Chapter 257 : Prophecy
"A prophetic dream."
"Oho. A prophetic dream is quite a special ability. At what age did that ability blossom?"
"It was the morning of her tenth birthday. That day, my daughter's hesitant attitude was so unfamiliar that I asked her. Why she was acting like that. So Sohui replied. That someone was coming to visit in her dream. Well, I dismissed it as nothing special, but when my daughter continued to guess who was coming, I sensed something from then on. That she had inherited my mother's ability."
Namgung Hui, as the small question he had harbored about Seong Sohui was resolved, slowly nodded his head and continued to ask.
"If so, does that ability called a prophetic dream also develop? For example, dreaming of a more vivid and detailed dream, or foreseeing a desired date, things like that."
"As you say, there is a part where the ability has been strengthened. She foresees a longer time than before and the dream tells her things that are more helpful to Sohui, but as far as I know, specifying a date is still impossible. Well, it's been five years since I talked with my daughter about this prophetic dream, so I don't know how it is now."
Namgung Hui stroked his chin for a moment and fell into thought.
'Seong Sohui was definitely kidnapped by the Red Cliff Valley Lord. It's unlikely that a prophetic dream wouldn't have told her about such a dangerous element. Then was it intentional? Don't tell me, to meet us?'
It might have been an intentional part to infiltrate the Blood Cult.
Because even if she had a prophetic dream, it wouldn't tell her the location of the Blood Cult.
Did she enter the Blood Cult following her mother's traces like Beak Seolhwa?
Just by looking at how she was so friendly to her maternal grandfather, the Demon Physician, it seemed like a plausible guess.
Well, no one but Seong Sohui herself would know the truth.
"Anyway. The fact that my daughter chose the Blood Cult instead of the Divine Physician Sect means she saw something in her dream or had a change of heart due to some opportunity... It seems I'll have to look into this part in detail. For some reason, my premonition tells me that a great wind is about to rise in the martial world."
"That wind will also be imbued with the scent of blood. That's why I'm also going to the Iron Blood Alliance to check on the situation. Do you happen to know anything about the Iron Blood Alliance?"
"How much would a mere physician know? Instead, there are quite a few martial artists there who owe me a debt. I'll give you the mark of the Divine Physician Sect, so try asking them for help."
Namgung Hui received the wooden plaque that the Divine Physician Sect Leader handed him and asked.
"Can I know the detailed organization or names they belong to?"
"Perhaps you've also heard of it. The Heavenly Wolf Brigade that is joining this time, to be precise, it's the ronin brigade led by the Ten Great Masters' Wolf King."
They were the ones Namgung Hui had encountered at Dongting Lake before.
Of course, because he had a private meeting with Mo Socheon, no, Murong Soran, he hadn't been able to watch their movements further, but the Wolf King, who belonged to the Ten Great Masters, was certainly not at a level to be ignored.
The ronin, who had very rich practical experience, could never be judged by their appearance.
Hidden weapons or poison besides martial arts.
Since they would perform tricks that martial artists would call dirty without batting an eye, carelessness was absolutely forbidden.
"If it's the Wolf King, it seems he'll be a great help. I will gratefully use this."
"I'm glad it will be of help. Then I'll be on my way to the Golden Merchant Guild to finish my work, so let's part ways here."
As the Divine Physician Sect Leader's words ended, his bodyguards were approaching Namgung Hui's side.
Namgung Hui had also finished talking about the Human-Faced Poison, and since he had also written it down in a separate letter, there was no need to talk any further.
'And I also have to find my companion, Sect Leader Jang Hwang.'
He had parted with the Maoshan Sect Leader, Jang Hwang, and hadn't left him any particular message, so by now, he would be wandering around looking for Namgung Hui.
Jang Hwang was a charming man to part with just yet.
As the bodyguards stood neatly next to the Sect Leader, Namgung Hui cupped his fists to the Divine Physician Sect Leader and opened his mouth.
"Sect Leader. Please take care. If I learn of your daughter's news later, I will send a letter."
"Thank you. Then I will trust only you."
Namgung Hui resolved to inform Beak Seolhwa of this fact soon and ask her to accompany him to the Blood Cult.
And since it would be better to discuss the use of the Ice Crystal with her, the need to make time arose even if he didn't have any.
Namgung Hui turned his body when the Divine Physician Sect Leader's figure gradually became smaller and was no longer visible to the naked eye.
'Still, for now, I have to find the Maoshan Sect Leader first. I still have a lot to learn and hear from him.'
Namgung Hui closed his eyes and spread his electric net wide, starting from the vicinity where he had parted with him.
He began to search every nook and cranny up to the point leading to the Iron Blood Alliance.
As expected, it seemed that Jang Hwang, while tracking Namgung Hui's footsteps, had turned in the direction of the Iron Blood Alliance.
Namgung Hui, who had opened his eyes, withdrew his electric net and threw his body in the direction where Jang Hwang was.
Still, perhaps because he had tracked him with the sorcery of the Maoshan Sect, he was able to reunite with Jang Hwang not far away.
"Brother Jang."
At Namgung Hui's call, Jang Hwang turned around, his face beaming.
"Jang Cheol! If you run that fast, how am I supposed to follow? Still, it's a relief that you look alright. I heard a sound like thunder, so this sworn brother was very worried. The Ki wave was so intense that even my sorcery couldn't reach properly."
"It's a good thing you didn't come. If Brother Jang had come, you would have seen something you shouldn't have."
"Who did you meet? Why are you making such a fuss?"
"The Black and White Twin Elders of the Heretic Faction."
Jang Hwang stopped his walking steps and showed a startled look.
"What!? The Black and White Twin Elders? Did I hear you correctly?"
"That's right. The elders of the Heretic Faction and the masters of the previous generation, the Black and White Twin Elders."
"No. Then that means you and the Black and White Twin Elders had a go at it, so why are you alright?"
"Are you saying I should have had an arm or a leg cut off?"
"Ahem... Well, even if it's not an arm or a leg, it's because you look too alright. No. The sound I heard was a bolt from the blue. Don't you look too alright for someone who has been through such a fight?"
As Jang Hwang said, Namgung Hui had one-sidedly pushed the Twin Elders and then had gone to treat their granddaughter.
Well, if they had fought to the end, not only would Namgung Hui, who was at a numerical disadvantage, have suffered a loss, but he wouldn't have been this alright either.
That was why Jang Hwang's question was perfectly valid.
"Heaven sent a heavenly punishment to the Twin Elders, so they tucked their tails and ran on their own."
"Hah... Brother. Are you teasing your sworn brother now? The sound I heard was definitely not just that. Did you think I couldn't figure that much out with my sorcery?"
"Actually, the Divine Physician Sect Leader was also with me, and the Sect Leader roughly negotiated with them, so we were able to part safely."
"Ah. No matter how much they are the Twin Elders, they can't fool their age. One of them, no. Both of them must have come to get a diagnosis from the Divine Physician Sect Leader. You must have been escorting the Sect Leader and have just come down."
When he thought about it, it wasn't wrong in the grand scheme of things, so Namgung Hui nodded his head and moved his stopped steps again.
"That's how it is, so Brother Jang, don't be too angry. By the way, we're not far from the Iron Blood Alliance now. If we just stay one night at that inn, we should be able to arrive tomorrow."
"What are you talking about? Isn't it a distance that takes at least a few days to get to Guiyang?"
"That's when you calculate with Brother Jang's steps. If it's me, I can arrive tomorrow."
"Hmph! No matter how outstanding your martial prowess is. That doesn't make sense physically."
"Then will you make a bet with me? If we arrive in Guiyang by tomorrow, Brother Jang will pay for all the expenses of the journey from now on. And in addition, you will also tell me in detail about sorcery."
"Sorcery? Yes. What's the big deal. There's nothing I can't teach my younger brother. Although I don't like to leech off my younger brother's money, this is a matter of pride as a man. Alright. If you're mentally prepared, then carry me on your back now."
Namgung Hui grinned and offered his back to Jang Hwang.
"Hold on tight. Because you might fall off while we're running."
"You too, don't you worry."
As if he had finished saying what he had to say, Jang Hwang shut his mouth and hopped onto Namgung Hui's back.
"Then, here we go. Your heart might drop..."
-Swoosh~!
Namgung Hui, while speaking, even mobilized the technique of the Bow God's Elastic Shot, shot his body forward, and performed the Wind God Steps.
Jang Hwang, who felt his body being pushed back suddenly, wrapped his arms around Namgung Hui's neck and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Slo~w~ly~ please go~!"
Jang Hwang's voice, perhaps because Namgung Hui was running so fast, felt as if even his voice was falling behind.
Namgung Hui ignored Jang Hwang's urgent voice and continued to move his feet.
Thanks to that, around midnight that day.
Rather, they arrived in Guiyang even faster than expected.
* * *
"Heok. Heok. Brother! No matter how much you covet my money. Was there a need to run so hard?"
"I didn't overdo it. From Brother Jang's perspective, does it look like I overdid it?"
"You did overdo it. Not you, but me. You should have just thrown your older brother away."
"Then how would I get the expenses? Still, thanks to me, we arrived early, didn't we? Originally, time is gold, so just shortening the time like this is a valuable thing."
"So you're even taking away your sworn brother's capital, sorcery? Aing. Kids these days are too selfish."
Unlike Jang Hwang's whining, after getting on Namgung Hui's back, he had generously given advice on sorcery, regardless of the bet.
Especially when Namgung Hui brought up the story of the Blood Cult's illusion demon, he rather showed deep interest and even bombarded him with questions.
'Oho. An illusion that deceives all five senses. He must be a very high-level sorcerer. It's a very difficult thing to deceive even one of them.'
'The young lady of the Seomun family was selected as a disciple? Then again. The Seomun family is not only outstanding in beauty, but also in artistic skills.'
'Then this sworn brother will teach you the method of breaking the spell and a few clever tricks.'
Namgung Hui ended up spending all his meal times and other trivial times receiving Jang Hwang's teachings.
It wasn't a long journey, so the time was already short.
A day had passed in the blink of an eye.
Namgung Hui, who had arrived at his destination, set Jang Hwang down on the ground and thought for a moment.
'The sorcery of the Maoshan Sect was on a different level from the illusion of the illusion demon. If the illusion was to perform something on others, including the soul-stealing art, the sorcery of the Maoshan Sect used the grudges lingering in the nine heavens or contained in objects.'
Of course, he hadn't heard all of the Maoshan Sect's sorcery.
But he was able to learn techniques to resist illusions, at least roughly.
And should he say that he had a rough idea of how Jang Hwang had been earning money?
Thanks to that, he didn't feel much guilt about owing Jang Hwang for the travel expenses.
Still, it felt like Namgung Hui was the only one gaining unilaterally.
So Namgung Hui also had to repay Jang Hwang.
"Brother Jang. Do you perhaps know of the Jinju Eon family?"
"The Eon family, isn't that the place where the fist technique and the Jiangshi art are the best? But why a family that has been annihilated? Are you telling me to summon a vengeful spirit or something?"
"That's not it. I know one of their descendants, so if Brother Jang wants, I was thinking of introducing you."
"What!? There's a survivor?"
Eon Jiyeon, the sole survivor of the Jinju Eon family, which was known to have been annihilated.
Although he didn't know if she would have it, the clue to the Jiangshi manufacturing technique, of course.
'And maybe she can be accepted as a disciple of the Maoshan Sect. A descendant of the Eon family with nowhere to go. On top of that, since the Eon family is a master of the Jiangshi art, they have many similar parts with the Maoshan Sect.'
In the past, it was said that the Maoshan Sect also had the Jiangshi art.
But as the sect declined, the Jiangshi art was lost...
Well, since Jang Hwang's skills were considerable even now, there was no need for the Jiangshi art.
Instead, the key was that he could recruit a precious talent for a lonely sect with no disciples.
"...If what you say is true, please introduce me to the descendant of the Eon family. I'm asking you like this."
Jang Hwang, who even grabbed Namgung Hui's hand.
From his gaze, it seemed there was some circumstance that Namgung Hui didn't know.
Since he didn't want to know such complicated circumstances, Namgung Hui just continued with an awkward smile.
"Of course, I'll introduce you. So I'd appreciate it if you'd withdraw that burdensome gaze. Brother Jang."
"Hahaha! Yes. As you say, I'll withdraw my hand, but know that I won't withdraw my interest. Then. I'll trust only you and wait for the time."
"I also have to send a message to that person, so if you stay at the place I designate, a message will come."
"Huh? You're not coming yourself?"
"It's because I have a lot to do in the future. Once the Iron Blood Alliance's matter is over, Brother Jang will be free, but your younger brother has many places to visit after that."
The Kunlun Mountains area, where the Heavenly Demon Divine Art secret manual might be.
No matter what anyone said now, there was nothing more important than this.
If this information were to leak to the Blood Cult right now, they would immediately release all their cultists and rush out.
Not just them. The Martial Alliance would be the same, and the Hoicheon Association would also reveal all their hidden potential.
That was how much the name Heavenly Demon Divine Art could overwhelm everything.
And above all, the Dugu Family Head, who would be near the Iron Blood Alliance, was also a top priority.
"Since my younger brother says so, this broad-minded sworn brother will have to understand. Yes. As you say, after the Iron Blood Alliance's matter is over, just tell me where to be."
It wasn't that Namgung Hui was trying to send him somewhere just because he was busy.
The Namgung family.
A prestigious family that the Maoshan Sect could never look down on even in its heyday.
If he took refuge in such a place and further promoted their friendship, he might be able to draw in a high-level sorcerer named Jang Hwang to his side.
'I could also recruit him into the Righteous Heaven Alliance I'm newly creating. If he's the sect leader of the Maoshan Sect, I could give him at least an elder position.'
To recruit him like that, he first had to not let him join the Iron Blood Alliance.
Although he didn't know for sure if the Iron Blood Alliance was a good place or a bad place.
Still, a place where even the unorthodox martial world was mixed in would not flow smoothly.
As if to agree with Namgung Hui's thoughts, not long after arriving in Guiyang, a loud noise was heard from the marketplace.
And there, he could find a whopping two familiar faces.
(End of Chapter)