—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Byeok Mu-bu, looking apprehensive, said in a shaky voice,
“If you treat me like this, the Slaughter Gate won’t let you get away with it…!”
“Don’t make me laugh. Do you really think those cowards who ran away with their tails between their legs will come back?”
I scoffed.
Byeok Mu-bu fell silent after his last resort failed.
He slumped against the wall and coughed up blood.
I grabbed him by the collar.
Swish!
“Gah…!”
“Don’t be dramatic. You knew the risks when you came here.”
“P-Please, spare me…!”
Byeok Mu-bu pleaded, with his head hanging limply.
I smirked.
“I’ll spare your life. Don’t worry.”
“…!”
His shoulders twitched as he heard the unspoken threat in my voice:
‘…but I’ll beat you within an inch of your life.’
I slammed him onto the floor.
Crash!
The sound was much louder than when he’d struck the table.
He groaned in pain.
“Ugh…!”
“There’s no point in torturing someone who’s already resigned to their fate.”
I said quietly, then continued,
“So, I’ll just give you a good beating and let you go.”
“Aaaaagh…!”
I twisted his fingers.
His abdomen was likely already injured from being thrown into the wall, but the pain in his hand made him cry out.
“I-I’m sorry…! I won’t ever come back…!”
“Is being sorry enough?”
“Y-Young hero! Please, have mercy…!”
“Sigh.”
It felt pointless to exert my strength against someone so weak.
My initial anger had subsided.
I grabbed him by the head and tossed him out the window.
Whoosh!
“Aaaaagh…!”
A loud crash echoed from outside as he landed.
I sighed deeply and walked back to my table, leaving him to his fate.
The veiled woman, who still hadn’t touched her food, looked at me and murmured,
“…Why didn’t you kill him?”
“…?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
She narrowed her eyes.
“With your skill, you could have killed him instantly. Why spare him, knowing he might come back for revenge?”
“…”
“Those are just third-rate thugs. Given time, they’ll recover and might come looking for you.”
She was asking why I hadn’t eradicated the problem at its root.
“…Do you think killing them would erase their resentment?”
“…What?”
“Sure, killing them now would make things easier in the short term. They started the fight, and no one would care if a few thugs died.”
“Then why?”
“But grudges are more complicated than that.”
I spoke calmly, meeting her gaze.
She looked at me expectantly.
I scratched my head.
“Even though they’re weaker than me, some people might sympathize with them, thinking I went too far. Of course, most would probably say they deserved it.”
“…”
“As I said before, grudges in the Jianghu can be tangled and complex. Eradicating them without considering the consequences could lead to unforeseen problems.”
“…Isn’t that also absurd? What’s the difference between killing them and letting them live, then?”
“That’s how I feel.”
“What…?”
I said, my expression serious.
“If the grudges of this world are so intertwined, I’ll bear the burden.”
“…”
“I’ll wait. They might come back for me. And if they do, I’ll deal with it. Their resentment might fester and grow. And if it does, I’ll let it flow.”
“…!”
“And as it flows… perhaps, someday, the river will become clear, and all the pent-up emotions will be washed away.”
It was simple.
Whether I killed Byeok Mu-bu or not, the future was uncertain.
His friends or family might become powerful martial artists and seek revenge.
Or, someone might thank me for getting rid of him.
‘Whatever I choose, things will unfold as they may. So, I’ll follow my heart.’
Whatever the consequences, I would face them head-on.
My candid words seemed to shock the veiled woman.
She understood the underlying meaning.
Her voice trembled as she murmured,
“…I sensed it from the beginning, but you truly are… a madman.”
“Living in the Jianghu, it’s hard not to go a little mad. This is simply the natural order.”
“Sigh… I can’t comprehend you.”
She sighed, shaking her head as if my words were beyond her understanding.
A silence fell between us.
I sipped my tea, while she sat lost in thought.
After a while, she finally spoke.
“…Go.”
“…?”
I tilted my head, confused by her abrupt command.
She frowned slightly, biting her lower lip.
“Leave before I change my mind.”
“…Well, then.”
I chuckled.
She looked at me intently, as if she’d come to a sudden realization.
“…Someone like you… will surely transcend the earth and reach the heavens someday.”
“…”
“When that happens, we will meet again. Until then.”
“…Understood.”
I smiled faintly and stood up.
I bowed slightly.
“Thank you for… enlightening me today.”
“…Sigh. The same to you. No need for thanks.”
She sighed, closed her eyes, and said,
“Go…!”
“…Until next time.”
I nodded and left the inn, the bright sunlight greeting me.
‘What a strange morning.’
I clicked my tongue.
As I walked away, I glanced back at the inn, but she was already gone, vanished as if she’d ascended to the heavens.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“…Are you sure it was wise to let him live?”
“…”
The veiled woman remained silent for a moment, then replied to Yi-ho, her guard,
“You weren’t even there when he saw my face. You have no right to question my decision.”
“Ugh…!”
Yi-ho flinched and quickened his pace.
She chuckled.
“…Don’t worry. That boy isn’t the type to spread rumors about my face. He doesn’t have the… disposition for it.”
“B-But that’s just an assumption.”
“Sigh. Don’t make me repeat myself, Yi-ho.”
“…”
Yi-ho fell silent.
The woman looked up at the sky and murmured,
“…Besides, we’ll meet again someday. There’s no need to worry.”
“…Pardon?”
“He’ll come looking for me, to repay me for today. So, there’s no need to be concerned.”
She smiled faintly and said to Yi-ho,
“He intrigued me. That’s reward enough for this trip, wouldn’t you say?”
“Hmm…!”
“Let’s return to the Divine Cult.”
“Understood, Holy Maiden.”
Yi-ho bowed respectfully.
“…”
Yi-ho suddenly realized he’d just seen his stoic master smile for the first time.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[T/N: Pretty sure everyone had already guessed her identity, lol.]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
ngl I knew she was someone important, but I wasn’t thinking Demon Cult. kinda thought she was some stuck up empress/princess
Nah i saw demon cult coming from a mile away with how she jumped to killing straight away and what not
Demon cult so the cause and Effect is clear