An Unexpected Guest from the Palace
Dan Hyunwoo reached out again, intending to ruffle Moyong Sehui’s hair.
But she wasn’t going to fall for it every time.
Swish.
She dodged lightly.
Yet somehow his hand was already resting on top of her head.
“Uwaaa…… Stop messing up my hair.”
“You’re quite good at playing the villain. Better than I expected.”
“My father did the exact same thing when I was young. He was so strict…… Back then, I used to pray that martial arts training would never come. I cried every single day.”
“They say the more precious the child, the harder you must push them.”
Moyong Sehui nodded.
One must not grow strong without knowing fear.
That was exactly how Namgung Cheol had turned out.
And in the ruthless world of Murim, if one became obsessed with forms and internal cultivation methods without building a proper foundation, they would simply die by the sword.
Moyong Sehui found it rather unexpected.
The fact that Dan Hyunwoo understood this so well.
Especially when he seemed completely ignorant of Murim etiquette.
Suddenly, the words of the man who had come carrying a greatsword flashed through her mind.
He said he came for revenge for the Northern Heaven Grand Battle.
She had heard it was a brutal war.
There had also been rumors at one point.
That the situation was so dire the imperial court might swallow its pride and ask the Murim for help.
Then, at some point, the war had simply ended.
With a victory for the Great Ming. The unfavorable tide had reversed in a single stroke.
Could it be that Young Master Dan participated in the war and helped the Ming win? No, that can’t be. It was a massive battle involving tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Still…… if Young Master Dan really did fight in the Northern Heaven Grand Battle, that would mean he’s connected to the imperial court.
Everything fit together.
His incredible martial prowess, yet complete ignorance of the Murim world.
But she still hadn’t reached the truth.
What position had he held in the court? How could she uncover the connection between him and the Six-Horse Golden Plaque?
Still, she had unexpectedly gained a clue that Dan Hyunwoo might have once served the imperial government.
She never imagined such an opportunity would come so easily.
Moyong Sehui was scolding Eun Doyun, who was currently holding a horse stance.
Yesterday it had been one hour.
Today it was one and a half.
She recalled how her father had made her hold the stance for three full hours from the very first day.
And she had only been five years old.
I thought he wasn’t my real father. I was convinced my stepfather was tormenting me.
She had even sobbed and declared she was going to find her real father.
She still remembered the awkward look on her father’s face at the time.
Looking back, he probably never expected such words to come from a five-year-old.
After holding the stance for three hours on the first day, she had wet the bed that night.
She had cried her eyes out, certain her fake father would scold her in the morning.
Instead, he had smiled awkwardly, hugged her warmly, and comforted her.
That was the moment she realized he truly was her father—and she had cried again.
“That’s enough. Time’s up.”
“Huff…… huff……”
Eun Doyun collapsed to the ground.
He felt a strange disconnect from what he had imagined martial arts training would be like.
But he quickly forced his trembling legs to stand again.
“Thank you again today.”
“You have to study now, right? You must work hard at both academics and martial arts.”
“Of course.”
Eun Doyun headed to his room to study.
Moyong Sehui turned to ask Dan Hyunwoo when he planned to begin teaching Doyun.
“……?”
But Dan Hyunwoo was staring at the main gate with a hardened expression.
Hwa Yuhwa had appeared beside him at some point.
What’s going on? This strange sense of déjà vu…… He looked the same when that man with the greatsword showed up.
The one difference was that he seemed tense.
He always wore a completely indifferent face.
This was the first time she had seen him look this strained.
Dan Hyunwoo stood like that for nearly fifteen minutes.
Without the slightest movement.
Without shifting even once, as if an entire hour had passed in that single moment.
Then, finally, he slowly walked forward and opened the gate.
Moyong Sehui was startled.
Standing outside the main gate were officials wearing government robes.
About twelve or thirteen of them.
And they were clearly no ordinary officials.
The moment they sensed the unusual aura, both Yu Sucheon and Jeon Akgwan came out of the kitchen to watch the scene.
The sixty-year-old man at the front spoke.
“Greetings. I am Seo Gwangmok, the Prefectural Governor. I heard from above that the Dan family estate was an excellent place, so I came to visit.”
“……”
Dan Hyunwoo’s expression grew strange.
Prefectural Governor? Since when had Seo Gwangmok become a prefectural governor?
His rank was Grand Master of Splendid Glory, and his official post was Grand Tutor—first rank.
One of the highest authorities in the imperial palace, responsible for handling intelligence for the Nameless Unit.
If he had truly become a mere prefectural governor, he had fallen from heaven to the dirt.
To shamelessly impersonate a prefectural governor like this.
And the dozen or so men behind him.
Embroidered Uniform Guard.
All familiar faces.
And the man standing at the very back—the only one not wearing official robes.
Ju Untheon, Emperor of the Great Ming.
Dan Hyunwoo’s pupils trembled faintly.
Grand Tutor Seo Gwangmok continued.
“Would you permit us to stay at the Dan estate? Those above have insisted we must lodge here…… Of course, we will compensate you properly.”
It was the first time Hyunwoo realized just how good an actor Seo Gwangmok was.
He had always been a sly old fox.
Dan Hyunwoo spoke.
“Come in.”
“Thank you.”
The eyes of Moyong Sehui, Yu Sucheon, Jeon Akgwan, and even Eun Hyeongyeom, who had been training, widened in shock.
A prefectural governor saying ‘thank you’?
Wasn’t he the highest official in Hangzhou?
Why was someone like that speaking so politely to Dan Hyunwoo? Just who was Dan Hyunwoo?
Moreover, since they were all martial artists, they could tell at a glance.
The dozen or so men who followed the prefectural governor inside.
They’re no ordinary people. Each one is on par with the top experts of Zhejiang Province.
Among them, the man who appeared to be in his late forties stood out even more.
He was someone who could rank among the greatest masters in the entire Central Plains.
Sharp, piercing eyes.
Killing intent sharp enough to cut.
Insane. That guy’s a complete monster. He wouldn’t lose even if he fought the heads of the Eight Great Families.
Where on earth had someone like that come from?
And he was just a bodyguard? A man who could establish his own sect and still have power to spare?
Yu Sucheon swallowed dryly.
Even the other dozen or so excluding that late-forties supreme expert—if they formed a coordinated formation—could easily sweep through all of Zhejiang Province.
What terrifying bastards.
But even they couldn’t compare to the person standing at the very back.
He was different. No—he was on an entirely different level.
It was as if a brilliant halo of light shone behind him.
An overwhelming presence that made it impossible to meet his eyes.
The refined and elegant man was clearly the true master of this gathering.
Someone who could command even a prefectural governor at will and travel with supreme experts.
A master wrapped in silk so expensive it defied description.
Just who is that person? He’s clearly no ordinary figure. Even that late-forties monster is showing him exceptional respect.
It was puzzling.
What kind of status could make someone act like that?
As they stared at him, Hwa Yuhwa stepped forward.
She knelt before the man and bowed deeply.
“It has been a long time, Your Majesty. I hope you have been well.”
Hiiiiik!
Yu Sucheon and Moyong Sehui screamed internally as cold sweat poured down their backs.
That proud Hwa Yuhwa was kneeling? Just who was that man?
The man spoke.
“So you really were staying at the Dan estate.”
“I apologize for leaving your side. However, I intend to remain here from now on.”
“I have no intention of blaming you. Rise.”
Hwa Yuhwa stood up again, then gracefully stepped back.
Where had that ferocity gone—the one that threw Eun Hyeongyeom around every training session?
The man and Dan Hyunwoo now stood face to face.
Yu Sucheon, Moyong Sehui, and everyone else expected Dan Hyunwoo to kneel as well.
But instead, the man spread his arms and embraced Hyunwoo, patting his back.
“It’s been a while.”
“You could have at least sent word beforehand.”
“Then it wouldn’t have been a surprise, would it? Hahaha.”
Huk?
What was this? Dan Hyunwoo—that bastard—was speaking informally to this noble person? The man who treated a prefectural governor like a servant? Had he lost his mind?
Did she hear wrong?
But at that moment, the late-forties supreme expert who had been guarding the man stepped forward in front of Dan Hyunwoo.
Of course.
There was no way a man who had spent twenty years wandering the Central Plains and sleeping outdoors could speak so casually to such a noble figure.
Tsk. If you’re going to cut him down, do it properly. Mince him if possible.
That was what Yu Sucheon was thinking.
The late-forties supreme expert bowed deeply.
“It has been a long time. I hope you have been well. We will be imposing on you for a few days, so please generously overlook any rudeness on our part.”
“Make yourselves comfortable.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Yu Sucheon’s eyes bulged.
Kwaaak?!
Why was he being so polite?
Aren’t you going to cut him? Aren’t you going to mince him?
Just what the hell did Dan Hyunwoo do in the past…… that an imperial supreme expert would bow his head to him?
He hadn’t heard wrong.
Dan Hyunwoo really had spoken informally to that noble man.
Besides, an imperial supreme expert was different from a Murim supreme expert.
An imperial supreme expert held an incredibly high official position…….
That guy should be a grand general, at the very least.
Yu Sucheon shot Moyong Sehui a look that asked, Do you understand what’s happening?
Moyong Sehui simply shook her head vigorously.
Young Master Dan…… I thought he might be connected to the imperial court, but……
Now she was even more certain that he possessed the Six-Horse Golden Plaque.
But seeing it in person still didn’t feel real.
If Dan Hyunwoo truly held the Six-Horse Golden Plaque, that would mean his authority surpassed even that man…….
Was that even possible?
The man who had finished greeting Dan Hyunwoo spoke.
“My name is Song In. I will be imposing on the Dan estate for a while.”
Emperor Ju Untheon had given the alias Song In.
Song In? I’ve never heard that name before.
How could someone of such stature have a name no one recognized? Especially when even Sister Yuhwa had knelt before him.
Dan Hyunwoo turned to Yu Sucheon.
“Prepare every single dish you know how to make. And do it with sincerity.”
Normally, Yu Sucheon would have complained that he didn’t want to.
Every single dish?
But for some reason, looking at that man who seemed to radiate nobility, he felt intimidated.
“Leave it to me.”
Yu Sucheon grabbed Jeon Akgwan by the ear and dashed into the kitchen.
Moyong Sehui tried to follow them inside.
“Get out.”
“You said you’d let me make meatballs! You said you wouldn’t kick me out of the kitchen!”
“Do you want to kill me? If I ruin the food and Dan Hyunwoo starts carving me up with his blade, do you really want to see that? Do you want me to become minced meat that badly?”
Jeon Akgwan shoved a dried persimmon into Moyong Sehui’s hand.
“Be a good girl and eat this. And don’t you dare come near the kitchen.”
Yu Sucheon and Jeon Akgwan simultaneously grabbed Moyong Sehui by the back of her neck and hurled her out of the kitchen.
Then—
Bang!
They slammed the kitchen door shut and locked it.
Those traitors!
Ju Untheon—currently going by Song In—looked at Moyong Sehui and asked Dan Hyunwoo.
“That young lady doesn’t seem ordinary. Is she from the Murim?”
“She’s the youngest daughter of the main Moyong family. Her name is Moyong Sehui.”
“The daughter of the Murim Alliance Leader?”
“She’s a good kid. I plan to look after her for a while. But you came without any notice. Did something happen at the palace?”
Ju Untheon smiled quietly.
“Even though I tried so hard to stop you, you wanted to return to this place so badly. It is the home of my only true friend, after all.”
“It’s just a small manor.”
“It’s a good place. It has made your expression much softer.”
In the imperial palace, Dan Hyunwoo had not smiled even once for several years.
He had barely spoken.
Yet now he was responding to quite a lot of conversation.
Ju Untheon felt a great debt toward him.
Even if it had been for the sake of the Great Ming, he had placed far too heavy a burden on him.
He had even ordered him to kill countless people.
Dan Hyunwoo said simply.
“Make yourself at home.”
“That sounds good. The most fun I ever had was when we traveled the Central Plains together. It feels like I’ve gone back to those days.”
Ju Untheon smiled again.
But Dan Hyunwoo found his expression slightly strange.
It felt like he was hiding something.
And that evening,
Dan Hyunwoo finally learned why Ju Untheon had come.
He never imagined the emperor would visit for such a reason.