Chapter 70
Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Moon Perishing Soul
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Whoosh!
He pulled it out.
As if uprooting a giant tree by its roots, the sword shot straight up vertically, following the force Jinmu drew forth.
Crack!
The blue sword energy extending from the blade whipped around like a lash, forming a vertical crescent moon.
Kuuaaa!
It shot forth, as if cleaving the world in two.
Slash!
The sword energy pierced through the masked man.
And then.
Boom!
The rampaging energy tore through the air fiercely before slamming into the cliffside, unleashing a thunderous roar.
Rumble! Crack!
The ground shook, and the center of the cliff split open.
It didn't collapse, but a massive gash appeared, as if a giant had swung an axe with all its might.
"Soul-Hooking Spirit-Seizing Sword: Moon Perishing Soul."
It was Jinmu's favorite Wudang sword technique.
The name alone suited his taste perfectly. It practically ripped the soul right out of you.
The masked man, who had unleashed a mutual destruction strike, flew toward Jinmu—only to be cleaved perfectly in half mid-flight.
Blood and entrails spilled onto the ground, with severed bones gleaming white.
"Tch, I should've asked about that old man first. Eh, whatever. I can hunt him down nice and slow later."
As Jinmu turned away from the masked man's gruesome corpse,
Thud.
Thud.
His subordinates suddenly lost consciousness and collapsed.
Dang Yeo-pyeong and the others, who had been fighting them, wore puzzled expressions at the unexpected turn.
Of course, the first to calmly assess the situation was Zhuge Seon.
That venomous bastard—no, venomous woman.
Even someone with a strong stomach might retch at the sight of the crushed and split corpse, yet she approached with a remarkably composed expression, inspecting the body from every angle.
"Their reason and intellect have been suppressed. All of them."
"What?"
Dang Yeo-pyeong looked incredulous at Zhuge Seon's words.
"I don't know exactly what method was used, but their pupils are unfocused. Come to think of it, the only one who spoke up until now was..."
Zhuge Seon glanced at the masked man's severed head—killed by Jinmu—and grimaced.
No matter how iron-willed one was, the carnage Jinmu had wrought was too brutal.
"Just that one. The rest never said a word. Yulpyeong, seal their pressure points for now and bind them all."
"Yes, Young Master!"
"Messengers, head up to the cliff immediately and check for any other traces."
At Zhuge Seon's command, Cheongu and Cheongsang helped Yulpyeong subdue the fallen masked men, binding them with the ropes prepared in the carriage, while the messengers headed for the cliff.
"These are some truly bizarre folk."
"Indeed. I've never even heard of people like this."
Zhuge Seon crossed her arms, resting her chin on her hand in deep thought, then looked toward the young girl with Cheongu.
"Ah!"
Since they had been chasing her, she surely knew something.
"Little one. Do you happen to..."
But Zhuge Seon couldn't finish her sentence.
"Ah, uh, ahh, uh."
"Hm."
A faint tremor at her fingertips.
Her body shook like she was having spasms.
She was gripped by sheer terror.
Her eyes darted unfocused, and from her barely audible voice, it seemed...
'Aphasia? Too much shock, probably.'
The girl couldn't even shed tears.
"Ah!"
He hadn't pressed her, but Zhuge Seon chided herself for asking so abruptly to a clearly terrified child.
What the girl needed now wasn't questions about what happened.
Squeeze.
Kneeling to meet her eyes, Zhuge Seon smiled warmly and pulled the girl into an embrace.
She tilted their heads aside and gently stroked the girl's back.
"It's okay. You're safe now."
"Uh... ah..."
The breath she'd held back so many times finally burst forth, mist filling her eyes and streaming down her cheeks.
"Hic... waaah!"
A wail erupted.
Zhuge Seon held her even more tenderly.
The girl wept endlessly, and Zhuge Seon pressed her face to her chest, silently stroking her back.
"Ahem, ahem."
Was it because the child's sobs sounded so heartbreaking?
Dang Yeo-pyeong cleared his throat a couple times and approached Jinmu.
"The Zhuge family's young lady seems to have a gentle heart as well. To have such warmth."
Yeah, something like that.
He'd thought she was just calm and decisive, but she knew how to comfort the hurting too.
"That said, truly impressive. Beyond River Boundary into Solid River—no, a crescent sword energy."
"..."
The massive mark Jinmu had left. The crescent sword energy that split the cliff.
From that alone, Dang Yeo-pyeong could tell Jinmu's martial prowess bordered on divine.
What a mysterious guy.
Wudang's Earth Sword, Jinmu.
A new powerhouse in the martial world.
"Heh, really."
Dang Yeo-pyeong suddenly grew curious about the history this young man in his twenties would forge ahead.
And a strange sense of anticipation and excitement bloomed at the thought that he might walk that path alongside him.
"Ahem, anyway, your hands are ruthless. First time seeing someone bisected like that."
The masked man's leader, split clean in two.
Gruesome.
"Couldn't White Deer do the same?"
Jinmu replied curtly, but White Deer—now used to his tone and personality—didn't mind.
"By the way, you seemed to know something about these guys?"
As Dang Yeo-pyeong voiced his curiosity, Jinmu answered lazily.
"Windbreak Dog seemed to know."
"Windbreak Dog? Ah! Right, you mentioned ties to Elder Brother Sobang."
Elder brother?
Were White Deer and Windbreak Dog on friendly terms?
No wonder their nosiness matched.
"Eh, a bit."
"Hm. Then they're no mere human traffickers. If Elder Brother Sobang is pursuing those who brought calamity to that child, this isn't for the authorities— we must report it to the Alliance."
Jinmu couldn't care less either way.
"So what now? The dead are fine, but we've got over ten captives. Can't just string 'em up and drag 'em along."
As Dang Yeo-pyeong furrowed his brow in thought, Zhuge Seon approached, having somewhat soothed the girl.
She'd already heard from the returned messengers that no more enemies or traces were found atop the cliff.
"We're already ten days from Yicheong. Taking them to the Alliance is quite the distance, so we'll need help from a nearby sect."
"Nearby sect. But is there a suitable one around here?"
"The Beggars' Sect would be most appropriate."
"Beggars' Sect?"
"Yes. Tracing the trail to the site of the calamity would be impossible for us alone. The Beggars' Sect excels at tracking."
"I see. Then we should head there posthaste."
"With this many, we report to the largest branch nearby: Jingzhou's. But investigating a scene like this requires quite a few men. And experts too. A branch can't mobilize that without headquarters' approval."
Zhuge Seon pondered, then glanced at Jinmu.
"What? Why?"
"No, since you have ties to Elder Windbreak Dog, I wondered if you had connections to the Beggars' Sect as well."
Tryna use me, huh?
"Nah, nothing like that."
As Jinmu turned away pretending ignorance,
"Senior Brother, wouldn't the token Elder Windbreak Dog gave Master be helpful?"
"...!"
Cheongu whispered cautiously, and Cheongsang quickly checked Jinmu's reaction.
Meanwhile, Jinmu was eyeing Zhuge Seon.
Voice was low, so she probably didn't hear, right?
"What was that? A token?"
Zhuge Seon looked at Cheongu curiously. Damn, sharp ears too.
"Well, actually."
Wait, Cheongu, you bastard, what're you about to say?
Before Jinmu could stop him, Cheongu scratched his head and spoke.
"Senior Brother, just tell them. You went to clean that rusted coin on Master's orders before."
"Ch-Cheongu, that's."
Cheongsang looked flustered, glancing between Cheongu and Jinmu.
"Rusted... No way! You received a Beggars' Sect token?!"
At Zhuge Seon's exclamation, Dang Yeo-pyeong's eyes widened like saucers.
She figures it out quick.
What doesn't this woman know?
How sharp is she?
"Heh! You really got a token? And I never got one from Elder Brother Sobang despite our closeness."
Damn, everyone lit up like they'd found the answer, staring at Jinmu.
Only Jinmu and Cheongsang wore sour faces.
Anyway, a token would surely summon a branch. But Jinmu had zero intention of handing it over.
Yet.
"Truly remarkable. A Beggars' Sect token, no less. Given personally by Elder Windbreak Dog."
As Zhuge Seon failed to hide her amazement,
"Haha! Of course! Master's the pride of our Wudang. The Wudang Sword itself!"
"Ch-Cheongu."
Jinmu's face flushed red and purple, and a pale Cheongsang tried to intervene.
"Even that great Elder Windbreak Dog begged to forge ties before giving it! Haha!"
Cheongu, beaming with pride at praising his master, puffed out his chest oblivious.
Sigh, what a damn fool.
Never sharing secrets with Cheongu again.
"Will you help?"
Zhuge Seon asked his intentions.
"Heh, why ask the obvious?"
Obvious my ass! You old geezer!
How can you try to use someone else's stuff with such a straight face!
But Jinmu had his position too.
Wearing the title of Wudang Earth Sword and all. Eyes were on him.
Wudang's face mattered.
"Th-this... will it... help?"
Jinmu sighed, reluctantly pulling a small coin from his bosom.
Awkwardly. As slowly as possible.
Of course it'd work, but he wished it wouldn't.
"Ooh! A real Beggars' Sect token! First time seeing one. Perfect."
Zhuge Seon took it reverently in both hands, marveling.
"With a token, the entire Jingzhou branch moves without headquarters' say. Guaranteed!"
Dang Yeo-pyeong affirmed.
"See? I knew it!"
Cheongu preened amid their shocked faces.
As if it were his.
Sigh, Cheongu. You honest but dimwit.
Thinking proud of me is right, but... you're in danger today.
And I'll kick you out of Five Dragon Palace for sure.
You nuisance pig.