Geom Muyang looked out the window from his quarters.
The Jidan martial artists were visible in the courtyard.
As if taking a break from work, they were sprawled here and there in loose disarray, but in their own way, they had spread an ironclad net of vigilance.
Suddenly, Geom Muyang recalled what Gwak Yeong had said earlier.
—You must have siblings too, don’t you? If you do, then you should understand how I feel, shouldn’t you?”
He had answered that he was someone who had once wished his younger brother would die, but that was, after all, an emotion of the past.
If his younger brother were being held hostage?
The first thought that came to mind was this.
Please, someone take him away.
And then another thought naturally followed.
Not that anyone could take him away just because they wanted to, but even if they did, they would die of sheer rage. After listening to all the things that fellow said, they would end up confused as to who the hostage really was. They would surely find themselves saying, We’ll release you, so please just leave.
As he thought that, a faint smile naturally formed at the corners of Geom Muyang’s mouth.
It was no longer surprising that he could think such thoughts while recalling his younger brother. What was surprising was that the feeling was no longer surprising.
Just then, Homyeong’s voice came from outside.
“The investigation is complete.”
The door opened, and Homyeong and Gwak Yeong entered.
Homyeong handed Geom Muyang a paper on which the results of the investigation were written.
Geom Muyang read through it carefully.
It detailed when and how the men had approached her, and what they had said. Their appearances, manner of speech, and even physical characteristics were all recorded as well.
She had also remembered how far they had traveled when she was moved by carriage with her eyes covered in order to make the counterfeit hidden weapons, and what sounds she had heard along the way.
As Geom Muyang read, he lifted his head and looked at Gwak Yeong. As if she knew what he was asking without him having to say it, she answered.
“I memorized it desperately. I thought perhaps a day like this might come someday. Though I didn’t expect it to be you people rather than the Murim Alliance.”
Geom Muyang’s gaze returned to the paper.
It recorded what people she had met at the place where they made the counterfeit goods, and through what process they had made the hidden weapons. It even described what kind of iron had been used there, and what tools were used to make them.
She was certainly intelligent. Not because she had a good memory, but because she had memorized only the parts that were truly necessary.
Geom Muyang handed the paper back to Homyeong.
“Send it to Tongcheongak at once.”
With information this detailed, Tongcheongak would surely be able to uncover clues about those men.
Homyeong left, and only Geom Muyang and Gwak Yeong remained there.
First, she thanked Geom Muyang for promising to save her younger brother.
“I was too overwhelmed earlier and couldn’t properly thank you. Thank you, truly.”
Geom Muyang gave no answer. Instead, he turned his head back toward the window.
Now that the investigation was over, she was even more tense.
What would become of her now?
She still bore the crime of having counterfeited the Demonic Cult’s hidden weapons.
He had promised to save her younger brother, not to forgive her.
“I’m of no use now.”
She had told them everything she knew.
“Even if you kill me and bury me, I won’t resent you. I won’t appear as a ghost either.”
Of course, she did not mean it sincerely.
She did not want to die. Saving her younger brother was more important than her life, but if this man did manage to save him?
She wanted to go on living together with her brother. She wanted to see him marry, have children, and live his life. In place of their parents who had passed away early, she wanted to watch over him until he could live on his own.
If even she died, he would become a lone orphan under heaven.
Then Geom Muyang abruptly said,
“You said you’d get me promoted, didn’t you?”
For an instant, her eyes widened. She had said it earlier in the torture chamber when she had shouted at him. She had said she would spend her life doing whatever he ordered and making whatever he told her to make. That if he took her with him, he would even be promoted.
Of course, they had merely been words she had blurted out in agitation. She had never once imagined a life making weapons for the Demonic Cult.
“That… Are you really saying you’ll take me with you? You’re joking, aren’t you?”
Just as she stood flustered, not knowing what to say,
Homyeong hurriedly returned. From his expression alone, it was clear just how urgent the matter was.
“I think you must evacuate.”
Geom Muyang sprang to his feet.
“An urgent message came from Tongcheongak. An emergency operation has been assigned to the Baengnyongdan, and their target is this place.”
Already, outside the window, the Jidan martial artists were moving. They pulled out weapons hidden among lumber and piles of dirt, climbed onto the walls and rooftops, and entered true vigilance.
It was surprising enough that the Murim Alliance had learned the location of this place, but their objective was even more surprising.
“They say it is an operation to rescue this woman.”
Because it was not a covert operation but an official operation of the Alliance, Tongcheongak had been able to learn of it quickly and contact them.
Even in such an urgent situation, Geom Muyang did not hurry.
“How much time do we have?”
“We must get out within one gak.”
Geom Muyang understood why those men had kept Gwak Yeong alive.
It was clear that they intended to use her to make them clash with the Murim Alliance. Without even stepping forward themselves, they might be able to force them to withdraw from Wuhan.
And at this point, the most important question was how they had discovered this place. On the way here, he had checked several times to make sure they were not being followed or watched.
Then one thought flashed through his mind.
With an expression that seemed to say, Surely not, Geom Muyang asked Gwak Yeong,
“Did you perhaps receive anything from them?”
“No, nothing.”
Then she flinched in surprise.
“There is one thing.”
She took a letter from her bosom.
“My younger brother sent it to me.”
Geom Muyang did not take the letter she held out with his hand.
When he made it float up through the air by remote object manipulation, Homyeong understood what Geom Muyang was thinking.
Homyeong took a leather pouch from his bosom. When he unfolded it, more than ten large and small bottles were fitted inside.
Homyeong took out one of the bottles, removed the stopper, and dropped a single drop onto the letter.
Then the color of the letter turned blue.
“It’s Tracking Scent.”
At those words, Gwak Yeong was startled.
“They must have applied Tracking Scent in anticipation of us finding this woman. Or else they may have applied it in preparation for the possibility that she would flee.”
At Homyeong’s words, Geom Muyang nodded. Whoever it was, it was clear there was a very clever one among them.
Since it was a letter sent by her younger brother, she would always carry it close to her heart.
Gwak Yeong was afraid.
More frightening than the fear that this man might rage at her like fire was the terror that he might cancel his promise.
Then the letter floated over to her.
She caught it reflexively and asked Geom Muyang in confusion,
“Why give this to me?”
Geom Muyang said in an impassive tone,
“It’s the last time.”
The moment she heard those words, her heart dropped. She had taken it to mean that he intended to kill her.
But that was not it.
Belatedly, she understood. He meant for her to read it one last time before burning it. If he failed to save her younger brother, this letter would become her brother’s last words to her.
Emotion surged in her heart. She was truly grateful to Geom Muyang for thinking of her even in this urgent situation.
“I’ve read it dozens of times, so I’ve already memorized everything inside.”
With trembling hands, she held the letter out again.
“Thank you.”
Whoosh.
With Geom Muyang’s scorching yang energy, the letter burst into flames in midair.
In the meantime, Homyeong took out another medicine bottle from the pouch and poured it all over her body.
Since she had carried the letter in her bosom, the Tracking Scent would remain on her body as well. He covered that scent with another smell.
Geom Muyang led the way out of the room, and Gwak Yeong and Homyeong followed behind him.
The martial artists moved divided into a scouting group, a main force, and a rear guard, while two martial artists guarded Gwak Yeong on either side, prepared for any hidden weapons that might come flying in.
Thus, before the Baengnyongdan stormed in, they first escaped the manor.
* * *
At Honghwaru (紅花樓), the finest pleasure house in Wuhan, a man was drinking.
White hair, an angular face, and eyes like those of a wounded beast. In truth, he was a man with deep wounds in his heart.
The man sitting alone drinking without inviting any courtesans in was none other than Han Wolgaek.
Having lost his family to demonic practitioners, he was a man who would spring awake from sleep at the mere mention of the Demonic Cult. If his opponent was a demonic practitioner, he killed them without asking the reason. His hatred for the Demonic Cult was that immense.
The reason such a man had come to Wuhan was because of one person’s request. A request from someone who seemed as though he would never ask anything of anyone in his life. That was why the request weighed all the more heavily.
And he knew better than anyone how deep his hatred for the Demonic Cult ran.
—I will lay out the stage for you, so dance with your blade once. A demonic practitioner whom no one but you can stop is coming to Wuhan.
Han Wolgaek did not refuse.
‘Yes, if my opponent is a demonic practitioner, I’ll dance as much as needed.’
At that moment, a martial artist carrying a message came and reported after respectfully offering courtesy.
“It is time.”
Then a powerful murderous intent flowed from Han Wolgaek’s two eyes.
After emptying his final cup, he said coldly,
“Go and tell them. Not a single Demonic Cult bastard who set foot in Wuhan today will return alive.”
* * *
After leaving Honghwaru, Han Wolgaek moved quickly.
Then one person caught his eye.
By the wall of the pleasure house, a young man was squatting and looking at a small blade of grass that had sprouted through stone.
Beside him were a bamboo collecting tube and a small herb pouch containing a few roots of medicinal herbs. Inside the collecting tube were insects whose names were unknown.
Han Wolgaek’s expression twisted. By nature, he was not one to tolerate such sights.
As he walked past, he said to the young man,
“What is a grown man doing squatting there?”
Then the young man lifted his head and looked at him. He was a very young-looking and handsome man.
“You look perfectly fine! At a time like this, swing your sword one more time instead. If you laze around, the Demonic Cult bastards will cut off your head.”
Even ordinarily, he was not one to hold back when he saw the unsatisfactory behavior of his juniors.
Especially since young people these days were said to dislike their seniors’ nagging, he did it all the more. If these fellows collapsed, the righteous martial world would be finished.
After letting out his sincere nagging, Han Wolgaek strode past the place.
The young man glanced at his back once, then looked back at the grass.
Once Han Wolgaek disappeared from sight, an old man approached the young man.
“What grass are you looking at so intently?”
The young man answered,
“Look at this. Bisa Grass (秘莎草) is growing in a place like this.”
The young man was none other than the Poison King, and the old man was Sangseon, who assisted him.
The Poison King was wearing a long robe over his own clothes, so the poison pouches at his waist could not be seen.
For that reason, this ordinary long robe could be considered the most powerful weapon in the martial world.
The moment the Poison King threw off the robe, if his opponent saw the Twelve Zodiac signs drawn on the twelve poison pouches, they would flee in terror.
“It really is Bisa Grass.”
Sangseon sat beside the Poison King with a surprised expression. They had already seen several poisonous plants he had never seen before. Until now, there had never been any reason for the Poison King to gather poisonous herbs in Wuhan.
It was right then.
From far away, someone came running toward them. It was none other than Han Wolgaek, who had passed by a short while ago.
Running in haste, he looked as frantic as though he had left something important behind.
His dignified face was urgent and pale.
“Move!”
Han Wolgaek passed by the Poison King and Sangseon like the wind. This time, he had no leisure to nag.
He ran straight into Honghwaru and headed for the privy. Han Wolgaek was a master capable of controlling even his bodily functions, but today, things did not go as he wished. It was truly the first time he had ever been in such urgent need. Face and demonic practitioners alike were matters for later.
Watching him enter Honghwaru, Sangseon smiled and said,
“It seems he’ll be stuck sitting in the privy all day today.”
At Sangseon’s words, the Poison King nodded. The very moment Han Wolgaek had spoken to him and passed by earlier, he had administered a poison that caused stomach trouble. He had not lifted a finger, merely looked at him, and in that instant he had poisoned him.
In a certain sense, the most frightening thing about the Poison King might not be his poison, but his youthful appearance that made one lower their guard the moment they saw him.
In any case, Han Wolgaek ought to consider himself fortunate that it ended at this level. If the Poison King had truly set his mind to it, he would no longer be of this world.
“I brought out several amusing poisons this time.”
Even without the Poison King saying so, Sangseon knew that the poisons used on this trip to Wuhan would be unusual.
Unless Geom Muyang’s life was at stake, no one would die from the Poison King’s poison. The Poison King himself knew that better than anyone.
He knew what role he played in this martial world. He knew what the consequences would be if he killed righteous faction people with poison in front of the Murim Alliance headquarters.
The two walked side by side. With an herb pouch at his side and an insect collecting tube in his hand, who would ever think him the Poison King?
“Please rest at an inn. Once the Eldest Young Master’s new hideout is decided, I will inform you.”
From the moment he arrived, the Poison King had been watching Geom Muyang’s back without missing a single instant.
“When is that person coming?”
“They say Lord Mabul is coming as quickly as possible, so he should arrive in Wuhan before long.”
A strange sense of anticipation filled the Poison King’s face. Sangseon naturally assumed he was pleased because he would be able to share the task of protecting Geom Muyang.
But what the Poison King was looking forward to was something Sangseon had not imagined at all.
“Make me a list of rare poisonous herbs found only around Wuhan.”