Chapter 86
Chapter 86
- Infinitely!
The frightened horse bucked wildly and screamed. The carriage rattled and shook violently.
Yeon-ryang hurriedly closed the window, pulled me down, and ducked.
“Don’t move.”
Arrows whistled sharply through the air.
Every time an arrow struck the carriage, splinters of wood flew. The carriage vibrated vividly.
“Hee-heeing!”
The running horse screamed and reared, then the carriage tilted forward, and something was thrown off.
It seemed the horse had breathed its last, and the carriage stopped.
“Damn it. Hold on tight, Kyung-ah.”
At the same time, the carriage rolled head over heels in the middle of the road.
“Kyoo-ook!”
Ju-ryeong screamed and burrowed into my clothes. I gritted my teeth and strained to keep from being thrown out of the carriage.
Thump! Thump-thump! Thump!
The impact of the rolling carriage was directly transmitted, and my vision kept turning upside down.
As my head repeatedly hit the wall, Yeon-ryang reached out and covered my head.
The half-destroyed carriage, covered in fallen leaves, slowly came to a stop.
At the same time, the rain of arrows also ceased.
Yeon-ryang took his hand off my head and asked.
“Kyung-ah. Are you okay?”
“Thanks to you. Ugh.”
I answered, frowning and covering my nose with my sleeve. The thick smell of blood stung my nose.
There was no sign of the coachman. He seemed to have disappeared when the horse and carriage separated.
I held my breath and scanned the surroundings for any signs of movement. My hands were clammy with tension.
Two? Three?
Even with my senses heightened, the Qi I felt was as faint as a shadow. I suspected they were Martial Artists skilled at concealing their presence.
“Four. Assassins. It’s dangerous, so don’t rush in recklessly.”
Yeon-ryang whispered lowly. His voice was uncharacteristically serious.
Damn it. Yuju Merchant Guild, or Third Madam?
If the Yuju Merchant Guild sent Assassins, it meant they were extremely angry.
Dang Hwa-yeop had too much pride to send Assassins; he would come himself.
If Assassins were sent, it would be the Third Madam. Or perhaps Dang Juyeop.
I frowned and gripped the San Gong Poison in my hand. With my life hanging by a thread, there was no need to conserve the Poison.
“Brother. I’m going to use Poison, so take Ju-ryeong and go.”
“What? Kyung-ah, I’m not immune to Poison.”
“Ju-ryeong will protect you. Ju-ryeong, absorb it well.”
“Kiee!”
Ju-ryeong answered spiritedly, leaped onto Yeon-ryang’s shoulder, and wrapped himself around his neck.
I released the San Gong Poison through the gaps in the broken carriage.
Yeon-ryang, who had inadvertently inhaled the San Gong Poison permeating the air, grimaced.
“Ugh. What is this? Kyung-ah. You carry around something terrifying?”
“It won’t kill you. It just feels like your intestines are twisting when you draw on your Inner Energy.”
“Furball. Do something about this. It feels unpleasant to have my Inner Energy scattered.”
“Kiee.”
Ignoring Yeon-ryang’s grumbling, I continued to spread the Poison powder.
Ju-ryeong’s eyes sparkled at the scent of the Hwajeong Powder, but he suppressed his appetite and stayed by Yeon-ryang’s side.
Having scattered both San Gong Poison and Paralysis Poison, there would be a reaction within a quarter of an hour. It would be difficult to launch a swift attack.
Hoping that the enemy had no immunity to Poison, I selected the Hidden Weapons I would use.
I could feel the Assassins closing in. Yeon-ryang, who had readjusted his sword grip, asked.
“You learned how to land safely, right?”
“Yes.”
“We jump out after I count to three. One, two… three!”
At Yeon-ryang’s shout, I leaped out of the carriage. At the same time, Hidden Weapons flew in from all directions.
They must have been waiting for us to jump out.
Dodging the Flying Dagger that grazed my face, I rolled across the dirt ground.
It wasn’t a pretty sight, but this was no time to worry about appearances.
I hurriedly got up and deflected the pouring Hidden Weapons, and Yeon-ryang, back-to-back with me, swung his sword and chuckled.
“Your Naryeotagon is quite something, Kyung-ah.”
“You have time to joke? I don’t.”
I bit my lip and scanned the surroundings. The Assassins’ movements were still sharp, as if the Poison hadn’t taken effect yet.
The Paralysis Poison should have worked by now. Did I spread too little? I should have spread more.
I breathed roughly and glared around. The murderous intent directed at me made my mouth dry.
“Don’t rush in. I’ll take care of the ones on the left first.”
Yeon-ryang whispered a warning, and his figure seemed to blur before his sword flashed on the opposite side.
“Kuh-ack!”
An Assassin whose arm had been cut off rolled on the ground. Yeon-ryang, with precise movements, thrust his sword deep into the Assassin’s back.
I felt goosebumps rise at his seemingly indifferent expression, but I couldn’t criticize his actions.
Because if you didn’t kill, you would be killed.
Yeon-ryang loosely lowered his blood-soaked sword and scanned for his next target.
His red-tinged eyes gleamed with a chilling light.
I could feel the enemies, startled by Yeon-ryang’s momentum, holding back. He had completely overwhelmed the Assassins.
One of the hesitant Assassins threw Hidden Weapons at Yeon-ryang.
Oh, no.
Before I could finish the thought, my body moved reflexively and launched a Flying Dagger.
As the Hidden Weapons flying towards Yeon-ryang’s back were deflected, the Assassin’s gaze locked onto me.
“Good instincts, Kyung-ah. With a little polishing, you’ll be useful.”
Yeon-ryang, without looking back, praised me as he somersaulted and slashed the chest of the Assassin who had thrown the Hidden Weapons.
Then, he drew on his Inner Energy and struck down into the air.
Clang!
Sparks flew as metal clashed.
The Assassin whose sword met Yeon-ryang’s retreated with anxious movements.
He seemed flustered that his Inner Energy wasn’t gathering.
I glanced at the Hidden Weapons that had fallen to the ground and hurriedly launched a Flying Dagger.
The moment I confirmed that the Hidden Weapons weren’t from the Tang Clan, I felt a strange sense of relief.
It meant that someone who had once passed by me in the Tang Clan wasn’t after my life.
Since there were Assassins using swords, they definitely weren’t Martial Artists from the Tang Clan.
It would have been heartbreaking if a member of the family who had once breathed the same air as me had come to kill me.
I muttered inwardly and threw a Jamo Hwan, creating distance between me and the Assassin.
The Assassin’s movements as he avoided the Jamo Hwan were noticeably slower.
It seemed the Paralysis Poison had worked properly.
It was only a matter of time before Yeon-ryang finished off the enemy, who couldn’t gather Inner Energy and whose movements had become sluggish.
Yeon-ryang flipped the fallen Assassin over with his toe to check, then indifferently plunged his sword into the enemy’s heart.
I also swallowed hard and gripped my Flying Dagger.
These were the Assassins who had targeted me. I felt like I shouldn’t back down and do my part.
But Yeon-ryang, looking at me, dissuaded me.
“Stay back, Kyung-ah.”
“No. I also…”
“I’ll take care of the aftermath, so stay back. There’s no need to deliberately create unpleasant memories, is there?”
He shook his head and approached, gently wrapping his arm around my trembling shoulders.
“Using Poison and using a sword are completely different. Can you handle the sensation of piercing human flesh? As long as you have enemies in the Martial Arts World, you can’t avoid killing… But Kyung-ah, you’re too young. There’s no need to get used to that feeling already.”
Then, he lightly pushed me back.
As if telling me not to dirty my hands.
…He’s a good person.
I moved my lips and slowly replied.
“Then I’ll just watch.”
“Do that.”
Yeon-ryang nodded and ended the last Assassin’s life.
I silently watched the scene.
\ \ *
It was late at night when we arrived at the next village.
The Jeomsoi who saw us covered in blood was horrified, but he didn’t run away, perhaps because it was a common occurrence.
“Sh-should I prepare water for you to wash…?”
“I’d like it prepared as soon as possible. Can you also prepare clothes for us to change into? It’s too late to go to the cloth shop. I’ll pay you generously.”
“Yes, of course. I’ll check. Great Hero, the rooms…”
“Two.”
The bowing Jeomsoi led us to the guest rooms.
I was exhausted and wanted to lie down immediately, but the last vestige of my conscience told me I couldn’t get on the bed without washing.
As I sat on the chair, dozing off, Ju-ryeong pulled my hair as if telling me to wake up.
“Young Miss, I will bring up the bathwater.”
Soon, a young maid brought the bathwater into the room. She also brought clothes to change into.
I hurriedly soaked myself in the water. I wanted to wash away the thick smell of blood as soon as possible.
Just as I was about to lie down on the bed after bathing, Yeon-ryang knocked on the door from outside.
“Kyung-ah. Can I come in?”
“Yes. Just a moment.”
I put on my outer robe and opened the door to see Yeon-ryang looking tired.
Even a skilled Martial Artist couldn’t feel good about the sensation of cutting down people. He must have been tired from today as well.
He came into the room, readjusting his sword ties, and said.
“I’m worried there might be another pursuit. To confuse them, it’s better if we use one room tonight, Kyung-ah.”
I nodded.
“Yes. Then you can sleep on the floor, Brother.”
At my reply, Yeon-ryang pretended to wipe away tears.
“That’s too much. I even abandoned my bed to protect you, and you’re going to make this brother sleep on the cold floor? There’s even a good saying about respecting elders.”
“Bring a blanket from the next room, then. I’ll give you a pillow at least.”
“Our Kyung-ah is so generous.”
Yeon-ryang chuckled and shrugged. I threw him a pillow.
Contrary to his complaints about it being too much, Yeon-ryang obediently lay down on the wooden floor. He didn’t seem to have any intention of going to get a blanket.
I glanced at him and lay down on the bed, covering myself with the blanket.
Moonlight poured in through the small window. Perhaps because of the moonlight filling the room, I couldn’t fall asleep.
I hadn’t been able to check in the confusion… The coachman must be dead.
He wouldn’t have died if he hadn’t taken me as a passenger.
I felt uneasy.
As I tossed and turned, Yeon-ryang said comfortingly.
“It’s not your fault, Kyung-ah. Don’t hold it in your heart.”
“…Yes.”
“Let’s go to sleep. We have to look for another carriage tomorrow.”
“We don’t need a carriage. Let’s just walk.”
I muttered gloomily. I didn’t want to harm anyone else.
Even at my subdued voice, Yeon-ryang replied nonchalantly.
“Okay. Walking isn’t bad either. We have strong legs, don’t we?”
“Haha, what does that even mean?”
I laughed weakly and closed my eyes.
His nonchalant attitude was a little, just a little, comforting.
