“It’s just as the rumors said. It’s a relief to have it confirmed in person.”
“What rumors are those?” Jin Cheon-hee asked.
The martial artist hesitated slightly before speaking. “The name Little White Dragon doesn’t just signify a ‘Dragon’ (龍). The ‘White’ (白) is also said to represent virtue and true character.”
That’s embarrassing.
Jin Cheon-hee replied, his face flushing, “You won’t get anything out of me by saying such things.”
“Not at all. I simply wanted to express my gratitude. After all, you treated my eldest brother’s back with Therapeutic Massage therapy yesterday. He said he feels alive again.”
The man bowed deeply, offering his sincere thanks. Seeing a patient recover brought Jin Cheon-hee a great sense of satisfaction.
“Speaking of, how is Sam-seo?”
“He’s resting after your emergency treatment. He keeps waking up, unable to even scream from the pain, only to pass out again from exhaustion. It’s a grim cycle.”
It turns out it’s incredibly difficult to use acupressure to block pain when a man’s testicles are crushed. That was a new discovery from today’s emergency surgery. I applied needles to the points the books indicated, but it only seemed to dull the pain, not erase it. And ‘dulling’ the pain of a shattered testicle… well, it was still agony.
“If he’s lucky, he might be able to save the other one.”
In exchange for saving his one remaining testicle, Jin Cheon-hee had received the Three Murderous Tracking Rats‘s loyalty. Not just a verbal promise, of course. They signed a contract, a blood-sealed contract. And it was, quite literally, a blank piece of paper. A contract with a signature line, but no contents. Jin Cheon-hee could fill in the terms later.
Yet, they hadn’t hesitated. He was genuinely surprised by the depth of their brotherhood. To think the other brothers would sign such a pact just to save Sam-seo’s last testicle… Jin Cheon-hee was gaining a new understanding of how heavy the bond of sworn brotherhood truly was in the Murim.
I see. So, being sworn brothers means if one of you gets screwed, you all get screwed.
Yeo Ha-ryoon was strong. As the protagonist, he was guaranteed to survive until the end. But if he went around smashing everyone’s heads in, the consequences would inevitably splash back onto Jin Cheon-hee.
It’s going to be a real job just trying to keep that ‘Star of Heavenly Slaughter’ of a mad dog on a leash.
He considered sending a letter once they reached the port. He knew the locations of a few Demonic Cult branches disguised as merchant guilds. A letter sent to one of them would probably reach him.
Hwang-gu’s… work… was surprisingly ‘clean'(?), so the treatment itself was manageable.
He had done everything a human could do. Now, the fate of Sam-seo’s remaining testicle was in the hands of the gods.
In the midst of his thoughts, a vast and magnificent city began to take shape in the far distance.
Nanjing.
It was the former capital of the Hwa Empire. Though the capital had since moved north, it was still known as the ‘Southern Capital’. Rich with history and tradition, the sprawling, splendid city filled Jin Cheon-hee’s vision.
Good. No problems so far. All that’s left is to catch that Ten Thousands Years Fire Carp.
Jin Cheon-hee’s eyes gleamed.
***
The ship finally docked at Nanjing. The harbor was certainly as large and vibrant as expected, with merchants bustling about, moving goods from countless vessels. The air was a thick mix of fish, dried herbs, and exotic spices.
Jin Cheon-hee left Sam-seo and Soaring Sword on the boat to wait. Once his mission was complete, they would have to return. The journey back would be against the river’s current, meaning it would be even more grueling than the trip here.
Thankfully, the wind should be at their backs. That’ll probably be their saving grace.
He wrote out a prescription for Sam-seo, who was still drifting in and out of consciousness. If they visited a nearby clinic affiliated with the White Qilin Medical Pavilion, they would be able to get the right herbal decoction for him.
Bark, bark! Bark bark bark!
A pack of local dogs had gathered around Hwang-gu. He postured before them, letting out a few imperious barks.
“Can you find what I’m looking for?”
Bark!
“Should we go now?”
Hwang-gu shook his head. Whine.
“When, then? Tomorrow?”
At my question, Hwang-gu barked at the pack of local dogs. They seemed to chatter back and forth, glancing at each other as if in discussion, before finally turning their barks toward a flat-nosed dog at the back. Bark! Bark bark! The flat-nosed dog just wagged its tail. Finally, Hwang-gu turned back to Jin Cheon-hee and gave a short, low answer.
Woof!
“So, we leave tomorrow, is that it?”
The dog nodded, just like a person. Bark! Woof!
“Got it.”
The moment Jin Cheon-hee agreed, Hwang-gu led his new pack of Nanjing dogs and took off running toward the Tangshan area, presumably to begin scouting.
“Does a dog have to be that smart to be the Faction Leader’s messenger? Or is Hwang-gu just an exceptionally intelligent animal?”
Though intrigued, Jin Cheon-hee turned and headed for a nearby inn. Hwang-gu would find his way back when night fell.
***
At the inn, he ordered the duck noodle soup.
The waiter recommended it, and damn, it’s incredible.
The clear broth was a perfect paradox, carrying both the deep, rich flavor of the duck and a delicate fragrance of medicinal herbs. Jin Cheon-hee finished three bowls.
He slept soundly on a full stomach and woke to find Hwang-gu sitting by his head, staring down at him.
Bark!
“We’re leaving now?”
Bark bark!
Wagging his tail, Hwang-gu quickly led Jin Cheon-hee to the door. Jin Cheon-hee grabbed the sliced duck meat he had pre-ordered from the waiter, tucked it into his knapsack, and set off. He had prepared some for Hwang-gu as well, ensuring the mountain trail wouldn’t be dull.
The saying ‘I travel so I can eat’ is spot on.
He was here because of his master, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy the local delicacies.
Upon entering the Tangshan area, Hwang-gu didn’t lead him toward the cluster of villas belonging to the powerful clans. Instead, he veered off toward an untamed forest where no path could be seen.
Bark!
“This way seems like the perfect place to get ambushed.”
Woof woof! Bark!
“You think so too? But we have to go this way?”
Pant, pant.
“Right. You’ve got a point. Can’t refuse to make soybean paste just because you’re afraid of maggots. Besides, I’ve been wanting to get some more practical experience. This works out perfectly.”
Jin Cheon-hee turned to follow Hwang-gu. He needed to conserve his internal energy, so while he used his lightness skill, he kept his movements as efficient as possible.
How deep had they gone along the sheer mountain ridges? Suddenly, he felt new presences.
Mm. Just as I thought. They’re following. I sense… five? Six of them?
He wasn’t too worried. If he could sense them this easily while on the move, their skills were obvious.
Grrr?
Hwang-gu glanced at Jin Cheon-hee, a short, sharp movement that clearly asked whether they should beat the crap out of them now or keep going.
“Why put it off? Hup!”
Jin Cheon-hee grabbed a thick tree trunk in front of him and pulled. Using the Wood Qi of the Five-Elemental Divine Qi, the tree didn’t break but bent like the stave of a great bow. He felt the solid, elastic tension build in his hands.
“It really is nice having longer arms and legs!” he shouted, then released his grip.
TWANG!
The tree’s tension catapulted his body backward. The trackers, caught completely off guard, panicked.
“Oh, you even wore masks this time? How professional.”
Jin Cheon-hee initiated the attack. As he flew backward, he grabbed the first ambusher’s shoulders and twisted them in opposite directions.
CRUNCH!
The man’s body spun like he’d been thrown into a washing machine. “I won’t kill you, but you’ll have to accept being crippled. I’ll make sure to leave you just barely alive.”
“Die!” another masked man snarled, spraying throwing stars at Jin Cheon-hee.
Jin Cheon-hee’s body arched, dodging them cleanly. The first man, his shoulders ruined, took the daggers instead.
Thk-thk-thk-thk!
“Hey, the Three Murderous Tracking Rats had a great brotherhood. What’s wrong with you guys? Not very close?”
In that instant, Hwang-gu lunged and bit the testicles of the man who had thrown the daggers.
CHOMP!
“…!”
This one, too, couldn’t even scream as he slowly crumpled forward. Hwang-gu did not let go, even though the man had clearly lost his will to fight.
“I see. Hwang-gu just wants to make sure he takes one guy properly.”
Grrr!
From this angle, it looks like a bilateral rupture. That is, if he doesn’t die from Hwang-gu’s… critical hit.
The third and fourth masked men swung their swords at him, their blades dripping with killing intent—true killing techniques. Jin Cheon-hee’s brow furrowed slightly in annoyance. He kicked a stone on the ground, infusing it with Wind Qi—specifically, the principle of speed.
FWIP!
The stone slammed directly into the third man’s solar plexus.
THWACK!
The man’s breath scattered from the paralyzing pain. In that opening, Cheon-hee lightly chopped him in the throat.
“Keok!”
“You won’t be breathing for the next minute, so don’t even try.” He then grabbed the man’s wrist and bent it backward.
CRACK!
“Heok! Ugh-heok!”
“If you want to hold a spoon again, go find a good Therapeutic Massage specialist. Assuming you can get down this mountain.”
The man dropped his sword in agony. Jin Cheon-hee caught it. The fourth and fifth men unleashed their own sword techniques. Normally, one would raise their sword to block the incoming patterns.
Jin Cheon-hee, however, didn’t block. He leaned in and slammed his elbow into the flat of the fourth man’s blade.
CRACK!
“Aaargh!”
“Mm. Judging by the feel of that break, you won’t be using your right hand to eat anymore.”
Simultaneously, he smashed the flat of his stolen sword into the fifth man’s jaw.
PAAK!
“From now on, you’ll be eating nothing but porridge.”
His jaw twisted at a grotesque angle. Just like that, all five masked men were down. Every one of them had something dislocated or broken. One of them might die, but that was a matter of internal team conflict. As for the one being judged by Hwang-gu… whether he lived or died was up to the dog, so Jin Cheon-hee really couldn’t say.
“Whew. Another day without taking a life,” Jin Cheon-hee said, dusting himself off. “I’m so great. Even the Buddha would see me, pat me on the back, and give me a seat at his right hand.”
Guhek… eueok…
As low groans echoed around him, Jin Cheon-hee added, “If you find a good physician, you’ll be able to live the rest of your lives with minimal side effects.”
And it was true. He had let them live. He had… But for the assassins, this felt somehow more brutal than a fight to the death, scattering sword energy. One can prepare for death. It’s much harder to prepare for being crippled.
“Hwang-gu! Let’s go! Drop that.”
Woof!
The dog finally released his grip. This time, too, the man’s legs were soaked. Thankfully, he seemed to have trained in external arts, so he was still alive. The mercy of emergency treatment had been reserved for the Three Murderous Tracking Rats.
Jin Cheon-hee simply prayed for this new man’s soul.
***
After ‘dispatching’ a few more men they encountered on the way, they finally arrived at the entrance of an underground cave. It was a low cavern at ground level, with an entrance so narrow a normal person would never have found it.
Wow. I’d never have found this without Hwang-gu.
No matter how familiar a human guide was with this area, this place was impossible to locate. Before entering, Jin Cheon-hee focused his vision, scanning the surroundings.
No more pursuers.
Had they finally realized his level of skill? Or had they realized that messing with him meant they would be ‘just barely kept alive’? No one else was coming.
It seems they’ve decided that a thousand taels of gold isn’t worth it.
Jin Cheon-hee crouched down and peered into the darkness below.