Chapter 50. Pesticide of Freshness (6)

I recalled the time when I asked Wijee about martial arts.

“What should I do if the opponent wields a halberd?”

To my question, Wijee thought for a moment before answering.

“If the opponent is a level below you, it’s worth a try.”

“What if they’re at the same level?”

“Try to resolve it through conversation.”

“What if conversation doesn’t work?”

“Offer better terms.”

“...”

Wijee’s words implied that a halberd was advantageous compared to a sword. At the time, I didn’t fully understand, but now I felt it in my bones.

—Whoosh!!

The bandit leader’s Azure Dragon Crescent Blade swung violently. I gathered my inner strength and leaped to the side, escaping his attack range.

The momentum was so fierce that I might have been split in half if I had let my guard down for a moment.

“There’s no chance to counterattack.”

The bandit was launching a one-sided assault. Indeed, as Wijee said, it was best to avoid battle when facing a halberd. The killing radius was enormous compared to a sword, and I was struggling just to evade.

“But his martial arts aren’t that much better than mine.”

From his swings, I got a rough idea. He was far from the level of Baek Seung-il, and if I had to compare, he was even below Yang Jinpo when he was in good condition.

It was purely the weapon’s power.

—Whoosh!

I threw two throwing knives while putting some distance between us. I calculated that it would be fine whether they hit or created an opening. However, the dual-throwing knives, which usually had a high success rate, were ineffective this time. My knives only made the bandit hesitate for a moment.

—Clang!!

The bandit spun the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade like a top, creating a circular defense. My knives unfortunately bounced off his spear shaft.

The bandit, who had deflected my knives beautifully, sneered.

“Brat! Using useless tricks!”

“They were useful, though.”

I recalled several strategies in my mind. I considered throwing my sword to attack, but I couldn’t handle the backlash if I missed.

“I can’t win with Taekwondo.”

Although I had been to the Kukkiwon and held a national certification, I had no confidence in defeating the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade with my bare hands. I desperately tried to think of another strategy.

“Wijee must have taught me something.”

I recalled the halberd counter technique Wijee taught me. When I persistently asked what to do if conversation didn’t work, Wijee taught me a specific move.

He advised me to avoid using it if possible.

“Is there no other way?”

But it was an extremely dangerous technique.

Wijee’s counter technique was a type of counterattack. If the timing was off, I would be in a dire situation.

That’s why Wijee advised against using it if possible.

“Can I do it?”

While I was momentarily lost in thought, the bandit leader charged at me, swinging the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade violently.

“Die now! Your comrades will follow, so you won’t be lonely!”

He shouted as the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade came flying at me. I moved my body to dodge, and the situation was similar to before, but there was a difference.

The blade of the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade seemed to waver slightly, like a willow leaf.

“Gah...!”

Despite being careful, my left shoulder blade was slightly cut. Fortunately, thanks to the Iron Shield Technique, it wasn’t a deep cut. It seemed to be an application of spear techniques. I decided to prioritize evasion above all else.

—Whoosh!!

“Rat! You’re good at dodging!”

I wondered if I could keep dodging until I ran out of stamina, but my stamina would likely deplete faster.

The difference was significant when exchanging attacks at the same range. Avoiding the bandit’s overwhelming range while focusing on defense was not only physically draining but also mentally exhausting.

“There’s no other choice.”

I decided to use the technique Wijee taught me. It was a highly dangerous move, but there was no other option.

“Die now!!”

At that moment, the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade lunged at me with a fierce thrust.

The counter technique I learned was designed to counter a thrust, so I was waiting for this attack. However, I hesitated for a moment and missed the timing. I quickly placed my sword in front of my chest to block.

—Clang!!!

The sound of steel resonating echoed, and I was thrown back by the impact on my chest. Fortunately, I managed to block it in time, but I felt my breath being cut off for a few seconds.

“Gah, cough...”

The bandit leader, seeing his opportunity, swung the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade to strike me down. I used Naryetagon to roll on the ground and evade. The pain was intense, and my breathing was difficult.

As my breathing became erratic, my body slowed down. The bandit, not missing this chance, swung the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade wildly.

—Whoosh!!

“Gah...!”

I quickly calmed my body and mind, following the techniques of the Heavenly King Heart Technique. Fortunately, thanks to my five years of deep inner strength, my body quickly returned to normal.

The bandit, having missed his golden opportunity, raised the Azure Dragon Crescent Blade and lunged at me again.

I recalled Wijee’s words when he taught me the halberd counter technique.

“What is the most important thing in using this technique?”

“What is it?”

“Courage.”

At the time, I didn’t understand.

But now, I think I do.

A counterattack is a technique that only the courageous can use. It requires the courage to face a blade that could slice me at any moment.

The courage to take a step forward.

“Take half a breath and...”

I thought of my unconscious comrades. Wijee, Baek Ryeong-hwa, Pang Gwi-in, Jwa Gun-pyeong, the Mount Wujiang hiking club members, and even Guo Doushan, who was farting over there.

“Just one step.”

The Azure Dragon Crescent Blade, slow yet fast, was rushing towards me. I slightly twisted my body and took one step forward.

—Whoosh!!!

The Azure Dragon Crescent Blade grazed past me. This was the timing I wanted.

I grabbed the spear shaft with my left hand as it passed by my chest. While pulling the spear shaft towards me, I simultaneously drew my sword along the shaft.

—Screech!!!

The blade scraped along the spear shaft like a snake, making a chilling sound as it approached the bandit’s hand.

“No!!”

The bandit, in shock, tried to let go of the spear shaft, but it was too late.

—Snick!

“Gahaaa!!!”

The bandit’s fingers were completely severed, and he let out a terrifying scream.

The technique I used, called Short Sword Breaking Spear, involved grabbing the spear with one hand and pulling it while simultaneously drawing the sword along the shaft to cut the opponent’s hand.

The severed fingers danced in the air, and I swung my sword again to cut off the bandit leader’s arm, who was in a panic.

That was the end.

“Phew... Phew...”

I inserted my sword into the ground and panted heavily. I couldn’t believe I had won. If the timing had been off by a little, I would have been stabbed in the chest and died.

“But I won.”

I touched the cut on my shoulder. Thanks to the Iron Shield Technique, it wasn’t deep, but it stung like a burn.

But it was a satisfying sting.

***

The others woke up just before dawn. After the effects of the sleeping drug wore off, everyone was speechless at the scene.

“What a terrible...”

“What happened?”

After eating, sleeping, and waking up, it was natural to be shocked by the dozens of bandit corpses around them.

The new and inexperienced guards were even more flustered.

“Calm down!”

I calmed the people first and then briefly explained the situation.

After hearing my explanation, Jwa Gun-pyeong, the most senior guard, had a solemn expression.

“If it weren’t for you and Guo, we would have been in big trouble. I’m truly ashamed. I should have taken better care of things in the absence of Guard Leader Kang...”

“Don’t blame yourself, senior.”

“No, I should have anticipated that something like this could happen. I was too complacent.”

Jwa Gun-pyeong’s self-blame wasn’t entirely wrong. Although the leader of this escort was Baek Ryeong-hwa, she wasn’t a guard leader. She had received some training, but she needed the support of experienced guards.

In that sense, Jwa Gun-pyeong, the most senior guard, had a significant responsibility.

“Still, don’t worry too much. These things happen.”

I consoled the gloomy Jwa Gun-pyeong. Since the matter was resolved, there was no need to blame himself. However, Jwa Gun-pyeong’s expression didn’t improve even after my consolation.

“I’ve been away from the field for too long, and my senses have dulled. I’m ashamed.”

After a brief response, Jwa Gun-pyeong began to clean up the scene. I watched him for a moment, then separated the innkeeper, who I had knocked out earlier, tied him up, and went to meet Baek Ryeong-hwa.

When I found her, Wijee and Pang Gwi-in were still asleep, and only Baek Ryeong-hwa was barely conscious.

“Guard Leader Sung?”

“Are you feeling better, Chief?”

“Yes... Ugh...”

Baek Ryeong-hwa, who seemed to have a headache, held her head. However, she quickly shook her head, regained her composure, and immediately asked me.

“Have the bandits been dealt with? What about the guards? What’s the extent of the damage?”

I answered her rapid-fire questions one by one.

“They’ve been dealt with. Everyone is currently cleaning up the scene, and there are no casualties. We are still checking the items.”

I mentioned that most of the bandits were dealt with by Guo Doushan, and the strongest bandit leader was killed by me. Baek Ryeong-hwa let out a sigh of relief and slumped.

“I’m relieved. Really.”

If most of the guards had been killed or injured, it would have been a difficult situation for her. This escort would have been almost certainly canceled, and the branch office would have been severely affected.

Moreover, if Pang Gwi-in had also been harmed, it could have even affected the foundation of the Baekun Escort Agency.

It was truly fortunate that things didn’t go that way.

Baek Ryeong-hwa sighed and made an excuse.

“I didn’t expect the drug to be in the food. We always check for poison before meals.”

“Do you mean with a silver needle?”

“Yes.”

“It might not have been detectable. Silver doesn’t react to all poisons.”

Silver turns black when it reacts with sulfur, and this property is commonly used to detect poisons. In this era, arsenic trioxide, known as pi shuang, was commonly used as a poison, and it contains sulfur, which turns silver black.

Obviously, if the sleeping drug didn’t contain sulfur, it wouldn’t have changed color.

However, Baek Ryeong-hwa shook her head.

“The antidote also didn’t work.”

“The antidote?”

“Yes. This.”

Baek Ryeong-hwa handed me an orange bead. When I touched it, I felt a warm sensation.

“This is called Xionghuang Antidote, a rare item that can protect against most poisons. It can at least delay the progression of the poison. I received it from headquarters after the incident with Yoon Jun-seop...”

Baek Ryeong-hwa trailed off. The Xionghuang Antidote was an item with the ability to protect against poisons. Although I didn’t know the principle, it seemed unlikely to be fake since it was provided by headquarters.

“I’ve heard of it, but this is the first time I’ve seen it.”

The warm sensation in my hand made it seem like a truly mysterious item. I returned the Xionghuang Antidote to Baek Ryeong-hwa and asked.

“Maybe it didn’t react because it was a sleeping drug?”

“No, that’s not the case. A low-grade antidote might not work, but the Xionghuang Antidote should be effective against sleeping drugs and aphrodisiacs.”

That was strange. If the silver needle was one thing, the Xionghuang Antidote not working was another.

Since further speculation wouldn’t help, we decided to interrogate the innkeeper. The innkeeper was tied up and unconscious.

“Hey, wake up.”

I kicked the innkeeper, and he suddenly realized he was tied up.

“Ugh, ugh...”

“Don’t make it difficult. Let’s do this easily.”

“What, what are you talking about!”

I pulled out my throwing knife. The knife, which had drawn blood from several people today, gleamed in the light.

“It’ll be easier if you tell me everything you know.”

“I, I don’t know anything!”

The fake innkeeper waved his hands and said hurriedly. I sighed as if I was very disappointed and asked.

“Let’s do this easily, but you’re making it difficult. Hmm... Do you know how to catch fish?”

“F-fish? Why fish? Suddenly...”

The innkeeper’s eyes filled with anxiety. I decided to give a beneficial lecture.

“Seems like you haven’t been fishing. I’ll teach you. First, you pierce the space between the eyes with a needle and then...”

“H-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h