Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: Attendants Secured
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"Young Master Paeng!"
Hwangbo Sohyun clung to Paeng Cheolwi after he finished circulating his qi and voiced her worries.
"Are you okay now?"
"I'm fine."
Paeng Cheolwi smiled softly at her eyes brimming with concern.
Whatever that internal injury pill was, it had completely healed his deep wounds, leaving him perfectly fine.
'Not your average medicine.'
He didn't know it was called the Heavenly King Pill, but Paeng Cheolwi could tell from how his body felt.
Soon, he sprang to his feet and cupped his hands politely toward Hwangbo Sohyun.
"I am grateful for Lady Hwangbo's grace."
Hwangbo Sohyun blushed as she watched Paeng Cheolwi's sincere expression of thanks.
"Oh, no. It wasn't that big a deal."
"How could you say that? I knew the moment I swallowed it that it was no ordinary spirit pill."
Paeng Cheolwi said gravely, his face hardening.
"I shall protect Lady Hwangbo even at the cost of my life."
"E-even at the cost of your life?"
"Yes."
She gently cupped her flushed cheeks with both hands and met Paeng Cheolwi's gaze.
'No way... does he like me?'
But that thought didn't last.
She spotted the large gash on his side and made a fuss.
"M-more importantly, that wound looks serious. Do you have any golden sore medicine?"
"Golden sore medicine...?"
Paeng Cheolwi reached into his sleeve but froze.
The sleeve was torn, leaving a gaping hole.
Hwangbo Sohyun burst into laughter at Paeng Cheolwi's awkward stare at the hole in his sleeve.
"I have some golden sore medicine..."
She pulled it from her bosom as if she'd been waiting and glanced shyly at Paeng Cheolwi before handing it over with a bashful expression.
"Would you like to use this?"
Paeng Cheolwi alternated between the medicine and Hwangbo Sohyun, then cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Thank you."
He wasn't great at reading the mood, but he sensed something off in the air.
Their hands overlapped as he took the golden sore medicine.
"No big deal."
The two exchanged meaningful glances.
'...They say you can't understand the bonds between men and women.'
Meanwhile, Jegal Seungho, who had been nearby and completely forgotten, shook his head at the pair lost in their own world.
'Who would've thought those two would end up like this.'
It had only been a day.
No, even before the ambush, he never imagined they'd get this close.
They were total opposites, after all.
Hwangbo Sohyun, always full of mischief, and the ever-serious Paeng Cheolwi constantly clashed over opinions.
'They say love blooms strongest in times of crisis.'
Jegal Seungho recalled some saying he'd heard somewhere and chuckled.
Thud... thud...
Footsteps approached.
'Not again?'
Jegal Seungho whipped around, thinking it was another attacker, but froze in surprise at the two figures emerging from the darkness.
Yang Seoryeong was approaching with him in tow.
'She actually brought him.'
He couldn't hide his astonishment.
This man had refused even to exchange names earlier, yet she'd brought him in less than half an incense stick's time.
He wondered what method she'd used.
Paeng Cheolwi and Hwangbo Sohyun, lost in their own bubble, were equally stunned by their arrival.
"You brought him here...?"
"Why him...?"
Then Yang Seoryeong turned.
"Right here, Great Hero."
She guided him with utmost courtesy, as if serving a martial paragon.
'I mustn't upset him.'
From their brief talk, she'd roughly gauged his temperament.
He hated hassle and cared only for himself—a true lone tyrant.
Meanwhile, Cheonhwi scanned the young experts.
'What a mess.'
Was it from the two ambushes?
Their faces were weary, clothes torn everywhere—no trace of their initial appearances.
'Should be fine for servant duties.'
Cheonhwi eyed their tense faces curiously.
"Why are they acting like that?"
Yang Seoryeong shrank back at his indifferent gaze from above.
"W-what do you mean?"
"Is that how servants act?"
"...Ah!"
Yang Seoryeong flinched.
"P-please wait a moment."
She hurried over to the tense trio.
"Lady Yang. What's going on?"
"Why is he here...?"
As Paeng Cheolwi and Hwangbo Sohyun looked puzzled,
"Looks like you convinced him."
Only Jegal Seungho smiled and spoke up.
"Convinced...?"
"Convinced him how?"
Yang Seoryeong met Paeng Cheolwi and Hwangbo Sohyun's confused eyes.
"The Great Hero has agreed to accompany us all the way to the New Chang Yang Clan."
Their faces visibly brightened at her words.
"That's fortunate."
"Really?"
They sighed in relief, patting their chests.
He was terrifying, sure—but if he helped, that changed everything.
As the two rejoiced like they'd gained a heavenly army, Yang Seoryeong spoke.
"But the Great Hero has a condition."
Their expressions subtly stiffened.
Jegal Seungho felt the same.
"A condition...?"
"What is it?"
"Nothing dangerous, right?"
The three broke into cold sweats.
Since he'd accompany them to help, his demand was surely no ordinary thing.
They tensed, waiting for her to elaborate on what this man wanted.
"He wants you to serve as his attendants."
Yang Seoryeong said cautiously.
Those gathered here were used to being served, not serving others—especially someone of unknown origins.
It could bruise their pride.
'In the jianghu, some value pride over life.'
She was prepared to go alone if they refused.
As expected, the three looked dumbfounded.
Who were they?
Heirs of the Eight Great Clans.
They'd expected something like spirit pills or vast sums of money.
This was completely out of left field, leaving them flustered as Yang Seoryeong spoke.
"What will you do?"
Jegal Seungho recovered first.
"I'm fine with it."
"You sure? Serving some stranger?"
"Haha. Compared to the price of our lives, it's cheap."
Jegal Seungho said matter-of-factly.
Face? Pride?
'Who cares. Survive first.'
And he wasn't alone.
"It's no issue."
Paeng Cheolwi, whom they'd thought most sensitive, nodded too.
"If traveling with him means survival, of course we'll do it."
Then they all turned to Hwangbo Sohyun, the only one silent.
She pondered briefly.
The Hwangbo Clan's pride towered over all others.
They taught to guard honor even in death.
But her hesitation was short-lived.
"I agree too."
Hwangbo Sohyun said softly.
Yang Seoryeong relayed the trio's assent to Cheonhwi.
"You can give orders anytime."
"Hm. Really?"
Cheonhwi approached them.
Their faces were haggard, clothes shredded.
But so what?
Whether they were exhausted or near death—it didn't matter.
Cheonhwi spoke as he looked them over.
"Do you know how to hunt?"
His out-of-nowhere question left them all baffled, staring blankly.
"Know how? Or not?"
Cheonhwi furrowed his brow and asked again.
"I've hunted before."
"Never have."
"Me neither, really..."
The three hurriedly answered.
Cheonhwi glanced at Yang Seoryeong.
"That's not what you said..."
"W-well..."
Yang Seoryeong rolled her eyes.
She hadn't expected hunting. Flustered, she spotted Moyong Sang.
'Young Master Moyong hunts as a hobby!'
Recalling his words about leaving foraging to him during camp, she pointed.
"Young Master Moyong is skilled at hunting."
"That guy?"
"Yes."
Cheonhwi stared at Moyong Sang.
"He's passed out."
"It's from the internal injury. He'll wake soon and..."
"Wait until then?"
"Then Young Master Paeng could..."
Paeng Cheolwi met Yang Seoryeong's eyes and gave an awkward smile.
"Hunt now...? Urk."
Paeng Cheolwi groaned trying to stand—his side wound still stung, twisting his face.
"A-are you okay?"
Hwangbo Sohyun supported him.
Cheonhwi looked at them incredulously.
"G-Great Hero."
Yang Seoryeong said, sweating bullets.
"We were hit in the last ambush..."
"What's that got to do with me?"
"I'll make rice without meat instead."
"Meat's the point."
"Th-then jerky?"
Yang Seoryeong rummaged in her sleeve.
"I brought some jerky."
"Sick of that."
Cheonhwi grimaced.
He was beyond tired of jerky.
'No choice, then.'
His gaze turned to Moyong Sang.
"So he's the hunting expert?"
"He's made it a hobby for years."
"Yeah?"
Cheonhwi sized Moyong Sang up and down.
His complexion was fine, so it was just shock from the injury causing the faint.
'Just need to unblock his qi and meridians.'
Cheonhwi approached Moyong Sang and grabbed his entire scabbard.
"Gr-Great Hero?"
"Gasp! Why the sword...?"
"Wh-what are you doing?"
"Eek!"
As the four panicked to stop him,
Whoosh!
Cheonhwi was faster.
The scabbard danced dazzlingly, tapping Moyong Sang's body rapidly.
Thud! Thud!
"Guh! Guh!"
Moyong Sang shuddered, emitting short groans.
"Gr-Great Hero!"
Cheonhwi paused at Yang Seoryeong's call and frowned.
"Why call when I'm busy?"
"Are you killing Young Master Moyong right now?"
Cheonhwi tilted his head.
"Why would I? I need him for meat."
"B-but those strikes just now..."
"This?"
Cheonhwi raised the scabbard again.
"It's for clearing blocked qi and blood points."
"Huh...?"
"Looks like he took a spirit pill, but the injury locked his meridians solid. Gotta clear 'em first for proper absorption and waking."
Yang Seoryeong blinked, uncomprehending.
"If you don't get it, stay out of the way."
Cheonhwi eyed her pitifully and resumed swinging.
The beating began!
So fast, dozens of afterimages of the scabbard filled the air.
Gulp...
The merciless pounding left the young experts too scared to intervene.
"Hm, pretty blocked up."
Cheonhwi swung even more dazzlingly, striking from shoulders to soles.
Thoroughly and relentlessly!
After blinking maybe ten times,
"Kuhuk!"
Moyong Sang spewed a bowlful of blood.
Cheonhwi nodded at the blood.
"Now it's clear."
Only then did Cheonhwi withdraw the scabbard. The young experts glanced warily before approaching Moyong Sang.
"Young Master Moyong!"
"You okay?"
"Are you alright?"
"How are you?"
As the four rushed to check,
"Gasp!"
Moyong Sang snapped awake.
He clutched his head like from a nightmare and slowly rose.
"Wh-what happened...?"
The young experts gaped at the perfectly recovered Moyong Sang.
"Your internal injury?"
Paeng Cheolwi asked, and Moyong Sang focused inward on his dantian.
He was stunned.
"F-fine. Completely healed. How...?"
The four were baffled.
Then Paeng Cheolwi's eyes widened.
"N-no way—Pushing Palace Over Acupoints?!"
"P-Pushing Palace?!"
"Over Acupoints?!"
Yang Seoryeong and Jegal Seungho gasped.
Pushing Palace Over Acupoints was a technique to unblock qi and blood via strikes—something only peak masters could perform.
"At his age, no less."
"And it's not something you do for strangers, from what I heard..."
Meanwhile, oblivious Moyong Sang, having been unconscious, muttered in confusion at their reactions.
"What're you talking about?"
Jegal Seungho explained.
"The Great Hero used Pushing Palace Over Acupoints to heal your internal injury."
"Great Hero?"
To Moyong Sang's question, Jegal Seungho just nodded toward Cheonhwi.
"That guy?"
Moyong Sang looked conflicted.
Hard to believe.
Jegal Seungho added,
"And thank Lady Yang too."
"What do you...?"
"She gave you her internal injury pill."
"Lady Yang did?!"
Moyong Sang shot up and cupped his hands deeply toward Yang Seoryeong.
"I won't forget this grace."
"It's fine..."
Yang Seoryeong started to brush it off but glanced at Cheonhwi and pivoted.
"Then can you hunt?"
"H-hunt?"
Moyong Sang was thrown.
Hunting out of nowhere?
Then Cheonhwi's shadow loomed as he approached.
"You're...?"
Moyong Sang looked up at Cheonhwi, hesitated, then cupped his hands and bowed.
"I heard you saved me. I'll repay this debt."
"Save that."
Cheonhwi cut him off.
No interest in thanks right now.
Something more important.
"Go hunt."
At the same words as Yang Seoryeong's, as he flustered, Cheonhwi narrowed his eyes.
"You don't know how?"
"Not exactly, but why hunting all of a sudden...?"
"Why? To eat meat, obviously."
"Pardon...?"
A bit later, Moyong Sang brought two rabbits, and Yang Seoryeong skinned them.
They skewered them and stuck them over the campfire Jegal Seungho had lit.
Sizzle...
Savory aroma and smoke rose.
'Nothing beats meat.'
As Cheonhwi awaited the golden rabbits,
"Gr-Great Hero."
Jegal Seungho approached.
"Mind if I ask one thing?"
Cheonhwi glanced sideways.
"What?"
"Are you going slow on purpose to wait for the Sun-Moon Sect's ambush?"
"Sharp."
"...!"
The young experts paled in shock.
What was the Sun-Moon Sect?
One of the Five Mad Gates, a colossal unorthodox sect unmatched in power.
Jegal Seungho swallowed hard.
"Isn't that too reckless?"
His voice trembled.
He'd suspected, but hearing it confirmed left him awestruck at the audacity.
No, not audacity—madness.
'Insane!'
Who would face the Sun-Moon Sect alone?
Not even a clan head of the Eight Great Clans.
"With Half Moon Hall wiped, they'll send even stronger forces."
Sweat beaded on Jegal Seungho's brow.
Now allies, they were in the same boat.
This madness meant courting death.
'Need to dissuade him. He's clearly enemies with Sun-Moon Sect, so pretend to help while pulling in New Chang Yang Clan's power...'
As Jegal Seungho racked his brain,
"Obviously."
The words halted his thoughts.
"I've been aiming for that from the start."