Chapter: 567
At a time when the shaman was busy dealing with an incident.
Immediately after sending the children away, only Geom Hu and Woo Bong-chui-gae remained.
As Geom Hu quietly waited for Woo Bong-chui-gae to speak, the old man looked at her and opened his mouth.
“It’s been a while.”
How long has it been since we last met? It must have easily surpassed ten years.
After the Shinryongdae incident, Geom Hu hadn’t met Woo Bong-chui-gae.
“It’s been a while, Your Lordship.”
“Yeah, how have you been?”
Geom Hu smiled slightly at Woo Bong-chui-gae’s words.
“Don’t you already know everything?”
“Hol hol….”
At the somewhat prickly tone, Woo Bong-chui-gae let out a light chuckle.
That was just the truth.
Most of what transpires in this world is likely known to Woo Bong-chui-gae.
There are many beggars in the world.
All of those beggars had become Woo Bong-chui-gae’s eyes and ears.
“I asked out of concern, so don’t dislike me too much.”
Geom Hu simply took a sip of tea without answering.
Observing that, Woo Bong-chui-gae displayed a bitter expression.
“Still. You seem to harbor quite a bit of dislike for me.”
“Not at all. A lot of time has passed.”
“Then…”
“Rather, for the sake of the past members, I feel we shouldn’t easily change our minds.”
“…”
A different chill surrounded Geom Hu compared to when the children were present.
“…I see.”
In response to Geom Hu’s demeanor, Woo Bong-chui-gae could only stifle his words in resignation.
There was nothing more to say.
At least, Geom Jon and he would have nothing more to comment as long as they saw Geom Hu.
“I thank you for your care regarding the children.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I am grateful that you didn’t hold onto them unnecessarily.”
That was about letting the children, who claimed to know nothing, leave lightly without further inquiry.
If Woo Bong-chui-gae had desired it, he could have pursued a more thorough investigation under the guise of interrogation.
Yet, he did not do that.
This was likely because he let it slide, taking into account Geom Hu’s presence. Of course.
“Some things just align with the circumstances.”
Upon briefly summarizing what had been reported.
The children were judged to be largely innocent, which was the primary reason for this decision.
Additionally.
“Also, it was something I could’ve just asked you, So-i.”
She had already been aware that Woo Bong-chui-gae’s matters concerned Geom Hu.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have engineered this situation.
It didn’t matter. Rather, this was something Geom Hu had hoped for as well.
“Before that, there’s something I want to ask, Lord.”
“Go ahead.”
“Did you come to seek the shaman because of me?”
The reasoning behind the busy owner of Gaebong coming all the way to the shaman.
Geom Hu wondered if it was because of the investigation itself.
“Hmm.”
After considering her words, Woo Bong-chui tilted his head slightly and then replied to Geom Hu.
“That’s not it.”
It was a denial.
“This matter was also a request from the leader…”
Woo Bong-chui-gae, who had been about to continue, briefly closed his mouth. It seemed he had something he wasn’t supposed to say.
“Anyway… Soi. I didn’t come here to see you.”
“Understood.”
Geom Hu didn’t reveal any particular reaction to that response.
Although still concerned about the underlying remarks, Geom Hu was confident that asking wouldn’t yield any answers.
“If that’s settled, may I now get to the main point?”
“Please proceed. I’m all ears.”
Woof—!
As Woo Bong-chui-gae spoke, a chill wrapped around the surroundings.
“The shaman has been utterly destroyed. You must be quite proud of your handiwork.”
“…My Lord.”
Geom Hu furrowed her delicate brows at those words.
“A life has been lost. It’s inappropriate to express it like that.”
While Woo Baek and Ji Cheol may not have been individuals whom Geom Hu favored, she found discussing the deceased in such a manner rather distasteful.
“You’re still quite gentle.”
“…I’m merely…”
“Had you known what their intentions were while alive, you wouldn’t have come here either.”
“…”
Woo Bong-chui had always known more than others.
This was still the case today.
“Now, I’m going to ask what I wanted, Soi.”
“…Yes.”
“Tell me about the person who attacked the shaman. I heard you had a good view.”
At Woo Bong-chui-gae’s question, Geom Hu could feel her stomach twist uncomfortably.
Just thinking about that unexpected appearance brought on such troublesome feelings.
The blue aura visible beyond the mask.
The overwhelming energy that radiated from it.
A presence that made even the surrounding air feel dense.
This was an individual with the kind of aura Geom Hu had never encountered before.
There had been something he said while introducing himself.
“Heavenly Demon…”
After hearing the tale, Woo Bong-chui muttered that title quietly.
“Is he someone you recognize?”
“It’s a name I’ve been hearing often lately.”
It was a name slowly making waves from the ends of the Central Plains.
The name proclaimed by someone who had brazenly attacked the Murim Alliance outpost alone.
Heavenly Demon.
‘A devil descended from heaven.’
Initially, she thought it was simply some dimwit causing a ruckus, but now, given the severity of the situation, even someone like Woo Bong-chui had to tread carefully.
Even if one could overlook the Murim Alliance outpost,
Adding to that, an incident had erupted in Guangdong.
Today marked the second Hwagyeong-class warrior to meet their end due to this chaos.
Furthermore.
“The Wudang has been attacked.”
This time, not only had the Lord’s temple been assaulted, but also one of the Gu’s Ten Sects Alliance.
They had failed to capture the criminal, allowing him to slip through their fingers.
From the perspective of the Alliance, this was quite troubling.
If the situation didn’t take a turn for the better.
“You mentioned taming a monster?”
“Yes, that seemed to be the case.”
The entity known as the Heavenly Demon was purported to be taming beasts.
That too, monstrous beings of red caliber.
This would undoubtedly spark immense ramifications upon rumor spreading.
At present, they couldn’t even tame a green beast properly.
Efforts had been made repeatedly in the secretive underbelly, yet they had never succeeded.
Even now, experiments were purportedly ongoing in secrecy, but tangible changes remained absent.
In such a scenario.
‘A hostile individual taming monsters.’
Especially red-grade creatures that required peaks of experts to hunt.
This was not merely a dangerous situation.
“Except for the one called Heavenly Demon, there were others as well?”
“In my observation, there was only one individual aside from him. But he certainly was present.”
Before the appearance of the Heavenly Demon, a giant had first made an entrance to engage the shaman.
He seemed to serve as a subordinate of the Heavenly Demon, referring to him as the cult leader.
“A cult leader, you say…”
Woo Bong-chui-gae focused on that particular term. It was a phrase that wasn’t commonly used in the Central Plains anymore.
From that term and the context, one could derive a crucial understanding.
‘This isn’t merely a singular figure but represents a force. And that force is by no means insignificant.’
Additionally.
‘It’s clear that they bear hostility toward the Murim Alliance.’
Having pieced together the situation, Woo Bong-chui sighed internally.
Why must it be at this time?
It was a period marked by considerable upheaval and change.
For such an entity to emerge? Had it been just any ordinary being, he might have brushed it off lightly with indifference.
‘I believe they referred to it as transcendence.’
If Geom Hu reached such a conclusion, the possibility of it being true was quite high.
If it were a practitioner who had reached a transcendent realm beyond the ordinary, that changed everything.
They were a group of elites, not numbering more than twenty even if they were selected from the Central Plains.
Some had distanced themselves from worldly ties to lead a peaceful life.
Others walked the line of obscurity while trying to uphold their might, showcasing their strength.
The common trait among them being.
They were all seen as walking disasters.
In this context.
The emergence of a new transcendent individual coupled with vast forces.
“It spells crisis,” he realized.
It had to be a crisis for the Murim Alliance.
In the tangle of complexities, Woo Bong-chui suppressed his emotions as he spoke to Geom Hu.
“Thank you for sharing that information.”
“…I hope my humble words were helpful.”
“We’ll still need to question the other witnesses, but your input was surely invaluable.”
“Thank you.”
Woo Bong-chui gradually rose, and Geom Hu followed suit.
“I’ve informed the leader as well. You won’t face any inconveniences regarding this matter.”
“What does that mean…?”
“I secured the leader’s commitment that there won’t be further complications due to the assault you’ve endured.”
“…!”
“Rather, since you’ve come to the shaman and sustained damage, be sure to come to a separate understanding with Dohwa regarding that.”
As Woo Bong-chui mentioned the plum blossoms, Geom Hu slightly bowed her head, offering respect.
“…Thank you for your consideration.”
“Hol hol… It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face. I figured I should at least do this much.”
Saying so, Woo Bong-chui took the lead.
As he turned, the usual calmness around him had vanished.
The glimmering eyes beneath the lengthy brows held an acute sharpness.
‘Is it the Heavenly Demon?’
In this time of tenuous order.
He began repeating the name of this unwelcome typhoon.
Not good.
It seemed he would need to investigate further.
“…I should contact Shinan.”
The re-establishment of the Shinryongdae needed to occur promptly.
With that in mind, Woo Bong-chui pressed onward.
His destination—the site where the master of the Wudang Swordsman awaited.
One day in spring.
In the Hanam branch of the White Flower Merchant Association, someone was moving about busily.
Every time a woman walked gracefully with her long legs, a delicate scent of flowers lingered behind.
The floral fragrance spread throughout, mingling with an inexplicable cool breeze.
Upon witnessing this, those present bowed their heads in welcome.
“Greetings, Branch Manager.”
“Greetings to the Branch Manager…!”
The woman waved lightly to those paying her respects as she passed.
Many expressed their awe as they admired her back.
“Wow… the Branch Manager looks stunning today as well.”
“Indeed. She appears especially beautiful today.”
“When has she not been beautiful?”
“That’s true as well.”
The men continued conversing, their expressions quite astonished.
It was inevitable. The newly appointed branch manager of the Hanam branch last year seemed incredibly youthful in the eyes of the men.
She was extraordinarily pretty.
Furthermore.
“I wouldn’t mind if she were just pretty. She excels at her work too.”
“I’ve heard she still has quite a while before reaching the second class, yet how can she be so capable….”
They were now barely in their mid-twenties.
The new branch manager of Hanam had proven to be exceptionally competent.
Traditionally, the Hanam branch selected only the finest talents to be appointed as branch manager but…
This time, it was rumored to be unprecedented.
Amid this banter, a man interjected.
“Weren’t you famous to begin with? It must be even more so since you hail from one of the Four Great Aristocratic Families.”
“Oh dear, this person really loves to stir the pot, doesn’t he?”
“Not at all, it’s just unusual. I’m genuinely curious as to why someone so prominent, a lady from the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes, chose to join the White Flower Merchant Association.”
Those nearby fell silent at his words.
It was something that had intrigued everyone.
At that moment.
“Oh, I’ve heard about that.”
A young man who was diligently organizing documents piped up, earning the full attention of the others. He was the youngest member at the Hanam branch.
“You heard? About what?”
“The reason the Branch Manager joined the White Flower Merchant Association.”
“How on earth did you hear that?”
While expressions of surprise crossed their faces, the young man answered nonchalantly.
“I heard because I asked.”
“You asked…? Who exactly…?”
“To the Branch Manager.”
All of them stared in shock at the young one’s response.
“…That guy is just plain crazy. He actually asked that…?”
“Is that not allowed…?”
“Oh dear, everyone better keep their distance. At this rate, he won’t be around for long…”
“What? What are you all talking about?”
The ranks of seniors intentionally disregarded the youngest’s perplexed reply, aiming to make his departure soon since it seemed likely he would be transferred to another branch.
“Anyhow… what did the Branch Manager say?”
The youngest huffed, wearing an expression plastered with discomfort.
Fortunately, he managed to relay an answer.
“What did she say… ah.”
The youngest quickly continued as if recalling something.
[“I’m taking lessons as a daughter-in-law.”]
That had been her response.
Upon hearing this, the men collectively displayed utterly bewildered expressions.
“Wow! How could I, someone trusted, be left in the dust like this!”
“Did you really lie about asking? Tsk tsk.”
“Yes…?”
“There’s no way the Branch Manager would say something like that. This kid is going to get it.”
“No, really…”
“Just shut up and work. You’ve wasted enough time, tsk tsk.”
“…”
After hearing the furious shouts from the men, the youngest made a pitiful face.
Leaving the youngest behind,
The young branch manager hurriedly stepped forward to meet someone.
Swish.
Amidst the sound of parchment rustling, the Hanam branch’s branch manager, Mo Yong-hee, cautiously offered her respect to the person seated at the desk.
“Greetings, Your Lordship.”
With formal words finely arranged, the person behind the desk finally lifted their gaze.
“How have you been?”
It was a cold tone, seemingly devoid of emotion.
“Yes, Your Lordship.”
The individual Mo Yong-hee respected was none other than Mi Hyo-ran, the owner of the White Flower Merchant Association.
Mi Hyo-ran continued organizing her documents while speaking to Mo Yong-hee.
“You’ve had good results. Achieving this much in around six months is quite impressive.”
“…Thank you.”
As she acknowledged Mi Hyo-ran, Mo Yong-hee swallowed hard.
Over the past few years, she learned something important about Mi Hyo-ran.
The fact that Mi Hyo-ran began with flattering words always meant more critiques to follow.
“However…”
Sure enough, Mi Hyo-ran continued, gazing at Mo Yong-hee.
“I’ve noticed a few issues in the reports. There were aspects that could’ve been handled better.”
“…Please tell me so I can make corrections.”
“Words alone don’t suffice; I’ll organize these points separately and provide them to you by tomorrow. Do take your time with them.”
Upon hearing Mi Hyo-ran’s remarks, Mo Yong-hee sighed internally.
She had thought she managed everything perfectly, but it appeared Mi Hyo-ran still noticed some shortcomings.
It was just a pity.
Mi Hyo-ran, perhaps sensing something in Mo Yong-hee’s expression, quietly smiled and added.
“By the way, I heard you’ve surpassed a boundary. Is that true?”
Mo Yong-hee widened her eyes in surprise at Mi Hyo-ran’s inquiry.
She hadn’t expected Mi Hyo-ran to know such a thing.
In fact, Mo Yong-hee had reached her peak state about three months ago.
It was a remarkable achievement just after resuming her training.
“Ah… that is indeed true.”
“Congratulations. You seem to have worked hard, even in such busy times.”
“Thank you.”
Mo Yong-hee tried to suppress the corners of her mouth from lifting at Mi Hyo-ran’s compliment.
She dared not showcase any inappropriate reactions, especially in her presence.
At that juncture, Mi Hyo-ran handed her something.
“It’s not really a congratulatory gift, but… there’s something for the Branch Manager.”
“Pardon?”
Mo Yong-hee’s already wide eyes grew even larger as she accepted the letter.
“It’s significant. Will you be able to manage this?”
“Oh! Certainly, I can do this.”
At Mi Hyo-ran’s suggestion of assigning her a task, Mo Yong-hee beamed in delight.
When Mi Hyo-ran assigns an essential task, it implies trust.
This became a method of ‘acknowledgment.’
With this realization, Mo Yong-hee excitedly unfurled the letter. Yet, upon viewing its contents…
She halted.
Staring at the letter’s contents and the seal stamped at the end demanded her to pause.
Then, she turned her gaze towards Mi Hyo-ran.
“…Your Lordship, what is this…?”
Mo Yong-hee looked at Mi Hyo-ran with trembling eyes.
It was unavoidable.
Because the seal, stamped at the end of the letter, belonged to the Ice Palace of the North.
Additionally, the letter’s content was also problematic.
In essence,
It bore news that the North Sea Ice Palace’s princess would be visiting the Central Plains, alongside a request to entrust her guidance to the White Flower Merchant Association rather than the Murim Alliance.
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