Chapter 66
It was the side Hong-seol had just collapsed. Through the gap, a pair of murky eyes flashed with a sharp, predatory glint.
"So, you were alive after all, you little rats!"
"Oh, heavens!"
"Meow!"
Startled, Hong-seol and Deng Soso clung tightly to each other.
The members of the Black Eagle Gang did not give up; they continued to dig through the pile of dirt before them.
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
Once a gap appeared, the men focused all their efforts on that spot.
The sound of fingernails frantically clawing at the dirt and stones being heaved aside was terrifying beyond words.
Hong-seol’s mouth went bone-dry.
‘At this rate, they’ll catch us before the rescue team arrives!’
There was nowhere to run... except for the wall.
But how?
Just then, a thought flashed through Hong-seol’s mind.
It was something Grand Patriarch Namgung Ho had told her once.
"Hong-seol, you see, the palm technique is truly profound."
Standing in the middle of the training ground, Hong-seol had only tilted her head at Namgung Ho’s words.
"When you strike an opponent’s body, it delivers a direct blow, but if you do it like this!"
Namgung Ho had lightly placed his hand on the bluestone of the training ground.
In that instant, Hong-seol felt the ground beneath her heave.
Surprised, Hong-seol ran over and clutched the hem of Namgung Ho’s robe.
"W-what is this, Grandfather?"
"I controlled my strength just now, but if you unleash a palm technique against the floor or a wall, you can shatter even stone."
"Wow..."
"But you must control it well. You have to ensure it only affects exactly what you intend."
"C-can I do that with the Heavenly Thunder Palm I use?"
"Indeed."
Namgung Ho, who had been smiling contentedly, suddenly turned stern.
"However, until you cure your Yin-Yang Severed Meridians, you are forbidden from using Inner Energy!"
"But..."
"If you unleash the Heavenly Thunder Palm recklessly, your meridians will boil, and you will die. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes!"
At those words, Hong-seol was struck with fear and nodded.
"I promise, Grandfather. I will never use the Heavenly Thunder Palm."
"Good, that’s a good girl."
"There’s a sound coming from this way."
Hong-seol, who had been lost in thought, lifted her head. Yang Do-jin had suddenly pressed his ear against the wall.
"A sound?"
"Someone is coming. The energy I can feel, they are all formidable Masters!"
At those words, Deng Soso’s face seemed to brighten.
"It must be the Deng Clan! They must have come to rescue us, right?"
"Perhaps. But..."
Yang Do-jin looked resentfully at the wall blocking them from the rescue team.
The wall looked as solid as if it would never crumble.
Furthermore, if the rescue team didn't even know they were here...
It was certain that the Black Eagle Gang members would get their hands on them before the rescuers did.
That was when it happened.
A flustered Yang Do-jin called out to Hong-seol.
"Hey, wh-what are you doing?"
Hong-seol, the baby kitten who had stood up on two legs, had performed a nimble somersault in the air.
"What, you were a Beastkin?"
"And to think she was so clever!"
The shouts of the Black Eagle Gang members didn't even register in her ears.
Hong-seol, now in human form, looked at the two children who were wearing bewildered expressions.
Deng Soso’s luxurious clothes were torn in places, and her fair cheeks were covered in bruises and scrapes.
Yang Do-jin was not much different.
Because he had jumped into the freezing water, his cheeks were flushed red, and his entire body was covered in scratches and bruises.
She wanted to protect them.
Hong-seol spoke silently with her eyes.
‘You know, we’re friends, right?’
There was no verbal answer, but Hong-seol knew.
She knew that they had already become true friends.
Hong-seol’s dark eyes hardened with resolve.
‘For my friends... I can do anything!’
Hong-seol stood firmly on the ground and raised both her hands with vigor.
Then, she closed her eyes.
The Yang energy and Yin energy swirling through her meridians were vivid.
She felt the two powerful forces occupying one side of each palm, surging like high waves.
If she concentrated this power into one tiny, narrow point!
She could collapse the cave wall without the ceiling coming down.
Hong-seol whispered an apology in her heart.
‘Grandfather, I’m sorry.’
With her mind made up, Hong-seol bravely brought her two palms together.
Crackle.
Crackle.
The moment she felt the massive energy created by the meeting of Yin and Yang!
Hong-seol pressed both palms against a tiny point on the wall.
She felt the energy drain from her entire body in a rush.
Rumble!
A massive thunderclap echoed within the narrow cave.
A stunned Yang Do-jin and Deng Soso both shouted.
"I-isn't that the Namgung Clan’s Heavenly Thunder Palm?!"
"How could Hong-seol do that?"
Hong-seol’s small body, now completely drained of energy, swayed unsteadily.
"Hey!"
Startled, Yang Do-jin caught Hong-seol’s body. Amidst her fading consciousness, Hong-seol tried to check the wall.
‘D-did I do it...?’
But.
Cruelly, the cave wall remained intact.
‘Oh, what do I do...’
Tears threatened to spill. At that moment, Hong-seol lost consciousness.
That was when it happened.
Clatter.
A small pebble rolled down the wall and hit the foot of Yang Do-jin, who was holding Hong-seol.
That was the beginning.
Pop, pop-pop.
Stones began to fall from the cave wall one by one.
Ten holes, large and small, opened up. The dim light from outside poured in through the gaps.
Yang Do-jin muttered as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
"She pierced the wall...?"
Hong-seol, that frail child who didn't seem to have a single ounce of Inner Energy?
The next moment.
With a thunderous roar, the wall that had separated them from the outside collapsed without a trace.
"No!"
Yang Do-jin hugged Hong-seol’s small, unconscious body tightly, as if to crush her.
He shielded her with his own body, fearing she might be hurt by flying debris.
"Cough, cough."
"Ugh. What is this dust..."
Before long, the billowing dust finally settled.
Through the haze, a figure appeared.
Deng Soso, who had been clutching So-rang tightly, muttered in disbelief.
"Y-Young Master Namgung Baek?"
Standing in front of the collapsed wall was a silver-haired boy with sharp, blue eyes.
It was the moment his blue eyes spotted the small child nestled in Yang Do-jin’s arms.
Yang Do-jin felt an incredible, chilling sensation.
It was a killing intent that couldn't even be compared to the Black Eagle Gang members chasing them from behind.
"..."
Without taking his eyes off Yang Do-jin, the boy gripped the sword hanging at his waist.
Yang Do-jin’s eyes widened to the size of fists.
‘That bastard is insane!’
Even without any particular action or words, Yang Do-jin knew. The person in front of him right now was not in his right mind.
The moment he felt the danger and squeezed his eyes shut.
Namgung Baek’s sword traced a silver arc.
"Argh!"
At the same time, an arm with a black feather tattoo flew through the air.
The Black Eagle Gang members who had been digging through the dirt wall had finally broken through.
Yang Do-jin, looking back, shouted urgently toward Namgung Baek, who was charging in.
"You madman, stop! There are too many of them!"
Namgung Baek paid no heed and continued to swing his sword as if dancing.
"Catch him!"
"The opponent is just a kid!"
The remaining Black Eagle Gang members who had crossed through the gap in the wall rushed at Namgung Baek all at once.
At that moment.
"Begone!"
A furious Lion’s Roar shook the heavens and the earth.
The owner of the voice was the Grand Patriarch, Namgung Ho, who had appeared with his robes fluttering.
"Argh!"
"Eek!"
The men who had been swarming toward Namgung Baek clutched their ears and collapsed.
"Uigyeol!"
This time, it was the Clan Lord, Namgung On, who shouted.
At his command, Namgung Uigyeol leaped toward the lead Black Eagle Gang member with his sword, which was honed to a razor-sharp edge.
Boom!
The sword was so heavy that not only did it cleave the Black Eagle Gang member in two, but it also left a deep mark in the ground.
"Th-The Heavy Sword Hero!"
The man who seemed to be their leader appeared to recognize Namgung Uigyeol.
His body began to tremble like an aspen leaf.
"I-I-It’s the Namgung Clan... Retreat! Retreat!"
The Black Eagle Gang members channeled their internal energy and fled rapidly.
Even as they did, they did not hesitate to take the lives of their own comrades who still had breath left in them.
"Ugh!"
"Argh!"
Namgung On, who had been standing a step back, shouted.
"Uigyeol, pursue them!"
"As you command!"
As Namgung Uigyeol extended his arm, the members of the Azure Sky Unit shot forward to chase down the surviving Black Eagle Gang members.
Meanwhile, Namgung Baek was already holding out his hand to Yang Do-jin.
"Give her here."
Yang Do-jin hid Hong-seol in his arms, looking at him with wariness.
"Who do you think you are!"
Namgung Baek answered without hesitation.
"I am this child’s brother."
"What?"
A shrill sound was heard.
Deng Soso was staring with her mouth wide open.
"How can the brother of a cat Beastkin be a wolf Beastkin of the Namgung Clan...?"
Namgung Baek ignored her and took Hong-seol from Yang Do-jin.
The moment he did, Namgung Baek’s cold expression shifted.
It was because Hong-seol’s body was burning—far too hot.
It was as if she had swallowed the inner core of a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Carp, a creature said to possess extreme Yang energy.
That wasn't all.
The next moment, her body turned cold, as if she had swallowed the Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Essence of the North Sea Ice Palace.
Realizing that something was gravely wrong, Namgung Ho and Namgung On rushed over in a hurry.
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