Chapter 91
Chapter 91
When had it last been that she was surrounded by so many at once?
The last time had been when she betrayed Salmak and was hunted down. That was already four years ago.
Yeo Il gazed steadily at the Gate Master of Hangryong—who, then as now, appeared small, slender, and endlessly frail.
“Gate Master.”
“……”
In truth—
“Your efforts are commendable, but this much will not be enough to capture me.”
To put it bluntly, the Gate Master of Hangryong was insane.
Not merely slightly unhinged—her mind had spun half a turn, no, a hundred turns out of place. And it had not been a matter of a day or two.
[You know… perhaps I was livestock to you… To me, you were the only one… Father and mother were useless—I only needed you… I even married that foul old hag, trusting only your promise that we would be together forever!]
Even at their first meeting, she had not been much different.
[I will make you regret it… But because I love you, I cannot let you go forever. I will stuff you in my room and preserve you. I will meet your eyes once a day and ask why you rejected my love….]
Her confession that some malicious spirit had clung to her since childhood, tormenting her for over a decade until she lost her sanity, did not sound entirely like nonsense.
Had I known that obsession would turn toward me, I would have handed her straight to Jeokryong Heukdo.
As though reading her thoughts, the Gate Master looked ready to burst into tears.
“Y-you just thought I was repulsive, didn’t you? It doesn’t matter. I’ve always been like this! Even if I must drag in Yeonghwang Yuse, you will surely—”
“Gate Master.”
For a fleeting moment, Yeo Il considered denying that she was Wolgeom Il-sal, but she knew that even with the most outlandish disguise—or even if her gender had changed—this woman would have recognized her regardless.
“I am sorry.”
What else could she do?
She would have to placate her.
“……”
“If I truly wished to cast you aside like filthy refuse, I would not have sent Seol Seorin. Is that not so?”
The frenzied gleam in her eyes—blood vessels bursting across the whites—quivered faintly.
“Nor would I have climbed to Hangryong of my own accord.”
“B-but you came because you needed information on Namgung Pae….”
“Whether I need information or not, I came to see you. Yet you lurked in the shadows, only watching me.”
“You told me not to approach you first….”
“In any case.”
As the Gate Master’s demeanor softened slightly, the killing intent of the assassins poised to strike began to subside.
However eccentric she might be, she did not usually behave so extravagantly unless pushed beyond a certain line.
Though this journey had been somewhat careless… it had been unavoidable.
Yeo Il’s foremost goal was to confirm the Sal-saeng-bu with her own eyes. She could not discard this rare opportunity simply because the Gate Master was mad.
“Summon a physician.”
“…No.”
“Then tell me who Namgung Pae is.”
“……”
Watching the Gate Master fall silent, Yeo Il deliberately sighed.
“You cannot do this, cannot do that. With what face did you dare to stand before me?”
“I-I can tell you… but I have a condition.”
“What condition?”
“Stay here with me for just one year.”
Yeo Il did not even scoff. Her expression turned icy. The other woman fidgeted with her fingers and lowered her voice.
“T-then… until next summer.”
“……”
“If not… then at least until spring… If you remain until spring, I will tell you anything you wish to know….”
Just then—
“It is rather disappointing to hear such words, Gate Master of Hangryong.”
A man walked across the bridge.
White robes, hair neatly tied, hands clasped behind his back—Namgung Pae.
“To trade me away for a mere two seasons. Gate Master, do you not fear Jeilak?”
Ah.
Regardless of Namgung Pae’s thunderous entrance, Yeo Il lamented inwardly.
The entire Jianghu should have heard that just now.
Then Namgung Jeok-myeong’s wish might have been fulfilled naturally, and she could have confirmed the Sal-saeng-bu.
The Gate Master’s expression shifted entirely from when she faced Yeo Il. Her voice turned cold, devoid of warmth.
“You are not one to speak, Namgung Pae. You know well that each of your words contains flaws.”
“My memory is short. I know nothing of it.”
“The information entering your ears is no different.”
“Then if I pay a fitting price for remaining silent about Namgung Pae, will you likewise keep your mouth shut?”
The Gate Master glared at him irritably, then turned to Yeo Il with an almost helpless look.
Before Yeo Il, she appeared ready to offer even her liver and gall—but in truth, she merely intended to complicate matters further.
Yeo Il clicked her tongue.
“Uncle, why not simply reveal it? What great secret do you possess that you must keep hiding from your niece?”
“What audacity. At least this uncle’s true name is Namgung Pae. Yet is our niece’s name truly Namgung Soyo?”
“You are mistaken.”
“A most amusing mistake.”
Narrowing his eyes, Namgung Pae murmured,
“To have survived Jeilak.”
A rare smile—closer to genuine than feigned—touched his lips.
“There is one person who comes to mind. Yet I find it difficult to believe.”
“Whatever you imagine will be correct. Grant me the opportunity to deduce it as well.”
“Would hearing it suffice?”
It was not mockery. That made the question all the more perplexing.
“You would not understand even if you heard. Who I am, what Yeonghwang Yuse moves for, what we have been waiting for.”
“I will hear and judge for myself.”
“Then how about this? I shall tell you about Namgung Pae directly.”
Yeo Il’s brow twitched at the sudden shift in tone. Unperturbed, Namgung Pae continued,
“That way, you need not be bound to the Gate Master unnecessarily. Nor would I need to pay her a price. Is that not reasonable?”
Just as the Gate Master was about to protest—
“Gate Master.”
A woman hurried to her side.
They seemed to communicate through soundless transmission. Though no words were spoken aloud, their expressions shifted rapidly.
Yeo Il immediately sensed that something serious had occurred.
For once, the Gate Master’s porcelain-smooth brow creased sharply.
With a mixture of confusion, intrigue, and gravity, she said to Yeo Il,
“Promise here and now that you will remain in Hangryong for half a month. In return, I will tell you about Namgung Pae—and summon a physician to save that servant….”
There was no need to ask why she was suddenly so urgent.
From beyond the Bodhidharma statue guarding the twin gates, a fierce demonic sound technique surged forward, vibrating through the soles of their feet.
“The Second Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult has personally come to Hangryong. Gate Master, open the gates at once!”