Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Three Treasures of the Northern Road
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Recently, I've been keeping an eye on the movements of the Demonic Cult and Blood Cult myself, but the fact that Nangong Mubaek—who's been active as a member of the Nangong Demon Subjugation Unit—hasn't said a word about anything shows just how secretive they are.
A few days later, when Nangong Mubaek returned, I asked him about it.
"Did you not find any traces of Demonic Cult or Blood Cult scum?"
"Yes. They're moving so cautiously that there's not even a hint of them. Even with the Murim Alliance's White Tiger Unit and Inspection Unit stirring up all the nearby unorthodox sects, they haven't turned up anything."
Nangong Mubaek spoke in a slightly weary tone.
"I need to wash up, get some sleep, and head back out."
I gave him some words of caution.
"Young Master, even if you run into those bastards, don't rush in first. Let the veterans with real combat experience take the lead. Blood Cult and Demonic Cult scum are devious as hell—if you're not careful, you'll fall right into a trap."
"Don't worry. I'm not the same guy I used to be."
I nodded as I looked at Nangong Mubaek saying that.
Just as he said, he really had changed a lot from before.
"Anyway, always be careful."
As I watched Nangong Mubaek head back to his quarters, I let out a sigh of relief.
'It doesn't seem like they're openly searching for Yeoseol.'
I'd also told Dusik to report if anyone was spotted looking for a young girl.
The lack of reports so far meant they were moving so stealthily that even Dusik's gang hadn't noticed.
I holed up and fully refined the Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique before passing it on to Yeoseol.
"Yeoseol, this is a dance that only the two of us know. And this dance is for when other people try to take you away—you must never show it to anyone else. Got it? And when it's just us, you only dance when I say so. If you dance in front of others, I won't give you your favorite food anymore."
Through several sessions like this, I drilled it into Yeoseol not to casually display the Vault of Heaven Unfettered Sword Technique in front of strangers.
It was miraculous that a mere scholar like me and a little girl who couldn't even remember her own past had perfectly mastered one of the Ten Great Sword Arts of the martial world.
The reason it was possible was that I could use spiritual power instead of internal energy, and Yeoseol circulated natural qi, so no decades of training were needed.
We'd achieved in days what even a martial prodigy might spend a lifetime pursuing. If others knew, they'd want to kill us for it.
That's why both Yeoseol and I had to be cautious until we gained the perfect power to protect ourselves.
I taught Yeoseol etiquette and basic manners while activating Agility to train in lightness skills in my spare time.
Worried someone might see, I trained in Nangong Mubaek's private training ground.
Direct family training grounds had strict access controls, so I didn't have to worry about prying eyes.
Anyone hearing this might think it absurd, but even lightness skills were mastered in just a few days once I got serious about it.
'If I really set my mind to becoming a martial artist, I could probably become the best in the world.'
But knowing my unique nature, I didn't get greedy.
I was aware that someone with such special traits could draw the kind of scrutiny reserved for enemies of the martial world.
If dismissed as sorcery or Demonic Cult martial arts, turning into a public enemy was as easy as flipping a hand.
I knew this better than anyone, having been in the Murim Alliance's Inspection Unit.
There were plenty of cases where geniuses—even from orthodox sects—were buried this way.
Let those geniuses grow, and they'd threaten the positions of the next generation in the orthodox martial world, so they nipped them in the bud.
Seeing such injustices in the martial world, I never burned with desire to become a martial artist myself.
"Huh? Pretty big sis. Haven't seen you around here before—where are you from?"
"Oh ho ho, so you're the adorable Yeoseol."
"You even know my name. What's the pretty big sis's name?"
"Oh ho ho, you think this big sis is pretty?"
"Yeah, prettiest person I've seen lately."
"Really? Yeoseol has high standards."
I was practicing lightness skills when I heard a familiar voice from afar and approached.
Yeoseol wouldn't come here alone, so I tilted my head in curiosity.
"But what kind of person are you, big sis? Your clothes are fancy, and your jewelry is pretty too."
"I'm the wife of the old man Yeoseol calls old."
Hearing that, I hurried over to where Yeoseol was, anxious about what nonsense she might spout.
"Huh? Big sis, you're the old man's wife? Totally."
"Totally what?"
As Yeoseol trailed off, Jeon Ian prompted her.
"The old man's a thief."
"Oh ho ho, right, a thief. He stole me away. Just like the old man said, you're so cute I wanna bite you."
"I'm not food."
"Yeoseol, wanna be my daughter?"
"Hmm, no."
"Why?"
"Then I'd be the old man's daughter too. And the old man is that scoundrel's dad. I don't like the scoundrel. He's been boring lately anyway."
"Oh ho ho, but you'd have a big family."
"For me, having my big bro is enough. My big bro is the best."
"Oh ho ho ho."
Jeon Ian burst into a wide smile.
"Family Matriarch, have you come?"
I greeted Jeon Ian.
"Ah, Scholar Cheon. Why haven't you introduced such a cute little sister to me? The Family Head kept raving about how adorable she was, so I came to see for myself."
"Ha ha ha, cute? She lacks manners and causes me no end of trouble."
"What can you do when she has no memory? But goodness, she's so pretty. I really want her as my daughter."
"Big sis, I said no. I'm satisfied with just my big bro."
"Alright."
Both Family Head Nangong Hak and Jeon Ian were utterly smitten with Cheon Yeoseol, watching her antics like doting grandparents.
"What brings you here, anyway?"
"I really just came to see Yeoseol. Now that I have, I'll be off. Yeoseol, see you next time."
"Yeah. Pretty big sis is always welcome. Tell the old man if he doesn't bring snacks, I won't see him."
Sometimes I couldn't tell if Yeoseol was a child or a fox in child's clothing.
"Oh ho ho, got it. I'll pass it on."
Once Jeon Ian left, I scolded her.
"Yeoseol, I told you to watch your words with your elders. Forgot what I taught you?"
"I know. But big bro."
"What?"
I widened my eyes sternly, and Yeoseol spoke up.
"The Family Head doesn't like it when I use polite speech. He and the Family Matriarch get so happy like that—how can I? Last time I used honorifics with the Family Head, he looked all sulky. It felt like he saw me as his granddaughter. Did I do something wrong?"
At this point, it was impossible to tell if she was human or a little demon.
"I read the room now. Whether people like what I say or not."
The education was having unintended effects.
"Fine. Handle it your way, then."
"Hee hee hee. Got it. Wanna go eat some scorched rice?"
"Go with Eunbi. Big bro has to step out for a bit."
"Can't I come too?"
"Not yet. There are stinky people looking for you. Once they're gone, we'll go out together."
People who smelled bad were Yeoseol's least favorite.
The shock from back then must've been huge; she still hadn't gotten over smells.
And not just her—even I had keenly developed senses, making us sensitive to odors.
Yeoseol soon said she was sleepy and went to her room.
She'd been sleeping more lately.
I figured it might be a trait of her Ice Sacred Body.
Still just a girl of ten or so, and mentally unstable, she seemed to bridge the gap through sleep.
Eunbi headed to Yeoseol's room.
She always placed a bowl of water by the bedside when Yeoseol slept.
As Eunbi carried the tray with the bowl, she spotted Cheon Taesan and greeted him.
That's when her foot caught on the threshold, and she tumbled forward.
"Ahh!"
The tray and bowl flew into the air and began to fall—Cheon Taesan swiftly used his movement technique to catch them.
Eunbi had squeezed her eyes shut, expecting the bowl to shatter.
The scholar was over twenty paces away—no time to call for help.
But when she opened her eyes, the scholar was holding the tray.
Eunbi blinked in astonishment.
"Be more careful. When Yeoseol wakes, bring her something to eat."
"Yes. She always asks for dumplings, so I keep them ready."
"Thanks for always looking out. If anyone in the family is sick, tell me. Actually, gather everyone in the estate who’s been ill again for Clear Heart Acupuncture. Pick a time yourself."
Eunbi had been meaning to ask the scholar to treat her father's illness.
She hadn't due to his busyness with Yeoseol lately, but him bringing it up first moved her to tears.
"Thank you, Scholar."
Beyond that, his instantaneous arrival—like teleporting—was shocking.
'As expected of the Murim Alliance's secret weapon. There's something different about them. Closing such a distance in the blink of an eye.'
This alone proved everything she'd claimed was true, bringing a natural smile to her face.
She hadn't lied, after all.
I stepped outside.
'Been delayed a few days because of Yeoseol, but if the chance comes, I'll absorb that energy today.'
Of course, the guy might not even have the Seven Stars' energy.
But analyzing his behavior, the odds were high that he did.
Before rotating into guard duty at the Nangong Family, I'd investigated every martial clan around—orthodox, unorthodox, demonic, without distinction.
'It was to assess threats in my area, but I ended up with an unexpected gain.'
In Hefei, no unorthodox or demonic clans dared survive openly.
With the Nangong Family—one of the Five Great Clans—watching hawk-eyed, they couldn't even establish branches.
They might run secret safehouses, but no official activity.
Thus, black path sects in Hefei barely scraped by, and any growth made them Nangong prey—wiped out overnight.
They only ignored small-time black path groups not worth the effort.
Dusik knew this, keeping his crew to a dozen or so for steady livelihood without expanding.
Enjoying my rare outing, I headed to a noodle stall for a bowl.
But the stall was packed.
"Business is booming."
I couldn't eat it anyway, but seeing it thrive made me oddly proud.
The couple worked busily, smiles never fading.
"Hardworking folks thriving—it's always a good sight."
I gave up on noodles and went straight to the inn.
Planning to grab a bite before meeting the guy.
'Should've eaten at home if I knew.'
I'd skipped rice craving noodles, but plans changed.
On the way to the inn, I spotted Dusik and his men from afar loading something onto a cart.
I asked a nearby vendor.
"Boss, mind if I ask something?"
The elderly merchant suddenly bowed deeply to me.
"Yes, Scholar."
His eyes suggested he knew me, so I asked.
"Do you know me?"
"Of course. Who doesn't? You're the guardian of the Northern Road."
Thinking I'd misheard, I asked again.
"What do you mean?"
"Dusik said it—the real guardian of the Northern Road is Scholar Cheon."
The merchant continued with a smile.
"Between us, there's a saying: the Three Treasures of the Northern Road."
"What's that?"
The Three Treasures of the Northern Road.
"First is Saintess Jong Sobin's clinic, second is Cheongyo of the Celestial Pleasure House, third is Scholar Cheon Taesan of the Nangong Family."
"What have I even done to be counted among them?"
I demurred, but the merchant waved it off.
"What do you mean? No place pays less tax than our Northern Road. And best of all, no thugs harassing business. I've sold here for decades, but it's never been this good. We all know it's thanks to you, Scholar Cheon."
So that's why merchants always looked at me with goodwill.
Me, suddenly one of the Nangong Family's Three Treasures of the Northern Road.
It felt strange.
The recognition from the common folk at the bottom meant more than from famous Murim Alliance scholars.
"Thanks for saying that. But what's Dusik hauling off now?"
"Ah, since he can't collect protection money in the Northern Road anymore, he makes ends meet hauling market trash and running errands. Trash piles up daily, so it pays decently."
I liked seeing Dusik live honestly instead of thuggery.
But with a family to feed, that alone wouldn't cut it.
He was living right because of me, and I occasionally gave him work, so I figured I should ensure he could support his own.
Strictly speaking, it was because of me he was living straight.