Chapter 131

Jin Geum-woo hurriedly released Won Gayoung’s Paralysis Blood Point.

“Are you all right?”

“I… I think so.”

She tried her best to act composed, but she couldn’t hide the tremor in her voice.

Jin Geum-woo held her in his arms and let out a soft sigh.

Seeing her safe, he could finally feel at ease.

No one knew how much he had worried all this time.

Though he acted calm on the outside, he had been inwardly worried for her safety.

Fortunately, Pyo Wol had pressed Heuk Am so hard that he didn’t even have a moment to think of anything else. Thanks to that, Won Gayoung could be freed safely.

Having been carried around like a piece of luggage for a long time with her Paralysis Blood Point sealed, her body was as stiff as a block of wood.

Jin Geum-woo infused his Internal Energy into Won Gayoung through her Life Gate Point. He intended to loosen her body from the inside with his Internal Energy.

As if his efforts paid off, a flush soon returned to Won Gayoung’s face. It was a phenomenon that occurred as her blood began to circulate smoothly.

“I can do it myself now.”

Won Gayoung said with an embarrassed expression.

After being treated like luggage by Heuk Am for several days, her body had become incredibly dirty and reeked. She didn’t want to show such a disgraceful state to Jin Geum-woo.

Understanding her feelings, Jin Geum-woo nodded and stepped back.

Won Gayoung sat in a cross-legged position and focused on recovering her Internal Power.

After one Shichen of Qi Circulation, Won Gayoung had perfectly recovered her physical condition.

Won Gayoung stood up and said,

“Thank you, Orabeoni. For coming to save me.”

“You should thank him more than me. If it weren’t for him, I would never have been able to save you.”

“He is…”

“I know. He killed Pyeong. But it’s also true that he saved you. I don’t know how I should resolve this debt of gratitude and resentment.”

“I’ve become a burden.”

“Don’t think like that. You were never a burden. You were just unlucky.”

“Huu!”

At Jin Geum-woo’s comfort, Won Gayoung let out a sigh.

It was because her own Alias, Hwan-geom Seon-ja, felt so meaningless.

‘What kind of Seon-ja am I? My current state is just pathetic.’

Far from being able to help the man she had given her heart to, she had instead become a burden, which was utterly shameful.

She couldn’t bear the sight of her own pathetic self, who had been intoxicated by the empty fame of being Hwan-geom Seon-ja.

Jin Geum-woo asked,

“How is your body?”

“I can move.”

“Can you return to Chengdu alone?”

“What about you, Orabeoni?”

“I have to repay a debt.”

Jin Geum-woo raised his head and looked in the direction where Pyo Wol had disappeared.

Without Pyo Wol, he couldn’t have tracked them this far, nor would he have been able to meet Won Gayoung so safely.

He was a man who was clear about his debts of gratitude and resentment.

The resentment from Ximen Pyeong’s death could not be offset by the gratitude for saving Won Gayoung.

They had to be distinguished separately.

Some might call him too rigid, but that was the essence of the man named Jin Geum-woo.

Knowing this, Won Gayoung couldn’t stop him.

“I understand, Orabeoni! I’ll return to Chengdu by myself.”

“I’m sorry. And thank you.”

“No. I’m the one who’s sorry for holding you back. I promise, I will never show such a pathetic side of myself again.”

“You have never shown a pathetic side.”

Despite Jin Geum-woo’s comfort, Won Gayoung couldn’t lift her head.

“Huu!”

Her sigh mixed with the wind and flowed away.

＊＊＊

‘This demonic bastard…’

Heuk Am trembled with rage.

The Black Cloud Mist that had shrouded his body had long since vanished without a trace. The Black Cloud Mist was operated by his Internal Energy, and right now, his Internal Energy was not in abundance. So, to reduce its consumption even a little, he had dispelled the Black Cloud Mist that had hidden his hideous appearance.

For the past few days, he hadn’t slept properly once, nor had he taken a single break.

It was all because of Pyo Wol.

Whenever Heuk Am was about to rest, Pyo Wol would send his Ghostly Rain flying, leaving wounds on his body. It was impossible to detect or block.

The number of wounds all over Heuk Am’s body gradually increased.

His prized Soul-Seizing Eye did not work on Pyo Wol.

The Soul-Seizing Eye would only work if they looked into each other’s eyes, but since he couldn’t even see his face, it was useless. Even if they did make eye contact, there was no guarantee that the Soul-Seizing Eye would work on someone like Pyo Wol, whose Martial Arts were profound and whose will was firm.

All that was left was Gu Poison and Dream Soul Powder, but both were things that could only be used after subduing Pyo Wol.

He hadn’t even seen Pyo Wol’s face while escaping to this point, so subduing him was out of the question.

That wasn’t to say Heuk Am had no options left.

The influence of the Small Thunder Sound Temple extended throughout Tibet.

Although not as much as in Jianghu, there were quite a few Sects in Tibet.

Among them were some that possessed considerable Martial prowess.

A place called the Redwood Tower was one such place.

It was founded long ago by a high-ranking monk from the Small Thunder Sound Temple who had gone independent, and the current tower master maintained a close relationship with the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

He believed that man would help him. So, Heuk Am desperately fled toward the Redwood Tower.

The Redwood Tower stood alone in an empty plain.

The tower had a total of seven floors, and on each floor, Experts were Training.

The tower master, Yul Mok-a, trained on the highest floor, the seventh, and presided over the area.

Yul Mok-a was an Expert acknowledged even by Blood Buddha, the Dharma Master of the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

He thought that she could stop Pyo Wol, who was relentlessly tormenting him.

Heuk Am sprinted toward the Redwood Tower with all his might.

After running for a while, he saw a huge red tower in the distance.

It was his destination, the Redwood Tower.

“Who goes there?”

“Halt!”

As a stranger appeared, the Martial Artists of the Redwood Tower who were on guard shouted, aiming their weapons.

“I am from the Small Thunder Sound Temple. I have come to see the tower master, Yul Mok-a, so open the gate at once.”

“You’re from the Small Thunder Sound Temple?”

“That’s right. I will explain the details to Master Yul Mok-a, so hurry and open the gate.”

Heuk Am took out a small bronze plaque from his bosom that proved he was a monk of the Small Thunder Sound Temple and threw it.

After confirming the bronze plaque, the Martial Artists’ attitudes became respectful.

“Please enter.”

They opened the only gate.

The Redwood Tower was a fortress that no outsider could ever enter once the gate was barred.

Although there were windows on each floor, Experts stood guard, leaving not even a crack for an ant to invade.

Thud!

As soon as Heuk Am entered the Redwood Tower, the gate was shut tight.

“Phew!”

Only then could Heuk Am let out a sigh of relief.

But he had no time to relax.

‘I have to stop that bastard from getting in.’

Heuk Am hurriedly went up to the seventh floor.

On the seventh floor, Yul Mok-a was waiting for him.

Yul Mok-a was a six-Zhang-tall woman, her entire body adorned with numerous accessories. Not many people knew that the flashy accessories, which seemed fit for a woman, were in fact weapons of deadly power.

Yul Mok-a glared at Heuk Am with fierce eyes.

“You said you’re from the Small Thunder Sound Temple?”

“That is correct. My name is Heuk Am.”

“Heuk Am? I’ve heard of you. The hunting dog raised by the Dharma Master.”

“That is correct.”

Despite the insulting words, Heuk Am’s expression did not falter in the slightest.

This was not the time to care about such petty insults.

“So! What brings you here?”

Yul Mok-a said with an arrogant attitude.

Although she had split from the Small Thunder Sound Temple, Yul Mok-a’s pride was immense. The Redwood Tower had only about a hundred members, but the Martial prowess of each individual was second to none compared to any Sect in Jianghu, let alone Tibet.

Yul Mok-a’s personal Martial prowess was by no means inferior to the Blood Thunder Ten Monks, the top Experts the Small Thunder Sound Temple prided itself on.

In the southern part of Tibet, she was considered a far more fearsome existence than the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

With things as they were, Yul Mok-a’s disposition naturally became arrogant. She believed that no one, except for Blood Buddha, the Dharma Master of the Small Thunder Sound Temple, could dare to stand above her.

The usual Heuk Am would never have let Yul Mok-a’s arrogance slide. But now, he was in a position to ask for a favor. He had no time to nitpick.

“There is someone tracking me right now.”

“The Dharma Master’s hunting dog is being tracked? Hehe! That’s quite amusing.”

“He is a truly terrifying man. His Martial Arts and Stealth Skill are incredible, so you must be thoroughly prepared to prevent him from entering the Redwood Tower.”

“Hahaha! Who would dare to invade this Redwood Tower? Not even the great Dharma Master of All Under Heaven could enter this place without breaking it down.”

“However…”

“Enough. If you’ve come to us for safety, just stay quietly. It’s unsightly to see a dog that fled with its tail between its legs barking.”

“…”

Heuk Am’s already hideous face contorted even more repulsively. But he soon recovered his original expression.

“Understood. Then I will be in your care for just one day.”

Heuk Am bowed his head deeply to Yul Mok-a.

For the past few days, he hadn’t rested for a single moment. His fatigue was at its peak, and he didn’t even have the strength to fight Yul Mok-a.

‘Right! I just need to get enough rest. Surely this place won’t be breached.’

Although Yul Mok-a’s swaggering was an eyesore, her abilities were more than sufficient. Her level of Martial Arts alone was not inferior to the Blood Thunder Ten Monks. With that level of ability, she should be able to protect him for a day.

Before leaving the room, Heuk Am added a word out of nagging concern.

“The man is an Assassin. He will surely try to sneak in somehow, so please strengthen the defenses.”

“Hehe! It may look ordinary, but each floor has several Mechanisms and traps in operation, and the Experts of this tower guard the main passages, so not even an ant can dare to enter. Rest assured, hunting dog!”

“Understood.”

“You reek. Go bathe and rest.”

“I thank the tower master for her consideration. Then…”

Heuk Am bowed to Yul Mok-a and came out.

An Expert from the Redwood Tower was waiting for him and guided him to his quarters.

His quarters were a small room in a corner of the third floor of the Redwood Tower. Although the room was small, it had a wooden bathtub, allowing him to enjoy a bath.

“Hah!”

Heuk Am took off his clothes and got into the bathtub.

It was just cold, unheated water, but to Heuk Am, it was like heavenly nectar.

After bathing and having a simple meal, Heuk Am lay down on the bed just like that.

‘Would that bastard dare to follow me all the way here?’

Heuk Am tried hard to deny his own thoughts.

Although Yul Mok-a was an eyesore, it was certain that the Redwood Tower was an impregnable fortress.

It was impossible for any Expert in All Under Heaven, not just Pyo Wol, to secretly infiltrate this place.

Heuk Am thought Pyo Wol was probably watching the Redwood Tower from somewhere.

‘Even he won’t be able to enter here recklessly. He’ll surely watch and then press me again when I come out.’

The thought of being pressured by Pyo Wol again sent a shiver down his spine.

‘What a waste. If only I had kept that bitch, I could have stolen her soul, however imperfectly, and made her into a Weapon.’

He regretted abandoning Won Gayoung to save his own life.

It would have been the icing on the cake if he could have subdued her soul to make her a Weapon, and had a good time with her as a bonus.

But it was all in the past. It was too late for regrets, and the situation at the time had been too urgent.

He had to be satisfied with having saved his life like this.

As he was lost in these thoughts, sleep came over him.

Heuk Am did not resist and was consumed by slumber.

He had a truly sweet sleep for the first time in a long while.

It was the first time he had slept so soundly since leaving the Small Thunder Sound Temple.

Heuk Am opened his eyes.

The surroundings were quiet.

The perfect silence felt unfamiliar, but for that very reason, it was more reassuring.

It was proof that nothing had happened all night.

‘As expected, even he didn’t dare to sneak in here.’

Heuk Am smiled.

He felt better after a good sleep. At this rate, he felt he could fight back even if he met Pyo Wol again.

He placed his hand on the bed and pushed himself up.

Clang!

At that moment, a strange metallic sound came from inside the bed.

Heuk Am, with a puzzled expression, lifted the blanket.

“…”

Heuk Am’s eyes, which were looking inside the blanket, widened as if they would tear.

Between the blanket and the bed lay a set of flashy accessories.

The flashy, blood-soaked accessories were definitely something he had seen somewhere before.

“Don’t tell me?”