The Runaway's Desperate Hire
Namgoong Juhee snorted inwardly.
"Aren't we acquainted?"
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"I've seen you a few times at the boat duel arena. You made a killing betting on me, right?"
The woman's pupils shrank at those words.
She had definitely spent the last few days at the boat arena.
But she'd always been in perfect disguise—not to mention cross-dressing as a man when necessary.
So of course she was shocked that Namgoong Juhee had seen through it.
"Wh-what? How did you know?"
"At Peak realm, this much is basic."
"I'm Peak too! Whatever, seems like you've got skills."
The woman yelled at the top of her lungs and flicked something toward Namgoong Juhee.
Impressive throwing technique.
Namgoong Juhee caught it effortlessly and checked what it was.
"A gold coin?"
"Advance payment. If you succeed, your reward will be a carriage full of silver taels."
Namgoong Juhee's interest shifted from the pork soup to this mysterious woman.
A whole carriage of silver taels? How much would that even be!
She could eat pork soup until she died and still not spend it all.
"Tell me more details first."
"What! Aren't you from the Namgoong Clan?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Then you should feel honored to work for me!"
Words weren't getting through.
Namgoong Juhee did love money, it was true.
With money, she could eat whatever she wanted and sleep easy.
She liked beautiful women too. The one in front of her wasn't just pretty—she was top-class beauty worthy of claiming first under heaven.
But there were limits.
Jump into some unknown pit without a contract? No guarantee she'd even get paid after surviving.
If the woman at least groveled a bit, maybe—but this bitch had an attitude like she'd eaten a whole bowl of bullshit for breakfast.
"Pass. Find someone else."
"What? Hey!"
"I'll take these five gold coins as hush money not to sell you out to the Maegumdan bastards. See ya."
Screeech... Thud!
Namgoong Juhee slammed the door shut.
Sounds of pounding came from the other side, along with a voice.
"You! Open this door! Do you know who I am?"
"You didn't tell me, so how would I?"
"You! You...! Damn it!"
The woman screamed in rage and boom! punched a hole straight through the door.
She wasn't lying about being Peak realm.
"Look! See this!"
Tang Clan Token
A slender hand thrust through the hole, clutching some kind of nameplate.
Namgoong Juhee snatched it up and examined it closely.
A round plaque of melted silver, inscribed with elegant calligraphy: Tang.
A nameplate from the Sichuan Tang Clan.
"Dang Hwaeun?"
"Lower your voice!"
"...Right."
Come to think of it, if this woman was Dang Hwaeun, all the pieces fit perfectly.
The Maegumdan was a major faction, but even they couldn't blockade the endless waterways of Wuhu alone.
There had to be a collaborator on their level, and the woman they were hunting had to be a big shot worth that much effort.
If she was Dang Hwaeun, it made sense.
The Tang Clan had as many enemies as their infamous persistence, and Dang Hwaeun was their golden child.
As a hostage alone, she held immense value—not to mention endless utility.
"Why is the Dang Hwaeun here all by her lonesome?"
One question remained: why was Dang Hwaeun here, exposed and alone?
If Namgoong Juhee still treated the world like one big game, she'd have shrugged it off.
Game as game does—some new event, huh? And bitten the bait without a second thought.
But she'd wised up a bit now.
Her most precious thing these days was her connections.
With a potential clash against the Eonha Merchant Group looming, jumping at Dang Hwaeun's offer wasn't easy.
Screw up, and she might not have strength when it counted.
Unless the reward was insane enough to compensate.
"You'd normally have one or two escort warriors. Even if it's urgent, scouting from the boat arena makes no sense."
"Urgh...!"
"Explain properly. Then I'll consider it."
Dang Hwaeun grumbled for a moment.
She'd clearly assumed five gold coins would seal the deal instantly.
Not weird—the Tang Clan held more power in Sichuan than even the regional king.
But this wasn't Sichuan, and Namgoong Juhee had zero loyalty to kings, let alone the emperor.
"F-fine! I've made up my mind!"
Like she'd finished agonizing, Dang Hwaeun shouted brightly.
At the same time, Namgoong Juhee's nose twitched, and she flung the door open.
"You! I'll explain everyth—!"
"Your pork soup and bamboo leaf liquor!"
"Thank you!"
Pork soup! She couldn't resist that.
Namgoong Juhee cheerfully took the food and slammed the door again.
"Hey...! Hey! Open up! Open the damn door!"
Dang Hwaeun's pitiful voice echoed outside.
Namgoong Juhee finally opened it after polishing off the soup and liquor.
. . .
Namgoong Juhee patted her full belly and listened to Dang Hwaeun's tale.
Then summed it up in one line.
"So, you ran away from home?"
"Argh! It's not running away—it's my jianghu debut!"
"Run away from home and you'll suffer. Listen to your parents."
Said the three-month runaway veteran who ignored her own parents completely.
"Whatever! You in or not? I've got other options, you know?"
"Then hire them. Maegumdan and Heukgwi-bo? Too scary for me."
"Eh... eh? You're really passing? No regrets?"
Namgoong Juhee nodded, and Dang Hwaeun shot to her feet roughly.
She slowly headed for the door.
"I'm really leaving?"
"Yep."
"For real?"
"Safe travels. Take care."
"...Hmph!"
What an ego.
For a Peak, her skills were probably lacking.
Likely force-fed inner pills to brute-force the realm.
Otherwise, she would've sensed the presence behind the door.
Whoosh!
An ominous wind whistled as the door split in half.
"Kyaaaaah!"
Dang Hwaeun's belated scream rang out.
If Namgoong Juhee hadn't yanked her back, she'd have been bisected.
"Wh-what! How?!"
"The delivery guy tipped me off earlier? You should be more careful."
"How am I supposed to—! If you'd accepted my offer sooner!"
"Changed my mind—the pay's too low."
Namgoong Juhee said that and drew her Noksu sword.
"One Peak and six first-rate?"
"Watch out! These are the elder's elites. Mess up and you're dead!"
"If you hire me, trust me. Time for the free trial."
Namgoong Juhee's form split into three.
Of course, it was an optical illusion from her killing intent.
She was still holding Dang Hwaeun steady in place.
"Grk!" "Crazy bitch!"
But the swordsmen's stances crumbled instantly.
No first-rate could withstand Namgoong Juhee's killing intent.
They were already fending off phantom assaults from the illusory Juhees.
Then—slash!
"Gaaahhh!"
One first-rate's scream kicked it off, blood spraying across the room.
Namgoong Juhee had no hobby of torture—just one clean stroke per neck.
Four heads tumbled like falling petals.
"You insane bitch!"
A bold first-rate swung at her, but that was it.
Namgoong Juhee tilted slightly, snapped his wrist, stole his sword, and crunch! severed his head.
Now only the Peak remained.
Save the best for last, right?
"You there. Maegumdan? Or Heukgwi-bo?"
At Namgoong Juhee's question, the Peak paled and stared.
Scar across her right eye, face drenched in blood, and her already bright red hair.
She looked just like a witch from the tales.
"Wh-who are you! How dare you interfere with Maegumdan business!"
Hearing the Peak's trembling voice, Namgoong Juhee thought:
Ah, Maegumdan it is.
According to Hwaeun, Heukgwi-bo was one of Sichuan's unorthodox sects.
They split Sichuan with the Tang Clan and were one of the five pillars of the unorthodox like Maegumdan.
"Doesn't matter."
Namgoong Juhee's self-defense followed the laws of her old world's superpower.
Intruders get killed guilt-free.
Daring to barge into a lady's room with swords drawn? Deserved death.
Namgoong Juhee twitched her right shoulder.
"Hup!"
The Peak lunged immediately.
Reading and countering moves was fighting basics.
At Peak, it was second nature—this guy too.
"Fooled ya?"
Only if read right.
Instead of her right arm, Namgoong Juhee snapped up her leg.
Bam!
She uppercut his body straight into the ceiling, head dangling.
Perfect position to separate upper and lower halves.
Slash!
Namgoong Juhee wouldn't miss.
Red sword qi sliced his waist, and his lower body dropped right off.
Only hissing gasps followed.
All six first-rates and the one Peak—dead in a blink.
"Trial over. Impressed? A carriage of silver taels feels cheap now, huh?"
Namgoong Juhee glanced at Dang Hwaeun in her arms.
Her round eyes held terror, shock, and some indefinable emotion.
But true to Tang Clan blood, she quickly composed herself.
"...P-pass. You're hired."
Hired my ass. That was your only way to live.
Namgoong Juhee thought.