Surviving as a Maid of the Sichuan Tang Clan

The spar between the two ended in an instant.

Before Jinseong could do anything, Yeon Ryang struck him in the shoulder with the flat of his sword and sent him flying.

Jinseong dropped his sword from a single blow and crashed to the ground. With his face twisted in pain, he acknowledged his defeat.

“...I have learned from you.”

Jinseong looked up at Yeon Ryang through clenched teeth, his eyes blazing.

His right arm hung limply at his side, dislocated.

Yeon Ryang brushed back his hair, dyed red, glanced at the Pine-Pattern Ancient Sword that had flown far away, then let out a sigh and held out his hand to Jinseong.

“Get up.”

“...Yes.”

“What kind of swordsman lets go of his sword? Even if you die, you hold on to it.”

After saying that, Yeon Ryang helped Jinseong up and dusted the dirt from his Taoist robes.

Jinseong looked humiliated at being treated like a child, but perhaps he thought resisting would be even more shameful. He stood there with his fist tightly clenched.

Breathing harshly as he swallowed his anger, Jinseong opened his mouth.

“You...”

“I don’t want to talk to you, so leave. One ugly scuffle with a child is enough for me.”

Yeon Ryang snapped irritably, then turned away and muttered under his breath.

“This is insane. What are they thinking, throwing a kid into something like this...?”

Jinseong glared at Yeon Ryang’s receding back before slowly lowering his head. Biting down on his lip, he used his left hand to pick up the sword rolling on the ground.

I stared blankly at him.

I knew Yeon Ryang hid his real skill to pass as a third-rate martial artist. I knew he was skilled enough that I could barely follow his movements.

But I had not known he was concealing enough strength to crush Jinseong so easily.

Jinseong was not fully grown yet, but he was a genius. He would someday become Wudang’s greatest sword.

Then just how strong was Yeon Ryang?

Beopgong grinned when he saw the stunned expression on my face.

“You’ve never seen that bastard really cut loose, have you?”

“No. It’s... surprising.”

“They don’t call him the Wraith for nothing. Watch closely and learn to be like your brother.”

“Like what?”

“Wherever you go, hide thirty percent of your true strength. Never show all your cards.”

Beopgong’s eyes turned serious for a moment. In a calm voice unlike him, he added,

“That will save you one day.”

Before I could answer, Beopgong walked past me. The seriousness vanished from his face in an instant, and he approached Jinseong with a snicker.

“How does it feel to get wrecked before you even got to swing your sword? Thrilling, right?”

“...”

“Your first defeat is hard enough to accept, but it had to be at the hands of a Demonic Sect bastard. Must feel fantastic.”

Instead of answering, Jinseong ground his teeth.

Blood dripped from his left fist, clenched so tightly that the veins stood out.

Even when he had crossed swords with the river bandits, his energy had been perfectly calm. Now it churned violently like stormy waves.

Beopgong clicked his tongue.

“Fine, fine. I’ll stop teasing you, so rein in your energy. Damn brat. You’re irritating.”

I had no idea what to say at the sight of Jinseong, whose composure had completely shattered. I edged closer and asked carefully,

“Um, Taoist Jinseong. Are you all right?”

“...I am fine.”

The corner of Jinseong’s mouth trembled as he answered, and his arm still hung uselessly at his side.

He did not look all right at all. His arm had practically come off. What exactly was fine about this?

“Hey. Look at me.”

Beopgong put a hand on Jinseong’s body and casually pulled open the front of his robes. Then he grabbed Jinseong’s shoulder and twisted his arm back into place.

CRACK!

Jinseong’s arm jerked with a loud crack.

“What are you doing?! You can’t just force it back in with brute strength! You’ll damage the muscles! Let me see!”

I cried out and ran toward them. When I grabbed Jinseong’s shoulder, he flinched and curled inward.

His muscles were rigid. The shock from having the bone twisted must have been worse than I thought.

“Goodness, if you leave it like this, it’ll fester. Taoist Jinseong, sit here. Yes, stay exactly like that.”

I sat him on the ground and pulled out my needle case. Beopgong snickered.

“You think he’s that frail? Stick a few needles in him and he’ll be fine. You’re making a fuss.”

“Be quiet before I poke holes through your ordination scars, Master. A swordsman’s arm is his life. How could you twist it around so barbarically?”

“Oh, listen to that sharp tongue. Kid, your temper’s coming out more and more.”

“Go find Yeon Ryang. I can’t even see how far he’s gone.”

“Sure.”

Beopgong waved with a grin and disappeared to look for Yeon Ryang. After glaring at his irritating back, I patted Jinseong on the back.

“Relax. If you keep tensing up like that, the needles won’t go in.”

“...Well, that is...”

“Relax.”

“...Yes.”

Jinseong answered quietly and let out a slow breath, as though trying to release the tension from his body.

He still looked strained, but it was better than before, when his muscles had been hard as stone. I inserted needles into his shoulder.

“It would be good to use moxibustion too, but we don’t have any medicinal mugwort. Do not use that shoulder for several days. And, obviously, don’t grip a sword either.”

“Yes.”

“Is there a strong feeling of heat in your shoulder? If you’re feverish, we should use a medicinal decoction...”

“No. Acupuncture is enough.”

“All right. Stay still while I remove the needles.”

When I nodded and removed them, Jinseong quickly arranged his disheveled clothing. Once he had fixed his robes, he looked at me with darkened eyes.

“You were not startled even by that savage energy.”

“Should I have been?”

“Did you already know?”

Jinseong’s pale gray eyes gleamed sharply, as though demanding an explanation.

“You must speak honestly, Young Lady. Only then can I help you. I had concluded that you had been caught up in a succession dispute, but if you knew that person was from the Demonic Sect, I have no choice but to reach a different conclusion. You know what it means to collude with the Demonic Sect.”

“Show me your wrist.”

“Pardon?”

“You sprained your wrist too, didn’t you? It’s swollen.”

After hesitating, Jinseong obediently held out his hand. I rolled up his sleeve and inserted another needle.

As I slowly rotated the needle to stimulate the acupoint, Jinseong’s brow creased slightly.

“Does it hurt?”

“I’m fine.”

“Then I’ll insert it a little deeper. Relax.”

“...Young Lady Tang, you still have not answered my question.”

At Jinseong’s pursuit, I shrugged.

“I have never colluded with the Demonic Sect. I never will, either. Taoist, you know well enough who my grandfather is.”

I removed the needle and lightly pressed his wrist as I continued.

“I did not mention it because you seemed so certain it was not mine, but the Soul-Chasing Butterfly Dart does belong to me. And I was the one who used the Hwagol Powder.”

Jinseong’s face darkened.

“...You used Hwagol Powder yourself?”

“My clan sent people to kill me. I had to erase the traces if I wanted to evade pursuit. As you know, it failed anyway.”

“Then the demonic corruption...”

“A warmhearted Demonic Sect bastard saved a child being chased by wandering martial artists and, through bad luck, left traces behind.”

“...”

“So it is true that I was caught in a succession dispute, and it is also true that I knew Yeon Ryang’s identity. Does that answer your question?”

Jinseong looked up at me, his face set.

“I understand the circumstances. However, regardless of your innocence, I cannot permit the act of concealing a Demonic Sect member.”

“It would be better to put a splint on until the swelling goes down. I’ll go see whether there is something suitable. Stay here for a moment.”

When I tried to get up, changing the subject, Jinseong caught me.

“Young Lady Tang, this will not be solved by avoiding it.”

“Yes. I know.”

“No. You do not understand in the least what kind of situation you are in.”

“Taoist Jinseong.”

“You must not take my words lightly, Young Lady Tang. Do not protect a member of the Demonic Sect. You must sever your relationship with him. If the Demon-Slaying Division decides you are a Demonic Sect spy, there will be no turning back. You will be locked in the Martial Alliance’s prison cells and never emerge again.”

Jinseong’s eyes darkened as he met my gaze. I answered quietly.

“The Martial Alliance is a strange place. No one cared while I was dying, but because someone helped me, you want to drag me off and throw me into the prison cells? Are you saying I should have died rather than accept help from a Demonic Sect member?”

“...That is not what I meant.”

“I know. Thank you for your concern, Taoist. But I cannot abandon the person who saved me—my brother—just to survive on my own.”

“...”

“Yeon Ryang is my family. We may be hunted together, but I cannot turn my back and pretend I do not know him.”

Jinseong’s lips moved silently. Then the hand holding me slowly fell away.

He looked deeply troubled.

I gave him a bitter smile and turned away. Jinseong did not follow.

*****

Beopgong’s attempt to mend the relationship between the two through a spar ended in failure.

Contrary to his intentions, the atmosphere only grew more hostile.

Jinseong demanded an explanation, saying he could not overlook the attempt to deceive the Martial Alliance.

Unlike Jinseong, who remained serious throughout, Beopgong merely picked at his ear as if none of it mattered.

“Am I wanted now too? I’ve been locked in a repentance chamber before, but this will be my first time in the prison cells. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Master Beopgong. This is no time for jokes. You intend to vouch for a Demonic Sect member’s identity. What exactly were you thinking?”

“I’m not joking. Even the Tang Clan kid who barely knows what the Demonic Sect is gets wanted and chased. Do you think I’ll be any different? You’d be the first to hand me over if they told you to.”

At that, Jinseong pressed his lips tightly together. Rubbing his forehead, he lowered his voice.

“As for Young Lady Tang’s matter... I will examine it carefully and ensure she suffers no injustice.”

“I’m not worried about that. Once Ak Jibaek exchanges a few words with that kid, he’ll give a little laugh and let her go.”

At Beopgong’s sullen answer, one of Jinseong’s brows rose into a sharp peak.

He repeatedly gripped and released his sword sheath, as though trying to settle his turbulent emotions.

As I watched Jinseong anxiously, I poked Beopgong in the side.

“Master.”

“What?”

“This did not solve anything at all. I think you just poured oil on the fire. What do we do now?”

At my whisper, Beopgong muttered as though he had a headache.

“I made the wrong call. I thought that bastard Jinseong would be swayed by your words, but he’s stubborn.”

“What are you even talking about?”

This man really had no plan at all.

I glared at Beopgong and rubbed hard at the corners of my eyes.

We were in trouble. What were we supposed to do now?