Chapter 113
The next morning.
From early on, Tang Sowol called Seol Lihyang and Seo Mun-Hwarin out, asking if they’d like to get some fresh air.
It wasn’t as though they had packed anything extravagant, and she even greeted Tang Jincheon like always. A perfectly ordinary day, a perfectly ordinary outing. However—
“Hm? Isn’t this a bit too far for a simple outing? This One doesn’t mind, since Wuhuan City was so crowded and tiring, but there’s nothing but paths and grass around here.”
“Ah, you’re right. If we don’t head back soon, we’ll probably miss breakfast, won’t we, Sister Tang? The Clan Head really enjoys having breakfast with you.”
Seo Mun-Hwarin tilted her head as she looked around, while Seol Lihyang, seeming a bit hungry, rubbed her flat stomach.
Tang Sowol, who had been walking in the lead while chatting casually, suddenly turned around. Without stopping, she began walking backward and said,
“We're heading to Hubei Province from now on.”
“Pardon? Where did you say we’re going, Sister Tang??”
“What nonsense is that? Why would Hubei Province come into this?” “Because we're planning to run away from home.”
As if she were casually mentioning what they’d be having for breakfast, her tone was calm and natural.
Maybe that’s why the two blinked, not immediately understanding, only realizing a beat later what she meant.
“R-Run away?! Just like that?!”
“What do you mean, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world?! Running away! And you're even taking me with you...?! This will only cause more misunderstandings with the Poison King!”
“But Sister Seorin, that wasn’t a misunderstanding. You really did follow us with one foot out the door, sniffing around to see what was happening…”
“That was all because of you two!”
Seol Lihyang teased mid-surprise, and Seo Mun-Hwarin, as always, played along.
As the two bickered briefly, Tang Sowol let out a giggle and continued,
“No need to worry too much. I left a proper letter for Father at the residence.”
“Sister Tang? I just want to clarify that leaving a letter doesn’t mean it’s okay to run away... right??”
“Cheon Hwi! You’re her fiancé—why didn’t you stop her?!”
Seol Lihyang asked with concern, and Seo Mun-Hwarin directed a scolding glare at me.
At this point, there was really only one thing I could say.
“There were valid reasons for all of this.”
“Everyone has their reasons.”
Seo Mun-Hwarin crossed her arms and came to a halt. Her posture clearly conveyed she wouldn’t take another step unless we convinced her.
When I glanced at Tang Sowol, she gave a small nod. Only then did I speak.
“Well, we’ve come this far, so I suppose it’s time to explain. It'll be a bit long, so please have this while you listen.”
I pulled out a piece of candy I had prepared in advance. Seo Mun-Hwarin scoffed.
“Ha! Do you think This One would be appeased by something as simple as—munch, munch... huh!?”
Seo Mun-Hwarin instinctively accepted the candy and popped it into her mouth. Her sharp eyes had suddenly softened.
Seol Lihyang, watching from the side with a baffled expression, had a very valid question.
Though she had regained her youth through Rejuvenation, Seo Mun-Hwarin was still around the same age as Tang Jincheon. Was it really possible for someone like her to become this simple with just one candy?
Surprisingly, it was.
Rejuvenation was certainly incredible. It defied natural lifespan, and replaced an aging body that even great martial cultivation couldn’t avoid.
But it wasn’t a miracle gifted by the heavens—it was a feat achieved through one's own strength and will.
Naturally, it came with side effects.
The biggest of which was how a youthful body could heavily influence one’s mind.
Smirking to myself at how things were going according to plan, I suddenly noticed Seol Lihyang narrowing her eyes.
“Hey, Cheon Hwi. Just what are you planning to say that you had to go this far...?”
“Shh.”
Of course, she was quickly silenced by Tang Sowol’s firm hand pressing down on her shoulder.
“Hyang. I get that you’re not thrilled, but Cheon Hwi was just about to explain. We’ll know everything soon enough, right?”
“Y-Yes…”
Softening under Tang Sowol’s presence, Seol Lihyang relaxed. With everyone now ready to listen, Tang Sowol and I exchanged a brief, satisfied glance.
“Let me start from the beginning. When Father-in-law mentioned that the situation in Hubei seemed suspicious, it sparked a thought…”
***
“So you had to go because he told you not to?!”
“I was reminded of the time I was attacked under the Demonic Cult’s orders.”
“Kuheum.”
Seo Mun-Hwarin cleared her throat awkwardly and quietly listened, still munching on the candy.
“Well, that’s how it happened.”
“I see. So your plan is to investigate the Demonic Cult in Hubei along with Peng Woojin and Yeon Ga-hye?”
“Yes.”
“That seems too dangerous. Of course, Cheon Hwi, you're beyond what people would call a late-stage first-class warrior, but… even the Demonic Cult has Sub-Perfection masters. It's just that they lack Flowering Stage warriors and are underestimated because of it.”
Seo Mun-Hwarin looked at me with worried eyes. Her blatant concern softened me a bit, and I shook my head.
“There’s no need to worry. If we’re facing a Sub-Perfection master, I can’t guarantee victory like you said… which is why I brought you along, Senior.”
“So you're saying you’ll rely on This One’s protection if it gets dangerous?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Of course not! You’re free to rely on This One as much as you wish! Still, since there’s risk involved, how about you learn a few more martial arts from the Seo Mun Clan this time?”
“If this is going to end with you saying that since I learned your clan’s secret techniques I must now be considered a member, then I’ll have to refuse.”
When I gave her a suspicious glare, Seo Mun-Hwarin clicked her tongue in disappointment.
“Tch! Then at least learn a few of This One’s Golden Hand Techniques. If you promise that, I’ll gladly help you.”
“Well, in that case…”
As I reluctantly nodded, Seol Lihyang shook her head and asked Tang Sowol,
“Sister Tang. Is it that I just don’t understand Murim very well yet? Or is this whole situation just weird?”
“Of course it's weird. Normally, people would give their entire fortune just to learn anything from a top-tier master like Sister Hwarin. So what are you gonna do, Hyang?”
“Me? Uhm. Well, it’d be kind of awkward to go back alone now, right? And you probably called me because you need me. So what should I do, Sister Tang?”
“Ah, hmm. I guess… you could gain practical experience when we run into appropriate opponents?”
After tilting her head, Seol Lihyang finally realized why she had been brought along.
“Wait, you brought me along even though I’m not that useful, just so I could gain some experience?!”
“Mn. Cheon Hwi? Since Hyang is joining us too, let’s get moving.”
“Sister Tang? Sister Tang?!”
Ignoring Seol Lihyang’s desperate tug on her sleeve, we headed to the designated inn.
There, Peng Woojin and Yeon Ga-hye were already waiting, dressed slightly differently.
The martial robes they used to wear proudly—emblazoned with their family crests—were gone. Now, they wore plain, black uniforms with no patterns or text.
Well, Tang Sowol and I were still in the Tang Clan’s green martial robes, so I supposed we’d need to change before we left.
Adding that to my mental to-do list, I gave them a small wave.
“Any trouble getting here?”
“No trouble. But still…”
“I’m not sure this is really the right thing to do.”
Peng Woojin and Yeon Ga-hye let out heavy sighs.
It seemed sneaking out to meet each other was fine, but secretly leaving home to “see the world” weighed more heavily on them.
I lightly patted Peng Woojin’s shoulder in consolation.
“It’s fine. We’re just keeping our identities hidden while continuing the investigation in Hubei. Even if we aren’t, you two are just making a trip outside your front gate.”
“That’s why it’s more concerning! What if someone who knows our faces sees us?!”
Snapping in frustration, Peng Woojin then sighed again and finally turned to look at Seol Lihyang and Seo Mun-Hwarin behind me.
“I heard we’d have companions… is it those two? I recognize one of them.”
“That’s Lady Frozen Melody Blossom. A close junior to the Poison Dance Empress, and someone with such talent that she lived in the Tang Clan as a guest since childhood. As for the other…”
Eon Ga-hye glanced at Seol Lihyang, then her gaze moved to Seo Mun-Hwarin.
Seol Lihyang quietly stepped behind me, seemingly intimidated by Peng Woojin’s large frame.
Just then, realization struck Peng Woojin, and he stood up in shock.
“Could it be… Senior White-Haired Rakshasa?!”
“This One is indeed known by that title, but it is not one I am fond of.”
“My apologies. I heard through the Murim Alliance that the Seo Mun Clan has once again chosen to walk the path of the righteous.”
“Kuheum. Yes, that is so.”
“However, I can’t call a senior of the same generation as my father by name. What should we address you as?”
Despite his huge build, Peng Woojin was extremely respectful—an appropriate attitude, considering she was one of the few Flowering Stage warriors in all of Murim, with a long-standing history in the martial world.
Still, I thought to myself, our group really does treat Seo Mun-Hwarin a bit casually.
From the beginning, we treated her more like a new friend. And in my case, I had eaten meals with her in my previous life for years, so there was a sense of familiarity.
Above all, Seo Mun-Hwarin never acted dignified around us, which was why we didn’t treat her formally.
“Kuheum. Kuheum.”
She puffed her chest slightly and looked back and forth between me and Peng Woojin. Though she didn’t say it out loud, she was clearly asking to be treated better going forward.
Then she opened her mouth.
“This One will be helping you for a while, so we’ll be seeing each other often. As long as you don’t call me Rakshasa, call me whatever you wish.”
Peng Woojin hesitated, but Yeon Ga-hye spoke up instead.
“Thank you for stepping forward for people you don’t even know, Elder. While we won’t be able to rely on our family’s strength for a while, we’ll do our best to make sure you’re not inconvenienced.”
“Elder…”
Seo Mun-Hwarin’s expression turned glum. Her eyes held a trace of sorrow as she looked our way.
See? I told you she wouldn’t be happy being treated like an elder.
I smirked slightly at Peng Woojin and Yeon Ga-hye, who were clearly confused by her reaction.
By now, my father-in-law and likely the Poison King and the Fist King had all read the letters we left behind.
“I’m a bit hungry, but let’s skip breakfast and head out.”
The road to Hubei was long.
After leaving Wuhuan City and arriving in Hubei, we soon headed toward a small house where Peng Woojin and Yeon Ga-hye had occasionally met in secret to share their findings.
But all that remained was a burnt-down, abandoned village—and the charred remains of a few buildings.
However—
“There are traces of demonic techniques here.”
It didn’t seem like this was just bad luck.