---

EP.17 If Necessary (2)

With the letter tucked into my robe, I stepped out onto the bustling street alongside Muyeon.

Though I followed the same path as before, I was no longer panting as I had been. It seemed that some training had improved my stamina.

‘It’s strange that I felt like I was dying just from walking.’

Chuckling to myself, I passed through an alley.

As I walked a bit further, I spotted the shabby building I had seen last time. It was the Hao Gate branch in Mount Shan that I had visited before.

Upon arrival, I noticed something different — gone were the shabby-looking attendants, replaced with well-dressed ones matching the attire of the branch leader.

As I approached the building, someone greeted me.

“Welcome, Gu Gongja!”

“What’s this? This time you’re looking sharp.”

“I apologize for my appearance last time.”

It was the man who had hurled curses at me. With his messy hair tied up neatly and dressed smartly, he looked like a different person.

“That’s neither here nor there. Where do I go? Should I head to the basement like last time?”

“No need for that, Gongja.”

Following the voice, I looked up to see the branch leader, Dou Unchuu, descending the stairs slowly.

“Unlike last time, you’re making a prompt appearance.”

“Would I dare to keep such a valuable customer waiting? I must appear at once.”

“Does that mean I wasn’t considered a customer last time?”

Dou Unchuu only smiled at my meaningless jab. I refrained from pressing further.

While I could continue the banter, I was eager to wrap things up and return, so I prioritized getting to the point.

I followed Dou Unchuu upstairs. The dusty first floor contrasted sharply with the surprisingly clean second floor.

After sitting down, one of the attendants brought me tea right away, but Muyeon stopped them.

It signified that he didn’t trust them.

As the attendant frowned at Muyeon’s action, Dou Unchuu pointed it out.

“Control your expression; you’re in front of an important customer.”

His voice was icy.

“…I apologize, Branch Leader.”

“The apology is directed at the Gongja.”

“My apologies, Gongja.”

I waved my hand dismissively, indicating it was fine, and focused my gaze on Dou Unchuu.

‘How annoying….’

After all, their antics felt like all just unnecessary theatrics.

Muyeon had likely anticipated this behavior.

Dou Unchuu correcting the attendant’s slip was probably part of the act as well.

I couldn’t tell if they were trying to show me that they were respectful or if they were merely attempting to take control of the conversation. Either way, it was a tedious and irritating performance.

“I’m not sure what you’re trying to show me, but you’re just wasting my precious time. Can we get to the main point, Branch Leader?”

I had no interest in their pointless drama.

Dou Unchuu paused at my remark, and while his squinted eyes made it hard to read his expression, I was certain my words got through.

He sighed after a moment.

“…I’m not sure where to begin correcting the information we have about you, Gongja.”

“As I mentioned last time, the information you hold is likely accurate. No need to tweak it unnecessarily.”

After sipping silently from the tea before him, Dou Unchuu finally addressed the main topic.

“Regarding the task you mentioned, if we solve it for you, what exactly will you reveal?”

“What exactly? You’re not asking for everything, are you?”

“We are individuals who trade in information. We know better than anyone the value of what you possess.”

It seemed the whereabouts of a crucial figure sought after by the Hao Gate were eluding everyone.

Given the circumstances, I clearly had a monopoly on such information.

Naturally, I had no intention of divulging all of it at once.

The recovery operation for the Hao Gate Lord would occur several years down the line.

And although the Hao Gate Lord may perish during the mission, strictly in terms of information, he would be alive for a few more years.

Dou Unchuu could not know this; hence the urgency of his position.

‘No matter what connection Dou Unchuu has with the Hao Gate Lord, if he’s based on past information, he’s likely to become the next Hao Gate Lord, creating a complicated relationship.’

If not, there would have been no need for him to take charge of the recovery operation.

Yet, Dou Unchuu showed no signs of urgency or impatience toward me.

I couldn’t discern if he was meticulously hiding his feelings or just deemed the information necessary.

To put it precisely, I didn’t need to find out.

Whatever relationship Dou Unchuu had with the Hao Gate Lord, and whatever thoughts he was harboring, it was of no concern to me.

If it were indeed an important relationship, then I would have to utilize it.

‘If necessary, that is…’

“Branch Leader, do you really believe what I’m saying?”

If I suddenly showed up as a mere kid, I wouldn’t believe it either.

Dou Unchuu chuckled at my question.

“That kind of suspicion is something only those in desperate situations entertain.”

It was something I had said before.

“…In that case, don’t worry. I’ll tell you everything about the information without omissions.”

“Understood.”

Dou Unchuu ceased to pursue the conversation, offering only the necessary additional explanations.

“We expect the task to take about a month. It could be completed sooner, but it won’t likely extend beyond that.”

“…A month, huh.”

By that time, it would likely already be summer. Altogether, it wasn’t an excessively long wait.

As I pondered, Dou Unchuu suddenly spoke.

“…May I ask you something?”

“If it’s something I can answer.”

“About the Lord….”

Dou Unchuu hesitated. Perhaps he was about to inquire about the Lord’s life or death.

I assumed he already knew. It was essential to him, but this was undoubtedly an unnecessary question at the moment.

I replied to Dou Unchuu.

“You realize that would not be helpful to you right now, don’t you?”

My belief that Dou Unchuu had a close relationship with the Hao Gate Lord was merely a guess. In this situation, Dou Unchuu’s words could have been reassuring.

Of course, considering he was affiliated with the Hao Gate, it might also just be another act.

Dou Unchuu remained silent.

Was it an anxious slip or a calculated action?

Wearing an impenetrable mask, it was hard to discern his true feelings.

He clearly didn’t look like the type to display his emotions.

After a moment of contemplation, I spoke to Dou Unchuu.

“Yejeoksanmaek.”

At my words, Dou Unchuu’s eyes widened slightly.

The name of the massive mountain range located to the south; while it wasn’t exactly where the Hao Gate Lord was located, it was one of the branches of the Black Night Palace.

‘Though I don’t know the exact location within the mountains.’

The reason I mentioned this was that this branch likely contained the information Dou Unchuu needed.

“This is a deposit. I believe this should suffice.”

Whether he believed me or not was irrelevant.

“If you plan to verify it, it would be wise to bring along someone skilled in formations.”

There’s no way the Black Night Palace would have taken no precautions.

The Martial Alliance had indeed struggled to locate the main base of the Black Night Palace due to the influence of formations.

Overall, that settled our discussion.

I stood up to leave, intending to return to the clan.

‘A month, huh.’

A little too long to simply wait around.

Back outside on the bustling street heading towards the clan, I found myself reflexively buying rice cakes. Of course, they were meant for Wi Seol-Ah.

Not just me, but all the servants in the residence had been giving snacks to Wi Seol-Ah, causing her to gain a bit of weight compared to our first meeting.

As I moved along, a breeze blew.

“It’s still spring, so it’s cool… but starting next month, summer will hit, and I’ll be dying again.”

That was Muyeon’s remark.

In a month, it would be early summer. Just as Muyeon said, summer would be upon us soon.

‘Summer…’

Something nagged at me, a vague memory just out of reach, stirring up unease.

What could it be?

Suddenly I stopped walking. A foggy memory resurfaced.

If it’s summer at this time, significant events tended to occur.

“…Why is this popping up now?”

It was around this time that the Biwaegun of the Geumcheon Clan, which had once operated the top faction in ancient times, was discovered.

While the Sichuan Tang Gate was the first to find the Biwaegun, ultimately, the one who acquired it was the Gyecheon Sect from the Demonic Faction.

Both Tang Gate and Gyecheon Sect were located in Sichuan, resulting in their poor relations.

And later, when the Demonic Sect emerged, the Gyecheon Sect joined their ranks.

‘Aside from the Geumcheon Clan, the Biwaegun was also in Sichuan.’

….What a mess.

Reflecting on the location and timing, I clicked my tongue in frustration.

The discovery of the Biwaegun happened in late summer, and considering it eventually fell into the hands of the Gyecheon Sect, I would have wanted to seize it for myself if possible. But the region posed a problem.

‘I have no way to get to Sichuan right now.’

The deadline set by the Hao Gate is a month, and while I have enough time if I can come up with a plan, the distant journey to Sichuan provided no excuse.

Should I state I’m going on a trip?

‘The clan will never allow that.’

Suggesting I needed to go to Sichuan would surely be laughed off.

While the Biwaegun might not contain vast treasures, it was said to hold valuable spirit pills that are hard to come by.

It was also said that the Gyecheon Sect Lord reached the transformation realm thanks to this.

‘At the very least, I want to prevent the Gyecheon Sect from acquiring it.’

Even if I can’t take it myself, I wouldn’t want it in the hands of someone who would become a Demon.

Of course, it’d be great if I could claim it myself.

But if that’s not possible, I had to find another way.

“What if I spread information to the Beggar Clan?”

I wasn’t sure if anyone would believe me saying this, but maybe I could twist the flow of events earlier. Though, whether they would even hear the rumors if I said anything was questionable.

In truth, despite having various easy options, I hesitated solely due to greed.

Having received the chance to return, I only wished to live a simple life, yet when a treasure trove appeared before me, I was itching to seize it.

“What a crazy fool. Knowing it’s impossible, I should know when to give up.”

After enduring the hardships of my past life, I still found my desires unreasonably high.

Suddenly, why did it come to mind and make me feel so heavy?

Feeling empty, I looked around, contemplating buying some food.

In the distance, I spotted a steam-filled dumpling shop and immediately moved toward it. The dumplings I had eaten last time were delicious and stayed in my memory.

“Young Master, will you be buying dumplings too?”

“The dumplings I had last time were delicious.”

“But… didn’t you just spend all the money you brought when you bought the rice cakes…?”

“Give it to me.”

“Pardon?”

“Give it to me.”

“Y-Yes….”

Sorry about that.

Don’t make that sad face. I said I’d give it to you later, right?

‘Now that I think about it, I don’t think I gave her what I bought last time either…’

Turning away from Muyeon, who was pulling out coins from her pocket, I felt a pang of guilt.

‘This time, I really should give her something.’

I was serious; I truly intended to.

For real….

After buying the dumplings, I returned to the clan. By the time I arrived, the sun was already starting to set.

As I entered the residence, Wi Seol-Ah hopped over to take my outer robe, and I handed her the rice cakes along with it.

Upon seeing the rice cakes, she broke into a bright smile and rushed off to share them with the other attendants, making me feel pleased that I had chosen well.

‘Although I regret the matter of the Geumcheon Clan, it was never mine to begin with.’

It was foolish to lament over something I never possessed in the first place.

When there’s no way, what can I do?

…But.

“My name is Gu Jeolyub. I’d like to request a duel with a member of the family.”

I certainly did not expect that the method would come directly to me.

 

---