boyutpedia Chapter 238 : Outside the Cage
Chapter 238 : Outside the Cage
Chapter 238: Outside the Cage
A massive village settled at the entrance of the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains.
I looked out the window at a small cage. Inside, a bird fluttered frantically, pecking at the door with its beak.
It had failed to escape in time and ended up trapped. Somehow, that 모습 felt eerily similar to our current situation, and I couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of kinship.
“Are you ready to break out?”
Vice Captain Jeok Unyeop asked in a low voice. He carefully inspected the members of the Demon-Slaying Unit and Namgung Jin one by one, conducting the final check.
Ever since the Beggars’ Union spies had been discovered across the area, the surroundings had grown as tight as a fortress.
Search parties tasked with identifying outsiders were crawling all over the village like a spiderweb. Now that their net was closing in tighter and tighter, we could no longer afford to delay.
“Yes, we’re ready. Though not carrying my sword feels… a bit strange.”
Murong Cheonghye, her beauty concealed beneath a human-skin mask and dressed like a common woman, muttered as she touched her empty waist.
Her hands, which had spent a lifetime wielding a sword to punish evil, now held a basket. Of course it felt unnatural.
Beside her, Tang Yeo-hye stomped irritably, dressed in children’s clothes that matched her small stature.
“Why do I have to be the daughter?”
When walking the streets, the first to be suspected were groups of suspicious men. The last to be suspected were families with children.
And so, the Demon-Slaying Unit planned to escape from the heart of enemy territory by disguising themselves as a Demonic Cult family.
“Vice Captain, is this really right?”
Tang Yeo-hye, her face full of dissatisfaction, called out to Murong Cheonghye, who was dressed in shabby cotton clothes.
“Vice Captain? Isn’t there another title you should be using here?”
“…M-Mother.”
Tang Yeo-hye’s face flushed red and blue as if it were the height of humiliation.
Only then did Murong Cheonghye, her fake wrinkles formed by the human-skin mask, smile brightly as if pleased.
If it were anyone else, she wouldn’t react this way—but for Tang Yeo-hye, who had formed a deep connection with Murong Cheongjin outside, her emotions surfaced vividly.
“To be able to act like a child despite possessing such age and martial skill… Even within the Murim Alliance, only a handful could manage it. It’s practically a talent.”
“…I don’t need that kind of talent.”
She grumbled that she was a proud martial artist who had proven her worth through martial arts, and that what she hated most in the world was being treated like a child.
“It’s an emergency. If you want to return safely, suppress that temper of yours and cooperate. Poison of Venom Valley.”
Everyone knew of the fiery temperament and reputation of Poison of Venom Valley.
They each threw in a word, worried that she might lose her temper if she were treated like a child by Demonic Cult members during the escape.
“But why am I the youngest daughter of all roles?”
“Then should we call you the mother with that body?”
At Jeok Unyeop’s blunt remark, telling her not to spout nonsense, Tang Yeo-hye shut her mouth.
“…You bastard.”
But soon, she glared at Namgung Jin beside her and spoke.
“Namgung Jin, do you really think this makes sense? My speech and behavior naturally carry a mature aura—won’t that make us more suspicious?”
Namgung Jin replied calmly.
“Not at all. It suits you well.”
“Argh…!”
With unanimous agreement against her, Tang Yeo-hye stomped out of the room in frustration.
“Such a fiery temperament… Who could possibly live with a woman like that?”
At the Vice Captain’s remark, those around him smiled bitterly.
She clashed even with her superiors like that—imagining her becoming gentle like a lamb in front of someone she liked was difficult.
Though, surprisingly, there had once been such a time—but that was beyond their comprehension.
“At the very least, it won’t be my younger brother.”
Murong Cheonghye muttered that quietly, recalling how close the two of them had seemed, as an inexplicable emotion welled up within her.
The Vice Captain of the Demon-Slaying Unit tilted his head and asked,
“Younger brother? You mean Murong Hui? Does that young master have any connection with Miss Tang Yeo-hye?”
“……”
The one she had thought of was a different younger brother.
But she could not bring herself to say it aloud.
When you wait and wait, and still hear nothing, anxiety begins to creep in.
And even the Murim Alliance Leader, who had experienced countless hardships and bore immense responsibility, was no exception.
Namgung Soseon stood by the window, gazing into the distance. As time passed, he was gradually becoming less the Murim Alliance Leader and more a father.
It had been two months without any news. His patience had reached its limit.
“I can’t wait any longer.”
His voice, now unable to hold back, carried firm resolve.
Though he knew this decision might provoke danger, Namgung Soseon resolved to dispatch a rescue team toward the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains.
“Elder Ilhogae, and Strategist Zhuge Seon—can you select reliable personnel?”
However, forming a rescue team came with several problems. For confidentiality and trust, it had to be composed of only a small number of people.
The Ten-Thousand Great Mountains were undeniably the territory of the Demonic Cult. If they were to send in a full force of the Murim Alliance and a battle broke out, it would amount to a massive provocation at the border—something that could escalate into war.
Thus, they needed a small elite group—stealthy, efficient, and trustworthy.
“I will select a few capable individuals, including members of the Chivalrous Unit.”
More important than skill was secrecy. Since they were heading into the enemy’s stronghold, even the most skilled warriors would be useless if information leaked—it would only increase the number of hostages or corpses.
Zhuge Seon stated that he would carefully choose only the most trustworthy individuals.
Namgung Soseon then turned his gaze to Ilhogae, as if asking whether the Beggars’ Union had such people.
“As you know, Alliance Leader, the Beggars’ Union suffered severe losses in this incident…”
Ilhogae spoke with a troubled expression etched into his wrinkled face.
“Hmm, that’s true.”
The Alliance Leader let out a short sigh.
They were likely the faction moving most actively at the moment. Naturally, there would be limits to how much manpower they could spare.
“However, I believe I can arrange two Peak Master-level martial artists.”
“Oh? Two… Who are they?”
From the vast jianghu, Peak Master-level martial artists whom the Beggars’ Union could trust.
The Alliance Leader asked with anticipation.
“They are troubleshooters in Beijing. You may have heard rumors of them.”
“Trustworthy Peak Master troubleshooters in Beijing… Don’t tell me you mean that fellow, Dog-Beating Dragon?”
Namgung Soseon recalled the young man to whom he had personally granted that alias.
He had heard that by now, his name echoed throughout the Central Plains.
“I witnessed his chivalry during the Dragon-Phoenix Bloodbath. However, this concerns my son’s life. Can he truly be trusted?”
He was asking whether their lips were tight enough to prevent information leaks—and whether outsiders could truly be guaranteed.
“Yes. Unlike the main forces of the Beggars’ Union, even if they suddenly disappear, they won’t arouse the Demonic Cult’s suspicion. And they are tight-lipped, so there is no concern about information leaking.”
Major orthodox factions like the Beggars’ Union or the Namgung Clan were naturally under heavy scrutiny by the Demonic Cult, limiting how much force they could withdraw—perhaps only one or two individuals at most.
But the experts from that office would pose no such issue.
“Moreover, his identity and reliability… will be guaranteed by our Beggars’ Union.”
He was, after all, a candidate for the next Dragon Head Sect Leader. If the Beggars’ Union could not guarantee him, who could?
More than anything, Ilhogae trusted the judgment of the Beggar King, who had chosen him as an unofficial successor.
“Very reassuring. Send for them immediately.”
“Yes!”
In the distant land of Shaanxi,
a young man, without even knowing it, was being pulled into a greater vortex of fate—thanks to the trust and reputation he had built.
A rough mountain road in the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains, where grass grew sparsely.
A Demonic Cult family pushed a small cart along the path. The sunset stretched their shadows long behind them.
On the surface, they looked like a peaceful, harmonious family—but beneath that, a subtle discord lingered.
“To think that a grown woman has to wear children’s clothes and pretend to be a daughter…”
Tang Yeo-hye pouted and grumbled, saying that even if someone held a blade to her throat, she would never do such a thing under normal circumstances—yet now she was doing it willingly.
“It suits you well, though.”
Jeok Unyeop chuckled as he watched her.
At that, Tang Yeo-hye shot him a sharp glare.
“Telling a woman of marriageable age that children’s clothes suit her—Vice Captain or not, that’s rude.”
Jeok Unyeop glanced over her small frame, which didn’t even reach his chest.
“Haha… a grown woman, indeed…”
At that mutter filled with meaning, Tang Yeo-hye’s glare sharpened like a blade.
“…I am a grown woman. I’ve even been called ‘Noona’ outside!”
Grinding her teeth, she insisted that she had once been quite popular before joining the Demon-Slaying Unit.
At that, disbelief appeared on everyone’s faces.
To be called “Noona” by someone not family meant having a close younger man. And given her venomous personality, none of them believed she could form such a relationship.
“Vice Captain, what’s with that look?”
Tang Yeo-hye asked, and Jeok Unyeop shrugged.
“…It means nothing.”
Reading their doubt, Tang Yeo-hye flared up and brought up a name.
“I really do have one! His name is Dan Mujin—bright-eyed, handsome, and always calling me ‘Noona’ while following me around!”
Her voice brimmed with pride.
At that moment, Murong Cheonghye, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped.
She turned toward Tang Yeo-hye with an expression as if she had heard something she shouldn’t have.
“That child… treats you like a real older sister?”
Even though his actual older sister was right here, hearing that her younger brother treated another woman like one left Murong Cheonghye visibly shaken.
“Is that true?”
“Uh… well… I might be exaggerating a bit, but… it’s somewhat true…”
As Murong Cheonghye’s gentle expression sharpened like that of an Evil-Slaying Demoness, Tang Yeo-hye stammered in panic.
Having spent time with the Demon-Slaying Unit, she knew well—the true authority in this unit was Vice Captain Murong Cheonghye.
Even the fearsome Poison of Venom Valley yielded a step before the terrifying Evil-Slaying Demoness.
“I made him call me ‘Noona’… and he doesn’t really follow me around like that…”
She reluctantly confessed the truth.
“I’m the real older sister. Remember that.”
“…Vice Captain, what are you even talking about?”
Tang Yeo-hye scratched her cheek, utterly confused.
At that moment—
“Hey, you there! Who goes there? Reveal yourselves at once!”
A sharp shout cut through the air.
Two guards patrolling the outskirts had spotted them from afar.
Their hands moved toward their signal whistles. The moment those whistles sounded, their quiet escape would turn into a desperate chase.
“I asked who you are! Answer at once!”
The guard’s voice echoed.
“Ah, we’re just heading back to the next village, sirs.”
Disguised as an elderly man, Jeok Unyeop spoke with a harmless expression and tone, emphasizing that they were nothing but an ordinary group.
But the guards’ suspicion did not fade.
At that moment, a small child peeked out timidly from the skirt of a rather pretty woman.
Seeing the frightened young girl blinking her eyes, the guards finally lowered their whistles and relaxed slightly.
“This area is restricted for the time being! Return to the village immediately—or we’ll cut you down ourselves!”
They approached with heavy steps, issuing threats.
And the moment their guard dropped completely—
A flash gleamed in Jeok Unyeop’s hand.
Without hesitation, he drew a dagger from his chest and slit the throat of the nearest guard.
“Ghk… ggh…!”
Almost simultaneously, the poison needle fired by Tang Yeo-hye pierced deeply into the other guard’s neck.
“You bastards… gghrk…”
Clutching their throats, the Demonic Cult guards collapsed with expressions of disbelief.
“Let’s hurry. Time is not on our side.”
Jeok Unyeop muttered as he dragged the bodies into the bushes alongside Namgung Jin.
Beijing, just as the sunset light began to pour through the office window—
I found myself troubled by a guest who had come after a long time.
“What’s this? My brother praised you so much, so I had high expectations—but you’re not that impressive.”
Looks like another troublesome guest has arrived.