episode_0023

“Finally, you’re here.”

The tone was one of impatience.

“You thought I would come here?”

“A woman with a fierce look in her eyes can’t be a cruel villain. So, where are you taking the child?”

Giyun turned around and this time, struck from behind.

The bright, twinkling eyes that had returned with a blow from the Mu-dangpa were the ones who caused the accident in the end.

She took a step back with a wary look from Acheong.

Then, Yang Chaemu spoke.

“Come. It’s already too late to escape.”

“Lies. I don’t believe you. You used to deceive people by laying traps, but now there’s no one here? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice?”

“I have never deceived anyone.”

That was true.

Acheong had never mentioned anything about preparing for a desperate situation or not being ready for it.

“So, what now? Shall we settle things here?”

“If you release the child now, we will consider it as if nothing happened. Sojo seems like a good person, there’s no need to harm him.”

“Hah, am I just a pushover? Fine, let’s settle this. Do you think I can’t handle it? I am also a master, a master!”

This time, Heuksal stepped forward.

The light gleamed on the drawn sword.

It wasn’t a fluorescent-like glow of a sword.

It was a sword gleaming with a menacing whisper that pierced the eyes and shone brightly in place.

The Sword Gang.

“Oh, what’s this? A top-notch master. Just to catch one novice, is it not a bit exaggerated to bring out the top-notch skills?”

Acheong’s heart raced.

In the days when she didn’t know any better, she had seen a fight between a top-notch master selling swords at the market.

The swordsman’s wrapped blade was being cut off smoothly.

Even though I wasn’t the one fighting, my heart was pounding.

This was the dignity of a master.

“Sister?”

“No matter how you look at it, I am no match for a top-notch master… If he strikes once, you and I will be split in half and sent to the afterlife.”

“It’s okay, I’ll go with you.”

“I’m not okay.”

Acheong sighed deeply.

“Excuse me, could you please give me just one sword as a human gesture? It’s really not fair to ask a sword master to fight a top-notch master without a sword.”

Neither Yang Chaemu nor Heuksal responded.

It seemed they were reluctant to give up even one sword.

It really wasn’t fair to ask for a top-notch master.

I should be a little cautious and make a run for it.

For now, let’s try to lull them into complacency.

Acheong deliberately shouted loudly.

“Well, there’s no other choice. Name! Final move!”

Acheong turned around with the gun in her hand.

She was stabbed in the chest and struggled a bit, but ultimately, Jangmyeong, who was behind her, ended up hanging in front of Acheong this time.

Acheong shouted triumphantly.

“This is the hostage defense technique! You can’t attack, but I can! I am invincible, and the child is a god! I am invincible, and the child is a god!”

They were the ones aiming for Jangmyeong after all.

And Jangmyeong was weak. They wouldn’t dare to touch him recklessly. It was truly an invincible armor.

It was a truly despicable and ingenious tactic.

Although they had already agreed to this plan after some discussion, Jangmyeong still felt embarrassed and bowed his head deeply.

Yang Chaemu, incredulous, said, “Are you really going to resort to such a cowardly trick? Wasn’t saving the child your goal, Sojo?”

“What cowardice! These little brats are swarming to catch a tiny kid like me, causing a ruckus. Who’s talking about cowardice here in front of me?”

Acheong continued to raise her voice confidently.

“And should our child just stand by and watch like a bystander? If he thinks he can win by putting his life on the line for someone else, why not just ask someone else to live his life for him! Don’t underestimate our Jangmyeong, damn it!”

Unexpectedly, a response came back.

“Your words are truly magnificent!”

There was a woman approaching, tapping her fan against her palm.

She was a beautiful middle-aged woman, if one had to describe her.

Though there were signs of aging, her face was beautiful, exuding elegance.

“Last night, the stars were ominous, so I went for a walk and ended up outside the mountain gate. I tried to ignore it as a worldly matter, but there, a child spoke so sweetly. Child, what is your name?”

“Me?”

“Yes. Child.”

“I go by the name of Acheong…”

“Acheong! What a lovely name. But why, on earth, do you look like this? Even piglets don’t walk around like this. Your sister is the same. Why do you and your sister look so uncivilized? Answer me. Are you human or a piglet?”

She was a woman with a strange dignity.

Almost like a conglomerate house’s lady.

“I am human…”

Acheong replied, her throat tightening.

“Then act like one. And what is this appearance? Why, women these days don’t even know how to take care of their own bodies. No sense of modesty at all?”

“Um, ma’am, thank you for your words, but it’s dangerous here, so it would be better for you to leave… Those men with knives and spears are very bad…”

“Are you trying to make me worry about you while you can’t even take care of yourself? I should be worried about a woman who can’t even protect her own body. Ha, it’s infuriating, truly infuriating.”

“Um…”

What kind of situation is this now?

Why am I being scolded again?

Acheong rolled her eyes.

Then the lady turned to the other side.

“And you two, if you had even a tiny bit of sense in your heads, you wouldn’t dare to intimidate a woman in front of the mountain gate of misfortune. Should I scold you for having intelligence worse than a dung beetle?”

The two men’s faces turned pale.

Acheong didn’t know, but the lady’s imposing presence alone made her feel uneasy.

The two men soon realized who the lady was.

If you were to ask who the strongest woman was, the answer would be one.

The strongest woman in the world, Grandmother Seomunsurin.

Yang Chaemu surrounded them with a bloodless face.

“Grandmother, I…”

“Enough. You know me. If you think your excuses are not honorable, it would be better to keep your mouth shut.”

Yang Chaemu closed his mouth.

Though Yang Chaemu was desperate, there was no reason for him to hang himself and choose death.

The moment he tried to argue in front of the grandmother, his life would come to an end.

It was a very common sense.

“Ugh, get lost. I can’t stand the sight of you.”

And Acheong received a mission completion notification.

—-

It’s a strange ceiling.

A faint scent comfortingly wafted into her nostrils.

Acheong sat up.

It was a neatly arranged room.

As soon as she arrived at the shrine with her lady, women with the most horrified expressions rushed in and shoved Acheong into a tub.

Acheong realized why cats desperately resist bathing.

If you leave them alone, they’ll clean themselves.

But if you suddenly shove them into a tub and scrub them with soap, of course they’ll panic.

Moreover, she was being manhandled by countless hands of women whose names she didn’t even know.

All Acheong could do was tightly shut her eyes and wait for this time to pass.

Afterwards, she received treatment from the female doctor.

After being rubbed and smeared with various ointments and poultices, she was almost at the point where she didn’t need to wear clothes.

And she drank a little warm broth before going to bed.

She woke up now.

Feeling like a human, fatigue weighed heavily on her body.

Achyeong staggered out of the room.

And she saw Seomunsurin, who was drinking tea on the veranda.

That lady is the strongest among the women in the central courtyard.

The strongest woman in the central courtyard.

Indeed, one must become skilled to be respected.

Standing there gracefully without even drawing a sword.

“Go away.”

With just one word, she could stop an enemy in their tracks.

“Child, are you awake?”

“Yes, thanks to you. I appreciate it.”

Achyeong subtly glanced around.

The ability to read people, activated.

“I heard everything from the little one. Impressive, Achyeong. Truly admirable. How did you manage to do such a beautiful thing?”

“It was nothing. It was something I had to do.”

“Even those who can’t even do the obvious things are everywhere. How can I not praise you?”

Seomunsurin chuckled and continued speaking.

“By the way, you have experienced truly amazing things. How did a child born under an unlucky star grow up so gracefully?”

“Oh.”

“How did I know? Didn’t I say last night that the constellations were ominous? A terrible and ominous star was shining right in front of me, so I couldn’t just stand still and looked around.”

“Do you know that by looking at the stars?”

“Do you think I can just know by looking at the stars? Yes, just give me your hand for a moment. Let me check your pulse.”

Achyeong obediently extended her hand.

And then, snap!

Seomunsurin’s finger struck Achyeong’s wrist.

Wait, why does this finger hurt so much?

Tears welled up in her eyes.

Achyeong wrapped her wrist.

Seomunsurin clicked her tongue.

“Tsk tsk. Inexperienced. Do you think someone who has mastered martial arts would willingly let me check their pulse? How did I know? By looking at the stars and feeling the vitality in your pulse.”

“You can tell by checking the pulse?”

What is this?

Is she a master in both martial arts and traditional medicine?

“When you reach my level, you will know everything.”

Indeed, one must become skilled to know everything!

“So be more careful. I can see that your character is upright and honest, so I’ll let it slide, but others born under an unlucky star will not hesitate to attack you for any reason.”

“Ah…”

It was truly valuable information.

She could have been attacked without even knowing why.

Do not let anyone check your pulse carelessly. Important. Note it down.

“Anyway, just out of curiosity, do you have any intention of entering the shrine of the Divine Maiden?”

“Thank you for your offer, but I don’t have any plans to enter anywhere yet.”

“I thought as much. The Celestial Fortress. The front is the fortress of the living, and the back is the wandering spirit’s abode, so you’re not someone who will settle down in one place.”

It wasn’t such a grand decision.

She just picked it after reading a strategy guide.

She didn’t realize it was a matter of life and death if she got caught.

Achyeong, who seemed indifferent even after hearing such harsh words, smiled faintly.

The strongest woman in the central courtyard asked again.

“Then, do you have any thoughts of becoming my disciple?”