Chapter 80
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Fawn from Haenam Island
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“Who the hell are you people?”
The boy asked, but there was no time for chit-chat.
Even if the threat was minimal, sticking around in enemy territory for too long was a bad idea. The more eyes on you, the more traces you left behind.
“Talk later, little fawn.”
“......”
Fawn?
Whatever they wanted to call him, the boy was utterly baffled.
Who the hell were these guys, ambushing a Haenam Island ship right on their doorstep? And wearing masks, no less?
“Seong.”
“Yes.”
“Carry him.”
“......”
“Or should I?”
“I’ll do it.”
At Yu Hyun’s words, Nangong Seong quickly hoisted the kid onto his back.
“No, wait, I need to know who you are.”
“Heh, talk later, I said.”
“......”
Ignoring the boy’s curious protests, Yu Hyun pressed the acupuncture point on the fallen bearded man’s bloodstream.
“You’d cause us a world of trouble if you woke up now. Sleep it off nice and deep. Like you passed out drunk...”
Yu Hyun propped the bearded man up in a disheveled slump and stood.
“Alright, time to make a run for it?”
“Yes.”
With that, Yu Hyun and Nangong Seong bolted up the stairs at breakneck speed.
The zigzagging steps shrank to a single stride.
They’d snuck in quietly, so slipping out the same way made sense—but not now.
If those drunken bastards decided to stumble downstairs for no reason, the whole plan would go tits up.
The guest house lights were still blazing, the noise carrying all the way here, so the sailors’ binge wouldn’t wrap up anytime soon.
Better to make a clean break without raising a fuss.
Perfect timing—only two drunken guards on deck.
Take them out, buy some escape time.
Get as far away as possible...
“Saebul!”
“Yes!”
Yu Hyun’s shout hit just as they reached the cabin door. Saebul swiftly gripped his green bamboo staff and flung the door wide.
“Huh? Who...?”
The Qiao brothers, boozing on deck, whipped their heads around at the sudden bang, voices slurring in confusion.
Three masked figures... and a kid piggybacked on one?
“Huh? Wha—?”
Seizing their stunned hesitation, Yu Hyun exploded forward, Saebul hot on his heels.
Paaang!
The Beggars’ Sect’s fastest short-range step: Flying Shadowless.
Creeeak!
Yu Hyun closed the gap in a flash, his fist sinking deep into Qiao Yanhua’s gut.
“Gurk!”
As the short cry burst out, Saebul’s green bamboo staff whipped down on Qiao Yantong’s head in a flashy arc.
Thwack! Thwack-thwack-thwack!
The Qiao brothers hit the deck almost simultaneously, out cold.
Thud, thud.
The instant they crumpled, Yu Hyun’s sharp eyes scanned the ship’s surroundings and the distant guest house.
Quiet.
Far enough away, and they were sloshed to hell—no way they’d hear that.
Come back stinking of booze. By then, you’ll be chasing chickens like dogs after a fox.
“Saebul.”
“Yes?”
“Drag ’em inside and knock ’em out cold. Make it look like they passed out drunk.”
“Yes.”
Once Saebul had hauled the Qiao brothers into the cabin, sealed their points, and emerged, Yu Hyun called to the boy on Nangong Seong’s back.
“Hey, fawn.”
“......Yes?”
“Hang on tight.”
“......!”
Grinning, Yu Hyun leaped not for the ferry landing, but toward the adjacent ship. Nangong Seong followed, snapping the boy’s head back.
“Urghhh...”
Nearly snapped his neck.
They’re human... but that speed...
The boy was dying to know who these woodcutters really were, but right now, clinging for dear life was priority one.
Creak, splash.
After a brief commotion, the Haenam Island ship bobbed peacefully on the waves, as if nothing had happened.
* * *
How long had they run?
Moonless night blurred the scenery into streaks.
Seemed like they’d put the landing far behind...
Dizzy from the velocity, the boy had squeezed his eyes shut. Feeling the wind ease on his cheeks, he cracked them open.
Trees everywhere—forest, at least.
Splash, crash.
Waves nearby meant coastal...
“Alright, down.”
“......”
At Yu Hyun’s word, the boy blinked, arms locked around Nangong Seong’s neck.
“What’re you doing? Get off.”
“......”
Was it the prodding tone, or relief at escaping his pursuers?
“Urp!”
“Whoa, hey?!”
The boy’s cheeks ballooned; he dry-heaved. Everyone froze.
“Hey, you—don’t you dare! Get off, get off!”
Nangong Seong, bearing the kid, panicked most.
He flailed to dump him, but the boy was quicker.
“Bluuuugh!”
“......”
Hot splatter on his shoulder, sour stench spreading—Nangong Seong’s gaze went vacant.
What’s done is done. No fixing it.
He sagged, limp arms dangling, unfocused eyes locking on Yu Hyun.
“Uncle...”
“Hey! Stop! Don’t come closer.”
“......”
Pinching his nose against the gag-inducing reek, Yu Hyun backed away, waving him off like a gross bug.
Damn uncle...
Not unexpected, though.
Friends first in shit like this, right?
Saebul, with their bond...
“......H-hey, Du-shin.”
“Pah! You think all beggars have iron stomachs?!”
“......”
Saebul had retreated further with Flying Shadowless.
......Just you wait, you bastards.
No more “uncle precautions” next time he gets his ass kicked.
Nangong Seong finally dumped the boy and trudged toward the beach.
Ah, the righteousness of the martial world ain’t what it used to be.
* * *
While Nangong Seong washed his soiled clothes at the shore, Saebul built a campfire.
Bad form to leave traces while pursued, but they were the exception.
Masks hid identities; they’d vaulted docked ships from the harbor’s edge, racing along the beach—waves had erased their trail.
No village in sight, so wild camping it was.
“Chief, you okay with this?”
“With what?”
“First time roughing it outdoors...?”
“......”
Yu Hyun smirked at Saebul’s cautious query.
First time in this body, sure. But his old life? Rarely slept in a proper bed.
Always hopping mountains with masters; crashed in drill grounds like prisons after training countless times.
“I’m fine. Here, cover up with this.”
“......”
Yu Hyun shrugged off his outer robe and handed it to the boy.
Good—the kid looked way calmer now.
Mask kept some wariness, but tension had eased.
Relaxed meant cold hits hard.
Worse with wounds; fever rises.
Told Saebul to light the fire for the boy’s sake.
And yep—gooseflesh visible on exposed skin through tatters.
But as Yu Hyun offered the robe, the boy dropped to his knees in a deep bow.
“Don’t know who you are, but thank you for saving me.”
“......Thanks are fine, whatever. We just went to teach some rude spitters a lesson. You were a bonus.”
“Yes?”
“Cover up first. You’re freezing. We’ll talk once you warm up.”
“......”
The boy stared into Yu Hyun’s warm smile for a long beat, then took the robe and draped it on.
“Heard the gist, but mind the details? Rumor has it infighting broke out over some mainlanders aiding the new island chief.”
“......”
“No pressure. Don’t wanna pry. Can live without knowing...”
Haenam Island.
Knew squat about them in past or present life—piqued curiosity.
Even Saebul barely knew jack.
After agonizing, the boy spoke slowly.
“They... were originally pirates.”
“Hm?”
“The ones chasing me.”
“Ah!”
“Haenam Island...”
Naming himself Yang Hyo, the boy unraveled his tale.
Haenam Island centered on Oji Mountain—home to the island chief—with six tribes settled in outer regions.
Problem: Previous chief Gok Seoin fell suddenly ill.
Eldest son and sub-chief Gok Jaheon should’ve succeeded, but qi deviation struck during seclusion. He collapsed; second son Gok Jaeseong took the throne.
New chief Gok Jaeseong seized control seamlessly, even roping in local pirates.
Then rumors swirled: Gok Jaeseong behind Gok Seoin’s illness and Gok Jaheon’s deviation. Tribe leaders rallied around the Wol Clan in rebellion.
“Qi deviation? Gok Jaheon?”
“Yes... Why so shocked?”
“......”
Saebul’s jolt beside him drew a puzzled tilt from Yang Hyo.
“Ch-Chief, what do we do?”
“......”
Yu Hyun grimaced too at Saebul’s question.
Fuck.
Orthodox Alliance reps with intel this shit? Should’ve sent a letter to verify.
Damn—mission to recruit Gok Jaheon’s fucked now?
Sounds like internal mess; no hosting guests. But need that millennium purple tablet—gotta hit Haenam...
Yu Hyun and Saebul traded grimaces. Watching, Yang Hyo sighed deeply, lost in thought.
“......Anyway, thanks for the save.”
“......?”
“Gotta head back to Haenam.”
“What?”
Yu Hyun gaped at Yang Hyo.
Kid’s lost his marbles?
Saved his ass, pursuers foaming at the mouth—and he’s going back?
“Hey, kid.”
“Yes?”
“Overheard: staying away helps your side? If you get nabbed...”
“We thought so too—Grandpa and me—but seems not.”
“......?”
Thought so, but no?
“They just need me to snag the six tribes easier. Said they’ve prepped experts for force if needed.”
“What?”
“So I gotta rush back, warn ’em before attack.”
“......”
Yu Hyun nodded reluctantly, listening.
Kid’s set on it—what could he do?
His choice.
Firm resolve; meddling without full story’s just busybody bullshit.
Crack.
Yang Hyo pulled a small plaque from his bosom, snapped it in half, and offered one.
“Why this?”
“Don’t know you, but how could I forget the debt?”
“......”
Knot-grass repayment.
Looked like suicide run, but couldn’t dismiss the gesture.
“If you ever hit Haenam, show this at the Wol Clan of Sama.”
“......”
Yu Hyun nodded, taking it—then eyes bulged like saucers.
Wait, what’d he just say?
“Then I’ll...”
“......”
As Yang Hyo bowed politely to leave—
Grab.
“......?”
Yu Hyun snatched his collar.
“You said Sama?”
“Yes? Yeah. But why?”
“......”
Yang Hyo blinked, baffled by the sudden grip.
“Sama, right?”
“Y-Yes. Our Wol Clan’s been there forever...”
“So you know those seas cold?”
“......Of course—our home turf. But why...?”
“......”
Yu Hyun beamed at Yang Hyo’s growing confusion.
Sama—the spot on that old Alliance paper.
This kid: heir to the family ruling the millennium purple tablet’s turf.
Heh heh heh, heavens blocking chaos left and right.
“Ha! Joking, but you’re a walking lucky charm!”
“......Y-Yes?”
Fawn. Fawn.
Not hiding from hunters—saved, now repaying.
No fairy dress, but might fetch clams? Nah—you’re the golden turtle repaying the fisherman from now on!