Chapter 376
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 376
Chapter Title: Dong Ja-ryang's Tears
Drip, drip!
Blood dripped from Do Geom's body.
Sizzle.
Dong Ja-ryang watched from a short distance away as he tore his martial robes to wrap his wounds. His own body was drenched in blood as well.
"Damn it...."
Dong Ja-ryang's face twisted in agony.
Do Geom stood up.
"Can you move?"
"Just a bit more rest."
"If they catch up again, we'll end up dead like the elder. Get up quickly."
"Ugh...."
Dong Ja-ryang struggled to his feet. Blood kept pouring endlessly from his waist. It was a wound he'd sustained while being chased by the Qin Kingdom's warriors.
The fact that his injuries weren't worse was thanks to Elder Sima Hyeon. The elder had chosen to stay behind alone, buying them time to escape by facing off against Zhao Kingdom's elites.
"The elder gave up his own retreat to save us. We can't let his sacrifice be in vain, so grit your teeth and endure."
Do Geom had anticipated Sima Hyeon's death. It was hard to imagine for a supreme realm master like him.
Yet the ones guarding the Qin Emperor were all extraordinary fighters, surrounded by countless Qin warriors.
Even Sima Hyeon couldn't have handled them all.
"...That stupid old fart."
Dong Ja-ryang had always hated Sima Hyeon. But his eyes were damp with moisture.
The two began moving again.
Their only destination was north.
But Do Geom thought differently. After traveling over two hundred chang, he suddenly veered east.
"Hey, wrong direction!"
"The Qin bastards think we're definitely heading north and are chasing us that way. If we keep going like this, they'll catch us before the day is out. If you want to survive and return, follow without complaint."
"...."
Less than half a shichen later, blue-robed figures appeared at the spot where Do Geom and Dong Ja-ryang had been. They were the Qin Emperor's guards.
One blue-robe, scanning the surroundings, flashed with sharp eyes.
"They went north! Hurry!"
"Yes!"
Whoosh!
* * *
Rustle!
The blue-robes rushed through the forest.
Do Geom and Dong Ja-ryang hid in the woods and watched them pass. Only after they were gone did the two exhale held breaths.
"Whew!"
Exhausted, Dong Ja-ryang collapsed onto the forest floor. His external wounds were bad enough, but the internal injuries were severe, leaving him utterly drained.
Do Geom gazed at him with complex eyes. In this situation, Dong Ja-ryang was nothing but a burden.
"Want to kill me?"
"I can't say no."
Heh.
"Then kill me. Or if you can't, leave me and go alone."
"Already given up hope? That's not like you."
"Bullshit. I'm going to survive and get back somehow."
Drip.
Blood flowed from the wound again.
Do Geom tore a tree branch and tightly bound above Dong Ja-ryang's wound.
"Is the Qin Emperor dead?"
"Don't know. We can only hope the wound was fatal."
"Damn it. We were doomed from the start with just three of us. To the Crown Prince and the strategist, we're disposable. Right?"
"They gave the orders, but it was the lord's will. We just followed. Still, you fought bravely enough. If you'd acted like your old self back then, I'd have killed you myself."
"Watch your mouth, Do Geom. I'll remember every word."
Heh.
'The temper's still alive.'
Do Geom straightened and stood.
"Let's move again."
"Keep going east?"
"For now, we need to get as far from here as possible. We'll figure out next after."
The two started moving again.
As Do Geom led the way, he thought of the late Sima Hyeon. If not for his sacrifice at the end, both he and Dong Ja-ryang would be dead.
Clench.
'If there'd been a few more, we might've escaped alive together....'
Dong Ja-ryang's rage toward Jo Gwang-mu and U Mun-sul. Truth be told, Do Geom harbored the same fury.
Whoosh!
A sudden strong wind blew, shaking the entire forest.
How much farther did they go?
Do Geom, walking ahead, turned to Dong Ja-ryang and signaled to stop. He silently drew his sword.
That's when figures emerged from the forest.
Do Geom and Dong Ja-ryang's eyes widened.
"How did you...."
"You're safe."
The newcomers were Blood Demon followers. Inferior in skill to Dong Ja-ryang or Do Geom, but their presence alone brought relief.
One yellow-robe spoke.
"We came on the Crown Prince's orders to assist the three of you. We learned you were being pursued and have been searching. But where's the elder?"
"He's gone."
"...!"
Everyone was shocked. No one had imagined Sima Hyeon dead.
"Give me some water."
"Here."
Dong Ja-ryang quenched his thirst with water from a yellow-robe and passed it to Do Geom.
"Didn't see any Qin bastards on the way?"
"No Qin on our path. We'll escort you now, so follow without worry."
"You're sure?"
"Why would we lie?"
"Good. Lead on."
Dong Ja-ryang glanced at Do Geom. The man he'd been mortal enemies with now had softened eyes.
Surviving death's trial together. Nothing bonds humans like that.
Then a black-robe asked.
"Are your injuries bad?"
"Feels like dying."
"Internal injuries matter more than external. If severe, better to circulate qi first."
As Dong Ja-ryang opened his mouth, Do Geom spoke.
"No time for that. We go to safety first. Move."
"Are you alright, Do Geom?"
"Bearable. Lead on."
"Really okay?"
"Hey, you. Why so chatty today?"
"Because we have no intention of saving you."
"...!"
Whoosh!
Do Geom retreated, drawing his stored sword. Dong Ja-ryang fell back beside him, lowering the saber from his shoulder.
"What the hell, you bastards. Have you lost your minds?!"
"Sorry, but you die here. That's the Crown Prince's will."
"...What?"
"In your state, escaping Qin's pursuit is tough. If captured and our Zhao involvement exposed, the lord's in trouble. Suspicion and proof are worlds apart. The Crown Prince worries about that."
Tremble....
Do Geom and Dong Ja-ryang's eyes shook fiercely.
They'd never considered this. Dong Ja-ryang's face flushed crimson.
"Knew it. Damn scholar bastard!"
"Oh ho. Another reason you must die, Hall Leader Dong?"
"Shut up, you dog! Think we'll fall to you just 'cause we're hurt?!"
"You think we came alone?"
"...!"
Rustle!
More emerged from the brush. Two men in icy blue robes.
Seeing them, Do Geom and Dong Ja-ryang's eyes shook again.
Expressionless, like carved from ice.
They were the elite "Executors of Death" among Blood Demon followers. In perfect condition, maybe manageable—but wounded and exhausted now, impossible.
Do Geom recovered first and sent a transmission.
[The rear is a cliff. River below. With luck, we survive. No chance against all. I'll draw eyes—jump right away.]
Grit!
Dong Ja-ryang ground his teeth till they nearly cracked. Humiliating, but no other way.
Immediately, Do Geom's sword sliced the air.
A ferocious sword beam flew in ambush. Yellow- and blue-robes hastily retreated.
That instant.
Whoosh!
Do Geom and Dong Ja-ryang leaped backward.
Blue-robes soared after, bodies glowing.
Whoosh!
Blood sprayed in midair.
But it couldn't stop them.
"Down the cliff, all! Hurry!"
"Yes!"
* * *
Crack!
Do Geom's hand grabbed a pine branch jutting from the cliff. His left arm wrapped Dong Ja-ryang's waist.
[Hold your breath!]
Do Geom looked up.
Angle blocked the view above.
[If they can't see us here, they can't from above. Hold a bit longer, then climb. Ease weight—step the cliff with one foot.]
Dong Ja-ryang stepped a protruding rock with one foot. Do Geom's burden lightened.
Drip!
Thick sweat rolled down Do Geom's cheek. Wound reopened, blood flowed.
After about an incense stick's time?
Do Geom and Dong Ja-ryang began climbing. No one remained above. They'd all gone down to check bodies.
"Damn it...."
Dong Ja-ryang slumped in daze. Do Geom urged him.
"No time. Follow."
The two headed east again. Now evading not just Qin pursuit, but Zhao's too.
With the Crown Prince ordering their deaths, returning to Zhao was impossible.
"Damn it...."
Liquid—sweat or tears?—streamed down Dong Ja-ryang's repeating the same words.
Do Geom felt the same despair.
But he stayed cold. Survival first.
Clench!
Blood dripped from bitten lips.
'It might not be the lord's will. Can't die till confirmed.'
* * *
Qin capital's northern mountains.
Baek Woo-kyeong and Qin's strongest warriors entered.
A white-robe reported.
"Primary pursuit passed here half a shichen ago, heading north."
Half a shichen—long or short.
But Baek Woo-kyeong was confident. No, he had to catch them, whatever it took.
"Communicating by signal flares?"
"Yes. We followed theirs here."
Baek Woo-kyeong eyed the northern mountains. Determined hiding, even 100,000 troops couldn't find easily.
"Up we go, waiting for flares. Move now!"
"Yes!"
Whoosh!
Baek Woo-kyeong, leading, was sweat-soaked. Max speed from capital, no rest straight here.
Others worse.
Yet no break. They were emperor assassins.
'Zhao, you mad bastards....'
Baek Woo-kyeong was certain it was Zhao. All Qin likely agreed.
But suspicion ≠ fact. Capture, expose Zhao's deed publicly—key.
Whoosh!
How much farther?
Boom!
Flare burst—not north, east.
"They turned direction!"
"We go first—you follow!"
Whoosh!
Baek Woo-kyeong and Baek Yeon shot ahead.
Vanishing from subordinates' sight instantly.
* * *
Boom!
Sudden flare.
Do Geom and Dong Ja-ryang halted, staring skyward.
"Spotted?"
"No presences around. Might be them spotting our pursuers—Blood Demon's men."
Dong Ja-ryang gnashed teeth.
"Die, you bastards, all."
"Move fast."
Step!
Dong Ja-ryang grabbed Do Geom's arm as he advanced. Do Geom stared.
"Sorry for before."
"Sincere?"
"Don't believe? Fine."
Heh.
"Got it. Let's go."
"But climbing there leads to Yeon Kingdom, right?"
"Not time to quibble. Survive first—Yeon or wherever. Hurry."
"...."