Chapter 20: Set Course north-westward

When people are too bewildered, they freeze. They hadn't expected the end of the story to suddenly turn into that of a madwoman, so they couldn't grasp the situation.

However, Yang Chaemu's desperation had already prepared him for this.

Of course, he hadn't expected anyone to suddenly kidnap the child, claiming her as their own. He had only thought that someone might step forward out of pity for the child.

From behind Yang Chaemu, a shadow slid out from the shade of a tree. It was a figure clad in black nightclothes. There was only one possible identity for those who concealed their faces and moved silently.

Assassins.

"Customer, shall we begin?"

"Go and do what you have to do."

"What shall we do about the woman?"

"It doesn't matter. As long as the child is safe."

"Yes, I understand. Of course."

The man in black blew a whistle and ran into the forest. Whistles echoed in response from both near and far. Soon, a small flame shot up from somewhere in the west.

"Descendants of Shin Chang, if you don't like this dishonorable task, you may leave this place. But if there's anyone who wishes to remain a spear, even if it means rolling in the mud..."

Yang Chaemu nodded to Dao Master Seungsu. And then he strode forward and said,

"...Follow me. Let's go."

None of the Yang family's warriors answered. They simply followed their young master in silence. These were the warriors of the Shin Chang Yang family, who had faced the Japanese pirates in the East Sea for a century.

Themselves, their friends, their parents, and their friends. There was no one who hadn't received the favor of the Yang family, and they served with pride in that favor.

"Teacher."

"Let's go our own way. Even if their goal is thwarted, we must find a way to help the prestigious family that has silently dedicated itself to the world."

And so, even the Dao Masters of Wudang left.

A-Qing was in high spirits. She decided not to overthink it. It was so comfortable to just do whatever the fuck she wanted.

Even though she didn't have a dick anymore...

Will we be able to meet again someday?

Jin Jangmyeong, who had been crying and making a fuss, trying to wriggle free, suddenly went limp. She seemed to have resigned herself to the situation.

What's the kid gonna do anyway? She's just a little brat.

Then, a question popped up.

"...Are you really going to fuck me?"

A-Qing freaked out.

"Whoa, shush! Don't say bad words! Jangmyeong is a baby. Babies should only use good words."

"What are you talking about? You're ugly."

"Well, if you say so."

"You're ugly."

"Yes, I've heard your valuable opinion. What else you got?"

"Tsk."

Jin Jangmyeong clicked her tongue. And then she asked again.

"So, are you really going to fuck me?"

"Nope."

A-Qing proudly announced her plan.

"We're heading to the Mount Wu Sect!"

"It's not Mount Wu Sect, it's Mount Wu Clan... Hmm? No, that's not right either..."

"Mount Wu Sect Mount Wu Clan, whatever, we're going!"

It was an ofhanded ignorant insult towards the Divine Maiden Sect.

"But why? Why did you have to say bad words and kidnap me?"

"Whoa, kidnap? Let's call it a temporary state of unilateral coercive companionship."

"...? Isn't that kidnapping?"

"If I didn't kidnap you, they would know we're going to the Mount Wu Sect. Our baby Jangmyeong isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, is she?"

"What are you talking about?"

"But there's one big problem."

"...?"

"I don't know the way. Where's the Mount Wu Sect?"

"...?"

"I said I don't know the way. Do you know by any chance?"

"Roughly. Northwest."

"Okay, set a course north-northwest!"

A-Qing changed direction and asked again.

"But where's northwest?"

"Where the sun sets is west."

A-Qing looked up at the sky. It was completely overcast, as if it was about to rain.

"What a shame. It was a close call. Kid, you could have cultivated more, but, oof."

Something tough caught A-Qing's neck. Her neck was caught, but her body was still moving forward.

A-Qing flew about ten feet in a straight line, legs first, and crashed to the ground. Dry leaves scattered like an explosion.

A-Qing immediately checked on Jin Jangmyeong in her arms.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"Blood, on my neck."

"Oh shit, I'm sorry."

A-Qing stroked her neck and frowned. Fortunately, it was only a superficial wound.

But it stung like hell.

"What kind of crazy bastard hangs a rope in the forest? This is attempted murder, attempted murder."

"Too bad. It was only an attempt."

An unfamiliar voice cut in.

A-Qing jumped up like a cat. She raised her sword to point at the enemy and was surprised again.

A pitch-black outfit covering the face. There could be only one conclusion.

"Ninja? What the hell are ninjas doing in a murim world?"

Whoosh! A throwing knife flew from nearby. It was one of the throwing knives she had carefully collected from the rat-faced man's corpse.

The throwing knife lodged itself in the black-clad man's neck.

"Huh."

A-Qing let out a dumbfounded sound. She had been tense because a ninja had suddenly appeared. Because if ninjas invaded, everyone would die.

But what the hell.

Ninjas, they're nothing special, huh?...Or so she thought.

It wasn't just one ninja that had suddenly appeared. It was ninjas, plural. And their methods were more troublesome than she had imagined.

They had strung ropes all along the way, making it impossible to move quickly. And since she couldn't use her state-of-the-art movement technique, Yue Maiden Footwork, she had to hold her Moonlight Sword (7th) straight ahead.

But her lower body was vulnerable.

"Oops."

A thread caught her ankle, and A-Qing's body was thrown forward. As she flew like a human cannonball, A-Qing spotted a massive tree that she was about to crash into.

She pulled Jin Jangmyeong out of her arms, hugged her tightly, and somehow managed to turn her body.

And then, bam.

The impact on her back took her breath away. She forced air into her frozen lungs and checked on the child in her arms.

"Ugh..., baby, are your eyes, nose, and mouth all still there?"

"Yes."

"Are your arms and legs all still there too?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go. You cowardly bastards. Fighting without honor."

A-Qing got up and tucked Jin Jangmyeong under her arm. And then she put her down again.

"I can't do it with only one arm."

A-Qing quickly took off her top.

"Get on my back."

"...Why are you taking your clothes off?"

"Ah, this is called a baby carrier. It's a proud invention of South Korea. Right? Anyway."

A-Qing wrapped Jin Jangmyeong, who was on her back, and tied her securely.

No more one-armed bandit!

You're all dead, you fucking ninja bastards.

A-Qing muttered coldly....But this time, there was a pit.

For movement techniques to work, a minimum level of trust was required. It was the trust that at least the ground wouldn't betray her. Ever since mankind started walking on two legs, the ground had always been there to support them.

But the ground collapsing and sinking the moment she stepped on it with force was enough to shatter a person's fundamental beliefs.

Fortunately, A-Qing was in the middle of transporting cargo that absolutely must not die. Otherwise, she would have become a cold corpse among the bamboo spears and poison needles piled at the bottom of the pit.

Instead, A-Qing was greeted by thick, sticky, bright red mud.

What the hell, mud? Is this a mud mask service?

Or did they make this to piss me off?

Overcoming a pit about five feet deep wasn't that difficult for a top-notch warrior. She could just jump out.

Thinking that they were bothering her with such trivial things, A-Qing started running again, but she felt her body become very heavy.

Fucking hell, so this is what mud is like.

Beep, beep-!

That damn whistle blew again.

A-Qing's head turned. In the shadows of the forest, even darker because of the overcast sky, she saw the figure of a black-clad man quietly backing away.

It was always like this. They would set traps to stop her, hide, and then blow the whistle to reveal their location.

You son of a bitch. Where do you think you're going?

Clang-! The black-clad man's head was sliced off in the shape of a vortex. The rest of his body collapsed, knees first, chest hitting the ground.

The situation was getting worse.

These black guys weren't ninjas. They were different from the bastards she had encountered so far.

If she had to compare them, they were hunters, yes, hunters.

And they were highly skilled professionals.

There wasn't a single part of her body that didn't hurt. Surely, when she woke up tomorrow, her entire body would be a colorful feast of bruises.

The mud getting into the fresh scratches from the sparse spring branches stung.

She had lost her Moonlight Sword (7th). It slipped from her mud-slicked hand, and she didn't even have time to pick it up before a net flew at her.

She used the Budda Palm to blow away the guys rushing at her, and in the moment they faltered, she tore the net and ran away.

It was a good sword that she had bought for half a gold tael.

Goodbye, my Moonlight Sword.

A-Qing sang a farewell song in her heart, shedding tears.

There was a hole in her thigh. She had tripped and crashed again, and there happened to be a sharp branch sticking out right there.

It hurt like hell. It kept hurting.

Her left ring finger and pinky were dangling. She had put her hand down wrong when she fell into the pit.

And of course, there had to be a rock right there.

She jumped out with a sigh and ran right into a black-clad man.

She grabbed his throat and ripped it out, drawing some blood, just like in Luoyang.

And then, a drop of water touched her cheek.

The rain in the forest announced its arrival with sound.

Pitter-patter...

The sound of raindrops hitting the leaves gradually intensified.

And then, whoosh-!

The sound of pouring rain filled the world.

"It's even raining. This is crazy..."

A-Qing let out a deep sigh.

Then, a thought suddenly occurred to her.