Water splashed continuously in the underwater battle.

It was natural for Jasu and Cheonyeong, whose Sea Breath breathing had been cut off by the fierce battle and could no longer endure in the water, to come out of the water.

And then.

"Attack!"

A booming voice was heard.

Although they were surveillance ships and not the main force, and thus had a somewhat weak combat power, the water bandits had no choice, as several of the Fish Dragons had already died, regardless of the reason for the fight.

Even a dog fights bravely to protect its own home, so how could a water bandit turn tail in a water battle?

He would be a laughingstock for a long time, and it was natural that the prestige of the Gunsan Stronghold would fall to the ground.

What would happen if that rumor reached the master of the Yangtze River?

...Just thinking about it was terrible.

He had to fight.

Even if it meant they all died...

The moment he saw the Fish Dragons jumping out of the water, the surveillance ship master, Ojang, sent an attack signal instead of a retreat signal.

Dozens of ships formed an encirclement and rushed towards Cheonyeong and the others in a swarm.

Although his vision was not clear because of the water that had drenched his head, Cheonyeong could see that there were not a few ships around.

Black ships.

He could tell without even having to recall his past memories.

They were water bandits.

"These damn punks... you want to go all out, is that it?"

Cheonyeong gritted his teeth and looked for Jasu's location.

For now, that punk was more urgent than the water bandits.

It was not good to lose her like this.

She probably hadn't had a chance to contact the Jinkagu about him yet.

If he lost her here, it was obvious that she would be a future problem.

Would the Jinkagu leave him alone?

They would surely use any means to find and kill him and keep their secret.

Since Jasu already knew that he was the family head of the Tang family, the Jinkagu's evil hands might come for the Tang Family's estate.

So, water bandits, my ass...

From now on, I will treat you not as a future business partner, but as an enemy who has interfered with my work.

Cheonyeong's two eyes began to glitter with emotionless killing intent.

Swi-a-ak!

Cheonyeong, who had stomped on a water bandit who had flown a sword from the water, soars high.

He floats in the air and looks at Jasu, who is fighting the rushing water bandit gang.

There you are. Jasu...

"Shoot the arrows!"

The water bandits, who had discovered Cheonyeong who had risen into the air, all took out their bows and drew their bowstrings.

Jji-i-ik! Tung!

The bowstrings were released, and the arrows were shot towards Cheonyeong.

Bba-ga-gak!

Cheonyeong, who had twisted his body and deflected them, doubles his internal energy and sends it to his lower body.

You brought this upon yourselves.

Bbeo-eok!

Cheonyeong, who had used a water bandit floating on the water as a stepping stone and flew towards a nearby surveillance ship, sends his internal energy to his lower body again.

Samyang, Ground... no, Boat Stomp!

Hwa-a-ak!

Cheonyeong's body falls heavily.

Kwa-deuk! Kwa-ang!

The black ship that Cheonyeong had stomped on exploded with the exploding internal energy and was blown to pieces.

Hwi-ik! Kwa-deuk! Kwang!

His steps did not stop.

Cheonyeong flew towards Jasu, using the swarming small surveillance ships as stepping stones, stomping and sinking them one by one.

"Jasu-u!"

Jasu, who had been shaking off the water bandits, hurriedly turned her head at the shout that was filled with all his might.

"Th-that punk!?"

There was nowhere to go.

Weren't the water and the water's surface full of water bandit gangs?

"Tch! Die!"

Jasu had no choice but to relentlessly throw hidden weapons at Cheonyeong.

Ku-u-ung!

Cheonyeong's foot stepped on the front of the next surveillance ship.

The bow sank, and the stern that had been lifted shot up high.

"U-a-a-ak!"

As the surveillance ship suddenly rose up straight, the water bandits who had been on it were thrown off and screamed.

Pa-pa-pa-pak!

And the boat became a good shield.

Jasu's hidden weapons were stuck on the bottom surface of the boat.

Hu-u-uk! Kwang!

Cheonyeong, who had pierced a hole in the boat that had served its purpose by thrusting his fist into it, immediately runs towards Jasu.

"This, damn it..."

Jasu thought, looking at Cheonyeong, whose hidden weapons were not getting through.

Suicide?

Was that really the only way?

And at that moment, a method flashed in Jasu's mind.

Pong!

Her hand reached her waist, and the lid of a small medicine bottle opened.

"Poison?"

And Cheonyeong's face contorted as he realized the meaning of that action.

Not for suicide, but for attack.

Damn wench. You're going to struggle to the end, is that it?

If it was a poison for escape and not for assassination, it would be a powder type prepared for use at close range.

Jasu was waiting for Cheonyeong to come within her close range.

Kwa-a-ang!

Another boat exploded, and there was one left until the boat Jasu was on.

A burning tension made Jasu thirsty.

One chance.

Once it was scattered, there would be no second time.

As if the heavens were helping, the wind was also good.

Because it was a headwind for Cheonyeong.

The poison would spread towards him.

Kwa-a-ang!

The last boat exploded, and Cheonyeong's figure flew towards the boat Jasu was on.

A little more, just a little...

"Die!"

Jasu swung, holding the medicine bottle.

Hwa-a-ak!

The powder, which glowed white even in the night, was scattered towards Cheonyeong.

But... the distance?

Cheonyeong smirks.

And he quickly drops into the water.

Not the boat...

"Did you think I would fall for it?"

"...!"

Pung-deong!

Cheonyeong fell into the water.

And then.

"You stupid wench. What do you think will happen if a powder-type poison gets wet?"

"...!"

Jasu's eyes widened at Cheonyeong's words.

"I'll pass on that poison. You eat it."

"What?"

The moment the bewildered Jasu was about to step back, Cheonyeong's hand moved quickly.

I wonder if you've ever had a water fight with your friends when you were young.

Cheonyeong's palm forcefully grazes the surface of the water.

Chwa-a-a-ak!

The water, pushed by his hand, rises as if planed by Cheonyeong's hand and turns into a huge curtain.

"Th-this damn it!"

Jasu's face, who had been suddenly covered in a water blanket, turned pale.

As Cheonyeong had said, the powder becomes useless in water.

It doesn't dissolve and spread in the water, and its toxicity weakens.

But.

"Keu-a-ak!"

A distance too close to avoid.

A painful scream burst from Jasu's mouth, who had been suddenly hit by the poison water because of Cheonyeong.

Chi-i-i-ik.

Although the toxicity had weakened, how could its power be underestimated?

The skin, soaked in the poison water, began to burn as if on fire.

Her delicate face was covered with scars from the poison water and became hideous.

"Kkeu-euu... an-antidote. The antidote..."

Just as Jasu was frantically searching her bosom.

Bba-a-ak!

Cheonyeong's foot, which had come up on the boat, kicks Jasu's hand, which had taken out the antidote.

Pong!

Contrary to Jasu's wish, the antidote sinks into the water with a clear sound.

"The antidote..."

"Tsk, you want to live that badly? You threw away the life of a subordinate who had served you with loyalty like a worn-out shoe."

"Ugh-ugh-ugh..."

It seemed she couldn't hear his words.

Jasu just stared blankly at the place where the antidote had fallen.

At this rate...

It seemed she was in no condition to fight anymore. Since she looked like she had lost her mind.

"You punk..."

Jasu looks at Cheonyeong.

She glares with bloodshot eyes and shouts as if in a last-ditch effort, extending her hand.

"I'll kill you!"

"..."

Swi-a-ak!

Something, the words were wrong.

Kill me?

"...You mean you'll die."

An enemy who had lost his momentum while struggling in despair was no different from a sword that had lost its edge, so what threat could he be?

Teok!

Cheonyeong, who had dodged by tilting his head slightly, grabs Jasu's wrist.

"I told you, right? Today, I'm a robber. The only thing I'm after is your life."

"...Th-this punk."

Jasu struggles to pull her caught wrist away.

Having lost even her cool judgment, she was no longer the assassin he knew.

To her, who had become a wreck, it seemed there was nothing more important than pulling her caught hand away.

Bbeo-eo-eok!

Cheonyeong, holding her wrist, buries his fist deep into her abdomen.

"Keo-eok!"

Jasu, whose body was bent, opens her mouth wide in pain.

But she can't escape.

As long as her wrist was caught. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"This alone is not enough. You have to know before you die. What pain is."

Kwajik!

"Keo-eok!"

Peok! Peo-peok-peok!

There was not a single shred of emotion in his fist, and Jasu's body, which was being beaten without distinction, twisted countless times.

But he was merciless.

Even though her bones were breaking and blood was splattering, making the boat's surface wet with blood, Cheonyeong did not stop his fist.

Even the water bandits, at that cruelty, could not attack and just watched in fear.

The fist stops.

Jasu was already in a state where her form was unrecognizable, hanging limply, her wrist caught by Cheonyeong.

And Cheonyeong looked down with eyes full of indifference.

Special Class Jasu, you are the beginning.

Although not right away, I will soon send your master and all your colleagues to your side.

All those who had chased me to kill me, coveting the secret manual...

Hu-u-u-ung!

Samyang True Qi is contained in Cheonyeong's open hand.

And it extends.

Peok!

It was a short, thick sound.

Jasu's head exploded.

Tuk.

As Cheonyeong let go of his hand, Jasu's headless body collapsed on the boat, and then slid into the water and sank.

Pung-deong.

The sound of the water soon subsides, and silence comes.

Only the sound of the water bandits occasionally cutting through the water to avoid sinking into the water could be heard.

A long silence flowed.

Cheonyeong looked at the surface of the water as if in a moment of silence for the dead.

With this, the Jinkagu will know of Jasu's death.

Because of a certain device implanted in the assassins' bodies for the purpose of preventing their betrayal and desertion.

Yin-Yang Gu.

The child gu in the assassin, the mother gu in the heart of the Jinkagu.

They would have been puzzled when the assistant assassins died, but they would not have been able to hide their surprise when Jasu died.

Wasn't she a special class?

They would have realized that the commission had failed, and an investigation team would surely be dispatched.

And someday they would know.

About him.

But it didn't matter.

Because he would kill them as they came.

"Um..."

Someone calls Cheonyeong, who was lost in thought.

It was the surveillance ship master, Ojang.

From the looks of the situation, it seemed that great master was fighting an enemy.

And they had interfered with that.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't stop it.

With just the combat power of the Fish Dragons and the surveillance fleet...

Hadn't he already seen them fight?

Probably only the chief or the main force could face him.

The future that would unfold for them was obvious.

In fact, even if he looked at the rights and wrongs, the fault was with them.

They had secretly watched, and had even interfered and attacked in a fight with an enemy.

But who knows?

They say a single word can repay a thousand nyang debt, so if he just explained the situation well, the young master might show generosity and forgive him.

"It seems there was some misunderstanding. For now, let's talk to each other..."

"A conversation?"

"Although it's shameless, how about we do that?"

"Hmm."

Cheonyeong ponders for a moment at Ojang's words.

Hoh? Look at this punk.

He doesn't know what the Jinkagu will do in the future, so what's the good of getting on bad terms with the water bandits?

As they say, it's not good to make many enemies.

And since you're being so friendly, it's a real relief.

"The dead wench was an assassin."

"W-was she?"

"I have a huge grudge against her."

"No wonder you were merciless. Ah! I'm not saying anything. Of course, you should be merciless. You did well."

Cheonyeong looked intently at Ojang, whose tongue was heavily oiled.

"Hmm, you make sense."

"Anyone would have thought the same as me. There was not a single shred of fault in your actions, Great Hero."

"You're good with flattering words too. By any chance, is your specialty flattery?"

"Heh heh! I am overwhelmed that you praise my sincerity so highly."

"Hmm... good. I'll make a special exception for you. Come up. Let's have a talk."

"Thank you. Great Hero!"

At Cheonyeong's permission, Ojang immediately jumps onto the boat, kneels, and assumes a listening posture.

Whether he liked it or not, he had to live for now, right?

What in the world is more precious than life?

But he couldn't help but frown at the sight on the boat.

Although he lived by water banditry, he had only seen such a gruesome scene a few times.

"As I said before, I have a deep grudge against that wench. I was able to catch her after suffering for several days."

"I see."

"I rented the whole pleasure boat. I also drank expensive alcohol that was useless."

"Aigoo, oh dear! If you command, I will find the pleasure boat boatman who overcharged you, Great Hero, and make him vomit it all out."

"That's not it."

"I was just thinking that it might have been a bit excessive."

Ojang shamelessly changed his words in an instant and took Cheonyeong's side.

"But... you guys interfered with me chasing that old grudge. You even pointed a sword at me."

"I have committed a mortal sin."

"Then, of course, you have to compensate, right? As a matter of human decency."

"Of course, you are absolutely right. I will compensate for the pleasure boat seat fee, the food, and the alcohol."

"Huh?"

"Pardon?"

"Hmm."

"...What?"

Ojang began to reflect on what mistake he had made as Cheonyeong frowned deeply.

"Hey."

"Pardon?"

"I think you miscalculated."

"..."

"Isn't my labor cost missing?"

"...Ah."

At that moment, Ojang could read the inner thoughts reflected in Cheonyeong's eyes.

Money, money, more, a lot more...

It was as if he could hear it, even though he hadn't learned mind-reading.

I'm in a damn mess.

(End of Chapter)