Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Scent of Powder
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I can smell powder, too.
“What should we do?”
At Cheon Gyeongwan's question, Byeok Taesan considered for a moment.
Byeok Taesan had a more accurate grasp of his current condition than one might think.
He might seem reckless whenever he started something, but in reality, he always acted within clearly defined limits.
If there were only one person hiding in the darkness, reeking of blood, he wouldn't have hesitated.
But the problem was that there weren't one, but two.
The man who'd lost his arm yesterday, and another he'd brought with him.
The one-armed man was quite far away. Cheon Gyeongwan probably hadn't detected his presence.
The one closer was stronger than the one-armed man in every way.
The quality and quantity of his energy were a level higher, and the stench of blood he emitted was much thicker.
Still, Cheon Gyeongwan could probably handle that one.
It might have been different before, but now, it was entirely possible.
The problem was the other one.
“Well… this should be manageable.”
Having finished his calculations, Byeok Taesan ordered Cheon Gyeongwan.
“Go kill him.”
At the command to kill, both Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon flinched.
But Cheon Gyeongwan quickly regained his composure and nodded.
Then, he shot forward.
*Claaaang!*
A violent sound echoed from the darkness.
Yu Seoyeon's eyes widened.
“There really was… someone there.”
How could she have not sensed someone hiding right there? Not only Cheon Gyeongwan but even Byeok Taesan had noticed.
Yu Seoyeon's gaze fixed on Byeok Taesan.
“Don't look at me, look over there.”
“Pardon?”
“There's more than one.”
In that instant, a chill ran down Yu Seoyeon's spine.
She hurriedly drew her sword.
Someone was rushing toward them. They were so fast that if Byeok Taesan hadn't warned her, she would have been ambushed.
*Clang!*
She swung her sword in a hurry, unable to put her full strength behind it.
Still, for now, it was enough that she had blocked the surprise attack.
Yu Seoyeon stood protectively in front of Byeok Taesan, glaring at their opponent.
It was the one-armed man from yesterday.
The man's lips curled into a slight smile. He had gauged her skill from their brief exchange of blows.
Even with one arm, this was manageable.
He didn't even need to win. He had only one goal.
The man charged again.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Yu Seoyeon gritted her teeth and blocked the man's attacks, striking at openings whenever she could.
It seemed like an even fight, but the man had a slight edge.
Knowing this, Yu Seoyeon grew increasingly anxious.
She feared that if Cheon Gyeongwan didn't finish his fight and return quickly, it might be difficult to protect Byeok Taesan.
But she would protect him, no matter what.
Because Yeon Harin wanted him.
Yu Seoyeon's sword moved faster and more fiercely.
The man only pretended to receive her attacks, putting less force into his own.
Naturally, he began to be pushed back little by little.
Yu Seoyeon pressed her advantage even more aggressively.
“Tsk, tsk. This is when the inexperienced ones show their true colors.”
Hearing Byeok Taesan's voice from behind, Yu Seoyeon snapped to her senses.
At that moment, something shot up from beneath her feet.
It was a small flame.
It was a trap the man had set beforehand. Of course, it wasn't meant to cause harm, but to create a momentary opening.
And Yu Seoyeon had fallen for it beautifully.
The man's figure flowed past Yu Seoyeon like water.
Yu Seoyeon belatedly swung her sword, slashing the man's back.
*Shhhk!*
‘Too shallow!’
With a desperate expression, Yu Seoyeon forced her body to twist and leap.
Her bones creaked, but she paid it no mind.
Her sword rushed toward the man's back, which was now bleeding from a long gash.
But the man was already in front of Byeok Taesan.
“No!”
Yu Seoyeon put more force into her sword.
*Shunk!*
Her sword pierced the man's back.
And the man's sword stabbed at Byeok Taesan's heart.
At least, that's how it looked.
“Huh?”
The man let out a foolish sound.
Yu Seoyeon couldn't even make a sound. She was too shocked, staring wide-eyed at the scene the man and Byeok Taesan had created.
The man's sword was wedged precisely under Byeok Taesan's armpit.
He hadn't stabbed the heart, but the empty space beneath the arm.
And in that instant, Byeok Taesan's hand traced a beautiful arc and tapped the man's chin.
Literally, a tap.
A tap, as if patting a cute child's cheek.
The man staggered and collapsed to the side.
*Thud.*
Yu Seoyeon stared blankly at the scene.
“What are you standing there for? Aren't you going to get rid of this?”
“Ah, yes. I'll… I'll get rid of it.”
Yu Seoyeon hurriedly checked the man on the ground. He was dead. Instantly.
She looked back and forth between the corpse and Byeok Taesan with astonished eyes.
‘How in the world?’
Her mind was a tangled mess of confusion.
Then, she heard Byeok Taesan mutter.
“Well… her fighting spirit is decent.”
Yu Seoyeon stared blankly at Byeok Taesan. She didn't know why, but his words made her feel strangely pleased.
Just then, Cheon Gyeongwan returned.
He once again bowed his head deeply to Byeok Taesan.
“I apologize.”
“As long as you know.”
Byeok Taesan pointed at the corpse and said.
“Keep that one safe.”
“Yes. Do not worry.”
There would be things to learn from this body.
For instance, the man's face, the state of his meridians through which his internal energy flowed, any possessions he might be carrying, tattoos or physical build—everything was a subject for investigation.
‘Though I doubt there's anyone here who can do it.’
In the Heavenly Demonic Cult, there were specialists who handled only this kind of work.
Bastards obsessed with corpses.
He'd told him to secure the body with that in mind, but he didn't have high hopes.
“Well then, let's go.”
As Byeok Taesan started walking again, Yu Seoyeon asked with a weary look.
“You're still going to the pavilion after all this?”
“It's because of what just happened that I have to go.”
From Byeok Taesan's perspective, it was the obvious thing to say.
The spiritual power he'd used to kill that man had left one of the great meridians he'd connected yesterday on the verge of breaking.
To reinforce it, he needed more spiritual power.
So, wasn't it all the more reason to diligently go to the pavilion and absorb the powder from the souls?
As he walked, Cheon Gyeongwan spoke from behind.
“Young Master, I believe you've taken a wrong turn. There are no pavilions in that direction.”
Byeok Taesan stopped and turned around.
He looked at Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon with a pathetic gaze.
“Why do you think I came this way? To a secluded place with no pavilions.”
“Pardon? Well…”
Cheon Gyeongwan was about to answer that he'd taken a wrong turn, but he closed his mouth.
It was Byeok Taesan, of all people. How could he possibly get lost?
Byeok Taesan was a genius, after all.
“You two really are lazy with your training, aren't you?”
Yu Seoyeon bristled at his words. If there was one thing she was confident about, it was that her passion for training was second to none.
Of course, watching Cheon Gyeongwan train recently, she felt she was falling a bit behind, but still, hearing such words from Byeok Taesan was absurd.
“I am listening.”
Yu Seoyeon was startled by Cheon Gyeongwan's words and looked at him.
Did he really just say that? Was he in his right mind?
“Whatever you're doing, you must keep your senses open. Whether you're training, walking, eating, or sleeping.”
Yu Seoyeon's mouth fell open.
Was he serious? How many people in the world could actually do that?
In the end, she couldn't hold back her words.
“How many people like that could there possibly be?”
Byeok Taesan answered immediately.
“Plenty. I know about five hundred myself. And there are probably more that I don't know.”
Having said that, Byeok Taesan chuckled and looked at Yu Seoyeon.
“Well, living within the limits you set for yourself isn't so bad either.”
Hearing Byeok Taesan's words, Yu Seoyeon felt a shock as if a lightning bolt had shot from the crown of her head straight down to the soles of her feet.
She stared blankly at Byeok Taesan, a whirlwind of thoughts racing through her mind.
Byeok Taesan walked over to her and patted her shoulder.
“Snap out of it.”
Startled, Yu Seoyeon came to her senses.
She looked at Byeok Taesan with resentful eyes.
She had been on the verge of grasping something, but Byeok Taesan had broken her concentration.
“Don't do it here. Do it later when you have time. If you can't grasp it again, it was never yours to begin with.”
With that, Byeok Taesan turned and started walking again.
Yu Seoyeon stared blankly at his back for a moment before following him as if mesmerized.
Cheon Gyeongwan quietly fell in step beside her.
“You have received a fine gift. It seems the Young Master has taken a liking to you, Warrior Yu.”
His words reminded her of what Byeok Taesan had muttered earlier.
‘Her fighting spirit is decent…’
The corners of Yu Seoyeon's mouth crept up unconsciously.
***
“Where are we?”
“A place that smells of blood.”
At Byeok Taesan's words, Cheon Gyeongwan looked at the dilapidated house in front of them with new eyes.
And what Byeok Taesan had said earlier took on a new meaning.
‘Then has the Young Master been training his senses? Constantly?’
‘And was that how he was able to follow that man's trail all the way here, by keeping his senses open?’
“Is the man from earlier in that house?”
“Of course not.”
“Pardon?”
“Who knows what kind of people are in there? Why would I go all the way up to it?”
Cheon Gyeongwan stared blankly at Byeok Taesan.
Yu Seoyeon was surprised by this side of Byeok Taesan. She had thought he was someone who acted recklessly on a whim, but that wasn't the case.
“Then…”
“I'm just checking.”
He didn't know what Byeok Taesan was checking, but Cheon Gyeongwan just accepted it.
How could he possibly fathom Byeok Taesan's thoughts?
Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon watched Byeok Taesan with tense eyes.
“I thought it would only smell of blood…”
A strange smile played on Byeok Taesan's lips.
“But there's the scent of powder, too.”
Having said just that, Byeok Taesan turned around.
“Let's go back now.”
Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon silently watched Byeok Taesan's back as he strode away.
They weren't sure yet, but something was definitely happening.
With Byeok Taesan at the center.
The two of them, following Byeok Taesan with determined expressions, looked strangely similar in their demeanor.
***
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
At Cheon Gyeongwan's question, Yu Seoyeon snapped out of her thoughts and gave a wry smile.
“Just… this and that.”
After saying that, Yu Seoyeon looked at Cheon Gyeongwan with a peculiar expression.
“So you do know how to make small talk?”
Cheon Gyeongwan subtly avoided her gaze. It was still difficult for him to meet her eyes directly.
“This would be a good time to continue the enlightenment you gained earlier. It will be a while before this is over.”
Yu Seoyeon looked incredulous.
She looked from Cheon Gyeongwan to the building Byeok Taesan had entered.
From inside, a constant stream of sounds—whether moans or screams, she couldn't tell—had been pouring out.
Her gaze finally landed on the corpse in front of Cheon Gyeongwan.
“You want me to sort out my enlightenment in a situation like this?”
Cheon Gyeongwan looked at Yu Seoyeon again and said.
“The Young Master said it himself earlier. If that enlightenment truly belongs to you, Warrior Yu, you can attain it anytime.”
It was slightly different from what she remembered, but the gist was the same.
What did the environment matter? It was worth a try.
“Then I'll leave things to you for a moment.”
“Take as long as you need.”
Yu Seoyeon gave Cheon Gyeongwan a gentle smile. Then she closed her eyes and focused, trying to grasp the thread of the enlightenment that had come to her earlier.
And, as if by magic, she instantly entered a state of selflessness.
Watching her, Cheon Gyeongwan gave a wry smile.
Seeing this, it was clear her talent surpassed his.
He stood beside her like an iron tower, protecting her, with the sounds from the building as a backdrop.