Chapter 42 – The Brown Bear’s Roar (5)

Chapter 42 – The Brown Bear's Roar (5)

*Crash!*

It was the sound of the fat pig losing consciousness and collapsing. He had been beaten so severely that his face was swollen to twice its size between his torn bandages.

She couldn't leave him unbound, as he might lock the door while she was down in the basement.

Carrying Ahae on her back, So-so rushed down the stairs. Imagining Cheong-ah shivering in fear and loneliness made her feel incredibly anxious. She knew from experience how terrifying it was to be trapped in this place.

"Cheong-ah!"

"Cheong-ah, where are you?!"

She looked left and right, searching every corner of the cellar. Not far off, she finally spotted Cheong-ah. The girl was wandering aimlessly through the dark, cold underground chambers. Her eyes were swollen red from crying, and her face was gaunt.

When Cheong-ah saw So-so and Ahae, her eyes welled up with tears once more. Seeing her like that made So-so burst into tears as well.

"Wah… were you scared?"

"Ugh… Sister So-so…"

The three children clung to one another and sobbed.

Children are always honest with their emotions. Sharing pain, sorrow, and joy in such a terrifying place had forged an unbreakable bond between them.

Once they wept it all out and calmed down, they wanted nothing more than to get out of there. It was a place they never wished to step into again.

"Shall we go?"

"Yes!"

The three held hands and made their way toward the exit. As they walked, Cheong-ah and Ahae spoke with anxious, hopeful faces.

"I want to see my mom!"

"Me too!"

Hearing that, So-so realized she had no memories of her own mother. Because she had no memories, she felt no yearning. Yet, knowing that she was the only one without a mother made her feel a quiet, unavoidable loneliness.

Seeing So-so grow quiet, Cheong-ah asked, "Don't you want to see your mother, Sister?"

"No, I don't have a mother. Hehe. I'll just have to ask Father to get me one as a gift later."

So-so forced a smile and marched forward with energy.

There was no longer anyone to block the children's path. A single man had completely thrown the underworld of Hanzhong into chaos, and the thugs had no time to worry about anything else.

* * *

An escort agency was an organization that safely transported goods or people in exchange for a fee. If the price was right, they would deliver their cargo anywhere, whether by land or water.

The most powerful of these organizations in Hanzhong was the Yuanjiang Escort Agency. Its massive headquarters, spanning nearly a thousand pyeong, was surrounded by low stone walls.

The townspeople peering over the walls had a variety of expressions on their faces.

"So those bastards were the ones transporting the kidnapped victims?!"

"Oh, heavens… how could they?"

"How many more of these trash are in Hanzhong?"

This was the fifth location the crowd had followed Il-gwang to.

Right now, in the middle of the courtyard, a massive beast was roaring.

Thick, dark blood dripped from Il-gwang's hands. His once-pure white robe had turned completely crimson, and the gashes on his body were clearly visible through the shredded fabric.

Il-gwang's burning eyes swept the area. About twenty escort warriors lay groaning on the ground, their faces horribly battered. An even greater number of them still surrounded him.

These men were on a completely different level from the common street thugs he had faced earlier. They were veterans who had trained in swordsmanship for years to defend cargo from bandits. There were quite a few first-class experts among them, making the agency a force that even orthodox sects did not dare provoke lightly. Above all, their combined attack formation was terrifying.

Yet, despite being surrounded, there was not a shred of fear in Il-gwang's eyes.

He raised both fists to eye level. When the escort warriors hesitated to attack, he curled his right hand in a taunting gesture, inviting them to come at him.

Just then, an escort warrior on his left lunged forward, thrusting his sword. Il-gwang reflexively twisted his upper body to the right. The moment the blade grazed his shoulder, his fist shot toward the man's chin.

It was the second stance of the Pasan Fist: Fierce Dragon Striking the Mountain.

*Baaang!*

With his jawbone shattered, the escort warrior lost all strength and collapsed.

Before the man even hit the ground, Il-gwang leaned back sharply. He watched another blade pass inches from his chest, and his eyes locked onto the wrist holding the hilt.

Il-gwang grabbed the warrior's wrist with his left hand and clamped his right hand onto the man's throat.

"Ugh!"

With a terrifying grimace, Il-gwang lifted the man high into the air by his throat and slammed him down onto the paved ground.

*Crash!*

His spine shattered by the impact, the man lay motionless, not even twitching.

At that moment, another blade slashed across Il-gwang's back.

*Slash!*

A burning pain flared along his spine, followed by the warm sensation of flowing blood. Yet not a single groan escaped his lips. He simply spun around and punched his attacker in the abdomen.

*Thwack!*

"Urgh!"

As the warrior doubled over in pain, Il-gwang slammed a log-like knee directly into his face.

*Boom!*

Then, two more blades flashed from his left and right, grazing his thigh and shoulder.

*Slash! Slash!*

Though their attacks connected, Il-gwang didn't back down. Instead, he lunged even deeper into their ranks.

Il-gwang grabbed the back of the neck of the warrior who had just slashed him, gripping him like a chicken. His massive grip strength caused the warrior's face to turn purple.

"A-Argh! Help me!"

When another sword thrust approached from the right, Il-gwang shoved the warrior in his grasp into the path of the blade.

*Puchik!*

"Gaaah!"

The warrior who had accidentally stabbed his own comrade froze in shock. In his hesitation, he failed to retrieve his sword in time. Before he could react, a massive fist flew toward his face.

*Baaang!*

A punch from a fist the size of a boulder was enough to take down anyone in a single hit. Pure terror began to fill the eyes of the escort warriors.

They had traveled on countless escorts and fought off numerous bandits, but they had never experienced such raw terror. None of them had ever seen, let alone heard of, a man who fought so recklessly. No matter how many times they cut him, he refused to fall. It was enough to break their spirits.

"W-what are you?"

"Are you even human?"

They were starting to wonder if the man before them was a jiangshi rather than a living human.

The situation only worsened for the agency. As their numbers dwindled, the power of their combined attack formation evaporated. The tide of battle had fully turned.

Instead of answering, Il-gwang lunged among them. Every time his broad shoulders shifted, his fists slammed into the warriors' faces like sledgehammers.

*Boom! Crash! Bam!*

Watching their comrades' faces get caved in one by one, the remaining escort warriors froze. Their formation collapsed completely.

"S-Spare me…"

Some eventually lost their nerve and tried to flee, but Il-gwang's fists showed no mercy. He snapped the limbs and broke the necks of those who tried to fight back. Those who surrendered were struck in their vital points, ending them instantly.

The agonizing screams continued for a long time.

By the time the noise finally died down, more than fifty bloody corpses lay scattered around Il-gwang.

A chilly breeze swept through the vast courtyard. The townspeople watching from the walls swallowed hard, unable to speak. The faint of heart had already turned their heads or covered their eyes.

The giant strode forward, one heavy step at a time.

There was still one man left. It was Hyeok Ri-mun, the Chief and Grand Director of the Yuanjiang Escort Agency.

Holding his sword, Hyeok Ri-mun stood in silence. His eyes flickered with a mix of regret, anger, and sorrow.

Il-gwang spoke for the first time.

"Tell me who commissioned the kidnapping, and you can die quickly. Keep your mouth shut, and I will beat you to death like a dog."

"You know the rules. An escort agency does not reveal its client, even in death."

"I see human trafficking is considered a regular escort job these days. In that case, you deserve a thrashing."

Il-gwang's fierce face contorted even further.

Hyeok Ri-mun's sword suddenly glowed with a sharp light, wrapping the blade in energy. Simultaneously, a bright aura manifested around Il-gwang's fists. It was fist energy, a level of power equal to sword qi. Neither was surprised, as they had already gauged each other's level.

Il-gwang initiated the attack. Staying low to the ground, his rapid charge was incredibly intimidating. Their fist energy and sword qi clashed, unleashing a deafening roar.

*Baaang!*

Il-gwang pressed his attack while Hyeok Ri-mun fought desperately to keep him back. Il-gwang unleashed a relentless barrage from the start, knowing that the longer the fight dragged on, the worse off he would be.

Unleashing a dozen punches in a single breath, Il-gwang slowly forced his opponent backward. But his momentum did not last.

In truth, Il-gwang's stamina had been depleted long ago. Hyeok Ri-mun had been waiting for this. Even though his men had all perished, he had successfully waited out the beast.

As time passed, Il-gwang's movements grew sluggish, and his fist energy began to fade. The tide turned, and Hyeok Ri-mun took the upper hand.

Eventually, the fist energy around Il-gwang's hands vanished completely. Without it, he could not block the sword qi. He could do nothing but dodge. The sharp sword qi danced around him as he twisted and retreated.

But he couldn't dodge forever. Finally, Hyeok Ri-mun's sword pierced deep into Il-gwang's left abdomen.

*Thrust!*

A triumphant smile flashed across Hyeok Ri-mun's face.

But that triumph quickly turned to despair. Il-gwang's massive hand clamped onto his wrist, trapping the sword in place.

Hyeok Ri-mun realized too late that he had walked into a trap. Il-gwang had lured him in on purpose. The grip on his wrist was so immense that he couldn't budge his hand.

Hyeok Ri-mun used his free left hand to strike Il-gwang in the face.

*Boom!*

It was a punch infused with internal force. Blood poured from Il-gwang's nose and lips, but the giant only grinned.

Now, it was Il-gwang's turn.

His fist tore through the air, hurtling toward Hyeok Ri-mun's face. It was not a simple punch; a crimson aura wrapped around his fist.

The third stance of the Pasan Fist: Flash Strike.

This single blow carried every drop of internal force Il-gwang had left. Terror filled Hyeok Ri-mun's eyes as the fist loomed.

*Baaaang!*

The result was devastating. The single strike shattered Hyeok Ri-mun's lower jaw and turned his legs to jelly.

Yet he wasn't even allowed to fall. Gripping the man by his collar, Il-gwang systematically battered his face.

*Crash! Crash! Crash!*

The blows continued relentlessly, stopping only when Il-gwang felt the man had fully paid for his sins.

*Thud!*

Leaving the collapsed director behind, Il-gwang tried to stand straight, but his body swayed. He forced himself to steady his stance and wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve.

*Squilch!*

With a grimace, he pulled the sword out of his abdomen.

Tapping his acupoints to stop the bleeding, he turned toward the two-story building of the agency. He walked with a limp, but his staggered silhouette carried a solemn resolution.

The crowd on the walls swallowed hard, completely speechless.

A quarter of an hour passed, yet no one left. Everyone waited with bated breath for the man who had entered the building to reappear.

Another fifteen minutes passed.

Finally, a figure emerged from the entrance, limping heavily.

One step. Then another. He walked with great difficulty, looking as if he might collapse at any moment.

Then, the crowd's eyes shifted behind him.

An unbelievable sight was unfolding. Dozens of young women and children were pouring out of the building.

At that moment, hundreds of townspeople leaped over the walls. They were the families of the missing. Running frantically, they found their loved ones and began to weep in each other's arms. Among them was the middle-aged mother who had been crying in the street earlier.

The onlookers on the wall felt their chests swell with emotion.

It was then.

*Thud!*

A heavy sound echoed. Il-gwang's knees had hit the ground.

Though he hadn't let out a single groan, the damage to his body had long since surpassed his limits.

His eyes still held a fierce determination to stand—there were still more children to save. But no matter how strong his will, his body could no longer move. His upper body began to slump forward.

At that moment, someone in the crowd shouted and leaped over the wall.

"The hero is falling!"

"We must save the hero!"

As if on cue, hundreds of townspeople began jumping over the wall. They quickly swarmed around Il-gwang.

"Quick, help him!"

"Everyone take a side!"

Il-gwang's massive frame was far too heavy for just one or two people. It took more than a dozen men working together to lift him safely.

"Is there a physician here?!"

Just then, a bent old man stepped forward from the crowd. He was already carrying a medicine box on his back, as if he had anticipated this.

No one noticed the subtle emblem of the government army—the mark of the Wolf Fang Squad—carved into the corner of his medicine box.