Surviving as a Rival in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 20 – That’s Because She’s the Protagonist (03)

Wasn’t she a character who used others like tools, played with people’s hearts, and awakened only after being crushed by Han So-so?

‘Knowing that my twin sister is alive must have changed her personality… Is it okay now?’

I only knew her as a character with a terrible personality from her first appearance, but now that I see her full of responsibility and active, it feels strange.

Honestly, I think it’s better now than when she was a character with a garbage personality, but if there’s a problem…

‘Is it okay to die here?’

However, there were only a few experts with enough martial arts skills to deal with one or two ritual marriages, and besides me, Ban Gyu-sung, Han So-so, and Je Gal-yeon-ji, there was no one with enough strength to cross the Janggang River and escape.

Anyway, the main gatekeeper had to lead the martial artists of the Four Gates here, and although Ban Gyu-sung and I tried to lure them away and separate them, they absolutely refused to leave, so we had to cooperate to defend. The only person left was Je Gal-yeon-ji.

‘But the current power… it’s ridiculously enhanced compared to the original novel.’

What Ban Gyu-sung and Han So-so were barely holding back was the attacks of the ritual marriages, and with the active defense of the main gate, even just Ban Gyu-sung and I were much stronger than the main couple in the original work…

‘There shouldn’t be any danger, right?’

“Huuk…”

Ban Gyu-sung, who returned with a pale face as if he had vomited somewhere, seems to be thinking whether I should give him some honey water or quickly release Je Gal-yeon-ji’s legs to make them entangled as in the original work.

“Kyaah!!”

“Gwae, it’s a monster!”

Loud screams echoed throughout the city, the sound of people moving frantically could be sensed in our heightened senses.

‘No… already?’

“Samae!”

“Yes, execution!”

Although I wanted to safely hide Samae in a secure place, even if the situation were opposite to Samae’s favor, I would ignore the advice to keep her safe and protect her until the end.

In that case, I had to compromise with Samae to a level that I could understand.

“For now, make self-preservation the goal, and if there’s spare time, help me. Just by reducing the number of real devils indirectly protects me, so there’s no need for you to stick by my side.”

I held Samae’s hand, who wanted to be by my side with an uncomfortable expression, and said to her once again.

“It’s more helpful to eliminate two real devils approaching me than to eliminate one who gets close to me.”

“Yes! This time, the girl will definitely protect you! From everything…”

Why does he look at me with a hostile gaze while saying that?

Of course, when Samae sees him, he must be recognized as an enemy enough, having once beaten me up. But not now.

‘Bangyuseong needs practical training here too.’

“For now, let’s focus on real devils, Samae. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“Since real devils can’t be seen as living humans… there’s no need to keep your hands on the sword.”

Although I say this, it might be difficult to tell a delicate Samae to use a killing sword. Just preventing them from moving would be a significant help.

“Don’t worry about that.”

Samae, a master who has reached the pinnacle in her own way. Her martial arts and enlightenment are even higher than mine, so there’s no need to worry.

“And next is Jegal Sojeo… No, he’s already gone.”

Even without my command, Jegal Yeonji had already boarded the ship, leaving only two dry sailors beside him as an excuse to raise the anchor.

‘Ah, could that be?’

Seeing the sailor gesturing to reassure me, it turned out to be Yeonji, Jegal Yeonji’s twin sister, who had joined us.

‘Since when has she been here?’

The unmanned at the Sacheondang Gate couldn’t receive separate instructions from me, and the gatekeeper was giving orders on his own, unfolding tactics to assist us.

Not a inspection or shield tactic, but an aggressive tactic that allowed us to fend off approaching enemies, making us relatively safe.

“Bangyuseong!”

“Yes!”

Although there was still a lingering alcohol buzz, he quickly sobered up. It wasn’t because of familiarity, but rather his robust body quickly dispelling the effects of the alcohol.

“You’ll be the bait with me here. Most of the real spirits will rush towards us, and you and I… need to stand firm and protect. Got it?”

“I understand, Yeon-hyung.”

Why am I called hyung? We’re the same age, aren’t we?

Thunk!

“aaargh!”

As we pushed aside or shoved away the commoners blocking the path at the Sacheon, they were running towards us, resembling zombies in modern-world movies.

They weren’t dead, just in a trance, utilizing their internal energy until they die while running towards their goal.

‘Come to think of it, these days, zombie movies are often about viruses rather than corpses, right? Then it’s not much different.’

From now on, let’s just treat the real spirits as zombies. That way, I can deal with them without any hesitation.

“Ban Gyuseong. Do you have any practical experience?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Taking down some bandits who don’t even know martial arts doesn’t count as practical experience.”

“…It seems like you know a lot about me.”

Ugh. I shouldn’t have mentioned the beginning of the novel. Now Ban Gyuseong is suspicious for no reason.

“It’s normal for beginners in the martial arts world.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not so easily swayed to hesitate when facing guys who don’t look like humans.”

“…Alright. I’ll trust you.”

While having this conversation, they were already stepping on the edge of the formation set up by the Four Skies Gate at the forefront of the married warriors.

If it was a normal formation where martial artists could support each other in a position that could help, like a battlefield formation, it was fascinating that the unmarried warriors of the Four Skies Gate deliberately kept their distance and surrounded the married warriors who entered here.

“Shoot!”

Papapapapap!

In martial arts novels, wasn’t the Four Skies Gate’s martial arts technique called Mancheonhwa-u (滿天花雨)?

It referred to pouring out dozens or hundreds of palm strikes that were impossible to dodge, dealing attacks that were impossible to avoid. Although the warriors at the gate weren’t using palm strikes, they were showing a temporary display of Mancheonhwa-u by standing side by side and creating a wall of fire.

“But how much can they withstand against unmarried warriors who don’t know pain?”

In reality, even if it was an ordinary person, there was an effect of piercing the blood vessels to make the internal energy go wild, making the tongue stiff and distorting some muscles. But the unmarried warriors didn’t care even if their internal energy went wild and their bodies exploded three seconds later.

Even for ordinary people, in extreme situations, they tend to exert great strength without taking care of their own bodies. So, it was no wonder that there were no monsters among those who were kidnapped and brainwashed, especially those who had talent in martial arts.

The unmarried warriors were charging without paying attention, even though their opponents were not right in front of them and they were throwing memorized attacks from a distance.

“If they keep doing that, they’ll be safe, right?”

If we think of it as a game, should we say they won’t attract aggro? In that case, long-range attackers can attack without any damage.

Roar!

The genuine spirits approaching the harbor were greeted by the ironclad gate of the Four-Heavens Sect, the whip unit. The facial leather of the leading genuine spirit was torn off as they rushed forward, leaving their face covered in blood, but they were oblivious to the pain, so it didn’t quite register properly.

“Prepare yourself.”

The Four-Heavens Sect was exerting their full force, doing what they could.

Only, the genuine spirits were gathering more than the number they could possibly kill.

“Bangyu Sung.”

“Yes.”

“Do not die.”

If this guy dies, it’s truly over.

I warned him not to die, thinking that way, but he, with a still somewhat intoxicated face, looked back at me.

“Head-on!”

“Ah… Yes!”

The brutal Four-Heavens Blood Ritual had just begun.

Crack!

“Huh?!”

The heads of two genuine spirits rushing towards me soared into the sky.

At first, I thought they had flown off due to escaping the formation of the Four-Heavens Sect and getting caught by a whip, but upon closer inspection, as the heads scattered into the sky, limbs fluttered, flying with sleeves flapping.

‘Limbs… were cut off?’

Even though genuine spirits can be like corpses and lack reason, could they really go this far…

‘No, now is not the time for me to lose focus…’

Every time Samae swung her sword, a gust of blood swept through, and the souls of the dead were torn away. When asked how many there were, it was to the point where numerous souls couldn’t be stopped by the formation at Sachendang Gate. They rushed in, only to be sliced and diced like meat in a blender by Samae’s swinging sword.

If there was a head or torso in the middle, it would be sliced along with the rest. And even if the limbs were still moving, once they were cut, they would fly up into the sky. It was noticeable that Samae’s expression remained calm, despite relentlessly cutting down the souls.

“With Samae’s skills, this is nothing…”

Samae seemed to have no intention of sending even a single soul away, as she continued to slice through them like a madwoman. Unlike her flashy but impractical swordsmanship in the past, she was now completely immersed in her surroundings, with no need for a separate crushing machine.

Swoosh!

Moreover, she seemed unfazed by the splatters of blood from the souls, quickly wiping away the parts that obstructed her vision with her sleeve before swinging her sword again.

If she thought she might miss something in the middle, she would push it away with her left hand, causing it to fall into the river or kicking it away with her foot to disrupt its balance. Samae was protecting me perfectly, without a single square inch left exposed.

“Do you… need my help?”

“Uh.”

I said so, but I wondered if I could handle the Sachen Blood Sect on my own… Samae’s performance was so overwhelming that I had a momentary doubt.

“If I stay like this, I won’t get used to the Ban Gyu Sung… First, that guy.”

I spotted one of the souls that Samae had thrown into the river and used my attack to redirect its path so that it wouldn’t come rushing back at us.

“Hyung, be careful!”

Ban Gyu Sung immediately raised his inner energy from his entire body. Normally, this kind of crude manipulation of energy was a dangerous act that could cause blood vessels to burst and lead to death.

It was a method that could only be attempted if one’s blood vessels were as strong as iron, but Ban Gyu Sung confidently raised his energy and reached out his palm towards the approaching soul.

Thud!

The head of the soul, whose cheek had been ripped off by the Sachen Blood Sect’s embroidery, turned 180 degrees and snapped back.

If it were a Kangshi, it might survive, but if it were a soul that had been brainwashed and manipulated to devour the living, it would have no choice but to die when it happened like this. Seeing the fallen soul in front of him, Ban Gyu Sung proudly straightened his shoulders and looked at me, as if trying to boast.

“Watch my back.”

Of course, while Samae kicked away the souls that bounced off her, I used my attack to pull them in one by one and sent them all to Ban Gyu Sung.

“Ugh! Suddenly, this number…!”

Feeling the commotion from behind, Samae turned around for a moment, but I continued to block the enemies coming head-on while ignoring the safe area where Real Spirits gathered.

‘Hmm… Did I send too many? Fortunately, that guy has a sturdy body, so he won’t die easily.’

If he really seems close to death, I can lend a hand.

“Ugh! Ah! Ugh!”

Moreover, seeing this guy shouting various screams and still dodging without taking a hit, it seemed there was still some room.

“Kyaaah! Where is this guy going!”

Though sometimes screaming like a woman.