Chapter 72 "..."
Though he remained silent, his movements and aura grew increasingly violent.
Jin Myo, who faced him directly, would know that better than anyone.
"Do not grow too agitated… You know this, Daoist Bang Woo. Or perhaps you do not? I do not peel faces from corpses."
"..."
"Especially not one as lovely as the Namgung girl here, so perfectly to my taste. I will cherish her. Only when she has been tended with the finest cuisine and the gentlest care, when her beauty blooms into a flawless flower—only then…."
"Lady Namgung, any direction will do! Move your legs at once—ghk."
The sharp sound of a blade cutting into flesh rang out.
"Only then will I slice it away… into a human-skin mask that never withers!"
Bang Woo pressed his bleeding flank and retreated toward where Yeo Il stood.
He begged her to go, to crawl if she lacked strength in her legs—but Yeo Il paid him no heed.
If this continued, Bang Woo would die.
"Ghk!"
There—
He could no longer keep Jin Myo from reaching her side.
That fact forced Yeo Il into contemplation.
Abandon Bang Woo and go to the Murim Alliance to seize Wolgeom Ilsal? Or abandon Wolgeom Ilsal and eliminate Jin Myo?
The most efficient choice would be the former, but—
At that moment—
"Daoist Bang Woo."
"Haah… haa…."
"Seeing you so desperate it brings tears to your eyes has given me an amusing idea. How about this? I will grant you one hour."
A hand as cold as winter water seized Yeo Il by the collar and yanked her forward. Jin Myo's whisper brushed her ear.
"If you bring me Ilsal's head within one hour… I will return this Namgung girl to you. I swear it upon the name of Cheonmyeon Magwi. Consider it a wager."
Bang Woo revealed the fiercest emotion of the day.
"Silence."
"Shall I kill you here and take the girl instead? And even if you win our wager, I will return her? Hm?"
At the mockery thick with arrogance, Yeo Il swallowed a laugh.
Ah, truly.
Truly.
Bang Woo was fortunate.
Not only Bang Woo.
Chang-a, Namgung Jeok-myeong, Yoorim…
All who had recently crossed paths with Yeo Il were fortunate.
She had no intention of granting them special favor, yet heaven itself delivered opportunities.
"Do you mean that?"
"Mm?"
"You will truly keep your word?"
At her unexpected question, Bang Woo hurried to speak.
"Lady Namgung, no. Do not yield! I will protect you somehow—"
"Daoist Bang Woo. Go."
"…What."
"Though I cannot see, I can feel it. As when Elder Brother Hui-myeong faced his desperate moment. If this continues… you will lose to this man. Am I wrong?"
"That is not so!"
His denial carried more desperation than ever before. He pleaded.
"Have you forgotten who I am? A member of the Blue Dragon Four of the Spear Banner. Mount Hua's foremost rising talent—Plum Blossom Cloud Sword Bang Woo. That is I! Such a title cannot belong to a swordsman incapable of saving a single girl! Do not be swayed by a demon's whispers!"
"Heh heh. Bleeding profusely, yet your bravado touches the heavens, Daoist Bang Woo."
Yeo Il pushed Jin Myo's sneering face away from her cheek and replied coldly.
"Daoist, it is not I who am swayed by a demon's tricks. It is you. Do not waver. Judge calmly."
"Absolutely not!"
Such stubbornness.
Yeo Il turned to Jin Myo.
"I will ask again. Can you truly swear upon the name of Cheonmyeon Magwi? That if Daoist Bang Woo brings Wolgeom Ilsal's head… you will release me?"
"Swear upon my name? Of course! Heh heh… I am most fond of such entertaining wagers, little girl. That is the nature of the Three Calamities—Cheonmyeon Magwi."
A wager.
Cheonmyeon Magwi could afford wagers only because the target whose face he sought bore no relation to his true assassination objective.
Jin Myo must have already completed his assigned mission.
The Jin Myo of old would have left immediately upon fulfilling his task, as most Salmak assassins did—including Yeo Il herself.
But Cheonmyeon Magwi was different.
Cheonmyeon Magwi craved faces.
Time and place did not matter.
He cast bait and waited for prey to bite.
He lingered endlessly until a worthy catch was hooked.
Jin Myo is imitating Cheonmyeon Magwi's speech and manner entirely.
A stark contrast to his former silent devotion.
It made matters easier.
"Then give him the wager token."
"Token?"
"Since childhood my nurse told me: Cheonmyeon Magwi delights in driving the virtuous into despair, and whenever he makes such one-sided wagers, he gives a 'Demon's Wager Token.'"
"..."
"A token that proves to the world Cheonmyeon Magwi is a liar if he breaks his word."
Jin Myo fell silent.
Then he burst into laughter and seized Yeo Il's hair roughly. His fierce eyes bore down on her, brimming with anger.
"Ah! What a grand delusion! Little girl… Do you think I fear being called a liar enough to give such a token?"
"Of course not. Cheonmyeon Magwi is not one to fear such trifles."
Perhaps it was her unshaken composure, unbecoming of a noble daughter.
His grip tightened further.
He resented her bold familiarity, yet endured it to preserve his Cheonmyeon Magwi persona.
Jin Myo, no matter how you imitate him, you cannot replicate his nature.
Cheonmyeon Magwi's leisure sprang from a madness no ordinary man could possess.
"Then? Why does Cheonmyeon Magwi give a token? If you speak nonsense again, I will ruin your face this instant—and you as well, Daoist Bang Woo, should you entertain foolish thoughts!"
"Let go of my hair."
"No! Quickly. Speak! Why does Cheonmyeon Magwi give a token?"
Childlike excitement colored his voice—
envy that she might know Cheonmyeon Magwi better than he, and anticipation at meeting one who knew his true nature.
"Cheonmyeon Magwi."
That pervert.
"Genuinely."
At all times.
"Loves despair."
Yeo Il whispered.
"He delights… in gazing upon the face of one who has fallen into despair."
Jin Myo ceased breathing and listened.
"He expects the humiliation, regret, and sense of defeat that Daoist Bang Woo will feel… each time he looks upon that token, knowing he failed to protect me."
"…The humiliation and regret of failing to protect… the sense of defeat…."
He repeated the words thickly.
Perhaps recalling the moment Cheonmyeon Magwi died at Yeo Il's hands.
Jin Myo tugged her hair again—harder this time.
"You speak like flowing water… heh heh, good… very good… I cherish brazen children like you. That is Cheonmyeon Magwi's way."
Something heavy rolled across the ground.
"That will suffice as a token. Now go, Daoist Bang Woo. Bring me Ilsal's head. If you fail—"
"..."
"I will tear off your girl's neck here and now. This is not negotiation. It is a threat."
A heavy silence descended.
Yeo Il drove the final nail.
"Daoist Bang Woo."
"..."
"I know what troubles you. Therefore, for my sake as well, act wisely."
Time passed.
At last, with a voice steadier than before, Bang Woo answered.
"…I will return swiftly."
"Yes."
"I will rescue you somehow. Wait for me, Lady Namgung."
He departed without looking back, as though he would not permit himself further hesitation.
Bang Woo.
Gone?
"Then now."
Finally.
"Shall we make a wager of our own, Jin Myo?"
Turning her head, Yeo Il drove her fist into Jin Myo's nose.
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