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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Celestial Pure Jade Milk (2)
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"You bastards! If it weren't for the boss, I'd smash your damn heads in."
Cheol Woo's face flushed red and purple as he downed his liquor.
"Enough already. Even back then, they said the size was too small to fetch three hundred taels of gold. You need the right buyer for even a shot at that price."
Sima Geon, satisfied that they'd secured the Celestial Pure Jade Milk regardless of the cost, tried to calm Cheol Woo down.
"Anyway, sorry about this. It was our money."
"What are you talking about? When it comes to saving the little one's life, whose money is it anyway? I'm just pissed at those bastards trying to jack up the price when they knew damn well what was going on."
Even after getting them to swear secrecy, Hwang Jeong had leaked the info. And because the Water Dragon Merchant Association had sniffed out that they desperately needed the Celestial Pure Jade Milk to treat Sima Jin, Cheol Woo had ended up handing over not just the night-luminescent pearl but most of their gold ingots too. He couldn't settle his rage.
"Should I go grab it back right now?"
Unable to stomach the injustice, Cheol Woo let out a fierce killing intent. Sima Geon furrowed his brow.
"What nonsense is that? You want to stain the precious medicine that could save the little one with blood?"
"You're right, thinking about it. Sorry, boss."
Cheol Woo waved his hands in embarrassment and let out a sigh.
"Now that things have turned out like this, old memories keep popping up."
"What memories?"
"The Celestial Pure Jade Milk you got from the Ghost Gate Clan and gave to me. If I'd rationed it back then, we wouldn't be going through this hassle now."
"Ration it? What was there to ration?"
Sima Geon shouted, his face serious.
"Was there? Still, it felt like more than what we got this time. Thanks to it, I completed the Diamond Indestructible, but... yeah."
"If we're splitting hairs, I drank way more than you. And think about your size. That amount was barely enough for real effects. Anyway, it was expensive, but we got it. Cut the crap and drink. You're tempting me to run back and snatch the night-luminescent pearl and gold ingots myself."
"Heh heh heh! Knew you'd say that!"
Cheol Woo grinned slyly.
Sima Geon and Cheol Woo exchanged smiles, finished their meal of simple dishes with liquor as accompaniment, and promptly left Hangzhou.
Desperate to treat Sima Jin as soon as possible, the two rode without rest until nightfall.
As dusk settled, somewhere between Hangzhou and Shaoxing, Sima Geon halted.
"What's up?"
Cheol Woo gave him a puzzled look at the sudden stop.
Despite running for over two shichen, not a drop of sweat beaded on Cheol Woo's forehead.
"Seems some folks are in a hurry."
Sima Geon glanced back as he spoke.
"What..."
Feeling the faint ground vibrations, Cheol Woo shut his mouth.
Over a dozen horses were kicking up dust in the distance, galloping toward them.
"What the hell are they?"
"Dunno, but I've got a bad feeling. We'll see soon enough."
Sima Geon murmured quietly and stepped aside to let the horses pass.
The furiously charging horses suddenly slowed. Sima Geon sighed.
Twenty-odd horses neighed raucously as they came to a halt. Burly men leaped down, their sinister eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
"How the hell are these beggar-looking bastards so fast?"
"Tell me about it. Thought we'd lose 'em."
"Should we start by cutting off their legs?"
The men dismounted and surrounded Sima Geon and Cheol Woo, snickering.
"What bullshit. Ugh, the stench of blood. Vermin like you reek of it. Real demons, huh."
Cheol Woo scoffed, wrinkling his nose at the blood scent carried on the wind.
"They chasing us?"
The man still on horseback yanked the reins harshly at Sima Geon's question.
"Hand over the goods nice and easy, and we'll kill you quick. Resist, and we'll make you suffer hellish agony—neither alive nor dead."
"Goods?"
Sima Geon feigned ignorance, though he had a rough idea.
The leader smirked and pointed at Sima Geon's chest.
"What you got from the Water Dragon Merchant Association."
Sima Geon confirmed the leak from the man's confident demeanor.
'So much for trusting them.'
He recalled the Water Dragon Merchant Association leader's aged face, promising ironclad secrecy. Shrewd merchant or not, he hadn't seemed like a liar.
'Or maybe it leaked from elsewhere.'
As Sima Geon pondered, the leader continued.
"Don't play dumb. We confirmed you got the Celestial Pure Jade Milk and tailed you."
"I'd hand it over quick if I were you. Our bro here was so worried that old fart might've poisoned it."
"Yeah. A few more days of stalling, and we'd have hopped the wall despite the officials' protection crap."
"You're dead either way, so why not go easy? Hand it over and die fast."
"And what's with that big bear? Ugly mug too."
"Looks like he had some fun somewhere. This'll be good."
"I call dibs on that bastard. Touch him and you're dead."
The men encircled them, swinging weapons mockingly.
"Bear, huh. Funny. So, what are you lot?"
Cheol Woo asked with interest.
"Gonna tell 'em?"
"They're dead men. Why not?"
"True. Least we can do for the doomed—satisfy their curiosity like true heroes."
They chattered among themselves, then lowered their voices dramatically.
"Heard of the Thousand Kills Hall that rules Hangzhou's nights?"
"We're their heroes."
The Thousand Kills Hall thugs, certain of victory, boasted openly.
"Shut your traps."
Hall Leader Ga Deung irritably drew his sword on Sima Geon.
"Counting to three. Decide: quick death or worse than death?"
Tired of the blabber, Cheol Woo dug in his ear, blew out the wax, and said,
"How about you just die instead?"
"W-what?"
His unexpected retort stunned Ga Deung and his men.
Ga Deung's face twisted demonically.
"You dare mock me? Boys!"
"Yes, Hall Leader!"
"They want hellish pain? Give it. Gouge eyes, rip tongues. Oh, legs first."
His order ignited the already savage men's ferocity.
Seeing their beastly, bloodthirsty eyes, Cheol Woo chuckled.
"These punks! The blood stench, the killing intent. Look at those forced glares. Definitely killed before."
Smirking coldly, Cheol Woo cracked his knuckles and stepped forward.
"Hold up."
Sima Geon stopped him.
"Why?"
Sima Geon thumbed backward without a word.
"Tch."
Cheol Woo glanced back, clicked his tongue, and retreated slyly.
"Who the hell are they?"
Ga Deung frowned at the approaching group behind Sima Geon.
"What do we do, Hall Leader?"
Ilgyeon, Ga Deung's right-hand man and infamous for cruelty, sidled up.
Ga Deung eyed the newcomers.
One woman, two men armed and trailing half a step behind.
'Escorts?'
High-status enough for guards.
But no time for second thoughts. This was about Celestial Pure Jade Milk.
They'd paid the Water Dragon total manager handsomely for the tip.
Couldn't back off with overwhelming numbers. And witnesses were foolish.
"Kill 'em all."
Ilgyeon grinned wickedly at the order and signaled his men.
"Bandits?"
Hwang Yeong, now close, asked.
"Yes. Thugs from Hangzhou's underworld."
Sima Geon replied flatly, but she and her escorts mistook it for tension.
The Thousand Kills Hall crew bared killing intent, surrounding them.
Gok Ja Yu, guarding Hwang Yeong, stepped forward.
"Looks like they're coming for us too, miss."
"These trash dare bare fangs before her?"
Yu Sa Ha sneered, drawing his sword.
"What now?"
Gok Ja Yu asked politely. Unlike Yu Sa Ha, he hadn't drawn yet, calm even in crisis.
Cheol Woo sent a transmission after eyeing him.
[Not bad.]
[Yeah. Real expert.]
[Eh, expert's a stretch. But he could sweep these guys.]
Sima Geon stifled a laugh at Cheol Woo's disappointment and glanced at Hwang Yeong.
'True master here's her.'
He instantly saw her skills far outstripped her escorts. Cheol Woo, realizing late, looked shocked.
Unaware they were gauging her, Hwang Yeong offered Ga Deung a final chance.
"Back off now, and no one gets hurt. We'll forget this. Leave."
Outnumbered and surrounded, her composure gave Ga Deung pause. But greed for the milk won.
"Kill them!"
Ilgyeon and the men lunged.
"Vermin!"
Yu Sa Ha sneered coldly, his sword tracing a smooth arc.
Ilgyeon's choppy strike paled; this was fluid, like clouds and fierce winds sweeping all.
"Kaaak!"
"Guhk!"
Screams erupted as the first attackers crumpled lifelessly.
"Ho! Impressive."
Cheol Woo murmured.
It looked like one swing, but he caught the subtle variations.
The Thousand Kills Hall rabble, outclassed vastly, died unknowing.
Ilgyeon, battle-hardened, dodged instinctively, avoiding fatality.
"H-Hall Leader! Ex... experts..."
Clutching his chest, fleeing mere steps before Yu Sa Ha's thrown sword pierced his heart.
The blade elegantly arced back to its master.