Chapter 159
159
Phee-yung! Thud!
A flare detonated as it landed, shattering the window.
The flare illuminated the dark room, revealing a red-haired man strangling Jang Mi-ryeo and Jang Ho-jung, who were slumped against the wall, unconscious.
Jang Ho-jung? Not Jang Ho-yeol? Weren't they collaborators?
I was taken aback, but there was no time to dwell on it. I threw Feather Needles at the red-haired man, stepping in front of Jang Mi-ryeo.
The man, who deflected the Feather Needles with Inner Energy around his hand, glared at me. His red eyes gleamed eerily.
"Dang Sojeo. I don't know why you're here, but don't interfere. It'll just add to the body count, you know?"
The murderous intent he exuded made my skin prickle. As I struggled not to flinch and gripped my Flying Dagger, Yeon-ryang rushed forward, brandishing his sword at the red-haired man.
"What is it, Mang-ryang? Are you seriously trying to stop me? I'm on a mission here!"
"Step aside. Number 47."
"Aha! You must be quite fond of this Young Miss. But will she still stand by you if she knows who you really are? What do you think, Mang-ryang?"
The man grinned and released Jang Ho-jung, who had been in his grasp. Jang Ho-jung coughed and writhed on the floor, a dark purple handprint visible on his neck.
I have to get Jang Mi-ryeo out of here.
I carefully picked up Jang Mi-ryeo, keeping a close eye on the red-haired man, but he was too preoccupied with Yeon-ryang to even look at me.
Seizing the opportunity, I gritted my teeth and leaped out the window.
At the same time, Yang Gyo-jin, who had rushed over upon seeing the flare, jumped over the wall as soon as he made eye contact with me.
"So-hye!"
"Take Dang Sojeo!"
I handed Jang Mi-ryeo over to Yang Gyo-jin and turned around, just as a sharp blade hurtled toward my neck.
I twisted my body to dodge the sword and thrust my Flying Dagger.
"Kuaaagh!"
The sensation of piercing flesh sent a momentary chill down my spine, but there was no time to hesitate.
I kicked away the Swordmaster who had lunged at me, pulled out my Flying Dagger, and glared at the enemies surrounding me, panting heavily. The Bodyguards who had been with Jang Ho-jung had already encircled me and Yang Gyo-jin.
"What are these guys? Should I wipe them out?"
"Yeah! Wipe them out! Take good care of Ju-ryeong! I'm going to use Poison!"
As I replied, scattering Mountain Air Poison, Yang Gyo-jin, with Jang Mi-ryeo on his back, drew his sword. Ju-ryeong, who had scurried over, climbed onto Yang Gyo-jin and clung to his shoulder.
The eyes of the enemies, who were retreating cautiously while covering their mouths with their sleeves, were bloodshot. They had clearly mastered Demonic Arts.
The sound of clashing swords from inside made my throat dry.
Even though I took the antidote, I suppressed my Inner Energy for too long. I won't be able to move freely.
I put strength in my legs and took out a deadly Poison. There was no room for leniency. I had to go help Yeon-ryang quickly.
Just sever the ankle tendons. Just the tendons.
I have to do it in one go. Focus on the sensation in my fingertips, hold my breath… Now!
I gritted my teeth and scattered Feather Needles to distract them, then launched Flying Daggers at the enemies' ankles.
"Aaaagh!"
The Demonic Cultists, their ankle tendons severed, screamed and collapsed.
"Gyo-jin! Take care of it!"
"How? Break their Dantians?"
"Do whatever you want!"
I left the rest to Yang Gyo-jin and leaped back through the window.
I saw the red-haired man, one of his arms dangling, seemingly severed by Yeon-ryang's sword.
The man, clutching his wound and dripping blood, licked his lips and grinned when he saw me.
"Oh, I thought you ran away, but you came to help? How brave. You're keeping company with a cute Young Miss, Mang-ryang. I'll give you that. She's worth interfering with the Sect's affairs for."
"Shut your mouth."
"But, Young Miss. Do you even know who this man is?"
"I told you to shut your mouth."
The red-haired man didn't even flinch at Yeon-ryang's threat.
He laughed maniacally, as if he was enjoying this immensely.
"I wonder if our Young Miss has heard of the Demonic God Sect? Mang-ryang here is a member of the Demonic God Sect. Or rather, you're probably more familiar with the name Demonic Sect."
The man's eyes were filled with anticipation as he looked at me, and my blood ran cold.
It was obvious what he was hoping for.
He wanted to see me turn my back on Yeon-ryang after learning his true identity.
What a nasty bastard.
I gripped my Hidden Weapons and retorted coldly.
"So what?"
"...Hmm? That's not the reaction I expected. You knew all along?"
The man scratched his head, looking disappointed, then exclaimed as if he understood.
"If you knew all along... Ah, I see. So that's it? You want to obtain the Esoteric Skill of the Myriad Poison Sect too?"
"What?"
"The Dangs are all so greedy. It's been over a hundred years since the Myriad Poison Sect joined the Sect, so there's no Poison that can compare to the Tang Clan's Poison anymore. But to see you wanting to get your hands on even the lost Poisons, your greed is truly astounding."
Young Miss too? The Dangs? Is there someone in the family who has been in contact with the Demonic Sect?
The words made me suspicious, and Dang Juyeop, who had mentioned Poison, flashed through my mind.
Judging by how he kept trying to manipulate people's emotions, there was no point in talking to the red-haired man.
I pretended not to hear him and unleashed a barrage of Poison Needles, causing the man to roll across the floor to avoid the attack, his face contorted in disgust.
"That hurts, Young Miss. You're pretty, but you have a terrible personality."
"So-hye, stay back."
Yeon-ryang frowned and adjusted his grip on his sword, as if he was about to end things.
"Tch, so you're not from the Myriad Poison Sect either? Then why are you with him? This isn't good. I can't beat Mang-ryang. Is today my death anniversary?"
The man grumbled and backed away toward Jang Ho-jung, wary of Yeon-ryang.
Jang Ho-jung, who had been trembling in the corner, gasped in horror at the sight of the man's shadow approaching him.
"I've been thinking about it, and I wonder if there's any reason to keep you alive?"
"What do you mean...! How much silver did I give you! You promised to help me until I became the Head Merchant!"
"See? You talk too much. You'll be a nuisance in every way if I keep you alive. And I need Vitality right now."
The man smiled wickedly and grabbed Jang Ho-jung's head.
"Kuh, kua! Kuaaaaack!"
Jang Ho-jung's body, which had been screaming in agony, withered away in an instant, like a dried-up mummy. At the same time, the man's dangling arm returned to its original form.
The gruesome sight momentarily paralyzed me.
...He absorbed his Vitality? To heal his wound?
The red-haired man, seeing me stiffen, licked his lips. He turned his hand this way and that, as if to check the condition of his reattached arm.
"They say that the Inner Energy of a Martial Artist who uses Poison skill resembles Poison, right? I wonder what the Young Miss's Vitality will taste like... Kuaaagh!"
Yeon-ryang, who had severed the man's other arm in the blink of an eye, said coldly.
"I should have cut off that three-inch tongue of yours first."
The man didn't flinch even as his severed arm rolled across the floor. He burst into maniacal laughter.
"Euhahahak, are you going to Slaughter the Entire Family? Mang-ryang. You're really going to betray the Sect?"
"..."
"Do you think you can escape the Sect? Even if you run away from the Sect and hide in the Central Plains, who will accept you? Mang-ryang. You're a sword demon drenched in blood. A Murderous demon. Ghosts can't become human. The only place you can stay is hell."
Yeon-ryang's veins bulged in his neck at the words that poured out like a curse.
I felt a surge of anger at the sight of Yeon-ryang gripping his sword so tightly that the back of his hand turned white.
"Even if you run away, the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Demons will..."
A Flying Dagger pierced the Demonic Cultist's neck, and he spat out blood and rolled on the floor. His convulsing body soon went limp.
"What are you talking about? Why are you trying to kill my brother's spirit, you Demonic Sect bastard? Yeon-ryang decides where Yeon-ryang will be."
Yeon-ryang, who had been smiling bitterly, took the strength out of the hand holding his sword as I raised my voice, panting.
Yeon-ryang's eyes, which were hiding his blood-soaked right hand behind his back, looked a little sad.
"Don't listen to that crap, Brother. What kind of stray dog is running around here, wagging its tongue?"
"...Haa."
Yeon-ryang sighed and frowned at me.
"So-hye, you. What's with your way of speaking?"
"No, I didn't swear! I didn't act like a Demonic Sect Leader! I didn't swear, ouch!"
Thwack!
I didn't swear! That's unfair!
I pouted, rubbing the bump on my head, and Yeon-ryang lowered his gaze with a troubled expression.
At the end of his gaze was my hand, stained with blood.
"Our sister shouldn't get used to getting her hands bloody..."
I shook my head firmly at the voice filled with self-reproach.
"Brother. I'm a Martial Artist too. A Martial Artist is someone who proves themselves with Martial Arts. I'm responsible for my decisions."
"..."
Yeon-ryang, who had nodded with a forced smile, moved his lips for a long time before changing the subject.
"The Head Merchant is still alive. It would be good to call a doctor."
"Yeah. I should."
At that moment, Yang Gyo-jin poked his head through the window.
"So-hye, is it over? I broke all their Dantians."
"Good job."
"Dang Sojeo, are you alright... Kyaaak! Blood, blood! Are you badly, badly injured? Let's get you treated quickly... Kyaaaak! Uncle!"
Jang Mi-ryeo, who screamed in surprise at the sight of us covered in blood, seemed to be shocked by the sight of her uncle turned into a mummy and foamed at the mouth before collapsing.
"You know Dang Sojeo has a weak stomach, why did you wake her up?"
"I thought she'd be okay..."
Yang Gyo-jin mumbled, looking around, and picked up the unconscious Jang Mi-ryeo again. I sighed and began to collect the Hidden Weapons.
\ \ *
After Jang Ho-jung's death, no one threatened Jang Mi-ryeo.
On the contrary, they were eager for Jang Mi-ryeo to act as if she had already inherited the Merchant Guild. I was speechless at the fickle attitude of those around her, but Jang Mi-ryeo didn't seem to care in the slightest.
"If you're greedy and hastily put a fish in your mouth just because it's in front of you, you're bound to get a bone stuck in your throat. I need to remove the small bones now so that I can slowly savor the flesh."
Jang Mi-ryeo, who was speaking with a bright smile, seemed to be enjoying it. She seemed to be using this incident as an opportunity to eliminate all the impure forces.
The Martial Arts Tournament for Marriage was safely held until the finals, and Yang Gyo-jin...
Won.
Is this really okay? Can I just pretend I don't know?
I felt uneasy, but it was no longer an area I could interfere with.
I didn't have the courage to watch his wedding, so I informed the two of them that I would be leaving in two days.
"You're leaving? Eat first. The wedding feast is delicious."
"Uh, yeah, Gyo-jin. You eat a lot. I don't think I can swallow that food sober."
"Please give me a little more time. Two days is too short to repay my benefactor."
"It's okay. We have a contract, right?"
"Then please tell me what items you need when you leave. I'll prepare them."
"Oh, I won't refuse that."
As I listed the items I needed with a change of expression, a servant approached Jang Mi-ryeo and whispered.
"Um, Young Miss. You have a guest."
"A guest?"
"They said they're from the Yang Clan..."
"Show them in. We should prepare tea too."
The servant, who bowed his head at his reply, opened the door and let the person in.
Yang Gyo-jin's eyes widened as he identified the person who entered.
"Huh? Chief Steward?"
"Young Master! What on earth are you up to!"
The man who was shouting with tears in his eyes was the Chief Steward of the Yang Clan.
