Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Setting Out on the Road (1)
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"Ugh, it's hot."
Cheol Woo, sprawled on a massive boulder with his upper robe flung open, pulled the waterskin from his belt.
"Boss."
Cheol Woo held out the waterskin toward Sima Geon.
"I'm good."
Sima Geon, sitting beside him, stared blankly at the sky before speaking.
"Things are going well, right?"
"What?"
"The butcher shop."
"What're you worried about? Gramps is there. Seemed like it suits him, too. Heh heh heh!"
Cheol Woo chuckled, picturing Hahu Gok swinging a cleaver instead of a sword.
Sima Geon and Cheol Woo had left Soheung exactly five days after declaring they'd leave the butcher shop in Hahu Gok's hands.
Hahu Gok's butchering skills were exceptional.
He'd caught up to Cheol Woo in just one day, and by the third, he could hold his own against Sima Geon without backing down.
Cheol Woo's quip that butchering suited his talents wasn't far off.
"Anyway, the boss entrusting the shop to Gramps, and Gramps actually agreeing to run it... both of them are something else. If it were me..."
Cheol Woo's voice trailed off as he raised it in chatter, only to snap his mouth shut at Sima Geon's gesture.
No question was needed. He'd sensed the footsteps approaching through the woods, too.
The thick underbrush rustled, and two figures emerged.
A young man in his mid-twenties was carrying an elderly man with snow-white hair on his back. Both were covered in blood.
The old man's injuries looked grave as he lay unconscious against the youth's back.
The young man, bursting out of the brush in a daze, spotted Sima Geon and Cheol Woo on the rock and flinched. He stumbled, collapsing forward, and didn't get up again.
"..."
Catching them off guard, the two men exchanged blank looks before slowly rising.
"No way they got mauled by some beast."
Cheol Woo nudged the youth's side with his toe, then clicked his tongue at the cuts all over his body.
"One, two... how many wounds is that? He took a beating. No fatal ones, though."
"This one's in worse shape. Looks like they patched him up roughly, but he's not looking good."
Sima Geon frowned as he examined the old man.
"What do we do?"
"Give him some water first. The one who's gonna take responsibility to the end is that guy anyway."
As Cheol Woo pressed the waterskin to the unconscious youth's lips, Sima Geon propped up the old man's body and sat cross-legged behind him.
The external wounds were bad enough, but the internal injuries were no joke.
Errant qi rampaged wildly through his body.
First things first, it needed calming.
Sima Geon's palm touched the old man's Mingmen acupoint, and a massive surge of qi poured into him.
The rampaging qi inside reacted violently to the sudden influx. But like a raging river meeting the sea, it was quelled in an instant, reduced to nothing.
As Sima Geon's qi suppressed the wild energy, a faint strand emerged from the old man's dantian. It began guiding the lost qi back to its proper paths.
Sensing the old man instinctively starting his breathing exercise, Sima Geon gradually withdrew his power, then pulled away. Any deeper intervention might make things worse.
"How is he?"
Cheol Woo asked.
"Hard to say. Put out the immediate fire, but he's in rough shape overall. Looks like he passed the worst, though. Hey, got any golden sore medicine?"
"You asking me?"
Cheol Woo smirked, flexing his massive arms wide.
"Just checking. How's the kid?"
"Lots of minor cuts, but nothing serious. Passed out from exhaustion. Wake him?"
"Nah. He'll come to soon. Since we're helping, let's give him that much courtesy."
"Got it. What about those guys? Seems like they're connected."
Cheol Woo nodded toward the woods.
Something grating had been stirring for a while now.
The others were being cautious, but Sima Geon and Cheol Woo had already pinpointed them.
"If they've got business, they'll show."
"What'll you do?"
"Dunno. Don't know the full story on either side. But..."
Sima Geon's eyes turned cold.
"This changes things a bit."
No sooner had he spoken than a dozen arrows whistled from the trees.
Not aimed at the youth or old man—but at Sima Geon and Cheol Woo.
"Fun."
Cheol Woo grinned, swinging his log-thick arm casually.
Most arrows flew off harmlessly amid fierce whooshes; the few that dodged his arm were snatched by Sima Geon.
With the ambush foiled, their pursuers rushed from all sides.
Cheol Woo whistled, eyeing the men forming a encirclement.
Exactly twelve.
Various ages, but all exuded formidable auras.
"Who the hell are you?"
Cheol Woo sneered arrogantly.
No answer—just a razor-sharp sword thrusting forth.
"Hah! You nuts?"
Grinning wider, Cheol Woo met the ferocious strike with his fist.
Attackers and onlookers alike gaped in disbelief, but as the swords shattered on impact, shock replaced it.
"R-Run!"
Someone yelled desperately. But Cheol Woo's fist was faster.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Dull impacts rang out, launching the attackers skyward in unison.
Allies rushed in with arrows to save them.
Cheol Woo didn't even glance back, unthreatened.
Sima Geon flung the arrow in his hand.
It streaked like lightning, knocking every incoming shaft aside.
The archer in the rear groaned, nocking another—until the eldest-looking man raised a hand, halting him.
Ok Sayu, who'd stopped his juniors' attacks, stared gravely at Cheol Woo and Sima Geon.
Outnumbered and surrounded, yet utterly calm. They'd already proven why.
His juniors who'd attacked Cheol Woo were crippled in one counter. They twitched faintly—alive by mercy, not luck. And casually batting arrows? Unthinkable skill.
'My mistake.'
Ok Sayu berated himself for rashly assuming these men were allies of the assassins he'd chased.
Even at a glance, their bearing screamed anything but ordinary.
No chance of winning, even giving a hundred concessions.
"Hey, you just gonna stand there? Step up, say something."
Cheol Woo cracked his neck side to side.
"Seems we've made a mistake."
Ok Sayu bowed politely in apology.
"Attack first, then call it a mistake 'cause the vibe's off? Living easy, huh."
Cheol Woo's mockery darkened Ok Sayu's face further.
"Shut your mouths!"
"Senior Brother! What're you doing?"
His puzzled juniors bristled, but it only cooled Ok Sayu's reason further. Especially Sima Geon's impassive gaze sent chills down his spine.
Ignoring them, Ok Sayu turned courteously to the still-unconscious youth and old man.
"We chased the assassins who ambushed our master for days. Got too hasty. Forgive us."
At "assassins," Cheol Woo's eyes gleamed as he glanced at Sima Geon.
"Knew it felt like that."
"What tipped you?"
"Just a hunch."
Cheol Woo eyed the youth with budding fondness.
[Reminds me of how folks looked at us as kids.]
[Yeah, similar vibe. Familiar feel from the old man, too.]
As they transmitted mentally, their unexpected reaction darkened Ok Sayu's expression.
Assassins were enemies to all martial artists. He'd revealed them and sought pardon for his error—only for friendliness? Total fiasco.
"Not with them? Back off. Unless you wanna be public enemies."
As Ok Sayu pondered the best exit, a sudden shout blanched him.
His strongest but most arrogant and hot-headed third junior, Kang Sul, had blurted it before he could stop him.
"Shut it."
Ok Sayu snapped urgently, but the air had frozen.
"Public enemies, huh."
Cheol Woo grinned viciously, scanning them.
"Impressive title. Not handed out lightly, I bet. Means your master's pretty famous if those assassins jumped him."
"Of course. The Eight Winds Sword..."
"I said shut it."
Ok Sayu cut Kang Sul coldly.
"S..."
Kang Sul swallowed his retort at his senior's unprecedented fury.
"Forgive us. Master's between life and death—everyone's on edge."
"Not my problem."
Cheol Woo snorted, flicking his ear and whistling through his fingers.
"Thought 'public enemies' meant big shots, but they got done by mere assassins? Not all that, then."
Ok Sayu's face twisted in anguish. If he, barely holding composure, reacted so—others were worse.
The sky-high master insulted.
Honor, heavier than life, dragged through dirt.
Hot fury overtook cold logic; rage blinded them all.
"Die!"
Kang Sul lunged first, sword slicing air.
Just before it struck Cheol Woo's smirking face, it halted abruptly. His followers froze too. Gazes shifted to limp Kang Sul—and Sima Geon gripping his nape.
'When did he...'
Ok Sayu, never taking eyes off Sima Geon even as Kang Sul charged, looked haunted.
"Boss, why?"
Cheol Woo whined, disappointed at losing his prey.
"That's enough. Master's dying, they say. Can't blame the flipped lids."
"Dump 'em?"
"Nah."
Cheol Woo spun, tossing Kang Sul to Ok Sayu.
"Courtesy ends here. Settle grudges after we leave. Back off."
"They're assassins who treat lives like flies! Why defend them?"
Jung Su, the bearded archer beside Ok Sayu, yelled.
Sima Geon glanced at his bow, smirking faintly.
"Pot calling kettle. You shot arrows without confirming. We'd be dead clueless if ordinary folk. You lost moral ground then."
"Th-That's..."
"Heard you don't abandon pups in your yard. Even mutts. So leave."
Jung Su turned away, speechless. Ok Sayu, grim-faced, asked.
"How far?"
"Till I can't sense you."
"Understood."
Ok Sayu nodded readily, signaling his juniors. Some scowled but obeyed his stern glare.
As they gathered fainted juniors and Kang Sul, Ok Sayu hesitated, then asked.
"Your names?"
"Wanna die?"
Ok Sayu shuddered at the emotionless tone, gritting teeth before turning away slowly.
Once they vanished fully, Sima Geon nodded. Cheol Woo kicked the "dead" youth's side.
"How long you gonna play possum? Know you're awake. Get up."
The youth sprang up before he finished.
"Assassins? Nah, got it. Don't care to hear anyway."
Sima Geon waved off the troubled youth, continuing.
"You heard everything. You get the situation."
"Yes."
"Our help ends here."
"I'll never forget the grace."
The youth bowed deeply to Sima Geon.
"Whatever. Gramps'll wake soon. Handle it."
The youth's gaze instinctively went to the old man.
The old man—Heukam, elite assassin of the Blood Forest—was still unconsciously circulating his qi.