Chapter 127: Chapter 127

“The Cheondo Alliance? What on earth are those people thinking?”

On his way to Yueyang after entering Hunan, Namgung Cheon could not help but feel dumbfounded by the news that had suddenly arrived.

The Nine Sects and One Gang and the Eight Great Families… no, should they be called the Five Great Families now?

The reality that those who had been no different from a single entity until now had split into two was something that could never be taken as a joke.

Namgung Cheon massaged his throbbing forehead.

Although he had thought it would lead to a somewhat serious situation, he did not expect them to make such an extreme choice.

With this, the Orthodox Martial World was divided into two factions; those who followed the Eight Great Families would gather in the Cheondo Alliance, while those who followed the Nine Sects and One Gang would flock to the Martial Alliance.

It might look peaceful for now, but as time passed, friction between these forces would inevitably occur.

“They are thinking of amusing things.”

Dan Woo-hyun laughed as he listened to the story.

It felt like looking at the Martial World of the past.

Without being bound to a single entity, like-minded individuals gathered to form factions. In that way, there were countless forces in this Central Plains, which in turn promoted the growth of martial artists.

This was because there was a massive difference between having those who could keep each other in check and not having them. The fact that this Martial World had lagged behind significantly over the span of a thousand years could also be attributed to the same logic.

“It became a problem because you let that Murong Hyeok-mun or whatever his name is live. I told you to just kill him, but you didn’t listen… Tsk tsk.”

Sa Do-hak looked at Namgung Cheon with a mocking smile.

Letting Murong Hyeok-mun live was a massive mistake.

Turning a man with that level of power into an enemy was the first, and letting Murong Hyeok-mun slip from the hands of the Nine Sects was the second.

If the masters of the Nine Sects had captured him, investigated him thoroughly, and announced his crimes, many would have turned their backs on the Eight Great Families, so the influence of the Cheondo Alliance would have been reduced by more than half compared to now.

Had that happened, it would have been easy for the Martial Alliance to absorb them once again.

“No, either way, the same thing would have happened. Whether he was kept alive or killed… although the number of bastards to watch my back against has increased, that much is only natural for a martial artist.”

“Are you defending him?”

“Haha, does it look that way?”

Sa Do-hak frowned, but Dan Woo-hyun shrugged with an indifferent expression. Wasn’t a situation like this precisely the true Martial World he felt?

Tension must always overflow, and the more enemies there were, the better.

Since there was nothing better than that to hone oneself.

Having such thoughts, Dan Woo-hyun was suddenly startled.

This was because he realized that his mind, which he had thought would live apart from a place called the Martial World, had at some point settled in the Martial World.

As expected, the Martial World was a place that tightened its grip even more when one wished to escape.

He laughed.

A laugh escaped him unconsciously as he thought of that place.

‘It is indeed interesting.’

The long yet short journey from Anhui to Henan.

Looking back at what he had seen there one by one, he realized that it had been quite fun.

Furthermore, since there were things weighing on his mind, the reality was that his body and mind had no choice but to remain in the Martial World.

“Come to think of it, I didn’t get to see his face, but that man named Man Hu-ryang… what does he do?”

“He is a rather famous merchant. Or should I say rather… or the best in the Central Plains… He runs a place called the Myriad Gold Merchant Group… and is the one who controls the largest amount of money in the Central Plains.”

“Are you interested?”

Sa Do-hak and Namgung Cheon quietly stared at Dan Woo-hyun. It was said that Man Hu-ryang, who had vanished from the Martial Alliance, could not be traced.

Although he would no longer be able to return to the Martial Alliance now, the fact that he was still a figure who exerted considerable influence over this Central Plains did not change.

Even now, many organizations were moved by his money, and that would probably be the greatest power he possessed.

Dan Woo-hyun half-closed his eyes.

“A merchant group? Do they earn a lot?”

“It depends on how you do it. There is much to do and you have to deal with people… in my view, it is a bit… impossible for you.”

“Hm.”

Dan Woo-hyun nodded.

Dealing with people was somewhat difficult. He could not put on an unadorned smile in front of anyone, nor could he hide his inner thoughts.

Because Dan Woo-hyun was basically of that personality.

Stroking his chin, Dan Woo-hyun spoke.

“A merchant group…”

Seeing him mutter like that, Namgung Cheon broke into a cold sweat.

He did not know what the man was thinking, but after falling so deeply into thought, he usually ended up making things quite difficult for the people around him.

“Excuse me! Manor Lord!”

As if blocking Dan Woo-hyun’s thoughts, Jang Sam-tae’s voice was heard. Dan Woo-hyun, who had been lost in thought, suddenly raised his head and looked at the driver’s seat.

The carriage, which was traveling somewhat fast, gradually slowed to a stop, and Jang Sam-tae’s voice could be heard.

“We have arrived at the manor, but…”

“We are here, so what?”

“Well, something is strange.”

At Jang Sam-tae’s words, Dan Woo-hyun looked at the manor from outside the carriage. Since it had been left empty for a long time, quite a bit of dust must have accumulated, but there shouldn’t be any particular anomalies.

Since he had already left this area in the care of Hong Won-chang.

However, smoke was rising from inside the manor.

‘Is that toward the kitchen?’

Dan Woo-hyun frowned and looked around the carriage. Counting the number of people inside and including the three sitting on the driver’s seat, it seemed that no one was missing.

Yet, smoke was rising from the kitchen?

Did some random beggar roll in?

Dan Woo-hyun tried to gently set down Dan So-mi, who was sleeping on his lap, and stand up.

He intended to go and check for himself what was happening.

However, the one who stood up before him was none other than Namgung Cheon.

“This old man will go and see. Those fellows are unreliable, and since you are somewhat short-tempered, I am the perfect fit.”

“Do as you wish.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Dan Woo-hyun sat right back down.

Honestly, no matter who went, the result would not change. If it was a thief, they would be iron-fisted on the spot.

Dan Woo-hyun looked at the manor with an indifferent expression.

Was there really a need to go in alone?

Wearing his mask, Namgung Cheon opened the gate of the manor. He cautiously peeked inside, then quickly opened it wide and slipped inside.

He wondered if there was any need to go that far.

Dan Woo-hyun yawned deeply, fighting off his boredom.

“Lord.”

“What is it?”

“……Were we not supposed to go in all together?”

“Let the old man do as he wants.”

“……Yes.”

Gwon Mu-jin shut his mouth.

He also felt that the current situation was somewhat amusing, but he watched the manor with an intrigued expression. He was curious about how Namgung Cheon would drive out the thief inside the manor.

However, suddenly, Namgung Cheon jumped over the wall instead of coming through the gate and rushed toward the carriage in a hurry. The way he closed the distance in an instant was flustered, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

Soon, entering the carriage, he took a seat in the deepest corner.

“……?”

“What? What is wrong with you, old man?”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Namgung Cheon.

Had he seen a ghost in broad daylight? Or was there some other reason?

They tilted their heads and cast puzzled looks, but Namgung Cheon silently grabbed Dan Woo-hyun’s hand tightly.

“Y-You go.”

“Me?”

“Y-Yes, it seems it would be better than this old man going.”

“I suppose someone is indeed there.”

“……Yes. And a perfectly fine one at that.”

Dan Woo-hyun let out a small sigh and got off the carriage. What on earth happened to make him so startled?

As he headed toward the manor, Ma Jang-gang and Gwon Mu-jin stood up to escort him, but Dan Woo-hyun waved his hand to keep them away.

Since he was someone who had no need for escorts in the first place.

Dan Woo-hyun opened the manor’s gate without hesitation and walked in.

Even if there was a ghost, he didn’t seem to care in the slightest. He leisurely looked around the newly changed scenery of the manor and walked toward the kitchen.

Opening the door and looking inside, he saw that the fire was lit.

A large cauldron could be seen on top, perhaps for cooking rice. However, there was no sign of a ghost or a thief. Thus, he frowned and turned his head.

Splash!

A sound was heard.

The sound of dripping water?

Realizing that he felt a human presence, he headed toward it. The place Dan Woo-hyun arrived at was a bathhouse built for washing oneself.

Was a thief seriously bathing in someone else’s house?

Thinking that made him feel somewhat dumbfounded.

He opened the door with a sneer on his lips.

Creak!

The moment the large wooden door opened wide.

“Ah…”

“…”

The two confirmed each other’s presence.

The eyes of Namgung So-hye, who was bathing naked inside a large tub, gradually widened. At first, she rubbed her eyes, wondering if it was a dream, but seeing that he still did not disappear, she could not even speak.

Any words she tried to say got stuck in her throat and could not be uttered.

“What are you doing?”

Yet, Dan Woo-hyun asked indifferently.

The woman in front of him.

It was unmistakably Namgung So-hye.

He had certainly heard that she had gone missing after being chased by some Sahyeol Group or whatever, so he could not understand why she was here.

Furthermore, to use a place where even the owner was absent as she pleased?

And even bathe?

“Sigh.”

Dan Woo-hyun let out a sigh.

Then, he closed the door and turned around.

“Kyaaaaah!”

It was at that moment that a scream was heard.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

Dan Woo-hyun glared at Namgung Cheon with half-closed eyes. He recalled the sight of Namgung So-hye, who had locked herself in her room with a bright red face, unable to say a single word.

“No, well… I was just surprised too. I never expected you would open the door…”

Namgung Cheon looked elsewhere and made awkward gestures.

On purpose?

Of course it was on purpose.

He had never dreamed that Namgung So-hye would be here. Seeing that the place she had sought out from distant Anhui to survive was none other than Dan Woo-hyun’s home, he felt that he was deep within that child’s heart.

If so, what was there that a grandfather could do for her?

Hooking them up, of course.

Namgung Cheon curled up the corners of his mouth, which were hidden thanks to the mask.

“By the way, what happened to make that child act like that?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“I ask because I do not know. Surely, you didn’t see the naked body of a bathing child, did you?”

“…”

“Oh my, my dear man! Seeing the naked body of an unmarried maiden is…!”

Namgung Cheon continued speaking as if to muzzle Dan Woo-hyun, who was trying to say something.

He rambled about how a sheltered maiden was this and that, and how one must take responsibility if they saw her naked body.

He cornered Dan Woo-hyun, saying that a man should naturally do so.

Sa Do-hak, who was watching with interest, also became serious. He was quite curious about whether that blockhead of a man would accept Namgung So-hye.

“Go ask her about that directly.”

The moment Dan Woo-hyun finished speaking, the room door opened.

Namgung So-hye, whose face was still flushed bright red, approached hesitantly, led by the hand of Dan So-mi. She then glanced at the two old men wearing strange masks nearby, shrank her shoulders, hugged Dan So-mi, and walked up to Dan Woo-hyun.

“I-I am sorry!”

“For what?”

“Well… you know. I didn’t mean to just barge into the house on purpose… but there was no one here and I had nowhere to go, so…”

“I am sorry as well. For opening the door without warning.”

At that single sentence, Namgung So-hye hurriedly waved her hands.

She had entered someone else’s house without permission and was living in it. From the owner’s perspective, she was basically a thief, so what did it matter if the thief was taking a bath or doing something else?

As her thoughts reached that point, Namgung So-hye’s face flushed even redder. Recalling that scene from earlier made her face feel hot as if it would explode.

She quickly touched her cheeks with her cold hands.

“A-Anyway, let’s n-not worry about each other. A w-woman of the Martial World doesn’t care about such things.”

At those words, Dan Woo-hyun smirked.

Then, he cast his gaze toward Namgung Cheon.

See, it does not go according to your plans, does it?

Although it was not visible, it was easy to picture Namgung Cheon frowning.

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