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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: 74
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"Absolutely not."
Ryeon firmly shook her head.
"The moment I saw Young Miss's sword, I swore to pledge my loyalty to you. How Young Miss lived before is not important to me."
Her eyes were steadfast and unwavering.
From their intense gaze, a strong will emanated, clearly wanting to convey that her words were nothing but the truth.
Seolhwa was a little curious. How could someone trust so completely?
Was it truly possible for someone to act as if they'd sacrifice their life just for a sword display?
'They'll turn away at a crucial moment.'
When their life is truly on the line, they'll turn their back. That's just how humans are.
Seolhwa had never been one to easily trust people. That was how she had survived in the Hyeolgyo in her previous life.
"Thank you. For trusting me."
As Seolhwa spoke, her eyes seemed a little lonely. Ryeon's heart grew anxious.
She somehow wanted to offer comfort.
"Young Miss, I..."
"Shall we go?"
But as if comfort wasn't needed, Seolhwa turned and walked away.
Ryeon watched her retreating figure for a moment, then trudged after her.
The two returned to the Namgung Sega.
By then, the sun had set, and the night was filled only with a dark sky, devoid of even moonlight.
***
At the same time.
On the summit of Yeonhwabong, Hwasanpa, as darkness descended.
Within that darkness, a single shadow moved stealthily.
The person, dressed in dark clothes and with their face covered by black cloth, was none other than Yugang, a first-generation disciple of Hwasanpa.
"Huu... Huuu..."
Yugang slowly regulated his breathing and continued his steps.
Even though it was night, this was Hwasanpa.
It was a grand sword sect filled with masters whose names were renowned throughout Jungwon for their swordsmanship.
Even a slight mistake would alert the keen senses of the elders.
Moving his energy to minimize his presence as much as possible, Yugang headed towards the place the Namgung young lady had mentioned.
He passed the trees by the shortcut behind Geumcheongung, a path Yugang often used to sneak in, and proceeded in the direction the elders had been heading.
However, following that path only led to the secluded outhouse he already knew.
Yugang sharpened his senses and brightened his vision.
He gathered as much light as possible in the darkness, scanning the footprints around the outhouse.
'Behind it.'
Several footprints led to the back of the outhouse. Yugang paused to catch his breath, then followed the tracks.
The back of the outhouse was a sheer cliff. Or so he had always thought.
Hwasanpa was famous for its rugged mountains. And since Geumcheongung was built on the highest point, it was naturally assumed that a cliff would be behind it.
However, Yugang was startled when he saw the back for himself.
Below the cliff, in a not-so-wide space, a building had been constructed.
'...'
Her words were true.
At that moment, the Namgung young lady's face came to mind.
The child who had so confidently discussed the Sect Leader's condition and Hwasanpa's crisis.
An outsider with no connection to Hwasanpa, yet someone who saw through Hwasanpa more clearly than anyone else.
"..."
There were stairs leading to the building on the cliff face.
They were created by carving steps into the stone wall of the precipice, making them extremely dangerous.
A single misstep would send him plummeting into the unseen depths below, but Yugang's steps were unhesitating.
'I have to confirm.'
The thought that he *had* to confirm if her words were true filled his mind.
Finally, Yugang arrived at the door of the building.
He felt the presence of one person inside the building.
Yugang's breathing became ragged.
It was still unbelievable that there was a building in such a remote place, and that there was a person inside it.
It was the moment Yugang grabbed the doorknob to open the building's door.
"Nobaek, is that you?"
"...!"
It was the voice. The voice of the Sect Leader, whom he hadn't seen in two years since he entered secluded cultivation.
"What brings you here in the middle of the night?"
He hadn't heard it for so long, making it unfamiliar, and thus, clear.
The Sect Leader was beyond this door.
Yugang released the doorknob and respectfully performed a Pokwon.
"Sect Leader, your disciple Yugang is here."
"..."
A long silence followed from beyond the door. That silence was both surprise and recognition.
"Yes, it is Yugang."
The Sect Leader's voice trembled at the end.
It was now truly undeniable. The Sect Leader was 'hiding' here.
"Will you come in?"
"Yes."
Yugang briefly scanned his surroundings before entering the room.
"...!"
The moment he stepped into the room, Yugang's movements faltered slightly.
The room was filled with the scent of burning incense. But the problem was the smell beyond that incense.
The musty odor of decaying flesh.
Mixed with the scent of incense burned to conceal it, an unbearable stench filled the air.
However, Yugang showed no sign of discomfort as he closed the door.
The Sect Leader sat behind the long hanging reed blinds by the window.
"It has been a long time, Yugang."
"Have you been well, Sect Leader?"
"You seem to have grown taller since I last saw you. It's not strange, as children grow day by day."
The Sect Leader's voice was as gentle as Yugang remembered from two years ago.
It was like the sound of jade beads rolling on a glass table.
"How did you come to be here?"
"I cannot say it was by chance."
"Your attire tells me as much."
Yugang's clothing was clearly meant for stealthy movement.
"Did you find out I was here?"
"I heard, and because I heard, I wanted to confirm."
"Who told you?"
"The young lady of the Namgung Sega."
The Sect Leader fell silent again.
Having been found here, he had assumed one of Hwasanpa's elders had given Yugang a hint.
He had guessed it might be his master, Nohun, but his assumption was far off the mark.
"The Namgung... child...?"
"And the Namgung young lady asked me to deliver this note to you, Sect Leader."
Yugang slowly rose and approached the Sect Leader.
With his gaze fixed on the floor, he simply placed the note Seolhwa had given him on the table, then returned to his spot.
Nohun quietly unfolded the note. A short gasp was heard.
"Do you know the contents of this?"
"I saw it. The Namgung young lady said I could look if I didn't believe her."
[개심안(開心眼) 견비도(見秘道)]
'Open the heart's eye, see the hidden path.'
"Do you also know what this content means?"
"I do not. However, she said you would know once you saw it, Sect Leader."
"...!"
Nohun's hand, holding the note, trembled.
"What else did she say?"
"She said not to trust anyone. She said she only trusted you and me in Hwasanpa."
"...?"
The more he heard, the stranger it became.
A young lady from Namgung Sega, whom he had never even met, trusted him? No, even if he, the Sect Leader, was understandable, why Yugang of all people?
However, the circumstances clearly pointed to one fact, too specific to be dismissed as coincidence.
'The Namgung young lady knows something.'
Perhaps, even the way to solve this problem that he hadn't been able to solve for two years.
Nohun swallowed nervously. He opened his mouth, his voice trembling.
"Yugang, could you go to Namgung Sega one more time?"
***
As always, after finishing his dawn training, on his way out of the training ground. An unexpected person was waiting for Seolhwa in front of the training ground.
It was Namgung Hyeok, the Black Dragon Commander.
"I greet Young Miss Seolhwa."
"Hello, Commander."
"It seems like a long time since we last met."
He had once been assigned as a guard when Cheongun and Seolhwa went on an outing to town.
He was the one who almost caught them on the way back after meeting Illyong, Imoe, and Sambong.
"Are you satisfied with your new guard?"
Namgung Hyeok asked with a friendly smile.
"Yes. Very much so."
"That's good to hear. I was worried she might be disrespectful to Young Miss."
Namgung Hyeok's eyes briefly took in Ryeon.
"There was nothing like that. Lately, it's never boring with Ryeon around."
"Oh? Ryeon isn't exactly a fun personality. If I had known, I would have assigned someone with good conversational skills."
"It's fine. I already have a friend like that in the residence. But, what brings you here?"
Namgung Hyeok bowed his head slightly with a benevolent smile, then raised it.
"The Head of Family is looking for you."
The time when dawn training ended was about half a Jinshi past.
Usually, this was the time when one's day began, so it was uncommon to be summoned or to seek someone out. However, Namgung Mucheon already knew about Seolhwa's and Jeokryong 11-dan's training.
He knew, but had pretended not to, and now he was summoning her, even sending the Black Dragon Commander.
'He must have heard the rumors.'
Given how urgently he was calling her, was he angry? Angry that she hadn't dealt with the rumors?
"Can you go right away?"
To the Black Dragon Commander's question, Seolhwa nodded.
He must have been instructed to bring her immediately after training, yet his question was quite leisurely.
He was probably being considerate of her. Rushing could make a child anxious.
"I'll go right away."
"I will escort you."
