Chapter 133 : Discovery (3)
"The survivor of the Jinju Eon family, Eon Jiyeon, and the old man's name was Jo Seongho? Anyway. I don't understand why they did such a thing."
"Can you ever understand the inner thoughts of such people? Maybe it's because they were truly born with the energy of the Heavenly Killing Star. Well. The commotion seems to have ended safely, so let's go have a drink."
As Namgung Hui stopped his steps, Beak Seolhwa carefully looked at his face and asked.
"Eon Jiyeon, you mean that tall woman from before, right?"
"That's right. She disappeared right after the martial arts tournament, I can't believe she would do something like this."
"Could she have been framed?"
Namgung Hui recalled Eon Jiyeon and Jo Seongho setting off thunderclap bombs at the Black Market, and was 80% certain that this incident was also their doing.
Well, it wasn't certain, so he needed to confirm.
"Should I stop by the Alliance for a moment?"
"What if you get caught after going there?"
"Do you think they'd capture the winners of the martial arts tournament?"
"Rather, you'd be captured because you're the winner. You have to go and greet the renowned masters of the martial world. There are many reasons to be called here and there. Because of the thunderclap bomb explosion, it's as if we just took our prizes and ran."
"That's true."
Namgung Hui once again recalled the image of the stuffy Orthodox Faction members.
As Beak Seolhwa said, if he were to stop by the Martial Alliance now, there was a high probability that he would be delayed.
'Then I'll have to call Guang or Su and have them do the work instead.'
"Seolhwa. Then we have no choice but to go to the Cheongi Inn."
"Alright. I had to stop by to pack my things before leaving anyway."
And so, when they arrived at the Cheongi Inn, they felt a number of presences from the entrance.
Had they started normal business since the martial arts tournament was over?
But it seemed that wasn't the case, as the presences felt inside the inn were very familiar.
And he could even feel the presence of his own father, Namgung Uncheon.
On top of that, the Moon Maiden Palace Lady, Yu Seolran, was also there, perhaps having come to find Beak Seolhwa.
"Seolhwa. It seems my father and the Palace Lady have come to find you and me."
"I know. It's a good thing, since I had to tell them before leaving anyway. Let's go in."
Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa entered the Cheongi Inn side by side.
Naturally, all eyes turned to them.
And then, the voices of the two were heard.
"Hui. Where have you been?"
"Seolhwa. Where have you been?"
""...?""
Although Namgung Uncheon and Yu Seolran's voices had overlapped, the content was exactly the same, so Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa couldn't answer the question right away.
Instead, they just looked at each other and tilted their heads.
'Something feels strange.'
In any case, since his father had asked after his well-being, it was only right to answer.
Namgung Hui answered in a calm tone.
"A suspicious person was discovered, so I went to chase him with Seolhwa."
"With the Young Palace Mistress? Then that's a relief. If you two were together, you wouldn't have been harmed by a ruffian. Still, I wish you would have given this father a heads-up."
"Yes. I will be mindful of that from now on."
After Namgung Hui finished his answer, this time, Beak Seolhwa continued the answer.
"As Hui just said, we were chasing a suspicious person."
Yu Seolran narrowed her eyes and said.
"Hui...?"
"Then should I call him 'that guy'? To be honest, I'm more comfortable with that..."
"That's enough. Seeing you joke around, it seems nothing really happened. As the Namgung family head said, let us know before you go somewhere next time. You are a woman's body, after all."
"When did our Moon Maiden Palace ever think of being a woman as something special? On top of that, I'm also the winner of the martial arts tournament, so there's almost no one in the martial world who would harm me."
"That's because next to you... no. Ahem. Still, don't forget that our Moon Maiden Palace members are women before they are martial artists."
Beak Seolhwa tilted her head at Yu Seolran's words.
It was quite different from the teachings Yu Seolran usually gave.
'My master definitely said that because she is my master, she is like a father, and that I am a martial artist before a woman. Don't tell me! Has she gotten dementia...?'
But Yu Seolran was not that old.
She had just turned forty.
On top of that, she had learned a considerable amount of martial arts, so if you only looked at her appearance, you would believe she was thirty.
"Anyway. It's a relief that you two have returned safely. Palace Lady. We also haven't been able to rest while waiting, so let's rest inside for a while and come out."
"Shall we?"
As Namgung Uncheon and Yu Seolran exited amicably, this time, Heon Wonsu approached and spoke.
"Brother. It's late, but congratulations on your victory."
"Thank you. But where is Guang, and why are you alone?"
"Ah. That is. When Brigade Leader Jegal Geon gave him news of his younger sibling, he disappeared in a flash."
"Indeed, his purpose was to find his younger sibling, so it's a good thing. Well, it's a bit disappointing that he disappeared without a word, but it can't be helped. I can only hope he finds his younger sibling well."
"And Brigade Leader Jegal Geon asked me to give you a letter. Here you go."
Namgung Hui immediately opened and read the letter that Heon Wonsu handed him.
[Beginning of the hour of Xu. Yuanyang Lake.]
'Does he have something to talk about in person? Seeing as it's not written in the letter, it must be important.'
"Thank you. Su. And since this brother has to leave for a while. Don't cry even if I'm not here."
"I'm fine since I have Sister Hye."
"That's right. You're lucky. To have a lover."
"Haha. Won't you also get one soon, brother? Now that you've also gotten the title of Hidden Dragon, one of the Seven Dragons, beautiful young ladies will line up. I'm more envious of you, brother."
"You brat. Even so, I won't forget the silver I lent you. So work hard and save up."
"Ahem. Of course."
"Seeing you flustered, it seems you have no intention of paying me back. Well, fine. You can pay me back with your body. So if you really can't pay me back, just say so."
At Namgung Hui's chilling gaze, Heon Wonsu shuddered and left.
As all the people who had business with Namgung Hui disappeared, Beak Seolhwa poked his side and said.
"Hui. Shouldn't we go and do what we have to do now?"
"But we just got back, so if we say we're leaving, will my father or the Palace Lady let us go obediently?"
"We can just leave secretly. They say forgiveness is easier than permission."
"Where did you hear such a thing? But come to think of it, you're right."
"Then it's decided, right? I'll go pack my things."
Namgung Hui had been carrying his luggage all along, so there wasn't much to pack.
Chichi was still sleeping soundly in his robes.
And all he had to do was bring the few remaining bottles of Thunder Liquor.
'Come to think of it, I've barely had any this time. Now that I've achieved the great completion of the Purple Thunder Divine Art. I can even brew it myself, so I should have a drink with Seolhwa later. She wouldn't dislike Thunder Liquor, would she?'
And he suddenly became very curious about what Beak Seolhwa would be like when she was drunk.
Would she have any strange drunken habits?
Or would she be a better drinker than Namgung Hui himself?
Could it be that she couldn't even touch alcohol...
'Hey. What kind of girl is she to not be able to drink this much alcohol.'
Namgung Hui organized his various thoughts, packed his bundle, and came out.
Unlike the simple Namgung Hui, Beak Seolhwa seemed to have a bit more luggage than usual, and Namgung Hui couldn't help but ask.
"Seolhwa. Why do you have so much luggage? Didn't you usually not have much luggage either?"
"I bought some things with Eun Seolrin and Tang Soso this time."
"Really? That's unexpected. But what did you buy so much of?"
"Why? Do you want to know? It's a secret between women."
"Well, even so. It's probably just a few clothes and some cosmetics. I bought you the trinkets and the scented pouch. Come to think of it, I also bought you the necklace and the earrings. I've given Seolhwa more than I thought."
Perhaps because Namgung Hui had rambled on, Beak Seolhwa crossed her arms and glared at him.
"Are you trying to show off to me right now? Do you think I didn't buy anything to give you?"
"Oh~ What are you going to give me? It's not like you're going to throw sword ki at me like last time, is it? Don't tell me it's sword aura this time?"
At Namgung Hui's sarcasm, Beak Seolhwa shook her head and said.
"Sigh. What's the use of talking to you when you're being so childish? Just take it."
Beak Seolhwa threw something at Namgung Hui with an indifferent expression.
As she did so, she subtly glanced at him, and Namgung Hui asked her.
"What is this?"
"What do you mean, what is it? It's a gift."
"No. I mean. What kind of object is it?"
"Can't you tell by looking? It's a mirror. And it's a top-quality folding one."
Namgung Hui was not unfamiliar with mirrors.
But the folding mirror that Beak Seolhwa had bought him was of course not something that existed in his past life.
And it was the first time he had seen it in his current life.
'Did Eun Seolrin tell her about it and she bought it? How interesting. To think it folds and unfolds so exquisitely. And it even looks very sturdy.'
Although Namgung Hui's eye for things was not outstanding, it had an appearance that was clearly not ordinary.
When he opened the mirror, the inside was completely different from the outside.
If the outside looked sturdy, the inside was antique and old-fashioned.
To the point where he couldn't even guess when it was made.
Perhaps the outside was newly and sturdily made by an antique dealer.
Namgung Hui folded the mirror again and said.
"Thank you for the gift, but how much would a man like me use a mirror?"
"This guy is complaining even when I buy him a gift. Do you know how much that costs? And you should also take care of that handsome face of yours. You didn't even properly wipe the dust off your face when we sparred last time. If you leave things like that, you might get a scar on your face."
"Hearing you say I'm handsome, for some reason..."
"For some reason, what?"
Namgung Hui, trying to express his current feelings, felt his words get stuck and a strange feeling arose.
"N-no, it's nothing. I'll use the gift well, thank you. Come to think of it, it would be necessary if I cross-dress."
"Tch. How bland. Then let's go buy the rest of the things before my master catches us."
* * *
Namgung Hui and Beak Seolhwa packed the necessary supplies for their journey and climbed the mountain.
Since Muchi had a very good appetite, they had prepared plenty of food.
When Namgung Hui reached the summit of the wild mountain, he put down the things on the ground and said.
"Seolhwa. I'll be back after taking care of some business."
"What? Did you forget to buy something? Or is it the latrine...?"
"Pfft. It's not that. Jegal Geon asked to see me for a moment, so it seems he has something to talk about carefully. I also have some things to ask him."
"Why didn't you say so earlier, why did you come all the way here to say it?"
"I couldn't let you carry the things alone, could I?"
"Do you think I'd find this much heavy?"
"Well, if you put it that way, but. My heart wouldn't be at ease."
"...You're being cheap, saying it like that. Then hurry back."
Namgung Hui nodded and immediately headed for Yuanyang Lake, which was written on the letter.
It was the only lake in Zhongyuan County, so it was easy to find.
It was a place that could be seen at a glance even from the top of the wild mountain.
When he arrived at Yuanyang Lake and looked around, boating was in full swing.
Since it was evening, the atmosphere was also quite ripe.
'A thunderclap bomb just went off at the Martial Alliance, yet they're having such a peaceful and leisurely boat ride. They've gotten too used to peace.'
Rather than being envious of them, he felt somewhat pitiful.
It would be an exaggeration to call them pathetic, as they probably hadn't even been given the information, so there was no need to curse them.
But what if they were to suffer a disaster while being so defenseless?
What if the ones who set off the thunderclap bomb were not Jo Seongho and Eon Jiyeon, but another axis of evil?
There would probably be some among the common people who would suffer.
The Blood Cult, armed with the revenge of blood.
And the will of the Hoicheon Association to turn back the heavens, it would be difficult to see it as a simple clash of martial arts organizations.
In that process, innocent sacrifices would surely be unavoidable.
While Namgung Hui was lost in thought for a moment, he felt a presence from behind.
Namgung Hui, naturally thinking it was Jegal Geon, turned around.
But an unexpected person was standing there.
(End of Chapter)