Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Hide-and-Seek
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Namgung Urin was slightly flustered, but he didn't let it show.
“What’s all this about struggling to survive? You're bringing this up because you have nothing else to offer, right? If you've got nothing, just say so. Enough. If you’re just going to play these silly games, then stop.”
The corner of So Hwi's mouth curled up.
“At first, I thought it was just as you said. But it wasn't. Not until that person came to see me five days ago.”
“That person?”
“Yeah, that person. The man they call the leader of the Illusionary Shadow Sect. They're a truly enigmatic organization in the martial world. An organization no one knows when or how it came to be. No one knows how long its history is. Or why it even exists. ‘Illusionary Shadow Sect’ isn't even their real name. It's just what the martial world started calling them. We at the Lower Five Gates know a little, at least. Or should I say we're connected? Something like that.”
“So? What does that have to do with him kneeling in the duel?”
Namgung Urin played dumb to the very end. He believed the less people knew about the Primordial Chaos Art, the better.
The other corner of So Hwi’s mouth curled up as well.
“So that's how you want to play it? Fine. Then maybe you'll admit it if I put it this way. Have you ever heard of the Primordial Chaos Art?”
“Yeah. From my father, a long time ago.”
“Good. Then we can talk. Who do you think was responsible for spreading the Primordial Chaos Art through the martial world two hundred years ago? Did it just appear on its own? Of course not. When that much chaos erupts, it's only natural to suspect it was orchestrated by someone. Wouldn't you agree?”
When the Primordial Chaos Art first appeared in the martial world, a huge number of martial artists flocked to it, and just as many died.
“I've never thought about it.”
It wasn't a lie. He had never bothered to think that deeply about the Primordial Chaos Art.
“Right, I suppose so. The Illusionary Shadow Sect asked us, the Lower Five Gates, to handle it, and we were the ones who spread the rumors and the art itself throughout the martial world.”
As So Hwi spoke, she tried desperately to read Namgung Urin's expression. But from his face alone, she couldn't tell what on earth he was hiding.
In truth, So Hwi was taking a huge gamble, betting her very life. Information about the Illusionary Shadow Sect and the Primordial Chaos Art was a top-level secret even within the Lower Five Gates. If she spoke of it carelessly and things went wrong, or if the story that came from her lips were to flow from Namgung Urin's to someone else, it was the kind of information that would have already sent her soul to the underworld.
“So?”
“So?”
“So.”
So Hwi tilted her head.
*‘Does he really not know anything?’*
That couldn't be.
That character, the leader of the Illusionary Shadow Sect, had asked for all information on Namgung Urin, from his birth until now. So she had handed it all over without reservation. That was the directive from above on how to deal with the Illusionary Shadow Sect.
So Hwi already knew that Baekri Jang-won was involved with the Illusionary Shadow Sect. She even knew why he was involved. For such a person to kneel to Namgung Urin at that crucial moment, and then for the leader of the Illusionary Shadow Sect to request information on Namgung Urin?
That must mean Namgung Urin is also connected…
So, if Baekri Jang-won knelt, that would make Namgung Urin his superior… and if so… Namgung Urin is…
*‘Damn it!’*
But why would the Illusionary Shadow Sect's leader ask for information on Namgung Urin?
If he was Baekri Jang-won's superior, shouldn't the leader have known about him already?
This was why So Hwi had brought up the story to Namgung Urin. She thought she could extract some incredible information. But it was also because the story she'd pieced together in her mind didn't add up.
So Hwi's mouth, filled with doubt, opened again.
“Are you, by any chance…”
“By any chance, what?”
“By any chance…”
“You don't have anything else to say, do you? No, you were just testing me to see what I know. You weren't here to give, but to take. Wow. How scary. I saved someone from death's door, and now they're demanding I hand over my own pouch.”
“…No, it's just…”
“So that leader of the Illusionary Shadow Sect took my information. That's why you're acting this way. Trying to score big.”
“…”
*‘What is this bastard?’*
How is he so damn smart!
It was true that Namgung Urin was smart and sharp, but there was another reason why the story So Hwi had concocted didn't make sense.
It was her preconception.
The preconception that no one in the martial world could master the Primordial Chaos Art. That was why her story fell apart.
If she could just entertain the possibility that Namgung Urin had mastered the Primordial Chaos Art, her mind would be much clearer.
Namgung Urin continued speaking.
“The fact that I've woken up must have already reached them.”
“…Yeah. But how…”
“How do I know?”
So Hwi nodded pitifully.
“Because I'm just that good.”
“…You jerk.”
“If you have nothing more to say, I'm leaving.”
“Wait a minute!”
“Why? You've got nothing, right? I'm sure of it.”
“Can't you just throw me a bone before you go?”
So Hwi, the Anhui branch chief of the Lower Five Gates and a close associate of Namgung Urin, was already at the center of the tumultuous Anhui. Despite her youth, she had already earned great trust and recognition within the Lower Five Gates.
On top of that, So Hwi wanted to seal the deal. She wanted to secure her position as the next leader of the Lower Five Gates.
Namgung Urin smiled at So Hwi.
“Don't smile like that. It's creepy. You look like a madman.”
Namgung Urin was dumbfounded.
“…Hey, what part of me looks creepy?”
“You. You're creepy.”
“Me? This face?”
“Yeah. That face of yours.”
“You've offended me. I'm really leaving now.”
Namgung Urin quickly exited the owner's chamber of the Moonlit Pavilion.
With a very amused expression on his face.
If you eat anything too quickly, you're bound to get indigestion. And dangling a truly fine prize, making them wait, is one way of handling people.
In any case, So Hwi would eventually stand at the center of the Lower Five Gates, just as he intended. She might even stand at the center of the entire martial world. Of course, that was all predicated on her maintaining this favorable attitude toward him.
But So Hwi had no way of knowing Namgung Urin's deep, hidden intentions.
“Hmph! Such a show-off! That bastard!”
“Bastard!”
Chanjo, who had been listening silently by her side all this time, chimed in to support So Hwi.
However.
“You get out too! Scram!”
“…Wait, why me…?”
“I said get out, now!”
*‘This is just ridiculous!’*
Cursing inwardly, Chanjo shut his mouth and quietly left.
* * *
After leaving the owner's chamber, I spent a little more time with my mother. Her body hadn't fully recovered yet, so she needed more rest. After spending a short while with her, I spent the rest of my time entirely with the leader of the Iron Blood Sect.
The Sect Leader and I were both aware that, given our respective positions, spending time together like this was no easy feat, so we cherished every precious moment.
And just in case, I warned the Sect Leader in advance that I might suddenly disappear. I told him not to be alarmed and to have everyone here return to the family without worry.
This was because I expected that character, the leader of the Illusionary Shadow Sect, to come looking for me soon.
My meeting with him could be short, or it could be long, so I had informed the Iron Blood Sect Leader to prepare for any eventuality.
Before I knew it, the sun had set and the night deepened.
I was engrossed in training at the training ground set up in the annex where I was staying.
I was trying to master the forms of the Annihilation Sword that I had yet to learn. Even if I had to learn the sword paths connecting the forms gradually, I wanted to master all ninety-six forms as quickly as possible.
The ninety-six forms of the Annihilation Sword were nothing short of the origin of all sword arts. It seemed that every sword technique in the world could not deviate from these ninety-six forms.
It was to the point where I wondered if the beginning of all sword arts originated from these ninety-six forms of the Annihilation Sword.
That was why I wanted to master these ninety-six forms quickly. Doing so would likely have a tremendous influence on the Namgung family's sword arts. In fact, it was already having an effect.
My proficiency in the Namgung sword arts was improving even without practice. Naturally, it was also affecting the God-Annihilating Arts, the Thunderflash, and the Primordial Chaos Core.
Falling into the abyss of Primordial Chaos for a while had, in a way, brought me a great opportunity.
Just as I was deeply immersed in the Annihilation Sword, what I had been waiting for arrived.
A presence of Primordial Chaos, different from my own, lingered near me. As if telling me to follow it and find its source.
“You call, and I’m just supposed to go?”
I let out a hollow laugh, like a madman talking to himself.
“Might as well go see.”
And so, I launched myself in the direction the other Primordial Chaos presence was moving.
Even though it hadn't even been a full day since I'd woken up after a month.
The Moonlit Pavilion was naturally located in the busiest district of Myeonggwanghyeon. It was an area where three pleasure houses, including the Moonlit Pavilion, were gathered, along with a host of high-end inns and taverns.
In other words, it was a place teeming with people.
Especially on a night with such a bright moon.
I passed through the main building of the Moonlit Pavilion and went outside, following the movement of the other Primordial Chaos.
In the midst of the crowd, I lost my way. No, I lost the Primordial Chaos.
The other presence of Primordial Chaos that had been luring me onward had vanished without a trace.
“…Are we playing hide-and-seek?”
If you're going to call me, at least wait for me out in the open.
Then again, we're not lovers, so waiting out in the open would be… awkward.
In any case, this was clearly.
“A test…”
I'm seriously debating whether I should play along or not.
I hate the idea of being dragged around by some stranger's will.
But if I try to go back to the Moonlit Pavilion, my curiosity won't let my feet turn back.
In the end, I stood in the middle of the bustling street and began to look around, trying to find the Primordial Chaos that had summoned me.
But…
People's gazes… no, the gazes of countless women were relentlessly fixed on me…
Countless women were whispering. Countless men were scowling and muttering curses.
Still, I paid them no mind and focused.
I tried to…
The women were getting closer and closer. I started to feel anxious for no reason. In my haste, a curse slipped from my lips.
“Damn it.”
It was then.
Over there, about twenty paces (60m) away, I saw an old man with white hair wearing a bamboo hat.
“That person is…”
No.
It's not a person.
It was just a lump of Primordial Chaos in the shape of a person.
“That's…”
Is that even possible?
I suppose it is. After all, I have the Shadows.
I turned my head again. I had to find a person, not a lump of Primordial Chaos.
I spotted another one. It was a lump of Primordial Chaos again.
There's another.
And another there.
And that one… was a person. A person of flesh and blood.
I think I understood.
That old man was definitely testing me.
Five old men with white hair, all wearing bamboo hats, were heading in different directions.
The task was to find the real person among the five white-haired old men in bamboo hats.
“Interesting.”
A smile naturally formed on my face.
And so, I walked.
Following the footsteps of the white-haired old man in the bamboo hat who was made of flesh and blood.