Book 13 Chapter 18
Nightmare
An old man has a dream.
It's hot! It's hot! It's hot!
An old man thinks.
Sweat flows like rain.
He is thirsty. His mouth is hot. His throat feels like it's burning.
Intense heat approaches from all sides, as if to swallow him whole.
He turns his plump body and flees.
Waves of surging red flames engulf him. They swallow him. They try to burn him.
It's hot! It's hot! It's hot!
He shouts. He wails. He screams.
But his voice doesn't come out, as if his vocal cords have burned away. His throat is hot, as if he swallowed hot coals.
He turns his body. He runs. He flees.
Flames chase him from behind. Sweating profusely, he keeps running.
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, red flames ignite before his eyes. A wall of flames rises high, blocking his path.
This time, he turns to the right. He runs again. He flees.
WHOOSH!
Once again, a pillar of flames erupts in his path. The intense heat feels like it will burn his very soul.
It's hot. It's hot.
He turns and runs back. He feels like he's suffocating from the heat attacking him from all sides.
Again, a barrier of flames rises, blocking his path.
He frantically looks around.
Front, back, left, right!
All sides are surrounded by walls of flame. He is trapped in a prison of fire. He must escape.
Infinite heat approaches him. He feels like he's suffocating. It's hot. His soul feels like it will burn away.
Then, something emerges, parting the flames. It approaches.
It has a human shape, but it is not human. With fiery hair, it is clad in flickering flames. It is a fire spirit.
He must flee. But his legs feel stuck to the ground, unable to move.
The fire spirit grins. The flames all over its body burn even more fiercely. The red spirit raises a finger and points to his left arm.
He turns his head to look.
It is burning. It is burning brightly. His left arm is engulfed in bright red flames, burning.
"AAAAAAAARRRRRGGGH!"
With a piercing scream, the old man jolted awake.
It was a dream…
The old man gasped for breath. Cold sweat soaked the bed.
The dream of his left arm turning to ash in flames felt as if it had become reality.
The plump old man's left sleeve was empty.
Another old man has a dream.
His two eyes, emitting red light, shine like blood-soaked gems.
The owner of the gems. The wild-haired monstrous being collapses as if falling on the spot. Two sabers drop from the monster's hands to the ground.
Impossible! he wants to shout. The monster is not someone who would fall so easily.
The man who defeated the wild-haired monster is revealed.
He is young.
He is clearly not even twenty-five.
His face is not visible, as his bangs hang down like a curtain. Suddenly, an inexplicable fear washes over him. Impossible. There is no reason to feel fear towards such a mere whippersnapper.
He suddenly looks down at his hands. His hands are shaking violently on their own.
The man's footsteps are firm. The man's hand slowly rises. And his fingers slowly unfurl.
Slowly! Slowly! Time seems to pass incredibly slowly.
Now is the chance.
I have to escape! I have to escape!
He shouts desperately, but to no avail.
His body is paralyzed, as if pinned down. Soon, those fingers will fully unfurl. Then, he will truly die.
But his body does not move. Startled, he looks down at his feet.
A silent scream erupts.
Shadows wriggle and writhe, and black hands spring from the earth. Black hands grip his legs. There are more than one. All are hands imbued with the resentment of those he has killed. Among them, one hand is the largest and strongest. From the rippling abyss of darkness, the owner of the arm reveals himself. A blood-red glow emanates from his eyes. The face of the wild-haired monster, fallen to the man's hand moments ago, is there.
Save me! Save me! Save me!
But it is useless. Tears of resentment flow from his two blood-red eyes. Curses spill from his mouth.
When he looks straight ahead, he sees the man whose eyes are hidden by his bangs.
The man is smiling. He is smiling.
Click!
The man's fingers move lightly.
He feels nothing. But he knows. His right arm is no longer his own. The days when his right arm was part of his limbs are in the past.
Heh heh!
The man smiles again.
Now, the man's fingers have completely unfurled.
His vision turns red, and his whole body shatters. His soul is torn to shreds. He is afraid. He is in pain. He wants to die. Yet, he cannot die.
The pulling force from the darkness grows stronger. The red-eyed wild-haired monster shines with a bloody glow.
He sinks deeper and deeper. Soon, all but his neck is submerged in the swamp of darkness. Again, those hands grip his face.
Gulp, gulp, gulp!
Darkness floods down his throat.
"AAAAAAAARRRRRGGGH!"
The old man's eyes snapped open, and he jolted up in bed.
A dream!
It's a dream.
But the emaciated old man's right arm was empty, as if he had left it behind, cut off in the dream.
Across the room, he saw his companion, who had woken up at the same time.
They shared a room.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
One old man was as thin as a twig, and the other was as plump as a pig.
Both old men had hollowed-out eyes. Cold sweat streamed from their foreheads down their cheeks. Their backs were as wet as if they had been caught in a downpour.
The old men's eyes met. Perhaps due to the nightmares, all four pupils were sunken and exhausted. There was no need to ask for explanations. This was not the first time. It had become a constant occurrence lately…
"Damn it, that dream again…"
The two old men spoke simultaneously. They were utterly sick of it. They had come to fear sleeping. Ever since that day, the same nightmare had repeated every single day, nightmare after nightmare after nightmare.
They felt they could do anything to escape this quagmire of nightmares.
"Kuhk, again… again…"
The pain in their empty shoulders upon waking from nightmares was nothing new. Although time had passed, enough to get used to it, they still couldn't get used to it.
Fear is a monster that nests deep in the dark abyss of the heart. The more you recall it, the more the fear in your heart amplifies, grows, and eventually swallows the person whole. A person consumed by fear becomes a madman, an idiot, or a wreck. It is very difficult to expect normal thought, judgment, and discernment from such people.
"Bring me alcohol! Alcohol!"
The emaciated old man shouted in a furious voice.
CRASH!
An empty wine bottle flew through the paper door, hitting the wall and shattering into pieces. The sound of the breaking bottle echoed loudly through the night air. It was the plump old man who threw the bottle. He seemed to think this was a faster way to communicate.
Sounds of hurried movement were heard from outside the door.
"Damn it, son of a bitch, damn it all…"
Their dependence on alcohol had been increasing lately. Without alcohol, they couldn't sleep. They had to down strong spirits like water just to close their eyes.
Dozens of empty wine bottles lay scattered under the old men's beds, in disarray.
Midnight, near Jangseong 30, Huaping Village, Hua County, Shaanxi Province.
"So, what do we do now?" asked Na Yerim in a quiet voice, gazing at the main gate of Huaping Village. The main gate was brightly lit by raging bonfires.
"Your feet still feel numb, don't they?"
Bilyeon said this and smiled faintly.
"There's a suspicious smell."
Nohak said, sniffing as if he could actually smell something.
A total of four bonfires blazed, illuminating the darkness. Behind them, six warriors stood guard with their weapons, their eyes sharp. Furthermore, warriors could be seen patrolling in pairs according to the time. The security was tighter than expected.
'Why did I come all this way?'
A beggar, mixed among the shadows, grumbled inwardly.
The night for Oh Gae, the sub-branch chief of the Gaebang's Western Branch, was not yet over. He was the so-called guide. He had to be astonished by the incredible martial arts of these young people who had dragged him along like a dog. Despite moving violently, there was almost no sound. Moreover, once they started running, they were as fast as the wind. His own noisy footsteps seemed particularly jarring today.
'Is this the power of those chosen by the Huashan Covenant Branch…'
He had never experienced a difference in caliber so keenly at such close proximity. Nohak, who was standing there with them, seemed incredibly new.
"Shall we go then?"
Fourteen shadows, hidden in the night's shade, began to move silently.
Late midnight, backyard of Huaping Village.
"Ugh, hey. Did you see that? Did you see?"
One of two warriors patrolling in pairs, a tall man with a fierce expression, spoke to his companion. His voice held a strange excitement. The one listening was slightly shorter and nodded eagerly as if he had been waiting.
"I've never seen such a beauty in my life. Is that a human, or a rare treasure? My knees were so weak I could barely stand…"
The answering man's voice was somehow slurred.
"I was so flustered my heart was pounding. I thought it would burst! I almost got a nosebleed!"
Fortunately, the man seemed relieved that he managed to prevent that.
"Ah, even just once. I wish I could hold a woman like that just once in my life…"
The burly man said, shivering. His desire was palpable.
"You're right. She was truly breathtaking."
It looked as if saliva would drip from the mouths of the two men.
'These insolent bastards!'
One shadow, blending with a large tree, trembled. It was Murong Hui, who had infiltrated and was hiding. He had always scored perfect marks in stealth and infiltration classes.
Even without hearing the name, he could guess who the target was.
His face, listening in secret, turned red with anger. His cold, calm mind burned like a furnace.
'She is not someone to be toyed with by the glib tongues of mere scoundrels like you!'
He wanted to rush out and cut off their heads immediately.
He was shocked by his own impulsive desire to resolve things. This was unlike him, who always made it his principle to deal with all situations calmly and composedly, and who always tried to do so.
At that moment.
"AAAAAAAARRRRRGGGH!"
CRASH!
A loud, jarring sound echoed through the night air from somewhere. A duet of terrible screams and the sound of something breaking apart violently.
The silent night was torn to shreds in an instant.
Startled by the sound, the two warriors looked around with wary expressions.
Murong Hui and his colleagues hiding nearby quickly concealed themselves. The slowest to move was Yi Jinseol. Even after hiding, she had to struggle to suppress the thunderous pounding of her heart. When Dokgo Ryong gave her a cautionary look with his eyes, Yi Jinseol flinched.
The two men, their nerves on edge, resumed their original posture after scanning their surroundings. They seemed to have figured out the source of the disturbance.
'Again? Damn it! Stop startling people!' Complaints were heard. It seemed it wasn't the first time, but they still hadn't gotten used to it.
Whew.
The fourteen shadows of uninvited night visitors exhaled in relief, patting their chests. They had, for now, avoided detection.
At that moment, Bilyeon, hidden directly below, signaled. He pointed his finger at the two rude fellows. The meaning was to capture and interrogate them, as time was precious.
Murong Hui moved like the wind, as if he had been waiting. Bilyeon followed him.
Their shadows disappeared as if melting into the darkness.
Early midnight (around 0100), deep within the backyard of Huaping Village.
"That's where they are!"
Bilyeon said, hiding in the shadows of a corner of the main building and looking out. It seemed the testimony of the two fellows was not a lie. As they had said, two guards were protecting the door as if escorting it. This was surprisingly lavish treatment for a captive.
Does experience make one better? Yeom Do, who already had valuable experience, showed even more skilled interrogation and intimidation. Faced with her terrifying demeanor, which rivaled that of the King of Hell in the underworld, the two warriors captured by Bilyeon and Murong Hui—who had executed the task flawlessly—lost the courage to lie.
"Are you sure?"
Nevertheless, Namgung Sang seemed to want to cross the bridge after checking it.
"If they lie, they will be responsible for their words!"
Yeom Do's voice was low and eerie.
"If we are still alive by then!"
Bilyeon said playfully. He showed no signs of feeling threatened.
"We must survive to hold them accountable!"
Those two warriors should consider themselves fortunate that they did not see the expression on Yeom Do's face at that moment.
"To get in there, first…"
Bilyeon smiled and finished Yeom Do's sentence.
"We need a key."
"Oh dear!"
Nangggung Sang and Nohak let out small sounds of dismay. In front of them stood two warriors guarding the room where Eun Seollan was presumed to be kidnapped and confined. However, they stood as stiff as scarecrows. If one looked closely, one would discover thin silver needles embedded in their necks.
It was Dokgo Ryong's work. She had accurately struck their acupoints from outside the hall with her needles.
'Is this the skill of the Sword Queen's disciple?'
Seok Ryuhwa marveled inwardly at the surprising skill. Sword Queen Yi Ok-sang was the person she respected most after leaving official duties.
Everything had gone smoothly up to this point. But the problem arose next.
There was none. No matter how much they searched, it was not there.
The door had a large black lock, but the key was nowhere on their bodies. They searched every nook and cranny, but to no avail.
'What do we do?'
Na Yerim looked at Bilyeon with a desperate gaze. He was contemplating. The door could be pulverized in an instant if he wished. But that would be too noisy. That was not what they wanted.
At that moment.
"Make way!"
It was Murong Hui.
As people stepped back from the door at his words, Murong Hui approached and stood before the lock. Then, without hesitation, he drew his sword. For something like this! Murong Hui's gaze was fixed on the lock.
'There's no time to waste!'
Suddenly, a silver curve was drawn in the darkness.
There was no battle cry. There was no sound.
The sound of the cold blade slicing through the wind was not heard. Although the silver arc clearly passed over the lock cleanly, no sound echoed.
However, the downward strike quietly and cleanly split the lock in half. A silent gasp erupted.
A brilliant move!
The lock's restraint vanished.
"Let's go in!"
The door opened, and Murong Hui led the way inside. As Murong Hui rushed in, Bilyeon remarked.
"That guy must be really impatient!"
Ho Cheol was a low-ranking warrior.
He only knew how to do as he was told from above.
Moreover, he was the lowest in rank among those on duty. He grumbled inwardly, but he could never express his disrespectful dissatisfaction outwardly.
At that moment, the paper door of the room where he was on guard was broken, and something flew out. Then it hit the wall and shattered, scattering spectacularly.
'Again!' he grumbled inwardly.
From inside that room, a shout of "Bring me alcohol!" was heard.
As mentioned earlier, his rank here was the lowest. Several annoyed glances were cast at him.
Ho Cheol was a low-ranking warrior. Therefore, this task always fell to him.
However, there was a hitch. The kitchen had run out of alcohol. He knew who the culprit was without asking.
"Tsk!"
He grumbled aloud. It was fine to grumble as there was no one around.
If his body were to remain intact, he had to deliver the alcohol as quickly as possible. He knew this fact from experience and information.
He grabbed a handful of dried meat stored in a corner of the kitchen, stuffed it into his bosom, and popped a cold dumpling into his mouth before running towards the alcohol storage.
The alcohol storage was located deep in the backyard.
The room was quite luxurious. And a strange scent lingered in the air.
'What's that smell?'
He looked around the room.
It was spacious. And it was luxurious.
It was an unsuitable place to keep a captive. He couldn't understand why such a lavish place was necessary to confine one woman.
Murong Hui approached a bed on the right side. A curtain was drawn there.
Gulp!
With trembling hands, he pulled back the curtain.
"Hng!"
Murong Hui held his breath urgently. His heart felt like it would stop.
She was there.
The woman lay with her eyes closed, breathing softly. Her beauty was as exquisite as carved white jade. Her abundant hair was like unbound black silk. And her elegant, dignified white neckline. Murong Hui's gaze was drawn into it. Suddenly, his heart rate quickened.
It was definitely Eun Seollan. She was as quiet as if she had fallen into an eternal slumber.
Suddenly feeling uneasy, Murong Hui quickly placed a finger near her nose. Then he touched her carotid artery. He felt the soft, strong pulsation of life through his fingertips.
"Sister Lan!"
Pushing through the people, Seok Ryuhwa rushed forward and hugged Eun Seollan. Then she began to examine her meticulously. Her eyes were very serious. Several times, she called Eun Seollan's name and tried to shake her awake, but the beauty seemed lost in sleep.
A moment later, Seok Ryuhwa said in a calm voice.
"Her stamina and energy seem quite depleted. Fortunately, there are no external injuries. It seems she hasn't suffered any misfortune or humiliation. She just seems to be asleep. Judging by her pulse, her acupoints don't seem to have been pressed. I suspect she was given some kind of medicine. It was likely a safety measure."
Only then could Murong Hui and the others in the room truly sigh in relief. It was fortunate. All that remained was the escape.
Ho Cheol was a low-ranking warrior.
His rank was the lowest among those around him. Because of his low rank, he wanted to rise to a higher position. Naturally. To rise in rank, he had to achieve merit. And now, that opportunity had finally come for Ho Cheol.
Late at night, the door to that place was wide open. Yet, the two warriors guarding it stood stiffly like scarecrows. Ho Cheol knew those two. They were seniors with much higher ranks than him.
Mistakes meant demotion! This equation flashed in Ho Cheol's mind.
There's an opening at the top. The empty space needs to be filled. Usually, it's filled from the bottom up. This means the possibility of moving up increases exponentially. Therefore, there was no need to hesitate.
However, Ho Cheol hesitated for a moment. It was because of the four bottles of alcohol he held in his bosom.
He briefly imagined the repercussions he would face if these alcohol bottles were not delivered properly. In fact, he was being overcome by the urge to throw these bottles away and run. But that thought was not pleasant.
What if he just left things as they were? He would face a pleasant (?) beheading, let alone no promotion. His dilemma was not long.
Ho Cheol carefully placed the bottles of alcohol at his feet.
One, two, three… and four!
When everything was finished, Ho Cheol ran towards a certain place. There was an emergency bell. The red string that would lead him to success.
Ho Cheol frantically grasped the string and shook it with all his might.
The sound of the emergency bell tore through the silence of the night, echoing grandly. The sound was exquisitely beautiful, like a fanfare announcing his promotion.
The next moment, Ho Cheol took a deep breath. And shouted.
A resounding cry, announcing that the credit for this matter belonged to the low-ranking warrior Ho Cheol, shook the cold night air.
"Intruder! Intruder!"
Clang clang clang clang clang clang!
The sound of the emergency bell echoed noisily through the night sky.
The rescue party flinched at the loud noise. They had not even managed to get out of the room.
"Damn it!"
Jang Hong cursed briefly. Dokgo Ryong's face contorted. Yi Jinseol also ran about in confusion and distress within the room.
At that moment, a hand gently clasped Yi Jinseol's slender shoulders. She was startled and turned to look behind her. It was Hyo Ryong. It was as if he were saying, "Don't worry, trust me, I will definitely protect you." He hadn't completely regained his senses. But Yi Jinseol was so happy she could have cried. She could feel it. Her heart grew warm. As if she had never been flustered, she regained her composure.
Seok Ryuhwa looked at Na Yerim. How would she act? She appeared very calm. Even in this situation, she maintained a cool head.
Seok Ryuhwa operated her internal energy and regulated her breathing. If Na Yerim could be so calm, she couldn't afford to be flustered out of spite.
"Oh dear! I was trying to resolve this quietly… but the surrounding circumstances aren't cooperating."
Bilyeon said casually, with a playful tone. His words implied, "Why are you making things difficult for people?"
Outside the door, the shouts of "Intruder! An intruder has appeared!" still echoed. Even though their message should have been conveyed by now, it was still noisy, and she wished it would stop.
"Since it's come to this, we can't help it. Let's be bold. We snuck in cowardly by crossing the wall, but we'll have to leave boldly through the main gate."
They were the ones who kidnapped Eun Seollan. For whatever reason, they were definitely bad guys. Therefore, there was no need to show mercy.
"Before that, wouldn't it be best to cover our faces?"
They were nonexistent beings here. Therefore, they had no faces. Besides, it wouldn't do any good for their faces to be known.
At that, everyone wrapped their mouths with the cloth or sashes they had brought. This was sufficient.
Clang clang clang clang!
"What is it?"
One of the one-armed old men shouted in an irritable tone.
Having been sleepless due to nightmares, the old man's nerves were extremely frayed. He was even more annoyed because the alcohol he had ordered had not yet arrived.
"Yes, it appears to be an intruder."
A subordinate quickly ran up and reported.
"Intruder?"
How did they know about this place?
Regardless of its true nature, this place appeared to be a perfectly ordinary estate from the outside. Normally, ordinary humans would judge by appearances.
"A thief?"
It was still a rather large estate, so it was possible that a master of free wealth transfer had appeared. However, the subordinate's report ruined one of his expectations.
"It seems they are after the woman we captured yesterday."
"Hmm?"
Of course, the old man remembered the woman. She was even more memorable because she was beautiful. He had received specific orders to take good care of her. Her identity was not revealed to him. He only had the order. An absolute order that he could never disobey! He was a servant who had to faithfully follow that order.
"There are too many rats these days!"
Yesterday, he had cut down one rat. He was accompanying his master.
'He had considerable skill…'
He remembered the rat from yesterday who dodged his sword and survived.
The blood still on his beloved sword, Gu Gu (Ghost Cry), had not yet dried. He had felt it, but avoided a fatal wound. He had also heard reports that the hunt seemed to have failed. Therefore, it was highly likely he was alive.
Was this rat's companion from yesterday?
"Oh dear, that person is still here, and there's an intruder…"
This matter would not end quietly. In this state, he would have no face to see that person.
"Alright! Since I can't sleep anyway, this is good! I will personally handle it."
"Me too!"
The plump old man next to him exclaimed in unison.
"Yes!"
Perhaps after some exercise and sweating, they would be able to sleep well. The two old men thought this as they looked at each other. There might be some blood, but that could be washed off.
The emaciated old man picked up his beloved sword, 'Yo Geom (Demonic Sword) Gu Gu (Ghost Cry).' It was the twin sword of the previously lost Gu Hun (Ghost Soul). The plump old man also picked up his beloved weapon, Myeong Bu Do (Underworld Saber). It had almost been lost once, but fortunately, it had not.
The two old men left the room with light hearts.
It was a noisy night.
Early midnight (around 0200), somewhere in the backyard of Huaping Village.
"You carry her!"
"Me, me?"
At Bilyeon's instruction, Murong Hui stammered, perhaps flustered.
"Don't you want to? Shall I entrust it to someone else?"
Murong Hui hesitated for a moment. Even at this critical moment, his face flushed.
Entrusting such a task to a woman would be very inefficient. Of course, women in the martial arts world were different, but common sense interfered. He felt it wouldn't work. Perhaps it was the effect of repeated learning of common sense since childhood. In any case, women were excluded from the choice for now.
Meanwhile, the men's eyes gleamed inwardly, wondering who would get the role. Oh Gae showed his determination to compete even with Nohak, who had a higher position, to reclaim the role. However, they did not rashly step forward. They knew Nohak would not back down either.
Namgung Sang trailed off, saying, "Uh, what about me…?" and volunteered, but seeing Jin Ling's sharp gaze, he quietly lowered his arm. Her resolute gaze, tempered with the firm resolve to forgive no black hearts, selfish intentions, or changes of heart, was enough to make Namgung Sang cower and shrink like a paramecium.
Jang Hong seemed tempted, finding it quite appealing, but he suppressed it, fearing some future repercussions. Yoon Jun Ho, due to his timid heart, did not even dare to join this fierce competition.
To carry Sa Jung Hwa, who was said to be the best among the four flowers of the dark path, Eun Seollan, was considered a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck. The competition was high. However, for various reasons, everyone hesitated to step forward rashly. Thus, a strange and subtle balance was formed.
Strangely, everyone looked to Bilyeon. It was as if the decision-making power rested in his hands. A strange tension filled the room.
'Why are they having a standoff like this?'
Seok Ryuhwa, finding it frustrating to watch, considered stepping forward herself, but the atmosphere felt as if she would be stopped by those around her, so she gave up.
What was the origin of this strange sense of guilt that stirred in a corner of his heart… Murong Hui found himself tense, like an adolescent boy. But now was the time for decision. And a little courage.
"A-alright! I'll carry her!"
Finally, gathering the courage he had squeezed out, Murong Hui spoke. Bilyeon nodded. The decision was made. Sighs of disappointment erupted from various places.
"She is of noble status, so carry her without a single scratch! If the escort is insufficient, the princess will suffer. From now on, you will protect her!"
Bilyeon's last words were very serious.
"By my sword, my honor, and my life, I will definitely!"
Murong Hui replied with eyes shining with resolute determination.
Flush!
As a soft, warm, and plump chest pressed against his back, Murong Hui could not control his pounding heart. The curves of the woman were fully transmitted through his broad back. The sweet scent of camellia mixed with her fragrance stimulated his sense of smell.
What a good scent…
He had never smelled anything so soft and comfortable in his life. It felt as if he were embraced by nature.
'No, no! Focus! Focus!'
Murong Hui vigorously shook his head and quickly composed himself.
The mission was not over yet. Complacency was forbidden! If he got distracted, he could be stabbed in the back.
His sword was now entrusted with two lives. Mistakes were not allowed.
Midnight (around 0200), VIP room of Huaping Village.
"What is it?"
A young man of unparalleled beauty asked in a quiet voice. As he was enjoying the night's tranquility, savoring tea, a loud alarm suddenly sounded from one side of the estate, and the entire estate became noisy and bustling.
His voice was soft, but his eyes were as cold as ice.
"I-I apologize. It seems there is an intruder."
A middle-aged man bowed deeply before the young man. His current status was the master of the estate. It goes without saying, but the master (莊主) is the highest person in the estate. However, the middle-aged man took an extremely respectful and polite posture towards the young man.
"Intruder?"
The young man savored the implied meaning of the words for a moment.
'Could it be…!'
His thoughts drifted to a woman. Then another thought followed.
'How did they find this place? Were we exposed?'
That was impossible. They had taken sufficient precautions. There could be no shadows clinging to them. He was sure of that. Then, did they find this place through their own ability?
'It seems there's someone quite capable.'
He thought he should praise that ability. However, he could not return that flower. The face of that flower briefly flashed in the young man's mind.
'Ignorance is bliss… Why insist on knowing the truth?'
The young man's eyes deepened.
It had already been confirmed that she did not know anything so important. The old man's Soul Summoning Technique was very useful in that regard. Eun Seollan resisted considerably, but she could not overcome the old man's gaze. The interrogation was complete, but complacency was forbidden. He could not let her go.
"So, what happened to the situation?"
The water had already been spilled. While it was a lost cause to retrieve it, he could still pay attention to the cleanup.
"Yes! The two elders have stepped forward."
The status of the two elders was higher than his, but much lower than the young man's, so he did not use honorifics.
"Then I can trust it."
Since the elders had stepped forward, the situation would be resolved soon.
What if those two were defeated?
The young man chuckled inwardly.
Of course, such a thing would only be possible if the entire leadership of the Huashan Sect attacked.
But such a thing was absolutely impossible.
However, what was the origin of this lingering, uneasy feeling in his heart?
An unknown premonition of fate continued to stimulate the young man's instincts.
'Yes, just in case…'
It was a troublesome matter, and there was a high probability that it would be in vain, but the young man convinced himself that his actions were merely for the sake of caution.