Surviving as a Rival in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 14 – Fairy Jigall Yeonji (01)

“Cough!”

I was spitting out blood clots along with the water that had filled my insides.

The martial arts of Chugeom, firmly established in Danjeon, did not move as if a piece of iron had been stuck into my lower abdomen. Avoiding it and operating Danjeon, the flow of qi was constantly disturbed, making it difficult to use even 40% of my usual inner strength.

“Damn it…!”

The lump of inner strength that Chugeom had thrust in was not structurally complex or sophisticated. It was a straightforward mass of inner power, and if I could digest it, it was so pure that I could incorporate it into my own inner strength.

However, on the flip side, there was no way to extract or cleanse the contaminated part. Unlike the use of qi-breath techniques to expel waste material, as in the case of medicine and poison where the difference lies in the dosage, the inner strength that benefited the body was not expelled like waste but stuck to me, unmoving.

“You brat!”

Offering me gifts that enhance my martial arts, claiming to want me. But if I had to face the impending crisis in this state, it was nothing short of a well-set trap, ideal for my death.

Yet, finding a way to unravel this blood entanglement was not something I could pursue. Blood entanglement, apart from the common techniques of controlling blood or putting someone to sleep by infusing qi into popular acupoints, was a complex skill used only in the secret techniques of various martial arts schools.

‘Like ransomware…’

Masters would rather solve it themselves; even an evil person using randomly created blood entanglement techniques might not know how to unravel them. Of course, under normal circumstances, due to the natural characteristics of the person’s blood vessels, any blood entanglement technique would naturally unravel over time. But now, time was the issue.

“Hoo… Is this the limit…”

Indeed, it was beyond the capabilities of a high-ranking officer.

I succeeded in making Chugeom feel threatened, but that’s where it ended. Just as someone allergic to bee stings might die from the risk, but in most cases, it would only hurt, and humans could kill bees, the difference between me and Chugeom was at that level.

If I’m lucky, I can reach the level where I can kill Chugeom, and Chugeom can reach the level where he can kill me just by having the intention.

“It’s fortunate to be alive… No, it feels more like I was looking for excuses to keep you alive…”

In the original work, Chugeom was a guy who, with a fierce determination, tried to kill Yeonji with a poisoned needle. But this time, unexpectedly, he spared me in a situation where he could have killed me.

I couldn’t help but smirk at the thought of how much destruction this is to the original.

“Sohyup. Are you okay?”

As I barely recovered, Jang Yeonji, disguised in dark attire, revealed a concerned look.

“I’m fine. I did manage to drink some water, so it’s just this much…”

The identity of the Jang Yeonji who appeared in the middle of the night was none other than her, Jang Yeonji’s twin sister.

Combining the clothes she had for her disguise, she temporarily created an outfit for Jang Yeonji to make it seem like she had arrived.

Originally, Jang Yeonji would arrive at Sacheon as soon as the sun rose, and then, as usual, she would hear rumors about Bang Gyu-sung. Following that, she would have to lure him and his organization using him as bait, but…

“Now they will come looking for me.”

Having already impersonated herself and revealed her appearance to the woman in front of me, once Jang Yeonji hears news about the imposter, she will reach this place without hesitation.

“Thank you. Thanks to you… I survived.”

If she hadn’t disguised herself as Jang Yeonji, I would have been killed by Chugeom.

“Don’t mention it…”

“But seeing how they were mistaken, it seems… you must be a relative of Jang Galsaga. You resemble Jang Yeonji in appearance.”

“My name is not important, Sohyup. So, please feel free to call me whatever you like.”

Indeed. If there is any leak of information regarding her name, rumors about the shadow that can impersonate or replace Jang Yeonji might spread. If that happens, one of Jang Yeonji’s hidden strategies might be exposed.

“Well then…”

She doesn’t refer to herself as Jang. But she is another Jang Yeonji.

“I’ll call you Yeonji Soldier.”

“That name…”

“It’s already familiar on my lips.”

She, obstructed from taking the name from Jegalsega. However, she was undoubtedly another Jegal Yeonji.

In that case, having the name Yeonji is enough for her… I think.

‘I don’t know if it’s a good name since I’m not skilled at naming, but well.’

Watching novelists come up with names for characters, I used to think they were just doing it carelessly. However, seeing how my head is buzzing just by giving a name to one soldier in front of me, writers who come up with names for dozens, hundreds of characters are truly remarkable.

I probably won’t have to name anyone else in the future.

“If Sohyeop wants to call me that way… feel free to call me.”

It took almost a month since we met to finally organize the titles. It felt like it took a long time.

“And Sohyeop. From now on… Jegal Yeonji of Jinang County will come to visit.”

“Jinang County… Are you coming because of Yeonji Soldier?”

“Yes. And also… it’s Jegal Yeonji who asked to send me to Sacheon to confirm information.”

Jegal Yeonji had a sense of betrayal from Jegalsega, the traitor imposed on her, and a sense of the secret movements of the dark organization in the martial world.

Of course, she still couldn’t be sure, so she sought help from her most trusted shadow, her twin sister, and the story goes on to lose her sister and gain affection…

‘Why is it my fate to go to Bangyuseong……’

Moreover, the reason she didn’t want to meet Jegal Yeonji is that this woman, despite her beautiful and wise appearance, is a modern psychopath who sees people’s emotions as numbers.

No, judging by her actions, she was definitely a psychopath.

She was willing to use the first sight of Bangyuseong as bait to obtain information about her twin sister, so if I’m hiding information about Yeonji again, I don’t know what she might do to extract that information…

‘What I need in times like this… Isn’t it Lee Ijai?’

Evil subdues evil, and annoying men are entangled with annoying women to make them play together.

Ah, anyway, he’s one of the three or four bastards from Ban Kyu-sung. If we’re going to be precise, we can consider him as the second lady of Hansoso right after Hansoso Boso, so let’s just involve him from now on.

“Yeonji, can you bring Ban Kyu-sung here?”

“If it’s Ban Kyu-sung… the one who had a fight with Sohyup last time…”

“Yes, that guy. I heard he’s looking for me. Can you bring him here around the time Lady Jinang is coming?”

“Lady Jinang is nearby, so she’ll arrive soon. Even if we call him quickly, he’s likely to arrive at least a moment later.”

“That’s fine. I’ll buy some time, at least a moment or so.”

“I’ll go.”

“By the way, what is Samae doing? It seems like she’s on the first floor judging by her presence.”

“Well…”

Just before Yeonji could explain, a sense of tension unfolded from the lower floor.

Suddenly, it felt like warm air was blowing, uncomfortably comforting.

It was Jigalsega’s Lady Jinang, Jigal Yeonji, beginning to subdue this inn as her own space.

“Let’s talk later.”

Yeonji, who came from the Jigalsega family, quickly flew out of the room before the formation was completed. I deliberately sat on the bed, practicing my breathing again, waiting for Lady Jinang to come find me.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

The noise of people spending time in the room or eating in the dining room stopped, and amidst the unpleasant silence where even the sounds of insects and birds were absent, only the sound of Lady Jinang walking on the Jigalsega’s formation with modern high heels, as if stepping on stones, echoed.

The exact identity would be the sound of Lady Jinang, who was walking gracefully on the Jigalsega’s formation made by Jegalsega, but…

Swish.

As the door opened with the movements of the formations she was performing, a woman with an appearance so beautiful that her mouth would fall open, dressed in a heavenly outfit like a fairy, was revealed.

Just a moment ago, a woman who looked similar to Yeonji, who had just left the room, but much colder, with lifeless eyes and vividly painted bright red lips, in a dazzling outfit that overwhelmed just by looking at it.

“Excuse me. Yeonjeong-ha Sohyeop.”

Among the Seven Peaks of Oryongchilbong, Cheonbong (穿鳳), known for her wisdom and beauty, stood before me.

* * *

Click, click, click.

The young attendants by her side brought a splendid chair, meticulously fitting each piece of wood together, creating a throne for her to ascend.

‘Tsk… ridiculous.’

Though the whole process seemed ridiculous, Lady Jeongal Yeonji, being the character she was, accepted it with a nonchalant attitude, melting her martial arts prowess into the performance to elevate her inner strength.

“……”

“……”

Silence filled the room, and the heat emanating from my body felt almost scorching.

“You don’t ask questions, do you?”

“Should I?”

“Usually, in such situations, there are many things one might be curious about. Who I am, why I’m dressed so extravagantly, why I spread the formation in this inn, isolating Sohyeop. Or how I came to know Sohyeop’s name.”

“If you don’t go around hiding your name, just by asking about the inn’s guests, you could know my name. With the vast sea and many wealthy households, I could be one among them.”

“hehehehe… hehehe…”

Interest sparked in the lifeless eyes.

Her martial arts prowess wasn’t particularly strong. Lady Jeongal’s martial arts were overshadowed by Jegalsega’s achievements and esteemed wisdom, barely reaching the level of a Seven Peaks seat. In practical martial arts, she would be considered an upper-class master, capable of unraveling this formation and escaping. In a real danger scenario, the Sammae would rush to her aid.

“Alright. If you have the confidence, there’s nothing to fear.”

“I’ve already heard rumors that you clashed with the organization.”

“The organization?”

“Yes. The bodies of Talmyeon-Gwi and those who collaborated with them in Sacheon are currently being confirmed.”

It’s a lie. In fact, Jinang Hyeon-nyeo couldn’t take any evidence from this place. That’s why she devised a plan like a decoy.

“I don’t know. Maybe the novel has changed, and she might have actually obtained the evidence…”

But claiming to have confirmed the evidence at this moment is absurd. Perhaps, she’s trying to test me with this…

“You… You know about that organization?”

“Yes, I do.”

Madness flickered in Jinang Hyeon-nyeo’s eyes at those words.

“There it is! The gaze of a crazy woman!”

Remembering the master’s saying, “Don’t deal with crazy people,” I ignored Jinang Hyeon-nyeo for a while. Seeing it now, if there wasn’t the overarching premise that I had to progress the novel, I would have wanted to ignore her and run away.

“That’s right. Indeed… It’s true that they have slowly infiltrated the Central Wulin. In that case, the Southern Alliance too…”

“Oh, they’re from the Ma School.”

“Yes, that organization… Right?”

“When you expose those doing wicked things in the Central Wulin, 80% of them are from the Ma School. Isn’t that right?”

Jinang Hyeon-nyeo’s expression blankly changed at those words.

“What?”

The bewildered expression is just like my sister’s. Indeed, they are twins.