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Chapter 568: Heading to Hanam

After meeting Woo Bongchwigae.

It wasn’t long after we returned to the residence that we immediately began packing our things.

Contrary to my assumption that it would take a long time, everything was moving swiftly.

[Since Woo Bongchwigae has confirmed, there’s no need for any further words.]

That’s what the Wudang Sword Master, who hadn’t even shown his face since we arrived at Wudang, conveyed to us.

While it was a simple message that the Beggar Clan Leader had completed the questioning and there was no need to see him anymore, it felt utterly absurd from the listener’s perspective.

‘So, since I’ve seen everything, there’s no need to see me again?’

As a guest, to only show his face once and then that’s it?

Well, the Sword Demoness would end things on behalf of us later.

It felt like they didn’t want to engage in conversation with us, who were Late-Stage Talents.

I wanted to believe that my slight feelings of inferiority were to blame for this part.

But it wasn’t just that which bothered me.

‘Isn’t it strange that they don’t come to see me?’

I wasn’t trying to act all high and mighty.

It was an objective judgment.

Given that I was not only me, but also Gu Ryeonghwa, who was supposedly destined to become the next Sword King, how could the Wudang Sword Master not show his face?

It was a somewhat troubling situation.

It denoted a lack of desire to make a good impression on a Late-Stage Talent who might dominate the Central Plains in the future.

‘Such a self-important noble, huh.’

What was the point of dragging Gu Tae along?

Maybe it was a request to gather information about the Wind and Cloud Ghost issues or the truth behind the ambush.

But I suspected there was a deeper intention hidden within.

Of course.

‘That was its own kind of intention, though.’

I had expected the Wudang Sword Master to act this way.

Wishing for it to be so, at least.

‘I didn’t expect Woo Bongchwigae to come here in person, though.’

I didn’t think the Beggar Clan Leader would show up personally.

But I at least knew that someone from the Beggar Clan would definitely come along.

‘…That had to be the case.’

The reason for my expectation was simple.

The first reason stemmed from the previously mentioned matter concerning the Wind and Cloud Ghosts.

As I repeatedly mentioned, even apart from the Hwasan Sect, Wudang needed attention and would likely use the Beggar Clan to spread rumors.

Such as, [Wudang chosen by the Wind and Cloud Ghosts.]

The problem was… because the Wudang Sword Master brought up the Wind and Cloud Ghosts, Woo Bongchwigae was prompted to take action.

It had put me in quite a difficult position.

I barely knew Woo Bongchwigae, and considering the chance he might notice something was unsettling, I was secretly anxious.

‘It passed more easily than I expected.’

Fortunately, nothing problematic happened. This was truly an unexpected outcome.

And because of that.

‘It actually turned out for the better.’

It wasn’t what I had hoped for, but it became a relatively good situation.

The reason being.

‘Not only did the Wudang get ambushed, but it also spurred Woo Bongchwigae into action to verify it.’

That alone would stir quite a rumor.

Moreover, the important part was.

‘The Wudang Sword Master likely wishes for such rumors to spread widely.’

He would probably crave for these rumors to circulate far and wide.

And.

‘The Heavenly Demon, who ambushed this place, would instead be painted in a way that spreads in the Central Plains.’

That was how it had to be.

Only then would the fact that Wudang had been attacked, even successfully, gain some justification.

The Heavenly Demon was strong.

He was powerful enough that Wudang could not stop him in the absence of the Sword Master.

He was also an infamous villain at odds with the Beggar Clan.

It needed to be spread that way.

If the goal was to preserve Wudang’s reputation and move the Beggar Clan to catch that Heavenly Demon, then it absolutely had to be done.

Better to be known for being defeated by someone undeniably strong rather than some unknown lackey.

‘Not bad at all.’

From that perspective, it was beneficial for me too. At least up until this point.

I shifted my gaze.

Amidst the gusty winds, towards the heart of Wudang beyond the trees.

With my eyes, I coldly surveyed where they were.

‘I wish a few more had died.’

I had killed Woo Baek.

I had turned Ji Cheol into a demon and made him commit suicide.

I had taken down two important figures in Wudang’s current and future, but.

It still wasn’t enough.

‘What a shame.’

I should have killed a little more.

That extent had been the best I could do according to my plan, but it didn’t change the fact that I felt regret.

I had intended to kill all of Wudang’s elders.

That way.

‘Wouldn’t it relieve that bastard a little?’

I bitterly smiled as I recalled the past. The face of the friend who used to annoy me by following me around came to mind.

Always annoying me and receiving every bit of curse, yet he didn’t seem to care.

In the end, his last words echoed in my head.

[Go on ahead. Thank you.]

Words from the fool who bled while fending off swarms of demon beasts.

Stupid bastard.

‘What’s there to be thankful for?’

That unfathomable gratitude he had uttered was deeply engraved in my heart.

What a useless idiot; he should’ve just looked after his own life instead of throwing away that precious life.

Had he lived on, it would have been different.

The Sleeping Dragon ultimately perished, and that day, the brightest star of Wudang lost its light.

Do you know what’s ironic about this?

The Sleeping Dragon dropped the star for me.

But those who sought to drop that star were none other than Wudang itself.

By the time I realized this fact, it was far too late.

I had burned down the perpetrators, but back then, the Heavenly Demon had ordered me not to touch Wudang.

I didn’t know why the Heavenly Demon had given me such orders.

But what mattered was the fact that Wudang had driven the Sleeping Dragon into a corner.

Why was that?

Why did Wudang have to kill their brightest star in such a manner?

I couldn’t comprehend. I didn’t care either.

All I saw was the fact that they had killed the Sleeping Dragon.

So, I simply needed to focus on that.

And the one who orchestrated all of this.

‘Is among the elders.’

It was possible that the Wudang Sword Master was also involved, but without a doubt, one of the elders had to be behind it.

I didn’t know exactly who. I didn’t even know how many.

But it didn’t matter.

If I didn’t know who the perpetrator was exactly.

‘Then I just need to kill them all.’

I could eliminate all those who looked suspicious.

Then it would be resolved.

“Tsk.”

What a shame.

I had to stop here; my carefully laid plans might go awry.

It couldn’t be helped.

‘That’s what I decided; I have to keep it.’

When I intended to finish my training and go out, there was a rule I had set inside me.

Even if I took my revenge, it should be done as a supplementary action so as not to disturb what I needed to do.

Trying to do more work at this moment was a clear hindrance.

So I bore with it.

‘For now.’

I still had to hold back. I had prepared for the right timing, so I needed to wait.

I had to keep reminding myself of that.

“Hmm.”

Drawing a short breath, I collected myself.

I focused my energy to calm my emotions. Woo Hyeok-!

Energy flowed, and my head felt like it was cooling down.

However.

A jolt.

“…Ugh..”

As I tried to circulate my energy, pain radiated from my heart.

It was probably due to my internal injuries.

I had to grit my teeth as an unexpectedly strong pain made my brow furrow.

‘…It seems I should pay a visit to Shin Yi once.’

I had planned to go straight to Hanam because of the schedule, but it seemed I needed to visit Shin Yi in the middle after all.

Not only was my planned business gaining speed, but I also needed to gather ‘them’ and discuss matters too.

‘Considering Ji Seon must have gone to the Huangbo Clan. I should tell him to come to Hanam.’

What should I do about the rest?

As I was pondering this while tidying my clothes.

Rustle.

“…!”

A strange feeling brushed over me.

I turned my head at the noise I heard.

I had to hold my breath upon seeing the sight before my eyes.

Someone was sitting at the table in the residence, where clearly no one should have been.

“Ho ho.”

The Beggar Clan Leader, Woo Bongchwigae. He had already seated himself at my table.

Even had tea steeped, the preparation of which I had no clue about.

I broke into a cold sweat, staring at the old man.

‘What on earth… when did he appear?’

I hadn’t noticed at all. I hadn’t felt him enter the residence, not even when he was calmly brewing tea.

I felt nothing at all.

‘Is it because of my injuries?’

Perhaps due to my disrupted Qi perception, I couldn’t catch the movements of the old man.

If that weren’t the case.

‘Did I completely fail to sense him?’

There was also the possibility I hadn’t felt the elder’s presence from the start. Considering who he was.

‘…The Wind and Cloud Ghost.’

The legendary thief, no one had ever captured. It seemed entirely possible if I recalled the elder’s past.

‘This isn’t the time for that.’

Before it got late, I raised my hands. It was a gesture of courtesy.

“…It is an honor to meet you, Beggar Clan Leader.”

“Ho ho. No need for that. I arrived quite suddenly, so you needn’t bother. Rather, I feel bad for intruding.”

As I performed my courtesy, Woo Bongchwigae raised his hands and halted me.

“I apologize for startling you.”

“…It’s fine.”

As if I wouldn’t be startled by that.

I swallowed back the words that almost spilled out.

‘Why did he come here?’

Wasn’t business already concluded?

Tension arose.

I couldn’t gauge what he intended by coming here, so I maintained a composed expression.

“I hurriedly came because I had something to ask.”

What could he possibly want to ask now?

“Are you in good health?”

“Excuse me…?”

A momentary rigidity spread through my body at Woo Bongchwigae’s question.

“You didn’t look too well.”

“…”

My eyes naturally narrowed at his words.

Consequently, my heart began to feel cold.

Thoughts rushed through my mind in an instant, but I had to fight to maintain my expression.

“What do you mean all of a sudden…?”

“Ho ho.”

To the words I managed to squeeze out, Woo Bongchwigae laughed. Though he appeared to be enjoying it, that laughter sounded like a dagger to me.

Cold and, additionally, sharply felt.

“Child of Gu Family.”

Woo Bongchwigae said.

“It seems you’re skilled at hiding with your energy, but you have your shortcomings.”

Gulp.

I could distinctly hear the sound of my swallowing.

“Even if you can’t see the inside, the slight differences visible from outside cannot be concealed. For example, in your gait or your speech.”

“…!”

“If pain can be felt in your fingertips, it indicates differences. Unfortunately, it seems you’re not quite adept at hiding those parts.”

I’d been trying to conceal my internal injuries with my energy, yet had he guessed from my outward actions that I was injured?

‘No way.’

Despite my utmost efforts to avoid being discovered, was I caught in that brief moment?

“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Despite the chaos roiling within, I forced out words without trembling.

“Ho ho.”

Seeing this, Woo Bongchwigae laughed again as if to find it amusing.

“Don’t be so tense. I was merely worried about you. If you wish to hide, go ahead.”

“I am perfectly fine. Leader!”

“Hmm.”

It seemed like he was trying to let it slide.

But there were things I couldn’t acknowledge here. I had to feign ignorance to the end.

Even if I had been caught.

“Right. If you say so, then it must be true.”

Continuously insisting that it wasn’t so, Woo Bongchwigae nodded his head.

“Then, may I ask you something else?”

“…”

Before I could grant permission, Woo Bongchwigae continued speaking.

“Child. If there’s something that cannot be properly erased even if you erase all traces, do you know what that is?”

As he spoke, the elder gently placed something on the table.

“…!”

I furrowed my brows at what I saw.

Dawn.

A treasure from Wudang kept behind closed doors.

It was the treasure I had intended to steal this time.

Why was Woo Bongchwigae holding that?

Before I could even question that.

Woo Bongchwigae spoke again, looking at me.

“It’s scent. No matter how many traces you erase, the scent doesn’t disappear easily. Hence, I wanted to ask you.”

Hearing his words, I had to think.

I had to recall.

“How is your scent still lingering on this treasure? Child, do you happen to know the reason?”

I needed to find a way to kill Woo Bongchwigae right here and now.

 

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