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chapter 07
Jin Ahseol wore an incredulous expression.
“People say the greatest martial artist in the world is the Grandmaster Cheon Nam-yeon of the Golokma Sect, who retired fifty years ago.”
Hearing the name Cheon Nam-yeon from Jin Ahseol felt strange. It was the first time he had heard anyone call Cheon Nam-yeon the best in the world—coming through someone else’s mouth made it feel odd.
“Grandmaster Golok is actually one of the three masters who taught me.”
“Grandmaster Golok? Who’s that?”
“Golokma Cheon Nam-yeon!”
Bam!
Without realizing it, Jin Ahseol clenched her small hands into fists and lightly struck Geomryeong’s stomach.
“Ugh!”
Though her punch neither hurt nor delivered any real force, Geomryeong groaned and bent his back like a shrimp, just to match her mood.
“I can tolerate many things, but I cannot stand it if someone insults his name.”
Jin Ahseol spoke to Geomryeong with an angry expression.
“Grandmaster Cheon Nam-yeon and Lady Yakbing are my idols. So if you want to lie to me in the future, just say you’re a disciple of the Ghost Demon Master Gu Yeong-cheol instead of lying about those two.”
Geomryeong pouted.
“Alright. I’ll do that.”
Watching Jin Ahseol huffing and puffing, he had no choice but to lower his tail. In a way, he felt good.
He hadn’t expected that hearing the names of the three people who had raised and taught him through someone else’s mouth would feel so pleasant.
‘Ghost Master… maybe I should have been a little better when I was in the martial world.’
Gu Yeong-cheol, the Ghost Demon Master who had challenged the Wayward Path, was feared in the martial arts world—not someone to be admired like Cheon Nam-yeon or Yakbing.
“But, Ahseol!”
Jin Ahseol glared at Geomryeong.
“You’re definitely the greatest martial artist in the world.”
Bam!
Perhaps because it was the full moon, the moon shone unusually bright.
Geomryeong sat on the roof of a detached building of the Gangnam Pyo Bureau, drinking while gazing at the moon.
The strongest alcohol he had ever tasted in the Heukamdo had been fruit wine made from strange fruits. Compared to that, the sake he was drinking now, Hwajoo, was so sweet and delicious that he found himself enjoying it immensely.
“Grandmaster Golok! Today Ahseol called you her idol. Hearing that really made me happy.”
A faint smile appeared on Geomryeong’s lips.
“But it seems not the Ghost Master. She told me to only say I’m a disciple of Ghost Master from now on.”
Faces appeared and disappeared in the round moonlight.
“I don’t usually feel this way, but today I really want to see them.”
A faint sadness settled in Geomryeong’s eyes. It was because of the death of the three masters.
“I know. I won’t see them again. But don’t worry! I’ll only feel this way today.”
He raised the bottle to his mouth.
“Don’t be too upset. They’ll remain in my heart forever.”
Geomryeong stood up on the roof.
“And just being a disciple of the greatest martial artist in the world should be enough to make you proud, right?”
The mountains of Wangak were not particularly steep. There were no deep valleys or ravines, but the trees were so dense that words could not describe them.
A group of people was climbing the mountain path, listening to the cries of the mountain birds.
They were from the Gangnam Pyo Bureau.
Jin Seol and Wu Jeongchang Gongmyeongdo walked ahead, followed by Pyo-sa (escorters) and Pyo-gaek (messenger escorts).
“Do you think they’ll hand over the tribute so easily?”
“Mountain bandits would never do that. But don’t worry. Out of respect for my face, they’ll hand it over.”
Jin Seol was not particularly pleased with Gongmyeongdo’s impudent tone, but his confident words brought some reassurance.
Though not a famous martial artist, Gongmyeongdo was known to be stronger than Akjeong of the Wangak Mountain bandits.
Of course, if all the bandits of Wangak attacked, victory couldn’t be guaranteed. But it was unlikely they would act recklessly.
‘Even if we suffer losses, if we quickly transport the tribute and return, showing that we are putting in effort to maintain our credibility, the loss can be recovered.’
While Jin Seol was thinking, Gongmyeongdo suddenly stopped walking.
“Why?”
“It’s strange. Normally, some scouts would appear around here…”
Indeed, they were near Wangak Mountain, but there was no sign of any scouts.
“Let’s walk a little further and alert the escorters to be on guard.”
“Understood.”
Jin Seol informed the escorters, who immediately became more vigilant, glancing around tensely.
The messenger escorts behind them looked anxious and hesitated slightly.
“Let’s go.”
Gongmyeongdo led the way.
Though rude and impolite, he knew his role and took responsibility for his actions.
As they neared Wangak Mountain, no one came to meet them. Walking further, Wangak Mountain’s bandit camp came into view.
Gongmyeongdo frowned.
“What is it?”
“It smells rotten.”
“Rotten?”
Jin Seol and the others smelled nothing.
“Something must have happened in Wangak. Follow me cautiously.”
Gongmyeongdo approached the camp and opened the front gate.
Creeeeak!
The interior of the camp spread out before them.
People were lying everywhere, their bodies decomposing, suggesting they had been dead for some time.
“Ugh!”
Jin Seol, the escorters, and messenger escorts were shocked, covering their noses from the stench.
“What happened here?”
“We’ll need to enter and see.”
Gongmyeongdo walked among the corpses, inspecting them.
‘Hmm…’
Though he examined the bodies, he found no physical wounds.
After inspecting several corpses, he noticed all seemed to have the same cause of death.
‘Internal injuries?’
He searched for Akjeong, the master of the camp.
He was lying in his quarters, coughing up blood, dead like the others.
“All died from internal injuries, but I cannot determine how they were killed.”
Gongmyeongdo narrowed his eyes.
Coughing blood indicated internal injuries, but no physical marks explained how they were inflicted.
He considered many possibilities but came up with nothing. Surveying the area, he continued.
“Outside, it’s the same. No signs of a fight. Why would a martial artist of this caliber attack Wangak Mountain…”
It was puzzling. Though Wangak’s bandits belonged to the Nokrim, their presence was minimal. Eliminating them would hardly gain recognition in the martial world. Why would a martial artist beyond his imagination do this?
“Gongmyeongdo-nim!”
Jin Seol cautiously called his name as he entered Akjeong’s quarters.
He had found the lost tribute and wanted to leave quickly.
“Found the tribute… ugh!”
Seeing Akjeong collapsed shocked Jin Seol again.
“They were already dead, just like outside.”
Jin Seol calmed himself and nodded to Gongmyeongdo.
“We’ve found the tribute. We should leave; staying here longer…”
Understanding his concern, Gongmyeongdo nodded. He realized staying longer wouldn’t reveal anything more.
“Understood. Prepare to leave.”
Jin Seol nodded and went outside.
Gongmyeongdo noticed something in Akjeong’s quarters—a small safe was open and empty.
“The martial artist who killed them took their treasures? Could it be Hao Moon’s doing? Why would Hao Moon?”
Hao Moon, like Nokrim, belonged to the Heukdo, but its nature was different. Initially set up for their own interests, it evolved into a martial arts sect.
“I don’t know.”
Gongmyeongdo thought briefly, shook his head, and left Akjeong’s quarters.
Outside, Jin Seol had gathered the tribute and other valuables in the camp, ready to leave.
Since there was no owner, he reasoned he could take them to cover expenses for Gongmyeongdo’s hire and the injured escorts.
“We’ll leave here for Gwangju. Upon arrival, you will receive additional compensation.”
Gongmyeongdo spoke to the messenger escorts and escorters as he led the way.
“Let’s go.”
Jin Seol followed behind, with the carts carrying the tribute and horses trailing them.
