I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Martial Arts World’s Mastermind
Chapter 32
Chapter 32
The Youngest Disciple of the Murim’s Mastermind
Episode 32
“Huff, huff.”
“Can you run a bit more? We’re almost there!”
“…Yeah.”
I was running while supporting Ryang, who was gasping for breath.
The Demonic Cult bastards must have been incredibly cruel over the past few days; Ryang’s body was so battered it was a miracle he was even walking.
‘To such a small child!’
Of course, he was much larger than I was now, but it still broke my heart.
“Just, just hold on a little longer…! A physician is waiting to treat you!!”
Even so, the only thing I could do was tell him a physician was waiting.
‘It would have been better if I’d brought Hyeonhak from the start….’
That thought crossed my mind, but then—
‘…No. Even if it’s Hyeonhak….’
If I had asked, “I’m going to raid a den of the Demonic Cult myself!”, there was no way he would have agreed.
I was already the one who had been warned repeatedly to avoid the cultists.
So, I had simply asked him if he could wait for a moment because I was going to bring back a patient.
Hyeonhak had thought it over and said he would wait at an abandoned inn in the nearby mountains.
That was why I had left Senior Brother Hyeonhak there, enshrined like a precious heirloom, but….
’Oh no, look at all this blood…!’
My brows pinched together naturally as I watched Ryang’s wounds gape open with every step.
“I should just carry you on my back—”
It was the moment I opened my mouth.
“…!”
As if sensing something, Ryang flinched and pushed me away violently.
“Ah…!”
Thud! Because I was pushed while mid-movement art, I tumbled hard across the ground.
“W-why all of a sudden…?!”
Barely lifting my head, I gasped immediately.
“…!!”
A massive shadow had fallen over me.
“Ugh.”
“Ryang…!!”
Whether a whip had been lashed in that brief interval, Ryang was collapsed on the ground, groaning with a fresh wound.
And naturally, the person who had inflicted it was—
“You rats, you’ve managed to flee quite far.”
It was a fuming Pyun-ma.
A chilling sound echoed as he pulled his whip taut.
My face went deathly pale.
How did Pyun-ma track us all the way here?
The reason I knew the inside of the White Horse Cave so well was because of an event in the game where Ryang escapes from it.
And… in the game, the pursuit ends inside the White Horse Cave.
‘…Right. This isn’t a game.’
I swallowed hard.
I must have let my guard down unconsciously.
There was always the possibility that an enraged Pyun-ma would personally pursue us outside the cave…!
Pyun-ma sneered.
“One of you is severely injured, yet you didn’t abandon him and run. What impressive friendship.”
“…….”
“As a reward, I shall kill you both together.”
As I unconsciously gripped my iron fan tight, his gaze fell upon it.
The corners of his torn mouth curled into a crooked smirk.
“Ah, that… do you really think a mere poison mist would work on someone like me?”
“…….”
“Consider the difference in our levels. This is a dog’s death.”
He was right. Currently, he was an expert of a level I couldn’t even touch.
However, I had….
‘A fortuitous encounter.’
Ryang was still curled up on the ground. Even if he was the future Heavenly Demon, right now he was just a severely wounded child.
‘…I have to protect Ryang.’
Snap. I folded the fan and slowly stood up from where I had fallen.
Pyun-ma’s whip moved instantly.
Swoosh!
It came flying straight—no, it curved to the left…!
Simultaneously, I aimed the tip of my fan at Pyun-ma’s head.
Ping—!
With a sensation as if a bundle of internal energy concentrated at my fingertips was being ripped away, an iron marble shot out fiercely.
“…!”
The marble passed hollowly through a tree beside Pyun-ma.
“…Heh.”
Pyun-ma straightened his head, which he had tilted slightly, looking at the fan with a hint of surprise.
But I was just as surprised.
“Ugh.”
Damn it. I managed to avoid the whip thanks to that, but the weapon was still unfamiliar, and my aim wavered.
This is bad. From now on….
“That fan. It’s no ordinary folding fan, is it? An iron fan?”
Pyun-ma took a heavy step forward.
“…!”
Ping.
In my shock, I reflexively fired another shot.
“Ugh.”
This time, it hit Pyun-ma’s shoulder dead on.
However, having seen the first attack, Pyun-ma had hardened his muscles with external cultivation, and the strike dealt no damage at all.
“…Hmm.”
Picking up the iron marble that had failed to pierce his shoulder and remained stuck, Pyun-ma let out a hollow laugh.
“Shooting iron marbles…. Whether it’s a mechanism or an internal energy technique, the Heavenly Demon would be pleased to see this. How fortunate.”
“…….”
No. The power is too weak.
But this was the maximum output this iron fan could endure….
The hand holding the fan trembled violently.
There were only three iron marbles loaded inside.
One chance remained, but at this rate, it would never work against Pyun-ma, who was braced for the impact.
Then, what should I….
At that moment, Pyun-ma provoked me.
“For a mere slave to dare escape the grasp of the Holy Cult. How futile. That body is meant to be a sacrifice for the Heavenly Demon Cult.”
“…No.”
“What?”
I aimed the fan again and whispered as if to steel my own resolve.
“He is going to live a life that has nothing to do with the Demonic Cult.”
“Ha?”
I will save Ryang from the clutches of the Demonic Cult!
Pyun-ma mocked me.
“Death draws near, so you babble nonsense out of fear. When you have no way out….”
Looking at him laughing without even putting a hand on his whip, I thought to myself.
A way?
Actually, there is exactly one way left.
The thing Gwangeum warned me about.
“…….”
Even as I slowly aimed the tip of the fan at Pyun-ma’s vital point, he didn’t even move to dodge.
“That iron fan is useless now, is it not?”
“…Is it?”
Responding calmly to Pyun-ma’s words, I fired the last iron marble. And then—
‘Be careful. If you pour in more internal energy than the mechanism can handle—’
Boom—!
‘It will explode.’
“…!!”
As the iron fan shattered, my hand was left tattered.
Pyun-ma, facing the iron marble that had shot out like an explosion, momentarily widened his eyes.
And then.
“…Huff, huff.”
Dropping the ruined iron fan, I collapsed, my hands shaking uncontrollably.
“…….”
Pyun-ma, with the iron marble firmly embedded in his thigh, staggered.
Bang! A series of explosive sounds echoed.
“…Ugh.”
I quickly turned my head away to avoid seeing the gruesome sight and ran while supporting the fallen Ryang.
“Aaargh! You… you lowly thing…!!”
I heard Pyun-ma’s piercing scream from behind.
I did it.
“Ryang, Ryang. You can’t lose consciousness. Okay?”
I could feel Ryang’s body, draped over my back, growing heavier and more limp.
I was talking to Ryang, nearly in tears.
Just a step away, the damp scent of death seeped from behind. It was a sensation I had never felt before.
Fortunately, Pyun-ma wasn’t such a fool as to chase us while severely injured.
Since I had acted as if I were hiding something more, he would try to pursue me only after properly preparing.
It meant I had created a grudge in the martial world, but….
‘…It’s fine. I was already in danger the moment the Demonic Cult discovered my existence anyway!’
Thinking that, I shook my head.
Of course, it wasn’t fine. It was just that if I didn’t think that way, the situation was too overwhelming.
Perhaps the practice of movement arts with Danhwi had paid off, because despite my frantic heart, my feet moved steadily in a lightness technique.
Hyeonhak had said, “As long as they are breathing, I can cure any illness.”
So, I just had to get to the inn where Hyeonhak was waiting. The problem was….
“Ryang…! Say something, please…….”
Whether Ryang could hold out until then.
I could hear a faint thump-thump of his heart from our pressed bodies, but I was terrified that Ryang might die before we reached the inn.
It was then.
“…Soso.”
Ryang spoke in a faint voice.
Thank god! He still has the strength to speak!
“Yeah, I’m here!”
As I replied joyfully, Ryang asked haltingly, as if hesitating.
“Is that… for real?”
“What is?”
“…That I… will live a life having nothing to do with the Demonic Cult.”
“Yes!”
I answered, nodding my head vigorously.
Of course. Why else would I have gone to such lengths to infiltrate the White Horse Cave and bring you out!
Even if you are the one destined to be called the Heavenly Demon in the future, if you can just escape the cult now….
You don’t have to become the Heavenly Demon.
It was a possibility I had never imagined before, but thanks to Sa Mok-seon’s words, I was able to find certainty.
If I can intercept the Heavenly Demon and help him grow up as someone unrelated to the Demonic Cult…!
The outcome of the Great Orthodox-Demonic War, which was originally supposed to end in the Demonic Cult’s victory because of Ryang, could also change….
It was a deed that could save the lives of thousands, tens of thousands… no, perhaps far more people than that.
That was why I—
“I will never give up on you. You have to stay conscious!”
