Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: No Carp in the Pond
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There stood Yeo Nan-ju at the front gate, smirking with a smug expression.
'That damn old jinx...'
Still, her lightness skill was impressive enough to deserve praise—no landing sound at all.
So Eun-ri said,
"Go on in."
But Jong Ri-hyeok seemed to hesitate a bit.
So Eun-ri urged him.
"Didn't we come here on Sect Leader Cheon's orders?"
Only then did Jong Ri-hyeok's eyes light up as he said,
"Let's head inside."
The four of them led their horses through the gate.
Han Ibi said,
"Just to be safe, let's tie the horses to that pillar."
After securing the horses, they walked deeper into the escort agency's grounds.
A finely manicured Chinese-style garden adorned the front courtyard.
A massive pond with lotus flowers floating on its surface came into view.
Yeo Nan-ju said,
"Oh my, what a beautiful pond. There must be koi fish in there, right?"
At that moment, they saw Han Ibi scooping up a handful of sand and gravel from the ground and tossing it into the pond.
Yeo Nan-ju cried out in alarm,
"What are you doing?!"
Han Ibi replied with a rare serious expression.
"Even after washing my eyes and looking closely, there's not a single fish."
So Eun-ri said,
"That's strange. For a wealthy place like Yeo Sun Escort Agency..."
Jong Ri-hyeok said,
"Let's go in further anyway."
They quickened their pace.
Yeo Nan-ju said,
"The garden is impeccably maintained."
So Eun-ri said,
"But why... is there no one around at all?"
Han Ibi said,
"Exactly. It's odd not to see even a rat in a huge escort agency like this."
Jong Ri-hyeok nodded and said,
"Stay cautious, everyone, just in case."
As they walked deeper, a massive traditional Chinese building—the main hall—came into sight.
Just as Han Ibi habitually reached to knock, So Eun-ri said,
"Better to just go in."
Han Ibi nodded and flung the door open.
It opened with a light creak.
The interior was somewhat dim, but sunlight filtering through scattered windows made it discernible enough.
The four of them crept inside, muffling their footsteps.
Yeo Nan-ju whispered,
"Something... smells off."
Jong Ri-hyeok pressed a finger to his lips, signaling silence.
They had no choice but to proceed quietly.
There were rooms upon rooms.
It felt like a rich mansion from the movies.
Han Ibi tensely checked each door.
But no one was there.
Han Ibi muttered,
"This place feels ominous for some reason..."
So Eun-ri said,
"Maybe they got the warning and evacuated already?"
Jong Ri-hyeok said,
"That would be fortunate."
Han Ibi said,
"Let's look around a bit more and head back. We're busy."
Then a massive wooden door caught their eye.
Painted red, it was twice the size of a normal door.
A plaque above it read:
Mei Yu Hall
Han Ibi muttered,
"Quite a poetic name."
This time, Yeo Nan-ju opened the door.
It creaked loudly.
The room appeared to be a grand hall for gatherings.
Up front was a raised platform like a stage, and the floor was neatly paved with blue stone slabs.
So Eun-ri said,
"It's eerily empty."
Han Ibi said,
"Tell me about it. But everything is so perfectly maintained. No signs of anyone leaving in a hurry. Spotless cleaning too."
Yeo Nan-ju said,
"Maybe they got urgent news and fled?"
So Eun-ri agreed.
"Probably. We should go too."
Jong Ri-hyeok nodded.
"Yes, let's head back."
As Jong Ri-hyeok and So Eun-ri turned to leave, Yeo Nan-ju's voice rang out.
"What are you doing? We're not leaving?"
Jong Ri-hyeok and So Eun-ri turned at the sound. She was addressing Han Ibi.
Sure enough, Han Ibi was bent over, staring intently at something.
Yeo Nan-ju approached and looked.
It was a massive porcelain vase, grand in scale as expected from the continent.
Taller than a person's torso, it was painted with deep blue chrysanthemums.
Yeo Nan-ju said,
"Wow, it's really pretty. But this isn't the time to admire it."
Jong Ri-hyeok chimed in.
"Let's go."
Han Ibi tilted his head.
"Hold on, brother. This seems..."
Jong Ri-hyeok walked over slowly.
After eyeing the vase, his expression changed as he let out a soft "Huh."
Han Ibi said,
"See? Weird, right? This room is almost perfectly symmetrical. Obsessively so."
Modern term would be OCD...
Huh. Why do I feel so sharp lately...
Jong Ri-hyeok stepped closer to the vase and said,
"This jar stands out position-wise."
Han Ibi pointed to the opposite side.
"That's why. It breaks the symmetry. The only asymmetry in this hall."
Jong Ri-hyeok nodded once, then suddenly grabbed the massive vase with both arms.
He lifted it with effort and moved it aside.
"Ah!"
"Ack!"
So Eun-ri and Yeo Nan-ju exclaimed simultaneously.
Under where the vase had stood, red writing was scrawled on the floor.
Splatter marks of red liquid surrounded the characters.
Han Ibi pressed his nose close to the floor and sniffed.
"Ugh, fishy smell. Looks like blood..."
So Eun-ri said,
"What does it say?"
Jong Ri-hyeok peered closely.
"Written with a finger... Weak qi, hard to read. But... probably trying to write 'White' (白)."
Then it hit Han Ibi.
'Dying message.'
A clue left by the dying.
Common in mystery novels.
Han Ibi thought,
'Is this a code from someone on the brink of death? Does that mean not everyone from Yeo Sun Escort Agency evacuated?'
A chill ran down his spine.
That was when it happened.
"Eek!"
Yeo Nan-ju screamed.
Jong Ri-hyeok and So Eun-ri instantly drew their weapons.
Jong Ri-hyeok said,
"What is it?"
Yeo Nan-ju pointed shakily at the massive beam overhead, her face pale.
"A person... there's a person up there."
Everyone looked up in shock.
Sure enough, a dark human-shaped figure lay on the beam.
Jong Ri-hyeok shouted loudly,
"Who goes there?"
No response.
He shouted again,
"Who goes there?"
Yeo Nan-ju stammered,
"M-maybe... a corpse?"
At that, Jong Ri-hyeok glanced at Han Ibi with a meaningful look.
Understanding, Han Ibi grumbled irritably,
"Me again?"
But who else?
As he prepared to climb the pillars to check,
"Kyaa! Watch out!"
It was Yeo Nan-ju's voice.
Han Ibi looked up in alarm. The black figure was plummeting toward him, sword raised high.
Han Ibi hastily drew his sword and assumed a defensive stance.
The man bellowed,
"You filthy dogs! What play are you putting on here?"
Clang!
Their swords clashed with a resounding crash.
Unable to withstand the immense pressure, Han Ibi tumbled backward.
Now visible, it wasn't a corpse but a living man.
A burly middle-aged warrior in wide-sleeved Taoist robes.
The man gave Han Ibi no respite, slashing at his throat.
Clang!
A loud ring echoed.
Jong Ri-hyeok blocked it; otherwise, Han Ibi would've been done for.
Bloodshot eyes glaring, the man turned on Jong Ri-hyeok with a savage swing.
His ferocious momentum overwhelmed Jong Ri-hyeok within three or four exchanges.
Unable to watch, So Eun-ri joined the fray.
She targeted his lower body with fluid, sharp strikes.
Thud!
But his internal energy was so vast that the single clash sent a shock through her arm, nearly dislocating her wrist.
He was stronger than anyone she'd faced.
Then,
A sharp 'whoosh' cut the air.
Yeo Nan-ju had fired Qingcheng Sect's signature hidden weapon, the Azure Bee Nail.
The middle-aged man merely snorted and swung his sword, batting it away precisely.
But the nail veered straight toward Han Ibi's groin as he lay sprawled.
Panicking, Han Ibi rolled desperately with all his might.
The force was so great that instead of ricocheting off the stone, it embedded deep into the floor.
'Argh! Why is everyone targeting my jewels lately?'
A urgent voice called out.
"Senior! Senior, please wait! Are you not Dao Zhang?"
It was Jong Ri-hyeok.
He'd guessed from the Taoist robes.
The middle-aged man scoffed,
"Hmph. Whether I'm a Taoist or not, what business is it of villains like you?"
Only then did Han Ibi and the others realize they wore street-bought casual clothes, not Qingcheng robes.
Jong Ri-hyeok said,
"Senior, please hold! We are disciples of Qingcheng Sect."
The man paused, then spoke.
"What? Qingcheng?"
"Yes. Circumstances prevented proper attire, but we are truly Qingcheng disciples."
Still eyeing them suspiciously, the man said,
"How can I believe that?"
Han Ibi pulled out the near-miss Azure Bee Nail and said,
"If you doubt, inspect this. The Azure Bee Nail is Qingcheng's unique, hard-to-forge weapon. If that's not enough, I'll unpack my bundle to show the robes inside."
The man snorted but took it and examined closely.
His expression gradually softened.
In a milder tone, he asked,
"Is Sect Leader Hong well?"
Han Ibi replied cheerfully,
"Ah, you know Sect Leader Hong Gu-geum? He's in good health."
Jong Ri-hyeok added,
"He's no longer sect leader. A new one was elected recently."
The man nodded.
"Hm. I recall hearing about a new election. Who is it now?"
Yeo Nan-ju interjected,
"Sect Leader Bok Yeon-hwa."
The man tilted his head.
"Qingcheng has such a figure...? Anyway, congratulations on the new leader."
His face showed utter disinterest.
Given Qingcheng's fallen reputation, few sects cared.
Jong Ri-hyeok said,
"May I ask your sect, senior?"
The man slapped his forehead.
"Ah, right. I haven't introduced myself."
Handing the nail back to Yeo Nan-ju, he said,
"I am Gi Bong-rim of Kunlun Sect."
Yeo Nan-ju said, somewhat surprised,
"Ah! Are you the great hero Gi Bong-rim, Star of the Ledger from Kunlun?"
"Indeed."
(Continued in the next chapter)