Buried Breaths by the Pajeo River
Watching Eun Gwanyeong return to her true form as a woman, Dokgo Ryeong found herself genuinely astonished.
…I'd heard the Bone Shrinking Art actually existed, but to think you can resize yourself at will like this. And even the color of her hair doesn't change?
Eun Gwanyeong was tiny.
A petite height that barely reached Dokgo Ryeong's eyes. A chest so small you wouldn't notice it unless you looked closely. And more than anything, the silver hair and those bewitching red eyes — the kind that could steal a person's soul — left a striking impression.
Dokgo Ryeong was so captivated by the sheer strangeness of Eun Gwanyeong's appearance that she stared blankly. Eun Gwanyeong promptly covered her chest with both arms.
"…You thought they were small, didn't you?!"
"What?"
"…I can make them bigger, you know!"
"…Who the hell said anything, you little shit?"
The moment Dokgo Ryeong raised an arm, Eun Gwanyeong flung both hands over her head and shrank into herself.
"D-don't hit meee…!"
"…"
Dokgo Ryeong let out a hollow laugh at the sight.
This little shit… she's ridiculously strong, but she acts like this and somehow still looks weak.
Unbidden, an old saying of the martial world rose in Dokgo Ryeong's mind: In the Murim, beware of women, the elderly, and children.
On the surface she was nothing more than a cute young girl — but she was the disciple of none other than that Eun Yakbyeok.
Eun Gwanyeong was the disciple of Gyeongguk, the Ruin-of-Empire beauty Eun Yakbyeok — Gyeongguk for short. Judging by the fact that she had been granted the Eun surname, she was clearly a cherished disciple, which meant she was without question a martial artist of extraordinary caliber.
Dokgo Ryeong's gaze on her shifted.
…Looking absurdly weak is a weapon in its own right, isn't it?
A born martial artist who lulled her opponents into carelessness, then struck at their openings.
Even now, with her oversized clothes hanging off her shrunken frame, she was flailing about, thrashing desperately to shake them off — looking for all the world like a complete airhead…
"Kyaah!"
Thud.
Dokgo Ryeong sighed as she watched Eun Gwanyeong fail to free herself from the clothes and topple spectacularly to the ground.
"…It's not Baekri Sohyeon who's the Slowpoke. It's you."
"H-help me, Miss Dokgo!"
"You stupid girl!"
Unable to stand watching her thrash around on her back any longer, Dokgo Ryeong hauled her upright.
"Th-thank you, Miss."
"…"
Dokgo Ryeong was certain now.
This one was just decent at martial arts. Otherwise, she was a clumsy kid.
"…I'm starting to wonder if trusting you enough to run with you was the right call."
"I-I'm confident! I'm a genuine prodigy of the Hao Sect, you know?"
"…So the Hao Sect's talent pool is completely dead, then."
"Th-that's not true!"
Eun Gwanyeong flushed and protested. Dokgo Ryeong sighed at the sight.
"Haa… Just put some clothes on."
"…Yes."
Eun Gwanyeong rummaged through the clothes she had just been wearing and pulled out a small pouch from inside. From the pouch she shook free something tightly rolled in black, and in moments it unfurled into a set of dark travel robes.
"…What the hell is that? That's seriously weird."
"Heehee. It's the hide of a One-Horned Flameweb."
"…What?"
The One-Horned Flameweb was a spiritual beast of staggering size, bearing a single horn. Its hide was harder than iron — ordinary blades couldn't so much as scratch it. The venom it carried could pierce even an absolute master's protective aura, and the elixir pill nestled within its body was a heavenly treasure no matter who consumed it.
"…For real?"
"Yes. The Sect Leader gave me this too, hoho."
"…"
Watching Eun Gwanyeong preen and show off, Dokgo Ryeong felt a petty urge to smack her on the head. She was just lifting a hand to act on the impulse when she felt an emptiness in her grip.
"…My soft sword!"
"Pardon?"
"Earlier, shit… the soft sword. Haa… that was a damn fine blade…"
"I packed it for you, though?"
"Huh?"
Clang!
Eun Gwanyeong gave her foot a shake in midair, and Dokgo Ryeong's soft sword reappeared.
"I set it aside in advance, hohoho."
"…Thanks."
"Think nothing of it."
The more Dokgo Ryeong learned about Eun Gwanyeong, the more the girl confounded her.
She seemed stupid, yet she was sharp. She seemed half-dazed, yet she was meticulous.
…The most irritating type of all.
A breed of person you simply couldn't get a read on.
"So what the hell are we doing from here?"
"We're going to dig!"
"Dig?"
"Yes. And then we're going to hide underground!"
"…What?"
As Dokgo Ryeong stared in bewilderment, Eun Gwanyeong produced two cut lengths of bamboo from somewhere.
"Here! We'll use these as breathing tubes, and wait underground for the Jade-Faced Young Master to arrive!"
"…And how do you know he's coming?"
"He'll probably get chased this way by Great Hero No Sunpyeong, won't he? Then the area will get noisy, and that's when we go ta-da! and pop out."
"…And once we pop out?"
"We run, of course."
"…"
It was a plan with no visible future.
"…There are only four of us. And of those, I'm useless in a fight, so effectively three. The enemy has a massive martial artist encirclement and a pursuit force. You really think we can break through?"
"Huh?! You already knew you were useless in a fight?"
"You little—!"
"Eeeeh…"
Dokgo Ryeong raised a fist again, and Eun Gwanyeong clamped both hands over her head.
"…Then what are we supposed to do? It's the truthhh…"
"…Fuck."
Eun Gwanyeong was right.
Dokgo Ryeong was powerless right now. Helpless. A dead weight who couldn't contribute a thing.
"Fuck…. I'll get it back no matter what."
"…Get what back?"
"There's something. Anyway, so the dead weight just lies under the dirt like a corpse and sleeps, is that it?"
"…Please don't put yourself down that harddd…"
"What the hell am I supposed to do, then?!"
"Eeeeh…"
"…"
Unlike Baekri Sohyeon, who took Dokgo Ryeong's barking in stride, Eun Gwanyeong reacted with wounded sadness to every little thing.
What an exhausting girl…
When Dokgo Ryeong did nothing further, Eun Gwanyeong snuck a glance at her and spoke.
"…I'll put you under the Turtle Breathing Art."
"…Looking at you, you know every damn martial art under the sun, don't you?"
"Hehe… I'm pretty good at picking things up."
"…"
The Turtle Breathing Art was no mere breath-holding technique — it was a peculiar martial art that placed a person into a state of suspended animation. Assassins typically used it for long-term concealment. Once under the Turtle Breathing Art, the body required neither food nor water for days on end, and all traces of presence vanished.
…For waiting on the Lust Demon to show up, it's definitely the best method.
Deciding the girl must have a plan after all, Dokgo Ryeong looked at her face — and Eun Gwanyeong smiled as she spoke.
"Ah! You should pee beforehand. Otherwise it leaks out while you're under."
"…You say that like it's from personal experience?"
"Ah! …Is that a secret?"
"Haa…"
Dokgo Ryeong had no idea what she could safely entrust to this girl. Half-worried that she'd hand herself over for the Turtle Breathing Art and simply die, she stepped away.
"Wh-where are you going?!"
"To take a piss! You told me to go first."
"Ah… yes. Please be careful."
"…"
She frets over the strangest things, Dokgo Ryeong thought.
Fleeing alongside Baekri Sohyeon, Wi Ilcheong scanned their surroundings for a moment, then came to a stop.
"Hoo… Let's rest here for a bit."
"…Okay."
Baekri Sohyeon leaned against a tree and sat on the ground. Wi Ilcheong held out a water flask to her.
"Would you like some?"
"…Yes. Thank you."
Baekri Sohyeon drank, handed it back, and spoke.
"…I'm sorry, Brother Wi. Because I'm weak…"
"…Not at all. It isn't that Miss Baekri is weak — it's that the Moyong Clan's second young master is strong."
"…Really?"
"He may be a wastrel, but he is still a young master of a great clan. He will have been fed spiritual medicines since childhood, and under fine masters he will have undergone marrow cleansing as well."
"…I have plenty of inner energy too, though."
"But you aren't yet accustomed to martial arts. Please don't take it too hard."
"…Okay."
Baekri Sohyeon drew her knees up and sighed.
"Haa… I want to become Ryeong Mae's junior sister…. Can I really manage it like this?"
"Pfft. You don't seem worried about the fact that we're running for our lives."
"…That's because Brother Wi is with me."
"It feels good to be trusted."
"…Mm."
Wi Ilcheong extended a hand.
"Shall we set out again? They'll catch up soon."
"…Okay. I'll do my best."
The moment Baekri Sohyeon took Wi Ilcheong's hand and started to rise, a flying dagger shot between them.
Clang!
Wi Ilcheong swept his soft sword and knocked the dagger aside.
Looking in the direction it had come from, he found a host of martial artists already drawing their blades.
They've already caught up…!
Far faster than Wi Ilcheong had expected. His eyes turned to Baekri Sohyeon beside him.
"Miss Baekri. How is your stamina?"
"…I'm fine."
"Honestly, please."
"…I'm really fine."
"…"
Wi Ilcheong swept his blade in a great arc, and trees toppled along with several of the martial artists.
"Guhh!"
"That bewitching swordplay! Be careful!!"
As the martial artists flinched back from Wi Ilcheong's sword energy, he swiftly sent a sound transmission.
Miss Baekri, go on ahead to the Pajeo River as you are.
…And Brother Wi?
At this rate the pursuit force will follow us all the way. I need to buy time. You alone would be fine, but I don't know if I can break free while carrying Miss Dokgo as well.
…Are you okay?
Hearing the worry in Baekri Sohyeon's transmission, Wi Ilcheong smiled.
I'll catch up shortly. I give you my word.
…Okay.
Baekri Sohyeon looked at Wi Ilcheong for a moment, then launched herself into motion. She knew what kind of man he was. She knew how faithfully he kept his promises — and so she trusted him and went.
"One of the bitches is running!"
"After her!!"
Several martial artists surged forward at the sight of Baekri Sohyeon fleeing, but Wi Ilcheong had no intention of standing idle. He stretched his sword long once more and planted himself in the path of those who would pursue her.
"I don't particularly enjoy being surrounded by a pack of burly men… but for now, would you keep me company?"
"You bastard! Watch that mouth of yours!!"
"…I would prefer not to incur any enmity with the Moyong Clan, if I can help it."
Wi Ilcheong fixed the Moyong Clan martial artists with a hard stare.
"But if enmity becomes unavoidable… I will see it through thoroughly. So — is there no chance you will stand down even now?"
"How could we simply let go a man who is protecting our clan's mortal enemy?"
"…Senior No. You've already caught up?"
"If it means capturing the Mad Demon's daughter, I will chase her to any corner of the Central Plains."
Shiiing.
No Sunpyeong drew his sword as he spoke.
"Even in death I would become a vengeful ghost and pursue you — so why don't you be the one to give up?"
"…It seems I have no choice."
Seeing Wi Ilcheong adjust his grip on the hilt, No Sunpyeong roared.
"Attack!!"
"Waaaaah!!!"
Even as he swung his blade into the charging Moyong Clan martial artists, Wi Ilcheong's mind kept turning behind him.
In case anyone was still chasing Baekri Sohyeon.
To buy even a little more time.
"Hah… hah…"
The battle between the Moyong Clan and Wi Ilcheong stretched through the night.
Wi Ilcheong would block the martial artists just enough, unleash a great sweep of sword energy to make them falter, then flee — only for them to catch up again. At times he kicked up dirt to blind them, felled trees to block the path, and when even that failed he stopped and fought for a while before repeating the cycle.
The most troublesome of them all was, of course, No Sunpyeong.
No Sunpyeong had not wasted his years. He pressed Wi Ilcheong carefully, patiently, to the very end. Mixing among the other martial artists, he watched for openings with a hawk's eye, then thrust in the instant Wi Ilcheong's stance broke — and every time, Wi Ilcheong had to flinch and scramble to parry.
But Wi Ilcheong's efforts were not in vain. The number of pursuers dwindled steadily, until at last only No Sunpyeong and fewer than a dozen martial artists remained.
"Hah… hoo…"
Wi Ilcheong paused to catch his breath and reached for his water pouch — only to find it empty.
…I need to end this fight soon.
He possessed vast inner energy, but with so many opponents he had relied primarily on large, costly attacks, and he had pushed his lightness skill to its absolute limit throughout the flight. Even Wi Ilcheong's remaining inner energy was becoming precarious.
Just then, the sound of water reached his ears.
…Near the river. In that case…!
Wi Ilcheong scanned the nearby trees and found, on one of them, a mark left by the Hao Sect. Assuming Eun Gwanyeong had left it, he followed the signs — and there, rising from the earth in a way you would never notice unless you looked carefully, were two bamboo tubes.
Wi Ilcheong approached the bamboo and pinched the breathing tubes shut. A moment later—
"…Fuck! Cough… hack…!"
Dokgo Ryeong burst up through the dirt.
"Ah, shit…. Thought I was gonna die…. You here?"
"Ha… haha…"
Wi Ilcheong looked at Dokgo Ryeong and laughed.
"…What? Why are you laughing?"
"Ah… it's nothing. Seeing Miss Dokgo as consistent as ever puts my mind somewhat at ease."
"Why does that sound like you're insulting me?"
"Truly, I'm not. Haa… one less thing to worry about."
Watching Wi Ilcheong drop heavily to the ground, Dokgo Ryeong asked,
"…Lust Demon."
"Yes."
"…Where's Slowpoke?"