The Master's Hidden Letter
Woo-gang, who had broken out of the Murim Alliance, walked aimlessly without a second thought.
He had stormed out in a blaze of fury, but once outside, a wave of belated emotions crashed over him.
As the anger slowly faded, disappointment, emptiness, and even a touch of sorrow welled up.
He had grown accustomed to life in the Murim Alliance and built bonds with many people there.
This time, there had been no direct clash, but he felt it especially with the Cheonwi Dan members, with whom he had spent real time.
He wasn't the most approachable, so he hadn't gotten particularly close, but having to turn his back on those with whom he'd shared some affection made his feelings all the more tangled.
Once the storm of emotions had passed,
Woo-gang let out a deep sigh rising from the depths of his heart.
'Time to get my head straight.'
In the end, it felt like he'd taken a long detour.
The purpose of leaving the Bing Palace and returning to the Central Plains.
And the reason he'd ended up wasting time at the Murim Alliance, even if it had been in vain.
He decided to return to that fundamental goal.
'First...'
With his thoughts sorted, Woo-gang set a clear destination and started walking.
"It's been a while here too."
Woo-gang murmured softly.
The place he'd first visited after learning martial arts from Yeom Si-woo.
Arriving at the cave filled with stifling heat and humidity, Woo-gang surveyed the unchanged interior.
As a child, it had felt unbearably hot, but now it was comfortably warm, soothing his mind.
Partly thanks to the Hyeoncheon Yeolhwa Singong, but mostly because the time spent here with Yeom Si-woo had become cherished memories.
Just like back then, three pools steamed with rising vapor.
Gazing at them, memories of his grueling training flashed through his mind.
'Couldn't do it again if I tried.'
Back then, he'd been so immersed in training, focused solely on overcoming the challenges.
Looking back, it was astonishing how a kid like him had endured such harsh ordeals.
Woo-gang approached one wall of the cave, still staring at the pools.
There remained the marks of his thrusting practice, just as he'd left them.
Seeing them revived the sensation of the day he'd first perfected the thrust.
A smile naturally spread across Woo-gang's lips.
It was the first smile since leaving the Murim Alliance.
Beside the hole Woo-gang had made was the one Yeom Si-woo had created, still in place.
Gazing at the two holes side by side, Woo-gang sat down with his back against the wall.
He kept smiling, staring at them.
Though many memories of Yeom Si-woo filled his mind, these visible traces were the only ones right before his eyes.
Perhaps that's why he stared without blinking, wanting to etch them into his memory so deeply he could see them even with eyes closed.
After a long while gazing at the wall, Woo-gang turned to stand—and noticed something.
'What's that?'
No matter how long it had been since his last visit, this was new.
In a space of uniform color, it stood out in a completely different hue.
Woo-gang approached as if drawn to it.
'Paper?'
Under a large rock lay what looked like a sheet of paper.
Woo-gang removed the rock and picked it up.
Neatly folded, the paper had held its shape perfectly despite the damp cave.
Woo-gang slowly unfolded it.
A familiar handwriting jumped out at him.
It was a letter Yeom Si-woo had written here at the cave right when Woo-gang had entered the Hanchon Secret Cave.
He'd never dreamed of seeing Yeom Si-woo's handwriting in such a place; Woo-gang's body trembled faintly.
To my grandson, Woo-gang.
I had planned to tell you slowly over time, but since I can't be sure I'll be able to say it in person, I leave this letter.
His heart ached from the very first lines.
Perhaps Yeom Si-woo had foreseen a situation like this.
What on earth was the story behind it all?
No matter what it was, he wished he'd never had to see this letter.
That thought made Woo-gang's heart ache even more.
Harboring sorrow and curiosity, Woo-gang read on slowly.
As if not wanting to miss a single character, he couldn't tear his eyes from the letter for a long time.
It revealed the sect he'd wondered about so much.
There was much written, but notably, the sect was called Hong Yeommun, the Red Flame Gate—a somewhat ordinary name—and that it had split due to some past incident.
It also mentioned that the disappearance of the Bing Palace's Bing Jeong and Woo-gang's own descent to the Central Plains were both connected to them.
Since the sect's existence was almost unknown in the world, Yeom Si-woo had quietly left the letter here, known only to the two of them.
'If only I'd come here sooner...'
Regret flooded him.
He'd thought to visit the apothecary, so why hadn't he considered this place?
He could have saved so much time.
No need to go through all that at the Murim Alliance.
All the time wasted felt even more precious now.
"Hoo..."
Woo-gang steadied his emotions with a deep sigh.
Then he read the final passage.
Finally, I write of the secret of the third pool, which I haven't told you.
There lies our sect's sacred treasure, the Hong Yeom Sinchang, the Crimson Flame Divine Spear, which only one who has reached the final stage of the Hyeoncheon Yeolhwa Singong, Yongcheon, can obtain.
I hope you will claim the spear I myself could not.
Having read it all, Woo-gang turned to the third pool.
Suddenly, he recalled showing interest in it upon first arriving at the cave.
Yeom Si-woo had dipped his arm in to demonstrate just how scorching and dangerous it was.
Letter in hand, Woo-gang approached the third pool.
Just like before, it bubbled fiercely, radiating intense heat.
'The divine spear is here...'
The water looked clear, but its depth hid any sign of the spear from view.
Woo-gang reread the letter from top to bottom.
There was plenty on the sect, but no mention of their specific names—the most crucial detail.
'That would have made it easier...'
Woo-gang muttered inwardly with regret.
But Yeom Si-woo hadn't written it, likely because he didn't know their names either.
'Ak So-cheon must be connected to them too, then?'
Otherwise, why approach him?
"At least one truth was in what he said."
The claim about wielding the spear.
If Ak So-cheon was truly tied to the sect, he must wield it as well.
"So the Murim Alliance wasn't a total waste."
Murmuring that, Woo-gang neatly refolded the letter and tucked it into his bosom.
He scanned the cave once more.
Uncertain when he'd return, he committed the sight to memory one last time.
"Stay well until I come for the divine spear."
With that murmur, Woo-gang stepped out of the cave.
After the uproar, Han Seo-yeon, who had planned to leave immediately, stayed a few more days at Sa Ma-gang's request.
Once she judged it impossible to remain in the Murim Alliance any longer, she sought him out.
Sa Ma-gang looked somewhat recovered from the shock but gaunt and worn.
Facing Han Seo-yeon, he glared at her like an enemy.
She met his gaze impassively.
"You resent me."
"I do. None of this would have happened without you, Young Palace Lord. It could have passed quietly, without issue."
Sa Ma-gang replied in a cracked voice.
At his words, Han Seo-yeon sneered.
"How laughable. It's all your fault as the literary leader, yet you refuse to admit it and blame others. Is that what a literary leader of the mighty Murim Alliance should be? I can see its future clearly."
Sa Ma-gang frowned at her sharp rebuke.
He admitted some fault but rationalized it as all for the Murim Alliance's sake.
"In any case, I'm leaving now. Cooperation with the Murim Alliance is pointless."
Even at her declaration, Sa Ma-gang made no retort.
"One question before I go."
"What else do you want to know?"
"Was there any real effort to find the Flame King?"
It was the same question Woo-gang had asked.
But back then, emotions had run too high for a proper answer.
"Of course. The Flame King is a key figure in our Central Plains martial world."
"Good. At least you have some conscience. Whether we meet again, I hope you've reflected by then."
Leaving those icy final words, Han Seo-yeon exited Sa Ma-gang's office.
Heading from the outer hall with her waiting subordinates toward the main gate, she encountered Dok Go-seol-ran.
As if waiting for her, Dok Go-seol-ran approached upon spotting her.
"Leaving?"
"Yes. No reason to stay. Were you waiting for me?"
"Yes. Straight back to the Bing Palace after leaving the Alliance?"
"No. We have business in the Central Plains too."
"Then you'll meet him."
"Sometime, maybe... For now, our goals align."
At Han Seo-yeon's words, Dok Go-seol-ran drew a letter from her bosom.
"When you see Yeom Gongja, please deliver this."
Han Seo-yeon stared at the proffered letter before taking it.
"No thought of going yourself? The Alliance could find him easily if it wanted."
"They will. The literary leader won't let Yeom Gongja go so easily. But it's hard for me to face him."
Han Seo-yeon nodded in understanding.
Tucking the letter away, she passed Dok Go-seol-ran.
Then she paused, turning back.
"I have a question too."
Dok Go-seol-ran turned to her.
"What are your feelings for Yeom Woo-gang?"
After a moment's thought, Dok Go-seol-ran replied slowly.
"Regret. Just regret."
Han Seo-yeon's expression flickered subtly before she nodded.
"I see. Got it."
With that curt reply, Han Seo-yeon turned and walked toward the Murim Alliance's main gate.
Dok Go-seol-ran watched her and the Bing Palace warriors depart for a moment before leaving herself.
Her expression, returning to the Hyang-hun-dan, was as subtly complex as Han Seo-yeon's had been at the end.