51 Chapter 50 (2/2)
”Exactly!”
”We will never speak of the incident again!”
Kang-hyuk wasn't completely trusting in their words. At least one or two of them was likely to let the information slip, even if by mistake.
Nonetheless, he felt that there was no other way to prevent further nuisance to him for the time being, and so he let it slip.
”Bu-but, how are we to explain this situation?”
Kang-hyuk picked up the bamboo bottle that was lying on the ground in response to Oh-Tae's question. He opened the seal, and sprayed its contents over Hae-sak and the other warriors.
”Like this!”
”...?”
”You can say that they accidentally sprayed the drugging substance over themselves!”
”Ah! That's a good idea!”
A loud commotion could be heard from outside the cave.
”Oh! This seems to be the place!”
”Good lord! Warriors of the Black Snake Sect!”
”We'll have to report this to the Principal!”
From the voices, it was obvious that the back-up warriors they had been waiting for had arrived.
”You've all come! It must have been hard to find us!”
Dang Eun-ah arose as Kang-hyuk spoke. At her flushed face, Kang-hyuk was instantly aware of her issue, and gave her his outer robe to cover herself with.
*Woof!*
Kang-hyuk turned around at the sound of Deuk's barking.
Deuk, who had a red bundle tied to his back, ran towards him like a flying arrow.
*Woof woof!*
Deuk wagged his tail, while Kang-hyuk untied the bundle from his back and grinned.
He was aware of who had tied the bundle onto Deuk from the unique knot.
'It's Ae-rin!'
He opened the bundle.
Inside was a set of clothing, and judging by the pretty colouring, Kang-hyuk could tell it was women's clothing.
It was none other than Byeok Ae-rin's doing, the very Byeok Ae-rin who had served the 'Dragon Lord' for fifty years.
She had heard that one of the kidnapped teachers was a woman and so, she had anticipated that a change of clothes may be required.
He first untied the students, then addressed them.
”It's safe now. Don't worry about Dang Seonsaeng, and just follow Yun Seonsaeng and Oh Seonsaeng out of the cave.”
”Yes!”
Kang-hyuk picked up Hae-sak, and handed him over to Yun Ha-seong.
”You can hand him over to the Principal.”
”I understand.”
”I'll leave when Dang Seonsaeng changes her clothing.”
Restraining themselves from looking behind, Oh-Tae and Yun Ha-seong quickly left the cave with the students.
Kang-hyuk handed the clothes over to Dang Eun-ah.
”I know we're in a hurry, but please wear these.”
”Th-thank you.”
She then took the clothes.
”But how did you know I would need clothing?”
”This is the doing of my maid. If you want to thank someone, you should thank her.”
”Is that so? Either way, thank you.”
”I'll turn around.”
Dang Eun-ah attempted to change her clothing, but was hindered by the fact that her hands were still bound in chains.
Kang-hyuk turned slightly at the sound of the chains, with a changed impression. By the unique clink, he was able to recognize the material it was made out of- Million Year Cold Iron.
'Tsk tsk, I can't believe that they're using that precious iron for such a purpose! What a waste of resources!'
Kang-hyuk sighed.
”Excuse me for a moment.”
As he spoke, he raised his attendance book, and with it, easily broke through the chains that had been forged with the Million Year Cold Iron.
Dang Eun-ah's eyes became wide as the chains broke with a light tap, almost as though he had snapped a piece of rotten wood.
'His cultivation is at an incredible level! These chains didn't even budge an inch, despite me pouring all of my strength in an attempt to break them!'
Kang-hyuk looked at Dang Eun-ah's body, raised his hand, and swung it sidewardly.
*Seuseuseuk!*
With Kang-hyuk's hand movements, the Am-gi weapon that had been lodged in Dang Eun-ah's body dislodged, and fell to the ground.
”Arghhhh!”
”Oh my! Does it hurt a lot? I apologize!”
”It-it's okay.”
”I'll let you change your clothes now.”
Kang-hyuk turned around once more, and Dang Eun-ah was finally able to comfortably change her clothing.
Blood was still flowing from her wounds, but it was something that could be dealt with by pressing a blood coagulating pressure point.
Despite the new clothes being stained with blood, Dang Eun-ah felt much better, and wore the clothes with gratitude in her heart.
'Huh?'
She realized that something was strange.
'Ri-right now…didn't I just expose my bare body to Kang Seonsaeng?'
This was something that should have been a shameful occurrence for her.
Whilst she was nearing forty, she was still undeniably a woman, and a woman that had never had the companionship of a man.
She wanted to bite her tongue and die at the shame of seeing Hae-sak look at her with his lustful intentions.
But this was a different experience.
Kang-hyuk's pure eyes hadn't even realized she was undressed.
She didn't even feel ashamed in any way.
'Where have I seen such a gaze before? When was it? Ah!'
She then recalled what it was that seemed so familiar to her.
It was the same gaze her father had looked at her with when he had fed her medicine when she was six years old and had a severe fever.
It was a gaze that a father would look upon their young daughter with.
Dang Eun-ah informed Kang-hyuk just as she had finished changing her clothes.
”I've finished now.”
”We should get going then.”
”Yes.”
Dang Eun-ah then took a step forward.
”Ah…”
Unfortunately, she collapsed as soon as she attempted to go forward. Kang-hyuk quickly moved, and caught her.
”Oh dear…”
She felt as though she was losing consciousness.
Kang-hyuk observed her energies, and found that she had grevious internal wounds.
She wasn't dead not only because of her high level of cultivation, but also the fact that Hae-sak hadn't beaten her to the extent she would die as he had the intention of playing with her, and most importantly, her strong willpower.
She had endured through with the thought that if she died, there would be no one left to protect the students.
As she had released her anxiety about the students, her body was no longer able to hold on.
'At this rate, she'll lose her life before we get back to the campsite!'