Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: If the Past Grabs Your Ankle, It's Not Easy to Escape
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If you're caught by the past, it's not easy to escape.
Bullyeon the nun and Ara had studied together as children. Back then, Ara had called Bullyeon her big sister. The two of them had raced around the mountains, laughing uproariously. That was when Ara learned Bullyeon's story, too—how she'd been abandoned at the Emei Sect simply for being the daughter of a concubine.
"My guess was right after all. I knew it was you, Sister."
Ara smiled gently.
"It's really you."
Bullyeon stepped forward and took Ara's hand.
"Four years, and you haven't changed a bit."
"You..."
"That's just how life goes. I'm doing well."
"P-Please... spare us."
"I'd like to. But I can't."
Thwack!
"Argh!"
The two women turned their heads.
Ak Muyoo was rummaging through the dead bodies, finishing off any who still drew breath.
"These guys attacked the Chacha Kingdom and massacred hundreds."
"Aren't these warriors from the Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven, one of the Eight Desolation Turbulent Heavens?"
"That's right. So who came?"
"My master did."
"...I see."
Ara nodded.
Just then, Ak Muyoo's voice came from the side.
"The past?"
The two turned. Ak Muyoo stood there, covered head to toe in gore. His face was so splattered with blood it was impossible to tell if it was his own or the enemy's.
"Not your blood, right?"
"My face is the only clean part left. Can't have it getting hurt. But this guy's injured."
Ak Muyoo pointed to the Zabjong cradled in his arms. A gash ran from its right temple down to its nose.
"Got any medicine?"
Ak Muyoo asked.
"As if."
"Not you—your past."
"No medicine for dogs."
"Figured as much."
Ak Muyoo plopped down right there. He drew his dagger and slashed his wrist in one motion. Blood streamed out.
"Drink!"
He pressed the Zabjong's muzzle to the wound.
The Zabjong didn't move.
"Eat it or die, you mutt. It's not spirit medicine, but it'll help—I've eaten plenty of scraps."
Still, the Zabjong didn't budge.
"You really wanna die? Argh! All this good blood's going to waste."
Ak Muyoo forced the Zabjong's jaws open and shoved its face into the wound.
Reluctantly, the Zabjong began to lap at the blood.
"Can you go back to that past?"
Ak Muyoo looked up at Ara.
"...Probably not."
Ara hesitated before answering.
"Then better to forget it. If the past grabs your ankle, it's not easy to escape. All done?"
Woof!
"You're alive. Now get up on your own."
Ak Muyoo set the Zabjong down. Blood continued to drip from his wrist.
"You need to bind that."
Ara quickly tore a strip from her own clothes and wrapped his wrist.
"Thanks."
"Wanna introduce us?"
Bullyeon the nun said.
"Nothing to introduce. She's a comrade-in-arms from the war with Ara."
"Comrade..."
"Zabjong, come on."
Ak Muyoo tore a piece of cloth from a Black Dragon Squad warrior's uniform and held it to the Zabjong's nose.
"We gotta track down the guys wearing clothes that smell like this."
Woof!
"More to talk about?"
Ak Muyoo turned to Ara. In his hand was a short dagger, the kind desert folk carried for protection. The one-foot blade was housed in an ornate sheath studded with jewels.
"What's that?"
He jerked his chin toward the dagger.
"Been wanting one like this for a while."
"You pick it up?"
"Yeah. Say your piece if you've got more."
Ak Muyoo said.
"Nah. I'm coming."
Ara bowed her head to Bullyeon the nun and joined Ak Muyoo's side.
"Buljeong!"
Bullyeon called out to Ara.
"Forget him, she says. But I can't. Because those days with you, Sister, were the happiest of my life."
Ara flashed a bright smile and walked off with Ak Muyoo.
"Buljeong..."
Bullyeon dropped to her knees right there.
Meanwhile, Ak Muyoo, Ara, Ageukta, and the others had slipped out of sight of the Emei Sect warriors.
At that moment, the sun peeked over the eastern mountains. Crimson light poured across the Western Pure Land Plains. Soon, Ak Muyoo's group vanished into the sunlight.
"Amitabha!"
Bullyeon murmured a quiet chant.
"Over there!"
A loud shout rang out, followed by dozens of people rushing over.
Dressed in kasaya robes, they were Emei Sect warriors. Leading them was Nun Bullyeon's master, Geumjeong Sinni.
"Master."
"Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine. But..."
Bullyeon glanced at the fallen disciples. Four had lost their lives here.
"What happened?"
"Warriors from Black Sand Black Dragon Heaven saw we were all women and let their guard down..."
"Who helped you?"
Geumjeong Sinni could tell at a glance that the work on the enemies wasn't Emei martial arts.
"Just some passersby. But among them... was Buljeong."
"B-Buljeong, you say?"
Geumjeong Sinni's eyes widened.
"Yes."
"Where is that child now?"
Geumjeong Sinni asked, her face flushed with emotion.
"She went that way."
Bullyeon pointed east.
"Did you talk to her?"
"Yes."
"What... what did she say?"
"She said she couldn't forget. That those were the happiest days of her life."
Thud!
Like Bullyeon, Geumjeong Sinni's legs gave out, and she sank to the ground.
"But why was that child here?"
"Guess the rumors were true."
"What rumors?"
"The ones about her going to the battlefield in place of the Heavenly Continent Merchant House's only son."
"Then?"
"She must've heard the war was over... but I don't know why she hasn't gone back. Maybe... she doesn't want to."
"I have to see her."
"What about the dead disciples?"
"Let's bury them here for now and retrieve them later."
"Understood."
Bullyeon gave orders to the disciples.
The Emei Sect disciples dug graves, laid the four to rest, and erected a large stone as a marker.
"She went that way?"
Geumjeong Sinni pointed toward the sun.
"Yes."
"Let's go."
Geumjeong Sinni launched herself eastward.
At that moment, Ak Muyoo's group was following the Zabjong as it raced ahead, sniffing the air.
Clang! Clash! Clang-clang!
The sound of weapons clashing echoed from afar.
"Found something?"
Ak Muyoo asked Ageukta, running beside him. The group was matching Ak Muyoo's pace.
"Blood starting to fly means they've found something."
"Besides what we found?"
"You said that was underground, right?"
"Yeah."
"If they'd found that place, they wouldn't be fighting up top—they'd be underground."
"So they found something on the surface. Not writing on the walls, but an object."
Ak Muyoo nodded.
"Halt!"
As they crested a hill, a group blocked their path. Ten in total, all in their twenties or thirties, dressed only in white or black.
Two monks wore white and black kasaya robes respectively; the Taoists wore white and black daoist robes; the sword bearers, white or black. They'd apparently chosen one or the other.
A single azure dragon was embroidered on each of their left chests.
—Those are the Central Plains Ten Talents.
Ara sent a transmission to Ak Muyoo.
Ak Muyoo glanced at her.
—The Ten Heavenly Talents include the Heavenly Dragon Pavilion, made up of the finest young experts from the Nine Great Sects' next generation. These are their leaders. Rumor has it their skills rival their sect leaders'.
Ak Muyoo looked back at the blockers. Three monks, two Taoists, three women.
"Why are you blocking us?"
Seo Haran stepped forward and asked.
"I'm Cheonheo of the Heavenly Dragon Pavilion under the Ten Heavenly Talents. We want to know who you are."
The one in the white kasaya robe spoke.
Tall and handsome, he was a Shaolin monk known as the White-Clothed Monk Cheonheo. Alongside the Black-Clothed Monk Jiheo, he was hailed as Shaolin's once-in-a-century prodigy.
"You stopped us just to get our names?"
"..."
"Why are our names so important?"
"Unknown identities could mean demonic cultists."
A innocently handsome man grinned.
Sword on his back, he was the Mount Hua Sect's young expert, White Plum Blossom Sword I Geomhan.
"You look more like a demon cultist."
Muk Busung glared at I Geomhan.
"..."
I Geomhan stared straight back at Muk Busung.
"Snort!"
Then he chuckled. As if to say, 'Cute kid.'
"We've got punks like you in the border wastes, too. Can't do shit alone but yap in packs. We call 'em street rats."
Twitch!
I Geomhan's eyes narrowed, his gaze turning icy cold.
"How long you gonna stand there jawing?"
Ak Muyoo said to Muk Busung.
"Nah. Let's go."
Muk Busung immediately followed Ak Muyoo.
"I didn't say you could go."
Killing intent laced I Geomhan's voice. Ak Muyoo stopped and turned.
"You... blocking us to show off that fancy martial arts of yours?"
"You insulted us."
"Watch your mouth, kid. You're the ones holding up busy people and half-assing informal speech to strangers. Maybe that's fine in your fancy Ten Heavenly Talents crew, but in our world, nobody gives a damn unless you're real scum."
"So what? You lot look like real scum to me."
"You're talking like you saw us do something bad."
"Don't need to see. Obvious."
"Pfft! You're like me. I can tell at a glance, too."
"Tell what?"
"Your fate. Lemme see... Yeah, not making it past today."
Ak Muyoo stared at I Geomhan.
Clang!
Finally, I Geomhan drew his sword.
"Draw your weapon."
"You're loving this, huh."
"..."
"Wanted to wipe you out from the start, but needed an excuse. Then Muk Busung here and I give you one by getting pissed. It's a weak one, sure, but you're hotshots—no one's gonna complain much. Maybe a slap on the wrist like 'be careful next time.' You'll pat yourselves on the back for gaining 'righteous experience points.' But the world's not that easy."
Ak Muyoo pulled a bow from his back.
He drew the Secret Heaven Ruyi Ink from his waist and handed it to Ara.
"Why you stepping up?"
Muk Busung said.
"Leader handles this shit, man."
"No inner energy, and you think you can?"
"Dammit, why announce my weakness?"
"Step back, punk."
"You should've led if you wanted to call shots, man."
"So you're doing it?"
"That prick drew his sword. Just watch."
Ak Muyoo walked toward I Geomhan.
"Looks like you really wanna die."
"Right. One of us ain't leaving here alive."
Ak Muyoo stopped a zhang from I Geomhan.