Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 86

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 86
21. To Wuhan!
The frightened horse whinnied shrilly, thrashing about in panic. The carriage lurched and swayed violently from side to side.
Yeon Ryang hurriedly shut the window and yanked me down, shielding me with his body.
“Don’t move.”
An arrow sliced through the air with a sharp whistle.
Each time an arrowhead punctured the carriage, wood splinters exploded outward. The violent shuddering reverberated through every board.
“Neigh!”
The galloping horse shrieked, rearing up, and the carriage tilted forward with a sound like something being hurled.
The horse’s death-cry cut short, and the carriage ground to a halt.
“Damn it. Hold on tight, Gyeong A.”
In the same instant, the carriage began to roll across the road.
“Eeeek!”
Ju Ryeong shrieked and burrowed into my sleeve. I gritted my teeth, bracing myself to keep from flying out of the carriage.
Crash! Thud! Crash!
The impact of each rotation shot through my body, the world spinning relentlessly upside down.
My head kept striking the wall and bouncing back until Yeon Ryang reached out and cradled it in his hands.
The half-shattered carriage finally came to a slow stop, blanketed in scattered autumn leaves.
At the same moment, the rain of arrows ceased.
Yeon Ryang withdrew his hands from my head and asked quietly.
“Gyeong A. Are you all right?”
“Thanks to you. Ugh.”
I wrinkled my nose and covered it with my sleeve. The thick, coppery stench of blood assailed my nostrils.
I felt no trace of the coachman. He must have been lost when the horse and carriage separated.
I held my breath and listened carefully to the aura around us. Tension made my palms slick with sweat.
Two? Three?
Even stretching my Aura Detection to its limits, the presences I sensed remained murky as shadows. These were Martial Cultivators practiced in concealing their auras.
“Four. Assassins. Don’t rush in — it’s too dangerous,” Yeon Ryang whispered low, his voice unusually grave.
My jaw tightened.
Who sent them? The Yuzhou Merchant Association? Or the Third Consort?
If the Association had deployed assassins, they were genuinely desperate now.
Dang Hwa-yeop had too much pride — she would have come herself rather than send assassins.
If assassins were sent, it would be the Third Consort. Though it could be Dang Ju-yeop.
I furrowed my brow and gripped the Paralytic Poison in my hand. With my life hanging by a thread, there was no reason to hold it back.
“Dang Un. I’m going to spread the poison, so take Ju Ryeong and go.”
“What? Gyeong A, I have no resistance to poison.”
“Ju Ryeong will protect you. Ju Ryeong, absorb it well.”
“Squeak!”
Ju Ryeong chirped eagerly and bounded onto Yeon Ryang’s shoulder, coiling around his neck.
I let the Paralytic Poison drift through the gaps in the broken carriage.
Yeon Ryang, breathing in the poison-laden air, grimaced sharply.
“Ugh. What is that? You carry some dreadful things around, don’t you?”
“It won’t kill you. If you draw on your Inner Energy, it just feels like your intestines are twisting — painful, but that’s all.”
“Ju Ryeong. Do something about this. It’s unpleasant having my Inner Energy scattered like this.”
“Chirp.”
I ignored Yeon Ryang’s grumbling and scattered more powder.
Ju Ryeong’s eyes sparkled at the scent of Flame Powder, but the creature resisted its appetite and stayed close to Yeon Ryang’s side.
With both the Paralytic Poison and the Numbing Poison dispersed together, the effects would set in within moments. Any quick, agile strikes would be difficult for them now.
I selected my Concealed Weapons, hoping the enemies had no poison resistance.
I sensed the assassins tightening the encirclement. Yeon Ryang gripped his blade firmly and asked.
“You’ve learned the Evasion Technique?”
“Yes.”
“When I count to three, we run. One, two… Three!”
At Yeon Ryang’s call, I hurled myself out of the carriage. Concealed Weapons came flying from all sides at once.
They had clearly been waiting for us to bolt.
I rolled across the dirt, weaving past Flying Darts that sliced the air before my eyes.
I wasn’t making a pretty picture, but there was no time to worry about appearances.
I scrambled to my feet and batted away the incoming Concealed Weapons when Yeon Ryang, back-to-back with me, swung his blade and laughed.
“You’re quite skilled at tumbling, Gyeong A.”
“You’re in a joking mood. I’m not.”
I chewed my lip and surveyed the area. The assassins’ movements remained sharp—the Numbing Poison hadn’t taken hold yet.
It should be kicking in by now. Did I use too little? I should have applied more.
I drew sharp breaths and cast my gaze across the chaos. The killing intent pouring toward me kept drying my mouth.
“Don’t rush in. I’ll handle the ones on the left.”
Yeon Ryang’s figure seemed to blur as he spoke, but his blade flashed from the opposite direction.
“Argh!”
The assassin whose arm had been severed rolled across the ground. Yeon Ryang plunged his sword deep into the man’s back with brutal precision.
His expression remained blank, which made my fur bristle—yet I couldn’t fault his actions.
Kill or be killed. Those were the only choices.
Yeon Ryang let his bloodied blade hang loose as his eyes swept for the next target.
His irises gleamed a sickly crimson.
The enemy assassins flinched at his presence. He had overwhelmed them completely.
One hesitant assassin hurled a Concealed Weapon at Yeon Ryang.
No—not good.
Before the thought finished, my body moved on reflex and launched a Flying Blade.
The Concealed Weapon meant for Yeon Ryang’s back spun away from the impact, and the assassin’s gaze snapped toward me.
“Sharp instincts, sister. A bit of refinement and you’d be quite useful.”
Without turning, Yeon Ryang tossed the compliment over his shoulder. Mid-somersault, he slashed open the chest of the assassin who’d thrown the weapon.
Then he drew his Inner Energy upward and swept his blade through the air.
Clang!
Metal rang against metal, sparks scattering.
The assassin parried his blow but stumbled backward, movements jerky with panic.
His Inner Energy wouldn’t gather—he was losing his composure.
I caught sight of the Concealed Weapon that had fallen and immediately hurled a Flying Dart.
In that glimpse, I confirmed it wasn’t Dang Clan equipment.
That meant whoever was behind this hadn’t once walked these halls—whoever wanted me dead was an outsider.
With sword-wielders mixed into their ranks, these assassins definitely weren’t from my Clan.
If a retainer I’d once shared air with had come to kill me, I would have been devastated.
Muttering this to myself, I hurled a Chakram and widened the distance.
The assassin’s evasion was noticeably sluggish now.
The Numbing Poison was working as intended.
Stripped of Inner Energy and leaden with numbness, the assassin fell to Yeon Ryang in an instant.
Yeon Ryang kicked the body over to check it, then drove his blade through the man’s heart with an expressionless face.
I swallowed hard and gripped my Flying Blade tighter.
These assassins had targeted me. I couldn’t afford to stand idle—I had to pull my weight.
But Yeon Ryang turned to me and held up a hand.
“Step back, sister.”
“No, I can—”
“I’ll finish this. Step back. There’s no reason to deliberately burden yourself with unpleasant memories. Using poison is one thing, but using a blade is another entirely. Can you truly bear the weight of piercing flesh? There’s no avoiding bloodshed if you carry enemies in the Martial World—but you’re too young, Gyeong A. You don’t need to grow accustomed to that sensation yet.”
He shook his head and drew near, his large hand settling gently on my trembling shoulder.
With that motion, he seemed to place a barrier between me and the deed—a shield against soiling my hands.
He truly was a good person.
My lips moved soundlessly until I answered him slowly.
“Then I’ll just watch.”
“That’s right.”
Yeon Ryang nodded and ended the final assassin’s breath.
I watched in silence.
* * *
We arrived at the next Village late into the night.
Jeomsoi was startled by our blood-soaked appearance, though he didn’t flee—it seemed this was not uncommon.
“S-sir, I can prepare washing water right away. Would you like me to arrange fresh clothes as well? It’s too late to visit the fabric shop, but I’ll cover the extra cost handsomely.”
“As quickly as possible, if you don’t mind. And fresh clothes—yes. Late as it is, coin isn’t an object.”
“Of course, of course. I’ll see to it at once, Master. And the rooms—”
“Two.”
Jeomsoi bowed and led us toward the guest quarters.
I was so exhausted I could have collapsed onto a bed without another thought, but some lingering sense of propriety kept me from the sheets without bathing first.
I was nodding off in a chair when Ju Ryeong yanked my hair to jolt me awake.
“Young mistress. I’ll have the bath brought up shortly.”

Soon a young servant girl brought bathwater into the room, along with fresh clothes.
I hurried into the tub, eager to wash away the sticky smell of blood as quickly as possible.
The moment I finished bathing and was about to lie down on the bed, Yeon Ryang knocked on the door from outside.
“Sister? Can I come in?”
“Yes, just a moment.”
I threw on my outer robe and opened the door to find Yeon Ryang looking exhausted.
Even for a seasoned Martial Cultivator, cutting down a person was hardly a pleasant sensation. He must have been just as worn out by the day.
Entering the room, he retied his sword as he spoke.
“I’m worried there might be pursuit again. To throw them off, I think it’s best we stay in one room tonight. Sister.”
I nodded in agreement.
“Of course. Then you should sleep on the floor.”
At my response, Yeon Ryang made a show of wiping away tears.
“You’re too much. Here I’ve abandoned my own bed to keep you safe, and you mean to leave your brother on cold stone? There’s a good saying about respecting elders and younger ones alike.”
“You can bring a blanket from the next room. I’ll even give you a pillow.”
“Our sister is truly generous.”
Yeon Ryang chuckled and shrugged. I tossed him the pillow.
Despite his complaint about how unfair it all was, Yeon Ryang lay down obediently on the wooden floor. He didn’t seem inclined to fetch a blanket.
Glancing at him once, I settled onto the bed and pulled the quilt over myself.
Moonlight poured through the small window gap. The room was so filled with its glow that sleep wouldn’t come.
I hadn’t had time to confirm it amid the chaos, but… the coachman was surely dead.
My heart was heavy. If I hadn’t taken him on as a passenger, he would still be alive.
As I shifted restlessly, Yeon Ryang spoke softly, as if to console me.
“It’s not your fault. Don’t carry it with you.”
“…Yes.”
“Now sleep. Tomorrow we’ll need to look for another carriage.”
“We don’t need a carriage. We’ll just walk.”
I mumbled this miserably. I didn’t want to bring harm to anyone else.
Even to my hollow voice, Yeon Ryang replied without concern.
“That’s true. Walking isn’t so bad. We both have sturdy legs, don’t we?”
“Ha, what kind of thing is that to say?”
I laughed weakly and closed my eyes.
His dismissive attitude—small comfort though it was—eased something in me just a little.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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