Free Web Novel22. Martial Alliance Pursuit
Jinseong’s hand rested at his waist, and his bearing made it seem as if he might draw his sword at any moment.
Anger surged in me. I glared at him and snapped.
“Is threatening someone # Nоvеlight # to follow you before cutting them down, without explaining the circumstances, the Alliance’s way? Or is it your way, Taoist? Tell me exactly what investigation you want me to cooperate with. I find it unpleasant to be treated like a criminal out of nowhere.”
“......”
Jinseong looked down at me in silence, then lowered his hand again.
As if he thought there was some sense in what I had said, he slowly opened his mouth.
“A Soul-Chasing Butterfly Dart belonging to you, Young Lady, was found near a corpse bearing traces of demonic arts. The Tang Sect confirmed it was yours, and your custody has been turned over to the Alliance. Therefore, I request that you accompany us.”
“...Pardon?”
For an instant, my body went rigid as if my blood had frozen.
A corpse bearing traces of demonic arts?
Does he mean the wandering martial artist we buried because we didn’t have enough Hwagol Powder? Was there demonic qi in Yeon Ryang’s sword?
Just then, someone pulled my frozen body back.
“Honorable Taoists. You shouldn’t threaten another man’s little sister like that. What do you think you’re doing?”
Yeon Ryang stepped in front of me and growled, frowning.
“This is Alliance business. If you interfere, you will be arrested as well.”
“Oh? You will arrest me, Taoist? Little Taoist, you’re overflowing with confidence.”
I hid behind Yeon Ryang’s back and bit my lip.
Yeon Ryang could not clash with Jinseong.
He might be able to fool others, but he could not fool Jinseong’s eyes. The moment their swords crossed, Jinseong would know at once that Yeon Ryang was from the Demonic Sect.
Because his was a sword of the Taoist sects, carrying an energy that repelled evil.
I quickly tugged Yeon Ryang back and pressed down hard on his scabbard.
Don’t.
I shaped the word silently with my lips and shook my head. Yeon Ryang glanced at me and eased the strength from his hand. He was quick to catch on.
Yeon Ryang’s voice softened slightly.
“So what exactly has my little sister done wrong? Let’s at least hear the reason.”
When Jinseong silently looked at the Taoist standing beside him, the young Taoist fumbled in a panic and took something from his robe, holding it out.
The paper the young Taoist held out had my face drawn on it.
Unlike the one from the Yuzhou Merchant Guild, this was a proper portrait sketch. It seemed even the Tang Clan had been unable to refuse a request from the Martial Alliance.
Yeon Ryang snatched the portrait sketch roughly, and his eyes widened as if they might pop out.
“...What? Tang Sohae? Sohae? Gyeonga, you lied to your brother about your name?”
Ah. Right. I never told him my name.
I smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.
“You hid that you were going to the Hao Gate too, Brother. Let’s talk about it later.”
“What? How did you know that? Did you already know that day and follow me there? Good heavens. This brother is hurt. To think my little sister was someone with this many secrets!”
Yeon Ryang shouted in outrage. I smacked him on the back.
“Be quiet. This is a serious situation right now, you know?”
The Wudang third-generation disciples standing behind Jinseong looked back and forth between Yeon Ryang and me as if to ask what we were doing. fгeewebnovёl.com
A little embarrassed, I ignored Yeon Ryang’s squawking and turned my gaze back to Jinseong.
“Is the reason you explained all of it? This has nothing to do with the matter of me poisoning the man who was nearly my betrothed, correct?”
At my question, Jinseong blinked blankly, then slowly nodded.
“...Yes. That matter is unrelated.”
I had wondered why he looked somewhat surprised, but soon I understood the reason.
“Good heavens. Little sister. Is that why you ran away from home? Ugh, poisoning the man who was to become your betrothed because you didn’t want to marry. A daughter of the Tang Clan is terrifying.”
Yeon Ryang gaped and pretended to rub goosebumps from his arms.
The Wudang Taoists also exchanged glances among themselves and took a step back from me. Their faces looked as if they were staring at a villainess for the ages.
I felt wronged.
“That’s not true, all right? That’s just what people are saying. I didn’t kill him. He wasn’t my betrothed either. Someone else killed him and framed me for it.”
“If I want to live long, I’ll have to make sure I never anger my little sister. Who knows? She might shove poison down this brother’s throat.”
“I said that’s not true. Be quiet before I actually shove some in.”
I pinched Yeon Ryang’s arm and met Jinseong’s eyes. He stood there silently without the slightest change in expression.
I tried to hide my anxiety and forced my mind to work.
If what Jinseong said was true, then cooperating with the investigation itself would not be a huge problem.
The nature of my internal energy was only close to poison. It had nothing to do with demonic arts.
The Alliance would not privately accept the grudge of a mere merchant guild, so my life should not be in danger.
But Yeon Ryang was different.
The moment he entered the Martial Alliance, he would never again leave the prison cells.
It would be nearly impossible for him to enter a den of beasts who ground their teeth at the Demonic Sect and get out without anyone discovering he was one of them.
Sweat gathered in my palms. I chewed the tender flesh inside my mouth and looked at Yeon Ryang.
There were countless people in Wuhan who had seen us traveling together.
If I sent Yeon Ryang away now while claiming he was not with me, everyone would find it suspicious.
But taking Yeon Ryang to the Martial Alliance was even more out of the question.
I owed Yeon Ryang my life three times over. After receiving that kind of favor, I could not turn my back on him.
I lifted my chin as if nothing were wrong.
“In that case, I will accompany you. I have nothing to hide. However, I am cooperating with the investigation to prove my innocence. I am not admitting that I am the culprit who left behind demonic corruption. So do not threaten me as you did earlier.”
“...I will do as you wish, Young Lady.”
Jinseong answered and respectfully cupped his fist.
At the word demonic corruption, Yeon Ryang’s fingertips trembled lightly. I pulled Cane, who had been asleep inside my robe, out and placed it in Yeon Ryang’s hands.
“Cane. You’re heavy, so go to Brother.”
“Kyuuuk.”
Then I winked at Yeon Ryang.
Yeon Ryang wrapped Cane around his neck with the face of someone who had realized something, then grinned.
I put on a harmless expression and gestured to Jinseong.
“Then lead the way.”
“Yes, Young Lady.”
Jinseong nodded lightly and turned around. The third-generation disciples, watching for cues, also hurried outside after Jinseong.
The instant I left the bank and stepped onto the street, I grabbed Yeon Ryang’s sleeve.
“Brother.”
“Mm.”
“Run!”
I kicked off the ground as I scattered red poison fumes. I sensed the Wudang disciples faltering in surprise as the fumes blocked their vision.
For an instant, I thought my eyes met Jinseong’s shocked face, as if he were looking at a fraud, but I had no room to care.
Sorry, innocent Taoist. I have to live too.
“KIIIK! KIIIIK!”
Cane, awakened from sleep only to be caught in this disaster, screamed and clung to Yeon Ryang’s shoulder.
“Where do we go, little sister?”
“I don’t know the roads! Just get as far away as you can! I’ll follow!”
“Understood!”
We slipped into a narrow side path and ran blindly through deserted alleys.
“Brother. No matter what happens, do not draw up your internal energy.”
“What?”
“You heard earlier, didn’t you? The reason the Martial Alliance is chasing us is because they found traces of demonic arts. They cannot discover your identity, Brother.”
“What are you...”
Yeon Ryang’s eyes flew wide.
“Sohae, since when did you know...”
“We’ll talk later. No matter what happens, don’t use internal energy. No matter what. Pretend you’re a third-rate martial artist before I feed you Dissolving-Power Poison. Do you understand?”
At my urgent whisper, Yeon Ryang nodded.
His face was bewildered, but he seemed to understand what I meant.
He probably had not wanted me to discover he was from the Demonic Sect this way, but this was not a situation where I could afford to consider his feelings.
“And if I’m caught, go on alone.”
“What?”
“I won’t die even if I’m caught. If you’re caught, you will. I’ll make an opening depending on the situation, so run.”
“Oh, little sister. Aren’t you underestimating this brother too much? I can beat third-generation disciples like that even without a speck of internal energy.”
Yeon Ryang smiled slyly and bluffed. It seemed he was trying to reassure me, but his complexion did not look good either.
We could somehow shake off the third-generation disciples. The problem was the support coming from the Alliance.
I did not have much poison left either. If the combat unit moved...
“Young Lady. Stop.”
Aagh, when did he catch up?
Before I knew it, Jinseong had drawn close behind us and pulled his sword, glaring at me. He looked a little angry.
Behind him, I could see the third-generation disciples, unable to match Jinseong’s speed, running laboriously from far away.
One, two, three... Four including Jinseong. One is missing. Did he go request support? Damn it.
I bit my lip and whispered to Yeon Ryang.
“Taoist Jinseong will know the moment he crosses swords with you, Brother. I’ll deal with him, so don’t step in.”
“Wow. The day has come when my little sister protects me. You’ve grown up, little sister. This brother is so moved he could cry.”
Yeon Ryang chuckled and brought his hand to his scabbard.
“Split from me there. Now!”
Yeon Ryang went left, and I went right. As soon as we split and fled, Jinseong chased after me without the slightest hesitation.
His fierce energy made my heart tremble, but I could not back down.
It’ll be fine. He’s a Taoist. Surely he won’t kill me.
I took a deep breath and rolled once to reduce my speed. The ground gouged deep beneath me, and dust billowed up.
When I turned around, I saw Jinseong walking toward me through the hazy dust.
“You reject the offered cup and choose the cup of punishment instead.”
“Is it all right for a Taoist to offer alcohol? You said liquor can’t be brought into Jasogung.”
As I retorted, I slipped my hand into my sleeve and gripped a throwing knife.
The fact that I’m making something like this into a joke means Yeon Ryang’s habits must be rubbing off on me.
“Come with me even now. I will pretend your flight never happened.”
“If you were me, Taoist Jinseong, would you walk to your own death? It’s obvious someone is trying to frame me.”
“The Alliance is not a place that frames people. If you reject me so strongly, I have no choice but to believe you are fleeing to hide demonic arts, Young Lady.”
I shook the throwing knife wrapped in deep blue-black internal energy and snapped angrily.
“Look properly. How does this look like demonic arts to you? This is an insult not only to me, but to my grandfather as well. I inherited the Poison King’s Poison Heart Method. Could you look my grandfather in the face and call it demonic arts?”
Not unless he had two lives to spare.
At that, Jinseong frowned and thought for a moment before turning his gaze toward Yeon Ryang.
“If it is not you, Young Lady, then it must be that one.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, but my brother has just spent a long time rolling around on the streets. He doesn’t have a speck of internal energy. He won’t be able to meet your expectations.”
“Sohae! This brother is not that bad!”
From far away, Yeon Ryang shouted indignantly while dealing with the third-generation disciples.
He has time to argue back, so I guess that man is doing just fine. No, I told him not to clash with them, so why is he drawing attention?
To pull Jinseong’s attention back to me, I hurriedly threw the knife. Jinseong knocked it aside lightly, and his eyes sharpened.
“You will regret this, Young Lady.”
“I already do.”
His eyes are terrifying.
As if he no longer intended to go easy on me, Jinseong adjusted his grip on his sword and lowered his body.
The blade of the Pine-Pattern Ancient Sword in his hand gleamed sharply.
In an instant, Jinseong soared into the air and brought his sword down toward me.
CLANG!
Jinseong’s sword and my throwing knife collided.
