Absolute Warrior V3C1: Compensation
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TL: FoodieMonster007 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
Dark clouds loomed overhead, casting a shadow over the land, while thunder rumbled in the distance, heralding the beginning of a rainstorm.
SHWAAAA!
Crimson Tiger stood beneath the eaves of an estate located on the outskirts, far from the Association's main headquarters, watching the falling rain. Unknown to him, Ju Hwayin used this location as a safe house for important matters, such as her secret conversation with Mystery Pavilion Master Yagong. Today was the day he was supposed to hand Soeun over, so the security around the estate was unprecedented. Even through the rain, he could sense the auras of martial artists hidden in ambush.
Soeun was sound asleep in one of the rooms, her fatigue having taken over the moment she relaxed, relieved at finally escaping.
Honestly, Crimson Tiger was only more exhausted than she was. He felt that he moment he lay down amid the soothing sound of the falling rain, he would pass out immediately but he couldn't. Soon, one of the Third Young Lady's aides would arrive.
…She'll probably send Gahwa.
Crimson Tiger narrowed his eyes to hide his burning rage. He had no lingering attachments to Gahwa anymore, not since the moment she mentioned Seohyeon.
SHWAAAAA! SPLASH!
As the rain intensified, muddy water splashed onto Crimson Tiger's pants, and he stepped back.
Suddenly, he found himself comparing this situation to his current predicament. He couldn't stop the rain from falling, but he could avoid the splattering mud. Similarly, while he couldn't avoid getting caught up in the successors' power struggle, he could at least protect himself and his loved ones from becoming casualties.
SWHAAAAA! KWAAAAAH!
The sound of the rain grew louder, slowly transitioning into the roar of a waterfall as his memories of two years ago surfaced.
Despite the pouring waterfall washing every trace of blood off my clothes, the metallic scent lingered vexingly in my nostrils. At this point, I was quite certain that it was a phantom smell, more mental than physical, but as long as I couldn't be absolutely sure, I didn't dare risk it. As much as I desperately wanted to run straight to Seohyeon, I simply couldn't shake off the fear that she might catch a whiff of the stench on me.
Most of my missions were dangerous, but none had been as perilous as this one. If not for a woman named Gahwa, I would have died for certain. If not for her, I would never have seen Seohyeon again.
By now, I had been through countless life-and-death experiences, but every single time, the thought of leaving my daughter behind, of dying before she did, made my chest tighten. I accepted fate in most matters, surrendering to the will of the heavens, but this was the one thing I could never compromise on.
"Kangho," someone called out to me.
I turned around, only to see Master standing atop a boulder, watching me. "Master," I greeted.
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"Get out of there already. Are you trying to strip off your own skin?"
"Yes," I admitted, but obediently stepped out and dried myself off regardless.
Master silently observed the numerous old scars and fresh wounds decorating my body, then asked, "Are you eating properly?"
"Yes, what about…" My voice trailed off. I wanted to ask how Master had been, but my throat clammed up, and words failed me. It had only been five years, but he looked as if he had aged more than a decade.
The guilt threatened to crush me under it's immense weight. All of this was my fault, because I was an unworthy disciple.
Still, Master chuckled as he replied to my unasked question, "I am perfectly well, peaceful in mind, healthy in body, with no troubles at all. Hohoho!"
That same, unchanging smile.
"…Master," I choked.
"I'm fine, truly. How could I not be? I have nothing to worry about, since Hyeon is always with me. More importantly, what about you?"
If I were to be honest, I was completely burned out. I was sick and tired of the endless missions, of killing people. So what if they were evil? That hardly changed the fact of my deeds. The only thing that made it bearable was the knowledge that Master was here, standing firm, protecting my daughter.
Master smiled. "Let's go. Hyeon's been waiting for you since morning."
I walked through the forest alongside Master. I had sacrificed everything for my daughter, and he was no different.
No, 'sacrifice' is the wrong word. Calling it a sacrifice is an insult to the depth of Master's love.
Even though Hyeon was merely the child of his disciple, he loved as if she were his own granddaughter.
Suddenly, my wandering thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a thick mist ahead. "Master, that fog is strange," I remarked nervously.
Master smiled. "You only just noticed? Sigh, you still have a long way to go, Kangho."
I flinched, thinking I was being scolded, but when Master continued rambling, I realized that he was in fact criticizing himself.
"I've been studying formations as a pastime lately. This is the Primordial Four Symbols Formation, designed to briefly disorient travelers. Unfortunately, it's still incomplete, just a rough imitation. I'll need a few more years of study if I want to control this at will."
"Did you do that because of Hyeon?"
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"Well, who can predict the future? When time allows, one should always make preparations for possible contingencies."
Master is already making arrangements in the event that something happens to me.
Considering the work I did, it was a natural concern. I had nearly died on this mission, and there was no telling when another crisis might arise, one that could endanger Seohyeon.
A short while later, we arrived at a small cottage near a waterfall. The Medicine Immortal Sagong Hu sat on a wooden bench in the yard, sorting medicinal herbs.
"Have you been well?" I asked, bowing to him respectfully. Without this man… none of us would be where we were today.
"You're here?" Sagong Hu smiled warmly. "Hyeon is sleeping."
The last time we talked, Master had secretly confessed to me his surprise that Sagong Hu had remained committed for so long. The feeling was mutual. I too had never imagined that Sagong Hu would devote himself so wholeheartedly to Seohyeon.
Perhaps it was because I was still young and inexperienced, but I had always been wary of the jianghu. Deep down, I felt that nothing in this world, where people were duplicitous, where greed and betrayal ran rampant, where warriors would do anything to become stronger, could be trusted. That I could rely on no one but myself and Master.
It was Sagong Hu who showed me that the jianghu wasn't only a filthy, revolting dump.
"The treatment is progressing well," Sagong Hu added.
"Thank you," I said, though words weren't enough to express my gratitude.
Besides Master, even Sagong Hu now treats Seohyeon like his own granddaughter.
Sagong Hu, too, had lost his family in his youth and lived alone.
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Now that I think about it, the three of us are so similar. Although Master never told me much about his past, we're all people who led lonely lives before meeting and coming together.
"By the way, I haven't yet told you why we decided to move to the North Sea, have I? Until now, we've been protecting the child with yang energy, but from now on, we must do the opposite. For the next two years, yang energy will be harmful to Hyeon. Instead, her meridians must be cleansed with yin energy exactly twelve times a day by a master of extreme yin techniques."
My eyes widened in shock and worry. Since the Asura's Eight Narakas was a martial art based on extreme yang, neither I nor Master was any help in that regard.
Before I could say anything, though, Sagong Hu smiled and continued, "Fortunately, we were able to borrow the Glacial Jade, an artifact that emits pure yin energy, from the North Sea Ice Palace."
"At a high cost to you, Master Sagong, and for that we are grateful," Master added casually, as if making an offhand remark.
Sagong Hu shook his head, as if to say that such words of praise should be directed at Master instead.
Flabberghasted, I immediately bowed deeply to Sagong Hu. The Glacial Jade was one of the North Sea Ice Palace's ten great artifacts, and a priceless treasure for martial artists seeking to strengthen their inner arts cultivation. There was no way that the North Sea Ice Palace, known for its extreme isolationism, would have easily handed it over. Even without hearing the details, it was already apparent how hard the two old men had struggled to obtain it.
Master nodded his head in agreement, as if to say that Sagong Hu's efforts had indeed been crucial, but Sagong Hu quickly rushed over and helped me up.
"Come now, there's no need for this," he said, taking my hand. "There's not much time left now. Just endure a little longer."
Two more years… I just have to endure for two more years!
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CREAK…
Just then, the door creaked open slightly, and a small head peeked inside.
Seohyeon!
The moment I saw her face, my heart skipped a beat, and tears blurred my vision. Now eight years old, she had grown so much that I almost didn't recognize her.
"Daddy!" Seohyeon shouted, dashing across the yard and throwing herself into my arms.
I had braced myself for an awkward reunion, but Seohyeon acted as if we'd seen each other just yesterday. Maybe it was because Master had been telling her about me all this time, but as it turned out, I was the only one feeling tense and anxious about our reunion.
"Have you been well?"
"Yes, and I missed you! Huh? Daddy, are you crying?"
"These are tears of joy. I can't believe that my little Seohyeon has grown so beautiful."
"Hehe! Grandpa promised me that the next time people gather to choose the most beautiful woman in the world, he'll take me there."
"Hah! You winning that contest is a given. The position you deserve is the greatest beauty of all time."
"Really?"
I hugged Seohyeon tightly once more.
With a grin on their faces, Master and Sagong Hu quietly slipped away, leaving me and Seohyeon to ourselves.
Sitting side by side on the now empty wooden bench, Seohyeon stared intently at my face.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Daddy, I think you've lost a lot of weight compared to before."
"You remember?"
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"Of course. I fall asleep every night thinking about that day."
I stroked Seohyeon's hair. "Have you been a good girl? You been listening to Grandpa, right?"
"Of course! Grandpa even teaches me to read and play the flute."
"That must be nice."
"Hehe, but I still like being with Daddy more!"
…I've missed the most important years of my daughter's life.
As guilt washed over me, I unconsciously clenched my teeth.
"Daddy, when can we live together again?" Seohyeon asked.
"…Soon," I replied vaguely.
"By soon, do you mean two whole years?"
"You heard?"
"Yes. Grandpa said we'll be able to live together in two years, when I'm all better."
"That's right. We can all be together again in two years."
Seohyeon beamed. "I hope time flies by quickly."
Yes, I truly wish that time would fly by quickly. Once you're fully recovered, Daddy has so many things I want to do with you. We'll travel across the bright side of the jianghu, enjoying the breathtaking scenery and gorging ourselves on every delicacy in the world.
If only there was a martial art that could speed up time, I would train in it relentlessly.
"Until then, you have to stay healthy too, Daddy."
"Mmhmm."
"Don't overwork yourself."
"As you command! Since the greatest beauty of all time has given an order, I shall obey without question."
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"Hehehe!" Seohyeon rested her head against my arm. "Daddy, I'm sleepy."
My heart sank. We had barely spoken, yet Seohyeon was already exhausted.
"I went to bed early yesterday so I could play with you when you arrived…" Seohyeon began, but dozed off mid-sentence.
Overwhelmed with emotion, I let out a deep sigh as I lifted my head to the sky. If even this little child was fighting against her illness, struggling to overcome her fate, then I had to overcome mine too.
For the first time, I felt that coming here was the right decision. Just this short conversation with Seohyeon gave all the strength I needed to endure the next two years.
Carefully, I carried Seohyeon inside and laid her on the bed.
I stood there for a long time, watching my daughter sleep peacefully. Just being alive, just being able to see her like this made me ridiculously happy. I could not ask for anything more. Seohyeon could be the ugliest girl in the world, the dumbest girl in the world, I didn't care. Everything was right as long as she could live her life in good health.
"Just hold on a little longer."
I stepped outside.
"Why are you standing out here?" Ju Hwayin, disguised as Gahwa, asked in surprise as soon as she entered the compound, holding an umbrella.
Crimson Tiger instantly snapped out of his reverie, the memories of that day two years ago washed away by the falling rain. "It was stifling inside," he replied indifferently, showing neither hostility nor amicability.
Ju Hwayin smiled bitterly. "I knew you'd pull it off."
"But there's a problem."
"What problem?"
"Two other members of the Twelve Phantoms saw her."
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As Crimson Tiger stated, Drunken Monkey and Green Snake had seen Soeun during the escape. However, those two were not the problem. They would have likely assumed she was involved in his mission and disregard her entirely. He would have thought the same if he were in their place.
The actual issue was their handlers, who would report everything they saw to the Radiant Hall. He could only hope they might have overlooked Soeun, but that would require significant luck.
Ju Hwayin nodded. "Leave that to me."
She provided no details, but Crimson Tiger didn't press the issue. Although "Gahwa" called herself the Third Young Lady's subordinate, he noticed that whenever it came to major decisions, she exuded an air of confidence far beyond that of a mere underling.
If an ordinary subordinate is so assertive, how domineering must the Third Young Lady be?
"Go inside. Everyone's already waiting for you," Crimson Tiger said curtly, then turned away.
"Wait a moment."
"What? I didn't think we had anything more to talk about."
"Aren't you going to ask me when we'll be making a move?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, we won't be taking action right away, so take your time and decide whether you trust us or not, and whether you want to stay here or leave."
Crimson Tiger narrowed his eyes. She might have felt like she was showing him consideration, but he didn't appreciate it at all.
"As I said before, we will protect you."
"Then who will protect you?" Crimson Tiger laughed sarcastically.
Ju Hwayin replied playfully, "If you're worried, then why don't you protect us?"
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"I'm not interested."
"I figured. I won't expect that much, but for now, I want you to stay away from the Association and follow the Radiant Hall's orders."
"Why?"
"If you act unpredictably, the details of your last mission might come under scrutiny."
Crimson Tiger stared at "Gahwa". Seeing her like this made his stomach churn, but sentimentality was a luxury he couldn't afford right now. In his current circumstances, she was a bigger threat than any evil villain.
"Fine," he said coldly.
"Thank you. Also, if you ever need to see me, rent the twelfth boat by the lakeside and borrow three fishing rods."
Crimson Tiger nodded silently and walked away. The twelfth boat represented the Twelve Phantoms, and the three rods referred to the position of the tiger as the third of the twelve zodiac animals.
I wonder, is she using this same method to meet the other Phantoms as well?
For a long time, Ju Hwayin watched Crimson Tiger's departing figure.
"Will you meet her now?" Lee Dansim asked, approaching her master from behind and glancing toward the room where Soeun was.
Ju Hwayin shook her head. "She's too on edge right now. Let her rest for a few days."
"Understood, but…"
"What is it?"
Lee Dansim said solemnly, "Before I say it, please forgive my rudeness in advance."
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"Just say it," Ju Hwayin replied casually.
"Are you truly giving him so much time to think? Are you really planning to protect him?"
"What makes you ask that?"
"Because I believe he won't simply stay put."
Ju Hwayin broke into laughter, "Hahaha!"
"This isn't something to laugh about, my lady."
"Fine. Then what should we do? Should we eliminate him?"
Lee Dansim hesitated for a moment before hardening her resolve. "Yes. If possible," she said.
"……" Ju Hwayin observed her aide emotionlessly.
Unable to withstand the pressure of her master's gaze, Lee Dansim closed her eyes and braced herself for a slap.
"Yes, if he can be eliminated, that would be best."
Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, Lee Dansim's eyes flew open. "What?"
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"But there's no need to do that," Ju Hwayin continued.
"What do you mean?"
"Someone else will try to kill him."
Lee Dansim furrowed her brows, puzzled.
Ju Hwayin said quietly, "Imagine the opposite situation. Suppose he killed my child under my command. I like to think I'm a pretty magnanimous person, so I might decide not to kill him… but what about you? What would you do?"
At last, Lee Dansim understood. "…I wouldn't be able to let it go," she whispered darkly.
Ju Hwayin smiled faintly. "Senior Brother also has loyal subordinates like you."
Lee Dansim gulped. Ju Hwayin was referring to the First Young Lord's aide, Jin Chung. "I see… You never intended to protect him in the first place."
"By the way, I'm quite sure he knows I'm lying about protecting him."
"He knows?"
"Of course he does. He's an incredibly perceptive person, especially when it comes to survival."
"And you're okay with that…?"
"You're wondering if I still love him? I have a feeling that you'll ask me that question over and over again before this is over, so I'll answer it now. Even if you ask me a hundred times, my answer will be the same. I still love him. I will always love him. Even if he dies, I won't be able to forget him. Even if I should kill him with my own hands or die by his hand, I will still love him. As I have no intention of ever loving anyone again, he is my first and last love."
"My lady…"
"Just because I love him, however, doesn't mean I'll go against the current… No, I show my love for him by being true to myself." Ju Hwayin sighed and looked up at the sky. "Fine, I admit it. This is such a selfish love, but what can I do? I've never learned anything about love…"
When Crimson Tiger returned to the Radiant Hall's safehouse, he found Eom Baekyang waiting for him there.
"I knew you'd pull it off!" Eom Baekyang congratulated him.
With Yeon now fully backing him up, the Radiant Hall fully believed her fabricated report, meaning that officially, the mission was a great success. Crimson Tiger had left Six's necklace on Snakeflower's body, framing her for the death of Seventh Six (Baek Soeun). Additionally, he had even managed to assassinate the Ironblood Commander.
"You've been through a lot," Eom Baekyang praised, looking at Crimson Tiger with admiration. The man standing before him seemed to have no concept of failure. He had assassinated the Ironblood Commander in his own office, carried out the mission to eliminate the First Young Lord's bloodline flawlessly, and escaped. The money in his hands felt like it was well spent.
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Crimson Tiger shook his head. "It was nothing."
"Here, take this." Eom Baekyang handed him an envelope. Inside was a check for thirty-five thousand taels, five thousand more than the promised amount. "The extra five thousand is the reward for the previous mission."
The previous mission… he must be referring to the operation to rescue the Radiant Hall Director Gu Yangseo.
It was more than he had expected. This extra five thousand probably came from the director's own pocket.
Crimson Tiger gladly accepted the payment, as refusing it would arouse suspicion. Besides, in the end, whether he accepted the money or not no longer mattered. Once the truth was revealed, it wouldn't be a matter of ethics anymore, but rather a matter of life and death.
"I heard you were injured. How are you?" Eom Baekyang asked.
Crimson Tiger replied, "I can manage."
Eom Baekyang took a wooden box out of his shirt pocket. "Take this."
Crimson Tiger opened the wooden box to find a tuber fleeceflower root inside. Judging by its size, it was worth at least several thousand taels. With this, he could instantly gain two or three years' worth of inner qi.
"I won't refuse this," he said, pocketing the bonus without hesitation. This tuber fleeceflower root would more than replenish the internal qi he had expended during the mission.
"Rest here for a few days. After that, your handler will provide you with a new cover identity. She'll give you the details later."
"Understood."
"Continue to serve the Association faithfully."
With that, Eom Baekyang left.
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Crimson Tiger sat down. As the tension faded, exhaustion finally overcame him. The nerve-wracking moments he had endured in the Evil Coalition flashed before his eyes. This mission had been incredibly difficult. Without Yeon's help, he would never have survived.
He slowly chewed and swallowed the tuber fleeceflower root. It had the texture of a sweet potato, but tasted incredibly aromatic.
There were many ways to consume medicinal herbs. They could be refined into pills or boiled into potions, but he chose to eat the root raw.
When he trained with his master in the past, he had consumed many spiritual herbs like this. Contrary to what most people thought, the key wasn't the method of consumption, but how one absorbed its effects afterwards.
Crimson Tiger sat cross-legged and focused his inner qi, guiding the herb's medicinal properties throughout his body.
HISS…
A faint heat began to rise from his body, like steam escaping into the air.
…How much time has passed?
Some time later, Crimson Tiger opened his eyes. All his fatigue had vanished, and his gaze was sharp and brimming with vitality. The tuber fleeceflower root had been even more potent than expected, granting him the equivalent of at least four years of inner qi.
Even with the same spiritual herb, its effects varied depending on one's constitution and talent, but he had reached a level where he could extract over ninety percent of its benefits.
Crimson Tiger rose from his seat and walked to the window, Gahwa's words surfacing in his mind.
She'll protect me and Seohyeon? What a joke.
A bitter smile played on his lips. There was no way the Third Young Lady would protect him. He wasn't naive enough to believe the words of those drunk with power. He would be relieved enough if they contributed to his assassination.
Before parting with Yeon, he had asked her to send a letter to his master. Even though her network was the most secure and efficient option, he had written the letter in a cipher that only he and his master could understand.
He trusted Yeon completely, but that trust didn't extend to the mailmen. Besides, the North Sea was a long way away and anything could happen to the letter on the way there.
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The letter described his situation in detail. There was no point in hiding the truth out of consideration.
After all, the worst habit in difficult situations was escapism. In a crisis, the only option was to move forward, and the only way to respond was with honesty.
The only reason why he didn't flee to the North Sea immediately was because he didn't know Seohyeon's current condition. She had endured grueling treatments and the strain of a sudden escape might be too much for her. He had to wait for his master's answer.
As far as he could tell, there was one crucial thing the Third Young Lady's faction didn't know.
She doesn't know about Master's existence.
She believed that with a single command, she could easily have Seohyeon killed. That was her mistake.
In order to take down Master, they'll need to sacrifice more than a few of their strongest martial artists.
Of course, Crimson Tiger had no intention of engaging in an all-out war with the Association. He wouldn't allow Seohyeon or Master to be dragged into it. No matter what it took, he would make sure that not even a speck of dust reached them.
He sat cross-legged again and sank into deep meditation.
The rich fragrance of tuber fleeceflower root filled the room.
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"I'm actually sick."
The three people in the Radiant Hall's operations room all turned their eyes to the newcomer, Jo Birang, who sighed deeply, his face filled with gloom.
Hong Sabaek narrowed his eyes. "If you were trying to get our attention, then congratulations, you've succeeded."
Im Yeongdal stopped peeling his potato. "What kind of sickness are you suffering from?"
Jo Birang sighed again, "A kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder… a fixation on perfection, so to speak."
WHACK!
The shoe Im Yeongdal threw struck Jo Birang on the head.
"OWWWWW!" Jo Birang clutched his head and cried out in exaggerated pain.
Wang Sochan, who hadn't washed his hair in five days, scratched his scalp and muttered, "If it's about cleanliness… I also have a bit of an obsession. It's rough, isn't it?"
Im Yeongdal stared at Hong Sabaek in disbelief. "Okay then. Who should I kill first, the perfectionist or the clean freak?"
Hong Sabaek cocked his chin in Jo Birang's direction. "He's the one who started it."
Im Yeongdal prepared to throw his remaining shoe, and Jo Birang quickly ducked behind the mountain of documents piled on the desk.
"Wait, is this guy still going through all that paperwork?" Hong Sabaek asked.
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"Seems like it."
"Crazy bastard!"
Jo Birang stuck his head out. "Not crazy, just obsessive."
"Whatever! Just tell us why you're so ridiculously obsessed."
"When I feel like there's something I don't know, I can't concentrate. I can't even sleep."
Im Yeongdal interjected, "You idiot, that's no disease, it's just plain old obsession."
"Oh, is that so?"
"No! You're completely crazy!" Hong Sabaek shouted.
Jo Birang sighed again. "Well, thanks to you, I've perfectly analyzed everything you seniors did up until six years ago. Starting today, I'll start studying the missions from five years ago."
Hong Sabaek looked stunned. "Are you really going to go through all that?"
"Of course. Soon I'll be completely in sync with all of you."
Hong Sabaek shook his head. "Has anyone actually given him work to do? Is it okay for a newbie to be so free?"
Im Yeongdal resumed peeling his potato and replied, "He has already completed all his tasks. This is what he's doing after that."
"Really?"
"Heh…" Jo Birang grinned smugly.
Hong Sabaek shook his head. For all Jo Birang's madness, he was surprisingly efficient. "Fine, go ahead and be the only decent person here. Be the only one who's perfect!"
Jo Birang, unable to hold back, cheekily chimed in, "You know, there's a saying: Don't strive for perfection, strive for excellence. But I want to achieve both perfection and excellence at the same time…"
Im Yeongdal's last remaining shoe flew straight at Jo Birang.
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