Swordless Demonic Path

Chapter 64 : When the Lanterns Are Lit to Brighten the Night

Murong Bao and Namgung Ji sat facing each other across a wide round table. Murong Bao, with his arms crossed, observed Namgung Ji and, behind her, Jin Sa-wol and Woo Jeong-bong.

"Was my warning before not enough?"

"Thank you for your kind words."

"If so, that's a relief. But you have one more bodyguard. A familiar face."

Jin Sa-wol just nodded with an indifferent expression. Murong Bao looked uncomfortable.

Jin Sa-wol turned his gaze to Jo Geom-ok, who was staring at him.

Jo Geom-ok was looking at him with the eyes of a viper. As if she were trying to take in everything about him with her eyes.

From Jo Geom-ok's perspective, she had no choice.

The eyes she had seen at dawn and Jin Sa-wol's eyes were the same.

'Jin Sa-wol... so it was you.'

Jo Geom-ok, like Jin Sa-wol, had good night vision. She liked the night and was used to the night.

'Fast.'

Although Jo Geom-ok had known she would see Jin Sa-wol again, she had not known it would be the very next day.

She had not yet been able to report yesterday's events to Murong Bao.

Murong Bao asked.

"Why did you come?"

"An intruder entered my room last night. He was a very outstanding person, so much so that he broke through all the security of the main family."

"So?"

"He said he entered the Nanchang branch here. So I came to see."

"Do you have evidence?"

Murong Bao's expression hardened. His fierce momentum instantly pressed down on Namgung Ji.

But Namgung Ji did not tremble.

"I have no evidence."

"You're crazy. Did you come to say such nonsense without any evidence? Does that sound like there's an assassin in the Nanchang branch? Or was it a statement to intimidate us who came from the Martial Alliance?"

"I just came to see what kind of face the great inspection pavilion master of the Martial Alliance would make."

"It seems I look ridiculous. Does that sound like you want to fight with the Martial Alliance? Coming to deceive me without any evidence must be the will of the Namgung family, right?"

Thump!

Namgung Ji, who had hit the table and stood up, glared at Murong Bao.

"I heard you're looking for the Red Spider Sect Master. I'm also looking for him. Let's try it. Who will win."

Namgung Ji soon created a cold wind and went outside.

"A-ja-ja-a! Aaaak!"

As Namgung Ji shouted from outside, Murong Bao's eyes widened in surprise.

Only after she had left the main gate of the Nanchang branch did Murong Bao laugh out loud without realizing it.

"Pfft! Hahahaha! Ahahahaha! Did I just get hit hard by a little young lady?"

Murong Bao rested his chin on his hand and turned his gaze to Jo Geom-ok, who was standing behind him.

"What happened?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't have time to report."

"You should have woken me up at dawn."

As Murong Bao's voice turned cold, Jo Geom-ok's expression also turned cold. Not having informed him of last night's events in advance was a big mistake for her.

"Since you were sleeping soundly at Myeongwollu, I couldn't possibly wake you up. They said a child named Ae-rang was pretty."

"Hmph! Hmph... That was while drinking with Brother Wi..."

Murong Bao shook his head, recalling last night's events, and then poured and drank tea.

"Still, if you had woken me up, I could have said one more thing to that sassy young lady. You should have told me before the morning assembly. I want to hear an excuse now."

"After watching Namgung Ji, I was caught by Jin Sa-wol on my way back."

"Jin Sa-wol?"

"Yes."

"If you were caught, you should have killed him."

"He's a master."

Thump!

Murong Bao, unable to control his emotions, lightly hit the table. But Jo Geom-ok was indifferent, as if she had no emotions.

"Isn't it you guys who are there to kill masters you can't handle? On top of that, I remember you saying that Jin Sa-wol was just an ordinary martial artist."

Murong Bao's gaze turned to Jo Geom-ok once again. It was a silent pressure to take responsibility for what he had said.

"Jin Sa-wol showed us weakness. If that was an act, it means he was playing with us. Aren't you angry?"

"It's an angry matter."

"It will take time for us to kill him. But we can't stay here forever. So it would be good for the inspection pavilion to move. Please catch him. I'll do the rest."

"The crime?"

"Whatever you want."

Murong Bao touched his chin and showed a difficult expression.

It is not difficult to create a crime. But since he is in the Namgung family, it is not easy to bring him.

Judging by the personality of Namgung Ji, whom he had met today, she was not a woman who would stay still.

"Even if I catch him, I can't kill him."

"It's okay. One thing is for sure, that person is as used to the night as we are. There are not many in the martial world who can detect and follow the members of the Shadowless Hall."

"I'll think about it."

"Yes."

Jo Geom-ok answered and then retreated.

Murong Bao drank tea and contemplated whether to bring Jin Sa-wol.

It was a time to weigh the pros and cons. He was worried that he might make the mistake of alerting the enemy by beating the grass.

He couldn't help but worry that if he caught Jin Sa-wol, their own identities might be revealed instead.

"Call the steward!"

As Murong Bao's voice echoed loudly, the warriors who were waiting at the door hurriedly looked for the steward.

Since the steward, Jo Mal-sang, had died, they had to choose a new steward.

Until the branch master came, Murong Bao was acting as the branch master, so he was also in charge of the major and minor affairs of the branch.

A young man who had been a pavilion master in the past entered the room. He had now been promoted to steward and was helping Murong Bao.

"How are the preparations for the goods to be sent to the Alliance?"

"It will be finished within today."

"When morning comes tomorrow, send it to the Alliance."

"Understood."

Hearing the steward's answer, Murong Bao touched his teacup and smiled.

Tomorrow, the wealth that had been gathered at the Nanchang branch would go to the Martial Alliance. That meant that one of his jobs had been reduced.

* * *

"The Alliance's dog. The Alliance's puppy. The Alliance's flatterer and bell-ringer."

"Bell-ringer?"

"A fox that laughs when told to laugh and barks when told to bark?"

Woo Jeong-bong tilted his head next to Namgung Ji, who was walking with long strides.

"Who on earth are you talking about?"

"The inspection pavilion master, Murong Bao."

"Oh dear."

Since Woo Jeong-bong was on friendly terms with Murong Bao, he sighed first. Namgung Ji continued to speak while walking to the back garden.

"You disgusting old man! You unpopular old bachelor! You just eat the honey cakes that the Alliance leader throws you..."

"A stray dog, how about that?"

"A stray dog, I like it. Well done."

Namgung Ji smiled as if she were satisfied with Woo Jeong-bong's words.

Jin Sa-wol, who was walking behind, thought that it seemed as if Woo Jeong-bong had a tail. Right now, Woo Jeong-bong was wagging that tail next to Namgung Ji.

'He was definitely a dog in his past life.'

Jin Sa-wol moved, following the two without a word.

Namgung Ji, who had entered her own study, sat at her desk. Woo Jeong-bong stood in front of her and looked at the books on the bookshelf, and Jin Sa-wol was outside.

"Come in."

Although Namgung Ji spoke, Jin Sa-wol waved his hand and refused.

Namgung Ji asked Woo Jeong-bong with a face full of dissatisfaction.

"Is that person always so unsociable?"

"He's the opposite of me. That's why I like him. He's comfortable."

"Well, that's why I'm more attracted to him than to you, old man. I also like taciturn people."

"Not an old man, but Older Brother Woo. Older Brother Woo."

"No."

Namgung Ji crossed her hands and shook her head. Woo Jeong-bong, with a disappointed expression, took a book from the bookshelf and sat in an empty chair.

"Young Master Jin doesn't like anyone but me. He only talks affectionately with me. Hahaha."

Woo Jeong-bong, who had spoken proudly, opened the book and asked.

"Is it true that the intruder from last night entered the Nanchang branch?"

"It's true."

"Senior Brother Murong had a face that said he didn't know anything."

"Is that so? It's true that he entered the Nanchang branch. If that's a lie, it means Young Master Jin lied to us. Is Young Master Jin a person who would lie to you, old man?"

"That's not it."

Woo Jeong-bong shook his head and stood up. The sound of people's footsteps was heard from outside the door.

Woo Jeong-bong, who had stood up from his seat, looked at Namgung Wi and a few warriors who were entering the Sunokwon.

Namgung Wi smiled and then entered Namgung Ji's study.

"I came because I wanted to see your face."

"Welcome."

Namgung Ji greeted Namgung Wi and sat side by side at the tea table. As the two talked, Woo Jeong-bong glared at Namgung Wi once and then quietly went outside.

Only the two of them were left in the room.

Woo Jeong-bong tapped Jin Sa-wol and said.

"I want to hit that guy's face, but is there no way?"

"Have a duel."

"It seems he won't accept..."

"Insist and do it."

At Jin Sa-wol's advice, Woo Jeong-bong contemplated with a serious expression.

Jin Sa-wol looked at Namgung Ji's painstakingly calm face and Namgung Wi's face, which was full of leisure, visible beyond the window, and then turned his body.

Anyway, Namgung Wi was not the target.

* * *

Honghwaru underground.

The place where Ha Mae-sang had died still had the smell of blood. Even if they cleaned the floor diligently and washed it with water, the cool feeling did not disappear.

A middle-aged man who looked ordinary was sitting in a chair there.

As if he were one with the chair, he was tightly bound, not with a rope, but with a white cloth.

Creak! Thump!

As the door opened, Il-hu came inside. She, with large eyes and small, red lips, smiled and headed for the middle-aged man.

"Where were you thinking of going after crossing the Yangtze River, Red Spider Sect Master?"

At the words 'Red Spider Sect Master', the middle-aged man trembled his shoulders.

The Red Spider Sect Master, Gwak Sang, recalled the events of a few days ago. He had quietly arrived in Guguang on a merchant ship that was crossing Poyang Lake.

Since he had come with the warriors of the Martial Alliance, there was no major problem with his guard. Since the flag of the Martial Alliance was fluttering, there were no unorthodox sects that would flock.

Was he too relieved? While he was eating at a tavern in Guguang, he had fallen asleep, and when he had opened his eyes again, he was on a boat.

On the boat, he had met Il-hu and a man in a bamboo hat.

After that, the place he had been dragged to was the underground of this Honghwaru.

"How did you find me? Even the Hao Mun Master doesn't know my identity."

"Do you think there's anything the Hao Mun Master doesn't know if he puts his mind to it? You son of a bitch."

Slap! Thump!

As Il-hu slapped his cheek, Gwak Sang fell with the chair. A red handprint was stamped on his cheek like a seal.

Although his lips were burst and his nose was bleeding, Gwak Sang did not even scream.

Gwak Sang instead showed a strong killing intent and said to Il-hu.

"If you kill me, you'll die too. Behind me are the Namgung family and the Martial Alliance."

Il-hu, as if she were scared by those words, opened her eyes wide and retreated.

"Oh my? Really? But who in the Namgung family and the Martial Alliance will kill me? And why would the Martial Alliance help the Red Spider Sect, which is like food that has been eaten and spit out? Are you crazy?"

Although Il-hu asked with a frightened expression, Gwak Sang also did not fail to know that it was a joke.

Gwak Sang, seeing the madness that filled Il-hu's face, trembled his whole body without realizing it.

"Honestly, I was expecting a lot of work when I came here. I expected to kill people, and kill again, and keep killing every day. But unlike what I had thought, I couldn't kill many guys. Still, if I kill that guy, I think this emptiness will be relieved a little..."

Il-hu, who let out a long sigh, thought of Jin Sa-wol's cold face.

Gwak Sang, the moment he heard Il-hu's story, had a premonition of death.

Creak!

With the sound of the door opening again, Jo-rim came inside. A man in a bamboo hat followed her, holding a chair, and placed it on the floor.

As she came in, Il-hu raised Gwak Sang and then stood behind him.

Gwak Sang knew from the atmosphere that Jo-rim was the one who had dragged him here.

"I've never seen your face before."

"I haven't been here long. But there's so much work here. I'm so tired."

Jo-rim, who had sat in a chair, sighed and touched her forehead.

(End of Chapter)