Chapter 252

“Hwaaah!”

Yu Sam-ui stretched and yawned.

She was the leader of the fifth outer division of Snow Blade Sword Manor. The hardships she had endured to become an outer division leader as a woman were beyond words.

Although Jianghu was a place with less discrimination between men and women compared to other places, it was still a male-dominated world. In such a place, it was by no means easy for a woman to distinguish herself.

It would have been better if she were a disciple of a prestigious Jianghu family, born of a good bloodline, or a possessor of outstanding talent.

They had the power to easily overcome the world’s discrimination. But unfortunately, Yu Sam-ui was not one of them.

She was born into an ordinary family and possessed ordinary talent. But she had strong perseverance.

Yu Sam-ui never shied away from any training, no matter how painful. She never allowed herself a moment of rest.

She trained relentlessly to become stronger, and as a result, she was able to become one of Snow Blade Sword Manor’s outer division leaders.

Others asked if she was satisfied with just that, but she was genuinely content.

Yu Sam-ui was clearly aware of the limits of her talent. She did not wish for any further advancement.

Yu Sam-ui’s only wish was to survive for a long time as an outer division leader.

Today was the day her division was on guard duty at the main gate.

Only Yu Sam-ui was stretching languidly; her subordinates stood with stern discipline.

With the war against Jin Clan in full swing, a lapse in discipline was unacceptable.

They watched with wide eyes, looking for anyone approaching Snow Blade Sword Manor without permission.

Yu Sam-ui also appeared relaxed, but in truth, she was ceaselessly scanning the surroundings with a sharp gaze.

‘Looks like there won’t be any trouble today.’

Fortunately, it seemed unlikely that anything major would happen while she was on guard. But it was too early to be relieved, so Yu Sam-ui did not let her guard down.

There was still much of the night left, and her shift wouldn’t end until dawn. If she let her guard down and something happened on her watch, the division leader position she had worked so hard to obtain could be lost.

“I just hope nothing happens today…”

But her wish did not come true.

“O-open the gate.”

A desperate voice was heard from a distance.

“What is it?”

Yu Sam-ui and her division members glared in the direction the voice came from. Their hands were already on the weapons at their waists.

Where their gazes were fixed, a man was running toward them, carrying someone on his back.

Both the one being carried and the one running were drenched in blood. The thick scent of blood could be felt even from a distance, which was unusual.

Yu Sam-ui shouted urgently.

“Who are you?”

“I am a Martial Artist from the Golden Mountain Manor. The Miss is in critical condition, so please let us in quickly.”

“The Miss?”

“Yes! Miss Siyeon has been gravely injured.”

At the man’s answer, Yu Sam-ui and her division members looked at each other.

“You mean Geum Siyeon?”

“The only daughter of the Golden Mountain Manor.”

“Good heavens!”

In an instant, Yu Sam-ui’s face turned deathly pale.

She knew that Snow Blade Sword Manor had a close relationship with the Golden Mountain Manor.

If something happened to Geum Siyeon here, the Golden Mountain Manor’s support for Snow Blade Sword Manor would be cut off. Such a situation had to be prevented at all costs.

Yu Sam-ui rushed to the man carrying Geum Siyeon.

“Is she really Miss Geum Siyeon?”

“You can just check her face, can’t you?”

At the man’s reply, Yu Sam-ui quickly looked at the woman on his back. Although her face was covered in blood, it was clearly Geum Siyeon.

“What happened?”

“We were attacked on our way here. Everyone else died, and only the Miss and I barely managed to escape.”

“By whom?”

“That’s not what’s important right now. We need to treat the Miss urgently. Please let us in quickly.”

“Ah, right!”

Yu Sam-ui came to her senses at the man’s words.

She quickly gave an order to the subordinates guarding the main gate.

“Open the gate and call for a Physician. I will escort Miss Geum to the Guest Reception Hall.”

“Yes!”

Yu Sam-ui’s subordinates replied and opened the gates of Snow Blade Sword Manor.

“Follow me.”

Yu Sam-ui personally guided the man carrying Geum Siyeon.

Even at a glance, Geum Siyeon’s condition looked serious. She needed to be seen and treated by a physician as soon as possible.

Fortunately, a skilled physician was residing at Snow Blade Sword Manor.

As soon as Geum Siyeon was laid on the bed in the best room of the Guest Reception Hall, an old physician who had heard the news rushed in, panting.

Without a moment to catch his breath, the old physician took Geum Siyeon’s pulse. Yu Sam-ui asked urgently.

“How is Miss Geum’s condition?”

“Be quiet, you’re being loud. I can’t concentrate.”

“But…”

“I have to take her pulse before I can say anything, don’t I? Please just be quiet.”

“Yes!”

At the old physician’s rebuke, Yu Sam-ui clamped her mouth shut.

Even at a glance, Geum Siyeon’s condition looked critical. Yu Sam-ui hoped that the old physician would be able to save Geum Siyeon’s life.

After closing his eyes and checking Geum Siyeon’s pulse for a while, the physician took out a wooden box containing silver needles from his robes.

The physician quickly began to insert the needles into Geum Siyeon’s body.

Only after inserting over a hundred needles into Geum Siyeon’s body did the physician let out a sigh of relief.

“I’ve managed to hold on to her life for now.”

“Phew!”

“It’s too early to be relieved. Her main major meridians and five viscera and six bowels are damaged. If not treated with medicine, her condition will worsen.”

“Please tell me whatever you need. If she dies here, it will become a serious problem.”

“It should be so.”

The physician nodded and looked at the man who had carried Geum Siyeon.

“Just what kind of bastard used such a cruel method on a woman?”

“I don’t know either.”

“You don’t know?”

“Yes! A dispute suddenly broke out…”

“There’s someone in Runan with the guts to mess with Miss Geum? Who is it?”

“I don’t know. He had such an ordinary-looking face that it’s hard to guess his identity.”

“You don’t even know what kind of Martial Arts he used?”

“No! We were taken down in an instant. When all my comrades fell, the Miss, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward, but then, sob…”

The martial artists escorting Geum Siyeon were defeated in a flash. He hadn’t even felt any killing intent, but when he came to his senses, all his comrades were down.

Geum Siyeon had also charged in, but she suffered a fatal wound from the man and collapsed in an instant.

“At that time, all I could think about was saving the Miss. So I carried her on my back and ran all the way here.”

“You did well! It’s only because it was me that she was saved. Any other physician wouldn’t have stood a chance.”

“Thank you, Elder! I will not forget this kindness.”

The man held the old physician’s hand and thanked him repeatedly.

Watching the scene, Yu Sam-ui’s expression was grave. Geum Siyeon was an important person, classified as a distinguished guest even in Snow Blade Sword Manor. She had to report this to the Manor Lord immediately and catch the person who had put her in this state.

Yu Sam-ui said to the physician.

“I will go report to the Manor Lord, so please treat Miss Geum, Jang Uiwon. Her condition must not worsen any further.”

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, her condition will not worsen.”

“Then I’ll be counting on you.”

Yu Sam-ui stood up, then stopped and looked at the man who had carried Geum Siyeon.

“You wait outside.”

“I can’t do that. I must protect the Miss.”

“Jang Uiwon will treat Miss Geum well, so don’t worry.”

“Still…”

“Your presence will only be a hindrance to Jang Uiwon, not a help, so get out.”

Yu Sam-ui snapped at the hesitating man.

Only then did the man nod with a sullen expression. He looked a little pitiful.

“I’ll give you a room nearby, so just stay put quietly. The Manor Lord might call for you later.”

“I understand.”

Yu Sam-ui and the man went outside.

Yu Sam-ui had a subordinate guide the man to a room, then she headed for the Manor Lord’s residence.

＊＊＊

“Did I hear you wrong? Say it again.”

“Miss Geum Siyeon of the Golden Mountain Manor has entered the manor with serious injuries.”

“Is that really true? She’s seriously injured?”

“Yes!”

Baek Dokyeong confirmed once more that Lee Yul had not misheard.

Lee Yul stared at his trusted subordinate, Baek Dokyeong, his brow deeply furrowed.

Baek Dokyeong bowed his head with an expression that said he had nothing more to say.

“What happened?”

“She was apparently on her way to the manor to collect a payment.”

“A payment?”

“The payment for the loan certificate borrowed from Jin Clan.”

“Was it seventeen thousand Nyang of gold?”

“Yes!”

“So she got caught up in a dispute while coming to collect the payment.”

“That is correct.”

Lee Yul’s brow furrowed deeply.

Something that was not in his calculations had occurred.

He hated it when variables like this arose. It could turn everything he had planned so far into nothing in an instant.

“The assailant?”

“According to the subordinate who carried her here, it was a man with an ordinary appearance. There was a corpse nearby, and he was acting suspiciously, so Miss Geum couldn’t just pass by.”

“And so?”

“But it seems the opponent was an unexpected Expert. Her bodyguards were all taken down without knowing how, and Miss Geum also suffered a severe injury.”

“Hmph!”

“What’s fortunate is that the man who carried Miss Geum knew that Jang Uiwon was at the manor. Thanks to that, Miss Geum’s life was saved.”

“Quite something. It seems he already knew that Jang Uiwon is a renowned physician.”

“That is correct.”

“I see. Since Jang Uiwon is handling it, at least she won’t die. Let me know when she regains consciousness. I want to speak with her directly.”

“Understood.”

As Lee Yul waved his hand, Baek Dokyeong bowed his head and withdrew.

Left alone, Lee Yul muttered.

“To think she would run into such trouble on her way to the manor.”

He had a strange, unsettling feeling.

Lee Yul brewed and drank a cup of tea.

It was his favorite Dragon Well tea. Usually, drinking Dragon Well tea would lift his spirits, but not this time.

Even after drinking the tea, the unsettling feeling did not disappear at all.

Thud!

Lee Yul roughly set down his teacup and stared into the air.

“Black Tiger!”

“You called?”

A man as gaunt as a skeleton appeared like a ghost.

“Where is he now?”

“He?”

“Pyo Wol, I mean.”

“He’s hiding.”

“Hiding?”

“He completely vanished after leaving Jin Clan. I’ve sent the kids, but it seems tracking him isn’t easy.”

“How did you lose him?”

At Lee Yul’s interrogating tone, Black Tiger showed a slightly annoyed expression.

“You seem to have forgotten, but he’s one of us. If he puts his mind to it, he can vanish from this world without a trace.”

“So you’re saying you can’t find him?”

“That’s not it. It’ll just take some time, but I’ll definitely find him. The Shadow Ghost is on the trail, so finding him is just a matter of time.”

“Are you sure?”

“Huhu! Look here, Steward. Nothing in this world can escape the eyes of the Hundred Wraith Union.”

“I certainly hope you’re right.”

“You keep looking down on the Hundred Wraith Union…”

“It would be best for you not to keep bringing up the Hundred Wraith Union in front of me. The Hundred Wraith Union won’t be able to shield you.”

“What?”

“That pathetic Hundred Wraith Union, if I set my mind to it, I can make it disappear overnight. Do you think I’m lying?”

Lee Yul’s gaze was utterly cold.

Black Tiger glared at Lee Yul.

If he had his way, he wanted to rip that arrogant mouth of Lee Yul’s wide open. He had the ability and the confidence to do so. But he would never act rashly.

His opponent was a figure that even the Hundred Wraith Union Lord was wary of.

He didn’t know his true identity, but the Hundred Wraith Union Lord had repeatedly warned him never to get on Lee Yul’s bad side.

Black Tiger soon grinned.

“Haha! Why say such grim things. Alright! I’ll be careful. Relax your face. You’re scaring me to death.”

“So, where is he?”

“I’ll find him within two days.”

“I’ll give you one day.”

“That’s too shor… Alright. I’ll find him and report back within a day.”

Black Tiger raised both arms in a gesture of surrender.