A Den of Monsters
"...What do you think you're doing?"
At my words, the two outside the door flinched.
They looked quite similar, though if I had to split hairs, one had a frigid look while the other looked icy.
Right. They were basically the same, I was just using different words.
...Not that it matters right now.
What mattered right now was—
"This is my house, you know?"
The problem was that they were currently fighting on my wooden porch.
"...What are you both doing here at the crack of dawn?"
As I rubbed my sleepy eyes and spoke, Cheon Hye-in was the first to straighten up.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"...Yes. It has."
Cheon Hye-in looked exactly the same. Setting aside her beauty, she was still haughty, noble, and carried herself with that characteristic, fitting arrogance.
The Moon Dance Beauty. She was a high-ranking martial artist among the Seven Great Talents, and it had been months since I last saw her.
"Hmm."
Cheon Hye-in offered a greeting, her gaze sweeping over me. Her deep blue eyes scanned me from head to toe.
"You've changed somehow."
She reached a conclusion instantly and spoke.
Hearing that, I couldn't help but grimace slightly.
Sharp woman.
Had she realized my realm had changed?
I could understand Wolseongeom noticing, since he was one of the absolute masters.
...But even Cheon Hye-in noticed?
For even Cheon Hye-in to pick up on it meant she possessed incredible perception.
Even for one of the Seven Great Talents, this was a bit much.
...I have to admit, she looks strong.
Now that I had reached the Peak realm, looking at Cheon Hye-in made the difference clear.
Impressive.
My eyes narrowed.
I already knew she was an outstanding martial artist, but...
How can someone have absolutely no openings?
Even though she was just standing there, she showed no vulnerabilities.
The rhythm of her breathing, the slight twitch of her fingertips.
Even the way she looked at me.
Wow...
Her eyes were on me, but she wasn't just looking at me.
Cheon Hye-in's eyes were analyzing my every movement.
I could sense it instinctively.
Just then.
[Tsk, tsk, tsk.]
Yoo Chun-gil, who had materialized out of nowhere, chuckled softly.
[Well? Do you not see the countless paths hidden within that slender frame?]
"..."
I had no choice but to admit it.
This won't be easy.
The vast potential Cheon Hye-in possessed was certainly enough for Yoo Chun-gil to call her a genius.
No, I wondered if calling her just a "genius" was doing her a disservice.
In other words...
Is it only natural that she noticed my change?
If she possessed that level of talent, perhaps it was only to be expected.
Just as that thought crossed my mind.
"Indeed..."
Cheon Hye-in stepped toward me. And then...
"You look a bit more..."
She reached her hand toward my hair.
"...handsome than before—"
Grab!
Moyong Yeong-sun, who was standing in front of her, grabbed her wrist with a murderous glare.
"...Oh my."
At that, Cheon Hye-in narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at Moyong Yeong-sun.
"What do you think you're doing, Lady Moyong?"
"I wonder."
Moyong Yeong-sun smiled at Cheon Hye-in's question.
"I believe you would know better than anyone, Lady Cheon."
Squeeze.
"...Mmh..."
Cheon Hye-in's hand trembled in Moyong Yeong-sun's grip.
It meant Moyong Yeong-sun was applying a considerable amount of force.
"A grown woman shouldn't touch a man so carelessly without permission, should she? How unrefined."
Twitch. Cheon Hye-in's eyebrow twitched at Moyong Yeong-sun's words.
"That is true. My apologies, Officer Bang?"
"...No, it's..."
"No need for apologies, so why don't you leave? It's rude for an uninvited guest to overstay their welcome."
Moyong Yeong-sun cut in before I could even speak.
Hearing this, Cheon Hye-in smirked.
"Are you saying that to yourself as well, Lady Moyong? I don't see how your position is any different. Besides, if we're splitting hairs..."
Cheon Hye-in pointed to her clothes, specifically the emblem of the Sowol Squadron.
"I am officially part of the same organization. Meanwhile, I heard Lady Moyong is merely a 'guest' visiting Cheongwol Gate on business. If we're talking about rudeness... I wonder who the real uninvited guest is."
"..."
Grit!
Oof... She's really grinding her teeth.
A harsh sound escaped Moyong Yeong-sun's mouth.
"You must not know, but Young Master Bang and I do not share a common relationship."
"Oh, is that so? Ah, right. A broken engagement certainly makes it special."
"...Haha..."
Moyong Yeong-sun let out a low laugh.
Uh-oh, this is bad.
She... looks genuinely furious.
Sure enough, the corners of Moyong Yeong-sun's eyes trembled.
"You..."
Just as she was about to explode and unleash her wrath.
"...Young Master. Are you awake..."
Someone stepped onto my porch from behind them and spoke.
It was the Poison Dragon, Dang Cheon-il.
He appeared with a tired expression, only to freeze upon seeing the scene unfolding before him.
"...What in the...?"
Dang Cheon-il darted his eyes around, trying to make sense of the situation.
I let out a sigh at the sight.
Well, aren't you right on time.
I had asked him to wake me up in the morning, so he must have come for that.
But what was the point if he woke up later than me?
Tsk.
Normally, I would have scolded him.
"Good timing."
"Huh...?"
But right now, his arrival was a blessing.
"As you can see, I know you both came to see me, but unfortunately, I have a prior engagement."
I pointed at Dang Cheon-il, drawing both of their gazes toward him.
"Wait... what?"
Dang Cheon-il looked like he was about to ask what prior engagement I was talking about, so I glared at him with murderous intent.
"..."
Meeting my gaze, Dang Cheon-il shut his mouth tight.
Fortunately, he was quick on the uptake.
"So, you should come back later."
I pointed at Cheon Hye-in.
"Later?"
Cheon Hye-in narrowed her eyes.
"Yes. Later."
"And Lady Moyong?"
"She... and I have some business to discuss."
"...!"
At those words, Cheon Hye-in's brow finally furrowed.
"Ha... It's been so long since we last met, yet you're being so cold."
"It's not like we're close enough to be considerate of each other's feelings."
Cold, my foot.
"Since you have business with me, let's meet separately later. I just woke up, so my head is a bit fuzzy."
"..."
Since I was indirectly telling her to leave, Cheon Hye-in glared at me.
Whoa.
Her eyes were incredibly sharp. She usually smiled, so she didn't look like this, but...
She really is Wolseongeom's daughter.
When she glared in earnest, her eyes were terrifyingly cold.
Even if it was only for a split second.
"What a shame."
Cheon Hye-in spoke as she instantly reverted to her usual expression, as if her previous glare had been a mere illusion.
"It was a rather important matter... but I suppose it can't be helped."
She turned and walked away without any lingering attachment.
The moment she vanished from my courtyard, I finally let out the breath I had been holding.
"Phew..."
What did she even come here for?
Even after months, she's still so difficult to deal with.
I had seen her before going to Sichuan and thought she was tough to handle, but she hadn't changed a bit.
She was exactly the same.
I was just glad I managed to send her away.
So...
"What is your business?"
I asked Moyong Yeong-sun, who was still standing there.
However, she was staring at me with a rather surprised expression.
"...What's with that look?"
"...Why did you tell me to stay?"
"What?"
"Why did you send that bit—I mean, Lady Cheon, away and tell me to stay?"
"What do you mean why? I told you, I have business with you."
"..."
Moyong Yeong-sun frowned at my response.
"Was that actually true?"
"Did you think I was lying?"
I wanted to kick both of them out, but the reason I kept Moyong Yeong-sun was exactly as I said.
"I have something to ask you."
I had a question for her.
Well, to be precise...
"It didn't really matter which of you I asked, but I preferred you over her."
Whether it was Cheon Hye-in or Moyong Yeong-sun.
Either of them could have answered, but I figured Moyong Yeong-sun would be easier to deal with than that terrifying woman, Cheon Hye-in.
"Does that mean..."
Moyong Yeong-sun looked at me and spoke.
"...that you like me much better than Lady Cheon?"
"...I didn't go that far—"
"Fine. I'll let it slide. So, what did you want to ask?"
"Wait, let what slide...?"
Who is she to let anything slide?
What was she even letting slide in the first place?
It was absurd, but I decided to let it go for now.
"Before I ask, I asked you first. What did you come here for?"
"I forgot."
"What?"
"I said I forgot."
"What are you talking about? You came all this way to ask me something and you forgot?"
"People forget things. Do you think everyone in the world is as perfect as you?"
"No..."
Even if they weren't like me, Moyong Yeong-sun certainly wasn't the type to forget.
She was incredibly smart and shrewd; there was no way she had actually forgotten.
I wanted to call her out on her nonsense, but I wasn't in the best mood, so I decided not to press it.
My stomach feels uneasy, probably because of that dream.
I couldn't even remember what it was about.
I had no memory of it, but as was usually the case, it must have been a nightmare.
So, giving up on arguing, I decided to just ask my question.
"...Lady Moyong."
"Yes, ask me anything—"
"Do you know anything about the Mt. Hua Sect?"
"..."
"...Lady Moyong?"
Despite telling me to ask anything, Moyong Yeong-sun suddenly froze like a statue.
That wasn't all.
"...What's wrong with..."
Thud!
"Ack!"
A sudden shriek erupted from the side. I looked over to see Dang Cheon-il curled up, clutching his pinky toe.
"Ugh... Ah..."
"What is wrong with him now?"
What kind of stunt was he pulling out of nowhere? As I stared at him in bewilderment...
[He was startled by your words and stubbed his toe on the corner.]
Yoo Chun-gil explained.
Startled by my words?
What did I say that was so shocking?
I hadn't said anything particularly surprising.
Even upon second thought, it made no sense.
Just then.
"...The Mt. Hua Sect?"
Moyong Yeong-sun spoke, her expression filled with deep reluctance.
"...Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing major. I just have some things to look into, so I wanted to see if you knew anything."
"..."
"Why?"
Was it because I asked about the Mt. Hua Sect? Moyong Yeong-sun's reaction was strange, but Dang Cheon-il's behavior was a sight to behold.
"Hey, stay still for a second!"
Since he kept twitching beside me, I snapped at him, and only then did Dang Cheon-il manage to hold still.
What the hell is wrong with this bastard?
Tsk. Clicking my tongue, I looked back at Moyong Yeong-sun.
"Monsters."
Moyong Yeong-sun said to me.
"What?"
Monsters?
What did she mean?
"...The Mt. Hua Sect,"
Her voice...
"...is a den of monsters."
For some reason, she was clearly struggling to suppress her fear.
Chirp! Chirp!
The sunlight filtering through the gaps in the window and the birdsong echoing in the silence blended with the surrounding space, making it feel all the more peaceful.
Clack, clack, clack!
Thud!
As if to enhance the tranquil atmosphere, a waterwheel outside spun continuously.
Within this serene sight...
...on a futon laid out inside a well-maintained chamber.
An old man opened his closed eyes.
"...Hmm..."
The heavily wrinkled old man opened his eyes and sat up.
A trace of nostalgia flickered across his face.
"Hehehe..."
The old man let out a raspy chuckle.
"It has been a long time since I dreamed of that fellow..."
Whose dream had it been? The old man chuckled softly as he recalled the dream.
"Heh... Did that dead bastard drop by for a brief visit? Though knowing his personality, he wouldn't have done such a thing."
A look of certainty filled the old man's eyes.
"What a wicked bastard. If he was going to die like that, he should have at least left behind what he owed me."
As he continued to speak, the old man suddenly covered his mouth with his hand.
*Cough! Cough!*
He coughed violently.
After coughing for a while, the old man looked down at his hand. His wrinkled palm was stained dark with blood.
Staring at it, the old man looked to his side and spoke.
"It is fine. You do not need to move."
The old man said.
Surprisingly, at his words, the figure standing beside him froze.
"Do not tell the elders. They will only make a fuss again."
"..."
The figure did not reply to the old man's words.
The old man did not seem to mind the silence.
Instead of speaking, the figure handed a letter to the old man.
Taking it, the old man smiled as he looked at the letter.
"Ah. I figured it was about time. Hehehe..."
The letter was stamped with a light blue seal.
It was the seal of the Martial Alliance.
The Yongbong Association
Stamped with the Light Blue Seal of the Martial Alliance
"...The Yongbong Association. Do you wish to participate?"
At the old man's question, the figure in front of him shook their head.
"You do not want to go? Why? Did you not have fun the last time you went?"
"..."
"If you are worried about this old man, do not be. It only makes me feel pathetic."
"..."
"Go without worry. Especially since..."
Rustle. The old man folded the letter and handed it back.
Just as the figure reached out to take it.
"Perhaps that child will appear at this Yongbong Association."
"..."
That child.
Hearing those words, the figure's fingertips stiffened.
Seeing this, the old man added.
"Sinchang. That fellow must have made his move. He looks stubborn, but he is quite shrewd when it comes to these matters."
"..."
"So you will surely meet him. Weren't you curious about him as well?"
The figure's gaze shifted from the letter to the old man's face.
"The Little Sword Saint."
"..."
"The child rumored to be the successor of that Yu bastard. Aren't you curious?"
"..."
"If you are curious, go see for yourself. And..."
The old man grinned.
And then...
"Show them clearly that you are the future of Mount Hua, and that you will become the next World's Greatest."
The figure who saw that smile.
The eyes of the monster of Mount Hua flashed.