Chapter 156
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Chapter 43. Rotten Lifeline (2)
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-Flying Tiger, what the hell are you playing at?
-Revenge. You telling me you don't want any?
-From where I'm standing, it looks like you're the one getting in the way.
-You think hacking off one more head from these lowlifes is gonna settle the score? How magnanimous of you.
-Quit the snide remarks and spit it out straight.
-Ahem, apologies. What I mean is, don't we need to hit Cho Eo-jin where it really hurts? For that, wouldn't more inside info be useful? Assuming the guy even has any to give, of course.
-Hmph. How do you know he has anything worth hearing?
-Hold on a sec.
-……?
Flying Tiger, locked in a telepathic exchange with Jin Ga-yong, thought, Screw it, whatever, and drew his sword. He slapped it right against Ho Ye-hwa's neck and bellowed.
"Young Master Jin just said if you cough up something useful on Cho Eo-jin, he'll reconsider your fates—both of you. Got it or not?"
"Uh……."
"But if not, your head rolls right here. So, spill it. Gonna talk, or burn?"
Frozen under Flying Tiger's intensity, Ho Ye-hwa made his choice in an instant.
It was betrayal.
And it came easy, thanks to none other than Flying Tiger. Wasn't he the one Ho Ye-hwa himself had recommended? Now that same guy had thrown in with Zhao Family Manor—his fate in the organization was as good as sealed.
This bastard wasn't talent—he was a disaster!
No way it'd end with just a dead-end path anymore.
Having handled all the dirty work as a top cleaner, Ho Ye-hwa knew the organization's ruthless side all too well.
"I'll tell you everything. Just spare me."
"Better not be full of hot air, you know that."
"I'm no top brass, but from my spot, I see plenty. Enough to satisfy you. And if……."
"If? You dangling conditions now?"
"No, not that. If my info doesn't cut it, kill me—but spare my deputy."
"Why him?"
Ho Ye-hwa chuckled bitterly.
"That Yun-clan fool doesn't even know what he's done. The organization's marked him a traitor for elimination, and he's clueless. So... isn't letting a dimwit like that loose in this messed-up jianghu harmless enough?"
Flying Tiger was impressed deep down. Ho Ye-hwa's answer was textbook perfect—timely and sharp.
He showed loyalty to the one who'd staked his life for him, while subtly stressing his own harmlessness, a drifter with nowhere to go.
Far better than groveling outright. Especially against bone-deep orthodox folk like Zhao Family Manor.
That's his skill for you.
Flying Tiger glanced back at Jin Ga-yong.
"That's the deal, Squad Leader Jin. Your call now?"
Jin Ga-yong cracked a wry smile.
The gall of it all. Not defying him outright, but cornering him all the same. We'll meet your demands, so spare them. Infuriating, yet not entirely hateable.
Jin Ga-yong signaled his two comrades. Your opinions carry weight.
But why would the man in charge here defer?
A Jeok-gang nodded without objection.
Maeng Dal-seo grumbled but just turned away—silent assent. He'd been swayed by Flying Tiger's talk of bigger revenge.
And so, Ho Ye-hwa and his deputy Yun-ga lived. Only Lady Bong Yeon-ja remained. She stared wide-eyed in panic, mumbling through her gag.
Ho Ye-hwa mustered his nerve to speak for her.
"Hey."
"No."
"She's actually useful……."
"Wanna die with her?"
Ho Ye-hwa shut up fast—but Flying Tiger's eyes darted side to side. Birds of a feather; quick to schemes, he caught the hint instantly.
Even Flying Tiger's position wasn't comfy. This was his one shot to speak up.
So Ho Ye-hwa shouted.
"This woman's got big status despite the looks. Killing her could bring big trouble. But sparing her? That's a blessing."
"What status?"
"Disciple of Immortal O-song. Ah, ex-disciple, sure, hence her state."
"Immortal O-song? Who's that?"
"You for real?"
Flying Tiger tilted his head.
Sounded vaguely familiar…….
Everyone around gawked, gasping and doubting their ears. Famous, clearly.
Then Ho Ye-hwa's next words made Flying Tiger suck in a breath.
"The world's greatest. No one in the Central Plains hasn't heard of him. Never?"
"Uh... wait, his disciple the Little Immortal Golden Jade?"
"Huh? You know that obscure one? But not the guy everyone's heard of?"
"……!"
Immortal O-song.
Called the incarnation of Bian Que, he was the era's top physician, shrouded in mystic tales. Elusive as a dragon in the clouds—even the emperor couldn't track him.
Doctor Heo, introduced by Hidden Moon, had said if anyone could heal Gong Won-yeong, it was him!
Unable to find the master, they'd hunted his disciple, Little Immortal Golden Jade, as a proxy. So Flying Tiger's ordeal stemmed largely from blind faith in Immortal O-song's rep.
No other options.
And now Lady Bong Yeon-ja was another disciple. Exiled or not, maybe...
What a coincidence!
A miracle?
Really?
Flying Tiger's eyes spun as he rushed over and released Lady Bong Yeon-ja's mute acupoint. Trembling, he asked.
"Lady, is Ho Ye-hwa telling the truth? You're Little Immortal Golden Jade's senior, and Immortal O-song your master?"
"Hah... hah... hah... hah……."
Little Immortal Golden Jade—no, Lady Bong—gasped raggedly, her face a storm of relief, shame, fear, rage, irritation, and more.
Maeng Dal-seo frowned at Flying Tiger's sudden move, but Jin Ga-yong stopped him with a headshake.
Finally calming, her expression hardened. Her first words? Oddly offbeat.
"Ah, screw it—Little Immortal Golden Jade? Who's calling that bitch my junior sis? And Immortal O-song? Immortal my ass! I don't know that horny old fart!"
"Lady!"
Did she know him or not?
No, was she messing around?
Flying Tiger roared, eyes flashing fierce.
Threatening enough that excited, huffing Lady Bong snapped to like doused in ice water. Remembering her spot, she stammered excuses.
"B-but... little bro, still... damn it, quit glaring and hear me out."
"What?"
"I know poison, sure, but medicine too—got real skill there."
"How good?"
"Better than that Golden bitch, at least."
"Better?"
"Yeah. Remember that Gon-son monk you wrecked? I patched him. Without me, he'd have croaked next day."
Come to think, she'd treated Il-gwang too.
Neither fully healed, true. But from their mangled states, surviving was a win. Her skills weren't ordinary.
Thump-thump.
Sensing it landed, Lady Bong pressed on with self-praise.
"So, yeah? Spare me too. I'll do anything you ask. I can! Especially my specialty: treating adult men."
"What? Not women—men?"
Flying Tiger's face twisted horribly.
Rumor had Little Immortal Golden Jade specialized in gynecology. This woman? The opposite.
"Hee-hee, you're a man, right? For you, big sis'll show you full-service medical bliss. Paradise. Hm?"
"……!"
Lady Bong winked one eye, despite her wrecked state—a seduction attempt.
Desperate to live, understandable. And recalling her hints at bedroom expertise, not total bluff.
But spouting nonsense blind to his desperation? Flying Tiger's blood boiled reverse.
Punch her lights out?
Shaking visibly ominous, yet Lady Bong thought it worked and kept babbling. Once hooked, she never gauged.
"Shut your damn mouth, you wench!"
Ho Ye-hwa finally exploded. Chastened, she clamped it.
That shout lit the fuse?
Flying Tiger shot up, glaring skyward, laughing loud. Defiance at fate's mockery. To watchers, pure madman.
Laughing long, he approached Jin Ga-yong and dropped to both knees.
Jin Ga-yong flinched—bad memories of this pose. Ignoring, Flying Tiger bowed deep and cut straight.
"Kill me if you must."
"……."
Jin Ga-yong stared down silently. Flying Tiger pondered head-low.
Lady Bong was off somehow.
Fierce temper, dubious utility. Knew Immortal O-song and Golden Jade but bad blood. Skilled in medicine—but men's issues.
A half-chicken, half-dog curse.
Sensible to drop hopes.
But what choice? If even slim odds, cling hard. Heh! Laugh at others for rotten lifelines, but here I am, same boat.
Thus, Jin Ga-yong's raid on Jeong Gwan-gwan started with three. Rescuing senior-junior Go Dan-o as planned, they descended nine strong: Flying Tiger, Sandong Elder, Ho Ye-hwa and Yun-ga, Lady Bong Yeon-ja included.
Flying Tiger carried Sandong Elder; Yun-ga hauled Ho Ye-hwa. A Jeok-gang barely managed himself. So who took Go Dan-o?
Jin Ga-yong volunteered, but Maeng Dal-seo objected and claimed it—the heaviest load of three.