[Long]
Chaak!
As we moved ahead, slicing through the water current, my skin was about to be pushed out. I expected it to be fast, but I didn’t think it could swim this well.
‘He is enduring fine.’
Ha Seong-wun, my grandfather, was riding on the side of the head with Sima Young. And Sima Young had tied him close so that he wouldn’t fall down. Right behind my protection was the one armed man.
-Puahahah! Look at the people hanging behind you.
However, I turned my head at the sound of Short Sword and almost ended up drinking the water.
“Kuaaak!”
“KUKUk!”
Most of them looked like they were dying. While I hated this, they had to come to touch its body and now they were clung to each other.
There was a slight smile on my face.
Since they had to live in the cave all depending on their will, they must possess a firm mindset.
‘Please.’
And I craved it. I hoped that Jaso would safely lead us out of here and if it took longer than it felt like people would likely start falling off.
‘Unlike you, we cannot breathe underwater.’
I really hoped he got it right. It was when we were swimming in the dark water with an anxious heart.
-Wonhwi. Look up there.
‘Ah!’
I looked up at the words of Iron Sword and noticed a small source of light.
It was dark for a while but then I could see a faint light descending.
Jaso went up fast.
Pat!
“Haa!”
Jaso’s body soared above the water and the refreshing air stimulated our lungs. The bright light of the sun which we hadn’t seen for long made us close our eyes.
‘So bright!’
But I didn’t know if it was due to innate qi, I could see almost right away.
I had wine-like things tangled around my body and could see the bushes of greenery on the side.
‘We are outside!’
It was the moment when I was about to realize that I managed to come out of the dark cave–
Grrrr!
Jaso struggled making me unable to enjoy it and due to that the people holding on were thrown to the side.
“Kuak!”
“Ack!”
Thud!
Those who had been thrown, fell to the muddy ground. And only I and Sima Young managed to get down safely due to using innate qi.
“Jaso!”
I couldn’t understand why it had to throw us down to enter the water, but I saw it, the slippery scales on the body were stained red as if they were burned.
‘It cannot handle sunlight?’
Come to think of it, in the past too it stayed in dark places, but I had no idea it would be this sensitive.
I untied the rope and set the one armed man down and put my head into the water.
I could see it trembling below with its body slightering in the shadows of water.
‘It doesn’t go well with water.’
The scales turned red. What I saw was correct.
‘Coming out would be too much.’
I reached into the water and then it brought its head rubbing it against the palm of the hand. The head was trembling in pain.
‘Thank you.’
Purr!
As I touched the body it made a purring sound.
Despite the scary appearance it was no different like a puppy. And after patting it, it went under water. Its purple eyes seemed sad, but I couldn’t keep it in the sunlight.
‘Go in. Go in and rest. I will come back for you later.’
I waved my hand at it and it cried out a lot better than before.
I was grateful to him. In some ways, it was more loyal than humans.
When I pulled my head out of the water, I saw the others all excited.
“AHHHH!’
“I never thought I would be able to come out…”
“Out! I am finally out!”
They loved it and couldn’t control the expressions as they bathed in the proper sunlight finally, after spending years together.
If they were like this, then how thrilled would my grandfather be?
“Grandfather?”
The other people couldn’t fully open their eyes but my grandfather had still closed his eyes. Even frowning seemed too much.
Sima Young, who was beside him, replied.
“His eyes must hurt from the sudden ray of sunlight after a long time.”
Grandfather shook his hand and added.
“I am fine. Do not worry, I will get used to it.”
He said, but tears were falling down his eyes. Sima Young tore a part of her dress and wrapped it around the eyes of my grandfather.
“I think this should help you for a while.”
It looked like he was much better now with damp cloth around the eyes.
“Ahem! Thank you.”
Sima Young looked at me and smiled broadly. I guess she felt happy about being recognized a little.
“For such a day to have come…”
Even though he couldn’t open his eyes, he continued to mumble the same words like he was thrilled.
‘Grandfather…’
Thinking of the hardships in the valley he must have suffered and the people he continued to lose, his life was as messed up as mine.
“Ugh!”
But it was then, a grunt sounded. Locating the origin, it was from Kangbu, on the ground. He was groaning in pain.
“Kangbu?”
I called to see if he was awake, but it was just constant groans.
I thought it was because he was wet and when I went over he was sweating a lot.
I ran my hand over his wet body.
‘He is feverish.’
His body was hot and to confirm it, I took the robe off and looked at his stomach.
‘This!’
-It is bad
The wound was now purple and swollen. Even if it wasn’t long it seemed like the water which touched him had increased the severity. It seemed like he would soon stop breathing.
“Miss! Do you know where we are?”
Since we were outside, she should have the most knowledge about the place her father moved in. She looked around as she replied.
“Looks to be a forest in the northeast of the valley.
“Are there any villages around here?”
“There is, a village where I got this rope from, a little to the northwest.”“
I guess I need to move now.
As Sima Young said, after walking an hour to the northwest, I could see a large village.
From the place I was in, the village was visible clearly. I tried to hurry down and enter the village but the men refused.
I ended up asking why…
“The village is under the control of the Dual Martial Forces.”
“What?”
I was puzzled when Mi Yeom pointed to a flag on the middle building of the village. It was a black flag with the pattern of two swords crossing the other.
‘Ah!’
I knew that mark.
The Dual Martial Forces. I knew that they had a place in the north of Shaanxi but I didn’t think it would be a village this close.
‘Well.’
Now I knew why they were all reluctant to go there. After being hunted by them and trapped in that valley, who would want to go there?
“Wolno. We will wait outside.”
At that, grandfather shook his head.
“Right. We came out and gained freedom but there is no need for all to follow me, I am too old. So go your own way.”
“Wolno…”
They were not sure when this came out but grandfather sent them all away. As a result they left one of their belongings and promised that they would come running once grandfather needed them.
The only one left was Mi Yeom, and the one armed man, Kangbu.
Heading into the village, I asked with concern.
“Grandfather, will you be fine?”
They were all fine but grandfather had bad luck with these people. Even then, he shook his head.
“It has already been more than 20 years and they know I died so who will recognize me? And, isn’t this friend fighting for his life now?”
As my grandfather said, Kangbu’s condition wasn’t that great. It wouldn’t be strange if the man passed out at any moment, so we couldn’t search for another village.
“Then how about solving the problem of clothes?”
“Ah…”
This was Sima Young’s suggestion. While we stayed in clothes, they were dirty.
Besides, Mi Yeom, Kangbu and Grandfather had been there longer that they looked like beggars.
This was what would bring in more attention.
“Please give us something nice.”
“Yes, please leave it to me.”
“Uh… Well.”
When Mi Yeom saw the clothes that Sima Young brought, despite wanting to say something, they stayed silent.
Me and my grandfather got the high quality clothes but the clothes the other two got were ordinary ones.
-She is openly discriminating now.
‘…’
I had nothing to say. Though after she managed to bring us clothes, we went inside.
On the way, I felt that there were more warriors than I thought. Every corner had people with swords.
“Strange right?”
I nodded at Sima Young’s question.
There were a dozen or more people and they didn’t seem that friendly either.
I was puzzled about what to do as I had to take Kangbu to a physician.
“Is this Fu’an county?”
My grandfather who was on my back asked me.
“How did you know?”
My grandfather had a cloth around his eyes, but he managed to know the name of the village we were in.
“Even if it has been over 20 years, wasn’t I once a part of them?”
“You have a good memory.”
“You too. Anyway, if this is right then go to the southeast side of the village. There is a good physician there.”
“You know?”
“It is a place which is passed down to the kids.”
At the words of my grandfather, we moved to the southeast. As I passed through the alley there we entered a wide street and I saw a nameplate hanging there.
But right in front of the place was a young man, arguing.
‘What?’
“Does it make sense to do this to a large clinic?”
What was this nonsense?
Come to think of it, there were two men in gray long robes blocking the entrance of the clinic. And the young man was fighting due to that.
“If you don’t want to get hurt, get out of here right now.”
Srng!
One of the men pulled out their blade and threatened the young man, but he chuckled and held out his hand.
“You!”
The men in gray robes rushed for the man at the same time.
With quick movement the young man dodged the weapon and broke the wrist of the man.
-They will be done soon.
This was how I saw the fight too.
The young man was skilled enough to deal with both of them at the same time. As expected, the man broke the wrist of one and kicked the other on his chin.
“Euk!”
The one with a broken chin flew inside and the young man patted his hands trying to enter. At that moment, the young man that stepped inside, bounced back.
Something like hot steam rose from the body of the young man who crossed his fists.
The young man frowned and said.
“Silver White Tiger!”
‘Silver White Tiger?’
-You know her?
I did. A warrior of the evil side who was known to be quite notorious in Shaanxi.
I never had a chance to meet this woman, but I knew that she was quite active and I heard she had the martial arts which dealt with ice.
A white haired woman in gray fox fur walked from the entrance of the clinic.
She didn’t seem to have the raging eyes like her personality was described. Instead, she looked to be in early thirties.
“Is it really her?”
Grandfather asked.
“Seems to be so.”
“I am quite taken aback, I don’t know why she is here but she was quite notorious 20 years back. If she is still good then this isn’t nice. She is too vicious for you to deal with.”
At his words I looked back at her. The force she held was already telling me that she was no ordinary warrior.
The woman walked out with an arrogant expression and spoke.
“Since you touched my men, you must have decided to give up your life, kid.”
The woman’s hand had white steam flowing.
“S-senior I didn’t know you were here.”
“Too late.”
She raised her hand and directed it at him. The young man bit his lip as he drew the sword from his waist.
‘Phew.’
In the meantime, I moved. The place I moved to was the clinic.
“Y-Young lord So! Did you not hear what Wolno said?”
“We cannot find another physician right now.”
“Uh?”
“Let;’s go.”
I walked towards the clinic casually and Sima Young smiled following me.
“Kid! Didn’t I tell you, it is impossible!”
My grandfather was panicking and tried to stop but I was already ahead of it. Then, the woman shouted at me.
“These kids must really have some death wish!”
Her hand held ice qi, as she aimed it for my head.
With grandfather on my back, I slightly leaned back and avoided it.
“You avoided it?”
I lightly avoided her hand and she tried to attack again, as if it was a normal thing.
I couldn’t mess around with her so I closed my left eye and raised my innate qi.
“How dare you close an eye in front of me!”
Contrary to what she said, she moved her hand to the side. I closed my eyes thinking I couldn’t handle her.
But something shocking happened.
‘Uh?’
Even with the eye closed a white light moved in the path of her qi.
I had closed my eyes, scared she would notice the golden color, but even with them closed I could see the flow of qi.
‘Ha! Does it happen like this?’
Since I could see the path, I had an idea on how she would attack.
Swish! Swish!
Standing still, I evaded her technique by moving my upper body alone.
“H-How?”
She looked shocked as her attacks didn’t even reach my grandfather.
“There is a gap.”
“What?”
I pierced through the gap in her technique where the coldness rose and thrust my fist into her stomach.
Puak!
“Ack!”
Being hit by my fist, she moved back ten steps. And my grandfather screamed like this was absurd.
“W-what just happened?”
“Silver White Tiger just flew back”
‘…?!’
