Chapter 694
Chapter 694
Chapter 694. On the Way to Deliver Wedding Invitations (4)
I asked Warrior Ma Sunbok.
“Then who do you think did something like that?” (Eun Seoho)
“I think I will have to examine it closely to know that.” (Ma Sunbok)
Well, that was true.
We approached that place, and only then did things that had not been visible begin to appear.
They were traces of battle.
To be precise, they were sword marks drawn chaotically around the wall of snow, which bore traces of someone having hollowed it out.
They had not been visible from far away, but once I noticed something was strange and examined it up close, they stood out.
And.
“These are bloodstains.” (Jinyu)
The bloodstains on the ground had disappeared beneath the snow, but the blood that had seeped into the sword marks on the wall of snow still remained.
I examined the hollowed-out marks.
It seemed as though something like an axe had been used to chip it out. And there were white feathers stuck to the wall of snow.
Whenever they caught the light, they shone faintly, making them hard to distinguish from snow.
Seeing that reminded me of what I had heard from Black Iron Hunter earlier.
“The timing was not good. Recently, there has been talk that the cry of the Child-Cry Bird was heard nearby, so we were just about to warn you.” (Black Iron Hunter)
“As the name says, it is a bird that makes the sound of a child crying. It has white feathers that resemble snow.” (Black Iron Hunter)
I nodded and said.
“The Child-Cry Bird was hiding here. These feathers are the proof.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued.
“After digging this place out, it must have disguised itself inside as part of the wall of snow. Then it would have made the sound of a child crying and lured prey in.” (Eun Seoho)
“Then are you saying the Branch Manager and his party came here after hearing that cry?” (Guard Warrior)
“That is my guess. And they realized the Child-Cry Bird was here and fought it.” (Eun Seoho)
But I could not sense any human presence nearby.
What had been the result of that battle, and if there were survivors, where had those survivors gone?
Just then, Warrior Jinyu shouted.
“Look at this!” (Jinyu)
What he was pointing at was a nearby Snow-White Tree.
Nature is truly wondrous, in that there are plants that adapt and grow even in the North Sea like this.
One of them is the Snow-White Tree.
As its name says, it means a snow-covered white tree, and uniquely, its leaves are white.
It is also a tree that generates heat by itself, melts the surrounding snow, and lives by drinking that melted water.
Therefore, if one gets lost in the North Sea, one will not freeze to death as long as one holds a Snow-White Tree.
A long strip of torn cloth was tied to a branch among the dense leaves of the Snow-White Tree Warrior Jinyu pointed at.
Cloth stained with blood.
And the knot tied in that cloth was a mark used by the Eunhae Trading Company.
Its meaning was.
“They are fleeing. Rescue requested.” (Eun Seoho)
“And the direction is that way.” (Jinyu)
Through that mark, they had also indicated the direction they were going to move.
“What shall we do?” (Jinyu)
“I do not think this is something we should decide among ourselves. Let us discuss it with the Small Captain.” (Eun Seoho)
After all, we were not currently moving with only my party, but as a search party.
And finding the Branch Manager’s party was an important matter to the Small Captain as well.
We rejoined the search party.
“Small Captain.” (Eun Seoho)
“How did the matter you went to check turn out?” (Small Captain)
“We found traces of the Branch Manager.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, his expression brightened.
And once he heard my explanation, he immediately rose from his seat.
“In that case, we do not have time to sit around like this.” (Small Captain)
“The sun will set soon, however……” (Someone)
At someone’s concern, Black Iron Hunter spoke firmly.
“If they are being chased by the Child-Cry Bird, we must hurry.” (Black Iron Hunter)
“Would it not be dangerous?” (Someone)
“It should be all right if we move together. Besides, the moon is bright today, so it will not be that dark.” (Black Iron Hunter)
Since those were the words of Black Iron Hunter, who was the most familiar with the geography and climate around here, we could believe him.
We began the search immediately.
Kkui!
Just then, Geumnyeong’s telepathy came.
Kkui! Kku! Kkui!
Hm? If it is the smell of blood, you can track it?
In truth, at first, I had tried to have Geumnyeong smell the Branch Manager’s belongings and find him, but it had failed.
According to Geumnyeong, ordinary smells were erased by the snow, making them difficult to track.
She had been quite disappointed because she could not earn the errand fee.
Before, she had smelled money buried under the snow incredibly well……
Kkui! Kku!
That does not mean you are an ordinary animal that likes blood, so I should not misunderstand?
I did not have that misunderstanding from the beginning.
In any case, if Geumnyeong could track the smell of blood, things would become very easy.
Then now we just need to go to where the blood was?
Kkui! Kku!
Ah, you already know that smell?
Good. Go.
Geumnyeong immediately ran off and vanished into a dot in an instant.
She was already tiny to begin with, though.
In the meantime, we continued moving.
As Black Iron Hunter had said, even late at night it was brighter than expected, so there was no difficulty in searching.
“They say the Child-Cry Bird is more persistent than one would expect. So once it chooses prey, it chases it to the end.” (Black Iron Hunter)
“That is quite vicious.” (Eun Seoho)
A creature like that could not simply be left alone.
As we continued searching while talking like that.
Thump.
Geumnyeong leaped into my chest.
Kkuikkuikkuikkui! Kku!
Follow quickly? A battle is happening right now, and they are badly injured?
I pretended to look around, then pointed in one direction.
“There seems to be some kind of trace over there.” (Eun Seoho)
Then I took the lead and walked forward, discreetly sending qi ahead to stamp footprints.
“It really is true. Then the direction of travel is……” (Small Captain)
“This way.” (Eun Seoho)
In that manner, I made markers myself as we headed toward the place Geumnyeong guided us to.
We heard some sound from the direction we were heading, and we approached where that sound was coming from.
“Urgh! The injured, fall back!” (Branch Member)
“Damn it! It is damned persistent!” (Branch Member)
“Waaah!” (Child-Cry Bird)
And mixed in among them was the sound of a baby crying.
“You bastard! Where do you think you are going!” (Branch Member)
“Please do something about that sound!” (Branch Member)
We hurried toward that place and saw a fierce battle taking place.
Seeing them, the Small Captain shouted.
“Support them!” (Small Captain)
“Yes!” (Search Party)
But when they saw us, they waved their hands widely and shouted.
“No!” (Branch Member)
“No! Do not come! I said do not come!” (Branch Member)
“Damn it! If you hear that Child-Cry Bird’s voice, you will be bewitched!” (Branch Member)
What?
“Waaah!” (Child-Cry Bird)
Just then, the cry of the Child-Cry Bird rang out again.
At that sound, the eyes of some of the search party members who had been running at the front went vacant, and they aimed their swords at us.
Damn, so that is why they told us not to come.
The fortunate thing amid all this was that my guard warriors were not bewitched by that voice.
It seemed one became bewitched after entering a certain distance.
Then what should we do about those who had already been bewitched?
I thought about it for a moment, but the answer was simple.
Knock them out cleanly.
The problem was that in order to knock them out, we had to go to where they were, and if we did, someone else might be bewitched.
Kkui!
Hm? You will help?
Kkui!
You can do it well, so do not worry and just prepare the silver?
I nodded.
Yes.
At my permission, Geumnyeong immediately moved.
Moving at a speed impossible to see, she body-slammed into their stomachs.
Thwack!
“Keuk!” (Search Party Member)
Thwack!
“Ghk!” (Search Party Member)
Very effective.
One by one, the search party members fainted and collapsed with a single blow.
I glared at the Child-Cry Bird, which was continuing to attack the people before it.
The fundamental problem would only be resolved if the Child-Cry Bird ahead of us was killed.
“Whew, I will go.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Warrior Jinyu asked.
“But…… will you be all right?” (Jinyu)
“I should be fine.” (Eun Seoho)
If it had seemed dangerous for me, Miss Seohyang would have warned me.
I approached the Child-Cry Bird.
“Waaah!” (Child-Cry Bird)
The sound of a child crying rang out again, but as expected, that sound had no effect on me whatsoever.
The Great Yin Ice Sea Divine Art, the martial art of Snow Wind Palace, prevents one from falling under evil arts or illusions.
That must have been why, when Snow Wind Palace was still strong, the Child-Cry Bird had not dared even think of coming here.
In any case, today that Child-Cry Bird picked the wrong day.
The day it would die, that is.
Sreung.
I drew the Silver Mist Sword and charged at it.
The Child-Cry Bird saw me and flinched.
No, was it because of Geumnyeong, not me?
Either way, this was an opportunity.
I rushed straight at the Child-Cry Bird and swung the Silver Mist Sword.
Slash!
But perhaps because it was too shallow, it only wounded its neck and did not cut it off.
“Kieeeeeek!” (Child-Cry Bird)
The Child-Cry Bird shrieked as if it would tear apart.
A different cry from the sound of a child crying earlier.
Only now had it realized it was in danger.
Flap!
The Child-Cry Bird flapped its wings, and a fierce wind rose.
It looks like that thing is trying to run away.
At that wind, the people around staggered and collapsed, and the Child-Cry Bird flew up into the sky.
Hah!
That thing still does not know.
The true meaning of the name Snow Wind Palace, that is.
I will show it properly what it means to rule the snow wind.
I raised my sword and drew up my genuine qi. Then, by applying Snow Wind, the fourth technique of the Twelve Forms of the True Snow Swordsmanship, I artificially stirred up a snow wind around us.
Whoooosh!
Soon, the snow wind blew fiercely and covered me and the Child-Cry Bird.
When the snow wind blows, even spiritual beasts avoid it.
That was how terrifying the power of the snow wind was.
The snow wind could not affect me in any way, but that was not the case for the Child-Cry Bird.
“Kieek!” (Child-Cry Bird)
Swept up in the snow wind, the Child-Cry Bird was thrown to the ground. It tried to flap its wings again, but it was no use.
Crack!
In the end, its wing was bent backward, and from the pain, the Child-Cry Bird kept letting out pained cries.
“Kieek! Kiek!” (Child-Cry Bird)
Shall I end it soon?
Ah, there is something I must do before that.
“Geumnyeong. Ask that creature how many Child-Cry Birds there are around here.” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui!” (Geumnyeong)
Geumnyeong nodded and asked the Child-Cry Bird.
“Kkui. Kku? Kkui.” (Geumnyeong)
“Kieek. Kiruk.” (Child-Cry Bird)
Geumnyeong relayed those words to me.
There are around three of them nearby? Ha! Quite a lot have come down.
In any case, I will have to deal with all of them too.
Then my business here is done.
I raised my sword and cut off the Child-Cry Bird’s head just like that.
“Kiruk!” (Child-Cry Bird)
The Child-Cry Bird twitched several times, then went limp.
Whew, this resolves this incident too.
When I withdrew my inner arts, the snow wind that had been obscuring visibility subsided.
I had stirred up the snow wind to prevent the Child-Cry Bird from running away, but also to block their sight and sound.
“Liege!” (Seowoo)
The guard warriors led by Warrior Seowoo ran over and knelt.
“We apologize that we could not be of help.” (Seowoo)
“What do you mean, you were not of help?” (Eun Seoho)
I shook my head and said.
“You all made judgments suited to the situation. I cannot tell you how fortunate I am that you followed my order.” (Eun Seoho)
If they had fallen for the Child-Cry Bird’s enchantment and swung their swords, it would truly have been a disaster.
“Liege……” (Seowoo)
“So do not blame yourselves too much.” (Eun Seoho)
I comforted them like that and took out the bottle containing Geumnyeong’s saliva from my robe, then distributed it.
“Then please take care of the injured.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Guard Warriors)
At my request, they began moving busily.
It was by no means easy to run away while avoiding the Child-Cry Bird’s attacks.
The injuries they had suffered proved that.
In the meantime, I woke those whom Geumnyeong had knocked unconscious.
I could wake them easily by putting a little of my energy into their bodies.
It probably felt like rubbing themselves down with cold water.
Rubbing down with cold water on a snowy day does make me feel a little sorry, but it cannot be helped.
After waking everyone like that, I said.
“Now, now, the situation is over. Hurry and help them prepare to camp for the night.” (Eun Seoho)
“Gasp!” (Search Party Member)
“Yes! U-understood.” (Search Party Member)
Then I approached the Branch Manager.
“I am truly glad you are alive.” (Eun Seoho)
“Thank you so much for saving us like this. Young Captain, you are the benefactor who saved our lives.” (Branch Manager)
“Not at all.” (Eun Seoho)
I shook my head.
“The reason I was able to save you all was thanks to Warrior Ma here.” (Eun Seoho)
At those words, Merchant Manager Gupyo beside him shouted in surprise.
“N-no! Is that you? Is that not Sunbok?” (Gupyo)
“Uncle…… sniff.” (Ma Sunbok)
“You brat! Why are you crying?” (Gupyo)
“Because you worked so hard like this, sniff, to support me, sniff……” (Ma Sunbok)
At those words, Merchant Manager Gupyo gave a faint laugh.
“What a bland fellow you are.” (Gupyo)
I said to Merchant Manager Gupyo.
“Warrior Ma achieved great merit this time. He discovered an important clue, allowing us to find all of you.” (Eun Seoho)
It was thanks to the traces he had discovered that Geumnyeong had been able to smell the blood left there and come all the way here.
“So please praise him a great deal.” (Eun Seoho)
“Of course.” (Gupyo)
Merchant Manager Gupyo nodded and called Warrior Ma Sunbok.
“Sunbok! Come here.” (Gupyo)
At that call, Warrior Ma Sunbok approached him, and he immediately struck him on the back.
Thwack!
“Uak! I-it hurts! Uncle!” (Ma Sunbok)
“It means to cheer up! Did I die? I am still perfectly fine! So what are you blubbering for? Live a little more confidently! Hold your head high!” (Gupyo)
He continued.
“You may not have parents, but you have me, don’t you?” (Gupyo)
“Uncle……” (Ma Sunbok)
“If you understand, go light a fire. I am cold.” (Gupyo)
“Yes.” (Ma Sunbok)
He quickly bustled about to light a fire.
“Urgh! This is killing me.” (Gupyo)
After sending Warrior Ma Sunbok off like that, Merchant Manager Gupyo let out a groan.
Looking closely, the wounds on his shoulder and back were fairly deep.
Just then, Warrior Ipil approached and applied Geumnyeong’s saliva to those wounds.
They were startled to see the wounds heal in an instant.
“What is this?” (Gupyo)
At that question, I answered as if it was nothing.
“Ah, it is a spiritual medicine.” (Eun Seoho)
“What? S-spiritual medicine?” (Gupyo)
“Gasp! It seems incredibly expensive……” (Branch Member)
Of course it is expensive.
Because to make Geumnyeong drool, one has to wave at least gold around.
But instead of saying that, I urged them to recover quickly.
“You only need to recover quickly. That is how you will be worth the price of this spiritual medicine.” (Eun Seoho)
Still, Geumnyeong performed quite well today.
Whew, how much will I have to give her so she will say she is not disappointed?
I should negotiate a little.
Ah, this is not to give Geumnyeong less money.
It is to build Geumnyeong’s negotiation skills……
Kkui?
Am I the Emperor?
“……” (Eun Seoho)
I have nothing to say. Tch.