Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: A Certain Death and a Bond
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The desert sand is much like snow. No matter how carefully you move, footprints are left behind. Sand blown by the wind covers them, but if you gently brush it away, you can make out the tracks.
To erase those footprints, Ak Muyoo used a camouflage cloth. By inserting a stick-like object along one edge to add weight and dragging it, it erased most of the traces left on the sand. The stick couldn't be too heavy or too light—heavy ones left deep marks that defeated the purpose.
Once the wind carried sand over the path of the stick, even an expert would struggle to notice.
That was why Ak Muyoo brought up the rear. The problem was that with the group's condition far from normal, the footprints were too deep to erase perfectly. Still, he did his best. Ak Muyoo turned and checked the sky. The sandstorm cloud hadn't headed their way yet.
'First, head to the sand sea.'
The group led by Gun Cheokjeon halted.
They had stopped because of the corpses. It looked like a fight had broken out, bodies scattered about.
Ak Muyoo slipped between the corpses to inspect them. They were all Border Wastelands folk.
"Looks like they fought each other. Right?"
Gun Cheokjeon asked.
"Yes."
Ak Muyoo nodded.
"Why would they...?"
"Probably because of the Sun Temple."
"Sun Temple?"
"It's said to be a temple of Sun Heaven, one of the Absolute Six Heavens."
"So it's open?"
General Ta-hwa, Ak Gun-eok, asked in surprise. Coming from the Shandong Ak Clan, he knew more about the martial world than most.
"Yes."
Ak Muyoo nodded.
"Then the treasures of the Sun Temple..."
"The sacred relics of surviving kingdoms and sects have returned to their owners, but those from fallen kingdoms and powers wander the desert."
"So these guys ended up like this over treasure."
"Very likely."
Ak Muyoo glanced toward the western sky.
A purple hue close to crimson filled the heavens. Desert sunsets differed greatly from those in the Central Plains. Central Plains sunsets were a single shade of deep red, but the desert's changed with season or weather—deep crimson one day, purple the next, orange on others.
Gaze entranced at the sunset, and darkness would fall before you knew it, dunes humming lowly. They wailed through the night, birthing and vanishing.
A land that appeared dead on the surface, yet teeming with fierce survival within—that was the desert.
Inspecting the corpses, he spotted a demon hook like those used by soldiers.
"Perfect."
He smiled and pocketed it.
Likely, the dead man had gotten it from a Wind Squad member or killed one and taken it.
"First, we grab what we need."
He said, fastening the hook to his belt.
"You mean food?"
Gun Cheokjeon said.
"Yes. Food, medicine, and wind-repellent cloaks are essential."
"Got it."
The group rummaged through the corpses for necessities.
"Even firewood."
Ak Muyoo grinned. A bundle lay beside a body. He grabbed it and climbed the tallest dune. He used the newly acquired hook to probe the ground, seeking firm earth. Gauging the wind's direction, he circled behind the dune.
"Hm?"
His eyes widened. A foot up, light leaked out. Someone had dug a burrow in the dune. Drawing his dagger, he approached stealthily. He soon reached the entrance. The burrow was larger than expected. They'd piled sand to block it, but poorly—light seeped through.
He dug lightly at the base of the sand barrier. It crumbled, revealing the interior. Far from a simple burrow, it was cave-sized. A fire burned in one corner. Beside it lay a man, a woman seated nearby tending him.
Ak Muyoo entered.
At the intruder, the woman snatched her nearby bow, nocked an arrow, and sprang up.
"I'm no enemy."
Ak Muyoo said quickly.
The woman kept the bow drawn, eyeing him.
"I'm just seeking shelter for the night."
"Alone?"
She asked.
"I have companions. They're all wanderers too."
"......!"
She stared silently at Ak Muyoo.
"If it's a bother..."
"Come in."
The prone man spoke.
"......"
The woman looked at the man.
"You have a patient."
"Fine."
Nodding, she turned to Ak Muyoo, lowered the bow, and said,
"Come in."
"Thank you. I'll fetch my group."
Ak Muyoo left the cave and returned to Gun Cheokjeon's group, who awaited him.
"There's a cave."
"Lucky us."
Gun Cheokjeon nodded.
The group followed Ak Muyoo into the cave. Forewarned of prior occupants, they weren't surprised.
"I am Gun Cheokjeon, Empire's foremost general. Thank you for sharing the cave."
Gun Cheokjeon offered thanks.
"Not at all. In the desert, we're all friends. I am Cha Sawoong, Grand General of Chacha Kingdom."
The prone man sat up against the wall. His face was pallid as paper.
"Lie back."
"It's fine. Dying while chatting with heroes isn't so bad."
"Dear."
"It's all right. I'm truly fortunate."
Cha Sawoong smiled faintly.
"Care for a drink?"
A cup appeared before him. He turned to see Ak Muyoo offering it.
"First time I've given farewell wine to anyone."
Ak Muyoo said as their eyes met.
"Farewell wine?"
"Wine saved for a solitary toast when parting from this world."
"You look healthy. Younger than me, even."
"I was a Wind Squad member. Still on the run."
"Ah."
Cha Sawoong nodded.
"Anyway, drink."
Ak Muyoo added firewood to the blaze. Flames roared, warming the cave.
"How are the wounds?"
He asked, eyeing Gun Cheokjeon's group.
"Not sure."
"Let's see."
Ak Muyoo pulled out his kit and examined them, starting with Gun Cheokjeon.
"Well?"
Gun Cheokjeon asked.
"Not good. Nothing more I can do. Age is eating at your wound, General."
"Too old to heal well?"
"Yes."
"Figures."
"As I said before..."
"Circulate your qi?"
"Only option."
"Understood."
Gun Cheokjeon retreated deeper and sat cross-legged.
Next was Ak Gun-eok. His state mirrored the general's—younger, but deeper wounds.
The others were similar. Treated, they withdrew to circulate qi.
Finishing, Ak Muyoo tended the fire.
"Check mine too?"
Cha Sawoong said.
"Sure. Note I'm no physician—just learned some basics, cut rot, stitched."
"You were a coroner?"
"Not quite—an assistant."
"Still know enough."
"Well..."
"I'd like to ask the same."
"Dear!"
"Luha, do as I say."
"I..."
"I won't allow you to die with me."
"First, the wounds."
"Help with the armor?"
"Yes."
Ak Muyoo removed Cha Sawoong's armor.
"Urgh!"
Ak Muyoo groaned.
A slash across the dantian, arrows in belly and chest. Surviving this long was miraculous.
"How much?"
"What?"
"Fee."
"Fifty taels standard, hundred for premium."
"This'll cover it."
Cha Sawoong offered a ring.
"Looks valuable..."
"A ring of a crumbling kingdom's general house—what worth? Sell the gem for fifty taels."
"Little I can do."
"You'll at least dress it. Take it."
"You seem eager to give me everything..."
Ak Muyoo stared at Cha Sawoong.
"Why so chatty? Take it, kid. You look broke as hell—nothing but balls."
"Cough!"
Ak Muyoo choked.
Flick!
Cha Sawoong tossed the ring. Ak Muyoo caught it reluctantly.
"That's no ordinary ring. Our ancestor went to the Central Plains, became disciple to some 'foremost under heaven' guy. This was his farewell gift. Hides one of that foremost's arts."
"Couldn't unlock it?"
"Nope."
"Then forget I heard—I'm doomed too."
"...You give up easy?"
"That's me. But you're subtly roasting me?"
"How old?"
"Thirty-three!"
"I'm five years your senior."
"I'm a Ten Thousand Commander."
"Ten Thousand Commander?"
"Yes."
Ak Muyoo nodded.
"Bullshit—no qi, how?"
"Tall, loud voice, fast runner—first into enemy lines."
"Fought just the front-runners?"
"Vanguard's tragedy."
"Fighting the weakest and calling it tragedy—crap."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"That's a sky-shrouded secret—how'd you know?"
"Told you, big bro."
"......"
Ak Muyoo eyed Cha Sawoong.
"Now call me big bro?"
"I'm a Ten Thousand Commander..."
"No bullshit—say it."
"I..."
"No time."
"B-big bro."
A dying man's wish—why not?
"Good. The ring's yours."
"Not better for them?"
Ak Muyoo pointed to those circulating qi.
"You're best. Name?"
"Black Wind."
"Real one."
"Secret too... Ak Muyoo."
"Nice name. Take this."
He offered a book.
"What?"
Ak Muyoo took it.
"Secret manual of the Heavenly High Star Chariot House."
"Too much."
"Can't take it when dead. In Chacha Kingdom, when big bro dies, all goes to little bro. Tradition."
"I see."
"Now go."
"Huh?"
"Give me time with my wife."
"Ah!"
Ak Muyoo stepped away.
"Come closer."
Cha Sawoong called his wife Luha. She sat beside him. They spoke in their tongue—not Border Wastelands dialect, unintelligible to Ak Muyoo. Her voice rose once or twice, but she nodded in assent.
Ak Muyoo eyed the book from Cha Sawoong.
[Great Heaven Demon Bow]
"Hm?"
Ak Muyoo's eyes widened. Surprisingly, the text was in Central Plains script.
'This script's a thousand years old. Ancestor from Central Plains?'
Ak Muyoo glanced at Cha Sawoong and Luha.
"......"
Cha Sawoong leaned against the wall, eyes closed; Luha's shoulders trembled lightly. Ak Muyoo exited. Watching strangers die wasn't easy.
Moonlight rippled everywhere outside.
He climbed a dune.
At the crest, he scanned slowly.
"Those bastards—no sleep?"
Dust clouds raced their way.