## Chapter 326 – 326. Defense
“Are these the people?”
A man entered and spoke to the association staff while looking at us.
It was in Chinese, not Korean, so the hunters except for me and the association staff couldn’t understand a word he said.
The reason I could understand Chinese was because I had entered the ‘Supreme Grandmaster of the Taeguk’ world. I naturally learned Chinese back then.
“Yes. These ten are the hunters who will support the evacuation of the residents of Uchuk Village.”
“Thank you for your help. Please stay close to me from now on. We don’t have much time, so let’s move quickly.”
The association staff translated his words and told us. We gathered our equipment and approached the Chinese man.
‘Is this the A-class spatial movement ability user from China?’
I examined the Chinese man.
His clothes were dirty, and there were dark circles under his eyes. It was understandable, considering that a level 5 monster disaster alert had been issued in China, so he probably hadn’t been able to sleep properly and had to work.
‘A spatial movement ability user. And one who can move to other countries is very rare.’
Looking at his face, which looked like he could collapse at any moment, I wasn’t particularly envious.
“Hoo…. I’ll move us.”
He spoke and raised his mana. And the moment I felt my body shake, we were in Uchuk Village in China. There were about 20 people who looked like Chinese hunters standing around us.
“Cough. Cough! Cough!”
The one who coughed was the Chinese man who had teleported us. His face was pale, and he looked like he was in such bad condition that he might collapse.
“…I’ll be going now. I still have a lot of work to do….”
He spoke as if lamenting and disappeared using his ability.
‘Ugh. They must be working him like crazy.’
Spatial movement ability users are rare and have great abilities, so they are usually treated much better than ordinary hunters. However, there is a risk of abusing their abilities, so they cannot use them freely.
When teleporting to a village or city of a certain size, they must obtain permission from the association or the government. That’s why people sometimes compare spatial movement ability users to dogs on a leash.
“Alright!”
A man gathered our attention. He was a man in his 30s with short hair and glasses.
“I am Ji Woo-jin from the Festio Guild. Is there anyone here who can speak Chinese?”
Festio Guild.
It was the first time I had heard of that guild name. And the fact that I didn’t know it meant there was a 70% or higher chance that it was a no-name guild.
“I can.”
I raised my hand. Han Ha-rin next to me looked at me with suspicious eyes. But I was confident.
“There’s someone else who can speak Chinese besides me. Nice to meet you.”
Ji Woo-jin approached me, shook my hand, and spoke in Chinese. It seemed like he was testing if I really spoke Chinese.
“Yes. Nice to meet you too. I’m Sung Yu-jin.”
While we were shaking hands, someone approached us.
“Hey. Korean hunters. Isn’t this not the time to be leisurely greeting each other? You haven’t forgotten our mission, have you?”
It was a man in his mid-30s wearing martial arts attire. The man with a long black beard that reached his chest was carrying a large zanbato on his back.
“Of course not. There’s a saying that you should take a detour when you’re in a hurry, and I thought there was still some time. Who are you?”
“I am Gong Gon. A disciple of the Overlord Blade Sect. More importantly, shouldn’t we reassure the residents who are waiting for us right now?”
Gong Gon pointed to one side. People who looked like villagers were watching us cautiously.
“Ah…. Gong Gon. You’re right. Residents of Uchuk Village! We are hunters who came to support you from Korea!”
•••
After that, we gathered and made a plan, deciding to evacuate to Lanzhou City at noon tomorrow.
And currently, I was looking down from the roof of the tallest building in the village. To be precise, I was looking at a woman.
She was a Chinese hunter.
With long black hair tied back in a ponytail and snow-white skin, she was a rare beauty even in Korea. Like Gong Gon, she was wearing martial arts attire and carrying a large zanbato on her back. I had seen Gong Gon treat her respectfully a few times.
‘Similar martial arts attire, similar weapons, it’s obvious. They’re from the same guild. The Overlord Blade Sect, was it? The woman has a higher status than Gong Gon.’
In China, they don’t call themselves guilds, but rather sects. And unlike guilds in other countries, Chinese guilds are closer to the concept of sects in martial arts novels.
Perhaps it was because I was staring at her too intently.
She looked at me. I didn’t avert my gaze.
‘Oh. She looks even prettier up close. She seems to have similar skills to me, so I can’t just overpower her…. This is reality too. I should try to seduce her. But how should I seduce her?’
She was frowning. She didn’t seem to be in a good mood at all.
She was running towards me. Her footwork as she jumped on the roof was as light as a bird taking flight.
‘She’s using light footwork.’
It didn’t take her even five minutes to reach me. She must have trained in martial arts since she was very young.
“Why have you been watching me since earlier?”
“Watching? That sounds bad. I was just looking. A beauty like you is not common.”
“Nonsense…. You’ve been watching me since this afternoon. Do you think I wouldn’t know?”
“I was looking because you’re pretty, I’m telling you.”
“……”
Even after I said she was pretty, her cold atmosphere didn’t soften. Her eyes were full of suspicion as she looked at me.
“I know you’re from Korea. Reveal your identity.”
“I’m Sung Yu-jin, an E-class hunter.”
“I know that’s not what I meant. …Wait, E-class? An E-class is doing this mission?”
“My skills are recognized by the association as C-class. I can even show you my temporary hunter’s license. And I don’t have a guild, so there’s nothing much to reveal. Oh, except that I’m from the Yeongcheon Style?”
“Yeongcheon Style…?! You’re from the Yeongcheon Style?!”
I nodded, seeing her somewhat excited reaction. It seemed that the Yeongcheon Style was famous even in China.
“I’ve revealed my identity. Now it’s your turn to reveal yours.”
“I am Ryu Ja-young of the Overlord Blade Sect. I never thought I would meet you like this. Good. Sung Yu-jin of the Yeongcheon Style. I challenge you to a duel.”
Ryu Ja-young effortlessly lifted the zanbato she had been carrying on her back with her right hand. I didn’t know how much martial arts she had trained, but her stance was flawless.
“Wait. A duel?! Not a sparring match, but a duel?!”
Sparring and duels are different. I knew that from Jin Se-young.
Sparring is like training together with an opponent, while a duel is closer to a fight where you compete in martial arts.
Duels are brutal. If you’re unlucky, one side could lose their life.
“That’s right. I heard about the martial arts of the Yeongcheon Style from my father. He said it was a fast and fierce martial art. So, I will see with my own eyes if it matches what he said.”
“Why a duel all of a sudden, what is that…”
I was about to refuse, but I closed my mouth.
My mind was racing.
“Ryu Ja-young. Do you know what a duel means?”
Ryu Ja-young’s sharply arched eyebrows twitched.
“Do you think I would challenge you to a duel without knowing what it means?”
“If you know, then you also know that you are being rude right now. Right?”
“…I acknowledge my rudeness. I’m sorry. But I cannot withdraw my challenge to a duel.”
“I know. I’m also willing to accept the duel. If you accept my condition.”
“Condition?”
“The loser of the duel has to grant any request of the winner.”
“…Any request? I cannot accept such a vague condition. State the specific condition.”
I smiled. Ryu Ja-young was surprisingly meticulous. I was planning to take her after winning the duel…. I should probably discard that plan.
“It’s training. Help me with my training whenever I want…. About three times.”
“If it’s such a request…. I understand. I will grant it.”
I suppressed the lecherous smile that kept trying to appear. I didn’t say exactly what kind of training I wanted.
“Then it’s your turn. When you win. What request will you make of me?”
“When I win the duel…. It’s fine. It was my side that was rude in challenging you to a duel. I am simply curious about the Yeongcheon Style. Even if I win the duel, I have no intention of asking anything of you.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Now, let’s duel…”
“Wait, wait. Are you thinking of doing it here?”
I pointed my finger at the ground below. We were currently standing on the roof. If we fought here, the house would be destroyed.
“……”
Ryu Ja-young looked around once, then put the zanbato back on her back and said,
“I saw a decent open space behind the village earlier. Let’s duel there.”
“Okay.”
•••
Clang!
I blocked the zanbato falling from above by holding the Hwaryeon Flying Blade sideways. Sparks flew, and my legs trembled as I was pushed back.
It was partly because Ryu Ja-young’s physical abilities were superior to mine, but the Overlord Blade Technique that Ryu Ja-young used was a fighting style that pushed with force, just like its name. If I clashed head-on, I would inevitably be pushed back.
‘It’s an incredible force. And the Overlord Blade Technique is not as simple as it looks. If it were a truly simple martial art, I wouldn’t be pushed back like this.’
I widened the distance and stared at the red sword aura flickering on Ryu Ja-young’s zanbato. Some would say that the energy coming from a blade should be called blade aura, but most people don’t make such distinctions and call it sword aura. It’s more common to distinguish the energy coming from a spear or a fist.
“Yeongcheon Style…. It’s disappointing compared to what I heard.”
“That’s too hasty of a judgment. I haven’t even started yet.”
Crackling.
From the blade with the blue sword aura, fierce red lightning crackled.
Ryu Ja-young widened her eyes in surprise, then quickly composed herself and took a more cautious stance than before.
Her previously aggressive attitude had changed to a defensive one.
‘So, she’s going to explore the Yeongcheon Style first. …Fine. Explore all you want.’
[Using Acceleration. Duration: 10 minutes. Remaining stacks: 4]
I stepped on the Thunder Sound Step and ran towards Ryu Ja-young, swinging my sword. Ryu Ja-young pulled up her mana and swung her zanbato.
I baited her.
Yeongcheon Style (影天流) – Blue Stream (碧溪).
Ryu Ja-young’s zanbato attacked the wrong place, right next to my body. I passed her and thrust my fist into her slender side. I couldn’t cut her side with a sword, no matter what.
But my fist was blocked by something transparent 3cm in front of her body.
“……!”
Whoosh!
Ryu Ja-young swung her zanbato widely. I lost my balance from the huge wind generated by the zanbato and flew backward. I did a somersault in the air and landed on the ground, frowning.
“Ryu Ja-young. What was that?”
“It’s my ability. Phase Defense. It’s an ability that automatically protects me with a barrier.”
“…To beat you, I have to break that barrier?”
“No. If you are stronger than me, I will admit defeat without hesitation.”
“That’s a desirable attitude.”
I rushed towards her again and used Blue Stream.
“That technique won’t work anymore.”
I wasn’t flustered because I had expected it. I pretended to swing my sword at her, and then I extended my leg to try and trip her. But both were blocked. My sword was blocked by the zanbato, and I tripped her leg, but she didn’t budge.
Ryu Ja-young was far ahead in terms of strength.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Crash!
Ryu Ja-young’s attacks were not fast. But they were powerful. Even a graze would cause a large wound due to the aftermath.
Even now, the ground around her was a mess. The ground was dug up, dust was flying, and pieces of stone were broken.
‘And she has incredible stamina too. At this rate, I’ll be the one to get tired first.’
She was a tough woman.
I wonder if she would be this tough in bed.
‘Let’s go all out this time. If that doesn’t work… I’ll have to use Full Recovery to win.’
I used all my mana to generate Red Lightning.
“…That red lightning is dangerous.”
“Are you telling me not to use Red Lightning?”
“Of course not. Do you think I would say that? Come at me.”
Crackling.
Our weapons collided. Red Lightning flowed along the zanbato and into Ryu Ja-young’s hand. The barrier surrounding her body flickered, but some of the Red Lightning entered her body.
Ryu Ja-young gritted her teeth and swung her zanbato.
[Using Moment. Remaining stacks: 3]
I dodged to the side and hit her side with the hilt of my sword. It was blocked by the barrier, but it didn’t matter. My goal was to make the current flow.
Whoosh!
[Using Moment. Remaining stacks: 2]
I dodged the swing to my left and dove into her arms.
Crack. Crack.
Ryu Ja-young’s reaction, who was electrocuted by the Red Lightning, was much slower than before. My sword was pointed at her neck.
“Ugh…. I lost.”
