Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Faint Shadow of Old Love
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"Faint Shadow of Old Love"
"What do we do now?"
Dang Yak-ran asked.
"Hm?"
"What are we supposed to do from here on out?"
"Why are you asking me?"
"Because that's the situation."
Heuk Do-san followed Dang Yak-ran's gaze and scanned the group. For some reason, everyone was staring straight at him, mouths agape.
"What, you think rice is gonna fall out of the sky if you stare at me? Go mind your own business."
"You can't say that now. You led everyone here, and you said to save them... You even saved the woman."
Mid-sentence, Dang Yak-ran snuck a glance at Bing-seol. Their eyes met, and Bing-seol gave a light nod of acknowledgment.
Dang Yak-ran deliberately looked away.
She continued toward Heuk Do-san.
"For the time being, we'll do whatever you say. That's my take, at least. What about everyone else?"
Dang Yak-ran looked around at the group.
Hyeon-gak cleared his throat, while Gong Cheon-ak stared off at the distant mountains, pretending not to listen. Yeom Jin-sang darted his eyes around, gauging the others' reactions.
Bing-seol spoke up.
"I'll follow you."
Dang Yak-ran and Hyeon-gak were stunned.
The Demonic Cult's saintess, declaring she'd follow someone else right in front of the Seventh Star Lord?
It was akin to a palace maid announcing she'd switch to serving a different emperor.
"Is that okay, My Lord?"
Bing-seol went even further, asking Gong Cheon-ak's permission. It was like the maid asking the emperor to his face if she could serve another king instead.
Gong Cheon-ak was on the verge of exploding. Setting aside enemies and allies, he was the most famous, highest-ranking, and strongest person present.
Yet the saintess who hadn't let go of his hand even in the frigid sea waters was now saying she'd follow some no-name mercenary instead of him. He wanted to rip the bastard's mouth open.
"Not okay?"
Bing-seol asked again.
Looking into her clear eyes, the rage that had been boiling inside him melted away like snow in the sun.
And with it came a fuzzy urge to grant her every request.
'Why am I like this?'
A request was a request, but face was face. After a moment's internal conflict, a thought struck Gong Cheon-ak.
"You mean use him as a guide?"
"......?"
"He's a pretty decent guide, after all."
Seizing the moment, Hyeon-gak chimed in. It was like riding the ox cart to market and picking up a chicken along the way. Even Hyeon-gak felt it was a perfectly timed move.
Gong Cheon-ak, too, felt the burden lift with Hyeon-gak's support. Now, if they followed Heuk Do-san, it wouldn't be as his subordinate—it would be merely employing him as a guide.
'Even a stone has its uses.'
'Well done, you dolt.'
The two, who rarely saw eye to eye, exchanged subtle glances.
Heuk Do-san inwardly clicked his tongue.
They're trying hard. Real hard.
"Anyway. If you're gonna stick with me, there are a few things we need to settle first. One: As you all know, we're in an absurd situation right now. Whether it's possible or not, if we want to find a way home, we need to band together for now. Like it or not, that means sticking together for the foreseeable future. Anyone got a problem with that?"
Heuk Do-san swept his gaze across the group.
They all looked uncomfortable, but no one raised an objection.
From the Demonic Cult's side, they needed Hyeon-gak to save Bing-seol. From the righteous factions' side, they needed Bing-seol to get home.
"Two: You've all been suffering from cold and hunger, and it's been four days without a wink of sleep. All because you're worried about surprise attacks. That's downright stupid. If we're going to stick together, we need to ensure each other's safety first. Until we return to our world, I propose an unconditional truce."
Could righteous sect members and Demonic Cultists, seething with bone-deep grudges, really band together without stabbing each other in the back? Even if they agreed, how could anyone trust it?
But if they were to coexist, there was no other way. Whatever their inner thoughts, they had to accept it for now.
"Very well."
"So be it."
Hyeon-gak and Gong Cheon-ak agreed in turn.
"Finally, three: You follow my orders unconditionally, no matter what. If anyone refuses, I'll go my own way from that point on."
Hyeon-gak and Gong Cheon-ak hesitated slightly.
The third condition was more serious than the first two.
They would be entrusting their lives entirely to Heuk Do-san, a man whose allegiances were unknown.
'Better than following that dolt.'
'Better than leaving it to that stone-head.'
"If we can help, we will."
"We'll cooperate as much as possible."
"It's not help or cooperation—it's obedience."
"Amitabha. As you wish."
"For now, agreed."
"Good. Then here's your first task. Gather plenty of firewood and stones. Use the firewood for a big bonfire, and heat the stones."
"Why heat the stones?"
Gong Cheon-ak asked.
"I'm not explaining every little thing. Just do as I say."
Gong Cheon-ak bristled at Heuk Do-san's sudden shift to treating him like a subordinate. But having just promised obedience, he had no choice but to swallow it.
"If there's time left, scrounge up some food too. Firewood keeps us alive today, but food keeps us alive tomorrow. Tide's out, so dig in the sand—might find shellfish."
"Got it."
"Yes, we'll do that."
Dang Yak-ran and Bing-seol replied.
"But you're planning to stay here?"
Yeom Jin-sang blurted out.
"Yeah."
"The sea means strong winds."
"You're all exhausted. Heading into an unknown forest in this state is foolish. Especially at night—beasts might be prowling. We'll camp here tonight and move tomorrow."
Heuk Do-san brushed the sand off his rear and stood. Dang Yak-ran rose with him and asked.
"Where are you going?"
"To scout the area."
* * *
It's often said that martial arts masters are unbound by light or dark. But that's only possible with some degree of light.
The forest ahead was pitch black. Yet the white-barked trees lent the whole scene an eerie atmosphere.
As if it weren't part of the living world.
Heuk Do-san navigated the dense branches, relying on fleeting starlight filtering through.
'This is white sandalwood...'
True to its name, white sandalwood had pale bark and grew only in the frigid northern reaches of Yodong or Dalda—high-mountain trees that didn't melt even in midsummer.
With weather this cold, white sandalwood wasn't strange. What was strange was the extreme cold and environment.
After about an hour, he found what he sought: the forest's patriarch, a white sandalwood with an exceptionally thick trunk.
A thick trunk meant bearing great weight, which meant great height.
There was something called a wall tiger.
A tiger that clings to walls—a gecko. Martial artists had observed it scaling walls and created the Wall Tiger Skill.
Heuk Do-san deployed the Wall Tiger Skill and swiftly climbed the white sandalwood. Reaching the thin top branches, a cold gust cleared his vision.
A vast expanse of black waves unfurled below—the canopy swaying in the wind from the treetop.
He applied the Far-Seeing Technique to his eyes and scanned the horizon. What was the best way to spot human activity in wild mountains?
Wait for nightfall, climb the highest point, and survey all directions. Villages would show lights.
Hm?
Far off, in higher terrain than his position, a goblin-fire-like flicker. Too distant and dark to identify, but unmistakably man-made light.
"What kind of people are they?"
* * *
Descending the tree, Heuk Do-san headed back to the beach. A whirlwind of thoughts churned in his mind as he walked.
Where the hell were they?
What happened to everyone else?
Why hadn't those who vanished during the Nine Heavens Illusion Grand Ancestral Formation's activation returned home?
Could they?
Lost in thought, wave sounds soon reached him. The bonfire-lit shore was just ahead.
Then, a presence stirred behind a distant tree.
'Beast? Or person?'
Whichever, lurking to watch wasn't friendly. He drew the axe from his belt, hiding it behind his back, and walked on casually.
After six or seven paces, feigning ignorance, he passed the tree—and lightning-bent sideways.
Crash!
The axe cleaved the tree trunk an inch above the dark shadow's crown. In that instant, if he hadn't glimpsed the face, he would've split the skull.
"Dang Yak-ran?"
Dang Yak-ran, startled by the sudden attack, pressed against the tree, face drained white.
"What are you doing here?"
Heuk Do-san asked.
Dang Yak-ran calmed her pounding heart. For a split second, she'd truly thought she was dead.
'Lightning fast... I couldn't even see it.'
"I'm asking what you're doing!"
Heuk Do-san bellowed.
"I was waiting for you."
"For me...? Why?"
Dang Yak-ran didn't answer, just stared at him intently. Those eyes again. Clearly glaring, yet drawing him in like a deep lake.
'Did she train some kind of seduction art?'
Heuk Do-san stiffened.
Memories flashed of her words earlier by the bonfire, when they were alone.
'No way, right now?'
Martial world women were said to be bold.
But this was too fast.
Heuk Do-san wavered.
Should he? Or not? Should he? Or not?
His body reacted despite his thoughts. Unknowingly, he'd leaned in close. Her cherry lips begged to be nibbled.
"What are you doing right now?"
What kind of reaction was that?
Did she really not know?
Or was it a woman's pride, guarding her minimum dignity?
If so, a man should respond roughly, upholding her pride.
It was all because she was so alluring he couldn't hold back, and though she wanted to stay pure, his strength overwhelmed her into this inevitable situation—self-justification.
First, pin her shoulder to the tree with his left hand. Then grip her chin with the right and kiss her deeply.
She'd pound his chest, demanding what he thought he was doing.
That's when he'd hook her outer leg, toppling her into the grass. Then, sprawling atop, he'd pin her flailing arms again, upholding her pride once more...
'But what's the difference from rape?'
Somehow, that didn't sit right.
Heuk Do-san thrust his face right up to hers. Startled, Dang Yak-ran turned away and squeezed her eyes shut.
"From now on..."
"......?"
"Don't hide from me."
Heuk Do-san yanked the axe from the tree, sheathed it at his waist, and strode off as if nothing happened. Dang Yak-ran followed, saying.
"Talk to me."
Heuk Do-san didn't turn. He pushed through the dark forest, silent.
'Good call. That was the right move.'
"I wasn't hiding."
'Should I have just done it?'
"How can you be so heartless?"
'Even now?'
"I thought I was gonna die of fright!"
Dang Yak-ran shouted.
Heuk Do-san stopped and turned. A short distance away, Dang Yak-ran stood with a face on the verge of tears.
"I've felt something watching me from the woods since earlier. For real. That's why I was hiding."
Ancient forests harbored primal terror. Even Heuk Do-san, seasoned through countless battles, felt chills in this white sandalwood grove.
But still, a martial artist—Sichuan Tang Clan's famed poison heiress—afraid to be alone in the woods at night?
"I'll go slow, so follow."
Heuk Do-san led again.
But after a while, she didn't follow. Irritated, he turned.
"What's the problem now?"
"Does what I said sound funny?"
"What?"
"I said I was waiting for you."
"Since you brought it up, let me be clear. Somehow falling for a guy like me..."
"You know Mo Yong-ak, right?"
"......!"
Heuk Do-san's face hardened coldly.