Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 62 : When the Wind and Rain Stop on the Roof

"Then I will get rid of six thousand to get sixty thousand."

"You can't do the math. It's not sixty thousand, but six hundred thousand."

"What? It's sixty thousand."

"If I say it's six hundred thousand, it's six hundred thousand, you bastard."

"Ugh..."

Jin Sa-wol, who had opened his eyes with a frown, knew it was morning when he saw the bright sunlight coming in through the window.

Surprised at the fact that he had slept deeply, he examined his upper body, which was full of bruises.

Although he saw red marks, it had improved a lot compared to yesterday. He felt that his body had become considerably lighter overnight.

Although his left arm was still heavy, it was definitely easier to move than yesterday.

Jin Sa-wol, who sat cross-legged for the small circulation, spread his internal energy in all directions again through the explosive burst of the True Blood Demonic Art.

Shwaaak!

A strong wind sound lingered around Jin Sa-wol and then disappeared, repeating itself.

After spreading his internal energy throughout his body through the explosive burst, he absorbed it again through the explosive burst.

At this time, Jin Sa-wol did not know that the explosive burst would later combine with Dokgo Shin-wi's demonic art and develop into repulsion and absorption.

* * *

Around noon. Jin Sa-wol, who had opened his eyes, was satisfied when he knew that the time for qi circulation was about two hours.

The time for the small circulation had shortened from half a day to two hours.

After reducing this to a moment, he had to reduce the great circulation to a moment as well.

'If I can get a day's worth of internal energy with a moment's qi circulation, what can't I do!'

Only after accumulating one sixty-year cycle of internal energy could he learn Dokgo Shin-wi's true demonic art.

As he got dressed and went out to the kitchen, Bi-sun held out a decoction as if he had been waiting. After drinking the decoction, Jin Sa-wol said.

"I don't need any more decoction."

"Really? Have your internal injuries healed overnight?"

"That's right."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Bi-sun's eyes widened.

It was a very severe internal injury. He couldn't help but be surprised when he said that it had all healed overnight.

'I thought it would take a long time...'

If the internal injuries were almost healed, the external injuries would be quick.

"Have you passed the first stage of the demonic art?"

"I think so. It's pretty good."

Jin Sa-wol answered, examining his own body. His face definitely looked better than yesterday.

"Let's eat."

Bi-sun stood up, placed rice and soup on the dining table, and then said, stir-frying vegetables and meat in oil.

"I'm going to Guguang for a bit."

Going to Guguang meant that he was going to move to get information.

"And Song Ha-sang will come down. He'll come as a doctor."

"I'm almost healed..."

"It seems he's frustrated because he's living in hiding without anyone he knows."

Bi-sun smiled and spoke again.

"Be nice to him when you meet him."

"I will."

"The Namgung family?"

"I'm going today."

Today was the fifth day he had told Namgung Ji. Jin Sa-wol was a person who always kept his promises.

* * *

A carriage entered Azure Sword Sect, which had a chaotic atmosphere. The person who opened the door of the carriage and got out was Namgung Wi, the second son of the Namgung family.

As he appeared, the waiting steward, Sun-yu, guided him to the pavilion master's study.

"What brings you here at this hour?"

Namgung Wi waved his hand as if it were nothing to Sun-yu, who was asking while walking down the path.

"It's nothing special."

Although he said that, his expression was hardened.

Namgung Wi passed the garden with a fast pace, jumped over the wall of the separate building, and sat down in the quiet study.

There was no one around the separate building except for Sun-yu.

Sun-yu, who was in his mid-forties, treated Namgung Wi politely and poured him tea. Namgung Wi drank the tea and said.

"Murong Bao doesn't seem to be thinking of going back."

"Since he can't go back empty-handed, he must be trying to find something."

"He's trying to find a weakness in the main family and prevent my father from becoming the Alliance leader."

"Murong Bao is not that great of a person. Even if the Alliance leader trusts him, he doesn't have the power to pressure the main family."

At Sun-yu's answer, Namgung Wi smiled. Sun-yu lowered his voice with a worried face.

"More than that, it seems everyone is tense because the youngest young lady is poking around here and there. There shouldn't be anything that stands out too much... If that happens, she could become a target of the Alliance."

"Just leave her. She has to take care of her own life. By the way, have you found the assassin who tried to kill Ji-ah?"

"Not yet."

"There's definitely a guy who's impersonating the Ten-Sword Demon in the city. If not, it's really the Ten-Sword Demon. Find him quickly."

"Yes, young master."

"The Red Spider Sect Master?"

"Not yet. It seems he's not in the city."

"That can't be... He's definitely here."

Namgung Wi rolled the teacup in his hand with a hardened expression.

A short while later, Murong Bao visited Azure Sword Sect with his subordinates from the inspection pavilion. Namgung Wi greeted them on behalf of the pavilion master.

* * *

In a deep part of the Namgung family, where the sun was setting, several men and women were standing in Namgung Ji's residence.

"My guard duty is not difficult. At night, you guard my house, and during the day, you stay with me."

"When do I sleep?"

"On your own."

When Jin Sa-wol asked, Namgung Ji had a face that said, 'Why are you asking that?'. Woo Jeong-bong helped out from the side.

"At night, you can take turns with me. Anyway, there are guards beyond the wall, so it's not difficult."

"Really?"

Jin Sa-wol answered briefly. His indifferent face was expressionless, and Namgung Ji also had almost no change in expression.

"How is your body?"

"It's fine."

At Jin Sa-wol's answer, Namgung Ji's narrow eyes widened with a very angry face.

"Why are you both speaking informally?"

She shook her head and went into her room. Jin Sa-wol and Woo Jeong-bong, who were left in the yard, looked at her back.

Two attendants were going in with her.

"How are the attendants?"

"It seems they can be trusted since they grew up together since they were young. But do we have to suspect the attendants too?"

"Can't an attendant kill a person?"

"That's a good point."

Woo Jeong-bong nodded as if he understood.

Namgung Ji, who was sitting at the window, quietly looked at the backs of Woo Jeong-bong and Jin Sa-wol, who were standing in the yard.

After the attendants had set the tea and refreshments, they asked.

"Can we trust them? The guards who died before were also masters who were carefully selected from the main family."

"I can't trust a hunter."

"It's not important whether we trust them or not. What's important is whether we can catch the intruder."

At Namgung Ji's words, the two attendants closed their mouths and retreated.

"You guys go and bring food for three people. We'll eat here."

"Yes, young lady."

The two attendants bowed and then retreated.

Namgung Ji rested her chin on her hand and pricked up her ears to hear what on earth the two men were talking about.

Woo Jeong-bong glanced at Namgung Ji, and Jin Sa-wol also glanced frequently. That kept bothering her.

'Are they talking about me? It's very annoying.'

Namgung Ji frowned and glared at the two.

Woo Jeong-bong glanced at Namgung Ji again and then said.

"It seems the first and second of the Namgung family dislike Ji-ah. I felt a wall."

Jin Sa-wol glanced and asked.

"Since when did you call her Ji-ah?"

"From the beginning."

"Is that okay?"

"It's okay. You have to call her comfortably to get close. The relationship between a bodyguard and the one being guarded has to be very close to be comfortable."

Hearing Woo Jeong-bong's story, Jin Sa-wol just went along with it. Jin Sa-wol had also received training on guard duty.

The one being guarded and the bodyguard should never have private conversations. Also, they should not become close. It was because if emotions got involved, the guard duty would fail.

Jin Sa-wol frowned and stared at Woo Jeong-bong.

"Why?"

"I was just wondering why you're wagging your tail and looking at another woman when it hasn't been long since Sang Yu-rim died."

"Tail? What are you talking about? I've never forgotten Yu-rim. She's my first love."

As Sang Yu-rim's name came up, Woo Jeong-bong's expression suddenly became gloomy.

Jin Sa-wol patted Woo Jeong-bong's shoulder and then asked what he was curious about.

"You said you had something to do here, remember?"

"I remember."

"I suddenly became curious."

"Why are you suddenly interested in me when you weren't before?"

Jin Sa-wol looked at Woo Jeong-bong with an indifferent face. As if that gaze were hot, Woo Jeong-bong opened his mouth with a flushed expression.

"Actually, this is a secret, but only you know."

Woo Jeong-bong, who had whispered in a low voice, glanced at Namgung Ji once again and then talked about the Ten-Sword Demon.

It was the story he had told Namgung Ji, and Jin Sa-wol showed great interest.

"It would be a big deal if the Ten-Sword Demon were a disciple of the Wudang Sect."

"That won't happen."

Woo Jeong-bong seemed to think it was a ridiculous story. He had a face that unconditionally believed that the Wudang Sect would never raise an assassin.

Jin Sa-wol knew that Woo Jeong-bong's mission was a very important matter from the perspective of the Wudang Sect.

"You two there! Stop the secret talk and eat."

At Namgung Ji's voice, Woo Jeong-bong and Jin Sa-wol turned their bodies. Jin Sa-wol asked.

"Do we eat together too?"

"Yes."

As Woo Jeong-bong answered as if it were a matter of course, he went into the room, and Jin Sa-wol followed him with an uncomfortable expression.

The meal ended around the time when complete darkness had covered the world.

Jin Sa-wol was almost silent. Most of the conversation was between Namgung Ji and Woo Jeong-bong.

What was decided during the meal was about the night guard.

Jin Sa-wol decided to patrol Namgung Ji's room and the area around the house from the hour of the rat until morning and to sleep until noon.

Woo Jeong-bong decided to take the rest of the time. Although it might seem more uncomfortable for Jin Sa-wol, for various reasons, Jin Sa-wol wanted the night.

The night was a time when it was easy to move. And when morning came, he could quietly practice qi circulation after taking over from Woo Jeong-bong.

Although he would be with Namgung Ji from noon until evening, he had to sleep alone again from evening.

It was also a measure to reduce the time he faced Namgung Ji as much as possible.

Jin Sa-wol, who had finished his meal, headed for the house that was built at the north end of the Sunokwon.

That place was a guest room where the attendants lived, with ten small rooms attached.

Since only the two on the right were being used, Jin Sa-wol went into the last room on the left and tried to sleep.

Rustle! Rustle!

Jin Sa-wol opened his eyes at the light footsteps. Soon after, the voices of the attendants flowed in.

"That man who's a hunter. Don't you think he's pretty good?"

"Because he's like a beast? Hohoho! He's attractive, but he's not a person who suits the young lady."

"How dare he covet the young lady? If he had such a thought, he's crazy. If it were the Wudang Sect, it would be a different story. Don't say such things outside carelessly. If it enters the ears of the young masters, a blood wind will blow."

The conversation of the two attendants was no longer heard after the sound of them entering the room.

Jin Sa-wol tried to sleep again.

When it was the hour of the rat, Jin Sa-wol, who had taken over from Woo Jeong-bong, stood in front of Namgung Ji's bedroom and began his guard duty.

Since it was boring to just stand still, he slowly walked around the garden right in front.

Jjol-jjol-jjol!

He passed the water flowing along a small waterway, the pond, and the waterwheel. A flat garden stone was placed next to a Taihu stone.

Jin Sa-wol sat on that rock for a moment.

'If an assassin has infiltrated this far, it's highly likely that there is an accomplice inside, as Namgung Ji said.'

Jin Sa-wol recalled the path from the main gate of the Namgung family to this Sunokwon.

He also drew in his head the many guards and the dense houses and walls.

Even if it were an outstanding assassin skilled in night travel, it was not a place that could be easily entered.

In fact, bright lights were continuously connected beyond the wall. Those lights were surrounding the wall of the Sunokwon.

'It's difficult even for me.'

What would he have done if he had infiltrated the Namgung family?

Jin Sa-wol thought about that and then shook his head.

It was then.

Thump! Rustle!

A faint sound of stepping on fallen leaves pierced the silence and entered Jin Sa-wol's ear.

(End of Chapter)