Chapter 63
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Intertwined Fates
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I closely observed the young man.
Just from the emblem embroidered on his martial robes, I could identify the martial family he belonged to in the jianghu.
'A red sash tied around his waist, and blue tassels. A lightning bolt pattern on the shoulder guard.'
The lightning emblem symbolized the Thunder Dragon Sect, an unorthodox faction in Gangseo Province, while the red sash marked him as one of their warriors.
I counted the blue tassels.
'Three means direct lineage, so he must be Yuseong, the successor to the Thunder Dragon Sect.'
The sect leader had two sons; the eldest had died from qi deviation while cultivating the Thunder Purity Qi, leaving only the second son, Yuseong.
'Yuseong did inherit the Thunder Dragon Sect's Thunder Purity Qi.'
I sensed the electric currents flowing through his bloodstream.
But an even stronger energy was lodged firmly in his mind.
'How has someone with such a potent Heavenly Killing Star aura survived this long?'
It was an aura potent enough to turn him into a peerless murderer.
Those bearing the Heavenly Killing Star had diminished empathy, derived pleasure from killing, and enjoyed tormenting others while reveling in their suffering.
I knew this from personal experience with another bearer. Yuseong was definitely in the dangerous category.
The fact that he belonged to an unorthodox faction rather than the orthodox Baekdo Murim only amplified this trait.
In unorthodox circles, the ruthless and powerful were hailed as heroes.
'I see. The Heavenly Killing Star hasn't fully awakened yet because the Thunder Purity Qi has been burning away and suppressing its energy to some extent. But it's reached its limit now. Once the Thunder Purity Qi stagnates, the strengthened Heavenly Killing Star will break through.'
Thanks to his family's Thunder Purity Qi, he hadn't become the monstrous killer he was destined to be despite possessing such a potent aura.
Even now, the Heavenly Killing Star's energy was growing stronger than his Thunder Purity Qi.
If he stopped circulating it for just a few days, the star would awaken.
But as the successor to the Thunder Dragon Sect, he wouldn't skip even a day, so the awakening would be delayed.
'Will he become the Great Killing Star, or overcome it and become a hero of the unorthodox world? Interesting.'
The Heavenly Killing Star was intertwined with one's innate qi, so removing it could lead to a shortened lifespan or sudden death.
'No one can remove that Heavenly Killing Star right now.'
Not even the current imperial court could separate and excise a Heavenly Killing Star fused with innate qi.
At that moment, sensing my gaze, Yuseong looked at me and flashed a grin.
There was friendliness in that smile, which puzzled me.
Then it hit me.
'What? Does he think I'm the same type as him?'
He might have heard that I'd toyed with Wang Sim for pleasure.
It was a misunderstanding Yuseong could easily make.
Even so, I had no connection to him, so I dismissed it.
I ignored the sensation of his eyes lingering on the back of my neck.
Having heard from Eunbi and Cheongyo how Wang Sim had been dealt with, Yeoseol was thrilled.
She bounced around like a well-fed cat playfully batting at a dangling hem out of boredom.
"Big brother, did he really piss himself and beg for his life?"
Something felt off about her words, so I glanced at Eunbi and Cheongyo. It was just as I suspected.
"Not only that, he groveled to you and Eunbi, begging forgiveness for his mistakes."
"Ohohoho!"
Yeoseol threw her head back and laughed heartily.
"I knew that rude punk would get what was coming to him from you, big brother."
Mid-laughter, Yeoseol let out a long yawn.
"Ah, I want to hear more, but I'm so tired. I'm heading to bed early."
"Alright, get some rest."
Yeoseol trudged off to her room, looking drained.
"What's up with Yeoseol?"
It was just like a cat that had played wildly suddenly wilting and falling asleep.
Eunbi's expression darkened slightly.
"Didn't you notice while sleeping together?"
"Hmm, she sometimes wakes up early to use the outhouse?"
"No, she says she's been having frequent nightmares. To the point she can't sleep."
Cheongyo chimed in.
"Isn't that just growing pains that every girl her age goes through? Dreams of ghosts, dying, falling off cliffs."
"It is, but hers are pretty severe. Some nights, her clothes are soaked in cold sweat like she's been seriously ill."
Her growing pains seemed worse than I'd thought.
"I'll check her pulse later."
"Yes, please keep an eye on Miss Yeoseol."
Eunbi voiced what she'd been wanting to say.
"I'll pay more attention too."
"You're the only one I can trust, Eunbi. Keep a close watch. I'll observe carefully as well."
I waited until Yeoseol fell asleep before stepping out.
Her nightmares worried me a bit.
I'd assumed her Ice Sacred Body meant her mind was resilient too.
'An Ice Sacred Body doesn't make the mind invincible. I've been too negligent.'
Disturbed, I headed to the flower garden. That's when I heard voices from the corner of the main hall.
"Has a report come from the government office?"
"Yes. According to the intelligence..."
After listening to his guard for a moment, Myeong Ujong raised his voice.
"What? They say it won't hold out much longer? Who are the attackers?"
"From the reports, it's the same group that ambushed us."
"The masked Demonic Cultists?"
"Yes."
I intended to pass by while overhearing Myeong Ujong's conversation with his guard.
But his next words froze me in place.
"We'll have to leave at dawn tomorrow. I hope Inspector Ho holds out until we arrive."
At the mention of Inspector Ho, I turned back and approached him.
"Lord Inspector."
"Ah, Scholar Cheon."
"My apologies. I overheard you as I passed by."
"Is that so? My carelessness. Be cautious."
Myeong Ujong looked self-reproachful for having spoken so loudly about such a critical matter.
Lately, after many conversations with me, he addressed me casually and familiarly.
"Earlier, you mentioned Inspector Ho. Do you mean the Ho family estate in Namcheong? Their patriarch is Ho Hyeonjung."
"Eh? How do you know Patriarch Ho Hyeonjung, Scholar Cheon?"
"My sworn brother is his second son, Ho Hyeonbyeok."
"Really? Oh my! What a connection."
"What's going on?"
"The missing friend I mentioned is Ho Hyeonjang's eldest son, Ho Hyeonjun. He's my sworn brother too. He left for Payang County as an inspection commissioner and went missing."
"From what I know, the Ho estate is both a scholarly family and a martial one, so Inspector Ho should be an expert. Ho Hyeonbyeok was a genius who surpassed second-rate and eyed first-rate."
"Exactly. Ho Hyeonjun was a first-rate swordsman. And he was proud of his scholar status."
"Is there a connection between the Demonic Cult and the Ho estate?"
"Circumstantially, yes. Ho Hyeonjun's disappearance, and now the Ho estate under constant attack by the Divine Envoys, with family members dying."
"Do you know why?"
"No idea. We'll find out when we get there."
I couldn't hesitate any longer.
"Lord Inspector, I'll go with you. You planned to leave at dawn, but let's prepare now and depart immediately. It sounds urgent."
Myeong Ujong brightened.
"Is that alright? My guards seem fit to travel too."
"I need to inform my group and the sect leader, so let's meet back here in half a shichen."
"Got it. We'll prepare as well."
Seated on his jade throne, Mak Yeoheun leaned forward shamelessly as he listened to his shadow lord's report.
"Hm. And then?"
He tried to play it cool, but his eyes betrayed his curiosity.
The shadow lord smiled, seeing his lord so engaged after so long.
"Next, he beat Iron Blood Union's branch leader Wang Sim like a mangy dog. So artfully that Wang Sim couldn't even descend the stage or lie down, and ended up pissing himself."
"Hahaha! I'm thrilled just hearing it. But why? Why did the scholar duel him?"
Though the reason had been explained earlier, he'd only half-listened and forgotten.
"Apparently, Wang Sim molested his younger sister and maid at the Yingbin Pavilion."
"Hm, then it's only natural. No complaints even if he's crippled. You don't touch family."
Mak Yeoheun stroked his beard.
"That's why the scholar asked if it was okay to beat him during training. But he shows no trace of internal energy—how did he defeat a first-rate expert?"
"He must have cultivated a technique that conceals internal energy."
Mak Yeoheun tilted his head at the shadow lord's words, then nodded.
"Possible. Or maybe he's reached the Return to True state."
"Entirely plausible. If he's at the pinnacle realm."
"If he toyed with Wang Sim, sure. But my brat is even worse than that punk, so that's the problem."
The shadow lord replied.
"Young martial artists these days want to look like experts rather than become them. Becoming a true expert requires suffering. Our young master has great talent and could ascend realms with training, but he doesn't train."
"I think so too."
"Perhaps entrust him to Scholar Cheon."
"Hm? That would require staying at headquarters longer. Oh! Right."
Mak Yeoheun slammed the armrest excitedly, as if struck by a brilliant idea.
"Yes. Great men are always weak to beauties. Assign headquarters' top beauty to the scholar. But who's the top beauty here?"
At his words, the shadow lord's eyes darted before responding.
"There's a beauty called Gangseo's Peerless Flower at headquarters."
"Really? Who?"
"Lady Mak Jinryul."
"Huh? My daughter?"
"Yes, Lady Jinryul is Gangseo's Peerless Flower."
"My daughter?"
Mak Yeoheun eyed the shadow lord skeptically.
"You're not flattering just because she's my daughter, right?"
Tilting his head, Mak Yeoheun spoke.
"Could Jinryul pull off a honey trap? That scholar has wastrel blood too."
Mid-sentence, he grinned.
"Actually, that's perfect. Success means honey trap works; failure means she gets wastrel training. One stone, two birds. Shadow Lord, proceed with the honey trap."
"But she's the Supreme One's daughter... using her for that..."
"Nonsense. A true unorthodox daughter proves her worth."
Mak Yeoheun chuckled, tapping the armrest with his fingers, clearly amused.
"Supreme One! Scholar Cheon requests an audience."
At the guard's words, Mak Yeoheun smiled warmly.
"Let him in."
He muttered.
"Speak of the tiger, and he appears."
"So? You're leaving headquarters for Namcheong right now?"
"Yes."
I couldn't share deep details but gave the gist.
"Hm, this might take more than a day or two. You won't make my sixtieth birthday banquet?"
"My apologies. My sworn brother is in peril, his life hanging by a thread. I can't abandon a friend without lifelong regret."
"Then go. Take my wastrel son along. I'll attach plenty of guards for his protection."
Meaning, use them in fights.
I hesitated.
"There's something I haven't told you, Supreme One. This seems tied to the Demonic Cult. It could lead to conflict with them."
Mak Yeoheun stared, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Worried about me? A Murim Alliance scholar?"
Not rebuke, but approval in his eyes.
"You don't know, Scholar Cheon. The Demonic Cult isn't a monolith. Such actions often stem from individual factions' greed."
He was right.
"I know. But it could bring trouble to you."
"Think I'd fear the Demonic Cult?"
His aura and dignity overwhelmed me.
A pinnacle realm master's presence was like a massive tidal wave.
But I let it flow past with spirit energy.
Mak Yeoheun's eyes flashed surprise, then hid it.
"The wastrel won't help much, but guards will. Take him."
"Thank you. But bringing the young master means more hassle for me. Guards protect him, not me."
"Hahaha!"
Mak Yeoheun roared with laughter.
"I'm growing fond of you, Scholar Cheon. You're right. Can't send my kid empty-handed. What do you want?"
"I hear you have Celestial Zombie Silk at headquarters."
"We do. Why?"
"Personal need."
"Fine. No need to know details. That enough?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
"Just enough to fill a cloth wrap."
"Even rare Celestial Zombie Silk, that much is fine. Pick it up on your way out."
"My deepest gratitude. I won't forget this favor."
"Good. A true man carves grudges in sand and favors in stone."
Mak Yeoheun waved dismissively.
"It'll be ready soon. Take the wastrel and go."
Suddenly bolstered by Mak Yeoheun's support, I left.
Facing the Demonic Cult alone had seemed daunting, but with his help, it felt winnable.