Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Kidnapping (5)
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'Good.' 'Difficult.' 'Suspicious.' Let me explain what those meant.
The first, 'good,' referred to the swordsmanship of Go Dan-oh, the Shaking Mountain Sword, who was a direct disciple of Leader Jin.
It was steady yet bold.
At first glance, it seemed wildly ferocious, giving off a vibe similar to Ilgwang's iron staff. But Go Dan-oh's swordsmanship had restraint and discipline. With every swing, the already heavy momentum snowballed, growing ever larger like a rolling boulder.
His nickname was Shaking Mountain Sword, and sure enough, at this rate, he looked ready to shake actual mountains.
As a result, after just five exchanges, the rampaging Ilgwang began to fall back. Soon, he'd be swept into an unstoppable tide.
Go Dan-oh was already an outstanding swordsman. Yet he was the type whose future held even greater promise. A classic late bloomer, perhaps. In ten or twenty years, he might stand alongside his master as one of Shaanxi's premier martial artists.
If he survived this treacherous jianghu to the end, that is.
The second, 'difficult,' meant that even though Go Dan-oh was putting up such a fierce fight, escaping this situation today wouldn't be easy.
He was probably planning to fight just enough, then flee when the odds turned against him.
But Go Dan-oh hadn't accounted for Bong Yeon-ja and Cheong-geum already circling behind him. Especially since he'd given Bong Yeon-ja, the poison and hidden weapons specialist, some distance—and he didn't even realize it.
So it was safe to say the outcome was already half-decided.
Finally, 'suspicious' referred to Yang Ji, the merchant guard who had fled with the young woman called "little sister."
His thigh had been stabbed deep, so his movements must be impaired. But was it that serious? Serious enough to abandon his comrades without a second thought?
Especially when he was carrying that bewitching sword—a fighter who, even if not at full strength, could provide major support?
Moreover, Yang Ji was supposed to be Go Dan-oh's bodyguard. And yet he'd coaxed the woman who wanted to fight alongside them into fleeing with him.
And tellingly, just before heading out on the mission, Cheong-geum had said something intriguing.
"Hmm, truth be told, there's no need to kill the merchant guard outright. It might be better to scare him off just enough. So don't push yourself too hard."
"Gu-ryeo. Smells fishy, huh?"
Flying Tiger dusted himself off and stood.
At that moment, a scream of "Agh!" rang out, followed by a heavy splash~. Go Dan-oh had finally snapped Ilgwang's iron staff in two, then shoulder-checked him, sending the brute tumbling off the bridge.
But Go Dan-oh didn't look unscathed either. Three long needles from Bong Yeon-ja were embedded in his back. Sama Gul-gi and Cheong-geum had him surrounded on both sides of the bridge, while Bong Yeon-ja grinned from the outer edge, ready to unleash more hidden weapons at any moment.
"It's over."
As Flying Tiger shook his head with a complicated expression and turned away, Go Dan-oh seemed to agree.
With a venomous glare, Go Dan-oh leaped from the bridge and pounced on the freshly fallen Ilgwang. He led with his knee, smashing down on the brute's shoulder as he struggled to stand.
Crunch.
Ilgwang howled in agony, and the two massive men splashed and flailed into the water below.
Go Dan-oh had sensed escape was impossible and chosen to take at least one foe down for sure.
Clap, clap, clap.
Flying Tiger applauded inwardly and slipped away quietly. Time to track down that fleeing pair.
"Merchant guard, let's part ways here."
"Little sister, what are you saying?"
"I'm going back to Dan-oh."
"What nonsense is this? It should be over by now."
"Pardon? Over?"
Yang Ji realized his slip.
Yi Jin-ok's sharp reaction showed hostility—or at least displeasure.
'Not quite suspicion yet, but this is trouble. Yeah, abandoning Go Dan-oh to flee isn't a convincing excuse on its own. Hm, looks like I need a more compelling backstory—something that forced my hand?'
While his mind raced to weave a tale tying in Yi Jin-ok, his mouth soothed her calmly.
"Don't misunderstand. I just meant young master Gong has likely already slipped away by now. We bought him time to escape—what reason would he have to stick around?"
"......"
"That's why I'm saying, what if our paths diverge and you head back alone, only to get caught? What then?"
"I......"
"I get it. I'm ashamed and furious at myself for running too. So how much worse must it be for you, worrying for your lover? But that's exactly why you need to calm down and think rationally."
"Sigh... I'm sorry. I let my worry for Dan-oh make me rude to you."
"No harm done. I understand completely. So......"
"No. Regardless of my apology, I'm going my own way."
"Yi Jin-ok!"
Yi Jin-ok stared steadily at Yang Ji. Her lovely face was filled with unyielding resolve.
"I've heard you out, and I'll be as careful as I can. So please, merchant guard—head to Zhao Family Manor as fast as possible and report what happened here."
"Why are you so dense? Let's say things went south—what can you do? Are you banking on some flimsy Mount Hua Sect techniques?"
"No. I know my own abilities and limits. But what if there's a one-in-a-thousand chance? And even if it's beyond me... at least I could die with him, couldn't I? That's my resolve."
"Heh~"
Was she always this resolute?
Yang Ji admired her inwardly but couldn't bring himself to argue further.
Yi Jin-ok bowed her head and turned back the way they'd come. Strictly speaking, she hadn't even taken ten steps before...
Poke.
Yi Jin-ok stiffened as something jabbed her back. Shocked, she tried to turn her rigid neck but couldn't, so she rolled her eyes to glimpse the one who'd struck her acupoint.
But even that was hard.
Who else could it be?
She had a strong suspicion but didn't want to believe it. Then the man behind her breathed his foul breath on her neck and spoke.
"Little sister Jin-ok, why are you so selfish?"
"Guard Yang Ji, what is this? Release me right—"
"Shh! Hear me out. If you go back like this, what does that leave me—your self-proclaimed bodyguard? You selfish bitch!"
"......!"
Yang Ji, who always prattled on about this young master or that, had dropped his mask and his speech entirely. Yi Jin-ok could barely process his ravings. Revulsion made her skin crawl, her mind going blank as a sheet.
Yang Ji sealed her acupoints thoroughly, glanced around, hoisted her over his shoulder, and limped off somewhere.
Yi Jin-ok.
This pitiful woman had spirit—whether from love for her paramour or the righteousness of a martial artist.
But she never got to unleash it, thanks to the two-faced beast lurking by her side.
How could she be blamed, though?
The underworld of the martial world simply teemed with such ugly beasts, and she'd merely crossed paths with one.
"That bandit bastard was spot on about everything. Almost feel bad for cursing him now."
Flying Tiger chuckled at the sudden memory. Surprisingly, Ilgwang's assessment of the merchant guard had been dead accurate.
Self-righteous prick, filthy dog, repulsive scum, and so on.
About half an hour earlier, Flying Tiger had located Yang Ji and tailed him quietly. At first, he couldn't fathom what the man was up to, limping along with Yi Jin-ok slung over his shoulder like a sack.
Who could've imagined he'd carve out time for that in the middle of this chaos?
The guy was the real deal!
There'd been types like him before. Assassins gripped by doubt and frayed conscience, seeking refreshment from these invigorating flings. Like a drug to spark life back into their veins.
......
It wasn't the original plan.
You know those days. When impulse hits and you do something stupid.
But once he committed, Yang Ji had second thoughts amid his self-loathing, nearly abandoning it midway several times. He'd even considered just killing Yi Jin-ok cleanly and sticking to the plan.
His body was wrecked, and lugging around a full-grown woman was exhausting.
But what comes after hardship?
Yang Ji finally found a suitable cave for his deed. Panting, he dragged Yi Jin-ok inside and tossed her down like luggage.
And so heated was he that he urgently yanked down his pants first.
Yes, it was right then—as he tugged pants and underwear down together, bent at the waist, with them tangled at his ankles.
Whoosh—thunk.
A flying object wedged perfectly between his cheeks.
So fast and fierce was it—so deeply embedded—that its shape was unrecognizable. But judging by the jagged steel teeth protruding from his cleft, it was no ordinary weapon.
Given the circumstances, how excruciating must the pain have been?
"Aaaagh!"
"Ah, shit. Sorry."
Yang Ji collapsed from the unprecedented agony surging up to his guts, forehead smacking the ground with a thud.
He'd had no chance to brace—both hands were clutching his pant legs.
Step, step.
The footsteps approaching Yang Ji belonged to Flying Tiger.
He'd bided his time, targeting the vital spot.
When the chance came, he struck.
That was all.
Only Flying Tiger's expression was somewhat uneasy, almost apologetic.
Originally, Flying Tiger had planned to sneak up quietly and slit his throat—not handle it this messily.
But as he drew the Yuanang Wol for a backstab and crept closer, the hideous bastard suddenly dropped his pants and thrust his bare ass right at him.
So startled and disgusted was Flying Tiger that he reflexively hurled the Yuanang Wol.
It was pure conditioned reflex.
And wouldn't you know it—the Yuanang Wol slotted right in perfectly.
Yang Ji shuddered uncontrollably, out of his mind. His pose was grotesque, blood gushing from the steel fangs between his bare cheeks.
Flying Tiger approached with a troubled look, examined him closely, and sighed.
"I'd grown attached to it without realizing... Guess it's done for now."
He meant the Yuanang Wol.
Since finding it in the Face Pursuit Squad's armory, it'd been quite useful. Now, felled by this filthy mishap(?), it was time to say goodbye.
Pity lasted only a moment. Flying Tiger vented his regret as anger.
"Hey, you mangy mutt—dare try to swallow someone else's weapon for free?"
Even as he fumed, Flying Tiger grabbed the Soul Entangling Sword Yang Ji had set aside before dropping trou.
An eye for an eye, blood for blood.
The bastard had gulped his weapon with that dirty ass, so taking this one evened the score.
Then, as Yang Ji whimpered pathetically while dying face-down:
"...Arson."
"What?"
"The signal... is Arson...... Urk!"
Flying Tiger stomped his head to pin it and slashed his neck with the Soul Entangling Sword.
Rrring~ roll, roll~
As if possessed, the Soul Entangling Sword wailed a demonic dirge for its former master.