Chapter 206: Let's Go All the Way (5)
Thud! Thud!
It was the sound of the officials losing consciousness and collapsing.
Scanning her surroundings, So-so opened the door and stepped inside.
Various torture instruments were scattered across the floor along with bloodstains, and a foul stench made her scowl.
At the center, the dying face reader was tied to a chair.
“Uncle, are you okay?”
So-so ran over and tried to wake the middle-aged man.
His condition was critical. Even So-so, who had grown up amidst the devastation of war and possessed a strong stomach, frowned at the sight.
The face reader opened his mouth as if to say something, but no sound came out. Blood kept pouring from his mouth, as more than half of his teeth were broken or missing.
“Oh no…”
Panicked, So-so recalled a technique her father had taught her—using True Qi to stabilize someone’s mind and body.
Her small, fern-like palm touched the man’s dantian.
Having recovered a fraction of his strength with So-so’s help, the middle-aged man spoke with great difficulty.
“Who… are you…”
Hesitating for a moment, So-so replied softly, “I’m So-so…”
The man fell silent. A moment later, he spoke again with effort.
“…So, who is So-so?”
She didn’t know how to explain.
Then, a title came to mind.
“I-I’m… the Deputy Sect Leader of Shadow Gate.”
Sensing that channeling her True Qi was effective, So-so pushed more of it into him. The man’s voice became noticeably clearer.
“Stop playing… and get out of here quickly.”
“I came to help you, Uncle. I’ll untie you first.”
As So-so cut the ropes, the man weakly shook his head.
“If you came to help, please just kill me.”
“Why…?”
“I have no reason to go on living. I want to leave this hellish world as soon as possible…”
“You mustn’t die…”
Tears welled in So-so’s eyes. Though she didn’t know the full story, she could feel his intense pain and sorrow.
The man raised his head with effort, trying to get a clear look at So-so’s face.
His left eye was so swollen he couldn’t open it, but he managed to peer at her with his right eye.
Silence fell between them.
Suddenly, the man’s eye began to tremble.
“Haha… what a cruel trick of heaven. To think I would encounter such a fate before I die.”
Though laughter escaped his lips, tears streamed down his cheeks.
Confused, So-so simply stared at his face.
“Child, I will read your face. In return, please grant me one small favor.”
Looking at the suffering man, So-so felt she would grant him any favor.
“Okay…”
Taking a breath, the face reader began to speak clearly.
“…The middle zone of your face is perfectly proportioned, and the bridge of your nose forms a smooth tiger nose, showing a strength of character rarely seen in the world. Furthermore, you possess phoenix eyes that are darker and deeper than pitch black, which is truly the face of a sovereign.”
He spoke as if pouring out all his sorrow, knowing this was the last face reading of his life.
“Your lips are red and clean, forming a straight lion mouth that does not droop, meaning you will excel in the arts and surely achieve great renown. Also, your ears are red and fleshy, carrying the energy of gold, indicating a destiny that will shake the world.”
Tilting her head, So-so asked, “Is that a good thing?”
The face reader nodded weakly with a solemn gaze.
“It is a noble and exalted face, the greatest under heaven. Like an angry tiger in the mountains that makes all beasts tremble in fear, ten thousand people will fear and revere you.”
“Hehe.”
So-so had no idea what face reading was. Still, she felt pleased to receive such high praise.
“But what is your favor, Uncle?”
“The prince of this nation not only committed an unspeakable outrage against my wife but has now gone to capture my daughter. You are the natural enemy of that depraved bastard. When you become a sovereign in the future, please remember my grievance.”
“I understand, Uncle… I will definitely remember it.”
Nodding, the face reader reached out toward the floor to grasp a sharp torture instrument.
As he brought a sharp awl toward his throat, So-so gasped and grabbed the blade.
“Let go… I must die so my daughter will no longer suffer.”
The smile vanished from So-so’s face, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Don’t die, Uncle… Come to Chang’an with me. I’ll ask my dad to help.”
“It’s no use. Who can oppose the son of the Son of Heaven? Leave this place immediately. And… grow up strong. When you become a sovereign, I hope you turn this filthy world upside down.”
Just then, a commotion sounded from outside.
“What is this? Why are these bastards sleeping here? Have they lost their minds?”
The prince and his guards had returned. The face reader spoke urgently.
“Quickly, hide, child!”
Before he could even finish his sentence, So-so vanished into the darkness.
The door was kicked open.
Bang!
The prince in the imperial robes walked in with a broad smile. In his grasp was a young girl.
“This is the moment that makes my heart flutter the most. I can barely contain my excitement.”
Behind the prince stood seven warriors. They were soldiers of the Golden Dragon Unit, the elite guard of the State of Po.
The face reader stared at his daughter with trembling eyes. She was gagged and covered in tears, staring back at him.
“I… I am sorry, my daughter…”
The prince took pleasure in watching the face reader’s despair.
“Now, I will ask you again. How is my face?”
Even if the man said something pleasant, the outcome wouldn’t change.
He knew all too well that no matter what he said, the murderer before him would kill both him and his daughter.
It had never been about the face reading. The prince was merely using it as an excuse to satisfy his cruel desires.
“…Did I not tell you? Your eyes slant downward viciously, your nose is broad, and your chin is cleft, which is the face of a brutal and cunning butcher. Though you possess no nobility, you enjoy wealth beyond your station, so you will surely die young.”
A cruel smile spread across the prince’s face, as if he were thoroughly enjoying the moment.
“First, I want to gouge out his eyes.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
One of the Golden Dragon guard members stepped forward, drawing his sword.
Just as he was about to pierce the man’s eyes, the prince suddenly changed his mind.
“Stop!”
“Pardon…?”
“If he has no eyes, he won’t be able to watch what happens to his daughter.”
Grabbing the girl’s hair, the prince looked at the Golden Dragon guards.
“Shall we begin?”
The meaning behind his gaze was all too clear.
However, the Golden Dragon guards did not respond. Sensing something strange, they were looking around.
A pale mist had begun to fill the pavilion.
“W-What is this?”
“Where did this fog come from all of a sudden…”
The mist rose rapidly, growing thicker by the second.
Within moments, the room was so thick with white mist that they couldn’t see an inch ahead.
At the same time, a sweet scent of flowers filled the air.
They had no way of knowing that this was Shadow Gate’s ultimate technique, the All-Encompassing Shadow Mist, which was passed down to only one successor.
The prince’s annoyed voice rang out.
“What are you doing? Open the door immediately!”
One of the flustered guards cautiously stepped toward the exit.
However, he could only take a few steps before freezing.
Through the dense, blinding mist, a streak of light flashed.
Crack!
“Argh!”
A bloodcurdling scream echoed through the pavilion.
A moment later, a storm of blows engulfed the guard.
Thud! Bam! Whack!
“Aaargh!”
The remaining six guards drew their swords in panic.
“W-What is it?”
“What’s happening?”
Someone was attacking them from within the mist. It was terrifying.
Clang!
One of the guards fortunately blocked an incoming strike.
But that was only the beginning.
Another flash of light cut through the mist, and this time, it did not stop at a single strike.
Before the first flash faded, another cluster of light appeared, carving a diagonal path.
The flashes grew swifter, unleashing a tempest of strikes.
Clang! Clatter!
At first, only the metallic sound of clashing swords could be heard.
But that sound soon changed to dull thuds.
Crack! Thud! Crunch!
Pained screams mingled with the sound of bones snapping.
So-so’s sword did not kill. It merely crippled.
“Argh!”
“Urgh!”
The storm of strikes fell like falling petals.
After a few breaths, all sound ceased.
As more time passed, the dense mist slowly began to disperse.
The prince stood frozen, his face pale, blinking in disbelief.
“Who are you? Do you know who I am to dare commit such madness?!”
So-so stood quietly among the unconscious Golden Dragon guards, whose limbs had been broken.
The tip of her short sword trembled slightly, showing that her anger had not yet subsided.
“Let go of her hand right now!”
Only then did the prince realize he was still clutching the face reader’s daughter.
Anger flared in his eyes, the veins in his sclera bulging.
Instead of answering, the prince swung his right hand to slap the girl.
Grab!
“Urgh!”
A sharp groan escaped his lips.
The prince’s wrist was halted in midair. So-so had dashed forward and caught it.
Prince Won Jin was a youth whose body had been strengthened by all kinds of rare medicinal herbs.
Possessing over sixty years’ worth of internal energy, he believed he could easily shake her off.
However, no matter how much force he applied, she did not budge.
“How dare a lowly creature touch my body! Do you know who I am?”
He was the only son of the Emperor, a man whose word was law.
But So-so couldn’t care less.
“I know exactly who you are—a bad person. So get ready to be beaten.”
Having already sheathed her short sword, So-so clenched her fist.
“What? You dare…”
The prince could not finish his sentence.
So-so’s fist, packed with internal energy, struck him squarely in the jaw.
Boom!
“Crack!”
Perhaps because she was too angry to control her strength, his jaw shattered, and several teeth flew from his mouth.
It was the first time in his life he had ever been struck. The prince stared at her with wide eyes, unable to believe what was happening.
As he was about to collapse to the floor, So-so grabbed his wrist. With a sickening crunch, his wrist and shoulder joints were dislocated.
Crack!
“Aaaaaargh!”
Before his scream could fade, So-so’s foot swept in an arc and struck his shin like lightning.
Crack!
Broken bone fragments pierced through his knee. The prince gasped, unable to even scream from the intense pain he was experiencing for the first time in his life.
Through his bloodshot eyes, he saw another fist flying toward him.
Punch! Punch!
So-so’s fists began to rain down on Won Jin’s face.
With every blow, another tooth or two flew out.
“How does it feel to have no teeth?”
“Urgh… s-stop!”
The prince was driven to the brink of madness. He could not believe he was being beaten to a pulp by a strange young girl.
“Why did you pull out that uncle’s teeth?!”
Her furious retribution continued for a long time. It was only after his teeth were completely shattered that she finally stopped.
Coming to her senses, So-so flinched as she realized what she had done.
“Oh… what do I do?”
With his eyes rolling back, the prince stared behind So-so.
There, the face reader was laughing through his tears.
“Haha… Hahaha… Hahaha!”
His expression was a mixture of sorrow, grief, and immense relief.
The prince weakly looked at him before his head slumped forward. He had lost consciousness.
After laughing and crying for a long time, the face reader collapsed to the floor like a man who had lost his soul. His daughter ran over and hugged his neck, sobbing.
Watching them, So-so let out a sigh and asked, “…Uncle, what do I do now?”
“Child. You do not possess a face that will die young in a place like this, so do not worry. I see five stars and one sun guarding you.”
“Aww…”
“Leave quickly.”
“What about you, Uncle?”
Pushing away his daughter who was clinging to him, the face reader pleaded with So-so.
“I must die here, but this child’s destiny is to survive only by your side. Can you take my daughter with you? She has mastered astronomy and the Four Books and Five Classics, so she will be of help to you.”
Astronomy and classics were the last things on So-so’s mind. She had to make a decision quickly. Her father would be worried, and she had to return.
“I am So-so… Let’s go, friend.”
The face reader looked at his daughter with a solemn gaze and said, “You are clever, so I trust you understand your father’s wishes. To survive, you must follow that child. Leave now!”
“Father…”
A moment later, So-so took her new friend’s hand and walked out of the pavilion.
Staring at the departing children, the face reader muttered one last word before his body went limp.
“I love you… my daughter…”