Daldal: Main story

Chapter 121

Relentless rain hammered down for days, as if the heavens had sprung a leak, unleashing a torrent of dense raindrops that incessantly cascaded.

After the rain stopped, scorching heat followed, bringing days where even cicadas' cries sounded like screams in the bone-melting heat.

Despite experiencing such heat every year, people expressed anger as if it were their first encounter with the long summer.

Complaining about the seemingly endless summer, questioning why the heat lingered so persistently after the short-lived pleasant spring.

As the relentless summer reached its peak during the Daeseo (major heat), it was a sweltering night.

Chae Yoon-sa opened his eyes, pulling his consciousness from a deep state into an uncertain reality. He was yet to grasp the nature of what abruptly brought his consciousness back, but a sharp intuition, honed by years of experience, unsettled him.

Something felt off.

"......."

His pupils gleamed, radiating despite being shrouded in darkness. Slowly, he rose, and as he did, the pale arm draped over his chest fell with a soft thud. Even when sleeping at a distance, Eun-oh always rolled over and clung to Chae Yoon-sa at dawn, complaining about the oppressive morning heat.

Gazing down at the peacefully sleeping Eun-oh, he observed the slightly parted lips, from which gentle breaths escaped.

The rustling sound, subtly unsettling his nerves, was the rhythmic breathing. He lowered the shirt that had ridden up above Eun-oh navel, covering his stomach, and then grasped the hilt of his sword by the bedside.

Contemplating the dense darkness for a while, focusing his senses on the auditory clues, he silently got up and went outside.

The outdoors were pitch-black, devoid of anyone, yet he remained vigilant. Unable to conceal an unsettling aura that sight and sound might miss.

Buzzing-buzzing-

Fireflies hummed.

Descending into the large courtyard, he drew the sword from its sheath. Swish-like a solider sensing an adversary, the blade eagerly anticipated the wave of conflict, emitting a chilling gleam.

The dark-colored pupils contracted.

From this moment on, he is a Yaksha who deals with death like a weapon.

The Yaksha was now certain.

Someone is here.

One, two, three... at least three uninvited intruders counted by the number of heads.

The purpose of this ambush was unknown, but it didn't matter. No need to know. They wouldn't achieve anything anyway.

They would all be cut down.

None would leave alive.

Swish-!

The blade sliced through the air, accompanied by a sharp sound. He aimed his sword towards the main house's roof.

"Come out."

He had no intention of dragging out a tedious standoff. Responding eagerly to his provocations, the assailants willingly answered.

Swish-!

An arrow flew from behind the roof toward Chae Yoon-sa. He gracefully twisted his body, evading the arrow.

Yet, this was only the beginning, a signal of what was to come.

Swoosh

The sound of arrows being drawn simultaneously from all directions echoed, and immediately, multiple arrows surged towards him. He swiftly turned his body, evading two arrows flying to the right, skillfully parrying two more with his sword aimed at his front.