Chapter 141 : The Little Saintess
"Thanks to you, I found her. Our Saintess."
"Look here. Chunsam. That person isn't the Saintess, she's the Little Saintess. The next Sect Leader of the Divine Physician Sect."
Muchi shook his head firmly and said.
"No! She really is the Saintess. I've even finished the confirmation process."
"What confirmation process?"
"I saw her deliver death with my own two eyes. Look over there. Isn't there a dead centipede on the floor? The Saintess delivered death."
Namgung Hui looked in the direction Muchi was pointing and shook his head.
"She just killed that by slapping it with her palm. You can tell just by looking at how flattened it is."
"No! It was dead before that!"
"Sigh... Alright. Alright. I'll check again later."
"You must. You must. By the way, did you find the manual?"
"Ah. Right! Seol Okwol!"
Namgung Hui hurriedly called for Beak Seolhwa and ran to her.
"Why are you calling so loudly?"
"By any chance, did a manual come out of Hyeokryeon Socheon's body?"
"I didn't search."
Namgung Hui knew her words were true since he had seen Hyeokryeon Socheon breathe his last.
So he quickly ran outside and searched Hyeokryeon Socheon's robes, but.
'There's no manual...! Damn it.'
It seemed he had either already smuggled the Two-Principle Heart Method manual out or hidden it somewhere.
It wasn't even his, but for some reason, Namgung Hui felt as if someone had stolen his own manual.
As he stared at Hyeokryeon Socheon with slumped shoulders.
"Kiik. Kik? (Why the long face? I think I need a drink.)"
"Am I you? To drink over something like this."
"Kiik. Kiik? (So what's the matter?)"
"This guy stole the Wudang Sect's manual, but it didn't come out of his robes. That means he either already sent it to the Blood Cult or hid it somewhere."
"Kik. Kik? (I think I'm the one who needs a drink.)"
"What kind of nonsense is that... Don't tell me! You?"
"Kik. Kik. (Yes. I think I can find it. Follow me.)"
Chichi scurried off somewhere.
Having sipped on Thunder Liquor recently, its movements had become nimble, perhaps thanks to that.
It seemed to be a spirit beast that grew stronger as thunder ki accumulated.
The place where Chichi stopped was the collapsed residence of the Lord of Red Cliff Valley.
Namgung Hui watched Chichi disappear into the debris and swallowed dryly.
A moment later. Chichi appeared with something in its mouth.
What was in Chichi's mouth was, as expected.
"The Two-Principle Heart Method! Well done! Chichi!"
"Kiik. Kik. (The title is 'Two-Principle', so that's two bottles.)"
This time, he had no choice but to fall for Chichi's sophistry.
"Alright. Here, take the Thunder Liquor."
Namgung Hui finished his barter with Chichi and carefully picked up the Two-Principle Heart Method manual.
Gulp.
Two-Principle Heart Method.
For some reason, it was a moment he felt sorry for Beak Seolhwa.
Was it because it wasn't the Ten-Section Brocade she had so desired?
Or was it because he was peeking at such a precious manual alone?
He felt a momentary guilt, but it did not last long.
Because he was captivated by the brilliant form of the Two-Principle Heart Method.
Namgung Hui was about to flip through the Two-Principle Heart Method manual but stopped his hand for a moment.
'Is it okay to learn this as it is? I feel like there will be repercussions.'
Hadn't Tang Soso stuck to him as a monitor because of the Rain of Ten Thousand Flowers manual?
Of course, that was a result that occurred along with other ulterior motives, but the Wudang Sect's Two-Principle Heart Method was on a different level than that and could not be taken lightly.
If it became known that a third party, not a disciple of the Wudang Sect, had learned the Two-Principle Heart Method.
'In the case of a martial art representing a sect, they might even destroy the dantian and sever the muscles and tendons of the four limbs.'
Even if it was something that happened due to the Wudang Sect's negligence, almost all sects were extremely reluctant to have their martial arts leaked.
It was a natural thing.
Even Namgung Hui himself wouldn't leave it alone if someone learned the Azure Sky Boundless Sword Art without permission.
'But it's not like the Wudang Sect would allow me to learn the Two-Principle Heart Method.'
Unlike the case of the Mount Hua Sect, he had no prior relationship with the Wudang Sect from his past life.
To be honest, when he learned the Purple Mist Divine Art, he didn't feel guilty because of his past friendship with Wi Jinmyeong.
But learning the Wudang Sect's Two-Principle Heart Method, he couldn't help but hesitate in many ways.
But.
'Isn't it fine as long as the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing?'
A situation similar to the context of the Two-Principle Heart Method.
Rather, if he only used it as a hidden card, no one would be able to notice that he had learned the Two-Principle Heart Method.
If he just used it with an appropriate time difference, they wouldn't even know he was using the Two-Principle Heart Method.
Namgung Hui, having cast off his hesitation, quickly perused the Two-Principle Heart Method manual.
Sreureuk. Sreureuk. Sreureuk.
The rough paper turned, filling the desolate Red Cliff Valley.
The moment the incantations of the Two-Principle Heart Method were imprinted in Namgung Hui's mind.
Namgung Hui closed the manual and nodded.
'The principle is not difficult. Dividing the intent into two is a bit burdensome, but. It's not difficult if the upper dantian is open.'
Strangely, the Two-Principle Heart Method was a rare martial art of the upper dantian.
It seemed the upper dantian was used because the brain had to be used to its limit.
The left brain and the right brain.
They recognize different martial arts and circulate ki.
A heart method that could easily lead to Qi Deviation if one made a mistake, in a way, it looked similar to a demonic art.
But the study was so deep and distant that the Daoists of the Wudang Sect treated it as a divine ultimate technique.
On top of that, its stability was also beyond doubt.
Namgung Hui, with a satisfied smile, stored the manual and began to examine the rest of the spoils he had taken from the Lord of Red Cliff Valley a little while ago.
'Is this the identification plaque of the Blood Cult? I might have a use for it when I go to the Blood Cult, so I should keep it. And this is the Soul-Stealing Scripture? Is it a demonic art manual? The name alone is terrifying.'
He had vaguely seen it in the diary of the first cult leader.
It was said that Zhu Yuanzhang had intentionally put flaws in the demonic arts.
As a result, the more one learned a demonic art, the more ferocious their disposition became, and it was easy to fall into Qi Deviation.
He didn't know how much the first cult leader had improved it after realizing that, but he probably couldn't have fixed all the ones that had already spread as demonic arts.
The manual in Namgung Hui's hand now would be the same.
Just as its captivating name, 'Soul-Stealing,' suggested, it exuded a dangerous scent, so Namgung Hui was about to burn the manual, but.
"I Jayeon. Can I see that?"
Beak Seolhwa approached and requested the manual.
Namgung Hui didn't need the Soul-Stealing Scripture manual, so he obediently handed it to her.
"You're not unaware of the side effects of demonic arts, but the name of the martial art itself exudes a dangerous scent. Be careful."
"Worrying is your fate. Do you think I'd get into a difficult situation because of a mere demonic art manual?"
"Yes. You probably wouldn't."
Even in his past life, she hadn't shown any aftereffects of the side effects of demonic arts.
Her somewhat rough hands were probably closer to her innate disposition.
Beak Seolhwa's expression, who had received the manual, became quite heavy.
She skimmed through the manual and then opened her mouth.
"I don't think this is a demonic art. At least, in my opinion, there are no side effects. And it's a very old manual."
It had looked old to Namgung Hui as well.
A manual older than the diary of the first cult leader.
There were traces of it having weathered the storms of time for at least a hundred years.
However, since there were almost no one who had learned it, its storage condition was extremely good.
"Well, it's not my thing anymore, so you do what you want with it. I have something to give to the Little Saintess, so I have to go back in."
The Little Saintess would also be eagerly waiting for Namgung Hui.
To be precise, it would be the Great Luo Sparrow Needle, but she was waiting calmly inside the pavilion without being able to rush him.
As Namgung Hui approached her, he handed her the Great Luo Sparrow Needle case and said.
"I've confirmed that all 20 are inside, but just in case, you should also take a look, Little Saintess."
"Yes. Then please excuse me for a moment."
No matter how much Namgung Hui had gone through the confirmation process, considering the importance of the Great Luo Sparrow Needle, it was right to check it once more.
The Little Saintess, who had been carefully counting the number, nodded with a bright face.
"Thank you so much. Come to think of it, we haven't even introduced ourselves. As you already know, I am Seong Sohui of the Divine Physician Sect."
"I don't have a particular affiliation, and my name is I Jayeon. My friend over there is Seol Okwol, and my friend here is Chunsam."
"Nice to meet you too, Chunsam. Saintess."
Since Seong Sohui was sometimes called the Saintess, she just smiled at Muchi's title without saying anything.
"Why are you leaving me out? How disappointing. I am Hwang Sujin of the Golden Merchant Guild. Benefactor."
Namgung Hui turned to the side at that voice and greeted her.
"Nice to meet you too. But how did the precious daughter of the Golden Merchant Guild end up being kidnapped?"
"That's what I'd like to know. How did you defeat the Lord of Red Cliff Valley, who took down my bodyguards in an instant? You look about my age."
"The world is wide, and there are many extraordinary people. Anyway, What did the Lord of Red Cliff Valley say to you?"
"To me? He poured out a torrent of abuse, saying I'd never get married. He acted as if he was my mortal enemy. Good grief. To nag me so much just because I'm not good at cooking, I'll have to learn how to cook when I go back, I'm so sad."
"What I asked was not that. I was asking if he didn't demand money."
"Money? Would he demand it from me? He probably sent a message to the merchant guild. To be honest, I don't even know how the merchant guild works, so I'm not interested."
For a moment, a deep shadow was cast over Hwang Sujin's face.
If she was the granddaughter of the Golden Merchant Guild Leader, she would have grown up without any lack, so why was she making such a sad face?
It wasn't like she was in charge of numerous tasks and acting as a young guild leader like Eun Seolrin.
'Well, everyone has their own story.'
Namgung Hui had gathered that she was not closely related to the business of the Golden Merchant Guild, but just in case, he had no choice but to ask Hwang Sujin one last question.
"Miss Hwang. By any chance, do you know a place called the Hoicheon Association?"
"The Hoicheon Association? What kind of meeting is that? The name is very grand and tacky. Do the elders gather there and play Go or something?"
Come to think of it, it was true that elders gathered there.
And looking at the General's personality, it seemed he would also play Go.
Namgung Hui found it quite funny that he couldn't immediately deny her words, but he soon shook his head and continued.
"That's not it. It can be called a very evil meeting. Since you don't know, it can't be helped."
Hwang Sujin looked into Namgung Hui's eyes and said.
"Although I can't cook and have no dexterity, I'm pretty quick-witted. That place is related to our Golden Merchant Guild, right? And seeing as you're emphasizing that it's evil, it seems our merchant guild is even providing support."
Namgung Hui was about to hide the truth, but since it was a pseudonym and a disguised identity anyway, he decided to boldly confess everything.
"That's right. The group called the Hoicheon Association is a group that tries to conquer the martial world by any means necessary. The Heretic Alliance and the Green Forest Alliance are also in league with that place."
"In a word, they're the head of the Black-Path Factions?"
"Black-Path Factions. In a way, you could say that."
Their insides were so black that it wouldn't be a problem to see them as the Black Path.
In fact, their actions and their sinister inner thoughts were worse than the Black-Path Factions in reality.
Even if Namgung Hui told her the truth like this, Hwang Sujin seemed to have no authority or power.
Namgung Hui, thinking he had said all he had to say, was about to turn around.
Hwang Sujin grabbed Namgung Hui's arm and said.
"Hey. Would you like to make a deal with me?"