Chapter 138: Warrior of the Sanwa Tribe (3)

Tension hung in the air for So-so and Baek Sang.

Were they not children trained in martial arts? Yet, they had been completely unable to detect the patrol officer’s presence until he was right next to them. That meant the opponent was a master whose realm far surpassed theirs.

So-so spoke in a trembling voice:

“P-please let us go…”

“Why should I?”

“His father is sick. He has to take the medicine to him.”

So-mu’s lips, hidden beneath the bamboo hat, curved in a smirk. He did not forget to alter his voice using internal energy.

“Every action has its price. Therefore, you must first serve your punishment.”

Baek Sang stepped in front of So-so and said:

“I stole it all by myself.”

“A loyal fellow. But your friend stood by and watched your crime, so how can she be innocent?”

Did he sense that talking was useless? Suddenly, the look in Baek Sang’s eyes shifted.

His venomous gaze glared at So-mu. At the same time, he extended his left hand, gently pushing So-so back.

“So-so, run away first.”

“What about you?”

“I have to take the medicine quickly. There is no time…”

He was planning to buy time. So-so knew the situation, but how could she run away alone?

So-so stomped her feet, unable to take a step.

“Whew…”

“Can you… look after my sister…?”

He could no longer delay. A decision had to be made.

So-so replied with a solemn expression:

“…Understood.”

Her mind made up, So-so turned and began to run.

Sensing this, Baek Sang’s expression brightened slightly. At the same time, he clenched both fists and took a stance. He extended his left hand, clenched his right fist, and drew it back over his right shoulder.

Watching this, interest rose on So-mu’s face.

‘I have seen that stance somewhere before.’

It was definitely a combat style he had seen long ago. Because the stance was unique, it remained faintly in his memory. One thing was certain: it was not a martial art of the Jin Dynasty.

“I learned this from my father.”

Although there was something he wanted to verify, resolving the matter before him came first.

“A young brat, yet you have quite a gaze. That is, if we exclude the killing intent in it.”

“I’ll kill you.”

“Haha. What a fellow. Do you have the courage to launch the first strike?”

So-mu took a step forward. At that moment, a pressure as if a massive mountain were shifting bore down on Baek Sang.

“Urgh…”

Just thinking about launching the first strike made him gasp for air.

He had no idea what was happening. His hands and feet trembled, but he was in no position to analyze the situation.

To overcome his fear, he let out a short battle cry.

“Hiyah!”

So-mu was impressed as he watched the charging boy. His courage was grand, but So-mu did not have the leisure to play along. His fleeing daughter was already vanishing from sight.

So-mu’s figure glided forward.

In the blink of an eye, his palm struck Baek Sang’s abdomen.

Thud!

A sound like striking a hollow wooden barrel erupted. At that moment, a ripple of qi exploded like a storm behind the boy’s back.

It was the technique of striking the cow across the mountain, striking through the opponent’s body to hit what lay behind.

Baek Sang felt no pain. This was because the entire shock had passed through his body and dissipated. Instead, his two feet simply lifted off the ground.

“Ah!”

He had no idea what had happened, nor how. Baek Sang, lifted into the air, flopped onto So-mu’s right shoulder.

“At this level, you wouldn’t even be a match for So-so.”

Baek Sang was bewildered. The familiar way this man said So-so’s name was strange.

“How do you know So-so, mister?”

“I am So-so’s father.”

“Pardon?”

Baek Sang blinked in disbelief. He could not comprehend the situation.

Before he knew it, So-mu was running, tracing his daughter’s tracks. Still, he did not forget to speak.

“I thought you were just a loud-mouthed brat, but your skeleton is quite decent. If you wish to become So-so’s subordinate later, I will permit it.”

“Why would I?”

“Haha. It’s a joke, kid. Rest for a bit.”

So-mu tapped Baek Sang’s acupoints, putting him to sleep. Although the boy was somewhat arrogant, So-mu did not dislike him.

‘If he didn’t have that venom, he wouldn’t have survived until now. Having to look after his dying father and younger sister in an enemy country at such a young age.’

Arriving at the western gate of Chang’an Fortress, So-mu tilted his bamboo hat up.

The soldiers guarding the gate recognized his face and stood at attention.

“My daughter passed through here just now, didn’t she?”

The soldiers vied to speak. Just having a conversation with the chief of the Wolf Fang Squad was a source of pride.

“Yes, Chief! She just passed by!”

“She went that way!”

So-mu nodded and pulled his hat down again.

“Good work.”

He had no time to lose. The direction So-so had vanished deviated from his predictions.

‘Whew. The plan might go awry at this rate.’

Of all things, to think she was heading toward Mount Yangzhou. Arriving there in less than seven minutes, he knew she was there. His lover, the Jade Flower Saintess, who was a master of the peak demonic path.

As So-mu increased his speed, the wind shrieked.

He finally located his target as he reached the entrance of Mount Yangzhou.

A girl with her hair tied in two buns was climbing the hill for dear life. It was unmistakably his daughter.

Even as she ran, So-so glanced back and shouted toward him:

“Don’t follow me!”

Having come this far, how could he stop? The distance between So-mu and So-so closed rapidly. And his daughter, running ahead, felt it too.

At that moment, qi whirled around So-so.

So-mu’s expression darkened, realizing she was about to unleash the Lion’s Roar. She must have been so terrified that she needed someone to rely on.

“Master, help me!”

An immense wave of qi erupted from her small frame, shaking Mount Yangzhou to its core.

Since it was a Lion’s Roar unleashed without preparation, it did not even reach ten percent of its original power, but that was enough.

There was no way a master of the peak demonic path would fail to sense it.

And the reaction came even faster than expected.

Sensing a chilling sensation, the running So-mu leaped into the air. At that moment, the ground where he had stood exploded.

Boom!

Only after spinning three times in the air did he land back on the ground.

Dozens of Zhang ahead, Seo-hwa stood with her arms crossed, glaring at him.

“You must want to die. To dare touch my disciple.”

Spotting Seo-hwa, So-so quickly ran over. Hugging her waist from behind, she glared at So-mu.

“Mister, let my friend down. Unless you want to be punished.”

He was at a loss for how to explain this to her. What would she think of him, disguised and chasing his own daughter at this hour?

‘This is driving me mad.’

Before he knew it, Seo-hwa was thrusting her right hand toward him.

A handful of fallen leaves rose into the air and began to vortex.

Imbued with internal energy, the leaves turned into flying daggers, coiling toward So-mu.

It was the eighth form of the Demonic Flower Arts, Falling Blossom Flying Slaughter.

It was a lethal stance that even So-mu could not afford to underestimate. She was truly angry.

He tried to send her a sound transmission in haste, but he was a step too late.

The storm of leaves, turned into throwing weapons, began to shred the surroundings. Even so, nothing flew toward the shoulder where Baek Sang was slung.

Of course, So-mu knew a few forms to break this technique. The problem was that he had not brought his sword. The only thing he could do now was evade.

Clenching his teeth, he unleashed his rebound qi and spun frantically.

Whoosh!

Hundreds of leaves swirled around his body and scattered.

As the form ended, So-mu stumbled a step. Though he succeeded in evading, his clothes were shredded like rags.

Preparing to evade once more, So-mu let out a sigh of relief. The attack he expected to continue did not come. Instead, a voice echoed in his ears via sound transmission.

– What are you doing to your daughter? Did you have such a bizarre hobby?

– You misunderstand, Seo-hwa. I will explain later, so please trust me for now.

Seo-hwa had recognized him instantly. If not for the Sword Saint, no one could have evaded the Falling Blossom Flying Slaughter.

Glaring at him suspiciously, she wore a look of incomprehension.

– What on earth are you trying to do?

– Education.

– I don’t know what it is, but make sure she doesn’t get hurt.

Nodding, So-mu exchanged glances with Seo-hwa. Then, he charged toward her.

His palm, glowing red, thrust forward. Although it looked flashy, it was a strike with no internal energy behind it.

Seo-hwa reluctantly clashed palms with him.

Boom!

“Urgh!”

With a loud crash, her figure slid back. Of course, it was by her own volition.

Her face filled with panic, So-so looked back and forth.

“…Eh?”

At that moment, So-mu swiftly scooped the child up and slung her over his other shoulder.

Her eyes wide with disbelief, So-so called out to the fallen Seo-hwa:

“Master, you can win! Get up quickly!”

“Urgh. My injuries are too severe, I cannot move. I will follow after I treat myself.”

“N-no…”

So-so reached out her tiny hands, but there was nothing she could do.

With the sleeping Baek Sang on his right shoulder and So-so on his left, So-mu spoke:

“It seems there is no one left to save you.”

“Please let me go… I have to go quickly…”

“I cannot do that. Even as a patrol officer, you forgot your duty and helped your friend steal, did you not?”

Flustered, So-so asked in a tense voice:

“Then where are you taking me…?”

“You must go to prison.”

At the mention of prison, terror gripped her. Tears welled up in So-so’s eyes.

“I was wrong…”

“Then why did you commit a bad deed?”

“There are no bad people in the world. Circumstances make people bad… sniff…”

So-mu felt a prick in his chest. Were those not the very words he had told the child?

“If I let you go, will you promise not to help him steal in the future?”

“But… but… Sang-ah’s father is sick…”

“Do you think his wounds will heal just by feeding him this kind of medicine?”

“No…”

“Then this is something you cannot resolve with your own strength.”

“Yes…”

“If such a situation arises again in the future, what do you plan to do?”

“I will ask my father to help…”

A smile appeared on So-mu’s face beneath the bamboo hat. The answer he wanted had finally come.

“There are still many things too heavy for you to bear alone. In times like that, there is no better way than to lean on someone you can rely on. Now, try calling out to him for help.”

“Why…?”

Before they knew it, So-mu’s steps were entering the entrance of Hwareung Village. It was a small village adjacent to the hill where Baek Sang’s family resided.

“Who knows? Maybe he will really appear to help you.”

Wiping her tears with the back of her hand, So-so muttered. She suddenly missed him terribly.

“Help me, Father…”

“Yes.”

It was a completely different voice.

Hearing the familiar tone, So-so blinked. She wondered if she had heard wrong.

Just then.

At the entrance of Hwareung Village, by a towering guardian tree, familiar figures were waiting.

Grandfather Mo Cheong of Uiseondang with his white hair was visible. And even three medical soldiers accompanying him. In their hands, they held wooden chests engraved with the symbol of the medical unit.

So-mu lowered his body and set the child on the ground.

Puzzled, So-so tilted her head.

At that moment, Mo Cheong approached with a warm smile.

“Haha. Your friend’s father is sick? You should have come to this grandfather from the beginning.”

Finally realizing the situation, So-so whipped her head around.

Her father, who had removed his bamboo hat, was grinning. Seeing him, her tension vanished, and tears poured out.

“Wah! You’re too much!”

Bursting into tears, So-so began to pummel her father’s stomach. So-mu received about a dozen blows before picking the child up again.

“Our So-so has learned a good lesson. Now, shall we head over there?”

So-so buried her swollen eyes in So-mu’s chest.

Although she wore a pouting face, feeling betrayed, she could not hide her joy. Hope had arisen that perhaps Baek Sang’s father might live.

However, no one could predict what his fate would be.

“Then you won’t arrest Sang-ah’s family?”

“Wouldn’t you be sad if I arrested them? Your father is always on your side, so whenever there is something you cannot solve on your own, tell me. Let us find a way together starting now.”