The Crown Prince Who Raises Alt Characters

#Chapter 182 Scholar Juyul (5) - House of Accumulated Good Deeds "If you steadily accumulate good deeds, there will be joy in the end." *** "There, over there! She was dragged into that alley!" Zhang Hualing looked in the direction the academy girl pointed. Normally, this would be where the tracker would say "Tsk, if it's there, that's their territory. This got troublesome" showing they already knew enough about the situation, but honestly speaking, even looking at where the girl pointed, Zhang Hualing felt no impression beyond "Hmm, it's an alley." After all, she had been in this neighborhood for less than a week, and even then she had been mostly cooped up in the academy, so naturally she couldn't be well-versed in the nearby terrain or territories. But Zhang Hualing didn't mind. She might not possess much learning, but at least she wasn't someone who couldn't utilize what she had learned. "I understand, so you go back now." "Sister Zhang. Are you really okay?" "If you stick by my side, that would be more troublesome, so get lost. Don't you want me to save that little girl Soyeon?" At Zhang Hualing's brusque hand-waving gesture, the girl showed a very anxious expression, but eventually turned around and ran away. Whether it was fortunate that she didn't show childish stubbornness, or whether that too should be seen as a result of Juyul's education, Zhang Hualing clicked her tongue with complicated feelings and stepped into the aforementioned alley. Several beggars or rough-looking groups turned their gazes toward Zhang Hualing, but they didn't easily approach her or try to speak to her. While it was true that such shadowy places were very dangerous for women, women too varied by their nature. If a woman remained confident without showing any sign of fear despite being surrounded by rough-looking men, she was likely either a naive hothouse flower who knew nothing of the world, or a master confident in protecting herself. Unlike Dokgo Cheol, who had lived so arrogantly that his sense of reading situations had atrophied, they still retained the survival instincts characteristic of those living in the martial world. Watching them only glance furtively from a distance with no sign of approaching, Zhang Hualing opened her mouth in the middle of the alley. "I have something to ask. Is there anyone who saw some girl being dragged away around here today?" Though she was clearly asking in a low voice, it was a question that pierced their ears as if spoken right beside them. Most of the people in the alley stiffened their bodies, wondering if this was some ghostly trick, and those who realized this was the use of internal energy only possible by masters changed their complexions. And Zhang Hualing didn't miss that subtle difference. She approached one of those who had changed complexion and spoke. "You're a martial artist." "Huh? Wh-what do you mean—" Crack! The man who had been trying to act with an innocent civilian's face glanced sideways at Zhang Hualing's fingertips that had grazed right past his head. Seeing her fingers dig into the wall like dragon claws, he began to break out in cold sweat while maintaining that position. "I don't like long conversations. If it's not you, I'll just find the next person. Of course, after making you pay the price for wasting my time." The man's eyes rolled around frantically. The conclusion came quickly. "It's the Blood Wolf Gang bastards." Zhang Hualing's head tilted to the side. "Blood Wolf Gang? I know they were destroyed during the Orthodox-Heretical Great War." "That's right. The upper ranks were completely wiped out, and what calls itself the Blood Wolf Gang now are just the small fry who were at the bottom. They're going around engaging in all sorts of petty evil acts. Taking the child was probably part of that." "Strange. Normally the sect that controls this area would be on edge and block such baseless people's operations." Though it might seem surprising, not only orthodox sects but heretical sects also tended to provide at least some protection to the people in their territories. It wasn't out of honesty like "we received protection money so we must pay its worth," but simply because if they let other groups take people or money from their territory, they'd be looked down upon and their income would decrease. "The thing is... the Black Blood Sect, which is the local power around here, has been refraining from activity and keeping low for some reason lately, so those guys have been gradually extending their influence recently." "Ah." Only then remembering about the Black Blood Sect, Zhang Hualing let out a small exclamation, but right now those guys weren't what was important. "Well, that's fine. So where can I meet those Blood Wolf Gang or whatever they're called?" "Th-that is, I don't really know that much either... no wait, I just remembered!!" The martial artist who had been trying to slip away quickly changed his words upon seeing Zhang Hualing flex her fingers again. Zhang Hualing was satisfied. Wasn't it said that asking about what you don't know isn't shameful? At this point, wouldn't she be an honor student who utilizes learned knowledge very well? Mere children couldn't make use of such knowledge even if they learned it, but she could make very good use of it... '...No, this isn't right. Why am I feeling competitive with little kids? And over that scholar's lessons no less!!' Thud! When Zhang Hualing suddenly stomped with energy, the ground throughout the area shook and sand and dust poured down from nearby building rooftops. "Eek! Th-this way!" The martial artist, understanding it as urging directed at him, began running at full speed as if his back was on fire. Zhang Hualing, who hadn't intended that, felt momentarily awkward, but soon changed her thinking that being fast wasn't bad anyway and followed behind the guide. The place they arrived at was a mansion with a fairly large courtyard, but with walls crumbling here and there and even the signboard not properly attached, it wasn't exactly a decent building. Well, precisely because it was such a place, outsiders rather than existing forces could occupy it. "Here it is. However, I don't know how many are inside either, so please be careful—" "No need." Leaving behind the guide who was trying to make some excuse or other, Zhang Hualing lightly kicked off the ground. Her body soared high enough to leap over the wall and soon dropped into the middle of the mansion's courtyard. "Huh?" "What, what's that?" The Blood Wolf Gang members who had been passing time drinking and gambling here and there in the courtyard raised their voices upon seeing Zhang Hualing suddenly drop from the sky. Their number was roughly seven or so. Toward the stunned group, Zhang Hualing didn't bother asking where the child they had taken was. In the world of heretical sects, saying such things was tantamount to begging them to take that person hostage. Instead, she raised her nose and spoke. "If there are more hiding, come out now. You're not even a proper wolf pack, and having lost your leader with defeated soldiers insufficient in number, where would you find the strength to face a dragon?" "What the hell are you saying!?" Clang! Clatter! At the sudden provocation, the Blood Wolf Gang martial artists collectively drew their swords and entered combat stance. Even other groups came crawling out one by one upon hearing the commotion, so Zhang Hualing found herself surrounded in the blink of an eye. However, she didn't mind. A fight of this level was nothing compared to the battles she had already gone through countless times. When she thrust out her fist, massive heat waves struck through space, and when she slashed with her nails, enemy bodies were torn apart. Her limbs surrounded by energy were harder than most fine swords, so even though blade clearly met flesh, it was the swords that chipped or broke. Before the enemies could even execute their decision to flee. Having achieved near-annihilation, Zhang Hualing finally grabbed one of the survivors and questioned him. "Where is the child you took?" "Cough! Wh-what?" The martial artist caught by her showed a dazed face for a moment, then as if realizing Zhang Hualing's purpose, spoke with a voice mixed with anger and despair. "J-just. Because of one little brat, our Blood Wolf Gang...!" "Answer the question." "Ha. Go to hell, you lizard bitch!!" With a whoosh, blood spurted from the man's mouth and nose. Blood splattered toward Zhang Hualing's splendid clothes, but due to the intense heat characteristic of the Crimson Flame Demonic Arts, the blood burned up in midair without reaching her. Zhang Hualing casually threw down the corpse that had committed suicide by using internal energy to sever its heart meridians. "Yes, I didn't particularly expect you to answer obediently." If there was a chance to survive they could become as servile as needed, but when there wasn't even that possibility, trying to screw over the opponent until the very end rather than giving up meekly—wasn't that the spirit of heretical sects? Sometimes they would spout information while calling it a curse like "Hehe, since you messed with us, XXX will move now. You're finished too..." so she had only asked as a test, and there was no need to regret not getting an answer. The mansion filled only with silence due to the corpses. When Zhang Hualing closed her eyes and sharpened her spiritual sense to the utmost, she heard someone sobbing and rustling sounds from the direction of a warehouse in a corner of the mansion. When she instantly severed the chains and padlock that locked the warehouse from the outside and opened the door, light spread into the dark warehouse interior, revealing what was inside. Young children. And several women who appeared to be relatively beautiful. Just from the composition, it seemed clear what criteria they had used to capture people, and Zhang Hualing clicked her tongue. The victims with gags in their mouths all looked at Zhang Hualing with eyes heavy with tear tracks, and among them, Zhang Hualing found her target and lifted Soyeon's small body, cutting the bindings on her wrists and mouth. "S-sister?" "You're truly a troublesome girl. Let's go back quickly." "Wh-what about the other sisters?" "Huh?" Zhang Hualing briefly wondered who the 'other sisters' Soyeon was referring to were, then soon realized she was talking about the other women in the warehouse. "We need to untie their ropes..." At Soyeon's cautious glance while speaking, Zhang Hualing almost reflexively retorted, "Shouldn't they handle that much themselves after I've done this much?" But realizing that Soyeon's body, which seemed to be speaking clearly and brightly, was still trembling, she reluctantly cut all the ropes and gags of the other women as well. Only then did the women bow their heads in unison and express their gratitude to Zhang Hualing. "Th-thank you. Thank you!" "We won't forget this kindness...!" "That's enough, so go your way. Don't try to rely on me for what comes after." Zhang Hualing waved her hand dismissively as if annoyed and headed straight across the courtyard toward the main gate. The victims screamed upon seeing the corpses scattered miserably, but Zhang Hualing didn't mind. What's so significant about corpses that they'd scream— "—Oh my, I was about to praise you for doing well, but you leave such a flaw at the end that the words that rose to my throat just slip away." Thunk! Much lighter than usual. But the mental shock was nearly double that of usual. Seeing the flute that tapped the center of her forehead and its owner, Zhang Hualing's eyes widened in shock. "Y-you, why are you here?" "Is that important right now? If you're going to comfort a child, you should do it properly to the end. Showing corpses so blatantly would make even a normal child have a fit." Whether he knew of Zhang Hualing's bewilderment or not, Juyul calmly took Soyeon from her and patted the small girl's back. Soyeon hadn't shown a single tear until now, but when she was held in Juyul's arms, her tension finally released and she burst into tears. Behind Juyul were several men with clearly anxious expressions, and one of them locked eyes with a woman who came out to the main gate trembling while avoiding the corpses. "W-wife! Are you safe?" "Husband! Waahhh!" Watching the other waiting men also enjoying reunions with the liberated victims, Zhang Hualing made a subtle expression. Because she realized that Juyul had gathered the victims' families. "What did you bring those burdens for? They'd be no help in a fight." "That's true." Juyul readily admitted it. "However, they can comfort hearts that we cannot dare to soothe." "......" "Besides, when it comes to force, you seem to have already shown enough. If we add more to what's already sufficient, wouldn't the vessel just overflow?" "You speak well. For someone who just watched from behind." Zhang Hualing answered curtly. It had originally been a good deed intended to loosen Juyul's wariness, but hearing that Juyul had been watching made her feel somehow annoyed. "You did well." It was a brief praise. Unusually brief for Juyul, who usually enjoyed long speeches. But because the sincerity contained within it was clearly felt. "Hmph!" Zhang Hualing quickly turned her back and moved away from Juyul. She didn't quite know what expression she was making right now, but in any case, she didn't want to show it to Juyul.