Just the Two of You (3)

‘No way, what kind of crazy bastards are these people…’

The interior of the cavern connected underground was truly shocking.

Cell after cell lined left and right along a deep passageway. In narrow spaces not even one square foot in size, two or three people crouched together.

People of all kinds showed up—no distinction of age or gender.

Warriors stood on guard at various points along the passage.

The one who had brought him pointed at one of them and asked.

“Where is the captain?”

“He’s inside. But what about that child?”

“A top-quality commodity has arrived. Good enough to trade with him.”

“Excellent. As it happens, he’s already here.”

“Then go report immediately. Keep this one locked up and under close watch.”

They called him a commodity.

A slave trader then? Incredibly, no other identity came to mind.

Slavery was legally forbidden in the country. So they must be trying to sell him to the Western regions where trading is possible.

But something about it felt off.

‘A government garrison should be stationed in Dunhuang, right?’

The destination was the West Pacifying Protectorate in Dunhuang. Over ten thousand soldiers at minimum were stationed nearby.

No matter how vast the desert, conducting slave trades while evading their surveillance would have limits.

He had come briefly intending to raid the bandits’ den for travel funds, but something larger seemed to be hidden behind it.

Clank-!

It was the sound of one of the cell doors opening.

“Get in!”

Yu Jinsan obediently stepped inside.

There was no need to reveal his identity now. He could shatter rusty iron bars with his internal qi anytime.

It was a very small space, but his small frame made sitting comfortable enough.

He sat cross-legged and began to sort out his thoughts.

‘There’s definitely something else behind these guys. They couldn’t operate this organized otherwise.’

Wiping out slave traders would be nothing — however many they were, they wouldn’t be his match.

But first he thought it best to understand the situation more. From life experience, he suspected collusion between the slave traders and the West Pacifying Protectorate.

He glanced beside him; someone had buried their head between their knees, sinking into deep despair.

- Hey, young man. Have you already lost hope?

The young man who heard Yu Jinsan’s telepathic voice looked up and looked around.

But only a little kid sat beside him, lips tightly sealed.

“…?”

Again his head hummed and someone’s voice echoed.

- How did you end up captured?

He was an ordinary civilian with no connection to the murim world.

The telepathic voice, heard for the first time in his life, sounded to the youth like the voice of heaven — a ray of light in despair.

He clasped his hands above his head and trembled.

“…Oh god.”

It seemed he’d seriously misunderstood.

Yu Jinsan sighed and softly whispered aloud.

“If you want to get out of here, tell me what you know. The only one here who can help you is the old man.”

He looked dazedly at Yu Jinsan.

He looked no older than ten at most. But the spirit in his eyes and the weight in his speech suggested otherwise.

He instinctively felt that the child before him was someone he couldn’t approach.

“Wh-who are you?”

“Think of me as a god or whatever. You wouldn’t believe it even if I told you anyway.”

“…Then, really?”

Yu Jinsan gently took the youth’s wrist.

As a deep, warm qi was transmitted, his body and mind quickly calmed.

“Enough—let me ask a few things first. How did you get captured?”

“…I’m a merchant traveling between Chang’an and Dunhuang. I encountered bandits recently and was captured by them and brought here.”

“Alright, tell me what you’ve seen and felt about those guys while being here.”

Yu Jinsan had an extensive conversation with him over a short time.

Information was limited, but the pieces he had imagined began to fit together.

There were about twenty to thirty warriors guarding this place. Many accomplices also came and went.

A bandit gang capturing people to sell them. Slave traders who managed and smuggled those slaves to the Western regions. And the Protectorate office colluding with them.

‘It’s truly a trinity.’

Even the government troops responsible for maintaining order were involved.

He hadn’t imagined the region could be this rotten.

It wasn’t a problem that could be solved simply by crushing the bandits and slave traders — if the organization collapsed, new scoundrels would arise.

At the top of these links would be the Blue Dragon Troops members disguised as officials of the West Pacifying Protectorate.

Correcting those men so the Protectorate could perform its proper role was the only solution, as per his original purpose.

‘I’ll take them to the Protectorate and settle this. But first…’

First, he had to go back and bring his granddaughter.

He couldn’t carry out the operation alone and head to Dunhuang.

“I’ll go somewhere for a moment and be right back.”

“…What?”

“I’ll return soon and save everyone, so just wait a little.”

There was nothing more to do here for now. The only thing left was escape.

The warriors here weren’t truly threatening, so it wouldn’t be hard.

Yu Jinsan was convinced of that. Up to now…

Just as he was about to smash the iron bars, he heard approaching footsteps from afar.

“This time you can expect something good.”

“See it for yourself and decide. If what you say is true, it’ll be a fine prize.”

“Yes, you’ll definitely be pleased.”

The approaching presence was clearly three people.

But only two sets of footsteps could be heard. To conceal a presence even in this cavern…

Then one of the three must be a formidable warrior.

‘Looks like he’s from the Protectorate.’

Soon the three appeared in front of the cell where Yu Jinsan was imprisoned.

True enough, among lightly armored warriors, the silhouette of a high-ranking official was visible.

A blue robe embroidered with the Vermilion Bird. His controlled movements marked him as a tremendous expert at a glance.

Seeing him, Yu Jinsan’s face hardened.

‘…Blue Dragon troops?’

A part of a tattoo could be seen beneath his official collar.

Only a small portion was revealed, but how could he forget that design?

Yu Jinsan barely suppressed the rising killing intent.

“That’s the one.”

“He doesn’t look like an ordinary child. Open the door at once.”

Yu Jinsan hesitated for a moment.

There hadn’t been a single easy opponent among Blue Dragon members so far. And besides, weren’t there his aides around?

He couldn’t just stay still either; there was no way he’d fail to notice Yu Jinsan hiding his martial skills.

One consolation was that he seemed weaker than the man who had disguised himself as the leader of the Flying Blade Clan. He probably hadn’t reached the Supreme Warrior level; thus he might be a worthy opponent to try.

But recklessly fighting wasn’t a wise choice.

‘No need to force things in a disadvantageous situation.’

Clack-!

As the door opened, the official approached with a look of interest.

Without hesitation he reached toward Yu Jinsan, likely to examine his physique.

As he groped, the official sensed something odd and tilted his head.

“You said he was a child without martial arts…”

He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Yu Jinsan’s palm struck the unsuspecting man’s chest.

Yu Family’s Fist technique, three-form Flying Projection Palm. In an instant, qi explodes from the palm to fling the opponent away.

Swoosh-!

The moment the qi wave burst forth, the official’s feet lifted off the ground.

In the blink of an eye his body slammed mercilessly into the opposite wall.

Kraaaash-!!!

The wall dented inward and a cloud of dust spread out.

“Ugh!”

The surprise attack succeeded, but Yu Jinsan’s expression wasn’t cheerful — it hadn’t dealt as much shock to the opponent as he’d expected.

‘He emitted defensive qi in such a short time?’

He wasn’t an easy opponent, as expected.

Maybe if he had a spear it would be different, but there’s no need to take risks fighting now.

With his decision made, Yu Jinsan ran without looking back.

Tat-tat-tat-!

“Y-you bastard?”

“Will you not you stop there!?”

Though the slave traders’ curses came from behind, it wasn’t the time to care — a Blue Dragon member had already readied himself and was pursuing.

A terrifying killing intent pressed from behind. He was furious.

Bursting out of the cavern, Yu Jinsan sprinted like mad toward where his granddaughter was.

It had taken a full hour to ride here by horse, but with full light footwork the distance would take less than a quarter of the previous run.

“You bastard!!”

Shouts from behind didn’t stop—if caught, they’d tear him to pieces.

Was it because of his short legs? Or some physical disadvantage? The gap kept closing.

At this rate he’d be caught before reaching his destination.

Catching his breath, Yu Jinsan abruptly halted his Light footwork technique.

He then turned and began to wave both hands — like a white crane flapping its wings.

“Did I look that easy to you!?”

He was the lord of a martial family after all.

He hadn’t fled out of fear — he simply didn’t want to take unnecessary risks.

At that moment the pursuing Blue Dragon member raised his right hand diagonally.

“You!!”

A powerful flow of qi. Seeing his hand wrapped in red fierce qi, one couldn’t help but be tense.

But Yu Jinsan didn’t yield; he emitted qi force from both hands and exchanged blows with him.

Kwaaang-!!!

The qi explosion whipped the surrounding sand into a storm.

Within it, the two figures were flung in opposite directions by the recoil of the impact.

“Ugh!”

Yu Jinsan turned his back and continued to dash forward.

The impact transmitted through his arms was no joke. He wasn’t injured from the clashes, but a lingering ache remained.

‘Damn bastard.’

The earlier clash had been to widen the distance again.

When he glanced back, it seemed the opponent hadn’t been entirely unharmed either.

Yet his resolve to catch him seemed unwavering.

“You’re dead today.”

“Really? But you’ll be the one dead in a moment.”

“…?”

The distance was closing again, but he no longer needed to worry — he was nearly at his destination.

Soon the place where someone had been waiting came into view in the distance.

A clean, clear desert lake revealed itself among exotic trees.

A little girl was splashing in it, hugging a broken log and flapping about, clearly delighted.

“Child, grandpa’s here!!”

Yu Seol, who had been watching, raised a hand and waved energetically.

“Come in quickly, it’s fun!”

Yu Jinsan, running toward the lakeshore, pushed off the ground and soared high. The Blue Dragon member pursuing him leapt after without hesitation.

Thrust-! Soar-!

The two shooting up side by side, as if piercing the sky, soon saw a strange sight.

In a secluded corner of the lakeshore, dozens of people with swollen faces knelt in a row.

At that moment, an unmistakable unease showed on the Blue Dragon member’s face. But it was too late to turn back — his moving form was already descending toward the lake.