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EP.47 Heading to Hwasan. (1)

It had been about a month since Hao Gate received a request from the Gu Clan.

In that time, Dou Unchuu had been busy with various tasks.

After Gu Yangcheong left Hao Gate, the first thing Dou Unchuu did was not to track down Gu Yangcheong’s request or the whereabouts of the information he provided, but rather to gather intelligence on the Gu Clan itself.

Considering that he suddenly mentioned the Gate Master, it was clear he saw the Gu Clan as a prime suspect.

Dou Unchuu needed to ascertain the truth.

Had the Gu Clan truly kidnapped the Hao Gate Master?

If so, what was their reason, and when and how had they done it?

And what was the motive behind sending Gu Yangcheong and providing that information?

Checking all this while simultaneously verifying Gu Yangcheong’s request and the authenticity of the information he passing along was an overwhelming task for just one month.

Yet, Dou Unchuu had no choice but to push through.

There was no way to return without accomplishing anything.

First, he began collecting information on the Gu Clan.

Hao Gate was one of the most formidable entities in the Central Plains when it came to intelligence gathering and concealment.

So even if he couldn’t utilize all the resources of his organization, he believed that with genuine effort, he could uncover something.

However, aside from what Hao Gate already possessed, acquiring new information about the Gu Clan proved elusive.

Even for the Four Great Clans, this seemed unusual, as if someone was intentionally obstructing the flow of information.

‘…Could the Three Eminent Beings of the clans be hidden away somewhere?’

It was troubling that he even entertained such silly thoughts.

Let alone finding out if the information from Gu Yangcheong regarding the Yekcheonsan Mountain was legitimate within this month; communication would surely be difficult given the distance.

Nonetheless, he had heard rumors of strange occurrences and kept his ears open.

There was an overwhelming amount of information passed around.

Nevertheless, Dou Unchuu had to maintain his composure and the mask he usually wore, even in this situation.

He shouldn’t reveal his curiosity.

Just the fact that he was curious would be his greatest vulnerability.

With that mindset, he’d lived his life, and he was confident it was the right approach.

However, today, Dou Unchuu found himself unable to maintain that mental fortitude.

This was something he had to ask about—it was simply unavoidable.

After a lengthy internal struggle, Dou Unchuu finally mustered the courage to ask.

“…Gu Gongja, may I ask you something?”

“No, don’t ask.”

“What happened to your eye…?”

Dou Unchuu cautiously pointed at Gu Yangcheong’s left eye.

What looked like a perfectly healthy eye was now swollen and bruised a dreadful shade of blue.

“….I said don’t ask.”

Simultaneously, Gu Yangcheong’s brows furrowed deeply.

‘He really felt the need to ask that…’

Especially since he had dragged himself out in a weary state, he wasn’t in the mood for this.

sigh

A weary sigh escaped him at Dou Unchuu’s question.

The injury was a memento from a fight with a wild boar the previous night.

Damn that…

That insane boar wouldn’t calm down no matter what, even if it were to die.

What was worse was that throughout the spar, Gu Huibi had been laughing.

What could be so entertaining that she charged at him with such glee?

She said she was going to release the energy in his body, but halfway through, it felt like she was just enjoying herself.

In the end, while the sparring with Gu Huibi allowed him to exhaust most of his energy, it also left him with this injury.

“…Let’s just say I had a bit of an incident.”

“I see…”

After the sparring ended, it seems Gu Huibi realized she had gotten a bit carried away, as she wore a sulky expression while looking at him.

‘…Who swings their elbow after dodging a sword?’

If he hadn’t been low on energy right after dodging, he might have ended up with a concussion.

He wouldn’t want to spar with that human again.

Meanwhile, Dou Unchuu, seeming concerned, kept sneaking glances at his injury.

Was this kind of peeking merely a tease?

Noticing his discomfort, Dou Unchuu cleared his throat.

“…Cough, I heard you had some trouble in Sichuan recently.”

“Trouble…?”

Instantly, Dou Unchuu’s words made him stop mid-sip of his tea.

If it was about something in Sichuan, it would just be about finding Biwaegun… but how could he possibly know that?

“You overcame the Thunder Dragon, didn’t you?”

“Ah.”

Oh, so that was what he meant.

At that moment, he felt a little calmer.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like Dou Unchuu knew about Biwaegun.

What Dou Unchuu asked was trivial enough that he had nearly forgotten about it already.

“Wasn’t it the First Prince of the Gu Clan who broke the Thunder Dragon’s arm during sparring? Isn’t that the story of the Gongja?”

“I didn’t break it… I just gave it a light tap.”

Only the direct descendants might have been present at the Tangbing Tournament. Who could possibly have spread such rumors…?

“With many eyes, there are surely many mouths as well.”

Dou Unchuu, sensing the expression on his face, spoke in place of an answer.

Honestly, with the way he had made the Thunder Dragon look, it was only logical for the news to spread quickly. The fact that it was contained to this extent was surprising.

“Already, Nangong is going all out to suppress the rumors, so it shouldn’t spread too widely.”

Is this what Nangong does, then?

To manage to contain such a spread…

‘Unless they threw a fortune at the Beggar Clan.’

It’s far more challenging to suppress spreading rumors than to spread them, yet Nangong managed to pull it off.

They must have spent an unimaginable sum.

In the midst of it all, Dou Unchuu appeared unfazed despite having heard that he had defeated the Thunder Dragon.

‘…Is my blue-swollen eye truly shocking, but this is not?’

That, in itself, was quite a thing…?

“Anyway, what about the matter I asked you to look into?”

At his question, Dou Unchuu promptly retrieved a letter from his belongings and handed it over.

Without hesitating, Dou Unchuu took the letter and unfolded it. It was a report he had waited an entire month for.

“…What is this?”

However, something seemed off.

He frowned after reading a few lines.

The brief note detailed the whereabouts of a child.

It stated that, at the time the request was made, he had already departed the search area with his grandfather.

It was absurd.

The boy had supposedly left the area, and he had suddenly left with his grandfather—these were things he found hard to accept.

He had been told he was an orphan, but he had a family? Moreover…

“Are you saying he has already left the area?”

“Yes, this is all the information we could gather.”

A boy around ten years old with a half-white hair and an unusual appearance belonging to the rugged mountainous terrain.

Anyone could have mistaken him for an unordinary individual due to his distinctive looks.

Which meant that Hao Gate could either be lying, or the information he had known was false, or perhaps…

Something had changed.

‘Things complicated just when they were getting simple.’

If Hao Gate was lying, what would the reason be?

To find a reason, perhaps they were keeping an eye on him to extract more information or had captured him thinking he was important…

Either way, it wouldn’t be negative for him.

In fact, if they were doing that, it would make things easier for him.

If the information he received was wrong, however?

That was concerning.

‘If they lied even back then…’

This was history he had received directly from Jiegal Hyeok, not just any random individual.

What more, if during that situation, he had spoken the untruth…

The mere thought sent chills down his spine.

Had he lied to him when he was dying?

There was no way to be sure; it was very much possible that was the case.

Even without inner strength, he had been capable of handling thousands of martial artists with nothing but his mind.

‘Even if so…’

Regardless of the outcome, there was still nothing he could do right now.

There was no way to rummage through to confirm for himself.

Soon, he would have to head to Hwasan Sect.

‘…It feels like bothersome things are piling up all at once.’

“Young Master.”

“…What should I do about this?”

“Young Master…!”

“…What is it?”

He was walking through the marketplace after exiting Hao Gate.

There was no further point in speaking any more here, so he had just said he would come again.

And after leaving, as always, he planned to buy rice cakes before heading in.

Now, it had become almost second nature.

As he received a handful of rice cakes, he noticed Muyeon standing behind him with a sad look.

What on earth was his issue?

“…What’s wrong? Why do you look like that?”

“…I have no money, Young Master…!”

Muyeon suddenly exclaimed.

What nonsense was he talking about all of a sudden?

Why did he look like it was assumed he would buy it with his own money?

A part of him wanted to tease Muyeon for that expression.

“What!? Why say that now….!”

At his words, Muyeon wore a look of despair, as if he had known it would happen.

Seeing that expression, he immediately pulled out a small amount of silver from his pocket.

Muyeon seemed shocked at his own reaction.

Watching, he smiled emptily.

“What, I was just kidding. Did you really think I’d buy it with your money?”

“No… that’s not it.”

“Not it? Then what’s going on?”

“If you have money, could you please return the money you borrowed last time…?”

“….”

“The rice cakes are here!”

“Ah! The rice cakes are here, let’s hurry!”

Quickly grabbing the rice cakes set out before him, he began walking towards the clan, ignoring Muyeon calling out from behind.

Sorry… I’ll really give it to you next time.

The most significant change in Gu Yangcheong’s residence was perhaps the rows of wooden sculptures.

The once ordinary and bleak space was starting to gain a bit of vibrancy, thanks not only to Wi Seol-Ah but also to the hobbies of the Sword Sovereign.

Elder Lee thought as he observed the newly completed eagle.

“He has left Anhui.”

That was the Sword Sovereign’s question.

Elder Lee carefully set down the eagle he was working on, wary of breaking it.

“I heard so.”

“…Could something have happened?”

Shin Yi was like the wind.

He does not remain in one place for long.

The information that he had gone to Anhui carried unique significance.

Anhwi was the territory of the Heavenly Lord, who was searching for him.

With the Sword Sovereign looking for Shin Yi, it was expected that something unpleasant had occurred.

‘…But why?’

If the Heavenly Lord knew that the Sword Sovereign was looking for Shin Yi, he would never have let him go.

Yet Shin Yi had already departed Anhui?

“Do you know where he went, Gu Ryoon?”

Elder Lee paused for a moment, deep in thought at the Sword Sovereign’s inquiry.

Elder Lee had to head to Nangong for the clan leader’s request.

He had to look into Gu Yangcheong’s engagement issue and, likewise, problems regarding Shin Yi.

Thinking back on the effort it took to navigate Anhui, it made him feel like he needed to slap Gu Yangcheong when they next met.

When Shin Yi had arrived, he had already left Anhui.

While people could not specify where he had gone, they said he often spoke about Shaanxi.

“…Shaanxi, as in Hwasan?”

That location popped to mind, precisely where Gu Yangcheong was supposed to be heading in a few days.

“What shall we do, Senior?”

“Well, if it comes to that, we’ll have to verify it ourselves.”

The thought of the Sword Sovereign personally going out? Even pretending to be a servant and hiding his identity, having him go out to uncover this personally—it seemed rather urgent to him.

Elder Lee couldn’t easily predict the circumstances.

He asked what the plan was, but the Sword Sovereign didn’t answer immediately.

A few days later, Elder Lee discovered that both the Sword Sovereign and Wi Seol-Ah were slated to depart for Hwasan Sect.

As a farmer, summer is like a hellish season.

Not only is the sun beating down mercilessly, but the hard labor yields crops that are often withered and less marketable, resulting in diminished earnings.

While one could argue that all seasons share this misery…

For Mangdong, who aids his mother while trying to subsist, summer was the most burdensome.

“Mother! I can’t sell any of this!”

He cried out sadly as he threw the crops he’d been holding onto the ground.

Damn, this wretched season.

When will this beggar-like season ever end?

Every year, as he mops away sweat, he laments, but nothing ever changes.

At that moment, the relentless sunshine was briefly obscured.

“What is that?”

Could it be rain falling unexpectedly? Just as he thought, Mangdong lifted his head.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t rain, but instead, the figure creating a shadow in front of him made him jump in shock.

“…Wowww…!”

So startled was Mangdong that he fell flat on his rear while exclaiming.

Bathed in sunlight was a figure with long silver-white hair that cast a shadow all on its own, along with an exceptionally fair complexion.

It was a vision of the fairy his father used to shout about whenever he was drunk.

“Excuse me…”

The fairy spoke.

Oh my, even her voice was this beautiful.

Unable to calm his pounding heart, Mangdong stammered, “Y-yes!?”

“To head to Shanxi, which way should I go…?”

Shanxi…? Why is she going to Shanxi?

Is the fairy living in Shanxi…? Not in his right mind, Mangdong thought silly things like that.

However, he quickly pulled himself together and held the answer firmly.

“Shanxi is east from here….”

“Thank you.”

Perhaps in a hurry, as soon as she heard his words, the fairy soared into the sky… she actually flew!

Trembling, Mangdong could only exclaim, “M-Mother! Why are you shouting like that!”

“Y-young master! The fairy! The fairy!”

“…That crazy kid probably lost his mind after being bailed out last time.”

“No… for real…”

No matter how much he tried to explain, his mother turned away to continue working.

He had no evidence to prove his claim.

“…What is this?”

Only a handful of silver coins lay in the spot where the fairy had been.

An amount that would suffice for his family to eat heartily for months.

“M-Madness…”

Had the fairy left this behind? Quickly, Mangdong tucked the coins into his pocket.

However, he had one lingering question.

Why had the fairy asked about the location of Shanxi? All Mangdong knew was that it was simply east.

“…But why did she run west after I pointed it out?”

Mangdong would remain puzzled by that for the rest of his life.

 

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