Chapter 653
Chapter 653
Chapter 653
A middle-aged man wearing a deeply pressed bamboo hat sat on a tree branch, watching Sa Biran.
He was none other than Sa Bigang, the Master of Demon Annihilation Palace.
Compared to thirty years ago, he looked slightly older, but still maintained a youthful appearance that could pass for his early thirties.
In fact, considering his martial arts level, it would be possible for him to look even younger.
Hong Yeom stood beside Sa Bigang in a proper posture.
"Fortunately, it seems the ice has been broken for reconciliation."
At Hong Yeom's words, Sa Bigang wore a faint smile.
"She resembles me, dealing with things wisely."
Hong Yeom slightly furrowed his brow and turned around.
"Oh, come on. It's somewhat different from your style, Palace Master."
"What's my style like?"
"Well... 'Just shut up and I'll take both of them. Hand over the kids while I'm asking nicely.' Something like that."
"Do I look like someone with no sense of hierarchy?"
"Ah... did you... have hierarchy...?"
Sa Bigang chuckled softly.
Hong Yeom instantly sensed danger.
That laugh felt familiar.
Sure enough, Sa Bigang spoke in a bright voice.
"I suppose I need to teach you today just how clear my sense of hierarchy is."
"Haha... ha... I was just... joking."
"Don't be modest. I'll show you just how stubborn and inflexible I am."
"Oh! Come to think of it, I also have to carry out my next mission...! Then!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Yeom concealed his presence like a lie.
Sa Bigang chuckled and turned his gaze.
Far in the distance, his daughter, who truly wouldn't hurt even if placed in his eye, was smiling brightly.
A deep smile bloomed on Sa Bigang's lips as well.
***
Sa Biran and the four masters returned to the inn and sat facing each other.
Having heard the general situation, Yeon U-gyeong let out a contemplative sound and spoke.
"Hmm. So the ones who kidnapped my daughter were gathering Magic Stones. And they were plotting to overthrow the martial world."
"Yes, that's what we've determined so far."
Sa Biran nodded and replied.
She didn't reveal until the end that she was the one who had kidnapped Yeon Seol-yeon and Seok Geom-yeong.
She thought now wasn't the time.
Sometimes white lies are necessary, aren't they?
Of course, it's a truth that will be revealed someday.
But perhaps by then they might even be grateful to her?
'Well, or not.'
Indeed, when she glossed over things like this, she did seem to resemble her father a bit.
Anyway, thanks to the well-crafted script, the four people continued to express their support for the White Transformation Squad with even more fervor.
"Are these bastards planning to stockpile power with Magic Stones? In any case, if such information has come in, we must deal with it thoroughly. And they dared to kidnap my daughter to obtain Magic Stones? Even tearing them apart wouldn't be satisfying enough!"
"Those bastards seem to have taken us too lightly."
Seok Tan-gang also suppressed his anger with a heavily subdued voice.
Mok Dan-hwa asked.
"Then, what do you plan to do now? You've let them escape."
"Actually, we deliberately let them go."
"What?"
All four people turned to look at Sa Biran simultaneously.
Just then, Deung Ga-hwi approached with Ong Su-ryeong.
Sa Biran introduced her.
"This is Ong Su-ryeong, the daughter of Master Ong and Mistress Neung."
Ong Su-ryeong bowed her waist and greeted them.
"Hello, I've heard much about you. My name is Ong Su-ryeong."
"So, you're Su-ryeong. I've heard about you."
"How is your body?"
"I'm fine."
Ong Su-ryeong smiled faintly.
But in truth, she couldn't say she was completely fine.
While using spirit techniques at the valley, her body had been strained once again.
Fortunately, she had Magic Stones that Gu Gang-ryong had given her before leaving home, allowing for quick treatment.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have been strange if she had fallen ill by now.
The four masters who saw Ong Su-ryeong could roughly guess the situation.
Even before seeing her, they had thought that water stream was not ordinary.
But seeing Ong Gi-seung and Neung So-so's daughter in person gave them a new feeling.
"Is So-so doing well?"
Mok Dan-hwa and Yu Song-ryeong asked simultaneously.
Ong Su-ryeong nodded with a smile.
"Yes, she's doing well."
"Your mother was such a gentle and mild friend. You're similar to her."
At Mok Dan-hwa's words with a slight smile, Ong Su-ryeong just smiled.
In truth, she couldn't quite agree.
If anything, her mother was more appropriately described as having strong conviction and being tenacious.
Her father was the mild one, perhaps?
But people who knew her mother's past all said without exception that she was a quiet and gentle person.
So she felt a bit apologetic.
How much must her mother have changed while raising her sickly self?
At times she must have had to become tough, and at times she must have lived a life of giving up.
While Ong Su-ryeong missed her mother, Yeon U-gyeong nodded and spoke.
"So that water dragon was summoned by this child."
"That's correct."
"But you're saying it wasn't a mistake?"
"Yes."
Sa Biran nodded and continued.
"We never intended to catch the fish right now in the first place. We planned to let them steal the bait and run away."
"The reason?"
"It seems you masters have forgotten because it's been so long. There's something rather special attached to those Magic Stones."
"Something special?"
The four people looked at each other as if hearing this for the first time.
They had no idea what Sa Biran was talking about.
"Speak. What is this special thing?"
At Seok Tan-gang's words, Sa Biran answered.
"Bodily fluids."
"Bodily fluids...?"
The four people questioned, then simultaneously let out brief exclamations as if something had crossed their minds.
"Ah...!"
They remembered.
Magic Stones bestowed by Demon Annihilation Palace have certain measures taken to prepare for possible theft or loss.
The "special thing" that Dam Jin-u had mentioned before was exactly about this.
"I see. So you deliberately let them escape."
"Yes, we had to make it look like we lost them. That way they'll use those Magic Stones without much suspicion."
"True. If it's that child's bodily fluids, humans won't be able to detect them."
"Yes, they absolutely cannot detect them."
"Then, the next destination is decided."
At Yu Song-ryeong's words, Sa Biran nodded.
"Yes, it's also the last place we need to visit anyway. Because they're all gathered there."
"Heaven New Martial Hall (天新武館)."
"Yes. Heaven New Martial Hall."
Sa Biran smiled broadly.
Heaven New Martial Hall was named by taking 'Heaven' from Heaven Annihilation Squad and 'New' from New Life Group.
As the name suggests, it was a martial hall created by martial artists from Heaven Annihilation Squad and New Life Group origins.
It was very large in scale, and had long since surpassed the reputation of Yongcheon Hall.
Yu Song-ryeong nodded and spoke.
"Right, the one with those bodily fluids attached is there too."
"Yes. That child follows Master Chu Ryang the most."
"Come to think of it, I miss them. When that child grew large, I once slept using its belly as a pillow. It was quite comfortable."
Then Seok Tan-gang suddenly interjected.
"Don't even mention it. When I first saw that creature suddenly grow large, I was scared out of my wits."
Yeon U-gyeong slapped the table and picked up the conversation.
"Now that you mention it, I remember! At that time, Gok Bo-ok screamed despite his large frame, didn't he?"
"Haha! That's right. He went 'Waaahhh!' like that."
"Right, right. So I teased him for about two weeks."
Mok Dan-hwa also joined in, laughing heartily.
The four people who had been sharing memories soon fell silent with somewhat awkward expressions as they ran out of topics again.
It was a very brief moment of harmony.
But Sa Biran thought it was a good sign.
This is how you break down the walls of distrust.
And then rebuild.
Friendship and trust.
Yeon U-gyeong gazed out the window with eyes filled with longing.
"Those guys... I wonder if they're doing well?"
"They must be doing well. At least all of them...."
Seok Tan-gang cut off what he was going to say.
What he was going to say was:
'...wouldn't be enemies like us.'
Suddenly he felt melancholic about the years that had passed.
Looking back, those memories felt like lies.
Why did they growl at each other so much over what?
In the end, misunderstandings piled up and snowballed.
They came to conclusions without communicating, lost in their own thoughts, and slandered each other.
Things they initially didn't bother questioning, thinking good was good, later became complaints.
If they truly thought good was good, complaints shouldn't have arisen.
Perhaps in the end, they each hoped the other would react first.
Ignoring that each had their own circumstances.
'Perhaps I've aged in vain.'
Seok Tan-gang let out a self-deprecating laugh.
Just then, Yeon U-gyeong spoke as if remembering something.
"Come to think of it, I visited that Heaven New Martial Hall a few years ago. I remember seeing a guy with a particularly unusual name back then. Whose son was that?"
"I remember too. His attire was also distinctive. He was a child who stood out anywhere."
As Mok Dan-hwa picked up the conversation, Seok Tan-gang also nodded as if understanding.
"Right, I remember seeing a strange guy too."
"Me too. A child who dressed very flashily, probably?"
With Yu Song-ryeong's words as the last, Yeon U-gyeong muttered again.
"But I can't quite remember whose son that guy was. Anyway, if you all meet him, give him my regards."
"Understood. We should also convey the news that you masters have dramatically reconciled and agreed to cooperate with each other."
"What?"
As Seok Tan-gang raised his voice, Sa Biran grinned broadly.
In the end, Seok Tan-gang couldn't say anything more and just chuckled.
The other masters also laughed it off.
Thus, another day in Songbaek County, where a major incident had occurred, was coming to an end.
***
"Father, this really isn't right."
"Oh my! Boy, do you want to be ignored too?"
"I think I'll be even more ignored if I do this. Everyone will just laugh at me, won't they?"
"It's better to be laughed at. The only reason you haven't been truly ignored until now is because of your father's resentful efforts."
"Father, you're too caught up in a persecution complex."
"That's not it!"
A middle-aged man with a mustache grown in the shape of the character '八' - he was none other than Deung Ja-gyeong, whose presence had always been faint.
Deung Ja-gyeong, whose eyes had become teary, looked at his son, Deung Deung-deung (鄧騰騰), and said.
"I will absolutely raise you so you're never ignored."
"But Father, you got married and are living well like this, aren't you?"
Just then.
The door opened and Deung Deung-deung's mother, Baek Mi-ryeong, entered.
She looked straight at Deung Deung-deung and asked.
"Deung, where is your father?"
Deung Ja-gyeong, who was holding Deung Deung-deung's shoulders, spoke in a sobbing voice.
"I'm right here."
"Oh my, why do you come out after hiding?"
"I've been here from the beginning."
"Really? Anyway, there's good news. Biran is coming here. Along with the White Transformation Squad and other children."