Chapter: 922
“Where on earth have you been?”
As soon as I entered the residence, Gubong looked at me and said this.
Not only that, the other disciples were also looking at me with anxious eyes.
“I just went for a walk.”
“…Suddenly…?”
“Uh.”
“…”
Gubong looked at me with a suspicious glare at my response.
It seemed like he didn’t believe it.
Of course, but that doesn’t change anything.
What can you do if you don’t believe it?
“What are you looking at? Do you have time? You don’t have time to waste like this?”
“For whom…?”
“What?”
“Nothing…”
Even as Gubong spoke, he wore a troubled expression.
Something seemed to be bothering him.
“It’s fortunate that your Majesty has returned. You won’t be able to leave right away anyway…”
His expression was quite dark.
“Perhaps since we’ve already touched Baek Do-ryeong, the White House has already set up camp—”
“That’ll be okay.”
“…Huh?”
Gubong narrowed his eyes at my confident words. Will it really be okay?
“What is that…? Why do you think so…?”
“Oh, I heard something while I was out and about.”
I answered Gubong’s question with a sly smile.
“It seemed like something big had happened outside.”
“…?”
Gubong tilted his head, curiously puzzled.
*
The streets of the bustling Yawol Palace were filled with a much more chaotic atmosphere than usual.
– What’s going on?
– How did this happen all of a sudden…?
– No, you still haven’t heard about it?
Half-beast-like humans were gathered together, conversing animatedly.
An inexplicable anxiety and tension danced in their eyes.
There was no choice.
– They said the chief was attacked.
– What…? The chief? Who on earth was attacked?
– I heard it’s Baekwol.
– Huh…?
The four clans that make up the night sky.
Among them, the master of the White Family is said to have a particularly violent temperament.
He is a warrior equipped with the blessings of the moon and runs wild—so wild and ferocious that they say just looking at him sends shivers down one’s spine.
Everyone was shocked that Baekwol, of all people, had been attacked.
Moreover…
– They say he barely resisted.
– Is that really the Baekwol chief?
– Yeah, they even said it wasn’t a surprise attack!
– That’s nonsense…
The rumors began to spread gradually.
The speed at which they flowed outward and into the crowd was astonishingly fast.
– Then, who on earth launched the attack?
– Hell if I know? I asked that employee of theirs… What did he say? Ah.
Heavenly Demon.
– That’s what he said.
– Cheonma…? What is that…?
Amid the chatter, Gubong kept frowning.
“…This is.”
What on earth is going on?
Gubong couldn’t comprehend the bizarre scene unfolding.
‘…Baekwol was suddenly attacked?’
When it comes to Baekwol,
‘He must be the head of the White Family, right?’
A pureblood elite with long, unkempt hair and piercing blue eyes. That was the Baekwol Gubong remembered.
– A half-baked one. Probably useless.
“…”
A whisper sliced through Gubong’s thoughts.
It felt like forgotten memories were bubbling back to the surface.
‘…Click.’
Clenching his fist, he shook his head. What kind of old tale was resurfacing now?
There was no need for such thoughts anymore.
He had changed. Now, he was different than before…
– He just ran away.
“…”
Gu Yangcheon’s words intruded on his reflection.
Gubong squeezed his eyes shut as the memory flashed back.
“Phew…”
The sigh I let out was deep and heavy, echoing within him.
Just as Gubong was stuck in thought, slightly dizzy…
“I said it before.”
Gulp.
Gubong’s body trembled at the sound of the voice.
It was precisely reminiscent of a voice that had just been on his mind.
“Do you have time to slack off like this?”
“…”
“I think you should head out immediately. Am I wrong?”
At Gu Yangcheon’s prompt, I opened my eyes.
It was clear—the situation was urgent.
‘…Things could have turned out better.’
It was nothing more than dealing with a nobleman.
What’s more, it was the White Family, which was directly entangled in the contract.
Even without all that, Baek Do-ryeong must have been quite displeased with me…
I expected he would take the opportunity to get back at me.
‘In this situation.’
If their chief had been attacked and lay in shambles, it wouldn’t have been the time to be concerned about anything else.
Thus, Gubong frowned.
‘…How could it come to this?’
The circumstances around the incident were strangely fitting.
As if he had crafted a scenario to allow a clean escape without any hassle.
“…No way.”
Gubong stopped in his tracks to stare at Gu Yangcheon.
Surely not.
‘…Did the author attack Baekwol?’
Perhaps they had intentionally created an opening by launching an attack on Baekwol.
That thought crossed his mind, but…
‘No way.’
Gubong immediately dismissed it. It was far-fetched, regardless.
He was the head of the White Clan, notorious for his might as a warrior.
‘Did a noble take him down?’
In a span so brief? Gubong didn’t think so.
But…
‘…No way…’
He didn’t fully reject the notion, either.
Gubong looked at Gu Yangcheon with suspicious eyes.
“What are you staring at? Look ahead.”
“…”
As Gu Yangcheon growled, Gubong’s gaze lowered reflexively.
Feeling that, he flinched.
Why the jumpiness?
His pride took a hit, but he wouldn’t turn away now.
As he approached the entrance, the chaotic atmosphere was unmistakable.
“Move! We need to find him!”
“Don’t let anyone slip outside recklessly!”
The gatekeepers were also scanning the area with tense expressions.
Witnessing this, Gubong grimaced.
‘At this rate… I don’t think I’ll be able to get out.’
They wouldn’t catch him directly, but once the raid started, controlling those leaving became unavoidable.
Was it even possible to step outside in such circumstances?
As Gubong stood paused in uncertainty, contemplating such questions…
“Excuse me.”
“…!?”
Out of nowhere, Gu Yangcheon spoke to the gatekeeper.
Already busy, the gatekeeper’s face scrunched up further upon hearing him.
“What do you want?”
“Oh, I need to step outside. I was wondering if it’s possible right now…”
The gatekeeper looked more confused at Gu Yangcheon’s words.
“Do you not see the current situation? No way you can go outside—”
“Hey, let’s not be like that.”
As the gatekeeper was speaking, Gu Yangcheon handed him something.
The gatekeeper flinched upon receiving it.
“…Cough…”
“We have a valid contract, and we received the goods as agreed. Can’t we just leave?”
“…A contract, what’s… Ah.”
Without further ado, the gatekeeper checked Gu Yangcheon’s attire.
“Volcano? Did you come for supplies?”
“That’s right. I’ve wrapped up all the work… How could it possibly be a problem?”
“No matter the case… handling things like this…”
“Come on… please…”
As he spoke, Gu Yangcheon slipped yet another something into the gatekeeper’s hand.
“…Cough…”
Receiving it, the gatekeeper’s expression continued to ease.
“You know it, right? Why would a volcano have the strength to attack the chief?”
“…That holds some truth.”
“Exactly! So let’s be flexible here… you know…?”
“Cough…”
Perhaps persuaded, the gatekeeper stepped aside and pointed toward the entrance with his hand.
“—Verify the details properly.”
He then pretended not to notice and looked elsewhere.
It was a subtle hint to pass through quickly.
“Alright then.”
Gu Yangcheon’s expression dropped, and he looked toward his disciples, waving his hand.
“Let’s go.”
What on earth just happened? Gubong couldn’t wrap his head around the bewildering situation.
How could that even work? It was absurd.
They pulled a cart outside.
The disciples still looked dazed.
How in the world did they manage to come out?
Observing everyone’s confusion, Gu Yangcheon remarked,
“If we’ve come out, that’s a good thing. Why is everyone hesitating?”
“…No, your highness, what on earth…?”
At Gubong’s question, Gu Yangcheon clicked his tongue, tsk!
“There’s nothing in this world that you can’t kindly ask for.”
“That can’t be true.”
If it had been such a peaceful world, this mess wouldn’t have occurred, Gubong insisted firmly.
When Gu Yangcheon heard this, he merely smirked.
“That’s because you weren’t kind.”
“What—?”
“Kid, kindness isn’t just an attitude.”
Gu Yangcheon made a shape with his fingers for Gubong to see.
He rolled it into a small ball using his index finger and thumb.
That was the Manryu Gui Jong.
Or rather, it’s also been called the immutable principle.
“Money.”
If the world isn’t kind, it’s simply because there’s a lack of cash.
Gu Yangcheon handed some money to the gatekeeper.
“…”
Hearing that, Gubong’s expression darkened.
That meant…
“Are you saying you bribed him…?”
“A bribe? I said it was my kindness.”
“No…”
Gubong paused mid-sentence, unsure of what to say.
It was fine. Bribing to get through was alright.
“…But where did you get the money?”
Where in the world did he find the cash to give the gatekeeper?
As far as he knew, Gu Yangcheon would have no money.
After all, he didn’t even know what the Yawol Palace was.
Perhaps it was simply—
“Did you steal it…?”
Did you snatch that money away?
At Gubong’s words, Gu Yangcheon narrowed his eyebrows.
“What are you talking about, you crazy bastard? Take away what? Who do you think you are, a thug?”
“…”
“What’s with those eyes? Why won’t you deny it? Damn it?”
“…”
Why wouldn’t he deny it? Was he truly clueless?
“Then you stole it…?”
“Want to get hit?”
“…”
If it wasn’t either of those, then where on earth did he get the money from?
“Tsk, I just sorted it out. I won’t cause any issues, so mind your own business.”
Gu Yangcheon clicked his tongue, stepping forward.
Gubong still looked at him skeptically, but there were no serious reasons to doubt.
Neither stolen nor confiscated.
Simply,
“I just made it.”
Created using the powers of the net.
I had briefly checked the format and value of the money to ensure it was correct.
It wasn’t particularly difficult. It was simply slightly annoying, differing from the central plains.
That had been what I handed over to the gatekeeper.
It should’ve disappeared by now though.
The money I had handed over would’ve vanished over time.
He was probably throwing a fit thinking it had gotten lost or stolen.
That’s how I managed to get out though.
I glanced back, watching as the fortress known as Yawol Palace receded into the distance.
…It seems like I’ll need to go again.
Recognizing this, I intended to take another step when—
“…the darkness that was borne from the sky.”
“…”
“Son of the universe.”
Cheonma muttered, audible only to me.
This is insane.
I tried my best to ignore it and barely managed to keep moving forward.
Hwaruk.
At a time when the lights embedded in the wall were barely illuminating the darkness.
A man dressed in charcoal black hurried down the path.
Clearly anxious, he bit down on his lip while moving and eventually came to a halt in front of a large door.
“Phew.”
He took a quick breath to mask his impatience.
Then—
Knock knock.
The man carefully rapped his knuckles on the door.
Despite the sound, silence lingered.
Knock knock.
He knocked twice again.
Is it still silence this time?
Just as he was about to knock again…
– Who is it?
A voice echoed from within.
The man swallowed hard and spoke in a dry, raspy voice.
“This is Yeom-eon, sir. I have something urgent to tell you…”
– Come in.
Squeak…!
As soon as the permission was granted, the door opened.
It wasn’t the man who opened it.
Yeom-eon pushed his trembling toes through the now-open door.
Whoa, whoa, whoa…
At that moment, the light extinguished.
A terrible darkness enveloped Yeom-eon. All that was visible was the table in front.
And there was a figure seated there.
It was so black that even a face could not be discerned.
I was not curious.
After all, Yeom-eon immediately knelt down and didn’t lay eyes on the man.
It was true darkness.
Staring too long would leave you enveloped in it as well.
“What’s going on?”
The dark figure inquired.
Hearing this, Yeom-eon answered while suppressing a bead of cold sweat.
“…The White Chief was attacked and is currently laid up on a hospital bed.”
“Hmm?”
The figure showed interest in Yeom-eon’s words.
“Baekwol?”
“Yes… that’s correct.”
“To whom?”
If he was harmed, who was the perpetrator?
Rather than merely hearing that Baekwol had been harmed, it seemed the figure was more curious about who could commit such an act.
“…We still haven’t identified them.”
I couldn’t find out. At those words, the air was slightly disturbed.
The leader must have been troubled.
Feeling that, Yeom-eon quickly added,
“Ah, but that’s not the issue.”
At Yeom-eon’s words, the air fell still. It wasn’t a full stop.
This was a waiting game.
As if telling him to proceed.
“Today… it’s said that the white bloodline has encountered a twist.”
“By bloodline, are you referring to that idiot?”
Though of noble birth, he was an incompetent character not worth remembering.
“Correct.”
“But…”
“However… regarding that…”
Yeom-eon gulped down a nervous swallow and spoke.
“The first prince… is said to be involved.”
Vroom…
“Gah…!!”
Yeom-eon almost stumbled over his words, clutching at his chest as the surroundings surged violently.
“Is that so?”
From the darkness came the words.
“Fascinating.”
Though the tone remained deadpan, it was clear it was seeping with anger.
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