Surviving as the Sacheon Dang Clan’s Servant - Chapter 93

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

Chapter 93
Screech! Screech-screech!
Metal shrieked against metal as sparks scattered in all directions. The crushing pressure made my teeth clench involuntarily.
In those ashen eyes burned a quiet fury that seemed to pour directly into me.
I shoved Jin Seong back with effort and stumbled away, gasping.
My hand, still gripping the Flying Knife, throbbed with a dull ache. I shook it out and clicked my tongue.
God, if this Flying Knife weren’t steel-threaded, it would’ve been cut clean through. Where does all that strength come from?
While I’d burned through my energy in a single exchange, Jin Seong looked utterly unmoved.
He adjusted his stance with composure and pointed his sword directly at me.
“This is my final appeal. Please come with me.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
It’s not just my head on the line.
I swallowed hard and drew up my Internal Qi. Jin Seong rushed forward, closing the distance as if to cut off my escape.
“Ah! Master, wait just a—”
He’s too fast!
I hurled daggers at him desperately, but Jin Seong didn’t flinch and swept his blade at me.
I threw myself low and thrust my Flying Knife backward, but he sidestepped as easily as brushing away a child’s hand.
Shrick!
The hair tie snapped under the blade’s edge, and my hair tumbled loose in all directions.
In the same instant, the Song Gate High Sword curved inward, driving toward my chest.
Clang!
I crossed both Flying Knives to block his blade with all my strength, but the impact—harder than before—sent a shooting pain up my wrists.
That’s when I understood. This brute strength wasn’t Jin Seong’s alone. He’d infused the blade with my own force and sent it straight back.
I retreated in alarm, stumbling backward.
This was my first true one-on-one duel with a Swordmaster, and it was instantly clear—Jin Seong was no ordinary opponent.
Returning attacks like that? It’s madness.
Is that how Mount Wudang swordwork is taught? There’s no winning a direct confrontation with him.
Jin Seong lowered his sword without a word, staring down at me.
His gaze was cold—as if testing just how far I would resist. His rigid frame cast a threatening shadow.
Should I use the Scattered Poison Technique? But the Military Enforcement Division could arrive any moment, and I might need it later.
If I botched the poison now, I’d only make Jin Seong angrier.
Jin Seong, reading the anxiety on my face, spoke without inflection.
“I’ve taken an Antidote Pill. Poison won’t touch me, so abandon any thought of escape, miss.”
“And you’re so certain I know which poison won’t work on you?”
I fired back dismissively, even as I caught myself grinding my teeth.
The situation was deteriorating. I’d expected as much, but it took only two exchanges to prove I wasn’t his match.
No—I’d lost the moment I gave a Swordmaster distance.
If Jin Seong had come at me like those vagrants and hired killers, relentless and merciless, that ornate blade would have already pierced my heart.
The only mercy was that Jin Seong didn’t intend to kill me.
No murderous intent radiated from his sword. He meant to subdue me without drawing blood.
Quite the confidence. Infuriating, really.
I bared my fangs in a thin, bitter smile.
“It’s an honor to witness the famous Mount Wudang swordwork, I suppose—though isn’t this a bit much? Going easy on me?”
“You asked me not to threaten you.”
“What?”
“Since the circumstances don’t clearly establish your guilt, I’m honoring that request.”
I blinked at the unexpected answer.
……So beneath that stony exterior lies some flexibility. Not that there’s much point saying so with a sword in his hand.
But things were too precarious for me to bow and thank him.
“Honoring my request? You’re threatening me plenty enough as it is!”
I shouted and spun the Jade Bracelet on my wrist. As Jin Seong sidestepped the incoming Poison Needles, I tore open a Poison Powder pouch and somersaulted backward.
Blue poison dust scattered in all directions, thick and choking.
“You—Miss!”
I ignored the grinding of his teeth and bolted toward Yeon Ryang.
Two of the Third Generation Disciples were sprawled on the ground, while the third was barely upright, legs trembling beneath him.
From how Yeon Ryang, without drawing on even a shred of Internal Qi, had overwhelmed all three, it seemed the Third Generation Disciples weren’t nearly as skilled as Jin Seong.
I hurled Poison Pellets at them and grabbed Yeon Ryang. He came without resistance, his brow slick with sweat.
“Are you hurt?”
“Just barely.”
A quick check showed nothing worse than a scrape on his arm—no serious wounds.
I’ll go.”
The moment I tried to slip away in relief, Jin Seong came tearing through the poison fog and swung his blade.
The man with a face as cold as ice held a black orb between his teeth. A Poison Antidote Orb.
Well-prepared indeed. Damn it, I wasted all that poison for nothing.
Clang!
It was Yeon Ryang who blocked the blade that tore through the air. But his old, worn sword without Internal Qi infused into it couldn’t withstand the Song Gate High Sword’s durability.
The dull blade snapped in two and clattered to the ground. Then the sword, having shifted its trajectory with frightening speed, came flying at Yeon Ryang’s throat.
I lunged forward desperately to block his path and drew my own sword from my waist, meeting Jin Seong’s blade.
“Ugh!”
The relentless weight bearing down on me forced a cry from my lips. When Jin Seong’s eyes met mine, they burned with killing intent.
“Young lady. There will be no further mercy.”
In that instant, Yeon Ryang drove his foot hard into Jin Seong’s abdomen.
Boom!
Caught off guard, Jin Seong tumbled across the ground and skidded backward. His martial robe became filthy with dirt and grime.
Yet Jin Seong didn’t even whimper. He sprang to his feet and came charging toward us. I hurled my sword to Yeon Ryang.
“Catch it!”
“Our little sister—your speech is growing shorter by the day,” he said.
Chuckling, Yeon Ryang caught the blade and took his stance. I slipped a Flying Knife between my fingers and whispered.
“Remember what I said? I’ll make an opening for you right now, so go. You have to leave before reinforcements arrive. Don’t dawdle.”
Then I drew in a deep breath, preparing to release the Flying Knife.
I just need to get Yeon Ryang away. If I send him to safety and surrender, we can both survive this.
Based on Jin Seong’s character, if I yield without resistance, he’d only strike my Pressure Points—nothing more severe.
If I hand over all my weapons, they won’t treat me too roughly.
With that thought, the moment I channeled Internal Qi into the Flying Knife, I felt a tremendous force bearing down from behind.
There was no time to think. The shadow of an enormous saber fell upon the ground with a heavy strike.
Every hair on my body stood on end as if screaming.
My mind went white, and my heart pounded so violently I thought it would burst from my chest.
“Yeon Ryang!”
Fresh blood sprayed in all directions with a sound that cut through the air. The surroundings turned crimson, and hot drops spattered across my face.
“Huff…. Dammit, ugh, it hurts like hell.”
Yeon Ryang clutched his shoulder and sank to his knees, collapsing.
Blood poured endlessly from the deep gash that tore across his back.
I stared at the Martial Artist standing behind Yeon Ryang with a pale, drained face.
A woman bearing a massive saber across her shoulders looked down at me with emotionless eyes, then turned her gaze to Jin Seong.
“Jin Seong. It’s been a while.”
The Martial Alliance’s Military Enforcement Division had arrived.
* * *
I pulled Yeon Ryang close, my whole body trembling. The sharp stench of blood blurred my vision. I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve, struggling to stay composed.
What do I do first? Stop the bleeding? Disinfect? No—I need to ease the pain first. Do I have a Pain Relief Pill?
My breathing quickened and my stomach churned. As I clutched Yeon Ryang and gasped, Jin Seong approached carefully.
“Um, young lady….”
But he seemed to have nothing to say and pressed his lips shut again.
I glared at him with bloodshot eyes, and he swallowed hard. It was clear Jin Seong hadn’t wanted this situation either.
“Wait. Did I make a mistake? You said your Third Generation Disciples were in a hurry, so I thought you were chasing some wanderer who escaped from Thunder Prison.”
“Our subordinates became overzealous during the investigation. It is my fault for not explaining the circumstances to you sooner. Please, think nothing of it.”
Jin Seong retrieved something from his robes, carefully set it before me, and stepped back.
It was Golden Wound Medicine.
I was speechless.
They butchered him like this and now they’re tossing a bottle of medicine at me? These lunatics, really…!
“Sohye.”
My lips trembled violently, and Yeon Ryang called out to me softly.
“Sohye. It’s all right. Calm yourself. Nothing’s been exposed.”
Yeon Ryang patted the back of my hand and blinked reassuringly.
This man’s back is shredded, his bone is showing, and he’s saying everything’s all right? And he’s so compliant with his words for no reason…!
My anger bubbled over, but looking at the fool pretending to be fine calmed me down.
I snatched the Golden Wound Medicine that Jin Seong had set down and shoved it into my robes.
There was no time to waste. I had to get Yeon Ryang out of here immediately and treat him.
But how?
Unlike Jin Seong, who watched my expression carefully, the Martial Alliance’s fighters surrounded us with menacing faces, their blades drawn.
“I see. In any case, she’s a person of investigation, right? Something related to Demonic Change? Given all the Poison Powder flying around, it seems the Dang Clan lady here put up quite a fight. Suspicious enough—let’s bring her to the Alliance for now.”
The Martial Artist known as Peng Clan Lord spoke, his expression troubled.
His golden gaze swept across Yeon Ryang and me, fierce as a tiger’s.
……Peng Clan Lord? Tiger? He must be from the Peng Clan.
In that instant, clarity crashed through my mind like lightning. I grabbed the hem of Yeon Ryang’s robe and urged Ju Ryeong on with growing urgency.
“Ju Ryeong. Where is it?”
“Chirp?”
“That thing. Your pillow.”
At that, Ju Ryeong darted behind a nearby tree and crouched low.
The sound of frantic scratching echoed for a moment, then the creature emerged with matted fur, clamping the Jade Token firmly between its teeth.
“Good work, Ju Ryeong.”
“Squeak.”
“Is that marten from the Dang Clan too? Where did you find it?”
At someone’s murmured question, Ju Ryeong straightened with pride, chin held high.
Gripping the Jade Token in my hand, I looked up at Peng Clan Lord. If he was a Martial Artist of the Peng Clan, he would help me. No—he had to.
“Peng Clan Lord.”
At my call, he turned to face me with a questioning look, though his expression made it clear he found the conversation tiresome.
I drew a deep breath and held up the Jade Token, the tiger emblem gleaming in the light. Peng Clan Lord’s eyes narrowed as he recognized it.
I met his gaze directly and spoke.
“This is a Debt of Gratitude Token I received from the Fierce Tiger Swordmaster Peng Lak. I ask that you send myself and my companions on our way without further questions.”
Then I tossed the token toward him.

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