Chapter 94
Chapter 94
Jegal Hyo-gang frowned as he snatched the Beneficence Jade, turning the jade pendant this way and that. He seemed to be verifying its authenticity.
He stroked his chin for a long while with a thoughtful expression, then his eyes widened as if he had realized something.
“Ah, could it be that you’re that little kid?”
“Pardon?”
“You’re the kid who was surprised by Telekinesis, right? The granddaughter of the Poison King. The Supreme Clan Leader was amazed at how tenderhearted you were, unlike the Tang Clan bloodline.”
He seemed to have heard about me, and his demeanor softened considerably.
His change in attitude gave me confidence. He would let me go.
I nodded eagerly.
“Yes, yes! That’s right. Patriarch Peng visited last spring.”
“The Supreme Clan Leader said you were a tiny little thing. But you’re not? Well, everyone probably looks tiny in his eyes.”
He muttered, scratching his head vigorously, and gestured behind him.
“Lower your swords.”
“Yes? Clan Leader, but…”
“Lower your swords. I want to talk for a bit.”
Then he met my gaze. His eyes, which had seemed so weary, had now changed to a look of fondness.
The members, who had been watching the Clan Leader’s reaction, slowly lowered their swords.
“Peng Ji-yoon.”
“I am So-hye.”
After introducing himself, he reached out as if to help me up, but glanced at Yeon-ryang and awkwardly withdrew his hand.
Peng Ji-yoon, who was looking at me with a troubled expression, turned back as if he couldn’t understand.
“Hey, Three Great Disciples. There was no mention that the Tang Clan Martial Artist chasing us was this kid. The Poison King’s disciple colluding with the Demonic Sect? What kind of nonsense is this? You couldn’t find anyone in the entire Central Plains who hates the Demonic Sect as much as he does. Is this information accurate?”
“C, Clan Leader. W, we were just chasing her according to the Facial Description we received…”
“Who ordered this? Jegal Hyo-gang? Those bastards can’t do anything right.”
Peng Ji-yoon’s face turned grim. He pressed his forehead as if he had a headache.
“Kid. I’m sorry that your companions were hurt. But now that things have turned out this way, wouldn’t it be better to go to the Alliance, get proper treatment, and clear up the misunderstanding? I’ll guarantee your safety.”
I shook my head.
“No. I can’t trust the Alliance. Please, as I asked, just let me and my companions leave this place.”
“It’s better to get rid of the label of being involved with the Demonic Sect properly, Young Miss. If you don’t clear up the misunderstanding, you’ll continue to be pursued.”
“Please, just let us go.”
“You’re a stubborn kid. Well, if that’s what you want, I can’t help it. Alright.”
Peng Ji-yoon shrugged and rummaged through his robes, offering me a red ribbon.
I paused, wondering what he meant, and Peng Ji-yoon said.
“To tie your hair. It’s too cumbersome to have it all loose like that.”
“Thank you.”
He was showing kindness as if he had never attacked us.
My heart was pounding.
Yes.
Yes!
Peng Ji-yoon chuckled as he watched me hurriedly tidy my hair.
“Give my regards to the Supreme Clan Leader. It doesn’t seem like we’ll have a chance for a long conversation, so be on your way. Take good care of your companions.”
Then he drew his Dao, as if to protect us.
Jin-sung frowned and stepped in, flustered.
“Clan Leader Peng. What is this…!”
“You saw the Beneficence Jade, right? Even if that kid is a Demonic Sect member, I have to help her. Jin-sung, Chief. This is a matter of the Peng Clan’s honor.”
“It could be that man, not Young Miss Tang. Clan Leader. Young Miss Tang might be deceived, so we shouldn’t let them go.”
“I know, but the benefactor’s request was, ‘Send the benefactor and the benefactor’s companions away without asking any questions.’ Chief. We have to grant it.”
Peng Ji-yoon clicked his tongue as if he felt sorry for me.
It was the moment when the enemy who had threatened me turned into an ally.
Taking advantage of the two men facing off, I supported Yeon-ryang and helped him up.
“Brother. Can you stand? Put your arm around my shoulder. That’s right. Stand still.”
“Our sister, you’ve got quite the connections?”
“Don’t talk, you idiot. You’re bleeding.”
“Ouch, ouch, be gentle, sister. This brother is a delicate man… Keuk!”
It seemed impossible for Yeon-ryang to walk on his own. I slung him over my shoulder.
Yeon-ryang, leaning on me, coughed with a pale face. Hot blood poured onto my shoulder.
“Cough! So-hye. My legs are dragging. Lift them up a bit.”
It was amazing that he could joke in this situation. I bit my lip and scolded him.
“Be quiet before I abandon you. Ju-ryeong. You come here too.”
“Kuluk.”
Ju-ryeong, who answered obediently, came into my sleeve and settled down.
As we tried to escape, the Alliance members aimed their swords again and narrowed the encirclement.
Peng Ji-yoon, smacking his lips, infused Inner Force into his Dao.
“Hey. Can’t you just let this kid go for my sake? I don’t want to be a Clan Leader who beats up his members.”
“Say something that makes sense, Clan Leader. This is insubordination.”
“Leader. Think again. This is the Alliance’s business. If the information is wrong, we can confirm it at the Alliance, but we can’t just let them go.”
“That’s right. It’s the Alliance’s business. And at the same time, it’s the Peng Clan’s business. Ignoring the Alliance’s orders will only end with me being removed from the Clan Leader position, but ignoring the Peng Clan’s honor will get my head chopped off, you know?”
Peng Ji-yoon, showing off the Beneficence Jade, sighed and put the jade pendant in his robes.
The air grew heavy.
Watching the situation, I bowed to Peng Ji-yoon’s back.
“Then we’ll be going.”
“Alright. Cute benefactor of the Peng Clan. All I can promise is exactly three days. After three days, I can’t stop the pursuit. I wish you good Martial luck.”
“Thank you.”
“Sigh. There are quite a few people. I should ask the Supreme Clan Leader for some pocket money.”
Peng Ji-yoon muttered and slammed his Dao down roughly.
Kwaang!
The earth split in half, opening a path.
“Go that way!”
“Yes!”
As we ran towards the path Peng Ji-yoon had opened, those who had been wary of me quickly followed.
Peng Ji-yoon, who had sprung out like an arrow, fiercely blocked his comrades.
“Let’s see the skills of our Ink Moon Squad. I need to check how much our chicks have grown.”
“Leader! Are you really going to do this!”
“Call me Clan Leader, you bastard.”
He snapped, unleashing an explosive aura and raising his great Dao.
Peng Ji-yoon’s expression froze over with a chilling coldness.
“Come at me, chicks.”
\ \ *
Kugugugung! Kwang!
Ear-splitting explosions and clouds of dust rose.
I glanced back at Peng Ji-yoon’s back and clicked my tongue. It was an overwhelming force that sent shivers down my spine even from a hundred yards away.
“His back is in this state because he blocked that Dao with his bare body.”
As I swallowed a sigh and moved my feet, Yeon-ryang, who was panting, said in a playful voice.
“Cough, cough! Still, this is… quite sturdy, isn’t it?”
“Yes. It’s sturdy, so don’t lose consciousness. I won’t let you off if you die.”
I retorted gruffly, sniffing and holding Yeon-ryang tightly.
The fact that he kept spitting out black blood meant that he had already suffered Internal injuries when he blocked Jin-sung’s sword without Inner Energy.
We couldn’t keep moving like this.
He had lost a lot of blood. It would be dangerous if I didn’t stop the bleeding immediately.
“Ju-ryeong, get some willow bark. As quickly as possible!”
“Kii!”
Ju-ryeong, who had darted out, disappeared into the forest.
I rolled my eyes, looking for a place to hide in the quickly changing scenery.
It would be nice if there was a suitable cave, but such luck did not appear.
I could feel Yeon-ryang’s body temperature getting colder and colder.
I couldn’t delay any longer. I spread my long robe on a flat grassy area and laid Yeon-ryang down on his stomach.
“Kkuu. Kkuuooo.”
In the meantime, Ju-ryeong, who had brought a pile of willow bark, dumped the bark on the long robe.
I chopped the bark into small pieces and stuffed it into Yeon-ryang’s mouth.
“Chew it. Now.”
“Oop, sister…”
“Don’t talk nonsense, just chew it. I have to tear open your flesh, so chew it.”
Yeon-ryang nodded and moved his jaw. More than half of it came out of his mouth, but he seemed to be trying to chew it somehow.
I took out a dagger and tore off the cloth that was stuck to his flesh. The gruesome sight made me groan involuntarily.
I took a deep breath and put my hand on his back.
“Hold your breath.”
“Kuaaak!”
Yeon-ryang’s face contorted in pain as I poured Superior Recovery Water on the torn wound. As the blood was wiped away, the wound was clearly visible.
I tried not to look at his face and rinsed my hands with the remaining Superior Recovery Water.
I pried apart the protruding bone and put it back in place, causing his huge body to convulse and jump.
I pressed down on Yeon-ryang’s shoulder and wiped the wound. Sweat dripped from my forehead as well.
“I can’t sew this up here. I’m going to put Wound Remedy on it first, so hold on. It’s something a Wudang Taoist carries around, so it should be effective.”
I muttered words that I didn’t know if I was saying to Yeon-ryang or to myself, and poured the Wound Remedy that Jin-sung had given me into the wound.
The ash-gray powder that covered the wound turned red. Blood foam seemed to form, and the rate at which blood was seeping out slowed down.
I wiped the sweat that had wet my eyes in relief. As I wrapped his back tightly with a clean cloth, Yeon-ryang’s breathing became noticeably easier.
We had passed the critical point.
I hurriedly tidied up the surroundings and packed my things. As I picked up Yeon-ryang and put on my long robe, the empty scabbard that had been tied to my waist fell to the ground.
Suddenly, a brilliant idea came to mind. I looked at Ju-ryeong.
“Ju-ryeong. You can carry this scabbard, right?”
“Kkuluk. Kkululuk.”
“Then go and make some marks where the scabbard was dragged.”
“Kiik?”
The guy made a dumbfounded expression, but there was no time to listen to his whining.
“You can find my scent, right? One day is enough. Make traces as if you escaped to the west for just one day. If you can, scatter these torn pieces of clothing in between.”
“Kiiiiii!”
“After a day, throw away the scabbard and come back. You can drop it in the water, or throw it off a cliff. I won’t accept any complaints. How much meat did Yeon-ryang feed you? Take this opportunity to earn your keep. Come here. I’ll tie the scabbard to you.”
I rattled off, tying the scabbard to Ju-ryeong’s body. I also tore Yeon-ryang’s clothes into small pieces, put them in a pocket, and hung it around his neck.
Ju-ryeong, who had his tail between his legs at my serious voice, ran off to the west without complaint.
I turned my gaze away from Ju-ryeong, who was getting farther away, and picked up Yeon-ryang. Yeon-ryang, who was on my back, chuckled weakly.
“Ahaha, this is… kind of nice.”
“Is this guy crazy? What’s so nice about almost dying?”
“Who, cough, cough! Would try so desperately… to save an Unorthodox Faction guy, sister. It’s touching.”
“Don’t talk nonsense, just close your eyes. The bleeding has stopped, so you can sleep.”
“…Okay.”
Yeon-ryang, who answered in a whisper, buried his head in my shoulder. He seemed to have let go of his consciousness.
Three days.
Peng Ji-yoon had promised three days.
So I had to run as far as possible in the given time.
I gritted my teeth and started running east.
