Episode 62
At midnight that night, Man Jong-im, the Grandmaster of the Twelve Dragons, stood with his twelve elite warriors, waiting in the western forest for someone who was supposed to appear.
Do Mu-gon, the leader of the first squad, scanned the surroundings warily and muttered in a low voice.
“This feels way too suspicious, Grandmaster. If they know we’re hunting the Blood Sect, that means we’re completely exposed to them. I’m almost certain this is a trap.”
Man Jong-im scoffed dismissively.
“Hmph! Afraid, are you? Even if it is a trap, so what? If that’s the case, it only means we’ve found the Blood Sect bastards for real.”
Do Mu-gon clenched his jaw, barely holding back his frustration.
How reckless to say something like that.
What good is it to find them if we just end up dead?
Does he really think we can handle those subordinates—rumored to include the legendary warrior Jeo Ung-won, with over ninety years of internal energy, plus three other top-tier masters—with just this small group?
And if the ones who called us here are truly from the Blood Sect, then it means they found us, not the other way around.
Do Mu-gon’s unease deepened. He suddenly regretted coming with Man Jong-im.
Unaware of Do Mu-gon’s turmoil, Man Jong-im muttered to himself.
“It’s almost three in the morning. Where exactly are they supposed to appear?”
Even Man Jong-im wasn’t entirely at ease. They had no clue who might know they were tracking Jeo Ung-won.
If these people weren’t actually allies with information on Jeo Ung-won, tonight could turn deadly.
“If they know our objective, it must be members of the Thirteenth or Eleventh Squads. But it can’t be them. Then it’s either the Martial Alliance, the Blood Sect, or those who got intel from Hao Sect…”
Man Jong-im suspected it was most likely those who had gotten information from Hao Sect.
But he refused to admit it.
To do so would mean accepting responsibility for telling Hao Sect about Jeo Ung-won, despite Do Mu-gon’s objections.
His pride wouldn’t allow it.
As they remained on edge, alert to every sound, a faint rustling came from one side of the forest.
Someone was approaching.
It sounded like a sizable group of martial artists.
Man Jong-im whispered urgently.
“Twelve Dragons, prepare for battle!”
“Clang! Clang!”
The twelve warriors drew their weapons instantly.
About thirty figures dressed in black, their faces covered, emerged opposite them.
It was a large number to face.
Man Jong-im gritted his teeth and called out in a low voice.
“Who goes there?!”
No answer came.
Instead, a question was thrown back.
“Are you the ones tracking the Blood Sect’s leaders?”
The question eased Man Jong-im’s hostility slightly.
Anyone asking like that probably wasn’t from the Blood Sect.
He softened his tone and asked again.
“Yes. We are. And you—who are you?”
The masked figures hesitated, as if considering their response.
Then the one at the front stepped forward and removed his mask.
“I suppose I can trust you if you’re chasing the Blood Sect’s leaders. I am Gu Yu-sang of the Justice Faction.”
Despite the darkness, his silver hair and pale face shone brightly—a strikingly handsome man.
Man Jong-im’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Gu Yu-sang? The Jade Dragon of the Justice Faction?”
Gu Yu-sang smiled warmly, a dazzling grin that seemed to radiate light.
“Some have been kind enough to call me that. Now, may I ask your name and rank, senior?”
Gu Yu-sang was one of the most famous late-stage masters in Sichuan Province.
He had reached the pinnacle of his art in his twenties and earned the title “Dragon.” His handsome looks had earned him the nickname “Sichuan’s Number One Noble Son.”
He was also known as the secret disciple of the Justice Faction’s leader.
Meeting Gu Yu-sang completely dispelled Man Jong-im’s doubts.
A renowned late-stage master from the righteous faction, and apparently also hunting the Blood Sect—he could be trusted.
“Ah! To meet a late-stage master of the righteous faction here! A pleasure! I am Man Jong-im, Grandmaster of the Twelve Dragons!”
Do Mu-gon gasped in surprise and tried to stop him.
“Grandmaster!”
But it was too late.
Gu Yu-sang’s eyes sparkled with interest.
“Oh? So you are Man Jong-im, Grandmaster of the Twelve Dragons?”
“That’s right. I’m the one who came all this way chasing the Blood Sect’s leader, Jeo Ung-won.”
Gu Yu-sang smiled brightly.
“As expected of the Grandmaster of the Twelve Dragons.”
Flattered, Man Jong-im cleared his throat.
“Hmph, just an empty title. But tell me, is it true you have information on them?”
Gu Yu-sang nodded sharply.
“Yes. While investigating the Yun family estate recently, we learned that unknown masters entered the estate. There were even reports of sensing demonic energy. We were investigating further, and if you say so, they must be Jeo Ung-won’s group.”
Man Jong-im’s eyes gleamed.
“Is that true? They entered the Yun estate?”
“Yes. Witnesses said the group was led by a large, burly man. It must be them.”
Man Jong-im’s face lit up brighter than it had in days.
“Finally, we’ve found them! Hahaha! See, Mu-gon? Didn’t I say it was the Yun estate?”
Still skeptical, Do Mu-gon asked Gu Yu-sang.
“Excuse me, but how can we trust your word? And how did you get information about us?”
Gu Yu-sang smiled confidently.
“We got our information from Hao Sect. Coincidentally, I had business with them recently, so fate must have brought us together. And… if you doubt me, the fact that I’ve come all this way chasing the Blood Sect is proof enough. But if you’re still unsure, why not come with us and see for yourself? We plan to ambush the Blood Sect leaders soon. Join us, senior. What do you say?”
He looked at Man Jong-im, not Do Mu-gon, as he made the offer.
Man Jong-im, now fully convinced and smiling warmly, couldn’t refuse.
“Is there even a question? I’d be the one asking to join you! Hahaha!”
Do Mu-gon looked on helplessly, but he had no say in the matter.
In the ronin district of the Mountain Sword Sect, Ha Cheong-yeon was with her companions when suddenly someone called out to her.
“Miss Yeon! May I have a moment of your time?”
The tone was bold, almost arrogant.
To dare ask the celestial beauty Yeon Hae for her time so bluntly!
All the ronin nearby turned their gaze to the speaker in surprise.
What they saw was a slick-looking scoundrel.
His handsome face, expensive clothes, and haughty expression left a strong impression.
Naturally, the ronin looked on with disdain.
They had been watching from afar for days, and now this stranger suddenly appeared, demanding her attention.
It was utterly ridiculous.
Still, despite their scorn, the ronin glanced nervously at Ha Cheong-yeon, worried she might actually grant him time.
Ha Cheong-yeon gave him a brief, indifferent look and replied matter-of-factly.
“No.”
The ronin burst out laughing, as if saying, “Of course.”
The man’s face flushed with anger, but he quickly composed himself and said firmly.
“Miss, you may not know me well, but I am Heo Yoon-gu, nephew of Heo Kyung, the Mountain Sword Sect’s sect leader!”
Ha Cheong-yeon regarded him with an expressionless stare for a moment, then asked again.
“And?”
The watching ronin couldn’t hold back their laughter any longer.
They chuckled loudly, clearly entertained.
The man, now furious, shouted.
“You are just a ronin, and I am the sect leader’s nephew! So if you want to get along here, you’d better learn to respect me, Heo Yoon-gu! Do I have to spell it out for you?”
The ronin shook their heads, muttering.
“At first, I thought he was just a little crazy, but now I see he’s seriously insane.”
“How can someone like that be the sect leader’s nephew? This place must be doomed.”
Their eyes were filled with contempt.
Ha Cheong-yeon, looking annoyed, was about to respond when someone suddenly interrupted.
“If Miss Yeon leaves the Mountain Sword Sect, then all this will be resolved.”
Heo Yoon-gu was taken aback.
“What? Who are you to butt into a conversation between me and Miss Yeon?!”
But the man didn’t answer. Instead, he just kept smiling slyly and went on with what he wanted to say.
“Hmm, I’ve heard that the Jeonghyeop faction is sending three top masters and a thousand troops back toward Guizhou Fortress to avenge their last battle. Meanwhile, the Sangeom Sect seems to be having trouble getting the reinforcements promised from the Yun family. And now, with the Sangeom Sect leader’s nephew causing trouble, if the Doksoo siblings—the heroes of the last fight—decide to leave the sect…”
He glanced around at the ronin gathered nearby and continued.
“I’ll bet that more than half of the ronin here came to Sangeom just to see Yeonhae Sojeo. The rest probably came because they’ve heard of the Doksoo siblings’ fame. So if the Doksoo siblings leave Sangeom, wouldn’t at least half of these ronin disappear too? Maybe even all of them. What do you say? Are you okay with that?”
“W-what?”
Huh Yoon-gu was completely thrown off by the man’s words.
He hadn’t even considered such a possibility.
Then the man gave a meaningful smile to the now pale-faced Huh Yoon-gu and said,
“In a battle where the fate of Sangeom hangs in the balance, the nephew’s lust for women causes a mass desertion of ronin? If I were Lord Huh Kyung, I’d probably have that nephew torn limb from limb and then go apologize to Yeonhae Sojeo. So, what does your nephew think about all this?”
Hearing that, Huh Yoon-gu’s face turned not just pale, but a sickly shade of blue.
“I-I…”
Stammering, unsure of what to do, he suddenly spun around and bolted away as if his life depended on it.
The sight was so pitiful that all the ronin burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! Look at that pathetic sight!”
“Hey! Sangeom Sect leader’s nephew! Where are you rushing off to?! You need to talk to Yeonhae Sojeo!”
“Sojeo, give him some time! Looks like that time was for running away! Hahaha!”
The man who had chased him off just smiled faintly and watched his retreating back.
Then Ha Cheong-yeon spoke to him.
“Thank you for your help. You’re quite the smooth talker.”
The youngest of the Doksoo siblings and a ronin from Zhejiang Province, known as the youngest of the Gwaesan Sword Sect, Jeom Chang-gum-ho Je Won-young, grinned and replied,
“I’m not quite on the level of Sojeo or Seonwoo So-hyup, but my head’s not too bad either. And… I tend to do even better when I’m sincere.”
Ha Cheong-yeon looked puzzled.
“Sincere?”
Je Won-young met her gaze with a deep look for a moment, then smiled and turned away.
“There’s something to it. You’ll probably understand soon enough.”
It was a cryptic remark.
But Ha Cheong-yeon felt she had a rough idea of what he meant.
She wasn’t particularly skilled at reading emotions, but she’d seen that kind of look many times before.
Still, she quickly turned her attention away from him and began thinking about other matters.
By now, the name Yeonhae Sojeo had spread so widely that ronin flocked to Sangeom like clouds just hearing it.
So the Blood Sect’s men had probably heard the rumors about her as well.
Ha Cheong-yeon went over to her team and said,
“We’ve scattered enough bait and left a strong scent trail. Now, shall we cast the hook?”
At her words, Seol Poong and the others stood up.
It was time to start fishing.
The Doksoo siblings and the Gwaesan Sword Sect went out for dinner.
On the surface, it was just to stroll through the night streets of Inhoe and have a meal.
Many ronin looked eager to follow, but none dared because of the sharp, intimidating gaze of Bae Jong-gwan.
So once they were finally outside and alone, Cheon Ju-eun stretched with a sigh of relief and exclaimed,
“Ah! Finally, I feel alive!”
Despite her petite frame—not even as tall as most men—Na Seo-yu looked at her with eyes full of affection and asked,
“Why? Were you feeling stifled? You said before you wanted to make a name for yourself.”
Cheon Ju-eun shook her head.
“Oh no, I never imagined how suffocating all those eyes could be. Even changing a single facial expression felt like a burden.”
As she spoke, she shivered as if horrified, and Na Seo-yu gently ruffled her hair.
“Well, it’s still better than Seonwoo Gongja or Bi Gongja, who have to stay hidden all the time, right?”
“Huh? Heh heh. That’s a bit harsh.”
Seonwoo Jin, Bi Sa-yeong, and Sak Mu-heun were still stealthily trailing the group.
While inside Sangeom, they took turns hiding, but now outside, all three kept a certain distance as they followed.
Cheon Ju-eun suddenly bowed playfully in the direction where the three were hiding and said,
“Sorry for my spoiled complaints.”
Je Won-young, watching them with a smile, suddenly spoke to Ha Cheong-yeon.
“Sojeo, are you alright? Actually, most of the attention is on you.”
Ha Cheong-yeon looked at Je Won-young’s face for a moment.
She’d noticed that he had been quietly circling her side, focusing all his attention on her.
She could guess why, but decided to answer first.
“I’m somewhat used to this. Ever since I started wearing my bangs down, I’ve been able to avoid it for a while, so I can handle it for now.”
Je Won-young smiled knowingly.
“Given your beauty, I’m sure it was tough. You must have had a hard time.”
“No, thanks to my parents and sisters, it wasn’t that bad.”
Her tone was dry and emotionless.
A timid man might have been intimidated and backed off just from that cold tone.
But Je Won-young was no timid man.
He grinned and spoke again.
“Now that your parents and sisters aren’t here, you’ll need others. I’ll do my best to make sure you’re comfortable and not inconvenienced.”
His words carried a deeper meaning.
Ha Cheong-yeon stared at him quietly.
Most men would have looked away, overwhelmed by her gaze.
But Je Won-young met her eyes with an even broader smile.
His gaze was more direct and intense than his words.
He was a man brimming with confidence.
Finally, Ha Cheong-yeon spoke first.
“May I ask what you meant by that?”
Je Won-young answered plainly.
“Just what I said. I’ll do my best to protect you and make sure you’re comfortable.”
Ha Cheong-yeon considered pressing him further but decided against it.
Je Won-young was like a sword technique he’d mastered—straightforward, honest, and powerful.
No wonder he didn’t get along with Mayu-gyeom, who seemed to have a few snakes in his heart.
Ha Cheong-yeon found his direct, piercing gaze unsettling and looked away first.
She’d met many men who showed interest in her, but this was something new.
Looking at him, she suddenly thought of Seonwoo Jin, who was stealthily following behind.
He gave off the exact opposite vibe—still treating her like a pure friend even after seeing her true face.
Ha Cheong-yeon realized she had to admit something.
Maybe she had been arrogant.
Like most men, Seonwoo Jin probably thought that once he saw her face properly, he wouldn’t be able to look anywhere else and might even find it a bit troublesome.
But he wasn’t like that at all.
Even her stunning looks, which left everyone else dazed, hadn’t changed his attitude.
Her mind was tangled.
Just then—
Crash! Bang!
“Ahhh!”
“Whoa!”
Suddenly, the sound of something breaking came from a nearby tavern, followed by screams.
“Selling this awful garbage and then having the nerve to ask me for money?!”
A rough-looking ronin was smashing tables and chairs, shouting angrily.
It was clear from the scene that trouble was brewing.