Companions ― Don’t Call Me a Kid (1)
With a forceful kick, Cheon-yo burst out of the massive warehouse.
In his arms, he carried Baek Sang-ah, her small frame supported against his forearm.
Outside was utter chaos. The cause? A mysterious female assassin. Alone, she was cutting down the Martial Alliance warriors who came rushing in waves.
Cheon-yo might have been the one who had started this fight, but his expression was calm and unshaken.
He had crossed blades with her only briefly, but that was more than enough to gauge her ability. He was certain she could hold the line while he rescued Baek Sang-ah.
And he had been right.
Without interference, he’d managed to secure the child.
Cheon-yo glanced back at the assassin, still battling the Alliance’s forces, before turning away.
They may have arrived at this place together, but he owed her nothing. Besides, if she wished, she had more than enough skill to escape on her own.
His mission was singular: to rescue and protect Baek Sang-ah.
Nothing more.
Which was why Cheon-yo prepared to leave the assassin behind without hesitation—
Until a voice stopped him.
“Uh…?”
It was the faint murmur of the girl in his arms. He looked down at her.
“What is it?”
“The lady in red over there… I think I know her.”
“…Do you now?”
It was difficult to believe that the assassin had come here for the child’s sake. Yet Sang-ah had recognized her.
And that changed things. Leaving her behind suddenly felt less straightforward.
“Hmph. I was going to abandon her since she looked suspicious, but… it seems I’ll have to reconsider.”
It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle the Alliance warriors. He simply had no reason to involve himself with an unknown killer.
But now…
Cheon-yo adjusted his grip and hugged Sang-ah tighter.
“Hold on tight, little one.”
The girl wrapped her arms firmly around his neck in response.
At that moment, energy surged along the blade in Cheon-yo’s hand.
Rumble…!
Sensing the wave of internal power, the assassin glanced back mid-battle. Their eyes met.
Cheon-yo raised his sword and spoke in a low, steady voice.
“Move.”
Though barely above a whisper, the warning drove itself deep into her ears.
The air around Cheon-yo was sucked violently toward his blade. Realizing what was about to happen, the woman threw herself aside.
And in the next instant—
Slash!
His sword carved through the air.
A devastating wave of energy erupted forth.
Boom!
The warriors charging toward him were caught in the torrent, flung away like leaves in a storm, their bodies crashing into the ground in every direction.
The shockwave was enormous.
Crack—!
The earth split like a coiling dragon. The ground heaved upward, trembling beneath the force.
Nearly twenty men had been struck down in a single stroke.
But then—
Creak, crackle…
The sword in Cheon-yo’s hand screamed as fractures spiderwebbed across its length. A heartbeat later, the blade shattered, shards scattering to the ground.
A weapon of ordinary steel could not endure such power.
The assassin, who had narrowly dodged the attack, turned back to him. She saw Cheon-yo casually toss the broken hilt aside.
He spoke briefly.
“Follow me.”
Then, with Sang-ah still in his arms, Cheon-yo launched into the air, lightfoot skill propelling him forward in a blur.
The woman hesitated only a moment before stamping her foot and leaping after him.
Whoosh!
Like arrows soaring toward the moon, the two figures darted into the night sky.
The disturbance would draw more enemies soon. Their goal was to escape before the net could close.
Fortunately, Cheon-yo had already scouted a deserted path. Thanks to the raging fire that engulfed the Martial Alliance’s Shanxi branch, slipping out of the compound was not difficult.
But even outside, Cheon-yo did not stop.
They might have escaped easily, but this was still the Martial Alliance. A massive net would inevitably form to recapture them.
That said, it would not reach the scale of Cheon-ra Ji-mang, the all-encompassing “Heaven-and-Earth Net.”
The Shanxi branch simply didn’t have warriors of that caliber.
Most importantly, its branch leader didn’t know Sang-ah’s true identity.
If he had known she was the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Lord, the vessel sealing the Blood Demon’s Scales, he would have mobilized with far greater urgency.
To him, she was only a child to be kept under watch.
And so, while pursuit was certain, it would never be enough to hinder Cheon-yo.
After running a long distance, widening the gap significantly—
The assassin finally spoke.
“This should be far enough, don’t you think?”
Cheon-yo slowed, lowering Sang-ah to the ground.
“I agree.”
The girl steadied herself on her own two feet. The woman immediately moved toward her—
But Sang-ah quickly darted behind Cheon-yo, clutching his waist, as though seeking shelter from her.
The assassin froze mid-step. The hand she had reached out hung helplessly in the air.
Her expression softened.
“Sang-ah… don’t be afraid. I’m—”
“I know. I know who you are.”
“…You know me?”
The woman’s eyes widened. Sang-ah nodded, but she still clung to Cheon-yo, refusing to come out.
Spreading her arms, the assassin pleaded.
“From now on, I’ll protect you. Come with me—”
“No. I’m staying with him.”
The child shook her head firmly, gripping Cheon-yo’s waist tighter.
The woman faltered.
“You don’t even know who he is.”
“No. I just met him today.”
“But you said you know me. And yet you’d rather stay with him?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“…Because I hate you.”
The woman flinched as if struck. Her arms slowly dropped.
“…Why?” she asked again, her voice strained.
Sang-ah’s eyes filled with sorrow and bitterness.
“Because of you… my mother died. All her life, she waited for you, staring at your portrait. She believed you would come. That only you could cure her illness. But you never came. Not even on the day she died.”
The assassin’s lips parted. But the words she sought would not come. In the end, she only lowered her head.
Cheon-yo watched the child bury her face against his back, unwilling to speak further. He spoke instead.
“It seems the girl doesn’t wish to talk to you anymore. Then perhaps… you and I should.”
The assassin slowly raised her head, meeting his gaze.
Cheon-yo asked, “How did you know she was here? That’s something I’ve been curious about.”
“No reason to answer.”
“I think I already know. I just want confirmation. The old Alliance Lord sent you, didn’t he?”
Her eyes widened.
“How did you—”
“Because he sent me too.”
“…What?”
“The old man asked me to protect his granddaughter. Hah. That crafty bastard… he made the same request of two very different people.”
The late Martial Alliance Lord, Baek Bul-in, had prepared for contingencies.
Cheon-yo muttered, amused.
“Interesting choice… To entrust her safety to two polar opposites.”
Cheon-yo—the shield who protected all.
The assassin—the blade who killed all.
And yet, both had been given the same charge.
“Now that my curiosity’s satisfied, we’ll part ways. Let’s go, little one.”
He began to move with Sang-ah.
But—
“Stop.”
Shhk.
The assassin closed the distance in an instant, pressing a dagger to his neck.
Despite the danger, Cheon-yo only smirked.
“Put the blade away. Otherwise… your wrist will snap in a moment.”
“I don’t mean to kill you. But the child is coming with me.”
“By force?”
“No. Peacefully, if possible.”
“Funny. Hard to talk of peace with a knife to my throat.”
“You blasted me aside once already. Who’s to say you won’t do it again?”
“…Fine. Then let’s settle this peacefully, like you said.”
“How?”
“The simplest way. We ask the one who matters most.”
Cheon-yo tilted his head toward the child.
“Well, little one? Will you come with me, or with her?”
Two pairs of eyes fixed on Sang-ah. She answered without hesitation.
“With you.”
Cheon-yo shrugged.
“You heard her.”
With that, he gently brushed the dagger aside with two fingers and turned away, leading Sang-ah forward.
The woman remained motionless, stunned by the girl’s reply.
Cheon-yo left her with a final warning.
“Don’t get in my way again. I spared you once. I’m not the kind to do it twice.”
And then he walked on, taking Sang-ah with him.
Left behind, the assassin stared at her empty hand. Then her gaze lifted toward the direction they had gone.
Slowly, her fist clenched tight.
And with determined steps, she began to follow.
Cheon-yo wasn’t even using his lightfoot skill now, simply walking. It didn’t take her long to catch up.
She made no effort to hide her presence. Even Sang-ah noticed the pursuit.
“Sir, behind us…”
“Leave her. She’ll fall away when she tires.”
Cheon-yo’s only duty was to keep Sang-ah safe. For that, he would stick to his plan.
And so, the three continued onward:
Cheon-yo, the girl clinging to him, and the silent assassin trailing behind.
A strange companionship had begun.