Chapter 111
“General Hwang Yeon? Who on earth is that?”
I tilted my head in confusion.
General Jang Gyeong-ik, standing before me, clearly knew I was a disciple of Lee Kwang and was clearly worried about that fact. So, I could understand his request to send a letter to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. But now, he wanted Lee Kwang to rescue this General Hwang Yeon?
With a vacant look in his eyes, General Jang spoke, “He is the most respected Grand Uncle in the current military and the greatest master of the Ming Dynasty… the Holy Hero who stopped the invasions from the Steppe and Western Regions…”
“……!!”
There was actually someone that remarkable?
I was incredulous and asked again, “If he’s such a big deal, how come I’ve never heard of him? I may be young, but I should’ve caught wind of Hwang Yeon’s rumors in Luoyang.”
“He was a master from half a century ago… and he is currently in seclusion… But many generals in the military still… respect and follow him and the Hwang family…”
Ah, I see. Since he was prominent fifty years ago, it made sense that he wouldn’t be a hot topic anymore.
Nodding, I followed up, “Alright. So who imprisoned General Hwang Yeon and why?”
“Currently… due to suspicions of wrongdoing involving the Hwang family’s bloodline… all members of the Hwang family are under house arrest, unable to leave their base… but that’s just the surface reason… it’s certain that the Golden Eagle Guards and Duke of Guanzhong kidnapped and imprisoned him…”
“……!!”
The Golden Eagle Guards and Duke of Guanzhong!
I was taken aback, not expecting to hear those names. The Golden Eagle Guards and Duke of Guanzhong were the henchmen of my archenemy, the Demon Subduing Hall, so I couldn’t simply pull back now. On the contrary, I needed to listen to this story carefully.
Curiously, I asked, “Do the Golden Eagle Guards and Duke of Guanzhong have any specific reasons for imprisoning Hwang Yeon?”
“I don’t know… but by coincidence, I received a rescue request from the Hwang family… I’ve been pondering how to resolve this issue…”
“So that’s why you wanted to enlist the help of Azure Dragon Leader Lee Kwang, who’s one of the Four Great Experts?”
“Exactly…”
Things were starting to make sense. The esteemed General Hwang Yeon from Luoyang, a legendary figure of the past, was currently imprisoned by the Golden Eagle Guards, and General Jang Gyeong-ik had chosen Lee Kwang as the problem-solver. And I was supposed to be the messenger.
“You really think Lee Kwang will help without compensation?”
“Not at all… I wrote in my letter that I would immediately recommend his disciple as my direct subordinate… granting him a special recommendation that could put him in the position of captain within a few years… I truly believed Lee Kwang would certainly fulfill this request…”
“What makes you think so?”
The following answer was filled with priceless information.
“Lee Kwang… was a close friend of General Hwang Yeon… his master had a long-standing friendship with Hwang Yeon, and I believe Lee Kwang’s decision to become a soldier was significantly influenced by his connection with him…”
“……!!”
So they had that kind of relationship!
If so, there was no doubt that Lee Kwang would positively respond to the rescue request, even without a recommendation. The recommended letter was likely just a personal ambition of Jang Gyeong-ik to gain a peak expert as his subordinate for his own benefit.
‘I have a feeling this information will be vital.’
As Miho said, if I had simply run errands with the letter, it would have taken ages to uncover this fact. Thanks to Miho’s enchantment technique, I’d at least cut down on years of trouble. I silently expressed my gratitude to Miho and continued to question.
“Where exactly is General Hwang Yeon being held? Please provide specific locations.”
“It’s written on this map…”
Jang Gyeong-ik pulled out a letter from his pocket and handed it to me. It seemed he had slipped a map of the area in along with the letter. I felt I’d almost asked everything crucial and began to ask questions that would benefit me.
“Tell me about significant figures related to you, directly or indirectly. Also, detail the current political situation and trends.”
“Understood…”
“And any money-making information you might have too.”
“Got it.”
The information held by the military commander, who wielded power comparable to that of a governor, was astounding. In just half a moment, I learned about the current political currents in Luoyang and the Ming Dynasty’s military, as well as key figures within. This was information that couldn’t be easily acquired and would surely prove useful in my next life.
When I figured there was nothing else to dig up, I finally said, “I’ve brought some pirate prisoners; take care of them to the best of your ability.”
“Understood… I will do my best…”
“And you had me run that letter message; oh, and return my gold bars too.”
“Got it…”
I received back two gold bars from Jang Gyeong-ik and said, “Miho. This is it.”
When I turned to Miho, she nodded as if she understood and snapped her fingers. General Jang Gyeong-ik, still seated, looked even more dazed, while Miho took my hand and began to lead me outside.
“The enchantment will wear off after half a moment. That’s when the manipulated memories will manifest.”
“Thank goodness.”
I spoke to Miho as we left the General’s office, “Miho, will there be no side effects from that brainwashing?”
“Not really…? If you didn’t give self-destructive commands or implement orders that would cause major resistance, there shouldn’t be any mental shocks. That guy will just wander through foggy memories, acting according to the brainwashing orders.”
“I see.”
“Baek Woong, are you planning to go to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School to deliver the letter?”
“I see no other choice. I feel like I might gain something from this.”
Miho looked displeased, “This matter smells pretty fishy, and I want no part of it.”
“Fishy?”
“I feel like Jang Gyeong-ik is nothing but a puppet. It feels like the start of a massive conspiracy. I am well-versed in ghostly schemes, so I have a bad feeling about this.”
“……”
It was a warning coming from no one other than the legendary great demon Nine-Tailed Fox, who had even enchanted the Heavenly Emperor. I couldn’t shake off my uneasy feeling. After pondering for a bit, I said, “Alright, let’s first drop everyone at Shadowless Gate, then we can think.”
“Hmm, that sounds better.”
I preferred to take my time with this rather than rush things. My reluctance to go to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School added to that sentiment.
“Oh, by the way, Miho.”
“What?”
“Don’t use your enchantment technique on Seo Mun-hye recklessly.”
“…Got it.”
Miho looked somewhat disgruntled.
As I gathered the pirate prisoners, I spoke to them, “Your placement issues have been resolved. Please wait in the General’s lounge, as General Jang Gyeong-ik will take care of you. Those returning home will receive great aid.”
“Ohh…!!”
“Long live Young Hero Baek Woong!! Thank you…!!”
The pirate prisoners were moved to tears, overwhelmed by the kindness shown to them. Their future seemed bleak, and the mere fact that someone was willing to work for them amazed them. As I patted their backs one by one to send them off, an elderly one-eyed man stepped forward, tears streaming down his face.
“Benefactor… I’ve received a debt so great I can’t repay it… so I want to offer my life… a trump card request…”
He presented me with a black wooden token.
“Whoever… just one person… if you want to kill them, bring this token to the Seven Kills Village at Mount Tai…”
“……?”
“Just one person, no matter who they are…”
I accepted the black wooden token, feeling puzzled. That old one-eyed man didn’t seem like a martial artist. If he were a martial artist, he wouldn’t have been caught and abused by pirates. Yet here he was, confidently toting around a token for murder.
‘I’ll just hold onto it. This might become relevant later.’
Once the pirate prisoners were dealt with, I noticed there were around ten women left. They were women who had decided to start a new life at Shadowless Gate. I turned to Seo Mun-hye and asked, “Where is Shadowless Gate?”
“It’s in Henan.”
“Given that Shaolin Temple has a firm hold on Henan, claiming that as their base…”
“The main text doesn’t engage in petty commissions. Though classified among the Eight Demons of the Martial Path, they haven’t really done any actions deserving condemnation. Their relationship with Shaolin Temple is merely indifferent.”
Seo Mun-hye spoke with considerable pride. I too felt a certain dignity regarding the Shadowless Gate, having heard of it as a leader of the Martial Demons.
It seemed they preferred to protect their territory and handle only necessary affairs rather than unnecessarily expand their power. Although in practice, they leaned more towards being a Correct and Neutral Sect, the leader of the Shadowless Gate, Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong, was allied with other Eight Demons, hence their classification as Martial Path.
‘Looks like it’s about four hundred li from here.’
I calculated the distance in my mind. Knowing that pregnant women shouldn’t be forced to travel that far, I decided to approach the Lord of Great Dragon Merchant Association. I offered one gold bar to him, asking him to exchange it for transportation.
“So you need money to hire a cart.”
“That’s right.”
The Lord of Great Dragon Merchant Association, being an experienced trader, seemed unfazed by a single gold bar, merely observing me with piqued interest.
“Truly, Young Hero, you are a rare find. Spending your own money on others…”
“Is it surprising that I have gold?”
“Not particularly. I’ve heard about your transactions with Jeong Gi-tae and the military. I’m just surprised you’re willing to hire carts for pregnant women.”
He laughed heartily, “Don’t worry. I promise to exchange it at fair market value.”
Even though “a trader’s conscience” felt unsettling, he clearly had a favor towards me, ensuring I got a fair deal for my gold bars. I exchanged them and used the money to hire five carts and a dozen Guardian Warriors as we set off for Henan.
Clatter, clatter.
Inside one of the carts, Seo Mun-hye and Miho were with me. Seo Mun-hye cautiously asked, “Young Hero… who is this?”
Miho had transformed into the peerless beauty I once saw, and if her curves were an indication of her taste, they were on full display. Just based on looks, she equaled Seo Mun-hye, making it feel like a garden of flowers was unfurling before my eyes. Miho smiled brightly and said, “Nice to meet you! I’m Miho, a distant relative of Baek Woong.”
“A relative?”
I quickly interjected, “Exactly.”
“I see. It’s an honor to meet a relative of Young Hero…”
“No need for formalities.”
And then an awkward silence filled the air. It was genuinely uncomfortable.
‘Seo Mun-hye is one thing, but what’s with Miho?’
I felt like both of them were glaring at each other with subtle smiles, and I cleared my throat in anxiety.
“Ahem.”
“Oh, why are you doing that?”
Suddenly, Miho leaned against me, her ample bosom pressing against my arm. The warmth of her body made me involuntarily gulp. I could see the deep valley of her cleavage. Seo Mun-hye shot a sharp glare at me at that moment and said, “You seem a bit too close for relatives.”
Miho giggled, “I hear that a lot~”
“……”
What was going on in Miho’s head?
After warning her not to use her enchantment technique on Seo Mun-hye randomly, she was now trying to mess with me like this. I pondered what I must have done wrong, but nothing particularly came to mind. The sharper Seo Mun-hye’s gaze became toward Miho, the more I felt guilty for an unknown crime, trapped in an awkward position.
Five days later, we arrived at Shadowless Gate without encountering bandits along the way. Perhaps thanks to the hefty payment I’d given, or maybe the peace of this area had a role in it, but especially as we approached Shadowless Gate, there were no visible martial artists around.
Seo Mun-hye approached Shadowless Gate’s main entrance. The gatekeeper fighters quickly bowed as they recognized her.
“Young Master!”
“You have returned!”
Seo Mun-hye nodded and asked, “Where is my father?”
“He is in training.”
There was a natural awe and authority emanating from Seo Mun-hye. She was indeed the daughter of the leader of the martial sect.
“How long until he’s done?”
“He entered about half a moment ago, so he should be out within half a moment…”
“Understood. Treat the women I brought as distinguished guests; show them to a separate room. I will wait for my father in the reception room.”
“Understood!”
Soon, out of nowhere, five martial artists in black appeared. They began directing the women one by one toward the separate rooms. I surreptitiously gauged the martial prowess of the Shadowless Gate fighters, astonished at how none of them seemed like mere subordinates. They were all top-tier experts.
“Hiiikk…”
The Guardian Warriors looked terrified. It was only natural since they hadn’t heard that their destination was Shadowless Gate. Simply arriving at the stronghold of the strongest evil sect could be intimidating. I reassured them, telling them there was nothing to worry about and sent them away.
Along with Seo Mun-hye and Miho, I entered and waited in the reception room until we could meet the leader of Shadowless Gate.
“Apologies for making you wait.”
A man in his late forties walked in with a deep voice. His first impression was that of a fierce tiger, not just looking intimidating but exuding raw masculinity. His towering stature was overwhelmingly vast, enough to intimidate anyone. It was hard to believe that a daughter like Seo Mun-hye could come from such a brawny man.
I stood and bowed. “I am Baek Woong.”
“Hrum.”
Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong.
Listed among the strongest of the Eight Demons of Martial Path, he raised his eyebrows and remarked, “You truly are an impressive individual… how can someone your age have such depth of internal power?”
I was inwardly taken aback. Currently, I was using the Heavenly Blood Sealing Technique, preventing any unnecessary energy from leaking out, yet he recognized my power level at a glance.
‘Come to think of it, Seo Mun-hye noticed my martial skill despite my use of the Heavenly Blood Sealing Technique as well.’
Perhaps the techniques of Shadowless Gate made it easy for practitioners to detect the martial prowess of others. Just as I was about to respond, Seo Mun-hye, who was next to me, interjected.
“Father, this gentleman is my benefactor.”
“Benefactor…? Hrum.”
Seo Mun-hye recounted everything that had transpired: participating in the Dark Realm Martial Arts Tournament, being sent to Pirate Island after losing in the fourth round, and battling demon beasts on the way to being rescued.
For half a moment, the Sword Demon sat silently and listened to the story. After a brief pause, he broke the silence.
“I see…”
And then the Sword Demon said something that startled me.
“Then marry her.”
