Emperor’s Sword [EN]: Chapter 15

Following the Night Walker!

The night was silently swallowing the world. In each pavilion of the Northern Sword Society, banquets were still being held due to the decision and approval of the Demonic Cult subjugation, and it was said that they would continue until tomorrow. Because of this atmosphere, even the guards were becoming lax in their vigilance. Pachaen was approaching the Suhwa Pavilion. Even here, the security was still strict, and ambushes were still in place. However, they were not enough to stop Pachaen.

Dokgo Seolran was hurrying her preparations, dressed in light clothing. She was packing simple clothes and valuables, and she had also packed a few books she had been reading. The time was passing from Haishi (9-11 PM) to Zishi (11 PM-1 AM) [Traditional Chinese timekeeping system]. While the other pavilions of the Northern Sword Society were noisy with the sounds of eating, drinking, and playing, the area near the Suhwa Pavilion was too quiet. Although the Suhwa Pavilion was a large place, there were only four maids and a eunuch. No one else entered this place. Even after a year, her father would only visit a few times. There were no visits or approaches from other people. Nevertheless, no place was as heavily guarded as this.

“It’s me, Young Lady.”

“Come in, Eunuch.”

“Are you all ready?”

“Yes…”

“It seems you are really planning to leave.”

“Yes, I am.”

“You have thought it through well. But it won’t be easy to get out of here without any countermeasures…”

“I don’t know either. I’ll have to trust that person.”

“I don’t know if he is really trustworthy. It’s not that I don’t trust your judgment, Young Lady, but he is a complete stranger… And I’m also worried about how we will get out of here. If they find out that you are missing, a net will be cast over the entire Kaifeng Prefecture [A major city in ancient China]…”

“I know what you’re worried about, Eunuch. But I believe everything will be alright.”

The eunuch was still wearing a mask. Her blue eyes were saying, ‘I will protect you.’

‘Wait, what is this? She told that eunuch too?’

-See? Just get out of here before things get any bigger.

‘That won’t do! I already made a promise, and I can’t unilaterally break it! I am a man of honor, after all!’

-You know, they say even if your mouth is crooked, you should speak straight. You’re just lingering because she’s pretty!

‘Yeah, so what? Heavenly Demon! If you say one more word, you know what will happen… I’ve been too lenient with you lately, and you’re getting arrogant…’

The Heavenly Demon couldn’t make a peep! He was in a truly pitiful state.

“But I don’t know why the young master isn’t here yet?”

“Isn’t it because he was just boasting and got scared and isn’t coming?”

“Do you think I’m like you?”

The eunuch’s body was turning quickly.

“Oh, you’re still quick.”

‘How could I not have noticed him approaching so closely?’

The eunuch’s surprise was immense.

‘I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere… Who is he? Where did I see him?’

At that moment, Pachaen, who was looking into the eunuch’s eyes, was also lost in the same thought.

‘Where have I seen her?’

“You!”

“You… You’re that!”

“The Flying Horse?”

“That fool?”

“What?”

Pachaen’s eyes flared up.

“Who would have thought it was that girl who was causing a ruckus on that black horse?”

“What?… Tch, I was secretly hoping for something, but it was just that rascal playing around on that worn-out horse.”

“You…!!”

“Why? Am I wrong?”

“Tch, I should just bear with it. I don’t have time to bicker with a woman. Young Lady, come out quickly.”

“Yes? Yes!”

Pachaen took the lead, and Seolran came out with her bundle. He turned to her and said,

“Are you mistaken that we’re going on a picnic? What is that bundle?”

“Yes? This… this is just some clothes… and valuables… and stuff like that.”

“Leave it all behind and just follow me. I’ll get you what you need later.”

“Yes? But… I feel too bad.”

“If you don’t want to go, fine… I’ll go alone.”

“Okay.”

She hurriedly threw the bundle behind her. As he started walking again, the eunuch followed behind Seolran. Seeing this, he said,

“Don’t tell me… you’re going too?”

“Of course… I’m going too.”

“What?… Really, Young Lady?”

“Yes… Why not?”

“There’s no reason why not… Hey, black cloth, I can’t take responsibility for you too, so if you don’t want to be a burden, follow me like you’re dying. Got it? If we get caught because of you… I’ll spank your bottom until you die. I’ll keep hitting your butt until you die.”

“Y… Yikes.”

However, the eunuch had nothing to say. The fact that she hadn’t noticed him until he was right behind her was proof that he was an incredible master.

‘Just try to fail! I’ll see if you’re still so confident then.’

The eunuch, who was secretly hoping for his failure, felt absurd inside. As Pachaen continued to lead the way out, she called out to him.

“Hey, master. What are you going to do if you just go out like this without any plan?”

“Plan? What plan? We’re just going out, is it that difficult?”

“This… You and I might be okay, but our Young Lady doesn’t know martial arts.”

“Is that so? It doesn’t matter. I can just carry her out…”

“I don’t know about carrying her somewhere else, but you can’t shake off the ambushes near the Suhwa Pavilion! You don’t think you don’t know that, do you?”

Pachaen pondered at those words.

‘I guess there would be a risk. If I carry that girl, who doesn’t know martial arts, out of this quiet place, there would be some kind of sign… And those around here are still masters, after all.’

“Alright. You have a point. Seolran, come here.”

“Why?”

“Just come here!”

“Yes… Young Master.”

He carefully examined Dokgo Seolran’s face in front of him… He didn’t do anything, not even say anything, just looked at her face, and Dokgo Seolran’s face turned red again.

[Heavenly Demon, do you think it’ll work?]

-Of course! But it will only last for an hour.

[That’s enough.]

“Hey, innocent girl! Listen carefully to what I’m about to say. And you too, Eunuch! Listen carefully.”

‘Why is he talking so casually when he just met us? And even to the Young Lady…’ Dokgo Seolran, however, didn’t seem to dislike it.

“From now on, I will change your face.”

“What?”

“Just listen.”

He shouted loudly, and both of them looked surprised. The eunuch was worried that the maids or the guards outside might have heard it.

“Eunuch! Don’t worry. The sound from this room is completely blocked right now.”

‘I knew he was a master, but I didn’t know he was this good…’

“I’ll change your face to someone else’s, so you and the eunuch just go out calmly! Got it? After that, when we get out of here, I’ll carry you and run. End of operation briefing! Any questions?”

“Change my face?”

“Yes!”

“Is that possible?”

“It’s possible, that’s why I’m saying it, you fool!”

‘Th-that…’

“I don’t want my face to change.”

Seolran said, lowering her head and speaking in a small voice.

“Don’t worry! It’ll go back to normal in an hour…”

“You’re not planning to use the Transformation Technique, are you?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

“Hey, the Young Lady doesn’t know martial arts… What’s with that look?”

“Go and call one of the maids to the hallway for a moment! I need to see her face. What are you standing there for? Can’t you move faster?”

Only then did the eunuch rush out.

“Don’t worry too much. Nothing will happen.”

His hand was on Seolran’s shoulder. She looked uneasy, but she gave him an awkward smile. Then, his body disappeared right in front of her eyes. She was surprised. The eunuch had shown her something like this before, but it wasn’t as seamless as this. It was like drawing a picture on the ground and then wiping it away.

In the hallway, the eunuch was waking up a sleeping maid and scolding her. ‘Poor Jongnyun.’

[Okay, that’s enough.]

He continued to rub Dokgo Seolran’s face with his hand.

“Okay, let’s start. Relax, it’ll be over soon…”

Swish, swish, swish.

Golden energy was rippling from his hand. It was enveloping Dokgo Seolran’s entire face and constantly entering and exiting through her pores. The reason he rubbed her face at first was to make it easier for the true energy to enter through her pores.

Swish, swish, swish.

After about an hour, he stopped rubbing Seolran’s face.

“Ah… This, this can’t be?”

It was the eunuch’s voice. It was a perfect image of Geum-yeong. It was the girl he had called out and scolded a little while ago. Her face was long, and her eyes were slanted upwards, suggesting that her personality was not ordinary. She looked about twenty-five years old now.

“No time to be amazed! Go out quickly! Eunuch, what are you doing? Why aren’t you taking the Young Lady out?”

“Ah… Okay. Let’s go, Young Lady.”

The two of them were hurrying out. Pachaen’s figure, who had been watching them, also disappeared.

The two of them were walking out of the Suhwa Pavilion calmly. There was only one floating bridge across the lake. The distance was 30 jangs [A traditional Chinese unit of length, approximately 3 meters]! It was quite a long distance. Even as they walked, they were nervous, and their gait was unnatural. Especially the maid.

Splash!

The water parted, and two people emerged. Despite the chilly weather, they had been submerged in the lake. Even though they had just come out of the water, their clothes were not wet. It seemed they were wearing specially made diving suits.

“Where are you going at this late hour?”

He was politely asking the eunuch. In the Suhwa Pavilion, one had to follow the eunuch’s orders. However, the surrounding guards had to cooperate with the eunuch as well. They didn’t know exactly who the eunuch was. However, they only guessed that she was a great master and someone of considerable status.

“We have somewhere to go. It’s the Young Lady’s order, so move aside.”

“Don’t you know that this place is controlled after Zishi?”

“So, you’re saying you won’t move aside?”

“It’s not that, I’m just stating the rules.”

“If you move aside quickly, we’ll be back quickly, won’t we? If something happens to the Young Lady, will you take responsibility?”

It was a stern voice.

“I’m sorry. Please go ahead. But… please don’t do this again.”

“Alright. I’ll keep that in mind.”

As they were passing the guards, one of them was sending a telepathic message to Geum-yeong.

[Geum-yeong! I’m off duty tomorrow… you know? Come out to that place. I’ll be waiting with a gift.]

Thump!

Her heart felt like it was falling out. Suddenly, someone’s telepathic message had entered her ears.

She was already so nervous, and then suddenly she heard a telepathic message… So, Geum-yeong and that guard were in that kind of relationship. But even he was completely fooled…

As they disappeared into the distance, she could hear one of them saying,

“That’s strange…”

“What is?”

“When did Geum-yeong’s butt get so pretty?”

“You rascal? Everything looks pretty in your eyes, doesn’t it? Stop talking nonsense and get ready for your shift.

I’m not feeling well today…”

“Hoo.”

A sigh escaped her lips.

[Keep walking!]

The eunuch looked around.

[Don’t try to find me, go behind the big tree in front! Hurry!]

As they turned around the tree,

Swish, swish, swish.

He appeared like a ghost.

‘He’s truly amazing. He might even be a master on par with the Guild Leader.’

“Okay, there’s no time. Eunuch, you can get out on your own, so I’ll go first.”

With those words, he put Dokgo Seolran in his arms and soared into the sky. It was almost as if he was soaring straight up into the sky. The eunuch’s mouth was agape.

Whoosh.

Whoosh.

Seolran closed her eyes tightly and nestled in his arms. She could feel the man’s scent. Even without opening her eyes, she could tell how high and fast he was flying. The late autumn night air was too cold. She snuggled deeper into Pachaen’s arms.

It was a hill where the Northern Sword Society could be seen in the distance. Dokgo Seolran’s appearance had already returned to normal. Next to her, the eunuch was catching her breath. The eunuch had really tried her best to follow, but she had arrived long after Pachaen had arrived.

“Listen carefully! From now on, there must be no mistakes. I have to go back in, so you two go to the Beggars’ Union headquarters, the Kwanje Temple on the outskirts of Kaifeng Prefecture, right now. And stay there until I come. Go to the Supreme Elder and tell him that the Jade Faced Dragon sent you, and if you tell him your situation, he will arrange a place for you to stay. It will be frustrating, but hide like mice. Got it?”

“Weren’t we going together?”

“If I disappear, they might become suspicious. And I need to know their movements in advance to make it easier to get out of Hugwang Province later. I’ll follow soon, so go first.”

Seolran’s face showed anxiety at the words that he wasn’t going with them. The eunuch felt the same way. She was startled by her own change.

“Okay, go now. It won’t be long before they find out you’re gone. Unless you go back in, Eunuch? Maybe they’ve already found out you’re gone by now. Go now. I’ll go tomorrow or the day after, got it?”

“Yes.”

Seolran answered obediently. In contrast, the eunuch said,

“Tch, come or don’t come. Let’s go, Young Lady!”

Pachaen, who had been staring at the two of them as they disappeared, had a smile on his lips.

“Now, shall I go back and see how the Guild Leader’s face is contorted?”

Swish, swish, swish.

Title: [Serial] Emperor’s Sword 17. The Strange Man Under the Mysterious Pavilion Related Materials: None [59081]

Sender: Im Sam-yeol (logos333) 2000-12-25 00:10 Views: 2004

-Emperor’s Sword-