Chapter 47
We were frozen in place for a moment.
The first to regain composure was Master Jang.
“Everyone, gather around.”
Master Jang called the remaining people together.
“Now, let’s disperse from here.”
Everyone looked at him with surprised eyes. I did the same. Yet, Master Jang calmly reached into his chest and pulled out a pouch.
“Moving together in a group like earlier would just draw more attention. And there’s no need for you to risk yourselves. They only want the So family—they won’t pursue the rest of you.”
“…….”
“Thank you all for following me this far. I will not forget your efforts. If you run into trouble, seek out the nearest branch of the So Trading Company. They will do their best to help you.”
“…….”
“I’ve prepared some spending money here. Think of it as a small gift from a small manor. Come up one by one and receive it.”
The people murmured and hesitated. But once one person stepped forward and took the coins, others quickly followed, one by one.
Gradually, people left. Soon, the area was empty.
Only the three of us remained: Master Jang, the lady, and me. Just three people…
Master Jang looked at me.
“Are you sure you don’t want to leave?”
Suddenly, I remembered the conversation I had with the lady in the secret passage. And what she had wanted to say at the end.
Probably, what she had meant to say was—
‘You…’
Are you coming with me?
“I…”
I glanced subtly toward the lady. As expected, she had been watching me the whole time.
I smiled softly and spoke.
“I will follow you both.”
“Are you sure? It could be dangerous.”
“It’s alright. I’ve already faced countless dangers. Besides, didn’t I tell you before? I vowed to devote myself to the So family for my mother.”
“But your mother…”
Master Jang spoke with concern, but I shook my head. The truth was, my intention was slightly different.
‘It’s really because of the promise I made to the lady.’
She had said she would stay by my side, that she wouldn’t leave me alone.
Hearing that gave me great comfort. At the same time, I made a vow: if she intends to keep her promise, I will not betray her either.
Now, the only person I had left… was the lady.
“I have nowhere else to go. If you will take me, I will gladly follow.”
“…….”
Master Jang looked at me with a complex expression, then shook his head and gave a bitter smile.
“Thank you.”
I smiled silently in return.
The three of us began climbing the mountain again.
The path was rugged, especially since we stuck to places where no one traveled.
After fleeing since midnight, my joints ached and my whole body throbbed, but I couldn’t show it. Even the lady walked silently, and Master Jang as well.
I lost track of how far we had gone. It felt like we had traveled far, yet not very far. My sense of time blurred, but strangely, my heart felt lighter.
‘Did we really shake them off?’
Maybe we did.
They likely couldn’t find their way out of the secret passage. Even if they tried searching outside the So manor, it would take much longer.
If we used that time to escape, we could get out safely, buy horses at a nearby village, and reach the Jiangxi branch of the So Trading Company.
‘We can survive.’
Just as hope began to rise…
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a gust of wind came from behind.
I instinctively threw myself forward. It was pure instinct—a primitive feeling that my life was in danger if I didn’t drop immediately.
And my instinct was right.
Something whizzed past my head and lodged into a tree. I felt goosebumps all over.
“……!”
It wasn’t the sharpness of the weapon or poison that made me tense.
It was the sound of multiple footsteps coming from behind.
I slowly turned around. Behind us stood masked men.
Not one, but three of them.
‘This… is dangerous.’
Their presence was formidable.
Each wielded a different weapon: one had a sword, one a flail, one a chain whip. Their eyes were sharp; they weren’t ordinary fighters.
Master Jang must have sensed it too. He stepped forward, holding his long sword.
“I apologize for not meeting you earlier, given how far you’ve come. May I ask your names and affiliations?”
“…….”
“I don’t know what you want, but bloodshed isn’t the only solution. If we talk openly, we can reach an agreement. Speak your desires.”
“…….”
“Whether it is wealth or power, anything. If it is within my reach, I will give it. Anything…”
Master Jang stood ready with his sword, pleading earnestly. Yet the masked men did not answer. They began closing in, pressuring us.
A tense silence followed. Master Jang let out a deep breath and spoke again.
“I understand what you seek. If it is my life you want, then take it. But let the children go. Isn’t it the way of the martial world not to oppress the weak? If you still have humanity, spare the children and end this with one life.”
Still, the masked men remained silent.
Master Jang shut his eyes tightly in despair.
“…If that is your answer.”
Then, he opened his eyes, raised his sword vertically, and pointed at the masked men. In an instant, Master Jang vanished from sight.
“Let’s see what you’ve got!”
Clang!
The swords clashed immediately.
Master Jang thrust his sword with lightning speed, blocked by one of the masked men. That was just the beginning.
As soon as the first exchange ended, another masked man charged.
Swish, clash!
Master Jang stepped back as the flail flew toward his side. He angled his sword to deflect it and used the rebound to slice his opponent’s wrist.
But the attack failed. The chain whip had wrapped around his wrist.
“…!”
Master Jang didn’t try to free it. Instead, he moved with the pull of the whip, disrupting his opponent’s stance.
He lunged for a pressure point on the chest, and the whip naturally unwound.
At that moment, sword and flail came flying from both sides.
Master Jang stepped forward, swinging his sword upward, then bent in a half-circle to avoid the flail’s trajectory, striking toward his opponent’s abdomen.
Every movement flowed seamlessly.
I remembered Namgung Jung’s teachings.
“If we classify the sword styles of each sect: strong, heavy, soft, fast, and illusion. Our Namgung family pursues strength. Our sword subdues opponents in one strike.”
“Then what about the So family?”
“The So family? Their sword… would be soft.”
“Soft?”
“Yes, it’s remarkably fluid, true to the style’s name.”
A single sword weaved through three weapons.
It cut, thrust, swung, and deflected, each technique flowing as if part of a living organism.
“So-You Sword Technique. A family martial art passed down through the So lineage. When ancestors retreated to the mountains, they watched flowing water and developed this style.”
“Ah…”
“It was made with the wish that no one would be harmed. At first glance, it looks soft, even weak.”
“….”
“But softness can overcome rigidity, and weakness can overcome strength. Every movement contains the secret to victory. Underestimating it even once will be fatal.”
The blade slashed the opponent’s side. I felt Namgung Jung’s smiling face in my mind.
“See? Isn’t it a stylish technique?”
Now, the true power of the So-You Sword Technique unfolded in Master Jang’s hands.
Softness defeating rigidity… even against three experts, Master Jang did not falter.
No sharp strike could break the flow of his movements. Like cutting water, he deflected attacks effortlessly, letting them flow past him.
‘But…’
Why do I still feel uneasy?
Master Jang’s skill didn’t seem drastically higher than theirs. Using the secrets of his style, he held his ground, but limits were approaching. Three opponents, one Master Jang.
I realized too late.
‘If this continues… Master Jang will—’
At that moment.
Tap.
Someone grabbed my hand.
I looked up and met the determined gaze of the lady.
“Go!”
A sharp, urgent shout reached my ears.
