Chapter: 891
“It’s been a while.”
I casually greeted him.
The young man, Cheongnyun, who was eating, looked at me.
“It’s been a while…”
“Are you eating?”
“Yes. Would you like some?”
“No, I don’t have an appetite.”
I hadn’t even come here to eat in the first place.
“What about you, sir?”
“My grandfather went out for a moment.”
“That’s perfect.”
I sat down across from him. Cheongnyun was currently staying at Shinui’s residence.
I considered whether to arrange a separate place for him, but concluded that it was for Shinui’s sake.
Thanks to that, talking became a bit of a hassle, but it was something I could endure.
“But, bro.”
“Yeah?”
“How did someone who should be in Sichuan end up here…?”
This was the third time I asked that today.
“I came quickly because something came up.”
“Ah, that’s it.”
Cheongnyun nodded as if he already knew.
“Have you checked already?”
“I was looking into the situation separately. It didn’t seem like it was time to send a letter yet, so I was waiting.”
“Waiting, huh…”
Even to Cheongnyun, it appeared to be a strange situation.
Hearing my mumbling, Cheongnyun put down his chopsticks with a clack and asked, “So, what letter did you receive, bro?”
At his question, the corners of his mouth lifted.
This guy was sharp as always.
“At first glance, it was Mrs. Mi, but it turns out it wasn’t.”
“Does that mean someone interfered?”
“Exactly. But I don’t know who it is.”
“When?”
“I received it the day before yesterday. They said Mrs. Mi also sent a letter, but it won’t arrive until today at the earliest.”
“Is that so?”
After hearing that, Cheongnyun briefly rolled his eyes. A few seconds ticked by like that.
“It seems like someone anticipated that the old lord would be caught and made a move.”
The answer came out immediately.
“The most likely suspect among the expected ones is the Murim Alliance itself… If not… perhaps two or three.”
“Are you sure?”
“No. I think I need to think it over more to be sure. So I can’t give you a definite answer… Are you free tomorrow?”
“I can meet you in the evening after I come back from the Murim Alliance.”
“Then, I’ll think about it and let you know by then.”
“Okay, thanks.”
From that short conversation, a conclusion was drawn.
It was amazing no matter how much I looked at it. I had to rack my brain for a long time to come to such a conclusion.
Pondering ‘I’m not sure if there’s a definite answer, though.’
Just one day.
That should give me a decent idea of what the answer is.
That was sufficient.
Of course, not everything Cheongnyun said was accurate.
Analyzing ‘At the very least, I find Chil-ha trustworthy.’
If it were my past life, I would have given it a nine out of ten, but even now, it’s around seven.
Strategizing ‘First, let’s hear that and then make some moves.’
Based on Cheongnyun’s words, I decided my next steps.
With that thought, I sipped the water in front of me.
After moistening my lips, I brought up the next topic.
There was something I needed to check first.
“So. This letter is genuinely from you, right?”
I asked that because something had happened earlier.
Cheongnyun pulled out the letter and examined it closely.
“Yes. I sent it.”
Thank goodness. If it turned out not to be the case, I would have been in real trouble.
Without that, I wouldn’t even know where to start.
Moreover, this letter was the primary reason I came looking for Cheongnyun today.
“What’s going on?”
The contents of the letter.
It mentioned that Dangdeok’s location had been discovered and that Shinryongdae was moving to capture him.
“Why have things suddenly turned out like this?”
“This part has too little information for me to say anything more… but it seems that’s the general movement.”
“Movement?”
“Yes. Haven’t you heard anything from Dangdeok?”
“Nope.”
I don’t often talk with Dangdeok. When I have orders, I simply relay them.
“I heard there have been a lot of suspicious folks around.”
“Are they from the Murim Alliance?”
“Probably.”
“So, you’re saying you’re not sure?”
“Yeah.”
Rubbing my chin I pondered. If Dangdeok is in his current position…
Realization ‘Hubei.’
Rather than suggesting he was sent away for hiding, he was there for particular issues.
But it seemed some peculiar individuals were gathering in that area?
Wince ‘This is becoming annoying.’
The plan to link Gyecheonmun and the Demonic Cult hadn’t yet been properly concluded.
But if something strange happened here, that would be troublesome.
Just then.
“What do you think?”
Cheongnyun asked me.
“What?”
“I feel like it’s connected to you going to Sichuan… What do you think?”
I nodded slightly in response to his question.
A hint of anxiety flickered in Cheongnyun’s eyes.
Reflecting I thought to myself.
Comparison ‘This is definitely different from my previous life.’
Cheongnyun often asked me for definitive answers.
Grimace Do you think I would know something you don’t? I didn’t know either, which is why I sought someone smarter.
It was quite a delicate matter to ask me.
If it were the past life Cheongnyun, he wouldn’t have shown such anxiety.
What he said was true. Everything he thought was right, and anyone who said otherwise was wrong.
That was the mindset of Cheon Yu-rang. The bizarre truth was that most of what he had said was correct.
There were only a few who could refute his words.
Contemplating ‘But it seems the major players were willing to listen…’
Actually, the Sword Demon and the Green King didn’t even treat me like a person, so maybe not.
Shrugging Anyway.
Conclusion ‘It’s fine.’
Now, looking at Cheongnyun compared to the past, a range of thoughts crossed my mind.
It’s not that this appearance is untrustworthy.
Recognition ‘The feeling that he’s definitely a different person than before.’
The awareness that Cheon Yu-rang and the current Cheongnyun are significantly different people.
That awareness was oddly reassuring.
“Why do you keep asking that? You think I can know what you don’t?”
“You might know, bro.”
“I always say you’re smarter than me.”
At my words, Cheongnyun scratched his cheek.
“… No.”
“No, that can’t be right. Otherwise, why would I ask you?”
“Because I need someone to talk to?”
“That’s ridiculous.”
It was absurd. The guy really seemed to think I was smarter than him.
Amused This is comical.
Rolling my eyes ‘Yeah, right.’
The guy who killed several pillars of martial arts with an ordinary physique.
The story of how he resolved issues simply by using his intellect in the middle of a battlefield was, at the time, a famous tale in Central Plains.
Questioning ‘Would I have been capable of something like that?’
Imagining I briefly pondered, but no matter how I thought about it, the conclusion remained the same. Impossible.
If that had happened, I would have become a strategist, not be throwing punches all over the place.
“Cut the nonsense. I think your thoughts are valid too, so don’t worry.”
“…Okay.”
The fact that I headed to the Sichuan branch and that someone was assigned to Dangdeok.
Moreover, the circumstances that Shinryongdae was moving for that purpose.
That connection was too deep to be purely coincidental.
Interpreting ‘That means…’
Did Mukyeon foresee this and send me to Sichuan?
Uncertainty ‘That’s ambiguous.’
Gyecheonmun’s activities began five years ago.
While the timing of this occurrence is thoughtful, the timing itself feels somewhat peculiar.
Hypothetical ‘If that’s possible.’
Mukyeon would have either had involvement with Gyecheonmun for five years or had set everything up before I joined Seongryongdae.
But.
Clarifying ‘I was the one who brought Mukyeon in.’
Mukyeon’s return to the Murim Alliance became accelerated due to the attack in Hanam.
This situation could be attributed to my actions.
So conclusion ‘So, it’s impossible unless Mukyeon has a crystal ball of the future.’
From the beginning, I didn’t suspect that Mukyeon was part of this elaborate plan.
The issue is.
Insight ‘This isn’t the first time.’
Even if it wasn’t from the beginning, there could be recent meddling.
For instance…
Contemplating ‘When Mukyeon comprehended the activities of Gyecheonmun.’
If they thought to send me to Sichuan based on that, then matters would change.
Noting It would fit perfectly. The motive was sufficient.
Rolling my eyes ‘Even so, Mukyeon had suspicions about me.’
Even if it didn’t seem apparent, I ended up on the suspect list.
I’m sure they were viewing me quite suspiciously.
What if I had been sent to Sichuan and they immediately moved to discover Dangdeok’s location?
Considering ‘It isn’t impossible.’
It was quite within the realm of suspicion.
Pausing ‘But…’
If that were the case, one more issue arises.
Thinking ‘My father’s matter.’
It revolved around my father’s predicament.
It just so happened that there were troubles the moment I went to Sichuan.
Should we call this a coincidence? That seemed implausible.
Affirmation ‘If it were a coincidence, there wouldn’t have been all this letter nonsense.’
I realized that Mrs. Mi’s letter was fake.
Questioning What does that imply?
Contemplating ‘Did they try to exploit my father’s issue to entrap me?’
Otherwise, it suggests that my father’s issue was designed from the start to tangle me into it.
Squinting I narrowed my eyes.
Hope ‘That shouldn’t be the case.’
I wished that wasn’t true, but under these circumstances, my thoughts wandered.
Doubt ‘What if.’
Just possibly.
Uncertainty ‘Could it all be intertwined?’
Going to Sichuan or the entire Gyecheonmun event.
In that process, the movements of Shinryongdae and my father’s issue.
Could it be that all of this is strung together as one entity?
Chills Such a thought sent shivers down my spine.
Hypothetical What if that’s true?
Then what conclusion can be drawn from all these occurrences? Why did we reach this point?
Knock, knock, knock.
Tapping my fingers on the table, I pondered.
Self-reflection ‘Could the end point be me?’
If the end leads to a single point, it must be me.
Sending me to Sichuan, orchestrating events was merely a delay. And resurrecting that letter to provoke me was…
Conclusion ‘…to coax me back?’
Perhaps it’s to rush me back to Hanam.
Connecting dots ‘It all seems interconnected though.’
It was purely a whimsical notion to believe there might be such intentional convergence.
Frustration ‘…Damn.’
But somehow, I had a feeling this wouldn’t be wrong.
“Bro?”
“Huff.”
I let out a soft sigh.
Then, I turned my gaze to Cheongnyun.
“You said you’d have an answer by tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll try to figure something out before noon.”
I chuckled dryly at his words.
“Do your best, I suppose. You’re probably just saying that because of my expression.”
Smirk What kind of face does a confused person make?
“You don’t need to exert that much effort. Just moderate it so it’s bearable.”
“But…”
“First off, I’ve got somewhere to go, so I’m heading out. See you tomorrow and send my regards to the old man.”
I got up. Having concluded my inquiries with Cheongnyun, I had to make my exit immediately.
“Where are you off to?”
I averted my gaze when he suddenly asked, answering.
“…I have someone to see.”
In specific, there was someone my heart longed to see.
*
There was still some time left before sunset.
We arrived in a forest beneath a sky that was slowly shifting colors as evening approached.
“…”
Landing lightly, I glanced around. The lush trees were adorned with colorful leaves, announcing autumn’s arrival.
Most likely touching the end, and soon, all the leaves would fall.
Yet for now, it looked splendidly picturesque.
As I observed, I moved forward.
Even amidst everything, I continuously scanned my surroundings as if trying to recall something.
Thoughtful ‘…Indeed.’
It felt familiar.
This sight. This scenery.
And even the scent wafting into my nose.
Although I’d only visited a couple of times, it felt like I’d been here forever.
Surprised ‘That’s odd.’
I was sure I hadn’t felt like this the last time I came. Why did I suddenly feel this way now?
I couldn’t understand it.
Whoosh!
The wind blew, swirling the maple leaves. It was a truly serene atmosphere.
As I walked a little further.
“…”
At a certain point, my steps came to an abrupt halt.
There appeared to be nothing to see.
Just an open field.
The sunset painted the sky, while the wind blew, causing the grass to sway.
It was nothing but that scenery.
Yet for some unknown reason, the emptiness of that place stirred my insides.
Scrunching my eyes ‘No matter how I look, there’s nothing there.’
Why do I keep feeling like there should be something there?
Just as I started shaking my head, eyes narrowed.
“You’ve arrived?”
“…”
A voice came from in front of me. I blinked and looked straight ahead.
A stone sat in an unfamiliar space.
Someone was perched atop it.
“Hey…”
A black-haired woman waved feebly.
I frowned at her.
There were things I wanted to ask if I saw her again.
It was definitely like that.
“Autumn… you said it was beautiful, right?”
The woman’s chatter threw me off momentarily.
Strangely, I couldn’t muster a reply.
What could that mean? After a brief moment of thought, I finally remembered.
That was what she concluded with.
To come before autumn ends.
“It must be beautiful,” she said.
“…”
Previously, I had asked why I would come here.
Before I knew it, autumn had set in before its end.
I ran my hand over my chest.
Frustrated It feels awful.
The emotions bubbling inside me caused heat to rise.
Regretting This shouldn’t have happened.
This feeling is something I shouldn’t feel, especially not toward ‘that person.’
“You know…”
Right at that moment, I was about to unleash all my irritation.
“I missed you.”
“…”
The Cheonma said it while smiling.
“Really.”
At those words, my mouth snapped shut yet again.
Damn it.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.