As If "Treacherous" Were Carved Upon His Brow
The woman could not move. The Golden Silk was far too tough and far too fine; even her formidable strength could do nothing with it, and if she forced the issue, it would be her own body that sheared apart.
She had no recourse but to draw up her blood qi and shield herself. Yi Yeok hauled her along as roughly as a man dragging a dog.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Her body struck earth, stone, and timber without a pause.
Two hours later, Yi Yeok came to a stop. Filthy as she was, the bound woman had not a single wound on her. He sprang into a nearby tree and strung her up from it.
Hanging upside down, the woman roared.
"I am Sang U, Ninth Inner Elder of the Jareung Immortal Sect. Do you imagine you can bear what comes of this?"
"You still haven't grasped the situation. Why don't you take a look at the state you're in before you open your mouth?"
Sang U answered, her voice as composed as ever.
"You're quick enough, I'll give you that. Your strength, though, doesn't even come close. I could give you three days and you still wouldn't break my protective spell."
"Spare me the bluster."
Yi Yeok yanked the Golden Silk and, in the same breath, swung Yojiyu into her. Ancient characters surfaced across Sang U's skin and turned the blow aside.
"You think too little of the Jareung Immortal Sect. With skill like yours, you will never break it."
A treacherous smile curved Yi Yeok's mouth.
"Then how about I strip those clothes off and hang you on the city wall for a few days?"
Sang U's gaze wavered for a heartbeat. She recovered at once and answered as if nothing had touched her.
"Do that, and it won't be only that city. Your sect will be wiped from the world as well. Not a single ant left alive."
"And who exactly is going to care?"
Sang U faltered. Little by little, unease began to rise in her.
"You have family, don't you? Don't let one rash impulse drag other people into ruin with you."
Yi Yeok snickered.
"Want me to tell you where they live? Will you kill them for me if I do?"
Sang U's face twisted. This was no empty boast. From Yi Yeok she sensed not the slightest stir of feeling.
"What do you want from me? Stop this. I have done you no harm."
"Three days and I still can't break your protective spell? Then what about four? Five? Six? How does a year sound? I could just starve you to death out here."
The color drained from Sang U's face.
Yi Yeok sank into thought, and he had to admit So Cheong-ha had been right. He had chased speed and nothing else, and against a cultivator of this order his strength simply wasn't enough. He dragged her to another pond nearby and kicked her straight into the water.
Splash!
"Have a word with the fish. I need to think about what to do with you."
About an hour later he hauled on the Golden Silk, and Sang U came up drenched to the skin. Her soaked clothes clung to her, laying every line of her figure bare.
"You dare—!"
Sang U's voice shook with fury.
"And you still think you'll be allowed a clean death?!"
Yi Yeok regarded her with flat, indifferent eyes.
"Honestly, you're a nuisance. I can't kill you, and I can't very well just let you go."
"Then why not sell her off?"
An unfamiliar voice drifted in, bright with mischief.
"An elder of the Jareung Immortal Sect ought to fetch a handsome price."
Yi Yeok turned. From behind a tree some distance off, a middle-aged man in black was strolling into view.
"Here I thought it was some beast passing through. Turns out it was a man."
The man in black smiled, perfectly at ease.
"Little one, how about you hand that woman over for a hundred thousand taels?"
Sang U went white.
"The Demon Gate... Hwa Mu-gyeol of the Demon Gate!"
Yi Yeok studied him with care. A sinister, bone-deep chill clung to the man. It was akin to the Black Peak Gang he had faced before, but the gulf between them was vast.
Hwa Mu-gyeol smiled without hurry.
"Elder Sang U. It has been some time."
What little color remained in Sang U's face fled. The Demon Gate would be a living hell; she would be better off dead.
"Young friend, give her to me for a hundred thousand. That isn't unreasonable, is it?"
"A hundred thousand immortal stones, you mean?"
Hwa Mu-gyeol gave a short, empty laugh.
"Silver, of course. A hundred thousand taels of silver."
"Pocket change. Not interested."
Hwa Mu-gyeol's brows rose.
"Do you have any idea what a hundred thousand immortal stones actually is? Spend ten a day and it would still take you nearly thirty years to use them up."
"I know exactly what it is. Put them down, and I'll hand the woman over."
"She is an elder of the Jareung Immortal Sect. A thoroughly troublesome woman. Turn her over to me and I'll see to every loose end myself. You ought to be thanking me for the offer."
Yi Yeok only sneered.
"Clean out your ears and listen. Get out of my sight. Right now."
Hwa Mu-gyeol shook his head, laughing.
"So you've no interest in a deal."
"I've all the interest in the world. A hundred thousand immortal stones. If you don't have them, leave."
Hwa Mu-gyeol closed a few more steps and spoke as if he had time to spare.
"Young friend, you've already stirred up more than you can handle. I'm offering to settle it for you without any mess left behind."
With Sang U slung over his shoulder, Yi Yeok answered, indifferent.
"Put that killing intent away before you talk, why don't you? How is it the Demon Gate's brood never learns to hide it?"
Hwa Mu-gyeol broke into a great laugh.
"Fair enough. No sense hiding it any longer. I'll deal with you first, then take the woman."
Yi Yeok kicked off the ground and leapt, snickering as he rose.
"There it is. I knew you'd try something. Treacherous might as well be carved across that forehead of yours."
Hwa Mu-gyeol's eyes narrowed, and he lunged. A sinister qi tore in like a storm.