Chapter 580: Side Story 80

Chapter side_80

“Hunan Dan Family?”

“Yes……! As a result of gathering information here and there to verify…… that is correct.”

Yuk Cheol-wan was someone who crammed a vast amount of information into his head, to the point of knowing everything about the Central Plains Murim. Only by doing so could he easily prepare for any contingency and know which places to guard against.

But the Hunan Dan Family?

It was a place he was hearing of for the first time.

If there was a family where such strong people gathered, it would have naturally reached his ears, so why had it been ignored until now?

His eyes narrowed and looked up.

“What kind of place is it?”

“I hear a manor was built overnight near Dongting Lake. Since then, thanks to the entire village becoming prosperous and public order improving, people call it a manor where immortals live.”

“Immortals…… live there?”

“Yes, to the extent that there is no one in the village who does not know about it.”

“……Then why is it that I did not know about it?”

With a somewhat displeased expression, Yuk Cheol-wan glared at his subordinate. Since he was the one managing information, if that information was missing, it could be said that he was largely at fault.

Thus, a chilling gaze shot down.

And in that instant, an ominous wind swept through the area.

“I…… apologize. H-however, it did not reach me either……. I suspect the Hao Sect deliberately blocked it.”

“The Hao Sect…… did?”

“Yes! There is no doubt.”

Yuk Cheol-wan raised his eyebrows with an incredulous expression. To think that third-rate trash who merely take money dared to stab him in the back.

The more he thought about it, the more anger began to boil up inside him.

“……Clean up the Hao Sect and bring the sect leader before me.”

“I understand!”

“And…… sweep away the Hunan Dan Family without leaving even a single cornerstone. Since they interfered with my plans, shouldn’t they receive heaven’s punishment?”

“I will carry out your command.”

The subordinate bowed his head and withdrew backward.

The moment his body vanished into the shadows with a rustle, not a single trace was felt. He disappeared from the spot in an instant.

Only then did Yuk Cheol-wan, who was sitting on the throne, let out a sigh and lean back in his chair. Glancing sideways at the torn booklet placed on the table, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Nothing is going right……”

* * *

“Ah, where on earth are they?”

Stepping out of the inn, Jang Sam-tae frowned deeply. Even though he had walked around the neighborhood once, no one who had seen them was found.

The fact that it was night played a big role.

If the two had not actually fled, it was highly likely that the incident occurred not far from where they left the inn.

Since the area around the inn was quieter than other places and people barely passed by at night, even if they were kidnapped, there was hardly any way to know.

“This is really mind-boggling.”

Swallowing a groan, Jang Sam-tae scratched his head roughly.

‘Should I go check the Hao Clan?’ he thought for a moment, but soon shook his head. No matter how outstanding their information network was, they wouldn’t be able to know about an incident that happened just half a day ago.

Then how on earth should he find them?

“No, I am serious, sister. That man just now spat fire from his mouth.”

“Hoho. He didn’t spit fire, he spat alcohol. Holding strong liquor in his mouth.”

“Ah-! Then can I do it too?”

Just then, a low chattering voice was heard.

Turning his eyes instinctively at the familiar resonance, he saw Dan So-mi and Namgung So-hye, who were in high spirits, perhaps on their way back from the market.

Instantly, Jang Sam-tae’s eyes flashed.

Yes, if it is that child!

“So-mi!”

“Eh? Uncle! Is your hangover alright?”

Knowing that he had been drinking all night, Dan So-mi asked with a surprised expression. Normally he would have been knocked out somewhere in the inn, unable to get up, but for some reason, his face looked perfectly fine.

He looked so fine that one would doubt whether he was really someone who drank all night.

“Muhaha! I am perfectly fine! More importantly, have you seen those two?”

“Hmm…… I do not really remember. Right, sister?”

“Indeed……. Since I have not seen them since yesterday, I do not know.”

Dan So-mi and Namgung So-hye shrugged their shoulders.

Since they hadn’t seen them after they went out to the market with Jang Sam-tae, even if asked, they couldn’t give a clear answer. Weren’t they the ones who had been with Jang Sam-tae in the first place?

“You still haven’t found them?”

“Yes! I cannot even see where they have hidden themselves. Perhaps…… they met with foul play……”

Jang Sam-tae glanced at Dan So-mi’s reaction.

Since she was a child with a heart kinder than anyone else’s, his gaze held the certainty that she would definitely go to look for them together.

But at that moment, Namgung So-hye stepped in between Jang Sam-tae and Dan So-mi. Frowning deeply and pressing her brow, she seemed to have already seen through Jang Sam-tae’s plan.

“Then you can just find them. Since it might become dangerous for So-mi.”

“Well……. I am here and you are here, so is there any reason for it to be dangerous?”

“Naturally, I am included too……”

“Of course! Since we are people of the same Hunan Dan Family!”

Jang Sam-tae was confident.

While searching for Geum Jiran and Jin Tae-gong, if something unexpected happened, he could at least safely escape with Dan So-mi. But he needed someone to back him up, and wasn’t Namgung So-hye the perfect fit?

Since she was exceptionally good at swordplay.

Furthermore.

“In the first place, you are ostensibly a bodyguard of the Hunan Dan Family…… but you have never done anything bodyguard-like, have you?”

“Ugh?!”

“Every day you wake up, practice swordplay, eat the breakfast I prepared, and play with So-mi. Then when you are hungry, eat the food I prepared, practice swordplay, and play with So-mi……. How is that any different from loafing around with nothing to do?”

Picking his nose as if it were itchy while looking at Namgung So-hye, Jang Sam-tae’s face clearly showed a rather pathetic look.

But there was no lie in his words.

Except for ten years ago when incidents and accidents were frequent, all Namgung So-hye did was practice martial arts and take care of So-mi.

How was this a bodyguard instead of a nanny?

Even so, did she not receive money?

That was not the case either.

Unlike Jang Sam-tae, who received a salary while working himself to death, Namgung So-hye was receiving more money than Jang Sam-tae while doing those things.

He was displeased with that.

“Do you know why your skills have risen so high now?! It is because while you were sweating during swordplay and going around playing with So-mi, this body ground his bones to work and fed you. Do you know that?”

“Ugh!”

“Yet you glare at me like that just because you cannot help this one time? What an ungrateful, bad girl!”

“W-what did you say!?”

“If I said anything wrong, go ahead and refute it!”

Jang Sam-tae proudly put his hands on his hips and smirked. Although his words were indeed too accurate to be refuted, Namgung So-hye had also worked hard for the Hunan Dan Family in her own way.

The problem was just that it wasn’t visible.

But since Jang Sam-tae came forward so confidently and she didn’t feel his words were wrong, Namgung So-hye could not bring herself to refute him.

Moreover, even if she listed the things she had done one by one here, since more than seventy percent of Jang Sam-tae’s words were true, it would be nothing but an excuse.

Thus, Namgung So-hye bit her lip tightly.

“Ah, fine, fine! I got it! I will help. I just need to help, right, seriously!”

“Muhaha! You should have acted like that from the start, so why listen to unnecessary talk, foolishly?”

Swish-!

Instantly, something flashed over Jang Sam-tae’s head.

It was not visible to the eye, and moving was impossible. A few strands of cut hair fluttered and fell.

“You will die, seriously……”

“Hic! Y-yes……. I…… I am sorry.”

Jang Sam-tae instinctively apologized and shut his mouth at Namgung So-hye’s gaze, which was more than fierce and full of killing intent. There was a saying that a beauty was still a beauty even when angry, and while agreeing with that, the brutal stare directed at him truly made his knees shake.

“Ahaha……. But where could they have really gone?”

“So-mi, where would it be good to search first?”

“So-mi, where would you like us to go first?”

“Pardon?”

At the voices coming simultaneously, Dan So-mi opened her eyes wide. Weren’t both of them sending her looks that seemed to expect something from her?

Finding that very burdensome, she smiled awkwardly despite herself. Soon, looking around slowly, she pointed to the east and spoke.

“Hmm…… how about that way?”

“Muhaha! Yes, if you say that way, it must be right. Let us go!”

“Well…… we share the same thought.”

For once, the two in agreement began to walk toward the east that Dan So-mi pointed out. It was as if they were certain that Geum Jiran and Jin Tae-gong would be there.

Though Dan So-mi tilted her head at that mysterious situation, she soon began to walk, following the two who were walking ahead with quick steps.

* * *

“What did you say……. The Martial God?”

Hyeong Un-gak only thought that his ears were playing tricks on him.

The Martial God? The Martial God, of all people?

Did she mean that Martial God who was said to have driven the entire Murim to death a thousand years ago? Did she mean that person who is now only passed down as a legend, locked deep within Dongting Lake by the Eight Immortals?

Since the words were so absurd, he could not even get a grasp on whether to believe it or not.

However, the Divine Maiden’s expression was calm.

Seeing her gaze and expression, which looked as though she was by no means uttering a lie, Hyeong Un-gak had to tremble.

“Is that…… true?”

“Does it seem like a lie?”

“…….”

Hyeong Un-gak gulped.

If Yuk Cheol-wan had truly learned the martial arts of the Martial God, that nonsensical strength could be understood. Even the strange wind that always lingered by his side.

Even though he had seen and experienced numerous martial arts, Hyeong Un-gak, who had never seen such a peculiar art, could finally understand the phenomenon if it were the martial arts of the Martial God.

He was none other than the greatest man of all time.

He was such a legendary figure who was said to have never been surpassed by anyone, and whom no one had ever reached.

Unconsciously, a smile spread across his lips.

His whole body trembled.

The Martial God! The Martial God of all things!?

If he could obtain the martial arts of the one who surpassed even those whose three thousand names shook the entire Central Plains, becoming the greatest man of all time in name and reality?

If only he could snatch it away from Yuk Cheol-wan?

Would the Central Plains even matter?

He would be able to swallow up not only the outer regions but even the Demonic Cult.

But the problem was…….

“How can you prove that your words are true?”

“…….”

He had to gain certainty from Geum Jiran’s words.

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