novelraw Chapter 126 : Chapter 126
Chapter 126 : Chapter 126
Chapter 126 Prince Yeomseong (4)
As if the Ice Rakshasa's words had come as a great shock, Eun-wol bit her lip, unable to continue.
“That’s not all. I have thrown my life on the line for Young Master Jaun, and he has also thrown his life on the line for me. That is the kind of relationship we have now.”
The bearded man watched the conversation between the Ice Rakshasa and Eun-wol with a fascinated expression and nudged Jaun in the side.
“You said you didn’t even have time to go to the Beggars’ Sect, did you? But you had time to have a good time with Miss Pan?”
When Jaun looked at the bearded man with an expression of disbelief, the man cleared his throat with a cough.
“...I am aware of my own shortcomings.”
Eun-wol, who had been unable to speak for a long while, opened her mouth again.
“I do not know martial arts, so I cannot always protect Un-a’s side like you, Unni.”
Eun-wol’s small fists clenched tightly.
“But who is to say that once Un-a finishes his revenge, he will not want to live the life of an ordinary person instead of a man of the martial world? I am pouring all my efforts into cultivating myself for that time, and I am amassing enough wealth so that we can live together without any discomfort.”
Eun-wol slowly turned her head and looked at Jaun with a fiery gaze.
“It does not matter if Un-a does not make that choice. I do not want to force him, either. However, if by any chance he has such a thought, I just hope he does not forget the fact that I will be waiting for him, unchanged. That is all.”
Jaun met Eun-wol’s gaze. After a moment of eye contact, Eun-wol gave him a radiant smile.
“I am not trying to pressure you. I am just letting you know where I stand. I will not say anything more like this.”
Shrugging once, Eun-wol looked at Jaun again and smiled sweetly.
Watching Eun-wol's confident demeanor, the Ice Rakshasa bit her lip hard.
‘She should have just gotten the hint and backed off… To think she still has not given up!’
Eun-wol, who had surely been a young girl, had become a beautiful woman at some point. Moreover, she had groomed and managed herself so well.
Comparing her own hands, which were full of calluses, with Eun-wol’s snow-like white hands, a sudden wave of anxiety washed over her, and she turned her head toward Jaun.
And in that moment she turned her head, the Ice Rakshasa could see Jaun staring blankly at Eun-wol.
‘What in the world was that look!’
It was a look she herself had never once received.
Just as the Ice Rakshasa bit her lip against the surging sorrow, the bearded man's voice came from the side.
“Miss Pan, we should get going. Everyone else is moving.”
At the bearded man’s words, she came to her senses and looked ahead to see Jaun and Eun-wol walking side by side. Seeing this, the Ice Rakshasa clenched her teeth and slowly began to walk.
The manor was not far.
Upon arriving at the manor, the four of them entered the central pavilion and immediately began discussing Prince Yeomseong.
“So, you are saying it is certain that Prince Yeomseong is in Beijing right now?”
Eun-wol nodded at Jaun's question.
“Yes. The information is accurate. They say he has been coming and going from Beijing frequently of late, but I have not been able to find out the reason yet.”
“Where is he now?”
“A manor on the western outskirts. From what I have found out, it seems he rented the manor for about a month.”
“Hmm. It seems like the best thing to do would be to get closer and check…”
“You want to get inside the manor, right? It will not be easy, but… I will try to find a way. A big shot like Prince Yeomseong might be beyond my reach, so do not get your hopes up too high.”
Stretching, Eun-wol rose from her seat, smiled, and patted Jaun's shoulder.
“You must be tired from coming all this way, so go wash up and get some rest. I will look for a way.”
After whispering to Jaun, Eun-wol walked over to the bearded man and the Ice Rakshasa.
“You two should also rest well, and if there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to tell me. I will do my best to prepare it for you.”
Bowing her head slightly in greeting, Eun-wol walked out of the manor with elegant steps. The Ice Rakshasa, who was staring intently at Eun-wol’s retreating back as she left the manor, whispered quietly.
“...How annoying.”
Hearing the Ice Rakshasa’s words, the bearded man chuckled and reached for the bottle of liquor that Eun-wol had brought.
“It seems even for a master of the Peak Realm, living life is not all that different.”
The Ice Rakshasa looked at the bearded man and let out a deep sigh.
“...I suppose so. This kind of thing is really not easy. Hmph. Give me a glass, too.”
The Ice Rakshasa took the liquor bottle from the bearded man and plopped down on the floor.
***
The next afternoon.
The group, dressed in shabby clothes, gathered in front of the manor.
“There is a chance your faces will become known over time, so I pushed things a little. This is a hard-won opportunity, so I hope you will use it well.”
Eun-wol, wrapped from head to toe in jade-colored silk, looked at the group with hollow eyes.
“Are you sure this is safe?”
“Yes, it is. We made an exceptional offer at a loss to ourselves, and they contacted us first this morning. So, there should not be much reason for suspicion.”
Early that morning, Eun-wol had urgently sought out the group and handed them shabby clothes.
While keeping an eye on Prince Yeomseong's manor, she had heard that for some reason, they were seeking a large quantity of high-quality Golden Ointment, and Eun-wol had acted quickly.
When they offered a price far below the market rate, Prince Yeomseong's manor ordered two hundred packs of Golden Ointment from the Moyong Merchant Group.
Having seized the opportunity, Eun-wol devised a plan to send the group into the manor disguised as porters, and the group agreed to it.
It was a good opportunity to survey the situation inside the manor without drawing much attention.
The group hurried their preparations and fortunately managed to get ready to go to Prince Yeomseong’s manor without being late.
“One of the merchant group’s escort warriors and a physician will accompany you. It has been arranged for the physician to examine one of the manor’s household members. The physician will stall for as much time as possible while examining them, so it would be good if you could make the most of this opportunity.”
“Thank you. I will take a good look and come back.”
At Jaun’s words, Eun-wol gave a radiant smile.
“If I can be of help, I am satisfied with that. We can always seize another opportunity, so do not overdo it inside.”
Jaun nodded at Eun-wol’s words.
The bearded man, who had been scratching his head in a corner and looking over the boxes packed with Golden Ointment, lifted a box with a grunt. Jaun approached the bearded man's side, corrected his posture, and then lifted a box himself.
“Let’s go. The earlier we arrive, the more time we will have to look around the manor.”
At Jaun’s words, the Ice Rakshasa put on a veil and draped the silk cloth Eun-wol had given her over her body.
“There is nothing special you need to do, just give them this paper and receive the payment properly.”
The Ice Rakshasa glanced down at the paper Eun-wol held out, folded it, and put it in her bosom.
“...You managed to find a way in such a short time.”
At the Ice Rakshasa's words, Eun-wol tapped her own head.
“It is one of the things I can use with confidence. I am glad you like it.”
Giving Eun-wol a slight smile, the Ice Rakshasa turned her body.
“I am all ready.”
“I am ready, too.”
Jaun, who was staring blankly at the bearded man, let out a small sigh.
“Brother, ease up a bit. Where in the world is there a porter who lifts a box of one hundred packs of Golden Ointment so effortlessly with one hand?”
At Jaun’s indication, the bearded man corrected his posture once more and looked at Jaun with a strained expression. Nodding at the sight, Jaun began to walk out of the manor.
***
“Are you from the Moyong Merchant Group?”
“Yes. I am Nam-gu from the Moyong Merchant Group. I have brought the Golden Ointment you ordered.”
The warrior guarding the manor gate swept his sharp gaze over the group and then slowly approached the bearded man. The bearded man’s body tensed up in an instant.
The warrior who approached the bearded man opened the lid of the box, sniffed it once, and then nodded his head.
“You may enter. A distinguished person resides here, so you must be careful with your conduct.”
As the warrior slowly stepped back, the bearded man discreetly wiped the sweat from his brow.
After glancing at each other, the group opened the manor gate and stepped inside.
─ CREEEAK
The manor seemed old, with signs of age visible everywhere, but the materials used were all of the highest quality. Even the grayish-white round pebbles rolling on the ground were of a rare kind of stone, and the well-worn wooden decorations placed around had a dense grain.
As Jaun looked around the manor, which possessed a subtle and antique charm, he sent a telepathic message to the Ice Rakshasa.
[The manor is… larger than I thought.]
[I agree. There are a lot of people inside, too.]
Just as the Ice Rakshasa said, there were far more people than expected bustling about in various parts of the manor.
Cautiously looking around, the group began to follow a servant who had come out to meet them.
[Do you sense anything?]
[Not yet. I do not think there is anything particularly strange.]
Thanks to the incident at the Sado Alliance, the range of Jaun's senses had expanded considerably, allowing him to meticulously scan the entire left half of the manor in an instant.
‘There does not seem to be anything special on this side…’
After carefully checking the energies felt on the left side of the manor, Jaun was about to extend his senses to the other side but hastily concealed his energy.
‘...A master.’
The Ice Rakshasa, who had been watching the change in Jaun's expression, noticed something and turned her head to the right.
[There is something, is there not? I am not certain, but I think I can feel something subtle that is hard to describe.]
[Yes. There is a master of the Peak Realm with a peculiar energy.]
At Jaun's telepathic message, the Ice Rakshasa nudged the bearded man in the side. He, who had been staring blankly at the Ice Rakshasa, understood the signal and concealed his energy as much as possible.
[Act as if nothing is wrong. Judging by our direction of movement, it seems we will pass by them.]
The group fixed their gazes forward and began to walk as if nothing had happened.
Before long, six warriors approached from the right at a high speed.
They were slender warriors with overall pale complexions, and they used a peculiar footwork that made it seem as if their feet were barely moving.
Perhaps because of their unique footwork, they gave off the feeling of floating slightly in the air as they moved. For some reason, they approached quickly and came to a stop beside the group.
“I have not seen you lot before. Where are you from?”
The warrior at the very front frowned as he looked at the group.
A thin, high-pitched voice and a subtle sense of incongruity in his actions.
The Ice Rakshasa, carefully observing the warriors from behind her veil, discovered the exquisite golden ornaments tied to their wrists and sent a telepathic message to Jaun.
[They are eunuchs from the Imperial Court. This could get troublesome, so we need to hide our identities well.]
Jaun gave a slight nod, and the Ice Rakshasa stepped forward.
“We are from the Moyong Merchant Group. Today is the day we were supposed to deliver the Golden Ointment you ordered…”
The warriors glanced at the Ice Rakshasa who had stepped forward, then turned their heads toward the boxes held by the bearded man and Jaun.
“Golden Ointment, you say. Open the box.”
At those words, the bearded man hesitated before placing the box on the ground.