Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Capturing Prisoners
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When Heuk Do-san returned to the annex, Dang Yak-ran was still lying there stiffly. Her glaring eyes brimmed with hostility.
"If you promise to behave, I'll unblock your acupoints. If you understand, blink your left eye."
"……?"
"If not, no choice."
Heuk Do-san moved his fingers toward Dang Yak-ran's face to strike her fainting acupoint after the pulse-sealing and pressure points.
The fainting acupoint temporarily caused loss of consciousness, and its location was nearly identical to a deadly vital point that could take a life. An amateur striking it could easily kill the opponent.
Thinking the monster meant to kill her, Dang Yak-ran frantically blinked both eyes.
Heuk Do-san paused for a moment, then released both her pulse-sealing and pressure points.
*Tap tap tap tap.*
Now free, Dang Yak-ran sprang up convulsively and retreated. She then drew hidden weapons from her bosom, gripped one in each hand, and assumed an attack stance.
At that moment, her stomach churned again, and the green fluid dripped down. The green fluid slithered around, flicking its tongue.
Heuk Do-san said nonchalantly.
"Carrying Seven Steps Death in your bosom really drives home that you're from the Tang Clan of Sichuan."
"You... know me?"
Heuk Do-san desperately wanted to tell her who he was. But he held back.
He was about to ask something very awkward, and the moment she knew his identity, her position would become extremely awkward.
But was that really the only reason?
"Who else but a woman of the Tang Clan would carry Seven Steps Death in her bosom?"
To cover his lame response, Heuk Do-san added.
"Your swordsmanship was impressive."
"That's not something to hear from a master who catches swords barehanded and bends them. Who are you? Why did you infiltrate here? What do you want?"
"The location of Golden Turtle Island."
Dang Yak-ran glanced alternately at Seop Dae-gang and the monster collapsed far away. Now she understood why he had pursued only Seop Dae-gang to that extent.
"Did you get what you wanted?"
"He was a tough one."
"What now?"
"It'd be great if you told me."
"That's top-secret information known only to high-ranking officials in the Alliance. Someone like me, a mere squad leader, wouldn't know."
"Are you asking to compete in stubbornness?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know all about your ploy to use Golden Turtle Island as bait to seize Jang Bo-do. Bait has to give off a strong scent, doesn't it? But top secret? Does that make sense?"
"If you thought that, you wouldn't need to come here searching for Golden Turtle Island's location."
"You're not getting it. Seop Dae-gang was aiming for exactly this situation right now. The only difference is I don't have Jang Bo-do. And you definitely know Golden Turtle Island's location. Am I wrong?"
"Are you from the Demonic Cult too?"
"What do you think Demonic Cultists are?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you think they're all demons? So it's okay to kill or imprison them all?"
Heuk Do-san was amused even as he said it. It was a bit contradictory for him—the man who had indiscriminately slaughtered Demonic Cultists on the battlefield back then—to say this.
"Have you ever experienced war?"
"……?"
"On the battlefield, there's no right or wrong. Just your side and my side. And for some people, the war is still going on."
"What about you?"
"I'm just where I need to be. That's the only thing I can do."
She was blood of the Tang Clan of Sichuan. It was only natural for Tang Clan blood to stand with the Righteous Alliance.
She couldn't possibly rescue Bing-seol and Gong Cheon-ak now and then fight the Righteous Alliance.
Yet it felt strangely off.
As if looking at a completely different person.
"My friends are captured on Golden Turtle Island."
"……?"
"Now, let's get to the point. You have two choices. Watch me end Seop Dae-gang's life right now, or tell me Golden Turtle Island's location. What's it gonna be?"
Dang Yak-ran's eyes shook violently, her thoughts unreadable. After a long pause, she finally spoke. But with an unexpected question.
"Why did you stop your fist at the last moment?"
"To use you. You already saw."
"Liar."
"……?"
"Your eyes were shaking when you stopped the fist. You know me, don't you? That's why you stopped."
"Who doesn't know the famous heroine of the martial world? They call you Autumn Wasp because you shoot hidden weapons like an enraged wasp."
"You're the one not getting it. I'm talking about why you didn't take me down."
"Must've been scared of the Tang Clan's revenge."
"Then why leave the Seven Steps Death and hidden weapons in my bosom untouched? Because you knew no matter what I did, I couldn't beat you."
"And yet you're still holding those hidden weapons."
"……!"
At a loss for words, Dang Yak-ran panicked for a moment. But only briefly—she snapped.
"Quit the nonsense."
"Seems you don't grasp the situation. I'm the one threatening you here. Not the other way around."
"No, you're the one misjudging. As you said, I know Golden Turtle Island's location. Here, only Seop Deputy Leader and I know it. But I won't negotiate until you reveal your identity."
'Stubborn as a mule!'
Heuk Do-san sighed deeply, as if the ground would cave in.
What to do with this mule-headed woman? He didn't want to kill the already helpless Seop Dae-gang in front of her either.
Moreover, before being Seop Dae-gang's lover, she was the squad leader of the Ghost Shell Corps. Killing the deputy leader before a squad leader's eyes meant no one would follow her.
"No helping it."
Heuk Do-san approached the fallen Seop Dae-gang and lifted his two legs. He then placed his longsword against the Achilles' tendon.
Dang Yak-ran jumped in shock.
"What are you doing?"
"Cutting the leg meridians."
"Then he can't use martial arts!"
"But I'll spare his life."
With that, Heuk Do-san moved to slash without hesitation. In that instant, Dang Yak-ran hurriedly shouted.
"Wait!"
"……?"
"Okay. I'll tell you."
"If you're trying to trick me, I won't ask nicely like this next time. Got it?"
"But I have a condition."
"You're still not getting it."
Heuk Do-san pulled Seop Dae-gang's ankle again and pressed the sword.
"Please hear me out!"
"……?"
"Promise you won't kill any Righteous Alliance warriors while rescuing your Demonic Cultists. Do that, and I'll tell you Golden Turtle Island's location."
"What are you playing at?"
"Promise me. Otherwise, I can't say. Even if you sever all of Seop Deputy Leader's leg meridians."
Heuk Do-san stared at Dang Yak-ran with a strange expression. This wasn't just talk valuing human life.
'Something's up.'
"Can't promise. Try me."
Heuk Do-san made the maximum concession he could. A tense battle of wills sparked between them. Moments later, Dang Yak-ran spoke first.
"What if I help you?"
"……?"
"Mount Tai has been famous for its sea of clouds since ancient times. Especially at winter dusk when temperatures drop—the whole mountain gets shrouded in fog. Then, Heavenly Pillar Peak glowing red in the sunset looks just like a golden turtle floating alone in the distant sea."
"Golden Turtle Island...!"
"Your friends are here."
* * *
Dang Yak-ran led him deep into the rear garden. Suddenly, a massive Asura statue appeared before them, wielding eight arms and weapons.
Asura originated in ancient Tianzhu as a god of absolute dominion, a being of light and protector of all that breathed.
After spreading to the continent via Buddhism, it was treated as a demonic god of evil heretics. Eventually, subdued by Buddha's power, it became one of the Eight Legions guarding the Dharma.
Legends say Asura often ignored Buddha's commands, invaded the realm of Sakra, and reveled in battle, causing heaven to crumble and earth to split in apocalyptic wars.
The hellish battlefields piled with corpses were thus called Asura Fields.
It was no coincidence the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult revered Asura. They sought to manifest in the present world the primordial order before the Dharma—a supreme ruler over all living things.
The Heavenly Demon himself.
But this Asura statue had lost its head in a past battle.
The severed head lay upside down some distance away. Even just the head was as large as a temple bell.
Heuk Do-san and Dang Yak-ran hid behind that head and surveyed the surroundings.
A narrow passage used by people lay before the statue. Below it was a dark cave enshrining Asura's minions.
Though called minions, from human perspective they were gods, so in the past, only the Heavenly Demon could enter that cave.
Yet now, for some reason, several Ghost Shell Corps warriors guarded the cave entrance.
Why guard a Demonic Cult holy site useless to unbelievers?
"That's Golden Turtle Island."
"There's a dungeon below the statue."
"Yes."
"Should I seal your acupoints again? Or promise to stay quiet as a mouse?"
"You'll believe me if I promise?"
"Of course."
Dang Yak-ran hesitated slightly.
He planned to take down the guards at the cave entrance and enter the dungeon.
If she shouted while he charged, his position would be exposed. She could summon the scattered Ghost Shell Corps and surround him.
But was it that simple?
Before the Ghost Shell Corps arrived, the guards would all be dead. This time, he might even kill her.
'He's testing me.'
"Decide quickly."
"I'll promise."
"Smart girl."
No sooner had he spoken than Heuk Do-san shot forward like the wind. The five startled warriors drew their swords convulsively at the sudden monster.
"Who the hell—!"
*Thud thud thud thud thud!*
Iron Ruler Staff fired once, and the five warriors collapsed with weapons half-drawn.
Struck squarely on the nape, they wouldn't regain senses for a while.
Only then did Dang Yak-ran creep out from behind the Asura head. With her hands tightly bound by rope, her lips protruded comically.
"What're you doing? Hurry up."
"I'm going with you?"
"Didn't you say you'd help?"
"I already told you Golden Turtle Island's location. What more?"
"How do I know you're not planning to lock me up there?"
"You trusted me just fine earlier."
"You think I'm an idiot?"
"So, you wanna be a hostage?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
With that, Heuk Do-san grabbed the rope tied to Dang Yak-ran's hands and stepped into the cave.
Dust swirled upon entry, revealing an altar and hundreds of bizarre small statues.
But no trace of a dungeon. It was too cramped for one.
"Hurry and work the mechanism."
"You know your stuff."
"Like recognizes like."
Dang Yak-ran lifted and repositioned several statues. With a rumble, a hole gaped in the left stone wall.
It resembled a beast's open maw. Clearly the passage to the dungeon.
Heuk Do-san grabbed a torch from the wall, lit it, and thrust it into the hole.
Steep, narrow stairs plunged downward like a burrow.
"Whew... I swore never to enter a cave alive again."