Chapter 412

Go Lu-bon’s mission was to transport the remaining salt.

The salt that filled fifteen carts would be used very preciously in future affairs. In terms of value, it was worth more than Im Yi-yeon’s life.

Just sparing Im Yi-yeon’s life and safely taking the salt would be much more profitable. That’s why he had kept Im Yi-yeon alive without killing her from the beginning, to use her for such occasions.

But since he begged too obediently to spare her life, it felt very suspicious.

Jin Ja-gang even pressed him.

“Won’t you spare her?”

Go Lu-bon couldn’t shake his suspicions. Go Lu-bon scratched one side of Im Yi-yeon’s neck with his fingernail.

Whoosh! Blood spurted from the side of Im Yi-yeon’s neck. Go Lu-bon even kicked Im Yi-yeon’s ankle, fracturing it. Then he had a warrior drag Im Yi-yeon backward.

“If the bleeding doesn’t stop within a moment, all the blood in her body will drain and she’ll die. If I’m passing by and you try any tricks, my subordinate will kill Sword Empress.”

Jin Ja-gang stared expressionlessly at Go Lu-bon then stepped aside to the roadside.

Go Lu-bon didn’t move carelessly and sent wary glances, afraid Jin Ja-gang might try something.

“…”

Then he waited briefly before narrowing his eyes and asking Jin Ja-gang.

“Can I go?”

Jin Ja-gang frowned.

“Then won’t you go? If you don’t pass quickly and something happens to Sword Empress, I won’t stand for it.”

Go Lu-bon shouted.

“Who said I won’t pass!”

Go Lu-bon ground his teeth and gestured toward the carts.

“This bastard’s temperament is really nasty. Hurry up and go!”

The remaining warriors helped the wounded onto carts and moved cargo from collapsed carts to load elsewhere. Then they led horses and passed in front of Jin Ja-gang. With the wounded struggling with severed legs, both carts and people were covered in blood.

Clatter, clatter.

Jin Ja-gang quietly watched the carts pass.

Go Lu-bon later realized something else was strange.

“…”

He was the one making threats, but somehow he felt like he was being threatened.

But Jin Ja-gang only looked at Im Yi-yeon remaining behind, showing no interest in the passing carts.

“Hmph. Of course, what can that bastard do with a hostage…”

Go Lu-bon got on a cart and passed while glaring at Jin Ja-gang. After going some distance, he finally gestured to the warrior who remained holding Im Yi-yeon.

The warrior released Im Yi-yeon and ran to follow the carts.

Jin Ja-gang raised his hand as the warrior passed beside him.

“Gack!”

The warrior grabbed his neck and tumbled.

Thud!

The warrior’s neck separated from his body, the body collapsed and the head rolled away.

Jin Ja-gang glared at the departed Go Lu-bon with a cold expression. Jin Ja-gang looked like he might rush over and harm the carts even now.

“L-look at that bastard’s eyes?”

Go Lu-bon spat as if his teeth were chattering.

But fortunately, Jin Ja-gang soon turned his head from the carts and went to Im Yi-yeon.

Limp limp…

Go Lu-bon whistled.

Wheeeeet!

In response to Go Lu-bon’s whistle, the same whistle sound came from quite a distance away like an answer. Then red smoke began rising.

Go Lu-bon glared at Jin Ja-gang’s back, then whipped the horses to run as fast as possible, afraid Jin Ja-gang’s heart might change and cause more trouble.

“Giddyup!”

The blood-soaked carts hastily left the scene.

* * *

Clang!

Taoist Master Bok-cheon’s sword and Su Su-jin’s hand collided, scattering brilliant light.

Clang! Clang clang!

Exchanges continued repeatedly. The scattered lights were so bright that ordinary people couldn’t watch without their eyes hurting.

Even the Qingcheng Sect Taoists watching from behind the bridge kept closing their eyes.

So needless to say for Taoist Master Bok-cheon seeing the light directly in front. But he couldn’t close his eyes, so tears filled his eyes. Every time he moved, the pooled tears flowed.

But he couldn’t close his eyes. Su Su-jin’s pure white hands extending instantly through the brilliant light were very powerful. If he missed even for a moment, holes would appear in Taoist Master Bok-cheon’s body.

“Hahahaha! If you don’t close your eyes this time too, you’ll go blind!”

Su Su-jin’s hands multiplied to dozens, with palms covering Taoist Master Bok-cheon. Taoist Master Bok-cheon stared at the numerous white hands with tear-filled eyes, then thrust his sword.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon’s sword also split into dozens. It was Qingcheng Sect’s Seventy-Two Split Sword.

Claaang! Dozens of light clusters created by sword and hands spread pure white. It was impossible to keep eyes open and see ahead. If eyes had been open, eight or nine out of ten would have gone blind!

Clang! Clang clang!

“…Seventy! Seventy-one! Seventy-two!”

Su Su-jin seemed to know all of Seventy-Two Split Sword, accurately counting the number of sword shadows even in the midst of it.

“It’s over!”

Whoosh! One of Su Su-jin’s hands flew through the light cluster and struck Taoist Master Bok-cheon’s forehead.

Thud!

With the simultaneous sound, Su Su-jin was flung backward. She almost fell while destroying the bridge railing, but grabbed the end of a broken plank and bounced up to barely get back on the bridge.

“Ugh.”

Su Su-jin held her chest area with her hand. The rib area was dented in the shape of a fist. Three or four ribs seemed clearly broken.

“Vicious old man.”

Su Su-jin smiled a murderous smile while sweating profusely.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon withdrew his left fist that had been extended forward. Though his eyes were still open, his pupils were completely dilated and tears streamed down. He had clearly lost vision momentarily by not closing his eyes even during that flash.

Qingcheng Sect Taoists stepped onto the bridge to help Taoist Master Bok-cheon.

But Su Su-jin had already seen it.

The red smoke rising from distant mountains.

Su Su-jin jumped back and plunged her hands into the bridge.

Creaaak! The bridge shook. The Qingcheng Sect Taoists grabbed Taoist Master Bok-cheon and quickly retreated.

Crash!

The bridge broke and collapsed.

Su Su-jin said to Taoist Master Bok-cheon from across the bridge.

“Later, I’ll repay this debt clearly.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon looked downward with his head slightly lowered and asked.

“What were you waiting for?”

“It means the thing you were looking for has safely escaped. The old man unexpectedly played his role well.”

“You mean Go Lu-bon went elsewhere?”

Su Su-jin didn’t respond further. She abandoned the carts and horses filled with useless stones and fled with the remaining warriors.

“Grand Master, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. What happened?”

“Red smoke rose from behind.”

“It was a signal. They stalled for time.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon pressed his lips tightly.

Though he succeeded in dealing damage, the fact that they had enough leisure to stall for time against him was surprising.

Im Yi-yeon hadn’t been defeated for nothing.

“We must return to Poison Dragon.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon immediately left with the Taoists’ help.

* * *

“Aahhh!”

If she could make sounds, Son Bi would certainly have cried “Master!”

Im Yi-yeon was in a miserable state with broken limbs, a cloth around her neck soaked with blood, and bruises on her face.

Jin Ja-gang said.

“I don’t know the exact unsealing method, so I only gave temporary treatment.”

Son Bi directly placed her hands on Im Yi-yeon’s body and attempted unsealing. But it didn’t go well. Since masters sometimes attempt self-unsealing, those who use pressure points employ their own unique methods. Go Lu-bon had similarly restrained Im Yi-yeon with his unique, unconventional pressure point technique.

“Step aside.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon, who arrived late, sat by Im Yi-yeon. Though his vision hadn’t recovered, Taoist Master Bok-cheon didn’t mind much.

“I’ll lend a hand briefly, so please forgive the rudeness, Sword Empress.”

Taoist Master Bok-cheon felt Im Yi-yeon’s pulse and observed her condition for a while, then touched major pressure points behind her ear, under her jaw, above her ribs, and on her wrists and ankles.

“Ah!”

Pop! Im Yi-yeon exhaled a small breath as if bursting.

Im Yi-yeon breathed deeply and thanked Taoist Master Bok-cheon. Taoist Master Bok-cheon chanted a Taoist prayer and stepped back.

Soon Im Yi-yeon looked at Son Bi, then quickly turned her head to speak to Jin Ja-gang.

“Why did you let them go? Do you think I would fear death because I was taken hostage?”

Not only Taoist Master Bok-cheon and the Qingcheng Sect Taoists, but even Son Bi focused on Jin Ja-gang.

Jin Ja-gang answered without particular expression.

“I originally came to rescue Sword Empress.”

Son Bi looked at Jin Ja-gang with surprised eyes.

But Im Yi-yeon grimaced in pain, grinding her teeth.

“Arrogant words! Don’t you know who they are? Northern Heaven unorthodox sect. The fact that those driven to the North Sea long ago are here means they’re definitely scheming something!”

“I know.”

“You know?”

Im Yi-yeon was bewildered.

Taoist Master Bok-cheon asked Jin Ja-gang’s understanding, then took him aside and asked.

“Did you just let the salt carts go?”

“I tasted it and there was no poison. They’re carts carrying ordinary salt.”

“That can’t be.”

“If it’s an amount that requires several days of cart transport, it falls far short of the level we thought. This was probably one of the secret warehouses where King of Hell stored salt.”

“But I don’t know if it was right to let them go like that. That salt will certainly be used in their plans.”

“Salt would have already been taken from all secret warehouses. If we don’t let these carts go, we won’t know where the salt is gathering.”

Only then did Taoist Master Bok-cheon realize.

One presence that had always been near Jin Ja-gang couldn’t be felt.

“Hmm. I see.”

He was about to say more when Jin Ja-gang stopped Taoist Master Bok-cheon’s words.

Tang Yak had just returned.

Tang Yak limped as if her leg was injured and made an apologetic expression.

“They were ambushing from the cliff. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.”

Jin Ja-gang looked around at the people and said.

“Though we couldn’t catch them, we rescued Sword Empress, so let’s return to the Tang Family Main House as quickly as possible.”

* * *

At the wharf, warriors were loading sacks onto a moored boat.

“Load quickly, quickly!”

Go Lu-bon urged.

The warriors hurriedly carried sacks without even washing their blood-soaked bodies.

Thinking of Jin Ja-gang made Go Lu-bon’s teeth chatter with rage as he ground them.

“If not for that salt, I would’ve pulled off his head and stuck it in his ass. Next time we meet, I won’t let him be.”

Go Lu-bon suddenly frowned seeing a warrior with a small build carrying one sack.

“Huh? There, you!”

The warrior who was just trying to pass stopped and turned around only after Go Lu-bon called twice.

“Did you call me?”

The warrior’s face was completely covered in blood, making it hard to recognize.

Go Lu-bon’s eyes blazed as he looked the warrior up and down.

The warrior lowered her head and watched Go Lu-bon’s mood. As Go Lu-bon’s silence lengthened, the warrior’s hand gradually moved toward the sword hilt at her waist.

Then Go Lu-bon shouted.

“Don’t carry one at a time, carry two sacks! At this rate, when will you finish carrying all that!”

The warrior hastily answered.

“Ah, understood!”

The warrior groaned while shouldering one more sack and boarded the boat.

Go Lu-bon clicked his tongue.

“If these bastards don’t load quickly, that nasty-tempered bastard might come, their mental state is completely off, completely off.”