Chapter 587: Side Story 87

Chapter side_87

The strange anxiety did not fade easily.

Yuk Cheol-wan, who had pushed forward boldly no matter what, was sitting on his throne, sensing something strange. Before him, two men were bowing their heads, and they were the two remaining Heavenly Kings of the Heavenly Earth Sect.

Each possessed an equally formidable momentum.

Although they were prostrating themselves, it was no exaggeration to say that the energy naturally emanating from them was comparable to the Ten Venerables, and in their deeply bowed heads, an absolute loyalty that others did not possess could be felt.

They were the absolute power that led the Heavenly Earth Sect and could be said to be Yuk Cheol-wan’s closest aides.

“Is the Castle Lord alive?”

“He is barely holding onto life. Because you ordered us to do so…”

The mouth of Hwang Do-jin, one of the Four Heavenly Kings, opened.

He had always guarded and assisted Jeok Mu-seong by his side, but in reality, he was waiting only for the day to cut off his breath at any moment according to Yuk Cheol-wan’s command.

“Yes, yes, he must not die yet. More… of the Unorthodox Faction’s power needs to come to me.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

“…There is no chance his blood points will be unblocked, right?”

“You may rest easy. We have confirmed multiple times that it is a poison that can only be obtained in Nanman, and has no antidote, let alone a cure.”

“I see…”

At Hwang Do-jin’s words, Yuk Cheol-wan let out a sigh of relief and relaxed his shoulders. Since he could trust the words of none other than him, he felt that this creeping anxiety might also be a groundless fear.

“And…”

“Yes!”

Just as Yuk Cheol-wan’s gaze turned, the voice of the man prostrated beside him was heard. He was also one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Heavenly Earth Sect.

He was tall and bulky, and his entire body looked as hard as a stone. His eyes were so sharp that if he walked down the street, no one would dare to meet his gaze.

Baek Man-ryang.

He was one who would feel sad if called second in terms of fists and strength.

He possessed such outstanding martial arts skills that he was considered practically the strongest in the Heavenly Earth Sect, excluding the Cult Leader, Yuk Cheol-wan.

“How did it go?”

“We have recently detected their movements, and they are said to have entered Shanxi.”

“Shanxi? You mean here?”

“Yes!”

Can this really be called a coincidence?

From Hunan to Hubei, Tibet, Mount Tian, and now Shanxi. As if they were chasing the Heavenly Earth Sect, they slowly approached from the tail to the torso, and now to the head.

No matter how one looked at it, this could not be called a coincidence. Thus, he thought that this foreboding he was still feeling might be because of them.

Yuk Cheol-wan, lost in thought for a moment, turned his gaze to look at Hwang Do-jin.

“What about the matter in Hunan?”

“…There is no contact.”

“Sigh…”

A lament escaped from the mouth of Yuk Cheol-wan, who closed his eyes tightly. It was bad enough that they had come to Shanxi, but to think there was no contact from the ones he sent to Hunan?

He realized that this was indeed the true identity of that foreboding.

“Can you move the Martial Sovereign Castle?”

“If it is the Cult Leader’s command… it will surely be carried out.”

Hwang Do-jin knew.

The cunningness of the Unorthodox Faction.

In this situation where even the leaders of the Martial Sovereign Castle were already dancing in the palms of the Heavenly Earth Sect, no matter who they were, they would not be able to refuse the Cult Leader’s command.

They had bowed before the Heavenly Earth Sect to gain strength and power, and with the poison obtained thanks to that, they had dragged down Jeok Mu-seong to acquire their current power.

Since the members of the Unorthodox Faction would never sit idle if this truth were revealed, they could not escape from the shadow of the Heavenly Earth Sect in any way.

“Mobilize the Martial Sovereign Castle to capture them and bring them back. Also, you must bring back every single one of their small belongings without missing anything.”

“By your command!”

Watching the two of them disappear, Yuk Cheol-wan unconsciously clenched his fists and caught his breath. The foreboding that was creeping up did not fade away easily.

What on earth was happening?

Even while rising to this position by obtaining and learning the secret manual of the Great Dharma King, it was a foreboding he had never felt once.

* * *

“Gee, there are really a lot of people.”

Jang Sam-tae, who was walking the streets of the provincial capital, looked around and clicked his tongue. Originally, it was natural that the provincial capital had more people and buildings than other places, but since they had only visited small villages recently, he had not adapted to such a crowd.

On top of that, most of them looked fierce.

There were some who looked like mountain bandits, and others who looked like weasels.

Since the appearance of most of them screamed, ‘I have a bad temper,’ at a glance, it could indeed be called the central city of the Unorthodox Faction where those with foul tempers gathered.

It felt as if a sword fight would break out if one made eye contact incorrectly.

But what kind of group was this group?

Although she wore a bamboo hat and was covered with a face veil, Namgung So-hye’s naturally revealed appearance was bound to draw people’s attention, and since there were even old men wearing strange masks, even passing children stopped their steps to stare.

Everyone’s eyes were turned toward them.

“It’s burdensome…”

“Hoho. Don’t think of it badly. Isn’t it an unavoidable situation?”

Namgung Cheon forced a smile.

It was the same burdensome feeling for him as well.

Moreover, was this place not a holy land of the Unorthodox Faction, just like the Demonic Cult? If they made a single mistake, all the bastards of the Unorthodox Faction would rush at them with swords drawn.

“I think it is that inn.”

At that moment, Jang Sam-tae’s eyes sparkled as he looked at an inn. A large inn standing blankly in the middle of the marketplace. At a glance, it strongly gave off the feeling of being expensive.

The fact that there seemed to be many people coming and going suggested that the food tasted quite good as well.

His mouth watered, perhaps because he felt happy just thinking about it.

“It looks decent.”

It was a place that did not look bad in Dan Woo-hyun’s eyes either.

However, perhaps because he felt it would be expensive, his brow furrowed slightly. Since there was nothing more wasteful than spending a large amount of money on eating and sleeping.

“Let’s go for now!”

Just then, Dan So-mi stepped forward first and pulled Dan Woo-hyun’s arm. Rather than receiving stares in the middle of the marketplace, she felt more comfortable going inside the inn.

Moreover, since Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong were looking around with their faces covered at the very back, she wanted to go to a place where people’s eyes could not reach, even a little sooner.

“Oohaha! Then I will go in first and secure a table!”

Jang Sam-tae’s excited expression was infinitely bright.

Having only visited small, village-like towns, he had no memory of eating good food. Thus, in the provincial capital where they arrived after a long time, he would set up a hearty table and taste good liquor.

And if he was lucky, he might be able to slip out quietly by himself.

Since he had even bought new clothes to make up for his last failure, he entered with a firm determination to go to a good place this time no matter what.

“Hoho. He is really excited.”

“I wonder what he’s scheming again…”

Namgung So-hye stared at the door of the inn Jang Sam-tae had entered with a look of complete disbelief. Whenever that man acted like that, an accident was bound to happen.

She wondered if it would be the same this time.

Just then.

The door swung open.

“Ah… Ah…”

Jang Sam-tae, who soon revealed himself, trembled with a pale, deathly face. Perhaps because of his expression, which looked as if he had seen a ghost, everyone could not hide their wonder.

“Uaaaargh!”

“H-hey?! Where are you going?”

And in an instant, as if he had gone mad, he began to run blindly with a bloodless face, and his speed was so fast that even Namgung So-hye could not give chase.

“What… what is it, exactly?”

“Hoho, it seems he has finally lost his mind.”

Namgung Cheon and Namgung So-hye looked at the place where Jang Sam-tae had disappeared with expressions of incomprehension. Although they thought he would return soon, there was no news of the vanished Jang Sam-tae.

And at that moment.

“Ah?!”

Dan So-mi’s short exclamation was heard.

As everyone’s eyes naturally turned toward the entrance of the inn, only then did they understand why Jang Sam-tae had fled in such a hurry.

“Sister Mae-hyang?!”

The one standing at the entrance with crossed arms was unmistakably Mae-hyang. She wore an expression that was beyond cold, almost filled with ghostly energy.

Dan Woo-hyun slowly turned his head. At the end of his gaze was Gwon Mu-jin wearing an awkward smile.

“Ha, haha. It-it has been a long time, Family Head.”

“…You managed to come all this way.”

“Because I was certain you would be here. I also have some things to say…”

“Is that so?”

Dan Woo-hyun nodded lightly and moved.

Mae-hyang, who was still staring at the people with her arms crossed, unconsciously flinched and stepped aside to make way as Dan Woo-hyun approached closer.

She wanted to say something harsh, but it was not easy.

“This… human…!”

“Lady Mae… isn’t it about time to give up?”

As Namgung So-hye, who followed behind, sighed, Mae-hyang’s sharp gaze poured toward her. Perhaps because the cold-filled gaze of a woman was scary even to another woman, Namgung So-hye shrugged her shoulders.

“Really! Aren’t you being too much? Leaving the house during the time I went out…!”

“Hoho. Leaving the house… We merely came for a sightseeing trip.”

“That’s right, we were also surprised because Young Master Dan brought it up so suddenly.”

Mae-hyang vented the words she could not say to Dan Woo-hyun to the innocent onlookers. Namgung Cheon and Sado Hak, feeling awkward, cleared their throats and slipped inside the inn, and Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong followed in after them.

And in that moment, Mae-hyang’s gaze sharply directed at Namgung So-hye once again.

“Who are those people?”

“Ah, that is… they are people who will enter as houseguests because of some business.”

Houseguests? Houseguests, you say?

Mae-hyang slightly turned her head to look at the two people going inside. In particular, her eyes when looking at Geum Ji-ran were like those of a wild beast, due to the suspicion that she might be involved in some relationship with Jang Sam-tae.

“Ahaha, it is not like that, so do not worry, sister. More than that, let’s go in quickly! I am so hungry right now…”

The one who slipped in between Namgung So-hye and Mae-hyang at that moment was none other than Dan So-mi.

“I… see… We should…”

Mae-hyang could not continue her words any further.

She wanted to pour out more of the words in her heart, but she could not keep grumbling when Dan So-mi said she was hungry.

Soon, the moment the three of them entered the inn again.

Dan So-mi, who was in the middle, spotted someone and opened her eyes wide.

“Ah… Uncle?!”

Visible to her eyes was Bi Cheon-ung, who wore a blunt expression just like Dan Woo-hyun. He met Dan So-mi’s gaze while drinking tea, and a slight smile appeared on his face, which rarely changed.

“…You have grown a lot.”

“Wow! It has been a long time!”

Soon, Dan So-mi threw herself into Bi Cheon-ung’s arms.

Crack!

And in that instant, cracks appeared on the table where Dan Woo-hyun was sitting.

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