Chapter 122: I Changed My Mind

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Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon arrived at Baizhou in the morning, circled the busy streets, looked around the markets and tasted local teas, taking a brief rest.

The crowd glanced and stared at the handsome and beautiful appearances of the two passing through the streets.

Since Hae Su-yeon was so pretty, local idle men kept approaching her persistently with their chatter, but being used to such things, she handled it wisely without resorting to martial force.

-You want to have tea with me? Then get permission from my brother over there first. Ah, right. By the way, my brother is part of the Green Forest Alliance, so be careful when you speak to him. The reason he became an expelled disciple in the first place was because of his rotten personality of swinging his sword immediately when someone gets on his nerves… It’s an open secret. Well, even so, he’s gotten much better since becoming an Alliance member.

Upon hearing that, the idle men would invariably turn pale and give up their advances, scurrying away.

The fact that an eleventh stronghold under the Green Forest Alliance had been established in a mountain valley beyond the northeast outskirts of Baizhou was already known here.

“Lady, that’s too much. Not only making me a Green Forest Alliance member, but saying I have a rotten personality…”

When Namgung Sang-rin muttered with a dumbfounded face, Hae Su-yeon stuck out her tongue and smiled.

“Hehe, sorry. Rather than making you tired too because of me, isn’t it more convenient to handle it this way beforehand? Mm, instead, I’ll buy you lunch.”

“Ha, you’re settling this with just one meal?”

“The most expensive one.”

“Ah… In that case, I can’t refuse.”

“My, I just said that offhandedly.”

“Well, I can’t hear you properly. Come on, let’s go. To eat the most expensive thing here.”

“……”

“What, am I being materialistic? Hahah.”

“Indeed, like a Green Forest Alliance member. You like freebies too much.”

“Urk, who’s a Green Forest Alliance member!”

Thus, the two finished an early lunch simply and set off again around noon.

The lush forest west outside of Baizhou.

Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon traveled for quite a while along the densely shaded forest path, then stopped their lightness arts movement and went to a stream to drink some mouthfuls of water.

At that moment.

A faint gleam passed over Hae Su-yeon’s black pupils as she adjusted her hair.

‘So it wasn’t just maybe… After all.’

Having vaguely guessed where Namgung Sang-rin was going all this time, continuing along this path finally gave her certainty.

White Peak Sword Sect.

Without a doubt.

Because she knew well that this forest path extending westward led to White Peak Sword Sect.

At this point, her mouth kept itching to speak.

But until she confirmed with her own two eyes, she had no choice but to silently follow after him…

Before long, Namgung Sang-rin broke the silence.

“Lady, shall we run again?”

Somehow his voice seemed to have a touch of unexplained excitement.

‘That expression… He seems close to reaching the destination.’

Confirming once more that it was White Peak Sword Sect, Hae Su-yeon smiled brightly and nodded slightly.

“Let’s.”

The two, having raised their internal energy, deployed wind-like lightness arts and dashed along the twenty-some li path without rest.

Finally, far ahead on the forest path suffused with autumn colors, an antique martial sect came into view.

‘Hmm, why specifically that place…?’

Having muttered internally, Hae Su-yeon glanced at the back of Namgung Sang-rin running ahead.

That’s right.

Why?

The current White Peak Sword Sect was nothing more than a fallen orthodox faction, and even Sagong Woon, who had struggled alone for the sect’s revival, had met his death, losing hope for the future.

It was only natural to be puzzled since for Namgung Sang-rin, there was nothing much to gain from that place.

‘Hmm, the man I saw yesterday is probably the second legitimate successor that the late White Gate Sword Gentleman took in, right? Since the first became a vegetable. But… Various things don’t add up.’

Hae Su-yeon, while pondering various curiosities, had before she knew it arrived near White Peak Sword Sect’s main gate.

Namgung Sang-rin, having quietly stopped, turned his head and grinned, then pointed a finger at the age-old signboard hanging above the gate.

“As you can see, this is the place. The final destination.”

Hae Su-yeon gazed at the four characters ‘White Peak Sword Sect’ inscribed there and responded.

“I roughly guessed on the way here, but now that I’ve actually arrived, my head is a bit complicated.”

“Haha, is it unexpected?”

“Yes, it would be a lie to say otherwise. Then the person we met yesterday is…?”

“Cheol Ryu-heun, the newly appointed Sect Master of the current White Peak Sword Sect.”

“Former second legitimate successor of the late Sect Master Sagong, correct? There wouldn’t be any other young martial artist suitable for the Sect Master position.”

“No.”

“Pardon?”

“Originally, he was the Young Sect Master – that is, the first legitimate successor.”

In an instant, Hae Su-yeon’s two pupils churned like a boat meeting stormy waves.

‘No way, the owner of that strange horse is… The subject of the rumor that he became a vegetable…?’

Namgung Sang-rin quietly said, as if reading her mind.

“It’s all true. Hard to readily believe, I know.”

“W-wait! Was the rumor about the vegetable false?”

“No. He completely recovered recently. His martial prowess even advanced further. To be honest, to a degree I can’t even compare.”

Hae Su-yeon was swept up in surprise once again.

Once, she had heard that Sagong Woon’s first legitimate successor resembled his master in character and conduct, being kind and upright, but in terms of aptitude for martial achievement, he was not of the genius or prodigy category.

“If he recovered recently… How did he come to possess power surpassing Young Master Namgung?”

“I don’t know the detailed circumstances either. However, one thing I can assert is that I personally experienced and witnessed that martial might. Before encountering him again yesterday, that was my first and last meeting with him.”

Namgung Sang-rin’s gaze held not the slightest waver.

Seeing that, Hae Su-yeon was convinced.

Because he was not someone who would carelessly lie.

“Good heavens… It’s a miracle.”

“Yes, as you say. By the way, the day I received this fine scabbard was also then.”

“Ah.”

“More to the point, isn’t it time to reveal everything now? Having arrived at the destination like this.”

He meant she should honestly reveal why she had followed him blindly, as promised.

Before long, Hae Su-yeon swept the hair by her ear and moved her red lips.

“Does Young Master Namgung have prejudices against the unorthodox?”

“That’s a profound question. Hmm, I think it can be roughly divided into two categories. Either the martial arts are of unorthodox lineage, or the conduct is of unorthodox lineage. Although forces that include both are the majority…”

“Yes, that’s right. But there are also people who have planted their feet in unorthodox martial sects due to unavoidable circumstances. Like me. Anyway, believing my story or not is Young Master Namgung’s freedom, but first asking this was to request that you don’t harbor groundless prejudices based on affiliation alone.”

As Hae Su-yeon made the request with a quite serious face, Namgung Sang-rin nodded slightly in response.

“I know you’re not a bad person. Whatever story you bring out, I’ll listen with an open mind.”

“Thank you for saying that. I’ve been staying at Sword Seal Sect since about a month ago.”

“Huh?”

“As expected, that’s a surprising expression. I anticipated that reaction since Sword Seal Sect doesn’t have a good reputation.”

“Ah… I’m truly surprised. I never thought it would be Sword Seal Sect… But isn’t that place’s bad reputation because of the Sect Master who acts coercively and domineeringly?”

Sword Seal Sect’s Master was none other than Six Extremes of Hubei, Severing Finger Sword Venerable So Cheon-ak.

As Namgung Sang-rin said, he was usually a person who enjoyed crushing opponents using his overwhelming martial might.

“But… How did you come to stay there? It doesn’t suit you at all, that martial sect.”

“Ah, I didn’t formally join. I’m just a Guest Retainer. Actually, there’s an item in the Sword Seal Sect Master’s possession that I absolutely must obtain, and because of that, I volunteered to be a Guest Retainer.”

“An item you absolutely must obtain… I won’t pry. It seems there are circumstances.”

“It’s an item related to my Master. No, it would be more accurate to say it’s the martial art I learned.”

At those words from Hae Su-yeon, Namgung Sang-rin suspected it might be some kind of secret manual.

“If what you want is in the Sword Seal Sect Master’s possession… He won’t give it up easily.”

“Right, you know well. At first, when I said I wanted to get it, he tried to make me his concubine right away.”

“Ha…”

“Of course I refused. Instead, I negotiated that I would accomplish one merit for Sword Seal Sect, so give me that item then. It’s useless to him anyway.”

“Did he accept?”

“Yes. That’s why I’m here now.”

“…!”

“I received a request from the Sword Seal Sect Master after he heard the news that Young Master Namgung had stormed out of the Jingzhou Ban Family not long ago. Whether using a honey trap or whatever, sweet-talk Young Master Namgung and bring him to Sword Seal Sect – then he’d immediately hand over what I want. It’s a kind of recruitment mission.”

At the unexpected truth Hae Su-yeon revealed, Namgung Sang-rin clicked his tongue.

“Ha, I never thought he would make such a proposal… Now the questions about your actions are resolved.”

“But I knew from the start it wouldn’t work.”

“Pardon?”

“He also knew it wouldn’t work and deliberately gave me this task. He figured out that Young Master Namgung isn’t the type to fall for something like a honey trap in the first place, but wanting to somehow keep me around for a long time to make me his concubine… But putting his intentions aside, I had to at least pretend to try hard, so I ended up following you here.”

Hae Su-yeon said that while glancing at his reaction.

“Do you… Believe me?”

At that, Namgung Sang-rin wore a faint smile.

“No, I do. Rather, hearing that makes it more credible.”

“Mission failed. I just need to report it that way and I’m done. Hoho.”

“Lady, but isn’t staying at Sword Seal Sect somewhat dangerous? If you stay there too long, perhaps…”

Namgung Sang-rin trailed off.

His concern was what if Sword Seal Sect Master So Cheon-ak harbored wicked intentions and desired her body.

Understanding his meaning, Hae Su-yeon lightly tapped the sword hilt with its flower peak decoration and deliberately raised her chin.

“My, you’re looking down on me too much. My martial skill isn’t weak enough to let my body be violated freely. You’d get quite a shock if we fought.”

It was a playful manner, but behind it lay visible pride.

“Lady, somehow… I feel like you might be stronger than me.”

“Of course I’m stronger.”

“……”

“You can’t beat pretty people. Just looking at my face would make your heart pound and your hands tremble, so could you even swing your sword properly?”

At Hae Su-yeon’s joke that sounded like truth, Namgung Sang-rin let out a wry laugh.

‘Really…’

Other things aside, he couldn’t beat that sharp tongue.

Before long, Namgung Sang-rin adjusted his attire and casually asked.

“Are you planning to leave for Sword Seal Sect again now?”

At that, Hae Su-yeon immediately shook her head.

“No. I changed my mind on the way here.”

“Pardon?”

“Mm, I want to learn and observe this place a bit more.”

“Then let’s go in together.”

“I won’t go in today.”

“Oh, you mean…”

“I’m thinking of staying until Sect Master Cheol returns.”

“…!”

“Oh my, oh my, that reaction just now isn’t great. This is a golden opportunity to have a rare beauty by your side and see her more, so is it uncomfortable?”

“Sigh…”

“Puhuhut, look at that sigh. Young Master Namgung is so fun to tease.”

“Now, now, stop with the silly jokes and let’s knock on the door and exchange greetings first.”

“Yes, okay.”

Hae Su-yeon, smiling brightly as she answered, recalled in her mind the words Cheol Ryu-heun had thrown yesterday.

-A flower blooms but there’s no butterfly. Are you wandering around to find one?

‘Sect Master Cheol, he definitely knows something. Perhaps I could find the answer even without the Sword Seal Sect Master’s help… No, no, let’s not get my hopes up too much. Let me just wait quietly until Sect Master Cheol returns.’

While Hae Su-yeon muttered internally like that, Namgung Sang-rin’s hand knocked BANG, BANG, BANG! on the main gate.

“Is anyone here?”

Before long, the sounds of several people were heard from beyond the gate.

CLUNK.

The main gate opened with a sound.

“Who is it?”

As soon as Guyang Cheon, Guyang Ji, and Guyang In came outside, Hae Su-yeon’s sharp voice burst out.

“EEK! Why are there fierce demon heads in an orthodox martial sect…!”

The incensed three Guyang brothers widened their eyes greatly.

URK, demon heads, who are demon heads! We’re instructors, instructors!