Chapter 527: She Is Looking for You
Chapter 527: She Is Looking for You
The missive arrived while they were resting the horses.
"An urgent message from Tongcheon Pavilion has arrived."
Hwi handed the letter to Geom Wu-jin.
After scanning the contents, Geom Wu-jin passed it to his son. Geom Mu-geuk read the missive and broke into a bright smile. When he showed it to the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, the old man wore an identical grin.
Mu-geuk looked over at Seo Dae-ryong. The man was currently strolling past the horses as they grazed in a distant field.
Mu-geuk turned back to Geom Wu-jin and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. "We should head out first."
The two men nodded in agreement.
Mu-geuk lightly leaped toward where Seo Dae-ryong was standing. "Let’s go, Right Arm!"
As Mu-geuk suddenly took off at a sprint, Seo Dae-ryong began to run alongside him out of sheer reflex.
"What is going on?"
"An urgent missive just flew in."
Then, Mu-geuk uttered the words that Seo Dae-ryong would never forget for the rest of his life.
"She is looking for you."
"!"
At those words, Seo Dae-ryong surged ahead, overtaking Mu-geuk in an instant. His explosive burst of speed was even faster than the Rapid Speed Step.
However, after sprinting a good distance, Seo Dae-ryong came to a dead stop.
"Where is she?"
"Hey, kid, your heart’s going to explode at this rate," Mu-geuk teased as he caught up.
Seo Dae-ryong shouted, his face flushed with emotion. "I asked where she is!"
*
"Are you okay?"
When the second sister, Dan-bi, opened her eyes, she saw her older sister, Dan-ah.
"What happened?"
"You lost consciousness for a while because of the poison on those hidden weapons."
Fortunately, Dan-bi’s fever had broken while she was being treated at the branch.
"Where are we?"
"The Jing'an Branch of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
"What?"
Dan-ah smiled at her startled sister. "That’s how it turned out. I’ll explain everything later."
"What about Yeon?"
"She woke up earlier and is eating. Do you want something to eat too?"
"I’m thirsty."
Dan-ah brought her some water. Only then did Dan-bi, regaining her senses, begin to worry about her sister.
"Are you okay, Sister?"
Even while drifting in and out of consciousness, she had heard the incessant sounds of battle. She didn't need to ask to know how hard her sister must have fought to protect her.
"I’m fine."
"You always say you’re fine."
Dan-ah was someone who had sacrificed her entire youth for her younger siblings, always repeating that she was fine.
It was then that Dan-bi noticed the blood staining Dan-ah’s clothes. Seeing her worried gaze, Dan-ah replied with a smile.
"It’s okay. It’s not my blood, so stop worrying. Do you want to eat?"
"I’m not hungry."
"Then sleep a little more."
"I’m getting up."
She tried to rise but staggered. Her body was not yet in a condition to move. Dan-ah gently laid her sister back down on the bed.
"If there’s a fight, wake me up."
"I will."
"Promise!"
After making her promise, Dan-bi fell back into a slumber. Dan-ah looked down at her sister in silence. Judging by the gaze full of worry and affection, any fighting Dan-bi did would have to be in her dreams.
Cho-hui entered the room. "I’ll stay with her."
"Then I’ll leave her to you."
As Dan-ah turned to leave, Cho-hui spoke. "Thank you."
At her sincere gratitude, Dan-ah gave a slight bow and stepped out of the building.
All the demonic practitioners of the branch were gathered in the courtyard. Their eyes focused on her. They likely knew whose fault this mess was, but perhaps because of the branch leader, Gang Dal, who was perched on the wall looking out, no one cursed at her or picked a fight.
Gang Dal jumped down from the wall.
The Seven-Road Pursuit Squad gathered outside already numbered nearly a hundred. On this side, there were barely twenty. If the enemy charged in with suicidal intent, it would not be an easy fight.
"No matter how crazy they are, they won't be able to handle the aftermath of attacking us," Gang Dal muttered, sounding as if he couldn't understand it.
But Dan-ah had a guess. The reason they were going to such extremes, even risking a confrontation with the Demonic Cult, was that they had to kill Cho-hui at any cost.
But why? Just how much money had they been paid?
Just then, the youngest, Dan-yeon, came outside. She politely performed a fist salute to Gang Dal and made a request. "Could I get some daggers?"
Dan-ah tried to stop her. "Not in your condition. Rest."
"This happened because of us. I have to fight too."
Gang Dal gave an order to his subordinate. "Give Miss Dan-yeon a box of daggers."
"Yes, sir."
A cultist brought the daggers and handed them to Dan-yeon. After securing them, she expressed her gratitude to Gang Dal. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I'm giving them to you so you can die in my place while fighting."
When Dan-yeon’s eyes went wide, Gang Dal wore an expression that asked, What other reason would there be?
At that moment, a subordinate arrived to report. "They have requested a meeting with the branch leader."
"Tell them all to just piss off."
"The leader of the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad has come in person."
"What?"
Gang Dal leaped onto the wall, and Dan-ah followed him up. A man was walking out from among the ranks of the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad. It was Yo Goeng, the leader of the squad. He was a man known to possess formidable martial arts skills despite being a ronin.
He rarely appeared in public, yet he had shown himself here today. His presence reaffirmed just how important this task was to them.
It wasn't just Yo Goeng. The elites known as the Four-Man Group, who usually followed him, had also come. Those four were far superior in skill to the average members of the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad.
As Yo Goeng and the Four-Man Group appeared, the morale of the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad reached its peak. They let out a roar, radiating intense killing intent.
Gang Dal’s expression hardened. "These bastards must have a death wish!"
However, his eyes were serious. If Yo Goeng had come, it meant they truly might scale these walls. They were dead serious.
"What on earth did that woman do to cause such a fuss?"
Dan-ah spoke softly as she looked at the malice-filled Seven-Road Pursuit Squad. "At the very least, it couldn't have been anything bad, right?"
Then, a voice rang out. "Branch Leader, let us have a word."
The one boasting his martial prowess through the internal energy infused into his thunderous voice was Yo Goeng.
After staring at him with a complex gaze for a moment, Gang Dal leaped down outside. The gates opened, and the demonic practitioners followed behind him.
Dan-ah watched the meeting in silence. With Yo Goeng’s appearance, the situation had deteriorated rapidly. Could they really refuse to hand them over now? Everything depended on Gang Dal’s decision.
Yo Goeng and Gang Dal stood facing each other with about thirty paces between them.
"I apologize for causing such a disturbance."
Gang Dal knew there was no sincerity in that polite apology. He also knew exactly how evil Yo Goeng was—a man who enjoyed burning people alive.
"I heard that the people we are pursuing have taken refuge here. If you hand them over, we will leave immediately."
Gang Dal replied calmly. "They didn't take refuge; they are here as our guests."
He didn't even want to exchange words with the man, but there was no need to unnecessarily provoke him in front of his subordinates.
"Guests they may be, but they are surely uninvited ones. Just hand them over."
Just as the killing intent of the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad was thick, Gang Dal possessed the pride—and the sheer guts—of a demonic practitioner.
"And if I refuse?"
A tense pressure filled the air as they locked eyes.
"Even if those people leave, won't the branch leader and his subordinates still remain here?"
It was a blatant threat. Of course, it didn't work on Gang Dal.
"Who knows? I might get promoted to the main headquarters after beating down some fools who looked down on the Cult."
If the opponent hadn't been a branch leader of the Demonic Cult, Yo Goeng would have drawn his sword several times over by now. The patience he rarely exercised in his life was being put to the test.
Gang Dal looked up at the branch signboard behind him. "If you cross this threshold, there will be no turning back. Think carefully about who we are before you act."
Yo Goeng’s proposal followed. "Why else would I seek to scale your walls? Branch Leader, please yield just this once. I will make sure to repay this favor."
It was a bribe. He was promising compensation later.
"I will give you plenty of time to think. I shall wait."
Gang Dal didn't answer and went back inside. As soon as he entered, he spoke to his subordinates. "They’ll be attacking soon. Get ready."
"Yes, sir!"
He sensed that the enemy realized he wouldn't hand over the women. And above all, he had never seen such bastards keep a promise.
The demonic practitioners moved with perfect order. Iron pillars were erected on both sides of the courtyard, and nearly invisible wires, like fishing lines, were installed. It was the Blood Severing Silk used in warfare. Other practitioners brought out mobile mechanisms that could fire hidden weapons all at once. As the saying goes, an organization follows its leader; the practitioners of the Jing'an Branch were not pushovers.
Watching this, Dan-ah was inwardly shocked. I see now why the Murim fears the Demonic Cult. If even a small branch office is like this...
What would happen if the real Demonic Cult started a war?
Gang Dal glanced back at Dan-ah and Dan-yeon. The two women were standing guard in front of the building where Dan-bi and Cho-hui were. When their eyes met, Dan-ah spoke to Gang Dal.
"I’m telling you this now because we might die and not get the chance later. Thank you for taking us in."
Beside her, Dan-yeon bowed her head.
Gang Dal spoke bluntly. "I didn't take you in for your sake, so there's no need to be thankful. I’m placing a bet of my own here. So, that master you mentioned better have a higher status than me."
Dan-ah thought of Seo Dae-ryong. Could that innocent-looking man really be someone of higher status than these rough people? She didn't think so.
I’m sorry. I suppose I ended up deceiving you.
If she hadn't met that man at the inn, if she hadn't accepted this contract... she could only say that fate had pushed them to this point.
It was at that moment the practitioner monitoring the wall shouted. "They’re coming!"
Clang!
The demonic practitioners drew their swords in unison. Simultaneously, the enemies leaped over the wall. It was a surprise attack, but the defenders were prepared.
Splat! Shink! Squelch!
The limbs of the masked men who threw themselves over were sheared off by the Blood Severing Silk. But they kept coming. The second wave cut the blood-soaked wires with their swords.
However, they were met with a hail of hidden weapons fired from the mechanisms.
Swish-swish-swish-swish!
The men who had cut the wires were riddled with projectiles and fell like autumn leaves. Yet, the enemies continued to scale the wall without giving them a moment to reset the mechanisms.
A chaotic melee broke out in the courtyard. The enemies had clear orders: minimize conflict with the cultists, kill the women quickly, and get out.
About a dozen masked men swarmed toward Dan-ah and Dan-yeon. Dan-ah fought without leaving her sister’s side. Though her skills were superior, they pressed her with numbers.
But Dan-ah grit her teeth and fought like a madwoman. Driven by the knowledge that her sisters would die if she fell, she became an unstoppable force. Dan-yeon also threw daggers, taking down enemies with precision.
It was then that Yo Goeng and the Four-Man Group began walking toward them. As they appeared, the rank-and-file warriors of the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad backed away.
Gang Dal saw the situation, but he couldn't leave his position to help. The enemies were pushing so relentlessly that his subordinates would die if he moved. He chose to protect his men.
Dan-yeon threw a succession of daggers at Yo Goeng. Her goal wasn't to kill him, but to gauge his skill.
Clang! Clang!
Yo Goeng didn't even draw his sword. The Four-Man Group walking beside him lightly swung their blades and deflected the daggers.
They’re as strong as Sister!
There were four such experts. And then there was their leader, Yo Goeng.
Dan-ah and Dan-yeon bravely lunged forward, thrusting their swords. Every one of their moves contained a powerful will to protect each other, but they couldn't overcome the clear difference in skill.
Before they could even last five exchanges, Dan-yeon was struck by a palm and sent flying. At the sound of her sister coughing up blood, Dan-ah screamed. "Yeon!"
In that moment of distraction, Dan-ah was also struck and went rolling across the ground. Both women had been defeated by a Yo Goeng who hadn't even drawn his sword.
Coughing up blood, Dan-ah grabbed a discarded sword and stood in front of her sister. "Are you okay?"
"...I'm fine."
She could tell by the voice. Both she and her sister had suffered severe internal injuries. Dan-yeon also stood back up. If they were breached, Dan-bi and Cho-hui were right behind them.
Yo Goeng’s gaze was as cold as a snake’s. "You damn bitches have made this a real headache. Hurry up and finish them, then bring me that woman’s head!"
The Four-Man Group stepped forward.
"They’ve got decent faces; it’s a waste to just kill them."
The Four-Man Group looked back at Yo Goeng with eyes full of depraved lust, asking if they could subdue and take them instead.
Yo Goeng commanded coldly, "Stop talking nonsense and tear them to pieces!"
The Four-Man Group pointed their swords at the two women simultaneously. Dan-ah gripped Dan-yeon’s hand tightly. She could feel her sister’s trembling hand squeezing hers back. She felt a crushing guilt for not being able to protect her.
I’m sorry.
At the very moment the Four-Man Group unleashed their Sword Qi—
Swoooooosh!
A whirlwind of Blade Force flew in from the distance. Its target was the Four-Man Group.
Rumble!
The whirling blades of Gang Qi rotated at a terrifying speed, sweeping through the courtyard.
Thud! Splat! Crunch!
Without even a chance to dodge, the Four-Man Group were blown apart, their bodies shattered into pieces. However, the Sword Qi they had already unleashed was still flying toward the sisters.
Swooooosh!
Seeing the terrifying Sword Qi flying toward her, Dan-ah squeezed her eyes shut. Due to her internal injuries, she could neither dodge nor block. In her final moment, she pulled her sister behind her back.
BOOM!
An ear-splitting explosion rang out. It was the sound of the Sword Qi colliding with something and detonating.
Silence followed.
Her body should have been torn apart. Am I alive?
When Dan-ah slowly opened her eyes, the courtyard was still. Everyone had stopped fighting and was staring in her direction.
Yo Goeng was staring in horror at the bloody remains of the Four-Man Group. Gang Dal, too, was bleeding from his arm and staring with a shocked face. The demonic practitioners and the Seven-Road Pursuit Squad were all frozen.
She saw someone’s back in front of her.
"Haa... haa... haa..."
He was gasping for breath, showing just how desperately he had run to get here. And in front of him stood a massive blade.
Beyond the back of the small man, a single word was visible on the blade.
Peerless.