Chapter 739: If It’s Not Us and It’s Not You
Chapter 739: If It’s Not Us and It’s Not You
The carriage traveled down a narrow, winding path.
Lush grass lined the roadside, making a soft rustling sound every time it brushed against the wheels. Tae-su stole a glance at Geom Mu-geuk, who was driving the carriage beside him with an air of nonchalance.
‘What is he going to do if we hit a dead end?’ Tae-su wondered.
The path was so cramped they wouldn't even be able to turn the vehicle around. And what if they ran into another carriage coming the other way? On second thought, that seemed unlikely. No one in their right mind would drive a carriage onto a forest trail this narrow.
Yet, Geom Mu-geuk drove with absolute confidence, as if he knew every twist and turn by heart.
Inside the carriage, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon watched the greenery whip past the window.
‘Is he taking a shortcut?’
There was no other logical reason to choose such a restricted path.
‘He said he’d take it slow, so why is he in such a hurry now?’
The Blade Demon’s gaze shifted toward the One Flower Sword Venerable. She sat with her eyes closed, calmly circulating her qi. She had always looked young for her age, but after consuming the Immortal Peach Spirit Fruit and the Stalactite Immortal Moss, her skin seemed to practically glow with vitality.
Just then, the One Flower Sword Venerable opened her eyes.
“I hear the sound of water.”
Sure enough, the distant roar of rushing water drifted in from outside. Did he intend to cross a river with the carriage?
The sound grew louder and more thunderous.
The moment the carriage broke through the dense forest trail, a magnificent sight unfolded before them.
Kwaaaaaaa!
The powerful roar of a waterfall echoed through the valley.
Bringing the carriage to a halt, Geom Mu-geuk called out loudly.
“You two, please step out for a moment.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable descended from the carriage. Before them lay a grand waterfall that drew an immediate gasp of admiration.
A sheer curtain of white water cascaded down a jagged cliff, shattering against the rocks below in a spray of mist. The sunlight caught the rising vapor, creating a rainbow so vivid it felt as though they had stepped into a fairyland where immortals dwelt.
The four of them stared at the waterfall in silence.
There was a certain tranquility to be found in such grandeur. Standing there, one felt as though they could watch the descent for an entire day without growing weary.
“How did you know about a place like this?” the Blade Demon asked, his tone genuinely impressed.
Geom Mu-geuk took the opportunity to boast. “I did some research beforehand so I could show it to you, Elder.”
That was a blatant lie, of course. Until yesterday, they hadn't even expected to be heading toward Zhejiang. Furthermore, this waterfall was in a truly remote location. The fact that Geom Mu-geuk had driven the carriage into this deep corner of the woods meant he had been here before—likely in his past life.
“If we head back out that way, there’s a roadside restaurant that makes incredible Beef Noodle Soup. Let’s have a meal there before we move on.” He looked at the Blade Demon and added, “You like Beef Noodle Soup, don't you?”
The One Flower Sword Venerable chimed in with a smile. “Your tastes haven't changed at all.”
“Did he like Beef Noodle Soup even when he was young?” Geom Mu-geuk asked.
“Oh, he loved it. He ate it every single day.”
The Blade Demon waved a hand dismissively. “You remember the strangest things. It wasn't that often.”
Despite his gruff words, the Blade Demon felt a secret surge of warmth that she remembered his old habits so clearly.
“Shall we get going?”
The Blade Demon felt a flicker of gratitude toward Geom Mu-geuk. It wasn't as if the young man had come here because he wanted to see the waterfall. He had raced down that narrow path specifically to show it to the two of them.
“That was a feast for the eyes,” the Blade Demon muttered. It was his way of saying thank you.
The carriage set off once more.
Instead of turning back the way they came, Geom Mu-geuk found another path leading out. After navigating the narrow trail for a while, they finally reached a main road.
“How do you know these roads so well?” Tae-su asked.
“I’ve traveled a lot, that’s how.”
Considering Geom Mu-geuk’s youth, Tae-su found it hard to believe. ‘Is his family an escort agency? Did he travel all over the Central Plains since he was a child?’
It seemed plausible. Just as Tae-su was barking up the wrong tree, imagining various famous escort agencies—
Geom Mu-geuk suddenly grabbed Tae-su and yanked him to the side.
Swish!
Thud!
A dagger slammed into the wood exactly where Tae-su’s head had been a second ago. Tae-su’s eyes widened in shock at the sudden ambush.
“Take the reins!”
The moment Geom Mu-geuk handed the reins to Tae-su—
Swish, swish, swish, swish!
Hidden weapons flew in from all directions. Since they were aimed at the horses, Geom Mu-geuk threw himself forward.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Tae-su was stunned once again by Geom Mu-geuk’s lightning-fast movements. One moment he was deflecting a weapon from the left, and the next, he was already striking down one from the right.
The deflected weapons flew back with pinpoint accuracy toward the hidden attackers, followed by screams from the woods on both sides. His movements were so fast that, to Tae-su’s eyes, it looked as if twins were deflecting the weapons from both sides simultaneously.
No, it was like triplets. Before Tae-su could even process it, Geom Mu-geuk was sitting back down beside him, taking the reins.
“Hold on tight!”
Geom Mu-geuk jerked the reins, and the carriage veered sharply.
Thud, thud, thud!
The hidden weapons that should have hit the carriage missed and embedded themselves in the dirt. He dodged the next volley by suddenly killing the carriage's momentum.
He drives a carriage this well, too?!
Tae-su was now certain. ‘He’s definitely from an escort agency!’ He must have learned how to drive while following his elders around since he was a boy.
Then, something caught Tae-su’s eye. “There! Look over there!”
A tree lay fallen across the road ahead. It had been cut down to block their path. It wasn't just a log, either; it was a massive ancient tree, impossible to simply roll over.
“Hold on tight!”
Naturally, one would expect the carriage to stop, but Geom Mu-geuk increased his speed instead.
He’s going to keep going? Is he planning to jump over that?
“Stop! No! This is a carriage, not just a horse!”
Despite Tae-su’s screams, Geom Mu-geuk charged forward like a madman.
“Here we go!”
“Aaaaaaaah!”
The moment Tae-su let out a terrified shriek, the horses collided with the tree. Or so he thought.
In that instant, the horses leaped high into the air, soaring over the trunk.
They’re clearing it? Not just the horses, but the whole carriage?
As if in a dream, everything seemed to move in slow motion until—
Thump.
The carriage, having cleared the fallen tree, hit the ground and began to race forward again.
Tae-su looked back and saw masked men emerging from the woods on both sides. They, too, were staring at the carriage with expressions of utter disbelief.
How had the carriage jumped over that? Geom Mu-geuk had used Telekinesis to lift the horses and the carriage into the air, clearing the obstacle entirely.
“We have wings riding in this carriage!”
Earlier, Tae-su had asked Geom Mu-geuk who the two masters in the carriage were. At the time, Geom Mu-geuk had referred to them as his "wings."
So they did it? Is such a thing even possible, no matter how great a master you are?
A moment ago, when the carriage took flight, the "left wing" inside the carriage had looked out the window and remarked, “We really are flying.”
To which the "right wing" replied with a smile, “Who else but the Young Cult Leader would even think of such a thing?”
Lifting a moving carriage with Telekinesis to avoid an obstacle? It wasn't something they would have done. Even if they had the ability, the thought of jumping over it wouldn't have crossed their minds. They would have simply stopped the carriage and killed all the pursuers.
“Thanks to him, I even get to fly in a carriage.”
Seeing the One Flower Sword Venerable looking delighted, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon also cracked a smile. Truly, there was never a dull moment on this journey.
Unlike the two serene elders, Tae-su felt like he was in the middle of a life-or-death nightmare. He looked back and shouted, “There! They’re chasing us!”
About twenty masked men were pursuing the carriage using Lightness Skills.
“Alright, take the reins again.”
Geom Mu-geuk stood up from the driver’s seat, opened the carriage door, and stepped inside. He smiled at the two Demon Lords.
“A carriage chase is practically a rite of passage in the Central Plains, isn't it?”
Geom Mu-geuk opened his leather pouch and began rummaging through it. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon frowned as he peered inside.
“Why do you have so much distracting junk in there?”
“It might look like that, but it’s incredibly inconvenient when you don't have it. Ah, here it is.”
Geom Mu-geuk pulled out a leather belt lined with about twenty daggers.
“Since I’ve decided not to draw my sword, I’ll make do with these.”
“It’s the same thing,” the Blade Demon grunted.
As the Blade Demon implied, a dagger thrown by Geom Mu-geuk was no ordinary projectile. Geom Mu-geuk strapped the belt on and climbed onto the roof of the carriage. By then, the masked men had almost caught up.
Geom Mu-geuk drew a dagger and hurled it at the closest pursuer.
Swish!
The dagger sliced through the air, and the masked man collapsed, his body twisting mid-fall. When the dagger had first been thrown, he thought he could easily dodge it, but he had failed miserably.
Though one had fallen, the others continued their pursuit.
Swish! Swish!
This time, two daggers flew. They weren't lightning-fast like the previous attack. They moved at a speed that seemed dodgeable, yet once again, the targets failed to evade them.
The daggers, which had seemed to fly normally, changed speed and direction at the last moment. Those who tried to parry with their swords failed, as did those who tried to twist their bodies away.
Two more fell, but the rest kept coming.
Geom Mu-geuk pointedly drew three daggers this time. He held them out in front of him, making sure the pursuers saw. Three this time!
At that, one of the masked men in the rear raised a hand, signaling the others to halt. The pursuers stopped in unison.
Geom Mu-geuk could tell that man was their leader. The leader had realized that three more of his subordinates would surely die, and he instinctively sensed that they couldn't handle someone with such terrifying throwing skills.
Geom Mu-geuk’s eyes met the man’s. The gaze above the mask was calm. The opponent was someone who knew exactly when to give up.
Watching the man turn back with his subordinates, Geom Mu-geuk returned to the driver’s seat.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes... thank you for saving my life.” Tae-su bowed his head in gratitude. If Geom Mu-geuk hadn't pulled him aside when that first dagger flew, he would be dead. “Where are we going now?”
Tae-su assumed they would come up with a plan now that they had pursuers. Shouldn't they ditch the carriage and move by Lightness Skill?
However, Geom Mu-geuk simply gripped the reins.
“To eat Beef Noodle Soup.”
*
Half an hour later, the four of them were indeed eating Beef Noodle Soup.
“This tastes excellent.”
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon was satisfied. It was a flavor truly worth seeking out. The dumplings they ordered on the side were also superb. Even the One Flower Sword Venerable, who didn't usually enjoy Beef Noodle Soup, finished her bowl completely.
“That was delicious.”
“I’m glad it was to your liking. Please look forward to the next one.”
“Do you know what food I like?”
“I heard that when you’re in the Central Plains, you enjoy Five-Spice Pork. I know a place that makes it perfectly.”
Her gaze toward Geom Mu-geuk softened. He was a man who shared precious elixirs without hesitation and now even sought to treat her to her favorite foods.
“My eyes and my palate are being pampered thanks to you.”
He bestowed gifts that ordinary people could never even dream of, yet he was the one saying thank you. Truly, Geom Mu-geuk was a man who carved the favors he received into stone, but wrote the favors he gave upon the water.
How could she not be a wing for such a person?
‘I will gladly be your wing.’
Just then, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon cut in. “Why do you buy her Five-Spice Pork while I get Beef Noodle Soup? I like plenty of expensive dishes, too.”
At his grumbling, Geom Mu-geuk and the One Flower Sword Venerable laughed together. Since he didn't know the nature of their relationship, Tae-su joined in with an awkward laugh.
Internally, however, he was anxious. He knew they were masters, but... ‘Is it really okay to be this relaxed?’ What if those masked men brought back even stronger reinforcements?
Fortunately, Geom Mu-geuk brought up the ambush.
“Judging by the movements of those who attacked us earlier, they were well-trained.”
They weren't hired mercenaries or ronin; they belonged to a single, disciplined organization. The Blade Demon immediately suspected the Flying Dragon Guild.
“Did the Flying Dragon Guild leak information about us? Or was it them directly?”
It was a reasonable suspicion. They were the last people they had met, and the Flying Dragon Guild Master might have gotten greedy despite Jong-baek’s warnings.
Geom Mu-geuk thought of Jong-baek. Recalling the man’s demeanor when they left, he shook his head. “It probably wasn't the Flying Dragon Guild.”
He felt that Jong-baek would have kept his word no matter what.
“Assuming it wasn't them, there are two possibilities. Either they were targeting us...” Geom Mu-geuk’s gaze shifted to Tae-su. “...or they were targeting Tae-su.”
Naturally, there was a high probability they were after Tae-su, who had possessed the treasure map. If they had known the group's true identity, they wouldn't have attacked so recklessly.
Feeling the weight of three pairs of eyes, Tae-su tensed up.
“Besides us, is there anyone else who knows you had the treasure map?”
“No, there isn't,” Tae-su shook his head firmly.
“Then it might not be the map. Maybe someone wants you dead for some other grudge.”
“As you know, my father and I only stole from wicked people. Our names might be known, but very few people actually know what we look like.”
That was why he had been so shocked when Geom Mu-geuk presented him with a wanted portrait.
“If it’s not us and it’s not you...?”
In truth, this was what was bothering Geom Mu-geuk. How did they find us?
Though he hadn't shown it, Geom Mu-geuk had been vigilant about being followed. He had switched between main roads and side paths, using his New Eye Technique periodically to check for pursuers. Furthermore, they had taken a detour to see the waterfall. When he checked then, there had definitely been no one behind them.
As he stared at Tae-su, a realization flashed across Geom Mu-geuk’s face.
“If it’s not us and it’s not you, there’s only one thing left.”
Geom Mu-geuk immediately rummaged through his leather pouch and pulled out a small vial. “Tae-su, come here.”
Tae-su approached with a nervous expression.
“Hold out your hand!”
“What is this?”
“Medicine that gives answers.”
“Is it a truth serum? It’s not like my hand has a mouth.”
Drip.
Geom Mu-geuk poured the liquid from the vial onto Tae-su’s palm. Immediately, his skin turned a deep blue.
“Your hand is answering, isn't it?”
“What is this?!”
“Soul Tracking Incense has been applied to your hand.”
Tae-su shook his head in confusion. “I’ve never been hit with Soul Tracking Incense.”
Geom Mu-geuk hadn't checked because he thought Tae-su had been directly targeted. But if it wasn't them and it wasn't him...
“It must have been on the treasure map.”
Someone had applied it in case the map was ever lost or stolen.
The Blood Heaven Blade Demon and the One Flower Sword Venerable exchanged impressed looks. No matter how much experience they had as Demon Lords, they wouldn't have thought to check for that at this moment.
“Can’t the Soul Tracking Incense be removed?”
“It can.”
“Please remove it!”
When Geom Mu-geuk made a move to draw his sword, Tae-su yelped and yanked his hand back. It was a silent joke—there was no way to remove it short of cutting the hand off.
“This is Soul Tracking Incense, which is far more effective than standard Tracking Incense. You can’t get rid of it until the scent fades naturally over time. It’s so expensive that not just anyone can use it.”
Furthermore, the pursuers hadn't been ordinary martial artists. For such people to be using Soul Tracking Incense to hunt them down...
“You... who did you steal that treasure map from?”