Chapter 112: The Woman in White
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Bu Do-nam immediately told him the reason why the Green Forest Alliance had tried to forcefully expand its power.
“Actually, starting about a year ago, the Alliance established a temporary base in the mountains bordering the major city of Jinyu, east outside of Apo Mountain. It wasn’t stronghold-scale, just a place to serve as an information network. Of course, the ultimate goal was to probe the waters and then reach into the major city to secure a key supply source… Though we control Apo Mountain and several surrounding villages, now that we’ve grown larger, we had to explore other avenues. But right around that time, Sword Seal Sect also advanced into Jinyu, claiming to secure commercial rights.”
“Did the Green Forest Alliance and Sword Seal Sect clash over Jinyu?”
“Right, it was a territorial boundary fight. Not that it got bloody or anything, just… A bit of psychological warfare, you could say. Only enough not to escalate into a major conflict.”
Hearing Bu Do-nam’s words, Namgung Sang-rin slightly furrowed his brow.
“Sword Seal Sect’s greed seems to have no end. Not satisfied with firmly holding the two cities of Dangchang and Yiyang, they advance into Jinyu as well. Moreover, that area is adjacent to the renowned scenic spot Hong Lake.”
“Don’t even mention it. According to rumors, they’ve already pulled some of the forces on the Hong Lake side under their umbrella.”
“That’s…”
“It’s a rumor, a rumor. It hasn’t been properly confirmed.”
“A rumor, but I have a feeling that among the martial artists on the Hong Lake side, there are probably more whose fingers have been severed.”
“Ha, honestly, me too. Severing Finger – such an unpleasant alias.”
Sword Seal Sect Master So Cheon-ak had a vile hobby of cutting off the fingers of losers who defied his will as the victor.
Because of that, the two characters ‘Severing Finger’ had been added before the two characters ‘Sword Venerable’, an alias representing his exceptional sword cultivation.
Namgung Sang-rin nodded slightly in agreement.
“Yes, it’s a ghastly alias. Though the Sword Seal Sect Master himself seems to be proud of it.”
“He’s definitely a pervert, that guy. Anyway, Sword Seal Sect was very displeased that the Alliance had a temporary base in the mountains near Jinyu, and after bickering for a few months, eventually the Alliance ended up taking a step back. The Alliance Master generously yielded.”
“Interpreted the other way, that means the Sword Seal Sect Master was extremely stubborn…?”
“Quick-witted, aren’t you. There’s another circumstance there, but… It’s related to the Alliance Master, so I can’t tell you everything. Let’s just gloss over it, Brother.”
“Ah, I see. Yes, Hyungnim. I understand. In any case, because of that, the Green Forest Alliance came to this region and built an official stronghold.”
“The east side of Apo Mountain is held by Sword Seal Sect, and the northwest side has two orthodox sects standing firm, so going somewhat forcefully south along the mountain ridge was the only answer. The reason I called Sword Seal Sect a headache is concern that they might later covet even the villages in our Alliance’s sphere of influence. Of course, since our Alliance Master is going strong, they can’t drool carelessly… But you never know what the future holds.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Namgung Sang-rin said that while muttering inwardly.
‘Just like the situation I’m in now.’
Before the accumulated resentment inside him exploded, he never imagined he would end up going to White Peak Sword Sect to look for a position.
At that point, Bu Do-nam asked while pouring Huaguo Wine into a cup.
“Where are you planning to go now, Brother? Do you have a destination?”
In the moment his heart skipped a beat, Namgung Sang-rin vaguely evaded the answer.
“For now, I’m thinking of looking around various places, and if I later decide on somewhere to stay long-term, I’ll send word separately. Please don’t worry too much.”
“Alright. You’re my brother, of course you’ll manage on your own. Hahah. When you want to go to bed later, use the second room on the left on that floor. Here, have a cup. Let’s drink and shake off all that business with that damned Jingzhou Ban Family from your heart.”
When Bu Do-nam tilted the bottle, a faint bitter smile appeared at the corner of Namgung Sang-rin’s mouth.
“Ha. What’s in my head gets erased, but what’s lodged in my heart isn’t easy to erase. But still… Won’t time heal all wounds of the heart?”
For a moment, Bu Do-nam gazed at that face and wore a matching faint smile.
“It’s only been about a year since we last saw each other, but you’ve become much more mature than before.”
“They say people grow through trials. That must be why. Haha.”
“Wow, you can even say cool things. Meeting you, the wine tastes even better. After we finish this, just one more bottle…”
Suddenly, Bu Do-nam’s complexion turned pale.
‘Oh no!’
He’d finally realized.
His mistake.
Huaguo Wine.
Shit, I’m screwed!
Because of running into Namgung Sang-rin, he had momentarily forgotten that the emergency funds were barely enough and had already ordered two bottles of Huaguo Wine…
-We have no choice but to save as much as possible until we reach the headquarters.
The moment his subordinate’s words crossed his mind.
SWUNG.
The inn door opened and about ten Green Forest Alliance members who had finished the cleanup came inside.
‘ACK!’
Bu Do-nam, startled with a flinch, released the hand holding the bottle as soon as his eyes met with that group.
The expressions of the members standing by the entrance changed completely.
Everyone’s gazes were cold.
Naturally.
They had spotted the Huaguo Wine sitting brazenly on the table.
Bu Do-nam froze in that awkward posture of having just released his hand.
Cold.
A dagger flying and stabbing into his heart.
Damn… My hand… was slower than their eyes.
Before long, cries of discontent were bursting out from within the members’ cold pupils.
Stronghold Master, what are you doing! Are you in your right mind! No, we looked for inns with cheap rooms like this because we don’t even have enough money, and you’re ordering more wine! Ah, really, this is too much! Whatever, if it’s like this, I can’t stay loyal!
Their closed mouths substituted by their eyes pouring out anger like that.
“Ah… Y-you’re back. E-everyone, come sit here.”
Simultaneously with Bu Do-nam’s words, the members radiated even colder gazes.
Stronghold Master, why are you stammering? What, is something on your conscience? Don’t force a smile! It’s more awkward for those watching!
At that moment, Namgung Sang-rin gestured and said.
“Come on, please take your seats. I said I’d treat everyone.”
As expected, a quick-witted response.
How many years had he lived as a dependent – he immediately caught on to that atmosphere.
‘Brother! A nimble wit like a surprise sword stroke! Keu, this is why I adore you!’
Bu Do-nam was inwardly moved and pretended to put on airs.
“Everyone, you just suspected me, didn’t you? Huh? All your eyeballs changed like this, tsk.”
At that, the members who had swarmed around the table all shook their heads and played innocent.
“Oh my, what are you saying? Suspicion?”
“Rather, it seems you’re doubting our loyalty.”
Listening, Namgung Sang-rin smiled and gestured toward the owner.
“Here, please prepare three bottles of Huaguo Wine and three or four suitable drinking snacks.”
The members heard that and smiled broadly, flattering him.
“Indeed, an educated person!”
“My, I thought from the first impression that you were a good person…!”
“Young Master, I shall offer you a cup!”
Before long, when the wine and snacks were added, everyone laughed and chatted, continuing the gathering merrily.
A moment later.
CLICK-
The inn door quietly opened and one figure walked in with calm steps, folding an umbrella.
A woman in her twenties wearing a white palace dress.
Suddenly, everyone in the hall had their gazes drawn and fixed in that direction.
The reason was simple.
It was because of the unknown woman in white’s beauty.
‘Wow…! Is she human?’
Her beauty was enchanting enough to make admiration burst out on its own.
To the point where one might think that if there were celestial maidens, they would look like her.
Cotton-white skin with a pair of eyes that seemed to contain flowing starlight, a smoothly extending nose bridge and slightly full lips… Moreover, her hair, twisted high and secured with a couple of hairpins, resembled black silk.
Snow-like skin and flower-like face, beauty to overthrow nations, peerless beauty – seeing the mysterious beauty of the woman in white, one could understand why such expressions existed.
Who was she?
One thing was certain – she was a martial artist.
One could tell immediately just from the red scabbard hanging at her waist with its equally red-hilted sword.
Meanwhile, the woman in white seemed accustomed to the crowd’s attention focused on her, showing no particular change of expression as she looked at the inn owner and asked.
“Do you happen to have a vacant room here?”
Her pretty voice suited her lovely face perfectly.
“Oh dear, I’m sorry. There are no vacant rooms.”
The moment the inn owner answered with a troubled expression, the woman in white’s gaze turned toward one of the members.
Eyes meeting quietly.
At that, the member stood up abruptly and waved his hand.
“Lady, do you need a room? Then please use my room.”
When the woman in white smiled gently and exchanged glances with several others, everyone without exception made a fuss offering to give up their rooms.
Somehow, a mysterious charm beyond her outwardly visible beauty seemed to captivate everyone’s hearts.
At that moment, Bu Do-nam raised one eyebrow and said.
“Hm? What is this, it feels like she’s learned some charming technique…”
The woman in white immediately covered her mouth with her hand and slightly furrowed her brow.
“My, I can hear everything. How could you say such a thing to me… That’s rude.”
“Ah, oh dear, I’m sorry. I accidentally…”
The moment Bu Do-nam scratched his head awkwardly and apologized, the members all protested in unison.
“Stronghold Master, please don’t be like that at a first meeting.”
“Indeed, indeed. To such a pretty lady…”
“Lady, on behalf of our tactless Stronghold Master, this humble one will sincerely apologize.”
“Please use the room at the very end of the upper floor. I haven’t lain down yet, so it’s clean, dear… No, Lady.”
Thus, the members competed with each other, waggling their tongues, and seeing that, Bu Do-nam was so dumbfounded that his hand holding the bottle trembled.
‘Urk! Th-th-those crazy ones…! The crazy horse and crazy bastard weren’t enough… Aigh, the back of my head is pulling!’
Amid the commotion, Namgung Sang-rin was already climbing the stairs, shaking his head back and forth.
‘Sigh, a beauty appears and it’s become chaos. Even I’m getting a headache. I’d better just sleep.’
He couldn’t see it.
That the woman in white’s meaningful gaze had lingered on his back for a moment before disappearing…
* * *
The next day.
When morning came, Namgung Sang-rin and Bu Do-nam’s group exchanged brief farewells over a simple meal and then departed on their respective ways.
Also.
The woman in white, who had obtained a room through one Green Forest Alliance member’s consideration last night, fixed her attire and walked out of the inn door.
But… Why was it?
The woman in white’s route, by strange coincidence, was the same direction Namgung Sang-rin had taken earlier.
As if following behind him.
* * *
Around noon.
Cheol Ryu-heun was sequestered in his office, in the process of generating virtual Eight Extraordinary Meridians and Twelve Regular Meridians.
A remarkable technique simultaneously deploying Energy Circulation Movement and Energy Circulation Visualization.
Having already completed and maintained close to one-third of the virtual energy meridians and regular meridians.
The clothes drenched in sweat had faint steam rising around them, evidencing the body heat within.
‘Hmm, if I go further, I won’t be able to hold out. Let me stop for now… Doing it this way, before long I’ll be able to create more than eighty percent.’
Cheol Ryu-heun soon stored the virtual energy meridians and regular meridians he had created in his body within his fundamental vital energy and steadied his breathing.
This feeling isn’t bad at all.
Since he had increased the count and time compared to two days ago.
That alone was considerable progress.
At that moment, a voice was heard from beyond the lattice door.
“Sect Master, I have prepared everything you mentioned earlier.”
It was Chief Supervisor Hyeop Mu-geuk’s report.
“Understood.”
Cheol Ryu-heun wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and immediately opened the office door and walked out.
Hyeop Mu-geuk, who had been standing at the bottom of the stone steps, paid his respects and casually asked.
“Sect Master, but what do you intend to use all that wealth for?”
“I’m going to throw some money around.”
“Pardon?”
“Just something like that.”
Cheol Ryu-heun replied indifferently and strode past the garden.
You’ll find out soon enough by watching.
It was time to grant one small wish that the former Cheol Ryu-heun had cherished, as payment for borrowing this body.