Misunderstanding

Poison powder piled up on my head as if snow had fallen.

With my body gradually going numb, Tang So-wol sending a worried, tearful gaze toward me from afar, and the thick killing intent encroaching around me, I realized.

This. To anyone else, this would look like a perfect Qi Deviation.

So, I opened my mouth to reassure Tang So-wol.

"Ah…!"

It's a misunderstanding. This isn't Qi Deviation, it's a side effect of my martial art, so it'll settle down on its own after a little while.

That was what I intended to say. But my body had stiffened from the absurdly potent paralysis poison, and I could only manage that one word.

In the end, I stopped in an awkward pose—one hand holding a lowered sword, the other stretched out toward Tang So-wol.

If I had neglected my lower-body training even a little, I would have fallen flat on my face.

As I let out a deep sigh inwardly, Tang So-wol began stomping her feet in a panic.

"Ah, what do we do?! Young hero Cheon has fallen into Qi Deviation…"

"Calm yourself, young miss. It's true that the young hero has fallen into Qi Deviation, but I don't think it's at a serious level."

"Not serious?! You can say that even after seeing that thick killing intent, Vice-Captain?! This isn't just some Aura—it's killing intent, killing intent! He's practically dripping with the will to kill someone, and you think he's in his right mind?!"

That's too much. Though I do understand what she means. After all, this killing intent stems from the Qi Deviation I failed to overcome and swallowed whole, so it's not entirely wrong.

Still, hurt is hurt. And what's this about me not being in my right mind?

My silent grumbling lasted only a moment. This time, Gwiyeong Sin-tu spoke up in a thoroughly exhausted voice, siding with the Vice-Captain of the Poison Blood Squad.

"The escort is right. Whatever trials that young one went through to be radiating such vicious killing intent, it's not too late. Do you remember what I was about to say at the end?"

"…You were going to say, 'Don't come closer.'"

"Correct. And instead of a sword, he raised an empty hand. As if to hold us back. Even swept up in killing intent like that, there must be something precious he can't forget."

"Ah…!"

Tang So-wol's eyes flew wide open as if something surged up within her. But even if she wore such a moved expression, it would only be a mistake.

This hand wasn't a signal to stay away—it was a signal to stop spraying poison.

I had Blood Poison Wine in my mouth and was circulating my internal energy with all my might, yet it still managed to pierce through all of that and paralyze me. Just how strong was the poison she was using…?

I could only let out a deep sigh inwardly. Whether she judged that this was enough or had exhausted all the poison stored within her, the Soul-Chasing Flying Butterfly no longer sprayed any more poison.

Tang So-wol retrieved it and began walking slowly toward me with a wistful expression.

Her face turned pale from the killing intent that flowed out indiscriminately along the way, but she didn't give up—she kept approaching step by step, steadfastly, which stirred a strange sense of admiration.

Even though she was only suffering needlessly…

I had long since sunk my mental image back into its original depths. The killing intent I was releasing now was merely an echo of emotion.

It was similar to shouting out loud when feeling frustrated. It might be noisy for the moment, but after a little time passed, it would feel refreshing and comfortable.

After releasing killing intent for a while, I would calm down, yet Tang So-wol pushed through it anyway.

Tang So-wol gently caressed my face with careful hands.

"It's alright, young hero Cheon. I will definitely return you to your original state."

"…"

"Even if it takes years, I will do it."

"…"

Having said that, Tang So-wol gently embraced me, who gave no answer.

The lingering traces of battle still remained, and with my senses sharpened to the utmost, Tang So-wol's touch was added to them.

A soft sensation felt between the generous folds of her garments. With the unique scent of her body that rushed in and the warmth that reached me belatedly, the sharp, blade-like Aura began to soften.

…Right. If my hell was created by losing Seol Ri-hyang and Seomun Hwa-rin.

It was none other than Tang So-wol who pulled me out of that hell. It was only natural that things would turn out this way.

My emotions settled faster than I had expected. Whether she knew it or not, Tang So-wol buried her head against the nape of my neck and whispered softly.

"I told you before, didn't I? That you, young hero, are like a sword without a sheath, always keeping your edge sharp. There's something I couldn't say back then, and I'll say it now."

Tang So-wol's hair tickled my face. Her faint breath brushed past my ear as she continued.

"I will become your sheath, young hero. I will become the place you return to. …So for now, rest comfortably in my arms."

Then Tang So-wol slowly pulled away from me. As if about to administer acupuncture, she began concentrating internal energy into her raised fingers.

Even so, I continued neutralizing the poison all the while.

The melting killing intent grew thicker, and the internal energy of the Crazy Wolf Life-Stealing Art, strengthened accordingly, was able to effectively burn away the poison energy within my body.

The top-grade Blood Poison Wine hidden under my tongue was, even at this very moment, ceaselessly absorbing the poison.

Combined with my ability to manage internal energy, even if Tang So-wol was handling poison strengthened by the purple poison-nurturing herb, I could at least move, albeit stiffly.

It wasn't as if I had truly fallen into Qi Deviation and my internal energy had slipped beyond my control to run rampant.

I bent the arm I had stretched out with desperate intent.

Thump.

"…Huh?"

It was only one arm, but it was a gesture of embracing from my side. Flustered by the unexpected movement, Tang So-wol faltered, and I pulled her into a tighter embrace.

"Qi, Qi Deviation… No."

"Ah, euk, hyaaht?!"

I urged on Tang So-wol, who was hiccuping with strange sounds.

"The an—, the antidote."

"Y-yes."

With a bewildered expression, Tang So-wol withdrew the paralysis poison she had injected into me. The remaining poison was cleanly sucked back into her.

Now I felt like I could live.

"Hoo."

"Eek!"

I let out a sigh of relief, and Tang So-wol, who was trembling for some reason, asked with her eyes spinning as if she was still out of sorts.

"Um, young hero Cheon? Would you mind explaining what exactly happened here…?"

"What happened, you ask? I was never in a state of Qi Deviation to begin with."

"What?"

"Killing intent is a side effect that follows my martial art. I pushed myself a bit too hard this time, so the killing intent did run rampant, but it was all under control."

"Th-then, what I just did was…"

"Hmm. I can only say thank you for worrying about me."

"…"

Realizing her own misunderstanding, Tang So-wol's face flushed red. I chuckled at the sight of her.

"Didn't you say you'd become my scabbard?"

"Eek!"

Embarrassed, she pounded my back with a clenched fist. She kept trying to pull away, so I tightened my arm and drew her closer to me.

"Why do you keep trying to go somewhere? Didn't you say you'd be the place I return to?"

"F-forget it! Please just forget it!"

"No. How could I forget the sight of my fiancée approaching me with such a determined look, telling me to rest comfortably in her arms?"

"Kyaaaaaah!"

Tang So-wol let out a sound that was almost a scream. I grinned at the sight of her trembling with shame.

"Indeed. So this is the expression you make when I fall into Qi Deviation, Tang So-wol. No matter what happens, I must never let myself be swallowed by killing intent."

"Y-you told me to do it! And I wasn't the only one who misunderstood. The vice-captain and Elder Gwiyeong Sin-tu also…!"

"Right, right. Those two must have been confused too. But neither of them went mad and pushed through raging killing intent just to embrace me like you did."

"…Eek! Eeek!"

Was it because I teased her too much? Tang So-wol let out sounds that carried a bit of anger mixed into her simple shame.

No, she wasn't just making sounds. She began to nibble on my neck, where her face was half-buried.

She didn't draw blood, but it was enough to sting slightly as she gnawed.

I let out a dry laugh and patted her back lightly.

"Stop leaving bite marks and get off now. If the battle is over, we should finish things up."

"…I won't forget this, young hero. Someday I'll get my revenge."

"Oh dear. The Tang Clan's revenge is a frightening thing. But have you forgotten that I'm a part of the Tang Clan now? I won't forget the grudge of having paralysis poison sprayed on the head of a perfectly sane person. I'll remember it for the rest of my life and bring it up whenever I'm feeling down, just to laugh."

"Couldn't you just let me win once?! For all I look, I'm five years older than you, young hero!"

"If you did that, there'd be no reason for me to hold you like this. …Besides, it was a misunderstanding, but the way you stepped forward for me was rather impressive."

"Eep!"

Tang So-wol swallowed a breath. It's hard to look away from her face flushing for a different reason than before.

But one cannot stay clinging like this forever.

After the killing intent he had been emitting vanished, the Vice-Captain of the Poison Blood Squad had already approached right to his side.

She seemed to wear her usual calm expression, but the corners of her lips were faintly raised in a look that sat somewhere between relief and contentment as she spoke.

"I'm glad you're safe. While you rest with the young lady, I will finish searching the corpses."

"I'd appreciate that. Are you hurt anywhere, Vice-Captain?"

"I used up most of the poison I brought, but I have no injuries to speak of. Thank you for your concern, young hero."

The Vice-Captain bowed her head and moved away to search the assassins' corpses. As if unable to meet her gaze, Tang So-wol kept her head deeply lowered, and I tapped the back of her head lightly with my fingertips as I asked.

"Didn't I tell you to rest? You're actually tired, so sit down first."

"…"

Tang So-wol nodded silently and lowered herself to the ground. This time, I let her go without grabbing her, then returned the sword I had been holding in one hand to its sheath.

As she plopped down on the floor, I could see Gwiyeong Sin-tu lying flat on his back a short distance away.

He was stained with blood here and there, but he didn't seem to have any wounds of his own, so he should be fine. Still, he had been severely drained of energy, so it was true that I was worried.

I took out a bundle of dried meat I had portioned out from my bosom and tossed it toward Gwiyeong Sin-tu.

Whish— thud.

He caught it with an outstretched hand while still lying down, looked at me for a moment, then gave a slight nod.

I nodded back in return and turned my gaze away. Then I stared at Tang So-wol, who was sitting beside me, letting out heavy sighs one after another.

"I've been moving around so much, I'm hungry."

"…Would you care for some of my dried meat?"

"If you're offering, I'll gladly take it."

Tang So-wol pulled out a bundle of dried meat she had portioned out to eat as a snack. After setting aside the Vice-Captain of the Poison Blood Squad's share, she spoke while they each took a piece.

"We've put out the immediate fire, but things are taking a strange turn."

"Yes. It would be fortunate if it ended here, but Assassin Valley is not such an easy opponent."

"I've heard that even for them, Slaughter Ghost-class fighters are valuable assets."

"That's precisely why they'll cling on all the more desperately. Losing five Slaughter Ghosts and failing the request is completely different from investing five Slaughter Ghosts and succeeding in it, after all."

"If we're unlucky, the Slaughter King himself might step forward."

"The Assassin Valley prides itself on always completing its requests, after all."

And the pills those Slaughter Ghosts had swallowed at the end were definitely the Mapokdan, the Demonic Cult's secret art.

Perhaps they weren't simply acting on a request from the Demonic Cult.

Come to think of it, a few months before the Demonic Cult's invasion, there was an incident where renowned masters of the Murim Alliance were assassinated by the Slaughter King's hand.

It finally came to an end when the last victim cut off the Slaughter King's head in a mutual-destruction move, but it was such a sensational affair that even rumors of it reached Guangdong Province, far away.

Back then, I'd simply thought the Slaughter King had died after taking on an unreasonable request…

But perhaps the one who had commissioned the job was the Demonic Cult. Or maybe the Assassin Valley had gone under the Demonic Cult's wing entirely.

Either way, the situation wasn't good. Still, the fact that I knew about it and had a chance to spread the word was a stroke of luck.

Before the regression, I'd gone in blind, taken hits one-sidedly, and ended up in that state… but not anymore.

Gwiyeong Sin-tu could testify, and the Slaughter Ghost I'd just taken down was proof in itself.

"It's going to get busy from here on out."

"Yes. We'll have to hurry before the next pursuit catches up."

I'd said it with a different meaning in mind, but Tang So-wol's words were right too. If I had assassins tailing me wherever I went, I'd never get proper rest and would slowly fall apart.

And if I was unlucky, I'd end up adding to the Assassin Valley's infamous reputation.

After a moment of thought, I opened my mouth.

"…As planned, we head to the Zhongnan Sect."

It was the closest place around here, the only one that could protect us from the Assassin Valley, and the only one likely to help.