Chapter 87 : Azure Dragon of the Great Mountain
Ak Si-ung was standing with a spear longer than his own body in one hand.
Seeing that, it seemed he had no intention of politely moving out of the way.
Namgung Il had to choose whether to fight and break through the front or to detour and go another way.
'That brat doesn't seem like he'll go down easily.'
Namgung Il had briefly crossed swords with Ak Si-ung before.
Although he was confident that he would never lose to Ak Si-ung if they fought properly, to be honest, he wanted to avoid a confrontation now.
While this side was quite tired, wasn't that side in a very fresh state?
This was a fight with conditions that were too disadvantageous to Namgung Il in the first place.
'No. It's better to avoid it now.'
If he fought with Ak Si-ung, he would surely be held up here for quite a long time.
Since he wanted to avoid being surrounded by pursuers in the meantime, in the end, Namgung Il decided to turn and detour.
"He's over there!"
Just then, a voice shouting like that was heard from behind.
When he turned his head at that voice, he could see the figures of the pursuers who had already been closely following him.
'Wh-what should I do?'
Since the pursuers were already crossing the bridge, the path to detour and go back had also disappeared.
It was a situation of being in a dilemma.
Unless he jumped into the pond, it seemed there was no further path for Namgung Il.
Phat—
Just then, Ak Si-ung started to move, holding his spear.
One Ak Si-ung in front, and countless pursuers in the back.
Since it seemed he would have to face both sides at the same time if he delayed any longer, Namgung Il had to choose one side right away.
'Still, one person is better than many!'
Individually, Ak Si-ung would be more skilled than the people in the back.
But no matter how much, there was no answer to a human wave tactic.
In this situation, choosing just one person, Ak Si-ung, was the correct answer.
Thud—
Namgung Il took a stance to draw his sword and glared at Ak Si-ung.
At that moment, Ak Si-ung's figure, which suddenly kicked off the ground and rose high in the air.
Seeing that, Namgung Il felt something strange and stopped his movement to draw his sword.
"Uryaaat—!"
With a shout, Ak Si-ung threw the spear he was holding in one hand.
A thrown spear that fell to the ground with great speed, as if an arrow were flying.
But the place where that thrown spear was heading was not Namgung Il, but much further behind him.
"...!"
The pursuers, who had suddenly discovered the spear flying towards them from the air, stopped running with pale faces.
Boom—!
With a loud roar, the spear that Ak Si-ung had thrown fell onto the bridge.
The spear pierced the thick stone bridge with great depth, and due to that impact, the people who were running at the front were thrown in all directions.
"Ugh..."
A thunderbolt from a clear sky, no, a thrown spear from a clear sky, the people could not come to their senses.
Some fell into the pond, and most of the people at the front were lying down, groaning.
Thud—
Ak Si-ung landed near the spear stuck in the stone bridge.
In that state, Ak Si-ung glared at the pursuers and shouted at Namgung Il.
"Namgung Il!"
"...?"
"I'll block them here, so you hurry and run away!"
Hearing those words, Namgung Il couldn't help but have a question.
Although he had thought something was strange when he had jumped over his head earlier... don't tell me Ak Si-ung is an ally, not an enemy?
Although Ak Si-ung had actually attacked the pursuers, not him, Namgung Il still looked at Ak Si-ung with a suspicious gaze and asked.
"Why are you helping me?"
No matter how much he thought about it, there was no reason at all for Ak Si-ung to help him.
On the contrary, since such a thing had happened at the student dining hall, wouldn't he be closer to an enemy than an ally?
When Namgung Il asked, Ak Si-ung smiled and gave a thumbs-up.
"It's only natural to help my brother-in-law."
"...What?"
"I'm sorry I didn't recognize you then. I've been looking for a chance to apologize, and I'm finally doing it now."
At that moment, Namgung Il's expression turned cold.
"...Brother-in-law?"
"Is it a little too early to call you that?"
"..."
"For now, let's just call each other brothers. You can call me Brother Ak from now on!"
Namgung Il could now understand the reason why Ak Si-ung was helping him.
Ak Si-ung's purpose was, after all, Namgung Yeon.
It was very obvious that he was trying to win Namgung Yeon's favor by using the fact that he had helped him as a pretext.
'This bastard... he still hasn't come to his senses?'
Since Ak Simin had asked, he had been planning to just let it go nicely... but since he was just standing there, what about brother-in-law and what?
Namgung Il wanted to punch that face right now.
'...No, let's endure it for now.'
Although he didn't like it, the fact that Ak Si-ung had become an ally was quite a big help to him.
Wouldn't that brat be able to block the people over there to some extent?
Namgung Il thought realistically for now and released his clenched fist.
Swish—
Without saying a word, Namgung Il turned his body to the opposite side and ran.
Seeing that, the pursuers hurriedly tried to chase after Namgung Il again.
However.
Whoosh—!
A spear that cut through the air with a threatening sound blocked the pursuers' path.
Ak Si-ung slammed the spear he was swinging hard on the floor and said to the people.
"You can't pass here now."
"You, who on earth are you!"
"Me?"
Ak Si-ung smiled, raising the corners of his lips.
"I am the Azure Dragon of the Great Mountain, Ak Si-ung!"
"...!"
"And... a lover who only looks at one woman..."
Whack—!
It was then.
Suddenly, a stone flew from behind and struck the back of Ak Si-ung's head.
"...?"
Ak Si-ung, who looked around with a bewildered expression.
And so, he discovered Namgung Il standing at the end of the bridge and waved his hand with a bright smile.
"Brother! I'm fine, so you go ahead!"
"..."
"Just trust this older brother!"
Tsk—
Although Namgung Il put down the stone he was holding in his hand on the floor and clicked his tongue, it seemed that Ak Si-ung could not see him at all.
Ak Si-ung turned his head to where the people were again and raised his spear.
"The brat who wants to die, come out first."
The gaze of Ak Si-ung, who was saying that, looked like a completely different person from when he had waved his hand at Namgung Il earlier.
* * *
Namgung Il passed the pond and was able to arrive safely in front of the student council hall.
'It's uncomfortable.'
Although he had arrived at his destination, Namgung Il's mood was not very good.
Because the fact that he had received Ak Si-ung's help in the middle was very unpleasant.
Although he had thrown a stone at the back of Ak Si-ung's head at the end, as expected, that alone was not enough to relieve his feelings.
'Just you wait until you get caught later. If you say the word 'brother-in-law' then too, I'll put a stone in your mouth this time.'
Since he was Ak Simin's younger brother, he had been planning to end it amicably, but it seemed he would have to teach him a lesson once to make him come to his senses.
To do that, he had to end this chase completely.
Namgung Il was on guard of his surroundings and cautiously approached the wall.
Swish—
Like a thief, Namgung Il lightly jumped over the wall and invaded the student council hall.
'...Is there no one?'
Just like before, no one was in sight inside.
But since there was a high possibility that this was also a trap set by Cheon Hong-ryeon, Namgung Il slowly went inside, hiding his presence as much as possible.
"..."
Fortunately, this time he knew for sure where Cheon Hong-ryeon's office was.
Namgung Il, who had arrived in front of the office right away, recalling his memory.
Namgung Il hurriedly tried to open the door and go inside but stopped his hand that was extended towards the door.
'This time too, she might have set a trap like last time.'
No, she almost certainly would have.
Would a person who had made him a fugitive like this overnight just let him come in obediently?
Namgung Il returned the hand he had extended to the door to its original position and drew his sword.
Screech—
As soon as he drew his sword, Namgung Il swung his sword towards the door without hesitation.
At the same time, moving his feet, Namgung Il passed through the broken door.
'What, there's nothing.'
Since he had been wary of a trap, Namgung Il had broken the door and had come in.
But Namgung Il had come in so easily that it felt as if that act was meaningless.
It seemed that a trap like a dagger flying out like last time was not installed.
"...?"
Just then, Namgung Il could tell that someone was standing in front.
A back that felt quite different from the Cheon Hong-ryeon he had known.
Although the place he had just entered was surely Cheon Hong-ryeon's office, since someone other than Cheon Hong-ryeon was standing there, a question couldn't help but arise in Namgung Il's two eyes.
"The president is not here."
Just then, the person in front said, with his back turned.
"...!"
This voice, he had heard it somewhere.
Only after hearing the voice could Namgung Il realize who the person standing there was.
Swoosh—
The person in front turned around and walked out from the shaded place.
A face that was now clearly visible.
Namgung Cheon was looking at Namgung Il from there with an expressionless face.
'Namgung Cheon?'
As soon as he confirmed his identity, Namgung Il couldn't help but be surprised.
Although he understood that Cheon Hong-ryeon was not here, why on earth was Namgung Cheon there instead?
Namgung Il calmed his agitated heart and said to Namgung Cheon.
"Why are you here, brother?"
"The reason is simple."
"...?"
"Because I thought you would come here on your own if I was here."
There was no such predicament.
Didn't that sound like Namgung Cheon had been waiting for him here?
And he could guess the reason without even having to ask.
'I'm in big trouble.'
To think that he would run into Namgung Cheon in a situation like this.
Although he might have welcomed this situation at another time, at least not now.
"Haha—"
"..."
"I think I've come to the wrong place. Then please excuse me."
Namgung Il laughed nonchalantly and was about to leave the spot.
But just then, something brushed past Namgung Il.
At that moment, the entrance was completely split, and a deep sword mark was made on the floor outside.
"Who said you could go?"
"..."
When Namgung Cheon asked, Namgung Il turned his head that way again.
A sword that was now held in Namgung Cheon's right hand.
What had just brushed past Namgung Il was none other than the sword qi that Namgung Cheon had sent out.
"Brother, isn't it against the school rules to damage property like this?"
"In a situation like this, it doesn't matter if you break the school rules a little."
"...I thought you were diligent, but it turns out you're a very selfish person."
Saying that, Namgung Il aimed his sword.
Although it had missed, he could not avoid a fight in a situation where he had even sent out sword qi.
Since he had been the first to pick a fight, this side had no intention of backing down either.
'The genius of the Namgung Clan?'
Should he check that skill a little?
Namgung Il muttered to himself and entered a combat stance.
(End of Chapter)