Chapter 227
Chapter 227
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Short Companionship (3)
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"What are you doing? I told you to keep doing what you were."
'What the hell is this guy talking about?'
As he racked his brain, the other man grinned.
"Weren't you about to fuck her pussy, then her ass, and finish with a titjob?"
"I wasn't."
Even as a member of the unorthodox sects, he had his own code of honor.
"Fine. What about fucking her pussy while pinching her nipples, then cumming on her face?"
"I wasn't."
'Where did this bastard crawl out from?'
These were questions so outrageous they made his head spin.
When he denied them all, the man's face fell.
"Then what the hell did you come here for?"
"To kidnap her."
"...What a boring situation."
Tsk.
The man's shoulders slumped as he clicked his tongue.
'He's disappointed that I'm kidnapping his ally?'
It was an utterly unexpected reaction.
"This was a perfect chance to straighten out that girl's attitude."
"...I see."
As the conversation continued, Yang Ak's eyes quickly scanned the man.
'Empty-handed. No weapon either.'
His sloppy lean against the doorframe was full of openings.
'Just some nobody after all.'
The young expert he'd shared drinks with earlier had been surprisingly formidable.
Just a glance had let him know he was several levels below.
This guy, on the other hand, was different.
'No dignity of a master, and his energy is utterly ordinary.'
Yang Ak immediately judged him.
'A complete nobody.'
He felt foolish for being wary just because the man hung around unusual company.
'First, subdue this girl.'
Yang Ak swiftly struck Geum Jeong's pressure point.
'Can't have her waking up and causing trouble.'
Thud.
Geum Jeong's head lolled to the side as her acupoint was sealed.
'Now for this one.'
But Yang Ak couldn't help being shocked.
"You said she'd sleep so soundly you could carry her off without her noticing, and damn if she isn't."
The man had closed in without a sound and was chuckling. Yang Ak was stunned.
'I didn't even sense his presence?'
As the flustered Yang Ak retreated and moved to strike, it happened.
The moment his breathing faltered, the man's hand shot forward like a landslide.
Yang Ak quickly pulled back his stance and twisted his shoulder.
It was a masterful move using the recoil to draw his sword.
"Hey now. Where'd you learn that dirty trick?"
Thwack.
A simple tap on the opposite shoulder, and it twisted with a sickening crunch.
"Krrk!"
"Your eyes are set too high."
Thud! Thud!
His legs buckled in an instant from fluid kicks to his calves.
'What kind of person's legs...'
It hurt worse than being kicked by a horse's hind leg.
"Gahk!"
Crash!
As he hit the floor, his vision caught shabby leather boots.
"Urk... Uuugh."
He tried to rise using his arms, but his legs had no strength.
'How did he subdue me?'
One moment he'd seemed harmless, the next his legs were stiff as boards.
His mute acupoint was even sealed; he couldn't make a sound.
'I have to get out of here.'
He kept collapsing as he struggled to stand.
"Hey, you."
A jolt of excruciating pain yanked his head up.
Only then did Yang Ak realize the man had grabbed his hair.
"Gack!"
"I don't like the way you're looking at me."
Riiip.
"----!"
Pain exploded as his sideburns were torn off, bloodshot veins bulging in Yang Ak's eyes.
"You've been pissing me off since earlier."
Whoosh.
Through the scattering sideburns, a devil grinned before him.
"Mute acupoint sealed, so no screams. I prefer quiet talks."
"----!"
The other sideburn was ripped away. Tears streamed from Yang Ak's eyes amid the agony of his scalp being torn.
"There, much better."
Tap. Tap.
"Gaaahk!"
The devil tapped a pressure point, finally allowing a scream, but...
"Scream and you die. Don't you know not to make noise at night?"
Yang Ak clamped both hands over his mouth at the whisper.
"Gulp. Gulp."
"Looks like you're ready to talk now."
The devil asked.
"Why kidnap this girl?"
"Th-that's... I got a commission."
"Commission? From who?"
"Iron Blood Beast Squad Leader Ak Jin. He said he'd reward us big for capturing an Emei nun."
"How'd you know she's from Emei?"
"She barely touched the fancy dishes all meal, just picked at the veggies. Plus, Emei swords have special markings."
His trembling finger pointed, earning a snort.
"I knew it'd end like this someday."
"Spare me! I'll reflect on this. I won't target Emei again!"
"Nah. Don't stop. Keep shit-talking Emei. I was starting to feel a kinship."
This guy's impossible to read.
"Heh heh. Sir."
"Don't laugh. It's creepy."
Smack!
His vision flashed, head whipping around. But the pain paled next to the terrifying killing intent.
"A-are you going to kill me?"
"Why would I kill a fellow Emei-hater?"
"Th-then..."
"I'll let you live. But not for free."
Tap. Tap.
As the devil shook his hands and stood, Yang Ak felt the numbness lift.
'Damn, a peak-level master. Released my acupoints with projected energy without me even noticing.'
Relief loosened his tension, legs quaking, but he desperately assumed a respectful posture.
To avoid offending this unpredictable foe.
The devil asked.
"Got anything on you?"
"Wh-what do you mean, sir?"
"What else?"
The object he tossed and caught in the air looked familiar.
Only after patting his pockets did Yang Ak realize it was his money pouch.
"A decent amount of yellow stuff here."
"Heh heh. Then, sir."
"Hey, nice sword."
This bastard even scraped the gold leaf off the scabbard.
'Son of a bitch...'
He wanted to curse but bit his tongue. Seeing the gold flake into a ball silenced him.
Terror made his legs tremble like aspen leaves.
"Too bad I didn't get a full show, but this'll do."
Shoo. Shoo.
Dismissed like a dog, Yang Ak bolted out the window at full speed.
- I'll spare you this time. Meet again, and you're dead.
The voice chased him; Yang Ak ran until he collapsed from exhaustion.
Dawn broke.
"Huh? Temporary Instructor, drinking and eating from morning?"
Geum Jeong appeared, her complexion much improved from a good night's sleep.
"Can't tell if you're on a mission or just wandering, the way you eat and sleep."
Why's this girl picking fights again?
Neung Pung-un followed.
"Mm. Feels like I slept deeply for the first time in a while."
That figures.
Sedated by sleep incense, oblivious to last night's events, he'd slept like a log.
Yang Ak had been crafty, no doubt.
'Poisoning food and drink is amateur hour.'
Instead, he'd waited until they were relaxed from booze and feasting, with sleep incense pre-lit in the room.
'Drunk haze helped, but inns feel safe, so people let their guard down.'
Even a veteran like Neung Pung-un couldn't help it.
'He's green when it comes to vicious schemes.'
Should he teach survival by showing the world's dangers?
As he pondered, Geum Jeong looked around.
"Looks like Hero Yang's gone. I wanted to say goodbye."
"If it's fate, you'll meet again."
Geum Jeong stared up at Neung Pung-un, then abruptly turned away upon seeing him.
'Ah. Didn't push hard enough last night.'
Chu Un-hwi felt lingering regret.
The journey resumed.
Neung Pung-un led as always, Chu Un-hwi following silently.
Seemed the same as before, but one difference.
"Feels like I'm picking fights everywhere lately."
"Even changed clothes, but weird."
Last few days: poison in food five times. Clashes with unorthodox warriors twelve times.
The silver needle for testing was blackened and useless.
Now he could detect poisons by smell and taste alone.
From constant incidents, he'd even removed the decorative guard from his sword, pride of his sect be damned.
Cautious demeanor was now habit.
Good preparation against the world's treachery, but Neung Pung-un muttered wearily.
"Seems the Demonic Cult's onto this trip."
"Agreed. Realizing how brutal the jianghu is."
"By the way, what're you staring at?"
Chu Un-hwi, eyeing a vanishing presence afar, replied curtly.
"Nothing."
Near Dongting Lake's bustling streets.
A roar echoed from the top floor of a brothel overlooking the waterways.
Boom!
A man with a sword scar across his face glanced at the shattered table and spoke.
"Emei Sect? You're sure?"
"Yes, sir."
Yang Ak, who'd fled for his life days ago, prostrated filthily with hollow cheeks.
"Definitely an Emei nun. I'd stake my life on it."
"Heh heh. Things that hole up in Emei Mountain, hard to spot, show up before me."
The man traced his facial scar.
"Heaven aids me, Ak Jin."
Ak Jin.
One of only five squad leaders in the hundred-strong Iron Blood Beast Squad.
As leader of the Iron Chain Syndicate's elite force, even sect heads bowed to him.
His cruelty and savagery were infamous; fear flickered in all eyes upon him.
"Finally, revenge for this damn scar. And treasures too."
Ak Jin smirked.
"Yang Ak, was it?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Guide me to them. If true, I'll report your merits to the Syndicate Lord."
Merits to the real power meant a key Syndicate post.
Windfall joy mixed with darkening face for Yang Ak.
- Meet again, and you're dead.
The dreaded voice haunted him.
'No. No matter how strong, against the Iron Blood Beast Squad...'
He glanced at corpses with heads in blood pools, certainty growing.
Local righteous experts, all.
Seven sword strokes to kill them.
With Ak Jin moving, his squad would follow.
No supreme master could handle them all.
'Can't pass this chance.'
Yang Ak bowed.
"Leave it to me!"
Days later.
A quiet path not far from Dongting Lake.
Neung Pung-un halted on the deserted trail.
"Instructor Neung, what's wrong?"
"...No birdsong."
Face hardening, he circulated qi, sending pulses outward.
His expression darkened further.
"Something's off. Like someone's hiding."
"Careful!"
Geum Jeong's sharp cry came with her sword drawn, slashing arcs in the air.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Neung Pung-un shouted low at the deflected daggers.
"Ambush!"
"Break out at full speed!"
"I'll clear the path!"
Shing!
Swords drawn, footwork unleashed, but chaotic horns blared, presences swarming from all sides.
'Perfect encirclement hunt.'
Ideal for a final exam?
Chu Un-hwi, who'd silently assessed, grinned.