on, mister brought food! You were so hungry, weren’t you?”

It seemed the reason he clung so fiercely to the rice sack was because of these children.

The grandfather and granddaughter watched the scene in silence.

A little while later, a girl with her hair in two pigtails timidly approached Yu Seol.

Small and scruffy as she was, her large round eyes looked full of innocence.

“By the way, who’s the older sister?”

Yu Seol found the approaching girl cute and tugged at her ear.