Mister Will Protect You (1)

“…Everyone, please come out.”

A sailor opened the cabin door, looking frightened.

“What is it?”

“Did an enemy really appear?”

When he nodded to confirm, the passengers’ faces turned pale.

“No way, if we go out like this, won’t we all be executed?”

“Haa…”

“We cannot die like this!”

The sailor, who was standing at the door, glanced back and urged the passengers again.

“If you do as you are told, you can live. Please come out now.”

At a time when most passengers seemed to be in despair, there were those who reacted differently from them.

A group of martial artists silently occupied a place in one corner.

“The enemy seems to have come up not knowing their opponent.”

There were five swordsmen in blue uniforms, and everyone applauded as they stepped forward confidently.

They were the only hope for the people.

The passengers couldn’t help but feel confident at the sight of them drawing their swords.

“Everyone, please stay here. We will handle this and come back.”

By the time they went out, Dong-gu had lowered his body and grabbed the shoulders of Yu Jinsan and Yu Seol.

“It’s now. If they can defeat the enemies, then you don’t have to worry.”

He looked confident, but Yu Seol tilted her head.

“…it will be difficult.”

“You people might not know it, but Mister has a sharp eye. I don’t know about other things, but there is no one who can match me when it comes to discerning a warrior. There is no need to worry, as the best have stepped forward.”

Perhaps because Dong-gu was being firm, Yu Seol stayed silent, crossing her arms.

“Hmm.”

And as if on cue, sounds could be heard from outside. They were the clash of weapons and screams.

It didn’t take long for the commotion to subside.

When it quieted down, one of the passengers stuck their head out through the crack in the door and began to look out.

Behind the scenes, the other passengers pressed for the results to be announced.

“What happened?”

“Our side won?”

When he craned his neck again, his face turned thoughtful. Moreover, his eyes seemed out of focus. It was as if he had witnessed something shocking.

“F-fuck, we’re in trouble.”

“Trouble?”

Everyone turned anxious at those words.

“Everyone is so dead now. The enemy is hella pissed, we…”

He couldn’t even finish the sentence because someone outside had grabbed the back of his head and yanked it.

“Ahhh!”

After a while, the enemy appeared where the man had vanished. His face bore a torn scar from his mouth to his left ear, and his eyes looked enraged.

The way he leaned against the threshold, pondering what to loot, was intimidating.

“Is this all? From now on, all you need to do is let go of your baggage and come out before I cut this man up with my blade. You understand? It’s quite easy to do, right?”

It was even more frightening to see him talk like this with such a harsh expression. The passengers trembled and went out to the deck one by one.

Yu Jinsan and his granddaughter, who were in the back, had no choice but to follow behind Dong-gu.

-Grandpa, what now?

It was Yu Seol who was asking. However, there was no need for them to reveal their identities.

-What are you worried about when we have this man?

-Mister Dong-gu? He cannot fight.

-Grandpa has a plan, so just do as you’re told.

A meaningful smile appeared on the faces of the two as they exchanged messages. When they came out of the cabin, it was a sight to behold.

The five swordsmen were rolling around on the floor, brutally murdered. Moreover, several crew members had been beheaded as an example.

The number of enemies visible on the deck was about ten. As expected, the number wasn’t large.

They were the Yellow River pirates, who traveled in small numbers but were swift in executing their plans. It must have been an unavoidable choice to avoid the troops of the Central Plains.

“It will be fine. Don’t be scared. Just stay behind.”

Dong-gu reassured the children by shielding them with his body.

Yu Jinsan, observing from afar, wore a pleased expression.

“That guy, man. His martial arts skills aren’t that great, but he’s still quite strong.”

Passengers were flocking to the ship’s deck, all of them trembling.

On one side, sailors, including the captain, were kneeling and bowing their heads. At that moment, a male pirate with a scar on his face glanced at the crowd and brandished his blade threateningly.

“Now, take all your clothes off and jump into the river. I’ll help you. Those who need help can raise their hands.”

The passengers were shocked by his words. Swimming in this river was a daunting task. The moment they jumped, they would surely die.

“O-Oh heavens…”

“Please spare me. I will live a better life.”

“I will give you everything I have, please…”

No matter how much they pleaded, the pirates remained unyielding.

They were stationed all around and issued severe threats to the passengers. During this time, one of the bandits muttered as he wiped the blood off his blade.

“We are the Red King’s troops who rule. There are only two choices for you. Either jump or be thrown to death.”

The Red King’s troops. Their name was infamous throughout the Yellow River due to the number of active members.

Whether merchants or travelers, they plundered everything equally and had long been targeted by officials.

“…”

In a time when fear consumed the passengers, a child’s scream pierced the air suddenly from somewhere.

“Y-you bastards with no morals! Isn’t it too much to take away one’s life after taking their wealth?”

The entire deck fell silent at the shout, and all heads turned in one direction.

The rugged-looking middle-aged man.

Wasn’t the child next to him scowling?

“Why are you like this?”

Dong-gu looked at Yu Jinsan in confusion. Wasn’t this a situation where they should be begging for their lives? This was no place for a graceful death.

The faces of the pirates contorted.

One person, unable to stand it any longer, began to make a fuss.

“That kid who just shouted, come here. You’re so dead today!”

As he made a fuss, it seemed he planned to kill the child.

Yu Jinsan secretly hid behind Dong-gu, with Yu Seol at his back.

Approaching, Dong-gu blocked the path.

“Still, they’re just kids. Aren’t you being too harsh?”

“Move. Before you get hurt.”

Although scared, Dong-gu didn’t step back. He might have come from an unknown clan in a rural town, but he was a warrior who had practiced martial arts for ten years.

The problem was that, because he had no real-life experience, he didn’t know where and when to apply his skills.

“If one of you steps closer, I won’t just stand here idly.”

At his words, many pirates clutched their stomachs.

“Puaah!”

“Hahaha!”

“Today, our Gwang-ho Hyung met his match. Kekeke.”

The pirate named Gwang-ho rolled his eyes at their sarcasm.

“How can a normal third-rate nobody not know his place?”

As he closed in, Yu Seol grabbed Dong-gu by the waist and said,.

“Mister, you can do it. Please protect us!”

Dong-gu nodded, looking tense.

He had no reason to back down now. Wasn’t it the same either way? He was going to die today.

He had practiced martial arts all his life, but he couldn’t die without at least trying it out once.

“Do not worry, kids.”

He raised both hands in front of his face and swung his fist at the approaching pirate. He mustered all his courage and struck first.

But the punch was slow and clumsily angled.

The pirate sneered and dodged to the side. But, oddly enough, just as he thought he had evaded it, his body didn’t move as he wanted.

“Uh?!”

It was as if a ghost had grabbed his head, ensuring his body remained in the path of the incoming fist.

‘Did some miracle happen?’

Dong-gu’s fist struck the man known as Gwang-ho right under his chin.

Puaak!

It wasn’t a powerful hit.

The pirate had already planned to strike down Dong-gu until his feet left the ground.

’…ugh?’

Floating water droplets flew towards the deck. Gwang-ho looked at Dong-gu with shock, then at the sight of the small child gently stretching out her tiny hand,

“Wh-what?! What is happening?!”

Without a chance to protest the injustice, he was flung face-first into the currents of the Yellow River.

Plop!

“…?”

The pirates were baffled by this strange occurrence.

“Wh-what?”

“What just happened now?”

“Did Gwang-ho Hyung really get taken down?”

Only the Yin Yang Monsters knew the truth.

The moment Dong-gu’s fist connected with the opponent’s chin, Yu Seol released intangible qi, pulling the water droplet and then pushing it back.

It was a technique that would have been unthinkable for most.

“You bastard, what tricks are you playing?”

Dong-gu glanced at his fist, looking utterly puzzled.

Though he didn’t understand what was happening, his confidence swelled.

“Try coming near me!”

“You damned man.”

Another enemy charged at him.

The pirate aimed his blade directly at Dong-gu’s throat.

It was a sharp, precise blow, but the Yin Yang Twin Monsters were not ones to simply watch.

Yu Jinsan snapped his fingers, and an intangible wind emerged, pushing the pirate’s wrist aside. The blade’s end veered off course, and the sharp weapon missed Dong-gu’s throat by an inch.

Pang!

’…Uh?’

The pirates looked on in disbelief as the attack missed and Dong-gu’s slow counterattack began.

Dong-gu pushed his power toward the abdomen of the enemy, and behind him, Yu Seol gently placed her cute palms on his waist.

The profound internal qi that rose from her palms seemed to enter the man and released again through his fist.

At that moment, something truly shocking occurred.

Kwang!!!

“Kuak!”

The screams of the pirates sounded like those of a pig being beheaded.

It was a strength that couldn’t even be compared to moments before.

The pirate was blown back from the ship, as if carried away by a gust of wind.

Plop!

‘Woah!! Mister Dong-gu is amazing!”

Yu Seol naturally held onto Dong-gu’s waist from behind.

A shiver ran through Dong-gu’s whole body. He was already beside him.

He couldn’t understand how, but he could feel this amazing power that he was experiencing for the first time in his life, vibrating through his blood vessels. His eyes changed, as if he had taken some hallucinogenic drug.

“Kids. It seems like there is some kind of hidden power within me. I’m feeling overflowing qi in my body.”

As the situation escalated, the pirates began to panic.

It had to be because two colleagues, who were formidable enough, had been struck down by this man at once, shaking their confidence that was firm just moments ago.

“Who are you? Reveal your identity.”

Dong-gu grabbed the sword that the pirate had dropped, struggling to control the surging qi within him.

Was it because of this unknown qi circulating through his body? He suddenly felt his shoulders straighten.

“I am the best in the world, Dong-gu!!”

At that moment, a cloudy, milky-white hue emanated from the blade.

“B-blade Qi?”

“Th-this cannot be…”

Blade Qi was a technique that only expert warriors could use, and it was at a level where one could clearly sense it.

Dong-gu himself flinched in surprise.

‘Oh my! How can I perform Blade Qi?’

He couldn’t understand it at all. He could feel an unknown power within his body, flowing from his fingertips and merging with the blade.

At that time, Yu Seol, who was clinging to his waist, snorted.

“I am scared~.”

It wasn’t that Dong-gu was unhelpful. His eyes gleamed with qi, and he bore a dignified look akin to that of a skilled warrior.

“Just trust me. Because all these people are dead today.”

No matter how formidable the opponent, Blade Qi made all the difference. Feeling fear, the pirates shifted their stance.

“W-we didn’t know, great warrior….”

“W-we will leave immediately. Please spare us your anger.”

When in his life had anyone called him a great warrior? Dong-gu’s eyes showed nothing but resolve.

He scowled and glared at his enemies.

“Those who don’t want to be cut to pieces should jump into the river right now. Hurry!”