Chapter 144
“What kind of trick is this? Trying to escape by taking this child as a hostage?”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master sneered mockingly.
“Is her life more important, or is restraining me more important?”
“Please, please spare me…!”
The terrified young maid cried, her face streaked with tears as she looked pleadingly at Doyul.
“Why, can’t you make a decision even now?”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master pressed the knife harder against the maid’s neck.
A red line etched into her skin, and drops of blood began to slowly trickle down.
“Don’t—don’t do this, please!”
The young maid gasped, her breath ragged with fear.
“Stay still!”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master growled fiercely, directing his threat at Doyul once again.
“Make a foolish move, and I’ll slit this girl’s throat immediately. Do you understand?”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master stepped back slowly while holding the maid firmly.
The suffocating standoff continued, but suddenly, the Blood Wolf Sect Master spun around.
He quickly darted away, carrying the maid tightly against his side using his lightness skill.
‘No!’
Doyul desperately followed close behind.
‘If I let him go now, the maid won’t be safe.’
The moment they arrive at a safe place, the hostage will become nothing more than a burden to get rid of.
Knowing the Blood Wolf Sect Master’s nature, he would likely choose to kill her.
‘I can’t let him get away…!’
However, due to the risk to the maid’s safety, Doyul couldn’t close the distance recklessly.
He watched the retreating figure of the Blood Wolf Sect Master with a tense expression.
Suddenly, his thoughts drifted back to the time when he faced off against the previous head of the Dang family.
‘Bido!’
Reacting instinctively, Doyul launched his Bido.
Screeek!
The blade cut through the air.
The target was the Blood Wolf Sect Master’s right hand—his sword-wielding hand.
“Hahaha!”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master burst into laughter upon seeing the move.
“You think a mere trick like that will hold me down?”
Clang!
The Blood Wolf Sect Master swung his sword to deflect the Bido.
But, as his sword clashed with the Bido, his eyes widened in shock.
‘What?!’
A cold wave spread from the point of contact, freezing his entire arm.
Doyul’s lips curved into a faint smile.
‘Gotcha.’
The force of deflecting the Bido combined with the ice qi overwhelmed the Blood Wolf Sect Master.
For a brief moment, the sect master exposed a vulnerability—a restriction on his sword-wielding hand.
That fleeting opening was enough for Doyul to seize the opportunity.
Without hesitation, he plunged his blade into the Blood Wolf Sect Master’s unguarded shoulder.
Thrust!
The surprise attack caused the Blood Wolf Sect Master to lose grip of the maid.
“AAAH!”
The child tumbled to the ground, landing awkwardly.
“Ugh!”
A pained groan escaped the Blood Wolf Sect Master’s lips.
Simultaneously, Doyul delivered a swift kick to his knee.
Crash!
The Blood Wolf Sect Master collapsed miserably onto the floor.
His sword arm was rendered useless, and his other arm suffered a severe injury, with the tendon in his shoulder snapped.
Doyul immediately pinned him down, ensuring the Blood Wolf Sect Master couldn’t move.
“You bastard!”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master roared in fury, thrashing against his restraints.
“You, a so-called righteous sect, can’t even fight fair—resorting to such tricks!”
“What’s the point of fairness if I win?”
Doyul didn’t flinch, instead curling the corner of his mouth into a mocking smile.
It was a clear mockery.
“That’s the teaching of the Blood Sect, isn’t it?”
“You dare to speak of the sect like that, little vermin!”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master glared venomously, his insults pouring out uncontrollably.
But it was short-lived.
With a cruel grin, the Blood Wolf Sect Master continued his taunts.
“Listen, Guju. Watching your father die right in front of me was too amusing.”
In an instant, flames surged in Doyul’s eyes.
“So even the great Ice Palace Lord couldn’t let go of his worries for his child?”
“…”
“Even at the brink of death, he kept calling your name, how pitiful it was!”
He knew the Blood Wolf Sect Master’s words were intended to provoke him.
But even so…
“Even so, you can’t kill me. Because the information you want is still in my head.”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master mocked him, sneering.
“Quoting righteousness and honor like a hypocrite!”
“…”
Doyul looked down at the Blood Wolf Sect Master sprawled helplessly on the ground with cold, dark eyes.
Then—
Clack!
“AAARGH!”
A terrifying scream erupted as Doyul sliced off the Blood Wolf Sect Master’s ear, embedding his blade beside his cheek.
“That’s right, I won’t personally kill you.”
“Ughh, ahh….”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master thrashed and foamed at the mouth, his body twisting uncontrollably.
Doyul spoke with a cold, composed voice, drawing a clear line.
“But just because you rant about your so-called righteousness or ideals, it doesn’t mean I won’t kill you.”
“You—what nonsense…!”
The Blood Wolf Sect Master spat curses, but Doyul didn’t even bother listening.
“If I let my emotions get the better of me and make a foolish decision, then—”
Doyul’s thoughts shifted to Yerin.
“…My wife would be disappointed in me.”
No matter how much he burned with a desire for revenge, it was never more important than Yerin.
‘I want to be a man who stands by her side without shame.’
Doyul lowered his sword and rose to his feet.
He stepped closer to the maid.
“Are you okay?”
His expression was gentle, unlike the harsh demeanor he showed toward the Blood Wolf Sect Master.
The young maid nodded, her eyes filled with tears.
“Yes, I’m okay….”
Though shaken, she appeared physically unharmed—no visible injuries or broken bones.
“Still, it’s better to see a physician, just in case.”
Just as Doyul spoke those words, a desperate voice called out to him.
“Doyul!!”
It was Yerin.
Shortly after, a group of martial arts disciples from the Wulin League followed closely behind.
“Wait, who’s that…?”
One of the disciples stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on the Blood Wolf Sect Master sprawled on the ground.
“Isn’t that Blood Wolf Sect Master?”
“No way!”
The Wulin League disciples stared in shock.
Yet, no matter how they examined him, it was unmistakably the Blood Wolf Sect Master they had seen before.
“Capture him!”
“Don’t let him escape!”
The disciples rushed forward to restrain the Blood Wolf Sect Master.
Doyul smiled faintly at Yerin as they moved away from the commotion.
“Welcome.”
“Huh? What is—”
Yerin hesitated for a moment, then quickly approached Doyul.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt? How did you even meet that person?”
She bombarded him with questions, but her voice faltered slightly as she bit her lip.
“So he really is….”
“Yes, it’s the Blood Wolf Sect Master.”
Doyul’s calm response caused Yerin’s eyes to tremble violently.
She knew all too well—the dark history between the Blood Sect and the Ice Palace, and the tragic loss of Doyul’s father.
The Blood Wolf Sect Master held a significant position within the Blood Sect, and his involvement in the destruction of the Ice Palace could not be ignored.
‘You must have wanted to avenge him yourself.’
But Doyul chose to capture him instead of avenging his father personally.
Though his methods were somewhat brutal, considering the loss of the previous Ice Palace Lord to the Blood Sect, his actions seemed relatively measured.
“Blood Wolf Sect Master… you didn’t kill him.”
Yerin murmured softly, and Doyul smiled faintly.
“Of course not. I can’t act purely out of personal emotions.”
“But still….”
“There are more important matters to attend to right now.”
Doyul gently shook his head and turned away, moving to assist the Wulin League disciples.
As his figure receded into the distance, Yerin struggled to voice the question lingering on her mind.
‘What about you?’
In her mind, Doyul’s reasoning made sense. He had to ensure the safety of the hostage and civilians, capture the Blood Wolf Sect Master, and investigate the fallen Hongyeon Pavilion for any remaining leads on the Blood Sect.
Yet—
‘…You must be struggling too.’
Seeing Doyul’s resolute yet slightly weary figure made it difficult for Yerin to look away.
She was undeniably a criminal, and she was still imprisoned for the crime of swapping the tea.
