Chapter 06
For the first time, a complex emotion appeared on Eleven’s face.
He could not swallow the anger boiling up deep within him.
Eleven glared at me with reddened eyes.
“Did Cheongrin tell you about my family?”
His voice, lowered further, somehow sounded like a suppressed sob.
I nodded briefly.
Before sending Eleven to the Dark Sect, I had done a background check on him.
From that, I could guess that the Malyounghwa family was connected to him.
“The Malyounghwa family is a secretive clan. Even you probably haven’t found the person who killed your family yet, have you?”
“……”
Eleven’s lower lip trembled. His silence was confirmation.
“I can find them for you.”
“…You mean while trapped like this?”
“I’m not the only one trapped. You’re being controlled too.”
He was referring to the poison remaining in his body.
The timing for the antidote at Sangcheondang wasn’t regular. So he couldn’t have gone far from Cheonsan until now.
To gain more information, he needed to be a little freer.
Eleven twisted his lips and spoke.
“I see.”
Now, his heart was practically in my hands.
“It will take some time to make a perfect antidote. So…”
I took out a note from my sleeve and placed it over the letters carved into the dagger.
“This will give you some freedom of movement.”
Eleven’s gaze shifted to the note I had placed.
“It lists the locations where Sangcheondang agents keep the antidotes.”
It was based on information from ten years ago.
“Some of these will still be in use. But don’t take too much, or they’ll notice—just steal what you need.”
“……”
Eleven silently put the note into his chest.
“So the deal’s settled?”
“For now.”
Eleven poured tea into my cup as he answered.
Still, his tone had become more polite than before, showing he understood the situation.
He had the information I wanted, but I held the initiative in this deal.
Curious about the Malyounghwa family, Eleven would have no choice but to assist me for the time being.
Only then could I leisurely tilt my teacup.
“And also, I want information on the Third Young Master of the Dark Sect, Wi Cheonso. His origin, achievements, and movements up to now.”
“Is it because the Third Young Master saved you?”
“Yes. Nothing happens by chance.”
There must have been a reason he lingered near the Yeomhwa family.
“Wi Cheonso became the Third Young Master three years ago. How he became the master’s disciple or where he came from, even I don’t know. Other than that, it’s just what others know.”
“For example?”
“That he’s a blood-crazed killer. He hunts apostates for blood, and even once beheaded a bride on her wedding night for being noisy.”
It seemed Yeom Riri’s warning about him being dangerous was for this reason.
“Tell me everything you know about him.”
“Understood.”
Though there wasn’t a relationship built on trust, we had mutual interests, so Eleven wouldn’t betray me for now.
This meant the first encounter with Eleven could be considered successful.
It was time to return to the Yeomhwa family.
“Oh, right. You’ve assigned someone to follow me, haven’t you?”
I asked as I returned the dagger to him.
“……”
His silence was confirmation.
“The Yeomhwa family will have eyes everywhere, I figured. Then I have a favor…”
Eleven frowned.
“If anything happens to me, help me get home safely.”
“So Cheongrin taught you well—you’ve mastered using people.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
I ignored Eleven’s grumbling and pressed the Pifungi seal deeply.
❖ ❖ ❖
Stepping outside Sohongru, the cold air clung to my face.
“Ten years…”
It had felt abstract when I first heard it, but facing Eleven made the passage of time tangible.
Still, I couldn’t believe there were no Baekas in this world.
I swallowed my bitterness and merged into the crowd.
About two Shijin had passed, so I could arrive at the Yeomhwa family fairly relaxed.
I headed into the alley to walk along streets with fewer pedestrians.
“Ah!”
A scream came from nearby.
A large figure in a blue robe was knocking over street vendors and rushing toward me.
I thought it might be a thief, but both his martial stance and the large blade in his hand looked serious.
Men in black martial uniforms chased after him.
But when he spread his palm toward them, a black whirlpool formed as if a secret gate had opened.
At that moment, the vitality of the men, like smoke, was sucked into the giant’s blade.
“Ugh!”
One shrank back, another collapsed to the ground. Their life force had been absorbed into the giant’s qi and blood.
Instantly, his aura multiplied several times.
His eyes turned red, and the murderous energy emanating from the blade grew more ferocious.
“Life-Absorbing Technique!”
A dark martial art that gains strength by drawing vitality.
I remembered seeing this distinctive martial skill from a distance during my time at Sangcheondang.
“So this giant is the Spirit-Absorbing Blade Demon of the Palryeong Unit!”
I didn’t know why he was being pursued, but the premonition was bad.
I turned quickly to evade, but his eyes locked onto me.
Like a predator spotting its prey. I sensed he wanted the little vitality I had as a snack.
As expected, he launched toward me, pushing off the ground.
“Damn it!”
I narrowly avoided his first attack using a basic martial move, but the second was close.
His harsh breath brushed my neck.
“Not bad. But you won’t dodge this one.”
The Spirit-Absorbing Blade Demon charged with a grim expression.
A frontal fight was still impossible. My inner energy was far too lacking.
But his movements were large and linear, so there was a way to topple him.
I used my martial technique to lift myself, grabbed his shoulder, and shifted direction.
A brief opening appeared.
I aimed at the back of his head with a strike loaded with inner energy.
Whoosh.
The Blade Demon tried to catch my arm with incredible reflexes.
I twisted and barely escaped, but my arm throbbed from the force.
“Not just strong… agile too!”
Before I could move to exploit his opening, his blade came flying at me.
A trajectory too difficult to dodge.
I hastily pulled a half-zhang (1.5 meters) rope from my pocket, held it with both hands, and countered with inner energy.
The rope stretched tight, leaving red marks on my palms.
At the same time, the Blade Demon inflated his shoulder. Dark energy spread behind him.
My body was pulled in that direction.
“Danger!”
I tried to fly out of range, but his hand was faster.
“I told you! You can’t dodge!”
The black whirlpool extending from his palm began to surge toward me.
The Life-Absorbing Technique.
“If I don’t dodge now, my inner energy will also be drained!”
A desperate moment.
Instinctively, I opened my eyes wide—and time froze.
The Blade Demon and I were trapped in a gray stillness where darkness and light mixed.
My heart pounded, my lungs screamed.
If I didn’t move now, death was inevitable.
Summoning my last strength, I twisted my body out of the Life-Absorbing Technique’s range.
Time began flowing again.
Pain surged through my body, and blood roared.
“…Ugh.”
My legs gave way, and I staggered.
The Blade Demon, confused, gathered his blade and charged at me again.
I braced myself, holding the rope with both hands.
This time, I would definitely bring him down.
As I prepared to execute an assassination technique I learned at Sangcheondang,
someone grabbed my waist.
A strong arm pulled me, spinning me into the air.
A black sleeve embroidered with a dazzling red dragon blocked my vision as I fell over a distance of one jang.
It all happened in an instant.
It took me a while to realize a strong man’s body was supporting me.
A low, cold laugh brushed past my ear.
“Hoo…”
