Absolute Warrior V2C10: The Association
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TL: FoodieMonster007 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
The next morning, the instant Giyeong kicked open the door to his office, Jongri Mun understood that things had gone horribly wrong.
"……" Despite his hurried entrance, Giyeong's voice failed him, his face a canvas of shock, anger, and a deep, gnawing regret.
Jongri Mun hazarded a guess, "Don't tell me… was the Ironblood Commander killed?"
Giyeong nodded. "…Yes."
Jongri Mun closed his eyes tightly. The bad news hit him like a thunderbolt, but at least it wasn't a bolt from the blue. They were already aware of the storm that was Crimson Tiger looming over them.
Nevertheless, they hadn't done anything to protect the Ironblood Commander. Instead, they had basically left him standing atop a mountain in the heart of the storm, holding a lightning rod at that.
Jongri Mun sank into his usual seat. "You told me that you were confident you could protect him."
Giyeong bowed his head. Of course, he had been confident. He had fully believed that Smiley and Snakeflower would be more than enough to ambush and kill a fully exposed and unsuspecting tiger.
"What about the Evils you sent? Dead?"
"Probably. We've lost contact with both of them."
"Fuck…!"
Sighing, Jongri Mun leaned back in his chair. This sucks… but what's done is done. Getting angry won't change anything.
"Sit down and give me a full report," he said after some thought.
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"Early this morning, we discovered Cheol Mugang's corpse in his office."
"What happened to the First Squad members guarding him? Did Crimson Tiger kill them all too?"
"No. For some reason, they vacated their posts last night."
"What? Why?"
"We're still investigating that."
Jongri Mun sighed. He already knew how this would play out—the elite martial artists directly under the Evil Coalition Leader would conduct their own investigation, and given the gravity of the situation, another bloodbath was likely to ensue.
His eyes flashed discreetly. "Erase all evidence that the Ten Evils infiltrated the Ironblood Nines," he commanded.
"There was never any evidence to begin with," Giyeong replied.
Jongri Mun nodded. The whole reason they were able to carry out this operation without the Ironblood Commander's knowledge was because the Evils had infiltrated in secret. Still, there was no harm in being cautious.
"The two Evils must die as martial artists of the Ironblood Nines," he added firmly.
"Don't worry," Giyeong reassured.
If this matter came to light, neither of them would be able to escape blame. Originally, the Coalition Leader might have been sympathetic to the fact that they had refrained from eliminating Crimson Tiger immediately to reveal the purpose behind his infiltration, but that didn't mean anything if Ironblood Commander was already dead.
"Head Strategist, the Coalition Leader is requesting your presence urgently," Jongri Mun's subordinate reported from outside the office.
"Understood," Jongri Mun acknowledged.
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Moments later, Giyeong's own subordinate arrived as well. "Sir, the Coalition Leader has summoned you," he called out.
"Got it, and you're dismissed," Giyeong said.
The two men looked at each other. The entire Evil Coalition was now on high alert, leaving them without much time to act.
"The higher-ups will call for a blockade to capture the assassin. The Seven Ghost Corps will be the first to move, followed by the Soul Chasing Squad and finally the Iron Wall Brigade," Jongri Mun said quietly.
"Of course."
"However, the Ten Evils must absolutely not be mobilized. If they are, Crimson Tiger won't be able to escape, and we cannot let him be caught."
Since only they could command the Ten Evils, if Crimson Tiger was captured and interrogated, their involvement would definitely be exposed.
Giyeong nodded. "Understood. I'll find an excuse to delay their deployment as long as possible."
Jongri Mun let out a heavy sigh. Fate works in strange ways, huh?
In the end, just like two years ago, he was saving Crimson Tiger's life once again.
Giyeong sighed as well. "This entire disaster is my responsibility," he admitted dejectedly.
He had severely underestimated Crimson Tiger. Instead of two, he should have sent four, five… no, all of the Ten Evils.
Damn it! If only I hadn't let my pride get in the way!
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If the Association had the Twelve Phantoms, then the Coalition had the Ten Evils. He had wanted to prove that two ordinary Evils were enough to take down the strongest Phantom… but that was a mistake. He should have at least forced Slayer and Wraith to abandon their current missions and join in.
Jongri Mun watched as Giyeong ground his teeth in chagrin. "Giyeong, do you know what's even more foolish than making a mistake?" he suddenly remarked.
Giyeong blinked in confusion. "What is it?"
"Regretting a mistake you've already made," Jongri Mun replied, his eyes gleaming. "So let's clean up this mess… and then strike back at our enemies!"
Crimson Tiger's ragged breathing echoed through the forest as Soeun and Yeon watched from above, perched on a tree and hidden among the branches. Their position was perfect, completely concealed from below. It was a vantage point secured by Yeon, a master of stealth, but even if it hadn't been, no one below would have thought to look up.
No, the surviving pursuers had their eyes locked on one person, and one person alone. Anyone who had dared even glance skyward was already dead.
"Huff… huff… huff…" Crimson Tiger, bent halfway over, panted heavily.
The two women in the tree tensed with worry. The number of corpses scattered around was staggering, and blood flowed like a river across the ground.
Even though Crimson Tiger stood defenseless, gasping for breath, the Seven Ghost Corps warriors surrounding him dared not rush in recklessly. The previous six, who had charged toward him thinking they had found an opening, were already among the dead.
Despite the fear that gripped them, though, none of them retreated. They had never been taught to retreat.
"Attack!" the commander shouted.
Swords swooped down on Crimson Tiger from all directions.
SWISH! SWOOSH! WHOOSH!
Dozens of shining blades flashed in front of Soeun's eyes. Crimson Tiger's swordsmanship took such extreme risks that she could hardly bear to watch, yet it was so mesmerizing that she couldn't look away.
SPLURT!
Immediately after slicing the throat of an enemy charging from the front, Crimson Tiger stepped on the dying man's shoulder and soared into the air.
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SPLATTER!
Blood gushed from the chests and necks of the two men attacking from his rear.
SWISH! SWISH!
Still in the air, Crimson Tiger arched backward, narrowly dodging two swords as they skimmed past his face.
SPLAT! CRACK!
Two severed arms, still clutching their swords, spun through the air. Before landing, Crimson Tiger had already neatly sliced off the arms of the two martial artists who had attacked him.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Throwing knives flew from his hand. Of the last three men to charge forward, two collapsed midstride, their bodies bending backward from the impact as they fell.
SSSSHT! THUNK!
The last man was pinned to a tree by Crimson Tiger's sword.
"Huff… huff!" Crimson Tiger's labored breathing rang out. His legs gave way and he collapsed to the ground. His qi was completely drained, and he could barely lift a finger.
Throughout his entire escape, he had never once used the Asura's Eight Narakas. Although the technique was tremendously powerful, it consumed qi at an unreasonable rate. Instead, he had relied on the same practical swordsmanship he had used on countless previous missions.
Still, despite his best efforts to conserve his qi, there had simply been too many foes pursuing him.
"Huff… huff!"
His ragged breathing showed no signs of calming, and sleep threatened to overtake him. If he closed his eyes now, he would pass out immediately.
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Even as the sound of his own breathing grew louder in his ears, Crimson Tiger fought to stay awake, but with each ragged breath, he found his mind being pulled back to that day long ago.
"Huff… huff!"
The higher up the mountain I climbed, the fiercer the blizzard became. The frigid wind seeped into my lungs, making even breathing painful, and every step felt unbearably heavy.
I glanced down at Seohyeon, nestled in my arms, and hugged her even tighter. Although she was still swaddled in blankets like a baby, in truth, she was already three years old.
I hoped she wasn't feeling too cold. I continuously channeled inner qi into her to keep her warm, but my own body was paying the price for it. My legs quivered uncontrollably, and I felt I could collapse at any moment.
Had I been alone, I might not have endured. Because Seohyeon was here, though, I couldn't stop.
WHOOOOSH…
The snowstorm was so fierce that I could barely open my eyes. I turned back for a moment, shielding my face from the biting wind, but the mountains below stretched endlessly into the abyss.
"Hyeon, just hold on a little longer," I whispered, but the child was sound asleep.
When the wind subsided slightly, I faced forward again. One step at a time, I continued climbing.
There was a thought that always sustained me in moments like this.
I can endure pain, but what I can't endure is the consequences of failing to endure.
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I repeated those words over and over as I pressed on, until at last, when the merciless snowfall finally ceased, I reached my destination—a small hut near the mountain's peak.
I knocked weakly on the door. "Is anyone there?"
The door creaked open, and an old man appeared. He was gaunt, his head covered in white hair, and his gaze was ice-cold. "Who are you?" he demanded.
"Are you Senior Sagong?"
"I don't know about your Senior Sagong, but my name is Sagong Hu."1
"May I come in for a moment?"
"……" Sagong Hu nodded reluctantly after looking at the child in my arms, although his expression clearly indicated that if I had come alone, the answer would have been a definite no.
"Thank you," I said sincerely, following him inside. Perhaps because of the intense cold outside, the hut's interior felt incredibly warm, and I relaxed slightly.
Sagong Hu threw a log into the fireplace. "Lay the child down over there," he said, pointing to his bed.
"Thank you." I carefully placed Seohyeon onto the bedding. As always, she wore a peaceful smile as she slept.
Sagong Hu studied her briefly. "This child looks exhausted. When was the last time she ate anything?"
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"I fed her before we left the village below."
"And that's all she's had until now?"
"Yes."
"You fool! Do you think children are like adults? Dragging her up a mountain in this weather!"
Sagong Hu began busying himself preparing food while I watched in a daze. After cooking some porridge, he gently woke Seohyeon and fed her. Still half-asleep, she rubbed her eyes but obediently ate. She had clearly been starving.
As she chewed, Seohyeon looked up at him and smiled, and Sagong Hu smiled back softly.
Finally, after finishing her meal, she drifted back to sleep.
Would I normally just stand by while a grumpy old hermit living at the peak of a snowy mountain fed Seohyeon with the porridge he'd made? Not a chance. That wasn't who I was. Nevertheless, I remained silent for one reason—Sagong Hu was the Medicine Immortal, the greatest physician of our time.
"Could it be…?" Sagong Hu murmured, placing a hand on Seohyeon's forehead, then gently holding her wrist to check her pulse. His expression quickly darkened. "…When did you notice?"
"Just after her first birthday."
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Sagong Hu shook his head. "As you've probably been told, this disease is incurable."
"That's why I came to you, Senior. I've carried my child thousands of miles to find you."
For the past two years, I had traveled across the Central Plains, visiting every renowned physician, but they had all shaken their heads helplessly.
Still, I hadn't given up. No, I couldn't give up. The moment I gave up on her, I would be giving up on my own life.
Throughout my desperate search, there was one name I heard more often than any other. Everyone said the same thing—if anyone could save her, it would be the Medicine Immortal, Sagong Hu.
However, they had also warned me that Sagong Hu no longer practiced medicine.
True to their warnings, Sagong Hu shook his head, making no move to treat Seohyeon.
"Please, save her," I pleaded.
"It's difficult."
For the first time, the word I heard wasn't 'impossible', just 'difficult'. To everyone else, it had been impossible, but to him, it was merely difficult.
"I will do anything you ask. If you want my life, I'll give it to you."
"It's still difficult."
"If there's someone you want dead, I'll kill them for you. Just say the word!"
"If you're going to talk nonsense, then leave at once!" Sagong Hu snapped, standing up to drive me out.
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SHING!
I dropped to my knees, drew my sword, and pressed it against my own neck. "If you save my child, I'll die right here as payment for the sin of disturbing your peace. If you refuse, I'll kill her first and then myself…"
SMACK!
Sagong Hu lunged forward and slapped me across the face. I didn't dodge.
"Are you going to burden your daughter with the pain of being killed by her own father? Never say those words again!" he bellowed furiously.
I bowed my head. "…I'm sorry."
"Leave at once. I'm no longer the Medicine Immortal. I do not heal people anymore."
I rose to my feet, placed the bundle I'd carried on my back onto the table, and said, "Open it."
Frowning, Sagong Hu unwrapped the bundle. "What's this… Gasp!" Seeing the decapitated head inside, he inhaled sharply and stepped back in rage, roaring, "What is the meaning of this?!"
I replied calmly, "Look closely."
"What?" Sagong Hu inspected the head carefully, then jolted in shock. "Could it be…?"
His expression shifted rapidly—joy, elation, sorrow, and anguish surged all at once. Finally, tears welled in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks.
"H-How… did you know?" he whispered in disbelief.
The head belonged to a high-ranking master of the Evil Coalition, and the man who had murdered Sagong Hu's family.
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It had happened in Sagong Hu's youth. Lacking martial talent, he'd failed to exact revenge himself, so he dedicated himself instead to medicine, saving countless lives, all for the sake of revenge. However, by the time he became the Medicine Immortal, his enemy had vanished. No matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find him.
From that day forward, Sagong Hu abandoned medicine. Using medicine to pursue revenge had already burdened him heavily with guilt, and failing even in revenge had robbed him of the will to live.
Today, though, that vengeance had finally been fulfilled.
Sagong Hu remained silent a long time, before asking, "…Did you kill him yourself?"
I nodded. Although it was my master who had scoured the Central Plains to locate him, I was the one who had finished him off.
Sagong Hu studied me carefully. "You're injured."
He was right, of course. My body was a complete mess, but…
"It doesn't matter," I replied stoically.
Sighing deeply, Sagong Hu took out a small pill from a cabinet and held it out to me. "Take this first. I'd prefer you have a clear mind before we discuss further."
"Then I won't refuse." I swallowed the pill and steadied myself. As energy circulated through my body, warmth returned to my face, and my mind grew sharper.
Only then did Sagong Hu continue, "There's only one way to save your daughter."
"What is it?"
"I can spend a hundred days using the Great Meridian Displacement Art and the Celestial Reversal Needle Art to unblock her clogged meridians, but she must be at least ten years old to endure the treatment. Right now, she might not survive even a few more months."
"……" My heart sank and tears welled up in my eyes at the mention of what little time Seohyeon had left.
"…But I'll try. I'll do everything I can to keep her alive until she reaches the age of ten," Sagong Hu added.
A sliver of hope reignited in my heart. "Thank you. Truly, thank you…"
However, Sagong Hu shook his head gravely. "It's too early to celebrate. The real problem starts now."
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"What problem?"
"First, it'll cost an enormous amount of money. I'll have to use miracle herbs to forcibly slow the disease's progression."
"I'll do whatever it takes…"
"Shut up!" Sagong Hu snapped again. "If you obtain money through dirty means, I'll never treat her, even if you avenged me. You can threaten me all you want, but I won't change my mind."
"……" I could tell. Sagong Hu meant every word he'd said.
He continued, "If this child is to be saved, we'll need heaven's favor. If you commit even a single evil act, heaven will turn its back on you."
I nodded. "I understand. I'll earn money only by punishing evil."
Sagong Hu extended his hand and pulled me to my feet. "Please trust that I'll do my very best, but whether she can endure until then… I really don't know."
"My Hyeon is strong. She'll endure." I glanced at Seohyeon. She spent most of her days sleeping, and I was grateful for every moment she woke up and recognized me. I bowed deeply. "Then, I leave her in your care."
"Where are you going?"
Without looking back, I answered, "I'm starting now."
When I opened the door, the cold wind rushed inside, and for a brief moment, Seohyeon's eyes fluttered open.
"Daddy! Daddy!" she called out.
I did not turn back. If I saw her face, I felt that I wouldn't have the strength to walk away, to leave her behind.
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Outside, the blizzard raged once more, and I stepped forward into it.
This was the first step of my new life.
Just wait a little longer. I will save you, no matter what!
"Haa… haa!" With a jolt, Crimson Tiger snapped back to reality, crossing seven years of time.
It's okay. Seohyeon has endured well until now, and besides the Medicine Immortal, Master is looking after her as well.
That was the only reason he had managed to focus on missions for so long without succumbing to anxiety and longing.
In the past seven years, he had only seen Seohyeon twice. He had deliberately stayed away from her, afraid that someone might discover her existence. The last time he visited her was two years ago, after completing a mission. He had barely survived and had desperately wanted to see her, but… damn it! That single meeting had been enough to leave a trail.
Even though I was always so careful…!
Regardless, seven years had passed, and this winter, the most crucial procedure would finally be performed.
Just a little longer, just a little longer, and it'll all be over!
Thus far, Seohyeon had endured the grueling treatments. That frail little girl, with her delicate body, had suffered immense pain for so, so long… Compared to that, his own hardships meant nothing.
She will survive. No matter what, she will survive. Because she's my daughter!
Crimson Tiger forced his heavy eyelids open, gritting his teeth in determination.
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On the treetops, Soeun flinched without realizing it. She wanted to go down and help Crimson Tiger, to embrace his exhausted shoulders and ask if he was okay, but Yeon quietly held her back, signaling her to remain still.
Soeun sighed inwardly. At the beginning, escaping the Evil Coalition had been simple. Up until a certain point, they were still martial artists of the Ironblood Nines. The real struggle only begun some time after they left the Evil Coalition Headquarters.
She hadn't known how harsh and dangerous their path would be when they first started their journey. They were only a day's distance from Association territory now, yet their pursuers were still hot on their heels. The enemies just kept appearing one after another, like a neverending swarm of bees!
Until now, Soeun had believed that surrounding an enemy merely meant piling many people into a siege, but she was mistaken. The Evil Coalition's idea of an inescapable blockade was terrifyingly precise and calculated.
Once spotted by an enemy, they would encounter five different groups within an hour. The Coalition's pursuers had a perfect communication network, were relentless in their pursuit, and did not know the meaning of retreat. Even with the skills needed to join the Ironblood Nines, she would never have lasted half a day on her own.
Despite this, Crimson Tiger fought wave after wave of enemies without a single moment of rest. Even when it seemed like he no longer had the strength to raise his sword, he somehow drew more energy from nowhere.
At first, she had assumed that Crimson Tiger simply possessed incredible physical prowess, but while that might have been true at the outset, it wasn't anymore. Now, he was persevering through sheer willpower.
This was no longer simply about martial arts, it was a live demonstration of the strength of the human spirit.
Besides, Crimson Tiger wasn't the only extraordinary one. If it weren't for Yeon constantly hiding her presence with stealth techniques, she would have died no matter how skilled Crimson Tiger was.
Crimson Tiger fought, while Yeon hid her. Their teamwork was perfect.
After carefully checking their surroundings, Yeon finally whispered, "Let's go down.
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The two women jumped down from the tree.
Looking at Crimson Tiger, Soeun asked worriedly, "Are you okay?"
Crimson Tiger forced a reassuring smile and nodded, but in reality, he wasn't okay at all. His qi was depleted, he had received over a dozen new wounds, and the injury on his chest had reopened, causing blood to flow again.
Yeon quickly removed Crimson Tiger's shirt, administered medicine to his wounds, and bandaged him up again. This was a routine she had repeated countless times since they had gone on the run.
Crimson Tiger avoided looking directly at Soeun, doing his best to avoid interacting with her. He had deceived her into coming with them, but the truth was, he didn't even know what the Third Young Lady intended to do with her.
Would she kill her immediately? Probably not. She would use her to strike at the First Young Lord, but what would happen afterward…? I don't know. I really don't know…
Suddenly, Soeun asked, "Who are you really?"
"Just one of the many martial artists of the Association," Crimson Tiger replied stiffly.
Soeun frowned. That couldn't be true. If all of the Association's martial artists were as strong as Crimson Tiger, the Evil Coalition would have been destroyed long ago.
Just as she was about to speak again, however, Yeon quickly hushed her and exchanged a glance with Crimson Tiger, who nodded silently.
Grabbing Soeun's hand, Yeon hopped back onto a tree branch. Meanwhile, Crimson Tiger slowly stepped aside and pulled his sword out of the tree trunk where it had impaled a martial artist.
For a moment, he was grateful to Smiley. Without Soul Crusher, this journey would have been even harder.
He turned to face the man emerging from the bushes. The man appeared to be in his mid-twenties, and a playful smirk danced across his lips.
"So this is where you were. I've been looking for you," the man said, then let out a long whistle, signaling for reinforcements.
Crimson Tiger's expression hardened. The man's aura was peculiar—warm yet cold, hard yet soft. Most importantly, this man was a martial master, leagues beyond the martial artists he had faced thus far.
Under normal circumstances, Crimson Tiger could have easily dealt with him, but in his current state, this was an opponent he had to be extremely cautious of. It was one thing if this man was the final obstacle, but he didn't know who else might follow.
The man casually uncorked the gourd at his waist and took a sip. "Ahh! That's the stuff… Hmm?" As the man tilted his head back for a drink, his gaze coincidentally landed on the tree where Yeon and Soeun were hiding. "What are you two doing up there?"
Crimson Tiger nodded toward the tree, and Yeon and Soeun jumped down. Though the man acted as if he'd just noticed them, Crimson Tiger knew that he had been aware of them from the beginning.
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"Go ahead without me," he commanded grimly.
Yeon's eyes wavered. They had come this far together. One more day, and they'd reach Association territory. Why did they have to run into such a powerful enemy now?
The man grinned. "Sorry to interrupt, but… that's not happening."
Crimson Tiger ignored him and shouted firmly, "Go, now! Don't worry, I'll catch up soon. Just go."
Yeon nodded.
"Uh… Sorry to spoil the mood again, but what I meant was you should go too," the man added.
Crimson Tiger turned to him in shock.
"The mission still needs to be completed, Crimson Tiger."
Crimson Tiger and Yeon blinked in surprise.
The man smirked, introducing himself, "Drunken Monkey, the ninth in the zodiac. I'm here to support you."
Ahh! He should've just said so sooner! Yeon let out a sigh of relief. Her heart had been pounding so fiercely. Though Drunken Monkey had teased them with his vague statements, his arrival was truly a relief.
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Crimson Tiger, too, felt some of his tension ease, though he didn't show it outwardly.
Drunken Monkey grinned. "This is our first time meeting, isn't it?"
"It is."
Their gazes met, and it didn't feel bad.
CRACK!
Suddenly, a tree snapped as the corpse of an Evil Coalition martial artist flew through the air and crashed into it.
A familiar woman stepped forward from behind Drunken Monkey.
"You're still alive, I see?" Green Snake giggled, waving at Crimson Tiger.
Crimson Tiger chuckled, but Yeon glared at her coldly.
Green Snake glanced at Yeon. "Ah! Aren't you the unfriendly handler from before?" She looked down at her own voluptuous figure. "Hmm… is it because you're jealous? Because your chest is a bit lacking?"
Yeon bit her lip in chagrin and looked away.
Green Snake smiled at Crimson Tiger with a playful twinkle in her eyes. "Get going. We'll hold them off for exactly one hour. Maybe less if things go badly."
Crimson Tiger nodded. "That's enough."
"You owe me a drink later."
"Sure."
Drunken Monkey and Green Snake walked side by side toward the pursuing Evil Coalition martial artists.
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"The moment they saw Crimson Tiger, I became completely irrelevant," Drunken Monkey complained, noticing that the Evil Coalition didn't even spare him a glance.
Green Snake snorted. "Obviously. How could a mere drunken monkey be compared to a tiger?"
"Ouch, that hurts my pride."
Crimson Tiger watched their backs for a moment. It seemed that the two of them were already well acquainted. He had always been the one providing support, so being the one receiving it felt unfamiliar, but it wasn't a bad feeling.
The thought that he, too, had comrades… it was almost a first.
Drunken Monkey, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped and glanced back at Crimson Tiger. "You've survived for seven years, right? How about ten more?"
Crimson Tiger gave him a questioning look.
Drunken Monkey grinned. "Somebody has to do it, right? If we hold out long enough, maybe we can make it twenty. That way, at least our juniors can have a little hope. Not that any of them need hope any more than I do."
Green Snake chuckled, "You won't last long with all that drinking. Even if no one does anything, liver disease will kill you."
Crimson Tiger chuckled, and the three of them exchanged silent glances. There was nothing more to say.
"Let's meet again."
There was no need for sorrow when saying goodbye. Since they were friends, they would meet again. Gratitude could wait until then.
As the sound of wailing blades filled the air behind them, Crimson Tiger and the two women sprinted toward safety.
Five days later, Crimson Tiger and Soeun arrived at the Association's headquarters. When they arrived in Association territory, Yeon had split up with them.
Neither of them spoke to the other. Even after changing his clothes, Crimson Tiger still reeked of blood.
Soeun felt like she was in a dream. She couldn't believe that they had actually made it out.
The place they had left behind and the place they had arrived at looked no different in her eyes. Merchants haggled with their customers, children ran and played. A woman with a sword, a young man carrying a dao, and a middle-aged martial artist with fists the size of a child's head, all of them went their own ways.
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks and raised her head. "Is that where my father is?"
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Not knowing what to say, Crimson Tiger nodded guiltily as he followed her gaze. The grand structures of the Association stretched into the distance, looming even more menacingly than those of the Evil Coalition.
Neither he nor she knew what fate awaited them now, but the survival instinct that had kept him alive for so long whispered to him.
The real battle was only just beginning.
{Volume 2 End}
Translator's Note: My family has decided, on a whim, to go on a beach trip this weekend, so there will be no chapters this week (03/22-03/23).
Footnotes:
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Sagong (司空) is a compound last name, same as Namgung (南宫) and Jaegal (诸葛). ↩
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