Chapter 37: Looking for the Hint (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 37: Looking for the Hint (5)
— Before Macheol followed Gu Yangcheon to the secret vault.
“Damn it… Damn it all!”
Namgung Cheonjun, the Lightning Dragon, was in a state of pure rage. His hair was dishevelled, and one arm was wrapped tightly in bandages. With every furious shout, objects near him shattered, causing his servants to flinch back in terror.
He had been like this since the moment he woke up.
“That bastard… He definitely used some kind of sorcery!”
That Gu Cheonyub or Gu Jeolyub son of a bitch—whatever his name was. There was no other explanation for his current humiliation.
Only direct descendants of the main family had been invited to the Tang Clan’s Military Exhibition. If a main family member couldn’t attend, the clan simply shouldn’t have come. Sending a proxy in place of a true descendant was against the Tang Clan’s rules.
The Gu Clan was the lineage of the Tiger Warrior and the Sword Phoenix. Namgung Cheonjun had heard the Gu Clan had a son, so that Gu bastard had to be him.
Crack.
Namgung Cheonjun gritted his teeth.
What kind of sorcery did he use?
At first, I just disliked him. I didn’t like that he had travelled with my sister, or that he had drawn her attention. And I despised the way he dared to look down on me.
A kid from the same bloodline as the Tiger Warrior and the Sword Phoenix, yet he possessed nothing but a pitiful amount of qi. That was why Namgung Cheonjun had just wanted to toy with him a little—to make him understand his place.
Did I let my guard down? I thought I wouldn’t need to get serious against a brat like him. That’s why I was careless. But that still doesn’t explain how I lost.
He couldn’t believe this was the outcome. The fury was unbearable.
Namgung Cheonjun assured himself, “It was definitely some kind of sorcery…”
What kind of sorcery? How did he use it? The specifics didn’t matter to him. Even if it wasn’t sorcery, I will make sure everyone believes it was.
The throbbing pain in his crotch only sharpened his rage.
“Macheol.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
The moment Namgung Cheonjun called his name, Macheol knew what was required. He had been summoned like this hundreds of times before; the order would be no different now.
“What is your plan?” Namgung Cheonjun asked.
It was a short, loaded question, and not one Macheol could answer easily. Their situation was unfavourable. The escorts from the Gu Clan were highly skilled, and one in particular—the direct escort, Macheol assumed—seemed exceptionally capable. He appeared to be a martial artist who wouldn’t lose face even when compared to Namgung Cheonjun himself. Macheol wondered how someone of that calibre remained unknown, though the Gu Clan had always been secretive.
If I, who has reached the peak level, were to fight him, I’d probably lose twenty times out of a hundred.
Getting past all those guards to eliminate Gu Yangcheon? It was nearly impossible.
“Macheol.”
Namgung Cheonjun, unaware and unconcerned with these details, pressed for an answer. Macheol knew his master well. He usually maintained a mature facade in public, but when thwarted, his spoiled, childish nature emerged—just as it was now.
As his master’s mood darkened, Macheol felt a strange, suffocating pressure. It came from the brace around his chest, a device every martial artist received upon pledging service to the Namgung Clan. It was the price paid for learning the Namgung martial arts, a symbol of loyalty. It was also part of the reason Macheol, a peak-level martial artist, served as Namgung Cheonjun’s direct escort.
As the constriction and the accompanying pain intensified, Macheol was forced to speak. “…I will look for him.”
The pressure vanished instantly.
A sinister smile spread across Namgung Cheonjun’s face at Macheol’s response. He tapped Macheol’s shoulder. “I’ve always believed in you. I’m sure you will bring me good news once again.”
“…Yes, my lord.”
This isn’t good, Macheol thought as he set out to fulfil his master’s command. He had agreed, but was it even feasible?
As he anxiously pondered this, an opportunity presented itself. The target he had been secretly observing left the Tang Clan grounds alone. Before becoming an escort, Macheol had been an assassin; he was confident in his skills. All he had to do was eliminate one young boy.
But why is he travelling alone at this hour? That was Macheol’s biggest question. Is this a trap? And if so, for whom?
The only presence Macheol could detect was that of the Gu Clan’s son, Gu Yangcheon himself. Why was the boy running so desperately, out of breath, in the dead of night? Where was he headed?
Macheol decided to observe a little longer. The assassination itself would be simple; he could afford to satisfy his curiosity.
After two hours of following the boy’s frantic pace, they arrived at a cliff some distance from the Tang Clan.
This is the end of the line.
There was nothing here, despite the considerable effort to reach this spot. A place like this… It was a good location for a kidnapping. Macheol knew his master would prefer that to an outright kill.
Since he is all alone, I guess I will—
“Why are you hereeee!?”
Just as Macheol prepared to move, he froze at the boy’s sudden shout. A girl now stood in front of the boy.
Since when…? He had been vigilant the entire journey and had sensed no presence other than the boy’s. Another pursuer? I should have noticed. Especially since she seemed like an ordinary girl.
Regardless, the opportunity remained. Even with the skill to beat my master, the Gu heir is at most a first-rate martial artist. Adding a servant girl to the equation changed nothing.
Yet, for some reason, Macheol found he couldn’t initiate his attack. It was strange. His instincts were screaming at him to hold back.
The two eventually went down to a restaurant. Macheol eavesdropped on their conversation as they ate. It seemed the Gu boy was searching for a white maple tree.
A white maple tree in the middle of summer… What could that mean?
Suddenly, the girl glanced behind her while eating. Macheol flinched. Was that my imagination? It was fleeting, but he felt her eyes had brushed over him. It must be my imagination…
Just as he had with Gu Yangcheon, Macheol observed the girl. She was average, with no detectable qi. It was just a coincidence. He dismissed the strange feeling that had raised the hairs on his neck.
The girl told the Gu boy she had seen the tree he was looking for. He asked, “Do you remember where?” It seemed their search had borne fruit.
What happened next defied belief. The tree they found by climbing the mountain at night, the hidden staircase leading down, the moonlight marbles embedded in the walls, and, of course, the mysterious secret vault. It was all too sudden for Macheol to process.
He didn’t know how the Gu boy knew about this place, but in the end, I must thank him for delivering all of this to me. It would all end up in his master’s hands, but Macheol would at least be rewarded handsomely.
However, nothing that followed made any sense.
“Huff… huff…”
Macheol used his qi to staunch the bleeding from where his shoulder had been cleanly severed. Or, he tried to. The bleeding isn’t stopping… He couldn’t control the flow of blood even with his peak-level qi. It continued to pour out as if from an unblockable hole.
When? How? He couldn’t comprehend how she had landed such a devastating blow with a small dagger. He hadn’t even seen her move.
This is dangerous; I need to run.
“You’re going somewhere?”
The voice that pierced Macheol’s heart made his eyes shake with fear. He slowly lifted his head. The shadow looming before him made it hard to breathe.
“I gave you many chances,” the girl said.
Then, a heavy pressure weighed down on Macheol’s remaining shoulder. Her once black hair was gone, replaced by resplendent golden locks.
What… in the world…?
“You didn’t get the message the first time. I even sharpened your instincts so you would realise you should back off.”
What is she? This overwhelming presence, easily suppressing a peak-level martial artist… How do I even describe this? Macheol didn’t understand. He couldn’t understand. The only thing he was sure of was that the aura radiating from the girl was not qi.
But then, what is it?
“You should’ve just run away.”
Struggling for air, Macheol managed to gasp out a question. “Who are you?”
“A person you don’t need to know.”
“If you knew I was following you the whole time, why did you leave me alone?”
“I never left you alone. I was just being kind.”
Then, it all clicked. The strange sensations he’d felt while tailing them… it was all because of this girl.
“How can a person like you…” Macheol bit his lip. The ultimate enlightenment of a martial artist: eternal youth. Perhaps the being before him had already achieved that state. But then why was she acting as a mere servant to that boy?
The girl spoke again. “I won’t be answering any more questions… I don’t really have that much time, you see.” She added in a small voice, as if to herself, “I would still like to pat him a bit more.”
“I was being generous with you because this is the first time that this body will kill someone.”
“…What are you talking about?” Macheol was certain. Her first strike had been lethal and without hesitation; she had the air of someone who had killed many times. To claim she’d never killed anyone was impossible.
The girl continued, ignoring his thoughts. “I at least wanted to let you decide, but it had to be this way. Sorry.”
The apology felt sudden, and Macheol had the distinct impression it wasn’t meant for him.
How can I get out of here alive? He racked his brains, but the girl’s steps were quicker. He had already abandoned any thought of fighting back. He had to flee.
While the girl was muttering to herself, he gathered every last drop of qi in his body. Using it all at once would cause severe damage, but this was no time for caution. I just have to run away. Then, he would report everything that had happened.
Macheol turned and exploded into motion, intending to burn all his qi to reach the safety of the Tang Clan.
But something was wrong. His line of sight, which should have been fixed on the exit, was now facing the floor. No matter how he tried, he couldn’t look up. Instead, the ground seemed to be getting closer and closer…
What the…?
Those were Macheol’s final thoughts.
Thud.
The head of a peak-level martial artist from the Namgung Clan rolled across the earth.
A single strike from Wi Seol-Ah had killed him.
Expressionless, Wi Seol-Ah sheathed her dagger and waved a hand. Macheol’s body instantly burst into flames. Moments later, nothing remained—not a single trace, as if he had never existed.
—…Please… Please give it back now!
A voice reached Wi Seol-Ah’s ears, and a small smile touched her lips. “Sorry, can you watch for a little longer?”
—But it’s my body…
“Yes, it is yours… and it will be for the rest of your time.”
Wi Seol-Ah then walked over to Gu Yangcheon, who was still fast asleep—the recent events unable to pierce the veil of his deep slumber—and began to pat his head again.
“…I’ll give it back for real now. I think I’m satisfied with this.”
Her words were heavy with bitterness. This was what Wi Seol-Ah felt every time. They say nothing hurts more than regret that comes too late. They were right.
Wi Seol-Ah poked Gu Yangcheon’s cheek and smiled.
—…Hey…
She retracted her hand immediately at the unhappy voice.
—You’re leaving now?
Even though no visible trace of the snake remained, its spirit lingered.
“Yes, I need some sleep. I went a bit too far.” How long would it be until she could surface again? It would take a very long time.
—You… Do you know what you are?
Wi Seol-Ah smiled at the snake’s question. “Yeah, a little.” She knew a bit about herself, but she had learned it too late.
—It’ll be quite the arduous task.
“I know.”
—I see… I wish you good luck in your future endeavors.
“…Thanks; you should also sleep now.”
A gentle wind stirred through the large hall following Wi Seol-Ah’s words. She then slowly lay down next to Gu Yangcheon. After giving his frowning face one last poke, she closed her eyes as well.
* * *
Some time later, Gu Yangcheon finally opened his eyes.
“…Where am I?”
It was an unfamiliar ceiling.