Chapter 65
Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Safe House in Chilgok County - 1
When I finished the energy circulation breathing and opened my eyes, it was already the middle of the night.
I listened carefully to the sounds around me for a moment, but fortunately, no screams could be heard.
Had she not become the Heavenly Slaying Star? Or had she simply not come this way? There was no way to know.
'The sound of water?'
As I listened, I heard the sound of water coming from one corner of the room.
There was no lighting in the room, so it was pitch black. I looked around, trying to locate the direction of the water sound.
Finding where the sound came from, I saw someone washing their hands and face with water in a corner of the room.
I was so startled that a scream almost escaped, but I barely managed to hold it back.
Who is it? Is it the man who just brought me here? Even if I wanted to figure out who it was, it was too dark to make out anything other than that it was a person.
While I was startled and pondering their identity, the moonlight, previously hidden by clouds, streamed through the window, casting a dim light that revealed the person's silhouette.
The figure illuminated by the moonlight was clearly that of a woman.
Her face was too dark to see, but the unmistakable silhouette of large breasts—breasts that couldn't be hidden unless she was wearing a male-disguise compression bandage meant to conceal even G-cups—was clearly visible.
Who could it be? I didn't even need to wonder. Unless the previous owner had run off with a lover and left the snail bride behind, there was only one person who could be standing before me now.
"So-hee?"
I called out the name of the only unrelated woman in this world or the next who might possibly enter my room in the middle of the night.
At my call, the shadow reacted instantly.
"Yun-ho!"
Fortunately, the voice that responded was one I had somehow grown familiar with. The woman rushed to my side as if on springs. It was indeed Cheon So-hee.
Seeing her up close, she had an expression as if she was overwhelmed by some emotion.
Thank goodness. By all appearances, it wasn't the expression of the Heavenly Slaying Star, but Cheon So-hee's expression.
It seemed she had been waiting quietly, worried about me, not covering my eyes while I was using the energy circulation breathing and asking 'Guess who I am.'
"So-hee. How did you find me so well... Ugh!"
I tried to sit up to greet her, but halfway up, my legs gave out completely.
"Yun-ho!"
She immediately pulled me into an embrace, supporting my body.
Seeing her up close as she held me, her face was dripping with concern for me.
"You found me well."
"Yun-ho's scent. I remembered it."
Has the Thousand-League Tracking Scent not worn off yet?
I gave up on escaping a long time ago, but I couldn't help but marvel anew at the absurdly effective tracking ability of the Thousand-League Tracking Scent.
So-hee carefully sat me down while still holding me.
"So-hee?"
Why are you still holding on?
If you've sat me down, you should let go.
"I'm sorry."
Contrary to my wish, she hugged me more firmly, as if determined not to let go.
Why is she like this?
I could feel her shoulders trembling slightly. She rested her chin on my shoulder and spoke.
"I'm sorry. Really... I'm sorry."
Was the shock that great?
Her voice, choked with emotion, sounded wet.
This... Should I pat her head?
Believing she wouldn't cut off my hand like that partner who cut off his own eraser because it touched her, I mustered my courage and raised my aimless hands.
Then, carefully, I put one arm around her and began to pat the back of her head with my other hand.
"It's not your fault, So-hee. I was careless."
Before staying at the inn, it was a path I walked every day without incident. How could I have known the long-vanished Azure Serpent Sect would appear there?
"No. It's because I couldn't protect you. I promised to stay by your side. I said I'd guard you... I couldn't keep my promise."
The tremors from her shock, which she couldn't shake off, traveled from her heavy chest to my body.
For her, who had experienced losing all her precious people, this incident must have been a huge shock.
Our relationship was created to escape a mortal crisis, but it seems without me realizing, a very small place for me had formed in a corner of her heart.
I silently patted the back of her head until her trembling subsided.
Honestly, my whole body ached, and her hugging me hurt, but the sensation of her chest against my upper body was quite pleasant, so it was bearable to hold on.
When the trembling subsided, she naturally pulled away from my embrace and stood up.
Having left my embrace, her face was slightly flushed, as if her heightened emotions hadn't completely settled.
"So-hee. So, did you finish taking revenge for your brother?"
Even I found it strange that I, smiling, was asking if she had killed people well, but this topic seemed the best to lift her gloomy mood.
"Yes. Thoroughly."
As if a child was explaining to their mother what they did well today, she began explaining to me how she had dismembered them.
I'm weak to gore, though.
There were descriptions that made me want to grimace, but she was explaining how diligently she had avenged them for me, so I couldn't show displeasure and endured listening.
"So I split the belly and took out the entrails..."
"Urp!"
Perhaps due to her overly graphic description, I suddenly felt nauseous.
Huh? This isn't nausea.
This is blood.
"Yun-ho!"
She was startled and grabbed my wrist, checking the blood on my palm.
Had I injured my insides?
"Ugh!"
I suddenly grabbed my stomach in pain.
So the feeling of nausea since earlier wasn't because of the cruel description, but because I had internal injuries.
"Yun-ho! Yun-ho! No! Yun-ho!"
What's wrong? It doesn't hurt enough to die.
Suddenly, Cheon So-hee let out a voice as if she had fallen into a panic, and her eyes began to tremble mercilessly.
"So, So-hee."
I'm not dying. I'll be fine if I just lie down for a bit. I was about to say that, but the moment I said 'hee,' a drop of blood splattered onto her face.
"Aah."
The focus in her eyes was gradually fading. Why?! If she awakens as the Heavenly Slaying Star over something like this, it'll be troublesome!
"So-hee!"
When I shouted, fortunately, her focus returned.
"Yun-ho. Quickly. Get on my back!"
She bent her knees, showed me her back, and gestured.
"So-hee. That much is..."
"Let's move first and see."
"So-hee?"
As I waved my hands in refusal, So-hee, as if there was no time for that, approached me and began quickly pressing specific points on my body.
Suddenly, I feel sleepy. Is this the arousal switch? No, it's an acupressure point.
I tried to resist the oncoming tide of drowsiness, but once the sleep switch on my body was pressed, I couldn't hold on.
I don't know. It's not like she's taking me somewhere inappropriate. Let's just sleep.
Feeling the sensation of being forcibly hoisted onto her back as I was about to fall asleep, I drifted off.
******
The place Cheon So-hee arrived at, carrying Kang Yun-ho on her back, was not the inn where they were staying.
"Yun-ho. Lie down here for a moment."
Cheon So-hee arrived at the Chilgok County branch of the Salmak, laid the sleeping Kang Yun-ho down in a corner, and entered a secret room.
Clap, clap, clap.
As the Heavenly Slaying Star entered the secret room, the sound of applause greeted her.
"Well, well. You've caused quite a stir."
Inside the secret room, the branch manager, who had already been briefed on the incident, was seated.
"I need help."
"Assassin No. 5? Are you perhaps not in your right mind?"
"I'm fine."
The Heavenly Slaying Star answered, ignoring the branch manager's sarcastic tone.
"You don't look fine. Even if our relationship is somewhat comfortable, you shouldn't bring an outsider here."
The branch manager pointed towards Kang Yun-ho lying beyond the wall with a serious expression, gesturing with his chin.
The branch manager had given her the Seven Nights Rope and had let her refusal of a mission slide. However, even if it was the Heavenly Slaying Star, this was a matter that needed to be addressed seriously.
"I'll take responsibility."
"With your lover's life?"
At those words, the Heavenly Slaying Star immediately drew her sword.
"Hold on. You've really fallen hard, haven't you?"
"If anyone touches him, I won't forgive them, no matter who they are."
She spoke while emanating killing intent from her entire body.
"I was joking! A joke! I know full well you came here because of the blood connection. As if you'd really do that."
The branch manager raised both hands with a smiling face, signaling surrender.
"Don't make that kind of joke. Ever again."
The Heavenly Slaying Star gave a warning and then sheathed her sword again.
"So, what help do you need? Disposing of bodies?"
"Yun-ho is injured. I need a physician."
"You can just go to a physician tomorrow when it's light."
"Now. I need one now."
Not a moment could be wasted. The Heavenly Slaying Star's heart felt like it was burning up with every passing second.
"Well, this is something. I thought you came to ask for help with disposing of bodies or finding a hiding place."
The branch manager scratched his head with a troubled expression.
"This is more important than anything."
"Looking at your face, it seems so. Well then. Go to the Salmak safe house prepared in Chilgok County. If you're there, they'll call a physician right away."
The branch manager handed over a note with the location of the Salmak's safe house.
"Understood."
There was no time. The Heavenly Slaying Star turned to return to Kang Yun-ho.
"Heavenly Slaying Star."
The branch manager called out to her with a somewhat serious tone as she turned to leave.
"Yes."
"Stay at the safe house with that man until the situation calms down."
"Why?"
"Were you planning to run away with an injured man? Stay at the safe house with him and rest properly for a while. I'll handle the aftermath. Just hide until the incident settles down."
The man was right. Even when martial artists clash, lives are lost, but it's rare for thirty martial artists to be brutally dismembered.
Whether this happened due to a great enmity, or a demonic person appeared, or someone from the unorthodox sects committed this act, investigations from various quarters were highly likely.
"Thank you."
The Heavenly Slaying Star obediently bowed her head to the man's goodwill.
"Enough. Consider it preparing a bridal chamber for you. Take good care of your lover."
"I'm going."
The Heavenly Slaying Star ignored the man's words and headed straight for the safe house written on the note.
"Now she doesn't even deny it."
As the Heavenly Slaying Star disappeared, the man chuckled and began preparing for the aftermath.
*******
When I regained consciousness, I could feel someone meticulously examining various parts of my body with careful hands.
"Who... is it?"
With a groggy head still half-asleep, I asked the old man I saw before me.
"I am a physician. It will hurt more if you move, so lie still."
So she brought me to a place with a physician.
Relieved, I closed my eyes and waited for the examination results.
"How is he?"
An impatient voice. It's So-hee's voice. I thought about opening my eyes to find So-hee, but soon gave up the thought.
She hadn't turned into the Heavenly Slaying Star, and the physician was right here, so it seemed better to just rest.
"Is this man also a martial artist?"
The physician, after taking my pulse, asked So-hee.
"... Why?"
"He does have internal injuries, but they're not severe. Normally, with this level, he wouldn't vomit blood. If this man is a martial artist, he probably expelled the stagnant blood from his organs through energy circulation and nourishment. That's why he vomited blood."
So that's why I vomited blood.
Whenever I was badly injured or beaten up and used the energy circulation breathing to recover, I often spat out blood.
Each time, thinking my body was in danger, I practiced even harder. It seems the act of spitting blood itself was probably part of the recovery process.
"Internal energy method. He used it."
Cheon So-hee's voice carried a somewhat suspicious atmosphere.
"Then there's nothing major to worry about. By the way, it's strange. It looks like he was thoroughly beaten with a blunt weapon, but his bones aren't broken and his muscles aren't torn. Of course, that doesn't mean he's in perfect condition, so he needs to recuperate for a while, but fortunately, he won't become disabled."
"That's a relief."
She let out a voice that sounded relieved, her worries dispelled.
"I'll prepare the medicine. Have him take it steadily for a while. If he has learned an internal energy method that allows energy circulation and nourishment, have him practice it consistently."
Hearing the sound of the physician getting up, I opened my eyes.
"Thank you... Urk!"
I tried to sit up my upper body to give a light greeting, but immediately lost strength in the hand supporting me.
"Yun-ho!"
So-hee approached as fast as if using a lightness skill, supporting my upper body as it was about to fall.
"Thank you."
"Lie down."
So-hee, with a face full of worry, supported the back of my head and laid me back down on the spot.
Then, she kept looking at my face with a pained expression, perhaps checking the injured parts on my face.
Your face is too close, it's burdensome. Look from a bit farther away.
"You two will be a very sweet couple."
When the physician poured cold water on my behalf, So-hee was momentarily startled and distanced herself from me.
"Couple... We're not."
So-hee denied it while slightly dragging out her words.
"Then you'll be a couple soon."
This physician grandfather is saying something that could cause a big problem.
"We're just hometown oppa and younger sister."
She was about to say something, but it seemed like explaining would take forever, so I cut to the chase and clarified.
Then, she looked at me with an expression similar to when you have a subtle dissatisfaction, like wanting to eat tteokbokki but someone ordered soup with rice instead.
What's wrong? I clarified it well, didn't I?
Is the psychological shock because I'm injured that great? Her reactions have been a bit strange since earlier at the slum.
"I should stop meddling in young people's love lives. I've left the prescription and medicine packets, so I'll be going now."
The physician made an expression as if he could no longer bear to watch something unsightly, accepted the farewell, and left the room.
So I just need to take medicine, rest, and do the energy circulation breathing well, right?
And I won't have to see those Azure Serpent Sect bastards again either. My thought that So-hee would become the Heavenly Slaying Star because of this incident was a misconception.
At this point, it's really a happy ending grade.
Excluding only her, who was looking at me with dissatisfaction unlike before.
"Yun-ho."
She finally called me, as if to express her dissatisfaction.
Is it because of what just happened?
I didn't say we were bodyguard and client like last time. But that doesn't mean I should have said we were a couple. She probably doesn't hold that kind of dissatisfaction.
"Huh? What's wrong, So-hee?"
Kang Yun-ho doesn't know why So-hee is angry. If she gets angry for a strange reason, I should just turn over and lie down since I'm a patient.
"I have something to ask."
"Ask away."
Did I do something suspicious that would make her think I'm not her childhood oppa?
No. If I had, she wouldn't have so passionately disassembled those Azure Serpent Sect bastards and brought me here just now.
Then is she going to ask about her past?
I have settings prepared for Cheon So-hee's past so far.
Except for things like Cheon So-hee's father and mother's names, I'm confident I can talk about it.
However, she didn't bring it up right away and kept looking at me for a while, as if hesitating about something.
What is it?
This is making me uneasy.
As I kept looking at her, she finally brought out the question.
"Internal energy method. Who did you learn it from?"
Ah. This is a question I hadn't anticipated.