Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Saving a Life
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“How is it?”
“Much better. Now, let’s get moving…”
I answered Cheong’s question instinctively and started to stand, but then I paused.
It felt strange to see myself trying to focus solely on the mission, just as I had in my past life, but a wave of sympathy washed over me as I saw Cheong’s face. Her eyes were bloodshot from a sleepless night, her expression etched with fatigue.
“Get some rest. You’ll wear yourself out if you keep pushing yourself like this.”
“It’s fine. I’m young. Should I go buy us something to eat?”
“No. I’ll go. You get at least a little sleep.”
I stood up, my tone firm.
“But I should…”
“Cheong. You’re my contact, not my subordinate. Rest. I’m going out to get some fresh air anyway.”
Leaving her in the room, I slowly opened the door and stepped outside.
It was early dawn, and we were in an abandoned house far from the village.
I figured that even if they had started a pursuit, it would be difficult for them to track us this far today.
Even if they did find us, Cheong’s concealment and lightness techniques should be enough to escape.
I scanned the surroundings before leaping toward the town.
*Creak.*
The door opened slightly, and Cheong stepped out.
She sat on the wooden porch, gazing toward the town, and muttered softly.
“Idiot.”
She looked up at the Taihang Mountains, which soared powerfully as if to pierce the sky.
It was truly a magnificent and beautiful sight.
“Impressive.”
**
I bought some food in town and shared it with her.
It was just water, vegetables, boiled pork, and dumplings.
“I’ll buy you something better later.”
“This is more than enough. Thank you.”
We ate in silence, filling our empty stomachs.
We were so hungry that no thought crossed our minds other than the act of eating.
On the outskirts of Ggokwon County.
Cheong and I boldly left the abandoned house and made our way to the cave where Cheol Mu-ui was hiding.
Having regained my sixty-year reserve of internal energy, I was filled with enough confidence to act decisively.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes.”
“It’s surprisingly close to where we fought.”
“He couldn’t get far.”
I nodded in acknowledgment and walked forward slowly.
A sudden worry struck me: what if they had already taken Cheol Mu-ui?
*Rustle.*
Parting the bushes, I found a small cave.
And thankfully, Cheol Mu-ui was lying there.
“Cheong, stand guard. I’m going to check on Cheol Mu-ui.”
“Understood.”
Trusting her, I ducked my head and entered the cave.
Channeling a bit of my internal energy, I examined Cheol Mu-ui’s body.
His condition was critical.
It was a miracle he was still alive.
Fighting with all his might while already injured had been the decisive blow that worsened his state.
“I’m done for.”
“You fool. Is this all the great Cheol Mu-ui amounts to?”
“Who… who are you?”
“That doesn’t matter. I will save you, so get a grip. No matter how hard it is, grit your teeth and endure.”
The familiar reprimand jolted Cheol Mu-ui to his senses.
“Stay focused. I’m going to share some of my internal energy with you, so accept it. It should help you hold on for a while.”
“W-Wait…”
*Whooosh.*
As my internal energy surged into him, Cheol Mu-ui was startled into silence and began to circulate his energy.
By the time I had helped him complete one full cycle, my entire body was drenched in a cold sweat.
“Huu.”
Once I got him through a major heavenly cycle, Cheol Mu-ui began circulating his internal energy on his own.
I wiped the sweat from my brow and stepped outside.
“How is he?”
“I’ve administered first aid for now. In a little while, I’ll carry him to the abandoned house. I need you to go to town and bring back a physician.”
“But investigating the Dark Heavenly Cult…”
“That comes after we save Cheol Mu-ui. It’s not like their headquarters has legs and can run away.”
“I understand. By the way, do you know him? He seemed to hold a pretty high position in the Martial Arts Alliance. And you were just scolding him.”
“Just pretend you don’t know and let it go. Wouldn’t it be tiring for both of us if you tried to know too much?”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’ll be on my way.”
Cheong immediately leaped away.
Her abrupt departure left me feeling a little perplexed.
“Is she just tired? She seems a bit on edge.”
Shaking off my thoughts about her, I closed my eyes for a moment.
Various thoughts surfaced, mostly about my time in the Martial Arts Alliance.
I may have been born into the body of Guyang Cheon, but I was still trapped in the world of Hwa Un-ryong.
‘I need to break free, but I keep getting dragged back in.’
As I frowned and clicked my tongue, I heard movement from behind me.
“Ugh.”
Cheol Mu-ui struggled to his feet, emerged from the cave, and sat down beside me.
“I will not forget this kindness. May I ask your name, benefactor?”
“Affectionate.”
“Affectionate? I’ve never heard… Don’t tell me you’re an Executor from the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion?”
“I am.”
Cheol Mu-ui’s eyes widened as if they would pop out, his shock palpable.
“I’m a bit of a special case, so don’t try to find out more. That aside, how is your body?”
“I can move a little. We must leave this place at once.”
“Don’t push yourself. You could end up crippling your martial arts. Cheong has gone to fetch a physician. Let’s go to our safe house. Here, get on my back.”
Cheol Mu-ui hesitated before letting me carry him on my back.
I kicked off the ground and took flight.
*Shashashashak.*
I headed for the abandoned house, unleashing the Grass-Skimming Flight, a technique that involved lightly treading on the tips of blades of grass.
Floating through the air would have been much faster, but it carried a greater risk of exposure and consumed a lot of internal energy.
Thus, I chose the Grass-Skimming Flight, which consumed minimal energy, even if it took a bit longer.
Normally, even Grass-Skimming Flight was an energy-intensive lightness technique, but as someone who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, I could execute it with the barest minimum of energy.
‘How can this be?’
Cheol Mu-ui was stunned as he witnessed my Grass-Skimming Flight.
He, too, was a martial artist who specialized in lightness techniques and had always prided himself on being second to none in that regard.
But watching me execute a higher level of the art while carrying him, Cheol Mu-ui even felt a sense of despair.
However, he soon shook his head.
He vowed to hone his lightness techniques until he could one day surpass me.
At the abandoned house.
With him still on my back, I extended my senses to their limit, searching for any hidden enemies.
Once I confirmed we were alone, I laid him down on the wooden porch.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“By the way, that Grass-Skimming Flight you used…”
“Don’t most peak masters use Grass-Skimming Flight?”
“That’s not it. The level was different. You moved incredibly fast while using a minimal amount of energy with great efficiency. The rustling of the grass and the sound were almost nonexistent. I, too, am called a master of lightness techniques, but watching yours made me feel truly ashamed.”
“How is your body?”
Finding myself at a loss for an answer, I changed the subject.
“It aches here and there, but I’m fine.”
“Why don’t you circulate your energy for a bit? Or stretch while you wait. Cheong should be back with the physician soon.”
“About my question earlier…”
“As your own enlightenment deepens, you will gradually come to understand. Don’t be so impatient.”
Cheol Mu-ui was deeply shocked by my smiling reply.
Until now, he had regarded the Executors of the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion as mere consumables.
In fact, whenever an Executor showed promise, they were immediately transferred to the Demon-Slaying Pavilion. Because of this, the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion was mostly filled with promising new martial artists, earning them the nickname ‘fledglings’.
My presence had completely shattered Cheol Mu-ui’s preconceptions.
“You are like a Great Grandmaster. The aura you project, your manner of speaking…”
“Let’s leave it at that.”
I stood up, my expression making it clear I wouldn’t continue the conversation.
Though filled with questions, Cheol Mu-ui could only sigh, close his eyes, and begin circulating his energy.
It was nearly evening when Cheong appeared with a physician.
She complained about the difficulty of finding a doctor discreetly as she laid out some food.
It was only water, dumplings, and boiled pork, but the three of us ate it with relish.
The next day.
After receiving treatment and prescription medicine throughout the night, Cheol Mu-ui’s condition had improved.
Confirming he was deep in meditation, I called Cheong outside.
“Did you contact the Martial Arts Alliance?”
“Yes. I wrote a detailed report and sent it via carrier pigeon. They should know in about three days.”
“What now? Do we wait for orders?”
“Of course, we do.”
“A pity. I wanted to investigate further.”
“You’ve already done more than enough. The Soul-Chasing Sword Squad has arrived in Jeongju. The Soul-Chasing Sword Squad is…”
“I know.”
“You really know everything about the Martial Arts Alliance.”
“No. There’s a lot I don’t know. I only knew the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion by name. I’ll have to learn as I go.”
A brief silence fell before she broke it.
“For now, rest here. In about six days, the Soul-Chasing Sword Squad will likely move out and crush the Shanxi Branch.”
“If it’s the Soul-Chasing Sword Squad led by Yeo Jung-myeong, they can be trusted.”
“You’re thinking of something else, aren’t you? You can’t. If you act on your own authority, the Martial Arts Alliance will definitely take issue with it later.”
“My actions so far haven’t exactly been on their orders, have they?”
Cheong fell silent at my rebuttal.
The Martial Arts Alliance’s orders had been simple.
—Monitor the Shanxi Branch of the Dark Blood Heaven Cult and gather information. If possible, rescue Cheol Mu-ui.
Nothing more, nothing less.
Frankly, it would have been an embarrassing request to ask more of a Demon-Dispelling Pavilion Executor.
The phrase ‘if possible’ was attached, but it certainly didn’t mean I was expected to kill one of the Bloodied, one of the Seven Bloods, Seop Yu-heun, and over twenty cultists to rescue him.
“By tomorrow, Cheol Mu-ui should be well enough to travel to Jeongju on his own. Let’s check out the Shanxi Branch then. You can back out if it’s too much for you.”
“Who said it’s too much for me?” Cheong bristled.
Coming from her, who always maintained a cool demeanor, it was surprising.
“The Executor and the contact must remain together for the duration of the mission. This is a rule that must be followed.”
Cheong answered calmly, avoiding my gaze.
I simply nodded and turned my eyes toward the rugged yet beautiful Taihang Mountains.
Cheong’s gaze followed mine to the same spot.
The next day.
Cheol Mu-ui’s condition had greatly improved.
“Thank you for everything. I will never forget this debt.”
Cheol Mu-ui offered me a formal fist-and-palm salute.
“If you want to express gratitude, direct it to her. It was Cheong who moved you from the battlefield after you collapsed, hid you, and saved your life. Without her actions, you would have died there.”
“Thank you. I will surely repay you.”
“I didn’t do it expecting repayment. Don’t trouble yourself over it.”
Cheong’s reply was somewhat cold.
Cheol Mu-ui looked from Cheong to me and shed his narrow-minded prejudice against the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion.
“Be careful on your way to Jeongju. I need to check on the Dark Blood Heaven Cult’s Shanxi Branch.”
“Thank you. Be careful.”
I gave Cheol Mu-ui a slight nod and leaped away.
Cheong immediately followed, close behind me.
Left alone, Cheol Mu-ui let out a hollow laugh.
“How shameful of me to have dismissed the Demon-Dispelling Pavilion as some trivial organization that handles odd jobs for the Alliance. Cheol Mu-ui, you must strive harder and train more diligently.”
Cheol Mu-ui spurred himself on before leaping away, disappearing in the direction of Jeongju.
After they left, only an eerie silence remained in the abandoned house.