Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: Humans Won't Believe Without Experiencing It
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Humans are a species that absolutely won't believe something until they experience it themselves.
Ak Muyoo turned to face Noe Baek.
Then he spoke.
"There's something I didn't mention. The bastard who harassed Jeong-in after she left is Jeok Ri, his father is Wind Lord Jeok Yeom-cheon, and his master is Black Wind Venerable Farab. Their organization is Black Snake Black Dragon Heaven."
Ak Muyoo drew the Heavenly Divine Sun Bow and stood.
"You think that info will let you beat me?"
Noe Baek circulated his internal energy as he spoke. Soon his robe billowed taut.
"You're not the first to underestimate me and regret it."
Ak Muyoo plucked the string of the Heavenly Divine Sun Bow.
"Seems you've forgotten the distance between us is less than a zhang."
"A zhang is close enough to loose ten shots, old timer. You'll take nine in the chest and the tenth straight through the forehead. Wanna bet?"
"Let's see you try."
Noe Baek gathered his energy.
Ak Muyoo swept aside the cloth covering the seventy-four arrow stands. Revealing the Dark Current Arrows and Dark Current Illusion Arrows embedded there.
"I hate guys like you the most. The kind who think they can do whatever they want just because they're strong."
"You bastard!"
Noe Baek immediately raised his arm.
Ak Muyoo's hand moved at the same instant. His superhuman dynamic vision captured the moment Noe Baek's right arm twitched, and his hand snatched a Dark Current Arrow, nocked it, and drew.
Twang!
'Gasp!'
Noe Baek paled in shock. He hadn't expected Ak Muyoo to fire that fast. And the chill arrow was aimed right at his heart.
He shielded his heart with his left hand. Already wrapped in qi.
Even splitting his energy between hands wouldn't matter.
Thud!
"Urk!"
Noe Baek screamed. Agonizing pain exploded from his left hand. He staggered back half a step.
'What?'
His gaze fixed on Ak Muyoo showed the bowstring drawn taut. He'd retreated half a step, but Ak Muyoo already had a second arrow nocked.
'I'm outmatched.'
Whoosh!
At that moment, a black figure blocked his view. Naeng Ok had leaped between them. Ak Muyoo had drawn but not released.
"If you'd loosed, old lady, you'd be dead."
"Your eyes are sharp."
Naeng Ok said.
"Everyone slips up sometimes."
"Slips are for the weak."
"Why'd you block for me?"
"If it's the real Fear Demon, I'll follow."
"What're you talking about?"
Noe Baek shouted in shock at Naeng Ok. The four who shadowed her like thread and needle gasped too. Her words were a bombshell.
Ak Muyoo slotted the Dark Current Arrow back and lowered the Heavenly Divine Sun Bow. Then he said.
"It's real."
"Doesn't match what I know."
"I asked the guy who gave me the Mad Demon Armor to change its look."
"Why change it?"
"The one who gave me the Mad Demon Armor spotted it at a glance."
"So you altered it to hide?"
"You saw that old man insisting it was fake right away."
"If you meant to hide it, why reveal it now?"
"I'd have kept it hidden if we hadn't met here. But fate brought me you old folks."
"How's meeting us lucky?"
"Thousands are marching from Peking to kill me and Ara."
"So you're dragging us into your fight?"
"Yeah."
"What if we refuse?"
"Then we're even."
"Even?"
"Back to square one. But if even one of you helps, it's a win for me. Gotta speak up then, right?"
"You could just target the Fear Demon."
"Anyone who goes for the Fear Demon dies. No exceptions."
"You know how the Hundred Mad Demons rank?"
"Through duels, right? That's what you're getting at."
"Exactly. We rigorously test skill in combat, then assign ranks."
"Old lady, you know the feel when a weapon slices your throat, cleaves your torso, or shatters bone?"
"..."
"Duels are just duels. Nothing like laying your neck on the blade. That's why your skills have stagnated."
"Because we lack real combat?"
"To grow, you push past your limits. For a martial artist, that only happens when death's at your door."
"Hah! Sounds good."
"Oh yeah, you know Naeng Ha-sang?"
"How do you know that child?"
Naeng Ok asked, startled.
"Same surname, so I wondered. Guess you do."
"You met the child?"
"Yeah."
"Where?"
"Where d'you think I got this?"
"No idea."
"From the Solar Divine Hall. Met Naeng Ha-sang there."
"The child..."
"Found the Ice Emotion Thunder Axe."
"Finally... That's wonderful."
"What's your relation to Naeng Ha-sang?"
"I'm her aunt, kid."
"No wonder you look alike."
Ak Muyoo nodded, walked to Noe Baek, picked up the fallen Dark Current Arrow from the floor, wiped the blood, and slotted it back.
"What's that weapon?"
Baekjan, the battle demon, asked.
"Why?"
"First weapon I've seen pierce qi."
"Dark Current Arrow, made of transparent demon steel."
"That's a Dark Current Arrow?"
"You know it?"
"Weapon made by the Heavenly Demon? Of course."
"The Heavenly Demon made the Dark Current Arrow?"
"That's the story."
"How'd a Heavenly Demon weapon become a Border Wastelands treasure... Ah!"
Ak Muyoo nodded.
The Great Heavenly Demon Bow was Central Plains martial arts, and Cha Sawoong's ancestors learned it from some powerhouse. Maybe that powerhouse was the Heavenly Demon.
"You got the Fear Demon there too?"
"Yeah. Tossed in a corner like trash."
"Heaven's favor."
"Not heaven—just picking up discarded junk. Owners ditch it or it's useless. Truth is, Fear Demon looks like a bloated pufferfish in both hands. Kinda comical."
"Before knowing what it was, sure."
"That 'before knowing' is key. Humans won't accept it till they live it."
Ak Muyoo eyed Noe Baek.
"Talking to me?"
"First Dark Current you kinda blocked left-handed, but second would've gone through the hole in your left."
"..."
"Anyway, business done. Let's go, General Cheon Yu."
Ak Muyoo and Ara headed out. As they left, Jabjong scurried up.
"Load the luggage, then change into armor and come."
Ak Muyoo said heading to the stables.
"Got it."
Ara went to the annex where she and Ak Muyoo had stayed. Ak Muyoo entered the stables and led out two camels. One carried the generals' relics and a chest full of Dark Current Arrows. The other held a portable ger and kitchenware from leaving Cha Cha Kingdom. He'd kept just a small pot, lid, and ladle—tossed the rest.
"No food shopping left."
As he finished loading, Ara emerged.
Changed to martial robes, armor bundled in cloth. She packed the bundle in a chest and tied it to the camel.
The innkeeper appeared.
"Thanks for the rest. We're off."
They bowed to him.
"Travel safe."
He saw them to the gate.
Ak Muyoo and Ara headed to the market.
Travel supplies were just food. No perishables—dried goods only. Jerky and dried fruit essential, plus roasted barley, beans, rice powder in bulk.
A bit of rice too. Though fluid plans meant unlikely to cook.
Preparations complete.
They ate noodle soup and braised pork at the stall from before. Over the meal, they spread a map from Hidden Net.
Two routes from Dunhuang to Peking: Through Gansu to Hasi Pass, Shaanxi, Shanxi, over Taihang Mountains. Or north past the Great Wall through Western Xia lands.
Western Xia had deserts—not Taklamakan vast, but plenty.
Unlike Taklamakan, it had lakes and grasslands.
Less desert, more barren wasteland with scant yearly rain—that was Western Xia.
"Via Western Xia?"
Ara asked.
Official roads needed no camels—just draw eyes. Horses sufficed, and Dunhuang overflowed with merchants' mounts.
Ak Muyoo keeping two camels meant desert route.
"Stick to familiar paths."
"Desert's got few places to hide."
"That's why we'll skirt the Great Wall."
"Duck into desert if needed?"
"Fighting in the desert's one of our strengths."
"True."
Ara nodded.
"Let's move."
"Yeah."
They rose.
Paid and drove the camels northwest. Northwest Gansu had the North Mountains; Ak Muyoo aimed to cross the east-west Kara Gorge piercing them north-south.
Watchers eyed the northward pair. Five: man and women—Dong Pung, Jung Pung, Seo Pung, Buk Pung, Nam Pung. Wind Squad's strongest.
"Her, right?"
Dong Pung said, stroking his mushroom-cut hair.
"No need to say."
Seo Pung replied.
"The woman by Black Wind is General Cheon Yu."
Nam Pung said.
They spotted Ak Muyoo and Ara at the inn. Knowing bounties on their heads, they'd moved cautiously. Dong Pung grew hair out, Seo Pung ditched her face veil—her real face peerless beauty. Nam Pung grew a beard, Buk Pung donned a conical hat. Only Nam Pung unchanged—his smiling face disarmed suspicion.
Inn corners only, one rented room for all to sneak into. Even in Dunhuang, no homes—bounty risked family or sect if reported. Plotting to clear names, then Ak Muyoo and Ara appeared.
"Never dreamed General Cheon Yu was a woman."
Seo Pung said.
She'd glimpsed Ara armored and helmed—no talk, but woman knows woman. Yet no such vibe.
"Why's Black Wind taking General Cheon Yu's Ara?"
Nam Pung asked.
"To clear her name."
Dong Pung said.
"Then we help Black Wind?"
Nam Pung asked again.
"We need our names cleared too."
Dong Pung nodded.
"Let's go."
"How about we all go together?"
Over a hundred emerged from behind the building.
"You lot..."
The five stared in surprise. Wind Squad members, including Ak Muyoo's old eighteen-man unit.
"Heh!"
Dong Pung chuckled. Then said.
"Fine. Let's go."
The group followed Ak Muyoo and Ara.