Chapter 67: What a Fool
Truth be told, everything Yeop Hyeon had done was an act.
Looking for his master?
Where the hell was he supposed to find him?
Yeop Hyeon didn't even glance back as he quickened his pace straight ahead. Sweat was already beading on the crown of his head.
Right then, a welcome voice rang out.
"Wait! Hold on a moment."
The voice was like rain in a drought, enough to soothe his parched heart.
If they hadn't called out to him, he'd have been forced to keep wandering in search of a master who didn't exist!
Yeop Hyeon stopped in his tracks and turned around. O Lu-ju smiled and spoke.
"Is there any need to trouble your master over such a trifling matter?"
O Lu-ju turned to Gu Lu-ju and said,
"Go fetch fifty million taels of gold."
His words sent a shock through the room.
Gu Lu-ju, in particular, looked like he could barely breathe.
"Third Lord, fifty million taels is..."
O Lu-ju flicked his eyebrows and barked,
"Now!"
Gu Lu-ju could say no more. He glanced once at Yeop Hyeon, who stood a short distance away, then vanished.
Gang Gu's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she stared at Yeop Hyeon.
Once Gu Lu-ju was gone, O Lu-ju's gaze returned to Yeop Hyeon. He examined him from head to toe, then feigned surprise as he said,
"Now it's truly a flawless sword..."
O Lu-ju paused, steadying his breath before continuing.
"A name well-deserved. Indeed, a fitting disciple of that one. Even across all of Chwi Seon Ru, there's no one with foundations as solid as yours. Your future holds great promise."
"You're too kind, Lord."
"And you're not arrogant in the least—your character is unparalleled!"
"..."
At that moment, Gu Lu-ju returned in a flash and handed Yeop Hyeon a black nameplate.
"With this nameplate, any gold house or Chwi Seon Ru branch in Qingzhou will hand over fifty million taels of gold."
Yeop Hyeon pocketed the nameplate and cupped his fists toward O Lu-ju.
"My deepest thanks, Third Lord!"
O Lu-ju hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Though various matters have arisen between you and our Chwi Seon Ru, they were all mere misunderstandings. What do you think?"
"Of course!"
Yeop Hyeon's hearty reply finally drew a smile from O Lu-ju.
"Then this old man has business to attend to and must take his leave. Oh, and be sure to pass my personal regards to your master. If possible, I'd love to invite him to Chwi Seon Ru sometime."
"If the opportunity arises, I'll surely bring my master to visit."
"That would be most welcome. Farewell."
With that, O Lu-ju's figure vanished from the hall.
Gu Lu-ju hurried after him and cautiously broached the subject.
"Third Lord, that fifty million taels is impossible for our Chwi Seon Ru to..."
O Lu-ju shot him a cold glare.
"Can't give it? Then are you content to sit and die?"
Gu Lu-ju asked in alarm,
"Who backs that boy that you're going this far?"
O Lu-ju slowly closed his eyes and replied,
"A being our Chwi Seon Ru cannot oppose."
"How could that..."
"Do you know how First Lord and Eighth Lord died?"
"..."
"They couldn't withstand a single swing of that boy's master's sword and perished miserably!"
Gu Lu-ju's mouth fell open in shock.
O Lu-ju gazed at the distant sky.
"Originally, the boy wanted to enter Changmok Academy. But for some reason, those fools at Changmok chased him away. For us, it's like a front-row seat to the show. Ha!"
O Lu-ju turned to Gu Lu-ju.
"Changmok Academy must never learn the boy's secret. That way, they'll come buzzing like moths to a flame, unaware of the death awaiting them. And someday, we'll pull the boy to our side—so don't go bothering him with needless errands. How long do you expect this old man to clean up your messes? Tsk..."
With those final words, O Lu-ju vanished into the distant sky.
Gu Lu-ju stood dazed, staring long after him.
Back in front of the barracks.
After O Lu-ju and Gu Lu-ju departed, Gang Gu rushed over and peered intently into Yeop Hyeon's eyes.
"What'd you ask for?"
"You fooled them good!"
"Haha... well, circumstances being what they are..."
"No need to explain. Everyone has secrets sometimes."
"Haha, you're right!"
Gang Gu narrowed her eyes at Yeop Hyeon's sly grin.
"I said don't tell me, but you're really not gonna?!"
Yeop Hyeon faltered for a second, and Gang Gu burst into giggles at how cute he looked. Then she suddenly whipped around and glared at the generals and soldiers lined up behind her. They scattered in panic.
"Here."
Yeop Hyeon held out the golden nameplate he'd just received.
Gang Gu's smile faded as she looked at it.
"What's wrong?"
Yeop Hyeon asked, puzzled. Gang Gu glanced at his face.
"That's fifty million taels of gold."
"I know. When I first took this nameplate, my hand shook without me realizing. I've never seen that much money in my life..."
"You don't have to give it to me."
Yeop Hyeon forced the nameplate into her hand.
"Just take it—why make such a fuss?"
"Haha, fine, got it."
Gang Gu smiled and accepted the golden nameplate. Then, as if remembering something, she nodded to someone.
An elderly man appeared and handed Yeop Hyeon a blue box.
"Young Master Yeop, this contains a Fire Spirit. It was obtained at the princess's special request to His Majesty. Even our imperial family has only one, and we barely..."
"Enough!"
Gang Gu cut the old man off.
"Why spell it all out?"
She turned to Yeop Hyeon.
"I heard about your little sister's illness. This Fire Spirit should help. And I've already asked Father to send Kanguk's top physician to Canglan Academy. No word on the results yet."
Yeop Hyeon took the blue box and spoke to Gang Gu with genuine sincerity.
"Thank you... truly, thank you."
Gang Gu fiddled with the golden nameplate in her hand.
"Idiot. You're the one who lost out—why thank me? Sigh, such a fool..."
"..."
Boom!
Suddenly, a thunderous roar shook heaven and earth, and a white mushroom cloud bloomed over Yangjie Mountain.
Gang Gu frowned.
"Looks like they've finally broken the spirit vein's seal. Time to prepare for war..."
"What do you mean?"
Gang Gu explained softly to the puzzled Yeop Hyeon.
"Once the spirit vein's seal breaks, spirit energy floods the world. Yangjie City stands to gain the most. Soon, countless factions and clans will swarm to claim this spirit-rich fertile land. And the authorities won't let a place more valuable than a mere strategic stronghold slip away."
Gang Gu met Yeop Hyeon's eyes.
"Head back to the Imperial City now!"
Yeop Hyeon pondered briefly, then nodded. His involvement wouldn't change much in a war between two nations.
Besides, he'd been away too long—it was time to return.
"Be careful on your way back."
"What do you mean?"
Yeop Hyeon asked, puzzled.
"Rumors say Changmok Academy is digging into your background. As you know, they're as ruthless as Chwi Seon Ru. Once they have all your info, they'll come stabbing from the shadows."
"Stab from behind? That insecure?"
"Not insecure—thorough. Countless geniuses from Canglan Academy vanished without a trace that way. Just watch your back."
Yeop Hyeon nodded.
"Got it. See you soon!"
With those simple words, Yeop Hyeon departed.
Gang Gu watched his retreating figure without moving. Only when he was out of sight did she shake her head with a smile.
"What a fool..."
Two hours later, Yeop Hyeon boarded a cloud ship bound for the Imperial City.
Thanks to his purple nameplate, he got a first-class cabin—without spending a single coin.
Up on the deck, Yeop Hyeon pulled out Yeop Ryeong's doll and gazed at it with a smile.
He hadn't seen his precious little sister in so long—naturally, the longing had built up.
This was the first time they'd been apart for such an extended period.
Yeop Hyeon rummaged in his bosom again and took out An Ranxiu's doll. He stared at it with a foolish grin, but his expression soon darkened.
Yeop Hyeon looked up at the distant sky.
An Ranxiu...
After their few encounters, he'd realized her inner energy was far from ordinary. Even Chwi Seon Ru and Changmok Academy dared not touch her.
Moments later, a faint smile returned to Yeop Hyeon's lips.
"I'll come find you, no matter what. Anyone who gets in my way dies!"
At that instant, a black shadow appeared above the cloud ship.
Soon, a massive black hand—terrifying to behold—loomed over the sky and plummeted toward the ship like lightning!
Its sheer pressure cracked the ship, unleashing screams from all directions!
Seeing the giant hand descend, Yeop Hyeon leaped from the cloud ship without hesitation.
The ship floated hundreds of zhang above the ground!
Stay aboard, and the palm would crush him.
Jump, and there might—just might—be a slim chance of survival!
Thus, Yeop Hyeon plummeted toward the earth. His speed increased with every passing moment.
At this rate, he'd smash into the ground as mincemeat!
Even a Penetrating Nether Realm expert couldn't survive such a fall intact!
His descent accelerated terrifyingly. Even his clothes began tearing!
What do I do!?
Yeop Hyeon racked his brain.
In such a crisis, he had to stay clear-headed.
Still hundreds of zhang from the ground, Yeop Hyeon suddenly thought of his Spirit Water Sword. He drew it, held it before his eyes, and cried desperately,
"Big brother, this little brother's life is in your hands!"
As he spoke, profound qi surged from his body and poured into the Spirit Water Sword.
Then, roaring like a beast, Yeop Hyeon shouted at the sword,
"Sword flight!"
"..."
The Spirit Water Sword merely twitched—no flight.
But Yeop Hyeon didn't give up. He kept urging it. Quitting now meant death.
"Sword flight, control qi! Fly, damn it!!"
Yeop Hyeon thought again. Moments later, he gently released his grip on the sword. Unexpectedly, the Spirit Water Sword transformed into a sword shadow and shot off like lightning.
Yeop Hyeon yelped in surprise,
"Come back!!"
Yeop Hyeon closed his eyes slowly. He felt a connection between himself and the Spirit Water Sword. He hurriedly circulated his qi.
Now only a dozen zhang from the ground—no time left!
Right then, the Spirit Water Sword streaked toward him like lightning.
Yeop Hyeon gritted his teeth and reached out, grabbing the sword.
Yet even then, the distance to the ground shrank rapidly.
Ten zhang...
Nine zhang...
Seven zhang...
Three zhang....
Whirr!
The Spirit Water Sword vibrated violently and shot skyward!
But his descent was too fast!
Is this the end!?
The moment Yeop Hyeon squeezed his eyes shut, the Spirit Water Sword became a streak of light piercing the heavens.
"Ha, hahaha! I did it, I did it! I mastered sword flight... urk!!"
The Spirit Water Sword, carrying Yeop Hyeon, climbed only a few zhang before losing momentum.
And then, sword and all, he plummeted once more.