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“Young master, is that you?”
With him slightly recovered, that voice was becoming slightly more familiar. His nostrils twitched.
“I-I can’t tell if this is a dream or reality.”
“It’s real, you’re alive.”
Upon hearing that, Ah Song pinched his own cheek, his expression turning somber.
“Ah… what a strange dream. It’s absurd for a kidnapped boy to suddenly appear in front of me, crying.”
Did his eyes turn red?
What on earth was this guy even saying?
I said it was real, but why the sudden doubt… no?
I approached him quickly. As I was about to check on him further, Ah Song embraced me.
And he whispered,
“I should have hugged you before, even in a dream. Young master, are you lonely living without the lady? I will find you for sure! Just be patient until then…”
“Ah Song.”
“It’s a dream, but why does the voice sound so real and powerful? It shouldn’t be like this, right?”
“I am real.”
“Ugh. Yes, yes.”
“Ah Song, it’s me. This is not a dream.”
“… huh?”
There was a hint of absurdity about our situation, but that couldn’t be helped.
Even after enduring all our hardships, nothing had changed. I poked him on the side.
Being struck on the side would be painful, but he felt no pain. Even though the meridians circulated the qi and were all connected, his nervous system didn’t seem to register any pain.
So, after pinching his cheek, I assured him it wasn’t a dream. Then, Ah Song nudged me lightly.
“Why are you poking me on the side?”
“You?”
Man.
Nothing seemed to have changed. He was still no different from his half-alive state.
It appeared as though the side effects of being in that state had yet to subside, and he had not yet recovered.
“Ah Song. Even if it hasn’t been long, it doesn’t seem like you are fully back to your original state, maybe because you were in that half-state for a long time.”
“For how many years? What do you mean? Lose…”
In an instant, his face paled as if recalling a traumatic memory, he exhaled heavily.
“Ah Song!”
“Uh… uh… kuk… Am I alive? I was abducted on my way to Murim Alliance… huk…”
He struggled to breathe, but I could empathize.
Not only had he been enchanted and transformed into a living gangshi, but his eyes and mouth had been sewn shut, causing him unimaginable pain.
He absentmindedly touched his eyes and mouth, unable to forget the horrifying ordeal.
“M-my… face?”
“It’s alright; I turned it back to normal. No, not completely.”
Ah Song looked at me with a puzzled expression. Then, with tears in his eyes, he grabbed my hand.
“Are you really the young master?”
“I told you.”
“Oh my, young master!”
He cried as he hugged me, and I patted him on the back, filled with exhilaration.
I feel deep sympathy for this man who endured countless trials because of his inexperienced young master. Had it not been for my mother’s plea, he might have found peace and a humble existence somewhere far away.
At that moment, Ah Song broke free and whispered to me.
“Master, how did you elude them? A noble incapable of mastering martial arts… gasp! Master, you must flee!”
“Escape?”
“T-that… the monstrous old woman might come. Ah, no. I will do something so the young master should….”
I gripped his arm and spoke.
“It is all taken care of now, Ah Song.”
“Young master, this shouldn’t be taken lightly. That old woman is so deranged that she captures innocent people and stitches their eyes and mouths shut. That, right there, is Revolting Mother, one of the infamous…”
“Phew!”
Laughter escaped from me in an instant.
His words were true, but the tone of our conversation changed once he mentioned the Revolting Mother.
I patted his shoulder and reassured him,
“Do not worry; she cannot harm you anymore.”
Ah Song looked puzzled and asked,
“What do you mean?”
I pointed to his side with my hand.
There, the old woman’s body still lay in its bisected state, and a cane with a bell was beside it.
“Eik1!”
Scared by what he saw, Ah Song’s eyes widened as he looked at the cane.
“That is?”
The Revolting Mother had carried it, so he must remember. Unable to understand, he said.
“What the hell is this? Didn’t the young master get abducted by the Blood Sect? How did you end up doing this when you cannot learn martial arts…”
Before he could finish, I drew my sword.
Chaaak!
The air trembled as his sword left slash marks on the ground, making Ah Song’s eyes widen.
“Y-Young master? Have you learned martial arts?”
He doubted my ability to learn because my dantian had been destroyed, but I smiled and replied,
“Let’s go now. We can talk along the way, perhaps over something warm to eat.”
Pogu, which was the village of Hong Ho-hyeon.
In a guesthouse on the first floor, four individuals sat huddled in a corner, eagerly awaiting their meal.
Among them were Sima Young and the twins, Song Jwa-baek and Song Woo-hyun, accompanied by Jang Mun-ryang.
“Phew,”
Song Jwa-baek exclaimed to Sima Young, who was lamenting the noodles’ temperature.
“Have something. Why sigh so much?”
“Have noodles.”
She had been anxious all night, waiting for news. She was curious and wanted to know what had happened, but everyone prevented her from finding out.
She had told her father about Jin Won-hwi going to Revolting Mother’s domain, one of the Five Great Evils, and that it might harm him.
“The old man is no longer here, so he should be fine.”
“How can you be sure? We stayed up the whole night, and it’s already noon.”
Hearing her words, Jang Mun-ryang frowned.
“He will be fine. And…”
Jang Mun-ryang whispered.
“No matter how strong the old woman is, can she handle the Wicked Moon Sword and the Lord at the same time?”
Common sense dictated that they wouldn’t lose this fight. It was a battle between two of the Five Great Evils and a person whose skill was so exceptional that their potential seemed endless. Still, there was no update, leaving her worried.
“Is that the Lord?”
If the monster asked the Revolting Mother not to touch it, there must have been something hidden in it. But he kept silent because he thought that telling this to Sima Young would put him at risk for holding back this information.
And then he heard a muffled voice.
A group of about six people entered the guesthouse, and the people around him seemed interested.
“Why is it so noisy… ugh!”
Song Jwa-baek looked at them casually and lowered his head.
“What did you… ah!”
Even Sima Young couldn’t help but be surprised to see two familiar faces on the ground floor.
But these weren’t just any familiar faces.
“The Flame Emperor Great Blade!”
A middle-aged man with a strong presence, a short beard, and his hands clasped behind his back stood before them. It was Jin Gyun.
And standing next to him was his grandson, Jin Young.
Jang Mun-ryang pointed to his own face, wearing a puzzled expression, and asked Song Jwa-baek,
“Is something amiss?”
They confirmed his identity and Jang Mun-ryang remembered meeting the person once or twice before.
It was during a period when there had been a confrontation between the Eight Great Warriors and the Great Evils. However, the current Jang Mun-ryang was unable to use martial arts.
‘Why is that martial arts-crazy guy here?’
Even if he was called one of the Great Evils, he trembled in the face of Jin Gyun. He was so nervous that he didn’t dare to step out now.
Song Jwa-baek clicked his tongue and said,
“This is not a meeting place. It is not a gathering of insane warriors.”
Didn’t the Wicked Moon Sword also suddenly visit yesterday? And now the Flame Emperor Great Blade also appeared? This was absurd.
When they focused, they could hear their voices.
“Is this the place?”
“Yes, senior.”
A man in his mid-thirties answered Jin Gyun’s question politely. But Jin Yong, Jin Gyun’s grandson who stood next to him, grumbled.
“Grandfather, do you truly believe the rumor? Haven’t you witnessed it yourself? Is it really possible to surpass that kind of barrier in just a few months?”
Upon hearing his words, Jin Gyun shook his head.
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“I expected you to have gained knowledge from the Dual Martial Forces, but it seems you remain unchanged.”
Saying this, Jin Gyun glanced toward Sima Young and her group, who were dining in the corner of the inn. In response, Song Jwa-baek became flustered and quickly looked away.
However, Jin Gyun, as if recognizing them, squinted his eyes.
“Uh, my, those two. I saw them during the tournament.”
He had also attended the tournament, and the twins had left a strong impression on him, making it impossible to forget them.
Jin Gyun glanced at the twins and exclaimed.
“There are so many incredible warriors in your era.”
“Uh?”
“If you don’t continuously hone your skills, you won’t be able to establish a reputation for yourself.”
Jin Young couldn’t understand Jin Gyun’s words.
His grandfather was always stingy with compliments, not just towards his grandson. But now he was praising those two.
‘Why would he do that?’
In particular, among those giant twins, the one with hair seemed to hold his own even when competing against the successor of the South Heavenly Swordsman.
But he couldn’t determine who was truly better.
“There are many people there, so let’s go. You will understand when you see it for yourself.”
“Senior, we will understand.”
The people at the party seemed to be deferring to Jin Gyun.
Upon closer examination, both of them were dressed in clothes adorned with symbols that suggested they belonged to a certain alliance.
The party attempted to ascend to the second floor, except for Jin Young.
“Grandfather, they might be members of a different party, so I will inquire first.”
Jin Gyun, who was fixated on his grandson, sighed.
“Do not disgrace me.”
“I understand.”
As Jin Gyun and his party ascended, Jin Young made his way toward Sima Young and her group. Having overheard their conversation, Sima Young and the others anticipated a potential request.
Upon Jin Young’s arrival, he respectfully joined his hands together in a bow.
Just then, the entrance of the inn erupted in commotion once more, causing Jin Young to turn his head.
He caught sight of two individuals silhouetted against the bright sunlight.
“Young lord!”
Sima Young sprang up from her seat. The two who entered were none other than Won-hwi and Ah Song.
However, the people at the entrance groaned at the sight of the bloodstained sack Ah Song was carrying.
Upon entering, Jin Won-hwi first looked at Sima Young, then turned his gaze to the upper floor.
“Look there!”
Jin Young proudly walked to the inn’s entrance to greet Jin Won-hwi. He glanced at him and bowed while saying.
“Warrior So, long time no see.”
As soon as he saw Won-hwi, Jin Young treated it like a bothersome formality. Hearing this, Jin Won-hwi smiled.
They had met in the Dual Martial Troops’ headquarters, but he didn’t recognize him because Won-whi had worn a mask and an eye patch. There was no need to reveal his identity.
But that didn’t sit well with Jin Young.
“Did you just smile?”
He was offended but put up with it because his grandfather was present. But why did he feel strangely familiar with this person?
His grandfather wanted this man, so he had to converse politely. At that time, Jin Won-hwi lightly returned his greeting.
“Hello.”
“Warrior So. You have been gaining a lot of fame lately.
This had to be an exaggeration, though. He wanted to verify if the rumors were true.
After mastering two of the eight martial arts of the Eight Forms in the Wind Shadow Eight Order, his skills had improved considerably, so they were confident in their own way.
‘My grandfather might be up to something.’
Even if it wasn’t true, when he first met this man, his grandfather scolded him. Since then, the rumors about this man made him grit his teeth.
Regardless, seeing that he had come this far, it might be good to test himself against this guy.
‘Perhaps he wants to spar.’
If the plan was set and they sparred, he would be able to prove how exaggerated the rumors were. However, this laid-back attitude from the man felt repulsive.
Jin Young’s smile spread across his face.
“Instead of dedicating my time to martial arts, I should have sought fame like you. Then I could have acquired a prestigious title as well. Hahaha.”
Though it seemed like a genuine compliment, it was clearly a provocation. And everyone in the vicinity sensed it.
At that moment, Ah Song nonchalantly dropped the sack he was carrying and remarked,
“Oh my, this is incredibly heavy.”
As expected, Jin Young and the others instinctively turned their attention to the side. Regardless of their intentions, the sack was stained with blood, leaving everyone curious.
In response, Jin Young shifted towards the sack and spoke.
“What is this? If anyone sees it, they will think it’s a corpse.”
Upon hearing Jin Young’s words, Ah Song replied,
“Hey. You seem pretty smart, young master!”
“What?”
Was there a dead body here?
Jin Young found this to be absurd.
It was ridiculous that someone who was gaining a reputation in the Justice Faction would bring a sack with a body inside.
But he swiftly changed his mind.
He thought he shouldn’t embarrass himself in this way.
“No Warrior So. What are you doing walking around with a dead body in broad daylight?”
“It’s inevitable. It’s a body I have to send to the Murim Alliance.”
“To the Murim Alliance?”
“The mastermind behind the kidnapping of the women in this area.”
The people of Murim Alliance were coming here, and he already knew it. The case they were here for was of the Evil-Faced Man, who had been kidnapping both regular women and female martial artists.
They had heard that the culprit was still at large, but was it now resolved?
“You found out who I was?”
“Yes.”
In response to this, Jin Won-whi continued.
“Inside is the corpse of the Revolting Mother, Cheol Su-ryun.”
“What?”
Jin Young could not hide his shock.
Whisper!
The people around them broke into shocked conversation.
Wasn’t the Revolting Mother one of the Five Great Evils?