Chapter 658. Hands Off.
When this subject had first come up, it hadn’t been about matters like this, but rather a somewhat commercial conversation.
I summarized and told the story of what had happened in the North Sea.
I held back what I couldn’t reveal. I organized what I could say and relayed it to Moyong Huia.
Of course, that was a role Yuri should have filled, not me.
Rustle.
Moyong Huia read the compiled letter several times.
Inside the room, the only sound was her handling the letter.
After looking at the letter for quite a while, Moyong Huia spoke.
“I’ve heard your story well.”
Even as she spoke, her gaze remained on the letter.
“First, allow me to express my regrets regarding what happened in the North Sea.”
“Thank you for your words….”
Yuri answered Moyong Huia’s statement, but one could sense the tension swirling in her voice.
It couldn’t be helped.
A person like Moyong Huia was more difficult to deal with than anyone in such a position.
Tap.
Moyong Huia set down the letter she was holding and looked at Yuri.
“However, separate from such regrets, I have many questions for the Palace Lord proxy. May we begin?”
“…Yes.”
This was where it truly began.
“Thank you for your understanding. Then, regarding the contract we made before proceeding with the work.”
Her voice dropped lower. At best, she was at the Pinnacle realm, but her pressure was no joke.
“In the contract, you stated that upon completion of the task, we could obtain exclusive trading rights with the North Sea. Is that contract still valid?”
“…It is valid.”
Moyong Huia nodded at Yuri’s answer.
“If so, the promise to proceed with trade within at least three months after wrapping up—is that still feasible now?”
‘Hmm?’
Hearing Moyong Huia’s words, my eyes widened.
‘So she had locked down a clause like that too.’
I knew she had secured exclusive trading rights, but it seemed she had firmly set deadlines as well.
She certainly handled matters thoroughly.
Hearing those words, Yuri’s expression darkened.
“…Regarding that part, there seem to be issues, so I believe it will be difficult.”
To distribute trade within three months. Even though the contract had been drawn up that way, it was impossible in the current situation.
‘Of course.’
Yes, it was only natural. The war hadn’t ended; it was still ongoing.
From the looks of things, victory and cleanup would come soon enough.
But even that would take three months.
Afterward, rebuilding the Ice Palace, replenishing manpower, and stabilizing things would take at least a year.
To start trade within three months while ignoring all this? It was absurd.
“I see.”
Having heard the answer, Moyong Huia nodded lightly.
She must have already heard the news through the letter; she had likely anticipated this from the start.
“Then, in the proxy’s view, when do you think trade will be possible?”
“At the earliest, until around this time next year….”
“Please be precise. You said the same thing when signing the contract.”
“…”
They looked similar in appearance save for their hair, yet the feeling was completely different.
Yuri, overwhelmed by Moyong Huia’s spirit, looked flustered.
Though Yuri surely had her own share of wit, she seemed far lacking compared to Moyong Huia.
“We can manage it by next autumn.”
Summer had changed to autumn. It was a reasonable concession.
However.
“This means the timeline has been extended by at least several months.”
There was simply no need for our side to accept that.
“The circumstances of the North Sea are regrettable, but in the end, the contract has been breached. Rather than terminating the agreement, I believe the ratio should be changed. Do you agree?”
Before Yuri could answer, a letter was already placed atop the table.
When had she pulled that out again?
No, from the very beginning.
‘When did she prepare that?’
It clearly hadn’t been prepared just now. Judging by the condition of the letter and the dried ink, several days had passed.
In other words.
‘…Does this mean she predicted this from the moment we departed?’
No matter how you looked at it, three months was impossible.
Moyong Huia had predicted as much and had already prepared to change the contract.
‘A scary one.’
I didn’t know about others, but I definitely shouldn’t let Moyong Huia catch me slipping.
Seeing this only confirmed it further.
Of course, changing a contract wasn’t something that happened easily, so as the conversation progressed, Yuri also seemed to be trying various tactics.
However.
“Thank you. Then let us wrap up this matter in this manner.”
“…Y-yes….”
By the time the conversation ended, Yuri looked completely drained, as if all her energy had seeped away.
Moyong Huia looked as neat and composed as she had at the beginning.
Even watching from the side made me break out in a cold sweat.
The way she cornered her opponent with words made me click my tongue without realizing it.
“I’ve prepared lodgings for the young lady to stay. The guards who came with you will also be headed there.”
‘Ah, right, those guys existed too.’
Come to think of it, those who had come as Yuri’s guards seemed to have been left here.
I had left them behind because it was annoying, but it seemed Moyong Huia had taken good care of them.
‘…Then, Yuri will have to stay here at least until next autumn.’
The Palace Lord had likely sent her as a refugee, but in result, she was little different from a hostage.
There was now justification to keep her until the contract was properly fulfilled.
Consequently, the Palace Lord had reason to begin trade with the merchant group as soon as the war ended.
In other words, Yuri was the leash.
Moyong Huia said so with a smile.
“…Th…thank you….”
With nothing more to say, Yuri nodded exhaustedly, and the conversation ended.
Afterward, Yuri rose first, guided by an attendant.
Seeing that, I tapped Woohyeok and told him to follow.
Woohyeok followed Yuri without a word.
“I shall take my leave first.”
Moyong Huia ignored the greeting Woohyeok offered, pretending not to see it.
Her attitude was so ferocious that I couldn’t even point it out.
After the two left, silence briefly settled in the room.
Until moments felt like eons.
“Huu….”
Moyong Huia let out a long sigh, and the atmosphere loosened slightly.
Easing her stiff expression, Moyong Huia looked at me and asked.
“Did you have a good trip?”
“…In my own way?”
“Judging by this alone, it doesn’t seem like you had a good trip.”
What on earth had the Palace Lord written in the letter to make her say that?
Cold sweat began to flow without my realizing it.
Perhaps my expression had shown, for Moyong Huia looked at me and broke into a grin.
“It’s fine. I’ve known for a long time that wherever the young master goes, he won’t simply return after an ordinary time.”
“…That sounds a lot like a curse?”
“Yes. It’s not a compliment.”
“Ah, yeah… I see.”
At those words, I had to laugh awkwardly.
“Where did Lady Mi go?”
“The Branch Head said she had a schedule for a few days and stepped out. Probably… I think she’ll return around tomorrow.”
A schedule? Well, timing-wise, it was indeed a busy time for Lady Mi.
‘Since the Martial Arts Tournament is coming up soon.’
Merchant groups are busiest not during the festival itself, but right before it.
They needed to secure contracts and prepare in advance to profit during the festival, so it was no wonder that Mi, the Branch Head, was on the move.
“And… even if not for that, I think she may be busy because of the rumors.”
“Rumors?”
I asked back at the meaningful words.
I had heard about this earlier.
During my conversation with Beomdong, I had heard talk of ‘rumors.’
“The Alliance’s great lord came to visit as well. It seemed that was the problem—what happened?”
“Ah….”
At my question, Moyong Huia paused briefly before speaking.
It was exactly what I had heard.
“A group calling itself the Demonic Cult has recently emerged and is causing a stir in the Central Plains.”
Hearing this, rather than being surprised, I couldn’t help but smile.
‘They must be doing well.’
It seemed they were doing what I had ordered properly.
The progress seemed a bit fast, but this much wasn’t bad.
“They say it’s a cult founded by an expert called the Heavenly Demon, someone never heard of before… and that they attack without discriminating between the Righteous and Unorthodox factions.”
This too was within expectations.
I had told them to spread rumors and make a splash, yet it felt like the news had spread slower than expected.
Yes, up to here, everything was fine.
But.
“There’s a rumor that the identity of this ‘Heavenly Demon’ is none other than the Defeated Venerable, one of the Three Venerables.”
‘…What?’
This I had not expected.
That was definitely not something I had planned.
Where had such a rumor sprung from?
Before I could even think about it.
“Hm?”
A voice tinged with question came from behind.
“…”
I felt a gaze suddenly pierce into me and had to swallow dryly.
‘…I think I’m screwed?’
Without a doubt.
That man had just started suspecting me because of those words. Without a moment’s hesitation, he had immediately begun to suspect me.
That’s too much—yes, I did it, but shouldn’t he at least hesitate a little?
‘Fuck, who is it?’
Where was the source of that rumor?
It was a rumor that shouldn’t have spread ‘yet.’
Who was it?
‘Could it be Pilduma?’
He was the most likely suspect, but I didn’t think so.
He wasn’t a foolish old man to the extent that he would spread rumors like this.
Then who could it be?
‘I don’t know.’
I didn’t know right now. Besides, this wasn’t the time to rack my brains.
“Young master?”
“The Defeated Venerable… I don’t think that’s possible?”
For now, playing dumb was the priority.
Moyong Huia nodded as if agreeing with my answer.
“Yes, I think so as well.”
Moyong Huia’s gaze turned somewhere.
It was toward the Defeated Venerable sitting right behind me.
Had she realized the Defeated Venerable was here? It didn’t seem so.
‘She’s probably just looking because a descendant of his lineage is here.’
Seo Anbi, of the Defeated Venerable’s bloodline.
Since a blood relative from that place was sitting right here, she probably couldn’t dare speak ill.
“…Surely one of the Righteous faction’s Three Venerables wouldn’t do such a thing.”
“Right, he wouldn’t.”
The Defeated Venerable let out a scoffing laugh. It was the first time he had spoken since arriving.
“Such a great figure probably wouldn’t do such a thing….”
He was calling himself a great figure with his own mouth. I somehow held back my expression from contorting in disgust.
“Might you know how such rumors spread?”
It was the Defeated Venerable asking Moyong Huia.
“Regarding the information, there is a hearsay that someone spread it, but…”
Moyong Huia’s tone suggested that this wasn’t the case.
Did she mean it wasn’t spread by someone?
Then what?
The moment I harbored such a question, Moyong Huia spoke.
“…There is information that the martial art he used when assassinating the Wudang Sect Elder was a secret martial art used by the Defeated Venerable.”
“…”
“This is not confirmed information, but… I hear they are investigating based on the point that the one called Heavenly Demon demonstrated pressure on the level of the Three Venerables.”
I nodded at her words.
Hmm, I see.
‘It’s because of me. Haha, fuck.’
It seemed a problem had occurred because I had caused too much of a mess.
I can’t even curse with him right here, what a pain.
I had thought Tuapacheonmu wouldn’t be discovered because it wasn’t a martial art with particularly distinctive features on the outside.
‘It seems someone saw it after all.’
To the extent that they noticed this, either another elder had been nearby.
‘Or they found some trace…’
It seemed they had discovered something.
‘I’m screwed.’
I had to hide the cold sweat trickling down and think.
Was the problem that the information had spread like that? No.
‘Who cares.’
Since my identity hadn’t been exposed anyway, I wasn’t interested in that at all.
The problem was.
‘I can’t let that man find out.’
At the very least, I couldn’t be found out by the person himself.
‘His gaze hurts.’
Already, the Defeated Venerable was staring holes into me.
I couldn’t turn my head.
If I turned now, it was over.
Then, what should I do? After racking my brain for a moment, I thought of something.
‘It can’t be helped.’
In times like this, there was no other way. I had to use the final resort.
‘Run.’
Let’s run away.
Thinking so, I rose from my seat.
“Young master?”
“Something urgent came up. See you later.”
“Huh? So suddenly? Y-Young—!”
Moyong Huia tried to urgently call out to me, but.
It was already after I had disappeared.
“…Huh?”
Moyong Huia was bewildered by the sudden situation.
He’s really leaving? We just met after so long?
“This man really…!”
Moyong Huia clenched her fist fiercely and gritted her teeth.
We weren’t even done talking yet…!
Especially since I hadn’t even brought up the matter of the Sword Peak, why did he disappear in such a hurry?
The moment Moyong Huia tried to calm her boiling insides.
“Then I’ll be going too. See you later!”
Dang Soyeol, who had been reading the room from behind, quickly greeted Moyong Huia and vanished.
That was even more annoying.
“…If I see you both later, I won’t let you off easy.”
Thinking she would give them a piece of her mind if she caught them, Moyong Huia barely regulated her breathing.
And she realized.
That she was now alone in this room with an uncomfortable person.
“…”
Perhaps embarrassed by the attitude she had shown, Moyong Huia straightened her posture.
Then she looked at the young man before her.
A beautiful young master with black hair and black eyes, possessing gentle-looking features.
‘Turyong.’
Blood kin of the Defeated Venerable.
Turyong Bieuijin.
They were of the same Six Dragons and Three Peaks, but they had never spoken before.
She merely regarded him as a friend because he traveled with Goyangcheon.
He was also someone Moyong Huia subtly felt uncomfortable with.
‘…A man with a strange atmosphere.’
He didn’t seem to have his walls up particularly high, yet he appeared indifferent to others.
A gaze that held no interest in anything made those black eyes even darker.
Her instinct was telling her.
That she must not treat that person carelessly.
An inexplicable sense of unease restrained Moyong Huia’s attitude.
As Moyong Huia watched Turyong with such discomfort.
‘Why isn’t he leaving?’
For some reason, Turyong remained seated quietly without leaving the room.
Having companions all leave, he should have gotten up.
As Moyong Huia harbored such a question.
“You know.”
Turyong spoke to Moyong Huia.
“It was Seolbong, was it not?”
“…Yes, that’s right, young master Turyong.”
Turyong smiled at Moyong Huia’s answer.
It was a gentle-looking smile, yet an inexplicable creepiness was felt.
Amidst such creepiness, Turyong said something unexpected to Moyong Huia.
“You seem to like making deals. Would you do a deal with me? The reward will be nothing to scoff at.”
“…What deal are you speaking of all of a sudden? If it’s regarding what was just said….”
“Ah, that’s not it. That’s an obvious matter, so I can find that out myself.”
“Yes?”
Did this mean it wasn’t a question about the Defeated Venerable?
Then what on earth did he want to trade?
“I’m asking because you seem like a trustworthy person. I would like you to obtain a piece of information for me.”
“…Information, you say?”
“It’s nothing much.”
Turyong’s expression changed as he spoke.
“I would like to request information regarding the Flame King.”
Though he was still smiling as before.
Turyong was smiling only with his mouth.
At that sight, Moyong Huia felt a chill.
********************
I came out of the merchant group as if fleeing.
I picked up speed to put distance between us, but my eyes kept glancing back.
‘…Why isn’t he following?’
I had thought he would immediately follow and grab me by the scruff of my neck, but contrary to expectations, the Defeated Venerable didn’t come out.
That was even scarier.
It felt like a ‘see you later’ kind of gesture.
‘Fucking hell.’
To think such rumors would spread.
It was becoming a bit of a headache.
“…Tch.”
I clicked my tongue and shook my head.
To hell with it. If caught, I’ll just play dumb, what else can I do?
‘If I say it’s not me, what can they do?’
I decided to keep it simple. Basically, a ‘so what’ attitude.
Alternatively, running away for several days straight was also an option.
Though meeting later would make things more awkward.
Pat, pat.
I dusted off the dirt from rushing out.
“Hmm.”
Looking around while dusting off, there were a great many people.
It was likely because the festival period was approaching, so many had arrived.
Even among the crowds, the ratio of martial artists was noticeably increased.
‘Their levels are high too.’
First-class ones were a given, and occasionally Peak-level martial artists could be seen.
They were probably mostly people who had come for the Martial Arts Tournament.
‘They must be very interested in this Martial Arts Tournament.’
It couldn’t be helped.
It was a Martial Arts Tournament being held for the first time in several years, and the prizes at stake were no ordinary matter.
‘Though there may be famous swords and miracle pills.’
The most important thing here was none other than.
‘The revival of the Divine Dragon Brigade.’
The direct unit under the Alliance Lord, a group of experts who represented the Martial Alliance.
That was the Divine Dragon Brigade, a unit that had briefly disappeared due to an incident but was now speaking of revival alongside the Martial Arts Tournament.
It meant rebuilding their symbolism, as well as the prestige of being able to share in their beginning.
For gentlemen who lived and died for fame, greed was bound to be stirred.
And this was an important part for me as well.
The most important part of the ‘plan’ that lay ahead.
I had to somehow make use of that Divine Dragon Brigade.
‘Since there’s less than a month left until the Martial Arts Tournament, maybe I should start preparing.’
It was annoying to have to move immediately upon arriving, but this was not the time to hesitate.
So, thinking I’d check on the task I had entrusted first, just as I thought of going to find Pilduma again.
Thud—!
“Kyak!”
Someone crashed into me and fell.
Shifting my gaze, I saw a woman.
Of course, I didn’t extend a hand to help her up; I just looked.
The woman then raised her fallen body and hurriedly bowed her head to me.
“I apologize. This girl failed to look ahead properly. Are you injured anywhere?”
When she bowed, the scent of incense filled the tip of my nose.
Feeling this, I wrinkled my nose.
It was a terrible smell. Others might not know, but it was a scent I quite disliked.
At the same time, the woman’s face was visible through her veil.
Seeing that, my eyebrows moved slightly.
‘Haha.’
Having confirmed it, I held back a smile.
It was a familiar face.
The woman was considerably beautiful.
If Wi Seol-a or Namgung Bia were faces that a hundred out of a hundred people would look at, this was a face that ninety out of a hundred would look at.
With her mature atmosphere and peculiarly seductive eyes, her voluptuous figure and prominent curves were enough to set any man’s heart aflame, but.
‘Look at this?’
The women around me were all so superior that this level of beauty couldn’t catch my eye.
The reason I was surprised wasn’t that.
‘Still as quick to act as ever. Sending her right away.’
The woman’s alias was Bihyeonhwa.
She was a member of the Martial Alliance’s investigation team, famous for extracting information using the honey trap.
In other words.
It meant she was from the Martial Alliance—and at that, a woman sent by Beomdong.