Chapter 247: The Rumors Were True (2)

Name:Absolute Sword Sense Author:
“Young master, is that you?”

With him slightly recovered, that voice was becoming slightly more familiar. His nostrils twitched.

“I-I can’t tell if this is a dream or reality.”

“It’s real, you’re alive.”

Upon hearing that, Ah Song pinched his own cheek, his expression turning somber.

“Ah... what a strange dream. It’s absurd for a kidnapped boy to suddenly appear in front of me, crying.”

Did his eyes turn red?

What on earth was this guy even saying?

I said it was real, but why the sudden doubt... no?

I approached him quickly. As I was about to check on him further, Ah Song embraced me.

And he whispered,

“I should have hugged you before, even in a dream. Young master, are you lonely living without the lady? I will find you for sure! Just be patient until then...”

“Ah Song.”

“It’s a dream, but why does the voice sound so real and powerful? It shouldn’t be like this, right?”

“I am real.”

“Ugh. Yes, yes.”

“Ah Song, it’s me. This is not a dream.”

“... huh?”

There was a hint of absurdity about our situation, but that couldn’t be helped.

Even after enduring all our hardships, nothing had changed. I poked him on the side.

Being struck on the side would be painful, but he felt no pain. Even though the meridians circulated the qi and were all connected, his nervous system didn’t seem to register any pain.

So, after pinching his cheek, I assured him it wasn’t a dream. Then, Ah Song nudged me lightly.

“Why are you poking me on the side?”

“You?”

Man.

Nothing seemed to have changed. He was still no different from his half-alive state.

It appeared as though the side effects of being in that state had yet to subside, and he had not yet recovered.

“Ah Song. Even if it hasn’t been long, it doesn’t seem like you are fully back to your original state, maybe because you were in that half-state for a long time.”

“For how many years? What do you mean? Lose...”

In an instant, his face paled as if recalling a traumatic memory, he exhaled heavily.

“Ah Song!”

“Uh... uh... kuk... Am I alive? I was abducted on my way to Murim Alliance... huk...”

He struggled to breathe, but I could empathize.

Not only had he been enchanted and transformed into a living gangshi, but his eyes and mouth had been sewn shut, causing him unimaginable pain.

He absentmindedly touched his eyes and mouth, unable to forget the horrifying ordeal.

“M-my... face?”

“It’s alright; I turned it back to normal. No, not completely.”

Ah Song looked at me with a puzzled expression. Then, with tears in his eyes, he grabbed my hand.

“Are you really the young master?”

“I told you.”

“Oh my, young master!”

He cried as he hugged me, and I patted him on the back, filled with exhilaration.

I feel deep sympathy for this man who endured countless trials because of his inexperienced young master. Had it not been for my mother’s plea, he might have found peace and a humble existence somewhere far away.

At that moment, Ah Song broke free and whispered to me.

“Master, how did you elude them? A noble incapable of mastering martial arts... gasp! Master, you must flee!”

“Escape?”

“T-that... the monstrous old woman might come. Ah, no. I will do something so the young master should....”

I gripped his arm and spoke.

“It is all taken care of now, Ah Song.”

“Young master, this shouldn’t be taken lightly. That old woman is so deranged that she captures innocent people and stitches their eyes and mouths shut. That, right there, is Revolting Mother, one of the infamous...”

“Phew!”

Laughter escaped from me in an instant.

His words were true, but the tone of our conversation changed once he mentioned the Revolting Mother.

I patted his shoulder and reassured him,

“Do not worry; she cannot harm you anymore.”

Ah Song looked puzzled and asked,

“What do you mean?”

I pointed to his side with my hand.

There, the old woman’s body still lay in its bisected state, and a cane with a bell was beside it.

“Eik1!”

Scared by what he saw, Ah Song’s eyes widened as he looked at the cane.

“That is?”

The Revolting Mother had carried it, so he must remember. Unable to understand, he said.

“What the hell is this? Didn’t the young master get abducted by the Blood Sect? How did you end up doing this when you cannot learn martial arts...”

The people at the party seemed to be deferring to Jin Gyun.

Upon closer examination, both of them were dressed in clothes adorned with symbols that suggested they belonged to a certain alliance.

The party attempted to ascend to the second floor, except for Jin Young.

“Grandfather, they might be members of a different party, so I will inquire first.”

Jin Gyun, who was fixated on his grandson, sighed.

“Do not disgrace me.”

“I understand.”

As Jin Gyun and his party ascended, Jin Young made his way toward Sima Young and her group. Having overheard their conversation, Sima Young and the others anticipated a potential request.

Upon Jin Young’s arrival, he respectfully joined his hands together in a bow.

Just then, the entrance of the inn erupted in commotion once more, causing Jin Young to turn his head.

He caught sight of two individuals silhouetted against the bright sunlight.

“Young lord!”

Sima Young sprang up from her seat. The two who entered were none other than Won-hwi and Ah Song.

However, the people at the entrance groaned at the sight of the bloodstained sack Ah Song was carrying.

Upon entering, Jin Won-hwi first looked at Sima Young, then turned his gaze to the upper floor.

“Look there!”

Jin Young proudly walked to the inn’s entrance to greet Jin Won-hwi. He glanced at him and bowed while saying.

“Warrior So, long time no see.”

As soon as he saw Won-hwi, Jin Young treated it like a bothersome formality. Hearing this, Jin Won-hwi smiled.

They had met in the Dual Martial Troops’ headquarters, but he didn’t recognize him because Won-whi had worn a mask and an eye patch. There was no need to reveal his identity.

But that didn’t sit well with Jin Young.

“Did you just smile?”

He was offended but put up with it because his grandfather was present. But why did he feel strangely familiar with this person?

His grandfather wanted this man, so he had to converse politely. At that time, Jin Won-hwi lightly returned his greeting.

“Hello.”

“Warrior So. You have been gaining a lot of fame lately.

This had to be an exaggeration, though. He wanted to verify if the rumors were true.

After mastering two of the eight martial arts of the Eight Forms in the Wind Shadow Eight Order, his skills had improved considerably, so they were confident in their own way.

‘My grandfather might be up to something.’

Even if it wasn’t true, when he first met this man, his grandfather scolded him. Since then, the rumors about this man made him grit his teeth.

Regardless, seeing that he had come this far, it might be good to test himself against this guy.

‘Perhaps he wants to spar.’

If the plan was set and they sparred, he would be able to prove how exaggerated the rumors were. However, this laid-back attitude from the man felt repulsive.

Jin Young’s smile spread across his face.

“Instead of dedicating my time to martial arts, I should have sought fame like you. Then I could have acquired a prestigious title as well. Hahaha.”

Though it seemed like a genuine compliment, it was clearly a provocation. And everyone in the vicinity sensed it.

At that moment, Ah Song nonchalantly dropped the sack he was carrying and remarked,

“Oh my, this is incredibly heavy.”

As expected, Jin Young and the others instinctively turned their attention to the side. Regardless of their intentions, the sack was stained with blood, leaving everyone curious.

In response, Jin Young shifted towards the sack and spoke.

“What is this? If anyone sees it, they will think it’s a corpse.”

Upon hearing Jin Young’s words, Ah Song replied,

“Hey. You seem pretty smart, young master!”

“What?”

Was there a dead body here?

Jin Young found this to be absurd.

It was ridiculous that someone who was gaining a reputation in the Justice Faction would bring a sack with a body inside.

But he swiftly changed his mind.

He thought he shouldn’t embarrass himself in this way.

“No Warrior So. What are you doing walking around with a dead body in broad daylight?”

“It’s inevitable. It’s a body I have to send to the Murim Alliance.”

“To the Murim Alliance?”

“The mastermind behind the kidnapping of the women in this area.”

The people of Murim Alliance were coming here, and he already knew it. The case they were here for was of the Evil-Faced Man, who had been kidnapping both regular women and female martial artists.

They had heard that the culprit was still at large, but was it now resolved?

“You found out who I was?”

“Yes.”

In response to this, Jin Won-whi continued.

“Inside is the corpse of the Revolting Mother, Cheol Su-ryun.”

“What?”

Jin Young could not hide his shock.

Whisper!

The people around them broke into shocked conversation.

Wasn’t the Revolting Mother one of the Five Great Evils?