Chapter 158
158
The sight of the man grinning with his mouth stretched wide as if he had found something amusing made my heart sink.
A Demonic Cultist.
Someone who knows Yeon-ryang.
“You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”
Yeon-ryang replied curtly, but the red-haired man didn’t care and smirked.
“Mistaken? How could I not recognize you? But what’s with your appearance? You’re a mess. Did you pick up some trashy medicine somewhere?”
“I said you’re mistaken. Leave.”
“Disappointing, Mang-ryang. I wonder how those who admire you would react if they saw you like this. Number 71 thinks of you as a god. Hehe, I can tell you don’t like it, so I won’t pretend to know you.”
The man, after letting out an unpleasant laugh, tapped Yeon-ryang’s shoulder and stepped back.
I shouldn’t let that man go. I couldn’t leave any possibility of Yeon-ryang’s news reaching the Demonic Sect.
I swallowed hard and quickly calculated the wind direction. Ordinary paralysis Poison Needles / Darts wouldn’t be enough. I needed to aim for the fatal points with a potent Poison…….
“So-hye.”
Yeon-ryang shook his head as if telling me not to.
[You mustn’t be noticed by the Orthodox Sect. If you have to do something, let your brother do it.]
But……!
Yeon-ryang, ignoring my protesting face, turned his head and subtly put the antidote he had prepared in his mouth.
[The Demonic Sect’s missions also have rules. That guy won’t recklessly draw his sword in a place with many eyes watching. Pretend you don’t know and stay still.]
At Yeon-ryang’s Telepathic transmission, I gripped and released the Hidden Weapons, trying to calm my anxious heart.
I pretended to be calm and shifted my gaze to the martial arts arena, but my mind was focused on the Demonic Cultist, and the martial arts competition didn’t catch my eye.
Realizing that the Qi / Energy Flow emanating from the unknown man was Demonic Energy, I was newly aware of how cleanly Yeon-ryang had been managing his Qi / Energy Flow all along.
I felt nauseous from the unpleasant sensation that I had never felt before, even though I was with Yeon-ryang all day.
Ju-ryeong, nestled in Jang Mi-ryeo’s arms, also seemed to feel the repulsive Qi / Energy Flow, as she was hitting her tail restlessly.
The red-haired man, who had been staring at Yeon-ryang with a lingering gaze, soon disappeared.
As the strange Qi / Energy Flow disappeared, my pounding heart gradually returned to its original pace. I slowly released the strength from the hand holding the Hidden Weapons. My palm was soaked with sweat.
Now I understood why the Poison flowing through Jang Mi-ryeo’s body felt unfamiliar.
It was the Demonic Sect’s Poison, so it was inevitable that I was seeing it for the first time. Grandfather would be the only one who had handled something like that.
I wondered if Jang Ho-jung even knew what he had brought in. If he were to swallow even a bit of it, he would never escape the clutches of the Demonic Sect for the rest of his life.
His foolishness in being blinded by greed and jumping into the fire with firewood on his back made my stomach churn.
Jang Ho-jung’s choice was no different from making all the members of the Golden Dragon Merchant Group subordinates of the Demonic Sect.
Thrum!
I shook my head at the sound of the echoing Large Gong and cleared my mind of unnecessary thoughts. Before I knew it, the next martial arts competition was about to begin.
“We will now begin the martial arts competition!”
At the middle-aged man’s shout, Jang Ho-jung, who had crossed his legs and adjusted his posture, spoke to Jang Ho-yeol.
“Brother, that child is a notable figure from the Golden Scale Pavilion. He’s called Baek-rim. After teaching him, I found that he has a talent for martial arts. What do you think? Wouldn’t he be a good match for Mi-ryeo?”
“Hmm.”
Despite the displeased reaction, Jang Ho-jung didn’t lose his smile. He seemed confident that his subordinate would win.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at the two men who had gone up to the martial arts arena.
Which one is Baek-rim?
Both of them had stubbly beards, and there seemed to be quite an age difference with Jang Mi-ryeo.
To think they would rush in to marry a young lady who had just passed the age of fifteen with those faces, it was to the point where I wondered if they had any conscience.
The moment the two men’s swords clashed, Ju-ryeong made a strange cry, enjoying it.
“Kya-reuk. Kya-reureuk!”
“Oh my, what’s wrong? Are you hungry? Should I give you a snack?”
Jang Mi-ryeo whispered, puzzled.
At that moment, the Swordmaster with a headband on his forehead flinched and stopped in his place. Cold sweat formed on his face.
That’s Baek-rim.
As Baek-rim, who had been acting as if he would cut down his opponent in an instant, didn’t move at all, the audience began to murmur.
“Did he suffer Internal Injury / Internal Qi?”
“It doesn’t seem like they collided that strongly…….”
I pretended not to know and raised my chin. Was it because the timing was so accurate? The corner of my mouth lifted into a smirk with satisfaction.
At the same time, a tremendous noise came from Baek-rim’s stomach.
“What’s that sound?”
“What is it? It sounded like thunder?”
“I, I forfeit!”
Baek-rim, who shouted urgently, jumped out of the martial arts arena and hurriedly disappeared into the crowd.
Jang Ho-jung’s face twisted fiercely at the sight of his subordinate forfeiting as if running away.
I tried to adjust it so it wouldn’t leak out, but was it a bit too much?
As I retraced the dosage of the Poison and smacked my lips, Yeon-ryang, frowning, lowered his voice and called me.
“So-hye, you.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Are you going to keep doing this?”
I tilted my head, feigning ignorance, and Yeon-ryang muttered with a troubled face.
“……Haa. I shouldn’t have let you meet that Beopgong guy. You only learn bad things from him. I can’t just let you be anymore.”
Then, he stretched my cheeks.
“E, eee. Aha, Oaverni!”
“I’m doing this so it hurts. If you keep acting like a black knight like this, you’ll be scolded by your brother.”
Beopgong Monk is a white knight, but he still goes around causing trouble. And what’s wrong with a Poison user using Poison!
I wanted to protest, but seeing Yeon-ryang’s stern eyes, I thought I would be scolded even more if I talked back.
I rubbed my tingling cheeks, watching Yeon-ryang’s expression. Fortunately, Yeon-ryang didn’t seem to have any intention of pushing it further, as he crossed his arms and turned his body to the martial arts arena.
The next in line was Yang Gyo-jin and an Old man with a missing-toothed sword at his waist. That Swordmaster was the Old man the Maids / Female Servants were talking about.
No! That old man has no conscience at all! He’s probably older than Jang Mi-ryeo’s father!
Yang Gyo-jin, also surprised by the opponent’s age, opened his eyes wide and asked.
“Um, Elder. Is that sword what you use instead of a cane? Can you even walk?”
“What? Brat, are you daring to insult me!”
Anyone who knew Yang Gyo-jin would know that it was a pure question, but there was no way the Old man would know that.
The excited Old man drew his sword and rushed towards Yang Gyo-jin.
“Oh. You run well. Are your knees still strong?”
“Eeek! I’ll tear that impudent mouth of yours!”
“Your voice is good too. Our Elder, you’ll live a long life.”
……Among the Martial Artist I’ve seen so far, he’s the best at getting on people’s nerves. The most amazing thing is that he has no malice.
I shrugged my shoulders and shifted my gaze to Yang Gyo-jin’s sword.
The guy’s sword, which cut through the air like flowing water, was like a flexible whip sword that bent flexibly, or like a sharp spear that stabbed sharply.
At first, it seemed slow and calm, but it gradually became faster, and at some point, it broke the opponent’s rhythm. In many ways, it was a difficult sword to deal with.
His movements were so outstanding that I was jealous that he was the same age as me.
I stroked my chin and followed Yang Gyo-jin’s Sword path with my eyes.
As I watched intently, wondering how I should block it if that sword tip were aimed at me, my fingertips kept twitching.
I should have a proper fight with Yang Gyo-jin later.
Perhaps out of some kind of respect for the elderly, Yang Gyo-jin used the flat of his sword to deal with the Old man, dodging here and there, and then kicked the Old man’s shin, making him kneel.
“Yang Clan’s Gyo-jin, victory!”
As the victory or defeat was decided, a smile bloomed on Jang Mi-ryeo’s face. She seemed very happy that she didn’t have to marry the white-haired Old man.
The martial arts competitions that followed were so ordinary that they were plain. It looked more like a fight between neighborhood thugs than a martial arts competition.
Jang Ho-yeol, who had been steadfastly holding his position, also seemed to find it difficult to sit still, as he rose to his feet with a pale face.
“Please rest well, Brother. This younger brother will go to greet you in the evening.”
“There’s no need to come.”
“How can you say such a disappointing thing? I have many conversations I want to have with you, Brother.”
“I will rest well as you said, so don’t bother me.”
Jang Ho-yeol, replying curtly and leaning on his cane, staggered slightly as if he had difficulty supporting his body. Worry flashed in Jang Mi-ryeo’s eyes as she hurriedly supported him.
Yeon-ryang, glancing at Jang Ho-jung’s many Bodyguard / Escorts, lightly pushed my back as if to tell me to go.
Is it okay to just leave him?
I couldn’t take my feet off the ground because of the discomfort, but it seemed right to follow Yeon-ryang’s words regarding the Demonic Sect.
I bit my lower lip and moved my heavy steps.
\ \ *
Jang Ho-yeol, who had returned to his residence, opened the door to his bedroom, saying he would take a nap, and then collapsed, losing consciousness.
He seemed to have pushed his body, which wasn’t moving properly, to its limit for the sake of his daughter’s safety.
Doctor Go, who was said to be the merchant group’s physician, tried his best, but it was useless. It was already beyond the realm where a doctor could do anything.
It would only be possible to last a few more days if a Taoist Martial Artist poured in a lot of pure Inner Energy / Internal Qi.
I gave Jang Mi-ryeo space so she could spend her last moments with her father.
Silence flowed through the palace, where darkness had already settled.
I fidgeted with my hands, pretending not to hear Jang Mi-ryeo’s cries, and spoke to Yeon-ryang.
“Brother. Earlier…….”
[You mustn’t talk carelessly about the Demonic Sect.]
Damn it. I should have learned Telepathic transmission.
As I pouted my lips in dissatisfaction, Yeon-ryang chuckled and stroked my head.
[There’s no need to think of it as difficult. Remember how we tied the Flying Dagger and hands together and wrapped Inner Force around them? It’s the same. Think of wrapping your voice with Inner Force. Instead, build a thick wall so that no one other than your brother can hear it.]
[How does that, uh? Is it working? Can you hear me?]
[You’re doing well.]
[That person earlier. He’s a Demonic Cultist, right? Shouldn’t we make sure that Brother’s whereabouts aren’t known?]
[It’s become troublesome. Why is a guy who should be in Cheonsan here?]
Yeon-ryang, scratching his head, added as if to reassure me.
[Your brother will take care of it, so don’t worry. Nothing will happen.]
But I wasn’t reassured at all.
Just as I was about to ask again if we shouldn’t take care of it for sure, Jang Mi-ryeo’s scream was heard from inside the building.
“Brother, use the signal flare! Right now!”
I shouted and jumped through the window of the merchant group leader’s bedroom.
