Chapter v18c20

## Uncle’s Scar

– A Hand Stroking the Back

“Guild Leader! Guild Leader! It’s a disaster!”

Chief Escort Kang rushed in, panting, unable to catch his breath.

“Once is enough! What is it?”

Jang Woo-Yang asked, annoyed. He was starting to suspect it was deliberate. But Chief Escort Kang’s next words wiped away any such thoughts.

“The… children are gone.”

Crash!

“What?!”

Jang Woo-Yang jumped to his feet, his face pale with shock.

“I told you to watch them closely! They might be the key to solving the Blue Dragon Manor massacre! How could they have left the guild without anyone noticing?”

“We were too careless. We never imagined those children would be so bold.”

“Well, wake up from your dream! They used the entire guild as a shield. And judging by the suspicious characters chasing them, they must be carrying something valuable. Of course, I’m worried! Wouldn’t you be? I wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink. They probably see everyone as a potential enemy. That’s why they suppressed their curiosity and pretended to be indifferent until you let your guard down. Don’t you understand that?”

“…”

What was obvious to one person wasn’t necessarily obvious to another. Jang Woo-Yang’s mistake was assuming it was obvious.

“Send out search parties! Find those children! Hurry! They’re in danger!”

* * *

“Brother, it hurts!”

The girl frowned, but the hand pulling her along didn’t loosen its grip.

“Brother, you’re going too fast!”

But her second plea was also ignored. She was scared. Her brother hadn’t looked back at her once.

“Waaaaaaaaaah!”

She burst into tears. She was only seven years old. The boy finally slowed down and stopped, releasing his grip on her hand. He turned around and patted her back, trying to soothe her.

“Sorry, sorry. I was too hasty. I won’t do it again. Now stop crying.”

The girl finally calmed down.

“Brother, where are we going?”

She asked. The boy replied in a gentle voice,

“We’re going to a place called Cheonmu Academy.”

“Why?”

“Because we have to.”

He answered.

“But…”

She trailed off.

“But what?”

He asked.

“Those men told us not to leave. They said it was dangerous.”

The boy sighed.

“It’s dangerous to stay in one place for too long. We don’t even know those people.”

He knew he wasn’t experienced enough to judge people’s character. And the large sum of money they were carrying made him anxious. He was constantly worried about being robbed. It was a heavy burden for a thirteen-year-old boy. That was why he had decided to run away.

“There’s only one place we can trust.”

Just then, a large shadow loomed over the boy as he knelt beside his sister. The shadow quickly enveloped them. The boy turned around, his face tense with apprehension. A middle-aged man with a stern expression, a long sword at his waist, stood before them. Three scars on his chin made him look even more menacing. But his expression softened.

“Hmm? Aren’t you Gyeong-Yeong and Seon-Ah? What are you doing here in Nanchang? Did you come with your father?”

The unexpected kindness in his voice, so different from his appearance, broke the dam. The boy’s guard, which had been up since they had left the guild, crumbled, replaced by a wave of grief.

“Uncle Yoon!”

“Waaaaaaaaaah!”

The boy and girl rushed into the man’s arms.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

The man, bewildered by their sudden outburst, patted their backs. His cloak slipped, revealing an emblem: the character for “central” surrounded by four swords. It was the emblem of the Central Plains Merchant Guild Chief Escort.

* * *

“Oh my… That’s terrible… You poor things…”

The man, having heard their story, sighed, his arms still wrapped around the children.

His large hands moved gently on their small backs, comforting them. But no one knew that death lurked within those gentle touches. His hands were still soft, stroking their backs with care. But then, his hand brushed against the boy’s waist, and he felt something hard. His eyes gleamed, but he didn’t stop stroking their backs.

The boy felt a sense of security from the weight of the man’s hand on his back, a sense of relief from the warmth of his touch. But the children, their faces buried in his chest, couldn’t see his eyes, cold and predatory. Tears blurred their vision.

“Stop that!”

The man, startled by the cold voice behind him, jumped back. He hadn’t let his guard down since he had met the children. Lower his guard? He had been on high alert, scanning his surroundings. Everything had to be done in secret, in the shadows. And yet, someone had managed to approach him undetected, speaking to him as if they owned the place. His senses had been completely fooled. By the time his feet touched the ground, he had already turned to face the intruder, his long saber drawn, its blade radiating a menacing blue light. It was an incredibly fast draw.

‘A woman?’

To his surprise, the person who had approached him silently was a woman. And a stunningly beautiful one at that. But that didn’t mean he would go easy on her. She was staring at him with cold, arrogant eyes.

“Who are you?”

He had to restrain himself from shouting, “Who the hell are you?!” And that restraint saved his life.

The beautiful woman, dressed in white, was Jin So-Ryeong. Her sword was still sheathed, but her posture was perfect, radiating an aura of tranquility. She exuded an air of authority, a presence that commanded respect.

‘She’s strong!’

She was so strong that he instinctively drew his sword. It wasn’t a conscious decision. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself. But his body betrayed his mind. His survival instincts screamed at him to defend himself, and his body obeyed. But it didn’t seem to improve the situation.

The woman stared at the tip of his blade, her gaze calm, and said in a quiet, dignified voice,

“Step away from the children.”

The man’s eyes widened.

“What if I refuse?”

He said, channeling his internal energy.

“You refuse?”

Jin So-Ryeong repeated.

“I refuse!”

“Then I have no choice.”

A blinding flash of light, and the man found himself paralyzed, unable to move.

“H-how…?”

He stared at his saber in disbelief. He had tried to move, but his arm wouldn’t budge.

And then, he felt a chill run down his spine. His right sleeve disintegrated, the fabric turning to dust and scattering in the wind. He stared at the remnants of his sleeve, his mind numb. She could have taken his arm, but it seemed like a warning. If she had been even slightly malicious, his arm would have been sliced to pieces.

“Gasp!”

Yoo Gyeong-Yeong gasped, his eyes widening in shock. It wasn’t because his Uncle Yoon had been defeated by Jin So-Ryeong’s sword. He was shocked by the sight of his uncle’s arm. There was a scar on his right forearm, as if a dragon had clawed it. It hadn’t been there six months ago, when his uncle had visited their home and they had bathed together. And judging by its appearance, it was a recent wound. The realization hit him like a thunderbolt. He couldn’t think straight. He knew something, but his mind wasn’t ready to accept it. It was too much for him to handle. His thoughts shut down.

“Have you changed your mind?”

Jin So-Ryeong asked again.

“No!”

The man said stubbornly.

Jin So-Ryeong’s eyes turned cold.

“W-wait! Don’t fight!”

The boy shouted. Jin So-Ryeong looked at him, her eyes questioning.

“Do you know him?”

It wasn’t a question directed at the man. It was as if he didn’t even register on her radar. The boy answered immediately. He felt dizzy, but he couldn’t collapse now. He fought back the nausea and said,

“Yes, ma’am. He’s my uncle. He’s my father’s sworn brother and the Chief Escort of the Central Plains Merchant Guild. His name is Yoon Yi-Jeong, known in Jianghu as the Wind Demon Blade, one of the Twelve Jade Walls.”

Jin So-Ryeong had heard of the Twelve Jade Walls. It was a title given to the twelve most skilled escorts of the Central Plains Merchant Guild.

“I see. You know him?”

She didn’t seem interested in his identity. She tilted her head, looking puzzled.

‘Was I mistaken? I thought I sensed him channeling internal energy.’

She couldn’t have been mistaken. But he was the children’s uncle, one of the few people they could rely on now. She decided not to press the issue. But her suspicions remained.

Yoon Yi-Jeong, realizing that she knew the children, sheathed his saber and bowed.

“My apologies, Divine Maiden. Please forgive my rudeness. My name is Yoon, a humble escort from the Central Plains Merchant Guild. May I have the honor of knowing your name?”

He was completely composed, his earlier panic gone.

“…”

But Jin So-Ryeong didn’t answer. It was a grave insult, but she didn’t acknowledge him. She simply stared at him with her cold, clear eyes, their depths unreadable.

Yoon Yi-Jeong was furious, but he couldn’t act rashly under her intense gaze.

It was an unspoken pressure, a silent threat.

Yoo Gyeong-Yeong, sensing the awkwardness, stepped forward. He was a mature boy for his age.

“Ah, she’s too famous to reveal her identity. It would cause a commotion. You’ll be surprised when you find out who she is, Uncle.”

He spoke in an exaggerated tone. Jin So-Ryeong didn’t stop him. He took it as a silent permission to reveal her identity.

“Are you curious, Uncle?”

“Yes, I am.”

Yoon Yi-Jeong nodded.

“Don’t be shocked. This is Jin So-Ryeong, the Divine Maiden of Emei.”

Yoon Yi-Jeong’s eyes widened in shock. The Divine Maiden of Emei? She was a legend! She was far too powerful for him to handle. His reputation was nothing compared to hers.

“I’ve always admired you, Divine Maiden. It’s an honor to meet you. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s better to be overly cautious than careless.”

Her words were sharp, a reminder to herself as well. And her unwavering gaze showed that she hadn’t let her guard down.

“Thank you for your understanding.”

The Blue Dragon Manor was within the Emei Sect’s sphere of influence, and they had been generous donors. They were under the Emei Sect’s protection, and an investigation into their destruction was already underway.

The fact that the Blue Dragon Manor had been destroyed right under their noses was a sign that the Emei Sect’s influence was waning. It was a disgrace, and they couldn’t afford to let it slide. If word got out that they had stood idly by while their backyard was trampled and burned, it would be too late. They would be ridiculed by other sects. So they were taking this matter very seriously. And Jin So-Ryeong, as an Emei disciple, couldn’t ignore it.

If the last surviving member of the Blue Dragon Manor family was harmed, even with an Emei disciple present – especially with her, the Best Sword of Emei, present – it would be a humiliation. The Emei Sect would lose face. So how could she neglect the children?

“Gyeong-Yeong, Seon-Ah!”

Yoon Yi-Jeong called out to the children affectionately.

“Yes, Uncle!”

They answered.

“Why don’t you come with me?”

“With you, Uncle?”

Yoo Gyeong-Yeong asked.

“Yes. Your father and I are sworn brothers. I can’t just stand by and do nothing after what happened to him. And I can’t abandon you two, now that you’ve lost your home. I can easily take care of you both. And whoever those people are, they won’t mess with the Central Plains Merchant Guild. We’ll be your shield. What do you say? Will you come with me?”

“That’s…”

Yoo Gyeong-Yeong was flustered by his sudden offer. He glanced at Jin So-Ryeong, his eyes filled with anxiety. It was an instinctive reaction. Jin So-Ryeong couldn’t help but feel uneasy as she met his gaze, a gaze filled with fear.

“Well… Well…”

He stammered, unable to decide what to say. He kept glancing at his uncle’s scar, the thought echoing in his mind: Don’t go with him, no matter what. The problem was how to refuse tactfully. He finally made up his mind, looked his uncle in the eye, and said,

“Thank you for your kind offer, Uncle Yoon. We’re grateful for your concern, even though the Blue Dragon Manor is gone. My father would be grateful too.”

“Oh, so you’ll come with me?”

Yoon Yi-Jeong said, his face brightening.

“But…”

The boy continued,

“We’ve received help from the Divine Maiden and many others from the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild. They’ve promised to protect us and investigate the Blue Dragon Manor massacre. And I told them I trust them.”

He had said that, but he hadn’t actually believed them. That was why he had run away. But that was no longer relevant. He took a deep breath and continued,

“My father always said that trust is the most important thing for a merchant. Lose your trust, and you lose everything. How can I, his son, abandon his teachings, his legacy?”

“So you’re saying…”

Yoon Yi-Jeong’s face hardened. The three scars on his chin and the new one on his forehead twitched ominously.

“We’ll stay with the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild. They’ve promised to protect us, so we have to trust them.”

“I understand. I respect your decision. But…”

Yoon Yi-Jeong glared at him.

“I doubt the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild can protect you. Please reconsider. It’s getting late. We’ll talk again later.”

He bowed curtly to Jin So-Ryeong and turned away, his face still grim.

He didn’t look back.