Turbulent Times Create Heroes. (1)

The operation was a resounding success.

Not only had they relocated the shelter’s residents, they’d dismantled the enemy’s forward base as well.

It was the greatest achievement since the resistance formed to oppose the island’s ruler, Jeon Sa-ryong.

Everyone who had completed their missions gathered at headquarters.

“Puhahaha! Hahaha!”

Il Kwang’s joyous laughter echoed through the cozy lava cave.

He puffed out his chest and swaggered down the central corridor.

A little while later.

A warrior in charge of supplies hurried over from the other side and whispered to him.

“Is this really okay, Captain? You said to open the entire storehouse.”

A festival was in full swing across the underground headquarters.

They slaughtered the few heads of livestock they had and even brought out the reserved liquor.

Even on their happiest days, this had never happened before.

“Yes. Let everyone eat their fill. Today, it’s allowed.”

“With the current reserves… we wouldn’t even last a month.”

Il Kwang wasn’t unaware of the supply officer’s concern.

The shelter’s residents had joined them, increasing the number of mouths to feed.

“It doesn’t matter. Either the island will be liberated, or we’ll all die—there will be an end.”

The supply officer tilted his head, puzzled.

“…Yes?”

Il Kwang gently gripped the supply officer’s shoulder with a hand as big as a house.

Then he leaned in and whispered in a low voice.

“Do you know what I saw earlier? With a single gesture from the Yin Monster Warrior, five enemy soldiers fell flat.”

“What kind of joke are you making?”

“Of course you wouldn’t believe it—I thought I was seeing things too. But it’s the truth. He even toyed with two Blue Warriors on his own.”

“Blue Warrior… you mean those guys?”

They were absolute masters in blue masks, a terror to everyone.

He’d been toying with two such fighters? No wonder nobody could imagine it.

“I’m telling you it’s true. Have I ever spoken nonsense?”

The supply officer still seemed unconvinced.

But he knew Il Kwang wasn’t the sort to lie.

“No, Captain. Then, is he capable enough to fight Jeon Sa-ryong?”

Il Kwang nodded without hesitation.

“Of course. But where is the Yin Monster Warrior right now?”

“I saw her playing with the kids on the way here.”

“Her heart is as unrivaled as her martial skill. Our future depends on her, so we must treat her with utmost respect.”

“Understood, Captain. I’ll make sure nothing is lacking.”

Il Kwang nodded with a pleased smile.

He hummed a tune and walked deeper into the cave.

It wasn’t long before—

“Hello, Captain!”

Three warriors squatted, spreading steamed food on leaves.

There was only a little, but some homemade liquor sat beside them.

It had been years since they’d rationed out the reserved liquor; perhaps because of that, smiles bloomed on every face they passed.

“Yes. Everyone, eat your fill. A full belly fights better.”

Il Kwang waved a hand and continued walking inward.

His steps were leisurely, but he couldn’t help worrying.

‘A month…’

That was the period the supply officer had mentioned.

They had to either finish matters within that time or secure more food.

‘I should go and discuss it right away.’

He headed straight for the operations room.

When he arrived, three people were seated around a stone table.

Yang Monster Yu Jinsan, the captain’s wife Yeon Cho-hee, and Captain Jong-hyun sat there.

“On a day like today, take it a bit easy.”

When Il Kwang entered jokingly, Yeon Cho-hee waved him over.

“We’ve been waiting. Please sit.”

Because a seat was empty, her tone turned more serious than usual.

“What were you talking about so earnestly?”

“We were explaining the situation here once more to the Yang Monster Great Warrior and seeking his counsel.”

“Counsel, you say? That’s absurd. It’s nothing but an old man’s petty schemes.”

Yu Jinsan raised both hands in protest, but Yeon Cho-hee spoke again with a grave expression.

“You needn’t be humble. The great warrior is more insightful than anyone I know.”

Captain Jong-hyun nodded in agreement.

Yu Jinsan waved a hand lightly and continued speaking.

“Anyway, now that the Captain is here, let’s summarize. From our assessment, we likely don’t need to fight every enemy on the island—and we couldn’t if we tried.”

Yeon Cho-hee nodded as if she understood.

“Exactly. If we can take down Jeon Sa-ryong, those brainwashed by him will naturally collapse.”

Il Kwang blinked in confusion and asked,

“How do you expect to pick out and kill the one hiding deepest inside?”

He’s inside the barrier; there’s no way to know how many masters are within.

Even if we infiltrated, assassinating him would seem impossible.

But Yu Jinsan had a relaxed expression, as if he’d already thought this through.

“Entering the barrier is absolutely disadvantageous. Therefore, I intend to draw him out.”

“Hmm. He’s been holed up in there and never comes out. How can you possibly draw him out?”

Yu Jinsan’s index finger moved slowly and pointed to a spot on the stone table.

“We’ll create a situation he can’t help but come out for. Right here.”

Everyone’s gaze fixed on the place he indicated.

The edge of the table bore a map of Sea Dragon Island, pinpointing a stretch of coastline about thirty li from here.

That was also the place where Yang Monster Yu Jinsan and his granddaughter first landed on Sea Dragon Island and met Im Pyeong-il.

Il Kwang asked with a puzzled look,

“Isn’t that the pier?”

“Yes. Is it true that a ship docks there once every five days?”

Yu Jinsan had seen a ship dock there before; he wanted to confirm the interval.

They didn’t know the ship’s origin or destination. According to their intelligence, the ship unloaded supplies—food—and carried off enemy recruits.

Il Kwang, who’d been listening absentmindedly, suddenly clapped—he’d noticed something.

“Are you suggesting we ambush that ship?”

Yu Jinsan nodded with a faint smile.

“Exactly. If we cut off their continual exchange, they’ll have to come out.”

In the end, even Dragon Sword would have no choice but to move.

They planned to harass the enemy to create an opportunity.

Il Kwang laughed heartily, delighted by the idea, and shouted,

“Puhaha! That’s the perfect stratagem!”

What couldn’t be attempted before had become possible with the arrival of the Yin Yang Twin Monster.

But Yu Jinsan planned several operations beyond that.

He recalled Im Pyeong-il stealing sacks of rice from the enemy’s warehouse.

“That’s not all. We’ll not only seize the supplies loaded on the ship, we’ll ransack the warehouses of the men stationed outside the barrier.”

It would be a two-birds-with-one-stone operation that would instantly solve the food shortage.

Conversely, the enemy would suffer severe supply shortages.

“So they’ll have to crawl out at least to avoid starving to death, huh?”

“It will, without a doubt.”

Il Kwang could hardly contain his excitement.

“Hahaha! In my old legion, I never saw a strategist like the Yang Monster Great Warrior.”

“You flatter me. It’s only a bit of cunning,” he said.

The hall’s atmosphere turned celebratory.

Everyone was in high spirits at the thought of harassing Sea Dragon Island’s tyrant, Dragon Sword.

Lady Yeon Cho-hee smiled as she spoke.

“I agree with my husband’s words. Now we just need to form a raiding team to carry out the special mission.”

Jong-hyun, who had been watching silently, spoke for the first time.

“We can’t neglect the defenses here, so a small elite force would be best.”

Il Kwang nodded in agreement and said,

“That would be wise. As Captain, I can’t sit out… Yang Monster warrior, will you accompany me?”

It was a mission that would take quite some time.

Moreover, the enemies would grow more vicious; they couldn’t be lax with defenses, so one absolute master must remain.

After a moment’s thought, Yu Jinsan shook his head.

The plan’s core was to rile the enemies so much they’d pull Dragon Sword out into the open.

In that case, there was a more fitting candidate.

“I’ll send the Yin Monster. Her skill at causing chaos is far superior to mine.”

Yu Jinsan planned to stay and keep honing his own deficient martial arts.

It was a very good opportunity for both sides.

Il Kwang looked very pleased at the prospect of sending the granddaughter.

“Ha! With the Yin Monster Warrior with us, what is there to worry about? Leave it to us.”

The next dawn.

The members selected for the special mission assembled.

Yu Seol, Il Kwang, and Im Pyeong-il were included, along with thirty elite warriors.

Everyone hurried to finish preparations before departure.

Yu Jinsan stood near the cave entrance, exchanging words with his granddaughter.

“Make sure you come back safely, child. You’ll likely have to move about busily.”

They would be running frantically carrying out the operation and moving the seized supplies back to headquarters.

“Aren’t you coming, Grandpa?”

“Grandpa must guard this place. All the masters can’t be away at once, can they?”

About a hundred warriors would remain here, including patrols.

But compared to the raiding party, their martial levels were weak, so it wasn’t a situation to feel secure about.

Yu Seol nodded in understanding and confirmed the mission again.

“We’re supposed to harass him, right?”

“Yes. Follow Captain Il Kwang and get him really riled up. You can do it, right?”

A meaningful smile spread across the granddaughter’s face.

She seemed amused just imagining it.

“Yeah. Just trust me.”

Yu Jinsan nodded and patted his granddaughter’s shoulder.

A moment later, the burly Il Kwang strode up and said,

“Let’s get going, Grand Master.”

As he sent his granddaughter off, Yu Jinsan gave Il Kwang an admonition.

“If Jeon Sa-ryong appears, do not fight—return immediately. We’ll need to devise a separate plan to deal with him.”

“We will, Yang Monster warrior. Please take care of this place.”

With those words, the raiding party began to depart.

Yu Jinsan watched as the raiders leapt out of the cave one by one.

The last to go was his granddaughter.

Yu Seol glanced back and waved her hand high above her head.

“I’ll be back~”

“All right. Don’t get ahead of yourself and listen to the Captain.”

“Okay, got it. Grandpa, please watch over the kids well.”

He seemed very attached to the children in the cave.

Yu Jinsan nodded with a benevolent smile and waved his hand.

“All right. They’ll be waiting outside, so go on now.”

Yu Seol nodded once with a serious expression.

And at that moment.

The granddaughter, gripping the Dragon Flower Spear, sprang into the air like a coiled spring.

Paang-!

Moments later, Yu Jinsan could hear his granddaughter’s voice erupting outside the cave.

“Move out, hurry! They’re all dead now.”

It was a shout packed with resolve.

Yu Jinsan shook his head at a sudden twinge of unease.

‘…Well, nothing serious will happen.’