“I can’t believe it.”
Gwak Yeong was greatly surprised to learn that the White Dragon Division Lord was involved in this matter.
She had thought it possible that the merchant supplying materials to the Iron Workshop was involved.
But the White Dragon Division Lord was colluding with the mastermind?
'Could this man be deceiving me?'
How unbelievable must it be for such a thought to even cross her mind?
But Gwak Yeong trusted this man.
That was why another thought followed.
'If that man wanted to deceive me, I would be fooled without a doubt.'
After all, how many times had they met? She was now trusting this man, not the White Dragon Division Lord.
“If you hadn't been the one to tell me, I would never have believed it.”
Geom Muyang, who normally would have said nothing, spoke up for some reason.
“If you trust anyone so easily, it will be difficult to survive in this Martial World.”
After a brief pause, Gwak Yeong spoke.
“You’re not just anyone. You're the benefactor who will save my younger sibling, right? I must trust you. Even if everyone else in the world curses you, I won't.”
As Geom Muyang stared at her, Gwak Yeong said to him.
“That’s right, I’m putting a burden on you. It’s the only thing I can do right now.”
Geom Muyang, who had been looking at her, turned his head to look out the window.
Just then, Ho Myeong entered the room.
“This is the information sent from the Heaven-Reaching Pavilion about the White Dragon Division Lord.”
Geom Muyang took the few sheets of paper Ho Myeong handed him and read them.
They contained personal information about the White Dragon Division Lord, describing his personality and the process by which he rose to the position of Division Lord.
“His wife died early, and he has one daughter.”
At that, Gwak Yeong cried out.
“His daughter must have been kidnapped.”
She thought everyone would naturally assume so.
“Why do you think that?”
“What?”
“Couldn’t this have been his own choice?”
Gwak Yeong was at a loss for words at Geom Muyang’s question.
She had always thought of the White Dragon Division Lord as a good person.
He always treated her comfortably with a smiling face whenever he saw her.
But thinking about it, she knew almost nothing about the White Dragon Division Lord.
Strictly speaking, the man who was now reading the report probably knew more about him than she did, despite having known him for over a decade.
Could it really be his choice, not because of a threat?
“What are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to meet the White Dragon Division Lord.”
“Do you think he’ll meet you?”
It was unlikely the White Dragon Division Lord would meet him.
And even if he did, he would surely have numerous masters lying in ambush.
Then, Geom Muyang said something completely unexpected.
“The one meeting the White Dragon Division Lord is not me, but you.”
Gwak Yeong was startled.
She could tell he was being serious.
The man had never once made a joke since she met him.
“You were the one who told me to use you to catch them, weren't you?”
“That’s true, but…”
She knew it too.
This was not a problem that could be solved by hiding like a fugitive.
To find out her sibling's whereabouts, she had to follow this lead.
The White Dragon Division Lord was all they knew about the enemy right now.
But that wasn't the important part.
“Didn’t you say my sibling would die if I went out?”
Geom Muyang nodded.
“And you still want me to go out?”
Again, he nodded.
Bewilderment outweighed resentment.
She knew well that he was not a man to break a promise so easily.
“You promised you would save my sibling, didn’t you?”
“This is to keep that promise.”
Gwak Yeong stared intently at Geom Muyang.
His eyes seemed to say, or at least she hoped they did:
If you’ve trusted me once, trust me to the end.
Last time, she had begged and screamed for him not to let her out, even if it meant death.
She had said she would stay in the dirt with a bamboo tube in her mouth if she had to.
But this time, those words did not come out.
Because he was asking her to do this, despite what she had said.
This was something that had to be done.
“Alright, but make me one more promise.”
She said frankly.
“Since you’re saving us, please make sure you save me too.”
*
“Bring me some stew.”
At the customer's request, the restaurant owner was about to say they didn't sell stew, but he froze.
It was a martial artist with white hair and a square face, and his face was filled with anger.
The owner knew from long experience that he shouldn't provoke such a customer.
“Yes, I’ll prepare it and bring it right away.”
The martial artist was none other than Han Wol-gaek.
He'd been running to the latrine all day and had only just now calmed down.
It was truly the first time he had ever had such a severe stomachache.
'To think I can't control it with my inner energy. Am I getting old?'
He never imagined that someone had intentionally made him sick.
He had gotten sick after eating and drinking at the Red Flower Pavilion, so he should have turned the place upside down, but he was holding back for one reason.
Rumors in the Martial World that Han Wol-gaek had an upset stomach, that he spent all day in the latrine… that was something he absolutely could not tolerate.
A moment later, the owner brought the stew.
After eating a bowl of stew, he finally felt alive again.
To think he could be this hungry after skipping meals for just one day.
Just then, a small child entered the restaurant and handed Han Wol-gaek a note.
“A martial artist asked me to give you this.”
Then the child scampered away.
Han Wol-gaek read the note and then burned it with his extreme yang energy.
Whoosh.
Those Demon Sect bastards he failed to kill yesterday, he would kill them all today.
He had mercifully granted their miserable lives one more day.
Han Wol-gaek stood up and left the restaurant.
As he walked toward the entrance, he saw a familiar young man eating.
'Where have I seen him?'
Then, he noticed the collection basket and herb pouch next to the young man.
'Ah! It's that kid!'
The same kid he had advised to swing a sword instead of wasting time squatting on the roadside looking at grass.
Of course, that man was the Poison King.
He was about to walk past, but Han Wol-gaek turned back and walked towards the Poison King.
It was someone he had met right before his stomach acted up.
Just in case, he looked down at him.
If the man had pulled some trick, he wouldn't show his face again like this.
As if unaware that someone was standing in front of him and glaring, the Poison King kept his head down and just ate his food.
“Hey.”
Only when Han Wol-gaek called out did the Poison King raise his head.
“Why are you loitering around me?”
The Poison King wore an expression of complete bewilderment, as if he had no idea what he was talking about.
He even seemed not to remember Han Wol-gaek.
You remember someone, but they don't remember you? It's subtly infuriating and a blow to one's pride.
How dare he not remember me?
He was annoyed, but he couldn't get angry over something like this.
“Right, if you're slow-witted, you'll have to work hard digging up herbs just to get by.”
Han Wol-gaek turned away.
He was in a foul mood for various reasons.
Was it really something to snap at someone over for not remembering a face? How petty, how truly petty.
The thought occurred to him, but he didn't go back to apologize.
How far had he walked after leaving the restaurant?
Han Wol-gaek began to scratch his arm.
It itched like a mosquito bite, but scratching brought no relief.
First his arm itched, then his back.
'Damn it, why am I so itchy all of a sudden?'
He rolled up his sleeve and saw his arm was covered in small, millet-like rashes.
He was shocked at the sight.
'No way.
Did the stew upset my stomach again?'
It wasn't just his arms.
His back, stomach, legs, and even his buttocks.
His whole body was so itchy he couldn't stand it.
Forgetting all about his dignity, he stood on the street and scratched his body furiously.
Passersby gave him a wide berth and walked around him.
He was too itchy to even get angry.
He tried to use his inner energy to do something about it, but no method he knew could stop the itching.
Just then, an old man who was telling fortunes on the street spoke to him.
His words were enough to make him forget the itching.
“Sir, you have come to a place you should not have.”
Han Wol-gaek, still scratching, looked at the old fortune teller.
The old man's eyes were deep, as if he possessed some divine insight.
“What are you talking about?”
The old fortune teller said to Han Wol-gaek.
“You came to chase a demon, but a demon has possessed you instead.”
Han Wol-gaek stood stunned for a moment, staring at the old fortune teller.
The reason he couldn't just yell "what nonsense is this" was because the man had guessed correctly that he came to chase a demon.
“Leave the land of Wuhan at once before you suffer a greater misfortune.”
Finally, unable to hold back, he shouted.
“Cut the nonsense!”
He was going crazy from the itching, and now what was this old man talking about? Really, what was wrong with everyone today?
He needed to talk more with the old man, but Han Wol-gaek couldn't bear it any longer.
He used his lightness art and started running towards a doctor's clinic.
After Han Wol-gaek left, the Poison King came and sat down next to the old man.
The old fortune teller was none other than Sangseon, who assisted the Poison King.
“That man won’t be able to do anything today either.”
If it could be solved by visiting a doctor, how could he be called the Poison King? Unless the Martial Alliance’s Divine Doctor himself came, he would spend the entire day just scratching himself.
“I was originally going to give him something less painful.”
It was the result of Han Wol-gaek running his mouth.
Sangseon smiled and looked at the Poison King.
For someone who hated coming out into the world so much, the Poison King was always so good at whatever he did once he was out.
“But this won't be enough to make him leave.”
At Sangseon’s words, the Poison King said meaningfully.
“If he sees a ghost, he might believe your fortune.”
“Master Craftsman Gwak has returned.”
The White Dragon Division Lord was startled by his subordinate's report.
And indeed, Gwak Yeong was entering, following the subordinate.
“What on earth happened?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask. I was away on some external business and came back to hear news that I'd been kidnapped.”
At her words, not only the White Dragon Division Lord but also the martial artists with him were all surprised.
“So you weren't kidnapped?”
“As you can see.”
The White Dragon Division Lord examined her.
She was completely unharmed, making her words seem true.
“Who on earth said that? That I was kidnapped?”
“There was an anonymous tip that someone witnessed you being kidnapped. After receiving the tip, we checked your residence and you were gone.”
“It was a false report.”
The White Dragon Division Lord looked at her for a moment, then smiled brightly.
“I’m just glad you’ve returned.”
The White Dragon Division Lord said to his subordinates.
“Halt the search and return to the Alliance. Prepare a carriage for Master Craftsman Gwak.”
His subordinates moved busily upon receiving the order.
They also sent men to relay the command to those searching in other areas.
The White Dragon Division Lord said to Gwak Yeong.
“Come, let's return together.”
“You all went through so much trouble because of me.”
“It’s fine as long as you’re safe.”
The two got into a carriage, which was escorted by the subordinates.
No matter how she looked, Gwak Yeong could find nothing suspicious about the White Dragon Division Lord.
He asked her several times if she was hurt anywhere.
'This man is a villain?'
This time, it seemed that man had misjudged.
Seeing him again, she knew.
The White Dragon Division Lord was a good person.
On the way back, the White Dragon Division Lord had the carriage stopped.
He said to his subordinates.
“You all go back first.”
He sent the carriage and his subordinates ahead.
“You and I need to talk for a moment.”
The place where the carriage had stopped was the very same manor where Geom Muyang had first hidden.
The two of them entered the manor.
Traces of construction were left here and there.
“Where is this place?”
The White Dragon Division Lord then spoke coldly.
“You know, don't you?”
“What do you mean?”
“The place where those bastards first brought you.”
He seemed convinced that she had been kidnapped.
“Why are you lying?”
“I’m not lying.”
The White Dragon Division Lord's expression changed.
It was a cold look that made her think, so this man has this side to him too.
“Where are they now?”
At the White Dragon Division Lord’s questioning, a doubt arose in her mind.
“Why are you asking this question here, when it's just the two of us, instead of where everyone else was?”
“It’s for your own good.”
Gwak Yeong’s expression also became calm.
“You think I’m one of them.”
“Are you not?”
Then, Gwak Yeong said with a meaningful expression.
“I’m on your side, Division Lord.”
For a moment, the White Dragon Division Lord’s expression flickered.
“I know too. That you are on my side, Division Lord.”
The White Dragon Division Lord stared at Gwak Yeong without a word.
From his gaze, Gwak Yeong could tell.
This man... he really has joined hands with them.
“If you suspected me, isn’t it dangerous for you to be here alone like this?”
Just then, a voice came from behind.
“He must have someone to rely on.”
Geom Muyang emerged from behind a building.
Ho Myeong and the Division's martial artists followed him.
But the White Dragon Division Lord showed no surprise or fear at their appearance.
Instead, a hint of gladness crossed his face.
“You may have tried to lure me out using this woman, but I had already anticipated it.”
At those words, Gwak Yeong looked at Geom Muyang with a startled heart.
She had set a trap, only to be caught in a counter-trap.
Geom Muyang’s face was impassive, showing no emotion.
The White Dragon Division Lord shouted loudly.
“Come out now and eliminate all these demons!”
The person he was relying on was Han Wol-gaek.
With him here, not a single demonic practitioner would be able to leave alive.
The Han Wol-gaek he knew was an absolute master representing the Righteous Path.
“Please, come out!”
But Han Wol-gaek did not appear.
The White Dragon Division Lord’s expression hardened.
He had proceeded with this plan, believing he would surely come.
He had said he would definitely come.
“Whoever it is, it seems they’re not coming.”
Just then!
The gates of the manor slowly began to open.
“He’s here!”
The overjoyed White Dragon Division Lord was suddenly startled.
The person who entered was not Han Wol-gaek.
It was a completely unexpected person.
'Why is he here?'
He was so surprised that he was momentarily speechless.
But soon, a thought came to him.
He couldn't possibly be on the side of those demonic practitioners.
'He sent this person instead of Han Wol-gaek!'
The White Dragon Division Lord was truly astonished.
To think his influence could move even this person.
Surprisingly, the person who appeared there was the Demon Slaying Branch Master, Jin Ha-gun.
Martial artists appeared on top of the manor walls, surrounding the area.
They were members of the Demon Slaying Branch.
Ho Myeong and the Division's martial artists all drew their swords at once, surrounding Geom Muyang.
A smile formed on the White Dragon Division Lord's lips.
“Demon Slaying Branch Master Jin! Please, eliminate the wicked foes of the Demon Sect!”
Jin Ha-gun's and Geom Muyang’s eyes met in mid-air.
A tense atmosphere, ready to explode at any moment, flowed between the subordinates.
Geom Muyang’s gaze shifted from Jin Ha-gun to the White Dragon Division Lord.
“The person you called… when is he coming?”
At the unexpected question, the White Dragon Division Lord wore a bewildered expression and shouted, looking back at Jin Ha-gun.
“What crazy talk is that? He is standing right here!”
Then, astounding words flowed from Geom Muyang’s mouth.
“That person is someone I called.”