The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

“Whiteyaaaa!”

Dam Hyun’s agonizing wail could be heard from outside.

Yi-gang, who was listening, was in an upside-down position, his head stuck to the floor of the carriage.

Even in his previous life, he had never experienced a traffic accident, let alone expect to encounter such an experience in Jianghu.

Of course, there were no such things as seat belts in the carriage.

Since the carriage had overturned, an ordinary person might have broken their neck and died. Even a fairly skilled martial artist could have been injured in such a situation.

「Are you going to keep lying there?」

“I have to get up.”

Of course, Yi-gang was different.

Though he was lying in the carriage today due to not feeling well, his senses were still above first-rate.

The moment the carriage began to tilt, he maximized the secret art of light footwork. Although he ended up tumbling inside the carriage and being thrown upside down, he was not hurt.

Now, the carriage’s door on the ceiling—

Yi-gang burst it open, breaking through, and leaped up.

Kwang—!

Dam Hyun, who was wailing over a white horse struck by an arrow, was in the midst of slashing through a bandit.

Bandits, reeking of foul odors, were rushing in.

“Green Forest bandits, huh.”

It wasn’t the first time he had encountered bandits on the road, but it was the first time they had dared to attack.

Usually, they wouldn’t just attack outright but would negotiate, saying, “Pay the toll and go, haha!”

He wasn’t scared even when faced with such brutal bandits.

「They’re not proper Green Forest bandits.」

‘Can you tell?’

「Of course, these guys are just riffraff at first glance.」

That seemed to be the case.

Moreover, the bandits suddenly started screaming and began to run away.

“It-it’s Azure Forest!”

There were generally two types of reactions when the story of the Azure Forest’s disciples was brought up.

Curiosity about meeting the elusive disciples of the Azure Forest and the caution at the martial artists of a major sect.

“Run awaaaaay!”

“Aaaaagh!”

But such an extreme reaction was a first.

‘What’s with those guys.’

「When I was the public enemy of Murim, there were reactions like screaming at just my appearance.」

At the moment when Blue-Eyed Mad Demon was speaking boastfully, Yi-gang leaped out of the carriage.

The fleeing bandits, startled, swung their swords, but to no avail.

The meteorite sword, still sharp after being honed by the Firelight Forge, gleamed brilliantly.

Each time, the bandits were cut down absurdly easily.

In contrast, their axes and zhanmadao seemed to fly towards him incredibly slowly.

“G-get away!”

“What a mess…”

Yi-gang casually sliced through the handle of an axe that a bandit was bringing down from above.

Kicking the solar plexus of the trembling bandit holding the handle, he knocked him out with a loud yelp.

Although they seemed like riffraff from the outside, the reality was beyond imagination upon confrontation.

「I told you they were riffraff.」

‘Even so, they’re more pathetic than I thought.’

Even though these were supposed to be bottom-feeders, they were men who had lived on the sword. It was incomprehensible how easily they were being defeated.

In fact, it was natural for Yi-gang to think this way.

He had trained for four years in the Azure Forest. He had connected one of the major meridians and trained daily with the prodigies of the Azure Forest.

Because of this, Yi-gang’s standards had become quite high. It was inevitable that the bandits’ hand and foot movements seemed clumsy to him.

Yi-gang, having swiftly subdued the surrounding bandits, shifted his gaze to a distant place.

There was someone on the outermost edge running away exceptionally fast. His attire looked more decent compared to the other bandits.

「That one looks like the leader. Catch him!」

He did seem suspicious.

Yi-gang quickly ran and subdued the fleeing man.

The man’s attire didn’t seem like that of a typical bandit, and his martial arts skills were slightly inferior to the other bandits.

“Are you the leader?”

“I-I am just a vice leader…”

The bandit, Seo Saeng-won, suddenly fell to his knees.

“Please spare my life, young master! I was blind to obstruct your path. If you spare my life, I will live righteously for the rest of my days. If you would grace me with your noble name, I will elevate the name of the honorable young master throughout my life.”

“…”

Yi-gang was taken aback by his rapid-fire talking, halting his intention to knock him out by hitting his temple.

“I know that stealing due to lack of education is a great sin. But I came out with tears in my eyes because my children and wife are starving. I would be willing to offer my pathetic life in apology to you, but then… there would be no one to care for my sick mother and crying children! If you just spare my life, I will live by farming from now on!”

Then he grabbed Yi-gang’s ankle and clung to it.

「He really has a way with words.」

‘I feel like I’ve seen someone like him before…’

Suddenly, something came to mind.

When he had gone out to find the Pixiu necklace, there was a time when Low Down Sect member Jeong Gu begged for his life from Yi-gang in a similar manner.

He reminded Yi-gang of that Low Down Sect member, who seemed like he’d only keep his mouth above water even if he drowned.

“You killed the horse. The carriage is broken.”

Yi-gang spoke in a deliberately cold voice.

While he was in the Azure Forest, there was no need for such behavior, but showing authority was always his forte.

He used the tip of his meteorite sword to lift the bandit’s chin.

“Remove your filthy hands.”

“Hiik, I-I apologize.”

“Already begging when your life isn’t even enough to atone for your sin. Pathetic bastard.”

The Blue-Eyed Mad Demon covered her mouth and laughed.

「Wow, I didn’t know you could say such things.」

‘Shh, keep your emotions in check.’

Yi-gang’s expression remained as cold as ice.

Seo Saeng-won’s face, which was confidently talking until a moment ago, turned pale.

He must have realized that he had seriously messed up.

By now, the rest of the bandits had already been dealt with by Dam Hyun.

“Do not try to deceive me with needless talk anymore, or I’ll cut you down right now. Only say what is necessary.”

「Yes, that’s how you should handle such a person.」

Yi-gang instinctively knew.

Those with eloquent speech shouldn’t be allowed to keep talking. They must be dealt with firmly to prevent them from deceiving others with their words.

Fortunately, the opponent seemed to have realized that his life was in danger.

“…I will repair the carriage and personally take you to your destination.”

“What?”

“It’s a two-horse carriage, but with the right skills, it can be operated with just one horse. I am from the Low Down Sect’s stable. I’m proficient in handling horses and managing carriages! I haven’t been a bandit for long!”

“You said you were a sub-leader.”

“I was rapidly promoted due to my abilities!”

Yi-gang remained silent. Such silence often made the other party more anxious.

However, Yi-gang wasn’t actually contemplating whether to kill Seo Saeng-won.

‘He really is from the Low Down Sect.’

Do all those from the Low Down Sect talk this much?

Yi-gang looked pensively at Seo Saeng-won, then made up his mind.

“Fix it.”

“…Yes?”

“The carriage, try to fix it.”

If I can’t fix it, I’ll die.

With that thought, Seo Saeng-won shouted with determination.

“I will do my utmost!”

---

“Kill him.”

Dam Hyun’s response was firm.

It was after he found out that Seo Saeng-won, whom Yi-gang had brought, was the bandits’ sub-leader.

Then, glaring at Seo Saeng-won struggling to fit the dislodged wheel back onto the carriage, he shouted again.

“Kill him!”

“My ears hurt, Senior Brother.”

“He’s Whitey’s enemy!”

“Who’s Whitey?”

Dam Hyun hesitated for a moment, then pointed at the panting white horse and said, “That’s him.”

“You even named him?”

“Yes…”

Dam Hyun had volunteered himself as the coachman and took the coachman’s seat. The reason was simple.

He was utterly fascinated by horses, these large animals.

So, when one of them was hit by an arrow because of the bandits, his anger was justified.

“The life of this horse is more valuable than a hundred worthless bandits like those.”

“Let’s wait until the carriage is fixed.”

At Yi-gang’s words, Seo Saeng-won’s back twitched. Did it mean he would be killed after fixing the carriage?

His hands slowed down while repairing the carriage.

“It seems he is delaying. Let’s just kill him now.”

“Hmm.”

What kind of conversation was this, considering they were disciples of a Taoist sect? Seo Saeng-won desperately continued repairing the carriage.

His skills, honed from working in the stable, were lightning-fast.

As soon as he finished the repair, he jumped up and shouted, “It’s all fixed. And! I can treat that horse!”

“What! You can save him? Whitey?”

Dam Hyun, who had been holding a knife, stood up in surprise.

“Yes! I also learned to take care of horses at the stable! The arrow isn’t too deeply embedded, so even if it can’t pull the carriage, it can still live!”

“Then you should have treated the horse first, you garbage!”

Dam Hyun, enraged, beat Seo Saeng-won.

Seo Saeng-won realized that Dam Hyun, despite his frail appearance, possessed considerable internal energy. His fists felt like iron hammers.

“Ouch, ack! I-I will treat it.”

“Hurry up and treat it!”

However, the fact that Dam Hyun used his fists instead of a knife was actually an act of mercy. It was to allow the horse to be treated.

Seo Saeng-won’s words were not false. He skillfully treated the horse.

The bows the bandits had were crude. The arrow had only pierced the skin and luckily hadn’t hit any vital spots.

“Horses are naturally skittish animals. It collapsed out of shock.”

Every time the horse neighed, Dam Hyun’s eyes sparkled, but Seo Saeng-won, sweating profusely, even wrapped up bandages.

Soon, the horse staggered to its feet.

“Whitey!”

Dam Hyun hugged the white horse’s neck, overjoyed.

Seo Saeng-won forced a smile and groveled.

“Now that everything is done, let’s kill him.”

“Wa-wait a minute. He can’t handle the carriage.”

“So?”

“To properly treat it, one needs to be skilled enough to handle both a horse and a carriage at the same time. Someone like me!”

He desperately begged for his life.

Yi-gang, for some reason, said nothing and just stared at Seo Saeng-won.

Feeling that gaze, fear washed over Seo Saeng-won again.

For some reason, Yi-gang, who seemed more like a disciple than Dam Hyun, appeared to be the one making decisions.

Eventually, Seo Saeng-won, with tears in his eyes, brought up the topic, “You said you were heading to Kaifeng. There’s a secret fund of our leader there. I’ll give you half of it.”

“…”

“No, all of it, I’ll give you all of it!”

Yi-gang was actually thinking about something else.

He was wondering if he could stop by another village today and stay at an inn, but Seo Saeng-won brought up this topic out of desperation.

However, instead of nodding, Yi-gang asked, “Do I look like I need a few pennies?”

“T-then, there’s more!”

Seo Saeng-won, closing his eyes tightly, confessed, “I have a reason for running away from Low Down Sect. I stole the branch manager’s treasure, and I will give that to you.”

“Treasure?”

“Yes! If you spare my life, I’ll give it all to you.”

He was indeed a man without integrity.

The treasure probably wasn’t anything remarkable, but there was no harm in checking it out.

“Is that the treasure? A box whose contents are unknown?”

“It’s definitely a very old and valuable item. It’s securely sealed, so I haven’t been able to open it… But I was hunted by the Kaifeng branch after I stole it!”

He had guts to steal such an item.

“First, let’s go and check it out.”

“D-does that mean you’ll spare me?”

Seo Saeng-won’s face brightened instantly.

On the other hand, Dam Hyun’s expression soured.

“You’re really going to let him live?”

“We have no choice. Senior Brother doesn’t know how to handle horses, right?”

“…T-that’s true.”

Handling horses and caring for them were entirely different matters. Dam Hyun had been able to drive horses so far because they were well-trained steeds.

To travel to Kaifeng with an injured horse, they needed a suitable coachman.

“Then I’ll serve as your coachman. The village isn’t too far, hehe.”

“Wait a minute.”

Dam Hyun grabbed Seo Saeng-won by the collar.

Yi-gang did not intervene.

“Look into my eyes.”

“Ye-yes…”

Up close, Dam Hyun’s eyes were deep and dark.

Somehow, Seo Saeng-won found himself unable to look away from them.

Suddenly, it seemed as if Dam Hyun’s pupils were swirling.

Seo Saeng-won realized for the first time that human pupils could swirl like that.

A sinister voice flowed from Dam Hyun’s lips.

“If you try any tricks, you won’t die peacefully.”

“…Yes.”

Even after Dam Hyun let go, Seo Saeng-won stood there dazed.

It felt as if something cold and dark had flowed into his ears and clenched his heart, leaving him breathless.

Yi-gang, smiling faintly at Seo Saeng-won’s gaze, climbed onto the carriage.

---

Yi-gang and Dam Hyun were honor flower disciples.

This meant not only a deep understanding of martial arts but also proficiency in sorcery.

However, Yi-gang focused more on swordsmanship and martial arts. It was what Yu Jeong-shin had recommended.

In Dam Hyun’s case, he was more skilled in sorcery.

But that was a bit of an oversimplification.

Dam Hyun’s expertise included arrays, mechanisms, and Treasure usage in addition to sorcery. Moreover, he had knowledge in forbidden arts and the demonic path, far removed from the studies of Taoism.

Yi-gang recognized what Dam Hyun had done when he grabbed Seo Saeng-won’s collar.

It was a kind of soul-subduing technique.

Those of lower realms could have their spirits shaken just by looking into Dam Hyun’s eyes.

Words heard in such a state tended to embed deeply in one’s mind.

Seo Saeng-won would likely not dare to betray them carelessly.

“Hehe, are the young masters uncomfortable in any way?”

Seeing how he had taken the injured horse to the stable and fetched a new one, it was clear. He didn’t think of running away but was being obsequious.

Of course, Seo Saeng-won’s face was disguised. If he were recognized by other Low Down Sect members, he would be immediately hunted.

Yi-gang chuckled and responded, “I’m starting to get hungry.”

“I know a great inn. The food there is excellent. They have a skilled cook. You will be satisfied.”

Seo Saeng-won diligently performed his duties as a servant and a coachman.

Despite managing a single horse for the carriage and taking care of the injured one, he drove the carriage much more skillfully than Dam Hyun.

Even Dam Hyun, who had initially suggested killing Seo Saeng-won, had to admit his competence.

「If you handle Low Down Sect guys well, they are indeed useful.」

‘My grandfather used to say something like that.’

「The Immortal Divine Sword?」

‘Yeah.’

「He must have been a great person. Just like me.」

‘Right. Same as being a ghost too.’

The Immortal Divine Sword had also mentioned something similar.

Regardless of Seo Saeng-won’s true intentions, he led Yi-gang to the inn he claimed to know well.

“And, this inn has a very special attraction.”

“A special attraction?”

“Yes, see for yourself.”

The building wasn’t as resplendent as the Greatest Gold Tower guarded by the gatekeeper. It was a three-story inn that clearly showed its age.

Under the signboard reading ‘Night Inn,’ there was a door, and Seo Saeng-won opened it with confidence.

And true to Seo Saeng-won’s words—

“Wow.”

“Incredible.”

Yi-gang and Dam Hyun couldn’t help but express their admiration.

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