Chapter 57
What if Bu Eun-seol refused this direct mission from above?
The two men could be demoted immediately. No—in the worst-case scenario, they might even be thrown back into the Underground Prison.
"Uh, um..."
Sang-ryang and Ma-un, their faces drained of color, bowed their heads as if about to kneel and clutched at Bu Eun-seol's sleeve.
"If this falls through, we'll be in serious trouble."
"Y-yes. Worst case, the Yueyang Branch might cease to exist."
Bu Eun-seol responded indifferently to their pleas.
"Then I suppose I could just transfer to another branch."
Members of the Slaughter-Seeking Squad had no fixed affiliations.
They could leave for another branch and take on missions whenever they wished, and after completing a year's term, they could quit anytime.
At his muttered words, Sang-ryang's eyes rolled back in shock.
'No, no!'
All their efforts up to now would be for nothing.
Biting his lip, Sang-ryang clasped his hands together.
"Please, take on this mission. I'm begging you."
Bowing deeply, he bent at the waist as if about to prostrate himself.
"If this goes wrong, our heads could roll."
"That does sound like quite the predicament."
At Bu Eun-seol's dry reply, the sagging flesh of Sang-ryang's cheeks trembled violently.
If it were up to his temper, he'd have pulled the Judge's Brush from his robes and stabbed the bastard's pressure point.
But his opponent was none other than the pillar of the Yueyang Branch—the greatest Slaughter-Seeking Squad operative in history, Eighteen!
"R-right."
Gritting his teeth, Sang-ryang forced a smile.
"If you take this mission, I'll provide you not just with the branch's equipment, but with all incoming intelligence."
Instantly, the drooping corners of Bu Eun-seol's eyes lifted.
The equipment meant nothing to him.
But gaining access to all intelligence flowing into the branch? That was an undeniably tempting offer.
It would be like acquiring his own personal information network.
"Duration?"
"What duration? You and I are practically eating from the same pot now."
Sang-ryang's eyes gleamed as he rubbed his hands together.
It was the friendliest gesture he'd made toward anyone since entering the Martial World.
"Fine."
Bu Eun-seol nodded slowly and turned away.
"But this is the last time. I won't take on another mission like this."
Thud.
As the door to the secret chamber closed behind him, Ma-un turned to Sang-ryang with a baffled expression.
"Elder Brother, have you lost your mind? Handing over all the branch's intelligence?"
"What else could I do? Money means nothing to that bastard. The only thing he cares about is information."
"Even so! That would effectively turn our branch into his personal intelligence agency!"
"It's fine. Once this mission is over... we might just be able to return to the Demon Hall."
"Really? Did some good news come through?"
As Ma-un brightened, Sang-ryang smirked darkly.
"Not yet. But if he succeeds, it'll come."
"What do you mean?"
"If that bastard pulls this off, we'll have caught the eye of someone powerful enough to pull us out of this mess."
"Wait—don't tell me the VIP we're guarding is that big of a figure?"
At Ma-un's trembling question, Sang-ryang narrowed his eyes.
"Exactly."
Dan Manor.
It was an estate where an immensely wealthy man of the Dan clan of Dali lived with his extended family.
But now, the vast manor stood eerily empty, with only a few attendants standing respectfully at attention.
"Hmm."
Bu Eun-seol exhaled softly as he gazed at the beautiful garden in full bloom.
According to the letter, the VIP had stopped in Yueyang for leisure. But buying an entire manor just for a short stay?
'Must be an obscenely rich merchant.'
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Just then, the sound of hooves echoed as a lavish Eight Horse Carriage came to a stop before the manor's main gate.
Click.
The coachman descended and opened the carriage door, and a broad-shouldered middle-aged man stepped out with deliberate grace.
Behind him emerged a young woman draped in yellow silk, her face veiled in translucent gauze.
The man exuded an aura as sharp as a blade's edge, while the woman possessed an ethereal beauty, delicate as a flower in bloom.
"Who are you?"
At the man's question, Bu Eun-seol answered flatly.
"I'm from the Yueyang Branch."
"I asked who you are."
"A Slaughter-Seeking Squad operative from the Yueyang Branch. I was assigned to guard duty."
His voice was toneless, like stone speaking.
As the man's brows shot up at the curt reply, the veiled woman stepped forward.
"So you're the warrior assigned to protect me."
Her speech and demeanor carried an elegance that surpassed even the beauty glimpsed beneath her veil.
"Then how should I address you?"
"Call me Eighteen."
"Eight... teen?"
"Slaughter-Seeking Squad operatives have no names."
The middle-aged man beside her clicked his tongue irritably.
"No need for code names here."
Just as Bu Eun-seol was about to respond, the veiled woman laughed softly.
"Oh my... Now that I look closely—that's a fake face, isn't it?"
A glint of surprise flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
The Face-Changing Bone-Shifting Art—something no one had ever detected before—had been instantly seen through by this young woman?
"No need to be alarmed. I just have slightly better observational skills than most."
When speaking, the muscles around the mouth and eyes move in sync.
But when the face is altered through the Bone-Shifting Art, the facial muscles move with slight unnaturalness.
Bu Eun-seol, well-versed in human anatomy, knew this—yet no one had ever noticed.
Until now.
"You needn't worry about us recognizing you. You're free to show your real face."
"I refuse."
"Why?"
"My work requires me to always conceal my true self. No exceptions for anyone."
The middle-aged man's eyes flashed with anger at Bu Eun-seol's blunt refusal.
"Has your liver swollen to bursting since earlier?"
"I don't follow."
"From now on, don't question her words—just do as you're told."
"I agreed to an escort mission. I never said I'd become some errand boy who obeys every command."
"What did you say?"
At that moment, an aura like a heat haze unfurled from the middle-aged man's body.
Its pressure was as immense as Mount Tai, turning the air of the manor as heavy as molten iron.
"Uncle."
The veiled woman shook her head gently.
"This warrior is simply doing his job diligently. Please be understanding."
"But that bastard has been—"
"I'm asking you."
At her earnest plea, the middle-aged man reluctantly withdrew his energy, as if conceding.
"What does it matter what his name is?"
The veiled woman smiled faintly at Bu Eun-seol.
"But 'Teacher Ten' or 'Teacher Eight' sounds a bit odd... In that case, I'll call you Teacher Ho."
"Call me whatever you like."
Bu Eun-seol nodded indifferently before asking dryly,
"And what should I call you?"
The middle-aged man snorted mockingly.
"Hmph, why bother asking such a thing?"
"Understood. If a dangerous situation arises or I need to call for her urgently, I'll just shout, 'Ahk!'"
Bu Eun-seol's curt retort made the middle-aged man's face flush red and purple.
The veiled woman stifled a laugh, her crescent-moon eyes crinkling again.
"I'm... So-ok."
Under Bu Eun-seol's unwavering gaze, the veiled girl lowered her eyes slightly, her cheeks tinged pink.
"You may address me however you prefer..."
"Then I'll call you Lady So."
Bu Eun-seol nodded, then turned his piercing stare back to the middle-aged man.
Understanding the unspoken question, the man exhaled sharply through his nose.
"This old man is called Umun Hwang."
Bu Eun-seol's expression flickered with surprise.
Not only did the middle-aged man refer to himself as "this old man," but Bu Eun-seol had never heard such a name before.
'A master from the previous generation.'
The booklet Master Cheol had given him listed the names of all renowned masters who had made their mark in the last thirty years.
If his name wasn't there, he must have been a figure who rose to prominence even earlier.
"You seem like a venerable senior. I doubt you need my protection."
At Bu Eun-seol's words, the veiled woman smiled faintly.
"Uncle's status is lofty, but he's long retired from the martial world. The Main Hall is concerned about that."
"Don't worry. They're just overly cautious. With this old man here, there's no need for concern."
Umun Hwang grumbled, but Bu Eun-seol immediately grasped her meaning.
Retiring from the martial world for so long meant his senses for detecting danger had dulled significantly. That was a severe handicap when guarding someone in unfamiliar territory.
"I see what my role is."
The Hunan region was a complex battleground where countless factions clashed.
And Bu Eun-seol knew its affairs exceptionally well—making him the perfect aide for Umun Hwang.
"You won't have much to do."
Umun Hwang curled his lip.
"This old man will handle everything. You just need to avoid disrupting Ok-i's sightseeing."
Then he pointed at Bu Eun-seol's worn-out clothes.
"Return like this today, but come back tomorrow morning. All you have to do is act like a young master from a prestigious family touring with Ok-i."
Umun Hwang seemed to regard Bu Eun-seol as nothing more than a useless background prop.
But Bu Eun-seol merely nodded impassively.
"Understood."
Dressed in the silk robes tailored by Langya Pavilion, Bu Eun-seol returned to Dan Manor.
An Eight Horse Carriage already waited there, with So-ok and Umun Hwang inside.
"You've arrived right on time."
She wore a white robe embroidered with golden thread, as pristine as snow.
Though veiled, her elegance and grace were like glimpsing a crane amidst clouds.
—Where are we going?
An ordinary person would have asked their destination.
But Bu Eun-seol boarded the carriage without a word. Wherever they went, he only needed to follow Umun Hwang and guard her.
Their first stop was a boat tour.
"Li Bai, revered as the Poet Saint, loved wine and the moon all his life."
So-ok spoke excitedly from the boat.
"His death came when he drowned in Dongting Lake, drunk, trying to catch the moon's reflection in the water..."
Their next destination was Yueyang Tower.
"Dongting, the finest water under heaven; Yueyang, the finest tower under heaven—Dongting Lake holds the finest water under heaven, and Yueyang Tower the finest pavilion..."
At every stop, So-ok tirelessly recounted the history and legends of each landmark to the tourists.
'Remarkable. She talks this much without ever losing her voice.'
Bu Eun-seol listened in silence.
Fortunately, her voice was so clear and melodious that it wasn't unpleasant. Had it been otherwise, he might have plugged his ears and kept his distance.
Her tour continued without pause.
They visited Gunsan Island, touring the Xiang Consorts Shrine and its surrounding bamboo groves and tea fields.
Then they boarded another boat to Golden Star Tower at the eastern edge of Yueyang Prefecture.
"Bring us every signature dish this establishment offers."
Seated by the window with a scenic view, So-ok ordered enough food that even ten grown men would leave some.
Soon, the table was laden with dishes, leaving no room for wine cups.
"Please enjoy!"
As the waiter set down the last bowl, So-ok removed her veil and began eating delicately.
To Bu Eun-seol, food held no great meaning.
Eating was merely the act of putting sustenance into his mouth to preserve his stamina and life—nothing more, nothing less.
Yet people of high status devoted considerable effort even to their meals.
How peculiar.
Bu Eun-seol's expression grew subtly complex as he observed So-ok and Umun Hwang dining at the table across from him.