Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Mission, Investigation (2)
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The journey to Guizhou was not short.
Even riding a carriage south from Hubei, it took at least half a month.
It was a thoroughly boring trip, and for someone, it was an agonizing one.
What was there to say? It was Dang Hwa-seo.
Dang Hwa-seo stared ahead with her nerves sharpened to a razor's edge.
‘It’s finally here.’
The walls of Guizhou City loomed ahead.
Once inside, it wouldn’t be a complete madhouse overrun by Black Dao fiends... but it would still be a chaotic city.
And lurking within, waiting for any opening, would be the Hao Sect’s courtesans.
Crunch—
Dang Hwa-seo clenched her fist.
Her eyes blazed with fierce light.
A resolute determination to never let Mok Ri-won fall into their hands flickered there, but Mok Ri-won, unaware of her intent, could only see it that way.
“J-Jegal brother. Why is little sister acting like that? It’s too scary...”
“You’ll get hurt if you know.”
Jegal San ignored Mok Ri-won.
Mok Ri-won fidgeted restlessly, stealing glances at Dang Hwa-seo.
Then, midway.
“Young Hero Mok.”
“Yes!”
“Come here.”
Dang Hwa-seo beckoned, and Mok Ri-won sidled up beside her.
She then gripped his hand tightly.
“Little sister...?”
“You understand, don’t you? Never let go of this hand. No matter if someone calls you over, or even if someone screams for help, hold on tight.”
“B-But we can’t ignore someone who needs help...”
“If they truly look like they need it, I’ll help.”
Dang Hwa-seo’s eyes were fiercely violent.
It was a warning against the courtesans’ tricks, but to Mok Ri-won, it just sounded terrifying.
“A-Alright...!”
Only then did Dang Hwa-seo smile in satisfaction.
Their clasped hands brimmed with strength.
Dang Hwa-seo glanced down at her hand with a lingering gaze.
A hand far longer and thicker than her own.
A somewhat rough hand, full of warm energy, rested there.
‘Come to think of it...’
Too vigilant against the courtesans, she hadn’t noticed until now, but walking hand-in-hand with Mok Ri-won like this...
To others’ eyes, they might look like lovers.
‘...Quite.’
What escaped her lips was a forced cough.
“Ahem, cough...”
Dang Hwa-seo’s cheeks flushed red.
The dark intentions growing deeper by the day began to savor a belated pleasure.
‘Hwa-seo, you’ve thought of a brilliant plan.’
As Dang Hwa-seo’s face cleared brightly, Jegal San and Hyeun clamped their mouths shut.
The two thought the same thing.
‘The courtesan is right there.’
A courtesan targeting Mok Ri-won was here.
*
The inspection passed quickly.
Far swifter than the journey through Shaanxi.
Naturally, this time they moved with their identities openly revealed.
The Orthodox Murim Alliance’s Dragon-Phoenix Squad.
No one could downplay that name, not even in jest.
Even in Guizhou, the Black Dao’s territory, it held true.
For one thing, the Dragon-Phoenix Squad was easily identifiable by the fresh-faced Namgung Jincheon’s distinctive eyes, requiring no great effort at the gates.
Finally entering Guizhou City, they were greeted by stares piercing enough to sting the skin.
“...We’re drawing more attention than expected.”
“Yes, this being Black Dao territory and all.”
Those sending the stares weren’t Black Dao members.
Just common folk, but to them, Orthodox young experts visiting Black Dao lands must be a novel spectacle.
The stares carried thick wariness and faint curiosity.
Dang Hwa-seo took one sweep of them, then spoke.
“Then let’s move. The inn is already arranged.”
They walked the streets of Guizhou City.
The inn was about a quarter-hour’s walk away.
Not a long distance to begin with, but with threats like ruffians and courtesans to watch for, Dang Hwa-seo was on edge, her tension subtly leaking out.
It was that sensitivity that spotted the anomaly.
Dang Hwa-seo’s brow furrowed.
‘Martial artists this absent?’
It was strange.
Guizhou, the infamous Black Dao stronghold, yet not a single martial artist sighted on the way here.
Hiding their qi?
Or watching from hiding somewhere?
‘...No.’
Neither.
She was certain.
Black Dao experts skilled enough to fool their Pinnacle Realm senses would have long conquered the Orthodox Murim.
In the end, all they gained from the walk was bewilderment.
Upon reaching the inn, Dang Hwa-seo locked the doors tight and addressed the squad members.
“Did you feel it?”
“Feel what?”
“Not a single martial artist.”
Flinch—
The squad members shuddered.
Only then did they realize the oddity.
“Now that you mention it...”
Too focused on guarding against Black Dao, they hadn’t noticed.
Failing to encounter Black Dao on the way wasn’t fortunate—it was suspicious.
“...What’s the situation?”
At Dang Hwa-seo’s question, Jegal San answered first.
“They’re deliberately hiding, aren’t they? Using only non-martial common folk under their command.”
“Makes sense. Other opinions?”
No immediate replies.
All squad members found Jegal San’s idea most plausible.
The silence lasted a moment.
Mok Ri-won broke it.
“...Hao Sect.”
“Hm?”
“Hao Sect folk. Could be them.”
He’d heard about the Hao Sect from Yeom So-so just before departure.
“The Hao Sect doesn’t only take martial artists as disciples, right? They recruit alley thugs, day laborers, courtesans, even errand boys. So...”
Mok Ri-won trailed off.
His face showed unease.
“Among those we passed on the way here, some might be...”
No, some wasn’t enough.
“We must consider they all could be Hao Sect disciples.”
The squad stiffened.
“That means...”
“Our movements might all be exposed. Even beyond what they intend to reveal.”
Normally, they’d joke that Mok Ri-won was unusually sharp for once.
But not now.
The Dragon-Phoenix Squad were renowned young experts, but ultimately greenhorns on their first real Jianghu outing.
They began feeling confusion at this unforeseen situation.
“Isn’t it dangerous? If the Black Dao’s colluding with demons...”
Terrifying.
They were in a situation where a blade could strike their throats anytime.
Unlike Shaanxi, no Alliance branch here to call for aid in emergencies.
Jegal San shuddered at the thoughts rising in his mind.
Next to speak was Il-un.
“Shouldn’t we set up a formation around the inn?”
Directed at Jegal San.
Jegal San nodded.
A formation would at least provide basic defense.
He knew a few that could confuse intruders.
“I’ll go set up the formation. Il-un Monk, help me.”
“Yes, then Lady Dang, we’ll be off.”
“I’ll go too.”
After Hyeun joined Jegal San and Il-un to leave.
Namgung Jincheon spoke.
“Sitting idle won’t solve anything.”
Namgung Jincheon stood.
Dang Hwa-seo asked.
“Where to?”
“I’ll play bait. Scout around outside.”
“Forbidden. Too risky without intel.”
“Then take Mok along. Unless a Peak Realm demon shows, we can escape.”
Sound logic.
But this time, Dang Hwa-seo hesitated for a different reason.
‘Those two?’
Mok Ri-won and Namgung Jincheon.
Prime examples dragging down the Dragon-Phoenix Squad’s mental age, showing below-average ability in everything but martial arts.
They’d excel as bait.
So gullible even swindlers on the street might latch on.
In short, unreliable.
Dang Hwa-seo narrowed her eyes.
“Forbidden.”
“Then what?”
Dang Hwa-seo groaned in thought.
Namgung Jincheon was right—pure defense in ignorance was the worst strategy.
Failing to learn anything by broad daylight meant sleepless anxiety at night.
Dang Hwa-seo decided swiftly.
“...All three of us go.”
Leave it to these two fools, and who knew what mishap.
Plus, she thought further.
‘Hao Sect.’
If they truly caused all this strangeness, it was dangerous.
For Mok Ri-won’s purity.
Dang Hwa-seo’s eyes gleamed cold as icicles.
*
The main street bustled so lively it belied Black Dao territory.
Naturally, if even merchants’ and residents’ avenues reeked of gloom, no one would stay here.
Dang Hwa-seo, Mok Ri-won, and Namgung Jincheon hid their tension, feigning calm.
All while attuning to surrounding sounds.
Mostly everyday chatter from folk living their lives.
Occasionally mixed in were mutterings about them.
“Those guys over there...”
“Why are Murim Alliance folks here...”
“Pretend not to see. Tangling with them brings no good.”
Nothing special.
But no relaxing vigilance.
Pretending to shop for ingredients, Dang Hwa-seo scanned the stalls.
Deepening her bewilderment.
‘Still no martial artists.’
Sharpening her senses caught third-rate hacks mimicking qi.
But that level was reachable by commoners with effort.
Not fitting for affiliated martial artists.
‘Hao Sect?’
She considered it, but no certainty.
Rising unease.
Endless hypotheticals.
As Dang Hwa-seo’s brow tightened slightly amid them.
“Ahh...”
A woman’s sigh drifted from somewhere.
Dang Hwa-seo whipped her head toward it.
Her eyes widened.
“Hey, look at that. Really...”
“Handsome... such a fine young lord...”
Two courtesans whispered, faces flushed.
Staring at Mok Ri-won.
“Heh...”
Dang Hwa-seo let out a disbelieving scoff.
Did they not see her holding his hand? Their brazen chatter was absurd.
‘There they are. The Hao Sect courtesans.’
Dang Hwa-seo’s wide eyes pierced the courtesans, who soon met her gaze.
“Eek!”
They startled with shrill cries.
Glancing warily at Dang Hwa-seo, they slunk into an alley.
‘Chase?’
No.
Heat of the moment labeled them Hao Sect, but unconfirmed.
The very idea everyone here was Hao Sect was mere hypothesis.
Rash pursuit and interrogation would only heighten any hidden Black Dao’s alertness.
Dang Hwa-seo ground her teeth, swallowing her anger.
‘Hwa-seo, you’re here as bait.’
She repeated inwardly.
Her head snapped forward.
With her heated expression, Mok Ri-won beside her, hand in hand, clamped his mouth shut.
‘Little sister must be really tense!’
Nerves sharpened amid potential enemies.
No slacking with half-hearted investigating.
...Thus, Mok Ri-won burned with mission zeal.
Shaking off the sentiment ‘little sister’s scarier than usual today.’