WeTried Translations
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Editor: Abstract
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 96: Jade Token (2)
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‘That weak Hao clan bastard sure has incredible luck.’
Watching this, Ha Ryun clicked his tongue.
To think he had pulled off such a lucky break against a genius from the Paralysis Blade Estate, someone who might appear only once in a century.
He had no idea where Hae Ryang had obtained such a small explosive, but the timing had been fortunate.
It had exploded right in front of that person's eyes.
The figure's own assessment was different.
‘My vision has been obscured.’
The instant the explosive went off, the figure deployed Defensive Ki as quickly as possible to protect their body. Still, the intense flash left them unable to see.
‘It would be impossible unless every moment, from the deception to the detonation, had been calculated perfectly.’
The figure clenched their teeth.
It only looked like luck. In truth, Hae Ryang was skilled at this sort of thing.
He had grown accustomed to escaping like this, which was why he had not panicked even with his life on the line.
‘I underestimated him.’
The Hao clan was relatively weak in Martial Arts, so the figure had let their guard down.
Thinking about it, there had to be a reason they had survived so stubbornly in the harsh martial world, like cockroaches.
‘Targeting sight and hearing was a wise choice. But...’
The figure felt around the area.
They were checking how the blood droplets had scattered.
‘Southwest.’
Judging the direction Hae Ryang had used his movement skill from the pattern of blood droplets, the figure shot forward.
Ha Ryun clicked his tongue inwardly at the sight.
The explosive had gone off right before the figure's eyes, and their sight and hearing should still have been impaired. Yet without the slightest panic, they had immediately figured out which way Hae Ryang had fled.
‘The Paralysis Blade Estate truly raised a monster.’
Would Hae Ryang manage to escape safely?
He had bought a little time through a lucky break, but their basic abilities were clearly on different levels.
On top of that, he was injured.
With that much blood loss, even keeping his eyes open would be difficult.
-Swish! Swish!
Hae Ryang raced onward with his movement skill.
Just as Ha Ryun had expected, Hae Ryang's vision was slowly beginning to split in two.
He had to reach somewhere crowded, or find his friends, and tell them what he had seen and heard.
“Pant... pant...”
‘This is a problem.’
The wound was soaked with blood.
His goal was to live a long life.
* * *
-Murmur! Murmur!
The rear garden behind Northern Heaven Residence was in an uproar.
The female cadets were especially excited, all because of one person's arrival.
Ever since two years ago, one person had helped increase the number of female cadets at Changcheon Martial Academy, beginning with the daughters of officials.
That person was Yu Jin-sung, the Inspector Censor who had graduated Changcheon Martial Academy as Second Graduate.
“It’s Jin-sung-nim!”
“Jin-sung-nim! Ahhh!”
“To think I get to see Jin-sung-nim in person during my lifetime.”
“This is an honor for my family!”
It was difficult to understand his popularity through words alone, but the girls' awed, shy squeals made its scale clear enough.
Whenever one of them happened to meet Jin-sung's eyes, they would clutch their chest and collapse.
At this point, it was almost faith.
‘Coming back to the academy makes it an even bigger spectacle.’
Jin-hyeok clicked his tongue.
Ever since Jin-sung had become an Inspector Censor, rumors about his older brother had spread everywhere, not just through their hometown but across the Central Plains.
Countless women had come near their home, and matchmakers had never stopped visiting.
Then Jin-sung had apologized, saying he seemed to be inconveniencing the family, and requested a change of assignment. Jin-hyeok had forgotten scenes like this since then.
‘It’s nothing new.’
There was no reason for it to feel strange again.
Still, one sight did feel strange.
Seeing Mo Il-hwa twist about shyly and brush back her hair was hard to get used to.
She was usually as easygoing as could be.
Now, she seemed to be pulling every bit of herself together and pretending to be a refined young lady.
‘So it really was true.’
It seemed her shy reactions whenever she mentioned Jin-sung had not been an act.
He already knew that, so why did seeing her like this leave him feeling oddly disappointed?
Puzzled by the unfamiliar feeling, Jin-hyeok spoke.
“Isn’t this too much when you’re busy?”
“I only came to see your face for a moment.”
“You could have seen me at home.”
Jin-sung smiled at that, then took a jade hawk ornament from his robe and handed it to him.
“Then I could not give you this.”
“What is it?”
“I had it made by a craftsman in the imperial capital. It is a token of us brothers.”
Jin-hyeok could not hide his embarrassment.
Why had they gone and made something like this when they were brothers?
He accepted it since Jin-sung was giving it to him, but with so many people watching, it felt incredibly awkward.
“Ahem.”
Mo Il-hwa lightly nudged Jin-hyeok from the side and cleared her throat.
She wanted him to introduce her.
Things like this happened often enough back home that Jin-hyeok did not care for them, but he had grown close to her, so he reluctantly spoke.
“Brother... this is Young Lady Mo Il-hwa...”
“Ah. You are the daughter of the Minister of Justice. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
Jin-sung recognized her status the moment he heard her name.
Jin-hyeok was impressed inwardly.
His brother now seemed to have fully become an Imperial Palace official.
“Oh my. Jin-sung-nim knows who I am.”
Mo Il-hwa held her flushed cheeks, unable to hide her happiness.
At the same time, she moved even closer to Jin-sung's side, looking proud as if she wanted the surrounding female cadets to see.
‘Is she really that happy?’
Well, she had entered Changcheon Martial Academy because she admired his brother.
Of course she would be happy.
‘They do seem to suit each other.’
Jin-sung was old enough to marry now.
Mo Il-hwa was clever, and from what Jin-hyeok had seen of her, she might support his brother well as a wife.
So why did his mood keep sinking?
Jin-hyeok slowly edged away.
‘Hm?’
Mo Il-hwa happened to glance at Jin-hyeok's face.
Until then, all her attention had been on Jin-sung, but somehow, that expression on Jin-hyeok's face bothered her.
‘What is with that sulky look? It is making me worry for no reason.’
Seeing the two of them conscious of each other, Jin-sung gave a quiet laugh and said, “You two make a good match.”
“Pardon?”
Jin-sung looked at Jin-hyeok as he spoke to her.
“He is still young and lacking, but please take good care of my younger brother, Young Lady.”
“Pardon? Wh-what are you talking about?”
Mo Il-hwa hurriedly waved her hands.
She had waited so long for this moment, and hearing that was like having cold water poured over her.
Jin-sung leaned closer and whispered teasingly, “He is no less straightlaced than I am, but he is a good fellow.”
“N-no, I am not! Oh!”
Mo Il-hwa covered her mouth after revealing her true self without realizing it.
She needed to show him only her prettiest side, so what kind of disgrace was this?
If he thought pushing things this way would make her develop feelings for Jin-hyeok, then not in a million ye...
Mo Il-hwa suddenly met Jin-hyeok's eyes.
-Gulp!
She swallowed, her face flushing red as she quickly turned away.
‘He made me conscious of him for no reason. Jin-sung-nim is much more mischievous than he looks.’
She had thought he would be as straightlaced as Jin-hyeok, but she had been wrong.
He knew how to tease people when he wanted to.
Mo Il-hwa touched her reddened cheeks and said, “You are too much. Do you know how much I admire Jin-sung-nim...”
-Swish!
Jin-sung slightly raised a hand, asking her to stop for a moment.
“Why are...”
Before she could finish, Jin-sung shot toward somewhere in the distance.
Mo Il-hwa and Jin-hyeok were puzzled by his sudden action, but they soon used their movement skills and followed after him.
* * *
“Pant... pant...”
Hae Ryang lay facedown on the ground.
He had almost reached the rear garden of Northern Heaven Residence, but his body would no longer move.
Collapsed there, Hae Ryang shouted with all his remaining strength.
“H-help me!”
Under normal circumstances, his voice would have come out clearly, but now it was hoarse and weak.
He had lost too much blood, and after using the last of his strength to maintain his movement skill, nearly all his life energy had been exhausted.
‘I... I made it this far.’
Hae Ryang stared desperately at the Northern Heaven Residence building visible through the brush.
If he could just go a little farther, there would be cadets in the rear garden.
By now, the figure might have recovered their sight and hearing and already reached somewhere near him.
‘Even if I cannot achieve my dream of extending my life, I still have to live long...’
Hae Ryang clenched his teeth as his vision gradually blurred.
It felt like a terrible loss, but dying without doing anything would be even more unfair.
His fingers twitched.
Then his head slowly drooped.
-Swish!
About six jang away from Hae Ryang, the figure who had pursued him narrowed their eyes and looked at the fallen Hae Ryang.
Their sight had not fully recovered, but they could see well enough now.
‘As expected, the wound was deep.’
The figure's lips curled upward.
Hae Ryang had caught them off guard afterward, but the first strike had definitely landed.
He could have reached the rear garden if he had gone a little farther, but he must have been unable to endure the blood loss and collapsed.
‘He will die if I leave him, but I should finish this for certain.’
There was no reason to leave future trouble behind.
The figure was about to approach Hae Ryang when...
-Flinch!
They looked ahead.
Something that stimulated their Ki sense was rapidly approaching from that direction.
For an instant, the figure considered what to do.
It was difficult to judge.
‘Is this a deliberate warning?’
A master was approaching quickly while deliberately revealing their presence.
It was a way of making it known that they were coming.
Considering the distance, it was troublesome.
‘It cannot be helped.’
The figure took out a Dagger, snapped off only its sharp blade, then threw it at the fallen Hae Ryang before shooting back the way they had come.
-Whoosh! Thud!
The blade thrown by the figure lodged in Hae Ryang's back near his heart.
The figure glanced at him, then disappeared into the brush.
Soon after...
-Rustle!
Yu Jin-sung appeared from the direction of Northern Heaven Residence's rear garden.
Spotting the fallen Hae Ryang, Jin-sung hurried over.
‘So it was this child.’
He had faintly heard someone crying for help.
Cadets would have found it difficult to hear, but Jin-sung had reached the Master realm, so he had caught the sound despite how faint it was.
He had deliberately revealed his presence as he approached, worried that someone might be in danger, but...
‘Tch.’
Jin-sung ground his teeth when he saw the Dagger lodged in Hae Ryang's back.
Whoever had done this was crafty.
They had thrown only the blade, determined to finish Hae Ryang off somehow.
‘Am I too late?’
Jin-sung frowned as he inspected where the blade had lodged.
Blood had pooled on the ground, yet no blood flowed from Hae Ryang's back where the blade was stuck.
When he examined it more closely...
‘What?’
Hae Ryang had something like thick leather armor beneath his clothes.
Thanks to it, the blade had only pierced slightly.
‘What is this child...’
Looking closer, Jin-sung saw that Hae Ryang also wore something like a metal mesh guard behind his head.
He was someone who took tremendous care to protect his own body.
-Swish!
Jin-hyeok and Mo Il-hwa appeared as they pushed through the brush.
“Brother? Why did you suddenly... Ah!”
“Hae Ryang!”
The two hurried over after spotting Hae Ryang on the ground.
Jin-sung asked them, “Is he your friend?”
Jin-hyeok nodded.
Then he checked Hae Ryang's condition.
He had worried when Hae Ryang said he would tail Ha Ryun alone, and now that worry had become reality.
“D-don’t tell me he is dead?”
Mo Il-hwa asked with reddened eyes.
Jin-sung shook his head.
“He has fainted from severe blood loss, but he is still breathing. If we hurry, he can be saved, Young Lady.”
“Ahhh!”
“Jin-hyeok, carry this child and get to the infirmary quickly.”
“Got it.”
Jin-hyeok picked up the fallen Hae Ryang onto his back.
Then he found Jin-sung's words strange and asked, “What are you going to do, Brother?”
“I am going to catch the person who did this to him... Hm?”
Jin-sung frowned as he looked at the ground.
There was writing that seemed to have been left by Hae Ryang.
[Jade Medallion... I x... ↑ Il Hyeon]
“Jade Medallion? Asal? Il Hyeon?”
It was difficult to understand what it meant.
The first writing clearly meant Jade Medallion, but after the character for I, there was a half-written x. Then, as if he had run out of strength, Hae Ryang had drawn a crooked arrow pointing upward, followed by the character for one and Hyeon.
“What does this mean?”
“Did he leave behind a code?”
Jin-sung said to the confused pair, “That child’s life is in danger, so hurry.”
“Ah, right!”
Jin-hyeok hurriedly carried Hae Ryang away with his movement skill.
* * *
Around the same time, three people had secretly entered the Old Teaching Hall.
They were Mumu, Tang So-so, and Master Dan Baek-yeon, one of the Six Stars of Heaven.
Dan Baek-yeon wore the antidote pearl Tang So-so had lent her around her neck.
‘What am I doing?’
She had followed after Mumu asked her to help check something, but she had never imagined that place would be the Old Teaching Hall.
Even as a master, she was forbidden from entering the Old Teaching Hall, so she should not have secretly entered it.
Yet somehow, she had come in with Mumu.
‘Ah... I must be insane.’
Normally, she would have coldly refused, but for some reason, she always found herself softening when Mumu made a request.
Tang So-so looked at her with clear displeasure.
‘Something is suspicious.’
When Mumu asked to borrow the antidote pearl once more, Tang So-so had said she would come along as well.
Still, Master Dan Baek-yeon bothered her.
The Dan Baek-yeon she knew followed academy rules to the letter.
Yet when Mumu said,
[I really need to check!]
She replied,
[Th-then I suppose it cannot be helped.]
And followed along as if reluctantly.
That alone might have been understandable, but Dan Baek-yeon, who was called the Northern Seas Ice Palace and always treated cadets with cold detachment, looked at Mumu with strangely warm eyes.
She was trying her best not to make it obvious, but a woman's instincts did not miss such things.
‘Surely... not?’
Still, they were master and cadet.
There was an eight-year age gap between them. If that was really the case, she would be a shameless thief.
If Dan Baek-yeon had any conscience, Tang So-so could not believe she would set her sights on Mumu.
‘Even if our Mumu is wild and handsome, an innocent pretty boy, there is still the age gap and their relationship...’
Tang So-so narrowed her eyes.
When she considered Mumu's charm, she had to admit that any woman could develop feelings for him, regardless of age.
‘Tch.’
She was already uneasy because Gu Yang Seo-rin and Senior Ma Yeon-hwa had been looking at Mumu with unusual interest. Now this had become a problem too.
Leave him alone, and women quietly started flocking to him.
She needed some sure method to make Mumu hers.
‘Should I seduce him openly?’
It seemed she needed to show Mumu some of her charm.
Still, compared to Master Dan Baek-yeon, Tang So-so had youth as her weapon.
Her skin was firm, and they were the same age, so they would be able to understand each other better.
‘Right. My age, and my looks...’
Tang So-so glanced at Dan Baek-yeon's face.
Though she was much older, Dan Baek-yeon's beautiful face made her look closer to their age at first glance.
‘S-she must be rotten on the inside. It is only her internal energy propping her up.’
Then Tang So-so's gaze drifted to the full cleavage visible through Dan Baek-yeon's flowing top.
Tang So-so looked down at herself.
‘...’
She definitely needed drastic measures.
Footnotes:
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