Chapter 133
133
The duel between the two ended in an instant.
Before Jin-sung could do anything, Yeon-ryang struck Jin-sung's shoulder with the flat of his sword.
Jin-sung, who dropped his sword with the blow and crashed to the ground, acknowledged his defeat with a distorted face.
"...I learned something."
Jin-sung's eyes, as he gritted his teeth and looked up at Yeon-ryang, shone fiercely.
His right arm was dislocated and dangling powerlessly.
Yeon-ryang, who swept back his red-dyed hair, glanced at the Songmun Ancient Sword that had flown far away, then sighed and reached out his hand to Jin-sung.
"Get up."
"...Yes."
"What's a Swordmaster doing dropping his sword? You shouldn't let go of your sword, even if you die."
Yeon-ryang said, helping Jin-sung up and dusting off the dirt on his uniform.
Jin-sung seemed to feel humiliated at being treated like a child, but he thought it would be more shameful to resist, so he stood with his fists clenched.
Jin-sung, who was roughly breathing and suppressing his anger, opened his mouth.
"You are..."
"I don't want to talk to you, so go away. Once is enough for the unsightly act of brawling with a kid."
Yeon-ryang, annoyed, turned his back and muttered softly.
"Crazy. What are they doing with a kid..."
Jin-sung, who had been glaring at Yeon-ryang's receding figure, slowly lowered his head. He bit his lip and picked up the sword rolling on the floor with his left hand.
I blankly stared at the scene.
I knew that Yeon-ryang was not revealing his true abilities in order to appear as a third-rate Martial Artist. I also knew that his skills were so good that it was difficult for me to follow his movements.
But I didn't know he was hiding enough skill to easily overwhelm Jin-sung.
Although he is not yet fully mature, Jin-sung is a genius. He is the future Wudang's Greatest Swordmaster.
Then, how strong is Yeon-ryang's martial prowess?
Beopgong grinned at my dumbfounded face.
"You've never seen that guy go wild, have you?"
"No. It's a bit... surprising."
"There's a reason he's called Mang-ryang. You should watch carefully and do as your older brother does."
"Do what?"
"Wherever you go, hide at least 30% of your true abilities. Never reveal all your cards."
Beopgong's eyes turned serious for a moment. He added in an uncharacteristically calm voice.
"That will save you."
Before I could answer, Beopgong passed by me. He quickly erased his seriousness and approached Jin-sung, chuckling.
"How does it feel to be crushed without even swinging your sword once? Thrilling, isn't it?"
"..."
"It must be hard to accept your first defeat, and to make matters worse, it's against a Demonic Cultist?"
Instead of answering, Jin-sung gritted his teeth. Blood dripped from his left fist, which he clenched so tightly that his veins bulged.
His Qi, which had been calm even when facing the bandits with swords, surged wildly like angry waves.
Beopgong clicked his tongue.
"Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing you, so calm down your Qi. Geez. What a temper."
I didn't know what to say to Jin-sung, whose composure had completely collapsed. I hesitantly approached him and asked.
"Um, Jinseong disciple. Are you okay?"
"...I'm, fine."
Jin-sung's arm, which he answered with trembling lips, dangled powerlessly.
He doesn't look okay at all. His arm is separated, so what's okay about it?
"Hey. Look at me."
Beopgong, who put his hand on Jin-sung's body, casually loosened Jin-sung's top. Then, he grabbed his shoulder and twisted his arm bone back into place.
Crack!
With a loud noise, Jin-sung's arm twisted. Shocked, I screamed and ran towards the two.
"Ah, what are you doing! You can't just force it back in! You'll damage the muscles! Let me see!"
As I jumped up and grabbed Jin-sung's shoulder, he flinched and cowered.
His muscles were stiff, and the shock of the twisted bone seemed to be greater than I thought.
"Oh, if you leave it like this, it'll fester. Jinseong disciple. Sit down here. Yes, yes. Stay like that."
As I sat him down on the floor and took out my acupuncture needles, Beopgong snickered.
"Do you think that guy is that weak? He'll get better if you put some needles on him. What a fuss."
"Keep it down before I make a hole in your monk's robe. A Swordmaster's arm is his life, so how can you twist it so recklessly?"
"Oh my, what sharp words. Kid, you're starting to show your true colors?"
"Go to Yeon-ryang. I can't even see how far he's gone."
"Alright."
Beopgong waved his hand with a grin and disappeared to find Yeon-ryang. I glared at his annoying back and patted Jin-sung's back.
"Relax. The needles won't go in if you're so tense."
"...Um, that's..."
"Relax."
"...Yes."
Jin-sung, who answered quietly, slowly exhaled as if trying to relax his body.
He still seemed tense, but he was better than before when his muscles were as hard as stone. I inserted acupuncture needles into Jin-sung's shoulder.
"It would be nice to do moxibustion, but I don't have any mugwort. Don't use your shoulder for a few days. It's obvious, but don't hold a sword either."
"Yes."
"Is there a lot of heat in your shoulder? If it's hot, you'll need to take herbal medicine..."
"No. Acupuncture is enough."
"Okay. Stay still while I take out the needles."
As I nodded and pulled out the needles, Jin-sung quickly straightened his disheveled clothes. After tidying up his clothes, he looked at me with sunken eyes.
"You're not surprised by that ferocious Qi."
"Should I be surprised?"
"Did you already know?"
Jin-sung's gray eyes shone sharply as if demanding an explanation.
"You have to tell me honestly, Dang Sojeo. Only then can I help you. I judged that you were caught up in the succession dispute, but if you knew that he was a Demonic Cultist, I have no choice but to draw a different conclusion. You know what it means to collude with the Demonic Sect."
"Show me your wrist."
"Yes?"
"You also sprained your wrist. It's swollen."
Jin-sung, who hesitated, obediently held out his hand. I rolled up his sleeve and inserted new needles.
As I stimulated the blood points by twirling the needles, Jin-sung's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"Does it hurt?"
"I'm fine."
"Then I'll insert them a little deeper. Relax."
"...Dang Sojeo, you still haven't answered my question."
I shrugged my shoulders at Jin-sung's question and answered.
"I have never colluded with the Demonic Sect. And I never will. You know what kind of person my Grandfather is."
I pulled out the needles and lightly pressed his wrist, continuing.
"I didn't tell you because I was sure that you wouldn't believe it, but that Soul-Reaping Flying Dagger is mine. I also used Bone-Melting Powder."
Jin-sung's face darkened.
"...Did you use Bone-Melting Powder yourself?"
"My family sent people to kill me. I had to erase the traces to avoid being tracked. As you know, I failed."
"Then the Demonic Energy..."
"A kind Demonic Cultist saved a child being chased by a Wanderer and unfortunately left traces."
"..."
"So, it's true that I was caught up in the succession dispute, and it's also true that I knew Yeon-ryang's identity. Does that answer your question?"
Jin-sung, who had a hardened expression, looked up at me and said.
"I understand the situation. However, regardless of your innocence, I cannot condone the act of hiding a Demonic Cultist."
"It would be good to put a splint on it until the swelling goes down. I'll go find something suitable. Wait here for a moment."
As I tried to get up while turning the subject, Jin-sung grabbed me.
"Dang Sojeo, you can't solve anything by looking away."
"Yes. I know."
"No. You don't understand what kind of situation you're in at all."
"Jinseong disciple."
"Dang Sojeo. You must not take my words lightly. Do not protect the Demonic Cultist. You must break off your relationship with him. If the Anti-Demon Squad judges you to be a spy for the Demonic Sect, it will be irreversible. You will be trapped in the Alliance's prison and never come out."
Jin-sung's eyes, which met mine, were darkly colored. I answered quietly.
"The Alliance is a strange place. They weren't even interested when I was dying, but they're going to arrest me and put me in prison because I received help from someone. Are you saying that I should have just died rather than receive help from a Demonic Cultist?"
"...That's not what I meant."
"I know. Thank you for your concern. Disciple. But I can't abandon my benefactor, my older brother, just to save myself."
"..."
"Yeon-ryang is my family. I'd rather be chased together than pretend I don't know him."
Jin-sung, who was moving his lips, slowly released the hand that was holding me. He had a troubled face.
I smiled bitterly and turned my back to him. Jin-sung did not follow.
\ \ *
Beopgong's attempt to mend the relationship between the two through a duel had failed. Contrary to his intention, the atmosphere became more hostile.
This was because Jin-sung demanded an explanation, saying that he could not overlook the act of deceiving the Alliance.
Unlike Jin-sung, who was serious from beginning to end, Beopgong seemed unconcerned and picked his ears.
"Am I going to be wanted now too? I've been trapped in the Repentance Cave, but this is my first time in prison. I'm looking forward to it."
"Beopgong Daesa. This is not a situation to joke about. How could you try to vouch for the identity of a Demonic Cultist? What were you thinking?"
"I'm not joking. Even a Tang Clan kid who doesn't know much about the Demonic Sect is wanted and being chased, so why would I be any different? You'd tell me to do it if I told you to."
Then Jin-sung shut his mouth tightly. He rubbed his forehead and lowered his voice.
"Dang Sojeo's matter... I will carefully examine it to ensure that there is no injustice."
"Don't worry about that. Even Ak Ji-baek will let that kid go with a smirk if he exchanges a few words with her."
At Beopgong's sullen reply, one of Jin-sung's eyebrows drew a sharp mountain.
He repeatedly gripped and released his sword hilt as if trying to calm his heightened emotions.
I, who was anxiously watching Jin-sung's expression, poked Beopgong's side.
"Master."
"Why."
"It's not resolved at all. It's like you just added fuel to the fire. What are we going to do now?"
At my whisper, Beopgong muttered as if he had a headache.
"I made a wrong judgment. I thought Jin-sung would be swayed by your words, but he's stubborn."
"What are you talking about?"
This guy is really hopeless.
I glared at Beopgong and rubbed my eyes hard.
This is a disaster. What should I do?
