episode_0020

When people are too flustered, they tend to freeze up instead.

Not expecting the end of the story to turn into complete madness, it’s hard to even grasp the situation at hand.

However, Yang Chaemu had already prepared for such urgency.

Of course, he didn’t expect someone to kidnap the child claiming it as their own.

He simply wondered if someone might take pity on the child and intervene.

Behind Yang Chaemu, a shadow slipped out from the shade of the trees.

It was a figure clad in black night clothes.

The identity of those who moved silently with their faces covered was clear.

Assassins.

“Sir, shall we begin?”

“Go and do what needs to be done.”

“What about the woman?”

“It doesn’t matter. As long as the child is unharmed.”

“Yes, understood. Don’t worry.”

The assassin in black hurried into the forest, the sound of their footsteps echoing near and far.

Soon, a small flame ignited somewhere in the west.

“Descendants of Shin Chang, if you do not approve of dishonorable actions, you are free to leave this place. But if there is anyone who wishes to remain and be remembered with a spear in hand, let them roll the spear.”

Yang Chaemu nodded to Seungsoo Dojang.

Then, he walked forward and said, “Follow me. Let’s go.”

None of the warriors of the Yang family replied.

They simply followed their leader in silence.

For a century, the warriors of the Shin Chang Yang family had stood against the invaders from the East Sea.

Whether it was themselves, their friends, parents, or their friends’ friends, no one had not received the Yang family’s grace. They served with pride in that grace.

“Master.”

“We must continue on our path. Even if their intentions are distorted, we must find a way to help the noble family that has dedicated itself to the world.”

Even the shamans’ disciples left their positions.

—-

Acheong felt relieved.

She decided not to dwell too deeply on it.

Just do whatever the hell I want like this.

Even though there’s no more hell…

Will we ever meet again?

Jin Jangmyeong, who had been causing a fuss and demanding to be let go, suddenly seemed to relax.

He seemed resigned.

What else can I do? Stubborn kid.

Then, a sudden question came.

“Are you really going to eat me?”

Acheong was startled.

“Oh, shh! Who are you sending off? No bad words! Jangmyeong is a baby. Babies should use good words.”

“What are you saying? Ugly.”

“Well, if you think so.”

“I’m ugly.”

“Yes, I heard your valuable opinion. What do you want to eat?”

“Tsk.”

Jin Jangmyeong clicked his tongue.

Then he asked again.

“So, are you really going to eat me?”

“No.”

Acheong confidently revealed her plan.

“We are heading to the Musan Faction!”

“It’s not Musan Faction, it’s Musan Gate… Huh? No, it’s not…”

“Whether it’s Musan Faction or Musan Gate, we’re going!”

The sound of a sigh escaped Acheong.

“But why? Why did you have to use bad words and kidnap me?”

“Oh, kidnapping? Let’s call it a temporary companionship due to unilateral coercion.”

“…? Isn’t that still kidnapping?”

“If I didn’t kidnap you, how would we know we’re going to the Musan Faction? You’re not the one who plans, are you?”

“What are you saying?”

“But there’s a big problem.”

“…?”

“I don’t know the way. Where is the Musan Faction?”

“…?”

“I don’t know the way. Could it be?”

“Roughly. Northwest.”

“Alright, change course to the northwest!”

Acheong adjusted the direction and asked again.

“But where exactly is the northwest?”

“The sun sets in the west.”

Acheong looked up at the sky.

It was a sky filled with dark clouds, hinting at rain.

“Too bad. It was just a hair off. Kid, can you try a little harder?”

Acheong choked on something in her throat.

The noose was tightening around her neck, but her body continued to move forward.

As Ahcheong, with her legs outstretched, flew through the air and landed on the ground, several sheets of paper were pinned to the ground.

Dry leaves scattered explosively in all directions.

Ahcheong quickly checked the hidden dagger in her bosom.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“My neck, it’s bleeding.”

“Miss, hold on.”

Ahcheong gently touched her neck and furrowed her brow.

Fortunately, it was just a superficial cut on her skin.

But it felt disgustingly dirty.

“Who the hell sets up a trap in the forest like this? This is attempted murder, attempted murder.”

“Such a shame. It only ended in an attempt.”

A strange voice interjected.

Ahcheong jumped like a cat, raising her sword at the enemy, only to be surprised.

A face covered in pitch-black attire.

There was only one conclusion.

“A ninja? Since when do ninjas exist in martial arts novels!”

A shuriken flew from nearby.

It was a shuriken carefully taken from the body of a dead assassin.

The shuriken lodged itself in the ninja’s neck.

“Huh.”

Ahcheong let out a gasp.

She was on edge because a ninja suddenly appeared.

If a ninja intruded, everyone had to die.

But wait.

Ninjas, really?

—

…there was a time when I thought that.

It wasn’t just one ninja who suddenly appeared.

It was ninjas who suddenly appeared.

And their tactics were more annoying than I had anticipated.

They had set up all kinds of traps along the path, making it impossible to move quickly.

But I couldn’t perform the advanced night tactics I had learned, so I had to rely on my Moonlight Sword (No. 6) in front of me.

However, I was lacking in defenses for my lower body.

“Oh.”

A rope caught Ahcheong’s ankle, causing her body to lurch forward.

As she flew like a human projectile, she spotted a beautiful tree that she was about to collide with.

She grabbed the dagger next to her and tried to turn her body around with all her might.

And then, thud.

The impact from her back took her breath away.

Forcing air into her stiffened lungs, she tried to catch her breath.

“Ugh… are your eyes, nose, and mouth all intact?”

“Yes.”

“Are your arms and legs intact too?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go. Those cowardly bastards. Not willing to fight fair and square.”

Ahcheong got up and strapped the dagger to her side. Then she took it off again.

“I can’t do it with only one arm.”

Ahcheong quickly removed her upper garment.

“Help me.”

“Why are you taking it off?”

“Oh. This is a forearm guard. A proud invention of South Korea. Right? Anyway.”

She wrapped the removed forearm guard around the dagger and tightened it.

No more being at a disadvantage with only one arm!

They were all dead, those damn ninja bastards.

Ahcheong muttered coldly.

…But this time, there was a pit.

For a spell to work, a minimum level of trust was needed.

At least, there was a trust that the ground wouldn’t betray me. Since the bipedal movement of humans, the ground had always supported them.

But as soon as I confidently stepped on the ground, it crumbled beneath me, shattering my fundamental belief.

The only fortunate thing was that Ahcheong was carrying precious cargo that couldn’t afford to die.

Otherwise, she would have ended up as a cold, lifeless body impaled on the spikes and poisoned arrows under the pit.

Instead, she was greeted by thick, sticky mud oozing out.

What’s this, mud? Is this a mud bath service?

Or did they make it dirty on purpose?

Overcoming a pit about half a foot deep was not a difficult task for a top-notch warrior.

Just jump over it.

It was nothing to make a fuss about, but as Ahcheong tried to run away again, she felt that her body had become incredibly heavy.

Damn, so that’s why it’s mud.

Squelch!

And then, that damn horn sound echoed.

Achyeong’s head turned.

Under the dark clouds on this gloomy day, in the even darker shade of the forest, a figure of a black-clad person quietly retreated.

It’s always like this.

Tying their feet in traps and hiding, they blew the horn to reveal their location.

Where the hell are they going?

Thud! The head of the black-clad person split into a whirlpool shape. The remaining body knelt down and clutched their chest.

—

The situation was getting worse.

These black guys are not ninjas.

They were different from the bastards they had encountered so far.

If you had to compare, they were hunters. Yes, hunters.

Highly skilled experts at that.

There wasn’t a single part of their body that didn’t hurt.

Surely, when they woke up, their whole body would be covered in colorful bruises.

The fresh sprouts of spring still had mud and thorns that stung.

They lost their Moonlight Sword (No. 6).

Slipping in the mud, they lost it in their slippery hands, and before they could grab it, a net flew over.

They blasted the guys rushing with the Yeolrae Divine Palm and tore through the net, running away.

It was a sword worth half a kingdom and a famous sword bought with gold.

Goodbye, my Moonlight Sword.

A hole was pierced in their thigh.

They got caught in the ankle and flew, crashing into a sharp branch sticking out there.

It hurt terribly. It continued to hurt.

Their left ring finger and pinky were numb.

They stepped wrong while falling into a pit.

And of course, there was a rock there.

Taking a deep breath, they jumped out and came face to face with a black-clad person.

They clenched their teeth like in Nakyang and shed some blood.

And then, a drop of moisture touched their cheek.

The rain announced its arrival with a sound.

Pitter-patter…

The sound of leaves hitting each other gradually intensified.

And then, sizzle!

The sound of oil frying filled the world.

“Even the rain is coming. I might go crazy…”

Achyeong let out a deep sigh.

And then, a sudden thought crossed their mind.