The Third-Rate Warrior Saving the Girl (5)
Having finished his day's work, Wang Geumsan walked down the long corridor toward the massive manor at the heart of the Wang family village. Watchtowers rose high on all eight sides of the estate, and inside, barracks housed guards ready to deploy at a moment's notice. Unseen eyes scanned the gardens and gaps between buildings with unyielding vigilance. Passing through it all, Wang Geumsan entered Wang Soso's room.
"Father! You're here!"
The room felt as cool as if the North Sea had been brought inside. Yet an unnatural heat radiated from the girl's body. Like flames roaring from a hearth stuffed with logs, an immense wave of heat poured from Wang Soso.
Poor child.
Anyone close to her would feel their own body heating up unbearably. Wang Soso seemed aware of her condition, stepping back from her father so the chill air could cool her down.
"Did you have a fun day?"
"Yes! I learned a new stitch today."
Wang Soso beamed, showing off her embroidery. At the sight, Wang Geumsan's fatigue from the day melted away in an instant. How could a child who gave him such strength be suffering like this? Gazing at her, sorrow filled his eyes.
The fever that had started around age ten never let up. Once it flared, it lingered for days, leaving her bedridden. No matter how many skilled physicians or rare herbs they tried, the heat only grew fiercer, wasting her away day by day. To even identify the illness, he'd scattered tens of thousands of nyang across the land. Only after that staggering sum did they uncover the truth.
"It's extraordinary. For a girl's body to manifest Solar Physique."
"Can it be cured?"
"How can we cure something that's not wrong?"
"What?"
"...The heat from her body is innate. Had she been born male, she would have shaken the entire Murim world."
"Explain in detail."
"Do you know of Solar Physique?"
Wang Geumsan knew of innate talents in the body.
"One with Solar Physique emits blazing fire energy from every pore since birth. It's a natural phenomenon."
"Then why does she suffer so in daily life?"
"Because a girl's body can't accommodate the sun's energy."
"...You're saying the energy attacks her body instead?"
"Typically, Lunar Physique manifests in women, and Solar Physique in men—that's the natural order. When it's reversed, she suffers like this."
"Is there a treatment? How can she be healed?"
The physician spoke even more cautiously.
"Well..."
"Don't beat around the bush! Speak!"
"It's not a flaw, so there's no treatment."
"What!"
"Would you call a body built for longevity an illness?"
"..."
"No one would label someone overflowing with vitality and energy every day as sick. It's a blessing from heaven. No one with a body that can easily reach the peak realm through compatible martial arts would want to 'fix' it."
"..."
Wang Geumsan's face twisted in agony beyond words. The physician quickly gauged his mood and continued.
"Gather ice-emitting devices to keep her room as cold as midwinter, and have her live only in there. That should ease the fevers and discomfort considerably."
"...And that would let her live without issue?"
"..."
As the physician hesitated, Wang Geumsan ground his teeth.
"I hope I never have cause to mention your name later."
"...The power of Solar Physique grows stronger after age twenty. And as life's vitality wanes, the body struggles to contain it..."
"..."
"With the best care, I believe... she could live to twenty-five."
He sought out every renowned physician and herbalist after that, but they all said the same. Some who boasted cures only worsened her condition with botched treatments, pushing her to the brink of death. After those ordeals, Wang Geumsan gave up on further attempts. He resolved to cherish every moment with his daughter instead.
"What a splendid bamboo. Growing so straight—it has such grandeur."
"I want to make clothes for you with it, Father."
"They'll be magnificent."
"Yes! Look forward to it."
Wang Geumsan's heart ached at her pure, innocent smile. To vent his emotions, he always asked her the same thing.
"Is there anything you want?"
"I have beautiful hairpins, pendants, jewelry, mirrors, clothes, silk—everything."
"Still. If you're bored, shall I call a theater troupe? How about some opera?"
"Hmm..."
"Tell me anything. Your birthday's coming soon, isn't it?"
"I want to see the market."
"What?"
"I want to draw it, but I've never seen a crowded market, so I don't know what it's like."
"Ah..."
"Don't worry if it's too much."
Good children read their parents' faces, as they say. Wang Soso quickly masked her request with a smile upon seeing his expression.
Wang Geumsan finally softened and said, "I wasn't going to tell you until it was ready, but..."
"What is it?"
"Truth is, I'm preparing a carriage just for you."
"Really?"
"Yes... One you can ride comfortably for long periods. Once it's done, you can go out whenever you like."
"Really! Thank you so much, Father!"
Wang Soso threw herself into his arms. The scorching heat washed over him again.
Leaving Wang Soso's quarters, Wang Geumsan walked the corridor once more. Suddenly, a man in black night clothes dropped from the ceiling and fell into step beside him.
"Lord, perhaps refrain from outings for a while?"
"Why?"
"That threatening letter bothers me."
"You're worrying over nothing."
The letter someone had left behind. It boldly claimed intent to target Wang Soso—an absurd, laughable threat. These days, the Wang family might not rival the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families, but their power matched the top seats among the 108 Peaks. Their ties to officials, bought with wealth, made them untouchable. Who could breach such a fortress? No one but the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Families.
"Shall I increase the escorts, then?"
"...Do that."
He dismissed it as needless worry and slept uneasily, only to wake to a report of utter despair.
"The young miss... seems to have been kidnapped!"
"M-Murim Alliance! Contact the Murim Alliance!"
"The branch chief is already on his way."
The warriors who arrived with the branch chief scoured Wang Soso's room but found no traces.
"Any contact from the culprits?"
The threatening letter flashed in his mind.
"...Bold bastards, sending a letter announcing the kidnapping outright. We'll start searching the surroundings immediately."
"We must rescue her quickly."
"I hate to say this in such a situation, but don't worry about her life. Most kidnappings like this are for ransom, and contact comes soon."
"No! That's not it! Soso has an illness!"
Lightning struck the Murim Alliance's Hebi branch, and the news spread through Hebi like wildfire.
# Among the Small Justice Squad was a guy called the Traceless Death God. We didn't know he was the legendary figure at first. It was only during the Righteous-Demonic Great War, when we were cornered with no escape, that he revealed his identity. The bastard had mediocre internal energy and forms, so we beat him and cursed him for babbling nonsense in a crisis. But his demonstration left us stunned.
No presence emanated from the man before us. Even as he moved and swung his sword, we felt no sensation of a human in motion.
Of course, we were even more shocked that the 'Traceless Death God'—a black path overlord—was working as a low-rank Murim Alliance warrior.
In any case, Ghostly Silent Steps was the unique footwork that earned the legendary Traceless Death God his moniker. It made the user feel like they were employing the Ghostly Silent Great Law even while moving. Unless in direct sight, no one—no matter how sharp their senses—could detect a presence. We used those Ghostly Silent Steps to capture the Ho Bridge Dharma King.
And now, pursuing Wang Soso and the Sky Bow Merchant Group, they proved quite useful.
As I'd predicted, the culprits had shaken off the Murim Alliance's hasty pursuit team, fleeing from the Wang manor through Hebi to the small town, then to the Ye River. They arrived at the abandoned house in the mountains where headless corpses had been found, looking unexpectedly flustered.
"This woman's condition is off."
"What? She was fine when we took her from the house."
"Look at this. Her body's burning like fire."
The man touching the bundled sack yanked his hand back in shock.
"This ruins her value as a hostage. Release her pressure points."
"P-Please, spare me! Spare me!"
"Hey, do you have some illness?"
"Spare me! I want to go home."
The man resealed her pressure points and stuffed her back in.
"We have to stay here another day. What now if she's like this?"
"So what? Call a doctor? Leave her—she'll last a day."
The thugs gathered in groups, lit fires, roasted caught rabbits, and lounged about in ways unimaginable for kidnappers.
All the better for me.
I used Ghostly Silent Steps to creep closer.
"Hic. Ugh, greasy food without booze... Ack, you..."
I killed the first one mid-shit.
"Hey! If you're shitting, go far away! Don't do it around here or..."
The second, coming to scold him.
As their presences vanished together, the sharper warriors grabbed their swords.
"Someone's here."
"Draw swords!"
"Who is it? Show yourself!"
I unleashed my hidden internal energy and presence in a burst with Ghostly Silent Steps, kicking one into the fire.
Kwaaaak!
He rolled extinguishing the scattered flames, only to die on my sword. The area darkened as the bonfire died.
"Reveal yourself!"
"Great Chain Sword Formation! Form up!"
"You mad bastard! Shut up! If our identities leak here..."
I slipped through the panicking group, severing two more lives. The chatter stopped.
"Wh-Who are you!"
"Who dares kill so freely!"
"We're from the Namgung family. Must be a misunderstanding. Let's talk."
They flailed desperately in the dark at the sound of my thrown stone, unleashing Sky Bow Unfettered Sword Technique—slicing only falling leaves and a few branches.
I stood behind them and said, "I know exactly who you are. Sky Bow Merchant Group from the Namgung family."
"Y-You know us and still do this? Aren't you afraid of the great Namgung fa—Kuk."
One of the remaining three fell.
"If I feared the Namgung family, I wouldn't have started."
The last two poured everything into Sky Bow Unfettered Sword Technique, but I shattered it with Dismantling Form.
"Wh-What is this."
"Impossible!"
Their heads rolled across the ground.
"Who'd have thought I'd owe you, Traceless Retard, in my lifetime."
Honoring him with the nickname we'd used, I approached Wang Soso.
"Our rich young lady. Time to go home."
Wang Soso emerged from the sack, her face deathly pale. On the verge of her last breath.
"P-Please... spare me."
She whispered it like she was already dying.