Chiwoo: War God Reborn

[Village Central Plaza – Early Morning]

Guryeo tribesmen gathered one by one in the plaza.

Some stood silently with their arms crossed, while others squinted, scrutinizing the foreigners.

The Chiyoo Gym team was lined up on the opposite side of the plaza.

Do-yoon's face was tense as he nervously eyed the people, while Young-ho and Young-beom playfully nudged each other.

Min-chan silently surveyed everyone.

Standing before them was Noya.

"Today, for the first time, we will go hunting with the martial artists of Chiyoo Gym."

Noya's voice was low, but it held a power that enveloped the entire plaza.

"These are the people who will live with us.

See for yourselves… feel for yourselves what kind of people they are."

As his words ended, a man stepped forward.

He had solid shoulders and a sturdy build. He was a young man with a robust physique.

"I am U-am. A hunter of Guryeo Village. I will lead the way today."

He glanced at Min-chan out of the corner of his eye and added curtly.

"Just try not to die."

A moment of silence.

Young-ho let out a loud snort.

"Who's he talking to now?"

Young-beom stifled a laugh and looked at Min-chan.

Min-chan replied calmly.

"I have no intention of dying. Hunting or whatever—just don't fall behind."

At that moment, U-am's eyes narrowed sharply.

Then he turned and shouted.

"Warriors of Guryeo! Shouldn't we first see the skill of these outsiders?

Whether they are worthy to hunt with us, or whether they will be merely a burden to protect—."

[Murmuring]

At his words, opinions erupted among the Guryeo tribesmen.

"Yeah, besides the big guy, they don't look like much."

"The youngest-looking one is small too…"

"True, it would be troublesome if we met a beast or monster."

Then Sang-cheol chuckled and stepped forward.

"That's more like it. It's easier for us when you're like this."

"There's always someone asking for trouble, no matter where you go."

"Men only get close after a good fistfight."

Young-beom grinned, his eyes sparkling, and Tae-geon cracked his knuckles, muttering.

U-am uncrossed his arms and took a step forward.

He gestured with his chin towards the center of the plaza.

"Since it's been brought up, we can confirm it directly. One representative from our side, one from yours.

Let's have just one match. Bare-handed. No blood."

[Murmuring]

"Good, that suits us too."

Sang-cheol retorted quickly, as if he had been waiting.

He nodded towards Do-yoon.

"Do-yoon, our maknae, get ready."

"Ah… Coach, I'm supposed to go with the trade group soon…"

At that moment, Young-ho didn't miss his chance and quickly stepped forward, walking into the plaza.

"Whoa! I was going to do it, what do you mean by cutting in line?!"

At Young-beom's indignant cry, Young-ho turned his head and grinned.

U-am glanced, sweeping his gaze up and down Young-ho.

"…You?"

"Is this kid's tongue always that short around here?"

Young-ho shrugged exaggeratedly, pushing through the men to the center of the plaza.

His steps were lighter than usual, and the corners of his mouth were turned up.

"I'll fix that short tongue of yours. Come out, fatty."

U-am snorted and tossed aside his leather armguard.

"I hope your skill matches your bravado."

[Laughter erupted]

"Let's see if you can even show any skill? You'll be too busy huffing and puffing and begging to run away."

Young-ho clenched his fists and stretched briefly.

In the center of the plaza, the two stood facing each other.

Young-ho's physique wasn't small, but he looked somewhat diminutive standing before U-am.

U-am shook his arms and slowly began to speak.

"I am U-am. My companions call me 'Great Boulder'."

Young-ho scanned U-am up and down, then let out a scoff.

"Isn't this just… a lump of pure fat?"

Then he raised both fists to his face and said.

"Still, it'll be fun to punch.

Great Boulder or soft tofu—

I'll confirm that for you. Come at me quickly."

"Let's see if you can still wag your tongue in a moment!"

As soon as Young-ho finished speaking, U-am roared and moved first.

[Whoosh]

Before people could even blink,

U-am's large fist swung towards Young-ho's face.

[Swoosh!]

Lightly leaning his upper body back,

Young-ho let the fist pass just inches from his nose.

"Fatty, why are you advertising your attack?

Your shoulder movement is too big, you know."

"Aargh!"

[Thwack!]

Young-ho's shin slammed into U-am's thigh.

With a single low kick, U-am's legs gave out, and he staggered.

"Aargh, my foot, just get into position quickly."

At the same time—

Young-ho's body darted sideways as if disappearing.

He precisely penetrated U-am's flank.

[Thwack!]

This time, a low kick exploded on the opposite thigh.

U-am's legs buckled again.

Young-ho clicked his tongue.

"Tsk, tsk, aren't you an idiot?

Why do you keep looking up?

You should think about attacks from below too."

U-am gritted his teeth and twisted his body.

He swung his arm widely,

but as Young-ho took a step back, his fist once again cut through the air.

[Whoosh— Thump!]

A follow-up body shot.

Young-ho's fist precisely struck U-am's side the moment he inhaled.

"…Gah!"

U-am couldn't breathe. He couldn't inhale or exhale.

"Didn't I say I'd fix your short tongue earlier? If you don't want to die, stick your tongue out long now, because this is just the beginning."

Young-ho said, looking at U-am gasping for air.

[Aargh!]

Just as U-am lunged forward in a rage—

[Thump! Thump! Thwack!]

An upper-jab-cross to the face, followed by a low kick combo.

With the perfectly timed attacks, U-am couldn't regain his senses or move.

Only then did small exclamations erupt from among the Guryeo tribesmen.

"…What was that just now?"

"He's not ordinary, that guy."

[Murmuring]

U-am staggered, losing his balance.

His eyes unfocused, and his knees buckled.

At that moment—

Young-ho's right foot swept low towards U-am's side like a low kick.

[Gasp!]

U-am instinctively hunched over, clutching his side.

"Watch carefully."

Just before his foot made contact, Young-ho's center of gravity subtly shifted as if dancing.

His knee bent at a precise angle, and the leg that had been tracing a low kick trajectory shot straight up into the sky.

The edge of his shin drew a smooth and graceful curve—

Slashing over U-am's head,

[CRACK!]

It landed squarely on his temple with a loud thud.

It was a perfect Brazilian kick, beyond imagination.

[Thud…]

U-am's eyes were wide, and he collapsed forward without any resistance.

A heavy, dull thud echoed throughout the entire plaza.

Young-ho curled the corner of his mouth and quietly said.

"It wasn't a Great Boulder after all, but a Big Tofu."

U-am lay collapsed, his eyes darting around.

Then—

his eyes met Pungpyo's through the crowd.

"…Pungpyo."

At that one word, the plaza stirred.

Everyone's gaze simultaneously focused on a man beyond the crowd.

Bronze skin. Lean physique.

And sharply slanted eyes.

It was Pungpyo, standing quietly among the people.

[Looking around… looking around…]

Pungpyo slowly turned his head as if acknowledging the attention.

For a moment, he closed his eyes—

[Step. Step. Step.]

Slowly, yet with military precision, he walked to the center of the plaza.

"He's here! He's here! It's my turn now!"

Behind him, Young-beom waved his arms and hitched up his waistband.

He even bounced on the balls of his feet.

"Oh, what a great day for a fight!"

But Pungpyo silently approached U-am.

Without any expression or words.

And then, far from helping him up—

slowly, he lifted his foot.

"I said!"

[Thwack!]

"Don't!"

[Thwack!]

"Do it!"

[Thwack!]

"Didn't I? Why do you keep causing trouble!"

Pungpyo, with an emotionless face,

rhythmically and precisely stomped on U-am.

"Pungpyo! Agh! You! Ugh! Ruined! It…"

[Thwack-thwack-thwack!!]

"Shut up! Die! Die!"

"Aargh… cough…!"

U-am screamed and crawled on the ground,

and Pungpyo never once turned his head towards the gym group, as if to avoid eye contact.

Young-beom, who had been standing blankly behind them,

slowly lowered the hand he had on his waist.

"...Guess it wasn't my turn after all."

[Clap! Clap!]

"Alright, enough with the staring contest— let's pay attention."

Sang-cheol clapped a couple of times to get everyone's attention.

Sang-cheol clapped a couple of times to get everyone's attention.

"As Noya said, I believe you all know why relocation is necessary.

We need to prepare for external threats and secure food in advance."

He paused, scanning the Guryeo tribesmen, then continued.

"But, situations always come with variables.

That's why today… we needed to confirm their skills."

Sang-cheol glanced at U-am, then continued calmly.

"I've heard. Some warriors can enhance their bodies with spells.

I don't dismiss it, but it's not enough."

His voice, low, echoed through the plaza.

"A group, to survive, needs everyone to be strong, not just a few."

Then, Gab-su, who was standing beside him, took a step forward.

Familiar eyes. Eyes that read people.

He quietly began to speak.

"What we are trying to do now… is not just a relocation.

It's a path to survive, to create a future."

He raised his head and slowly looked at all the Guryeo people.

"Just a few good fighters are not enough.

For the children, the elderly, for everyone—

now, we must prepare together."

He added briefly at the end.

"We… have lived that way. And in the future, we will continue that way."

At that moment, breaking the silence, Pungpyo stepped forward.

"So… what do we do?"

Gab-su nodded and replied.

"Those of you here must become Guryeo's sharp spears, and its strongest shields."

Sang-cheol, standing nearby, lightly raised a hand and added.

"For now, let's start with hunting.

In the remaining time, we'll also combine it with training, and later, we'll need to divide roles like military units."

---

Meanwhile, the trade group, which had left the village early for food exchange, was moving towards the abandoned quarry.

[Crunch, crunch…]

Walking on the gravel path, Do-yoon carefully clutched the bundle beneath his loose cloak.

The three young Guryeo tribesmen beside him walked ahead without a word.

Their backs were broad, their steps heavy, and their eyes… cold enough to cut a person.

'Just go and come back quietly.

No unnecessary talking, no picking fights, no flashy actions…'

As he muttered to himself, one of the young men walking ahead abruptly turned his head.

"You, no weapon?"

"Huh?"

Do-yoon instinctively replied, then quickly added.

"Ah, rather than a weapon… I mainly use my head. I'm a strategist. Information specialist."

Before he finished speaking, another young man scoffed.

"You must be the weakest among your people then."

"That might be true. Those people are… world-class."

Do-yoon forced a smile.

"You don't have to fight to be strong, do you?"

The two young men looked at each other once, then turned back to face forward without a word.

That silence was clear to Do-yoon.

'The weak should not speak.'

---

[A moment later – Inside the Abandoned Quarry]

The entrance to the abandoned quarry was dark like an old armory, and inside, old tents and wooden crates were haphazardly placed.

Only a few flickering torches breathed light onto the moss-covered stone floor.

Do-yoon and his group carefully placed the leather bundles and herbs onto the crates.

Do-yoon instinctively scanned his surroundings.

It was too quiet.

Too… perfectly set up for an ambush.

"…Is there only one entrance here?"

He spoke, but no answer came back.

Only the sound of voiceless wind flowed through the torches.

Then.

Beyond the entrance.

A silhouette, backlit by light, slowly emerged on horseback.

On the horse was a middle-aged man with a long sword.

An old hat, his face covered with a red cloth.

"So, there are four of you…"

The man on horseback murmured.

His voice was hoarse, low, and rough.

Do-yoon held his breath and narrowed his eyes.

'A sword… an armed merchant?'

But this wasn't just a simple trade.

The three young men subtly shifted their backs and reached for their waists.

Just as tension was about to burst—

Do-yoon quickly interjected.

"Ah, yes. These are all high-quality dried furs.

The herbs are undamaged right to the root, absolutely no toxins!"

The man silently looked at Do-yoon.

"…You, a merchant?"

Then, without even checking the goods, he took a pouch from his saddlebag—

[Clink.]

And dropped it onto the ground with a thud.

"That's the payment."

And then he turned his horse's head.

Like a shadow, he disappeared back into the darkness.

Do-yoon exhaled deeply.

"…Wow, the atmosphere here is no joke…"

One of the young men spoke curtly.

"Still, one deal is done."

The other young man shook his head.

"He was a swordsman. We were lucky."

Do-yoon examined the pouch, then suddenly asked.

"But it's not food… is it coins?

That sound just now, it sounded like metal?"

One of the young men frowned.

"That can't be…"

Then.

[Step. Step]

At the entrance of the abandoned quarry.

Armed men began to appear one by one.

More than ten men.

All held old spears, serrated daggers, and iron clubs in their hands.

The one in front spoke.

"Leave it. That… is ours."

The corner of his mouth twisted.

"Because that's your ransom."