Chapter 177 Bouquet (2)
After seeing off Dang Si Hyeok, it was Namgung Jin's turn.
"Leaving already?"
With the spell lifted, Namgung Jin looked every bit the refined young master of the Namgung family.
"Yes. I have business to attend to."
"That's a shame. I wish I'd known—I could've chatted with you a bit longer."
As he said that, Namgung Jin insisted I visit the Namgung family sometime. I smiled and said I would.
"By the way."
Something suddenly came to mind, so I quietly told Namgung Jin,
"I've heard the North Sea Ice Palace is seeking ice crystals or items with yin energy. Thought you might want to know."
His eyes widened at my words, then he flushed red with embarrassment and nodded.
The Namgung family might uncover something with effects similar to an ice crystal. Then the North Sea Ice Palace might stop searching for Yi Se-ryeong.
Of course, the odds were low. If it were that simple, the North Sea Ice Palace would've asked the Namgung family for help in Murim Return.
But since this timeline was much earlier than in the original story, it might just work—a little insurance policy.
Conveniently, all the younger generation heirs from the Five Great Families—except Dang Si Hyeok, who'd gone to pack—were gathered, thanks to Namgung Jin's initiative or not. I could greet them all at once.
"Please visit the Murim Alliance sometime. All the heroes of the jianghu gather there."
That was Je Gal Hye's invitation. Of course, I had zero intention of going. It'd be like walking into my own coffin with my name already on it.
The Je Gal family could be useful to keep in mind, though.
In fact, they might even be more valuable than the Namgung family.
After all, as the Murim Alliance's strategists, they'd be involved in all the major events shaking the jianghu.
Mo Yong Hak, standing beside her, simply bowed without a word.
His gaunt face stirred a pang of pity.
Finding out your revered grandfather is actually a villain... Oof.
It was prime material for some tragic webnovel, so I stopped thinking about it.
"Why no hello for me?"
"You're coming with us anyway."
"True enough."
Paeng So So grinned foolishly, hehe. She'd decided to join after hearing her grandfather Paeng Yu-gun was heading to Shaolin too. Probably the Saber Squadron as well.
Guess I should tip her off about a ruin along the way.
As I recalled, there was a hidden site near Song Mountain. No top-tier treasures I needed right now, but plenty of goodies to boost their forces.
After bidding farewell to the Five Great Families' heirs, I met Un Yeop Ja and Jang Yeong-o.
Instead of returning to their sects, they were off wandering the jianghu.
I tensed, half-expecting them to ask to tag along, but luckily, they were heading south.
South meant Sa Wang Castle territory.
"We've heard odd movements from Sa Wang Castle lately, so we're going to scout them out."
A true Nine Great Sects heir, prioritizing jianghu peace.
Sa Wang Castle thugs don't mess with Taoists much anyway, so they'll be fine.
By the time the traveling performances wrapped, it was already lunchtime.
Even rookies like us had burned through plenty of mental energy, leaving us ravenous.
I returned to my quarters.
And there, on the desk, sat something new. A bouquet.
Not some modern fancy arrangement, but one with a heartfelt vibe.
"Hm."
Sa Wol wouldn't have left it, so Tak Horak, maybe?
I'd told him to fetch Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa, but he'd slipped it here in that brief window.
[Quite the valuable bouquet.]
Yeah? How can you tell?
[This one is skilled in poetry, painting, and calligraphy. I can appraise gems too—think flowers are any different?]
Right, you're a genius.
Fair enough. No greenhouses in the Murim Return world, and distribution wasn't advanced, so flowers had to be pricey.
[Tak Horak has good instincts. But it won't work.]
What're you on about?
[...Never mind. Forget I said anything.]
I spoke to the empty air.
"Sa Wol."
She slipped out of hiding. She usually went without her mask in quarters, but today she wore it, oddly enough.
"You called, Family Head?"
"Fetch Jin So-cheong."
"...Jin So-cheong, you say?"
"Yes. Seongsu Bong's Jin So-cheong. She'll come if called."
"...Understood."
Sa Wol vanished as smoothly as she'd appeared.
I felt a twinge of unease.
As a TOEIC 900 scorer, I knew that tone—it was her "disgruntled" voice. She'd pause a beat before tasks she hated.
"Tch. What's up? Getting moody out in the jianghu?"
[Moody? You noticed?]
"Had to. Her big bro's in the jianghu."
[Exactly.]
"Right? Kinda worrying me now."
[Worrying how?]
"Our destination just happens to have Sa Wol's brother."
[Figured you'd get to it eventually. So where's Hwarang?]
That was—
Just as I opened my mouth, Sa Wol returned with Jin So-cheong in tow.
Less than a minute since I'd sent her.
Jin So-cheong smiled faintly.
"I ran into your subordinate on the way."
"Is that so? Have a seat."
I told Sa Wol to wait outside.
"...Yes."
Definitely off.
Once Sa Wol left, Jin So-cheong dropped to her knees from her relaxed seat.
"Blood Law Envoy Jin So-cheong, come at the Lord's summons."
Anyone else, I'd have waved off casually, but for her, I fixed her with an arrogant glare.
"Preparations to depart?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"I have questions."
"Ask, and I shall answer."
"I hear Ilmajon sticks to Sa Wang Castle's lord. Will he attend the verification ceremony to confirm me?"
"He'll make some excuse to come, whatever it takes."
"I see."
"Is there an order, my Lord? Perhaps assigning the North Sea Ice Palace Lord's illness to that intent?"
[Competent. If she weren't a cultist, I'd take her on.]
No way. Sa Wol's smart too. Just dense.
[Dense and smart don't mix.]
Stick with her a week, and Jin So-cheong'd be a ditz too.
Protagonist perk: nerfed sidekick IQ.
Anyway, she was useful now. Reading my mind without a word.
"Outwardly, Seongsu Shinui's medical skill reaches the heavens, so she must possess exceptional ability."
"Do you know why the North Sea Ice Palace Lord needs healing?"
I channeled Heavenly Demon Divine Art qi into my eyes and stared her down.
Competence was good, but suspicion wasn't.
Meeting my gaze head-on, she shuddered like she'd been struck by lightning. She slammed her forehead to the floor and stammered,
"F-Forgive me, my Lord! Majon-level action requires a grave cult matter and just cause for— Gah!?"
I opened my palm. Channeling the Blood Explosion Jade, blood seeped out, which Pa Cheon shaped into a floating orb with Domination intent.
To onlookers, it'd look like perfect qi control.
Infused with Heavenly Demon Divine Art, even a drop was elixir to blood arts practitioners. Medicine and poison were two sides of the same coin—like with Jin Yeong Ryeong, this amount was lethal toxin.
"Ahh—."
Having tasted my blood before, Jin So-cheong's face lit with ecstasy.
"Do you sense my blood's power?"
"Y-Yes! Yes, my Lord!"
"No 'just cause' needed. I am the cause."
"Wisest words, my Lord!"
"But you had reason to say that. Not yet formally acknowledged—that's the issue."
"Yes... My deepest apologies."
Attaching Ilmajon—Seongsu Shinui—to the North Sea Ice Palace Lord followed the same logic as tipping off Namgung Jin about Yi Se-ryeong's needs.
Her heavenly medicine might cure the lord, averting disaster.
The North Sea Ice Palace staying intact could snowball into another problem, but...
If she recovered, no need to obsess over ice crystals. Deal with new issues when they arose.
"You'll prove yourself soon enough—it's just time. If faster healing's needed, I could go myself."
"No need. Prove your worth at my side."
"H-Humbled beyond words!"
"Dismissed. We leave after lunch tomorrow."
"Understood!"
Jin So-cheong rose to leave, then hesitated. Her eyes fixed on the desk's bouquet.
"Not leaving?"
"Ah, th-the flowers are so lovely, I was just looking."
"I see. Seen enough? Go."
"Y-Yes!"
Once Jin So-cheong withdrew, Sa Wol reappeared.
"Will Seongsu Bong join us?"
"Yes. Why?"
"To decide if she's a protectee."
"No need. She'll handle herself."
"As you command."
"Oh, and."
I pointed to the flowers on the desk.
"That...?"
"Take it."
"Wasn't it for Jin So-cheong?"
"Why would it be?"
Crazy talk—giving flowers to that clear-eyed fanatic? Who knows what she'd do.
[Then why give to Sa Wol?]]
No one hates flowers. Gotta rack up points.
[Now?]]
Reasons. Look, she's touched.
[Mask hides it.]
Time to read eyes. Be perceptive.
[Want to kill you.]
Classic Pa Cheon: loses argument, goes rude.
"Giving this to me?"
"Yes. Nice scent—hang it in your room for ambiance."
"Truly grateful."
Sa Wol cradled the bouquet like it might shed a petal. Should've gotten her one sooner if I'd known.
"Need time to think. Wait in your quarters till called."
"As you command."
Sa Wol vanished.
[Those 'points'—tied to Hwarang?]]
"Bingo."
[Thought you were too invested. So where's Hwarang?]]
"Predictive tone. Smug, huh?"
[Indeed. A core Orthodox spot Sado Gwang found but couldn't touch—one on our path.]
"Where?"
[Shaolin. Hwarang's at Shaolin.]
"Sharp. Correct. Hwarang became a monk there. Dharma name: Gong-a."