Chapter 131: Chapter 131
Jin Geum-woo hurriedly released Won Ga-young.
"Are you okay?"
"I... I'm fine."
She tried to pretend she was calm, but she couldn't hide the trembling in her voice.
Jin Geum-woo sighed softly while holding her in his arms. He was relieved to see her unharmed.
No one knows how worried he has been all this time. He pretended to be calm on the outside, but on the inside he was greatly worried about her well-being.
Fortunately, Pyo-wol put pressure on Heukam, so the latter didn't even have time to think about anything else. Thanks to him, Won Ga-young was released safely.
For a long time, she had been carried like luggage so her body was as stiff as a tree.
Jin Geum-woo injected his qi in Won Ga-young's body. He was trying to ease and comfort her body from the inside using qi.
After a while, Won-young's complexion returned to normal as if to confirm that Jin Geum-woo's efforts worked. It was a phenomenon that only occurred when qi was circulated smoothly.
"I can do it by myself now."
Won Ga-young said with a shy expression.
After being treated as a burden by Heukam for several days, her body became very dirty and stinky. She didn't want to show Jin Geum-woo her disheveled figure.
Jin Geum-woo nodded and stepped back.
Won Ga-young sat cross-legged and concentrated on recovering her internal strength.
After one hour has passed, Won Ga-young completely recovered her physical condition.
Won Ga-young stood up and said,
"Thank you, brother... for coming to rescue me like this."
"Be more grateful to him than me. Without him, I would never be able to save you."
"He is..."
"I know. He killed Pyeong. But it's also true that he saved you. I wouldn't know how to find you if not for him."
"I have become a burden."
"Don't think like that. You have never been a burden. It's just bad luck."
"Hoo...!"
Won Ga-young sighed at Jin Geum-woo's words of consolation. Her nickname as the Phantom Swordsman felt meaningless.
'Why did they even call me a master? I'm so pathetic now.'
She felt ashamed. Rather than helping the person she liked, she ended up being a burden. Furthermore, her appearance right now was so shabby. She can't believe she got so intoxicated by her title as the Phantom Swordsman.
Jin Geum-woo asked,
"How's your body?"
"I think I can move around now."
"Can you go back to Chengdu alone?"
"What about you?"
"He has to pay off his debt."
Jin Geum-woo raised his head and looked in the direction where Pyo-wol disappeared. Without Pyo-wol, he wouldn't have been able to reach this place and save Won Ga-young like this.
He was definitely a person who would pay back his resentment.
Seo Mun-pyeong's death could not be offset by the fact that Pyo-wol helped in saving Won Ga-yeong.
Both events must be distinguished separately.
Some may say that he was being too uptight, but that was the nature of a person called Jin Geum-woo. Knowing that fact, Won Ga-young did not stop Jin Geum-woo.
"Alright, brother! I'll go back to Chengdu alone."
"I'm sorry, and thank you." Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
"No, don't be. I should be the one sorry since I ended up being on your way. I promise, I'll never show you such an unsightly side next time."
"You never looked unsightly."
Even with Jin Geum-woo's comfort, Won Ga-young could not raise her head.
"Hu...!"
Her sighs mingled in the wind.
* * *
'This demon-like...'
Heukam trembled.
The black mist on his body had long since disappeared without a trace.
If it was the usual Heukam, he would never have left Yulmok-ah's arrogance alone. But now he was in a position to ask for help. He had no time to argue about the little things.
"There is someone who is tracking me right now."
"The Xiaoleiyin Temple's hound is being pursued? Heh heh! That's really interesting."
"He's truly a terrifying person. Since his martial arts and stealth skills are great, we have to thoroughly guard the Red Tree Pagoda and prevent him from entering."
"Hahaha! Who would dare to break into the Red Tree Pagoda? Even Hyeolbul will not be able to enter without destroying this place."
"But..."
"Anyway. If you find us safe, just stay calm and go. It's unsightly to see a runaway dog barking."
"........"
Heukam's ugly face became even more distorted. But he soon regained his original expression.
"Okay. Then I will be indebted to you."
Heukam bowed his head deeply to Yulmok-ah.
In the last few days, Heukam wasn't able to rest for a single moment. Fatigue reached its peak so he did not even have the strength to fight Yulmok-ah.
"Yes. I just need to get enough rest. Hopefully this place won't be infiltrated."
Yulmok-ah's condescending appearance was annoying to see, but she was still capable. Right now, her martial arts skill is second to none. With Yulmok-ah's ability, she will be able to protect him even for a day.
Before Heukam left the door, he said a word to the old woman.
"He's an assassin. He's great at hiding and infiltrating, so please strengthen your defenses."
"Heh heh! Even though it looks so ordinary, there are several machinery and traps operating on each floor, and the masters of the main tower guard the main road, so no one would dare enter. You can rest easy, hound!"
"Alright."
"Your body stinks, so hurry up, take a bath and rest."
"Thank you for your consideration. Then..."
After saying his farewell to Yulmok-ah, Heukam came out.
One of the warriors of the Red Tree Pagoda was waiting for him to escort him to the dormitory. His accommodation was a small room in the corner of the third floor of the Red Tree Pagoda. Although the room was small, there was a wooden bathtub so he could enjoy a bath.
"Hoo...!"
Heukam undressed and dipped into the bathtub. The water wasn't heated so it was cold. But to Heukam, it was heavenly.
After taking a bath, Heukam ate a light meal, lay on the bed.
'Would he dare come after me here?'
Heukam tried to deny his thoughts.
Even though Yulmok-ah was blind, it was certain that the Red Tree Pagoda was an impregnable fortress. It was impossible for anyone in the world to sneak into this place, even if it was Pyo-wol.
Heukam thought that Pyo-wol was watching the Red Tree Pagoda from somewhere.
'Even he won't be able to listen here. I'm sure he'll watch over me and press me again when I come out."
Goosebumps came back up in his back at the thought of being pressured by Pyo-wol again.
'It's a pity, if only I had that girl, I would be able to subdue her and use her as a weapon.'
He found it a pity that he had to abandon Won Ga-young to preserve his life. It would have been an added bonus if he could subdue her heart and turn her into a weapon. He could also had a good time as a bonus.
But everything is the past anyway. It was too late for him to regret his decision, and the situation at the time was too urgent. He had to be satisfied that he manage to preserve his life.
Before he knew it, Heukam fell asleep. Heukam did not resist and was swallowed by his dreams. It's been a really long time since he slept.
This was the first time he slept so sweetly since he came out of the Xiaoleiyin Temple.
Heukam opened his eyes.
The room was silent.
The silence was strange, but that made him more reassured. It was proof that nothing had happened overnight.
'As expected, even he wouldn't dare to infiltrate here.'
Heukam smiled.
He had slept well so his condition improved. At this rate, he thought he would be able to fight him back even if he met Pyo-wol again.
He sat and got off the bed.
Jjalgrung!
At that moment, a strange noise was heard from inside the bed.
Heukam lifted the blanket with a puzzled expression.
"......."
The eyes of Heukam looking inside the blanket became so wide that it looked like his eyes were about to be torn apart.
He could see colorful ornaments placed in between the blanket and the bed.
He had clearly seen these splendid ornaments, which have now been dyed red.
"You can't be serious?"