Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Dark Heaven Village
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I tilted my head.
"General Hwang Yeon? Who's that?"
I knew that General Jang Gyeongik standing before me had learned I was Lee Gwang's disciple of sorts and was paying attention to that fact. So I could understand why he'd go so far as to have me deliver a letter to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall. But a request for Lee Gwang to rescue someone called General Hwang Yeon?
General Jang Gyeongik spoke with empty eyes.
"The most revered great uncle in the current military... the greatest renowned general of Great Ming... the holy hero who repelled the re-invasions of the steppes and the Western Regions..."
"......!!"
A person of that caliber existed?
I asked again, utterly dumbfounded.
"Someone that impressive, and I've never heard of him? I'm young, sure, but I haven't picked up any rumors about Hwang Yeon even in Luoyang."
"That gentleman is a renowned general from half a century ago... and has since secluded himself... Yet many generals in the military still... revere and follow him and the Hwang family..."
I see.
That explained why his name wasn't circulating in the wider world.
I nodded and asked again.
"Fine. So who locked up General Hwang Yeon, and why?"
"Currently... due to suspicions of corruption among the Hwang family bloodline... all members of the Hwang family are confined to their home base, forbidden from venturing more than two hundred li... But that's just the official reason... It's certain that the Brocade Guard and Eastern Depot kidnapped and imprisoned him..."
"......!!"
The Brocade Guard and Eastern Depot!
I flinched, not expecting those names to come up here. They were the lackeys of my sworn enemies, the Demon Subduing Hall, so there was no backing out now. If anything, I needed to hear him out thoroughly.
I asked seriously.
"Is there some other reason the Brocade Guard and Eastern Depot would imprison Hwang Yeon?"
"I don't know... But I, too, coincidentally received a rescue request from the Hwang clan... and was agonizing over how to resolve it..."
"So that's why you planned to request it from Lee Gwang of the Azure Dragon Guard, former palace elite guard."
"Yes..."
I could roughly grasp how things had unfolded. General Hwang Yeon, a renowned elder of Luoyang and a famed general from a previous era, along with his clan, had been placed under house arrest by the Brocade Guard. General Jang Gyeongik, who received their plea for rescue, selected Lee Gwang of the Azure Dragon Guard as the man for the job. And he planned to use me as the messenger.
"You think Lee Gwang would take on this request for nothing in return?"
"No... In the letter, I wrote that I would immediately recommend his disciple to my direct command... It was a special recommendation that could elevate him to the rank of junior general within a few years... And I believed Lee Gwang would definitely accept this favor..."
"Why did you think that?"
His following answer contained information worth its weight in gold.
"Lee Gwang... was close friends with General Hwang Yeon... His master was originally old friends with General Hwang Yeon... And I understand that Lee Gwang's choice to follow the path of a soldier... was greatly influenced by his connection to Hwang Yeon..."
"......!!"
So they had that kind of history!
In that case, Lee Gwang would've positively considered the rescue request even without the recommendation dangling as bait. The recommendation was probably just Jang Gyeongik's personal ambition. He saw a chance to bring a peak expert, who was practically Lee Gwang's disciple, under his wing for his own gain.
'This information could prove useful.'
As Miho said, if I'd just run the errand as a simple letter delivery, it would've taken ages to uncover this. Thanks to her enchantment technique, we'd skipped years of adventuring. I felt grateful to Miho inwardly as I continued questioning.
"Where is General Hwang Yeon imprisoned? Give me the exact location."
"It's marked on this map..."
With that, Jang Gyeongik rummaged in his bosom and handed me a letter. It seemed he'd included a map of the nearby terrain along with it. I figured I'd gotten most of the important details, so I started asking questions to secure my own benefits.
"Tell me about the key figures directly or indirectly connected to you. And while you're at it, explain the current state of affairs and power dynamics in the court in detail."
"Understood..."
"And any other profitable information you know of."
"Understood."
The intel held by a commander with authority rivaling the Shandong Governor was extraordinary. In merely half a shichen, I learned the ins and outs of Luoyang's political scene, the Ming military's power flows, and key players. This was information impossible to obtain easily, and it'd be invaluable in future reincarnations.
When I felt there was nothing more to extract, I said my final piece.
"I've handed over the pirate prisoners, so take good care of them."
"Understood... I'll do my utmost..."
"And you had me run your letter errand. Oh, and give back my gold bars."
"Understood..."
I took back two gold bars from Jang Gyeongik and said.
"Miho. That's it."
As I turned to Miho and spoke, she nodded as if to say she understood and snapped her fingers. General Jang Gyeongik's expression grew even more vacant as he sat in his chair, and Miho took my hand, leading me outside.
"The spell will wear off in about half a shichen. Then the implanted memories will take effect."
"Good."
After leaving the general's office, I said to Miho.
"Miho. No side effects from brainwashing him like that?"
"Not really...? As long as you don't issue a self-destruct command or something that causes major mental resistance, there's no damage to the mind. He'll just wander through foggy memories and act according to the implanted commands."
"I see."
"Baek Woong. So you're planning to head to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall for that letter errand?"
"I have to. Feels like I can gain something from this."
Miho spoke with evident displeasure.
"This lady smells something fishy about the whole thing and wants no part of it."
"Fishy?"
"I get the sense that Jang Gyeongik is just a puppet. It feels like the start of some massive conspiracy. Even I, familiar with ghostly schemes, have a bad premonition about this."
"......"
These were words of warning from none other than the legendary great yokai nine-tailed fox who had even enthralled an emperor. I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. After some thought, I said.
"Fine. Then first, let's drop off the people at the Shadowless Gate and figure it out from there."
"Hmph, that sounds better."
I wanted to hold off rushing in and take some time. My reluctance to go to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall played a part too.
"Oh, right, Miho."
"What?"
"Don't use your enchantment technique recklessly on Seo Moon-hye."
"...Understood."
Miho looked somewhat dissatisfied.
I went to where the pirate prisoners were gathered and spoke.
"Your futures have been sorted. Wait in the general's main hall, and General Jang Gyeongik will take care of you. Those heading home will get major assistance."
"Oooh...!!"
"Long live Young Hero Baek Woong!! Thank you...!!"
The pirate prisoners wept in感動. Their futures had seemed bleak, so the fact that someone was acting on their behalf was shocking in itself. As I patted each one's back and sent them off.
"My benefactor... I've received too great a grace to not repay it... So I stake my life... to offer you this hidden request token..."
It came from some old one-eyed man, tears streaming down his face. I smiled and said it was fine, but suddenly he handed me a pitch-black wooden plaque and said.
"If anyone... just one person... you wish dead... bring this wooden plaque to the Seven Kills Village of Mount Tai..."
"......?"
"Just one person... no matter who..."
I accepted the black wooden plaque but was baffled. The old one-eyed man didn't look like a martial artist at all. If he were, he wouldn't have been captured and tortured by mere pirates. Yet he carried this token boldly promising assassination. It was odd.
'Well, I'll hold onto it for now.'
Something told me it might lead to a connection later.
With the prisoners mostly settled, about ten women remained. They were the ones resolved to start a second life at the Shadowless Gate. I said to Seo Moon-hye.
"Where is the Shadowless Gate?"
"In Henan Province."
"With Shaolin Temple holding court there as the longstanding resident, and that's their base?"
"Our main sect doesn't take on petty commissions. We're classified among the Eight Demonic Sects, but we've never done anything condemned as outright demonic. Our relations with Shaolin are distant at best."
There was considerable pride in Seo Moon-hye's words. No wonder—I'd heard that even the Shadowless Gate, as a demonic overlord, carried a certain dignity.
They didn't waste effort expanding territories unnecessarily, just defended what they had and handled necessities. Practically neutral between righteous and demonic, but classified demonic due to their alliance with the other Eight Demonic Sects via their supreme leader, Sword Demon Seo Moon Daeryong.
' Roughly four hundred li from here.'
I calculated the distance mentally. With pregnant women among them, it would be a forced march, so I sought out the Great Dragon Merchant House leader. I gave him one gold bar and asked him to exchange it.
"You need money to rent carriages, right?"
"Yes."
As befitted a merchant handling vast trade, the Great Dragon Merchant House leader didn't fuss over a single gold bar. He just gave me an odd look.
"You're quite the eccentric, young hero. Spending money for others..."
"Surprised I even have gold bars?"
"Not particularly. I heard you distributed them to Jeong Gi-tae and the military. Just surprised you're renting carriages for pregnant women."
Soon he chuckled heartily and said.
"No worries. On a merchant's honor, I'll exchange at fair rate."
"Merchant's honor" made me uneasy, but as he bore me fundamental goodwill, he exchanged for a generous sum. Being from the Great Dragon Merchant House, there'd be no messy repercussions. With that money, I hired five carriages and a dozen escort warriors, then set off for Henan.
Clatter clatter
Riding in one carriage with Seo Moon-hye and Miho, Seo Moon-hye cautiously asked.
"Young hero... who is this lady?"
Miho had reverted to her peerless beauty from before. And apparently to her taste, her ample bosom jiggled enticingly. Purely on looks, she matched Seo Moon-hye, making the space before me feel like a flower garden. Miho smiled playfully and said.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Miho, Baek Woong's distant cousin."
"Cousin?"
I hurriedly interjected.
"Yes."
"I see. A relative of the young hero... my apologies."
"No trouble."
An inexplicable silence descended. A truly awkward one.
'Seo Moon-hye aside, why is Miho acting like this?'
I felt like they were glaring at each other with faint smiles, so stifled, I cleared my throat.
"Ahem."
"Oh? What's wrong?"
Suddenly Miho leaned against me, linking arms and pressing her voluptuous bosom into my side. The warm, soft sensation made me swallow hard involuntarily. Her cleavage was fully visible too. Seo Moon-hye, watching, sharpened her expression and said.
"Quite close for cousins."
Miho burst into giggles.
"I get that a lot~"
"......"
What on earth was Miho thinking?
I'd warned her not to use enchantment on Seo Moon-hye recklessly, and now she was teasing me like this. I racked my brain for what I'd done wrong to her, but nothing came up. As Seo Moon-hye's gaze toward Miho grew sharper, I felt guiltily cornered, squirming uncomfortably.
We arrived at the Shadowless Gate five days later. Spending generously paid off—no bandit skirmishes en route. The area's stable security helped too. Especially nearing the Shadowless Gate, not a single martial artist was in sight.
Seo Moon-hye approached the main gate. The gatekeeper warriors hurriedly bowed deeply.
"Young Sect Leader!"
"You're back!"
Seo Moon-hye nodded and said.
"Yes. Where's Father?"
"He's training."
Her natural command and dignity shone through. As expected of a demonic sect leader's daughter.
"When will he finish?"
"He entered about one shichen ago, so probably within half a shichen..."
"Understood. Treat these women I brought as my honored guests and house them in the annex. I'll wait for Father in the reception hall."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Suddenly, five Shadowless Gate warriors in black garb appeared from nowhere. They began escorting the women to the annex one by one. I subtly gauged the warriors' skills and was astonished. Each was a first-class expert, unbelievable for mere affiliates.
"Eek..."
The escort warriors looked terrified. Understandably—they hadn't been told the destination was the Shadowless Gate. Arriving at the demonic faction's strongest sect's headquarters was fearsome enough. I assured them it was fine and sent them back.
Entering with Seo Moon-hye and Miho, we waited in the reception hall and soon met the Shadowless Gate Lord.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
A man in his late forties entered with a deep, resonant voice. His first impression was that of a fierce tiger—not just savage, but exuding thick, masculine lines. His massive build and sturdy frame overwhelmed on sight. It was hard to believe such a burly man had fathered a daughter like Seo Moon-hye.
I stood and cupped my fists in greeting.
"I'm Baek Woong."
"Hmm."
Shadowless Gate Lord, Sword Demon Seo Moon Daeryong.
One of the Eight Demonic Lords and among the demonic faction's strongest experts, he twitched his eyebrows and said.
"Truly remarkable... How did you cultivate such internal energy at your age?"
I was inwardly shocked. I had the Thousand Man Seal Blood Art active, sealing off any unnecessary qi leakage, yet the Sword Demon saw through my level at a glance.
'Come to think of it, Seo Moon-hye spotted my skills despite the Thousand Man Seal Blood Art too.'
Perhaps the Shadowless Gate's arts included secret techniques attuned to detecting others' martial prowess. As I moved to respond, Seo Moon-hye beside me said.
"Father. This gentleman is my benefactor who rescued me."
"Benefactor...? Hmm."
Seo Moon-hye recounted everything: Entering the Dark Classic Martial Tournament, losing in the fourth round and being subjected to the great law, sent to Pirate Island, rescued, and battling demons on the way back.
The Sword Demon Seo Moon Daeryong listened silently for half a shichen, then spoke.
"I see..."
His next words made my eyes widen.
"Then marry him."