Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Etiquette
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Moon Shadow, hurled by So-hyang like a human cannonball, felt utterly wretched.
Though Moon Shadow had no idea, her opponent was the Bow Assassins' Sect's top expert, the elite killer known as Number One.
Among the renowned assassins of the martial world, it was distinctive that a woman wielded a bow, which demanded immense strength. But that wasn't the point.
She saw herself not as a warrior, but as an assassin.
In other words, "fair and square combat" was just another way of saying she fought "filthily."
She backpedaled while kicking up dirt as a matter of course, splattered filth, and wrecked the terrain—all manner of tricks to buy time.
Even though the swordmaster had closed to melee range against an archer, it took considerable time to subdue her.
Moon Shadow wasn't one to fuss over face in battle like some sheltered flower. She bulldozed through the obstacles meant to disrupt her focus, yet still...
Her foe was a master of dirty tricks through sabotage. It was a nauseating exchange that made holding back vomit a challenge.
"-Ugh, the smell... Eurgh."
Thanks to that, even though Moon Shadow emerged victorious without a single scratch, she looked a mess.
Caked in dust and soaked in grime, utterly filthy.
Now out of the life-or-death immersion, the stinging stench assaulting her nose and the sticky grime clinging to her body left Moon Shadow on the verge of tears.
At least she'd won without major damage... She tried to console herself with that as she headed back to the inn where Her Highness waited.
"Is Her Highness... safe...?"
She muttered anxiously about leaving her master's side, but it wasn't true worry.
First off, the one guarding her was utterly untrustworthy—no, she didn't want to trust him, but he was a transcendent expert.
No way such assassins could breach him and harm Her Highness.
Besides, even if not, Her Highness wore all sorts of protective treasures, divine objects, and spell artifacts.
Each one cost a fortune—enough to buy an estate, even the cheapest—and had been unearthed or custom-made at astronomical expense.
No hand harboring hostility or malice could even graze her robes.
However, So-hyang's divine strike was so bizarrely otherworldly that no equipped item could detect it, let alone resist.
The flick to Zhu Yeonhwa's forehead worked because it was purely therapeutic, without a shred of ill intent...
"...Your Highness?"
"Ah, you're back?"
What Moon Shadow saw upon return was Zhu Yeonhwa passed out in So-hyang's arms, steam rising from her forehead.
So-hyang was casually wiping the blood trickling from her nose with a sleeve, as an afterthought.
"Wh-what happened?!"
Moon Shadow cried out in shock. She'd trusted him—well, not by her choice, but still—and he'd left Her Highness like this?!
"Moon Shadow? Calm down for a moment—"
"Calm down!? Screw calming down! How can you be so nonchalant after leaving Her Highness like that?!"
"Calm."
So-hyang let out a deep sigh and spoke in a subdued voice to Moon Shadow, who was rambling with wildly shaking eyes.
"-Ack."
A sudden chill of crisis instinct hit her.
Moon Shadow cooled instantly, like cold water poured over her head. Right—her opponent was a transcendent expert.
With her head cleared, her gaze swept the surroundings.
Hundreds of assassins stood rigidly, eyes open but unconscious. Not a trace of injury on any.
Over hundreds of people, yet the only voices were hers and So-hyang's.
This bizarre scene straight out of a ghost story made cold sweat bead on Moon Shadow's forehead.
No matter how she thought, So-hyang was the cause.
Did I just yell at her informally? Her Highness might overlook it, but if I did... am I in deep trouble?
"I-is... Her Highness truly alright?"
Her tone turned polite involuntarily, but as guard, she had to ask. Trembling, she mustered courage to inquire about her master's state.
"She's fine. Just fainted briefly; she'll wake soon."
"-Nngh."
As if on cue, Zhu Yeonhwa's eyes fluttered open.
"Your Highness! Are you conscious...!?"
"...Moon Shadow? What... did this lady lose consciousness? Ugh, my head—!?"
The great vessel of imperial blood enjoyed natural longevity and health.
Zhu Yeonhwa looked confused at the headache, nausea, and odd sensations wracking her body.
"...Does it hurt badly?"
"-No, just unfamiliar. Not severe pain."
So-hyang asked with a slightly apologetic look, and fortunately, no lingering aftereffects seemed present—
"...More than that, I feel odd. My breathing and heartbeat keep bothering me."
"Ahem, it's probably because you just woke. It'll pass soon."
...Yet echoes of the divine strike and memory wipe remained. So-hyang resolved to avoid using it casually henceforth.
She knew her mindset was warped, but not to this extent.
"Your Highness, are you really alright...?"
"It's not that bad. Rather, Young One, could you step back? You seem to smell a bit foul..."
"Th-that...!"
Receiving her master's disgusted gaze, Moon Shadow looked like the sky had fallen and bolted to the well.
-----
Zhu Yeonhwa massaged her temples with a furrowed brow, puffing deeply on her pipe.
"Hmm, strangely, my diaphragm feels off, nagging at me."
Moon Shadow scrubbed herself vigorously and changed clothes, yet still sniffed her limbs anxiously.
"Ugh, still smells..."
And the sect leader elder knelt before them, forehead to the floor.
"...For sparing the lives of we heinous rebels, we are eternally grateful."
Relief washed over his wrinkled face unmistakably, mingled with questions.
They'd launched a massive assault on the Imperial Scion, heir apparent and top magnate.
This wasn't mere regicide—it was outright treason. A crime warranting clan extermination and dismemberment of all involved.
Yet she'd ordered them captured alive, deeming them useful. Grateful for survival, he couldn't help wondering why.
"So, Bow Assassins' Sect killers. Curious why this lady spared you?"
Zhu Yeonhwa shook off the divine strike's aftereffects by inhaling pipe smoke deeply, regaining her leisure.
As the Third Imperial Princess coveting the throne and a merchant harvesting gold, she prepared to address them gracefully—
"Your Highness, hold on."
—when So-hyang clapped, interrupting.
"-Hm?"
A non-Imperial Scion cutting off the princess's words—unheard of rudeness for Zhu Yeonhwa, ever the lofty superior.
"You, I'm speaking now, so wait your—"
"No, me first. Listen up."
"-Eh?"
Of course, So-hyang ignored etiquette and hierarchy. To her, they were friends honoring courtesy, not liege and vassal.
Earlier, with arrows and blades flying, she'd obliged the request without lecturing—
"Time to address this."
Moon Shadow shot up beside her, glaring at So-hyang's near-commanding tone.
"You! Even if Her Highness treats you as a friend, how dare you—"
Then, memories flashed like a panorama in Moon Shadow's mind.
Three years ago, the horrific pain of being beaten dust-raising in the rain.
Grabbed by the nape, thrown like a projectile, followed by that chilling pure white sword qi.
The eerie assassins outside, fainted with eyes wide open.
As the princess's vassal and guard, she'd stepped in instinctively...
But thinking now, it was terrifying.
"-S-such rudeness...!"
She tried sounding firm, but her limbs shook like aspen leaves, tongue stiff and twisting—impossible to hide.
"As a subject of the empire... Hic!"
Overwhelmed by rising fear, tears burst as she crumpled into a corner.
"Hmm...?"
So-hyang, mid-rant, paused at Moon Shadow suddenly bursting into tears, but pressed on.
"Your Highness knew they'd attack here today, right?"
The economic overlord couldn't miss preparations involving such sums.
From their pre-battle talk, she'd even exposed weaknesses to lure them.
"Mm, yes."
"You called me here to handle and capture them."
Pinpoint the threat, designate the spot, summon the solver.
A subtle domination leaving no sense of being controlled.
"Not entirely. Solving it conveniently isn't bad...?"
Zhu Yeonhwa held no malice or disdain toward So-hyang.
Just living as she always had. Planning fitting compensation, unnoticed.
Obey orders unknowingly; accept rewards unwittingly.
Her specialty: manipulating people and money flows as coincidence. This was no different.
"...Did this lady err somehow?"
Genuine puzzlement— she'd never questioned her ways.
"Of course I understand. You've lived that way your whole life."
Innate temperament, shaped by life and experience.
"-But don't do it to me."
Less right or wrong; more treating a friend like a subordinate.
So-hyang treated Zhu Yeonhwa as a friend, not a superior.
"You're wise, so I trust you won't err twice."
If it happened again, So-hyang would sever ties.
Zhu Yeonhwa swallowed involuntarily, feeling sweat on her palms.
No stern face or intimidating aura. Just her usual gentle tone.
Precisely why the words carried weight.
"...Understood. I'll remember."
"Just ask openly. I'd gladly help a friend's request."
Unless burdensome like an office or forced service, she'd oblige most asks.
So-hyang was generous with kindness; she hoped Zhu Yeonhwa grasped that.
-----
"So-hyang, as you said, this lady knew the Bow Assassins' Sect plotted to attack, and yes, I showed an opening to lure them."
"Heh..."
At Zhu Yeonhwa's frank admission, the sect leader elder's wrinkled face showed gloomy resignation.
He'd assumed as much, but with no choices, they'd pressed on.
A desperate flail of a plan, now cleanly foiled—no regrets.
"...And I know why they attempted this madness."
"Oh?"
So-hyang was curious too. Why would skilled assassins act so recklessly?
What drove such desperation?
"Odd for the parties to hear it from me. Explain yourself."
"...Yes."
The kneeling elder closed his eyes briefly.
"This one hails from Goryeo on the East Sea Peninsula, formerly a military official. Name: Lee Chun. Clan: Jeonju Lee."
"Ah, so it was."
So-hyang had suspected as much.
Their bows resembled national bows from her past life; they even used child arrows.
This world mirrored yet differed from her past, so no certainty.
Having said that much, Lee Chun hesitated, then couldn't hold back curiosity.
"...If not rude, Lady White Lotus Swordswoman's attire resembles our homeland's garb. Might I ask if you're from there too?"
So-hyang's white robes followed hanbok lines, though unobtrusive till now.
But Lee Chun's guess was off.
"No, Mother was from the East Sea—I heard vaguely—but I'm Central Plains born."
"Ah, I see..."
Here, "Mother" meant the original body's parent; faint memories recalled vague rumors.
"I made this myself. Just suits my taste."
Not lacking money, but no fitting clothes sold.
Her hourglass figure, violently curvaceous compared to average women.
Off-the-shelf: loose waist, bursting bust and hips, ties failing—indecently exposing skin.
Custom tailoring possible, but she sewed well enough herself.
Hanbok form? Pure preference.
Loose enough for swordplay, with elegant flair. So-hyang favored them even in her past life.
Shoving aside stray thoughts, So-hyang focused on Lee Chun.
"-Thus, we plotted unforgivable treason: assault the Third Imperial Princess, brainwash her, and extort her vast wealth..."
The elder's voice grew moist.
Wrung from a parched throat, the emotion ran deeper than sorrow—piercing grief and despair.
"The reason for needing such sums... the reason... is none other than..."
Calamity has befallen our country.