Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Who Are You?
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“Goddamn it, no matter how much we search, there’s nothing.”
Wu Tae, one of the deputy leaders of the Nine Dragons Stronghold, exploded in frustration.
It had already been three days. On Guo Xiaoshan’s orders, Wu Tae had been combing the area around the waterfall like a madman, searching for Yu Hyun’s corpse.
“Deputy Leader, since we haven’t found anything so far, maybe it’s already been swept downstream?”
“......”
It could be. No, that’s what he thought too.
But they still had to find it.
What kind of man was Guo Xiaoshan? If something didn’t sit right with him, he’d cut off the head of even his closest ally.
He was the type to chase down and kill anyone who fled, no matter how far they ran, all the way to the ends of the earth. Ruthless and vicious...
When a man like that ordered a search, they had to bring back the corpse—or even just scraps of flesh.
“Split the men into two groups of five. One group follows the waterway downstream, the other expands the search through the forests around the waterfall. Comb every inch within ten li of here!”
“Yes!”
At Wu Tae’s command, the bandits divided into two groups and scattered.
How long had it been since they expanded the search radius?
“Deputy Leader!”
Hearing the call, Wu Tae whipped his head around.
“What?”
A subordinate who had just arrived pointed toward the outskirts of the waterfall.
“Th-there... over there......”
“Hm?”
At the edge of the roar created by the waterfall stood a drenched man.
Who was that? Someone he’d never seen before?
No one would be playing in the water in this freezing midwinter...
As Wu Tae tilted his head in confusion, the man’s bright, cheerful voice rang in his ears.
“Damn, that was deep. Nearly suffocated and croaked down there.”
“......”
The man grumbled energetically, then slicked back his seaweed-like wet hair with one hand.
“Oh?!”
Wu Tae cried out in shock at the revealed face, and the stranger turned his head upon hearing it.
“Oh? Who’s this? No way you came out here to greet me?”
“......”
“Perfect timing. I was just about to head your way. Hey, got any food?”
“......”
Wu Tae stared in bewilderment at the stranger’s faintly glowing blue eyes as he approached, water sloshing around him.
“Um... who are you?”
“......?”
Yu Hyun raised one eyebrow as if to say, *What the hell?*
What was this? He hadn’t recognized him and gotten shocked?
No way he’d noticed Yu Hyun had eaten the Child Ginseng and powered up, pretending not to know out of fear for his life?
“Come on, you can tell you’re looking for me. Why play dumb?”
“......”
Wu Tae blinked at Yu Hyun’s words.
The man they were hunting was the one who’d turned the Nine Dragons Stronghold upside down before fleeing—a wrinkled thirty-something warrior.
Not this slick, slippery-looking kid.
Not even among the fugitives they’d caught before.
“Why the cold shoulder? You guys tried to kill me, remember?”
“......”
Wu Tae cocked his head at Yu Hyun, who planted his hands on his hips and stood cockily with legs spread.
Tried to kill him? When? Who?
Had that even happened?
To repeat: Wu Tae swore he’d never laid eyes on this smooth-skinned man before.
Generously, early twenties? Maybe even late teens?
His skin was taut and glossy, his face... handsome enough to inspire envy.
His outfit was just bizarre beyond belief.
Why was his upper body bare in this cold? And those pants—torn to shreds, barely covering the essentials?
His compact muscles looked decent enough, but in this weather, he’d freeze to death...
“You really don’t recognize me?”
“......?”
Yu Hyun looked exasperated at Wu Tae’s blank expression.
They’d tried to kill him, even slashed at him—how could they not know? Was it too dark at night?
Or maybe some face blindness... whatever.
No time to laugh and chat anyway. What was the point of scrutinizing the eyes of men about to die?
“Eh, doesn’t matter. Anyway, take off your clothes. I’m kinda cold soaked like this.”
“......”
At Yu Hyun’s chin flick, Wu Tae blankly sorted through his thoughts.
Take off his clothes? Between men...?
Without the “cold” part, it’d be perfect for misunderstanding.
And why so brazen?
The world had gotten so harsh that crazies were everywhere these days. Who knew even these backwoods mountains had one.
“Hah... I was just standing here stunned, but what kind of lunatic is this?”
“......”
Snapping out of it, Wu Tae shook his head in disbelief.
“Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“You blind or what? Don’t you see this?”
“......”
“What do you think a guy in fur clothes with a saber does in the mountains?”
“Uh... bandit?”
“Correct!”
“Sweet!”
“Congrats...”
Wu Tae nearly congratulated him for the kid’s beaming grin, then twisted his face in rage and drew his saber.
“You fucking bastard! Think this is a game?”
Infuriated at getting swept up in the madman’s vibe, Wu Tae snorted hot breaths and closed in on Yu Hyun.
Dealing with a psycho like this just frustrated him, and dragging back a nutjob wouldn’t earn shit.
Better to kill him here.
“No idea why you’re here, but chalk it up to bad luck. When you croak, fix that empty head first.”
“......”
As Wu Tae gripped his saber with killing intent, Yu Hyun grinned and said,
“......If you won’t strip, I’ll make you.”
“......Huh? What?”
*Shing!*
The madman’s form blurred in an instant, and Wu Tae’s vision flashed white.
Before he could even grasp what happened, excruciating pain hit, and he screamed.
“Gaaah!”
Clutching his face, Wu Tae rolled wildly on the ground.
“Shut up, you prick!”
*Crackle.*
Wu Tae’s subordinates stood frozen, staring dumbly at the carnage.
A young man had suddenly emerged from the cave, exchanged a few words.
He’d demanded clothes, got refused, saber drawn.
The first strike from *there*, the head stomped *there*.
The one rolling and crushed was *here*.
“......”
In just two incomprehensible movements, Wu Tae—the Nine Dragons deputy leader—was dead.
His men gaped in terror at Yu Hyun.
“Man, I’m starving.”
“......”
The fear in their eyes deepened.
The man was rummaging through the dead deputy’s bosom, pulling out jerky.
So casually. Even humming a tune.
“Damn, it’s got blood on it.”
Yu Hyun wrinkled his nose, chomped the jerky, and glanced at the bandits.
“Who’s gonna strip?”
“......?”
*Whoosh!*
At his finger crook and sly smile, Wu Tae’s men glanced at each other, then frantically stripped down to their underwear.
“Ah, nice and toasty. Beast fur’s the way in winter.”
“......”
As Yu Hyun savored the warmth, the bandits shivered bare-skinned but wore relieved expressions.
Cold? Who cared about that?
Surviving the monster who’d slain the monstrous Wu Tae in one breath was what mattered.
“How many days since your stronghold burned?”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t hear?”
“Th-three days, sir!”
“Ah, three days.”
Yu Hyun nodded thoughtfully at the bandit’s reply.
“Alright, then.”
He slowly approached the corpse and picked up the hefty saber rolling on the ground.
*Swish, swish-swish.*
“Heavy, but this’ll do...”
“......?”
The bandits tilted their heads at Yu Hyun’s grin while hefting the saber.
What? Why that murderous glint?
*Slash.*
*Thud!*
Just a short horizontal sweep, and the bandit beside them sprayed blood, his head tumbling into the snow.
Unaware of their impending doom, the others couldn’t even close their eyes as they stared from their comrade’s severed head to Yu Hyun.
“......Y-you’re sparing us?”
“Who? Me?”
“......”
“Crazy talk.”
Yu Hyun curled his lip in a chilling smile, and the bandits bolted without a second thought.
“Such a hassle...”
Yu Hyun lowered his stance, foot extended toward the fleeing bandits.
Then, in a flash, he whipped the saber from his waist.
*Shrick!*
The blade sliced horizontally, white light trailing from the edge, cleaving the air in two.
*Slash, thud, plop-plop. Spurt!*
Three naked bodies hit the ground amid the slicing sounds, soon staining the snow crimson.
Murder? That was for humans.
For beasts who’d forsaken humanity, it was just slaughter.
*Crack. Crumble!*
“......”
The saber shattered, unable to withstand the force.
“Use decent blades, tsk-tsk.”
Yu Hyun approached the stream with the halved wreck, to wash Wu Tae’s blood from his face.
“Huh?”
As he scooped water, Yu Hyun blinked in confusion.
Peering into the surface, his familiar wrinkled mug was gone—replaced by some glossy pretty boy.
Crazy... no wonder that prick didn’t recognize him.
But why... Ah, the Child Ginseng’s spirit energy?
Not full rejuvenation, but fitting its “child” name, a youthifying effect...
Damn, he was handsome.
Some guy was so vain staring at his reflection he drowned—better not end up like that.
Tilting his head side to side to inspect, Yu Hyun let out a deflated sigh.
What luck he’d been born with.
Not just handsome from a rich family, but soon to gain the world’s top martial arts?
Thank the heavens somewhere, punk.
Without me, that face would’ve stayed buried forever. I’ll make good use of it, even your share.
Then, a face flashed in Yu Hyun’s mind.
Yu Jeong-hye.
His sister, beautiful as a fairy descended to earth.
“......Guess I didn’t pick up a stray.”
Yu Hyun chuckled, splashing water on his face.
The icy water, chilled from the frozen depths, cleared his mind with bone-deep cold.
“Mind sharp, body light as ever. Now, where to... Huh?”
Shaking his head to fling off water, an ominous noise caught his ear.
Screams big and small, threatening bellows.
“Those fuckers for sure.”
It wasn’t far.
Yu Hyun rose slowly, his eyes gleaming cold as the valley stream.
“......Coming now. Stay put, you bandit scum.”
*Boom!*
He kicked off, kicking up light snow, and vanished.