Book 6 Chapter 17

The Tremors of Jinryeong

"How could this happen…"

Drenched in the blood of the assassin, from head to toe, Jinryeong was still disoriented.

Her body, defying her own reason, continued to tremble.

"Soryeong! Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

Namgung Sang, pale and momentarily lost in thought, approached Jinryeong, who stood trembling, and asked in a shaky voice. The hands Namgung Sang held were soaked in blood.

"I… I'm fine."

Jinryeong spoke with trembling lips. The shock of just moments ago seemed to still linger. She had just glimpsed the threshold of death and returned.

As Namgung Sang held her delicate shoulders with a worried expression, her faint tremors were transmitted to his fingertips. Namgung Sang's heart ached as if it would shatter.

"When wielding your sword, let your mind be like ice!"

This was one of the first essential principles a sword wielder learned, a golden rule that could mean life or death in a critical moment.

Jinryeong had momentarily forgotten this most basic and absolute teaching, which was why she had made such a mistake and driven herself into a corner.

At that moment, Biryuyeon strode towards Jinryeong, whose trembling had not yet stopped.

"Slap!"

Everyone watched with widened eyes as the man's rough palm fiercely met the woman's soft cheek in a surprising scene. Their mouths gaped like fish.

The surprise of the Thousand Sword Clan, the first-year trainees, was especially unparalleled. On the surface, it seemed like an act of insubordination. Disregarding the surrounding gazes, Biryuyeon spoke in a firm voice.

"To make such a mistake! Did you want to die? What would you have done if you had died! Have you forgotten the most basic common sense that a moment's lapse in vigilance leads to death?"

Biryuyeon's reprimand was as sharp as a frost. Unable to dare to retort, Jinryeong bowed her head deeply.

Though she still held her tingling cheek, the ripples that had been on her delicate shoulders had vanished like dust blown away by a gentle breeze.

After briefly observing the people of the Jungyang Escort Agency bustling about from the sudden ambush by unidentified assailants, Biryuyeon's gaze returned to Jinryeong. Jinryeong's body flinched for a moment. Her cheeks were still red and swollen.

Gently stroking her swollen cheek, Biryuyeon said in a kind voice.

"You have a lot of blood on you. Go wash up."

"Yes?"

In this situation, how could she possibly clean herself… And besides, they were on a boat. There were no facilities for bathing.

The doubt was quickly resolved.

"Clatter! Bang, bang, bang!"

With a single smooth movement of Biryuyeon's hand, the shackles on Jinryeong's wrists and ankles were quickly released. The heavy shackles fell onto the wooden deck with a considerable clatter.

"???"

At this point, Jinryeong still had no idea what was happening.

When Biryuyeon's finger pointed to the blue river water, she finally understood Biryuyeon's intention.

"There are still enemies remaining!"

At Biryuyeon's words, resolve filled Jinryeong's eyes. Biryuyeon's right hand lightly pushed her left shoulder.

"Whoosh!"

"Plop!"

Pushed by Biryuyeon's hand, her body performed a swallow's dive in the air and then disappeared into the river.

Ripples appeared, but no large splashes were made.

"Soryeong!"

The first person to let out a cry of shock was Gong Sang. He looked as if he had just woken from a nightmare.