Ah! Namgung Family Chapter 011
011 I'm Fine (2)
Samun Gong drew the massive blade he had been carrying on his back. It was a great fighting saber with six rings attached to the back of the blade. Thus, when he grasped the great blade, the rings shook with a clattering sound.
"Haap!"
With a great shout, he leaped into the air and fell with the momentum to shatter the wagon, swinging his great blade.
"We must stop him!"
"Let's go!"
Namgung Joseok and Seomun Han-gwang simultaneously stepped on the wagon and leaped up, swinging their sword and saber. Then, a tremendous roar erupted as they clashed with Samun Gong's great blade.
Boom!
"Keuk!"
"Hup!"
The force was far greater than expected. Namgung Joseok and Seomun Han-gwang fell to the ground faster than they had leaped up. Fortunately, Samun Gong also failed to smash the wagon and was bounced backward.
Even then, the wagon kept rolling forward. Namgung Joseok and Seomun Han-gwang unleashed their light body techniques to catch up to the wagon again.
"Let's push through!"
"Understood!"
The two men stomped against the ground to push Samun Gong back with the wagon. His martial arts were excellent, but they thought he would have no choice but to dodge this time.
The wagon rushed toward Samun Gong at a terrifying speed. Then, Samun Gong pulled his great blade far back and swung with all his might.
Boom!
It was an enormous force. The wagon was smashed to pieces, and Seomun Yeongyeong, who had been riding on it, leaped up, while Namgung Ganghae hugged Sang-gwan Morang and rolled across the ground.
"Hyaa!"
Seomun Yeongyeong, who was in mid-air, swung her saber in a diagonal line toward Samun Gong. However, someone intercepted and blocked her attack. It was Jang Yang-ryang, known as the Fourth of the Six Bandits of the Yangtze.
Having landed on the ground, Seomun Yeongyeong aimed for his legs and slashed upward diagonally. Jang Yang-ryang blocked it leisurely and counterattacked.
In the meantime, Namgung Joseok and Seomun Han-gwang attacked Samun Gong. The two had first met a few days ago when buying and selling horses. But with the situation growing desperate, they coordinated their minds and launched a combined attack as if they had trained together for a long time.
Samun Gong raised his great blade to block the attacks of the two. Then, Namgung Joseok circled to his right and attacked his neck, while Seomun Han-gwang circled to his left and attacked his legs. Attacking from both sides simultaneously, high and low, would have flustered anyone, but Samun Gong calmly swung his great blade to clash against both their weapons.
Boom!
From the impact, Namgung Joseok's hand holding the sword went numb. It was the same for Seomun Han-gwang. The hand gripping his saber stung. Faced with such overwhelming power, the two tried to avoid clashing with Samun Gong's great blade as much as possible. Because of this, they were continuously pushed onto the defensive.
"Keke! Found them."
Arriving late, the youngest of the Six Bandits of the Yangtze, Jang Isang of the Sixth, smiled unpleasantly, pulling up one corner of his mouth. Namgung Joseok and Seomun Han-gwang were struggling just to face Samun Gong, and Seomun Yeongyeong was contending with Jang Yang-ryang. Therefore, they could do nothing as Jang Isang approached where Namgung Ganghae and Sang-gwan Morang were.
"Run!"
Namgung Joseok shouted. But there was nowhere to run. Although the bandits couldn't approach because they were fighting fiercely and the bandits were wary, the surroundings were completely surrounded.
They had no choice but to fight.
Seeing Jang Isang coming, Namgung Ganghae drew the sword he had strapped to his back. It was the sword of the Namgung Family that his father had used. Namgung Joseok had maintained it well, so the blade's sharp energy was still alive.
"Hehe. The little brat is brave. But because of that courage, you will die the most painful death today."
Jang Isang had a cruel nature; if his opponent's martial arts were inferior, he would inflict wounds little by little, toy with them, and then kill them. Naturally, he didn't show mercy just because it was a child.
Namgung Ganghae measured the distance between them. It was exactly three steps. Using one form of the Namgung Thirteen Techniques that he had practiced day and night, he swung his sword at him.
One step!
Jang Isang smiled scornfully and drew his sword, cutting Namgung Ganghae's arm. He could have cut his throat, but he did this intentionally.
Namgung Ganghae felt dizzying pain and his vision went dark. But he gritted his teeth, came to his senses, and swung his sword again.
Two steps!
"Keke! Yes. That's it. Otherwise, that little girl you're trying to protect will suffer."
"Aaack!"
Namgung Ganghae screamed. Again, it was his arm. But the wound wasn't deep. He wanted Namgung Ganghae to keep swinging his sword and charging at him. Only then would it be fun to toy with him.
Hearing Namgung Ganghae's scream, Namgung Joseok's eyes went wide. Seomun Han-gwang and Seomun Yeongyeong also looked in that direction.
Jang Isang was smiling as he inflicted wounds on Namgung Ganghae. At such cruelty, Namgung Joseok was the first to abandon his own safety and launch himself forward. Then, Samun Gong tried to cut him down at once with his great blade. Seeing this, Seomun Han-gwang quickly raised his saber to block.
Boom!
"Keuk!"
Both feet dug deep into the ground, and one knee buckled. Even that wasn't enough; the saber he held with both hands dropped downward, and Samun Gong's great blade struck his shoulder.
A crunching sound echoed in his ears as excruciating pain flooded in.
However, Seomun Han-gwang bit his lip until it bled and did not let his posture crumble. If he collapsed now, he would die. He would die, Namgung Joseok would die, everyone would die.
Thanks to him throwing his whole body to block the attack, Namgung Joseok was able to approach Jang Isang. But his physical condition was not good right now. He could not execute a powerful attack.
Clang!
Jang Isang lightly deflected Namgung Joseok's sword. And he cut his leg.
"Kuaaaack!"
Namgung Joseok screamed and collapsed, clutching his leg. Seeing that, Jang Isang smiled.
"You wait. After I deal with that little brat, I'll play with you."
"You… son of a bitch…."
Namgung Joseok, who was cursing, opened his eyes wide. Because Namgung Ganghae had stabbed Jang Isang's side with the Namgung Family sword he had given him.
That was the final third step.
"Keoheok!"
Jang Isang spat out blood and looked at Namgung Ganghae in disbelief. He couldn't understand what had happened. Why had he been stabbed? And by such a little brat, at that?
The biggest reason was carelessness. He had underestimated Namgung Ganghae for being young. So although he could have killed him in one blow, he didn't. As usual, he toyed with him, inflicting wounds bit by bit.
The second reason was that due to such carelessness, while facing Namgung Joseok, he had completely taken his eyes off Namgung Ganghae. Therefore, he failed to notice Namgung Ganghae stepping out with the final step using the Infinite Step technique.
"Little brother!"
Greatly startled, Samun Gong pushed Seomun Han-gwang away. And he ran to Jang Isang to check his condition. The sword that had pierced through his side had unfortunately touched his lung. Jang Isang was in extreme pain, unable to breathe properly.
"Hold on just a little longer! Just a little…."
"Keoheok… kkeok!"
The sight of Jang Isang spewing blood from his mouth in gushes was miserable. Jang Yang-ryang ran over belatedly.
"Little brother! Little brother!"
"Kkeok! Keuk…."
He continued to feel pain. Unable to bear watching it any longer, Jang Yang-ryang turned his head.
Then, Namgung Ganghae, who had done this to Jang Isang, came into view.
"You brat!"
Jang Yang-ryang revealed his fury and launched himself at Namgung Ganghae.
It was with the momentum to beat him to death in one go. But Samun Gong whizzed past from the side and arrived before him. And he swung his fist with all his might.
Because he had raised his internal energy to the extreme in an excited state and imbued it into his fist, its power was tremendous. If it hit Namgung Ganghae, it would be instant death.
Crack!
At the critical moment, Namgung Joseok intervened. He crossed both arms to block Samun Gong's fist. He raised his dantian's energy and wrapped it around both arms, but they broke helplessly, and the shock traveled to his chest.
"Keoheok!"
Namgung Joseok spat out blood and flew backward, colliding with Namgung Ganghae, and they rolled across the ground together.
Unable to kill Namgung Ganghae as he intended, Samun Gong grew even more furious. He closed the distance again, raised his great blade, and swung it fiercely. Seeing that, Namgung Joseok clenched his teeth.
In any case, it would be difficult for him to survive. With his body in shambles, both arms broken and his chest caved in. Even if he survived by some stroke of luck, he would never be as he was before.
Then he might as well!
"Uaaaaaaah!"
Namgung Joseok let out a ghastly scream and threw his body at the great blade Samun Gong was swinging.
A thud! sounded as blood splattered. Namgung Ganghae, who was crouched right in front, had no choice but to watch.
Namgung Joseok, who had stopped the great blade with his body, smiled. As if to say not to worry.
Though there wasn't a single part of him left unharmed.
He moved his lips. But no voice came out. Nevertheless, Namgung Ganghae could tell what he was saying.
'Live.'
Slowly, Namgung Joseok collapsed. Right before Namgung Ganghae's eyes.
Blankly, no thoughts came to him. He didn't know what to do or how. He only looked at the dead Namgung Joseok.
Why had he protected him to the point of throwing his life away? When they hadn't even known each other for a month.
"Nohm!"
Samun Gong looked down with eyes full of murderous intent and raised his great blade. And thinking he must kill him, he swung with all his might. But this time too, things did not go as he wished.
Clang!
"Keuk!"
Samun Gong let out a suppressed groan and staggered back. No less than five steps at that.
To neutralize the power of his swung great blade and still deliver that much shock—he was a master.
Just who had intervened?
Samun Gong looked up and checked his opponent, frowning unconsciously. By his appearance and the clothes he wore, he looked like nothing more than a pathetic scholar who only read books.
However, the white robe embroidered with a vivid orchid pattern was something only worn by people of the Jegal Family, one of the Eight Great Clans of the World and a major power in Hubei.
Eight martial artists descended from the air behind him, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Among them, four held shields and sabers, and the other four held two spears each.
"Out of the way! You bastards!"
The one who rushed at him without grasping the situation was Jang Yang-ryang. He closed a distance equivalent to ten steps in just two steps and stabbed with a short spear.
It was a sharp and fierce attack, but the man easily brushed it aside with the folding fan he held. And with a light gesture as if swatting a fly, he struck his chest.
Jang Yang-ryang only realized it after the man's hand touched his chest. Therefore, he quickly leaned his upper body back, but he was slightly too late. An impact that twisted his whole body came.
"Keok!"
Watching Jang Yang-ryang fall flat on his back, Samun Gong clenched his teeth. You foolish bastard, how many times had he warned him not to act recklessly? It was obvious at a glance who the opponent was—why did he even bother carrying eyes around!
Now there was no other choice. Since Jang Yang-ryang had started it, they had to see it through.
"Charge!"
As Samun Gong shouted, the bandits rushed in. But the man calmly secured Sang-gwan Morang first, and those with spears supported Seomun Han-gwang and Seomun Yeongyeong and brought them over.
In the meantime, the bandits who had reached close range swung their swords. Then the man shouted.
"Front Defense Formation!"
At those words, the four shield-bearers took the lead and pushed back the bandits who were attacking at the front.
"Attack!"
The man's clear voice rang out once more immediately after. Then the four spear-bearers stabbed at the bandits who were being pushed back by the shields.
"Four Directions Square Formation!"
As the man shouted again, the four in the front scattered in all directions and blocked the bandits' attacks with their shields. Then those who followed behind stabbed at the bandits with their spears. It was a combined assault formation where defense and offense meshed exquisitely. Therefore, every time the bandits charged, they sprayed blood and were knocked away.
Just then, those on the roof of the building tried to shoot arrows. Seeing this, the man shouted.
"Throw!"
As the order was given, the spear-bearers glared at the bandits trying to shoot arrows from the roof and threw their spears with all their might. Despite the considerable distance, the flying spears pierced the bandits.
This was simply no match at all. The numbers were overwhelmingly in the bandits' favor. Moreover, the martial artists of the Jegal Family were protecting children and the injured. Yet even so, the bandits couldn't withstand them.
Samun Gong understood why they stood shoulder to shoulder with the Wudang Sect, dividing Hubei Province between them. Furthermore, he realized that he had made a mistake.