Ah! Namgung Family
Episode 004
004 I'll Protect You (2)
"Who goes there?"
As Namgung Joseok approached, two warriors of the Sangwan Family drew their blades and blocked his path. Under normal circumstances, it would have been an incredibly rude act, but given the situation, it was unavoidable.
"I am called Namgung Joseok. Is that not Sir Sangwan over there?"
Ignoring the warriors blocking his way, Namgung Joseok shouted toward Sangwan Irok, who stood behind them. Upon hearing this, Sangwan Irok narrowed his brow slightly as if thinking something over, then gestured for the warriors to step aside.
"The Namgung Family?"
"Indeed. I am Namgung Joseok, younger brother of the current family head."
Though Sangwan Irok had spoken down to him upon their first meeting, Namgung Joseok clasped his hands before him and gave a slight bow. It was a greeting performed with utmost courtesy.
Seeing that, Sangwan Irok had no choice but to receive the greeting with courtesy of his own. Otherwise, he would lose face as a martial artist, as an educated man, and as an elder.
Above all, though the Namgung Family was a fallen clan, it had once enjoyed great renown in this region. As the younger brother of the family head, he could not be ignored.
"I am called Sangwan Irok. What reason do you have for seeking me in this situation?"
"Bandits have descended upon us, but they will not strike without reason."
"I know that as well."
Namgung Joseok seemed about to lecture him, so Sangwan Irok's tone was not kind.
"Bandits are mixed in among the people gathered over there."
As Namgung Joseok spoke while glancing toward the crowd, Sangwan Irok's gaze naturally turned that way. He quickly understood what Namgung Joseok was getting at and nodded.
"I was unaware of that. Is that all you wished to say?"
"Indeed."
"Very well. I accept your goodwill. Stay here for a moment."
"Pardon?"
"You informed me of this in preparation for the event that negotiations with them break down, did you not? Therefore, I shall protect you and that child."
That had not been his intention. He had merely hoped that the negotiations would go smoothly so that innocent people would not be harmed. Yet to be misunderstood in this way—now it seemed as though he had been so terrified of the bandits that he had traded information for protection.
Namgung Joseok had been about to explain that this was not the case, but he closed his mouth for Namgung Ganghae's sake.
It did not matter what happened to him. But Namgung Ganghae was different. He was a child who might one day bring light back to the Namgung Family. He had to survive at all costs. If that was possible, Namgung Joseok could cast aside such trivial pride without hesitation.
In the meantime, the bandits firmly secured the ropes hanging from the ship's railing and crossed over one after another. Namgung Joseok glanced at them and narrowed his brow slightly. Their numbers were considerable.
At the very least, there had to be seventy or eighty of them. The fact that they had planted their subordinates among the guests beforehand made it clear that they had come fully determined to plunder the Sangwan Family this time. Negotiations would likely be difficult.
The Sangwan Family warriors numbered only about twenty. Their numbers were few, and he worried how many among the enemy could perform Qi Strikes.
Qi Strike referred to the technique of imbuing one's fists, palms, or weapons such as swords and blades with the internal energy accumulated in the dantian, thereby unleashing devastating power. In other words, it made it possible to shatter boulders or fell great trees with a single blow. Therefore, those who had not mastered Qi Strike could be defeated no matter how many faced a master.
However, even with talent and an exceptional teacher, training day and night from childhood, one had to be at least thirty years old to perform Qi Strike. Of course, there were rare cases of achieving it sooner, but they were uncommon.
In Namgung Joseok's estimation, only Sangwan Irok and the two bodyguards sticking close to him were capable of Qi Strike. Those two were intermediate warriors of the Sangwan Family, while the rest were common average warriors, that is, lower-ranking warriors.
Even if one knew how to use internal energy, without knowing Qi Strike, one could not face more than ten opponents. At best, three or four; at most, five or six was the limit. Even if the bandits' martial arts were mediocre, if four or five attacked simultaneously, one would fall.
Moreover, they were in the middle of a river with nowhere to flee. Leaping into the water would instead give the enemy the advantage. No matter how skilled one was at swimming, one could not handle the bandits.
In the end, if a chaotic battle broke out, it would end in one of two ways: either all the bandits were slain, or they were slain themselves—yet either way, the odds were overwhelmingly against them. At that thought, a sigh escaped him unwittingly. He regretted not being more cautious. He should not have taken his eyes off the bandit disguised as a guest at the inn.
"Hwahahaha! This place is full of things I never expected!"
A boisterous voice rang out. Looking toward it, Namgung Joseok saw a large man with a rough face, two broadswords hanging at one side of his waist, approaching with five or six bandits.
As he tried to approach Sangwan Irok, the Sangwan Family warriors blocked his way with their blades raised.
"Whoa, whoa. Calm down. We'll hurt each other like this."
"Stand down."
At Sangwan Irok's command, the Sangwan Family warriors finally stepped aside. The bandit chief smiled as he passed through.
"Judging by your attire, you are of the Sangwan Family."
"Correct. I am Sangwan Irok."
"Oh! A blood relative of the Sangwan Family, are you?"
The man who appeared to be the chief exchanged words with Sangwan Irok. Negotiations had begun.
He was certainly capable of Qi Strike, and the men he had brought radiated a fierce, ominous aura suggesting they were at a similar level. That made six already.
Namgung Joseok observed them, continuously thinking about how to move should negotiations fail and a chaotic battle erupt.
"Does that make sense? You demand half our cargo?"
Sangwan Irok, who had been negotiating, shouted. At that, the bandit chief bared his yellowed teeth in a grin.
"My, my. It seems I haven't introduced myself. Did I not just ask to save face? That in itself was a considerable concession. For I am one of the Six Heroes of the Yangtze Waterborne Stronghold."
"You? Ah, could it be that you are Samhyeop Yi Gungho?"
"Hwahaha! You recognize me. Indeed."
The Yangtze Waterborne Stronghold was ruled by six individuals besides the chief. They called themselves the Six Heroes of the Yangtze, but the people of the world scoffed at the notion, calling them not heroes but bandits—the Six Bandits.
Among them, the Third Bandit, Yi Gungho, had an uninhibited personality and would sometimes let opponents go if he was in a good mood, but once he drew his blade, he always saw things through to the end.
"Now, now, Sir Sangwan. So make your decision clearly. Hand over half the goods you carry, and I shall let you pass in consideration of the Sangwan Family's face and yours. If you refuse, there is nothing I can do."
Sangwan Irok's expression twisted horribly. Most bandits retreated if given some money. They did not usually try to take the cargo. His premonition was dire, but he forced himself to ignore it and spoke.
"Please reconsider. If money is insufficient, I shall offer more."
"Do you not understand? It is not money I want, but exactly half of the goods loaded over there."
"That is……"
The hesitating Sangwan Irok's gaze briefly rested on the child behind him. Yes, it was better to hand over the goods than to let that child be harmed.
"Very well——"
"Look out!"
Clang!
The moment Sangwang Irok was about to concede, Yi Gungho swung the broadsword at his waist, and Namgung Joseok—almost unconsciously—drew his sword to block it. The two actions occurred nearly simultaneously.
"Kuh!"
The force pressing down with the broadsword was stronger than expected. If he had not drawn qi from his dantian and coated his sword with it—that is, used Sword Qi—he would not have been able to withstand it.
"Kwahaha! The game is over now! Kill them all!"
Yi Gungho shouted loudly, kicking at Namgung Joseok's abdomen and drawing another broadsword to swing. If the kick was dodged, Sangwan Irok behind him would be struck. Blocking it resulted in the same outcome. Yi Gungho had calculated this, launching the kick while simultaneously swinging the broadsword.
Namgung Joseok first blocked Yi Gungho's kick with his arm. Then, deflecting the broadsword pressing down on his blade, he simultaneously struck Yi Gungho's chest with his shoulder.
"Huk!"
Astonished by the ingenious technique executed in that brief moment, Yi Gungho withdrew, reeling back.
However, because he had never imagined Namgung Joseok would react in such a way, he could not completely avoid the shoulder strike. Staggering backward gracelessly, his face flushed red as he shouted at Namgung Joseok.
"Who the hell are you?"
Namgung Joseok did not answer, swiftly surveying the surroundings. The bandits were slaughtering the passengers aboard the ship. The Sangwan Family warriors were fighting the bandits while still trying to protect the cargo.
If he had been alone, he would have rushed about frantically to save those people.
But now he had to protect Namgung Ganghae. Glancing back, he saw Namgung Ganghae sticking close to Sangwan Irok and a young girl.
"What are you doing? I'll handle him and the Sangwan Family brat! Kill the rest!"
"Does the Yangtze Waterborne Stronghold intend to make an enemy of the Sangwan Family?"
Namgung Joseok shouted loudly, raising his internal energy. At that, Yi Gungho's subordinates paused briefly.
"Hmph! Are you trying to threaten me? I do not fear the likes of the Sangwan Family!"
Something was strange. The Sangwan Family was one of the Eight Great Families of the World. They could not be ignorant of their power, so what gave them such confidence?
"Hrah!"
Yi Gungho savagely swung his two broadswords. Namgung Joseok matched him, unleashing the Daeyeon Sword Technique. Both were at the level where they could perform Qi Strikes; a moment's carelessness would lead to death.
Yi Gungho was stronger in raw power. However, Namgung Joseok surpassed him in technique. Thus, the match was not quickly decided.
In the meantime, the six men Yi Gungho had led passed them by and attacked Sangwan Irok and his two bodyguards. They all knew how to perform Qi Strikes. Therefore, each time their weapons clashed, thunderous roars erupted.
At first, Sangwan Irok and his two bodyguards fought well, but they were overwhelmed by numbers and had no answer. Before long, they were gradually driven onto the defensive, soon focusing entirely on defense and managing only occasional counterattacks.
Namgung Ganghae quickly retreated as they fought. Seeing this, Sangwan Irok pushed the young girl who had been with him in that direction.
Ahead were Namgung Joseok, Sangwan Irok, and the two bodyguards fighting; to the left and right were the Sangwan Family warriors locked in combat; behind was blocked by cargo. He had judged that to be the safest place.
"Come here."
When the young girl stood frozen in fear, Namgung Ganghae took her hand and pulled her.
"Wh-what……"
"It's okay. Hide here."
Namgung Ganghae had the girl slip between cargo stacked three layers high. Then he positioned himself in front to block her view of the fighting.
"What's your name?"
"Huh?"
"Your name."
"S-Sangwan Morang."
"Don't be scared."
As he spoke while patting her head, Sangwan Morang's trembling gradually subsided.
"I'll protect you."
Sangwan Morang, who had been crouching, looked up at Namgung Ganghae. Though it was just a simple phrase, she felt strangely relieved. Screams and shouts still mixed and echoed around them, but she was no longer as frightened as before.
"What's your name?"
Under normal circumstances, she would have spoken casually. Never before had she used honorifics with a peer, let alone a child she had just met. Yet now, her speech had naturally shifted to a more respectful tone.
Namgung Ganghae did not answer. Instead, he took Sangwan Morang's hand and had her cover her ears. Then he covered her eyes with his palm.
"If we do this, you won't hear or see anything, so it'll be okay."
That was how it had to be. Glancing back, the situation was not good. Namgung Joseok was fighting well enough for the moment, but Sangwan Irok was injured, and the two bodyguards were also gravely wounded. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they all died.