Chapter 258
Chapter 258
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 258
Chapter Title: 3. Time Flows Like Water (2)
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258
Entering Huayin County for the first time, the emotion he felt was one of profound silence.
As if speaking of its former glory, Huayin County boasted an enormous scale. Grand halls stood here and there, and the streets were wide and clean. But the streets were terribly deserted.
A city of this size should normally be bustling with crowds, yet Huayin County showed no such sight.
Eun Ga-bo unpacked at a small inn within Huayin County. The two-story wooden inn was incredibly shabby. In the past, there had been many large and splendid inns, but now this was the best among those still operating in Huayin County.
Jeok Yeong-cheon spoke to the group.
“We’ll rest here today and climb Mount Hua tomorrow. Everyone, drink in moderation and get a good night’s sleep.”
“Yes!”
With their responses, the Lake Merchant Company members dispersed to their rooms.
Jeok Yeong-cheon looked at Mun Su-gyeol and Jo Won-myeong.
“The two of you can stay here as well.”
“Thank you, Hero Jeok.”
Mun Su-gyeol clasped his hands in a formal bow of gratitude. Jo Won-myeong beside him did the same.
“Thanks to you, we were able to reach here comfortably. We won’t forget Eun Ga-bo’s kindness.”
“No need for that, Young Hero Jo. I enjoyed the journey with you as well.”
“Thank you.”
“Then rest well.”
“Yes!”
Jeok Yeong-cheon waved his hand and walked off.
A hint of regret that Jo Won-myeong had been hiding until now surfaced on his face.
Eun So-cheong was nowhere to be seen.
After briefly joining them on the first day, Eun So-cheong hadn’t shown herself again. It was the same even after arriving here. She had gotten off the carriage ahead of Mun Su-gyeol and Jo Won-myeong and gone straight to her room.
Mun Su-gyeol placed a hand on Jo Won-myeong’s shoulder and said.
“Let’s head to our room for now.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
The room assigned to the two was a double room, one of the cleanest in the inn.
“Who would have thought we’d end up coming to Huayin County like this.”
“Indeed.”
“Running into Eun Ga-bo out of the blue and connecting with the Huashan Sect again... The ways of the world are truly unpredictable.”
“I think so too.”
Jo Won-myeong replied as he sat on a chair.
The world knew them simply as a powerful uncle-nephew pair of martial artists, but they had another identity unknown to others.
They were branch leaders of the Murim Alliance’s secret intelligence unit, Dark Cloud.
That was Mun Su-gyeol’s true identity.
Dark Cloud was the Murim Alliance’s covert information organization, completely unknown to the world. Not only its existence but also the number of members and their true identities were top secrets.
Even within the Murim Alliance, only a handful of leaders knew of Dark Cloud’s existence. Among them, those who knew the details were the Alliance Leader Nam Cheon-san, Vice Alliance Leader Jo Ui-myeong, and Strategist Nangong Chang.
Mun Su-gyeol was known in the jianghu as a wandering hero roaming the land aimlessly, but in truth, he was gathering information across the world with his nephew and regularly reporting back to the Murim Alliance.
“Has there been any notable activity from the Huashan Sect lately?”
“Nothing particularly reported.”
“Is that so?”
Mun Su-gyeol stroked his beard with his hand.
Jo Won-myeong silently gazed at Mun Su-gyeol. Privately his uncle, but officially his superior. He had to follow Mun Su-gyeol’s decisions.
Mun Su-gyeol muttered to himself.
“I wonder if we’re stirring up trouble where there is none, but my curiosity is piqued nonetheless.”
“I feel the same, Uncle. Why not stay here for a while and gather information naturally?”
“Hmm!”
“If we circle around Miss Eun, answers will come.”
Jo Won-myeong revealed his true intentions. Mun Su-gyeol furrowed his brow for a moment.
During the journey here, he had fully noticed that his nephew had taken a liking to Eun So-cheong.
It was natural for a vigorous young man to take interest in a beautiful woman. Mun Su-gyeol had no intention of blaming Jo Won-myeong for it.
‘My sworn brother always wanted this boy to settle down early. He’d surely approve of Miss Eun.’
Jo Won-myeong’s father, Jo Hwan-cheon, and Mun Su-gyeol were sworn brothers who had met in the jianghu. Though not bound by blood, their bond was deeper than that of real siblings.
Mun Su-gyeol nodded.
“Very well. Since we’ve come this far, spending a little time here isn’t a bad idea.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
“But be cautious in your actions. I hear Eun Ga-bo’s master treasures Miss Eun dearly. If you end up on bad terms with her, it could put the Murim Alliance in a difficult position, so take extra care.”
Eun Ga-bo was one of the Murim Alliance’s largest benefactors. The massive funds they provided were a solid pillar for the Alliance.
“Am I a child? Don’t worry, Uncle.”
Jo Won-myeong thumped his chest confidently. Mun Su-gyeol smiled in satisfaction.
Opening the window revealed Mount Hua in the distance.
Eun So-cheong gazed at the scenery outside the window and murmured.
“How beautiful. Mount Hua.”
“If we speak only of its upright spirit, it could truly be called the best under heaven.”
Jeok Yeong-cheon replied as he entered through the open door.
Eun So-cheong nodded with a smile.
“It certainly seems to have the greatest pride under heaven. And them?”
“They’ve gone to their rooms.”
“No special requests or words?”
“None.”
“That’s a relief. I was worried they might be bothersome.”
“Who would dare bother the young lady? No need for such worries. Even if someone tried, this Jeok Yeong-cheon wouldn’t stand for it.”
“Thank you, Squad Leader Jeok.”
“No need to thank me, young lady.”
“I wish tomorrow would come sooner.”
Eun So-cheong’s face was filled with anticipation.
It had taken a full three years to reach this place.
Far from a short time.
The young girl who had once been so childish had grown into a woman radiating feminine charm, and the dark clouds that had blanketed the world had somewhat lifted.
***
Mun Su-gyeol left the inn early at dawn.
His nephew Jo Won-myeong was still sleeping soundly. Mun Su-gyeol didn’t wake him.
Dawn walks were his long-standing habit. Circling the empty streets at dawn helped him sort his cluttered thoughts and plan the day’s tasks—a habit formed since becoming Dark Cloud’s branch leader.
Dark Cloud members were scattered across the land, gathering information useful to the Murim Alliance. Launched three years ago, Dark Cloud had initially struggled but was now steadily gathering intel efficiently.
Though Dark Cloud operated across the realm, activity in Shaanxi Province was notably low. They collected only routine information, showing near indifference to the two pillars of Shaanxi’s martial world: the Zhongnan Sect and Huashan Sect.
Lost in complicated thoughts, Mun Su-gyeol shook his head.
‘Judging is for the Strategist and leaders. My job is just to gather information.’
Since they had coincidentally arrived in Huayin County near Mount Hua, he would collect what he could—that was all.
Mun Su-gyeol organized his thoughts and continued walking.
After circling Huayin County nearly once, dawn broke, and people began appearing on the streets one by one.
It was time to return to the inn. As Mun Su-gyeol turned toward it.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His gaze fixed on one spot.
A woman in gray robes entered Mun Su-gyeol’s view. Her attire was extremely plain. Yet even shabby clothes couldn’t hide her curvaceous figure.
She wore a large bamboo hat and veiled her face with white silk cloth. Even so, she couldn’t fully conceal her innate beauty.
Mun Su-gyeol couldn’t tear his eyes from the gray-robed woman for a while. It wasn’t simply because of her beauty.
‘She doesn’t fit.’
She didn’t belong on this street.
Those who live long in one place become part of the scenery. Likewise, long-time residents of Huayin County carry an atmosphere that suits it.
Those who don’t match the street’s vibe are usually outsiders. Normally, that wouldn’t be an issue for her being a traveler.
One could arrive in Huayin County by chance like Mun Su-gyeol, or for business like Eun So-cheong. Yet something about the woman felt off. That’s why Mun Su-gyeol couldn’t look away.
At that moment, as if sensing his gaze, the woman turned her head and looked at him. Confirming Mun Su-gyeol, she slipped into the crowd and walked away.
Mun Su-gyeol rushed to where she had been, but she had vanished.
“Hmm!”
A bewildered expression crossed Mun Su-gyeol’s face.
No matter how crowded the street, vanishing from his sight in an instant was no easy feat.
‘Something’s up.’
His instincts whispered to him.
Over the past three years as a Dark Cloud operative, he had encountered and watched countless people. One lesson learned: never ignore your gut.
Mun Su-gyeol stared down the street where the woman had disappeared. Beyond the bustling crowd stood the massive silhouette of Mount Hua like a folding screen.
Mun Su-gyeol hurried back to the inn and woke Jo Won-myeong.
“Get up.”
“Uncle?”
“Prepare quickly.”
“What?”
“We’re going to Mount Hua too.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll explain later. Get up now.”
“Understood.”
Sensing the unusual tension, Jo Won-myeong jumped out of bed. Meanwhile, Mun Su-gyeol gazed at Mount Hua.
‘It’s definitely connected to the Huashan Sect.’
Whatever the reason, if it involved the Huashan Sect, it was worth paying attention to—that was Mun Su-gyeol’s thought.
Just then, noise erupted outside the inn. Looking out the window, he saw Eun Ga-bo’s Lake Merchant Company bustling about. Hitching horses to carriages and wagons, checking loads—they were preparing to depart.
He spotted Eun So-cheong boarding a carriage. Right before climbing in, she looked up at the inn. Her eyes met Mun Su-gyeol’s.
Eun So-cheong gave a faint smile and a slight bow. Mun Su-gyeol nodded in acknowledgment.
Eun So-cheong issued orders to the Lake Merchant Company.
“Everyone, once the loads are secured, let’s depart.”
“Yes!”
With vigorous replies, the Lake Merchant Company set off.
Mount Hua loomed large as if right next door, but even from Huayin County, it was a long way along the official road. They needed to hurry.
Eun So-cheong poked her head slightly out the window, resting her chin on her hand. Huayin County’s scenery flashed by quickly.
Now the streets were filled with quite a few people coming and going. Eun So-cheong watched the busy passersby with deep eyes.
Clunk!
The carriage jolted sharply as it turned a corner on the main road, making Eun So-cheong’s body bounce.
At that moment.
Without a sound, the carriage door opened, and someone slipped inside.
Startled by the intruder, Eun So-cheong’s eyes widened. But she didn’t scream.
Dozens of Lake Merchant Company members were outside. Especially Squad Leader Jeok Yeong-cheon, a renowned master of the jianghu. For even he to miss this woman’s entry meant she was a master surpassing him.
Instead of screaming, Eun So-cheong regarded the uninvited guest with calm eyes.
A visitor in gray robes and bamboo hat. Though her face was veiled, her curvaceous figure made it clear she was a woman.
“You must be in quite a hurry, sister. Bursting in without even knocking.”
“I’m sorry about that, Miss Eun.”
“You know me?”
“I’ve heard there’s a beautiful little fox in Eun Ga-bo called the Little Fox Spirit. Is that right?”
“And who are you, sister?”
Eun So-cheong’s pupils trembled slightly.
Little Fox Spirit was Eun So-cheong’s nickname. She earned it after sealing several major deals for Eun Ga-bo.
Meaning the other knew her precisely and had sought her out.
The veiled woman said.
“No need to be so wary. I just want a ride to Mount Hua. I won’t harm you, Miss Eun.”
“Mount Hua?”