The Only Way Is Ahead (1)

Yong Cheon-il, the captain of the Blood Clan’s Land Killer Troops.

As his sword’s tip pointed skyward, red waves of qi wriggled around it.

Fifty men drew their swords, waiting for his command.

“One last chance is all I am giving you.”

In front of them stood Baek Gyu’s wife, Maeng Ryun-hwa, with a majestic presence and 12 warriors.

Despite being outnumbered by more than four times, their eyes did not waver.

Maeng Ryun-hwa’s scimitar pointed at Yong Cheon-il’s neck.

“I refuse.”

There was no need to hear the rest. The answer was obvious.

She chose death over becoming a hostage and burden to Baek Gyu.

“I am sorry. Then we will have to kill you.”

Yong Cheon-il persisted in his persuasion because Baek Gyu was a terrifying person, and the outcome of his actions was unpredictable.

But since persuasion had failed, there was no longer any reason for him to hesitate. He was about to order the final attack when a voice interrupted.

“This old man will also give you one chance.”

The voice of an old man cut through the air.

Though it wasn’t loud, it carried a profound qi that seemed impossible for Yong Cheon-il to comprehend.

Everyone turned in shock.

“…?”

At the rear of the troops, a white-haired old man approached step by step, clutching a short spear.

He had the mysterious air of a martial arts Murim warrior, and behind him was a girl with a cute face.

The child, smiling brightly, was holding what appeared to be a fishing rod and twirling it.

“You did bad.”

The red warriors looked at them in shock. The child seemed unconcerned, but the words of the old man carried a different weight.

Even at first glance, the old man’s spirit-filled eyes revealed that he was a Peak warrior as well.

With a puzzled look, Yong Cheon-il asked,

“Who are you? Reveal your identity.”

He had never heard any information about such a warrior in the clan. He was capable enough to take on the opponent, but there was no need to fight an unknown individual.

Yet, his expectations were shattered.

“What identity? I’m just a guest here, living off the meals they provide.”

“A guest… There’s no need for you to die here then.”

“Even animals know gratitude, it’s only right for a human to pay back for meals. And who’s dying, you rascal?!”

Yong Cheol-il’s eyes twitched at his shout.

“I have no idea where you get that confidence from.”

The air was stiff with a suffocating feeling, and at that moment, he heard Maeng Ryun-hwa’s voice in his head.

-We’ll try to handle this on our own. We’ll take our time so at least Grandpa can escape. He’ll be at Dongcheon Market.

-But you’ll be killed here. If that happens, won’t he be sad?

-There’s no need for you to die with us. So hurry up…

Her voice was filled with urgency. However, Yu Jinsan stepped closer.

-Now that I think about it, you look a lot like my first daughter-in-law. It always bothered me that I never took good care of her because she seemed strong. As it turned out, she had the softest heart.

-……

-Your wound looks deep. Don’t overdo it, and rest now.

Maeng Ryun-hwa’s eyes reddened. Even though he was a stranger, her heart was touched. It was a feeling she experienced for the first time in her life.

And Yu Jinsan, who had already arrived in front of the enemy troops, called out from behind his back.

“Child. It’s no fun if we just do it like this. Try with your eyes closed.”

“Yes, Seol can do it!”

“Just swing it all the way like you did with Grandpa.”

“Yes!”

Yu Seol raised her stick with her eyes closed.

His granddaughter’s ability to sense qi was beyond imagination, so there was no need for her to look. His intention was to prevent her from witnessing the cruel scenes.

“Then let’s play.”

Yu Jinsan stepped forward as one of the enemies charged at him.

“Die!”

Although the attacker closed in, Yu Jinsan did not move. In fact, he didn’t even glance at the man, who was approaching with a blade.

Kuak!

Everyone who watched was puzzled.

And after a moment, their eyes widened as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.

“Hit!”

The cry of the child echoed.

Simultaneously, the stick Yu Seol held moved. It struck the attacking swordsman in the head.

Kuak!

The swordsman was hit so hard on the back of his head that he couldn’t even scream before fainting.

As the man fell, Yu Jinsan’s spear pierced the chest of another foe, as if waiting for the perfect moment.

Puak!

The swordsman who had attacked a moment ago was skilled even among their ranks. Yet, he was defeated without a struggle.

Those watching were in shock. They were astonished by this turn of events. Just then, as everyone panicked, someone attempted to launch a surprise attack on Yu Jinsan.

But once again, he did not dodge. Instead, he moved toward it as if baiting a fish with a rod hung overhead.

Shouts filled the air.

“Hit!”

The stick bent as if it would snap and struck the swordsman.

Puak!

“Ah!”

The hit might have appeared light, but the impact was like being struck by a hammer. The swordsman had no choice but to release his sword as a spear with red qi whisked under his jaw.

Kuang!

He could not believe the same situation had occurred twice.

The swordsmen from the enemy troops were shocked and hesitated in the face of this development.

Yu Jinsan, glaring at them, mumbled to the child behind him.

“Child, you are doing well. Never open your eyes.”

“Okay~.”

“Then let’s move faster from now on.”

Yu Jinsan hit the ground and rushed toward the center of the enemies without hesitation. Though it appeared reckless from the outside, the enemies were now utterly disoriented.

The only one who was pleased was Yu Seol, who walked alongside, swinging the stick.

“Hit! Hit!”

Kuak! Crack!

The stick swung as if it were catching a mole, and it was so swift that it was nearly impossible for anyone to see. The cries from the child’s mouth couldn’t keep pace with the blows.

Each time a sound erupted, three or four people collapsed.

“Kuak!”

“Wh-what… kuak!”

“Ack!”

It was an instinctual attack, unbound by any technique. She lacked the skill to kill, but the problem was that her hits were so fast that no one could evade them.

The enemies, having lost their footing from the stick’s impact, were impaled by the spear of Yu Jinsan.

At this point, the enemies began to descend into panic.

Even Yong Cheon-il appeared to be taken aback by this.

“Captain, we need help fast!”

He was so bewildered by the current situation that he couldn’t snap back to reality. He couldn’t fathom how, in just a moment, he had lost 30% of his men.

He was so lost and dumbfounded that he felt completely out of his mind.

“Grandmaster… Grand…”

“Who?”

“That child.”

The subordinates all looked as if they thought he had gone insane.

“This isn’t the time! Hurry and give us orders!”

He barely regained his composure and mumbled in a feeble voice.

“Form a defense circle.”

“Yes.”

At that command, the warriors began to converge in one place. Yu Jinsan, who had been dashing around and was now exhausted, widened the distance. He stepped back and lined up shoulder-to-shoulder with the warriors of Maeng Ryun-hwa.

“Sorry, I bragged but couldn’t defeat even half of them.”

Maeng Ryun-hwa, her eyes wide with surprise, shook her head urgently.

“Not at all, Grandpa. I never imagined that you could defeat anyone, but seeing it with my own eyes is truly astonishing.”

“How could I have done this alone? Anyway, things are about to get difficult.”

Now, twice as many enemies in red surround them. Their ferocity during the fight had changed.

“With this difference, we can hold out. And he will arrive shortly.”

She pounded the ground with her scimitar, and the warriors under her command crowded together to form a defensive line.

“Do not push yourself too much. I will stand in the front.”

“…Yes.”

The woman looked pale, likely from blood loss, and her stomach wound seemed serious.

At a glance, it was doubtful whether she would survive if she continued fighting in her current state.

Yu Jinsan spoke to the opponent to buy some time.

“What are you going to do? If we attack like this, you will not be safe either.”

Yong Cheon-il, the captain, hesitated.

His warriors were ready to attack, waiting for the final command, but making a decision wasn’t easy. The situation had changed drastically since the old man arrived.

“It is a ploy to buy time.”

Yu Jinsan didn’t deny it. He nodded and gripped his spear.

“Right. The kid will arrive shortly. Can you handle it?”

“Will you be able to endure until then?”

“If you don’t believe so, try me.”

After a moment of thought, Yong Cheon-il seemed to have made up his mind and glanced at the child on his back.

“Even if we all die today, I will ensure that child is taken care of.”

“You!”

Yu Jinsan, who had endured it all, detested any threats against his granddaughter.

Sensing that the conflict couldn’t be avoided, he pulled out the Flame Dragon Divine Spear and readied himself.

And before the battle commenced…

At that moment, everyone heard the child cooing.

“Baldhead…”

“Uh?”

“Baldhead came.”

The child pointed her finger somewhere.

It was in the direction of the main gate, where a subtle killing intent stirred everyone’s senses.

Anxiety began to grip Yong Cheon-il.

‘No way…?’

With a sinking heart, Yong Cheon-il looked back.

Baek Gyu, holding his twin blades in both hands, was walking forward with his arms outstretched.

His shirtless body had muscles like bulging nerves. From his shiny head to his prominent veins, one couldn’t look any more vicious than this.

“Baek Gyu…”

Baek Gyu gritted his teeth, looking enraged.

The bald warriors who resembled him followed in his wake.

“Who is it?! The bastard who stuck a knife in my wife’s stomach! Slowly… very slowly… I will devour them all.”

“…”

The enemies felt creeped out by his appearance and now sought a way out.

“I asked who did it!”

But who would dare answer that question?

The sight of Baek Gyu approaching with large strides was akin to the Grim Reaper’s advance.

The enemy warriors kept their mouths shut and gulped in fear.

At that moment, there was silence.

Suddenly, Yu Seol, who was riding on her grandfather’s back with her eyes closed, pointed her finger.

“He did it.”

Everyone’s gaze shifted to where the child was pointing. Then Yong Cheon-il realized he was the one being singled out.

“Wh-when did I?”

But he didn’t even get the chance to make excuses.

Kuaak-!

It was the sound of Baek Gyu’s twin blades slicing through the air.

“Consider yourself dead from now on.”

With that, he charged toward the captain of the enemy troops.