Chapter 62: A Clue-2
Chapter 62: A Clue-2
That night, at midnight, the Twelfth Daeju, Jeungak Dogak Man Jong-im, was waiting with the First Squad members of the Twelfth Battalion for someone to appear in the western forest.
First Squad Leader Do Mu-gon, keeping watch on all sides, spoke up.
"No matter how I look at it, this is far too suspicious, Daeju-nim. For someone to say they know we are pursuing Blood Cultists — doesn't that mean we are completely exposed to them? In all likelihood, I believe this is a trap."
At that, Man Jong-im snorted and said.
"Hmph! Are you afraid? What does it matter if it is a trap? If that is the case, then it means we have properly found the Blood Cult bastards."
At those words, Do Mu-gon barely managed to suppress the surge of frustration rising within him.
Such irresponsible words.
What good did properly finding them in this manner do?
If they ended up dead, it was all for nothing.
Did Man Jong-im truly think that with their current numbers, they could handle Georyeokma Jeo Woong-won — who possessed over ninety years of internal energy — and his subordinates, among whom were three peak-level masters?
Moreover, if those who summoned them here truly were Blood Cultists, then wasn't it those very enemies who had sought them out first, not the other way around?
Do Mu-gon was utterly uneasy.
He suddenly regretted, all too deeply, having come here alongside Man Jong-im, of all people.
Whether he knew Do Mu-gon's inner thoughts or not, Man Jong-im murmured to himself.
"It seems almost the third watch now? Where exactly did they say they would appear?"
In truth, even Man Jong-im, who spoke thus, was not entirely at ease.
The fact that someone knew they were pursuing Georyeokma meant he had absolutely no idea who the other party could be.
If these people turned out not to be those who truly intended to give them information on Georyeokma, then tonight would become an exceedingly dangerous night.
'Those who know our objective would be the personnel of the Thirteenth and Eleventh Squads. But it cannot be them. In that case, those remaining are probably either from the Murim Alliance or the Blood Cult's forces. If not them, then those who obtained intelligence from the Hao Gate...'
Man Jong-im actually thought it most likely that they were people who had obtained information from the Hao Gate.
But he could not admit that.
Because if he admitted it, it would become his own responsibility — for having spoken of Georyeokma to the Hao Gate despite Do Mu-gon's dissuasion.
Given Man Jong-im's pride, admitting that was absolutely impossible.
It was while they were thus uneasy yet keeping watch in all directions.
Suddenly, from one side of the forest, the sound of grass rustling — "seuseuseu" — began to be heard.
It was the presence of people.
Martial artists, and quite a large number of them at that, seemed to be approaching this way.
Man Jong-im urgently shouted.
"Twelfth Battalion, prepare for battle!"
Seureung! Chang! Chang!
At his words, just as all the Twelfth Battalion members instantly drew their weapons, roughly thirty black-clad masked figures arrived opposite them.
It was a considerably large number for Man Jong-im's group to handle.
Man Jong-im ground his teeth and shouted in a low voice.
"Who are you?!"
But no answer came in return.
Instead, a question came back.
"Are you the ones pursuing the demon heads of the Blood Cult?"
That question slightly dampened Man Jong-im's hostility.
Because those who asked such a thing were certainly not likely to be Blood Cultists.
He asked again, his voice somewhat softened.
"That is correct. And you who know this — who are you?"
At that, the masked figures fell silent for a moment, as if pondering something.
Then, after a short while, the one standing at the very front stepped forward and removed his mask.
"If you are those pursuing the demon heads of the Blood Cult, then you seem trustworthy. I am called Gu Yu-sang of Jeonghyeopbang."
The face revealed beneath the removed mask was that of a handsome man, his silver hair and pale face appearing to shine brightly even in the dark of night.
Hearing his name, Man Jong-im asked again with surprised eyes.
"Gu Yu-sang, you say? You mean the White Jade Dragon Gu Yu-sang of Jeonghyeopbang?"
At that, the man smiled brightly and answered.
It was a handsome smile that felt as if it radiated light.
"Though it is more than I deserve, some people do call me that. Now, would you care to reveal your own identity, Senior?"
It was no exaggeration to say that the White Jade Dragon Gu Yu-sang of Jeonghyeopbang was one of the most famous later-generation talents in Sichuan Province.
Having reached the peak realm at the age of just twenty, earning the title of 'dragon,' and blessed with his handsome appearance, he was known as Sichuan's First Gongja.
Furthermore, he was also known to be the top disciple of the leader of Jeonghyeopbang, whose true identity had never been properly revealed.
Upon meeting this Gu Yu-sang, Man Jong-im's suspicions now vanished completely.
Wasn't he a famous later-generation talent of the orthodox Jeonghyeopbang, and also seemingly tracking the Blood Cult just like himself?
Such a person seemed fully trustworthy.
"Oh! To think I would meet a later-generation talent of the orthodox faction in a place like this! A pleasure! I am Man Jong-im, serving as the Daeju of the Flying Dragon Twelfth Battalion!"
At that, First Squad Leader Do Mu-gon was startled and tried to dissuade him.
"Daeju-nim!"
But it was already too late.
The White Jade Dragon Gu Yu-sang asked, his eyes alight with interest.
"Oh-ho, then you mean you are Senior Jeungak Dogak Man Jong-im of the Flying Dragon Twelfth Battalion?"
"Indeed. I am that very Man Jong-im. I pursued the Blood Cult's demon head Georyeokma all the way here."
At that, Gu Yu-sang smiled brightly and replied.
"As I thought. Truly befitting the reputation of Jeungak Dogak."
Pleased by the praise, Man Jong-im cleared his throat in pretense and asked.
"Ahem, ahem. Well, it is merely an empty name. In any case, is it true that you possess intelligence on them?"
At that, Gu Yu-sang nodded, his gaze sharp.
"Yes. Not long ago, while investigating the Un Clan, we came to learn that masters of unknown identity had entered that place. Moreover, we were in the midst of further investigation because there was testimony that demonic energy had even been sensed from them. It would seem, given your words, Senior, that they are indeed Georyeokma's party."
At those words, Man Jong-im's eyes flashed.
"Is that true?! Those bastards entered the Un Clan?!"
"Yes, they were said to be led by a man who appeared to be a giant of large build, so it is most likely certain."
Man Jong-im's face, upon hearing Gu Yu-sang's words, became the brightest it had been in days.
"Ohhh! We've finally found the bastards! Hahahaha! Look, Mu-gon! Did I not tell you it would be the Un Clan?!"
But Do Mu-gon, his gaze still not free of suspicion, asked Gu Yu-sang.
"Forgive me, but how can we trust your words, Gongja? And may I ask how you came to obtain information regarding us?"
At that, Gu Yu-sang smiled confidently and answered.
"Ah, we obtained the information on all of you from the Hao Gate. Coincidentally, I also had business with the Hao Gate at the time. It must have been fate. And... as for proof of my words, the very fact that I pursued the Blood Cultists all the way here is proof itself. However, if you truly find it hard to believe, shall we go and verify it together? I had been planning to pursue and ambush the Blood Cult's demon head as soon as the opportunity arose, so join us. What say you, Senior?"
Gu Yu-sang made this suggestion while looking not at Do Mu-gon, but at Man Jong-im.
At this, Man Jong-im — who had now completely shed his suspicions and was gazing at him with a face full of goodwill — had no reason to refuse.
"Is there any reason not to?! It is rather I who should ask this of you! Hahahahaha!"
Do Mu-gon wore a regretful expression, but unfortunately, he held no decision-making authority.
***
The ronin quarters of the Mountain Sword Gate.
Someone suddenly addressed Hae Cheong-yeon, who was with the group.
"Lady Yeon! Would you spare me a moment of your time?!"
It was an utterly brazen tone.
And to dare ask Cheonsang Mihui Yeon Hae to spare her time, no less.
At that audacious remark, the gazes of all the startled ronin focused on him.
And what met the ronin's eyes as they turned to look was some sleek-looking loafer.
His rather handsome face, expensive-looking clothes, and the expression of extreme arrogance upon his face were striking.
The gazes of the ronin looking at him were, naturally, not kind.
They themselves had been merely watching her from a distance for days, and now he suddenly appeared and dared ask her to spare her time?
It was utterly preposterous.
But even as the ronin wore dumbfounded expressions, they could not help but glance at Hae Cheong-yeon with uneasy eyes, just in case.
It was out of worry that she might actually grant this insufferable-looking bastard her time.
At that, Hae Cheong-yeon, who had been briefly looking at him with an indifferent expression, answered as if it were only natural.
"I'd rather not?"
At that firm answer, the ronin burst out with a "pfft!" of laughter, their faces saying 'of course.'
At that, the man's face flushed and hardened, and he spoke again with a stiff expression.
"Lady, you seem to know little of me. I am the nephew of this very Mountain Sword Gate's Sect Leader, Master Heo Gyeong!"
But Hae Cheong-yeon, still looking at him for a moment with an expressionless face, asked again.
"And?"
The ronin who had been watching no longer held back their laughter.
They now began to chuckle aloud, as if they found it utterly hilarious. At this, the man, now seeming enraged, shouted in a loud voice.
"You are merely a ronin, and I am the nephew of the Mountain Sword Gate's Sect Leader! So, Lady, if you wish to get along well in this Mountain Sword Gate, must I spell it out for you to understand that you must not ignore me, Heo Yun-gu?!"
At his words, the ronin now shook their heads in disbelief, murmuring among themselves.
"I thought he was just slightly crazy, but now I see he's severely insane."
"To think a man like that is the sect leader's nephew... doesn't this place seem doomed?"
The ronin' gazes now verged on contempt, and Hae Cheong-yeon was also about to respond to him with an annoyed expression—
When suddenly someone interjected and answered in her stead.
"Then if Lady Hae were to leave the Mountain Sword Gate, everything would be resolved, wouldn't it?"
At those words from the man who had abruptly cut in, Heo Yun-gu flusteredly shot back.
"Wh-what?! Who the hell are you to dare meddle in a conversation between myself and the lady?!"
But the man didn't answer, merely grinning lazily as he continued saying only what he wished to say.
"Hmm, from what I hear, the Jeonghyeopbang side is sending three peak-level masters and a thousand troops back toward Gwiju Castle to avenge their last battle. In contrast, the Mountain Sword Gate's side still hasn't received the promised reinforcements from the Un Clan. And in the midst of all this, if the Five Siblings of Doksu—the greatest contributors to the last battle—were to say they're leaving the Mountain Sword Gate because of the sect leader's nephew..."
Having said that, he looked around at the surrounding ronin and continued.
"I'd wager that at least half of the ronin gathered here came to the Mountain Sword Gate to see Lady Hae. And the other half likely came having heard of the Five Siblings of Doksu's fame. So if the Five Siblings of Doksu said they were leaving the Mountain Sword Gate, wouldn't at least half of the ronin here disappear as well? Perhaps all of them. Well? Would you still be fine with that?"
"Wh-what?"
At his words, Heo Yun-gu was utterly thrown into confusion.
Because he had never given any thought to such matters.
The man then smiled meaningfully at the now-pale Heo Yun-gu and said,
"In this situation, with a battle upon which the Mountain Sword Gate's very survival hangs, the ronin depart en masse because of a nephew who coveted a woman's beauty? If I were Sect Leader Heo Gyeong, I would likely dismember that nephew into five parts and then beg Lady Hae for forgiveness. Now then, what does the nephew think?"
Upon hearing that question, Heo Yun-gu's face went beyond pale and turned utterly blue.
"I, I..."
Stammering and momentarily at a loss, Heo Yun-gu soon turned his body and went dashing away.
It was a desperate, life-or-death scramble.
At that wretched sight, all the ronin burst out laughing.
"Puhahahaha! Look at that sorry figure!"
"Hey! Nephew of the Mountain Sword Gate's sect leader! Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?! Shouldn't you be conversing with Lady Hae!"
"My lady, please spare some time for this humble one! Seems that time was time to run away! Khahahahahah!"
The man who had chased him off with just a few words also grinned as he watched his retreating back.
Then Hae Cheong-yeon spoke to him.
"Thank you for helping. You're surprisingly well-spoken."
At that, Je Won-yeong—a ronin who had come from Zhejiang Province alongside the Five Siblings of Doksu, known as the youngest of the Four Swords of Goesan, and titled the Jeomchang Sword Tiger—smirked as he answered.
"Not quite on the level of Lady Na or Young Hero Seon-woo, but my mind isn't so dull either. And... in matters of sincerity, it becomes even sharper."
At his meaningful words, Hae Cheong-yeon asked with a puzzled expression.
"Matters of sincerity?"
Je Won-yeong, who had been gazing at her for a moment with deep eyes, soon smirked and turned his body.
"Something like that. You will likely come to know soon enough."
It was a cryptic statement.
But Hae Cheong-yeon felt she could roughly grasp what he was talking about.
Though she was not particularly astute when it came to matters of human emotion, she had received looks like that so very many times before.
But Hae Cheong-yeon soon turned her attention away from him and began thinking about other things.
By now, rumors had spread to the point that ronin were flocking like clouds at the mere mention of the name Cheonsang Mihui Yeon Hae.
So the Blood Cult's followers had probably heard rumors about her as well.
Hae Cheong-yeon now went over to the squad members and said,
"We've cast out the bait and spread the scent sufficiently—shall we now throw in the lure?"
At her words, the squad members, including Seol Pung, rose to their feet.
It was time to go fishing.
***
The Five Siblings of Doksu and the Four Swords of Goesan went out together for an evening excursion.
The ostensible reason was to tour the night streets of the branch hall and have a meal, and while many ronin looked as if they wished to follow, they could not dare to do so under the murderous gaze of Bae Jong-gwan, who raked his eyes over them.
So once they were outside and at last had only themselves for company, Cheon Ju-eun stretched her arms wide with a refreshed air and cried out,
"Ahh! Now I finally feel like I can breathe!"
Even with her arms fully extended, her adorably petite figure barely reached the height of an average man, and Na Seo-yu asked with eyes that looked ready to die from how cute she found her,
"Why? Was it stifling? You said before that you wanted to make a name for yourself, didn't you?"
At that, Cheon Ju-eun shook her head vigorously and answered.
"Oh my, I never dreamed that people's gazes could be this suffocating. Even changing my facial expression just a little made me feel self-conscious."
Na Seo-yu stroked the head of Cheon Ju-eun, who was trembling as if it had been a terrible ordeal, and said,
"Still, isn't it a bit better than Seonu Gongja or Bi Gongja, who have to keep themselves hidden all the time?"
"Huh? Ah, hehe. That does put things in perspective."
Seonwoo Jin and Bi Sa-yeong, and even Sak Mu-heun.
The three of them were still circling around the group while remaining concealed.
When they were inside the Mountain Sword Gate, they seemed to take turns staying hidden one at a time, but now that they had come outside like this, all three were following the group at fixed distances.
Cheon Ju-eun suddenly lowered her head in a deep bow toward the direction where the three were likely hidden, a mischievous expression on her face, and said,
"I apologize for my ungrateful complaints."
Je Won-yeong, who had been watching these scenes with a smile, suddenly spoke to Hae Cheong-yeon.
"Are you all right, my lady? In truth, you are the one upon whom most gazes are fixed."
Hae Cheong-yeon studied Je Won-yeong's face for a moment as he addressed her.
Because she had sensed for a while now that he was pretending not to, yet circling around her and concentrating all his attention on her alone.
She felt she could sufficiently guess the reason, but decided to answer first.
"I'm somewhat accustomed to this sort of thing. After letting down my bangs and going about that way for a long while, I suppose I'd been free of it long enough that I can endure it for a short spell."
At that, Je Won-yeong smiled as if he understood and said,
"Indeed, with the lady's beauty, it surely must have been so. It must have been terribly difficult."
"No. Thanks to my parents and elder sisters, it was not to that degree."
It was a flat, toneless manner of speaking.
It was a tone that would have been enough to make a timid man lose his nerve and retreat just from hearing that coolness.
But Je Won-yeong was not a timid man in the least.
He grinned and spoke to her again.
"Since the lady's parents and elder sisters are not here at present, it seems other people will be needed after all. This humble one shall do his utmost to ensure the lady is not discomforted."
It was a meaningful statement.
Hae Cheong-yeon quietly gazed at his face for a moment.
Most men, even under just this much scrutiny from her, would grow burdened and avert their eyes.
But Je Won-yeong instead smiled an even bolder smile and continued to meet her gaze.
It was to the degree that his eyes felt more direct and intense than words.
Truly, he was a man brimming with staggering confidence.
In the end, it was Hae Cheong-yeon who spoke first.
"May I ask what meaning lay behind those words you just spoke?"
At that, Je Won-yeong answered.
"The meaning is exactly as stated. That I shall do my utmost to protect the lady, that I shall ensure you are not discomforted."
Hae Cheong-yeon, who had been considering pressing him on the reason as well, decided to simply let it be.
Je Won-yeong was a man much like the Sail Sword Technique he had mastered.
Direct, forthright, and also intense.
With a personality like that, it was only natural that he got along poorly with Ma Yu-gyeom, who seemed to have a few snakes coiled in his guts.
Under his straightforward, piercing, and honest gaze, Hae Cheong-yeon ended up averting her eyes first.
Because the too-intense look had made her feel strange.
She had met the gazes of countless men who expressed fondness for her, but this felt like a first.
Looking at him, Hae Cheong-yeon suddenly thought of Seonwoo Jin, who would be following along in concealment behind them.
He who gave off a feeling completely opposite to Je Won-yeong—who had seen her true face and still treated her like a pure friend.
Hae Cheong-yeon felt she had to admit it now.
That perhaps she had been the arrogant one....
She had been thinking that, like most men, once Seonwoo Jin properly saw her face, he would never be able to look elsewhere—that it might even become a bit bothersome.
But he was not like that at all.
Not even her looks, which had left every single person she'd ever met unable to collect themselves, had ultimately changed his attitude.
Her heart grew complicated.
It was then.
Crash, clatter!
"Kyaaaak!"
"Good heavens!"
Suddenly, from a nearby tavern, the sound of something breaking was heard along with screams.
"You dare demand money from me after selling this tasteless swill?!"
A man who appeared to be a rough-looking ronin was smashing tables and chairs as he bellowed in rage.
Even at a glance, it was a situation where one could easily figure out what was going on.