Chapter 565: Side Story 65

Chapter side_65

“No.”

“Hohoho.”

“Hahaha.”

Jang Sam-tae smiled awkwardly at the laughter that was heard. Clearly, he knew the probability of being found out was high, but he seemed to think he could hide it as long as he didn’t show his face.

“Mister, is it someone you know?”

“No, it’s someone I don’t know.”

At that moment, Dan So-mi revealed herself and asked.

As if she found his appearance quite different from a Shaolin monk somewhat fascinating, she sparkled her eyes and examined the old man’s appearance. He was someone who gave off a slightly different feeling from Namgung Cheon or Sa Do-hak.

Just like her, the old man’s eyes looking at Dan So-mi also sparkled.

“How could such a child born with… heavenly luck exist?”

The old man, who saw through everything about Dan So-mi at once, could not hide his surprise. Originally, children born with this kind of luck were destined to die without making it past childhood, so how could she grow to adulthood?

Even more, no shadow of death was visible no matter how he looked.

In was a situation where he could not help but doubt his eyes.

“Huh? What is that?”

“Ho… Hoho. Child, what is your name?”

“I am called So-mi. Dan So-mi.”

The old man repeated the name, repeatedly opening and closing his fingers. He also looked like someone who was trying to confirm something.

However, soon, realizing that nothing was coming out, he could not hide his astonishment even more.

“Is… that name truly correct?”

“Yes! I am Dan So-mi.”

“But… nothing is coming out…”

Within a person’s name, destiny dwells.

Through that, one’s future was supposed to be visible, but nothing came out of the name Dan So-mi. It was as if she was a person where nothing existed, or felt like a person who originally shouldn’t exist.

“Ah! Seriously, this old man?! Stop talking nonsense and go away quickly!”

At that moment, finally unable to endure it, Jang Sam-tae jumped up from his seat and looked at the old man. Although it didn’t matter what he did to anyone else, he shouldn’t do it to Dan So-mi of all people.

It meant that this child was that precious of an existence.

“I knew it… it was you!”

“Ah, yes. That’s right! But what about it?!”

In the end, giving up in despair, Jang Sam-tae shouted and huffed.

Showing an appearance as if he might strike if pushed, his energy naturally flowed out and pressured the old man.

At that moment, the old man’s expression turned grim.

“You rascal! To think someone who once served Buddha has harbored demonic Qi?!”

“Hick?!”

The old man-no, the Golden Heaven Water King-scolded and raised his hand.

Since a fellow who had learned the martial arts of the Potala Palace was emitting demonic Qi, from the Golden Heaven Water King’s perspective, there was no way it could look pleasant.

Thus, the moment he was about to thrust his hand as if he would cut off his breath right away.

Stop!

His body did not move.

No, the truth was that he could not move.

Before he knew it, a man stood in front of him.

The moment he saw him wearing a flat expression, an ominous feeling surged from the depths of his heart.

“You are…?”

“We meet like this again.”

“…”

“Withdraw your hand.”

The Golden Heaven Water King could not bring himself to swing his hand.

He certainly remembered the man who spoke, even though it was a long time ago. A person who emitted an energy that was not just ominous but gloomy. He was undoubtedly a person who brought death with him.

Even his realm could not be predicted, and measuring him was impossible.

It was also because the two old men, who had approached without any presence, had revealed themselves beside him. One man wearing a faint smile was undoubtedly Sa Do-hak.

Since it was the relationship between the Potala Palace and the Heavenly Mountain Demonic Cult, there was no way he didn’t know that face.

Even the other side was not inferior.

Although he lacked one arm, he seemed to have the strength to easily overcome it.

The Golden Heaven Water King looked at Dan Woo-hyun and spoke.

“To Tibet… what business do you have, gentlemen?”

“What do you mean what business? Didn’t you bastards pick a fight?”

“We also have our own circumstances. I do not think it is something for you, who have already left Murim, to worry about, but…”

“I was going to do that, but since some circumstances have arisen on our side as well…”

Sa Do-hak sneered and clenched his fist.

As if he was confident he could strike the Golden Heaven Water King at any moment, the demonic Qi flowing from his body spread uncontrollably in all directions.

Had they noticed such an unusual atmosphere?

The lamas who were far away ran over one by one and pointed their weapons.

“Put down your weapons.”

However, the Golden Heaven Water King was no fool.

Although the lamas here could certainly be called the elites of the Potala Palace, their level was low compared to those directly commanded by the Great Dharma King, and he did not believe they could use such people to strike Sa Do-hak.

“A good decision.”

Dan Woo-hyun smirked.

They said one’s thoughts deepen as they grow old, and the Golden Heaven Water King was currently most suited to that saying. This was because, in fact, Sa Do-hak or Namgung Cheon were old but did not seem to think that deeply.

They were two people for whom the term ‘old child’ was appropriate.

“Why on earth did you start a war? I heard you guys started it?”

At that moment, Sa Do-hak asked with a highly displeased expression. Since he had already retired, he shouldn’t care, but the Potala Palace’s behavior had many aspects that were somewhat incomprehensible.

It was even more so because, unlike the Heavenly Mountain Demonic Cult, the Potala Palace originally did not pay much attention to things like invading the Central Plains or military force.

“The one who started it first was none other than the Heavenly Mountain Demonic Cult. We are merely trying to recover what we lost.”

“Huh? Are you talking bullshit in front of me right now? The Demonic Cult side didn’t know anything?”

“Hohoho.”

Sa Do-hak released his momentum even more.

It seemed he was warning that he would not stand idle if he continued to speak lies. Since that power was so strong, not only the lamas of the Potala Palace but even Jang Sam-tae and Namgung So-hye were on the verge of groaning.

“Is there a reason?”

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun spoke.

The moment his single word flowed out, Sa Do-hak’s energy naturally dispersed and disappeared. The pressure that was squeezing all directions relaxed in an instant.

Sa Do-hak frowned, and the Golden Heaven Water King opened his eyes wide.

He was none other than the great Sa Do-hak.

Since he was an existence for whom it was no exaggeration to call him the pinnacle of the Central Plains Murim, he wondered if there could exist anyone who could disperse such a person’s momentum so casually.

He broke out in a cold sweat in spite of himself.

It made him realize once again that the fear and terror he had felt in the past were by no means false.

The Golden Heaven Water King wore a bitter smile.

In his mind, the disaster that would unfold the moment they drew their swords was vivid.

“A scripture was stolen. By a figure of the Heavenly Mountain Demonic Cult.”

“Is this bastard talking nonsense? Is the Demonic Cult some back-alley ruffians? To do such a thing?”

“If it is hard to believe, then do not believe it. However, those who were defeated by the intruder at the time said he was undoubtedly a person of the Demonic Cult who used demonic Qi.”

“What about the possibility of being deceived?”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s question, the Golden Heaven Water King shook his head.

Would he move without even considering such a thing?

They had already taken all possible measures in the Potala Palace to prove that their testimonies were not false.

Thus, there was no doubt that the Demonic Cult had taken the scripture. Therefore, they had no intention of stopping this war until they recovered it, and if necessary, they would rush in with the determination to drag the enemy down with them.

“For someone in the Demonic Cult to do such a crazy thing…!”

However, as if Sa Do-hak did not want to believe it, he raised his voice. It was none other than the Heavenly Mountain Demonic Cult with a thousand-year tradition. How could he believe that there was someone doing petty thievery in such a place?

Thus, he shouted, dismissing all of the Golden Heaven Water King’s words as lies, but in an instant, a figure flashed through his mind.

“…”

“Is there… a figure? Hohoho.”

Namgung Cheon smiled, finding the situation highly amusing.

A thief came out of the proud Demonic Cult?

Wasn’t this the very card to scratch Sa Do-hak? Thus, the moment he was about to open his mouth to say one more word, Namgung So-hye, who had approached before he knew it, nudged his flank.

She had sensed that Sa Do-hak’s expression was unusual.

“Could it be… that son of a bitch?”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

“I doubt it, but… there is indeed someone.”

“So it’s not that there isn’t.”

Sa Do-hak frowned.

There was indeed a guy who was stealthier and better at breaking in than anyone. If it was him, whether it was the Imperial Palace or the Potala Palace, he could break in anywhere and bring back what he wanted.

“It’s Gu Ja-gok, the leader of the Ma Hyeong Squad.”

He let out a hollow laugh even as he spoke.

He didn’t want to doubt him, but only his face kept flashing through his mind. He remembered that Dongbang Gu had not trusted Gu Ja-gok and had told him to get rid of him several times.

However, because he was highly capable and had performed all missions without fail so far, he was a fellow who had been left alone as he couldn’t be easily driven out.

If Dongbang Gu’s suspicion was true, this incident must also undoubtedly be that fellow’s doing.

“I will go to Mount Tian myself and confirm it!”

Sa Do-hak ground his teeth and glared at the Golden Heaven Water King.

This meant that he would go to Mount Tian, so the Potala Palace should back down. If not, he was prepared to show off his power to the point where everyone here would be unable to move.

“What do you think?”

“…”

The Golden Heaven Water King wordlessly looked back and forth between Dan Woo-hyun and Sa Do-hak.

Looking at Sa Do-hak’s appearance, he knew that he was completely ignorant of it.

But from the Potala Palace’s perspective, they could not easily back down either.

That scripture had long been treated as confidential even within the Potala Palace, and to the Golden Heaven Water King’s faction, who revered martial arts, its value was truly higher than the scriptures of Buddha.

Could they just leave such a thing to them?

“…I cannot believe everything, but if it is your word, I feel I can trust it a little.”

“…”

“However, since I cannot show that scripture to others, I shall follow you myself. Will that suffice?”

The Golden Heaven Water King could not yield any further.

Even if they found the scripture, there was a high probability they wouldn’t return it the moment they knew what it was. Thus, he judged it right to prepare for the worst situation.

Of course, since there was Sa Do-hak and someone even greater than him, he knew that following them alone would be like throwing an egg at a rock, but even so, he could not simply trust them and let them go.

At that, Dan Woo-hyun smirked.

As if he had known he would react that way.

Soon, his gaze turned toward Sa Do-hak.

“It doesn’t matter! If we are in the wrong, we must take responsibility. But if… it is not… the Potala Palace will have to be prepared. It won’t end easily.”

Sa Do-hak looked with his eyes narrowed like a honed blade.

This meant that the crime of framing the Demonic Cult was by no means light. Thus, he clearly showed that if his words were false, he would overturn the entire Potala Palace.

“Do not worry. There is not a single error in my words.”

“Tch…”

Sa Do-hak clicked his tongue, wondering what displeased him so much. However, though he had doubts, he still wanted to believe the Demonic Cult was innocent, and he seemed ready to invade the Potala Palace at any moment.

“Then… what? Is that bald monk going with us?”

At that moment, Jang Sam-tae, who was listening to the conversation, turned pale and caught his breath. Not just anyone, but the Golden Heaven Water King was going with them.

‘Are you kidding me?’

As he looked at Dan Woo-hyun with an absurd expression.

He saw him wearing a broad grin.

“That is how it turned out.”

“What do you mean that’s how it turned out?! I hate it.”

Jang Sam-tae grabbed his head and tried to shout, but his voice only echoed and spread, and no one comforted him.

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