Chapter 272: Receiving Guests (4)
“Divine Maiden.”
“Is it done?”
“Yes. The indoor humidity has been removed to some extent. I think we can move the patients now.”
“You worked hard.”
“Not at all. Then, I will transfer the patients immediately.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Gong shouldn’t be moved yet. All the pus has been removed, but their fever hasn’t gone down enough yet. Fortunately, both of them are young so their energy recovery is fast, let’s observe for a day or two more before moving them.”
“Understood.”
“Yes, please exert yourself a little more.”
“Don’t mention it. Then I will take my leave.”
As the man backed away, the woman moved her brush again.
Sak-sak.
The woman’s brush strokes were truly art. It was a calligraphy style where delicacy and mysteriousness coexisted while reaching the extreme of the Eight Principles.
Her writing, which was perfect enough to make even an illiterate person gasp in admiration, resembled her appearance.
Pure white skin that was hard to compare with any woman in the Central Plains. Hair shining brighter than gold hung down to her waist, and the hair was so soft it looked like looking at a river of melted gold.
She was tall for a woman, and the curves of her body were distinct. Her pupils were blue, her skeletal structure was quite firm, and her facial features were very clear.
It was the appearance of the ethnic groups living far west from the Central Plains, even further west than that Tianzhu Kingdom.
Viewed favorably, it was an extremely mysterious appearance; viewed unfavorably, it was a bewitching appearance. She was an exotic beauty that was hard to find in the Central Plains.
“Will this be enough.”
She gently waved her sleeves to dry the ink.
Although she had the appearance of a person from the Western Regions, looking at her handwriting and demeanor, one could tell that the etiquette of the Central Plains was ingrained in her body. Rather, it seemed she was much more proficient in etiquette than people from the Central Plains.
The woman who completely dried the ink neatly folded the letter.
The woman sighed.
“It needs to arrive within five days, I am worried.”
Getting up from her seat, she headed to the next room.
Ppi-i-ik!
In the room, three falcons were flapping their wings.
The woman tied the letter to the ankle of one of them. It was quite a small paper, but perhaps because the falcon itself wasn’t big, both ankles were covered.
“I am sorry for only making you suffer all the time. Now, go quickly.”
Pa-deu-deu-deuk!
She, who flew the messenger falcon, looked up at the night sky outside the window with deep eyes.
It was a night sky where clouds could hardly be seen. Starlight seemed ready to pour down, and the moon that was a little less than full was shining quietly.
“It is terribly cold. And dry too.”
White vapor flowed out from the woman’s mouth.
“Why is the Central Plains so cold? They say the southern part is like a spring day even in winter, I would like to visit once the work is done.”
It was a tone where a faint longing could be felt.
She, who was quietly looking up at the sky, momentarily smiled like a mischievous child.
“There will definitely be many newly seen medicinal herbs too, right? Ah, my heart flutters.”
A strange excitement dwelled on the face of her, who rested her elbows on the window sill and cupped her chin.
“The medical skills of the Central Plains are certainly mysterious, right? The things like Blood Circulation and Qi Veins too. Indeed, ‘they’ handled Qi well too.”
The woman stroked her lower abdomen.
“Internal energy is truly mysterious. To think it would be this warm and reassuring just by forming a Dantian. If I knew this would happen, I would have learned from them in advance too…….”
Her voice gradually faded.
“…….”
Silence lingered for a moment.
The two falcons turned their eyes to her.
She, who looked out the window for a long time with unknowable eyes, soon closed her eyes.
“Around when will I be able to become free.”
She, who opened her eyes again, smiled and stroked the falcon’s chin.
“It must be nice for you guys. Because you have wings. You are like this now, but if you put your mind to it, you can fly away and escape at any time, right?”
She spoke as if sighing.
“Isn’t that right, Hidden Shadow Number One?”
Seu-reu-reuk.
In the dark corner where shadows fell, a man with his entire body wrapped in pitch-black bandages revealed his appearance.
That man’s pupils were also blue like the woman’s. However, if there was a difference, it was that while the woman’s eyes were clear and deep, the man’s eyes were chilly.
The man knelt on one knee.
“I greet the Holy Maiden. Have you been safe all this time?”
“Regrettably, I have been safe.”
“That is fortunate.”
The woman, Gi Wu-hui, smiled bitterly.
“Did you come to check? Whether I am wavering?”
“An additional order fell from above.”
“…….”
“It is an order to stay in the Murim Alliance as long as possible.”
Gi Wu-hui’s eyes shook.
“Is that all?”
“That is right. If another order falls, I will contact you separately at that time.”
“I understand. Is there nothing more to deliver?”
“I heard you have recently learned an internal energy cultivation method.”
Gi Wu-hui’s face stiffened.
As expected, these people were constantly watching her.
The problem was that she hadn’t felt any of their presences.
Because Gi Wu-hui was born with an innate sixth sense, she was able to survive the attacks of countless assassins even before learning a single handful of martial arts.
That sixth sense became sharper day by day, to the point where she could now capture the presence of someone looking at her from two hundred zhang away if she put her mind to it.
Directly noticing the presence of Hidden Shadow Number One was a representative example. Hidden Shadow Number One’s stealth technique was incredible to the point that even the top assassin in the Central Plains would concede a move.
Such a person as her didn’t realize the fact that someone was watching her.
“Who is it?”
“The message is that the internal energy cultivation method the Holy Maiden learned is third-rate. If you wish, they will bestow the martial arts of the Cult.”
“Who did they order? I didn’t feel any presence or gaze.”
“Since these are the words the Cult Leader spoke personally, if you wish, please speak at any time.”
Cult Leader.
Gi Wu-hui let out a sigh.
“Is the Cult Leader…… doing well?”
“Of course.”
“……He isn’t sick or hurting anywhere, right?”
“The Cult Leader is a Divine Human. The disease demons of this world cannot violate his precious body.”
“…….”
“Just in case, I brought two volumes of internal energy cultivation methods. Because they fuse the Cult’s mental formulas and the martial arts of the Central Plains, even a person who knows our Cult will not know whether the Holy Maiden’s martial arts are related to the Cult’s learning.”
Seu-reuk.
Hidden Shadow Number One placed two secret manuals on the table.
“Once you memorize them all, you must burn them immediately.”
Gi Wu-hui, who blankly looked at the secret manuals, soon let out a sigh.
“Since you’re here anyway, please grant me one favor too.”
“Please speak.”
“We are lacking a lot of medicinal herbs. One merchant group has been helping in the meantime, but that merchant group has also been struggling a lot recently, so we are experiencing difficulties in securing medicinal herbs.”
“…….”
“Can you airlift the medicinal herbs I requested within five days?”
“It is impossible.”
“…….”
“I received a report that an escort group departed from the Murim Alliance. It probably won’t happen, but just in case, if they try to check the source of the medicinal herbs, it could become a headache.”
Gi Wu-hui clenched her teeth.
“Then give me money. I will find a way to get them myself. By any chance, if securing medicinal herbs is delayed, the patients are in dange…….”
“The Holy Maiden is not a person to bestow grace upon trivial people in a place like this.”
“……!”
“Also, infiltrating the Murim Alliance is also not work the Holy Maiden should do. Nevertheless, the reason the Holy Maiden is undergoing this suffering is because you have original sin.”
Despite there being an unapproachable difference in status, Hidden Shadow Number One’s words were as cold and sharp as a dagger.
Gi Wu-hui knew. The fact that Hidden Shadow Number One was feeling pity for her.
The reason he spoke so harshly was all because he worried about her.
“Even that original sin will become a non-existent matter if the Holy Maiden puts her mind to it. Don’t you know well how much the Cult Leader cherishes the Holy Maiden?”
“…….”
“Please cut off your ties with trivial people at this point, and set your sincerity straight. The Cult Leader is not someone who will give up just because the Holy Maiden acts like this.”
“Hidden Shadow Number One.”
“Yes, Holy Maiden.”
Fire caught in Gi Wu-hui’s eyes.
“Those people are not trivial people. They are humans with flesh and blood like us.”
“Because that blood is different and that flesh is different, they are trivial.”
“…….”
Gi Wu-hui sighed.
“Please leave now. I have heard the orders from the superiors well.”
“Holy Maiden.”
“I don’t want to talk anymore.”
Hidden Shadow Number One, who blankly looked at Gi Wu-hui, lowered his head.
“Then, I will take my leave now.”
Seu-reu-reuk.
Hidden Shadow Number One disappeared. Just like when he appeared, it was completely impossible to tell what kind of martial art he used when disappearing.
Gi Wu-hui, who looked out the window with sad eyes, suddenly turned her eyes to the table.
The two volumes of secret manuals receiving the moonlight somehow looked eerie.
Gi Wu-hui muttered in a self-deprecating voice.
“Holy Maiden? Divine Maiden? It’s laughable. When the only thing I know how to do is medical skills, to ask for money as if I had entrusted it to them.”
Ju-reu-reuk.
Gi Wu-hui shed tears.
She picked up the secret manuals.
“Hidden Shadow Number One. They are not trivial. If they are trivial, rather, I am even more trivial.”
* * *
Hi-hi-hi-hing!
Four horses each let out rough cries.
“Shall we rest here today?”
At Yeon Ho-jeong’s words, Muk Bi smacked her lips.
“There’s something I’ve been curious about from before.”
“Um?”
“Why do you like sleeping outdoors so much? We could just go to a nearby guest house.”
“So what? The scenery is good, and we should accompany nature at times like this.”
“The weather is too cold to talk about scenery!”
Because it was winter, a lot of snow had also fallen. Just in case, they brought fur clothes and cloaks, but even so, it was not the weather to stay up all night in a snow-covered forest.
Yeon Ho-jeong snorted.
“What are you going to do leaving your internal energy alone? Moreover, if you just become conscious of it, you can avoid feeling the cold at all.”
“We are us, but the horses are the problem.”
“They are kids raised from the highest bloodline while even being fed spirit medicines. They are probably more resistant to the cold than you?”
“I shouldn’t talk.”
Muk Bi got off her horse, feeling fed up.
Murong Yu spoke with a smile.
“Vice Commander Muk’s words also have a point. Is there a need to sleep in the forest?”
“Isn’t it romantic?”
Murong Yu gave up persuading this madness-tainted sworn younger brother.
Indeed, Gang-ryang alone possessed powerful internal energy as a peak master. If he just paid a little attention, there was no way he would take a hit from this level of cold.
In the end, the group that couldn’t break Yeon Ho-jeong’s stubbornness had to spend the night in the snow-covered forest.
Chi-i-i-i-ik!
Cutting damp wood, drying it, and immediately lighting a fire, a campfire was created in an instant.
“Hu, it’s warm.”
Gang-ryang spread both his hands in front of the campfire.
Yeon Ho-jeong asked Gang-ryang.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Yes, elder brother. It’s only been one shichen since we ate.”
“Is riding a horse any ordinary work.”
“Even if I look like this, I swing a blade quite a bit. It’s just that it doesn’t work against elder brother.”
“Tell me about it. Anyway, since you say your stomach is full, grab your blade and follow me.”
“Pardon? A blade? Why?”
“Didn’t you say you’re not hungry?”
“I did?”
“You should train when you have time, when will you do it? Follow me. Father told me to properly shape you and bring you back.”
Gang-ryang’s eyes instantly became serious.
“That’s good.”
Although he showed a somewhat absent-minded appearance, his desire to become stronger was real. Gang-ryang quickly grabbed his greatsword and followed behind Yeon Ho-jeong.
Murong Yu said.
“Don’t drain too much energy. It’s just the beginning…… they’ve already left.”
Murong Yu glanced at Muk Bi.
Muk Bi smiled awkwardly and bowed her head. Murong Yu also bowed his head with an awkward laugh.
“…….”
In the suffocating awkwardness, it felt like the brightly burning campfire would also go out.
After one ke.
Murong Yu cautiously opened his mouth.
“If you are not tired, shall we also spar…….”
Ssaek-ssaek.
At some point, Muk Bi had fallen asleep. Perhaps she had fallen quite deeply asleep, her breathing sound was very even.
“……She grumbled so much, yet she sleeps so fast.”
In the end, Murong Yu had to just poke at the campfire for two shichen.
All alone.